STV+AGR: Towards Practical Verification of Strategic Ability Using Assume-Guarantee Reasoning

We present a substantially expanded version of our tool STV for strategy synthesis and verification of strategic abilities. The new version provides a web interface and support for assume-guarantee verification of multi-agent systems

Assume-Guarantee Verification of Strategic Ability

Model checking of strategic abilities is a notoriously hard problem, even more so in the realistic case of agents with imperfect information. Assume-guarantee reasoning can be of great help here, providing a way to decompose the complex problem into a small set of exponentially easier subproblems. In this paper, we propose two schemes for assume-guarantee verification of alternating-time temporal logic with imperfect information. We prove the soundness of both schemes, and discuss their completeness. We illustrate the method by examples based on known benchmarks, and show experimental results that demonstrate the practical benefits of the approach

Towards Assume-Guarantee Verification of Strategic Ability

Formal verification of strategic abilities is a hard problem. We propose to use the methodology of assume-guarantee reasoning in order to facilitate model checking of alternating-time temporal logic with imperfect information and imperfect recall

Verification of Multi-Agent Properties in Electronic Voting: A Case Study

Formal verification of multi-agent systems is hard, both theoretically and in practice. In particular, studies that use a single verification technique typically show limited efficiency, and allow to verify only toy examples. Here, we propose some new techniques and combine them with several recently developed ones to see what progress can be achieved for a real-life scenario. Namely, we use fixpoint approximation, domination-based strategy search, partial order reduction, and parallelization to verify heterogeneous scalable models of the Selene e-voting protocol. The experimental results show that the combination allows to verify requirements for much more sophisticated models than previously

Predicting neutropenia dynamics after radiation therapy in multiple myeloma patients receiving first-line bortezomib-based chemotherapy – a pilot study

Introduction.Radiation therapy (RT) is a useful modality for achieving local control and symptom relief in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but its use can result in adverse effects such as neutropenia, which may be aggravated by prior chemotherapy. Material and methods.In this retrospective study, we analyzed 530 complete blood count results of 32 MM patients who underwent RT for symptomatic bone pain between cycles or after completing first-line bortezomib-based che­motherapy (VCD). To evaluate the dynamics of neutrophil count (ANC) changes, we developed a generalized additive model (GAM) using initial ANC, dosage (BED10), and treatment volume (PTV) as predictors. Results.Our GAM model demonstrated that ANC nadir after RT can be expected approximately 16 days after treatment initiation. The delivery of 8 Gy in 1 fraction resulted in the lowest ANC nadir, while a dose of 30 Gy in 10–15 fractions was deemed the safest. For PTV = 1000 cm3, an initial ANC level of at least 1.42 × 103/μl was associated with no incidence of severe neutropenia irrespective of the fractionation scheme. Longer courses allowed for treatment delivery without significant neutropenia even with an initial ANC of 1.23 × 103/μl on the day of RT initiation. Conclusions.Our model could aid in optimizing treatment strategies for MM patients receiving RT and chemotherapy. Further research is needed to validate our findings and evaluate the feasibility of implementing this model in clinical practice.

Predicting neutropenia dynamics after radiation therapy in multiple myeloma patients receiving first-line bortezomib-based chemotherapy – a pilot study

Introduction. Radiation therapy (RT) is a useful modality for achieving local control and symptom relief in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but its use can result in adverse effects such as neutropenia, which may be aggravated by prior chemotherapy. Material and methods. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 530 complete blood count results of 32 MM patients who underwent RT for symptomatic bone pain between cycles or after completing first-line bortezomib-based chemotherapy (VCD). To evaluate the dynamics of neutrophil count (ANC) changes, we developed a generalized additive model (GAM) using initial ANC, dosage (BED10), and treatment volume (PTV) as predictors. Results. Our GAM model demonstrated that ANC nadir after RT can be expected approximately 16 days after treatment initiation. The delivery of 8 Gy in 1 fraction resulted in the lowest ANC nadir, while a dose of 30 Gy in 10–15 fractions was deemed the safest. For PTV = 1000cm3, an initial ANC level of at least 1.42 × 103/µl was associated with no incidence of severe neutropenia irrespective of the fractionation scheme. Longer courses allowed for treatment delivery without significant neutropenia even with an initial ANC of 1.23 × 103/µl on the day of RT initiation. Conclusions. Our model could aid in optimizing treatment strategies for MM patients receiving RT and chemotherapy. Further research is needed to validate our findings and evaluate the feasibility of implementing this model in clinical practice

Characterization and prognostic factors of secondary to MDS/MPN and therapy-related AML: a single-center study

Introduction: Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) accounts for 15–30% of overall AML cases and is associated with shorter survival compared to de novo AML. The pathogenetic spectrum of sAML is heterogeneous, i.e. therapy-related AML (tAML) arises from prior cytotoxic, radiation, or immunosuppressive therapy, while myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN)-AML develops from a previous clonal disorder of hematopoiesis. Material and methods: We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of MDS/MPN-AML and tAML patients diagnosed between 2013 and 2018 in the Hematology Department of the Medical University in Lodz, Poland. Simultaneously, demographic data, clinical factors, and laboratory findings were collected. For statistical analysis, we used Cox proportional hazard models and log-rank tests. Results: The study included 110 patients with either MDS/MPN-AML (n = 78) or tAML (n = 32), with a median age of 66 years (range 31–86). The median follow-up was 3.2 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5–5.3]. The median overall survival (OS) for MDS/MPN-AML patients was 4.1 months (95% CI: 2.5–7.0) and for tAML it was 2.8 months (95% CI: 1.6-5.6). In multivariate Cox regression model for OS, factors such as age at diagnosis [hazard ratio (HR) 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.06], higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score (HR 1.85, 95% CI: 1.08–3.15), hypoalbuminemia (HR 3.20, 95% CI: 1.95–5.24) and percentage of bone marrow blasts infiltration (HR 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03) were independent predictors of poor survival for the whole cohort. On the other hand, the intensive treatment approach was related to longer survival (HR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21–0.82). There were no differences in OS between MDS/MPN-AML and tAML (p = 0.81). Conclusion: The poor treatment outcomes for sAML consist of a combination of low response rate and high early mortality. The positive influence of intensive chemotherapy should be highlighted, but nevertheless, optimizing treatment for thishigh-risk subpopulation remains crucial

Association of low ficolin-2 concentration in cord serum with respiratory distress syndrome in preterm newborns

IntroductionFicolin-2 is a serum pattern recognition molecule, involved in complement activation via the lectin pathway. This study aimed to investigate the association of ficolin-2 concentration in cord blood serum with complications related to premature birth.Methods546 premature neonates were included. The concentration of ficolin-2 in cord blood serum was determined by a sandwich TRIFMA method. FCN2 genetic variants were analysed with RFLP-PCR, allele-specific PCR, Sanger sequencing or allelic discrimination using TaqMan probes method.FindingsCord blood serum ficolin-2 concentration correlated positively with Apgar score and inversely with the length of hospitalisation and stay at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that low ficolin-2 increased the possibility of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) diagnosis [OR=2.05, 95% CI (1.24-3.37), p=0.005]. Median ficolin-2 concentration was significantly lower in neonates with RDS than in premature babies without this complication, irrespective of FCN2 gene polymorphisms localised to promoter and 3’untranslated regions: for patients born <33 GA: 1471 ng/ml vs. 2115 ng/ml (p=0.0003), and for patients born ≥33 GA 1610 ng/ml vs. 2081 ng/ml (p=0.012). Ficolin-2 level was also significantly lower in neonates requiring intubation in the delivery room (1461 ng/ml vs. 1938 ng/ml, p=0.023) and inversely correlated weakly with the duration of respiratory support (R=-0.154, p<0.001). Interestingly, in the neonates born at GA <33, ficolin-2 concentration permitted differentiation of those with/without RDS [AUC=0.712, 95% CI (0.612-0.817), p<0.001] and effective separation of babies with mild RDS from those with moderate/severe form of the disease [AUC=0.807, 95% CI (0.644-0.97), p=0.0002].ConclusionLow cord serum ficolin-2 concentration (especially in neonates born at GA <33 weeks) is associated with a higher risk of developing moderate/severe RDS, requiring respiratory support and intensive care