Escore de condição corporal e desempenho reprodutivo de vacas leiteiras mestiças lactantes

The objective was to evaluate the effect of lactation order, racial composition and milk production in the body condition score (BCS) at prepartum and its variation at postpartum. Furthermore, evaluate the effect of BCS at prepartum and its variation at postpartum on reproductive performance in dairy cows. Data was collected, relating to 470 parturitions for two years at 3 properties in Gurinhatã-MG. Milk production was measured monthly and the evaluation of the BCS was made by a single individual in the prepartum and postpartum (from 1.0 to 5.0). Was used the conventional artificial insemination, timed artificial insemination and controlled ride. The pregnancy diagnosis was through rectal palpation from 40 days after the service. The variables were analyzed using the SAS GLIMMIX procedure. The racial composition affected the BCS at prepartum (P=0.0003). Milk production tended to affect the BCS at prepartum (P=0.0957) and its variation in postpartum (P=0.1179). The overall conception rate was 57.3% and was affected (P<0.0001) by type of service. There was no effect of the BCS in prepartum (P=0.1544) and the variation of BCS (P=0.3127) on conception rate. Had no effect of BCS interaction at prepartum (P=0.9516) and the variation of BCS (P=0.9506) with the type of service on conception rate. The BCS at prepartum affect the service period (P<0.0001). Cows with BCS less than 3.25 became pregnant earlier. The variation of the BCS affected the service period (P<0.0001). Cows with loss of ECC became pregnant earlier than cows without loss. The average loss of ECC at postpartum was -0.692 points, not enough to damage the reproductive performance of dairy cows.

Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Mg/Ca record for the surface-dwelling planktonic foraminifera Globigerina bulloides

We generated a high-resolution SSTMg/Ca record for the surface-dwelling planktonic foraminifera Globigerina bulloides from the core MD99-2346 collected in the Gulf of Lion, and compared it to that obtained using modern analogue techniques applied to fossil foraminiferal assemblages (SSTMAT). The two temperature records display similar patterns during the last 28,000 years but the SSTMg/Ca estimates are several degrees warmer (~+4 °C) than SSTMAT. The temperature shift between SSTMg/Ca and SSTMAT remained relatively constant over time. This seems to exclude a bias on the Mg/Ca record associated with salinity or secondary Mg-rich calcite encrustation on the foraminiferal tests during early diagenesis. Therefore, anomalously high Mg/Ca suggests either: (1) the empirical equation for G. bulloides of Elderfield and Ganssen (2000) is incorrect; or (2) there is a specific Mediterranean genotypes of G. bulloides for which a specific Mg/Ca-temperature calibration is needed.

Redefining Access: Embracing multimodality, memorability and shared experience in Museums

Disability access to museums, both physical and intellectual, is generally considered a minority issue. Whilst museums and cultural institutions acknowledge the moral and legal importance of equal access to their establishments, there is generally a conflict between the perceived number of potential visitors that will benefit and the cost implications. Set in the context of research on multisensory learning, this article discusses why disability access is, in fact, a majority issue. It discusses two case studies where an “access for all” museological approach has been applied to access to the collections, with differing success. The article considers how an “access for all” approach would potentially enhance learning, long-term memorability and the ‘cultural value’ of a museum experience for all visitors.

Characterisation of Large Disturbance Rotor Angle and Voltage Stability in Interconnected Power Networks with Distributed Wind Generation

Wind generation in highly interconnected power networks creates local and centralised stability issues based on their proximity to conventional synchronous generators and load centres. This paper examines the large disturbance stability issues (i.e. rotor angle and voltage stability) in power networks with geographically distributed wind resources in the context of a number of dispatch scenarios based on profiles of historical wind generation for a real power network. Stability issues have been analysed using novel stability indices developed from dynamic characteristics of wind generation. The results of this study show that localised stability issues worsen when significant penetration of both conventional and wind generation is present due to their non-complementary characteristics. In contrast, network stability improves when either high penetration of wind and synchronous generation is present in the network. Therefore, network regions can be clustered into two distinct stability groups (i.e. superior stability and inferior stability regions). Network stability improves when a voltage control strategy is implemented at wind farms, however both stability clusters remain unchanged irrespective of change in the control strategy. Moreover, this study has shown that the enhanced fault ride-through (FRT) strategy for wind farms can improve both voltage and rotor angle stability locally, but only a marginal improvement is evident in neighbouring regions.

Public Perceptions of the Midwest's Pavements - Executive Summary: Iowa

This report summarizes Iowa results of a five year, Pooled Fund study involving the Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota Departments of Transportation (DOTs) designed to 1) assess the public's perceptions of the DOTs' pavement improvement strategies and 2) develop customer-based thresholds of satisfaction with pavements on rural two lane highways in each state as related to the DOTs' physical indices, such as pavement ride and condition. The primary objective was to seek systematic customer input to improve the DOTs' pavement improvement policies by 1) determining how drivers perceive the DOTs' pavements in terms of comfort and convenience but also in terms of other tradeoffs the DOTs had not previously considered, 2) determining relationships between perceptions and measured pavement condition thresholds (including a general level of tolerance of winter ride conditions in two of the states), and 3) identifying important attributes and issues that may not have been considered in the past. Secondary objectives were 1) to provide a tool for systematic customer input in the future and 2) to provide information which can help structure public information programs. A University of Wisconsin-Extension survey lab conducted the surveys under the direction of a multi-disciplinary team from Marquette University. Approximately 4500 drivers in the 3 states participated in the 3 phases of the project. Researchers conducted 6 focus groups in each state, approximately 400 statewide telephone interviews in each state and 700-800 targeted telephone interviews in each state. Approximately 400 winter ride interviews were conducted in Wisconsin and Minnesota. A summary of the method for each survey is included. In Phase I, focus groups were conducted with drivers to get an initial indication of what the driving public believes in regards to pavements and to frame issues for inclusion in the more representative statewide surveys of drivers conducted in Phase II. Phase II interviews gathered information about improvement policy tradeoff issues and about preliminary thresholds of improvement in terms of physical pavement indices. In Phase III, a two step recruitment and post-drive interview procedure yielded thresholds of ride and condition index summarized for each state. Results show that, in general, the driving public wants longer lasting pavements and are willing to pay for them. They want to minimize construction delay, improve entire sections of highway at one time but they dislike detours, and prefer construction under traffic even if it stretches out construction time. Satisfaction with pavements does not correlate directly to a high degree with physical pavement indices, but was found instead to be a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon. A psychological model was applied to explain satisfaction to a respectable degree for the social sciences. Results also indicate a high degree of trust in the 3 DOTs which is enhanced when the public is asked for input on specific highway segments. Conclusions and recommendations include a 3-step methodology for other state studies.

An Empirical Analysis of Performance Impacts Resulting From Conversion to Franchise Operations

Franchising is an important form of organizational control. Possible benefits of franchising include its ability to reduce agency costs that increase with costly monitoring, and provide incentives for the use of local information by onsite managers. However, these benefits may come at a cost, as franchisees may reduce quality by choosing to free ride. While many studies have investigated the reasons for franchising, few studies have documented the impacts of franchising on unit level operating performance. Using time-series data from a number of lodging properties that were converted to franchisee control from company control, this study documents the performance impacts of franchising. The analysis reveals that conversion results in a modest decline in financial performance and an immediate sharp decline in quality.

Barn utforskar sin förskolegård : Förskolebarns perspektiv på sin utemiljö

Vårt intresse för utemiljön uppstod då vi såg, genom erfarenheter av arbete på förskolor, att många förskolegårdar inte alltid tilltalade barnen. Några gårdar såg inte inspirerande ut och barnen visste inte vet vad de skulle göra. Syftet med studien är att skapa kunskap om hur barn utforskar sin förskolegård och vad som styr deras val av hur de placerar sig själva på gården när de leker. Utifrån en etnografisk, induktiv studie, vill vi lyfta fram vad barnen berättar om sin förskolegård. Vi har utgått från barndomsgeografi vilken ses inom forskningen som en del av barndomssociologin. Barndomen ses här som socialt konstruerad och frågor uppkommer om vilka platser som betraktas som bra för barn. Vi har sett utifrån våra samtalspromenader och observationer att barnen använder sig av olika rörelsestrategier såsom att klättra i träden, åka rutschkana och gunga samt att de använder sig av fysiska aktiviteter som till exempel att bygga kojor, samla naturmaterial och hoppar i lövhögar men att de även styrs av sin nyfikenhet och plötsligt kan stanna till för att titta på insekter etc. när de utforskar områden på gården. Resultaten av vår studie visar att rörelse är något som barnen ofta berättar om att de ägnar sig åt på sin förskolegård.

A Framework for Assessing the Reliability of Wind Energy Conversion Systems

During the last decade, wind power generation has seen rapid development. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, achieving 20\% wind power penetration in the U.S. by 2030 will require: (i) enhancement of the transmission infrastructure, (ii) improvement of reliability and operability of wind systems and (iii) increased U.S. manufacturing capacity of wind generation equipment. This research will concentrate on improvement of reliability and operability of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). The increased penetration of wind energy into the grid imposes new operating conditions on power systems. This change requires development of an adequate reliability framework. This thesis proposes a framework for assessing WECS reliability in the face of external disturbances, e.g., grid faults and internal component faults. The framework is illustrated using a detailed model of type C WECS - doubly fed induction generator with corresponding deterministic and random variables in a simplified grid model. Fault parameters and performance requirements essential to reliability measurements are included in the simulation. The proposed framework allows a quantitative analysis of WECS designs; analysis of WECS control schemes, e.g., fault ride-through mechanisms; discovery of key parameters that influence overall WECS reliability; and computation of WECS reliability with respect to different grid codes/performance requirements.