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In recent years, the study of evaluative linguistic expressions has crossed the field of theoretical linguistics and has aroused interest in very different research areas such as artificial intelligence, psychology or cognitive linguistics. The interest in this type of expressions may be due to its relevance in applications such as opinion mining or sentiment analysis. This paper brings together Fuzzy Natural Logic and Fuzzy Property Grammars to approach evaluative expressions. Our contribution includes the marriage of mathematical and linguistic methods for providing a formalism to deal with the linguistic vagueness of evaluative expressions by describing the syntax and semantics of these structures. We contribute to the study of evaluative linguistic expressions by proposing a formal characterization of them where the concepts of semantic prime, borderline evaluative expressions and markedness are defined and where the relation between the semantic constraints of evaluations and their sentiment can be established. A proof-of-concept of how to create a lexicon of evaluative expressions for future computational applications is presented. The results demonstrate that linguistic evaluative expressions are gradient, have sentiment, and that the evaluations work as a relation of hypernym and hyponym, the hypernym being a semantic prime. Our findings provide the basis for building an ontology of evaluative expressions for future computational applications.

In [1], we gave reasons to focus on one of the possible future directions of fuzzylogic towards the concept of fuzzy natural logic (FNL). [...]

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of generalized quasiperiodic epileptiform discharges ("hurdles") observed in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep on cognitive function in children with intractable focal epilepsy. "Hurdles" pattern does not meet the criteria of the electrical status epilepticus in slow-wave sleep (ESES). METHODS In a retrospective analysis, 24 patients with "hurdles" and their 24 peers matched for demographic and epilepsy-related variables were compared in terms of neuropsychological domains and electroencephalography (EEG)-derived quantifiers. Both "hurdles" and controls were children between 2 and 19 years of age who had intractable focal epilepsy evaluated as candidates of resective epilepsy surgery. RESULTS Full-scale intelligence quotient/developmental quotient (FSIQ/DQ) (P = .002) and visuoconstructional skills (P = .004) were significantly lower in children with "hurdles" compared to controls. Patients with "hurdles" presented with higher interictal spike indexes in sleep (P

Objective: The autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disorder characterized by a defect in communication, social interaction and stereotype patterns of behavior. The etiology of ASD is probably heterogenous. EEG abnormalities were observed in autistic patients, but these findings are mostly based on the visual analysis and scarce studies used quantified EEG parameters. Changes in connectivity of various parts of brain cortex were described in some studies and that is why we decided to investigate an EEG measure which is capable to evaluate the connectivity: The coherence. Study aims are to, Assess the hypothesis of connectivity changes; Assess the impact of epileptiform discharges on neuropsychological development. Methods: We present a small study of 24 children with ASD who underwent complex neuropsychological, neurological, sleep video-EEG (whole night and part-day) and MRI of brain investigations. The video EEG and MRI data are compared with quasi-normal EEG and MRI data from the control group. The EEG data were evaluated by experienced EEG reader and then the parts of EEG in relaxed wakefulness were quantified in terms of inter-channel coherence in several EEG channels. Results: A coherence analysis across several EEG channels revealed a statistically significant correlation between inter hemispheric coherence of the rear temporal regions (T5-T6) at 16-31 Hz and Childhood Autism Rating Scale raw scores. Conclusion: The changes in connectivity measured by the coherence might be a part of pathophysiology of the ASD.

Background We aimed first to describe trends in cognitive performance over time in a large patient cohort (n = 203) from a single tertiary centre for paediatric epilepsy surgery over the period of 16 years divided in two (developing—pre-2011 vs. established—post-2011). Secondly, we tried to identify subgroups of epilepsy surgery candidates with distinctive epilepsy-related characteristics that associate with their pre- and post-surgical cognitive performance. Thirdly, we analysed variables affecting pre-surgical and post-surgical IQ/DQ and their change (post- vs. pre-surgical). Methods We analysed IQ/DQ data obtained using standardized neuropsychological tests before epilepsy surgery and one year post-surgically, along with details of patient’s epilepsy, epilepsy surgery and outcomes in terms of freedom from seizures. Using regression analysis, we described the trend in post-operative IQ/DQ. Cognitive outcomes and the associated epilepsy- and epilepsy surgery-related variables were compared between periods before and after 2011. Using multivariate analysis we analysed the effect of individual variables on pre- and post-operative IQ/DQ and its change. Results Epilepsy surgery tends to improve post-surgical IQ/DQ, most significantly in patients with lower pre-surgical IQ/DQ, and post-surgical IQ/DQ strongly correlates with pre-surgical IQ/DQ (Rho = 0.888, p p = 0.7, p = 0.469, p = 0.796, respectively). Patients with temporal or extratemporal epilepsy differed in their pre-surgical IQ/DQ (p = 0.001) and in IQ/DQ change (p = 0.002) from those with hemispheric epilepsy, with no significant difference in post-surgical IQ/DQ (p = 0.888). Groups of patients with different underlying histopathology showed significantly different pre- and post-surgical IQ/DQ (p p p = 0.345).Variables associated with severe epilepsy showed effect on cognitive performance in multivariate model. Discussion Post-surgical IQ/DQ strongly correlates with pre-surgical IQ/DQ and greatest IQ/DQ gain occurs in patients with lower pre-surgical IQ/DQ scores. Cognitive performance was not affected by changes in paediatric epilepsy surgery practice. Pre- and post-operative cognitive performances, as well as patients’ potential for cognitive recovery, are highly dependent on the underlying aetiology and epileptic syndrome.

This work deals with the user interface assessment of weariness and vigilance diagnosis. The goal of this work was to Establish the algorithm for assessment and statistical evaluation of mental performance effected, would vigilance. Individual tests are performed in graphic form and focus on memory and reaction time. Test results are stored in a structured database. The system compares the results in five age categories. It is one of the few instruments that are capable of analyzing objectively lack of sleep or sleep disorders occurrence. The application is designed for all ages, although older generation may be a problem with computer operation. The Measured medical information are statistically processed and compared with normal values selected group of people. The program was completed and tested on 92 people in collaboration with University Hospital Ostrava and were created classification groups.

Emotional states of humans and their impact on physiological and neurological characteristics are discussed in this paper. This problem is the goal of many teams who have dealt with this topic. Nowadays, it is necessary to increase the accuracy of methods for obtaining information about correlations between emotional state and physiological changes. To be able to record these changes, we focused on two majority emotional states. Studied subjects were psychologically stimulated to neutral - calm and then to the stress state. Electrocardiography, Electroencephalography and blood pressure represented neurological and physiological samples that were collected during patient’s stimulated conditions. Speech activity was recording during the patient was reading selected text. Feature extraction was calculated by speech processing operations. Classifier based on Gaussian Mixture Model was trained and tested using Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients extracted from the patient's speech. All measurements were performed in a chamber with electromagnetic compatibility. The article discusses a method for determining the influence of stress emotional state on the human and his physiological and neurological changes.

In clinical practice we often utilize measurements of psychic functions that help to determine diagnosis, disease stage but also favourable or unfavourable influences of the treatment. So called gnostic and executive psychic functions are important for the quality of life. The process of computer aided evaluation of the psychic functions is valuable especially from the reason of its acceleration and reduction in price. Higher degree of standardization seems to be another benefit of the computer aided evaluation. Within cooperation between the University Hospital Ostrava and the VSB Technical University of Ostrava we have developed software for measurement of the psychometric variables. A part of the research is also standardization of the results by a method of pilot testing within a group of healthy volunteers.

The results presented in this article introduce the possibility of software processing by image data from CT and MRI in clinical practice. It is important to work with the most accurate data in the diagnosis and further monitoring of the patient. Especially in case of the birth defects or post-traumatic conditions of head called Hydrocephalus, it is necessary to work with this data. A production increase of the cerebrospinal fluid, called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), causes bring intracranial pressure up. The oppression of the brain tissue has resulted of this procedure. The determination of CSF ratio to the skull in medical practice is used to improve diagnosis and monitoring before and after surgery in patients with Hydrocephalus diagnosed. Software was implemented in Matlab2006b using Image processing Toolbox. Next, the article also describes the design of hardware solutions to these methods of real-time image processing using FPGA programmable logic and genetic algorithm.

The CT and MRI image processing is a task with high requirement of computation time and computation speed. The calculation process in the most cases consists of various steps that are inherently parallel. There is opportunity to use parallel programming implemented in standard computer with more than one core. The more efficient way is to use real parallel signal processing. The only hardware that allows parallel data processing is FPGA. This article deals about this possibility. It is shown in the application on real problem in the image processing field. The first there is described the methodology of image processing in the application on CT (MRI) images of the head. The task is to count the ratio of intracranial fluid in the skull. It is important for child neurology diagnostic. The second part deals about the FPGA and its contribution to solving this task in the real parallel hardware system.

This paper deals with the usage possibilities of interactive web services for visualizing biomedical data measured with the possibility of complex mathematical algorithms for data processing. This possibility of data processing and evaluation is implemented using FPGA technology and link to existing databases and Web services. Interconnection of these technologies allows a large spectrum of users to quick access to evaluated biomedical data. This article discusses the possible topological solutions and implementation of that system.

The possibility of a flexible connection of various diagnostic equipment and seeking for correlations between recordings of different physiological functions is a powerful tool of diagnostics. There are many well-established interconnections, such as video-EEG or video-PSG. However, in some cases we need a combination of parameters “tailored” to the individual patient. Finding solutions for the patient is an interesting competence of the biomedical engineer/EEG technician.

The sensing of biological signals is very actual theme. Especially bioelectrical signals are commonly measured for the evaluating a health status of a man. This article is focused on the analysis and design of sensing electrodes by the use of unconventional materials for a long term bioelectric activity measurement with advanced capabilities in a transmission of signal, time-impedance stability and low half cell voltage. The advantages of this matter are in development also the electrodes to build up the sensing element for electrochemical matter detection. The possibility of glucose and cholesterol detection in cheap production process seems to be possible.