Some combinatorics of imperfect information

2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 673-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Cameron ◽  
Wilfrid Hodges
Keyword(s):  
Imperfect Information ◽  
Free Variable ◽  
Not Given ◽  
Compositional Semantics ◽  
Truth Conditions ◽  
Impossibility Proof ◽  
Independence Friendly Logic

We can use the compositional semantics of Hodges [9] to show that any compositional semantics for logics of imperfect information must obey certain constraints on the number of semantically inequivalent formulas. As a corollary, there is no compositional semantics for the ‘independence-friendly’ logic of Hintikka and Sandu (henceforth IF) in which the interpretation in a structure A of each 1 -ary formula is a subset of the domain of A (Corollary 6.2 below proves this and more). After a fashion, this rescues a claim of Hintikka and provides the proof which he lacked:… there is no realistic hope of formulating compositional truth-conditions for [sentences of IF], even though I have not given a strict impossibility proof to that effect.(Hintikka [6] page 110ff.) One curious spinoff is that there is a structure of cardinality 6 on which the logic of Hintikka and Sandu gives nearly eight million inequivalent formulas in one free variable (which is more than the population of Finland).We thank the referee for a sensible change of notation, and Joel Berman and Stan Burris for bringing us up to date with the computation of Dedekind's function (see section 4). Our own calculations, utterly trivial by comparison, were done with Maple V.The paper Hodges [9] (cf. [10]) gave a compositional semantics for a language with some devices of imperfect information. The language was complicated, because it allowed imperfect information both at quantifiers and at conjunctions and disjunctions.

Compositionality

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Richard
Keyword(s):  
Compositional Semantics ◽  
Truth Conditions ◽  
Finite Theory

A language is compositional if the meaning of each of its complex expressions (for example, ‘black dog’) is determined entirely by the meanings its parts (‘black’, ‘dog’) and its syntax. Principles of compositionality provide precise statements of this idea. A compositional semantics for a language is a (finite) theory which explains how semantically important properties such as truth-conditions are determined by the meanings of parts and syntax. Supposing English to have a compositional semantics helps explain how finite creatures like ourselves have the ability to understand English’s infinitely many sentences. Whether human languages are in fact compositional, however, is quite controversial.

Patient Involvement in Treatment Decision Making Can Help or Hinder Placebo Analgesia

2014 ◽  
Vol 222 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Geers ◽  
Jason P. Rose ◽  
Stephanie L. Fowler ◽  
Jill A. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Patient Involvement ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Prior Experience ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Cold Water Immersion ◽  
Not Given ◽  
Placebo Analgesia ◽  
Treatment Decision Making ◽  
Immersion Experience

Experiments have found that choosing between placebo analgesics can reduce pain more than being assigned a placebo analgesic. Because earlier research has shown prior experience moderates choice effects in other contexts, we tested whether prior experience with a pain stimulus moderates this placebo-choice association. Before a cold water pain task, participants were either told that an inert cream would reduce their pain or they were not told this information. Additionally, participants chose between one of two inert creams for the task or they were not given choice. Importantly, we also measured prior experience with cold water immersion. Individuals with prior cold water immersion experience tended to display greater placebo analgesia when given choice, whereas participants without this experience tended to display greater placebo analgesia without choice. Prior stimulus experience appears to moderate the effect of choice on placebo analgesia.

Circulating Anticoagulant (Antifactor VIII) Treated with Immunosuppressive Drugs

1969 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A Sherman ◽  
M. A Goldstein ◽  
H. S Sise
Keyword(s):  
Factor Viii ◽  
Conventional Therapy ◽  
Immunosuppressive Drugs ◽  
The Other ◽  
Not Given ◽  
Factor Viii Concentrates ◽  
Short Courses

SummaryThree cases have been presented who had a circulating antifactor VIII anticoagulant developing spontaneously in non-hemophilic subjects. Following two short courses of azathioprine in one case there were transient incomplete remissions of a degree not seen in the previous 4 months of observation. In the other two cases complete remissions were observed within three weeks of beginning administration of 6-mercaptopurine. In one of these, a brief relapse was retreated successfully. In 4 other cases not given these drugs and in cases reported in the literature, such a rapid remission was not seen to occur spontaneously and happened only infrequently in cases given corticosteroids. On the basis of this experience, we suggest that in the treatment of antifactor VIII, if the disorder shows no improvement with conventional therapy (blood, factor VIII concentrates, and corticosteroids), a trial with immunosuppressive drugs is warranted.

Economic models of Environment monitoring under imperfect information and high Costs

2014 ◽  
pp. 99-122
Author(s):  
M. Levin ◽  
K. Matrosova
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Environmental Regulation ◽  
Environmental Economics ◽  
Imperfect Information ◽  
Central Element ◽  
Economic Models ◽  
Environment Monitoring ◽  
Nature Protection ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Effective System

The paper considers monitoring of environmental change as the central element of environmental regulation. Monitoring, as each kind of principalagent relations, easily gives rise to corruptive behavior. In the paper we analyze economic models of environmental monitoring with high costs, incomplete information and corruption. These models should be the elements of environmental economics and are needed to create an effective system of nature protection measures.

Aboutness

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Yablo
Keyword(s):  
Subject Matter ◽  
Philosophy Of Language ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Philosophical Methodology ◽  
Major Advance ◽  
Truth Conditions ◽  
Ways Of Being ◽  
Made In

Aboutness has been studied from any number of angles. Brentano made it the defining feature of the mental. Phenomenologists try to pin down the aboutness features of particular mental states. Materialists sometimes claim to have grounded aboutness in natural regularities. Attempts have even been made, in library science and information theory, to operationalize the notion. However, it has played no real role in philosophical semantics, which is surprising. This is the first book to examine through a philosophical lens the role of subject matter in meaning. A long-standing tradition sees meaning as truth conditions, to be specified by listing the scenarios in which a sentence is true. Nothing is said about the principle of selection—about what in a scenario gets it onto the list. Subject matter is the missing link here. A sentence is true because of how matters stand where its subject matter is concerned. This book maintains that this is not just a feature of subject matter, but its essence. One indicates what a sentence is about by mapping out logical space according to its changing ways of being true or false. The notion of content that results—directed content—is brought to bear on a range of philosophical topics, including ontology, verisimilitude, knowledge, loose talk, assertive content, and philosophical methodology. The book represents a major advance in semantics and the philosophy of language.

THE AFRICAN WIFE OF SOLOMON (1 KINGS 3:1; 9:16; 7:8; 11:1)

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tuesday Adamo
Keyword(s):  
African Woman ◽  
Archaeological Record ◽  
Not Given ◽  
Similar Treatment ◽  
Ancient Israel ◽  
1 Kings

Both the Deuteronomist and the Chronicler repeatedly testify that Solomon married an African woman who was the daughter of Pharaoh. The fact that Pharaoh‟s daughter was singled out in this manner is significant as similar treatment was not given to his many other wives and concubines. In the African polygamous system, the first wife exercises enormous power over the husband and other wives. In keeping with the tradition, as chief wife Pharaoh‟s daughter would have had immense influence over Solomon. This pervasive influence can be seen in the economic, political, and administrative policies of the day, as well as in the prohibition on Solomon marrying an Israelite woman. Although Solomon‟s African wife is nameless in the biblical record, and both Solomon and his wife are unattested in the archaeological record, the marriage represents an aspect of African influence on and contribution to ancient Israel.

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