Automated Predictive Diagnosis (APD): A 3-tiered shell for building expert systems for automated predictions and decision making

The APD software features include: On-line help, Three level architecture, (Logic environments, Setup/Application environment, Data environment), Explanation capability, and File handling. The kinds of experimentation and record keeping that leads to effective expert systems is facilitated by: (1) a library of inferencing modules (in the logic environment); (2) an explanation capability which reveals logic strategies to users; (3) automated file naming conventions; (4) an information retrieval system; and (5) on-line help. These aid with effective use of knowledge, debugging and experimentation. Since the APD software anticipates the logical rules becoming complicated, it is embedded in a production system language (CLIPS) to insure the full power of the production system paradigm of CLIPS and availability of the procedural language C. The development is discussed of the APD software and three example applications: toy, experimental, and operational prototype for submarine maintenance predictions

Renormalization of the bilocal sine-Gordon model

The functional renormalization group treatment is presented for the two-dimensional sine-Gordon model by including a bilocal term in the potential, which contributes to the flow at tree level. It is shown that the flow of the bilocal term can substitute the evolution of the wave function renormalization constant, and then the Kosterlitz-Thouless type phase transition can be recovered.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure

Former Gov. Haley Barbour to Speak at UM Law School

Alumnus is final speaker in this year\u27s serie

Focus on perioperative management of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents in spine surgery

SummaryPerioperative management of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents is based on a compromise between the risk of hemorrhage induced by maintaining (or substituting for) them and the risk of thrombosis if they are discontinued. The hemorrhage risk in major spinal surgery is clear (50–81% incidence of transfusion), and the incidence of postoperative symptomatic spinal hematoma varies between 0.4% and 0.2% depending on whether low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is prescribed postoperatively. The French Health Authority, in 2008, published guidelines on the management of patients treated with vitamin K antagonists. Treatment may be stopped without preoperative replacement in certain cases of atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolic disease; otherwise, preoperative replacement by curative dose unfractionated heparin (UFH) or LMWH is recommended, with withdrawal early enough to avoid peroperative bleeding. Postoperative care should take account of hemorrhagic risk following surgery. The management of patients treated with antiplatelets is delicate, as maintenance is preferable in most of the situations in which they are prescribed (bare or active stenting, or secondary prevention of myocardial infarction, stroke or peripheral ischemia), although they are liable to increase the risk of perioperative hemorrhage, especially when associated to antithrombotic prophylaxis. If surgery cannot be performed under treatment continuation, the interruption should be as short as possible. New guidelines are presently being drawn up under the auspices of the French Health Authority. In both types of treatment, the strategy should be jointly determined by surgeon, anesthesiologist and cardiologist, to optimize individualized care taking account of each party's requirements, with the patient in the central role. The selected strategy should be clearly stated in the patient's file.Level of evidenceV

UM Law School to Host Third Race and Sustainability Conference

Former Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. headlines opening dinne

UM Space Law Moot Court Team Wins North American Championship

Trio set to compete in international finals this fall in Australi