title: Kinds of conversational cooperation

authors: Lumsden, David

subjects: cooperative principle

abstract: The Cooperative Principle was the organizing principle in Grice’s pragmatics.  More recently, cooperation has played a reduced role in pragmatic theory.  The principle has been attacked on the grounds that people are not always or generally cooperative.  One response to that objection is to say that there are two kinds of cooperation and Grice’s principle only applies to the narrower kind, which concerns linguistic or formal cooperation.  I argue that such a distinction is only defensible if it is accepted that linguistic cooperation can be determined by an extra-linguistic goal.  To make distinctions among types of cooperation is helpful but this strategy does not remove all concerns about speakers who are not fully cooperative and in particular the operation of the principle needs to be qualified in situations of conflict of interest.  I propose that the principle, once qualified, can have a significant continuing role in pragmatic theory.

text: Kinds of conversational cooperation The Cooperative Principle was the organizing principle in Grice’s pragmatics.  More recently, cooperation has played a reduced role in pragmatic theory.  The principle has been attacked on the grounds that people are not always or generally cooperative.  One response to that objection is to say that there are two kinds of cooperation and Grice’s principle only applies to the narrower kind, which concerns linguistic or formal cooperation.  I argue that such a distinction is only defensible if it is accepted that linguistic cooperation can be determined by an extra-linguistic goal.  To make distinctions among types of cooperation is helpful but this strategy does not remove all concerns about speakers who are not fully cooperative and in particular the operation of the principle needs to be qualified in situations of conflict of interest.  I propose that the principle, once qualified, can have a significant continuing role in pragmatic theory.

year: 2008-03

title: A simple algorithm for medial axis transform computation

authors: Au, Chi Kit

subjects: medial axis

abstract: Although medial axis transform is introduced as a shape description for many engineering applications, the computational algorithm is still challenging. This is especially true for the shape with free form boundary. This paper presents an algorithm for medial axis transform computation from a perspective of minimum distance between the points in a two-dimensional shape and its boundary. The minimum distance is given by a resultant distance function which is a superposition of the individual distance function between a point within a shape and each boundary point. By elaborating the resultant distance function, the medial axis transform will be obtained naturally. The distance function is modeled as a solid cone and the superposition is equivalent to the union Boolean set operation. The implementation of the approach is simplified using a solid modeling kernel. Several examples of two-dimensional shapes with free form boundaries are raised to illustrate the concept and algorithm.

text: A simple algorithm for medial axis transform computation Although medial axis transform is introduced as a shape description for many engineering applications, the computational algorithm is still challenging. This is especially true for the shape with free form boundary. This paper presents an algorithm for medial axis transform computation from a perspective of minimum distance between the points in a two-dimensional shape and its boundary. The minimum distance is given by a resultant distance function which is a superposition of the individual distance function between a point within a shape and each boundary point. By elaborating the resultant distance function, the medial axis transform will be obtained naturally. The distance function is modeled as a solid cone and the superposition is equivalent to the union Boolean set operation. The implementation of the approach is simplified using a solid modeling kernel. Several examples of two-dimensional shapes with free form boundaries are raised to illustrate the concept and algorithm.

year: 2013

title: Ha ora: Improving access to early diagnosis of lung cancer for Maori and rural communities. Understanding patient experiences in General Practice

authors: Lawrenson, Ross

abstract: There were two main objectives for this report. The first was to identify the barriers to early diagnosis of lung cancer experienced by Māori lung cancer patients and whānau. Second was to co-design a multi-pronged intervention alongside rural Māori communities to improve early diagnosis of lung cancer for whānau in their localities.
The team worked in the Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti districts of the Midland Region. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 23 Māori lung cancer patients and whānau recruited through respiratory or cancer nurse specialists (CNSs) based at the hospitals of each district. Nine community hui (focus groups) and nine primary healthcare provider hui were carried out in five rural localities: Te Kuiti, Opōtiki, Te Kaha, Rotorua and Gisborne. Community hui included cancer patients, whānau, and other community members. Healthcare provider hui comprised staff members at the local primary healthcare centre, including General Practitioners and nurses. Study data were thematically analysed.
Findings of the study highlight:
1. Barriers in primary care, including symptom ambiguity, accumulating costs, barriers and enablers relating to GP – patient relationships
2. Barriers in secondary care, including a lack of access to diagnostic tests, long waiting times, barriers and enablers relating to communication between HCPs and patients.
3. The importance of whānau as carers and advocates for Māori patients on their lung cancer journey.
The interventions co-designed with each community included a Hā Ora website, a series of lung cancer awareness videos (entitled ‘wharo wharo wharo’), a kaiawhina training programme and a ‘pou pupuru oranga’ (cancer navigator).
We suggest strategies that aim to improve early diagnosis of lung cancer for rural Māori communities. We welcome your feedback to us regarding these recommendations.

text: Ha ora: Improving access to early diagnosis of lung cancer for Maori and rural communities. Understanding patient experiences in General Practice There were two main objectives for this report. The first was to identify the barriers to early diagnosis of lung cancer experienced by Māori lung cancer patients and whānau. Second was to co-design a multi-pronged intervention alongside rural Māori communities to improve early diagnosis of lung cancer for whānau in their localities.
The team worked in the Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti districts of the Midland Region. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 23 Māori lung cancer patients and whānau recruited through respiratory or cancer nurse specialists (CNSs) based at the hospitals of each district. Nine community hui (focus groups) and nine primary healthcare provider hui were carried out in five rural localities: Te Kuiti, Opōtiki, Te Kaha, Rotorua and Gisborne. Community hui included cancer patients, whānau, and other community members. Healthcare provider hui comprised staff members at the local primary healthcare centre, including General Practitioners and nurses. Study data were thematically analysed.
Findings of the study highlight:
1. Barriers in primary care, including symptom ambiguity, accumulating costs, barriers and enablers relating to GP – patient relationships
2. Barriers in secondary care, including a lack of access to diagnostic tests, long waiting times, barriers and enablers relating to communication between HCPs and patients.
3. The importance of whānau as carers and advocates for Māori patients on their lung cancer journey.
The interventions co-designed with each community included a Hā Ora website, a series of lung cancer awareness videos (entitled ‘wharo wharo wharo’), a kaiawhina training programme and a ‘pou pupuru oranga’ (cancer navigator).
We suggest strategies that aim to improve early diagnosis of lung cancer for rural Māori communities. We welcome your feedback to us regarding these recommendations.

year: 2021