Fearing holdups, the Port Authority also has been paying some of DCM's subcontractors directly, the people said.

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Since the Sept. 11 attacks, airport holdups have dropped significantly because of measures aimed at thwarting potential terrorists.

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"When unavoidable situations arise, realize they are just short-term holdups to your exercise program, not permanent derailments, " says Barbara Bushman, a professor at Missouri State University's Department of Kinesiology.

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The program is attracting mostly international students who believe it will provide a route to the U.S. Here, too, there have been holdups: delays in obtaining visas and getting approval for student loans.

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