Patient Dependency Knowledge-Based Systems.

Dutch research on knowledge-based instructional systems: Introduction to the special issue

Financial industry is a core industry in Hong Kong. The business systems in financial institutes are widely applied throughout their front, mid, and back office. The system specialist who supports these systems must have finance and information-systems knowledge. This multi-disciplinary requirement leads to difficulties in finding capable candidates. It is reasonably assumed that a knowledge-based system (KBS) with the intelligence of a system specialist can assist a helpdesk to support the business systems. However, KBS development involves many known issues. In particular, the uncertainties of collected knowledge should be discussed and remodelled iteratively until the final knowledge set is close to the actual knowledge. Although the literature states that it is theoretically feasible to use Unified Modelling Language (UML) on knowledge acquisition, case studies on this area to date have been insufficient, hence this research experiment UML on developing a KBS for supporting business systems in a financial institute. The method of using UML diagrams is documented throughout the study. The results show that the UML was useful in different stages of KBS development. The case study articulates how the KBS helps to solve business system problems in the company. In summary, this paper can shed light on future research in using UML for KBS development.

This paper presents a framework called logical knowledge object (LKO), which is taken as a basis of the dependable development of knowledge based systems(KBSs). LKO combines logic programming and object-oriented programming paradigms, where objects are viewed as abstractions with states, constraints, behaviors and inheritance. The operational semantics defined in the style of natural semantics is simple and clear. A hybrid knowledge representation amalgamating rule, frame, semantic network and blackboard is available for both most structured and flat knowledge. The management of knowledge bases has been formally specified. Accordingly, LKO is well suited for the formal representation of knowledge and requirements of KBSs. Based on the framework, verification techniques are also explored to enhance the analysis of requirement specifications and the validation of KBSs. In addition, LKO provides a methodology for the development of KBSs, applying the concepts of rapid prototyping and top-down design to deal with changing and incomplete requirements, and to provide multiple abstract models of the domain, where formal methods might be used at each abstract level.

The development, validation and implementation of knowledge-based systems

Research in verification and validation (V&V) of knowledge based systems (KBS) has emerged as a distinct field in the last decade and is intended to address issues associated with KBS quality aspects and to credit such applications to the same degree as conventional applications. Part of the knowledge and techniques developed are now ready to be transferred to industry for the implementation of software certification. Certification is probably the most advanced use of the V&V methods, techniques and knowledge that have been developed so far. The paper approaches the challenging issues of certifying the knowledge base (KB) component of a KBS. KB certification uses a number of different certification methods such as static analysis, testing, inspection, and modeling to assess the quality of the KB component. Although these methods are currently used in KBS development, it is not yet clear how they would be applied by an independent certification organization to arrive at a pass/fail decision. The article discusses the components of KB certification and identifies application areas directly connected with industrial needs.

Knowledge Based System (KBS) is a problem solving approach that makes use of human knowledge in decision strategies. Modeling and representing imperfect human knowledge associated with uncertainty is an important task in KBS development. There are various types of uncertainty, and randomness and fuzziness are among the most important. Handling hybrid uncertainty in one KBS is critical to support real world applications. Knowware System (KWS) is an intelligent tool designed to support application developers in constructing customized hybrid KBS without requiring developers being familiar with relevant intelligent techniques. It is essential for KWS to construct corresponding inference structure in resulting KBS and process the inference with hybrid uncertainty. To fulfill this requirement the extended Truth Value Flow Inference (TVFI) and Interval-Valued Confidence (IVC) have been defined and developed as ambedded mechanisms of KWS, and the hybrid logic has been adopted for the framework of handling hybrid uncertainty.This chapter discusses the IVC for the inference in hybrid KBS constructed by KWS with hierarchical knowledge representation. The knowledge content (precise or imprecise) represented in multiple units of knowledge hierarchy and the confidence obtained during inference process are treated as at two levels separately but simultaneously based on the extended TVFI. With the basic form of IVC, a fuzzy truth value is represented as a fuzzy number defined as a three-parametric triangular type-1 fuzzy set on the unit interval [0, 1]. The inference with both fuzzy truth and probability results an Extended Interval-Valued Confidence (EIVC) which is an interval type-2 fuzzy set on [0, 1] having the probability as an uncertainty measure on the fuzzy truth. The main focus of discussion will be put on interval-valued confidence. To provide the background of discussion, the KWS scheme, the extended TVFI and the concepts of hybrid logic will be briefly introduced.KeywordsUncertaintyRandomnessFuzzinessKnowwareSystemHybridLogicInterval-Valued Confidence

This paper presents a low cost knowledge based system (KBS) framework for design of bending die. Considerations for development of KBS are discussed at some length. The proposed framework divides the task of development of expert system into different modules for major activities of bending die design. The procedure of development of KBS modules is also described at length. Production rules for each module are recommended to be coded in the AutoLISP language and designed to be loaded into the prompt area of AutoCAD or through user interface created using Visual Basic. Each module of the proposed framework is user interactive. Development of one module of the proposed framework is also described at length. This module is capable to assess manufacturability of bending sheet metal parts. An illustrative example is also included to demonstrate the usefulness of this module. The proposed system framework is flexible enough to accommodate new acquired knowledge. As the proposed system is implementable on a PC having AutoCAD software, therefore its low cost of implementation makes it affordable even by small scale sheet metal industries.

In the digital era, advances in information technology have penetrated various aspects of life, including the health sector. This article reviews the importance of health literacy and digital literacy in facing the challenges of health information that is easily produced and disseminated in the digital world. Telemedicine or e-health is in the main spotlight in facilitating access to health services, while this research introduces a health literacy model with three level including functional, interactive, and critical. Digital literacy is described as a key skill in understanding, evaluating, and wisely utilizing online health information. The article also discusses the role played by the government and society in overcoming the spread of hoaxes and increasing digital literacy. Thus, by increasing health literacy and digital literacy, it is hoped that people can access correct health information and avoid misinformation, which will ultimately contribute to improving quality of life and welfare. In an increasingly digitally connected world, the ability to critically sort information and use technology wisely is key to maintaining the health and well-being of society. Therefore, joint efforts between the government, health institutions and the community in increasing health literacy and digital literacy are very important to face this ever-growing digital era. In the digital era, advances in information technology have penetrated various aspects of life, including the health sector. This article reviews the importance of health literacy and digital literacy in facing the challenges of health information that is easily produced and disseminated in the digital world. Telemedicine or e-health is in the main spotlight in facilitating access to health services, while this research introduces a health literacy model with three level including functional, interactive, and critical. Digital literacy is described as a key skill in understanding, evaluating, and wisely utilizing online health information. The article also discusses the role played by the government and society in overcoming the spread of hoaxes and increasing digital literacy. Thus, by increasing health literacy and digital literacy, it is hoped that people can access correct health information and avoid misinformation, which will ultimately contribute to improving quality of life and welfare. In an increasingly digitally connected world, the ability to critically sort information and use technology wisely is key to maintaining the health and well-being of society. Therefore, joint efforts between the government, health institutions and the community in increasing health literacy and digital literacy are very important to face this ever-growing digital era.

Cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) is rapidly growing as a global trade engine. Simultaneously, its rapid expansion also poses environmental challenges and worsens supply chain sustainability. Advanced information technology (IT) significantly enhances supply chain visibility and promotes cooperation, thereby improving the efficiency and sustainability of CBEC supply chains. However, the application of IT is accompanied by an increase in service costs, necessitating a comprehensive balance for enterprises. This paper constructs a CBEC supply chain consisting of an overseas supplier and two merchants, where one merchant adopts advanced IT to provide differentiated services. A game-theoretic model is employed to analyze the IT application decisions under price and service competition in supply chain members’ cooperative and non-cooperative scenarios. The results indicate that service differentiation generated by advanced IT is influenced by consumer preferences. Merely applying advanced IT may not necessarily improve competitiveness and efficiency, and may even lead to negative utility. When the products sold are similar and the service cost coefficient is constant, those who apply advanced IT to provide higher service levels can gain competitive advantages and obtain more profits. When the service differentiation between merchants is constant, CBEC supply chains implementing centralized strategies can achieve greater profits.

With constant advances in information technology, more and more information is available and users’ information needs are becoming more diverse. Most conventional information systems only attempt to provide information that meets users’ specific interests. In contrast, we are working on ways of discovering information from the viewpoints of both interest and necessity. For example, we are trying to discover complementary information that provides additional knowledge on the users’ topics of interest, not just information that is similar to the topic. In previous work, which was based on extracting topic structures from closed-caption data, we proposed methods of searching for information to complement TV program content; that is, to provide users with more detailed information or different viewpoints. In this paper, we focus on the features of text streams (closed-caption data, etc.) and propose a method for context-sensitive retrieval of complementary information. We modified our topic-structure model for content representation and consider the “context” of a text stream in searching for complementary information. The “context” of the text stream is considered to be a series of topic structures. Based on such kind of context, we propose methods of searching for complementary information for TV programs, including query-type selection, query modification, and computation of the degree of complementarity. The experiment results showed that, comparing to our previous methods, the context-sensitive method could provide more additional information and avoid information overlap.KeywordsComplementary InformationQuery TypeQuery GraphSubject TermTopic StructureThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

PurposeWhile trade shows remain an important customer relationship management (CRM) tool, recent advancements in information technology (IT) have raised concerns about the future of trade shows. This study aims to examine the antecedents and consequences of IT integration into trade shows.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a questionnaire-based survey with senior and middle managers in the aviation services, resulting in 135 valid responses from industry professionals. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.FindingsThe findings demonstrate differential but significant impact of perceptions toward website design and firm motivations toward the integration IT in the three stages of trade shows marketing. The results also show significant impact of IT usage on the perceptions toward the accomplishment of trade show objectives. Further, the results vary according to the levels of experience of the professionals.Research limitations/implicationsThis study did not account for the differences in perceptions toward IT implementation across personnel from different departments, such as IT, finance and operations management. In addition, it did not examine situational factors and individual characteristics as additional antecedents of IT usage in trade shows, including pricing, return on investment, convenience and the social media.Practical implicationsExhibitors are advised to integrate IT in supporting pre-trade show activities to approach potential customers. Exhibitors should integrate electronic interactions and personal communications during the show to reduce the amount of unanswered customer queries, focusing on timeliness and accuracy of information content, ease of navigation and graphic attractiveness of corporate websites, as effective CRM tools.Originality/valueThis paper offers novel insights into hitherto unknown aspects of trade show performance. The results have managerial implications for adopting IT as a CRM tool for effective trade show management.

During the past 2 years, traditional freight transportation intermediaries, which include freight forwarders, brokers, and third-party logistics (3PL) providers, have been joined by new intermediaries. The main drivers in the development of these new companies are advances in information and communications technologies, development of web-based or online freight transportation marketplaces, and worldwide emergence of business-to-business electronic marketplaces and business-to-consumer e-tailers. Advances in information technology enable many new operational paradigms and, potentially, the efficient integration of supply chains. These new companies are examined, including their potential benefits and costs of shifting from traditional 3PL to these online service providers. Also addressed is the extent to which changes in the industries appear to be more of a transition than a large-scale transformation.

Advances in industrial technology 4.0 provide many changes in today's life. One example attached to the advancement of industrial technology 4.0 is the use of communication, transactions, even to the level of education using the acceleration of information technology. Some sectors have used advances in information technology such as the government sector, the industrial sector and even the world of education. This is because the greater the influence of the use of information technology to accelerate the transformation of each sector that uses it. But on the other hand, advances in information technology, apart from having a positive impact, also have a negative impact. As a real example of the positive impact, namely in the education sector, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of technology could be felt, as far as learning could be close to existing learning videos. However, one of the challenges is that advances in information technology also have a negative impact in the field of education, namely the dependence of students or students to spend more time playing online games (e-sports). So that it can affect the results of student learning achievement. Therefore, the research method that will be used is to use the classification of the influence of e-sports on student learning outcomes using the Nave Bayes algorithm which is optimized using particle swarm optimization. In its implementation, it was found that some students experienced decreased learning outcomes and some increased, of course this was influenced by several factors, both internal and external to the students themselves. The implementation of the algorithm used in this study obtained a sufficient level of classification with an AUC (area under classification) value of 0.792 and an accuracy value of 75.95%

Decision support systems under multiple objectives (MODSS) has been classified as a specific type of system within the broad family of DSS and has been one of the most active areas of research. However, despite its theoretical development large scale real-world applications of multiobjective decision-making (MODM) methods had been seriously lacking due to the technical knowledge and expertise needed to select and apply the most appropriate method. This paper explores the possibility of embedding intelligent guidance within MODSS, and outlines a specific guidance framework for the design of knowledge-based guidance for the selection of a suitable MODM method. This framework has been implemented as an intelligent and graphical user interface based multiple objective decision support system prototype. The prototype, with its database, methodology base of MODM and knowledge based system, will help any decision-maker in selecting the most appropriate method in solving various MODM problems.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Grid are crucial for fostering and directing the advancement of economic and information technologies. Right now, the application of IoT is evolving quickly, while some applications have unique needs that the current technology is unable to satisfactorily address. Fuzzy logic, knowledge-based systems, and neural networks are some of the AI approaches. They have improved the way that distributed energy resources based Smart Grid is controlled. Other facilities like data sensing, data storage, and secure, transparent, and traceable digital transactions between peers and their clusters have also been made possible by the IoT. In the last ten years, these promising technologies have undergone a rapid technical evolution, and the number of applications has grown significantly. As a result, this study covers the IoT with Smart Grid and its uses in digital transitions.