Removing data and using metafounders alleviates biases for all traits in Lacaune dairy sheep predictions

Bias in dairy genetic evaluations, when it exists, has to be understood and properly addressed. The origin of biases is not always clear. We analyzed 40 yr of records from the Lacaune dairy sheep breeding program to evaluate the extent of bias, assess possible corrections, and emit hypotheses on its origin. The data set included 7 traits (milk yield, fat and protein contents, somatic cell score, teat angle, udder cleft, and udder depth) with records from 600,000 to 5 million depending on the trait, ～1,900,000 animals, and ～5,900 genotyped elite artificial insemination rams. For the ～8% animals with missing sire, we fit 25 unknown parent groups. We used the linear regression method to compare “partial” and “whole” predictions of young rams before and after progeny testing, with 7 cut-off points, and we obtained estimates of their bias, (over)dispersion, and accuracy in early proofs. We tried (1) several scenarios as follows: multiple or single trait, the “official” (routine) evaluation, which is a mixture of both single and multiple trait, and “deletion” of data before 1990; and (2) several models as follows: BLUP and single-step genomic (SSG)BLUP with fixed unknown parent groups or metafounders, where, for metafounders, their relationship matrix gamma was estimated using either a model for inbreeding trend, or base allele frequencies estimated by peeling. The estimate of gamma obtained by modeling the inbreeding trend resulted in an estimated increase of inbreeding, based on markers, faster than the pedigree-based one. The estimated genetic trends were similar for most models and scenarios across all traits, but were shrunken when gamma was estimated by peeling. This was due to shrinking of the estimates of metafounders in the latter case. Across scenarios, all traits showed bias, generally as an overestimate of genetic trend for milk yield and an underestimate for the other traits. As for the slope, it showed overdispersion of estimated breeding values for all traits. Using multiple-trait models slightly reduced the overestimate of genetic trend and the overdispersion, as did including genomic information (i.e., SSGBLUP) when the gamma matrix was estimated by the model for inbreeding trend. However, only deletion of historical data before 1990 resulted in elimination of both kind of biases. The SSGBLUP resulted in more accurate early proofs than BLUP for all traits. We considered that a snowball effect of small errors in each genetic evaluation, combined with selection, may have resulted in biased evaluations. Improving statistical methods reduced some bias but not all, and a simple solution for this data set was to remove historical records.     

Electrodeposited CuMnS and CoMnS electrodes for high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor devices

The transition metal sulfides have gained extensive interest in energy storage devices owing to their unique features. However, the research-based on cobalt, copper and manganese sulfide composites is limited while they are considered as promising contenders for supercapacitor electrodes. The simplest and facile one-step electrodeposition technique was adopted for the direct growth of CuMnS and CoMnS on a Ni-substrate. The electrochemical properties of CuMnS and CoMnS electrodes were investigated and maximum specific capacitances of 1691 and 2290 F/g, respectively, were obtained at 10 A/g current density. Further, these electrodes are investigated with activated carbon (AC) electrode to fabricate asymmetric supercapacitor devices where CoMnS//AC exhibited superior energy density values than CuMnS//AC device. However, both the devices show a relatively uniform capacitance retention rate (~94%) after 2500 charging-discharging cycles. Furthermore, the role of capacitive- and diffusive-controlled contributions in the charge storage phenomenon of supercapacitor devices are explicitly scrutinized by employing Dunn's model. Co-electrodeposition of transition metal sulfides has great potential as electrode material for highly effective supercapacitor devices.     

Impact of applied cell voltage on the performance of a microbial electrolysis cell fully catalysed by microorganisms

The effect of the operating voltage on the performance of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) equipped with both a bioanode and a biocathode for hydrogen production is reported. Chronoamperometry tests ranged between 0.3 and 2.0 V were carried out after both bioelectrodes were developed. A maximum current density up to 1.6 A m⁻² was recorded at 1.0 V with hydrogen production rate of nearly 6.0 ± 1.5 L m⁻² cathode day⁻¹. Trace amounts of methane, acetone and formate were detected in cathode's headspace and catholyte which followed the same trend as hydrogen production rate. Meanwhile substrate consumption in anolyte also followed the trend of hydrogen production and current density changes. The bioanode could utilise up to 95% of acetate in the tested voltage ranges, however, at a cell voltage of 2.0 V the bioanode's activity stopped due to oxygen evolution from water hydrolysis. Cyclic voltammograms revealed that the bioanode activity was vital to maintain the functionality of the whole system. The biocathode relied on the bioanode to maintain its potential during the hydrogen evolution. The overall energy efficiency recovered from both bioanode and external power in terms of hydrogen production at the cathode was determined as 29.4 ± 9.0%, within which substrate oxidation contributed up to nearly 1/3 of the total energy marking the importance of bioanode recovering energy from wastewater to reduce the external power supply.     

Role of Nd-Ni on structural,spectral and dielectric properties of strontium-barium based nano-sized X-type ferrites

The influence of neodymium and nickel substitution on structural and dielectric parameters was investigated in strontium-barium X-type hexagonal ferrites having composition SrBaCu_2?xNi_xNd_yFe_28?yO₄₆ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1 and y = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1). Sol-gel method was employed for synthesizing these hexagonal ferrites. The XRD plots of all studied materials which were annealed at 1250 °C show single phase characteristics. Lattice parameter ‘c’ increased as a consequence of larger radius of rare earth ion (Nd³⁺) as compared to (Fe³⁺), while lattice parameter ‘a’ showed very small variation. The cell volume was obtained in the range 2508.32–2523.75 (ų). The inclusion of Nd-Ni also affected X-ray density, bulk density and porosity. The FTIR spectroscopy indicated the particular absorption peaks of hexagonal ferrites and it was performed in the range of 500–700 cm^?1. On account of Nd-Ni doping, the dielectric constant, dielectric loss and AC-conductivity showed decreasing trend. The occupancy of Nd³⁺ ions at octahedral site impedes the valence alternation of Fe³⁺; therefore there was decrease in dielectric permittivity. Ac conductivity has been decreased from 9.14 to 6.49 (Ω cm)^?1 at frequency of 2.7 GHz. The Cole-Cole plots of synthesized materials noticeably revealed grain boundary contribution. The appearance of single semi-circle in impedance Cole-Cole graphs confirms the exceptional role of grain boundaries in the conduction process. The considerably lower dielectric parameters of investigated nano X-type ferrites propose their feasibility for high-frequency applications (phase shifters, dielectric resonators, stealth technology etc).     

Die Baugesellschaft Gebrüder Rank und ihre spanischen Ziegelgewölbe in München

The Rank construction company and the introduction of brick vaults in Munich after 1945 The construction of vaults without scaffolding with thin bricks has a centuries‐old tradition, particularly in Spain and Italy. Since the beginning of the 19^th century, it has been successfully spread mainly on the American double continent. The Rank Brothers construction company in Munich is known to date as one of those construction companies that began building with concrete in its home city very early on. New investigations, which were made possible above all by the provision of archive material by Paul Basiner, now point to an additional focus of this company's work. The architects and engineers of the company had been also able to familiarise themselves with this traditional Spanish brick‐vaulted construction method via the branch office in Spain, which was established from 1911 on. This knowledge was particularly in demand in the years following World War II, when the destroyed vaults had to be rebuilt with simple means and low material consumption. Together with Carl Sattler, who had become acquainted with similar construction methods in Italy, brick vaults were initially used to complete the construction of the Landeszentralbank in Munich. In the following years, Rank was able to provide many buildings in and around Munich with brick vaults. It was not until the 1960s that this construction technique went out of fashion and was thus somewhat forgotten.     

基于特征贡献率的机械故障分类方法

为了使7075铝合金薄壁件表面喷丸加工应力得到松弛和均化，运用ANSYS建立平台式振动时效有限元模型，通过振动模态和谐响应分析，获得最佳激振频率和试样装夹位置。在此基础上，将薄壁框架件置于平台上进行振动时效处理，以验证仿真分析结果，评价其对试样表面应力作用效果。结果表明：在亚共振频率为112 Hz时，试样在平台零振幅和最大弯曲位置处分别对称布置，时效后表面均形成应力松弛，松弛率分别为29.5%和33.3%，不均匀波动分别为20.3%和20.7%，而沿振动方向松弛程度不均匀，说明激振力造成了材料表面组织屈服，且屈服程度与应力强度有关。提出再时效-位置交叠方法，使应力松弛不均匀度分别下降到9.9%和15.9%，应力均化得到改善，该研究工作为薄壁类零件表面应力均匀化提供了参考。     

Generic mathematical programming formulation and solution for computer-aided molecular design

This short communication presents a generic mathematical programming formulation for computer-aided molecular design (CAMD). A given CAMD problem, based on target properties, is formulated as a mixed integer linear/non-linear program (MILP/MINLP). The mathematical programming model presented here, which is formulated as an MILP/MINLP problem, considers first-order and second-order molecular groups for molecular structure representation and property estimation. It is shown that various CAMD problems can be formulated and solved through this model.     

企业开展矿山修复业务的几点思考

目前,中国矿山生态修复中存在诸多历史遗留问题。国家着手推动矿山治理和生态修复,已经取得了一些成效,但仍存在资金需求缺口大,修复后矿山土地使用确权、土地流转、开发利用等方面的问题。从国家政策支持、治理资金出资模式等方面对矿山修复进行了思考。     

广西玉林胜果寺古代冶铸遗址研究

玉林胜果寺古代冶铸遗址位于广西玉林市兴业县龙安镇杨前村胜果寺附近的丘陵,面积超过2 000m~2。采用扫描电镜及能谱分析(SEM-EDS)、金相和矿相等研究方法,对胜果寺古代冶铸遗址的5个冶金遗物炉渣样品进行成分和显微组织分析检测。结果表明,该遗址为生铁冶铸遗址,炼渣属锰硅铝系高锰炉渣。冶炼产品除供本地铸锅等生产生活用品外,大量运往韶州涔水场浸铜。     

基于高分一号遥感卫星的渤海湾悬浮泥沙时空分布反演

悬浮泥沙是评价II类水体水质的重要参数之一,近海岸水域悬浮泥沙对重金属、营养盐等具有一定的吸附作用,悬浮泥沙的分布特征在一定程度上反映着污染物的迁移和循环,因此研究悬浮泥沙对渤海湾建设和环境保护具有重要意义。为探究渤海湾水域悬浮泥沙浓度 和分布的变化特征,利用高分一号多光谱卫星影像,通过采用波段组合的方式对悬浮泥沙含量指数反演提取,反演得到2019年9个月的渤海湾悬浮泥沙指数,分析发现渤海湾悬浮泥沙含量在冬季受季风影响较高,春季和夏季的时候渤海湾高浓度悬浮泥沙向近岸收缩,秋季 悬浮泥沙分布格局有正在向冬季过渡的趋势,本文研究可为渤海湾的生态环境保护和工业开发提供重要的科学依据和参考价值。