Controlled Natural Language Generation from a Multilingual FrameNet-based Grammar

This paper presents a currently bilingual but potentially multilingual FrameNet-based grammar library implemented in Grammatical Framework. The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, it offers a methodological approach to automatically generate the grammar based on semantico-syntactic valence patterns extracted from FrameNet-annotated corpora. Second, it provides a proof of concept for two use cases illustrating how the acquired multilingual grammar can be exploited in different CNL applications in the domains of arts and tourism

Transient ischaemic attack and stroke risk: pilot of a primary care electronic decision support tool

INTRODUCTION: Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) indicate high risk for stroke and rapid management reduces stroke burden. Rapid specialist access to initiate timely management is often challenging to achieve. AIM: To assess the feasibility of implementing a TIA/Stroke electronic decision support (EDS) tool intended to aid general practitioners (GPs) in the timely management of TIAs. METHODS: An eight-week pilot provided access to the TIA/Stroke EDS to selected GPs in the MidCentral district, with subsequent patient record review and a post-pilot user satisfaction survey. RESULTS: Eleven patients from eight practices were entered into the tool and when EDS-rendered advice was followed, diagnosis was accurate and management was in accordance with New Zealand TIA guidelines. No adverse outcomes resulted and user feedback was positive. DISCUSSION: Results indicate that wider implementation of the TIA/Stroke EDS tool is feasible

Productivity of Stump Harvesting for Fuel

The productivity of harvesting stump and root wood was studied in Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands. The objective was to create productivity models (m3/E0h) for stump wood extraction, stump wood forwarding, and site preparation, in addition to identifying work phases and improvement opportunities in the extraction and forwarding chain. Productivity models were based on time studies with professional operators. The independent variables in stump wood extraction were stump diameter (cm) and the number of stumps per hectare. For forwarding, the independent variables were volume of stump wood removed (m3/ha) and forwarding distance (m). When removing 350 stumps per ha with an average diameter of 40 cm, productivity was estimated at 7.9 m3/E0h. Increasing the number of stumps removed from 350 to 800 stumps per ha, increased productivity to 10.8 m3/E0h. Forwarding productivity was 7.8 m3/E0hwithaforwardingdistanceof250mandaload size of 7.0 m3 when removing 60 m3 of stumps per ha

Ludics and its Applications to natural Language Semantics

Proofs, in Ludics, have an interpretation provided by their counter-proofs, that is the objects they interact with. We follow the same idea by proposing that sentence meanings are given by the counter-meanings they are opposed to in a dialectical interaction. The conception is at the intersection of a proof-theoretic and a game-theoretic accounts of semantics, but it enlarges them by allowing to deal with possibly infinite processes

EVALUATION OF A RUNNER’S PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS USING DIFFERENT SPRINT MODELS

INTRODUCTION: Hill’s model of sprinting, based on Newton’s second law of motion, uses two physiological parameters to characterize the sprinter, the maximum propulsive force per unit mass and the resistance-to-motion parameter related to the runner’s internal energy losses. Furusawa et al. (1927) suggested a resistive force law linear in the running speed. Later Keller (1973) and many others based their studies on Hill’s model. Senator (1982) added the effects of air resistance by a term quadratic in speed. Vaughan (1983) used a modification of these approaches by introducing a 0.7-power law. Recently, utilizing the rotational equation of motion for the leg and experimental data for stride frequency, we have shown that the internal and external resistive forces may well be approximated by a combination of linear and quadratic terms in running speed. We have also derived an expression for the internal resistive force in terms of physiological quantities. METHODS: The different models may be classified according to the resistive force law as linear (L), Vaughan (Va), quadratic (Q) and linearquadratic (LQ) models. We give analytical solutions for the distance-time relationships, except for the Va-model. We have used a numerical gradient method to fit the models with measured 100m data at ten equally spaced time stations of the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Wind velocity and reaction times are also taken into account. RESULTS: By considering the residual errors we found that the best fit was given by the Va-model, followed by the LQ-, L-, and Q-models. The average residual error per time station for the Va- and LQ-models was about 0.01 s, which means a good fit throughout the run. We compared the values of the calculated physiological parameters with those in the existing literature. For the L-model the propulsive and resistive forces found by Vaughan and Matravers (1977) are in close agreement with ours, whereas those found by Woodside (1991) and Keller (1973) are too high, as can also be inferred from recent starting block data. For the parameters of the Va-model Vaughan (1983) obtained values somewhat lower than ours, using Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and Linford Christie. This is to be expected, however, since Vaughan obtained his data for national university sprinters. As far as we know, the LQ-model has not been previously used. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the Va- and LQ-models best fit the Olympic 100 m data. There is a noteworthy difference between the interpretation of the linear resistive term in Hill’s theory and in the LQmodel presented in this paper: Hill and his colleagues invoked the concept of the viscosity of the muscles, while we arrived at the linear term by writing the rotational equation of the leg. It must be noted that already Fenn (1930) criticized the viscosity concept and attributed the resistive force to antagonistic muscles and other kinesiological factors. In view of our derivation of the LQ-model, the resistive force stems mainly from the rotational inertia of the leg, whereas the energy losses occur in the antagonistic muscles during the decelerating phases of the back and forth motion of the legs