Bioeconomic modelling of male Holstein-Friesian dairy calf-to-beef production systems on Irish farms

peer-reviewedWith the abolition of milk quota in 2015 and increase in the use of Holstein-Friesian sires in recent years there is predicted to be an increase in the number of male Holstein-Friesian animals available for beef production. In broad terms, farmers have two options for finishing these animals; as bulls or steers. In either case, Irish beef cattle systems are based on maximising lifetime live-weight gain from grass-based diets. Managing the relationship between the supply and demand for grazed grass is complicated in these pasture-based systems due to the seasonal variability in grass growth. The Grange Dairy Beef Systems Model (GDBSM) was used to simulate the relationship between grazed grass supply and demand and then determine the profitability of Holstein-Friesian male animals finished as bulls at 16 (B16), 19 (B19) and 22 (B22) months of age and steers at 24 (S24) months of age. Combinations of these cattle finishing options were also evaluated. The most profitable system was S24. All systems were very sensitive to variations in beef and concentrate prices and less sensitive to calf price changes with fertiliser price changes having very little effect. Bull systems were more sensitive than the steer system to variation in beef, calf and concentrate prices. There was no advantage of combination systems in terms of utilisation of grass grown or net margin

Alien Registration- Ashfield, Donald A. (Mars Hill, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/34106/thumbnail.jp

The computer simulation and prediction of rock fall

This thesis deals with the study of rock falls using a mathematical model, codified for computer use, entitled GeoFall. GeoFall, which was developed by the author, allows predictions to be made of rock fall trajectories, run out distances and kinetic energies for a rock of any arbitrary shape. Its main purpose is to assist in the design of remedial works. The mathematical model is based on rigid body mechanics, and analyses a fall in 2D space using a new theory of impact dynamics developed by Brach (1991). The main features and algorithms of the program are presented in this thesis. The performance of GeoFall was evaluated by comparing actual rock fall events described in several published papers with the output created by GeoFall. Also the output from GeoFall has been compared with the output from other rock fall simulation programs used to simulate the documented rockfalls. A new rock slope inventory system entitled the Rock Fall Risk Assessment System (RFRAS) has been developed by the author to determine the rock fall risk at specific rock fall sites. It consists of three phases of inspection, the slope survey, and the preliminary and detailed rating phases. The detailed rating phase uses 13 parameters that when assessed, evaluated and totalled, numerically differentiates slopes from the least to the most hazardous producing an overall rating in the range 21-1926. It not only allows the relative risk of rockfall between slopes to be assessed but it also categorises the rock fall risk and the potential number of future rockfalls. It has been tested on 18 slopes at ten locations in County Durham. The final part of the thesis details a new laboratory based procedure that can be used to determine the coefficients of restitution for any type of rock material. The normal coefficient of restitution has been determined for seven different types of rock, and the tangential coefficient of restitution has been determined for a local sandstone. Some tentative correlations between the normal coefficient of restitution and the rocks physical properties, such as its Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) have been presented

Learning to Teach Primary Mathematics: A Case Study

The National Numeracy Strategy (1999), a UK national initiative aimed at raising standards in mathematics, placed considerable emphasis on whole class interactive teaching, as a means to improve teaching and raise levels of attainment. In this research I consider how a group of primary PGCE student teachers, on a one year initial teacher education (ITE) course, developed their understanding and implementation of interactive teaching in mathematics, examining the interplay of personal and contextual influences on their practice as novice teachers. The two-year study (Sept 2004 - Dec. 2006) drew on qualitative data from observations, interviews and discussions with students, and later as qualified teachers. Data collected illuminated three issues of particular relevance to the research; students' interpretation of interactive teaching in mathematics; their implementation of this approach; and factors influencing their classroom practice. Four features emerged as key components of interactive teaching; pupils' active involvement; questioning; discussion; and creative problem-solving. The stage of development, internal factors such as limited mathematics knowledge, low levels of confidence and behaviour management issues, and external factors such as teachers' pre-determined plans, schools' expectations, and Standard Assessment Test targets, were all seen to mitigate against students' use of creative and challenging features of interactive teaching. The role of schools and their mentors emerged as a key factor in students' development from novice to competent teachers, in particular, their use of cognitively challenging aspects of interactive teaching in mathematics. My study suggests NSS demands for whole-class teaching with pace and urgency, and the Government's insistence on schools meeting ever-higher targets, has driven new teachers back to traditional, didactic teaching of rules and processes, heavily weighted towards SATs questions. This raises questions about the impact ITE might have on students as innovative, creative teachers, if, once qualified, they revert to seemingly safe practice, learned from experienced teachers

Parental Online Information Access and Childhood Vaccination Decisions in North America: Scoping Review

Background: Immunizing children throughout their early years prevents the spread of communicable disease and decreases the morbidity and mortality associated with many vaccine-preventable diseases. Searching online allows individuals rapid access to health information. Objective: The purpose of this review was to develop an understanding of the existing literature of parents’ online health information-seeking behaviors to inform their vaccination choices for their children and to identify gaps in the literature around parents’ use of online health information and their vaccination choices. Methods: A scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from Canada and the United States was performed. The following databases were utilized to perform the search: PubMed, CINAHL, Nursing & Allied Health Database, Scopus, and PsycINFO. The purpose of this review was to examine parents’ use of online information seeking related to vaccine information and to understand how parents utilize this information to inform decisions about vaccinating their children. Of the 34 papers included in the review, 4 relevant themes and subthemes were identified: information seeking, online information resources, online vaccine content, and trust in health care providers. Results: Examination of the literature revealed conflicting information regarding parents’ use of social media and online resources to inform decisions around vaccinating their children. There is evidence of significant misinformation regarding vaccine risks online. Parents’ digital health literacy levels are unknown and may affect their ability to appraise online vaccination information. Conclusions: Parents are seeking vaccine information from online sources. However, the influence of online vaccine information on parental vaccine practices remains uncertain

Greater fruit selection following an appearance-based compared with a health-based health promotion poster

Background: This study investigated the impact of an appearance-based compared to a traditional health-based public health message for healthy eating. Methods: 166 British University students (41 male; aged 20.6±1.9 years) were randomized to view either an appearance-based (n=82) or a health-based (n=84) fruit promotion poster. Intentions to consume fruit and immediate fruit selection (laboratory observation) were assessed immediately after poster-viewing and subsequent self-report fruit consumption was assessed 3 days later. Results: Intentions to consume fruit were not predicted by poster type (β=0.03, p=0.74), but were associated with fruit-based liking, past consumption, attitudes, and social norms (smallest β=0.16, p=0.04). Immediate fruit selection was greater following the appearance-based compared to the health-based poster (β=-0.24, p<0.01), and this effect remained when controlling for participant characteristics (β=-0.21, p<0.01). Subsequent fruit consumption was greater following the appearance-based compared to the health-based poster (β=-0.22, p=0.03), but this effect became non-significant on consideration of participant characteristics (β=-0.15, p=0.13), and was instead associated with fruit-based liking and past consumption (smallest β=0.24, p=0.03). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the clear value of an appearance-based compared to a health-based health promotion poster for increasing fruit selection. A distinction between outcome measures, and the value of a behavioural measure is also demonstrated

“I read comics from a feministic point of view”: conceptualizing the transmedia ethos of the Captain Marvel fan community

The contemporary media industries may be thinking transmedially so to engage their audiences across multiple platforms, but it is not enough to assume that the creation of a coherent brand, narrative or storyworld is enough to explain the specificities and the reasons for why audiences choose (or choose not) to engage in transmedia activities. This article argues for the need to analyse the behaviours and motivations of a media-crossing audience according to a more fluid, ephemeral and value-laden transmedia ethos. Specifically, this article uses Captain Marvel – alongside a wide-scale online survey made up of over 200 of the character’s fans – as a case study for examining the politics of transmediality, demonstrating how the migration of the Captain Marvel fan base across multiple platforms and iterations of the character is based not on the lure of interconnected storytelling or world-building, but is rather built up of a much more layered transmedia ethos based on feminism, alternativism and a digi-gratis economy

Exposure of female juvenile rainbow trout to alkylphenolic compounds results in modifications to growth and ovosomatic index

The alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) are a major group of non-ionic surfactants. Biodegradation of these compounds is incomplete during sewage treatment, thus they are ubiquitous aquatic pollutants. All the main degradation products of APEOs have recently been demonstrated to have estrogenic properties in vitro, but their effects in vivo remain to be established. In this study, female juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) were exposed to octylphenol (OP), nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO) and nonylphenol mono-carboxylic acid (NP1EC) at environmentally relevant concentrations (Experiment 1: 1, 10 and 50 ug/L; Experiment 2: 1, 10 and 30 ug/L). Exposure to APEO’s commenced at hatch (day 0) and was terminated on day 22 (Expt. 1) or day 35 (Expt. 2). Body weight and fork length of representative samples of fish from each treatment group were recorded at intervals up to 108 days (Expt. 1) or 466 days (Expt. 2). In Experiment 1, significant differences in size of the exposed fish, related to treatment, were still apparent on day 108, 86 days after withdrawal of the treatments. These observations were confirmed during Experiment 2, in which significant changes in body weight and fork length as a consequence of exposure to the compounds were observed approximately 15 days after exposure was terminated. These differences were sustained for at least 466 days in the case of NP and NP1EC. In addition, the ovosomatic index (OSI) of fish exposed to NP and NP1EC was significantly affected by the treatment. Survival of fish in the natural environment is strongly influenced by body size, and an appropriate OSI is a crucial factor in successful reproduction. Therefore, exposure of natural populations of fish to these chemicals at concentrations currently measurable in the aquatic environment may have an impact on the performance of those populations

The Effects of Climate Change in Guam

The purpose of this project is to dive into the harm that climate change has on Guam and its population. The objectives of our project are centered on highlighting the creative resistance of the CHamoru Indigenous community on Guam to established structures of colonialism and militarization during increasing climate crises. This project explores questions such as: How is Guam being impacted by climate change? Is the impact severe and/or immediate? How is the Indigenous community in Guam affected? How does US policy help or harm the island and its Indigenous population? What is being done to protect the island and its Indigenous population? Are there immediate issues of displacement? To answer these questions we utilized existing literature, first hand accounts, and conducted an interview with Dr. Tiara R. Na\u27puti, an Indigenous CHamoru activist and academic from Guam. In addition to this paper, we created a Storymap to serve as a resource for others researching Guam, the relationship between climate change and the island\u27s history of colonialism and Militarism, and the response of Indigenous communities to this issue