Error adjustments for file linking methods using encrypted unique client identifier (eUCI) with application to recently released prisoners who are HIV+.

Incarceration provides an opportunity to test for HIV, provide treatment such as highly active anti-retroviral therapy, as well as link infected persons to comprehensive HIV care upon their release. A key factor in assessing the success of a program that links released individuals to care is the time from release to receiving care in the community (linkage time). To estimate the linkage time, records from correction systems are linked to Ryan White Clinic data using encrypted Unique Client Identifier (eUCI). Most of the records that were linked using eUCI belong to the same individual; however, in some cases, it may link records incorrectly, or not identify records that should have been linked. We propose a Bayesian procedure that relies on the relationships between variables that appear in either of the data sources, as well as variables that exists in both to identify correctly linked records among all linked records. The procedure generates K datasets in which each pair of linked records is identified as a true link or a false link. The K datasets are analyzed independently, and the results are combined using Rubin's multiple imputation rules. A small validation dataset is used to examine different statistical models and to inform the prior distributions of the parameters. In comparison with previously proposed methods, the proposed method utilizes all of the available data and is both flexible and computationally efficient. In addition, this approach can be applied in other file linking applications.

Relationships between residual feed intake, average daily gain, and feeding behavior in growing dairy heifers.

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of an individual's efficiency in utilizing feed for maintenance and production during growth or lactation, and is defined as the difference between the actual and predicted feed intake of that individual. The objective of this study was to relate RFI to feeding behavior and to identify behavioral differences between animals with divergent RFI. The intakes and body weight (BW) of 1,049 growing dairy heifers (aged 5-9 mo; 195 ± 25.8 kg of BW) in 5 cohorts were measured for 42 to 49 d to ascertain individual RFI. Animals were housed in an outdoor feeding facility comprising 28 pens, each with 8 animals and 1 feeder per pen, and were fed a dried, cubed alfalfa diet. This forage diet was chosen because most dairy cows in New Zealand are grazed on ryegrass-dominant pastures, without grain or concentrates. An electronic feed monitoring system measured the intake and feeding behavior of individuals. Feeding behavior was summarized as daily intake, daily feeding duration, meal frequency, feeding rate, meal size, meal duration, and temporal feeding patterns. The RFI was moderately to strongly correlated with intake in all cohorts (r=0.54-0.74), indicating that efficient animals ate less than inefficient animals, but relationships with feeding behavior traits (meal frequency, feeding duration, and feeding rate) were weak (r=0.14-0.26), indicating that feeding behavior cannot reliably predict RFI in growing dairy heifers. Comparison of the extremes of RFI (10% most and 10% least efficient) demonstrated similar BW and average daily gain for both groups, but efficient animals ate less; had fewer, longer meals; shorter daily feeding duration; and ate more slowly than the least-efficient animals. These groups also differed in their feeding patterns over 24h, with the most efficient animals eating less and having fewer meals during daylight (0600 to 2100 h), especially during the afternoon (1200 to 1800 h), but ate for a longer time during the night (0000-0600 h) than the least-efficient animals. In summary, correlations between RFI and feeding behavior were weak. Small differences in feeding behavior were observed between the most- and least-efficient animals but adverse behavioral effects associated with such selection in growing dairy heifers are unlikely.

The application of response surface methodology to sterilization process development and validation of a water cascade autoclave.

The application of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to the performance validation of a water cascade sterilizer is described. The methodology was successfully used to 1) identify the cold and hot zones within maximum load configurations through three dimensional thermal mapping, 2) demonstrate the consistency of consecutive sterilization cycles in companion sterilizers, and 3) set target sterilizing values (F0) to achieve a high statistical assurance that any location will be above a minimum F0 (sterility assurance) and below a maximum F0 (for stability considerations).

Extending ideas about animal welfare assessment to include 'quality of life' and related concepts.

Ideas within the animal welfare science arena have evolved continuously throughout the last 30 years, and will continue to do so. This paper outlines some of these developments. These included reformulation of the five freedoms concept into the five domains of potential welfare compromise. This accommodated weaknesses in the former by distinguishing between the physical/functional and the mental factors that contribute to an animal's welfare state. This development reflected a rising scientific acceptance that the mental experiences of animals were legitimate foci for study and highlighted that what the animal itself experiences represents its welfare status. Initially, most concepts of animal welfare emphasised predominantly negative subjective experiences, such as thirst, hunger and pain, and negative affective states or feelings including anxiety, fear and boredom, but today positive experiences or emotions such as satiety, vitality, reward, contentment, curiosity and playfulness are also considered to be important. During the same period, the focus shifted from evaluating the impacts of individual mental subjective experiences or emotions towards seeking a more comprehensive, multifactorial understanding. The five domains concept was specifically designed to achieve this. Subsequent notions about quality of life (QoL) had the same objective, and emphasised the importance of positive experiences. However, some approaches to QoL assessment relied heavily on empathetic speculation about what animals may experience subjectively and this raised concerns about inappropriate anthropomorphic projections. Such pitfalls may be minimised when informed personnel rigorously apply objectively based methodologies to QoL assessments limited to a short time frame. It is clear that both formal and somewhat less formal QoL assessments of this type are already used to guide decision-making about the ongoing care and therapeutic management of animals on a daily basis. However, application of the recently introduced concepts of 'a life not worth living', 'a life worth avoiding', 'a life worth living' and 'a good life' is problematical, because extending the assessment time scale to the whole of life is attended by a number of as yet unresolved difficulties. Accordingly, their value in the practical management of animals is limited so that, at present, reliance on the minimum standards and recommendations for best practice outlined in codes of practice or welfare will continue to be necessary and worthwhile. Nevertheless, these concepts have value in providing a contextual theme that strongly focuses attention on the promotion of a lifelong QoL with an overall balance that is positive.