Influence of Travel Distance and the Season upon Transport-induced Mortality in Fattened Cattle

Animal welfare during the transport of fattened cattle has a significant effect on the likelihood of mortality or poor meat quality. The number of animals that died during transport to a slaughterhouse or briefly after being delivered to a slaughterhouse may serve as an indicator of animal welfare during transport. The aim of this study was to determine the mortality in fattened cattle resulting from transport to a slaughterhouse, and to examine the effect of both travel distance and the season of the year on the mortality rate in fattened cattle during transport. The mortality rate in fattened cattle during transport to a slaughterhouse that were monitored in the Czech Republic in the period of 1997 - 2004 was 0.007% ± 0.003%. However, it varied significantly (p p < 0.01) between the mortality rate in fattened cattle and ambient temperature. The results indicate relatively low sensitivity of fattened cattle to stress during transport, which was reflected in transport-induced mortality. The increasing travel distance and the transport of cattle in summer or winter months resulted in an increase in transport-induced mortality rates

Personnel Exposure to Scattered Radiation During Radiography of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint in the Horse Using a Portable X-Ray Machine

Radiography of the distal interphalangeal joints of two limbs of a cadaver of a horse weighing 550 kg was conducted in the present study. The examination was performed on lateromedial, palmaroproximal-palmarodistal views and on dorsoproximal-palmarodistal, dorsolateral-palmaromedial, dorsomedial-palmarolateral views of a raised limb placed on a navicular block, and of weight-bearing limbs. During the examination, doses of scattered radiation were measured at the sites of radiographer, assistant holding a film cassette and assistant positioning the examined limb or the opposite one. The lowest radiation dose was received by the assistant holding the cassette behind the examined region; a total equivalent dose of 183.6 - 201.7 nSv was received by his hands and genitals, and 110.8 - 113.3 nSv by his eye lens and neck during the examination of the distal interphalangeal joint. The radiographer was exposed to higher radiation; an equivalent dose of 846.6 - 854.1 nSv was received by his hands and genitals, and 271.8 - 328.2 nSv by the eye lens and the neck. The highest scattered radiation dose was received by the assistant positioning the examined limbs; equivalent doses were 7751 - 9354 nSv (hands), 1117.3 - 1119.5 nSv (genitals), and 880.6 - 1096.2 nSv (eye lens and neck). The equivalent dose values measured, received by the radiographer and the assistants during the examination of the distal interphalangeal joint seem to be very low relative to radiation exposure limits. However, it must be taken into account that the personnel involved in radiography is also exposed to scattered radiation during other examinations where radiation doses are often much higher. These results indicate the necessity to use protective lead aprons, gloves and collars during radiography of the distal interphalangeal joint

Adsorption of corrosion inhibitor 1-dodecylpyridinium chloride on carbon steel studied by in situ AFM and electrochemical methods

Corrosion rates are influenced by the formation of inhibitor aggregates at the steel surface. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the adsorbed structures of cationic surfactant 1-dodecylpyridinium chloride (DPC) at a carbon steel surface in relation to its performance as a CO2-corrosion inhibitor. An increase in the water contact-angle in the presence of DPC indicated its adsorption at the steel, and in situ AFM visualization confirmed the formation of DPC aggregates. The aggregates changed from hemispherical to cylindrical shape with increasing DPC concentration in CO2-saturated brine, resulting in a decrease in corrosion rates as determined by electrochemical measurements. For comparison to the aggressive CO2 environment, the inhibition behavior of DPC was monitored in less corrosive N2-saturated solutions. Formation of cylindrical aggregates was quicker, and a lower corrosion rate was observed in brine saturated with N2 compared to CO2