Using a logical model to predict the growth of yeast

Whelan, K. E. and King, R. D. Using a logical model to predict the growth of yeast. BMC Bioinformatics 2008, 9:97

A defeasible reasoning model of inductive concept learning from examples and communication

This paper introduces a logical model of inductive generalization, and specifically of the machine learning task of inductive concept learning (ICL). We argue that some inductive processes, like ICL, can be seen as a form of defeasible reasoning. We define a consequence relation characterizing which hypotheses can be induced from given sets of examples, and study its properties, showing they correspond to a rather well-behaved non-monotonic logic. We will also show that with the addition of a preference relation on inductive theories we can characterize the inductive bias of ICL algorithms. The second part of the paper shows how this logical characterization of inductive generalization can be integrated with another form of non-monotonic reasoning (argumentation), to define a model of multiagent ICL. This integration allows two or more agents to learn, in a consistent way, both from induction and from arguments used in the communication between them. We show that the inductive theories achieved by multiagent induction plus argumentation are sound, i.e. they are precisely the same as the inductive theories built by a single agent with all data. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Closed-loop feedback computation model of dynamical reputation based on the local trust evaluation in business-to-consumer e-commerce

Trust and reputation are important factors that influence the success of both traditional transactions in physical social networks and modern e-commerce in virtual Internet environments. It is difficult to define the concept of trust and quantify it because trust has both subjective and objective characteristics at the same time. A well-reported issue with reputation management system in business-to-consumer (BtoC) e-commerce is the “all good reputation” problem. In order to deal with the confusion, a new computational model of reputation is proposed in this paper. The ratings of each customer are set as basic trust score events. In addition, the time series of massive ratings are aggregated to formulate the sellers’ local temporal trust scores by Beta distribution. A logical model of trust and reputation is established based on the analysis of the dynamical relationship between trust and reputation. As for single goods with repeat transactions, an iterative mathematical model of trust and reputation is established with a closed-loop feedback mechanism. Numerical experiments on repeated transactions recorded over a period of 24 months are performed. The experimental results show that the proposed method plays guiding roles for both theoretical research into trust and reputation and the practical design of reputation systems in BtoC e-commerce.

Rules for mapping a conceptual model onto various data base management systems. Available in 2 volumes.

The design and implementation of data bases involve, firstly, the formulation of a conceptual data model by systematic analysis of the structure and information requirements of the organisation for which the system is being designed; secondly, the logical mapping of this conceptual model onto the data structure of the target data base management system (DBMS); and thirdly, the physical mapping of this structured model into storage structures of the target DBMS. The accuracy of both the logical and physical mapping determine the performance of the resulting systems. This thesis describes research which develops software tools to facilitate the implementation of data bases. A conceptual model describing the information structure of a hospital is derived using the Entity-Relationship (E-R) approach and this model forms the basis for mapping onto the logical model. Rules are derived for automatically mapping the conceptual model onto relational and CODASYL types of data structures. Further algorithms are developed for partly automating the implementation of these models onto INGRES, MIMER and VAX-11 DBMS.

Logical Models of Composite Dynamic Objects Control

The questions of designing multicriteria control systems on the basis of logic models of composite dynamic objects are considered.

Regulação médica de urgências na região do Médio Paraíba: uma proposta para avaliação da implantação do serviço

O presente trabalho teve como objeto o desenvolvimento de uma proposta para avaliação da implantação da Central de Regulação Médica de Urgências (CRMU) vinculada ao Serviço de Atenção Móvel às Urgências da região do Médio Paraíba (SAMU 192 - MP). Para tal, propõe-se a criação de um modelo teóricológico que sirva como referência para elaboração de instrumentos e seleção de indicadores para avaliação da estrutura, processos e resultados da CRMU-MP, visando à melhor efetividade e eficiência desse serviço. O trabalho descreve as fases do processo de implantação e do funcionamento do SAMU-192 na região do Médio Paraíba. Aborda a sua importância para o sistema de saúde, visando minimizar quadros de demandas desnecessárias de urgência, com a diminuição dos fluxos informais de pacientes para grandes urgências hospitalares e préhospitalares da região, relatando os vários motivos relacionados à sobrecarga desses serviços na região: ineficiência da atenção básica; pronto-socorros préhospitalares e hospitalares de pequeno e médio porte sem retaguarda mínima de recursos diagnósticos e terapêuticos; fatores culturais; maior oferta das redes de alta complexidade; problemas relacionados à gestão. Questões sobre a estrutura da rede de urgências são mencionadas, evidenciando-se as deficiências do SUS: áreas físicas inadequadas e insuficientes, informalidade na contratação de recursos humanos além do despreparo dos profissionais que atuam nessa área. No cenário descrito, as ações de regulação despontam como ferramenta de defesa do cidadão, buscando garantir acesso ao meio mais adequado a suas necessidades. O desenho proposto (modelo teórico-lógico) descreve e identifica as etapas para avaliação do serviço (estrutura, processo e resultados), e também demonstra os diversos problemas encontrados na rede de atenção às urgências do Médio Paraíba. O trabalho faz uma revisão da literatura sobre os principais conceitos da regulação e da regulação médica de urgências; discorre sobre os aspectos da Política de Urgência e Emergência a partir de 2002, a inserção da região do Médio Paraíba e de sua rede de atenção às urgências neste contexto. Aborda os diversos conceitos da avaliação, com foco nos modelos teórico-lógicos e cita as estratégias metodológicas, empregando o modelo teórico-lógico como proposta para avaliar a implantação da CRMU. A última etapa trata da elaboração do modelo teórico-lógico, bem como de suas matrizes de avaliação e de seu elenco de indicadores.

Functional genomic hypothesis generation and experimentation by a robot scientist

King R. D., Whelan, K. E., Jones, F. M., Reiser, P. G. K., Bryant, C. H., Muggleton, S., Kell, D. B. and Oliver, S. G. (2004) Functional genomic hypothesis generation and experimentation by a robot scientist. Nature 427 (6971) p247-252

Technologies de prescription informatisée et transformation du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires

L’amélioration de la qualité de l’utilisation des médicaments dans les soins primaires est devenue un enjeu crucial. Les pharmaciens communautaires se présentent comme des acteurs centraux dans l’atteinte de cet objectif, en réclamant une extension de leur rôle. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de mieux comprendre comment les technologies de prescription informatisée (eRx) influencent la transformation du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires. Le premier article présente les résultats d’une étude de cas qui aborde la transformation du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires à partir du concept de professionnalisation. Elle propose un modèle logique des influences d’une technologie de eRx sur cette professionnalisation, élaboré à partir de la typologie de Davenport. Ce modèle logique a été validé en interviewant douze pharmaciens communautaires participant à un projet pilote typique de technologie de eRx. A partir des perceptions des pharmaciens communautaires, nous avons établi que la technologie était susceptible de soutenir la professionnalisation des pharmaciens en passant par cinq mécanismes : la capacité analytique, l’élimination des intermédiaires, l’intégration, l’automatisation et la diffusion des connaissances. Le deuxième article analyse les perturbations induites par les différentes fonctions des technologies de eRx sur la stabilité de la juridiction des pharmaciens communautaires, en se basant sur un cadre de référence adapté d’Abbott. À partir de trente-trois entrevues, avec des praticiens (médecins et pharmaciens) et des élites, cette étude de cas a permis de décrire en détail les influences des différentes fonctions sur les modalités d’action des professionnels, ainsi que les enjeux soulevés par ces possibilités. La perturbation principale est liée aux changements dans la distribution des informations, ce qui influence les activités de diagnostic et d’inférence des professionnels. La technologie peut redistribuer les informations relatives à la gestion des médicaments autant au bénéfice des médecins qu’au bénéfice des pharmaciens, ce qui suscite des tensions entre les médecins et les pharmaciens, mais aussi parmi les pharmaciens. Le troisième article présente une revue systématique visant à faire une synthèse des études ayant évalué les effets des technologies de eRx de deuxième génération sur la gestion des médicaments dans les soins primaires. Cette revue regroupe dix-neuf études menées avec des méthodes observationnelles. Les résultats rapportés révèlent que les technologies sont très hétérogènes, le plus souvent immatures, et que les effets ont été peu étudiés au-delà des perceptions des utilisateurs, qui sont mitigées. Le seul effet positif démontré est une amélioration de la qualité du profil pharmacologique accessible aux professionnels, alors que des effets négatifs ont été démontrés au niveau de l’exécution des prescriptions, tels que l’augmentation du nombre d’appels de clarification du pharmacien au prescripteur. Il semble donc que l’on en connaisse peu sur les effets des technologies de eRx de deuxième génération. Ces trois études permettent de constater que les nouvelles technologies de eRx peuvent effectivement influencer la transformation du rôle du pharmacien communautaire en perturbant les caractéristiques des prescriptions, et surtout, l’information et sa distribution. Ces perturbations génèrent des possibilités pour une extension du rôle des pharmaciens communautaires, tout en soulignant les défis intra et interprofessionnels associés à l’actualisation de ces possibilités. Dans l’ensemble, nos résultats soulignent que les perturbations associées aux technologies de eRx dépassent les éléments techniques du travail des utilisateurs, pour englober de multiples perturbations quant à la nature même du travail et du rôle des professionnels. Les décideurs et acteurs impliqués dans le déploiement des technologies de eRx auraient avantage à prendre en compte l’ensemble de ces considérations pour rapprocher les effets observés des bénéfices promis de ces technologies.

Les dimensions négligées de l'évaluation de la performance : les valeurs et la qualité de vie au travail

L’objet de cette thèse est l’élaboration d’un modèle logique de mesure du maintien des valeurs, ainsi que son opérationnalisation afin d’entreprendre l’évaluation de la performance des systèmes de santé. Le maintien des valeurs est l’une des quatre fonctions de la théorie de l’action sociale de T.Parsons permettant d’analyser les systèmes d’action. Les autres fonctions sont l’adaptation, la production et l’atteinte des buts. Cette théorie est la base du modèle EGIPSS (évaluation globale et intégrée de la performance des systèmes de santé), dans lequel cette thèse s’insère. La fonction étudiée correspond, dans l’oeuvre de T.Parsons, au sous-système culturel. Elle renvoie à l’intangible, soit à l’univers symbolique par lequel l’action prend son sens et les fonctions du système s’articulent. Le modèle logique de mesure du maintien des valeurs est structuré autour de deux concepts principaux, les valeurs individuelles et organisationnelles et la qualité de vie au travail. À travers les valeurs individuelles et organisationnelles, nous mesurons la hiérarchie et l’intensité des valeurs, ainsi que le niveau de concordance interindividuelle et le degré de congruence entre les valeurs individuelles et organisationnelles. La qualité de vie au travail est composée de plusieurs concepts permettant d’analyser et d’évaluer l’environnement de travail, le climat organisationnel, la satisfaction au travail, les réactions comportementales et l’état de santé des employés. La mesure de ces différents aspects a donné lieu à la conception de trois questionnaires et de trente indicateurs. Ma thèse présente, donc, chacun des concepts sélectionnés et leurs articulations, ainsi que les outils de mesure qui ont été construits afin d’évaluer la dimension du maintien des valeurs. Enfin, nous exposons un exemple d’opérationnalisation de ce modèle de mesure appliqué à deux hôpitaux dans la province du Mato Grosso du Sud au Brésil. Cette thèse se conclut par une réflexion sur l’utilisation de l’évaluation comme outil de gestion soutenant l’amélioration de la performance et l’imputabilité. Ce projet comportait un double enjeu. Tout d’abord, la conceptualisation de la dimension du maintien des valeurs à partir d’une littérature abondante, mais manquant d’intégration théorique, puis la création d’outils de mesure permettant de saisir autant les aspects objectifs que subjectifs des valeurs et de la qualité de vie au travail. En effet, on trouve dans la littérature de nombreuses disciplines et de multiples courants théoriques tels que la psychologie industrielle et organisationnelle, la sociologie, les sciences infirmières, les théories sur le comportement organisationnel, la théorie des organisations, qui ont conçu des modèles pour analyser et comprendre les perceptions, les attitudes et les comportements humains dans les organisations. Ainsi, l’intérêt scientifique de ce projet découle de la création d’un modèle dynamique et intégrateur offrant une synthèse des différents champs théoriques abordant la question de l’interaction entre les perceptions individuelles et collectives au travail, les conditions objectives de travail et leurs influences sur les attitudes et les comportements au travail. D’autre part, ce projet revêt un intérêt opérationnel puisqu’il vise à fournir aux décideurs du système de santé des connaissances et données concernant un aspect de la performance fortement négligé par la plupart des modèles internationaux d’évaluation de la performance.

Modélisation et analyse des interventions d’équitation thérapeutique utilisées à des fins de réadaptation

Contexte et problématique. Selon l’Association Canadienne d’Équitation Thérapeutique (ACET), l’équitation thérapeutique comprend toutes les activités équestres s’adressant à une clientèle présentant des déficiences. L’équitation thérapeutique compte plusieurs approches, notamment l’hippothérapie, une stratégie de réadaptation offerte par des ergothérapeutes, physiothérapeutes et orthophonistes. L’hippothérapie se base sur le mouvement tridimensionnel induit par le cheval lequel favorise l’amélioration de diverses fonctions neuromotrices notamment le tonus du tronc et de la tête, la posture debout et les ajustements posturaux. Bien que les approches d’équitation thérapeutique prennent de l’ampleur au Québec, il n’y a toujours aucune règlementation officielle. Il existe donc une confusion importante entre les différentes approches d’équitation thérapeutique et l’hippothérapie actuellement reconnue comme la seule approche médicale de réadaptation utilisant le cheval. Les clientèles présentant de lourdes déficiences neuro-musculo-squelettiques se voient donc régulièrement référées dans des centres qui n’offrent pas d’hippothérapie et sont confrontées à des risques importants. Objectifs. Modéliser les interventions d’équitation thérapeutique afin de rendre explicites les composantes de ces interventions et les liens qui les unissent ainsi qu’analyser la plausibilité des interventions à atteindre les résultats escomptés. Méthodologie. Les interventions d’équitation thérapeutique ont été modélisées par des entrevues réalisées auprès des principales personnes offrant des services d’équitation thérapeutique au Québec. Une revue de la littérature a été conduite sur les principes de réadaptation qui sous-tendent les interventions. L’ensemble des données recueillies ont été analysé selon une procédure habituelle d’analyse de contenu qualitatif. Résultats. Les modèles créés permettent d’améliorer les connaissances des pratiques d’équitation thérapeutiques et d’hippothérapie au Québec. Conséquences. Les modèles permettent d’entamer une réflexion sur la règlementation de ces pratiques au Québec et au Canada ainsi que de soutenir les processus de références dans les différents centres québécois.

Enhancement of user level controls in cloud databases

Industries in developed countries are moving quickly to ensure the rapid adoption of cloud computing. At this stage, several outstanding issues exist, particularly related to Service Level Agreements (SLAs), security and privacy. Consumers and businesses are willing to use cloud computing only if they can trust that their data will remain private and secure. Our review of research literature indicates the level of control that a user has on their data is directly correlated to the level of data privacy provided by the cloud service. We considered several privacy factors from the industry perspective, namely data loss, data storage location being unknown to the client, vendor lock-in, unauthorized secondary use of user's data for advertising, targeting secured backup and easy restoration. The level of user control in database models were identified according to the level of existence in these privacy factors. Finally, we focused on a novel logical model that might help to bring the level of user control of privacy in cloud databases into a higher level.

Fatores relevantes na escolha de prestadores de serviços de atividades de apoio no Brasil

A pesquisa visou explorar o tema da escolha do prestador de serviços de atividades de apoio no Brasil. Quais são os critérios relevantes que uma organização deve adotar para escolher o prestador de serviços que contribua para a persecução dos objetivos dessa organização? Como escolher o prestador de serviços corretamente? Essas perguntas foram investigadas na pesquisa de campo. O método adotado foi o do estudo de caso único. A pesquisa exploratória utilizou-se do modelo lógico para interpretar as evidências colhidas, bem como cruzou esses dados com a pouca literatura existente sobre o tema. A análise documental, a observação direta e as entrevistas confirmaram as premissas adotadas. A análise da capacidade econômica do prestador de serviços, da habilidade técnica, do preço e o grau de confiança foram encontrados nas evidências e confirmaram a proposição inicial como fatores relevantes na escolha desse prestador de serviços. A pesquisa ainda fez novas descobertas que sugerem futuras pesquisas.

Pervasive Sensing in Future Networks

Pervasive Sensing is a recent research trend that aims at providing widespread computing and sensing capabilities to enable the creation of smart environments that can sense, process, and act by considering input coming from both people and devices. The capabilities necessary for Pervasive Sensing are nowadays available on a plethora of devices, from embedded devices to PCs and smartphones. The wide availability of new devices and the large amount of data they can access enable a wide range of novel services in different areas, spanning from simple data collection systems to socially-aware collaborative filtering. However, the strong heterogeneity and unreliability of devices and sensors poses significant challenges. So far, existing works on Pervasive Sensing have focused only on limited portions of the whole stack of available devices and data that they can use, to propose and develop mainly vertical solutions. The push from academia and industry for this kind of services shows that time is mature for a more general support framework for Pervasive Sensing solutions able to enhance frail architectures, promote a well balanced usage of resources on different devices, and enable the widest possible access to sensed data, while ensuring a minimal energy consumption on battery-operated devices. This thesis focuses on pervasive sensing systems to extract design guidelines as foundation of a comprehensive reference model for multi-tier Pervasive Sensing applications. The validity of the proposed model is tested in five different scenarios that present peculiar and different requirements, and different hardware and sensors. The ease of mapping from the proposed logical model to the real implementations and the positive performance result campaigns prove the quality of the proposed approach and offer a reliable reference model, together with a direction for the design and deployment of future Pervasive Sensing applications.

Clustering strategies for object databases

When object databases arrived on the scene some ten years ago, they provided database capabilities for previously neglected, complex applications, such as CAD, but were burdened with one inherent teething problem, poor performance. Physical database design is one tool that can provide performance improvements and it is the general area of concern for this thesis. Clustering is one fruitful design technique which can provide improvements in performance. However, clustering in object databases has not been explored in depth and so has not been truly exploited. Further, clustering, although a physical concern, can be determined from the logical model. The object model is richer than previous models, notably the relational model, and so it is anticipated that the opportunities with respect to clustering are greater. This thesis provides a thorough analysis of object clustering strategies with a view to highlighting any links between the object logical and physical model and improving performance. This is achieved by considering all possible types of object logical model construct and the implementation of those constructs in terms of theoretical clusterings strategies to produce actual clustering arrangements. This analysis results in a greater understanding of object clustering strategies, aiding designers in the development process and providing some valuable rules of thumb to support the design process.

Avaliação da atenção humanizada ao abortamento em maternidade-escola, em Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Unplanned pregnancy is experienced by millions of women worldwide. Such fact increases the risk of abortion-related morbimortality, which represents a serious public health problem. This study aims to evaluate the advances and challenges of the implementation of Humanized Abortion Care at the Maternity-School in Natal, state of Rio Grande do Norte. The research was evaluative, was preceded by an Evaluative Study, and resulted in a Case Study. The intentional sample totaled 102 subjects (60 users, 39 professionals and 3 managers). The collection techniques included documental analysis, semi-structured interview and observation with a field diary. The documental analysis was descriptive, while the Content Analysis by Bardin was used for semi-structured interviews and field diary. The Evaluative Study observed that Humanized Abortion Care is an evaluative program with preparation and pact of the logical model, of the matrix of indicators and evaluative questions. The Case Study showed that users were satisfied with the problem-solving capacity and access to the service; however, is also showed that they pointed out inadequacy in terms of environment, qualified hearing and reproductive planning. Professionals reported that the inefficiency of service consists of infrastructure and environment, which are considered inefficient and inadequate to humanized care, especially regarding patient accommodation, the lack of hospital beds, the reduced number of rooms in the surgical center and the lack of laboratory inside the maternity. Moreover, reproductive planning does not consist of an institutionalized practice in the service, and integrality with other services or partnership with the community is not in place. The Maternity Board emphasizes that the excessive demand of patients is one of the reasons that hinders the appropriate implementation of the technical standard. We then conclude that although satisfied regarding problem-solving capacity in terms of service and ease of access, there is room for improvement in qualified hearing systems, in the creation of a system to promote team work, implementation of ombudsman and satisfaction surveys. The right of shared choice did not prevail among users and health professionals with regard to the option of uterine evacuation procedure. Environment was the most mentioned category as that requiring more changes, seeing as a limited factor for the development of humanized and welcoming practices. Health professionals do not establish a periodic routine of planning practices, and such practices are not aligned with the Technical Standard. Incorporation of guidelines and availability of a plurality of methods and possibilities of choices for family planning are required. There is no institutionalization of reference and counter-reference, or partnerships with the community, which makes integrality of care not viable. The Standard needs to be included in the action plans of managers as one of the priorities in the construction of care strategies for women's health, in order to enable, allied to other initiatives, the real integration among safe conduct service, primary care network and social organizations. As a result, respect for human rights and adequate humanized care, as a way of attention and prevention of abortion, can be secured.