The accuracy of visual assessments for weight in young beef calves

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (108) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
CA Morris ◽  
RJ Smith ◽  
H Hearnshaw ◽  
RW Dicker
Keyword(s):  
Selection Pressure ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Objective Measurement ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Breeding Stock ◽  
Actual Weight ◽  
Weight Difference ◽  
Beef Bull ◽  
Selection Intensities ◽  
Visual Assessments

A trial was carried out to estimate how accurately calves sorted into classes by sex, breed and nutritional background can be placed into one of three sub-classes by visual assessment. Eight recorders independently assessed each group twice in August when calves were a month old, and six recorders repeated the exercise 4 months later. Calves were visually assessed first for liveweight, as if they were potential breeding stock ('weight assessment'), and secondly for whatever criteria the recorders might use for potential breeding stock for sale in their own herds ('stud assessment'). The objective was to simulate two possible forms of visual assessment in a bull breeder's herd, with the actual weight records being used here for comparison. Both visual assessments were compared additionally with weight records adjusted for calf age and dam age. The results were expressed in terms of the weight difference (W1) of animals visually classed by the recorder into the top vs bottom third of a group, compared with the weight difference (W2) attainable by using objective measurement at the same age, i.e. 100x W1/W2. Where the standard was unadjusted weight, then W2 in August was 31.6 kg overall. In the stud assessment recorders found that calves in the top vs bottom third differed by 17.4 kg, and by 18.4 kg in the weight assessment, equivalent respectively to 55% and 58% of the possible selection pressure attainable. Comparing only weight assessments against August weights which were adjusted for calf age and dam age, 48% of the potential selection pressure was attainable. In the December assessments, recorders were randomly allocated to first making stud assessments followed by weight assessments, or vice versa. Subsequent analysis showed that the sequence was not important. Compared with December liveweights adjusted for calf age and dam age, the selection intensities attainable by stud and weight assessment were 41 and 48%, respectively. The implications of these findings for the Australian beef bull breeding industry are discussed.

Objective on-line assessment of marbling: a brief review

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 681 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Bioelectrical Impedance ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Objective Measurement ◽  
Video Image ◽  
Line Measurement ◽  
On Line ◽  
Visual Assessments

Visual assessment remains the preferred method for evaluation of marbling in abattoirs. However, visual assessments are compromised by the disadvantages inherent in most systems of subjective evaluation. To that end, several objective measurement technologies have been developed and evaluated for on-line measurement of marbling. Several of these technologies are reviewed in this paper. Of the current suite of technologies, video image analysis and the Danish bioelectrical impedance device offer the most promise in terms of measurement accuracy and suitability for on-line use.

Estimation of the carcass composition of different cattle breeds and crosses from fatness measurements and visual assessments

1986 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
J. P. Chadwick ◽  
D. D. Charles
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Beef Breed ◽  
Percentage Unit ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fat Thickness ◽  
Substantial Bias ◽  
Visual Assessments ◽  
Thickness Measurements

SUMMARYCarcass data for 1053 steers from the Meat and Livestock Commission's beef breed evaluation programme were used to examine the relative precision of alternative fatness assessments for predicting carcass lean percentage. The data were from four trials and comprised both dairy-bred and suckler-bred cattle by a wide range of sire breeds.A visual assessment of carcass subcutaneous fat content to the nearest percentage unit (SFe) was the single most precise predictor both overall (residual S.d. = 2·28) and within breed (residual S.d. = 2·05). Precision was improved by the addition in multiple regression of the percentage perinephric and retroperitoneal fat (KKCF) in carcass, a visual score of the degree of marbling in the m. longissimus and selected fat thickness measurements taken by calipers on cut surfaces (residual S.d. = 2·11 (overall) and 1·90 (within breed)).When the best overall equation was applied to the breed means, there was substantial bias (predicted – actual carcass lean percentage). Biases ranged from +2·5 (purebred Canadian Holstein and Luing) to – 1·3 (Limousin crosses).Breeds differed significantly in carcass lean content when compared at equal levels of fatness measurements. The differences depended both on the precision with which the measurements predicted carcass lean content and the observed differences in carcass composition that existed before adjustments to equal fatness were made.The robustness of prediction equations was examined by applying them to independent sets of data (a total of 334 carcasses) from four other trials involving steers, heifers, cows and young bulls. Equations were stable for cattle of the same breed, sex and similar levels of fatness but important bias was found between more extreme types of cattle.

Visual assessments of fuel loads are poorly related to destructively sampled fuel loads in eucalypt forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liubov Volkova ◽  
Andrew L. Sullivan ◽  
Stephen H. Roxburgh ◽  
Christopher J. Weston
Keyword(s):  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Fuel Load ◽  
Poor Correlation ◽  
Random Allocation ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Forest Fuels ◽  
Fuel Loads ◽  
Rate Of Spread ◽  
Eucalypt Forests ◽  
Visual Assessments

Fire managers around the world commonly use visual assessment of forest fuels to aid prediction of fire behaviour and plan for hazard reduction burning. In Australia, fuel hazard assessment guides also allow conversion of visual assessments to indicative fuel loads, which is essential for some rate of spread models and calculation of fireline intensity or emissions. The strength of correlation between fuel hazard and destructively sampled (directly measured) fuel load was tested using a comprehensive dataset of >500 points from across a range of eucalypt forests in Australia. Overall, there was poor correlation between the assigned fuel hazard rating and measured biomass for surface, near-surface and elevated fuel components, with a clear tendency for these systems to under-predict fuel load at low hazard ratings, and over-predict it at high hazard ratings. Visual assessment of surface fuels was not statistically different from a random allocation of hazard level. The considerable overlap in fuel load between hazard ratings at higher ranges suggests the need to reduce the number of hazard classes to provide clearer differentiation of fuel hazard. To accurately assess forest fuel condition, improvements in fuel hazard descriptions and calibration of visual assessment with destructively measured fuels is essential.

scholarly journals Application of Image Analysis in Studies of Quantitative Disease Resistance, Exemplified Using Common Bacterial Blight–Common Bean Pathosystem

2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 434-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weilong Xie ◽  
Kangfu Yu ◽  
K. Peter Pauls ◽  
Alireza Navabi
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Common Bean ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Bacterial Blight ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Common Bacterial Blight ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Visual Scale ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
Visual Assessments

The effectiveness of image analysis (IA) compared with an ordinal visual scale, for quantitative measurement of disease severity, its application in quantitative genetic studies, and its effect on the estimates of genetic parameters were investigated. Studies were performed using eight backcross-derived families of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) (n = 172) segregating for the molecular marker SU91, known to be associated with a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for resistance to common bacterial blight (CBB), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli and X. fuscans subsp. fuscans. Even though both IA and visual assessments were highly repeatable, IA was more sensitive in detecting quantitative differences between bean genotypes. The CBB phenotypic difference between the two SU91 genotypic groups was consistently more than fivefold for IA assessments but generally only two- to threefold for visual assessments. Results suggest that the visual assessment results in overestimation of the effect of QTL in genetic studies. This may have been caused by lack of additivity and uneven intervals of the visual scale. Although visual assessment of disease severity is a useful tool for general selection in breeding programs, assessments using IA may be more suitable for phenotypic evaluations in quantitative genetic studies involving CBB resistance as well as other foliar diseases.

Accuracy of partially visually assessed stand characteristics: a case study of Finnish forest inventory by compartments

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 916-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Kangas ◽  
Elina Heikkinen ◽  
Matti Maltamo
Keyword(s):  
Basal Area ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Forest Management Planning ◽  
Mixed Regression ◽  
Final Error ◽  
Variance Estimates ◽  
Accuracy Assessments ◽  
Measurement Strategies ◽  
Visual Assessments

In Finland, forest management planning is based on standwise assessment of forest variables. The data is traditionally gathered partly by (subjective) sampling and partly by visual assessment, which makes the accuracy assessments difficult. This study consists of an experiment where the visual assessments of field technicians were compared with the accurately measured values. The data consists of assessments from 18 sample plots made by 19 technicians. Each technician assessed four forest characteristics from each stand, for each tree species and each tree class. Basal area was observed in all cases; the other three variables varied according to 18 different measurement strategies. From these observations, mixed models were estimated to analyze to what extent the assessment errors depend on forest characteristics. Variation among both sample plots and field technicians was also considered. The results show that some of the variables could be interpreted as Berkson cases. The assessment errors were also often highly hetero sce dastic. Therefore, variance was explicitly modeled, and the final error models were estimated with weighted mixed regression using the variance estimates as weights. The results show clear variation among technicians, especially in characteristics that include personal judgment. The effect of training could be detected from variation between the technician groups. Furthermore, the broad-leaved tree classes were generally more difficult to assess than conifers.

Analysis of meat and reproductive traits in a commercial sire broiler line

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 52-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Catterall ◽  
G.E. Pollott
Keyword(s):  
Selection Pressure ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Pure Line ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Breeding Stock ◽  
Selection Programme ◽  
Commercial Breeding ◽  
Primary Basis

Selection in a commercial sire line is primarily based on improvement of broiler traits and those reproductive traits affected by the breeding male i.e. fertility, hatchability and chick quality. However some consideration in the selection programme must be given to die egg production and quality traits as the pure line must be maintained and parent sires produced. Dam lines are also selected for broiler and reproductive traits with more selection pressure being brought to bear on the egg related traits than in the sire lines. Consequently, the cross-bred progeny of these lines, which are sold as commercial breeding stock, exhibit a high performance in both egg production and meat deposition. As the primary basis of selection is to effect development of the pure-bred lines the assessment of the relationships between broiler and reproductive traits will facilitate in the advancement of the selection programme.

Submyeloablative Allogeneic HSCT for Hematologic Malignancies: Effect of Body Weight.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2949-2949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seema Singhal ◽  
Leo Gordon ◽  
Martin Tallman ◽  
Jane Winter ◽  
Stephanie Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Cox Model ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Hematologic Malignancies ◽  
Donor Age ◽  
Ideal Weight ◽  
Allogeneic Hsct ◽  
Actual Weight ◽  
Weight Difference ◽  
Related Mortality

Abstract Being underweight or markedly overweight is associated with poorer outcome after myeloablative allogeneic HSCT. The role of body weight after reduced-intensity HSCT is unknown. The outcome of 91 patients (19–71 y, median 53) with hematologic malignancies undergoing submyeloablative allogeneic HSCT was studied to determine the effect of weight. 8 patients were >10% underweight (A), 33 were from ≤10% underweight to ≤10% overweight (B), 41 were >10% but ≤50% overweight (C), and 9 were >50% overweight (D). Donors were HLA-matched siblings (n=51), 10/10 allele-matched unrelated (n=29), or 1-locus/allele mismatched (n=11). The conditioning comprised 100 mg/m2 melphalan with (n=50; no prior auto) or without (n=41; prior auto) 50 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. Cyclophosphamide dose was based on actual weight in underweight patients and adjusted ideal weight [ideal + 0.25(actual-ideal)] in overweight patients, while melphalan dose was usually based on the actual weight if it did not exceed ideal weight by >20%. Above that, adjusted ideal weight was used. GVHD prophylaxis comprised cyclosporine-mycophenolate (HLA-matched sibs) or tacrolimus-mycophenolate (others). G/GM-CSF were not given routinely. Supportive care was uniform. As the figure above shows, weight affected overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) survival significantly. When analyzed as a continuous variable, increasing difference between actual and ideal weight (i.e. increasing overweight) had a detrimental effect on OS (RR 1.0017; 95% CI 1.0036–1.0198; P=0.005) and DFS (RR 1.0092; 95% CI 1.0012–1.0173; P=0.023). Weight difference was also analyzed in a Cox model with chemosensitivity (refractory or not), performance status (PS; 0/1 or 2/3), donor age (<45 or ≥45), and LDH (elevated or not) - variables shown to affect outcome significantly in this group of patients (Mehta et al. ASH 2006, BMT 2006). The 4 known prognostic factors retained their significance, and weight difference was also found to affect DFS and OS significantly. Transplant-related mortality was not affected by weight but relapse was - as shown in the figure below. Further Cox analysis showed that relapse was significantly affected by chemosensitivity, donor age, and weight difference. Transplant-related mortality was affected by donor age and LDH. The effect of PS on TRM disappeared when weight difference was introduced in the model although there was no correlation between weight difference and PS. This observation of lower weights affecting outcome favorably through lower relapse is somewhat unexpected, and requires confirmation in other series of patients undergoing submyeloablative allografts. Possible reasons for this may be a greater amount of chemotherapy delivered based on actual weight in group A compared to groups B, C and D, and leptin-mediated immunomodulation with attenuation of graft-vs-tumor effects with increasing weight. Figure Figure Figure Figure

scholarly journals Fungicide Resistance Profiles in Botrytis cinerea from Strawberry Fields of Seven Southern U.S. States

Plant Disease ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 825-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Fernández-Ortuño ◽  
Anja Grabke ◽  
Patricia Karen Bryson ◽  
Achour Amiri ◽  
Natália A. Peres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Botrytis Cinerea ◽  
Fungicide Resistance ◽  
Resistance Management ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Thiophanate Methyl ◽  
Southern States ◽  
Microtiter Plates ◽  
Overall Resistance ◽  
Visual Assessments

The sensitivity to seven chemical classes of fungicides was investigated in 1,810 Botrytis cinerea isolates collected from strawberry blossoms and fruit in 181 strawberry fields from seven southern states in the United States across 2 years. Ten isolates were examined from each field. Fungicide sensitivity assays were carried out based on visual assessment of diametrical mycelial growth after 4 days of incubation on media amended with discriminatory doses of fungicides in microtiter plates. Results of visual assessments were verified with selected isolates using a previously published germination assay and by inoculating representative isolates with resistant phenotypes on fungicide-sprayed fruit. The overall resistance frequencies of 750 isolates collected in 2012 for thiophanate-methyl, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, cyprodinil, fenhexamid, iprodione, and fludioxonil were 76, 42, 29, 27, 25, 3, and 1%, respectively. Frequencies of 1,060 isolates collected in 2013 were 85, 59, 5, 17, 26, 2, and 1%, respectively. Resistance to thiophanate-methyl and pyraclostrobin was found in virtually every location in both years, whereas resistance to iprodione and fludioxonil was rarely found. Resistant isolates were resistant to either one (23%), two (18%), three (19%), four (14%), five (3%), or six (0.1%) chemical classes of fungicides in 2012. In 2013, this distribution was 24, 29, 26, 8, 2, and 0.3%, respectively. Multifungicide-resistant isolates of B. cinerea were widespread in southern states and evidence suggests that the frequency of isolates with multifungicide resistance increased from 2012 to 2013. The data also show that fungicide resistance in B. cinerea was already present in blossoms, indicating that resistance management needs to be implemented early in the season.

Abstract TP494: Estimated tPA Dosing Weight on a Mobile Stroke Unit: Comparison between Estimated and Hospital-measured Weights

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asha Jacob ◽  
Teresa Kus ◽  
Mengxi Wang ◽  
Munachi Okpala ◽  
Jose-Miguel Yamal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stroke Unit ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
P Value ◽  
Actual Weight ◽  
Weight Difference ◽  
Measured Weight ◽  
Mobile Stroke Unit ◽  
Percent Difference

Introduction: The purpose of the Houston Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is to expedite stroke care by treating patients in the pre-hospital setting where obtaining a measured body weight, critical for accurate pre-hospital tPA dosing, is challenging and impossible. The paramedic and nurse on the MSU subjectively estimate by assessment (with patient report if possible) the weight for calculating tPA dosing. We aimed to determine the accuracy of the estimated weight method compared to the actual weight of patients treated with tPA on the MSU. Methods: Data were prospectively collected for MSU tPA-treated patients as part of the BEST-MSU study comparing MSU to standard EMS management. We collected the first-documented hospital-measured weight (bed scale) within 24 hours of hospital arrival, and the estimated weight used on the MSU for treatment. Mean absolute and percent difference in weights were calculated; less than 10% difference in weights was considered acceptable. To compare the estimated and measured weights, we conducted a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Differences between weights were set as 0 if both weights were above 100kg. Fisher’s exact test was used to explore association between weight difference > 10% and patient outcomes. Results: Among 337 patients, mean age was 67.8 (15.6) and average measured weight was 81.2 kg (SD 22.3). Median absolute difference in measured versus estimated weight was 2.70 kg (IQR 0.55-7.60), and both weights were significantly different from each other (p value < 0.0001). The average absolute percent difference in weight was 7.04% (SD 9.11%). The absolute mean difference in tPA dosage was 3.49 mg (SD 6.06). Among patients whose estimated and measured weights were not both ≥100 kg, 56 (16.6%) had weight difference >10%. In patients with overestimation of weight by >10%, there were no symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages. There was no association between weight difference and discharge modified Rankin score (p value = 0.5921). Conclusion: Weight estimation on a mobile stroke unit can lead to similar tPA dosing for 82% of subjects compared to if dosing were determined based on actual weight. Weight over- or under-estimation had no detected significant impact on tPA outcomes.

Discrepancy of Interim PET/CT Responses Based on Visual and Quantitative SUV-Based Assessments in the Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Extranodal Involvements

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 1446-1446
Author(s):  
Deok-Hwan Yang ◽  
Joon Ho Moon ◽  
Seung-Shin Lee ◽  
Jung-Joon Min ◽  
Shin-Young Jeong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Interim Pet ◽  
Large B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Pet Ct ◽  
Visual Assessments ◽  
Large B Cell

Abstract Background 18 F-FDG PET is currently used in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) for staging and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy at various time points. Nevertheless, the predictive value of interim PET/CT (iPET/CT) has not been consistent throughout the studies. Since FDG is not a tumor-specific substance, it may accumulate to the point of being detected in a variety of benign conditions or infectious lesions, which may give rise to false positive interpretation. Particularly, iPET/CT assessment in patients with multifocal, non-contiguous involvement at extranodal (EN) sites may result in a false determination of prognosis due to tracer uptake of inflammatory or physiologic anatomic sites, which could contribute to the variability in outcomes and the poor reproducibility. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the predictive accuracy of iPET/CT response based on visual and quantitative SUV-based assessments in patients with DLBCL and EN involvements. Methods iPET/CT responses for 163 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL and EN involvements were investigated retrospectively. iPET/CT responses were based on the visual and quantitative SUV-based assessments. Briefly, the assessment of PET/CT was performed at the time of diagnosis, at the third or fourth cycles and at the completion of R-CHOP. For visual assessment, the five-point scale (5-PS) based on the Deauville criteria was used and graded as negative or positive by comparison with initial PET/CT scan and grade 1-3 were considered as negative and grade 4-5 were considered the residual metabolic response. Second, we classified patients using the quantitative analysis of 18 F-FDG uptake changes based on the percentage of SUVmax reduction (DSUVmax) between initial and interim PET/CT scans. The cutoff points of DSUVmax were 65.7% based on previous reports. Results Median age was 61 years (range 18-83 years) and 88 patients (54.0%) in advanced disease (III/IV). Patients were classified according to the IPI risk with 95 patients (58.3%) being classified as low or low-intermediate and 68 patients (41.7%) as high-intermediate or high risk. Number of extranodal site(s) were 1 site in 102 patients (62.6%), 2 sites in 39 (23.9), 3 sites in 18 (11.0), and 4 sites in 4 (2.5%). iPET/CT responses based on visual analysis were classified into grade 1-3 of 5-PS in 99 patients (60.7%) and grade 4-5 in 64 (39.3%), and based on SUV-based, classified into higher the cutoff of DSUVmax (>65.7%) in 140 patients (85.9%) and lower (<65.7%) in 23 patients (14.1%), respectively. On visual assessment, iPET/CT-positive patients had no difference of relapse rates (28.3±5.4%) compared to those of iPET/CT-negative patients (23.1±4.5%) (p=0.419). Among the patients with 5-PS grade 4-5, 46 patients (71.9%) achieved higher the optimal cutoff of DSUVmax (>67.5%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates and progression free survival (PFS) rates were 75.6±3.8% vs 60.6±11.7% (p=0.056), and 77.9±3.7% vs 55.9±12.1% (p=0.007) depending on the cutoff of DSUVmax, respectively. Among the patients with 1 EN involvement, DSUVmax successfully predict the long-term outcomes in terms of 5yr-OS (83.2±4.3% vs 62.1±14.6%, p=0.012) and PFS (86.9±3.9% vs 41.3±16.6%, p<0.001), while for those with more than 1 EN involvements, DSUVmax failed to predict long-term outcomes. In the multivariate analysis, DSUVmax <65.7% (HR=2.675, 95% CI 1.304-5.486, p=0.007), ECOG 2-3 (HR=2.553, 95% CI 1.228-5.309, p=0.012), and the involvement of more than 1 EN sites (HR=2.370, 95% CI 1.247-4.504, p=0.008) were unfavorable factors for PFS. Visual assessments based on Deauville 5-PS score could not predict the disease progression or long-term outcomes regardless of the number of extranodal involvements or IPI risk groups. Conclusion The quantitative SUV-based assessments in iPET/CT could have significant potential as a prognostic predictor of PFS and OS, especially in the patients with 1 EN site involvement. However, the visual assessments have the limitations to predict long-term outcomes with high false positive rates at EN involvements. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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