Traditional multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) algorithms typically implement global parameter sharing across various types of heterogeneous agents without meticulously differentiating between different action semantics. This approach results...
Human cooperative behavior includes passive action strategies based on others and active action strategies that prioritize one’s own objective. Therefore, for cooperation with humans, it is necessary to realize a robot that uses these strategie...
In the domain of multi-agent reinforcement learning, conventional algorithms such as VDN, QMIX, and QTRAN have exhibited favorable performance in static task scenarios. However, these algorithms encounter challenges due to their limited capacity to m...
Antimicrobial agents target a range of extra- and/or intracellular loci from cytoplasmic wall to membrane, intracellular enzymes and genetic materials. Meanwhile, many resistance mechanisms employed by bacteria to counter antimicrobial agents have be...
Since the dawn of man, inflammation has been known to humanity, as it is marked by pain. Inflammation processes are related to serious chronic diseases with irreversible damage to the organism, being crucial for the development of anti-inflammatory a...
Research into the biology of plant viruses, their mechanisms of pathogenicity, and the induction of host resistance has laid a solid foundation for the discovery of antiviral agents and their targets and the development of effective control technolog...
Imagine a person visiting an urban event. At each moment in time, the person has to weigh up different possible actions and make consecutive decisions. For instance, a person might be hungry or thirsty and would therefore like to go somewhere to eat...
A contemporary agricultural production system relying on heavy usage of agrochemicals represents a questionable outlook for sustainable food supply in the future. The visible negative environmental impacts and unforeseen consequences to human and ani...
Architects often emphasize on form and spatial layout in domestic architecture. Yet, functionality of form is evaluated by the experience of its users. This research wishes to address a central problem often ignored in domestic architecture—the...
Treatment options for infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are rendered ineffective, and drug alternatives are needed—either from new chemical classes or drugs with new modes of action. Historically, natural products have been...
Self-organization in complex systems is a process associated with reduced internal entropy and the emergence of structures that may enable the system to function more effectively and robustly in its environment and in a more competitive way with othe...
The widespread emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria highlights the urgent need for new antimicrobial agents. Albomycins are a group of naturally occurring sideromycins with a thionucleoside antibiotic conjugated to a ferrichrome-type siderophor...
The integration of early warning and evacuation systems (EWES) with estimations for mitigating the loss of life in flood risk assessments marks an advancement towards developing robust emergency action plans for dam breaks. Through the simulation of...
EF24, a synthetic monocarbonyl analog of curcumin, shows significant potential as an anticancer agent with both chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties. It exhibits rapid absorption, extensive tissue distribution, and efficient metabolism, en...
Infections caused by Candida are very difficult to treat due to increasing antifungal resistance. Recent studies showed that patients with Candida infections resistant to fluconazole have very few treatment options. Therefore, finding new efficient a...
This study investigated the inhibitory activity of organic solutions containing 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30% (w/v) sodium chloride and citric acid solution and 15:10, 15:15, 15:20 and 15:30% (w/v) sodium chloride (NaCl) combined with citric acid (CA) soluti...
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are usually characterized by mucus hypersecretion. This condition may worsen and prolong symptoms and signs. For this reason, reducing mucus production and improving mucus removal represent relevant aspects of mana...
Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of Sudden Oak Death and related diseases, threatens over 130 tree and shrub species. We evaluated the biocontrol potential of isolates from nine Trichoderma species against P. ramorum using growth-rate studies, dual-cu...
Plant pathogens challenge our efforts to maximize crop production due to their ability to rapidly develop resistance to pesticides. Fungal biocontrol agents have become an important alternative to chemical fungicides, due to environmental concerns re...
In a multi-agent system, the complex interaction among agents is one of the difficulties in making the optimal decision. This paper proposes a new action value function and a learning mechanism based on the optimal equivalent action of the neighborho...
Multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) algorithms have made great achievements in various scenarios, but there are still many problems in solving sequential social dilemmas (SSDs). In SSDs, the agent’s actions not only change the instantaneo...
Multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) has demonstrated significant potential in enabling cooperative agents. The communication protocol, which is responsible for message exchange between agents, is crucial in cooperation. However, communicative M...
Critical to social sustainability and organizations’ growth, at present, is gender equality. Yet, egalitarian principles are difficult to apply in the practice, particularly in private firms. Acknowledging previous calls that research should respond...
Several new antifungals are currently in late-stage development, including those with novel pharmacodynamics/mechanisms of action that represent new antifungal classes (manogepix, olorofim, ATI-2307, GR-2397). Others include new agents within establi...
Organised attacks on a computer system to test existing defences, i.e., penetration testing, have been used extensively to evaluate network security. However, penetration testing is a time-consuming process. Additionally, establishing a strategy that...
Uncontrolled neovascularization occurs in several angiogenesis-dependent diseases, including cancer. Neovascularization is tightly controlled by the balance between angiogenic growth factors and antiangiogenic agents. The various natural angiogenesis...
Effective and ecofriendly antifouling (AF) compounds have been arising from naturally produced chemicals. The objective of this study is to use cyanobacteria-derived agents to investigate the role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity as an effect...
The identification and development of natural products into novel antimicrobial agents is crucial to combat the rise of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Clinical fungal isolates have been identified, which have shown resistance to all current clin...
In order to improve the performance of concrete, it is of great significance to have a better understanding the mechanism and main influencing factors of concrete bubble evolution under the action of polycarboxylate and air-entraining agents. In the...
Quinazolinones, essential quinazoline derivatives, exhibit diverse biological activities with applications in pharmaceuticals and insecticides. Some derivatives have already been developed as commercial drugs. Given the rising cancer incidence, there...
We discuss the strategy that rational agents can use to maximize their expected long-term payoff in the co-action minority game. We argue that the agents will try to get into a cyclic state, where each of the ( 2 N + 1 ) agents wins exactly N t...
Therapies targeted to fungal biofilms, mainly against the matrix, and therapies that do not induce microbial resistance are relevant. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a mucolytic agent, has shown antimicrobial action. This study evaluated the effect of NAC ag...
Traditional rice seed coating agents (TRSCA) contain toxic components that pollute the environment and threaten human health. The use of safe, high-efficiency, and environmentally friendly seed coating agents is vital for environmental protection. We...
Yeast, bacteria and sourdough are widely used in our daily lives, yet their drying and storage remains a significant challenge. A variety of techniques are used to improve the resistance of cells to thermal, dehydration, oxidative and osmotic stresse...
In the US and Europe, institutions, foundations and governments invest significant financial resources in doctoral fellowships. Unlike other graduate funding mechanisms, fellowships are typically not tied to specific projects or job responsibilities...
Plasmodium, Leishmania, and Trypanosoma parasites are responsible for infectious diseases threatening millions of people worldwide. Despite more recent efforts devoted to the search for new antiprotozoal agents, efficacy, safety, and resistance issue...
29 September 2020
There is both an intuitive and theoretical link between self-determination and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Theoretically, definitions of self-determination have framed the construct with regard to its...
As the need for effective antiviral treatment intensifies, such as with the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection, it is crucial to understand that while the mechanisms of action of these drugs or compounds seem apparent, they might also intera...
The development of antimicrobial polymeric materials has evolved into one of the more promising methods for preventing the growth of microbes and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases in several applications including the health and food packa...
Background: About a third of patients with inflammatory bowel disease do not respond to anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, which is challenging. Aim: To review the current data on the two main strategies when facing primary non-response...
High-grade gliomas are among the most aggressive malignancies, with significantly low median survival. Recent experimental research in the field has highlighted the importance of natural substances as possible antiglioma agents, also known for their...
Curcumin, one of the major ingredients of turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been widely reported for its diverse bioactivities, including against malaria and inflammatory-related diseases. However, curcumin’s low bioavailability limits its potentia...
Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes are being tested as potential anticancer agents in different therapies, which include conventional chemotherapy and light-activated approaches. A mechanistic study on a recently synthesized dual-action Ru(II) compl...
Several direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are available, providing interferon-free strategies for a hepatitis C cure. In contrast to DAAs, host-targeting agents (HTAs) interfere with host cellular factors that are essential in the viral replication cyc...
1,4-Naphthoquinones have antibacterial activity and are a promising new class of compound that can be used to treat bacterial infections. The goal was to improve effective antibacterial agents; therefore, we synthesized a new class of naphthoquinone...
Targeted therapies have come into prominence in the ongoing battle against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because of the shortcomings of traditional chemotherapy. In this context, indole-based small molecules, which were synthesized efficiently,...
This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of action of ursolic acid in terms of anti-Toxoplasma gondii effects, including immunomodulatory effects. We evaluated the anti-T. gondii effects of ursolic acid, and analyzed the production of ni...
Essential oils (EOs) are known for their diverse bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, skin-barrier repairing and anticancer, and therefore, hold profound potential to be used in cosmetic and s...
2 January 2026
As artificial intelligence (AI) agents become deeply integrated into fitness systems, trustworthy human–AI agent interaction has become pivotal for user engagement in smart home fitness (SHF) e-commerce platforms. Grounded in the Computers Are...
Despite decades of research, cancer continues to be a disease of great concern to millions of people around the world. It has been responsible for a total of 609,820 deaths in the U.S. alone in 2023. Over the years, many drugs have been developed to...
of 130