title: Predicting recurrent aphthous ulceration using genetic algorithms-optimized neural networks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To construct and optimize a neural network that is capable of predicting the occurrence of recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) based on a set of appropriate input data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Artificial neural networks (ANN) software employing genetic algorithms to optimize the architecture neural networks was used. Input and output data of 86 participants (predisposing factors and status of the participants with regards to recurrent aphthous ulceration) were used to construct and train the neural networks. The optimized neural networks were then tested using untrained data of a further 10 participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  THE OPTIMIZED NEURAL NETWORK, WHICH PRODUCED THE MOST ACCURATE PREDICTIONS FOR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF RECURRENT APHTHOUS ULCERATION WAS FOUND TO EMPLOY: gender, hematological (with or without ferritin) and mycological data of the participants, frequency of tooth brushing, and consumption of vegetables and fruits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FACTORS APPEARING TO BE RELATED TO RECURRENT APHTHOUS ULCERATION AND APPROPRIATE FOR USE AS INPUT DATA TO CONSTRUCT ANNS THAT PREDICT RECURRENT APHTHOUS ULCERATION WERE FOUND TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: gender, hemoglobin, serum vitamin B12, serum ferritin, red cell folate, salivary candidal colony count, frequency of tooth brushing, and the number of fruits or vegetables consumed daily.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Najla S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Dar-Odeh
authors.forename: Othman M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Alsmadi
authors.forename: Faris
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bakri
authors.forename: Zaer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abu-Hammour
authors.forename: Asem A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shehabi
authors.forename: Mahmoud K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Al-Omiri
authors.forename: Shatha M K
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abu-Hammad
authors.forename: Hamzeh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Mashni
authors.forename: Mohammad B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Muqbil
authors.forename: Osama A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Abu-Hammad