A Survey of Industrial Arts Students Enrolled at Fort Hays State College

The investigator entered into this study with the hope of benefiting the instructional staff of the industrial arts department and the students enrolled in industrial arts courses. The problem in general was to survey the students enrolled in the industrial arts department of Fort Hays to determine the students’ family background, general background and educational goals. The type of instrument employed to obtain the data and the compiling and analysis of the data obtained were all a part of the problem

Occupancy forecasting methods and the use of expert judgement in hotel revenue management

This dissertation presents two studies of the forecast of occupancy in the United States’ hotel industry. The first is a quantitative study of the forecast accuracy performance of moving average, simple exponential smoothing, additive, and multiplicative Holt-Winters method, and Box-Jenkins forecasting procedures on weekly aggregated occupied room data from 10 geographic markets in the United States. In addition, this researcher also examined the performance of combined forecasts. The additive Holt-Winters method was found to be the most accurate in forecasting in seven of the 10 markets, even though it was not the most accurate in the training set. In three of the markets, the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average method produced the highest level of accuracy. The second study is a qualitative study designed to understand how the sample of revenue management experts uses their tacit knowledge of future demand in specific markets to modify statistically based forecasts of hotel occupancy. The researcher interviewed revenue managers. Four of these were working on a revenue management team, which supported groups of franchised hotels for a major global brand. These managers worked directly with the multiple hotels they supported in their assigned geographies. The remaining six revenue managers were located on the property they supported. Two of these managers also supported one or more properties in their geographic area in addition to their property. Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Intercontinental Hotels Group, and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts were in the sample. The revenue managers oversaw the revenue management function in the limited and select service, full service, and luxury quality tiers. Each of the revenue managers did use external sources of information to adjust forecasts based upon their local markets; however, there was little training or consistency in how this process occurred. This results in a sub-optimal situation in which the knowledge, skills, and abilities in the application of expert judgement vary widely. There appears to be no consistent process, training, or knowledge transfer capabilities in place for this human element. This presents an opportunity for forecast accuracy improvement across each of the major brands represented in the sample. Much of the literature has demonstrated that rule-based forecasting results in more accurate forecasts, particularly when there is good domain knowledge and that knowledge has a significant impact (Armstrong, 2006). Standardizing practices that result in greater accuracy and creating a more robust structure across brands could prove to be quite beneficial

Identification and analysis of gene families from the duplicated genome of soybean using EST sequences

BACKGROUND: Large scale gene analysis of most organisms is hampered by incomplete genomic sequences. In many organisms, such as soybean, the best source of sequence information is the existence of expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries. Soybean has a large (1115 Mbp) genome that has yet to be fully sequenced. However it does have the 6th largest EST collection comprised of ESTs from a variety of soybean genotypes. Many EST libraries were constructed from RNA extracted from various genetic backgrounds, thus gene identification from these sources is complicated by the existence of both gene and allele sequence differences. We used the ESTminer suite of programs to identify potential soybean gene transcripts from a single genetic background allowing us to observe functional classifications between gene families as well as structural differences between genes and gene paralogs within families. The identification of potential gene sequences (pHaps) from soybean allows us to begin to get a picture of the genomic history of the organism as well as begin to observe the evolutionary fates of gene copies in this highly duplicated genome. RESULTS: We identified approximately 45,000 potential gene sequences (pHaps) from EST sequences of Williams/Williams82, an inbred genotype of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) using a redundancy criterion to identify reproducible sequence differences between related genes within gene families. Analysis of these sequences revealed single base substitutions and single base indels are the most frequently observed form of sequence variation between genes within families in the dataset. Genomic sequencing of selected loci indicate that intron-like intervening sequences are numerous and are approximately 220 bp in length. Functional annotation of gene sequences indicate functional classifications are not randomly distributed among gene families containing few or many genes. CONCLUSION: The predominance of single nucleotide insertion/deletions and substitution events between genes within families (individual genes and gene paralogs) is consistent with a model of gene amplification followed by single base random mutational events expected under the classical model of duplicated gene evolution. Molecular functions of small and large gene families appear to be non-randomly distributed possibly indicating a difference in retention of duplicates or local expansion

Using Kappenman\u27s Model to Compare the Relative Fishing Power of 42-Foot Shrimp Trawls and 65-Foot Fish Trawls During Summer and Fall in the Western and North-Central Gulf of Mexico

Kappenman’s fishing power correction (FPC) model was used to compare the fishing efficiency between a 42-ft shrimp trawl and a 65-ft fish trawl towed simultaneously at 985 stations by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship Oregon II in the western and north-central Gulf of Mexico. The shrimp trawl was consistently more efficient, both summer and fall, and regardless of whether using no./hr or kg/hr to calculate the FPC factors, for four species of fish, three species of crustaceans, and paper scallops. During summer, the shrimp trawl was more efficient, when using FPC factors calculated using no./hr as the catch per unit of effort (CPUE), at catching 13 of the 42 species of fish, 11 of the 12 species of crustaceans, and paper scallops. It was more efficient at catching 18 of the 42 species of fish, 10 of the 12 species of crustaceans, and paper scallops when FPC factors were calculated using kg/hr as the CPUE. In the fall, the shrimp trawl was more efficient, when using no./hr or kg/hr as the CPUE, at catching five species of fish, three species of crustaceans, and paper scallops. Fishing power correction factors were then compared between summer and fall seasons for 42 species of fish and 16 species of invertebrates. During summer, FPC values ranged from a low of 0.15 for Gulf menhaden to 4.94 for shoal flounder; fall FPC values ranged from 0.05 for yellow box crab to 2.52 for broad-striped anchovy. With the exception of three species, when using number of individuals caught per hour as the CPUE, all FPC factors were significantly different between summer and fall catches

SoyTEdb: a comprehensive database of transposable elements in the soybean genome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Transposable elements are the most abundant components of all characterized genomes of higher eukaryotes. It has been documented that these elements not only contribute to the shaping and reshaping of their host genomes, but also play significant roles in regulating gene expression, altering gene function, and creating new genes. Thus, complete identification of transposable elements in sequenced genomes and construction of comprehensive transposable element databases are essential for accurate annotation of genes and other genomic components, for investigation of potential functional interaction between transposable elements and genes, and for study of genome evolution. The recent availability of the soybean genome sequence has provided an unprecedented opportunity for discovery, and structural and functional characterization of transposable elements in this economically important legume crop.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>Using a combination of structure-based and homology-based approaches, a total of 32,552 retrotransposons (Class I) and 6,029 DNA transposons (Class II) with clear boundaries and insertion sites were structurally annotated and clearly categorized, and a soybean transposable element database, SoyTEdb, was established. These transposable elements have been anchored in and integrated with the soybean physical map and genetic map, and are browsable and visualizable at any scale along the 20 soybean chromosomes, along with predicted genes and other sequence annotations. BLAST search and other infrastracture tools were implemented to facilitate annotation of transposable elements or fragments from soybean and other related legume species. The majority (> 95%) of these elements (particularly a few hundred low-copy-number families) are first described in this study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>SoyTEdb provides resources and information related to transposable elements in the soybean genome, representing the most comprehensive and the largest manually curated transposable element database for any individual plant genome completely sequenced to date. Transposable elements previously identified in legumes, the third largest family of flowering plants, are relatively scarce. Thus this database will facilitate structural, evolutionary, functional, and epigenetic analyses of transposable elements in soybean and other legume species.</p

SoyBase, the USDA-ARS soybean genetics and genomics database

SoyBase, the USDA-ARS soybean genetic database, is a comprehensive repository for professionally curated genetics, genomics and related data resources for soybean. SoyBase contains the most current genetic, physical and genomic sequence maps integrated with qualitative and quantitative traits. The quantitative trait loci (QTL) represent more than 18 years of QTL mapping of more than 90 unique traits. SoyBase also contains the well-annotated ‘Williams 82’ genomic sequence and associated data mining tools. The genetic and sequence views of the soybean chromosomes and the extensive data on traits and phenotypes are extensively interlinked. This allows entry to the database using almost any kind of available information, such as genetic map symbols, soybean gene names or phenotypic traits. SoyBase is the repository for controlled vocabularies for soybean growth, development and trait terms, which are also linked to the more general plant ontologies. SoyBase can be accessed at http://soybase.org

Integrating microarray analysis and the soybean genome to understand the soybeans iron deficiency response

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Soybeans grown in the upper Midwestern United States often suffer from iron deficiency chlorosis, which results in yield loss at the end of the season. To better understand the effect of iron availability on soybean yield, we identified genes in two near isogenic lines with changes in expression patterns when plants were grown in iron sufficient and iron deficient conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Transcriptional profiles of soybean (<it>Glycine max</it>, L. Merr) near isogenic lines Clark (PI548553, iron efficient) and IsoClark (PI547430, iron inefficient) grown under Fe-sufficient and Fe-limited conditions were analyzed and compared using the Affymetrix^®GeneChip^®Soybean Genome Array. There were 835 candidate genes in the Clark (PI548553) genotype and 200 candidate genes in the IsoClark (PI547430) genotype putatively involved in soybean's iron stress response. Of these candidate genes, fifty-eight genes in the Clark genotype were identified with a genetic location within known iron efficiency QTL and 21 in the IsoClark genotype. The arrays also identified 170 single feature polymorphisms (SFPs) specific to either Clark or IsoClark. A sliding window analysis of the microarray data and the 7X genome assembly coupled with an iterative model of the data showed the candidate genes are clustered in the genome. An analysis of 5' untranslated regions in the promoter of candidate genes identified 11 conserved motifs in 248 differentially expressed genes, all from the Clark genotype, representing 129 clusters identified earlier, confirming the cluster analysis results.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These analyses have identified the first genes with expression patterns that are affected by iron stress and are located within QTL specific to iron deficiency stress. The genetic location and promoter motif analysis results support the hypothesis that the differentially expressed genes are co-regulated. The combined results of all analyses lead us to postulate iron inefficiency in soybean is a result of a mutation in a transcription factor(s), which controls the expression of genes required in inducing an iron stress response.</p

Climate change mitigation beyond agriculture: A review of food system opportunities and implications

A large body of research has explored opportunities to mitigate climate change in agricultural systems; however, less research has explored opportunities across the food system. Here we expand the existing research with a review of potential mitigation opportunities across the entire food system, including in pre-production, production, processing, transport, consumption and loss and waste. We detail and synthesize recent research on the topic, and explore the applicability of different climate mitigation strategies in varying country contexts with different economic and agricultural systems. Further, we highlight some potential adaptation co-benefits of food system mitigation strategies and explore the potential implications of such strategies on food systems as a whole. We suggest that a food systems research approach is greatly needed to capture such potential synergies, and highlight key areas of additional research including a greater focus on low- and middle-income countries in particular. We conclude by discussing the policy and finance opportunities needed to advance mitigation strategies in food systems

A survey of individual preference for colorectal cancer screening technique

BACKGROUND: Due to the low participation in colorectal cancer screening, public preference for colorectal cancer screening modality was determined. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed of healthy ambulatory adults in a pediatrics primary care office and neighboring church. Overall preference was ranked for each of four colorectal cancer screening modalities: Faecal Occult Blood, Fiberoptic Sigmoidoscopy, Barium Enema and Colonoscopy. Four additional domains of preference also were ranked: suspected discomfort, embarrassment, inconvenience and danger of each exam. RESULTS: 80 surveys were analyzed, 57 of which were received from participants who had experienced none of the screening tests. Fecal Occult Blood Testing is significantly preferred over each other screening modality in overall preference and every domain of preference, among all subjects and those who had experienced none of the tests. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to increase public participation in colorectal cancer screening may be more effective if undertaken in the context of public perceptions of screening choices

Distinct Biphasic mRNA Changes in Response to Asian Soybean Rust Infection

Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is now established in all major soybean-producing countries. Currently, there is little information about the molecular basis of ASR–soybean interactions, which will be needed to assist future efforts to develop effective resistance. Toward this end, abundance changes of soybean mRNAs were measured over a 7-day ASR infection time course in mock-inoculated and infected leaves of a soybean accession (PI230970) carrying the Rpp2 resistance gene and a susceptible genotype (Embrapa-48). The expression profiles of differentially expressed genes (ASR-infected compared with the mock-inoculated control) revealed a biphasic response to ASR in each genotype. Within the first 12 h after inoculation (hai), which corresponds to fungal germination and penetration of the epidermal cells, differential gene expression changes were evident in both genotypes. mRNA expression of these genes mostly returned to levels found in mock-inoculated plants by 24 hai. In the susceptible genotype, gene expression remained unaffected by rust infection until 96 hai, a time period when rapid fungal growth began. In contrast, gene expression in the resistant genotype diverged from the mock-inoculated control earlier, at 72 h, demonstrating that Rpp2-mediated defenses were initiated prior to this time. These data suggest that ASR initially induces a non-specific response that is transient or is suppressed when early steps in colonization are completed in both soybean genotypes. The race-specific resistance phenotype of Rpp2 is manifested in massive gene expression changes after the initial response prior to the onset of rapid fungal growth that occurs in the susceptible genotype