On Distributed Cognition While Designing an AI System for Adapted Learning.

When analyzing learning, focus has traditionally been on the teacher, but has in the recent decades slightly moved toward the learner. This is also reflected when supporting systems, both computer-based and more practical equipment, has been introduced. Seeing learning as an integration of both an internal psychological process of acquisition and elaboration, and an external interaction process between the learner and the rest of the learning environment though, we see the necessity of expanding the vision and taking on a more holistic view to include the whole learning environment. Specially, when introducing an AI (artificial intelligence) system for adapting the learning process to an individual learner through machine learning, this AI system should take into account both the learner and the other agents and artifacts being part of this extended learning system. This paper outlines some lessons learned in a process of developing an electronic textbook adapting to a single learner through machine learning, to the process of extracting input from and providing feedback both to the learner, the teacher, the learning institution, and the learning resources provider based on a XAI (explainable artificial intelligence) system while also taking into account characteristics with respect to the learner's peers.

Cancer incidence and mortality in France in 1975-95.

The aims of the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) are to improve the quality, comparability and availability of cancer registry data in Europe. This paper on cancer incidence and mortality in France presents the most recent available data, with short-term projections to 1995, and a commentary based, where possible, on epidemiological research carried out in France. Cancer incidence in men in France increased throughout the study period 1975 to 1995, from 92,000 new cases in 1975 to about 135,000 in 1995. This increase was partly due to the ageing of the French population, but incidence rates have also increased, particularly from 1975 to 1985. The trend appears to be levelling off in the 1990s, with an incidence rate in 1995 of about 482 per 100,000 (this and subsequent rates quoted are standardized to the European Standard Population). Among women, the all-cancer incidence rates also increased during the 1970s and 1980s. Although the rate of increase was less pronounced than in men, the trend is continuing in the 1990s. The estimated age standardized rate in 1995 was 309 per 100,000, representing 104,000 new cases. The main components of these changes in the last decade were, for men, increases in large bowel and prostate cancer, which have been partly compensated for by decreases in oral cavity, larynx and stomach cancer. For women the trend was dominated by the continuing increase in breast cancer with increases also in large bowel and lung cancers. Of the numerically important cancers in women, only stomach cancer has shown a clear decline. The situation in 1995 was that breast cancer remained the predominant cancer affecting women in France, accounting for almost one third of all new cases of cancer diagnosed and one fifth of cancer deaths. The next most frequent cancers in women were those of the large bowel. Regrettably, incidence rates of both breast and bowel cancer are increasing in women. For men in France the most frequent cancers in 1995 were those of the prostate, large bowel and lung, all of which increased in incidence since 1975. Although it is estimated that there will be more newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer than lung cancer in 1995, the latter will cause many more deaths, particularly of young men.

Clinical efficacy of milnacipran: placebo-controlled trials.

The clinical efficacy of milnacipran, a selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, was reviewed on the basis of three, multicentre, placebo-controlled trials in major depression. A dose-range study showed the superiority of milnacipran at 50 or 100 mg twice a day compared with placebo whereas the effect of 25 mg twice a day was not clearly distinguished from that of placebo. This has been confirmed by other studies where the 50-mg twice-a-day regimen was shown to be significantly more efficacious than placebo on all outcome measures (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression). The positive results in the individual studies were supported by a meta-analysis of the data from the three studies. A subgroup analysis of hospitalized patients in the meta-analysis showed an advantage for milnacipran, suggesting that milnacipran is effective in more severe depression.