Comparisons of \u3ci\u3eBos indicus\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eBos taurus\u3c/i\u3e Inheritance for Carcass Beef Characteristics and Meat Palatability

Crossbreeding is used widely to exploit heterosis and additive genetic variation among breeds to improve efficiency of beef production. The economic value of Bos indicus breeds of cattle, primarily Brahman, in crossbreeding programs in subtropical and tropical climates has been well established. In the temperate climatic conditions of U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, productivity of Bos indicus x Bos taurus F1 crossbred cows has been outstanding for reproduction an matemal performance relative to that of Bos taurus x Bos taurus F1 cross cows when mated to produce terminal-cross calves by Red Poll or Simmental sires. (Brahman and Sahiwal are Bos indicus [humped] breeds; Pinzgauer, Angus, Hereford, Red Poll and Simmental and other European breeds are Bos taurus [nonhumped] breeds)

Exciton and Hole-Transfer Dynamics in Polymer: Fullerene Blends

Ultrafast hole transfer dynamics from fullerene derivative to polymer in bulk heterojunction blends are studied with visible-pump – IR-probe spectroscopy. The hole transfer process is found to occur in 50/300 fs next to the interface, while a longer 15-ps time is attributed to exciton diffusion towards interface in PC71BM domains. High polaron generation efficiency in P3HT blends indicates excellent intercalation between the polymer and the fullerene even at highest PC71BM concentration thereby yielding a valuable information on the blend morphology

Probing the origin of fluorescence quenching of a graphene-porphyrin hybrid material

We report transient absorption spectroscopic studies on the hybrid material composed of porphyrin molecules covalently attached to graphene for investigating the mechanism underlying the reported fluorescence quenching of porphyrin in the hybrid. Excited state dynamics of pure graphene suspension and porphyrin have also been studied as reference samples. A fast excited state decay was observed in the hybrid

Acceptor Energy Offset Manages Ultrafast Recombination Dynamics in Donor-Acceptor Mixtures

We study charge recombination rates in blends of MEH-PPV and a comprehensive set of low molecular-weight fluorine-based acceptors, using visible-pump – IR-probe photoinduced absorption technique. The positions of acceptor’s HOMO-LUMO levels are engineered by addition of different chemical substituents. The results clearly show the exponential scaling of the charge recombination rate with the acceptor LUMO energy. The minimal donor-acceptor LUMO energy difference required to form a CTC state is estimated as ~0.25 eV

Ultrafast ignition of a uni-directional molecular motor

Light-driven molecular motors convert light into mechanical energy via excited state reactions. In this work we follow sub-picosecond primary events in the cycle of a two-stroke unidirectional motor by fluorescence up-conversion and transient absorption

Ultrafast Pump-Push Photocurrent Spectroscopy of Organic Photoconversion Systems

Novel optical pump-push – photocurrent probe ultrafast spectroscopy experiments on organic photoconversion systems show that excessive excitation energy in such systems is not lost but used to reach delocalised states that act as the gateway for long-range charge separation. We also show that the developed experimental approach can be generalised to inorganic and hybrid photoconversion systems

Performance of Perioperative Tasks for Women Undergoing Anti-incontinence Surgery: Developed by the AUGS Quality Improvement and Outcomes Research Network

OBJECTIVES: Surgery for the correction of stress urinary incontinence is an elective procedure that can have a dramatic and positive impact on quality of life. Anti-incontinence procedures, like inguinal hernia repairs or cholecystectomies, can be classified as high-volume/low-morbidity procedures. The performance of a standard set of perioperative tasks has been suggested as one way to optimize quality of care in elective high-volume/low-morbidity procedures. Our primary objective was to evaluate the performance of 5 perioperative tasks-(1) offering nonsurgical treatment, (2) performance of a standard preoperative prolapse examination, (3) cough stress test, (4) postvoid residual test, and (5) intraoperative cystoscopy for women undergoing surgery for stress urinary incontinence-compared among surgeons with and without board certification in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS). STUDY DESIGN: This study was a retrospective chart review of anti-incontinence surgical procedures performed between 2011 and 2013 at 9 health systems. Cases were reviewed for surgical volume, adverse outcomes, and the performance of 5 perioperative tasks and compared between surgeons with and without FPMRS certification. RESULTS: Non-FPMRS surgeons performed fewer anti-incontinence procedures than FPMRS-certified surgeons. Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery surgeons were more likely to perform all 5 perioperative tasks compared with non-FPMRS surgeons. After propensity matching, FPMRS surgeons had fewer patients readmitted within 30 days of surgery compared with non-FPMRS surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery surgeons performed higher volumes of anti-incontinence procedures, were more likely to document the performance of the 5 perioperative tasks, and were less likely to have their patients readmitted within 30 days

Performance of Perioperative Tasks for Women Undergoing Anti-incontinence Surgery Developed by the AUGS Quality Improvement and Outcomes Research Network

Objectives Surgery for the correction of stress urinary incontinence is an elective procedure that can have a dramatic and positive impact on quality of life. Anti-incontinence procedures, like inguinal hernia repairs or cholecystectomies, can be classified as high-volume/low-morbidity procedures. The performance of a standard set of perioperative tasks has been suggested as one way to optimize quality of care in elective high-volume/low-morbidity procedures. Our primary objective was to evaluate the performance of 5 perioperative tasks—(1) offering nonsurgical treatment, (2) performance of a standard preoperative prolapse examination, (3) cough stress test, (4) postvoid residual test, and (5) intraoperative cystoscopy for women undergoing surgery for stress urinary incontinence—compared among surgeons with and without board certification in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS). Study Design This study was a retrospective chart review of anti-incontinence surgical procedures performed between 2011 and 2013 at 9 health systems. Cases were reviewed for surgical volume, adverse outcomes, and the performance of 5 perioperative tasks and compared between surgeons with and without FPMRS certification. Results Non-FPMRS surgeons performed fewer anti-incontinence procedures than FPMRS-certified surgeons. Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery surgeons were more likely to perform all 5 perioperative tasks compared with non-FPMRS surgeons. After propensity matching, FPMRS surgeons had fewer patients readmitted within 30 days of surgery compared with non-FPMRS surgeons. Conclusions Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery surgeons performed higher volumes of anti-incontinence procedures, were more likely to document the performance of the 5 perioperative tasks, and were less likely to have their patients readmitted within 30 days

Performance of Perioperative Tasks for Women Undergoing Anti-incontinence Surgery Developed by the AUGS Quality Improvement and Outcomes Research Network

Objectives Surgery for the correction of stress urinary incontinence is an elective procedure that can have a dramatic and positive impact on quality of life. Anti-incontinence procedures, like inguinal hernia repairs or cholecystectomies, can be classified as high-volume/low-morbidity procedures. The performance of a standard set of perioperative tasks has been suggested as one way to optimize quality of care in elective high-volume/low-morbidity procedures. Our primary objective was to evaluate the performance of 5 perioperative tasks—(1) offering nonsurgical treatment, (2) performance of a standard preoperative prolapse examination, (3) cough stress test, (4) postvoid residual test, and (5) intraoperative cystoscopy for women undergoing surgery for stress urinary incontinence—compared among surgeons with and without board certification in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS). Study Design This study was a retrospective chart review of anti-incontinence surgical procedures performed between 2011 and 2013 at 9 health systems. Cases were reviewed for surgical volume, adverse outcomes, and the performance of 5 perioperative tasks and compared between surgeons with and without FPMRS certification. Results Non-FPMRS surgeons performed fewer anti-incontinence procedures than FPMRS-certified surgeons. Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery surgeons were more likely to perform all 5 perioperative tasks compared with non-FPMRS surgeons. After propensity matching, FPMRS surgeons had fewer patients readmitted within 30 days of surgery compared with non-FPMRS surgeons. Conclusions Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery surgeons performed higher volumes of anti-incontinence procedures, were more likely to document the performance of the 5 perioperative tasks, and were less likely to have their patients readmitted within 30 days