How Evolved are the Mass Donor Stars inCataclysmic Variables?

Recent spectroscopic observations have identified several cataclysmic variables non-solar metal abundances. We present theoretical models which examine the level of core evolution expected for CV secondaries prior to contact. Our results indicate that few secondary stars evolve past 10% of their main sequence lifetime prior to the initiation of mass transfer; a result which is in agreement with present day observations. Thus, the non-solar metal abundances observed must be due to nuclear burning by-products accreted by the secondary star during common envelope sweeping prior to initial contact or ejecta collected during classical nova outbursts.Comment: To Appear in PAS

FACTORS INFLUENCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND COSTS IN BROILER PROCESSING PLANTS IN THE SOUTH

Livestock Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Growing a Green Economy for All: From Green Jobs to Green Ownership

This Democracy Collaborative report provides the first comprehensive survey of community wealth building institutions in the green economy. Featuring ten cases, the report identifies how policy and philanthropy can build on these examples to create "green jobs you can own.

THE VALUE OF THE VIEW: VALUING SCENIC QUALITY USING CHOICE AND CONTINGENT VALUATION MODELS

Scenic beauty contributes to residents' quality of life and also serves to attract visitors to recreational areas. Because of the dynamic relationship between people, land, and rural development, there is an increasing interest in estimating the value of scenic quality using nonmarket valuation techniques. This study estimates the value of scenic quality to Blue Ridge Parkway visitors using choice and contingent valuation models. Results suggest that further research into respondent perceptions of CM and CVM models, and the conditions under which they yield comparable estimates, is warranted.Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Effects of Uncertainty in Climate Inputs on Simulated Evapotranspiration and Runoff in the Western Arctic

Hydrological models require accurate precipitation and air temperature inputs in order to adequately depict water fluxes and storages across Arctic regions. Biases such as gauge undercatch, as well as uncertainties in numerical weather prediction reanalysis data that propagate through water budget models, limit the ability to accurately model the terrestrial arctic water cycle. A hydrological model forced with three climate datasets and three methods of estimating potential evapotranspiration (PET) was used to better understand the impact of these processes on simulated water fluxes across the Western Arctic Linkage Experiment (WALE) domain. Climate data were drawn from the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis (NNR) (NCEP1), a modified version of the NNR (NCEP2), and the Willmott–Matsuura (WM) dataset. PET methods applied in the model were Hamon, Penman–Monteith, and Penman–Monteith using adjusted vapor pressure data. High vapor pressures in the NNR lead to low simulated evapotranspiration (ET) in model runs using the Penman–Monteith PET method, resulting in increased runoff. Annual ET derived from simulations using Penman–Monteith PET was half the magnitude of ET simulated when the Hamon method was used. Adjustments made to the reanalysis vapor pressure data increased the simulated ET flux, reducing simulated runoff. Using the NCEP2 or WM climate data, along with the Penman–Monteith PET function, results in agreement to within 7% between the simulated and observed runoff across the Yukon River basin. The results reveal the high degree of uncertainty present in climate data and the range of water fluxes generated from common model drivers. This suggests the need for thorough evaluations of model requirements and potential biases in forcing data, as well as corroborations with observed data, in all efforts to simulate arctic water balances

Color and Variability Characteristics of Point Sources in the Faint Sky Variability Survey

We present an analysis of the color and variability characteristics for point sources in the Faint Sky Variability Survey (FSVS). The FSVS cataloged ~23 square degrees in BVI filters from ~16--24 mag to investigate variability in faint sources at moderate to high Galactic latitudes. Point source completeness is found to be >83% for a selected representative sample (V=17.5--22.0 mag, B-V=0.0--1.5) containing both photometric B, V detections and 80% of the time-sampled V data available compared to a basic internal source completeness of 99%. Multi-epoch (10--30) observations in V spanning minutes to years modeled by light curve simulations reveal amplitude sensitivities to 0.015--0.075 mag over a representative V=18--22 mag range. Periodicity determinations appear viable to time-scales of an order 1 day or less using the most sampled fields (~30 epochs). The fraction of point sources is found to be generally variable at 5--8% over V=17.5--22.0 mag. For V brighter than 19 mag, the variable population is dominated by low amplitude (<0.05 mag) and blue (B-V<0.35) sources, possibly representing a population of gamma Doradus stars. Overall, the dominant population of variable sources are bluer than B-V=0.65 and have Main Sequence colors, likely reflecting larger populations of RR Lyrae, SX Phe, gamma Doradus, and W UMa variables.Comment: 34 pages, 16 figures, accepted in A

Identification and characterisation of 17 polymorphic candidate genes for response to parasitic nematode (Trichostrongylus tenuis) infection in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica)

Acknowledgements This study was funded by a BBSRC studentship (MA Wenzel) and NERC Grants NE/H00775X/1 and NE/D000602/1 (SB Piertney). We are grateful to Jacob Hoglund for providing willow grouse samples, Mario Roder, Keliya Bai, Marianne James, Matt Oliver, Gill Murray-Dickson, Francois Mougeot and Jesus Martınez-Padilla for help with fieldwork, and all grouse estate factors, owners and keepers, most particularly Alistair Mitchell, Shaila Rao, Christopher Murphy, Richard Cooke and Fred Taylor, for providing access to estate game larders.Peer reviewedPostprin

SEQUENTIAL STOCHASTIC PRODUCTION DECISIONS FOR A PERENNIAL CROP: THE YIELD/QUALITY TRADEOFF FOR ALFALFA HAY

The "optimal cutting schedule" for alfalfa hay is described as a function of the trade-off between rising yield and falling quality of alfalfa over time and the local market prices being offered for different qualities of hay during the harvest season. Field test results quantify the yield/quality tradeoff for a California case study. A general decision rule is then derived to assist growers in making cutting decisions during a season. Finally, the optimal cutting schedule is shown to be the sum of sequential decisions for cuttings throughout the harvest season, with no schedule being best a priori.Crop Production/Industries,