cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of scenarios in strategic foresight

Abstract This article discusses the role of scenarios in strategic foresight. It starts by discussing the need for strategic foresight over the next decade, and a set of qualities, structures and processes that facilitate the use of strategic foresight for renewal. The author describes two roles of scenarios in supporting these processes — scenarios as mental models, and through providing a well-understood methodology that permits exploration of the future. Three key case studies from different fields, such as financial services and pharmaceuticals, enhance the description of the methods.
Benefits and afterthoughts of laparoscopy for the nonpalpable testis

AbstractPurpose: Recent reports in the literature indicate that laparoscopy tends to be seen as the most appropriate approach to the nonpalpable testis for diagnosis and therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the real benefits of laparoscopy in terms of diagnostic accuracy, safety, costs and validity of the chosen treatment.Materials and Methods: We compared anatomical findings and results of the treatment of impalpable testes in 2 pediatric surgical groups, including 47 children treated laparoscopically during a 2 1/2-year period and 296 treated with open surgery (classic orchiopexy) in a 6 1/2-year period.Results: There was no significant difference in the diagnosis of abdominal testes (51 versus 50 percent), whereas a difference was noted in inguinal (4 versus 15 percent) and absent testes (45 versus 35 percent). Differences in treatment were more striking. In the laparoscopic group standard orchiopexy was performed in 62.5 percent of cases versus 83 percent in the open group. Conversely the rat...
Cell-type-restricted binding of the transcription factor NFAT to a distal IL-4 enhancer in vivo.

Abstract By DNase I hypersensitivity analysis, we have identified an inducible, cyclosporin A–sensitive enhancer located 3′ of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene. The enhancer binds the Th2-specific transcription factor GATA3 in vivo but is not perceptibly influenced by the absence of a second Th2-specific factor, cMaf. The antigen-inducible transcription factor NFAT1 binds the IL-4 enhancer and the IL-4 promoter only in stimulated Th2 cells; conversely, NFAT1 binds to the interferon (IFN)-γ promoter only in stimulated Th1 cells. Our results support a model whereby transcription factors such as NFAT1, which are nonselectively induced in antigen-stimulated T cells, gain access to cytokine regulatory regions only in the appropriate subset of differentiated T cells in vivo. This restricted access enables antigen-dependent and subset-specific transcription of cytokine genes.
The Mechanics of Adhesion: A Tutorial

As the size of the contact region between two bodies decreases to the micro- and nano-scales, the effect of adhesion becomes increasingly important. In this tutorial, we review fundamental concepts of the mechanics of adhesion. Attention is placed on the contact of elastic bodies in which the shapes of the contacting bodies are locally spherical. We also discuss the use of spherical contact theory to model the adhesive contact of an asperity with a flat as part of a multi-asperity contact model.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Coexistence of Neutral and Ion-Pair Clusters of Hydrated Sulfuric Acid H2SO4(H2O)n (n = 1−5)A Molecular Orbital Study

Various isomeric structures of the hydrated clusters of sulfuric acid, H2SO4(H2O)n (n = 1−5), are examined using a density functional molecular orbital method. Due to the small energy difference between trans and cis conformations about two OH groups of sulfuric acid, there are three types of isomeric forms of the hydrated clusters of sulfuric acid which involve the proton nontransferred trans conformer, the proton transferred trans conformer, and the proton nontransferred cis conformer of sulfuric acid. In the case of transoid H2SO4, the proton transferred ion-pair structures become more stable than the proton nontransferred structures as the number of water molecules increases. The hydrated clusters of the cis conformation remain neutral hydrogen-bonded structures even if the number of water molecules increases. All stable clusters tend to form multi-cyclic structures. While both protons of sulfuric acid participate in cyclic hydrogen bonding in the neutral structures, the OH group of HSO4- in the ion-p...
Use of Aerosolized Furosemide (AF) in Preterm Infants with or Developing Chronic Lung Disease (CLD): Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Use of Aerosolized Furosemide (AF) in Preterm Infants with or Developing Chronic Lung Disease (CLD): Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Experimental infection of cotton rats with three naturally occurring Bartonella species.

The kinetics of infection and humoral immune response of laboratory-bred cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) challenged with three Bartonella spp. recovered from the blood of naturally infected cotton rats captured in Georgia (USA) are described. Bartonella spp. infection, as determined by bacteremia, occurred in all 18 cotton rats inoculated with live Bartonella of each species at either a low dose, 103 colony-forming units (CFU's), or high dose, 107 CFU. Cotton rats inoculated with lower doses of Bartonella spp. developed higher bacteremia that persisted for longer periods than in those inoculated with high doses. Peak bacteremia varied among Bartonella spp, ranging from 104 to 106 CFUs per 1.0 ml of blood. Antibody measured by immunofluorescence assays using species-specific antigens indicated more rapidly rising and higher antibody titers in cotton rats challenged with high doses vs. low doses and with inactivated bacteria vs. live bacteria. Each group of rats produced high IgG titers to the homologous ch...
Donor factors that affect the number of organs transplanted per donor.

BackgroundDemographic factors and factors from donors' medical and social history influence the number of organs transplanted per donor. The goal for organ procurement organizations is 4.30 organs ...
Clinical pharmacology of organic nitrates.

Abstract Although organic nitrates have been used in cardiovascular therapy for many years, various aspects of their pharmacology remain poorly understood. It is now known that organic nitrates produce nitric oxide (NO) in vascular smooth muscle cells, catalyzed by a membrane-bound enzyme that is not glutathione- S -transferase. Other nitrovasodilators, such as organic nitrites, sodium nitroprusside, and S -nitrosothiols, do not utilize the same enzyme for NO generation. The short-term hemodynamic action of various organic nitrates has been shown to be related to their pharmacokinetics, but their long-term therapeutic effects are limited by the development of pharmacologic tolerance. Nitrate sensitivity in patients can be restored daily after a nitrate-free period of 8–12 hours. Coadministration of nitrates with other vasodilators, such as captopril and hydralazine, may avoid the development of nitrate tolerance in patients with congestive heart failure.
Summary of NASA stall/spin research for general aviation configurations

The major milestones of stall/spin research conducted in the past under NACA/NASA programs are reviewed, and recent results offering promise for further improvements in design methodology and concepts for stall/spin technology are identified. Specific results discussed include: (1) development and validation of test techniques and analysis methods; (2) studies of airplane spinning and spin recovery characteristics; and (3) concepts designed to increase the spin resistance of general aviation-type vehicles.
Walk-Up Acceptability vs. Real Usability? Designing User Interfaces for the Gaming Culture:

While a good user interface is often defined as one which is immediately intuitive to use, this assumption can be dangerously applied. Designers of web pages know that if they don’t get a user’s interest in a few seconds, then the user will exit the site and navigate elsewhere. The gaming enthusiasts will reject a game if they cannot learn to play it in a few minutes. These types of applications require different design attributes than an application that will be used for hours by a trained employee or specialist. Many user experience design techniques involve obtaining feedback on low fidelity prototypes or think out loud protocols which emphasize the need that a user interface be immediately intuitive to use. User interface designers feel the pressure of the gaming culture to value immediate intuitivism or preference as the primary measure for design goodness. However, our study shows that the ability to learn how to use a display for some applications may be more important, especially if the less intui...
Crew Selection for Uninhabited Air Vehicles: Preliminary Investigation of the Air Vehicle Operator (AVO)

Because of the similarity of the AVO console to a desktop flight simulator, a preliminary idea of what aptitude factors would predict success in AVO training might be obtained through a validation study using a desktop flight simulator as the criterion task. In this study, 171 young men and women learned to fly a simulated light aircraft. The participants also took a comprehensive 8-hour battery of computer-based tests. Results indicated that learning was predicted well by general cognitive ability (g)/ working memory (WM) and multilimb coordination. When structural equation modeling was used to distinguish declarative and procedural learning, declarative learning was found to be strongly dependent on g/WM, which is consistent with previous research. That g/WM did not correlate with procedural learning explains why correlations of this ability with learning diminished as instruction moved from a declarative to procedural emphasis. Only multilimb coordination ability was strongly related to procedural lear...
Replacement effects of neutral amino acid residues of different molecular volumes in the retinal binding cavity of bacteriorhodopsin on the dynamics of its primary process

We have determined the rate and quantum yield of retinal photoisomerization, the spectra of the primary transients, and the energy stored in the K intermediate in the photocycle of some bacteriorhodopsin mutants (V49A, A53G, and W182F) in which residue replacements are found to change the Schiff base deprotonation kinetics (and thus the protein-retinal interaction). Because of their change in the local volume resulting from these individual replacements, these substitutions perturb the proton donor-acceptor relative orientation change and thus the Schiff base deprotonation kinetics. These replacements are thus expected to change the charge distribution around the retinal, which controls its photoisomerization dynamics. Subpicosecond transient spectroscopy as well as photoacoustic technique are used to determine the retinal photoisomerization rate, quantum yield, and the energy stored in the K-intermediate for these mutants. The results are compared with those obtained for wild-type bacteriorhodopsin and other mutants in which charged residues in the cavity are replaced by neutral ones. In some of the mutants the rate of photoisomerization is changed, but in none is the quantum yield or the energy stored in the K intermediate altered from that in the wild type. These results are discussed in terms of the shapes of the potential energy surfaces of the excited and ground states of retinal in the perpendicular configuration within the protein and the stabilization of the positive charge in the ground and the excited state of the electronic system of retinal.
A new high pressure phase of the transition metal zirconium

High pressure energy dispersive X-ray diffraction studies were carried out on the group IV transition metal zirconium (Zr) to 32 GPa using a synchrotron source.1 A first-order phase transition between an omega phase and a bcc phase (isostructural with group V transition elements) was observed during compression and decompression in a pressure range of 30 ± 2 GPa, which is in qualitative agreement with the recent first-principles theoretical predictions. The observation of the bcc phase in Zr (a group IV transition metal) under pressure and room temperature signifies a pressure-induced electronic configuration similar to that of a group V transition metal.
Steps toward graceful interaction in spoken and written man-machine communication

Natural language processing is often seen as a way to provide easy-to-use and flexible interfaces to interactive computer systems. White natural language interfaces typically perform well in response to straightforward requests and questions within their domain of discourse, they often fail to interact gracefully with their users in less predictable circumstances. Most current systems cannot, for instance: respond reasonably to input not conforming to a rigid grammar; ask for and understand clarification if their user's input is unclear; offer clarification of their own output if the user asks for it; or interact to resolve any ambiguities that may arise when the user attempts to describe things to the system. We believe that graceful interaction in these and the many other contingencies that can arise in human conversation is essential if interfaces are ever to appear co-operative and helpful, and hence be suitable for the casual or naive user, and more habitable for the experienced user. In this paper, we attempt to outline key components of graceful interaction, to identify major problems involved in realizing them, and in some cases to suggest the shape of solutions. To this end we propose a decomposition of graceful interaction into a number of relatively independent skills: skills involved in parsing elliptical, fragmented, and otherwise ungrammatical input; in ensuring robust communication; in explaining abilities and limitations, actions and the motives behind them; in keeping track of the focus of attention of a dialogue; in identifying things from descriptions, even if ambiguous or unsatisfiable; and in describing things in terms appropriate for the context. We suggest these skills are necessary for graceful interaction in general and form a good working basis for graceful interaction in a certain large class of application domains, which we define. None of these components appear individually much beyond the current state of the art, at least for suitably restricted domains of discourse. Thus, we advocate research into the construction of gracefully interacting systems as an activity likely to pay major dividends in improved man-machine communication in a relatively short time.
Analysis of Tactical Communications Jamming Problems

This paper reviews the technical disciplines needed to analyze technical communications jamming problems. Such problems rarely involve pure free-space propagation so that careful attention is needed to propagation characteristics. The various sources that contribute uncertainty to the problem are enumerated and estimates are given of their magnitude.
Fiber-based entangled photon sources and their applications

We present an overview of how fiber-based sources of entangled photons have evolved to meet the requirements of quantum-information applications and we present one of those applications, one that addresses an ancient philosophical question.
Differential mechanisms of action understanding in left and right handed subjects: the role of perspective and handedness.

The ability to comprehend outcomes of skilled action is important for understanding the world around us. Prior studies have evaluated the perspective an action is performed in, but few have evaluated how handedness of the actor and the observer interact with action perspective. Understanding handedness affords the opportunity to identify the role of mirroring and matched limb action encoding, which may display unique strategies of action understanding. Right and left-handed subjects were presented with images of tools from egocentric or allocentric perspectives performing movements by either a left or right hand. Subjects had to judge the outcome of the task, and accuracy and latency were evaluated. Our hypothesis was that both left and right-handed subjects would predict action best from an egocentric perspective. In allocentric perspectives, identification of action outcomes would occur best in the mirror matched dominant limb for all subjects. Results showed there was a significant effect on accuracy and latency with respect to perspective for both right and left-handed subjects. The highest accuracies and fastest latencies were found in the egocentric perspective. Handedness of subject also showed an effect on accuracy, where right-handed subjects were significantly more accurate in the task than left-handed subjects. An interaction effect revealed that left-handed subjects were less accurate at judging images from an allocentric viewpoint compared to all other conditions. These findings suggest that action outcomes are best facilitated in an internal perspective, regardless of the hand being used. The decreased accuracy for left-handed subjects on allocentric images could be due to asymmetrical lateralization of encoding action and motoric dominance, which may interfere with translating allocentric limb action outcomes. Further neurophysiological studies will help us understand the specific processes of how left and right-handed subjects may encode actions.
Parallel phrasing across cultures: Emotional vs. informational effects

This is a work-in progress paper, describing a series of experiments conducted to determine the actual effects of parallel phrasing vs. non-parallel phrasing on readers. Traditionally, it has been assumed that parallel text enhances information recall more than non-parallel text, but no distinct evidence for this emerges in the data. However, the data from another series of experiments indicates that parallel text has an emotional effect on readers distinct from non-parallel text.
Late Medieval and Early Modern Urban History à l'Anglaise. A Review Article

Two things immediately strike any student of continental cities who glances across the channel at the towns of late medieval and early modem England: the paltry size of all the towns outside of London prior to the eighteenth century, and the high quality of the historical work which has recently been devoted to them. Polydore Vergil observed early in the sixteenth century that the English "do not so greatlie affecte citties as the commodious neareness of dales and brookes,"' but the same could hardly be said of recent English social historians. Urban history has become a major historical growth sector in England in the past dozen years, with collections of essays, monographs, and works of synthesis regarding the preindustrial period following one another off the presses in rapid succession.2 As the volumes under review here suggest, this surge of interest in England's urban past shows no signs of abating. Yet the objects of all this scholarly attention, which has focussed almost completely on cities and towns other than London, are hardly im-
Poly(ethylene glycol) self-assembled monolayer island growth

Here, we report a study of the morphology and growth dynamics of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the amide containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) thiol (CH3O(CH2CH2O)17NHCO(CH2)2SH) on atomically flat Au(111) surfaces. SAM growth from a 20 μM ethanolic solution reveals island growth through three distinct steps: island nucleation, island growth, and coalescence. The coalescence-step, filling voids in the SAM, is by far slowest. The fine structure study reveals dendritic island formation, an observation which can be explained by attractive intermolecular interactions and surface diffusion-limited aggregation. We have also observed a change in the island height, which peaks during the island growth phase. This height change can be associated with a molecular conformational transition.
Sleep problems in early childhood: continuities, predictive factors, and behavioral correlates.

A longitudinal study, based on interviews with 308 middle-class, preponderantly white mothers, provided an opportunity to evaluate the continuity, predictive factors, and behavioral correlates of sleep problems in young children. When their children were 8 months old, 10% of the mothers reported that their babies woke three or more times per night, 8% reported that the babies took an hour or more to settle after waking, 5% complained that their own sleep was severely disrupted by the child, and 18% reported at least one of these problems. At 3 years of age, 29% of the children had difficulty getting to bed and/or falling asleep or staying asleep. Of children with a sleep problem at 8 months of age, 41% still had a problem at 3 years of age, whereas only 26% of children without a problem at 8 months of age had a problem at 3 years of age (P less than .001). Among children with sleep problems at 8 months of age, mothers' depressed feelings were the only measured demographic or psychosocial factor associated with persistent sleep problems (P = .02). A separate analysis indicated that these depressed feelings did not appear to be a consequence of the child's sleep problem. Future studies should evaluate how maternal depression interacts with other factors to result in persistent sleep problems. Children with persistent sleep problems were more likely to have behavior problems, especially tantrums (P less than .02) and behavior management problems (P less than .01), than were children without persistent sleep problems (P less than .02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Carriage of healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Stapyloccous aureus and empiric treatment for skin and soft tissue infections

Previous skin carriage of healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) leads frequently to empiric MRSA coverage for the antibiotic treatment of skin and soft tissue infections.
Experiment and theory elucidate the multichannel predissociation dynamics of the HCl trimer: breaking up is hard to do.

The breaking of hydrogen bonds in molecular systems has profound effects on liquids, e.g., water, biomolecules, e.g., DNA, etc., and so it is no exaggeration to assert the importance of these bonds to living systems. However, despite years of extensive research on hydrogen bonds, many of the details of how these bonds break and the corresponding energy redistribution processes remain poorly understood. Here we report extensive experimental and theoretical insights into the breakup of two or three hydrogen bonds in the dissociation of a paradigm system of a hydrogen-bonded network, the ring HCl trimer. Experimental state-to-state vibrational predissociation dynamics of the trimer following vibrational excitation were studied by using velocity map imaging and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization, providing dissociation energies and product state distributions for the trimer’s breakup into three separate monomers or into dimer + monomer. Accompanying the experiments are high-level calculations using dif...
Stonewalling and Suspicion during Presidential Scandals

Scholars possess little theoretical understanding of how presidents behave during scandals. Existing presidential scholarship has focused on “offensive” communication, aimed at achieving legislativ...
Frailty among HIV-infected persons in an urban outpatient care setting.

Summary Objectives Frailty among HIV-infected persons is increasingly recognized but data are limited. We aimed to determine frailty prevalence, predictors and clinical significance in this population. Methods This was a prospective cross-sectional study of HIV-infected persons ≥18 years attending Washington University HIV Clinics between June and December 2008. Frailty was defined by ≥3 of 5 criteria: weight loss, low physical activity, exhaustion, weak grip strength and slow walking time. Independent predictors of frailty were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results 445 persons were studied; mean age 41.7 years, 71% male, 63% African American with a mean 8.4 years since HIV diagnosis. 75% were on antiretroviral therapy with median CD4+437cells/mm 3 . Frailty prevalence was 9%. Independent predictors of frailty included unemployment, greater number of comorbid conditions and past opportunistic illnesses, higher depression severity score, receipt of antidepressants and lower serum albumin. Hospitalization rates were greater for frail persons with a five-fold longer duration of inpatient stay. Conclusion HIV infection was associated with a premature presentation of frailty. Frailty was associated with greater comorbidity, markers of advanced immunodeficiency and adverse socioeconomic and clinical outcomes. Further study of frailty in patients with HIV infection is warranted.
CoreLime:: A Coordination Model for Mobile Agents

Lime is a middleware communication infrastructure for mobile computation that addresses both physical mobility of devices as well as logical mobility of software components by providing a rich set of primitives for local and remote operations. The original Lime specification is surprisingly complex and tricky to implement. In this paper, we start by deconstructing the Lime model to identify its core components. In a second step we attempt to reconstruct a simpler model, which we call CoreLime, that scales better to large and rapidly changing configurations of agents and hosts.
Determining neuropsychological impairment using estimates of premorbid intelligence: comparing methods based on level of education versus reading scores.

When inferring brain dysfunction, test scores are typically compared to normative data based on estimates of premorbid intelligence (e.g., by educational level or reading scores). However, these methods are likely to lead to differing results, with important diagnostic and forensic implications. The current study compared estimates of impairment (reported in z-scores) based on educational level versus reading scores in a population with traumatic brain injury. The study included 174 patients (M age = 27.3; M education = 12.3) evaluated as outpatients at a university hospital rehabilitation department. Wilcoxen ranked sign tests indicated that the two methods yielded estimates that were statistically different (p <.0001) for all variables. The education based method yielded greater estimates of impairment than the reading score method for WAIS-R FIQ. Grip Strength, and Finger Tapping, with a pattern of generally consistent impairment across cognitive/motor areas (z-score range = -0.59 to -.97). In contrast, the reading score based method yielded greater estimates of impairment in processing speed (Trails A) and flexibility (Trails B), with a wider range of impairment noted between cognitive and motor domains (z-score range = +0.21 to -2.95). Clinical implications are discussed.
Chlorinated hydrocarbons in seawater: Analytical method and levels in the northeastern Pacific

Scura, E. D. and McClure, V. E., 1975. Chlorinated hydrocarbons in seawater: analytical method and levels in the northeastern Pacific. Mar. Chem., 3: 337-346. A method is described for analyzing nanogram quantities of chlorinated hydrocarbons from 1-1 samples of seawater. Seawater samples are pumped t hrough a copper column containing a mixture by weight of 5% activated carbon powder, 10% MgO and 85% refined diatomaceous earth. The chlorinated h ydrocarbons in the seawater are adsorbed or trapped on the column and subsequently e luted with 30% benzene in acetone (v/v) for analysis by gas-liquid chromatography. This p rocedure was used to analyze chlorinated hydrocarbon levels in samples collected off the southern California coast. We suggest that anthropogenic chlorinated hydrocarbons can be used for the investigation of large-scale ocean currents and mixing processes.
Back-Pressure Routing and Optimal Scheduling in Wireless Broadcast Networks

This paper considers the joint routing and scheduling problem in wireless networks with lossy channels. In order to combat channel loss, packets are assumed to be transmitted by nodes using broadcast, instead of traditional point-to-point communication. We first analyze the network capacity region, and then propose a back-pressure routing with max-weight scheduling algorithm to achieve it. The proposed algorithm is a generalization of the algorithm proposed by Tassiulas [1] to wireless broadcast networks. Further, we propose a random low complexity scheduling algorithm which, combined with backpressure routing, also achieves the same capacity region. Both stability results are proved by the method of fluid limits [2].
On the survival lottery.

One would have hoped that the great abortion debate had reminded us all that a woman has a right to decide what happens in and to her body. And, of course, so does a man. It is a matter of bodily integrity. When this right is violated, at least if the victim is morally innocent, a charge of assault is in order. But Mr Harris would, in effect, qualify this right.1 He asks us to suppose that organ transplant procedures have been perfected. Having supposed this, we are urged to put ourselves in the place of Y and Z. They will die without, respectively, heart and lung transplants. But we have no spare organs in stock. So Harris proposes a no-nonsense reform. We ought not to let Y and Z die; rather we ought to take A's heart and lungs, thus killing A, to save Y and Z. And never mind A's right to bodily integrity. Two for one, after all, is a bargain not to be missed. Moreover, we can quiet most of our doubtlessly conditioned scruples about this proposal by scientifically selecting A through a national lottery. The computers will do it for us. Whatever we may think of Harris's idea, we can commend him for looking to a future that is almost at hand. Even now a similar scheme might be advanced for the distribution of corneas and kidneys. We can also commend Harris for noticing that utilitarians can have no principled objection to such a lottery, that indeed it may be mandatory for them. The lid on the utilitarian coffin has seemed fairly secure of late, but there is probably room for another nail to be driven into it. For it clearly counts against a normative moral theory that it could either permit or prescribe such a scheme. As Harris himself mildly remarks, 'we do feel there is something wrong with the survival lottery . . ..2 But what of the absolutist? On Harris's view, an absolutist cannot object to the lottery because it requires killing the innocent. But it is very hard to see why the absolutist cannot demur for exactly this reason. Y and Z might, in turn, say that if we do not kill A we kill them. But this is just false. And if it is not equally false to say that we 'let them die', it is surely misleading. Given the suggestion of neglect implicit in this locution, it is question-begging. More neutral, and perhaps the best we can do, is to say that we do not save Y and Z. Harris, to be sure, wants the absolutist to state the morally relevant
Electrocardiographic Manifestations: Pediatric ECG

Interpretation of pediatric electrocardiograms (ECGs) can be challenging for the Emergency Physician. Part of this difficulty arises from the fact that the normal ECG findings, including rate, rhythm, axis, intervals and morphology, change from the neonatal period through infancy, childhood, and adolescence. These changes occur as a result of the maturation of the myocardium and cardiovascular system with age. Along with these changes, up to 20% of pediatric ECGs obtained in the acute setting may have clinically significant abnormal findings. This article will discuss the approach to the interpretation of ECGs in children, the age-related findings and alterations on the normal pediatric ECG, and those ECG abnormalities associated with pediatric cardiac diseases, including the variety of congenital heart diseases seen in children.
International Law as Sword or Shield? Early American Foreign Policy and the Law of Nations

The history of international law at the Founding is at the center of a continuing debate on the federal nature of international law in the modern age. In support of federal exclusivity, mainstream scholars have amassed an impressive array of judicial and political quotes from the 1780s and 1790s. The revisionists (those who argue against federal exclusivity) admit the existence of this language but argue that it can be dismissed as politically motivated at the time and as antiquarian from a modern legal perspective. However, a review of the sparse historical literature uncovers a surprising lack of context,either political or social, to support the various contested narratives. Despite, or perhaps because of, the surprising paucity of writings on this essential topic, the few that have been authored have had a far-reaching impact. The unfortunate result has been the further propagation of many myths about the nature of late eighteenth-century America and the role of the law of nations within it. This paper seeks to place the political discourse of the law of nations into an intellectual, economic, and political history of the times. In so doing, I argue that the law of nations played a central role in formulating federal foreign policy and in shaping the early years of federal jurisdiction.
Student Profiling from Tutoring System Log Data: When do Multiple Graphical Representations Matter?

We analyze log-data generated by an experiment with Mathtutor, an intelligent tutoring system for fractions. The experiment compares the educational effectiveness of instruction with single and multiple graphical representations. We extract the error-making and hint-seeking behaviors of each student to characterize their learning strategy. Using an expectation-maximization approach, we cluster the students by their strategic profile. We find that a) experimental condition and learning outcome are clearly associated b) experimental condition and learning strategy are not, and c) almost all of the association between experimental condition and learning outcome is found among students implementing just one of the learning strategies we identify. This class of students is characterized by relatively high rates of error as well as a marked reluctance to seek help. They also show the greatest educational gains from instruction with multiple rather than single representations. The behaviors that characterize this group illuminate the mechanism underlying the effectiveness of multiple representations and suggest strategies for tailoring instruction to individual students. Our methodology can be implemented in an on-line tutoring system to dynamically tailor individualized instruction.
Noise simulations of supersonic hot jets for chevron nozzles

This paper describes a methodology combining advanced CFD technologies and the acoustic analogy for the simulation of jet noise from chevron nozzle geometries with engineering accuracy and e ciency. A multiblock structured mesh topology is used to represent complex nozzle geometries, including the faceted inner contours, nite nozzle thickness and chevrons. The impact of chevrons on the neareld noise sources and fareld noise radiation is simulated using the Immersed Boundary Method to overcome the di culties in grid generation. A modi ed block interface condition is used for the complex multiblock mesh topology to avoid the centerline singularity. A non-matching block interface condition is developed to allow the grids to be greatly re ned around the chevrons for a higher accuracy of simulation without signi cantly increasing the mesh size. To enable e cient calculations, a dual time-stepping approach is used in addition to parallel computation. The sub-iterations in the ctitious time are accelerated using both multigrid and implicit residual smoothing. A modi ed version of the Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) approach is used. Noise predictions are made with the permeable surface Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FWH) solution. Noise predictions are presented for chevron nozzles and baseline nozzles at the same operating conditions. A good agreement of the predicted noise spectra is found to reach St 3:0. Encouragingly, the frequencies and amplitudes of the broadband shock-associated noise are captured precisely. Details of the statistical properties in the jet shear layer are presented. These include the mean ow and the turbulence intensities, the two-point space-time correlations and associated length and time scales and convection velocities for both baseline and chevron nozzles.
The antiproliferative effects of interferon on murine embryonic cells.

SummaryThe antiproliferative effect of interferon was studied at various stages of pre- and postimplantation mouse embryo development. Although 3.4 × 103 reference units/ml of NDV induced mouse interferon did not inhibit development of DNA synthesis in preimplantation embryos, an inhibitory effect was first detectable in primary cell cultures derived from whole 8-day embryos. This effect reached a maximum of 36 to 44% inhibition of DNA synthesis in cells cultured from 10-day embryos and remained at the same level with cells cultured from 12, 14, and 17-day embryos. These results indicate that responsiveness to interferon is achieved in the mouse embryos by 10 days.
Biomechanical comparison of the atlantoaxial posterior transarticular screw fixation

Objective:To compare the biomechanical stability of C1/C2 vertebrae after anterior or posterior transarticular screw fixation,and to study the instrumented results by bilateral and unilateral lateral mass screw fixation.Method:5 fresh-frozen cadaveric cervical spines specimen were used for study.C1 and C2-C5 vertebrae were fixed with PMMA and screws separately,but the motion between C1 and C2 was preserved.The instability of atlas-axis was produced by cutting the odontoid,the transverse ligament on both sides of the odontoid and the tectorial membrane between C1 and C2.Lateral mass screw fixation by means of unilateral and bilateral anteriorly,unilateral and bilateral posteriorly(Margel technique) were performed in sequence according to the motheds described in the literature.The stiffness of the C1-C2 articulation of each specimen was tested under the biomechanical text platform,the text data were set up as follows:at anteflexion and lateral flexion text,the C1 vertebra displacement was 1mm,and at rotation test,the range of motion was 3 degree.The stiffness of C1/C2 in all kinds of circumstances described above was measured.Result:Significantly higher stiffness values were obtained with all kinds of the fixation techniques than that with the intact and destabilized stated for all modes of testing(P0.01).The bilateral anterior transarticular screws provided no significant difference stabilization compared with bilateral Magerl screws.Unilateral anterior transarticular screw had a lower stiffness compared with either bilateral anterior transarticular screws or bilateral Magerl screws.No significant difference in stiffness was found between unilateral anterior screw and unilateral posterior screw.Conclusion:The anterior bilateral mass screws can provide good stability,while unilateral anterior transarticular screw has a poor stability.
Brain Mapping: The Applications: Mood and Emotions

Publisher Summary Strategies to map emotions—fear, anxiety, happiness, and sadness—have taken a number of forms using a wide variety of organisms and equally broad array of techniques. Functional imaging studies performed in humans provide an important and unique complement to the use of animal models. Building on these animal models, human studies can additionally examine specific changes in emotional state using self-report. Despite the apparent theoretical advantages afforded by human studies, the strengths and limitations of the various brain-imaging techniques must be known to optimize their use in the investigation of emotions or any other neural process. No matter how precise or well-behaved an a priori experimental model, the intrinsic spatial and temporal resolution of the chosen imaging technique, be it positron emission tomography (PET), functional magnetic resonance imaging, or event related potentials, would fundamentally have an impact on the isolation of anticipated neuronal responses from specific structures over a given time period. Paradigms using PET must accept that regional events are integrated over a minimum of tens of seconds, and generally on the order of about one minute, precluding determination of the chronological order of changes in multiple sites or imaging of extremely rapid events such as the immediate unconditional fear response.
Anger, wrath, fear, thirst for vengeance

TAKING THE PULSE OF KNIGHTLY EMOTIONS What might seem, from an idealistic modern perspective, a triumvirate of the nasty emotions – anger, wrath, and a thirst for vengeance, hot emotions working in tandem with their first cousin, icy fear – actually constituted sturdy pillars upholding structural elements of chivalric ideology. In fact, this daunting trident of emotions (with fear ever hovering) addressed basic chivalric concerns about acquiring and preserving honor and status and avoiding dread shame. The chivalric life, says Wolfram von Eschenbach in his Parzifal , gives two rich possessions to its practitioners: one is good faith (the loyalty we have repeatedly encountered); the other gift is “a true sense of the shame which brings honor, today as of old.” Any challenge on these fronts could spark these emotions into living flame. As men obsessed with status and honor, knights knew they must show enemies – and also demonstrate to their fellow arms bearers in a competitive world – that they would not submit to any perceived debasement; that they would vigorously enact appropriate responses in order to secure social position; and that they, with a little help from friends, subordinates, or right-minded superiors in the military–tenurial hierarchy, would restore their corner of the world to its rightful state. In Middle High German, to take only one relevant case in point, the noun leit can mean not only sorrow, but insult and dishonor. Our sources thus focus on these emotions as correctives to intolerable challenges. And the case of fear provides the spur, showing deep worries about the possibility of loss. That these powerful forces were abundantly active in the mental framework at the peak of elite lay society can readily be seen in the emotions and political actions of kings. Their vigorous personalities inspired or provoked a relatively rich supply of sources. Wrath, anger, and revenge functioned as expected and lauded royal traits. Their wrath easily enacted mini-dramas of power; their desire for vengeance could move armies. Contemporary medieval sources point to a furor Teutonicus , a rage in battle that marked German combat. With reason pushed aside, this battle fury could motivate fighters. Wrath was often, of course, displayed by individuals, especially those in power.
Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of Early Tirofiban Treatment After Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background and Purpose— We investigated whether early initiation of tirofiban, a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist, is safe, can reduce the risk of reocclusion, and improve outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients after alteplase. Methods— Forty-one patients received alteplase followed by intravenous tirofiban infusion for at least 24 hours. The incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, systematic bleedings, and death was recorded. The National Institutes of Health stroke scale score was evaluated at 24 hours and at day 7 (or discharge). Modified Rankin scale was assessed at 3 months. Outcomes for these patients were compared with a propensity score–matched historical cohort with alteplase only. Results— The incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, death, or systematic bleedings ( P =1.00) was not increased in the alteplase/tirofiban group. At 24 hours, fewer patients experienced reocclusion in the alteplase/tirofiban group (2.4% versus 22.0%; P =0.025). At day 7 or discharge, the median National Institutes of Health stroke scale score was significantly lower in the alteplase/tirofiban group (1 versus 6; P =0.002). At 3 months, more patients had favorable outcomes of modified Rankin scale 0 to 1 (70.7% versus 46.2%; P =0.026). Conclusions— Intravenous tirofiban immediately after alteplase seems to be safe and potentially more effective when compared with alteplase alone for selected stroke patients. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-14004630.
Electronic transformer real-time analysis technology

In the process of intelligent substation construction, electronic transformer has many defects in the beginning, and gradually entered a stage of stable operation. Currently, the primary means for operating personnel operation to found electronic transformer defects is their own warning or the alarm of protection equipment using this electronic transformer's data. For those who did not lead to consequences, fleeting anomalies, lack of necessary monitoring tools and instruments. In order to improve the monitoring of running status of the electronic transformer, this paper presents a strategy of real-time operational status analysis for electronic transformer substation based on SV data, to establish a hardware independent reliability evaluation model. Through long-term monitoring and analysis of reliability, stability and correctness of the electronic transformer's output data, to assess the reliability of electronic transformer. Through the application of electronic transformer monitoring method based on SV data, SV data exception diagnosis model is established, and the exception information statistics, records. Not only real-time monitoring the SV data status of each electronic transformer, has also established a plurality of electronic transformer monitoring model based on bus and main transformer unit to indirect verification data accuracy of the electronic transformer. This method not only can carry on the real-time alarm of exceptions, also can carry on the long-term track record and regular classification statistical analysis of exceptions, comparing the long-term trend analysis, early warning of possible risks. This method can effectively enhance the level of electronic transformer operation and maintenance security of power grid.
Progressive abduction loading therapy targeting flexion synergy to regain reaching function in chronic stroke: Preliminary results from an RCT

Reaching function is impaired following stroke due to abnormal coupling of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as flexion synergy, loss of independent joint control, or impaired joint individuation. We have been successful in treating individuals with chronic stroke with moderate to severe motor impairments through the employment of targeted rehabilitation robotics and identified progressive abduction loading as a key element to the rehabilitation of reaching. Here we expand upon the investigation of progressive abduction loading therapy by testing two variants of the exercise in a larger sample and including a 3-month follow-up. Furthermore, we attempt to glean additional insights into the mechanisms underlying improvements by not only assessing reaching distance as a function of abduction loading but, for the first time, assessing peak reaching velocity, a combined measure of dynamic elbow and shoulder strength. Thirty-one participants with severe stroke were randomized to two intervention variants. Preliminary analysis has been performed and results are presented for blinded combined-group data. Following the intervention, there was a significant improvement in both reaching distance and peak reaching velocity. Mechanisms for improvement are briefly discussed.
Gamera: Optical music recognition in a new shell

An optical music recognition system has been completely overhauled and reformatted into a new framework called Gamera. The new open-source software is not only designed to recognize various music notations, including handwritten scores, but can be used to develop systems that can recognize many other structured documents. Gamera is intended to be used by domain experts with particular knowledge of the documents to be recognized but without strong programming skills. Gamera contains image processing and recognition tools in an easy-to-use, interactive, graphical scripting environment. Additionally, the system can be extended through a C++ and Python plugins.