diff --git a/src/fuzzy/relations/continuous/tnorm.py b/src/fuzzy/relations/continuous/tnorm.py
index e990283..d0f92dc 100644
--- a/src/fuzzy/relations/continuous/tnorm.py
+++ b/src/fuzzy/relations/continuous/tnorm.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class TNorm(Enum):
     DIF = "dif"
 
 
-class AlgebraicProduct(torch.nn.Module):  # TODO: remove this class
+class AlgebraicProduct(torch.nn.Module):
     """
     Implementation of the Algebraic Product t-norm (Fuzzy AND).
     """
diff --git a/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/abstract.py b/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/abstract.py
index faafbec..33d5ea0 100644
--- a/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/abstract.py
+++ b/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/abstract.py
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 import torch
 import torchquad
 import numpy as np
-import scienceplots
+
+# import scienceplots is used via plt.style.context(["science", "no-latex", "high-contrast"])
+import scienceplots  # noqa # pylint: disable=unused-import
 import matplotlib as mpl
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from torchquad.utils.set_up_backend import set_up_backend
@@ -46,7 +48,6 @@ def __init__(
         widths: np.ndarray,
         device: torch.device,
         use_sparse_tensor=False,
-        labels: List[str] = None,
     ):
         super().__init__()
         self.device = device
@@ -94,7 +95,6 @@ def __init__(
         #     ]
         # )
         self._mask = [self.make_mask(widths)]
-        self.labels = labels  # TODO: possibly remove this attribute
 
     def to(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ def __hash__(self):
         Returns:
             The hash of the fuzzy set.
         """
-        return hash((type(self), self.get_centers(), self.get_widths(), self.labels))
+        return hash((type(self), self.get_centers(), self.get_widths()))
 
     def get_centers(self) -> torch.Tensor:
         """
@@ -272,7 +272,6 @@ def save(self, path: Path):
         state_dict["centers"] = self.get_centers()  # concatenate the centers
         state_dict["widths"] = self.get_widths()  # concatenate the widths
         state_dict["mask"] = self.get_mask()  # currently not used
-        state_dict["labels"] = self.labels
         state_dict["class_name"] = self.__class__.__name__
         if ".pt" not in path.name and ".pth" not in path.name:
             raise ValueError(
@@ -325,12 +324,10 @@ def load(cls, path: Path, device: torch.device) -> "ContinuousFuzzySet":
         state_dict: MutableMapping = torch.load(path)
         centers = state_dict.pop("centers")
         widths = state_dict.pop("widths")
-        labels = state_dict.pop("labels")
         class_name = state_dict.pop("class_name")
         return cls.get_subclass(class_name)(
             centers=centers.cpu().detach().numpy(),
             widths=widths.cpu().detach().numpy(),
-            labels=labels,
             device=device,
         )
 
@@ -362,7 +359,7 @@ def extend(self, centers: torch.Tensor, widths: torch.Tensor, mode: str):
                 method_of_extension([self._widths[0], widths])
             )
 
-    def area_helper(self, fuzzy_sets) -> List[List[float]]:
+    def _area_helper(self, fuzzy_sets) -> List[List[float]]:
         """
         Splits the fuzzy set (if representing a fuzzy variable) into individual fuzzy sets (the
         fuzzy variable's possible fuzzy terms), and does so recursively until the base case is
@@ -429,7 +426,7 @@ def area(self) -> torch.Tensor:
             torch.Tensor
         """
         return torch.tensor(
-            self.area_helper(self), device=self.device, dtype=torch.float32
+            self._area_helper(self), device=self.device, dtype=torch.float32
         )
 
     def split_by_variables(self) -> Union[list, List[Type["ContinuousFuzzySet"]]]:
diff --git a/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/group.py b/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/group.py
index 9a5a734..b0c5132 100644
--- a/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/group.py
+++ b/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/group.py
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ def __init__(self, *args, modules_list=None, expandable=False, **kwargs):
             modules_list = []
         self.modules_list = torch.nn.ModuleList(modules_list)
         self.expandable = expandable
-        self.pruning = False
         self.epsilon = 1.5  # epsilon-completeness
         # keep track of minimums and maximums if for fuzzy set width calculation
         self.minimums: torch.Tensor = torch.empty(0, 0)
@@ -247,8 +246,12 @@ def expand(
                     self.minimums = minimums
                     self.maximums = maximums
                 else:
-                    self.minimums = torch.min(minimums, self.minimums).detach()
-                    self.maximums = torch.max(maximums, self.maximums).detach()
+                    self.minimums = torch.min(
+                        minimums, self.minimums
+                    ).detach()
+                    self.maximums = torch.max(
+                        maximums, self.maximums
+                    ).detach()
 
                 # find where the new centers should be added, if any
                 # LogGaussian was used, then use following to check for real membership degrees:
@@ -258,8 +261,8 @@ def expand(
                 #     ):
                 #         with torch.no_grad():
                 #             assert (
-                #                            module_responses.exp() * module_masks
-                #                    ).max().item() <= 1.0, "Membership degrees are not in the range [0, 1]."
+                #                    module_responses.exp() * module_masks
+                #             ).max().item() <= 1.0, "Memberships are not in the range [0, 1]."
 
                 exemplars: List[torch.Tensor] = []
 
@@ -295,7 +298,9 @@ def expand(
                 new_centers = torch.where(
                     self.calculate_module_responses(exemplars)
                     .degrees.exp()
-                    .max(dim=-1)  # TODO: assuming LogGaussian was used (exp)
+                    .max(
+                        dim=-1
+                    )  # TODO: assume LogGaussian is used (exp)  # pylint: disable=fixme
                     .values
                     < self.epsilon,
                     exemplars,
@@ -303,7 +308,7 @@ def expand(
                 )
 
                 if not new_centers.isnan().all():  # add new centers
-                    # TODO: this find_centers_and_widths call is problematic
+                    # TODO: find_centers_and_widths call is problematic  # pylint: disable=fixme
                     new_widths: torch.Tensor = find_widths(
                         data_point=new_centers.nan_to_num(0.0).mean(dim=0),
                         minimums=self.minimums,
@@ -337,14 +342,20 @@ def expand(
                         new_widths.transpose(0, 1).max(dim=-1, keepdim=True).values
                     )
 
-                    # TODO: this code does not work for torch.jit.script
+                    # TODO: this code does not work for torch.jit.script  # pylint: disable=fixme
                     # the following assumes only the first module is to be expanded
                     module = self.modules_list[0]
-                    module._centers.append(module.make_parameter(parameter=new_centers))
-                    module._widths.append(module.make_parameter(parameter=new_widths))
-                    module._mask.append(module.make_mask(widths=new_widths))
+                    module._centers.append(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+                        module.make_parameter(parameter=new_centers)
+                    )
+                    module._widths.append(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+                        module.make_parameter(parameter=new_widths)
+                    )
+                    module._mask.append(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+                        module.make_mask(widths=new_widths)
+                    )
 
-                    # TODO: this code does not work for torch.jit.script
+                    # TODO: this code does not work for torch.jit.script  # pylint: disable=fixme
                     # the following assumes an entire new module is to be added
                     # module_type = type(self.modules_list[0])  # cannot call type
                     # if issubclass(module_type, ContinuousFuzzySet):
@@ -425,7 +436,7 @@ def prune(self, module_type: Type[ContinuousFuzzySet]) -> None:
         collapsing the rest of the modules into a single module. This is done to reduce the
         number of torch.nn.Modules in the list for computational efficiency.
         """
-        if self.pruning and len(self.modules_list) > 5:
+        if len(self.modules_list) > 5:
             centers, widths = [], []
             for module in self.modules_list[1:]:
                 if module.centers.shape[-1] > 1:
@@ -458,7 +469,7 @@ def forward(self, observations) -> Membership:
             module_masks,
         ) = self.calculate_module_responses(observations)
 
-        # TODO: this code does not work for torch.jit.script
+        # TODO: this code does not work for torch.jit.script  # pylint: disable=fixme
         # self.expand(observations, module_responses, module_masks)
 
         return Membership(
diff --git a/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/impl.py b/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/impl.py
index 7054adf..c244dc6 100644
--- a/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/impl.py
+++ b/src/fuzzy/sets/continuous/impl.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Implements various membership functions by inheriting from ContinuousFuzzySet.
 """
 
-from typing import List, Union
+from typing import Union
 
 import sympy
 import torch
@@ -23,10 +23,9 @@ def __init__(
         centers=None,
         widths=None,
         width_multiplier: float = 1.0,  # in fuzzy logic, convention is usually 1.0, but can be 2.0
-        labels: List[str] = None,
         device: Union[str, torch.device] = torch.device("cpu"),
     ):
-        super().__init__(centers=centers, widths=widths, labels=labels, device=device)
+        super().__init__(centers=centers, widths=widths, device=device)
         self.width_multiplier = width_multiplier
         assert int(self.width_multiplier) in [1, 2]
 
@@ -220,10 +219,9 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         centers=None,
         widths=None,
-        labels: List[str] = None,
         device: Union[str, torch.device] = torch.device("cpu"),
     ):
-        super().__init__(centers=centers, widths=widths, labels=labels, device=device)
+        super().__init__(centers=centers, widths=widths, device=device)
 
     @property
     @torch.jit.ignore
@@ -371,10 +369,9 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         centers=None,
         widths=None,
-        labels: List[str] = None,
         device: Union[str, torch.device] = torch.device("cpu"),
     ):
-        super().__init__(centers=centers, widths=widths, labels=labels, device=device)
+        super().__init__(centers=centers, widths=widths, device=device)
 
     @staticmethod
     def internal_calculate_membership(
diff --git a/tests/test_sets/continuous/test_continuous.py b/tests/test_sets/continuous/test_continuous.py
index 3db469e..5c71668 100644
--- a/tests/test_sets/continuous/test_continuous.py
+++ b/tests/test_sets/continuous/test_continuous.py
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ def test_save_and_load(self) -> None:
                 )
             # except the saved state dict includes additional information not captured by
             # the original state dict, such as the class name and the labels
-            assert "labels" in saved_state_dict.keys()
             assert "class_name" in saved_state_dict.keys() and saved_state_dict[
                 "class_name"
             ] in (subclass.__name__ for subclass in ContinuousFuzzySet.__subclasses__())
@@ -95,7 +94,6 @@ def test_save_and_load(self) -> None:
                 assert torch.allclose(
                     membership_func.sigmas, loaded_membership_func.sigmas
                 )
-            assert membership_func.labels == loaded_membership_func.labels
             # check some functionality that it is still working
             assert torch.allclose(membership_func.area(), loaded_membership_func.area())
             assert torch.allclose(