The incidence of enteric infections in the Canadian population varies seasonally, and may be expected to be change in response to global climate changes. To better understand any potential impact of warmer temperature on enteric infections in Canada, we investigated the relationship between ambient temperature and weekly reports of confirmed cases of three pathogens in Canada: Salmonella, pathogenic Escherichia coli and Campylobacter, between 1992 and 2000 in two Canadian provinces. We used generalized linear models (GLMs) and generalized additive models (GAMs) to estimate the effect of seasonal adjustments on the estimated models. We found a strong non-linear association between ambient temperature and the occurrence of all three enteric pathogens in Alberta, Canada, and of Campylobacter in Newfoundland-Labrador. Threshold models were used to quantify the relationship of disease and temperature with thresholds chosen from 0 to -10 degrees C depending on the pathogen modeled. For Alberta, the log relative risk of Salmonella weekly case counts increased by 1.2%, Campylobacter weekly case counts increased by 2.2%, and E. coli weekly case counts increased by 6.0% for every degree increase in weekly mean temperature. For Newfoundland-Labrador the log relative risk increased by 4.5% for Campylobacter for every degree increase in weekly mean temperature.

The purpose of this study was to validate a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a 3-d weighed food record (3d-WFR) by comparing nutrient intakes estimated using these methods with serum folate, RBC folate and serum vitamin B-12 concentrations in 105 females aged 16-19 y. During an early morning clinic visit, subjects completed a self-administered, 116-item FFQ, blood was collected and they were trained to complete a 3d-WFR. Folate intakes as determined by the 3d-WFR (r = 0.65, P < 0.01) exhibited a stronger association with serum folate than did intakes from the FFQ (r = 0.48, P < 0.01) (P = 0.017). The correlations between folate intakes and RBC folate as determined by the FFQ (r = 0.42, P < 0.01) and 3d-WFR (r = 0.50, P < 0.01) methods did not differ. Vitamin B-12 intakes showed only a modest association with serum vitamin B-12 when supplement users were included in the analyses (FFQ, r = 0.25, P < 0.05; 3d-WFR, r = 0.32, P < 0.05). After excluding supplement users from the analyses, the relationship between vitamin B-12 intakes as determined by FFQ and serum vitamin B-12 was no longer significant. Median daily folate intakes (346 vs. 212 microgram) and vitamin B-12 (4.9 vs. 1.9 microgram) estimated from the FFQ were higher than those obtained from the 3d-WFR. In sum, these data suggest that both the FFQ and 3d-WFR are valid measures of assessing the folate intake of young women, and both appear to be useful in determining vitamin B-12 intake when supplemental users are included. The markedly different conclusions about absolute folate and vitamin B-12 intakes obtained using these two dietary methodologies should be taken into consideration when making recommendations about optimal folate intakes in relation to disease prevention.

`Eight deciduous ornamental shrubs-deutzia (Deutzia gracilis Siebold & Zucc.), dogwood (Cornus alba L. `Argenteo-marginata'), forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia Zab. `Lynwood Gold'), ninebark [Physocarpus opulifolius (L.) Maxim.], potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa L. `Red Ace'), privet (Ligustrum vulgare L.), rose (Rosa L. `John Frank. lin'), and weigela [Weigela florida (Bunge) A. DC. `Variegata Nana']—were grown in trickle-irrigated containers with 100% bark (control) or with bark and 33%, 67%, and 100% (by volume) of each of three sources of spent mushroom compost (unweathered, weathered, and unweathered compost leached with water). Despite large variation in species growth response to sources and levels of compost, most grew equally well or better in the compost-amended regimes than in 100% bark and were influenced little, or not at all, by initial or prevailing salt levels in the media. Shoot and root dry weight of dogwood, forsythia, ninebark, rose, and weigela (all sources), and shoot dry weight of deutzia and potentilla (weathered source only), increased linearly or curvilinearly with increasing compost levels. The reverse relationship occurred (all sources) in shoot and root dry weight of privet and root dry weight of weigela and potentilla. Leaf nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn) tended to increase with increasing compost levels, but not all species showed this response with all nutrients. Regardless of compost source or level, all shrubs were of marketable quality when harvested, except privet, which showed leaf chlorosis in all compost-amended regimes.

No abstract

MoNonecor, I., WrlroN, J. W., Ar-r-eN, O. B. eNo SoNc, H. 1983. Stage of lactation effects, repeatabilities and influences on weaning weights of yield and composition of milk in beef cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 63: 751-761. Yield and composition of milk was measured on 270 cows with up to three parities each. Several combinations of breeds were included with all first parity females nursing Angus-sired calves and second and third parity females nursing Simmental-sired calves. Milk yields and compositions were obtained at 6, 14 and 22 wk postcalving. Yields were measured by both calf-nursing and machine-milking techniques. Milk yields were similar throughout lactation in first parity but declined over stages of lactation in parities two and three. No interactions between breed group of cow and stage of lactation were found. Milk fat percentages were found to be highest in early lactation, while protein percentages increased during lactation and lactose percentages remained constant. Milk yields increased from first to second parity, but were similar for second and third parities. Composition of milk was similar in all parities. Cows classified as being of dairy breeding had the highest milk yields, Jersey crosses were intermediate, while Charolais, British breeds and their crosses were lower and similar in milk yield. Jersey crosses were highest in milk fat percentage. Milk yield estimates were higher for the calf-nursing method than for the machine-milking method. Estimated repearabilities of total milk yield, milk fat percent, milk protein percent and milk lactose percent were 0.40,0.36,0.58 and 0.52, respectively. Milk yields had a significant positive effect on weaning weights of calves. The inclusion of either milk fat percent or milk protein percent as covariates did not increase the percent of variation explained in weaning weights. [Effets sur le stade de lactation, r6p6tabilit6 et effets sur le poids au sevrage du rendement laitier et de la composition du lait chez des bovins de boucherie.l Titre abr6g6: Rendement laitier et composition du lait de bovins de boucherre. Nous avons mesur6 le rendement laitier et la composition du lait de 270 vaches ayant connu chacune jusqu'ir 3 v6lages. Diverses combinaisons d'espbces ont 6t6 6tudi6es, les femelles n'ayant v6l6 qu'une fois nourrissant des veaux de pbre Angus, et les autres nourrissant des veaux de pbre Simmental. Le rendement et la composition ont 6t6 mesur6s 6, 14 et 22 semaines aprds le v0lage. Le rendement a pour sa part 6td 6valu6 bL partir du gain de poids des veaux d lat€t1,e ou d l'aide de machines de traite. Les rendements 6taient comparables pendant toute la p6riode de lactation chez les vaches ir un vOlage, mais il avait tendance d diminuer chez les vaches h deux et ir trois v€lages. Il n'y avait pas d'interaction entre la race et le stade de lactation. La teneur en matidre grasse 6tait plus 61ev6e en d6but de lactation. La teneur en prot6ines augmentait pour sa part avec le temps tandis que la teneur en lactose demeurait stable. Le rendement augm...