Emergent Resource Exchange and Tolerated Theft Behavior Using Multiagent Reinforcement Learning.

For decades, the evolution of cooperation has piqued interest in numerous academic disciplines, such as game theory, economics, biology, and computer science. In this work, we demonstrate the emergence of a novel and effective resource exchange protocol formed by dropping and picking up resources in a foraging environment. This form of cooperation is made possible by the introduction of a campfire, which adds an extended period of congregation and downtime for agents to explore otherwise unlikely interactions.

A unicellular walker controlled by a microtubule-based finite-state machine.

Cells are complex biochemical systems whose behaviors emerge from interactions among myriad molecular components. Computation is often invoked as a general framework for navigating this cellular complexity. However, it is unclear how cells might embody computational processes such that the theories of computation, including finite-state machine models, could be productively applied.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer in men with underlying inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Historically, IBD has been thought to increase the underlying risk of radiation related toxicity in the treatment of prostate cancer. In the modern era, contemporary radiation planning and delivery may mitigate radiation-related toxicity in this theoretically high-risk cohort. This is the first manuscript to report clinical outcomes for men diagnosed with prostate cancer and underlying IBD curatively treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Improving uniformity of care for colorectal cancers through National Quality Forum quality indicators at a Commission on Cancer-accredited community based teaching hospital.

The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) provides feedback on adherence to National Quality Forum (NQF)-endorsed measures to promote best outcomes in colorectal cancer. We examined the care delivered to patients with colorectal cancer at our institution and developed a protocol to enhance nodal retrieval and to ensure that patients with fewer than 12 nodes are considered for adjuvant chemotherapy. Few patients met the NQF criteria for adjuvant radiation.

Current controversies in pouch surgery.

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis has become the most commonly used procedure for elective treatment of patients with mucosal ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. Since its original description, the procedure has been modified in an attempt to obtain optimal functional results with low morbidity and mortality, and yet provide a cure for the disease. These modifications of the technique are discussed in this review, limited to the current points of controversy.