Local Communication Protocols for Learning Complex Swarm Behaviors with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Swarm systems constitute a challenging problem for reinforcement learning (RL) as the algorithm needs to learn decentralized control policies that can cope with limited local sensing and communication abilities of the agents. While it is often difficult to directly define the behavior of the agents, simple communication protocols can be defined more easily using prior knowledge about the given task. In this paper, we propose a number of simple communication protocols that can be exploited by deep reinforcement learning to find decentralized control policies in a multi-robot swarm environment. The protocols are based on histograms that encode the local neighborhood relations of the agents and can also transmit task-specific information, such as the shortest distance and direction to a desired target. In our framework, we use an adaptation of Trust Region Policy Optimization to learn complex collaborative tasks, such as formation building and building a communication link. We evaluate our findings in a simulated 2D-physics environment, and compare the implications of different communication protocols.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, version 2, accepted at ANTS 201

One-Step versus Two-Step Diagnostic Test for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Aim: Comparison between one-step Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India (DIPSI) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended two-step oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Material and methods: This study has a sample size of 200; 100 participants each were subjected to either of the two tests. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-GDM diagnosed by one-step test versus two-step test, respectively, were compared to one another and results were compared on the basis of various antenatal complications and fetomaternal outcomes. Results: No statistical difference was found between both the groups on the basis of various antenatal and fetomaternal outcomes. Conclusion: In Indian subcontinent with poor resources and lack of follow-up, single-step DIPSI can be preferred to ADA recommended two-step OGTT; however, large database studies are still required

One-Step versus Two-Step Diagnostic Test for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Aim: Comparison between one-step Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India (DIPSI) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended two-step oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Material and methods: This study has a sample size of 200; 100 participants each were subjected to either of the two tests. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-GDM diagnosed by one-step test versus two-step test, respectively, were compared to one another and results were compared on the basis of various antenatal complications and fetomaternal outcomes. Results: No statistical difference was found between both the groups on the basis of various antenatal and fetomaternal outcomes. Conclusion: In Indian subcontinent with poor resources and lack of follow-up, single-step DIPSI can be preferred to ADA recommended two-step OGTT; however, large database studies are still required

The Methods to Improve Quality of Service by Accounting Secure Parameters

A solution to the problem of ensuring quality of service, providing a greater number of services with higher efficiency taking into account network security is proposed. In this paper, experiments were conducted to analyze the effect of self-similarity and attacks on the quality of service parameters. Method of buffering and control of channel capacity and calculating of routing cost method in the network, which take into account the parameters of traffic multifractality and the probability of detecting attacks in telecommunications networks were proposed. The both proposed methods accounting the given restrictions on the delay time and the number of lost packets for every type quality of service traffic. During simulation the parameters of transmitted traffic (self-similarity, intensity) and the parameters of network (current channel load, node buffer size) were changed and the maximum allowable load of network was determined. The results of analysis show that occurrence of overload when transmitting traffic over a switched channel associated with multifractal traffic characteristics and presence of attack. It was shown that proposed methods can reduce the lost data and improve the efficiency of network resources.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, 1 equation, 1 table. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1904.0520

Metabonomics and Intensive Care

This article is one of ten reviews selected from the Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency medicine 2016. Other selected articles can be found online at http://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/annualupdate2016. Further information about the Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine is available from http://www.springer.com/series/8901

Airflow Dynamics of Human Jets: Sneezing and Breathing - Potential Sources of Infectious Aerosols

10.1371/journal.pone.0059970PLoS ONE84

Blood transcriptional biomarkers for active pulmonary tuberculosis in a high-burden setting: a prospective, observational, diagnostic accuracy study.

BACKGROUND: Blood transcriptional signatures are candidates for non-sputum triage or confirmatory tests of tuberculosis. Prospective head-to-head comparisons of their diagnostic accuracy in real-world settings are necessary to assess their clinical use. We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of candidate transcriptional signatures identified by systematic review, in a setting with a high burden of tuberculosis and HIV. METHODS: We did a prospective observational study nested within a diagnostic accuracy study of sputum Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) tests for pulmonary tuberculosis. We recruited consecutive symptomatic adults aged 18 years or older self-presenting to a tuberculosis clinic in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants provided blood for RNA sequencing, and sputum samples for liquid culture and molecular testing using Xpert and Ultra. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of candidate blood transcriptional signatures for active tuberculosis (including those intended to distinguish active tuberculosis from other diseases) identified by systematic review, compared with culture or Xpert MTB/RIF positivity as the standard reference. In our primary analysis, patients with tuberculosis were defined as those with either a positive liquid culture or Xpert result. Patients with missing blood RNA or sputum results were excluded. Our primary objective was to benchmark the diagnostic accuracy of candidate transcriptional signatures against the WHO target product profile (TPP) for a tuberculosis triage test. FINDINGS: Between Feb 12, 2016, and July 18, 2017, we obtained paired sputum and RNA sequencing data from 181 participants, 54 (30%) of whom had confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Of 27 eligible signatures identified by systematic review, four achieved the highest diagnostic accuracy with similar area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (Sweeney3: 90·6% [95% CI 85·6-95·6]; Kaforou25: 86·9% [80·9-92·9]; Roe3: 86·9% [80·3-93·5]; and BATF2: 86·8% [80·6-93·1]), independent of age, sex, HIV status, previous tuberculosis, or sputum smear result. At test thresholds that gave 70% specificity (the minimum WHO TPP specificity for a triage test), these four signatures achieved sensitivities between 83·3% (95% CI 71·3-91·0) and 90·7% (80·1-96·0). No signature met the optimum criteria, of 95% sensitivity and 80% specificity proposed by WHO for a triage test, or the minimum criteria (of 65% sensitivity and 98% specificity) for a confirmatory test, but all four correctly identified Ultra-positive, culture-negative patients. INTERPRETATION: Selected blood transcriptional signatures met the minimum WHO benchmarks for a tuberculosis triage test but not for a confirmatory test. Further development of the signatures is warranted to investigate their possible effects on clinical and health economic outcomes as part of a triage strategy, or when used as add-on confirmatory test in conjunction with the highly sensitive Ultra test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA. FUNDING: Royal Society Newton Advanced Fellowship, Wellcome Trust, National Institute of Health Research, and UK Medical Research Council

Epidemiology and management of uterine fibroids

Uterine leiomyomas are one of the most common and yet understudied diseases in women. These tumors, commonly known as fibroids, affect women mainly during their reproductive years and are diagnosed in up to 70% of white women and more than 80% of women of African ancestry during their lifetime. This disease has a profound impact on health care delivery and costs worldwide. Though most women with fibroids are asymptomatic, approximately 30% of them will present with severe symptoms which can include abnormal uterine bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain and pressure, back pain, urinary frequency, constipation, or infertility, and will require intervention. Furthermore, fibroids have been associated with poor obstetrical outcomes. The current options for symptomatic fibroid treatment include expectant, medical, and surgical management, and interventional radiology procedures. This article reviews the recent progress and available management strategies for uterine fibroids and highlights areas where further research is needed to find new therapeutic targets and better personalize treatments.We provide a review of the management options for uterine fibroids.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154526/1/ijgo13102.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154526/2/ijgo13102_am.pd

The effect of maternal position at birth on perineal trauma: A systematic review.

yesPerineal trauma is associated with short- and long-term maternal morbidity. Research has found that maternal position at birth can influence perineal trauma. However, there is a dearth of evidence examining specific maternal positions, including waterbirth, and how these can influence incidence and degree of perineal trauma. Such evidence is important to help reduce trauma rates and improve information for women and midwives. To address this gap in reliable evidence, a systematic review was conducted. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Compared to land birth, waterbirth was found to cause an increase in perineal trauma. Kneeling and all-fours positions were most protective of an intact perineum. Allowing for different variables, sitting, squatting and using a birth-stool caused the greatest incidence of trauma. The findings of this review demonstrate that further research is required around perineal guarding in alternative birth positions and how parity affects trauma rates with waterbirth, so that women may be advised appropriately. It also suggests findings that midwives can use when discussing alternative birth positions with women