A dynamic workflow framework for mass customization using web service and autonomous agent techniques

Custom software development and maintenance is one of the key expenses associated with developing automated systems for mass customization. This paper presents a method for reducing the risk associated with this expense by developing a flexible environment for determining and executing dynamic workflow paths. Strategies for developing an autonomous agent-based framework and for identifying and creating web services for specific process tasks are presented. The proposed methods are outlined in two different case studies to illustrate the approach for both a generic process with complex workflow paths and a more specific sequential engineering process.     

Personality and behavior differences of obese and nonobese adolescents.

36 adolescents categorized as nonobese, obese in a weight control program, and obese who rejected a weight control program were given opportunities to snack and were administered 3 personality tests (Tasks of Emotional Development by Cohen and Weil, the Mooney Problem Check List, and Rotter's Internal-External Control Scale). Results indicate that more obese not in a weight control program ate in an individual eating situation in which they suspected they were being observed. More nonobese ate in a group eating situation in which they did not suspect they were being observed. Results also indicate the highest level of maturity for nonobese adolescents and the lowest level for obese adolescents not in a weight program. Obese adolescents in a weight control program reported fewer "very troublesome" problems than obese adolescents not in a weight control program or nonobese adolescents. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)