Search

The objective of this study was to validate an electronic system for monitoring individual feeding and drinking behaviour and intake developed for young cattle housed in group. A total of 35 Holstein--Gyr crossbred heifers (BW: 180 ± 52 kg; age: 121.5 ± 32.5 days), fitted with an ear tag containing a unique passive transponder, were distributed in three groups of 12, 12 and 11 animals per period and had free access to 12 electronic feed bins and two electronic water bins (Intergado® Ltd). The dimensions of feed and water bins, as well as the sensors position were appropriate for young cattle. The system documented the visit frequency and duration, as well as the feed and water intakes, by recording the animal's identification tag, bin number, initial and final times of visits and the difference of feed/water weight at the start and end of each bin visit. Feed bins were monitored using time-lapse video recording over 4 days and the water bins were monitored over 6 days. For each feed bin, two feeding events were monitored using manual weighings with an external scale immediately before and after the animal's visit and the difference between them was assumed as feed intake (n = 24 observations). For the water bins, 60 manual weighings were made. Video and manual weighing data were regressed on the electronic feeding and drinking behaviour and intake data to evaluate the system's precision and accuracy. The system showed high specificity (98.98% and 98.56% for the feed and water bins, respectively) and sensitivity (99.25% and 98.74%, respectively) for identifying an animal's presence or absence. Duration of feed and water bin visits as well as feed and water consumption per visit estimated by the system were highly correlated and precise compared with the observed video and manual weighing data (r² = 0.917, 0.963, 0.973 and 0.986, respectively). It was concluded that Intergado® system is a useful tool for monitoring feeding and drinking behaviour as well as water and feed intakes in young cattle housed in groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen cows in early lactation were randomly distributed into two groups in order to evaluate the effects of mammary biopsies and increased milking frequency on tissue characteristics, post-biopsy udder health and histology. One group was milked twice a day (2) starting on the 2nd day after calving, until 28 days in milk (DIM). The other group was milked four times a day (4) from two to 21 DIM, and twice a day (2) from 22 to 28 DIM. On days 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 postpartum, one fragment of secretory tissue was collected from one mammary quarter at a time. Collections were alternated between the four mammary quarters per collection day. A total of 80 mammary tissue samples were collected. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the tissues were conducted by histologic examination. Animal health was assessed by observation of feed intake behavior immediately after biopsy, and weight and body condition score before and one week after biopsy. Udder health was assessed daily from calving to 60 DIM with California Mastitis Test (CMT) and by noting alterations in the milk such as blood, milk clots, blood clots, clinical signs of mastitis. Milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC) were analyzed before and after the biopsies. Milk production was evaluated before biopsy, on the day of biopsy, and after the biopsy. An average of 10 fields at 40 magnification was obtained from each sample. There were no evident changes in mammary morphology as a result of milking two or four times/day at any of the evaluated time points. Biopsy wounds healed rapidly without infection. Intramammary bleeding and CMT alterations were observed in 96% and 75% of the biopsied mammary quarters, respectively. Clinical mastitis was diagnosed in 12% of the biopsied quarters. Different milking frequencies had no effect on the frequency and duration of post-biopsy alterations. Milk production decreased after biopsies done on days 2 for 2 and 4 groups, but it returned to pre-biopsy values within 1 day. Milk composition and SCC were affected transiently. Increased milking frequency did not influence udder health. Post-biopsy recovery was rapid and the procedure proved effective without damaging the cows' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic asset management of urban water infrastructures jointly deals with assets of diverse nature, useful life, cost, age and condition. Service sustainability requires a sound long-term planning, which needs assessing, among other aspects: the value of the infrastructure over time; the need for reinvestments; the impact of long-term re-investment policies. The infrastructure value index (IVI) was proven to be a powerful modelling tool for combined long-term planning of linear and vertical assets. An open-source software enables IVI assessment for both asset-by-asset detailed inventory and for simplified cohort-based infrastructure description. This paper presents the formulation, discusses the underlying assumptions and applicability, and illustrates its use for strategic planning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays a variety of methodologies (e.g. black-box predictors, absolute minimums of night flows) are applied to extract relevant information for leakage control, network operation, and system planning and rehabilitation. However, the value of profiling the 24-hour demand cycle as a central element for statistical analysis, as well as a definition of normality and behavior, is often overlooked. A reliable set of methods and algorithms including data acquisition, validation and normalization procedures to obtain reliable 24-hour demand profiling is described, aided by an efficient software implementation, validated through the application in a large number of DMA from over 40 different utilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus produces exoproteins that contribute to its ability to colonize the mammary gland such as hemolysins, coagulase, slime, and protein A. This study characterized phenotypically and genotypically these virulence factors in 50 Staph. aureus isolates. These isolates were obtained from milk samples from subclinical mastitis cases identified in 15 dairy cattle farms located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All of the confirmed Staph. aureus samples were PCR positive for the coa gene, which displayed 3 different size polymorphisms. The amplification of the spaA X region yielded a single amplicon for each isolate with the prevalent amplicon sized 315 bp. The Staph. aureus isolates were 24 and 16% positive for the hla and hlb genes, respectively, and 22 and 20% positive for the icaA and icaD genes, respectively. Amplification of the agr gene RNAIII was positive in 74% of the strains. Twenty-seven different profiles were identified among the samples, indicating a great diversity of Staph. aureus involved in the etiology of mastitis cases in the analyzed region. These findings are valuable to the comprehension of the distribution of the profiles of Staph. aureus strains isolated from subclinical mastitis cases in the state of Rio de Janeiro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a global threat leading to large impacts on human health and ecosystems. In Europe, air quality remains poor in many areas, despite reductions in emissions and ambient concentrations. Air pollution and climate change are the biggest environmental concerns for Europeans, implying concerted and integrated actions to tackle them. The revised 2016 European National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) enforces Member States to implement strategies, based on emission reduction measures, aimed to comply with targets by 2030 and achieve European Union (EU) and World Health Organization air quality objectives for environment and health protection. Despite those strategies are designed for 2030, the influence of climate change on air quality is not accounted for. In this sense, the purpose of this paper is the evaluation of the climate change impact on future air quality, taking into consideration emission reduction measures. The WRF-CAMx air quality modelling system was applied over Europe for one year selected as representative of a short-term changing climate (around 2030), and compared to a base case year, to estimate to what extent the climate variables by themselves could positively or negatively influence air quality. Results indicate that meteorological conditions may be decisive for the air quality state in the future. Differences between future and present simulations pointed to a global decrease of ozone levels in the future; increases and decreases in particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide concentrations over different seasons and European regions. This work is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the influence of climate variables on air quality improvement strategies as an additional support to European environmental authorities in developing the National Air Pollution Control Programmes in the scope of NECD. Unlabelled Image • EU National Emission Ceilings Directive does not consider future climate impacts. • Meteorological conditions may be decisive for the air quality state in the future. • In average, an increase of PM and NO 2 and a reduction of O 3 levels are estimated in EU due to future climate. • Results support the improvement of air quality strategies for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction et but de l’étude Chez les obèses, la perte de masse grasse après restriction calorique s’accompagne souvent d’une perte musculaire, surtout en absence d’activité physique. Dans d’autres contextes entrainant une perte musculaire (immobilisation, inflammation, cancer), plusieurs études montrent que les acides gras polyinsaturés (AGPI) n-3 modulent l’homéostasie pro-téique, notamment via des effets sur la sensibilité à l’insuline. L’apport d’AGPI n-3 pendant un amaigrissement pourrait donc ainsi contribuer à préserver la masse musculaire. Cette hypothèse a été testée chez le rat avec 2 sources d’AGPI n-3 permettant de comparer le précurseur végétal (18:3 n-3) et ses dérivés à longue chaîne (LC, 20:5 n-3 et 22:6 n-3). Matériel et méthodes 48 rats Wistar mâles adultes ont reçu pendant 4 semaines un régime d’induction hypercalorique, puis 36 rats ont été soumis à 8 semaines de restriction calorique, 12 rats restant ad libitum. Pendant ces 2 phases, les lipides alimentaires comportaient de l’huile de tournesol oléique (71 % de 18:1 n-9, groupes ad libitum ADLIB et témoin restreint, OLE), de colza (10 % de 18:3 n-3, groupe COL) ou de l’huile de poisson (10 % d’AGPI n-3 LC, groupe POI) (n =12 par groupe). Après restriction, une injection iv d’insuline et des biopsies de muscle gastrocnémien ont été réalisées sous anesthésie. Les analyses suivantes ont été réalisées postmortem : composition corporelle ; expression des gènes-clés de la protéolyse par qPCR et activation de la voie de signalisation de l’insuline par western-blotting dans le muscle. Résultats et Analyse statistique Composition corporelle . Lors de la phase d’induction, la prise de poids était régulière et similaire dans tous les groupes. Pendant la phase de restriction, les rats ADLIB ont continué à prendre du poids tandis que les 3 groupes restreints ont tous perdu −20 % de poids, et 50 % de tissu adipeux viscéral. En revanche, vs les rats ADLIB, les muscles de la patte ont perdu significativement du poids chez les rats OLE (−4 à −6 %), mais pas chez les rats COL et POI. Expression des marqueurs de la protéolyse . Vs le groupe ADLIB, le taux d’ARNm des gènes impliqués dans le système ubiquitine/protéasome est significativement diminué dans le groupe POI (MAFbx – 30 % et MurF1 – 20 %) et intermédiaire pour le groupe COL, sans effet de la restriction pour le groupe OLE. La nature des AG est sans effet sur les systèmes calcium-dépendant (calpaïne 2) et lysosomal (cathepsine D). Voies de signalisation de l’insuline . En réponse à l’insuline, les taux de phosphorylation d’AKT et d’IRS 1, connues pour stimuler la protéosynthèse, sont significativement augmentés (+70 %) dans le groupe POI vs le groupe ADLIB. Il en va de même des ARNm du récepteur de l’insuline (+50 %). Le groupe COL présente le même profil, à l’exception d’IRS 1, alors qu’aucun changement n’est observé pour le groupe OLE. Conclusion L’apport d’AGPI n-3, avant et pendant une restriction calorique, prévient la perte de masse musculaire. Cet effet bénéfique est associé à une meilleure activation de la signalisation de l’insuline. Enfin, à apport équivalent, le 18:3 n-3 végétal (fourni par l’huile de colza) a globalement la même efficacité que les AGPI-LC n-3 fournis par l’huile de poisson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have investigated by deep level transient spectroscopy the hole and electron trap defects introduced in n-type Ge during electron beam deposition (EBD) of Pt Schottky contacts. We have also compared the properties of these defects with those introduced in the same material during high-energy electron irradiation. Our results show EBD introduces several electrically active defects at and near the surface of Ge. The main defect introduced during EBD has electronic properties similar to those of the V–Sb complex, or E-center, introduced during high-energy electron irradiation of Ge. Annealing at 325°C in Ar removed all the defects introduced during EBD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing the total solids (TS) content of liquid feed, by adding increasing amounts of milk replacer powder to whole milk, on age at puberty and postweaning performance, glucose metabolism, and mammary fat pad of dairy heifers. Crossbreed Holstein × Gyr heifers (n = 58) were distributed into 4 different treatments during the preweaning period. Treatments consisted of liquid feeds with TS content of 12.5 (actual TS = 13.5 ± 0.53%; n = 15), 15.0 (actual TS = 16.1 ± 0.03%; n = 15), 17.5 (actual TS = 18.2 ± 0.14%; n = 13), or 20.0% (actual TS = 20.4 ± 0.24%; n = 15), which were provided up to 59 d old. From 60 to 89 d old, the animals received the same starter offered during the preweaning period in addition to corn silage ad libitum starting at 70 d old. From 90 to 104 d old, the animals were adapted to a total mixed ration. At 105 d old, the animals were distributed in 4 paddocks equipped with electronic feed and water bins and were fed the same total mixed ration ad libitum. A period of adaptation to the electronic feed bins occurred from 105 to 119 d old. Feed and water intake and body weight and body frame development were assessed until puberty. Mammary gland evaluations were performed monthly by ultrasonography from 120 d of age until puberty onset. Puberty onset was determined as plasma progesterone concentration greater than 1 ng/mL in 2 consecutive samples collected 7 d apart. The date of puberty onset was recorded as the collection day of the first of these samples. A glucose tolerance test was performed at 280 d of age. The increased TS content of the liquid feed fed during the preweaning period did not affect dry matter intake, performance, age at puberty, glucose metabolism, or mammary gland fat pad at later stages of rearing process. Conversely, hip width and heart girth increased linearly up to 150 and 240 d of age, respectively, as a result of the increased TS concentration of the liquid feed during the preweaning period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of disability and death in Cambodia. Economic development has long been associated with rapid increases in road traffic injuries and fatalities. Drink driving is of particular concern in Cambodia. In 2014, the percentage of fatal crashes involving alcohol rose to 17.5% (381 = n), representing a 34.9% (n = 253) increase from 2012. This study aims to illustrate current knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) around drinking and driving in three Cambodian provinces. Methods: A roadside survey of randomly selected road users (aged 18 years and older) was conducted in Phnom Penh, Kandal, and Kampong Speu, Cambodia, between November 2010 and May 2012. Data were collected for five-day periods every 6 months. A survey was administered to assess prevailing knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding drink driving. Results: A total of 1187 road users responded to the KAP survey, the majority (49.6%, n = 585) of whom were from Phnom Penh. Males accounted for 96.2% (n = 1142) of respondents; the majority (63.8%, n = 757) were aged 34 years and younger. Despite the belief that drinking and driving would increase the risk of a crash, a significant proportion of respondents (37.1%, n = 438) reported driving within 2 h of drinking alcohol at least once in the 30 days preceding the survey. This proportion was particularly high among males aged 25-34 years at 49.2% (n = 208). Of those who reported drinking and driving, 76.5% (n = 335) indicated they 'felt conscious enough' to drive at the time and 34.0% (n = 149) reported having 'no other available transportation options'. Conclusions: This study shows that, in general, drinking and driving remains a problem in Cambodia. A multi-pronged, coordinated approach is needed to effectively address this issue. Such an approach ought to include social marketing and public education campaigns, enhanced enforcement, and programs that either limit the number of drinks to drivers or those that provide alternatives to drinking and driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on feed intake, calf performance, feed efficiency, fecal score, passage rate, apparent nutrient digestibility, development of rumen and other organs, and body composition of increasing the total solids content of liquid feed (whole milk) by adding increasing amounts of milk replacer powder during the preweaning period. Crossbred Holstein-Gyr calves (n = 32) were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (n = 8 per group), which consisted of different total solids concentrations: 12.5, 15.0, 17.5, and 20.0% of liquid feed. Calves received 6 L of liquid per day, divided into 2 equal meals (0800 and 1600 h) and provided in buckets, from 5 to 55 d of age. Starter and water were provided ad libitum during the entire experiment. At 56 d of age, animals were killed. Laboratory analysis determined that the actual total solids contents of the liquid feed were 13.5, 16.1, 18.2, and 20.4%, for the proposed 12.5, 15.0, 17.5, and 20.0% total solids treatments, respectively. The osmolality of liquid feed treatments was 265 to 533 mOsm/L. Fecal score was similar among treatments, except for wk 2 and 7. Intake of liquid feed was similar among treatments from 6 wk of age. During wk 4, 5, and 6, we detected a linear decrease in starter intake. After wk 7, we observed greater starter intake for calves fed approximately 16.1% total solids. Water intake, feed efficiency, and withers height were similar among treatments. Increasing concentrations of total solids in liquid feed quadratically affected average daily gain, final body weight, and empty body weight. We observed a greater average daily gain for calves fed approximately 20.4% total solids. Passage rate, nutrient digestibility, development of pre-stomachs and intestine, and body composition were similar among treatments. Increasing the concentration of total solids in liquid feed up to 20.4% reduced starter intake between 4 and 6 wk of life, but increased average daily gain. It did not affect passage rate, nutrient digestibility, ruminal and organ development, or body composition in calves during the preweaning period, indicating that this strategy may be a viable alternative for feeding without increasing the total volume of liquid feed provided to dairy calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to validate an electronic system for monitoring individual feeding behavior and feed intake (Intergado Ltd., Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil) in freest all-housed dairy cattle. No data have been published that validate either the behavioral measurement or the feed intake of this system. Feeding behavior data were recorded for 12 Holstein cows over 5 d using an Intergado system and time-lapse video. The cows were fitted with an ear tag containing a unique passive transponder and provided free access to 12 feed bins. The system documented the visit duration and feed intake by recording the animal identification number, bin number, initial and final times, and the difference between feed weight at start and end of each feed bin visit. These data were exported to Intergado web software and reports were generated. Electronic data on animal behavior were compared with video data collected during the same evaluation period. An external scale was used to manually measure and validate the electronic system's ability to monitor dairy cow feed intake for each feed bin visit. The feed intake was manually measured for 4-h time periods and compared with the sum of the feed intake recorded by the monitoring system for each cow visit during the same time period. Video and manual weight data were regressed on the electronic feeding behavior and feeding intake data to evaluate the precision of the monitoring system. The Intergado system presented high values for specificity (99.9%) and sensitivity (99.6%) for cow detection. The visit duration and feed intake per visit collected using the electronic monitoring system were similar to the video and manual weighing data, respectively. The difference between the feed intake measured manually and the sum of the electronically recorded feed intake was less than 250 g (25,635 ± 2,428 and 25,391 ± 2,428 g estimated using manual weighing and the electronic system, respectively). In conclusion, the Intergado system is a reasonable tool to monitor feeding behavior and feed intake for freest all-housed dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance, rumen development, and metabolism of male Holstein calves (n = 54) were evaluated according to 1 of 3 liquid feeding strategies: 4 L of milk replacer (MR)/d until 60 d old (4L-60d), 6 L of MR/d until 29 d old and 4 L/d from 30 to 60 d (6L-29d/4L-60d), or 6 L of MR/day until 60 d old (60d-6L). Water and starter were provided ad libitum. Intakes of MR and starter were monitored daily and body weight (BW) weekly. Blood samples for glucose and insulin concentrations and ruminal content samples for volatile fatty acids and ruminal ammonia concentrations were collected at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 d of age. Six calves on each treatment were euthanized at 30, 60, and 90 d of age. Empty weights of forestomach and abomasum, papillae length, and mitotic index were measured. Average MR intake/d (expressed as a percent of BW) was greater for calves receiving 6 L/d than for those receiving 4 L/d until 30 d of age. Calves on the 6L-29d/4L-60d had the smallest MR intake from 30 to 60 d old, followed by the 4L-60d and 6L-60d treatments. Starter intake (kg of dry matter/day) did not differ between groups. It increased from 0.065 kg/d in the first month to 0.386 kg/d in the second month, and to 2.065 kg/d after weaning. Weight gain was greater for calves fed more MR in the first month, but no difference was observed during the second month. After weaning, 6L-60d calves had greater rate of weight gain than others and were heavier at 30, 60, and 90 d of age. Weight of empty forestomachs, ruminal pH, and ammoniac nitrogen concentration were not different among groups. Propionate concentration was lower for 6L-60d calves, but acetate and butyrate concentrations were not influenced by MR feeding strategy. Calves fed more MR until d 30 had greater ruminal epithelium mitotic index. The different MR feeding strategies did not influence papillae length or ruminal epithelium thickness. Lesions such as ruminal parakeratosis or hyperkeratosis were not observed. The MR feeding strategy did not affect glucose concentration, but insulin was higher in 6L-60d calves than in the other groups. Glucose concentration increased with age, whereas insulin decreased until 45 d old, and then started to increase until 90 d. In conclusion, MR feeding strategy did not influence ruminal development. Feeding calves 6 L of MR/d over 60 d resulted in greater rate of weight gain without negative effects on starter intake or forestomach development. The weight advantage that 6L-60d calves obtained preweaning was maintained until 90 d of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural examples of fold patterns associated with rotated boudins occur in the Ossa–Morena Zone (S Portugal) and triggered the present study. In ductile marbles with embedded competent mafic boudins, the folds seem to have originated by rotation of these bodies and show differential development, from gentle deflections to sheath folds. This suggests a dependence of the structure type on the distance of the metamorphic layering to the rigid body. The experimental work presented here was performed with rotating inclusions in bulk simple shear and introduces a new variable, the distance of the marker layer from the rigid inclusion (d), expressed in terms of E, the ratio between the spacing between marker layers (D) and the greater principal dimension of the inclusion (a). Contrary to previous experimental work in the literature, we used planar marker layers without concomitant boudinage. Our results show new processes of development of sheath folds from planar layers, and also that some non-cylindrical layer deflections are transient and, thus, that sheath folds do not originate from them. When d is small and the inclusion starts with its longest axis normal to the shear plane, sheath folds develop by drag pull processes on originally planar marker layers. Transient non-cylindrical deflections develop on originally planar marker layers when the distance between the marker layers is smaller than the longest principal dimension of the rigid particle.The monoclinic symmetry of the drag sheath fold patterns associated with rotating rigid inclusions indicate non-coaxial flow and can be used as a shear sense criterion (quarter structure). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Tissue microarrays can be used for quantitative and qualitative measures. • Tissue microarray reliability assessment can be achieved virtually. • Core loss was minimal (1.8 %) using our methods. • Tissue microarrays allow increased efficiency. Tissue microarrays (TMAs), where each block (and thus section) contains multiple tissue cores from multiple blocks potentially allow more efficient use of tissue, reagents and time in neuropathology. The relationship between data from TMA cores and whole sections was investigated using 'virtual' TMA cores. This involved quantitative assessments of microglial pathology in white matter lesions and motor neuron disease, alongside qualitative TDP-43 inclusion status in motor neuron disease cases. Following this, a protocol was developed for TMA construction. For microglial pathology we found good concordance between virtual cores and whole sections for volume density using one 1.75 mm core (equivalent to a 2 mm core after accounting for peripheral tissue loss). More sophisticated microglial cell size and measures required two cores. Qualitative results of pTDP-43 pathology showed use of one 1.75 mm core gave a 100 % sensitivity and specificity within grey matter, and 88.3 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity within white matter. A method of producing the TMAs was suitable for immunohistochemistry both manually and by autostainer, with the minimal core loss from the microscope slide. TMAs have been used infrequently in post mortem neuropathology research. However, we believe TMAs give comparable tissue assessment results and can be constructed, sectioned and stained with relative ease. We found TMAs could be used to assess both quantitative (microglial pathology) and qualitative pathology (TDP-43 proteinopathy) with greatly reduced quantities of tissue, time and reagents. These could be used for further work to improve data acquisition efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]