bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide Surfactant on Decolorization of Remazol Blue by a Living Aspergillus versicolor Strain
Authors: Gül Ülküye Dudu , Dönmez Gönül 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe effect of dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) cationic surfactant on Remazol Blue reactive dye bioremoval properties of a growing Aspergillus versicolor strain in a molasses medium was investigated in a batch system as a function of pH, dye and surfactant concentrations. To determine the optimal pH value in the presence of 0.5 mM DTAB pH 3 to 7 was examined and pH 6 was selected. The dye concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/L were examined with 0.5 mM DTAB and maximum decolorization occurred in 100 mg/L dye (98.8 %). The surfactant concentration of 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM DTAB was performed in 100 and 800 mg/L dye. The effect of surfactant concentration (0.1 to 2 mM DTAB) in a fungal growth experiment has shown that DTAB inhibited fungal growth. The decolorization was increased from 53.6 % (dry weight: 1.31 g/L) to 100 % (dry weight:0.93 g/L) while the surfactant concentrations were increased from 0.1 to 1 mM. A. versicolor (dry weight: 0.93 g/L) showed its maximum dye removal activity, namely 100 % in 100 mg/L dye with 1 mM DTAB at pH 6 in 3 days. The use of surfactants in biological wastewater treatment process will save energy and lower energy costs (such as the required energy for treat techniques) by shortening the incubation period. The results showed that the A. versicolor strain, which produces laccase enzyme, can effectively decolorize reactive dyes by the enhancement of DTAB. Surfactant enhanced decolorization technology is one of the feasible approaches to remove textile dye from wastewater.
A model for inference of emotional state based on facial expressions
Authors: Gonçalves Rafael A. M. , Cueva Diego R. , Pereira-Barretto Marcos R. , Cozman Fabio G. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractNon-verbal communication is of paramount importance in person-to-person interaction, as emotions are an integral part of human beings. A sociable robot should therefore display similar abilities as a way to interact seamlessly with the user. This work proposes a model for inference of conveyed emotion in real situations where a human is talking. It is based on the analysis of instantaneous emotion by Kalman filtering and the continuous movement of the emotional state over an Emotional Surface, resulting in evaluations similar to humans in conducted tests. A simulation-optimization heuristic for system tuning is described and allows easy adaptation to various facial expression analysis applications.
Workgroup on NAPA's scientific agenda for a national initiative on Alzheimer's disease
Authors:   Alzheimer's Association Expert Advisory Workgroup on NAPA, Khachaturian Zaven S. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis report outlines a goal‐directed scientific agenda for a national initiative to overcome the Alzheimer's disease (AD) crisis. The statement, which reflects the collective views and recommendations of leaders in AD research, is intended to aid the implementation of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA)'s National Plan to defeat AD. The primary public policy aims of this 10‐year scientific agenda are to discover, validate, and develop: (1) a broad range of technologies, tools and algorithms for early detection of people with symptomatic AD, and asymptomatic individuals at elevated risk for AD and other dementias; and (2) a wide range of interventions to preserve and/or restore health and normal neural function, aiming to maintain independent functioning for as long as possible. The long‐term scientific public health objectives of this comprehensive plan are to: (1) reduce the number of people with chronic disabling symptoms who will require prolonged care and, eventually, reduce the number of asymptomatic people at elevated risk for AD/dementia; (2) delay the onset of chronic disability for people with AD and other degenerative brain disorders; and (3) lower the cost and burden of care. The plan calls for significant expansion of research programs to identify and validate the cause(s) and pathogenesis of AD, genetic and epigenetic factors that contribute to AD risk, therapeutic targets that affect disease progression, surrogate biomarkers of AD pathobiology, and technologies for early detection of AD.
Reproducibility of Ultrasound Measurement of Transversus Abdominis During Loaded, Functional Tasks in Asymptomatic Young Adults
Authors: McPherson Sue L. , Watson Todd 
Published: June 2012

ObjectiveTo examine the reproducibility of repeat tests of ultrasound imaging (USI) measurement of transversus abdominis (TrA) activation in a single group of asymptomatic adults performing reaching and lifting tasks before and after abdominal drawing‐in technique (ADIM) training in the supine position with TrA USI biofeedback.DesignClinical measurement, longitudinal reliability study.SettingUniversity laboratory.ParticipantsFive male (age, 20.6 ± 4.8 years; body mass index, 25.8 ± 4.5) and 8 female (age, 18.3 ± 0.5 years; body mass index, 24.4 ± 3.3) healthy college students.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresReliability and precision of minimum, maximum, and percentage of change in TrA thickness measures were examined on recorded cine loop images obtained via USI (B‐mode, 7.5 MHz) for 13 asymptomatic adults. Thickness changes of the TrA muscle were measured at rest and during contraction while performing 5 functional, loaded tasks on 3 repeat tests during 3 testing sessions (ie, before ADIM training and 5 minutes and 5 months after ADIM training). The percent thickness change of TrA was calculated as [(thicknessmax – thicknessmin)/thicknessmin] × 100. Reproducibility was examined by using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,k), standard error of measurement (error variance formula), and repeated‐measures analysis of variance.ResultsRanges of ICC and standard error of measurement values for 3 repeat tests per testing session were high and precise for single measures of minimum thickness per task (session 1: 0.68‐0.93, 0.24‐0.37 mm; session 2: 0.62‐0.87, 0.28‐0.44 mm; session 3: 0.79‐0.84, 0.43‐0.56 mm) and for composite measures of maximum thickness (session 1: 0.93, 0.25 mm; session 2: 0.94, 0.37 mm; session 3: 0.95, 0.64 mm) and percent change in thickness (session 1: 0.81, 12%; session 2: 0.94, 14%; session 3: 0.94, 15%). Repeated‐measures analysis of variance indicated significant effects for subjects, but not repeat tests.ConclusionsThis study produced acceptable reproducibility of USI measures of TrA during loaded functional activities.
Concussion Evaluation Methods Among Washington State High School Football Coaches and Athletic Trainers
Authors: Murphy Ashley , Kaufman Marla S. , Molton Ivan , Coppel David B. , Benson John , Herring Stanley A. 
Published: June 2012

ObjectiveTo evaluate awareness of concussion assessment methods and to determine whether there are differences among Washington State high school football coaches and athletic trainers in urban versus rural school districts.DesignA Catalyst WebQ survey link was randomly sent by e‐mail to varsity head football coaches, athletic trainers, and athletic directors in Washington State school districts.ParticipantsSurvey participants were high school varsity head football coaches and athletic trainers from a total of 106 Washington State high schools.MethodsA 12‐item questionnaire on Catalyst WebQ was distributed via e‐mail. The survey inquired about use of the methods of concussion assessment, both on the field and for follow‐up; participants' concussion education training; and familiarity with Washington State's Zackery Lystedt Law.Main Outcome MeasurementsThe survey examined differences in concussion management practices between rural and urban school districts and also between coaches and athletic trainers in Washington State, specifically regarding the use of the Standardized Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2) and neurocognitive testing (NCT).ResultsTwenty‐seven of 48 respondents (56%) used the SCAT2 for on‐the‐field assessment; urban respondents were significantly more likely to use SCAT2 (P < .05). The difference between coaches and athletic trainers with respect to SCAT2 use was not significant (P = .08). NCT was used by 18 of 58 respondents (31%). This was more commonly used by those in urban districts (P < .01) and by athletic trainers (P < .01). Eleven of these 18 individuals (61%) reported that a neuropsychologist interpreted the results; the rest used other providers not specifically trained in neuropsychology. There was no statistically significant correlation between years of experience and use of the SCAT2, but those with more than 10 years of experience were less likely to use NCT (P < .01). All respondents reported being familiar with Washington State's Zackery Lystedt Law, but only 44.1% reported that the law changed their concussion management.ConclusionsThere were statistically significant differences between SCAT2 and NCT use for respondents from urban and rural districts, and also between coaches and athletic trainers, as well as NCT use among respondents with varying years of experience. Further understanding and identification of barriers that limit identification and management of concussions in high school athletes are crucial to prevent serious permanent injury. Additional education is necessary to ensure that athletic trainers and coaches are aware of current recommendations within the medical literature for the evaluation and management of concussions.
An Assessment of a Short Composite Questionnaire Designed for Use in an Interventional Spine Pain Management Setting
Authors: Burnham Robert , Stanford Gordon , Gray Lori 
Published: June 2012

ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability, validity, responsiveness, and practicality of a short composite questionnaire designed for use in an interventional spine pain management setting.SettingA rural interventional spine pain management practice.PatientsSixty subjects undergoing spinal intervention procedures (injection or neurotomy).MethodsThe Pain Disability Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Spine (PDQQ‐S) assesses spine pain quality, related disability, and life satisfaction/quality with the use of 2 questions for each domain. To assess the PDQQ‐S, patients completed 4 questionnaires (McGill Pain Questionnaire [MPQ], Oswestry Disability Questionnaire [ODQ], Assessment of Quality of Life [AQoL], and PDQQ‐S). Patients completed the questionnaires twice before their procedure and once after their procedure.Main Outcome MeasuresTest‐retest reliability was assessed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient for the 2 preprocedure questionnaire completions. Validity was assessed by calculating the Pearson correlation of the pain quality, disability, and life quality/satisfaction question scores of the PDQQ‐S with the MPQ, ODQ, and AQoL, respectively. Questionnaire responsiveness was explored by calculating responsiveness ratio scores. Practicality was assessed by recording the time required to complete each questionnaire and the ease with which it was completed.ResultsTest‐retest reliability correlation scores were as follows: PDQQ‐S = 0.73; MPQ = 0.88; ODQ = 0.89; and AQoL = 0.83. Acceptable correlations existed between the pain, disability, and life quality/satisfaction domains of the PDQQ‐S and the MPQ (.50), ODQ (.71), and AQoL (−.43), respectively. Responsiveness ratio scores for the PDQQ‐S, MPQ, ODQ, and AQoL were 4.4, 1.9, 2.3, and 0.7, respectively. Compared with the other questionnaires, the PDQQ‐S required approximately one fifth the time to complete and was significantly easier to understand.ConclusionsThe PDQQ‐S demonstrates adequate reliability and validity and superior responsiveness and practicality in persons with low back pain undergoing interventional spine pain management procedures.
Influence of Directional Preference on Two Clinical Dichotomies: Acute Versus Chronic Pain and Axial Low Back Pain Versus Sciatica
Authors: Donelson Ronald , Long Audrey , Spratt Kevin , Fung Tak 
Published: June 2012

ObjectiveTo determine whether outcomes from treatment determined by subjects' directional preference (ie, reduction in back and/or leg pain, by performing a single direction of repeated end‐range lumbar movement) would vary based on pain duration, location, or neurologic status.DesignA secondary analysis of data from a multicenter randomized clinical trial.SettingEleven physical therapy departments or clinics in 5 countries, with referrals for both acute and chronic low back pain.SubjectsSeventy‐one of 80 subjects with acute to chronic low back pain, and with and without radicular leg pain, and with or without mild neurologic deficit, were found at baseline to have a directional preference and were then treated with directional exercises that matched their directional preference.MethodsAll of the subjects were treated for 2 weeks with directional exercises and compatible posture modifications. Independent variables were pain duration, pain location, and neurologic status.Main Outcome MeasurementsPrimary measures were back and leg pain intensity and function (Roland Morris Disability Questionnare). Secondary measures were activity interference, medication use, depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and a self‐report of improvement.ResultsThe subjects significantly improved their back and leg pain intensity, disability, and all secondary outcome measures, but pain duration, location, and neurologic status classification did not predict treatment responsiveness. Across all pain duration categories, 91%‐100% either improved or resolved completely. There also was significant improvement across all pain location and neurologic status categories, with no significant differences across the outcome variables.ConclusionsIn subjects found to have a directional preference who then treated themselves with matching directional exercises, neither pain duration nor pain location and neurologic status predicted their uniformly good‐to‐excellent outcomes.
FX counterparty risk and trading activity in currency forward and futures markets
Authors: Levich Richard M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe Global Financial Crisis initiated a period of market turbulence and increased counterparty risk for financial institutions. Even though the Dodd–Frank Act is likely to exempt interbank foreign exchange trading from a central counterparty mandate, market participants have the option to trade currency futures on existing futures markets which standardize counterparty risks. Evidence for the period 2005–11 indicates that the market share of currency futures trading has grown relative to the pre‐crisis period. This shift may be the result of a perceived increase in counterparty risk among banks, as well as changes in relative trading costs or changes in other institutional factors.
A Bayesian interpretation of the Federal Reserve's dual mandate and the Taylor Rule
Authors: Putnam Bluford H. , Azzarello Samantha 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWhen the Federal Reserve was established by the US Congress in 1913, its charter mandated that the new central bank “promote an elastic currency” and the institution was given extraordinary powers to serve as a lender of last resort to the banking system. Congress was reacting to the cycle of financial panics that had beset the country since the Civil War and had worsened with the Panic of 1907. Congress sought to find a remedy to prevent runs on banks turning into full‐fledged financial crises. The term “elastic” in the opening words of the charter was intended to underscore the need for a robust banking system that could withstand shocks and not collapse upon itself. There was no mention whatsoever of a dual mandate of promoting price stability and encouraging full employment.With prodding from the US Congress, the Federal Reserve became highly involved in the management of the economy of the United States after WWII, focusing on inflation and full employment objectives. In 1993 Professor John Taylor set forth an elegant and simple framework (aka, the Taylor Rule) for analyzing the interest rate policy of the Federal Reserve in terms of its dual mandate.This paper examines Federal Reserve behavior from the mid‐1950s to 2011 through the lens of the Taylor Rule. Our contribution is to use a dynamic linear model with Bayesian inference to update the evolution through time of the key parameters surrounding the inflation and full employment mandates, using only the information available to the Federal Reserve at each point in time. Our findings provide a more nuanced quantitative view than is previously available in the literature of how the Federal Reserve shifted its management of its dual mandate over time and in response to different economic challenges. Moreover, our research leads to serious questions of how Federal Reserve decision making may change in the future, following the financial panic of 2008, pointing toward numerous avenues for new research.
Credit risk dynamics in response to changes in the federal funds target: The implication for firm short‐term debt
Authors: Dunbar Kwamie , Amin Abu S. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe recent credit crisis has raised a number of interesting questions regarding the role of the Federal Reserve Bank and the effectiveness of its expected and unexpected interventions in financial markets, especially during the crisis, given its mandate. This paper reviews and evaluates the impact of expected and unexpected changes in the federal funds rate target on credit risk premia. The paper's main innovation is the use of an ACH‐VAR (autoregressive conditional hazard VAR) model to generate the Fed's expected and unexpected monetary policy shocks which are then used to determine the effects of a Federal Reserve policy change on counterparty credit risk and more importantly short‐term firm debt financing. The findings answer a longstanding question sought by researchers on the effect of policy makers' announcements on firm debt financing. The results clearly show that the Federal Reserve influences short‐term debt financing through the credit channel for both expansionary and contractionary monetary policies. In particular, we find that the growth in counterparty risk appears less responsive to anticipated responses in the Fed funds rate that fail to materialize than to an unanticipated increase in the federal funds rate. Finally, we also document that the results appear to validate the Feds interventions in financial markets to stem counterparty risk and to make liquidity more readily available to firms.
Rock Climbing Rescues: Causes, Injuries, and Trends in Boulder County, Colorado
Authors: Lack Daniel A. , Sheets Alison L. , Entin Jacob M. , Christenson David C. 
Published: June 2012

Objective To describe rates and patterns of rock climbing rescue incidents, morbidity and mortality in Boulder County, CO. Methods Rocky Mountain Rescue Group incident reports from 1998 to 2011 were reviewed to provide a 14-year statistical account of rock climbing incidents. Results Rock climbing rescues in Boulder accounted for 428 of a total of 2198 (19.5%) mountain and wilderness rescue victims. Most rock climbing victims were male (78%), and 46% of victims were between the ages of 20 and 29 years; most rock climbing incidents occurred on weekend days (median time of 3:30 pm) during the spring, summer, and autumn. Technical roped climbers accounted for 58% of climbing victims, whereas unroped climbers accounted for 34%. Belay incidents accounted for 12% of climbing victims, whereas rock fall incidents accounted for 4.5% of victims. Most victims were uninjured (43% stranded or lost), whereas lower extremity injuries were the most common injury (29.5% of injured victims). A total of 5.5% of climbing victims were fatally injured (23 victims: 5 from lead falls and 9 from unroped falls). Conclusions The occurrence of rock climbing–related rescue victims comprised one fifth of all rescue victims in Boulder County. A large fraction of incidents and fatalities resulted from unroped climbing. Incidents of lost or uninjured stranded climbers and belay incidents account for more than half of victims, which can likely be prevented by gaining appropriate experience, seeking local information, and applying some simple safety measures for control of rope belays.
A Retrospective Review of Early Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the Prediction of Crotaline Envenomation Severity
Authors: Thornton Stephen L. , Nguyen Kenneth T. , Shenn Spondee K. , Castillo Edward M. , Clark Richard F. , Cantrell F. Lee 
Published: June 2012

Objectives Rattlesnake envenomations are cited to cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, which may be indicators of systemic envenomation. We sought to identify whether the presence of early GI symptoms, defined as occurring within 4 hours of the bite, could be used to predict antivenom use or bite severity. Methods We performed a retrospective review of a statewide poison system's database for all cases of rattlesnake envenomation from January 2000 to December 2009. Data collected included presence of GI symptoms and antivenom use. The GI symptoms were further classified as early (within 4 hours) or late. Bite severity was determined using the minimal to moderate to severe scoring system from collected data. Data were then analyzed with a χ2 test and Fisher's exact test to evaluate for association between early GI symptoms and either antivenom use or bite severity. Results There were 2570 reported rattlesnake exposures in the database. Sixty-one (2.4%) of these had GI symptoms reported. Of these, 36 (59%) had symptoms develop within 4 hours of envenomation. A total of 49 patients (80%) received antivenom. Early GI symptoms were seen in 31 (63%) of patients receiving antivenom versus 5 (42%) of patients not receiving antivenom ( P = .20). Early GI symptoms were seen in 4 of 6 (66%) of the severe group, 19 of 29 (66%) of the moderate group, and 13 of 26 (50%) of the minimal group ( P = .47). Conclusions Gastrointestinal symptoms after rattlesnake envenomations were rarely reported in this poison center study, and the presence of early GI symptoms did not predict bite severity or the use of antivenom.
Lower hybrid current drive at high density in the multi-pass regime
Authors: Wallace G. M. , Faust I. C. , Meneghini O. , Parker R. R. , Shiraiwa S. , Baek S. G. , Bonoli P. T. , Hubbard A. E. , Hughes J. W. , LaBombard B. L. , Lau C. , Ma Y. , Reinke M. L. , Terry J. L. , Whyte D. G. , Wright J. C. , Wukitch S. J. , Harvey R. W. , Schmidt A. E. , Smirnov A. P. , Wilson J. R. 
Published: June 2012

Assessing the performance of lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) at high density is critical for developing non-inductive current drive systems on future steady-state experiments. Excellent LHCD efficiency has been observed during fully non-inductive operation (η=2.0−2.5×1019 AW–1m–2 at n¯e=0.5×1020 m–3) on Alcator C-Mod [I. H. Hutchinson et al., Phys. Plasmas 1, 1511 (1994)] under conditions (ne, magnetic field and topology, and LHCD frequency) relevant to ITER [S. Shiraiwa et al., Nucl. Fusion 51, 103024 (2011)]. To extend these results to advanced tokamak regimes with higher bootstrap current fractions on C-Mod, it is necessary to increase n¯e to 1.0−1.5×1020 m−3. However, the number of current-carrying, non-thermal electrons generated by LHCD drops sharply in diverted configurations at densities that are well below the density limit previously observed on limited tokamaks. In these cases, changes in scrape off layer (SOL) ionization and density profiles are observed during LHCD, indicating that significant power is transferred from the LH waves to the SOL. Fokker-Planck simulations of these discharges utilizing ray tracing and full wave propagation codes indicate that LH waves in the high density, multi-pass absorption regime linger in the plasma edge, and SOL region, where absorption near or outside the LCFS results in the loss of current drive efficiency. Modeling predicts that non-thermal emission increases with stronger single-pass absorption. Experimental data show that increasing Te in high density LH discharges results in higher non-thermal electron emission, as predicted by the models.