Effects of Movement and Activity Behavior in a Pasture System Compared to Time

During the summer of 2016 seventeen cows were fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking collars to evaluate activity characteristics of cattle on rangelands. Data collected included daily distance traveled, average distance from water, daily time spent at water, daily area covered, and percent of day spent active (traveling or grazing). These variables were analyzed weekly to assess changes in behavior as time within pastures increased during three time periods of the growing season. Based on data collected from mid-May to mid-September, cattle showed little changes throughout the grazing season as to levels of activity through different periods of a 24-hour day. Daily patterns indicate that cattle are most active during mid-morning and evening hours. Periods of greatest inactivity occur during early morning hours and late afternoon prior to an evening grazing bout. Distance traveled showed a general downward trend as week within pasture progressed with the exception of the early grazed pasture. Average distance of cattle from water increased, and average time at water decreased at the end of the growing season. There were no statistical differences in activity levels or average area covered as time within a pasture increased. The greater distance traveled at the beginning of grazing on a pasture suggests that cattle are more selective in their grazing patterns and go to more grazing locations

Working memory deficits in adults with ADHD: is there evidence for subtype differences?

BACKGROUND: Working memory performance is important for maintaining functioning in cognitive, academic and social activities. Previous research suggests there are prevalent working memory deficits in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There is now a growing body of literature characterizing working memory functioning according to ADHD subtypes in children. The expression of working memory deficits in adults with ADHD and how they vary according to subtype, however, remains to be more fully documented. METHODS: This study assessed differences in working memory functioning between Normal Control (NC) adults (N = 18); patients with ADHD, Combined (ADHD-CT) Type ADHD (N = 17); and ADHD, Inattentive (ADHD-IA) Type (N = 16) using subtests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III and Wechsler Memory Scale-III and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT). RESULTS: The ADHD groups displayed significant weaknesses in contrast to the NC group on working memory tests requiring rapid processing and active stimulus manipulation. This included the Letter-Number-Sequencing test of the Wechsler scales, PASAT omission errors and the longest sequence of consecutive correct answers on the PASAT. No overall ADHD group subtype differences emerged; however differences between the ADHD groups and the NC group varied depending on the measure and the gender of the participants. Gender differences in performance were evident on some measures of working memory, regardless of group, with males performing better than females. CONCLUSION: In general, the data support a dimensional interpretation of working memory deficits experienced by the ADHD-CT and ADHD-IA subtypes, rather than an absolute difference between subtypes. Future studies should test the effects of processing speed and load on subtype performance and how those variables interact with gender in adults with ADHD

Use of modified cages attached to growing calves to measure the effect of stable flies on dry matter intake and digestibility, and defensive movements

The effects of stable flies on growing calves were examined using fly cages attached to the animals. Dry matter intake, DM digestibility (DMD), and behavioral responses of calves were monitored. Nine Holstein calves were exposed to 3 levels of stable flies (0, 10, 100 flies/animal) 3 times daily for 30 min. The study consisted of a 4-period crossover design; each period included 5-d adaptation, 7-d exposure, and 5-d postexposure. Calves were weighed at the beginning and end of each period. Feed consumption was continuously recorded. Fecal samples taken during and after exposure were used to determine DMD. Three calves were monitored for activity and defensive behavior during exposure. Caged stable flies successfully fed on the calves and invoked defensive behaviors similar to those observed in field studies. Defensive behaviors were proportionate to exposure level, and calves became more proficient at interfering with fly feeding over time. Stable fly exposure increased DMI relative to calf weight and decreased ADG/DMI. Calves initially exposed to 100 flies exhibited more defensive behaviors and lower relative DMI and ADG across all exposure levels relative to calves initially exposed to 10 flies. Stable fly exposure did not affect DMD, number of meals, time eating, or amount eaten per meal. Host defensive behavior, not reduced DMI or DMD, appears to be reducing ADG of calves exposed to stable flies. Results indicate that cages placed on calves may be used to study the effects of stable flies, but host exposure history and behavioral variables must be considered

Combined Analysis on the Effects of Late Gestation Supplementation in a Spring Calving Beef Herd

Data were compiled from 4 independent studies conducted over 13 years in the Nebraska Sandhills. Th is combined analysis evaluated the effects of late gestation supplementation on cow and calf productivity in a spring calving herd. Cows wintered on dormant range, sub- irrigated meadow or corn residue. Late gestation supplementation improved pregnancy rates regardless of supplement amount or over winter treatment. Supplement did not affect cow body weight and condition score. Calves born to cows fed supplement had greater weaning weights regardless of when they were weaned

Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles or Solubles in Feedlot Diets Containing Wet Corn Gluten Feed

Effects of the addition of 0% to 40% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) or 0% to 20% condensed corn distillers solubles (CCDS) to feedlot diets containing high moisture corn (HMC) and 35% wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) were evaluated. As WDGS replaced HMC, average daily gain (ADG) decreased linearly and dry matter intake (DMI) tended to decrease. Replacement of HMC with WDGS in the 35% WCGF diet caused a linear decrease in ADG and a trend for a linear decrease in DMI. When CCDS replaced HMC, no difference in steer performance was observed. The sulfur content, rather than fat content, of WDGS may be the limiting factor with feeding WDGS in combination with WCGF, and solubles may effectively reduce the dietary inclusion of corn by up to 20% of diet DM in finishing diets containing 35% WCGF

Rotorcraft Transmission Noise Path Model, Including Distributed Fluid Film Bearing Impedance Modeling

A computational approach for simulating the effects of rolling element and journal bearings on the vibration and sound transmission through gearboxes has been demonstrated. The approach, using ARL/Penn State s CHAMP methodology, uses Component Mode Synthesis of housing and shafting modes computed using Finite Element (FE) models to allow for rapid adjustment of bearing impedances in gearbox models. The approach has been demonstrated on NASA GRC s test gearbox with three different bearing configurations: in the first condition, traditional rolling element (ball and roller) bearings were installed, and in the second and third conditions, the traditional bearings were replaced with journal and wave bearings (wave bearings are journal bearings with a multi-lobed wave pattern on the bearing surface). A methodology for computing the stiffnesses and damping in journal and wave bearings has been presented, and demonstrated for the journal and wave bearings used in the NASA GRC test gearbox. The FE model of the gearbox, along with the rolling element bearing coupling impedances, was analyzed to compute dynamic transfer functions between forces applied to the meshing gears and accelerations on the gearbox housing, including several locations near the bearings. A Boundary Element (BE) acoustic model was used to compute the sound radiated by the gearbox. Measurements of the Gear Mesh Frequency (GMF) tones were made by NASA GRC at several operational speeds for the rolling element and journal bearing gearbox configurations. Both the measurements and the CHAMP numerical model indicate that the journal bearings reduce vibration and noise for the second harmonic of the gear meshing tones, but show no clear benefit to using journal bearings to reduce the amplitudes of the fundamental gear meshing tones. Also, the numerical model shows that the gearbox vibrations and radiated sound are similar for journal and wave bearing configurations

Effect of distillers grains moisture and inclusion level in livestock diets on greenhouse gas emissions in the corn-ethanol-livestock life cycle

A model was previously developed (Biofuel Energy Systems Simulator; www. bess.unl.edu) to predict greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and net energy yield when ethanol is produced from corn. The model also predicts feedlot cattle, dairy cattle, and swine performance and feed replacement value of ethanol coproducts. Updated equations that predict performance of feedlot cattle fed 0 to 40% of dietary DM as corn wet (WDGS), modified (MDGS), or dry (DDGS) distillers grains plus solubles replacing dry-rolled and high-moisture corn were developed and incorporated into the model. Equations were derived from pen-level performance for 20 finishing studies evaluating WDGS, 4 evaluating MDGS, and 4 evaluating DDGS conducted at the University of Nebraska. Feeding value of WDGS was 145 to 131% of corn replaced when included at 20 to 40% of diet DM due to a quadratic (P \u3c 0.01) increase in G:F. The feeding value of MDGS was 124 to 117% with a quadratic (P \u3c 0.01) increase in G:F and 112 to 110% for DDGS with a linear (P \u3c 0.01) increase in G:F. Midwest corn-ethanol-livestock life cycle GHG reduction relative to gasoline (97.7 g CO2 equivalent/MJ of ethanol) was 61 to 57% when WDGS was fed to feedlot cattle for 20 to 40% diet inclusion. Feeding MDGS and DDGS to feedlot cattle reduced GHG emissions from the corn-ethanol-cattle system by 53 to 50% and 46 to 41%, respectively. Feeding WDGS to feedlot cattle was the optimum feed use of distillers grains plus solubles based on feeding performance and GHG reduction

Relationship Between Morbidity and Performance in Feedlot Cattle

Five datasets from Canada, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Nebraska were used to determine the impact of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) on performance, with emphasis on dry matter intake (DMI) and feed to gain ratio (F:G). Data included pens and individually fed cattle. In general, cattle treated for BRD had lower DMI and average daily gain (ADG) with little to no effect on F:G. When BRD occured early in the feeding period (days), little change in performance was observed

Recommendation for Supplemental Technologies for Hanford River Protection Project Potential Mission Acceleration (RPP-11838)

In May of 2002, the River Protection Project at Hanford proposed as part of the accelerated cleanup for the entire Hanford Site to ''accelerate waste stabilization by developing and deploying alternative treatment and immobilization solutions that are aligned with the waste characteristics to add assurance that overall waste treatment/immobilization will be completed 20 or more years sooner.'' This paper addresses one of these elements: development of recommendations for the supplemental technologies that have the greatest potential to supplement the River Protection Project's new Waste Treatment Plant throughput and achieve completion of waste processing by 2028. Low-activity waste treatment in the Waste Treatment Plant needs either to be enhanced or supplemented to enable the full amount of low-activity feed in the single-shell and double-shell tanks to be processed by 2028. The supplemental technologies are considered for low-activity waste feed that represents the maximum effectiveness of treatment compared with Waste Treatment Plant processing. During the Spring of 2002, over two dozen candidate technologies were assessed by staff from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) Headquarters, Hanford Office of River Protection, representatives from the Washington State Department of Ecology and Region 10 of the Environmental Protection Agency, staff from many national laboratories, as well as contractor and independent experts

The impact of cow size on cow-calf and postweaning progeny performance in the Nebraska Sandhills

Optimizing beef production system efficiency requires an understanding of genetic potential suitable for a given production environment. Therefore, the objective of this retrospective analysis was to determine the influence of cow body weight (BW) adjusted to a common body condition score (BCS) of 5 at weaning-influenced cow-calf performance and postweaning steer and heifer progeny performance. Data were collected at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NE, on crossbred, mature cows (n = 1,607) from 2005 to 2017. Cow BCS at calving, prebreeding, and weaning were positively associated (P \u3c 0.01) with greater cow BW. Increasing cow BW was positively associated (P \u3c 0.01) with the percentage of cows that conceived during a 45-d breeding season. For every additional 100-kg increase in cow BW, calf BW increased (P \u3c 0.01) at birth by 2.70 kg and adjusted 205-d weaning BW by 14.76 kg. Calf preweaning average daily gain (ADG) increased (P \u3c 0.01) 0.06 kg/d for every additional 100-kg increase in cow BW. Heifer progeny BW increased (P \u3c 0.01) postweaning with every additional 100-kg increase in dam BW. Dam BW did not influence (P ≥ 0.11) heifer puberty status prior to breeding, overall pregnancy rates, or the percentage of heifers calving in the first 21 d of the calving season. Steer initial feedlot BW increased by 7.20 kg, reimplant BW increased by 10.47 kg, and final BW increased by 10.29 kg (P ≤ 0.01) for every additional 100-kg increase in dam BW. However, steer feedlot ADG was not influenced (P \u3e 0.67) by dam BW. Hot carcass weights of steers were increased (P = 0.01) by 6.48 kg with every additional 100-kg increase in cow BW. In a hypothetical model using the regression coefficients from this study, regardless of pricing method, cow-calf producers maximize the highest amount of profit by selecting smaller cows. Overall, larger-sized cows within this herd and production system of the current study had increased reproductive performance and offspring BW; however, total production output and economic returns would be potentially greater when utilizing smaller-sized cows