Skin thickness as a potential indirect trait for genetic improvement of lamb survival : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Lamb survival, as a trait of great economic importance with low heritability, might show more response to indirect selection for traits of higher heritability that are genetically correlated with lamb survival, as a trait of high economic importance. The main objective of this thesis was to explore if ultrasonographically measured skin thickness (ST) at about nine months of age could be considered as an alternative to direct selection for lamb survival from birth to weaning (SBW). For this purpose, in the first step, the reliability of ultrasonography as an accurate and noninvasive method for measurement of ST was validated using plicometry and histometry. In the second experiment, the heritability of ultrasonographically measured ST at an age of about 9 months was estimated to be 0.21 ± 0.03 and 0.20 ± 0.03, respectively from analyses with and without adjustment for live weight at scanning (LWS), implying that the trait would respond to genetic selection. Estimates of genetic correlation of ST with SBW from the analyses with LWS considered as a covariate for ST ranged from 0.16 to 0.35 depending on the minimum number of progeny per sire for each trait, while the corresponding estimates from the analyses with LWS excluded ranged from 0.08 to 0.27. When correction was made for LWS, ST showed genetic correlations of 0.21 ± 0.07, -0.13 ± 0.09, -0.32 ± 0.12, -0.23 ± 0.09, -0.10 ± 0.10, 0.02 ± 0.11, and 0.20 ± 0.11 with fat depth (FD), eye muscle depth (EMD), weights at weaning (WWT), 8 months (LW8), scanning (LWS), and 12 months (LW12), and fleece weight at 12 months (FW12), respectively. The corresponding estimates when no adjustment was made for LWS, were respectively 0.24 ± 0.08, -0.08 ± 0.10, -0.01 ± 0.12, 0.09 ± 0.09, 0.19 ± 0.09, 0.30 ± 0.10, and 0.20 ± 0.11. In the third experiment, the role of skin thickness in thermoregulation through its effect on surface heat loss and a few other indices of cold resistance was explored in two groups of new-born lambs with the thickest skin (thick-skinned category) and the thinnest skin (thin-skinned category) exposed to cold-stress. As a result of lower skin surface temperature (as an indicator of heat loss) in thick-skinned lambs compared to thin-skinned lambs, the first group had higher rectal temperature and were more likely to maintain body temperature during cold stress, even though they produced significantly less heat (W Kg-1). This means there is less need to consume body reserves as a source of energy and consequently better conservation of body reserves in the thick-skinned lambs. In the fourth experiment, skin thickness measured at six to eight months of age was revealed to be a moderately reliable indicator of skin thickness at birth. This is of high importance from both practical and economic points of views. Measuring skin thickness at six to eight months of age is much easier than at birth for sheep farmers/breeders. Furthermore, ultrasound measurement of skin thickness at these ages facilitates simultaneous recording of other traits of importance like fat depth and eye muscle depth, which are normally taken at these ages. In the final study, the effects of genetic variation in the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), prolactin (PRL), and prolactin receptor (PRLR) genes on the indices of cold resistance were tested in new-born lambs exposed to cold stress. Although significant effects on some of the indices were observed at/during some time-points/periods of the cold stress, they seem to be mostly due to biases resulting from low number of lambs rather than being real. Considering all the findings, it could be generally concluded that ultrasonographically measured skin thickness at about nine months of age could be considered as a supplement to direct selection for lamb survival in genetic improvement programs. Nevertheless, the large standard errors of the correlations of ST with SBW as well as the unfavorable correlation of ST with other traits should also be considered

NASA Tech Briefs, May 1992

Topics include: New Product Ideas; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Computer Programs; Mechanics; Machinery; Fabrication Technology; Mathematics and Information Sciences; Life Sciences

History of Construction Cultures Volume 2

Volume 2 of History of Construction Cultures contains papers presented at the 7ICCH – Seventh International Congress on Construction History, held at the Lisbon School of Architecture, Portugal, from 12 to 16 July, 2021. The conference has been organized by the Lisbon School of Architecture (FAUL), NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Portuguese Society for Construction History Studies and the University of the Azores. The contributions cover the wide interdisciplinary spectrum of Construction History and consist on the most recent advances in theory and practical case studies analysis, following themes such as: - epistemological issues; - building actors; - building materials; - building machines, tools and equipment; - construction processes; - building services and techniques ; -structural theory and analysis ; - political, social and economic aspects; - knowledge transfer and cultural translation of construction cultures. Furthermore, papers presented at thematic sessions aim at covering important problematics, historical periods and different regions of the globe, opening new directions for Construction History research. We are what we build and how we build; thus, the study of Construction History is now more than ever at the centre of current debates as to the shape of a sustainable future for humankind. Therefore, History of Construction Cultures is a critical and indispensable work to expand our understanding of the ways in which everyday building activities have been perceived and experienced in different cultures, from ancient times to our century and all over the world

History of Construction Cultures Volume 2

Volume 2 of History of Construction Cultures contains papers presented at the 7ICCH – Seventh International Congress on Construction History, held at the Lisbon School of Architecture, Portugal, from 12 to 16 July, 2021. The conference has been organized by the Lisbon School of Architecture (FAUL), NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Portuguese Society for Construction History Studies and the University of the Azores. The contributions cover the wide interdisciplinary spectrum of Construction History and consist on the most recent advances in theory and practical case studies analysis, following themes such as: - epistemological issues; - building actors; - building materials; - building machines, tools and equipment; - construction processes; - building services and techniques ; -structural theory and analysis ; - political, social and economic aspects; - knowledge transfer and cultural translation of construction cultures. Furthermore, papers presented at thematic sessions aim at covering important problematics, historical periods and different regions of the globe, opening new directions for Construction History research. We are what we build and how we build; thus, the study of Construction History is now more than ever at the centre of current debates as to the shape of a sustainable future for humankind. Therefore, History of Construction Cultures is a critical and indispensable work to expand our understanding of the ways in which everyday building activities have been perceived and experienced in different cultures, from ancient times to our century and all over the world

Teacher roles during amusement park visits – insights from observations, interviews and questionnaires

Amusement parks offer rich possibilities for physics learning, through observations and experiments that illustrate important physical principles and often involve the whole body. Amusement parks are also among the most popular school excursions, but very often the learning possibilities are underused. In this work we have studied different teacher roles and discuss how universities, parks or event managers can encourage and support teachers and schools in their efforts to make amusement park visits true learning experiences for their students

NASA patent abstracts bibliography: A continuing bibliography. Section 2: Indexes (supplement 46)

A subject index is provided for over 5600 patents and patent applications for the period May 1969 through December 1994. Additional indexes list personal authors, corporate authors, contract numbers, NASA case numbers, U.S. patent class numbers, U.S. patent numbers, and NASA accession numbers

The HBP1 tumor suppressor is a negative epigenetic regulator of MYCN driven neuroblastoma through interaction with the PRC2 complex

C