Metaphor Identification beyond Discourse Coherence

In this paper, we propose an account of metaphor identification on the basis of contextual coherence. In doing so, we build on previous work by Nicholas Asher and Alex Lascarides that appeals to rhetorical relations in order to explain discourse structure and the constraints on the interpretation of metaphor that follow from it. Applying this general idea to our problem, we will show that rhetorical relations are sometimes insufficient and sometimes inadequate for deciding whether a given utterance is a case of metaphor. They are insufficient, since rhetorical relations fall short at times of providing a basis for disambiguating between literal and metaphorical interpretations. In such cases, contextual information other than previous discourse needs to enter the picture. To this effect, we bring the idea of external consistency into play. Beyond that, though, we will argue that rhetorical relations are sometimes inadequate to account for coherence, if conceived as relations among sentences only. The reason is that extra-linguistic elements of the situation in which the sentence is uttered may be crucial for getting at the preferred interpretation. To account for these cases, we allow rhetorical relations to connect both with previous discourse and with extra-linguistic situations. In our final refinement of the notion of contextual coherence, we forfeit any appeal to rhetorical relations in favour of Questions Under Discussion (QUD). We defend the view that this account does not only explain the same sort of cases. What is more, it solves the issue of metaphor identification in impoverished contexts

A randomized controlled trial

Objective We report on the effect of hemoadsorption therapy to reduce cytokines in septic patients with respiratory failure. Methods This was a randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter trial. Mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis or septic shock and acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome were eligible for study inclusion. Patients were randomly assigned to either therapy with CytoSorb hemoperfusion for 6 hours per day for up to 7 consecutive days (treatment), or no hemoperfusion (control). Primary outcome was change in normalized IL-6-serum concentrations during study day 1 and 7. Results 97 of the 100 randomized patients were analyzed. We were not able to detect differences in systemic plasma IL-6 levels between the two groups (n = 75; p = 0.15). Significant IL-6 elimination, averaging between 5 and 18% per blood pass throughout the entire treatment period was recorded. In the unadjusted analysis, 60-day-mortality was significantly higher in the treatment group (44.7%) compared to the control group (26.0%; p = 0.039). The proportion of patients receiving renal replacement therapy at the time of enrollment was higher in the treatment group (31.9%) when compared to the control group (16.3%). After adjustment for patient morbidity and baseline imbalances, no association of hemoperfusion with mortality was found (p = 0.19). Conclusions In this patient population with predominantly septic shock and multiple organ failure, hemoadsorption removed IL-6 but this did not lead to lower plasma IL-6-levels. We did not detect statistically significant differences in the secondary outcomes multiple organ dysfunction score, ventilation time and time course of oxygenation

The applying of three-dimensional reconstruction for planning and supporting surgical operations

Аппаратно-программный комплекс для помощи хирургу во время проведения операции,представляет собой систему отображения набора анатомических компьютерных 3D моделей зоны интереса на дисплее в хирургической операционной. Данные анатомические модели получаются в результате предварительной реконструкции на основе сегментации медицинских изображений, таких модальностей как КТ, МРТ, ПЭТ и др. Аппаратно-программный комплекс поддержки проведения хирургического вмешательства включает в себя также систему захвата движения, предназначенную длябесконтактного управления, за сч?т жестов оператора набором анатомических 3D моделей на дисплее. Система позволяет управлять положением набора 3D моделей, их масштабом и прозрачностью отдельных моделей, а также перемещаться между наборами 3D моделей, построенных для различных стадий проведения хирургической операции.Hardware and software system to assist the surgeon during surgery. This is a system for displaying a set ofanatomical 3D computer models of regions of interest on display in the surgery. These anatomical models areobtained by a preliminary reconstruction based segmentation of medical images of such modalities as CT, MRI,PET, etc. Hardware and software system support surgery also includes motion-capture system designed for contactmanagement, through gestures of the operator, a set of 3D anatomical models on display. The system allows tocontrol the position of the set of 3D models, their scale and transparency of individual models and to navigatebetween sets of 3D models for various stages of the surgery

Обоснование выбора электродвигателя и схемы его включения для системы точного поддержания скорости

Рассматривается применение в системах точного поддержания скорости различных синхронных электродвигателей. В результате сравнения рекомендовано применение в таких системах конденсаторного синхронного реактивного двигателя с трехфазными обмотками статора. Это позволяет упростить и удешевить систему точного электропривода и повысить ее надежность

Polyesters with main and side chain phosphoesters as structural motives for biocompatible electrospun fibres

Phosphoester containing polymers are promising materials in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Utilising thiol-ene chemistry, the synthesis of two novel structural polymer motives combining polyesters and phophoester groups was explored. The first polymer was obtained by coupling ene-functional poly(thioether-phosphoester) with thiol functional poly(pentadecalactone). While the coupling reaction was successful, yields remained low presumably due to inadequate endgroup stoichiometry. The second polymer comprised phosphoester side groups conjugated to unsaturated poly(globalide). Double bond conversions up to 84% were achieved depending of the type of phosphoester thiol and relative reactant ratios. The resulting polymers transitioned from solid semicrystaline to liquid amorphous with increasing degree of phosphoester conjugation. Electrospun fibres from polymers with 14% phosphoester conjugation allowed attachment and survival of human dermal fibroblasts, indicating their biocompatibility. These polymers represent a new class of easily accessible biocompatible polyester-phosphoester hybrid materials as potential building blocks for tunable biomaterials

Integrative medicine during the intensive phase of chemotherapy in pediatric oncology in Germany: a randomized controlled trial with 5-year follow up

Background: Integrative medicine is used frequently alongside chemotherapy treatment in pediatric oncology, but little is known about the influence on toxicity. This German, multi-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial assessed the effects of complementary treatments on toxicity related to intensive-phase chemotherapy treatment in children aged 1-18 with the primary outcome of the toxicity sum score. Secondary outcomes were chemotherapy-related toxicity, overall and event-free survival after 5 years in study patients. Methods: Intervention and control were given standard chemotherapy according to malignancy & tumor type. The intervention arm was provided with anthroposophic supportive treatment (AST); given as anthroposophic base medication (AMP), as a base medication for all patients and additional on-demand treatment tailored to the intervention malignancy groups. The control was given no AMP. The toxicity sum score (TSS) was assessed using NCI-CTC scales. Results: Data of 288 patients could be analyzed. Analysis did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the AST and the control group for the primary endpoint or the toxicity measures (secondary endpoints). Furthermore, groups did not differ significantly in the five-year overall and event-free survival follow up. Discussion: In this trial findings showed that AST was able to be safely administered in a clinical setting, although no beneficial effects of AST between group toxicity scores, overall or event-free survival were shown