Risk factors associated with mortality at a milk-fed veal calf facility: A prospective cohort study

The veal industry experiences calf losses during the growing period, which represents a challenge to animal welfare and profitability. Health status at arrival may be an important predictor of calf mortality. The objectives of this prospective cohort study were to describe the health status of calves arriving at a veal farm and determine the risk factors associated with early and late mortality. Using a standardized health scoring system, calves were evaluated immediately at arrival to a commercial milk-fed veal facility in Ontario, Canada. Weight at arrival and supplier of the calf were recorded. The calves were followed until death or the end of their production cycle. Two Cox proportional hazard models were built to explore factors associated with early (≤21 d following arrival) and late mortality (>21 d following arrival). A total of 4,825 calves were evaluated from November 2015 to September 2016. The overall mortality risk was 7%, with 42% of the deaths occurring in the first 21 d after arrival. An abnormal navel, dehydration, housing location within the farm, arriving in the summer, and the presence of a sunken flank were associated with increased hazard of early mortality. Drover-derived calves and calves with a greater body weight at arrival had lower hazard of early mortality. Housing location within the farm, being derived from auction facilities, and an abnormal navel were associated with higher hazard of late mortality. These results demonstrate that risk factors for mortality can be identified at arrival, which represents a potential opportunity to selectively intervene on these calves to reduce mortality. However, methods of preventing the development of these conditions before arrival need to be explored and encouraged to improve the welfare of the calves entering the veal industry.     

Studies of tin–transition metal–carbon and tin–cobalt–transition metal–carbon negative electrode materials prepared by mechanical attrition

Samples of Sn₃₀TM₃₀C₄₀ and of Sn₃₀Co₁₅TM₁₅C₄₀, with TM = 3d transition metals, were prepared by vertical-axis attritor milling. The structure and performance of these samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by electrochemical testing. The XRD patterns of Sn₃₀TM₃₀C₄₀ show an amorphous-like diffraction pattern only for the sample with TM = Co. The other prepared samples show broadened Bragg peaks of their main starting material, along with an amorphous-like background, even after 32 h of milling. Samples with TM = Co and TM = Ni show stable differential capacity versus potential plots and stable cycling for at least 100 cycles with reversible capacities of 425 and 250 mAh g⁻¹, respectively. All samples prepared with 15 at.% Co show good capacity retention for at least 100 cycles ranging from 270 mAh g⁻¹ for samples with TM = Ni to 500 mAh g⁻¹ for samples with TM = Ti. The differential capacity versus potential plots for all the prepared Sn₃₀Co₁₅TM₁₅C₄₀ samples show similar structure to that of Sn₃₀Co₃₀C₄₀ except when TM = Cu. This shows the possibility of preparing tin-based negative electrode materials using a combination of cobalt and TM, especially if one looks to reduce the cobalt content.     

Comparison of ANSI/ASME and ISO models for calculation of uncertainty

The procedures for determining experimental uncertainty contained in the current version of the ANSI/ASME Standard (PTC19.1-1985) Measurement Uncertainty are compared with the procedure presented in the 1993 ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement. A Monte Carlo technique is used to stimulate several example experiments to demonstrate the effectiveness of the models for predicting an appropriate uncertainty interval at a given confidence level, either 95% or 99%. The simulation results show that the ISO model is more consistent in providing an uncertainty interval at the desired level of confidence. The simulations also show that if a determined results has degrees of freedom of nine or more, simplified models using values of t₉₅ = 2.0 for a 95% confidence level and t₉₉ = 2.6 for a 99% confidence level can be used to determine the uncertainty to a good approximation.     

Architectural and personal influences on neighboring behaviors

Architectural and personal influences on neighboring behaviors were studied in a residential neighborhood using both qualitative informal conversations, and systematic recording of activity in the neighborhood's social space. This dual approach produced new insights into neighboring behaviors and social networks. It was discovered that the residents who participated in the social space were only a portion of the resident population. There was an additional neighborhood-based network whose neighboring was not conducted in the social space; instead it was maintained by direct house-to-house contact. It was also found that some individuals chose not to participate in any neighborhood social network. The social space was an effective neighboring venue for those residents who chose to use it, but did not attract commingling of groups. Contrary to an assumption in previous neighboring research, there are social groups which develop and maintain themselves without participation in a social space.     

Very high efficiency solar cell modules

The Very High Efficiency Solar Cell (VHESC) program is developing integrated optical system–PV modules for portable applications that operate at greater than 50% efficiency. We are integrating the optical design with the solar cell design, and have entered previously unoccupied design space. Our approach is driven by proven quantitative models for the solar cell design, the optical design, and the integration of these designs. Optical systems efficiency with an optical efficiency of 93% and solar cell device results under ideal dichroic splitting optics summing to 42·7 ± 2·5% are described. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bioactive components and antioxidant capacity of Chinese bayberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrica rubra</Emphasis> Sieb. and Zucc.) fruit in relation to fruit maturity and postharvest storage

Total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy-3-glu) and antioxidant capacity of Chinese bayberry fruit (Myrica rubra Sieb. and Zucc.) differed among the four cultivars “Baizhong” (white), “Fenhong” (pink), “Wuzhong” (red) and “Biqi” (dark red). Antioxidant capacity determined by both the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^.) radical scavenging capacity was significantly correlated with the antioxidant components in the fruit, and directly related to fruit color. Cy-3-glu accounted for at least 82, 38, and 12% of the total antioxidant capacity in “Biqi”, “Wuzhong” and “Fenhong” fruits, respectively. No detectable Cy-3-glu was found in “Baizhong” fruit. Greater fruit maturity was associated with higher levels of all the bioactive components and antioxidant capacity. Significant increases were also found during postharvest storage of “Biqi” fruit held at either 20 °C for 2 days or 0 °C for 5 days. However, these levels decreased during a 2-day shelf-life at 20 °C after 5 days at 0 °C. These results show that storage and shelf-life conditions are important if health-based bioactive components of bayberry fruit are to be maintained after harvest.     

The establishment of the nuisance cyanobacteria Lyngbya wollei in Lake St. Clair and its potential to harbor fecal indicator bacteria

Lyngbya wollei is a filamentous cyanobacterium which forms large nuisance mats and has infested eastern and southeastern U.S. Lakes and reservoirs for over 100 years. Lyngbya was recently identified in the Great Lakes system in the St. Lawrence River, and Western Lake Erie. Here we report on large deposits of L. wollei washing onshore at a popular recreational beach in Lake Saint Clair, part of the Great Lakes system. The amount of L. wollei deposited on shore was quantified and evaluated for the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). High concentrations of Escherichia coli, enterococci and Clostridium perfringens were found in the L. wollei in nearshore waters. The densities of E. coli (MPN), enterococci (MPN) and C. perfringens (CFU) attached to L. wollei averaged 3.5, 3.2 and 3.2 log/g, respectively. In contrast, nearshore waters contained nearly 10 times less FIB, averaging 2.6, 2.4 and 2.6 log/100 ml of E. coli (MPN), enterococci (MPN) and C. perfringens (CFU), respectively. DNA fingerprint analysis was used to examine the population structure of E. coli isolates obtained from L. wollei mats. The L. wollei-borne E. coli strains were genetically diverse, suggesting a causal relationship between E. coli and L. wollei. Results from this study indicate that in addition to the macroalga such as Cladophora, cyanobacteria like L. wollei also harbor FIB, potentially impacting water quality and human health in the Great Lakes.