cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Translating molecular detections into a simple temperature test using a target-responsive smart thermometer.

While it has been well recognized that affordable and pocket-size devices play a major role in environmental monitoring, food safety and medical diagnostics, it often takes a tremendous amount of resources to develop such devices. Devices that have been developed are often dedicated devices that can detect only one or a few targets. To overcome these limitations, we herein report a novel target-responsive smart thermometer for translating molecular detection into a temperature test. The sensor system consists of a functional DNA–phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzyme conjugate, a liposome-encapsulated NIR dye, and a thermometer interfaced with a NIR-laser device. The sensing principle is based on the target-induced release of PLA2 from the DNA–enzyme conjugate, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of liposome to release the NIR dye inside the liposome. Upon NIR-laser irradiation, the released dye can convert excitation energy into heat, producing a temperature increase in solution, which is detectable using a thermometer. Considering the low cost and facile incorporation of the system with suitable functional DNAs to recognize many targets, the system demonstrated here makes the thermometer an affordable and pocket-size meter for the detection and quantification of a wide range of targets.
Mutational Analysis of Binding Protein–Chemoreceptor Interactions

Interactions between ligands and chemoreceptors in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica can be studied through genetic manipulation of the actors involved. Sequence analysis and modeling can reveal potential sites of interaction, and these sites can be deleted or mutated and the effects tested through various in vivo chemotaxis assays to ascertain their importance during interaction. Here, the approach for analysis of the interaction between a major E. coli chemoreceptor and its binding protein ligand is described.
Projecting Soil Organic Carbon Distribution in Central Chile under Future Climate Scenarios

Soil organic C (SOC) is the largest terrestrial C pool, and it influences diverse soil properties and processes in a landscape. At global scales, SOC is related to climate; as climate changes, we expect that SOC will change at broad scales as well, but how SOC will respond to climate change in diverse environments is complex and highly uncertain. To evaluate the potential impact of predicted changes in temperature and precipitation across central Chile, we first estimated current SOC content using pedon descriptions and environmental variables (temperature, rainfall, land use, topography, soil types, and geology) as predictors. A random forest statistical model was used to predict SOC content by pedon data. Maps were created for six standard depths of the GlobalSoilMap project. Results showed mean SOC of 54 g kg at a depth interval of 0 to 5 cm, 51 g kg at 5 to 15 cm, 42 g kg at 15 to 30 cm, 29 g kg at 30 to 60 cm, 17 g kg at 60 to 100 cm, and 11 g kg at 100 to 200 cm. Model validation, withholding 25% of pedons, showed values of 0.70, 0.73, 0.75, 0.65, 0.56, and 0.29 for six depths, respectively. Two future temperature and precipitation for climate change scenarios, representative concentration pathways RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 from the NASA GISS-E2-R models, were considered in predicting SOC in 2050 and 2080. We found that central Chile would experience a loss of SOC in the depth range of 0 to 30 cm, averaging 9.7% for RCP4.5 and 12.9% for the RCP8.5 scenarios by the year 2050, with additional decreases of 8% in the RCP4.5 scenario and 16.5% under RCP8.5 by 2080.
The Asymmetric Volatility of Pound Sterling Cross-Rate Futures

I test for the presence of asymmetric volatility in British Pound cross-rate futures markets. My investigation is based on a variant of the heterogeneous autoregressive volatility model, using daily realized variance and return series from 2004 through 2009. I find that appreciation against the British Pound leads to significantly less volatility for the CHF/GBP and EUR/GBP contracts and significantly greater volatility for the GBP/JPY contract. Relative to volatility on days following a positive one-standard-deviation, volatility on days following a negative one-standard-deviation return is 18.66% less for the CHF/GBP future, 12.51% lower for the EUR/GBP future and negligible for the GBP/JPY future. The results are robust to the removal of the jump component from realized volatility.
Understanding the Ultimate Fate of the Universe

Some readers turn to the last chapter in a book in order to get an overview of the big message that the book contains. Those readers include a few intrepid souls who began the book at page 1 and have finally come to this point. Other readers, like ourselves, often begin an encounter with some kinds of written material by looking at the end in order to see the big picture. This brief final summary is for such readers. Our purpose in holding the conference and assembling the book was to:
Combination of Vancomycin and Cefazolin Lipid Nanoparticles for Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance of MRSA.

Vancomycin is the treatment of choice for infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Clinically, combinations of vancomycin (VAN) and beta-lactams have been shown to improve patient outcomes compared to VAN alone for the treatment of MRSA bloodstream infections. However, VAN is known to cause nephrotoxicity, which could be ameliorated using biocompatible lipid drug delivery systems or liposomes. Previous attempts have been made for encapsulation of VAN in liposomes; however, drug loading has been poor, mainly because of the high aqueous solubility of VAN. In this study, we report a robust method to achieve high loading of VAN and cefazolin (CFZ) in unilamellar liposomes. Liposomes of sizes between 170–198 nm were prepared by modified reverse phase evaporation method and achieved high loading of 40% and 26% (weight/weight) for VAN and CFZ, respectively. Liposomal VAN reduced minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values 2-fold in comparison to commercial VAN. The combination of liposomal VAN (LVAN) and liposomal CFZ (LCFZ) demonstrated a 7.9-fold reduction compared to LVAN alone. Rhodamine dye-loaded liposomes demonstrated superior cellular uptake in macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells. Fluorescent images of LVAN-encapsulating near-infrared (NIR) dye, S0456 (LVAN-S0456) clearly indicated that LVAN-S0456 had reduced renal excretion with very low fluorescent intensity in the kidneys. It is anticipated that the long circulation and reduced kidney clearance of LVAN-S0456 compared to VAN-S0456 injected in mice can lead to enhanced efficacy against MRSA infections with reduced nephrotoxicity. Overall, our developed formulations of VAN when administered alone or in combination with CFZ, provide a rational approach for combating MRSA infections.
Entrepreneurship: The Good, the Bad, and the Terrible

The book begins with a story that demonstrates the dynamics of entrepreneurship. Fallon and Fernando are co-founders of a new venture. As they move through the good early stages of their start-up, several key challenges emerge: technical complexity, financial uncertainty, difficult relationships, and affected egos. The founders find it harder to communicate effectively and make decisions together, while the investors seem to be adding to the pressures, sometimes directly calling the tune. When emotions and partisan perceptions get the better of them, the partners avoid having difficult conversations and turn on each other, causing things to go from bad to terrible. The authors use this story to outline the ideas and tools of the book, before returning to the story of Fallon and Fernando to provide an alternative story with a happy ending.
Representational Fluency in Cryptography: An Eye-Tracking Study

To enhance and improve cryptography instructions, this study investigated how representational fluency is related to the cognitive process through a set of eye-tracking studies and interview questions. The results showed that multiple representations were helpful for students to comprehend a concept because the different representations supported each other and provided more comprehensive information. In addition, students who are not fluent in translating one representation to another perform poorer than students who are more capable in representational fluency. While students have their own favorite representations, math representation seems dominate the outcome of their performance. This may suggest that students who will be working on the technical side of the cybersecurity should better prepare their math skills.
High Power Long Pulse Microwave Generation From a Metamaterial Based Backward Wave Oscillator

We present the design and the experimental test results of a high power, metamaterial (MTM) based backward wave oscillator (BWO). The electron beam propagates through a waveguide loaded with two MTM plates. The experiment is similar to our previous design [1] except that one MTM plate is built as the reverse of the second plate. The fundamental mode has a negative group velocity and the design frequency is 2.4 GHz. CST PIC simulations predict megawatt level output power with a helical beam trajectory, indicating the Cherenkov-cyclotron synchronism condition $\omega = \quad k_{z}\,v_{z}\,- \Omega _{c}\,/ \gamma$.
WASH Regulates Glucose Homeostasis by Facilitating Glut2 Receptor Recycling in Pancreatic β-Cells

WASH is an endosomal protein belonging to the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein superfamily that participates in endosomal receptor trafficking by facilitating tubule fission via activation of the ubiquitously expressed Arp2/3 complex. While several studies have begun to elucidate an understanding of the functions of WASH in cells lines, the in vivo function of WASH has not been fully elucidated, since total body deletion in mice leads to early embryonic lethality. To circumvent this problem, we have used a WASH conditional knockout mouse model to investigate the role of WASH in the pancreas. We find that pancreas-specific deletion of WASH leads to impaired blood glucose clearance and reduced insulin release upon glucose stimulation. Furthermore, WASH depletion results in impaired trafficking of Glut2 in pancreatic β-cells as a consequence of an intracellular accumulation of Glut2 and overall decreased levels of Glut2 protein. Taken together, these results indicate that WASH participates in pancreatic β-cell glucose sensing and whole-body glucose homeostasis. Thus, patients harboring mutations in components of the WASH complex could be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Updated phase I trial of anti-LAG-3 or anti-CD137 alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 in patients with recurrent GBM.

2017Background: Preclinical GBM data targeting the checkpoint molecules Lag-3 and CD137 have shown promising anti-tumor immune response with resultant improved survival when combined with anti-PD-1...
Recent Advances in Machine Learning Based Prediction of RNA-protein Interactions

The interactions between RNAs and proteins play critical roles in many biological processes. Therefore, characterizing these interactions becomes critical for mechanistic, biomedical, and clinical studies. Many experimental methods can be used to determine RNA-protein interactions in multiple aspects. However, due to the facts that RNA-protein interactions are tissuespecific and condition-specific, as well as these interactions are weak and frequently compete with each other, those experimental techniques can not be made full use of to discover the complete spectrum of RNA-protein interactions. To moderate these issues, continuous efforts have been devoted to developing high quality computational techniques to study the interactions between RNAs and proteins. Many important progresses have been achieved with the application of novel techniques and strategies, such as machine learning techniques. Especially, with the development and application of CLIP techniques, more and more experimental data on RNA-protein interaction under specific biological conditions are available. These CLIP data altogether provide a rich source for developing advanced machine learning predictors. In this review, recent progresses on computational predictors for RNA-protein interaction were summarized in the following aspects: dataset, prediction strategies, and input features. Possible future developments were also discussed at the end of the review.
Cholecystokinin Receptor Antagonist Therapy Decreases Inflammation and Fibrosis in Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is associated with recurrent inflammation, pain, fibrosis, and loss of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function and risk of cancer. We hypothesized that activation of the CCK receptor contributes to pancreatitis and blockade of this pathway would improve chronic pancreatitis. Two murine models were used to determine whether CCK receptor blockade with proglumide could prevent and reverse histologic and biochemical features of chronic pancreatitis: the 6-week repetitive chronic cerulein injection model and the modified 75% choline-deficient ethionine (CDE) diet. In the CDE-fed model, half the mice received water supplemented with proglumide, for 18 weeks. After chronic pancreatitis was established in the cerulein model, half the mice were treated with proglumide and half with water. Histology was scored in a blinded fashion for inflammation, fibrosis and acinar ductal metaplasia (ADM) and serum lipase levels were measured. RNA was extracted and examined for differentially expressed fibrosis genes. Proglumide therapy decreased pancreatic weight in the CDE diet study and the cerulein-induced chronic pancreatitis model. Fibrosis, inflammation, and ADM scores were significantly reduced in both models. Lipase values improved with proglumide but not in controls in both models. Proglumide decreased pancreas mRNA expression of amylase, collagen-4, and TGFβR2 gene expression by 44, 38, and 25%, respectively, compared to control mice. New strategies are needed to decreased inflammation and reduce fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis. CCK receptor antagonist therapy may improve chronic pancreatitis by reversing fibrosis and inflammation. The decrease in ADM may reduce the risk of the development of pancreatic cancer.
How Stable Is Early Academic Performance? Using Cluster Analysis to Classify Low Achievement and EF:

We explored whether and how cognitive measures of executive function (EF) can be used to help classify academic performance in Kindergarten and first grade using nonparametric cluster analysis. We found that EF measures were useful in classifying low-reading performance in both grades, but mathematics performance could be grouped into low, average, and high groups without the use of EF tasks. Membership in the high-performing groups was more stable through first grade than membership in the low or average groups, and certain Kindergarten EF tasks differentially predicted first-grade reading and mathematics cluster membership. Our results suggest a stronger link between EF deficits and low performance than between EF strengths and high performance. We highlight the importance of simultaneously using academic and cognitive skills to classify achievement, particularly since existing classification schemes have been largely based on arbitrary cutoffs using limited academic measures.
The Interaction of Patent Exhaustion and Transactions in Patented Goods After Impression Products v. Lexmark International

In Impression Products, Inc. v. Lexmark International, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court provided a justification for patent exhaustion and established rules governing its application. Both U.S. and foreign sales of a patented product trigger application of the doctrine to the article sold. This allows patented articles to flow in commerce without any attached patent rights in­terfering with the free alienability of such articles. Further, conditions attached to the sale of patented articles are enforceable via breach of contract actions rather than by patent infringement actions. Analogizing to copyright law, these bright-line rules should permit avoidance of exhaustion by licens­ing mere use rights for patented products. However, it is proposed that bona fide purchaser rules apply to such licenses so that downstream users of pat­ented products may possess these products free of any use restrictions they lack notice of; thereby furthering the policy of minimizing restraints on alien­ation of such goods.
Targeted Poisoning Attacks on Social Recommender Systems

With the popularity of online social networks, social recommendations that rely on oneâ€™s social connections to make personalized recommendations have become possible. This introduces vulnerabilities for an adversarial party to compromise the recommendations for users by utilizing their social connections. In this paper, we propose the targeted poisoning attack on the factorization-based social recommender system in which the attacker aims to promote an item to a group of target users by injecting fake ratings and social connections. We formulate the optimal poisoning attack as a bi-level program and develop an efficient algorithm to find the optimal attacking strategy. We then evaluate the proposed attacking strategy on real-world dataset and demonstrate that the social recommender system is sensitive to the targeted poisoning attack. We find that users in the social recommender system can be attacked even if they do not have direct social connections with the attacker.
Implementation of an Evidence-Based Guideline to Reduce Non-Indicated Antacid Use in the NICU

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Acid suppressing medications (proton pump inhibitors [PPI] and histamine-2 receptor antagonists [H2RA]) are used extensively in hospitalized term and preterm neonates despite limited efficacy data and increasing evidence for potential harm in this vulnerable population. The unfavorable risk-benefit ratio of PPI/H2RAs in newborns recently highlighted by the Choosing Wisely campaign prompted our team to develop a quality improvement initiative to reduce inappropriate use of these medications in our level III/IV NICU. Our specific …
A biological perspective on evolutionary computation

Evolutionary computation is inspired by the mechanisms of biological evolution. With algorithmic improvements and increasing computing resources, evolutionary computation has discovered creative and innovative solutions to challenging practical problems. This paper evaluates how today’s evolutionary computation compares to biological evolution and how it may fall short. A small number of well-accepted characteristics of biological evolution are considered: openendedness, major transitions in organizational structure, neutrality and genetic drift, multi-objectivity, complex genotype-to-phenotype mappings and co-evolution. Evolutionary computation exhibits many of these to some extent but more can be achieved by scaling up with available computing and by emulating biology more carefully. In particular, evolutionary computation diverges from biological evolution in three key respects: it is based on small populations and strong selection; it typically uses direct genotype-to-phenotype mappings; and it does not achieve major organizational transitions. These shortcomings suggest a roadmap for future evolutionary computation research, and point to gaps in our understanding of how biology discovers major transitions. Advances in these areas can lead to evolutionary computation that approaches the complexity and flexibility of biology, and can serve as an executable model of biological processes. Evolutionary computation is inspired by biological evolution and exhibits characteristics familiar from biology such as openendedness, multi-objectivity and co-evolution. This Perspective highlights where major differences still exist, and where the field of evolutionary computation could attempt to approach features from biological evolution more closely, namely neutrality and random drift, complex genotype-to-phenotype mappings with rich environmental interactions and major organizational transitions.
Historical Surprises1

The capsule histories of physics that students learn in their physics courses stem basically, I believe, from a linear view of history – that physicists in making fundamental discoveries follow a Royal Road to them, as Hermann von Helmholtz put it in 1892. The actual routes they follow, however, are generally nonlinear, and when historians display these routes to students, they express surprise. Such historical surprises could constitute one or more units of instruction in physics-education or other courses. As illustrations, I discuss historical surprises that I have uncovered in my own researches on Isaac Newton’s work on diffraction, Robert A. Millikan’s photoelectric-effect experiments, Arthur H. Compton’s X-ray scattering experiments, James Chadwick’s discovery of the neutron, George Gamow’s creation of the liquid-drop model of the nucleus, and Lise Meitner’s and Otto Robert Frisch’s interpretation of nuclear fission. Teachers and students can discover many more historical surprises as provocative as these by exploring the historical literature.
Crosscurrents: Translatinas, Remittances, and the Novel Coronavirus

This chapter provides a survey of the current economic situation in Latin America with a brief outline of some basic data and a description of some major issues. The first issue is the rising importance of the translatinas, transnational corporations headquartered in Latin America. Next we consider some important sources of capital flows at present: China, remittances, and venture capital. We end with a brief look at the situation in Argentina and the impact of the novel coronavirus.
Probing Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation in Secondary Organic Aerosol Mimicking Solutions Using Articulated Straws

The presence or absence of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in aerosol particles containing oxidized organic species and inorganic salts affects particle morphology and influences uptake into,...
A Review of Road Accident Statistics

The author, T. P. Hutchinson, states that Road Accident Statistics “is an account of the methods of collecting and processing data about the occurrence and consequences of road accidents, and gives numerous statistical tables as examples of the findings.” An experienced researcher in the motor vehicle safety field, Hutchinson discusses in detail the serious limitations inherent in the two major sources of motor vehicle crash death and injury data: police reports of crashes and death certificates. He also discusses the problem of different definitions of such basic concepts as “road accident deaths” and how these differences can affect crash statistics. Issues of injury classification covered in the book range from descriptions of different classification systems and their purposes to consideration of the kinds of coding and analysis problems inherent in each. Throughout the presentation, Hutchinson sprinkles examples of data from different countries and includes replicas of the data forms used by representative jurisdictions to record them.
57 – Sjögren's Syndrome

SjOgren's syndrome has been defined as a triad of complaints: keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes), xerostomia (dry mouth), and the presence of a well-defined connective tissue disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or systemic sclerosis. As with other connective tissue diseases, this syndrome has a predilection for women, but it occurs more commonly in postmenopausal women, unlike SLE, which occurs most frequently during the childbearing years. Patients with other connective tissue diseases usually develop their SjOgren's complaints secondary to their initial disease. Reluctance to treat the inflammatory process has been the standard practice for many years. Replacing or stimulating glandular secretions is simply treating the end result of glandular destruction. Prevention of end organ damage should be the aim, just as it is in patients with SLE and RA. Because SjOgren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that may predispose patients to malignant change, it could be argued that SjOgren's patients. With the known progression to malignancy and the chronic debility produced by inflammation and end organ damage, attempts to control the inflammatory process should be a priority.
Experiments with various teaching methodologies

A series of experiments with a variety of teaching methodologies was conducted in a number of engineering science classes over a period of 2 years. These experiments included incorporating active learning into the classroom through reduced lecture time and more in-class problem solving by students, assigning open-ended problems with each homework assignment, cooperative learning through team homework assignments, team in-class problems, allowing students to work examinations in pairs, and grading with an absolute standard instead of a mixed absolute/relative standard. Following each experiment, student opinions were surveyed. Students preferred active learning in classes (less lecture) and working assignments in teams. Students had mixed feelings on working exams in pairs. The experiment of using an absolute grading standard convinced the author to continue with the mixed absolute/relative method previously employed.
Säure-Base-Haushalt aus der Perspektive von P. Stewart

We have used the Stewart approach to typical acute and compensated acid-base disorders here. Dedicated software developed by the author is available with this article and will be of help to anyone considering analyzing his or her own patients using the Stewart approach. The Stewart approach shares analytical steps with the more traditional Siggard-Andersen method, and in most cases the two methods arrive at the same therapeutic solutions. The Stewart approach is, however, more than merely a biophysical appendix to the traditional clinical model, since metabolic acid-base disorders in particular are understood within a completely different pathophysiological framework; this results in a fresh and sometimes unexpectedly helpful perspective that highlights the functional relevance of seemingly forgotten components such as the chloride ion or albumin.
Mutant mice live longer.

All known methods to increase lifespan come at a price. Usually, the costs are problems in development and fertility. But mutant mice have now been generated that live almost one-third longer than normal yet with no apparent side effects. These mice contain mutations in the gene that encodes a protein called p66shc, which is thought to be involved in the response to oxidative DNA damage.
Time slot specification based approach to analog fault diagnosis using built-in current sensors and test point insertion

Testing and diagnosis of analog circuits continues to be a hard task for test engineers and efficient test methodologies to tackle these problems are needed. This paper proposes a novel analog test method using time slot specification (TSS) based built-in current sensors. A technique for location of a fault site and fault type, based on TSS, is presented. The proposed built-in current sense and decision module (BSDM), in association with TSS analysis, has high testability and good fault coverage, and a capability to diagnose catastrophic faults and parametric faults in analog circuits. The digital output of the BSDM can be easily combined with built-in digital test modules for mixed-signal IC testing. The general heuristics for test point placement are also described.
Storage Bricks Have Arrived

As predicted, disks have become supercomputers. They attach via IPv6, they have operating systems, and they talk Internet protocols. And at last they have killed off my nemesis: magnetic tape. We've arrived in storage paradise. The next evolutionary steps are easy to predict: they are going to climb the slippery slope from block servers to application servers. Along the way we will need to reinvent media management (RAID, backup/restore, self-monitoring file and database servers), and we will have to invent Web services. It's going to be fun.
Minimizing power consumption in scan testing: pattern generation and DFT techniques

It is a well-known phenomenon that test power consumption may exceed that of functional operation. ICs have been observed to fail at specified minimum operating voltages during structured at-speed testing while passing all other forms of test. Methods exist to reduce power without dramatically increasing pattern volume for a given coverage. We present case study information on ATPG- and DFT-based solutions for test power reduction.
Nuclear metabolism: I. Nuclear phosphorylation

Abstract The ATP utilized in metabolic reactions within the nucleus is produced exclusively in the nucleus by glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. When the concentration of ATP per se is measured it was found to decrease after a short period of time probably due to its breakdown by phosphatases or its utilization by synthetic reactions. When a suitable trapping system was employed it was found that the nucleus could sustain a measurable synthesis of ATP for several hours. “ATP energy” can probably be stored in the form of polyphosphates under certain conditions of metabolic inactivity. A number of compounds were found to affect the synthesis of nuclear acid-soluble organic phosphates. The relationship of these and other compounds to nuclear phosphorylation is discussed.
An Unjust Bargain: Plea Bargains and Waiver of the Right to Appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court estimates that at least ninety percent of criminal convictions are based on guilty pleas. Frequently, criminal defendants are required to waive their appellate rights as a condition of the plea bargain. The Supreme Court has not addressed the validity of these waivers, but most federal and state courts to address the issue hold them enforceable when they are made knowingly and voluntarily. A minority of states grant defendants the statutory right to appeal adverse determinations on motions to suppress evidence following the entry of a guilty plea. California and New York hold that this additional appellate right may be waived in a plea agreement. This Note asserts that waivers of this specific right should not be enforceable because such waivers are often extracted under coercive circumstances that violate due process and contract law principles. Furthermore, waivers of this right contravene legislatures’ interest in efficiency by encouraging defendants to proceed to trial solely to preserve their claims of error for appeal.
Penile syringoma: reports and review of patients with syringoma located on the penis.

Syringomas are benign eccrine tumors that typically present as symmetrically distributed dermal papules on the lower eyelids; however, they may appear on other areas of the body—particularly in individuals who experience an eruptive onset of the lesions. Penile syringoma are rare. The authors present the cases of two men with penile syringomas and review the characteristics of previously reported individuals with syringomas exclusively located on their penis.1-8
Optimum equalization of multicarrier systems via projection onto convex set

This paper presents a new, iterative equalization algorithm that maximizes capacity for discrete multitone (DMT) systems. The research modifies a previously proposed criterion and applies an appropriate transformation to map the constraint set into a proper region. The resulting constraint set exhibits an identifiable geometric characteristic, which provides an efficient method for obtaining the optimal solution. Using the gradient projection method in conjunction with projection onto convex sets (POCS) provides us with an iterative search algorithm which facilitates the search direction. We also generalize the approach to two important subclasses of equalizers, namely linear phase and unit tap filters. An fundamental limit on the performance of the approach is also derived. In comparison with the previous methods, the proposed equalization algorithm is less computationally complex, more robust, and geometrically intuitive. Simulation experiments confirm the validity of the proposed method for practical purposes.
Papato e monachesimo "esente" nei secoli centrali del Medioevo

ITALIANO: Nei secoli XI-XIII la liberta dalle ingerenze delle autorita diocesane consenti ai monasteri che godevano dell'esenzione di interagire con i ceti dominanti locali, cosi da incidere in misura del tutto peculiare sulle trasformazioni non solo delle strutture ecclesiastiche ma anche degli assetti politici ed economici del territorio. Gli autori analizzano il fenomeno da differenti punti di vista, ma sempre prestando la massima attenzione alle fonti e trattando temi quali gli interventi del papato volti a influire sulla configurazione costituzionale di Ordini e congregazioni, la genesi e le forme dei documenti emanati a tale scopo dalla cancelleria pontificia, le intricate relazioni intercorse tra papato, vescovi e monasteri esenti, nonche i rapporti tra questi ultimi e le societa locali. / ENGLISH: Between the 9th and 13th centuries freedom from the interference of diocesan authorities permitted such monasteries as benefited from the exemption to interact with the dominant local classes. They were able as a result to influence, to a highly idiosyncratic degree, the transformation not only of the ecclesiastical structures but also of the political and economic structures of the territory. This phenomenon is analysed here from various viewpoints, always paying primary attention to the historical sources. The themes touched on include Papal intervention designed to influence the constitutional configuration of the orders and congregations; the genesis and form of documents emanated for that scope by the pontifical registrar's office; the intricate relationships existing between the papacy, the bishops and the exempted monasteries, as well as relationships existing between the latter and local society.
Immunoassays: A Practical Approach. James P. Gosling, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, 304 pp., $55.00. ISBN 0-19-963710-5.

This relatively inexpensive paperback, edited by James P. Gosling (author of the highly informative review of a decade of development in immunoassay technology, published in this Journal in 1990), is advertised to be the first practical manual of immunoassay designed to help any biologist develop an immunoassay in any common format for any suitable analyte. It is indeed an excellent compilation of the basic steps in immunoassay …
Cryptococcus neoformans II. Phagocytosis by Human Leukocytes

Abstract Twenty-four per cent of the leukocytes from healthy human subjects phagocytized an encapsulated strain of Cryptococcus neoformans. Phagocytosis was approximately three times more effective with nonencapsulated mutants of C. neoformans. When the mutants reverted to the encapsulated state, the percentages of phagocytosis decreased. These data indicate that cryptococcal polysaccharide inhibits the phagocytosis of C. neoformans by human leukocytes.
Modeling the cancer patient with genetically engineered mice: Prediction of toxicity from molecule-targeted therapies

Current trends foretell the use of cancer treatments customized to each patient. Genetic and molecular profiling of tumors and an increasing number of molecule-targeted therapies contribute to making this a reality. However, as targets of anticancer therapies become specific proteins or pathways, unanticipated side effects may emerge. In addition, the chronic use of these treatments may contribute to the development of degenerative toxicity not predicted by short-term clinical trials. Here we review and propose how genetically engineered mouse models can serve as valuable tools to predict targeted therapy toxicity, as well as to identify allelic variants that predispose individuals to side effects.
Characterization of tungsten impregnated dispenser cathodes using ISS and SIMS

Abstract Ion scattering spectrometry (ISS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) are used to characterize surface chemistry of barium-activated tungsten dispenser cathodes. Experiments were carried out at room temperature and at temperatures in which emission was occuring from the cathode structures. It was found that when the cathode structure was heated to a point at which electron emission began, barium concentration at the surface also increased. At that temperature, the barium is generated, transported through the porous tungsten matrix, and spread over the emitting tungsten surface. Apparently, sputtering rates from these barium rich surfaces were very high and when ion beams were used at conventional energies (1000 V or more), the sputtering rate was sufficiently large to suggest that incomplete coverage of barium existed. When very low ion beam voltages were used (in the neighborhood of 200–300 V), and beam rastering techniques were employed, then results showed that the surfaces following activation were completely covered by barium. Under these conditions of complete barium coverage, no oxygen was observed. When the surface was sputtered and tungsten appeared, oxygen also increased, but not to a point to indicate a full oxide coating. A model of Ba bonded to O bonded to W is suggested.
Mechanisms of oxidant injury of cells.

Oxidants, generated in the inflammatory process, are injurious to cells and tissue. We have studied the mechanisms by which the spectrum of oxidants released from stimulated leukocytes injure cells. The target cells employed include the murine macrophage cell line, P388D1, human peripheral lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils, rabbit alveolar macrophages, bovine aortic endothelial cells, and GM1380 fibroblasts. Oxidants utilised include reagent H20 2 and HOC1 and xanthine oxidase/xanthine as well as the spectrum of oxidants generated by stimulated human neutrophils.
Composition and consumer acceptance of frozen yogurts utilizing whey protein concentrates.

Abstract Whey protein concentrate and a new fermented whey protein concentrate were used to replace the milk SNF in from yogurt. Fermented whey protein concentrate was manufactured by fermenting liquid whey protein concentrate with a commercial culture of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus . Frozen yogurt mix contained 6% milk fat, 10.5% whey protein concentrate (100% SNF replacement), 11% sucrose, 3% corn syrup solids, .3% stabilizer and emulsifier blend, and 30.8% total solids. The mix was pasteurized (72°C for 30min) and cooled to 4°C. Fermented whey protein concentrate (3.1% by weight of mix) was then added for a final titratable acidity of .43%. Frozen yogurt mix was divided into three equal batches, which were manufactured into vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate frozen yogurt. The frozen yogurts were evaluated from questionnaires filled out by 1005 attendees of the Meeker County Fair in Litchfield, MN. Those surveyed were 43.5% males and 56.5% females, ranging in age from 6 to 89 yr. Overall, 87.8% (83.5% of the males and 91.5% of the females) liked the test product, and 81.2% (72.4% of the males and 88.2% of the females) said they would buy this product if it were priced the same as ice cream. Results indicate that an acceptable frozen yogurt can be produced when 100% of the milk SNF is replaced with whey protein concentrate and fermented whey protein concentrate.
Atmospheric chemistry of CH3Cl: mechanistic study of the reaction of CH2ClO2 radicals with HO2

Abstract Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to identify CH2ClOOH and HC(O)Cl as products of the gas phase reaction of CH2ClO2 radicals with HO2 radicals. At 700 Torr and 295 ± 2 K, branching ratios of k1a/k1 = 0.27 ± 0.05 and k1b/k1 = 0.73 ± 0.12 were obtained for the CH2ClOOH forming channel and the HC(O)Cl channel, respectively. Quoted errors are two standard deviations plus an estimate of systematic uncertainties. This result is discussed with respect to previous literature data and computer models of atmospheric chemistry. As part of this work, the reactivity of Cl atoms towards HC(O)Cl and CH2ClOOH was investigated; rate constants of k(Cl + HC(O)Cl) = (6.9 ± 2.1) × 10−13 and k(Cl + CH2ClOOH) = (5.9−2.5+0.9) × 10−13 cm−3 molecule−1 s−1 were determined.
Randomized double-blinded trial of rifampin with either novobiocin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization: Prevention of antimicrobial resistance and effect of host factors on outcome

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen in hospitals. Current antimicrobial regimens for eradicating colonizing strains are not well defined and are often complicated by the emergence of resistance. The combination of novobiocin plus rifampin in vitro and in vivo was found to prevent the emergence of resistant populations of initially susceptible strains of MRSA, particularly resistance to rifampin. We therefore studied, in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter comparative trial, the combination of novobiocin plus rifampin versus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (T/S) plus rifampin in order to determine the efficacy of each regimen in eradicating MRSA colonization and to further characterize the host factors involved in the response to this antimicrobial therapy. Among the 126 individuals enrolled in the study, 94 (80 patients; 14 hospital personnel) were evaluable. Among the 94 evaluable subjects, no significant demographic or medical differences existed between the two treatment groups. Successful clearance of the colonizing MRSA strains was achieved in 30 of 45 (67%) subjects receiving novobiocin plus rifampin, whereas successful clearance was achieved in 26 of 49 (53%) subjects treated with T/S plus rifampin (P = 0.18). The emergence of resistance to rifampin developed more frequently in 14% (7 of 49) of subjects treated with T/S plus rifampin than in 2% (1 of 45) of subjects treated with novobiocin plus rifampin (P = 0.04). Restriction endonuclease studies of large plasmid DNA demonstrated that the same strain was present at pretherapy and posttherapy in most refractory cases (24 of 29 [83%] subjects). Among the 56 successfully treated subjects, clearance of MRSA was age dependent: 29 of 36 (80%) subjects in the 18- to 49-year-old age group, 19 of 35 (54%) subjects in the 50- to 69-year-old age group, and 8 of 23 (35%) in the 70- to 94-year-old age group (P < 0.01). Clearance was also site dependent; culture-positive samples from wounds were related to a successful outcome in only 22 (48%) of 46 subjects, whereas culture-positive samples from sites other than wounds (e.g., nares, rectum, and sputum) were associated with a success rate of 34 of 48 (71%) subjects (P = 0.02). Foreign bodies in wounds did not prevent the eradication of MRSA by either regimen. T/S plus rifampin was less effective in clearing both pressure and other wounds, whereas novobiocin plus rifampin was equally effective in clearing both pressure and other wounds. There were no significant differences in toxicity between the two regimens. Thus, the combination of novobiocin plus rifampin, in comparison with T/S plus rifampin, was more effective in preventing the emergence of resistance to rifampin and demonstrated a trend toward greater activity in clearing the MRSA carrier state. The response to either combination depended on host factors, particularly age and the site of MRSA colonization.
Lyman alpha radiation in the night-time mesopause and lower thermosphere—I. Transport of radiation in the absorber-scatterer mixture

Abstract The transport and absorption of Lyman alpha radiation in the night-time atmosphere is considered. Radiation in the central part of the spectrum of this emission is subject to both resonance scattering and pure absorption. A treatment is given of the radiative transport of this component in the mixture of scattering and absorbing species which is found in the mesopause and lower thermosphere. The results have a form which is particularly useful in analysis of absorption profiles measured in this region. This approach enables the densities of scatterer and absorber, in this case atomic hydrogen and molecular oxygen, to be deduced from measured profiles. The results of the treatment are general and could be applied to mixtures other than of the atmospheric species considered herein.
Soil core and minirhizotron comparison for the determination of root length density

Detailed knowledge of the distribution of roots in the soil is important in understanding the extraction of water and nutrients from soil. Various techniques have been developed to monitor root-length density under field conditions. Excavation techniques, including soil cores, have long been considered to give reliable estimates of root-length density, but these techniques are laborious in sample collection and tedious in determination of root lengths. An attractive alternative for monitoring root-length density has been the minirhizotron whereby a periscope is inserted into a clear tube permanently installed in the soil for repeated and rapid measures of root development. The objective of this study was to compare the ability of the minirhizotron technique to measure root-length density as compared to the root-core technique.
The effects of fenfluramine on communication skills in autistic children

The effect of fenfluramine on communication skills in six autistic males was examined over a 9-month period. Communication behaviors were analyzed via standardized receptive and expressive measures, spontaneous speech samples gathered in the clinic, and videotaped observations of the numbers of noncommunicative utterances, immediate echolalia, and spontaneous initiations. The results demonstrated that fenfluramine had no significant effects on the communication behaviors of these six autistic males.
The price that US minority communities pay: mass incarceration and the ideologies that fuel them

Mass incarceration of minorities has generated alarming attention. This concern is a result of the massive social injustice perpetrated by the ideologies that force mental and physical imprisonment on the poor. The outcome of this social injustice generates punitive inequalities that become entrenched in US social experiences. Once incarcerated, an individual carries a permanent label that brands him/her as an eternal ‘criminal’ and deactivates him/her from mainstream society. This translates into exclusion from responsible educational and occupational participation. Disadvantaged members of minority groups caught in this unforgiving social imprisonment often turn to the underground economy, which, unfortunately, increases the possibility of arrest, or re-arrest. The imprisoning ideology that stereotypes the disadvantaged community, leads to increased incarceration, hypersegregation, social abandonment, and creates a theater for venomous law enforcement practices. The impact of mass incarceration and the ...
In Vitro Assessment of Dual Drug Combinations To Inhibit Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The development of resistance to first-line antimicrobial therapies has led to recommendations for combination therapies for the treatment of gonorrhea infection. Recent studies have shown the success of combination therapies in treating patients, but few have reported on the in vitro activities of these drug combinations. An in vitro assessment of azithromycin in combination with gentamicin demonstrated inhibition of growth and suggests that clinical trials may be warranted to assess the utility of this combination in treating gonorrhea infections.