Software forensics: old methods for a new science

Over the past few years there has been a renewed interest in the science of software authorship identification; this area of research has been termed `software forensics'. This paper examines the range of possible measures that can be used to establish commonality and variance in programmer style, with a view to determining program authorship. It also describes some applications of these techniques, particularly for establishing the originator of programs in cases of security breach, plagiarism and computer fraud

Serious arrhythmia in initiators of citalopram, escitalopram, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: A population-based cohort study in older adults

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) citalopram and escitalopram are associated with QT prolongation, which increases the risk of serious arrhythmia. Consequently, regulatory agencies issued safety warnings in 2011. This study aimed to investigate the risk of serious arrhythmia following initiation of citalopram or escitalopram compared to other SSRIs and the risk in the periods before and after the warnings were issued. We conducted a series of nationwide cohort studies emulating a target trial using Danish healthcare register data from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2016. We included patients (aged ≥65 years) who filled an SSRI prescription with a 1-year washout period before the index date. The outcome was an event of serious arrhythmia. Individuals were followed for a maximum of 6 months using an intention-to-treat approach. Log-binomial regression analyses were performed, estimating risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for age and sex, comorbidities, and comedications with propensity scores. Dose-response effects were not investigated because dosage instructions were not available. We included 167,366 (146,014 individuals), 40,113 (37,069 individuals), and 50,281 (44,754 individuals) person-trials of citalopram, escitalopram, and other SSRIs, respectively. In total, there were 228 events of serious arrhythmia. No difference in risk was observed in the entire study period for either citalopram (0.87 [0.62-1.22]) or escitalopram (0.85 [0.53-1.40]). We identified lower point estimates after the safety warning, RR 0.54 (95% CI 0.31-0.93) for citalopram and 0.58 (0.20-1.63) for escitalopram. Initiation of citalopram and escitalopram was not associated with an increased risk of serious arrhythmia. However, lower point estimates were observed after the safety warning

Climatology of the Auroral Electrojets Derived From the Along-Track Gradient of Magnetic Field Intensity Measured by POGO, Magsat, CHAMP, and Swarm

The auroral electrojets (AEJs) are complex and dynamic horizontal ionospheric electric currents which form ovals around Earth’s poles, being controlled by the morphology of the main magnetic field and the energy input from the solar wind interaction with the magnetosphere. The strength and location of the AEJ varies with solar wind conditions and the solar cycle but should also be controlled on decadal timescales by main field secular variation. To determine the AEJ climatology, we use data from four polar Low Earth Orbit magnetic satellite missions: POGO, Magsat, CHAMP, and Swarm. A simple estimation of the AEJ strength and latitude is made from each pass of the satellites, from peaks in the along-track gradient of the magnetic field intensity after subtracting a core and crustal magnetic field model. This measure of the AEJ activity is used to study the response in different sectors of magnetic local time (MLT) during different seasons and directions of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We find a season-dependent hemispherical asymmetry in the AEJ response to IMF By, with a tendency toward stronger (weaker) AEJ currents in the north than the south during By>0 (By<0) around local winter. This effect disappears during local summer when we find a tendency toward stronger currents in the south than the north. The solar cycle modulation of the AEJ and the long-term shifting of its position and strength due to the core field variation are presented as challenges to internal field modelling

Danish GPs' Experiences When Managing Patients Presenting to General Practice with Symptoms of Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections:A Qualitative Study

One of the most common indications for antibiotic prescribing in general practice is acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). This study aimed to explore general practitioners’ (GPs’) considerations and experiences when managing patients with symptoms of an acute LRTI. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven GPs in the North Denmark Region from January to March 2020. Data were analysed by means of systematic text condensation. The analysis revealed four themes: (1) practicalities of assessing patients with LRTI, (2) assessment of the patient, (3) treatment decisions, and (4) patient expectations. The GPs described having developed individual diagnostic strategies and routines when managing patients with symptoms of an acute LRTI. However, a general assessment of the patient was essential to all the GPs and the diagnosis was seldom based on a single symptom or finding. Most GPs described having great faith in abnormal lung auscultation. The use of C-reactive protein testing served several purposes, such as deciding on the severity of the infection, prescribing antibiotics or not, and as a communicative tool. Diagnostic uncertainty is a driver of antibiotic use and clinical practice might benefit from the development of clinical prediction rules for diagnosing pneumonia

Primary care physicians' access to in-house ultrasound examinations across Europe: a questionnaire study.

OBJECTIVE The overall objective of this study was to examine the differences in ultrasound availability in primary care across Europe. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Primary care. PARTICIPANTS Primary care physicians (PCPs). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES The primary aim was to describe the variation in in-house primary care ultrasonography availability across Europe using descriptive statistics. The secondary aim was to explore associations between in-house ultrasonography availability and the characteristics of PCPs and their clinics using a mixed-effects logistic regression model. RESULTS We collected data from 20 European countries. A total of 2086 PCPs participated, varying from 59 to 446 PCPs per country. The median response rate per country was 24.8%. The median (minimum-maximum) percentage of PCPs across Europe with access to in-house abdominal ultrasonography was 15.3% (0.0%-98.1%) and 12.1% (0.0%-30.8%) had access to in-house pelvic ultrasonography with large variations between countries. We found associations between in-house abdominal ultrasonography availability and larger clinics (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.9) and clinics with medical doctors specialised in areas, which traditionally use ultrasonography (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.8). Corresponding associations were found between in-house pelvic ultrasonography availability and larger clinics (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.7) and clinics with medical doctors specialised in areas, which traditionally use ultrasonography (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.8 to 5.1). Additionally, we found a negative association between urban clinics and in-house pelvic ultrasound availability (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.9). CONCLUSIONS Across Europe, there is a large variation in PCPs' access to in-house ultrasonography and organisational aspects of primary care seem to determine this variation. If evidence continues to support ultrasonography as a front-line point-of-care test, implementation strategies for increasing its availability in primary care are needed. Future research should focus on facilitators and barriers that may affect the implementation process

Serious arrhythmia in initiators of citalopram, escitalopram, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: A population-based cohort study in older adults

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) citalopram and escitalopram are associated with QT prolongation, which increases the risk of serious arrhythmia. Consequently, regulatory agencies issued safety warnings in 2011. This study aimed to investigate the risk of serious arrhythmia following initiation of citalopram or escitalopram compared to other SSRIs and the risk in the periods before and after the warnings were issued. We conducted a series of nationwide cohort studies emulating a target trial using Danish healthcare register data from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2016. We included patients (aged ≥65 years) who filled an SSRI prescription with a 1-year washout period before the index date. The outcome was an event of serious arrhythmia. Individuals were followed for a maximum of 6 months using an intention-to-treat approach. Log-binomial regression analyses were performed, estimating risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for age and sex, comorbidities, and comedications with propensity scores. Dose-response effects were not investigated because dosage instructions were not available. We included 167,366 (146,014 individuals), 40,113 (37,069 individuals), and 50,281 (44,754 individuals) person-trials of citalopram, escitalopram, and other SSRIs, respectively. In total, there were 228 events of serious arrhythmia. No difference in risk was observed in the entire study period for either citalopram (0.87 [0.62-1.22]) or escitalopram (0.85 [0.53-1.40]). We identified lower point estimates after the safety warning, RR 0.54 (95% CI 0.31-0.93) for citalopram and 0.58 (0.20-1.63) for escitalopram. Initiation of citalopram and escitalopram was not associated with an increased risk of serious arrhythmia. However, lower point estimates were observed after the safety warning