Clamping, COKAM, KADS, and OMOS : the construction and operationalization of a KADS conceptual model

For a simplified version of the clamping tool selection problem in mechanical engineering, the knowledge acquisition tool COKAM is applied to obtain an informal knowledge base and explanation structures from technical documents and previously solved cases. The output of COKAM is used to construct a three layered KADS conceptual model, which is then transformed into an operational model in the language OMOS. The OMOS formalization allows to verify the informal KADS conceptual model and to check the completeness of the domain knowledge. The results of this analysis are utilized in the next knowledge elicitation session with COKAM

Clamping, COKAM, KADS, and OMOS : the construction and operationalization of a KADS conceptual model

For a simplified version of the clamping tool selection problem in mechanical engineering, the knowledge acquisition tool COKAM is applied to obtain an informal knowledge base and explanation structures from technical documents and previously solved cases. The output of COKAM is used to construct a three layered KADS conceptual model, which is then transformed into an operational model in the language OMOS. The OMOS formalization allows to verify the informal KADS conceptual model and to check the completeness of the domain knowledge. The results of this analysis are utilized in the next knowledge elicitation session with COKAM

Cellular and Behavioral Effects of Cranial Irradiation of the Subventricular Zone in Adult Mice

Background: In mammals, new neurons are added to the olfactory bulb (OB) throughout life. Most of these new neurons, granule and periglomerular cells originate from the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral ventricles and migrate via the rostral migratory stream toward the OB. Thousands of new neurons appear each day, but the function of this ongoing neurogenesis remains unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we irradiated adult mice to impair constitutive OB neurogenesis, and explored the functional impacts of this irradiation on the sense of smell. We found that focal irradiation of the SVZ greatly decreased the rate of production of new OB neurons, leaving other brain areas intact. This effect persisted for up to seven months after exposure to 15 Gray. Despite this robust impairment, the thresholds for detecting pure odorant molecules and short-term olfactory memory were not affected by irradiation. Similarly, the ability to distinguish between odorant molecules and the odorant-guided social behavior of irradiated mice were not affected by the decrease in the number of new neurons. Only long-term olfactory memory was found to be sensitive to SVZ irradiation. Conclusion/Significance: These findings suggest that the continuous production of adult-generated neurons is involved i

MoMo

MoMo is a language for operationalizing KADS-type models of expertise. It is embedded in Common Lisp such that systems described in MoMo can be developed and run in the Lisp environment. MoMo relies on the Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) and its integration into the Common Lisp type system to describe problem solving methods in a domain-independent way. To connect such a problem-solving method to a particular domain,the abstract types and their generic operations have to be mapped to concrete ones. The semantics of inference structures was to some extent influenced by ideas from colored Petri nets [Jensen, 1987]. This report contains a larger example, the syntax, its interpretation, and the design rationale for MoMo

Opposite regulation of inhibition by adult-born granule cells during implicit versus explicit olfactory learning

Both passive exposure and active learning through reinforcement enhance fine sensory discrimination abilities. In the olfactory system, this enhancement is thought to occur partially through the integration of adult-born inhibitory interneurons resulting in a refinement of the representation of overlapping odorants. Here, we identify in mice a novel and unexpected dissociation between passive and active learning at the level of adult-born granule cells. Specifically, while both passive and active learning processes augment neurogenesis, adult-born cells differ in their morphology, functional coupling and thus their impact on olfactory bulb output. Morphological analysis, optogenetic stimulation of adult-born neurons and mitral cell recordings revealed that passive learning induces increased inhibitory action by adult-born neurons, probably resulting in more sparse and thus less overlapping odor representations. Conversely, after active learning inhibitory action is found to be diminished due to reduced connectivity. In this case, strengthened odor response might underlie enhanced discriminability