Detecting and correcting errors in ruled-based expert systems : an integration of empirical and explanation-based learning

In this paper, we argue that techniques proposed for combining empirical and explanation-based learning methods can also be used to detect errors in rule-based expert systems, to isolate the blame for these errors to a small number of rules and suggest revisions to the rules to eliminate these errors. We demonstrate that FOCL, an extension to Quinlan's FOIL program, can learn in spite of an incorrect domain theory (e.g., a knowledge base of an expert system that contains some erroneous rules). A prototype knowledge acquisition tool, KR-FOCL, has been constructed that can utilize a trace of FOCL to suggest revisions to a rule base

Natural environment and settlement in Chonge District, Eastern Muri Mountains, Northeastern Nigeria : an interdisciplinary case study

The craggy and hilly Muri Mountains, which are situated to the north of the Benue Lowlands, are an area with a complex pattern of settlement. This roughly 80 km long and 20 km wide mountainous area is inhabited by about 20 ethnic groups belonging to different language families. The present ethnic and linguistic situation is understood as the result of a complex series of migrations and adaptations to the natural environment. This paper will describe actual movements of settlements and consider certain conditions which may have been relevant in the decision to leave a settlement or choose a new one. The most important conditions will be the accessibility of arable land and/or pasture, accessibility of water, and conditions dependent on the historical and political context such as affording of security and possibility of defence. Therefore an interdisciplinary approach seems to be appropriate to evaluate the natural conditions for settlement and cultivation of the various places from a geographer´s point of view, to interrogate into the historical aspects and motifs of the settlement patterns and migrations with a thorough ethnological background, as well as to gain additional information from a linguistic analysis of toponymes and contact phenomena of the languages spoken in the area

Multilingual Language Processing From Bytes

We describe an LSTM-based model which we call Byte-to-Span (BTS) that reads text as bytes and outputs span annotations of the form [start, length, label] where start positions, lengths, and labels are separate entries in our vocabulary. Because we operate directly on unicode bytes rather than language-specific words or characters, we can analyze text in many languages with a single model. Due to the small vocabulary size, these multilingual models are very compact, but produce results similar to or better than the state-of- the-art in Part-of-Speech tagging and Named Entity Recognition that use only the provided training datasets (no external data sources). Our models are learning "from scratch" in that they do not rely on any elements of the standard pipeline in Natural Language Processing (including tokenization), and thus can run in standalone fashion on raw text

An assessment of ground-based techniques for detecting other planetary systems. Volume 1: An overview

The feasibility and limitations of ground-based techniques for detecting other planetary systems are discussed as well as the level of accuracy at which these limitations would occur and the extent to which they can be overcome by new technology and instrumenation. Workshop conclusions and recommendations are summarized and a proposed high priority program is considered

The Reading Railroad 1892-1893: Combination to Collapse

Submitted to the Undergraduate Library Research Award scholarship competition: (2015-2016). 24 pagesWhen the Reading Railroad combined with two other railroad companies in 1892, it controlled more than half of New York City’s market for anthracite coal. Twelve months later, the company collapsed. This paper tracks the events of those twelve months, particularly the actions of the Reading’s president, Archibald A. McLeod, or as his contemporaries called him, “the Napoleon of Railroads.” Though state and federal government committees proposed legislation to curb the Reading’s burgeoning power, the source of the Reading’s troubles was more clandestine. Ultimately, John Pierpont Morgan played the decisive role in the collapse, usurping McLeod’s ambitions to regain control of the Reading. The story displays important features of American railroad business during the 1890’s: the role of government, monopolistic discourse, and divergent meanings of a company. But more fundamentally, the collapse harmed all Americans, as it began the Panic of 1893

Concept for a large multipurpose launch vehicle

Multipurpose single stage launch vehicle configuration feasibility stud

Ground beetles of disturbed landscapes in Lower Lusatia–post mining landscapes

Die Niederlausitz befindet sich im Osten Deutschlands und ist überwiegend im Süden Brandenburgs gelegen. Sie ist in der Vergangenheit durch großflächigen Braunkohlebergbau und durch militärischen Übungsbetrieb stark anthropogen überprägt worden. Seit 1945 wurden durch den Tagebau in der Niederlausitz knapp 80.000 ha Fläche in insgesamt 42 Tagebauen in Anspruch genommen (DEBRIV 1997, DREBENSTEDT 1998) und liegen heute überwiegend als Bergbaufolgelandschaften (BFL) vor. Bezogen auf die Niederlausitz können etwa 1/5 der Fläche der Niederlausitz als gestörte Landschaften bezeichnet werden. Bergbaufolgelandschaften heben sich durch die ehemalige Nutzung deutlich von der Kulturlandschaft ab und werden hier beispielhaft für gestörte Landschaften betrachtet. Bergbaufolgelandschaften stellen großflächige Inseln in der Kulturlandschaft dar, die sich nach der Verkippung durch sterile Substrate auszeichnen, mit z. T. extremem bodenkundlichen und kleinklimatischen Verhältnissen. Nach Rekultivierung der Substrate oder nach natürlicher Sukzession sind von großen offenen Sandflächen, verschiedenen frühen Sukzessionstadien bis hin zu Forsten verschiedenste Vegetationsstadien zu finden. Eine Gemeinsamkeit aller Bergbaufolgelandschaften liegt in der Neubesiedlung durch Laufkäfer und primären Sukzession der Zönosen.Lower Lusatia, situated in south of Brandenburg / Germany is a highly disturbed landscape. Fifth part of area was disturbed or devastated by military trainig or brown coal mining in the past. Leftovers of mining activities are large dumps with highly acidic soils under primary succession. Many sites were recultivated and afforrested. But also many recultivated landscapes have extreme site conditions (low pH, early vegetation stages). 199 Ground beetle species are yet known from post mining landscapes in Lower Lusatia. Actually a high amount of endangered species can be found. All ground beetle species of open sandy soils and psammophytic grasslands and most species of rural vegetation and forests in Brandenburg can be found in post mining landscapes. Species inventory of Calluna-heathland, wetlands and riparian banks is incomplete and consist of only 40 – 60 % of possible species. Missing species belong to very rare and extinct species in Brandenburg or to species with highly specialised habitat requirements (moor, saline habitats, etc.) which cannot be found yet in post mining landscape

Zum Landnutzungswandel in der südlichen Sudanzone am Beispiel des Bauchi State (Nordost-Nigeria)

In der südlichen Sudanzone Westafrikas sind die Aktivitäten des wirtschaftenden Menschen seit langer Zeit die Hauptfaktoren der Landschafts- und Vegetationsgestaltung. Die ursprüngliche natürliche Vegetationsdecke - entsprechend der klimatischen Gegebenheiten wahrscheinlich laubabwerfende Trockenwälder - ist durch anthropogene Eingriffe in vielfältiger Weise verändert oder auch gänzlich beseitigt worden. Die Veränderungen bestehen einerseits aus direkten Eingriffen durch Rodung (für Siedlungs- und Anbauflächen), die selektive Nutzung von Pflanzen (Brennholzeinschlag und Holzkohleherstellung, Bauholznutzung, Beweidung, Laubschneiteln und Sammeltätigkeiten) und durch gelegte Buschfeuer (Aufspüren von Jagdwild, Stimulanz neuen Graswachstums und "Öffnen" der Pflanzendecke vor Unterkulturnahme). Andererseits haben die anthropogenen Einwirkungen je nach Art, Intensität und Dauer auch die natürlichen Standortbedingungen (vor allem Boden, Wasserhaushalt und Klima) verändert. Nicht zu vernachlässigen sind des Weiteren die nachhaltigen Eingriffe in den Wildtierbestand. In weiten Teilen Westafrikas wurde der am Anfang des 20. Jahrhundert noch recht arten- und individuenreichen Wildtierbestand fast vollständig verdrängt oder ausgerottet. Im vorliegenden Beitrag sollen am Beispiel des südöstlichen Bauchi State die Veränderungen der allgemeinen sozioökonomischen Rahmenbedingungen und die wichtigsten Maßnahmen zur Entwicklung der Land- und Forstwirtschaft und der dadurch bedingte Landnutzungswandel skizziert werden. Ausgangspunkt ist dabei der Zustand der Landschaft zu Beginn der Kolonialzeit, die hier in der ersten Dekade des 20. Jahrhunderts begann

An organometallic compound which exhibits a DNA topology-dependent one-stranded intercalation mode

Understanding how small molecules interact with DNA is essential since it underlies a multitude of pathological conditions and therapeutic interventions. Many different intercalator compounds have been studied because of their activity as mutagens or drugs, but little is known regarding their interaction with nucleosomes, the protein-packaged form of DNA in cells. Here, using crystallographic methods and molecular dynamics simulations, we discovered that adducts formed by [(η⁶-THA)Ru(ethylenediamine)Cl][PF₆] (THA = 5,8,9,10-tetrahydroanthracene; RAED-THA-Cl[PF₆]) in the nucleosome comprise a novel one-stranded intercalation and DNA distortion mode. Conversely, the THA group in fact remains solvent exposed and does not disrupt base stacking in RAED-THA adducts on B-form DNA. This newly observed DNA binding mode and topology dependence may actually be prevalent and should be considered when studying covalently binding intercalating compounds