Tree rules in probabilistic transition system specifications with negative and quantitative premises

Probabilistic transition system specifications (PTSSs) in the ntmufnu/ntmuxnu format provide structural operational semantics for Segala-type systems that exhibit both probabilistic and nondeterministic behavior and guarantee that isimilarity is a congruence.Similar to the nondeterministic case of rule format tyft/tyxt, we show that the well-foundedness requirement is unnecessary in the probabilistic setting. To achieve this, we first define an extended version of the ntmufnu/ntmuxnu format in which quantitative premises and conclusions include nested convex combinations of distributions. This format also guarantees that bisimilarity is a congruence. Then, for a given (possibly non-well-founded) PTSS in the new format, we construct an equivalent well-founded transition system consisting of only rules of the simpler (well-founded) probabilistic ntree format. Furthermore, we develop a proof-theoretic notion for these PTSSs that coincides with the existing stratification-based meaning in case the PTSS is stratifiable. This continues the line of research lifting structural operational semantic results from the nondeterministic setting to systems with both probabilistic and nondeterministic behavior.Comment: In Proceedings EXPRESS/SOS 2012, arXiv:1208.244

COVID-19, colleagues, confusion, and conversations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors in a community hospital reflect on their decision-making regarding treatment options for COVID-19. Whether to use hydroxychloroquine is the treatment discussed in most detail

Legal Resolution of Denial of Access to Medical Technology

The legal issues involved in technology application are inextricably interwoven with the medical issues. This Comment will first discuss the general principles of the scientific method and then contrast their application to pharmacologic therapy with their application to technologic treatments. Bone marrow transplantation will then be analyzed in depth, illustrating the medical issues that third-party payers consider in coverage decisions. Continuing with the model of bone marrow transplantation, this Comment will conclude with an analysis of legal solutions to the denial of access to medical technology

Legal Resolution of Denial of Access to Medical Technology

The legal issues involved in technology application are inextricably interwoven with the medical issues. This Comment will first discuss the general principles of the scientific method and then contrast their application to pharmacologic therapy with their application to technologic treatments. Bone marrow transplantation will then be analyzed in depth, illustrating the medical issues that third-party payers consider in coverage decisions. Continuing with the model of bone marrow transplantation, this Comment will conclude with an analysis of legal solutions to the denial of access to medical technology

HIPAA-Phobia Hampers Efforts To Track And Contain COVID-19

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), enacted by the US Congress 1996, laudably protects medical privacy in healthcare settings. However, this federal law has created a culture of fear that limits current efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers, who are covered by HIPAA, may be reluctant to disclose information about outbreak clusters for fear of violating the law. Healthcare organizations, who are also covered by the law, still rely on fax machines to avoid violating HIPAA’s data security requirements. And the scrupulous rule-following in healthcare has given independent life to a HIPAA boogeyman. Thus, officials who are not covered by the law (e.g. schools) withhold or deter the release of valuable information—even when HIPAA does not apply to them. The Executive has taken some action to relax HIPAA in these unprecedented times and should take further action, along with Congress, to balance privacy rights with the need for greater transparency in the fight against COVID-19.https://scholarship.law.slu.edu/lawjournalonline/1055/thumbnail.jp

Ventricular pacing or dual-chamber pacing for sinus-node dysfunction

BACKGROUND Dual-chamber (atrioventricular) and single-chamber (ventricular) pacing are alternative treatment approaches for sinus-node dysfunction that causes clinically significant bradycardia. However, it is unknown which type of pacing results in the better outcome. METHODS We randomly assigned a total of 2010 patients with sinus-node dysfunction to dual-chamber pacing (1014 patients) or ventricular pacing (996 patients) and followed them for a median of 33.1 months. The primary end point was death from any cause or nonfatal stroke. Secondary end points included the composite of death, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure; atrial fibrillation; heart-failure score; the pacemaker syndrome; and the quality of life. RESULTS The incidence of the primary end point did not differ significantly between the dual-chamber group (21.5 percent) and the ventricular-paced group (23.0 percent, P=0.48). In patients assigned to dual-chamber pacing, the risk of atrial fibrillation was lower (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.66 to 0.94; P=0.008), and heart-failure scores were better (P CONCLUSIONS In sinus-node dysfunction, dual-chamber pacing does not improve stroke-free survival, as compared with ventricular pacing. However, dual-chamber pacing reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation, reduces signs and symptoms of heart failure, and slightly improves the quality of life. Overall, dual-chamber pacing offers significant improvement as compared with ventricular pacing

Experimentally realizable characterizations of continuous variable Gaussian states

Measures of entanglement, fidelity and purity are basic yardsticks in quantum information processing. We propose how to implement these measures using linear devices and homodyne detectors for continuous variable Gaussian states. In particular, the test of entanglement becomes simple with some prior knowledge which is relevant to current experiments.Comment: 4 pages, This paper supersedes quant-ph/020315

Mammalian Evolution: A Jurassic Spark

SummaryThere is increasing evidence that early mammals evolved rapidly into a range of body forms and habitats, right under the noses of the dinosaurs