We address the problem of retrieving certain and consistent answers to queries posed to a mediated data integration system under the local-as-view paradigm with open sources and conjunctive and disjunctive view definitions. For obtaining certain answers a query program is run under the cautious stable model semantics on top of a normal deductive database with choice operator that specifies the ...

We extend answer set semantics to deal with inconsistent programs (containing classical negation), by finding a “best” answer set. Within the context of inconsistent programs, it is natural to have a partial order on rules, representing a preference for satisfying certain rules, possibly at the cost of violating less important ones. We show that such a rule order induces a natural order on exte...

This paper investigates the effects of preventive-maintenance cost functions on the optimal preventive-maintenance policy for a leased product with Weibull life-time distribution. During the lease period, any product failures are rectified by minimal repairs and may incur a penalty to the lessor, if the time duration for performing a minimal repair exceeds a pre-specified time limit. To reduce ...

The outcome of 260 repairs of the radial and posterior interosseous nerves, graded by Seddon's modification of the Medical Research Council Special Committee's system, was analysed according to four patterns of injury; open 'tidy', open 'untidy', closed traction, and those associated with injury to the axillary or brachial artery. We studied the effect on the outcome of delay in effecting repai...

OBJECTIVES This study compared the biomechanical fatigue strength of calcium phosphate augmented repairs versus autogenous bone graft (ABG) repairs in lateral tibia plateau fractures. METHODS Eight matched pairs of tibias (six male, two female; age, 75 ± 14 years) were harvested from fresh-frozen cadavers. Reproducible split-depression fractures were simulated and repaired by an orthopaedic t...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of surgical site infection for open elective umbilical hernia repairs and to identify the factors related to an increased risk of infection and/or recurrence. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 152 open elective umbilical hernia repairs between 2003 and 2007 was performed. RESULTS Overall, 19% of repairs became infected. Both h...

Self-repairs, where speakers repeat themselves, reformulate or restart what they are saying, are pervasive in human dialogue. These phenomena provide a window into real-time human language processing. For explanatory adequacy, a model of dialogue must include mechanisms that account for them. Artificial dialogue agents also need this capability for more natural interaction with human users. Thi...