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Simple Summary: California was the second largest sheep-producing state in the US, with an inventory of 533,000 head of sheep and lambs in 2022. Mastitis is a health and welfare concern for ewes and lambs. Mastitis is one of the top reasons for the removal of ewes from the flock and antibiotic use in ewes. In this study, California sheep producers were surveyed on the management of ewes. Seventy-one surveys were completed. Most respondents had flocks of ≥100 sheep (54%; 38/71). Twenty-three percent (16/70) of the respondents reported having >5% udder abnormalities in a flock per lactation. Further analysis showed two clusters among participating farms. Larger flock sizes, the use of breeding ewes for meat or wool production or contract grazing, and more extensive management practices were associated with >5% udder abnormalities and ≥5% orphan lambs. A subset of the respondents (20) participated in serological testing for small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) in sheep. A total of 1106 ewes or ewe lambs were sampled. The ewe-level seroprevalence was 14.1% (183/1106), and the flock-level seroprevalence was 75% (15/20) of the sampled farms. Our results describe flock demographics, management practices, and producer-reported udder health abnormalities in California ewes. Larger flock sizes and extensive management practices could be risk factors for udder abnormalities in ewes. (1) Background: Information is lacking on small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) status, prevalence, risk factors, and control measures for mastitis in California ewes. The goal of this survey was to outline characteristics of the sheep industry in California related to udder health and mastitis management. (2) Methods: An online survey consisting of 48 questions was completed by respondents between April 2022 and February 2023. Descriptive analysis and chi-squared tests were conducted to evaluate associations between variables. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) of general management practices, udder health management, and flock demographics was performed to assess clustering. A subset of respondents (20) participated in SRLV serology testing. (3) Results: Seventy-one completed surveys were submitted. The MCA showed two clusters. Larger flock sizes, the use of breeding ewes for meat or wool production or contract grazing, and extensive management practices were more closely related to >5% udder abnormalities per lactation and ≥5% orphan lambs. The flock-level seroprevalence of SRLV was 75% (15/20), and ewe-level seroprevalence was 14.1% (183/1106). (4) Conclusions: The results of this study highlight areas that need further research, such as exploring differences in mastitis and SRLV incidences among management systems, the efficacy of mastitis treatments, and education on critical timepoints for mastitis diagnosis and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the number of econometric analyses related to the renewable energy sector in Azerbaijan is increasing, studies on nonparametric dimensionality reduction are rather sparse. Principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) were chosen to fill this apparent research gap. As a result, a large dataset including the renewable energy sector and selected key macroeconomic indicators was evaluated. The PCA procedure yielded four distinct principle components reflecting the main macroeconomic variables, renewable energy production, industry-energy relations and natural resource revenues. The PCA method offers the possibility to examine the precise correlations and the underlying patterns between the displayed clusters of variables. Meanwhile, the MCA-based cross-country assessment of Azerbaijan's wind, solar and hydropower has struck somewhat pessimistic notes, as the country lags behind neighbouring and other post-Soviet countries (e.g. Estonia, Iran, Latvia, Russia) in developing its green energy sector. These findings are of great interest to policymakers, businesses and academics who wish to gain deep insight into the Azerbaijani economy in terms of renewable energy production. The practical value of the present work also lies in the fact that it analyses a multidimensional and relatively longitudinal dataset (1990-2022), which is an example of a methodological application of two nonparametric approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food fraud poses a significant challenge within the global food supply chain, with apprehensions regarding safety, authenticity, and efficiency. This study conducts a brief review of the literature by utilizing the Web of Science database, analyzing 2331 outcomes pertaining to the subject of food fraud. The analysis results demonstrated a noteworthy surge in scientific publications after 2013, which was propelled by events such as the horsemeat scandal and the formation of the European Food Safety Authority. Utilizing Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), the study identified significant clusters pertaining to food transformation, safety, traceability, and distinct meat sources. In addition, trending topics shifted towards a holistic approach to food safety and the implementation of technologies like Blockchain (BC), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data (BD). These technologies offer enhanced traceability, authentication, automation, and decision-making capabilities. The present research offers valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of food fraud research and the potential of nascent technologies to tackle these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Information is lacking on small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) status, prevalence, risk factors, and control measures for mastitis in California ewes. The goal of this survey was to outline characteristics of the sheep industry in California related to udder health and mastitis management. (2) Methods: An online survey consisting of 48 questions was completed by respondents between April 2022 and February 2023. Descriptive analysis and chi-squared tests were conducted to evaluate associations between variables. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) of general management practices, udder health management, and flock demographics was performed to assess clustering. A subset of respondents (20) participated in SRLV serology testing. (3) Results: Seventy-one completed surveys were submitted. The MCA showed two clusters. Larger flock sizes, the use of breeding ewes for meat or wool production or contract grazing, and extensive management practices were more closely related to >5% udder abnormalities per lactation and ≥5% orphan lambs. The flock-level seroprevalence of SRLV was 75% (15/20), and ewe-level seroprevalence was 14.1% (183/1106). (4) Conclusions: The results of this study highlight areas that need further research, such as exploring differences in mastitis and SRLV incidences among management systems, the efficacy of mastitis treatments, and education on critical timepoints for mastitis diagnosis and control.