Atlas.txt : Linking Geo-referenced Data to Text for NLG

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Perception & Perspective: An Analysis of Discourse and Situational Factors in Reference Frame Selection

To integrate perception into dialogue, it is necessary to bind spatial language descriptions to reference frame use. To this end, we present an analysis of discourse and situational factors that may influence reference frame choice in dialogues. We show that factors including spatial orientation, task, self and other alignment, and dyad have an influence on reference frame use. We further show that a computational model to estimate reference frame based on these features provides results greater than both random and greedy reference frame selection strategies

An Empirically-based Model for Perspective Selection in Route-Finding Dialogues

In this work we aim to computationally model the extent to which certain empirical factors affect spatial perspective selection as used in route-finding dialogues. In such dialogues, both interlocutors need to adopt a spatial perspective in which to describe movement direction. In map-based tasks such as the one we are concerned with, two perspective choices are typically available, i.e., route perspective, where projective terms are defined with respect to the perspective of the route follower themselves, e.g., ``go to your right\u27\u27, or survey perspective, where projective terms are defined with respect to a global or allocentric perspective, e.g., ``go down\u27\u27, or ``go toward the top of the screen\u27\u27. Addressees must be able to assign perspectives to a given spatial term in order to correctly interpret the utterance it is contained in. However the most frequent directional terms, i.e., `left\u27 and `right\u27, can be used in either route or survey perspective, and perspective is not typically marked explicitly at the lexical level. Generally addressees do correctly assign perspective to projective terms, even when perspective is not indicated explicitly in language, but misunderstandings may occur and clarification is often necessary

Sustainable Water Treatment with Induced Bank Filtration

This study demonstrates that an induced bank filter (IBF) system can treat raw water polluted with Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Similar to riverbank filtration (RBF), induced or reversed bank filtration relies on natural processes to clean water, including filtration through layers of allochthone alluvial sediments and a bioactive layer that forms on top of the filter after a ripening period. At the study site, located in Southwestern India, villagers rely on a mountain spring for their water supply. Although of generally high quality, the spring water contains E. coli bacteria (up to ~2000 MPN/100 mL). Raw water diverted from this spring was gravity-fed into the IBF system, which consisted of a (1) flow regulator, (2) pre-filter and (3) the actual IBF filter. Designed and constructed based on pilot testing of prototype filters, a full-scale filter (5 m by 7 m by 2 m) was built and its performance and maintenance requirements were studied during both the monsoon season and the dry season. The data show that the IBF significantly improved the water quality. Turbidity and E. coli concentrations were reduced to or below the detection limit (approximately 2.5 log unit reduction). During the peak of the monsoon season (August), E. coli was present in the IBF effluent after a storm destroyed the cover of the IBF tank. The IBF construction and maintenance costs were documented. Extrapolated over a 10-year period, the cost of IBF water was 3 and 10 times lower than reverse osmosis or water supplied by truck, respectively. This study demonstrates that IBF can be part of an affordable water supply system for rural villages in mountainous terrain where conventional RBF systems cannot be installed or where other water treatment technologies are out of financial reach

But What Do They Mean? Modelling Contrast Between Speakers in Dialogue Signalled by “But”

Institute for Communicating and Collaborative SystemsUnderstanding what is being communicated in a dialogue involves determining how it is coherent, that is, how the successive turns in the dialogue are related, what the speakers’ intentions, goals, beliefs, and expectations are and how they relate to each other’s responses. This thesis aims to address how turns in dialogue are related when one speaker indicates contrast with something in the preceding discourse signalled by “but”. Different relations cued by “but” will be distinguished and characterised when they relate material spanning speaker turns and an implementation in a working dialogue system is specified with the aim of enabling a better model of dialogue understanding and achieving more precise response generation. A large amount of research in discourse addresses coherence in monologue, and much of it focuses on cases in which the coherence relation is explicitly signalled via a cue-phrase or discourse marker (e.g., “on the other hand”, “but”, et cetera) which provides an explicit cue about the nature of the underlying relation linking the two clauses. However despite research on Speech Acts, planning research into speakers’ intentions, and semantic approaches to question-answering dialogues, very little work has focused on coherence relations across turns in dialogue even given the presence of a cue-phrase. This thesis will explore what sorts of relations the speaker of the “but” perceives between elements in the dialogue, and in particular, it will focus on “but”s communicating Denial of Expectation, Concession, and Correction by determining what underlying cross-turn expectations are denied in the former two, and what is being corrected in the latter case. We will extend work by Lagerwerf (1998) in monologue which presents a treatment for Denial of Expectation and Concession arguing that “but” implicates a defeasible expectation which is then denied (in Denial of Expectation) or argued against (in Concession). We also follow Knott’s approach (Knott, 1999a) of describing the semantics of a cue-phrase algorithmically from the agent’s mental model of the related utterances. Task-oriented and nontask-oriented spoken dialogues involving turn-initial “but” are examined, motivating a logical scheme whereby Denial of Expectation, Concession and Correction can be distinguished. These relations are then modelled in the PTT (Poesio and Traum, 1998) Information State (Matheson, Poesio and Traum, 2000) model of dialogue, enabling more relevant response generation in dialogue systems

Examining New Vistas in Leadership Learning with Technology

Technology-enabled learning can open new vistas in higher education. Moving a course online, however, does not guarantee that students will be more engaged, nor that they will think more critically, or understand more deeply. Online learning does create new digital learning spaces where students can make connections without the constraints of physical co-location. This case study outlines the experiences of a small group of students in the same graduate course who chose an opportunity to work in an authentic, cross-continental context within a global, professional learning community. The students were able to “see” leadership theory in practice through the investigation of real-world scenarios taking place on another continent. Online learning theory and intercultural competence theory merge in the theoretical framework that guides the analysis of this case study. The findings indicate that e-learning can offer more authentic learning opportunities. The students were fully engaged in conversations with school leaders across the globe and gained first-hand cross-cultural leadership knowledge. Students also acquired research skills as they met model leaders online and witnessed leadership in action across borders. The findings suggest prudence in maintaining an open, investigative stance toward the potential of e-learning environments as catalysts for cross-cultural competence in authentic contexts

Intractable hypoglycemia in pregnancy

Insulinomas are rare tumours developed from pancreatic beta cells; 27 cases of insulinoma associated with pregnancy have been reported till date, mostly diagnosed before the 16th week. Triad of insulinoma; hypoglycemic symptoms, plasma glucose < 3.0 mmol/L, symptomatic relief with glucose administration. 28-year-old primi presented to us at 29 weeks with high BP and neuroglycopenic symptoms. Repeated episodes of loss of consciousness with hypoglycemia since 14 weeks. On evaluation diagnosed to have insulinoma and managed conservatively with dietary modifications, and medical treatment. She failed to respond and pregnancy was terminated due to high BP, hypoglycemia and Doppler changes. Delivered a stillborn girl at 31 weeks. Underwent laparotomy post-delivery for enucleation of the lesion. Quick normalization of sugar levels and overall recovery remarkable. Patient is on regular follow up. Insulinoma is a rare cause of severe repeated episodes of hypoglycemia early in pregnancy

Continuing reductions in HPV 16/18 in a population with high coverage of bivalent HPV vaccination in England: an ongoing cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme in England was introduced in 2008. Monitoring changes in type-specific HPV prevalence allows assessment of the population impact of this vaccination programme. METHODS: Residual vulva-vaginal swab specimens were collected from young sexually active women (aged 16-24 years) attending for chlamydia screening across England. Specimens were collected between 2010 and 2013 for type-specific HPV-DNA testing. HPV prevalence was compared to a similar survey conducted in 2008 prior to the introduction of HPV vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 7321 specimens collected in the postvaccination period, and 2354 specimens from the prevaccination period were included in this analysis. Among the individuals aged 16-18 years, with an estimated vaccination coverage of 67%, the prevalence of HPV16/18 infection decreased from 17.6% in 2008 to 6.1% in the postvaccination period. Within the postvaccination period, there was a trend towards lower HPV16/18 prevalence with higher vaccination coverage and increasing time since vaccine introduction from 8.5% in the period 2-3 years postvaccination to 4.0% in the period 4-5 years postvaccination. The prevalence of HPV31 reduced from 3.7% in the prevaccination period to 0.9% after vaccine introduction, although this no longer reached statistical significance after additional consideration of the uncertainty due to the assay change. Smaller reductions were seen in the individuals aged 19-21 years with lower estimated vaccination coverage, but there was no evidence of a reduction in the older unvaccinated women. Some overall increase in non-vaccine types was seen in the youngest age groups (ORs (95% CI); 1.3 (1.0 to 1.7) and 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) for individuals aged 16-18 and 19-21 years, respectively, when adjusted for known population changes and the change in assay) although this should be interpreted with caution given the potential unmasking effect. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a reduction in the HPV vaccine types in the age group with the highest HPV vaccination coverage

Knowledge attitude and practices of drug promotional literature: a clinician’s perspective

Background: Promotion of drugs by pharmaceutical industries is fully regulated by drug regulators. Doctors are focus of intense marketing by representatives of pharmaceutical companies (MR). It is reported that very few physicians are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to critically assess the information delivered in drug promotional literature (DPL). Hence this study was carried out with the objective to determine knowledge, attitude and practices of doctors about the DPL Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study population included clinicians working in a government set up and others doing private practice. Questionnaire was circulated online on social media platforms via Google forms. Results: The 32.11% participants were aware of regulations and guidelines of DPL in India  80.7% participants searched  for cost of medicine on DPL, 54.12% respondents perceive that the product claims made on DPL are balanced and supported by good evidence, 56.88% participants opined that their integrity is compromised by accepting gift  from MR, 43.1% participants are exposed to drug advertisement through social media and 51.06% of them opined that their prescribing habits are influenced through this. Writing brand names while prescribing is significantly more in private practitioners   as compared to doctors employed in government set up. Conclusions: DPL serves to update the knowledge of the busy clinicians of the latest developments in the medical field. Quality check of drug promotion on social media is the need of the hour as this is influential. Private practitioners need to be addressed regarding enforced laws for rational prescribing

Are community health workers effective in retaining women in the maternity care continuum? Evidence from India

Objectives Despite the recognised importance of adopting a continuum of care perspective in addressing the care of mothers and newborns, evidence on specific interventions to enhance engagement of women along the maternity care continuum has been limited. We use the example of the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) programme in India, to understand the role of community health workers in retaining women in the maternity care continuum. Methods Using the Indian Human Development Survey data from 2011 to 2012, we assess the association between individual and cluster-level exposure to ASHA and four key components along the continuum of care—at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit, four or more ANC visits, presence of a skilled birth attendance (SBA) at the time of birth and postnatal care for the mother or child within 48 hours of birth, for 13 705 women with a live birth since 2005. To understand which of these services experience maximum dropout along the continuum, we use a linear probability model to calculate the weighted percentages of using each service. We assess the association between exposure to ASHA and number of services utilised using a multinomial logistic regression model adjusted for a range of confounding variables and survey weights. Results Our study indicates that exposure to the ASHA is associated with an increased probability of women receiving at least one ANC and SBA. In terms of numbers of services, exposure to ASHA accounts for a 12% (95% CI: 9.1 to 15.1) increase in women receiving at least some of the services, and an 8.8% (95% CI: −10.2 to −7.4) decrease in women receiving no services. However, exposure to ASHA does not increase the likelihood of women utilising all the services along the continuum. Conclusions While ASHA is effective in supporting women to initiate and continue care along the continuum, it does not significantly affec