"It's Unwieldy and It Takes a Lot of Time." Challenges and Opportunities for Creating Agents in Commercial Games

Game agents such as opponents, non-player characters, and teammates are central to player experiences in many modern games. As the landscape of AI techniques used in the games industry evolves to adopt machine learning (ML) more widely, it is vital that the research community learn from the best practices cultivated within the industry over decades creating agents. However, although commercial game agent creation pipelines are more mature than those based on ML, opportunities for improvement still abound. As a foundation for shared progress identifying research opportunities between researchers and practitioners, we interviewed seventeen game agent creators from AAA studios, indie studios, and industrial research labs about the challenges they experienced with their professional workflows. Our study revealed several open challenges ranging from design to implementation and evaluation. We compare with literature from the research community that address the challenges identified and conclude by highlighting promising directions for future research supporting agent creation in the games industry.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, to be published in the 16th AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment (AIIDE-20

OTUB1 triggers lung cancer development by inhibiting RAS monoubiquitination

Activation of the RAS oncogenic pathway, frequently ensuing from mutations in RAS genes, is a common event in human cancer. Recent reports demonstrate that reversible ubiquitination of RAS GTPases dramatically affects their activity, suggesting that enzymes involved in regulating RAS ubiquitination may contribute to malignant transformation. Here, we identified the de-ubiquitinase OTUB1 as a negative regulator of RAS mono- and di-ubiquitination. OTUB1 inhibits RAS ubiquitination independently of its catalytic activity resulting in sequestration of RAS on the plasma membrane. OTUB1 promotes RAS activation and tumorigenesis in wild-type RAS cells. An increase of OTUB1 expression is commonly observed in non-small-cell lung carcinomas harboring wild-type KRAS and is associated with increased levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, high Ki67 score, and poorer patient survival. Our results strongly indicate that dysregulation of RAS ubiquitination represents an alternative mechanism of RAS activation during lung cancer development

Historical infinitesimalists and modern historiography of infinitesimals

In the history of infinitesimal calculus, we trace innovation from Leibniz to Cauchy and reaction from Berkeley to Mansion and beyond. We explore 19th century infinitesimal lores, including the approaches of Simeon-Denis Poisson, Gaspard-Gustave de Coriolis, and Jean-Nicolas Noel. We examine contrasting historiographic approaches to such lores, in the work of Laugwitz, Schubring, Spalt, and others, and address a recent critique by Archibald et al. We argue that the element of contingency in this history is more prominent than many modern historians seem willing to acknowledge.Comment: 60 page

A pilot study evaluating concordance between blood-based and patient-matched tumor molecular testing within pancreatic cancer patients participating in the Know Your Tumor (KYT) initiative

Recent improvements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology have enabled detection of biomarkers in cell-free DNA in blood and may ultimately replace invasive tissue biopsies. However, a better understanding of the performance of blood-based NGS assays is needed prior to routine clinical use. As part of an IRBapproved molecular profiling registry trial of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) patients, we facilitated blood-based NGS testing of 34 patients from multiple community-based and high-volume academic oncology practices. 23 of these patients also underwent traditional tumor tissue-based NGS testing. cfDNA was not detected in 9/34 (26%) patients. Overall concordance between blood and tumor tissue NGS assays was low, with only 25% sensitivity of blood-based NGS for tumor tissue NGS. Mutations in KRAS, the major PDA oncogene, were only detected in 10/34 (29%) blood samples, compared to 20/23 (87%) tumor tissue biopsies. The presence of mutations in circulating DNA was associated with reduced overall survival (54% in mutation-positive versus 90% in mutation-negative). Our results suggest that in the setting of previously treated, advanced PDA, liquid biopsies are not yet an adequate substitute for tissue biopsies. Further refinement in defining the optimal patient population and timing of blood sampling may improve the value of a blood-based test. © Pishvaian et al

Differences in Social Perceptions Between Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera and Cell Phone Selfie Images

Background: In light of the current selfie craze, driven primarily by social media platforms, there is an absolute need among facial plastic surgeons to consider the role of these social platforms in patient counseling regarding their cosmetic requirements.Objectives: Is there a difference in how people are perceived when their image is viewed as a selfie as opposed to a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera image? This objective was studied by utilizing a web-based survey to explore differences in third-party perceptions, if any, between portrait photograph using a DSLR camera and a selfie.Design, Setting, Participants:: This research was performed via a survey study. Five types of portrait images of a female participant were taken for the survey: (1) image taken with the DSLR camera [a Nikon® D7200 DSLR camera fitted with a Sigma® DG Macro (70 mm 1:2.8) lens] at a distance of 3'from the subject, (2) selfie taken with an iPhoneX® at 12″ from the subject with a Snapchat® filter, (3) selfie at 12″ without a Snapchat filter, (4) selfie at 24″ with a Snapchat filter, and (5) selfie at 24″ without a Snapchat filter. Utilizing the Qualtrics survey platform (Qualtrics LLC), questions were based on the five images, where the respondent choose an image each for the youngest, oldest, and “most” or “least” for approachability, attractiveness, confidence, health, feminine, intelligent, and successful.Results: The survey was distributed to 223 respondents aged at least 18 years. Pearson χ2 test found significant differences (p < 0.05) in the distribution of the proportion of responses in 14 out of 16 questions in the survey. The proportion of responses to questions for “youngest” and “most approachable” was highest for selfie at distance 24″ with filter; questions for “most attractive,” “most healthy,” and “most feminine” were highest for selfie at distance 12″ with filter; those for “oldest,” “most confident,” “most intelligent,” “most successful” and “least approachable,” “least attractive,” “least healthy,” “least feminine,” and “least successful” were highest for images taken with a DSLR camera. The only insignificant differences were seen in responses to questions for “least confident” (p = 0.5) and “least intelligent” (p = 0.55).Conclusions: Selfie images with filters are exclusively associated with aesthetic qualities, whereas DSLR images are associated with inherent characteristics of an individual.</div

Translation and Validation of the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey in Dutch

Objective: The Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey is a validated instrument for patients undergoing rhinoplasty surgery. The aim of this study was to validate a Dutch-language version of the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey.Methods: The Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey was translated and back-translated and 10 Dutch-speaking rhinoplasty patients were interviewed to evaluate the translation. The translated version was administered to 25 rhinoplasty patients (cases) and 25 controls at 2-week intervals. The internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and factor structure of Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey were measured.Results: Both the obstructive domain of the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey and the cosmetic domain showed a high internal consistency, alpha 0.94 and 0.95, respectively. The Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey was reliable showing very strong test–retest correlations of 0.93 for Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey-obstructive domain and 0.94 for Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey-cosmetic domain, respectively. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test showed a significant difference between cases and controls for the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey-cosmetic domain (P =.0001) but not for the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey-obstructive domain (P =.14). Exploratory factor analysis showed unidimensionality for both the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey-cosmetic domain and the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey-obstructive domain.Conclusion: The Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey was successfully translated, culturally adopted, and validated for its use in a Dutch-speaking population of rhinoplasty patients.</p

OTUB1 triggers lung cancer development by inhibiting RAS monoubiquitination

Activation of the RAS oncogenic pathway, frequently ensuing from mutations in RAS genes, is a common event in human cancer. Recent reports demonstrate that reversible ubiquitination of RAS GTPases dramatically affects their activity, suggesting that enzymes involved in regulating RAS ubiquitination may contribute to malignant transformation. Here, we identified the de-ubiquitinase OTUB1 as a negative regulator of RAS mono- and di-ubiquitination. OTUB1 inhibits RAS ubiquitination independently of its catalytic activity resulting in sequestration of RAS on the plasma membrane. OTUB1 promotes RAS activation and tumorigenesis in wild-type RAS cells. An increase of OTUB1 expression is commonly observed in non-small-cell lung carcinomas harboring wild-type KRAS and is associated with increased levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, high Ki67 score, and poorer patient survival. Our results strongly indicate that dysregulation of RAS ubiquitination represents an alternative mechanism of RAS activation during lung cancer developmen

French translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the BDDQ-AS for rhinoplasty patients

The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire-Aesthetic Surgery (BDDQ-AS) is a validated questionnaire that is used as a screening tool for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in aesthetic rhinoplasty patients. The BDDQ-AS questionnaire was translated from English to French according to international guidelines. Ten French-speaking rhinoplasty patients were interviewed in order to evaluate the understandability and acceptability of the translation and produce a final version. It was then administered to 165 consecutive patients. Psychometric properties were evaluated using item-reponse theory (IRT). Internal consistency was high, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.90 (95% lower CL 0.88). While the discrimination abilities of all the items were good (over 2.0), their difficulty parameters were shifted towards greater severity of symptoms. That shift could also be observed in information function graph for the entire scale. In other words, the BDDQ-AS performed better in patients with more severe body dysmorphic symptoms. In conclusion, the BDDQ-AS was translated, adapted, and psychometrically validated for use in a French-speaking population

Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey

Background: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) has not been determined.Objectives: The authors sought to define the MCID for both domains of the SCHNOS questionnaire.Methods: This prospective cohort study included patients who underwent functional, cosmetic, or combined rhinoplasty operation from June 2017 to June 2018 at a tertiary referral center. The average preoperative, postoperative, and change in scores were calculated for the nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scale (NOSE) and SCHNOS. Anchor-based MCIDs were estimated for both SCHNOS subscales to define change in obstruction and cosmesis perceived after the rhinoplasty.Results: Eighty-seven patients (69% women, 31% males) with a mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of 38 years (14.7) at the time of surgery were included. The mean postoperative follow-up period (SD) was 145 days (117). The mean preoperative score (SD) for the NOSE was 52 (32), SCHNOS for nasal obstruction (SCHNOS-O) score was 55 (33), and SCHNOS for nasal cosmesis (SCHNOS-C) score was 50 (26) points. Postoperatively, the NOSE score was 23 (22), SCHNOS-O score was 24 (23), and SCHNOS-C score was 13 (18) points. The mean change in scores (SD) for NOSE, SCHNOS-O, and SCHNOS-C was -29 (37), -31 (38), and -37 (28), respectively. The calculated MCID for SCHNOS-O was 26 (16) and for SCHNOS-C was 22 (15) points. The MCID for NOSE was 24 (13) points. A sensitivity test for the patients with a follow-up >= 3 months showed only slightly different MCID estimates: 28 (17) for SCHNOS-O, 18 (13) for SCHNOS-C, and 24 (15) points for NOSE.Conclusions: For the obstruction domain SCHNOS-O, the MCID was 28 points. For the cosmetic domain SCHNOS-C, the MCID was 18 points.</div