Effects of physical activity and feed and water restriction at reimplanting time on feed intake patterns, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef steers

In the feedlot, there can be a decrease in dry matter intake (DMI) associated with reimplanting cattle that negatively affects growth performance. This study was conducted to determine the mechanisms causing a decrease in DMI after reimplanting and identify a strategy to mitigate the decrease. Crossbred steers [n = 200; 10 pens/treatment; initial bodyweight (BW) = 386 ± 4.9 kg] were used in a randomized complete block design experiment. Cattle were implanted with Revalor-IS on day 0. Treatments included a Revalor-200 implant on day 90 before feeding with the following management practices imposed: 1) steers were returned to their home pen immediately after reimplant (PCON); 2) steers were placed in pens and restricted from feed and water for 4 hours (RES); 3) steers were walked an additional 805 m after reimplant and then returned home (LOC); 4) steers were restricted from feed and water for 4 hours and walked an additional 805 m (RES+LOC); 5) steers were given an oral bolus of Megasphaera elsdenii (Lactipro; MS Biotec, Wamego, KS) and were restricted from feed and water for 4 hours, then walked an additional 805 m (LACT). One-hundred steers were given an ear tag to record minutes of activity (ESense Flex Tags, Allflex Livestock Intelligence, Madison, WI). As a percentage of BW, DMI was 5% greater (P = 0.01) from reimplant to end for PCON vs. RES, LOC, and RES+LOC treatments. Likewise, as a percentage of BW, DMI was 6.6% greater (P = 0.03) from reimplant to end and 4.0% greater (P = 0.05) overall for the PCON treatment vs. the LOC treatment. Overall, DMI as a percentage of BW, was 3.3% greater (P = 0.02) for PCON vs. RES, LOC, and RES+LOC treatments. There was an increase in G:F from reimplant to end (P = 0.05) for RES+LOC vs. the LACT treatment. From these data, we conclude that restricting cattle from feed and water for 4 hours after reimplanting did not alter subsequent DMI. Increasing locomotion had the greatest negative effect on DMI and growth performance. Management strategies to decrease locomotion associated with reimplanting would be beneficial to DMI and overall growth performance of finishing beef steers.

An investigation into the cognitive, metacognitive, and spatial markers of creativity and efficiency in architectural design

This paper presents a preliminary study into the spatial features that can be used to distinguish creativity andefficiency in design layouts, and the distinct pattern of cognitive and metacognitive activity that is associated with creative design. In a design experiment, a group of 12 architects were handed a design brief. Their drawing activity was recorded and they were required to externalize their thoughts during the design process. Both design solutions and verbal comments were analysed and modelled. A separate group of experienced architects used their expert knowledge to assign creativity and efficiency scores to the 12 design solutions. The design solutions were evaluated spatially. Protocol analysis studies including linkography and macroscopic analysis were used to discern distinctive patterns in the cognitive and metacognition activity of designs marked with the highest and least creativity scores. Entropy models of the linkographs and knowledge graphs were further introduced Finally, we assessed how creativity and efficiency correlates to experiment variables, cognitive activity, metacognitive activity, spatial and functional distribution of spaces in the design solutions, and the number and type of design constraints applied through the course of design. Through this investigation, we suggest that expert knowledge can be used to assess creativity and efficiency in designs. Our findings indicate that efficient layouts have distinct spatial features, and that cognitive and metacognitive activity in design that yields a highly creative outcome corresponds to higher frequencies of design moves and higher linkages between design moves.

Reengineering Cracker-Dryer Machine Based on Fan speed and Temperature Considering Drying Time, Final Weight and Energy Consumption Factor

Redesign and building a cracker drying machine should give priority to several factors to find the optimal point, one of which is by conducting experimental experiments. This research was carried out to find out from the tool and also pay attention to several things, such as temperature and fan speed. If one of these factors is ignored, it will not produce dry crackers and the dried crackers are less than optimal. The Independent parameters used in this research are temperature and fan speed. Dependent parameters used in this research are concerning drying time, final weight, and energy consumption. Design experiment using Factorial 3x3. Fan speed has 3 levels, they are 1000rpm, 1500rpm and 2000rpm. The Temperature parameter has 3 levels, they are 16, 19, and 21oC. Based on the design of experiment results, it was found that the drying time response for the combination that has the highest ranking is at a temperature of 19oC with a 2000rpm fan speed resulting in a drying time of 182,677 minutes.

FrameAGAP: um framework para auxiliar estudantes com dificuldades no estudo das cônicas

Com o uso de frequente acompanhamento, feedbacks sobre a aprendizagem dos estudantes e a proposta de um ensino personalizado, a Sala de Aula Invertida vem ganhando espaço nas disciplinas de ciências exatas. Personalizar o ensino não é tarefa fácil e os recursos tecnológicos são uma das alternativas para que professores consigam fazer com agilidade e eficiência. Este artigo é um recorte de uma dissertação de mestrado que objetivou construir e validar o FrameAGAP, um framework para gestão e acompanhamento de aprendizagens personalizadas, para o conteúdo de cônicas, utilizando como metodologia de pesquisa o Design Experiment. Nele, discutem-se as possibilidades do FrameAGAP quanto ao acompanhamento da aprendizagem de uma estudante com dificuldades no estudo das seções cônicas. Como resultados, verificamos que o FrameAGAP possibilitou que estudantes recebessem feedback sobre as atividades propostas, além de recursos e situações que os possibilitaram explorar e mobilizar os conhecimentos necessários para a aprendizagem do conteúdo de cônicas.

Response of Quality Attributes of Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) cv. Williumto Post Shooting Spray and Bunch Covering Material

Aims: To study the post harvest shooting namely; control, humic acid 2%, 2, 4-D 30 mg/l, gibberellic acid (GA3) 100 mg/l, CPPU 4 mg/l and sulphate of potash (SOP) 2% and covering materials viz., non- woven material bag and blue colour polyethylene sleeve (6% perforated) bag on bunch of banana cv. Willium Study Design: Experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (Factorial) with three repetitions. Place and Duration of Study: Experiment was carried out at the Horticultural Research Farm,Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand during the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 Methodology: The experimental plot was prepared by deep ploughing, harrowing and levelling. The pits of 30 x 30 x 30 cm were dug out at a spacing of 1.8 x 1.8 m2 and well decomposed fine textured Farm Yard Manure (FYM) at the rate of 10 kg per pit was applied at planting. Well hardened, healthy, uniform tissue cultured tissue culture plants of willium banana having 5-6 leaves were used for planting. Post shooting sprays were given twice i.e. 1st spray after complete opening of inflorescence and 2nd spray after 30 days of first spray with covering the bunch immediately after second spray.The fruits which were used for recording the weight loss during ripening, were used to calculating pulp: peel ratio. Pulp to peel ratio was calculated by dividing respective pulp weight by respective peel weight. The TSS value of the fruit was recorded by using hand refractometer having range of 0-32 ⁰Brix. Acidity (%) was calculated by the method described by Rangana (1977) was adopted for estimation of titrable acidity. Results: The results revealed that the banana bunches sprayingof CPPU 4 mg/lwith bunch covering with non woven materials were recorded significantly lower physiological loss in weight (12.80, 13.60 and 13.20%) and (13.26, 14.14 and 13.70%), respectively. Whereas, post shooting spray of SOP 2% with non-woven material bag coveringwere recorded significantly maximum TSS (21.42, 21.05 and 21.17 ºBrix; 21.39, 20.93 and 21.16 ºBrix), reducing sugar (12.55, 12.34 and 12.45%; 12.21, 12.16 and 12.18%) and total sugar (21.42, 20.82 and 21.12%; 20.84, 20.50 and 20.67%) as compared to rest of the treatments of post shooting sprays and bunch covering materials on banana quality. Conclusion: From the two years of field study, it can be concluded that the post shooting spraying of CPPU 4 mg/l and SOP 2% with non woven bunch covering bags were improve fruit quality of banana.

The Emergence of the “FlexTech” Orchestration of Inferential Reasoning on Pattern Generalization

The purpose of this study is to further our understanding of orchestrating math-talk with digital technology. The technology used is common in Swedish mathematics classrooms and involves personal computers, a projector directed towards a whiteboard at the front of the class and software programs for facilitating communication and collective exploration. We use the construct of instrumental orchestration to conceptualize a teacher’s intentional and systematic organization and use of digital technology to guide math-talk in terms of a collective instrumental genesis. We consider math-talk as a matter of inferential reasoning, taking place in the Game of Giving and Asking for Reasons (GoGAR).The combination of instrumental orchestration and inferential reasoning laid the foundation of a design experiment that addressed the research question: How can collective inferential reasoning be orchestrated in a technology-enhanced learning environment? The design experiment was conducted in lower-secondary school (students 14–16 years old) and consisted of three lessons on pattern generalization. Each lesson was tested and refined twice by the research team. The design experiment resulted in the emergence of the FlexTech orchestration, which provided teachers and students with opportunities to utilize the flexibility to construct, switch and mark in the orchestration of an instrumental math-GoGAR.

Possibilities for a Post-Colonial Architecture in Residential New Zealand

<p>The ability of architecture to mediate cultural identities, and prescribe spatial practices, empowers it as it provides an avenue through which it can persuade, legitimate, or dominate physical space; not only in terms of how it is conceived of, but also how the social interactions that occur within space are ordered. In other words architecture allows ideology, knowledge and therefore power to mediate space, both physically and culturally. This realisation must result in a heightened questioning and critique of how historic and contemporary architecture functions as a socio-spatial object, and challenge the treatment of architecture as a field autonomous from social and political influence. This is particularly important in countries such as New Zealand, that find their roots in a colonial past, where space, land, and building are at the forefront of cultural appropriation and domination. This thesis investigates the possibilities of producing post-colonial residential forms of architecture through challenging the inherently colonial practices and mechanisms of representation of modern architectural discourse. Situating the investigation within the context of the New Zealand State House, the thesis first seeks to investigate how the State House, and the mechanisms used to represent it, mediated colonial and imperial narratives of space, culture, and society. It also investigates the presence of Bhabha’s performative and Lefebvre’s lived space within the State House developments of Eastern Porirua in contemporary society, to gauge the ways in which inhabitants themselves have challenged the colonial narratives meditated by the state house, and to establish a list of criteria that is used to guide the development of the designs later in the thesis. Second, it seeks to investigate the possibilities for creating a new, what will be termed post-colonial, architectural position through challenging the colonial narratives mediated by the State House and the mechanisms used to represent it with previously suppressed social and cultural narratives. The work follows post-structural and post-colonial theories developed by Foucault, Bourdieu, Lefebvre, Bhabha, and Said, and extends their literature based concepts into design experimentation. The thesis presents two residential outcomes, both sited within the State House dominated suburbs of Eastern Porirua. Each outcome is generated through its own design experiment. The first design experiment and outcome challenges colonial mechanisms of architectural representation with the architecture of the wharenui, and, whilst located in the general area of the State House suburbs of Eastern Porirua, is not specifically sited due to the process of the experiment causing the design to be site-less. The second design experiment and outcome challenges the colonial position of the New Zealand State House through reading a State House site within Eastern Porirua through Shirres’ interpretation of the Māori spatial concepts of tapu and noa. The outcomes, despite being produced within established methods of architectural design, make three important positional shifts towards a post-colonial architecture. The first of these is that it produced a critique through alternate cultural architectural and spatial narratives, despite these narratives becoming reframed by the colonial narratives they challenge. The second is that they enacted historical and traditional narratives as forms of critique to architectural practice, removing the disjunction between architectural practice and historical critique. The third is that it incorporated evidence of the spatial practices and perceptions of lived space and the performative into the design, minimising the disjunction between the abstract nature of architectural practice and the fluid activity of everyday life.</p>

Possibilities for a Post-Colonial Architecture in Residential New Zealand

<p>The ability of architecture to mediate cultural identities, and prescribe spatial practices, empowers it as it provides an avenue through which it can persuade, legitimate, or dominate physical space; not only in terms of how it is conceived of, but also how the social interactions that occur within space are ordered. In other words architecture allows ideology, knowledge and therefore power to mediate space, both physically and culturally. This realisation must result in a heightened questioning and critique of how historic and contemporary architecture functions as a socio-spatial object, and challenge the treatment of architecture as a field autonomous from social and political influence. This is particularly important in countries such as New Zealand, that find their roots in a colonial past, where space, land, and building are at the forefront of cultural appropriation and domination. This thesis investigates the possibilities of producing post-colonial residential forms of architecture through challenging the inherently colonial practices and mechanisms of representation of modern architectural discourse. Situating the investigation within the context of the New Zealand State House, the thesis first seeks to investigate how the State House, and the mechanisms used to represent it, mediated colonial and imperial narratives of space, culture, and society. It also investigates the presence of Bhabha’s performative and Lefebvre’s lived space within the State House developments of Eastern Porirua in contemporary society, to gauge the ways in which inhabitants themselves have challenged the colonial narratives meditated by the state house, and to establish a list of criteria that is used to guide the development of the designs later in the thesis. Second, it seeks to investigate the possibilities for creating a new, what will be termed post-colonial, architectural position through challenging the colonial narratives mediated by the State House and the mechanisms used to represent it with previously suppressed social and cultural narratives. The work follows post-structural and post-colonial theories developed by Foucault, Bourdieu, Lefebvre, Bhabha, and Said, and extends their literature based concepts into design experimentation. The thesis presents two residential outcomes, both sited within the State House dominated suburbs of Eastern Porirua. Each outcome is generated through its own design experiment. The first design experiment and outcome challenges colonial mechanisms of architectural representation with the architecture of the wharenui, and, whilst located in the general area of the State House suburbs of Eastern Porirua, is not specifically sited due to the process of the experiment causing the design to be site-less. The second design experiment and outcome challenges the colonial position of the New Zealand State House through reading a State House site within Eastern Porirua through Shirres’ interpretation of the Māori spatial concepts of tapu and noa. The outcomes, despite being produced within established methods of architectural design, make three important positional shifts towards a post-colonial architecture. The first of these is that it produced a critique through alternate cultural architectural and spatial narratives, despite these narratives becoming reframed by the colonial narratives they challenge. The second is that they enacted historical and traditional narratives as forms of critique to architectural practice, removing the disjunction between architectural practice and historical critique. The third is that it incorporated evidence of the spatial practices and perceptions of lived space and the performative into the design, minimising the disjunction between the abstract nature of architectural practice and the fluid activity of everyday life.</p>