Aspects of the information structure of spoken discourse

This thesis is a data-based investigation of the way speakers structure what they want to say in terms of 'given' and 'new' information. It is presented as a contribution to the study of the pragmatics of natural language in which the structure of discourse utterances is viewed as deriving, not from primarily syntactic or semantic criteria, but from the functional requirements of efficient communication in context. The recorded -Conversational speech of Edinburgh Scottish English speakers is analysed to determine whether intonational criteria, as suggested by Halliday (1967), can be taken as the formal features which define the organisation of information in spoken discourse. it is proposed that intonational cues are only a partial, and unreliable, guide to information structuring. A detailed examination is then presented of a corpus of spoken data elicited in a situation in which several parameters relating to the nature of information transfer were controlled. As a result, a comprehensive description of the linguistic realisation of information structure elements is provided. This leads to a reconsideration of conversational data and the ways in which elements in the information structure of messages interact and are influenced by larger structuring processes in the organisation of conversational contributions. Conclusions from the investigation are presented along with suggestions for continuing the research

Evaluation of the Scrub Practitioners' List of Intraoperative Non-Technical Skills (SPLINTS) system

Peer reviewedPostprin

Review of the Urbana and Champaign street railway power and heating plant

Thesis (BS)--University of Illinois, 1904Typescrip

Validation of plantar pressure and reaction force measured by Moticon pressure sensor insoles on a Concept2 rowing ergometer

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of plantar pressure and reaction force measured using the Moticon and Pedar-x sensor insoles while rowing on a Concept2 ergometer. Nineteen participants performed four 500 m trials of ergometer rowing at 22–24 strokes/min; two trials wearing Moticon insoles and two wearing Pedar-x insoles in a randomised order. Moticon and Pedar-x insoles both showed moderate to strong test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.57–0.92) for mean and peak plantar pressure and reaction force. Paired t-test demonstrated a significant difference (p 1.13), and Pearson’s correlation (r < 0.37) showed poor agreement for all plantar pressure and reaction force variables. Compared to Pedar-x, the Moticon insoles demonstrated poor validity, however, the Moticon insoles had strong reliability. Due to poor validity, caution should be used when considering Moticon insoles to assess changes in pressure and force reliably over time, across multiple trials or sessions. Moticon’s wireless and user-friendly application would be beneficial for assessing and monitoring biomechanical parameters in rowing if validity between measures of interest and Moticon’s results can be established

Strategies for improving quality and safety in global health:Lessons from nontechnical skills for surgery implementation in rwanda

The Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) framework is a taxonomy of cognitive and social skills that foster expertise and medical knowledge in the operating room. This framework can be used as a method to improve the quality of surgical care in global efforts to improve access to affordable surgery

Experience matters: comparing novice and expert ratings of non-technical skills using the NOTSS system

Abstract There is growing evidence that non-technical skills (NTS) are related to surgical outcomes and patient safety. The aim of this study was to further evaluate a behaviour rating system (NOTSS: Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons) which can be used for workplace assessment of the cognitive and social skills which are essential components of NTS. A novice group composed of consultant surgeons (n = 44) from five Scottish hospitals attended one of six experimental sessions and were trained to use the NOTSS system. They then used NOTSS to rate surgeons&apos; behaviors in six simulated scenarios filmed in the operating room. The behaviours demonstrated in each scenario were compared to expert ratings to determine accuracy. The mode rating from the novice group (who received a short training session in behaviour assessment) was the same as the expert group in 50% of ratings. Where there was disagreement, novice raters tended to provide lower ratings than the experts. Novice raters require significant training in this emerging area of competence in order to accurately rate nontechnical skills

Soil management of alfisols for water conservation and utilization

Alfisols are abundarrt soils used for rainfed agrkulfure but have a wide rarrse of problrrtrs due lo lora irrfilfratiorr rates. We studied a ranse of soil and crop managemenl options (fillngc and muklring for anrtunl crops, a~rrl ~wrerrninl crolrs) t:, incrcase infiltration during 1989 and 1990. With annual crops sfraw ~rrul~.ahn d FYM trrulch reducrd runof by 52% ar~d1 7% reslwcfitrly compared to barc freatmenfs but tillage h d small and inconsislent effecfs. Perennial crops produced high rutaolf duritrg the esfahlisl~~rrepnetr iod in 1988 and sukquetrfly a wide range of response depending or1 flu foliage slructure of fire r.roj>. Tall groroirtg pererrnial pigeon pea did not reduce runoff compared lo crops with no surface amendment but llrc derrse, shorf, s~rrtrulitrg stylosarrthes harr~ata reduced runofl more than straw mulch. Reduction in runof will decrease soil erosion and nrny increme draitra~e by up to 200 nrm pcr year. This drainage is a mmsive potential resource for dcrp rooted crups or irrigation fro111 grou~ritiuafer. Sustairrnble agrkultural production a1 a wntershed scale will involve soil manageme71t lo increase irtftltrafion in rairrfed areas and exploitafion of cortscqurnt increases in groundwater resources by irrigation or deep roofed crops

Dose-escalation study of a second-generation non-ansamycin HSP90 inhibitor, onalespib (AT13387), in combination with imatinib in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour

AbstractBackgroundGastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) treated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib can become resistant when additional mutations in the receptor tyrosine kinases KIT or PDGFRA block imatinib activity. Mutated KIT requires the molecular chaperone heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) to maintain stability and activity. Onalespib (AT13387) is a potent non-ansamycin HSP90 inhibitor. We hypothesised that the combination of onalespib and imatinib may be safe and effective in managing TKI-resistant GIST.Patients and methodsIn this dose-escalation study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of combination once-weekly intravenous onalespib for 3 weeks and daily oral imatinib in 28-d cycles. Twenty-six patients with TKI-resistant GIST were enrolled into four sequential dose cohorts of onalespib (dose range, 150–220 mg/m2) and imatinib 400 mg. The relationship between tumour mutational status (KIT/PDGFRA) and efficacy of treatment was explored.ResultsCommon onalespib-related adverse events were diarrhoea (58%), nausea (50%), injection site events (46%), vomiting (39%), fatigue (27%), and muscle spasms (23%). Overall, 81% of patients reported more than one onalespib-related gastrointestinal disorder. Nine patients (35%) had a best response of stable disease, including two patients who had KIT mutations known to be associated with resistance to imatinib and sunitinib. Disease control at 4 months was achieved in five patients (19%), and median progression-free survival was 112 d (95% confidence interval 43–165). One patient with PDGFRA-mutant GIST had a partial response for more than 376 d.ConclusionThe combination of onalespib plus imatinib was well tolerated but exhibited limited antitumour activity as dosed in this TKI-resistant GIST patient population.Trial registration ID: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT0129420