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Identification of genomic regions that exhibit sexual dimorphism for size and muscularity in cattle
No full textSexual dimorphism, the phenomenon whereby males and females of the same species are distinctive in some aspect of appearance or size, has previously been documented in cattle for traits such as growth rate and carcass merit using a quantitative genetics approach. No previous study in cattle has attempted to document sexual dimorphism at a genome level; therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine if genomic regions associated with size and muscularity in cattle exhibited signs of sexual dimorphism. Analyses were undertaken on 10 linear type traits that describe the muscular and skeletal characteristics of both males and females of 5 beef cattle breeds; 1,444 Angus (AA), 6,433 Charolais (CH), 1,129 Hereford (HE), 8,745 Limousin (LM), and 1,698 Simmental (SI). Genome wide association analyses were undertaken using imputed whole-genome sequence data for each sex separately by breed. For each SNP that was segregating in both sexes, the difference between the allele substitution effect sizes for each sex, in each breed separately, was calculated. Suggestively (p = 1 x 10 -5) sexually dimorphic SNPs that were segregating in both males and females were detected for all traits in all breeds, although the location of these SNPs differed by both trait and breed. Significantly (p = 1 x 10 -8) dimorphic SNPs were detected in just three traits in the AA, seven traits in the CH and three traits in the LM. The vast majority of all segregating autosomal SNPs (86% in AA to 94% in LM) had the same minor allele in both males and females. Differences (p = 0.05) in allele frequencies between the sexes were observed for between 36% (LM) and 66% (AA) of the total autosomal SNPs that were segregating in both sexes. Dimorphic SNPs were located within a number of genes related to muscularity and/or size including the NAB1, COL5A2, and IWS1 genes on BTA2 that are located close to, and thought to be co-inherited with, the MSTN gene. Overall, sexual dimorphism exists in cattle at the genome level, but it is not consistent by either trait or breed
Rapid development of media-rich, interactive elearning
No full textThe 4th International Conference on Multimedia and Information & Communication Technologies in Education (m-ICTE2006), Seville, Spain, 22-25 November 2006This paper describes how the UCD Audio Visual Centre developed tools to help the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science to increase the quantity and improve the quality of its elearning materials. The Medical School wished to create pedagogically sound learning materials without converting the lecturers into elearning developers. In particular, there was an interest in making greater use of images and digital media, encouraging the students to reflect on their learning and in developing case studies on the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Any tool had to be suitable for use by medical lecturers with limited IT experience. Having evaluated the available software, a decision was made to develop a tool in-house. For reasons of portability, the tool was to tag content in XML and be SCORM conformant.Higher Education Authorit
Negative feelings about the timing of first sexual intercourse: findings from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study
No full textObjectivesThis study investigates the association between negative feelings about the first intercourse timing and sociodemographic and contextual factors. We hypothesized that girls and adolescents with an older first sexual partner will be more likely to report negative feelings and that prevalence of those feelings will vary across countries.MethodsAdolescents (N=6073, mean age=15.60.34), from Bulgaria, France, Ireland, and Scotland, taking part in the 2013/2014 HBSC study, were asked about sexual initiation, their age and partner\u27s age at first intercourse, and their feeling about the timing of first intercourse.ResultsOne-fifth of the 1321 adolescents who had had sexual intercourse reported negative feelings about the first intercourse timing. Girls, adolescents from low affluent families, and those with an older first partner were more likely to report negative feelings. However, after adjustment for covariates, only girls and those from less affluent families had significantly higher odds of reporting negative feelings.Conclusions Sexual education programmes need to explicitly address decision-making around timing of first intercourse in order to reduce negative feelings, with a special attention to gender and social inequalities
A qualitative account of young people\u27s experiences seeking care from emergency departments for self-harm
No full textMany young people who engage in self-harm do not seek help from health services. For those that do, emergency departments (EDs) are a key point of contact. Substantial gaps remain in current knowledge related to young consumers’ experiences and views on optimal treatment of self-harm in the ED. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen young people (Mage = 21.2 years), who were engaged with care at headspace early intervention centers and had presented to an ED with a self-inflicted physical injury. Participants were asked to describe their experience in the ED and the care they received. Data were analyzed thematically. Three inter-related themes were identified: 1. The ED was experienced through a lens of significant distress, 2. The ED environment and processes were counter-therapeutic, and 3. Staff were perceived to be disinterested, dismissive, and lacking in knowledge. The study highlights the overwhelmingly negative nature of participants’ experiences, and presents recommendations for service and practice improvements, such as the provision of staff training and increased aftercare. View Full-Tex
Significance of Crosslinking Approaches in the Development of Next Generation Hydrogels for Corneal Tissue Engineering.
No full textMedical conditions such as trachoma, keratoconus and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy can damage the cornea, leading to visual deterioration and blindness and necessitating a cornea transplant. Due to the shortage of donor corneas, hydrogels have been investigated as potential corneal replacements. A key factor that influences the physical and biochemical properties of these hydrogels is how they are crosslinked. In this paper, an overview is provided of different crosslinking techniques and crosslinking chemical additives that have been applied to hydrogels for the purposes of corneal tissue engineering, drug delivery or corneal repair. Factors that influence the success of a crosslinker are considered that include material composition, dosage, fabrication method, immunogenicity and toxicity. Different crosslinking techniques that have been used to develop injectable hydrogels for corneal regeneration are summarized. The limitations and future prospects of crosslinking strategies for use in corneal tissue engineering are discussed. It is demonstrated that the choice of crosslinking technique has a significant influence on the biocompatibility, mechanical properties and chemical structure of hydrogels that may be suitable for corneal tissue engineering and regenerative applications
Thermal behavior of Mg-Ni-phyllosilicate nanoscrolls and performance of the resulting composites in hexene-1 and acetone hydrogenation
No full textHere we report on the thermal properties of Mg−Ni‐phyllosilicate nanoscrolls as a promising precursor for production of Ni/silicate composite catalysts. Spontaneous scrolling of the phyllosilicate layer originating from size difference between metal‐oxygen and silica sheets provides high surface area of the catalyst. Metal nanoparticles can be obtained directly from the matrix by H2 reduction. The phyllosilicate structure passed through a number of transformations including partial dehydroxylation with formation of sepiolite‐like phase followed by silicate or oxide crystallization. Temperature ranges of these transitions overlapped with the reduction process sophisticating the H2 consumption profiles. In particular, some amount of Ni2+ got sealed up by the sepiolite structural features, that opened a path for the tuning of Ni0 : Ni2+ ratio of the catalyst. An increase of Ni content in the system yielded a decrease in the metal nanoparticles sizes due to both high intensity of nucleation and type of residual matrix. Ni nanoparticles size distribution and specific surface area of the composite catalysts governed conversion rate of hexene‐1 and acetone hydrogenation. In the view of the turnover frequency MgNi2Si2O5(OH)4 precursors were slightly more preferable than pure Ni3Si2O5(OH)4
An adaptive bitrate switching algorithm for speech applications in the context of WebRTC
No full textWeb Real-time Communication (WebRTC) provides a set of novel technologies and standards that enable high-quality audio, video, conference calls, and arbitrary data exchange over web browsers. It enables peer-to-peer multimedia sessions over IP networks without the need for additional plugins. The Opus codec, which is deployed as the default audio codec for speech and music streaming in WebRTC, supports a wide range of bitrates. This range of bitrates covers narrowband, wideband, super-wideband up to fullband bandwidths.
Users of multimedia applications always demand high quality audio. In addition to users\u27 expectation, their emotional state, content type and many other psychological factors; network quality of service (QoS) such as latency, jitter and packet loss as well as distortions introduced at the end terminals could determine their quality of experience (QoE). To measure the quality experienced by the end user for voice transmission service, the E-model standardized in the International Communication Union (ITU-T) Rec. G.107 (a narrowband version), ITU-T Rec. G.107.1 (a wideband version) and the most recent ITU-T Rec. G.107.2 extension for the super-wideband E-model, can be used.
In this thesis we first derive two codec-specific factors known as the equipment impairment factor Ie and packet loss robustness factor Bpl for all the bitrates and operating modes supported by the Opus codec in speech applications. The derivation of such factors makes it possible to assess the quality experienced by the users in RTC applications including WebRTC using the E-model. Moreover, any other speech application deploying the Opus codec could also benefit from the derived factors.
We then present a real-time adaptive codec parameter switching algorithm to select the most optimum Opus codec configuration under the present network conditions, based on the Mean Opinion Scores (MOS) coming from the SWB, WB, and NB E-model.
We carried out a number of experiments in order to check the feasibility of utilizing the E-model in WebRTC speech applications. The first one quantifies the impact of coding using the Opus codec for speech applications. We followed the methods standardized by the ITU-T for this purpose.
The second experiment validates the QoS metrics collected by WebRTC getStats API. The last experiment inspects the impact of packet loss and the quality improvement when using the adaptive codec parameter switching algorithm presented in this thesis
Arabic translation of executive summary for the report: communicating Covid-19: translation and trust in Ireland\u27s response to the pandemic
No full textA novel and facile green synthesis method to prepare LDH/MOF nanocomposite for removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II)
No full textTo date, many nanoadsorbents have been developed and used to eliminate heavy metal
contamination, however, one of the challenges ahead is the preparation of adsorbents from processes in which toxic organic solvents are used in the least possible amount. Herein, we have developed a new carboxylic acid-functionalized layered double hydroxide/metal–organic framework nanocomposite (LDH/MOF NC) using a simple, efective, and green in situ method. UiO-66-(Zr)- (COOH)2 MOF nanocrystals were grown uniformly over the whole surface of COOH-functionalized Ni50Co50-LDH ultrathin nanosheets in a green water system under a normal solvothermal condition at 100 °C. The synthesized LDH/MOF NC was used as a potential adsorbent for removal of toxic
Cd(II) and Pb(II) from water and the infuence of important factors on the adsorption process was monitored. Various non-linear isotherm and kinetic models were used to fnd plausible mechanisms involved in the adsorption, and it was found that the Langmuir and pseudo-frst-order models show the best agreement with isotherm and kinetic data, respectively. The calculated maximum adsorption capacities of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by the LDH/MOF NC were found to be 415.3 and 301.4 mg g−1, respectively, based on the Langmuir model (pH= 5.0, adsorbent dose = 0.02 g, solution volume = 20 mL, contact time = 120 min, temperature= 25 ℃, shaking speed 200 rpm)
A six-compound, high performance gasoline surrogate for internal combustion engines: Experimental and numerical study of autoignition using high-pressure shock tubes
No full textThis paper presents experimental and modeling data for the autoignition of a novel, six-component, high performance gasoline surrogate fuel comprising ethanol, n-heptane, i-octane, 1-hexene, methylcyclohexane, and toluene (AL-P-I-O-N-A). Experimental tests are conducted in two high-pressure shock tubes to determine the ignition delay time as a function of pressure, temperature and equivalence ratio. Ignition delay times were measured at 10 and 30 bar in the temperature range from 749 to 1204 K and equivalence ratios ranging from to . A modified Arrhenius equation is defined to mathematically describe the ignition delay time of the proposed surrogate. For experimental data with temperatures higher than 900 K, a multiple linear regression identified the pressure dependence exponent of and stoichiometry dependence exponent of , as well as a global activation energy of 109 kJ/mol. A simplistic approach to mechanism reduction based on the elimination of reactions with no relevant rate of progress was used in order to reduce an extensive detailed kinetics model (hierarchically constructed with more than 17800 reactions). The reduced detailed kinetics model with 4885 elementary reactions among 326 chemical species was used for numerical simulations. Comparisons between the experimental and numerical data are favorable, with the predictions using the reduced kinetics model differing by less than 0.056% when compared to the complete mechanism. It was observed that for low temperatures the proposed reduced kinetics model agrees only qualitatively with the measurements. In order to understand the likely cause of this discrepancy a brute force sensitivity analysis on IDT was performed, elucidating the more influencing reactions on the ignition delay times. The experimental data obtained in this research was compared to available data in the literature in terms of anti-knock index (AKI) and for a scaled pressure of 30 bar () at a stoichiometric composition. A modified Arrhenius equation was then fitted and an AKI dependence exponent of was obtained, inferring that the higher the AKI the higher the IDT, independent of fuel composition at temperatures lower than the NTC region. This trend should be confirmed by further studies.The main author gratefully acknowledges the support from Fundação Stemmer para Pesquisa, Desenvolvimento e Inovação – FEESC, the Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa – PROPESQ/UFSC, the Centro Tecnológico de Joinville – CTJ/UFSC and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq (Processo 454217/2017-0). The RON and MON measurements of the GSBR1 mixture performed at CENPES/ PETROBRAS by A. C. B. Bontorin, A. Rouge and E. J. Oliveira. The help and support of J. Herzler, N. Schlösser, M. Baigmohammadi, N. Lokachari and S. Nagaraja are also greatly appreciated.2021-10-2