Reasoning by Analogy in a Multi-Level System Architecture for the Design of Mechanisms

Since the first attempts to integrate AI technology and engineering design nearly two decades ago, few expert systems have been shown to demonstrate sufficient reasoning capabilities to solve real-world design problems. The complex nature of design, the lack of understanding of the design process, and the limitations of current expert system technology have all been shown to have adverse effects on the maturity of this research area. Therefore, our direction in this research concentrates on understanding the design process, investigating a novel area of research focusing on creative design, and incorporating the results into a system model feasible for production use. The model presented is based on the concept of reusing past experience and existing cases to solve future design problems in different application domains. The resulting system performs its task by reasoning and learning by ANALOGY while utilizing the Logical-Building Block approach to design. Our method demonstrates the use of a case-based reasoner in conjunction with other existing techniques, such as heuristic reasoning and first principle reasoning, to produce a system with three levels of reasoning strategies. Such a system will exhibit a learning capability by which its performance is enhanced with repeated use. A prototype has been implemented and tested for the synthesis of various mechanisms

Central Bank of Syria and its Role in the Syrian Economy

Syria as a developing country suffered from backwardness of monetary policy and dependence of central bank to government, so monetary authority couldn\u27t attain final aims of monetary policy and on the other hand couldn\u27t stimulate Syrian economy to attain real growth. But in the recent years Syrian government tends to reform the monetary policy and give some independence to central bank of Syria through modernizing current laws and regulations

Detection of a highly prevalent and potentially virulent strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from nosocomial infections in a medical center

BACKGROUND: We correlated genotypes, virulence factors and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of nosocomially identified Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from clinical specimens to those of environmental isolates encountered in the same units of a medical center. Antibiotic susceptibility testing, RAPD analysis and detection of enzymatic activities of extracellular virulence factors, were done on these isolates. RESULTS: Data showed that most of the clinical and environmental isolates were susceptible to tested antimicrobial agents. RAPD analysis determined the presence of 31 genotypes, with genotype 1 detected in 42% of the clinical isolates and 43% of the environmental isolates. Enzymatic activity testing showed that genotype 1 produced all virulence factors tested for. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our data demonstrated the predominant prevalence of a potentially virulent P. aeruginosa genotype, circulating in a number of units of the medical center and emphasize the need to reinforce infection control measures

Customer Awareness and Satisfaction of Islamic Retail Products in Kuwait

The market for Islamic banking has grown rapidly over the past few years, and this high growth is expected to continue for the near future in Kuwait Banking Industry. At the same time the competition market is being reshaped, with more Islamic financial services institutions than before entering the market. Within this competitive environment customers have been identified as the most important foundational pillar for business sustainability.  Using a questionnaire distributed to 150 Kuwaiti client deals with Islamic banks, the study aimed to examine the factors affecting Kuwaiti customers in the choice of the Islamic Bank, which they deal with, and to study the level of awareness customers have on the Islamic principles that stand behind each retail service provided by the Kuwaiti Islamic Banks. The study also examined the level of satisfaction of services provided by these banks. The study found the twenty three factors investigated by the study were very important in choosing Islamic banks in Kuwait. One Islamic factor only (Bank reputation in regards of abidance with Sharia principles) was one of the first five factors but it took last place. This mean that Kuwaiti customers seek more than abidance by sharia low, they want the same things customers of traditional banks requests from their bank. Kuwaiti customers are aware of Tawaroq and Islamic credit cards, but they aren’t fully aware of Mudarabah, Murabaha, Musharaka and Ijara. The study also found that in spite of a relatively high degree of satisfaction by Kuwaiti customers in general, they are still not fully satisfied with some areas related to Kuwaiti Islamic banks including adherence to Shariah principles. Keywords: Satisfaction, Customer Awareness, Islamic Banks, Islamic Shariah, Mudarabah, Murabaha, Musharaka and Ijara

Perceptions of the role of diversional therapy within nursing homes by directors of nursing

Provision of leisure and recreational services has the ability to significantly contribute to the quality of life of older adults living in residential settings including those residents living in nursing homes. Therefore diversional therapy services should be seen as a vital part of these facilities. Currently, there is a feeling within the diversional therapy profession that there is a lack of understanding ofthe true role of the diversional therapist within various health care facilities, including nursing homes. The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of the role of the diversional therapist within nursing homes by directors of nursing. Qualitative research methods were used with the aim of gaining the true perceptions that directors of nursing have on various areas of diversional therapy practice. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with directors of nursing at various nursing homes in the Sydney area. The interview data suggests that although the directors of nursing were generally supportive of diversional therapy, there is clearly a lack of understanding on behalf of the directors of nursing on various areas of diversional therapy practice, including roles, skills, training and education of a diversional therapist. Other issues were revealed in the interviews and are also of importance in relation to the diversional therapy profession such as suitability of the name diversional therapy, employment conditions and other professional issues affecting diversional therapy practice. This study aims to increase diversional therapists knowledge in relation to the perceived roles that directors of nursing hold on the diversional therapy profession and therefore to give the diversional therapy profession some kind of base line on which to focus their educational programs on the diversional therapy profession. Also, to increase the documented research base on diversional therapy practice and associated issues

Frequency of conjugative transfer of plasmid-encoded ISEcp1 - blaCTX-M-15 and aac(6')-lb-cr genes in Enterobacteriaceae at a tertiary care center in Lebanon - role of transferases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The frequency of transfer of genes encoding resistance to antimicrobial agents was determined by conjugation in ESBL-producing and/or fluoroquinolone or aminoglycoside resistant Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates at a tertiary care center in Lebanon. In addition, the role of <it>tra </it>genes encoding transferases in mediating conjugation was assessed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Conjugation experiments were done on 53 ESBL-producing and/or fluoroquinolone resistant <it>E. coli </it>and <it>K. pneumoniae </it>and ESBL-producing <it>S. sonnei </it>isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing on parent and transconjugant isolates, and PCR amplifications on plasmid extracts of the resistance-encoding genes: <it>bla</it>_CTX-M-15with the <it>ISEcp1 </it>insertion sequence, the <it>aac(6')-lb-cr </it>and <it>qnr</it>S genes, as well as <it>tra </it>encoding transferases genes were done. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed to demonstrate whether conjugative isolates are clonal and whether they are linked epidemiologically to a particular source.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Antimicrobial susceptibility testing on transconjugants revealed that 26 out of 53 (49%) ESBL-producing <it>Enterobacteriaceae </it>were able to transfer antimicrobial resistance to the recipients. Transfer of high-level resistance to the transconjugants encoded by the <it>bla</it>_CTX-M-15gene downstream the <it>ISEcp1 </it>insertion sequence against 3rd generation cephalosporins, and of low-level resistance against ciprofloxacin, and variable levels of resistance against aminoglycosides encoded by <it>aac(6')-lb-cr </it>gene, were observed in transconjugants. <it>tra </it>encoding transferase genes were detected exclusively in conjugative isolates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, the frequency of transfer of antimicrobial resistance in non clonal <it>Enterobacteriaceae </it>at the tertiary care center by conjugation was 49%. Conjugation occurred in isolates expressing the <it>tra </it>encoding transferase genes. Multiple conjugative strains harboring the plasmid encoded antimicrobial resistant genes were circulating in the medical center. Molecular epidemiology analysis showed that conjugative isolates are neither clonal nor linked to a particular site and transfer of antimicrobial resistance is by horizontal transfer of plasmids.</p

Reflection of Vitamins and Mineral Deficiency in General Health Condition: Article Review

Vitamins are organic substances that humans require in trace amounts. Each plays a distinct part in preserving physical well-being. To increase their supply, some people require supplements; however, this is dependent on their lifestyle and general health. Vitamins are necessary nutrients of the body\u27s healthy growth and operation. Vitamins are divided into two classes:&nbsp; fat and water soluble. Inorganic elements, known as minerals, are derived from food and cannot be produced by the body. Collecting all types of vitamins in a study their sources, functions, excess and deficiency. They have an effective role in the body’s metabolism and immunity and in combating most diseases that affect the human body. Balancing them in moderate concentrations in the human body protects against the risk of contracting many diseases that affect adults and children. Therefore, every individual must take adequate food. It contains all types of vitamins, and in case of deficiency, it is compensated with manufactured vitamins

Genotypes and serotype distribution of macrolide resistant invasive and non- invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Lebanon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study determined macrolide resistance genotypes in clinical isolates of <it>Streptococcus pneumoniae </it>from multiple medical centers in Lebanon and assessed the serotype distribution in relation to these mechanism(s) of resistance and the source of isolate recovery.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty four macrolide resistant and 21 macrolide susceptible <it>S. pneumoniae </it>clinical isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility according to CLSI guidelines (2008) and underwent molecular characterization. Serotyping of these isolates was performed by Multiplex PCR-based serotype deduction using CDC protocols. PCR amplification of macrolide resistant <it>erm </it>(encoding methylase) and <it>mef </it>(encoding macrolide efflux pump protein) genes was carried out.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 44 isolates resistant to erythromycin, 35 were resistant to penicillin and 18 to ceftriaxone. Examination of 44 macrolide resistant isolates by PCR showed that 16 isolates harbored the <it>erm</it>(B) gene, 8 isolates harbored the <it>mef </it>gene, and 14 isolates harbored both the <it>erm</it>(B) and <it>mef </it>genes. There was no amplification by PCR of the <it>erm</it>(B) or <it>mef </it>genes in 6 isolates. Seven different capsular serotypes 2, 9V/9A,12F, 14,19A, 19F, and 23, were detected by multiplex PCR serotype deduction in 35 of 44 macrolide resistant isolates, with 19F being the most prevalent serotype. With the exception of serotype 2, all serotypes were invasive. Isolates belonging to the invasive serotypes 14 and 19F harbored both <it>erm</it>(B) and <it>mef </it>genes. Nine of the 44 macrolide resistant isolates were non-serotypable by our protocols.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Macrolide resistance in <it>S. pneumoniae </it>in Lebanon is mainly through target site modification but is also mediated through efflux pumps, with serotype 19F having dual resistance and being the most prevalent and invasive.</p