Towards inferring language expertise using eye tracking

ACM 978-1-4503-1952-2/13/04. We present initial work towards recognizing reading activities. This paper describes our efforts detect the English skill level of a user and infer which words are difficult for them to understand. We present an initial study of 5 students and show our findings regarding the skill level assessment. We explain a method to spot difficult words. Eye tracking is a promising technology to examine and assess a user’s skill level. Author Keywords language expertise, mobile eye tracker, eye movement

Analysis of adverse events of renal impairment related to platinum-based compounds using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database

Objectives: Platinum compounds cause several adverse events, such as nephrotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, myelosuppression, ototoxicity, and neurotoxicity. We evaluated the incidence of renal impairment as adverse events are related to the administration of platinum compounds using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database. Methods: We analyzed adverse events associated with the use of platinum compounds reported from April 2004 to November 2016. The reporting odds ratio at 95% confidence interval was used to detect the signal for each renal impairment incidence. We evaluated the time-to-onset profile of renal impairment and assessed the hazard type using Weibull shape parameter and used the applied association rule mining technique to discover undetected relationships such as possible risk factor. Results: In total, 430,587 reports in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database were analyzed. The reporting odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for renal impairment resulting from the use of cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin, and nedaplatin were 2.7 (2.5–3.0), 0.6 (0.5–0.7), 0.8 (0.7–1.0), and 1.3 (0.8–2.1), respectively. The lower limit of the reporting odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for cisplatin was >1. The median (lower–upper quartile) onset time of renal impairment following the use of platinum-based compounds was 6.0–8.0 days. The Weibull shape parameter β and 95% confidence interval upper limit of oxaliplatin were <1. In the association rule mining, the score of lift for patients who were treated with cisplatin and co-administered furosemide, loxoprofen, or pemetrexed was high. Similarly, the scores for patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus were high. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a potential risk of renal impairment during cisplatin use in real-world setting. The present findings demonstrate that the incidence of renal impairment following cisplatin use should be closely monitored when patients are hypertensive or diabetic, or when they are co-administered furosemide, loxoprofen, or pemetrexed. In addition, healthcare professionals should closely assess a patient’s background prior to treatment

Omaezallene from Red AlgaLaurenciasp.: Structure Elucidation, Total Synthesis, and Antifouling Activity

Natural antifouling products have been the subject of considerable attention. We screened marine algae for antifouling activity and discovered omaezallenes, the new bromoallene-containing natural products isolated from the red alga Laurencia sp. Described is the isolation, structure elucidation, and total syntheses of omaezallenes. The relative and absolute configurations of natural omaezallenes were unambiguously established through total synthesis. The antifouling activities and ecotoxicity of omaezallenes were also evaluated

Association between serum ALT levels and incidence of new-onset diabetes in general population of Japanese: a longitudinal observational study (ISSA-CKD)

Objective We aimed to clarify the relationship between serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and incidence of new-onset diabetes in a Japanese general population.Setting Population-based retrospective cohort study using annual health check-up data for residents of Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.Participants A total of 5330 Japanese individuals (≥30 years old) without diabetes at baseline were analysed.Primary and secondary outcome measures Serum ALT levels were determined using an enzymatic method and were classified into gender-specific quartile groups as follows: group 1 (3–16 U/L in men and 3–13 U/L in women), group 2 (17–21 U/L in men and 14–16 U/L in women), group 3 (22–29 U/L in men and 17–22 U/L in women) and group 4 (30–428 U/L in men and 23–268 U/L in women). The study outcome was the incidence of diabetes (fasting glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L, non-fasting glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L, glycated haemoglobin ≥6.5% or use of glucose-lowering therapies).Results After an average follow-up period of 5.0 years, 279 individuals developed diabetes. The incidence rate of diabetes increased with elevation of serum ALT levels (0.7% per 100 person-years in group 1, 0.9% in group 2, 0.9% in group 3 and 1.7% in group 4) (p&lt;0.001 for trend). This association was significant after adjustment for other risk factors including age, sex, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, smoking, current daily alcohol intake and regular exercise (p&lt;0.001 for trend). Comparable associations were observed between men and women (p=0.459 for interaction).Conclusion Serum ALT levels were associated with future development of diabetes in the general Japanese population

180324supplementary1Table_02] – Supplemental material for Analysis of adverse events of renal impairment related to platinum-based compounds using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database

<p>Supplemental material, 180324supplementary1Table_02 for Analysis of adverse events of renal impairment related to platinum-based compounds using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database by Misa Naganuma, Yumi Motooka, Sayaka Sasaoka, Haruna Hatahira, Shiori Hasegawa, Akiho Fukuda, Satoshi Nakao, Kazuyo Shimada, Koseki Hirade, Takayuki Mori, Tomoaki Yoshimura, Takeshi Kato and Mitsuhiro Nakamura in SAGE Open Medicine</p