New genetic longitudinal models for feed efficiency

Although non-genetic and genetic approaches heavily improved feed efficiency in the last decades, feed cost still contributes to a large proportion of pork production costs. In addition, thelimited effi-ciency of feed use not only increases the environmental impact due to the waste of feed. Over the last decades, advances in high-throughput technologies for animal management,including automat-ic self-feeders, created a proliferation of repeated data or longitudinal data. The objective of this thesis was to develop new genetic models to better quantify the genetic potentialof animals for feed efficiency using longitudinal data on body weight (BW), feed intake and body composition of the animals. Data from 2435 growing Large White pigs from a divergent selectionexperiment for resid-ual feed intake (RFI) were used. In this population, males were weighted every week whereas fe-males and castrated males were weighted every month at the beginning of the test (10 weeks of age) and more often towards the end of the test (23 weeks of age). In a first step, different approaches investigated how to predict missing weekly BW for intermediate stages. For the tested period, a quasi linear interpolation based on the adjacent weeks is the best approach to deal with missing BW in our dataset. In a second step, different longitudinal models, such as random regression (RR) mod-els, structured antedependence models (SAD) and character process models, in which the covari-ances between weeks are accounted for, were compared. The comparison focused on best-fit to the data criteria (Loglikelihood, Bayesian Information Criterion), on variance components estimations (heritability estimates, genetic variances and genetic correlations between weeks) and on predictive ability (Vonesh concordance coefficients). The results showed that SAD is the most parsimonious model for feed conversion ratio (FCR) and for RFI, two measures of feed efficiency. The SAD model also provided similarpredictive abilities as the other models. A selection criterion combining the weekly breeding values was proposed for practical applications to selection. In addition, we evaluated the potential of genomic information to improve the accuracy of breeding value predictions for aver-age daily gain and residual feed intake, applying single step genomic approaches to the RR and SAD models. In our dataset, prediction accuracies was low for both traits, and was not much improved by genomic information. Finally, we showed that divergent selection for RFI had a major impact on the FCR and RFI profile trajectories in each line. In conclusion, this thesis showed that selection for trajectories of feed efficiency is feasible with the current available information. Further work is needed to better evaluate the potential of genomic information with these models, and to validate strategies to select for these trajectories in practic

Lepton Flavor Violating Radiative Decays in EW-Scale νR\nu_R Model: An Update

We perform an updated analysis for the one-loop induced lepton flavor violating radiative decays $l_i \to l_j \gamma$ in an extended mirror model. Mixing effects of the neutrinos and charged leptons constructed with a horizontal $A_4$ symmetry are also taken into account. Current experimental limit and projected sensitivity on the branching ratio of $\mu \to e \gamma$ are used to constrain the parameter space of the model. Calculations of two related observables, the electric and magnetic dipole moments of the leptons, are included. Implications concerning the possible detection of mirror leptons at the LHC and the ILC are also discussed.Comment: 9 figures, 36 single-side pages. Updated email addresses and referenc

Effect of phosphate fertilizer-coated Dicarboxylic Acid Polymer on rice yield and components under greenhouse conditions

A significant amount of phosphorus (P) becomes fixed by aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) in acidic soils, leading to decreased efficiency in P utilization and subsequently lowering crop yield. Enhanced P fertilization offers a potential solution, as the dicarboxylic acid polymer (DCAP) coating on P fertilizer promotes increased plant productivity and more effective P utilization. The improvement achieved through enhanced P fertilization can contribute to higher rice yields in acidic soils, accompanied by an increase in P solubility. The study aimed to determine the impact of DCAP-mixed phosphate fertilizer on P uptake by plants, absorption efficiency, and rice yield. The results demonstrated a significant increase in available P (about 3.5 mg P/kg) when DCAP was used in a greenhouse setting, resulting in elevated yields and total P absorption (ranging from 0.03 to 0.05 grams/pot). However, the addition of 60 kg of phosphate mixed with DCAP has not yet demonstrated a significant increase in available phosphorus in the soil compared to adding just 60 kg of phosphate. The application of phosphate at a dose of 30 kg of P2O5 mixed with DCAP for growth and phosphorus absorption yield results equivalent to using 60 kg of P2O5 without DCAP. Furthermore, the use of DCAP in conjuction with 50% P fertilizer increased P availability by the same amount as that achieved with 100% P fertilizer. Consequently, DCAP reduced chemical P fertilizer in the soil by approximately 50%. However, it is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of mixed phosphate fertilizer (DCAP) under field conditions before recommending its widespread use

The Frequency of Whorl Patterns on the Fingertip of the Thai, Kinh H’mong Ethnic Students in Thuan Chau District, Son La Province

The study was conducted on 784 students aged 14 to 17 (383 male students and 401 female students), who were randomly selected, in Son La province. Following the standards of morphological and anthropological studies, this study aims to investigate the frequency of Whorl patterns on the fingertip of these students. The study shows that the frequency of Whorl patterns on students’ fingertips is 10.89% higher than other types of fingerprint patterns. Whorl patterns are more likely to be found on finger IV with the rate of 15.04% and rarely seen on finger V (7.4%)  in all three ethnic groups (Thai, Kinh, H’Mong). The Kinh ethnic group has a higher rate of Whorl pattern than the other two groups. Moreover, the distribution of Whorl patterns is higher on the right hand than the left hand. The frequency of Whorl patterns on fingertips of all 3 ethnic groups follows the following sequence: Wc> Ws> Wdl> Wcp

Power beacon-assisted energy harvesting in a half-duplex communication network under co-channel interference over a Rayleigh fading environment: Energy efficiency and outage probability analysis

In this time, energy efficiency (EE), measured in bits per Watt, has been considered as an important emerging metric in energy-constrained wireless communication networks because of their energy shortage. In this paper, we investigate power beacon assisted (PB) energy harvesting (EH) in half-duplex (HD) communication network under co-channel Interferer over Rayleigh fading environment. In this work, we investigate the model system with the time switching (TS) protocol. Firstly, the exact and asymptotic form expressions of the outage probability (OP) are analyzed and derived. Then the system EE is investigated and the influence of the primary system parameters on the system performance. Finally, we verify the correctness of the analytical expressions using Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, we can state that the simulation and analytical results are the same.Web of Science1213art. no. 257

Fast-Charging Infrastructure Planning Model for Urban Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles have become a trend as a replacement to gasoline-powered vehicles and will be a sustainable substitution to conventional vehicles. As the number of electric vehicles in cities increases, the charging demand has surged. The optimal location of the charging station plays an important role in the electric vehicle transit system. This chapter discusses the planning of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for urban. The purpose of this work develops an electric vehicle fast-charging facility planning model by considering battery degradation and vehicle heterogeneity in driving range, and considering various influencing factors such as traffic conditions, user charging costs, daily travel, charging behavior, and distribution network constraints. This work identifies optimal fast-charging stations to minimize the total cost of the transit system for deploying fast-charging networks. Besides, this chapter also analyzes some optimization modeling approach for the fast charging location planning, and point out future research directions

消化管の恒常性維持における食物繊維の新たな役割に関する研究

内容の要約広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(農学)Doctor of Agriculturedoctora