Business Functions Ontology and its Application in Semantic Business Process Modelling

Current business process modelling tools support neither restricting names nor using ontologies to describe process artefacts. This lack results in creating non-consistent process models which are difficult to understand, compare, evaluate and re-use, etc. Within this article we argue that the Business Functions Ontology (BFO) developed within the SUPER project may be effectively used while modelling processes as a mean for annotating them and thus help to avoid some of the above mentioned problems. We show the BFO structure as well as an example of its practical application within a tool for business process development

Impact of Different Cooling Methods on the Stability of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)

During cryopreservation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), there are several recognized cooling methods, which include different cooling rates that might influence the stability of the PBMCs. This chapter will focus on three cooling methods trialled and will describe the different principles they are based on and the outcomes. One cooling method is based on repeatable −1°C/min cooling rate that requires only isopropyl alcohol (method A). The second cooling method is based on the cooling rate of −1° C/min solely (method B). The third cooling method is based on a user-predefined programmable controlled rate of freezing (method C). The first method was discontinued for safety reasons. A small comparative study was performed using 12 cell preparation tubes (CPT) using methods B and C. Cell Viability was measured based on the difference between pre-thaw and post-thaw viability percentages that were obtained from the flow cytometry. From our data, we conclude that although there were no significant differences in the outcomes of the comparative study of cooling methods, the use of either method B or C are the most suitable for long-term storage that will preserve the quality of the sample suitable for future research and clinical applications

Single agent subcutaneous blinatumomab for advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Blinatumomab is a BiTE® (bispecific T-cell engager) molecule that redirects CD3+ T-cells to engage and lyse CD19+ target cells. Here we demonstrate that subcutaneous (SC) blinatumomab can provide high efficacy and greater convenience of administration. In the expansion phase of a multi-institutional phase 1b trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04521231), heavily pretreated adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL) received SC blinatumomab at two doses: (1) 250 μg once daily (QD) for week 1 and 500 μg three times weekly (TIW) thereafter (250 μg/500 μg) or (2) 500 μg QD for week 1 and 1000 μg TIW thereafter (500 μg/1000 μg). The primary endpoint was complete remission/complete remission with partial hematologic recovery (CR/CRh) within two cycles. At the data cutoff of September 15, 2023, 29 patients were treated: 14 at the 250 μg/500 μg dose and 13 at 500 μg/1000 μg dose. Data from two ineligible patients were excluded. At the end of two cycles, 12 of 14 patients (85.7%) from the 250 μg/500 μg dose achieved CR/CRh of which nine patients (75.0%) were negative for measurable residual disease (MRD; &lt;10−4 leukemic blasts). At the 500 μg/1000 μg dose, 12 of 13 patients (92.3%) achieved CR/CRh; all 12 patients (100.0%) were MRD-negative. No treatment-related grade 4 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or neurologic events (NEs) were reported. SC injections were well tolerated and all treatment-related grade 3 CRS and NEs responded to standard-of-care management, interruption, or discontinuation. Treatment with SC blinatumomab resulted in high efficacy, with high MRD-negativity rates and acceptable safety profile in heavily pretreated adults with R/R B-ALL.</p

Single agent subcutaneous blinatumomab for advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Blinatumomab is a BiTE® (bispecific T-cell engager) molecule that redirects CD3+ T-cells to engage and lyse CD19+ target cells. Here we demonstrate that subcutaneous (SC) blinatumomab can provide high efficacy and greater convenience of administration. In the expansion phase of a multi-institutional phase 1b trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04521231), heavily pretreated adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL) received SC blinatumomab at two doses: (1) 250 μg once daily (QD) for week 1 and 500 μg three times weekly (TIW) thereafter (250 μg/500 μg) or (2) 500 μg QD for week 1 and 1000 μg TIW thereafter (500 μg/1000 μg). The primary endpoint was complete remission/complete remission with partial hematologic recovery (CR/CRh) within two cycles. At the data cutoff of September 15, 2023, 29 patients were treated: 14 at the 250 μg/500 μg dose and 13 at 500 μg/1000 μg dose. Data from two ineligible patients were excluded. At the end of two cycles, 12 of 14 patients (85.7%) from the 250 μg/500 μg dose achieved CR/CRh of which nine patients (75.0%) were negative for measurable residual disease (MRD; &lt;10−4 leukemic blasts). At the 500 μg/1000 μg dose, 12 of 13 patients (92.3%) achieved CR/CRh; all 12 patients (100.0%) were MRD-negative. No treatment-related grade 4 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or neurologic events (NEs) were reported. SC injections were well tolerated and all treatment-related grade 3 CRS and NEs responded to standard-of-care management, interruption, or discontinuation. Treatment with SC blinatumomab resulted in high efficacy, with high MRD-negativity rates and acceptable safety profile in heavily pretreated adults with R/R B-ALL.</p

The Generalizability of Older Adult Self-Report (OASR) Syndromes of Psychopathology Across 20 Societies

OBJECTIVES: As the world population ages, psychiatrists will increasingly need instruments for measuring constructs of psychopathology that are generalizable to diverse elders. The study tested whether syndromes of co-occurring problems derived from self-ratings of psychopathology by US elders would fit self-ratings by elders in 19 other societies. METHODS/DESIGN: The Older Adult Self-Report (OASR) was completed by 12,826 60- to 102-year-olds in 19 societies from North and South America, Asia, and Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Europe, plus the US. Individual and multi-group confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) tested the fit of the 7-syndrome OASR model, consisting of the Anxious/Depressed, Worries, Somatic Complaints, Functional Impairment, Memory/Cognition Problems, Thought Problems, and Irritable/Disinhibited syndromes. RESULTS: In individual CFAs, the primary model fit index showed good fit for all societies, while the secondary model fit indices showed acceptable to good fit. The items loaded strongly on their respective factors, with a median item loading of .63 across the 20 societies; and 98.7% of the loadings were statistically significant. In multi-group CFAs, 98% of items demonstrated approximate or full metric invariance. Fifteen percent of items demonstrated approximate or full scalar invariance and another 59% demonstrated scalar invariance across more than half of societies. CONCLUSIONS: The findings supported the generalizability of OASR syndromes across societies. The seven syndromes offer empirically-based clinical constructs that are relevant for elders of different backgrounds. They can be used to assess diverse elders, and as a taxonomic framework to facilitate communication, services, research and training in geriatric psychiatry. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Genomic CDKN2A/2B deletions in adult Ph+ ALL are adverse despite allogeneic stem cell transplantation

We investigated the role of copy number alterations to refine risk stratification in adult Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph)+ ALL treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (aSCT). 97 Ph+ ALL patients (median age 41 years, range 18-64 years) within the prospective multicenter GMALL studies 06/99 (n=8) and 07/2003 (n=89) were analysed. All patients received TKI and aSCT in first complete remission (CR1). Copy number analysis was performed with SNP arrays and validated by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). The frequencies of recurrently deleted genes were: IKZF1, 76%, CDKN2A/2B, 45%, PAX5, 43%, BTG1, 18%, EBF1, 13%, ETV6, 5%, RB, 14%. In univariate analyses, the presence of CDKN2A/2B deletions had a negative impact on all endpoints: overall survival (p=0.023), disease free survival (p=0.012) and remission duration (p=0.036). The negative predictive value of CDKN2A/2B deletions was retained in multivariable analysis along with other factors such as timing of TKI therapy, intensity of conditioning, achieving remission after induction phase I and BTG1 deletions. We therefore conclude that acquired genomic CDKN2A/2B deletions identify a subgroup of Ph+ ALL patients, who have an inferior prognosis despite aSCT in CR1. Their poor outcome was attributable primarily to a high relapse rate after aSCT

Impacts of irrigation and genotype on yield, protein, starch and oil contents in grain of maize inbred lines

Four inbred lines of maize (Os 438-95 = C1, Os 30-8 = C2, Os 6 = C3 and Os 1-44 =C4) were grown for 4-year period (2006-2009) in the stationary field experiment on Osijek eutric cambisol. Impact of irrigation, nitrogen fertilization and genotype were tested. Soil moisture was maintained by two irrigation rates from 60-100% and 80-100% of the field water capacity). Two steps of N (0, 100 and 200 kg N ha-1) were applied, while P and K fertilization was equal (500 kg/ha NPK 0:30:20). Eight maize genotypes (four inbred lines and four hybrids) were grown on each basic plot of fertilization. The experiment was duplicated for maize - soybean rotation. The experiment was set by split-split plot method according to randomized block design in three replicates. The basic plot areas were 617.2 m2 (irrigation), 313.6 m2 (fertilization) and 39.2 m2 (genotype). Selection of N non-fertilized treatment and four inbred lines were made for this study with aim of testing year (A) irrigation (B) and genotype (C) effects under natural N-soil conditions. Average grain yield in level 1809 kg ha-1without N fertilization is indication of very high fertility of the soil. Differences of yield among the years were from 823 (2007) to 2450 (2006) kg ha-1. Excessive drought and high air-temperature stress is responsible for the low maize yield in 2007. Irrigation considerable affected on maize yields (4-year averages: 1500, 1809 and 2118 kg ha-1, for B1, B2 and B3, respectively). Differences of the 4-year average yields among the genotypes were from 1259 (C3) to 2765 (C1) kg ha-1. Differences of yield among the genotypes in the different years were also considerable because the lowest yield was for 71% (A1), 23% (A2), 63% (A3) and 40% (A4) lower in comparison to the highest yield. The genotype effects under different water supplies were less influencing factor because the high-yielding C1 had for 128%, 129% and 106% the higher yield compared to the low-yielding C3, for B1, B2 and B3, respectively. Differences of grain -protein, -starch and -oil among the years was from 9.61 to 11.84%, from 68.51% to 70.93% and from 3.50% to 4.17%, respectively. The C2 separated by the higher grain protein contents (10.93%) from the remaining three genotypes (average 9.96%). The genotype effects on starch and oil contents were from 69.83% (C4) to 70.58% (C1) and from 3.56% (C3) to 4.09% (C1), respectively

Alternative Evaluation of Olive Pomace (Pirina) as Production Waste

With the increasing need for energy, energy studies to be obtained from waste gain importance. In this study, it has been tried to determine the amount of biogas energy that can be obtained from olive pomace (pirina), which is produced by processing oil olives. Numerical maps of pirina amounts and potential biogas energy values and location maps of the proposed pirina processing plant were created. The necessary calculations were made by comparing the obtained results with the relevant literature information. In the study, the current potential biogas energy amount was calculated, maps were created and the electricity and gasoline energy equivalent levels of this energy were tried to be calculated using the 2015-2019 data of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara Regions. The total potential amount of pirina in the research area is 1853375.7 tons and the potential biogas energy amount that can be obtained is 33360762.4 MJ. Pirina, which is the production waste after pressing the olives for oil, can be used for energy production. By using pirina to obtain biogas energy, both the utilization of pirina and the development of the regions will be provided