Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Stillbirth is a trait of high economic importance in dairy cattle and is increasingly being included in dairy cattle breeding objectives worldwide. In South Africa, however, there is limited information on stillbirth that can be used to improve this trait genetically. Currently, there are no estimated breeding values (EBVs) for any measures of calving performance produced under the national genetic evaluation programme. The current study was, therefore, conducted to assess the incidence of stillbirth and estimate the genetic and environmental influences on maternal effects for stillbirth in South African Holstein cattle, to enable estimation of breeding values for the trait. Data used in the study comprised 13 143 calving records of 7 723 Holstein cows, from 41 herds, participating in the National Dairy Animal Recording and Improvement Scheme during the period 2014 to 2018. Incidence of stillbirth was determined using the PROC FREQ procedure and environmental effects were tested by the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure of Statistical Analysis System (SAS 9.4, 2016). Maternal heritability of stillbirth was estimated by the Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) procedure, using the ASReml software (Gilmour et al., 2018). The analyses were carried out using a threshold animal model and a repeatability animal model, where the latter considered stillbirth in different parities as repeated measures of the same trait. Environmental effects significantly influencing stillbirth (p<0.05) were herd-year season of calving, dam parity and calf sex, and these were included in the model for variance component estimation. Estimates of maternal heritability effects from the threshold animal model were 0.12±0.04, 0.15±0.08 and 0.14±0.06 for parities 1 to 3, respectively. The repeatability animal model gave a heritability estimate of 0.09±0.03 and a repeatability of 0.18±0.03. The moderate estimates of maternal heritability indicate scope for reducing incidence of stillbirth by selectively breeding cows that are less genetically predisposed to calving dead calves. Stillbirth in different parities should not be considered as the same trait, as indicated by the low repeatability estimate. Results of the current study estimate genetic parameters that are required to compute accurate estimated breeding values (EBVs) for stillbirth, which will enable South African Holstein farmers to select for reduced stillbirths, thus improving calving performance / National Research Foundation (NRF), University of Limpopo (UL) and Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)

In this diploma thesis an algorithm for the evaluation of picture quality of H.264-coded video sequences is introduced and applied. As a measure of picture quality objective metric the peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) is used. While the computation of the PSNR usually requires a reference signal and compares it to the distorted video sequence, this algorithm is able to evaluate PSNR following the coded transform coefficients. Thus, no reference signal is needed.

Year after years, the amount of data that we continuously generate is increasing. When this situation started the main challenge was to find a way to store the huge quantity of information. Nowadays, with the increasing availability of storage facilities, this problem is solved but it gives us a new issue to deal with: find tools that allow us to learn from this large data sets. In this thesis, a framework for Bayesian learning with the ability to scale to large data sets is studied. We present the Stochastic Gradient Langevin Dynamics (SGLD) framework and show that in some cases its approximation of the posterior distribution is quite poor. A reason for this can be that SGLD estimates the gradient of the log-likelihood with a high variability due to naïve sampling. Our approach combines accurate proxies for the gradient of the log-likelihood with SGLD. We show that it produces better results in terms of convergence to the correct posterior distribution than the standard SGLD, since accurate proxies dramatically reduce the variance of the gradient estimator. Moreover, we demonstrate that this approach is more efficient than the standard Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method and that it exceeds other techniques of variance reduction proposed in the literature such as SAGA-LD algorithm. This approach also uses control variates to improve SGLD so that it is straightforward the comparison with our approach. We apply the method to the Logistic Regression model.

Titel: Revisorers granskning av uppskattade värden på tillgångar i redovisningen - En studie om hur den omarbetade ISA 540 påverkat granskningen Författare: Rebecca Hasselblom Granedal och Natalie Karlsson Nyckelord: Revision, uppskattade värden, ISA 540 Bakgrund: Vid granskning av uppskattade värden på tillgångar i redovisningen ska revisorer följa ISA 540. Standarden har tidigare blivit kritiserad på grund av att granskningen av uppskattade värden ansågs vara bristfällig och har med anledning av detta omarbetats. Den omarbetade ISA 540 tillämpas för räkenskapsår från och med 2020. Forskningsfråga: Hur har den omarbetade ISA 540 påverkat granskningen av uppskattade värden på tillgångar i redovisningen och vilken betydelse får det för kvaliteten i granskningen? Syfte: Syftet med den här studien är att analysera och skapa förståelse för hur den omarbetade ISA 540 har påverkat granskningen av uppskattade värden på tillgångar i redovisningen utifrån revisorers uppfattningar. Studien ämnar också bidra med förståelse för vilken betydelse omarbetningen får för kvaliteten i granskningen. Teoretisk referensram: Den teoretiska referensramen består av tidigare forskning och teorier om bland annat revisionens roll utifrån olika perspektiv, ISA 540 och de områden som den omarbetade ISA 540 fokuserar på. Utifrån den teoretiska referensramen har en analysmodell konstruerats. Metod: En kvalitativ studie med en huvudsakligen deduktiv ansats har genomförts. Data samlades in genom nio semistrukturerade intervjuer med revisorer som alla arbetar inom Big Seven. Val av respondenter grundas i att en viss storlek på byrå och dess klienter behövs för att kunna besvara forskningsfrågan. Slutsats: Studien visar att tidsåtgången och dokumentationen har ökat i och med ett mer strukturerat arbete efter omarbetningen av ISA 540. Vidare har riskbedömningen förändrats till att omfatta mer fokus på uppskattade värden på tillgångar med hög inneboende risk och den professionella skepticismen har förbättrats som en följd av en mer utmanande inställning vid granskning, vilket har betydelse för kvaliteten. Studien tyder därmed på en bättre kvalitet i granskningen vilket har betydelse för intressenter som tar del av finansiella rapporter. / Title: Auditors' review of estimated values of assets in the accounts - A study on how the revised ISA 540 has affected the review. Authors: Rebecca Hasselblom Granedal and Natalie Karlsson Keywords: Auditing, estimated values, ISA 540 Background: When reviewing estimated values of assets in the accounts, auditors must comply with ISA 540. The standard has been criticized because the review of estimated values was considered deficient and has been revised due to this. The revised ISA 540 applies for financial years from 2020. Research question: How has the revised ISA 540 affected the review of estimated values of assets in the accounts and what significance does this have for the quality of the review? Purpose: ​​The purpose of this study is to analyze and create an understanding of how the revised ISA 540 has affected the review of estimated values of assets in the accounts based on auditors' perceptions. The study also intends to contribute with an understanding of the significance of the revised standard for the quality of the review.  Theoretical framework: The theoretical framework consists of previous research and theories about, among other things, the role of the audit from different perspectives, ISA 540 and the areas that the revised ISA 540 focuses on. Based on the theoretical framework an analysis model has been constructed. Method: A qualitative study with a mainly deductive approach has been carried out. Data was collected through nine semi-structured interviews with auditors who all work within Big Seven. The choice of respondents is based on the fact that a certain size of agency and its clients are needed to be able to answer the research question.  Conclusion: This study shows that the time required and the documentation has increased due to more structured work since the revised ISA 540 was applied. Furthermore, the risk assessment has changed to include more focus on estimated values of assets with high inherent risk and the professional skepticism has improved as a result of a more challenging attitude when reviewing, which is important for quality. This study thus indicates a better quality in the review, which is important for stakeholders who take part in financial reports.

Bakgrund: Det finns flertalet modeller av pulsklockor på marknaden med funktioner som skall kunna uppskatta individens maximala syreupptagningsförmåga. En av dessa modeller är Polar Vantage V, som enligt tillverkaren kan uppskatta individens VO2max genom funktionen”konditionstest”. Testet utförs genom ett fem minuters vilotest. Testvärdet beräknas sedan från hjärtfrekvens samt personliga faktorer. Syfte: Studien jämförde Polar Vantage V uppskattade testvärde med en direkt mätning av VO2max, med frågeställningen om detta test var pålitligt och användbart i praktiken. Metod: En experimentell studiedesign användes som inkluderade 11 män samt 5 kvinnor som deltagare (N=16). Alla deltagare utförde Polar Vantage V’s konditionstest i vila, för att sedan utföra en maximal prestation utfört på löpband. För mätning av VO2max användes ergospirometri-systemet Jaeger®Vyntus CPX med halvmask. Resultat:Kendall Tau-b test visade signifikant starkt positivt samband mellan Vantage V’s testvärde och VO2max från Vyntus CPX. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test visade ingen signifikant skillnad mellan testvärdet (grupp medelvärde) från Vantage V och Vyntus CPX. Slutsats: På grund av stora individuella skillnader i testvärdet mätt med ”Konditionstestet” från Vantage V, bör individen tolka resultatet med aktsamhet. Vantage V’s ”Konditionstest” verkar emellertid kunna ge en bra uppskattning av VO2max på gruppnivå för friska vuxna i 20-36 års ålder. / Background: There are several models of fitness devices on the market with functions that claims to have the capability to estimate the capacity of a individuals maximum oxygen uptake. One of these models is the Polar Vantage V fitness watch, which according to the manufacturer can estimate the VO2max through the function "Fitness test". The test is performed through a five-minute rest test. The test result is then calculated thru various variables such as the individuals resting heart rate and personal factors. Purpose: To assess the estimated test value of the Polar Vantage V “Fitness test” with a direct measurement of VO2max, with the research question whether this test was valid and useful in practice. Method: This study used an experimental design and included 11 men and 5 women as participants (N = 16). All participantsfirst performed the Polar Vantage V's “Fitness test”, then proceeded to perform a maximum performance using a treadmill. For measurement of VO2max, the cardiopulmonary exercisetesting system Jaeger®Vyntus CPX with half mask was used. Results: Kendall Tau-b test presented a significant strong positive relationship between Vantage V’s “Fitness test” and VO2max -value from the Vyntus CPX. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test presented a nonsignificant difference between the test value (group mean value) from Vantage V “Fitness test”and VO2max from Vyntus CPX. Conclusion: Due to large individual differences in the test value measured by the "Fitness test" from Vantage V, one should interpret the test-result with care. However, the Vantage V "Fitness test" seems to be able to provide a good estimate of theVO2max at group level in healthy adults aged between 20-36.

National Kidney Disease Education Program has initiated a serum creatinine standardization program. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be re-estimated from standardized serum creatinine measurements. How the standardized estimated GFR (eGFR) influences hypertension prevalence has not been evaluated. In this study, cross-sectional data from 21 205 participants aged 18 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006 were analyzed. The differences between standardized and non-standardized eGFRs in the prevalence of hypertension and low eGFR were evaluated. Multiple logistic regression models were conducted to determine the association of standardized eGFR with hypertension prevalence. The prevalence of low eGFR estimated from standardized eGFR was higher than that from non-standardized eGFR (all P0.01), except for the 2005-2006 survey. The prevalence of hypertension under standardized eGFR was not significantly different from that under non-standardized eGFR in both groups of participants with eGFR60 and eGFR60 ml min 1 per 1.73 m 2. Adjusted for age, education, gender, race/ethnicity, smoking, serum cholesterol and diabetes mellitus, the participants with standardized eGFR60 ml min 1 per 1.73 m 2 had 56.1% more chance to be hypertensive patients than those with normal eGFR (P0.0001). The difference in the relationship to hypertension prevalence between standardized and non-standardized eGFR was not found significant.

Heavy metal contamination of soil and agricultural products is an environmental problem, has an adverse effect on the quality of food crops, and is a danger to food security and public health. The concentration of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in surface soils and edible hypocotyls tissues of two ecotypes of Lepidium meyenii Walpers (maca) was evaluated in three districts of the Junín province, Peru. In addition, the risk to human health due to exposure to heavy metals from maca consumption was evaluated. Soil samples and maca hypocotyls were collected in areas influenced by mining and metallurgical activity. The mean concentration of Cd (0.32 ± 0.23 mg/kg) and Pb (0.20 ± 0.12 mg/kg) in maca samples exceeded the values established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. The bioconcentration factor was less than 1. The estimated daily intake of each metal was below the oral reference dose. The hazard quotient and hazard index were less than 1, it is unlikely to cause non-cancer adverse health outcome. The cancer risk for As and Cd was higher than the tolerable limit (1 × 10−6) in children and adults. In the district of Ondores, the cancer risk for As in children was higher than the acceptable limit (1 × 10−4). Residents of the Ondores district would be more exposed to As and Cd from consumption of maca hypocotyls. It is very important to carry out continuous monitoring of other toxic metals in different ecotypes of maca (red, black, yellow, purple, creamy white, pink) in order to evaluate the variation in the accumulation of heavy metals and the level of toxicity of each metal between ecotypes. / Revisón por pares

Background: There is a 3-fold risk of developing end stage kidney disease in Non-Hispanic African Americans compared to Non-Hispanic White Americans (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), one of the fundamental algorithms for coordinating treatment for kidney disease which factors in age, race, gender, and levels of creatinine, may pose an issue in this vulnerable population. Currently African Americans receive a correction factor between 1.21 and 1.16 to their eGFR to adjusting the value higher, potentially impacting appropriate kidney disease classification, and delaying beneficial interventions (National Kidney Foundation, 2020). Methods: A systematic literature search of four databases was completed. Eligibility criteria included 1) published in a peer reviewed journal, 2) English language, 3) the use of race correction in calculating eGFR, and 4) a quantitative study design. A total of 47 articles were screened with 17 selected for final review. The Johns-Hopkins Nursing Evidence - Based Practice evidence guide was then used to rate the strength and quality of the evidence. Results: Early evidence of the unreliability of race based eGFR equations emerged in 2008, and the body of evidence continues to grow. Recent studies have found eGFR calculated with no race corrections correlate best with directly measured iothalmate GFR in black patients (Zelnick et al., 2021), and that a potential 1,066,026 Black Americans may be reclassified to a more severe stage of CKD (Bragg-Gresham et al., 2021). Use of the race correction in GFR equations has been poorly supported in studies conducted in Africa and Brazil. For those with HIV, an accurate eGFR is doubly important yet all eGFR equations have marked variability. Some medical facilities have successfully updated to calculating eGFR without the racial coefficient (Shi et al., 2021). Conclusion: Nurses should be aware of the implications of using race correction in eGFR equations, educate their patients on its use, and advocate for those near threshold targets to ensure equitable and timely access to appropriate kidney disease interventions.

Objective: This study’s purpose was to examine dietary quality, macronutrient intake, and micronutrient adequacy among long term weight loss maintainers (WLM) in a commercial weight management program. Methods: Participants were 1,207 WLM in WW (formerly Weight Watchers) who had maintained a 9.1 kg or greater weight loss (29.7 kg on average) for 3.4 years, and had an average BMI of 28.3 kg/m2. A control group of weight stable adults with obesity (Controls; N=102) had a BMI of 41.1 kg/m2 and 2.3 kg or less weight change over the previous five years. Results: WLM vs. Controls had a 10.1 point higher HEI-2015 score (70.2 [69.7 - 70.7] vs 60.1 [58.4 - 61.8], respectively; p=0.0001) in analyses that adjusted for group difference in demographic factors. WLM versus Controls had a significantly higher average percentage of calories from carbohydrates (50.3% [49.7 - 50.8] vs 46.7% [44.8 - 48.7], respectively; p=0.0001) and protein (18.2% [18.0-18.5] vs 15.9% [15.1-16.6], respectively; p=0.0001) and lower percentage of calories from fat (32.3% [31.9-32.8] vs 37.4% [35.8-38.9], respectively; p=0.0001). Examining micronutrients, WLM had significantly higher odds for meeting the EAR for copper (OR=5.8 [2.6-13.1]; p=0.0001), magnesium (OR=2.9 [1.8-4.7]; p=0.0001), potassium (OR=4.7 [1.4-16.5]; p=0.015), vitamin A (OR=2.8 [1.7-4.8]; p=0.0001), thiamin (OR=2.3 [1.3-4.1]; p=0.003), riboflavin (OR=6.5 [2.2-19.3]; p=0.001), vitamin B6 (OR=2.91 [1.6-5.2]; p=0.0001), vitamin C (OR=5.0 [2.8-8.8]; p=0.0001), folate (OR=2.2 [1.3-3.7]; p=0.003), and vitamin E (OR=1.8 [1.1-2.8]; p=0.014) and didn’t differ in calcium (OR=1.15 [0.7-1.7]; p=0.823), iron (OR=1.9 [0.8-4.6]; p=0.151), phosphorus (OR=2.0 [0.9-4.5]; p=0.101), selenium (OR=1.6 [0.6-3.8]; p=0.332), zinc (OR=1.7 [0.9-3.0]; p=0.095), niacin (B3) (OR=1.9 [0.8-4.1]; p=0.136), vitamin B12 (OR=1.2 [0.5-2.8]; p=0.625), and vitamin D (OR=1.5 [0.9-2.4]; p=0.09). Conclusions In a widely available commercial program, WLM consumed a healthier and more micronutrient rich diet than adults who were weight stable with obesity. Future research is needed to examine whether improved micronutrient status among WLM reduces risk of chronic disease.

Introduction: Fetal weight estimations are essential to identify and treat high-risk pregnancies. According to the Swedish association for obstetricians and gynecologists, the mean deviation of estimated weight from birth weight should be 0%, and the standard deviation 8%. Aim: To evaluate fetal weight estimations, by comparing the deviation from expected weight at the examination to at birth. Methods: Eight examiners were included from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Västerås Central Hospital. All singleton pregnancies with live births examined by these examiners from week 36+0, from January 1st to February 10th, 2022, were included, with a few exceptions. The deviations mentioned above were compared using a paired T-test. Mean and standard deviations were calculated for individual examiners. Midwives and doctors were compared using an independent T-test. Results: 86 examinations were included. There was a tendency to overestimate birth weight deviation by 1.0%, with a standard deviation of 7.8%. The differences between the deviation at the weight estimation and at birth, and between the professions, were not statistically significant. Both mean and standard deviation varied between individual examiners. Conclusions: The precision found in this study fell within what is considered acceptable according to the SFOG, and the mean did not differ statistically significantly from the recommended. Differences in fetal growth rate between examination and birth may have induced an error in the results, but the magnitude of that error cannot be determined. The study indicates differences between examiners, but a larger study is needed to draw any definite conclusions.