Value Added to the Beef Cattle Chain through Genetic Management

Genetics have a direct impact on the carcass quality of an animal. The objective of the study is to determine whether managing genetics has an impact on quality of beef carcasses. Genetic management was found to have a positive impact on quality grade and no impact on yield grade.Livestock Production/Industries,

Application of clustering techniques to multispectral optical data over the ocean

MERIS, on Envisat, provides high-resolution radiometric data at nine discrete channels in the visible band. This paper looks at the potential of an unsupervised classification technique for utilizing these multi-spectral data to provide better discrimination between water masses according to their optical properties, and in particular whether phytoplankton groups can be distinguished. Although the majority of data do show a spectral peak associated with chlorophyll's red fluorescence line, clustering using only the red bands was found to separate out coastal waters according to their sediment content. Red-end classification also appeared to identify sub-pixel cloud, and demonstrate that the smile correction had not removed all the striping from the data. Classification using bands from the blue-green end showed a response to changes in chlorophyll concentration, but also indicated other variations. However, without in situ data no firm conclusions can be drawn on which phytoplankton groupings are present

Energy efficiency and farm water systems (2015)

Farm water systems are often neglected when it comes to energy efficiency. Although the savings to be realized may not be as great as perhaps energy-efficient lighting, the return can be fairly short for some energy-saving investments. Here are some general guidelines regarding farm water systems: Check all water system components regularly for proper operation and leaks. Leaks can lead to excessive pumping and water heating costs. ; Inspect wiring regularly. ; Use pipes of adequate size to reduce friction loss in pumping water.Revised 1/15/Web only

Evidence for extended IR emission in NGC2798 and NGC6240

Extended emission at 10 and 20 microns can be used to distinguish starbursts from monsters as the underlying energy source driving the luminous infrared emission in the central regions of galaxies. The spatial extent of the mid infrared emission in the interacting galaxy NCG 2798 and the merger NGC 6240 were investigated. The 10 and 20 micron profiles of the IR source in NGC 2798 are significantly wider than beam profiles measured on a standard star, supporting a starburst interpretation of its IR luminosity. For NGC 6240 there is marginal evidence for an extended 10 micron source, suggesting that a significant fraction of its IR luminosity could be produced by a burst of star formation

Mississippi State Axion Search: A Light Shining though a Wall ALP Search

The elegant solutions to the strong CP problem predict the existence of a particle called axion. Thus, the search for axion like particles (ALP) has been an ongoing endeavor. The possibility that these axion like particles couple to photons in presence of magnetic field gives rise to a technique of detecting these particles known as light shining through a wall (LSW). Mississippi State Axion Search (MASS) is an experiment employing the LSW technique in search for axion like particles. The apparatus consists of two radio frequency (RF) cavities, both under the influence of strong magnetic field and separated by a lead wall. While one of the cavities houses a strong RF generator, the other cavity houses the detector systems. The MASS apparatus looks for excesses in RF photons that tunnel through the wall as a signature of candidate axion-like particles. The concept behind the experiment as well as the projected sensitivities are presented here.Comment: Xth Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs; 4 Pages, 5 figure

Research into chemical separation techniques for production of Bi-213 via irradiation of Ra-226 [abstract]

Abstract only availableBismuth 213 is an alpha radioimmunotherapeutic agent used in cancer treatment. Neutron bombardment of radium 226 is being investigated as an alternative method of producing Bi-213. For this project, a literature search of existing chemical separation steps for the production of Bis-213 for radioimmunotherapy was performed in order to optimize the combination of irradiation schemes with chemical separation steps. For the first step, the separation of actinium and radium from thorium 229 and recovery of radium for further irradiation, several successful methods were described in the literature. Organic cation exchange columns such as AG50W-X8 have traditionally been used to perform this step, but these suffer high radiolysis, which newer methods have tried to address. Some of these are an extraction chromatography method using a UTEVA column followed by a RE-resin column on a silica gel support, an inorganic titanium phosphate ion exchanger, and sublimation of the anhydrous chlorides of Th-229 and its daughter isotopes performed in a quartz tube, featuring complete separation of the elements while radium is retained at the bottom of the tube and available for further irradiation in one step. For the second part of the process, the elution of Bis-213 from an Ac-225 generator, quite a few successful techniques are described in the literature. Some of the better ones found are a multicolumn selectivity inversion generator, a renewable column, tandem column extraction chromatography, a PNNL automated generator, a MSKCC generator, an inorganic hydrated zirconium cation exchanger, and silica based resins, as well as the more traditional organic cation and anion exchange columns. A method using alpha recoil of Bis-213 from Ac-225 incorporated into a sealed isotope generator has the benefit of resulting in no radioactive, chemical, or mixed wastes, in contrast to chemical separation methods. In conclusion, several promising separation techniques were found in the literature

Energy conservation and efficiency in farm shops (2015)

Energy losses in farm shops resemble those in homes, but we often ignore these losses. The farm shop is usually not heated to as high a temperature as the home and not as constantly, but energy savings in the shop are attainable with some conservation and efficiency practices.Revised 1/15/Web only