Fat Class Research Articles

Automated Classification System Based on YOLO Architecture for Body Condition Score in Dairy Cows.

Body condition score (BCS) is a common tool used to assess the welfare of dairy cows and is based on scoring animals according to their external appearance. If the BCS of dairy cows deviates from the required value, it can lead to diseases caused by metabolic problems in the animal, increased medication costs, low productivity, and even the loss of dairy cows. BCS scores for dairy cows on farms are mostly determined by observation based on expert knowledge and experience. This study proposes an automatic classification system for BCS determination in dairy cows using the YOLOv8x deep learning architecture. In this study, firstly, an original dataset was prepared by dividing the BCS scale into five different classes of Emaciated, Poor, Good, Fat, and Obese for images of Holstein and Simmental cow breeds collected from different farms. In the experimental analyses performed on the dataset prepared in this study, the BCS values of 102 out of a total of 126 cow images in the test set were correctly classified using the proposed YOLOv8x deep learning architecture. Furthermore, an average accuracy of 0.81 was achieved for all BCS classes in Holstein and Simmental cows. In addition, the average area under the precision-recall curve was 0.87. In conclusion, the BCS classification system for dairy cows proposed in this study may allow for the accurate observation of animals with rapid declines in body condition. In addition, the BCS classification system can be used as a tool for production decision-makers in early lactation to reduce the negative energy balance.

Pork belly quality variation and its association with fatness level

Belly is a very popular pork cut composed of different layers of fat and muscle tissue. This work aims to investigate the effect of belly fatness on the morphological, mechanical (firmness) and compositional characteristics of fresh pork bellies and the distribution of the fat within the belly slice. A total of 182 bellies, selected to ensure variability of fatness, sexes and genotypes, were scanned by computed tomography (CT) to determine the fat content which, together with the genotype, led to the formation of 5 classes: F1 class below 26%, F2 class from 26% to 33.9%, and F3 class above 33.9% of fat content from common commercial crossbred pigs; F4 class with an average fatness of 47.3% from pure Duroc pigs; and last, F5 class with 62.6% average fat content from Iberian×Duroc pigs. The distribution of the fat in the central belly slice obtained by CT revealed important differences by region although the fat content was proportional to the overall fatness of the belly. Both belly weight and belly firmness increased with higher fatness. In bellies from common commercial pigs, an increase of SFA and MUFA and a decrease of PUFA as fatness increased was observed. This study highlights variations in belly characteristics among different fat classes, indicating considerable differences in the quality of bellies currently available in the market. This may influence producers and consumers acceptability such that fat content could be considered as a quality criterion to pre-classify bellies and better match the raw product with its final destination.

Fatigue strength assessment of additive manufactured components considering local quality and geometry using the theory of critical distances and 4R method

Laser based powder bed fusion (L-PBF) manufactured components are typically used in weight-critical fatigue loaded applications. Building orientation and parameters have strong influence on fatigue performance. Multiparametric method for fatigue performance analysis is applied on high-strength L-PBF specimens’ fatigue test results in this study. The fatigue strength analysis was conducted on unnotched and notched specimens with a consideration of local quality. The defect and surface profiles which defines local quality are characterized with the fractography. The results suggest that local quality influenced by building characteristics can be assessed when effective stresses are obtained by the Theory of Critical Distances (TCD) via finite element analysis. Fatigue strength assessment of notched components benefit from a consideration of local cyclic behaviour with the 4R method. Consequently, multiparametric method for fatigue strength assessment with single FAT class was proposed for AM-components.

A novel post-weld treatment using nanostructured metallic multilayer for superior fatigue strength

Welded joints exhibit fatigue failure potential from weld geometry and characteristics of the heat affected zone. In order to counteract fatigue, structures and components require larger thicknesses resulting in heavier designs exhausting the finite natural resources. We hereby introduce a novel post-weld treatment, which postpones or even prevents fatigue failure of the welded connection. A Cu/Ni nanostructured metallic multilayer (NMM) is applied via electrodeposition and a 300–600% increase in usable lifetime compared to the untreated weld is observed. A FAT class 190 with a slope of k = 6 is proposed for the design of NMM treated butt welds. Material mechanisms responsible for the fatigue strength increase are introduced herein. A case study shows that the design of offshore wind turbine support structures applying NMM post-weld treatment enables a lifetime extension as well as a 28% weight reduction compared to the structure without post-weld treatment.

Optimisation of fatigue solution for welded T-stub joints by grading of FAT classes and correction of mean stress effect

In this study, the fatigue strengths of the welded T-stub sections prepared from Strenx 700MC Plus and S355 steel were determined. Experiments were designed to evaluate the accuracy of the analytical solutions using the grading of fatigue classes and correction using the mean stress effect. The results of the experiments and analytical models were compared with those of the design solutions. Improvements to the model are discussed in this paper to improve knowledge on the behaviour of structural elements made of high-strength steel under high-cycle fatigue.

Intake of palmitic acid and its association with metabolic flexibility in middle-aged individuals: a preliminary study

Objective This study aimed to assess the relationship between dietary palmitic acid (PA) intake and its association with body fat deposition and metabolic flexibility (MF) in middle-aged healthy individuals. Methods Fifteen healthy participants (n = 15; 6 males, 9 females) with a mean age of 54 were enlisted. They were subjected to graded exercise tests using a cycle ergometer coupled with a calorimeter. Respiratory gas exchange was evaluated to determine two MF parameters. First, the MF index was derived by multiplying peak fatty acid oxidation (PFO) per kg of fat-free mass (FFM) with the percentage of VO2max at PFO. The second parameter, peak energy substrates’ oxidation (aka PESO), was computed by aggregating the kilocalories from PFO and peak carbohydrate oxidation, normalized per kg FFM. Dietary intake was gauged using a 7-day dietary record. Spearman’s regression was employed to analyze the association between dietary intake of specific fat classes, PA, MF parameters, and body fat percentage. Results Preliminary results demonstrate that dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA) within physiological limits correlate with enhanced substrate oxidation capacity. This suggests augmented MF in middle-aged subjects. Among dietary SFA, PA was identified as the primary factor in this favorable correlation. Conclusions Our initial observations, even though preliminary, strongly suggest a beneficial association between PA intake, MF, and body fat percentage. This underscores the potential nutritional importance of PA in promoting MF. Significance Statement Disparities in data regarding the health effects of dietary fats may arise from the distinct roles various dietary fatty acids play in MF.

Using in-abattoir 3-dimensional measurements from images of beef carcasses for the prediction of EUROP classification grade and carcass weight

Imaging technology can aid the automatic extraction of measurements from beef carcasses, which can be used for objective grading. Many abattoirs, however, rely on manual grading due to the required infrastructure and cost, making technology unfeasible. This study explores 3-dimensional (3D) imaging technology, requiring limited infrastructure, and its ability to predict carcass weight, conformation class and fat class for non-invasive, objective classification. Time-of-flight near-infrared cameras captured 3-dimensional point clouds of beef carcasses, on-line in one commercial abattoir in Scotland, over a 6-month period. Thirty-five 3D images were captured per carcass and processed using machine vison software. Seventy-four measurements were extracted from each point cloud. Removal of extreme outliers resulted in 285,109 datapoints for 17,250 carcasses. Coefficients of variation (CV) for each measurement on a per-animal basis were low and consistent, and measurements were averaged across images. Using a training and validation dataset (70:30), multiple linear regression models predicted EUROP conformation class, fat class, and carcass weight. Stepwise models included fixed effects (sex, breed type, kill date (and cold carcass weight for conformation and fat class)), and 3D image measurements. Including 3D measurements resulted in prediction accuracies of 70%, 50% and 23% for cold carcass weight, conformation, and fat class respectively. Mapping predictions on the traditional EUROP grid used in the UK showed that 99% of conformation classes and 93% of fat classes were classified within the correct or neighbouring grade. The results of this study indicate the potential for non-invasive, in-abattoir technology requiring limited infrastructure to predict carcass traits objectively.

PSXII-16 Evaluation of a Grade Ruler Approach for Yield Grading of Veal Carcasses

Abstract Introduction: yield estimations in carcass grading systems are important for the meat industry to assign value and sort carcasses for different market specifications. Previous studies in different species have reported yield estimations performed using anatomical linear measurements that segregate carcasses into grades or classes. However, veal carcasses are not currently segregated in terms of carcass yield performance and the Canadian veal industry is now discussing the option of implementing yield assessments for veal carcass grading purposes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of a grade ruler approach to predict yield performance of veal carcasses for grading purposes. A total of ~300 (males and females) veal carcass sides representative of the current Canadian veal population (body weight: 127.5 to 189.2 kg; backfat: 0.5 to 20.7 mm) were use in the present study. Carcass sides were scanned using a Lunar iDXA unit to evaluate the content of total fat, lean and bone. Results and discussion: total carcass lean was mainly correlated with the hot carcass weight (r = 0.65), ¼ backfat thickness (r = -0.33) and rib eye area (REA: r = 0.58) at the 11th – 12th rib-eye location (P < 0.05). Because the time to grade veal carcasses at the grading stand is limited and the efficiency of the grading tools (e.g., ruler) has to be maximized, the ¼ backfat thickness and the width and length of the ribeye were the main factors considered to develop a prediction equation. These continues variables (backfat thickness and REA) were then categorized assigning fat classes (1-10) in 2 mm increments and 4 muscle scores (small-large). The new equation developed for the estimation of lean yield incorporating the anatomical traits of muscle score and fat class showed a R2 of 0.62 and a root mean square error of 2.14 %. Based on this equation, a matrix of estimated lean meat yield percentage using the fat class and muscle score descriptors (Table 1) was developed for the implementation in a yield ruler. The results of the present study suggest that lean yield percentage from veal carcasses might be objectively and accurately predicted applying a yield ruler approach. This tool will facilitate the veal yield grading by just determining the fat class (at ¼ backfat thickness) and muscle score at the 11th – 12th rib location.

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of thin-tailed Kivircik and fat-tailed Kangal Akkaraman lambs according to EUROP carcass fatness and conformation classes

A carcass classification method is expected to effectively categorize carcasses based on both carcass and meat quality criteria. Localisation of adipose tissue on the carcass differs between thin- and fat-tailed sheep breeds, which may influence the effectiveness of the EUROP classification system in distinguishing lamb carcasses. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of EUROP carcass fatness and conformation classes on carcass characteristics and meat quality in thin-tailed Kivircik and fat-tailed Kangal Akkaraman lambs. Slaughtering, carcass, and meat quality data of 115 lambs (67 Kivircik and 48 Kangal Akkaraman) were examined. Hierarchical cluster analysis yielded 3 clusters in both breeds. Differences among lamb carcasses in different clusters were significant for nearly all carcass characteristics in both breeds. Fatness and conformation classes significantly influenced on most of the carcass characteristics in both breeds. However, the effect of fatness class on percentages of valuable joints, and the effect of conformation class on hind limb tissue composition were not significant in Kangal Akkaraman lambs. As carcass fatness and conformation classes increased in Kivircik lambs, meat colour became darker. In Kangal Akkaraman lambs, fatness class had no influence on meat colour. The effects of fatness and conformation classes on sensory characteristics were not significant in both breeds, except fatness effect on odour intensity in Kangal Akkaraman lambs. In conclusion, the EUROP classification system may not be as effective in distinguishing carcass and meat quality in Kangal Akkaraman lambs as in the Kivircik breed.

Study of fatigue fracture characteristics for duplex stainless steel STHE welded joint specimen

A shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) welded joint is considered for fatigue fracture mechanism. The joint is made up of a protruding tube fabricated to a tubesheet by means of welding. A super duplex stainless steel (DSS) material is used for the tube and tubesheet. Fatigue test was newly conducted using the single tube test specimen. The initial cracking plane was moved from the minimum sectional-area plane that was perpendicular to the loading direction, and the crack growth was almost planar. Stress analysis is carried out using finite element method (FEM) and the stress distributions are carefully studied by comparing the simple perforated plate. In addition, three-dimensional crack propagation (CP) simulation is performed employing extended finite element method (X-FEM). Fracture phenomenon is verified using the experimental and numerical crack front geometries. The fracture mechanics parameter is evaluated and verified with empirical formulae. CP behaviors are carefully discussed based on the fracture mechanics parameter. The CP life is presented for three loading amplitudes. The FAT class of the STHE welded joint is studied based on the available design standards such as BS, IIW and JSSC. Finally, the fatigue fracture characteristics of the STHE welded joint specimen are shown through the experimental and numerical methods.

Fatigue resistance of austenitic stainless steel bolts under tension

AbstractThe design of bolts made of carbon steel and stainless steel under fatigue loading is carried out according to EN 1993‐1‐9. However, the current regulations of the fatigue resistance of stainless steel bolts are based on investigations carried out for bolts made of carbon steel although the material properties of stainless steel are clearly different in terms of nonlinearity and strain hardening. Herewith, the question arises whether the design rules for carbon steel bolts are applicable to stainless steel bolts as the actual fatigue behaviour is almost unknown.In order to close this gap of knowledge, experimental investigations into the fatigue behaviour of partially threaded bolts according to EN ISO 4014 made of austenitic stainless steel were carried out under tension with constant amplitude loading with either a constant stress ratio R or with a constant mean stress σm. The tests were statistically evaluated and S‐N curves could be determined.The fatigue tests showed that a fatigue resistance of FAT class 50 according to EN 1993‐1‐9 can be achieved. Herewith, so far, it can be shown that a design according to FAT class 50 might be on the safe side for partially threaded bolts made of austenitic stainless steel.

Tailoring the Fatigue Detail Category Class: A Deterministic Implementation of a Probabilistic-Based Approach to Consequence- and Uncertainty-Informed Fatigue Life Prediction of Ships

The fatigue life of ship structures is typically based on deterministic methods in which underlying uncertainties are only implicitly taken into account and not explicitly reflected. Guidance for a probabilistic assessment is provided in class documents, but the methodology is too time consuming to apply in design practice. This paper proposes a novel approach based on DNV-CG-0129 to incorporate uncertainties and consequences explicitly. Using a probabilistic model, tailored deterministic FAT classes are derived to be applied in design practice. A tailored FAT class should be selected based on an acceptable probability of failure related to the severity of the consequences of a failure for the ship. Results show that tailored FAT classes are strongly dependent on the uncertainties provided as input when using the calculation method of DNV-CG-0129. This emphasizes the need for careful consideration and specification of the uncertainties. Furthermore, application of the First Order Reliability Method for a sensitivity study shows that the global model uncertainty is governing over other uncertainties considered in DNV-CG-0129. The proposed approach enables a low-effort and transparent probabilistic-based method, leading to optimized and improved designs due to reduction of overdimensioning in non-critical areas.

A statistical assessment of the fatigue strength improvement of butt-welded joints by flush grinding

All major rules and guidelines include fatigue design (FAT) classes for flush ground butt-welded joints. These FAT classes vary between FAT110 and FAT155; however, in the majority of cases, the underlying database and specimen-related details are unclear or unknown. This study evaluates 1003 fatigue test results gathered from various literature sources and tries to relate the fatigue strength improvement to typical specimen types and test conditions. To this goal, statistical methods based on correlation analysis are employed. Next, proposals for updates of rules and guidelines for flush ground butt-welded joints made of steel are established by determining new FAT classes and a suitable slope exponent. In addition, an overview of design standards and recommendations is given and main influencing factors are discussed.

Investigating A Multi-Domain Polyketide Synthase in Amphidinium carterae.

Dinoflagellates are unicellular organisms that are implicated in harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by potent toxins that are produced through polyketide synthase (PKS) pathways. However, the exact mechanisms of toxin synthesis are unknown due to a lack of genomic segregation of fat, toxins, and other PKS-based pathways. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, the actions and expression of the PKS proteins were investigated using the toxic dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae as a model. Cerulenin, a known ketosynthase inhibitor, was shown to reduce acetate incorporation into all fat classes with the toxins amphidinol and sulpho-amphidinol. The mass spectrometry analysis of cerulenin-reacted synthetic peptides derived from ketosynthase domains of A. carterae multimodular PKS transcripts demonstrated a strong covalent bond that could be localized using collision-induced dissociation. One multi-modular PKS sequence present in all dinoflagellates surveyed to date was found to lack an AT domain in toxin-producing species, indicating trans-acting domains, and was shown by Western blotting to be post-transcriptionally processed. These results demonstrate how toxin synthesis in dinoflagellates can be differentiated from fat synthesis despite common underlying pathway.

Association of dietary fatty acids with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in a prospective cohort of United States veterans

BackgroundAtherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs) are the leading cause of worldwide adult mortality. Although broad classes of dietary fats have been shown to alter ASCVD risk, the roles that individual dietary fatty acids play in influencing ASCVD risk are unclear. ObjectivesThe aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine the relationships of the total fat classes and individual fatty acids with the risk of ASCVD. MethodsThe Million Veteran Program is a prospective cohort whereby dietary intake of fatty acids was assessed in 158,198 participants that had enrolled between January 2011 and November 2018 and were free of ASCVD at baseline. Incident ASCVD was ascertained from the Veterans Affairs electronic health records and the National Death Index. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the relationship between fat intake and ASCVD risk were computed using Cox regression models. ResultsThe mean age was 61 years, 88% were males. A total of 11,771 ASCVD events were identified during the follow-up. When compared with the lowest quintile, participants in the highest quintile of dietary trans-monounsaturated fats and conjugated linoleic acids had an increased risk (HR [95% CI]) of ASCVD events: 1.10 (1.04, 1.17) and 1.11 (1.05, 1.18), respectively. When compared with low consumers, participants in the highest quintile of total cis-polyunsaturated fatty acid intake had a lower risk of experiencing an ASCVD event 0.93 (0.87, 0.99). ConclusionAlthough higher intakes of specific trans-fatty acids and conjugated linoleic were associated with an increased risk of ASCVD, the same cannot be said for all other fat classes. This work suggests that care must be taken when drawing general conclusions regarding the health effects of dietary individual fatty acids.

Fatigue performance of ultra-high-strength steel laser cut notches under variable amplitude loading

Experimental fatigue tests with variable amplitude (VA) load were conducted for notched uncoated and hot-dip galvanized (HDG) notched laser cut components made of S960 ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS). Tests were conducted with low (constant minimum) and high (constant maximum) mean stresses and major differences between fatigue lives with the tests on identical equivalent stress were found. A multiparametric 4R method application, in conjunction with the theory of critical distances (TCD) to obtain fatigue-effective stresses at notch, was utilized on the mean stress correction and fatigue strength assessment. The introduced 4R method was proven to be highly efficient to consider different mean stress levels based on the experimental results and different loading and specimen types could be evaluated with single FAT class.

Capability of weld seam improvement techniques for the fatigue strength optimization of welded high strength steels

Fatigue-loaded welded constructions are mainly designed according to the experimental results of low-strength steels, although great knowledge about the properties of modern high-strength steels is available. Due to the increasing notch sensitivity with increasing yield strength, the applicable load amplitudes are mostly independent of the steel grade. This paper presents various options for exploiting the potential of high-strength steels subjected to cyclic loads. Therefore, different post-weld treatments are investigated. The calculated fatigue strength is thereby based on IIW guidelines. The results indicate a high potential for an increase in fatigue strength up to a calculated FAT class with a variable slope of FAT392. This is considerably higher than the currently valid base metal level of FAT160.

WPŁYW GENOTYPU I PŁCI NA WARTOŚĆ RZEŹNĄ MŁODEGO BYDŁA OPASOWEGO SKUPOWANEGO PRZEZ JEDEN Z KRAJOWYCH ZAKŁADÓW PRZEMYSŁU MIĘSNEGO

The quality of beef is determined, among others, by factors such as breed, age and sex of slaughtered animals and fattening intensity. The aim of the study was to assess carcass quality of young cattle purchased by a selected domestic meat processing plant. The study included a group of 300 bulls and 300 heifers with selected genotypes (Limousine breed; crossbreds – Charolaise, Limousine, Simental × Polish Holstein-Friesian; Polish Holstein-Friesian breed). The following were determined for each animal: body weight before slaughter (kg), hot carcass weight (kg), hot carcass quality index (%), carcass conformation class and carcass fatness class according to the EUROP system. The mean body weight of slaughtered animals was found to be 650 kg. Carcass yield of the assessed young cattle was on average 54%. Carcasses of bulls (non-castrated males) were on aver- age 90 kg heavier and had 3 pp. higher carcass yield than carcasses of uncalved females (P < 0.05). The conformation classes of the EUROP system showed that almost 48% of the carcasses of young Limousine bulls reached the highest classes, i.e. E− and U. Limousine bulls (57.2%) had the highest carcass yield among the determined genotypic groups. The desired lowest degree of fatness was found in carcasses of bulls of all genotypes (an average of 2.9 points).

Sequence effects on the life estimation of thin-walled welded tubular structures made of HSS + UHSS under bending

Welded hollow sections are typical in different industries. A database of fatigue life data of welded hollow section joints covering sequence effects and the accuracy of the linear damage accumulation is presented. The effects of the shape of the applied load spectra, sequence effects of different amplitudes have been investigated using two high-strength steels. This document covers thin-walled tubes of 2-mm thickness made of low-carbon or mild steel 1.8849 (S460MH) and austenitic TWIP-steel 1.4678 + CP700 (X30MnCrN16-14). Constant amplitude and two-level load spectra are presented to check the linear damage accumulation. Using stress concentration factors from finite element analysis, typical FAT classes for the structural and the effective notch stress concepts are checked as well. Both structures show much higher strength compared IIW recommendations by structural stress approach and DVS 0905 by effective notch stress approach. Typical maximum linear damage sums taken from recommendations and codes of 0.2 or 0.5 are exceeded for all spectra investigated and in some of the cases even significantly above 1.0. Transferability of the recommendations to component type structures like those tubular joints made of high-strength steel needs revision to lift its lightweight potential but this will require additional data.

Influence of the geometry on the fatigue strength of welded joints using the effective notch stress approach

Using the example of a cruciform joint, this study enquires into the relationship between the geometry of weld (the wall thickness of base metal plates, thickness of weld and weld penetration depth) and the fatigue strength of weld joint using the finite element method. It is assumed that the effective notch stress approach can be used to determine a FAT class for dimensioning the connection with the nominal stress approach. Filled throat thickness and weld penetration depth or the geometry of weld root were found to have a strong influence on the fatigue strength of a welded joint. When using the effective notch stress approach, the exact geometry of the calculated weld seam must be known and should be modelled accordingly. It was also found that with thin-walled welds, the effect of wall thickness produces a significant deviation between the load capacity calculated with the effective notch stress approach (effect of wall thickness up to 100%), and with the nominal stress approach (effect of wall thickness max. 10%). At the end, a proposal will be made on how thin-walled welds can be dimensioned to facilitate the use of the same thickness factor for both the notch and nominal stress approaches.