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value than current bulls, if the selection goals remain the same. Thus the latter's offspring may not be used, as illustrated by scenarios b1 and d1, and using cryobank bulls |
is then meaningless. The results of scenario b3 demonstrate that using cryobank bulls has a significant impact on the selected traits and on genetic diversity only if a relatively large |
change is implemented in the selection programme (i.e. introducing a new trait formerly negatively selected but subsequently accounting for more than 50% of EBV). Under that scenario, when trait B |
accounted for less than 70% of EBV, the cryobank bulls selected were those more recently collected, since they generally had a higher value for trait A than older cryobank bulls, |
which compensated for a slightly lower value for trait B. When trait B accounted for 80% or more of EBV, most of the cryobank bulls finally used, originated from generation |
0 (data not shown), which explains the sudden decrease in average kinship after introgression of the cryobank bulls (see Figure 2). Therefore if managers of a selection scheme want to |
redirect breeding goals, using cryobank bulls is viable only if the breeding goals are subjected to a major modification (i.e. if the weight of the new trait accounts for more |
than 50% of EBV). Our results also indicate that cryobank bulls that have been sampled for functional traits with high EBV will tend to be used more frequently than other |
cryobank bulls, independently of the aim. If the objective is to introduce genetic diversity into the breed, using cryobank bulls appears to be a valid choice. However, it is imperative |
that other measures are also taken to guaranty that genes are spread within the breed i.e. either conserving male lines (scenario d3), when their use is promoted among breeders, or |
setting up more restrictive and effective breeding schemes. Several methods of varying complexity have been proposed to minimise kinship , or to maximise breeding values for a predefined inbreeding rate |
, or to minimise average kinship for a desired average EBV , usually by optimising the contribution of reproducers. On the one hand, decreasing inbreeding in a selected breed may |
improve selected traits; for instance, it has been shown that in Holstein cattle, milk production (over 305 days) can decrease by about 20 litres per 1% inbreeding increase . On |
the other hand, using semen from cryobank bulls has a negative impact on previously selected traits, as illustrated by our simulations. In the case of local breeds, in which genetic |
progress is not as effective as in breeds with a larger population size, the difference in EBV between current bulls and bulls from earlier generations should be minimised. This could |
lead to an effective use of cryobank bulls to reintroduce diversity without overly affecting selected traits. As an illustration in the Abondance breed, one of the male offspring of the |
bull born in 1977 was found to have quite a high EBV (Vaccin, born in 2003, ), and was therefore recently confirmed as a sire of dams. Among all the |
sires of dams, this bull shared the lowest average kinship with the 2004-2007 female cohorts (4.6% vs. 6.5% on average, personal communication). The impact of using this bull on the |
genetic variability of the breed remains to be assessed. Based on our results, using semen from cryobank bulls should be useful either to introduce drastic changes in selection goals or |
to reintroduce genetic diversity within a given population. However, it is important to carefully assess the pros and cons of the potential changes in genetic diversity and values of the |
selected traits. Our simulations were based on a classic quantitative selection scheme. Recent progress in genomic tools should make it possible to identify semen from cryobank bulls that share specific |
alleles or QTL of interest for selection. This could then be taken into account when choosing cryobank bulls as well as how they will be used. Using such reproducers should |
be investigated in further studies, which opens exciting perspectives for an improved exploitation of cryobank collections. The authors declare that they have no competing interests. EV, CDB and GL jointly |
conceived the design of the study and discussed the results. GL wrote and checked the simulation program. GL wrote the first draft of the manuscript, which was then modified by |
CDB and EV. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. This study was funded by the Bureau des Ressources Génétiques (BRG) (Contract 2007-14 "CryoSitu"). The authors wish to thank |
Emilie Setlakwe, Daphne Goodfellow and Hélène Hayes for linguistic revision. Verrier E, Danchin-Burge C, Moureaux S, Ollivier L, Tixier-Boichard M, Boichard D, Maignel MJ, Bidanel JP, Clement F: What should |
be preserved: genetic goals and collection protocols for the French National Cryobank. In Proceedings of the Workshop on Cryopreservation of Animal Genetic Resources in Europe: 23 February 2003; Paris. Edited |
by Planchenault D. Bureau des Ressources Génétiques; 2003:79-89. Gandini G, Oldenbroek K: Strategies for moving from conservation to utilisation. In Utilisation and conservation of farm animal genetic resources. Edited by |
Oldenbroek K. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2007:29-54. Genet Res 2002, 80:27-30. PubMed Abstract Danchin-Burge C, Hiemstra SJ: Cryo-preservation of domestic animal species in France and the Netherlands: Experience, similarities and |
differences. In Proceedings of the Workshop on Cryopreservation of Animal Genetic Resources in Europe: 23 February 2003; Paris. Edited by Planchenault D. Bureau des Ressources Génétiques; 2003:15-28. Livest Sci 2009, |
120:196-203. Publisher Full Text Livest Prod Sci 1984, 11:37-48. Publisher Full Text Theor Appl Genet 1989, 77:142-148. Publisher Full Text Philipsson J, Forabosco F, Jakobsen JH: Monitoring sustainability of international |
Amid doubt, disappointment and division, the world's governments came together in Rio on Friday to declare "a pathway for a sustainable century". At the close of the Rio+20 Earth Summit, heads of state and ministers from more than 190 nations signed off on a plan to set global sustainable development goals and other me... |
food security and promote a "green economy". After more than a year of negotiations and a 10-day mega-conference involving 45,000 people, the wide-ranging outcome document – The Future We Want – was lambasted by environmentalists and anti-poverty campaigners for lacking the detail and ambition needed to address the cha... |
7bn to 9bn by 2050. But the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon said the document would guide the world on to a more sustainable path: "Our job now is to create a critical mass. The road ahead is long and hard." US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said it was a time to be optimistic. "A more prosperous future is within... |
future where all people benefit from sustainable development no matter who they are or where they live." However, civil society groups and scientists were scathing about the outcome. Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo called the summit a failure of epic proportions. "We didn't get the Future We Wan... |
most powerful countries supported business as usual, shamefully putting private profit before people and the planet." Rio+20 was intended as a follow up on the 1992 Earth Summit, which put in place landmark conventions on climate change and biodiversity, as well as commitments on poverty eradication and social justice.... |
cleared and the population has increased by 1.6bn people. Despite a reduction in poverty, one in six people are malnourished. While the problems have grown, the ability of nations to deal with them has diminished because the EU is distracted by economic crisis, the US is diverted by a presidential election, and governm... |
With Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and David Cameron absent, the BRICS nations dominated proceedings. Brazil artfully – and, according to some delegates, aggressively – pushed through the compromise text, thereby avoiding the conflict and chaos that marked the Copenhagen climate conference in 2009. But that also left hea... |
to press for a more ambitious outcome. "Our final document is an opportunity that has been missed. It contributes almost nothing to our struggle to survive as a species," the Nicaraguan representative Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann at the conference. "We now face a future of increasing natural disasters." Other delegates ex... |
match our ambition or meet the challenge the world faces. But it's an important step forward … That's why we support it. That's why we must engage with it," said Janez Potočnik, European commissioner for environment. The main outcome of the conference is a plan to set sustainable development goals (SDGs), which Brazil ... |
have not yet been chosen, let alone cut, polished and set. Negotiators at Rio were unable to agree on themes, which will now be left to an "open working group" of 30 nations to decide upon by September 2013. Two years later, they will be blended with Millennium Development Goals. The new goals look set to be the focus ... |
poor nations over the coming years. The G77 group of developing countries is adamant that the goals must include strong social and economic elements, including financing and technology transfer. "When the EU, US say land, water – they usually emphasise environment. The G77 insist that it also has strong economic and so... |
goals," said Bhumika Muchhala, of the Third World Network. The 49-page document contained many other – mostly loosely defined – steps. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), long a poor relation of other UN organisations, will get a more secure budget, a broader membership and strong powers to initiate scientific researc... |
sustainable development, though its format is still to be defined. Achim Steiner, head of UNEP, said it was an agenda for change: "World leaders and governments have today agreed that a transition to a green economy – backed by strong social provisions – offers a key pathway towards a sustainable 21st century." Hopes t... |
economy were diluted by suspicions among some developing nations that this was another way for wealthy nations to impose a "one-model-fits-all" approach. Instead, the green economy was merely named as an "important tool" that countries could use if they wished. Nations agreed to think about ways to place a higher value... |
more for environmental and social factors, and efforts to assess and pay for "environmental services" provided by nature, such as carbon sequestration and habitat protection. Among the many vague, but potentially promising developments, was a recognition by all 192 governments that "fundamental changes in the way socie... |
different people. EU officials suggests it could lead to a shift of taxes so workers pay less and polluters and landfill operators pay more. Hillary Clinton said it should be reflected in the way products are advertised and packaged. All nations "reaffirmed" commitments to phase out harmful fossil fuel subsidies. Such ... |
was cited by the G77 as a major cause of the weak outcome. Developing countries wanted a $30bn per year fund to help in the transition to sustainability, but in the midst of a financial crisis in Europe, nobody was willing to say how much money they would contribute. Instead, there was a promise to enhance funding, but... |
were left to future discussions. Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff said rich nations had not kept Copenhagen promises on "green funding" and so were in no position to criticise others for a lack of ambition: "All countries must take responsibility. Nobody can point the finger." There was frustration that Rio+20 did no... |
world's oceans. A plan to rescue the high seas – which are outside national jurisdictions – was blocked by the US, Nicaragua, Canada and Russia. Instead, leaders say they will do more to prevent over-fishing and ocean acidification. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature called the decision a "deep disa... |
have been struck on investing in public transport, commitments made to green accounting by corporations and strategies agreed by cities and judicial bodies on reducing environmental impacts. The dynamism has been found in a 10-day "People's Summit" and campaigns to reduce plastics in the ocean and create a new sanctuar... |
to solve and those solutions have been on display all week in Rio, just not at the conference centre," said Lidy Nacpil, director of Jubilee South – Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development. The weak leadership shown in the conference halls has prompted many in civil society to rethink their strategies. Sharan Bur... |
"red/green alliance was the only way forward". If the current development model doesn't change, "we are going to see economic dislocation greater than we're facing now," she said. "There will be more wars around water and energy, so we need labour and environment walking hand in hand." |
There was a brief warm spell around 9 September, on which date the highest September temperature for six years was recorded, but much of the rest of the month was cool. In fact it was the coolest September since 1993, and heavy rain during the third week caused floods. This |
was the result of a deep and slow-moving low pressure system delivering copious rain between 23 and 25 September. Prior to that it was dry in East Anglia and south-east England. The mean maximum temperature in September ranged from 20.2C at St James's Park, London, to 12C at Lerwick, Shetland. |
The Central England Temperature (CET) was 13.1C, which is 1 degree below average. Daytime temperatures were between 0.2 degrees above average in East Anglia and 1.3 degrees below in western Scotland. The highest recorded temperature was 29.3C at both Writtle in Essex and Cambridge on the afternoon of 9 September. |
The coldest night was that of 22/23 September, when Braemar, Aberdeenshire, recorded a minimum temperature of -4.1C. Across England and Wales there was 78mm of rain, which is 102% of the average. Scotland had 81mm, exactly on the average, while Northern Ireland had 98mm, or 123% of average. Much of |
that rain came from the slow-moving storm during the last week of September. Up to 22 September it was relatively dry, but the following three days had widespread heavy rainfall which led to significant floods. During that period 131mm of rain fell on Ravensworth, North Yorkshire. The wettest location through |
the month was Cluanie Inn, Wester Ross, which measured 325mm of rain, while Otterbourne in Hampshire was the driest with 24mm. England and Wales had an average 171 hours of sunshine, which is 116% of the mean. Only 11 Septembers have been sunnier in the last 100 years. Scotland had |
127 hours, or 111% of its average, and Northern Ireland recorded 139 hours, which is 113% of the average. Manston in Kent was the sunniest location with 196 hours of sunshine, while Kinlochewe, Wester Ross, had the lowest sunshine total with only 62 hours. |
A Second Degree for Your Tech Career Think you want another degree? Join the club. Many techies decide to pursue graduate degrees as a way to advance their careers, hone an area of expertise or switch specialties. Years ago, graduate |
program choices were limited, with many students choosing between an MBA and a master's degree in computer science, depending on whether they wanted to seek a management job or maintain a technical career track. While those choices are still popular, |
the possibilities for extending education beyond a bachelor's degree have expanded as jobs for tech professionals have become more varied and multidimensional. This means game programmers are pursuing educational technology degrees to leverage their experience into a new industry, database |
pros are pursuing MBAs to show off their management acumen and network engineers are studying multimedia to make a wholesale switch in a technical specialty. So techies need to start thinking about an advanced degree by sorting through the options. |
The Old Standbys - Computer Science: Graduate programs in computer science offer a research-intensive environment for students to pursue specialties such as human-computer interaction and information networking. A master's may be required for top-notch positions at leading tech companies, while |
a PhD is usually required for academia. Graduate programs in computer science are known for being challenging and rigorous; a bachelor's degree in computer science is typically required. - Educational Technology: Master's degrees in educational technology offer students the chance |
to gain expertise in the use and theoretical foundations of technology to support learning - Electrical and Computer Engineering: Students seeking a master's in electrical and computer engineering delve into areas such as semiconductors, signal processing, microprocessors and digital system |
design. Students will typically need an undergraduate degree in the field. - Information Systems: Graduate programs in information systems (or sometimes information systems management or information technology) emphasize the use of IT to tackle business problems with coursework on topics |
such as e-commerce, information security and knowledge management. - Library Science and Information Studies: Though far from a traditional technology degree, techies are increasingly drawn to studies involving information architecture, knowledge management and content management. - MBA (Master of Business |
Administration): The MBA gives techies the chance to develop their business skills with coursework in areas such as entrepreneurship, finance, marketing and organizational behavior. With companies increasingly interested in well-rounded techies with business acumen, the degree is often a top |
choice among techies seeking to move beyond purely technical roles. The New Guard - Techno-MBA: The techno-MBA combines traditional MBA coursework with studies on the integration of IT in the corporate world. Techno-MBA students often take courses dealing with information |
systems, IT design and architecture and telecommunications. - Computer Animation, Graphics and Multimedia: These cutting-edge graduate programs typically focus on the skills and expertise required to work in areas such as film, TV and Web production. The programs may be |
offered in different settings; some may be part of a graduate school of arts and sciences, others might be in fine arts programs or film schools. - Telecommunications: Advanced degrees in telecommunications offer students the chance to explore areas bridging |
the business and regulatory realms by studying media policy, wireless networks, and communications systems and their development. Which Is Best for You? Before you decide on a program, consider your goals. Techies seeking another degree are often motivated by boosting |
their salaries, positioning to enter management, developing an area of technical expertise and/or switching from one specialty to another. Once you know what you want to achieve, you will have an easier time deciding what sort of program is for |
you. Unlike undergraduate programs, graduate programs don't usually give you much time, if any, to roam from one interest to another. You will likely get the most out of the program if you enter it with a clear sense of |
The house ranks architecturally with many of the great mansions built in the late Colonial period; however, it is the only house directly inspired from a plate in Palladio’s, I Quattro Libri dell’Architettura. It is arguably the most exquisite house remaining from the Colonial period in America. Architect William Buckl... |
re-designed the plan to accommodate the tastes for asymmetrical regional preferences and modified the hyphens from Palladio's arched entries to more practical single storey connecting links. He also incorporated fashionable urban design by sinking the windows in the method mandated by the London Building Act of 1774. T... |
solidity and three dimensionality (see image at right). This adaptation from Palladio's model marks his maturity as an architect and ranks him as one of America's first and finest architects. The initial design of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello was taken from the Villa Cornaro in Piombino Dese, Italy, in Book II, Chapte... |
by Jefferson’s own expansions to his house. Thomas Jefferson made two drawings of the Hammond-Harwood House when he served the government in Annapolis in 1783-4. One could assume that Jefferson recognized the house as derived from Palladio because his knowledge of The Four Books of Architecture was extensive. He referr... |
Most pet owners can tell you that the first few days with a puppy in the house can be a handful, but the job of being a good pet parent does not stop when your new pal sleeps through the |
night for the first time. After you finish guiding your pup through his earliest life stages, it is important to keep in mind that he will be going through his own version of the "teen" years and will rely on |
a guiding hand. The accelerated development of dogs may make it seem as though they move straight from puppy to adult, but just like people, they also have an adolescent stage. Although they may look grown up, they are still |
experiencing changes that can have a major impact on their behavior and health. "Many pet owners may not realize that dogs experience adolescence," says Jeff Werber, DVM, a nationally known veterinarian. "At this developmental stage, dogs are no longer puppies, |
but they are also not quite adults. Adolescent dogs have specific mental, social, physical and nutritional requirements that often go unmet, so it is important to make sure we are addressing all the aspects that are part of these 'teenage' |
years." When your dog goes through the "teen" life stage - from about 6 months to 2 years - keep these tips in mind. - Curb bad behaviors: Chewing shoes, soiling the carpet, surfing the counter for scraps of food |
- these are just some of the behaviors that come up as your still-young dog grows into his adult body. It is important to focus on training during this time to break bad habits - otherwise you could be dealing |
with them for life. Attending training classes not only helps your dog learn how to behave, it also helps owners discover solutions for unwanted behaviors. The added benefit of training is that it provides an opportunity to create a strong |
bond at one of the most impressionable periods of your dog's life. - Establish good eating habits: Just as kids have different nutritional needs than infants and adults, adolescent dogs need food uniquely tailored to their in-between needs. As your |
dog's body grows and changes, certain nutrients are particularly important for brain and skeletal development and digestive health. - Supervise socializing: Letting your dog interact with other animals is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. However, at the adolescent |
stage, it is important that you guide your dog's interactions carefully. As dogs' reproductive systems develop, both males and females can show signs of aggression. You may also find your male dog marking his territory and female dogs might try |
to flirt with males. When you start to see these behaviors frequently, it is probably time to discuss spaying or neutering with your vet. Not only can these procedures help correct some hormonally driven bad habits, they will also prevent |
Fast Food Tied to Asthma, Eczema and Hay Fever in Kids MONDAY, Jan. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Kids who eat fast food three or more times a week are likely to have more severe allergic reactions, a large new international study suggests. These include bouts of asthma, eczema and hay fever (rhinitis). And although the study... |
fries cause these problems, the evidence of an association is compelling, researchers say. "The study adds to a growing body of evidence of the possible harms of fast foods," said study co-author Hywel Williams, a professor of dermato-epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, in England. "Whether the evidence we ha... |
with allergies is a matter of debate," he added. These finding are important, Williams said, because this is the largest study to date on allergies in young people across the world and the findings are remarkably consistent globally for both boys and girls and regardless of family income. "If true, the findings have bi... |
be on the increase and because fast food is so popular," he said. However, Williams cautioned that fast food might not be causing these problems. "It could be due to other factors linked to behavior that we have not measured, or it could be due to biases that occur in studies that measure disease and ask about previous... |
this association between fast foods and severe allergies does not necessarily mean that eating less fast food will reduce the severity of disease of asthma, hay fever or eczema (an itchy skin disorder), Williams said. The report was published in the Jan. 14 online issue of Thorax. Williams and colleagues collected data... |
and more than 181,000 kids aged 6 and 7 from 31 countries. All of the children were part of a single study on child asthma and allergies. Kids and their parents were asked about whether they suffered from asthma or runny or blocked nose along with itchy and watery eyes and eczema. Participants also described in detail ... |
food was linked to those conditions in both older and younger children. Consuming three or more weekly fast food meals was associated with a 39 percent increased risk of severe asthma among teens And three such meals for younger children was associated with a 27 percent increased risk of severe asthma, as well higher r... |
the incidence and severity of these conditions for all the children, and for incidence and severity of wheeze and rhinitis among the teens. According to Williams, three or more weekly servings of fruit reduced the severity of symptoms 11 percent among the teens and 14 percent among the children. When looked at closely,... |
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