Risk factors associated with the incidence rate of clinical mastitis in smallholder dairy cows in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania

Smallholder dairy herds around the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania supply 86% of raw milk consumed by the city dwellers. Previous studies have indicated that clinical mastitis is an important disease affecting smallholder dairy cows and an 18-month questionnaire-based longitudinal field-study was conducted between July 2003 and March 2005 to elucidate risk factors associated with the incidence. A total of 6057 quarter-level observations from 317 lactating cows on 87 randomly selected smallholder dairy herds were analysed at the quarter and cow level using logistic and Poisson regression models, respectively. At the quarter level, the average incidence rate of clinical mastitis was 38.4 cases per 100 quarter-years at risk whereas at the cow level the incidence rate was 43.3 cases per 100 cow-years at risk. The incidence was significantly (P< or =0.001) associated with cow factors (body condition score, parity, stage of lactation, and udder consistency), housing (floor type) conditions and milking (cow and udder preparation) practices. It was concluded that the extrapolation of the classic ten-point mastitis control plan into smallholder dairy herds should be undertaken cautiously. An integrated approach to dairy extension should focus more on the creation of mastitis awareness among smallholder producers and on the improvement of animal nutrition and reproduction indices-factors that may also have a direct impact on milk yield.     

Loser cows in Danish dairy herds: definition, prevalence and consequences

During the last few years, many Danish dairy farmers have expressed increasing concerns regarding a group of cows, which we have chosen to term ‘loser cows’. Until now, a loser cow has not been described scientifically. We defined a loser cow on the basis of a clinical examination of the cow. A total of 15,151 clinical examinations were made on 6,451 individual cows from 39 randomly selected, large Danish dairy herds with loose-housing systems using a clinical protocol. Scores for the clinical signs lameness, body condition, hock lesions, other cutaneous lesions, vaginal discharge, condition of hair coat and general condition were converted into a loser cow score. Cows with a loser cow score of 8 or more were classified as loser cows. The overall prevalence of loser cows was 2.15%, 4.50% and 2.98% during the first, second and third round of herd visits, respectively.

The associations between the loser cow state and milk production, mortality, morbidity, culling and workload for the farmer were evaluated using data from herd visits and from the Danish Cattle Database and a number of different statistical techniques. It was concluded that the loser cow state has significant negative consequences for both the farmer and the cow. On average, loser cows yielded 0.61 to 2.24 kg energy corrected milk less per day than non-loser cows depending on parity. Hazard ratio for death or euthanasia was 5.69 for loser cows compared to non-loser cows. Incidence rate ratio for disease treatments was 0.69 for non-loser cows compared to loser cows. Loser cows were often culled in an ‘unfavourable’ way and generally caused extra workload for the farmer.

A simplified version of the loser cow score was evaluated and is recommended for future research and use in practice.     

Evaluation of finger weeder safety and efficacy for intra-row weed removal in irrigated field crops

Increased demand for pesticide-free food and the development of herbicide-resistant weed populations have created a need for non-chemical weed-control tools. A candidate mechanical tool for controlling weeds in the seeding line (intra-row zone) is the finger weeder. This study thus aimed to evaluate the safety and weed-control efficacy of the finger weeder in various irrigated field crops. Eight field trials were conducted in processing tomato, sweet corn, sunflower, cotton, and beetroot over 2 years. The finger weeder treatments were applied as the sole weed-control method (single or double treatments) and in combination with herbicides. A mini meta-analysis was used to evaluate the overall effect of the finger weeder treatments on crop stand and yield and on weed control efficacy. Weed density in the control not treated with herbicides nor a finger weeder ranged between 2 and 62 weeds m⁻². The finger weeder treatments resulted in a significant reduction in weed density, which ranged between 40% and 90%. The weed density following the double finger weeder treatment was not significantly different from that for the conventional herbicide-based treatment (p = 0.32) and could therefore be considered as an effective environmentally friendly alternative. Furthermore, a single FW treatment integrated with herbicide application gave better weed control than the conventional herbicide treatment (p = 0.04). This treatment was safe for the crops with no significant stand (p = 0.19) or yield (p = 0.29) reductions compared to commercial treatment. The results of this study demonstrate the promise of the finger weeder as an effective tool within integrated weed management systems for conventional agro-systems. The tool offers a rational weed-control solution for sustainable systems under irrigation.     

2022年上海市稻田杂草大发生原因剖析及对策建议

在对稻田杂草发生危害长期跟踪监测和调查走访的基础上, 从主观?客观和管理层面的10个方面, 对2022年上海市稻田杂草大发生原因进行了剖析, 并针对当前稻田杂草防除中存在的问题, 从政策引导?技术支撑?组织管理等方面提出了对策建议?     

Physical simulation of fluid field and structure optimization in two-strand tundish

The influence of the structure and location of dam and weir on fluid flow state in a two-strand tundish is studied, and a set of optimal structure, combining with the average residence time calculated from RTD curve, is obtained. The result indicates that the fluid flow state can be changed and the path of the fluid flow can be prolonged as well as the average residence time is improved after using dam and weir. But there are some dead zones after fluid passed through the dam and weir. Combination scheme of No. one dam and weir is better than the others. Its average residence time is 299 s and the volume fraction of dead zone is 31.0%. After the optimization of flowing control parameters in tundish, the best case is that the distance between dam and weir is 290 mm and the distance between weir and the long nozzle is 383 mm. The longest average residence time is 351 s and the minimum volume fraction of dead zone is 19.0% under the above situation. Compared with that of no dam and weir, the average residence time increases by 65 s and the dead zone volume fraction decreases by 15.0%. Based on Newton formula, the calculated results show that the inclusions with diameter larger than 17.5 μm can float up within 351 s under this optimization situation.     

Solution the Polarization Field Strength inside Ellipsoid in a Homogeneous Dielectric

The solution of polarization field strength in ellipsoid and a homogeneous dielectric in condition of a constant external field is obtained with strict derivation and ellipsoidal coordinate. The conclusion that some textbooks given: the direction of polarization field strength with the direction of external field holds strict anti-parallel must be supplemented with additive certain conditions, otherwise it will not be correct. By means of the latticework and the step change calculation, the angle value of polarization vector with the external field is calculated and the changing situation about the angle value with the change of three half axes of ellipsoid is analysied.     

A Receiving Surface of Perturbative Photon Fluxes in Interaction Between Gravitational Waves and EM Fields

According to Electrodynamics in curved spacetime, the interaction between gravitational waves (GW) and electromagnetic (EM) fields will produce perturbative electromagnetic fields. In a special EM system, namely, a Gaussian beam (Gb) propagating through a static magnetic field, the photon flux along the direction of the electric field of the Gb will be only a pure perturbative photon flux,when a GW propagates along the symmetric axis of a Gaussian beam. Detailed alanysis and calculation of the photon flux along several typical surfaces are performed, and a possible optimum plane which can receive perturbative photons up to 10~4s~(-1) is proposed. It is possible to provide an important method to detection of GW.     

THREE CRITICAL POINTS THEOREM AND ITS APPLICATIONS

In this paper, by use of the pseudo-gradient vector field, the three critical points theorem in [2] is extended to the C1 function in the Ba-nach space, and therefore the three critical, points theorem in [5] is strengthened and the existence of the saddle point of the C2 function is discussed.     

Power Frequency Electric Field Caused by EHV Lines and Its Effect

Mathematical model of power frequency electric field is established based on Charge Simulation Method(CSM) to analyze power frequency electric field caused by EHV lines with overhead ground wires and its effect, which are entering the megalopolis. Calculative method on the electric field under the transmission lines is analyzed and validated. According to the criterion of environmental evaluation, the distributing characteristic of electric field is summarized, in case of various arrangement manners of lines. At last, some advice and methods of eliminating electric field under the transmission lines entering the megalopolis is proposed with regard to protecting environment.