Machine learning from functional data poses particular challenges that require specific computational tools that take into account their structure. In this work, we present scikit-fda, a Python library for functional data analysis, visualization, preprocessing, and machine learning. The library is designed for smooth integration in the Python scientific ecosystem. In particular, it complements and can be used in combination with scikit-learn, the reference Python library for machine learning. The functionality of scikit-fda is illustrated in clustering, regression, and classification problems from different areas of application.

Associative memories in the brain receive and store patterns of activity registered by the sensory neurons, and are able to retrieve them when necessary. Due to their importance in human intelligence, computational models of associative memories have been developed for several decades now. In this paper, we present a novel neural model for realizing associative memories, which is based on a hierarchical generative network that receives external stimuli via sensory neurons. It is trained using predictive coding, an error-based learning algorithm inspired by information processing in the cortex. To test the model's capabilities, we perform multiple retrieval experiments from both corrupted and incomplete data points. In an extensive comparison, we show that this new model outperforms in retrieval accuracy and robustness popular associative memory models, such as autoencoders trained via backpropagation, and modern Hopfield networks. In particular, in completing partial data points, our model achieves remarkable results on natural image datasets, such as ImageNet, with a surprisingly high accuracy, even when only a tiny fraction of pixels of the original images is presented. Our model provides a plausible framework to study learning and retrieval of memories in the brain, as it closely mimics the behavior of the hippocampus as a memory index and generative model.

Pulse diagnosis is one of important diagnosis methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Feature extraction of TCM pulse has received more and more attention in recent years. While most of previous methods for feature extraction of TCM pulse have no specific correlation with the mechanism of TCM pulse, a hemodynamics method was used to calculate the pulse waveform velocity (PWV) and pulse reflection factor (R), which reflected the principle of TCM pulse diagnosis. The results showed that the PWV and R are significantly different among four TCM pulses including normal pulse, slippery pulse, wiry pulse and wiry-slippery pulse. It is concluded that the PWV and R may be used as the features for the classification of TCM pulses.