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An Fe–10Cr–4Al alloy containing reactive elements developed for application in high-temperature liquid lead environments was analyzed after exposure in 600 and 750°C lead with dissolved oxygen for 1,000–2,000 h. Atom probe tomography, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray scattering were all used to study the protective oxide formed on the surface. Exposure at 750°C resulted in a 2-μm thick oxide, whereas the 600°C exposure resulted in a 100-nm thick oxide. Both oxides were layered, with an Fe–Al spinel on top, and an alumina layer toward the metal. In the 600°C exposed material, there was a Cr-rich oxide layer between the spinel and the alumina. Metallic lead particles were found in the inner and middle parts of the oxide, related to pores. The combination of the experimental techniques, focusing on atom probe tomography, and the interpretations that can be done, are discussed in detail.

The precipitation of V and Cu in the powder forged connecting rods of Fe-V-Cu-C alloy, were studied by atom probe tomography (APT). The purpose of alloying with V was to further improve the mechanical properties of the existing powder forged materials based on Fe-Cu-C. In this study, materials tested at room temperature and 120°C were investigated. It was found that Cu was unevenly distributed on a micrometer scale. The local Cu content affected the Cu precipitation; a higher Cu content resulted in a higher volume fraction of precipitates. The V was found to form very small nitrides. The N presumably originates from the sintering process. The vanadium nitrides act as nucleation points for the Cu precipitates during cooling of the material during fabrication. APT analysis of the deformed material close to the fracture surface of the tensile test samples showed a similar volume fraction of Cu precipitates, but statistical analysis of the data indicates that both Cu and VN precipitates are more diffuse than in the undeformed material.

Complex precipitation behavior of Cu-rich particles (CRPs) was investigated and simulated in continuously cooled and quench-aged super duplex stainless steel. Atom probe tomography (APT) and scanning electron microscopy showed that slow cooling resulted in nonuniform multimodal CRP precipitation and spinodal decomposition, while in the fast cooled and quench-aged conditions, more uniform precipitation of CRPs with no visible spinodal decomposition was found. Depletion of Cu, Ni, and Mn was observed in the ferrite next to the CRPs during growth, but not during dissolution. Some evidence of Ostwald ripening was seen after slow cooling, but in the quench-aged condition, particle coalescence was observed. Large CRPs disappeared next to a ferrite–austenite phase boundary after slow cooling when Cu was depleted due to the diffusion to austenite as also predicted by moving boundary Dictra simulation. Comparing Cu depleted areas next to CRPs analyzed by APT and moving boundary Dictra simulation of CRP–ferrite showed that the effective Cu diffusion coefficient during the early-stage precipitation was about 300 times higher than the Cu diffusion coefficient in ferrite at 475 °C. Using the effective diffusion coefficient and a size-dependent interfacial energy equation, CRP size distribution was successfully predicted by the Langer–Schwartz model implemented in Thermo-Calc Prisma. Applying a short aging time and continuous cooling increased the hardness and decreased the toughness values compared to the solution annealed condition. A nonuniform distribution of Cu in ferrite, the duplex structure, and partitioning of alloying elements among different phases are factors making CRP precipitation in duplex stainless steels complex.

Nanoscale phase separations, and effects of these, were studied for thick super duplex stainless steel products by atom probe tomography and mechanical testing. Although nanoscale phase separations typically occur during long-time service at intermediate temperatures (300–500° C, our results show that slowly cooled products start to develop Fe and Cr separation and/or precipitation of Cu-rich particles already during fabrication. Copper significantly slowed down the kinetics at the expense of Cu-rich particle precipitation, where the high-copper material subjected to hot isostatic pressing (HIP), with Δt500–400 of 160 s and the low-copper hot-rolled plate with Δt500–400 of 2 s had the same level of Fe and Cr separation. The phase separations resulted in lower toughness and higher hardness of the HIP material than for hot-rolled plate. Therefore, both local cooling rate dependent and alloy composition governed variations of phase separations can be expected in as-fabricated condition.

Fe and Cr phase separation in ferrite, causing 475°C-embrittlement, was studied after very short aging times in super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) and hyper duplex stainless steel (HDSS) plates and welds. Atom probe tomography showed that hot-rolled SDSS, experiencing significant metal working, had faster kinetics of phase separations compared to the SDSS and HDSS welds after 5 min aging at 475 °C. The surface of the 33-mm SDSS plate had faster Fe and Cr phase separation and larger toughness drop. A higher density of dislocations next to the austenite phase boundary in ferrite, detected by electron channeling contrast, can promote the phase separation at the surface of the plate with lower austenite spacing. The toughness dropped in HDSS welds after aging, but SDSS welds maintained their toughness. An inverse simulation method considering an initial sinusoidal nanometric Cr and Fe fluctuation showed that Ni increases the interdiffusion of Cr in the system, resulting a higher degree of phase separation in SDSS welds than the HDSS weld. Within the composition range of the studied SDSS and HDSS materials, the processing influences the Fe and Cr phase separation more than the variation in composition during short aging or typical fabrication times. The author would like to acknowledge KK-Stiftelsen for funding of “ALWAYS project”

High-temperature alloys are crucial to many important technologies that underpin our civilization. All these materials rely on forming an external oxide layer (scale) for corrosion protection. Despite decades of research on oxide scale growth, many open questions remain, including the crucial role of the so-called reactive elements and water. Here, we reveal the hitherto unknown interplay between reactive elements and water during alumina scale growth, causing a metastable ‘messy’ nano-structured alumina layer to form. We propose that reactive-element-decorated, hydroxylated interfaces between alumina nanograins enable water to access an inner cathode in the bottom of the scale, at odds with the established scale growth scenario. As evidence, hydride-nanodomains and reactive element/hydrogen (deuterium) co-variation are observed in the alumina scale. The defect-rich alumina subsequently recrystallizes to form a protective scale. First-principles modelling is also performed to validate the RE effect. Our findings open up promising avenues in oxidation research and suggest ways to improve alloy properties. The crucial interaction between reactive elements and water vapour during the oxide scale growth of alumina-forming alloys is revealed, providing insights to improve corrosion resistance of high-temperature alloys.

Thermal aging of reactor pressure vessel steel welds at elevated temperatures may affect the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. In this study, unique weld material from a pressurizer, with a composition similar to that of the reactor pressure vessel, that has been in operation for 28 years at 345 °C is examined. Despite the relatively low temperature, the weld becomes hardened during operation. This is attributed to nanometre sized Cu-rich clusters, mainly located at Mo- and C-enriched dislocation lines and on boundaries. The welds have been characterized using atom probe tomography, and the characteristics of the precipitates/clusters is related to the hardness increase, giving the best agreement for the Russell-Brown model.

Kesterite-based solar cells are mainly restricted by their lower than expected open-circuit voltage (Voc) due to non-radiative recombination. Therefore, an approach to reduce bulk and interface recombination through band gap grading to induce a back surface field is attempted. This contribution presents the challenges in the formation of compositional grading of the wide bandgap material Cu2ZnGexSn1−xS4 (CZGTS) and successful fabrication of solar cells with an additional adhesive TiN interlayer. It is observed that the TiN interlayer improves adhesion between CZGTS and the back contact. The microstructure of the Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) film is significantly affected by the concentration of Ge, and the existence of a Ge concentration gradient is strongly correlated to the formation of smaller Ge-rich and larger Sn-rich grains. The bandgap grading is exploited with a moderate Ge concentration of up to (Ge/(Ge+Sn) = 0.25) in CZTS. As the Ge profile stretched all the way to the front interface, the cliff-like band alignment at the front interface of the absorber could negate the beneficial effect of Ge inclusion in the bulk and back interface of the absorber. Ordering the absorber can introduce an additional downward shift in the valence band. In one of the samples, the increased ordering and high concentration of Ge in CZTS are suggested to enhance the hole barrier at the back interface. It is concluded that the effect of the bandgap grading with Ge can only be realized with optimization of interface band alignment and back contact formation.

With the purpose to quantify microstructural changes with respect to ageing degradation, the microstructure of aged type 308 stainless steel welds with a ferrite content of 5-7% has been analysed using atom probe tomography. The weld metal of the core barrel of a decommissioned light water reactor, irradiated during operation of the reactor to 0.1 dpa, 1 dpa and 2 dpa at 280-285°C (231,000 h), are compared to two similar thermally aged welds. In the ferrite of the irradiated welds, there is spinodal decomposition into Cr-rich α’ and Fe-rich α, with a similar degree of decomposition for all investigated doses, amplitudes of 21-26% and wavelengths between 6 and 9 nm. The ferrite of the thermally aged material showed evidence of decomposition when aged at 325°C (an amplitude of 13-14% and wavelength of 5 nm), but not when aged at 291°C, thus the irradiation significantly increases the rate of spinodal decomposition. There is G-phase (Ni16Si7Mn6) precipitation in the ferrite of all the weld metals except the one that was thermally aged at the lowest temperature. After irradiation to 1 and 2 dpa, the G-phase is considerably more well developed than after 0.1 dpa or thermal ageing.

Reactor pressure vessel steel welds are affected by irradiation during operation. The irradiation results in nanometre cluster formation, which in turn affects the mechanical properties of the material, e.g. the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature is shifted to higher levels. In this study, cluster formation is characterised in high Ni (1.58%) low Cu (0.04%) steel welds identical to Ringhals R4 welds, using atom probe tomography in both surveillance material and in material irradiated at accelerated dose rates. Clusters containing mainly Ni and Mn, but also some Si and Cu were observed in all of the irradiated materials. Their evolution did not change drastically during irradiation; the clusters grew and new clusters were nucleated. Hence, both the cluster number density and the average size increased with irradiation time. Some flux effects were observed when comparing the high flux material and the surveillance material. The surveillance material has a lower cluster number density, but larger clusters. The resulting impact on the mechanical properties of these two effects cancel out, resulting in a measured hardness that seems to be on the same trend as the high flux material. The dispersed barrier hardening model with an obstacle strength factor of 0.15 was found to reproduce the increase in hardness. In the investigated high flux materials, the clusters' Cu content was higher. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The EU regulation for organic pig production requires outdoor access to promote the animal welfare. This may increase the risk of infection of the common pig parasites, Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis, because their eggs can survive for many years in the soil. The egg contamination of these parasites in outdoor areas with different managements and the faecal egg output from the pigs was investigated on 11 Swedish organic pig farms in 2008. We found eggs of A. suum and, to a minor extent, T. suis in the soil from outdoor areas, which had previously been used for pig rearing and/or for spreading of pig manure. Piglets and their dams were turned out on pastures included in a crop rotation, and these areas had a mean of 2500 A. suum and 40 T. suis eggs per kilogram soil. When the pigs were 12-week-old, the faecal egg counts (FECs) of A. suum were positively correlated with the egg concentration in pasture soils before pig turnout. The areas used by dry sows had a mean of 11,700 A. suum and 220 T. suis eggs per kilogram soil. The highest egg concentrations in the soil were found in areas, frequently used by pigs in the most recent years. To minimise pasture contamination with parasite eggs, it is advised to have a crop rotation system and to inactivate parasite eggs in pig manure before spreading it. Parasite control needs further development to protect suckling piglets from infections due to environmental parasite egg contamination. © 2019, The Author(s). Funding details: 1904; Funding details: Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale School of Medicine, CORE; Funding text 1: The authors gratefully acknowledge the farmers for supplying data and opening up their farms for investigation and the funders for their financial support. This study comprises data from two different projects. Soil samples and crop rotation data were collected within a national project funded by the Swedish Board of Agriculture and faecal samples, and some farm data were collected within the COREPIG project (project no. 1904), one of the eight research projects selected for transnational funding by the partners of the CORE Organic ERA-net project (Sweden: Formas). We also wish to thank Sofia Wiberg for collecting samples and data within the latter project.

We summarize the findings from an interlaboratory study conducted between ten international research groups and investigate the use of the commonly used maximum separation distance and local concentration thresholding methods for solute clustering quantification. The study objectives are: to bring clarity to the range of applicability of the methods; identify existing and/or needed modifications; and interpretation of past published data. Participants collected experimental data from a proton-irradiated 304 stainless steel and analyzed Cu-rich and Ni–Si rich clusters. The datasets were also analyzed by one researcher to clarify variability originating from different operators. The Cu distribution fulfills the ideal requirements of the maximum separation method (MSM), namely a dilute matrix Cu concentration and concentrated Cu clusters. This enabled a relatively tight distribution of the cluster number density among the participants. By contrast, the group analysis of the Ni–Si rich clusters by the MSM was complicated by a high Ni matrix concentration and by the presence of Si-decorated dislocations, leading to larger variability among researchers. While local concentration filtering could, in principle, tighten the results, the cluster identification step inevitably maintained a high scatter. Recommendations regarding reporting, selection of analysis method, and expected variability when interpreting published data are discussed.

In this study, Pd/LTA and Pd/SSZ-13 were prepared and then hydrothermally aged at the temperature of 750, 800, 850, and 900 °C. Multiple Pd species, including isolated Pd ions (Pd2+ and [Pd(OH)]+) and 1∼2 nm PdOx nanoparticles, were presented in two fresh samples. The Pd/LTA sample showed remarkable hydrothermal stability, but the Pd/SSZ-13 sample experienced severe damage after aging at 900 °C. The destruction of the aged Pd/SSZ-13 sample led to the migration and sintering of PdOx nanoparticles, which formed bulk PdOx particles on the surface of the zeolite crystallite. A large number of PdOx nanoparticles were retained after aging of the Pd/LTA sample. Pd/LTA contained a higher concentration of Pd2+ sites, while Pd/SSZ-13 had more [Pd(OH)]+ sites. It is found that the improvement of NO adsorption ability with CO addition onto Pd2+ was more significant than onto [Pd(OH)]+.

Alloys forming external alumina scales can be used at very high temperature because of the excellent ability of alumina to protect against further reaction with the environment. Traces, ~0.1 at. %, of the so-called reactive elements (REs) are added into alumina- (and chromia-) forming alloys in order to enhance their oxidation performance. In this talk, the formation mechanism of protective alumina scales on several FeCrAl and FeNiCrAl alloys for high temperature application will be first discussed. As demostrated in our paper [1], the interaction between water and REs faciliates the formation of the ”protective” alumina scales via the formation of a nanocrystalline alumina layer with yttrium-decorated grain boundaries at the early stages of oxidation. Using state-of-the-art analytical tools such as STEM-EDXS-EELS and NanoSIMS, it has also been revealed that the water/REs interplay leads to the formation of hydride- and hydroxide-nanodomains in the alumina scale. In this context, findings of our latest research on the failure modes of alumina scales will be also presented with the emphasis on the key role of RE particle size distribution and the alloy grain orientation in the protective charactrestics of the oxide scales. Controlled high-temperature oxidation exposures in conjunction with quasi-in-situ experiments revealed that failure of the protective oxide scale occurs at specific, predictable (deterministic) sites on the alloy surface. The new undrestaning that will be discussed in this talk are expected to open up new avenues of research on the development of the next generation of high temperature alloys with superiour properties.

The combined effect of thermal aging and irradiation on cast and welded stainless steel solidification structures is not sufficiently investigated. From theory and consecutive aging and irradiation ...

Radiation induced clustering affects the mechanical properties, that is the ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT), of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel of nuclear power plants. The combination of low Cu and high Ni used in some RPV welds is known to further enhance the DBTT shift during long time operation. In this study, RPV weld samples containing 0.04 at% Cu and 1.6 at% Ni were irradiated to 2.0 and 6.4×1023 n/m2 in the Halden test reactor. Atom probe tomography (APT) was applied to study clustering of Ni, Mn, Si, and Cu. As the clusters are in the nanometer-range, APT is a very suitable technique for this type of study. From APT analyses information about size distribution, number density, and composition of the clusters can be obtained. However, the quantification of these attributes is not trivial. The maximum separation method (MSM) has been used to characterize the clusters and a detailed study about the influence of the choice of MSM cluster parameters, primarily on the cluster number density, has been undertaken.

With the aim to identify European health and welfare strategies in organic pig production, we summarized information about health and welfare status and potential hazards for organic fattening pigs. The results were primarily based on studies of organic production or comparisons between organic and conventional production. Conventional Danish herds consumed three times as much antibiotics (anthelmintics not included) as the organic herds, whilst there was no difference in mortality rate nor more pigs in need of treatment in the organic herds. Slaughter data indicated that organic pigs had fewer respiratory problems, skin lesions (including abscesses and hernias) and tail wounds compared to conventional pigs. On the other hand, remarks because of joint lesions and white spot livers were more common among organic pigs. The risk of parasitic infections in organic fattening pigs has been confirmed. To control endoparasites, outdoor areas should be rotated with as long interval as possible, i.e. by including the pigs in the crop rotation. Outdoor housing with functional wallows and access to grass and roots or outdoor runs and roughage can enhance pig welfare and reduce pen-mate-directed oral activity and aggression. Minimizing negative environmental impact may conflict with animal welfare, i.e. raising the pigs indoors may not only reduce plant nutrient losses but also reduce the pigs’ activity options. With an increasing number of specialized organic units, implementation of age-segregated production and buying piglets from only one or few units is necessary to maintain a good health in transferred pigs.

Ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions originate predominantly from manure. In outdoor pig production, excretory behav- iour creates nitrogen (N) point loads. This study examined ammonia losses from pigs on grassland at two farms by calcu- lating N field balances per pen and sub-areas preferred (P) and not preferred (NP) for excretion. Spatial variation in am- monia losses was measured with an equilibrium concentration method in one pen per farm during two years at the end of the fattening period. Cumulative ammonia losses during a fattening period were measured using a micrometeorological mass balance method. P sub-areas had 10- to 100-fold higher amounts of excreted N than NP sub-areas. Ammonia losses were higher from P sub-areas (0.056-1.843 g NH 3 ha -1 hr -1 ) than from NP sub-areas (0.001-0.332 g NH 3 ha -1 hr -1 ). Am- monia losses from NP sub-areas varied more widely. Cumulative NH 3 losses were 28 kg pen -1 . Gross NH 3 losses were 0.66 kg N pig -1 , representing 14% of excreted N.

Environmental contamination and the egg excretion pattern of the ascarid Parascaris equorum (Nematoda) was investigated in relation to anthelmintic treatment on a Swedish stud farm. Faecal samples from 15 foals, dewormed every 8th-week with a paste formulation of ivermectin at the standard dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg bodyweight, were collected at five sampling occasions between August and November 2006. In addition, soil samples were obtained from four paddocks used by these foals in November 2006. The number of eggs per gram (epg) was counted in both faeces and soil. Egg excretion started when the foals were 3-4 months, and reached the highest levels when they were approximately 5-month-old, and was then followed by a decline. Egg excretion seemed to be unaffected by ivermectin despite these foals were dewormed at regular intervals. In four out of five foals examined 10 days after treatment, epg actually increased. In contrast, when either fenbendazol or pyrantel embonate were used instead of ivermectin, treatments were effective. The number of eggs in soil was significantly higher in the permanent paddock compared to in the temporarily used soil paddock and in the summer paddocks.

In Sweden, outdoor organic pig production is gaining interest. However, the excretory behaviour of pigs may create plant nutrient hotspots in outdoor areas, increasing the environmental impact. This study examined fluxes and balances of N, P, K, Cu and Zn at pen level, and determined the effects of the excretory behaviour of fattening pigs on nutrient load, manure distribution and N, P, K, Cu and Zn concentration in soil within pens at two farms with different outdoor systems (mobile and stationary). A pen in the mobile system had about 72 pigs ha−1 and in the stationary system about 91 pigs ha−1. The average pen balance in the mobile system was 270 kg N, 60 kg P, 110 kg K, 0.4 kg Cu and 1.3 kg Zn ha−1 and in the stationary system 205 kg N, 57 kg P, 99 kg K, 0.4 kg Cu and 1.5 kg Zn ha−1. The smaller net accumulation of nutrients in the stationary system was due to about 30% of excrement nutrients being excreted indoors. A substantial proportion of nutrients (43–95%) from one pig group was found to be concentrated in an area of arable land representing 4–24% of the total pen area. In the mobile system the major part of the defecating was deposited on the hut, feeding and drinking sub-areas. The manure mapping also revealed pig behaviour of avoiding defecation in certain zones. In the stationary system, the concentration of exchangeable P and K in soil (0–30 cm depth) in areas preferred for excretion was more than four-fold higher and the concentration of mineral-N (0–90 cm depth) was about eight-fold higher than in other areas of the pen by the end of the fattening period. Preferred areas for excretion within the pen were affected both by the present pig groups and by previous pig groups 4 years back in time. In the mobile system, the concentration of mineral-N in soil was about three-fold higher in preferred excretion areas compared with other areas. Neither of the two outdoor systems succeeded in avoiding excessive point loads of N within the pen. The flexibility of the mobile outdoor system has to be further improved so that no harmful point loads of nutrients can occur. In the stationary system, a nutrient management technique for collecting the manure on the preferred excretion areas on arable land needs to be developed.

The in vivo mechanisms of action of most vaccine adjuvants are poorly understood. In this study, we present data in mice that reveal a series of critical interactions between the cholera toxin (CT) adjuvant and the dendritic cells (DC) of the splenic marginal zone (MZ) that lead to effective priming of an immune response. For the first time, we have followed adjuvant targeting of MZ DC in vivo. We used CT-conjugated OVA and found that the Ag selectively accumulated in MZ DC following i.v. injections. The uptake of Ag into DC was GM1 ganglioside receptor dependent and mediated by the B subunit of CT (CTB). The targeted MZ DC were quite unique in their phenotype: CD11c+, CD8α−, CD11b−, B220−, and expressing intermediate or low levels of MHC class II and DEC205. Whereas CTB only delivered the Ag to MZ DC, the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of CT was required for the maturation and migration of DC to the T cell zone, where these cells distinctly up-regulated CD86, but not CD80. This interaction appeared to instruct Ag-specific CD4+ T cells to move into the B cell follicle and strongly support germinal center formations. These events may explain why CT-conjugated Ag is substantially more immunogenic than Ag admixed with soluble CT and why CTB-conjugated Ag can tolerize immune responses when given orally or at other mucosal sites.

Objective: Evaluate changes in active and passive function with onabotulinumtoxinA + standard of care within goaloriented rehabilitation programmes in adults with focal post-stroke spasticity. Methods: Prospective, 24-week double-blind study with an open-label extension. Subjects were randomized to onabotulinumtoxinA + standard of care or placebo + standard of care, at baseline and at 12 weeks, if judged appropriate, with follow-up to 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was the number of patients achieving their principal active functional goal at 24 weeks (or 10 weeks after an optional second injection). Secondary endpoints included achievement of a different active or a passive goal at this timepoint. Results: The intent-to-treat population comprised 273 patients. The proportion of patients achieving their principal active functional goal and secondary active functional goal with onabotulinumtoxinA + standard of care was not statistically different from placebo + standard of care. Significantly more patients achieved their secondary passive goal with onabotulinumtoxinA + standard of care (60.0%) vs. placebo + standard of care (38.6%) (odds ratio, 2.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–5.14) as well as higher Goal Attainment Scaling levels for upper limb and ankle flexor subgroups. Conclusions: Addition of onabotulinumtoxinA to standard of care as part of goal-oriented rehabilitation in poststroke spasticity patients significantly increased passive goal achievement and was associated with higher levels of active function.

Organic pig farming aims at maintaining a high health and welfare state of the animals through appropriate housing, management and feeding. Better knowledge of health and welfare indicators should help to identify critical points and hence to improve health and welfare as well as performance of organic pigs. This paper describes the health and welfare of organic pigs from 101 farms across six EU countries, using selected animal-based parameters from the Welfare Quality® protocol. Parameters were collected in sows, suckling and weaned piglets in 3 to 20 farms per country. Their assessment was trained before farm visits and inter-observer agreement determined after farm visits. The most prevalent problems identified in sows were thinness (median farm prevalence 18.8 %, range 0–81.0), injuries on the anterior part of the body (15.5 %, 0–66.7), injuries on hind part of body (7.9 %, 0–50), obesity (4.9 %, 0–50.0) and vulva lesions (3.5 %, 0–42.9). In suckling piglets, the median prevalence in terms of groups affected per farm was 0 % for all parameters but ‘> 50 % dirty piglets in group’, for which it was 10 %. Farm prevalence ranged from 0 to 100 % for ‘≥ 1 lame piglet in group’, presence of diarrhoea, and ‘> 50 % dirty piglets in group’. In weaned piglets, the median prevalence in terms of groups affected per farm was 0 % with a range of 0 to 100 % for all parameters. Based on the collected data, body condition, skin and vulva lesions in sows, lameness, diarrhoea and respiratory problems in piglets could be used as management and welfare indicators, with good potential for enhancement through farm improvement schemes like herd health planning. However, some definitions could be improved, especially lameness, diarrhoea and respiratory problems in piglets.

Better knowledge of piglet losses around birth and during lactation, and the role of litter size, housing and management characteristics, should help to identify critical points and hence to improve the situation in organic pig farms. For this purpose, a project was initiated in five EU countries collecting interview data, measures of animal and housing characteristics and production records. This paper presents results regarding production characteristics from 82 herds. Among them, 42 farms were included in an analysis based on the production records. Based on sows’ housing system during the first 2 weeks after farrowing, farms were classified as “indoor” (n = 49) or “outdoor” (n = 33). For each group, a multiple correspondence analysis and subsequent hierarchical classification were carried out to identify distinct farm categories. In total, 30 variables from the questionnaires and measured characteristics were used after binary transformation when necessary. Three types of indoor farms and two types of outdoor farms were identified. Regarding litter size at birth and weaning, there was no clear difference between all types of indoor farms and one type of outdoor farms, whereas the second type of outdoor farms, that were more “extensive”, had lower performance. Production records showed a detrimental influence of high farm average litter size at birth on piglet mortality and that high-standard deviation in litter size may exacerbate this problem.

An automated platform concept for production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in suspension-adapted CHO cells has previously been established. This allows colony detection, screening and expansion of a large number of clones. Regulatory aspects required for generation of biopharma production cell lines have been considered. The automated platform was adapted for generation of cell lines for production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies based on a dhfr-expression system, OptiCHO (Invitrogen) in CHO DG44 cells. A limiting dilution was performed and >1300 clones were expanded and screened for titer in overgrown batch cultures in 24-well plates. The 167 best producing clones were further expanded and evaluated in a second titer screen of overgrown batch cultures in shake flasks. As generally seen for several mammalian expression systems there was a poor correlation between titer in first and second screen. We address this by using an automated platform, allowing screening and expansion of a high number of clones to increase the likelihood of finding high producing cell lines.