The Hawaiian archipelago was formerly home to one of the most species-rich land snail faunas (> 752 species), with levels of endemism > 99%. Many native Hawaiian land snail species are now extinct, and the remaining fauna is vulnerable. Unfortunately, lack of information on critical habitat requirements for Hawaiian land snails limits the development of effective conservation strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine the plant host preferences of native arboreal land snails in Puʻu Kukui Watershed, West Maui, Hawaiʻi, and compare these patterns to those from similar studies on the islands of Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi. Concordant with studies on other islands, we found that four species from three diverse families of snails in Puʻu Kukui Watershed had preferences for a few species of understorey plants. These were not the most abundant canopy or mid canopy species, indicating that forests without key understorey plants may not support the few remaining lineages of native snails. Preference for Broussaisia arguta among various island endemic snails across all studies indicates that this species is important for restoration to improve snail habitat. As studies examining host plant preferences are often incongruent with studies examining snail feeding, we suggest that we are in the infancy of defining what constitutes critical habitat for most Hawaiian arboreal snails. However, our results indicate that preserving diverse native plant assemblages, particularly understorey plant species, which facilitate key interactions, is critical to the goal of conserving the remaining threatened snail fauna.

The aim of this study was to test the hypotheses that differences in residual feed intake (RFI) of beef steers are related to diet sorting, diet nutrient composition, energy intake and apparent digestibility. To phenotype steers for RFI, 69 weaned Angus × Hereford steers were fed individually for 56 days. A finishing diet was fed twice daily on an ad libitum basis to maintain approximately 0.5 to 1.0 kg refusals. Diet offered and refused was measured daily, and DM intakes (DMI) were calculated by difference. Body weights were recorded at 14-day intervals following an 18-h solid feed withdrawal. The residual feed intake was determined as the residual of the regression of DMI versus mid-test metabolic BW (BW0.75) and average daily gain (ADG). Particle size distributions of diet and refusals were determined using the Penn State Particle Separator to quantify diet sorting. Sampling of diet, refusals and feces were repeated in four sampling periods which occurred during weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8 of the study. Particle size distributions of refusals and diet were analyzed in weeks 2, 4 and 6, and sampling for chemical analysis of refusals and feces occurred in all four periods. Indigestible neutral detergent fiber (288 h in situ) was used as an internal marker of apparent digestibility. We conclude that preference for the intakes of particles > 19 mm and 4 to 8 mm were negatively correlated to RFI and ADG, respectively. Although steers did sort to consume a different diet composition than offered, diet sorting did not impact intake energy, digestible energy or DM digestibility.

Growth chamber studies showed crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] to be more tolerant than witchgrass (Panicum capillare L.) to simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine] and atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine]. Both grasses were more susceptible to simazine than to atrazine. The s-triazines were taken up by both weed species in equal quantities, but witchgrass translocated larger amounts of simazine and atrazine to the shoots. The greater sensitivity of witchgrass to simazine appeared to be due to the increased translocation of unchanged simazine to the shoots. Greater sensitivity of witchgrass to atrazine was attributed to increased translocation of atrazine to the shoots and less metabolism of the s-triazine to hydrophilic metabolites. It was concluded that the hydrophilic metabolites were the peptide conjugates formed by the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase.

BAS 145 138, CGA 154 281, and 1,8 naphthalic anhydride were evaluated as seed treatments to safen 'Silver Xtra Sweet,’ ‘How Sweet It Is,’ ‘Zenith,’ and 'Sweetie 76’ sweet corn against nicosulfuron injury. Nicosulfuron POST injured sweet corn by causing slight leaf chlorosis and leaf base widening in Sweetie 76 and severe plant injury and total yield loss in Silver Xtra Sweet. Naphthalic anhydride or CGA 154 281 provided limited or no safening activity, respectively, and resulted in plant height reduction when applied alone. BAS 145 138 reduced nicosulfuron injury to Silver Xtra Sweet and prevented visible injury from nicosulfuron in How Sweet It Is, Zenith, and Sweetie 76.

LAB 145 138 (LAB) was evaluated as a safener to improve sweet corn tolerance to nicosulfuron applied POST alone or with terbufos applied in the planting furrow or bentazon applied POST. To ensure enhanced injury for experimental purposes, nicosulfuron was applied at twice the registered rate alone or mixed with bentazon at the six- to seven-leaf growth stage of corn previously treated with the highest labeled rate of terbufos 15 G formulation. LAB applied as a seed treatment (ST) or POST at the two- to three-, four- to five-, or six- to seven-leaf growth stages reduced height reduction and yield loss from nicosulfuron applied POST in combination with terbufos applied in-furrow. LAB applied POST at the four- to five-leaf growth stage was most effective in preventing injury from this treatment, with yield reduced only 8% compared with 54% from the nicosulfuron and terbufos treatment. LAB applied POST at the eight- to nine-leaf growth stage did not alleviate injury. With the nicosulfuron, terbufos, and bentazon combination, LAB applied POST at the three- to four- or six- to seven-leaf growth stages decreased height reduction and yield loss caused by this combination, with LAB at the three- to four-leaf growth stage being most effective.

A brief review is given of the kinds of objective and subjective measurement required for systematic regulation of the aircraft noise around an airport, based on a maximum permissible noise exposure criterion. Some subjective factors are discussed and illustrated by test results.

It is now some 20 years since aircraft noise became a significant public nuisance and every conceivable aspect of the problem has been scrutinised and discussed in a vast literature. The scope of the present paper, in relation to this broad canvas, will appear extremely narrow. Nothing will be found herein about such important questions as the influence of noise on the development of aviation, engine technology, operational procedures, reduction of noise by acoustical means, the economics of air transport, regulatory action, or the planning of airports. It is only necessary to make slight reference to these matters to sketch the framework within which a system of measurement and assessment of noise has developed. The circumscribed nature of these aspects, unfortunately, does not mean that they can be dealt with briefly or summarised easily.

With the Co-Operation of 1,600 members of the public a series of aircraft noise assessment tests was made at the 1959 Farnborough Air Show to obtain further information on the way in which the perception of these noises is influenced by subjective effects. This provisional analysis shows that Beranek's empirical method for assessing the perceived noise level is adequate for the comparison of existing types of fixed-wing aircraft. A secondary part of the experiment, dealing with noise simulating the ducted-fan engine, is also described.

Following upon an experiment on the subjective effects of jet engine noise we have recently undertaken a similar experiment, this time on the subjective aspects of helicopter noise. The purpose of the earlier experiment was to determine the reliability of various methods of rating based on spectrum analysis, so far as comparisons between jet- and piston-engined aircraft are concerned. The main objective of the present experiment was to find if these methods are applicable to the pulsating types of noise characteristic of helicopters.

In a brief declaration in the last issue of this journal, our colleagues P. Drysdale, W. Mackey and M. Scargill outlined their objections to the Smith-Trager description of English stress, pitch and juncture. Their article calls into question the most fundamental American research works in English linguistics. At the outset, we would like to observe that in adopting attitudes towards the great tradition of linguistics in the United States, it is imperative that we avoid the two extremes of total belief and of rash rejection. This tradition is the product of several decades of intense, patient research by men with eminent ability to observe sounds and patterns, and an extraordinary flair for generating verifiable hypotheses. Thus the critic can condemn any part of the tradition only when he can demonstrate that it is false. On the other hand, the American tradition is empirical and positivist. It is evolving rapidly, and its conclusions and postulates are constantly being modified. Furthermore, it is not a monolithic tradition. Though there is a consensus of views at any given time, there are also hot debates, such as the current one on the interpretation of the English vowels and suprasegmentals. Thus anyone who believes this year’s conclusions may soon find himself cherishing obsolete positions that their originators have long transcended.

Photoelectric B and V light curves and high dispersion spectroscopic observations were obtained in 1985 February for the rapidly rotating spotted star HD 36705. The visual light range was about 0.09 magnitude, with a well correlated B-V change of approximately 0.04 magnitude, the star being redder when faintest. There is evidence for a broadband flare of ~0.05 magnitude in V and 0.07 magnitude in B. This occurred near maximum light.

Spectroscopic observations show a variation in the equivalent width of the Ca K emission by a factor of about two in antiphase with the photometric variations, maximum emission corresponding to minimum brightness. This is probably due to bright plages and enhanced chromospheric heating associated with the photospheric starspots.

High dispersion, high signal-to-noise spectroscopic observations confirm the presence of lithium λ 6708 as reported by Rucinski (1982, 1985).

Several interpretations of the nature of HD 36705 are discussed; however at present none is completely satisfactory and further observations are required. As the star is probably at less than 100 pc, a parallax determination may be possible, and could help answer many of the questions concerning HD 36705.

We present an overview of the survey for radio emission from active stars that has been in progress for the last six years using the observatories at Fleurs, Molonglo, Parkes and Tidbinbilla. The role of complementary optical observations at the Anglo-Australian Observatory, Mount Burnett, Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories and Mount Tamborine are also outlined. We describe the different types of star that have been included in our survey and discuss some of the problems in making the radio observations.

We examine the roles of actuaries in UK life offices, along with trends, challenges to and opportunities for actuaries. We carry out an analysis of senior roles in life offices, a questionnaire survey and interviews with relevant senior personnel. We find that actuaries occupy many important roles in life offices and are regarded as having good industry knowledge and technical skills, especially in financial modelling. There are fewer executive directors and more non-executive directors of life offices who are actuaries compared with the position in 1990. A higher proportion of reserved roles is outsourced to consultants than was the case in 1990. Only a small number of Actuarial Function Holders are directors. Actuaries are more siloed than was the case in the past, although actuaries are well represented in the finance and risk functions of many offices. Although actuarial work in connection with the preparation for Solvency II will decline, there will be important ongoing requirements for actuaries following Solvency II implementation. We also see opportunities for actuaries in four areas: in risk management, in financial analysis and management based on Solvency II and international financial reporting standards, in connection with “big data”, and in product development and the customer proposition. There are implications for the examination syllabus, continuing professional development and research.