Risk Taking: Gender Differences and Educational Opportunity

This article focuses on two issues related to educational opportunity: (1) the relationship between risk-taking behavior and mathematics performance, and (2) whether there are gender differences in risk-taking behavior. From a review of literature it was concluded that students who are greater risk-takers perform better on mathematics tests and that males are greater risk-takers than females. It follows, therefore, that males perform better on mathematics tests in which risk-taking plays a role. It was further concluded that these differences effect the opportunities that girls are afforded in their desires to attend college, the availablitity of scholarships, and their self-confidence in mathematics.     

Isobaric volume and enthalpy recovery of glasses. II. A transparent multiparameter theory

A multiordering parameter model for glass-transition phenomena has been developed on the basis of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. In this treatment the state of the glass is determined by the values of N ordering parameters in addition to T and P; the departure from equilibrium is partitioned among the various ordering parameters, each of which is associated with a unique retardation time. These times are assumed to depend on T, P, and on the instantaneous state of the system characterized by its overall departure from equilibrium, giving rise to the well-known nonlinear effects observed in volume and enthalpy recovery. The contribution of each ordering parameter to the departure and the associated retardation times define the fundamental distribution function (the structural retardation spectrum) of the system or, equivalently, its fundamental material response function. These, together with a few experimentally measurable material constants, completely define the recovery behavior of the system when subjected to any thermal treatment. The behavior of the model is explored for various classes of thermal histories of increasing complexity, in order to simulate real experimental situations. The relevant calculations are based on a discrete retardation spectrum, extending over four time decades, and on reasonable values of the relevant material constants in order to imitate the behavior of polymer glasses. The model clearly separates the contribution of the retardation spectrum from the temperature-structure dependence of the retardation times which controls its shifts along the experimental time scale. This is achieved by using the natural time scale of the system which eliminates all the nonlinear effects, thus reducing the response function to the Boltzmann superposition equation, similar to that encountered in the linear viscoelasticity. As a consequence, the system obeys a rate (time) -temperature reduction rule which provides for generalization within each class of thermal treatment. Thus the model establishes a rational basis for comparing theory with experiment, and also various kinds of experiments between themselves. The analysis further predicts interesting features, some of which have often been overlooked. Among these are the impossibility of extraction of the spectrum (or response function) from experiments involving cooling from high temperatures at finite rate; and the appearance of two peaks in the expansion coefficient, or heat capacity, during the heating stage of three-step thermal cycles starting at high temperatures. Finally, the theory also provides a rationale for interpreting the time dependence of mechanical or other structure-sensitive properties of glasses as well as for predicting their long-range behavior.     

Evidence for the two-pole structure of the lambda(1405) resonance

The K- p --> pi0pi0sigma0 reaction is studied within a chiral unitary model. The distribution of pi0sigma0 states forming the lambda(1405) shows, in agreement with a recent experiment, a peak at 1420 MeV and a relatively narrow width of gamma = 38 MeV. The mechanism for the reaction is largely dominated by the emission of a pi0 prior to the K- p interaction leading to the lambda(1405). This ensures the coupling of the lambda(1405) to the K- p channel, thus maximizing the contribution of the second state found in chiral unitary theories, which is narrow and of higher energy than the nominal lambda(1405). This is unlike the pi- p --> K0pisigma reaction, which gives more weight to the pole at lower energy and with a larger width. The data of these two experiments, together with the present theoretical analysis, provide firm evidence of the two-pole structure of the lambda(1405).     

Intrinsic aging and effective viscosity in the slow dynamics of a soft glass with tunable elasticity

We investigate by rheology and light scattering the influence of the elastic modulus, G0, on the slow dynamics and the aging of a soft glass. We show that the slow dynamics and the aging can be entirely described by the evolution of an effective viscosity, eta(eff), defined as the characteristic time measured in a stress relaxation experiment times G0. At all times, eta(eff) is found to be independent of G0, of elastic perturbations, and of the rate at which the sample is quenched in the glassy phase. We propose a simple model that links eta(eff) to the internal stress built up at the fluid-to-solid transition.     

(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitriles as chiral dipolarophiles: reactions with diazoalkanes

[reaction: see text] The dipolarophilic reactivity of enantiopure (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitriles (1) has been evaluated with diazoalkanes. 3-Cyanopyrazoles are obtained when R = H, but with R = alkyl (Bn, n-Bu, and t-Bu) only one cycloadduct (4 or 5) is formed in high yield under mild conditions, therefore evidencing a complete control of the regioselectivity and the endo/exo and pi-facial selectivities. These reactions are a new straightforward entry to the synthesis of pyrazolines and related structures and reveal the excellent dipolarophilic features of (Z)-sulfinylacrylonitriles.     

Byte structure variable length coding (BS-VLC): a new specific algorithm applied in the compression of trajectories generated by molecular dynamics

Molecular dynamics is a well-known technique very much used in the study of biomolecular systems. The trajectory files produced by molecular dynamics simulations are extensive, and the classical lossless algorithms give poor efficiencies in their compression. In this work, a new specific algorithm, named byte structure variable length coding (BS-VLC), is introduced. Trajectory files, obtained by molecular dynamics applied to trypsin and a trypsin:pancreatic trypsin inhibitor complex, were compressed using four classical lossless algorithms (Huffman, adaptive Huffman, LZW, and LZ77) as well as the BS-VLC algorithm. The results obtained show that BS-VLC nearly triplicates the compression efficiency of the best classical lossless algorithm, preserving a near lossless behavior. Compression efficiencies close to 50% can be obtained with a high degree of precision, and the maximum efficiency possible (75%), within this algorithm, can be performed with good precision.     

Dependence of pulser driving responses on electrical and motional characteristics of NDE ultrasonic probes

Acoustic performance in ultrasonic transmitters can be improved by means of a suitable electrical driving response and matching/tuning networks. It is important to predict this electrical response, but doing so is not easy because it departs notably from the nominal pattern with the loading probes. In practice, the analysis of HV pulser spikes in NDE applications requires fairly complex models in the transient regime and, in addition, non-linear problems could arise, especially in the case of tuned transmitters. In this paper, the most relevant influences of loading characteristics of NDT ultrasonic probes on the pulser electrical driving responses are evaluated in time and frequency domains. Conventional pulse generators and typical NDE pulsers are considered. Driving responses are analysed across commercial ultrasonic probes and, alternatively, across similar purely electrical loads. Distinct influences on pulser responses from electrical and motional sections of the probes are identified. All these aspects are studied on the basis of experimental and computer results.     

Poly(vinyl acetate) paints in works of art: A photochemical approach. Part 1

The photochemistry of poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc, homopolymer, of PVAc mixtures with selected pigments and fillers, and of accurate historic reproductions based on the colours prepared by Portuguese artist Joaquim Rodrigo and on those supplied by the company A Favrel was studied. The systems, applied as films, were irradiated at λ ≥ 300 nm and the changes followed by size exclusion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and colorimetry.PVAc as homopolymer or as an emulsion paint proved to be very stable to light, and after 5000 h of irradiation no gel fraction was observed. Φ_R (λ_irr = 313 nm) for chain scission for PVAc was determined to be 7 × 10⁻⁸. This value indicates that the mechanism/s operating when irradiating at λ ≥ 300 nm are different from those previously published with irradiation involving 254 nm. No side-group scission was observed, and main chain scission is the foremost photodegradation mechanism. Also, the metal ions present in the pigments do not affect the photochemical stability of the polymer.