ALBERT

Notes: The alignment between vorticity and eigenvectors of the strain-rate tensor in numerical solutions of Navier–Stokes turbulence is studied. Solutions for isotropic flow and homogeneous shear flow from pseudospectral calculations using 1283 grid points have been examined. The Taylor Reynolds number is 83 or greater. In both flows there is an increased probability for the vorticity to point in the intermediate strain direction and at three-fourths of the sample points this strain is positive (extensive). This propensity for vorticity alignment with a positive intermediate strain is a consequence of angular momentum conservation, as shown by a restricted Euler model of the coupling between strain and vorticity. Probability distributions for intermediate strain, conditioned on total strain, change from a symmetric triangular form at small strain to an asymmetric one for large strain. The most probable value of the asymmetric distribution gives strains in the ratios of 3:1: −4. The evolution of the distribution from a symmetric to an asymmetric form as the strain magnitude increases is essentially the same in both flows, indicating a generic structure of intense turbulence. The alignment between the gradient of a passive scalar and eigenvectors of the strain-rate tensor for Prandtl numbers of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 has also been studied. There is an increased probability for the scalar gradient to align in the most compressive strain direction, and the average gradient is larger when it is pointing in that direction. Estimates for the scalar dissipation from the turbulent kinetic energy, its dissipation, and the root-mean-square scalar value are in reasonable agreement with calculated scalar dissipation if no explicit Prandtl number dependence is used in the estimate. Statistical analysis of scalar dissipation conditioned on energy dissipation yields a power-law relation between conditioned mean values. Both simulated flows are found to obey the qualitative predictions of the Gurvich–Yaglom (lognormal) intermittency model. Energy and scalar intermittency exponents are estimated and compared to measured values.

Notes: This paper describes how the Clyde River Purification Board (the regulatory authority) and Bee-cham Pharmaceuticals (the identified discharger) agreed and adopted a novel means of controlling a pharmaceutical plant effluent which is discharged to Irvine Bay, Scotland. Control was achieved by means of a consent (licence) condition requiring compliance with a laboratory test of acute toxicity, which was added to the more orthodox conditions already imposed upon the discharge. The new condition was derived using the concept, explicit in the environmental quality objective/environmental quality standard approach to pollution control, of an allowable mixing zone around the outfall. The derivation and validation of the condition necessitated laboratory and field bioassay, current measurements and dye releases, and the use of a plume development model.

Notes: The long-term effect of different depths of soil cultivation on weed seedling emergence from naturally occurring populations of weed seeds in the soil was examined in four experiments on land previously in pasture, raspberry canes or intensive vegetable production. At approximately monthly intervals, weed seedlings were counted and then killed with contact herbicides, after which plots were cultivated to 250 or 10mm, or were left undisturbed. The treatments were continued for 7 years. One experiment was then discontinued whilst the previously uncultivated plots on the other three were cultivated to 150 mm at approximately monthly intervals for a further 4 years in one experiment, and for 8 years in the other two. After the first year, very few seedlings emerged in the uncultivated and shallow cultivated plots, and seedling numbers declined slowly in the deep-cultivated plots. Under repeated deep cultivation, seedling emergence of almost all species declined exponentially. Different species declined at different rates, with Rubus idaeus L., Plantago lanceolata L., Veronica arvensis L. and Ranunculus spp. being the most rapidly declining group. Rates of decline for individual species were similar to those observed in Europe.Juncus bufonius L. behaved differently from the other species, and showed no decline in seedling numbers. In the initial 7-year period, 28 000 weed seedlings per m−2 emerged from the deep-cultivated plots on soil previously cropped with vegetables. Over the same period, less than 11 000 seedlings emerged in shallow-cultivated plots, and just over 4000 in uncultivated plots. In the second phase of the experiments, fewer seedlings of most species emerged than in the first phase, and the decline in numbers of Coronpous didymus (L.) Sm. seedlings was slower. Résumé Les effets à long terme de différentes profondeurs de travail du sol sur la levée des mauvaises herbes ont étéétudiés sur des populations naturelles dans des parcelles dont les précédents étaient: paturage, framboisier ou maraichage intensif. À des intervalles d'environ un mois, les jeunes plantes de mauvaises herbes étaient dénombrées puis détruites à l'aide d'herbicides de contact, aprés quoi les parcelles étaient travaillées sur 250 ou 10 mm, ou laissées sans intervention. Cette premiére phase a duré 7 ans. Une expérience a alors été arretée et les parcelles précédemment non cultivées des trois autres ont été travaillées à une profondeur 150 mm, à des intervalles d'environ un mois pendant 4 ans dans un expérience, et pendant 8 ans dans les deux autres. Aprés un an, trés peu de mauvaises herbes levaient dans les parcelles non cultivés et dans celles travaillées superficiellement, et le nombre de levées diminuait lentement dans les parcelles travaillées profondément. Lá oú le travail profond était répété, les levées de presque toutes les especes declinaient exponentiellement. Les différentes espéces déclinaient à des vitesses différentes,Rubus idaeus L., Plantago lanceolata L., Veronica arvensis L. et Ranunculus spp. déclinant le plus rapidement. Les vitesses de diminution pour les differentes espéces étaient similaires à celles observées en Europe. Juncus bufonius L. se comportait différemment des autres espéces et ne montrait aucune décroissance du nombre de levées. Au cours de la période initiale de 7 ans, 28 000 mauvaises herbes par m−2 levaient dans les parcelles maraicherés travaillées profondément. Au cours de la meme periode, moins de 11000 mauvaises herbes lavaient dans les parcelles travaillées superficiellement et un peu plus de 4000 dans les parcelles non travaillées. Dans la seconde phase de I'expérience, on observait moins de levées de la plupart des especes que au cours de la premiére et la decroissance du nombre de levés de Coronpous didymus (L.) Sm. était moins rapide. Einfluβ der Bodenbearbeitung auf Keimung und Populationsdynamik von Unkrautern Der langfristige Einfluβ verschieden tiefer Bodenbearbeitung auf die Keimung von Unkrautern aus der naturlich gegebenen Samenbank im Boden wurde in 4 Versuchen auf Flachen untersucht, die vorher als Weide oder mit Himbeer oder intensiven Gemusekulturen genutzt worden waren. Die Keimpflanzen wurden 7 Jahre lang etwa monatlich ausgezahlt und mit Kontaktherbiziden abgetotet, danach wurden die Parzellen 25 tief 15 cm, tief oder gar nicht bearbeitet. Ein Versuch wurde beendet, wahrend eine der 3 ubrigen unbearbeiteten Parzellen fur weitere 4 Jahre und die anderen beiden fur weitere 8 Jahre in etwa monatlichen Abstanden 15 cm tief bearbeitet wurden. Am Ende des ersten Jahres liefen auf den unbearbeiteten und den flach bearbeiteten Flachen sehr wenige Keimpflanzen auf; auf den tief bearbeiteten Flachen nahm die Zahl der Keimpflanzen langsam ab. Bei wiederholt tiefer Bodenbearbeitung verringerte sich die Zahl der Keimpflanzen fast aller Arten exponentiell. Am schnellsten sank die Keimrate bei Rubus idaeus L., Plantago lanceolata L., Veronica arvensis L. und Ranunculus spp. Die Abnahme der Keimrate war bei den einzelnen Arten ahnlich wie in Europa beobachtet. Juncus bufonius L. verhielt sich von den anderen Arten abweichend und lieβ keine Abnahme der Keimrate erkennen. In der anfanglichen 7-Jahres-Periode keimten auf den vorher gemusebaulich genutzten, tief bearbeiteten Flachen 28000, den flach bearbeiteten weniger als 11 000 und den unbearbeiten gut 4000 Samen m−2. In der 2. Versuchsphase wurden bei denmeisten Arten weniger Keimpflanzen als in der 1. beobachtet, und die Abnahme der Keimrate von Coronopus didymus (L). Sm. war langsamer.

Notes: Abstract Comparisons were made of the preferences shown by non-protein-fed females, protein-fed gravid females, and non-protein-fed males of the house fly, given choices between sucrose solution and either l-leucine or sodium phosphate buffer. In choice tests where non-protein-fed females showed little preference, protein-fed females and males both showed a strong preference for the sucrose solution. The findings suggest that l-leucine and sodium phosphate buffer are recognised by non-protein-fed females as indicators of nutrients for ovarian development.

Notes: Abstract Genetic improvement schemes in livestock are based on the assumption that the expression of relevant genes is independent of parent of origin. Until now no evidence has been found to reject this assumption. The present study on three purebred pig populations, however, shows that a significant proportion of the phenotypic variance in backfat thickness (5–7%) can be explained by genes subject to paternal imprinting. The implication is that there are genes affecting backfat that are expressed only when derived from the paternal gamete. Paternal imprinted effects explained 1–4% of the phenotypic variation for growth rate. Maternal imprinted effects were heavily confounded with heritable maternal environmental effects. When modelled separately, these effects explained 2–5% and 3–4% of the phenotypic variance in backfat thickness and growth rate, respectively. Gametic imprinting may have consequences for the optimization of breeding programmes, especially in crossbreeding systems with specialized sire and dam lines.

Notes: Abstract It is shown that, in the case where there is a single non-null Killing vector, the vacuum Einstein field equations imply that there is a Ricci collineation in the quotient 3-space. Using coordinates adapted to the collineation vector, we derive a fourth order partial differential equation involving the metric of the quotient 3-space and we show that if this equation is satisfied, the Ernst potential may be obtained by integrating a total Riccati equation and a straightforward set of total differential equations. We also show that if the collineation vector is null, the metric of the quotient 3-space may be expressed in terms of two real Clebsch potentials. Finally in the special case where the collineation vector is the generator of a timelike homothetic motion we reduce the field equations to a single second order partial differential equation of non-Painlevé type in two independent variables and obtain Petrov type III solution of Robinson-Trautman type.