8,188 research outputs found
A QTL for osteoporosis detected in an F2 population derived from White Leghorn chicken lines divergently selected for bone index
Osteoporosis, resulting from progressive loss of structural bone during the period of egg-laying in hens, is associated with an increased susceptibility to bone breakage. To study the genetic basis of bone strength, an F cross was produced from lines of hens that had been divergently selected for bone index from a commercial pedigreed White Leghorn population. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting the bone index and component traits of the index (tibiotarsal and humeral strength and keel radiographic density) were mapped using phenotypic data from 372 F individuals in 32 F families. Genotypes for 136 microsatellite markers in 27 linkage groups covering âŒ80% of the genome were analysed for association with phenotypes using within-family regression analyses. There was one significant QTL on chromosome 1 for bone index and the component traits of tibiotarsal and humeral breaking strength. Additive effects for tibiotarsal breaking strength represented 34% of the trait standard deviation and 7.6% of the phenotypic variance of the trait. These QTL for bone quality in poultry are directly relevant to commercial populations
Examining the relationship between different naturally-occurring maxillary beak shapes and their ability to cause damage in commercial laying hens
1. Using chicken models to avoid unnecessary harm, this study examined the relationship between naturally-occurring maxillary (top) beak shapes and their ability to cause pecking damage.2. A selection of 24 Lohmann Brown laying hens from a total population of 100 were sorted into two groups based on their maxillary beak shape, where 12 were classified as having sharp beaks (SB) and 12 as having blunt beaks (BB).3. All hens were recorded six times in a test pen which contained a chicken model (foam block covered with feathered chicken skin) and a video camera. During each test session, the number of feathers removed from the model, the change in skin and block weight (proxies for tissue damage) and the percentage of successful pecks (resulting in feather and/or tissue removal) were recorded.4. SB hens removed more feathers from the model and had a greater change in skin weight than BB hens. The mean number of pecks made at the model did not differ between the beak shape groups; however, SB hens had a greater percentage of successful pecks, resulting in feather and/or tissue removal, compared to BB hens.5. In conclusion, SB hens were more capable of removing feathers and causing damage. Birds performed more successful pecks resulting in feather and/or tissue removal as they gained experience pecking at the model.</p
Studying the X-ray hysteresis in GX 339-4: the disc and iron line over one decade
We report on a comprehensive and consistent investigation into the X-ray
emission from GX 339-4. All public observations in the 11 year RXTE archive
were analysed. Three different types of model - single powerlaw, broken
powerlaw and a disc + powerlaw - were fitted to investigate the evolution of
the disc, along with a fixed gaussian component at 6.4 keV to investigate any
iron line in the spectrum. We show that the relative variation in flux and
X-ray colour between the two best sampled outbursts are very similar. The decay
of the disc temperature during the outburst is clearly seen in the soft state.
The expected decay is S_Disc \propto T^4; we measure T^4.75\pm0.23. This
implies that the inner disc radius is approximately constant in the soft state.
We also show a significant anti-correlation between the iron line significant
width and the X-ray flux in the soft state while in the hard state the EW is
independent of the flux. This results in hysteresis in the relation between
X-ray flux and both line flux and EW. To compare the X-ray binary outburst to
the behaviour seen in AGN, we construct a Disc Fraction Luminosity Diagram for
GX 339-4, the first for an X-ray binary. The shape qualitatively matches that
produced for AGN. Linking this with the radio emission from GX 339-4 the change
in radio spectrum between the disc and power-law dominated states is clearly
visible.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 20 pages, 17 figures. For high-res
version see http://www.astro.soton.ac.uk/~r.j.dunn/publications.htm
Determining specific biomass activity in anaerobic wastewater treatment processes
«Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)»An experimental method for the measurement of specific gas production rate was developed and tested with biomass samples taken from anaerobic fluidized bed reactors, operating with a variety of carriers with molasses, condensate from cellulose production and brewery wastewater as feeds. The method is based on reactor sampling and offline gas volume measurement during a known time interval. Important factors are biomass and liquid sampling under oxygen-free conditions, using the liquid from the reactor as substrate, providing sufficient mixing and maintaining the physical integrity of the biomass. The method was developed in such a way that small samples (20 ml) were taken under anaerobic conditions (poising agent) for short-term (2-3 min.) gas rate measurements in a small fluidized bed (25 ml) batch reactor with U-tube. Biomass content was measured by an instrumental nitrogen method (Dumas), followed by weight determination of the carrier. The gas rates measured with the test system, and their dependence on substrate concentration, were in good agreement with those directly measured from the continuous fluidized bed reactor. Additions of molasses and acetate to the sample proved that the influence of concentration on the biomass activity can be obtained only by operating the continuous reactor at the concentration levels of interest. Comparison between the reactors showed large differences in the specific activity and the total reactor activity. It was found when comparing two reactors, that the values of the specific and the total activities permitted the calculation of the relative biomass quantities. In this way the influence of the carrier-type could be evaluated
The Kinematics and Physical Conditions pf the Ionized Gas in Markarian 509. II. STIS Echelle Observations
We present observations of the UV absorption lines in the luminous Seyfert 1
galaxy Mrk 509, obtained with the medium resolution (lambda/Delta-lambda ~
40,000) echelle gratings of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the
Hubble Space Telescope. The spectra reveal the presence of eight kinematic
components of absorption in Ly-alpha, C IV, and N V, at radial velocities of
-422, -328, -259, -62, -22, +34, +124, and +210 km s^-1 with respect to an
emission-line redshift of z = 0.03440, seven of which were detected in an
earlier Far Ultraviolet Spectrographic Explorer (FUSE) spectrum. The component
at -22 km s^-1 also shows absorption by Si IV. The covering factor and velocity
width of the Si IV lines were lower than those of the higher ionization lines
for this component, which is evidence for two separate absorbers at this
velocity. We have calculated photoionization models to match the UV column
densities in each of these components. Using the predicted O VI column
densities, we were able to match the O VI profiles observed in the FUSE
spectrum. Based on our results, none of the UV absorbers can produce the X-ray
absorption seen in simultaneous Chandra observations; therefore, there must be
more highly ionized gas in the radial velocity ranges covered by the UV
absorbers.Comment: 30 pages, three figures (Figure 1 is in color). Accepted for
publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Simultaneous UV and X-ray Spectroscopy of the Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC 5548. I. Physical Conditions in the UV Absorbers
We present new UV spectra of the nucleus of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548,
which we obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph at high
spectral resolution, in conjunction with simultaneous Chandra X-ray Observatory
spectra. Taking advantage of the low UV continuum and broad emission-line
fluxes, we have determined that the deepest UV absorption component covers at
least a portion of the inner, high-ionization narrow-line region (NLR). We find
nonunity covering factors in the cores of several kinematic components, which
increase the column density measurements of N V and C IV by factors of 1.2 to
1.9 over the full-covering case; however, the revised columns have only a minor
effect on the parameters derived from our photoionization models. For the first
time, we have simultaneous N V and C IV columns for component 1 (at -1040
km/s), and find that this component cannot be an X-ray warm absorber, contrary
to our previous claim based on nonsimultaneous observations. We find that
models of the absorbers based on solar abundances severely overpredict the O VI
columns previously obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectrograph, and present
arguments that this is not likely due to variability. However, models that
include either enhanced nitrogen (twice solar) or dust, with strong depletion
of carbon in either case, are successful in matching all of the observed ionic
columns. These models result in substantially lower ionization parameters and
total column densities compared to dust-free solar-abundance models, and
produce little O VII or O VIII, indicating that none of the UV absorbers are
X-ray warm absorbers.Comment: 33 pages, 5 figures (Figures 3 and 4 are in color), Accepted for
publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Complete curvature homogeneous pseudo-Riemannian manifolds
We exhibit 3 families of complete curvature homogeneous pseudo-Riemannian
manifolds which are modeled on irreducible symmetric spaces and which are not
locally homogeneous. All of the manifolds have nilpotent Jacobi operators; some
of the manifolds are, in addition, Jordan Osserman and Jordan Ivanov-Petrova.Comment: Update paper to fix misprints in original versio
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