Bovine mortality: the utility of two data sources for the provision of population-level surveillance intelligence

Introduction: The use of existing data to provide surveillance intelligence is widely advocated but often presents considerable challenges. Two data sources could be used as proxies for the mortality experienced by the Scottish cattle population: deaths recorded in the mandatory register [Cattle Tracing System (CTS)] and fallen stock collections by the National Fallen Stock Company (NSFCo) with a nationwide voluntary membership.Methods: Data for the period 2011–2016 were described and compared to establish their strengths and limitations. Similarities and differences in their temporal, seasonal and spatial patterns were examined overall, at postcode area level and for different age groups. Temporal aberration detection algorithms (TADA) were fitted.Results: Broadly, similar patterns were observed in the two datasets; however, there were some notable differences. The observed seasonal, annual and spatial patterns match expectations, given knowledge of Scottish cattle production systems. The registry data provide more comprehensive coverage of all areas of Scotland, while collections data provide a more comprehensive measure of the mortality experienced in 0–1-month-old calves.Discussion: Consequently, estimates of early calf mortality and their impact on the livestock sector made using CTS, or successor registers, will be under-estimates. This may apply to other registry-based systems. Fitted TADA detected points of deviations from expected norms some of which coincided in the two datasets; one with a known external event that caused increased mortality. We have demonstrated that both data sources do have the potential to be utilized to provide measures of mortality in the Scottish cattle population that could inform surveillance activities. While neither is perfect, they are complementary. Each has strengths and weaknesses, so ideally, a system where they are analyzed and interpreted in parallel would optimize the information obtained for surveillance purposes for epidemiologists, risk managers, animal health policy-makers and the wider livestock industry sector. This study provides a foundation on which to build an operational system. Further development will require improvements in the timeliness of data availability and further investment of resources

Scheduling with step-improving processing times

2005-2006 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Penetration Enhancement Effect of Turpentine Oil on Transdermal Film of Ketorolac

Purpose: To prepare transdermal films of ketorolac tromethamine (KT) and study the effect of turpentine oil as a penetration enhancer for the drug.Methods: Transdermal films of KT were prepared with Carbopol-934 and ethyl cellulose, with turpentine oil as the penetration enhancer, using solvent evaporation method. The films were characterized for physicochemical properties, ex vivo permeation, as well as in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in Wistar rats. Results: The transdermal films were uniform in weight and thickness, flat, with high drug content (93.9 to 98.5 %) and of high folding endurance (134.0 to 180.0). Drug permeation through excised rat abdominal skin was prolonged, with the total drug release ranging from 58.88 to 88.98 % in 24 h. The films containing penetration enhancer showed higher drug permeation than the one without the enhancer; furthermore, drug permeation increased with increase in the concentration of the enhancer. The films were non-irritant to the skin. The transdermal films prepared with permeation enhancers showed greater anti-inflammatory activity (87.55 ± 2.50 and 83.24 ± 2.29 % inhibition of rat paw edema at the end of 12 h for formulations F2 and F3, respectively, compared to that of the formulation without enhancer with 69.99 %) as well as greater analgesic activity (quicker onset of analgesia in 1.5 h with longer duration of 10 to 12 h).Conclusion: Transdermal films of ketorolac have a potential for use in the treatment of pain andinflammation. Incorporation of turpentine oil in the films enhances not only drug flux but also analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in rats

Reverse Logistics Operation Management Based on Virtual Enterprises and Evaluation

Based on analyzing the difficulties of reverse logistics operation management, considering the new environment as the economic society developing continuously and discussing the feasibility of virtual enterprise, an operation management mode for reverse logistics based on virtual enterprise is presented in this paper. Evaluation of virtual enterprises for reverse logistics operation is based on the firms' multi-criteria which are qualitative or quantitative. By using Fuzzy AHP technique, the hierarchical and the multi-criteria decision making problems for virtual enterprise are considered and the optimized selection is presented

Finite-time control based on uncertain linear singular systems with disturbance and time-delay outputs

In this paper, we consider the static output feedback, finite-time disturbance rejection problem for a class of linear singular systems with the time-varying norm-bounded uncertainties and time-delay outputs. The first result provided in this paper is a sufficient condition for finite-time state feedback disturbance rejection in the presence of constant disturbances. This condition requires the solution of an LMI or BMI Therefore, we consider the more general output feedback case, which is shown to be reducible to the solution of an optimization problem involving Bilinear Matrix Inequalities (BMI). Finally, we deal with the case in which the disturbance is time-varying and generated by a linear singular system with outputs

Ecological Supply Chains Design Mechanism Based on Virtual Enterprises

In this paper, the concept of ecological supply chain (ESC) and primary design principles of ESC are discussed. And the paper shows that companies can gain economical, social and environmental efficiencies simultaneously from implementing ESC. The organization framework, the operational process, the dynamic durative of virtual enterprise, those are expounded in detail. Evaluation of virtual enterprises for ESC operation is based on the firms' multi-criteria which are qualitative or quantitative. By using fuzzy AHP technique, the hierarchical and the multi-criteria decision making problems for virtual enterprise are considered and the optimized selection is presented

Sexually dimorphic role for vasopressin in the development of social play

Despite the well-established role of vasopressin (AVP) in adult social behavior, its role in social development is relatively unexplored. In this paper, we focus on the most prominent social behavior of juvenile rats, social play. Previous pharmacological experiments in our laboratory suggested that AVP regulates play in a sex- and brain region-specific manner in juvenile rats. Here we investigate the role of specific AVP systems in the emergence of social play. We first characterize the development of play in male and female Wistar rats and then ask whether the development of AVP mRNA expression correlates with the emergence of play. Unexpectedly, play emerged more rapidly in weanling-aged females than in males, resulting in a sex difference opposite of that typically reported for older, juvenile rats. AVP mRNA and play were correlated in males only, with a negative correlation in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and a positive correlation in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These findings support the hypothesis that AVP acts differentially on multiple systems in a sex-specific manner to regulate social play and suggest a role for PVN and BNST AVP systems in the development of play. Differential neuropeptide regulation of male and female social development may underlie well-documented sex differences in incidence, progression, and symptom severity of behavioral disorders during development

Growth characteristics and productivity of tall fescue new variety ‘Purumi’ in South Korea

A new tall fescue variety (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) named ‘Purumi’ was developed by the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, South Korea from 1999 to 2007. For synthetic seed  production of this new variety, 5 superior clones: EFa9108, EFa0010, EFa0020, EFa0108 and EFa0202 were selected and polycrossed. The agronomic growth characteristics and forage production capability of the seeds were studied at Cheonan from 2004 to 2005, and regional trials were conducted in Cheonan, Pyungchang, Jeju and Jinju from 2008 to 2010. Purumi showed enhanced winter hardiness, disease resistance, and regrowth ability as compared to Fawn. The dry matter yield of Purumi was about 5.6% (16.821 kg/ha) higher than that of Fawn. However, the  nutritive value of both varieties was similar. Since this new variety of tall fescue, Purumi has been developed and distributed with its most  remarkable adaptability for Korean climates and superior value as a livestock feed, it is expected to play an important role in restoration of the pasture industry in Korea.Key words: Tall fescue, Purumi, variety, forage, grassland