bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Motivation and ability: which students use online learning and what influence does it have on their achievement?
Authors: Hoskins Sherria L. , Van Hooff Johanna C. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThere has been much recent research examining online learning in universities, but two questions seem to have been largely overlooked in this context: (1) Which students voluntarily utilise web‐based learning; and (2) Does this use influence their academic achievement? The current study aimed to determine whether the approaches to studying, ability, age, and gender of 110 undergraduates in the second year of a psychology degree predicted the extent to which they utilised online learning using Web Course Tools (WebCT) in support of a core Biological Psychology unit. Data were obtained from WebCT's student tracking system, Entwistle and Ramsden's 18‐item Approaches to Studying Inventory (1983) and academic records. Multiple linear regressions and discriminant function analysis were used to examine whether individual differences predicted WebCT use, while analysis of covariance determined whether web use influenced academic achievement. The number of hits, length of access, and use of the bulletin board was predicted by age, with older students using WebCT more. These factors were also influenced by ability and achievement orientation. The degree of participation in self‐assessment was not predicted by student variables, but, of those that repeated an online quiz, improvement was more likely in those with lower achievement orientation. Only bulletin board use influenced achievement, with those posting messages outperforming those not using, or passively using bulletin boards. However, because individual differences will determine the extent to which students utilise this facility, it is suggested that future research should focus on developing online learning environments that incorporate activities with both a beneficial influence on learning and appeal to a wide student population.
User dyads in software testing: bypassing the need for expert observers
Authors: Foster Geoff 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThis paper arises out of a research study into the online help facilities provided in popular software applications such as word processors. Its particular focus is on experimental methods of evaluating the effectiveness and usability of those facilities.Focus groups, questionnaires, and online surveys had already been used in other phases of the study, but it was judged that these approaches would be unsuitable for measuring effectiveness and usability because they are susceptible to respondents’ subjectivity.Direct observation of people working on set word‐processing tasks was ruled out initially because of a lack of trained observers; it would have taken too long for the investigator to observe a large enough sample by himself. Automatic recording of users’ actions was also rejected, as it would have demanded equipment and/or software that was not available and seemed too expensive to acquire.The approach and techniques described here were an attempt to overcome these difficulties by using observers drawn from the same population of students that provided the test subjects; as a by‐product, this may also have enhanced the acceptability (and hence possibly the validity) of the experiments by reducing the “exam pressure” perceived by participants.
An instructional model for web‐based e‐learning education with a blended learning process approach
Authors: Alonso Fernando , López Genoveva , Manrique Daniel , Viñes José M. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractWeb‐based e‐learning education research and development now focuses on the inclusion of new technological features and the exploration of software standards. However, far less effort is going into finding solutions to psychopedagogical problems in this new educational category. This paper proposes a psychopedagogical instructional model based on content structure, the latest research into information processing psychology and social contructivism, and defines a blended approach to the learning process. Technologically speaking, the instructional model is supported by learning objects, a concept inherited from the object‐oriented paradigm.
Using the Internet in teaching: the views of practitioners (A survey of the views of secondary school teachers in Sheffield, UK)
Authors: Madden Andrew , Ford Nigel , Miller David , Levy Philippa 
Published: February 2005

AbstractA questionnaire was generated from the results of a series of interviews at The City School one of  the  27  state  secondary  schools  in  Sheffield.  In  October  2002,  it  was  sent out to 499 Heads of Department at the remaining 26 state secondary schools. Responses were received from 188 teachers, ranging in age from 24 to 60 years old. The purpose of the questionnaire was to gain information about teachers’ views of the Internet and its usefulness as an educational tool.Nearly 85% of teachers acquired their Internet skills informally (self‐taught, learned from friends/colleagues, etc), rather than on a taught course. Despite this, most of the respondents were confident of their ability to use the Internet, with the most confident users being young teachers of technical subjects. However, there was a widespread perception (particularly amongst women teachers) that students are more competent users of the Internet than are teachers. Older teachers were more likely to feel under pressure to use the Internet than their younger colleagues.Only about a third of teachers agreed with the statement “I often use the Internet with classes.” Responses varied significantly according to school and subject. There was strong support, however, for the suggestion that the Internet is a valuable source of learning and teaching materials.
THE CHRISTIAN VIRTUE OF MERCY: AQUINAS' TRANSFORMATION OF ARISTOTELIAN PITY
Authors: Keaty Anthony 
Published: February 2005

In his discussion of the virtue of mercy (ST, II‐II.30), Thomas Aquinas draws upon two seemingly opposed sources. On the one hand, Thomas takes Aristotle as an authority on the subject of compassion. Aristotle maintains in his discussion of pity in the Rhetoric that pity is felt for those who suffer undeservedly since we do not pity but rather blame those who suffer as a result of their own wicked actions. On the other hand, Jesus in Matthew's gospel feels pity for the crowds. ‘At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them for they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd’ (Matt.9:36). In his commentary on this text from Matthew, Thomas identifies two possible interpretations for the troubled and abandoned condition of the crowd. The crowd is said to be troubled in so far as it is vexed by demons and abandoned in so far as it lies prostrate because of infirmities. The crowd can also be said to be troubled in so far as it is vexed by errors and to be abandoned in so far as it is fallen because of sin.1 Jesus, then, according to Thomas and contrary to Aristotle's claim, feels pity for the crowds as a result of the crowd's misery brought on by their own sinful deeds.In this paper, I examine how Thomas harmonizes these conflicting sources. More specifically, I hope to show both how Thomas uses Aristotle's observations on pity and at the same time transforms those observations in light of Christ's mercy on sinners. Thomas' use and transformation of Aristotle's account of pity provides an enlightening perspective from which to interpret Thomas' initially troubling claim that God feels no pity over the suffering of creatures, which we will consider briefly by way of a conclusion to this paper.
Microbial diversity associated with a Paralvinella sulfincola tube and the adjacent substratum on an active deep‐sea vent chimney
Authors: PAGÉ A. , JUNIPER S. K. , OLAGNON M. , ALAIN K. , DESROSIERS G. , QUÉRELLOU J. , CAMBON‐BONAVITA M.‐A. 
Published: February 2005

ABSTRACTAn extensive survey of the bacterial and archaeal phylogenetic diversity associated with a Paralvinella sulfincola tube and the adjacent substratum was conducted. Phylogenetic groups characterized by anaerobic and/or microaerophilic mesophiles dominated the bacterial 16S rDNA libraries (ɛ‐group F, Sulfurospirillum‐group, δ‐Proteobacteria). The two libraries also contained groups with thermophilic lifestyles (ɛ‐group D, Caldithrix‐group), groups comprising species with various phenotypes (ɛ‐group B, green non‐sulfur bacteria), and a group without cultured representative (ɛ‐group C). Archaeal 16S rDNA libraries from both samples were dominated by the novel lineage DHVE 9, and contained members of the uncultured group DHVE 3, as well as anaerobic hyperthermophiles from the families Thermofilaceae and Thermococcaceae. These results suggest the presence of mostly mesophilic and low oxygen conditions on the chimney surface, which is in accordance with descriptions of P. sulfincola's habitat conditions. Although limited by the lack of replicates, our data on the P. sulfincola tube were compared to available data on the microbial communities associated with secretions from other deep‐sea vent polychaetes.
Caregivers' Utilization of Health Services: Results from the Medicare Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration, Illinois Site
Authors: Shelton Paul , Schraeder Cheryl , Dworak Donna , Fraser Cynthia , Sager Mark A. 
Published: February 2005

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the Medicare Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration and Evaluation (MADDE) conducted in Illinois on the use of health services and Medicare expenditures by caregivers of persons with dementia.DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial.SETTING: The MADDE (1989–1994), Illinois site.PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 412 Medicare‐eligible caregivers of persons with dementia.MEASUREMENTS: Medicare claims files provided data on the number of hospitalizations, hospital bed days, emergency department visits, and total Medicare Part A expenditures.RESULTS: After adjustment for baseline variables, the caregivers in the treatment group, when compared with those in the comparison group, had a lower likelihood of any hospitalization during the study period (odds ratio 0.58 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.35–0.97), P = .037) and a reduced, but not significant, likelihood of emergency department use (odds ratio 0.66 (95% CI = 0.40–1.08), P = .095). For those who were hospitalized, there were no significant differences between the treatment and comparison group caregivers in the number of hospitalizations, hospital length of stay, or Medicare payments.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that enhanced chronic illness case management directed at persons with dementia and their caregivers can reduce the need for acute hospital care.
Efficacy and Safety of Ciprofloxacin Oral Suspension Versus Trimethoprim‐Sulfamethoxazole Oral Suspension for Treatment of Older Women with Acute Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Gomolin Irving H. , Siami Paul F. , Reuning‐Scherer Jonathan , Haverstock Daniel C. , Heyd Allen , The Oral Suspension Study Group  
Published: February 2005

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin (CIP) oral suspension to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) oral suspension among older women with acute urinary tract infections (UTIs).DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, open‐label, multicenter study of older women (age 65 and older).SETTING: Community and nursing home.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 261 older women were evaluable for safety. Of these, 172 (86 community, 86 nursing home) were evaluable for clinical and bacteriological efficacy.INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized to a 10‐day regimen of either CIP (250mg/5mL twice daily) or TMP/SMX (160/800mg/20mL twice daily).MEASUREMENTS: Clinical response 4 to 10 days posttherapy.RESULTS: For the efficacy‐valid population, posttherapy clinical resolution was statistically superior following CIP (97%) versus TMP/SMX (85%) (95% CI = 2.0–21.3; P = .009). Eradication of pretreatment bacterial isolates posttherapy was also higher following CIP (95%) versus TMP/SMX (84%) (95% CI = 2.7–21.3; P = .019). For the intent‐to‐treat population, posttherapy clinical resolution was significantly higher in the CIP group (96%) than in the TMP/SMX group (87%) (95% CI = 0.2–16.7; P = .025). Safety was assessed in the intent‐to‐treat population and the incidence of drug‐related adverse events were significantly lower following CIP (17%) than following TMP/SMX (27%) (P = .047). Premature discontinuation due to these events was also less prevalent with CIP than with TMP/SMX (2% vs 11%, respectively) (P = .004).CONCLUSION: CIP suspension showed higher clinical success and bacteriological eradication rates than did TMP/SMX for both community‐based and nursing home–residing older women with acute UTIs. Furthermore, CIP suspension was associated with significantly lower rates of adverse events and premature discontinuations compared with TMP/SMX suspension.
A Comparison of Longitudinal Changes in Aerobic Fitness in Older Endurance Athletes and Sedentary Men
Authors: Katzel Leslie I. , Sorkin John D. , Fleg Jerome L. 
Published: February 2005

OBJECTIVES: To compare the longitudinal changes in maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) in healthy middle aged and older athletes and sedentary men.DESIGN: A cohort study with mean follow‐up of 8.7 years (range 4.0–12.8).SETTING: Outpatient research at a tertiary hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Forty‐two healthy, middle aged, and older athletes (initial age 64 ± 1 year) and 47 healthy sedentary men of comparable age recruited for research studies.MEASUREMENTS: VO2max during a maximal treadmill test.RESULTS: At baseline, the cross‐sectional rates of decline in VO2max with age (slope) were virtually identical in the athletes and sedentary men (−0.42 versus −0.43 mL·kg−1· min−1·year−1). At follow‐up, the VO2max had declined by 11.9 ± 1.1 mL·kg−1·min−1 (22%) in the athletes, a crude average rate of −1.4 ± 0.14 mL·kg−1·min−1·year−1. By comparison, the VO2max declined by 4.4 ± 0.6 mL·kg−1· min−1 (14%) in the sedentary men, a crude average rate of change of −0.48 ± 0.07 mL·kg−1·min−1·year−1. Therefore, the observed absolute rate of longitudinal decline in VO2max in the athletes was triple that of the sedentary men (P = .001) and significantly greater than the decline predicted by their baseline cross‐sectional data (P = .001). Post hoc analyses of the longitudinal data in the athletes based on the training regimens over the follow‐up period demonstrated that the seven individuals who continued to train vigorously (“high training”) had no significant decline in VO2max (0.28% change in VO2max per year). By contrast, the VO2max declined by 2.6% per year in the “moderate training” group (N = 21), 4.6% per year in the “low training” group (N = 13), and 4.7% per year in the two individuals who developed cardiovascular disease.CONCLUSION: The longitudinal decline in VO2max in older male endurance athletes is highly dependent upon the continued magnitude of the training stimulus. The majority of the athletes reduced their training levels over time, resulting in longitudinal reductions in VO2max two to three times as large as those predicted by cross‐sectional analyses or those observed longitudinally in their sedentary peers.
Chronic Benzodiazepine Use in Nursing Homes: Effects of Federal Guidelines, Resident Mix, and Nurse Staffing
Authors: Svarstad Bonnie L. , Mount Jeanine K. 
Published: February 2005

OBJECTIVES: To assess the overall prescribing and chronic use of benzodiazepines (BZs) in nursing homes before and after implementation of BZ guidelines by the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA). A second aim was to identify facility predictors of BZ prescribing and chronic use after guideline implementation.DESIGN: Nonexperimental, observational study design.SETTING: Drug use was assessed in 16 randomly selected skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin before 1990 and again in 1993–1994.PARTICIPANTS: One thousand one hundred eighty‐one Medicaid‐funded residents at baseline and 1,650 Medicaid‐funded residents at follow‐up.MEASUREMENTS: Drug use measures included percentage of residents with prescribed BZs and percentage of residents with chronic BZ use (defined as ≥4 months of continuous use). A 4‐month cutoff was used because HCFA guidelines consider this length of continuous use to be potentially excessive. Facility predictors of drug use included resident demographic and diagnostic mix, size, ownership, Medicaid per diem, and nurse staffing.RESULTS: Before 1990, one‐fourth of all residents were prescribed a BZ and nearly one‐tenth of all residents had chronic BZ use. Federal guidelines had nonsignificant effects on these measures; BZ prescribing declined only 3.6% (26.4–22.8%) and chronic use declined only 1.3% (9.2–7.9%). Regression results showed that overall prescribing at follow‐up was higher in facilities with more female residents (β = .52, P = .018) and residents with psychiatric disorders (β = .41, P = .045). However, nurse staffing was the only significant predictor of chronic BZ use. As expected, better nurse staffing was associated with lower rates of chronic use (β = −0.46, P = .037).CONCLUSION: Efforts to improve BZ use in nursing homes must address the need for better nurse staffing and better assessment and management of psychiatric disorders that can trigger BZ prescribing.
Effects of Epinephrine on Right Ventricular Monophasic Action Potentials in the LQT1 Versus LQT2 Form of Long QT Syndrome: Preferential Enhancement of “Triangulation” in LQT1
Authors: VIITASALO MATTI , PAAVONEN KRISTIAN J. , SWAN HEIKKI , KONTULA KIMMO , TOIVONEN LAURI 
Published: February 2005

Aims: To explore effects of epinephrine and phenylephrine on the behavior of right ventricular monophasic action potentials (MAPs) in symptomatic LQT1 and LQT2 patients.
Methods and Results: We recorded endocardial MAPs from right interventricular septum at baseline and during epinephrine and phenylephrine infusions in six symptomatic DNA‐verified LQT1 (QTc 528 ± 83) and five LQT2 patients (QTc 527 ± 72) and in five control patients (QTc 381 ± 22). We measured MAP durations at 90% and at 50% levels of repolarization and their difference (MAP50 to MAP90, a measure of MAP morphologic “triangulation”), during atrial pacing to characterize rate dependence of MAPs and repolarization phase 3 durations, respectively. Restitution kinetics were determined during atrioventricular sequential pacing, using the approach of empirical restitution rate. Epinephrine prolonged MAP50‐to‐MAP90 duration and increased the rate dependence of MAP90 duration and increased restitution rate in type LQT1, but not in LQT2 patients nor in control subjects. Phenylephrine did not change MAP behavior. During epinephrine administration, both LQT1 and LQT2 patients had a ratio of the restitution rate of MAP to diastolic interval >1.0 at short diastolic intervals.
Conclusion: Symptomatic LQT1 patients with prolonged baseline QTc intervals showed β‐adrenergic‐induced changes in MAPs (triangulation) known to be arrhythmogenic, thus giving insight to the difference in clinical triggers of life‐threatening arrhythmias between LQT1‐ and LQT2‐affected individuals.
Beyond Coronary Sinus Angiography: The Value of Coronary Arteriography and Identification of the Pericardiophrenic Vein During Left Ventricular Lead Placement
Authors: VASEGHI MARMAR , CESARIO DAVID A. , JI SEN , SHANNON KEVIN M. , WIENER ISAAC , BOYLE NOEL G. , FONAROW GREGG C. , VALDERRÁBANO MIGUEL , SHIVKUMAR KALYANAM 
Published: February 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study was to define the role coronary arteriography (venous phase) for improving the success of left ventricular (LV) lead implantation and to define the value of identifying the pericardiophrenic vein for optimal LV lead placement in biventricular (bi‐v) device implantation.
Methods: Seventy‐seven patients underwent bi‐v device implantation between July 2002 and October 2003. If the coronary sinus (CS) could not be accessed, then left coronary arteriography was performed during the same procedure. CS access was guided by venous phase images of the coronary arteriogram. The pericardiophrenic vein was identified by selective cannulation or direct visualization. Patients with Cr > 1.5 had gadolinium used as the contrast agent.
Results: Seventy‐five successful implants were performed (97%). In seven patients (9%) repeated attempts at retrograde cannulation of the CS failed (attempt time 130 ± 20 minute, mean ± SD). In these patients, coronary arteriography helped define the location of the CS, which was subsequently successfully cannulated. In six patients the pericardiophrenic vein was identified either during occlusion venography of the CS (postthoracotomy, veno‐venous collaterals, n = 2) or during selective cannulation of the pericardiophrenic vein (using a DAIG Csl catheter, n = 4). The vein was directly visualized in three patients who underwent surgical LV lead implantation. LV leads in all these cases were implanted in areas not overlying the preidentified pericardiophrenic vein. During follow‐up, none of these patients had evidence of phrenic nerve stimulation.
Conclusions: Intraoperative left coronary arteriography increases the success of CS cannulation. Identification of the pericardiophrenic vein is a useful method to avoid phrenic nerve stimulation.
DNA and RNA obtained from Bouin’s fixed tissues
Authors: Bonin S , Petrera F , Rosai J , Stanta G 
Published: February 2005

Background:The use in many countries of acid fixatives, such as Bouin’s solution, has limited the use of archival tissue for molecular analysis. An acidic environment is one of the main causes of DNA degradation. Moreover, RNA extraction is difficult in these types of fixed tissues.Aims:To amplify DNA and RNA from Bouin’s fixed tissues.Methods:DNA and RNA were extracted from 20 breast cancer samples that had been routinely fixed in Bouin’s fixative. Amplification of several genes using primers that produced amplicons of different lengths was carried out using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA (with and without restoration) and reverse transcription PCR for RNA.Results:The acid environment of Bouin’s fixative damaged both DNA and RNA. However, amplification was successful when the amplicon length was reduced to about 80 bp for RNA and 100–200 bp for DNA, especially if submitted to DNA reconstruction procedures.Conclusions:It is possible to recover and analyse DNA and RNA from Bouin’s fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissues.
Mast cell distribution in normal adult skin
Authors: Janssens A S , Heide R , den Hollander J C , Mulder P G M , Tank B , Oranje A P 
Published: February 2005

Aims:To investigate mast cell distribution in normal adult skin to provide a reference range for comparison with mastocytosis.Methods:Mast cells (MCs) were counted in uninvolved skin adjacent to basal cell carcinomas and other dermatological disorders in adults.Results:There was an uneven distribution of MCs in different body sites using the anti-tryptase monoclonal antibody technique. Numbers of MCs on the trunk, upper arm, and upper leg were similar, but were significantly different from those found on the lower leg and forearm. Two distinct groups were formed—proximal and distal. There were 77.0 MCs/mm2at proximal body sites and 108.2 MCs/mm2at distal sites. Adjusted for the adjacent diagnosis and age, this difference was consistent. The numbers of MCs in uninvolved skin adjacent to basal cell carcinomas and other dermatological disorders were not different from those in the control group. Differences in the numbers of MCs between the distal and the proximal body sites must be considered when MCs are counted for a reliable diagnosis of mastocytosis. A pilot study in patients with mastocytosis underlined the variation in the numbers of MCs in mastocytosis and normal skin, but showed a considerable overlap. The observed numbers of MCs in adults cannot be extrapolated to children.Conclusions:MC numbers varied significantly between proximal and distal body sites and these differences must be considered when MCs are counted for a reliable diagnosis of mastocytosis. There was a considerable overlap between the numbers of MCs in mastocytosis and normal skin.