Fever

Understanding AI outputs: study shows pro-western cultural bias in the way AI decisions are explained

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 18, 2024

If you were affected, you might want an explanation of why an AI system produced the decision it did.

Key Points: 
  • If you were affected, you might want an explanation of why an AI system produced the decision it did.
  • Yet AI systems are often so computationally complex that not even their designers fully know how the decisions were produced.
  • Explainable AI systems help AI engineers to monitor and correct their models’ processing.
  • We wanted to see to what extent researchers indicated awareness of cultural variations that were potentially relevant for designing satisfactory explainable AI.

Cultural differences in explanations

  • The other is externalist, citing factors like social norms, rules, or other factors that are outside the person.
  • However, such explanations are not obviously preferred over externalist explanations in “collectivist” societies, such as those commonly found across Africa or south Asia, where people often view themselves as interdependent.
  • If people from different cultures prefer different kinds of explanations, this matters for designing inclusive systems of explainable AI.
  • Our research, however, suggests that XAI developers are not sensitive to potential cultural differences in explanation preferences.

Overlooking cultural differences

  • Moreover, when we checked the cultural background of the people tested in the studies, we found 48.1% of the studies did not report on cultural background at all.
  • This suggests that researchers did not consider cultural background to be a factor that could influence the generalisability of results.
  • Of those that did report on cultural background, 81.3% only sampled western, industrialised, educated, rich and democratic populations.
  • Yet, out of the studies that reported on cultural background, 70.1% extended their conclusions beyond the study population – to users, people, humans in general – and most studies did not contain evidence of reflection on cultural similarity.

Why the results matter

  • To address this cultural bias in XAI, developers and psychologists should collaborate to test for relevant cultural differences.
  • As AI is being used worldwide to make important decisions, systems must provide explanations that people from different cultures find acceptable.
  • As it stands, large populations who could benefit from the potential of explainable AI risk being overlooked in XAI research.


The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Herbal medicinal product: Eucalypti aetheroleumArray,Array,Array, F: Assessment finalised

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 18, 2024

Herbal medicinal product: Eucalypti aetheroleumArray,Array,Array, F: Assessment finalised

Key Points: 


Herbal medicinal product: Eucalypti aetheroleumArray,Array,Array, F: Assessment finalised

Clairmont tells the story of the woman Byron cast aside

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 10, 2024

A rebellious, freedom-fighting Romantic poet, Byron’s reputation is the stuff of legend, his legacy assured and revered in the European literary canon.

Key Points: 
  • A rebellious, freedom-fighting Romantic poet, Byron’s reputation is the stuff of legend, his legacy assured and revered in the European literary canon.
  • While the star of Byron’s literary fame rose, however, many fell by the wayside, cruelly discarded by the poet.
  • It was the summer of 1816, dubbed the “year without a summer”“ thanks to a volcanic eruption in Indonesia.
  • She later described it in her author’s introduction to the 1831 edition of her terrifying and groundbreaking novel.

A different perspective

  • Viewed from the perspective of Claire Clairmont – but not narrated by her – the novel imagines and explores the feelings of the person who propelled Shelley and Mary Godwin to accompany her to Lake Geneva so that she could pursue her passion for Byron.
  • She leaves Byron’s bed one morning, intoxicated by the illusion that: "She’s a lover of a Great One.
  • Elsewhere, Byron calls her a handmaiden, making his feelings for her brutally clear by shaming her in front of the other guests.
  • The story is narrated across three different decades of Clairmont’s life, with chapters on the three decades interspersed throughout the novel.

Life after Byron

  • Byron of course looms large, first in his attempts to end Clairmont’s pregnancy, and then in his insistence that their daughter, Allegra, live with him, only then to send her away to school.
  • The novel also portrays the absence of empathy between Godwin and Clairmont throughout their lives, by drawing from correspondence and journal entries.
  • Byron and Shelley both died young, and in middle age, the mutual suspicion between the two surviving women persists.
  • It explores the painful sacrifice and erasure of female suffering at the altar of more “heroic” male narratives of love, idealism and creation.


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Angela Wright does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Revive Therapeutics Submits Type C Meeting Request Package to FDA for Clinical Study of Bucillamine to Treat Long COVID

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Following the submission of the Type C meeting request package, the Company expects to hear from the FDA on a firm date for the meeting.

Key Points: 
  • Following the submission of the Type C meeting request package, the Company expects to hear from the FDA on a firm date for the meeting.
  • The CDC estimates that 7.5 percent of U.S. adults have long COVID symptoms1.
  • Currently, the Company is exploring the use of Bucillamine as a potential treatment for long COVID.
  • The Company is advancing the clinical development of Bucillamine by leveraging the published research and data from its previous Phase 3 clinical trial (the “Study”) and is finalizing the regulatory and clinical package that includes a proposed clinical study for long COVID to present to the FDA.

Phathom Pharmaceuticals Launches Direct-to-Consumer Campaign, “VOQUEZNA Can Kick Some Acid”

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 26, 2024

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PHAT), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, today announces the launch of its new broadcast ad and full-scale, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) campaign, “VOQUEZNA Can Kick Some Acid,” to raise awareness of its powerful first-in-class treatment and encourage people to speak to their doctor about this new treatment option. VOQUEZNA (vonoprazan) is indicated for the healing and maintenance of healing of all severities of Erosive Esophagitis (EE), also referred to as Erosive GERD, and for the relief of related heartburn. VOQUEZNA represents the first major innovation to the U.S. Erosive GERD market in over 30 years.1

Key Points: 
  • The campaign will also be featured on consumer-facing platforms across Facebook, Instagram, waiting room TVs in doctor offices, and digital banner ads.
  • “Phathom is excited to launch our first campaign directly to, and for, the people whose lives we strive to improve every day.
  • To view a video of the “VOQUEZNA Can Kick Some Acid” commercial, click here.
  • Talk with your healthcare provider about the possibility of fundic gland polyps if you have been on VOQUEZNA for a long time.

argenx Announces Approval of VYVGART (efgartigimod alfa) in Japan for Adults with Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 26, 2024

“argenx is on a mission to deliver transformative medicines for people living with severe autoimmune disease,” said Tim Van Hauwermeiren, Chief Executive Officer of argenx.

Key Points: 
  • “argenx is on a mission to deliver transformative medicines for people living with severe autoimmune disease,” said Tim Van Hauwermeiren, Chief Executive Officer of argenx.
  • By reducing circulating autoantibodies, VYVGART is uniquely designed to serve as a precision intervention that targets the underlying disease biology of ITP.
  • ADVANCE successfully met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that a higher proportion of chronic ITP patients receiving VYVGART achieved a sustained platelet count response compared to placebo.
  • Do not use VYVGART if you have a serious allergy to efgartigimod alfa or any of the other ingredients in VYVGART.

Shield Your Herd: University Products Leads the Charge with Premier Bovine Anaplasmosis Vaccine

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Rising Threat: Anaplasmosis Expands Across the U.S.

Key Points: 
  • Rising Threat: Anaplasmosis Expands Across the U.S.
    Anaplasmosis in cattle is primarily spread from the bites of infected ticks and horseflies.
  • "And despite widespread industry use, antibiotics were never meant to be a routine preventative cure," said Gene Luther from University Products.
  • And University Products' Anaplasmosis vaccine remains the optimal choice.
  • For more information on vaccine availability for ranchers and veterinarians, please contact University Products directly.

Orphan designation: Eflornithine Treatment of neuroblastoma, 27/09/2011 Withdrawn

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Orphan designation: Eflornithine Treatment of neuroblastoma, 27/09/2011 Withdrawn

Key Points: 


Orphan designation: Eflornithine Treatment of neuroblastoma, 27/09/2011 Withdrawn

Three Patients with Invasive Fusarium Infection in Matinas BioPharma’s Oral MAT2203 Compassionate/Expanded Use Access Program Achieve Complete Clinical Response

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 22, 2024

The successful MAT2203 treatment outcome in these patients therefore adds to our confidence for the upcoming ORALTO Phase 3 trial in patients suffering from invasive aspergillosis with limited treatment options.

Key Points: 
  • The successful MAT2203 treatment outcome in these patients therefore adds to our confidence for the upcoming ORALTO Phase 3 trial in patients suffering from invasive aspergillosis with limited treatment options.
  • She was transitioned to oral MAT2203 for two weeks, which led to clinical resolution of her fungal infection.
  • She began to show clinical improvement following two weeks of oral MAT2203 treatment and her skin wounds completely healed following six months of MAT2203 treatment.
  • “MAT2203 continues to demonstrate its potential to effectively treat invasive fungal infections and help patients achieve complete clinical resolution.

Orchard Therapeutics Outlines U.S. Launch Plans for Lenmeldy™ (atidarsagene autotemcel), the Only Approved Therapy for Children with Early-onset Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 20, 2024

TOKYO, LONDON and BOSTON, March 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orchard Therapeutics, recently acquired by Kyowa Kirin with the goal of accelerating the delivery of new gene therapies to patients around the globe, today announced the details of its U.S. commercial launch of Lenmeldy™ (atidarsagene autotemcel), formerly known as OTL-200, the first FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of children with pre-symptomatic late infantile (PSLI), pre-symptomatic early juvenile, (PSEJ), or early symptomatic early juvenile (ESEJ)—collectively referred to as early-onset—metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).

Key Points: 
  • Prior to Lenmeldy, there were no treatment options in the U.S. for early-onset MLD beyond supportive and end-of-life care.
  • This approach has the potential to restore enzymatic function to stop or slow disease progression with a single treatment.
  • Utilizing results from such studies, a multi-stakeholder working group is finalizing a nomination to add MLD to the U.S.
  • Based on current timelines and assumptions, Orchard Therapeutics expects the nomination will be submitted in mid-year 2024.