Crafting an Antidote to Fast Fashion: The Case of Toronto's Independent Fashion Design Sector

The fashion industry has undergone a profound transformation in business practices and production systems over the past several decades. These shifts include the globalisation of production chains and the emergence of a new model of “fast fashion.” This paper investigates the response of independent fashion designers in Toronto, Canada to the growing competition posed by fast fashion. It identifies a number of strategies utilised by designers to compete, arguing that they are increasingly adopting a new model of “slow fashion,” which opens up possibilities for forging locally and ethically based relationships in the fashion sector.     

Investigation of the Concurrent Emergence of Salmonella enteritidis in Humans and Poultry in British Columbia,Canada, 2008–2010

An increase in the rate of human infections with Salmonella enteritidis (SE) occurred between 2007 and 2010 in British Columbia (BC). During the same time period, an increase in SE from poultry‐sourced isolates and increased clinical severity in poultry were also observed in BC. This article describes a multi‐sectoral collaboration during a 3‐year investigation, and the actions taken by public health and animal health professionals. Human cases were interviewed, clusters were investigated, and a case–control study was conducted. Environmental investigations were conducted in food service establishments (FSE). Suspect foods were tested. Laboratory data from poultry‐sourced isolates were analysed. Five hundred and eighty‐four human cases of SE with the same pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis pattern were identified between May 2008 and August 2010. Seventy‐three percentage of cases reported consumption of eggs. The odds of egg consumption were 2.4 times higher for cases than controls. Implicated FSE were found to use ungraded eggs, which had been distributed illegally. Investigation suggested that there were multiple suppliers of these eggs. Collaboration between public health and animal health professionals led to data sharing, improved understanding of SE, engagement with the poultry industry and public communication. Multi‐disciplinary, multi‐sectoral and multi‐pronged investigations are recommended to identify the likely source of illness in large, protracted foodborne outbreaks caused by commonly consumed foods.     

Response rates and survival times for cats with lymphoma treated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison chemotherapy protocol: 38 cases (1996-2003)

OBJECTIVE: To determine response rates and survival times for cats with lymphoma treated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison chemotherapy protocol. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 38 cats with lymphoma. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed, and information on age, sex, breed, FeLV and FIV infection status, anatomic form, clinical stage, and survival time was obtained. Immunophenotyping was not performed. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD age of the cats was 10.9 +/- 4.4 years. Overall median survival time was 210 days (interquartile range, 90 to 657 days), and overall duration of first remission was 156 days (interquartile range, 87 to 316 days). Age, sex, anatomic form, and clinical stage were not significantly associated with duration of first remission or survival time. Eighteen of the 38 (47%) cats had complete remission, 14 (37%) had partial remission, and 6 (16%) had no response. Duration of first remission was significantly longer for cats with complete remission (654 days) than for cats with partial remission (114 days). Median survival time for cats with complete remission (654 days) was significantly longer than median survival time for cats with partial remission (122 days) and for cats with no response (11 days). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that a high percentage of cats with lymphoma will respond to treatment with the University of Wisconsin-Madison chemotherapy protocol. Age, sex, anatomic form, and clinical stage were not significantly associated with duration of first response or survival time, but initial response to treatment was.     

Factors associated with morbidity,mortality, and growth of dairy heifer calves up to 3 months of age

Calfhood disease is an important problem on many dairy operations that can have substantial effects on heifer survival and productivity, and has economic and welfare impacts. Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in young dairy cattle. The objective of this observational study was to investigate factors associated with the risks of morbidity and mortality, and with growth, in commercial dairy heifers calves. A total of 2874 heifer calves from 19 commercial dairy farms in Minnesota and Ontario were enrolled at 1–7 days of age and followed for approximately 3 months. Using cut-points of serum total protein of 5.2 and 5.7 g/dl, the incidences of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) were 11 and 32%, respectively. A cut-point of 5.7 g/dl was the most predictive of BRD before 5 weeks of age (sensitivity = 40%, specificity = 69%). The positive predictive value was poor (PPV = 18%), but the negative predictive value was good (NPV = 87%). A cut-point of 5.2 g/dl was most predictive of death before 5 weeks of age (sensitivity = 27%, specificity = 89%, PPV = 5%, NPV = 98%). Serum total protein during the first week of life was a poor predictor of NCD. Over 23% of calves were treated for diarrhea. Risk factors were weight at enrollment, other diseases before 2 weeks of age, and an interaction between season of birth and herd-level incidence of NCD. Almost 22% of calves were treated at least once for BRD. Factors associated with an increased risk of BRD included herd-level incidence of BRD, season of birth, navel dipping, other diseases before 2 weeks of age, failure of transfer of passive immunity, and manual control of temperature in pre-weaning housing. Administration of supplemental antibody products at birth was associated with a reduced incidence of BRD. Overall mortality was 3.5%. Risk of mortality was increased by treatment for BRD and other diseases. The mean average weight gain was 0.95 kg/day (range: 0.11–1.62 kg/day; SD = 0.2). Twinning status, FTP, treatment for NCD or other diseases, and month of birth influenced body weight. This study illustrated relationships among various diseases, mortality, and growth. Furthermore, it demonstrated the importance of colostrum for protection against BRD and improved growth performance, while bringing into question the optimal method of determining failure of transfer of passive immunity.     

A Field Trial of a Pilated Moraxella bovis Bacterin for the Prevention of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis

Two field trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a Moraxella bovis bacterin in the control of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. The bacterin did not affect the incidence of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis in either trial but did appear to reduce the severity of lesions, treatments required and withdrawals from pasture required in one trial. Possible reasons for the apparently contradictory results are offered. It is suggested that the bacterin may be of some value when used in conjunction with other preventive measures.     

Acute recumbency associated with Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a horse

An 11-year-old Hanoverian-cross gelding was evaluated because of acute onset of ataxia, recumbency, and fever. At the stable, this and other horses had recently been infested with ticks. Results of analysis of a sample of CSF were within reference limits, but hematologic abnormalities included lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, mild anemia, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in neutrophils that were consistent with Anaplasma phagocytophilum (previously Ehrlichia equi). Results of serum biochemical analyses were characteristic of infection and included high, unconjugated bilirubin concentration. Other common causes of recumbency in horses, such as equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, infection with eastern or western equine encephalitis viruses and equine herpesvirus-1, West Nile viral encephalitis, trauma, and metabolic disease, were ruled out. The horse responded quickly to i.v. administration of oxytetracycline and recovered fully within 6 days.     

Reorganizing small animal gross anatomy: improving the faculty and student experience and incorporating non-technical competency development

The organization of the small animal gross anatomy course at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine was modified in several ways over a two-year period. These modifications were motivated in part by the need to accommodate a larger number of students, but also by our desire to make more efficient use of faculty and student time as well as physical resources and to give our students opportunities to develop non-technical competencies such as communication and teamwork skills. The four major changes were (1) increasing dissection group size, (2) assigning specimens to dissection groups on a rotating basis, (3) reducing the amount of dissection time relative to time spent studying prepared specimens, and (4) introducing 'transition reviews,' a limited form of peer teaching meant to emphasize peer interaction and communication skills rather than conveyance of specific and detailed subject matter. This article describes the details of these changes and evaluates their effectiveness based on faculty assessments, results from surveys of participating students, and comparison of examination performance and formal end-of-course student evaluations before and after reorganization of the course. Increasing the dissection group size and reducing per-student dissection time did not adversely affect student performance and were viewed at least neutrally or favorably by most students. Notably, the rotation of specimens and the transition reviews elicited strongly favorable responses from a large majority of students and had several beneficial effects of which students may not have been aware but which were apparent to participating faculty. Overall, the changes were well received by both faculty and students and were, in our view, of sufficient value that this course organization plan would be used regardless of class size.