On the Optimality of Vagueness: "Around", "Between", and the Gricean Maxims

Why is our language vague? We argue that in contexts in which a cooperative speaker is not perfectly informed about the world, the use of vague expressions can offer an optimal tradeoff between truthfulness (Gricean Quality) and informativeness (Gricean Quantity). Focusing on expressions of approximation such as "around", which are semantically vague, we show that they allow the speaker to convey indirect probabilistic information, in a way that gives the listener a more accurate representation of the information available to the speaker than any more precise expression would (intervals of the form "between"). We give a probabilistic treatment of the interpretation of "around", and offer a model for the interpretation and use of "around"-statements within the Rational Speech Act (RSA) framework. Our model differs in substantive ways from the Lexical Uncertainty model often used within the RSA framework for vague predicates

A comparative study of managerial stress in greater China : the direct and indirect effects of coping strategies and work locus of control

The present study aims at comparing the direct and indirect effects of coping strategies (control and support coping) and work locus of control (externality) on the stress-strain relationships among managers in Greater China (Peopled Republic of China [PRC], Hong Kong, and Taiwan) using the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI). Self-administered survey method was employed to collect data from 249 (164 males, 85 females) managers in China, 280 (159 males, 120 females, 1 unclassified) managers in Hong Kong, and 347 (191 males, 151 females, 5 unclassified) managers in Taiwan. The direct and indirect effects of control coping, support coping, and locus of control on some stress-strain relationships were demonstrated in the studied samples. The similarities and differences in managerial stress in Greater China were discussed according to economic and socio-cultural variations

Analysis of state laws on informed consent for clinical genetic testing in the era of genomic sequencing

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143694/1/ajmgc31608_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143694/2/ajmgc31608.pd

Designing on-demand education for simultaneous development of domain-specific and self-directed learning skills

On-demand education enables individual learners to choose their learning pathways according to their own learning needs. They must use self-directed learning (SDL) skills involving self-assessment and task selection to determine appropriate pathways for learning. Learners who lack these skills must develop them because SDL skills are prerequisite to developing domain-specific skills. This article describes the design of an on-demand learning environment developed to enable novices to simultaneously develop their SDL and domain-specific skills. Learners received advice on their self-assessments and their selections of subsequent learning tasks. In the domain of system dynamics – a way to model a dynamic system and draw graphs depicting the system’s behaviour over time – advice on self-assessment is provided in a scoring rubric containing relevant performance standards. Advice on task selection indicates all relevant task aspects to be taken into account, including recommendations for suitable learning tasks which meet the individual learner’s needs. This article discusses the design of the environment and the learners’ perceptions of its usefulness. Most of the times, the learners found the advice appropriate and they followed it in 78% of their task selections

Revisiting Expectations in an Era of Precision Oncology

As we enter an era of precision medicine and targeted therapies in the treatment of metastatic cancer, we face new challenges for patients and providers alike as we establish clear guidelines, regulations, and strategies for implementation. At the crux of this challenge is the fact that patients with advanced cancer may have disproportionate expectations of personal benefit when participating in clinical trials designed to generate generalizable knowledge. Patient and physician goals of treatment may not align, and reconciliation of their disparate perceptions must be addressed. However, it is particularly challenging to manage a patient’s expectations when the goal of precision medicineâ personalized responseâ exacerbates our inability to predict outcomes for any individual patient. The precision medicine informed consent process must therefore directly address this issue. We are challenged to honestly, clearly, and compassionately engage a patient population in an informed consent process that is responsive to their vulnerability, as well as everâ evolving indications and evidence. This era requires a continual reassessment of expectations and goals from both sides of the bed.New challenges are faced in this era of precision medicine and targeted therapies. Clear guidelines, regulations, and strategies for implementation are needed. Patients with advanced cancer may have disproportionate expectations of the personal benefit of participating in clinical trials. The informed consent process must address this issue directly and honestly. This era requires a continual reassessment of both patient and physician expectations and goals.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142968/1/onco12322_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142968/2/onco12322.pd

What is Engagement and How Do We Measure It? Toward a Domain Independent Definition and Scale

An engaging experience draws in and holds our attention. Engagement is a critical phenomenon of interest in a variety of disciplines and application domains and has been shown to lead to positive outcomes, such as enhanced learning, task performance, or job satisfaction. However, existing measures of engagement are typically specific to the domain in which the research is conducted. This paper builds on the synergies of various disciplines and proposes a discipline-independent definition of engagement and measurement scale. In this paper, we distinguished between the three temporal levels of engagement in terms of the expected length of the engagement (task/activity, initiative, and continuous). We further explored the differences in the conceptualization of engagement, viz. affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement. We then offered a comprehensive definition of engagement. We finally developed a measurement scale that can be used across domains and contexts which we derived by iteratively refining the items in this scale through a series of five data samples to arrive at the final scale. Our results provide evidence for the scale’s validity in two domains (online learning and work engagement)

Starting fresh: a mixed method study of follower job satisfaction, trust, and views of their leader’s behavior

IntroductionThe leadership literature has been dominated by the study of broad styles rather than the identification of specific key behaviors. To address this deficiency, a mixed method approach was utilized to explore how follower behavioral descriptions of their leaders would relate to potential outcomes of trust in that leader and job satisfaction.MethodsData were collected from 273 hospital direct reports of 44 managers. They were asked to first describe the leadership approach of their managers in their own words, and then complete quantitative measures of the two potential outcomes.ResultsThe qualitative responses were coded into nine leadership behavior themes listed here in order from most to least often mentioned: Kindness, Supportive, Open to Input, Allow Autonomy, Engage with Team, Transparency, Fairness, Professionalism, Hold Accountable. All behavior themes related significantly to trust of the leader, with three themes relating significantly to job satisfaction (Transparency, Fairness, and Professionalism).DiscussionThese results provide a more specific view of leader behavior than does the typical style approach

Concurrent non-ketotic hyperglycinemia and propionic acidemia in an eight year old boy

This is the first reported case of a patient with both non-ketotic hyperglycinemia and propionic acidemia. At 2 years of age, the patient was diagnosed with non-ketotic hyperglycinemia by elevated glycine levels and mutations in the GLDC gene (paternal allele: c.1576_1577insC delT and c.1580delGinsCAA; p.S527Tfs*13, and maternal allele: c.1819G\u3eA; p.G607S). At 8 years of age after having been placed on ketogenic diet, he became lethargic and had severe metabolic acidosis with ketonuria. Urine organic acid analysis and plasma acylcarnitine profile were consistent with propionic acidemia. He was found to have an apparently homozygous mutation in the PCCB gene: c.49C\u3eA; p.Leu17Met. The patient was also treated with natural protein restriction, carnitine, biotin, and thiamine and had subjective and biochemical improvement