Konzeption und Einsatz wissensbasierter Systeme als ergänzende Systeme in der Fertigung

Approaches are presented in this work, which contribute to the development of knowledge-based systems, firstly, to assess and improve the quality of production, secondly, to determine the parameters of a control process. These approaches can be classified as a further development of the research in the field of artificial intelligence.The first system controls the evaluation of the quality within a production process using a camera. The colors in the image will be segmented with the help of an image processing tool (black and white or color image). Each segment corresponds to an object or sub-object in the data set (film). The properties of the objects are presented in an object-matrix. These properties characterise quality, which will be evaluated later.The system requires knowledge of the existing objects in order to assign a meaning to these objects in the evaluation process. This knowledge is provided in the form of rules. If knowledge-based systems consist only of rules, they are called "rule-based systems" (Rajendra & Priti, 2010).Since in this work only rules are used, the concepts of knowledge-based system, rule-based system and expert system are synonymous. The strategy of evaluation is based on these rules (rule base) in the following steps:• Filtering of objects• Splitting of connected objects • Cleanup of properties of object• Determination of the number of existing objectsIn this way objects are located and prepared for the evaluation-phase. A reference quality was determined by asking experts. Based on these expert data, the rule-based system evaluates the quality of the objects by comparison with the reference quality and proposes a plan of correction to improve quality.The quality of the production is assessed through the combination of image processing and knowledge-based system. The knowledge-based system is suitable for the use in such existing production systems in which the evaluation of quality is possible. For this purpose, only a new appropriate evaluation strategy (rule interpreter) is required. The performance of the developed system is shown in the first example in the field of quality management. The rule-based system may also be used to determine the parameters of a control process, to improve the quality of productions.First, the parameters of a control process can be measured by several tests. Then, the knowledge of this process is illustrated in rules by machine learning. There are important parameters of a process established to create a predictive system for that. These rule-based system inverse functions for these parameters are implemented.The performance of the developed inverse functions is tested in the second example in this thesis.

Urinary Stone Disease in Kano, North Western Nigeria

Background: Urinary stone disease is the third most common affliction of the urinary tract after urinary tract infection and pathologic conditions of the prostate. Although the disease is commoner in the developed countries, the incidence is also increasing in the developing countries. In this study, we sought to determine the pattern and treatment given for patients with urinary stones in our institution. Patients and Method: A 5 year retrospective study of patients treated for urolithiasis was conducted in a Teaching Hospital in North-western Nigeria. The age, sex, clinical presentations, investigations and treatment offered to the patients were reviewed. Results: A total of seventy six patients were treated for urinary stones during the study period. 58(76.3%) were males and 18(23.7%) females. Majority of patients 39(51.3%) presented with loin pain as the main presenting symptom. The diagnosis of stones was by plain abdominal Xray(KUB) in 68 patients and abdominal ultrasound scan in 46 cases. Urine culture was positive in 27 patients with E. coli as the predominant organism. All had normal serum calcium, phosphate and uric acid. 56(73.7%) patients had stones in the upper urinary tract and 20 (26.3%) in the lower urinary tract. Thirty four (44.7%) patients were found to have predisposing factors. Most of the patients 50(65.7%) were treated by open surgery and 26(34.2%) by endoscopic removal/lithotripsy.Conclusion: Urinary stone disease is common in this environment. Majority of the stones are radio-opaque on plain xrays. Significant number of patients had a predisposing factor and majority of the stones were found in the upper tract. Most of the patients were treated by open surgery while a significant number were treated with endoscopic removal/lithotripsy.Keywords: Urinary stones, Northern Nigeria, Treatmen

Understanding the Antecedents of Use of E-Commerce and Consumers’ E-Loyalty in Saudi Arabia Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Customer loyalty is a critical factor for any business’ long-term profitability and growth. Despite the rapid expansion and prominence of e-commerce, businesses still face challenges in attaining customers’ e-loyalty. The objective of this paper is to uncover the numerous factors that have an impact on e-loyalty. The data were gathered from 334 students from various universities in Saudi Arabia. With the aid of structural equation modeling (SEM), the hypotheses were examined. The findings support the links between effect expectation, social influence, and facilitating conditions on the use of e-commerce (UEC). However, the linkage between perceived risk and performance expectations on the UEC is not supported. In addition, the UEC predicts e-commerce satisfaction, and e-commerce satisfaction predicts e-loyalty. The paper also supports the UEC and e-commerce satisfaction as mediators. Importantly, the e-commerce experience is supported as a moderator of the connection between e-commerce satisfaction and e-loyalty. The paper recommends that online businesses assess the three constructs of effect expectation, social influence, and facilitating condition that are positively associated with the UEC. Various implications, both theoretical and practical, are highlighted