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Caprine serum was fractionated by size, and its proteinaceous material <8,000 Da [caprine serum fraction immunomodulator 2 (CSF-I2)] was evaluated for its ability to impart immunoresistance to specific-pathogen-free (SPF) layer chickens. The SPF layers were challenged with 18 to 30 cfu of Pasteurella multocida X-73 (serotype 1) at 5 wk of age. A high degree of mortality was apparent 24 and 48 h later (62+/-14% and 88+/-7%, respectively). Mortality observed after 48 h was minimal. Noting the rapid onset of mortality, we administered CSF-I2 (material that expressed no direct antimicrobial activity but was believed to be an immunostimulant) 1 d before challenge and coincident to time of challenge. The group of birds that received CSF-I2 (either 5 or 10 mg per administration) expressed significant reduction in mortality throughout the 1-wk study period. Reduction in mortality appeared to be dose dependent. Birds that received two administrations of 10 mg CSF-I2 had significantly fewer deaths than did the group of birds that received half that amount. No deaths were recorded through 24 h, whereas, at 48 h, the percentage mortality was 13 in CSF-I2-treated birds. This study demonstrates that one or more small molecular weight compounds isolated from caprine serum were able to reduce mortality in SPF layers infected with Pasteurella multocida.

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A temperature monitor that can record brazing temperatures inside an autobrazer for process control and qualification was developed. The monitor was made of a heat exchanger coil instrumented with multiple thermocouples at statistically selected return bend joints that had a high or low probability of leaking. The brazing temperatures recorded at the selected return bends were compared with control temperature profiles for high-quality brazed joints. The results clearly accentuated the disparities in the heating rates, the cooling rates and the peak bonding temperatures between the non-leaking joints and the leaking joints. The autobrazer process parameters were then correlated with a number of leaks and leak locations to determine how to configure the autobrazer and control the process variables to ensure similar brazing conditions at all joints. By so doing, the repeatability of the brazing process and the production of high-quality joints was guaranteed.