Evaluation of a proposed expert system development methodology: Two case studies

Two expert system development projects were studied to evaluate a proposed Expert Systems Development Methodology (ESDM). The ESDM was developed to provide guidance to managers and technical personnel and serve as a standard in the development of expert systems. It was agreed that the proposed ESDM must be evaluated before it could be adopted; therefore a study was planned for its evaluation. This detailed study is now underway. Before the study began, however, two ongoing projects were selected for a retrospective evaluation. They were the Ranging Equipment Diagnostic Expert System (REDEX) and the Backup Control Mode Analysis and Utility System (BCAUS). Both projects were approximately 1 year into development. Interviews of project personnel were conducted, and the resulting data was used to prepare the retrospective evaluation. Decision models of the two projects were constructed and used to evaluate the completeness and accuracy of key provisions of ESDM. A major conclusion reached from these case studies is that suitability and risk analysis should be required for all AI projects, large and small. Further, the objectives of each stage of development during a project should be selected to reduce the next largest area of risk or uncertainty on the project

Validation and verification of expert systems

Validation and verification (V&V) are procedures used to evaluate system structure or behavior with respect to a set of requirements. Although expert systems are often developed as a series of prototypes without requirements, it is not possible to perform V&V on any system for which requirements have not been prepared. In addition, there are special problems associated with the evaluation of expert systems that do not arise in the evaluation of conventional systems, such as verification of the completeness and accuracy of the knowledge base. The criticality of most NASA missions make it important to be able to certify the performance of the expert systems used to support these mission. Recommendations for the most appropriate method for integrating V&V into the Expert System Development Methodology (ESDM) and suggestions for the most suitable approaches for each stage of ESDM development are presented

Examining Significant Differences of Gunshot Residue Patterns Using Same Make and Model of Firearms in Forensic Distance Determination Tests.

In many cases of crimes involving a firearm, police investigators need to know how far the firearm was held from the victim when it was discharged. Knowing this distance, vital questions regarding the re-construction of the crime scene can be known. Often, the original firearm used in commission of a suspected crime is not available for testing or is damaged. Crime laboratories require the original firearm in order to conduct distance determination tests. However, no empirical research has ever been conducted to determine if same make and model firearms produce different results in distance determination testing. It was the purpose of this study to determine if there are significant differences between the same make and model of firearms in distance determination testing. The findings indicate no significant differences; furthermore they imply that if the original firearm is not available, another firearm of the same make and model may be used

A Near Golden Age: The Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in New Brunswick, 1940-1949

This history of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in the 1940s in New Brunswick adds to a growing body of literature that challenges the misperception that the CCF scarcely existed east of Ontario. However, in spite of a host of historical (and later) social conditions that called out for the CCF, the 1940s was the only decade when the movement showed considerable promise in New Brunswick. This article will suggest that the failure of the movement to gain permanent traction was attributable to several factors: the political strength of the Liberal political machinery and Premier John B. McNair; anti-labour sentiments and the anti-CCF campaign in the media; organizational challenges within the party; social and economic conditions within the province; and the divergent agenda of Francophone and Anglophone New Brunswickers.RésuméCette histoire de la Fédération du Commonwealth coopératif (FCC) dans les années 1940 au Nouveau-Brunswick s’ajoute aux nombreux écrits qui dénoncent la fausse perception que la FCC a rarement existé à l’est de l’Ontario. Toutefois, malgré une foule de conditions historiques, et plus tard sociales, qui ont favorisé la FCC, les années 1940 ont été la seule décennie pendant laquelle le mouvement a suscité un espoir considérable au Nouveau-Brunswick. Cet article démontrera que la faillite du mouvement à atteindre une croissance permanente était attribuable à plusieurs facteurs : la force de la machine politique du Parti libéral et du premier ministre John B. McNair, le sentiment antitravailliste et la campagne anti-FCC dans les médias, les défis organisationnels au sein du parti, les conditions socioéconomiques dans la province et les priorités divergentes des francophones et des anglophones du Nouveau-Brunswick.Cette histoire de la Fédération du Commonwealth coopératif (FCC) dans les années 1940 au Nouveau-Brunswick s’ajoute aux nombreux écrits qui dénoncent la fausse perception que la FCC a rarement existé à l’est de l’Ontario. Toutefois, malgré une foule de conditions historiques, et plus tard sociales, qui ont favorisé la FCC, les années 1940 ont été la seule décennie pendant laquelle le mouvement a suscité un espoir considérable au Nouveau-Brunswick. Cet article démontrera que la faillite du mouvement à atteindre une croissance permanente était attribuable à plusieurs facteurs : la force de la machine politique du Parti libéral et du premier ministre John B. McNair, le sentiment antitravailliste et la campagne anti-FCC dans les médias, les défis organisationnels au sein du parti, les conditions socioéconomiques dans la province et les priorités divergentes des francophones et des anglophones du Nouveau-Brunswick

Can White Nationalist Rhetoric Increase Prejudice Toward Mexican Immigrants?

The Western populism wave of ethno-nationalism (i.e., exclusionary resistance to egalitarianism: exclusionist belief in the superiority of ingroup goals over superordinate goals that are inclusive of all cultures) may increase prejudice toward minorities (Schmuck & Matthes, 2017). Integrated threat theory (ITT; Stephan & Stephan, 1996) states that prejudiced attitudes are mediated by four types of threat, which are affected by quantity and quality of intergroup contact (Stephan et al., 2000). These threats include realistic threat (e.g., fear of losing one’s job to an immigrant), symbolic threat (e.g., fear of losing one’s societal values/norms to a foreign culture), intergroup anxiety, and negative stereotypes. Divisive rhetoric that activates perceived outgroup threat (e.g., realistic threat: immigrants portrayed as rapists and criminals) may increase prejudiced attitudes in the target audience. This study investigated how White nationalist versus egalitarian social media messages affect attitudes toward Mexican immigrants. 792 participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Participants in two conditions read a social media page with either nationalist-leaning or egalitarian-leaning rhetoric, and participants in the control condition read a social media page with neutral rhetoric. Participants from all three conditions then completed scales assessing realistic threat, symbolic threat, intergroup anxiety, negative stereotypes, and prejudice toward Mexican immigrants, as well as the quantity and quality of their intergroup contact and questions about their political orientation. Condition (i.e., White nationalist or egalitarian priming manipulation) did not have a significant effect on prejudice compared to the control group. Conservatism significantly predicted prejudice, and this relationship was fully mediated by integrated threat. Conservatives reported higher levels of iii realistic/symbolic threat, intergroup anxiety, negative stereotypes, and prejudice toward Mexican immigrants than their liberal counterparts. Perhaps most importantly, participants who reported higher quantity and quality of contact with Mexican immigrants generally had lower scores on scales of integrated threat and prejudice. The Western shift towards exclusionary White nationalism could detrimentally affect minorities’ rights and safety; however, ongoing quality intergroup contact may be society’s path to peace and tolerance

Correspondence from Lewey Mitchell to Mary Cabot Wheelwright and Fannie Hardy Eckstorm 1929-1930

Correspondence from Lewey Mitchell to Mary Cabot Wheelwright and Fannie Hardy Eckstorm regarding the sale of traditional Passamaquoddy tales and other items. Digitized from Box 1, Folder 70, of the Fannie Hardy Eckstorm Papers.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/eckstorm_papers/1025/thumbnail.jp

The Treatment of Japanese Canadians in the 1940s: A Social Work Perspective

Little research has been done on early social work practice in Canada, particularly as it pertains to social workers from racialized groups. The internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II is of particular interest as seen through the lens of social work discourse. Social workers on the political left were well aware of this racially-motivated internment and lent support to organizations that sought to address their two main concerns: recognizing compensation claims for confiscated property and fighting the deportation of Japanese Canadians. Amy Leigh, a social worker who organized welfare services for the interned Japanese Canadians, expressed a more politically liberal capitalist perspective. She believed it was crucial for the public to clearly understand the work of the British Columbia Security Commission, established to manage the relocation of Japanese Canadians, in order to correct views that the Japanese were either being “ill-treated or spoon-fed”.1 Leigh also encouraged the hiring of Kay (Kato) Shimizu by the BC Security Commission. A Nisei (2nd generation) Japanese Canadian social worker, Shimizu became politicized towards the left by the experience, one that was distinctly different from that of her Caucasian contemporaries in the Canadian Association of Social Workers

Expert System Development Methodology (ESDM)

The Expert System Development Methodology (ESDM) provides an approach to developing expert system software. Because of the uncertainty associated with this process, an element of risk is involved. ESDM is designed to address the issue of risk and to acquire the information needed for this purpose in an evolutionary manner. ESDM presents a life cycle in which a prototype evolves through five stages of development. Each stage consists of five steps, leading to a prototype for that stage. Development may proceed to a conventional development methodology (CDM) at any time if enough has been learned about the problem to write requirements. ESDM produces requirements so that a product may be built with a CDM. ESDM is considered preliminary because is has not yet been applied to actual projects. It has been retrospectively evaluated by comparing the methods used in two ongoing expert system development projects that did not explicitly choose to use this methodology but which provided useful insights into actual expert system development practices and problems

Program Model: Finals Week Pet Grams

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many academic libraries were faced with the challenge of supporting academic success while most students were off-campus and taking online classes. Many outreach librarians turned to virtual programming. Pet Grams were developed as a way to reach out and connect virtually with patrons, no matter their location. The main outcome for Pet Grams is to share kindness and motivation during a stressful time in the semester, especially for students but also for other community members who may also need support