A complex pattern of mantle flow in the Lau backarc

Shear-wave splitting analysis of local events recorded on land and on the ocean floor in the Tonga arc and Lau backarc indicate a complex pattern of azimuthal anisotropy that cannot be explained by mantle flow coupled to the downgoing plate. These observations suggest that the direction of mantle flow rotates from convergence-parallel in the Fiji plateau to north-south beneath the Lau basin and arc-parallel beneath the Tonga arc. These results correlate with helium isotopes that map mantle flow of the Samoan plume into the Lau basin through an opening tear in the Pacific plate.     

High-Energy Charged Particles in the Innermost Jovian Magnetosphere

The energetic particles investigation carried by the Galileo probe measured the energy and angular distributions of the high-energy particles from near the orbit of Io to probe entry into the jovian atmosphere. Jupiter's inner radiation region had extremely large fluxes of energetic electrons and protons; intensities peaked at approximately2.2RJ (where RJ is the radius of Jupiter). Absorption of the measured particles was found near the outer edge of the bright dust ring. The instrument measured intense fluxes of high-energy helium ions (approximately62 megaelectron volts per nucleon) that peaked at approximately1.5RJ inside the bright dust ring. The abundances of all particle species decreased sharply at approximately1.35RJ; this decrease defines the innermost edge of the equatorial jovian radiation.     

Frontiers in crop production: chemical research objectives

The science of chemistry and chemicals will continue to be an integral part of future crop production technologies. In assessing and defining the future role of chemistry three imperatives must be considered: (i) the necessity to preserve natural resources, (ii) the complementary solutions offered by the rapidly advancing biological sciences, and (iii) the specific requirements of developing regions where increasing crop productivity is most important. Chemical research objectives for improving crop protection and crop growth must take into account the perceivable and potential changes in crop production techniques, which, in turn, are dictated by a number of accentuating constraints.     

Word learning in a domestic dog: evidence for "fast mapping"

During speech acquisition, children form quick and rough hypotheses about the meaning of a new word after only a single exposure-a process dubbed "fast mapping." Here we provide evidence that a border collie, Rico, is able to fast map. Rico knew the labels of over 200 different items. He inferred the names of novel items by exclusion learning and correctly retrieved those items right away as well as 4 weeks after the initial exposure. Fast mapping thus appears to be mediated by general learning and memory mechanisms also found in other animals and not by a language acquisition device that is special to humans.     

Genomics and agriculture. Collaborations in rice

Advances in rice genomics will contribute to gene discovery and rice productivity, but many of the products with high potential for alleviating poverty and improving human nutrition may not be those that attract private investment. Although most genetic resources and biological expertise for functional genomics are in the public, many proprietary technologies are owned by the private sector. A public resource platform is needed for the application of genomic technology to accelerate gene discovery. We present a model and general principles in collaboration that can serve the poor and encourage innovation by both the public and private sectors.     

Ferroelectric Field Effect in Epitaxial Thin Film Oxide SrCuO2/Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 Heterostructures

A ferroelectric field effect in epitaxial thin film SrCuO(2)/Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3) heterostructures was observed. A 3.5 percent change in the resistance of a 40 angstrom SrCuO(2) layer (a parent high-temperature superconducting compound) was measured when the polarization field of the Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3) layer was reversed by the application of a pulse of small voltage (<5 volts). This effect, both reversible and nonvolatile, is attributed to the electric field-induced charge at the interface of SrCuO(2) and Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3). This completely epitaxial thin film approach shows the possibility of making nonvolatile, low-voltage ferroelectric field effect devices for both applications and fundamental studies of field-induced doping in novel compounds like SrCuO(2).