Large language models converge toward human-like concept organization

Large language models show human-like performance in knowledge extraction, reasoning and dialogue, but it remains controversial whether this performance is best explained by memorization and pattern matching, or whether it reflects human-like inferential semantics and world knowledge. Knowledge bases such as WikiData provide large-scale, high-quality representations of inferential semantics and world knowledge. We show that large language models learn to organize concepts in ways that are strikingly similar to how concepts are organized in such knowledge bases. Knowledge bases model collective, institutional knowledge, and large language models seem to induce such knowledge from raw text. We show that bigger and better models exhibit more human-like concept organization, across four families of language models and three knowledge graph embeddings

Augmenting migration statistics with expert knowledge

International migration statistics vary considerably from one country to another in terms of measurement, quality and coverage. Furthermore, immigration tend to be captured more accurately than emigration. In this paper, we first describe the need to augment reported flows of international migration with knowledge gained from experts on the measurement of migration statistics, obtained from a multi-stage Delphi survey. Second, we present our methodology for translating this information into prior distributions for input into the Integrated Modelling of European Migration (IMEM) model, which is designed to estimate migration flows amongst countries in the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA), by using recent data collected by Eurostat and other national and international institutions. The IMEM model is capable of providing a synthetic data base with measures of uncertainty for international migration flows and other model parameters.

Cross-cultural adaption and psychometric investigation of the German version of the Evidence Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS-36D)

Background: The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in mental health care confers many benefits to patients, and research into factors facilitating the implementation of EBP is needed. As an important factor affecting the implementation of EBP, service providers’ attitudes toward EBP emerged. The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS-36) is an instrument with good psychometric characteristics that measures positive and ambivalent attitudes toward EBP. However, a German version is missing. The present study therefore aims to provide a validated German translation of the EBPAS-36. Methods: The scale was translated and back-translated as recommended by standard procedures. German psychotherapists were recruited to participate in an online survey. They provided demographic and professional information, completed the EBPAS-36, the Implementation Climate Scale (ICS) and the Intention Scale for Providers (ISP). Standard item and reliability analyses were conducted. Construct validity was evaluated with exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in two subsamples (random split). Convergent validity was tested by predicting a high positive correlation of the EBPAS-36D with two scores of attitudes of the ISP and an interest in EBP score. It was tested whether the EBPAS-36D predicts the intention to use EBP. Results: N = 599 psychotherapists participated in the study. The item analyses showed a mean item difficulty of pi = 0.64, a mean inter-item correlation of r = 0.18, and a mean item-total correlation of ritc = 0.40. The internal consistency was very good for the total scale (α = 0.89) and ranged from adequate to very good for the subscales (0.65–0.89), indicating high reliability. The original factor structure showed an acceptable model fit (RMSEA = 0.064 (90% CI = 0.059–0.068); SRMR = 0.0922; AIC = 1400.77), confirming the 12-factor structure of the EBPAS-36. However, a second-order factor structure derived by the EFA had an even better model fit (RMSEA = 0.057 (90% CI = 0.052–0.062); SRMR = 0.0822; AIC = 1274.56). When the EBPAS-36D was entered in a hierarchical regression model with the criterion Intention to use EBP, the EBPAS-36D contributed significantly to the prediction (Change in R2 = 0.28, p < 0.001) over and above gender, age and participants’ report of ever having worked in a university context. Conclusions: The present study confirms good psychometric properties and validity of a German version of the EBPAS-36 in a sample of psychotherapists

Spatially Localized Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Platinum Nanocrystals Obtained Using UV Light

Platinum nanocrystals with a fine control of the crystal domain size in the range 1.0–2.2 nm are produced by tuning the NaOH concentration during the UV-induced reduction of H$_2$PtCl$_6$ in surfactant-free alkaline ethylene glycol. The colloidal solutions obtained are characterized by transmission electron microscopy and pair distribution function analysis, allowing analysis of both atomic and nanoscale structures. The obtained nanoparticles exhibit a face-centered cubic crystal structure even for the smallest nanoparticles, and the cubic unit cell parameter is significantly reduced with decreasing crystallite size. It is further demonstrated how the “UV-approach” can be used to achieve spatial control of the nucleation and growth of the platinum nanocrystals, which is not possible by thermal reduction

Characteristics and Prognostic Importance of Myocardial Fibrosis in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy Assessed by Contrast-Enhanced Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Introduction Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI (CE-CMR) can detect potentially prognostic myocardial fibrosis in DCM. We investigated the role of CE-CMR in New Zealand patients with DCM, both Maori and non-Maori, including the characteristics and prognostic importance of fibrosis. Methods One hundred and three patients (mean age 58 ± 13, 78 male) referred for CMR assessment of DCM were followed for 660 ± 346 days. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as death, infarction, ventricular arrhythmias or rehospitalisation. CE-CMR used cines for functional analysis, and delayed enhancement to assess fibrosis. Results Myocardial fibrosis was present in 30% of patients, the majority of which was mid-myocardial (63%). Volumetric parameters were similar in patients with or without fibrosis. At 2 years patients with fibrosis had an increased rate of MACE (HR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.3-2.0). Patients with full thickness or subendocardial fibrosis had the highest MACE, even in the absence of CAD). More Maori had fibrosis on CE-CMR (40% vs. 28% for non-Maori), and the majority (75%) was mid-myocardial. Maori and non-Maori had similar outcomes (25% vs. 24% with events during follow-up). Conclusions DCM patients frequently have myocardial fibrosis detected on CE-CMR, the majority of which is mid-myocardial. Fibrosis is associated with worse outcome in the medium term. The information obtained using CE-CMR in DCM may be of incremental clinical benefit

3D reconstruction and heat map of porcine recurrent laryngeal nerve anatomy: branching and spatial location

Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is a common post-operative complication of many head and neck surgeries. Theoretically, the best treatment to restore partial function to a damaged recurrent laryngeal nerve would be reinnervation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle via anastomosis of the recurrent laryngeal and phrenic nerves. The pig is an excellent model of human laryngeal anatomy and physiology but a more thorough knowledge of porcine laryngeal anatomy is necessary before the pig can be used to improve existing surgical strategies, and develop new ones. This study first identifies the three most common recurrent laryngeal nerve branching patterns in the pig. Secondly, this study presents three-dimensional renderings of the porcine larynx onto which the recurrent laryngeal nerve patterns are accurately mapped. Lastly, heat maps are presented to display the spatial variability of recurrent laryngeal nerve trunks and primary branches on each side of 15 subjects (28 specimens). We intend for this study to be useful to groups using a porcine model to study posterior cricoarytenoid muscle reinnervation techniques.

Connectionist natural language parsing

The key developments of two decades of connectionist parsing are reviewed. Connectionist parsers are assessed according to their ability to learn to represent syntactic structures from examples automatically, without being presented with symbolic grammar rules. This review also considers the extent to which connectionist parsers offer computational models of human sentence processing and provide plausible accounts of psycholinguistic data. In considering these issues, special attention is paid to the level of realism, the nature of the modularity, and the type of processing that is to be found in a wide range of parsers

Alternativ finansiering af fremtidens infrastruktur

Referat af ”Alternativ finansiering af fremtidens infrastruktur” Kort introduktion af Ute efterfulgt af mødelederen Brian Gardner Mogensen Grontmij A/S, som præsenterede formålet med sessionen