Suckling behavior of calves in seasonally calving pasture-based dairy systems,and possible environmental and management factors affecting suckling behaviors

In recent years, interest has been increasing in whether farmed animals are able to live a reasonably natural life, with one particular area of concern being calf-dam separation. The objectives of this study were to monitor the timing and frequency of suckling behavior of calves left on pasture to suckle their dams for up to 24 h (interquartile range 4.0–15.5 h) and to investigate possible risk factors that may contribute to any variability seen. Over 2 yr, a convenience sample of 8 farms (4 in the North Island, 4 in the South Island of New Zealand) were involved in an observational study where cows and calves were observed for 24 h a day over a 2-wk-long period per farm. During the observation period, farmers continued to remove calves at the same frequency they normally did (which ranged from once a day to 4 times a day). Cows (between 2 and 12 yr old) and calves were observed from a scissor lift in or beside the calving paddock. Cows had numbers written on them, and observers used binoculars and spotlights. Observers recorded the length of stage 2 labor, time of birth, standing, and first suckling, number of suckling events, time of calf removal from the dam, temperature where the cows were grazing, and size of the grazing area they were calving in. Dams were body condition scored before calving, and their age was extracted from farm records. A total of 697 calves were observed during the study. A total of 444 of 697 calves [63.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 60.0–67.3%] suckled in the calving paddock (farm range 40.0% to 90.2%). Of the 444 calves that suckled in the calving paddock, 407 (58.4%; 95% CI 54.6–62.1%) suckled within the first 6 h after birth (farm range 33.0% to 83.6%). Individual risk factors associated with the hazard rate ratio (HR) for time to first suckling event were time to standing (calves who took more than 1.3 h to stand had a longer time from birth to first suckle) and age of the dam [compared with calves that were born from dams >7 years of age, calves born to dams that were 2–3 and 4–7 yr of age had a 1.49 (95% CI 1.07–2.06) and 1.19 (95% CI 0.89–1.60) HR, respectively, for time from birth to first suckle in the calving paddock]. Farm risk factors associated with the HR of suckling were frequency of calf collection [calves that were born on farms that collected calves once a day suckled earlier than calves on farms that removed calves more than once a day (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.25–1.84)] and temperature [a minimum temperature of <10°C within 6 h of a calf being born was associated with a 0.69 (95% CI 0.53–0.89) hazard of suckling in the calving paddock]. We observed very large farm variability that urgently requires further investigation if pasture-based farms are ever to adopt a system where calves remain with their dams for longer than 24 h.     

高面板坝全寿命周期变形控制方法及应用

高面板坝的变形对面板的安全运行有着特别重要的影响，国内外已建的高面板坝工程中，因坝体变形大导致防渗面板挤压破损，坝体渗漏量大的实例较多，不得不降低水库水位进行修复处理，造成较大的经济损失乃至给大坝的长期运行留下安全隐患。通过发生挤压破损的实例分析，发现变形控制缺乏系统性是发生面板挤压破损的主要因素，为预防面板破损，系统提出了“控制坝体总变形，转化有害变形，适应纵向变形”的坝体变形控制方法，并在使用软硬岩混合料筑坝的董箐面板堆石坝中得到的应用，取得了良好效果，该工程运行至今达十余年，未见面板有挤压破损迹象，该方法对建设200 m以上乃至300 m级超高面板坝具有重要借鉴意义。     

Dam effects on bedload transport on the upper Santa Ana River,California, and implications for native fish habitat

Dams disrupt the flow of water and sediment and thus have the potential to affect the downstream geomorphic characteristics of a river. Though there are some well‐known and common geomorphic responses to dams, such as bed armouring, the response downstream from any particular dam is dependent on local conditions. Herein, we investigate the response of the upper Santa Ana River in southern California, USA, to the construction of a large dam at the transition from mountains to valley, using calculations of bedload transport capacity on the mainstem below the dam and for major tributaries. Approximate sediment budgets were constructed for downstream reaches to estimate deposition and erosion rates for sand, gravel, and cobble particle sizes. Our results indicate that the classical response of bed armouring and erosion is likely limited to a short reach immediately below the dam. Farther downstream, though transport capacity is reduced by flow regulation by the dam, the channel reaches are likely to remain depositional but with reduced deposition rates. Persistent deposition, as opposed to erosion, is the result of the replenishment of flow and sediment supply by large downstream tributaries. In addition, the calculations indicate that the composition of the bed is unlikely to change substantially in downstream reaches. A Monte Carlo approach was employed to estimate the uncertainty in the sediment budget predictions. The impacts of the dam on the geomorphic character of the river downstream could have implications for native fish that rely on coarse substrate that supports their food base.     

考虑应力场与渗流场耦合的尾矿坝非稳定渗流分析

根据尾矿坝形成的特点，进行考虑应力场与渗流场耦合的非稳定渗流分析。根据弹性力学和渗流理论提出了耦合问题的力学模型及其控制微分方程，然后导出这一问题的有限元计算公式及相应程序。在计算中首次导出了尾矿坝的渗透系数与应力场的关系式，并进行尾矿坝的非稳定渗流分析。工程实例计算结果表明，考虑耦合作用的影响，尾矿坝渗流场的总渗流量减小，而应力场的各应力分量的最大值增大。     

覆盖层上面板堆石坝趾板与基础连接方式的研究

采用三维弹塑性有限元分析,对那兰水电站混凝土面板堆石坝趾板与基础的两种连接方式——刚性连接与柔性连接进行了比选及技术论证。不同连接方式下的坝体应力与变形计算结果表明:两种连接方式对坝体、坝基及混凝土面板的应力与变形影响很小;但对防渗墙和趾板的变形有较大影响,刚性连接下防渗墙与趾板的变形要小于柔性连接情况;两种连接方式下防渗墙和趾板的应力总体上没有很显著的差异,都在其应力允许范围内;两种连接方式下,面板周边缝变位差别较大,采用刚性连接方式时,面板周边缝有较大沉陷,甚至超过一般止水构件所能承受的变形能力。综合对比两种连接方式下的坝体应力、变形计算结果,建议采用柔性连接方式连接趾板与基础。     

面板堆石坝挤压式边墙的概化数值模型及应用

基于对挤压式边墙实际结构及工作性态分析,从合理性和简单性原则出发,建立了用于面板堆石坝应力位移有限元分析的挤压式边墙概化数值模型。该概化模型由等效板和等效接触面组成,分别采用了线弹性模型和清华接触面弹塑性损伤模型加以描述,其参数易于确定。采用该模型对某面板堆石坝应力变形进行了二三维有限元分析,并与原状模拟分析结果进行了对比。结果表明,概化数值模型能够合理地描述挤压式边墙的实际力学特性,且计算量较小,适用于面板堆石坝的应力变形有限元分析。     

探讨填石路基施工

针对填石路基容易产生不均匀变形,造成滑坍的现象,结合高速公路工程,分析了含水量对填石路基压实度变更的影响,介绍了填石路基的压实方法,从而有效提高填石路基的工程质量。     

BP网络与遗传算法在水布垭工程中的应用

基于人工神经网络与遗传算法的基本理论，就其在水布垭混凝土面板堆石工程中的应用进行探讨。一方面，通过BP网络对已建的工程实例资料进行学习，并应用学习结果，根据规范确定的面板允许挠度，对堆石体的垂直压缩模量E进行控制，随之以E的控制值预测面板堆石坝的其他变形。另一方面，基于上述的网络训练结果，以工程的变形控制指标为目标，应用遗传算法对面板堆石坝多个设计参数进行控制。     

高面板坝周边缝止水的整体解决方案研究

在指出现有阿里亚坝止水模式局限性的基础上，提出了高面板坝周边缝止水的整体解决方案，并对该方案的目标、安装工艺、采用的技术措施以及独立止水设计作了详细探讨。