Restricted Selection Index to Relieve the Negative Repercussion in Reproductive Performance of Holstein Cows

The aim of this investigation was to develop restricted selection index aiming to improve 305-day yields of milk (MY), fat (FY) and protein (PY), while keeping the deterioration in days open (DO), calving interval (CI) and number of services per conception (NSPC) at minimum levels in Holstein cows. The data represent 3682 records of 1122 cows, daughters of 95 sires and 712 dams. The data were analyzed by multi-trait animal model with repeated measures. Eight selection indexes (five unrestricted and three restricted) were derived using MY, FY, PY, CI, DO and NSPC in various combinations as sources of information in the indexes. However, the true breeding value included MY, FY and PY. The highest accuracy of selection (0.60) resulted from selection based on the full index. Milk yield and SPC appeared to be the most valuable traits in the full index. Combining the two traits into one index (the best reduced index) gave 0.57 accuracy of selection. The index based on MY alone (the most accurate single trait index) gave 0.53 accuracy. It seems possible to reduce the expected genetic deterioration in the reproductive traits by restricting the full index to result in zero genetic change in NSPC (rTI=0.48). This restriction will allow the breeder to mitigate the deterioration in DO and CI by 12 and 16 days respectively, by sacrificing with part of the expected genetic improvement in productive traits (29, 40 and 48% in MY, FY and PY, respectively).

Two Topics of Optical Excitation Dynamics, Newly Unveiled by the Time- and Momentum-Resolved Photo-Electron Emission from the Conduction Band of GaAs: A Theoretical Review

We review the recent two topics of optical excitation and relaxation dynamics, newly unveiled by the time- and momentum-resolved photo-electron emission from the conduction band of GaAs. One is the real-time collective relaxation dynamics, resulting in the Fermi degeneracy formation in the Γ valley. We show that it takes almost infinite time to realize the exact Fermi degeneracy, due to a restricted selection rule for the intravalley transition of the photo-excited electrons. The other is the spontaneous and instantaneous intervalley transition from the Γ valley to the L one. By considering the electron-phonon coupling before the photo-excitation, such spontaneous intervalley transition is realized within the framework of the Franck–Condon principle of the photo-excitation.

Systematic sampling of discrete and continuous populations: sample selection and the choice of estimator

Systematic sampling is easy, efficient, and widely used, though it is not generally recognized that a systematic sample may be drawn from the population of interest with or without restrictions on randomization. The restrictions or the lack of them determine which estimators are unbiased, when using the sampling design as the basis for inference. We describe the selection of a systematic sample, with and without restriction, from populations of discrete elements and from linear and areal continuums (continuous populations). We also provide unbiased estimators for both restricted and unrestricted selection. When the population size is known at the outset, systematic sampling with unrestricted selection is most likely the best choice. Restricted selection affords estimation of attribute totals for a population when the population size — for example, the area of an areal continuum — is unknown. Ratio estimation, however, is most likely a more precise option when the selection is restricted and the population size becomes known at the end of the sampling. There is no difference between restricted and unrestricted selection if the sampling interval or grid tessellates the frame in such a way that all samples contain an equal number of measurements. Moreover, all the estimators are unbiased and identical in this situation.