Practitioner's Research: A Study in Changing Preservice Teachers’ Conceptions About Mathematics and Mathematics Teaching and Learning

Educators involved in the current reform movement in mathematics education recommend that students be actively involved in constructing their own knowledge and developing powerful mathematical concepts. This study suggests how ideas based on constructivist learning theory can be put into practice in a preservice mathematics education class.     

First‐principles calculations of Mössbauer hyperfine parameters for solids and large molecules

Electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory were performed for solids and large molecules. The solids were represented by clusters of 60–100 atoms embedded in the potential of the external crystal. Magnetic moments and Mössbauer hyperfine parameters were derived.     

Looking at Fokker-Planck dynamics with a noisy instrument

We consider the class of experiments which can be characterized by a Fokker-PIanck dynamics corresponding to the overdamped motion of a state point in a suitable stochastic potential. We assume that the general form of the potential is known (or can be guessed with reasonable accuracy), but that its parameters are to be determined experimentally by measurements made with a noisy instrument. This possible method for determining the potential parameters, which exploits the system's own internal stochastic motion in order to explore rapidly its available parameter space, is substantially more efficient than traditional methods involving time averages of single point measurements, and yet does not appear to have been previously considered. The method could be important when, for example, the experiment must be completed in a limited time owing either to the expense of the experimental materials or to the temporary stationarity of the preparation, situations which are commonly encountered in experimental biochemistry and biology.     

The Coherent-Path Model for Nuclear Resonant Gamma-Ray Scattering: An Overview

Hyperfine Interactions - A “coherent-path” model for nuclear-resonant scattering of gamma radiation from resonant matter has been developed and is summarized here. The solution provides...     

Preparation and physical characterization of forms II and III of paracetamol

The polymorphic forms II and III of paracetamol were obtained by melting the marketed form I. Under the melting and cooling conditions used, it was possible to obtain forms I, II and III. The recrystallization conditions and the physical properties of forms II and III were investigated by means of various techniques: thermomicroscopy, DSC analysis, infrared microspectrometry and X-ray powder diffraction at room temperature and as a function of temperature. Form III was found to be very unstable. However, its formation seems to be an important intermediate step in the preparation of form II.     

串联系统可靠性虚拟系统法置信下限的小样本性质

本文讨论了具有r个成败型元件串联系统可靠性的置信下限问题。研究了虚拟系统法置信下限的小样本性质,证明了,在通常情况下虚拟系统法置信下限要大于常见的L-M法置信下限.更一般地,本文证明了在成败型试验中,当成功数与试验数之比保持不变时,试验次数的增加将直接缩小成功率置信区间的长度。     

A simple formula for mean multiplexing delay for independent regenerative sources

Simple expressions are given for the mean delay, mean waiting time, and mean busy period length in a multiplexer. Data streams with active periods having a general distribution are permitted, and the data rate during the active periods can be random. Data can also arrive in batches. The key restrictions of the model are that the sources are independent, idle periods are exponentially distributed, and a source generates at least enough data during an active period to keep the server busy throughout the period. The exact formulas allow evaluation of the error in approximations such as a heavy traffic diffusion approximation.Both continuous and discrete time models are considered. The discrete-time model includes that studied by Viterbi and subsequently generalized by Neuts. The Pollaczek-Khinchine formula for the mean amount of work in anM/GI/1 queue is retrieved as a limiting case.Preliminary version presented at IEEE INFOCOM, San Francisco, April 1993.     

A diffusion approximation result for two parameter processes

Summary We consider a one-dimensional linear wave equation with a small mean zero dissipative field and with the boundary condition imposed by the so-called Goursat problem. In order to observe the effect of the randomness on the solution we perform a space-time rescaling and we rewrite the problem in a diffusion approximation form for two parameter processes. We prove that the solution converges in distribution toward the solution of a two-parameter stochastic differential equation which we identify. The diffusion approximation results for oneparameter processes are well known and well understood. In fact, the solution of the one-parameter analog of the problem we consider here is immediate. Unfortunately, the situation is much more complicated for two-parameter processes and we believe that our result is the first one of its kind.Partially supported by ONR N00014-91-J-1010     

Onn-th commutators with nilpotent or regular values in rings

Then-th commutator for a,b in a ringR is defined inductively as follows: [a,b]₁=[a,b]=ab−ba and[a,b] _n=[[a,b]₋₁,b]. We characterize the ringsR without non-zero nil right ideals in which[a,b] _nis nilpotent or regular for alla,b∈R. We also examine the case whereR is a semiprime ring with involution in which[t ₁, t₂]_nis nilpotent or regular for all tracest ₁,t₂∈R.     

Measurements of climatic parameters and ground-level ozone at Terra Nova Bay in Antarctica

Summary The results of local meteorology, solar radiation and ground-level ozone measurements taken in Antarctica during the second Italian expedition (December 86–February 87) at Terra Nova Bay are presented. During the summer months the site of the Italian base camp is characterized by a thin strip of deglaciated ground, along which the temperature measurements close to the ground and up to 6 m high show a strongly superdiabatic profile. This irregular trend of the temperature in the surface layer is mainly due to the notable incoming amounts of radiation and to the extreme transparency of the atmosphere. This is also shown by the low values of the ratio between total radiation and diffuse radiation. The ground is thus subjected to intense heating, especially in the warmer hours of the day, while the surface layer of the atmosphere will be characterized by strong upward heat fluxes and by turbulent convective movements. Vertical-temperature-profile measurements show an almost forced persistence in the superdiabatic trend, which tends towards isothermic values only as a resultof rapid variations in the direction and intensity of the wind, connected to the downward flux of cold air masses, shown also by the simultaneous increases in ground-level ozone concentrations which would support the presence of dry-deposition processes in the lower layer. However, the complex local orography and the horizontal discontinuity (sea, deglaciated coast, snow-covered surfaces) do not permit a correct application of profile flux relations, normally used in studies on groundlevel dry-deposition. Paper presented at the IV Congresso del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica dell'Atmosfera e dell'Oceano, June 22–24, 1987, Rome.