Genomic selection and assisted reproduction technologies to foster cattle breeding

Genomics has been propagated as a paradigm shifting innovation in livestock during the last decade. The possibility of predicting breeding values using genomic information has revolutionized the dairy cattle industry and is now being implemented in beef cattle. In this paper we discuss how genomics is changing cattle breeding through genomic selection, and how this change is creating new ways to articulate assisted reproduction technologies with animal breeding. We also debate that the scientific community is still starting the long journey to reveal the functional aspects of the cattle genome, and that knowledge in this field is the frontier to a whole new venue for the development of novel applications in the livestock sector.

Congestion Effects on Regional & System Emission and Consumers Allocated Cost

This paper considers the congestion effects on emission and consumers' allocated cost. In order to consider some environmental and operational effects of congestion, an environmental constrained active-reactive optimal power flow (AROPF) considering capability curve is presented. On outage conditions, the total cost of the system will increase. On the other hand in power systems, the operating cost and system emission have conflicted objectives, then it may be concluded that the outage in the system may lead to a total emission decrease. In this paper the famous Aumann-Shapley method is used as a pricing methodology. Two case studies such as 14-bus and US-bus IEEE test systems are conducted. Results demonstrate that, although the line outage in power systems leads to increase the total cost, the amount of emission depending on the place where the outage occurs can be more than, less than or equal to the normal conditions' emission. Also results show that although from power sellers' standpoint the well-known Aumann-Shapley method is a precise pricing method to cover the incurred cost with an acceptable error that can show the real effect of congestion on consumers' cost, from consumers' standpoint it is not a good method for cost allocation, because some consumers will face with an increase in cost and the others will face with a decrease on their cost.

Mating system variation and assortative mating of sympatric bromeliads (Pitcairnia spp.) endemic to neotropical inselbergs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The briefing in paleodesign: selection and arrangement of data for the reconstruction of Paleovertebrates

Representing visually the external appearance of an extinct animal requires, for a reasonably reliable and expressive reconstitution, a good compilation and arrangement of the scientific conclusions on the fossil findings. It is proposed in this work an initial model of a briefing to be applied in a paleodesign process of a paleovertebrate. Briefing can be understood as a gathering of all necessary data to perform a project. We point out what must be known about the relevant structures in order to access all the data and the importance of such information. It is expected that the present briefing suggested might be faced with flexibility, serving as a facilitating interface of the relation between paleoartists and paleontologists.

Application of Volterra series in nonlinear mechanical system identification and in structural health monitoring problems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

O papel dos EUA na reconfiguração das estruturas dos regimes liberais: a reforma do mecanismo de solução de controversias da OMC

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Metodologia para seleção e implantação das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação no ensino da educação básica

Pós-graduação em Matemática em Rede Nacional - IBILCE

Selection strategies for dairy buffaloes: economic and genetic consequences

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Strong selection against hybrids at a hybrid zone in the Ensatina ring species complex and its evolutionary implications

The analysis of interactions between lineages at varying levels of genetic divergence can provide insights into the process of speciation through the accumulation of incompatible mutations. Ring species, and especially the Ensatina eschscholtzii system exemplify this approach. The plethodontid salamanders E. eschscholtzii xanthoptica and E. eschscholtzii platensis hybridize in the central Sierran foothills of California. We compared the genetic structure across two transects (southern and northern Calaveras Co.), one of which was resampled over 20 years, and examined diagnostic molecular markers (eight allozyme loci and mitochondrial DNA) and a diagnostic quantitative trait (color pattern). Key results across all studies were: (1) cline centers for all markers were coincident and the zones were narrow, with width estimates of 730 m to 2000 m; (2) cline centers at the northern Calaveras transect were coincident between 1981 and 2001, demonstrating repeatability over five generations; (3) there were very few if any putative F1s, but a relatively high number of backcrossed individuals in the central portion of transects: and (4) we found substantial linkage disequilibrium in all three studies and strong heterozygote deficit both in northern Calaveras, in 2001, and southern Calaveras. Both linkage disequilibrium and heterozygote deficit showed maximum values near the center of the zones. Using estimates of cline width and dispersal, we infer strong selection against hybrids. This is sufficient to promote accumulation of differences at loci that are neutral or under divergent selection, but would still allow for introgression of adaptive alleles. The evidence for strong but incomplete isolation across this centrally located contact is consistent with theory suggesting a gradual increase in postzygotic incompatibility between allopatric populations subject to divergent selection and reinforces the value of Ensatina as a system for the study of divergence and speciation at multiple stages. © 2005 The Society for the Study of Evolution. All rights reserved.

Comparing support vector machines and artificial neural networks in the recognition of steering angle for driving of mobile robots through paths in plantations

The use of mobile robots turns out to be interesting in activities where the action of human specialist is difficult or dangerous. Mobile robots are often used for the exploration in areas of difficult access, such as rescue operations and space missions, to avoid human experts exposition to risky situations. Mobile robots are also used in agriculture for planting tasks as well as for keeping the application of pesticides within minimal amounts to mitigate environmental pollution. In this paper we present the development of a system to control the navigation of an autonomous mobile robot through tracks in plantations. Track images are used to control robot direction by pre-processing them to extract image features. Such features are then submitted to a support vector machine and an artificial neural network in order to find out the most appropriate route. A comparison of the two approaches was performed to ascertain the one presenting the best outcome. The overall goal of the project to which this work is connected is to develop a real time robot control system to be embedded into a hardware platform. In this paper we report the software implementation of a support vector machine and of an artificial neural network, which so far presented respectively around 93% and 90% accuracy in predicting the appropriate route. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and peer review under responsibility of the organizers of the 2013 International Conference on Computational Science

Balancing immunity and tolerance: genetic footprint of natural selection in the transcriptional regulatory region of HLA-G

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)