Neural Chinese Word Segmentation with Lexicon and Unlabeled Data via Posterior Regularization

Existing methods for CWS usually rely on a large number of labeled sentences to train word segmentation models, which are expensive and time-consuming to annotate. Luckily, the unlabeled data is usually easy to collect and many high-quality Chinese lexicons are off-the-shelf, both of which can provide useful information for CWS. In this paper, we propose a neural approach for Chinese word segmentation which can exploit both lexicon and unlabeled data. Our approach is based on a variant of posterior regularization algorithm, and the unlabeled data and lexicon are incorporated into model training as indirect supervision by regularizing the prediction space of CWS models. Extensive experiments on multiple benchmark datasets in both in-domain and cross-domain scenarios validate the effectiveness of our approach.Comment: 7 pages, 11 figures, accepted by the 2019 World Wide Web Conference (WWW '19

Sulfasalazine Induced DRESS (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) syndrome with severe acute hepatitis: Case report

Introduction: Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms Syndrome is a rare and severe form of drug induced delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction with mortality rate up to 10%. It usually manifests with skin rash, fever, lymphadenopathy, hematological abnormalities and involvement of one or more internal organs. Establishing the diagnosis is sometimes late due to variable clinical presentation. Current recommendations for therapy rely mainly on expert opinions, retrospective studies, case reports and series. Sulfasalazine was firstly synthesized in 1930 and is currently being prescribed for various inflammatory and rheumatic diseases. Case report: We present a 45-year-old patient who was prescribed sulfasalazine tablets by a rheumatologist due to reactive arthritis. In the fourth week of therapy, he developed skin rash and fever up to 39.5°C. On admission, generalized maculopapular exanthema covering over 60% of the body surface area, edema of the lower eyelids and bilateral cervical and inguinal lymphadenomegaly were registered. Laboratory findings showed leukocytosis with significant eosinophilia, lymphocytosis, elevated bilirubin values, ALT <100 U/L, while ultrasonography of the upper abdomen confirmed hepatosplenomegaly. The patient was diagnosed with Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms Syndrome using RegiSCAR and J-SCAR diagnostic criteria and systemic therapy with methylprednisolone at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg and other supportive therapy was applied, which resulted in complete regression of the skin changes and normalization of laboratory values. Conclusion: The authors would like to recall the occurrence of Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms Syndrome as a rare and potentially fatal drug reaction in which awareness of this disease is of key importance for early recognition. Identification of the offending drug followed by a prompt withdrawal and subsequent treatment is essential for decreasing disease related morbidity and mortality and thus we wish to familiarize the sulfasalazine prescribers with this syndrome

Surface Plasmon Enhancement of Eu3+ Emission Intensity in LaPO4/Ag Nanoparticles

A promising way to improve the performance of luminescent materials is to combine them with noble metal nanoparticles. Herein, a set of silver/europium-doped lanthanum orthophosphate (Ag/La0.95Eu0.05PO4) nanostructures with different concentrations of silver nanoparticles were prepared and investigated. The presented overlap between the strongest europium (Eu3+) excitation line and the broad silver nanoparticle surface plasmon resonance makes the combination prospective for coupling. X-ray powder diffraction confirmed the monoclinic monazite structure. The transmission electron microscopy revealed particles with a rod-like shape and ~4 aspect ratio. Photoluminescence spectra show characteristic Eu3+ ion red emission. One of the requirements for an enhanced luminescence effect is the precise control of the distance between the noble metal nanoparticles and the emitter ion. The distance is indirectly varied throughout the change of Ag nanoparticle concentration in the La0.95Eu0.05PO4 host. The emission intensity increases with the increase in Ag nanoparticles up to 0.6 mol %, after which the luminescence decreases due to the nanoparticles’ close packing and aggregation leading to the displacement of La0.95Eu0.05PO4 from the vicinity of the metal particles and reabsorption of the emitted light. The emission intensity of La0.95Eu0.05PO4 increases more than three times when the Eu3+ excitation is supported by the localized surface plasmon resonance in the Ag/La0.95Eu0.05PO4 nanostructures

Pregovori s Europskom unijom, tijek dubinske analize za poglavlje 28. - Zaštita zdravlja i potrošača, dio o zaštiti zdravlja (Negotiations with EU and Progress of In depth Analysis for Chapter 28: Consumer Protection and Health - The Health Care Part)

Područje zaštite zdravlja tradicionalno nije pokriveno aquis communitaire-om, nego je uređenje toga područja prepušteno zemljama članicama. članak 152 Amsterdanskog ugovora poziva zemlje članice na koordinaciju i konsolidirane akcije donošenja nacionalnih politika javnog zdravstva za borbu protiv prioritetnih bolesti i preventivne aktivnosti sprječavanja bolesti, očuvanja zdravlja i poboljšanja kvalitete života. Podrška koordiniranim aktivnostima osigurana je kroz Public Health Programme u kojem se godišnje osigurava preko 30 milijuna Eura za projekte u skladu s prioritetnim ciljevima na nivou Europe, a za koje se zemlje članice, samostalno ili udruženo natječu putem prijave projekata. Harmonizacija ovoga područja nije predviđena osim za specifične slučajeve kao što su krv i krvni derivati, tkiva i stanice, zarazne bolesti i duhan, pri kojima se standardi sigurnosti i kvalitete moraju uskladiti radi osiguravanja istovjetnog stupnja zaštite zdravlja stanovništva čitave ujedinjene Europe. Kao instrument koordinirane borbe protiv određenih masovnih ili važnih bolesti donose se rezolucije, preporuke, konvencije, i programi, koje zemlje članice nastoje slijediti sukladno vlastitom izboru prioriteta i mogućnostima djelovanja.S Hrvatske strane na pregovorima su sudjelovali stručnjaci Ministarstva zdravstva i socijalne skrbi, Hrvatskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo i Hrvatskog zavoda za transfuzijsku medicinu. Kroz prezentacije hrvatskih stručnjaka predstavnicima EK prikazana je duga i bogata tradicija preventivne medicine, još od statuta Dalmatinskih gradova srednjega vijeka i dubrovačke karantene do današnjih dana kada je   razvijen vlastiti organizacijski model strukture i funkcionalnosti javnoga zdravstva. Uz legislativno uređenje ovoga područja i usporedbu s europskim propisima prikazani su im i najnoviji statistički podaci i pokazatelji stanja na čemu su nam izrazili zahvalnost

Pregovori s Europskom unijom, tijek dubinske analize za poglavlje 28. - Zaštita zdravlja i potrošača, dio o zaštiti zdravlja (Negotiations with EU and Progress of In depth Analysis for Chapter 28: Consumer Protection and Health–The Health Care Part)

Područje zaštite zdravlja tradicionalno nije pokriveno aquis communitaire-om, nego je uređenje toga područja prepušteno zemljama članicama. članak 152 Amsterdanskog ugovora poziva zemlje članice na koordinaciju i konsolidirane akcije donošenja nacionalnih politika javnog zdravstva za borbu protiv prioritetnih bolesti i preventivne aktivnosti sprječavanja bolesti, očuvanja zdravlja i poboljšanja kvalitete života. Podrška koordiniranim aktivnostima osigurana je kroz Public Health Programme u kojem se godišnje osigurava preko 30 milijuna Eura za projekte u skladu s prioritetnim ciljevima na nivou Europe, a za koje se zemlje članice, samostalno ili udruženo natječu putem prijave projekata. Harmonizacija ovoga područja nije predviđena osim za specifične slučajeve kao što su krv i krvni derivati, tkiva i stanice, zarazne bolesti i duhan, pri kojima se standardi sigurnosti i kvalitete moraju uskladiti radi osiguravanja istovjetnog stupnja zaštite zdravlja stanovništva čitave ujedinjene Europe. Kao instrument koordinirane borbe protiv određenih masovnih ili važnih bolesti donose se rezolucije, preporuke, konvencije, i programi, koje zemlje članice nastoje slijediti sukladno vlastitom izboru prioriteta i mogućnostima djelovanja.S Hrvatske strane na pregovorima su sudjelovali stručnjaci Ministarstva zdravstva i socijalne skrbi, Hrvatskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo i Hrvatskog zavoda za transfuzijsku medicinu. Kroz prezentacije hrvatskih stručnjaka predstavnicima EK prikazana je duga i bogata tradicija preventivne medicine, još od statuta Dalmatinskih gradova srednjega vijeka i dubrovačke karantene do današnjih dana kada je   razvijen vlastiti organizacijski model strukture i funkcionalnosti javnoga zdravstva. Uz legislativno uređenje ovoga područja i usporedbu s europskim propisima prikazani su im i najnoviji statistički podaci i pokazatelji stanja na čemu su nam izrazili zahvalnost

EPA guidance on the role and responsibilities of psychiatrists

Psychiatry is that branch of the medical profession, which deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention, and management of mental disorders or mental illness, emotional and behavioural disturbances. Thus, a psychiatrist is a trained doctor who has received further training in the field of diagnosing and managing mental illnesses, mental disorders and emotional and behavioural disturbances. This EPA Guidance document was developed following consultation and literature searches as well as grey literature and was approved by the EPA Guidance Committee. The role and responsibilities of the psychiatrist include planning and delivering high quality services within the resources available and to advocate for the patients and the services. The European Psychiatric Association seeks to rise to the challenge of articulating these roles and responsibilities. This EPA Guidance is directed towards psychiatrists and the medical profession as a whole, towards other members of the multidisciplinary teams as well as to employers and other stakeholders such as policy makers and patients and their families

Bactericidal and antioxidant bacterial cellulose hydrogels doped with chitosan as potential urinary tract infection biomedical agent

Therapy of bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) and catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) is still a great challenge because of the resistance of bacteria to nowadays used antibiotics and encrustation of catheters. Bacterial cellulose (BC) as a biocompatible material with a high porosity allows incorporation of different materials in its three dimensional network structure. In this work a low molecular weight chitosan (Chi) polymer is incorporated in BC with different concentrations. Different characterization techniques are used to investigate structural and optical properties of these composites. Radical scavenging activity test shows moderate antioxidant activity of these biocompatible composites whereasin vitrorelease test shows that 13.3% of chitosan is released after 72 h. Antibacterial testing of BC-Chi composites conducted on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria causing UTIs and CAUTIs (Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Klebsiella pneumoniae) and encrustation (Proteus mirabilis) show bactericidal effect. The morphology analysis of bacteria after the application of BC-Chi shows that they are flattened with a rough surface, with a tendency to agglomerate and with decreased length and width. All obtained results show that BC-Chi composites might be considered as potential biomedical agents in treatment of UTIs and CAUTIs and as a urinary catheter coating in encrustation prevention

TCF4 sequence variants and mRNA levels are associated with neurodevelopmental characteristics in psychotic disorders

TCF4 is involved in neurodevelopment, and intergenic and intronic variants in or close to the TCF4 gene have been associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia. However, the functional role of TCF4 at the level of gene expression and relationship to severity of core psychotic phenotypes are not known. TCF4 mRNA expression level in peripheral blood was determined in a large sample of patients with psychosis spectrum disorders (n=596) and healthy controls (n=385). The previously identified TCF4 risk variants (rs12966547 (G), rs9960767 (C), rs4309482 (A), rs2958182 (T) and rs17512836 (C)) were tested for association with characteristic psychosis phenotypes, including neurocognitive traits, psychotic symptoms and structural magnetic resonance imaging brain morphometric measures, using a linear regression model. Further, we explored the association of additional 59 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the TCF4 gene to these phenotypes. The rs12966547 and rs4309482 risk variants were associated with poorer verbal fluency in the total sample. There were significant associations of other TCF4 SNPs with negative symptoms, verbal learning, executive functioning and age at onset in psychotic patients and brain abnormalities in total sample. The TCF4 mRNA expression level was significantly increased in psychosis patients compared with controls and positively correlated with positive- and negative-symptom levels. The increase in TCF4 mRNA expression level in psychosis patients and the association of TCF4 SNPs with core psychotic phenotypes across clinical, cognitive and brain morphological domains support that common TCF4 variants are involved in psychosis pathology, probably related to abnormal neurodevelopment

an individual participant data meta-analysis

Background The impact of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) on influenza-related pneumonia (IRP) is not established. Our objective was to investigate the association between NAI treatment and IRP incidence and outcomes in patients hospitalised with A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection. Methods A worldwide meta- analysis of individual participant data from 20 634 hospitalised patients with laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 (n = 20 021) or clinically diagnosed (n = 613) ‘pandemic influenza’. The primary outcome was radiologically confirmed IRP. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using generalised linear mixed modelling, adjusting for NAI treatment propensity, antibiotics and corticosteroids. Results Of 20 634 included participants, 5978 (29·0%) had IRP; conversely, 3349 (16·2%) had confirmed the absence of radiographic pneumonia (the comparator). Early NAI treatment (within 2 days of symptom onset) versus no NAI was not significantly associated with IRP [adj. OR 0·83 (95% CI 0·64–1·06; P = 0·136)]. Among the 5978 patients with IRP, early NAI treatment versus none did not impact on mortality [adj. OR = 0·72 (0·44–1·17; P = 0·180)] or likelihood of requiring ventilatory support [adj. OR = 1·17 (0·71–1·92; P = 0·537)], but early treatment versus later significantly reduced mortality [adj. OR = 0·70 (0·55–0·88; P = 0·003)] and likelihood of requiring ventilatory support [adj. OR = 0·68 (0·54–0·85; P = 0·001)]. Conclusions Early NAI treatment of patients hospitalised with A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection versus no treatment did not reduce the likelihood of IRP. However, in patients who developed IRP, early NAI treatment versus later reduced the likelihood of mortality and needing ventilatory support