Cow Tail Research Articles

Dissection and Rheological Characterization of Cow Tail Discs as a Model for Human Spinal Discs

Dissection and Rheological Characterization of Cow Tail Discs as a Model for Human Spinal Discs

Deep Learning-Based Cow Tail Detection and Tracking for Precision Livestock Farming

Cow tail detection and tracking in videos provide valuable information for individual identification, calving process, behavior analysis, and body condition monitoring. Although deep learning-based detection methods have demonstrated good performance, many of them have high complexity and still require an improvement in video object detection by reducing the computation time and false positives. To fully exploit the interframe information and achieve a real-time online detection, the optimized cow tail detection and tracking method is proposed based on an improved single shot multibox detector (SSD) and Kalman filter. Here, our improved SSD-integrated DenseNet and Inception-v4 reduce detection information loss and network parameters. Then, an improved window function-based Kalman filter and Hungarian are adopted to remove error detections and enhance the cow tail tracking accuracy. Experiments on our acquired rear-view videos show that the proposed approach achieved fast tail detection with an accuracy of 96.97%, a speed of 96 fps, a smaller model size of 25 MB, and higher position accuracy with an average 6.45 pixels deviation. The proposed approach outperformed the region-based R-CNN models and other tracking methods (e.g., particle filter), which provides a new solution to automatic cow detection and tracking in smart livestock farming.

13C analysis of cow tail hair and farm slurry can be used to implicitly distinguish between different dairy production systems

BackgroundPublic interest in the way food is produced on the farm and processed along the food-production chain is increasing. The analysis of isotopic signatures (13C) in cow tail hair provides a method to reconstruct the dietary proportion of maize in cow diets. Based on this, we further investigated whether there is a relationship between isotopic signatures in cow tail hair or farm slurry and the proportion of maize of the total utilized agricultural area per farm [%]. We did an on-farm survey on 17 dairy farms in coastal Northwest Germany and collected cow tail hair from dairy cows and slurry samples on each farm. The farms differed in their feeding regime (C3 vs. C4 plants), their site conditions (sandy soil = ‘Geestland’; organic soil = ‘Peatland’; clayey soil = ‘Marshland’), and in the area cultivated with maize as a proportion of the total utilized agricultural area per farm.ResultsWe found a positive relationship between δ13C values in both cow tail hair and slurry and the annual dietary proportion of maize (R2 = 0.67; and R2 = 0.63). Furthermore, we confirmed that there was a relationship between δ13C values in cow tail hair and area of maize as a proportion of the total utilized agricultural area per farm (R2 = 0.69).ConclusionOur findings suggest a general applicability of using isotopic signatures (13C) along a wide gradient of site conditions and productions systems in practice.

The Improvement of Cow Tail (Smirnovia iranica) Seed Germination through in vitro Culture

The Improvement of Cow Tail (Smirnovia iranica) Seed Germination through in vitro Culture

Mechanical impact evaluation of natural fibres with LDPE plastic composites: Waste management in perspective

There is increased enthusiasm towards the use of natural hair fibers for plastic reinforcement due to their toughness and light weight. In this research, low density polyethylene (LDPE) was reinforced using 0.25 ​M NaOH treated cow tail, human and sheep hair fibers at 2, 4, 6 and 8% concentration respectively prior to injection moulding. The average densities, diameters and lengths of hair fibres were assessed The results obtained from the analysis of reinforced LDPE composites indicated that cow tail hair gave the highest average density and diameter. Sheep hair had the highest length after grinding. The study also analyzed the ultimate tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, elongation, impact and hardness test on the polymer and their composites as well as the morphology and statistical analysis of the composite. This study indicated that human hair LDPE composites achieved highest flexural strength, flexural modulus, ultimate tensile strength and tensile modulus at 8% fibre loading whereas elongation at break and hardness were at 4% fibre loading while impact strength was at 2%. The cow tail hair LDPE composite gave the best impact strength at 8% fibre loading and sheep hair at 6%. The SEM results showed no serious manufacturing defects on the composites. The analysis of variance indicated that only the means of the composites’ flexural properties were statistically significant. This study shows that short animal hair fibres could be effectively used to reinforced LDPE, and therefore suggest an alternative waste management strategy of these natural fibres that are currently viewed as environmental nuisance in the study area.

Genomic and phylogenetic analysis of a multidrug-resistant Burkholderia contaminans strain isolated from a patient with ocular infection

The genus Burkholderia comprises rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, obligately aerobic Gram-negative bacteria that is found across diverse ecological niches. Burkholderia contaminans, an emerging pathogen associated with cystic fibrosis, is frequently isolated from contaminated medical devices in hospital settings. The aim of this study was to understand the genomic characteristics, antimicrobial resistance profile and virulence determinants of B. contaminans strain SBC01 isolated from the eye of a patient hit by a cow's tail. A hybrid sequence of isolate SBC01 was generated using Illumina HiSeq and Oxford Nanopore Technology platforms. Unicycler was used to assemble the hybrid genomic sequence. The draft genome was annotated using the NCBI Prokaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by VITEK®2. Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes were identified using validated bioinformatics tools. The assembled genome size is 8 841 722 bp with a G+C content of 66.33% distributed in 19 contigs. Strain SBC01 was found to possess several antimicrobial resistance and efflux pump genes. The isolate was susceptible to tetracyclines, meropenem and ceftazidime. Many genes encoding potential virulence factors were identified. Burkholderia contaminans SBC01 belonging to sequence type 482 (ST482) is a multidrug-resistant strain containing diverse antimicrobial resistance genes, revealing the risks associated with infections by new Burkholderia spp. The large G+C-rich genome has a myriad of virulence factors, highlighting its pathogenic potential. Thus, while providing insights into the antimicrobial resistance and virulence potential of this uncommon species, the present analysis will aid in understanding the evolution and speciation in the Burkholderia genus.

Sensitivity and specificity of a tail-activity measuring device for calving prediction in dairy cattle

Efficient calving surveillance is essential for avoiding stillbirth due to unattended dystocia. Calving sensors can help detect the onset of parturition and thus ensure timely calving assistance if necessary. Tail-raising is an indicator of imminent calving. The objective of this study was to evaluate a tail-mounted inclinometer sensor (Moocall Ltd., Dublin, Ireland) and to monitor skin integrity after sensor attachment. Cows (n = 157) and heifers (n = 23) were enrolled at 275 d post insemination, and a sensor was attached to each cow's tail. Investigators checked for signs indicating the onset of stage II of parturition, verified the position of the sensor, and evaluated the skin integrity of the tail above and below the sensor hourly for 24 h/d. We used 5 different intervals (i.e., 1, 2, 4, 12, and 24 h until calving) to calculate sensitivity and specificity. Sensors continuously remained on the tail (i.e., within 3 cm of the initial attachment position) after initial attachment until the onset of calving in only 13.9% of animals (n = 25). Sensors were reattached until a calving event occurred (51.6%) or the animal was excluded for other reasons (34.4%). In 31 animals the sensor was removed because the tail was swollen or painful. Heifers were significantly less likely than cows to lose a sensor but more likely to experience tail swelling or pain. Depending on the interval preceding the onset of parturition, sensitivity varied from 19 to 75% and specificity from 63 to 96%.

Quantification of Elements in Cow Fur by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

The purpose of this work is to report an analytical procedure to prove the validity of the hypothesis of the representativeness of the mass vaporized in the plasma plume of the studied sample. To achieve that, we used the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique to analyze some minerals and trace elements in cow tail hair. First, hair samples were dissolved in nitric acid; then the solutions were analyzed by an atomic absorption spectrometer. Ca, Mg, and Na mass concentrations were determined for the 25 hair samples. Finally, a small amount of hair from every strand was cut in very small pieces and mixed with potassium bromide to make 12-mm diameter pellets. The laser was focused on the pellet surfaces, and the intensities of the emission lines of the studied elements were related to their absolute mass concentrations already measured. Experimental conditions were chosen to guarantee the reproducibility of ablations and to minimize the fluctuations of the ablated mass. In addition, local thermodynamic equilibrium was verified to prove the possibility of use of the theoretical model to obtain the variation of the emission line intensity as a function of the species concentration in the plasma plume.

Effect of different dehairing methods on the concentrations of some heavy metals in cow tail sold in Minna Abattoir

Heavy metals are a group of heterogeneous elements that bioacumulate in tissues causing hazardous effects on livestock and human health. In the present study, effect of different dehairing methods on the concentration of some heavy metals in cow tail sold in Minna abattoir were evaluated. Three fresh cow tails were obtained Bosso abattoir in Minna, Niger state Nigeria. Each cow tail was divided into three portions and was dehaired using fire wood, scrap tyres and scalding method respectively. Each of the processed cow tail were separated into the skin, meat, and bones and analysed for heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Heavy metals analysed in all the samples were above the permissible limit. Furthermore, mercury was significantly (p 0.05) in arsenic and cadmium concentration in all cow tail parts among the three dehairing method employed. Cow-tail de-hairing methods enhanced the heavy metal accumulations in the skin, meat and bone contents of cow tail. Continuous consumption of these cow tail pats could become a serious human health threat.

Effect of different dehairing methods on the concentrations of some heavy metals in cow tail sold in Minna Abattoir

Effect of different dehairing methods on the concentrations of some heavy metals in cow tail sold in Minna Abattoir

Microstructural characterization of annulus fibrosus by ultrasonography: a feasibility study with an in vivo and in vitro approach

The main function of the intervertebral disc is biomechanical function, since it must resist repetitive high loadings, while giving the spine its flexibility and protecting the spinal cord from over-straining. It partially owes its mechanical characteristics to the lamellar architecture of its outer layer, the annulus fibrosus. Today, no non-invasive means exist to characterize annulus lamellar structure in vivo. The aim of this work was to test the feasibility of imaging annulus fibrosus microstructure in vivo with ultrasonography. Twenty-nine healthy adolescents were included. Ultrasonographies of L3–L4 disc were acquired with a frontal approach. Annulus fibrosus was segmented in the images to measure the thickness of the lamellae. To validate lamellar appearance in ultrasonographies, multimodality images of two cow tail discs were compared: ultrasonography, magnetic resonance and optical microscopy. In vivo average lamellar thickness was 229.7 ± 91.5 μm, and it correlated with patient body mass index and age. Lamellar appearance in the three imaging modalities in vitro was consistent. Lamellar measurement uncertainty was 7%, with good agreement between two operators. Feasibility of ultrasonography for the analysis of lumbar annulus fibrosus structure was confirmed. Further work should aim at validating measurement reliability, and to assess the relevance of the method to characterize annulus alterations, for instance in disc degeneration or scoliosis.

Prediction of calving in dairy cows using a tail-mounted tri-axial accelerometer: A pilot study

Dystocia and stillborn calves are recurring problems for dairy farms, leading to high costs. By implementing a real-time monitoring system, problems could be reduced by supporting farmers to detect the onset of parturition and to intervene in case of dystocia. The hypothesis of this study was that the onset of parturition is detectable through analyses of the movement pattern of the dam's tail, recorded by a tri-axial accelerometer that was fixed on the upper part of the cow's tail. Cows (n = 5, approx. 1 week before calving) were housed in single straw-bedded boxes. Animal behaviour was video-recorded (24 h/d) and evaluated by encoding the events ‘frequency and duration of tail raising 5 h pre-partum’, ‘rupture of the amniotic sac’ and ‘expulsion of the calf’. In parallel, the accelerometer data collected from two days before calving to parturition were analysed. We developed an algorithm to detect the tail raising and created a decision function based on the frequency and duration of the tail raising. Exceeding the threshold led to a birth alarm. In each of the evaluated calvings, the alarm was triggered a short time before the expulsion of the calves, at 33, 32, 121, 6 and 71 min for cows 1 to 5, respectively. These preliminary results indicate that an accelerometer to detect tail movements may be useful to predict parturition. Further research is required to refine the algorithm and the decision function, to analyse predictability of dystocia and to develop a real-time alarm system under field conditions.

Of Seal Skins and Cow Tail Switches: Storytelling and Critical Thinking

Abstract: The author takes the reader to Albania and Tanzania to illustrate the power of storytelling as a curriculum for social change. In the discussions that ensued from storytelling, the author provides a powerful example of how stories act as a sort of social glue that binds people together and can lead to social transformation.

DINAMIKA USAHA PENGRAJIN REOG PONOROGO

The prospect of Reog's handycrafts is more exciting because Reog's art is now one of the main stays of Ponorogo tourism in national and even international scale. This study aims: Knowing the business conditions of craftsmen Reog Ponorogo, and know the problems faced by the craftsmen Reog Ponorogo. Respondents of this study are Reog Craftsmen in Ponorogo. This research uses Quantitative Descriptive research method. The sample in this study population because the population is less than 100 ie 31 craftsmen. The data were collected by questionnaire. Data analysis in the field using descriptive and quantitative descriptive explorative format. The result of the research is known that the business of reog craft is mostly done downhill. Craftsmen have pioneered the business since about 10-20 years ago. Making a reogcraft does not require higher education proved the largest number of artisans have aminimum of elementary education. The total workforce of each craftsman <20workers. The highest level of labor education is SMP. Productions made monthly can reach the sales target because most of the production is based on orders from retailers. The market share of craft reog to foreign countries such as Malaysia, Korea, America, and others. The main problem of craftsmen is the difficulty in obtaining raw materials such as peacock, tiger skin, cow leather, cow tail, horse tail and high price of raw materials, capital problem.

DINAMIKA USAHA PENGRAJIN REOG PONOROGO

The prospect of Reog's handicrafts is more exciting because Reog's art is now one of the mainstays of Ponorogo tourism in national and even international scale. This study aims: Knowing the business conditions of craftsmen Reog Ponorogo, and Know the problems faced by the craftsmen Reog Ponorogo. Respondents of this study are Reog Craftsmen in Ponorogo. This research uses Quantitative Descriptive research method. The sample in this study population because the population is less than 100 ie 31 craftsmen. The data were collected by questionnaire. Data analysis in the field using descriptive and quantitative descriptive explorative format. The result of the research is known that the business of reog craft is mostly done downhill. Craftsmen have pioneered the business since about 10-20 years ago. Making a reog craft does not require higher education proved the largest number of artisans have a minimum of elementary education. The total workforce of each craftsman <20 workers. The highest level of labor education is SMP.Productions made monthly can reach the sales target because most of the production is based on orders from retailers. The market share of craft reog to foreign countries such as Malaysia, Korea, America, and others. The main problem of craftsmen is the difficulty in obtaining raw materials such as peacock, tiger skin, cow leather, cow tail, horse tail and high price of raw materials, capital problem.Keyword : Reog Craftsmen, Business Management, UKM Problems

Bovine and degenerated human annulus fibrosus: a microstructural and micromechanical comparison

The complex structure of the annulus fibrosus is strongly related to its mechanical properties. Recent work showed that it is possible to observe the relative movement of fibre bundles in loaded cow tail annulus; the aim of this work was to describe and quantify annulus fibrosus micromechanics in degenerated human disc, and compare it with cow tail annulus, an animal model often used in the literature. Second harmonic generation was used to image the collagen matrix in twenty strips of annulus fibrosus harvested from intervertebral disc of seven patients undergoing surgery. Samples were loaded to 6% tensile strain in 1% steps. Elastic modulus was calculated from loading curves, and micromechanical strains were calculated from the images using custom software. The same protocol was applied to twenty strips of annulus harvested from cow tail discs. Significant morphological differences were found between human and cow tail samples, the most striking being the lack of collagen fibre crimp in the former. Fibres were also observed bending and running from one lamella to the other, forming a strong flexible interface. Interdigitation of fibre bundles was also present at this interface. Quantitative results show complex patterns of inter-bundle and inter-lamellar behaviour, with inter-bundle sliding being the main strain mechanism. Elastic modulus was similar between species, and it was not affected by the degree of degeneration. This work gives an insight into the complex structure and mechanical function of the annulus fibrosus, which should be accounted for in disc numerical modelling.

Perception of Nigerian Consumers on the Culinary, Social, and Health Attributes of Pepper Soup

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the perception of consumers on the culinary, social, and health attributes of pepper soup. A structured questionnaire was used to identified reasons for taking pepper soup, the preferred type of pepper soup, social environment for the consumption of pepper soup, beverage accompaniment preferred with pepper soup, and types of food preferred as accompaniment with pepper soup. It also evaluated the perception about the claimed health benefits of the constituents of pepper soup. The survey indicated that pepper soup was mostly a weekly and occasional diet taken by respondents for enjoyment (68.3%) and relaxation (55.8%). About 90.2, 85.9, 90.2, and 92% of the respondents preferred catfish, goat meat, chicken, and cow tail, respectively, as the flesh components in their pepper soup. The preferred color, texture, and flavor was either light or dark brown, viscous or light, and peppery and spicy. Hot and warm pepper soup was preferred by 97% and 65.8% of the respondents, respectively. The respondents (66.3 and 79%) preferred to take their pepper soup with beer and wine, while 75.9 and 90.7% of respondents that have preference for non-alcoholic beverage as accompaniment preferred carbonated beverages and juices or mineral water, respectively. The majority of respondents (60.5 ± 8.52%) disagreed significantly (p > 0.05) that pepper soup possessed most of the health benefits associated with herbs, spices, and other constituents of pepper soup, implying that pepper soup may not be consumed for its perceived medicinal value.

The Cultural History of the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in Early China

Since the 1970s scholars in China have identifiedmo貘 as the ancient name for the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). I concur with this identification and I trace the source of the modern misidentification ofmoas the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) to the article by Jean Pierre Abel-Rémusat published in 1824. Abel-Rémusat based his identification on woodblock drawings of themodepicted as the quadripartite animal first described by Bo Juyi in the ninth century: elephant trunk, rhinoceros eyes, cow tail, tiger paws. Xu Shen (ca. 55–ca. 149) in theShuowen jiezicomparedmoto the bear, as did all descriptions ofmobefore Bo Juyi. Bo Juyi's description reflects new ideas aboutmoin medieval culture, and cannot be used as evidence of the animal namedmoin early China. As a consequence of Abel-Rémusat's mistaken identification – which was immediately accepted in Western zoology – the wordmolost its original meaning and became the word for tapir in modern Chinese and Japanese. Examination of textual and zooarchaeological evidence confirms the giant panda as the original referent ofmo. Although the tapir inhabited the region of China in prehistory there is no evidence of the tapir in China in historical times.

The Mating Behaviour of the Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus lunatus) in the Kruger National Park

The mating behaviour of tsessebe was observed in the Kruger National Park. A description of the typical sequences in the mating behaviour is given which includes the "nose and neck stretch" posture of the courtship display of the bull when approaching a cow, the role of olfactory stimuli which are derived from either smelling at the base of a cow's tail or from the ground where a cow had been laying down or urinated, the spontaneous ejaculation of the bull in response to such stimuli and mounting. Distinction is drawn between the dominance display ("nose forward-upward posture") and the courtship display of the tsessebe bull. Comparative notes on the mating behaviour of congeneric species, i.e. the blesbok (D. dorcas phillipsi), bontebok (D. d. dorcas) and topi (D. lunatus korrigum) are given. Many similarities are evident despite a number of dissimilarities. Attention is also paid to confliction interpretations of the courtship displays in the different species.

캥거루 꼬리의 영양학적 특성

To get the nutritional data of hot water extract from imported kangaroo tails, research was done about contents of collagen, chondroitin sulfate, protein, fat, mineral ions, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in tails. Collagen content of sulfuric acid digested sample was way higher at bones than meats in both kangaroo tail and cow tail. Comparing kangaroo tail and cow tail, meat of kangaroo tail have 1.7 times higher collagen content than that of cow tail. Content of collagen in bone parts of kangaroo tail was also higher 1.2 times than that of cow tail. Meat sample of kangaroo tail (liquid extraction) have 1.3 times higher content of muco-polysaccharide than that of cow tail. In the born part, kangaroo tail was 2.4 times higher than cow tail in its content of muco-polysaccharide. The CLA content of the kangaroo tail showed the content that was higher than 0.9% of the cow tail for 4.9% and showed about 5.3 times high ratios. Especially in kangaroo tail, a band with high content of CLA was found between C18:1 and C18:2.