Real-time ultrasound (RTU) imaging methods for quality control of meats

In this chapter the use of real-time ultrasonography to predict in vivo carcass composition and meat traits will be reviewed. The chapter begins by discussing background and principles of ultrasound. Then aspects affecting the suitability of realtime ultrasonography and image analysis for predicting carcass composition and meat traits of meat producing species and fish will be presented. This chapter also provides an overview of the present and future trends in the application of real-time ultrasonography in the meat industry. © 2012 Woodhead Publishing Limited All rights reserved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Students’ digital literacy skills for learning in selected Tanzania’s public universities

This paper explored the level of Digital Literacy (DL) skills for learning among students in two selected public universities in Tanzania. Case study design was used to compare University of Dar es Salaam-UDSM and Sokoine University of Agriculture-SUA as two cases purposively selected. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 646 students where 325 students were from UDSM and 321 from SUA. The collected data were analysed using a combination of qualitative and descriptive approaches. The findings show that, students in the selected universities have some deficiencies in digital literacy skills for learning. Further, a slight variation exists between students of different programmes, indicating that, all students are predisposed to similar conditions for DL skills acquisition. Gender-wise, the paper indicates a closing gender gap in terms of technology acceptance and DL skills between male and female students. Furthermore, students in lower classes manifested higher skills compared to majority in higher classes on certain DL dimensions, suggesting that, one’s advancement to higher academic year does not necessarily translate into increased DL skills. This article recommends the need for a systemic and coordinated support to promote skills that enable students’ learning with ICT tools and internet

Whole genome fine mapping of quantitative trait loci for ultrasound and carcass merit traits in beef cattle

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapped to large chromosomal regions have limited utility as DNA markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and are less informative as a reference for the identification of the underlying causative quantitative trait nucleotides (QTN). The objective of this study was to conduct a whole genome fine mapping of QTL for ultrasound and carcass merit traits in beef cattle using a greater density of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, and to identify SNP markers within the QTL regions that are associated with the traits. A total of 418 steers from 28 sires were used in this study with nine ultrasound and seven carcass merit traits that were collected as part of a feedlot trial conducted from 2003 to 2005 at the University of Alberta Kinsella ranch. Sires and their progeny were genotyped for a total of 4592 SNP markers distributed across all 29 bovine autosomes (BTA). Across-family analyses detected 12 QTL for five ultrasound traits on nine chromosomes and 18 QTL for six carcass merit traits on 10 chromosomes (