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ABSTRACT: The paper presents a new approach to the problem of retrieving
relevant documents from a massive, distributed database, through the use
of mobile autonomous programs (agents). A schema for collaboration
between these agents is used to derive relevant terms for query
expansion. The basic filtering algorithm uses clustering and user
feedback assists context definition, but more specific agent-like
behaviour is apparent when improvements to the basic algorithm are
explored
Intelligent World Wide Web Agents (Digest No.: 1997/118), IEE Colloquium on; 04/1997
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G. Winstanley
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ABSTRACT: Industrial planning involves an in-depth understanding and
continual consideration of all phases in the product lifecycle, and the
interdependences of subtasks, from conceptual design to implementation
and beyond. In some engineering disciplines, for example construction,
the problem is compounded by the number and types of disparate
disciplines involved in the lifecycle, and in the case of major
projects, the final results are all too often characterised by budget
deficits and project timescale overruns. The paper describes an approach
to industrial planning which relies on a centralised symbolic model of
the proposed project in terms of a fusion of three distinct relational
models; component, action and resource. The paper describes the
philosophy of model based planning and its application in the industrial
context
Knowledge-Based Approaches to Automation in Construction, IEE Colloquium on; 07/1995
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G. Winstanley
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ABSTRACT: Model-based planning systems are able to produce plans as
sequences of activities in a short space of time. They perform well in
industrial domains characterised by product and action complexity, by
virtue of their inherent symbolic models of the industrial domain.
Models typically comprise product and work breakdown structures, and
planning is performed efficiently through reasoning about
interrelationships existing within such a knowledge-rich description of
products and processes. Resources too can be represented as a symbolic
model, but the actual allocation to plan activities can be complex. The
author describes some research into various methods of resource
allocation and makes some statements about potential directions
Resource Scheduling for Large Scale Planning Systems, IEE Colloquium on; 07/1993
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ABSTRACT: The life-cycle of complex engineering products involves many
disciplines, each of which is responsible for a stage, or phase, in the
design-to-production process. Concurrent engineering principles are
capable of bringing together the traditionally disparate groups
involved. However, in order to facilitate the essential sharing of
product and process information, there is a need to provide a common
environment capable of supporting the various requirements of designers,
production workers and managers while ensuring that communication and
appropriate support is maintained. This paper describes model-based
planning research in the construction industry. At the heart of the
system are a central generic computer model of a certain type of
construction and a knowledge-based system able to apply engineering
knowledge in the constraint satisfaction process, leading to a planned
sequence of construction activities. The environment comprises the
central representation and reasoning mechanism, a symbolic
computer-aided design facility, and a commercial project planning and
management system. The paper details experiences in developing and
applying the environment in the planning of `real-life' construction
projects
Intelligent Systems Engineering 02/1993;
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ABSTRACT: The histopathological diagnosis of breast disease is representative of many problems of differential diagnosis encountered in the medical domain. It requires highly trained and experienced experts and is characterized by a large number of features whose presence or absence involves much uncertainty. Computer-based decision support systems intended to function in a consultative capacity during differential diagnosis have had limited success for two fundamental reasons. Firstly, they take an autonomous role and assume that the user has no contribution to make to the problem-solving process. Secondly, the established techniques for representing and reasoning with medical knowledge are of limited suitability in this domain. Such systems are unable to reach a correct diagnosis quickly and often subject the user to a cumbersome dialogue. These are not tolerated by pathologists working under severe time constraints. We first look at the problem-solving methods employed by pathologists in this domain and examine the functionality of traditional expert system methodologies. We then present a cooperative design which allows the pathologists to express his or her ideas within a decision support system whilst gaining assistance in required areas. A novel inference technique based upon the set partitioning technique in hypergraphs is also described. This mathematical method has the ability to cope with the incomplete or inadequate knowledge which is a characteristic of breast disease, whilst directing data gathering in a meaningful manner. In particular this approach can significantly reduce the amount of irrelevant data which the pathologist must enter before a conclusion is reached. Thus it can potentially improve the efficiency and user acceptability of medical expert systems.
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 02/1991; 13(1):51-7.
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G. Winstanley
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ABSTRACT: Artificial intelligence provides the means to represent and model
domain concepts and provides an associated reasoning mechanism for use
in decision making. Systems concepts are useful in dealing with
complexity and have provided the means by which models and methodologies
can be formalised and used in the solution of problems existing within
industry and commerce. A methodology for product and process modelling
is outlined, as a prerequisite to specific product configuration and
production planning. The methodology is based on an object-based
decomposition of component hierarchies, with each identifiable
sub-component represented as semantic objects within a systems framework
IT Support for Systems Engineers, IEE Colloquium on; 12/1990
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ABSTRACT: The development of the National Breast Screening Programme has created a demand for the widespread availability of fine needle aspiration cytology services. To meet this demand there must be a rapid increase in the number of pathologists and laboratories able to offer this service. In turn there is a need for improved training methods. The technique of fine needle aspiration cytology is not inherently complicated. The number of possible conclusions is essentially limited to four: unsatisfactory, benign, suspicious and malignant. A computer based expert system, designed to assist pathologists in the diagnosis of fine needle aspirates of the breast, has been developed. The system prompts pathologists to categorize a number of variables in the aspirate including nuclear and cytoplasmic features, and the degree of cellular cohesion, and uses these data to reason about possible conclusions. The final diagnosis is displayed with a detailed explanation listing the factors supporting it. Initial trials with this system have been encouraging and it is envisaged that this system will be of value both in training and as an aid to routine diagnosis.
Journal of Clinical Pathology 03/1990; 43(2):168-70. · 2.31 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Morphological tumour differentiation has been shown in numerous studies to give a good prognosis in breast cancer, but as histological grading is based upon a subjective assessment of microscopical appearances, difficulties in consistency and reproducibility are inevitable. A review of the many conventional methods served to highlight a common limitation in their approach; lack of structure. We introduce a new approach which seeks to overcome the problem, by formalizing the methods and identifying aspects which are well suited to computer aided analysis, these being incorporated into a microcomputer system facilitating the collection and appraisal of morphometric data. Within the Information Technology Institute (ITRI) at Brighton Polytechnic a research team is carrying out multidisciplinary work into the elucidation of biological systems. This programme, entitled 'Intelligent Medical Systems', used methods of mathematical signal processing and artificial intelligence, applied to a number of areas, one of which is described in this paper. The aim has been to utilize the inherent skill exercised by the histopathologist in interpreting microscopical images, whilst making quantitization more accurate and reproducible. the system has been developed within a highly structured framework and will have applications in teaching and routine histological analysis. The value of artificial intelligence techniques in the wider issues of this area is discussed.
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 11/1988; 10(5):379-86.
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ABSTRACT: Conventional computer-assisted medical decision-making systems have had limited impact on routine clinical practice. This has stimulated an alternative approach to the utilization of medical knowledge bases. Centering on the storage and retrieval of medical information, it aims to provide clinicians with computerized medical reference systems. In this paper we describe the development of a prototype menu-driven browsing tool, which allows clinicians to browse through the contents of a knowledge base in a number of ways. Operations include interrogation via disease classes, names or attributes; hierarchical display of all or part of a disease profile; printing of a disease profile; construction of differential diagnosis lists and comparison of two diseases. We discuss how the use of a menu-driven interface can help to overcome some of the problems encountered with previous designs of medical reference systems.
Medical informatics = Médecine et informatique 15(2):151-9.
