bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Higher Education Reform: Challenges towards a Knowledge Society in Malaysia
Authors: Kamogawa Akiko 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe Malaysian government regards highly skilled human capital as the nucleus of a knowledge-based economy and has been attempting to reform higher-educational policies in both the public and private sectors since the mid-1990s. The research reported here seeks to evaluate higher-educational policy reform as it relates to the development of human resources in an era of information and communication technologies (ICT). This research has three goals: first, to determine how Malaysian higher-educational policies have changed by looking at socioeconomic backgrounds; second, to examine case studies of the Malaysia Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia National University (UKM), and University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas); and third, to discuss whether ICT is affecting access and course selection in higher education in terms of gender equality. The analysis reported here concludes that the new challenges facing Malaysia offer possibilities not only for bridging the digital divide, in some aspects, nationally, but also for Malaysia to emerge as fundamental to a South-South Corporation and as a Center of Excellence internationally. It will be pointed out how, and to what extent, the government of Malaysia should reconceptualize the Malaysia Super Corridor project (MSC) in order to become a fully developed nation, equipped as a knowledge society.
Partnership in Higher Education in Africa: Communications Implications beyond the 2000s
Authors: Sy Jacques Habib 
Published: March 2004

AbstractTo date, the possibilities for African countries to use information and communication technologies to respond to the challenges and the demand of higher education have been limited. An assessment and analysis of the development, state, and usage of telecommunications in Africa constitute in fact an indication of Africa's overall marginalization in the global system. Communication technologies do not operate independently of the global economic system, which is characterized by structural inequality. Various initiatives devised by governments and development agencies to address the effective and productive integration of telecommunications technology into the educational system have been hindered by the contextual and structural impediments to harnessing and fulfilling their promise, especially for higher education. The paper explores innovative and multi-stakeholder partnership strategies to enhance the development and relevance of new telecommunications technologies to the African education system, especially higher education, for long-term and rooted socioeconomic development.
Retrospective evaluation of response to epoetin alfa in patients with hematologic disorders
Authors: M Kolesar Jill , Duren Betsy A , Baranski Bruce G 
Published: February 2004

Study objectives. To evaluate the impact of epoetin therapy in patients with hematologic malignancies and myelodysplasias (MDS) on hemoglobin (Hb) response, transfusion requirements and to evaluate factors, such as endogenous erythropoietin levels and serum creatinine that predict response to epoetin therapy. Methods. Inpatient and outpatient pharmacy records were analysed to identify patients with hematological disorders receiving epoetin therapy. No patients were receiving treatment with chemotherapy. Baseline and final Hb levels and transfusion requirements were analysed and factors predicting response to epoetin were evaluated. Results. The mean baseline Hb increased from 9.9 g/dL (91.09) to 12.1 g/dL (91.84) for a mean Hb increase of 2.81 g/dL (P 5 3.3 3 102 12) and 29 of 35 patients experienced clinical benefit to the epoetin. Overall, the mean transfusion burden fell from 0.94 units of packed red blood cells per month to 0.38 units/month (P 5 0.034 by paired t-test) at the end of the evaluation period. When measured by percentage of patients requiring transfusions, 42% had a transfusion the month prior to receiving epoetin, where as only 11% required transfusions while receiving epoetin. The mean endogenous erythropoietin was 51.2 IU/L (n 5 25) in the patients who responded to epoetin and 129 IU/L (n 5 2) in the nonresponder group (P 5 0.012), although two individuals with endogenous erythropoetin levels greater than 200 IU/L responded to epoetin. Thirteen of 14 patients with MDS in this series responded to epoetin, and the only patient not responding was progressing to AML. Conclusions. Epoetin is effective in improving anemia in patient’s with hematological malignancies not receiving chemotherapy. While the numbers in this retrospective evaluation are small, it appears that patients with low endogenous erythropoetin levels and high serum creatinine are most likely to respond; a relationship that could be explored in future larger and prospective evaluations.
The sting at the end of the tail: Damaging winds associated with extratropical cyclones
Authors: Browning K. A. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractStrong surface winds often accompany the low‐level jets that occur along the cold fronts of extratropical cyclones, but there is evidence that the strongest surface winds occur in a distinctly different part of a certain class of cyclone. The most damaging extratropical cyclones go through an evolution that involves the formation of a bent‐back front and cloud head separated from the main polar‐front cloud band by a dry slot. When the cyclone attains its minimum central pressure, the trailing tip of the cloud head bounding the bent‐back front forms a hook which goes on to encircle a seclusion of warm air. The most damaging winds occur near the tip of this hook—the sting at the end of the tail.Observations of the Great Storm of October 1987 in south‐east England are re‐examined in some detail to study this phenomenon. The cloud head is shown to have a banded structure consistent with the existence of multiple mesoscale slantwise circulations. Air within these circulations leaves the hooked tip of the cloud head (and enters the dry slot) much faster than the rate of travel of the cloud‐head tip, implying rapid evaporation and diabatic cooling immediately upwind of the area of damaging surface winds. The circumstantial evidence from the observational study leads one to hypothesize that the mesoscale circulations and the associated evaporative heat sinks may play an active role in strengthening the damaging winds. Regardless of how important this role may be, the evolution of the cloud pattern seen in satellite imagery is a useful tool for nowcasting the occurrence and location of the worst winds. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
On the existence of multiple climate regimes
Authors: Stephenson D. B. , Hannachi A. , O'Neill A. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractNew techniques are presented for testing the three main hypotheses about the probability distribution of the climate system: multinormal (single regime), unimodal but not multinormal (single regime), and multimodal (multiple regimes). Rather than searching for evidence that confirms the multimodal hypothesis expected from the chaos and other strongly nonlinear paradigms, our strategy is to try and reject the simplest single‐regime hypothesis of multinormality expected for aggregate indices of many local weather degrees of freedom. Concerning multiple climate regimes in the northern hemisphere, we find no strong evidence in the available monthly mean reanalysis data for rejecting the single‐regime multinormal hypothesis in favour of the multimodal hypothesis. A simple non‐parametric method is presented for transforming state space into a more homogeneous probability space that makes regimes easier to identify. A spatial point process test is used in this space to demonstrate that the hemispheric clusters are not significantly different to what could be expected from sampling a unimodal distribution. Based on the observed data, the single‐regime multinormal hypothesis can not be rejected at the 5% level of significance and so provides the simplest useful model for the probability distribution for the northern hemisphere geopotential‐height field. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Föhn flow and stable air mass in the Rhine valley: The beginning of a MAP event
Authors: Beffrey Guillaume , Jaubert Genevieve , Dabas Alain 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe föhn event of the 8th Intensive Observation Period (20–21 October 1999) of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme is examined at small scale with the help of both instrumental data (especially from a ground‐based Doppler lidar) and of high‐resolution simulation performed with the non‐hydrostatic model meso‐NH. The three‐dimensional characteristics of the flow in the Rhine valley at the beginning of the event are studied. Special attention is given to the interaction between the föhn and a stable air mass, whose presence drives the penetration of the warm and turbulent föhn air to the ground. A quantification of the simulated features of the flow is given in terms of mass budgets over the target area, and a three‐dimensional picture representing the arrival of the föhn air in the Rhine valley area is proposed. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Air–sea exchange of sensible heat over the Baltic Sea
Authors: Larsén Xiaoliguo , Smedman Ann‐Sofi , Högström Ulf 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe exchange of sensible heat at the sea surface has been studied with the aid of a comprehensive dataset from the marine site Östergarnsholm in the Baltic Sea, with additional data from another site in the Baltic Sea, Nässkär. The measurements include turbulent fluxes at about 10 m above the water surface, profiles of temperature and wind data at several levels on towers, sea surface temperatures and wave data.The neutral Stanton number, CHN, was found to follow predictions from surface‐renewal theory quite well for unstable conditions up to a wind speed of about 10 m s−1. For higher wind speeds the experimental data deviate to an increasing extent from the prediction based on surface‐renewal theory, giving 20–40% higher values at 14 m s−1. The CHN value at 14 m s−1 and unstable stratification is about 1.5×10−3; the corresponding value at the same wind speed but with slightly stable conditions is only 0.5×10−3. The interpretation is made that spray is the cause of the rapid increase of heat exchange with wind speed above about 10 m s−1. It also explains the drop in CHN at neutral stability, the spray‐mediated sensible‐heat flux increasing the upward directed flux of sensible heat in unstable conditions and decreasing the flux in stable conditions.For stable conditions, CHN data are widely scattered, with a mean of about 0.75×10−3. It appears that the data have an approximate upper bound given by surface‐renewal theory. It is suggested that at least some of the strong suppression of the flux of sensible heat during stable conditions can be explained as a shear‐sheltering effect caused by the presence of a low‐level wind maximum. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Variability in the summertime coastal marine atmospheric boundary‐layer off California, USA
Authors: Ström Linda , Tjernström Michael 
Published: March 2004

AbstractAn analysis of boundary‐layer structure and surface‐layer turbulence from measurements off the California coast is presented from data collected by research aircraft during two field experiments: the Coastal Waves 1996 (CW96) and the Monterey Area Ship Track (MAST) experiments. CW96 covers the near‐coast region, in particular in the vicinity of major headlands, whereas MAST extends offshore.Along the US west coast, coastal modification of the along‐coast flow occurs on two main horizontal scales. Firstly, a large‐scale variability is due to the interplay between the shallow near‐coast marine atmospheric boundary‐layer (MABL) and the coastal terrain, typically higher than the MABL depth. The MABL depth decreases smoothly towards the coast while the wind speed increases to a coastal jet in response to the sloping MABL inversion. Secondly, the flow is affected by supercritical flow dynamics. As the wind speed increases and the MABL depth decreases towards the coast, the MABL flow becomes supercritical in a shallow‐water sense. As supercritical shallow‐water flow interacts with major headlands, expansion fans form, affecting both the wind speed and the MABL depth.The combination of CW96 and MAST data reveals significant differences between the flow along the coast and that far offshore. MABL winds are stronger near the coast whereas aloft the winds are weaker than offshore. The near‐coast MABL is also better mixed. Turbulence increases towards the coast while the sensible‐heat flux decreases and often changes sign, leading to stable stratification near the coast. A length‐scale determining the across‐coast influence of the expansion fans is defined from simple inviscid and irrotational shallow‐water theory. Data from four days of the CW96 experiment show that this simple theory describes the low‐level wind speed adequately. Surface‐layer turbulence also scales with this simple length‐scale, but the results are complicated by upwelling of cold water, giving rise to strong internal boundary‐layers. From terms in the turbulent‐energy budgets it appears that dissipation of turbulence exceeds local production. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
A study of departures from the inverse‐barometer response of sea level to air‐pressure forcing at a period of 5 days
Authors: Mathers E. L. , Woodworth P. L. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe response of the sea level to atmospheric forcing is investigated through the cross‐spectral analysis of tide‐gauge data from around 100 island and deep‐ocean stations and atmospheric pressure records. The focus is at a period of 5 days, coinciding with an atmospheric pressure oscillation (Madden–Julian wave) of the same frequency. Outside the Tropics the energy in synoptic weather systems masks the small amplitude of the pressure wave, resulting in a response indistinguishable from that of an inverse barometer (IB). Within the Tropics, variability of air pressure is smaller in comparison with the amplitude of the pressure wave and departures from the IB model are found. Analysis of several sub‐surface pressure records in the tropical Atlantic also yields departures at this time‐scale, and indicates the barotropic nature of the response. Findings from a near‐global barotropic numerical model forced with realistic air pressure and wind‐stress fields show reasonable agreement with results at tide‐gauge locations, and provide a more complete view of the sea‐level response. These results indicate the possibility of providing an improved simulation of sea‐level response to atmospheric‐pressure forcing at this time‐scale than is currently provided by the IB model, for example in the field of satellite altimetry. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Dynamics of the surface wind field over the equatorial Indian Ocean
Authors: Hastenrath Stefan , Polzin Dierk 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe annual cycle and interannual variability of the equatorial westerlies over the Indian Ocean are examined in the context of the equations of motion, using long‐term surface ship observations. Eastward pressure gradient along the equator may accelerate equatorial westerlies, but the process is more intricate. The south Indian Ocean trade winds can recurve in the southern hemisphere only with an eastward pressure gradient. This is counteracted by the Coriolis acceleration directed at right angles to the left of the motion. With weak trades and strong eastward pressure gradient, the flow can recurve at relatively high southern latitudes, thus allowing a broad equatorial zone in which westerlies can develop. In the annual cycle, the southern Indian Ocean high and trade winds are closest to the equator and strongest in austral winter when, however, the eastward pressure gradient in the equatorial zone is also steepest. Accordingly, the latitude of flow recurvature in the southern trade winds stays farthest away from the equator in boreal spring and autumn. Consequently, the equatorial westerlies peak in these short transition seasons. The boreal autumn equatorial westerlies are the surface manifestation of a powerful zonal circulation cell along the Indian Ocean equator. The interannual variability of boreal autumn is characterized by weak westerlies accompanying a slack zonal pressure gradient and strong southern trade winds with recurvature near the equator. Such an ensemble of circulation departures is characteristic of abundant rainfall in East Africa and deficient precipitation in Indonesia. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Reflective verbalization improves solutions—the effects of question‐based reflection in design problem solving
Authors: Wetzstein Annekatrin , Hacker Winfried 
Published: March 2004

AbstractIn this experimental study (N=60), the impact of question‐based reflective verbalization on the quality of a design solution was investigated. Participants first designed an everyday object (garden grill) using various design strategies and then either answered questions of a naive partner, where they had to verbally describe, explain, justify and evaluate their solution (experimental group), or were given a filler task (control group). After the intervention, participants continued their design. The improvement in the design quality was significantly larger for the experimental group than for the control group. Significantly more participants of the experimental group developed new principles and added new explanations of functions to their design, whereas in the control group only corrections were made. We suggest that the dialogue specific style of reflective verbalization in the experimental group is linked to a specific way of thinking which is important for solving complex problems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of self‐rated ability in the accuracy of confidence judgements in eyewitness memory and general knowledge
Authors: Perfect Timothy J. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractIt is argued that confidence stems in part from self‐rated ability in a domain of knowledge and that in eyewitness memory such perceptions are erroneous. Two experiments tested these hypotheses. In both experiments participants rated their relative ability in the domains of eyewitness memory and general knowledge and subsequently took tests of each, giving confidence ratings for each item attempted. In both studies, self‐rated ability predicted performance for general knowledge, but not eyewitness memory. Across participants confidence ratings were significant predictors of accuracy for general knowledge, but not for eyewitness memory. In Experiment 1 self‐rated ability was predictive of confidence ratings for both domains, although this effect was weaker in Experiment 2. The argument that the accuracy of confidence judgements in eyewitness memory is undermined by a lack of insight into relative expertise is therefore supported. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Misunderstanding standardized language in research interviews
Authors: Schober Michael F. , Conrad Frederick G. , Fricker Scott S. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractLeaving the interpretation of words up to participants in standardized survey interviews, aptitude tests, and experiment instructions can lead to unintended interpretation; more collaborative interviewing methods can promote uniform understanding. In two laboratory studies (a factorial experiment and a more naturalistic investigation), respondents interpreted ordinary survey concepts like ‘household furniture’ and ‘living in a house’ quite differently than intended in strictly standardized interviews, when the interpretation was left entirely up to them. Comprehension was more accurate when interviewers responded to requests for clarification with non‐standardized paraphrased definitions, and most accurate when interviewers also provided clarification whenever they suspected respondents needed it. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of rapport‐building style on children's reports of a staged event
Authors: Roberts Kim P. , Lamb Michael E. , Sternberg Kathleen J. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThree‐ to nine‐year‐old children (n=144) interacted with a photographer and were interviewed about the event either a week or a month later. The informativeness and accuracy of information provided following either open‐ended or direct rapport building were compared. Children in the open‐ended rapport‐building condition provided more accurate reports than children in the direct rapport‐building condition after both short and long delays. Open‐ended rapport‐building led the three‐ to four‐year‐olds to report more errors in response to the first recall question about the event, but they went on to provide more accurate reports in the rest of the interview than counterparts in the direct rapport‐building condition. These results suggest that forensic interviewers should attempt to establish rapport with children using an open‐ended style. Published in 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prior beliefs and methodological concepts in scientific reasoning
Authors: Greenhoot Andrea Follmer , Semb George , Colombo John , Schreiber Thomas 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThis investigation focuses on the relations between prior beliefs, methodological concepts, and college students' (N=211) scientific reasoning in different problem contexts. Participants were presented with exercises that described the method and results of experiments, and were asked to draw conclusions about the causal status of variables that violated their prior beliefs. Participants drew conclusions in both abstract (i.e. recommend a conclusion for the fictional experimenter), and personal settings (i.e. draw their own conclusions about the phenomenon). Participants' recommendations for the hypothetical experimenter were predicted by their understanding of two methodological concepts: the function of empirical evidence and experimental control. Students' personal conclusions were predicted by their prior beliefs and their appreciation of the objectivity of inquiry. Thus, even when students understand in the abstract how data should relate to scientific conclusions, prior beliefs often take precedence in their own conclusions, especially when they do not understand the issue of objectivity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Smoking attenuates regular aerobic exercise benefits to episodic free recall immediately following strenuous physical activity
Authors: Bunce David , Hays Kate , Pring Linda 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe present study was designed to evaluate the extent to which free recall performance is influenced by competing demands on physiological resources dependent on blood‐oxygen levels. Fifty‐six healthy young adults (mean age=20 years) were allocated to groups (n1–4=14) according to their level of exercise (more than 6 h aerobic exercise per wk, or sedentary1Here sedentary refers to individuals with no regular exercise routines
.) and smoking (more than 10 cigarettes per day, or none) behaviour. Participants performed two free recall tasks, one under normal physically inactive conditions and the other immediately following strenuous physical exertion (a step‐up test for 2 min). We predicted that recall would suffer following strenuous physical activity among smoking aerobic exercisers. We reasoned this would be due to the oxygen‐carrying capacity of the blood being compromised in this group by higher levels of smoking‐related carbon monoxide in the blood stream. The results supported this prediction. We interpret our findings according to a resource model of cognitive function, mediated by physiological mechanisms. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Face recognition: cognitive and computational processes. S. S. Rakover & B. Cahlon (eds). John Benjamins Publishing Co., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2001. ISBN 90 272 5151 7. Price EUR 55.00 (paperback)
Authors: Brace Nicola 
Published: March 2004

AbstractAn Erratum has been published for this article in Applied Cognitive Psychology 18(6) 2004, 787.No abstract