The Improvement in Type of South Dakota Dairy Cattle Through Artificial Breeding

Body conformation is associated with function among all classes of livestock. Dairy cattle type deals with characteristics indicating ability to produce milk and butterfat economically along with breed character and other values of an aesthetic nature. In order to have economical milk and butterfat production, the dairy cow should possess that type of body conformation which is able to withstand the rigors of disease, reproduction and year after year milk production. A large percentage of dairy cattle sold in South Dakota and surrounding territory, whether for breeding purpose or commercial production, are evaluated primarily on the basis of their type. Since there is evidence which shows that type is correlated with production, it is important that dairymen breed toward superior type. There is a lack of sufficient data pertaining to type of South Dakota dairy animals/ since the use of artificial breeding in this state, with its possible rapid effect in changing type and production, a type evaluation experiment was designed with three considerations in mind. First: to observe the level of type of daughters and dams, second: to learn if offspring from sires used by the South Dakota Cooperative Breeders Association are superior to their dams in type, and third: to determine which sires show the greatest improvement in type

Qualities of uncoated groundwood paper affecting adhesive binding strength

This investigation has examined the adhesive binding of paper, with particular attention to the action of the fiber/adhesive interface. The efforts of this research were concentrated on relating properties of the paper to strength of the resultant binding. To simulate the problems of economical binding styles, uncoated groundwood paper and hot melt adhesives were studied. Although the hypotheses assumed that a strong interfiber bond within the sheets would lead to a strong binding, it was found that the most critical factor was not the strength of the sheet, but the availability of the fibers to the adhesive. The strength of the sheet was measured by several tests. These tests were: tensile strength, internal bond, tear resistance, and pick resistance. None of these measures of paper strength correlated with binding strength. Other factors, specifically caliper, absorbency, and low pick resistance proved to be the significant factors leading to a strong binding. The general conclusion is that the greater the surface area of the fibers exposed to the glue, the greater the adhesive bond. Greater caliper, absorbency, and low pick resistance lead to increased exposure of fibers and therefore to a stronger binding for newsprint -grade papers. Previous studies with both coated and uncoated papers had indicated that roughness is the most important paper quality for a good binding with hot melt adhesives. This study finds that roughness is not a significant factor, and the thickness and low pick resistance are the most significant factors leading to a good binding with uncoated groundwoods. Acidity was tested for effects on binding strength. Even with accelerated aging, no evidence was found that the acidity of the sheet affects the strength of the adhesive binding. Binding strength was measured by page pull and flex tests. Both can be valuable tests, and in this case correlated well with each other

The Solar Test of the Equivalence Principle

The Earth, Mars, Sun, Jupiter system allows for a sensitive test of the strong equivalence principle (SEP) which is qualitatively different from that provided by Lunar Laser Ranging. Using analytic and numerical methods we demonstrate that Earth-Mars ranging can provide a useful estimate of the SEP parameter $\eta$. Two estimates of the predicted accuracy are derived and quoted, one based on conventional covariance analysis, and another (called ``modified worst case'' analysis) which assumes that systematic errors dominate the experiment. If future Mars missions provide ranging measurements with an accuracy of $\sigma$ meters, after ten years of ranging the expected accuracy for the SEP parameter $\eta$ will be of order $(1-12)\times 10^{-4}\sigma$. These ranging measurements will also provide the most accurate determination of the mass of Jupiter, independent of the SEP effect test.Comment: 10 pages; LaTeX; three figures upon reques

Numerical algebraic geometry for model selection and its application to the life sciences

Researchers working with mathematical models are often confronted by the related problems of parameter estimation, model validation, and model selection. These are all optimization problems, well-known to be challenging due to non-linearity, non-convexity and multiple local optima. Furthermore, the challenges are compounded when only partial data is available. Here, we consider polynomial models (e.g., mass-action chemical reaction networks at steady state) and describe a framework for their analysis based on optimization using numerical algebraic geometry. Specifically, we use probability-one polynomial homotopy continuation methods to compute all critical points of the objective function, then filter to recover the global optima. Our approach exploits the geometric structures relating models and data, and we demonstrate its utility on examples from cell signaling, synthetic biology, and epidemiology.Comment: References added, additional clarification

ADA and Title VI for the Elected Official

This session provides practical steps to assist elected officials in removing barriers to accessibility and evaluating their programs for potential discrimination. Once plans and policies are in place, it can be challenging to get these programs moving, and even more challenging to sustain them over the long term. INDOT, FHWA, and the Indiana Title VI and ADA Coordinators’ Association will connect attendees to available resources for administering these programs and maintaining compliance with the Title VI and ADA requirements