Causes and percentage of commercial poultry mortality in ElFashir Locality North Darfur State, Sudan

The study was conducted in ElFashir locality, North Darfur State, Sudan, to investigate the main causes of poultry mortality under the opened and semi-opened systems of current poultry farms conditions. The data were collected through a systematic questionnaire distributed to 21 farms representing all farms in the locality. A simple random sampling method was used to select farms. Respondents put land transport at 71.4% as the highest cause of death during the first week of life, and diseases (52.4%). Newcastle disease was identified as the most destructive disease in the study area. Malnutrition caused 47.6%, and lack of biosecurity and cannibalism (15.8%) as major causes of mortality in poultry older than a week. Poor management (51.9%) The density of birds over fodders and drinkers exceeds the recommended number (67.8%) of respondents. Graduates from colleges of animal production and veterinary medicine make up the percentage (73.7%), while graduates of other colleges make up 21% of those who perform the production process and supervision. The study concluded that birds in the study area died due to poor transport condition, diseases, malnutrition, mismanagement and lack of biosecurity measurements. Therefore, it is necessary for authorized sectors to induce intensive extension services and training of farmers and workers about the importance of adopting restrict biosecurity measurements in addition to good nutritional and health management of poultry flocks to sustain commercial production of poultry in ElFashir Locality.

An Improved Data-Driven Model for the Prediction of Minimum Transport Condition for Sand Transport in Multiphase Flow Systems

The correct prediction of minimum transport condition (MTC) is of great importance to the oil and gas industry. The sand deposition is an associated problem of multiphase transportation of oil, gas and or solid. The purpose of this work is to investigate the predictive capability of three different data-driven approaches: Artificial neural networks (ANN), Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system or adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and response surface methodologies (RSM). The models were developed using182 experimental data points with input parameters such as liquid superficial velocity, pipe diameter, particle size, pipe inclination and the output parameter predicted is the minimum transport condition (velocity) for sand particles. The developed models were compared with existing models. The results showed that the three methods performed creditably well in the prediction of MTC with ANFIS having the highest predictive capability with an R2 value of 0.99997 and an average error value of 0.00035836 compared with ANN and RSM having R2 value of 0.9998 and 0.9973 respectively. The three data-driven techniques investigated in this study also outperformed published correlations for the prediction of MTC. The findings from this research can be invaluable for the effective and robust management of sand transport in multiphase flow systems.Keywords— Artificial Intelligence, Fuzzy Inference System, Model, Minimum Transport Condition, Optimization methods, Response Surface Methodology

Modeling of fuel transport in pressure-fed systems with flow passage opening devices

This study presents a numerical model of a pressure-fed system with flow passage opening devices (FPODs) designed for an air vehicle with a high degree of maneuverability. The FPOD is a mechanical device that connects two separate fuel reservoirs and functions as a valve allowing liquid fuel to flow while minimizing the movement of pressurizing gas from upstream fuel tanks into downstream fuel tanks. A reduced-order model for the fuel motion in an annular fuel tank was developed to configure the depth and inclination angle of the free fuel surface on the cross-sectional plane of an annular fuel tank under accelerating conditions during flight. Furthermore, a newly proposed model that reflects the dynamic characteristics of the FPOD is used to determine the fluid type that is transported through the device. A simulation example shows that the full numerical model captures changes of the fuel transport condition over time in a complete pressure-fed system of annular fuel tanks with FPODs subject to acceleration.

Effects of pre-transport diet, transport duration and transport condition on immune cell subsets, haptoglobin, cortisol and bilirubin in young veal calves

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of pre-transport diets, transport durations and transport conditions on immune cell subsets, haptoglobin, cortisol and bilirubin of young calves upon arrival at the veal farm. An experiment was conducted with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 3 factors: 1) provision of rearing milk or electrolytes at the collection center (CC); 2) transport duration (6 or 18 hours) and 3) transport condition (open truck or conditioned truck). Holstein-Friesian and cross-bred calves were used (N = 368; 18 ± 4 days; 45.3 ± 3.3 kg). Blood samples were collected from calves (N = 128) at the collection center, immediately post-transport (T0) and 4, 24, 48 hours, week 1, 3 and 5 post-transport. Blood was analyzed for cortisol, bilirubin, haptoglobin, IgG and IgM. Moreover, cell counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils were measured in blood samples taken at the collection center and T0. In these same blood samples, different lymphocyte populations were characterized by flow cytometry, including CD14+ cells, NK cells, δγ+ T cells, CD8+ cells, CD4+ cells and CD21+ cells. Calves transported in the conditioned truck had higher amounts of white blood cell count (WBC) (Δ = 1.39 × 109/l; P = 0.01), monocytes (Δ = 0.21 × 109/l; P = 0.04), neutrophils (Δ = 0.93 × 109/l; P = 0.003), than calves transported in the open truck regardless, of pre-transport diet or transport duration. The study showed that transport condition and duration influenced parts of the innate immune system of young veal calves. Cortisol, bilirubin and WBC seemed to be connected by similar underlying mechanisms in relation to transport conditions. However, it is unclear which specific pathways in the immune system of young calves are affected by different transport conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, draught).

PRE-EQC: A Proficiency Testing Program for Pre-Analytical and Analytical Monitoring Using Pooled Samples without Preservatives

Aim: External Quality Assurance (EQA) is basic requirement of a medical laboratory to assess the quality assurance and achieve the accreditation. The available EQA schemes evaluate the analytical performances of the laboratory but neither evaluate pre analytical factors nor mimic actual laboratory process. PRE-EQC has combined both performances in single scheme and assisting the participant laboratories to take appropriate corrective action and interpretations. Design: Pre-Analytical monitoring evaluates transport condition, correlation of the stability of samples and temperature, storage condition and environment of the laboratory of the participants and its effect on the results. A sample is specially prepared to estimate haemolysis, lipemic and icteric index. Clinical Biochemistry: Serum, fluoride and biological fluid (CSF exempted) samples are pooled from the routine collection of specimens. Pooled fractions are homogenized in a rotary shaker for 10 minutes. The clear samples are poured in individual double pack primary containers, which are placed between two gel packs in a “biohazard” labelled plastic bag. Temperature is recorded, kept in insulated thermocol box and sent to the destination. Urine Routine & Microalbumin, Creatinine Examination: Urine sample is stabilized using preservative. Methods: The process of sample pool to result submission has been completed within 6 days as samples are without preservative. Stability mimicking the transport, homogeneity and validation of assigned values were done. Statistical Calculations: As per ISO 13528:2015. Results and Discussion: The SD of the assigned values showed better performance than existing schemes and within the range of CLIA recommended SD. Conclusion: The PRE-EQC sample from direct and microalbumin from direct specimen has achieved good reproducibility than lyophilized material.

Study on Combustion Properties of Aviation Carpet under Low Ambient Pressure

The flame-retardant materials in the cabin of civil aircraft is possible to induce fire accident, which can cause certain threat to the operation safety of aircraft. The cabin pressure of civil aircraft is generally maintained at 75~84 kPa under normal transport condition, and the combustion behavior of aviation carpet will change under this pressure. Combustion properties of an aviation carpet, selected from civil aircraft, were studied at Guanghan City (520 m altitude) and Kangding airport (4290 m altitude), Sichuan province of China in this work, respectively. The results showed that the smoke density of the aviation carpets increased sharply and the decreasing rate of the oxygen volume fraction became more quickly under low pressure. Furthermore, the rising rate of carbon dioxide volume fraction also became rapidly with the decrease of the ambient pressure. The content of the carbon monoxide under low pressure was lower than that under normal pressure at the beginning of the combustion. However, the carbon monoxide production increased sharply when the combustion lasted for 4 minutes. In addition, the ignition time of the aviation carpet was shorter under low pressure.

Deep convective influence on the UTLS composition in the Asian Monsoon Anticyclone region: 2017 StratoClim campaign results

<p>The StratoClim stratospheric aircraft campaign, taking place in summer over the Nepalese region, provided a wide dataset of observations of air composition inside the Asian Monsoon Anticyclone (AMA). To improve the understanding of the role of penetrating overshoot in the AMA region, we exploit the TRACZILLA Lagrangian simulations, computed on meteorological fields from ECMWF (ERA-Interim and ERA5) at 3h and 1h resolution and using both kinematic and diabatic vertical velocity approaches. The synergy with high-resolution observations of convective cloud top from the MSG1 and Himawari geostationary satellites is used to individuate the convective sources.</p><p>To evaluate the capability of the trajectory system to reproduce the transport in the UTLS we compare the simulations with the observed trace gases concentration. The ERA5 simulations appear to provide a higher consistency with observed data than ERA-Interim and show a better agreement between the diabatic and kinematic results. The best performance is given by the ERA5 with diabatic transport and, adopting this setting, we analyze the transport condition during the 8 flights of the campaign.</p><p>The aircraft sampled different convective plumes, often carrying pollutant compounds up to the UTLS level. The highest observed concentration of trace gases had been linked to fresh convective air (younger than a few days) coming from China, Pakistan and the North Indian region.</p><p>A vertical stratification is observed in the age of air: up to 15 km, the age of air is less than 3 days and these fresh air masses make up nearly the entire totality of the air composition. Above, a transition layer is identified between 15 km and 17 km (close to the tropopause), where the convective influence is still dominant and the ages range from one week to two. Finally, above this layer, the convective influence rapidly decreases toward zero and the mean air age increase to 20 days and more.</p><p>This study quantifies the contribution of direct injection of deep convection on the UTLS composition based on the aircraft measurements. Preliminary results of the upscale analysis based on the trajectories-satellites system will also be presented.</p>