Increased resistance to pod shatter is associated with changes in the vascular structure in pods of a resynthesized Brassica napus line.

The architecture of the pod wall and dehiscence zone (DZ) was studied in populations of a resynthesized, shatter-resistant, oilseed rape line, DK142, and the commercial cultivar Apex. The dimensions of the pod wall and its component tissues were significantly larger in DK142. However, the variation in the pod architecture of Apex, DK142 and F2 populations derived from crosses of DK142 and Apex was found to have little or no role in pod shatter.

Influence of hydration on the mechanical performance of duck down feathers.

1. We report the first measurements to be made on the effects of hydration on the mechanical properties of commercially-prepared duck down feathers. Tensile tests were performed, to failure, on isolated barbs of down feathers at 50% RH and with fully-hydrated (wet) feathers.

Pilot scale thermal treatment of pig slurry for the inactivation of animal virus pathogens.

This paper describes a pilot scale treatment plant that has been designed and built for the thermal inactivation in pig slurry of two viruses that infect pigs--African swine fever virus (ASFV) and swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV). The plant treats pig slurry continuously at a rate of up to 100 litres/hour and functions by heating the slurry, maintaining at least 99.99% of the slurry at the required temperature for a minimum period of 5 minutes, and then recovering the heat to raise the temperature of the incoming slurry.