Incorporating Fuzzy Logic in Object-Relational Mapping Layer for Flexible Medical Screenings

Abstract

Introduction of fuzzy techniques in database querying allows for flexible retrieval of information and inclusion of imprecise expert knowledge into the retrieval process. This is especially beneficial while analyzing collections of patients’ biomedical data, in which similar results of laboratory tests may lead to the same conclusions, diagnoses, and treatment scenarios. Fuzzy techniques for data retrieval can be implemented in various layers of database client-server architecture. However, since in the last decade, the development of real-life database applications is frequently based on additional object-relational mapping (ORM) layers, inclusion of fuzzy logic in data analysis remains a challenge. In this paper, we show our extensions to the Doctrine ORM framework that supply application developers with the possibility of fuzzy querying against collections of crisp data stored in relational databases. Performance tests prove that these extensions do not introduce a significant slowdown while querying data and can be successfully used in development of applications that benefit from fuzzy information retrieval.