Showing papers by "California State University, Long Beach published in 2011"

Defining left bundle branch block in the era of cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Abstract: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has emerged as an attractive intervention to improve left ventricular mechanical function by changing the sequence of electrical activation. Unfortunately, many patients receiving CRT do not benefit but are subjected to device complications and costs. Thus, there is a need for better selection criteria. Current criteria for CRT eligibility include a QRS duration ≥120 ms. However, QRS morphology is not considered, although it can indicate the cause of delayed conduction. Recent studies have suggested that only patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) benefit from CRT, and not patients with right bundle branch block or nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay. The authors review the pathophysiologic and clinical evidence supporting why only patients with complete LBBB benefit from CRT. Furthermore, they review how the threshold of 120 ms to define LBBB was derived subjectively at a time when criteria for LBBB and right bundle branch block were mistakenly reversed. Three key studies over the past 65 years have suggested that 1/3 of patients diagnosed with LBBB by conventional electrocardiographic criteria may not have true complete LBBB, but likely have a combination of left ventricular hypertrophy and left anterior fascicular block. On the basis of additional insights from computer simulations, the investigators propose stricter criteria for complete LBBB that include a QRS duration ≥140 ms for men and ≥130 ms for women, along with mid-QRS notching or slurring in ≥2 contiguous leads. Further studies are needed to reinvestigate the electrocardiographic criteria for complete LBBB and the implications of these criteria for selecting patients for CRT.

MAPPING JOURNALISM CULTURES ACROSS NATIONS: A comparative study of 18 countries

Abstract: This article reports key findings from a comparative survey of the role perceptions, epistemological orientations and ethical views of 1800 journalists from 18 countries. The results show that detachment, non-involvement, providing political information and monitoring the government are considered essential journalistic functions around the globe. Impartiality, the reliability and factualness of information, as well as adherence to universal ethical principles are also valued worldwide, though their perceived importance varies across countries. Various aspects of interventionism, objectivism and the importance of separating facts from opinion, on the other hand, seem to play out differently around the globe. Western journalists are generally less supportive of any active promotion of particular values, ideas and social change, and they adhere more to universal principles in their ethical decisions. Journalists from non-western contexts, on the other hand, tend to be more interventionist in their role perceptions and more flexible in their ethical views.

The Results of the National Heritage Language Survey: Implications for Teaching, Curriculum Design, and Professional Development

Abstract: This article reports on a survey of heritage language learners (HLLs) across different heritage languages (HLs) and geographic regions in the United States. A general profile of HLLs emerges as a student who (1) acquired English in early childhood, after acquiring the HL; (2) has limited exposure to the HL outside the home; (3) has relatively strong aural and oral skills but limited literacy skills; (4) has positive HL attitudes and experiences; and (5) studies the HL mainly to connect with communities of speakers in the United States and to gain insights into his or her roots.We argue that a community-based curriculum represents an effective way to harness the wealth of knowledge and experiences that HLLs bring to the classroom and to respond to their goals for their HL. Key words: community-based curriculum, heritage language (HL), heritage language attitudes, heritage language learners (HLL), motivations Introduction A comparison of the U.S. Census Bureau data of the censuses of 1990 and 2000 as well as the Community Estimates of 2007 and 2008 reveals that this country has been experiencing an unprecedented increase in immigration, which results in an increase of speakers of languages other than English and correspondingly larger enrollments of ''heritage speakers'' of these languages in classes of world languages. For example, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 1 figures of 2008, several languages posted significant increases in speakers in the past 20 years. Spanish (34,559,894), Chinese (2,465,761), Tagalog (1,488,385), Vietnamese (1,332,633), Korean (1,051,641), and Russian (864,069) are among these languages (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009, n.p.). This creates a steady stream of students who speak a language other than English at home and enroll in classes of world languages to gain literacy and improve or maintain their home languages. Instructors have been concerned with teaching these students who, as we show, may require a different curriculum because of their specific proficiencies. This article reports on a national survey of heritage language learners (HLLs) that aims to inform the design of curricula, materials, and professional development projects in the area of heritage language (HL) teaching.1 The survey offers an unprecedented look at the linguistic profiles, goals, and attitudes of college-level HLLs across different languages and geographic regions in the United States.2 The ever-growing presence of HLLs in foreign language departments has created an unprecedented need for this kind of information as well as for clarity regarding basic terms and issues surrounding HL teaching. Wiley (2001) explained the importance of the label ''heritage language learner'': The labels and definitions that we apply to heritage language learners are important, because they help to shape the status of the learners and the languages they are learning. Deciding on what types of learners should be included under the heritage language label raises a number of issues related to identity and inclusion and exclusion. . . . Some learners, with a desire to establish a connection with a past language, might not be speakers of that language yet. (p. 35) The labels applied to the learners and languages that fall under the domain of ''heritage language teaching'' vary considerably, depending on the importance assigned to learners' ability to speak the HL. Fishman (2001, p. 81) defined HLs ''as those that (a) are LOTEs (languages other than English) and that (b) have a particular family relevance to the learners.'' Van Deusen- Scholl (2003, p. 222) used the term ''learners with a heritage motivation'' in reference to those ''raised with a strong cultural connection to a particular language through family interaction.'' Hornberger and Wang (2008, p. 27) definedHLLs as ''individuals who have familial or ancestral ties to a particular language that is not English and who exert their agency in determining whether or not they are HLLs (heritage language learners) of that HL (heritage language) and HC (heritage community). …

Understanding Impulsive Aggression: Angry Rumination and Reduced Self-Control Capacity Are Mechanisms Underlying the Provocation-Aggression Relationship

Abstract: Interpersonal provocation is a common and robust antecedent to aggression. Four studies identified angry rumination and reduced self-control as mechanisms underlying the provocation—aggression relationship. Following provocation, participants demonstrated decreased self-control on an unpleasant task relative to a control condition (Study 1). When provoked, rumination reduced self-control and increased aggression. This effect was mediated by reduced self-control capacity (Study 2). State rumination following provocation, but not anger per se, mediated the effect of trait rumination on aggression (Study 3). Bolstering self-regulatory resources by consuming a glucose beverage improved performance on a measure of inhibitory control following rumination (Study 4). These findings suggest that rumination following an anger-inducing provocation reduces self-control and increases aggression. Bolstering self-regulatory resources may reduce this adverse effect.

vanishing tassel2 encodes a grass-specific tryptophan aminotransferase required for vegetative and reproductive development in maize.

Abstract: Auxin plays a fundamental role in organogenesis in plants. Multiple pathways for auxin biosynthesis have been proposed, but none of the predicted pathways are completely understood. Here, we report the positional cloning and characterization of the vanishing tassel2 (vt2) gene of maize (Zea mays). Phylogenetic analyses indicate that vt2 is a co-ortholog of TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE OF ARABIDOPSIS1 (TAA1), which converts Trp to indole-3-pyruvic acid in one of four hypothesized Trp-dependent auxin biosynthesis pathways. Unlike single mutations in TAA1, which cause subtle morphological phenotypes in Arabidopsis thaliana, vt2 mutants have dramatic effects on vegetative and reproductive development. vt2 mutants share many similarities with sparse inflorescence1 (spi1) mutants in maize. spi1 is proposed to encode an enzyme in the tryptamine pathway for Trp-dependent auxin biosynthesis, although this biochemical activity has recently been questioned. Surprisingly, spi1 vt2 double mutants had only a slightly more severe phenotype than vt2 single mutants. Furthermore, both spi1 and vt2 single mutants exhibited a reduction in free auxin levels, but the spi1 vt2 double mutants did not have a further reduction compared with vt2 single mutants. Therefore, both spi1 and vt2 function in auxin biosynthesis in maize, possibly in the same pathway rather than independently as previously proposed.

NAMPT overexpression in prostate cancer and its contribution to tumor cell survival and stress response

Abstract: Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a rate-limiting enzyme in regenerating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) from nicotinamide in mammals. NAMPT has crucial roles for many cellular functions by regulating NAD(+)-dependent SIRT1 deacetylase. However, roles of NAMPT in cancer are poorly defined. In this study, we show that NAMPT is prominently overexpressed in human prostate cancer cells along with SIRT1. Elevation of NAMPT expression occurs early for the prostate neoplasia. Inhibition of NAMPT significantly suppresses cell growth in culture, soft agar colony formation, cell invasion and growth of xenografted prostate cancer cells in mice. NAMPT knockdown sensitizes prostate cancer cells to oxidative stress caused by H(2)O(2) or chemotherapeutic treatment. Overexpression of NAMPT increases prostate cancer cell resistance to oxidative stress, which is partially blocked by SIRT1 knockdown. We demonstrate that in addition to modulating SIRT1 functions, the NAMPT inhibition reduces forkhead box, class 'O' (FOXO)3a protein expression and its downstream anti-oxidant genes catalase and manganese superoxide dismutase. Our results suggest important roles of concomitant upregulation of NAMPT and SIRT1 along with increased FOXO3a protein level for prostate carcinogenesis and their contribution to oxidative stress resistance of prostate cancer cells. These findings may have implications for exploring the NAMPT pathway for prostate cancer prevention and treatment.

Pyrene: a probe to study protein conformation and conformational changes

Abstract: The review focuses on the unique spectral features of pyrene that can be utilized to investigate protein structure and conformation. Pyrene is a fluorescent probe that can be attached covalently to protein side chains, such as sulfhydryl groups. The spectral features of pyrene are exquisitely sensitive to the microenvironment of the probe: it exhibits an ensemble of monomer fluorescence emission peaks that report on the polarity of the probe microenvironment, and an additional band at longer wavelengths, the appearance of which reflects the presence of another pyrene molecule in spatial proximity (~10 A). Its high extinction coefficient allows us to study labeled proteins in solution at physiologically relevant concentrations. The environmentally- and spatially-sensitive features of pyrene allow monitoring protein conformation, conformational changes, protein folding and unfolding, protein-protein, protein-lipid and protein-membrane interactions.

The Social Justice Roots of the Mentors in Violence Prevention Model and Its Application in a High School Setting

Abstract: The social justice roots and theory of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) model is presented, followed by an empirical study examining the influence of MVP in high school settings. Findings reveal students exposed to the MVP model are more likely to see forms of violence as being wrong and are more likely to take actions to intervene than students not exposed to the program. Findings support the premises on which MVP is founded.

Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of a New Heteropolyoxoniobate Compound: K10[Nb2O2(H2O)2][SiNb12O40]·12H2O

Abstract: The synthesis and photocatalytic properties of a heteropolyoxoniobate, K10[Nb2O2(H2O)2][SiNb12O40]·12H2O (1), are reported, revealing an important role of Zr4+ additives in the crystallization. Compound 1 exhibits overall photocatalytic water splitting activity, and its photocatalytic activity is significantly higher than that of Na10[Nb2O2][SiNb12O40]·xH2O (2). Fluorescence lifetime measurements suggest that the enhanced photocatalytic activity of 1 likely results from a larger yield of longer-lived charge trapping states in 1 due to the coordination of one water molecule to the bridging Nb5+, leading to highly unsymmetrical seven-coordinated Nb5+ sites.

Stem cell treatment for patients with autoimmune disease by systemic infusion of culture-expanded autologous adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: Prolonged life expectancy, life style and environmental changes have caused a changing disease pattern in developed countries towards an increase of degenerative and autoimmune diseases. Stem cells have become a promising tool for their treatment by promoting tissue repair and protection from immune-attack associated damage. Patient-derived autologous stem cells present a safe option for this treatment since these will not induce immune rejection and thus multiple treatments are possible without any risk for allogenic sensitization, which may arise from allogenic stem cell transplantations. Here we report the outcome of treatments with culture expanded human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAdMSCs) of 10 patients with autoimmune associated tissue damage and exhausted therapeutic options, including autoimmune hearing loss, multiple sclerosis, polymyotitis, atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis. For treatment, we developed a standardized culture-expansion protocol for hAdMSCs from minimal amounts of fat tissue, providing sufficient number of cells for repetitive injections. High expansion efficiencies were routinely achieved from autoimmune patients and from elderly donors without measurable loss in safety profile, genetic stability, vitality and differentiation potency, migration and homing characteristics. Although the conclusions that can be drawn from the compassionate use treatments in terms of therapeutic efficacy are only preliminary, the data provide convincing evidence for safety and therapeutic properties of systemically administered AdMSC in human patients with no other treatment options. The authors believe that ex-vivo-expanded autologous AdMSCs provide a promising alternative for treating autoimmune diseases. Further clinical studies are needed that take into account the results obtained from case studies as those presented here.

Networks of Collaborating Criminals: Assessing the Structural Vulnerability of Drug Markets:

Abstract: Uncovering the resiliency of ties between individuals involved in criminal enterprise will contribute to our understanding of how illicit markets function. To examine activities along the entire drug market commodity chain, this study extracted information about individuals involved or associated with trafficking (1,998 people) from police intelligence reports generated from 2004 to 2006. Significant differences were found for centrality and cohesion across market niches. Results show that the highest fragmentation potential lies with individuals who are involved with smuggling, supply, and financing, particularly when these individuals are also involved in other niches. Variability in small-world and scale-free properties suggest that interdiction strategies must be tailored to niche characteristics.

Antagonistic pleiotropy as a widespread mechanism for the maintenance of polymorphic disease alleles

Abstract: Background Many serious diseases have a genetic basis which, from an evolutionary point of view, should have been selected against, resulting in very low frequencies. The remarkable sustained prevalence of a number of disease-associated alleles is therefore surprising. We believe that antagonistic pleiotropy, when multiple effects of a gene have opposing effects on fitness (e.g., sickle cell disease), may be more widespread than typically considered. We hypothesize that, rather than being an exception to the rule of genetic disorders, antagonistic pleiotropy may be common.

Interrupted zeolite LTA and ATN-type boron imidazolate frameworks.

Abstract: Zeolite A (LTA) is of much interest in zeolite family because of its large-scale industrial applications. Making Zeolite A (a typical 4-connected tetrahedral framework material) with a lower connectivity (3-connected) might lead to new open architecture with expanded ring size and enhanced functionality. The first interrupted Zeolite A with 3-connected network has been experimentally realized here by a boron imidazolate (im) framework material (BIF-20) with 3-coordinate BH(mim)(3)(-) building units. Additionally, a new strategy toward the construction of functional microporous metal-organic frameworks with interrupted zeolite-type topologies is presented by both 3-connected boron imidazolate frameworks (BIF-20 and BIF-21). BIF-20 has an unusual tetrahedral framework with both debonded α and β cages, and exhibits high H(2) uptake capacity.

Cooperative assembly of three-ring-based zeolite-type metal-organic frameworks and Johnson-type dodecahedra.

Abstract: Two birds with one stone One synthetic strategy led to the preparation of both 3-ring-based zeolite-type metal-organic frameworks (NPO-type) and Johnson-type metal-organic polyhedra. The strategy is based on the cooperative assembly of 4-connected indium nodes with two symmetry-complementary ligands (one serves to generate 3-rings and the other crosslinks 3-rings). Photocatalytic H2 production experiments demonstrated these NPO-zeolite compounds behave as semiconductors and exhibit photocatalytic activity for the generation of dihydrogen from water under ultraviolet irradiation.

U.S. Immigration Policy and Immigrant Children's Well-being: The Impact of Policy Shifts

Abstract: DaviD k. anDRoff cecilia aYon Arizona State University School of Social Work DaviD beceRRa Colorado State University–Fort Collins School of Social Work MaRia guRRola California State University–Long Beach Department of Social Work loRRaine salas Unlimited Potential, Phoenix, AZ JuDY kRYsik kaRen geRDes eliZabeth segal Arizona State University School of Social Work America is built upon a history of immigration; yet current immigration policy and anti-immigrant sentiment negatively affect the vulnerable population of immigrant families and children. Immigrant children face many problems, including economic insecurity, barriers to education, poor health outcomes, the arrest and deportation of family members, discrimination, and trauma and harm to their communities. These areas of immigrant children’s economic

The impact of rumination on aggressive thoughts, feelings, arousal, and behaviour

Abstract: Although rumination following a provocation can increase aggression, no research has examined the processes responsible for this phenomenon. With predictions derived from the General Aggression Model, three experiments explored the impact of two types of post-provocation rumination on the processes whereby rumination augments aggression. In Experiment 1, relative to distraction, self-focused rumination uniquely increased the accessibility of arousal cognition, whereas provocation-focused rumination uniquely amplified the accessibility of aggressive action cognition. In Experiment 2, provocation-focused rumination uniquely increased systolic blood pressure. In Experiment 3, both types of rumination increased aggressive behaviour relative to a distraction condition. Angry affect partially mediated the effects of both provocation- and self-focused rumination on aggression. Self-critical negative affect partially mediated the effect of self-focused rumination but not provocation-focused rumination. These findings suggest that provocation-focused rumination influences angry affect, aggressive action cognition, and cardiovascular arousal, whereas self-focused rumination increases self-critical negative affect, angry affect, and arousal cognition. These studies enhance our understanding of why two types of post-provocation rumination increase aggressive behaviour.

Principles of Scientific Management and Occupational Analysis

Abstract: As soon as Taylor (1911) published his book on Principles of Scientific Management, his principles have been widely studied, borrowed and even applied in the field of Career and Technical Education (CTE). Taylor made the comparison between traditional management and scientific management. Regardless of which type of management, the principal object of management should be to secure the maximum prosperity for the employer, coupled with the maximum prosperity for each employee (Taylor, 1911, p. 9). While traditional management focuses on the work of the employees, scientific management focuses on the training and development of each individual in the establishment, so that employees can do (at their fastest pace and with the maximum of efficiency) the highest class of work for which their natural abilities fit them (Taylor, 1911, p. 12). Taylor’s AbstrAct

Rehearsing for Real Life: The Impact of the InterACT Sexual Assault Prevention Program on Self-Reported Likelihood of Engaging in Bystander Interventions:

Abstract: The interACT Sexual Assault Prevention Program is an interactive, skill-building performance based on the pedagogy of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. A longitudinal evaluation of this program compared pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up data from 509 university student participants. Results suggested that the interACT performance was successful in increasing participants’ beliefs about the effectiveness of bystander interventions and the self-rated likelihood that participants would engage in bystander interventions in the future. Differences in both overall ratings and rates of change were noted. Implications of these results for research and practice are discussed.

Survivors of breast cancer: patient perspectives on survivorship care planning

Abstract: Introduction Survivors of breast cancer (SBC) constitute the largest population of cancer survivors Needs for survivorship care may vary according to life stage and urban/rural place of residence This study was conducted to better understand patient preferences for survivorship care plans (SCP)

A weight-adjusted voting algorithm for ensembles of classifiers

Abstract: We present a new weighted voting classification ensemble method, called WAVE, that uses two weight vectors: a weight vector of classifiers and a weight vector of instances. The instance weight vector assigns higher weights to observations that are hard to classify. The weight vector of classifiers puts larger weights on classifiers that perform better on hard-to-classify instances. One weight vector is designed to be calculated in conjunction with the other through an iterative procedure. That is, the instances of higher weights play a more important role in determining the weights of classifiers, and vice versa. We proved that the iterated weight vectors converge to the optimal weights which can be directly calculated from the performance matrix of classifiers in an ensemble. The final prediction of the ensemble is obtained by voting using the optimal weight vector of classifiers. To compare the performance between a simple majority voting and the proposed weighted voting, we applied both of the voting methods to bootstrap aggregation and investigated the performance on 28 datasets. The result shows that the proposed weighted voting performs significantly better than the simple majority voting in general.

The Business Value of IT: A Synthesis and Framework of Archival Research

Abstract: This paper synthesizes recent empirical archival research investigating the link between information technology investment and business value. It examines (1) financial and nonfinancial measures to represent different elements of business value, (2) IT investment measures and links with firm performance, (3) IT and business complementarities that affect firm performance, and (4) the impact of business context and IT alignment with business strategy on resulting performance. The review of prior research is guided by a balanced scorecard framework that places IT in a business context and highlights the role of potential drivers and contextual factors that impact the association between IT and firm value. The paper concludes by proposing several broad avenues of future research that may be of particular interest to archival accounting information systems researchers.