5,785 research outputs found
Estimation of pedigree errors in the UK dairy population using microsatellite markers and the impact on selection
The proportion of cows in the UK dairy herd whose sires were misidentified was estimated using DNA markers. Genetic marker genotypes were determined on 568 cows (from 168 milk samples and 400 hair samples) and 96 putative sires (from semen samples). The estimated pedigree error rate from the hair samples was 8.8%, and from the milk samples, 13.1%, giving an overall estimate of the error rate of 10%. This level of pedigree errors will have a relatively large impact on the efficiency of progeny testing and the accuracy of cow predicted breeding values. We predict a loss of response to selection of approximately 2 to 3% given this error rate
Estimation of linkage disequilibrium in a sample of the United Kingdom dairy cattle population using unphased genotypes
The association between genetic marker alleles was estimated for two regions of the bovine genome from a random sample of 50 young dairy bulls born in the United Kingdom between 1988 and 1995. Microsatellite marker genotypes were obtained for six markers on chromosome 2 and seven markers on chromosome 6, spanning 38 and 20 cM, respectively. Two different methods, which do not require family information, were used to estimate population haplotype frequencies. Haplotype frequencies were estimated for pairs of loci using the expectation-maximization algorithm and for all linked loci using a Bayesian approach via a Markov chain-Monte Carlo algorithm. Significant (P = 0.0007) linkage disequilibrium was detected between pairs of loci in syntenic groups (that is, loci in the same linkage group), extending to about 10 cM. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected between markers in nonsyntenic regions. Given the observed level of linkage disequilibrium, mapping methods based on population-wide association might provide a better resolution than traditional quantitative trait loci mapping methods in the U.K. dairy cattle population and may reduce the required sample sizes of the experiments
Spin-torque switching: Fokker-Planck rate calculation
We describe a new approach to understanding and calculating magnetization
switching rates and noise in the recently observed phenomenon of "spin-torque
switching". In this phenomenon, which has possible applications to information
storage, a large current passing from a pinned ferromagnetic (FM) layer to a
free FM layer switches the free layer. Our main result is that the spin-torque
effect increases the Arrhenius factor in the switching rate, not
by lowering the barrier , but by raising the effective spin temperature .
To calculate this effect quantitatively, we extend Kramers' 1940 treatment of
reaction rates, deriving and solving a Fokker-Planck equation for the energy
distribution including a current-induced spin torque of the Slonczewski type.
This method can be used to calculate slow switching rates without long-time
simulations; in this Letter we calculate rates for telegraph noise that are in
good qualitative agreement with recent experiments. The method also allows the
calculation of current-induced magnetic noise in CPP (current perpendicular to
plane) spin valve read heads.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 1 appendix Original version in Nature format,
replaced by Phys. Rev. Letters format. No substantive change
A Comparison of Near-Infrared Photometry and Spectra for Y Dwarfs with a New Generation of Cool Cloudy Models
We present YJHK photometry, or a subset, for the six Y dwarfs discovered in
WISE data by Cushing et al.. The data were obtained using NIRI on the Gemini
North telescope. We also present a far-red spectrum obtained using GMOS-North
for WISEPC J205628.90+145953.3. We compare the data to Morley et al. (2012)
models, which include cloud decks of sulfide and chloride condensates. We find
that the models with these previously neglected clouds can reproduce the energy
distributions of T9 to Y0 dwarfs quite well, other than near 5um where the
models are too bright. This is thought to be because the models do not include
departures from chemical equilibrium caused by vertical mixing, which would
enhance the abundance of CO, decreasing the flux at 5um. Vertical mixing also
decreases the abundance of NH_3, which would otherwise have strong absorption
features at 1.03um and 1.52um that are not seen in the Y0 WISEPC
J205628.90+145953.3. We find that the five Y0 to Y0.5 dwarfs have 300 < T_eff K
< 450, 4.0 < log g < 4.5 and f_sed ~ 3. These temperatures and gravities imply
a mass range of 5 - 15 M_Jupiter and ages around 5 Gyr. We suggest that WISEP
J182831.08+265037.8 is a binary system, as this better explains its luminosity
and color. We find that the data can be made consistent with observed trends,
and generally consistent with the models, if the system is composed of a T_eff
= 325 K and log g ~ 4.0
secondary, corresponding to masses of 10 and 7 M_Jupiter and an age around 2
Gyr. If our deconvolution is correct, then the T_eff = 300 K cloud-free model
fluxes at K and W2 are too faint by 0.5 - 1.0 magnitudes. We will address this
discrepancy in our next generation of models, which will incorporate water
clouds and mixing.Comment: 39 pages, 10 Figures, 8 Tables. Accepted by ApJ. This revision
replaces Figures 9 and 10 with B & W versions, corrects figure captions for
color online only, corrects references. Text is unchanged. Tables 3, 4 and 8
are available at http://www.gemini.edu/staff/sleggett, other model data are
available at http://www.ucolick.org/~cmorley/cmorley/Data.htm
Is Random Close Packing of Spheres Well Defined?
Despite its long history, there are many fundamental issues concerning random
packings of spheres that remain elusive, including a precise definition of
random close packing (RCP). We argue that the current picture of RCP cannot be
made mathematically precise and support this conclusion via a molecular
dynamics study of hard spheres using the Lubachevsky-Stillinger compression
algorithm. We suggest that this impasse can be broken by introducing the new
concept of a maximally random jammed state, which can be made precise.Comment: 6 pages total, 2 figure
Device for multi phase and single phase contacting
A multiphase contacting stage is provided that includes a first rotatable disc having a hollow disc-shaped cavity, an input port and an output port, and a second rotatable disc, where the second rotatable disc has a channeled cavity, an input port and an output port, and is disposed in the hollow disc-shaped cavity of the first rotatable disc, where the first rotatable disc and said second rotatable disc are concentric about an axis, where the multiphase contacting stage operates to integrate centrifugal separation and countercurrent mass transfer of a material for separation
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