FoxP2 isoforms delineate spatiotemporal transcriptional networks for vocal learning in the zebra finch.

Human speech is one of the few examples of vocal learning among mammals yet ~half of avian species exhibit this ability. Its neurogenetic basis is largely unknown beyond a shared requirement for FoxP2 in both humans and zebra finches. We manipulated FoxP2 isoforms in Area X, a song-specific region of the avian striatopallidum analogous to human anterior striatum, during a critical period for song development. We delineate, for the first time, unique contributions of each isoform to vocal learning. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis of RNA-seq data revealed gene modules correlated to singing, learning, or vocal variability. Coexpression related to singing was found in juvenile and adult Area X whereas coexpression correlated to learning was unique to juveniles. The confluence of learning and singing coexpression in juvenile Area X may underscore molecular processes that drive vocal learning in young zebra finches and, by analogy, humans

Supplementing Dairy Cows in Late Lactation With High Quality Silages

Agriculture on the Canterbury Plains of New Zealand is a mixture of integrated cropping and pastoral enterprises. Cropping farmers often provide supplementary feed for dairy farmers by growing forages for high quality silage. Such silages can improve milk production by increasing dry matter (DM) intake and/or by alleviating deficiencies of either soluble carbohydrate or protein in pasture (Woodward et al., 2002). Legumes and/or cereals have potential to make large quantities of high quality silage (de Ruiter et al., 2002). This trial aimed to determine milk production and composition differences between three silages fed during late lactation

Simulation of primordial object formation

We have included the chemical rate network responsible for the formation of molecular Hydrogen in the N-body hydrodynamic code, Hydra, in order to study the formation of the first cosmological at redshifts between 10 and 50. We have tested our implementation of the chemical and cooling processes by comparing N-body top hat simulations with theoretical predictions from a semi-analytic model and found them to be in good agreement. We find that post-virialization properties are insensitive to the initial abundance of molecular hydrogen. Our main objective was to determine the minimum mass ($M_{SG}(z)$) of perturbations that could become self gravitating (a prerequisite for star formation), and the redshift at which this occurred. We have developed a robust indicator for detecting the presence of a self-gravitating cloud in our simulations and find that we can do so with a baryonic particle mass-resolution of 40 solar masses. We have performed cosmological simulations of primordial objects and find that the object's mass and redshift at which they become self gravitating agree well with the $M_{SG}(z)$ results from the top hat simulations. Once a critical molecular hydrogen fractional abundance of about 0.0005 has formed in an object, the cooling time drops below the dynamical time at the centre of the cloud and the gas free falls in the dark matter potential wells, becoming self gravitating a dynamical time later.Comment: 45 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Ap

Modelling trade offs between public and private conservation policies

To reduce global biodiversity loss, there is an urgent need to determine the most efficient allocation of conservation resources. Recently, there has been a growing trend for many governments to supplement public ownership and management of reserves with incentive programs for conservation on private land. At the same time, policies to promote conservation on private land are rarely evaluated in terms of their ecological consequences. This raises important questions, such as the extent to which private land conservation can improve conservation outcomes, and how it should be mixed with more traditional public land conservation. We address these questions, using a general framework for modelling environmental policies and a case study examining the conservation of endangered native grasslands to the west of Melbourne, Australia. Specifically, we examine three policies that involve: i) spending all resources on creating public conservation areas; ii) spending all resources on an ongoing incentive program where private landholders are paid to manage vegetation on their property with 5-year contracts; and iii) splitting resources between these two approaches. The performance of each strategy is quantified with a vegetation condition change model that predicts future changes in grassland quality. Of the policies tested, no one policy was always best and policy performance depended on the objectives of those enacting the policy. This work demonstrates a general method for evaluating environmental policies and highlights the utility of a model which combines ecological and socioeconomic processes.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

Field borders for agronomic, economic and wildlife benefits (2008)

New 11/08/5M

Radiative Heating in MSL Entry: Comparison of Flight Heating Discrepancy to Ground Test and Predictive Models

During the recent entry of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), the heat shield was equipped with thermocouple stacks to measure in-depth heating of the thermal protection system (TPS). When only convective heating was considered, the derived heat flux from gauges in the stagnation region was found to be underpredicted by as much as 17 W/sq cm, which is significant compared to the peak heating of 32 W/sq cm. In order to quantify the contribution of radiative heating phenomena to the discrepancy, ground tests and predictive simulations that replicated the MSL entry trajectory were performed. An analysis is carried through to assess the quality of the radiation model and the impact to stagnation line heating. The impact is shown to be significant, but does not fully explain the heating discrepancy

Aerothermal Design of a Common Probe for Multiple Planetary Destinations

Estimate the mass of the Thermal Protection System (TPS) for a single design construct of an atmospheric entry probe with a rigid aeroshell, which could be used at five destinations, i.e. Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and perhaps, Jupiter. The entry mass of the probe is 400 kg with a ballistic coefficient of 216 kg/m2. Process: The 3DoF trajectory simulation program Traj, coupled with the TPS response program FIAT was used for simulation and design. The assumed atmospheric models were VIRA (Venus-GRAM) for Venus, the Julianne Moses' model for Saturn, a NASA Ames engineering model for Uranus, Neptune-GRAM for Neptune, and Galileo Probe (Al Seiff's) result for Jupiter

Radiative Heating for MSL Entry: Verification of Simulations from Ground Test to Flight Data

The heat shield of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) was equipped with thermocouplestacks to measure in-depth heating of the thermal protection system during atmosphericentry. The heat load derived from the thermocouples in the stagnation region was found tobe 33 lower than corresponding post-flight predictions of convective heating alone. It washypothesized that this difference could be attributed to radiation from the shock-heated gas,a mechanism not considered in post-flight analyses of flow fields. In order to test thehypothesis and quantify the contribution of shock-layer radiation to total surface heating,ground tests and simulations (both flow and radiation) were performed at several pointsalong the best-estimated entry trajectory of MSL. The present paper provides anassessment of the quality of the radiation model and its impact to stagnation point heating.Although the impact of radiative heating is shown to be significant, it only accounts for 43of the discrepancy. Additional factors behind the remaining discrepancy are discussed

Time-varying Entry Heating Profile Replication with a Rotating Arc Jet Test Article

A new approach for arc jet testing of thermal protection materials at conditions approximating the time-varying conditions of atmospheric entry was developed and demonstrated. The approach relies upon the spatial variation of heat flux and pressure over a cylindrical test model. By slowly rotating a cylindrical arc jet test model during exposure to an arc jet stream, each point on the test model will experience constantly changing applied heat flux. The predicted temporal profile of heat flux at a point on a vehicle can be replicated by rotating the cylinder at a prescribed speed and direction. An electromechanical test model mechanism was designed, built, and operated during an arc jet test to demonstrate the technique