Maternal and Direct Genetic Effects on Variance Components Estimation for Economic Traits in Japanese Black Cattle(Animal Production Science Animal Breeding and Genetics)

Variance components due to direct and maternal effects were estimated using data recorded on 740 Japanese Black cattle during the period from 1971-2003. Traits studied were feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), residual feed intake (RFI), average daily gain (ADG), metabolic body weight (MWT) at the mid point of the test period, and body weight (BWT) at the finish of the test (345 days). Data were analyzed using six alternative animal models (direct and including or excluding associated maternal effects). Direct heritability estimates from the model including direct and all the maternal effects were 0.21±0.03 for FI, 0.16±0.05 for FCR, 0.15±0.05 for RFI, 0.18±0.09 for ADG, 0.45±0.03 for MWT and 0.36±0.02 for BWT. Maternal heritability estimates were small and significantly different from zero for only RFI (0.03±0.01), MWT (0.03±0.01) and BWT (0.08±0.04). Antagonistic relationships were observed between direct and maternal genetic effects for FCR and growth traits. The estimates of direct heritability for feed efficiency traits were reduced up to 37% when maternal genetic and maternal environmental effects were considered in the model. The results showed that an antagonistic relationship existed between direct and maternal genetic effect for FCR and growth traits, which indicates that maternal effects should be accounted for these traits in genetic evaluation system

Estimation of Genetic Gain on Growth and Carcass Traits over Direct and Index Selection for Growth and Feed Efficiency of Japanese Black Cattle by computer simulation(Animal Production Science Animal Breeding and Genetics)

A simulation study was performed for performance traits on 740 bulls and carcass traits on 1,774 progeny in Japanese Black cattle to compare the efficiency of direct and index selection. Performance traits included average daily gain (ADG), final body weight (BWF), metabolic body weight (MWT), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). Progeny traits were carcass weight (CWT), rib eye area (REA), rib thickness (RBT), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), marbling score (MSR), meat quality grade (MQG), meat color (MCL) and fat color (FCL). Direct selection for BWF has resulted larger increase in ADG than direct selection for ADG itself. Correlated responses in CWT, REA, RBT and MSR were higher, while in SFT was lower over selection against RFI than those against FCR. Improvement in ADG or BWF resulting positive correlated responses in MSR and SFT, indicating that selection for rapid gain may favor fatter animals. This study provides evidence that selection against RFI might be better than that of FCR for getting better responses in carcass traits. On the other hand, BWF was better than ADG to be included in selection program for either in aggregate index (economic) selection or single trait selection to achieve better correlated responses

Estimation of Genetic Parameters, and Genetic and Environmental Effects on Progeny Carcass Traits of a Nucleus Breeding Population in Japanese Black Cattle

Genetic parameters of body weight at the start of fattening (BSF), carcass weight (CWT), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), rib thickness (RBT), meat quality grade (MQG), beef marbling score (BMS) and rib eye area (REA) in Japanese Black cattle were estimated. The effects of genetic and environmental factors on fattening performance and carcass quality traits of the progeny were also analyzed. The averages of BSF, CWT, SFT, RBT and REA were 189 kg, 408 kg, 24.9 mm, 69.3 mm and 47.5 cm^2, respectively. CWT was significantly affected (p<0.01) by sire, while BSF (p<0.01), CWT (p<0.01), SFT (p<0.01), RBT (p<0.01) and REA (p<0.05) were significantly affected by dam, indicating the scope of the applicability of selective breeding for improving the dam population for producing beef cattle with greater genetic ability to carcass traits. The sex of the calf had a significant (p<0.01 or p<0.05) effect on all the traits studied except REA. BSF, RBT, MQG and BMS were significantly (p<0.01) affected by the year and season of the birth of calves. The fattening farm exerted a significant influence (p<0.01) on BSF, CWT, MQG and BMS. The heritability estimates for BMS, CWT, RBT, BSF and MQG were 0.36, 0.34, 0.31, 0.26 and 0.23, respectively. Genetically, REA correlated negatively with BSF (-0.57) and SFT (-0.69), as did BMS with CWT (-0.35), SFT (-0.50) and RBT (-0.44). All the other traits correlated positively with one another

Surrogate models for the magnitude of convection in droplets levitated through EML, ADL, and ESL methods

Fluid flow and heat transfer in levitated droplets were numerically investigated. Three levitation methods: electro-magnetic levitation (EML), aerodynamic levitation (ADL), and electro-static levitation (ESL) were considered, and conservative laws of mass, momentum, and energy were applied as common models. The Marangoni effect was applied as a velocity boundary condition, whereas heat transfer and radiation heat loss were considered as thermal boundary conditions. As specific models to EML, the Lorentz force, and Joule heat were calculated based on the analytical solution of the electromagnetic field. For the ADL model, besides the Marangoni effect, the flow driven by the surface shear force was considered. For ADL and ESL models, the effect of laser heating was introduced as a boundary condition. All the equations were nondimensionalized using common scales for all three levitations. Numerical simulations were performed for several materials and droplet sizes, and the results were evaluated in terms of the Reynolds number based on the maximum velocity of the flow in the droplet. The order of magnitude of Reynolds numbers was evaluated as $\text{Re} \sim 10^4$ for EML, $\text{Re} \sim 10^3$ for ADL, and $\text{Re} \sim 10^1$ for ESL. Based on the simulation results, we proposed simple formulas for predicting the Reynolds number of droplet internal convection using combinations of nondimensional numbers determined from the physical properties of the material and the driving conditions. The proposed formulas can be used as surrogate models to predict the Reynolds numbers, even for materials other than those used in this study

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy of glucose aqueous solution: Analysis of the hydration state and the hydrogen bond network.

Recent studies of saccharides' peculiar anti-freezing and anti-dehydration properties point to a close association with their strong hydration capability and destructuring effect on the hydrogen bond (HB) network of bulk water. The underlying mechanisms are, however, not well understood. In this respect, examination of the complex dielectric constants of saccharide aqueous solutions, especially over a broadband frequency region, should provide interesting insights into these properties, since the dielectric responses reflect corresponding dynamics over the time scales measured. In order to do this, the complex dielectric constants of glucose solutions between 0.5 GHz and 12 THz (from the microwave to the far-infrared region) were measured. We then performed analysis procedures on this broadband spectrum by decomposing it into four Debye and two Lorentz functions, with particular attention being paid to the β relaxation (glucose tumbling), δ relaxation (rotational polarization of the hydrated water), slow relaxation (reorientation of the HB network water), fast relaxation (rotation of the non-HB water), and intermolecular stretching vibration (hindered translation of water). On the basis of this analysis, we revealed that the hydrated water surrounding the glucose molecules exhibits a mono-modal relaxational dispersion with 2-3 times slower relaxation times than unperturbed bulk water and with a hydration number of around 20. Furthermore, other species of water with distorted tetrahedral HB water structures, as well as increases in the relative proportion of non-HB water molecules which have a faster relaxation time and are not a part of the surrounding bulk water HB network, was found in the vicinity of the glucose molecules. These clearly point to the HB destructuring effect of saccharide solutes in aqueous solution. The results, as a whole, provide a detailed picture of glucose-water and water-water interactions in the vicinity of the glucose molecules at various time scales from sub-picosecond to hundreds of picoseconds

Bilateral Chronic Subdural Hematoma in the Posterior Fossa Treated with a Burr Hole Irrigation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) in the posterior fossa is extremely rare. The surgical strategy is still controversial. We report a case of bilateral CSH in the posterior fossa successfully treated with a single-burr hole surgery. A 74-year-old man under anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy developed headache and nausea during observation for an asymptomatic supratentorial CSH. Radiological examinations revealed appearance of bilateral CSH in the posterior fossa associated with hydrocephalus. Upon rapid deterioration of the patient’s consciousness, an urgent treatment was required. A burr hole was made near the transverse-sigmoid junction on the left side to access the hematoma. No ventricular drainage was placed as his consciousness improved during the decompression of the hematoma. Postoperative computed tomography showed that bilateral CSH and hydrocephalus had been successfully treated. In bilateral CSH in the posterior fossa, there may be a connection between each side. CSH in the posterior fossa, when urgent, can be treated under local anesthesia with a unilateral burr hole irrigation