Phenotypic and genetic relationships between docility and reproduction in Angus heifers

Master of ScienceDepartment of Animal Science and IndustryR. L. WeaberThis thesis includes two studies that assessed the relationships between docility and reproduction in Angus heifers, both from a phenotypic and genetic standpoint. The objective of the first study was to elucidate the phenotypic relationships between docility and first service AI conception rate in heifers. Data (n = 337) included exit velocity (EV), chute score (CS), fecal cortisol (FC), and blood serum cortisol (BC). Statistical analysis was done using logistic regression with 30 day pregnancy rate as the dependent variable. The model included the fixed effect of contemporary group, and the covariates FC, BC, EV, CS, weight, and age. Correlation coefficients were also calculated between all continuous traits. The power of our test could not detect any significant predictors of 30 d pregnancy for the combined data from all ranches. The objective of the second study was to determine the genetic control of docility and reproduction in heifers as measured by pregnancy rate. A subjective chute scoring system was used as the basis of their genetic evaluation for docility. Pedigree information was obtained on approximately 508,015 animals over 30 generations. Data included approximately 26,878 records on heifer pregnancy and 113,412 records on docility, with 7,849 animals having both docility and heifer pregnancy records. Contemporary groups were formed by the concatenation of weaning contemporary group, yearling contemporary group, and breeding contemporary group. Heritabilities were calculated from estimates of genetic and residual variance components computed using ASReml 3.0 (VSN International; Hemel Hempstead, UK). Heifer pregnancy variance components were estimated from a univariate, threshold model, with pregnancy outcome as the dependent variable. Animal and contemporary group were fit as a random effects, while age at first breeding was fit as a covariate. The heritability of heifer pregnancy was estimated to be 0.16 ± 0.02. Docility was fit as a univariate, linear animal model with docility score as the dependent variable. Animal and contemporary group were both modeled as random effects. The heritability for docility score was estimated to be 0.22 ± 0.03. Fertility is a complex trait that is dependent on many factors; our data suggest that docility is one factor that warrants further investigation

Carbon-Carbon Single Bond Activation Used for Coupling with Michael Acceptors

Carbon-carbon single bond activation and functionalization occurs in a quinolinyl ketone structure through rhodium catalyzed bond activation and subsequent insertion of a Michael acceptor, primarily methyl acrylate and N,N-dimethylacrylamide. A variety of quinolinyl ketones and Michael acceptors are observed to react catalytically, forming a disubstituted alkene coupling product. A broad scope of quinolinyl ketones and Michael acceptors have been used to investigate the mechanism for the reaction

Gray zones around diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Conclusions based on the workshop of the XIV meeting of the European Association for Hematopathology and the Society of Hematopathology in Bordeaux, France

The term “gray-zone” lymphoma has been used to denote a group of lymphomas with overlapping histological, biological, and clinical features between various types of lymphomas. It has been used in the context of Hodgkin lymphomas (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), including classical HL (CHL), and primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma, cases with overlapping features between nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B cell lymphoma, CHL, and Epstein–Barr-virus-positive lymphoproliferative disorders, and peripheral T cell lymphomas simulating CHL. A second group of gray-zone lymphomas includes B cell NHL with intermediate features between diffuse large B cell lymphoma and classical Burkitt lymphoma. In order to review controversial issues in gray-zone lymphomas, a joint Workshop of the European Association for Hematopathology and the Society for Hematopathology was held in Bordeaux, France, in September 2008. The panel members reviewed and discussed 145 submitted cases and reached consensus diagnoses. This Workshop summary is focused on the most controversial aspects of gray-zone lymphomas and describes the panel’s proposals regarding diagnostic criteria, terminology, and new prognostic and diagnostic parameters

Carbon-Carbon Single Bond Activation Used for Coupling with Michael Acceptors

Intramolecular alkene carboacylation has previously been achieved under rhodium catalysis using quinolinyl ketones. Utilizing insight gained from mechanistic studies, new quinolinyl ketone substrates have been prepared and subjected to rhodium catalysis in the presence of an exogenous alkene. This project provides an overview of the development of a new transition metal catalyzed reaction that yields an unexpected product—rather than the anticipated reaction sequence, substrates undergo carbon-carbon bond activation, and Heck-type reactivity is observed via oxidative nucleophilic addition to various Michael acceptors. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yield with a broad range of functionality on both substrates

Launching an Interdisciplinary Network for Understanding Student Engagement (INFUSE)

The Interdisciplinary Network for Understanding Student Engagement (INFUSE) began as a request to put together a team of faculty from each department within the College to focus on teaching and learning. Faculty members initially met and brainstormed ideas to pursue. A report of the United States National Survey of Student Engagement data spurred the team in a direction to explore student engagement and create a model for recognition of effective practices that are already occurring within the college and examine ways to increase student engagement throughout the college. A highlight of efforts to highlight effective strategies that can be utilized by faculty across the lifespan of a student were generated, with follow-up activities to engage faculty in prolonged study of student engagement techniques were implemented