Correlations among linear type traits and somatic cell counts

Genetic and phenotypic correlations between linear type traits and SCC were estimated from lactation average SCC from Pennsylvania DHIA and Holstein linear type evaluations from Sire Power, Inc. and Holstein Association using REML. Correlations were estimated between linear type traits and SCC measured in first lactation and between linear type traits measured in first lactation and SCC measured in second or third lactation. Data sets ranged in size from 4294 daughters of 216 sires to 58,235 daughters of 301 sires. Phenotypic and genetic correlations between the linear traits that reflect body and locomotive characteristics and SCC were generally small and unimportant. Phenotypic correlations between udder traits and SCC were variable, but cows with higher udder depth scores (higher udders) had lower SCC. Genetic correlations between udder traits and SCC were also variable. Genetic correlations between SCC and udder depth, SCC and fore udder attachment, and SCC and teat placement were negative (favorable). Genetic correlations between teat length and SCC tended to be positive. Genetic correlations were largest in magnitude between udder depth and SCC and ranged from -.21 to -.64 (weighted mean = -.35). Selection for higher udders and closer teat placement will likely improve resistance to mastitis in dairy cattle.     

Copper vapor laser unstable resonator oscillator and oscillator-amplifier characteristics

We have studied the properties of copper vapor lasers configured as oscillators with unstable resonator optics and as power amplifiers. With the unstable resonator, a 26-fold reduction in the oscillator beam divergence has been achieved over the value observed with stable optics without any power degradation. Time-dependent beam divergence effects in the unstable resonator have also been measured and explained. Small-signal gain, saturation fluence, and available stored energy density parameters have also been measured in oscillator amplifier experiments for both the 510.6 and 578.2 nm transitions as a function of the copper number density. These results quantify the maximum power per unit length available from these devices and furthermore, demonstrate efficient extraction of power from copper vapor lasers operated as amplifiers.     

Training in rural mental health delivery: A response to prioritized needs.

Describes the development of a rural mental health specialty within a clinical psychology training program. The structure and content of the specialty was in response to the National Institute of Mental Health's prioritized needs of the nation's mental health system. The University of Nebraska—Lincoln's clinical training program and the needs of the rural environment were assessed to determine if an adequate relationship could be developed. Once this was determined, the program was founded. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does the history of food energy units suggest a solution to "Calorie confusion"?

The Calorie (kcal) of present U.S. food labels is similar to the original French definition of 1825. The original published source (now available on the internet) defined the Calorie as the quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water from 0 to 1°C. The Calorie originated in studies concerning fuel efficiency for the steam engine and had entered dictionaries by 1840. It was the only energy unit in English dictionaries available to W.O. Atwater in 1887 for his popular articles on food and tables of food composition. Therefore, the Calorie became the preferred unit of potential energy in nutrition science and dietetics, but was displaced when the joule, g-calorie and kcal were introduced. This article will explain the context in which Nicolas Clément-Desormes defined the original Calorie and the depth of his collaboration with Sadi Carnot. It will review the history of other energy units and show how the original Calorie was usurped during the period of international standardization. As a result, no form of the Calorie is recognized as an SI unit. It is untenable to continue to use the same word for different thermal units (g-calorie and kg-calorie) and to use different words for the same unit (Calorie and kcal). The only valid use of the Calorie is in common speech and public nutrition education. To avoid ongoing confusion, scientists should complete the transition to the joule and cease using kcal in any context.     

SimilarityExplorer: A Visual Inter‐Comparison Tool for Multifaceted Climate Data

Inter‐comparison and similarity analysis to gauge consensus among multiple simulation models is a critical visualization problem for understanding climate change patterns. Climate models, specifically, Terrestrial Biosphere Models (TBM) represent time and space variable ecosystem processes, like, simulations of photosynthesis and respiration, using algorithms and driving variables such as climate and land use. While it is widely accepted that interactive visualization can enable scientists to better explore model similarity from different perspectives and different granularity of space and time, currently there is a lack of such visualization tools. In this paper we present three main contributions. First, we propose a domain characterization for the TBM community by systematically defining the domain‐specific intents for analyzing model similarity and characterizing the different facets of the data. Second, we define a classification scheme for combining visualization tasks and multiple facets of climate model data in one integrated framework, which can be leveraged for translating the tasks into the visualization design. Finally, we present SimilarityExplorer, an exploratory visualization tool that facilitates similarity comparison tasks across both space and time through a set of coordinated multiple views. We present two case studies from three climate scientists, who used our tool for a month for gaining scientific insights into model similarity. Their experience and results validate the effectiveness of our tool.     

Determining cutting parameters in wire EDM based on workpiece surface temperature distribution

The material removal process in wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) may result in work-piece surface damage due to the material thermal properties and the cutting parameters such as varying on-time pulses, open circuit voltage, machine cutting speed, and dielectric fluid pressure. A finite element method (FEM) program was developed to model temperature distribution in the workpiece under the conditions of different cutting parameters. The thermal parameters of low carbon steel (AISI4340) were selected to conduct this simulation. The thickness of the temperature affected layers for different cutting parameters was computed based on a critical temperature value. Through minimizing the thickness of the temperature affected layers and satisfying a certain cutting speed, a set of the cutting process parameters were determined for workpiece manufacture. On the other hand, the experimental investigation of the effects of cutting parameters on the thickness of the AISI4340 workpiece surface layers in WEDM was used to validate the simulation results. This study is helpful for developing advanced control strategies to enhance the complex contouring capabilities and machining rate while avoiding harmful surface damage.     

Potential NDVI as a baseline for monitoring ecosystem functioning

Baseline data are needed to determine the overall magnitude and direction of change in ecosystem functioning. This letter presents an approach to estimate potential NDVI from environmental variables and training data of actual NDVI in nature reserves. Patterns of deviations of actual NDVI from the baseline generally correspond with land-use types in the western United States.     

Band gap opening in methane intercalated graphene

Recent experimental work has demonstrated production of quasi-free-standing graphene by methane intercalation. The intercalation weakens the coupling of adjacent graphene layers and yields Dirac fermion behaviour of monolayer graphene. We have investigated the electronic characteristics of a methane intercepted graphene bilayer under a perpendicularly applied electric field. Evolution of the band structure of intercalated graphene as a function of the bias is studied by means of density-functional theory including interlayer van der Waals interactions. The implications of controllable band gap opening in methane-intercalated graphene for future device applications are discussed.     

The impact of Hurricane Andrew on deviant behavior among a multi-racial/ethnic sample of adolescents in Dade County, Florida: a longitudinal analysis

Findings from a longitudinal study are presented on the relationships between the problems and stresses resulting from Hurricane Andrew and posthurricane minor deviant behavior. The sample (N = 4,978) included Hispanic, African-American, and White non-Hispanic middle school students enrolled in Dade County, Florida public schools. Two waves of data were collected prior to the hurricane; a third was obtained approximately 6 months following the storm. Results indicated that females were likely to report higher levels of hurricane-related stress symptoms than males. After controlling for prehurricane levels of minor deviance, family support, and race/ethnicity, hurricane stress symptom level remained a significant predictor of posthurricane minor deviant behavior. The findings lend support to stress theories of social deviance.