Showing papers by "Long Island University published in 2007"

Parents' motivations for involvement in children's education: An empirical test of a theoretical model of parental involvement.

Abstract: This study examined the ability of a theoretical model to predict types and levels of parental involvement during the elementary and middle school years. Predictor variables included parents' motivational beliefs about involvement, perceptions of invitations to involvement from others, and perceived life context variables. Analyses of responses from 853 parents of 1st- through 6th-grade students enrolled in an ethnically diverse metropolitan public school system in the mid-southern United States revealed that model constructs predicted significant portions of variance in parents' home- and school-based involvement even when controlling for family socioeconomic status. The predictive power of specific model constructs differed for elementary and middle school parents. Results are discussed in terms of research on parental involvement and school practice.

Flavonoids and Heart Health: Proceedings of the ILSI North America Flavonoids Workshop, May 31–June 1, 2005, Washington, DC

Abstract: This article provides an overview of current research on flavonoids as presented during a workshop entitled, "Flavonoids and Heart Health," held by the ILSI North America Project Committee on Flavonoids in Washington, DC, May 31 and June 1, 2005. Because a thorough knowledge and understanding about the science of flavonoids and their effects on health will aid in establishing dietary recommendations for bioactive components such as flavonoids, a systematic review of the science of select flavonoid classes (i.e., flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins) was presented. The objectives of the workshop were to 1) present and discuss current research on flavonoid intake and the relation between flavonoids and heart health; 2) develop information that could lead to expert consensus on the state-of-the-science of dietary intake of flavonoids on heart health; and 3) summarize and prioritize the research needed to establish the relations between specific flavonoids and heart health. Presentations included the basics of the biology of flavonoids, including the types and distribution in foods, analytical methodologies used to determine the amounts in foods, the bioavailability, the consumption patterns and potential biomarkers of intake, risk assessment and safety evaluation, structure/function claims, and the proposed mechanism(s) of the relation between certain flavonoids and heart health endpoints. Data presented support the concept that certain flavonoids in the diet can be associated with significant health benefits, including heart health. Research gaps were identified to help advance the science.

Auditor fees and audit quality

Abstract: – The paper aims to examine the relation between fees paid to auditors and audit quality during the period of 2000‐2003., – The paper constructs a measure of auditor profitability that is used as a proxy for auditor independence. The methodology is grounded in the notion that auditor independence is influenced by effort and risk‐adjusted fees, rather than the level of fees received from clients. Since, risk and effort are unobservable, the paper uses proxies based on client size, complexity and risk to estimate abnormal fees. Abnormal fees are derived using a fee estimation model drawn from prior literature. The paper employs two metrics to assess audit quality – the standard deviation of residuals from regressions relating current accruals to cash flows and the absolute value of performance‐adjusted discretionary accruals., – The paper documents a statistically significant negative association between total fees and both audit quality proxies over all years. These findings are robust to a variety of additional tests and several alternative design specifications. The results (pre‐ and post‐SOX) are consistent with economic bonding being a determinant of auditor behavior rather than auditor reputational concerns., – The possibility that the empirical tests do not completely capture the impact of unobserved risk cannot be ruled out, though the paper attempts to do so by employing alternative specifications and sensitivity tests., – Policy makers should note that current restrictions on the provision of non‐audit services may not sufficiently resolve the issue of economic bonding and its impact on auditor independence., – In contrast to previous studies whose results are ambiguous, the paper finds a statistically significant positive association between several measures of total fees (it uses size‐adjusted and abnormal fees) and two metrics of accruals quality in all years (2000‐2003), consistent with economic bonding being a determinant of auditor behavior rather then auditor reputation concerns.

Biomechanical differences between unilateral and bilateral landings from a jump: gender differences.

Abstract: Objective:To determine the effect of landing type (unilateral vs. bilateral) and gender on the biomechanics of drop landings in recreational athletes.Design:This study used a repeated measures design to compare bilateral and unilateral landings in male and female athletes. A repeated measures multiv

Tongue measures in individuals with normal and impaired swallowing.

Abstract: Purpose This investigation sought to add to the extant literature on measures of normal tongue function, to provide information on measures of tongue function in a group of individuals with oral ph

Does practicing hatha yoga satisfy recommendations for intensity of physical activity which improves and maintains health and cardiovascular fitness

Abstract: Little is known about the metabolic and heart rate responses to a typical hatha yoga session. The purposes of this study were 1) to determine whether a typical yoga practice using various postures meets the current recommendations for levels of physical activity required to improve and maintain health and cardiovascular fitness; 2) to determine the reliability of metabolic costs of yoga across sessions; 3) to compare the metabolic costs of yoga practice to those of treadmill walking. In this observational study, 20 intermediate-to-advanced level yoga practitioners, age 31.4 ± 8.3 years, performed an exercise routine inside a human respiratory chamber (indirect calorimeter) while wearing heart rate monitors. The exercise routine consisted of 30 minutes of sitting, 56 minutes of beginner-level hatha yoga administered by video, and 10 minutes of treadmill walking at 3.2 and 4.8 kph each. Measures were mean oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), percentage predicted maximal heart rate (%MHR), metabolic equivalents (METs), and energy expenditure (kcal). Seven subjects repeated the protocol so that measurement reliability could be established. Mean values across the entire yoga session for VO2, HR, %MHR, METs, and energy/min were 0.6 L/kg/min; 93.2 beats/min; 49.4%; 2.5; and 3.2 kcal/min; respectively. Results of the ICCs (2,1) for mean values across the entire yoga session for kcal, METs, and %MHR were 0.979 and 0.973, and 0.865, respectively. Metabolic costs of yoga averaged across the entire session represent low levels of physical activity, are similar to walking on a treadmill at 3.2 kph, and do not meet recommendations for levels of physical activity for improving or maintaining health or cardiovascular fitness. Yoga practice incorporating sun salutation postures exceeding the minimum bout of 10 minutes may contribute some portion of sufficiently intense physical activity to improve cardio-respiratory fitness in unfit or sedentary individuals. The measurement of energy expenditure across yoga sessions is highly reliable.

The role of discrete emotions in health outcomes: A critical review

Abstract: Global aspects of emotion have been central to psychosocial theories of health and health behavior for several decades A growing body of research has documented key roles for several broad affective constructs – notably anxiety, depression, and anger/hostility – in areas ranging from basic physiological processes, health behaviors, and symptom reporting, to screening and detection behaviors and decision making Despite this growth, however, the emotions-health literature remains scattered Mechanisms are poorly understood and several key emotions – embarrassment, disgust, guilt and hope – have scarcely been examined In presenting the advantages of a discrete emotions perspective, the current report reviews and critiques data describing the relations between discrete emotions and health It presents a developmental-functionalist framework within which to more systematically consider the links between emotions and health It is suggested that discrete emotions perspectives provide guidance for understanding the physiological, motivational, and cognitive pathways linking emotions and health and thus their impact on health outcomes

Job design in temporal context: a career dynamics perspective

Abstract: Leading theories of job design have neglected to incorporate the important context of time into their premises, hindering these theories' explanatory power and utility. We demonstrate how systematically incorporating the context of time, in relation to the specific example of career dynamics, will improve our understanding of job design. We discuss the contribution of time by examining how career dynamics may influence employees' reactions to stimulating jobs and their propensity to craft more stimulating jobs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Head-on collisions of boson stars

Abstract: We study head-on collisions of boson stars in three dimensions. We consider evolutions of two boson stars which may differ in their phase or have opposite frequencies but are otherwise identical. Our studies show that these phase differences result in different late time behavior and gravitational wave output.

Danger is in the eye of the beholders: Social representations of Information Systems security in healthcare

Abstract: This paper investigates the social representations of Information Systems (IS) security of different communities working in a healthcare organization. It considers questions of IS security as socially constructed and dependent on how people make sense of their context of work. The social representations perspective presented in this paper is especially useful to make sense of IS security from the point of view of various communities. The paper illustrates the relevance of this perspective by analyzing the differences and similarities in the way members of seven occupational communities (e.g., physicians, nurses, IS professionals) working in the same healthcare organization represent IS security. The paper finally draws the strategic implications for research and practice of considering the social representations of IS security. In particular, security and awareness programs should be customized to acknowledge that members of various communities ''know'' different things about security and that they react differently to various security initiatives.

Securitization and risk: empirical evidence on US banks

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to offer a comprehensive comparison of the characteristics between banks that securitize and banks that do not and to provide evidence of the capital arbitrage theory of securitization.Design/methodology/approach – First, the fundamental financial similarities and differences between banks that securitize assets and banks that do not participate in the securitization market are tested. Second, variables that help predict whether a bank securitizes assets are analyzed. Third, the determinants of securitization extent in banks that securitize assets are investigated – for general securitization extent and for specific type of asset securitized. Using a sample of 112 banks that securitize different assets, a matched sample of banks that do not securitize based on entity type and size is created. A quarterly panel data set of these banks dating back to 2001 is used.Findings – The results indicate that bank size is a significant determinant of whether a bank securitizes. Further, over...

Common psychosocial factors underlying breast cancer screening and breast cancer treatment adherence: a conceptual review and synthesis.

Abstract: In this paper, we review the literature on psychosocial influences on breast cancer screening and treatment adherence with an eye to identifying common cognitive, emotional, and social network factors that may lead to poor screening adherence and suboptimal treatment in the case of diagnosed breast cancer. Nonadherence to breast cancer screening and treatment guidelines can significantly and negatively impact the prospects for prevention and control of breast cancer. Psychosocial factors are an especially important focus for research, inasmuch as belief structures and psychosocial characteristics (such as patterns of emotion regulation and the quality of social relations) are modifiable and are, thus, eminently suitable to intervention.

mda-7/IL-24, novel anticancer cytokine: focus on bystander antitumor, radiosensitization and antiangiogenic properties and overview of the phase I clinical experience (Review).

Abstract: Subtraction hybridization applied to a 'differentiation therapy' model of cancer employing human melanoma cells resulted in the cloning of melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24). Initial studies confirm an inverse correlation between mda-7 expression and melanoma development and progression. Forced expression of mda-7 by means of a plasmid or via a replication incompetent adenovirus (Ad.mda-7) promotes growth suppression and induces apoptosis in a broad array of human cancers. In contrast, mda-7 does not induce growth suppressive or toxic effects in normal cells. Based on structure (containing an IL-10 signature motif), secretion by cells (including subsets of T-cells) and location on chromosome 1q (in an area containing IL-10-family genes), mda-7 has now been renamed mda-7/IL-24. Studies by several laboratories have uncovered many of mda-7/IL-24's unique properties, including cancer-specific apoptosis-induction, cell cycle regulation, an ability to inhibit angiogenesis, potent 'bystander antitumor activity' and a capacity to enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiation, chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody therapy. Moreover, based on its profound cancer tropism, substantiated by in vivo human xenograft studies in nude mice, mda-7/IL-24 (administered as Ad.mda-7) was evaluated in a phase I clinical trial in patients with melanomas and solid cancers. These studies document that mda-7/IL-24 is well tolerated and demonstrates evidence of significant clinical activity. In these contexts, mda-7/IL-24 represents a unique cytokine gene with potential for therapy of human cancers. The present review focuses on three unique properties of mda-7/IL-24, namely its potent 'bystander antitumor activity', ability to sensitize tumor cells to radiation, and its antiangiogenesis properties. Additionally, an overview of the phase I clinical trial is provided. These studies affirm that mda-7/IL-24 has promise for the management of diverse cancers.

Information technologies and the sharing of disaster knowledge: the critical role of professional culture.

Abstract: A comparative survey of a diverse sample of 96 US and Italian emergency management agencies shows that the diffusion of new information technologies (IT) has transformed disaster communications. Although these technologies permit access to and the dissemination of massive amounts of disaster information with unprecedented speed and efficiency, barriers rooted in the various professional cultures still hinder the sharing of disaster knowledge. To be effective the available IT must be attuned to the unique settings and professional cultures of the local emergency management communities. Findings show that available technology, context, professional culture and interaction are key factors that affect the knowledge transfer process. Cultural filters appear to influence emergency managers' perceptions of their own professional roles, their vision of the applicability of technology to social issues, and their perspective on the transferability of disaster knowledge. Four cultural approaches to the application of IT to disaster communications are defined: technocentric; geographic,; anthropocentric; and ecocentric.

The effect of gender and fatigue on the biomechanics of bilateral landings from a jump: peak values.

Abstract: Female athletes are substantially more susceptible than males to suffer acute non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury. A limited number of studies have identified possible biomechanical risk factors that differ between genders. The effect of fatigue on the biomechanics of landing has also been inadequately investigated. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of gender and fatigue on peak values of biomechanical variables during landing from a jump. Thirty-two recreational athletes performed bilateral drop jump landings from a 40 cm platform. Kinetic, kinematic and electromyographic data were collected before and after a functional fatigue protocol. Females landed with 9° greater peak knee valgus (p = 0.001) and 140% greater maximum vertical ground reaction forces (p = 0.003) normalized to body weight compared to males. Fatigue increased peak foot abduction by 1.7° (p = 0.042), peak rectus femoris activity by 27% (p = 0.018), and peak vertical ground reaction force (p = 0.038) by 20%. The results of the study suggest that landing with increased peak knee valgus and vertical ground reaction force may contribute to increased risk for knee injury in females. Fatigue caused significant but small changes on some biomechanical variables. Anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention programs should focus on implementing strategies to effectively teach females to control knee valgus and ground reaction force. Key pointsFemale athletes landed with increased knee valgus and VGRF which may predispose them to ACL injury.Fatigue elicited a similar response in male and female athletes.The effectiveness of sports injury prevention programs may improve by focusing on teaching females to land softer and with less knee valgus.

Boxing, wrestling, and martial arts related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2002-2005.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of breathing on the three - dimensional underwater stroke kinematics of front crawl swimming. Ten female competitive freestyle swimmers participated in the study. Each subject swam a number of front crawl trials of 25 m at a constant speed under breathing and breath-holding conditions. The underwater motion of each subject's right arm was filmed using two S-VHS cameras, operating at 60 Hz, which were positioned behind two underwater viewing windows. The spatial coordinates of selected points were calculated using the DLT procedure with 30 control points and after the digital filtering of the raw data with a cut-off frequency of 6 Hz, the hand's linear displacements and velocities were calculated. The results revealed that breathing caused significantly increases in the stroke duration (t9 = 2.764; p < 0.05), the backward hand displacement relative to the water (t9 = 2.471; p<0.05) and the lateral displacement of the hand in the X - axis during the downsweep (t9 = 2.638; p < 0.05). On the contrary, the peak backward hand velocity during the insweep (t9 = 2.368; p < 0.05) and the displacement of the hand during the push phase (t9 = -2.297; p < 0.05) were greatly reduced when breathing was involved. From the above, it was concluded that breathing action in front crawl swimming caused significant modifications in both the basic stroke parameters and the overall motor pattern were, possibly due to body roll during breathing. Key pointsThe breathing action increases the duration of the total underwater pull.The breathing action increases the absolute backward displacement of the hand.The breathing action caused significant modifications in the overall motor pattern, possibly due to body roll during breathing.

Activists as interpretive communities: rituals of consumption and interaction in an alternative media audience:

Abstract: This multiple-method study bridges what John D.H. Downing has called a ‘distinctly disturbing gulf’ between our knowledge of social actors and theories about alternative media by considering the symbolic uses of news in an activist audience and by extending theories of news reading as a ritual act through which social bonds are produced. Because people often read news in private or diffuse situations, reading must be represented to other community members through discourse in order to communicate those information sources – and hence social ideals – they have in common. In interviews, activists downplayed consumption of corporate media, but diaries confirmed that they used a wide range of both alternative and mainstream sources. I propose that this interpretive community achieved its identity in part by rejecting mainstream media, so that performing the role of ‘alternative reader’ served as a marker of individual taste and group belonging.

Insomnia symptoms and repressive coping in a sample of older Black and White women.

Abstract: Background This study examined whether ethnic differences in insomnia symptoms are mediated by differences in repressive coping styles.

Pharmacokinetics of Antimony in Children Treated for Leishmaniasis with Meglumine Antimoniate

Abstract: Background. In some settings, the response to pentavalent antimonial therapy for leishmaniasis may be lower in children than in adults. We hypothesized that there are age-dependent pharmacokinetic differences of potential clinical relevance. Methods. We compared the pharmacokinetics of antimony (Sb) in adults and 2 groups of children 3–6 years old who had cutaneous leishmaniasis treated with intramuscular meglumine antimoniate. Adults ( ) and the n p 9 first group of children ( ) received 20 mg Sb/kg/day for 20 days; the second group of children ( ) n p 9

Phylogeny, diversity, and classification of the Accipitridae based on DNA sequences of the RAG-1 exon

Abstract: The avian family Accipitridae has historically been divided into subfamilies or tribes based on features such as general resemblance, feeding ecology, and behavior. Consequently, the monophyly of those groups has been questionable. Recently, three phylogenetic analyses of a majority of the genera have appeared, one based on osteology, one on DNA sequences from a single mitochondrial gene, and the third on mitochondrial plus nuclear DNA sequences, and the resulting phylogenies were in substantial disagreement concerning the composition and basal branching patterns of the clades and hence require further analysis and confirmation. Here we use DNA sequences from the large nuclear RAG-1 exon to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of these birds. Our results largely corroborated the prior study that included nuclear genes. We found strong support for a monophyletic clade comprising the secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius, the osprey Pandion haliaetus, and the traditional accipitrids. However, every one of the traditionally recognized subfamilies of accipitrids was found to be polyphyletic. The most basal nodes in the phylogeny separate small clades of insectivorous and scavenger species, such as kites and Old World vultures, from the rest of the family. The speciose genera of bird and mammal predators are all relatively derived (terminal) in the phylogeny. Many of the basal clades are cosmopolitan in their distributions, consistent with the great mobility of these raptors. A new classification is proposed that eliminates the problem of polyphyletic intrafamilial taxa.

Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Caribbean

Abstract: Background: Nearly 10% of immigrants to the United States come from the Caribbean region. In this paper, we analyzed incidence and mortality rates of the major cancers in the Bahamas, Barbados, Cub...

Interaction potential between cranberry juice and warfarin

Abstract: Purpose. The interaction potential between warfarin and cranberry juice is discussed. Summary. Reports from the United Kingdom have raised concern over the interaction potential between cranberry juice and warfarin. Warfarin is the most commonly prescribed oral medication for anticoagulation therapy. Cranberry juice is a flavonoid, which has been shown to induce, inhibit, or act as a substrate for the biosynthesis of several cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzymes. Specifically, cranberry juice may inhibit the activity of CYP2C9, the primary isoenzyme involved in the metabolism of S- warfarin. A search of the medical literature identified three peer-reviewed case reports and two peer-reviewed, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials using metabolic surrogates of warfarin (flurbiprofen and cyclosporine) that described possible interactions between cranberry juice and warfarin. Two case reports suggested that cranberry juice increased the International Normalized Ratio (INR) of patients taking warfarin, but neither clearly identified cranberry juice as the sole cause of INR elevation. One case report appeared to show a correlation between the effects of cranberry juice and warfarin metabolism. Both clinical trials indicated the lack of an interaction between cranberry juice and CYP isoenzymes 2C9 and 3A, both of which are necessary in warfarin metabolism. More studies are required to determine the potential interaction between cranberry juice and warfarin. Conclusion. The available data do not seem to show a clinically relevant interaction between cranberry juice and warfarin; however, patients taking warfarin with cranberry juice should be cautioned about the potential interaction and monitored closely for INR changes and signs and symptoms of bleeding.

Modeling growth and mortality of red abalone (haliotis rufescens) in northern california

Abstract: We estimate annual growth and mortality of red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, in northern California using tag recapture data applied to multiple growth and mortality models. We investigate seven growth models of the form, Lt+1 ¼ Lt + f ðLtÞ; where Lt is the shell length at tagging (time t), Lt+1, is the shell length one year later, and the function f(Lt )i s a model of the change in length DL. Abalone are drawn from a broad range of sizes (shell lengths 5-222 mm) tagged and recaptured one year later (n ¼ 231) in the Point Cabrillo Reserve in northern California. We present the results for seven growth models, rank the fit of the models (using the sum of the squared residuals) selecting the Richards, Gaussian, Ricker, and von Bertalanffy models (in that order) as most appropriate for these variable growth data. The von Bertalanffy model yields the shortest time to fishery (recreational legal size is 178 mm) as it slightly overestimates early growth. The Ricker model yields the longest time to enter the fishery underestimating early growth. We present a table of abalone sizes as a function of time for the Gaussian model, from which we estimate the number of years to grow into the fishery (12.0 ± 1 y). Because differences among the applicable models are not great, we use the growth parameters generated by the simple von Bertalanffy model (LN and K )t o estimate mortality. The results are consistent among our five mortality estimates ranging from 0.11-0.23 per year. Estimates of the number of years to enter the fishery and mortality estimates, as well as knowledge of how model selection can influence these estimates, is important for fishery management. Informed fishery management for red abalone is critical because the fishery in northern California is the last open abalone fishery in the state.

The Use of Statins in Pediatrics: Knowledge Base, Limitations, and Future Directions

Abstract: The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, or statins, effectively reduce coronary morbidity and mortality in high-risk adults. They are also some of the most widely prescribed medications in the United States. Their use in pediatrics, however, remains circumscribed. In this article we review the cholesterol hypothesis and focus on the knowledge base of the use of statins in adults and children. We pay particular attention to the known effects of statins in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. The toxicities of statins and their limitations in pediatrics are then considered. The use of statins in conjunction with noninvasive modalities of assessing atherosclerotic burden are also reviewed. Finally, we suggest methods to advance the use of statins in childhood that introduce their potential benefits to those individuals at highest risk for future events.

Supporting English-Language Learners in Social Studies Class: Results from a Study of High School Teachers.

Abstract: Content-area instruction for English-language learners (ELLs) represents a growing area of instructional need in U.S. high schools. In this article, the authors focus on diverse approaches to developing an effective instructional environment for teaching secondary-level social studies curriculum to ELLs. The authors participated in a school-university partnership to support content-area teachers' efforts to increase ELLs' comprehension skills. The authors propose a multitiered approach to meet the needs of ELLs in the mainstream social studies classrooms by (1) providing social and cultural support during the process of acculturation, (2) providing explicit instruction in academic strategies necessary for successful comprehension of in-depth content using the Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach, and (3) making social studies curriculum more accessible through strategies for reducing cognitive load without reducing content.