COOPERATIVE QUERY ANSWERING FOR APPROXIMATE ANSWERS WITH NEARNESS MEASURE IN HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Cooperative query answering for approximate answers has been utilized in various problem domains. Many challenges in manufacturing information retrieval, such as: classifying parts into families in group technology implementation, choosing the closest alternatives or substitutions for an out-of-stock part, or finding similar existing parts for rapid prototyping, could be alleviated using the concept of cooperative query answering. Most cooperative query answering techniques proposed by researchers so far concentrate on simple queries or single table information retrieval. Query relaxations in searching for approximate answers are mostly limited to attribute value substitutions. Many hierarchical structure information systems, such as manufacturing information systems, store their data in multiple tables that are connected to each other using hierarchical relationships - "aggregation", "generalization/specialization", "classification", and "category". Due to the nature of hierarchical structure information systems, information retrieval in such domains usually involves nested or jointed queries. In addition, searching for approximate answers in hierarchical structure databases not only considers attribute value substitutions, but also must take into account attribute or relation substitutions (i.e., WIDTH to DIAMETER, HOLE to GROOVE). For example, shape transformations of parts or features are possible and commonly practiced. A bar could be transformed to a rod. Such characteristics of hierarchical information systems, simple query or single-relation query relaxation techniques used in most cooperative query answering systems are not adequate. In this research, we proposed techniques for neighbor knowledge constructions, and complex query relaxations. We enhanced the original Pattern-based Knowledge Induction (PKI) and Distribution Sensitive Clustering (DISC) so that they can be used in neighbor hierarchy constructions at both tuple and attribute levels. We developed a cooperative query answering model to facilitate the approximate answer searching for complex queries. Our cooperative query answering model is comprised of algorithms for determining the causes of null answer, expanding qualified tuple set, expanding intersected tuple set, and relaxing multiple condition simultaneously. To calculate the semantic nearness between exact-match answers and approximate answers, we also proposed a nearness measuring function, called "Block Nearness", that is appropriate for the query relaxation methods proposed in this research

Traceability Costs in Agro-Industry

More food business operators start to look into “traceability” as an essential tool to boost the confidence level in their products. A question commonly asked by those who are considering implementing a traceability system is “how much does it cost.” This research aims to estimate the investment and operating costs of traceability systems. Cost of Quality is used to exam the overall price by dividing expenses into prevention, appraisal and correction costs. This article presents results from examinations of four business establishments. Preliminarily, the average total traceability cost is approximately 0.7 million baht per year which is a small fraction compared to sales. Major contributors to the overall cost are data collecting activities, operating, training and education, and hardware & software related costs, respectively. Results from this study could be useful for business operators considering acquisition or developing of traceability system. Keywords: Traceability; Cost; Cost of Quality; PAF Mode

Attribute-level Neighbor Hierarchy Construction Using Evolved Pattern-based Knowledge Induction

Neighbor knowledge construction is the foundation for the development of cooperative query answering systems capable of searching for close match or approximate answers when exact match answers are not available. This paper presents a technique for developing neighbor hierarchies at the attribute level. The proposed technique is called the evolved Pattern-based Knowledge Induction (ePKI) technique and allows construction of neighbor hierarchies for nonunique attributes based upon confidences, popularities, and clustering correlations of inferential relationships among attribute values. The technique is applicable for both categorical and numerical (discrete and continuous) attribute values. Attribute value neighbor hierarchies generated by the ePKI technique allow a cooperative query answering system to search for approximate answers by relaxing each individual query condition separately. Consequently, users can search for approximate answers even when the exact match answers do not exist in the database (i.e., searching for existing similar parts as part of the implementation of the concepts of rapid prototyping). Several experiments were conducted to assess the performance of the ePKI in constructing attribute-level neighbor hierarchies. Results indicate that the ePKI technique produces accurate neighbor hierarchies when strong inferential relationships appear among data. © 2006 IEEE

Effect of n-3 fatty acids on immune function in broiler chickens

There is interest in the enrichment of poultry meat with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in order to increase the consumption of these fatty acids by humans. However, there is concern that high levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have detrimental effects on immune function in chickens. The effect of feeding increasing levels of fish oil (FO) on immune function was investigated in broiler chickens. Three-week-old broilers were fed 1 of 4 wheat-soybean basal diets that contained 0, 30, 50, or 60 g/kg of FO until slaughter. At slaughter, samples of blood, bursa of Fabricius, spleen, and thymus were collected from each bird. A range of immune parameters, including immune tissue weight, immuno-phenotyping, phagocytosis, and cell proliferation, were assessed. The pattern of fatty acid incorporation reflected the fatty acid composition of the diet. The FO did not affect the weight of the spleen, but it did increase thymus weight when fed at 50 g/kg (P < 0.001). Fish oil also lowered bursal weights when fed at 50 or 60 g/kg (P < 0.001). There was no significant effect of FO on immune cell phenotypes in the spleen, thymus, bursa, or blood. Feeding 60 g/kg of FO significantly decreased the percentage of monocytes engaged in phagocytosis, but it increased their mean fluorescence intensity relative to that of broilers fed 50 g/kg of FO. Lymphocyte proliferation was significantly decreased after feeding broiler chickens diets rich in FO when expressed as division index or proliferation index, although there was no significant effect of FO on the percentage of divided cells. In conclusion, dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease phagocytosis and lymphocyte proliferation in broiler chickens, highlighting the need for the poultry industry to consider the health status of poultry when poultry meat is being enriched with FO

Effect of dietary ratio of linoleic to linolenic acid on performance and immune response in leghorn chickens

Three studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary ratio of linoleic to linolenic acid on egg production and immune response in Leghorn chickens. Corn oil rich in linoleic acid and flaxseed rich in linolenic acid were used to adjust levels of dietary linoleic and linolenic acids. The first study was conducted to investigate the effects of four dietary ratios of linoleic to linolenic acid [17:1 (control), 8:1, 4:1, or 2:1] in pullet chicks on immune response to standard vaccinations. Dietary ratio of linoleic to linolenic acid did not influence feed consumption and body weight. Decreasing dietary ratios enhanced (P \u3c 0.004) antibody production against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine at 12 to 16 weeks of age. The dietary ratio of 4:1 or 2:1 enhanced antibody production against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine at 16 weeks of age. The second study was conducted to investigate whether dietary ratio of linoleic to linolenic acid affected egg production parameters and immune response of mature laying hens. Dietary ratio of linoleic to linolenic acid did not affect egg production and quality. Decreasing dietary ratio from 17:1 to 8:1 or 4:1 improved antibody production against NDV vaccine (P \u3c 0.0004) and in vitro lymphocyte proliferation in response to Con A (P \u3c 0.01) or LPS (P \u3c 0.02). The relationship between dietary ratio of linoleic to linolenic acid on subpopulations of blood T lymphocytes was evaluated in a third study. Decreasing dietary ratio of linoleic to linolenic acid from 17:1 to 8:1, 4:1, or 2:1 significantly increased proportion of CD4 +CD8− T lymphocytes, but decreased proportion of CD4−CD8+ T lymphocytes. These observations indicate that supplementing flaxseed as a source of linolenic acid (18:3n-3) to lower dietary ratio of linoleic to linolenic acid improved the immune response of Leghorn chickens without showing negative effects on body weight gain and egg production. The linolenic acid-induced change in blood T-lymphocyte subpopulations may be attributed to the enhancement of immune response

Service Culture for the Implementation of Community Policing: A Case Study of the Malaysian Police

Although a police service function is a key component of community policing, very few studies on service culture have been conducted, especially in the Royal Malaysian Police which has adopted and practised the concept of community policing since 1979. This study surveyed 297 Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan police officers regarding their attitudes toward the concept of service culture in their police force and the impact service culture has on community policing. Overall, the study\u27s results show that Malaysian police support community policing and believe service culture is part of their police organisation. However, only two of the seven cultural values (internal communication and service orientation) were positively and significantly correlated with commitment to practising community policing. The study recommends proper training on community policing (particularly for police administrators and new recruits) and creation of relevant service culture conducive to the implementation of community policing

Traceability Costs in Agro-Industry

More food business operators start to look into “traceability” as an essential tool to boost the confidence level in their products. A question commonly asked by those who are considering implementing a traceability system is “how much does it cost.” This research aims to estimate the investment and operating costs of traceability systems. Cost of Quality is used to exam the overall price by dividing expenses into prevention, appraisal and correction costs. This article presents results from examinations of four business establishments. Preliminarily, the average total traceability cost is approximately 0.7 million baht per year which is a small fraction compared to sales. Major contributors to the overall cost are data collecting activities, operating, training and education, and hardware &amp; software related costs, respectively. Results from this study could be useful for business operators considering acquisition or developing of traceability system