Grammar induction for mildly context sensitive languages using variational Bayesian inference

The following technical report presents a formal approach to probabilistic minimalist grammar induction. We describe a formalization of a minimalist grammar. Based on this grammar, we define a generative model for minimalist derivations. We then present a generalized algorithm for the application of variational Bayesian inference to lexicalized mildly context sensitive language grammars which in this paper is applied to the previously defined minimalist grammar

Final report - Leicester City Hall Operational Pilot: V2B and V2G at Leicester City Hall – case study

This report provides evaluation of the SEEV4-City Operational Pilot at Leicester City Hall, in the city of Leicester, U.K. In cooperation with Cenex UK, a demonstration project was set up to evaluate the technical requirements and commercial benefits of V2B (Vehicle to Building) technology at Leicester City Hall, U.K. It is part of a collection of reports published by the project covering a variation of specific and cross-cutting analysis and evaluation perspectives and spans 6 operational pilots. This report is dedicated to the analysis of the pilot itself

The Relationships among Pain, Nonpain Symptoms, and Quality of Life Measures in Older Adults with Cancer Receiving Hospice Care

Objective.  Gathering firsthand or reported information about patients in the final stages of terminal cancer is difficult due to patient frailty, cognitive impairment, excessive fatigue, and severity of illness, as well as gatekeeping by hospice providers and caregivers, and highly variable documentation practices. We sought to further understand and elucidate end‐of‐life experiences in older cancer patients through the application of validated tools employed in the hospice setting. This article summarizes data collected about pain, non‐pain symptoms, and other aspects of quality of life (QOL) as reported by older hospice patients or by their caregivers during the 2 weeks of hospice care. Design.  Data was collected from an ongoing Institutional Human Subjects Review Board‐approved research project with 94 older adults with cancer or their caregivers receiving service in a home setting from 14 Midwestern hospices. Participants completed one or two telephone interviews. Instruments used to gather information include the Brief Pain Inventory and the Brief Hospice Inventory. Results.  Data analysis showed mean “worst pain” ratings significantly decreased from Interview 1 to Interview 2, and pain reports were significantly correlated with fatigue, anxiety, appetite, comfort, symptom control, and overall QOL. Conclusions.  Our findings reinforce previously held views that older patients with cancer experience pain and non‐pain symptoms. And both pain and non‐pain symptoms can impact and confound the treatment of other symptoms and interfere with the patient's overall QOL. The results of this study support the assertion that hospice care can have a positive impact on pain severity and related suffering, as well as patient QOL as death approaches.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87068/1/j.1526-4637.2011.01113.x.pd

SEEV4-City approach to KPI Methodology

SEEV4-City is an innovation project funded by the EU Interreg North Sea Region Programme. Its main objective is to demonstrate smart electric mobility and renewable energy solutions integration and share its learnings. The project must report on the results of 6 Operational Pilots (OPs) of the following three Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): A. Estimated CO2 reduction B. Estimated increase in energy autonomy C. Estimated Saving from Grid Investment Deferral The project aimed to establish a common methodology to calculate the contributions to the three main KPIs with significant level of detail and accuracy (where feasible). This was a collaborative exercise between Work package (WP) partners leading WP3-Intelligence (Data analysis, monitoring and simulation), WP4- Operational Pilots Implementation and Coordination and WP5-Policy and Business Case work packages and was done in consultation with the OP partners. The result of this effort is collated in this defined approach the KPI Methodology report. It is part of a collection of reports published by the project covering a variation of specific and cross-cutting analysis as well as different evaluation perspectives spanning the 6 operational pilots

Vehicle4 Energy Services (V4ES) Evaluation for Upscaling and Transnational potential: Assessing the potential of further roll-out of 8 differing V4(ES) solutions

This report is intended to collect, present, and evaluate the various solutions applied in individual operational pilots for their (upscaling and transnational transfer) potential, in terms of opportunities and barriers, over the short and long(er)-term. This is done by identifying the main characteristics of the solutions and sites and the relevant influencing factors at different local (dimension) contexts. The analysis provides insights in barriers but also opportunities and conditions for success across four main dimensions that make up the local context landscape. We consider two main roll-out scenarios: 1. Upscaling within the boundaries of the country where the operational pilot (OP) took place 2. Transnational Transfer relates to the potential for transferring a (V4)ES solution to any of the other three (project) countries There are several aspects within the four main dimensions that are cross-cutting for all four countries, either because EU legislation lies at its roots, or because market conditions are fairly similar for certain influencing factors in those dimension. Ultimately, both Smart Charging and V2X market are still in their relevant infancies. The solutions applied in various SEEV4-City pilots are relatively straightforward and simple in ‘smartness’. This helps the potential for adoption but may not always be the optimal solution yet. The Peak shaving or load/demand shifting solutions are viable options to reduce costs for different stakeholders in the (electricity) supply chain. The market is likely to mature and become much smarter in coming 5 – 10 years. This also includes the evolvement (or spin-offs) of the solutions applied in SEEV4-_City as well. At least in the coming (approximately) 5 years Smart Charging appears to have the better financial business case and potential for large scale roll-out with less (impactful) bottlenecks, but looking at longer term V2X holds its potential to play a significant role in the energy transition. A common denominator as primary barriers relates to existing regulation, standards readiness and limited market availability of either hardware or service offerings. SEEV4-City has published a significant collection of varying reports, many taking a specific focus. For more detailed information on, for example a particular solution at one of the OPs or more in-depth policy evaluation, please look into these additional reports. They can be found through the Interreg NSR or project specific website, or one of the partners of the project would be glad to provide them

Sex and sport: chlamydia screening in rural sporting clubs

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common notifiable disease in Australia, mainly affecting those aged 15 to 29 years. Testing rates are low in Australia and considerably lower in rural areas, with access and confidentiality of sexual health services being problematic in rural and regional areas. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of establishing a pilot chlamydia testing outreach program among 16-25 year old males and females in rural Victoria (Australia) undertaken at local sporting clubs and to determine the prevalence of chlamydia and acceptability of the program in this population. METHODS: We aimed to recruit young people from the Loddon Mallee region of Victoria, Australia between May and September 2007. After a night of sporting practice, participants provided a first pass urine sample, completed a brief questionnaire regarding risk taking behaviour and were then provided with condoms and health promotion materials about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Those positive for chlamydia were managed by telephone consultation with a practitioner from Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. RESULTS: A total of 709 young people participated (77% male, 23% female), 77% being sexually active. All provided a urine sample and completed the questionnaire. Participation rate on recruitment nights was over 95%. Overall chlamydia prevalence in those sexually active was 5.1% (95%CI: 3.4-7.3), 7.4% in females (95%CI: 3.5-13.6) and 4.5% in males (95%CI: 2.7-6.9). CONCLUSION: Sporting clubs represent a feasible, acceptable and innovative community based setting to screen, treat and educate young people in a rural and regional setting, especially for males

Final report – Loughborough Operational Pilot: Loughborough V2H Operational Pilot Final report with extension of Burton-upon-Trent with V2G application

This is the final report of the SEEV4-City Operational Pilot (OP) in Loughborough and its second phase in Burton-upon-Trent, UK. It is part of a collection of reports published by the Smart, clean Energy and Electric Vehicles for the City (SEEV4-City) Project

Enhancement of Polymeric Immunoglobulin Receptor Transcytosis by Biparatopic VHH

The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) ensures the transport of dimeric immunoglobulin A (dIgA) and pentameric immunoglobulin M (pIgM) across epithelia to the mucosal layer of for example the intestines and the lungs via transcytosis. Per day the human pIgR mediates the excretion of 2 to 5 grams of dIgA into the mucosa of luminal organs. This system could prove useful for therapies aiming at excretion of compounds into the mucosa. Here we investigated the use of the variable domain of camelid derived heavy chain only antibodies, also known as VHHs or Nanobodies®, targeting the human pIgR, as a transport system across epithelial cells. We show that VHHs directed against the human pIgR are able to bind the receptor with high affinity (∼1 nM) and that they compete with the natural ligand, dIgA. In a transcytosis assay both native and phage-bound VHH were only able to get across polarized MDCK cells that express the human pIgR gene in a basolateral to apical fashion. Indicating that the VHHs are able to translocate across epithelia and to take along large particles of cargo. Furthermore, by making multivalent VHHs we were able to enhance the transport of the compounds both in a MDCK-hpIgR and Caco-2 cell system, probably by inducing receptor clustering. These results show that VHHs can be used as a carrier system to exploit the human pIgR transcytotic system and that multivalent compounds are able to significantly enhance the transport across epithelial monolayers

Lack of Association between Y-Chromosomal Haplogroups and Prostate Cancer in the Korean Population

The Y chromosome has recently been suggested to have an association with prostate cancer risk in human populations. Since this chromosome is haploid and lacks recombination over most of its length, haplotypes constructed from binary markers throughout the chromosome can be used for association studies. To assess the possible Y-chromosomal contribution to prostate cancer risk, we have therefore analyzed 14 Y-chromosomal binary markers in 106 prostate cancer cases and 110 controls from the Korean population. In contrast to previous findings in the Japanese population, no statistically significant difference in the distribution of Y-chromosomal haplogroup frequencies was observed between the case and control groups of Koreans. Thus, our data imply that the previously reported associations between Y-chromosomal lineages and a predisposition to, or protection against, prostate cancer might be explained by statistical fluctuations, or by genetic effects that are seen only in some environments