scholarly journals Cattle stratified on genetic merit segregate on carcass characteristics, but there is scope for improvement1

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 893-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donagh P Berry ◽  
Thierry Pabiou ◽  
Denis Brennan ◽  
Patrick J Hegarthy ◽  
Michelle M Judge
Keyword(s):  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Positive Weight ◽  
Association Analyses ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fat Score ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Very High

Abstract The study objective was to quantify the ability of genetic merit for a generated carcass index to differentiate animals on primal carcass cut weights using data from 1,446 herds on 9,414 heifers and 22,413 steers with weights for 14 different primal carcass cuts (plus 3 generated groups of cuts). The carcass genetic merit index was compromised of carcass weight (positive weight), conformation (positive weight), and fat score (negative weight), each equally weighted within the index. The association analyses were undertaken using linear mixed models; models were run with or without carcass weight as a covariate. In a further series of analyses, carcass weight and carcass fat score were both included as covariates in the models. Whether the association between primal cut yield and carcass weight differed by genetic merit stratum was also investigated. Genetic merit was associated (P < 0.001) with the weight of all cuts evaluated even when adjusted to a common carcass weight (P < 0.01); when simultaneously adjusted to a common carcass weight and fat score, genetic merit was not associated with the weight of the cuberoll or the group cuts termed minced-meat. The weight of the different primal cuts increased almost linearly within increasing genetic merit, with the exception of the rump and bavette. The difference in mean primal cut weight between the very low and very high genetic merit strata, as a proportion of the overall mean weight of that cut in the entire data set, varied from 0.05 (bavette) to 0.28 (eye of round); the average was 0.17. Following adjustment for differences in carcass weight, there was no difference in cut weight between the very low and very high strata for the rump, chuck tender, and mince cut group; the remaining cuts were heavier in the higher index animals with the exception of the cuberoll and bavette, which were lighter in the very high index animals. The association between carcass weight and the weight of each of the evaluated primal cuts differed (P < 0.05) by genetic merit stratum for all cuts evaluated with the exception of the rump, striploin, and brisket as well as the group cuts of frying and mincing. With the exception of these 5 primal (group) cuts, the regression coefficients of primal cut weight on carcass weight increased consistently for all traits with increasing genetic merit stratum, other than for the fillet, cuberoll, bavette, chuck and neck, and heel and shank.

The performance of short scrotum and wether lambs born in winter or spring and run at pasture in northern Tasmania

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Hopkins ◽  
KD Gilbert ◽  
KL Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Research Station ◽  
High Fat ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Fat Score ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Poor Relationship

Summary. The growth of short scrotum and wether lambs was studied in 3 experiments over 2 years, at the Elliott Research Station in northern Tasmania. Short scrotum lambs born in winter grew significantly (P<0.05) faster than wethers from birth to slaughter at 137 days of age. For spring born, short scrotum lambs, the growth advantage was less because of the quality and quantity of pasture available during summer and autumn. Wether lambs were fatter than short scrotum lambs in all experiments, with the slope of the relationship between GR and carcass weight being 0.57 � 0.02 I! 0.42 � 0.01 mmkg (experiment 1); 1.13 � 0.1 1 v. 0.68 � 0.09 mm/kg (experiment 2); and 0.91 � 0.16 v. 0.63 � 0.08 mm/kg (experiment 3) respectively. As carcass weight increased, the difference in carcass fatness increased. There was a shift in the distribution of carcasses according to fat score, with more wether carcasses being allocated high fat scores. Testes weight in the short scrotum lambs showed considerable variation within and between experiments and in all cases the testes were located in a subcutaneous position. There was a poor relationship between testes weight and growth rate. The level of testes development in a proportion of animals indicated that the animals could be fertile.

scholarly journals Global evaluation and calibration of a passive air sampler for gaseous mercury

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 5905-5919 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. McLagan ◽  
Carl P. J. Mitchell ◽  
Alexandra Steffen ◽  
Hayley Hung ◽  
Cecilia Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Rate ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Global Evaluation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Industry Standard ◽  
Gaseous Mercury ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Very High

Abstract. Passive air samplers (PASs) for gaseous mercury (Hg) were deployed for time periods between 1 month and 1 year at 20 sites across the globe with continuous atmospheric Hg monitoring using active Tekran instruments. The purpose was to evaluate the accuracy of the PAS vis-à-vis the industry standard active instruments and to determine a sampling rate (SR; the volume of air stripped of gaseous Hg per unit of time) that is applicable across a wide range of conditions. The sites spanned a wide range of latitudes, altitudes, meteorological conditions, and gaseous Hg concentrations. Precision, based on 378 replicated deployments performed by numerous personnel at multiple sites, is 3.6 ± 3.0 %1, confirming the PAS's excellent reproducibility and ease of use. Using a SR previously determined at a single site, gaseous Hg concentrations derived from the globally distributed PASs deviate from Tekran-based concentrations by 14.2 ± 10 %. A recalibration using the entire new data set yields a slightly higher SR of 0.1354 ± 0.016 m3 day−1. When concentrations are derived from the PAS using this revised SR the difference between concentrations from active and passive sampling is reduced to 8.8 ± 7.5 %. At the mean gaseous Hg concentration across the study sites of 1.54 ng m−3, this represents an ability to resolve concentrations to within 0.13 ng m−3. Adjusting the sampling rate to deployment specific temperatures and wind speeds does not decrease the difference in active–passive concentration further (8.7 ± 5.7 %), but reduces its variability by leading to better agreement in Hg concentrations measured at sites with very high and very low temperatures and very high wind speeds. This value (8.7 ± 5.7 %) represents a conservative assessment of the overall uncertainty of the PAS due to inherent uncertainties of the Tekran instruments. Going forward, the recalibrated SR adjusted for temperature and wind speed should be used, especially if conditions are highly variable or deviate considerably from the average of the deployments in this study (9.89 ∘C, 3.41 m s−1). Overall, the study demonstrates that the sampler is capable of recording background gaseous Hg concentrations across a wide range of environmental conditions with accuracy similar to that of industry standard active sampling instruments. Results at sites with active speciation units were inconclusive on whether the PASs take up total gaseous Hg or solely gaseous elemental Hg primarily because gaseous oxidized Hg concentrations were in a similar range as the uncertainty of the PAS.

scholarly journals Global evaluation and calibration of a passive air sampler for gaseous mercury

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. McLagan ◽  
Carl P. J. Mitchell ◽  
Alexandra Steffen ◽  
Hayley Hung ◽  
Cecilia Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Rate ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Global Evaluation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Industry Standard ◽  
Gaseous Mercury ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Very High

Abstract. Passive air samplers (PASs) for gaseous mercury (Hg) were deployed for time periods between 1 month and 1 year at 20 sites across the globe with continuous atmospheric Hg monitoring using active Tekran instruments. The purpose was to evaluate the accuracy of the PAS vis-à-vis the industry standard active instruments and to determine a sampling rate (SR; the volume of air stripped of gaseous Hg per unit of time) that is applicable across a broad variety of conditions. The sites spanned a wide range of latitudes, altitudes, meteorological conditions, and gaseous Hg concentrations. Precision, based on 378 replicated deployments performed by numerous personnel at multiple sites, is 3.6 ± 3.0 %*, confirming the PAS's excellent reproducibility and ease-of-use. Using a SR previously determined at a single site, gaseous Hg concentrations derived from the globally distributed PASs deviate from Tekran-based concentrations by 14.2 ± 10 %. A recalibration using the entire new data set yields a slightly higher SR of 0.1354 ± 0.016 m3 day−1. When concentrations are derived from the PAS using this revised SR the difference is reduced to 8.8 ± 7.5 %. At the mean gaseous Hg concentration across the study sites of 1.54 ng m−3, this represents an ability to resolve concentrations to within 0.13 ng m−3. Adjusting the sampling rate to deployment specific temperatures and wind speeds does not decrease the difference in active–passive concentration further (8.7 ± 5.7 %), but reduces its variability by leading to better agreement in Hg concentrations measured at sites with very high and very low temperatures and very high wind speeds. This value (8.7 ± 5.7 %) represents a conservative assessment of the overall uncertainty of the PAS due to inherent uncertainties of the Tekran instruments. Going forward, the recalibrated SR adjusted for temperature and wind speed should be used, especially if conditions are highly variable or deviate considerably from the average of the deployments in this study (9.89 °C, 3.41 m s−1). Overall, the study demonstrates that the sampler is capable of recording background gaseous Hg concentrations across a wide range of environmental conditions with accuracy similar to that of industry standard active sampling instruments. Results at sites with active speciation units were inconclusive on whether the PASs take up total gaseous Hg or solely gaseous elemental Hg primarily because gaseous oxidized Hg concentrations were in a similar range as the uncertainty of the PAS.

Estimation of the top of the saturated zone from airborne electromagnetic data

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. EN63-EN76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah Dewar ◽  
Rosemary Knight
Keyword(s):  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Central Valley ◽  
Saturated Zone ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Northern Portion ◽  
Airborne Electromagnetic ◽  
Rms Error ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Airborne Electromagnetic Data

In an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data set acquired in unsaturated and saturated zones, the depth of the top of the saturated zone (TSZ) at the time of data acquisition should be accounted for in the resistivity-to-lithology transform. We have developed and tested a methodology for estimating the TSZ from AEM data, using data collected in three survey areas in the Central Valley of California and water-table elevation (WTE) measurements from nearby wells. The methodology is based on the difference in the distribution of resistivity values above and below the TSZ, using the WTE measurements to optimize two components of the general workflow. From the AEM data acquired in Tulare County, in the southern portion of the Central Valley, where the WTE measurements were acquired two to four weeks before the AEM data acquisition, we have found estimates of the TSZ with a root-mean-square (rms) error of 10.6 m when compared to the WTE measurements. From the two survey areas in Butte and Glenn counties, in the northern portion of the Central Valley, where WTE measurements were available at the time of, and closer to the locations of, AEM data acquisition, we have found estimates of the TSZ with an rms error ranging from 3.8 to 5.3 m, depending on the form of inversion. The level of error found in the three survey areas is comparable to the thickness of the layers in the resistivity models at the depths of the TSZ. Because the intended use of these estimates is to locate the TSZ for use in developing and applying the resistivity-to-lithology transform, the level of error associated with this new methodology is acceptable.

scholarly journals The Effect of Testing Turnaround Time on COVID-19 Outbreak Severity Within U.S. Nursing Homes

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 732-732
Author(s):  
Annie Rhodes ◽  
Leland Waters ◽  
Faika Zanjani ◽  
Tracey Gendron ◽  
Rick Moore
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
To Receive

Abstract COVID-19 has brought renewed attention to infectious diseases in U.S. nursing homes (NHs). The Testing turnaround time (TAT) of SARS-CoV-2 is vital information, supporting staff ability to make decisions regarding resource allocation. Methods Using data obtained from the National Healthcare Safety Network’s COVID-19 nursing home data set, we analyzed the TAT of laboratory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on outbreak severity (number of people infected) for residents and staff. A MANOVA was performed on NHs submitting data over 26 weeks (May-November 2020). The independent variable was the average TAT for the two weeks prior (&lt;24 hours, 1-2 days, 3-7 days, or 7+ days). Results N = 15,363 NHs. The TAT for the combined dependent variables of staff and resident COVID-19 cases. F(10,781,354) = 3161.265, Pillai’s trace = .078, p&lt;.0005, partial η2=.4. The average outbreak severity for staff was 13.93 cases when TAT was &lt; 24 hours, compared to 15.29 cases at 1-2 days. For residents, the difference was less pronounced but still significant. The average outbreak severity for residents was 17.07 cases when TAT was&lt;24 hours, compared to 18.61 cases when the TAT was 1-2 days. Tukey post-hoc tests found significance for all levels of testing for residents and staff at p&lt;.0005. Discussion Time differences to receive PCR test results from a laboratory are significant in outbreak severity for staff and residents. The most meaningful result positively impacting the ultimate spread and severity of gross cases is when the TAT for PCR results is &lt; 1 day.

Difference Fourier Analysis of Glucose Embedded and Frozen Hydrated Purple Membrane

1982 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 74-75
Author(s):  
Jules S. Jaffe ◽  
Robert M. Glaeser
Keyword(s):  
Purple Membrane ◽  
Data Set ◽  
High Resolution Data ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
Fourier Techniques ◽  
Versus Protein ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Difference Fourier ◽  
Ideal Method

Although difference Fourier techniques are standard in X-ray crystallography it has only been very recently that electron crystallographers have been able to take advantage of this method. We have combined a high resolution data set for frozen glucose embedded Purple Membrane (PM) with a data set collected from PM prepared in the frozen hydrated state in order to visualize any differences in structure due to the different methods of preparation. The increased contrast between protein-ice versus protein-glucose may prove to be an advantage of the frozen hydrated technique for visualizing those parts of bacteriorhodopsin that are embedded in glucose. In addition, surface groups of the protein may be disordered in glucose and ordered in the frozen state. The sensitivity of the difference Fourier technique to small changes in structure provides an ideal method for testing this hypothesis.

The metachor as a characteristic of the association of electrolytes in aqueous solutions

1984 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1061-1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Čeleda ◽  
Stanislav Škramovský
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solutions ◽  
Apparent Volume ◽  
Solutions Of Electrolytes ◽  
Molal Volumes ◽  
The Difference ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Experimental Values ◽  
Suitable Characteristic ◽  
Association Of Ions ◽  
Very High

Based on the earlier paper introducing a concept of the apparent parachor of a solute in the solution, we have eliminated in the present work algebraically the effect which is introduced into this quantity by the additivity of the apparent molal volumes. The difference remaining from the apparent parachor after substracting the contribution corresponding to the apparent volume ( for which the present authors suggest the name metachor) was evaluated from the experimental values of the surface tension of aqueous solutions for a set of 1,1-, 1,2- and 2,1-valent electrolytes. This difference showed to be independent of concentration up to the very high values of the order of units mol dm-3 but it was directly proportional to the number of the free charges (with a proportionality factor 5 ± 1 cm3 mol-1 identical for all studied electrolytes). The metachor can be, for this reason, a suitable characteristic for detection of the association of ions and formation of complexes in the solutions of electrolytes, up to high concentrations where other methods are failing.

Quality-of-Life Measurement in Advanced Cancer: Assessing the Individual

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 3603-3611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dympna Waldron ◽  
Ciaran A. O'Boyle ◽  
Michael Kearney ◽  
Michael Moriarty ◽  
Desmond Carney
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Internal Validity ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Incurable Cancer ◽  
Life Measurement ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Very High

PURPOSE: Despite the increasing importance of assessing quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced cancer, relatively little is known about individual patient's perceptions of the issues contributing to their QoL. The Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL) and the shorter SEIQoL–Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) assess individualized QoL using a semistructured interview technique. Here we report findings from the first administration of the SEIQoL and SEIQoL-DW to patients with advanced incurable cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: QoL was assessed on a single occasion using the SEIQoL and SEIQoL-DW in 80 patients with advanced incurable cancer. RESULTS: All patients were able to complete the SEIQoL-DW, and 78% completed the SEIQoL. Of a possible score of 100, the median QoL global score was as follows: SEIQoL, 61 (range, 24 to 94); SEIQoL-DW, 60.5 (range, 6 to 95). Psychometric data for SEIQoL indicated very high levels of internal consistency (median r = .90) and internal validity (median R2 = 0.88). Patients' judgments of their QoL were unique to the individual. Family concerns were almost universally rated as more important than health, the difference being significant when measured using the SEIQoL-DW (P = .002). CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced incurable cancer were very good judges of their QoL, and many patients rated their QoL as good. Judgments were highly individual, with very high levels of consistency and validity. The primacy given to health in many QoL questionnaires may be questioned in this population. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to clinical assessment and advance directives.

Event detection of different English data sources based on transfer learning

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yanan Huang ◽  
Yuji Miao ◽  
Zhenjing Da
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Learning ◽  
Event Detection ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Learning Algorithm ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Single Data Source ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Single Data

The methods of multi-modal English event detection under a single data source and isomorphic event detection of different English data sources based on transfer learning still need to be improved. In order to improve the efficiency of English and data source time detection, based on the transfer learning algorithm, this paper proposes multi-modal event detection under a single data source and isomorphic event detection based on transfer learning for different data sources. Moreover, by stacking multiple classification models, this paper makes each feature merge with each other, and conducts confrontation training through the difference between the two classifiers to further make the distribution of different source data similar. In addition, in order to verify the algorithm proposed in this paper, a multi-source English event detection data set is collected through a data collection method. Finally, this paper uses the data set to verify the method proposed in this paper and compare it with the current most mainstream transfer learning methods. Through experimental analysis, convergence analysis, visual analysis and parameter evaluation, the effectiveness of the algorithm proposed in this paper is demonstrated.

scholarly journals Phylogeographic Structure of White Oaks Throughout the European Continent

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 146 (4) ◽  
pp. 1475-1487 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Dumolin-Lapègue ◽  
B Demesure ◽  
S Fineschi ◽  
V Le Come ◽  
R J Petit
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Approach ◽  
Restriction Analysis ◽  
Phylogeographic Structure ◽  
White Oak ◽  
European Continent ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Mantel’S Test ◽  
Very High

Patterns of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) variation were studied in eight white oak species by sampling 345 populations throughout Europe. The detection of polymorphisms by restriction analysis of PCR-amplified cpDNA fragments allowed the identification of 23 haplotypes that were phylogenetically ordered. A systematic hybridization and introgression between the eight species studied is evident. The levels of subdivision for unordered (G  ST) and ordered (N  ST) alleles are very high and close (0.83 and 0.85). A new statistical approach to the quantitative study of phylogeography is presented, which relies on the coefficients of differentiation G  ST and N  ST and the Mantel's test. Based on pairwise comparisons between populations, the significance of the difference between both coefficients is evaluated at a global and a local scale. The mapped distribution of the haplotypes indicates the probable routes of postglacial recolonization followed by oak populations that had persisted in southern refugia, especially in the Iberian peninsula, Italy and the Balkans. Most cpDNA polymorphisms appear to be anterior to the befinnina of the last recolonization. A subset of the preexisting haplotypes have merely expanded north, while others were left behind in the south.

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