Uncertainty of the optimum influence factor levels in multicriteria optimization using the concept of desirability

The Desirability Index (DI) is a widely used method for multicriteria optimization in industrial quality control, by which optimal levels of the process influencing factors are determined in order to archieve maximum process quality. In practice however situations may occur in which slight changes of these factor levels lead to lower production costs or to facilitation of the production process and therefore would be preferred. In this paper an innovative approach for measuring the effect of these changes on the DI based on its distribution is introduced. --

Pareto-Optimality and Desirability Indices

Pareto-Optimality and the Desirability Index are methods for multicriteria optimization in quality management. In this paper the pareto-optimality of the optimal influence factor settings of a process resulting from maximizing the DI is analyzed and is shown to be valid in most cases. --

Parallel Universes: Multi-Criteria Optimization

In this paper parallel universes are defined by their relation to multi-criteria optimization combined with an explicit or implicit link for the unambiguous identification of an optimum. As an explicit link function the desirability index is introduced. Desirabilities are also used for restricting the Pareto set to desired parts

Endometrial cancer - reduce to the minimum. A new paradigm for adjuvant treatments?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Up to now, the role of adjuvant radiation therapy and the extent of lymph node dissection for early stage endometrial cancer are controversial. In order to clarify the current position of the given adjuvant treatment options, a systematic review was performed.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Both, Pubmed and ISI Web of Knowledge database were searched using the following keywords and MESH headings: "Endometrial cancer", "Endometrial Neoplasms", "Endometrial Neoplasms/radiotherapy", "External beam radiation therapy", "Brachytherapy" and adequate combinations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Recent data from randomized trials indicate that external beam radiation therapy - particularly in combination with extended lymph node dissection - or radical lymph node dissection increases toxicity without any improvement of overall survival rates. Thus, reduced surgical aggressiveness and limitation of radiotherapy to vaginal-vault-brachytherapy only is sufficient for most cases of early stage endometrial cancer.</p

Predominance of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus -ST88 and New ST1797 causing Wound Infection and Abscesses.

Although there has been a worldwide emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), little is known about the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in Tanzania. In this study, we characterized MRSA strains isolated from clinical specimens at the Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania, between January and December 2008. Of 160 S. aureus isolates from 600 clinical specimens, 24 (15%) were found to be MRSA. Besides molecular screening for the Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes by PCR, MRSA strains were further characterized by Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and spa typing. Despite considerable genetic diversity, the spa types t690 (29.1%) and t7231 (41.6%), as well as the sequence types (ST) 88 (54.2%) and 1797 (29.1%), were dominant among clinical isolates. The PVL genes were detected in 4 isolates; of these, 3 were found in ST 88 and one in ST1820. Resistance to erythromycin, clindamicin, gentamicin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole was found in 45.8%, 62.5%, 41.6%, 45.8% and 50% of the strains, respectively. We present the first thorough typing of MRSA at a Tanzanian hospital.  Despite considerable genetic diversity, ST88 was dominant among clinical isolates at the Bugando Medical Centre. Active and standardized surveillance of nosocomial MRSA infection should be conducted in the future to analyse the infection and transmission rates and implement effective control measures

Interactive Quality Inspection of Measured Deviations in Sheet Metal Assemblies

We present an exploratory data analysis approach for finite element (FE) simulations to interactively inspect measured deviations in sheet metals arising in automotive applications. Exterior car body parts consist of large visible surfaces, and strict tolerances must be met by them to satisfy both aesthetic requirements and quality performance requirements. To fulfill quality requirements like gap and flushness, exterior vehicle components have adjustable mechanical boundaries. These boundaries are used to influence the shape and position of a sheet metal part relative to its chassis. We introduce a method that supports an inspection engineer with an interactive framework that makes possible a detailed analysis of measured sheet metal deviation fields generated from 3D scans. An engineer can interactively change boundary conditions and obtains the resulting deviation field in real-time. Thus, it is possible to determine viable and desirable adjustments efficiently, leading to time and cost savings in the assembly process

Lessons Learned from an Outbreak in Germany, 2012-2013

Background We undertook investigations in response to an invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) outbreak in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Berlin 2012–2013 to better understand meningococcal transmission and IMD risk in MSM. Methods We retrospectively searched for further IMD cases in MSM in Germany through local health departments and undertook exploratory interviews. We performed antigen sequence typing, characterized fHbp and aniA genes of strains with the outbreak finetype and reviewed epidemiologically or spatiotemporally linked cases from 2002–2014. Results Among the 148 IMD-cases notified from 01.01.2012–30.09.2013 in 18–59 year-old men we identified 13 MSM in 6 federal states: 11 serogroup C (MenC, all finetype C:P1.5–1,10–8:F3-6), 2 MenB. Interviews with 7 MSM revealed frequent meeting of multiple partners online or via mobile apps and illicit drug use as potential risk factors. MenC incidence was 13-fold higher in MSM than non-MSM. MenC isolates from 9/11 MSM had a novel fHbp allele 766. All C:P1.5–1,10–8:F3-6 strains from MSM versus 16/23 from non-MSM had intact aniA genes (p = 0.04). Although definitive evidence for transmission among MSM in epidemiological or spatiotemporal clusters in 2002–2014 was lacking, clusters were more frequent in men aged 20–49 years. Molecular analysis of C:P1.5–1,10–8:F3-6 strains revealed cases with intact aniA since 2007, mainly associated with fHbp361, fHbp766 and fHbp813, all involving one or more MSM. Conclusions MenC incidence was elevated in MSM during the study period. Multiple casual sexual contacts and illicit drug use were common in affected MSM. In all strains from MSM we detected an intact aniA gene coding for a nitrite reductase, which permits survival in microanaerobic environments and could play a role in meningococcal transmission in MSM through urogenital colonization. Furthermore, meningococcal transmission among MSM may be sustained over large areas and thus require modified spatiotemporal scanning algorithms for timely detection and control

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Invasive Meningococcal Disease, Germany

Meningococcal disease clustering was found by DNA sequence–based finetyping and cluster detection software

PARTHENOS – A Digital Research Infrastructure in the Humanities and Cultural Sciences

Das EU-geförderte Projekt PARTHENOS steht für „Pooling Activities, Resources and Tools for Heritage E-research Networking, Optimization and Synergies“ und arbeitet an der Verbesserung der Nutzung von digitalen Forschungsinfrastrukturen in den Geistes- und Kulturwissenschaften. Der Artikel stellt die Projekt-Ergebnisse der letzten drei Jahre, die sich auf eine technische und semantische Harmonisierung der verschiedenen bereits existierenden digitalen Forschungsinfrastrukturen wie z.B. DARIAH, CLARIN etc. konzentrieren, vor. Darüber hinaus hat das Projekt zum Ziel, durch spezifische Trainings- und Schulungsmaßnahmen weitere Forschende der EU an die Digital Humanities, deren Methoden und digitalen Dienste heranzuführen. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt dabei auch auf der Sensibilisierung für die Themen Open Science, FAIR und Forschungsdatenmanagement.The EU-funded PARTHENOS project stands for "Pooling Activities, Resources and Tools for Heritage E-research Networking, Optimization and Synergies" and works on improving the use of digital research infrastructures in the humanities and cultural sciences. The article presents the project results of the last three years, which focus on a technical and semantic harmonization of the different already existing digital research infrastructures such as DARIAH, CLARIN, etc. Furthermore, the project aims at introducing further researchers working in the EU to Digital Humanities, their methods and digital services through specific training and education measures. A special focus is also on raising awareness of the issues of Open Science, FAIR and research data management