The impact of carcase estimated breeding values on yield and quality of sheep meat

The aims of this study were to investigate the impact of carcase estimated breeding values on carcase size and lean meat yield of lambs and to determine whether nutrition alters these responses. Selection for high estimated breeding values for growth increased carcase size by as much as 4 kg in lambs fed a high plane of nutrition. On a low plane of nutrition, this effect was reduced by 60%, highlighting the importance of nutrition for realizing the potential of this trait. Selection for estimated breeding values for muscling reduced total carcase fatness by 3% in lambs fed at a low plane of nutrition and by 10% in lambs fed at a high plane of nutrition, resulting in an increase in lean meat yield and improved economic returns for sales based on a lean-meat-yield grid. Selecting for estimated breeding values for low fat depth reduced total carcase fatness by 4%; this effect was the same whether lambs were maintained on high or low planes of nutrition. Other aspects of meat quality maybe influenced by using sires selected for muscling. Meat tenderness may be reduced due to greater connective tissue content, but it is likely that this can be controlled by concurrent selection for growth. Juiciness and flavour may be reduced due to reduced intramuscular fat content, but this can be attenuated by nutritional practices and, in the longer term, by alleviating the negative selection for fatness. Selection for a combination of muscling and growth estimated breeding values in terminal sires is an excellent way to increase both carcase size and lean meat yield of lambs - and to provide greater returns for producers

The effect of lamb carcase weight and GR depth on the production of value-added cuts – A short communication

Times for the progressive breakdown of 95 lamb carcases were recorded to determine the impact of carcase weight and GR tissue depth on the time and therefore cost to produce value added retail cuts. Further analysis also assessed the potential to use these carcase traits as predictors of fabrication times. Regression modeling demonstrated there was a limited ability to predict the difference in time to fabricate mid value-added (R2 = 0.18) and extreme value-added (R2 = 0.12) cuts compared to traditional cuts, suggesting that other factors need to be considered. However, this study highlighted the significant increases in time required to fabricate more value-added cuts and to breakdown heavier carcases. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the changes to the saleable meat yield as the degree of fabrication increased, such that the average product prices increased ($20.64/kg for mid value added and$28.72/kg for extreme value added) compared to traditional retail cuts ($15/kg) to offset the increased labour of fabricating value-added cuts

Nonintrusive electron number density measurements in the plume of a 1 kW arcjet using a modern microwave interferometer

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77090/1/AIAA-1994-3297-662.pd

Theoretical Evaluations of the Fission Cross Section of the 77 eV Isomer of 235-U

We have developed models of the fission barrier (barrier heights and transition state spectra) that reproduce reasonably well the measured fission cross section of $^{235}$U from neutron energy of 1 keV to 2 MeV. From these models we have calculated the fission cross section of the 77 eV isomer of $^{235}$U over the same energy range. We find that the ratio of the isomer cross section to that of the ground state lies between about 0.45 and 0.55 at low neutron energies. The cross sections become approximately equal above 1 MeV. The ratio of the neutron capture cross section to the fission cross section for the isomer is predicted to be about a factor of 3 larger for the isomer than for the ground state of $^{235}$U at keV neutron energies. We have also calculated the cross section for the population of the isomer by inelastic neutron scattering form the $^{235}$U ground state. We find that the isomer is strongly populated, and for $E_n = 1 MeV$ the $(n,n'\gamma)$ cross section leading to the population of the isomer is of the order of 0.5 barn. Thus, neutron reaction network calculations involving the uranium isotopes in a high neutron fluence are likely to be affected by the 77 eV isomer of $^{235}$U. With these same models the fission cross sections of $^{233}$U and $^{237}$U can be reproduced approximately using only minor adjustments to the barrier heights. With the significant lowering of the outer barrier that is expected for the outer barrier the general behavior of the fission cross section of $^{239}$Pu can also be reproduced.Comment: 17 pages including 8 figure

Granular fluid thermostatted by a bath of elastic hard spheres

The homogeneous steady state of a fluid of inelastic hard spheres immersed in a bath of elastic hard spheres kept at equilibrium is analyzed by means of the first Sonine approximation to the (spatially homogeneous) Enskog--Boltzmann equation. The temperature of the granular fluid relative to the bath temperature and the kurtosis of the granular distribution function are obtained as functions of the coefficient of restitution, the mass ratio, and a dimensionless parameter $\beta$ measuring the cooling rate relative to the friction constant. Comparison with recent results obtained from an iterative numerical solution of the Enskog--Boltzmann equation [Biben et al., Physica A 310, 308 (202)] shows an excellent agreement. Several limiting cases are also considered. In particular, when the granular particles are much heavier than the bath particles (but have a comparable size and number density), it is shown that the bath acts as a white noise external driving. In the general case, the Sonine approximation predicts the lack of a steady state if the control parameter $\beta$ is larger than a certain critical value $\beta_c$ that depends on the coefficient of restitution and the mass ratio. However, this phenomenon appears outside the expected domain of applicability of the approximation.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures; minor changes; to be published in Phys. Rev.

Altered Cognitive Function in Men Treated for Prostate Cancer with LHRH Analogues and Cyproterone Acetate: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Objective. Luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues have been associated with memory impairments in women using these drugs for gynaecological conditions. This is the first systematic investigation of the cognitive effects of LHRH analogues in male patients. Methods. 82 men with non-localised prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive continuous leuprorelin (LHRH analogue), goserelin (LHRH analogue), cyproterone acetate (steroidal antiandrogen) or close clinical monitoring. These patients underwent cognitive assessments at baseline and before commencement of treatment (77) then 6 months later (65). Results. Compared with baseline assessments, men administered androgen suppression monotherapy performed worse in 2/12 tests of attention and memory. 24/50 men randomised to active treatment and assessed 6 months later demonstrated clinically significant decline in one or more cognitive tests but not one patient randomised to close monitoring showed a decline in any test performance. Conclusion. Pharmacological androgen suppression monotherapy for prostate cancer may be associated with impaired memory, attention and executive functions

Masculinities, affect and the (re)place(ment) of stardom in Formula One fan leisure practices

Writing from an autoethnographic perspective, this article explores male leisure practices via the mediated relationships fans enter into with stars. More specifically, my own fandom for Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve is the locus of study, revealing how this affective investment shapes and furnishes my corresponding leisure practices. Notions of gendered 'performativity' come to the fore, with my own displays evoking, enacting and revealing oscillating performances of masculinity. Moreover, there are interesting gendered dynamics that such fan leisure practices flag in terms of the intersection of female/male relationships and the potential 'fantasy' and/or narcissistic readings that a male fan identifying with and performing as another male sport star afford. Finally, my research reveals paradoxes for contemporary masculinities, with fans reliant upon mediation and commodification to facilitate and sustain their performative roles. © 2011 Taylor & Francis