cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Frame Level Boosting Training Scheme for Acoustic Modeling

Conventional Boosting algorithms for acoustic modeling have two notable weaknesses. (1) The objective function aims to minimize utterance error rate, though the goal for most speech recognition systems is to reduce word error rate. (2) During Boosting training, an utterance is treated as a unit for resampling and each frame within the same utterance is assigned equal weight. Intuitively, the frames associated with a misclassified word should be given more emphasis than others. We propose a frame level Boosting training scheme that addresses these shortcomings and allows each frame to have a different weight. We describe a technique and provide experimental results for this approach.
Hydrogen Overvoltage on Bright Platinum III . Effect of Hydrogen Pressure

The effect of hydrogen pressure on the hydrogen overvoltage of bright platinum was determined in acid. From the anodic and cathodic overvoltages, kinetic parameters were determined. A mechanism controlled by slow combination of hydrogen atoms adsorbed on the platinum surface fits the experimental data. From the Langmuir adsorption isotherm it is shown that the surface of the active platinum electrode at equilibrium is sparsely covered with hydrogen atoms.
A Behavioral Module System for the Pi-Calculus

Distributed message-passing based asynchronous systems are becoming increasingly important. Such systems are notoriously hard to design and test. A promising approach to help programmers design such programs is to provide a behavioral type system that checks for behavioral properties such as deadlock freedom using a combination of type inference and model checking. The fundamental challenge in making a behavioral type system work for realistic concurrent programs is state explosion. This paper develops the theory to design a behavioral module system that permits decomposing the type checking problem, saving exponential cost in the analysis. Unlike module systems for sequential programming languages, a behavioral specification for a module typically assumes that the module operates in an appropriate concurrent context. We identify assume-guarantee reasoning as a fundamental principle in designing such a module system. Concretely, we propose a behavioral module system for π-calculus programs. Types are CCS processes that correctly approximate the behavior of programs, and by applying model checking techniques to process types one can check many interesting program properties, including deadlock-freedom and communication progress. We show that modularity can be achieved in our type system by applying circular assume-guarantee reasoning principles whose soundness requires an induction over time. We state and prove an assume-guarantee rule for CCS. Our module system integrates this assume-guarantee rule into our behavioral type system.
PARTICLE DYNAMICS AT THE SYNCHRONOUS ORBIT.

A low-energy charged particle detector has been flown aboard the geostationary ATS-1 satellite. A preliminary study of the data has revealed large local time variations in the particle fluxes observed during geomagnetically disturbed times. The salient features of the observed variations are: (1) During periods of moderate magnetic activity a high particle flux is seen near local midnight. This flux shows a strong pre/post-midnight asymmetry with the particle intensities being higher in the midnight to dawn quadrant. (2) During periods of high magnetic activity the enhanced particle flux distribution broadens out in local time to cover a large fraction of the night-side portion of the synchronous orbit. The pre/post-midnight asymmetry is generally still present but less striking. (3) During periods of enhanced magnetic activity the local time distribution of the particle fluxes shows a remarkable similarity to the local time distribution of high-latitude magnetic substorm activity.
Rapid Estimation of Hemoglobin A2 without Chromatography or Electrophoresis

Hemoglobin A2 is batch fractionated with diethylaminoethyl Bio-Gel A (Bio-Rad Laboratories) equilibrated with a tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane HCl buffer (pH 7.68, 8.75 mmol/liter, 6.36 mmol of Cl- per liter). Hemoglobin A1 and F become bound to the resin, allowing the separation and quantitation of A2. Hemoglobin S alters the equilibrium condition, but adjustments are easily made so that A2 can be separated in the presence of S. The procedure is simpler than electrophoretic or chromatographic methods, requires 5 min, is accurate (A2 fraction is at least 94% A2, less than 6% A1), precise (SD ±0.24 for duplicates), and has a normal limit of 2.6 ± 1.02%.
Infinite Lotteries, Perfectly Thin Darts and Infinitesimals

One of the problems that Bayesian regularity, the thesis that all contingent propositions should be given probabilities strictly between zero and one, faces is the possibility of random processes that randomly and uniformly choose a number between zero and one. According to classical probability theory, the probability that such a process picks a particular number in the range is zero, but of course any number in the range can indeed be picked. There is a solution to this particular problem on the books: a measure that assigns the same infinitesimal probability to each number between zero and one. I will show that such a measure, while mathematically interesting, is pathological for use in confirmation theory, for the same reason that a measure that assigns an infinitesimal probability to each possible outcome in a countably infinite lottery is pathological. The pathology is that one can force someone to assign a probability within an infinitesimal of one to an unlikely event.
Minimizing total weighted tardiness on a single batch process machine with incompatible job families

The diffusion step in semiconductor wafer fabrication is very time consuming, compared to other steps in the process, and performance in this area has a significant impact on overall factory performance. Diffusion furnaces are able to process multiple lots of similar wafers at a time, and are therefore appropriately modeled as batch processing machines with incompatible job families. Due to the importance of on-time delivery in semiconductor manufacturing, we focus on minimizing the total weighted tardiness in this environment. The resulting problem is NP-Hard, and we decompose it into two sequential decision problems: assigning lots to batches followed by sequencing the batches. We develop several heuristics for these subproblems and test their performance.
Dextran 40 reduces heparin-mediated platelet aggregation.

Using platelet aggregometry, we investigated the in vitro efficacy of dextran, mean MW 40,000, in reducing the heparin-mediated platelet aggregation seen with the syndrome of heparin-associated thrombocytopenia (HAT). Six patients with the clinical syndrome of HAT were studied who had a plasma factor which induced aggregation of normal platelets in the presence of heparin. At a final concentration of 2% (20 mg/ml) Dextran 40 reduced heparin-stimulated aggregation by 60.5 ± 36% (SD) in mixtures of normal platelet-rich plasma/HAT patient plasma. In contrast, the same dextran concentration reduced ADP-stimulated aggregation of normal platelet-rich plasma by only 18.6 ± 12%. This selective inhibition of heparin-mediated aggregation by dextran was highly significant (P < 0.005, Wilcoxon rank sum). Whereas protamine abolished heparin's anticoagulant and platelet aggregating activity, dextran had no effect on heparin's anticoagulant properties. These data show that Dextran 40 selectively blocks heparinmediated aggregation in vitro, perhaps by blocking heparin binding to the platelet membrane. This study suggests that dextran may be a clinically useful adjunct in the treatment of HAT, and describes a simple method for testing the efficacy of drugs in the treatment of HAT.
POLYCLONAL ANTIBODIES IN AN ENZYME‐LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) TO DETECT BACTERIAL SPORES

The feasibility of broad detection of bacterial spores is illustrated using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The assay utilized polyclonal antibodies produced by immunizing rabbits and sheep with either inactivated Bacillus cereus T spores or Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores. Using anti B. cereus T spore IgG, the ELISA detected, with varying sensitivity, spores of six Bacillus (including B. megaterium, B. subtilis, B. stearothermophilus, B. coagulans, B. subtilis var. globigii, and one unknown species) and C. botulinum 1304E spores. It did not detect other Clostridium spores (C. botulinum 62A, C. botulinum 12885A, C. botulinum 41B, C. perfringens NCTC8239 and C. perfringens ATCC3624). Using anti-Clostridium IgG, the ELISA detected C. botulinum 41B but did not detect C. botulinum 62A, 12885A, or 1304E; C. perfringens NCTC8239 or ATCC3624; or spores of six Bacillus species. Vegetative cells did not react in the ELISA. The results suggest it may be feasible to develop a rapid and simple immunologically based test to estimate bacterial spore loads.
The noninvasive assessment of myocardial viability

The major objective of noninvasive imaging for detection of myocardial viability is to assist in the improved selection of patients with coronary artery disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction who would benefit most from revascularization. The techniques most commonly used to identify viable myocardium are thallium-201 (201Tl) scintigraphy, positron emission tomography (PET) using a flow tracer in combination with a metabolic tracer, technetium-99m (99mTc) sestamibi imaging, and dobutamine echocardiography. On stress 201Tl scintigraphy, asynergic regions showing normal thallium uptake, an initial defect with delayed redistribution at 3-4 h, late redistribution at 24 h, or defect reversibility after reinjection of a second dose of 201Tl at rest all suggest preserved viability. The greater the final uptake of 201Tl in areas of regional myocardial dysfunction preoperatively, the greater the improvement in ejection fraction after coronary revascularization. Demonstration of uptake of fluoro-18 deoxyglucose (FDG) in regions of diminished blood flow on PET imaging also correlates well with improved systolic function after revascularization. 99mTc sestamibi may also be useful for assessment of myocardial viability, particularly after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Dobutamine echocardiography has good positive predictive value for viability determination, but absence of systolic thickening in an akinetic zone in response to intravenous infusion of the drug may still be associated with viable myocardium in 25-50% of segments. Of all the techniques cited above, quantitative resting 201Tl scintigraphy may be the best approach for distinguishing between viable and irreversibly injured myocardium.
Analytical solution for diffusion and circulation in a vaporizing droplet

The problem of convective diffusion in a liquid droplet with internal circulation is studied.Both the vaporizing and the non-vaporizing cases are considered. An approach which simplifies the governing equations is taken and series solution for both the temperature boundary condition and temperature gradient boundary condition cases are obtained. The results are in reasonably close agreement with the finite-difference solution of the more exact analysis. In the non-vaporizing droplet case, the coupled gas-phase and liquid-phase problem is examined. Solution for the droplet surface temperature in the form of a linear Volterra Integral Equation, utilizing the series solution, is obtained. The results are very promising for future simplifications in spray combustion analyses.
Neonatal deafferentation prevents normal expression of synaptic vesicle antigens in the developing rat superior cervical ganglion.

The effect of neonatal deafferentation of the rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) on the expression of two synaptic vesicle proteins was studied to assess the role of transsynaptic influences in the regulation of these neural antigens in the SCG. The two proteins studied were a 65 kilodalton integral membrane protein of synapatic vesicles (SV), and synapsin-1 (S-1), a synaptic vesicle phosphoprotein. Antigen levels were quantified by radioimmunoassay using antibodies directed against the proteins. Distribution of SV in control, deafferented and reinnervated ganglia from 30-day-old rats was visualized by immunohistochemical labeling. Levels of both antigens were reduced following deafferentation of the SCG on postnatal days 1–3. The reduction in S-1 levels at 30 days was less than that observed for SV. The amount of S-1 remaining in deafferented ganglia was consistent with estimates of the postsynaptic pool in the SCG reported previously. SV levels, in contrast, were reduced to 24% of control levels, suggesting that SV synthesis in principal ganglionic neurons might be affected. The time course of postnatal development of S-1 in the SCG differed from previous studies of SV expression, with significant increases occurring after the second week after birth. The differences in response to deafferentation may reflect functional differences of the two vesicle-associated proteins. These studies demonstrate that transsynaptic regulation of antigens other than those directly associated with neurotransmitters occurs in the SCG.
Optimizing Presentation of AdSense Ads within Blogs

AdSense text ads have become a popular method of advertising on the web, specifically within blogs when using Blogger. With increasing popularity of blogs, AdSense ads are enticing to bloggers beca...
LAND USE AROUND SUBURBAN TRANSIT STATIONS

Land use change in some form is cited by both supporters and critics of rapid transit deployment. This paper examines and categorizes land use around twenty stations located in suburban Washington, DC and San Francisco/Oakland through the use of aerial photographs and field investigations. As a case study of local economic development, it documents the land use pattern associated with two modern heavy rail, rapid transit networks BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and METRO. Both BART and METRO impact land use around suburban stations. The primary contributors to station area development are residential and commercial developers in addition to the transportation providers themselves. The trend toward more intense development away from the regional Central Business District (CBD) toward suburban station areas indicates a wave of influence moving into the hinterland via transit lines. While trends of land use are apparent, individual station areas seem to be dictated by local conditions such as markets, land use restrictions, accessibility, population, and physical geography. (Author/TRRL)
Longitudinal models for AIDS marker data

Over the past decade, researchers have put a great amount of effort into developing suitable models for the analysis of longitudinal CD4 data and other markers of AIDS progression. These models must be general enough to allow for different patterns of change in the marker data. In this paper, we review the existing literature including our preferred models which involve mixed effects, stochastic terms and independent measurement error. Adding stochastic terms to standard mixed effects models gives an interpretable and parsimonious method for generalizing the covariance structure of the measurement error and short-term variability. We focus on univariate and bivariate models with integrated Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (IOU) stochastic terms. The IOU process allows for a range of biologically plausible derivative tracking that encompasses both random trajectory and Brownian motion behaviour. We illustrate these modelling techniques on longitudinal CD4 and viral RNA data.
Biogeography of the Anthropocene: Novel species assemblages

Humans have altered the land cover and biogeochemical cycles of Earth, with many implications for how the study of the distributions of organisms should change. A new biogeography of the Anthropocene could help to develop additional criteria to evaluate the degree and timing of human impacts, and innovative ways to proactively manage biological diversity. Many recent studies have used paleoecological methods to evaluate no-analog conditions in the past, or modeling to evaluate possible futures. Additional approaches are needed for assessment and prediction of how new groupings of species will function ecologically under future climatic and landscape conditions, including methods for studying the effects of biotic homogenization, species extinctions, introduced species, and altered ecosystem processes.
Evolution at the host-retrovirus interface.

Retroviruses are unusual amongst animal viruses in their capacity to integrate into host genomes and be transmitted vertically to host progeny. Vertebrate genomes contain numerous and diverse retrovirus-derived sequences reflecting a long co-evolutionary history during which genome invasion has occurred repeatedly, with wide-ranging evolutionary consequences. Over the past 10 years, a detailed picture of retroviral diversity throughout vertebrate genomes has emerged, revealing striking and informative patterns that differ markedly across species. The power of these data to deliver far-reaching insights into the biology and evolution of retroviruses has been significantly advanced by recent studies identifying ongoing genome invasion in wild populations,(1) and by the characterisation of conserved mechanisms of innate antiretroviral defence.(2,3) BioEssays 28: 1153–1156, 2006. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Flowering of the seagrass Halodule wrightii in North Carolina, USA

Abstract Halodule wrightii Aschers. is a tropical euryhaline dioecious seagrass which is broadly distributed in shallow marine waters on the mainland side of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Previous reports of H. wrightii in North Carolina have been limited to observations of sterile plants. During June through August 1990, and in May 1991, we observed and photographed male and female flowers of H. wrightii collected between Cape Lookout and Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. Although we did not find seeds of H. wrightii in the sediment of that region, seeds were found south of Cape Lookout in Bogue Sound in 1991. Our observations confirm that Dare County, North Carolina, is the northern limit for occurrence of H. wrightii along the Atlantic coast of North America.
Chronic Methamphetamine Administration Causes Differential Regulation of Transcription Factors in the Rat Midbrain

Methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive and neurotoxic psychostimulant widely abused in the USA and throughout the world. When administered in large doses, METH can cause depletion of striatal dopamine terminals, with preservation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Because alterations in the expression of transcription factors that regulate the development of dopaminergic neurons might be involved in protecting these neurons after toxic insults, we tested the possibility that their expression might be affected by toxic doses of METH in the adult brain. Male Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with saline or increasing doses of METH were challenged with toxic doses of the drug and euthanized two weeks later. Animals that received toxic METH challenges showed decreases in dopamine levels and reductions in tyrosine hydroxylase protein concentration in the striatum. METH pretreatment protected against loss of striatal dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase. In contrast, METH challenges caused decreases in dopamine transporters in both saline- and METH-pretreated animals. Interestingly, METH challenges elicited increases in dopamine transporter mRNA levels in the midbrain in the presence but not in the absence of METH pretreatment. Moreover, toxic METH doses caused decreases in the expression of the dopamine developmental factors, Shh, Lmx1b, and Nurr1, but not in the levels of Otx2 and Pitx3, in saline-pretreated rats. METH pretreatment followed by METH challenges also decreased Nurr1 but increased Otx2 and Pitx3 expression in the midbrain. These findings suggest that, in adult animals, toxic doses of METH can differentially influence the expression of transcription factors involved in the developmental regulation of dopamine neurons. The combined increases in Otx2 and Pitx3 expression after METH preconditioning might represent, in part, some of the mechanisms that served to protect against METH-induced striatal dopamine depletion observed after METH preconditioning.
Closed-loop stability of large space structures via singular and regular perturbation techniques: New results

Large Space Structures are treated as a special class of highly oscillatory distributed parameter systems. Practical controllers will need to be finite dimensional; however, this calls the closed-loop stability into question due to spillover interactions. Recent results, obtained using regular and singular perturbations theory, give stability bounds for closed-loop control of this type of distributed parameter system; this paper surveys these results and their implications for large space structures.
Salvaging Quantitative Research with Qualitative Data

Through presentation of two case studies, this article illustrates just how ambiguous and misleading results from quantitative studies can be if not supplemented by qualitative data. The focus is on the salvaging power of qualitative methods and their ability to ensure some return on an investment that might otherwise be partially or completely lost.
Catalytic Hydrolysis of 4-Nitrophenyl Phosphate by Lanthanum(III)-Hectorite

The hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP), to produce 4-nitrophenol and inorganic phosphate, is catalyzed by an aqueous suspension of La3+ ion-bound hectorite clay (La3+-hectorite) at 50 °C. Sodium exchanged hectorite (Na+-hectorite) does not promote the hydrolysis of NPP under the same reaction conditions suggesting that La3+ ions are actively involved in the catalysis. Initial rates of the reaction are dependent upon the amount of clay present but independent of NPP concentrations in the range of 0.5−2.5 mM, indicating that these conditions produce a steady state. Reactions run over an extended period of time demonstrate that the rate drops off dramatically after a period of about 5 h, suggesting inhibition of the reaction by phosphate that is produced during hydrolysis. This inhibition is confirmed by experiments in which phosphate ion is present at the start of the reaction. Extended reaction times also indicate the catalytic nature of the reaction whereby 1.5 turnovers of substrate (relative to...
A Most Unusual Zeolite Templating: Cage to Cage Connection of One Guest Molecule

An unusual case of a diquaternary ammonium dication, with large bulky end groups built from the tropane moiety and connected by a C4 methylene chain, is found to reside in zeolite SSZ-35 (STF). The structure of the guest/host product is such that the tropane bicylic entities reside in the shallow cavities of the cages of the STF structure and the C4 methylene chain runs through the 10-ring (∼5.5 A) window that connects the cages. This is a most unusual (and energy-intensive) templating of a zeolite structure with the guest molecule spanning two unit cells. The unusual result was found by single crystal studies with the addition of the use of the SQUEEZE program to show a consistent fit for the guest molecule following from measured electron densities in the crystal structure work. These analyses were followed with MAS NMR studies to confirm the integrity of the diquaternary guest molecule in the host sieve. A few comparative diquaternary guest molecules in MFI zeolite are also studied.
A shell-based magnetic field model for magnetic proximity detection systems

Several magnetic proximity detection systems have been developed for mining vehicles and mobile machinery to protect nearby workers. Magnetic field generators are often used in these systems to establish magnetic fields around the equipment. A sensor worn by a worker provides a measurement of the magnetic flux density that is used to estimate the proximity to the machine. The proximity detection systems currently available for underground mining equipment are capable of identifying whether a worker is near the machine. However, it is a challenge for these systems to accurately locate the worker. Mining machines, which have fast-moving, articulated parts, present hazards that change depending on the situation at hand as well as the specific location of the worker. In addition, the dynamic nature and confined spaces of the mining environment often demand that the workers be close to the machinery. Therefore, in many cases, simply knowing the proximity of a worker may be inadequate. To provide the most effective protection, it would be advantageous to know the worker's exact location relative to specific parts of the machine. To lay the foundation for measuring such a location, we have developed a shell-based model of the magnetic flux density distribution for a ferrite-cored generator. This paper will present an analysis of the model along with a model construction process. Also presented are the laboratory test results of a prototype system that implements this model to determine the exact location of a magnetic sensor using the fields from two generators. Language: en
Digit kinematics during typing with standard and ergonomic keyboard configurations

Abstract This study compared the differences between digit joint angles, velocities and accelerations during two typing tasks: one on a standard keyboard configuration and one on an ergonomic keyboard configuration. A marker-based motion analysis system was used to capture digit movements during typing and digit joint angles, angular velocities, and angular accelerations were calculated. Results showed significant differences between the ergonomic and standard keyboard configurations for digit angles, angular velocity, and angular acceleration, particularly for the left metacarpophalangeal joints. Most notably, the ergonomic configuration tended to reduce the angular velocity and acceleration for metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal flexion/extension and increase these variables for metacarpophalangeal abduction/adduction. The participants showed no significant differences in typing speed and error rate between the two keyboards. This research supports other research, which suggests that an ergonomic configuration can alter keyboard kinematics, but suggests that researchers should evaluate not only the wrist kinematics, but the digit kinematics as well. Relevance to Industry This research provides information of interest to people who are considering acquiring an alternative keyboard in the workplace.
Technique for Suture Removal After Penetrating Keratoplasty

A disposable microsurgical blade found to be bent at surgery can be used to remove sutures after penetrating keratoplasty rather than discarded. The barbed tip can be maneuvered to retrieve buried sutures without excessive manipulation of the cornea, thus decreasing the possibility of wound disruption.
Effect of magnification on texture perception.

The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the effect of magnification o n cross-modal, visual-tactual texture judgments. Prior research ( 3 ) showed subjects were able to make accurate judgments of equivalence of visible and tangible roughness. I t was not known, however, whether perception would be biased by magnification of viewed surfaces. Thirty subjects viewed abrasive surfaces and marched them against an array of textures they touched ( 8 0 to 400-grit abrasives). The visible standard textures ranged in grit value from 100 ( the coarsest) to 320 ( the finest): Independent groups of subjects visually examined standards with the unaided eye, low magnification (approximately 1.75 power), or high magnification (with the further addition of a + 3 diopter lens), but observers were not told about the magnification. Individuals were told to tap the texture they felt (without sight) chat was the same as the visible standard. The eight standard textures were presented four times each in a random sequence, and chere were no time limits. Magnification had no effect on the number of perfectly correct judgments. A second analysis of variance, performed on mean grit value of visualtactual matches, showed a marginally significant effect of magnification ( F 2 . 3 = 3.31, p = .05) , a significant effect of grit of the standard ( F = 199.7) and a significant interaction (F,4.1so = 2.4, p < .01) . Low magnification had little effect on perceived texture. It was interesting that high magnification only yielded biased judgments for the four smoothest surfaces. The standards with grit values of 220 to 320 were iden-
Changes in the corneal endothelium as a function of age

Abstract In vivo photomicrography has been used to examine the corneal endothelium of humans as a function of age. Sixty-one normal volunteers of both sexes ranging in age from 20 to 89 years of age were photographed. The endothelial photographs were analyzed to determine mean endothelial cell area for the central cornea and the frequency distribution of cell areas for each subject. The mean endothelial cell area was found approximately to double from age 20 to age 80. The increase in mean endothelial cell area with age was found to be statistically significant to better than the 0·1% level. The frequency distribution of cell area and cellular pleomorphism were also found to change with age. There was a statistically significant variability in the values of the difference in mean endothelial cell area between the two eyes of the population studied with age.
Neoproterozoic rocks of the Newfoundland Avalon Zone

Abstract A ca. 15 km thick succession of volcanic and sedimentary Neoproterozoic rocks are exposed within the Avalon Terrane of Newfoundland. Petrologic and geochemical study of volcanic suites and sedimentological analyses indicate that most deposition took place in ensialic rift basins and associated continental arc settings. On the Avalon Peninsula, over 7500 m of volcaniclastic strata include initial submarine fan and slope deposits, which pass upward into a prograded wedge of deltaic and fluvial deposits. This flysch-to-molasse transition, and associated folding and volcanism, mark the Neoproterozoic Avalonian Orogeny. Post-orogenic erosion was followed by deposition of extensive Cambrian siliciclastic deposits. Recent U Pb zircon dating of many of the Neoproterozoic volcanic units provides some constraints on both intra-Avalon and global correlations. More precise dates are needed to improve correlation and better constrain the geologic history of this region. Glaciogenic diamictites of the Gaskiers Formation exposed on the Avalon Peninsula may eventually also prove useful for global correlation. Biostratigraphic study of the latest Neoproterozoic-Lower Cambrian deposits has resulted in ratification of the Precambrian-Cambrian Boundary Stratotype in an exposure on the Burin Peninsula. Older Neoproterozoic rocks contain well-preserved Ediacara-type fossils and a low-diversity suite of microfossils including acritarchs and carbonaceous filaments, the latter of which have little biostratigraphic utility. Aside from work on the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary section, little or no chemostratigraphic, magnetostratigraphic or sequence stratigraphic work has been completed on the Neoproterozoic of the Newfoundland Avalon Terrane.
Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Measurements of the Lyman alpha sky background

During the flight of Mariner 9 to Mars, the ultraviolet spectrometer on board the spacecraft measured the L-alpha intensity for several points in the sky. These data are compared with a sky map obtained by OGO-5 and the observations of Mariner 6. The absolute calibration of Mariner 9 and Mariner 6 differ by a factor of 1.43 at L-alpha. The low values of the sky brightness measured by Mariner 9 near the sky minimum suggest that the nearby interstellar medium has a kinetic temperature of 200-1100 K and a relative velocity with respect to the sun in the range 13-14 km/sec.
New Approaches to Decrease Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infections

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections are becoming increasingly more common. CIED infections are associated with considerable morbidity, mortality, and cost. Rates of CIED infections are lowest when devices are implanted in high-volume centers by experienced operators. Careful antimicrobial stewardship at the time of CIED implantation is crucial to prevent infections. Evidence-based strategies to prevent CIED infections include the use of prophylactic antibiotics, chlorhexidine-alcohol skin preparation, and antibiotic-impregnated pulse generator envelopes.
Malignant gingival and skin “infiltrates” in adult leukemia

The clinicopathologic and histopathologic features of leukemic gingival and cutaneous "infiltrates" were studied in 1,076 adults hospitalized for cancer chemotherapy. Leukemic gingival hyperplasia was present in 3.6 percent and leukemia cutis in 3.1 percent of the patients. Only 7.6 percent of those with leukemic "infiltrates" had simultaneous gingival and skin involvement. Histologically, the lesions consisted of extravasated and proliferating monocytoid or myeloid cells. The infiltrative-proliferative tendency was most pronounced in patients with, in a sharply descending order, acute monocytic leukemia, acute myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myelocytic leukemia. Formation of lesions in the skin and gingiva was unrelated to sex, age, and white blood cell count. Gingival lesions were particularly prone to infectious complications in patients with poor oral hygiene. Aside from the morphologic predisposition, the propensity for adults with leukemia to develop chemotherapeutically reversible malignant mucocutaneous lesions was highly individualistic and unpredictable.
Inquiring Minds Acquiring Wellness: Uses of Online and Offline Sources for Health Information

Variation in ability to access and use health information is a key pathway through which social status may impact health. Digital media offer new opportunities for health information seeking, potentially lowering barriers to such content. Using a data set with nuanced information about what sources a diverse group of college students consults for different types of health material, coupled with detailed measures of Internet experiences, this article explores factors related to where young adults turn for health content. Results suggest considerable sex differences in practices across sources of health information. We also find differences in Hispanic students' actions based on parents' country of origin across sources. Finally, challenging assumptions about the universal savvy of young adults, findings suggest that those who are more highly skilled with the Internet are more likely to use it for health information seeking, and Internet experiences are especially important for explaining who turns to onlin...
A study of sequential high dose cyclophosphamide and high dose carboplatin with peripheral stem-cell rescue in resistant or recurrent pediatric brain tumors.

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of carboplatin with autologous hematopoietic stem-cell rescue, in children with poor-prognosis brain tumors. Patients and methods: A previously determined dose of cyclophosphamide with stem-cell rescue was used as a first course. In a second course, carboplatin was given for 3days with stem-cell rescue to 20 children. The starting dose of carboplatin was 400mg/m2/day with increments of 75mg/m2/day in subsequent cohorts. Toxicity and tumor response were recorded. Results: There were two grade IV toxicities at the dose level of 775mg/m2/day. There were no toxic deaths. Thus, the MTD of carboplatin was 700mg/m2/day for 3days. There were six complete responses (33%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 13–59%), two partial responses (11%; 95% CI, 1–35%), four with stable diseases (22%; 95% CI, 6–48%) and six progressed (33%; 95% CI, 13–59%) out of 18 assessable. Seven of the eight responses were in primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) or Germinomas. One child with a metastatic anaplastic astrocytoma had a CR. The median duration of tumor response was 10 months (range: 1.5–87months) with two children disease free at 66 and 87months. Actuarial survival is 21%. Median follow-up of survivors is 35months (range: 15–87months). Conclusion: The MTD of carboplatin with stem-cell rescue is 700mg/m2/day for 3days. Sequential stem-cell supported cyclophosphamide and carboplatin was tolerable in children with brain tumors and produced responses in PNETs and Germinomas.
P02.20. Mindfulness based tinnitus stress reduction (MBTSR) pilot study: a symptom perception shift program

Purpose Estimates suggest that as many as 50 million people in the United States experience tinnitus to some degree. Yet for 16 million of these Americans, tinnitus is a chronic condition significantly impacting quality of life. Sleep disorder, depression, and anxiety are common co-occurring symptoms. The exact physiological causes of tinnitus are unknown making it difficult to treat with only variable success. This pilot study aims to investigate whether a novel mind-body intervention, Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction (MBTSR), may be a beneficial treatment for chronic tinnitus.
Meta‐analysis: IL‐28B genotype and sustained viral clearance in HCV genotype 1 patients

Summary Background Polymorphisms in the IL-28B region are a strong predictor of sustained virologic response (SVR) in individual studies of HCV genotype 1 patients receiving peginterferon (pegIFN) and ribavirin. Aim To obtain a pooled odds ratio (OR) of SVR in patients of varying race with the favourable IL-28B genotype compared to those with the unfavourable genotype. Methods A literature search was conducted using online databases and a review of conference abstracts. A random effects meta-analysis was performed and study heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Results There were 21 individual studies of HCV genotype 1 patients of varying ethnicity treated with pegIFN and ribavirin. The pooled prevalence of the favourable IL-28B genotype varied by race (73% vs. 41% vs. 13% in 2612 Asians, 3110 Caucasians and 452 African-Americans, respectively, P < 0.001). However, the strength of association of the IL-28B genotype with SVR was similar in all three racial groups (Caucasians: odds ratio (OR) 3.88, 2.75–5.49, African-Americans: OR 4.63, 2.52–8.50 and Asians OR 5.66, 3.99–8.02, all P < 0.001). The IL-28B genotype was also associated with SVR in 263 HIV/HCV co-infected Caucasians (OR 5.49, 3.02–9.96, P < 0.001). Study quality score and anti-viral treatment regimen did not impact the strength of the association in patient subgroups nor in the pooled population. Conclusions IL-28B genotype is significantly associated with SVR in HCV genotype 1 patients of varying race, as well as in HIV co-infected patients, receiving pegIFN and ribavirin. IL-28B testing in conjunction with other pre-treatment parameters may prove useful in counselling HCV patients.
Flutter: An Exploration of an Assistive Garment Using Distributed Sensing, Computation and Actuation

Assistive technology (AT) has the ability to improve the standard of living of those with disabilities, however, it can often be abandoned for aesthetic or stigmatizing reasons. Garment-based AT offers novel opportunities to address these issues as it can stay with the user to continuously monitor and convey relevant information, is non-invasive, and can provide aesthetically pleasing alternatives. In an effort to overcome traditional AT and wearable computing challenges including, cumbersome hardware constraints and social acceptability, we present Flutter, a fashion-oriented wearable AT. Flutter seamlessly embeds low-profile networked sensing, computation, and actuation to facilitate sensory augmentation for those with hearing loss. The miniaturized distributed hardware enables both textile integration and new methods to pair fashion with function, as embellishments are functionally leveraged to complement technology integration. Finally, we discuss future applications and broader implications of using such computationally-enabled textile wearables to support sensory augmentation beyond the realm of AT.
The generation effect and the modeling of associations in memory

The search of associative memory (SAM) model of Gillund and Shiffrin (1984) was applied to data of two experiments that examined the generation effect (Slamecka & Graf, 1978). Subjects studied a list of related word pairs, in which they either read both words in the pair or generated the right- hand response term using the left-hand stimulus term plus the response word fragment as generation cues. Experiment 1 manipulated encoding condition within subjects and used an incidental learning procedure. Experiment 2 manipulated encoding condition between subjects and used an intentional learning procedure. Memory was tested with recognition, cued recall, and free recall. A higher order association model gave a better and more parsimonious fit to the results than did an item-level association model. The relationship between various versions of SAM and current accounts of the generation effect are discussed, particulary the two-factor theory of Hirshman and Bjork (1988).
Incidence of hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia during vitamin D and calcium supplementation in older women.

Objective This study aims to prospectively assess the incidence of hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia with different doses of vitamin D and with a calcium intake of approximately 1,200 mg/day. Methods This was a 1-year randomized placebo-controlled study of vitamin D (400-4,800 IU/d) in 163 white women aged 57 to 90 years. Calcium citrate tablets (200 mg) were added to the diet to achieve a total calcium intake of approximately 1,200 mg/day in all groups. All women had vitamin D insufficiency at baseline, with serum 25-hydroxyvitaminD levels lower than 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). Serum and 24-hour urine calcium were collected every 3 months on supplementation, any test result above the upper reference range represented an episode of hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria. Mixed-effects models and multivariate logistic regression were used in the analysis. Results Hypercalcemia (>10.2 mg/dL [2.55 mmol/L]) occurred in 8.8% of white women. Hypercalciuria (>300 mg/d [7.5 mmol]) occurred in 30.6% of white women. Episodes of hypercalciuria were transient in half of the group and recurrent in the other half. No relationship between hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria and vitamin D dose was found, and hypercalciuria was equally common in the placebo group. Conclusions Hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia commonly occur with vitamin D and calcium supplements. Whether hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia are caused by calcium, vitamin D, or both is unclear. These findings may have relevance to the reported increase in kidney stones in the Women's Health Initiative trial. Because calcium 1,200 mg and vitamin D 800 IU/day are widely recommended in postmenopausal women, systematic evaluation of the safety of supplements is warranted in clinical management and in future studies.
The Relationship between Energy Consumption and Climate Change in Shanghai

The phenomenon of climate change is becoming a global problem. One of the most important reasons of climate change is the increase in CO2 levels due to emissions from fossil fuel energy use in daily human activities. This research will use the data of the annual average temperature and energy consumption in the past 41 years of Shanghai, the largest city in China, to establish the statistical relationship between climate change and energy consumption. It is found that there is a strong positive relationship between climate change and energy consumption in Shanghai. The phenomenon of climate change could be controlled by reducing excessive energy consumption in people’s daily life. Furthermore, this paper will also discuss the reason of such relationship, and provide suggesstions of saving energy and protecting our environment.
Flows, flares, and formation of umbrae and light bridges in BBSO region No. 1167

We present high-resolution observations of the large active region BBSO No. 1167 (Boulder No. 5060) which cast new light on the structure of sunspot regions. We obtained excellent data, highlighted by videomagnetograms (VMG) obtained with our 65-cm telescope, which give unprecedented spatial resolution, about 0.5′' for much of two 11-hr periods. This permitted us to see details of the field evolution and flows in the AR. The Hα filtergrams and D3 filtergrams permit study of these magnetic changes compared to spots and chromospheric structure. The region was a huge but simple active region (CMP July 2, 1988) in which we observed rapid flux emergence for several days. Because the new flux generally matched the old, there were few large flares. However, there were 14 flares on June 28 and 29, mostly in two sites. The first site was a δ spot which already existed when the active region appeared on the east limb. This site showed little change of magnetic structure during our observing period. The second site is an area disturbed by new flux emergence, which included a δ spot which formed and disappeared in two days, and a rapidly moving p spot. Flares ocurring at one site almost always produced footpoints at the other. The delay between flash phases of the same flare at the two sites ranges from 40 to 160 s. The magnetograms show complex fine structure, with some closely interwined regions of opposite polarity. In a region of new flux emergence, positive (leading polarity) flux flows along elongated channels immersed in the negative flux. Moving magnetic features occur around all of the spots. We point out other interesting aspects of this large region: (1) While there is extensive penumbra around the main umbrae, there is also significant penumbra apparently unrelated to any spot. These unusual penumbrae are either due to flux returning to the surface, flux left behind by the moving umbra, or associated with pores that appear and disappear. (2) We observed umbrae to move faster than the accompanying penumbrae, and concluded that penumbrae are not a simple extension of the umbra. (3) We found that combining spots of the same polarity do not completely merge, but are always separated by a thin light bridge. This means that the emerging flux loops are discrete entities.