Join and Meet Operations for Type-2 Fuzzy Sets With Nonconvex Secondary Memberships

In this paper, we will present two theorems for the join and meet operations for general type-2 fuzzy sets with arbitrary secondary memberships, which can be nonconvex and/or nonnormal type-1 fuzzy sets. These results will be used to derive the join and meet operations of the more general descriptions of interval type-2 fuzzy sets presented in a paper by Bustince Sola et al. ('Interval type-2 fuzzy sets are generalization of interval-valued fuzzy sets: Towards a wider view on their relationship,' IEEE Trans. Fuzzy Syst., vol. 23, pp. 1876-1882, 2015), where the secondary grades can be nonconvex. Hence, this study will help to explore the potential of type-2 fuzzy logic systems which use the general forms of interval type-2 fuzzy sets which are not equivalent to interval-valued fuzzy sets. Several examples for both general type-2 and the more general forms of interval type-2 fuzzy sets are presented

Performance of Five Serological Tests in the Diagnosis of Visceral and Cryptic Leishmaniasis: A Comparative Study

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a major health problem and its diagnosis still represents a challenge. Since consistent evidence on the comparison of serological methods is lacking, our work aims to compare five serological tests for the diagnosis of visceral and asymptomatic leishmaniasis in southern France, a region where leishmaniasis is endemic. Methodology: Serum samples from 75 patients living in Nice, France were retrospectively analyzed. They included patients affected by visceral leishmaniasis (VL; n = 25), asymptomatic carriers (AC; n = 25) and negative controls (n = 25). Each sample was tested using two immunochromatographic tests (ICT; IT LEISH® and TruQuick IgG/IgM®), an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and two Western Blotting (WB; LDBio BIORAD® and an in-house method). Results: Diagnosis of VL with IFAT and TruQuick® showed the highest diagnostic performance parameters. IFAT had 100% sensitivity and specificity, while TruQuick had 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Finally, the two tests showed high accuracy (100% for IFAT and 98% for TruQuick) for the AC group. WB LDBio® was the only method able to detect Leishmania latent infection, with a sensitivity of 92%, and a specificity of 100%, with a Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 93%. This performance is reflected in the high accuracy of the test. Conclusions: The data obtained with TruQuick® supports its application in the rapid diagnosis of leishmaniasis in endemic areas, a feature not shown by IFAT despite its high diagnostic performance. Regarding the diagnosis of asymptomatic leishmaniasis, the best results were obtained with WB LDBio®, confirming previous studies

Stage-Specific Sampling by Pattern Recognition Receptors during Candida albicans Phagocytosis

Candida albicans is a medically important pathogen, and recognition by innate immune cells is critical for its clearance. Although a number of pattern recognition receptors have been shown to be involved in recognition and phagocytosis of this fungus, the relative role of these receptors has not been formally examined. In this paper, we have investigated the contribution of the mannose receptor, Dectin-1, and complement receptor 3; and we have demonstrated that Dectin-1 is the main non-opsonic receptor involved in fungal uptake. However, both Dectin-1 and complement receptor 3 were found to accumulate at the site of uptake, while mannose receptor accumulated on C. albicans phagosomes at later stages. These results suggest a potential role for MR in phagosome sampling; and, accordingly, MR deficiency led to a reduction in TNF-α and MCP-1 production in response to C. albicans uptake. Our data suggest that pattern recognition receptors sample the fungal phagosome in a sequential fashion

RACISMO Y SEGREGACIÓN EN COLOMBIA: SALUD, EDUCACIÓN Y TRABAJO EN LA POBLACIÓN AFRODESCENDIENTE DEL PACÍFICO

This article seeks to analyze the evidence found through a bibliographic review, about the manifestation of racial segregation and vulnerability of Afro-descendants of the Colombian Pacific in the areas of employment, health and education. Likewise, the data and information found in each of the areas are contrasted with what is stated in the theories of Human Rights and the Center-Periphery theory that are analyzed throughout the article. The foregoing, to achieve a better understanding of how racism affects the full development of these human rights for this community, and to expose the differential dynamics that the Pacific experiences as a periphery compared to the country's large cities as centers. Finally, the conclusions on the relationship between skin color and geographic location with quality of life, socio-economic development and compliance with the human rights of this population are presented.Este artículo busca analizar las evidencias encontradas por medio de una revisión bibliográfica, acerca de la manifestación de la segregación racial y vulnerabilidad de los afrodescendientes del pacífico colombiano en las áreas de empleo, salud y educación. Así mismo, se contrastan los datos encontrados en cada una de las áreas con lo planteado en las teorías de Derechos Humanos y la teoría de Centro-Periferia que se analizan a lo largo del artículo. Lo anterior, en pro de lograr un mejor entendimiento sobre cómo el racismo afecta al desarrollo pleno de estos derechos humanos para esta comunidad, y exponer las dinámicas diferenciales que experimenta el Pacífico como periferia frente a las grandes ciudades del país como centros. Finalmente, se exponen las conclusiones sobre la relación existente entre el color de la piel y la ubicación geográfica con la calidad de vida, el desarrollo socioeconómico y el cumplimiento de los derechos humanos de esta población

Sistemas de protección individual anticaídas sometidos a impacto. Simulaciones numéricas

Personal fall protection systems are set up by EN-363 to avoid or retain people falls safely (without relevant damages). They are the ultimate resource to prevent a fall after other measures being considered. This paper analyses the variables affecting the system behaviour: free fall height, length of retaining rope, stiffness and damping of retaining material, and worker weight. To this end, fall phenomenon has been simulated with finite elements dynamic models with an elastic rope and a rigid ballast. It allows obtain likely values of maximum forces on the injured and over the system during the impact. Results demonstrate the fundamental role of height fall vs. rope length rate (fall factor), which results more important than the fall height itself. The severe values obtained for maximum forces show that future research would include elastoplastic energy absorbers to decrease impact until reasonable values.Los sistemas anticaída se establecen en UNE-EN-363 para evitar o retener caídas de personas sin que las fuerzas de retención causen daños relevantes. Constituyen el último recurso para prevención de caídas tras considerar otras medidas. Este artículo analiza las variables que afectan al comportamiento del sistema: altura de caída, longitud de cuerda de retención, rigidez y amortiguamiento del material de retención, y peso del operario. A tal fin, el fenómeno ha sido simulado con modelos dinámicos de elementos finitos mediante una cuerda elástica y un lastre rígido. Ello permite obtener valores verosímiles de las máximas fuerzas sobre el accidentado y el sistema durante el impacto. Los resultados demuestran el papel fundamental de la proporción entre altura de caída y longitud de cuerda (factor de caída), más determinante que la propia altura de caída. Las elevadas fuerzas máximas obtenidas indican la necesidad de incluir en el modelo absorbedores de energía elastoplásticos, en futuras investigaciones, con el fin de disminuir el impacto a valores razonables

Clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness of computerâ guided versus conventional implantâ retained hybrid prostheses: A longâ term retrospective analysis of treatment protocols

BackgroundComputerâ guided systems were developed to facilitate implant placement at optimal positions in relation to the future prosthesis. However, the time, cost and, technique sensitivity involved with computerâ guided surgery impedes its routine practice. The aim of this study is to evaluate survival rates and complications associated with computerâ guided versus conventional implant placement in implantâ retained hybrid prostheses. Furthermore, longâ term economic efficiency of this approach was assessed.MethodsPatients were stratified according to implant placement protocol into a test group, using computerâ guided placement, and a control group, using traditional placement. Calibrated radiographs were used to measure bone loss around implants. Furthermore, the costs of the initial treatment and prosthetic complications, if any, were standardized and analyzed.ResultsFortyâ five patients (149 implants in the test group and 111 implants in the control group) with a minimum followâ up of 5 years, and a mean followâ up of 9.6 years, were included in the study. While no significant difference was found between both groups in terms of biologic and technical complications, lower incidence of implant loss was observed in the test group (P  0.05).ConclusionsComputerâ guided implant placement for an implantâ supported hybrid prosthesis is a valid, reliable alternative to the traditional approach for implant placement and immediate loading. Computerâ guided implant placement showed higher implant survival rates and comparable longâ term cost to nonâ guided implant placement.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145504/1/jper10157.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145504/2/jper10157_am.pd

Las redes verticales de seguridad en la construcción de edificios. II

The first part of this paper (2) analyzed the behaviour of the spanish vertical safety net system, in view of the results of some previous experiments and predictions of a simplified mathematical model. From the first provisional conclussions there included, the subsequent research lines were suggested, whose results are included in this part: 1st.) The execution of experimental tests with instrumented safety devices to confirm and to precise the preliminar conclussions, and to calibrate a more complex mathematical model. 2nd.) The development of a numerical model able to implement the most important features of this safety system behaviour, and to come up a design tool. These conclussions will allow to perform a safe and adjusted design for this vertical safety net system, and probably for other similar ones.En la primera parte de este artículo (2) se analizó el funcionamiento del sistema español de redes verticales de seguridad a la luz de algunos ensayos previos y de un modelo matemático simplificado, que permitieron apreciar algunos defectos de diseño y establecer su corrección provisional. De las conclusiones iniciales sobre el diseño de estos dispositivos recogidas en la primera parte se dedujeron los pasos siguientes que deberían darse y que son recogidos en el presente artículo: 1ª) La realización de ensayos experimentales con instrumentación de estos dispositivos de seguridad, para confirmar y precisar las conclusiones del modelo simplificado propuesto entonces y para calibración de un modelo matemático más sofisticado. 2ª) El desarrollo de un modelo numérico que incorporase los aspectos más importantes del comportamiento del sistema y fuese capaz de convertirse en herramienta de diseño. Todo esto permitirá realizar un diseño seguro y ajustado para el sistema de redes verticales y, seguramente, para otros sistemas de seguridad

Genetic diversity and population structure of Leishmania infantum from Southeastern France : evaluation using Multi-Locus Microsatellite Typing

In the south of France, Leishmania infantum is responsible for numerous cases of canine leishmaniasis (CanL), sporadic cases of human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and rare cases of cutaneous and muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL and MCL, respectively). Several endemic areas have been clearly identified in the south of France including the Pyrenees-Orientales, Cevennes (CE), Provence (P), Alpes-Maritimes (AM) and Corsica (CO). Within these endemic areas, the two cities of Nice (AM) and Marseille (P), which are located 150 km apart, and their surroundings, concentrate the greatest number of French autochthonous leishmaniasis cases. In this study, 270 L. infantum isolates from an extended time period (1978-2011) from four endemic areas, AM, P, CE and CO, were assessed using Multi-Locus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT). MLMT revealed a total of 121 different genotypes with 91 unique genotypes and 30 repeated genotypes. Substantial genetic diversity was found with a strong genetic differentiation between the Leishmania populations from AM and P. However, exchanges were observed between these two endemic areas in which it seems that strains spread from AM to P. The genetic differentiations in these areas suggest strong epidemiological structuring. A model-based analysis using STRUCTURE revealed two main populations: population A (consisting of samples primarily from the P and AM endemic areas with MON-1 and non-MON-1 strains) and population B consisting of only MON-1 strains essentially from the AM endemic area. For four patients, we observed several isolates from different biological samples which provided insight into disease relapse and re-infection. These findings shed light on the transmission dynamics of parasites in humans. However, further data are required to confirm this hypothesis based on a limited sample set. This study represents the most extensive population analysis of L. infantum strains using MLMT conducted in France

Diurnal Differences in Intracellular Replication Within Splenic Macrophages Correlates With the Outcome of Pneumococcal Infection

Circadian rhythms affect the progression and severity of bacterial infections including those caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, but the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain largely elusive. Following advances in our understanding of the role of replication of S. pneumoniae within splenic macrophages, we sought to investigate whether events within the spleen correlate with differential outcomes of invasive pneumococcal infection. Utilising murine invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) models, here we report that infection during the murine active phase (zeitgeber time 15; 15h after start of light cycle, 3h after start of dark cycle) resulted in significantly faster onset of septicaemia compared to rest phase (zeitgeber time 3; 3h after start of light cycle) infection. This correlated with significantly higher pneumococcal burden within the spleen of active phase-infected mice at early time points compared to rest phase-infected mice. Whole-section confocal microscopy analysis of these spleens revealed that the number of pneumococci is significantly higher exclusively within marginal zone metallophilic macrophages (MMMs) known to allow intracellular pneumococcal replication as a prerequisite step to the onset of septicaemia. Pneumococcal clusters within MMMs were more abundant and increased in size over time in active phase-infected mice compared to those in rest phase-infected mice which decreased in size and were present in a lower percentage of MMMs. This phenomenon preceded significantly higher levels of bacteraemia alongside serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha concentrations in active phase-infected mice following re-seeding of pneumococci into the blood. These data greatly advance our fundamental knowledge of pneumococcal infection by linking susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal infection to variation in the propensity of MMMs to allow persistence and replication of phagocytosed bacteria. These findings also outline a somewhat rare scenario whereby the active phase of an organism's circadian cycle plays a seemingly counterproductive role in the control of invasive infection