scholarly journals Comparison of Methods to Measure Methane for Use in Genetic Evaluation of Dairy Cattle

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip C. Garnsworthy ◽  
Gareth F. Difford ◽  
Matthew J. Bell ◽  
Ali R. Bayat ◽  
Pekka Huhtanen ◽  
...  

Partners in Expert Working Group WG2 of the COST Action METHAGENE have used several methods for measuring methane output by individual dairy cattle under various environmental conditions. Methods included respiration chambers, the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique, breath sampling during milking or feeding, the GreenFeed system, and the laser methane detector. The aim of the current study was to review and compare the suitability of methods for large-scale measurements of methane output by individual animals, which may be combined with other databases for genetic evaluations. Accuracy, precision and correlation between methods were assessed. Accuracy and precision are important, but data from different sources can be weighted or adjusted when combined if they are suitably correlated with the ‘true’ value. All methods showed high correlations with respiration chambers. Comparisons among alternative methods generally had lower correlations than comparisons with respiration chambers, despite higher numbers of animals and in most cases simultaneous repeated measures per cow per method. Lower correlations could be due to increased variability and imprecision of alternative methods, or maybe different aspects of methane emission are captured using different methods. Results confirm that there is sufficient correlation between methods for measurements from all methods to be combined for international genetic studies and provide a much-needed framework for comparing genetic correlations between methods should these become available.

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 28-29
Author(s):  
Mike Coffey

Abstract The objective of this text is to describe the changing face of phenotypes collection for use in national genetic and genomic evaluations of dairy cattle and to offer possible new scenarios that may exist. Dairy cattle have been chosen as an exemplar, but some of the principles could be applied to other livestock species. National evaluations in many established countries have evolved over many decades into sophisticated layers of management, ownership and funding streams, but all have created large gains for farmers, dairy cows and consumers. Usually, milk recording data has been gathered for management purposes and passed the national evaluation centers freely in return for genetic evaluations that added value to the recording service. Conformation and functional phenotypes were often recorded by breed societies and sometimes evaluated by them. These long standing and established processes are becoming disrupted by the advent of genomic evaluation whereby limited and high-quality phenotypes can be used to train a SNP key that can subsequently be used to make genomic predictions for the rest of the industry. Larry Schaefer suggested that breeding company costs would greatly reduce, but did not suggest that the cost and effort of gathering phenotypes would increase. In the age of the low-cost genotype, where will the increasingly sophisticated and high-cost phenotypes come from? This is causing disruption in the industry, challenging existing structures, creating opportunities for new entrants with new technology, making phenotypes very valuable, altering the balance of power between industry players and farmers and offering genomic evaluations for traits previously thought too difficult or expensive to records. The problems with such disruption is that it can result in “cherry picking” by new entrants, thereby reducing the sustainability of the remaining services valued by farmers. The future is not what it used to be.


Author(s):  
A. I. Belousov

The main objective of this paper is to prove a theorem according to which a method of successive elimination of unknowns in the solution of systems of linear equations in the semi-rings with iteration gives the really smallest solution of the system. The proof is based on the graph interpretation of the system and establishes a relationship between the method of sequential elimination of unknowns and the method for calculating a cost matrix of a labeled oriented graph using the method of sequential calculation of cost matrices following the paths of increasing ranks. Along with that, and in terms of preparing for the proof of the main theorem, we consider the following important properties of the closed semi-rings and semi-rings with iteration.We prove the properties of an infinite sum (a supremum of the sequence in natural ordering of an idempotent semi-ring). In particular, the proof of the continuity of the addition operation is much simpler than in the known issues, which is the basis for the well-known algorithm for solving a linear equation in a semi-ring with iteration.Next, we prove a theorem on the closeness of semi-rings with iteration with respect to solutions of the systems of linear equations. We also give a detailed proof of the theorem of the cost matrix of an oriented graph labeled above a semi-ring as an iteration of the matrix of arc labels.The concept of an automaton over a semi-ring is introduced, which, unlike the usual labeled oriented graph, has a distinguished "final" vertex with a zero out-degree.All of the foregoing provides a basis for the proof of the main theorem, in which the concept of an automaton over a semi-ring plays the main role.The article's results are scientifically and methodologically valuable. The proposed proof of the main theorem allows us to relate two alternative methods for calculating the cost matrix of a labeled oriented graph, and the proposed proofs of already known statements can be useful in presenting the elements of the theory of semi-rings that plays an important role in mathematical studies of students majoring in software technologies and theoretical computer science.


Author(s):  
Nur Maimun ◽  
Jihan Natassa ◽  
Wen Via Trisna ◽  
Yeye Supriatin

The accuracy in administering the diagnosis code was the important matter for medical recorder, quality of data was the most important thing for health information management of medical recorder. This study aims to know the coder competency for accuracy and precision of using ICD 10 at X Hospital in Pekanbaru. This study was a qualitative method with case study implementation from five informan. The result show that medical personnel (doctor) have never received a training about coding, doctors writing that hard and difficult to read, failure for making diagnoses code or procedures, doctor used an usual abbreviations that are not standard, theres still an officer who are not understand about the nomenclature and mastering anatomy phatology, facilities and infrastructure were supported for accuracy and precision of the existing code. The errors of coding always happen because there is a human error. The accuracy and precision in coding very influence against the cost of INA CBGs, medical and the committee did most of the work in the case of severity level III, while medical record had a role in monitoring or evaluation of coding implementation. If there are resumes that is not clearly case mix team check file needed medical record the result the diagnoses or coding for conformity. Keywords: coder competency, accuracy and precision of coding, ICD 10


2000 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Wild-Eck ◽  
Willi Zimmermann

Two large-scale surveys looking at attitudes towards forests, forestry and forest policy in the second half ofthe nineties have been carried out. This work was done on behalf of the Swiss Confederation by the Chair of Forest Policy and Forest Economics of the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. Not only did the two studies use very different methods, but the results also varied greatly as far as infrastructure and basic conditions were concerned. One of the main differences between the two studies was the fact that the first dealt only with mountainous areas, whereas the second was carried out on the whole Swiss population. The results of the studies reflect these differences:each produced its own specific findings. Where the same (or similar) questions were asked, the answers highlight not only how the attitudes of those questioned differ, but also views that they hold in common. Both surveys showed positive attitudes towards forests in general, as well as a deep-seated appreciation ofthe forest as a recreational area, and a positive approach to tending. Detailed results of the two surveys will be available in the near future.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 289-295
Author(s):  
Saleh Al-Muzaini

The Shuaiba Industrial Area (SIA) is located about 50 km south of Kuwait City. It accommodates most of the large-scale industries in Kuwait. The total area of the SIA (both eastern and western sectors) is about 22.98 million m2. Fifteen plants are located in the eastern sector and 23 in the western sector, including two petrochemical companies, three refineries, two power plants, a melamine company, an industrial gas corporation, a paper products company and, two steam electricity generating stations, in addition to several other industries. Therefore, only 30 percent of the land in the SIA's eastern sector and 70 percent of land in the SIA's western sector is available for future expansion. Presently, industries in the SIA generate approximately 204,000 t of solid waste. With future development in the industries in the SIA, the estimated quantities will reach 240,000 t. The Shuaiba Area Authority (SAA), a governmental regulatory body responsible for planning and development in the SIA, has recognized the problem of solid waste and has developed an industrial waste minimization program. This program would help to reduce the quantity of waste generated within the SIA and thereby reduce the cost of waste management. This paper presents a description of the waste minimization program and how it is to be implemented by major petroleum companies. The protocols employed in the waste minimization program are detailed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. e16-e16
Author(s):  
Ahmed Moussa ◽  
Audrey Larone-Juneau ◽  
Laura Fazilleau ◽  
Marie-Eve Rochon ◽  
Justine Giroux ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Transitions to new healthcare environments can negatively impact patient care and threaten patient safety. Immersive in situ simulation conducted in newly constructed single family room (SFR) Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) prior to occupancy, has been shown to be effective in testing new environments and identifying latent safety threats (LSTs). These simulations overlay human factors to identify LSTs as new and existing process and systems are implemented in the new environment OBJECTIVES We aimed to demonstrate that large-scale, immersive, in situ simulation prior to the transition to a new SFR NICU improves: 1) systems readiness, 2) staff preparedness, 3) patient safety, 4) staff comfort with simulation, and 5) staff attitude towards culture change. DESIGN/METHODS Multidisciplinary teams of neonatal healthcare providers (HCP) and parents of former NICU patients participated in large-scale, immersive in-situ simulations conducted in the new NICU prior to occupancy. One eighth of the NICU was outfitted with equipment and mannequins and staff performed in their native roles. Multidisciplinary debriefings, which included parents, were conducted immediately after simulations to identify LSTs. Through an iterative process issues were resolved and additional simulations conducted. Debriefings were documented and debriefing transcripts transcribed and LSTs classified using qualitative methods. To assess systems readiness and staff preparedness for transition into the new NICU, HCPs completed surveys prior to transition, post-simulation and post-transition. Systems readiness and staff preparedness were rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Average survey responses were analyzed using dependent samples t-tests and repeated measures ANOVAs. RESULTS One hundred eight HCPs and 24 parents participated in six half-day simulation sessions. A total of 75 LSTs were identified and were categorized into eight themes: 1) work organization, 2) orientation and parent wayfinding, 3) communication devices/systems, 4) nursing and resuscitation equipment, 5) ergonomics, 6) parent comfort; 7) work processes, and 8) interdepartmental interactions. Prior to the transition to the new NICU, 76% of the LSTs were resolved. Survey response rate was 31%, 16%, 7% for baseline, post-simulation and post-move surveys, respectively. System readiness at baseline was 1.3/5,. Post-simulation systems readiness was 3.5/5 (p = 0.0001) and post-transition was 3.9/5 (p = 0.02). Staff preparedness at baseline was 1.4/5. Staff preparedness post-simulation was 3.3/5 (p = 0.006) and post-transition was 3.9/5 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION Large-scale, immersive in situ simulation is a feasible and effective methodology for identifying LSTs, improving systems readiness and staff preparedness in a new SFR NICU prior to occupancy. However, to optimize patient safety, identified LSTs must be mitigated prior to occupancy. Coordinating large-scale simulations is worth the time and cost investment necessary to optimize systems and ensure patient safety prior to transition to a new SFR NICU.


Author(s):  
Zheng Zhou ◽  
Erik Saule ◽  
Hasan Metin Aktulga ◽  
Chao Yang ◽  
Esmond G. Ng ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anik Dutta ◽  
Fanny E. Hartmann ◽  
Carolina Sardinha Francisco ◽  
Bruce A. McDonald ◽  
Daniel Croll

AbstractThe adaptive potential of pathogens in novel or heterogeneous environments underpins the risk of disease epidemics. Antagonistic pleiotropy or differential resource allocation among life-history traits can constrain pathogen adaptation. However, we lack understanding of how the genetic architecture of individual traits can generate trade-offs. Here, we report a large-scale study based on 145 global strains of the fungal wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici from four continents. We measured 50 life-history traits, including virulence and reproduction on 12 different wheat hosts and growth responses to several abiotic stressors. To elucidate the genetic basis of adaptation, we used genome-wide association mapping coupled with genetic correlation analyses. We show that most traits are governed by polygenic architectures and are highly heritable suggesting that adaptation proceeds mainly through allele frequency shifts at many loci. We identified negative genetic correlations among traits related to host colonization and survival in stressful environments. Such genetic constraints indicate that pleiotropic effects could limit the pathogen’s ability to cause host damage. In contrast, adaptation to abiotic stress factors was likely facilitated by synergistic pleiotropy. Our study illustrates how comprehensive mapping of life-history trait architectures across diverse environments allows to predict evolutionary trajectories of pathogens confronted with environmental perturbations.


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