Bedside application of the Neonatal Facial Coding System in pain assessment of premature neonates

Assessment of infant pain is a pressing concern, especially within the context of neonatal intensive care where infants may be exposed to prolonged and repeated pain during lengthy hospitalization. In the present study the feasibility of carrying out the complete Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS) in real time at bedside, specifically reliability, construct and concurrent validity, was evaluated in a tertiary level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Heel lance was used as a model of procedural pain, and observed with n = 40 infants at 32 weeks gestational age. Infant sleep/wake state, NFCS facial activity and specific hand movements were coded during baseline, unwrap, swab, heel lance, squeezing and recovery events. Heart rate was recorded continuously and digitally sampled using a custom designed computer system. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically significant differences across events for facial activity (P <0.0001) and heart rate (P <0.0001). Planned comparisons showed facial activity unchanged during baseline, swab and unwrap, then increased significantly during heel lance (P <0.0001), increased further during squeezing (P <0.003), then decreased during recovery (P <0.0001). Systematic shifts in sleep/wake state were apparent. Rise in facial activity was consistent with increased heart rate, except that facial activity more closely paralleled initiation of the invasive event. Thus facial display was more specific to tissue damage compared with heart rate. Inter-observer reliability was high. Construct validity of the NFCS at bedside was demonstrated as invasive procedures were distinguished from tactile. While bedside coding of behavior does not permit raters to be blind to events, mechanical recording of heart rate allowed for an independent source of concurrent validation for bedside application of the NFCS scale.

Exploring the free energy surfaces of clusters using reconnaissance metadynamics

A new approach is proposed for exploring the low-energy structures of small to medium-sized aggregates of atoms and molecules. This approach uses the recently proposed reconnaissance metadynamics method [G. A. Tribello, M. Ceriotti, and M. Parrinello. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 107(41), 17509 (2010)] in tandem with collective variables that describe the average structure of the coordination sphere around the atoms/molecules. We demonstrate this method on both Lennard-Jones and water clusters and show how it is able to quickly find the global minimum in the potential energy surface, while exploring the finite temperature free energy surface. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3628676]

Sparkling wine choice from supermarket shelves: the impact of certification of origin and production practices

We report the results of a study based on revealed and stated preference data on choice of Prosecco wines in retail stores close to the origin of production in Northern Italy. Emphasis is placed on ability to reconcile the utility structure of stated preference data with that underlying revealed preference data. We extend the analysis to cover nonattendance of key attributes, such as price and certification of origin, while controlling for the large range of brand effects.

What happens in court?:The development of understanding of the legal system in a sample of Irish children and adults

A total sample of three hundred and sixty (N=360) Irish children and adults, drawn from nine age groups, were administered the specially designed Legal Knowledge and Perception of Court Interview Schedule. Analyses of variance revealed a main effect for age of participant. Participants demonstrated increasing knowledge of the legal system with increasing age. The findings of the present study suggest inter alia that Irish children, particularly those under nine years of age, do not possess sufficient understanding of the legal system to enable them to participate as effectively as they might as witnesses. The potential for developing a systematic programme of preparing child witnesses for their involvement in the legal process is discussed.

Low-energy scattering of electrons by caesium atoms

The relativistic R-matrix method is used to calculate elastic and inelastic cross sections for electrons incident on caesium atoms with energies from 0-3 eV. These cross sections reveal a wealth of resonance structure in this energy range. The differential cross sections as well as the spin polarisation function S( theta ) and the left-right asymmetry function S( theta ) are calculated and enable conclusions to be drawn on the importance of spin-dependent interactions.

Low-energy scattering of electrons by caesium atoms. II

The relativistic R-matrix method is used to calculate elastic and inelastic cross sections for electrons incident on caesium atoms with energies from 0-3 eV. In addition to the total cross sections, results are presented on the differential cross sections, sigma , and the spin polarisation, P, of the scattered electrons as a function of energy at the scattering angles 10 degrees , 50 degrees , 90 degrees and 150 degrees . The calculation reveals a wealth of resonances around the P and P thresholds. The resonances are analysed in detail and their role in the scattering process is discussed.

The Effect of the Secret Ballot on Party System Fragmentation: A Test of Three Competing Arguments

Few studies have examined the impact that the adoption of the secret ballot had on party system fragmentation outside the United States. This article tests arguments maintaining that the adoption of the secret ballot had a negative, positive or nil effect on party system fragmentation. Using time-series cross-sectional data from
several countries adopting the secret ballot around the turn of the twentieth century, the results demonstrate that the adoption of the secret ballot did not hinder – though did not favour, either – the development of multiparty systems.

A Highly Efficient Palladium(II)/Polyoxometalate Catalyst System for Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols

A simple catalyst system composed of Pd(OAc)2, phosphomolybdic acid and tetrabutylammonium acetate oxidises a range of alcohols efficiently, with turnover numbers (TONs) of up to 10 000.