Parallel Distributed Grammar Engineering for Practical Applications

Based on a detailed case study of parallel grammar development distributed across two sites, we review some of the requirements for regression testing in grammar engineering, summarize our approach to systematic competence and performance profiling, and discuss our experience with grammar development for a commercial application. If possible, the workshop presentation will be organized around a software demonstration

Advances in Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapies for Solid Tumors.

In 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first two novel cellular immunotherapies using synthetic, engineered receptors known as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) and axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta), expressed by patient-derived T cells for the treatment of hematological malignancies expressing the B-cell surface antigen CD19 in both pediatric and adult patients. This approval marked a major milestone in the use of antigen-directed living drugs for the treatment of relapsed or refractory blood cancers, and with these two approvals, there is increased impetus to expand not only the target antigens but also the tumor types that can be targeted. This state-of-the-art review will focus on the challenges, advances, and novel approaches being used to implement CAR T-cell immunotherapy for the treatment of solid tumors

Modeling the influence of slurry concentration on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cake porosity and resistance during microfiltration

Filtration of an isotonic suspension of baker's yeast through a 0.45-μm membrane was studied at two different pressures, 40 and 80 kPa, for yeast concentrations ranging from 0.14 to 51 kg/m3 (dry weight). For a yeast volume fraction above 0.06 (∼21.8 kg/m3), the porosity of the yeast cake is less dependent on the suspension concentration. For highly diluted suspensions, the specific cake resistance approaches a minimum that depends on the filtration pressure. Correlation functions of cake porosity and specific cake resistance were obtained for the concentration range investigated showing that the Kozeny–Carman coefficient increases when the applied pressure increases. Both filtration pressure and slurry concentration can be process controlled. In the range of moderate yeast concentration, the filtrate flux may be increased by manipulating the filtration pressure and the slurry concentration, thereby improving the overall process efficiency. The complex behavior of yeast cakes at high slurry concentration can be described by a conventional model as long as part of yeast cells are assumed to form aggregates, which behave as single bigger particles. The aggregation effect may be accounted for using a binary mixture model.The authors acknowledge the grant given to Dr. Yelshin by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), without which this work would not be possible. The authors also acknowledge the FCT funding of the project POCTI/EQU/55837/2004, under which the present research was performed. This work is intended to render homage to Alexander Yelshin, a long-term partner who wrote several articles with the authors, who passed away suddenly, to our grief

Modelling diffusivity in porous polymeric membranes with an intermediate layer containing microbial cells

Three-layer systems (membrane – composite layer (cells + polymer) – membrane) are important in different biochemical applications. Models of latex layered-membranes were evaluated and compared with experimental data in order to predict the diffusivity of substrates in the composite layer containing living E.coli microbial cells. Diffusivity predictions are dependent on the presence or the absence of a ‘skin’ layer, on the degree of polymer particle coalescence and on the thickness of each layer. Simulations with layered models were made to identify the dominant mechanisms in the three-layer system. It was found that the layered system is sensitive to the latex coatings porosity when the composite layer occupies less than 50% of the total membrane system thickness. Whenever the control of polymer particle coalescence and of the layers (coating/composite layer) thickness may be achieved, multi-layer systems presenting a wide range of relative diffusion conductivities may be built for different types of living cells and for a wide variety of practical applications. The diffusivity of the latex layer is proportional to the square of latex porosity.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT); FEDER

The Grammar Matrix: An Open-Source Starter-Kit for the Rapid Development of Cross-Linguistically Consistent Broad-Coverage Precision Grammars

The grammar matrix is an open-source starter-kit for the development of broadcoverage HPSGs. By using a type hierarchy to represent cross-linguistic generalizations and providing compatibility with other open-source tools for grammar engineering, evaluation, parsing and generation, it facilitates not only quick start-up but also rapid growth towards the wide coverage necessary for robust natural language processing and the precision parses and semantic representations necessary for natural language understanding

Variability in spine radiosurgery treatment planning - results of an international multi-institutional study

Background: The aim of this study was to quantify the variability in spinal radiosurgery (SRS) planning practices between five international institutions, all member of the Elekta Spine Radiosurgery Research Consortium. Methods: Four institutions provided one representative patient case each consisting of the medical history, CT and MR imaging. A step-wise planning approach was used where, after each planning step a consensus was generated that formed the basis for the next planning step. This allowed independent analysis of all planning steps of CT-MR image registration, GTV definition, CTV definition, PTV definition and SRS treatment planning. In addition, each institution generated one additional SRS plan for each case based on intra-institutional image registration and contouring, independent of consensus results. Results: Averaged over the four cases, image registration variability ranged between translational 1.1 mm and 2.4 mm and rotational 1.1° and 2.0° in all three directions. GTV delineation variability was 1.5 mm in axial and 1.6 mm in longitudinal direction averaged for the four cases. CTV delineation variability was 0.8 mm in axial and 1.2 mm in longitudinal direction. CTV-to-PTV margins ranged between 0 mm and 2 mm according to institutional protocol. Delineation variability was 1 mm in axial directions for the spinal cord. Average PTV coverage for a single fraction18 Gy prescription was 87 ± 5 %; Dmin to the PTV was 7.5 ± 1.8 Gy averaged over all cases and institutions. Average Dmax to the PRV_SC (spinal cord + 1 mm) was 10.5 ± 1.6 Gy and the average Paddick conformity index was 0.69 ± 0.06. Conclusions: Results of this study reflect the variability in current practice of spine radiosurgery in large and highly experienced academic centers. Despite close methodical agreement in the daily workflow, clinically significant variability in all steps of the treatment planning process was demonstrated. This may translate into differences in patient clinical outcome and highlights the need for consensus and established delineation and planning criteria

Prolapsed Uterus in a Cow

On July 22, 1941, a three year old purebred Holstein cow had an apparently normal calving. Following parturition, the cow was allowed to drink approximately five gallons of warm water, and for a period of three hours was left unnoticed

Home Range Tendency of the Largemouth Bass (\u3ci\u3eMicropterus salmoides\u3c/i\u3e)

By repeated sampling of a population of largemouth bass, including individually marked fish, and by use of reference markers along the shoreline, the observance of a home range by the bass was demonstrated. Of 96 recaptures considered, 59% were recaptured within 100 ft, 83% within 200 ft, and 96% within 300 ft of the original point of capture. The extent of movement away from the initial point of capture did not increase with time. After being offshore over winter the bass again demonstrated a marked tendency to resume the use of the same segment of shoreline they had frequented the previous summer. Straying from the home range followed by return to it was also observed. Observations on the dispersion of bass along the shoreline are given