145 research outputs found

    Comparison of Winter Cow Feeding Strategies on Offspring Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality

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    Objective The objective of this research was to investigate effects of maternal prepartum dietary energy source (forage vs. concentrate) during mid and late gestation on carcass composition, and meat quality of offspring.Study Description Angus-based cows from 2 sources [n = 129 from SDSU (Experiment 1) and n = 70 from North Dakota State University (Experiment 2)] were stratified by body weight and age and placed into two treatment groups at a drylot facility during mid- and late-gestation: Concentrate (dams fed a concentrate-based diet) or Forage (dams fed a forage-based diet). Calves were finished and carcass data was collected. Striploins were collected for meat quality evaluation

    Barred Galaxies in the Abell 901/2 Supercluster with STAGES

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    We present a study of bar and host disk evolution in a dense cluster environment, based on a sample of ~800 bright (MV <= -18) galaxies in the Abell 901/2 supercluster at z~0.165. We use HST ACS F606W imaging from the STAGES survey, and data from Spitzer, XMM-Newton, and COMBO-17. We identify and characterize bars through ellipse-fitting, and other morphological features through visual classification. (1) We explore three commonly used methods for selecting disk galaxies. We find 625, 485, and 353 disk galaxies, respectively, via visual classification, a single component S'ersic cut (n <= 2.5), and a blue-cloud cut. In cluster environments, the latter two methods miss 31% and 51%, respectively, of visually-identified disks. (2) For moderately inclined disks, the three methods of disk selection yield a similar global optical bar fraction (f_bar-opt) of 34% +10%/-3%, 31% +10%/-3%, and 30% +10%/-3%, respectively. (3) f_bar-opt rises in brighter galaxies and those which appear to have no significant bulge component. Within a given absolute magnitude bin, f_bar-opt is higher in visually-selected disk galaxies that have no bulge as opposed to those with bulges. For a given morphological class, f_bar-opt rises at higher luminosities. (4) For bright early-types, as well as faint late-type systems with no evident bulge, the optical bar fraction in the Abell 901/2 clusters is comparable within a factor of 1.1 to 1.4 to that of field galaxies at lower redshifts (5) Between the core and the virial radius of the cluster at intermediate environmental densities, the optical bar fraction does not appear to depend strongly on the local environment density and varies at most by a factor of ~1.3. We discuss the implications of our results for the evolution of bars and disks in dense environments.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ, abstract abridged, for high resolution figures see http://www.as.utexas.edu/~marinova/STAGES/STAGES_bars.pd

    Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): the wavelength dependence of galaxy structure versus redshift and luminosity

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    We study how the sizes and radial profiles of galaxies vary with wavelength, by fitting Se®rsic functions simultaneously to imaging in nine optical and near-infrared bands. To quantify the wavelength dependence of effective radius we use the ratio, R, of measurements in two rest- frame bands. The dependence of Se®rsic index on wavelength, N , is computed correspondingly. Vulcani et al. have demonstrated that different galaxy populations present sharply contrasting behaviour in terms of R and N . Here we study the luminosity dependence of this result. We find that at higher luminosities, early-type galaxies display a more substantial decrease in effective radius with wavelength, whereas late types present a more pronounced increase in Se®rsic index. The structural contrast between types thus increases with luminosity. By considering samples at different redshifts, we demonstrate that lower data quality reduces the apparent difference between the main galaxy populations. However, our conclusions remain robust to this effect. We show that accounting for different redshift and luminosity selections partly reconciles the size variation measured by Vulcani et al. with the weaker trends found by other recent studies. Dividing galaxies by visual morphology confirms the behaviour inferred using morphological proxies, although the sample size is greatly reduced. Finally, we demonstrate that varying dust opacity and disc inclination can account for features of the joint distribution of R and N for late-type galaxies. However, dust does not appear to explain the highest values of R and N . The bulge–disc nature of galaxies must also contribute to the wavelength dependence of their structure. Key words: galaxies: formation – galaxies: fundamental parameters – galaxies: general – galaxies: structure

    Barriers to obesity management: a pilot study of primary care clinicians

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    BACKGROUND: Obesity is an increasing epidemic in both the US and veteran populations, yet it remains largely understudied in the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) setting. The purpose of our study was to identify barriers to the effective management of obesity in VHA primary care settings. METHODS: Three focus groups of clinicians from a Veteran's Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and an affiliated Community Based Outpatient Center (CBOC) were conducted to identify potential barriers to obesity management. The focus groups and previously published studies then informed the creation of a 47-item survey that was then disseminated and completed by 55 primary care clinicians. RESULTS: The focus groups identified provider, system, and patient barriers to obesity care. Lack of obesity training during medical school and residency was associated with lower rates of discussing diet and exercise with obese patients (p < 0.05). Clinicians who watched their own diets vigorously were more likely to calculate BMI for obese patients than other clinicians (42% vs. 13%, p < 0.05). Many barriers identified in previous studies (e.g., attitudes toward obese patients, lack of insurance payments for obesity care) were not prevalent barriers in the current study. CONCLUSION: Many VHA clinicians do not routinely provide weight management services for obese patients. The most prevalent barriers to obesity care were poor education during medical school and residency and the lack of information provided by the VHA to both clinicians and patients about available weight management services

    Under- and Over-Nutrition Among Refugees in San Diego County, California

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    Resettled refugees often arrive in their host country with little knowledge of nutrition or available food choices. We explored nutrition-related issues of recent refugee arrivals to San Diego County—the second largest California resettlement site. In-depth interviews (n = 40) were conducted with refugees, health care practitioners, and refugee service organizations. Content analysis identified nutrition-related themes. Unhealthy weight gain after arrival was the most common concern and was attributed to social pressures among adolescents, food choices and a more sedentary lifestyle. Conversely, undernutrition remained a concern due to poor diets. Factors influencing nutritional problems included continuation of past habits, acculturation, unfamiliarity with available foods and socio-economic influences. The nutritional concerns encountered by resettled refugees in San Diego are not unique to this group but are aggravated by their past experiences, and abrupt changes to food choices and behavior. Addressing contextual factors of poor food choices may prevent some of the long term health consequences of poor nutrition

    A IMPORTÂNCIA DA ATIVIDADE FÍSICA NA VIDA DAS CRIANÇAS PRÁTICA VIVENCIAL 1ÂȘ FASE DO CURSO DE ENFERMAGEM UNOESC XANXÊRE

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    INTRODUÇÃO: A prĂĄtica vivencial realizada pela 1ÂȘ fase do curso de graduação em enfermagem, trata sobre os exercĂ­cios fĂ­sicos, os quais, sĂŁo essenciais na infĂąncia. A aprendizagem e a prĂĄtica de exercĂ­cios sĂŁo de extrema importĂąncia para a criança, uma vez que, vive uma fase de desenvolvimento da criança. Os exercĂ­cios fĂ­sicos realizados com as crianças podem ser feito atravĂ©s de brincadeiras e alongamentos que sĂŁo formas de promover uma vida saudĂĄvel Ă  elas. O foco do presente trabalho foi incentivar as atividades fĂ­sicas em crianças de 0 a 4 anos de idade por intermĂ©dio de brincadeiras e alongamentos. AlĂ©m de visar, prioritariamente, o desenvolvimento e o aprimoramento de mediadores, ou seja, de elementos bĂĄsicos que influem significativamente na vida intelectual da criança e que se encontram subjacentes ao aprendizado da leitura e da escrita. OBJETIVO: Orientar as crianças sobre como realizar atividades fĂ­sicas no ambiente escolar. METODOLOGIA: Para desenvolvimento das atividades, foi necessĂĄrio, primeiramente, a busca por material bibliogrĂĄfico auxiliar, afim de buscarmos nos aprofundar em conhecimento para poder repassĂĄ-lo Ă s crianças, perante a isso, foi elaborado um informativo ilustrativo para ser colocado nas agendas das crianças. Foi montado, tambĂ©m, um plano de ação para que  houvesse uma sequĂȘncia de atividades a serem realizadas com as crianças presentes no espaço escolar, pelos os acadĂȘmicos da 1ÂȘ fase do curso de Enfermagem, no componente curricular SaĂșde Coletiva I. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃO: Ao chegar no local combinado, primeiramente, foi direcionado o trabalho a ser realizado na turma do berçårio, que pelo fato de, apresentar crianças de 0 a 1 ano, houve a necessidade de mudança nos planos de desenvolvimento das atividades. Ao conhecermos as crianças, houve  uma interação mais lĂșdica com elas, atravĂ©s de luvas enchidas em forma de balĂŁo e com brinquedos que haviam disponĂ­veis, sendo que ao fim das atividades, foi auxiliado na organização da turma e sala. Posterior a isso, em um segundo momento, direcionamos o trabalho ao maternal, iniciando assim, com a apresentação programada e, em seguida, com a abordagem ao tema escolhido para realização da atividade. ApĂłs isso, foi iniciado a parte prĂĄtica, onde foi ensinado mĂ©todos de alongamento e em seguida  uma maior interação e com a turma, com realização de atividades e brincadeiras. Por fim, como forma de gratidĂŁo pela oportunidade nos dada, distribuĂ­mos pirulitos Ă s crianças e nos despedimos abrindo espaço para que novos grupos pudessem usar de seu tempo para as apresentaçÔes dos temas. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: Apesar do conteĂșdo e as atividades nĂŁo terem sido feitas de maneira como foi planejado, devido a baixa idade dos alunos do berçårio, conseguimos concluir a ação de maneira satisfatĂłria, uma vez que, o trabalho realizado fez com que nos sentĂ­ssemos bem junto com as crianças divertindo-as durante o perĂ­odo que estivemos em sua companhia.

    Asymmetric Bidirectional Transcription from the FSHD-Causing D4Z4 Array Modulates DUX4 Production

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    Facioscapulohumeral Disease (FSHD) is a dominantly inherited progressive myopathy associated with aberrant production of the transcription factor, Double Homeobox Protein 4 (DUX4). The expression of DUX4 depends on an open chromatin conformation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite array and a specific haplotype on chromosome 4. Even when these requirements are met, DUX4 transcripts and protein are only detectable in a subset of cells indicating that additional constraints govern DUX4 production. Since the direction of transcription, along with the production of non-coding antisense transcripts is an important regulatory feature of other macrosatellite repeats, we developed constructs that contain the non-coding region of a single D4Z4 unit flanked by genes that report transcriptional activity in the sense and antisense directions. We found that D4Z4 contains two promoters that initiate sense and antisense transcription within the array, and that antisense transcription predominates. Transcriptional start sites for the antisense transcripts, as well as D4Z4 regions that regulate the balance of sense and antisense transcripts were identified. We show that the choice of transcriptional direction is reversible but not mutually exclusive, since sense and antisense reporter activity was often present in the same cell and simultaneously upregulated during myotube formation. Similarly, levels of endogenous sense and antisense D4Z4 transcripts were upregulated in FSHD myotubes. These studies offer insight into the autonomous distribution of muscle weakness that is characteristic of FSHD

    The high energy neutrino cross-section in the Standard Model and its uncertainty

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    Updated predictions are presented for high energy neutrino and antineutrino charged and neutral current cross-sections within the conventional DGLAP formalism of NLO QCD using modern PDF fits. PDF uncertainties from model assumptions and parametrization bias are considered in addition to the experimental uncertainties. Particular attention is paid to assumptions and biases which could signal the need for extension of the conventional formalism to include effects such as ln(1/x) resummation or non-linear effects of high gluon density.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables (REVTeX4); clarifying comments and link to tabulated cross sections at http://www-pnp.physics.ox.ac.uk/~cooper/neutrino/ added; to appear in JHE

    Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): Variation in Galaxy Structure Across the Green Valley

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    Using a sample of 472 local Universe (z < 0.06) galaxies in the stellar mass range 10.25 < log M*/MG < 10.75, we explore the variation in galaxy structure as a function of morphology and galaxy colour. Our sample of galaxies is sub-divided into red, green and blue colour groups and into elliptical and non-elliptical (disk-type) morphologies. Using KiDS and VIKING derived postage stamp images, a group of eight volunteers visually classified bars, rings, morphological lenses, tidal streams, shells and signs of merger activity for all systems. We find a significant surplus of rings (2.3σ) and lenses (2.9σ) in disk-type galaxies as they transition across the green valley. Combined, this implies a joint ring/lens green valley surplus significance of 3.3σ relative to equivalent disk-types within either the blue cloud or the red sequence. We recover a bar fraction of ∌ 44% which remains flat with colour, however, we find that the presence of a bar acts to modulate the incidence of rings and (to a lesser extent) lenses, with rings in barred disk-type galaxies more common by ∌ 20 − 30 percentage points relative to their unbarred counterparts, regardless of colour. Additionally, green valley disk-type galaxies with a bar exhibit a significant 3.0σ surplus of lenses relative to their blue/red analogues. The existence of such structures rules out violent transformative events as the primary end-of-life evolutionary mechanism, with a more passive scenario the favoured candidate for the majority of galaxies rapidly transitioning across the green valley. Key words: galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD – galaxies: spiral – galaxies: evo- lution – galaxies: star formation – galaxies: statistics – galaxies: structur
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