Context, content, and the occasional costs of implicature computation

The computation of scalar implicatures is sometimes costly relative to basic meanings. Among the costly computations are those that involve strengthening “some” to “not all” and strengthening inclusive disjunction to exclusive disjunction. The opposite is true for some other cases of strengthening, where the strengthened meaning is less costly than its corresponding basic meaning. These include conjunctive strengthenings of disjunctive sentences (e.g., free-choice inferences) and exactly-readings of numerals. Assuming that these are indeed all instances of strengthening via implicature/exhaustification, the puzzle is to explain why strengthening sometimes increases costs while at other times it decreases costs. I develop a theory of processing costs that makes no reference to the strengthening mechanism or to other aspects of the derivation of the sentence’s form/meaning. Instead, costs are determined by domain-general considerations of the grammar’s output, and in particular by aspects of the meanings of ambiguous sentences and particular ways they update the context. Specifically, I propose that when the hearer has to disambiguate between a sentence’s basic and strengthened meaning, the processing cost of any particular choice is a function of (i) a measure of the semantic complexity of the chosen meaning and (ii) a measure of how much relevant uncertainty it leaves behind in the context. I measure semantic complexity with Boolean Complexity in the propositional case and with semantic automata in the quantificational case, both of which give a domain-general measure of the minimal representational complexity needed to express the given meaning. I measure relevant uncertainty with the information-theoretic notion of entropy; this domain-general measure formalizes how ‘far’ the meaning is from giving a complete answer to the question under discussion, and hence gives an indication of how much representational complexity is yet to come. Processing costs thus follow from domain-general considerations of current and anticipated representational complexity. The results might also speak to functional motivations for having strengthening mechanisms in the first place. Specifically, exhaustification allows language users to use simpler forms than would be available without it to bot

FTIR Analysis of Some Pills of Forensic Interest

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the use of modern Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with quick and easy Diamond Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) technique for generating a spectral library of some benzodiazepines of forensic interest. These types of drugs can be seized as bulk street drugs as well as traces found at the scene of crime. There can be legal queries regarding identification of these drugs which a forensic expert has to answer. In these cases, the standard reference database is required for comparison. The modern FTIR systems with diamond ATR proves to be a rapid, sensitive and non-destructive analysis of samples with very little effort. This spectral library can be used as a reference library when an unknown sample is suspected of being benzodiazepine

Asia-Pacific working group consensus on non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: An update 2018

Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding remains an important emergency condition, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. As endoscopic therapy is the 'gold standard' of management, treatment of these patients can be considered in three stages: pre-endoscopic treatment, endoscopic haemostasis and post-endoscopic management. Since publication of the Asia-Pacific consensus on non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) 7 years ago, there have been significant advancements in the clinical management of patients in all three stages. These include pre-endoscopy risk stratification scores, blood and platelet transfusion, use of proton pump inhibitors; during endoscopy new haemostasis techniques (haemostatic powder spray and over-the-scope clips); and post-endoscopy management by second-look endoscopy and medication strategies. Emerging techniques, including capsule endoscopy and Doppler endoscopic probe in assessing adequacy of endoscopic therapy, and the pre-emptive use of angiographic embolisation, are attracting new attention. An emerging problem is the increasing use of dual antiplatelet agents and direct oral anticoagulants in patients with cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases. Guidelines on the discontinuation and then resumption of these agents in patients presenting with NVUGIB are very much needed. The Asia-Pacific Working Group examined recent evidence and recommends practical management guidelines in this updated consensus statement

Correlation and Path Analysis in Early Maturing Sugarcane: Climate Change and Environmental Impact

An investigation was undertaken to identify early maturing sugarcane genotypes for higher sugar yield at the Research Farm of DRPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar during the spring season of 2018, the experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Climate change is expected to have important consequences for sugarcane production in the world, especially in the developing countries because of relatively low adaptive capacity, high vulnerability to natural hazards, and poor forecasting systems and mitigating strategies. Sugarcane production may have been negatively affected and will continue to be considerably affected by increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme environmental conditions due to climate change. Design with three replications. Correlation and path analysis in twelve genotypes of sugarcane for twenty one different morphological and juice quality characters were studied in relation to the checks viz. CoLk94184 and CoSe95422. Analysis of correlation revealed that the character sugar yield had highly positive genotypic correlation with traits number of millable canes at harvest (0.977), followed by cane yield at harvest (0.963). However, it was negatively correlated with purity percentage at the 8th month stage (-0.491), cane diameter at harvest (-0.363), number of internodes at harvest (-0.263), length of internodes at harvest (-0.081) and fibre percentage at harvest (-0.039). The trait cane yield at harvest (0.955**) was found to have a highly significant and positive phenotypic association, followed by single cane weight at harvest (0.820**) and germination percentage at 45 DAP (0.510**).On the other hand, it was found that the traits cane diameter at harvest (-0.236), number of internodes at harvest (-0.151) and length of internodes at harvest (-0.099) had non-significant negative phenotypic associations with sugar yield. Positive direct effect on sugar yield at phenotypic level was exerted maximally by cane yield at harvest (t/ha) (1.51) followed by CCS percentage at 10th month stage (0.29) and pol in juice at 10th month stage (0.21), germination Percentage at 45 DAP (%), cane diameter (cm) and length of internode (cm), whereas at genotypic level maximum positive direct effect was observed in the case of pol percentage in cane at harvest followed by single cane weight (kg) and brix percentage at 10th month

Australian infection control in endoscopy consensus statements on carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Outbreaks of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae clinical infections related to endoscopic transmission are well documented. The high morbidity and mortality associated with these infections emphasizes the need to reassess endoscopic reprocessing protocols. The Gastroenterological Society of Australia established a multi-society committee to formulate evidence-based consensus statements on the prevention and management of endoscopic transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. A literature search was undertaken utilizing the MEDLINE database. Further references were sourced from published paper bibliographies. Nine statements were formulated. Using the Delphi methodology, the statements were initially reviewed electronically by the committee members and subsequently at a face-to-face meeting in Melbourne, Australia. After further discussion, four additional sub-statements were added resulting in a total of 13 statements. Each statement was assessed for level of evidence, recommendation grade and the voting on recommendation was recorded. For a statement to be accepted, five out of six committee members had to “accept completely” or “accept with some reservation.” All 13 statements achieved consensus agreement. Eleven statements achieved 100% “accepted completely.” Two statements were 83% “accepted completely” and 17% “accepted with some reservation.” Of particular significance, automated flexible endoscope reprocessors were mandated for high-level disinfection, and the use of forced-air drying cabinets was mandated for endoscope storage. These evidence-based statements encourage preventative strategies with the aim of ensuring the highest possible standards in flexible endoscope reprocessing thereby optimizing patient safety. They must be considered in addition to the broader published guidelines on infection control in endoscopy

Establishing key research questions for the implementation of artificial intelligence in colonoscopy: a modified Delphi method.

BACKGROUND : Artificial intelligence (AI) research in colonoscopy is progressing rapidly but widespread clinical implementation is not yet a reality. We aimed to identify the top implementation research priorities. METHODS : An established modified Delphi approach for research priority setting was used. Fifteen international experts, including endoscopists and translational computer scientists/engineers, from nine countries participated in an online survey over 9 months. Questions related to AI implementation in colonoscopy were generated as a long-list in the first round, and then scored in two subsequent rounds to identify the top 10 research questions. RESULTS : The top 10 ranked questions were categorized into five themes. Theme 1: clinical trial design/end points (4 questions), related to optimum trial designs for polyp detection and characterization, determining the optimal end points for evaluation of AI, and demonstrating impact on interval cancer rates. Theme 2: technological developments (3 questions), including improving detection of more challenging and advanced lesions, reduction of false-positive rates, and minimizing latency. Theme 3: clinical adoption/integration (1 question), concerning the effective combination of detection and characterization into one workflow. Theme 4: data access/annotation (1 question), concerning more efficient or automated data annotation methods to reduce the burden on human experts. Theme 5: regulatory approval (1 question), related to making regulatory approval processes more efficient. CONCLUSIONS : This is the first reported international research priority setting exercise for AI in colonoscopy. The study findings should be used as a framework to guide future research with key stakeholders to accelerate the clinical implementation of AI in endoscopy