1,685 research outputs found
Methodological illustration of genotype x environment interaction (GxE) phenomenon and its implications: A comparative productivity performance study on Red Maasai and Dorper sheep breeds under contrasting environments in Kenya
Worm control for small ruminants in tropical Asia
ACIAR funded a collaborative project between research organisations in Southeast Asia for ILRI and regional partners to explore new ways to control helminth parasites in the tropics. The project aimed to increase small ruminant production in Southeast Asia by controlling internal parasites, which are one of the major constraints to sheep and goat production in the tropics. Control of internal parasites also provides an avenue for general improvement in husbandry methods. The three objectives of the project are: to prevent the spread of resistance to anthelmintics (dewormers) used for control of nematode parasites of sheep and goats in Asia; to assess genetic variation in resistance to gastrointestinal nematode parasites in different breeds of sheep and goats; and to disseminate information about control of internal parasites in the tropics. This publication and the accompanying CD draw together information from a number of sources to describe the state of research and development on worm control in sheep and goats in Asia and the Pacific. Topics of discussion include worm control; economic impacts of worm control; integrated approaches to sustainable parasite control; anthelmintic resistance; appropriate breeds and breeding schemes; options to overcome worm infection; impact of parasitism on the development of small ruminant populations; worm control methods; improving small ruminant productivity; and prevalence of internal parasites
Intellectual functioning in clinically confirmed fetal valproate syndrome
Background: An increased risk of impaired intelligence (IQ) has been documented in valproate-exposed children, but investigations have not previously focused on those with a clinical diagnosis of Fetal Valproate Syndrome (FVS). Methods: This cross sectional observational study recruited individuals with a diagnosis of FVS and completed standardized assessments of intellectual abilities making comparisons to a normative comparison group. Both mean difference (MD) and prevalence of scores below the lower average range were analyzed. Results: The mean full-scale IQ in 31 individuals with FVS (mean age 14.97; range 6–27 years) was 19 points lower (19.55, 95% CI −24.94 to 14.15), and IQ scores <70 were present in 26%. The mean differences for verbal comprehension (21.07, 95% CI −25.84 to −16.29), working memory (19.77, 95% CI −25.00 to −14.55) and processing speed (16.87, 95% CI −22.24 to −11.50) performances were poorer than expected with the mean differences over one standard deviation from the comparison group. Sixty one percent of cases demonstrated disproportionately lower verbal comprehension ability. There were no significant group differences for IQ in high vs. moderate dose valproate or mono vs. polytherapy. There were no differences in IQ between those with and those without a major congenital malformation. The requirement for educational intervention was high at 74%. Conclusion: Intellectual difficulties are a central feature of FVS and are more severe in their presentation in individuals with a diagnosis of valproate embryopathy. Individuals with FVS who present with the characteristic facial presentation should be considered at high risk of cognitive difficulties regardless of the dose of valproate exposure or the presence of a major congenital malformation
Recommended from our members
Solar wind-magnetosphere energy input functions
A new formula for the solar wind-magnetosphere energy input parameter, P/sub i/, is sought by applying the constraints imposed by dimensional analysis. Applying these constraints yields a general equation for P/sub i/ which is equal to rho V/sup 3/l/sub CF//sup 2/F(M/sub A/,theta) where, rho V/sup 3/ is the solar wind kinetic energy density and l/sub CF//sup 2/ is the scale size of the magnetosphere's effective energy ''collection'' region. The function F which depends on M/sub A/, the Alfven Mach number, and on theta, the interplanetary magnetic field clock angle is included in the general equation for P/sub i/ in order to model the magnetohydrodynamic processes which are responsible for solar wind-magnetosphere energy transfer. By assuming the form of the function F, it is possible to further constrain the formula for P/sub i/. This is accomplished by using solar wind data, geomagnetic activity indices, and simple statistical methods. It is found that P/sub i/ is proportional to (rho V/sup 2/)/sup 1/6/VBG(theta) where, rho V/sup 2/ is the solar wind dynamic pressure and VBG(theta) is a rectified version of the solar wind motional electric field. Furthermore, it is found that G(theta), the gating function which modulates the energy input to the magnetosphere, is well represented by a ''leaky'' rectifier function such as sin/sup 4/(theta/2). This function allows for enhanced energy input when the interplanetary magnetic field is oriented southward. This function also allows for some energy input when the interplanetary magnetic field is oriented northward. 9 refs., 4 figs
Bifurcations in the Space of Exponential Maps
This article investigates the parameter space of the exponential family
. We prove that the boundary (in \C) of every
hyperbolic component is a Jordan arc, as conjectured by Eremenko and Lyubich as
well as Baker and Rippon. In fact, we prove the stronger statement that the
exponential bifurcation locus is connected in \C, which is an analog of
Douady and Hubbard's celebrated theorem that the Mandelbrot set is connected.
We show furthermore that is not accessible through any nonhyperbolic
("queer") stable component.
The main part of the argument consists of demonstrating a general "Squeezing
Lemma", which controls the structure of parameter space near infinity. We also
prove a second conjecture of Eremenko and Lyubich concerning bifurcation trees
of hyperbolic components.Comment: 29 pages, 3 figures. The main change in the new version is the
introduction of Theorem 1.1 on the connectivity of the bifurcation locus,
which follows from the results of the original version but was not explicitly
stated. Also, some small revisions have been made and references update
Mating success of resident versus non-resident males in a territorial butterfly
Male–male competition over territorial ownership suggests that winning is associated with considerable benefits. In the speckled wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria, males fight over sunspot territories on the forest floor; winners gain sole residency of a sunspot, whereas losers patrol the forest in search of females. It is currently not known whether residents experience greater mating success than non-residents, or whether mating success is contingent on environmental conditions. Here we performed an experiment in which virgin females of P. aegeria were allowed to choose between a resident and a non-resident male in a large enclosure containing one territorial sunspot. Resident males achieved approximately twice as many matings as non-residents, primarily because matings were most often preceded by a female being discovered when flying through a sunspot. There was no evidence that territorial residents were more attractive per se, with females seen to reject them as often as non-residents. Furthermore, in the cases where females were discovered outside of the sunspot, they were just as likely to mate with non-residents as residents. We hypothesize that the proximate advantage of territory ownership is that light conditions in a large sunspot greatly increase the male's ability to detect and intercept passing receptive females
Thermodynamics for two flavor QCD
We conclude our analysis of the N_t=6 equation of state for two flavor QCD,
first described at last year's conference. We have obtained new runs at
am_q=0.025 and improved runs at am_q=0.0125. The results are extrapolated to
m_q=0, and we extract the speed of sound as well. We also present evidence for
a restoration of the SU(2) X SU(2) chiral symmetry just above the crossover,
but not of the axial U(1) chiral symmetry.Comment: Poster presented at LATTICE96(finite temperature). 4 pages, LaTeX
plus 5 encapsulated Postscript figure
Socio-economic factors influencing small ruminant breeding in Kenya
In order to design an effective small ruminant (i.e., goats and sheep) breeding program in Kenya and other areas with similar production circumstances, it is important to understand the socio-economic factors applying to the relevant production system. Information on these was obtained from a questionnaire carried out on both smallholders and pastoral/ extensive farmers in seven selected districts. From the 458 responding households, 18% kept only goats, 34% kept only sheep, and 48% kept both species. Goats were generally ranked lower in popularity. The most represented breeds in the households were the indigenous East African goat and the Red Maasai sheep, and crossbred genotypes of goats and sheep. However, according to the farmers, the pure breeds were more popular than the crossbreeds. The households owned the majority of the used land for small ruminant production. In many cases, male household members were in control of the land. Animals were in most cases owned by the household head only or by both the household head and the spouse. The most important water source for animals was the river with the frequency of watering in the dry season in some cases being as low as once a day. Both males and females made most decisions in smallholder households. Women in the pastoral/ extensive systems participated less significantly in decision making than those in smallholder households, although they were responsible to many animal production related activities
- …