A Processing Approach to the Working Memory/Long-Term Memory Distinction: Evidence from a Levels-of-Processing Span Task

Recent studies have raised questions about the extent to which working memory: WM) is dissociable from secondary or long-term memory: LTM). Although many similarities may exist between immediate retrieval on WM span tasks and delayed retrieval on LTM tests, important differences exist as well. To illustrate this point, Craik and Tulving\u27s classic levels-of-processing paradigm was adapted for use in a WM span task: Participants made visual, phonological, or semantic judgments about 33 words using the same stimuli and instructions as Craik and Tulving: 1975), but were to recall words immediately after every 3 or 8 words: rather than after all words were processed). In the context of this WM span task: Experiment 1), no benefit of deeper processing occurred on immediate recall, even though subsequent recognition of the same items showed the classic levels-of-processing effect. However, when words were processed in the same way but immediate recall was not required: Experiment 2), surprise immediate recall tests did demonstrate a levels-of-processing effect, but only for supraspan: 8-item) lists. These results demonstrate both similarities and differences between WM and LTM. One way in which both similarities and differences between WM and LTM might be reconciled is within a transfer-appropriate-processing account of the WM/LTM distinction. That is, the WM/LTM distinction depends on the extent to which there is a match: or mismatch) between the processes that are used for initial encoding and subsequent retrieval. For example, when WM tests involved intentional encoding and active maintenance of to-be-remembered words: Experiment 1), a levels-of-processing effect was not observed. However, for surprise recall of supraspan: 8-item) lists in Experiment 2, initial processing was not directed at temporary maintenance for immediate recall: because the test came as a surprise), which made this situation similar to the LTM task. Under these conditions, a levels-of-processing effect: like that observed on LTM tasks) was observed on the WM span task, consistent with a transfer-appropriate-processing account of the WM/LTM distinction

Laboratory load tests of side shear for axially loaded piles

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb. 19, 2010).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dr. J. Erik Loehr, Thesis Supervisor.M.S. University of Missouri--Columbia 2008.Results from the laboratory testing program suggest that HPX-piles have approximately 10 percent greater side shear capacity than conventional HP-piles, on average. Unit side shear and the side shear parameter [beta] for both smooth and textured piles generally increased with increasing effective stress and increasing over consolidation ratio. HPX-piles were found to exhibit slightly greater settlement at failure than HP-piles, although scatter in the settlement data was significant.. Steel H-piles are small displacement deep foundation elements. Typically, H-piles are driven to/into a hard stratum and the axial capacity of the pile is derived from the end bearing of the pile tip on the hard stratum. However, H-piles can be and are used as friction piles. Presumably, if the side shear capacity of a given H-pile can be increased, the use and applicability of H-piles will also increase. Conventional H-piles have smooth flanges. The objective of the research presented was to evaluate the effect that texturing of pile flanges has on the side shear capacity of an H-pile. The objective was addressed by performing a series of laboratory load tests on full-scale sections of smooth (HP) and textured (HPX) piles to assess differences in load transfer via side shear.Includes bibliographical reference

Off Premises Sunday Sales in Georgia Localities: Will it Affect Traffic Accidents?

Discussions about public policy relating to alcohol cause a polarizing reaction to many people in this country, particularly in the South. The state of Georgia, for example, has a long history of policies regulating alcohol which reflects its membership as part of the “Bible Belt” where Sunday is regarded as a holy day and therefore alcohol cannot and should not be purchased on this day. Given that the impetus of alcohol control policy has generally widened the availability of alcohol since the Prohibition, the moral concerns of voters regarding alcohol regulation have been superseded in the public debate with safety and health concern

Stimulating demand for AIDS prevention : lessons from the RESPECT trial

HIV-prevention strategies have yielded only limited success so far in slowing down the AIDS epidemic. This paper examines novel intervention strategies that use incentives to discourage risky sexual behaviors. Widely-adopted conditional cash transfer programs that offer payments conditioning on easily monitored behaviors, such as well-child health care visits, have shown positive impact on health outcomes. Similarly, contingency management approaches have successfully used outcome-based rewards to encourage behaviors that are not easily monitored, such as stopping drug abuse. These strategies have not been used in the sexual domain, so this paper assesses how incentives can be used to reduce risky sexual behavior. After discussing theoretical pathways, it discusses the use of sexual-behavior incentives in the Tanzanian RESPECT trial. There, participants who tested negative for sexually transmitted infections are eligible for outcome-based cash rewards. The trial was well-received in the communities, with high enrollment rates and more than 90 percent of participants viewing the incentives favorably. After one year, 57 percent of enrollees in the"low-value"reward arm stated that the cash rewards"very much"motivated sexual behavioral change, rising to 79 percent in the"high-value"reward arm. Despite its controversial nature, the authors argue for further testing of such incentive-based approaches to encouraging reductions in risky sexual behavior.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Population Policies,Disease Control&Prevention,HIV AIDS,Adolescent Health

Tanzanian Couples' Perspectives on Gender Equity, Relationship Power, and Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the RESPECT Study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is widely prevalent in Tanzania. Inequitable gender norms manifest in men's and women's attitudes about power and decision making in intimate relationships and are likely to play an important role in determining the prevalence of IPV. We used data from the RESPECT study, a randomized controlled trial that evaluated an intervention to prevent sexually transmitted infections in a cohort of young Tanzanian men and women, to examine the relationship between couples' attitudes about IPV, relationship power, and sexual decision making, concordance on these issues, and women's reports of IPV over 12 months. Women expressed less equitable attitudes than men at baseline. Over time, participants' attitudes tended to become more equitable and women's reports of IPV declined substantially. Multivariable logistic regression analyses suggested that inequitable attitudes and couple discordance were associated with higher risk of IPV. Our findings point to the need for a better understanding of the role that perceived or actual imbalances in relationship power have in heightening IPV risk. The decline in women's reports of IPV and the trend towards gender-equitable attitudes indicate that concerted efforts to reduce IPV and promote gender equity have the potential to make a positive difference in the relatively short term

Outstanding Educational Performance Awards: Highlighting Top Achieving Arkansas Schools, 2009

Since our founding in 2003, the mission of the Office for Education Policy has been to look at pressing issues through the lens of academic research and disseminate our findings to educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders around Arkansas. Every once in a while, however, we think it is okay to stray from issue analysis and simply share some good news! So, in this Arkansas Education Report (AER) we merely aim to highlight excellent performance and give our congratulations. To that end, we are happy to highlight the top performing schools around the state in an annual AER entitled the Outstanding Educational Performance Awards