Showing papers by "Florida Atlantic University published in 2008"

Structural Equation Modelling: Guidelines for Determining Model Fit

Abstract: The following paper presents current thinking and research on fit indices for structural equation modelling. The paper presents a selection of fit indices that are widely regarded as the most informative indices available to researchers. As well as outlining each of these indices, guidelines are presented on their use. The paper also provides reporting strategies of these indices and concludes with a discussion on the future of fit indices.

Cyberbullying: An exploratory analysis of factors related to offending and victimization.

Abstract: Victimization on the Internet through what has been termed cyberbullying has attracted increased attention from scholars and practitioners. Defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the medium of electronic text” (Patchin and Hinduja 2006:152), this negative experience not only undermines a youth's freedom to use and explore valuable on-line resources, but also can result in severe functional and physical ramifications. Research involving the specific phenomenon—as well as Internet harassment in general—is still in its infancy, and the current work seeks to serve as a foundational piece in understanding its substance and salience. On-line survey data from 1,378 adolescent Internet-users are analyzed for the purposes of identifying characteristics of typical cyberbullying victims and offenders. Although gender and race did not significantly differentiate respondent victimization or offending, computer proficiency and time spent on-line were positively related to both cyberbullying victimizati...

Why Doesn't Capital Flow from Rich to Poor Countries? An Empirical Investigation

Abstract: We examine the empirical role of difierent explanations for the lack of ∞ows of capital from rich to poor countries|the \Lucas Paradox." The theoretical explanations include difierences in fundamentals across countries and capital market imperfections. We show that during 1970i2000 low institutional quality is the leading explanation. For example, improving Peru’s institutional quality to Australia’s level, implies a quadrupling of foreign investment. Recent studies emphasize the role of institutions for achieving higher levels of income, but remain silent on the speciflc mechanisms. Our results indicate that foreign investment might be a channel through which institutions afiect long-run development.

Body Consciousness: A Philosophy of Mindfulness and Somaesthetics

Abstract: Introduction 1. Somaesthetics and care of the self: the case of Foucault 2. The silent, limping body of philosophy: somatic attention deficit in Merleau-Ponty 3. Somatic subjectivities and somatic subjugation: Beauvoir on gender and ageing 4. Wittgenstein's somaesthetics: explanation and melioration in philosophy of mind, art, and politics 5. Deeper into the storm center: the somatic philosophy of William James 6. Redeeming somatic reflection: John Dewey's philosophy of body-mind.

Audit Quality and Properties of Analyst Earnings Forecasts

Abstract: Under the assumption that audit quality relates positively to unobservable financial reporting quality, we investigate whether audit quality is associated with the predictability of accounting earnings by focusing on analyst earnings forecast properties. The evidence shows that analysts' earnings forecast accuracy is higher and the forecast dispersion is smaller for firms audited by a Big 5 auditor. We further find that auditor industry specialization is associated with higher forecast accuracy and less forecast dispersion in the non‐Big 5 auditor sample but not in the Big 5 auditor sample. Overall, our results suggest that high‐quality audit provided by Big 5 auditors and industry specialist non‐Big 5 auditors is associated with better forecasting performance by analysts.

Social coordination dynamics: Measuring human bonding

Abstract: Spontaneous social coordination has been extensively described in natural settings but so far no controlled methodological approaches have been employed that systematically advance investigations into the possible self-organized nature of bond formation and dissolution between humans. We hypothesized that, under certain contexts, spontaneous synchrony-a well-described phenomenon in biological and physical settings-could emerge spontaneously between humans as a result of information exchange. Here, a new way to quantify interpersonal interactions in real time is proposed. In a simple experimental paradigm, pairs of participants facing each other were required to actively produce actions, while provided (or not) with the vision of similar actions being performed by someone else. New indices of interpersonal coordination, inspired by the theoretical framework of coordination dynamics (based on relative phase and frequency overlap between movements of individuals forming a pair) were developed and used. Results revealed that spontaneous phase synchrony (i.e., unintentional in-phase coordinated behavior) between two people emerges as soon as they exchange visual information, even if they are not explicitly instructed to coordinate with each other. Using the same tools, we also quantified the degree to which the behavior of each individual remained influenced by the social encounter even after information exchange had been removed, apparently a kind of social memory.

Attractive Women Want it All: Good Genes, Economic Investment, Parenting Proclivities, and Emotional Commitment

Abstract: The current research tests the hypothesis that women have an evolved mate value calibration adaptation that functions to raise or lower their standards in a long-term mate according to their own ma...

Calibration of moving puncture simulations

Abstract: We present single and binary black-hole simulations that follow the “moving-puncture” paradigm of simulating black-hole spacetimes without excision, and use “moving boxes” mesh refinement. Focusing on binary black-hole configurations where the simulations cover roughly two orbits, we address five major issues determining the quality of our results: numerical discretization error, finite extraction radius of the radiation signal, physical appropriateness of initial data, gauge choice, and computational performance. We also compare results we have obtained with the BAM code described here with the independent LEAN code.

Trajectories of social withdrawal from middle childhood to early adolescence.

Abstract: Heterogeneity and individual differences in the developmental course of social withdrawal were examined longitudinally in a community sample (N = 392). General Growth Mixture Modeling (GGMM) was used to identify distinct pathways of social withdrawal, differentiate valid subgroup trajectories, and examine factors that predicted change in trajectories within subgroups. Assessments of individual (social withdrawal), interactive (prosocial behavior), relationship (friendship involvement, stability and quality, best friend’s withdrawal and exclusion/victimization) and group- (exclusion/victimization) level characteristics were used to define growth trajectories from the final year of elementary school, across the transition to middle school, and then to the final year of middle school (fifth-to-eighth grades). Three distinct trajectory classes were identified: low stable, increasing, and decreasing. Peer exclusion, prosocial behavior, and mutual friendship involvement differentiated class membership. Friendlessness, friendship instability, and exclusion were significant predictors of social withdrawal for the increasing class, whereas lower levels of peer exclusion predicted a decrease in social withdrawal for the decreasing class.

Massage Therapy versus Simple Touch to Improve Pain and Mood in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Trial

Abstract: Background Small studies of variable quality suggest that massage therapy may relieve pain and other symptoms. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of massage for decreasing pain and symptom distress and improving quality of life among persons with advanced cancer. Design Multisite, randomized clinical trial. Setting Population-based Palliative Care Research Network. Patients 380 adults with advanced cancer who were experiencing moderate-to-severe pain; 90% were enrolled in hospice. Intervention Six 30-minute massage or simple-touch sessions over 2 weeks. Measurements Primary outcomes were immediate (Memorial Pain Assessment Card, 0- to 10-point scale) and sustained (Brief Pain Inventory [BPI], 0- to 10-point scale) change in pain. Secondary outcomes were immediate change in mood (Memorial Pain Assessment Card) and 60-second heart and respiratory rates and sustained change in quality of life (McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire, 0- to 10-point scale), symptom distress (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, 0- to 4-point scale), and analgesic medication use (parenteral morphine equivalents [mg/d]). Immediate outcomes were obtained just before and after each treatment session. Sustained outcomes were obtained at baseline and weekly for 3 weeks. Results 298 persons were included in the immediate outcome analysis and 348 in the sustained outcome analysis. A total of 82 persons did not receive any allocated study treatments (37 massage patients, 45 control participants). Both groups demonstrated immediate improvement in pain (massage, -1.87 points [95% CI, -2.07 to -1.67 points]; control, -0.97 point [CI, -1.18 to -0.76 points]) and mood (massage, 1.58 points [CI, 1.40 to 1.76 points]; control, 0.97 point [CI, 0.78 to 1.16 points]). Massage was superior for both immediate pain and mood (mean difference, 0.90 and 0.61 points, respectively; P Limitations The immediate outcome measures were obtained by unblinded study therapists, possibly leading to reporting bias and the overestimation of a beneficial effect. The generalizability to all patients with advanced cancer is uncertain. The differential beneficial effect of massage therapy over simple touch is not conclusive without a usual care control group. Conclusion Massage may have immediately beneficial effects on pain and mood among patients with advanced cancer. Given the lack of sustained effects and the observed improvements in both study groups, the potential benefits of attention and simple touch should also be considered in this patient population.

RUSBoost: Improving classification performance when training data is skewed

Abstract: Constructing classification models using skewed training data can be a challenging task. We present RUSBoost, a new algorithm for alleviating the problem of class imbalance. RUSBoost combines data sampling and boosting, providing a simple and efficient method for improving classification performance when training data is imbalanced. In addition to performing favorably when compared to SMOTEBoost (another hybrid sampling/boosting algorithm), RUSBoost is computationally less expensive than SMOTEBoost and results in significantly shorter model training times. This combination of simplicity, speed and performance makes RUSBoost an excellent technique for learning from imbalanced data.

The LIM protein AJUBA recruits protein arginine methyltransferase 5 to mediate SNAIL-dependent transcriptional repression

Abstract: The SNAIL transcription factor contains C-terminal tandem zinc finger motifs and an N-terminal SNAG repression domain. The members of the SNAIL family have recently emerged as major contributors to the processes of development and metastasis via the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition events during embryonic development and tumor progression. However, the mechanisms by which SNAIL represses gene expression are largely undefined. Previously we demonstrated that the AJUBA family of LIM proteins function as corepressors for SNAIL and, as such, may serve as a platform for the assembly of chromatin-modifying factors. Here, we describe the identification of the protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) as an effector recruited to SNAIL through an interaction with AJUBA that functions to repress the SNAIL target gene, E-cadherin. PRMT5 binds to the non-LIM region of AJUBA and is translocated into the nucleus in a SNAIL- and AJUBA-dependent manner. The depletion of PRMT5 in p19 cells stimulates E-cadherin expression, and the SNAIL, AJUBA, and PRMT5 ternary complex can be found at the proximal promoter region of the E-cadherin gene, concomitant with increased arginine methylation of histones at the locus. Together, these data suggest that PRMT5 is an effector of SNAIL-dependent gene repression.

Internet privacy concerns and beliefs about government surveillance - An empirical investigation

Abstract: This U.S.-based research attempts to understand the relationships between users' perceptions about Internet privacy concerns, the need for government surveillance, government intrusion concerns, and the willingness to disclose personal information required to complete online transactions. We test a theoretical model based on a privacy calculus framework and Asymmetric Information Theory using data collected from 422 respondents. Using LISREL, we found that privacy concerns have an important influence on the willingness to disclose personal information required to transact online. The perceived need for government surveillance was negatively related to privacy concerns and positively related to willingness to disclose personal information. On the other hand, concerns about government intrusion were positively related to privacy concerns. The theoretical framework of our study can be applied across other countries.

Exercise training for depressed older adults with Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 16 weeks of a comprehensive exercise routine to supervised walking and social conversation on depression in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease (AD) Method: This study was a three-group, repeated-measures design with random assignment to treatment group Forty-five nursing home residents with moderate to severe AD were randomly assigned to a 16-week programme of comprehensive exercise, supervised walking or social conversation Raters were blinded to treatment group assignment Major outcome variables were depression measured by the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, mood measured by the Dementia Mood Assessment Scale and the Alzheimer's Mood Scale, and affect measured by the Observed Affect Scale Depression was reduced in all three groups with some evidence of superior benefit from exercise Depression is a common problem with serious and costly consequences for nursing home residents with AD Exercise as a behavioural approach

Neutralizing Music Piracy: An Empirical Examination

Abstract: The current study sought to test the viability of employing Sykes and Matza's (1957) techniques of neutralization as a framework for understanding online music piracy. Using data from a sample of 2,032 undergraduates from a large Midwestern university, the relevance of neutralization theory is tested via multinomial logistic regression while controlling for other theoretical predictors and demographic variables. The findings indicated that greater acceptance of the techniques associated with denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of victim, and appeal to higher loyalties significantly predicted moderate levels of piracy participation. Furthermore, the effect of appeals to higher loyalty on piracy was found to be conditioned by the respondent's approval of the behavior. Overall, results suggested that university settings may unwittingly facilitate a climate for online piracy whereby students place a higher value on group norms rather than legal norms and do not consider the harms associated wit...

Emotional Reactions During and After Trauma: A Comparison of Trauma Types

Abstract: Peri- and posttraumatic emotional responses have been understudied, and furthermore, have rarely been compared among trauma types. The current study compared college students' retrospective self-reports of peri- and posttraumatic responses of fear, shame, guilt, anger, and sadness among four types of traumatic events: sexual assault, physical assault, transportation accident, and illness/injury. Overall emotional responding was generally high for all trauma types, and for those in the sexual assault group, emotion increased sharply from the peri- to posttraumatic time point. Generally, fear was higher during the trauma compared to after the trauma, whereas the other emotions tended to remain stable or increase posttrauma. The sexual assault group tended to report higher levels of posttrauma emotion than the other trauma type groups.

Big Five Traits Related to Short-Term Mating: From Personality to Promiscuity across 46 Nations:

Abstract: 1 Abstract: As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, 13,243 participants from 46 nations responded to self-report measures of personality and mating behavior. Several traits showed consistent links with short-term mating. Extraversion positively correlated with interest in short-term mating, unrestricted sociosexuality, having engaged in short-term mate poaching attempts, having succumbed to short-term poaching attempts of others, and lacking relationship exclusivity. Low levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness also related to short-term mating, especially with extra-pair mating. Neuroticism and openness were associated with short-term mating as well, but these links were less consistent across sex and nation. Nation-level links between personality and sexuality replicated within-region findings, such as the strong association between national extraversion and national sociosexuality. Discussion focuses on the origins of personality-sexuality links and their implications across nations.

The time course of musculotendinous stiffness responses following different durations of passive stretching.

Abstract: Study Design Repeated-measures experimental design. Objective To examine the acute effects of different durations of passive stretching on the time course of musculotendinous stiffness (MTS) responses in the plantar flexor muscles. Background Stretching is often implemented prior to exercise or athletic competition, with the intent to reduce the risk of injury via decreases in MTS. Methods and Measures Twelve subjects (mean ± SD age, 24 ± 3 years; stature, 169 ± 12 cm; mass, 71 ± 17 kg) participated in 4 randomly ordered experimental trials: control with no stretching, and 2 minutes (2min), 4 minutes (4min ), and 8 minutes (8min) of passive stretching. The passive-stretching trials involved progressive repetitions of 30-second passive stretches, while the control trial involved 15 minutes of resting. MTS assessments were conducted before (prestretching), immediately after (poststretching), and at 10, 20, and 30 minutes poststretching on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer. Results MTS decreased (P<.0...

RFID Handbook: Applications, Technology, Security, and Privacy

Abstract: Physics and Geometry of RFID M. Mickle, L. Mats, and P. Hawrylak EPCglobal Network A. R. Grasso Design Automation for RFID Tags and Systems S. Dontharaju, S. Tung, J. T. Cain, M. H. Mickle, A. K. Jones, and R. R. Hoare Far Field Tag Antenna Design Methodology D. C. Ranasinghe and P. H. Cole Contemporary RFID Reader Architecture B.Jamali and P. H. Cole Progress in RFID Education B. J. Garner TECHNOLOGY RFID Reader Synchronization K. S. Leong, M. L. Ng, A. R. Grasso, and P. H. Cole Adaptive Tag Anti Collision Protocols for RFID Passive Tags J. Myung, W. Lee, and T. K. Shih Comparative Performance Analysis of Anti-Collision Algorithms in RFID Networks W. Lee, J. Choi, and D. Lee Maximizing Read Accuracy by Optimally Locating RFID Interrogators L. Wang, B. A. Norman, and J. Rajgopal Minimum Energy/Power Considerations A. K. Jones, G. J. Dhanabalan, S. Dontharaju, S. Tung, P. J. Hawrylak, L. Mats, M. H. Mickle, and J. T. Cain Electomagnetic Coupling in RFID P. H. Cole and D. C. Ranasinghe RFID Tags for Metallic Object Identification M. Leng Ng, K. S. Leong, and P. H. Cole WISP: A Passively Powered UHF RFID Tag with Sensing and Computation D. J. Yeager, A. P. Sample, and J. R. Smith APPLICATIONS From Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) to "Smart Business Process": Preparing for a Pilot Integrating RFID S. F. Wamba, E. Lefebvre, Y. Bendavid, and L. A. Lefebvre Technological Requirements and Derived Benefits from RFID Enabled receiving in a Supply Chain H. Boeck, L-A. Lefebvre, and, E. Lefebvre A Prototype on RFID and Sensor Networks for Elder Health Care M. Moh, L. Ho, Z. Walker, and T-S. Moh Triage with RFID tags for Massive Incidents S. Inoue, A. Sonoda, and H. Yasuura RFID Tagging and the Design of "Place" A. P. Mathew Photosensing RFID Tags for Precise Location and Geometry Queries R.Raskar, P.Beardsley, P. Dietz, and J. van Baar RFID and NFC on Mobile Phones P.Coulton, O. Rashid, and R. Edwards, Applying RFID Techniques for the Next-Generation Automotive Services P. Harliman, J. G. Lee, K. J. Jo, and S. W. Kim Application of RFID Technologies for Communication Robots M. Shiomi, T. Kanda, N. Hagita, and Hiroshi Ishiguro Browsing the World with RFID Tags A. Rosi, M. Mamei, and F. Zambonelli RFID-Enabled Pr ivacy-Preserving Video Surveillance: A Case Study J. Wickramasuriya, S. Mehrotra, and N. Venkatasubramanian SECURITY AND PRIVACY Is RFID technology Secure and Private? S. jeh Privacy and Personal Information Protection in RFID Systems Y. Nohara, K. Baba, S. Inoue, and H. Yasuura Multilateral Approaches for Reliable Mobile RFID Service Systems N. Park and D. Won ONS Security B. Fabian, O. Gunther, and S. Spiekermann Practical Steps for Securing RFID Systems T. Karygiannis, B. Eydt, and T.Phillips Lightweight Cryptography for Low Cost RFID: A New Direction in Cryptography D. C. Ranasinghe Raja Ghosal, Alfio Grasso, and Peter H. Cole Low Overheard RFID Security S. Dolev, M. Kopeetsky, T. Clouser, and M. Nesterenko Layers of Security for Active RFID Tags S. Tung, S. Dontharaju, L. Mats, P. J. Hawrylak, J. T. Cain, M. H. Mickle, and A. K. Jones Cryptographic Approaches to RFID Security and Privacy K. Suzuki, S. Kinoshita, and M. Ohkubo RFID Authentication: Reconciling Anonymity and Availability Breno de Medeiros and Michael V. D. Burmester Security and Privacy of RFID for Biomedical Applications: A Survey E. Stuart, M. Moh, and T-S. Moh

Do practical durations of stretching alter muscle strength? A dose-response study.

Abstract: Purpose:To examine the time course (immediate, 10, 20, and 30 min) for the acute effects of 2, 4, and 8 min of passive stretching (PS) on isometric peak torque (PT), percent voluntary activation (%VA), EMG amplitude, peak twitch torque (PTT), rate of twitch torque development (RTD), and rang

A generalization of the nonlinear small-gain theorem for large-scale complex systems

Abstract: This paper presents a generalization of the nonlinear small-gain theorem for large-scale complex systems consisting of multiple input-to-output stable systems. It includes as a special case the previous nonlinear small-gain theorems with two interconnected systems, and recent small-gain theorems for networks of input-to-state stable subsystems. It is expected that this new small-gain theorem will find wide applications in the analysis and control synthesis of large-scale complex systems.

SOX9 Is Expressed in Human Fetal Prostate Epithelium and Enhances Prostate Cancer Invasion

Abstract: SOX9 is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the development of multiple tissues. We previously reported that SOX9 in normal human adult prostate was restricted to basal epithelium. SOX9 was also expressed in a subset of prostate cancer (PCa) cells and was increased in relapsed hormone-refractory PCa. Moreover, SOX9 expression in PCa cell lines enhanced tumor cell proliferation and was beta-catenin regulated. Here we report additional in vivo results showing that SOX9 is highly expressed during fetal prostate development by epithelial cells expanding into the mesenchyme, suggesting it may contribute to invasive growth in PCa. Indeed, SOX9 overexpression in LNCaP PCa xenografts enhanced growth, angiogenesis, and invasion. Conversely, short hairpin RNA-mediated SOX9 suppression inhibited the growth of CWR22Rv1 PCa xenografts. These results support important functions of SOX9 in both the development and maintenance of normal prostate, and indicate that these functions contribute to PCa tumor growth and invasion.

A low dimensional description of globally coupled heterogeneous neural networks of excitatory and inhibitory neurons.

Abstract: Neural networks consisting of globally coupled excitatory and inhibitory nonidentical neurons may exhibit a complex dynamic behavior including synchronization, multiclustered solutions in phase space, and oscillator death We investigate the conditions under which these behaviors occur in a multidimensional parametric space defined by the connectivity strengths and dispersion of the neuronal membrane excitability Using mode decomposition techniques, we further derive analytically a low dimensional description of the neural population dynamics and show that the various dynamic behaviors of the entire network can be well reproduced by this reduced system Examples of networks of FitzHugh-Nagumo and Hindmarsh-Rose neurons are discussed in detail