"Interactive Classification Technology"

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

deBessonet, Cary

1999-01-01

The investigators are upgrading a knowledge representation language called SL (Symbolic Language) and an automated reasoning system called SMS (Symbolic Manipulation System) to enable the technologies to be used in automated reasoning and interactive classification systems. The overall goals of the project are: a) the enhancement of the representation language SL to accommodate multiple perspectives and a wider range of meaning; b) the development of a sufficient set of operators to enable the interpreter of SL to handle representations of basic cognitive acts; and c) the development of a default inference scheme to operate over SL notation as it is encoded. As to particular goals the first-year work plan focused on inferencing and.representation issues, including: 1) the development of higher level cognitive/ classification functions and conceptual models for use in inferencing and decision making; 2) the specification of a more detailed scheme of defaults and the enrichment of SL notation to accommodate the scheme; and 3) the adoption of additional perspectives for inferencing.

A STUDY ON REASONS OF ERRORS OF OLD SURVEY MAPS IN CADASTRAL SYSTEM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanase, Norihiko

This paper explicates sources on survey map errors which were made in 19th century. The present cadastral system stands on registers and survey maps which were compiled to change the land taxation system in the Meiji era. Many Japanese may recognize the reasons why poor survey technique by farmers, too long measure to avoid heavy tax, careless official check and other deception made such errors of acreage from several to more than ten percent of area in survey maps. The author would like to maintain that such errors, called nawa-nobi, were lawful in accordance with the then survey regulation because of results to analyze old survey regulations, history of making maps and studies of cadastral system. In addition to, a kind of survey maps' errors should be pointed out a reason why the easy subdivision system which could approve without real survey and disposal of state property with inadequate survey.

The Kritzel System for handwriting interpretation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qian, G.

We present a new system for recognizing on-line cursive handwriting. The system, which is called the Kritzel System, has four features. First, the system characterizes handwriting as a sequence of feature vectors. Second, the system adapts to a particular writing style itself through a learning process. Third, the reasoning of the system is formulated in propositional logic with likelihoods. Fourth, the system can be readily linked with other English processing systems for lexical and contextual checking.

Development and Evaluation of Mechatronics Learning System in a Web-Based Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shyr, Wen-Jye

2011-01-01

The development of remote laboratory suitable for the reinforcement of undergraduate level teaching of mechatronics is important. For the reason, a Web-based mechatronics learning system, called the RECOLAB (REmote COntrol LABoratory), for remote learning in engineering education has been developed in this study. The web-based environment is an…

Expert system for analyzing eddy current measurements

DOEpatents

Levy, Arthur J.; Oppenlander, Jane E.; Brudnoy, David M.; Englund, James M.; Loomis, Kent C.

1994-01-01

A method and apparatus (called DODGER) analyzes eddy current data for heat exchanger tubes or any other metallic object. DODGER uses an expert system to analyze eddy current data by reasoning with uncertainty and pattern recognition. The expert system permits DODGER to analyze eddy current data intelligently, and obviate operator uncertainty by analyzing the data in a uniform and consistent manner.

Methods for solving reasoning problems in abstract argumentation – A survey

PubMed Central

Charwat, Günther; Dvořák, Wolfgang; Gaggl, Sarah A.; Wallner, Johannes P.; Woltran, Stefan

2015-01-01

Within the last decade, abstract argumentation has emerged as a central field in Artificial Intelligence. Besides providing a core formalism for many advanced argumentation systems, abstract argumentation has also served to capture several non-monotonic logics and other AI related principles. Although the idea of abstract argumentation is appealingly simple, several reasoning problems in this formalism exhibit high computational complexity. This calls for advanced techniques when it comes to implementation issues, a challenge which has been recently faced from different angles. In this survey, we give an overview on different methods for solving reasoning problems in abstract argumentation and compare their particular features. Moreover, we highlight available state-of-the-art systems for abstract argumentation, which put these methods to practice. PMID:25737590

Automated simulation as part of a design workstation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cantwell, Elizabeth; Shenk, T.; Robinson, P.; Upadhye, R.

1990-01-01

A development project for a design workstation for advanced life-support systems (called the DAWN Project, for Design Assistant Workstation), incorporating qualitative simulation, required the implementation of a useful qualitative simulation capability and the integration of qualitative and quantitative simulation such that simulation capabilities are maximized without duplication. The reason is that to produce design solutions to a system goal, the behavior of the system in both a steady and perturbed state must be represented. The Qualitative Simulation Tool (QST), on an expert-system-like model building and simulation interface toll called ScratchPad (SP), and on the integration of QST and SP with more conventional, commercially available simulation packages now being applied in the evaluation of life-support system processes and components are discussed.

Knowledge elicitation for an operator assistant system in process control tasks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boy, Guy A.

1988-01-01

A knowledge based system (KBS) methodology designed to study human machine interactions and levels of autonomy in allocation of process control tasks is presented. Users are provided with operation manuals to assist them in normal and abnormal situations. Unfortunately, operation manuals usually represent only the functioning logic of the system to be controlled. The user logic is often totally different. A method is focused on which illicits user logic to refine a KBS shell called an Operator Assistant (OA). If the OA is to help the user, it is necessary to know what level of autonomy gives the optimal performance of the overall man-machine system. For example, for diagnoses that must be carried out carefully by both the user and the OA, interactions are frequent, and processing is mostly sequential. Other diagnoses can be automated, in which the case the OA must be able to explain its reasoning in an appropriate level of detail. OA structure was used to design a working KBS called HORSES (Human Orbital Refueling System Expert System). Protocol analysis of pilots interacting with this system reveals that the a-priori analytical knowledge becomes more structured with training and the situation patterns more complex and dynamic. This approach can improve the a-priori understanding of human and automatic reasoning.

On the Embedded Complementarity of Agent-Based and Aggregate Reasoning in Students' Developing Understanding of Dynamic Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stroup, Walter M.; Wilensky, Uri

2014-01-01

Placed in the larger context of broadening the engagement with systems dynamics and complexity theory in school-aged learning and teaching, this paper is intended to introduce, situate, and illustrate--with results from the use of network supported participatory simulations in classrooms--a stance we call "embedded complementarity" as an…

Conversational Simulation in Computer-Assisted Language Learning: Potential and Reality.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coleman, D. Wells

1988-01-01

Addresses the potential of conversational simulations for computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and reasons why this potential is largely untapped. Topics discussed include artificial intelligence; microworlds; parsing; realism versus reality in computer software; intelligent tutoring systems; and criteria to clarify what kinds of CALL…

Intelligent Systems and Its Applications in Robotics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaynak, Okyay

The last decade of the last millennium is characterized by what might be called the intelligent systems revolution, as a result of which, it is now possible to have man made systems that exhibit ability to reason, learn from experience and make rational decisions without human intervention. Prof. Zadeh has coined the word MIQ (machine intelligence quotient) to describe a measure of intelligence of man-made systems. In this perspective, an intelligent system can be defined as a system that has a high MIQ.

Model-based reasoning for system and software engineering: The Knowledge From Pictures (KFP) environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bailin, Sydney; Paterra, Frank; Henderson, Scott; Truszkowski, Walt

1993-01-01

This paper presents a discussion of current work in the area of graphical modeling and model-based reasoning being undertaken by the Automation Technology Section, Code 522.3, at Goddard. The work was initially motivated by the growing realization that the knowledge acquisition process was a major bottleneck in the generation of fault detection, isolation, and repair (FDIR) systems for application in automated Mission Operations. As with most research activities this work started out with a simple objective: to develop a proof-of-concept system demonstrating that a draft rule-base for a FDIR system could be automatically realized by reasoning from a graphical representation of the system to be monitored. This work was called Knowledge From Pictures (KFP) (Truszkowski et. al. 1992). As the work has successfully progressed the KFP tool has become an environment populated by a set of tools that support a more comprehensive approach to model-based reasoning. This paper continues by giving an overview of the graphical modeling objectives of the work, describing the three tools that now populate the KFP environment, briefly presenting a discussion of related work in the field, and by indicating future directions for the KFP environment.

77 FR 39302 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGA Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-02

... Change Relating to New Market Access Risk Management Service, EdgeRisk Controls SM June 26, 2012... access risk management service, called EdgeRisk Controls\\SM\\ (the ``Service''). II. Self-Regulatory... and maintain a system of risk management controls and supervisory procedures that are reasonably...

Are EMS call volume predictions based on demand pattern analysis accurate?

PubMed

Brown, Lawrence H; Lerner, E Brooke; Larmon, Baxter; LeGassick, Todd; Taigman, Michael

2007-01-01

Most EMS systems determine the number of crews they will deploy in their communities and when those crews will be scheduled based on anticipated call volumes. Many systems use historical data to calculate their anticipated call volumes, a method of prediction known as demand pattern analysis. To evaluate the accuracy of call volume predictions calculated using demand pattern analysis. Seven EMS systems provided 73 consecutive weeks of hourly call volume data. The first 20 weeks of data were used to calculate three common demand pattern analysis constructs for call volume prediction: average peak demand (AP), smoothed average peak demand (SAP), and 90th percentile rank (90%R). The 21st week served as a buffer. Actual call volumes in the last 52 weeks were then compared to the predicted call volumes by using descriptive statistics. There were 61,152 hourly observations in the test period. All three constructs accurately predicted peaks and troughs in call volume but not exact call volume. Predictions were accurate (+/-1 call) 13% of the time using AP, 10% using SAP, and 19% using 90%R. Call volumes were overestimated 83% of the time using AP, 86% using SAP, and 74% using 90%R. When call volumes were overestimated, predictions exceeded actual call volume by a median (Interquartile range) of 4 (2-6) calls for AP, 4 (2-6) for SAP, and 3 (2-5) for 90%R. Call volumes were underestimated 4% of time using AP, 4% using SAP, and 7% using 90%R predictions. When call volumes were underestimated, call volumes exceeded predictions by a median (Interquartile range; maximum under estimation) of 1 (1-2; 18) call for AP, 1 (1-2; 18) for SAP, and 2 (1-3; 20) for 90%R. Results did not vary between systems. Generally, demand pattern analysis estimated or overestimated call volume, making it a reasonable predictor for ambulance staffing patterns. However, it did underestimate call volume between 4% and 7% of the time. Communities need to determine if these rates of over-and underestimation are acceptable given their resources and local priorities.

Faith and reason and physician-assisted suicide.

PubMed

Kaczor, Christopher

1998-08-01

Aquinas's conception of the relationship of faith and reason calls into question the arguments and some of the conclusions advanced in contributions to the debate on physician-assisted suicide by David Thomasma and H. Tristram Engelhardt. An understanding of the nature of theology as based on revelation calls into question Thomasma's theological argument in favor of physician-assisted suicide based on the example of Christ and the martyrs. On the other hand, unaided reason calls into question his assumptions about the nature of death as in some cases a good for the human person. Finally, if Aquinas is right about the relationship of faith and reason, Engelhardt's sharp contrast between "Christian" and "secular" approaches to physician-assisted suicide needs reconsideration, although his conclusions about physician-assisted suicide would find support.

Group Random Call Can Positively Affect Student In-Class Clicker Discussions.

PubMed

Knight, Jennifer K; Wise, Sarah B; Sieke, Scott

2016-01-01

Understanding how instructional techniques and classroom norms influence in-class student interactions has the potential to positively impact student learning. Many previous studies have shown that students benefit from discussing their ideas with one another in class. In this study of introductory biology students, we explored how using an in-class accountability system might affect the nature of clicker-question discussions. Clicker-question discussions in which student groups were asked to report their ideas voluntarily (volunteer call) were compared with discussions in which student groups were randomly selected to report their ideas (random call). We hypothesized that the higher-accountability condition (random call) would impress upon students the importance of their discussions and thus positively influence how they interacted. Our results suggest that a higher proportion of discussions in the random call condition contained exchanges of reasoning, some forms of questioning, and both on- and off-topic comments compared with discussion in the volunteer call condition. Although group random call does not impact student performance on clicker questions, the positive impact of this instructional approach on exchanges of reasoning and other features suggests it may encourage some types of student interactions that support learning. © 2016 J. K. Knight et al. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2016 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Space Transportation System Meteorological Expert

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beller, Arthur E.; Stafford, Sue P.

1987-01-01

The STS Meteorological Expert (STSMET) is a long-term project to acquire general Shuttle operational weather forecasting expertise specific to the launch locale, to apply it to Shuttle operational weather forecasting tasks at the Cape Canaveral Forecast Facility, and ultimately to provide an on-line real-time operational aid to the duty forecasters in performing their tasks. Particular attention is given to the development of an approach called scenario-based reasoning, with specific application to summer thunderstorms; this type of reasoning can also be applied to frontal weather phenomena, visibility including fog, and wind shear.

DERMA: A Melanoma Diagnosis Platform Based on Collaborative Multilabel Analog Reasoning

PubMed Central

Golobardes, Elisabet; Corral, Guiomar; Puig, Susana; Malvehy, Josep

2014-01-01

The number of melanoma cancer-related death has increased over the last few years due to the new solar habits. Early diagnosis has become the best prevention method. This work presents a melanoma diagnosis architecture based on the collaboration of several multilabel case-based reasoning subsystems called DERMA. The system has to face up several challenges that include data characterization, pattern matching, reliable diagnosis, and self-explanation capabilities. Experiments using subsystems specialized in confocal and dermoscopy images have provided promising results for helping experts to assess melanoma diagnosis. PMID:24578629

Are Extra Classes the Success behind High Performance and Marks?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santhi, N.

2011-01-01

Extra classes have been a fixture in the educational system in India. They pre-date all existing educational programmes and examinations. Yet more recently the justification and reasons for the maintenance of these classes have been called into question. There have been unsubstantiated claims that in some cases the classes have been…

77 FR 39300 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-02

... Change Relating to New Market Access Risk Management Service, EdgeRisk Controls SM June 26, 2012... access risk management service, called EdgeRisk Controls SM (the ``Service''). II. Self-Regulatory..., document and maintain a system of risk management controls and supervisory procedures that are reasonably...

Syllogistic reasoning in fuzzy logic and its application to usuality and reasoning with dispositions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zadeh, L. A.

1985-01-01

A fuzzy syllogism in fuzzy logic is defined to be an inference schema in which the major premise, the minor premise and the conclusion are propositions containing fuzzy quantifiers. A basic fuzzy syllogism in fuzzy logic is the intersection/product syllogism. Several other basic syllogisms are developed that may be employed as rules of combination of evidence in expert systems. Among these is the consequent conjunction syllogism. Furthermore, it is shown that syllogistic reasoning in fuzzy logic provides a basis for reasoning with dispositions; that is, with propositions that are preponderantly but not necessarily always true. It is also shown that the concept of dispositionality is closely related to the notion of usuality and serves as a basis for what might be called a theory of usuality - a theory which may eventually provide a computational framework for commonsense reasoning.

Model-based diagnostics for Space Station Freedom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fesq, Lorraine M.; Stephan, Amy; Martin, Eric R.; Lerutte, Marcel G.

1991-01-01

An innovative approach to fault management was recently demonstrated for the NASA LeRC Space Station Freedom (SSF) power system testbed. This project capitalized on research in model-based reasoning, which uses knowledge of a system's behavior to monitor its health. The fault management system (FMS) can isolate failures online, or in a post analysis mode, and requires no knowledge of failure symptoms to perform its diagnostics. An in-house tool called MARPLE was used to develop and run the FMS. MARPLE's capabilities are similar to those available from commercial expert system shells, although MARPLE is designed to build model-based as opposed to rule-based systems. These capabilities include functions for capturing behavioral knowledge, a reasoning engine that implements a model-based technique known as constraint suspension, and a tool for quickly generating new user interfaces. The prototype produced by applying MARPLE to SSF not only demonstrated that model-based reasoning is a valuable diagnostic approach, but it also suggested several new applications of MARPLE, including an integration and testing aid, and a complement to state estimation.

12 CFR 334.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 334.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 334.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 334.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 334.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

Learning and Reasoning in Unknown Domains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strannegård, Claes; Nizamani, Abdul Rahim; Juel, Jonas; Persson, Ulf

2016-12-01

In the story Alice in Wonderland, Alice fell down a rabbit hole and suddenly found herself in a strange world called Wonderland. Alice gradually developed knowledge about Wonderland by observing, learning, and reasoning. In this paper we present the system Alice In Wonderland that operates analogously. As a theoretical basis of the system, we define several basic concepts of logic in a generalized setting, including the notions of domain, proof, consistency, soundness, completeness, decidability, and compositionality. We also prove some basic theorems about those generalized notions. Then we model Wonderland as an arbitrary symbolic domain and Alice as a cognitive architecture that learns autonomously by observing random streams of facts from Wonderland. Alice is able to reason by means of computations that use bounded cognitive resources. Moreover, Alice develops her belief set by continuously forming, testing, and revising hypotheses. The system can learn a wide class of symbolic domains and challenge average human problem solvers in such domains as propositional logic and elementary arithmetic.

COLA: Optimizing Stream Processing Applications via Graph Partitioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khandekar, Rohit; Hildrum, Kirsten; Parekh, Sujay; Rajan, Deepak; Wolf, Joel; Wu, Kun-Lung; Andrade, Henrique; Gedik, Buğra

In this paper, we describe an optimization scheme for fusing compile-time operators into reasonably-sized run-time software units called processing elements (PEs). Such PEs are the basic deployable units in System S, a highly scalable distributed stream processing middleware system. Finding a high quality fusion significantly benefits the performance of streaming jobs. In order to maximize throughput, our solution approach attempts to minimize the processing cost associated with inter-PE stream traffic while simultaneously balancing load across the processing hosts. Our algorithm computes a hierarchical partitioning of the operator graph based on a minimum-ratio cut subroutine. We also incorporate several fusion constraints in order to support real-world System S jobs. We experimentally compare our algorithm with several other reasonable alternative schemes, highlighting the effectiveness of our approach.

Assessing the Growth of Ethical Banking: Some Evidence from Spanish Customers

PubMed Central

Callejas-Albiñana, Fernando E.; Martínez-Rodríguez, Isabel; Callejas-Albiñana, Ana I.; de Vidales-Carrasco, Irene M.

2017-01-01

Aristotle, who, having predated Adam Smith by 2000 years, deserves to be recognized as the world’s first economist (Solomon, 1995), distinguished between two different senses of what we call economics: oikonomikos, or household trading, which he approved of and considered essential to the working of any even slightly complex society, and chrematisike, or trade for profit, which he considered selfish and utterly devoid of virtue, calling those who engaged in such practices “parasites”. Of course, consumers do not purchase and invest for solely economic reasons (Polanyi, 1944). Interest in ethics in economics has been the subject of continuous study. In this regard, the recent financial crisis has had not only economic, but also social, psychological, political, and ethical consequences, which have impacted the financial and banking system. Consumers are no longer drawn only by the economic return but also by ethical factors. Ethical banking is on the rise. This paper aims to explain the reasons for the growth in ethical banking and to answer the following questions: can banking consumers-investors change the characterization of the banking system? Can ethical banking gain ground on traditional banking? And is ethical banking really effective? To this end, it will examine the Spanish case, using econometric causal regression models to identify the reasons why consumers decide to invest in ethical banking and determine its role in the Spanish economy. PMID:28596742

Assessing the Growth of Ethical Banking: Some Evidence from Spanish Customers.

PubMed

Callejas-Albiñana, Fernando E; Martínez-Rodríguez, Isabel; Callejas-Albiñana, Ana I; de Vidales-Carrasco, Irene M

2017-01-01

Aristotle, who, having predated Adam Smith by 2000 years, deserves to be recognized as the world's first economist (Solomon, 1995), distinguished between two different senses of what we call economics : oikonomikos , or household trading, which he approved of and considered essential to the working of any even slightly complex society, and chrematisike , or trade for profit, which he considered selfish and utterly devoid of virtue, calling those who engaged in such practices "parasites". Of course, consumers do not purchase and invest for solely economic reasons (Polanyi, 1944). Interest in ethics in economics has been the subject of continuous study. In this regard, the recent financial crisis has had not only economic, but also social, psychological, political, and ethical consequences, which have impacted the financial and banking system. Consumers are no longer drawn only by the economic return but also by ethical factors. Ethical banking is on the rise. This paper aims to explain the reasons for the growth in ethical banking and to answer the following questions: can banking consumers-investors change the characterization of the banking system? Can ethical banking gain ground on traditional banking? And is ethical banking really effective? To this end, it will examine the Spanish case, using econometric causal regression models to identify the reasons why consumers decide to invest in ethical banking and determine its role in the Spanish economy.

The metric system: An introduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lumley, Susan M.

On 13 Jul. 1992, Deputy Director Duane Sewell restated the Laboratory's policy on conversion to the metric system which was established in 1974. Sewell's memo announced the Laboratory's intention to continue metric conversion on a reasonable and cost effective basis. Copies of the 1974 and 1992 Administrative Memos are contained in the Appendix. There are three primary reasons behind the Laboratory's conversion to the metric system. First, Public Law 100-418, passed in 1988, states that by the end of fiscal year 1992 the Federal Government must begin using metric units in grants, procurements, and other business transactions. Second, on 25 Jul. 1991, President George Bush signed Executive Order 12770 which urged Federal agencies to expedite conversion to metric units. Third, the contract between the University of California and the Department of Energy calls for the Laboratory to convert to the metric system. Thus, conversion to the metric system is a legal requirement and a contractual mandate with the University of California. Public Law 100-418 and Executive Order 12770 are discussed in more detail later in this section, but first they examine the reasons behind the nation's conversion to the metric system. The second part of this report is on applying the metric system.

Minimally inconsistent reasoning in Semantic Web.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaowang

2017-01-01

Reasoning with inconsistencies is an important issue for Semantic Web as imperfect information is unavoidable in real applications. For this, different paraconsistent approaches, due to their capacity to draw as nontrivial conclusions by tolerating inconsistencies, have been proposed to reason with inconsistent description logic knowledge bases. However, existing paraconsistent approaches are often criticized for being too skeptical. To this end, this paper presents a non-monotonic paraconsistent version of description logic reasoning, called minimally inconsistent reasoning, where inconsistencies tolerated in the reasoning are minimized so that more reasonable conclusions can be inferred. Some desirable properties are studied, which shows that the new semantics inherits advantages of both non-monotonic reasoning and paraconsistent reasoning. A complete and sound tableau-based algorithm, called multi-valued tableaux, is developed to capture the minimally inconsistent reasoning. In fact, the tableaux algorithm is designed, as a framework for multi-valued DL, to allow for different underlying paraconsistent semantics, with the mere difference in the clash conditions. Finally, the complexity of minimally inconsistent description logic reasoning is shown on the same level as the (classical) description logic reasoning.

Minimally inconsistent reasoning in Semantic Web

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiaowang

2017-01-01

Reasoning with inconsistencies is an important issue for Semantic Web as imperfect information is unavoidable in real applications. For this, different paraconsistent approaches, due to their capacity to draw as nontrivial conclusions by tolerating inconsistencies, have been proposed to reason with inconsistent description logic knowledge bases. However, existing paraconsistent approaches are often criticized for being too skeptical. To this end, this paper presents a non-monotonic paraconsistent version of description logic reasoning, called minimally inconsistent reasoning, where inconsistencies tolerated in the reasoning are minimized so that more reasonable conclusions can be inferred. Some desirable properties are studied, which shows that the new semantics inherits advantages of both non-monotonic reasoning and paraconsistent reasoning. A complete and sound tableau-based algorithm, called multi-valued tableaux, is developed to capture the minimally inconsistent reasoning. In fact, the tableaux algorithm is designed, as a framework for multi-valued DL, to allow for different underlying paraconsistent semantics, with the mere difference in the clash conditions. Finally, the complexity of minimally inconsistent description logic reasoning is shown on the same level as the (classical) description logic reasoning. PMID:28750030

A comparison of calls subjected to a malpractice claim versus 'normal calls' within the Swedish healthcare direct: a case-control study.

PubMed

Ernesäter, Annica; Engström, Maria; Winblad, Ulrika; Holmström, Inger K

2014-10-03

The purpose of this study is to compare communication patterns in calls subjected to a malpractice claim with matched controls. In many countries, telephone advice nursing is patients' first contact with healthcare. Telenurses' assessment of callers' symptoms and needs are based on verbal communication only, and problems with over-triage and under-triage have been reported. A total sample of all reported medical errors (n=33) during the period 2003-2010 within Swedish Healthcare Direct was retrieved. Corresponding calls were thereafter identified and collected as sound files from the manager in charge at the respective call centres. For technical reasons, calls from four of the cases were not possible to retrieve. For the present study, matched control calls (n=26) based on the patient's age, gender and main symptom presented by the caller were collected. Male patients were in majority (n=16), and the most common reasons for calling were abdominal pain (n=10) and chest pain (n=5). There were statistically significant differences between the communication in the cases and controls: telenurses used fewer open-ended medical questions (p<0.001) in the cases compared to the control calls; callers provided telenurses with more medical information in the control calls compared to the cases (p=0.001); and telenurses used more facilitation and patient activation activities in the control calls (p=0.034), such as back-channel response (p=0.001), compared to the cases. The present study shows that telenurses in malpractice claimed calls used more closed-ended questioning compared to those in control calls, who used more open-ended questioning and back-channel response, which provided them with richer medical descriptions and more information from the caller. Hence, these communicative techniques are important in addition to solid medical and nursing competence and sound decision aid systems. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

An Expert System For Tuning Particle-Beam Accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lager, Darrel L.; Brand, Hal R.; Maurer, William J.; Searfus, Robert M.; Hernandez, Jose E.

1989-03-01

We have developed a proof-of-concept prototype of an expert system for tuning particle beam accelerators. It is designed to function as an intelligent assistant for an operator. In its present form it implements the strategies and reasoning followed by the operator for steering through the beam transport section of the Advanced Test Accelerator at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory's Site 300. The system is implemented in the language LISP using the Artificial Intelligence concepts of frames, daemons, and a representation we developed called a Monitored Decision Script.

17 CFR 248.125 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing..., such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt out methods that are not reasonable and...

17 CFR 248.125 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing..., such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt out methods that are not reasonable and...

17 CFR 248.125 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing..., such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt out methods that are not reasonable and...

17 CFR 248.125 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing..., such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt out methods that are not reasonable and...

17 CFR 248.125 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing..., such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 222.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 222.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 222.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 222.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

12 CFR 222.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing... by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and...

After the Fall: Continuity and Change in Detroit, 1981-1995.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mirel, Jeffrey

1998-01-01

Summarizes the crises and calls for change from 1981-1988 within the Detroit (Michigan) school system that led to the creation of the HOPE (Hayden, Olmstead, and Patrick for Education) coalition. Discusses the years the HOPE coalition headed the school board and the reasons for its failure. Addresses the implications for other cities. (CMK)

Gender in Schools and Culture: Taking Stock of Education in Italy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biemmi, Irene

2015-01-01

When politicians discuss Italy's position in terms of achieving equality between men and women, the school environment is rarely called into question or mentioned. This is despite the fact that gender inequality remains a prominent feature of the Italian education system. The reason for this failure to perceive the problem, and the consequent lack…

Dual processing and diagnostic errors.

PubMed

Norman, Geoff

2009-09-01

In this paper, I review evidence from two theories in psychology relevant to diagnosis and diagnostic errors. "Dual Process" theories of thinking, frequently mentioned with respect to diagnostic error, propose that categorization decisions can be made with either a fast, unconscious, contextual process called System 1 or a slow, analytical, conscious, and conceptual process, called System 2. Exemplar theories of categorization propose that many category decisions in everyday life are made by unconscious matching to a particular example in memory, and these remain available and retrievable individually. I then review studies of clinical reasoning based on these theories, and show that the two processes are equally effective; System 1, despite its reliance in idiosyncratic, individual experience, is no more prone to cognitive bias or diagnostic error than System 2. Further, I review evidence that instructions directed at encouraging the clinician to explicitly use both strategies can lead to consistent reduction in error rates.

"Clinical Reasoning Theater": A New Approach to Clinical Reasoning Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borleffs, Jan C. C.; Custers, Eugene J. F. M.; van Gijn, Jan; ten Gate, Olle Th. J.

2003-01-01

Describes a new approach to clinical reasoning education called clinical reasoning theater (CRT). With students as the audience, the doctor's clinical reasoning skills are modeled in CRT when he or she thinks aloud during conversations with the patient. Preliminary results of students' evaluations of the relevance of CRT reveal that they…

Formalization and Analysis of Reasoning by Assumption

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bosse, Tibor; Jonker, Catholijn M.; Treur, Jan

2006-01-01

This article introduces a novel approach for the analysis of the dynamics of reasoning processes and explores its applicability for the reasoning pattern called reasoning by assumption. More specifically, for a case study in the domain of a Master Mind game, it is shown how empirical human reasoning traces can be formalized and automatically…

Helping Students Develop Statistical Reasoning: Implementing a Statistical Reasoning Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garfield, Joan; Ben-Zvi, Dani

2009-01-01

This article describes a model for an interactive, introductory secondary- or tertiary-level statistics course that is designed to develop students' statistical reasoning. This model is called a "Statistical Reasoning Learning Environment" and is built on the constructivist theory of learning.

The Challenges to Coupling Dynamic Geospatial Models

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goldstein, N

2006-06-23

Many applications of modeling spatial dynamic systems focus on a single system and a single process, ignoring the geographic and systemic context of the processes being modeled. A solution to this problem is the coupled modeling of spatial dynamic systems. Coupled modeling is challenging for both technical reasons, as well as conceptual reasons. This paper explores the benefits and challenges to coupling or linking spatial dynamic models, from loose coupling, where information transfer between models is done by hand, to tight coupling, where two (or more) models are merged as one. To illustrate the challenges, a coupled model of Urbanizationmore » and Wildfire Risk is presented. This model, called Vesta, was applied to the Santa Barbara, California region (using real geospatial data), where Urbanization and Wildfires occur and recur, respectively. The preliminary results of the model coupling illustrate that coupled modeling can lead to insight into the consequences of processes acting on their own.« less

Representing Mutually Exclusive Knowledge in a Property Hierarchy for a Reasoning System in Clinical Gynecology

PubMed Central

Small, Steven L.; Muechler, Eberhard K.

1985-01-01

The education and practice of clinical medicine can benefit significantly from the use of computational assistants. This article describes the development of a prototype system called SURGES (Strong/University of Rochester Gynecological Expert System) for representing medical knowledge and then applying this knowledge to suggest diagnostic procedures in medical gynecology. The paper focuses on the representation technique of property inheritance, which facilitates the simple common sense reasoning required to enable execution of the more complex medical inferences. Such common sense can be viewed as a collection mundane inferences, which are the simple conclusions drawn from knowledge that an exclusive or (XOR) relation (i.e., mutual exclusion) holds among a number of facts. The paper discusses the use of a property hierarchy for this purpose and shows how it simplifies knowledge representation in medical artificial intelligence (AIM) computer systems.

Evaluating a web-based test results system at an urban STI clinic.

PubMed

Ling, Sarah B; Richardson, Douglas B; Mettenbrink, Christie J; Westergaard, Benton C; Sapp-Jones, Terri D; Crane, Lori A; Nyquist, Ann-Christine; McFarlane, Mary; Kachur, Rachel; Rietmeijer, Cornelis A

2010-04-01

Notifying patients of gonorrhea and chlamydia test results using online services may improve clinic efficiency and increase receipt of test results. This study evaluated the implementation of an online results system in an urban sexually transmitted infections clinic. Using the clinic's electronic medical records system to assess if and how gonorrhea and chlamydia test results were obtained, 3 time periods were examined between December 2007 and April 2009: period 1, six months before initiation of the online results system; Period 2, six months when patients could opt in for online results by creating their own access codes; and Period 3, four months when access codes were assigned. In addition, a survey was conducted to assess reasons for accepting or declining the online results system. A total of 9056 new patient visits were evaluated. During periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively 67%, 67%, and 70% patients received results either online or by telephone (NS). The proportion of patients calling the clinic for results decreased from 67% in period 1, to 51% in period 2, and 36% in period 3 (P < 0.0001). Survey results indicated that patients accepted online results primarily because of the ability to check results anytime of day. Reasons for not accepting results online included lack of Internet access or a preference to receive results via the telephone. The online results system decreased the number of phone calls to the clinic pertaining to STI test results, but had no effect on the overall proportion of patients receiving results.

Learning, remembering, and predicting how to use tools: Distributed neurocognitive mechanisms

PubMed Central

Buxbaum, Laurel J.

2016-01-01

The reasoning-based approach championed by Francois Osiurak and Arnaud Badets (Osiurak & Badets, 2016) denies the existence of sensory-motor memories of tool use except in limited circumstances, and suggests instead that most tool use is subserved solely by online technical reasoning about tool properties. In this commentary, I highlight the strengths and limitations of the reasoning-based approach and review a number of lines of evidence that manipulation knowledge is in fact used in tool action tasks. In addition, I present a “two route” neurocognitive model of tool use called the “Two Action Systems Plus (2AS+)” framework that posits a complementary role for online and stored information and specifies the neurocognitive substrates of task-relevant action selection. This framework, unlike the reasoning based approach, has the potential to integrate the existing psychological and functional neuroanatomic data in the tool use domain. PMID:28358565

An Integrated Way of Using a Tangible User Interface in a Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cuendet, Sébastien; Dehler-Zufferey, Jessica; Ortoleva, Giulia; Dillenbourg, Pierre

2015-01-01

Despite many years of research in CSCL, computers are still scarcely used in classrooms today. One reason for this is that the constraints of the classroom environment are neglected by designers. In this contribution, we present a CSCL environment designed for a classroom usage from the start. The system, called TapaCarp, is based on a tangible…

Real-time scheduling using minimum search

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tadepalli, Prasad; Joshi, Varad

1992-01-01

In this paper we consider a simple model of real-time scheduling. We present a real-time scheduling system called RTS which is based on Korf's Minimin algorithm. Experimental results show that the schedule quality initially improves with the amount of look-ahead search and tapers off quickly. So it sppears that reasonably good schedules can be produced with a relatively shallow search.

Comparison of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Transport Types and Delays on Patient Outcomes at Two Level I Trauma Centers.

PubMed

Nolan, Brodie; Tien, Homer; Sawadsky, Bruce; Rizoli, Sandro; McFarlan, Amanda; Phillips, Andrea; Ackery, Alun

2017-01-01

Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) have become an engrained component of trauma systems. In Ontario, transportation for trauma patients is through one of three ways: scene call, modified scene call, or interfacility transfer. We hypothesize that differences exist between these types of transports in both patient demographics and patient outcomes. This study compares the characteristics of patients transported by each of these methods to two level 1 trauma centers and assesses for any impact on morbidity or mortality. As a secondary outcome reasons for delay were identified. A local trauma registry was used to identify and abstract data for all patients transported to two trauma centers by HEMS over a 36-month period. Further chart abstraction using the HEMS patient care reports was done to identify causes of delay during HEMS transport. During the study period HEMS transferred a total of 911 patients of which 139 were scene calls, 333 were modified scene calls and 439 were interfacility transfers. Scene calls had more patients with an ISS of less than 15 and had more patients discharged home from the ED. Modified scene calls had more patients with an ISS greater than 25. The most common delays that were considered modifiable included the sending physician doing a procedure, waiting to meet a land EMS crew, delays for diagnostic imaging and confirming disposition or destination. Differences exist between the types of transports done by HEMS for trauma patients. Many identified reasons for delay to HEMS transport are modifiable and have practical solutions. Future research should focus on solutions to identified delays to HEMS transport. Key words: helicopter emergency medical services; trauma; prehospital care; delays.

Rheumatology telephone advice line - experience of a Portuguese department.

PubMed

Ferreira, R; Marques, A; Mendes, A; da Silva, J A

2015-01-01

Telephone helplines for patients are tool for information and advice. They can contribute to patient's satisfaction with care and to the effectiveness and safety of treatments. In order to achieve this, they need to be adequately adapted to the target populations, as to incorporate their abilities and expectations. a) Evaluate the adherence of patients to a telephone helpline managed by nurses in a Portuguese Rheumatology Department, b) Analyse the profile of users and their major needs, c) Analyse the management of calls by the nurses. The target population of this phone service are the patients treated at Day Care Hospital and Early Arthritis Clinic of our department. Nurses answered phone calls immediately between 8am and 4pm of working days. In the remaining hours messages were recorded on voice mail and answered as soon as possible. Details of the calls were registered in a dedicated sheet and patients were requested permission to use data to improve the service, with respect for their rights of confidentiality, anonymity and freedom of decision. In 18 months 173 calls were made by 79 patients, with a mean age of 47.9 years (sd=9.13). Considering the proportions of men and women in the target population, it was found that men called more frequently (M= 32.7% vs F= 20.4%, p=.016). The reasons for these calls can be divided into three categories: instrumental help, such as the request for results of complementary tests or rescheduling appointments (43.9% of calls); counselling on side effects or worsening of the disease/pain (31.2 %); counselling on therapy management (24.9%). Neither sex nor patient age were significantly related to these reasons for calling. Nurses resolved autonomously half (50.3%) of the calls and in 79.8% of the cases there was no need for patient referral to other health services. About a quarter of patients adhered to the telephone helpline.. Patients called to obtain support in the management of disease and therapy or to report side effects and/or symptom aggravation in addition to reasonable instrumental reasons. This suggests that this service may provide important health gains, in addition to comfort for the patient.

Anthropomorphic reasoning about neuromorphic AGI safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jilk, David J.; Herd, Seth J.; Read, Stephen J.; O'Reilly, Randall C.

2017-11-01

One candidate approach to creating artificial general intelligence (AGI) is to imitate the essential computations of human cognition. This process is sometimes called 'reverse-engineering the brain' and the end product called 'neuromorphic.' We argue that, unlike with other approaches to AGI, anthropomorphic reasoning about behaviour and safety concerns is appropriate and crucial in a neuromorphic context. Using such reasoning, we offer some initial ideas to make neuromorphic AGI safer. In particular, we explore how basic drives that promote social interaction may be essential to the development of cognitive capabilities as well as serving as a focal point for human-friendly outcomes.

Filtering SPAM in P2PSIP Communities with Web of Trust

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heikkilä, Juho; Gurtov, Andrei

Spam is a dominant problem on email systems today. One of the reasons is the lack of infrastructure for security and trust. As Voice over IP (VoIP) communication becomes increasingly popular, proliferation of spam calls is only a matter of time. As SIP identity scheme is practically similar to email, those share the same threats. We utilized Host Identity Protocol (HIP) to provide basic security, such as end-to-end encryption. To provide call filtering, however, other tools are needed. In this paper, we suggest applying trust paths familiar from the PGP web of trust to prevent unwanted communication in P2PSIP communities.

Faultfinder: A diagnostic expert system with graceful degradation for onboard aircraft applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Kathy H.; Schutte, Paul C.; Palmer, Michael T.; Ricks, Wendell R.

1988-01-01

A research effort was conducted to explore the application of artificial intelligence technology to automation of fault monitoring and diagnosis as an aid to the flight crew. Human diagnostic reasoning was analyzed and actual accident and incident cases were reconstructed. Based on this analysis and reconstruction, diagnostic concepts were conceived and implemented for an aircraft's engine and hydraulic subsystems. These concepts are embedded within a multistage approach to diagnosis that reasons about time-based, causal, and qualitative information, and enables a certain amount of graceful degradation. The diagnostic concepts are implemented in a computer program called Faultfinder that serves as a research prototype.

The experiences of frequent users of crisis helplines: A qualitative interview study.

PubMed

Middleton, Aves; Gunn, Jane; Bassilios, Bridget; Pirkis, Jane

2016-11-01

To understand why some users call crisis helplines frequently. Nineteen semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with callers to Lifeline Australia who reported calling 20 times or more in the past month and provided informed consent. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive thematic analysis was used to generate common themes. Approval was granted by The University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee. Three overarching themes emerged from the data and included reasons for calling, service response and calling behaviours. Respondents called seeking someone to talk to, help with their mental health issues and assistance with negative life events. When they called, they found short-term benefits in the unrestricted support offered by the helpline. Over time they called about similar issues and described reactive, support-seeking and dependent calling behaviours. Frequent users of crisis helplines call about ongoing issues. They have developed distinctive calling behaviours which appear to occur through an interaction between their reasons for calling and the response they receive from the helpline. The ongoing nature of the issues prompting frequent users to call suggests that a service model that includes a continuity of care component may be more efficient in meeting their needs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Other Voices: Expanding the Educational Conversation. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the South Atlantic Philosophy of Education Society (36th, Greenville, SC, October 4-5, 1991).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strandberg, Warren, Ed.

These proceedings include the following papers: "Reason and Romance in Argument and Conversation" (Margaret Buchman); "Conversation as a Romance of Reason: A Response to Margret Buchman" (James W. Garrison); "In Search of a Calling" (Thomas Buford); "Listening for the Call: A Response to Thomas Buford" (Peter Carbone); "Some Reconceptions in…

Expert system technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prince, Mary Ellen

1987-01-01

The expert system is a computer program which attempts to reproduce the problem-solving behavior of an expert, who is able to view problems from a broad perspective and arrive at conclusions rapidly, using intuition, shortcuts, and analogies to previous situations. Expert systems are a departure from the usual artificial intelligence approach to problem solving. Researchers have traditionally tried to develop general modes of human intelligence that could be applied to many different situations. Expert systems, on the other hand, tend to rely on large quantities of domain specific knowledge, much of it heuristic. The reasoning component of the system is relatively simple and straightforward. For this reason, expert systems are often called knowledge based systems. The report expands on the foregoing. Section 1 discusses the architecture of a typical expert system. Section 2 deals with the characteristics that make a problem a suitable candidate for expert system solution. Section 3 surveys current technology, describing some of the software aids available for expert system development. Section 4 discusses the limitations of the latter. The concluding section makes predictions of future trends.

[Possibilities and limitations of telemedicine in general practitioner practices].

PubMed

van den Berg, N; Meinke, C; Hoffmann, W

2009-09-01

According to the AGnES concept (general-practitioner-supporting, community-based, e-health-assisted systemic intervention), general practitioners (GPs) can delegate certain components of medical care in the context of home visits by qualified AGnES employees. Within the framework of six AGnES projects, different telemedical applications have been implemented. Telemedical monitoring of patients was implemented to analyse the feasibility and acceptance within GP practices. One hundred sixty-two patients used a telemedical monitoring system (e.g. scale/sphygmomanometer and intraocular pressure measurement system). Regarding communication in cases of acutely necessary GP consultations, telephone calls and videoconferences between the GP and the AGnES employee were analysed. Unscheduled telephone calls or videoconferences were necessary for only a few home visits; the reasons included pain, anomalous values, and medication problems. The main result of the analysis was that implementation of telemedicine in GP practices is feasible and is accepted both by patients and GPs.

Stress in dilute suspensions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Passman, Stephen L.

1989-01-01

Generally, two types of theory are used to describe the field equations for suspensions. The so-called postulated equations are based on the kinetic theory of mixtures, which logically should give reasonable equations for solutions. The basis for the use of such theory for suspensions is tenuous, though it at least gives a logical path for mathematical arguments. It has the disadvantage that it leads to a system of equations which is underdetermined, in a sense that can be made precise. On the other hand, the so-called averaging theory starts with a determined system, but the very process of averaging renders the resulting system underdetermined. A third type of theory is proposed in which the kinetic theory of gases is used to motivate continuum equations for the suspended particles. This entails an interpretation of the stress in the particles that is different from the usual one. Classical theory is used to describe the motion of the suspending medium. The result is a determined system for a dilute suspension. Extension of the theory to more concentrated systems is discussed.

Enhancing Critical Thinking Via a Clinical Scholar Approach.

PubMed

Simpson, Vicki; McComb, Sara A; Kirkpatrick, Jane M

2017-11-01

Safety, quality improvement, and a systems perspective are vital for nurses to provide quality evidence-based care. Responding to the call to prepare nurses with these perspectives, one school of nursing used a clinical scholar approach, enhanced by systems engineering to more intentionally develop the ability to clinically reason and apply evidence-based practice. A two-group, repeated-measures control trial was used to determine the effects of systems engineering content and support on nursing students' clinical judgment and critical thinking skills. Findings indicated this approach had a positive effects on student's clinical judgment and clinical reasoning skills. This approach helped students view health care issues from a broader perspective and use evidence to guide solution development, enhancing the focus on evidence-based practice, and quality improvement. Intentional integration of an evidence-based, systems perspective by nursing faculty supports development of nurses who can function safely and effectively in the current health care system. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(11):679-682.]. Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.

Calling and Career Preparation: Investigating Developmental Patterns and Temporal Precedence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hirschi, Andreas; Herrmann, Anne

2013-01-01

The presence of a calling and career development are assumed to be closely related. However, the nature of and reason for this relationship have not been thoroughly investigated. We hypothesized the existence of reciprocal effects between calling and three dimensions of career preparation and assessed the change of the presence of a calling,…

Designing Effective Supports for Causal Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jonassen, David H.; Ionas, Ioan Gelu

2008-01-01

Causal reasoning represents one of the most basic and important cognitive processes that underpin all higher-order activities, such as conceptual understanding and problem solving. Hume called causality the "cement of the universe" [Hume (1739/2000). Causal reasoning is required for making predictions, drawing implications and…

Socio-scientific reasoning influenced by identities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simonneaux, Laurence; Simonneaux, Jean

2009-09-01

Based on the comments by Lopez-Facal and Jiménez-Aleixandre, we consider that the cultural identities within Europe interfere with the question of the re-introduction of the Slovenian bear, generating a kind of "discrimination." When the SAQs under debate run against the students' systems of value, it seems that the closer the connection between the SAQs (socially acute questions) and the territorial and cultural identity, the more deeply the associated systems of values are affected; and the more the evidence is denied, the weaker the socio-scientific reasoning becomes. This result shows the importance of attempting to get the students to clarify the values underlying their socio-scientific reasoning. As Sadler observed, there was no transfer of socio-scientific reasoning on the three questions considered; each SAQ, as they are deeply related to social representations and identity, generated a specific line of reasoning balancing more or less each operation. Among various methods of teaching SAQs—problematizing, genetic, doctrinal and praxeological methods--socio-scientific reasoning may be a complex activity of problematization fostering the development of critical thinking. Confronted with the refusal to analyse the evidence in the case of the bear, and because of the nature of SAQs, we explore the notion of tangible proof. We think it relevant to study, together with the students, the processes of investigation used by the actors to establish or disestablish tangible proof on SAQs by analysing the intermediary states of the systems of proof, and possibly the "weak signals" which result in calling for the implementation of the precautionary principle.

iCBLS: An interactive case-based learning system for medical education.

PubMed

Ali, Maqbool; Han, Soyeon Caren; Bilal, Hafiz Syed Muhammad; Lee, Sungyoung; Kang, Matthew Jee Yun; Kang, Byeong Ho; Razzaq, Muhammad Asif; Amin, Muhammad Bilal

2018-01-01

Medical students should be able to actively apply clinical reasoning skills to further their interpretative, diagnostic, and treatment skills in a non-obtrusive and scalable way. Case-Based Learning (CBL) approach has been receiving attention in medical education as it is a student-centered teaching methodology that exposes students to real-world scenarios that need to be solved using their reasoning skills and existing theoretical knowledge. In this paper, we propose an interactive CBL System, called iCBLS, which supports the development of collaborative clinical reasoning skills for medical students in an online environment. The iCBLS consists of three modules: (i) system administration (SA), (ii) clinical case creation (CCC) with an innovative semi-automatic approach, and (iii) case formulation (CF) through intervention of medical students' and teachers' knowledge. Two evaluations under the umbrella of the context/input/process/product (CIPP) model have been performed with a Glycemia study. The first focused on the system satisfaction, evaluated by 54 students. The latter aimed to evaluate the system effectiveness, simulated by 155 students. The results show a high success rate of 70% for students' interaction, 76.4% for group learning, 72.8% for solo learning, and 74.6% for improved clinical skills. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficacy of a computerized system applied to central operating theatre for medical records collection.

PubMed

Yamamoto, K; Ogura, H; Furutani, H; Kitazoe, Y; Takeda, Y; Hirakawa, M

1986-01-01

A computer system operation is introduced, which has been in use since October 1981 at Kochi medical school as one of the integral sub-systems of the total hospital information system called IMIS. The system was designed from the beginning with the main purposes of obtaining better management of operations, and detailed medical records are included for before, during and after operations. It is shown that almost all operations except emergencies were managed using the computer system rather than the paper system. After presenting some of the results of the accumulated records we will discuss the reason for this high frequency of use of the computer system.

Encoding techniques for complex information structures in connectionist systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnden, John; Srinivas, Kankanahalli

1990-01-01

Two general information encoding techniques called relative position encoding and pattern similarity association are presented. They are claimed to be a convenient basis for the connectionist implementation of complex, short term information processing of the sort needed in common sense reasoning, semantic/pragmatic interpretation of natural language utterances, and other types of high level cognitive processing. The relationships of the techniques to other connectionist information-structuring methods, and also to methods used in computers, are discussed in detail. The rich inter-relationships of these other connectionist and computer methods are also clarified. The particular, simple forms are discussed that the relative position encoding and pattern similarity association techniques take in the author's own connectionist system, called Conposit, in order to clarify some issues and to provide evidence that the techniques are indeed useful in practice.

Using Medical Text Extraction, Reasoning and Mapping System (MTERMS) to Process Medication Information in Outpatient Clinical Notes

PubMed Central

Zhou, Li; Plasek, Joseph M; Mahoney, Lisa M; Karipineni, Neelima; Chang, Frank; Yan, Xuemin; Chang, Fenny; Dimaggio, Dana; Goldman, Debora S.; Rocha, Roberto A.

2011-01-01

Clinical information is often coded using different terminologies, and therefore is not interoperable. Our goal is to develop a general natural language processing (NLP) system, called Medical Text Extraction, Reasoning and Mapping System (MTERMS), which encodes clinical text using different terminologies and simultaneously establishes dynamic mappings between them. MTERMS applies a modular, pipeline approach flowing from a preprocessor, semantic tagger, terminology mapper, context analyzer, and parser to structure inputted clinical notes. Evaluators manually reviewed 30 free-text and 10 structured outpatient clinical notes compared to MTERMS output. MTERMS achieved an overall F-measure of 90.6 and 94.0 for free-text and structured notes respectively for medication and temporal information. The local medication terminology had 83.0% coverage compared to RxNorm’s 98.0% coverage for free-text notes. 61.6% of mappings between the terminologies are exact match. Capture of duration was significantly improved (91.7% vs. 52.5%) from systems in the third i2b2 challenge. PMID:22195230

Explicit tracking of uncertainty increases the power of quantitative rule-of-thumb reasoning in cell biology.

PubMed

Johnston, Iain G; Rickett, Benjamin C; Jones, Nick S

2014-12-02

Back-of-the-envelope or rule-of-thumb calculations involving rough estimates of quantities play a central scientific role in developing intuition about the structure and behavior of physical systems, for example in so-called Fermi problems in the physical sciences. Such calculations can be used to powerfully and quantitatively reason about biological systems, particularly at the interface between physics and biology. However, substantial uncertainties are often associated with values in cell biology, and performing calculations without taking this uncertainty into account may limit the extent to which results can be interpreted for a given problem. We present a means to facilitate such calculations where uncertainties are explicitly tracked through the line of reasoning, and introduce a probabilistic calculator called CALADIS, a free web tool, designed to perform this tracking. This approach allows users to perform more statistically robust calculations in cell biology despite having uncertain values, and to identify which quantities need to be measured more precisely to make confident statements, facilitating efficient experimental design. We illustrate the use of our tool for tracking uncertainty in several example biological calculations, showing that the results yield powerful and interpretable statistics on the quantities of interest. We also demonstrate that the outcomes of calculations may differ from point estimates when uncertainty is accurately tracked. An integral link between CALADIS and the BioNumbers repository of biological quantities further facilitates the straightforward location, selection, and use of a wealth of experimental data in cell biological calculations. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mixed-Initiative Activity Planning for Mars Rovers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bresina, John; Jonsson, Ari; Morris, Paul; Rajan, Kanna

2005-01-01

One of the ground tools used to operate the Mars Exploration Rovers is a mixed-initiative planning system called MAPGEN. The role of the system is to assist operators building daily plans for each of the rovers, maximizing science return, while maintaining rover safety and abiding by science and engineering constraints. In this paper, we describe the MAPGEN system, focusing on the mixed-initiative planning aspect. We note important challenges, both in terms of human interaction and in terms of automated reasoning requirements. We then describe the approaches taken in MAPGEN, focusing on the novel methods developed by our team.

METEOR - an artificial intelligence system for convective storm forecasting

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elio, R.; De haan, J.; Strong, G.S.

1987-03-01

An AI system called METEOR, which uses the meteorologist's heuristics, strategies, and statistical tools to forecast severe hailstorms in Alberta, is described, emphasizing the information and knowledge that METEOR uses to mimic the forecasting procedure of an expert meteorologist. METEOR is then discussed as an AI system, emphasizing the ways in which it is qualitatively different from algorithmic or statistical approaches to prediction. Some features of METEOR's design and the AI techniques for representing meteorological knowledge and for reasoning and inference are presented. Finally, some observations on designing and implementing intelligent consultants for meteorological applications are made. 7 references.

Reasoning about Users' Actions in a Graphical User Interface.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Virvou, Maria; Kabassi, Katerina

2002-01-01

Describes a graphical user interface called IFM (Intelligent File Manipulator) that provides intelligent help to users. Explains two underlying reasoning mechanisms, one an adaptation of human plausible reasoning and one that performs goal recognition based on the effects of users' commands; and presents results of an empirical study that…

Mortality in Code Blue; can APACHE II and PRISM scores be used as markers for prognostication?

PubMed

Bakan, Nurten; Karaören, Gülşah; Tomruk, Şenay Göksu; Keskin Kayalar, Sinem

2018-03-01

Code blue (CB) is an emergency call system developed to respond to cardiac and respiratory arrest in hospitals. However, in literature, no scoring system has been reported that can predict mortality in CB procedures. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of estimated APACHE II and PRISM scores in the prediction of mortality in patients assessed using CB to retrospectively analyze CB calls. We retrospectively examined 1195 patients who were evaluated by the CB team at our hospital between 2009 and 2013. The demographic data of the patients, diagnosis and relevant de-partments, reasons for CB, cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration, mortality calculated from the APACHE II and PRISM scores, and the actual mortality rates were retrospectively record-ed from CB notification forms and the hospital database. In all age groups, there was a significant difference between actual mortality rate and the expected mortality rate as estimated using APACHE II and PRISM scores in CB calls (p<0.05). The actual mortality rate was significantly lower than the expected mortality. APACHE and PRISM scores with the available parameters will not help predict mortality in CB procedures. Therefore, novels scoring systems using different parameters are needed.

Glucosinolate-Containing Seed Meal as a Soil Amendment to Control Plant Pests: 2000-2002

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, J.; Morra, M. J.

Plants may produce compounds that directly or indirectly affect their biological environment. These compounds fall within a broad category of compounds called allelochemicals, and are exclusive of food that influences growth, health, or behavior of other organisms (Whittaker and Feeney 1971). One reason for interest in allelochemicals is their potential for use in alternative pest management systems. Using plant-produced allelochemicals in agricultural and horticultural practices could minimize synthetic pesticide use, reduce the associated potential for environmental contamination, and contribute to a more sustainable agricultural system.

Ontology-based reusable clinical document template production system.

PubMed

Nam, Sejin; Lee, Sungin; Kim, James G Boram; Kim, Hong-Gee

2012-01-01

Clinical documents embody professional clinical knowledge. This paper shows an effective clinical document template (CDT) production system that uses a clinical description entity (CDE) model, a CDE ontology, and a knowledge management system called STEP that manages ontology-based clinical description entities. The ontology represents CDEs and their inter-relations, and the STEP system stores and manages CDE ontology-based information regarding CDTs. The system also provides Web Services interfaces for search and reasoning over clinical entities. The system was populated with entities and relations extracted from 35 CDTs that were used in admission, discharge, and progress reports, as well as those used in nursing and operation functions. A clinical document template editor is shown that uses STEP.

Medical evacuations from oil rigs off the Gulf Coast of the United States from 2008 to 2012: reasons and cost implications.

PubMed

Thibodaux, Donald P; Bourgeois, Robert M; Loeppke, Ronald R; Konicki, Doris L; Hymel, Pamela A; Dreger, Marianne

2014-07-01

To identify reasons for air medical evacuations from oil rigs/platforms. Retrospective review of data of medical calls from 102 rigs/platforms in the US Gulf Coast from 2008 through 2012 with specific analysis of medevacs. On average, 1609 total calls per year relating to illness or injury on the 102 oil rigs/platforms with 4% to 7% requiring medical air evacuation. On average, 77% of medevacs were for nonoccupational medical injury or illness. Illness, not occupational injuries, is identified as the major reason for medical evacuations from oil rigs. Heart disease is the leading cause of chronic health conditions resulting in a medevac.

In Praise of (Reasoned and Reasonable) Speculation: A Response to Robinson et al.'s Moratorium on Recommendations for Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alexander, Patricia A.

2013-01-01

In response to the call by Robinson et al. (25(2): 24-28, 2013) for a moratorium on recommendations for practice and policy in articles published in primary research journals, Alexander forwards four counterarguments that allow for what are termed reasoned and reasonable speculations. Among those counterarguments are the claim that (a) seeking…

12 CFR 717.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing consumers to... single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and simple. Reasonable and...

12 CFR 717.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing consumers to... single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and simple. Reasonable and...

12 CFR 717.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing consumers to... single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and simple. Reasonable and...

12 CFR 717.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing consumers to... single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and simple. Reasonable and...

12 CFR 717.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to opt out; or (v) Allowing consumers to... single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt-out methods that are not reasonable and simple. Reasonable and...

Cryogenic Eyesafer Laser Optimization for Use Without Liquid Nitrogen

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-01

liquid cryogens. This calls for optimal performance around 125–150 K—high enough for reasonably efficient operation of a Stirling cooler. We...state laser system with an optimum operating temperature somewhat higher—ideally 125–150 K—can be identified, then a Stirling cooler can be used to...needed to optimize laser performance in the desired temperature range. This did not include actual use of Stirling coolers, but rather involved both

Automated simulation as part of a design workstation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cantwell, E.; Shenk, T.; Robinson, P.; Upadhye, R.

1990-01-01

A development project for a design workstation for advanced life-support systems incorporating qualitative simulation, required the implementation of a useful qualitative simulation capability and the integration of qualitative and quantitative simulations, such that simulation capabilities are maximized without duplication. The reason is that to produce design solutions to a system goal, the behavior of the system in both a steady and perturbed state must be represented. The paper reports on the Qualitative Simulation Tool (QST), on an expert-system-like model building and simulation interface toll called ScratchPad (SP), and on the integration of QST and SP with more conventional, commercially available simulation packages now being applied in the evaluation of life-support system processes and components.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Friedman-Hill, Ernest

Java Expert Shell System - Jess - is a rule engine and scripting environment written entirely in Sun's Java language, Jess was orginially inspired by the CLIPS expert system shell, but has grown int a complete, distinct JAVA-influenced environment of its own. Using Jess, you can build Java applets and applications that have the capacity to "reason" using knowledge you supply in the form of declarative rules. Jess is surprisingly fast, and for some problems is faster than CLIPS, in that many Jess scripts are valid CLIPS scripts and vice-versa. Like CLIPS, Jess uses the Rete algorithm to process rules,more » a very efficient mechanism for solving the difficult many-to-many matching problem. Jess adds many features to CLIPS, including backwards chaining and the ability to manipulate and directly reason about Java objects. Jess is also a powerful Java scripting environment, from which you can create Java objects and call Java methods without compiling any Java Code.« less

Topics in Library Technology: Labeling Techniques *

PubMed Central

Truelson, Stanley D.

1966-01-01

Labels which do not fit on the spines of books should be placed on the upper rather than lower left corner of the front cover, because the upper corner becomes visible first when a volume is tilted from the shelf. None of the past methods of marking call numbers on the spines or covers of books—direct hand lettering by pen, brush, or stylus; affixing cold release characters; embossing by hot type; or gluing labels which are handlettered, typed, or printed—nor even present automatic data processing systems have offered all the advantages of the relatively new Se-Lin labeling system: legibility, reasonable speed of application, automatic protective covering, permanent bonding, and no need for a skilled letterer. Labels seem unaesthetic to some librarians, but their advantages outweigh this consideration. When only one or a few copies of the same call number are required, Se-Lin is the best system now available for libraries marking over 1,000 books a year. PMID:5901359

Elderly and Nonelderly Use of a Dedicated Ambulance Corps' Emergency Medical Services in Taiwan.

PubMed

Huang, Chien-Chia; Chen, Wei-Lung; Hsu, Chien-Chin; Lin, Hung-Jung; Su, Shih-Bin; Guo, How-Ran; Huang, Chien-Cheng; Chen, Pi-Ching

2016-01-01

Backgrounds and Aim. Taiwan's population is gradually aging; however, there are no comparative data on emergency medical services (EMS) use between the elderly and nonelderly. Methods. We analyzed the emergency calls dealt with between January 1 and April 4, 2014, by EMS in one city in Taiwan. All calls were divided into two groups: elderly (≥65 years) and nonelderly (<65 years). Nontransport and transport calls were compared between the groups for demographic characteristics, transport time, reasons for calling EMS, vital signs, and emergency management. Results. There were 1,001 EMS calls: 226 nontransport and 775 transport calls. The elderly accounted for significantly (P < 0.05) fewer (28 (9.2%)) nontransport calls than did the nonelderly (136 (21.4%)). In the transport calls, 276 (35.6%) were the elderly. The elderly had a higher proportion of histories for cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, cancer, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the elderly had significantly longer total transport time, more nontrauma reasons, and poorer consciousness levels and lower oxygen saturation and needed more respiratory management and more frequent resuscitation during transport than did the nonelderly. Conclusion. The elderly have more specific needs than do the nonelderly. Adapting EMS training, operations, and government policies to aging societies is mandatory and should begin now.

SSME fault monitoring and diagnosis expert system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ali, Moonis; Norman, Arnold M.; Gupta, U. K.

1989-01-01

An expert system, called LEADER, has been designed and implemented for automatic learning, detection, identification, verification, and correction of anomalous propulsion system operations in real time. LEADER employs a set of sensors to monitor engine component performance and to detect, identify, and validate abnormalities with respect to varying engine dynamics and behavior. Two diagnostic approaches are adopted in the architecture of LEADER. In the first approach fault diagnosis is performed through learning and identifying engine behavior patterns. LEADER, utilizing this approach, generates few hypotheses about the possible abnormalities. These hypotheses are then validated based on the SSME design and functional knowledge. The second approach directs the processing of engine sensory data and performs reasoning based on the SSME design, functional knowledge, and the deep-level knowledge, i.e., the first principles (physics and mechanics) of SSME subsystems and components. This paper describes LEADER's architecture which integrates a design based reasoning approach with neural network-based fault pattern matching techniques. The fault diagnosis results obtained through the analyses of SSME ground test data are presented and discussed.

Collaborative human-machine analysis using a controlled natural language

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mott, David H.; Shemanski, Donald R.; Giammanco, Cheryl; Braines, Dave

2015-05-01

A key aspect of an analyst's task in providing relevant information from data is the reasoning about the implications of that data, in order to build a picture of the real world situation. This requires human cognition, based upon domain knowledge about individuals, events and environmental conditions. For a computer system to collaborate with an analyst, it must be capable of following a similar reasoning process to that of the analyst. We describe ITA Controlled English (CE), a subset of English to represent analyst's domain knowledge and reasoning, in a form that it is understandable by both analyst and machine. CE can be used to express domain rules, background data, assumptions and inferred conclusions, thus supporting human-machine interaction. A CE reasoning and modeling system can perform inferences from the data and provide the user with conclusions together with their rationale. We present a logical problem called the "Analysis Game", used for training analysts, which presents "analytic pitfalls" inherent in many problems. We explore an iterative approach to its representation in CE, where a person can develop an understanding of the problem solution by incremental construction of relevant concepts and rules. We discuss how such interactions might occur, and propose that such techniques could lead to better collaborative tools to assist the analyst and avoid the "pitfalls".

Cross-sectional analysis of patient phone calls to an inflammatory bowel disease clinic.

PubMed

Corral, Juan E; Yarur, Andres J; Diaz, Liege; Simmons, Okeefe L; Sussman, Daniel A

2015-01-01

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) require close follow up and frequently utilize healthcare services. We aimed to identify the main reasons that prompted patient calls to gastroenterology providers and further characterize the "frequent callers". This retrospective cross-sectional study included all phone calls registered in medical records of IBD patients during 2012. Predictive variables included demographics, psychiatric history, IBD phenotype, disease complications and medical therapies. Primary outcome was the reason for call (symptoms, medication refill, procedures and appointment issues). Secondary outcome was the frequency of changes in management prompted by the call. 209 patients participated in 526 calls. The mean number of calls per patient was 2.5 (range 0-27); 49 (23.4%) patients met the criterion of "frequent caller". Frequent callers made or received 75.9% of all calls. Crohn's disease, anxiety, extra-intestinal manifestations and high sedimentation rate were significantly associated with higher call volume. 85.7% of frequent callers had at least one call that prompted a therapeutic intervention, compared to 18.9% of non-frequent callers (P<0.001). The most common interventions were ordering laboratory or imaging studies (15.4%), dose adjustments (12.1%), changes in medication class (8.4%), and expediting clinic visits (8.4%). Most phone calls originated from a minority of patients. Repeated calling by the same patient and new onset of gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI symptoms were important factors predicting the order of diagnostic modalities or therapeutic changes in care. Triaging calls to IBD healthcare providers for patients more likely to require a change in management may improve healthcare delivery.

47 CFR 4.9 - Outage reporting requirements-threshold criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... call load data for the same day(s) of the week and the same time(s) of day as the outage, and for a... where, for whatever reason, real-time and historic carried call load data are unavailable to the provider, even after a detailed investigation, the provider must determine the carried call load based on...

Unintentional Pharmaceutical-Related Medication Errors Caused by Laypersons Reported to the Toxicological Information Centre in the Czech Republic.

PubMed

Urban, Michal; Leššo, Roman; Pelclová, Daniela

2016-07-01

The purpose of the article was to study unintentional pharmaceutical-related poisonings committed by laypersons that were reported to the Toxicological Information Centre in the Czech Republic. Identifying frequency, sources, reasons and consequences of the medication errors in laypersons could help to reduce the overall rate of medication errors. Records of medication error enquiries from 2013 to 2014 were extracted from the electronic database, and the following variables were reviewed: drug class, dosage form, dose, age of the subject, cause of the error, time interval from ingestion to the call, symptoms, prognosis at the time of the call and first aid recommended. Of the calls, 1354 met the inclusion criteria. Among them, central nervous system-affecting drugs (23.6%), respiratory drugs (18.5%) and alimentary drugs (16.2%) were the most common drug classes involved in the medication errors. The highest proportion of the patients was in the youngest age subgroup 0-5 year-old (46%). The reasons for the medication errors involved the leaflet misinterpretation and mistaken dose (53.6%), mixing up medications (19.2%), attempting to reduce pain with repeated doses (6.4%), erroneous routes of administration (2.2%), psychiatric/elderly patients (2.7%), others (9.0%) or unknown (6.9%). A high proportion of children among the patients may be due to the fact that children's dosages for many drugs vary by their weight, and more medications come in a variety of concentrations. Most overdoses could be prevented by safer labelling, proper cap closure systems for liquid products and medication reconciliation by both physicians and pharmacists. © 2016 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society).

The Effects of Group Stereotypes on Adolescents' Reasoning about Peer Retribution.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pitner, Ronald O.; Astor, Ron Avi; Benbenishty, Rami; Haj-Yahia, Muhammad M.; Zeira, Anat

2003-01-01

Examined effects of negative group stereotypes on reasoning about peer retribution (child hits another child in response to name calling) among 2,604 Arab and Jewish adolescents in Israel. Found evidence that Arab and Jewish students hold stereotypes about one another and that in-group bias affected approval and reasoning about peer retribution…

Exploratory Talk, Argumentation and Reasoning in Mexican Primary School Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rojas-Drummond, Sylvia; Zapata, Margarita Peon

2004-01-01

The study analyses the effects of training primary school children in the use of a linguistic tool called "Exploratory Talk" (ET) on their capacity for argumentation. ET allows for reasoned confrontation and negotiation of points of view, making the reasoning visible in the talk. Eighty-eight Mexican children from the 5th and 6th grades…

The Design and Implementation of an In-Service EFL Teacher Training Model in the Costa Rican Public School System (El Diseño e Implementación de un Modelo de Capacitación para Docentes de Inglés en Servicio en la Educación Pública Costarricense)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Córdoba Cubillo, Patricia; Ramírez, Xinia Rodríguez; Hernández Gaubil, Tatiana

2015-01-01

In response to the challenges of the 21st century and to the need for students in the public school system to have a higher level of English proficiency, English was declared an issue of national interest in Costa Rica in 2008. For this reason, a decree called Multilingual Costa Rica was signed by the government, setting the stage for an…

Artificial Intelligence in Maintenance: Proceedings of the Joint Services Workshop Held at Boulder, Colorado on 4-6 October 1983.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-01

intelligence . I strongly suspect that we’ll use data links to Rome so we can take advantage of both of the computer systems. Again, we see the need for close... data base indexing system would come up with a hit on those three key words I’ve just said. What is it? The hit is "artificial intelligence ." (This...pieces of data and is not classificatory in nature. In MDX there is S an intelligent data base component, called PATREC [6, 7], for doing such reasoning

Ten Reasons to Still Keep the Focus on Teen Childbearing. Research Brief, Publication #2009-10

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holcombe, Emily; Peterson, Kristen; Manlove, Jennifer; Scarupa, Harriet J., Ed.

2009-01-01

In 2002, Child Trends drew on statistics and research findings to produce a report called "Ten Reasons to Keep the Focus on Teen Childbearing." That report took note of the steady decline in the nation's teenage pregnancy and childbearing rates, beginning in 1991, while citing multiple reasons to continue to be concerned about teen childbearing.…

Increasing tobacco quitline calls from pregnant african american women: the "one tiny reason to quit" social marketing campaign.

PubMed

Kennedy, May G; Genderson, Maureen Wilson; Sepulveda, Allison L; Garland, Sheryl L; Wilson, Diane Baer; Stith-Singleton, Rose; Dubuque, Susan

2013-05-01

Pregnant African American women are at disproportionately high risk of premature birth and infant mortality, outcomes associated with cigarette smoking. Telephone-based, individual smoking cessation counseling has been shown to result in successful quit attempts in the general population and among pregnant women, but "quitlines" are underutilized. A social marketing campaign called One Tiny Reason to Quit (OTRTQ) promoted calling a quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) to pregnant, African American women in Richmond, Virginia, in 2009 and was replicated there 2 years later. The campaign disseminated messages via radio, interior bus ads, posters, newspaper ads, and billboards. Trained volunteers also delivered messages face-to-face and distributed branded give-away reminder items. The number of calls made from pregnant women in the Richmond area during summer 2009 was contrasted with (a) the number of calls during the seasons immediately before and after the campaign, and (b) the number of calls the previous summer. The replication used the same evaluation design. There were statistically significant spikes in calls from pregnant women during both campaign waves for both types of contrasts. A higher proportion of the calls from pregnant women were from African Americans during the campaign. A multimodal quitline promotion like OTRTQ should be considered for geographic areas with sizable African American populations and high rates of infant mortality.

Increasing Tobacco Quitline Calls from Pregnant African American Women: The “One Tiny Reason to Quit” Social Marketing Campaign

PubMed Central

Genderson, Maureen Wilson; Sepulveda, Allison L.; Garland, Sheryl L.; Wilson, Diane Baer; Stith-Singleton, Rose; Dubuque, Susan

2013-01-01

Abstract Introduction Pregnant African American women are at disproportionately high risk of premature birth and infant mortality, outcomes associated with cigarette smoking. Telephone-based, individual smoking cessation counseling has been shown to result in successful quit attempts in the general population and among pregnant women, but “quitlines” are underutilized. A social marketing campaign called One Tiny Reason to Quit (OTRTQ) promoted calling a quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) to pregnant, African American women in Richmond, Virginia, in 2009 and was replicated there 2 years later. Methods The campaign disseminated messages via radio, interior bus ads, posters, newspaper ads, and billboards. Trained volunteers also delivered messages face-to-face and distributed branded give-away reminder items. The number of calls made from pregnant women in the Richmond area during summer 2009 was contrasted with (a) the number of calls during the seasons immediately before and after the campaign, and (b) the number of calls the previous summer. The replication used the same evaluation design. Results There were statistically significant spikes in calls from pregnant women during both campaign waves for both types of contrasts. A higher proportion of the calls from pregnant women were from African Americans during the campaign. Conclusion A multimodal quitline promotion like OTRTQ should be considered for geographic areas with sizable African American populations and high rates of infant mortality. PMID:23621745

Elderly and Nonelderly Use of a Dedicated Ambulance Corps' Emergency Medical Services in Taiwan

PubMed Central

Huang, Chien-Chia; Chen, Wei-Lung; Hsu, Chien-Chin; Lin, Hung-Jung; Su, Shih-Bin; Guo, How-Ran

2016-01-01

Backgrounds and Aim. Taiwan's population is gradually aging; however, there are no comparative data on emergency medical services (EMS) use between the elderly and nonelderly. Methods. We analyzed the emergency calls dealt with between January 1 and April 4, 2014, by EMS in one city in Taiwan. All calls were divided into two groups: elderly (≥65 years) and nonelderly (<65 years). Nontransport and transport calls were compared between the groups for demographic characteristics, transport time, reasons for calling EMS, vital signs, and emergency management. Results. There were 1,001 EMS calls: 226 nontransport and 775 transport calls. The elderly accounted for significantly (P < 0.05) fewer (28 (9.2%)) nontransport calls than did the nonelderly (136 (21.4%)). In the transport calls, 276 (35.6%) were the elderly. The elderly had a higher proportion of histories for cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, cancer, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the elderly had significantly longer total transport time, more nontrauma reasons, and poorer consciousness levels and lower oxygen saturation and needed more respiratory management and more frequent resuscitation during transport than did the nonelderly. Conclusion. The elderly have more specific needs than do the nonelderly. Adapting EMS training, operations, and government policies to aging societies is mandatory and should begin now. PMID:27478825

47 CFR 64.1513 - Verification of charitable status.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Section 64.1513 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) MISCELLANEOUS RULES RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS Interstate Pay-Per-Call and Other Information... provider of interstate pay-per-call services that the carrier knows or reasonably should know is engaged in...

Related factors in using a free breastfeeding hotline service in Taiwan.

PubMed

Wang, Shu-Fang; Chen, Chao-Huei; Chen, Chung-Hey

2008-04-01

This study aimed to examine the use of a free hotline service for breastfeeding mothers in Taiwan. Specific attention was given to the accumulated consultation time and to investigate the trends and reasons that prompted people to contact the service. Breastfeeding can be a difficult time for mothers, especially during the first two weeks after birth. It has been suggested that a telephone hotline service may be helpful for breastfeeding mothers. In this quantitative study data, including the demographic data and the problems of consultations, were gathered from callers during August 2003 to August 2005. Of the 2445 callers, 935 made subsequent calls (38.2%). Approximately 25.25 calls were answered each day by two specially-trained staff according to an answering book. The mean consultation time for single first-call was 21.82 minutes and for one subsequent-call was 15.87 minutes. Perceived insufficient milk supply (30%) and returning to work (21%) were the top two reasons for a first-call. If callers' problems were about babies' sickness, perceived insufficient milk supply, babies' body weight gain and supplement issues, the accumulated consultation time would last longer. More than half (53.3%; 1303/2445) of callers made the first-call during the first month after birth, followed by 23.2% (566/2445) during babies' age between one and three months old. The telephone hotline service for breastfeeding mothers in Taiwan was well used during the two year period of this study. Many mothers used the service repeatedly for a variety of reasons. Recommendations for breastfeeding support strategies for the professionals include category of common breastfeeding problems by different stages after birth. This study supports the establishment of free hotline services may encourage greater empowerment in breastfeeding mothers. Future studies are required to examine client satisfaction of the telephone service.

Force Developments. The Measurement of Effectiveness

DTIC Science & Technology

1973-01-01

such as start time and end time. Quotients include propot - tions, ratios, and percentages. In some cases a complex form may result in an index number...count of personnel casualties inflicted. Also called "personnel losses," "’ body count", "red casualties", "blue casualties", or "personnel kill." The...system of mechanics (i.e., the branch of physics that deals with motion and the action of forces on bodies ). It A is reasonable to conclude that the

Experience in highly parallel processing using DAP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parkinson, D.

1987-01-01

Distributed Array Processors (DAP) have been in day to day use for ten years and a large amount of user experience has been gained. The profile of user applications is similar to that of the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) working group. Experience has shown that contrary to expectations, highly parallel systems provide excellent performance on so-called dirty problems such as the physics part of meteorological codes. The reasons for this observation are discussed. The arguments against replacing bit processors with floating point processors are also discussed.

78 FR 76257 - Rural Call Completion

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-17

... FCC seeks comments on additional measures that may help the Commission ensure a reasonable and... calls. The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks public comment on additional measures intended to... signaling. In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), we seek comment on additional measures that...

Forbidding Undesirable Agreements: A Dependence-Based Approach to the Regulation of Multi-agent Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turrini, Paolo; Grossi, Davide; Broersen, Jan; Meyer, John-Jules Ch.

The purpose of this contribution is to set up a language to evaluate the results of concerted action among interdependent agents against predetermined properties that we can recognise as desirable from a deontic point of view. Unlike the standard view of logics to reason about coalitionally rational action, the capacity of a set of agents to take a rational decision will be restricted to what we will call agreements, that can be seen as solution concepts to a dependence structure present in a certain game. The language will identify in concise terms those agreements that act accordingly or disaccordingly with the desirable properties arbitrarily set up in the beginning, and will reveal, by logical reasoning, a variety of structural properties of this type of collective action.

[Calls due to suicidal behaviour made to the prehospital, emergency department in Málaga: characteristics and associated factors].

PubMed

Jiménez-Hernández, M; Castro-Zamudio, S; Guzmán Parra, J; Martínez-García, A I; Guillén-Benítez, C; Moreno-Küstner, B

2017-12-29

Suicidal behaviour (fatal and non-fatal) has become a serious public health problem in many countries. The aim of the study was to describe the differential characteristics of emergency calls due to suicidal behaviour made to the Emergency Coordinating Centre (CCUE) in the province of Málaga, in comparison with calls due to physical or psychiatric problems. Retrospective observational study of the calls recorded in the database of the Public Company for Emergency Health during one year. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out including age, gender and the following variables related with the demand: hours of the day, type of day (working days or bank holidays), months of the year and trimesters, number of resources mobilized and types of resolution. The analyses were carried out on 163,331 calls, of which 1,380 calls were due to suicidal behaviour (0.8%), 9,951 for psychiatric reasons (6.1%) and 152,000 for physical reasons (93%). The emergency calls for suicidal behaviour were mainly made by females, between 31-60 years, in the evening and at night, and required transfer to hospital and more than one mobilized resource. Calls due to completed suicide were more frequently made by older men. Calls due to suicidal tendencies predominated over those due to attempted or threatened suicide during the first trimester of the year, while the opposite was the case during the third trimester. The results indicated differential characteristics of suicide calls that are potentially relevant for prevention in spite of the limitations of the present study.

Reducing a Knowledge-Base Search Space When Data Are Missing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

James, Mark

2007-01-01

This software addresses the problem of how to efficiently execute a knowledge base in the presence of missing data. Computationally, this is an exponentially expensive operation that without heuristics generates a search space of 1 + 2n possible scenarios, where n is the number of rules in the knowledge base. Even for a knowledge base of the most modest size, say 16 rules, it would produce 65,537 possible scenarios. The purpose of this software is to reduce the complexity of this operation to a more manageable size. The problem that this system solves is to develop an automated approach that can reason in the presence of missing data. This is a meta-reasoning capability that repeatedly calls a diagnostic engine/model to provide prognoses and prognosis tracking. In the big picture, the scenario generator takes as its input the current state of a system, including probabilistic information from Data Forecasting. Using model-based reasoning techniques, it returns an ordered list of fault scenarios that could be generated from the current state, i.e., the plausible future failure modes of the system as it presently stands. The scenario generator models a Potential Fault Scenario (PFS) as a black box, the input of which is a set of states tagged with priorities and the output of which is one or more potential fault scenarios tagged by a confidence factor. The results from the system are used by a model-based diagnostician to predict the future health of the monitored system.

Architectural evaluation of dynamic and partial reconfigurable systems designed with DREAMS tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otero, Andrés.; Gallego, Ángel; de la Torre, Eduardo; Riesgo, Teresa

2013-05-01

Benefits of dynamic and partial reconfigurable systems are increasingly being more accepted by the industry. For this reason, SRAM-based FPGA manufacturers have improved, or even included for the first time, the support they offer for the design of this kind of systems. However, commercial tools still offer a poor flexibility, which leads to a limited efficiency. This is witnessed by the overhead introduced by the communication primitives, as well as by the inability to relocate reconfigurable modules, among others. For this reason, authors have proposed an academic design tool called DREAMS, which targets the design of dynamically reconfigurable systems. In this paper, main features offered by DREAMS are described, comparing them with existing commercial and academic tools. Moreover, a graphic user interface (GUI) is originally described in this work, with the aim of simplifying the design process, as well as to hide the low level device dependent details to the system designer. The overall goal is to increase the designer productivity. Using the graphic interface, different reconfigurable architectures are provided as design examples. Among them, both conventional slot-based architectures and mesh type designs have been included.

Generalized Birkhoffian representation of nonholonomic systems and its discrete variational algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shixing; Liu, Chang; Hua, Wei; Guo, Yongxin

2016-11-01

By using the discrete variational method, we study the numerical method of the general nonholonomic system in the generalized Birkhoffian framework, and construct a numerical method of generalized Birkhoffian equations called a self-adjoint-preserving algorithm. Numerical results show that it is reasonable to study the nonholonomic system by the structure-preserving algorithm in the generalized Birkhoffian framework. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11472124, 11572145, 11202090, and 11301350), the Doctor Research Start-up Fund of Liaoning Province, China (Grant No. 20141050), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2014M560203), and the General Science and Technology Research Plans of Liaoning Educational Bureau, China (Grant No. L2013005).

An intelligent tutoring system for space shuttle diagnosis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, William B.; Norton, Jeffrey E.; Duncan, Phillip C.

1988-01-01

An Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) transcends conventional computer-based instruction. An ITS is capable of monitoring and understanding student performance thereby providing feedback, explanation, and remediation. This is accomplished by including models of the student, the instructor, and the expert technician or operator in the domain of interest. The space shuttle fuel cell is the technical domain for the project described below. One system, Microcomputer Intelligence for Technical Training (MITT), demonstrates that ITS's can be developed and delivered, with a reasonable amount of effort and in a short period of time, on a microcomputer. The MITT system capitalizes on the diagnostic training approach called Framework for Aiding the Understanding of Logical Troubleshooting (FAULT) (Johnson, 1987). The system's embedded procedural expert was developed with NASA's C-Language Integrated Production (CLIP) expert system shell (Cubert, 1987).

ART-Ada: An Ada-based expert system tool

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, S. Daniel; Allen, Bradley P.

1990-01-01

The Department of Defense mandate to standardize on Ada as the language for software systems development has resulted in an increased interest in making expert systems technology readily available in Ada environments. NASA's Space Station Freedom is an example of the large Ada software development projects that will require expert systems in the 1990's. Another large scale application that can benefit from Ada based expert system tool technology is the Pilot's Associate (PA) expert system project for military combat aircraft. The Automated Reasoning Tool-Ada (ART-Ada), an Ada expert system tool, is explained. ART-Ada allows applications of a C-based expert system tool called ART-IM to be deployed in various Ada environments. ART-Ada is being used to implement several prototype expert systems for NASA's Space Station Freedom program and the U.S. Air Force.

ART-Ada: An Ada-based expert system tool

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, S. Daniel; Allen, Bradley P.

1991-01-01

The Department of Defense mandate to standardize on Ada as the language for software systems development has resulted in increased interest in making expert systems technology readily available in Ada environments. NASA's Space Station Freedom is an example of the large Ada software development projects that will require expert systems in the 1990's. Another large scale application that can benefit from Ada based expert system tool technology is the Pilot's Associate (PA) expert system project for military combat aircraft. Automated Reasoning Tool (ART) Ada, an Ada Expert system tool is described. ART-Ada allow applications of a C-based expert system tool called ART-IM to be deployed in various Ada environments. ART-Ada is being used to implement several prototype expert systems for NASA's Space Station Freedom Program and the U.S. Air Force.

Lexical Connection: Semiterm Grammatical Patterns in Spanish

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferrero, Carmen Lopez

2012-01-01

The aim of this article is to describe the grammatical patterns of a set of nouns frequently used in Spanish specialized discourse: the so-called "semiterms". The following nouns were selected for the study: "problema" "problem", "resultado" "result", "motivo" "motive/reason", "razon" "reason", and "consecuencia" "consequence". Apart from…

Development of a knowledge management system for complex domains.

PubMed

Perott, André; Schader, Nils; Bruder, Ralph; Leonhardt, Jörg

2012-01-01

Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German Air Navigation Service Provider, follows a systematic approach, called HERA, for investigating incidents. The HERA analysis shows a distinctive occurrence of incidents in German air traffic control in which the visual perception of information plays a key role. The reasons can be partially traced back to workstation design, where basic ergonomic rules and principles are not sufficiently followed by the designers in some cases. In cooperation with the Institute of Ergonomics in Darmstadt the DFS investigated possible approaches that may support designers to implement ergonomic systems. None of the currently available tools were found to be able to meet the identified user requirements holistically. Therefore it was suggested to develop an enhanced software tool called Design Process Guide. The name Design Process Guide indicates that this tool exceeds the classic functions of currently available Knowledge Management Systems. It offers "design element" based access, shows processual and content related topics, and shows the implications of certain design decisions. Furthermore, it serves as documentation, detailing why a designer made to a decision under a particular set of conditions.

Moral reasoning and personality traits.

PubMed

Mudrack, Peter E

2006-06-01

Moral reasoning should not be clearly associated with measures of personality traits. Although this assumption pervades the moral reasoning literature, it may not always be true. This paper provides evidence that moral reasoning, as assessed with P scores of the Defining Issues Test, is indeed positively associated with five traits from the California Psychological Inventory: Achievement via Independence, Intellectual Efficiency, Tolerance, Responsibility, and Capacity for Status. Such relationships make conceptual sense, shed light on the meaning and implications of moral reasoning, call into question prevailing assumptions in the literature, and may encourage investigators to broaden the types of research questions asked in the context of moral reasoning.

Women-specific mental disorders in DSM-V: are we failing again?

PubMed

Wittchen, Hans-Ulrich

2010-02-01

Despite a wealth of studies on differences regarding the biobehavioral and social-psychological bases of mental disorders in men and women and repeated calls for increased attention, women-specific issues have so far not been comprehensively addressed in past diagnostic classification systems of mental disorders. There is also increasing evidence that this situation will not change significantly in the upcoming revisions of ICD-11 and DSM-V. This paper explores reasons for this continued failure, highlighting three major barriers: the fragmentation of the field of women's mental health research, lack of emphasis on diagnostic classificatory issues beyond a few selected clinical conditions, and finally, the "current rules of game" used by the current DSM-V Task Forces in the revision process of DSM-V. The paper calls for concerted efforts of researchers, clinicians, and other stakeholders within a more coherent and comprehensive framework aiming at broader coverage of women-specific diagnostic classificatory issues in future diagnostic systems.

[A relational database to store Poison Centers calls].

PubMed

Barelli, Alessandro; Biondi, Immacolata; Tafani, Chiara; Pellegrini, Aristide; Soave, Maurizio; Gaspari, Rita; Annetta, Maria Giuseppina

2006-01-01

Italian Poison Centers answer to approximately 100,000 calls per year. Potentially, this activity is a huge source of data for toxicovigilance and for syndromic surveillance. During the last decade, surveillance systems for early detection of outbreaks have drawn the attention of public health institutions due to the threat of terrorism and high-profile disease outbreaks. Poisoning surveillance needs the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of harmonised data about poisonings from all Poison Centers for use in public health action to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve health. The entity-relationship model for a Poison Center relational database is extremely complex and not studied in detail. For this reason, not harmonised data collection happens among Italian Poison Centers. Entities are recognizable concepts, either concrete or abstract, such as patients and poisons, or events which have relevance to the database, such as calls. Connectivity and cardinality of relationships are complex as well. A one-to-many relationship exist between calls and patients: for one instance of entity calls, there are zero, one, or many instances of entity patients. At the same time, a one-to-many relationship exist between patients and poisons: for one instance of entity patients, there are zero, one, or many instances of entity poisons. This paper shows a relational model for a poison center database which allows the harmonised data collection of poison centers calls.

Knowledge engineering tools for reasoning with scientific observations and interpretations: a neural connectivity use case.

PubMed

Russ, Thomas A; Ramakrishnan, Cartic; Hovy, Eduard H; Bota, Mihail; Burns, Gully A P C

2011-08-22

We address the goal of curating observations from published experiments in a generalizable form; reasoning over these observations to generate interpretations and then querying this interpreted knowledge to supply the supporting evidence. We present web-application software as part of the 'BioScholar' project (R01-GM083871) that fully instantiates this process for a well-defined domain: using tract-tracing experiments to study the neural connectivity of the rat brain. The main contribution of this work is to provide the first instantiation of a knowledge representation for experimental observations called 'Knowledge Engineering from Experimental Design' (KEfED) based on experimental variables and their interdependencies. The software has three parts: (a) the KEfED model editor - a design editor for creating KEfED models by drawing a flow diagram of an experimental protocol; (b) the KEfED data interface - a spreadsheet-like tool that permits users to enter experimental data pertaining to a specific model; (c) a 'neural connection matrix' interface that presents neural connectivity as a table of ordinal connection strengths representing the interpretations of tract-tracing data. This tool also allows the user to view experimental evidence pertaining to a specific connection. BioScholar is built in Flex 3.5. It uses Persevere (a noSQL database) as a flexible data store and PowerLoom® (a mature First Order Logic reasoning system) to execute queries using spatial reasoning over the BAMS neuroanatomical ontology. We first introduce the KEfED approach as a general approach and describe its possible role as a way of introducing structured reasoning into models of argumentation within new models of scientific publication. We then describe the design and implementation of our example application: the BioScholar software. This is presented as a possible biocuration interface and supplementary reasoning toolkit for a larger, more specialized bioinformatics system: the Brain Architecture Management System (BAMS).

Knowledge engineering tools for reasoning with scientific observations and interpretations: a neural connectivity use case

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background We address the goal of curating observations from published experiments in a generalizable form; reasoning over these observations to generate interpretations and then querying this interpreted knowledge to supply the supporting evidence. We present web-application software as part of the 'BioScholar' project (R01-GM083871) that fully instantiates this process for a well-defined domain: using tract-tracing experiments to study the neural connectivity of the rat brain. Results The main contribution of this work is to provide the first instantiation of a knowledge representation for experimental observations called 'Knowledge Engineering from Experimental Design' (KEfED) based on experimental variables and their interdependencies. The software has three parts: (a) the KEfED model editor - a design editor for creating KEfED models by drawing a flow diagram of an experimental protocol; (b) the KEfED data interface - a spreadsheet-like tool that permits users to enter experimental data pertaining to a specific model; (c) a 'neural connection matrix' interface that presents neural connectivity as a table of ordinal connection strengths representing the interpretations of tract-tracing data. This tool also allows the user to view experimental evidence pertaining to a specific connection. BioScholar is built in Flex 3.5. It uses Persevere (a noSQL database) as a flexible data store and PowerLoom® (a mature First Order Logic reasoning system) to execute queries using spatial reasoning over the BAMS neuroanatomical ontology. Conclusions We first introduce the KEfED approach as a general approach and describe its possible role as a way of introducing structured reasoning into models of argumentation within new models of scientific publication. We then describe the design and implementation of our example application: the BioScholar software. This is presented as a possible biocuration interface and supplementary reasoning toolkit for a larger, more specialized bioinformatics system: the Brain Architecture Management System (BAMS). PMID:21859449

Applying Model-Based Reasoning to the FDIR of the Command and Data Handling Subsystem of the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robinson, Peter; Shirley, Mark; Fletcher, Daryl; Alena, Rick; Duncavage, Dan; Lee, Charles

2003-01-01

All of the International Space Station (ISS) systems which require computer control depend upon the hardware and software of the Command and Data Handling System (C&DH) system, currently a network of over 30 386-class computers called Multiplexor/Dimultiplexors (MDMs)[18]. The Caution and Warning System (C&W)[7], a set of software tasks that runs on the MDMs, is responsible for detecting, classifying, and reporting errors in all ISS subsystems including the C&DH. Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) of these errors is typically handled with a combination of automatic and human effort. We are developing an Advanced Diagnostic System (ADS) to augment the C&W system with decision support tools to aid in root cause analysis as well as resolve differing human and machine C&DH state estimates. These tools which draw from sources in model-based reasoning[ 16,291, will improve the speed and accuracy of flight controllers by reducing the uncertainty in C&DH state estimation, allowing for a more complete assessment of risk. We have run tests with ISS telemetry and focus on those C&W events which relate to the C&DH system itself. This paper describes our initial results and subsequent plans.

SHARP: Automated monitoring of spacecraft health and status

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atkinson, David J.; James, Mark L.; Martin, R. Gaius

1991-01-01

Briefly discussed here are the spacecraft and ground systems monitoring process at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Some of the difficulties associated with the existing technology used in mission operations are highlighted. A new automated system based on artificial intelligence technology is described which seeks to overcome many of these limitations. The system, called the Spacecraft Health Automated Reasoning Prototype (SHARP), is designed to automate health and status analysis for multi-mission spacecraft and ground data systems operations. The system has proved to be effective for detecting and analyzing potential spacecraft and ground systems problems by performing real-time analysis of spacecraft and ground data systems engineering telemetry. Telecommunications link analysis of the Voyager 2 spacecraft was the initial focus for evaluation of the system in real-time operations during the Voyager spacecraft encounter with Neptune in August 1989.

SHARP - Automated monitoring of spacecraft health and status

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atkinson, David J.; James, Mark L.; Martin, R. G.

1990-01-01

Briefly discussed here are the spacecraft and ground systems monitoring process at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Some of the difficulties associated with the existing technology used in mission operations are highlighted. A new automated system based on artificial intelligence technology is described which seeks to overcome many of these limitations. The system, called the Spacecraft Health Automated Reasoning Prototype (SHARP), is designed to automate health and status analysis for multi-mission spacecraft and ground data systems operations. The system has proved to be effective for detecting and analyzing potential spacecraft and ground systems problems by performing real-time analysis of spacecraft and ground data systems engineering telemetry. Telecommunications link analysis of the Voyager 2 spacecraft was the initial focus for evaluation of the system in real-time operations during the Voyager spacecraft encounter with Neptune in August 1989.

An Ontology-Based Reasoning Framework for Querying Satellite Images for Disaster Monitoring.

PubMed

Alirezaie, Marjan; Kiselev, Andrey; Längkvist, Martin; Klügl, Franziska; Loutfi, Amy

2017-11-05

This paper presents a framework in which satellite images are classified and augmented with additional semantic information to enable queries about what can be found on the map at a particular location, but also about paths that can be taken. This is achieved by a reasoning framework based on qualitative spatial reasoning that is able to find answers to high level queries that may vary on the current situation. This framework called SemCityMap, provides the full pipeline from enriching the raw image data with rudimentary labels to the integration of a knowledge representation and reasoning methods to user interfaces for high level querying. To illustrate the utility of SemCityMap in a disaster scenario, we use an urban environment-central Stockholm-in combination with a flood simulation. We show that the system provides useful answers to high-level queries also with respect to the current flood status. Examples of such queries concern path planning for vehicles or retrieval of safe regions such as "find all regions close to schools and far from the flooded area". The particular advantage of our approach lies in the fact that ontological information and reasoning is explicitly integrated so that queries can be formulated in a natural way using concepts on appropriate level of abstraction, including additional constraints.

An Ontology-Based Reasoning Framework for Querying Satellite Images for Disaster Monitoring

PubMed Central

Alirezaie, Marjan; Klügl, Franziska; Loutfi, Amy

2017-01-01

This paper presents a framework in which satellite images are classified and augmented with additional semantic information to enable queries about what can be found on the map at a particular location, but also about paths that can be taken. This is achieved by a reasoning framework based on qualitative spatial reasoning that is able to find answers to high level queries that may vary on the current situation. This framework called SemCityMap, provides the full pipeline from enriching the raw image data with rudimentary labels to the integration of a knowledge representation and reasoning methods to user interfaces for high level querying. To illustrate the utility of SemCityMap in a disaster scenario, we use an urban environment—central Stockholm—in combination with a flood simulation. We show that the system provides useful answers to high-level queries also with respect to the current flood status. Examples of such queries concern path planning for vehicles or retrieval of safe regions such as “find all regions close to schools and far from the flooded area”. The particular advantage of our approach lies in the fact that ontological information and reasoning is explicitly integrated so that queries can be formulated in a natural way using concepts on appropriate level of abstraction, including additional constraints. PMID:29113073

Do humans have two systems to track beliefs and belief-like states?

PubMed

Apperly, Ian A; Butterfill, Stephen A

2009-10-01

The lack of consensus on how to characterize humans' capacity for belief reasoning has been brought into sharp focus by recent research. Children fail critical tests of belief reasoning before 3 to 4 years of age (H. Wellman, D. Cross, & J. Watson, 2001; H. Wimmer & J. Perner, 1983), yet infants apparently pass false-belief tasks at 13 or 15 months (K. H. Onishi & R. Baillargeon, 2005; L. Surian, S. Caldi, & D. Sperber, 2007). Nonhuman animals also fail critical tests of belief reasoning but can show very complex social behavior (e.g., J. Call & M. Tomasello, 2005). Fluent social interaction in adult humans implies efficient processing of beliefs, yet direct tests suggest that belief reasoning is cognitively demanding, even for adults (e.g., I. A. Apperly, D. Samson, & G. W. Humphreys, 2009). The authors interpret these findings by drawing an analogy with the domain of number cognition, where similarly contrasting results have been observed. They propose that the success of infants and nonhuman animals on some belief reasoning tasks may be best explained by a cognitively efficient but inflexible capacity for tracking belief-like states. In humans, this capacity persists in parallel with a later-developing, more flexible but more cognitively demanding theory-of-mind abilities.

Time to End the Bias towards Inclusive Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Runswick-Cole, Katherine

2011-01-01

The UK coalition Government's call to end the "bias" towards inclusion represents a shift in "policy speak" as the new administration attempts to re-narrate special education by putting forward a "reasonable and sensible" solution to the "problem of inclusion". However, implicit in the call is the assumption…

Heuristic Biases in Mathematical Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Inglis, Matthew; Simpson, Adrian

2005-01-01

In this paper we briefly describe the dual process account of reasoning, and explain the role of heuristic biases in human thought. Concentrating on the so-called matching bias effect, we describe a piece of research that indicates a correlation between success at advanced level mathematics and an ability to override innate and misleading…

The Reasoning behind Informal Statistical Inference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Makar, Katie; Bakker, Arthur; Ben-Zvi, Dani

2011-01-01

Informal statistical inference (ISI) has been a frequent focus of recent research in statistics education. Considering the role that context plays in developing ISI calls into question the need to be more explicit about the reasoning that underpins ISI. This paper uses educational literature on informal statistical inference and philosophical…

Artificial intelligence for multi-mission planetary operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atkinson, David J.; Lawson, Denise L.; James, Mark L.

1990-01-01

A brief introduction is given to an automated system called the Spacecraft Health Automated Reasoning Prototype (SHARP). SHARP is designed to demonstrate automated health and status analysis for multi-mission spacecraft and ground data systems operations. The SHARP system combines conventional computer science methodologies with artificial intelligence techniques to produce an effective method for detecting and analyzing potential spacecraft and ground systems problems. The system performs real-time analysis of spacecraft and other related telemetry, and is also capable of examining data in historical context. Telecommunications link analysis of the Voyager II spacecraft is the initial focus for evaluation of the prototype in a real-time operations setting during the Voyager spacecraft encounter with Neptune in August, 1989. The preliminary results of the SHARP project and plans for future application of the technology are discussed.

Reinforcement learning for resource allocation in LEO satellite networks.

PubMed

Usaha, Wipawee; Barria, Javier A

2007-06-01

In this paper, we develop and assess online decision-making algorithms for call admission and routing for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks. It has been shown in a recent paper that, in a LEO satellite system, a semi-Markov decision process formulation of the call admission and routing problem can achieve better performance in terms of an average revenue function than existing routing methods. However, the conventional dynamic programming (DP) numerical solution becomes prohibited as the problem size increases. In this paper, two solution methods based on reinforcement learning (RL) are proposed in order to circumvent the computational burden of DP. The first method is based on an actor-critic method with temporal-difference (TD) learning. The second method is based on a critic-only method, called optimistic TD learning. The algorithms enhance performance in terms of requirements in storage, computational complexity and computational time, and in terms of an overall long-term average revenue function that penalizes blocked calls. Numerical studies are carried out, and the results obtained show that the RL framework can achieve up to 56% higher average revenue over existing routing methods used in LEO satellite networks with reasonable storage and computational requirements.

Family Interaction and Consensus with IT Support.

PubMed

Karlsudd, Peter

2012-01-01

Experience shows that there are great defects in information and collaboration between families and professionals in the health and care sector. In an attempt to improve the quality of the efforts planned and implemented in collaboration with relatives a family-related IT-based collaboration system called CIDC was constructed. With the intention to facilitate communication, information, documentation, and collaboration the system was tested together with parents of children with cognitive impairment. The system contains a number of functions gathered in a so-called e-collaboration room. The person administering and distributing the system authorizes the patient/care recipient or relative to build up an e-collaboration room. The result has been largely positive, but the part, which was supposed to document everyday activities, leaves much to be desired. For this reason a follow-up study was completed, and an iPad was used as a contact book, which with the help of the Dropbox software provided increased insight into the child and improved the contact with parents without losing confidentiality or causing extra workload for the staff. By automatic download from the iPad parents and/or contact persons could easily follow the documentation of children's everyday activities.

Biophoton signal transmission and processing in the brain.

PubMed

Tang, Rendong; Dai, Jiapei

2014-10-05

The transmission and processing of neural information in the nervous system plays a key role in neural functions. It is well accepted that neural communication is mediated by bioelectricity and chemical molecules via the processes called bioelectrical and chemical transmission, respectively. Indeed, the traditional theories seem to give valuable explanations for the basic functions of the nervous system, but difficult to construct general accepted concepts or principles to provide reasonable explanations of higher brain functions and mental activities, such as perception, learning and memory, emotion and consciousness. Therefore, many unanswered questions and debates over the neural encoding and mechanisms of neuronal networks remain. Cell to cell communication by biophotons, also called ultra-weak photon emissions, has been demonstrated in several plants, bacteria and certain animal cells. Recently, both experimental evidence and theoretical speculation have suggested that biophotons may play a potential role in neural signal transmission and processing, contributing to the understanding of the high functions of nervous system. In this paper, we review the relevant experimental findings and discuss the possible underlying mechanisms of biophoton signal transmission and processing in the nervous system. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Exploring a New Simulation Approach to Improve Clinical Reasoning Teaching and Assessment: Randomized Trial Protocol

PubMed Central

Moussa, Ahmed; Loye, Nathalie; Charlin, Bernard; Audétat, Marie-Claude

2016-01-01

Background Helping trainees develop appropriate clinical reasoning abilities is a challenging goal in an environment where clinical situations are marked by high levels of complexity and unpredictability. The benefit of simulation-based education to assess clinical reasoning skills has rarely been reported. More specifically, it is unclear if clinical reasoning is better acquired if the instructor's input occurs entirely after or is integrated during the scenario. Based on educational principles of the dual-process theory of clinical reasoning, a new simulation approach called simulation with iterative discussions (SID) is introduced. The instructor interrupts the flow of the scenario at three key moments of the reasoning process (data gathering, integration, and confirmation). After each stop, the scenario is continued where it was interrupted. Finally, a brief general debriefing ends the session. System-1 process of clinical reasoning is assessed by verbalization during management of the case, and System-2 during the iterative discussions without providing feedback. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Simulation with Iterative Discussions versus the classical approach of simulation in developing reasoning skills of General Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine residents. Methods This will be a prospective exploratory, randomized study conducted at Sainte-Justine hospital in Montreal, Qc, between January and March 2016. All post-graduate year (PGY) 1 to 6 residents will be invited to complete one SID or classical simulation 30 minutes audio video-recorded complex high-fidelity simulations covering a similar neonatology topic. Pre- and post-simulation questionnaires will be completed and a semistructured interview will be conducted after each simulation. Data analyses will use SPSS and NVivo softwares. Results This study is in its preliminary stages and the results are expected to be made available by April, 2016. Conclusions This will be the first study to explore a new simulation approach designed to enhance clinical reasoning. By assessing more closely reasoning processes throughout a simulation session, we believe that Simulation with Iterative Discussions will be an interesting and more effective approach for students. The findings of the study will benefit medical educators, education programs, and medical students. PMID:26888076

Exploring a New Simulation Approach to Improve Clinical Reasoning Teaching and Assessment: Randomized Trial Protocol.

PubMed

Pennaforte, Thomas; Moussa, Ahmed; Loye, Nathalie; Charlin, Bernard; Audétat, Marie-Claude

2016-02-17

Helping trainees develop appropriate clinical reasoning abilities is a challenging goal in an environment where clinical situations are marked by high levels of complexity and unpredictability. The benefit of simulation-based education to assess clinical reasoning skills has rarely been reported. More specifically, it is unclear if clinical reasoning is better acquired if the instructor's input occurs entirely after or is integrated during the scenario. Based on educational principles of the dual-process theory of clinical reasoning, a new simulation approach called simulation with iterative discussions (SID) is introduced. The instructor interrupts the flow of the scenario at three key moments of the reasoning process (data gathering, integration, and confirmation). After each stop, the scenario is continued where it was interrupted. Finally, a brief general debriefing ends the session. System-1 process of clinical reasoning is assessed by verbalization during management of the case, and System-2 during the iterative discussions without providing feedback. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Simulation with Iterative Discussions versus the classical approach of simulation in developing reasoning skills of General Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine residents. This will be a prospective exploratory, randomized study conducted at Sainte-Justine hospital in Montreal, Qc, between January and March 2016. All post-graduate year (PGY) 1 to 6 residents will be invited to complete one SID or classical simulation 30 minutes audio video-recorded complex high-fidelity simulations covering a similar neonatology topic. Pre- and post-simulation questionnaires will be completed and a semistructured interview will be conducted after each simulation. Data analyses will use SPSS and NVivo softwares. This study is in its preliminary stages and the results are expected to be made available by April, 2016. This will be the first study to explore a new simulation approach designed to enhance clinical reasoning. By assessing more closely reasoning processes throughout a simulation session, we believe that Simulation with Iterative Discussions will be an interesting and more effective approach for students. The findings of the study will benefit medical educators, education programs, and medical students.

Datacomputer Project

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-06-30

assigned small inte- gers called Job File Numbers or JFNs with which future references are made. Since the name of the device on which a file...what could reasonably be called the "Datacomputer proper", and are the primary output of the Datacomputer project. They are conceptually and func...sections, each of which is broken into 512 word blocks called pages. When the Request Handler - 18 - MHM^MMMMMM 1 P ■■" Li..i..ii.i »I

Experience with a "hotline" service for outpatients on a ventricular assist device.

PubMed

Biefer, Hector Rodriguez Cetina; Sündermann, Simon Harald; Emmert, Maximilian Yosri; Hasenclever, Peter; Lachat, Mario Louis; Falk, Volkmar; Wilhelm, Markus Johannes

2014-08-01

With the growing number of outpatients on ventricular assist devices (VADs), there is an increasing need for "home discharge programs." One important feature is a 24-hour telephone service. In our center, the perfusionists run a so-called "hotline" for all of our VAD patients. This study analyzes the hotline calls with regard to frequency, the reason for calling, and the type of action undertaken. Over a period of 5 years, 16 (12 EXCOR and 4 INCOR; Berlin Heart, Berlin, Germany) of 33 VAD patients (48%) were discharged and instructed to use the "hotline" service. All the calls received by the perfusionists were reviewed. We classified the calls into three levels according to the severity of the problem: Level (L) 1 = assistance provided by the perfusionist alone; L2 = calls requiring discussion with the surgeon on duty and/or visit to the outpatient clinic ahead of time; and L3 = immediate action and/or admission to the hospital. Over a period of 2,890 outpatient days (7.9 years), a total of 26 calls were registered. There were 0.9 calls per 100 patient days and 1.6 calls per discharged patient. Out of the 26 calls, 14 calls (54%) were classified as L1, 8 (31%) as L2, and 4 (15%) as L3. The most frequent reasons for L1 or L2 calls were fibrin deposits in the EXCOR pump chamber (39%), followed by battery dysfunction (19%). L3 calls were related to dysfunction of the EXCOR driving units in three cases and to an EXCOR pump chamber disconnection, which the patient did not survive. The institution of a hotline is an essential component of a VAD outpatient program. It provides a certain level of safety for the patient, although a residual risk remains. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Moral Psychology Must Not Be Based on Faith and Hope: Commentary on Narvaez (2010).

PubMed

Haidt, Jonathan

2010-03-01

Narvaez (2010, this issue) calls for a moral psychology in which reasoning and intuitions are equal partners. But empirical research on the power of implicit processes and on the weakness of everyday reasoning indicates that the partnership is far from equal. The ancient rationalist faith that good reasoning can be taught and that it will lead to improved behavior is no longer justified. The social intuitionist model (Haidt, 2001) is a more realistic portrayal of the ways that moral intuition and reasoning work together. © The Author(s) 2010.

A development framework for distributed artificial intelligence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adler, Richard M.; Cottman, Bruce H.

1989-01-01

The authors describe distributed artificial intelligence (DAI) applications in which multiple organizations of agents solve multiple domain problems. They then describe work in progress on a DAI system development environment, called SOCIAL, which consists of three primary language-based components. The Knowledge Object Language defines models of knowledge representation and reasoning. The metaCourier language supplies the underlying functionality for interprocess communication and control access across heterogeneous computing environments. The metaAgents language defines models for agent organization coordination, control, and resource management. Application agents and agent organizations will be constructed by combining metaAgents and metaCourier building blocks with task-specific functionality such as diagnostic or planning reasoning. This architecture hides implementation details of communications, control, and integration in distributed processing environments, enabling application developers to concentrate on the design and functionality of the intelligent agents and agent networks themselves.

Why We Like to Call Ourselves Latinas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gonzlez, Christina; Gandara, Patricia

2005-01-01

This article discusses the complex and subtle reasons why many people of Spanish-speaking ancestry, both Latin Americans and Spaniards, like to call themselves Latinos. Among other things, this word, coined by the Mediterranean countries to resist Anglo dominance in the 19th century, is currently being used by people of Spanish-speaking ancestry…

Predicting and explaining the movement of mesoscale oceanographic features using CLIPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bridges, Susan; Chen, Liang-Chun; Lybanon, Matthew

1994-01-01

The Naval Research Laboratory has developed an oceanographic expert system that describes the evolution of mesoscale features in the Gulf Stream region of the northwest Atlantic Ocean. These features include the Gulf Stream current and the warm and cold core eddies associated with the Gulf Stream. An explanation capability was added to the eddy prediction component of the expert system in order to allow the system to justify the reasoning process it uses to make predictions. The eddy prediction and explanation components of the system have recently been redesigned and translated from OPS83 to C and CLIPS and the new system is called WATE (Where Are Those Eddies). The new design has improved the system's readability, understandability and maintainability and will also allow the system to be incorporated into the Semi-Automated Mesoscale Analysis System which will eventually be embedded into the Navy's Tactical Environmental Support System, Third Generation, TESS(3).

A Video-Based Measure of Preservice Teachers' Abilities to Predict Elementary Students' Scientific Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akerson, Valarie L.; Carter, Ingrid S.; Park Rogers, Meredith A.; Pongsanon, Khemmawadee

2018-01-01

In this mixed methods study, the researchers developed a video-based measure called a "Prediction Assessment" to determine preservice elementary teachers' abilities to predict students' scientific reasoning. The instrument is based on teachers' need to develop pedagogical content knowledge for teaching science. Developing a knowledge…

Work that Is Real

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaye, Cathryn Berger

2010-01-01

Service learning as an integral facet of academic pedagogy is catching on everywhere--and for good reasons. Even in challenging economic times, when high-stakes testing appears to be calling the shots, educators realize that having students show up is only part of the equation. Like adults, students want a significant reason to turn off the alarm…

Scientific Reasoning: No Child's Play

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cavanagh, Sean

2009-01-01

The students, from the Academy of the Americas, a public school a few miles from downtown, are being asked to do the painstaking work of science, in an unlikely setting. It's part of a curriculum and professional-development program called BioKIDS, which seeks to build students' skill in complex scientific reasoning. The approach goes well beyond…

Examining Shifts in Medical Students' Microanalytic Motivation Beliefs and Regulatory Processes during a Diagnostic Reasoning Task

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cleary, Timothy J.; Dong, Ting; Artino, Anthony R., Jr.

2015-01-01

This study examined within-group shifts in the motivation beliefs and regulatory processes of second-year medical students as they engaged in a diagnostic reasoning activity. Using a contextualized assessment methodology called self-regulated learning microanalysis, the authors found that the 71 medical student participants showed statistically…

Fred Applegate's Money-Making Scheme

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leitze, Annette Ricks; Soots, Kristen L.

2015-01-01

Teachers across all grade levels agree that problem solving and reasoning are areas of weakness in students. Assessments among U.S. students indicate that these weaknesses persist (NCTM 2014) in spite of repeated calls that date back more than thirty years for increased problem solving, reasoning, and sense making in our schools. The NCTM is…

Leadership May Provide the Means of Moving Up in Adult Moral Developmental Stages.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galaz-Fontes, Jesus Francisco; And Others

Although Kohlberg and others have proposed that various social psychological and cultural factors may influence a person's level of moral reasoning, most work in this area has been conducted among relatively well educated persons in so called advanced societies. These two studies investigated stages of reasoning about moral dilemmas among…

Building Students' Reasoning Skills by Promoting Student-Led Discussions in an Algebra II Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeJarnette, Anna F.; González, Gloriana

2013-01-01

Current research and professional organizations call for greater emphasis on reasoning and sense making in algebra (Chazan, 2000; Cuoco, Goldenberg, & Mark, 1996; Harel & Sowder, 2005; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 2009, 2010). This paper illustrates how students in an Algebra II class had opportunities to develop…

Laser diode combining for free space optical communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mecherle, G. Stephen

1986-01-01

The maximization of photon delivery to a distant collector in free space optical communications systems calls for a laser diode-combining technique employing wavelength and/or polarization as the bases of its operation. Design considerations for such a combiner encompass high throughput efficiency, diffraction-limited angular divergence, and reasonable volume constraints. Combiners are presently found to require a generalized Strehl ratio concept which includes relative source misalignment; diffraction grating combiners may have a limited number of laser sources which can meet spectral requirements. Methods for the incorporation of a combiner into a communication system are compared. Power combining is concluded to be the best tradeoff of performance and complexity for all systems, except those that are severely limited by either background radiation or component bandwidth.

Impact of an after-hours on-call emergency physician on ambulance transports from a county jail.

PubMed

Chan, Theodore C; Vilke, Gary M; Smith, Sue; Sparrow, William; Dunford, James V

2003-01-01

The authors sought to determine if the availability of an after-hours on-call emergency physician by telephone for consultation to the staff at a county jail would safely reduce ambulance emergency department (ED) transport of inmates in the community. The authors conducted a prospective comparison study during the first ten months of an emergency physician on-call program for the county jail in which prospective data were collected on all consultations, including reason for call and disposition (ambulance, deputy, or no ED transport of inmate). They compared this time with a similar period a year before the program in terms of total ambulance transports from the jail. They also reviewed all hospital and jail medical records to assess for any adverse consequences within one month, or subsequent ambulance transport within 24 hours as a result of inmate care after the consultation call. Total after-hours ambulance transports from the jail decreased significantly from 30.3 transports/month (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.0-39.6) to 9.1 transports/month (95% CI, 4.1-14.0) (p < 0.05). The most common reasons for consultation calls were chest pain (16%), trauma (15%), and abnormal laboratory or radiology results (14%). Of all calls, only 30% resulted in ambulance transport to the ED. On review of records, no adverse outcome or subsequent ambulance transport was identified. The initiation of an on-call emergency physician program for after-hours consultation to jail nursing and law enforcement staff safely reduced ambulance transports from a county jail with no adverse outcomes identified.

Developing and evaluating the success of a family activated medical emergency team: a quality improvement report.

PubMed

Brady, Patrick W; Zix, Julie; Brilli, Richard; Wheeler, Derek S; Griffith, Kristie; Giaccone, Mary Jo; Dressman, Kathy; Kotagal, Uma; Muething, Stephen; Tegtmeyer, Ken

2015-03-01

Family-activated medical emergency teams (MET) have the potential to improve the timely recognition of clinical deterioration and reduce preventable adverse events. Adoption of family-activated METs is hindered by concerns that the calls may substantially increase MET workload. We aimed to develop a reliable process for family activated METs and to evaluate its effect on MET call rate and subsequent transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). The setting was our free-standing children's hospital. We partnered with families to develop and test an educational intervention for clinicians and families, an informational poster in each patient room and a redesigned process with hospital operators who handle MET calls. We tracked our primary outcome of count of family-activated MET calls on a statistical process control chart. Additionally, we determined the association between family-activated versus clinician-activated MET and transfer to the ICU. Finally, we compared the reason for MET activation between family calls and a 2:1 matched sample of clinician calls. Over our 6-year study period, we had a total of 83 family-activated MET calls. Families made an average of 1.2 calls per month, which represented 2.9% of all MET calls. Children with family-activated METs were transferred to the ICU less commonly than those with clinician MET calls (24% vs 60%, p<0.001). Families, like clinicians, most commonly called MET for concerns of clinical deterioration. Families also identified lack of response from clinicians and a dismissive interaction between team and family as reasons. Family MET activations were uncommon and not a burden on responders. These calls recognised clinical deterioration and communication failures. Family activated METs should be tested and implemented in hospitals that care for children. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

PyGirl: Generating Whole-System VMs from High-Level Prototypes Using PyPy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruni, Camillo; Verwaest, Toon

Virtual machines (VMs) emulating hardware devices are generally implemented in low-level languages for performance reasons. This results in unmaintainable systems that are difficult to understand. In this paper we report on our experience using the PyPy toolchain to improve the portability and reduce the complexity of whole-system VM implementations. As a case study we implement a VM prototype for a Nintendo Game Boy, called PyGirl, in which the high-level model is separated from low-level VM implementation issues. We shed light on the process of refactoring from a low-level VM implementation in Java to a high-level model in RPython. We show that our whole-system VM written with PyPy is significantly less complex than standard implementations, without substantial loss in performance.

Adolescent prescription ADHD medication abuse is rising along with prescriptions for these medications.

PubMed

Setlik, Jennifer; Bond, G Randall; Ho, Mona

2009-09-01

We sought to better understand the trend for prescription attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication abuse by teenagers. We queried the American Association of Poison Control Center's National Poison Data System for the years of 1998-2005 for all cases involving people aged 13 to 19 years, for which the reason was intentional abuse or intentional misuse and the substance was a prescription medication used for ADHD treatment. For trend comparison, we sought data on the total number of exposures. In addition, we used teen and preteen ADHD medication sales data from IMS Health's National Disease and Therapeutic Index database to compare poison center call trends with likely availability. Calls related to teenaged victims of prescription ADHD medication abuse rose 76%, which is faster than calls for victims of substance abuse generally and teen substance abuse. The annual rate of total and teen exposures was unchanged. Over the 8 years, estimated prescriptions for teenagers and preteenagers increased 133% for amphetamine products, 52% for methylphenidate products, and 80% for both together. Reports of exposure to methylphenidate fell from 78% to 30%, whereas methylphenidate as a percentage of ADHD prescriptions decreased from 66% to 56%. Substance-related abuse calls per million adolescent prescriptions rose 140%. The sharp increase, out of proportion to other poison center calls, suggests a rising problem with teen ADHD stimulant medication abuse. Case severity increased over time. Sales data of ADHD medications suggest that the use and call-volume increase reflects availability, but the increase disproportionately involves amphetamines.

TPMG Northern California appointments and advice call center.

PubMed

Conolly, Patricia; Levine, Leslie; Amaral, Debra J; Fireman, Bruce H; Driscoll, Tom

2005-08-01

Kaiser Permanente (KP) has been developing its use of call centers as a way to provide an expansive set of healthcare services to KP members efficiently and cost effectively. Since 1995, when The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) began to consolidate primary care phone services into three physical call centers, the TPMG Appointments and Advice Call Center (AACC) has become the "front office" for primary care services across approximately 89% of Northern California. The AACC provides primary care phone service for approximately 3 million Kaiser Foundation Health Plan members in Northern California and responds to approximately 1 million calls per month across the three AACC sites. A database records each caller's identity as well as the day, time, and duration of each call; reason for calling; services provided to callers as a result of calls; and clinical outcomes of calls. We here summarize this information for the period 2000 through 2003.

Theory and applications survey of decentralized control methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Athans, M.

1975-01-01

A nonmathematical overview is presented of trends in the general area of decentralized control strategies which are suitable for hierarchical systems. Advances in decentralized system theory are closely related to advances in the so-called stochastic control problem with nonclassical information pattern. The basic assumptions and mathematical tools pertaining to the classical stochastic control problem are outlined. Particular attention is devoted to pitfalls in the mathematical problem formulation for decentralized control. Major conclusions are that any purely deterministic approach to multilevel hierarchical dynamic systems is unlikely to lead to realistic theories or designs, that the flow of measurements and decisions in a decentralized system should not be instantaneous and error-free, and that delays in information exchange in a decentralized system lead to reasonable approaches to decentralized control. A mathematically precise notion of aggregating information is not yet available.

Spatial Localization in Dissipative Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knobloch, E.

2015-03-01

Spatial localization is a common feature of physical systems, occurring in both conservative and dissipative systems. This article reviews the theoretical foundations of our understanding of spatial localization in forced dissipative systems, from both a mathematical point of view and a physics perspective. It explains the origin of the large multiplicity of simultaneously stable spatially localized states present in a parameter region called the pinning region and its relation to the notion of homoclinic snaking. The localized states are described as bound states of fronts, and the notions of front pinning, self-pinning, and depinning are emphasized. Both one-dimensional and two-dimensional systems are discussed, and the reasons behind the differences in behavior between dissipative systems with conserved and nonconserved dynamics are explained. The insights gained are specific to forced dissipative systems and are illustrated here using examples drawn from fluid mechanics (convection and shear flows) and a simple model of crystallization.

Extensions to the Parallel Real-Time Artificial Intelligence System (PRAIS) for fault-tolerant heterogeneous cycle-stealing reasoning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldstein, David

1991-01-01

Extensions to an architecture for real-time, distributed (parallel) knowledge-based systems called the Parallel Real-time Artificial Intelligence System (PRAIS) are discussed. PRAIS strives for transparently parallelizing production (rule-based) systems, even under real-time constraints. PRAIS accomplished these goals (presented at the first annual C Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS) conference) by incorporating a dynamic task scheduler, operating system extensions for fact handling, and message-passing among multiple copies of CLIPS executing on a virtual blackboard. This distributed knowledge-based system tool uses the portability of CLIPS and common message-passing protocols to operate over a heterogeneous network of processors. Results using the original PRAIS architecture over a network of Sun 3's, Sun 4's and VAX's are presented. Mechanisms using the producer-consumer model to extend the architecture for fault-tolerance and distributed truth maintenance initiation are also discussed.

At Long Last

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cooper, Kenneth J.

2012-01-01

Since 1980, Tufts has offered a minor called Africa in the New World, but for reasons lost to time, the private university north of Boston did not join other schools in the 1960s and 1970s in creating a major in what was usually called Black studies. A faculty-student committee's recommendation in 1972 to do so went unimplemented. African-American…

Corporal Punishment and the Pain Provoked by the Community of Enquiry Pedagogy in the University Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murris, Karin

2014-01-01

Education for transformation and social justice calls for critical, reflective, imaginative and independent thinkers with enquiring minds and a strong sense of curiosity--the ends and means of what Jonathan Jansen calls a "pedagogy to disrupt" and Gert Biesta a "pedagogy of interruption". For this reason, I introduced an…

DBT Telephone Skills Coaching with Eating Disordered Clients: Who Calls, for What Reasons, and for How Long?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Limbrunner, Heidi M.; Ben-Porath, Denise D.; Wisniewski, Lucene

2011-01-01

The goal of this paper is to report on the typology, frequency, and duration of intersession calls placed by outpatient eating disorder clients to their therapists. Participants were 17 women, offered DBT after-hours telephone coaching adapted for individuals with eating disorders. Results indicated that clients used telephone coaching primarily…

17 CFR 240.14c-7 - Providing copies of material for certain beneficial owners.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... annual reports to security holders pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, pay its reasonable... (h)). Note 2: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that each broker, dealer, bank....14b-2(b)(4) (ii) and (iii). Note 3: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that...

17 CFR 240.14c-7 - Providing copies of material for certain beneficial owners.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... annual reports to security holders pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, pay its reasonable... (h)). Note 2: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that each broker, dealer, bank....14b-2(b)(4) (ii) and (iii). Note 3: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that...

17 CFR 240.14c-7 - Providing copies of material for certain beneficial owners.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... annual reports to security holders pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, pay its reasonable... (h)). Note 2: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that each broker, dealer, bank....14b-2(b)(4) (ii) and (iii). Note 3: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that...

Connected Mathematics Learning and Gender Equity in Predominately Latino/a High Schools: Case of Spatial Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Falcon, Raymond

2013-01-01

This study analyzed interventions used in improving the mathematics achievement in spatial reasoning tasks for females called connectedness. Gender achievement in mathematics has been a controversial topic because of the wide variance in research. Some research has found a difference between the genders in mathematics while others argue there is…

Constructing Scientific Explanations through Premise-Reasoning-Outcome (PRO): An Exploratory Study to Scaffold Students in Structuring Written Explanations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tang, Kok-Sing

2016-01-01

This paper reports on the design and enactment of an instructional strategy aimed to support students in constructing scientific explanations. Informed by the philosophy of science and linguistic studies of science, a new instructional framework called premise--reasoning--outcome (PRO) was conceptualized, developed, and tested over two years in…

The Impact of Sub-Skills and Item Content on Students' Skills with Regard to the Control-of-Variables Strategy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwichow, Martin; Christoph, Simon; Boone, William J.; Härtig, Hendrik

2016-01-01

The so-called control-of-variables strategy (CVS) incorporates the important scientific reasoning skills of designing controlled experiments and interpreting experimental outcomes. As CVS is a prominent component of science standards appropriate assessment instruments are required to measure these scientific reasoning skills and to evaluate the…

Disciplinary Literacy in English Language Arts: Exploring the Social and Problem-Based Nature of Literary Reading and Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rainey, Emily C.

2017-01-01

Despite many calls for K-12 disciplinary literacy instruction--instruction that teaches students the specialized ways of reading, writing, and reasoning of the academic disciplines--there are questions about what disciplinary literacy instruction means for the prominent school domain of English language arts. This article investigates the…

Developing Strategic and Reasoning Abilities with Computer Games at Primary School Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bottino, R. M.; Ferlino, L.; Ott, M.; Tavella, M.

2007-01-01

The paper reports a small-scale, long-term pilot project designed to foster strategic and reasoning abilities in young primary school pupils by engaging them in a number of computer games, mainly those usually called mind games (brainteasers, puzzlers, etc.). In this paper, the objectives, work methodology, experimental setting, and tools used in…

Getting paid for taking ER calls: who decides, and how much is fair?

PubMed

Collins, Hobart

2006-08-01

Most physicians have voluntarily taken calls at hospital emergency rooms because of medical staff bylaw requirements, a sense of professional or ethical obligation or civic commitment. Today, however, most specialists expect to receive some form of remuneration for taking ER calls. Physicians' desire for such a stipend obviously must coincide with a hospital's willingness to pay--and this leads to the key question of the fair market value, or reasonableness, of a specific compensation level.

Improving the Operations of the Earth Observing One Mission via Automated Mission Planning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chien, Steve A.; Tran, Daniel; Rabideau, Gregg; Schaffer, Steve; Mandl, Daniel; Frye, Stuart

2010-01-01

We describe the modeling and reasoning about operations constraints in an automated mission planning system for an earth observing satellite - EO-1. We first discuss the large number of elements that can be naturally represented in an expressive planning and scheduling framework. We then describe a number of constraints that challenge the current state of the art in automated planning systems and discuss how we modeled these constraints as well as discuss tradeoffs in representation versus efficiency. Finally we describe the challenges in efficiently generating operations plans for this mission. These discussions involve lessons learned from an operations model that has been in use since Fall 2004 (called R4) as well as a newer more accurate operations model operational since June 2009 (called R5). We present analysis of the R5 software documenting a significant (greater than 50%) increase in the number of weekly observations scheduled by the EO-1 mission. We also show that the R5 mission planning system produces schedules within 15% of an upper bound on optimal schedules. This operational enhancement has created value of millions of dollars US over the projected remaining lifetime of the EO-1 mission.

What do hospital decision-makers in Ontario, Canada, have to say about the fairness of priority setting in their institutions?

PubMed Central

Reeleder, David; Martin, Douglas K; Keresztes, Christian; Singer, Peter A

2005-01-01

Background Priority setting, also known as rationing or resource allocation, occurs at all levels of every health care system. Daniels and Sabin have proposed a framework for priority setting in health care institutions called 'accountability for reasonableness', which links priority setting to theories of democratic deliberation. Fairness is a key goal of priority setting. According to 'accountability for reasonableness', health care institutions engaged in priority setting have a claim to fairness if they satisfy four conditions of relevance, publicity, appeals/revision, and enforcement. This is the first study which has surveyed the views of hospital decision makers throughout an entire health system about the fairness of priority setting in their institutions. The purpose of this study is to elicit hospital decision-makers' self-report of the fairness of priority setting in their hospitals using an explicit conceptual framework, 'accountability for reasonableness'. Methods 160 Ontario hospital Chief Executive Officers, or their designates, were asked to complete a survey questionnaire concerning priority setting in their publicly funded institutions. Eight-six Ontario hospitals completed this survey, for a response rate of 54%. Six close-ended rating scale questions (e.g. Overall, how fair is priority setting at your hospital?), and 3 open-ended questions (e.g. What do you see as the goal(s) of priority setting in your hospital?) were used. Results Overall, 60.7% of respondents indicated their hospitals' priority setting was fair. With respect to the 'accountability for reasonableness' conditions, respondents indicated their hospitals performed best for the relevance (75.0%) condition, followed by appeals/revision (56.6%), publicity (56.0%), and enforcement (39.5%). Conclusions For the first time hospital Chief Executive Officers within an entire health system were surveyed about the fairness of priority setting practices in their institutions using the conceptual framework 'accountability for reasonableness'. Although many hospital CEOs felt that their priority setting was fair, ample room for improvement was noted, especially for the enforcement condition. PMID:15663792

Understanding and revisiting the most complex perovskite system via atomistic simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yali; Xu, Bin; Xu, Changsong; Ren, Wei; Bellaiche, Laurent

2018-05-01

A first-principles-based effective Hamiltonian is developed and used, along with direct ab initio techniques, to investigate finite-temperature properties of the system commonly coined the most complex perovskite, that is NaNbO3. Such simulations successfully reproduce the existence of seven different phases in its phase diagram. The decomposition of the total energy of this effective Hamiltonian into different terms, altogether with the values of the parameters associated with these terms, also allow us to shed some light into puzzling features of such a compound. Examples include revealing the microscopic reasons of why R 3 c is its ground state and why it solely adopts in-phase tiltings at high temperatures versus complex nanotwins for intermediate temperatures. The results of the computations also call for a revisiting of the so-called P ,R , and S states, in the sense that an unexpected and previously overlooked inhomogeneous electrical polarization is numerically found in the P state while complex tiltings associated with the simultaneous condensation of several k points are predicted for the controversial R and S phases.

Combining conceptual graphs and argumentation for aiding in the teleexpertise.

PubMed

Doumbouya, Mamadou Bilo; Kamsu-Foguem, Bernard; Kenfack, Hugues; Foguem, Clovis

2015-08-01

Current medical information systems are too complex to be meaningfully exploited. Hence there is a need to develop new strategies for maximising the exploitation of medical data to the benefit of medical professionals. It is against this backdrop that we want to propose a tangible contribution by providing a tool which combines conceptual graphs and Dung׳s argumentation system in order to assist medical professionals in their decision making process. The proposed tool allows medical professionals to easily manipulate and visualise queries and answers for making decisions during the practice of teleexpertise. The knowledge modelling is made using an open application programming interface (API) called CoGui, which offers the means for building structured knowledge bases with the dedicated functionalities of graph-based reasoning via retrieved data from different institutions (hospitals, national security centre, and nursing homes). The tool that we have described in this study supports a formal traceable structure of the reasoning with acceptable arguments to elucidate some ethical problems that occur very often in the telemedicine domain. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Did the call for boycott by the Catholic bishops affect the polio vaccination coverage in Kenya in 2015? A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Njeru, Ian; Ajack, Yusuf; Muitherero, Charles; Onyango, Dickens; Musyoka, Johnny; Onuekusi, Iheoma; Kioko, Jackson; Muraguri, Nicholas; Davis, Robert

2016-01-01

Polio eradication is now feasible after removal of Nigeria from the list of endemic countries and global reduction of cases of wild polio virus in 2015 by more than 80%. However, all countries must remain focused to achieve eradication. In August 2015, the Catholic bishops in Kenya called for boycott of a polio vaccination campaign citing safety concerns with the polio vaccine. We conducted a survey to establish if the coverage was affected by the boycott. A cross sectional survey was conducted in all the 32 counties that participated in the campaign. A total of 90,157 children and 37,732 parents/guardians were sampled to determine the vaccination coverage and reasons for missed vaccination. The national vaccination coverage was 93% compared to 94% in the November 2014 campaign. The proportion of parents/guardians that belonged to Catholic Church was 31% compared to 7% of the children who were missed. Reasons for missed vaccination included house not being visited (44%), children not being at home at time of visit (38%), refusal by parents (12%), children being as leep (1%), and various other reasons (5%). Compared to the November 2014 campaign, the proportion of children who were not vaccinated due to parent's refusal significantly increased from 6% to 12% in August 2015. The call for boycott did not affect the campaign significantly. However, if the call for boycott is repeated in future it could have some significant negative implication to polio eradication. It is therefore important to ensure that any vaccine safety issues are addressed accordingly.

Universal adhesives: the next evolution in adhesive dentistry?

PubMed

Alex, Gary

2015-01-01

Every so often a new material, technique, or technological breakthrough spurs a paradigm shift in the way dentistry is practiced. The development and evolution of reliable enamel and dentin bonding agents is one such example. Indeed, the so-called "cosmetic revolution" in dentistry blossomed in large part due to dramatic advances in adhesive technology. It is the ability to bond various materials in a reasonably predictable fashion to both enamel and dentin substrates that enables dentists to routinely place porcelain veneers, direct and indirect composites, and a plethora of other restorative and esthetic materials. In fact, the longevity and predictability of many (if not most) current restorative procedures is wholly predicated on the dentist's ability to bond various materials to tooth tissues. Adhesive systems have progressed from the largely ineffective systems of the 1970s and early 1980s to the relatively successful total- and self-etching systems of today. The latest players in the adhesive marketplace are the so-called "universal adhesives." In theory, these systems have the potential to significantly simplify and expedite adhesive protocols and may indeed represent the next evolution in adhesive dentistry. But what defines a universal system, and are all these new systems truly "universal" and everything they are claimed to be? This article will examine the origin, chemistry, strengths, weaknesses, and clinical relevance of this new genre of dental adhesives.

Virtual vision system with actual flavor by olfactory display

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakamoto, Kunio; Kanazawa, Fumihiro

2010-11-01

The authors have researched multimedia system and support system for nursing studies on and practices of reminiscence therapy and life review therapy. The concept of the life review is presented by Butler in 1963. The process of thinking back on one's life and communicating about one's life to another person is called life review. There is a famous episode concerning the memory. It is called as Proustian effects. This effect is mentioned on the Proust's novel as an episode that a story teller reminds his old memory when he dipped a madeleine in tea. So many scientists research why smells trigger the memory. The authors pay attention to the relation between smells and memory although the reason is not evident yet. Then we have tried to add an olfactory display to the multimedia system so that the smells become a trigger of reminding buried memories. An olfactory display is a device that delivers smells to the nose. It provides us with special effects, for example to emit smell as if you were there or to give a trigger for reminding us of memories. The authors have developed a tabletop display system connected with the olfactory display. For delivering a flavor to user's nose, the system needs to recognition and measure positions of user's face and nose. In this paper, the authors describe an olfactory display which enables to detect the nose position for an effective delivery.

Implementing embedded artificial intelligence rules within algorithmic programming languages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feyock, Stefan

1988-01-01

Most integrations of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities with non-AI (usually FORTRAN-based) application programs require the latter to execute separately to run as a subprogram or, at best, as a coroutine, of the AI system. In many cases, this organization is unacceptable; instead, the requirement is for an AI facility that runs in embedded mode; i.e., is called as subprogram by the application program. The design and implementation of a Prolog-based AI capability that can be invoked in embedded mode are described. The significance of this system is twofold: Provision of Prolog-based symbol-manipulation and deduction facilities makes a powerful symbolic reasoning mechanism available to applications programs written in non-AI languages. The power of the deductive and non-procedural descriptive capabilities of Prolog, which allow the user to describe the problem to be solved, rather than the solution, is to a large extent vitiated by the absence of the standard control structures provided by other languages. Embedding invocations of Prolog rule bases in programs written in non-AI languages makes it possible to put Prolog calls inside DO loops and similar control constructs. The resulting merger of non-AI and AI languages thus results in a symbiotic system in which the advantages of both programming systems are retained, and their deficiencies largely remedied.

Statistical inference and Aristotle's Rhetoric.

PubMed

Macdonald, Ranald R

2004-11-01

Formal logic operates in a closed system where all the information relevant to any conclusion is present, whereas this is not the case when one reasons about events and states of the world. Pollard and Richardson drew attention to the fact that the reasoning behind statistical tests does not lead to logically justifiable conclusions. In this paper statistical inferences are defended not by logic but by the standards of everyday reasoning. Aristotle invented formal logic, but argued that people mostly get at the truth with the aid of enthymemes--incomplete syllogisms which include arguing from examples, analogies and signs. It is proposed that statistical tests work in the same way--in that they are based on examples, invoke the analogy of a model and use the size of the effect under test as a sign that the chance hypothesis is unlikely. Of existing theories of statistical inference only a weak version of Fisher's takes this into account. Aristotle anticipated Fisher by producing an argument of the form that there were too many cases in which an outcome went in a particular direction for that direction to be plausibly attributed to chance. We can therefore conclude that Aristotle would have approved of statistical inference and there is a good reason for calling this form of statistical inference classical.

CAD system for automatic analysis of CT perfusion maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hachaj, T.; Ogiela, M. R.

2011-03-01

In this article, authors present novel algorithms developed for the computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) system for analysis of dynamic brain perfusion, computer tomography (CT) maps, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebral blood volume (CBV). Those methods perform both quantitative analysis [detection and measurement and description with brain anatomy atlas (AA) of potential asymmetries/lesions] and qualitative analysis (semantic interpretation of visualized symptoms). The semantic interpretation (decision about type of lesion: ischemic/hemorrhagic, is the brain tissue at risk of infraction or not) of visualized symptoms is done by, so-called, cognitive inference processes allowing for reasoning on character of pathological regions based on specialist image knowledge. The whole system is implemented in.NET platform (C# programming language) and can be used on any standard PC computer with.NET framework installed.

Dewey's "Democracy and Education" in the Age of Digital Reason: The Global, Ecological and Digital Turns

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peters, Michael A.; Jandric, Petar

2017-01-01

Dewey was perhaps the foremost theorist and advocate of participatory democracy as an ethical ideal based on a belief and faith in human experience as a general theory of education that would generate the requisite aims and methods for what he called "organized intelligence" and what we might call today "collective…

17 CFR 240.14a-13 - Obligation of registrants in communicating with beneficial owners.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

..., pay its reasonable expenses for completing the sending of such material to beneficial owners. Note 1... (see § 240.14a-1(i)). Note 2: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that each broker...) and (iii). Note 3: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that registrants have an...

17 CFR 240.14a-13 - Obligation of registrants in communicating with beneficial owners.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

..., pay its reasonable expenses for completing the sending of such material to beneficial owners. Note 1... (see § 240.14a-1(i)). Note 2: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that each broker...) and (iii). Note 3: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that registrants have an...

17 CFR 240.14a-13 - Obligation of registrants in communicating with beneficial owners.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

..., pay its reasonable expenses for completing the sending of such material to beneficial owners. Note 1... (see § 240.14a-1(i)). Note 2: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that each broker...) and (iii). Note 3: The attention of registrants is called to the fact that registrants have an...

The ATLAS Data Acquisition System: from Run 1 to Run 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panduro Vazquez, William; ATLAS Collaboration

2016-04-01

The experience gained during the first period of very successful data taking of the ATLAS experiment (Run 1) has inspired a number of ideas for improvement of the Data Acquisition (DAQ) system that are being put in place during the so-called Long Shutdown 1 of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), in 2013/14. We have updated the data-flow architecture, rewritten an important fraction of the software and replaced hardware, profiting from state of the art technologies. This paper summarizes the main changes that have been applied to the ATLAS DAQ system and highlights the expected performance and functional improvements that will be available for the LHC Run 2. Particular emphasis will be put on explaining the reasons for our architectural and technical choices, as well as on the simulation and testing approach used to validate this system.

The GIS map coloring support decision-making system based on case-based reasoning and simulated annealing algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Shuang; Xiang, Wenting; Tian, Yangge

2009-10-01

Map coloring is a hard task even to the experienced map experts. In the GIS project, usually need to color map according to the customer, which make the work more complex. With the development of GIS, more and more programmers join the project team, which lack the training of cartology, their coloring map are harder to meet the requirements of customer. From the experience, customers with similar background usually have similar tastes for coloring map. So, we developed a GIS color scheme decision-making system which can select color schemes of similar customers from case base for customers to select and adjust. The system is a BS/CS mixed system, the client side use JSP and make it possible for the system developers to go on remote calling of the colors scheme cases in the database server and communicate with customers. Different with general case-based reasoning, even the customers are very similar, their selection may have difference, it is hard to provide a "best" option. So, we select the Simulated Annealing Algorithm (SAA) to arrange the emergence order of different color schemes. Customers can also dynamically adjust certain features colors based on existing case. The result shows that the system can facilitate the communication between the designers and the customers and improve the quality and efficiency of coloring map.

Examining Teachers' Struggles as They Attempt to Implement Dialogical Interaction as Part of Promoting Mathematical Reasoning within Their Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akkus, Recai; Hand, Brian

2011-01-01

This study examines the changes in teaching practices during the implementation of a pedagogical model called the mathematics reasoning approach (MRA), which was founded on 2 critical areas in mathematics, problem solving, and writing to learn. Three algebra teachers implemented the approach with their classes, which were divided into control…

Backward Transfer: An Investigation of the Influence of Quadratic Functions Instruction on Students' Prior Ways of Reasoning about Linear Functions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hohensee, Charles

2014-01-01

The transfer of learning has been the subject of much scientific inquiry in the social sciences. However, mathematics education research has given little attention to a subclass called backward transfer, which is when learning about new concepts influences learners' ways of reasoning about previously encountered concepts. This study examined when…

Secondary Students' Dynamic Modeling Processes: Analyzing, Reasoning About, Synthesizing, and Testing Models of Stream Ecosystems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stratford, Steven J.; Krajeik, Joseph; Soloway, Elliot

This paper presents the results of a study of the cognitive strategies in which ninth-grade science students engaged as they used a learner-centered dynamic modeling tool (called Model-It) to make original models based upon stream ecosystem scenarios. The research questions were: (1) In what Cognitive Strategies for Modeling (analyzing, reasoning,…

Formalization and analysis of reasoning by assumption.

PubMed

Bosse, Tibor; Jonker, Catholijn M; Treur, Jan

2006-01-02

This article introduces a novel approach for the analysis of the dynamics of reasoning processes and explores its applicability for the reasoning pattern called reasoning by assumption. More specifically, for a case study in the domain of a Master Mind game, it is shown how empirical human reasoning traces can be formalized and automatically analyzed against dynamic properties they fulfill. To this end, for the pattern of reasoning by assumption a variety of dynamic properties have been specified, some of which are considered characteristic for the reasoning pattern, whereas some other properties can be used to discriminate among different approaches to the reasoning. These properties have been automatically checked for the traces acquired in experiments undertaken. The approach turned out to be beneficial from two perspectives. First, checking characteristic properties contributes to the empirical validation of a theory on reasoning by assumption. Second, checking discriminating properties allows the analyst to identify different classes of human reasoners. 2006 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Check and Report Ebola (CARE) Hotline: The User Perspective of an Innovative Tool for Postarrival Monitoring of Ebola in the United States.

PubMed

McCarthy, Ilana Olin; Wojno, Abbey E; Joseph, Heather A; Teesdale, Scott

2017-11-14

The response to the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic included an unprecedented effort from federal, state, and local public health authorities to monitor the health of travelers entering the United States from countries with Ebola outbreaks. The Check and Report Ebola (CARE) Hotline, a novel approach to monitoring, was designed to enable travelers to report their health status daily to an interactive voice recognition (IVR) system. The system was tested with 70 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) federal employees returning from deployments in outbreak countries. The objective of this study was to describe the development of the CARE Hotline as a tool for postarrival monitoring and examine the usage characteristics and user experience of the tool during a public health emergency. Data were obtained from two sources. First, the CARE Hotline system produced a call log which summarized the usage characteristics of all 70 users' daily health reports. Second, we surveyed federal employees (n=70) who used the CARE Hotline to engage in monitoring. A total of 21 (21/70, 30%) respondents were included in the survey analytic sample. While the CARE Hotline was used for monitoring, 70 users completed a total of 1313 calls. We found that 94.06% (1235/1313) of calls were successful, and the average call time significantly decreased from the beginning of the monitoring period to the end by 32 seconds (Z score=-6.52, P<.001). CARE Hotline call log data were confirmed by user feedback; survey results indicated that users became more familiar with the system and found the system easier to use, from the beginning to the end of their monitoring period. The majority of the users were highly satisfied (90%, 19/21) with the system, indicating ease of use and convenience as primary reasons, and would recommend it for future monitoring efforts (90%, 19/21). The CARE Hotline garnered high user satisfaction, required minimal reporting time from users, and was an easily learned tool for monitoring. This phone-based technology can be modified for future public health emergencies. ©Ilana Olin McCarthy, Abbey E Wojno, Heather A Joseph, Scott Teesdale. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (http://publichealth.jmir.org), 14.11.2017.

Reasons for Electronic Nicotine Delivery System use and smoking abstinence at 6 months: a descriptive study of callers to employer and health plan-sponsored quitlines.

PubMed

Vickerman, K A; Schauer, G L; Malarcher, A M; Zhang, L; Mowery, P; Nash, C M

2017-03-01

Describe cigarette smoking abstinence among employer and health plan-sponsored quitline registrants who were not using Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), were using ENDS to quit smoking or were using ENDS for other reasons at the time of quitline registration. We examined 6029 quitline callers aged ≥18 years who smoked cigarettes at registration, and completed ≥1 counselling calls, baseline ENDS use questions and a 6-month follow-up survey (response rate: 52.4%). 30-day point prevalence smoking quit rates (PPQRs) were assessed at 6-month follow-up (ENDS-only users were considered quit). Data were weighted for non-response bias. Logistic regression analyses controlled for participant characteristics and programme engagement. At registration, 13.8% of respondents used ENDS (7.9% to quit smoking, 5.9% for other reasons). 30-day PPQRs were: 55.1% for callers using ENDS to quit, 43.1% for callers using ENDS for other reasons, and 50.8% for callers not using ENDS at registration. Callers using ENDS for other reasons were less likely to quit than other groups (adjusted ORs=0.65-0.77); quit rates did not significantly differ between non-ENDS users and those using ENDS to quit. Among callers using ENDS to quit at baseline, 40% used ENDS regularly at follow-up. ENDS users not using ENDS to quit smoking were less successful at quitting at 6-month follow-up compared with callers using ENDS to quit smoking and callers who did not use ENDS at programme registration. Incorporating reasons for ENDS use may be important for future studies examining the role of ENDS in tobacco cessation. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

RR Lyrae Variables in Stellar Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Horace A.; Catelan, Márcio; Clementini, Gisella

2009-09-01

The pioneering studies of RR Lyrae stars in globular clusters by Oosterhoff and by Sawyer Hogg in the 1930s and 1940s called attention to interesting systematic differences among RR Lyrae populations in different systems. When such studies were extended to the dwarf spheroidal companions of the Milky Way in the 1960s, it was found that the average properties of their RR Lyrae stars were often different from those that had previously been observed in globular clusters. Observations of RR Lyrae stars have now extended to the Andromeda Galaxy and other Local Group systems, with still greater variety being apparent. Our understanding of the reasons for these differences among the RR Lyrae populations in different systems is by no means complete, but properties of RR Lyrae stars within these different systems are tied to differing horizontal branch morphologies and also shed light upon scenarios for the formation of the Galaxy.

High Level Analysis, Design and Validation of Distributed Mobile Systems with CoreASM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farahbod, R.; Glässer, U.; Jackson, P. J.; Vajihollahi, M.

System design is a creative activity calling for abstract models that facilitate reasoning about the key system attributes (desired requirements and resulting properties) so as to ensure these attributes are properly established prior to actually building a system. We explore here the practical side of using the abstract state machine (ASM) formalism in combination with the CoreASM open source tool environment for high-level design and experimental validation of complex distributed systems. Emphasizing the early phases of the design process, a guiding principle is to support freedom of experimentation by minimizing the need for encoding. CoreASM has been developed and tested building on a broad scope of applications, spanning computational criminology, maritime surveillance and situation analysis. We critically reexamine here the CoreASM project in light of three different application scenarios.

Evolutionary fuzzy modeling human diagnostic decisions.

PubMed

Peña-Reyes, Carlos Andrés

2004-05-01

Fuzzy CoCo is a methodology, combining fuzzy logic and evolutionary computation, for constructing systems able to accurately predict the outcome of a human decision-making process, while providing an understandable explanation of the underlying reasoning. Fuzzy logic provides a formal framework for constructing systems exhibiting both good numeric performance (accuracy) and linguistic representation (interpretability). However, fuzzy modeling--meaning the construction of fuzzy systems--is an arduous task, demanding the identification of many parameters. To solve it, we use evolutionary computation techniques (specifically cooperative coevolution), which are widely used to search for adequate solutions in complex spaces. We have successfully applied the algorithm to model the decision processes involved in two breast cancer diagnostic problems, the WBCD problem and the Catalonia mammography interpretation problem, obtaining systems both of high performance and high interpretability. For the Catalonia problem, an evolved system was embedded within a Web-based tool-called COBRA-for aiding radiologists in mammography interpretation.

Fast and efficient wireless power transfer via transitionless quantum driving.

PubMed

Paul, Koushik; Sarma, Amarendra K

2018-03-07

Shortcut to adiabaticity (STA) techniques have the potential to drive a system beyond the adiabatic limits. Here, we present a robust and efficient method for wireless power transfer (WPT) between two coils based on the so-called transitionless quantum driving (TQD) algorithm. We show that it is possible to transfer power between the coils significantly fast compared to its adiabatic counterpart. The scheme is fairly robust against the variations in the coupling strength and the coupling distance between the coils. Also, the scheme is found to be reasonably immune to intrinsic losses in the coils.

An Automated Approach to Reasoning Under Multiple Perspectives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

deBessonet, Cary

2004-01-01

This is the final report with emphasis on research during the last term. The context for the research has been the development of an automated reasoning technology for use in SMS (symbolic Manipulation System), a system used to build and query knowledge bases (KBs) using a special knowledge representation language SL (Symbolic Language). SMS interpreters assertive SL input and enters the results as components of its universe. The system operates in two basic models: 1) constructive mode (for building KBs); and 2) query/search mode (for querying KBs). Query satisfaction consists of matching query components with KB components. The system allows "penumbral matches," that is, matches that do not exactly meet the specifications of the query, but which are deemed relevant for the conversational context. If the user wants to know whether SMS has information that holds, say, for "any chow," the scope of relevancy might be set so that the system would respond based on a finding that it has information that holds for "most dogs," although this is not exactly what was called for by the query. The response would be qualified accordingly, as would normally be the case in ordinary human conversation. The general goal of the research was to develop an approach by which assertive content could be interpreted from multiple perspectives so that reasoning operations could be successfully conducted over the results. The interpretation of an SL statement such as, "{person believes [captain (asserted (perhaps)) (astronaut saw (comet (bright)))]}," which in English would amount to asserting something to the effect that, "Some person believes that a captain perhaps asserted that an astronaut saw a bright comet," would require the recognition of multiple perspectives, including some that are: a) epistemically-based (focusing on "believes"); b) assertion-based (focusing on "asserted"); c) perception-based (focusing on "saw"); d) adjectivally-based (focusing on "bight"); and e) modally-based (focusing on "perhaps"). Any conclusion reached under a line of reasoning that employs such an assertion or its associated implications should somehow reflect the employed perspectives. The investigators made significant progress in developing an approach that would enable a system to conduct reasoning operations over assertions of this kind while maintaining consistency in its knowledge bases. Significant accomplishments were made in the areas of: 1) integration and inferencing; 2) generation of perspectives, including wholistic ad composite views; and 3) consistency maintenance.

Emergency motorcycle: has it a place in a medical emergency system?

PubMed

Soares-Oliveira, Miguel; Egipto, Paula; Costa, Isabel; Cunha-Ribeiro, Luis Manuel

2007-07-01

In an emergency medical service system, response time is an important factor in determining the prognosis of a victim. There are well-documented increases in response time in urban areas, mainly during rush hour. Because prehospital emergency care is required to be efficient and swift, alternative measures to achieve this goal should be addressed. We report our experience with a medical emergency motorcycle (MEM) and propose major criteria for dispatching it. This work presents a prospective analysis of the data relating to MEM calls from July 2004 to December 2005. The analyzed parameters were age, sex, reason for call, action, and need for subsequent transport. A comparison was made of the need to activate more means and, if so, whether the MEM was the first to arrive. There were 1972 calls. The average time of arrival at destination was 4.4 +/- 2.5 minutes. The main action consisted of administration of oxygen (n = 626), immobilization (n = 118), and control of hemorrhage (n = 101). In 63% of cases, MEM arrived before other emergency vehicles. In 355 cases (18%), there was no need for transport. The MEM can intervene in a wide variety of clinical situations and a quick response is guaranteed. Moreover, in specific situations, MEM safely and efficiently permits better management of emergency vehicles. We propose that it should be dispatched mainly in the following situations: true life-threatening cases and uncertain need for an ambulance.

Improving real-time efficiency of case-based reasoning for medical diagnosis.

PubMed

Park, Yoon-Joo

2014-01-01

Conventional case-based reasoning (CBR) does not perform efficiently for high volume dataset because of case-retrieval time. Some previous researches overcome this problem by clustering a case-base into several small groups, and retrieve neighbors within a corresponding group to a target case. However, this approach generally produces less accurate predictive performances than the conventional CBR. This paper suggests a new case-based reasoning method called the Clustering-Merging CBR (CM-CBR) which produces similar level of predictive performances than the conventional CBR with spending significantly less computational cost.

Assessment of targeted automated messages on herpes zoster immunization numbers in an independent community pharmacy.

PubMed

Bedwick, Brian W; Garofoli, Gretchen K; Elswick, Betsy M

To evaluate the impact of an automated phone call by a pharmacy owner on the number of herpes zoster vaccinations given in the independent community pharmacy setting, compare herpes zoster immunization numbers in the 3 months during the previous year to the 3 months during the intervention, and assess patient satisfaction with the automated phone call service. This prospective study took place in an independent community pharmacy. A message was recorded by the pharmacy owner using a telephone-message program that notified patients aged 60 and older that the herpes zoster vaccine is recommended for them. This message was sent out monthly for a total of 3 months. Patients who received this vaccine in the 3 months following the initial phone call were surveyed to determine their reason for receiving the vaccine, and to assess satisfaction with the phone call. The total number of herpes zoster immunizations given at the pharmacy during the study period was compared to the total given at the pharmacy during the same period of the previous year. A total of 25 participants received the herpes zoster vaccine at the pharmacy during the study period, compared to 16 during the control period. Receiving the phone call was the most commonly cited reason for receiving the vaccine, followed by doctor recommendation. Of the 18 participants who received the call, 12 stated that they would be very likely to respond to similar phone calls in the future. These results demonstrate that using a targeted, automated phone call directed at eligible patients appears to have a positive effect on their willingness to receive the herpes zoster vaccine and may lead to an increase in vaccination numbers among eligible patients. Various factors must be considered before implementation of this service, including cost and added call volume. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Holistic Reasoning on the Other Side of the World: Validation of the Analism/Holism Scale in Mexicans

PubMed Central

Lechuga, Julia; Santos, Beatriz Maldonado; Garza-Caballero, Azenett A.; Villarreal, Ricardo

2011-01-01

The universality of cognitive processes has been called into question. Research suggests that individuals from Eastern cultures (e.g., China, Korea) when compared to individuals from Western cultures (e.g., the United States) prefer to reason holistically. This line of research has not been extended to cultural groups far removed from cultures traditionally surveyed in cross-cultural research such as Hispanics. We conducted two studies to understand: 1) the generalizability of the construct of holistic reasoning in Mexicans, and 2) the preferred reasoning style of Mexicans when compared to U.S. Americans. Results support the generalization of the factor structure of holistic reasoning as originally hypothesized by Choi, Koo, and Choi (2007). The results of Study 2 suggest that Mexicans scored higher than U.S. Americans on certain aspects of holistic reasoning. PMID:21787065

Holistic reasoning on the other side of the world: validation of the analysis-holism scale in Mexicans.

PubMed

Lechuga, Julia; Santos, Beatriz Maldonado; Garza-Caballero, Azenett A; Villarreal, Ricardo

2011-07-01

The universality of cognitive processes has been called into question. Research suggests that individuals from Eastern cultures (e.g., China, Korea) when compared to individuals from Western cultures (e.g., the United States) prefer to reason holistically. This line of research has not been extended to cultural groups far removed from cultures traditionally surveyed in cross-cultural research such as Hispanics. We conducted two studies to understand: 1) the generalizability of the construct of holistic reasoning in Mexicans, and 2) the preferred reasoning style of Mexicans when compared to U.S. Americans. Results support the generalization of the factor structure of holistic reasoning as originally hypothesized by Choi, Koo, and Choi (2007). The results of Study 2 suggest that Mexicans scored higher than U.S. Americans on certain aspects of holistic reasoning.

The harms of enhancement and the conclusive reasons view.

PubMed

Douglas, Thomas

2015-01-01

Many critics of bioenhancement go to considerable lengths to establish the existence of reasons against pursuing bioenhancements but do little to establish the absence of reasons in favor. This suggests that they accept what Allen Buchanan has called the conclusive reasons view (CRV). According to this view, our reasons against bioenhancement are obviously decisive, so there is no need to balance them against countervailing reasons. Buchanan criticizes the CRV by showing that the reasons most commonly adduced against bioenhancement are not decisive, or, at least, not obviously so. In this article, I suggest that both Buchanan and the authors to whom he is responding underestimate the strength of the case for the CRV. There are, I argue, harm-based reasons against bioenhancement that provide stronger support to the CRV than the reasons that have most often been adduced by critics of enhancement. However, I then argue that even these harm-based reasons are not obviously decisive. Thus, I ultimately agree with Buchanan about the falsity of the CRV, though I disagree with him about the reasons for its falsity.

Use of Mobile Phone Technology to Improve follow-up at a Community Mental Health Clinic: A Randomized Control Trial.

PubMed

Singh, Gaurav; Manjunatha, Narayana; Rao, Sabina; Shashidhara, H N; Moirangthem, Sydney; Madegowda, Rajendra K; Binukumar, B; Varghese, Mathew

2017-01-01

Mobile phone technology is being used worldwide to improve follow-ups in health care. Aim of the study is to evaluate whether the use of mobile technology will improve or not the follow-up of Indian patients from a community mental health center. Patients or caregivers having mobile phones and consenting for study were enrolled, and sociodemographic and clinical details of patients were taken. Participants were randomized into two groups (short message service [SMS] vs. non-SMS group). At first intervention level, a SMS was sent to SMS group (not in non-SMS group) 1 day before their appointment. At second-level intervention (voice call level), patients from both groups who missed their first appointment were given a voice call requesting them to come for follow-up, and the reasons for first missed appointments (MA) were also elicited. The effect of these two intervention levels (first SMS for SMS group and next voice calls for both groups) on follow-up was evaluated. A total of 214 patients were enrolled in the study. At first SMS intervention level of SMS group ( n = 106), 62.26% of participants reached appointment-on-time (RA), while in the non-SMS/as usual group ( n = 108), 45.37% of patients RA. The difference of these groups is statistically significant. At second-level intervention (voice call), 66 of 88 (another 15 were unable to contact) were came for follow-up consultation within 2 days of MA. Distance and diagnosis of alcohol dependence were significantly associated with MA. Social reasons were most common reasons for first MA. The use of mobile phone technology in an outpatient community psychiatric clinic improved follow-up significantly.

Ground terminal expert (GTEX). Part 2: Expert system diagnostics for a 30/20 Gigahertz satellite transponder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Durkin, John; Schlegelmilch, Richard; Tallo, Donald

1992-01-01

A research effort was undertaken to investigate how expert system technology could be applied to a satellite communications system. The focus of the expert system is the satellite earth station. A proof of concept expert system called the Ground Terminal Expert (GTEX) was developed at the University of Akron in collaboration with the NASA Lewis Research Center. With the increasing demand for satellite earth stations, maintenance is becoming a vital issue. Vendors of such systems will be looking for cost effective means of maintaining such systems. The objective of GTEX is to aid in diagnosis of faults occurring with the digital earth station. GTEX was developed on a personal computer using the Automated Reasoning Tool for Information Management (ART-IM) developed by the Inference Corporation. Developed for the Phase 2 digital earth station, GTEX is a part of the Systems Integration Test and Evaluation (SITE) facility located at the NASA Lewis Research Center.

Model-based reasoning for power system management using KATE and the SSM/PMAD

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, Robert A.; Gonzalez, Avelino J.; Carreira, Daniel J.; Mckenzie, F. D.; Gann, Brian

1993-01-01

The overall goal of this research effort has been the development of a software system which automates tasks related to monitoring and controlling electrical power distribution in spacecraft electrical power systems. The resulting software system is called the Intelligent Power Controller (IPC). The specific tasks performed by the IPC include continuous monitoring of the flow of power from a source to a set of loads, fast detection of anomalous behavior indicating a fault to one of the components of the distribution systems, generation of diagnosis (explanation) of anomalous behavior, isolation of faulty object from remainder of system, and maintenance of flow of power to critical loads and systems (e.g. life-support) despite fault conditions being present (recovery). The IPC system has evolved out of KATE (Knowledge-based Autonomous Test Engineer), developed at NASA-KSC. KATE consists of a set of software tools for developing and applying structure and behavior models to monitoring, diagnostic, and control applications.

Human initiated cascading failures in societal infrastructures.

PubMed

Barrett, Chris; Channakeshava, Karthik; Huang, Fei; Kim, Junwhan; Marathe, Achla; Marathe, Madhav V; Pei, Guanhong; Saha, Sudip; Subbiah, Balaaji S P; Vullikanti, Anil Kumar S

2012-01-01

In this paper, we conduct a systematic study of human-initiated cascading failures in three critical inter-dependent societal infrastructures due to behavioral adaptations in response to a crisis. We focus on three closely coupled socio-technical networks here: (i) cellular and mesh networks, (ii) transportation networks and (iii) mobile call networks. In crises, changes in individual behaviors lead to altered travel, activity and calling patterns, which influence the transport network and the loads on wireless networks. The interaction between these systems and their co-evolution poses significant technical challenges for representing and reasoning about these systems. In contrast to system dynamics models for studying these interacting infrastructures, we develop interaction-based models in which individuals and infrastructure elements are represented in detail and are placed in a common geographic coordinate system. Using the detailed representation, we study the impact of a chemical plume that has been released in a densely populated urban region. Authorities order evacuation of the affected area, and this leads to individual behavioral adaptation wherein individuals drop their scheduled activities and drive to home or pre-specified evacuation shelters as appropriate. They also revise their calling behavior to communicate and coordinate among family members. These two behavioral adaptations cause flash-congestion in the urban transport network and the wireless network. The problem is exacerbated with a few, already occurring, road closures. We analyze how extended periods of unanticipated road congestion can result in failure of infrastructures, starting with the servicing base stations in the congested area. A sensitivity analysis on the compliance rate of evacuees shows non-intuitive effect on the spatial distribution of people and on the loading of the base stations. For example, an evacuation compliance rate of 70% results in higher number of overloaded base stations than the evacuation compliance rate of 90%.

Human Initiated Cascading Failures in Societal Infrastructures

PubMed Central

Barrett, Chris; Channakeshava, Karthik; Huang, Fei; Kim, Junwhan; Marathe, Achla; Marathe, Madhav V.; Pei, Guanhong; Saha, Sudip; Subbiah, Balaaji S. P.; Vullikanti, Anil Kumar S.

2012-01-01

In this paper, we conduct a systematic study of human-initiated cascading failures in three critical inter-dependent societal infrastructures due to behavioral adaptations in response to a crisis. We focus on three closely coupled socio-technical networks here: (i) cellular and mesh networks, (ii) transportation networks and (iii) mobile call networks. In crises, changes in individual behaviors lead to altered travel, activity and calling patterns, which influence the transport network and the loads on wireless networks. The interaction between these systems and their co-evolution poses significant technical challenges for representing and reasoning about these systems. In contrast to system dynamics models for studying these interacting infrastructures, we develop interaction-based models in which individuals and infrastructure elements are represented in detail and are placed in a common geographic coordinate system. Using the detailed representation, we study the impact of a chemical plume that has been released in a densely populated urban region. Authorities order evacuation of the affected area, and this leads to individual behavioral adaptation wherein individuals drop their scheduled activities and drive to home or pre-specified evacuation shelters as appropriate. They also revise their calling behavior to communicate and coordinate among family members. These two behavioral adaptations cause flash-congestion in the urban transport network and the wireless network. The problem is exacerbated with a few, already occurring, road closures. We analyze how extended periods of unanticipated road congestion can result in failure of infrastructures, starting with the servicing base stations in the congested area. A sensitivity analysis on the compliance rate of evacuees shows non-intuitive effect on the spatial distribution of people and on the loading of the base stations. For example, an evacuation compliance rate of 70% results in higher number of overloaded base stations than the evacuation compliance rate of 90%. PMID:23118847

PLAT: An Automated Fault and Behavioural Anomaly Detection Tool for PLC Controlled Manufacturing Systems.

PubMed

Ghosh, Arup; Qin, Shiming; Lee, Jooyeoun; Wang, Gi-Nam

2016-01-01

Operational faults and behavioural anomalies associated with PLC control processes take place often in a manufacturing system. Real time identification of these operational faults and behavioural anomalies is necessary in the manufacturing industry. In this paper, we present an automated tool, called PLC Log-Data Analysis Tool (PLAT) that can detect them by using log-data records of the PLC signals. PLAT automatically creates a nominal model of the PLC control process and employs a novel hash table based indexing and searching scheme to satisfy those purposes. Our experiments show that PLAT is significantly fast, provides real time identification of operational faults and behavioural anomalies, and can execute within a small memory footprint. In addition, PLAT can easily handle a large manufacturing system with a reasonable computing configuration and can be installed in parallel to the data logging system to identify operational faults and behavioural anomalies effectively.

PLAT: An Automated Fault and Behavioural Anomaly Detection Tool for PLC Controlled Manufacturing Systems

PubMed Central

Ghosh, Arup; Qin, Shiming; Lee, Jooyeoun

2016-01-01

Operational faults and behavioural anomalies associated with PLC control processes take place often in a manufacturing system. Real time identification of these operational faults and behavioural anomalies is necessary in the manufacturing industry. In this paper, we present an automated tool, called PLC Log-Data Analysis Tool (PLAT) that can detect them by using log-data records of the PLC signals. PLAT automatically creates a nominal model of the PLC control process and employs a novel hash table based indexing and searching scheme to satisfy those purposes. Our experiments show that PLAT is significantly fast, provides real time identification of operational faults and behavioural anomalies, and can execute within a small memory footprint. In addition, PLAT can easily handle a large manufacturing system with a reasonable computing configuration and can be installed in parallel to the data logging system to identify operational faults and behavioural anomalies effectively. PMID:27974882

[Modularization by the open standard. (I)].

PubMed

Hirano, H

2000-10-01

We are proceeding with the project called "Open LA21 Project" in the course of the clinical laboratory automation toward the 21st century. With the modular system that realizes integration, downsizing, a reasonable price, and is the future course in the clinical testing automation system as well, we aim to establish common standards among manufacturers as the only way to create user friendly market environments where the proper competition exists among the manufacturers. The common standards which are in preparation by the participating companies as "Open module system standards" are the standards which are going to be made public. They are intended to guarantee connection, compatibility of the products in conformity with the standards. In this project, we intend to realize the modular system that integrates each field, such as chemistry, hematology, coagulation/fibrinolysis, immunology, urinalysis in an early stage, and contribute positively to restructuring and upgrading the "raison d'etre" of the 21st century clinical testing.

Experimental performances of a battery thermal management system using a phase change material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hémery, Charles-Victor; Pra, Franck; Robin, Jean-François; Marty, Philippe

2014-12-01

Li-ion batteries are leading candidates for mobility because electric vehicles (EV) are an environmentally friendly mean of transport. With age, Li-ion cells show a more resistive behavior leading to extra heat generation. Another kind of problem called thermal runway arises when the cell is too hot, what happens in case of overcharge or short circuit. In order to evaluate the effect of these defects at the whole battery scale, an air-cooled battery module was built and tested, using electrical heaters instead of real cells for safety reasons. A battery thermal management system based on a phase change material is developed in that study. This passive system is coupled with an active liquid cooling system in order to initialize the battery temperature at the melting of the PCM. This initialization, or PCM solidification, can be performed during a charge for example, in other words when the energy from the network is available.

Metrication: An economic wake-up call for US industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carver, G. P.

1993-03-01

As the international standard of measurement, the metric system is one key to success in the global marketplace. International standards have become an important factor in international economic competition. Non-metric products are becoming increasingly unacceptable in world markets that favor metric products. Procurement is the primary federal tool for encouraging and helping U.S. industry to convert voluntarily to the metric system. Besides the perceived unwillingness of the customer, certain regulatory language, and certain legal definitions in some states, there are no major impediments to conversion of the remaining non-metric industries to metric usage. Instead, there are good reasons for changing, including an opportunity to rethink many industry standards and to take advantage of size standardization. Also, when the remaining industries adopt the metric system, they will come into conformance with federal agencies engaged in similar activities.

CD8+ T Cells Need a Little Help(er) for Sustained Antitumor Response | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

The immune system comprises a powerful army of specialized cells and molecules that protect the body against invading foreign agents. For years, researchers have been trying to find a way to turn the wrath of the immune system against cancer. A significant amount of work related to cancer immunotherapy has focused on the potential of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells to attack and eliminate cancer cells. However, this approach has proved challenging for two reasons. First, there are several mechanisms in place to make sure that T cells and other components of the immune system ignore “self” molecules and cells, even if these cells become cancerous. Second, tumor microenvironments are often characterized by the presence of immunosuppressive factors capable of stifling T cell activation (a process called tolerization).  

Framework for a clinical information system.

PubMed

Van de Velde, R

2000-01-01

The current status of our work towards the design and implementation of a reference architecture for a Clinical Information System is presented. This architecture has been developed and implemented based on components following a strong underlying conceptual and technological model. Common Object Request Broker and n-tier technology featuring centralised and departmental clinical information systems as the back-end store for all clinical data are used. Servers located in the 'middle' tier apply the clinical (business) model and application rules to communicate with so-called 'thin client' workstations. The main characteristics are the focus on modelling and reuse of both data and business logic as there is a shift away from data and functional modelling towards object modelling. Scalability as well as adaptability to constantly changing requirements via component driven computing are the main reasons for that approach.

Threads that guide or ties that bind: William Kirby and the essentialism story.

PubMed

Varma, Charissa S

2009-01-01

Nineteenth-century British entomologist William Kirby is best known for his generic division of bees based on tongues and his vigorous defence of natural theology. Focusing on these aspects of Kirby's work has lead many current scholars to characterise Kirby as an "essentialist." As a result of this characterisation, many important aspects of his work, Monographia Apum Angliae (1802) have been over-looked or misunderstood. Kirby's religious devotion, for example, have lead some scholars to assume Kirby used the term "type" for connecting an ontological assumption about essences with a creationist assumption about species fixity, which I argue conceals a variety of ways Kirby employed the term. Also, Kirby frequently cautioned against organising a classification system exclusively by what he called "analytic reasoning," a style of reasoning 20th century scholars often associate with Aristotelian logic of division. I argue that Kirby's critique of analytic reasoning brought the virtues of his own methodological agenda into sharp relief. Kirby used familiar metaphors in the natural history literature--Ariadne's thread, the Eleusinian mysteries, and Bacon's bee and spider metaphors--to emphasise the virtues of building tradition and cooperation in the goals and methodological practices of 19th century British naturalists.

Fault diagnosis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Kathy

1990-01-01

The objective of the research in this area of fault management is to develop and implement a decision aiding concept for diagnosing faults, especially faults which are difficult for pilots to identify, and to develop methods for presenting the diagnosis information to the flight crew in a timely and comprehensible manner. The requirements for the diagnosis concept were identified by interviewing pilots, analyzing actual incident and accident cases, and examining psychology literature on how humans perform diagnosis. The diagnosis decision aiding concept developed based on those requirements takes abnormal sensor readings as input, as identified by a fault monitor. Based on these abnormal sensor readings, the diagnosis concept identifies the cause or source of the fault and all components affected by the fault. This concept was implemented for diagnosis of aircraft propulsion and hydraulic subsystems in a computer program called Draphys (Diagnostic Reasoning About Physical Systems). Draphys is unique in two important ways. First, it uses models of both functional and physical relationships in the subsystems. Using both models enables the diagnostic reasoning to identify the fault propagation as the faulted system continues to operate, and to diagnose physical damage. Draphys also reasons about behavior of the faulted system over time, to eliminate possibilities as more information becomes available, and to update the system status as more components are affected by the fault. The crew interface research is examining display issues associated with presenting diagnosis information to the flight crew. One study examined issues for presenting system status information. One lesson learned from that study was that pilots found fault situations to be more complex if they involved multiple subsystems. Another was pilots could identify the faulted systems more quickly if the system status was presented in pictorial or text format. Another study is currently under way to examine pilot mental models of the aircraft subsystems and their use in diagnosis tasks. Future research plans include piloted simulation evaluation of the diagnosis decision aiding concepts and crew interface issues. Information is given in viewgraph form.

Chest tube insertion

MedlinePlus

... leaks from inside the lung into the chest ( pneumothorax ) Fluid buildup in the chest (called a pleural ... on the reason a chest tube is inserted. Pneumothorax most often improves, but sometimes surgery is needed ...

Perceptions and attitudes of hospital staff toward paging system and the use of mobile phones.

PubMed

Haroon, Muhammad; Yasin, Faiza; Eckel, Rachael; Walker, Frank

2010-10-01

Our objective was to document the pattern of mobile phone usage by medical staff in a hospital setting, and to explore any perceived benefits (such as improved communications) associated with mobile phones. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Waterford Regional Hospital, Ireland, where bleep is the official system of communication. All non-consultant hospital doctors, of medical disciplines only, were asked to participate. The questionnaire was designed to explore the pattern and different aspects of mobile phone usage. At the time of study, there were sixty medical junior doctors, and the response rate was 100 percent. All participants used mobile phones while at work, and also for hospital-related work. For 98.3 percent the mobile phone was their main mode of communication while in the hospital. Sixty-two percent (n = 37) made 6-10 calls daily purely for work-related business, and this comprised of ≥ 80 percent of their daily usage of mobile phones. For 98 percent of participants, most phone calls were work-related. Regarding reasons for using mobile phones, all reported that using mobile phone is quicker for communication. Mobile phone usage is very common among the medical personnel, and this is regarded as a more efficient means of communication for mobile staff than the hospital paging system.

Information processing in echo state networks at the edge of chaos.

PubMed

Boedecker, Joschka; Obst, Oliver; Lizier, Joseph T; Mayer, N Michael; Asada, Minoru

2012-09-01

We investigate information processing in randomly connected recurrent neural networks. It has been shown previously that the computational capabilities of these networks are maximized when the recurrent layer is close to the border between a stable and an unstable dynamics regime, the so called edge of chaos. The reasons, however, for this maximized performance are not completely understood. We adopt an information-theoretical framework and are for the first time able to quantify the computational capabilities between elements of these networks directly as they undergo the phase transition to chaos. Specifically, we present evidence that both information transfer and storage in the recurrent layer are maximized close to this phase transition, providing an explanation for why guiding the recurrent layer toward the edge of chaos is computationally useful. As a consequence, our study suggests self-organized ways of improving performance in recurrent neural networks, driven by input data. Moreover, the networks we study share important features with biological systems such as feedback connections and online computation on input streams. A key example is the cerebral cortex, which was shown to also operate close to the edge of chaos. Consequently, the behavior of model systems as studied here is likely to shed light on reasons why biological systems are tuned into this specific regime.

Factors affecting recruitment and participation of bereaved parents and siblings in grief research.

PubMed

Akard, Terrah Foster; Gilmer, Mary Jo; Miller, Katy; Steele, Amii Corbisiero; Hancock, Kelly; Barrera, Maru; Compas, Bruce; Davies, Betty; Dietrich, Mary S; Fairclough, Diane L; Hogan, Nancy S; Vannatta, Kathryn; Gerhardt, Cynthia A

2014-04-01

This study examined participation factors in a study of families ( N  = 84) within 1 year of a child's cancer-related death. Specific aims were to examine associations between: (a) recruitment variables (number of phone calls made to eligible families, number of calls answered by eligible families) and participation rates (study agreement and refusal) and (b) characteristics of deceased children (gender, age, length of illness, time since death) and participation rates. Characteristics of deceased children did not differ between participating and non-participating families. Researchers made significantly fewer calls to participating versus refusing families. Participating families most often agreed during the first successful call connection, and more calls did not mean more recruitment success. Thus, it is reasonable to limit the number of calls made to bereaved families. Despite recruitment challenges, many bereaved parents and siblings are willing and interested to participate in grief research.

Integrated Modeling of Complex Optomechanical Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andersen, Torben; Enmark, Anita

2011-09-01

Mathematical modeling and performance simulation are playing an increasing role in large, high-technology projects. There are two reasons; first, projects are now larger than they were before, and the high cost calls for detailed performance prediction before construction. Second, in particular for space-related designs, it is often difficult to test systems under realistic conditions beforehand, and mathematical modeling is then needed to verify in advance that a system will work as planned. Computers have become much more powerful, permitting calculations that were not possible before. At the same time mathematical tools have been further developed and found acceptance in the community. Particular progress has been made in the fields of structural mechanics, optics and control engineering, where new methods have gained importance over the last few decades. Also, methods for combining optical, structural and control system models into global models have found widespread use. Such combined models are usually called integrated models and were the subject of this symposium. The objective was to bring together people working in the fields of groundbased optical telescopes, ground-based radio telescopes, and space telescopes. We succeeded in doing so and had 39 interesting presentations and many fruitful discussions during coffee and lunch breaks and social arrangements. We are grateful that so many top ranked specialists found their way to Kiruna and we believe that these proceedings will prove valuable during much future work.

Logical Form as a Determinant of Cognitive Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Lambalgen, Michiel

We discuss a research program on reasoning patterns in subjects with autism, showing that they fail to engage in certain forms of non-monotonic reasoning that come naturally to neurotypical subjects. The striking reasoning patterns of autists occur both in verbal and in non-verbal tasks. Upon formalising the relevant non-verbal tasks, one sees that their logical form is the same as that of the verbal tasks. This suggests that logical form can play a causal role in cognitive processes, and we suggest that this logical form is actually embodied in the cognitive capacity called 'executive function'.

Conscientious refusals and reason-giving.

PubMed

Marsh, Jason

2014-07-01

Some philosophers have argued for what I call the reason-giving requirement for conscientious refusal in reproductive healthcare. According to this requirement, healthcare practitioners who conscientiously object to administering standard forms of treatment must have arguments to back up their conscience, arguments that are purely public in character. I argue that such a requirement, though attractive in some ways, faces an overlooked epistemic problem: it is either too easy or too difficult to satisfy in standard cases. I close by briefly considering whether a version of the reason-giving requirement can be salvaged despite this important difficulty. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The interplay of deductive and inductive reasoning in psychoanalytic theorizing.

PubMed

Hanly, Charles

2014-10-01

Deductive and inductive reasoning both played an essential part in Freud's construction of psychoanalysis. In this paper, the author explores the happy marriage of empiricism and rationalism in Freud's use of deductive reasoning in the construction of psychoanalytic theory. To do this, the author considers three major amendments Freud made to his theory: (i) infant and childhood sexuality, (ii) the structural theory, and (iii) the theory of signal anxiety. Ultimately, the author argues for, and presents Freud as a proponent of, the epistemological position that he calls critical realism. © 2014 The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, Inc.

"Language Is the Skin of My Thought": Integrating Wikipedia and AI to Support a Guillotine Player

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lops, Pasquale; Basile, Pierpaolo; de Gemmis, Marco; Semeraro, Giovanni

This paper describes OTTHO (On the Tip of my THOught), a system designed for solving a language game, called Guillotine, which demands knowledge covering a broad range of topics, such as movies, politics, literature, history, proverbs, and popular culture. The rule of the game is simple: the player observes five words, generally unrelated to each other, and in one minute she has to provide a sixth word, semantically connected to the others. The system exploits several knowledge sources, such as a dictionary, a set of proverbs, and Wikipedia to realize a knowledge infusion process. The paper describes the process of modeling these sources and the reasoning mechanism to find the solution of the game. The main motivation for designing an artificial player for Guillotine is the challenge of providing the machine with the cultural and linguistic background knowledge which makes it similar to a human being, with the ability of interpreting natural language documents and reasoning on their content. Experiments carried out showed promising results. Our feeling is that the presented approach has a great potential for other more practical applications besides solving a language game.

Salem witchcraft and lessons for contemporary forensic psychiatry.

PubMed

Friedman, Susan Hatters; Howie, Andrew

2013-01-01

In 1692 and 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts, more than 150 colonists were accused of witchcraft, resulting in 19 being hanged and one man being crushed to death. Contributions to these events included: historical, religious and cultural belief systems; social and community concerns; economic, gender, and political factors; and local family grievances. Child witnessing, certainty of physician diagnosis, use of special evidence in the absence of scholarly and legal scrutiny, and tautological reasoning were important factors, as well. For forensic psychiatry, the events at Salem in 1692 still hold contemporary implications. These events of three centuries ago call to mind more recent daycare sexual abuse scandals.

Comment on "On the security of a spatiotemporal chaotic cryptosystem" [Chaos 17, 033117 (2007)].

PubMed

Wang, Shihong; Hu, Gang

2008-09-01

This paper comments on a recent paper by R. Rhouma and B. Safya [Chaos 17, 033117 (2007)]. They claimed to find some security weakness of the spatiotemporal chaotic cryptosystem suggested by G. Tang et al. [Phys. Lett. A 318, 388 (2003)] and proposed a chosen-plaintext attack to analyze this system. We find that in their analysis, called a "chosen-plaintext attack," they actually act as a legal receiver (with a machine in their hands during the entire decryption process) rather than an attacker and, therefore, the whole reasoning is not valid. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Living in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Ray (Editor)

1993-01-01

In this educational video from the 'Liftoff to Learning' series, astronauts from the STS-56 Mission (Ken Cockrell, Mike Foale, Ellen Ochoa, Steve Oswald, and Ken Cameron) explain and show through demonstrations how microgravity affects the way astronauts live onboard the Space Shuttle, and how these same daily habits or processes differ on Earth. A tour of the Space Shuttle is given, including the sleeping compartments, the kitchen area, the storage compartments, and the Waste Collection System (or WCS, as they call it). Daily habits (brushing teeth, shampooing hair and bathing, eating,...) are explained and actively illustrated, along with reasons of how these applications differ from their employment on Earth.

Fuzzy Modal Control Applied to Smart Composite Structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koroishi, E. H.; Faria, A. W.; Lara-Molina, F. A.; Steffen, V., Jr.

2015-07-01

This paper proposes an active vibration control technique, which is based on Fuzzy Modal Control, as applied to a piezoelectric actuator bonded to a composite structure forming a so-called smart composite structure. Fuzzy Modal Controllers were found to be well adapted for controlling structures with nonlinear behavior, whose characteristics change considerably with respect to time. The smart composite structure was modelled by using a so called mixed theory. This theory uses a single equivalent layer for the discretization of the mechanical displacement field and a layerwise representation of the electrical field. Temperature effects are neglected. Due to numerical reasons it was necessary to reduce the size of the model of the smart composite structure so that the design of the controllers and the estimator could be performed. The role of the Kalman Estimator in the present contribution is to estimate the modal states of the system, which are used by the Fuzzy Modal controllers. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed vibration control methodology for composite structures.

Detector-device-independent quantum key distribution: Security analysis and fast implementation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boaron, Alberto; Korzh, Boris; Houlmann, Raphael

One of the most pressing issues in quantum key distribution (QKD) is the problem of detector side-channel attacks. To overcome this problem, researchers proposed an elegant “time-reversal” QKD protocol called measurement-device-independent QKD (MDI-QKD), which is based on time-reversed entanglement swapping. But, MDI-QKD is more challenging to implement than standard point-to-point QKD. Recently, we proposed an intermediary QKD protocol called detector-device-independent QKD (DDI-QKD) in order to overcome the drawbacks of MDI-QKD, with the hope that it would eventually lead to a more efficient detector side-channel-free QKD system. We analyze the security of DDI-QKD and elucidate its security assumptions. We find thatmore » DDI-QKD is not equivalent to MDI-QKD, but its security can be demonstrated with reasonable assumptions. On the more practical side, we consider the feasibility of DDI-QKD and present a fast experimental demonstration (clocked at 625 MHz), capable of secret key exchange up to more than 90 km.« less

Discrimination of Self and Non-Self Ribonucleic Acids

PubMed Central

Gebhardt, Anna; Laudenbach, Beatrice T.

2017-01-01

Most virus infections are controlled through the innate and adaptive immune system. A surprisingly limited number of so-called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) have the ability to sense a large variety of virus infections. The reason for the broad activity of PRRs lies in the ability to recognize viral nucleic acids. These nucleic acids lack signatures that are present in cytoplasmic cellular nucleic acids and thereby marking them as pathogen-derived. Accumulating evidence suggests that these signatures, which are predominantly sensed by a class of PRRs called retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors and other proteins, are not unique to viruses but rather resemble immature forms of cellular ribonucleic acids generated by cellular polymerases. RIG-I-like receptors, and other cellular antiviral proteins, may therefore have mainly evolved to sense nonprocessed nucleic acids typically generated by primitive organisms and pathogens. This capability has not only implications on induction of antiviral immunity but also on the function of cellular proteins to handle self-derived RNA with stimulatory potential. PMID:28475460

Detector-device-independent quantum key distribution: Security analysis and fast implementation

DOE PAGES

Boaron, Alberto; Korzh, Boris; Houlmann, Raphael; ...

2016-08-09

One of the most pressing issues in quantum key distribution (QKD) is the problem of detector side-channel attacks. To overcome this problem, researchers proposed an elegant “time-reversal” QKD protocol called measurement-device-independent QKD (MDI-QKD), which is based on time-reversed entanglement swapping. But, MDI-QKD is more challenging to implement than standard point-to-point QKD. Recently, we proposed an intermediary QKD protocol called detector-device-independent QKD (DDI-QKD) in order to overcome the drawbacks of MDI-QKD, with the hope that it would eventually lead to a more efficient detector side-channel-free QKD system. We analyze the security of DDI-QKD and elucidate its security assumptions. We find thatmore » DDI-QKD is not equivalent to MDI-QKD, but its security can be demonstrated with reasonable assumptions. On the more practical side, we consider the feasibility of DDI-QKD and present a fast experimental demonstration (clocked at 625 MHz), capable of secret key exchange up to more than 90 km.« less

Informatic analysis for hidden pulse attack exploiting spectral characteristics of optics in plug-and-play quantum key distribution system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ko, Heasin; Lim, Kyongchun; Oh, Junsang; Rhee, June-Koo Kevin

2016-10-01

Quantum channel loopholes due to imperfect implementations of practical devices expose quantum key distribution (QKD) systems to potential eavesdropping attacks. Even though QKD systems are implemented with optical devices that are highly selective on spectral characteristics, information theory-based analysis about a pertinent attack strategy built with a reasonable framework exploiting it has never been clarified. This paper proposes a new type of trojan horse attack called hidden pulse attack that can be applied in a plug-and-play QKD system, using general and optimal attack strategies that can extract quantum information from phase-disturbed quantum states of eavesdropper's hidden pulses. It exploits spectral characteristics of a photodiode used in a plug-and-play QKD system in order to probe modulation states of photon qubits. We analyze the security performance of the decoy-state BB84 QKD system under the optimal hidden pulse attack model that shows enormous performance degradation in terms of both secret key rate and transmission distance.

Toward domain-specific design environments: Some representation ideas from the telecommunications domain

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenspan, Sol; Feblowitz, Mark

1992-01-01

ACME is an experimental environment for investigating new approaches to modeling and analysis of system requirements and designs. ACME is built on and extends object-oriented conceptual modeling techniques and knowledge representation and reasoning (KRR) tools. The most immediate intended use for ACME is to help represent, understand, and communicate system designs during the early stages of system planning and requirements engineering. While our research is ostensibly aimed at software systems in general, we are particularly motivated to make an impact in the telecommunications domain, especially in the area referred to as Intelligent Networks (IN's). IN systems contain the software to provide services to users of a telecommunications network (e.g., call processing services, information services, etc.) as well as the software that provides the internal infrastructure for providing the services (e.g., resource management, billing, etc.). The software includes not only systems developed by the network proprietors but also by a growing group of independent service software providers.

Gender differences in reasons patients delay in seeking treatment for acute myocardial infarction symptoms.

PubMed

Moser, Debra K; McKinley, Sharon; Dracup, Kathleen; Chung, Misook L

2005-01-01

Patients (n = 194) with confirmed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were interviewed to determine sociodemographic, clinical, social, behavioral, cognitive and emotional factors that contribute to delay in seeking treatment for their symptoms. Initial symptom experience was similar for men and women: both were most commonly at home when symptoms began; both were most commonly in the presence of their spouse or other family member; few patients (<10%) called the emergency medical system as their first reaction. Several factors contributed similarly to delay in men and women. Factors that exerted a differential effect on delay between men and women were age, history of AMI, type of AMI (Q-wave and non-Q-wave), concerns about not wanting to trouble others, and prior knowledge of thrombolytics. There was no difference in delay between men and women (median 3.08 versus 3.10 h), but there are important gender differences in the reasons patients delay and in their patterns of decision-making that may assist clinicians trying to tailor interventions.

Case-based Reasoning for Automotive Engine Performance Tune-up

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vong, C. M.; Huang, H.; Wong, P. K.

2010-05-01

The automotive engine performance tune-up is greatly affected by the calibration of its electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU calibration is traditionally done by trial-and-error method. This traditional method consumes a large amount of time and money because of a large number of dynamometer tests. To resolve this problem, case based reasoning (CBR) is employed, so that an existing and effective ECU setup can be adapted to fit another similar class of engines. The adaptation procedure is done through a more sophisticated step called case-based adaptation (CBA) [1, 2]. CBA is an effective knowledge management tool, which can interactively learn the expert adaptation knowledge. The paper briefly reviews the methodologies of CBR and CBA. Then the application to ECU calibration is described via a case study. With CBR and CBA, the efficiency of calibrating an ECU can be enhanced. A prototype system has also been developed to verify the usefulness of CBR in ECU calibration.

CABINS: Case-based interactive scheduler

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyashita, Kazuo; Sycara, Katia

1992-01-01

In this paper we discuss the need for interactive factory schedule repair and improvement, and we identify case-based reasoning (CBR) as an appropriate methodology. Case-based reasoning is the problem solving paradigm that relies on a memory for past problem solving experiences (cases) to guide current problem solving. Cases similar to the current case are retrieved from the case memory, and similarities and differences of the current case to past cases are identified. Then a best case is selected, and its repair plan is adapted to fit the current problem description. If a repair solution fails, an explanation for the failure is stored along with the case in memory, so that the user can avoid repeating similar failures in the future. So far we have identified a number of repair strategies and tactics for factory scheduling and have implemented a part of our approach in a prototype system, called CABINS. As a future work, we are going to scale up CABINS to evaluate its usefulness in a real manufacturing environment.

An approach to integrating and creating flexible software environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bellman, Kirstie L.

1992-01-01

Engineers and scientists are attempting to represent, analyze, and reason about increasingly complex systems. Many researchers have been developing new ways of creating increasingly open environments. In this research on VEHICLES, a conceptual design environment for space systems, an approach was developed, called 'wrapping', to flexibility and integration based on the collection and then processing of explicit qualitative descriptions of all the software resources in the environment. Currently, a simulation is available, VSIM, used to study both the types of wrapping descriptions and the processes necessary to use the metaknowledge to combine, select, adapt, and explain some of the software resources used in VEHICLES. What was learned about the types of knowledge necessary for the wrapping approach is described along with the implications of wrapping for several key software engineering issues.

Fatal anaphylaxis registries data support changes in the who anaphylaxis mortality coding rules.

PubMed

Tanno, Luciana Kase; Simons, F Estelle R; Annesi-Maesano, Isabella; Calderon, Moises A; Aymé, Ségolène; Demoly, Pascal

2017-01-13

Anaphylaxis is defined as a severe life-threatening generalized or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. The difficulty of coding anaphylaxis fatalities under the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system is recognized as an important reason for under-notification of anaphylaxis deaths. On current death certificates, a limited number of ICD codes are valid as underlying causes of death, and death certificates do not include the word anaphylaxis per se. In this review, we provide evidences supporting the need for changes in WHO mortality coding rules and call for addition of anaphylaxis as an underlying cause of death on international death certificates. This publication will be included in support of a formal request to the WHO as a formal request for this move taking the 11 th ICD revision.

Stop the RIKA BANARE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Yoshio

Children who want to study science & technology are decreasing continuously in Japan. This phenomenon is so called “Rika Banare” meaning literally science apart. Then, the number of students aiming at being engineers is decreasing. This will be a threat for Japanese industry. Many science & technology events are being held everywhere in Japan to overcome Rika Banare. However, most of them leave no sustainable influence over the students who reach to high school age. The reason why Rika Banare takes place is discussed. Then, it is insisted that the promotion of the attractive features of engineering career is important as well as improvement of the education system. In this article, eight proposals to stop Rika Banare are presented. Five of them are related to education system and the rest three to the improvement of social status of engineers.

Hip fracture - discharge

MedlinePlus

... or a special metal plate or rod with screws, called compression screws or nails, put in place. Alternatively, you may ... walking as soon as possible. For this reason, it is very important to stay active and follow ...

Data fusion strategies for hazard detection and safe site selection for planetary and small body landings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Câmara, F.; Oliveira, J.; Hormigo, T.; Araújo, J.; Ribeiro, R.; Falcão, A.; Gomes, M.; Dubois-Matra, O.; Vijendran, S.

2015-06-01

This paper discusses the design and evaluation of data fusion strategies to perform tiered fusion of several heterogeneous sensors and a priori data. The aim is to increase robustness and performance of hazard detection and avoidance systems, while enabling safe planetary and small body landings anytime, anywhere. The focus is on Mars and asteroid landing mission scenarios and three distinct data fusion algorithms are introduced and compared. The first algorithm consists of a hybrid camera-LIDAR hazard detection and avoidance system, the H2DAS, in which data fusion is performed at both sensor-level data (reconstruction of the point cloud obtained with a scanning LIDAR using the navigation motion states and correcting the image for motion compensation using IMU data), feature-level data (concatenation of multiple digital elevation maps, obtained from consecutive LIDAR images, to achieve higher accuracy and resolution maps while enabling relative positioning) as well as decision-level data (fusing hazard maps from multiple sensors onto a single image space, with a single grid orientation and spacing). The second method presented is a hybrid reasoning fusion, the HRF, in which innovative algorithms replace the decision-level functions of the previous method, by combining three different reasoning engines—a fuzzy reasoning engine, a probabilistic reasoning engine and an evidential reasoning engine—to produce safety maps. Finally, the third method presented is called Intelligent Planetary Site Selection, the IPSIS, an innovative multi-criteria, dynamic decision-level data fusion algorithm that takes into account historical information for the selection of landing sites and a piloting function with a non-exhaustive landing site search capability, i.e., capable of finding local optima by searching a reduced set of global maps. All the discussed data fusion strategies and algorithms have been integrated, verified and validated in a closed-loop simulation environment. Monte Carlo simulation campaigns were performed for the algorithms performance assessment and benchmarking. The simulations results comprise the landing phases of Mars and Phobos landing mission scenarios.

Managed care's Achilles heel: ethical immaturity.

PubMed

Thompson, R E

2000-01-01

How can physician executives determine the prevailing values in the managed care arena? What are the consequences when values statements are ignored during decision-making? These questions can be answered using a process called ethical reasoning, which is different and more productive than making moral judgments, such as "is managed care good or bad?" Failing to include ethical reasoning in executive offices and boardrooms is a form of ethical immaturity. It fuels public suspicion that managed care's goal may be maximizing profit at all costs, as opposed to seeking reasonable profit through provision of dependable and accessible health care services. One outcome of ethical reasoning is rediscovering the basic truth that running one's business on competitive rather than altruistic principles is ethical whenever greater efficiencies and economic growth enlarge the size of the pie for everyone. Reasonable self-interest is a perfectly acceptable reason to act ethically. The time has come for physician executives to develop a basic understanding of pragmatic ethics, and to appreciate the value of adding ethical reasoning to the decision-making process.

On Patient Well-being and Professional Authority.

PubMed

Solomon, Mildred Z

2017-01-01

Two papers in this issue address the limits of surrogates' authority when making life-and-death decisions for dying family members or friends. Using palliative sedation as an example, Jeffrey Berger offers a conceptual argument for bounding surrogate authority. Since freedom from pain is an essential interest, when imminently dying, cognitively incapacitated patients are in duress and their symptoms are not manageable in any other way, clinicians should be free to offer palliative sedation without surrogate consent, although assent should be sought and every effort made to work with surrogates as harmoniously as possible. Ellen Robinson and her colleagues report on the implementation of a policy at Massachusetts General Hospital that supports do-not-resuscitate orders when cardiopulmonary resuscitation is likely to be ineffective or harmful, even if surrogates disagree. The "Doing No Harm" policy at MGH allows for what MGH calls a "medically indicated DNR" and what in some other places is called "a unilateral DNR"-the writing of an order not to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation, regardless of surrogate disapproval. These kinds of DNR policies have emerged in some hospitals across the country and for much the same reason that Berger provides in his argument regarding palliative sedation. I support the reasoning and the policies in both the Berger and Robinson papers. However, as the authors would most likely agree, the problems they aim to remedy are not simply about the scope of surrogate and professional authority. They are also symptoms of inattention to professional obligations and system failures. © 2017 The Hastings Center.

Caffeine intake and abstract reasoning among 1374 unselected men and women from general population. Role of the -163C>A polymorphism of CYP1A2 gene.

PubMed

Casiglia, Edoardo; Tikhonoff, Valérie; Albertini, Federica; Favaro, Jacopo; Montagnana, Martina; Danese, Elisa; Finatti, Francesco; Benati, Marco; Mazza, Alberto; Dal Maso, Lucia; Spinella, Paolo; Palatini, Paolo

2017-08-01

The possible effect of caffeine as an enhancer of cognitive performance, particularly that on abstract reasoning, has never been studied in an epidemiological setting, especially in relation to -163C>A polymorphism of CYP1A2 gene, largely controlling caffeine metabolism. Aim of this study was to ascertain whether in general population free chronic caffeine intake modifies abstract reasoning, and if this effect is influenced by the above mentioned genotype, by age, schooling, ethanol intake and smoking habits. We studied 1374 unselected men and women aged 51 ± 15 years (range 18-89) from a general population. Daily caffeine intake deriving from coffee, tea, chocolate or cola was calculated from an anamnestic questionnaire and from a 7-day dietary diary. Abstract reasoning was measured in the frame of a neuropsychological assessment as the ability to find a concept linking two words indicating objects or actions and explaining how they were connected. In age-schooling-adjusted linear regression, the higher the caffeine intake, the better the abstraction score. Abstract reasoning depended on caffeine in the -163C>A CC homozygous only (so-called slow metabolizers), where it was higher in the 3rd tertile of caffeine intake. Age and ethanol reduced while smoking and schooling enhanced this association. The interaction term between caffeine and the -163C>A polymorphism was accepted in linear regressions. Caffeine consumption resulted innocuous for the A-carriers (so-called fast metabolizers). In general population, a positive association between caffeine intake and abstract reasoning exists in the CC homozygous of the -163C>A polymorphism of CYP1A2 gene. Copyright © 2017 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transient Region Coverage in the Propulsion IVHM Technology Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balaban, Edward; Sweet, Adam; Bajwa, Anupa; Maul, William; Fulton, Chris; Chicatelli, amy

2004-01-01

Over the last several years researchers at NASA Glenn and Ames Research Centers have developed a real-time fault detection and isolation system for propulsion subsystems of future space vehicles. The Propulsion IVHM Technology Experiment (PITEX), as it is called follows the model-based diagnostic methodology and employs Livingstone, developed at NASA Ames, as its reasoning engine. The system has been tested on,flight-like hardware through a series of nominal and fault scenarios. These scenarios have been developed using a highly detailed simulation of the X-34 flight demonstrator main propulsion system and include realistic failures involving valves, regulators, microswitches, and sensors. This paper focuses on one of the recent research and development efforts under PITEX - to provide more complete transient region coverage. It describes the development of the transient monitors, the corresponding modeling methodology, and the interface software responsible for coordinating the flow of information between the quantitative monitors and the qualitative, discrete representation Livingstone.

Novel quantum phase transition from bounded to extensive entanglement

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhao; Ahmadain, Amr

2017-01-01

The nature of entanglement in many-body systems is a focus of intense research with the observation that entanglement holds interesting information about quantum correlations in large systems and their relation to phase transitions. In particular, it is well known that although generic, many-body states have large, extensive entropy, ground states of reasonable local Hamiltonians carry much smaller entropy, often associated with the boundary length through the so-called area law. Here we introduce a continuous family of frustration-free Hamiltonians with exactly solvable ground states and uncover a remarkable quantum phase transition whereby the entanglement scaling changes from area law into extensively large entropy. This transition shows that entanglement in many-body systems may be enhanced under special circumstances with a potential for generating “useful” entanglement for the purpose of quantum computing and that the full implications of locality and its restrictions on possible ground states may hold further surprises. PMID:28461464

Novel quantum phase transition from bounded to extensive entanglement.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhao; Ahmadain, Amr; Klich, Israel

2017-05-16

The nature of entanglement in many-body systems is a focus of intense research with the observation that entanglement holds interesting information about quantum correlations in large systems and their relation to phase transitions. In particular, it is well known that although generic, many-body states have large, extensive entropy, ground states of reasonable local Hamiltonians carry much smaller entropy, often associated with the boundary length through the so-called area law. Here we introduce a continuous family of frustration-free Hamiltonians with exactly solvable ground states and uncover a remarkable quantum phase transition whereby the entanglement scaling changes from area law into extensively large entropy. This transition shows that entanglement in many-body systems may be enhanced under special circumstances with a potential for generating "useful" entanglement for the purpose of quantum computing and that the full implications of locality and its restrictions on possible ground states may hold further surprises.

Iterative Repair Planning for Spacecraft Operations Using the Aspen System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rabideau, G.; Knight, R.; Chien, S.; Fukunaga, A.; Govindjee, A.

2000-01-01

This paper describes the Automated Scheduling and Planning Environment (ASPEN). ASPEN encodes complex spacecraft knowledge of operability constraints, flight rules, spacecraft hardware, science experiments and operations procedures to allow for automated generation of low level spacecraft sequences. Using a technique called iterative repair, ASPEN classifies constraint violations (i.e., conflicts) and attempts to repair each by performing a planning or scheduling operation. It must reason about which conflict to resolve first and what repair method to try for the given conflict. ASPEN is currently being utilized in the development of automated planner/scheduler systems for several spacecraft, including the UFO-1 naval communications satellite and the Citizen Explorer (CX1) satellite, as well as for planetary rover operations and antenna ground systems automation. This paper focuses on the algorithm and search strategies employed by ASPEN to resolve spacecraft operations constraints, as well as the data structures for representing these constraints.

The topology of non-linear global carbon dynamics: from tipping points to planetary boundaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderies, J. M.; Carpenter, S. R.; Steffen, Will; Rockström, Johan

2013-12-01

We present a minimal model of land use and carbon cycle dynamics and use it to explore the relationship between non-linear dynamics and planetary boundaries. Only the most basic interactions between land cover and terrestrial, atmospheric, and marine carbon stocks are considered in the model. Our goal is not to predict global carbon dynamics as it occurs in the actual Earth System. Rather, we construct a conceptually reasonable heuristic model of a feedback system between different carbon stocks that captures the qualitative features of the actual Earth System and use it to explore the topology of the boundaries of what can be called a ‘safe operating space’ for humans. The model analysis illustrates the existence of dynamic, non-linear tipping points in carbon cycle dynamics and the potential complexity of planetary boundaries. Finally, we use the model to illustrate some challenges associated with navigating planetary boundaries.

Application of nonlinear magnetic vibro-impact vibration suppressor and energy harvester

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afsharfard, Aref

2018-01-01

In the present study, application of a single unit vibro-impact system is improved. For this reason, in the so-called "magnetic impact damper" the impact mass is replaced by a permanent magnet, which moves in coil of gap enclosure. In the magnetic impact damper, wasting energy during inelastic contacts of masses and converting energy into electrical energy during the mass movement inside the coil, leads to suppress undesired vibrations. In this study it is shown that the magnetic impact dampers are not only good vibration suppressors but also they can harvest electrical energy. Effect of changing the main parameters of this system including gap size, load resistance and electromagnetic coupling coefficient is studied on the vibratory and energy behavior of the magnetic impact dampers. Finally using several user oriented charts, it is shown that energy-based and vibration-based design considerations can effectively improve application of the discussed vibro-impact system.

Digital micromirror device camera with per-pixel coded exposure for high dynamic range imaging.

PubMed

Feng, Wei; Zhang, Fumin; Wang, Weijing; Xing, Wei; Qu, Xinghua

2017-05-01

In this paper, we overcome the limited dynamic range of the conventional digital camera, and propose a method of realizing high dynamic range imaging (HDRI) from a novel programmable imaging system called a digital micromirror device (DMD) camera. The unique feature of the proposed new method is that the spatial and temporal information of incident light in our DMD camera can be flexibly modulated, and it enables the camera pixels always to have reasonable exposure intensity by DMD pixel-level modulation. More importantly, it allows different light intensity control algorithms used in our programmable imaging system to achieve HDRI. We implement the optical system prototype, analyze the theory of per-pixel coded exposure for HDRI, and put forward an adaptive light intensity control algorithm to effectively modulate the different light intensity to recover high dynamic range images. Via experiments, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our method and implement the HDRI on different objects.

Nonclassicality of Temporal Correlations.

PubMed

Brierley, Stephen; Kosowski, Adrian; Markiewicz, Marcin; Paterek, Tomasz; Przysiężna, Anna

2015-09-18

The results of spacelike separated measurements are independent of distant measurement settings, a property one might call two-way no-signaling. In contrast, timelike separated measurements are only one-way no-signaling since the past is independent of the future but not vice versa. For this reason some temporal correlations that are formally identical to nonclassical spatial correlations can still be modeled classically. We propose a new formulation of Bell's theorem for temporal correlations; namely, we define nonclassical temporal correlations as the ones which cannot be simulated by propagating in time the classical information content of a quantum system given by the Holevo bound. We first show that temporal correlations between results of any projective quantum measurements on a qubit can be simulated classically. Then we present a sequence of general measurements on a single m-level quantum system that cannot be explained by propagating in time an m-level classical system and using classical computers with unlimited memory.

A research of the community’s opening to the outside world

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Lan; Liu, Xiangzhuo

2017-03-01

Closed residential areas, called community, the traffic network and result in various degrees of traffic congestion such as amputating, dead ends and T-shaped roads. In order to reveal the mechanism of the congestion, establish an effective evaluation index system and finally provide theoretical basis for the study of traffic congestion, we have done researches on factors for traffic congestion and have established a scientific evaluation index system combining experiences home and abroad, based on domestic congestion status. Firstly, we analyse the traffic network as the entry point, and then establish the evaluation model of road capacity with the method of AHP index system. Secondly, we divide the condition of urban congestion into 5 levels from congestion to smoothness. Besides, with VISSIM software, simulations about traffic capacity before and after community opening are carried out. Finally, we provide forward reasonable suggestions upon the combination of models and reality.

Causal cognition in a non-human primate: field playback experiments with Diana monkeys.

PubMed

Zuberbühler, K

2000-09-14

Crested guinea fowls (Guttera pucherani) living in West African rainforests give alarm calls to leopards (Panthera pardus) and sometimes humans (Homo sapiens), two main predators of sympatric Diana monkeys (Cercopithecus diana). When hearing these guinea fowl alarm calls, Diana monkeys respond as if a leopard were present, suggesting that by default the monkeys associate guinea fowl alarm calls with the presence of a leopard. To assess the monkeys' level of causal understanding, I primed monkeys to the presence of either a leopard or a human, before exposing them to playbacks of guinea fowl alarm calls. There were significant differences in the way leopard-primed groups and human-primed groups responded to guinea fowl alarm calls, suggesting that the monkeys' response was not directly driven by the alarm calls themselves but by the calls' underlying cause, i.e. the predator most likely to have caused the calls. Results are discussed with respect to three possible cognitive mechanisms - associative learning, specialized learning programs, and causal reasoning - that could have led to causal knowledge in Diana monkeys.

76 FR 4946 - Proposed Extension of the Approval of Information Collection Requirements

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-27

... formats (Large Print, Braille, Audio Tape, or Disc), upon request, by calling (202) 693-0023 (not a toll... intelligence or counterintelligence functions; (2) of employees the employer reasonably suspects of involvement...

The Phonetics and Phonology of the Polish Calling Melodies.

PubMed

Arvaniti, Amalia; Żygis, Marzena; Jaskuła, Marek

2016-01-01

Two calling melodies of Polish were investigated, the routine call, used to call someone for an everyday reason, and the urgent call, which conveys disapproval of the addressee's actions. A Discourse Completion Task was used to elicit the two melodies from Polish speakers using twelve names from one to four syllables long; there were three names per syllable count, and speakers produced three tokens of each name with each melody. The results, based on eleven speakers, show that the routine calling melody consists of a low F0 stretch followed by a rise-fall-rise; the urgent calling melody, on the other hand, is a simple rise-fall. Systematic differences were found in the scaling and alignment of tonal targets: the routine call showed late alignment of the accentual pitch peak, and in most instances lower scaling of targets. The accented vowel was also affected, being overall louder in the urgent call. Based on the data and comparisons with other Polish melodies, we analyze the routine call as LH* !H-H% and the urgent call as H* L-L%. We discuss the results and our analysis in light of recent findings on calling melodies in other languages, and explore their repercussions for intonational phonology and the modeling of intonation. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Steamer II: Steamer prototype component inventory and user interface commands. Technical report, 1988-1989

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dickieson, J.L.; Thode, W.F.; Newbury, K.

1988-12-01

Over the last several years, Navy Personnel Research and Development has produced a prototype simulation of a 1200-psi steam plant. This simulation, called Steamer, is installed on an expensive Symbolics minicomputer at the Surface Warfare Officers School, Pacific Coronado, California. The fundamental research goal of the Steamer prototype system was to evaluate the potential of, what was then, new artificial intelligence (AI) hardware and software technology for supporting the construction of computer-based training systems using graphic representations of complex, dynamic systems. The area of propulsion engineering was chosen for a number of reasons. This document describes the Steamer prototype systemmore » components and user interface commands and establishes a starting point for designing, developing, and implementing Steamer II. Careful examination of the actual program code produced an inventory that describes the hardware, system software, application software, and documentation for the Steamer prototype system. Exercising all menu options systematically produced an inventory of all Steamer prototype user interface commands.« less

Is clinical cognition binary or continuous?

PubMed

Norman, Geoffrey; Monteiro, Sandra; Sherbino, Jonathan

2013-08-01

A dominant theory of clinical reasoning is the so-called "dual processing theory," in which the diagnostic process may proceed through a rapid, unconscious, intuitive process (System 1) or a slow, conceptual, analytical process (System 2). Diagnostic errors are thought to arise primarily from cognitive biases originating in System 1. In this issue, Custers points out that this model is unnecessarily restrictive and that it is more likely that diagnostic tasks may proceed through a variety of mental strategies ranging from "analytical" to "intuitive."The authors of this commentary agree that the notion that System 1 and System 2 processes are somehow in competition and will necessarily lead to different conclusions is unnecessarily restrictive. On the other hand, they argue that there is substantial evidence in support of a dual processing model, and that most objections to dual processing theory can be easily accommodated by simply presuming that both processes operate in concertand that solving any task may rely to varying degrees on both processes.

A comprehensive test of clinical reasoning for medical students: An olympiad experience in Iran.

PubMed

Monajemi, Alireza; Arabshahi, Kamran Soltani; Soltani, Akbar; Arbabi, Farshid; Akbari, Roghieh; Custers, Eugene; Hadadgar, Arash; Hadizadeh, Fatemeh; Changiz, Tahereh; Adibi, Peyman

2012-01-01

Although some tests for clinical reasoning assessment are now available, the theories of medical expertise have not played a major role in this filed. In this paper, illness script theory was chose as a theoretical framework and contemporary clinical reasoning tests were put together based on this theoretical model. This paper is a qualitative study performed with an action research approach. This style of research is performed in a context where authorities focus on promoting their organizations' performance and is carried out in the form of teamwork called participatory research. Results are presented in four parts as basic concepts, clinical reasoning assessment, test framework, and scoring. we concluded that no single test could thoroughly assess clinical reasoning competency, and therefore a battery of clinical reasoning tests is needed. This battery should cover all three parts of clinical reasoning process: script activation, selection and verification. In addition, not only both analytical and non-analytical reasoning, but also both diagnostic and management reasoning should evenly take into consideration in this battery. This paper explains the process of designing and implementing the battery of clinical reasoning in the Olympiad for medical sciences students through an action research.

International Law and the Changing Character of War. Volume 87

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

38. Id. 39. See Londono, supra note 25. 40. See, e.g., Rowan Scarborough, Pentagon Notebook: McPeak calls McCain too fat , WASHINGTON TIMES, June 26...jet fight- ers."), available at http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/jun/26/pentagon-notebook-mcpeak -calls-mccain-too- fat /?page=2. 41. Michael Hoffman...involve "not just reasoning with opponents, but also bringing pressure, arm twisting, encouraging sanctions, and shaming ." 114 The concept of framing

Safe space. How you can define fair market value for medical-office building lease agreements with hospitals.

PubMed

Murray, Chuck

2007-04-01

When entering into office-space lease agreements with hospitals, physician practice administrators need to pay close attention to the federal antikick-back statute and the Stark law. Compliance with these regulations calls for adherence to fair market value and commercial reasonableness--blurry terms open to interpretation. This article provides you with a framework for defining fair market value and commercial reasonableness in regard to real-estate transactions with hospitals.

Using Relational Reasoning Strategies to Help Improve Clinical Reasoning Practice.

PubMed

Dumas, Denis; Torre, Dario M; Durning, Steven J

2018-05-01

Clinical reasoning-the steps up to and including establishing a diagnosis and/or therapy-is a fundamentally important mental process for physicians. Unfortunately, mounting evidence suggests that errors in clinical reasoning lead to substantial problems for medical professionals and patients alike, including suboptimal care, malpractice claims, and rising health care costs. For this reason, cognitive strategies by which clinical reasoning may be improved-and that many expert clinicians are already using-are highly relevant for all medical professionals, educators, and learners.In this Perspective, the authors introduce one group of cognitive strategies-termed relational reasoning strategies-that have been empirically shown, through limited educational and psychological research, to improve the accuracy of learners' reasoning both within and outside of the medical disciplines. The authors contend that relational reasoning strategies may help clinicians to be metacognitive about their own clinical reasoning; such strategies may also be particularly well suited for explicitly organizing clinical reasoning instruction for learners. Because the particular curricular efforts that may improve the relational reasoning of medical students are not known at this point, the authors describe the nature of previous research on relational reasoning strategies to encourage the future design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional interventions for relational reasoning within the medical education literature. The authors also call for continued research on using relational reasoning strategies and their role in clinical practice and medical education, with the long-term goal of improving diagnostic accuracy.

REASONS FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE USE BEYOND CIGARETTE SMOKING CESSATION: A CONCEPT MAPPING APPROACH

PubMed Central

Soule, Eric K.; Rosas, Scott R.; Nasim, Aashir

2016-01-01

Introduction Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) continue to grow in popularity, however, limited research has examined reasons for ECIG use. Methods This study used an integrated, mixed-method participatory research approach called concept mapping (CM) to characterize and describe adults’ reasons for using ECIGs. A total of 108 adults completed a multi-module online CM study that consisted of brainstorming statements about their reasons for ECIG use, sorting each statement into conceptually similar categories, and then rating each statement based on whether it represented a reason why they have used an ECIG in the past month. Results Participants brainstormed a total of 125 unique statements related to their reasons for ECIG use. Multivariate analyses generated a map revealing 11, interrelated components or domains that characterized their reasons for use. Importantly, reasons related to Cessation Methods, Perceived Health Benefits, Private Regard, Convenience and Conscientiousness were rated significantly higher than other categories/types of reasons related to ECIG use (p<.05). There also were significant model differences in participants’ endorsement of reasons based on their demography and ECIG behaviors. Conclusions This study shows that ECIG users are motivated to use ECIGs for many reasons. ECIG regulations should address these reasons for ECIG use in addition to smoking cessation. PMID:26803400

Reasons for electronic cigarette use beyond cigarette smoking cessation: A concept mapping approach.

PubMed

Soule, Eric K; Rosas, Scott R; Nasim, Aashir

2016-05-01

Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) continue to grow in popularity, however, limited research has examined reasons for ECIG use. This study used an integrated, mixed-method participatory research approach called concept mapping (CM) to characterize and describe adults' reasons for using ECIGs. A total of 108 adults completed a multi-module online CM study that consisted of brainstorming statements about their reasons for ECIG use, sorting each statement into conceptually similar categories, and then rating each statement based on whether it represented a reason why they have used an ECIG in the past month. Participants brainstormed a total of 125 unique statements related to their reasons for ECIG use. Multivariate analyses generated a map revealing 11, interrelated components or domains that characterized their reasons for use. Importantly, reasons related to Cessation Methods, Perceived Health Benefits, Private Regard, Convenience and Conscientiousness were rated significantly higher than other categories/types of reasons related to ECIG use (p<.05). There also were significant model differences in participants' endorsement of reasons based on their demography and ECIG behaviors. This study shows that ECIG users are motivated to use ECIGs for many reasons. ECIG regulations should address these reasons for ECIG use in addition to smoking cessation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Moral Particularism and Deontic Logic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parent, Xavier

The aim of this paper is to strengthen the point made by Horty about the relationship between reason holism and moral particularism. In the literature prima facie obligations have been considered as the only source of reason holism. I strengthen Horty's point in two ways. First, I show that contrary-to-duties provide another independent support for reason holism. Next I outline a formal theory that is able to capture these two sources of holism. While in simple settings the proposed account coincides with Horty's one, this is not true in more complicated or "realistic" settings in which more than two norms collide. My chosen formalism is so-called input/output logic.

Understanding Reasons for Delay in Seeking Acute Stroke Care in an Underserved Urban Population

PubMed Central

Hsia, Amie W.; Castle, Amanda; Wing, Jeffrey J.; Edwards, Dorothy F.; Brown, Nina C.; Higgins, Tara M.; Wallace, Jasmine L.; Koslosky, Sara S.; Gibbons, M. Chris; Sánchez, Brisa N.; Fokar, Ali; Shara, Nawar; Morgenstern, Lewis B.; Kidwell, Chelsea S.

2011-01-01

Background and Purpose Few patients arrive early enough at hospitals to be eligible for emergent stroke treatment. There may be barriers specific to underserved, urban populations that need to be identified before effective educational interventions to reduce delay times can be developed. Methods A survey of respondents’ likely action in a hypothetical stroke situation was given to 253 community volunteers in the catchment areas of a large urban community hospital. Concurrently, 100 structured interviews were conducted in the same hospital with acute stroke patients or proxy. Results In this predominantly urban, black population, if faced with a hypothetical stroke, 89% of community volunteers surveyed said they would call 911 first, and few felt any of the suggested potential barriers applied to them. However, only 12% of stroke patients interviewed actually called 911 first (OR 63.9; 95% CI 29.5 to 138.2). Instead, 75% called a relative/friend. Eighty-nine percent of stroke patients reported significant delay in seeking medical attention, and almost half said the reason for delay was thinking the symptoms were not serious and/or they would self-resolve. For those arriving by ambulance, only 25% did so because they thought it would be faster, while 35% cited having no other transportation options. Conclusions In this predominantly black urban population, while 89% of community volunteers report the intent of calling 911 during a stroke only 12% of actual stroke patients did so. Further research is needed to determine and conquer the barriers between behavioral intent and actual behavior to call 911 for witnessed stroke. PMID:21546471

Revised theory of tachyons in general relativity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwartz, Charles

2017-08-01

A minus sign is inserted, for good reason, into the formula for the energy-momentum tensor for tachyons. This leads to remarkable theoretical consequences and a plausible explanation for the phenomenon called dark energy in the cosmos.

Inverse magnetic catalysis from improved holographic QCD in the Veneziano limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gürsoy, Umut; Iatrakis, Ioannis; Järvinen, Matti; Nijs, Govert

2017-03-01

We study the dependence of the chiral condensate on external magnetic field in the context of holographic QCD at large number of flavors. We consider a holographic QCD model where the flavor degrees of freedom fully backreact on the color dynamics. Perturbative QCD calculations have shown that B acts constructively on the chiral condensate, a phenomenon called "magnetic catalysis". In contrast, recent lattice calculations show that, depending on the number of flavors and temperature, the magnetic field may also act destructively, which is called "inverse magnetic catalysis". Here we show that the holographic theory is capable of both behaviors depending on the choice of parameters. For reasonable choice of the potentials entering the model we find qualitative agreement with the lattice expectations. Our results provide insight for the physical reasons behind the inverse magnetic catalysis. In particular, we argue that the backreaction of the flavors to the background geometry decatalyzes the condensate.

Method of the Determination of Exterior Orientation of Sensors in Hilbert Type Space.

PubMed

Stępień, Grzegorz

2018-03-17

The following article presents a new isometric transformation algorithm based on the transformation in the newly normed Hilbert type space. The presented method is based on so-called virtual translations, already known in advance, of two relative oblique orthogonal coordinate systems-interior and exterior orientation of sensors-to a common, known in both systems, point. Each of the systems is translated along its axis (the systems have common origins) and at the same time the angular relative orientation of both coordinate systems is constant. The translation of both coordinate systems is defined by the spatial norm determining the length of vectors in the new Hilbert type space. As such, the displacement of two relative oblique orthogonal systems is reduced to zero. This makes it possible to directly calculate the rotation matrix of the sensor. The next and final step is the return translation of the system along an already known track. The method can be used for big rotation angles. The method was verified in laboratory conditions for the test data set and measurement data (field data). The accuracy of the results in the laboratory test is on the level of 10 -6 of the input data. This confirmed the correctness of the assumed calculation method. The method is a further development of the author's 2017 Total Free Station (TFS) transformation to several centroids in Hilbert type space. This is the reason why the method is called Multi-Centroid Isometric Transformation-MCIT. MCIT is very fast and enables, by reducing to zero the translation of two relative oblique orthogonal coordinate systems, direct calculation of the exterior orientation of the sensors.

ALCHEMY: a reliable method for automated SNP genotype calling for small batch sizes and highly homozygous populations

PubMed Central

Wright, Mark H.; Tung, Chih-Wei; Zhao, Keyan; Reynolds, Andy; McCouch, Susan R.; Bustamante, Carlos D.

2010-01-01

Motivation: The development of new high-throughput genotyping products requires a significant investment in testing and training samples to evaluate and optimize the product before it can be used reliably on new samples. One reason for this is current methods for automated calling of genotypes are based on clustering approaches which require a large number of samples to be analyzed simultaneously, or an extensive training dataset to seed clusters. In systems where inbred samples are of primary interest, current clustering approaches perform poorly due to the inability to clearly identify a heterozygote cluster. Results: As part of the development of two custom single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping products for Oryza sativa (domestic rice), we have developed a new genotype calling algorithm called ‘ALCHEMY’ based on statistical modeling of the raw intensity data rather than modelless clustering. A novel feature of the model is the ability to estimate and incorporate inbreeding information on a per sample basis allowing accurate genotyping of both inbred and heterozygous samples even when analyzed simultaneously. Since clustering is not used explicitly, ALCHEMY performs well on small sample sizes with accuracy exceeding 99% with as few as 18 samples. Availability: ALCHEMY is available for both commercial and academic use free of charge and distributed under the GNU General Public License at http://alchemy.sourceforge.net/ Contact: mhw6@cornell.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. PMID:20926420

Eyewitness identification: Bayesian information gain, base-rate effect equivalency curves, and reasonable suspicion.

PubMed

Wells, Gary L; Yang, Yueran; Smalarz, Laura

2015-04-01

We provide a novel Bayesian treatment of the eyewitness identification problem as it relates to various system variables, such as instruction effects, lineup presentation format, lineup-filler similarity, lineup administrator influence, and show-ups versus lineups. We describe why eyewitness identification is a natural Bayesian problem and how numerous important observations require careful consideration of base rates. Moreover, we argue that the base rate in eyewitness identification should be construed as a system variable (under the control of the justice system). We then use prior-by-posterior curves and information-gain curves to examine data obtained from a large number of published experiments. Next, we show how information-gain curves are moderated by system variables and by witness confidence and we note how information-gain curves reveal that lineups are consistently more proficient at incriminating the guilty than they are at exonerating the innocent. We then introduce a new type of analysis that we developed called base rate effect-equivalency (BREE) curves. BREE curves display how much change in the base rate is required to match the impact of any given system variable. The results indicate that even relatively modest changes to the base rate can have more impact on the reliability of eyewitness identification evidence than do the traditional system variables that have received so much attention in the literature. We note how this Bayesian analysis of eyewitness identification has implications for the question of whether there ought to be a reasonable-suspicion criterion for placing a person into the jeopardy of an identification procedure. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Aboriginal users of Canadian quitlines: an exploratory analysis

PubMed Central

Hayward, Lynda M; Campbell, H Sharon; Sutherland‐Brown, Carol

2007-01-01

Objectives To conduct an exploratory, comparative study of the utilisation and effectiveness of tobacco cessation quitlines among aboriginal and non‐aboriginal Canadian smokers. Setting Population based quitlines that provide free cessation information, advice and counselling to Canadian smokers. Subjects First time quitline callers, age 18 years of age and over, who called the quitline between August 2001 and December 2005 and who completed the evaluation and provided data on their ethnic status (n = 7082). Main measures Demographic characteristics and tobacco behaviours of participants at intake and follow‐up; reasons for calling; actions taken toward quitting, and 6‐month follow‐up quit rates. Results 7% of evaluation participants in the time period reported aboriginal origins. Aboriginal participants were younger than non‐aboriginals but had similar smoking status and level of addiction at intake. Concern about future health and current health problems were the most common reasons aboriginal participants called. Six months after intake aboriginals and non‐aboriginals had taken similar actions with 57% making a 24‐hour quit attempt. Quit rates were higher for aboriginals than non‐aboriginals, particularly for men. The 6‐month prolonged abstinence rate for aboriginal men was 16.7% compared with 7.2% for aboriginal women and 9.4% and 8.3% for non‐aboriginal men and women, respectively. Conclusions This exploratory analysis showed that even without targeted promotion, aboriginal smokers do call Canadian quitlines, primarily for health related reasons. We also showed that the quitlines are effective at helping them to quit. As a population focused intervention, quitlines can reach a large proportion of smokers in a cost efficient manner. In aboriginal communities where smoking rates exceed 50% and multiple health risks and chronic diseases already exist, eliminating non‐ceremonial tobacco use must be a priority. Our results, although exploratory, suggest quitlines can be an effective addition to aboriginal tobacco cessation strategies. PMID:18048634

The Value of Identifying and Recovering Lost GN&C Lessons Learned: Aeronautical, Spacecraft, and Launch Vehicle Examples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dennehy, Cornelius J.; Labbe, Steve; Lebsock, Kenneth L.

2010-01-01

Within the broad aerospace community the importance of identifying, documenting and widely sharing lessons learned during system development, flight test, operational or research programs/projects is broadly acknowledged. Documenting and sharing lessons learned helps managers and engineers to minimize project risk and improve performance of their systems. Often significant lessons learned on a project fail to get captured even though they are well known 'tribal knowledge' amongst the project team members. The physical act of actually writing down and documenting these lessons learned for the next generation of NASA GN&C engineers fails to happen on some projects for various reasons. In this paper we will first review the importance of capturing lessons learned and then will discuss reasons why some lessons are not documented. A simple proven approach called 'Pause and Learn' will be highlighted as a proven low-impact method of organizational learning that could foster the timely capture of critical lessons learned. Lastly some examples of 'lost' GN&C lessons learned from the aeronautics, spacecraft and launch vehicle domains are briefly highlighted. In the context of this paper 'lost' refers to lessons that have not achieved broad visibility within the NASA-wide GN&C CoP because they are either undocumented, masked or poorly documented in the NASA Lessons Learned Information System (LLIS).

Verification of charge sign for high-energy particles measured by magnetic tracking system of PAMELA spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukyanov, A. D.; Alekseev, V. V.; Bogomolov, Yu V.; Dunaeva, O. A.; Malakhov, V. V.; Mayorov, A. G.; Rodenko, S. A.

2017-01-01

Analysis of experimental data of primary positrons and antiprotons fluxes obtained by PAMELA spectrometer, recently confirmed by AMS-02 spectrometer, for some reasons is of big interest for scientific community, especially for energies higher than 100 GV, where appearance of signal coming from dark matter particles is possible. In this work we present a method for verification of charge sign for high-energy antiprotons, measured by magnetic tracking system of PAMELA spectrometer, which can be immitated by protons due to scattering or finite instrumental resolution at high energies (so-called “spillover”). We base our approach on developing2 a set of distinctive features represented by differently computed rigidities and training AdaBoost classifier, which shows good classification accuracy on Monte-Carlo simulation data of 98% for rigidity up to 600 GV.

Logics for Coalgebras of Finitary Set Functors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sprunger, David

In this thesis, we present a collection of results about coalgebras of finitary Set functors. Our chief contribution is a logic for behavioral equivalence for states in these coalgebras. This proof system is intended to formalize a common pattern of reasoning in the study of coalgebra commonly called proof by bisimulation or bisimulation up-to. The approach in this thesis combine these up-to techniques with a concept very close to bisimulation to show the proof system is sound and complete with respect to behavioral equivalence. Our second category of contributions revolves around applications of coalgebra to the study of sequences and power series. The culmination of this work is a new approach to Christol's Theorem, a classic result characterizing the algebraic power series in finite characteristic rings as those whose coefficients can be produced by finite automata.

Qualitative Discovery in Medical Databases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maluf, David A.

2000-01-01

Implication rules have been used in uncertainty reasoning systems to confirm and draw hypotheses or conclusions. However a major bottleneck in developing such systems lies in the elicitation of these rules. This paper empirically examines the performance of evidential inferencing with implication networks generated using a rule induction tool called KAT. KAT utilizes an algorithm for the statistical analysis of empirical case data, and hence reduces the knowledge engineering efforts and biases in subjective implication certainty assignment. The paper describes several experiments in which real-world diagnostic problems were investigated; namely, medical diagnostics. In particular, it attempts to show that: (1) with a limited number of case samples, KAT is capable of inducing implication networks useful for making evidential inferences based on partial observations, and (2) observation driven by a network entropy optimization mechanism is effective in reducing the uncertainty of predicted events.

Attendance fingerprint identification system using arduino and single board computer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muchtar, M. A.; Seniman; Arisandi, D.; Hasanah, S.

2018-03-01

Fingerprint is one of the most unique parts of the human body that distinguishes one person from others and is easily accessed. This uniqueness is supported by technology that can automatically identify or recognize a person called fingerprint sensor. Yet, the existing Fingerprint Sensor can only do fingerprint identification on one machine. For the mentioned reason, we need a method to be able to recognize each user in a different fingerprint sensor. The purpose of this research is to build fingerprint sensor system for fingerprint data management to be centralized so identification can be done in each Fingerprint Sensor. The result of this research shows that by using Arduino and Raspberry Pi, data processing can be centralized so that fingerprint identification can be done in each fingerprint sensor with 98.5 % success rate of centralized server recording.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in medical environment: Gaussian Derivative Frequency Modulation (GDFM) as a novel modulation technique with minimal interference properties.

PubMed

Rieche, Marie; Komenský, Tomás; Husar, Peter

2011-01-01

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems in healthcare facilitate the possibility of contact-free identification and tracking of patients, medical equipment and medication. Thereby, patient safety will be improved and costs as well as medication errors will be reduced considerably. However, the application of RFID and other wireless communication systems has the potential to cause harmful electromagnetic disturbances on sensitive medical devices. This risk mainly depends on the transmission power and the method of data communication. In this contribution we point out the reasons for such incidents and give proposals to overcome these problems. Therefore a novel modulation and transmission technique called Gaussian Derivative Frequency Modulation (GDFM) is developed. Moreover, we carry out measurements to show the inteference properties of different modulation schemes in comparison to our GDFM.

Improving integrative searching of systems chemical biology data using semantic annotation.

PubMed

Chen, Bin; Ding, Ying; Wild, David J

2012-03-08

Systems chemical biology and chemogenomics are considered critical, integrative disciplines in modern biomedical research, but require data mining of large, integrated, heterogeneous datasets from chemistry and biology. We previously developed an RDF-based resource called Chem2Bio2RDF that enabled querying of such data using the SPARQL query language. Whilst this work has proved useful in its own right as one of the first major resources in these disciplines, its utility could be greatly improved by the application of an ontology for annotation of the nodes and edges in the RDF graph, enabling a much richer range of semantic queries to be issued. We developed a generalized chemogenomics and systems chemical biology OWL ontology called Chem2Bio2OWL that describes the semantics of chemical compounds, drugs, protein targets, pathways, genes, diseases and side-effects, and the relationships between them. The ontology also includes data provenance. We used it to annotate our Chem2Bio2RDF dataset, making it a rich semantic resource. Through a series of scientific case studies we demonstrate how this (i) simplifies the process of building SPARQL queries, (ii) enables useful new kinds of queries on the data and (iii) makes possible intelligent reasoning and semantic graph mining in chemogenomics and systems chemical biology. Chem2Bio2OWL is available at http://chem2bio2rdf.org/owl. The document is available at http://chem2bio2owl.wikispaces.com.

Computational logic: its origins and applications.

PubMed

Paulson, Lawrence C

2018-02-01

Computational logic is the use of computers to establish facts in a logical formalism. Originating in nineteenth century attempts to understand the nature of mathematical reasoning, the subject now comprises a wide variety of formalisms, techniques and technologies. One strand of work follows the 'logic for computable functions (LCF) approach' pioneered by Robin Milner, where proofs can be constructed interactively or with the help of users' code (which does not compromise correctness). A refinement of LCF, called Isabelle, retains these advantages while providing flexibility in the choice of logical formalism and much stronger automation. The main application of these techniques has been to prove the correctness of hardware and software systems, but increasingly researchers have been applying them to mathematics itself.

The Jovian Electron and Ion Spectrometer (JEI) for the JUICE mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fränz, M.; Bührke, U.; Ferreira, P.; Fischer, H.; Heumüller, P.; Krupp, N.; Kühne, W.; Roussos, E.

2017-09-01

The magnetosphere of Jupiter is apart from the Sun the strongest source of charged particles in the Solar system. The interaction of these particles with the exospheres of the Jovian moons forms one of the most complex plasma laboratories encountered by human space flight. For this reason the plasma analyzer package forms a crucial experiment of the Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE). As part of the Plasma Environment Package (PEP) we here describe a combined electron and ion spectrometer which is able to measure the electron and ion distribution functions in the energy range 1 to 50000 eV with high sensitivity and time resolution. This instrument is called the Jovian Electron and Ion Analyzer, JEI.

[Paleopathology and the history of medicine: the example of influenza pandemics].

PubMed

Fangerau, H

2010-11-01

The paper examines the history of former influenza pandemics from the perspective of changing nosographic categories. Special emphasis is put on the so-called Spanish flu of 1918. Due to its high mortality rates this pandemic is often highlighted as a warning sign for what may happen during a future pandemic. After a short introduction into the problematic status of the validity of retrospective diagnoses the history of influenza pandemics is discussed. The pandemic of 1918 is analysed from the perspective of the public health system being connected to and relying on medical and scientific debates. The reasons for this pandemic's rank as the long forgotten pandemic are discussed.

Dynamic principle for ensemble control tools.

PubMed

Samoletov, A; Vasiev, B

2017-11-28

Dynamical equations describing physical systems in contact with a thermal bath are commonly extended by mathematical tools called "thermostats." These tools are designed for sampling ensembles in statistical mechanics. Here we propose a dynamic principle underlying a range of thermostats which is derived using fundamental laws of statistical physics and ensures invariance of the canonical measure. The principle covers both stochastic and deterministic thermostat schemes. Our method has a clear advantage over a range of proposed and widely used thermostat schemes that are based on formal mathematical reasoning. Following the derivation of the proposed principle, we show its generality and illustrate its applications including design of temperature control tools that differ from the Nosé-Hoover-Langevin scheme.

P-Hacking: A Wake-Up Call for the Scientific Community.

PubMed

Raj, A Thirumal; Patil, Shankargouda; Sarode, Sachin; Salameh, Ziad

2017-10-25

P-hacking or data dredging involves manipulation of the research data in order to obtain a statistically significant result. The reasons behind P-hacking and the consequences of the same are discussed in the present manuscript.

76 FR 73829 - Connect America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future; Establishing Just and Reasonable...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-29

... dollars annually: Access Stimulation. We adopt rules to address the practice of access stimulation, in... in access stimulation. Phantom Traffic. We adopt rules to address ``phantom traffic,'' i.e., calls...

Development of high velocity gas gun with a new trigger system-numerical analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husin, Z.; Homma, H.

2018-02-01

In development of high performance armor vests, we need to carry out well controlled experiments using bullet speed of more than 900 m/sec. After reviewing trigger systems used for high velocity gas guns, this research intends to develop a new trigger system, which can realize precise and reproducible impact tests at impact velocity of more than 900 m/sec. A new trigger system developed here is called a projectile trap. A projectile trap is placed between a reservoir and a barrel. A projectile trap has two functions of a sealing disk and triggering. Polyamidimide is selected for the trap material and dimensions of the projectile trap are determined by numerical analysis for several levels of launching pressure to change the projectile velocity. Numerical analysis results show that projectile trap designed here can operate reasonably and stresses caused during launching operation are less than material strength. It means a projectile trap can be reused for the next shooting.

Receiver bandwidth effects on complex modulation and detection using directly modulated lasers.

PubMed

Yuan, Feng; Che, Di; Shieh, William

2016-05-01

Directly modulated lasers (DMLs) have long been employed for short- and medium-reach optical communications due to their low cost. Recently, a new modulation scheme called complex modulated DMLs has been demonstrated showing a significant optical signal to noise ratio sensitivity enhancement compared with the traditional intensity-only detection scheme. However, chirp-induced optical spectrum broadening is inevitable in complex modulated systems, which may imply a need for high-bandwidth receivers. In this Letter, we study the impact of receiver bandwidth effects on the performance of complex modulation and coherent detection systems based on DMLs. We experimentally demonstrate that such systems exhibit a reasonable tolerance for the reduced receiver bandwidth. For 10 Gbaud 4-level pulse amplitude modulation signals, the required electrical bandwidth is as low as 8.5 and 7.5 GHz for 7% and 20% forward error correction, respectively. Therefore, it is feasible to realize DML-based complex modulated systems using cost-effective receivers with narrow bandwidth.

Study of data I/O performance on distributed disk system in mask data preparation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohara, Shuichiro; Odaira, Hiroyuki; Chikanaga, Tomoyuki; Hamaji, Masakazu; Yoshioka, Yasuharu

2010-09-01

Data volume is getting larger every day in Mask Data Preparation (MDP). In the meantime, faster data handling is always required. MDP flow typically introduces Distributed Processing (DP) system to realize the demand because using hundreds of CPU is a reasonable solution. However, even if the number of CPU were increased, the throughput might be saturated because hard disk I/O and network speeds could be bottlenecks. So, MDP needs to invest a lot of money to not only hundreds of CPU but also storage and a network device which make the throughput faster. NCS would like to introduce new distributed processing system which is called "NDE". NDE could be a distributed disk system which makes the throughput faster without investing a lot of money because it is designed to use multiple conventional hard drives appropriately over network. NCS studies I/O performance with OASIS® data format on NDE which contributes to realize the high throughput in this paper.

Impact of a Regional Pharmacy Call Center on Telephone Access Metrics Within the Veterans Health Administration.

PubMed

White, Christina A; Jones, Marshall R; Kuester, Melanie K; Myers, Kelly L; Schnarr, Barbara A

2015-05-01

To establish a cost-effective centralized pharmacy call center to serve the patients of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 11 that would meet established performance metrics. A pilot project began in August 2011 with the Indianapolis VA Medical Center (VAMC) and the Health Resource Center (HRC) in Topeka, Kansas. The Indianapolis VAMC used a first-call resolution business model consisting of pharmacy technicians receiving tier 1 phone calls that could be escalated to a tier 2 line that consisted of lead technicians and pharmacists, while the HRC utilized general telephone agents that would transfer unresolved calls to the primary facility. Pre- and post-VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center performance metrics were compared for each of the 7 facilities in the network with the goals being monthly average abandoned call rate less than 5% and average speed to answer less than 30 seconds. Cost per call was also compared. The average abandoned call rate for the network during the year prior to VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center implementation (August 2010-July 2011) was 15.66% and decreased to 3% in July 2014. The average abandoned call rate decreased for each individual facility. In fiscal year 2014, the VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center was operating at a cost of $4.35 per call while providing more services than the HRC, resulting in less workload being transferred back to the individual facilities. A centralized VISN pharmacy call center is a reasonable alternative to individual facility call centers or the HRC.

Paradigm shifts: using a participatory leadership process to redesign health systems.

PubMed

Saleeby, Erin; Holschneider, Christine H; Singhal, Rita

2014-12-01

Physicians have increasingly given up private practices to become members of, and key stakeholders in, large healthcare systems. These systems are currently transforming to meet the Triple Aim: guaranteeing the equitable provision of high-quality, evidence-based care at a reasonable cost. Participatory leadership is an organizational change theory that engages key stakeholders as architects in the transformation process. This review highlights the utility of this leadership strategy in designing care for women's health. Our blueprint describing participatory leadership theory in women's health systems change is discussed in three case studies, highlighting what we call the six Ps of participatory leadership: participants, principles, purpose, process, and power. The 'sixth P', product, can then be substantially influential in changing the paradigm of care. Obstetrics and gynecology is increasingly practiced in large health systems responsible for the health of populations. Innovations in clinical practice impact care at the level of the individual. In order for advances in clinical practice to reach broad populations of women, they must be integrated into a delivery system. Physician engagement in leadership during this time of system transformation is of critical importance.

Colombeau algebra as a mathematical tool for investigating step load and step deformation of systems of nonlinear springs and dashpots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Průša, Vít; Řehoř, Martin; Tůma, Karel

2017-02-01

The response of mechanical systems composed of springs and dashpots to a step input is of eminent interest in the applications. If the system is formed by linear elements, then its response is governed by a system of linear ordinary differential equations. In the linear case, the mathematical method of choice for the analysis of the response is the classical theory of distributions. However, if the system contains nonlinear elements, then the classical theory of distributions is of no use, since it is strictly limited to the linear setting. Consequently, a question arises whether it is even possible or reasonable to study the response of nonlinear systems to step inputs. The answer is positive. A mathematical theory that can handle the challenge is the so-called Colombeau algebra. Building on the abstract result by Průša and Rajagopal (Int J Non-Linear Mech 81:207-221, 2016), we show how to use the theory in the analysis of response of nonlinear spring-dashpot and spring-dashpot-mass systems.

Markov Task Network: A Framework for Service Composition under Uncertainty in Cyber-Physical Systems.

PubMed

Mohammed, Abdul-Wahid; Xu, Yang; Hu, Haixiao; Agyemang, Brighter

2016-09-21

In novel collaborative systems, cooperative entities collaborate services to achieve local and global objectives. With the growing pervasiveness of cyber-physical systems, however, such collaboration is hampered by differences in the operations of the cyber and physical objects, and the need for the dynamic formation of collaborative functionality given high-level system goals has become practical. In this paper, we propose a cross-layer automation and management model for cyber-physical systems. This models the dynamic formation of collaborative services pursuing laid-down system goals as an ontology-oriented hierarchical task network. Ontological intelligence provides the semantic technology of this model, and through semantic reasoning, primitive tasks can be dynamically composed from high-level system goals. In dealing with uncertainty, we further propose a novel bridge between hierarchical task networks and Markov logic networks, called the Markov task network. This leverages the efficient inference algorithms of Markov logic networks to reduce both computational and inferential loads in task decomposition. From the results of our experiments, high-precision service composition under uncertainty can be achieved using this approach.

Common reasons why acne patients call the office.

PubMed

Barnes, Lauren E; Al-Dabagh, Amir; Huang, William W; Feldman, Steven R

2014-05-16

Communication between physicians and patients is essential to providing proper medical care. At times, patients leave visits with insufficiently addressed questions. These questions prompt patients to call the clinic for additional information, which disrupts the flow of care, delays proper treatment, and reduces patient satisfaction. We aim to examine acne patients' post-visit questions to develop interventions to improve patient education and reduce call backs. A retrospective electronic medical record chart review was performed involving Wake Forest Baptist Health Dermatology clinic visits between October 1, 2012 and October 31, 2012. We identified acne patients using clinic visit notes and recorded their telephone calls to the clinic between October 1, 2012 and March 29, 2013. Of 315 acne patients, 31 (9.8%) called the clinic. Isotretinoin was the subject of 66.7% of the calls, half of which involved questions about potential side effects. Other calls addressed topical medications, acne symptoms, and pharmacy requests. The study involved one center and email and fax correspondence was not captured. We found gaps in communication sufficient to require patients to call in for support, specifically regarding oral isotretinoin treatment. Interventions to address these questions have the potential to improve quality of care.

A comprehensive test of clinical reasoning for medical students: An olympiad experience in Iran

PubMed Central

Monajemi, Alireza; Arabshahi, Kamran Soltani; Soltani, Akbar; Arbabi, Farshid; Akbari, Roghieh; Custers, Eugene; Hadadgar, Arash; Hadizadeh, Fatemeh; Changiz, Tahereh; Adibi, Peyman

2012-01-01

Background: Although some tests for clinical reasoning assessment are now available, the theories of medical expertise have not played a major role in this filed. In this paper, illness script theory was chose as a theoretical framework and contemporary clinical reasoning tests were put together based on this theoretical model. Materials and Methods: This paper is a qualitative study performed with an action research approach. This style of research is performed in a context where authorities focus on promoting their organizations’ performance and is carried out in the form of teamwork called participatory research. Results: Results are presented in four parts as basic concepts, clinical reasoning assessment, test framework, and scoring. Conclusion: we concluded that no single test could thoroughly assess clinical reasoning competency, and therefore a battery of clinical reasoning tests is needed. This battery should cover all three parts of clinical reasoning process: script activation, selection and verification. In addition, not only both analytical and non-analytical reasoning, but also both diagnostic and management reasoning should evenly take into consideration in this battery. This paper explains the process of designing and implementing the battery of clinical reasoning in the Olympiad for medical sciences students through an action research. PMID:23555113

Systems configured to distribute a telephone call, communication systems, communication methods and methods of routing a telephone call to a service representative

DOEpatents

Harris, Scott H.; Johnson, Joel A.; Neiswanger, Jeffery R.; Twitchell, Kevin E.

2004-03-09

The present invention includes systems configured to distribute a telephone call, communication systems, communication methods and methods of routing a telephone call to a customer service representative. In one embodiment of the invention, a system configured to distribute a telephone call within a network includes a distributor adapted to connect with a telephone system, the distributor being configured to connect a telephone call using the telephone system and output the telephone call and associated data of the telephone call; and a plurality of customer service representative terminals connected with the distributor and a selected customer service representative terminal being configured to receive the telephone call and the associated data, the distributor and the selected customer service representative terminal being configured to synchronize, application of the telephone call and associated data from the distributor to the selected customer service representative terminal.

Using interactive visual reasoning to support sense-making: implications for design.

PubMed

Kodagoda, Neesha; Attfield, Simon; Wong, B L William; Rooney, Chris; Choudhury, Sharmin Tinni

2013-12-01

This research aims to develop design guidelines for systems that support investigators and analysts in the exploration and assembly of evidence and inferences. We focus here on the problem of identifying candidate 'influencers' within a community of practice. To better understand this problem and its related cognitive and interaction needs, we conducted a user study using a system called INVISQUE (INteractive Visual Search and QUery Environment) loaded with content from the ACM Digital Library. INVISQUE supports search and manipulation of results over a freeform infinite 'canvas'. The study focuses on the representations user create and their reasoning process. It also draws on some pre-established theories and frameworks related to sense-making and cognitive work in general, which we apply as a 'theoretical lenses' to consider findings and articulate solutions. Analysing the user-study data in the light of these provides some understanding of how the high-level problem of identifying key players within a domain can translate into lower-level questions and interactions. This, in turn, has informed our understanding of representation and functionality needs at a level of description which abstracts away from the specifics of the problem at hand to the class of problems of interest. We consider the study outcomes from the perspective of implications for design.

Reasoning in Reference Games: Individual- vs. Population-Level Probabilistic Modeling

PubMed Central

Franke, Michael; Degen, Judith

2016-01-01

Recent advances in probabilistic pragmatics have achieved considerable success in modeling speakers’ and listeners’ pragmatic reasoning as probabilistic inference. However, these models are usually applied to population-level data, and so implicitly suggest a homogeneous population without individual differences. Here we investigate potential individual differences in Theory-of-Mind related depth of pragmatic reasoning in so-called reference games that require drawing ad hoc Quantity implicatures of varying complexity. We show by Bayesian model comparison that a model that assumes a heterogenous population is a better predictor of our data, especially for comprehension. We discuss the implications for the treatment of individual differences in probabilistic models of language use. PMID:27149675

Caffeine overdose

MedlinePlus

... you have any questions about poisoning or poison control. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container with you to the hospital, ...

Beta blockers overdose

MedlinePlus

... you have any questions about poisoning or poison control. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container with you to the hospital, ...

Thiazide overdose

MedlinePlus

... you have any questions about poisoning or poison control. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container with you to the hospital, ...

Brompheniramine overdose

MedlinePlus

... you have any questions about poisoning or poison control. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container with you to the hospital, ...

Codeine overdose

MedlinePlus

... you have any questions about poisoning or poison control. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container with you to the hospital, ...

Evaluating and Managing Acute Low Back Pain in the Primary Care Setting

PubMed Central

Atlas, Steven J; Deyo, Richard A

2001-01-01

Acute low back pain is a common reason for patient calls or visits to a primary care clinician. Despite a large differential diagnosis, the precise etiology is rarely identified, although musculoligamentous processes are usually suspected. For most patients, back symptoms are nonspecific, meaning that there is no evidence for radicular symptoms or underlying systemic disease. Because episodes of acute, nonspecific low back pain are usually self-limited, many patients treat themselves without contacting their primary care clinician. When patients do call or schedule a visit, evaluation and management by primary care clinicians is appropriate. The history and physical examination usually provide clues to the rare but potentially serious causes of low back pain, as well as to identify patients at risk for prolonged recovery. Diagnostic testing, including plain x-rays, is often unnecessary during the initial evaluation. For patients with acute, nonspecific low back pain, the primary emphasis of treatment should be conservative care, time, reassurance, and education. Current recommendations focus on activity as tolerated (though not active exercise while pain is severe) and minimal if any bed rest. Referral for physical treatments is most appropriate for patients whose symptoms are not improving over 2 to 4 weeks. Specialty referral should be considered for patients with a progressive neurologic deficit, failure of conservative therapy, or an uncertain or serious diagnosis. The prognosis for most patients is good, although recurrence is common. Thus, educating patients about the natural history of acute low back pain and how to prevent future episodes can help ensure reasonable expectations. PMID:11251764

Driving performance at lateral system limits during partially automated driving.

PubMed

Naujoks, Frederik; Purucker, Christian; Wiedemann, Katharina; Neukum, Alexandra; Wolter, Stefan; Steiger, Reid

2017-11-01

This study investigated driver performance during system limits of partially automated driving. Using a motion-based driving simulator, drivers encountered different situations in which a partially automated vehicle could no longer safely keep the lateral guidance. Drivers were distracted by a non-driving related task on a touch display or driving without an additional secondary task. While driving in partially automated mode drivers could either take their hands off the steering wheel for only a short period of time (10s, so-called 'Hands-on' variant) or for an extended period of time (120s, so-called 'Hands-off' variant). When the system limit was reached (e.g., when entering a work zone with temporary lines), the lateral vehicle control by the automation was suddenly discontinued and a take-over request was issued to the drivers. Regardless of the hands-off interval and the availability of a secondary task, all drivers managed the transition to manual driving safely. No lane exceedances were observed and the situations were rated as 'harmless' by the drivers. The lack of difference between the hands-off intervals can be partly attributed to the fact that most of the drivers kept contact to the steering wheel, even in the hands-off condition. Although all drivers were able to control the system limits, most of them could not explain why exactly the take-over request was issued. The average helpfulness of the take-over request was rated on an intermediate level. Consequently, providing drivers with information about the reason for a system limit can be recommended. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Analysis of actions taken by medical rescue teams in the Polish Emergency Medical Servies system. Is the model of division into specialistad basic teams reasonable?].

PubMed

Guła, Przemysław; Wejnarski, Arkadiusz; Moryto, Remigiusz; Gałazkowski, Robert; Swiezewski, Stanisław

2014-01-01

The Polish Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is based on two types of medical rescue teams (MRT): specialist (S)--with system doctors and basic (B)--only paramedics. The aim of this study is to assess the reasonability of dividing medical rescue teams into specialist and basic. The retrospective analysis of medical cards of rescue activities performed during 21,896 interventions by medical rescue teams, 15,877 of which--by basic medical rescue teams (B MRT) and 6,019--by specialist medical rescue teams (S MRT). The procedures executed by both types of teams were compared. In the analysed group of dispatches, 56.4% were unrelated to medical emergencies. Simultaneously, 52.7% of code 1 interventions and 59.2% of code 2 interventions did not result in transporting the patient to the hospital. The qualification of S teams' dispatches is characterised by a higher number of assigned codes 1 (53.2% vs. 15.9%). It is worth emphasising that the procedures that can be applied exclusively by system doctors do not exceed 1% of interventions. Moreover, the number of the actions performed in medical emergencies in the secured region by the S team that is dispatched as the first one is comparable to that performed by B teams. The low need for usinq S teams'aid by B teams (0.92% of the interventions) was also indicated. This study points to the necessity to discuss the implementation of straightforward principles of call qualification and the optimisation of the system doctors' role in prehospital activities.

State-Level Cancer Quality Assessment and Research

PubMed Central

Lipscomb, Joseph; Gillespie, Theresa W.

2016-01-01

Over a decade ago, the Institute of Medicine called for a national cancer data system in the United States to support quality-of-care assessment and improvement, including research on effective interventions. Although considerable progress has been achieved in cancer quality measurement and effectiveness research, the nation still lacks a population-based data infrastructure for accurately identifying cancer patients and tracking services and outcomes over time. For compelling reasons, the most effective pathway forward may be the development of state-level cancer data systems, in which central registry data are linked to multiple public and private secondary sources. These would include administrative/claims files from Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. Moreover, such a state-level system would promote rapid learning by encouraging adoption of near-real-time reporting and feedback systems, such as the Commission on Cancer’s new Rapid Quality Reporting System. The groundwork for such a system is being laid in the state of Georgia, and similar work is advancing in other states. The pace of progress depends on the successful resolution of issues related to the application of information technology, financing, and governance. PMID:21799333

Formal Methods Specification and Verification Guidebook for Software and Computer Systems. Volume 1; Planning and Technology Insertion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

The Formal Methods Specification and Verification Guidebook for Software and Computer Systems describes a set of techniques called Formal Methods (FM), and outlines their use in the specification and verification of computer systems and software. Development of increasingly complex systems has created a need for improved specification and verification techniques. NASA's Safety and Mission Quality Office has supported the investigation of techniques such as FM, which are now an accepted method for enhancing the quality of aerospace applications. The guidebook provides information for managers and practitioners who are interested in integrating FM into an existing systems development process. Information includes technical and administrative considerations that must be addressed when establishing the use of FM on a specific project. The guidebook is intended to aid decision makers in the successful application of FM to the development of high-quality systems at reasonable cost. This is the first volume of a planned two-volume set. The current volume focuses on administrative and planning considerations for the successful application of FM.

Proposal of a Methodology for Implementing a Service-Oriented Architecture in Distributed Manufacturing Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Medina, I.; Garcia-Dominguez, A.; Aguayo, F.; Sevilla, L.; Marcos, M.

2009-11-01

As envisioned by Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS), Next Generation Manufacturing Systems (NGMS) will satisfy the needs of an increasingly fast-paced and demanding market by dynamically integrating systems from inside and outside the manufacturing firm itself into a so-called extended enterprise. However, organizing these systems to ensure the maximum flexibility and interoperability with those from other organizations is difficult. Additionally, a defect in the system would have a great impact: it would affect not only its owner, but also its partners. For these reasons, we argue that a service-oriented architecture (SOA) would be a good candidate. It should be designed following a methodology where services play a central role, instead of being an implementation detail. In order for the architecture to be reliable enough as a whole, the methodology will need to help find errors before they arise in a production environment. In this paper we propose using SOA-specific testing techniques, compare some of the existing methodologies and outline several extensions upon one of them to integrate testing techniques.

Designing computer learning environments for engineering and computer science: The scaffolded knowledge integration framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Linn, Marcia C.

1995-06-01

Designing effective curricula for complex topics and incorporating technological tools is an evolving process. One important way to foster effective design is to synthesize successful practices. This paper describes a framework called scaffolded knowledge integration and illustrates how it guided the design of two successful course enhancements in the field of computer science and engineering. One course enhancement, the LISP Knowledge Integration Environment, improved learning and resulted in more gender-equitable outcomes. The second course enhancement, the spatial reasoning environment, addressed spatial reasoning in an introductory engineering course. This enhancement minimized the importance of prior knowledge of spatial reasoning and helped students develop a more comprehensive repertoire of spatial reasoning strategies. Taken together, the instructional research programs reinforce the value of the scaffolded knowledge integration framework and suggest directions for future curriculum reformers.

Detector-device-independent quantum key distribution: Security analysis and fast implementation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boaron, Alberto; Korzh, Boris; Boso, Gianluca

One of the most pressing issues in quantum key distribution (QKD) is the problem of detector side-channel attacks. To overcome this problem, researchers proposed an elegant “time-reversal” QKD protocol called measurement-device-independent QKD (MDI-QKD), which is based on time-reversed entanglement swapping. However, MDI-QKD is more challenging to implement than standard point-to-point QKD. Recently, an intermediary QKD protocol called detector-device-independent QKD (DDI-QKD) has been proposed to overcome the drawbacks of MDI-QKD, with the hope that it would eventually lead to a more efficient detector side-channel-free QKD system. Here, we analyze the security of DDI-QKD and elucidate its security assumptions. We find thatmore » DDI-QKD is not equivalent to MDI-QKD, but its security can be demonstrated with reasonable assumptions. On the more practical side, we consider the feasibility of DDI-QKD and present a fast experimental demonstration (clocked at 625 MHz), capable of secret key exchange up to more than 90 km.« less

[Who teaches queer: the prospect of queer theory analysis in the health education process].

PubMed

Motta, Jose Inácio Jardim; Ribeiro, Victória Maria Brant

2013-06-01

The scope of this essay is to reflect on the possibilities of inclusion of a queer analytical body to the processes of education in the health field. This is because the development of the Unified Health System, with its new set of health practices has revealed challenges that include broadening the knowledge set especially required for revitalization of the notion of subject. Queer theory is needed to understand how identities and in particular gender and sexuality are incorporated, in a social and cultural process, and how, in the micro-social spaces, it can determine educational practices with the power to reinforce the status of the so-called minority sexualities. Queer theory framed in so-called post-critical theories of education is analyzed from the categories of power, resistance, transgression in the context of standardization and subjectivity. It is assumed that processes of education in health, grounded in queer teaching, working in terms of difference and not diversity, proposing processes of deconstruction of binaries such as nature/culture, reason/passion, homosexual/heterosexual, working towards shaping more assertive cultural and social subjects.

On the Execution Control of HLA Federations using the SISO Space Reference FOM

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moller, Bjorn; Garro, Alfredo; Falcone, Alberto; Crues, Edwin Z.; Dexter, Daniel E.

2017-01-01

In the Space domain the High Level Architecture (HLA) is one of the reference standard for Distributed Simulation. However, for the different organizations involved in the Space domain (e.g. NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and JAXA) and their industrial partners, it is difficult to implement HLA simulators (called Federates) able to interact and interoperate in the context of a distributed HLA simulation (called Federation). The lack of a common FOM (Federation Object Model) for the Space domain is one of the main reasons that precludes a-priori interoperability between heterogeneous federates. To fill this lack a Product Development Group (PDG) has been recently activated in the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) with the aim to provide a Space Reference FOM (SRFOM) for international collaboration on Space systems simulations. Members of the PDG come from several countries and contribute experiences from projects within NASA, ESA and other organizations. Participants represent government, academia and industry. The paper presents an overview of the ongoing Space Reference FOM standardization initiative by focusing on the solution provided for managing the execution of an SRFOM-based Federation.

The radiation gas detectors with novel nanoporous converter for medical imaging applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarei, H.; Saramad, S.

2018-02-01

For many reason it is tried to improve the quantum efficiency (QE) of position sensitive gas detectors. For energetic X-rays, the imaging systems usually consist of a bulk converter and gas amplification region. But the bulk converters have their own limitation. For X-rays, the converter thickness should be increased to achieve a greater detection efficiency, however in this case, the chance of escaping the photoelectrons is reduced. To overcome this limitation, a new type of converter, called a nanoporous converter such as Anodizing Aluminum Oxide (AAO) membrane with higher surface to volume ratio is proposed. According to simulation results with GATE code, for this nanoporous converter with the 1 mm thickness and inter pore distance of 627 nm, for 20-100 keV X-ray energies with a reasonable gas pressure and different pore diameters, the QE can be one order of magnitude greater than the bulk ones, which is a new approach for proposing high QE position sensitive gas detectors for medical imaging application and also high energy physics.

Deliberate Satellite Fragmentations and their Effects on the Long-Term Space Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, N. L.

2010-01-01

Since 1964 at least 56 spacecraft and two launch vehicle upper stages have been deliberately fragmented while in Earth orbit. Many of these events have had no long-lasting effects on the near-Earth space environment, but one represents the most devastating satellite breakup in history that will pose hazards to operational spacecraft in low Earth orbit for decades to come. International space debris mitigation guidelines now call for avoiding the creation of long-lived debris from intentional satellite fragmentations. This paper summarizes the reasons for and environmental consequences of deliberate satellite fragmentations. Contrary to popular belief, only one in five deliberate fragmentations have been related to the testing of anti-satellite weapon systems, for which only one such test has occurred during the past 25 years. Other reasons for deliberate satellite fragmentations range from engineering tests to protecting national security information. Whereas the majority of deliberate satellite fragmentations have occurred in low Earth orbits, some have involved spacecraft in highly elliptical orbits. The former Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation have been responsible for 90% of all identified deliberate on-orbit satellite fragmentations.

Clarifying the link between von Neumann and thermodynamic entropies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deville, Alain; Deville, Yannick

2013-01-01

The state of a quantum system being described by a density operator ρ, quantum statistical mechanics calls the quantity - kTr( ρln ρ), introduced by von Neumann, its von Neumann or statistical entropy. A 1999 Shenker's paper initiated a debate about its link with the entropy of phenomenological thermodynamics. Referring to Gibbs's and von Neumann's founding texts, we replace von Neumann's 1932 contribution in its historical context, after Gibbs's 1902 treatise and before the creation of the information entropy concept, which places boundaries into the debate. Reexamining von Neumann's reasoning, we stress that the part of his reasoning implied in the debate mainly uses thermodynamics, not quantum mechanics, and identify two implicit postulates. We thoroughly examine Shenker's and ensuing papers, insisting upon the presence of open thermodynamical subsystems, imposing us the use of the chemical potential concept. We briefly mention Landau's approach to the quantum entropy. On the whole, it is shown that von Neumann's viewpoint is right, and why Shenker's claim that von Neumann entropy "is not the quantum-mechanical correlate of thermodynamic entropy" can't be retained.

Towards a Dialogical Pedagogy: Some Characteristics of a Community of Mathematical Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Nadia Stoyanova

2009-01-01

This paper discusses a teaching model called community of mathematical inquiry (CMI), characterized by dialogical and inquiry-driven communication and a dynamic structure of intertwined cognitive processes including distributed thinking, mathematical argumentation, integrated reasoning, conceptual transformation, internalization of critical…

Calling It Quits.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stover, Del

1990-01-01

Faced with ongoing budget battles, frustrating contract negotiations, and unappreciative parents, many board members are tempted to resign. Fatigue, deteriorating relations among colleagues, and abuse of power by superintendents and other board members are other reasons for resigning. A sidebar offers advice to board members mulling over their…

Calcium channel blocker overdose

MedlinePlus

... you have any questions about poisoning or poison control. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container with you to the hospital, ...

Impact of a Regional Pharmacy Call Center on Telephone Access Metrics Within the Veterans Health Administration

PubMed Central

Jones, Marshall R.; Kuester, Melanie K.; Myers, Kelly L.; Schnarr, Barbara A.

2015-01-01

Purpose: To establish a cost-effective centralized pharmacy call center to serve the patients of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 11 that would meet established performance metrics. Methods: A pilot project began in August 2011 with the Indianapolis VA Medical Center (VAMC) and the Health Resource Center (HRC) in Topeka, Kansas. The Indianapolis VAMC used a first-call resolution business model consisting of pharmacy technicians receiving tier 1 phone calls that could be escalated to a tier 2 line that consisted of lead technicians and pharmacists, while the HRC utilized general telephone agents that would transfer unresolved calls to the primary facility. Pre- and post-VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center performance metrics were compared for each of the 7 facilities in the network with the goals being monthly average abandoned call rate less than 5% and average speed to answer less than 30 seconds. Cost per call was also compared. Results: The average abandoned call rate for the network during the year prior to VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center implementation (August 2010-July 2011) was 15.66% and decreased to 3% in July 2014. The average abandoned call rate decreased for each individual facility. In fiscal year 2014, the VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center was operating at a cost of $4.35 per call while providing more services than the HRC, resulting in less workload being transferred back to the individual facilities. Conclusion: A centralized VISN pharmacy call center is a reasonable alternative to individual facility call centers or the HRC. PMID:26405322

Outpatient outcomes and satisfaction in pediatric population: data from the postoperative phone call.

PubMed

Brenn, B Randall; Choudhry, Dinesh K; Sacks, Karen

2016-02-01

Quality and patient/parent satisfaction are goals for pediatric perioperative services. As part of the implementation of our operating room electronic medical record (EMR), a postoperative phone call questionnaire was developed to assess patients discharged after outpatient surgery. The goal of this initiative was to determine the rate of common postoperative complications and understand reasons for patient/parent dissatisfaction. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for chart review. The postoperative phone call survey was attempted by our postanesthesia care unit nursing staff on all pediatric outpatients. The call was attempted for 3 days. From 2009 to 2013, more than 37 000 phone records existed in our EMR, Epic Optime (Epic Systems, Verona, WI). These data were extracted to a business intelligence (BI) program, QlikView (Qliktech, Radnor, PA, USA). A BI dashboard was constructed to obtain phone call results for any given time frame from monthly to spanning several years. Complications were logged as 4-point severity rating scales (none, mild, moderate, severe) with descriptions for each level. The BI dashboard calculated the overall and rates by severity for the following: (i) nausea, (ii) vomiting, (iii) pain, (iv) bleeding, (v) hoarseness, and (vi) difficulty eating. Of 42 688 outpatient cases, 37 620 postoperative phone calls were completed for an overall response rate of 88%. Pain, at 11.1%, was the highest reported postoperative complication. The rate of dissatisfaction was reported to be 0.31%. Most patients reporting dissatisfaction (62%) did not report any complications. Contingency coefficient showed that there was little relationship between satisfaction and presence of complications. A postoperative phone survey is cost-effective and appreciated by patients. We found that satisfaction with our perioperative services was not related to the rates of reported complications. Although reducing complications is of utmost importance, improvements in wait times and other operational issues would yield greater improvements in satisfaction. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Machine Learning-based Intelligent Formal Reasoning and Proving System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shengqing; Huang, Xiaojian; Fang, Jiaze; Liang, Jia

2018-03-01

The reasoning system can be used in many fields. How to improve reasoning efficiency is the core of the design of system. Through the formal description of formal proof and the regular matching algorithm, after introducing the machine learning algorithm, the system of intelligent formal reasoning and verification has high efficiency. The experimental results show that the system can verify the correctness of propositional logic reasoning and reuse the propositional logical reasoning results, so as to obtain the implicit knowledge in the knowledge base and provide the basic reasoning model for the construction of intelligent system.

The relative ease of obtaining a dermatologic appointment in Boston: how methods drive results.

PubMed

Weingold, David Howard; Lack, Michael Dweight; Yanowitz, Karen Leslie

2009-06-01

Recent reports have indicated long wait times for dermatologic appointments even for changing moles. Our objective was to determine the wait time for a person willing to make multiple calls and accept an appointment from any dermatologist at any satellite location for a changing mole from a dermatologist who advertised in a Boston, MA, telephone book. We telephoned each practice listed in a Boston, MA, telephone book. Patients making one call to each dermatologic practice on average obtained an appointment in 18 days. Patients calling two practices were offered an appointment on average in 7 days. Patients calling 3 practices were also offered an appointment in 1 week. We only telephoned practices listed in a Boston, MA, telephone book and we only surveyed one urban area. These results suggest that a reasonable concerned patient who was willing to make multiple calls to different providers in Boston, MA, can be seen in a timely fashion.

A comparison in Colorado of three methods to monitor breeding amphibians

USGS Publications Warehouse

Corn, P.S.; Muths, E.; Iko, W.M.

2000-01-01

We surveyed amphibians at 4 montane and 2 plains lentic sites in northern Colorado using 3 techniques: standardized call surveys, automated recording devices (frog-loggers), and intensive surveys including capture-recapture techniques. Amphibians were observed at 5 sites. Species richness varied from 0 to 4 species at each site. Richness scores, the sums of species richness among sites, were similar among methods: 8 for call surveys, 10 for frog-loggers, and 11 for intensive surveys (9 if the non-vocal salamander Ambystoma tigrinum is excluded). The frog-logger at 1 site recorded Spea bombifrons which was not active during the times when call and intensive surveys were conducted. Relative abundance scores from call surveys failed to reflect a relatively large population of Bufo woodhousii at 1 site and only weakly differentiated among different-sized populations of Pseudacris maculata at 3 other sites. For extensive applications, call surveys have the lowest costs and fewest requirements for highly trained personnel. However, for a variety of reasons, call surveys cannot be used with equal effectiveness in all parts of North America.

The effects of perception of risk and importance of answering and initiating a cellular phone call while driving.

PubMed

Nelson, Erik; Atchley, Paul; Little, Todd D

2009-05-01

Recent data suggest that laws banning cellular phone use while driving may not change use patterns, especially among young drivers with high rates of mobile phone adoption. We examined reasons younger drivers choose or do not choose to talk on a phone while driving among a sample of young drivers (n=276) with very high ownership of cellular phones (over 99%) and a very high use of cellular phones while driving (100% for those that were primary operators of an automobile). Respondents were surveyed for patterns of use, types of call, perceived risk, and motivations for use. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the relationships between perceived risk of the behavior, emotionality of the call, perceived importance of the call, and how often calls were initiated versus answered. The model suggests that even though people believe that talking on a cellular phone while driving is dangerous, they will tend to initiate a cellular conversation if they believe that the call is important.

Young doctors' problem solving strategies on call may be improved.

PubMed

Michelsen, Jens; Malchow-Møller, Axel; Charles, Peder; Eika, Berit

2013-03-01

The first year following graduation from medical school is challenging as learning from books changes to workplace-based learning. Analysis and reflection on experience may ease this transition. We used Significant Event Analysis (SEA) as a tool to explore what pre-registration house officers (PRHOs) consider successful and problematic events, and to identify what problem-solving strategies they employ. A senior house officer systematically led the PRHO through the SEA of one successful and one problematic event following a night call. The PRHO wrote answers to questions about diagnosis, what happened, how he or she contributed and what knowledge-gaining activities the PRHO would prioritise before the next call. By using an inductive, thematic data analysis, we identified five problem-solving strategies: non-analytical reasoning, analytical reasoning, communication with patients, communication with colleagues and professional behaviour. On average, 1.5 strategies were used in the successful events and 1.2 strategies in the problematic events. Most PRHOs were unable to suggest activities other than reading textbooks. SEA was valuable for the identification of PRHOs' problem-solving strategies in a natural setting. PRHOs should be assisted in increasing their repertoire of strategies, and they should also be helped to "learn to learn" as they were largely unable to point to new learning strategies. not relevant. not relevant.

Obstetrician call schedule and obstetric outcomes among women eligible for a trial of labor after cesarean.

PubMed

Yee, Lynn M; Liu, Lilly Y; Grobman, William A

2017-01-01

Reducing cesarean deliveries is a major public health goal. The low rate of vaginal birth after cesarean has been attributed largely to a decrease in the likelihood of choosing a trial of labor after cesarean, despite evidence suggesting a majority of women with 1 prior low transverse cesarean are trial of labor after cesarean candidates. Although a number of reasons for this decrease have been explored, it remains unclear how systems issues such as physician call schedules influence delivery approach and mode in this context. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between obstetricians' call schedule and obstetric outcomes among women eligible for a trial of labor after cesarean. This is a retrospective cohort study of the likelihood of attempting a trial of labor after cesarean and achieving vaginal birth after cesarean among women with 1 prior low transverse cesarean delivery and a term, cephalic singleton gestation based on the delivering provider's call schedule. Attending obstetrician call schedules were classified as traditional or night float call. Night float call was defined as a schedule in which the provider had clinical responsibilities only for a day or night shift, without other clinical responsibilities before or after the period of responsibility for laboring patients. Call schedules are determined by individual provider groups. Bivariable analyses and random-effects logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between obstetricians' call schedule and the frequency of trial of labor after cesarean. Secondary outcomes including frequency of vaginal birth after cesarean and maternal and neonatal outcomes also were assessed. Of 1502 eligible patients, 556 (37%) were delivered by physicians in a night float call system. A total of 22.6% underwent a trial of labor after cesarean and 12.8% achieved vaginal birth after cesarean; the vaginal birth after cesarean rate for women attempting a trial of labor after cesarean was 56.5%. Women were more likely to undergo a trial of labor after cesarean (33.1% vs 16.5%, P < .001) and achieve vaginal birth after cesarean (18.7% vs 9.3%, P < .001) when cared for by physicians with a night float call schedule. Regression analyses demonstrated physicians with a night float call schedule remained significantly more likely to have patients undergo trial of labor after cesarean (adjusted odds ratio, 2.64, 95% confidence interval, 1.65-4.25) and experience vaginal birth after cesarean (adjusted odds ratio, 2.17, 95% confidence interval, 1.36-3.45) after adjusting for potential confounders. However, the likelihood of achieving vaginal birth after cesarean if a trial of labor after cesarean was attempted was not different based on provider call type (adjusted odds ratio, 0.96, 95% confidence interval, 0.57-1.62). Although women delivered by providers with a night float schedule were more likely to experience uterine rupture (1.8% vs 0.6%, P = .03), chorioamnionitis (4.3% vs 1.7%, P = .002), postpartum hemorrhage (7.6% vs 4.8%, P = .03), and neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (6.8% vs 3.9%, P = .01), these associations did not persist when the population was limited to women attempting trial of labor after cesarean. Although physicians working on a night float call system were significantly more likely to have patients with a prior cesarean undergo trial of labor after cesarean and achieve vaginal birth after cesarean, their patients also were more likely to experience maternal and neonatal morbidity. However, these differences did not persist when limiting analyses to women attempting a trial of labor after cesarean. Using a night float call schedule may be an effective measure to promote a trial of labor after cesarean and vaginal birth after cesarean. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Covering Resilience: A Recent Development for Binomial Checkpointing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Walther, Andrea; Narayanan, Sri Hari Krishna

In terms of computing time, adjoint methods offer a very attractive alternative to compute gradient information, required, e.g., for optimization purposes. However, together with this very favorable temporal complexity result comes a memory requirement that is in essence proportional with the operation count of the underlying function, e.g., if algorithmic differentiation is used to provide the adjoints. For this reason, checkpointing approaches in many variants have become popular. This paper analyzes an extension of the so-called binomial approach to cover also possible failures of the computing systems. Such a measure of precaution is of special interest for massive parallel simulationsmore » and adjoint calculations where the mean time between failure of the large scale computing system is smaller than the time needed to complete the calculation of the adjoint information. We describe the extensions of standard checkpointing approaches required for such resilience, provide a corresponding implementation and discuss first numerical results.« less

Remote sensing, land use, and demography - A look at people through their effects on the land

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paul, C. K.; Landini, A. J.

1976-01-01

Relevant causes of failure by the remote sensing community in the urban scene are analyzed. The reasons for the insignificant role of remote sensing in urban land use data collection are called the law of realism, the incompatibility of remote sensing and urban management system data formats is termed the law of nominal/ordinal systems compatibility, and the land use/population correlation dilemma is referred to as the law of missing persons. The study summarizes the three laws of urban land use information for which violations, avoidance, or ignorance have caused the decline of present remote sensing research. Particular attention is given to the rationale for urban land use information and for remote sensing. It is shown that remote sensing of urban land uses compatible with the three laws can be effectively developed by realizing the 10 percent contribution of remote sensing to urban land use planning data collection.

[Research on the Application of Fuzzy Logic to Systems Analysis and Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

Research conducted with the support of NASA Grant NCC2-275 has been focused in the main on the development of fuzzy logic and soft computing methodologies and their applications to systems analysis and control. with emphasis 011 problem areas which are of relevance to NASA's missions. One of the principal results of our research has been the development of a new methodology called Computing with Words (CW). Basically, in CW words drawn from a natural language are employed in place of numbers for computing and reasoning. There are two major imperatives for computing with words. First, computing with words is a necessity when the available information is too imprecise to justify the use of numbers, and second, when there is a tolerance for imprecision which can be exploited to achieve tractability, robustness, low solution cost, and better rapport with reality. Exploitation of the tolerance for imprecision is an issue of central importance in CW.

Achieving Internet-based efficiencies in a rural IDS: a case study.

PubMed

Bacus, R; Zunke, R

2001-09-01

After suffering payment cuts resulting from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Colorado-Fayette Medical Center (CFMC), a not-for-profit, rural integrated delivery system in Texas, wanted to reduce costs by gaining systemwide Internet access for its internal information system at a reasonable price. An application service provider affiliated with the Texas Hospital Association, helped CFMC achieve its goals for the project by performing a needs assessment, installing a wide-area network (WAN) with Internet access, and training staff. The new WAN enabled CFMC to improve its Web presence, allow radiologic image viewing at all sites, negotiate more favorable prices from vendors, implement electronic communication for staff members, and take advantage of on-line education opportunities. CFMC has found that the monthly fee paid to THN is offset by savings on long-distance calls, Internet service provider fees, and marketing and advertising costs.

EIR: enterprise imaging repository, an alternative imaging archiving and communication system.

PubMed

Bian, Jiang; Topaloglu, Umit; Lane, Cheryl

2009-01-01

The enormous number of studies performed at the Nuclear Medicine Department of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) generates a huge amount PET/CT images daily. A DICOM workstation had been used as "mini-PACS" to route all studies, which is historically proven to be slow due to various reasons. However, replacing the workstation with a commercial PACS server is not only cost inefficient; and more often, the PACS vendors are reluctant to take responsibility for the final integration of these components. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an alternative imaging archiving and communication system called Enterprise Imaging Repository (EIR). EIR consists of two distinguished components: an image processing daemon and a user friendly web interface. EIR not only reduces the overall waiting time of transferring a study from the modalities to radiologists' workstations, but also provides a more preferable presentation.

Penalty dynamic programming algorithm for dim targets detection in sensor systems.

PubMed

Huang, Dayu; Xue, Anke; Guo, Yunfei

2012-01-01

In order to detect and track multiple maneuvering dim targets in sensor systems, an improved dynamic programming track-before-detect algorithm (DP-TBD) called penalty DP-TBD (PDP-TBD) is proposed. The performances of tracking techniques are used as a feedback to the detection part. The feedback is constructed by a penalty term in the merit function, and the penalty term is a function of the possible target state estimation, which can be obtained by the tracking methods. With this feedback, the algorithm combines traditional tracking techniques with DP-TBD and it can be applied to simultaneously detect and track maneuvering dim targets. Meanwhile, a reasonable constraint that a sensor measurement can originate from one target or clutter is proposed to minimize track separation. Thus, the algorithm can be used in the multi-target situation with unknown target numbers. The efficiency and advantages of PDP-TBD compared with two existing methods are demonstrated by several simulations.

Mathematical Model of Three Species Food Chain Interaction with Mixed Functional Response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ws, Mada Sanjaya; Mohd, Ismail Bin; Mamat, Mustafa; Salleh, Zabidin

In this paper, we study mathematical model of ecology with a tritrophic food chain composed of a classical Lotka-Volterra functional response for prey and predator, and a Holling type-III functional response for predator and super predator. There are two equilibrium points of the system. In the parameter space, there are passages from instability to stability, which are called Hopf bifurcation points. For the first equilibrium point, it is possible to find bifurcation points analytically and to prove that the system has periodic solutions around these points. Furthermore the dynamical behaviors of this model are investigated. Models for biologically reasonable parameter values, exhibits stable, unstable periodic and limit cycles. The dynamical behavior is found to be very sensitive to parameter values as well as the parameters of the practical life. Computer simulations are carried out to explain the analytical findings.

Toward a Bio-Medical Thesaurus: Building the Foundation of the UMLS

PubMed Central

Tuttle, Mark S.; Blois, Marsden S.; Erlbaum, Mark S.; Nelson, Stuart J.; Sherertz, David D.

1988-01-01

The Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) is being designed to provide a uniform user interface to heterogeneous machine-readable bio-medical information resources, such as bibliographic databases, genetic databases, expert systems and patient records.1 Such an interface will have to recognize different ways of saying the same thing, and provide links to ways of saying related things. One way to represent the necessary associations is via a domain thesaurus. As no such thesaurus exists, and because, once built, it will be both sizable and in need of continuous maintenance, its design should include a methodology for building and maintaining it. We propose a methodology, utilizing lexically expanded schema inversion, and a design, called T. Lex, which together form one approach to the problem of defining and building a bio-medical thesaurus. We argue that the semantic locality implicit in such a thesaurus will support model-based reasoning in bio-medicine.2

An evaluation of a real-time fault diagnosis expert system for aircraft applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schutte, Paul C.; Abbott, Kathy H.; Palmer, Michael T.; Ricks, Wendell R.

1987-01-01

A fault monitoring and diagnosis expert system called Faultfinder was conceived and developed to detect and diagnose in-flight failures in an aircraft. Faultfinder is an automated intelligent aid whose purpose is to assist the flight crew in fault monitoring, fault diagnosis, and recovery planning. The present implementation of this concept performs monitoring and diagnosis for a generic aircraft's propulsion and hydraulic subsystems. This implementation is capable of detecting and diagnosing failures of known and unknown (i.e., unforseeable) type in a real-time environment. Faultfinder uses both rule-based and model-based reasoning strategies which operate on causal, temporal, and qualitative information. A preliminary evaluation is made of the diagnostic concepts implemented in Faultfinder. The evaluation used actual aircraft accident and incident cases which were simulated to assess the effectiveness of Faultfinder in detecting and diagnosing failures. Results of this evaluation, together with the description of the current Faultfinder implementation, are presented.

Acoustic Mechanisms of a Species-Based Discrimination of the chick-a-dee Call in Sympatric Black-Capped (Poecile atricapillus) and Mountain Chickadees (P. gambeli).

PubMed

Guillette, Lauren M; Farrell, Tara M; Hoeschele, Marisa; Sturdy, Christopher B

2010-01-01

Previous perceptual research with black-capped and mountain chickadees has demonstrated that these species treat each other's namesake chick-a-dee calls as belonging to separate, open-ended categories. Further, the terminal dee portion of the call has been implicated as the most prominent species marker. However, statistical classification using acoustic summary features suggests that all note-types contained within the chick-a-dee call should be sufficient for species classification. The current study seeks to better understand the note-type based mechanisms underlying species-based classification of the chick-a-dee call by black-capped and mountain chickadees. In two, complementary, operant discrimination experiments, both species were trained to discriminate the species of the signaler using either entire chick-a-dee calls, or individual note-types from chick-a-dee calls. In agreement with previous perceptual work we find that the D note had significant stimulus control over species-based discrimination. However, in line with statistical classifications, we find that all note-types carry species information. We discuss reasons why the most easily discriminated note-types are likely candidates to carry species-based cues.

2016 Annual Report of the University of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center.

PubMed

Thornton, Stephen L; Oller, Lisa; Coons, Doyle M

2018-05-01

This is the 2016 Annual Report of the University of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center (PCC). The PCC is one of 55 certified poison control centers in the United States and serves the state of Kansas 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, with certified specialists in poison information and medical toxicologists. The PCC receives calls from the public, law enforcement, health care professionals, and public health agencies. All calls to the PCC are recorded electronically in the Toxicall® data management system and uploaded in near real-time to the National Poison Data System (NPDS), which is the data repository for all poison control centers in the United States. All encounters reported to the PCC from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 were analyzed. Data recorded for each exposure includes caller location, age, weight, gender, substance exposed to, nature of exposure, route of exposure, interventions, medical outcome, disposition and location of care. Encounters were classified further as human exposure, animal exposure, confirmed non-exposure, or information call (no exposure reported). The PCC logged 21,965 total encounters in 2016, including 20,713 human exposure cases. The PCC received calls from every county in Kansas. The majority of human exposure cases (50.4%, n = 10,174) were female. Approximately 67% (n = 13,903) of human exposures involved a child (defined as age 19 years or less). Most encounters occurred at a residence (94.0%, n = 19,476) and most calls (72.3%, n = 14,964) originated from a residence. The majority of human exposures (n = 18,233) were acute cases (exposures occurring over eight hours or less). Ingestion was the most common route of exposure documented (86.3%, n = 17,882). The most common reported substance in pediatric encounters was cosmetics/personal care products (n = 1,362), followed by household cleaning product (n = 1,301). For adult encounters, sedatives/hypnotics/antipsychotics (n = 1,130) and analgesics (n = 1,103) were the most frequently involved substances. Unintentional exposures were the most common reason for exposures (81.3%, n = 16,836). Most encounters (71.1%, n = 14,732) were managed in a non-healthcare facility (i.e., a residence). Among human exposures, 14,679 involved exposures to pharmaceutical agents while 10,176 involved exposure to non-pharmaceuticals. Medical outcomes were 32% (n = 6,582) no effect, 19% (n = 3,911) minor effect, 8% (n = 1,623) moderate effect, and 2% (n = 348) major effects. There were 15 deaths in 2016 reported to the PCC. Number of exposures, calls from healthcare facilities, cases with moderate or major medical outcomes, and deaths all increased in 2016 compared to 2015. The results of the 2016 University of Kansas Health System Poison Control annual report demonstrates that the center receives calls from the entire state of Kansas totaling over 20,000 human exposures per year. While pediatric exposures remain the most common, there is an increasing number of calls from healthcare facilities and for cases with serious outcomes. The experience of the PCC is similar to national data. This report supports the continued value of the PCC to both public and acute health care in the state of Kansas.

2016 Annual Report of the University of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center

PubMed Central

Thornton, Stephen L.; Oller, Lisa; Coons, Doyle M.

2018-01-01

Introduction This is the 2016 Annual Report of the University of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center (PCC). The PCC is one of 55 certified poison control centers in the United States and serves the state of Kansas 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, with certified specialists in poison information and medical toxicologists. The PCC receives calls from the public, law enforcement, health care professionals, and public health agencies. All calls to the PCC are recorded electronically in the Toxicall® data management system and uploaded in near real-time to the National Poison Data System (NPDS), which is the data repository for all poison control centers in the United States. Methods All encounters reported to the PCC from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 were analyzed. Data recorded for each exposure includes caller location, age, weight, gender, substance exposed to, nature of exposure, route of exposure, interventions, medical outcome, disposition and location of care. Encounters were classified further as human exposure, animal exposure, confirmed non-exposure, or information call (no exposure reported). Results The PCC logged 21,965 total encounters in 2016, including 20,713 human exposure cases. The PCC received calls from every county in Kansas. The majority of human exposure cases (50.4%, n = 10,174) were female. Approximately 67% (n = 13,903) of human exposures involved a child (defined as age 19 years or less). Most encounters occurred at a residence (94.0%, n = 19,476) and most calls (72.3%, n = 14,964) originated from a residence. The majority of human exposures (n = 18,233) were acute cases (exposures occurring over eight hours or less). Ingestion was the most common route of exposure documented (86.3%, n = 17,882). The most common reported substance in pediatric encounters was cosmetics/personal care products (n = 1,362), followed by household cleaning product (n = 1,301). For adult encounters, sedatives/hypnotics/antipsychotics (n = 1,130) and analgesics (n = 1,103) were the most frequently involved substances. Unintentional exposures were the most common reason for exposures (81.3%, n = 16,836). Most encounters (71.1%, n = 14,732) were managed in a non-healthcare facility (i.e., a residence). Among human exposures, 14,679 involved exposures to pharmaceutical agents while 10,176 involved exposure to non-pharmaceuticals. Medical outcomes were 32% (n = 6,582) no effect, 19% (n = 3,911) minor effect, 8% (n = 1,623) moderate effect, and 2% (n = 348) major effects. There were 15 deaths in 2016 reported to the PCC. Number of exposures, calls from healthcare facilities, cases with moderate or major medical outcomes, and deaths all increased in 2016 compared to 2015. Conclusion The results of the 2016 University of Kansas Health System Poison Control annual report demonstrates that the center receives calls from the entire state of Kansas totaling over 20,000 human exposures per year. While pediatric exposures remain the most common, there is an increasing number of calls from healthcare facilities and for cases with serious outcomes. The experience of the PCC is similar to national data. This report supports the continued value of the PCC to both public and acute health care in the state of Kansas. PMID:29796151

Programming models for energy-aware systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Haitao

Energy efficiency is an important goal of modern computing, with direct impact on system operational cost, reliability, usability and environmental sustainability. This dissertation describes the design and implementation of two innovative programming languages for constructing energy-aware systems. First, it introduces ET, a strongly typed programming language to promote and facilitate energy-aware programming, with a novel type system design called Energy Types. Energy Types is built upon a key insight into today's energy-efficient systems and applications: despite the popular perception that energy and power can only be described in joules and watts, real-world energy management is often based on discrete phases and modes, which in turn can be reasoned about by type systems very effectively. A phase characterizes a distinct pattern of program workload, and a mode represents an energy state the program is expected to execute in. Energy Types is designed to reason about energy phases and energy modes, bringing programmers into the optimization of energy management. Second, the dissertation develops Eco, an energy-aware programming language centering around sustainability. A sustainable program built from Eco is able to adaptively adjusts its own behaviors to stay on a given energy budget, avoiding both deficit that would lead to battery drain or CPU overheating, and surplus that could have been used to improve the quality of the program output. Sustainability is viewed as a form of supply and demand matching, and a sustainable program consistently maintains the equilibrium between supply and demand. ET is implemented as a prototyped compiler for smartphone programming on Android, and Eco is implemented as a minimal extension to Java. Programming practices and benchmarking experiments in these two new languages showed that ET can lead to significant energy savings for Android Apps and Eco can efficiently promote battery awareness and temperature awareness in real-world Java programs.

Stability of Local Quantum Dissipative Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cubitt, Toby S.; Lucia, Angelo; Michalakis, Spyridon; Perez-Garcia, David

2015-08-01

Open quantum systems weakly coupled to the environment are modeled by completely positive, trace preserving semigroups of linear maps. The generators of such evolutions are called Lindbladians. In the setting of quantum many-body systems on a lattice it is natural to consider Lindbladians that decompose into a sum of local interactions with decreasing strength with respect to the size of their support. For both practical and theoretical reasons, it is crucial to estimate the impact that perturbations in the generating Lindbladian, arising as noise or errors, can have on the evolution. These local perturbations are potentially unbounded, but constrained to respect the underlying lattice structure. We show that even for polynomially decaying errors in the Lindbladian, local observables and correlation functions are stable if the unperturbed Lindbladian has a unique fixed point and a mixing time that scales logarithmically with the system size. The proof relies on Lieb-Robinson bounds, which describe a finite group velocity for propagation of information in local systems. As a main example, we prove that classical Glauber dynamics is stable under local perturbations, including perturbations in the transition rates, which may not preserve detailed balance.

Understanding farmers' strategic decision-making processes and the implications for biodiversity conservation policy.

PubMed

Farmar-Bowers, Quentin; Lane, Ruth

2009-02-01

The conservation of biodiversity is an important issue world wide and in Australia the maintenance of native biodiversity on farms makes an important contribution to overall conservation objectives. This paper seeks to explain Australian farmers' rationale for maintaining biodiversity on their farms for personal as opposed to business reasons by developing a decision-systems theory from in-depth interviews. This difference has implications for policy development. The decision-systems theory is divided into two main sections. The first section contains five parts. (1) A hierarchy of motivation stories, (2) the concept of suitability and availability of opportunities, (3) a hierarchy of three decision-systems, (4) the concept of personal career paths, (5) the concept of Lenses. The second section contains one part, a policy classification system called 'boxes of influence' that suggests how policy developers can use the information in the first section to develop new biodiversity conservation policy. The paper suggests that decision-systems theory could be used to shed new light on current trends in agriculture and become an important investigative tool for policy development concerning the conservation of biodiversity on farms.

Localization and recognition of traffic signs for automated vehicle control systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zadeh, Mahmoud M.; Kasvand, T.; Suen, Ching Y.

1998-01-01

We present a computer vision system for detection and recognition of traffic signs. Such systems are required to assist drivers and for guidance and control of autonomous vehicles on roads and city streets. For experiments we use sequences of digitized photographs and off-line analysis. The system contains four stages. First, region segmentation based on color pixel classification called SRSM. SRSM limits the search to regions of interest in the scene. Second, we use edge tracing to find parts of outer edges of signs which are circular or straight, corresponding to the geometrical shapes of traffic signs. The third step is geometrical analysis of the outer edge and preliminary recognition of each candidate region, which may be a potential traffic sign. The final step in recognition uses color combinations within each region and model matching. This system maybe used for recognition of other types of objects, provided that the geometrical shape and color content remain reasonably constant. The method is reliable, easy to implement, and fast, This differs form the road signs recognition method in the PROMETEUS. The overall structure of the approach is sketched.

Patients' adoption of the e-appointment scheduling service: A case study in primary healthcare.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaojun; Yu, Ping; Yan, Jun

2014-01-01

The aim of this study is to investigate patients' initial acceptance and ongoing use of a simple but typical type of consumer e-health service - an e-appointment scheduling (EAS) system - in order to identify facilitators and barriers for patients' adoption of e-health services in primary healthcare. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather patients' background information, their awareness of the system, their feedbacks on the characteristics of the system, and their reasons for use or not use the system. A total of 125 patients aged between 17 and 74 were interviewed. Study results show that 89% of the interviewed patients had shown reluctance to adopt this online service. The identified barriers for acceptance include many patients' lack of access to the internet, lack of awareness of the service, low computer skills and incompatibility of the online appointment service with many patients' habits of face-to-face or phone-call based medical appointment making. Health service providers need to consider the general public's acceptance for online services before implementing consumer e-health systems.

Use of Security Officers on Inpatient Psychiatry Units.

PubMed

Lawrence, Ryan E; Perez-Coste, Maria M; Arkow, Stan D; Appelbaum, Paul S; Dixon, Lisa B

2018-04-02

Violent and aggressive behaviors are common among psychiatric inpatients. Hospital security officers are sometimes used to address such behaviors. Research on the role of security in inpatient units is scant. This study examined when security is utilized and what happens when officers arrive. The authors reviewed the security logbook and the medical records for all patients discharged from an inpatient psychiatry unit over a six-month period. Authors recorded when security calls happened, what behaviors triggered security calls, what outcomes occurred, and whether any patient characteristics were associated with security calls. A total of 272 unique patients were included. A total of 49 patients (18%) generated security calls (N=157 calls). Security calls were most common in the first week of hospitalization (N=45 calls), and roughly half of the patients (N=25 patients) had only one call. The most common inciting behavior was "threats to persons" (N=34 calls), and the most common intervention was intramuscular antipsychotic injection (N=49 calls). The patient variables associated with security calls were having more than one prior hospitalization (odds ratio [OR]=4.56, p=.001, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.80-11.57), involuntary hospitalization (OR=5.09, p<.001, CI=2.28-11.33), and going to court for any reason (OR=5.80, p=.004, CI=1.75-19.15). Security officers were often called for threats of violence and occasionally called for actual violence. Patient variables associated with security calls are common among inpatients, and thus clinicians should stay attuned to patients' moment-to-moment care needs.

Technical Note: FreeCT_ICD: An Open Source Implementation of a Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction Method using Coordinate Descent Optimization for CT Imaging Investigations.

PubMed

Hoffman, John M; Noo, Frédéric; Young, Stefano; Hsieh, Scott S; McNitt-Gray, Michael

2018-06-01

To facilitate investigations into the impacts of acquisition and reconstruction parameters on quantitative imaging, radiomics and CAD using CT imaging, we previously released an open source implementation of a conventional weighted filtered backprojection reconstruction called FreeCT_wFBP. Our purpose was to extend that work by providing an open-source implementation of a model-based iterative reconstruction method using coordinate descent optimization, called FreeCT_ICD. Model-based iterative reconstruction offers the potential for substantial radiation dose reduction, but can impose substantial computational processing and storage requirements. FreeCT_ICD is an open source implementation of a model-based iterative reconstruction method that provides a reasonable tradeoff between these requirements. This was accomplished by adapting a previously proposed method that allows the system matrix to be stored with a reasonable memory requirement. The method amounts to describing the attenuation coefficient using rotating slices that follow the helical geometry. In the initially-proposed version, the rotating slices are themselves described using blobs. We have replaced this description by a unique model that relies on tri-linear interpolation together with the principles of Joseph's method. This model offers an improvement in memory requirement while still allowing highly accurate reconstruction for conventional CT geometries. The system matrix is stored column-wise and combined with an iterative coordinate descent (ICD) optimization. The result is FreeCT_ICD, which is a reconstruction program developed on the Linux platform using C++ libraries and the open source GNU GPL v2.0 license. The software is capable of reconstructing raw projection data of helical CT scans. In this work, the software has been described and evaluated by reconstructing datasets exported from a clinical scanner which consisted of an ACR accreditation phantom dataset and a clinical pediatric thoracic scan. For the ACR phantom, image quality was comparable to clinical reconstructions as well as reconstructions using open-source FreeCT_wFBP software. The pediatric thoracic scan also yielded acceptable results. In addition, we did not observe any deleterious impact in image quality associated with the utilization of rotating slices. These evaluations also demonstrated reasonable tradeoffs in storage requirements and computational demands. FreeCT_ICD is an open-source implementation of a model-based iterative reconstruction method that extends the capabilities of previously released open source reconstruction software and provides the ability to perform vendor-independent reconstructions of clinically acquired raw projection data. This implementation represents a reasonable tradeoff between storage and computational requirements and has demonstrated acceptable image quality in both simulated and clinical image datasets. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The Case Method in Teaching Critical Thinking.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gantt, Vernon W.

When one instructor teaches a course called "Communication and Critical Thinking," he uses Josina Makau's book "Reasoning and Communication: Thinking Critically about Arguments" (1990), which maintains that critical thinking requires training. Case methodology can be used for training, not exclusively but as an alternative to…

32 CFR 44.4 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... may be transferred back to the Ready Reserve when the reason for the member's transfer to the Standby... or divinity school cannot be involuntarily called to AD or required to participate in inactive duty... theology or divinity schools. Ready Reservists participating in a military Chaplain Candidate or Theology...

32 CFR 44.4 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... may be transferred back to the Ready Reserve when the reason for the member's transfer to the Standby... or divinity school cannot be involuntarily called to AD or required to participate in inactive duty... theology or divinity schools. Ready Reservists participating in a military Chaplain Candidate or Theology...

32 CFR 44.4 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... may be transferred back to the Ready Reserve when the reason for the member's transfer to the Standby... or divinity school cannot be involuntarily called to AD or required to participate in inactive duty... theology or divinity schools. Ready Reservists participating in a military Chaplain Candidate or Theology...

32 CFR 44.4 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... may be transferred back to the Ready Reserve when the reason for the member's transfer to the Standby... or divinity school cannot be involuntarily called to AD or required to participate in inactive duty... theology or divinity schools. Ready Reservists participating in a military Chaplain Candidate or Theology...

32 CFR 44.4 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... may be transferred back to the Ready Reserve when the reason for the member's transfer to the Standby... or divinity school cannot be involuntarily called to AD or required to participate in inactive duty... theology or divinity schools. Ready Reservists participating in a military Chaplain Candidate or Theology...

16 CFR 1105.11 - Compensable costs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... services, and attorneys that are incurred by participants; (c) Transportation costs; (d) Travel-related costs such as lodging, meals, tipping, telephone calls; and (e) All other reasonable costs incurred... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Compensable costs. 1105.11 Section 1105.11...

Teaching Burke: Kenneth Burke and the Rhetoric of Ascent.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Quinn, Arthur

1995-01-01

Advises that in teaching Kenneth Burke it is important that students understand that his strength is not what Richard Rorty calls systematic reasoning but rather edification. Shows how Burke, like Thomas Carlyle, is prophet or sage who sketches out a Romantic world view. (TB)

26 CFR 1.166-9 - Losses of guarantors, endorsers, and indemnitors incurred, on agreements made after December 31...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... reasonable expectation on the part of the taxpayer at the time the agreement was entered into that the taxpayer would not be called upon to pay the debt (subject to such agreement) without full reimbursement...

Use of Canonical Analysis in Cropley's "A Five-Year Longitudinal Study of the Validity of Creativity Tests"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jordan, Lawrence A.

1975-01-01

Calls attention to several errors in a recent application of canonical correlation analysis. The reanalysis contradicts Cropley's conclusion that "creativity tests can be said to possess reasonable and encouraging long-range predictive validity." (Author/SDH)

Autonomy, Trust, and Respect

PubMed Central

Nys, Thomas

2016-01-01

This article seeks to explore and analyze the relationship between autonomy and trust, and to show how these findings could be relevant to medical ethics. First, I will argue that the way in which so-called “relational autonomy theories” tie the notions of autonomy and trust together is not entirely satisfying Then, I will introduce the so-called Encapsulated Interest Account as developed by Russell Hardin. This will bring out the importance of the reasons for trust. What good reasons do we have for trusting someone? I will criticize Hardin’s business model as insufficiently robust, especially in the context of health care, and then turn to another source of trust, namely, love. It may seem that trust-through-love is much better suited for the vulnerability that is often involved in health care, but I will also show that it has its own deficiencies. Good health care should therefore pay attention to both models of trust, and I will offer some tentative remarks on how to do this. PMID:26668168

[Children's Aggressive Behaviour and Therapeutic Interventions on the Parental Couple Level].

PubMed

Lux, Ulrike; Hudecek, Matthias

2015-01-01

Parents go to see child guidance counselling services for many different reasons. Behavioural problems or rather enraged or aggressive behaviour of children and adolescents towards their siblings or parents is a frequent issue in counselling practice. The current article takes a closer look at the range of problems around defiance, anger and aggression from a developmental and systemic point of view. The meaning of these negative affects within the family system is elaborated. Empirical studies show a clear connection between children's problem behaviour and frequent and destructive interparental conflict. So called spill-over-effects play a crucial role in explaining this connection. From a systemic perspective thus the child is seen as a symptom carrier, which shifts the focus of counselling on the interaction between parents as well. Consequently, family therapeutic sessions on the couple level are often indicated. Do parents succeed in constructively solving their conflicts, typically the aggressive behaviour of the children is reduced, too. On the basis of a compound single case such a process is illustrated.

Using C to build a satellite scheduling expert system: Examples from the Explorer Platform planning system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mclean, David R.; Tuchman, Alan; Potter, William J.

1991-01-01

A C-based artificial intelligence (AI) development effort which is based on a software tools approach is discussed with emphasis on reusability and maintainability of code. The discussion starts with simple examples of how list processing can easily be implemented in C and then proceeds to the implementations of frames and objects which use dynamic memory allocation. The implementation of procedures which use depth first search, constraint propagation, context switching, and blackboard-like simulation environment are described. Techniques for managing the complexity of C-based AI software are noted, especially the object-oriented techniques of data encapsulation and incremental development. Finally, all these concepts are put together by describing the components of planning software called the Planning And Resource Reasoning (PARR) Shell. This shell was successfully utilized for scheduling services of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System for the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite since May of 1987 and will be used for operations scheduling of the Explorer Platform in Nov. of 1991.

Virtual Instrument for Emissions Measurement of Internal Combustion Engines

PubMed Central

Pérez, Armando; Montero, Gisela; Coronado, Marcos; García, Conrado; Pérez, Rubén

2016-01-01

The gases emissions measurement systems in internal combustion engines are strict and expensive nowadays. For this reason, a virtual instrument was developed to measure the combustion emissions from an internal combustion diesel engine, running with diesel-biodiesel mixtures. This software is called virtual instrument for emissions measurement (VIEM), and it was developed in the platform of LabVIEW 2010® virtual programming. VIEM works with sensors connected to a signal conditioning system, and a data acquisition system is used as interface for a computer in order to measure and monitor in real time the emissions of O2, NO, CO, SO2, and CO2 gases. This paper shows the results of the VIEM programming, the integrated circuits diagrams used for the signal conditioning of sensors, and the sensors characterization of O2, NO, CO, SO2, and CO2. VIEM is a low-cost instrument and is simple and easy to use. Besides, it is scalable, making it flexible and defined by the user. PMID:27034893

Patient safety and the problem of many hands

PubMed Central

Dixon-Woods, Mary; Pronovost, Peter

2016-01-01

Summary Healthcare worldwide is faced with a crisis of patient safety: every day, everywhere, patients are injured during the course of their care. Notwithstanding occasional successes in relation to specific harms, safety as a system characteristic has remained elusive. We propose that one neglected reason why the safety problem has proved so stubborn is that healthcare suffers from a pathology known in the public administration literature as the problem of many hands. It is a problem that arises in contexts where multiple actors – organizations, individuals, groups – each contribute to effects seen at system level, but it remains difficult to hold any single actor responsible for these effects. Efforts by individual actors, including local quality improvement projects, may have the paradoxical effect of undermining system safety. Many challenges cannot be resolved by individual organisations, since they require whole-sector coordination and action. We call for recognition of the problem of many hands and for attention to be given to how it might most optimally be addressed in a healthcare context. PMID:26912578

Consultant-based otolaryngology emergency service: a five-year experience.

PubMed

Barnes, M L; Hussain, S S M

2011-12-01

To present our experience of running a consultant-based otolaryngology emergency care service for more than five years. In 2003, we developed a system of consultant-based emergency service: consultants spent a week on-call providing a dedicated emergency service, with routine commitments cancelled. Our new system had advantages over traditional working practices in terms of consultant involvement, trainee education, continuity and efficiency. It also reduced disruption to elective commitments for both consultants and registrars. This system was fundamental to the successful review of all urgent (and in future elective) cases within target periods. Only 31 per cent of new referrals to the consultant emergency clinics required a further appointment. Good teamwork and flexibility in working arrangements have been essential to the success of this service. Given that health service changes have reduced junior trainee working hours and numbers, and that patients increasingly expect to be treated by trained doctors, our new consultant-based emergency service has merit. Although implementation in other units may differ, we recommend this new service, for the above reasons.

Systems biology of stored blood cells: can it help to extend the expiration date?

PubMed

Paglia, Giuseppe; Palsson, Bernhard Ø; Sigurjonsson, Olafur E

2012-12-05

With increasingly stringent regulations regarding deferral and elimination of blood donors it will become increasingly important to extend the expiration date of blood components beyond the current allowed storage periods. One reason for the storage time limit for blood components is that platelets and red blood cells develop a condition called storage lesions during their storage in plastic blood containers. Systems biology provides comprehensive bio-chemical descriptions of organisms through quantitative measurements and data integration in mathematical models. The biological knowledge for a target organism can be translated in a mathematical format and used to compute physiological properties. The use of systems biology represents a concrete solution in the study of blood cell storage lesions, and it may open up new avenues towards developing better storage methods and better storage media, thereby extending the storage period of blood components. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Integrated omics. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Moral Bioenhancement, Freedom and Reason.

PubMed

Persson, Ingmar; Savulescu, Julian

2016-01-01

In this paper we reply to the most important objections to our advocacy of moral enhancement by biomedical means - moral bioenhancement - that John Harris advances in his new book How to be Good . These objections are to effect that such moral enhancement undercuts both moral reasoning and freedom. The latter objection is directed more specifically at what we have called the God Machine, a super-duper computer which predicts our decisions and prevents decisions to perpertrate morally atrocious acts. In reply, we argue first that effective moral bioenhancement presupposes moral reasoning rather than undermines it. Secondly, that the God Machine would leave us with extensive freedom and that the restrictions it imposes on it are morally justified by the prevention of harm to victims.

Computational logic: its origins and applications

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Computational logic is the use of computers to establish facts in a logical formalism. Originating in nineteenth century attempts to understand the nature of mathematical reasoning, the subject now comprises a wide variety of formalisms, techniques and technologies. One strand of work follows the ‘logic for computable functions (LCF) approach’ pioneered by Robin Milner, where proofs can be constructed interactively or with the help of users’ code (which does not compromise correctness). A refinement of LCF, called Isabelle, retains these advantages while providing flexibility in the choice of logical formalism and much stronger automation. The main application of these techniques has been to prove the correctness of hardware and software systems, but increasingly researchers have been applying them to mathematics itself. PMID:29507522

Wildlife trade in Brazil: a closer look at wild pets welfare issues.

PubMed

Kuhnen, V V; Kanaan, V T

2014-02-01

Wild animals have been kept as pets for centuries, in Brazil companionship is one of the main reasons why wild species are legally bred and traded. This paper is an attempt to call the attention for problems concerning the welfare of wild pets involved in the trading system in Brazil. Some issues presented are: a) the significant increase in the number of wildlife breeders and traders and the difficulties faced by of the Brazilian government in controlling this activity; b) the main welfare issues faced by breeders and owners of wild pets; and c) the destination of wild pets no longer wanted. Finally, some recommendations are made having the welfare of the animals as a priority.

Surgical management of abnormal uterine bleeding in fertile age women.

PubMed

Finco, Andrea; Centini, Gabriele; Lazzeri, Lucia; Zupi, Errico

2015-07-01

Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common gynecological disease and represents one of the most frequent reasons for hospital admission to a specialist unit, often requiring further surgical treatment. Following the so-called PALM-COEIN system we will attempt to further clarify the surgical treatments available today. The first group (PALM) is characterized by structural lesions, which may be more appropriately treated by means of surgical management. Although hysterectomy remains the definitive and decisive choice, there are many alternative techniques available. These minimally invasive procedures offer the opportunity for a more conservative approach. Precise and accurate counseling facilitates better patient selection, based on the patient's desires, age and disease type, allowing treatment to be individually tailored to each woman.

Modeling MAC layer for powerline communications networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hrasnica, Halid; Haidine, Abdelfatteh

2001-02-01

The usage of electrical power distribution networks for voice and data transmission, called Powerline Communications, becomes nowadays more and more attractive, particularly in the telecommunication access area. The most important reasons for that are the deregulation of the telecommunication market and a fact that the access networks are still property of former monopolistic companies. In this work, first we analyze a PLC network and system structure as well as a disturbance scenario in powerline networks. After that, we define a logical structure of the powerline MAC layer and propose the reservation MAC protocols for the usage in the PLC network which provides collision free data transmission. This makes possible better network utilization and realization of QoS guarantees which can make PLC networks competitive to other access technologies.

A visual interface for generic message translation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Blattner, M.M.; Kou, L.T.; Carlson, J.W.

1988-06-21

This paper is concerned with the translation of data structures we call messages. Messages are an example of a type of data structure encountered in generic data translation. Our objective is to provide a system that the nonprogrammer can use to specify the nature of translations from one type to another. For this reason we selected a visual interface that uses interaction techniques that do not require a knowledge of programming or command languages. The translator must accomplish two tasks: create a mapping between fields in different message types that specifies which fields have similar semantic content, and reformat ormore » translate data specifications within those fields. The translations are accomplished with appropriate, but different, visual metaphors. 14 refs., 4 figs.« less

Information processing systems, reasoning modules, and reasoning system design methods

DOEpatents

Hohimer, Ryan E.; Greitzer, Frank L.; Hampton, Shawn D.

2016-08-23

Information processing systems, reasoning modules, and reasoning system design methods are described. According to one aspect, an information processing system includes working memory comprising a semantic graph which comprises a plurality of abstractions, wherein the abstractions individually include an individual which is defined according to an ontology and a reasoning system comprising a plurality of reasoning modules which are configured to process different abstractions of the semantic graph, wherein a first of the reasoning modules is configured to process a plurality of abstractions which include individuals of a first classification type of the ontology and a second of the reasoning modules is configured to process a plurality of abstractions which include individuals of a second classification type of the ontology, wherein the first and second classification types are different.

Information processing systems, reasoning modules, and reasoning system design methods

DOEpatents

Hohimer, Ryan E.; Greitzer, Frank L.; Hampton, Shawn D.

2015-08-18

Information processing systems, reasoning modules, and reasoning system design methods are described. According to one aspect, an information processing system includes working memory comprising a semantic graph which comprises a plurality of abstractions, wherein the abstractions individually include an individual which is defined according to an ontology and a reasoning system comprising a plurality of reasoning modules which are configured to process different abstractions of the semantic graph, wherein a first of the reasoning modules is configured to process a plurality of abstractions which include individuals of a first classification type of the ontology and a second of the reasoning modules is configured to process a plurality of abstractions which include individuals of a second classification type of the ontology, wherein the first and second classification types are different.

Information processing systems, reasoning modules, and reasoning system design methods

DOEpatents

Hohimer, Ryan E; Greitzer, Frank L; Hampton, Shawn D

2014-03-04

Information processing systems, reasoning modules, and reasoning system design methods are described. According to one aspect, an information processing system includes working memory comprising a semantic graph which comprises a plurality of abstractions, wherein the abstractions individually include an individual which is defined according to an ontology and a reasoning system comprising a plurality of reasoning modules which are configured to process different abstractions of the semantic graph, wherein a first of the reasoning modules is configured to process a plurality of abstractions which include individuals of a first classification type of the ontology and a second of the reasoning modules is configured to process a plurality of abstractions which include individuals of a second classification type of the ontology, wherein the first and second classification types are different.

Bringing the Excitement of Exploring Mars and the Giant Planets to Educators and the Public

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morrow, C. A.; Dusenbery, P. B.; Harold, J.

2003-05-01

We are living in a wonderful era of planetary exploration. In 2004 alone, two rovers will land on Mars and the Cassini-Huygens mission will arrive in the Saturn system for an extended 4-year tour. These events will bring much public attention and provide excellent reasons for substantive educational outreach to educators and the public. The Space Science Institute (SSI) of Boulder, CO and collaborators are responding with a comprehensive array of funded and proposed projects. These include the refurbishment and redeployment of the 5000 sq. ft MarsQuest national traveling exhibition, the launch of a 600 sq. ft. "mini-MarsQuest" called Destination Mars, the launch of an interactive website called "MarsQuest Online" (in partnership with TERC and JPL), a variety of workshops for teachers, museum educators, and planetarians (in partnership with "To Mars with MER", and JPL), and the development of a "Family Guide to Mars" for use by adults and children in informal learning settings. SSI is also proposing to develop another national traveling exhibition called "Giant Planets: Exploring the Outer Solar System". This exhibit (envisioned to be 3500 sq.ft.) and its educational program will take advantage of the excitement generated by the Cassini mission and origins-related research. Its education program will also benefit from SSI having led the development of the "Saturn Educator Guide" - a JPL-sponsored resource for teachers in grades 5 and up. This paper will provide an overview of our resources in planetary science education and communicate the valuable lessons we've learned about their design, development and dissemination. SSI's educational endeavors related to planetary science have been funded by several NASA and NSF grants and contracts.

Multistage Stochastic Programming and its Applications in Energy Systems Modeling and Optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golari, Mehdi

Electric energy constitutes one of the most crucial elements to almost every aspect of life of people. The modern electric power systems face several challenges such as efficiency, economics, sustainability, and reliability. Increase in electrical energy demand, distributed generations, integration of uncertain renewable energy resources, and demand side management are among the main underlying reasons of such growing complexity. Additionally, the elements of power systems are often vulnerable to failures because of many reasons, such as system limits, weak conditions, unexpected events, hidden failures, human errors, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters. One common factor complicating the operation of electrical power systems is the underlying uncertainties from the demands, supplies and failures of system components. Stochastic programming provides a mathematical framework for decision making under uncertainty. It enables a decision maker to incorporate some knowledge of the intrinsic uncertainty into the decision making process. In this dissertation, we focus on application of two-stage and multistage stochastic programming approaches to electric energy systems modeling and optimization. Particularly, we develop models and algorithms addressing the sustainability and reliability issues in power systems. First, we consider how to improve the reliability of power systems under severe failures or contingencies prone to cascading blackouts by so called islanding operations. We present a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer model to find optimal islanding operations as a powerful preventive action against cascading failures in case of extreme contingencies. Further, we study the properties of this problem and propose efficient solution methods to solve this problem for large-scale power systems. We present the numerical results showing the effectiveness of the model and investigate the performance of the solution methods. Next, we address the sustainability issue considering the integration of renewable energy resources into production planning of energy-intensive manufacturing industries. Recently, a growing number of manufacturing companies are considering renewable energies to meet their energy requirements to move towards green manufacturing as well as decreasing their energy costs. However, the intermittent nature of renewable energies imposes several difficulties in long term planning of how to efficiently exploit renewables. In this study, we propose a scheme for manufacturing companies to use onsite and grid renewable energies provided by their own investments and energy utilities as well as conventional grid energy to satisfy their energy requirements. We propose a multistage stochastic programming model and study an efficient solution method to solve this problem. We examine the proposed framework on a test case simulated based on a real-world semiconductor company. Moreover, we evaluate long-term profitability of such scheme via so called value of multistage stochastic programming.

Clenbuterol toxicity: a NSW poisons information centre experience.

PubMed

Brett, Jonathan; Dawson, Andrew H; Brown, Jared A

2014-03-03

To describe the epidemiology and toxicity of clenbuterol in exposures reported to the NSW Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC). Retrospective observational study analysing data from all calls about clenbuterol exposure recorded in the NSWPIC database from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2012. The NSWPIC coversthe Australian jurisdictions New South Wales, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory 24 hours a day and provides after-hours cover for the rest of Australia for 7 nights each fortnight. Total number of exposures, source of call (hospital, health care worker, member of the public), time from exposure to call, reasons for drug use, clinical features and advice given. Callers reported 63 exposures to clenbuterol, with a dramatic increase from three in 2008 to 27 in 2012. Of the 63 calls, 35 were from hospital, two from paramedics, one from general practice and 21 direct from the public. At least 53 patients (84%) required hospitalisation. The commonest reasons for use were bodybuilding and slimming. The most common features were tachycardia (24 patients), gastrointestinal disturbance (16) and tremor (11). Exposure was also associated with cardiotoxicity including one cardiac arrest in a 21-year-old man. Although a well recognised doping issue among elite athletes, clenbuterol use has spread out into the general public, especially during 2012, and should be considered in patients using bodybuilding or slimming products who present with protracted sympathomimetic features. The potential for misuse of this substance requires reconsideration of its current poison schedule registration and its availability.

Designing Computer Learning Environments for Engineering and Computer Science: The Scaffolded Knowledge Integration Framework.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Linn, Marcia C.

1995-01-01

Describes a framework called scaffolded knowledge integration and illustrates how it guided the design of two successful course enhancements in the field of computer science and engineering: the LISP Knowledge Integration Environment and the spatial reasoning environment. (101 references) (Author/MKR)

Assessing Growth of Student Reasoning Skills in Honors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wood-Nartker, Jeanneane; Hinck, Shelly; Hullender, Ren

2016-01-01

Assessment and evaluation practices within honors programs have attracted considerable attention within the honors academic community, e.g., the spring/summer 2006 volume of the "Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council." Calls for carefully created and constructed assessment activities within honors programs have met with mixed…

10 CFR 76.70 - Post issuance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... interested person, further procedures for a hearing of the issues before making a final enforcement decision... action must have been called to the attention of the Corporation in writing and the Corporation shall... include a statement of reasons for making the proposed action immediately effective; (v) Provide that the...

Imagination Goes to School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Esbin, Howard B.

2008-01-01

Children enter school brimming with imagination. They're masters of make believe and visualization, honed through five years of play. For the next decade, this essential cognitive faculty is benignly neglected by the institution called school. By comparison, the faculty of reason is explicitly and assiduously cultivated, reflecting the West's…

Helicopter Toy and Lift Estimation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shakerin, Said

2013-01-01

A $1 plastic helicopter toy (called a Wacky Whirler) can be used to demonstrate lift. Students can make basic measurements of the toy, use reasonable assumptions and, with the lift formula, estimate the lift, and verify that it is sufficient to overcome the toy's weight. (Contains 1 figure.)

Does Competition Improve Public School Efficiency? A Spatial Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Misra, Kaustav; Grimes, Paul W.; Rogers, Kevin E.

2012-01-01

Advocates for educational reform frequently call for policies to increase competition between schools because it is argued that market forces naturally lead to greater efficiencies, including improved student learning, when schools face competition. Researchers examining this issue are confronted with difficulties in defining reasonable measures…

Communication Theory Offers Insight into Mathematics Teachers' Talk

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Forrest, Denise B.

2008-01-01

This article discusses how communication theory is used to understand the thoughts mathematics teachers employ when creating messages intended for students. According to communication theory, individuals have different premises about the act of communicating, and these thoughts, called message design logics, guide the process of reasoning from…

"Habit of Heat:" Emerson, Belletristic Rhetoric, and the Role of the Imagination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Roger

2007-01-01

In this article, the author argues that Emerson repudiated the formalism of nineteenth century belletristic, mechanistic, reason-centered, American rhetoric influenced by Hugh Blair. Instead Emerson promoted a rhetoric with imagination at its center, which calls for civic duty. (Contains 33 notes.)

7 CFR 1944.52 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... subpart L of part 1940 of this chapter. Complete application package (hereafter called package). The package submitted to the appropriate FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 office which is... the Administrator that equals the customary and reasonable costs incurred in preparing a package for a...

7 CFR 1944.52 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... subpart L of part 1940 of this chapter. Complete application package (hereafter called package). The package submitted to the appropriate FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 office which is... the Administrator that equals the customary and reasonable costs incurred in preparing a package for a...

7 CFR 1944.52 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... subpart L of part 1940 of this chapter. Complete application package (hereafter called package). The package submitted to the appropriate FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 office which is... the Administrator that equals the customary and reasonable costs incurred in preparing a package for a...

7 CFR 1944.52 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... subpart L of part 1940 of this chapter. Complete application package (hereafter called package). The package submitted to the appropriate FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 office which is... the Administrator that equals the customary and reasonable costs incurred in preparing a package for a...

7 CFR 1944.52 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... subpart L of part 1940 of this chapter. Complete application package (hereafter called package). The package submitted to the appropriate FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 office which is... the Administrator that equals the customary and reasonable costs incurred in preparing a package for a...

Posing Cognitively Demanding Tasks to All Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lambert, Rachel; Stylianou, Despina A.

2013-01-01

Cognitively demanding tasks (CDT) (Stein et al. 2000) are necessary for the development of students' mathematical reasoning skills. Research is unequivocal on the importance of giving students opportunities to engage in such tasks. Although current reform efforts call for mathematics learning for "all" students, learners who…

Achieving realistic performance and decison-making capabilities in computer-generated air forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banks, Sheila B.; Stytz, Martin R.; Santos, Eugene, Jr.; Zurita, Vincent B.; Benslay, James L., Jr.

1997-07-01

For a computer-generated force (CGF) system to be useful in training environments, it must be able to operate at multiple skill levels, exhibit competency at assigned missions, and comply with current doctrine. Because of the rapid rate of change in distributed interactive simulation (DIS) and the expanding set of performance objectives for any computer- generated force, the system must also be modifiable at reasonable cost and incorporate mechanisms for learning. Therefore, CGF applications must have adaptable decision mechanisms and behaviors and perform automated incorporation of past reasoning and experience into its decision process. The CGF must also possess multiple skill levels for classes of entities, gracefully degrade its reasoning capability in response to system stress, possess an expandable modular knowledge structure, and perform adaptive mission planning. Furthermore, correctly performing individual entity behaviors is not sufficient. Issues related to complex inter-entity behavioral interactions, such as the need to maintain formation and share information, must also be considered. The CGF must also be able to acceptably respond to unforeseen circumstances and be able to make decisions in spite of uncertain information. Because of the need for increased complexity in the virtual battlespace, the CGF should exhibit complex, realistic behavior patterns within the battlespace. To achieve these necessary capabilities, an extensible software architecture, an expandable knowledge base, and an adaptable decision making mechanism are required. Our lab has addressed these issues in detail. The resulting DIS-compliant system is called the automated wingman (AW). The AW is based on fuzzy logic, the common object database (CODB) software architecture, and a hierarchical knowledge structure. We describe the techniques we used to enable us to make progress toward a CGF entity that satisfies the requirements presented above. We present our design and implementation of an adaptable decision making mechanism that uses multi-layered, fuzzy logic controlled situational analysis. Because our research indicates that fuzzy logic can perform poorly under certain circumstances, we combine fuzzy logic inferencing with adversarial game tree techniques for decision making in strategic and tactical engagements. We describe the approach we employed to achieve this fusion. We also describe the automated wingman's system architecture and knowledge base architecture.

Circus Family of Stars (Artist's Concept)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2005-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Quick Time Movie for PIA03521 Circus Family of Stars

This artist's animation shows the clockwork-like orbits of a triple-star system called HD 188753, which was discovered to harbor a gas giant, or 'hot Jupiter,' planet. The planet zips around the system's main star (yellow, center) every 3.3 days, while the main star is circled every 25.7 years by a dancing duo of stars (yellow and orange, outer orbit). The star pair is locked in a 156-day orbit.

This eccentric star family is a cramped bunch; the distance between the main star and the outer pair of stars is about the same as that between the Sun and Saturn. Though multiple-star systems like this one are common in the universe, astronomers were surprised to find a planet living in such tight quarters.

One reason for the surprise has to do with theories of hot Jupiter formation. Astronomers believe that these planets begin life at the outer fringes of their stars, in thick dusty disks called protoplanetary disks, before migrating inward. The discovery of a world under three suns throws this theory into question. As seen in this animation, there is not much room at this system's outer edges for a hot Jupiter to grow.

The discovery was made using the Keck I telescope atop Mauna Kea mountain in Hawaii. The triple-star system is located 149 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus.

The sizes and orbital periods in the animation are not shown to scale. The relative motions are shown with respect to the main star.

Electronic Cigarette Exposure: Calls to Wisconsin Poison Control Centers, 2010–2015.

PubMed

Weiss, Debora; Tomasallo, Carrie D; Meiman, Jon G; Creswell, Paul D; Melstrom, Paul C; Gummin, David D; Patel, Disa J; Michaud, Nancy T; Sebero, Heather A; Anderson, Henry A

2016-12-01

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that deliver nicotine and flavorings by aerosol and have been marketed in the United States since 2007. Because e-cigarettes have increased in popularity, toxicity potential from device misuse and malfunction also has increased. National data indicate that during 2010–2014, exposure calls to US poison control centers increased only 0.3% for conventional cigarette exposures, whereas calls increased 41.7% for e-cigarette exposures. We characterized cigarette and e-cigarette exposure calls to the Wisconsin Poison Center January 1, 2010 through October 10, 2015. We compared cigarette and e-cigarette exposure calls by exposure year, demographic characteristics, caller site, exposure site, exposure route, exposure reason, medical outcome, management site, and level of care at a health care facility. During January 2010 to October 2015, a total of 98 e-cigarette exposure calls were reported, and annual exposure calls increased approximately 17-fold, from 2 to 35. During the same period, 671 single-exposure cigarette calls with stable annual call volumes were reported. E-cigarette exposure calls were associated with children aged ≤5 years (57/98, 58.2%) and adults aged ≥20 years (30/98, 30.6%). Cigarette exposure calls predominated among children aged ≤5 years (643/671, 95.8%). The frequency of e-cigarette exposure calls to the Wisconsin Poison Center has increased and is highest among children aged ≤5 years and adults. Strategies are warranted to prevent future poisonings from these devices, including nicotine warning labels and public advisories to keep e-cigarettes away from children.

Call intercalation in dyadic interactions in natural choruses of Johnstone's whistling frog Eleutherodactylus johnstonei (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae).

PubMed

Tárano, Zaida; Carballo, Luisana

2016-05-01

Communal signaling increases the likelihood of acoustic interference and impairs mate choice; consequently, mechanisms of interference avoidance are expected. Adjustment of the timing of the calls between signalers, specifically call alternation, is probably the most efficient strategy. For this reason, in the present study we analyzed call timing in dyads of males of E. johnstonei in six natural assemblages. We addressed whether males entrain their calls with those of other males at the assemblage and if they show selective attention in relation to perceived amplitude of the other males' calls, inter-male distance, or intrinsic call features (call duration, period or dominant frequency). We expected males to selectively attend to closer or louder males and/or to those of higher or similar attractiveness for females than themselves, because those would be their strongest competitors. We found that most males intercalated their calls with those of at least one male. In assemblages of 3 individuals, males seemed to attend to a fixed number of males regardless of their characteristics. In assemblages of more than 3 individuals, the perceived amplitude of the call of the neighboring male was higher, and the call periods of the males were more similar in alternating dyads than in the non-alternating ones. At the proximate level, selective attention based on perceived amplitude may relate to behavioral hearing thresholds. Selective attention based on the similarity of call periods may relate to the properties of the call oscillators controlling calling rhythms. At the ultimate level, selective attention may be related to the likelihood of acoustic competition for females. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Possibilities of the free-complement methodology for solving the Schrödinger equation of atoms and molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakatsuji, Hiroshi

Chemistry is a science of complex subjects that occupy this universe and biological world and that are composed of atoms and molecules. Its essence is diversity. However, surprisingly, whole of this science is governed by simple quantum principles like the Schrödinger and the Dirac equations. Therefore, if we can find a useful general method of solving these quantum principles under the fermionic and/or bosonic constraints accurately in a reasonable speed, we can replace somewhat empirical methodologies of this science with purely quantum theoretical and computational logics. This is the purpose of our series of studies - called ``exact theory'' in our laboratory. Some of our documents are cited below. The key idea was expressed as the free complement (FC) theory (originally called ICI theory) that was introduced to solve the Schrödinger and Dirac equations analytically. For extending this methodology to larger systems, order N methodologies are essential, but actually the antisymmetry constraints for electronic wave functions become big constraints. Recently, we have shown that the antisymmetry rule or `dogma' can be very much relaxed when our subjects are large molecular systems. In this talk, I want to present our recent progress in our FC methodology. The purpose is to construct ``predictive quantum chemistry'' that is useful in chemical and physical researches and developments in institutes and industries

Two Dimensions of Time could produce a New Supersymmetric Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kriske, Richard

2014-03-01

In the collapse of a system into the eigenstate of an operator,a new type of time, call it ``information time,'' could be inferred. One could look at this time to evolve the quantum state as a type of ``mass.'' This would be a correction to the explaination to the existing Higgs mechanism. Likewise one could see the dual of this in the Dilation in ``clock time'' seen in Special Relativity. In other words we see a time Dilation in ``Information Time'' as being a delay in Acceleration which we call ``mass.'' The two types of Time are Duals to each other and are symmetric. The second dimension of time has been overlooked for this reason. Time Dilation is the dual to persistance of the collapse of a system. This Duality produces some interesting and measurable effects. One conclusion that one can draw from this ``Symmetry'' is that there is a non-commuting set of operators, and a particle that connects the two ``Perpendicular'' time axis. We know from classical Quantum Theory that Momentum and Position do not commute, and this is something like the Noncommuting Time Dimensions, in that Momentum has a time-like construction and Position has a Space like construction, it is something like x, and t, not Commuting. What is the Conserved Quantity between the two types of time, is it Energy?

New approaches to the measurement of chlorophyll, related pigments and productivity in the sea

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Booth, C. R.; Keifer, D. A.

1989-01-01

In the 1984 SBIR Call for Proposals, NASA solicited new methods to measure primary production and chlorophyll in the ocean. Biospherical Instruments Inc. responded to this call with a proposal first to study a variety of approaches to this problem. A second phase of research was then funded to pursue instrumentation to measure the sunlight stimulated naturally occurring fluorescence of chlorophyll in marine phytoplankton. The monitoring of global productivity, global fisheries resources, application of above surface-to-underwater optical communications systems, submarine detection applications, correlation, and calibration of remote sensing systems are but some of the reasons for developing inexpensive sensors to measure chlorophyll and productivity. Normally, productivity measurements are manpower and cost intensive and, with the exception of a very few expensive multiship research experiments, provide no contemporaneous data. We feel that the patented, simple sensors that we have designed will provide a cost effective method for large scale, synoptic, optical measurements in the ocean. This document is the final project report for a NASA sponsored SBIR Phase 2 effort to develop new methods for the measurements of primary production in the ocean. This project has been successfully completed, a U.S. patent was issued covering the methodology and sensors, and the first production run of instrumentation developed under this contract has sold out and been delivered.

E-Control: First Public Release of Remote Control Software for VLBI Telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neidhardt, Alexander; Ettl, Martin; Rottmann, Helge; Ploetz, Christian; Muehlbauer, Matthias; Hase, Hayo; Alef, Walter; Sobarzo, Sergio; Herrera, Cristian; Himwich, Ed

2010-01-01

Automating and remotely controlling observations are important for future operations in a Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS). At the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell, in cooperation with the Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, a software extension to the existing NASA Field System has been developed for remote control. It uses the principle of a remotely accessible, autonomous process cell as a server extension for the Field System. The communication is realized for low transfer rates using Remote Procedure Calls (RPC). It uses generative programming with the interface software generator idl2rpc.pl developed at Wettzell. The user interacts with this system over a modern graphical user interface created with wxWidgets. For security reasons the communication is automatically tunneled through a Secure Shell (SSH) session to the telescope. There are already successful test observations with the telescopes at O Higgins, Concepcion, and Wettzell. At Wettzell the software is already used routinely for weekend observations. Therefore the first public release of the software is now available, which will also be useful for other telescopes.

Telemedicine.

PubMed

Dorman, T

2000-09-01

Telemedicine began from the humble beginnings of the first telephone call from Alexander Graham Bell to his associate, Watson. These systems already have been used for educational programs, consultative care, image transfer, second opinions, and direct acute patient care. Most of the original programs failed because of several reasons, primarily because of lack of funding when a grant ended. The major lesson of these programs is that a solid business plan is needed initially for long-term survival. The reliability of telemedical examinations has been demonstrated superficially, but more conclusive work in this area is needed. Studies that evaluate clinical, financial, and satisfaction outcomes are required simultaneously. Further integration of medical informatics into telemedicine systems is needed before these systems can achieve more acceptance. Twenty years ago, few people predicted this technologic revolution. Innovations arise almost daily. The future seems promising for telemedical systems, but much work is required. Partnerships with industry must move beyond niche projects, and regulatory and medicolegal issues must be resolved. Anesthesiologists can expect their practice to be affected directly by technology, and should embrace it, evaluate it, and help lead its use in this millennium.

Limits to the Evaluation of the Accuracy of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems by Clinical Trials.

PubMed

Schrangl, Patrick; Reiterer, Florian; Heinemann, Lutz; Freckmann, Guido; Del Re, Luigi

2018-05-18

Systems for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are evolving quickly, and the data obtained are expected to become the basis for clinical decisions for many patients with diabetes in the near future. However, this requires that their analytical accuracy is sufficient. This accuracy is usually determined with clinical studies by comparing the data obtained by the given CGM system with blood glucose (BG) point measurements made with a so-called reference method. The latter is assumed to indicate the correct value of the target quantity. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the clinical trials and the approach used, such a comparison is subject to several effects which may lead to misleading results. While some reasons for the differences between the values obtained with CGM and BG point measurements are relatively well-known (e.g., measurement in different body compartments), others related to the clinical study protocols are less visible, but also quite important. In this review, we present a general picture of the topic as well as tools which allow to correct or at least to estimate the uncertainty of measures of CGM system performance.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Radtke, M.A.

This paper will chronicle the activity at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC) that resulted in the complete migration of a traditional, late 1970`s vintage, Energy Management System (EMS). The new environment includes networked microcomputers, minicomputers, and the corporate mainframe, and provides on-line access to employees outside the energy control center and some WPSC customers. In the late 1980`s, WPSC was forecasting an EMS computer upgrade or replacement to address both capacity and technology needs. Reasoning that access to diverse computing resources would best position the company to accommodate the uncertain needs of the energy industry in the 90`s, WPSC chosemore » to investigate an in-place migration to a network of computers, able to support heterogeneous hardware and operating systems. The system was developed in a modular fashion, with individual modules being deployed as soon as they were completed. The functional and technical specification was continuously enhanced as operating experience was gained from each operational module. With the migration off the original EMS computers complete, the networked system called DEMAXX (Distributed Energy Management Architecture with eXtensive eXpandability) has exceeded expectations in the areas of: cost, performance, flexibility, and reliability.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Radtke, M.A.

This paper will chronicle the activity at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC) that resulted in the complete migration of a traditional, late 1970`s vintage, Energy management System (EMS). The new environment includes networked microcomputers, minicomputers, and the corporate mainframe, and provides on-line access to employees outside the energy control center and some WPSC customers. In the late 1980`s, WPSC was forecasting an EMS computer upgrade or replacement to address both capacity and technology needs. Reasoning that access to diverse computing resources would best position the company to accommodate the uncertain needs of the energy industry in the 90`s, WPSC chosemore » to investigate an in-place migration to a network of computers, able to support heterogeneous hardware and operating systems. The system was developed in a modular fashion, with individual modules being deployed as soon as they were completed. The functional and technical specification was continuously enhanced as operating experience was gained from each operational module. With the migration of the original EMS computers complete, the networked system called DEMAXX (Distributed Energy Management Architecture with eXtensive eXpandability) has exceeded expectations in the areas of: cost, performance, flexibility, and reliability.« less

The adaption and use of research codes for performance assessment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liebetrau, A.M.

1987-05-01

Models of real-world phenomena are developed for many reasons. The models are usually, if not always, implemented in the form of a computer code. The characteristics of a code are determined largely by its intended use. Realizations or implementations of detailed mathematical models of complex physical and/or chemical processes are often referred to as research or scientific (RS) codes. Research codes typically require large amounts of computing time. One example of an RS code is a finite-element code for solving complex systems of differential equations that describe mass transfer through some geologic medium. Considerable computing time is required because computationsmore » are done at many points in time and/or space. Codes used to evaluate the overall performance of real-world physical systems are called performance assessment (PA) codes. Performance assessment codes are used to conduct simulated experiments involving systems that cannot be directly observed. Thus, PA codes usually involve repeated simulations of system performance in situations that preclude the use of conventional experimental and statistical methods. 3 figs.« less

Innovative use of global navigation satellite systems for flight inspection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Eui-Ho

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandates flight inspection in every country to provide safety during flight operations. Among many criteria of flight inspection, airborne inspection of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) is very important because the ILS is the primary landing guidance system worldwide. During flight inspection of the ILS, accuracy in ILS landing guidance is checked by using a Flight Inspection System (FIS). Therefore, a flight inspection system must have high accuracy in its positioning capability to detect any deviation so that accurate guidance of the ILS can be maintained. Currently, there are two Automated Flight Inspection Systems (AFIS). One is called Inertial-based AFIS, and the other one is called Differential GPS-based (DGPS-based) AFIS. The Inertial-based AFIS enables efficient flight inspection procedures, but its drawback is high cost because it requires a navigation-grade Inertial Navigation System (INS). On the other hand, the DGPS-based AFIS has relatively low cost, but flight inspection procedures require landing and setting up a reference receiver. Most countries use either one of the systems based on their own preferences. There are around 1200 ILS in the U.S., and each ILS must be inspected every 6 to 9 months. Therefore, it is important to manage the airborne inspection of the ILS in a very efficient manner. For this reason, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mainly uses the Inertial-based AFIS, which has better efficiency than the DGPS-based AFIS in spite of its high cost. Obviously, the FAA spends tremendous resources on flight inspection. This thesis investigates the value of GPS and the FAA's augmentation to GPS for civil aviation called the Wide Area Augmentation System (or WAAS) for flight inspection. Because standard GPS or WAAS position outputs cannot meet the required accuracy for flight inspection, in this thesis, various algorithms are developed to improve the positioning ability of Flight Inspection Systems (FIS) by using GPS and WAAS in novel manners. The algorithms include Adaptive Carrier Smoothing (ACS), optimizing WAAS accuracy and stability, and reference point-based precise relative positioning for real-time and near-real-time applications. The developed systems are WAAS-aided FIS, WAAS-based FIS, and stand-alone GPS-based FIS. These systems offer both high efficiency and low cost, and they have different advantages over one another in terms of accuracy, integrity, and worldwide availability. The performance of each system is tested with experimental flight test data and shown to have accuracy that is sufficient for flight inspection and superior to the current Inertial-based AFIS.

The proper role of the cost-of-equity concept in pragmatic utility regulation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kihm, Steven G.

2007-12-15

As classic treatises make clear, determining a reasonable return on equity is a judgment call, one that reflect the regulator's broad perspective on public policy matters. That requires one to look beyond economic concepts, such as cost of equity, to find the proper return. (author)

Incorporating Science into Decision-Making

USGS Publications Warehouse

Karl, Herman A.; Turner, Christine E.

2003-01-01

Alan Leshner's Editorial “Public engagement with science” (14 Feb., p. 977) highlights a conundrum: Why is science often ignored in important societal decisions, even as the call for decisions based on sound science escalates? One reason is that decision-making is often driven by a variety of nonscientific, adversarial, and stakeholder dynamics

Theory-Guided Technology in Computer Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ben-Ari, Mordechai

2001-01-01

Examines the history of major achievements in computer science as portrayed by winners of the prestigious Turing award and identifies a possibly unique activity called Theory-Guided Technology (TGT). Researchers develop TGT by using theoretical results to create practical technology. Discusses reasons why TGT is practical in computer science and…

Mass Education: Its Importance in India

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mathias, T. A.

1975-01-01

Citing wrong priorities and methods and lack of conviction as reasons for illiteracy in India increasing by about 15 per cent in the first 24 years of independence, the author calls for emphasis on primary and adult education, some of it informal, as in the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment. (JT)

32 CFR Appendix E to Part 651 - Content of the Environmental Impact Statement

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... environmental objectives. This section is designed specifically to call attention to the benefits of the... environmental impacts of the alternatives should be presented in comparative form, thus sharply defining the... alternative. (ii) A comparative presentation of the environmental consequences of all reasonable alternative...

32 CFR Appendix E to Part 651 - Content of the Environmental Impact Statement

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... environmental objectives. This section is designed specifically to call attention to the benefits of the... environmental impacts of the alternatives should be presented in comparative form, thus sharply defining the... alternative. (ii) A comparative presentation of the environmental consequences of all reasonable alternative...

32 CFR Appendix E to Part 651 - Content of the Environmental Impact Statement

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... environmental objectives. This section is designed specifically to call attention to the benefits of the... environmental impacts of the alternatives should be presented in comparative form, thus sharply defining the... alternative. (ii) A comparative presentation of the environmental consequences of all reasonable alternative...

32 CFR Appendix E to Part 651 - Content of the Environmental Impact Statement

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... environmental objectives. This section is designed specifically to call attention to the benefits of the... environmental impacts of the alternatives should be presented in comparative form, thus sharply defining the... alternative. (ii) A comparative presentation of the environmental consequences of all reasonable alternative...

32 CFR Appendix E to Part 651 - Content of the Environmental Impact Statement

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... environmental objectives. This section is designed specifically to call attention to the benefits of the... environmental impacts of the alternatives should be presented in comparative form, thus sharply defining the... alternative. (ii) A comparative presentation of the environmental consequences of all reasonable alternative...

Structure and Content in Social Cognition: Conceptual and Empirical Analyses.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edelstein, Wolfgang; And Others

1984-01-01

Conceptual analysis of two perspective-taking tasks identified a number of subtasks calling for equivalent operations of social reasoning within tasks of different content. Subtasks hypothetically formed a logical and developmental sequence of abilities required for decentering. The developmental significance of the hierarchy was tested among 121…

An Ethnomethodological Perspective on How Middle School Students Addressed a Water Quality Problem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Belland, Brian R.; Gu, Jiangyue; Kim, Nam Ju; Turner, David J.

2016-01-01

Science educators increasingly call for students to address authentic scientific problems in science class. One form of authentic science problem--socioscientific issue--requires that students engage in complex reasoning by considering both scientific and social implications of problems. Computer-based scaffolding can support this process by…

Change and Continuity in the Primary School: The Research Evidence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galton, Maurice

1987-01-01

This article reviews findings from a 1975 through 1980 study called ORACLE (Observational Research and Classroom Learning Evaluation). Maintains that the data showed only partial implementation of the Plowden report recommendations. Seeks to explain the reasons for inconsistencies in implementation and offers suggestions for redefining progressive…

"Whys" and "Hows" of Using Philosophy in Mathematics Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jankvist, Uffe Thomas; Iversen, Steffen Møllegaard

2014-01-01

The article elaborates and exemplifies a potential categorization of the reasons for using philosophy, in particular the philosophy of mathematics, in mathematics education and approaches to doing so-the so-called "whys" and "hows". More precisely, the "whys" are divided into the two categories of "philosophy as…

38 CFR 21.7135 - Discontinuance dates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...; Pub. L. 98-525) (c) Divorce. If the veteran becomes divorced, the effective date of reduction of his or her educational assistance is the last day of the month in which the divorce occurs. (Authority...) If the veteran or servicemember, for reasons other than being called or ordered to active duty...

Rhymes & Reasons: Literature and Language Play for Phonological Awareness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Opitz, Michael F.

This book addresses common questions to enable teachers to make informed decisions about the appropriateness of integrating phonological awareness activities into their language arts programs. The primary purpose is to call attention to recently published (mid to late 1990s) children's literature that can be used to foster children's…

What is Job Satisfaction?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Locke. Edwin A.

Despite considerable interest in the study of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction, our understanding of these phenomena has not increased substantially in the past 30 years. It is argued that a major reason for this lack of progress is the implicit conception of casuality accepted by most psychologists. It is called the policy of "correlation…

Power and Responsibility in Therapy: Integrating Feminism and Multiculturalism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Elizabeth Nutt; Barber, Jill S.

2004-01-01

The integration of feminist and multicultural approaches to psychotherapy, called for many times, has not yet materialized. This article reviews possible reasons this integration has not taken place and offers an approach to integration based on the guiding principles of power and responsibility, which builds on previous theories and approaches.

Poorly Performing Physicians: Does the Script Concordance Test Detect Bad Clinical Reasoning?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goulet, Francois; Jacques, Andre; Gagnon, Robert; Charlin, Bernard; Shabah, Abdo

2010-01-01

Introduction: Evaluation of poorly performing physicians is a worldwide concern for licensing bodies. The College des Medecins du Quebec currently assesses the clinical competence of physicians previously identified with potential clinical competence difficulties through a day-long procedure called the Structured Oral Interview (SOI). Two peer…

Straight from the Professional Development Classroom: A Practical Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koul, Anjni

2017-01-01

This article presents an instructional strategy called Premise-Reasoning- Outcome (PRO) designed to support students in the construction of scientific explanations. Informed by the philosophy of science and linguistic studies of science, the PRO strategy involves identifying three components of a scientific explanation: (i) premise--an accepted…

5 CFR 591.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... receiving a similar allowance. Johnston Island, also called Johnston Atoll, is a possession of the United... Separate Maintenance Allowance for Duty at Johnston Island § 591.402 Definitions. Adult, a term used in the... allowance to assist an employee assigned to Johnston Island who is compelled by reason of dangerous, notably...

5 CFR 591.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... receiving a similar allowance. Johnston Island, also called Johnston Atoll, is a possession of the United... Separate Maintenance Allowance for Duty at Johnston Island § 591.402 Definitions. Adult, a term used in the... allowance to assist an employee assigned to Johnston Island who is compelled by reason of dangerous, notably...

Do Ethics Classes Teach Ethics?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curzer, Howard J.; Sattler, Sabrina; DuPree, Devin G.; Smith-Genthôs, K. Rachelle

2014-01-01

The ethics assessment industry is currently dominated by the second version of the Defining Issues Test (DIT2). In this article, we describe an alternative assessment instrument called the Sphere-Specific Moral Reasoning and Theory Survey (SMARTS), which measures the respondent's level of moral development in several respects. We describe eight…

Lost in the Great Divide: Motivation in Religious Studies Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gravett, Emily O.

2018-01-01

One of the most illuminating finds in Barbara E. Walvoord's "Teaching and Learning in College Introductory Religion Courses" (2008) is what she calls "the great divide," a mismatch between instructors' goals for their courses, which are academic, and the students' reasons for taking them, which relate to their personal…

Another Kind of Scientist Activism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marino, Lori

2009-01-01

In a well-cited 1996 editorial in "Science," "The Activist Scientist," Jaleh Daie calls for scientists to take an assertive role in educating politicians and the public about the importance of government support for research. She writes that most scientists are reluctant to become involved in political lobbying for a variety of reasons--time…

What's to Fear: Calling Homophobia into Question

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khayatt, Didi

2006-01-01

This paper examines the interplay between gender and sexuality. In particular, it looks at some reasons why mainstream society cannot bear homosexuality, or any expression of resistance to heteronormativity. The paper also considers what makes schools particularly hostile to teaching or tolerating deviance from set notions of essentialized and…

The PRO Instructional Strategy in the Construction of Scientific Explanations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tang, Kok-Sing

2015-01-01

This article presents an instructional strategy called Premise-Reasoning-Outcome (PRO) designed to support students in the construction of scientific explanations. Informed by the philosophy of science and linguistic studies of science, the PRO strategy involves identifying three components of a scientific explanation: (i) premise--an accepted…

76 FR 66972 - Linda Sue Cheek, M.D., Decision and Order

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-28

... only pain management doctor reasonably available in southwestern Virginia,'' ALJ at 34; here again... the hearing. (See ALJ Exs. 3 & 4.) Both parties called witnesses to testify and introduced documentary... practice to include a specialty in pain management and alternative medicine. Since 1998, Respondent has...

17 CFR 190.06 - Transfers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... transfer is made fails to respond within a reasonable time to a margin call for the difference between the... 17 Commodity and Securities Exchanges 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Transfers. 190.06 Section 190... Transfers. (a) Transfer rules. No self-regulatory organization or clearing organization may adopt, maintain...

17 CFR 190.06 - Transfers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... transfer is made fails to respond within a reasonable time to a margin call for the difference between the... 17 Commodity and Securities Exchanges 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Transfers. 190.06 Section 190... Transfers. (a) Transfer rules. No self-regulatory organization or clearing organization may adopt, maintain...

Defining, Developing, and Measuring "Proclivities for Teaching Mathematics"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Jennifer M.; Fischman, Davida; Riggs, Matt

2015-01-01

This article presents a form of teacher reasoning that we call "proclivities for teaching mathematics." We define proclivities for teaching mathematics as the beliefs, knowledge, and dispositions that are actionable in the flow of instruction, and we argue that growth in this area contributes to positive change in mathematics…

Stuttering and Language Ability in Children: Questioning the Connection

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nippold, Marilyn A.

2012-01-01

Purpose: This article explains why it is reasonable to question the view that stuttering and language ability in children are linked--the so-called "stuttering-language connection." Method: Studies that focused on syntactic, morphologic, and lexical development in children who stutter (CWS) are examined for evidence to support the following…

Reasonable Accommodation Information Tracking System

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Reasonable Accommodation Information Tracking System (RAITS) is a case management system that allows the National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator (NRAC) and the Local Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators (LORAC) to manage information related to Reasonable Accommodation (RA) requests. It provides a data base system in compliance with Executive Order 13164 and required by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Regulations and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Bargaining Unit as described in the AFGE National Reasonable Accommodation Procedures. It is a tool that was internally developed in Lotus Notes to track requests for reasonable accommodation and was custom-configured to meet EPA's specific needs and infrastructure.

On the efficacy of using the transfer-controlled procedure during periods of STP processor overloads in SS7 networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rumsewicz, Michael

1994-04-01

In this paper, we examine call completion performance, rather than message throughput, in a Common Channel Signaling network in which the processing resources, and not transmission resources, of a Signaling Transfer Point (STP) are overloaded. Specifically, we perform a transient analysis, via simulation, of a network consisting of a single Central Processor-based STP connecting many local exchanges. We consider the efficacy of using the Transfer Controlled (TFC) procedure when the network call attempt rate exceeds the processing capability of the STP. We find the following: (1) the success of the control depends critically on the rate at which TFC's are sent; (2) use of the TFC procedure in theevent of processor overload can provide reasonable call completion rates.

How do gut feelings feature in tutorial dialogues on diagnostic reasoning in GP traineeship?

PubMed

Stolper, C F; Van de Wiel, M W J; Hendriks, R H M; Van Royen, P; Van Bokhoven, M A; Van der Weijden, T; Dinant, G J

2015-05-01

Diagnostic reasoning is considered to be based on the interaction between analytical and non-analytical cognitive processes. Gut feelings, a specific form of non-analytical reasoning, play a substantial role in diagnostic reasoning by general practitioners (GPs) and may activate analytical reasoning. In GP traineeships in the Netherlands, trainees mostly see patients alone but regularly consult with their supervisors to discuss patients and problems, receive feedback, and improve their competencies. In the present study, we examined the discussions of supervisors and their trainees about diagnostic reasoning in these so-called tutorial dialogues and how gut feelings feature in these discussions. 17 tutorial dialogues focussing on diagnostic reasoning were video-recorded and transcribed and the protocols were analysed using a detailed bottom-up and iterative content analysis and coding procedure. The dialogues were segmented into quotes. Each quote received a content code and a participant code. The number of words per code was used as a unit of analysis to quantitatively compare the contributions to the dialogues made by supervisors and trainees, and the attention given to different topics. The dialogues were usually analytical reflections on a trainee's diagnostic reasoning. A hypothetico-deductive strategy was often used, by listing differential diagnoses and discussing what information guided the reasoning process and might confirm or exclude provisional hypotheses. Gut feelings were discussed in seven dialogues. They were used as a tool in diagnostic reasoning, inducing analytical reflection, sometimes on the entire diagnostic reasoning process. The emphasis in these tutorial dialogues was on analytical components of diagnostic reasoning. Discussing gut feelings in tutorial dialogues seems to be a good educational method to familiarize trainees with non-analytical reasoning. Supervisors need specialised knowledge about these aspects of diagnostic reasoning and how to deal with them in medical education.

Avian predators are less abundant during periodical cicada emergences, but why?

PubMed

Koenig, Walter D; Ries, Leslie; Olsen, V Beth K; Liebhold, Andrew M

2011-03-01

Despite a substantial resource pulse, numerous avian insectivores known to depredate periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) are detected less commonly during emergence years than in either the previous or following years. We used data on periodical cicada calls collected by volunteers conducting North American Breeding Bird Surveys within the range of cicada Brood X to test three hypotheses for this observation: lower detection rates could be caused by bird calls being obscured by cicada calls ("detectability" hypothesis), by birds avoiding areas with cicadas ("repel" hypothesis), or because bird abundances are generally lower during emergence years for some reason unrelated to the current emergence event ("true decline" hypothesis). We tested these hypotheses by comparing bird detections at stations coincident with calling cicadas vs. those without calling cicadas in the year prior to and during cicada emergences. At four distinct levels (stop, route, range, and season), parallel declines of birds in groups exposed and not exposed to cicada calls supported the true decline hypothesis. We discuss several potential mechanisms for this pattern, including the possibility that it is a consequence of the ecological and evolutionary interactions between predators of this extraordinary group of insects.

Nudges in a post-truth world

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Nudges—policy proposals informed by work in behavioural economics and psychology that are designed to lead to better decision-making or better behaviour—are controversial. Critics allege that they bypass our deliberative capacities, thereby undermining autonomy and responsible agency. In this paper, I identify a kind of nudge I call a nudge to reason, which make us more responsive to genuine evidence. I argue that at least some nudges to reason do not bypass our deliberative capacities. Instead, use of these nudges should be seen as appeals to mechanisms partially constitutive of these capacities, and therefore as benign (so far as autonomy and responsible agency are concerned). I sketch some concrete proposals for nudges to reason which are especially important given the apparent widespread resistance to evidence seen in recent political events. PMID:28526778

CNTRO: A Semantic Web Ontology for Temporal Relation Inferencing in Clinical Narratives.

PubMed

Tao, Cui; Wei, Wei-Qi; Solbrig, Harold R; Savova, Guergana; Chute, Christopher G

2010-11-13

Using Semantic-Web specifications to represent temporal information in clinical narratives is an important step for temporal reasoning and answering time-oriented queries. Existing temporal models are either not compatible with the powerful reasoning tools developed for the Semantic Web, or designed only for structured clinical data and therefore are not ready to be applied on natural-language-based clinical narrative reports directly. We have developed a Semantic-Web ontology which is called Clinical Narrative Temporal Relation ontology. Using this ontology, temporal information in clinical narratives can be represented as RDF (Resource Description Framework) triples. More temporal information and relations can then be inferred by Semantic-Web based reasoning tools. Experimental results show that this ontology can represent temporal information in real clinical narratives successfully.

Errors in dentistry: a call for apology.

PubMed

Schwartz, Barry

2005-01-01

Bad outcomes occur in dentistry and sometimes these are the results of dental errors. In both cases, this essay will argue that apologies are very important in maintaining a relationship with the patient that is based on trust and mutual respect. Nevertheless, apologies are often not forthcoming in dentistry for a number of reasons that deserve careful examination. In particular, the dentist's fear that an apology will increase the risk of legal harm will be critiqued. Ethical and psychological reasons for making an apology will be discussed, and strategies to assist clinicians in making an apology will be offered.

Are human beings humean robots?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Génova, Gonzalo; Quintanilla Navarro, Ignacio

2018-01-01

David Hume, the Scottish philosopher, conceives reason as the slave of the passions, which implies that human reason has predetermined objectives it cannot question. An essential element of an algorithm running on a computational machine (or Logical Computing Machine, as Alan Turing calls it) is its having a predetermined purpose: an algorithm cannot question its purpose, because it would cease to be an algorithm. Therefore, if self-determination is essential to human intelligence, then human beings are neither Humean beings, nor computational machines. We examine also some objections to the Turing Test as a model to understand human intelligence.

Mobile phone consultation for community health care in rural north India.

PubMed

Bali, Surya; Singh, Amar Jeet

2007-01-01

We conducted a study to ascertain the acceptability and feasibility of consultation by mobile phone in a rural area of northern India. The mobile phone number of a community physician was advertised to the general public and people were invited to telephone at any time for a medical consultation. Details of the calls received were recorded. During a seven-month study, 660 calls were received. The mean call duration was 2.7 min. Eighty percent of calls were made by men. Forty-eight percent of calls were made during office hours. A total of 417 (63%) calls were for seeking advice, 146 (22%) were for outpatient follow-up, 23 (4%) were for seeking appointments and the remaining 74 (11%) for other reasons. The most common problems were skin, respiratory, mental health and sexual problems. Of the 387 callers who were interviewed at follow-up, 302 (78%) stated that they had followed the advice provided. Of these, 91% found the advice very helpful in managing their health problems. About 96% of users wished to continue to use the service in future. The majority of calls made were of a primary care nature which could easily be dealt with by phone. The concept of using mobile phones for medical consultation seemed to be acceptable to people in rural Haryana.

State Event Models for the Formal Analysis of Human-Machine Interactions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Combefis, Sebastien; Giannakopoulou, Dimitra; Pecheur, Charles

2014-01-01

The work described in this paper was motivated by our experience with applying a framework for formal analysis of human-machine interactions (HMI) to a realistic model of an autopilot. The framework is built around a formally defined conformance relation called "fullcontrol" between an actual system and the mental model according to which the system is operated. Systems are well-designed if they can be described by relatively simple, full-control, mental models for their human operators. For this reason, our framework supports automated generation of minimal full-control mental models for HMI systems, where both the system and the mental models are described as labelled transition systems (LTS). The autopilot that we analysed has been developed in the NASA Ames HMI prototyping tool ADEPT. In this paper, we describe how we extended the models that our HMI analysis framework handles to allow adequate representation of ADEPT models. We then provide a property-preserving reduction from these extended models to LTSs, to enable application of our LTS-based formal analysis algorithms. Finally, we briefly discuss the analyses we were able to perform on the autopilot model with our extended framework.

Zebra finch mates use their forebrain song system in unlearned call communication.

PubMed

Ter Maat, Andries; Trost, Lisa; Sagunsky, Hannes; Seltmann, Susanne; Gahr, Manfred

2014-01-01

Unlearned calls are produced by all birds whereas learned songs are only found in three avian taxa, most notably in songbirds. The neural basis for song learning and production is formed by interconnected song nuclei: the song control system. In addition to song, zebra finches produce large numbers of soft, unlearned calls, among which "stack" calls are uttered frequently. To determine unequivocally the calls produced by each member of a group, we mounted miniature wireless microphones on each zebra finch. We find that group living paired males and females communicate using bilateral stack calling. To investigate the role of the song control system in call-based male female communication, we recorded the electrical activity in a premotor nucleus of the song control system in freely behaving male birds. The unique combination of acoustic monitoring together with wireless brain recording of individual zebra finches in groups shows that the neuronal activity of the song system correlates with the production of unlearned stack calls. The results suggest that the song system evolved from a brain circuit controlling simple unlearned calls to a system capable of producing acoustically rich, learned vocalizations.

Zebra Finch Mates Use Their Forebrain Song System in Unlearned Call Communication

PubMed Central

Ter Maat, Andries; Trost, Lisa; Sagunsky, Hannes; Seltmann, Susanne; Gahr, Manfred

2014-01-01

Unlearned calls are produced by all birds whereas learned songs are only found in three avian taxa, most notably in songbirds. The neural basis for song learning and production is formed by interconnected song nuclei: the song control system. In addition to song, zebra finches produce large numbers of soft, unlearned calls, among which “stack” calls are uttered frequently. To determine unequivocally the calls produced by each member of a group, we mounted miniature wireless microphones on each zebra finch. We find that group living paired males and females communicate using bilateral stack calling. To investigate the role of the song control system in call-based male female communication, we recorded the electrical activity in a premotor nucleus of the song control system in freely behaving male birds. The unique combination of acoustic monitoring together with wireless brain recording of individual zebra finches in groups shows that the neuronal activity of the song system correlates with the production of unlearned stack calls. The results suggest that the song system evolved from a brain circuit controlling simple unlearned calls to a system capable of producing acoustically rich, learned vocalizations. PMID:25313846

Inferential reasoning by exclusion in great apes, lesser apes, and spider monkeys.

PubMed

Hill, Andrew; Collier-Baker, Emma; Suddendorf, Thomas

2011-02-01

Using the cups task, in which subjects are presented with limited visual or auditory information that can be used to deduce the location of a hidden reward, Call (2004) found prima facie evidence of inferential reasoning by exclusion in several great ape species. One bonobo (Pan paniscus) and two gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) appeared to make such inferences in both the visual and auditory domains. However, common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) were successful only in the visual domain, and Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in neither. The present research built on this paradigm, and Experiment 1 yielded prima facie evidence of inference by exclusion in both domains for two common chimpanzees, and in the visual domain for two Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii). Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated that two specific associative learning explanations could not readily account for these results. Because an important focus of the program of research was to assess the cognitive capacities of lesser apes (family Hylobatidae), we modified Call's original procedures to better suit their attentional and dispositional characteristics. In Experiment 1, testing was also attempted with three gibbon genera (Symphalangus, Nomascus, Hylobates), but none of the subjects completed the standard task. Further testing of three siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) and a spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) using a faster method yielded prima facie evidence of inferential reasoning by exclusion in the visual domain among the siamangs (Experiment 4).

The effect of multiple external representations (MERs) worksheets toward complex system reasoning achievement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumarno; Ibrahim, M.; Supardi, Z. A. I.

2018-03-01

The application of a systems approach to assessing biological systems provides hope for a coherent understanding of cell dynamics patterns and their relationship to plant life. This action required the reasoning about complex systems. In other sides, there were a lot of researchers who provided the proof about the instructional successions. They involved the multiple external representations which improved the biological learning. The researcher conducted an investigation using one shoot case study design which involved 30 students in proving that the MERs worksheets could affect the student's achievement of reasoning about complex system. The data had been collected based on test of reasoning about complex system and student's identification result who worked through MERs. The result showed that only partially students could achieve reasoning about system complex, but their MERs skill could support their reasoning ability of complex system. This study could bring a new hope to develop the MERs worksheet as a tool to facilitate the reasoning about complex system.

Temporal abstraction and inductive logic programming for arrhythmia recognition from electrocardiograms.

PubMed

Carrault, G; Cordier, M-O; Quiniou, R; Wang, F

2003-07-01

This paper proposes a novel approach to cardiac arrhythmia recognition from electrocardiograms (ECGs). ECGs record the electrical activity of the heart and are used to diagnose many heart disorders. The numerical ECG is first temporally abstracted into series of time-stamped events. Temporal abstraction makes use of artificial neural networks to extract interesting waves and their features from the input signals. A temporal reasoner called a chronicle recogniser processes such series in order to discover temporal patterns called chronicles which can be related to cardiac arrhythmias. Generally, it is difficult to elicit an accurate set of chronicles from a doctor. Thus, we propose to learn automatically from symbolic ECG examples the chronicles discriminating the arrhythmias belonging to some specific subset. Since temporal relationships are of major importance, inductive logic programming (ILP) is the tool of choice as it enables first-order relational learning. The approach has been evaluated on real ECGs taken from the MIT-BIH database. The performance of the different modules as well as the efficiency of the whole system is presented. The results are rather good and demonstrate that integrating numerical techniques for low level perception and symbolic techniques for high level classification is very valuable.

Teaching Geophysics with a Vertical-Component Seismometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Wijk, Kasper; Channel, Ted; Viskupic, Karen; Smith, Martin L.

2013-12-01

Earthquakes are some of the more dramatic expressions of the dynamics of our planet. The sudden release of stress built up slowly by tectonic or volcanic processes often has far-reaching consequences, and can be measured (in classrooms) around the world. This is one reason why designing and building seismometers has been a popular activity, , 2 and why different versions of "Seismometer in Schools" projects thrive in the United States, Australia, and Europe. We present a cheap, robust, and easy-to-build seismometer—called the TC1 —to measure seismic displacements in the vertical direction. Its components are easy to obtain and assemble, yet the resulting instrument is accurate enough to record earthquakes from around the globe. The parts list and building instructions of the TC1 seismometer are freely available online. Alternatively, a complete kit can be purchased for around US300. Assembling the system naturally introduces students to a number of concepts in physics and engineering, while upon completion seismic recordings trigger discussions about the dynamics and internal structure of the Earth. The discussions are fostered by service learning and shared in the network of TC1s called the Z-NET.

Using comparative genome analysis to identify problems in annotated microbial genomes.

PubMed

Poptsova, Maria S; Gogarten, J Peter

2010-07-01

Genome annotation is a tedious task that is mostly done by automated methods; however, the accuracy of these approaches has been questioned since the beginning of the sequencing era. Genome annotation is a multilevel process, and errors can emerge at different stages: during sequencing, as a result of gene-calling procedures, and in the process of assigning gene functions. Missed or wrongly annotated genes differentially impact different types of analyses. Here we discuss and demonstrate how the methods of comparative genome analysis can refine annotations by locating missing orthologues. We also discuss possible reasons for errors and show that the second-generation annotation systems, which combine multiple gene-calling programs with similarity-based methods, perform much better than the first annotation tools. Since old errors may propagate to the newly sequenced genomes, we emphasize that the problem of continuously updating popular public databases is an urgent and unresolved one. Due to the progress in genome-sequencing technologies, automated annotation techniques will remain the main approach in the future. Researchers need to be aware of the existing errors in the annotation of even well-studied genomes, such as Escherichia coli, and consider additional quality control for their results.

Yoruba customs and beliefs pertaining to twins.

PubMed

Leroy, Fernand; Olaleye-Oruene, Taiwo; Koeppen-Schomerus, Gesina; Bryan, Elizabeth

2002-04-01

The Yoruba are an important ethnic group mainly occupying Southwestern Nigeria. Mainly for genetic reasons, this very large tribe happens to present the highest dizygotic twinning rate in the world (4.4 % of all maternities). The high perinatal mortality rate associated with such pregnancies has contributed to the integration of a special twin belief system within the African traditional religion of this tribe. The latter is based on the concept of a supreme deity called Olodumare or Olorun, assisted by a series of secondary gods (Orisha) while Yoruba religion also involves immortality and reincarnation of the soul based on the animistic cult of ancestors. Twins are therefore given special names and believed to detain special preternatural powers. In keeping with their refined artistic tradition, the Yoruba have produced numerous wooden statuettes called Ibejis that represent the souls of deceased newborn twins and are involved in elaborate rituals. Among Yoruba traditional beliefs and lore some twin-related themes are represented which are also found in other parts of the world. Basic features of the original Yoruba beliefs have found their way into the religious traditions of descendants of African slaves imported in the West Indies and in South America.

Adaptive control with an expert system based supervisory level. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, Gerald A.

1991-01-01

Adaptive control is presently one of the methods available which may be used to control plants with poorly modelled dynamics or time varying dynamics. Although many variations of adaptive controllers exist, a common characteristic of all adaptive control schemes, is that input/output measurements from the plant are used to adjust a control law in an on-line fashion. Ideally the adjustment mechanism of the adaptive controller is able to learn enough about the dynamics of the plant from input/output measurements to effectively control the plant. In practice, problems such as measurement noise, controller saturation, and incorrect model order, to name a few, may prevent proper adjustment of the controller and poor performance or instability result. In this work we set out to avoid the inadequacies of procedurally implemented safety nets, by introducing a two level control scheme in which an expert system based 'supervisor' at the upper level provides all the safety net functions for an adaptive controller at the lower level. The expert system is based on a shell called IPEX, (Interactive Process EXpert), that we developed specifically for the diagnosis and treatment of dynamic systems. Some of the more important functions that the IPEX system provides are: (1) temporal reasoning; (2) planning of diagnostic activities; and (3) interactive diagnosis. Also, because knowledge and control logic are separate, the incorporation of new diagnostic and treatment knowledge is relatively simple. We note that the flexibility available in the system to express diagnostic and treatment knowledge, allows much greater functionality than could ever be reasonably expected from procedural implementations of safety nets. The remainder of this chapter is divided into three sections. In section 1.1 we give a detailed review of the literature in the area of supervisory systems for adaptive controllers. In particular, we describe the evolution of safety nets from simple ad hoc techniques, up to the use of expert systems for more advanced supervision capabilities.

Performance Evaluation and Parameter Identification on DROID III

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Plumb, Julianna J.

2011-01-01

The DROID III project consisted of two main parts. The former, performance evaluation, focused on the performance characteristics of the aircraft such as lift to drag ratio, thrust required for level flight, and rate of climb. The latter, parameter identification, focused on finding the aerodynamic coefficients for the aircraft using a system that creates a mathematical model to match the flight data of doublet maneuvers and the aircraft s response. Both portions of the project called for flight testing and that data is now available on account of this project. The conclusion of the project is that the performance evaluation data is well-within desired standards but could be improved with a thrust model, and that parameter identification is still in need of more data processing but seems to produce reasonable results thus far.

[Difficulty influence factors of dental caries clinical treatment].

PubMed

Xuedong, Zhou; Junqi, Ling; Jingping, Liang; Jiyao, Li; Lei, Cheng; Qing, Yu; Yumei, Niu; Bin, Guo; Hui, Chen

2017-02-01

Dental caries is a major disease that threaten human's oral healthy severely with the characteristics of high incidence, low rate of treatment and high rate of retreatment. At present, restorative treatment remains the main method for caries treatment. With the development of the Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry (MICD), reasonable application of various treatment technologies, maximum preservation of tooth tissues and realizing the maximization of treatment effects become problems that call for immediate solution in dental clinics. In addition, there still exist a large number of old restorations that need standard retreatments. Here, some difficulty influence factors of dental caries clinical treatment such as systemic and oral factors, individual caries susceptibility, treatment technologies and materials, retreatment methods of old restorations and technique sensitivity are analyzed, and corresponding processing strategies are also put forward.

Partial Pressures of Te2 and Thermodynamic Properties of Ga-Te System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Su, Ching-Hua; Curreri, Peter A. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The partial pressures of Te2 in equilibrium with Ga(1-x)Te(x) samples were measured by optical absorption technique from 450 to 1100 C for compositions, x, between 0.333 and 0.612. To establish the relationship between the partial pressure of Te, and the measured optical absorbance, the calibration runs of a pure Te sample were also conducted to determine the Beer's Law constants. The partial pressures of Te2 in equilibrium with the GaTe(s) and Ga2Te3(s)compounds, or the so-called three-phase curves, were established. These partial pressure data imply the existence of the Ga3Te4(s) compound. From the partial pressures of Te2 over the Ga-Te melts, partial molar enthalpy and entropy of mixing for Te were derived and they agree reasonable well with the published data. The activities of Te in the Ga-Te melts were also derived from the measured partial pressures of Te2. These data agree well with most of the previous results. The possible reason for the high activity of Te measured for x less than 0.60 is discussed.

An experimental study of an explosively driven flat plate launcher

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rae, Philip; Haroz, Erik; Armstrong, Chris; Perry, Lee; M Division Team

2017-06-01

For some upcoming experiments it is desired to impact a large explosive assembly with one or more moderate diameter flat metal plates traveling at high velocity (2-3 km s-1). The time of arrival of these plates will need to carefully controlled and delayed (i.e. the time(s) of arrival known to approximately a microsecond). For this reason, producing a flyer plate from more traditional gun assemblies is not possible. Previous researchers have demonstrated the ability to throw reasonably flat metal flyers from the so-called Forest flyer geometry. The defining characteristics of this design are a carefully controlled reduction in explosive area from a larger explosive plane-wave-lens and booster pad to a smaller flyer plate to improve the planarity of the drive available and an air gap between the explosive booster and the plate to reduce the peak tensile stresses generated in the plate to suppress spalling. This experimental series comprised a number of different design variants and plate and explosive drive materials. The aim was to calibrate a predictive computational modeling capability on this kind of system in preparation for later more radical design ideas best tested in a computer before undertaking the expensive business of construction.

Accounting for reasonableness: Exploring the personal internal framework affecting decisions about cancer drug funding.

PubMed

Sinclair, Shane; Hagen, Neil A; Chambers, Carole; Manns, Braden; Simon, Anita; Browman, George P

2008-05-01

Drug decision-makers are involved in developing and implementing policy, procedure and processes to support health resource allocation regarding drug treatment formularies. A variety of approaches to decision-making, including formal decision-making frameworks, have been developed to support transparent and fair priority setting. Recently, a decision tool, 'The 6-STEPPPs Tool', was developed to assist in making decisions about new cancer drugs within the public health care system. We conducted a qualitative study, utilizing focus groups and participant observation, in order to investigate the internal frameworks that supported and challenged individual participants as they applied this decision tool within a multi-stakeholder decision process. We discovered that health care resource allocation engaged not only the minds of decision-makers but profoundly called on the often conflicting values of the heart. Objective decision-making frameworks for new drug therapies need to consider the subjective internal frameworks of decision-makers that affect decisions. Understanding the very human, internal turmoil experienced by individuals involved in health care resource allocation, sheds additional insight into how to account for reasonableness and how to better support difficult decisions through transparent, values-based resource allocation policy, procedures and processes.

Demographic characteristics, call details and psychosocial support needs of the family/friends of someone diagnosed with cancer who access Australian Cancer Council telephone information and support services.

PubMed

Heckel, Leila; Fennell, Kate M; Mohebbi, Mohammadreza; Byrnes, Monica; Livingston, Patricia M

2017-06-01

Community-based cancer organizations provide telephone-based information and support services to assist people diagnosed with cancer and their family/friends. We investigated the demographic characteristics and psychosocial support needs of family/friends who contacted Australian Cancer Council 13 11 20 information and support helplines. Data collected on 42,892 family/friends who contacted a 13 11 20 service across Australia from January 2010 to December 2012 were analyzed. Chi-square analysis was used to examine associations between caller groups and reasons for calling, logistic regression to examine age and gender interaction effects. The majority of calls received were from women (81%) of middle- (40%) and high-socio-economic backgrounds (41%), aged 40-59 years (46%); 52% phoned for information on cancer diagnosis (including early detection, risk factors), 22% on treatment/disease management, and 26% phoned seeking psychological/emotional support. Information on a diagnosis was significantly more often the reason older males called, compared to female callers of any age. Overall, 32% found out about the service through Cancer Council resources or events, 20% from the media, 18% from the internet; 11% from health professionals. Family/friends of persons diagnosed with cancer have specific information and support needs. This study identifies groups of family/friends to whom the promotion of this service could be targeted. Within Australia and internationally, clinicians and oncology nurses as well as allied health professionals can provide an important role in increasing access to cancer telephone support services to ensure the needs of the family and friends of people affected by cancer are being met. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relationships between Conceptual Knowledge and Reasoning about Systems: Implications for Fostering Systems Thinking in Secondary Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyons, Cheryl

Reasoning about systems is necessary for understanding many modern issues that face society and is important for future scientists and all citizens. Systems thinking may allow students to make connections and identify common themes between seemingly different situations and phenomena, and is relevant to the focus on cross-cutting concepts in science emphasized in the Framework for K-12 Science Education Standards (NRC, 2011) and Next Generation Science Standards (Achieve, 2013). At the same time, there is emerging empirical and theoretical support in science education for fostering the development of science reasoning alongside content understanding, as opposed to the perspective that reasoning occurs after a certain threshold of content mastery has been achieved. However, existing research on systems thinking has treated this reasoning as a set of universal skills and neglected the role of content, or has conceptualized a progression in which content mastery precedes systems reasoning without consideration of rudimentary forms of reasoning. This study focused on describing individual variations in the ways that 8th and 9th grade students reason about changes in a system over time to identify characteristics of systems and pre-systems thinking and to investigate the relationship between this reasoning and the students' application of content. This study found a generally linear relationship between content and reasoning, with interesting deviations from this trend among students who demonstrated at least a moderate level of content understanding but had not yet achieved mastery. Four profiles of this relationship emerged which warrant different instructional support. Implications are presented for science educators and developers of curricula and assessments. This includes recommendations for learning objectives, the design of written curriculum materials, and the development of assessments that aim to promote and measure reasoning about systems in science.

16 CFR 680.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... a form that can be electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that...-out under the Act, by a single method, such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt...

16 CFR 680.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... a form that can be electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that...-out under the Act, by a single method, such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt...

16 CFR 680.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... a form that can be electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that...-out under the Act, by a single method, such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt...

16 CFR 680.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... a form that can be electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that...-out under the Act, by a single method, such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt...

16 CFR 680.25 - Reasonable and simple methods of opting out.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... a form that can be electronically mailed or processed at an Internet Web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; (iv) Providing a toll-free telephone number that...-out under the Act, by a single method, such as by calling a single toll-free telephone number. (2) Opt...

Learning to Leverage Student Thinking: What Novice Approximations Teach Us about Ambitious Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singer-Gabella, Marcy; Stengel, Barbara; Shahan, Emily; Kim, Min-Joung

2016-01-01

Central to ambitious teaching is a constellation of practices we have come to call "leveraging student thinking." In leveraging, teachers position students' understanding and reasoning as a central means to drive learning forward. While leveraging typically is described as a feature of mature practice, in this article we examine…

Talking about Code: Integrating Pedagogical Code Reviews into Early Computing Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hundhausen, Christopher D.; Agrawal, Anukrati; Agarwal, Pawan

2013-01-01

Given the increasing importance of soft skills in the computing profession, there is good reason to provide students withmore opportunities to learn and practice those skills in undergraduate computing courses. Toward that end, we have developed an active learning approach for computing education called the "Pedagogical Code Review"…

Moving from Recitation to Open-Format Literature Discussion in Chinese Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Yahua; Zhang, Jie; Li, Hong; Anderson, Richard; Ding, Fengjiao; Nguyen-Jahiel, Kim; Shu, Hua; Wu, Xinchun

2015-01-01

A study involving 106 fourth graders and two teachers from a school in Beijing investigated the impact of a peer-led, open-format discussion approach, called collaborative reasoning (CR), on students' reading comprehension and teacher's professional learning. Mixed results of effects of CR on children's reading comprehension were found. After…

Marketisation of Education: Marketing, Rhetoric and Reality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newman, Stephen; Jahdi, Khosro

2009-01-01

Further and higher education have witnessed something of a paradigm shift in recent years. This article aims to examine the reasons behind, and the possible impact on, academic staff and students of one aspect of the so-called marketisation of education--namely, the increased importance of institutional marketing. Aspects of marketing theory are…

Education for Critical Thinking: Can It Be Non-Indoctrinative?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cuypers, Stefaan E.; Haji, Ishtiyaque

2006-01-01

An ideal of education is to ensure that our children develop into autonomous critical thinkers. The "indoctrination objection", however, calls into question whether education, aimed at cultivating autonomous critical thinkers, is possible. The core of the concern is that since the young child lacks even modest capacities for assessing reasons, the…

The importance of archiving baseline wilderness data

Treesearch

David N. Cole

2007-01-01

Baseline wilderness data are of considerable importance for several reasons. One of the primary values of wilderness is as a reference that contrasts with those lands where humans dominate the landscape. Leopold (1941) called wilderness "a base-datum of normality, a picture of how healthy land maintains itself." To realize this value, baseline data on...

Preparing Novice History Teachers to Meet Students' Literacy Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nokes, Jeffery D.

2010-01-01

In spite of calls for increased literacy instruction in secondary content classes, there appears to be little change in practice. One reason for this may be that content area literacy courses inadequately prepared teachers to teach literacy skills specific to their content area. This article describes a program that embeds content area literacy…