Genetic parameter estimates for type traits in the South African Jersey breed

Known environmental effects influencing type trait scores in South African Jersey cattle were identified. Variance components and heritabilities were estimated for these traits as well as genetic correlations among them and with production traits. Heritability estimates were generally low to medium. It is suggested that hoof and leg traits be excluded due to low estimated heritabilities and/or coefficients of variation. Genetic correlation estimates suggested that selection for production yield should improve most type traits and vice versa. Estimation of breeding values and fitting a multiple trait model is suggested. (South African Journal of Animal Science, 2000, 30(3): 186-192

Intelligent STL file correction

M.Sc.Layered Manufacturing (LM), also known as "Rapid Prototyping", is that process in terms of which a computer-designed model is created layer by layer with the aid of specific LM hardware. Telemanufacturing constitutes an extension of this technology that allows remote submission of manufacturing jobs or assignments across a communication medium, typically the Internet, to be built at the manufacturing bureau concerned. The de facto standard of LM is the STL file. Simply put, this file consists of a number of triangles that are used to describe an object in its entirety. This file format has several advantages over other known formats and allows easy 2D rendering. Unfortunately, however, the limitations of the latter format outweigh its advantages. Since the entire model is described in terms of a collection of triangles, the original geometry of the model is lost. As a result, a certain level of degradation will occur, especially around curvatures in the model. Although an increase in the number of triangles around such areas will enhance precision, it will also result in a much larger STL file. Triangles that get lost somewhere inside the file could also give rise to holes, orphaned surfaces and zero-width walls in the projected object. It is vital, therefore, that the manufacturing bureau verify the correctness of the entire file before it is built in order to prevent machine time and materials from being wasted. Instead of transmitting the entire file again, the bureau could attempt automatically to correct and repair less critical errors, thereby saving valuable resources and time

Predictive Performance of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction Algorithms in People Living With HIV

Immunogenetics and cellular immunology of bacterial infectious disease