Identification of Evolving Rule-based Models.

An approach to identification of evolving fuzzy rule-based (eR) models is proposed. eR models implement a method for the noniterative update of both the rule-base structure and parameters by incremental unsupervised learning. The rule-base evolves by adding more informative rules than those that previously formed the model. In addition, existing rules can be replaced with new rules based on ranking using the informative potential of the data. In this way, the rule-base structure is inherited and updated when new informative data become available, rather than being completely retrained. The adaptive nature of these evolving rule-based models, in combination with the highly transparent and compact form of fuzzy rules, makes them a promising candidate for modeling and control of complex processes, competitive to neural networks. The approach has been tested on a benchmark problem and on an air-conditioning component modeling application using data from an installation serving a real building. The results illustrate the viability and efficiency of the approach. (c) IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy System

City Living Costs Hit Your Budget

Living out in the hard old world is fun and good experience, but it hits the pocketbook a little harder than living at home, according to home economics students who share their summer job experiences

Privilege of Being a Christian Artist

James Buswell developed this paper, at the request of Pro Rege and the faculty of Dordt College, from his presentation at our eighth and final Jubilee Convocation, April 25, 2005

Fanta Fanafody: Malagasy Traditional Medicine in a Globalized World

This study investigates the relationship between traditional medicine and globalization in Madagascar. Information from interactions and interviews with both traditional and allopathic healers is used to study the current healthcare system and provide direction for the establishment of an Integrated Health Care System (IHCS). This study finds that traditional medicine and globalization have a closer and more reciprocal relationship than it would initially appear, and that traditional medicine is very adaptable to change. Because of this, it is proposed that globalization and technology could be tools to bring traditional and allopathic medicine together in an IHCS to resolve the health disparities observed between urban and rural areas in Madagascar

An analysis of ten junior high school American history textbooks in terms of their treatment of Latin America

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

The Potential of Freeform Construction Processes

The level of automation technology and processes control found in modern day construction lags significantly behind other industries such as automotive and aerospace. The construction industry has health and safety issues and still uses traditional methods of procurement. These problems are compounded by diminishing skills in the labour force. Methods of production must change if these issues are to be resolved and Freeform Construction is a collection of processes that could have potential impact. This paper outlines some of the major issues facing construction and sets a context with examples of digital fabrication in construction. Freeform Construction is defined and potential applications are presented and related to application scale. The viability of two potential applications are investigated in terms of cost.Mechanical Engineerin

Government policies and indigenous rights:: a case study of the San and the Saami

Various approaches adopted by state governments towards their respective indigenous populations, as they pertain to the Saami of Sweden and Norway, and to the San living in Namibia and Botswana, have been examined, and their impact on the socio-cultural, economic and political aspects of these societies assessed. This dissertation further analyses the rationale behind the implementation of these policies and concludes that the arguments used to justify government intervention were frequently flawed: earlier policies introduced during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were based on perceptions that native populations were 'inferior' and expendable whereas more recent government strategies revealed an inadequate understanding and appreciation of the indigenous groups to which the policies were directed. As a consequence, the Saami and San were dispossessed of their lands, forcibly assimilated into the majority population, and even subjected to campaigns of sterilisation (the Saami) and genocide (the San). It is argued that, although widespread abhorrence of these policies eventually resulted in their demise, renewed threats to the cultural traditions of the Saami and the San have appeared in the form of national economic industries including tourism, energy provision and mineral extraction. The thesis asserts that these new threats have been instrumental in stimulating ethno-political mobilisation and the formation of 'grassroots’' movements amongst the two indigenous groups. Paradoxically, a degree of acceptance of government policies among these indigenous groups has led to conflicts and fragmentation within these movements resulting from the desire by some members to maintain cultural traditions and the wish by others to access the higher living standards enjoyed by the majority populations. The impact of earlier and contemporary anthropological theory on the formulation of government policies has also been examined and adjudged to have had both beneficial and adverse impacts

Parental Perception Of Child Weight Status In Wangcheng District, Hunan Province, People\u27s Republic Of China

Objectives: This cross-sectional, quantitative study was designed to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a sample of schoolchildren (age 9-11 years) in central southern China. It also described parental attitudes about childhood overweight, physical activity, and eating patterns. In addition, this study described parental perception of and concern about their child\u27s weight status. Methods: This study was conducted in June 2011 at three elementary schools located in Wangcheng District, a suburb of Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province. Child anthropometric data were collected, after which surveys were distributed to be brought home for completion by parents/caregivers. Results: Anthropometric data from 164 children were included, along with data from 152 surveys completed by parents (response rate of 93%). Forty-eight percent of the children were male, and 52% were female, with a mean age of 9.93 years. Based on BMI-for-age, 13% of children were classified as very underweight or underweight, 77% were of normal weight, and 10% overweight or obese. Conclusions: Parents of overweight or obese children had a higher correlation between their perception of child weight status than did parents of children who were normal or underweight. There was no significant association between level of parental concern and the child\u27s BMI category. Further research must focus on the influence of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds on parental perception of child weight status in China and other developing nations

Recital: James Buswell, Violin; October 28, 1975

Centennial East Recital HallTuesday EveningOctober 28, 19758:15 p.m

Estimating uncertainty when using transient data in steady-state calculations

When using measurement data for monitoring there is often a desire for steady-state analysis. On-line condition monitoring and fault detection systems are typical applications where the traditional way of treating transient data is to remove it using methods that require tuning using thresholds. This paper suggests an alternative approach where the uncertainty estimate in a particular variable is increased in response to the presence of transients and through propagation, varies the uncertainty in the result accordingly. The formulation of the approach is described and applied to two examples from building HVAC systems. The approach is demonstrated to be a pragmatic tool that can be used to increase the robustness of calculations from time series data