9 research outputs found
Teach Me What You Want to Play: Learning Variants of Connect Four through Human-Robot Interaction
This paper investigates the use of game theoretic representations to
represent and learn how to play interactive games such as Connect Four. We
combine aspects of learning by demonstration, active learning, and game theory
allowing a robot to leverage its developing representation of the game to
conduct question/answer sessions with a person, thus filling in gaps in its
knowledge. The paper demonstrates a method for teaching a robot the win
conditions of the game Connect Four and its variants using a single
demonstration and a few trial examples with a question and answer session led
by the robot. Our results show that the robot can learn arbitrary win
conditions for the game with little prior knowledge of the win conditions and
then play the game with a human utilizing the learned win conditions. Our
experiments also show that some questions are more important for learning the
game's win conditions. We believe that this method could be broadly applied to
a variety of interactive learning scenarios.Comment: The final authenticated publication is available online at
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62056-1_4
Fabrication of hierarchical multilayer poly(glycerol sebacate urethane) scaffolds based on ice-templating
In this study, it was demonstrated that ice-templating via freeze drying with custom-made moulds, in combination with air brushing, allows for the fabrication of poly(glycerol sebacate urethane) (PGSU) scaffolds with hierarchical multilayer microstructures to replicate various native soft tissues. The PGSU scaffolds were either monolayered but exhibited an anisotropic microstructure, or bilayered and trilayered, with each layer showing different microstructures. By using freeze drying with custom-made moulds, the ice crystals of the solvent were grown unidirectionally, and after freeze-drying, the scaffolds had an anisotropic microstructure, mimicking tissues such as tendon and skeletal muscle. The anisotropic PGSU scaffolds were also examined for their tensile strength, and a range of mechanical properties were obtained by altering the reactants’ molar ratio and polymer concentration. This is of importance, since soft tissues exhibit different mechanical properties depending on their native location and functionality. By combining freeze drying with airbrushing, scaffolds were fabricated with a thin, non-porous layer on top of the porous layers to allow three-dimensional cell co-culture for tissues such as skin and oral mucosa. These results show that fabrication techniques can be combined to produce PGSU scaffolds with tailored hierarchical microstructures and mechanical properties for multiple tissue engineering applications
A cell-based high-throughput screening system for detecting ecdysteroid agonists and antagonists in plant extracts and libraries of synthetic compounds
Screening systems for ecdysteroid mimetic or antiecdysteroid substances in plant extracts or libraries of synthetic compounds are commonly based on the observation of morphological and/or growth responses in insect cell lines. Because these responses are slow and require careful monitoring, existing screening systems are considered limited regarding their applicability to analysis in high-throughput (HT) formats. Here we describe the generation of transformed silkmoth (Bombyx mori) cell lines that respond to the addition of ecdysone-like substances through the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the appearance of green fluorescence. Because tests consist of three simple steps, i.e., 1) distribution of transformed cells in microtiter plates; 2) addition of compounds/extracts at different concentrations; and 3) quantification of fluorescence intensity by a fluorescence plate reader, they can be performed quickly and be easily adapted to a HT format. The generated reporter cell lines are used for the screening of extracts from available plant collections for the presence of compounds with ecdysone mimetic or antagonistic activities as well as for monitoring subsequent activity during enrichment and purification steps. The same cell lines are also used here for the determination of structure-activity relationships among available synthetic dibenzoylhydrazine derivatives. Finally, for the identified agonists, we show that their activity as determined by the cell-based screening assays parallels their bioactivity in growth inhibition and toxicity assays carried out on live insects
Evaluation of automated capillary complete blood counts for routine clinical decision making in a large cohort of hematological patients, using Mindray BC-3000 Plus Auto and Sysmex XE-5000 hematology analyzers
Introduction Venous blood (VB) sampling for complete blood count (CBC)
via venipuncture is the basic method for the daily evaluation of
hematological patients. However, several issues during this process,
such as venipuncture difficulty and repetitive attempts, may cause pain,
phlebitis, hematomas, inadequate sampling, and patient discomfort.
Capillary blood (CB) sampling could be an alternative and less painful
solution for the patient. The purpose of this study was the comparative
evaluation of basic CBC parameters, as counted from venous and capillary
blood samples.
Methods During the period 06/2016-06/2019 in which the study was
conducted, 1634 automated counts of VB or CB were performed, derived
from 425 hematological hospitalized patients. Bland-Altman plots were
performed to show the agreement of VB and CB counts of common
hematological parameters (Hb, Hct, WBC, absolute neutrophil
count-[ANC], RBC, Plt, MCV, MCH), using two different hematology
analyzers (Mindray BC-3000 Plus Auto and Sysmex XE-5000). Clinical
significance of CB sampling was assessed by applying specific clinically
significant cutoffs for Hb, ANC, and Plt.
Results All measured parameters revealed a significant correlation (r >
.9) between CB and VB samples, irrelatively of the hematology analyzer
used. CB measurements of Hb, ANC, and Plt, at different clinically
important cutoff levels, showed excellent sensitivity (87%-100%),
specificity (95%-100%), positive predictive value, and negative
predictive value (87%-100% and 90%-100%, respectively).
Conclusion Capillary blood and VB counts in hematological patients were
equivalent for most basic hematological parameters. Hb, ANC, and Plt CB
counts revealed clinically significant performance, indicating that they
can reliably substitute VB sampling in the day work
Diabetes Mellitus in Acute Coronary Syndrome
The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has led to a pandemic, with significant microvascular and macrovascular complications including coronary artery disease (CAD), which worsen clinical outcomes and cardiovascular prognosis. Patients with both acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and DM have worse prognosis and several pathophysiologic mechanisms have been implicated including, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation and aggregations as well as plaque characteristics and extent of coronary lesions. Therefore, regarding reperfusion strategies in the more complex anatomies coronary artery bypass surgery may be the preferred therapeutic strategy over percutaneous coronary intervention while both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia should be avoided with closed monitoring of glycemic status during the acute phase of myocardial infraction. However, the best treatment strategy remains undefined. Non-insulin therapies, due to the low risk of hypoglycemia concurrently with the multifactorial CV protective effects, may be proved to be the best treatment option in the future. Nevertheless, evidence for the beneficial effects of glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors and sodium glycose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, despite accumulating, is not robust and future randomized control trials may provide more definitive data
Autoimmune cytopenias developing late post alemtuzumab-based allogeneic stem cell transplantation: presentation of short case series from a transplant center
Stem cell transplantation remains the curative option for many patients with hematological malignancies. The long-term effects of these treatments on the patients and their immune systems have been extensively investigated, but there remains a paucity of data regarding autoimmune manifestations post-transplant, although these effects are well recognized.
Herein we present the clinical picture and therapeutic approach in three patients (cases 1–3), with varied presentations of autoimmune disease post-transplant. Case 1 exhibited autoimmune hemolytic anemia and other autoimmune manifestations (serositis, thyroiditis), that were probably linked to graft versus relapsed leukemia effect. Cases 2 and 3 had pure red white cell aplasia and pure red cell aplasia, respectively, which were associated with hyperglobulinemia and a clonal T cell expansion