Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PALB2 and breast cancer: ready for clinical translation!

For almost two decades, breast cancer clinical genetics has operated in an environment where a heritable cause of breast cancer susceptibility is identified in the vast minority of women seeking advice about their personal and/or family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. A new wave of genetic information is upon us that promises to provide an explanation for the greater proportion of current missing heritability of breast cancer. Whilst researchers refine bioinformatic and analytic methodology necessary to interpret the new genetic data, attention needs to be paid to defining appropriate and coordinated pathways for the translation of this information so that it can be applied in clinical genetic services for the benefit of the majority of women who currently have no explanation for their breast cancer susceptibility. The search for additional breast cancer susceptibility genes remains a very active area of research. Exhausting the power of linkage studies that identified BRCA1 and BRCA2, the research community moved to candidate gene studies that led to the identification of ATM, BRIP1, CHEK2, and PALB2 as so-called “moderate-risk” breast cancer susceptibility genes. Mutations in these genes are rare and although early reports suggested that, on average, they are associated with moderate risks of breast cancer; population-based studies have demonstrated that at least some mutations in these genes are associated with breast cancer risks that are comparable to the average risk associated with BRCA2 mutations. The search for additional breast cancer susceptibility genes has now moved onto research platforms applying massively parallel sequencing capable of sequencing whole human exomes and genomes in single instrument runs. These programs are identifying a large number of additional putative breast cancer susceptibility genes, many of which are currently undergoing validation. It is highly anticipated that the remaining missing heritability of breast cancer will be due to mutations in many different genes, each explaining a small proportion of the currently unexplained heritable breast cancer susceptibility. The characterization of PALB2 as a breast cancer susceptibility gene and subsequent research that has refined our understanding of the prevalence and penetrance of heritable mutations in PALB2 offers a precious opportunity to use the data as a model and develop modes of translation that would be appropriate for the anticipated volume of imminent new information.
Organizing Clerical Workers: Determinants of Success

This paper investigates factors influencing the outcome of union organizing efforts among clerical workers in the private sector. Drawing on interviews with union officials involved in clerical organizing campaigns, the authors analyze NLRB data on elections held in 1979. They find that the percentage of clerical workers voting yes in representation elections was related positively to the strength of the union presence in the state and employment growth in the industry, and negatively to the level of strike activity in the state and management resistance to unionization. The delay between the filing of an election petition and the holding of the election had no significant effect on the vote.
European Conference on Information Systems ( ECIS ) 2009 THE ROLE OF STRATEGY IN THE EVOLUTION AND INNOVATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS : A SIMULATION EXPERIMENT

Information Systems (IS) have come to play a larger role in how organizations function, including consideration in strategic planning. Responding to competitive change or enacting a new strategy often requires modifying or enhancing an organization’s IS. In this paper, the authors develop a process model of evolutionary change to address the role that IS plays in organizational strategy. The model is based in part on Miles’ strategic typology of Defenders, Prospectors and Analyzers. The model examines how strategic approaches influence attention to environmental change, investments in IS capabilities, and evolution of information systems. The behavior observed in the simulations corresponds with the theoretical hypothesis developed from the model. The conservative defender organization experienced few discontinuous changes in the simulated 20 years. The innovative prospector organization exhibited extensive change, while the balanced approach of the analyzer organization fell between the two extremes. This study has taken steps to create simulations that approximate the behaviors predicted by a theoretical process model. The success of the simulation modeling in this study builds a foundation for future research.
A comparison of open-source segmentation architectures for dealing with imperfect data from the media in speech synthesis

Traditional Text-To-Speech (TTS) systems have been developed using especially-designed non-expressive scripted recordings. In order to develop a new generation of expressive TTS systems in the Simple4All project, real recordings from the media should be used for training new voices with a whole new range of speaking styles. However, for processing this more spontaneous material, the new systems must be able to deal with imperfect data (multi-speaker recordings, background and foreground music and noise), filtering out low-quality audio segments and creating mono-speaker clusters. In this paper we compare several architectures for combining speaker diarization and music and noise detection which improve the precision and overall quality of the segmentation.
Towards a program logic for JavaScript

JavaScript has become the most widely used language for client-side web programming. The dynamic nature of JavaScript makes understanding its code notoriously difficult, leading to buggy programs and a lack of adequate static-analysis tools. We believe that logical reasoning has much to offer JavaScript: a simple description of program behaviour, a clear understanding of module boundaries, and the ability to verify security contracts. We introduce a program logic for reasoning about a broad subset of JavaScript, including challenging features such as prototype inheritance and "with". We adapt ideas from separation logic to provide tractable reasoning about JavaScript code: reasoning about easy programs is easy; reasoning about hard programs is possible. We prove a strong soundness result. All libraries written in our subset and proved correct with respect to their specifications will be well-behaved, even when called by arbitrary JavaScript code.
Over again: Image-schema transformations in semantic analysis

Brugman (1981). followed by Lakoff (1987), showed that OVER can be analyzed äs a chained System of senses using Image Schemas and natural image-schema transformations. The Brugman/Lakoff analysis can be improved, however, by relying more exclusively on image-schema transformations and eliminating some remnants offeature analysis. The key to the analysis is a curved arc-trajectory in the central Schema, replacing the flat "across" trajectory presumed by Brugman and Lakoff. This modification leads to the elimination of unnecessary features such äs the shape ofthe landmark, "contact", and subschemas (for ABOVE and ACROSsJ. Its main advantage, though, is that the arc-path Schema provides the basis for explaining all of the variants of OVER using natural image-schema transformations (andmetaphors). The proposed image-schema transformations ine lüde: multiple trajectors; multiplex-mass; multiple path; path-segment profiling; extending-path trajector; reflexive trajector; resulting state (including extended-path trajector and subjective path to endpoint); and shiftedperspective. A process is also proposed by which a new independent variant can "split off" from an established complex ofimages.
A fast parallel algorithm for the maximal independent set problem

A parallel algorithm is presented which accepts as input a graph <italic>G</italic> and produces a maximal independent set of vertices in <italic>G. </italic> On a P-RAM without the concurrent write or concurrent read features, the algorithm executes in <italic>O((log n)</italic><supscrpt>4</supscrpt>) time and uses <italic>O((n/log n)</italic><supscrpt>3</supscrpt>) processors, where <italic>n</italic> is the number of vertices in <italic>G. </italic> The algorithm has several novel features that may find other applications. These include the use of balanced incomplete block designs to replace random sampling by deterministic sampling, and the use of a “dynamic pigeonhole principle” that generalizes the conventional pigeonhole principle.
Compressive Ulnar Neuropathies at the Elbow: II. Treatment

&NA; Initial treatment of most compressive neuropathies at the elbow is nonoperative, consisting of rest, avoidance of elbow flexion, and, when necessary, temporary immobilization of the elbow and wrist. If symptoms persist, particularly when accompanied by muscle weakness, surgery is usually indicated. Operative procedures include decompression without transposition of the nerve (in situ or by means of medial epicondylectomy) and decompression with transposition of the nerve carried out in a subcutaneous, intramuscular, or submuscular fashion. The indications, advantages, disadvantages, and surgical technique of each operative procedure are discussed.
Dynamic QoS-Based Bandwidth Allocation Framework for Broadband Wireless Networks

Broadband wireless communication systems, namely, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE), promise to revolutionize the mobile users wireless experience by offering many of the services and features promised by fourth-generation (4G) wireless systems, such as supporting multimedia services with high data rates and wide coverage area, as well as all-Internet Protocol (IP) with security and quality-of-service (QoS) support. These systems, however, require proficient radio resource management (RRM) schemes to provide the aforementioned features they promise. In this paper, we propose a new framework, which is called dynamic QoS-based bandwidth allocation (DQBA), to support heterogeneous traffic with different QoS requirements in WiMAX networks. The DQBA framework operates as such; it dynamically changes the bandwidth allocation (BA) for ongoing and new arrival connections based on traffic characteristics and service demand. The DQBA aims at maximizing the system capacity by efficiently utilizing its resources and by being fair, practical, and in compliance with the IEEE 802.16 standard specifications. To achieve its objectives, DQBA employs a flexible architecture that combines the following related components: 1) a two-level packet scheduler scheme; 2) an efficient call admission control policy; and 3) a dynamic BA mechanism. Simulation results and comparisons with existing schemes show the effectiveness and strengths of the DQBA framework in delivering promising QoS and being fair to all classes of services in a WiMAX network.
Induction, regulation, and function of soluble TRAP (CD40 ligand) during interaction of primary CD4+ CD45RA+ T cells with dendritic cells

To assess the induction, regulation, and the relative roles of cell surface tumor necrosis factor‐related activation protein (TRAP; CD40 ligand) and the soluble form of TRAP (sTRAP) in the initial phase of T cell activation, primary CD4+ CD45RA+ (naive) T cells were co‐cultured with mature Langerhans' cells (mLC) in the presence of superantigen. In this cell system, TRAP was very efficiently induced in T cells at both the mRNA and protein levels. After appearing on the cell surface, TRAP was rapidly down‐regulated by a mechanism triggered through interaction of TRAP with CD40 on mLC. Co‐culture of T cells with mLC led to the release of sTRAP, an 18‐kDa protein capable of binding to CD40. Experimental data strongly suggest that sTRAP is not released by proteolytic cleavage of TRAP on the cell surface, but is generated in an intracellular compartment. Release of sTRAP and induction of TRAP cell surface expression were found to be regulated independently. In terms of function, sTRAP cannot compete with cell surface TRAP for ligation of CD40 on mLC, indicating that sTRAP release is not a mechanism for termination of the TRAP/CD40 interaction. However, sTRAP on its own rapidly down‐regulates CD40 expression on mLC and has long‐lasting anti‐apoptotic effects on dendritic cells. Thus, we infer from our results obtained in vitro that primary activation of CD4+ T cells by dendritic cells in the lymphoid tissues leads to release of sTRAP, which may act on CD40+ bystander cells in a cytokine‐like fashion.
The Color of Music: Correspondence through Emotion

College students listened to four song clips. Following each clip, the students indicated which color(s) corresponded to each of the four songs by distributing five points among eleven basic color names. Each song had previously been identified as either a “happy” or “sad” song. Each participant listened to two “happy” and two “sad” songs in random order. There was more agreement in color choice for the songs eliciting the same emotions than for songs eliciting different emotions. Brighter colors such as yellow, red, green, and blue were usually assigned to the happy songs and gray was usually assigned to the sad songs. It was concluded that music-color correspondences occur via the underlying emotion common to the two stimuli.
Managing Surgical Pain in Long-Term Opioid Patients

ABSTRACT The number of patients taking long-term opioid therapy for pain is increasing, with opioid use no longer being confined to advanced cancer patients. Challenges to peri- and postoperative pain management in chronic pain patients include complex existing drug regimens and problems arising from tolerance to opioid analgesia. Postoperatively, individualized, multimodal pain therapy involving a round-the-clock regimen of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, paracetamol, and regional blocks should be used. Other considerations may include patients receiving opioids by intrathecal drug delivery systems, spinal cord stimulator (SCS), and potential substance abusers.
The complexity of reverse engineering problems for conjunctive queries

Reverse engineering problems for conjunctive queries (CQs), such as query by example (QBE) or definability, take a set of user examples and convert them into an explanatory CQ. Despite their importance, the complexity of these problems is prohibitively high (coNEXPTIME-complete). We isolate their two main sources of complexity and propose relaxations of them that reduce the complexity while having meaningful theoretical interpretations. The first relaxation is based on the idea of using existential pebble games for approximating homomorphism tests. We show that this characterizes QBE/definability for CQs up to treewidth $k$, while reducing the complexity to EXPTIME. As a side result, we obtain that the complexity of the QBE/definability problems for CQs of treewidth $k$ is EXPTIME-complete for each $k \geq 1$. The second relaxation is based on the idea of "desynchronizing" direct products, which characterizes QBE/definability for unions of CQs and reduces the complexity to coNP. The combination of these two relaxations yields tractability for QBE and characterizes it in terms of unions of CQs of treewidth at most $k$. We also study the complexity of these problems for conjunctive regular path queries over graph databases, showing them to be no more difficult than for CQs.
New Labour and Citizenship Education

This article argues that citizenship lessons were introduced in schools in England in 2002 principally because of concerns amongst a range of key figures in and beyond New Labour about perceived declining levels of social capital in Britain. The article is structured as follows: first, it places citizenship education in its historical context prior to the election of Labour in 1997, also emphasising the historical dimension to debates inside the Labour Party about political participation and democracy. It then outlines the importance of social capital for the party and explains how the concept was a crucial motivational factor for a variety of actors, constituting an ideational policy network, involved in the development of the citizenship education policy. It concludes that the effectiveness of the initiative is weakened by New Labour’s reluctance to challenge the entrenched inequalities that undermine the promotion of social inclusion and thus prevent the development of social capital.
Routine Testing Practices and the Linguistic Construction if Knowledge

This article examines the linguistic encoding of curricular knowledge in routine classroom testing events. Focusing on transcript data collected in a qualitative study of junior high school social studies classrooms, I argue that the dominant epistemological orientation of testing events is positivistic and values a discrete, bounded form of knowledge. The analysis centers on the language of review activities that typically precede and follow classroom tests; specifically, it focuses on interactional sequences that demand students' verbal participation in a culturally specified orientation to knowledge. A comparison of the language of these testing events and earlier lesson presentations of the same curricular information suggests that testing encourages and exaggerates the extent to which a positivistic view of knowledge prevails.
Public Education’s Last Hurrah?: Schizophrenia, Amnesia, and Ignorance in School Politics

Success in the current reform movement is critical because support for American public schools is endangered by fundamental demographic and value shifts. However, reformers have been handicapped by an inadequate understanding of the politics and organizational character of schools. Consequently, their reform strategies often are incongruent with the realities of changing schools. This paper examines these propositions and outlines an approach for achieving more realistic and promising strategies for reinvigorating public schools.
A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF THE KINETICS OF BLOOD CLEARANCE OF P32-LABELLED ESCHERICHIA COLI AND STAPHYLOCOCCI BY THE RETICULO-ENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM

1. The clearance of P32-labelled heat-killed E. coli and staphylococci from the blood follows an exponential function of the time, and the bacteria are phagocytized principally by the RES of the liver and spleen. 2. The rates of clearance of equivalent number of E. coli from the blood is rapid in rabbits and slow in mice and appears to be related to the level of antibodies in the serum of these animals. 3. Unlike E. coli, staphylococci are cleared rapidly and efficiently by the RES from the blood of mice which have a sufficient level of serum antibody against these bacteria. 4. The numbers of bacteria, phagocytized by the liver or the spleen respectively, depend upon the rate of clearance and the extent of opsonization of the bacteria. Rapidly cleared, well opsonized E. coli are removed almost exclusively by the liver, while less efficiently phagocytized bacteria are also cleared by the spleen in large numbers. 5. The rate of clearance of E. coli and the efficiency with which they are phagocyted by the RES in mice have been shown to be directly related to the level of antibody in the serum. 6. Treatment of mice with S. typhi or Serratia marcescens endotoxins increases the rate of clearance of E. coli from the blood and the level of antibody against E. coli in the serum. The enhanced clearance of E. coli can be transferred to normal mice by the serum of endotoxin-treated mice.
“Free will”: are we all equal? A dynamical perspective of the conscious intention to move

Abstract In their seminal (1983) study, Libet and colleagues suggested that awareness of one’s intention to act has a postdictive character in that it occurs long after cerebral activity leading to action has been initiated. Crucially, Libet et al. further suggested that the time window (±200 ms) between the conscious experience of the intention to act and the action itself offers people the possibility of “vetoing” the unfolding action. This raises the question of whether there are individual differences in the duration of this “veto window” and which components of the readiness potential (RP) and the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) explain this variability. It has been reported that some psychiatric diseases lead to shorter intervals between conscious intentions and actions. However, it is unclear whether such patients suffer from impairment of the sense of volition, thus experiencing voluntary movements as involuntary, or whether voluntary inhibition of action is actually reduced, since conscious intention occurs later. We had two aims in the present paper. First, we aimed at clarifying the role of consciousness in voluntary actions by examining the relation between the duration of the veto window and impulsivity. Second, we sought to examine different components of the RP and LRP waveforms so as to attempt to explain observed variability in W judgments. Our results indicate (1) that impulsive people exhibit a shorter delay between their intention and the action than non-impulsive people, and (2) that this difference can hardly be attributed to a difference in time perception. Electroencephalography indicated that the rate of growth of the RP is relevant to explain differences in W judgments, since we observed that the RP at the moment of conscious intention is lower for people with late conscious intention than for people with early conscious intention. The onset and the intercept of these waveforms were less interpretable. These results bring new light on the role that consciousness plays in voluntary action.
Do position-general radicals have a role to play in processing Chinese characters?

Over 90% of Chinese characters are compounds, comprising two or more constituents called radicals. Two experiments employed a character matching task to examine the contribution of radical position in Chinese character processing. The task was to decide whether the target character had appeared in two briefly and sequentially presented preceding source characters. Experiment 1 discovered significantly more false matching when the target (e.g., ‘’) shared radicals with the source stimuli (‘’, ‘’) than when the target and the source shared no radical, indicating that radicals contribute to character processing. Experiment 2 replicated this finding and further demonstrated that sharing a single radical between target and source characters, regardless of its radical position, was sufficient to generate false matching. More importantly, participants took significantly longer time to correctly reject those target characters with two shared radicals (one at the same position and another at the changed position) relative to those with only a single shared radical at the same position. Furthermore, false matching rates were significantly affected by lexical variables such as character frequency. These results suggest that position-general radicals play a significant role in character recognition and processing.