College students' views on criminal justice

We surveyed 683 college students to examine their attitudes toward the death penalty, other criminal sanctions, and the war on drugs. College seniors were consistently less likely than freshmen to hold punitive views; this suggests a “liberalizing” effect of the college experience. This liberalizing college effect on attitudes toward criminal justice was not apparent for criminal justice majors, however, particularly when criminal justice seniors' attitudes toward the death penalty were compared with those of freshmen in criminal justice. The views of criminal justice majors overall did not differ appreciably from other students' views. We found no support for the expectation that criminal justice majors with experience in criminal justice would express more conservative, more punitive views than would criminal justice majors in general.     

Detecting Misspecification in Mean Structures for Growth Curve Models: Performance of Pseudo R 2s and Concordance Correlation Coefficients

This study examined the performance of 4 correlation-based fit indexes (marginal and conditional pseudo R ²s; average and conditional concordance correlations) in detecting misspecification in mean structures in growth curve models. Their performance was also compared to that of 4 traditional SEM fit indexes. We found that the marginal pseudo R ² and average concordance correlation were able to detect misspecification in the marginal mean structure (average change trajectory). The conditional pseudo R ² and concordance correlation could detect misspecification when it occurred in the conditional mean structure (individual change trajectory) or in both mean structures. Compared to the SEM fit indexes, the correlation-based fit indexes were more robust to sample size but were less robust to data properties such as magnitude of population mean and measurement error. Theoretical and practical implications of the results and directions for future research are discussed.     

Learning,Testing, and the Evaluation of Learning Environments in Medicine: Global Performance Assessment in Medical Education

Changes in the profession of medicine are creating the demand for a substantive reexamination of current practices in medical education. Many of the major issues in addressing this challenge are structural and political rather than scientific; here we address one critical scientific issue that will be important to (though not by itself adequate for) guiding such changes. The factor we address is the development of a global performance assessment: a standardized mechanism to assess individual skills and abilities that can be used to evaluate alternative educational interventions. We discuss the issues involved in developing such a system, and describe a set of principles for defining desired outcomes and developing assessment tools, including (a) wide clinical scope, (b) direct relationship to actual clinical performance, (c) reliability and repeatability, and (d) non-longitudinal measurement. We discuss the role of simulation, reflective practice, and portfolios of work in developing such a system, and argue that whatever form such metrics take, a system of global performance assessment will develop from close collaboration between clinicians and educators with innovative ways of thinking about performance and expertise.     

Influence of the scholar

Among the factors which will influence the emerging roles of medical libraries will be the changing needs of the medical scholars who use them. The effectiveness of the medical practitioner will be determined to an increasing extent by his capacity to mobilize information with a rapidity sufficient to permit its application in day-to-day decision-making. The practice of medicine is becoming an increasingly academic pursuit. The library and the librarian will, therefore, become more directly involved in the practice of medicine, and the library will be a more crucial resource in providing superior patient-care. Changes in undergraduate and continuing medical education will make new demands on the library. These and other related developments will create new functions, new problems, and new opportunities for the librarian.     

Uncovering the Evidence: Faculty Perceptions of Distance Library Services

Usage statistics are a regular part of assessment but the lack of context leaves librarians pondering the reasons for fluctuations in use. Through development of an online survey, we examined faculty perceptions, knowledge, and use of distance library services to support online courses. Responses provided much needed context and helped to determine priorities and direction for services. While this survey was a useful marketing tool, results emphasized that the greatest need was for ongoing communication with faculty to increase awareness of services provided.     

内隐学习理论对社会规范学习的启示

社会规范学习是个体品德形成的基础。由于忽视了社会规范学习的特点,社会规范学习成了令人厌烦的灌输与说教。内隐学习理论对社会规范学习的启示在于：社会规范学习中,必须激发学生内隐学习潜能;在各个学科教学中,渗透积极人生观;个体在无意识中形成内在品质;以外显可量化行为间接考察内隐的观念。在社会规范学习中运用内隐学习理论应注意：正确处理社会规范学习中内隐学习和外显学习的关系;选用符合学生认知发展规律的内隐学习材料;懂得内隐学习不是一蹴而就的。     

A conceptual model of taste receptors

Of all the senses, that of taste is perhaps the hardest to define and quantify and elucidation of the underlying mechanisms is unrespondingly difficult. This article describes a conceptual model — at the molecular level — for the four basic taste modalities, using apparent specific volume as a fundamental parameter. It also considers possible practical applications.     

Elastic waves in heterogeneous bars of varying cross-section

The propagation of elastic waves in a heterogeneous bar of variable cross-sectional area is investigated via use of the method of characteristics andthe Laplace transform technique. The Young's modulus and density are assumed to be representable as either power law or exponential distributions in the axial coordinate. The transform method is used to establish an infinite number of multi-parameter solutions in closed form for either a stress, velocity or displacement type boundary condition. The numerical characteristic computations show excellent agreement when compared to the transform solutions, and are then used to obtain additional solutions not attainable by the transform method. Detailed results and conclusions for a bar of ogival cross-section are given for a wide range of inhomogeneity.