How best to Design Fuzzy Sets and Systems:In memory of Prof. Lotfi A. Zadeh

The fundamental shift in dealing with uncertainties [12] and computerised reasoning was made by the late Professor Lotfi Aliasker Zadeh (1921–2017) in 1965 in his seminal paper [1]. For the last over five decades the Fuzzy Sets theory has matured and was applied to a long list of applications spanning from engineering, social sciences, biology to transport, mathematics and many mor

A CNL for Contract-Oriented Diagrams

We present a first step towards a framework for defining and manipulating normative documents or contracts described as Contract-Oriented (C-O) Diagrams. These diagrams provide a visual representation for such texts, giving the possibility to express a signatory's obligations, permissions and prohibitions, with or without timing constraints, as well as the penalties resulting from the non-fulfilment of a contract. This work presents a CNL for verbalising C-O Diagrams, a web-based tool allowing editing in this CNL, and another for visualising and manipulating the diagrams interactively. We then show how these proof-of-concept tools can be used by applying them to a small example

Immunomorphological characteristics of pleomorphic adenoma of salivary glands

The immunohistochemical profile of 23 pleomorphic adenomas and 7 normal salivary glands was studied. We used antisera to vimentin (V), desmin (D), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), prostate specific antigen (PSA), pancytokeratin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S-100 protein. In the ducts and myoepithelial cells of normal salivary glands immunopositivity to most of the cytoskeletal proteins, EMA and CEA was observed. GFAP was localized only in cells of striated ducts. Major differences in the expression of various antigens among tubular structures, solid sheets, the myxoid and chondroid in the pleomorphic adenoma were encountered. Appearance of GFAP as a sign of stromal transformation into myxoid and chondroid was detected.Judging from these comparative immunohistochemical characteristics between normal salivary glands and pleomorphic adenomas, we assume that tumour cells originate from the reserve cells of intercalated and striated ducts.Nous avons étudié les caractéristiques immunohistochimiques de 23 adénomes pléomorphes et de 7 glandes salivaires non tumorales. Nous avons utilisé des anticorps pour la vimentine (V), la desmine (D), l’antigène de membrane épithéliale (EMA), antigène prostatique spécifique (PSA), la pancytokératine, l’antigène carcinoembryonnaire (CEA), la protéine gliale fibrillaire acide (GFAP) et la protéine S-100. Dans les canaux et dans les cellules myoépithéliales des glandes salivaires normales c’est l’immunopositivité pour la plupart des protéines du cytosquelette, EMA et CEA qui est observée. GFAP est localisée uniquement dans les cellules des canaux striés. Des différences majeures dans l’expression des divers antigènes ont été rencontrées dans les structures tubulaires, dans les nappes cellulaires et dans les portions myxoïdes et chondroïdes des adénomes pleomorphes. L’apparition de GFAP a été observée comme signe de transformation myxoïde ou chondroïde du stroma.En nous basant sur la comparaison des caractéristiques immunohistochimiques entre les glandes salivaires normales et les adénomes pléomorphes, nous supposons que les cellules tumorales trouvent leur origine dans les cellules de réserve des canaux intercalaires et des canaux striés.

Mini Max Wallpaper

Mini Max company formulated a problem for the automatic calculation of the number of wallpaper rolls necessary for decorating a room with wallpaper. The final goal is the development of a web-based calculator open for use to both Mini Max staff and the general public. We propose an approach for reducing the studied problem to the one-dimensional cutting-stock problem. We show this in details for the case of plain wallpapers as well as for the case of patterned wallpapers with straight match. The one-dimensional cutting-stock problem can be formulated as a linear integer programming problem. We develop an approach for calculating the needed number of wallpapers for relatively small problems, create an algorithm in a suitable graphical interface and make different tests. The tests show the efficiency of the proposed approach compared with the existent (available) wallpapers’ calculators

Single-access transumbilical laparoscopic appendectomy using curved reusable instruments: an initial report of three cases.

Introduction: The continuous evolution of laparoscopic surgery and the ambition of better cosmetic results raise the need for less invasive procedures. The umbilicus represents a natural scar and constitutes a wellhealing site of access to the peritoneal cavity. Single-access Transumbilical Laparoscopy (SATL) is gaining popularity and can be an alternative surgical treatment for acute appendicitis. We report three cases of SATL appendectomy using curved reusable instruments.Patients and methods: Three female patients, wanting minimal scarring (mean age - 30 years) were admitted to our hospital in April 2015 with acute abdominal pain in the right iliac area. A SATL appendectomy was performed using a standard 11-mm reusable trocar for a 10-mm, 30°- angled, rigid scope and curved reusable instruments according to DAPRI (Karl Storz-Endoskope, Tuttlingen, Germany) placed transumbilically.Results: Neither a conversion to open surgery nor an insertion of extraumbilical trocars was necessary. The mean operative time was 101.6 +/- 24.66 minutes and the mean blood loss 6.66 +/- 11.54 mL. The mean scar length was 16.66 +/- 0.57 mm. No intraoperative complications were registered and the use of minimal pain killers allowed the discharge after 2 or maximum 4 days. After three months of follow-up no late complications occurred and the umbilical scar was not visible.Conclusion: In young and scarless-demanding females with acute appendicitis SATL appendectomy can be performed safely and offers the possibility of surgical treatment without a visible scar

Limiting the resectability in locally advanced primary or rec urrent carcinoma of the colon

Purpose: The terms of ‘unresectable`, ‘inoperable` and ‘incurable` cancer/patient are widely used but not clearly defined and thus subject to significant subjectivity. Where is the limit of ‘resectability` of colorectal cancer - the criteria are variable and not precisely defined yet. Locally advanced lesion may vary from visible intimately adhered to the surrounding tissue, i.e. marginal, ‘border` resectable tumour to one that directly macroscopically engages adjacent critical structures. This paper presents the experience of other foreign authors with their results in the determination of the tumour as resectable or unresectable as well as own clinical experience in this field.Material and methods: The study covered the patients with colorectal cancer who were operated in the Clinic of Surgery during a period of 9 years and retrospectively analyzed.Results: Out of a total of 1051 surgeries on the occasion of colorectal cancer, advanced disease constituted 28,6% or 301 patients. Of them, 52,5% were localized in different parts of the colon. Fifty-eight combined resections were performed as in 7 of them (recurrent tumours) R1 was accomplished, i.e. a non-radical result. A total of 117 cases were assessed intraoperatively as non-radical surgery and palliative procedures were performed such as resections (with or without restoration of the intestinal passage, but in the case of M1), bypass anastomoses, or simple interruption of the passage. .Conclusion: Many of the world`s leading surgical centres adopt the tactics of ‘adequate aggressive behaviour` for locally advanced primary and recurrent colorectal cancer. In determining the reasonable balance between aggressive approach and the so-called meaningless ‘surgical exorbitance` there is strive to adhere to the view that failure to achieve R0-resection planed in such an operation as well as leading performance or a combination of factors such as advanced age, severe co-morbidities, presence of complicated forms of colorectal cancer, urgent intervention and data of generalization of the malignant process undermine the performance of aggressive block removal of tumour formation. However, adequate pre- and intraoperative assessment and surgical experience should avoid ‘exaggerated` intraoperative status of locally advanced tumou

USE OF INTENSIVE METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF RENAL DISEASES

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Measurements of the group delay and the group delay dispersion with resonance scanning interferometer

We developed a method for group delay and group delay dispersion measurements, based on location of interference resonance peaks. Such resonance peaks can be observed in transmittance or in reflectance when two mirrors are placed parallel to each other and separated by a thin air spacer. By using a novel approach, based on simultaneous processing of the data acquired for different spacer distances we obtained reliable results with high resolution. Measurements were performed both in transmittance and reflectance layouts depending on the reflectivity of the mirror to be measured. The developed method allows dispersion measurements of ultraviolet mirrors and ultra-broadband mirrors spanning more than one optical octave to be performed

LOCALIZATION OF PULMONARY THROMBOEMBOLISM - AN IMPORTANT PROGNOSTIC FACTOR

The prognosis of pulmonary thromboembolism is a serious challenge for the clinicians. A total of 967 patients with pulmonary thromboembolism, 511 males and 456 females at a mean age of 60,1 ±13,7 years were analyzed. A special protocol consisting of 52 parameters was used to define their prognostic value. A non-invasive diagnostic algorithm based on symptoms, ECG, pulmonary roentgenography, perfusion scintigraphy, spiral scan, pulmoangiography, or on autopsy was applied. A prognostic index was elaborated by means of multifactorial analysis of the parameters of prognostic significance concerning the risk of lethal outcome. The localization of the pulmonary thromboembolism as determined by using spiral C T can effectively be used for patients' risk stratification

STRUCTURING OF ELECTRODE SURFACES WITH LIGAND-FREE NANOPARTICLES VIA ELECTROPHORETIC DEPOSITION- FUNDAMENTALS AND IN VIVO APPLICATIONS

Electrodes for neural stimulation and recording are highly relevant in modern medicine, e.g. for the treatment of movement disorders. As these electrodes have to be implanted directly into the patient´s brain, impaired biocompatibility as well as reduced performance due to increased impedance upon tissue contact are serious problems. Strategies to improve the efficiency of electrodes entail the implementation of defined nanoscopic structures to the electrode surface, which increase the surface area and improve the current flow by possible edge effects1. In this context electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of nanoparticles (NP) constitutes an efficient and feasible way for surface structuring as in contrast to e.g. ablative laser machining, electric field lines are naturally ordered perpendicular to the implant´s surface, so that electrophoretic deposition is well compatible to shaped implants and curved surfaces. In this work an EPD process for the structuring of Pt electrode surfaces with NP is systematically investigated. Reference NP from a modern synthesis route named pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL)2 are utilized as they possess a high surface charge density in order to ease their movement in an electric field. The electrophoretic velocity of these NP was examined and found to be linearly-correlated with the electric field strength, while the slope is dictated by the NP´s surface charge density (zeta-potential).3, 4 On the other hand the PLAL-generated NP are, by design, completely free of organic ligand, which significantly affected their deposition in an EPD setup. It was found that the deposited mass linearly increased with process time, yielding a well scalable process, while on the other hand control experiments with ligands showed a saturation of the deposited mass due to electrochemical shielding of the surface by charged ligands.4 It was furthermore demonstrated that the EPD process with ligand-free NP could also be done in a continuous flow-through setup suitable for the parallel structuring of multiple electrodes.5 Interestingly, the deposition velocity was not size dependent as particle size distributions prior to and after EPD were identical.5 In consecutive experiments, the surface properties like coverage, oxidation, wettability6 and impedance of the electrode materials were evaluated and correlated with the EPD process parameters electric field strength, colloid concentration and deposition time. As a result a detailed map was obtained, which allows a defined tuning of Pt surface properties by Pt NP EPD. Finally, the impedance of electrodes coated with ligand-free Pt NP were evaluated in long term stimulation experiments with rats. The NP coating could stabilize the impedance of the electrodes in vivo, while it continuously increased in non-coated controls.7 Furthermore, the coated electrodes exhibited excellent biocompatibility similar to the controls7 while no significant NP desorption from the surface was found upon mechanical tear. 1. X. F. F. Wei and W. M. Grill, J. Neural Eng., 2005, 2, 139-147. 2. V. Amendola and M. Meneghetti, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 3027-3046. 3. A. Menendez-Manjon, J. Jakobi, K. Schwabe, J. K. Krauss and S. Barcikowski, J. Laser Micro Nanoeng., 2009, 4, 95-99. 4. C. Streich, S. Koenen, M. Lelle, K. Peneva and S. Barcikowski, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2015, 348, 92-99. 5. S. Koenen, R. Streubel, J. Jakobi, K. Schwabe, J. K. Krauss and S. Barcikowski, J. Electrochem. Soc., 2015, 162, D174-D179. 6. A. Heinemann, S. Koenen, K. Schwabe, C. Rehbock and S. Barcikowski, Key engineering materials, 2015, 654, 218-223. 7. S. D. Angelov, S. Koenen, J. Jakobi, H. E. Heissler, M. Alam, K. Schwabe, S. Barcikowski and J. K. Krauss, J. Nanobiotechnol., 2016, 14