ArvandHerd is a sequential satisficing planner that uses a portfolio consisting of LAMA and Arvand. This planner won the multi-core track of the 2011 International Planning Competition. In this paper, we describe the various components of ArvandHerd, the updates made for the 2014 competition, and the modifications that allow ArvandHerd to compete in the single-core sequential satisficing tracks.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a complex progressive disease, is currently the third leading cause of death worldwide. One recommended treatment option is fixed-dose combination therapy of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β-agonist. Clinical trials suggest pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) show similar efficacy and safety profiles...

Tawfig Eltaif, Hossam M. H. Shalaby, Sahbudin Shaari, Mohammad M. N. Hamarsheh Photonics Technology Laboratory (PTL), Institute of Micro Engineering and Nanoelectronics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, MALAYSIA Elect. Eng. Dept, Fac. of Engineering, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21544, EGYPT. Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Multimedia University, Ja...

Interactions between the Bcr/Abl kinase inhibitor STI571 (Gleevec, imatinib mesylate) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) have been examined in STI571-sensitive and -resistant Bcr/Abl(+) human leukemia cells (K562 and LAMA 84). Cotreatment of K562 cells with 250 nM imatinib mesylate and 2.0 micro M suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) for 24 h, exposures that were minimally toxic alone,...

BACKGROUND Randomized controlled trials indicate that addition of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) such as tiotropium may improve asthma control and reduce exacerbation risk in patients with poorly controlled asthma, but broader clinical studies are needed to investigate the effectiveness of LAMA in real-life asthma care. METHODS Medical records of adults with asthma (aged ≥18 years...

RATIONALE COPD has attracted widespread attention worldwide. The prevalence of COPD in Taiwan has been reported, but little is known about trends in health care resource utilization and pharmacologic management in COPD treatment. OBJECTIVE The objective of this article was to study trends in health care resource utilization, pharmacologic management, and medical costs of COPD treatment in Tai...

I recently had an encounter with the Dalai Lama. I did not seek him out by going to a retreat or a high-profile talk, but instead found him nestled between Coldplay and Damien Rice on an iTunes play list. The selection was the audio version of his best-selling book, " The Art of Happiness " and the locale was a friend's music collection, accessed through music sharing on Yale wireless. The even...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the result of persistent and progressive pathologic abnormalities in the small airways, most often associated with alveolar loss. Smoking cessation is the most effective intervention to slow down the progression of COPD. Long-acting inhaled bronchodilators are prescribed for the symptomatic relief at any stage of disease severity. For patients who...

Looking back, there has never been a year with a greater number of novel drug approvals or filings in the history of pharmacological treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As COPD treatment often involves a combination of therapies in clinical routine, the recent approval of two novel fixedcombination inhalers is of particular interest: the once-daily combination of an inhal...

The relationship between the Src kinase Lyn and Bcl-2 expression was examined in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells (K562 and LAMA84) displaying a Bcr/Abl-independent form of imatinib mesylate resistance. K562-R and LAMA-R cells that were markedly resistant to induction of mitochondrial dysfunction (e.g. loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, Bax translocation, cytochrome c, and apoptosis-in...