Assessment of scientific creativity thinking: Adaptation and validation of a test for the Spanish population

[Resumen] Este artículo describe los procedimientos cualitativos y cuantitativos considerados en la adaptación y estudio exploratorio de la validación del Test de Pensamiento Científico- Creativo (TPCC) de Hu y Adey (2002), con alumnos de Educación Secundaria españoles. Este test está formado por siete tareas, y las respuestas de los alumnos son evaluadas según los rasgos de la creatividad: fluidez, flexibilidad y originalidad. Tomando una muestra de 98 alumnos de un centro de Educación Secundaria de la Región de Murcia se verificó que las puntuaciones de los alumnos son muy diferentes según su nivel de habilidad cognitiva y conocimientos curriculares, lo que puede indicar que el TPCC podría utilizarse en la identificación de alumnos superdotados y talentosos. Se verificó también que una de las tareas del Test (Cuadrado) se presenta claramente diferenciada de las demás, con lo que se puede deducir que evalúa más bien el pensamiento convergente y los conocimientos de geometría de los alumnos. Al mismo tiempo, las correlaciones son particularmente elevadas tomando las puntuaciones en las dimensiones de creatividad dentro de cada tarea, lo que permite destacar el papel del contenido en la producción creativa.[Abstract] This paper describes the qualitative and quantitative procedures included in the adaptation and exploratory study of the validation of the Scientific Creativity Test (SCT) of Hu and Adey (2002), with secondary education Spanish students. This test is composed of seven tasks, and students’ answers are assessed based on creativity traits: fluidity, flexibility and originality. Results of 98 students of a sencondary education centre of the Region of Murcia showed that students’ scores are very different based on their level of cognitive ability and curricular contents knowledge, which suggests that the SCT may be used in the identification of gifted and talented students. In addition, results showed that one of the tasks of the Test (“Square”) is clearly distinct from the others, as it assesses with greater precision convergent thinking and students’ geometry knowledge. Furthermore, correlations are particularly high between creativity scores in the crativity dimensions in each task, which hightlights the role of content in creative production

Forecasting pharmaceutical expenditure in Europe : adjusting for the impact of rebates and discounts

European healthcare systems are under constant pressure to contain healthcare expenditure. Understanding future drug expenditure is an important consideration for payers when formulating policies. QuintileIMS publishes European forecasts that are underpinned by its audited volume data and publicly available list prices. With increasing price pressures, list to net price divergence is growing, although some of this information is commercially sensitive and thus not publicly available. The objective of this study was to further develop an established forecast to account for this divergence and explore its impact

Freshness and Reactivity Analysis in Globally Asynchronous Locally Time-Triggered Systems

International audienceCritical embedded systems are often designed as a set of real-time tasks, running on shared computing modules, and communicating through networks. Because of their critical nature, such systems have to meet timing properties. To help the designers to prove the correctness of their system, the real-time systems community has developed numerous approaches for analyzing the worst case times either on the processors (e.g. worst case execution time of a task) or on the networks (e.g. worst case traversal time of a message). However, there is a growing need to consider the complete system and to be able to determine end-to-end properties. Such properties apply to a functional chain which describes the behavior of a sequence of functions, not necessarily hosted on a shared module, from an input until the production of an output. This paper explores two end-to-end properties: freshness and reactivity, and presents an analysis method based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP). This work is supported by the French National Research Agency within the Satrimmap project

Does NICE influence the adoption and uptake of generics in the UK?

The aim of this paper is to examine generic competition in the UK, with a special focus on the role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on generic market entry and diffusion. In the UK, where no direct price regulation on pharmaceuticals exists, HTA has a leading role for recommending the use of medicines providing a non-regulatory aspect that may influence the dynamics in the generic market. The paper focuses on the role of Technology Appraisals issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). We follow a two-step approach. First, we examine the probability of generic entry. Second, conditional on generic entry, we examine the determinants of generic market share. We use data from IQVIA British Pharmaceutical Index (BPI) for the primary care market for 60 products that lost patent between 2003 and 2012. Our results suggest that market size remains one of the main drivers of generic entry. After controlling for market size, intermolecular substitution and difficulty of manufacturing increase the likelihood of generic entry. After generic entry, our estimates suggest that generic market share is highly state dependent. Our findings also suggest that while NICE recommendations do influence generic uptake, there is only marginal evidence they affect generic entry

The fidelity of synaptonemal complex assembly is regulated by a signaling mechanism that controls early meiotic progression

© 2014 Elsevier Inc.Proper chromosome segregation during meiosis requires the assembly of the synaptonemal complex (SC) between homologous chromosomes. However, the SC structure itself is indifferent to homology, andpoorly understood mechanisms that depend on conserved HORMA-domain proteins prevent ectopic SC assembly. Although HORMA-domain proteins are thought to regulate SC assembly as intrinsic components of meiotic chromosomes, here we uncover a key role for nuclear soluble HORMA-domain protein HTP-1 in the quality control of SC assembly. We show that a mutant form of HTP-1 impaired in chromosome loading provides functionality of an HTP-1-dependent checkpoint that delays exit from homology search-competent stages until all homolog pairs are linked by the SC. Bypassing of this regulatory mechanism results in premature meiotic progression and licensing of homology-independent SC assembly. These findings identify nuclear soluble HTP-1 as a regulator of early meiotic progression, suggesting parallels with the mode of action of Mad2 in the spindle assembly checkpoint

Comparison of ixekizumab with ustekinumab in moderate-to-severe psoriasis: 24-week results from IXORA-S, a phase III study

Background It has been shown that the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis is critical in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Objectives To present the primary end point (week 12) and safety and efficacy data up to week 24 from a head-to-head trial (IXORA-S) of the IL-17A inhibitor ixekizumab (IXE) vs. the IL-12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab (UST). Methods Randomized patients received IXE (160-mg starting dose, then 80 mg every 2 weeks for 12 weeks, then 80 mg every 4 weeks, n = 136) or UST (45 mg or 90 mg weight-based dosing per label, n = 166). The primary end point was the proportion of patients reaching ≥ 90% Psoriasis Area and Severity Index improvement (PASI 90). Hommel-adjusted key secondary end points at week 12 included PASI 75, PASI 100, static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) score of 0 or 1, sPGA score of 0, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score of 0 or 1, ≥ 4-point reduction on the itch numerical rating scale (NRS) and changes in itch NRS and skin pain visual analogue scale. Results At week 12, IXE (n = 99, 72 8%) was superior to UST (n = 70, 42 2%) in PASI 90 response (response difference 32 1%, 97 5% confidence interval 19 8 44 5%, P < 0 001). Response rates for PASI 75, PASI 100 and sPGA (0,1) were significantly higher for IXE than for UST (adjusted P < 0 05). At week 24, IXEtreated patients had significantly higher response rates than UST-treated patients for PASI, sPGA and DLQI (unadjusted P < 0 05). No deaths were reported, and the treatments did not differ with regard to overall incidences of adverse events (P = 0 299). Conclusions The superior efficacy of IXE demonstrated at week 12 persisted up to week 24. The safety profiles were consistent with those previously reported for both treatments. peerReviewe

Leveraging the holistic benefits of biosimilars in Europe - part 2:how payers can safeguard the future of a healthy biosimilar market environment

IntroductionBiosimilars have improved access to biologic medicines; however, historical thinking may jeopardize the viability of future markets.Areas coveredAn expert panel of eight diverse European stakeholders provided insights about rethinking biosimilars and cost-savings, reducing patient access inequalities, increasing inter-market equity, and improving education. The insights reported here (Part 2) follow a study that provides perspectives on leveraging the holistic benefits of biosimilars for market sustainability based on independent survey results and telephone interviews of stakeholders from diverse biosimilar markets (Part 1). Directional recommendations are provided for payers.Expert OpinionThe panel's market maturity framework for biosimilars has three stages: 'Invest,' 'Expand' and 'Harvest.' Across market stages, re-thinking the benefits of biosimilars beyond cost-savings, considering earlier or expanded access/new indications, product innovations, and re-investment of biosimilar-generated cost-savings should be communicated to stakeholders to promote further engagement. During 'Expand' and 'Harvest' stages, development of efficient, forward-looking procurement systems and mechanisms that drive uptake and stabilize competition between manufacturers are key. Future biosimilars will target various therapy areas beyond those targeted by existing biosimilars. To ensure a healthy, accessible future market, stakeholders must align their objectives, communicate, collaborate, and coordinate via education, incentivization, and procurement, to maximize the totality of benefits

Capturing the holistic value of biosimilars in Europe–part 1:a historical perspective

Introduction: Approved biosimilars exhibit comparable efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity to reference products. This report provides perspectives on the societal value of biosimilars within Europe and potential factors that have influenced market dynamics. Methods: An independent, self-administered survey or one-on-one in-depth interview was used to collect viewpoints about the impact of biosimilar medicines within European markets. Key insights were also sought from an expert panel of European stakeholders. Results: Survey respondents were clinicians, pharmacists, and payers from Europe (N = 103). Perceived benefits of biosimilars included increased access to innovative medicines (73% of respondents) or biologic treatments (66%). Biosimilar competition was thought to expand access to biologics (~50% of respondents) or drug combinations (~36%) and reduce biologic access time (34%). Key drivers of biologic access after biosimilar competition included increased biologic awareness (51%) and changes to prescribing guidelines (37%) and/or treatment paradigms (28%). The expert panel developed a market maturity framework of biosimilar adoption/opportunities comprising three stages: ‘Invest,’ ‘Expand,’ and ‘Harvest.’ Findings were supported by published literature. Conclusions: In Europe, the perceptions of well-informed survey/interview respondents are that biosimilars have improved patient outcomes via increased access to biologics and innovative biologic products, contributing to earlier and longer treatment of a broader population.</p

Capturing the holistic value of biosimilars in Europe–part 1:a historical perspective

Introduction: Approved biosimilars exhibit comparable efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity to reference products. This report provides perspectives on the societal value of biosimilars within Europe and potential factors that have influenced market dynamics. Methods: An independent, self-administered survey or one-on-one in-depth interview was used to collect viewpoints about the impact of biosimilar medicines within European markets. Key insights were also sought from an expert panel of European stakeholders. Results: Survey respondents were clinicians, pharmacists, and payers from Europe (N = 103). Perceived benefits of biosimilars included increased access to innovative medicines (73% of respondents) or biologic treatments (66%). Biosimilar competition was thought to expand access to biologics (~50% of respondents) or drug combinations (~36%) and reduce biologic access time (34%). Key drivers of biologic access after biosimilar competition included increased biologic awareness (51%) and changes to prescribing guidelines (37%) and/or treatment paradigms (28%). The expert panel developed a market maturity framework of biosimilar adoption/opportunities comprising three stages: ‘Invest,’ ‘Expand,’ and ‘Harvest.’ Findings were supported by published literature. Conclusions: In Europe, the perceptions of well-informed survey/interview respondents are that biosimilars have improved patient outcomes via increased access to biologics and innovative biologic products, contributing to earlier and longer treatment of a broader population.</p

Biological controls for standardization and interpretation of adaptive immune receptor repertoire profiling

Use of adaptive immune receptor repertoire sequencing (AIRR-seq) has become widespread, providing new insights into the immune system with potential broad clinical and diagnostic applications. However, like many high-throughput technologies, it comes with several problems, and the AIRR Community was established to understand and help solve them. We, the AIRR Community's Biological Resources Working Group, have surveyed scientists about the need for standards and controls in generating and annotating AIRR-seq data. Here, we review the current status of AIRR-seq, provide the results of our survey, and based on them, offer recommendations for developing AIRR-seq standards and controls, including future work. Keywords: B-cell Receptor (BCR); IG; T-cell Receptor (TCR); TR; antibody; immunoglobulin; immunology; inflammation; next generation sequencing (NGS)