Using decision-tree classifier systems to extract knowledge from databases

One difficulty in applying artificial intelligence techniques to the solution of real world problems is that the development and maintenance of many AI systems, such as those used in diagnostics, require large amounts of human resources. At the same time, databases frequently exist which contain information about the process(es) of interest. Recently, efforts to reduce development and maintenance costs of AI systems have focused on using machine learning techniques to extract knowledge from existing databases. Research is described in the area of knowledge extraction using a class of machine learning techniques called decision-tree classifier systems. Results of this research suggest ways of performing knowledge extraction which may be applied in numerous situations. In addition, a measurement called the concept strength metric (CSM) is described which can be used to determine how well the resulting decision tree can differentiate between the concepts it has learned. The CSM can be used to determine whether or not additional knowledge needs to be extracted from the database. An experiment involving real world data is presented to illustrate the concepts described

Strategies for adding adaptive learning mechanisms to rule-based diagnostic expert systems

Rule-based diagnostic expert systems can be used to perform many of the diagnostic chores necessary in today's complex space systems. These expert systems typically take a set of symptoms as input and produce diagnostic advice as output. The primary objective of such expert systems is to provide accurate and comprehensive advice which can be used to help return the space system in question to nominal operation. The development and maintenance of diagnostic expert systems is time and labor intensive since the services of both knowledge engineer(s) and domain expert(s) are required. The use of adaptive learning mechanisms to increment evaluate and refine rules promises to reduce both time and labor costs associated with such systems. This paper describes the basic adaptive learning mechanisms of strengthening, weakening, generalization, discrimination, and discovery. Next basic strategies are discussed for adding these learning mechanisms to rule-based diagnostic expert systems. These strategies support the incremental evaluation and refinement of rules in the knowledge base by comparing the set of advice given by the expert system (A) with the correct diagnosis (C). Techniques are described for selecting those rules in the in the knowledge base which should participate in adaptive learning. The strategies presented may be used with a wide variety of learning algorithms. Further, these strategies are applicable to a large number of rule-based diagnostic expert systems. They may be used to provide either immediate or deferred updating of the knowledge base

Examining the relationship between loyalty and place attachment in an urban park setting

The relationship between place attachment and loyalty has been researched in a variety of recreation and tourism contexts. This study expands upon the existing literature by examining the relationship between place attachment and behavior loyalty within an urban park setting. Specifically, the relationship between the place attachment dimensions of place identity, place dependence, and social bonding with behavioral loyalty, measured by park use frequency and proportion of use in relation to other settings. Two predictive models were tested: the first examined the influence of place attachment dimensions on loyalty as tested in previous research. The second model explored the influence of loyalty on the place attachment dimension, which had been alluded to in previous studies. The data, collected from 405 participants at eight urban parks in Manhattan Beach, California, was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Contradicting expectations, results of the study found no significant structural paths in the first model with place attachment dimensions predicting loyalty. Interestingly, the second model with behavioral loyalty predicting place attachment indicated significant relationships between all constructs. The findings of the study indicate that for an urban park setting, frequent use of specific parks contributes to stronger place attachment

The Elastic Photoproduction of Neutral Mesons at Helium

Abstract Not Provided

Foot and Mouth Epidemic Reduces Cases of Human Cryptosporidiosis in Scotland.

In Scotland, rates of cryptosporidiosis infection in humans peak during the spring, a peak that is coincident with the peak in rates of infection in farm animals (during lambing and calving time). Here we show that, during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in 2001, there was a significant reduction in human cases of cryptosporidiosis infection in southern Scotland, where FMD was present, whereas, in the rest of Scotland, there was a reduction in cases that was not significant. We associate the reduction in human cases of cryptosporidiosis infection with the reduction in the number of young farm animals, together with restrictions on movement of both farm animals and humans, during the outbreak of FMD in 2001. We further show that, during 2002, there was recovery in the rate of cryptosporidiosis infection in humans throughout Scotland, particularly in the FMD-infected area, but that rates of infection remained lower, though not significantly, than pre-2001 levels

A New Pathway for the Preparation of Highly Qualified Teachers: The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

This article reports on the development and initial implementation of a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, an accelerated graduate program that encourages and scaffolds individuals with existing disciplinary expertise in entering the teaching profession. First, the context for developing the program is outlined. Next, the unique structure of the 15-month program, which consists of three blocks, is described. Expectations about students are then shared, quality control features of the program are highlighted, and the lessons we learned about program development and implementation are detailed. Finally, thoughts about the future of this program and others of its type are shared based upon our experience

Parametric Amplification and Back-Action Noise Squeezing by a Qubit-Coupled Nanoresonator

We demonstrate the parametric amplification and noise squeezing of nanomechanical motion utilizing dispersive coupling to a Cooper-pair box qubit. By modulating the qubit bias and resulting mechanical resonance shift, we achieve gain of 30 dB and noise squeezing of 4 dB. This qubit-mediated effect is 3000 times more effective than that resulting from the weak nonlinearity of capacitance to a nearby electrode. This technique may be used to prepare nanomechanical squeezed states

Effects of morinda citrifolia (noni) and diet complexity on growth performance in weanling pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of concentration (0, 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0%) of Morinda citrifolia (no-ni; Morinda Agricultural Products, Orem, UT) and diet complexity in weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, 210 pigs (initially 13.4 lb) were used in a 35-d growth assay; there were 7 pigs per pen and 6 pens per treatment. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based, and lysine concentrations were 1.8% for d 0 to 7, 1.6% for d 7 to 21, and 1.4% for d 21 to 35 with feed and water con-sumed on an ad libitum basis. Increasing the concentration of noni in the diet from 0 to 3% had no effects on pellet durability index (PDI) for the d 0 to 7 and 7 to 21 diets. Average daily gain (quadratic effect, P < 0.03) and F/G (quadratic effect, P < 0.10) for d 0 to 7 and F/G for d 0 to 21 (quadratic effect, P < 0.04) improved as noni concentration in the diet was increased from 0 to 0.75%. However, no treatment effects were observed overall (d 0 to 35). For Exp. 2, 168 pigs (initially 13.9 lb) were used in a 35-d growth assay; there were 6 pigs per pen and 7 pens per treatment. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of diet formulation (simple vs. complex) and noni addition (0 vs. 3%). Simple diets had the same minimum nutrient specifications as complex diets but had no added lactose or spray-dried animal plasma for d 0 to 7 and only 10% added whey for d 7 to 21. Pelleting data indicated improved PDI with no additional energy inputs when noni was added to the simple diets (for d 21 to 35). Pigs fed simple diets had lower ADG (P < 0.06) for d 0 to 7 and lower ADG and ADFI (P < 0.06) for d 0 to 21 than pigs fed complex diets. During d 0 to 35 for ADG and d 0 to 21 for F/G, addition of noni to the simple diets had negative effects (diet complexity × noni interaction, P < 0.02). In conclusion, adding 0.75 to 3% noni to complex diets improved growth performance early in a titration experiment but had negative effects when added to the simple diet formulations used in a second experiment

Agricultural Planning in Thailand, Final Report

The primary purpose of the Agricultural Planning Project (APP) was to strengthen the capabilities of Thailand\u27s Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) to carry out policy advisory, problem identification and analysis, planning, data management, and integrated project preparation functions. The assistance was designed to increase the OAE\u27s capability to assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) to more effectively plan and administer its resources to achieve specific policy objectives