The concept of contexts is widely used in artificial intelligence. Several recent attempts have been made to formalize multi-context systems (MCS) for ontology applications. However, these approaches are unable to handle probabilistic knowledge. This paper introduces a formal framework for representing and reasoning about uncertainty in multi-context systems (called p-MCS). Some important prope...

The minimally conscious state (MCS) defines a functional level of recovery following severe brain injuries. Patients in MCS demonstrate unequivocal evidence of response to their environment yet fail to recover the ability to communicate. Drawing on recent functional brain-imaging studies, pathological data, and neurophysiological investigations, models of brain function in MCS are proposed. MCS...

Multi-Context Systems (MCS) are instances of a nonmonotonic formalism for interlinking heterogeneous knowledge bases in a way such that the information flow is in equilibrium. Recently, algorithms for evaluating distributed MCS have been proposed which compute global system models, called equilibria, by local computation and model exchange. Unfortunately, they suffer from a bottleneck that stem...

Multiple mechanisms contribute to progressive cardiac dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI) and inflammation is an important mediator. Mast cells (MCs) trigger inflammation after MI by releasing bio-active factors that contribute to healing. c-Kit-deficient (Kit(W/W-v) ) mice have dysfunctional MCs and develop severe ventricular dilatation post-MI. We explored the role of MCs in post-MI ...

Literature data suggest that inflammatory cells such as mast cells (MCs) are involved in angiogenesis. MCs can stimulate angiogenesis by releasing of well identified pro-angiogenic cytokines stored in their cytoplasm. In particular, MCs can release tryptase, a potent in vivo and in vitro pro-angiogenic factor. Nevertheless, few data are available concerning the role of MCs positive to tryptase ...

In this multicentre study on multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) 291 consecutive environmental medicine (EM) outpatients were examined in several environmental medicine outpatient centres/units throughout Germany in 2000/2003. Of the EM outpatients, 89 were male (30.6%) and 202 were female (69.4%), aged 22-80 (mean 48 years, S.D.=12 years). The sample was representative for university-based env...

OBJECTIVE To determine the validity of new subjective memory complaints (MCs) from individuals who previously, when without dementia, denied having MCs. DESIGN Prospective cohort. SETTING Longitudinal, community-based study of aging and dementia. PATIENTS One hundred thirty-three community-dwelling elderly individuals who were part of a registry for the study of conditions related to agin...

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) frequently is used to treat medically refractory end-stage heart failure. Initially designed to be a bridge to transplantation, MCS also has proven itself as a durable therapy for patients who are not transplant candidates. As outcomes for patients with MCS have improved, research interest in device development has flourished, with many new device types unde...

Breast cancer is a common form of cancer diagnosed in women. Clustered microcalcifications(MCs) in mammograms is one of the important early sign. Their accurate detection is a key problem in computer aided detection (CDAe). In this paper, a novel approach based on the recently developed machine learning technique twin support vector machines (TWSVM) to detect MCs in mammograms. The ground truth...

Rationale. Pneumonia is a leading cause of postoperative complication. Objective. To examine trends, factors, and mortality of postoperative pneumonia following major cancer surgery (MCS). Methods. From 1999 to 2009, patients undergoing major forms of MCS were identified using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) subset, resulting in weighted 2...