Sorting Through the Science, Marketing, and Realities of DNA Tools for Genetic Prediction

Genomic technology is useful for improving beef cattle. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when thinking about genomics because the process involves thousands to millions of genotypes known as BIG DATA; therefore, it is important to understand that the results of the process is improving the accuracy of an animal’s expected progeny difference (EPD) as to be able to rank animals for selection. Genetic improvement is typically measured as an increase in EPD over many years. For example, the average yearling weight in a breed of cattle such as Angus was -13 in 1972 and it improved to +87 lbs in 2012 (Figure 1). This improvement is a result of selection for growth by the breeders for 40 years. The more accurately the calculation of EPDs can be accomplished, the faster the rate of genetic improvement can be observed by breeders using EPDs for mating decisions

Comparing the Job Satisfaction and Intention to Leave of Different Categories of Health Workers in Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa.

Job satisfaction is an important determinant of health worker motivation, retention, and performance, all of which are critical to improving the functioning of health systems in low- and middle-income countries. A number of small-scale surveys have measured the job satisfaction and intention to leave of individual health worker cadres in different settings, but there are few multi-country and multi-cadre comparative studies. The objective of this study was to compare the job satisfaction and intention to leave of different categories of health workers in Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa. We undertook a cross-sectional survey of a stratified cluster sample of 2,220 health workers, 564 from Tanzania, 939 from Malawi, and 717 from South Africa. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included demographic information, a 10-item job satisfaction scale, and one question on intention to leave. Multiple regression was used to identify significant predictors of job satisfaction and intention to leave. There were statistically significant differences in job satisfaction and intention to leave between the three countries. Approximately 52.1% of health workers in South Africa were satisfied with their jobs compared to 71% from Malawi and 82.6% from Tanzania (χ2=140.3, p<0.001). 18.8% of health workers in Tanzania and 26.5% in Malawi indicated that they were actively seeking employment elsewhere, compared to 41.4% in South Africa (χ2=83.5, p<0.001). The country differences were confirmed by multiple regression. The study also confirmed that job satisfaction is statistically related to intention to leave. We have shown differences in the levels of job satisfaction and intention to leave between different groups of health workers from Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa. Our results caution against generalising about the effectiveness of interventions in different contexts and highlight the need for less standardised and more targeted HRH strategies than has been practised to date

Pet Project or Best Project? Online Decision Support Tools for Prioritizing Barrier Removals in the Great Lakes and Beyond

Structures that block movement of fish through river networks are built to serve a variety of societal needs, including transportation, hydroelectric power, and exclusion of exotic species. Due to their abundance, road crossings and dams reduce the amount of habitat available to fish that migrate from the sea or lakes into rivers to breed. The benefits to fish of removing any particular barrier depends on its location within the river network, its passability to fish, and the relative position of other barriers within the network. Balancing the trade-offs between ecological and societal values makes choosing among potential removal projects difficult. To facilitate prioritization of barrier removals, we developed an online decision support tool (DST) with three functions: (1) view existing barriers at various spatial scales; (2) modify information about barriers, including removal costs; and (3) run optimization models to identify portfolios of removals that provide the greatest amount of habitat access for a given budget. A survey of available DSTs addressing barrier removal prioritization indicates that barrier visualization is becoming widespread but few tools allow dynamic calculation of connectivity metrics, scenario analysis, or optimization. Having these additional functions, our DST enables organizations to develop barrier removal priorities based on cost-effectiveness in restoring aquatic connectivity

MBA8011-01.Conflict Mgmt Systems Design.Su17.Thomas, Milt

This course will help you improve decisions, increase creativity, enhance others\u27 performance and your capacity to build a healthy, productive workplace. The classroom will be a metaphor for organization . Students will experience how conflict is managed individually and systemically. The class will discern patterns, roles, concerns, power differentials and differing workplace assumptions. Participants will work in teams within the organization to design customized conflict responses. The course will merge theory and practice, challenging students on best practices, conflict prevention tools, and alternative dispute resolution options. With a greater in-depth appreciation for workplace culture, systems and people, class team members will gain familiarity with the necessity of assessments, buy-in, design teams, development, implementation, roll-out and feedback loops. Participants will build their capacity to manage conflict more effectively on a systemic basis using principles of organizational systems design

Long-Term Vegetation Productivity and Trend Under Two Stocking Levels on Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland

Vegetation changes were evaluated over an 11-year period (1995-2005) on 2 light- and 2 conservative-stocked Chihuahuan Desert pastures in south central New Mexico. Grazing treatments were applied to the pastures over a 5-year period from 1997 through 2001. Pastures were not grazed in the 1995-1996 and 2002-2005 periods due to drought. During the 1997-2001 grazing period, grazing use of primary forage species averaged 29% and 40% on light- and conservative-stocked rangelands, respectively. Grazing intensity was consistently higher on conservative-stocked than light-stocked pastures. During our study heavy grazing occurred only in 1 year on pastures with conservative stocking. There were no differences in species or species categories (grasses, forbs, shrubs) of autumn standing crop and basal cover between light-and conservative-stocked pastures. Standing crop of total vegetation and perennial grasses showed large fluctuations among the years due to variable rainfall. Under both treatments, total herbaceous standing crop was unchanged, but perennial grass standing crop declined by over 50% when the last 3 years of study were compared with the first 3 years of study. Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae Pursh), a poisonous half shrub, increased in standing crop and cover during the study. Basal cover of total perennial grasses declined less under light than conservative stocking during the study period. However, climatic conditions exerted the overriding influence on vegetation standing crop and basal cover. Our study indicates that light stocking in the Chihuahuan Desert does not increase perennial grass production compared to conservative grazing but it could have a small benefit in maintaining perennial grass cover during drought. We believe our findings have broad application in the Chihauhuan Desert, but caution they might not apply well to other arid rangeland types. The Rangeland Ecology & Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Soil Depth and Climatic Effects on Desert Vegetation Dynamics

Soil depth effects on honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr) cover and density and perennial grass standing crop were evaluated over an 11-yr period (1995-2005) on two lightly stocked and two conservatively stocked pastures on the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center in south-central New Mexico. These four adjoining pastures have similar size, vegetation, and soils. Soils in these study pastures are primarily light sandy loams varying from a few centimeters to 1 m or more in depth underlain by a calcium carbonate layer. Deep soils had lower perennial grass standing crop and higher honey mesquite cover and density than did shallow soils at both the beginning (1995-1997) and ending (2003-2005) periods of study. Average perennial grass standing crop across the four study pastures dropped 82% between 1995-1997 and 2003-2005 because of drought during the last 5 yr of study. Honey mesquite canopy cover and perennial grass standing crop did not differ between light and conservative grazing treatments at the beginning or end of our study. Honey mesquite canopy cover did not change from 1995-1997 to 2003-2005 but honey mesquite density was higher in 2003-2005 than in 1995-1997. Our study shows that both soil depth and climatic fluctuations have a major influence on vegetation dynamics in desert and semiarid areas. The Rangeland Ecology & Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Mourning dove densities on Chihuahuan Desert rangelands

Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura L.) densities were determined using strip census techniques over a 2-year period (spring 1996 to winter 1998) on pastures in early-, mid-, and late-seral ecological condition. This study was conducted on the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center and adjacent Bureau of Land Management rangelands in south-central New Mexico on 6 adjoining pastures that were similar in terrain and shape. Mourning dove densities pooled across sampling periods (8) were different (P < 0.10) on pastures in mid- and early-seral condition. They averaged 10.3, 33.9, and 7.2 birds km-2 on pastures in late-, mid- and early-seral condition, respectively. Leatherleaf croton (Croton pottsii Lam.), the primary mourning dove food on all study pastures, was more abundant (P 0.10) on late- and mid-seral pastures than on early-seral pastures. Therefore, heavy livestock grazing may adversely affect mourning dove populations in the Chihuahuan Desert by depleting leatherleaf croton. Autumn perennial grass cover and standing biomass differed (P < 0.10) among seral stages. More optimal interspersion of bare ground and perennial grasses may further explain why mid-seral rangelands tend to favor mourning doves. Our study shows mourning doves in the Chihuahuan Desert prefer moderately grazed, mid-seral rangelands over heavily grazed, early-seral rangelands.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Mourning dove densities on Chihuahuan Desert rangelands

Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura L.) densities were determined using strip census techniques over a 2-year period (spring 1996 to winter 1998) on pastures in early-, mid-, and late-seral ecological condition. This study was conducted on the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center and adjacent Bureau of Land Management rangelands in south-central New Mexico on 6 adjoining pastures that were similar in terrain and shape. Mourning dove densities pooled across sampling periods (8) were different (P < 0.10) on pastures in mid- and early-seral condition. They averaged 10.3, 33.9, and 7.2 birds km-2 on pastures in late-, mid- and early-seral condition, respectively. Leatherleaf croton (Croton pottsii Lam.), the primary mourning dove food on all study pastures, was more abundant (P 0.10) on late- and mid-seral pastures than on early-seral pastures. Therefore, heavy livestock grazing may adversely affect mourning dove populations in the Chihuahuan Desert by depleting leatherleaf croton. Autumn perennial grass cover and standing biomass differed (P < 0.10) among seral stages. More optimal interspersion of bare ground and perennial grasses may further explain why mid-seral rangelands tend to favor mourning doves. Our study shows mourning doves in the Chihuahuan Desert prefer moderately grazed, mid-seral rangelands over heavily grazed, early-seral rangelands.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202