Beyond rules: The next generation of expert systems

The PARAGON Representation, Management, and Manipulation system is introduced. The concepts of knowledge representation, knowledge management, and knowledge manipulation are combined in a comprehensive system for solving real world problems requiring high levels of expertise in a real time environment. In most applications the complexity of the problem and the representation used to describe the domain knowledge tend to obscure the information from which solutions are derived. This inhibits the acquisition of domain knowledge verification/validation, places severe constraints on the ability to extend and maintain a knowledge base while making generic problem solving strategies difficult to develop. A unique hybrid system was developed to overcome these traditional limitations

An adjudicated hermeneutic single-case efficacy design study of experiential therapy for panic/phobia

This paper illustrates the application of an adjudicated form of Hermeneutic Single Case Efficacy Design (HSCED), a critical-reflective method for inferring change and therapeutic influence in single therapy cases. The client was a 61 year-old European-American male diagnosed with panic and bridge phobia. He was seen for 23 sessions of individual Process-Experiential/Emotion-Focused Therapy. In this study, affirmative and skeptic teams of researchers developed opposing arguments regarding whether the client changed over therapy and whether therapy was responsible for these changes. Three judges representing different theoretical orientations then assessed data and arguments, rendering judgments in favor of the affirmative side. We discuss clinical implications and recommendations for the future interpretive case study research

Elevated Depressive Symptoms In A Community Sample Of African-Americans And Whites

This study examined demographic and psychosocial correlates of elevated depressive symptoms among African-Americans and Whites from comparable socioeconomic and neighborhood backgrounds. 851 African-Americans and 597 Whites from adjacent census tracts were interviewed using previously validated indicators of depressive symptoms, social support, religious practices and various demographic characteristics. More Whites than African-Americans reported elevated depressive symptoms and the groups also differed on several demographic variables and psychosocial variables. Employment, marital status and age were salient demographic covariates for African Americans, while income was for Whites. For both groups, social support and church attendance were inversely associated with depressive symptoms. Prayer was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Future research should explore within racial/ethnic group variations in depressive symptoms. Insights also are needed into possible changes over time in the relationship between religious variables and depressive symptoms, and how social support limits depressive symptoms in diverse populations

Protecting Children from Overexposure to Lead in Candy and Protecting Children by Lowering the Blood Lead “Level of Concern” Standard

The American Public Health Association: Recognizing that in April 2004, the Orange County Register in an investigative report, published for the first time information that the state of California had been testing for lead in candies for decades but had not informed the public about the high lead levels in many candies, candy wrappers and seasonings (sold as a snack item and consumed as candy) imported from Mexico, the Philippines and other countries

The pathophysiology of distal renal tubular acidosis

The kidneys have a central role in the control of acid-base homeostasis owing to bicarbonate reabsorption and production of ammonia and ammonium in the proximal tubule and active acid secretion along the collecting duct. Impaired acid excretion by the collecting duct system causes distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA), which is characterized by the failure to acidify urine below pH 5.5. This defect originates from reduced function of acid-secretory type A intercalated cells. Inherited forms of dRTA are caused by variants in SLC4A1, ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4, FOXI1, WDR72 and probably in other genes that are yet to be discovered. Inheritance of dRTA follows autosomal-dominant and -recessive patterns. Acquired forms of dRTA are caused by various types of autoimmune diseases or adverse effects of some drugs. Incomplete dRTA is frequently found in patients with and without kidney stone disease. These patients fail to appropriately acidify their urine when challenged, suggesting that incomplete dRTA may represent an intermediate state in the spectrum of the ability to excrete acids. Unrecognized or insufficiently treated dRTA can cause rickets and failure to thrive in children, osteomalacia in adults, nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis. Electrolyte disorders are also often present and poorly controlled dRTA can increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease

Time-Resolved X-Ray Tomography of a Fluidized Bed of Geldart A Particles

This paper discusses the influence of fines on the size of bubbles moving through a 23 cm ID fluidized bed of Geldart A particles imaged with an X-ray Tomographic Scanner. In earlier work [1], the bubble distribution in a fluidized bed of Geldart B particles was shown. The current study using Geldart A particles is more challenging to the reconstruction algorithm, since there are more bubbles, and they are smaller in size. We study the influence of adding fines (i.e. particles \u3c= 45 micron) to the system. When adding a mass fraction of fines of 24%, we find a decrease of the average bubble of 40% of the size for the original powder, in line with earlier results from pressure probes and optical probes [2]. We find that the entire distribution of the bubble sizes shifts to smaller values

Strategic toolkits: seniority, usage and performance in the German SME machinery and equipment sector

This paper examines the strategic tool kit, from a human resource management (HRM) perspective, in terms of usage and impact. Research to date has tended to consider usage, assuming to a certain extent that knowledge and understanding of particular tools suggest that practitioners value them. The research on which this paper is based builds upon the idea that usage indicates satisfaction, but develops the usage theme to investigate which decision-makers are actually engaged in both tool appliance and the strategic process. Of particular interest to the researchers are the educational background, age and seniority of the decision-makers. In addition, potential links with HRM and organizational performance are also explored. The context of the research, the German machinery and equipment sector, provides an insight into the industry's ability to sustain growth in face of increasing international competition. The paper calls for a greater awareness, from a human resource perspective, and utilization of strategic management practice and associated decision-making aids