Can a great resume hurt? Gender and contrast effects on recruiting

Recruiters make many inferences about applicants' abilities and interpersonal attributes on the basis of applicants' resumes. For example, every once in a while, a good resume leaves a strong positive impression and the recruiter creates a high expectation for the selection interview. What if a disappointing interview follows? Will the great resume help or hurt the candidate? The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a good resume on the recruiter’s evaluation of a candidate when a non-enthusiastic interview follows as well as the interacting role of gender. The results of two online experiments (n=454) where participants played the role of the recruiter, showed that, on average, a very good resume (vs. no resume) before a non-enthusiastic interview did not affect the recruiter’s evaluation of the candidate. However, when the recruiter’s and the candidate’s gender were taken into consideration, a different picture emerged. While no effect was found for male recruiters, the candidate’s resume had a clear significant impact on female recruiter’s evaluations: when the candidate was also a female, the good resume shown before the non-enthusiastic interview performance tended to help, whereas when the candidate was a male, the good resume had a significant negative effect on female recruiters’ evaluation of the candidate. In sum, in situations where the resume had a strong impact on the recruiter’s evaluation (female recruiters), the direction of the effect was moderated by the candidate’s gender. Gender differences in information processing as well as in-group/out-group biases due to gender matching are used to hypothesize and explain the main findings.

A doorway to Borromean halo nuclei: the Samba configuration

We exploit the possibility of new configurations in three-body halo nuclei, Samba type (the neutron-core form a bound system) as a doorway to Borromean systems. The nuclei Be-12, B-15, N-23 and F-27 are of such nature, in particular N-23 with a half-life of 37.7 s and a halo radius of 6.07 fm is an excellent example of Samba-halo configuration. The fusion below the barrier of the Samba halo nuclei with heavy targets could reveal the so far elusive enhancement and a dominance of one-neutron over two-neutron transfers, in contrast to what was found recently for the Borromean halo nucleus He-6 + U-238.

Cold-induced enhancement of avian uncoupling protein expression, heat production, and triiodothyronine concentrations in broiler chicks

The relationships among avian uncoupling protein (avUCP) mRNA expression, heat production, and thyroid hormone metabolism were investigated in 7-14-day-old broiler chicks (Gallus gallus) exposed to a low temperature (cold-exposed chicks, CE) or a thermoneutral temperature (TN). After 7 days of exposure, CE chicks exhibited higher heat production (+83%, P < 0.01), avUCP mRNA expression (+20%, P < 0.01), and circulating triiodothyronine (T-3) levels (+104%, P = 0.07) for non-statistically different body weights and feed intake between 3 and 7 days of exposure as compared to TN chicks. Plasma thyroxine (T-4) concentration was clearly decreased in CE chicks (-33%, P = 0.06). The lower hepatic inner-ring deiodination activity (-47%) and the higher renal outer-ring deiodination activity (+75%) measured in CE compared to TN chicks could partly account for their higher plasma T3 concentrations. This study describes for the first time the induction of avUCP mRNA expression by low temperature in chickens, as it has been previously shown in ducklings, and supports the possible involvement of avUCP in avian thermogenesis. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. (USA). All rights reserved.

Dinâmica da Plasticidade Sináptica em neurônios do hipocampo durante ciclos de sono: um estudo computacional

Several research lines show that sleep favors memory consolidation and learning. It has been proposed that the cognitive role of sleep is derived from a global scaling of synaptic weights, able to homeostatically restore the ability to learn new things, erasing memories overnight. This phenomenon is typical of slow-wave sleep (SWS) and characterized by non-Hebbian mechanisms, i.e., mechanisms independent of synchronous neuronal activity. Another view holds that sleep also triggers the specific enhancement of synaptic connections, carrying out the embossing of certain mnemonic traces within a lattice of synaptic weights rescaled each night. Such an embossing is understood as the combination of Hebbian and non-Hebbian mechanisms, capable of increasing and decreasing respectively the synaptic weights in complementary circuits, leading to selective memory improvement and a restructuring of synaptic configuration (SC) that can be crucial for the generation of new behaviors ( insights ). The empirical findings indicate that initiation of Hebbian plasticity during sleep occurs in the transition of the SWS to the stage of rapid eye movement (REM), possibly due to the significant differences between the firing rates regimes of the stages and the up-regulation of factors involved in longterm synaptic plasticity. In this study the theories of homeostasis and embossing were compared using an artificial neural network (ANN) fed with action potentials recorded in the hippocampus of rats during the sleep-wake cycle. In the simulation in which the ANN did not apply the long-term plasticity mechanisms during sleep (SWS-transition REM), the synaptic weights distribution was re-scaled inexorably, for its mean value proportional to the input firing rate, erasing the synaptic weights pattern that had been established initially. In contrast, when the long-term plasticity is modeled during the transition SWSREM, an increase of synaptic weights were observed in the range of initial/low values, redistributing effectively the weights in a way to reinforce a subset of synapses over time. The results suggest that a positive regulation coming from the long-term plasticity can completely change the role of sleep: its absence leads to forgetting; its presence leads to a positive mnemonic change

Enhancement of thermal stability, strength and extensibility of lipid-based polyurethanes with cellulose-based nanofibers

Cellulose was extracted from lignocellulosic fibers and nanocrystalline cellulose (NC) prepared by alkali treatment of the fiber, steam explosion of the mercerized fiber, bleaching of the steam exploded fiber and finally acid treatment by 5% oxalic acid followed again by steam explosion. The average length and diameter of the NC were between 200-250 nm and 4-5 nm, respectively, in a monodisperse distribution. Different concentrations of the NC (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% by weight) were dispersed non-covalently into a completely bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) derived entirely from oleic acid. The physical properties of the TPU nanocomposites were assessed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and Mechanical Properties Analysis. The nanocomposites demonstrated enhanced stress and elongation at break and improved thermal stability compared to the neat TPU. The best results were obtained with 0.5% of NC in the TPU. The elongation at break of this sample was improved from 178% to 269% and its stress at break from 29.3 to 40.5 MPa. In this and all other samples the glass transition temperature, melting temperature and crystallization behavior were essentially unaffected. This finding suggests a potential method of increasing the strength and the elongation at break of typically brittle and weak lipid-based TPUs without alteration of the other physico-chemical properties of the polymer. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Context-specific modulation of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization and ERK and CREB phosphorylation in the rat nucleus accumbens

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Enhancement of optical absorption by modulation of the oxygen flow of TiO2 films deposited by reactive sputtering

Oxygen-deficient TiO2 films with enhanced visible and near-infrared optical absorption have been deposited by reactive sputtering using a planar diode radio frequency magnetron configuration. It is observed that the increase in the absorption coefficient is more effective when the O-2 gas supply is periodically interrupted rather than by a decrease of the partial O-2 gas pressure in the deposition plasma. The optical absorption coefficient at 1.5 eV increases from about 1 x 10(2) cm(-1) to more than 4 x 10(3) cm(-1) as a result of the gas flow discontinuity. A red-shift of similar to 0.24 eV in the optical absorption edge is also observed. High resolution transmission electron microscopy with composition analysis shows that the films present a dense columnar morphology, with estimated mean column width of 40nm. Moreover, the interruptions of the O-2 gas flow do not produce detectable variations in the film composition along its growing direction. X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman experiments indicate the presence of the TiO2 anatase, rutile, and brookite phases. The anatase phase is dominant, with a slight increment of the rutile and brookite phases in films deposited under discontinued O-2 gas flow. The increase of optical absorption in the visible and near-infrared regions has been attributed to a high density of defects in the TiO2 films, which is consistent with density functional theory calculations that place oxygen-related vacancy states in the upper third of the optical bandgap. The electronic structure calculation results, along with the adopted deposition method and experimental data, have been used to propose a mechanism to explain the formation of the observed oxygen-related defects in TiO2 thin films. The observed increase in sub-bandgap absorption and the modeling of the corresponding changes in the electronic structure are potentially useful concerning the optimization of efficiency of the photocatalytic activity and the magnetic doping of TiO2 films. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4724334]

Corrosion resistance enhancement of SAE 1020 steel after Chromium implantation by nitrogen ion recoil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Value of ultrasonographic contrast in duplex scanning of leg arteries - Comparison with conventional duplex scanning and arteriography

Aim. Duplex scanning has been used in the evaluation of the aorta and proximal arteries of the lower extremities, but has limitations in evaluating the arteries of the leg. The utilization of ultrasonographic contrast (USC) may be helpful in improving the quality of the image in these arteries. The objective of the present study was to verify whether the USC increases the diagnostic accuracy of patency of the leg arteries and if it diminishes the time needed to perform duplex scanning.Methods. Twenty patients with critical ischemia (20 lower extremities) were examined by standard duplex scanning, duplex scanning with contrast and digital subtraction arteriography (DSA). The 3 arteries of the leg were divided into 3 segments, for a total of 9 segments per limb. Each segment was evaluated for patency in order to compare the 3 diagnostic methods. Comparison was made between standard duplex scanning and duplex scanning with contrast in terms of quality of the color-coded Doppler signal and of the spectral curve, and also of the time to perform the exams.Results. Duplex scanning with contrast was similar to arteriography in relation to patency diagnosis (p>0.3) and even superior in some of the segments. Standard duplex scanning was inferior to arteriography and to duplex scanning with contrast (p<0.001). There were improvements of 70% in intensity of the color-coded Doppler signal and 76% in the spectral curve after the utilization of contrast. The time necessary to perform the examinations was 23.7 minutes for standard duplex scanning and 16.9 minutes for duplex scanning with contrast (p<0.001).Conclusion. The use of ultrasonographic contrast increased the accuracy of the diagnosis of patency of leg arteries and diminished the time necessary for the execution of duplex scanning.

Effects of aluminum-copper alloy filtration on photon spectra, air kerma rate and image contrast

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Measurement of shrinkage of composite resin by laser speckle contrast analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shrinkage of a microhybrid dental composite resin photo-activated by one LED with different power densities by means of speckle technique. The dental composite resin Filtek (TM) Z-250 (3M/ESPE) at color A(2) was used for the samples preparation. Uncured composite was packed in a metallic mold and irradiated during 20 s from 100 to 1000 mW cm(-2). For the photo-activation of the samples, it was used a LED prototype (Light Emission Diode) with wavelength centered at 470 nm and adjustable power density until 1 W cm(-2). The speckle patterns obtained from the bottom composite surfaces were monitored using a CCD camera without lens. The speckle field is recorded in a digital picture and stored by CCD camera as the carrier of information on the displacement of the tested surface. The calculated values were obtained for each pair of adjacent patterns and the changes in speckle contrast as a function of time were obtained from six repeated measurements. The speckle contrasts obtained from the bottom surface with 100 mW cm(-1) were smaller than those than the other power densities. The higher power densities provided the higher shrinkage.

Ytterbium-induced energy-transfer upconversion enhancement in Nd3+/Pr3+-codoped PbGeO3-PbF2-CdF2 glass excited at 810nm

The effect of ytterbium ions upon energy transfer (ET) excited upconversion emission in Nd3+/Pr3+ -codoped PbGeO3-PbF2-CdF2 glass under 810 nm diode laser excitation is investigated. The results revealed that the presence of Yb3+ ions in the Nd3+/Pr3+-doped sample yields a fourfold enhancement in the visible and near infrared upconversion luminescence. The dependence of the upconversion process upon the excitation power, Nd3+, and Yb3+ concentrations is examined. The results indicated that ytterbium plays a major role in the ET upconversion process by bridging the 810nm neodymium excitation to praseodymium ions. The population of the Pr3+ ions P-3(0) emitting level was accomplished through a multi-ion interaction involving ground-state and excited-state absorption of pump photons at 810 nm by the Nd3+ followed by successive ET involving the Nd3+-Yb3+ and Yb3+-Pr3+ pairs. There is also direct ET Nd3+-Pr3+. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ENHANCEMENT OF U-234 IN SPRINGWATERS OF AGUAS-DA-PRATA, SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

Springwater samples were collected at Aguas da Prata, an important spa in São Paulo State, Brazil. The U-238 and U-234 isotopes were evaluated for Platina, Paiol, Villela, Prata-Radioativa, Prata-Nova, Boi, Vitoria, and Prata-Antiga springs. An inverse logarithmic correlation was found between U-234/U-238 activity ratio and Rn-222 content of the studied waters, which was related to different solution mechanisms of Rn-222 and U-234 nuclides at the rock-water interface. A linear correlation also exists between the U-234/U-238 activity ratios of the studied waters and total dissolved solids, ionic strength, CO2 partial pressure, and index of base exchange, which indicates that the enhancement of U-234 in solution increases with the degree of weathering in the aquifers, A higher U-234/U-238 activity ratio was found to be directly related to a higher value of dissolution rate.