Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Robert L. Weaber / Feet and leg soundness is an important trait for beef producers as it has an impact on cow longevity and animal well-being. The objective of this study was to investigate genetic parameter estimates for feet and leg traits, understand the relationship between feet and leg traits and Stayability EPD, and develop a scoring method for feet and leg traits in Red Angus cattle. Cattle were scored on 14 subjective traits: Body Condition Score (BCS), Front Hoof Angle (FA), Front Heel Depth (FHD), Front Hoof Claw Shape (FC), Rear Hoof Angle (RA), Rear Heel Depth (RHD), Rear Hoof Claw Shape (RC), Foot Size (FS), Hoof Orientation (HO), Knee Orientation (KO), Front Side View (FSV), Rear Leg Side View (RS), Rear Leg Hind View (RH), Composite Score (CS). Red Angus cattle (n=1885) were scored for all 14 traits by trained evaluators. All traits except CS were scored with the assumed optimum level being in the middle with undesirable scores being located on the extremes. Scores were observed on a scale of 1-100 and analyzed, then scores were simplified to 1-9 where scores were collapsed by 10’s into bins, starting at 10 since there were no scores observed below that point and the rubric used did not have an associated phenotype below that point. A three-generation pedigree file was obtained from the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) that contained 13,306 animals, as well as a performance file on all animals observed in the study. Data were modeled using multiple linear bivariate animal models with additive and residual random effects, and age and contemporary group (herd-year) as fixed effects. Genetic parameters were estimated with ASREML4.0. Heritability estimates on the 1-9 scale for BCS, FA, FHD, FC, RA, RHD, RC, FS, HO, KO, FSV, RS, RH, and CS were 0.13, 0.18, 0.12, 0.08, 0.17, 0.24, 0.15, 0.29, 0.15, 0.15, 0.11, 0.29, 0.11, and 0.09 respectively. In general, feet and leg traits were lowly to moderately heritable, and are similar when compared to estimates for the same traits scored on a 1-100 scale. This informs a less granular and more simplified scale of measurement can be an appropriate method of feet and leg trait classification. Front hoof angle, FHD, RA, and RHD were all highly genetically correlated (r = 0.83 - 0.97), suggesting that angle and heel depth are controlled by many of the same genes. Front claw shape and RC were highly genetically correlated (r = 0.80) with each other but were not as significantly correlated with FA, FHD, RA, RHD (r = -0.43 to 0.38). This suggests that hoof angle/depth should be measured separately from claw shape. Rear leg side view, and RH had a strong correlation (r = 0.69). Strong correlations between FSV, HO, and KO also existed, yet there was noticeable variation among point estimates and standard error. Six traits on the 1-9 scale were selected to generate estimated breeding values (EBV’s) based on their heritability and correlation with other traits; BCS RHD, RC, FS, RSV, RH. A linear model was used to determine breeding values for BCS, RHD, RC, FS, FSV and RH. Those breeding values were regressed on Stayability EPD. When fixed effects of herd, age and year born were accounted for, RC (P < 0.0001), RSV (P = 0.0517), and FS (P = 0.086) had relationships as predictor variables for Stayability EPD. The use of feet and leg traits as predictor variables for improved Stayability EPD can be achieved with a simplified scoring system (1-9 vs. 1-100) in Red Angus cattle. By narrowing the number of traits needed to measure with a more simplified scoring method should allow for more rapid adoption among current beef cattle producers. A greater number of observations could be useful to validate these results and provide more accurate point estimates for feet and leg trait heritabilities and correlations.

Type-omega DPLs (Denotational Proof Languages) are languages for proof presentation and search that offer strong soundness guarantees. LCF-type systems such as HOL offer similar guarantees, but their soundness relies heavily on static type systems. By contrast, DPLs ensure soundness dynamically, through their evaluation semantics; no type system is necessary. This is possible owing to a novel two-tier syntax that separates deductions from computations, and to the abstraction of assumption bases, which is factored into the semantics of the language and allows for sound evaluation. Every type-omega DPL properly contains a type-alpha DPL, which can be used to present proofs in a lucid and detailed form, exclusively in terms of primitive inference rules. Derived inference rules are expressed as user-defined methods, which are "proof recipes" that take arguments and dynamically perform appropriate deductions. Methods arise naturally via parametric abstraction over type-alpha proofs. In that light, the evaluation of a method call can be viewed as a computation that carries out a type-alpha deduction. The type-alpha proof "unwound" by such a method call is called the "certificate" of the call. Certificates can be checked by exceptionally simple type-alpha interpreters, and thus they are useful whenever we wish to minimize our trusted base. Methods are statically closed over lexical environments, but dynamically scoped over assumption bases. They can take other methods as arguments, they can iterate, and they can branch conditionally. These capabilities, in tandem with the bifurcated syntax of type-omega DPLs and their dynamic assumption-base semantics, allow the user to define methods in a style that is disciplined enough to ensure soundness yet fluid enough to permit succinct and perspicuous expression of arbitrarily sophisticated derived inference rules. We demonstrate every major feature of type-omega DPLs by defining and studying NDL-omega, a higher-order, lexically scoped, call-by-value type-omega DPL for classical zero-order natural deduction---a simple choice that allows us to focus on type-omega syntax and semantics rather than on the subtleties of the underlying logic. We start by illustrating how type-alpha DPLs naturally lead to type-omega DPLs by way of abstraction; present the formal syntax and semantics of NDL-omega; prove several results about it, including soundness; give numerous examples of methods; point out connections to the lambda-phi calculus, a very general framework for type-omega DPLs; introduce a notion of computational and deductive cost; define several instrumented interpreters for computing such costs and for generating certificates; explore the use of type-omega DPLs as general programming languages; show that DPLs do not have to be type-less by formulating a static Hindley-Milner polymorphic type system for NDL-omega; discuss some idiosyncrasies of type-omega DPLs such as the potential divergence of proof checking; and compare type-omega DPLs to other approaches to proof presentation and discovery. Finally, a complete implementation of NDL-omega in SML-NJ is given for users who want to run the examples and experiment with the language.

Onset of puberty was observed in 12 bison bulls by the collection of semen at monthly intervals for 12 months beginning at 13 months of age. Onset of puberty was defined as the time in development when an ejaculate contained a minimum of 50x106 sperm showing at least 10% progressive motility. At each collection, data were recorded on body weight, semen quality, fecal testosterone concentration, and physical development. Semen was evaluated for gross motility, individual progressive motility, sperm morphology, sperm concentration and volume. From these data bison bulls attained onset of puberty at an average age of 16.5 months and an average body weight of 353 ± 52.8 kg. Age was the greatest determining factor for onset of puberty in this group of bulls. <p> Monthly abattoir collections of epididymal sperm (n=288) and testicular tissue (n=120) were evaluated to determine if bison bulls undergo seasonal changes in sperm production. Although epididymal sperm morphology did not give any indication of seasonal variation, the histological study of testicular tissue showed greater seminiferous tubule diameter (27.0 ± 4.3 ìm) during the breeding months (July, August and September) than during any other seasons. Semen collected at 4 different occasions during the year (June, November, January, and April) from live mature breeding bulls (n=21) was used to verify data collected from abattoir samples. Semen from mature bulls showed a significantly greater proportion of normal sperm in June than in November (73.8 ± 9.1%; 44.1 ± 24.3%), respectively. There was little improvement in sperm morphology at the January sampling but in April morphology improved to a level close to that observed in June. Fecal testosterone concentrations were highest in June (128.6 ± 67.4 ng/g) and lowest in April (48.5 ± 33.3 ng/g). Although there was no clear seasonal trend in sperm morphology from bulls sampled at the abattoir, mature bulls showed slight seasonal variations in semen quality.

Onset of puberty was observed in 12 bison bulls by the collection of semen at monthly intervals for 12 months beginning at 13 months of age. Onset of puberty was defined as the time in development when an ejaculate contained a minimum of 50x106 sperm showing at least 10% progressive motility. At each collection, data were recorded on body weight, semen quality, fecal testosterone concentration, and physical development. Semen was evaluated for gross motility, individual progressive motility, sperm morphology, sperm concentration and volume. From these data bison bulls attained onset of puberty at an average age of 16.5 months and an average body weight of 353 ± 52.8 kg. Age was the greatest determining factor for onset of puberty in this group of bulls. <p> Monthly abattoir collections of epididymal sperm (n=288) and testicular tissue (n=120) were evaluated to determine if bison bulls undergo seasonal changes in sperm production. Although epididymal sperm morphology did not give any indication of seasonal variation, the histological study of testicular tissue showed greater seminiferous tubule diameter (27.0 ± 4.3 ìm) during the breeding months (July, August and September) than during any other seasons. Semen collected at 4 different occasions during the year (June, November, January, and April) from live mature breeding bulls (n=21) was used to verify data collected from abattoir samples. Semen from mature bulls showed a significantly greater proportion of normal sperm in June than in November (73.8 ± 9.1%; 44.1 ± 24.3%), respectively. There was little improvement in sperm morphology at the January sampling but in April morphology improved to a level close to that observed in June. Fecal testosterone concentrations were highest in June (128.6 ± 67.4 ng/g) and lowest in April (48.5 ± 33.3 ng/g). Although there was no clear seasonal trend in sperm morphology from bulls sampled at the abattoir, mature bulls showed slight seasonal variations in semen quality.

One of the most impactful challenges beef cow-calf producers face is the need to optimize reproductive efficiency. The ability of a veterinarian to identify potential sources of reproductive inefficiency is a valuable service they can offer. The breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) is one tool veterinarians use to identify subfertile bulls prior to use. This body of research shows that producers who have a defined breeding season have higher odds of hiring a veterinarian to perform BSEs, and that as breeding season length decreases, the probability of a management strategy that uses BSEs being profitable increases. Furthermore, not all veterinarians use the same standards for BSEs, which may decrease its utility. Lastly, if a positive test result indicates a subfertile bull, the BSE has a higher specificity than sensitivity, a low positive predictive value at typical pre-test probabilities, and a negative predictive value that is not much more informative than prevalence.

Purpose – The financial systems in many emerging countries are still impacted by the devastating effect of the 2008 financial crisis which created a massive disaster in the global economy. The banking sector needs appropriate quantitative techniques to assess its financial soundness, strengths and weaknesses. This research aims to explore, empirically assess and analyze the financial soundness of the banking sector in Kazakhstan. It also examines the prediction of financial unsoundness at an individual bank level using PCA, cluster, MDA, logit and probit analyses. Design/Methodology/Approach – A cluster analysis, in combination with principal component analysis (PCA), was utilized as a classification technique. It groups sound and unsound banks in Kazakhstan's banking sector by examining various financial ratios. Cluster analysis was run on a sample of 34 commercial banks on 1st January, 2008 and 37 commercial banks on 1st January, 2014 to test the ability of this technique to detect unsound banks before they fail. Then, Altman Z” and EM Score models were tested and re-estimated and the MDA, logit and probit models were constructed on a sample of 12 Kazakhstan banks during the period between 1st January, 2008 and 1st January, 2014. The sample consists of 6 sound and 6 unsound banks and accounts for 81.3% of the total assets of the Kazakhstan banking sector in 2014. These statistical methods used various financial variables to represent capital adequacy, asset quality, management, earnings and liquidity. Last but not least, the MDA, logit and probit models were systematically combined together to construct an integrated model to predict bank financial unsoundness. Findings – First of all, results from Chapter 3 indicate that cluster analysis is able to identify the structure of the Kazakh banking sector by the degree of financial soundness. Secondly, based on the findings in the second empirical chapter, the tested and re-estimated Altman models show a modest ability to predict bank financial unsoundness in Kazakhstan. Thirdly, the MDA, logit and probit models show high predictive accuracy in excess of 80%. Finally, the model that integrated the MDA, logit and probit types presents superior predictability with lower Type I errors. Practical Implications – The results of this research are of interest to supervisory and regulatory bodies. The models can be used as a reliable and effective tool, particularly the cluster based methodology for assessing the degree of financial soundness in the banking sector and the integrated model for predicting the financial unsoundness of banks. Originality/Value – This study is the first to employ a cluster-based methodology to assess financial soundness in the Kazakh banking sector. In addition, the integrated model can be used as a promising technique for evaluating the financial unsoundness of banks in terms of predictive accuracy and robustness. Importance – Assessing the financial soundness of the Kazakh banking system is of particular importance as the World Bank has ranked Kazakhstan as leading the world for the volume of non-performing credits in the total number of loans granted in 2012. It is one of the first academic studies carried out on Kazakhstan banks which comprehensively evaluate the financial soundness of banks. It is anticipated that the findings of the current study will provide useful lessons for developing and transition countries during periods of financial turmoil.

This paper introduces Denotational Proof Languages (DPLs). DPLs are languages for presenting, discovering, and checking formal proofs. In particular, in this paper we discus type-alpha DPLs---a simple class of DPLs for which termination is guaranteed and proof checking can be performed in time linear in the size of the proof. Type-alpha DPLs allow for lucid proof presentation and for efficient proof checking, but not for proof search. Type-omega DPLs allow for search as well as simple presentation and checking, but termination is no longer guaranteed and proof checking may diverge. We do not study type-omega DPLs here. We start by listing some common characteristics of DPLs. We then illustrate with a particularly simple example: a toy type-alpha DPL called PAR, for deducing parities. We present the abstract syntax of PAR, followed by two different kinds of formal semantics: evaluation and denotational. We then relate the two semantics and show how proof checking becomes tantamount to evaluation. We proceed to develop the proof theory of PAR, formulating and studying certain key notions such as observational equivalence that pervade all DPLs. We then present NDL, a type-alpha DPL for classical zero-order natural deduction. Our presentation of NDL mirrors that of PAR, showing how every basic concept that was introduced in PAR resurfaces in NDL. We present sample proofs of several well-known tautologies of propositional logic that demonstrate our thesis that DPL proofs are readable, writable, and concise. Next we contrast DPLs to typed logics based on the Curry-Howard isomorphism, and discuss the distinction between pure and augmented DPLs. Finally we consider the issue of implementing DPLs, presenting an implementation of PAR in SML and one in Athena, and end with some concluding remarks.

Podpiera (2006) found that compliance with Basel Core Principles (BCP) in banking provisions has a direct positive effect on bank performance. Using Non-performing Loans (NPL) ratio and Net-Interest Margin (NIM) as indicators of bank performance, his panel data from 1998 to 2002 with 65 different countries proved that higher compliance results in better bank performance and soundness. This paper is a reexamination of this relationship in a more recent time period from 2006 to 2010 when another global financial crisis took place. I found evidence that the positive relationship between BCP compliance and bank performance continues to be true.

Coarse aggregate is often one of the largest volume occupying components in a portland cement concrete system. With increases in transportation costs and depletion of many of the aggregate sources currently in use the need to reevaluate the performance of aggregates in concrete has arisen. Current aggregate testing requirements for many organizations have not been updated in decades, even with the advancements in aggregate testing equipment that are currently available. This research project investigates current used and potential test methods for evaluating coarse aggregate for use in portland cement concrete. Testing focused on determining the most appropriate aggregate property to evaluate and then determining the correlation to mechanical concrete properties. Relationships between potential aggregate tests and currently used aggregate tests were evaluated to determine if compatible relationships between methods were evident. For this purpose concrete mixtures were made at a fixed aggregate volume to establish if a link was evident between aggregate test properties and concrete. To establish a link between laboratory and real world performance field sites with known distress were visited to better establish limits for aggregate testing requirements. Results obtained provided the basis for recommendations for testing requirements and limits to be used for aggregates in portland cement concrete. / text

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) uses approximately 11,000,000 tons of aggregate per year for transportation projects. Being able to select durable aggregates for use in transportation projects is of considerable importance, if the aggregate deteriorates then the constructed facility requires premature repair, rehabilitation or replacement. Realizing the importance and also that deficiencies in the current WisDOT testing protocol may exist, it has been concluded that the durability-testing program for Wisconsin aggregates needs to be updated. For example, WisDOT is currently using the Sodium Sulfate Soundness Test (ASTM C 88) to measure durability, a test that was put in place in 1960. The ability of this test to predict durability performance and simulate field conditions is questionable and it has also been criticized for its lack of precision. It should also be noted that the use of recycled and reclaimed aggregates has increased in recent years and not all typical durability tests can be used for testing these aggregates. The Sulfate Test in particular cannot be used for testing Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCA) because the chemical reaction produces erroneous and misleading results. This project has identified recent advances in the understanding and testing of aggregate durability. An in depth literature review has been conducted and from the compiled information a laboratory testing program was developed. Selection of the tests was based upon the tests' precision, efficiency, and predictive capabilities. In the laboratory-testing phase of this project the proposed durability tests along with current WisDOT durability tests were used to evaluate the full range of Wisconsin aggregates. From the test results it was found that the WisDOT aggregate testing protocol could be reduced substantially by eliminating many of the testing requirements for aggregates that have a vacuum saturated absorption of less than 2%. Also, the addition of several tests was ruled out due to their lack of correlation with field performance records. The Micro-Deval abrasion test is recommended for inclusion in WisDOT testing protocol as a test to measure the abrasion resistance of aggregate while the L.A. Abrasion test is better suited as a measure of aggregate strength. Additional conclusions were made based on the durability testing conducted and an overall testing protocol has been developed and is recommended for implementation by WisDOT. / Master of Science