Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apixaban, concomitant medicines and spontaneous reports of haemorrhagic events

Introduction: Little is known about the potential safety issues associated with apixaban in clinical practice and their reporting in spontaneous adverse event (SAE) databases. Objective: To describe SAE reports associated with the oral anticoagulant apixaban from Australia, Canada and USA and to examine associated concomitant medicine use. Methods: SAE report databases from Australia, Canada and the USA were examined for all reports of adverse events associated with apixaban and concomitant medicines from 1 January 2012 to 30 September 2014. Disproportionality analysis (proportional reporting ratio (PRR) and reporting odds ratio (ROR)) was conducted for the quantitative detection of signals using the USA database. Results: There were 97 SAE reports associated with apixaban from Australia, 77 from Canada and 2877 from the USA. Reporting of haemorrhage (any type) was common, ranging from 18% for USA to 31% for Australia. Gastrointestinal (GI) haemorrhage was the most commonly reported haemorrhage, accounting for approximately 10% of adverse event reports across all countries. Positive signals were confirmed in the USA data (haemorrhage (any type) PRR, 12.1; χ2, 5582.2 and ROR, 13.4; 95% CI: 12.13–14.6; GI haemorrhage PRR, 11.8; χ2, 2325.4 and ROR, 12.3; 95% CI, 10.8–14.0). Reporting of concomitant use of medicines with the potential to increase bleeding risk ranged from 47.6% in Canada to 65.5% in Australia. Conclusion: A large proportion of adverse event reports for apixaban were associated with use of concomitant medicines which may have increased the risk of haemorrhage.
Autoimmune gld mutation uncouples suicide and cytokine/proliferation pathways in activated, mature T cells

Antigen receptor‐directed suicide plays an important role in the elimination of potentially autoaggressive immature T cells during thymic differentiation. Here we demonstrate evidence for a second pathway of receptor‐directed suicide in mature T cells that is missing in a mutant strain (gld) of mice with an “autoimmune” lymphoproliferative syndrome. The defect is evident within the gld activated T cell and does not require the presence of an antigen‐presenting cell for its expression. Receptor‐driven suicide is intact in immature T cells of animals with this mutation. These results support the significance of receptor‐directed suicide in the mature T cell compartment and suggest that the immune system may use three independent pathways for regulating programmed cell death in shaping and controlling the immune response.
Biology and biogenesis of shed microvesicles

ABSTRACT The ability of cells to transmit bioactive molecules to recipient cells and the extracellular environment is a fundamental requirement for both normal physiology and disease pathogenesis. It has traditionally been thought that soluble factors released from cells were responsible for this cellular signaling but recent research has revealed a fundamental role for microvesicles in this process. Microvesicles are heterogeneous membrane-bound sacs that are shed from the surface of cells into the extracellular environment in a highly regulated process. They are shed following the selective incorporation of a host of molecular cargo including multiple types of proteins and nucleic acids. In addition to providing new insight into the etiology of complex human diseases, microvesicles also show great promise as a tool for advanced diagnosis and therapy as we move forward into a new age of personalized medicine. Here we review current status of the rapidly evolving field of microvesicle biology, highlighting critical regulatory roles for several small GTPases in the biology and biogenesis of shed microvesicles.
Toward a Stronger Partnership Between Life-Course Sociology and Life-Span Psychology

This article promotes a stronger partnership between life-course sociology and life-span psychology. Despite some common commitments and goals, the gulf between the two fields remains wide. This gulf is problematic if human development is to be seriously conceived as the interplay between species, social, and individual influences. This article discusses some of the challenges and potentials of bridging these fields, given the different domains and outcomes, levels of analysis, and explanatory factors on which they focus. It explores how these two fields might create a bigger shared toolbox of models, methods, and data. It also considers some of the ways in which disciplinary and age-based inquiry are reinforced in the social organization of science. As attention to the whole of life grows, it will become increasingly important to justify how particular life periods are conceptually autonomous from adjacent periods.
Specifying measurements' rates for monitoring of dynamic distribution grids

Monitoring systems in distribution may account on sparse measurement infrastructure and therefore should be supported by robust state estimation techniques. The uncertainty of the estimated states depends, also, on the speed at which voltage magnitude and phase angle may change. In fact distribution systems include several components that in presence of high voltage oscillation react with variations of current injection and may increase the oscillations in the system. Additionally, PV systems vary their injection depending on panel temperature and sun irradiation. In this paper these issues are analyzed on a dynamic model of a real MV grid. The results of dynamic simulations are used as input to design a monitoring system based on state estimation and understand the uncertainty that is achievable with different update rates. The results presented are given in terms of accuracy of voltage magnitude estimated versus irradiance, voltage and temperature changes.
Species coexistence and the superior ability of an invasive species to exploit a facilitation cascade habitat

Facilitation cascades generated by co-occurring foundation species can enhance the abundance and diversity of associated organisms. However, it remains poorly understood how differences among native and invasive species in their ability to exploit these positive interactions contribute to emergent patterns of community structure and biotic acceptance. On intertidal shorelines in New England, we examined the patterns of coexistence between the native mud crabs and the invasive Asian shore crab in and out of a facilitation cascade habitat generated by mid intertidal cordgrass and ribbed mussels. These crab species co-occurred in low intertidal cobbles adjacent to the cordgrass–mussel beds, despite experimental findings that the dominant mud crabs can kill and displace Asian shore crabs and thereby limit their successful recruitment to their shared habitat. A difference between the native and invasive species in their utilization of the facilitation cascade likely contributes to this pattern. Only the Asian shore crabs inhabit the cordgrass–mussel beds, despite experimental evidence that both species can similarly benefit from stress amelioration in the beds. Moreover, only Asian shore crabs settle in the beds, which function as a nursery habitat free of lethal mud crabs, and where their recruitment rates are particularly high (nearly an order of magnitude higher than outside beds). Persistence of invasive adult Asian shore crabs among the dominant native mud crabs in the low cobble zone is likely enhanced by a spillover effect of the facilitation cascade in which recruitment-limited Asian shore crabs settle in the mid intertidal cordgrass–mussel beds and subsidize their vulnerable populations in the adjacent low cobble zone. This would explain why the abundances of Asian shore crabs in cobbles are doubled when adjacent to facilitation cascade habitats. The propensity for this exotic species to utilize habitats created by facilitation cascades, despite the lack of a shared evolutionary history, contributes to species coexistence and the acceptance of invasives into a diverse community.
Problematising Intercultural Communication Competence in the Pluricultural Classroom: Chinese Students in a New Zealand University

This study juxtaposes current approaches to intercultural communication compe-tence (ICC) with Chinese students' learning and communication experiences in a New Zealand pluricultural classroom. Fifteen first-year Chinese university students were interviewed and participated in focus groups. The findings indicated that the Chinese students' rules for communication – face negotiation, and maintaining roles, harmony and relationships – were not compatible with the New Zealand rules for competent classroom communication. Therefore, there is a need for a critical turn that is culture- and context-specific, and exposes power relations when theorising and investigating ICC.
What’s keeping you awake at night? Challenges facing trainers in South Africa

Corporate Trainers experience many organizational challenges that require new skills. This qualitative study sought to determine the challenges faced by South African Education Training and Development university students employed as trainers in corporate roles. Findings suggest that trainers require contextual and generic soft skills to meet the requirements of their jobs and that the term trainer embraces a variety of roles of different focus and different status. While there appear to be a common set of problems facing trainers irrespective of location, the interventionist skills and employment policies of the South African government have an important influence on activity in the organization.
The ethical, social and environmental reporting‐performance portrayal gap

The purpose of this article is twofold. First, it assesses in detail the extent to which corporate reporting on ethical, social and environmental issues reflects corporate performance in case study company Alpha. This “reporting‐performance” portrayal gap is a key measure of the extent to which an organisation is accountable to its stakeholders. Alpha's disclosures concerning its ethical, social and environmental performance for the years 1993 and 1999 were compared with information obtained on Alpha's performance from other sources. Two different pictures of performance emerged leading to the conclusion that, in the case of Alpha, reports do not demonstrate a high level of accountability to key stakeholder groups on ethical, social and environmental issues. Of particular concern is the lack of “completeness” of reporting. Second, the article assesses the potential of recent standards or guidelines developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Institute of Social and Ethical AccountAbility (AccountAbility) as well as the industry's own “responsible care” initiative to reduce this “reporting‐performance” portrayal gap and improve corporate accountability. The conclusions point to the need for other measures to improve accountability including mandatory reporting guidelines, better developed audit guidelines, a mandatory audit requirement for MNCs and a radical overhaul of corporate governance systems.
The TALP-UPC phrase-based translation systems for WMT12: Morphology simplification and domain adaptation

This paper describes the UPC participation in the WMT 12 evaluation campaign. All systems presented are based on standard phrase-based Moses systems. Variations adopted several improvement techniques such as morphology simplification and generation and domain adaptation. The morphology simplification overcomes the data sparsity problem when translating into morphologically-rich languages such as Spanish by translating first to a morphology-simplified language and secondly leave the morphology generation to an independent classification task. The domain adaptation approach improves the SMT system by adding new translation units learned from MT-output and reference alignment. Results depict an improvement on TER, METEOR, NIST and BLEU scores compared to our baseline system, obtaining on the official test set more benefits from the domain adaptation approach than from the morphological generalization method.
Author's Personal Copy Computers and Mathematics with Applications Stable Calculation of Gaussian-based Rbf-fd Stencils

Traditional finite difference (FD) methods are designed to be exact for low degree polynomials. They can be highly effective on Cartesian-type grids, but may fail for unstructured node layouts. Radial basis function-generated finite difference (RBF-FD) methods overcome this problem and, as a result, provide a much improved geometric flexibility. The calculation of RBF-FD weights involves a shape parameter ε. Small values of ε (corresponding to near-flat RBFs) often lead to particularly accurate RBF-FD formulas. However, the most straightforward way to calculate the weights (RBF-Direct) becomes then numerically highly ill-conditioned. In contrast, the present algorithm remains numerically stable all the way into the ε → 0 limit. Like the RBF-QR algorithm, it uses the idea of finding a numerically well-conditioned basis function set in the same function space as is spanned by the ill-conditioned near-flat original Gaussian RBFs. By exploiting some properties of the incomplete gamma function, it transpires that the change of basis can be achieved without dealing with any infinite expansions. Its strengths and weaknesses compared with the Contour-Padé, RBF-RA, and RBF-QR algorithms are discussed.
A Common Subexpression Sharing Approach for Multiplierless Synthesis of Multiple Constant Multiplications

In the context of multiple constant multiplications (MCM) design, we propose a novel common-subexpression-elimination (CSE) algorithm that models synthesis of coefficients into an estimated cost function. Although the proposed algorithm gen- erally does not guarantee an optimum solution, it is capable of finding the minimum/minima of the func- tion in practically sized problems. In our design ex- amples that have known optimal solutions, synthe- ses of coefficients using the proposed method match the optimal results in a defined search space. We also discover the relationhsip and propose an improve- ment search space for optimization that combine all minimal-signed-digit (MSD) representations as well as the shifted sum (difference) of coefficients to ex- plore the hidden relationship. In some cases, the pro- posed feasible solution space further reduces the num- ber of adders/subtractors in the synthesis of MCM from all MSD representations.
The preexposure prophylaxis revolution: from clinical trials to routine practice: implementation view from the USA

Purpose of reviewThis article describes the use of tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) as prevention for exposure to HIV [preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP)] infection in the USA. The use of PrEP and the challenges of implementation are very instructive as other countries adopt this intervention and it becomes a fundamental part of worldwide efforts for HIV prevention and much can be learned from the first 3 years in the USA. Recent findingsRandomized trials and demonstration projects have shown the benefits of PrEP for men and women who are at risk for HIV. Numerous studies have showed that the level of prevention is excellent when the drug is taken at least four times weekly, once adequate levels are obtained. However, adherence remains a critical issue as well as tailoring delivery models for specific populations. Six recent studies are discussed, that support excellent efficacy and significantly support PrEP as a means of prevention. These projects have shown high acceptance of PrEP with excellent adherence by individuals demonstrated by those at risk remaining free of HIV over extended periods of time. SummaryThe USA faces three significant challenges in scaling up PrEP. The first challenge in implementation in the USA is to get individuals to recognize the actual risks that their behaviors represent and to engage with providers to address these issues. The second challenge is getting a population of providers to recognize the exact same issues and offer PrEP in a compassionate, nonjudgmental fashion. The third challenge is identifying the set of providers and locations to scale-up the response in a timely, cost-effective fashion.
Long-term proton pump inhibitor administration, H pylori and gastric cancer: lessons from the gerbil

The association between chronic active gastritis and pre-neoplastic conditions as well as invasive cancer of the stomach was established several decades ago. The risk of progression depended on the severity and distribution of gastritis, with cancer, in particular, occurring in subjects with pan-gastritis. Subsequently, Helicobacter pylori was recognised as the primary cause of chronic active gastritis, and it was demonstrated that the pattern of gastritis corresponded with the colonisation pattern of H pylori . We and others then showed both in animals and in humans that this pattern of colonisation and associated gastritis primarily depended on the level of acid output.1 2 Although this hypothesis was widely accepted, it led to intense debate when dealing with the safety of long-term treatment with profound acid suppressors. An elegant, long-awaited study from Japan published in this issue of Gut ( see page 624 ) provides compelling evidence that the pattern of H pylori colonisation depends on acid output and that this influences the long-term progression to neoplasia.3 The current study was based on experiments in gerbils, one of the well-established animal models for the study gastric disease induced by Helicobacter spp.4 Gerbils, used sparingly for biomedical research, were first reported as a model for experimental H pylori infection in 1991.5 Interestingly, the gerbil has been shown …
Neuropsychological Functioning in Children With Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus

Reviewed research on neuropsychological functioning (IQ verbal, visuospatial, tactile, motor, executive, and academic abilities) in children with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus (SB/HC). These children usually have average to low-average intelligence but are prone to visuomotor deficits and delayed school progress, especially in arithmetic. Complications of SB/HC, including ventriculitis and seizures, tend to lower IQ scores and achievement in individuals.
Establishment of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for simultaneous detection of human parainfluenza virus types 1 to 4 in children with influenza like illnesses.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to develop an in-house multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR), which can recognize HPIV1-4 in clinical samples. BACKGROUND Human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) is one of the major causes of viral respiratory infections and can affect people at any age, especially infants and young children. METHODS Four sets of specific primers targeting conserved areas of hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) genes of HPIV1-4, were designed and tested with type-related plasmid controls. Specificity and sensitivity of mPCR were tested. One-step mRT-PCR was set up using a viral panel containing 10 respiratory viruses, including HPIVs. One hundred nasopharyngeal samples of respiratory infection patients were tested using the set One-step mRT-PCR. RESULTS The specificity of set mPCR for HPIV1-4 using plasmid positive controls was proved and reaction sensitivity was measured. The specificity of set mRT-PCR was confirmed and 4 and 5 out of 100 clinical samples were HPIV1 and HPIV2 positive, respectively. CONCLUSION The developed one-step mRT-PCR in this study is an effective and specific assay for clinical diagnosis of HPIV1 to 4 (Tab. 1, Fig. 6, Ref. 28).
Personal Values of Canadian Anglophone and Francophone Employees and Ethnolinguistic Group Membership, Sex, and Position Level

Summary The influence of ethnolinguistic group membership, sex, and position level on terminal and instrumental value hierarchies was investigated. Value profile data from 690 Anglophones and 250 Francophones working coast-to-coast in the Public Service of Canada sector reflected high overall value similarity and parallelism across ethnolinguistic, sex, and position level groupings. At the same time the distinctiveness of the groups was noted. Francophones gave a greater importance to social value orientation, and Anglophones to a more personal one, while females emphasized a more interpersonal value orientation and males a more immediate need-gratification orientation. Supervisors stressed a more delayed “work ethic” gratification orientation, while recruit level employees stressed a more interpersonal immediate need-gratification orientation. Results are discussed in view of multiple past and present primary and secondary socialization experiences.
The Language Library: Many Layers, More Knowledge

In this paper we outline the general concept of the Language Library, a new initiative that has the purpose of building a huge archive of structured colletion of linguistic information. The Language Library is conceived as a community built repository and as an environment that allows language specialists to share multidimensional and multi-level annotated/processed resources. The first steps towards its implementation are briefly sketched.
Heuristics and biases: Expertise and task realism in auditing.

Important issues concerning generalizations drawn from heuristics research that depict humans as highly prone to a number of judgmental biases have been raised in recent years. Some researches have argued that the tasks and subjects examined do not adequately represent the contexts to which generalizations are made, citing evidence of improved performance for expert judges working realistic, familar tasks. This article presents additional evidence on these issues by reviewing experimental research on certain heuristics and biases in professional auditor judgments.
Direct Imaging of Single-Molecules: From Dynamics of a Single DNA Chain to the Study of Complex DNA-Protein Interactions

Recent years have seen significant advances in the characterization and manipulation of individual molecules. The combination of single-molecule fluorescence and micromanipulation enables one to study physical and biological systems at new length scales, to unravel qualitative mechanisms, and to measure kinetic parameters that cannot be addressed by traditional biochemistry. DNA is one of the most studied biomolecules. Imaging single DNA molecules eliminates important limitations of classical techniques and provides a new method for testing polymer dynamics and DNA–protein interactions. Here we review some applications of this new approach to physical and biological problems, focusing on videomicroscopy observations of individual DNA chains extended in a shear flow. We will first describe data obtained on the stretching, relaxation and dynamics of a single tethered polymer in a shear flow, to demonstrate that the deformation of sheared tethered chains is partially governed by the thermally driven fluctuations of the chain transverse to the flow direction. Next, we will show how single-molecule videomicroscopy can be used to study in real time DNA folding into chromatin, a complex association of DNA and proteins responsible for the packaging of DNA in the nucleus of an eukaryotic cell.
MIMO Gaussian broadcast channels with private and confidential messages and with receiver side information

In this paper the two-receiver MIMO Gaussian broadcast channel with private and confidential messages and receiver side information is studied. In this communication scenario, each receiver is interested in one private and one confidential message having the other private message as side information for decoding available. Each confidential message is exclusively intended for one receiver and must therefore be kept secret from the other receiver. A complete characterization of the secrecy capacity region is established using channel enhancement arguments and an extremal entropy inequality.