A NEW APPROACH FOR THE INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF RETRIEVAL FUNCTIONS FOR CBR

We present a new approach to the effective development of complex retrieval components for case-based reasoning systems (CBR). Our approach goes beyond the traditional CBR approach by allowing an incremental refinement of an existing retrieval knowledge base during routine use of the system. The refinement takes place through a direct expert-system interaction while the expert is accomplishing their given tasks. We lend ideas from ripple-down rules (RDR), a proven method for the very effective and efficient acquisition of classification knowledge during the routine use of a knowledge-based system (KBS).

In our approach the expert is only required to provide explanations of why, for a given problem, a certain case should be retrieved. Incrementally a complex retrieval knowledge base as a composition of many simple retrieval functions is developed. This approach is effective with respect to both the development of highly tailored and complex retrieval knowledge bases for CBR as well as providing an intuitive and feasible approach for the expert. The approach has been implemented in our CBR system MIKAS (Menu construction using an Incremental Knowledge Acquisition System) that allows to automatically construct a menu that is strongly tailored to the individual requirements and food preferences of a client.     

An adaptive window mechanism for image smoothing

Image smoothing using adaptive windows whose shapes, sizes, and orientations vary with image structure is described. Window size is increased with decreasing gradient magnitude, and window shape and orientation are adjusted in such a way as to smooth most in the direction of least gradient. Rather than performing smoothing isotropically, smoothing is performed in preferred orientations to preserve region boundaries while reducing random noise within regions. Also, instead of performing smoothing uniformly, smoothing is performed more in homogeneous areas than in detailed areas. The proposed adaptive window mechanism is tested in the context of median, mean, and Gaussian filtering, and experimental results are presented using synthetic and real images and compared with a state-of-the-art method.     

The effect of diets on milk production and composition, and on lactation curves in pastured dairy goats

A 2-yr study investigated effects of different levels of concentrate supplementation on milk production, composition, and lactation curves in pastured dairy goats. For both years, 44 Alpine goats (Capra hircus; 55 ± 11 kg body weight) were randomly allocated to 4 groups. Animals were supplemented with 0.66 (treatments A and B), 0.33 (treatment C), or 0 kg of concentrate (treatment D) per kg of milk over 1.5 kg/d. Mixed vegetative forages were rotationally grazed by the goats (treatments B, C, and D), except that treatment A was confined and fed alfalfa hay. Individual milk production was recorded daily, and milk samples were collected once every 2 wk for the 7-mo period (March to September) and analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, urea-N, nonesterified fatty acids, and allantoin (second year only). Milk yield and composition varied among dietary treatments, with some measures affected by year. Average daily milk yield was lowest for treatment D. The increased level of concentrate supplementation in treatment A led to 22% greater milk yield compared with treatment D. Milk production increased by 1.7 and 0.9 kg for each additional kilogram of concentrate fed per day during the first and second years, respectively. Average peak yield, time of peak yield, and persistency were lower for treatment D than for other treatments. The percentage of milk fat was lower for treatment D than for other treatments. Concentration of milk protein was greater for treatments A and B during the first year, and was higher for treatment C than for other treatments during the second year. Average milk lactose concentration was higher for treatments B and C than for other treatments. However, milk urea-N concentration in treatment A was higher than other treatments. Milk allantoin, used to estimate microbial proteins synthesis, was 20 to 25% greater for treatment A than for other treatments. Averaged across year, plasma urea-N and nonesterified fatty acids concentration were lowest for treatment B. Average organic matter intake was similar among treatments during both years. Ratios of acetate and propionate concentrations for treatment A were lowest among treatments. In conclusion, milk production and composition were affected by the feeding treatment and year. Increased level of nutrition lead to an increase in daily milk yield, peak yield, time of peak yield, and persistency compared with treatment D. Alpine dairy goats grazing on fresh forages without concentrate supplementation can produce milk inexpensively, and response to concentrate supplementation is greater for low quality pasture.     

The flow of conducting fluids through circular pipes having finite conductivity and finite thickness under uniform transverse magnetic fields

The steady flow of viscous, incompressible, electrically conducting fluids through circular pipes in the presence of an applied uniform transverse magnetic field is considered. In this analysis, the finite conductivity and wall thickness of the pipe have been taken into account. An exact solution and its numerical calculation have been presented. Some interesting results have been obtained.     

Surgical intensive care

Patients for intensive care in surgery can be divided into 3 groups: 1. Patients in poor preoperative conditions which should be corrected before surgery is performed; 2. Patients with extensive operations and expected or unexpected postoperative complications; 3. Patients with extensive traumas. --In the postwar period medicine developed at a tremendous speed. Modern intensive treatment of those patients with managed by a new group of doctors who had based their primary training in Surgery and continued their professional career in Anaesthesiology. In the last two decades, however, pathophysiologic thinking found its way and a new type of surgeon emerged. Special fields such as cardiovascular-endocrinological-gastroenterological surgery etc, appeared. Nowadays preoperative as well as postoperative treatment is considered to be an important factor in surgery and applied by all specialists. --Anaesthiologists however still play a major role in intensive medicine for surgical patients. But due to the fact that surgical training only plays a little or no part in their professional training, their role is hardly more than that of an important and necessary consultant. A new type of a doctor for surgical intensive medicine may perhaps develop somewhere in the future, but at present successful intensive care in surgical patients can only be achieved by perfect cooperation.     

Relationship between ruminal ammonia and nonprotein nitrogen utilization by ruminants. II. Application of published evidence to the development of theoretical model for predicting nonprotein nitrogen utilization.

Results from published experiments dealing with several aspects of nitrogen utilization by ruminants were used to test the concept of zero utilization of nonprotein nitrogen under conditions where more ammonia (greater than 5 mg ammonia nitrogen/100 ml) is in the rumen than can be converted to microbial protein. Results from experiments where the flow of non-ammonia nitrogen to the abomasum of sheep was measured indicate that when urea was the source of supplemental nitrogen, a constant quantity of amino acids reached the abomasum for all rations ranging from 10 to 23% crude protein. From growth studies, addition of nonprotein nitrogen to low protein, high energy rations caused an improved rate of gain. Additions of nonprotein nitrogen to rations resulting in predicted ruminal ammonia concentrations greater than 5 mg ammonia nitrogen/100 ml rumen fluid were without benefit. From lactation studies, nonprotein nitrogen supplementation did not improve milk production if the ration contained more than 12.5% crude protein prior to supplementation or if the predicted ruminal ammonia concentration was greater than 4 mg ammonia nitrogen/100 ml rumen fluid. The importance of the amino acid requirement of the animal as well as the composition of the ration in designing and evaluating nitrogen supplementation studies is discussed.     

Reproductive performance of dairy cows fed two concentrations of phosphorus

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary P concentrations of 0.37 (recommended) or 0.57% (excess; dry matter basis) on reproductive performance. At calving, Holstein cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments (n = 134 for 0.37% P and n = 133 for 0.57% P). Cows were fitted with a radiotelemetric transmitter (50 d in milk [DIM]) to record mounting activity during estrus and bred to natural estrus from 50 to 100 DIM, then to synchronized estrus (Ovsynch protocol) after 100 DIM. Weekly ultrasonography was performed from 50 DIM until pregnancy was diagnosed (-30 d after artificial insemination). Pregnancy was confirmed approximately 60 d after artificial insemination (artificial insemination). Weekly blood samples were analyzed for progesterone concentrations. Days to first increase (>1 ng/ml) in progesterone, days to first estrus detected by radiotelemetry, days to first service detected by herd personnel, and conception rate at first service did not differ between the recommended and excess P groups, respectively. Similarly, conception rate at 30 d, days open, pregnancies lost from 30 to 60 d, multiple ovulation rate, and the incidence of anovulatory condition at 71 DIM did not differ between these groups. The mean duration of estrus was 8.7 +/- 0.5 and 8.7 +/- 0.7 h, and the average number of mounts per estrus was 7.4 +/- 0.5 and 7.8 +/- 0.5 for a total mounting time during estrus of 25.8 +/- 1.8 and 24.5 +/- 1.6 s for cows fed the recommended and excess P diet, respectively. Phosphorus treatment had no detectable effect on reproductive performance.     

Effects of corn particle size and source on performance of lactating cows fed direct-cut grass-legume forage

We conducted two experiments to evaluate the effects of corn supplementation, source of corn, and corn particle size on performance and nutrient utilization of lactating dairy cows. In experiment 1, treatments were 1) direct-cut grass-legume forage without supplement, 2) direct-cut forage plus 10 kg DM of ground dry shelled corn-based concentrate, and 3) direct-cut forage plus 10 kg DM of coarsely ground high moisture ear corn-based concentrate. In experiment 2, treatments were 1) direct-cut grass-legume forage plus 10 kg DM of ground dry shelled corn-based concentrate, 2) direct-cut forage plus 10 kg DM of coarsely ground high moisture ear corn-based concentrate, and 3) direct-cut forage plus 10 kg of DM finely ground high moisture ear corn-based concentrate. Both experiments were designed as 3 x 3 Latin squares replicated three times. In experiment 1, yields of milk and milk protein increased with concentrate supplementation, but were not affected by source of corn. Solids-corrected milk yield tended to increase with grain supplementation. Dry matter intake increased with concentrate supplementation, but was not affected by source of corn or corn particle size. Corn supplements decreased ruminal pH and acetate to propionate ratio and increased ruminal propionate concentration. Grain supplements reduced ruminal ammonia concentration, increased concentration of urine allantoin, and increased the urinary allantoin to creatinine ratio. In the second study, fine grinding of high moisture corn reduced fecal starch plus free glucose levels and tended to increase its apparent digestibility. In both experiments, starch plus free glucose intake was higher on the diets with dry corn, but its utilization was not affected by source of corn.     

Effect of source and amount of fiber on kinetics of digestion and specific gravity of forage particles in the rumen.

This experiment investigated the relationship between kinetics of digestion and change in specific gravity during in situ incubation. Nine cows were fed three sources of fiber (corn silage, alfalfa silage, or alfalfa hay) in diets formulated to contain 25, 30, or 35% NDF in three simultaneous 3 x 3 Latin squares. Method of alfalfa preservation did not influence rate of digestion or rate of increase in specific gravity of forage particles measured by a flotation technique. Prior to incubation, specific gravity of forage particles was in increasing order: alfalfa hay, alfalfa silage, and then corn silage. Essentially, all particles with a specific gravity less than 1.0 shifted to a higher specific gravity fraction by hydration within the first 4 h of incubation. From 4 to 56 h of incubation, percentage of residual DM that settled in solution having specific gravity of 1.3 increased linearly from 21 to 27% for corn silage but exponentially from 3 to 20% for alfalfa forages. Fractional rates of DM and NDF digestion and increase in percentage of residual DM having a specific gravity greater than 1.3 increased with the amount of fiber in the alfalfa diets and were correlated positively, suggesting that rate of increase in specific gravity, which affects rate of passage from the rumen, is influenced by rate of digestion of forage particles.