Comparison of dimensionality reduction methods to predict genomic breeding values for carcass traits in pigs

A significant contribution of molecular genetics is the direct use of DNA information to identify genetically superior individuals. With this approach, genome-wide selection (GWS) can be used for this purpose. GWS consists of analyzing a large number of single nucleotide polymorphism markers widely distributed in the genome; however, because the number of markers is much larger than the number of genotyped individuals, and such markers are highly correlated, special statistical methods are widely required. Among these methods, independent component regression, principal component regression, partial least squares, and partial principal components stand out. Thus, the aim of this study was to propose an application of the methods of dimensionality reduction to GWS of carcass traits in an F2 (Piau x commercial line) pig population. The results show similarities between the principal and the independent component methods and provided the most accurate genomic breeding estimates for most carcass traits in pigs

Synchronizing Web Documents with Style

In this paper we report on our efforts to define a set of document extensions to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) that allow for structured timing and synchronization of elements within a Web page. Our work considers the scenario in which the temporal structure can be decoupled from the content of the Web page in a similar way that CSS does with the layout, colors and fonts. Based on the SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) temporal model we propose CSS document extensions and discuss the design and implementation of a proof of concept that realizes our contributions. As HTML5 seems to move away from technologies like Flash and XML (eXtensible Markup Language), we believe our approach provides a flexible declarative solution to specify rich media experiences that is more aligned with current Web practices

Video Analysis Tools for Annotating User-Generated Content from Social Events

In this presentation we present how low-level metadata extraction tools have been applied in the context of a pan-European project called Together Anywhere, Together Anytime (TA2). The TA2 project studies new forms of computer-mediated social communications between spatially and temporally distant people. In particular, we concentrate on automatic video analysis tools in an asynchronous community-based video sharing environment called MyVideos, in which users can experience and share personalized music concert videos within their social grou

Use of multivariate analysis to evaluate genetic groups of pigs for dry-cured ham production

AbstractRecords of a pig population used for dry-cured ham production were used to evaluate genetic groups by multivariate analysis. The investigated genetic groups were as follows: DULL=Duroc×(Landrace×Large White), DULA=Duroc×Landrace, DUWI=Duroc×Large White, WIWI=Large White and DUDU=Duroc. Two groups were obtained for the carcass traits hot carcass weight (HCW), backfat thickness (BT) and loin depth (LD), with the groups including 597 and 341 animals harvested at 130kg and at 160kg weights, respectively. Two groups were also found for ham traits gross ham weight (GHW), trimmed ham weight (THW), ham inner layer fat thickness (HIFT), ham outer layer fat thickness (HOFT), pH (PH), and Göfo value, with 393 and 91 animals harvested at 130kg and 160kg weights, respectively. The analysis was performed within each group of traits and harvest weights, and the animals without records were excluded. The first and the second canonical variables explained 97.5% and 93.6% of the total variation for the carcass traits at 130kg and 160kg, respectively, and 88.8% of ham traits at 130kg. In the dispersion graph concerning the canonical means, a significant distance was observed between the genetic groups DUDU and WIWI for the carcass traits at 130kg and 160kg and the ham traits at 130kg. The 50% Duroc animals exhibited little dispersion regarding the carcass traits at 130kg and 160kg and were not divergent from the DUDU genetic group for the ham traits at 130kg. In a cluster analysis using the single linkage method, DULL, DULA and DUWI were grouped with a high similarity level for the carcass traits at 130kg and 160kg and ham traits at 130kg. Using the Tocher optimization method, 50% Duroc crossbred and 100% Duroc purebred animals were grouped for the ham traits at 130kg, suggesting that for ham traits, 50% Duroc animals were similar to 100% Duroc purebred animals. In this context, the genetic groups Duroc×Large White, Duroc×Landrace and Duroc×(Landrace×Large White) are recommended for use in producing dry-cured ham

Forensic anthropology at Medico Legal Centre of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto/USP - comparative study of cases from 1999-2009

Forensic Anthropology is an area of knowledge that applies the methods of physical anthropology andarcheology within a legal context. The Medico Legal Centre (CEMEL) of the Faculty of Medicine of RibeirãoPreto of University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP) has a Forensic Anthropology Laboratory (LAF), created in2005 in a partnership project with the University of Sheffield (UK) and financed by the British Foreign andCommonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund. As part of this project, a protocol for skeletal analysiswas established, supported by an upgraded scientific infrastructure, for application in a socially important context in Brazil. Accumulated cases from 1999 to 2006 were analyzed initially, followed by casesfrom 2007 to 2009. These analyses indicated that many skeletons forwarded to CEMEL were incomplete,making the completion of a biological profile difficult. Despite of this, a statistically significant increasewas detected in the mean number of bones forwarded in the 2007-2009 group (112.83) in comparison tothe 1999-2006 group (79.57). Also, a statistically significant decline in the mean age from 38.34 years inthe 1999-2006 group to 35.65 years in the 2007-2009 group was detected, probably associated withviolent crime. Analysis indicated that in the 1999-2006 group, handedness could not be assigned in themajority of the cases (57.14%), while in the 2007-2009 group assignment was possible in the majority ofthe cases (85.72%), with 57.15% being right-handed and 28.57% left. The improvement in assignmentis explained by the increase in the mean number of bones forwarded per skeleton. For all other examinedanthropological parameters, no statistical difference was detected.  Male,  Caucasian and right- handedskeletons were predominant in both groups. The chance of identifying an individual through anthropological examination increased from 73.81% in 1999-2006 group to 90.47% in 2007-2009. These resultsindicate that improvement in the quality bone recovery from the scene and subsequent anthropologicalanalysis increases the likelihood of individual identification, fulfilling the scientific and social goals offorensic anthropological examination.A Antropologia Forense é uma área de conhecimento que aplica os métodos da antropologia física e daarqueologia em um contexto legal. O Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) da Faculdade de Medicina deRibeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP) possui um Laboratório de AntropologiaForense (LAF), criado em 2005, em um projeto de parceria com a University of Sheffield (UK) e financiado pelo British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund. Como parte desseprojeto, foi elaborado um protocolo para análise de ossadas com uma estrutura científica atualizadaaplicável ao contexto social brasileiro. Inicialmente foram analisados os casos acumulados de 1999 a2006, seguidos dos casos de 2007 a 2009. Este estudo revelou que a maioria das ossadas encaminhadas ao CEMEL estavam incompletas, o que dificulta a obtenção de um perfil bioantropológico.Apesar disso, um aumento estatisticamente significativo foi detectado no número médio de ossosencaminhados no grupo de 2007-2009 (112,83) em comparação com o grupo de 1999-2006 (79,57).Além disso, foi detectado um declínio estatisticamente significativo na média de idade de 38,34 anos nogrupo de 1999-2006 para 35,65 anos no grupo de 2007-2009, provavelmente associado a crimesviolentos. A análise indicou que na maioria dos casos (57,14%), no grupo de 1999-2006, a lateralidadenão poderia ser atribuída, enquanto que no grupo de 2007-2009 foi possível atribuir a lateralidade namaioria dos casos (85,72%), sendo que 57,15% eram destros e 28,57% canhotos. A melhora na atribui-ção pode ser explicada pelo aumento do número médio de ossos enviados por esqueleto. Para todosos outros parâmetros antropológicos analisados, não foram detectadas diferenças estatisticamentesignificativas. Esqueletos do sexo masculino, caucasianos e destros foram predominantes em ambosos grupos. A chance de identificar um indivíduo através do exame antropológico aumentou de 73,81%em 1999-2006 para 90,47% em 2007-2009. Estes resultados indicam uma melhoria na qualidade dacoleta dos ossos no local de seu encontro, e subseqüente, um aumento da probabilidade de identifica-ção do individuo através da análise antropológica, cumprindo o papel científico e social do exameantropológico forense

Influence of curing on pore properties and strength of alkali activated mortars

The paper investigates the effect of wet/dry, wet and dry curing on the pore properties and strength of an alkali activated cementitious (AACM) mortar. The pore characteristics were determined from the cumulative and differential pore volume curves obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry. AACM mortars possess a bimodal pore size distribution while the control PC mortar is unimodal. AACM mortars have a lower porosity, higher capillary pore volume, lower gel pore volume and lower critical and threshold pore diameters than the PC mortar which indicate greater durability potential of AACMs. Wet/dry curing is optimum for AACM mortars while wet curing is optimum for the PC mortar. Shrinkage and retarding admixtures improve the strength and pore structure of the AACMs

Semi-empirical catalog of early-type galaxy-halo systems: dark matter density profiles, halo contraction and dark matter annihilation strength

With SDSS galaxy data and halo data from up-to-date N-body simulations we construct a semi-empirical catalog (SEC) of early-type systems by making a self-consistent bivariate statistical match of stellar mass (M_star) and velocity dispersion (sigma) with halo virial mass (M_vir). We then assign stellar mass profile and velocity dispersion profile parameters to each system in the SEC using their observed correlations with M_star and sigma. Simultaneously, we solve for dark matter density profile of each halo using the spherical Jeans equation. The resulting dark matter density profiles deviate in general from the dissipationless profile of NFW or Einasto and their mean inner density slope and concentration vary systematically with M_vir. Statistical tests of the distribution of profiles at fixed M_vir rule out the null hypothesis that it follows the distribution predicted by N-body simulations for M_vir ~< 10^{13.5-14.5} M_solar. These dark matter profiles imply that dark matter density is, on average, enhanced significantly in the inner region of halos with M_vir ~< 10^{13.5-14.5} M_solar supporting halo contraction. The main characteristics of halo contraction are: (1) the mean dark matter density within the effective radius has increased by a factor varying systematically up to ~ 3-4 at M_vir = 10^{12} M_solar, and (2) the inner density slope has a mean of ~ 1.3 with rho(r) ~ r^{-alpha} and a halo-to-halo rms scatter of rms(alpha) ~ 0.4-0.5 for 10^{12} M_solar ~< M_vir ~< 10^{13-14} M_solar steeper than the NFW profile (alpha=1). Based on our results we predict that halos of nearby elliptical and lenticular galaxies can, in principle, be promising targets for gamma-ray emission from dark matter annihilation.Comment: 43 pages, 20 figures, JCAP, revised and accepted versio

Uso da Espectroscopia Raman e FT-IR na caracterização do biocarvão em Latossolo Amarelo da Amazônia Central

The Amazonian Latosols are acidic soils shows low activity in clay minerals. However, it is also found anthropogenic soils known as Amazonian Dark Earth (EAD) that provides a potential to develop a sustainable system in agriculture. The majority of TPI soils show fragments of black carbon stemming from an anthropic activity. The presence of these fragments endows the improvements in the physic and chemical characteristics of the soil. In order to reproduce some characteristics of these anthropogenic soils, it is proposed to apply biochar (BC) in a dystrophic Yellow Oxisol in increasing doses from 0; 40; 80 and 120 t.ha-1. The use of Spectroscopy FT-IR and Raman tools and technics can elucidate on the nature of the pyrolised biomass and likewise interfere on the fertility of the soil. Furthermore, it could clarify how the BC contributes to the increase of cation exchange capacity (CEC), the elucidation of its chemical characteristics and how it can act in the development of a sustainable agriculture model for the humid tropics. It was possible to observe that he FT-IR spectra were similar between the treatments and that the BC exhibits similar crystallinity to the carbons of Amazonian Dark Earth