Context-Aware Analysis of Data Sharing Agreements

A Data Sharing Agreement is an agreement among contracting parties regulating how they share data under certain contextual conditions. Upon the definition phase, where the parties negotiate the respective authorizations on data covered by the agreement, the resulting policy may be analysed in order to identify possible conflicts or incompatibilities among authorizations clauses. In this paper, we propose a formal framework for Data Sharing Agreement analysis. Our proposal is built on a process algebra formalism dealing with contextual data, encoded into the Maude engine to make it executable. The effectiveness of the analysis is shown through a sensitive data sharing test bed. Furthermore, we present an implementation of the analyser exposed as a Web Service built on top of Maude. The Web Service technology allows the modularity of the whole architecture with respect to the analysis tool

High frequency of psychopathology in subjects wishing to lose weight: an observational study in Italian subjects.

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the frequency of psychiatric disorders in subjects wishing to lose weight categorized according to BMI.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAn academic outpatient clinical nutrition service in Italy.SubjectsA total of 207 subjects (thirty-nine men and 168 women; mean age: 38·7 (sd 14·1) years) consecutively attending the study centre for the first time between January 2003 and December 2006.ResultsIn the entire study group, eighty-three (40 %) subjects had a psychiatric disorder according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision. Eating disorders were the most prevalent psychiatric condition (thirty-six subjects, 17·4 %), followed by mood and anxiety disorders (9·7 % and 8·7 %, respectively). The frequency of psychiatric disorders among different BMI categories was as follows: 75·0 % in underweight, 50·0 % in normal weight, 33·3 % in overweight and 33·3 % in obese subjects.ConclusionsPsychiatric disorders may be frequently found in subjects wishing to lose weight. Our results highlight the importance of psychiatric assessment especially in underweight and normal-weight subjects

Comprehensive RNA dataset of AGO2 associated RNAs in Jurkat cells following miR-21 over-expression

AbstractWe set out to identify miR-21 targets in Jurkat cells using a high-throughput biochemical approach (10.1016/j.biochi.2014.09.021 [1]). Using a specific monoclonal antibody raised against AGO2, RISC complexes were immunopurified in Jurkat cells over-expressing miR-21 following lentiviral trasduction as well as in Jurkat control cells lines. A parallel immunoprecipitation using isotype-matched rat IgG was performed as a control. AGO2 associated mRNAs were profiled by microarray (GEO: GSE37212). AGO2 bound miRNAs were profiled by RNA-seq

ESMO management and treatment adapted recommendations in the COVID-19 era: gynaecological malignancies

The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and its related disease (COVID-19) has required an immediate and coordinate healthcare response to face the worldwide emergency and define strategies to maintain the continuum of care for the non-COVID-19 diseases while protecting patients and healthcare providers. The dimension of the COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented risk especially for the more vulnerable populations. To manage patients with cancer adequately, maintaining the highest quality of care, a definition of value-based priorities is necessary to define which interventions can be safely postponed without affecting patients’ outcome. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has endorsed a tiered approach across three different levels of priority (high, medium, low) incorporating information on the value-based prioritisation and clinical cogency of the interventions that can be applied for different disease sites. Patients with gynaecological cancer are at particular risk of COVID-19 complications because of their age and prevalence of comorbidities. The definition of priority level should be based on tumour stage and histology, cancer-related symptoms or complications, aim (curative vs palliative) and magnitude of benefit of the oncological intervention, patients’ general condition and preferences. The decision-making process always needs to consider the disease-specific national and international guidelines and the local healthcare system and social resources, and a changing situation in relation to COVID-19 infection. These recommendations aim to provide guidance for the definition of deferrable and undeferrable interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic for ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers within the context of the ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines

Effect of amide-based compounds on the combustion characteristics of composite solid rocket propellants

Oxamide (OXA) and azodicarbonamide (ADA) are among the known burning rate suppressants used in composite solid rocket propellants. Much research has been carried out to understand mechanism of suppression but literature about the action of OXA and ADA on the combustion characteristics of propellant is still scarce. Here, a systematic study on coolant-based propellants has been undertaken spanning from thermal analyses of ingredients to a variety of burning processes of the corresponding propellants. Thermal gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis on individual coolants are carried out to study their behaviour with temperature. It was noticed that the thermal decomposition of OXA exhibits only endothermic effects, whereas that of ADA presents both endothermic and exothermic effects. Successive experiments on solid propellant looking at burning rate characterization, condensed combustion product collection and visualization, pressure deflagration limit and thermochemical analysis gave a greater insight and enabled better understanding of the action of coolants during combustion. It is proposed that OXA and ADA are acting on both the condensed and gas phases. Also, the nature of coolant is a key parameter, which affects the burning rate pressure index. Increase of agglomerate size and of pressure deflagration limit was obtained in the coolant-based propellants, confirming the trend given in the literature. Keywords: Composite propellant, Ammonium perchlorate, Burning rate suppressant, Combustion characteristic

A Comparison of Copromicroscopic and Molecular Methods for the Diagnosis of Cat Aelurostrongylosis

The gold standard method for the diagnosis of cat aelurostrongylosis is the detection of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus first stage larvae with the Baermann's examination. Nevertheless, molecular assays have shown higher diagnostic performances compared to copromicroscopy. This study evaluated the usefulness of an A. abstrusus species-specific PCR on different biological samples collected in clinical settings from 100 privately-owned cats in Italy (n. 60) and Greece (n. 40). A fecal sample was collected from each animal and a pharyngeal swab was also obtained for cats from Italy. All stool samples were subjected to flotation and Baermann's test. The cats were categorized in three groups based on the results of copromicroscopy, i.e., Group A (n. 50 cats with A. abstrusus infection regardless of positivity for other helminths), Group B (n. 25 cats negative for A. abstrusus but positive for at least one of any other helminth), Group C (n. 25 cats negative for any helminth). DNA was extracted from individual aliquots of feces, flotation supernatant, Baermann's sediment and the pharyngeal swab and then subjected to a PCR specific for A. abstrusus. At least one fecal aliquot or the pharyngeal swab scored positive by the A. abstrusus-specific PCR for 48/50 (96%) cats enrolled in Group A; in particular, 38/50 (76%), 35/50 (70%), 41/50 (82%) and 21/25 (84%) DNA extracts from feces, flotation supernatant, Baermann's sediment and pharyngeal swabs were positive by PCR. These results confirm that molecular tools are highly sensitive and specific and indicate that pharyngeal swabs are the most suitable sample for molecular analysis in clinical settings

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA. focus on coronary microvascular dysfunction and genetic susceptibility

Among the most common causes of death worldwide, ischemic heart disease (IHD) is recognized to rank first. Even if atherosclerotic disease of the epicardial arteries is known as the leading cause of IHD, the presence of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) is increasingly recognized. Notwithstanding the increasing interest, MINOCA remains a puzzling clinical entity that can be classified by distinguishing different underlying mechanisms, which can be divided into atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic. In particular, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), classifiable in non-atherosclerotic mechanisms, is a leading factor for the pathophysiology and prognosis of patients with MINOCA. Genetic susceptibility may have a role in primum movens in CMD. However, few results have been obtained for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying CMD. Future studies are essential in order to find a deeper understanding of the role of multiple genetic variants in the genesis of microcirculation dysfunction. Progress in research would allow early identification of high-risk patients and the development of pharmacological, patient-tailored strategies. The aim of this review is to revise the pathophysiology and underlying mechanisms of MINOCA, focusing on CMD and actual knowledge about genetic predisposition to it