Background: Enteric methane from rumen methanogens is responsible for 25.9 % of total methane emissions in the United States. Rumen methanogens also contribute to decreased animal feed efficiency. For methane mitigation strategies to be successful, it is important to establish which factors influence the rumen methanogen community and rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA). In the present study, we used next-generation sequencing to determine if dairy breed and/or days in milk (DIM) (high-fiber periparturient versus high-starch postpartum diets) affect the rumen environment and methanogen community of primiparous Holstein, Jersey, and Holstein-Jersey crossbreeds. Results: When the 16S rRNA gene sequences were processed and assigned to operational taxonomic units (OTU), a core methanogen community was identified, consisting of Methanobrevibacter (Mbr.) smithii, Mbr. thaueri, Mbr. ruminantium, and Mbr. millerae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence reads clustered at 3 DIM, but not by breed. At 3 DIM, the mean % abundance of Mbr. thaueri was lower in Jerseys (26.9 %) and higher in Holsteins (30.7 %) and Holstein-Jersey crossbreeds (30.3 %) (P < 0.001). The molar concentrations of total VFA were higher at 3 DIM than at 93, 183, and 273 DIM, whereas the molar proportions of propionate were increased at 3 and 93 DIM, relative to 183 and 273 DIM. Rumen methanogen densities, distributions of the Mbr. species, and VFA molar proportions did not differ by breed. Conclusions: The data from the present study suggest that a core methanogen community is present among dairy breeds, through out a lactation. Furthermore, the methanogen communities were more influenced by DIM and the breed by DIM interactions than breed differences.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Kikuyu over-sown with ryegrass is the most widely used pasture system in the Southern Cape of South Africa. During the winter months the kikuyu component remains dormant and cows are solely dependent on the ryegrass component of the pasture. Ryegrass has a low growth rate (25 - 30 kg DM ha-1 day-1) during the winter and early spring months (June - September), resulting in roughage shortages. There are various strategies that can be adopted to overcome these shortages. Most commonly, lucerne hay is bought in. The cost (R 1800 - R 2400 ton-1), however, is high and all farms do not have the capacity to store hay in large quantities. Significant wastages occur when feeding lucerne in ring feeders or feed troughs. Silage made of surplus grass, maize or cereal crops can also be fed. Many farms do not have the implements required for ensiling and due to financial pressure, most farms are at full capacity and as such no surplus pasture is available for ensiling. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a high fibre concentrate supplement and restricted pasture intake strategy could be followed to overcome roughage shortages during the winter months. Forty eight lactating Jersey cows were blocked according to 4 % fat corrected milk yield (19.1 ± 2.2 kg day-1 (±s.d.)), days in milk (104 ± 62.7) and lactation number (4.4 ± 1.8). Cows within blocks were then randomly allocated to one of the three treatments. Treatments were defined according to the amount of a high fibre concentrate supplement that was allocated as well as the level of pasture allocated: Treatment 1 - Low concentrate treatment (LC) received 4 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 and 10 kg DM pasture cow-1 day-1; Treatment 2 - Medium concentrate treatment (MC) received 7 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 and 7 kg DM pasture cow-1 day-1; Treatment 3 - High concentrate treatment (HC) received 10 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 and 5 kg DM pasture cow-1 day-1. Eight ruminally cannulated Jersey cows were used in the rumen study portion of the trial. These cows were divided into two groups of four and were allocated to the MC and LC treatments. They were used in a cross-over design, where all cows were subjected to both treatments. The metabolisable energy, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre contents of the high fibre concentrate supplement was 10.9 MJ kg-1, 145 g kg-1 and 231 g kg-1, respectively. Cows of the three treatments grazed separately, allowing for the restriction of pasture intake according to treatments specifications. The average daily milk yield and milk fat content of treatments LC, MC and HC was 16.2a, 17.3ab and 18.1b kg day-1 (P < 0.05) and 4.91a, 4.96a and 4.58b % (P < 0.05), respectively. The average stocking rate for treatment LC, MC and HC was 5.07a, 6.07b and 7.64c cows ha-1 respectively. Thirty seven percent of pasture was saved on the HC treatment strategy compared to the LC treatment. Cows gained body weight during the study at a rate of 0.62a, 0.28b and 0.27b kg day-1 (P < 0.05) for the LC, MC and HC treatments, respectively. None of the hourly rumen pH values differed between treatments LC and HC. The rumen pH of cows on treatment LC did, however, spend a longer time below pH 6.0 and pH 5.8 compared to the rumen pH of cows on treatment HC (P < 0.05). The digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fibre of pasture of cows on treatment LC and treatment HC at 30 hours of incubation was 82.3 and 73.5 % (P < 0.05) and 43.5 and 39.2 % (P < 0.05), respectively. The results show that winter roughage shortages can be managed by feeding higher levels of a high fibre concentrate supplement and restricting pasture intake, although a decrease in milk fat content can be expected. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kikoejoe, oorgesaai met raaigras, is die mees algemene weidingstelsel in die Suid-Kaap van Suid-Afrika. Tydens die wintermaande is die kikoejoe-komponent dormant en diere is afhanklik van die raaigras-komponent. Raaigras het ‘n lae groeitempo (25 - 30 kg DM ha-1 dag-1) gedurende die winter- en vroeë lentemaande (Junie - September) en dit lei tot ruvoertekorte. Daar is verskeie strategieë wat toegepas kan word om die ruvoertekorte te oorkom. Die gewildste is die aankoop van lusern hooi, alhoewel die prys (R 1800 - R 2400 ton-1) die gebruik daarvan beperk. Boere het ook nie altyd die kapasiteit om groot hoeveelhede lusern te stoor nie en baie hooi word vermors as koeie dit uit hooivoerders en voerbakke vreet. Kuilvoer wat gemaak word van surplus weiding, mielies of graangewasse kan ook gebruik word. Baie boere het nie die implemente om kuilvoer te maak nie en as gevolg van finansiële druk, funksioneer die meeste plase reeds op vol kapasiteit en is daar dus nie altyd voldoende surplus ruvoer waarvan kuilvoer gemaak kan word nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of ‘n hoë-vesel kragvoer en beperkte weiding-inname gebruik kan word om ruvoertekorte gedurende die wintermaande te oorkom. Agt-en-veertig lakterende Jerseykoeie is geblok volgens 4 % vet-gekorrigeerde melkopbrengs (19.1 ± 2.2 kg dag-1(±s.d.)), dae in melk (104 ± 62.7) en laktasie nommer (4.4 ± 1.8). Koeie binne blokke is vervolgens ewekansig aan een van drie behandelingsgroepe toegeken. Die groepe is gedefinieer volgens die hoeveelheid hoë-vesel kragvoer en weiding wat toegeken is: Behandelingsgroep 1 - Lae-vesel kragvoergroep (LC) het 4 kg kragvoer koei-1 dag-1 en 10 kg DM weiding koei-1 dag-1 ontvang; Behandelingsgroep 2 - Medium-vesel kragvoergroep (MC) het 7 kg kragvoer koei-1 dag-1 en 7 kg DM weiding koei-1 dag-1 ontvang; Behandelingsgroep 3 - Hoë-vesel kragvoergroep (HC) het 10 kg kragvoer koei-1 dag-1 en 5 kg DM weiding koei-1 dag-1 ontvang. Agt rumen gekanuleerde Jerseykoeie was gebruik in die rumen studie gedeelte van die proef. Die koeie was verdeel in twee groepe wat dan aan die LC en HC behandelings groepe toegeken is in ’n omslag ontwerp met twee behandelings en twee periodes. Die metaboliseerbare energie, ruproteïen en neutraal bestande veselinhoud van die hoë-vesel kragvoer was 10.9 MJ kg-1, 145 g kg-1 en 231 g kg-1 onderskeidelik. Die drie behandelingsgroepe het apart gewei, sodat weidingtoekenning beperk kon word en weidinginname bepaal kon word. Die gemiddelde daaglikse melkopbrengs en melk vet % van behandelingsgroepe LC, MC en HC was 16.2a, 17.3ab en 18.1b kg dag-1 (P < 0.05) en 4.92a, 4.96a en 4.58b% (P < 0.05) onderskeidelik. Die gemiddelde veelading van behandelingsgroepe LC, MC en HC was 5.07, 6.07 en 7.64 koeie ha-1 onderskeidelik. Volgens die strategie van die HC behandelingsgroep strategie is sewe-en-dertig persent weiding bespaar, in vergelyking met die LC behandelingsgroep. Koeie in behandelingsgroepe LC, MC en HC het in massa toegeneem gedurende die studie teen ‘n tempo van 0.62, 0.28 en 0.27 kg day-1 (P < 0.05), onderskeidelik. Rumen pH-waardes het nie tussen behandelingsgroepe LC en HC verskil nie. Behandelingsgroep LC se rumen pH was vir ’n langer periode onder pH 6.0 en pH 5.8 as in die geval van behandeling HC. Die verteerbaarheid van droëmateriaal en neutraalbestande vesel van wieding van koeieop behandelingsgroepe LC en HC na 30 ure van inkubasie was 82.3 en 73.5 % (P < 0.05) en 43.5 en 39.2 % (P < 0.05), onderskeidelik. Die resultate dui daarop dat winter ruvoertekorte bestuur kan word deur die voeding van hoër vlakke hoë-vesel kragvoer en die beperking van weidinginname, hoewel ‘n afname in melk vet % verwag kan word.

This study had three main purposes. The first was to determine the perceptions of public school administrators toward desirability and toward feasibility of accountability items. The second was to determine the perceptions of public school teachers toward desirability and toward feasibility of accountability items. The third was to compare the perceptions of administrators with those of teachers and to indicate areas where they seemed to be in agreement or disagreement.

Thesis. 1977. M.Arch.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography : leaves 81-84. / M.Arch.

Fire has been an important influence on the structure and health of the North American grasslands for hundreds of years. In Jersey County Illinois, two natural loess hill prairies were studied to compare the effectiveness of varying management regimes. The purpose was to determine how a burn vs. a nonburn management regime enhances or hinders the establishment of the prairie grasses and forbs in a tallgrass hill prairie ecosystem. The variables studied included: the vegetational abundance, the frequency, and the biomass of the species that were present. In addition the soil's organic matter content and pH were measured. Overall, the Fire Road Prairie, or the unburned prairie, proved to be the community that was deteriorating and becoming unproductive. Whereas, the Osage Prairie contained a balance of grasses and forbs that were representative of a healthy and thriving community. The data supported the existing theory that a burn management plan does help the overall stability and productivity of a tallgrass ecosystem. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of band programs in the public secondary schools of New Jersey. Answers were sought to the following questions: (1) what was the background of directors; (2) how were the programs organized; (3) what were the nature and extent of performance and rehearsal practices; (4) what type of facilities, budgets, and equipment were available; (5) what did directors believe to be the strengths and weaknesses of band programs; and (6) what were the perceptions of selected superintendents concerning band programs? Information was obtained from band directors through a questionnaire which was sent to every public high school in New Jersey. Another questionnaire was sent to a random selection of superintendents. Data, as received from 60.2 percent of the directors and 72 percent of the superintendents were tabulated, categories were formulated, and tables were prepared to present the data in terms of numbers and/or percentages. 1. Generally, the band directors of New Jersey high schools are experienced and dedicated professionals who seek to improve their teaching skills and philosophies. 2. Students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of ensemble offerings. 3. Most ensembles have adequate rehearsal time, although some marching bands seemingly utilize excessive amounts of the student's time for rehearsal and performance. 4. Instrumental lessons are available in 83.9 percent of the schools. 5. Band programs in the high schools possess some of the basic organizational aspects that are believed to be necessary for musical learning to occur. 6. Most band organizations seemingly do not over-perform. 7. Directors and superintendents believe that the emphasis being placed on performance skill, aesthetic/ artistic understanding, and social/personal development is proper. 8. Band directors and superintendents believe there is a need to re-evaluate the functions of band performance for the future. 9. Facilities, equipment, and supplies are seemingly adequate in most schools. 10. Dedication of directors and variety of programs are strengths of New Jersey's band programs. 11. The weaknesses of New Jersey high school band programs appear to be an increased emphasis placed on marching band, competition, and exploitation of band organizations by internal and external forces. This limits musical understanding.

The purpose of the study was to determine and compare the judgments of the non-teaching administrators, teaching administrators and teachers regarding the effectiveness of Planned Program Budgeting Systems in the three pilot New Jersey Districts.A questionnaire based on the goals identified in the New Jersey Program Budget Guide, was developed for the study. Fifty questions divided into five categories, needs assessment, consideration of alternative programs, determination of financial need for preferred alternatives evaluation of performance in each program, and process, were developed. Two field tests were conducted.Data were treated in two ways. The frequency and percentage of responses to each item was counted. Based on these data, three questions concerning administrators' and teachers' judgments of the extent and effectiveness of PPBS were answered.Second, the chi-square test of independence was applied to each of the fifty statements in the questionnaire to determine the rejection or non-rejection of the null hypothesis:No statistically significant difference exists among the judgments of non-teaching administrators, teaching administrators and teachers regarding the effectiveness of Planned Program Budgeting Systems.The p = .05 level of significance was used to determine rejection or non-rejection of the null hypothesis.Summary of the ConclusionsGenerally non-teaching administrators, teaching administrators and teachers, have different judgments regarding the extent and effectiveness of PPBS. No consistent agreement or disagreement existed between any two of the groups.Selected FindingsThe chi-square test of independence (p = .05) was applied to each of the fifty questions. The null hypothesis was rejected for thirty-eight statements and not rejected for twelve statements.Selected Recommendations1. A better communication system between non-teaching administrators, teaching administrators and teachers regarding the various processes and procedures needed to make PPBS effective, should be strengthened.2. In-service workshops should be conducted for each of the groups to clarify the role of each group and to inform and discuss with each other problems that occur with the ongoing process of PPBS.3. Teachers in all the schools should be informed of the procedures of PPBS and should participate in the various facets of the program.Selected Recommendations for Further Study1. Conduct a follow-up study to determine the progress made in the implementation of PPBS after a three-year period in the three pilot New Jersey districts.2. Develop and test an instrument which would determine the effectiveness of PPBS in school districts.3. Conduct a study comparing the judgments of the educators in the pilot districts in New Jersey with the judgments of the educators in pilot districts in another state.

Thesis--Columbia University. / Bibliography: p. 149-158. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-49). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Entre septembre 1853 et octobre 1855, Victor Hugo, en exil à Jersey depuis le mois d’août 1852, se livre quasi quotidiennement à des séances spirites. Lors de celles-ci, Hugo dialogue avec les esprits les plus illustres : Dante, Shakespeare, Jésus, Eschyle, Galilée… et les formes les plus abstraites comme l’Ombre du Sépulcre, le Drame ou la Mort. Cette inquiétante plongée spirituelle et poétique, sera consignée dans quatre cahiers qui doivent constituer ce que Victor Hugo nommera Le Livre des Tables. Deux cahiers seulement nous sont parvenus. L’un en 1962, sur lequel s’appuient les principales études hugoliennes liées à cette période de l’exil, et le second en 1972 qui rend caduques, erronées ou incomplètes toutes les études publiées à cette date. Notre intention consiste à établir une édition critique des deux cahiers originaux rédigés à Jersey, pour l’un en 1854, pour l’autre en 1855. Ce dernier manuscrit n’ayant jamais fait l’objet d’une exploitation critique ou éditoriale. L’intérêt de la présente édition ne se limite pas à un texte qui se voudrait sérieusement établi et à une annotation qui tente d’apporter quelques éclaircissements ; il réside surtout dans la réunion, ce qui n’a pas été fait à ce jour, de l’ensemble des documents existants : les deux cahiers originaux rédigés à Jersey, les procès-verbaux disponibles et inédits, ainsi que d’autres documents, des lettres notamment, découverts dans les fonds de la Maison de Victor Hugo.Cette Edition critique du Livre des Tables a pour premier objectif de retracer l’histoire et la chronologie des quatre cahiers rédigés à Jersey, d’établir ensuite les circonstances et les modalités de la rédaction de ceux-ci avant de faire apparaître la part réelle prise par Hugo dans la rédaction des deux cahiers à notre disposition. Enfin, il s’agit de mettre en évidence l’influence considérable de cette période spirite sur la production hugolienne ainsi que sur l’ensemble du système de pensée de Hugo / Between September 1853 and October 1855, Victor Hugo, who had been in exile in Jersey since August 1852, practiced spiritualism nearly everyday. During those sessions, Hugo conversed with the most illustrious of spirits, such as Dante, Shakespeare, Jesus, Eschyle, Galileo as well as with the most abstract of forms, like The Shadow of the Sepulchre, Drama or Death. This puzzling journey deep into spiritualism and poetry was compiled into four notebooks which were to form what Victor Hugo called The Book Of Tables. We have got hold of only two notebooks - one in 1962, on which the main studies about Hugo's time in exile rely, and the second in 1972, which made all the studies published at the time obsolete, erroneous or incomplete. We intend to design a critical edition of the two original notebooks written in Jersey in 1854 and in 1855 respectively. The later one has never been subjected to critical analysis or editorial work. The hereby edition is not to be understood as a seriously established text or as an attempt to bring clarifications through annotations. Above all, its relevance lies in what has not been done yet, that is, the gathering of all the existing documents : the two original notebooks written in Jersey, the available and so far unpublished official records along with other documents, among which letters that have been discovered in the collection the Maison de Victor Hugo. The Critical Edition of The Book Of Tables firstly aims to draw the history and chronology of the four notebooks written in Jersey ; its second purpose is to establish the circumstances and modalities in which they were set down so as to make the actual part played by Hugo in the writing of the two notebooks come to light. Finally, it aims to bring out the considerable influence of Hugo's spiritualist time on his production as well as on all his system of thought.