A satellite-derived climatology of global ocean winds

An interactive Climatology of Global Ocean Winds (COGOW) is presented based on 5 years (August 1999-July 2004) of QuikSCAT satellite measurements of wind speed and direction 10 m above the sea surface. This climatology provides the first high spatial resolution, observationally based, online atlas of ocean winds. Users can retrieve climatological wind maps and wind statistics, both in tabular and graphical form, from the COGOW web-based atlas. The global coverage of these data provides highly accurate information about the wind statistics in regions of the world ocean that are sparsely sampled by ships and buoys. A case study of the recovery of the vessel Ehime Maru off the Hawaiian Island of Oahu is presented to demonstrate the usage and value of COGOW. Evidence of air-sea interactions, one of many wind phenomena visible within COGOW, is discussed to further familiarize users with COGOW. Finally, the utility of COGOW with regard to various operational and research communities is summarized.     

Transient current propagation along a wire penetrating a circularaperture in an infinite planar conducting screen

The shielding properties of a wire penetrating an infinite planar screen are considered. Time domain results are presented for the case of a transient current pulse propagating along the wire. These results are obtained by first computing numerical solutions for the problem in the frequency domain and then utilizing the inverse Fourier transform. Two double exponential pulses with differing characteristics are considered. Numerical results for the two pulses are compared to determine the effects of the pulse characteristics on the shielding properties of the geometry. Applications to via structures in high-speed circuits are also briefly discussed. It is observed that even for very small apertures, the effect of the screen on the low-frequency pulse is negligible. As the pulse width decreases, the effect of the screen becomes more prominent. For the high-frequency case, the pulse is significantly affected by the screen. Unlike the low-frequency pulse, the amplitude of the high-frequency pulse is dependent on the aperture size. Even for large apertures, the attenuation becomes significant as the current propagates down the wire. It is shown that as the width of the input pulse decreases, the distortion in the pulse shape becomes more pronounced. This effect is especially important in applications related to high-speed integrated circuits     

The second process of peer review: Some correlates of comments published in the ASR (1947–1979)

Several studies have demonstrated that such factors as area of specialization, and the age, rank, years of experience and prestige background of authors affect the publication of scientific research. This study examines the impact of these variables on the probability that published articles will receive critical comment. The data for the study are based on information gathered on the authors of 477 articles and comments published in theAmerican Sociological Review over a 33 year period (1947–1979). Results show that area of specialization is a major factor influencing the probability of an article being commented on. Articles written in the areas of theory/history of social thought and quantitative methods receive a disproportionately higher percentage of comments; while articles in such areas as community, social psychology and marriage and family receive far fewer comments. None of the five demographic and prestige characteristics of article authors was found to significantly discriminate between those articles that either had or had not been commented on. And finally, journal article comments are shown to either enhance or diminish an article's likelihood of later being cited, depending upon the speciality area in which that article is written.     

Interocular transfer of conditioning and extinction in birds.

Conditioned 6 chickens, 6 pigeons, and 5 ring-billed gulls, all with 1 eye covered, to withdraw from a previously neutral visual stimulus. Subsequent testing with the trained eye covered and the control eye open showed that transfer or nontransfer of conditioning was a function of the particular aversive stimulus used in conditioning; that is, transfer resulted when shock was used as the UCS but did not occur when the UCS was a rapidly looming visual stimulus or a loud noise. However, when both eyes of an S had been exposed to the conditioning procedure and then the response extinguished by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus to 1 eye only, the conditioned response remained strong for the control eye regardless of the UCS used in the initial training. These findings were consistent regardless of the order of treatments, and no substantive differences among the 3 species were apparent. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thermal expansion of beta-alumina-type phases and variation of lattice parameters with potassium content

When polycrystalline potassium beta-alumina or potassium gallate were bonded to potassium ferrite by a hot pressing technique cracks appeared at the interface. This did not happen when they were bonded to equimolar potassium beta-alumina-potassium ferrite or potassium gallate-potassium ferrite solid solutions respectively. The suspected thermal expansion mismatch was confirmed by thermal expansion measurements which yielded values for potassium ferrite that were twice those for potassium beta-alumina or potassium gallate. Solid solutions gave intermediate expansion coefficients. When the potassium concentration in potassium ferrite was altered by coulometric titration the a hexagonal lattice parameter increased slightly with increase of potassium concentration while the c lattice parameter decreased. The implication of these factors on the preparation of stable solid solution electrode-solid electrolyte interfaces is discussed.     

Life change, its perception and alcohol addiction

Alcohol addiction was associated with high life change and an attenuated perception of life change. The possible association of these factors with the perpetuation of the addiction is discussed.     

Refractory metallization of green ceramic

Successful refractory metallization of green ceramic is shown to require close matching of the shrinkages of the metal layer and the ceramic substate. Selection of specific metal particle sizes is used as the prime controlling parameter for metallizing several alumina ceramic types, including commercially pure alumina. Warpage of the fired part and adhesion of the metallization are demonstrated to be dependent on and controllable by the choice of metal particle distribution. Properly selected particle distribution results in flat metallized ceramic parts and good adhesion is obtained with pure elemental particles; other additives are unnecessary. X-ray stress analysis data and warpage results are correlated with pull strength measurements.     

Short communication: the complete genome sequence of Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies animalis ATCC 25527(T) and comparative analysis of growth in milk with B. animalis subspecies lactis DSM 10140(T)

The objective of this work was to sequence the genome of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. animalis ATCC 25527^T, the subspecies most closely related to B. animalis ssp. lactis, some strains of which are widely added to dairy foods as probiotics. The complete 1,932,963-bp genome was determined by a combination of 454-shotgun sequencing and PCR gap closing, and the completed assembly was verified by comparison with a KpnI optical map. Comparative analysis of the B. animalis ssp. animalis ATCC 25527^T and B. animalis ssp. lactis DSM 10140^T genomes revealed high degrees of synteny and sequence homology. Comparative genomic analysis revealed 156 and 182 genes that were unique to and absent in the B. animalis ssp. animalis genome, respectively. Among these was a set of unique clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated genes and a novel CRISPR locus containing 30 spacers in the genome of B. animalis ssp. animalis. Although previous researchers have suggested that one of the defining phenotypic differences between B. animalis ssp. animalis and B. animalis ssp. lactis is the ability of the latter to grow in milk and milk-based media, the differential gene content did not provide insights to explain these differences. Furthermore, growth and acid production in milk and milk-based media did not differ significantly between B. animalis ssp. lactis (DSM 10140^T and Bl04) and B. animalis ssp. animalis (ATCC 25527^T). Growth of these strains in supplemented milk suggested that growth was limited by a lack of available low-molecular-weight nitrogen in the 3 strains examined.     

Terahertz reflectivities of metal-coated mirrors

Terahertz (THz) reflectivities of a variety of metal-coated mirrors were measured. Gold, silver, and aluminum coatings were tested and compared. It was found that all types of optical metal-coated mirrors perform equally well as THz reflectors.