Weakening of fuzzy relational queries: an absolute proximity relation-based approach

In this paper we address the problem of query failure in the context of flexible querying. We propose a fuzzy set–based approach for relaxing queries involving gradual predicates. This approach relies on the notion of proximity relation which is defined in an absolute way. We show how such proximity relation allows for transforming a given predicate into an enlarged one. The resulting predicate is semantically not far from the original one and it is obtained by a simple fuzzy arithmetic operation. The main features of the weakening mechanism are investigated and a comparative study with some methods proposed for the purpose of fuzzy query weakening is presented as well. Last, an example is provided to illustrate our proposal in the case of conjunctive queries.Peer Reviewe

Jagoda, proizvodni sustavi u Francuskoj

Strawberry has been a traditional culture in France for nearly three centuries. National production greatly decreased over the past fifteen years: from 82,000 T between 1990 and 1995, to 46,900 T in 2007. In the last five years, the surface regularly decreased from 3,780 ha in 2002 to 3,265 ha in 2007. The import/export balance shows a high deficit: more than 110,000 T are imported yearly, mainly from Spain and Morocco. Nearly all the production goes to the fresh consumption; only a very small percentage (1,300 T in 2007) is processed. Half the French production is sold between the end of April and early June, but the general picking period starts mid-February and ends in the first week of November. Four main areas totalise ¾ of the national production: South-West (39% in 2007), South-East (14%), Rhône-Alps (14%), and Loire Valley (11%). French national production is nowadays focused on quality and high prices, mostly based on French Junebearing cultivars (‘Gariguette’, ‘Darselect’), with a minor everbearer production during summer (‘Mara des Bois’, Charlotte’). Within thirty years, production systems moved from dominant open field system to dominant high tunnel systems, and to a lesser extent glasshouses (high tunnel glasshouses: 62% of the total surface in 2007). Open field and small tunnels are strongly decreasing each year, while high tunnels are increasing. Substrate culture in high tunnels and glasshouse is now estimated at about 400 ha, and is still increasing. The substrate culture enables the growers to produce “ten months a year”, while combining cultivars, type of plants and heating. New challenges for national production are pest and disease control, and labour costs. French production systems clearly evolve to more technical crop management, with tasty cultivars, to differentiate from cheaper imported strawberries.Jagoda je tradicionalna kultura u Francuskoj već skoro tri stoljeća. Nacionalna proizvodnja se uvelike smanjila zadnjih petnaest godina: od 82,000 t 1990. do 1995. na 46,000 t 2007. Zadnjih pet godina površine su se smanjile od 3,780 ha 2002. na 3.265 ha 2007. Uvozno/izvozna bilanca pokazuje veliki deficit: više od 110,000 t se uvozi godišnje, uglavnom iz Španjolske i Maroka. Gotovo sva proizvodnja ide u svježu potrošnju;samo vrlo malen postotak (1,300 t u 2007.) se prerađuje.Polovica francuske proizvodnje prodaje se između konca travnja i početka lipnja, ukupno razdoblje branja počinje sredinom veljače i završava u prvom tjednu studenog. Četiri glavna područja čine 3/4 nacionalne proizvodnje: jugozapad (39% 2007\u27), jugoistok (14%) Rona-Alpe (11%) i Dolina Loire (11%). Francuska nacionalna proizvodnja je danas usmjerena na kakvoću i visoke cijene, većinom temeljena na francuskim kultivarima koji dozrijevaju u lipnju (Gariguette, Darselect), s manjom proizvodnjom jagoda koje stalno rode za vrijeme ljeta (Mara des Bois, Charlotte). U trideset godina proizvodnja se pomaknula iz dominantnog sustava otvorenog polja na dominantan sustav visokog tunela, te u manjoj mjeri staklenike (staklenici visoki tuneli: 62% ukupne površine 2007.). Otvorena polja i mali tuneli veoma se smanjuju svake godine, dok visoki tuneli rastu.Kultura supstrata u visokim tunelima i staklenicima sada se procjenjuje na oko 400 ha i još uvijek raste. Kultura supstrata omogućuje uzgajačima proizvodnju deset mjeseci u godini. Istovremeno kombinirajući kultivare, vrstu biljaka i grijanje. Novi izazovi u nacionalnoj proizvodnji su suzbijanje nametnika i bolesi, te troškovi rada. Francuski sustavi proizvodnje očito se razvijaju prema više tehničkom ujpravljanju usjevima, s ukusnim kultivarima za razliku od jeftinijih uvoznih jagoda

Le développement agricole au Sahel. Tome 2. Recherches et techniques

Ce deuxième tome de la Synthèse sur le Développement agricole au Sahel esquisse un bilan des résultats de plus de trente ans de recherche agricole au Sahel: évaluer les acquis en matière d'amélioration variétale, réfléchir à la problématique de l'eau, aborder les enjeux de l'artificialisation des milieux sahéliens, proposer, au vu des acquis techniques, de nouvelles orientations pour raisonner globalement les systèmes d'élevage au plan régional... L'idée généralement répandue est que l'insuffisance des résultats opérationnels expliquerait, en partie, la situation précaire des économies agricoles sahéliennes. Les constats présentés démontrent, au contraire, que les propositions d'innovations de la recherche sont nombreuses et qu'elles peuvent servir de base à l'élaboration d'actions de développement, qui devront cependant tenir compte des évolutions récentes des systèmes de production et de leur environnement économiqu

Representing uncertainty regarding satisfaction degrees using possibility distributions

Evaluating flexible criteria on data leads to degrees of satisfaction. If a datum is uncertain, it can be uncertain to which degree it satisfies the criterion. This uncertainty can be modelled using a possibility distribution over the domain of possible degrees of satisfaction. In this work, we discuss the meaningfulness thereof by looking at the semantics of such a representation of the uncertainty. More specifically, it is shown that defuzzification of such a representation, towards usability in (multi-criteria) decision support systems, corresponds to expressing a clear attitude towards uncertainty (optimistic, pessimistic, cautious, etc.

One-step facial feminization surgery: The importance of a custom-made preoperative planning and patient satisfaction assessment

Background: The availability of more accurate techniques used for transgender surgery has resulted in an increased number of patients requesting facial feminization surgery (FFS). The aim of this study was to present the FFS pre-operative planning of the authors’ male-to-female transsexual patients using photo-editing software, computer-aided design (CAD), modeling, and three-dimensional (3D) printing. Material and Methods: Twenty-five patients underwent FFS between November 2015 and May 2018. They were retrospectively included in this study, and their records were analyzed. Patients’ 3D facial models were printed and used for an accurate preoperative planning and shown to the patients. To assess patient satisfaction, the preoperative, six-month, and one-year postoperative scores obtained using Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) were compared. The scores following a normal distribution obtained for each patient were compared using a paired t-test. Results: The 3D model preparation mean time was 145±13.2 min. A total of 114 surgical procedures were carried out. The mean operative time was 420±23 min. Patients experienced no postoperative complication. All patients were very satisfied after surgery, with a significant difference between pre- and postoperative scores (p = 0.002; p = 0.03). Conclusion: With use of 3D modeling, surgeons are nearing a custom-made surgery era, especially required for complex procedures such as FFS. We suggest using 3D technology for a more accurate preoperative planning

An investigation of the close environment of beta Cep with the VEGA/CHARA interferometer

High-precision interferometric measurements of pulsating stars help to characterize their close environment. In 1974, a close companion was discovered around the pulsating star beta Cep using the speckle interferometry technique and features at the limit of resolution (20 milli-arcsecond or mas) of the instrument were mentioned that may be due to circumstellar material. Beta Cep has a magnetic field that might be responsible for a spherical shell or ring-like structure around the star as described by the MHD models. Using the visible recombiner VEGA installed on the CHARA long-baseline interferometer at Mt. Wilson, we aim to determine the angular diameter of beta Cep and resolve its close environment with a spatial resolution up to 1 mas level. Medium spectral resolution (R=6000) observations of beta Cep were secured with the VEGA instrument over the years 2008 and 2009. These observations were performed with the S1S2 (30m) and W1W2 (100m) baselines of the array. We investigated several models to reproduce our observations. A large-scale structure of a few mas is clearly detected around the star with a typical flux relative contribution of 0.23 +- 0.02. Our best model is a co-rotational geometrical thin ring around the star as predicted by magnetically-confined wind shock models. The ring inner diameter is 8.2 +- 0.8 mas and the width is 0.6 +- 0.7 mas. The orientation of the rotation axis on the plane of the sky is PA = 60 +- 1 deg, while the best fit of the mean angular diameter of beta Cep gives UD[V] = 0.22 +- 0.05 mas. Our data are compatible with the predicted position of the close companion of beta Cep. These results bring additional constraints on the fundamental parameters and on the future MHD and asteroseismological models of the star.Comment: Paper accepted for publication in A&A (in press