Short communication: The effect of diarrhea and navel inflammation on the lying behavior of veal calves

Many veal calves arrive to growing facilities with diseases, including diarrhea and navel inflammation. Observing neonatal calf behavior, such as lying behavior, can be used to better detect and determine the implications of these diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of navel inflammation and diarrhea on lying behavior in neonatal veal calves. This study was part of a larger experiment that included a total of 360 male Holstein calves from 3 cohorts; from these calves, we selected a subset of 125 calves (every third calf as they entered the barn) to be fitted with 3-dimensional accelerometers (Hobo Pendant G data loggers; Onset Computer Corp., Bourne, MA) on 1 hind leg to continuously measure lying time, number of lying bouts, and lying bout duration. Calves were housed individually on slatted flooring (Tenderfoot; Tandem Products Inc., Minneapolis, MN) in 3 rooms of a mechanically ventilated barn. Health exams were conducted twice weekly for 2 wk starting the day after arrival. Exams included rectal temperature, navel score (0 = normal, 1 = mildly inflamed, 2 = moderately inflamed, 3 = severely inflamed), and fecal score (0 = normal, 1 = semiformed, 2 = loose, 3 = watery). Calves were considered to have navel inflammation (n = 22) or diarrhea (n = 15) if they scored ≥2 during at least 3 of the 4 health exams. The lying behavior of these calves was compared with that of normal calves (n = 18) that had no signs of illness and rectal temperatures <39.4°C during at least 3 of the 4 health exams. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures ANOVA; models included cohort (1, 2, or 3), health status (normal, navel inflammation, or diarrhea), week (1 or 2), and a health by week interaction. There was an effect of health status on lying time, whereby normal calves spent more time lying compared with calves with inflamed navels and tended to spend more time lying compared with calves with diarrhea. There was no effect of health status on the number of lying bouts per day or on the duration of lying bouts. There were no health by week interactions. Results indicate that neonatal veal calves with navel inflammation and diarrhea may be less comfortable than calves without these conditions. Veal producers should consider adapting their facilities to create more comfortable lying environments to help calves better recover from disease, such as by adding a hospital pen with comfortable bedding.     

Polyoctadecylacrylate (POA) and resin-stabilized asphaltene synergistically improve the flow behavior of model waxy oils

In this paper, the effect of POA PPD together with resin-stabilized asphaltenes on the flow behavior of model waxy oils was investigated through rheological test, DSC, microscopic observation and asphaltenes precipitation test. Compared to the POA or asphaltenes alone, POA/asphaltenes cannot further decrease the wax appearance temperature of oils, but can dramatically decrease the pour point, gelation point, G′, G″ and apparent viscosity of oils. POA molecules can adsorb on the surface of asphaltenes, thus inhibiting the asphaltenes precipitation and forming the POA/asphaltenes composite particles. The composite particles can act as wax crystallization templates and then greatly change the wax crystals' morphology into large and spherical-like, thus improving the waxy oil flow behavior.     

Mapping Sea Level Rise Behavior in an Estuarine Delta System: A Case Study along the Shanghai Coast

Sea level rise (SLR) is a major projected threat of climate change that is expected to affect developing coastal cities located in estuarine delta regions. Shanghai is one such city, being located in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). It is difficult, however, for decision-makers to implement adaptation due to the uncertain causes, magnitudes, and timings of SLR behaviors. This paper attempts to map the causes and magnitudes of SLR behaviors on a decadal scale. We analyze the tidal level records from 11 tidal gauge stations and the corresponding bathymetry measurements around these stations since 1921. We identify three new SLR behaviors along the Shanghai coast due to anthropogenic geomorphologic changes (AGCs), besides the well-known eustatic sea level rise (ESLR), tectonic subsidence (TS), and urban land subsidence (ULS). The first new behavior is regional sea level rise (RSLR), which occurs as a result of land reclamation and deep waterway regulation. The second is regional sea level fall (RSLF), which occurs because the channel bed is eroded due to sediment supply decline in the river catchment. The last SLR behavior is local tidal datum rise (LTDR). Thus, we project that the magnitude of SLR for the Shanghai coast ranges from 10 cm to 16 cm from 2011 to 2030. Clarifying SLR behaviors is important to aid local decision-makers in planning structural and non-structural measures to combat escalating flood damage costs in an estuarine delta system; this field is full of future challenges.     

Do IT freelancers increase their entrepreneurial behavior and performance by using IT self-efficacy and social capital? Evidence from Bangladesh

This study applies entrepreneurship theory and social capital perspective to IT freelancing to facilitate a better understanding of it. Our model hypothesizes that both IT self-efficacy and social capital obtained through social media interactions contribute to IT freelancers’ entrepreneurial behavior and then this entrepreneurial behavior influences their performance. We collected primary data from one of the leading online freelancing marketplaces, oDesk.com (currently Upwork.com). Our empirical findings confirm the core assertion of our research model. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed. Directions for future research are also provided.     

First principle study of electronic,mechanical, optical and thermoelectric properties of CsMO3 (M = Ta,Nb) compounds for optoelectronic devices

The electronic, mechanical, optical and thermoelectric properties of Cesium based perovskites CsMO₃ (M = Nb, Ta) in the cubic phase has been performed through PBEsol-mBJ scheme in the framework of DFT. The electronic band structures and density of states show the studied materials having a direct band gap in the visible range. The mechanical stability and ductile behavior have been analyzed from elastic constants. Moreover, the optical behavior of the studied materials has been analyzed in terms of dielectric functions, refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, optical conductivity, reflectivity and energy loss factor. Finally, the material response with temperature has been elaborated by electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, power factor, heat capacity, Hall coefficient, susceptibility and electron density by using BoltzTraP code. This first principle calculation of optical and thermoelectric properties of the novel compounds provides a new route to the experimentalist for the potential application in energy renewable devices.     

Limit behaviors of extended Kalman filter as a parameter estimator for a sinusoidal signal

In this note, the basic limit behaviors of the solution to Riccati equation in the extended Kalman filter as a parameter estimator for a sinusoidal signal are analytically investigated by using lim sup and lim inf in advanced calculus. We show that if the covariance matrix has a limit, then it must be a zero matrix.     

A comparison between tracer gas and aerosol particles distribution indoors: The impact of ventilation rate,interaction of airflows,and presence of objects

The study investigated the separate and combined effects of ventilation rate, free convection flow produced by a thermal manikin, and the presence of objects on the distribution of tracer gas and particles in indoor air. The concentration of aerosol particles and tracer gas was measured in a test room with mixing ventilation. Three layouts were arranged: an empty room, an office room with an occupant sitting in front of a table, and a single‐bed hospital room. The room occupant was simulated by a thermal manikin. Monodisperse particles of three sizes (0.07, 0.7, and 3.5 μm) and nitrous oxide tracer gas were generated simultaneously at the same location in the room. The particles and gas concentrations were measured in the bulk room air, in the breathing zone of the manikin, and in the exhaust air. Within the breathing zone of the sitting occupant, the tracer gas emerged as reliable predictor for the exposure to all different‐sized test particles. A change in the ventilation rate did not affect the difference in concentration distribution between tracer gas and larger particle sizes. Increasing the room surface area did not influence the similarity in the dispersion of the aerosol particles and the tracer gas.     

大直径钢管混凝土柱抗震性能试验研究及承载力计算

为研究径厚比对大直径钢管混凝土柱抗震性能的影响,进行了2个直径600mm圆钢管混凝土柱试件在恒定轴向压力和水平往复荷载作用下的加载试验,对比分析了不同径厚比(分别为37.5、50.0)试件的破坏形态、滞回特性、钢管应变发展规律以及核心配筋的受力情况。试验结果表明：大直径钢管混凝土柱在压弯荷载作用下,滞回曲线非常饱满,耗能性能优越,均表现出良好的变形能力。随着试件径厚比加大,最大位移角与等效阻尼比均略有减小。柱根部混凝土压溃、钢管鼓曲主要发生在支座底板与下部第一排栓钉之间,栓钉对管壁面外变形具有明显的约束作用;当径厚比较小时,钢管管壁对混凝土的约束作用较强,残余变形较小。核心纵向钢筋基本处于弹性状态,箍筋未屈服,对内部混凝土的约束作用较小,但钢筋与混凝土之间存在明显的滑移现象。大直径钢管混凝土压弯构件的受弯承载力试验值显著高于按照我国现行相关规范、规程公式得到的计算值,说明采用我国现行相关技术规范中的承载力计算公式进行大直径钢管混凝土柱设计,结果偏于安全。     

An experimental study on the temperature and structural behavior of a concrete wall exposed to fire after a high-velocity impact by a hard projectile

Projectiles, such as turbine blades, can be released in an accident and impact structures. Airplanes and other flying objects can also become impact projectiles. These impacts occasionally cause fire when fire loads, such as oil, fuel, and other combustible materials, are present. This study examines the thermal insulation performance of concrete plates and the structural fire behavior of load-bearing reinforced concrete walls that are exposed to fire after a high-velocity impact by a hard projectile. Impact and fire tests were carried out using small-scale concrete plates and reinforced concrete walls. The results show the influence of local damage and the advantage of short-fiber reinforced concrete subjected to impact loads and fire.