Robust Opponent Modeling in Real-Time Strategy Games using Bayesian Networks

Opponent modeling is a key challenge in Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games as the environment is adversarial in these games, and the player cannot predict the future actions of her opponent. Additionally, the environment is partially observable due to the fog of war. In this paper, we propose an opponent model which is robust to the observation noise existing due to the fog of war. In order to cope with the uncertainty existing in these games, we design a Bayesian network whose parameters are learned from an unlabeled game-logs dataset; so it does not require a human expert’s knowledge. We evaluate our model on StarCraft which is considered as a unified test-bed in this domain. The model is compared with that proposed by Synnaeve and Bessiere. Experimental results on recorded games of human players show that the proposed model can predict the opponent’s future decisions more effectively. Using this model, it is possible to create an adaptive game intelligence algorithm applicable to RTS games, where the concept of build order (the order of building construction) exists

Down-regulation of microRNA-26a and up-regulation of microRNA-27a contributes to aggressive progression of human osteosarcoma

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy with high local aggressiveness and rapid metastasizing potential, resulting in poor survival. Increasing reports suggest that deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) might provide novel therapeutic targets for cancers. However, the expression of miR-26a and miR-27a in osteosarcoma need further investigation in clinical samples. In our study, we evaluate the expression of these miRNAs in osteosarcoma tissues and compared with paired adjacent non-tumor bone tissues using RT-qPCR. Methods: Total RNA was purified from patients with osteosarcoma and noncancerous bone tissues. Real-time PCR was applied to quantify the expression level of miR-26a and miR-27a. Moreover, the correlation of these markers with clinicopathological characteristics was also evaluated in osteosarcoma patients. A cox proportional hazards model was performed to assess multivariate analyses of prognostic values. Results: Our result suggested that miR-26aexpression level in osteosarcoma bone tissue was significantly lower than that in the paired noncancerous bone tissues. MiR-27a expression was higher in osteosarcoma bone tissue in comparison with paired noncancerous bone tissues. The results indicated that low expression level of miR-26a and high expression of miR-27a were associated with high TNM stage (P = 0.001; P = 0.012), tumor grade (P = 0.007; P = 0.016), and distant metastasis (P = 0.004; P = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test indicated that patients with low expression of miR-26a and high expression of miR-27a had shorter overall survival (log-rank test: P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that low expression of miR-26a and high expression of miR-27a (P = 0.021; P = 0.011), high TNM stage (P = 0.001; P = 0.003), tumor grade (P = 0.005; P = 0.01), and distant metastasis.(P = 0.002; P = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival patients with osteosarcoma cancer. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggested that expression level of miR-26a and miR-27a contributes to aggressive progression of this malignancy. Therefore, may have clinical potentials as a non-invasive diagnostic/prognostic biomarker for osteosarcoma patients. © 2015 Taheriazam et al

Nanoliposomes and Tocosomes as Multifunctional Nanocarriers for the Encapsulation of Nutraceutical and Dietary Molecules

Nanoscale lipid bilayers, or nanoliposomes, are generally spherical vesicles formed by the dispersion of phospholipid molecules in a water-based medium by energy input. The other nanoscale object discussed in this entry, i.e., tocosome, is a recently introduced bioactive carrier made mainly from tocopheryl phosphates. Due to their bi-compartmental structure, which consists of lipidic and aqueous compartments, these nanocarriers are capable of carrying hydrophilic and hydrophobic material separately or simultaneously. Nanoliposomes and tocosomes are able to provide protection and release of sensitive food-grade bioactive materials in a sustained manner. They are being utilized for the encapsulation of different types of bioactive materials (such as drugs, vaccines, antimicrobials, antioxidants, minerals and preservatives), for the enrichment and fortification of different food and nutraceutical formulations and manufacturing of functional products. However, a number of issues unique to the nutraceutical and food industry must first be resolved before these applications can completely become a reality. Considering the potentials and promises of these colloidal carrier systems, the present article reviews various aspects of nanoliposomes, in comparison with tocosomes, including the ingredients used in their manufacture, formation mechanisms and issues pertaining to their application in the formulation of health promoting dietary supplements and functional food products

Retraction Note to: Tissue expression levels of miR-29b and miR-422a in children, adolescents, and young adults� age groups and their association with prediction of poor prognosis in human osteosarcoma (Tumor Biol, (2016), 37, (3091-3095), 10.1007/s13277-015-4140-5)

This article has been retracted at the request of the Editorin- Chief, the International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM) and the Publisher per the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines. The article shows evidence of irregularities in authorship, there is strong reason to believe that the peer review process was compromised and the article is showing similarities with the following article which was submitted within a close timeframe: Seyad Alireza Bassampour, Reza Abdi, Reza Bahador, Mohammadreza Shakeri, Ali Torkaman, Emad Yahaghi, Afshin Taheriazam, Downregulation of miR-133b/miR-503 acts as efficient prognostic and diagnostic factors in patients with osteosarcoma and these predictor biomarkers are correlated with overall survival. Tumor Biol. First online: 16 August 2015 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3918-9. © 2016, International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM)

Retraction note: Down-regulation of microRNA-26a and up-regulation of microRNA-27a contributes to aggressive progression of human osteosarcoma Diagn Pathol., 10 (2015) (166)

The Editor-in-Chief and Publisher have retracted this article 1 because the scientific integrity of the content cannot be guaranteed. An investigation by the Publisher found it to be one of a group of articles we have identified as showing evidence suggestive of attempts to subvert the peer review and publication system to inappropriately obtain or allocate authorship. This article showed evidence of plagiarism (most notably from the articles cited 2-4) and authorship manipulation. � The Author(s). 2016

Tissue expression levels of miR-29b and miR-422a in children, adolescents, and young adults� age groups and their association with prediction of poor prognosis in human osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children and adolescents. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the development, differentiation, and function of different cell types and in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. miRNAs are differentially expressed in normal and cancer cells. The investigation of miRNA expression between healthy subjects and patients with osteosarcoma is crucial for future clinical trials. In this study, the expression levels of miRNAs were detected by qRT-PCR. Correlation between expression levels of tow miRNAs and different clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed using the �2 test. Survival rate was detected using the log-rank test and Kaplan�Meier method. qRT-PCR was shown that expression levels of miR-29b and miR-422a were strongly decreased in osteosarcoma bone tissue compared with noncancerous bone tissues. Our result indicated that the low expression levels of miR-29b and miR-422a showed strong correlation with large tumor size (P = 0.20; 0.029), advanced TNM stage (P = 0.001; 0.012), distant metastasis (P = 0.008; 0.019), and grade of tumor (P = 0.009; 0.016). Kaplan�Meier survival analysis showed that the low expressions of miR-29b/miR-422a were correlated with shorter time overall survival (log-rank test, P = 0.009; P = 0.013). Moreover, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model indicated that miR-29b and miR-422a (P = 0.024; P = 0.016) were independent prognostic markers of overall survival of patients. Our result indicated that downregulation of miR-29b and miR-422a may be linked to the prediction of poor prognosis, indicating that miR-29b and miR-422a may be a valuable prognostic marker for osteosarcoma patients. © 2015, International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM)

Correction to: "Comparative repair capacity of knee osteochondral defects using regenerated silk fiber scaffolds and fibrin glue with/without autologous chondrocyes during 36 weeks in rabbit model (Cell and Tissue Research, (2016), 364, 3, (559-572), 10.1007/s00441-015-2355-9)

In this paper, figure 1 and its associated text were erroneously identical to that of another article from our group (Mobini et al., 2016, Journal of Biomaterial Application, SAGE publications). Unfortunately, copyright permission to re-use figure 1 and its related data were not requested. The authors would like to apologize for any confusion caused in this regard. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature