Agricultural technology,wealth, and responsibility

Responsibility as a dual to human rights is presented as a moral alternative to extended, complex systems of animal and ecological rights. This simple idea of responsibility is then applied to four levels of agricultural technology: animal (nature) rights, conservation, organization of agriculture, and people versus planet relationships. The stewardship argument is freed from at least some of the complications of animal rights and ecology, but leaves responsibility with humans to do the right thing.The views expressed are the author's and do not necessarily represent policies or views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

ESTIMATING TRANSMISSIVITY AND HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY OF CHICOT AQUIFER FROM SPECIFIC CAPACITY DATA1

ABSTRACT: Specific capacity data obtained from Well Construction reports which are available from USGS offices, can provide useful estimates of tranamissivity (T), and hydraulic conductivity (K), of an aquifer. The Chicot Aquifer in Louisiana is one of the largest sources of fresh ground water in North America. Hydrologic data collected for the Chicot Aquifer indicate that specific capacity tests can be used in estimating local and regional values for T and K, if the Cooper-Jacob equation for transient flow is used with proper corrections for well loss and partial penetration. Where full scale pumping test data are scarce, specific capacity test data that are adequately distributed spatially can be used to map changes in T and K values and can be summarized statistically to indicate applicable regional values. A computer program called “TGUESS” which is available from International Ground Water Modeling Center, Holcomb Research Institute, was used in this study. The contour maps for T and K values are prepared for different well depth intervals to avoid wide variation of values.     

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF GRAVITY CURRENTS WITH VARYING DENSITY1

ABSTRACT: A one-dimensional, gradually varying, non-uniform, flow equation is developed to describe the movement of a variable density gravity current through a reservoir. A linearly decreasing underflow density function is used to investigate the effect of in-reservoir density reduction on typical gravity current flow profiles. Only two types of flow profiles are found to exist for varying density underflows: Type I profiles where the underflow asymptotically approaches a horizontal surface, and Type III profiles where the underflow vertically approaches critical depth. Type I profiles pass through a transitional depth as the underflow density approaches that of the upper layer. Results indicate that a reservoir can be segmented into four distinct spatial regions with well defined flow profile characteristics. The location of these regions allows the sketching of interfacial flow profiles along with identifying the location of transitional depth conditions. Transitional depth conditions are utilized as the logical starting point for Type I flow profile numerical computation. (KEY WORDS: density; fluid flow; reservoirs; hydraulics.)     

Ecological Modernisation in Los Angeles and Toronto

This article presents the results of a comparative study of environmental policy making in Toronto and Los Angeles. The study was intended to explain how social formations at the urban scale play an increasingly important role in constructing environmental policy and practice as articulated in docu ments, rhetoric and political actions. It is suggested that environmental policy is embedded in broader and more long-term political goals, and that ecological discourse is not only about the environment but also brings together various social projects under the environmental protection flag. The four case studies-- in Toronto, contaminated soil and the Don River were examined, and in Los Angeles air pollution and the Los Angeles River--revealed considerable vari ation but all reflected an agenda of ecological modernisation. In particular it was found that demands for maintaining or improving environmental integrity and coherence have lost legitimacy to concerns for efficiency, competitiveness, marketability, flexibility and development. Similarly, market driven regulation and an openness to civil society have played a major role in transforming policy making apparatuses. In contrast, the cases revealed that relationships between nature and society go beyond those expected in ecological modernisation theory and include both social ecology and urban ecology.     

METABOLIC RESPONSES OF AQUATIC BACTERIAL POPULATIONS TO SELECTED INSECTICIDES1

ABSTRACT: Indigenous bacterial populations from a fresh water reservoir were treated by adding five mg/1 Sevin or Malathion to the water at 23, 28, and 33 C. The degradation of Sevin was evidenced by the increased uptake of O₂ as measured by Warburg manometry. The principal degradation product of Sevin, 1-naphthol, appeared to stimulate metabolic activity of these populations to the same extent as the parent compound. The addition of Malathion to this system appeared, on the other hand, to suppress metabolic activity to some degree. Warburg manometry was shown to be a useful, rapid method for detecting effects of insecticides on aquatic microbial populations.     

Regulation of honey bee age polyethism by juvenile hormone

Summary Previous studies suggested that juvenile hormone (JH) is involved in the regulation of physiological processes that are associated with division of labor in honey bees but the effects of JH on behavior were not clear. The hypothesis that JH affects worker age polyethism was tested by observing individually marked bees topically treated with different doses of the JH analog methoprene. Methoprene caused dose-dependent changes in the timing and frequency of occurrence of four important age-dependent tasks: brood and queen care, food storage, nest maintenance, and foraging. Weak or no effects were observed for social interactions, self-grooming, and other non-task behaviors that were not performed in an age-dependent manner. These results support the hypothesis that JH is involved in the control of age polyethism. A model is presented that explains the role of JH in regulating division of labor. JH may regulate the colony's allocation of labor by altering the probabilities of response to tasks. According to this model, hormone titers increase with age according to a genetically determined pattern of development, but this rise may be modulated by environmental and colony factors such as food availability and population structure. Extrinsic regulation of JH may be a mechanism underlying the ability of workers to respond to changing colony needs.     

Homesickness,health and efficiency in first year students

The investigation is concerned with the reported incidence and frequency of homesickness following an environmental transition to university in a group of 101 first year university students. Definitions provided by students indicated that homesickness is a collective term for a number of cognitive and emotional/motivational experiences primarily associated with missing home and wanting to visit it. 60% reported homesickness. Geographical distance of the move and relative lack of satisfaction with features of the psychosocial and physical environment in the new place were found to be associated with homesickness reporting. Personality and circumstantial factors such as decisional control over the move and cognitive failure levels were also associated with homesickness reporting. A two-stage risk model is proposed in which an environmental relocation is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for homesickness; features of the new place combine with personality factors to precipitate the experience.     

Trace Metals and Organochlorine Pesticide and PCB Residues in Mussels from England and Wales, 1978

As part of its work on marine environmental protection the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's, Fisheries Laboratory at Burnham-on-Crouch, undertook a mussel survey in England and Wales in 1978. Trace metal, organochlorine pesticide and PCB residue concentrations were determined. The survey comprised about 80 samples covering the whole of England and Wales.

The results of the survey showed that in general the contaminant concentrations reflected the expected environmental distributions of the compounds of interest. Samples from areas with significant anthropogenic inputs such as industrial estuaries generally contained the highest concentrations and samples from areas influenced mainly by natural sources usually contained much lower contaminant concentrations, although there were some notable exceptions. The survey indicates the usefulness of a mussel watch approach to monitoring in England and Wales and the suggestion is made that if used on a local more intensive scale the technique should be able to identify in greater detail the likely sources of pollution.     

The transition from home to boarding school: a diary-style analysis of the problems and worries of boarding school pupils

The investigation concerns the impact of the new school environment on a group of 50 male and female children aged 11–16 years, who leave home to reside temporarily at boarding school, in terms of the characteristics of problems and worries reported and the incidence of spontaneous reports of homesickness. More problems relating to the school than to the home environment were reported but proportionally more worry units were reported associated with home problems for both males and females. There was no sex differences in this respect. The reported level of spontaneously reported homesickness was 16% and there were no sex differences. Factors such as age, geographical distance of move and decision to go away to school were not influential in determining the level of reported problems or incidence of spontaneous reports of homesickness. A relationship was found with level of problems reported and recent life history but the result proved difficult to interpret.