The EPRI state-of-the-art cooling water treatment research project a tailored collaboration program

The EPRI Tailored Collaboration State-of-the-Art Cooling Water Treatment Research Program has been initiated with several electric utility participants. Started in January 1995, the program will provide O&M cost reduction through improved cooling water system reliability and operation. This effort is discussed along with the objectives and goals, the participants and project timetable. The program will provide three (3) main results to the participating utilities: cost effective optimization of cooling water treatment, production of a new Cooling Water Treatment Manual and updating of two (2) EPRI software products — SEQUIL and COOLADD. A review of the specific objectives, project timetable and results to date will be presented.     

Dynamics of Oxidation of a Fe2+-Bearing Aluminosilicate (Basaltic) Melt

Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) and microscopy demonstrate that the approximately 1400°C oxidation of levitated droplets of a natural Fe2+-bearing aluminosilicate (basalt) melt occurs by chemical diffusion of Fe2+ and Ca2+ to the free surface of the droplet; internal oxidation of the melt results from the required counterflux of electron holes. Diffusion of an oxygen species is not required. Oxidation causes the droplets to go subsolidus; magnetite (Fe3O4) forms at the oxidation-solidification front with a morphology suggestive of a Liesegang-band nucleation process.     

Antarctic atmospheric chemistry: preliminary exploration

The particulate and trace gas content of polar air is very similar to that of tropical air despite diflerences in climatology and biotic activity. biologic particulates and moisture.     

Platinum-group element abundance patterns in different mantle environments

Mantle-derived xenoliths from the Cameroon Line and northern Tanzania display differences in their platinum-group element (PGE) abundance patterns. The Cameroon Line lherzolites have uniform PGE patterns indicating a homogeneous upper mantle over several hundreds of kilometers, with approximately chondritic PGE ratios. The PGE patterns of the Tanzanian peridotites are similar to the PGE systematics of ultramafic rocks from ophiolites. The differences can be explained if the northern Tanzanian lithosphere developed in a fluid-rich suprasubduction zone environment, whereas the Cameroon Line lithosphere only experienced melt extraction from anhydrous peridotites.     

Pregnancy Rates in Angus Cross Beef Cows Bred at Observed Oestrus With or Without Second GnRH Administration in Fixed‐Time Progesterone‐Supplemented Ovsynch and CO‐Synch Protocols

Crossbred cows (n = 1073) from five locations had oestrous cycles synchronized with 100 μg of GnRH IM and insertion of controlled internal drug release device (CIDR) on Day 0 followed by 25 mg of PGF_2α IM and CIDR removal on Day 7. Kamar^® patches were placed on all cows at CIDR removal. Cows were observed three times daily for oestrus after PGF_2α administration. In the Ovsynch‐CIDR group, cows detected in oestrus (n = 193) within 48 h after PGF_2α were inseminated using the AM–PM rule. Among these cows, 80 received and 113 did not receive a second GnRH at 48 h after PGF_2α. Cows (n = 345) not detected in oestrus received a second GnRH at 48 h after PGF_2α on Day 9, and fixed‐time AI 16 h after the GnRH on Day 10. In the CO‐Synch‐CIDR group, cows detected in oestrus (n = 224) within 48 h after PGF_2α were inseminated using the AM–PM rule. Among these cows, 79 received and 145 did not receive a second GnRH at 64 h after PGF_2α. Cows (n = 311) not detected in oestrus received a second GnRH on Day 10 at the time of AI, 64 h after PGF_2α. The AI pregnancy rates were not different between the Ovsynch‐CIDR and CO‐Synch‐CIDR groups (p = 0.48). There were no differences in the AI pregnancy rates for cows inseminated at a fixed time (p = 0.26) or at detected oestrus (p = 0.79) between the treatment groups. Among cows inseminated in oestrus, there were no differences in the AI pregnancy rates between cows that received or did not receive the second GnRH (p = 0.47). In conclusion, acceptable AI pregnancy rates can be achieved with or without inclusion of oestrus detection in the Ovsynch‐CIDR and CO‐Synch‐CIDR protocols. Among cows detected in oestrus, cows that received a second GnRH yielded similar pregnancy rates when compared with cows that did not receive the second GnRH.     

Fertility of Angus cross beef heifers after GnRH treatment on day 23 and timing of insemination in 14‐day CIDR protocol

This study compared artificial insemination pregnancy rate (AI‐PR) between 14‐day CIDR‐GnRH‐PGF2α‐GnRH and CIDR‐PGF2α‐GnRH synchronization protocol with two fixed AI times (56 or 72 hr after PGF2α). On day 0, heifers (n = 1311) from nine locations assigned body condition score (BCS: 1, emaciated; 9, obese), reproductive tract score (RTS: 1, immature, acyclic; 5, mature, cyclic) and temperament score (0, calm; and 1, excited) and fitted with a controlled internal drug release (CIDR, 1.38 g of progesterone) insert for 14 days. Within herd, heifers were randomly assigned either to no‐GnRH group (n = 635) or to GnRH group (n = 676), and heifers in GnRH group received 100 μg of GnRH (gonadorelin hydrochloride, IM) on day 23. All heifers received 25 mg of PGF2α (dinoprost, IM) on day 30 and oestrous detection aids at the same time. Heifers were observed for oestrus thrice daily until AI. Within GnRH groups, heifers were randomly assigned to either AI‐56 or AI‐72 groups. Heifers in AI‐56 group (n = 667) were inseminated at 56 hr (day 32 PM), and heifers in AI‐72 group (n = 644) were inseminated at 72 hr (day 33 AM) after PGF2α administration. All heifers were given 100 μg of GnRH concurrently at the time AI. Controlling for BCS (p < .05), RTS (p < .05), oestrous expression (p < .001), temperament (p < .001) and GnRH treatment by time of insemination (p < .001), the AI‐PR differed between GnRH treatment [GnRH (Yes – 60.9% (412/676) vs. No – 55.1% (350/635); p < .05)] and insemination time [AI‐56 – 54.6% (364/667) vs. AI‐72 – 61.8% (398/644); (p < .01)] groups. The GnRH treatment by AI time interaction influenced AI‐PR (GnRH56 – 61.0% (208/341); GnRH72 – 60.9% (204/335); No‐GnRH56 – 47.9% (156/326); No‐GnRH72 – 62.8% (194/309); p < .001). In conclusion, 14‐day CIDR synchronization protocol for FTAI required inclusion of GnRH on day 23 if inseminations were to be performed at 56 hr after PGF2α in order to achieve greater AI‐PR.     

Effect of corn- vs molasses-based supplements on trace mineral status in beef heifers

Two studies were conducted to compare the availability of trace minerals offered to Brahman-crossbred heifers in either grain- or molasses-based supplements. Heifers were randomly assigned to bahiagrass pastures of equal size (n = 3 and 2 heifers/ pasture with 6 and 4 pastures/treatment for Experiment 1 and 2, respectively). Two supplements were formulated using corn and cottonseed meal (DRY) or molasses and cottonseed meal (LIQ). In Experiment 2, a third treatment consisted of the DRY supplement with additional S to equal the amount naturally supplied by the LIQ treatment (DRY+S). Supplements were formulated to provide, on average, 1.5 kg of TDN and 0.3 kg of CP/heifer daily and were fed three times weekly. Supplements also were fortified to provide 140, 76, and 63 mg of Cu, Mn, and Zn per heifer daily. Individual heifer weights were collected at the start and conclusion of the study, following a 12-h shrink. Plasma ceruloplasmin and liver Cu, Mn, Mo, Fe, and Zn concentrations were determined on d 0, 29, 56, and 84 in Experiment 1, and d 0, 32, 57, and 90 in Experiment 2. No differences were detected in heifer BW change (-9.3 and -7.3 kg for DRY and LIQ in Experiment 1, and 51.7, 46.3, and 46.7 kg for DRY, DRY+S, and LIQ in Experiment 2, respectively). In both experiments, liver Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations were not affected by supplement treatment. Molybdenum tended (P = 0.06 and 0.10 for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively) to accumulate in the liver of heifers fed molasses-based supplements. In Experiment 1, Cu accumulation was less (P < 0.001) in heifers fed the liquid supplements (271 vs 224, 286 vs 202, and 330 vs 218 ppm, for DRY and LIQ supplements on d 29, 56, and 84, respectively). In Experiment 2, heifers receiving Cu from DRY supplements had a 155-ppm increase in liver Cu concentration, which was greater (P = 0.03) than DRY+S (87 ppm increase) and LIQ (P < 0.001; 13 ppm increase). Although lower than heifers receiving DRY, heifers receiving DRY+S had greater (P = 0.02) liver Cu concentrations than heifers receiving LIQ by the end of the study. In both experiments, plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were highest (P < 0.04) in heifers receiving DRY supplement. The results of these studies suggest that components in molasses-based supplements decrease the accumulation of Cu in the liver of beef heifers. The S and Mo components of molasses may be responsible, at least in part, for this antagonism.     

Clinical biochemistry in healthy manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are endangered aquatic mammals living in coastal and riverine waterways of Florida and adjacent states. Serum or plasma biochemical analyses are important tools in evaluating the health of free-ranging and captive manatees. The purpose of this study was to measure diagnostically important analytes in the plasma of healthy manatees and to determine whether there was significant variation with respect to location (free-ranging versus captive), age class (small calves, large calves, subadults, adults), and gender. No significant differences in plasma sodium, potassium, bilirubin, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, or creatine kinase were found among these classes of animals. Compared to free-ranging manatees, captive animals had significantly lower mean concentrations of plasma chloride, phosphate, magnesium, triglycerides, anion gap, and lactate. Captive manatees had significantly higher mean values of total CO2, calcium, urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, total protein, albumin, and albumin/globulin ratio than did free-ranging animals. Differences in the environments of these two groups, including diet, temperature, salinity, and stress, might account for some of these results. The higher plasma lactate and anion gap concentrations and lower total CO2 concentrations of free-ranging manatees were probably due to greater exertion during capture, but the lack of elevated plasma creatine kinase activity relative to captive animals indicates that there was no serious muscle injury associated with capture. Plasma phosphate decreased and total globulins increased with age. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were highest in small calves. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase was higher in large calves than in adults and subadults, and the albumin/ globulin ratio was higher in subadults than in adults. Plasma total CO2 was higher and chloride was slightly lower in females than in males.