bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditions for the Successful Use of Science
Authors: Carter Charles
Published: October 2006

There is ground for concern that the British research and development effort, which is of considerable size, may not be well distributed. In some areas of intense scientific effort, commercial priorities tend to be forgotten. Too many of the units of the economic system are backward in understanding what science can offer and inefficient in using the opportunities which it provides. Evidence suggests that the successful use of science depends on the overall quality of management rather than specifically on its degree of scientific knowledge.
Volcanic Ash over Arizona in the Spring of 1982: Astronomical Observations
Authors: Livingston W. , Lockwood G. W.
Published: October 2006

Astronomical observations in Arizona recorded the passage of one, and possibly more, volcanic dust clouds between January and June 1982. On 15 May the increase in extinction in visible wavelengths at Tucson was more than 40 percent or 0.4 in optical depth. At Flagstaff, 325 kilometers north, the increase in extinction on the same day was 25 percent. A detailed time history of atmospheric extinction plus evidence for nongray absorption from the cloud is presented.
Helium on Venus: Implications for Uranium and Thorium
Authors: Prather Michael J. , McElroy Michael B.
Published: October 2006

Helium is removed at an average rate of 10
6
atoms per square centimeter per second from Venus's atmosphere by the solar wind following ionization above the plasmapause. The surface source of helium-4 on Venus is similar to that on Earth, suggesting comparable abundances of crustal uranium and thorium.
Technology Development
Authors: Gomory Ralph E.
Published: October 2006

In technology development significant advances are as often the result of a series of evolutionary steps as they are of breakthroughs. This is illustrated by the examples of the steam engine and the computer. Breakthroughs, such as the transistor, are relatively rare, and are often the result of the introduction of new knowledge coming from a quite different area. Technology development is often difficult to predict because of its complexity; practical considerations may far outweigh apparent scientific advantages, and cultural factors enter in at many levels. In a large technological organization problems exist in bringing scientific knowledge to bear on development, but much can be done to obviate these difficulties.
World Ocean Tides Synthesized from Normal Modes
Authors: Platzman George W.
Published: October 2006

Sixty oceanic normal modes are used to synthesize the M
2
and
K
1
(principal lunar semidiurnal and declinational diurnal) tides. The ten most energetic modes in the M
2
synthesis account for 87 percent of the energy; the corresponding figure for
K
1
is 93 percent, two-thirds of which is contributed by a single mode whose natural period is about 29 hours. Model calculations indicate that the quality (
Q
) of the ocean response to tidal forcing resembles that of a frictionally controlled oscillator. In particular, for M
2
the global
Q
is about 10.
Gametophytic Self-Incompatibility Reexamined
Authors: Mulcahy David L. , Mulcahy Gabriella Bergamini
Published: October 2006

The conventional hypothesis of gametophytic self-incompatibility in the angiosperms involves one to four multiallelic incompatibility loci and the positive inhibition of incompatible pollen tubes. However, this concept does not accommodate recent experimental data indicating that there may be many loci. An alternative hypothesis which incorporates many loci and complementary pollen-style interactions suggests that there may be no S gene, as previously thought, and that gametophytic self-incompatibility is perhaps merely one aspect of extensive pollen-style interactions.
Entwined and Parallel Bundled Orbits as Alternative Models for Narrow Planetary Ringlets
Authors: Eshleman Von R.
Published: October 2006

Particle orbits can be bundled in two different ways to produce narrow, Uranus-type ringlets. The usual assumption is that they are packed in a parallel manner in a structure that is essentially only two-dimensional, but it is then difficult to explain the large numbers of particles per unit area of the ring plane that are inferred from the observations. The alternative of a bundle of entwined orbits produces a three-dimensional structure of potentially large projected areal density. A start has been made in identifying possible mechanisms for stabilizing these structures, but much remains to be done, particularly for the less-studied model of entwined orbits. The two models might be discriminated observationally by differences in the motion of the line of intersection of the orbital and equatorial planes, and by the predicted radial reversal (entwined) or nonreversal (parallel) of features in occultation signatures taken at certain longitudes.
Adventure into Space
Authors: Burbidge E. Margaret
Published: October 2006

The exploration of the universe has captured mankind's interest since the earliest attempts to understand the sun, moon, planets, comets, and stars. The last few decades have seen explosive advances of knowledge, sparked by technological advances and by our entry into the space age. Achievements in solar system exploration, discoveries both in the Milky Way and in the farther universe, and challenges for the future are discussed. Of major concern worldwide is the need for people of goodwill in all nations to concentrate on the peaceful uses of outer space and on international collaboration.
Science and the Urban University
Authors: Adamany David
Published: October 2006

The potential for science to contribute to economic and civic life is of particular importance to urban centers with economic decline. For urban universities, the ability to adapt to changing needs and seize new opportunities has become vital. These universities must take the lead in curricular revision, research emphasizing the application of knowledge, arrangements with private economic enterprises, and public service to improve science and mathematics training in the schools.
Oceanographic Observations of the 1982 Warming of the Tropical Eastern Pacific
Authors: Halpern David , Hayes Stanley P. , Leetmaa Ants , Hansen Donald V. , Philander S. George H.
Published: October 2006

Moored current meter, sea level, hydrographic, and surface drifter measurements show the large changes that took place in the eastern tropical Pacific during the onset of the warm episode of 1982. In August the near-surface flow at 0°, 110°W reversed direction to eastward. By October the sea surface temperature in the equatorial zone increased by 5 degrees Celsius above the long-term monthly mean value, sea level rose by 22 centimeters at the Galápagos Islands, and the thermocline was displaced downward by 50 to 70 meters along the equator and the South American coast.
Eccentric Ringlet in the Maxwell Gap at 1.45 Saturn Radii: Multi-Instrument Voyager Observations
Authors: Esposito L. W. , Borderies N. , Goldreich P. , Cuzzi J. N. , Holberg J. B. , Lane A. L. , Pomphrey R. B. , Terrile R. J. , Lissauer J. J. , Marouf E. A. , Tyler G. L.
Published: October 2006

The Voyager spacecraft observed a narrow, eccentric ringlet in the Maxwell gap (1.45 Saturn radii) in Saturn's rings. Intercomparison of the Voyager imaging, photopolarimeter, ultraviolet spectrometer, and radio science observations yields results not available from individual observations. The width of the ringlet varies from about 30 to about 100 kilometers, its edges are sharp on a radial scale < 1 kilometer, and its opacity exhibits a double peak near the center. The shape and width of the ringlet are consistent with a set of uniformly precessing, confocal ellipses with foci at Saturn's center of mass. The ringlet precesses as a unit at a rate consistent with the known dynamical oblateness of Saturn; the lack of differential precession across the ringlet yields a ringlet mass of about 5 × 10
18
grams. The ratio of surface mass density to particle cross-sectional area is about five times smaller than values obtained elsewhere in the Saturn ring system, indicating a relatively larger fraction of small particles. Also, comparison of the measured transmission of the ringlet at radio, visible, and ultraviolet wavelengths indicates that about half of the total extinction is due to particles smaller than 1 centimeter in radius, in contrast even with nearby regions of the C ring. However, the color and brightness of the ringlet material are not measurably different from those of nearby C ring particles. We find this ringlet is similar to several of the rings of Uranus.
Improving R&D Productivity: The Federal Role
Authors: Branscomb Lewis M.
Published: October 2006

Despite widespread concern about lagging productivity growth rates and renewed interest in research, federal support for the review and packaging of hard-won new knowledge continues to languish. Yet accurate, accessible data are critical, not only in every R&D project but also in the most advanced manufacturing processes. Ensuring reliable, retrievable data is not a function that can be left to the professional societies, the publishing industry, or the private sector. In this article a six-point national science and technology data policy is proposed, and it is suggested that progress ultimately will depend on an overall science and technology policy, the first priority of which is to make available existing knowledge.
Electron Density Distribution in the Organic Superconductor (TMTSF)
2
AsF
6
Authors: Wudl F. , Nalewajek D. , Troup J. M. , Extine M. W.
Published: October 2006

Excellent crystals of (TMTSF)
2
AsF
6
(TMTSF, tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene) were employed to obtain x-ray diffraction data for a determination of the electron density distribution in this organic superconductor. Electron density was observed between molecules in a stack of donors of an organic metal and between certain interstack selenium atoms of these donors.
Sequential Basal Faults in Devonian Dolomite, Nopah Range, Death Valley Area, California
Authors: Wenk H. R. , Zenger D. H.
Published: October 2006

Dolomite crystals from the Lost Burro Formation (Devonian) in the Nopah Range, eastern California, display basal stacking disorder as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. Satellites in electron diffraction patterns indicate that stacking of anions and cations is different from that in ideal dolomite. This example conforms to the model of basal defects proposed by Goldsmith and Graf in 1958 to explain nonstoichiometry in dolomite. This dolomite from the Nopah Range was formed by deep burial replacement of micritic limestone, and its peculiar superstructure is tentatively attributed to the late diagenetic conditions during replacement.
Determining the Solar Wind Speed Above Active Regions Using Remote Radio-Wave Observations
Authors: Bougeret J. L. , Fainberg J. , Stone R. G.
Published: October 2006

A new technique has made it possible to measure the velocity of portions of the solar wind during its flow outward from the sun. This analysis utilizes spacecraft (ISEE-3) observations of radio emission generated in regions of the solar wind associated with solar active regions. By tracking the source of these radio waves over periods of days, it is possible to measure the motion of the emission regions. Evidence of solar wind acceleration during this outward flow, consistent with theoretical models, has also been obtained.
Heat Transfer in Magma in situ
Authors: Dunn J. C. , Carrigan C. R. , Wemple R. P.
Published: October 2006

Heat transfer rates in a basaltic magma were measured under typical magma chamber conditions and a numerical model of the experiment was used to estimate magma viscosity. The results are of value for assessing methods of thermal energy extraction from magma bodies in the upper crust as well as for modeling the evolutionary track of these systems.
The Exclusion of D
2
O from the Hydration Sphere of FeSO
4
· 7H
2
O Oxidized by
Thiobacillus ferrooxidans
Authors: Lazaroff Norman
Published: October 2006

Infrared spectra demonstrate that neither FeSO
4
⋅ 7H
2
O nor its bacterial or abiotic hydrated oxidation products incorporate deuterium in acid D
2
O solutions. Deuterium exchange occurred as bridging OD when bacterially oxidized iron was precipitated from D
2
O solutions as ferric hydroxysulfates. The exclusion of deuterium depended upon the stabilization of aquated Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes by sulfate ions in outer-sphere coordination and is consistent with the requirement and postulated role of sulfate in iron oxidation by
Thiobacillus ferrooxidans
.
Chromospheres, Transition Regions, and Coronas
Authors: Böhm-Vitense Erika
Published: October 2006

The increase in temperature outward from the surface of a stellar photosphere can be understood by looking at the local energy balance. The relatively high-density stellar photosphere is cooled effectively by radiative energy loss penetrating the optically thin corona. For the low-density chromosphere and corona, if the energy input cannot be balanced by radiative energy losses, the temperature will rise steeply, possibly up to 1 million degrees or more. Coronal heating and emission appear to be strongly influenced by magnetic fields, leading to large differences in x-ray emission for otherwise similar stars. Comparatively small variations are seen in the overall chromospheric emission of stars. Chromospheres are probably mainly heated by shock-wave energy dissipation, modified by magnetic fields.
The Continuing U.S. Helium Saga
Authors: Hammel Edward F. , Krupka Milton C. , Williamson K. D.
Published: October 2006

Helium, resident in relatively high concentrations in certain natural gas fields in the United States, can be lost to the atmosphere when the natural gas is burned as fuel. In 1960, Congress amended the Helium Act of 1925 to provide for stripping natural gas of its helium, for purchase of the separated helium by the government, and for its long-term storage. In 1971, after about 28 billion cubic feet had been stored, the purchase program was terminated by the government, an action that unleashed several lawsuits and not a little acrimony. After more than a decade of controversy, much of the litigation has been concluded, much of the helium that could have been saved has been wasted to the atmosphere, and the gas fields supplying the helium are almost depleted. A new rich source of helium has been discovered in southwestern Wyoming that could ensure adequate supplies for many decades if an appropriate new federal policy on helium is developed and implemented.
Cycloheximide-Dependent Reversion of Human Cells Transformed by MSV and Chemical Carcinogen
Authors: Cho Han Yong , Rhim Johng Sik
Published: October 2006

The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, at a concentration of 0.08 microgram per milliliter, induced flat morphology within 24 to 48 hours and low saturation density in human osteosarcoma cells transformed by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (Ki-MSV) or
N
-methyl-
N
′-nitro-
N
-nitrosoguanidine. Removal of the protein synthesis inhibitor caused both transformed cells to revert to the transformed phenotype. The demonstration of cell-surface antigens, cross-reacted with antiserums induced by extracts of both types of transformed human cells, was dependent on the presence or absence of cycloheximide in the culture medium. The results show that protein synthesis is required to maintain the transformed state in virally or chemically transformed human cells.
Involvement of the Silencer and UAS Binding Protein RAP1 in Regulation of Telomere Length
Authors: Lustig Arthur J. , Kurtz Stephen , Shore David
Published: October 2006

The yeast protein RAP1, initially described as a transcriptional regulator, binds in vitro to sequences found in a number of seemingly unrelated genomic loci. These include the silencers at the transcriptionally repressed mating-type genes, the promoters of many genes important for cell growth, and the poly[(cytosine)1-3 adenine] [poly(C
1-3
A)] repeats of telomeres. Because RAP1 binds in vitro to the poly(C
1-3
A) repeats of telomeres, it has been suggested that RAP1 may be involved in telomere function in vivo. In order to test this hypothesis, the telomere tract lengths of yeast strains that contained conditionally lethal (ts)
rap1
mutations were analyzed. Several

rap1
ts

alleles reduced telomere length in a temperature-dependent manner. In addition, plasmids that contain small, synthetic telomeres with intact or mutant RAP1 binding sites were tested for their ability to function as substrates for poly(C
1-3
A) addition in vivo. Mutations in the RAP1 binding sites reduced the efficiency of the addition reaction.
Olfactory-Based Orientation in Artificially Imprinted Sea Turtles
Authors: Grassman M. A. , Owens D. W. , McVey J. P. , Marquez M. R.
Published: October 2006

Sea turtles
(Lepidochelys kempi)
are being artificially imprinted to Padre Island, Texas, in an effort to establish a new nesting population. These turtles spent more time per exposure in solutions made of Padre Island sand and seawater than in control solutions in a multiple-choice test. This is evidence that sea turtles may detect differences in natural water samples and remember olfactory cues to which they were exposed neonatally and that these differences may affect their orientation behavior. This suggests that imprinting could be used as a conservation technique for establishing new breeding populations of endangered sea turtles.
New Laser Source Technology
Authors: Christensen C. Paul
Published: October 2006

Over the past 5 to 8 years several new laser sources have been developed as a result of R & D efforts stimulated by a growing number of laser applications. Four families of new devices—semiconductor diode laser arrays, free electron lasers, rare gas halide excimer sources, and several new tunable solid-state lasers—show particular promise.
Gaseous Nitrate Radical: Possible Nighttime Atmospheric Sink for Biogenic Organic Compounds
Authors: Winer Arthur M. , Atkinson Roger , Pitts James N.
Published: October 2006

The gaseous nitrate (NO
3
) radical, which has recently been measured in nighttime ambient atmospheres over the United States and Europe at concentrations up to ∼350 parts per trillion, has now been shown to react rapidly with the biogenically emitted organic compounds dimethyl sulfide (DMS), isoprene, and several monoterpenes. Computer simulations demonstrate that these reactions can dominate the atmospheric behavior of these organic compounds at night. Thus reaction with NO
3
radicals may be the unknown, nonphotochemical removal process for DMS recently invoked by Andreae and Raemdonck to explain the absence of a diurnal profile for DMS in maritime air influenced by continental air masses. Similarly, the nighttime reaction of NO
3
radicals with monoterpenes can be a dominant removal process, leading to very low monoterpene concentrations in ambient atmospheres during the early morning.
Visualization of Turbulent Flame Fronts with Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence
Authors: Kychakoff George , Howe Robert D. , Hanson Ronald K. , Drake Michael C. , Pitz Robert W. , Lapp Marshall , Penney C. Murray
Published: October 2006

This report concerns the quantitative time-resolved visualization of reaction zones in laminar, transitional, and turbulent nonpremixed flames. Two-dimensional OH molecular concentrations were measured with planar laser-induced fluorescence excited by a sheet of light (formed from a single tunable ultraviolet laser pulse) and detected with a two-dimensional, image-intensified photodiode array camera. From the resulting data details of instantaneous flame front structures (including positions, shapes, and widths) were obtained.
Scientific Communication and National Security in 1984
Authors: Wallerstein Mitchel B.
Published: October 2006

The federal government's concern about maintaining the lead of the United States over the Soviet Union and its allies in militarily critical technology has led it to attempt to control unwanted technology transfer. Its attempts have extended to control of open scientific communication as well as the transfer of physical devices and blueprints. In 1982, the Corson Panel (an independent ad hoc committee) reviewed the evidence on the costs and benefits of controls and suggested guiding principles for government policy. This article examines the major policy developments since the Corson Panel completed its work. The stringency and the reach of government restrictions, either proposed or in force, go considerably beyond the panel's recommendations.
National R & D Policy: An Industrial Perspective
Authors: Schmitt Roland W.
Published: October 2006

An analysis of how the government can and cannot use research and development policy to improve the nation's industrial posture suggests four guidelines for federal R & D policy: (i) concentrate direct support on academically based research, not on government-targeted industrial R & D; (ii) concentrate on sunrise science and technology, not on sunrise industries and products; (iii) concentrate on strengthening the climate for privately based innovation, not on government-selected innovation; (iv) concentrate on development for the government's own needs, not on development for market needs.
Paleoceanographic Events and Deep-Sea Ostracodes
Authors: Benson Richard H. , Chapman Ralph E. , Deck Linda T.
Published: October 2006

Eight recognized or theorized paleoceanographic events during the past 70 million years were tested against changes in the global deep-sea benthic ostracode fauna. Two events, the sudden Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary event at 66 million years ago and the more gradual 40-million-year event (formation of the psychrosphere), show up most dramatically. Before the 40-million-year event, ostracodes freely radiated into the deeper water regions but were provincial. The development of thermal stratification isolated these deep-water taxa, mostly the survivors of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary event, which adapted to a new, free-flowing but more frigid ecosystem and spread rapidly throughout the world.
Computers in Science and Technology: Early Indications
Authors: Gerola Humberto , Gomory Ralph E.
Published: October 2006

Over the past 20 years computer technology has advanced rapidly, especially in the areas of logic and memory. Continued growth at a similar pace can be expected through and probably beyond the 1980's. The technology has already had such major effects on scientific research and engineering that it is of practical importance to try to predict its evolution and uses. It is likely that the trend toward smaller, faster, and cheaper circuits made possible by improved lithographic techniques will continue, resulting in a factor of 10 increase in speed of central processing units and an even greater increase in speed of single-chip microprocessors by the end of the decade. Similar progress is expected in the areas of memory, magnetic storage, printers, and displays. Overall, approximately 20 percent growth annually in the capability of computing systems can be projected. How this continually increasing computing power will affect scientific and engineering activity is more difficult to predict, but some patterns are emerging. Observations of technical personnel at the IBM research laboratory at Yorktown, New York, where the average user has access to a large amount of computing capability and to a worldwide computer network, indicate that workers in different areas have reacted to computer technology in different ways. Whereas engineers have used computing power, displays, and the ability to communicate or share information more or less equally, management has used communication most and scientists have put the greatest value on computing power and displays.
The Spacelab Experience: A Synopsis
Authors: Chappell Charles R. , Knott Karl
Published: October 2006

The Spacelab 1 mission, a joint venture of the European Space Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration took place during the period 28 November through 8 December 1983. An overview of the first flight of the orbiting laboratory is presented here. The payload crew members' view of Spacelab operations and results of the scientific investigations carried out on this mission are presented in the following reports.
Payload Crew Members' View of Spacelab Operations
Authors: Garriott Owen K. , Parker Robert A. R. , Lichtenberg Byron K. , Merbold Ulf
Published: October 2006

Various operational aspects of the Spacelab 1 mission are reviewed by the four payload crew members. Two-shift operations, voice communication with ground investigators, joint participation in experiment activity, Spacelab performance, and recent advances are discussed.
Offshore Oil in the Alaskan Arctic
Authors: Weeks W. F. , Weller G.
Published: October 2006

Oil and gas deposits in the Alaskan Arctic are estimated to contain up to 40 percent of the remaining undiscovered crude oil and oil-equivalent natural gas within U.S. jurisdiction. Most (65 to 70 percent) of these estimated reserves are believed to occur offshore beneath the shallow, ice-covered seas of the Alaskan continental shelf. Offshore recovery operations for such areas are far from routine, with the primary problems associated with the presence of ice. Some problems that must be resolved if efficient, cost-effective, environmentally safe, year-round offshore production is to be achieved include the accurate estimation of ice forces on offshore structures, the proper placement of pipelines beneath ice-produced gouges in the sea floor, and the cleanup of oil spills in pack ice areas.
Jets in Extragalactic Radio Sources
Authors: De Young David S.
Published: October 2006

Observations now require that there be a continuous supply of energy to the giant extragalactic radio sources. These observations also suggest that this energy input may be in the form of streams or jets of gas emanating from the centers of galaxies and quasi-stellar objects. Current data indicate that the large-scale jet structures are not moving with relativistic speeds, as previously proposed. Slow-moving jets, which possess turbulent interiors and are dominated by relatively cool gas, can account for the observed jet properties at optical and radio wavelengths. Extremely small-scale jets observed adjacent to the central energy source may or may not be in relativistic motion.
New Crops for Arid Lands
Authors: Hinman C. Wiley
Published: October 2006

Five plants are described that could be grown commercially under arid conditions. Once the most valuable component has been obtained from each plant (rubber from guayule; seed oil from jojoba, buffalo gourd, and bladderpod; and resin from gumweed), the remaining material holds potential for useful products as well as fuel. It is difficult to realize the full potential of arid land plants, however, because of the complexities of developing the necessary agricultural and industrial infrastructure simultaneously. To do so, multicompany efforts or cooperative efforts between government and the private sector will be required.
Disposal of Radioactive Wastes
Authors: Harrison J. M.
Published: October 2006

Scientists appointed by the International Council of Scientific Unions have concluded that nuclear wastes may be safely disposed of using current technology. Interim storage for 50 to 100 years greatly reduces the problem of thermal loading at the final disposal sites, but more research devoted to such interim storage is needed.
Florida Current: Low-Frequency Variability as Observed with Moored Current Meters During April 1982 to June 1983
Authors: Lee Thomas N. , Schott Friedrich A. , Zantopp Rainer
Published: October 2006

A 1-year time series of volume transport through the Florida Straits near 27°N was derived from an array of five subsurface current meter moorings. The transport estimates, determined on the basis of constant shear extrapolation of the subsurface velocities to the surface, are in good agreement with transports derived from submarine cable and Pegasus measurements. The annual transport cycle in 1982-1983 is complicated by large-amplitude fluctuations on time scales of 1 to 3 weeks, but it does exhibit a transport maximum in summer and a minimum in fall-winter, consistent with historical results and of similar magnitude. The energy density spectrum of transports is continuous with a slope of about -1.5 and does not show a gap between the periods of weeks and seasonal. Evidence was found for atmospheric forcing of transport fluctuations, with highest coherence between transport and the local meridional wind stress at periods of 10 and 15 days during the summer and 5 and 40 days during the winter.
Perspectives on Supercomputing
Authors: Buzbee B. L. , Sharp D. H.
Published: October 2006

This article provides a brief look at the current status of supercomputers and supercomputing in the United States. It addresses a variety of applications of supercomputers and the characteristics of a large modern supercomputing facility, the radical changes in the design of supercomputers that are impending, and the conditions that are necessary for a conducive climate for the further development and application of supercomputers.
Key Problems in Science and Technology in Thailand
Authors: Yuthavong Yongyuth , Sripaipan Chatri , Kirtikara Krissanapong , Glankwamdee Atthakorn , Trakulku Kanchana
Published: October 2006

Science and technology can make substantial contributions to socioeconomic development in Thailand. In order to promote such contributions, problem areas and specific problems of high priority need to be defined, and possible solutions outlined. Important criteria for selecting priority areas and key problems include relevance to development, the availability of human resources and the possibility of their development, the cutting-edge advantage to be gained by development, the possibility of international collaboration, and the possibility of integration with culture and environment. These criteria suggest in Thailand a focus on the development of bioscience and biotechnology, materials science, electronics, and information science.
Robots Automate Sample Preparation
Authors: Robinson Arthur L.
Published: October 2006

For the first time in its 36 years of operation, the Pittsburgh Conference and Exposition on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy had a sharp drop in attendance—down 16 percent to 20,731. That loss was attributed to the fact that the meeting was held in New Orleans for the first time, and most of the lost attendees were students and young professionals who had previously come for only 1 day. The number of exhibitors and the number of booths, however, were both up about 15 percent, to 730 and 1856, respectively. A large proportion of that increase was contributed by foreign companies exhibiting for the first time, but there were also some well-known names, such as General Electric and Xerox, making first forays into analytical chemistry. There was also a sharp increase in the number and type of instruments displayed. "The key skill now in analytical chemistry," says Perkin-Elmer president Horace McDonell, Jr., "may be simply finding the right tool to obtain the answers you need." The predominant theme of the show, as it has been for the past few years, was automation of both laboratories and instruments. That trend is having major effects in chemical laboratories, but it is also affecting the instrument companies themselves. At large companies such as Varian, Beckman, and Perkin-Elmer, as much as 50 percent of the research and development budget is now going toward development of software—a much higher percentage than it was even 5 years ago. Another trend in automation also seemed clear at the show. As recently as 2 or 3 years ago, much of the available software for chemistry was designed for Apple and similar computers. Now, the laboratory standard is the IBM PC. As a representative of another company that manufactures computers noted with only slight exaggeration, "There's probably not a booth on the floor that doesn't have one."
Science and Technology in India
Authors: Rao J. S.
Published: October 2006

This assessment of the current status of science and technology in India focuses on developments in the areas of agriculture, energy, medicine, space, basic sciences, and engineering sciences. India has benefited in many fields from international collaboration during the last 30 years, but the country's leaders have also placed particularly strong emphasis on self-reliance.
Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Eachus Raymond S. , Olm Myra T.
Published: October 2006

Precise information about the molecular structure, stereochemistry, and environment of paramagnetic species can be obtained by electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. This technique has been applied in a wide range of disciplines to liquid-phase, single-crystal, and powder samples. In some cases—the study of defects in ionic single crystals, for instance—the volume and complexity of data obtained by ENDOR can hinder interpretation. Such difficulties have been overcome by the use of supplemental ENDOR techniques that simplify the assignment of ENDOR lines. The increased use of computers for the automation of instrumentation, the design of experiments, and the analysis of data has made possible the study of a wider range of problems. With these improvements, as well as with the increased sensitivity provided by optically detected ENDOR, it is now feasible to study polycrystalline and amorphous materials, such as thin-film semiconductors and biological samples in vivo.
U.S. Farm Dilemma: The Global Bad News Is Wrong
Authors: Avery Dennis
Published: October 2006

World agricultural production is at an all-time high and is climbing fast, especially in the developing countries. Even Africa has ample land and technology to feed its population, given more effective national policies. Higher agricultural output has been stimulated primarily by new technology, but also by investments and improved government policies. Constraints such as cropland shortage, soil erosion, and higher oil prices have been readily surmounted. High-technology agriculture has even overcome some major "systems breaks." Thus U.S. farmers will continue to face commercial surpluses of farm products in world markets in the years ahead.
Alkaline Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment Unlocks Energy in Agricultural By-Products
Authors: Kerley M. S. , Fahey G. C. , Berger L. L. , Gould J. Michael , Baker F. Lee
Published: October 2006

Lignocellulosic residues (wheat straw, corncobs, and cornstalks) were treated with a dilute alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide and suspended in cattle rumen in situ to measure microbial degradation. The rate and extent of dry matter disappearance were markedly increased as a result of the treatment. Results in vivo indicate that this treatment increases the fermentability of wheat straw structural carbohydrates such that this agricultural by-product may be considered an acceptable energy source for the ruminant animal. Treatment of wheat straw allowed more complete bacterial colonization and more rapid degradation of the cell wall.
Synthesis of Fibrils in Vitro by a Solubilized Cellulose Synthase from
Acetobacter xylinum
Authors: Lin Fong Chyr , Brown R. Malcolm , Cooper James B. , Delmer Deborah P.
Published: October 2006

A digitonin-solubilized cellulose synthase was prepared from
Acetobacter xylinum
. When this enzyme was incubated under conditions known to lead to active synthesis of 1,4-β-D-glucan polymer (cellulose), electron microscopy revealed that clusters of fibrils were assembled within minutes. Individual fibrils are 17 ± 2 angstroms in diameter. Evidence that the fibrils were freshly synthesized and cellulosic in nature was their incorporation of the tritium from UDP-[
3
H]glucose (UDP, uridine 5′-diphosphate), their binding of gold-labeled cellobiohydrolase, and an electron diffraction pattern with 004, 200, and 012 reflections (characteristic of cellulose synthesized in vivo) but missing 110 and 110 reflections. The small size of the fibrils is atypical of native
A. xylinum
cellulose microfibrils. The fibrils synthesized in vitro resemble, in morphology and size, the fibrillar cellulose produced when
A. xylinum
is cultured in the presence of agents that interfere with the normal process of crystallization of the microfibrils. The solubilized enzyme unit may therefore be producing a basic fibrillar structure that, in vivo, interacts laterally with other fibrils to produce native cellulose microfibrils.
Secretion of a Bacterial Cellulase by Yeast
Authors: Skipper Nigel , Sutherland Margaret , Davies R. Wayne , Kilburn Douglas , Miller Robert C. , Warren Anthony , Wong Raymond
Published: October 2006

Gene fusions were constructed between a yeast expression plasmid and a
Cellulomonas fimi
DNA fragment encoding an endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase or carboxymethylcellulase. Yeast transformed with the recombinant plasmids secreted carboxymethylcellulase activity. Secretion of active enzyme was greatly increased when the leader of a secreted yeast protein, the K1 toxin, was inserted immediately upstream of and in frame with the bacterial cellulase sequence. This is the first step in constructing a functional cellulase complex in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. It also provides an excellent system for the detailed examination of the determinants of protein secretion because of the ease with which secreted cellulase can be detected.
The Origin of the Moon
Authors: Boss Alan P.
Published: October 2006

The origin of the moon is considered within the theory of formation of the terrestrial planets by accumulation of planetesimals. The theory predicts the occurrence of giant impacts, suggesting that the moon formed after a roughly Mars-sized body impacted on the protoearth. The impact blasted portions of the protoearth and the impacting body into geocentric orbit, forming a prelunar disk from which the moon later accreted. Although other mechanisms for formation of the moon appear to be dynamically impossible or implausible, fundamental questions must be answered before a giant impact origin can be considered both possible and probable.
Computer Networking for Scientists
Authors: Jennings Dennis M. , Landweber Lawrence H. , Fuchs Ira H. , Farber David J. , Adrion W. Richards
Published: October 2006

Scientific research has always relied on communication for gathering and providing access to data; for exchanging information; for holding discussions, meetings, and seminars; for collaborating with widely dispersed researchers; and for disseminating results. The pace and complexity of modern research, especially collaborations of researchers in different institutions, has dramatically increased scientists' communications needs. Scientists now need immediate access to data and information, to colleagues and collaborators, and to advanced computing and information services. Furthermore, to be really useful, communication facilities must be integrated with the scientist's normal day-to-day working environment. Scientists depend on computing and communications tools and are handicapped without them.
Dentochronological Separation Estimates for Pacific Rim Populations
Authors: Turner Christy G.
Published: October 2006

Dental morphology of American Indians, Asians, and Pacific islanders is used with a multivariate statistic to estimate when genetic separation occurred between several populations. These estimates generally match independent estimates of separation. This method, called dentochronology, gives an American Indian fission date from Asians of about 13,000 ± 3,000 years ago, which agrees with archeological data and rules out a European origin because of temporal priority. Polynesians split from Southeast Asians 5,000 ± 2,200 years ago and are not derived from Melanesians. Ainu-Jomon originated in Sundaland 14,000 ± 3,300 years ago. Africans have been separated from Asian-Americans 60,000 ± 6,100 years.
Methylcyclopentanoid Monoterpenes Mediate Interactions Among Insect Herbivores
Authors: Raupp Michael J. , Milan Frank Rivera , Barbosa Pedro , Leonhardt Barbara A.
Published: October 2006

Beetles secrete an array of chemicals generally believed to mitigate attack by predators. Methylcyclopentanoid monoterpenes secreted by larvae of the willow leaf beetle,
Plagiodera versicolora
, deter feeding by conspecific adults. Furthermore, the secretion elicits a strong repugnancy response in larvae of another willow herbivore,
Nymphalis antiopa.
Leaves bearing beetle larvae are less likely than leaves not bearing beetles to be frequented and consumed by
Nymphalis
larvae. Predator defense may not be the sole function of glandular secretions produced by herbivorous insects; secretions may also mediate interactions among herbivores that use a common resource.
A Comparison of SIR-B Synthetic Aperture Radar Data with Ocean Internal Wave Measurements
Authors: Gasparovic R. F. , Apel J. R. , Thompson D. R. , Tochko J. S.
Published: October 2006

An image from the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) shows internal wave features in an area south of Long Island, New York. Coincident oceanographic measurements are used in conjunction with hydrodynamic interaction and electromagnetic scattering models to estimate the expected SAR image intensity modulations associated with the internal waves. There is reasonable agreement between the predicted and observed internal wave signatures.
Population Dynamics of the United States and the Soviet Union
Authors: Torrey Barbara Boyle , Kingkade W. Ward
Published: October 2006

Population growth in the United States and the Soviet Union is slowing. Since the 1970s, labor force growth in both countries is slowing even more than population growth, and both countries are aging. Economic effects of slowing growth can be compensated for by increased participation in the labor force and increased productivity and by adjustments in the military forces. Economic flexibility and policy choices will determine how successfully the trends to slower population growth will be accommodated.
Conservation in South America: Problems, Consequences, and Solutions
Authors: Mares Michael A.
Published: October 2006

Lack of solid data on rates of habitat conversion and on the basic biology of Neotropical organisms makes predictions of massive waves of extinction in South America premature. South America's problems regarding the use of natural resources are a result of historical, sociological, economic, and scientific factors. Most countries in South America have done a great deal to encourage conservation efforts, but the magnitude of the problem is well beyond their limited economic means to solve. The problems of species disappearance in South America are of global importance. A successful solution will involve a coordinated and massive effort of governments and specialists in all aspects of conservation biology from throughout the world. There is still time to resolve these problems. Unnecessarily dire predictions of species extinction may be counterproductive to the development of a long-term conservation strategy that is needed to manage Neotropical conservation problems.
Tryptoline Formation by a Preparation from Brain with 5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid and Tryptamine
Authors: Wyatt Richard J. , Erdelyi Elizabeth , DoAmaral Jefferson R. , Elliott Glen R. , Renson Jean , Barchas Jack D.
Published: October 2006

An enzymatic preparation from human brain converts tryptamine to tryptoline (9
H
-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-b]indole) in the presence of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid. Similarly,
N
-methyltryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine yield 1-methyltryptoline and 5-hydroxytryptoline, respectively. Neither in vitro nor in vivo formation of these compounds by human tissues has been described.
A Revisit to the Guest Star of A.D. 185
Authors: Huang Y. -L. , Moriarty-Schieven G. H.
Published: October 2006

The guest star of A.D. 185 is possibly the earliest recorded supernova, and the radio source RCW 86 is believed to be its remnant. However, a restudy of ancient Chinese literature suggests that RCW 86 is unrelated to the guest star, which probably had a visible duration of only 7 months and appeared between β and ε Centauri, instead of the previously proposed 20-month duration and a location between α and β Centauri.
Delving into Faults and Earthquake Behavior
Authors: Kerr Richard A.
Published: October 2006

Seismologists attending last month's meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco heard much about how the irregularities on faults control their behavior and thus the generation of earthquakes. The identification of small crucial areas of a fault, such as the strong spot where a rupture can begin or the fault jog where it can end, is proving a challenge, but it also offers one of the best hopes of understanding and predicting fault behavior.
Weather Regimes: The Challenge in Extended-Range Forecasting
Authors: Reinhold Brian
Published: October 2006

A hypothesis to explain the low-frequency (10- to 90-day) variance of the mid-latitude atmosphere is presented. In this hypothesis it is proposed that the planetary-scale waves forced by topography or other zonal inhomogeneities and the day-to-day weather disturbances (synoptic scales) influence each other to generate weather regimes. These quasi-stable flow configurations are responsible for short-range climate anomalies such as droughts, heat waves, deep freezes, and excessive precipitation, as the weather-producing disturbances are organized into storm tracks. Onset and disruption of the weather regimes may be induced by the anomalous development of perhaps a single cyclonic disturbance, which can throw the quasi equilibrium out of balance. Thus, rapid changes in flow regimes can occur almost at random. The development and transition of weather regimes may then be purely internal (that is, depending only upon the properties of the fluid motions themselves) to the atmospheric dynamics. This internal quality suggests that the chaotic, abrupt short-range climatic behavior of the mid-latitudes is a natural behavior of the system that requires no assistance from the outside. The weather regime concept presents a different view of the extended-range atmospheric behavior than the stimulus-response model, such as the atmospheric response to the El Niño.
Validity Tests of the Mixing-Length Theory of Deep Convection
Authors: Chan Kwing L. , Sofia Sabatino
Published: October 2006

The construction of solar or stellar models is hindered by the difficulty of computing, with sufficient accuracy, the convective fluxes in unstable regions. Although the mixing-length theory of convection has been used for more than three decades, its validity has neither been tested by experiment nor verified by computation. This report presents the results of a three-dimensional numerical simulation of deep and efficient convection that support two conclusions: (i) the basic picture proposed by the mixing-length theory is physically valid—the vertical correlation of the motion of fluid elements is proportional to the pressure scale height; and (ii) some dynamical variables, including the convective flux, can be approximately computed from the structure of the stratification with mixing-length approximations.
Solar Irradiance Change and Special Longitudes Due to
r
-Modes
Authors: Wolff Charles L. , Hickey John R.
Published: October 2006

Sluggish global oscillations, having a periodicity of months and trapped in the sun's convection zone, modulate the amount of energy reaching Earth and seem to impose some large-scale order on the distribution of solar surface features. These recently recognized oscillations (
r
-modes) increase the predictability of solar changes and may improve understanding of rotation and variability in other stars. Most of the 13 periodicities ranging from 13 to 85 days that are caused by
r
-modes can be detected in Nimbus 7 observations of solar irradiance during 3 years at solar maximum. These modes may also bear on the classical question of persistent longitudes of high solar activity.