Combining a Meta-Policy and Monte-Carlo Planning for Scalable Type-Based Reasoning in Partially Observable Environments

The design of autonomous agents that can interact effectively with other agents without prior coordination is a core problem in multi-agent systems. Type-based reasoning methods achieve this by maintaining a belief over a set of potential behaviours for the other agents. However, current methods are limited in that they assume full observability of the state and actions of the other agent or do not scale efficiently to larger problems with longer planning horizons. Addressing these limitations, we propose Partially Observable Type-based Meta Monte-Carlo Planning (POTMMCP) - an online Monte-Carlo Tree Search based planning method for type-based reasoning in large partially observable environments. POTMMCP incorporates a novel meta-policy for guiding search and evaluating beliefs, allowing it to search more effectively to longer horizons using less planning time. We show that our method converges to the optimal solution in the limit and empirically demonstrate that it effectively adapts online to diverse sets of other agents across a range of environments. Comparisons with the state-of-the art method on problems with up to $10^{14}$ states and $10^8$ observations indicate that POTMMCP is able to compute better solutions significantly faster.Comment: 24 page

Successful Asfotase Alfa Treatment in an Adult Dialysis Patient With Childhood-Onset Hypophosphatasia

Hypophosphatasia is an inherited disease characterized by reduced alkaline phosphatase activity, extracellular accumulation of inorganic pyrophosphate, and impaired bone mineralization. Asfotase alfa (AA) is a recombinant human alkaline phosphatase therapy approved for treatment of pediatric-onset hypophosphatasia. Studies show promising outcome in AA-treated children with hypophosphatasia; however, data on adults with pediatric-onset hypophosphatasia are scarce. We report on a 59-year-old woman with childhood- onset hypophosphatasia and a history of multiple fractures and orthopedic procedures. Owing to renal failure (histological diagnosis: focal segmental glomerulosclerosis), hemodialysis was started in 2013. By the end of 2015, the patient was unable to walk, could only stand for 30 seconds, and was completely dependent on help for activities of daily living. After 13 months of AA therapy, the patient showed a dramatic increase in quality of life (increased mobility), reduction in pain medication, and a significant improvement in bone mineralization throughout the skeleton, including consolidation of existing fractures and no occurrence of new fractures. This case report demonstrates a relevant therapeutic success of AA treatment in an adult hemodialysis patient with childhood onset of hypophosphatasia

Synthetic X-ray and radio maps for two different models of Stephan's Quintet

We present simulations of the compact galaxy group Stephan's Quintet (SQ) including magnetic fields, performed with the N-body/smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) code \textsc{Gadget}. The simulations include radiative cooling, star formation and supernova feedback. Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is implemented using the standard smoothed particle magnetohydrodynamics (SPMHD) method. We adapt two different initial models for SQ based on Renaud et al. and Hwang et al., both including four galaxies (NGC 7319, NGC 7320c, NGC 7318a and NGC 7318b). Additionally, the galaxies are embedded in a magnetized, low density intergalactic medium (IGM). The ambient IGM has an initial magnetic field of $10^{-9}$ G and the four progenitor discs have initial magnetic fields of $10^{-9} - 10^{-7}$ G. We investigate the morphology, regions of star formation, temperature, X-ray emission, magnetic field structure and radio emission within the two different SQ models. In general, the enhancement and propagation of the studied gaseous properties (temperature, X-ray emission, magnetic field strength and synchrotron intensity) is more efficient for the SQ model based on Renaud et al., whose galaxies are more massive, whereas the less massive SQ model based on Hwang et al. shows generally similar effects but with smaller efficiency. We show that the large shock found in observations of SQ is most likely the result of a collision of the galaxy NGC 7318b with the IGM. This large group-wide shock is clearly visible in the X-ray emission and synchrotron intensity within the simulations of both SQ models. The order of magnitude of the observed synchrotron emission within the shock front is slightly better reproduced by the SQ model based on Renaud et al., whereas the distribution and structure of the synchrotron emission is better reproduced by the SQ model based on Hwang et al..Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, accepted to MNRA

Diverse Spectrum of Presentation of Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon: A Concise Review of the Literature

The coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is a disease entity characterized by slow progression of angiographic contrast in the coronary arteries in the absence of stenosis in the epicardial vessels. CSFP has a diverse presentation from mild chest discomfort to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. It can also have severe morbidity and mortality implications and can significantly hamper the quality of life of those affected. In this paper we present two patients with CSFP highlighting the diverse spectrum of presentation. A concise review of the literature is also provided emphasizing the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic parameters, treatment modalities, and clinical significance of this phenomenon

Experiment with irrigation and fertilization in oak stands : effects on growth of Q. robur and Q. petraea in South Sweden

I stora delar av Sverige är kväve- och vattenbrist en hämmande faktor för skogsträdens tillväxt. I denna studie undersöktes om gödsling och bevattning ökar tillväxten för ekbestånd i södra Sverige. Hypotesen var att gödsling och bevattning ger en positiv effekt på tillväxten. Ekbestånd anlagt år 1991 i bestånd av Quercus robur (L.) och Quercus petraea (Liebl.) indelades år 2008 i 16 parceller som behandlades med fyra olika behandlingar; bevattning, gödsling, kombinerad bevattning och gödsling samt kontrollytor. Data från försöket analyserades visuellt och med en två-vägs variansanalys för att undersöka om det fanns signifikanta samband mellan tillväxt och behandling. Resultatet var svårtolkat. Det fanns ingen tydlig trend att behandlingarna påverkat tillväxten, dock var blockeffekten signifikant för flera faktorer vilket kan bero på att parcellerna hade olika ståndortsindex. Mätningarna utfördes under en relativt kort period mellan år 2008 och år 2013 vilket kan göra att effekterna av gödslingen inte hinner visa sig. Andra möjliga förklaringar till resultatet kan vara att kvävenedfallet är högt i detta område eller att marken har en naturligt hög kvävehalt, detta gör att effekterna av gödsling blir kortvariga eller uteblir. Ek är ett relativt torktåligt trädslag med djupa rotsystem och påverkas inte lika starkt av vattenbrist som många andra trädslag, till exempel gran. Humiditeten i området är hög vilket kan göra att vattenbrist inte är en lika hämmande faktor som i andra delar av landet.In most parts of Sweden lack of nitrogen and water are limiting factors for forest growth. This study examined the effects of fertilization and irrigation on the growth of oak stands in South Sweden. The hypothesis was that both fertilization and irrigation would result in a positive effect on growth. Oak stands of Quercus robur and Quercus petraea planted in 1991 were divided into 16 plots in 2008 and treated with four different management programs; irrigation, fertilization, combined fertilization and irrigation and control. Data from the experiment were analyzed visually and with a two-way ANOVA to examine if there were significant correlation between growth and treatments. The results were difficult to interpret. There were no clear trend showing a correlation between growth and treatment. However the block effect were significant for several studied factors which can be explained by a difference in site index between the plots. The study were conducted during a short period between the year 2008 and 2013, thus there was a possibility that not all effects of fertilization had time to develop. Another possible explanation for this result could be that the nitrogen deposition was high in this area and that the soil might have a high nitrogen availability. Oak is a drought-tolerant tree species with a deep root system and thus not as strongly affected by water stress as many other species like spruce. The humidity in the area was high, implicating that the shortage of water was not as inhibitory as in other parts of the country

Skin and Systemic Inflammation in Schnitzler's Syndrome Are Associated With Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation

Schnitzler's syndrome is a rare autoinflammatory disorder characterized by interleukin-1ß-mediated and neutrophil-dominated inflammation. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are web-like structures of decondensed chromatin, histones, and antimicrobial peptides released by neutrophils. NETs were initially described in the context of pathogen defense but are also involved in autoimmune-mediated skin diseases. Here, we assessed the role of neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) in Schnitzler's syndrome. Immunofluorescence co-staining of myeloperoxidase and subnucleosomal complex was performed on lesional skin samples from patients with Schnitzler's syndrome, other neutrophilic dermatoses (cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome, Sweet syndrome, and pyoderma gangrenosum), urticarial vasculitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria as well as healthy control skin. Blood neutrophils from patients with Schnitzler's syndrome and controls were isolated, and NETosis was induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Also, NETosis of control neutrophils induced by symptomatic Schnitzler's syndrome sera, cytokines and sub-threshold PMA doses was studied. Immunofluorescence co-staining revealed widespread and substantial NET formation in lesional skin of Schnitzler's syndrome patients but absence of NETs in chronic spontaneous urticaria and control skin. Neutrophils undergoing NETosis were observed in the skin of other neutrophilic diseases too. Correspondingly, blood neutrophils from Schnitzler's syndrome patients showed significantly elevated NETosis rates compared to control neutrophils following stimulation with PMA. Increased NETosis correlated well with high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). SchS patients with the lowest NETosis rates had persistent joint and bone pain despite IL-1 blockade. Stimulation of control neutrophils and sub-threshold PMA with sera of symptomatic Schnitzler's syndrome patients disclosed enhanced NETosis as compared to control sera. Our results suggest that the induction of NET formation by neutrophils contributes to skin and systemic inflammation and may support the resolution of local inflammation in Schnitzler's syndrome.</p