Rearing calves outdoors with and without calf jackets compared with indoor housing on calf health and live-weight performance

peer-reviewedThe objective of this study was to compare the effects of rearing calves outdoors, with and without all-weather calf jackets, with calves reared indoors on calf immunity and animal performance. In February 1999, male Holstein calves (mean (s.e.) weight 55 (1.90) kg) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments (n=30 per treatment): 1) outdoors with jacket, (J; mean age 19 (s.e. 2.0) days); 2) outdoors without jacket (NJ; mean age 19 (s.e. 1.8) days), and 3) indoors on straw (I; mean age 19 (s.e. 1.0) days). Calves received an individual allowance of 25 kg of milk replacer dry matter during the first 42 days with ad libitum access to a concentrate ration from day 0 to 63. The jackets were removed from the calves on day 42. Live-weight gain from day 0 to day 63 of the study was not significantly different between treatments (J, 0.79; NJ, 0.80; I, 0.80 kg). Sixty percent of the J calves and 53% of the NJ calves required four or more antibiotic treatments for respiratory disease while corresponding treatments were required for 97% of the I calves. The incidence of diarrhoea was significantly higher in both outdoor treatments compared to the I treatment. There was no significant difference in white blood cell counts or in serum immunoglobulin concentrations between treatments on days 0, 21, 42 and 63 or in in vitro interferon-γ production on day 63. It is concluded that using calf jackets on calves reared outdoors had no beneficial effect on calf performance or immune status. The incidence of respiratory disease was higher and diarrhoea incidence was lower in calves reared indoors compared with calves reared outdoors. There was no significant difference in incidences of diarrhoea and respiratory disease between the two outdoor treatments

The Welfare of Animals Transported From Ireland to Italy.

End of Project ReportThe overall objective of the present study was to investigate the physiological, haematological and immunological responses of weanling bulls transported to Italy under present EU legislation and to evaluate the implications in terms of animal welfare

Effects of Pre-Journey Fasting on the Physiological Responses of Young Cattle to 8-hour Road Transport.

End of Project ReportThe present study evaluated the effects of fasting animals for 8 hours prior to an 8-hour road journey and their ability to cope with the stress of transport.There was no significant difference in rectal body temperature, pre and post transport and there were no significant differences in liveweight among treatments on days 0 (pre-transport), 1, 4 and 10 (post-transport). Bulls (230kg) undergoing an 8-h transportation at stocking densities of 0.82 m2 /animal showed physiological and haematological responses that were within normal referenced ranges. Animals that were fasted for 8-hours and then transported lost 9.4% bodyweight following the 8-hour journey, while non-fasted and transported animals (NF+T) lost 7.2%. The control animals remaining at grass and non-fasted (NF+G) gained 2%. The animals that were fasted continuously and not transported (F+F) and the non-fasted control animals that were fasted for 8 hours (NF+F) lost 6.1% and 6.2% respectively. There was no significant change in globulin, glucose, urea, haemoglobin, beta-hydroxy butyrate, fibrinogen concentrations, haematocrit and monocyte percentages, monocyte and red blood cell numbers, platelet numbers among treatments prior to or after transport. The % lymphocytes were reduced in the fasted and non-fasted transported animals and post-transport and there was no significant change in lymphocyte numbers. The % of neutrophils and the number of neutrophils were significantly increased in the fasted and non-fasted transported animals. Baseline protein concentrations were significantly lower in the non-fasted and transported and nonfasted then fasted treatments initially. Following transport, protein concentrations were significantly higher in the fasted and transported treatment compared with the non-fasted animals at grass. White blood cell (WBC) numbers were not significantly different prior to transport. Following transport, the WBC numbers were significantly higher in the fasted and transported treatment compared with the non-fasted at grass, fasted and then fasted, and the non-fasted and fasted treatments. Albumin concentrations were significantly higher following transport in the F+T treatment compared with the NF+G, F+F, and NF+F treatments and the NF+T treatment had significantly lower albumin levels than the F+T and NF+F treatments. Haptoglobin concentrations were not significantly different prior to transport. Following transport, haptoglobin concentrations were significantly higher in the F+T compared with the NF+G treatment. Lactate concentrations were significantly higher in the F+T and NF+T compared with the NF+G, F+F, and NF+F treatments following transport. In conclusion, from the physiological and haematological measurements, an 8 hour journey time, even without access to feed for 8 hours prior to transport did not impact negatively on animal welfare

Boarfish Acoustic Survey Cruise Report 10 July – 31 July, 2013

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report.From the early 1970s the abundance of boarfish (Capros aper) was seen to increase exponentially and distribution spread increasingly northwards along the western seaboard and Bay of Biscay (Blanchard and Vandermeirsch, 2005). This survey represents the third dedicated research survey for boarfish in the time series. The commercial fishing vessel MFV Felucca (as in 2011), an active participant in the fishery, was equipped with a calibrated scientific echosounder (Simrad EK 60) and transducer within a towed body. Data from this survey, in addition to the extensive biological research carried out on this species, forms part of a larger program aimed at increasing the knowledge of this species and its abundance outside of the commercial fishery. Data from this survey will be presented for inclusion into the ICES Planning Group meeting for International Pelagic Surveys in January 2014 (WGIPS) and for the ICES assessment Working Group for Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE) meeting in August 2013

Large time behavior and asymptotic stability of the two-dimensional Euler and linearized Euler equations

We study the asymptotic behavior and the asymptotic stability of the two-dimensional Euler equations and of the two-dimensional linearized Euler equations close to parallel flows. We focus on spectrally stable jet profiles $U(y)$ with stationary streamlines $y_{0}$ such that $U'(y_{0})=0$, a case that has not been studied previously. We describe a new dynamical phenomenon: the depletion of the vorticity at the stationary streamlines. An unexpected consequence, is that the velocity decays for large times with power laws, similarly to what happens in the case of the Orr mechanism for base flows without stationary streamlines. The asymptotic behaviors of velocity and the asymptotic profiles of vorticity are theoretically predicted and compared with direct numerical simulations. We argue on the asymptotic stability of these flow velocities even in the absence of any dissipative mechanisms.Comment: To be published in Physica D, nonlinear phenomena (accepted January 2010

Magnetically activated adhesives: towards on-demand magnetic triggering of selected polymerisation reactions

On-demand initiation of chemical reactions is becoming increasingly popular in many areas. The use of a magnetic field to trigger reactions is an intriguing concept, with vast potential in both research and industrial settings, though it remains a challenge as yet unsolved. Here we report the first example of on-demand magnetic activation of a polymerisation process using an anaerobic adhesive formulation as an example of this new approach toward triggering polymerisation reactions using an external magnetic field. Our strategy involves the use of a colloidal system comprising functional methacrylate ester monomers, peroxide and CuII-salt as polymerisation initiators and magnetic nanoparticles coated with an oxidising shell. This unique combination prevents reduction of the reactive transition metal (CuII) ion by the metal substrates (steel or aluminium) to be joined – hence inhibiting the redox radical initiated cationic polymerisation reaction and efficiently preventing adhesion. The polymerisation and corresponding adhesion process can be triggered by removal of the functional magnetic particles using a permanent external magnet either prior to formulation application or at the joint to be adhered, enabling the polymerisation to proceed through CuII-mediated reduction. This new approach enables on-demand magnetically-triggered reaction initiation and holds potential for a range of useful applications in chemistry, materials science and relevant industrial manufacturing

Ensuring phenotyping algorithms using national electronic health records are FAIR:Meeting the needs of the cardiometabolic research community

Phenotyping algorithms enable the extraction of clinically-relevant information (such as diagnoses, prescription information, or a blood pressure measurement) from electronic health records for use in research. They have enormous potential and wide-ranging utility in research to improve disease understanding, health, and healthcare provision. While great progress has been achieved over the past years in standardising how genomic data are represented and curated (e.g. VCF files for variants), phenotypic data are significantly more fragmented and lack a common representation approach. This lack of standards creates challenges, including a lack of comparability, transparency and reproducibility, and limiting the subsequent use of phenotyping algorithms in other research studies. The FAIR guiding principles for scientific data management and stewardship state that digital assets should be findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable, yet the current lack of phenotyping algorithm standards means that phenotyping algorithms are not FAIR. We have therefore engaged with the community to address these challenges, including defining standards for the reporting and sharing of phenotyping algorithms. Here we present the results of our engagement with the community to identify and explore their requirements and outline our recommendations to ensure FAIR phenotyping algorithms are available to meet the needs of the cardiometabolic research community

Ensuring phenotyping algorithms using national electronic health records are FAIR:Meeting the needs of the cardiometabolic research community

Phenotyping algorithms enable the extraction of clinically-relevant information (such as diagnoses, prescription information, or a blood pressure measurement) from electronic health records for use in research. They have enormous potential and wide-ranging utility in research to improve disease understanding, health, and healthcare provision. While great progress has been achieved over the past years in standardising how genomic data are represented and curated (e.g. VCF files for variants), phenotypic data are significantly more fragmented and lack a common representation approach. This lack of standards creates challenges, including a lack of comparability, transparency and reproducibility, and limiting the subsequent use of phenotyping algorithms in other research studies. The FAIR guiding principles for scientific data management and stewardship state that digital assets should be findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable, yet the current lack of phenotyping algorithm standards means that phenotyping algorithms are not FAIR. We have therefore engaged with the community to address these challenges, including defining standards for the reporting and sharing of phenotyping algorithms. Here we present the results of our engagement with the community to identify and explore their requirements and outline our recommendations to ensure FAIR phenotyping algorithms are available to meet the needs of the cardiometabolic research community