Assessing the Unitary RNN as an End-to-End Compositional Model of Syntax

We show that both an LSTM and a unitary-evolution recurrent neural network (URN) can achieve encouraging accuracy on two types of syntactic patterns: context-free long distance agreement, and mildly context-sensitive cross serial dependencies. This work extends recent experiments on deeply nested context-free long distance dependencies, with similar results. URNs differ from LSTMs in that they avoid non-linear activation functions, and they apply matrix multiplication to word embeddings encoded as unitary matrices. This permits them to retain all information in the processing of an input string over arbitrary distances. It also causes them to satisfy strict compositionality. URNs constitute a significant advance in the search for explainable models in deep learning applied to NLP

Guide technique pour les tranferts securises de materiel genetique de cacaoyer. Revision des Directives Techniques FAO/IPGRI No. 20 (Troisième édition, Octobre 2017)

These guidelines describe technical procedures that minimize the risk of pest introductions with movement of cacao germplasm for research, crop improvement, plant breeding, exploration or conservation. The recommendations made in these guidelines are intended for small, specialized consignments used in research programmes, e.g. for collection, conservation and utilization for breeding of plant genetic resources. These guidelines are not meant for trade and commercial consignments concerning export and import of germplasm or cocoa beans. The conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources and their global distribution are essential components of research activities underpinning improvement programmes. Inevitably, the movement of germplasm involves a risk of accidentally introducing pests along with the host plant. To minimize such risks, preventive measures and effective testing procedures are required to ensure that distributed material is free of pests of potential phytosanitary importance. The international, and inter-regional, movement of germplasm for research, conservation and breeding requires complete and up to date information concerning the phytosanitary status of the plant germplasm. Relevant and current national regulatory information governing the export and importation of plant germplasm in countries is essential. This revision has been produced by the Safe Movement Working Group of CacaoNet. These reflect the consensus and knowledge of the specialists who have contributed to this revision but the information provided needs to be regularly updated. These CacaoNet Guidelines were first published on-line in 2012 but have been revised in 2014 and in 2017 to take account of new information received

Directrices tecnicas para el movimiento seguro del germoplasma del cacao. Version revisada de las Directrices Tecnicas de FAO/IPGRI No. 20 (Tercera actualizacion, Octubre de 2017)

These guidelines describe technical procedures that minimize the risk of pest introductions with movement of cacao germplasm for research, crop improvement, plant breeding, exploration or conservation. The recommendations made in these guidelines are intended for small, specialized consignments used in research programmes, e.g. for collection, conservation and utilization for breeding of plant genetic resources. These guidelines are not meant for trade and commercial consignments concerning export and import of germplasm or cocoa beans. The conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources and their global distribution are essential components of research activities underpinning improvement programmes. Inevitably, the movement of germplasm involves a risk of accidentally introducing pests along with the host plant. To minimize such risks, preventive measures and effective testing procedures are required to ensure that distributed material is free of pests of potential phytosanitary importance. The international, and inter-regional, movement of germplasm for research, conservation and breeding requires complete and up to date information concerning the phytosanitary status of the plant germplasm. Relevant and current national regulatory information governing the export and importation of plant germplasm in countries is essential. This revision has been produced by the Safe Movement Working Group of CacaoNet. These reflect the consensus and knowledge of the specialists who have contributed to this revision but the information provided needs to be regularly updated. These CacaoNet Guidelines were first published on-line in 2012 but have been revised in 2014 and in 2017 to take account of new information received

Technical guidelines for the safe movement of cacao germplasm. Revised from the FAO/IPGRI Technical Guidelines No. 20 (Third Update, October 2017)

These guidelines describe technical procedures that minimize the risk of pest introductions with movement of cacao germplasm for research, crop improvement, plant breeding, exploration or conservation. The recommendations made in these guidelines are intended for small, specialized consignments used in research programmes, e.g. for collection, conservation and utilization for breeding of plant genetic resources. These guidelines are not meant for trade and commercial consignments concerning export and import of germplasm or cocoa beans. The conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources and their global distribution are essential components of research activities underpinning improvement programmes. Inevitably, the movement of germplasm involves a risk of accidentally introducing pests along with the host plant. To minimize such risks, preventive measures and effective testing procedures are required to ensure that distributed material is free of pests of potential phytosanitary importance. The international, and inter-regional, movement of germplasm for research, conservation and breeding requires complete and up to date information concerning the phytosanitary status of the plant germplasm. Relevant and current national regulatory information governing the export and importation of plant germplasm in countries is essential. This revision has been produced by the Safe Movement Working Group of CacaoNet. These reflect the consensus and knowledge of the specialists who have contributed to this revision but the information provided needs to be regularly updated. These CacaoNet Guidelines were first published on-line in 2012 but have been revised in 2014 and in 2017 to take account of new information received

When Should Co-Authorship Be Given to AI?

If an AI makes a significant contribution to a research paper, should it be listed as a co-author? The current guidelines in the field have been created to reduce duplication of credit between two different authors in scientific articles. A new computer program could be identified and credited for its impact in an AI research paper that discusses an early artificial intelligence system which is currently under development at Lawrence Berkeley National. One way to imagine the future of artificial intelligence is that it will be much less expensive to develop new technologies than to create new ways of thinking. Now we have done this technology, and now we go and ask why in the end it is the artificial intelligence that takes over? Well, it is not that artificial intelligence is bad, but it is not as effective as human minds or as intelligent as machine minds. Even in the past, when computers were more intelligent than humans, not all the AI programs have been so intelligent as to be intelligent enough to be called intelligent

ATscale – Establishing a Cross-Sector Partnership to Increase Access to Assistive Technology

Given existing gaps in access to Assistive Technology (AT) globally, it is important to think broadly and identify innovative approaches to overcome them. After an initial scoping in 2018, involving consultations and landscape analyses, ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology was launched at the Global Disability Summit in July 2018 with the aim of reaching 500 million more people with life-changing AT by 2030. Applying lessons-learned from other areas of global health and development, ATscale was established with the recognition that to influence the complex systems for AT access, a broad set of stakeholders is needed to invest in and coordinate a multifaceted, systematic approach spanning market shaping, capacity development, and political prioritisation. Already, ATscale has demonstrated how a multi-sector group can come together and develop a cohesive strategy. This strategy overview has been released and shared broadly for additional consultation and feedback to further refine ATscale’s approach moving forward. ATscale has captured the attention of a diverse set of stakeholders. It now has eleven organisations within the Forming Committee and a broad community willing to inform its development. Now that it has been established, ATscale is working to move from an initial forming phase to a more formal organisation and to refine its operating model by late 2019 or early 2020. While there is significant momentum towards taking new, innovative approaches to address the gaps in access to quality, affordable AT for all, research shows that a wide range of systemic, underlying barriers and cross-cutting factors are contributing to the challenge in matching appropriate supply and demand for AT. While ATscale will address many of these, it is also going to require partnership on multiple levels with a coordinated strategic approach across a variety of stakeholders. This collective effort will enable the global community to have an impact greater than the sum of its individual parts in improving access to affordable, appropriate AT globally

Directrices técnicas para el movimiento seguro del germoplasma del cacao.: Versión revisada de las Directrices técnicas de FAO/IPGRI No. 20

Las Directrices Técnicas CacaoNet para el Movimiento Seguro de Germoplasma de Cacao contienen información actualizada sobre las medidas de precaución y cuarentenarias que se pueden tomar para minimizar el riesgo de introducir plagas y enfermedades cuando se traslada germoplasma de cacao para uso en investigación, fitomejoramiento, exploración o conservación. Estas Directrices, basadas en las publicadas en 1999 por la FAO y el IPGRI (hoy Bioversity International), han sido revisadas y ampliadas por un grupo de expertos establecido en el marco de CacaoNet (la Red Mundial de Recursos Genéticos de Cacao, coordinada por Bioversity International) para que reflejen los nuevos conocimientos sobre plagas y enfermedades que afectan el cacao, incluyendo su actual distribución, y los avances de las tecnologías para detectarlas. El documento incluye consejos generales sobre los procedimientos de seguridad que se deben utilizar cuando se transfiere material genético de cacao, ya sea como semillas, cultivo de tejidos o de la propia planta, e informaciones resumidas sobre la distribución geográfica de las plagas y enfermedades del cacao, y los riesgos relacionados con ellas. Los expertos han contribuido también a las secciones con información detallada sobre enfermedades ocasionadas por virus (necrosis del cacao, CSSV, virus del mosaico amarillo del cacao), hongos (escoba de bruja, moniliasis, Phytophtora, VSD, marchitamiento por Verticillium, mal de machete, podredumbre de la raíz por Rosellinia), plagas (barrenador de la mazorca, minadores de la corteza, míridos/cápsides, mosquitos, otros insectos) y nematodos. Cada sección contiene información sobre los síntomas, la distribución geográfica, la biología de la plaga o enfermedad y las medidas de cuarentena recomendadas.Estas Directrices CacaoNet, publicadas por primera vez en línea en 2012 y en inglés únicamente, se actualizaron en 2014. La nueva versión revisada está disponible en línea en inglés, francés y español. Las versiones impresas estarán disponibles muy pronto

Guide technique pour les tranferts sécurisés de matériel génétique de cacaoyer: Révision des directives techniques FAO/IPGRI No. 20

Le Guide technique pour les transferts sécurisés de matériel génétique de cacaoyer présente des informations à jour sur les précautions et les mesures de quarantaine permettant de minimiser le risque de propagation des ravageurs et des maladies lors des mouvements de matériel génétique pour la recherche, l'amélioration et la sélection végétales, l'exploration ou la conservation. Ces lignes directrices sont fondées sur celles publiées en 1999 par la FAO et l’IPGRI qui ont été révisées et amplifiées par un groupe d'experts mis en place dans le cadre de CacaoNet (le réseau mondial pour les ressources génétiques du cacao coordonné par Bioversity International) pour tenir compte des nouvelles connaissances sur les ravageurs et les maladies, y compris leur répartition actuelle et les progrès des techniques pour leur détection. Le document comprend des conseils généraux en ce qui concerne les procédures de sécurité à utiliser lors du transfert de matériel génétique de cacao, que ce soit sous forme de graines, de culture de tissus ou la plante elle-même, et des informations résumées sur la répartition géographique et les risques posés par des ravageurs et des maladies de cacao. En outre, les experts ont contribué aux sections donnant des informations détaillées sur les éléments suivants: maladies virales (nécrose du cacaoyer, CSSV, virus de la mosaïque jaune du cacaoyer), les maladies fongiques (maladie du balai de sorcière, Moniliose, Phytophthora, VSD, verticilliose, Mal de machete, pourridié à Rosellinia), insectes nuisibles (foreur des cabosses, cochenilles, mirides/capsides, moustiques, autres insectes ravageurs) et les nématodes. Chaque section contient des informations sur les symptômes physiques, la répartition géographique, la biologie du ravageur ou de la maladie et les mesures de quarantaine recommandées. Ce guide technique a d'abord été publié en ligne (seulement en anglais) en 2012, mais a été révisé en 2014 pour tenir compte des nouvelles informations reçues. Cette dernière version est consultable en ligne en anglais, français et espagnol et les versions imprimées seront bientôt disponibles