Iterated teaching can optimise language functionality

Experimental studies of the cultural evolution of language have focused on how constraints on learning and communication drive emergence of linguistic structure. Yet language is typically transmitted by experts who adjust the input in ways that facilitates learning by novices, e.g. through child-directed speech. Using iterated language learning of binary auditory sequences, we explored how language change is affected by experts’ intention to teach the language to novices. Comparison between teaching chains and simple transmission chains revealed that teaching was associated with a greater rate of innovation which led to emergence of more expressive languages consisting of shorter signals. This is the first study to show that during cultural transmission, teaching can modify, and potentially optimise, functional characteristics of language

The role of instant diagnosis in the prevention of disease progression — considerations on the basis of clinical cases of breast cancer and own experience

Nowotwory, po chorobach serca i naczyń, są drugą co do częstości przyczyną przedwczesnych zgonów w polskiej populacji, zarówno wśród kobiet, jak i mężczyzn. W zakresie wczesnej umieralności z powodu chorób układu krążenia od kilku lat obserwuje się znamienną poprawę. Również urazy, zatrucia i choroby infekcyjne, będące niegdyś istotniejszą przyczyną, zaczynają schodzić na dalszy plan. Niekorzystnym zjawiskiem jest obserwowany bardzo dynamiczny wzrost liczby zachorowań na nowotwory złośliwe. Nie podlega dyskusji, że tylko sprawne przeprowadzenie ścieżki diagnostyczno-terapeutycznej: postawienie właściwego rozpoznania we wczesnych stadiach zaawansowania choroby jak i szybkie wdrożenie odpowiedniego postępowania, hamuje progresję i pozwala na skuteczne leczenie chorób nowotworowych. Przedstawiamy dwa przypadki pacjentek z rozpoznaniem nowotworu złośliwego piersi, leczonych przez nas już w fazie istotnego zaawansowania choroby. Zaniechanie diagnostyki było istotnym czynnikiem progresji choroby nowotworowej i istotnie ograniczyło efektywność postępowania terapeutycznego.Cancer is the second cause of early deaths in Poland, among both men and women. The mortality of cardiovascular diseases, that are the most common, for several years has been significantly decreasing, also injuries, accidents and poisoning, which have as well been an important mortality causes for a while, begun to go into a shade. An unfavourable phenomenon is observed in an essential growth in the number of new cases and deaths caused by neoplastic diseases. There is no doubt that only quick diagnostic and therapeutic path inhibit progression and allows the treatment be highly effective. We present two cases of breast cancer, in both the delay in diagnosis played an important role in progression of the disease and suppressed the effectiveness of the treatment performed

Iterated Teaching Can Optimise Language Functionality

Experimental studies of the cultural evolution of languagehave focused on how constraints on learning andcommunication drive emergence of linguistic structure. Yetlanguage is typically transmitted by experts who adjust theinput in ways that facilitates learning by novices, e.g. throughchild-directed speech. Using iterated language learning ofbinary auditory sequences, we explored how language changeis affected by experts’ intention to teach the language tonovices. Comparison between teaching chains and simpletransmission chains revealed that teaching was associatedwith a greater rate of innovation which led to emergence ofmore expressive languages consisting of shorter signals. Thisis the first study to show that during cultural transmission,teaching can modify, and potentially optimise, functionalcharacteristics of language