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Strassen’s theorem circa 1965 gives necessary and sufficient conditions on the existence of a probability measure on two product spaces with given support and two marginals. In the case where each product space is finite, Strassen’s theorem is reduced to a linear programming problem which can be solved using flow theory. A density matrix of bipartite quantum system is a quantum analog of a probability matrix on two finite product spaces. Partial traces of the density matrix are analogs of marginals. The support of the density matrix is its range. The analog of Strassen’s theorem in this case can be stated and solved using semidefinite programming. The aim of this paper is to give analogs of Strassen’s theorem to density trace class operators on a product of two separable Hilbert spaces, where at least one of the Hilbert spaces is infinite-dimensional.

The papers published here are “discussion papers” that were submitted at one of three discussion fora held in 2018. The papers, written by prominent scholars from three different continents, offer unique perspectives on free speech and privacy issues. One forum, the Free Speech Discussion Forum, was held in Luxembourg in June 2018. This forum focused on two topics: “Free Speech and Democracies” and “The Media’s Role and Relevance in the Internet Era.” The second forum, the Privacy Discussion Forum, was held in Paris, France, also in June 2018. This forum involved an examination of privacy issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Participants were given the freedom to look at such diverse topics as the Google Spain decision on the right to be forgotten, the Snowden revelations, the WikiLeaks disclosures, the Panama Papers and the Paradise Papers. Participating scholars could also choose to look at media intrusions on individual autonomy, as well as governmental and private uses of information (not only collection issues, but also distribution and use issues). They could also look at the challenges (and benefits) to privacy created by the internet. The third forum, the Free Speech/Criminal Law Discussion Forum, was held in Louisville, Kentucky, in December2018. That forum focused on two topics: recent controversies regarding free speech and criminal law and the intersection free speech and crime.

INTRODUCTION: Variation in outcomes in RcTs comparing water-related methods and air insufflation raises challenging questions regarding the new approach. This report reviews impact of water exchange - simultaneous infusion and removal of infused water during insertion on adenoma detection rate (ADR) defined as proportion of patients with a least one adenoma of any size. METHODS: Medline (2008-2011) searches, abstract of 2011 Digestive Disease Week (DDW) meeting and personal communications were considered to identify RcTs that compared water-related methods and air insufflation to aid insertion of colonoscope. RESULTS: Since 2008, eleven reports of RcTs (6 published, 1 submitted and 4 abstracts, n=1728) described ADR in patients randomized to be examined by air and water-related methods. The water-related methods differed in timing of removal of the infused water -predominantly during insertion (water exchange) (n=825) or predominantly during withdrawal (water immersion) (n=903). Water immersion was associated with both increases and decreases in ADR compared to respective air method patients and the net overall change (-7%) was significant. On the other hand water exchange was associated with increases in ADR consistently and the net changes (overall, 8%; proximal overall, 11%; and proximal10 mm, 12%) were all significant. CONCLUSION: Comparative data generated the hypothesis that significantly larger increases in overall and proximal colon ADRs were associated with water exchange than water immersion or air insufflation during insertion. The hypothesis should be evaluated by RCTs to elucidate the mechanism of water exchange on adenoma detection.

INTRODUCTION: Variation in the outcomes in RcTs comparing water-related methods and air insufflation during the insertion phase of colonoscopy raises challenging questions regarding the approach. This report reviews the impact of water exchange on the variation in attenuation of pain during colonoscopy by water-related methods. METHODS: Medline (2008 to 2011) searches, abstracts of the 2011 Digestive Disease Week (DDW) and personal communications were considered to identify RcTs that compared water-related methods and air insufflation to aid insertion of the colonoscope. Results: Since 2008 nine published and one submitted RcTs and five abstracts of RcTs presented at the 2011 DDW have been identified. Thirteen RcTs (nine published, one submitted and one abstract, n=1850) described reduction of pain score during or after colonoscopy (eleven reported statistical significance); the remaining reports described lower doses of medication used, or lower proportion of patients experiencing severe pain in colonoscopy performed with water-related methods compared with air insufflation (Tables 1 and 2). The water-related methods notably differ in the timing of removal of the infused water - predominantly during insertion (water exchange) versus predominantly during withdrawal (water immersion). Use of water exchange was consistently associated with a greater attenuation of pain score in patients who did not receive full sedation (Table 3). CONCLUSION: The comparative data reveal that a greater attenuation of pain was associated with water exchange than water immersion during insertion. The intriguing results should be subjected to further evaluation by additional RcTs to elucidate the mechanism of the pain-alleviating impact of the water method.

The merging of targeted probes with new imaging technologies provides a powerful tool for the early detection of cancer. Phage display peptide libraries are highly complex and can be screened for high-affinity ligands with preferential binding to premalignant tissue. An M13 phage library was screened against fresh human colonic adenomas to identify a specific septapeptide sequence, VRPMPLQ, that was synthesized, conjugated with fluorescein, and tested in patients undergoing colonoscopy. Imaging of the topically administered peptide was performed with a novel fluorescence confocal microendoscope delivered through the instrument channel of a standard colonoscope. In vivo imaging at 12 frames-per-second was performed with 50 μm working distance with 2.5 μm (transverse) and 20 μm (axial) resolution. Imaging of the fluorescein-conjugated peptide demonstrated preferential binding to dysplastic colonocytes relative to adjacent normal cells with 81% sensitivity and 78% specificity. The methodology described represents a promising diagnostic imaging approach for the early detection of colon cancer and potentially other epithelial malignancies.