This paper is devoted to an experimental investigation of the distributed receptivity of a laminar swept-wing boundary layer to unsteady freestream vortices with streamwise orientation of the vorticity vector. The experiments were performed on a model of a swept wing with a sweep angle of $25^{\circ }$ at fully controlled disturbance conditions with freestream vortices generated by a special disturbance source. It is found that the unsteady streamwise vortices are able to provide very efficient excitation of cross-flow instability modes without requiring the presence of any surface non-uniformities. The developed experimental approach is shown to allow us to perform a detailed quantitative investigation of the mechanism of distributed excitation of unsteady boundary-layer disturbances due to scattering of freestream vortices on natural base-flow non-uniformity. This mechanism has been studied experimentally in detail. Part 1 of the present investigation (Borodulin et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 908, 2021, A14) was devoted to the description of the experimental approach and the base-flow structure, the method of excitation of fully controlled streamwise-elongated freestream vortices, the results of measurements of structure of these vortices and the experimental evidence of high efficiency of the distributed vortex receptivity mechanism under study. Meanwhile, the present paper (Part 2) is devoted to: (a) theoretical background and definition of the distributed receptivity coefficients and (b) obtaining experimental quantitative characteristics of the distributed vortex receptivity including values of the corresponding receptivity coefficients for their three different definitions as functions of the disturbance frequency, spanwise wavenumber and wave propagation angle.

The paper is devoted to an experimental investigation of distributed receptivity of a laminar swept-wing boundary layer to unsteady freestream vortices with streamwise orientation of the vorticity vector. The experiments were performed on a model of a swept wing with sweep angle of $25^{\circ }$ at fully controlled disturbance conditions with freestream vortices generated by a special disturbance source. It is found that the unsteady streamwise vortices are able to provide very efficient excitation of non-stationary cross-flow instability modes without the necessity of the presence of any surface non-uniformities. The developed experimental approach provides the possibility for a detailed quantitative investigation of the mechanism of distributed excitation of unsteady boundary-layer disturbances due to scattering of freestream vortices on natural base-flow non-uniformity. This mechanism has been studied experimentally in detail. This paper (Part 1 of the present study) is devoted to description of: (a) the experimental approach and the base-flow structure; (b) the method of excitation of fully controlled streamwise-elongated freestream vortices; (c) the results of measurements of structure of these vortices; and (d) the experimental evidence of high efficiency of the distributed vortex receptivity mechanism under study. Part 2 of this study (see Borodulin et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 908, 2021, A15) is devoted to the theoretical background and experimental quantitative characteristics of the distributed vortex receptivity. Values of the corresponding receptivity coefficients are estimated there for their three different definitions as functions of the disturbance frequency, spanwise wavenumber and wave propagation angle.

The saturated state of turbulence driven by the ion-temperature-gradient instability is investigated using a two-dimensional long-wavelength fluid model that describes the perturbed electrostatic potential and perturbed ion temperature in a magnetic field with constant curvature (a $Z$-pinch) and an equilibrium temperature gradient. Numerical simulations reveal a well-defined transition between a finite-amplitude saturated state dominated by strong zonal-flow and zonal temperature perturbations, and a blow-up state that fails to saturate on a box-independent scale. We argue that this transition is equivalent to the Dimits transition from a low-transport to a high-transport state seen in gyrokinetic numerical simulations (Dimits et al., Phys. Plasmas, vol. 7, 2000, 969). A quasi-static staircase-like structure of the temperature gradient intertwined with zonal flows, which have patch-wise constant shear, emerges near the Dimits threshold. The turbulent heat flux in the low-collisionality near-marginal state is dominated by turbulent bursts, triggered by coherent long-lived structures closely resembling those found in gyrokinetic simulations with imposed equilibrium flow shear (van Wyk et al., J. Plasma Phys., vol. 82, 2016, 905820609). The breakup of the low-transport Dimits regime is linked to a competition between the two different sources of poloidal momentum in the system – the Reynolds stress and the advection of the diamagnetic flow by the $\boldsymbol {E}\times \boldsymbol {B}$ flow. By analysing the linear ion-temperature-gradient modes, we obtain a semi-analytic model for the Dimits threshold at large collisionality.

The large-scale cold crucible induction melter (CCIM) with productivity of 12 kg/h was created for melting borosilicate glass containing 20 mass. % of high-level liquid wastes (HLLW) simulators. Tests were carried out to study the effect on the CCIM operating parameters during sedimentation of metallic silver, at the content of 3.8 mass. % Ag2O in glass. Post-test analyses of the glass shows the sedimentation of silver in the bottom layers of the molten pool. Experiments have confirmed that the presence of noble metals in the form of undissolved sediments in the bottom layers of furnace leads to a changes in the properties of the melt, the aggravation of its drain conditions, an increase in the thermal conductivity of the skull and heat losses during melting.

GravityCam is a new concept of ground-based imaging instrument capable of delivering significantly sharper images from the ground than is normally possible without adaptive optics. Advances in optical and near-infrared imaging technologies allow images to be acquired at high speed without significant noise penalty. Aligning these images before they are combined can yield a 2.5–3-fold improvement in image resolution. By using arrays of such detectors, survey fields may be as wide as the telescope optics allows. Consequently, GravityCam enables both wide-field high-resolution imaging and high-speed photometry. We describe the instrument and detail its application to provide demographics of planets and satellites down to Lunar mass (or even below) across the Milky Way. GravityCam is also suited to improve the quality of weak shear studies of dark matter distribution in distant clusters of galaxies and multiwavelength follow-ups of background sources that are strongly lensed by galaxy clusters. The photometric data arising from an extensive microlensing survey will also be useful for asteroseismology studies, while GravityCam can be used to monitor fast multiwavelength flaring in accreting compact objects and promises to generate a unique data set on the population of the Kuiper belt and possibly the Oort cloud.

This paper is devoted to an experimental investigation of receptivity of a laminar swept-wing boundary layer due to scattering of free-stream vortices on localized (in the streamwise direction) surface vibrations. The experiments were conducted under completely controlled disturbance conditions by means of a hot-wire anemometer on a model of a swept wing with a sweep angle of 25°. Both the free-stream vortices and the surface vibrations were generated by disturbance sources; their frequency–wavenumber spectra were measured thoroughly. The free-stream vorticity vectors were directed perpendicular to the incident-flow velocity vector and parallel to the swept-wing-model surface. The linearity of the receptivity mechanism under investigation (in a sense that the corresponding receptivity coefficients are independent of the disturbances amplitudes) has been checked carefully. The main goal of this experiment was to estimate the vibration-vortex receptivity coefficients as functions of the disturbance frequency, spanwise wavenumber and vortex offset parameter. This goal has been attained. Being defined in Fourier space, the obtained receptivity coefficients are independent of the specific surface vibration shape and can be used for verification of various receptivity theories.

Geological disposal (GD) of radioactive waste is close to becoming a reality for Finland, Sweden and France. High-technology development and advanced knowledge has made it possible to defend the feasibility and the safety of such facilities, making the European Union a leader in the field. Other European countries are closely behind, developing high competence through advanced research programmes, research infrastructures and public engagement.

At the other extreme, there are countries whose GD programmes are at an early stage and no systematic research programmes exist. These include several new Member States but not the Czech Republic and Hungary, both of which have already initiated a siting process.

There are several common reasons for this delay in schedule: small and relatively younger nuclear energy programmes, return of the spent fuel (especially from research reactors) to the countries of origin, open fuel cycle concept (requiring at least 50 years of wet and dry storage). In this context, there has been little pressure on setting up an early GD programme. Currently their disposal concepts are only generic and in most of these countries need updating, taking into account the current socio-economic context.

However, some of these new Member States still aim to have a GD in operation within several decades, e.g. 2055 in Romania and 2067 in Slovenia. Strategic planning based on the experience of more advanced programmes shows the GD process should start immediately in order to be able to achieve these deadlines.

In this context, the implementation of the EC Directive 70/2011 gives the opportunity to progress the advancement of the GD process in these countries.

A plasma target for highly efficient neutralization of powerful negative ion beams is considered. The plasma is confined within a magnetic trap with multipole magnetic walls. It is proposed to use inverse magnetic mirrors to limit plasma outflow through the inlet and outlet holes in the trap. Using the particle-in-cell method, mathematical simulation of plasma dynamics in the trap has been performed. The estimates of plasma distribution and particle confinement efficiency in the region of the magnetic mirrors has been obtained. Simulation results were compared with experimental data.

This report summarizes epidemiological data on nephropathia epidemica (NE) in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. NE cases identified in the period 1997–2013 were investigated in parallel with the hantavirus antigen prevalence in small rodents in the study area. A total of 13 930 NE cases were documented in all but one district of Tatarstan, with most cases located in the central and southeastern districts. The NE annual incidence rate exhibited a cyclical pattern, with the highest numbers of cases being registered once in every 3–5 years. The numbers of NE cases rose gradually from July to November, with the highest morbidity in adult males. The highest annual disease incidence rate, 64·4 cases/100 000 population, was observed in 1997, with a total of 2431 NE cases registered. NE cases were mostly associated with visiting forests and agricultural activities. The analysis revealed that the bank vole Myodes glareolus not only comprises the majority of the small rodent communities in the region, but also consistently displays the highest hantavirus prevalence compared to other small rodent species.

The Magellanic System represents one of the best places to study the formation and evolution of galaxies. Photometric surveys of various depths, areas and wavelengths have had a significant impact on our understanding of the system; however, a complete picture is still lacking. VMC (the VISTA near-infrared YJK s survey of the Magellanic System) will provide new data to derive the spatially resolved star formation history and to construct a three-dimensional map of the system. These data combined with those from other ongoing and planned surveys will give us an absolutely unique view of the system opening up the doors to truly new science!

The present experimental study is devoted to examination of the vortex receptivity mechanism associated with excitation of unsteady cross-flow (CF) waves due to scattering of unsteady free-stream vortices on localized steady surface non-uniformities (roughness). The measurements are carried out in a low-turbulence wind tunnel by means of a hot-wire anemometer in a boundary layer developing over a $25\textdegree $ swept-wing model. The harmonic-in-time free-stream vortices were excited by a thin vibrating wire located upstream of the experimental-model leading edge and represented a kind of small-amplitude von Kármán vortex street with spanwise orientation of the generated instantaneous vorticity vectors. The controlled roughness elements (the so-called ‘phased roughness’) were placed on the model surface. This roughness had a special shape, which provided excitation of CF-waves having basically some predetermined (required) spanwise wavenumbers. The linearity of the stability and receptivity mechanisms under study was checked accurately by means of variation of both the free-stream-vortex amplitude and the surface roughness height. These experiments were directed to obtaining the amplitudes and phases of the vortex-roughness receptivity coefficients for a number of vortex disturbance frequencies. The vortex street position with respect to the model surface (the vortex offset parameter) was also varied. The receptivity characteristics obtained experimentally in Fourier space are independent of the particular roughness shape, and can be used for validation of receptivity theories.

We present details of the ISON network for GRB follow-up and complete list of observations in 2010–2012.

More than 20000 observations of Near Earth asteroids and comets are collected and reduced in Pulkovo Observatory during last 10 years. For observations of these objects two robotic telescopes are used – ZA-320M (Cassegrain system, D = 320 mm, F = 3200 mm) at Pulkovo and MTM-500M (Maksutov – Cassegrain system, D = 500 mm, F = 4100 mm) at Kislovodsk mountain station. These telescopes perform CCD observations of objects up to 18.0 and 20.5 magnitude, correspondingly. The results of observations are regularly submitted to Minor Planet Center.