The purpose of this study was to compare environmental conditions and mice in cages with four different mechanical ventilation designs and a static isolator cage. Environmental conditions (air velocity, temperature, relative humidity, bedding weight change, airborne dust, NH3, and CO2) were compared for each cage type (n = 5 per cage). Bedding type was chipped hardwood. Mouse response in each c...

OBJECTIVE To study the consequences of getting the head covered by bedding (fiber quilt) on carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulation around the face, behavior, and physiologic responses during prone and supine sleep in infants to add understanding to why victims of sudden infant death syndrome are often found under the bedding. METHPDOLOGY: Of 33 healthy term, usually nonprone sleeping infants, behavi...

BACKGROUND Up to 70% of atopic asthmatics have a positive skin test to the dust mite allergen Der p 1. Reduction of dust mite numbers by lowering room humidity control is one suggested technique for reducing dust mite allergen levels to clinically acceptable levels. Trials of this technique in temperate climates have reported mixed results. It has been speculated that one reason for this is tha...

An experimental study was performed to investigate the effect of subcritical carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption on mechanical properties of shales with different coring directions. Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted on shale samples with different CO2 adsorption time at a pressure of 7 MPa and a temperature of 40 ̋C. The crack propagation and the failure mechanism of shale sa...

Samples of Late Devonian/Early Mississippian New Albany Shale from the Illinois Basin, having maturities ranging from early mature to postmature, were analysed using micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ImageJ processing software and scanning electron microscopic X-ray spectroscopy to explore the distribution, connectivity and chemical composition of organic matter, clay minera...

The effect of temporary straw bedding for a period of 6, 4, or 2 weeks before slaughter was studied on pigs’ performance, behaviour, cortisol concentration, intermediary metabolism, and meat quality. Pigs were barren housed on slatted concrete floors during growth and allocated to one of following four treatments (T): straw bedding during 6 weeks (6wk), 4 weeks (4wk), 2 weeks (2wk) before slaug...

Osteochondrosis (OC) is a degenerative joint condition developing in a short time frame in young growing gilts that may cause lameness at an older age, affecting welfare and leading to premature culling of breeding sows. Causes of OC are multifactorial including both genetic and environmental factors. Floor type has been suggested to affect OC prevalence and effects might be age dependent durin...