bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bimodal Zone of the Soil Textural Triangle: Common in Tropical and Subtropical Regions
Authors: de Condappa Devaraj , Galle Sylvie , Dewandel Benoit , Haverkamp Randel
Published: January 2008

The USDA soil textural triangle shows a zone where soils have a low silt fraction compared with the fractions of sand and clay. These soils have a particle‐size distribution function showing two local maxima in weight percentage for the particle‐size ranges of sand and clay. The soils are referred to as bimodal soils, with an associated bimodal zone in the soil textural triangle. It was shown that processes of pedogenesis in tropical and subtropical regions favor the generation of bimodal soils. Data from the Maheshwaram watershed in South India (subtropical), the Ouémé watershed in Bénin (subhumid), and soil databases established for (sub)tropical regions confirmed that bimodal soils are common in (sub)tropical climates. These results were backed up by the fact that sample populations of bimodal soils are underrepresented in databases such as UNSODA, GRIZZLY, or the Soil Information System of the Netherlands, all three of which contain soils mainly from temperate regions. The consequences of bimodal soil behavior are important. The hydrodynamic flow behavior of these soils should be different from that of monomodal soils. The concept of shape similarity between the cumulative particle‐size distribution curve and the water retention curve, validated for monomodal soils, implies that bimodal soils should theoretically exhibit bimodal hydraulic properties. These consequences are far reaching since most of the soil hydraulic models in the literature are monomodal and hence inadequate to describe the hydraulic behavior of bimodal soils from (sub)tropical regions.
Distribution of Phosphorus Forms in Soil Following Long‐term Continuous and Discontinuous Cattle Manure Applications
Authors: Hao Xiying , Godlinski Frauke , Chang Chi
Published: January 2008

Better information on soil P and its distribution in various forms is needed to assess their bioavailability and environmental impact. This study investigates the distribution of P forms following long‐term manure application to a calcareous clay loam soil in a semiarid region of Canada. The manure was applied and incorporated annually each fall at 30, 60, and 90 Mg ha−1 yr−1 under rain‐fed and at 60, 120, and 180 Mg ha−1 yr−1 under irrigated conditions, continuously for 30 yr and as well as for 14 yr followed by 16 yr of no further application. After 30 yr, soil samples were collected from depths 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm for all treatments. Soil P was partitioned into different forms through sequential chemical fractionation. In comparison with the non‐manured control, manure application significantly increased the levels of all P forms. The largest increase occurred for soil test P (STP). The increase was greater in irrigated than in rain‐fed blocks and greater in the 15‐ to 30‐cm than in the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth. The STP/ sum of all P forms in the soil (TP) ratios of 0.42 to 0.47 in manured soil were significantly higher than in the non‐manured control (<0.20), but were not significantly different from the cattle manure applied (0.38). In both soil depths, most P was inorganic P (Pi) with organic P (Po) accounting for ≤5% P. The STP (877 mg kg−1) and TP (2555 mg kg−1) levels in the topsoil of the plots where manure application had been discontinued were higher than in the non‐manured control, showing that the effects of manure application in excess of plant use are still evident even 16 yr after the last manure application. Thus, manure application has long lasting and substantial residual effects, still measurable in all soil P forms.
Soil Water Hysteresis in Water‐Stable Microaggregates as Affected by Organic Matter
Authors: Zhuang J. , McCarthy J. F. , Perfect E. , Mayer L. M. , Jastrow J. D.
Published: January 2008

Interaction of water and organic matter (OM) in pores affects the capacity for long‐term C sequestration and water retention in soils. This study investigated the effects of the amount and distribution of OM in microstructures on water retention in soil microaggregates. The focus of the study was on the hysteretic soil water characteristic (i.e., the difference between the main drying and wetting curves), which has been largely ignored in previous studies on water–OM relations. The main drying and wetting branches of the water retention curve were measured using a water activity meter on water‐stable microaggregates (53–250 μm), which were collected from surface soils (0–15 cm) subject to different management practices: tallgrass prairie restoration on a Mollisol, and tillage with and without N fertilization on an Alfisol. The results show that the presence of OM in <5‐μm‐diameter pores increases water retention in microaggregates, while management practices that either increased or decreased the abundance of OM‐filled pore volume in the microaggregates promoted hysteresis of water retention characteristics due to changes in soil pore structure. Comparison of the drying and wetting curves between intact and combusted (OM removed) microaggregates indicated a strong retention of water by pore‐filling OM. This retention suggests that the high water saturation in microaggregates from soils under management practices that increased OM‐filled porosity, which also offered physical protection of the OM, may be a positive feedback mechanism that retards OM decomposition in micropores. The water retention data measured on intact and combusted microaggregates were consistent with results from ultra‐small‐angle x‐ray scattering, and indicated that management practices have a great potential for facilitating the synergistic retention of water and organic C in soils.
Detecting Soil Salinity in Alfalfa Fields using Spatial Modeling and Remote Sensing
Authors: Eldeiry A. A. , Garcia Luis A.
Published: January 2008

A new methodology, which integrates field data, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and spatial modeling, was developed to accurately model soil salinity using statistical tools. Ground data from four alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) fields in the lower Arkansas River basin in Colorado were compared with data derived from Ikonos satellite images with a 4‐m resolution and Landsat satellite images with a 30‐m resolution. For each image, the combination of satellite image bands that had the best correlation with soil salinity was used. Three statistical models were applied to estimate soil salinity from remote sensing: the ordinary least squares (OLS) model, the spatial autoregressive (spatial AR) model, and a modified residual kriging model. A number of criteria were evaluated to select the best model. The results show that both the Ikonos and Landsat satellite images can be used to estimate soil salinity, and regardless of the source of the satellite image used, the modified kriging model provided the best estimates of soil salinity. Although the OLS model met most of the model selection criteria, in most cases it involved some autocorrelation among the residuals. When the same data were tested using the spatial AR model, most of the autocorrelation among the residuals was removed, but theR2was reduced. In the modified kriging model, where the kriged residuals were combined with the results of the OLS model, there were significant improvements in theR2for all cases tested in this study. Thus, this study shows that combining field data, geographic information systems, and remote sensing with strong statistical measures can significantly enhance the development of high‐quality soil salinity maps.
Direct Detection of Black Carbon in Soils by Py‐GC/MS, Carbon‐13 NMR Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Techniques
Authors: De la Rosa J. M. , Knicker H. , López-Capel E. , Manning D. A. C. , González-Perez J. A. , González-Vila F. J.
Published: January 2008

The amount and compositional characteristics of black carbon in soils (mollisol and vertisol), charred biomass (laboratory produced; rice, chestnut), and soils (southern Spain) affected by forest fire have been determined using a combination of thermogravimetry (TG), TG coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py‐GC/MS). Samples affected by fire had higher total organic matter content, and this was enriched in aromatic components. Good agreement was observed between the content of refractory organic matter (ROM) determined by TG analysis and the aromatic content measured by 13C NMR. Py‐GC/MS demonstrated the presence of aromatic compounds in samples rich in black carbon, the absence of furans (derived from carbohydrates) in soils affected by fire, and the detection of methoxyphenols (derived from lignin) in artificially charred grass and wood. Some of the characteristic peaks obtained by analytical pyrolysis in combination with TG analysis and NMR 13C spectra could be used as markers in the detection of black carbon. This is the first study in which TG‐differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)‐IRMS has been used to detect black carbon formed during artificial smoldering and natural combustion processes.
Method for Determining Coal Carbon in the Reclaimed Minesoils Contaminated with Coal
Authors: Ussiri David A. N. , Lal Rattan
Published: January 2008

Minesoils are anthropic soils developed on land disturbed by mining activities. Minesoils developed on the reclaimed surface‐mined sites for coal are contaminated with coal particles resulting from mining and reclamation activities. Therefore, the total organic carbon (TOC) pool in these sites is a mixture of coal and plant‐derived recent soil organic carbon (SOC). Accurate estimates of SOC pools and C sequestration rates in the reclaimed minesoils (RMS) is limited by the lack of a standard and cost‐effective method for determination of coal C concentrations in the RMS. The chemi‐thermal method, based on the oxidative resistance of coal, was developed and validated with radiocarbon analysis using selected artificial soil–coal mixtures and minesoil samples. Radiocarbon analysis of RMS samples indicated that minesoils from the top 10‐cm depth developing from topsoil applied during reclamation was coal C free. The contribution of coal C and the radiocarbon age of TOC increased with increasing soil depth. The coal C fraction accounted for 0 to 92% of TOC in the RMS samples. The coal C fraction was highly correlated with δ13C (r2 = 0.84), suggesting that stable isotope composition could estimate the coal C concentration in RMS samples. Analysis of coal and artificial soil and coal mixtures indicated that chemi‐thermal treatment was effective in removing recent SOC with minimum effect on coal. Analysis of RMS samples indicated that both radiocarbon activity and the chemi‐thermal method were effective in estimating coal C concentration in RMS of southeast Ohio. The coal C concentrations for both methods were highly correlated (r2 = 0.95), suggesting that the chemi‐thermal method was as effective as radiocarbon activity measurement in estimating coal C concentration in these soils.
Electrical Spectra of Undisturbed Soil from a Crop Rotation Study
Authors: Logsdon S. D.
Published: January 2008

Soil permittivity can be determined across a range of frequencies, but little is known about how the factors derived from the frequency spectra are related to soil pore structure or crop management. The purpose of this study was to test use of a 12‐wire, quasi‐coaxial probe for determining soil permittivity spectra, and to see if derived factors could be related to soil pores and crop management practices. Undisturbed soil cores were collected from two management fields, one with a 2‐yr rotation and the other with a 6‐yr rotation. Comparisons between the fields were based on 95% confidence intervals of the differences in the means for each factor tested. Similar analysis was used to compare cores with and without continuous macropores. The soil from the 6‐yr rotation had significantly higher water content (θ) after drainage to 100‐cm pressure head, and had significantly lower air‐filled porosity (AFP) after free core drainage. The cores with continuous macropores had a significantly higher natural log of saturated hydraulic conductivity and AFP after drainage to 100‐cm pressure head, and significantly lower bulk density and square root of apparent permittivity at a higher frequency than cores without continuous macropores. The cores from soils with carbonates had higher electrical conductivity as a function of AFP than those from the soils without carbonates. Overall, soil macropore differences were more pronounced than differences in crop management practices. The 12‐wire probe was useful for determining permittivity spectra on undisturbed soil.
Shortcomings in the Commercialized Barometric Process Separation Measuring System
Authors: Ingwersen Joachim , Schwarz Ulrich , Stange Claus Florian , Ju Xiaotang , Streck Thilo
Published: January 2008

In a growing number of studies, the barometric process separation (BaPS) method has been applied for measuring gross nitrification rates in soil. In 2000, the company Umweltanalytische Mess‐Systeme (UMS) GmbH (Munich, Germany) presented the first and only commercially available automatic BaPS measuring system. In an ongoing project, we have used the UMS BaPS system to measure gross nitrification rates in two alkaline agricultural soils. During data evaluation, we came across certain shortcomings in the UMS data evaluation routine. We identified three problems: (i) a unit error in the calculation of the carbonate equilibrium, (ii) an erroneous calculation when the respiration quotient is unequal to unity, and (iii) an inappropriate procedure for handling a negative rate of N gases produced by denitrification (ΔNxOy). Particularly the error in calculating the carbonate equilibrium caused a significant overestimation of the gross nitrification rate at pH values >6. A literature review showed that the BaPS method works well in acidic to weakly acidic soils. For soils with higher pH values, its performance remains unclear. More research is needed to test the applicability of the BaPS method in neutral and alkaline soils.
Wien Effect Determination of Adsorption Energies between Heavy Metal Ions and Soil Particles
Authors: Wang Yu-Jun , Li Cheng-Bao , Wang Wei , Zhou Dong-Mei , Xu Ren-Kou , Friedman Shmulik P.
Published: January 2008

Gibbs mean free adsorption energies between cations and charged soil particles are a measure of physicochemical interactions between ions and soil particles. The distribution of Gibbs free adsorption energies could not be determined experimentally before the development of Wien effect measurements in dilute soil suspensions. In the present study, energy relationships between heavy metal ions and particles of yellow‐brown and black soils (an Alfisol and a Mollisol) were inferred from Wien effect measurements in dilute suspensions, in deionized water, of homoionic soil particles (<2 μm) of the two soils saturated with ions of five heavy metals. The results show that the mean Gibbs free binding energies of the heavy metal ions with yellow‐brown and black soil particles diminish in the order Pb2+ > Zn2+ ≥ Cu2+ > Cd2+ > Cr3+, where the range of binding energies for yellow‐brown soil (5.39–8.54 kJ mol−1) is less than that for black soil (8.39–9.88 kJ mol−1). The electrical field‐dependent mean Gibbs free adsorption energies of these heavy metal ions for yellow‐brown and black soils descend in the order Cu2+ > Cd2+ > Pb2+ > Zn2+ > Cr3+ and Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cr3+, respectively. The mean Gibbs free adsorption energies of Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cr3+ at a field strength of 150 kV cm−1, for example, are in the range of 0.5 to 2.1 kJ mol−1 for the two soils.
Enrichment of Organic Carbon in Sediment Transport by Interrill and Rill Erosion Processes
Authors: Schiettecatte W. , Gabriels D. , Cornelis W. M. , Hofman G.
Published: January 2008

Erosion and loss of organic carbon (OC) result in degradation of the soil surface. Rill and interrill erosion processes on a silt loam soil were examined in laboratory rainfall and flume experiments. These experiments showed that rill and interrill erosion processes have contrasting impacts on enrichment of OC in transported sediment. Rill erosion was found to be nonselective, while for interrill erosion the enrichment ratio of OC, EROC, varied between 0.9 and 2.6 and was inversely related to the unit sediment discharge. At unit sediment discharge values >0.0017 kg s−1 m−1, the EROC remained equal to 1. The enrichment process was not influenced by raindrop impact. Enrichment of OC by “aggregate stripping” was found to be unimportant in our study. This was attributed to the low aggregate stability of the soil and the equal distribution of OC within the different soil aggregate classes.
Homocysteine Upregulates Resistin Production From Adipocytes In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Li Yin , Jiang Changtao , Xu Guoheng , Wang Nanping , Zhu Yi , Tang Chaoshu , Wang Xian
Published: January 2008

OBJECTIVE—Homocysteine (Hcy) is epidemiologically related to insulin resistance, which has been speculated to be a low-grade systemic inflammatory condition. Resistin acts as a critical mediator of insulin resistance associated with inflammatory conditions. We aimed to determine whether Hcy can induce insulin resistance by directly regulating the expression and secretion of resistin from adipose tissue.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The effect of Hcy on the expression and secretion of resistin and insulin resistance was investigated using primary rat adipocytes and mice with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy).

RESULTS—Hcy impaired glucose transport and, particularly, the insulin signaling pathway as shown by decreased insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, increased serine phosphorylation of IRS-1, and inhibited Akt phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo, and these impairments were accompanied by an increase in resistin expression. Compared with normal mice, HHcy mice with a clinically relevant level of plasma Hcy (19 μmol/l) showed significantly increased resistin production from adipose tissue (33.38 ± 3.08 vs. 19.27 ± 1.71 ng/ml, P < 0.01). Hcy (300–1000 μmol/l) also increased mRNA expression of resistin in primary rat adipocytes in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, with maximal induction at 24 h of approximately fourfold with 1,000 μmol/l. In addition, Hcy-induced resistin expression attenuated by treatment with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, protein kinase C (PKC), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB inhibitors implies a role in the process for ROS, PKC, and NF-κB.

CONCLUSIONS—HHcy may promote insulin resistance through the induction of resistin expression and secretion from adipocytes via the activation of the ROS-PKC–NF-κB pathway.
Mutations in the Insulin Gene Can Cause MODY and Autoantibody-Negative Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Molven Anders , Ringdal Monika , Nordbø Anita M. , Ræder Helge , Støy Julie , Lipkind Gregory M. , Steiner Donald F. , Philipson Louis H. , Bergmann Ines , Aarskog Dagfinn , Undlien Dag E. , Joner Geir , Søvik Oddmund ,   the Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Study Group, Bell Graeme I. , Njølstad Pål R.
Published: January 2008

OBJECTIVE—Mutations in the insulin (INS) gene can cause neonatal diabetes. We hypothesized that mutations in INS could also cause maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and autoantibody-negative type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We screened INS in 62 probands with MODY, 30 probands with suspected MODY, and 223 subjects from the Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry selected on the basis of autoantibody negativity or family history of diabetes.

RESULTS—Among the MODY patients, we identified the INS mutation c.137G>A (R46Q) in a proband, his diabetic father, and a paternal aunt. They were diagnosed with diabetes at 20, 18, and 17 years of age, respectively, and are treated with small doses of insulin or diet only. In type 1 diabetic patients, we found the INS mutation c.163C>T (R55C) in a girl who at 10 years of age presented with ketoacidosis and insulin-dependent, GAD, and insulinoma-associated antigen-2 (IA-2) antibody-negative diabetes. Her mother had a de novo R55C mutation and was diagnosed with ketoacidosis and insulin-dependent diabetes at 13 years of age. Both had residual β-cell function. The R46Q substitution changes an invariant arginine residue in position B22, which forms a hydrogen bond with the glutamate at A17, stabilizing the insulin molecule. The R55C substitution involves the first of the two arginine residues localized at the site of proteolytic processing between the B-chain and the C-peptide.

CONCLUSIONS—Our findings extend the phenotype of INS mutation carriers and suggest that INS screening is warranted not only in neonatal diabetes, but also in MODY and in selected cases of type 1 diabetes.
Association of Variants in the Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Factor 1 (SREBF1) Gene With Type 2 Diabetes, Glycemia, and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Grarup Niels , Stender-Petersen Kirstine L. , Andersson Ehm A. , Jørgensen Torben , Borch-Johnsen Knut , Sandbæk Annelli , Lauritzen Torsten , Schmitz Ole , Hansen Torben , Pedersen Oluf
Published: January 2008

OBJECTIVE—We evaluated the association of variants in the sterol regulatory element-binding factor 1 gene (SREBF1) with type 2 diabetes. Due to the previous inconclusive quantitative trait associations, we also did studies of intermediate quantitative phenotypes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We genotyped four variants in SREBF1 in the population-based Inter99 cohort (n = 6,070), the Danish ADDITION study (n = 8,662), and in additional type 2 diabetic patients (n = 1,002). The case-control studies involved 2,980 type 2 diabetic patients and 4,522 glucose-tolerant subjects.

RESULTS—The minor alleles of rs2297508, rs11868035, and rs1889018 (linkage disequilibrium R2 = 0.6–0.8) associated with a modestly increased risk of type 2 diabetes (rs2297508: OR 1.17 [95% CI 1.05–1.30], P = 0.003), which was confirmed in meta-analyses of all published studies (rs2297508 G-allele: 1.08 [1.03–1.14] per allele, P = 0.001). The diabetes-associated alleles also associated strongly with a higher plasma glucose at 30 and 120 min and serum insulin at 120 min during an oral glucose tolerance test (all P < 0.006) and the minor allele of rs1889018 with a surrogate measure of insulin sensitivity (P = 0.03). Furthermore, the diabetes-associated alleles associated with a modestly increased A1C level in the population-based Inter99 of middle-aged subjects and in the ADDITION study of high-risk individuals (P = 0.006 and P = 0.008, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS—We associate sequence variation in SREBF1 with a modestly increased predisposition to type 2 diabetes. In the general population, the diabetes-associated alleles are discreetly associated with hyperglycemia presumably due to decreased insulin sensitivity. Because sterol regulatory element–binding protein-1c is a mediator of insulin action, the findings are consistent with the presence of a yet undefined subtle loss-of-function SREBF1 variant.
Template for a Recommended Curriculum in “Veterinary Professional Development and Career Success”
Authors: Lloyd James W. , Walsh Donal A.
Published: January 2008

Recent studies of the veterinary profession have established a need for training in various areas beyond those directed toward building competence and proficiency as a clinician. To address this need, a workshop was designed whose objective was to develop a detailed outline of a model curriculum that would encompass the skills, knowledge, aptitudes, and attitudes deemed essential for economic success in the veterinary profession. The model curriculum was created from comprehensive input provided by consultants and educators. Constraints for implementation of this curriculum are identified, and future directions are discussed.
A Novel Method for Preparing Histology Slides to Integrate the Teaching of Gross and Microscopic Anatomy
Authors: Provo-Klimek Judy A. , Troyer Deryl L.
Published: January 2008

The authors have previously reported the development of a novel technique for sampling and preparing tissue slides for routine microscopic examination, without the use of a microtome. Termed “RAMP” (Rapid Adhesive Mediated Procedure), this simple, albeit somewhat crude, technique holds promise as a method that can be used in the field by veterinary practitioners for rapid microscopic evaluations to obtain early preliminary estimates of the nature of a mass or lesion. We incorporated the use of this method into a gross anatomy course in an attempt to gauge its utility for novices in tissue sampling and histology slide preparation. By having each group of students take a tissue sample from their cadaver, the activity simulated an actual necropsy situation in which practitioners in the field might use the technique. Because students were able to follow their specimen from sampling to microscopic examination, the activity provided a valuable integration of their learning of gross and microscopic anatomy. We conducted an evaluation of the process and the resulting slides with two successive classes of students. We conclude that the RAMP method is reasonably successful in the hands of individuals not trained in tissue preparation; was well received by the students as a valuable learning tool; and could potentially yield useful histological information for practicing veterinarians. Limitations of the method are also discussed.
Observations of Private Veterinary Practices in Colorado, with an Emphasis on Anesthesia
Authors: Wagner Ann E. , Hellyer Peter W.
Published: January 2008

Rationale for the study – To give academic faculty in anesthesia a better understanding of the anesthetic techniques used by veterinarians in private practice, in order to enhance their teaching of anesthesiology to veterinary students.

Methodology – Two anesthesia faculty members visited 20 different small-animal veterinary practices, interviewing veterinarians and technical staff about their use of anesthesia and their anesthesia-related problems.

Results – Compared to most university veterinary teaching hospitals, private practitioners tended to use fewer anesthetic drugs, provide fewer analgesics, do more out-patient procedures, and rarely monitor blood pressure in anesthetized animals.

Conclusions – Techniques of anesthesia and monitoring used in private veterinary practice are often quite different from those used in large university teaching hospitals.
Using the World Wide Web to Develop Key Professional Skills in Veterinary Undergraduates
Authors: Dale Vicki H.M. , Johnston Pamela E.J. , Thompson Hal , Innocent Giles T.
Published: January 2008

This paper outlines the pedagogical and practical reasons for developing two interactive online pathology modules for use by third-year undergraduates in veterinary medicine at the University of Glasgow: namely, to further students’ understanding of general and systems pathology, as well as their acquisition of key professional skills, and to provide access to a core-elective system of education and to subsequent employment and lifelong learning.
Using Clinical Audits to Identify Practitioner Learning Needs
Authors: Moore Dale A. , Klingborg Donald J.
Published: January 2008

Clinical audits are used in medicine to monitor practice performance, provide practice feedback, and identify learning needs. Although relatively new to veterinary practice, they hold promise as personal learning needs assessment tools. Continuing veterinary medical education providers are in a unique position to assist practitioners in the design, implementation, and evaluation of clinical audits. This paper discusses the types, the interpretation, and the potential uses of data from clinical audits in the veterinary setting and links audits to continuing veterinary medical education.
The Current State of Veterinary Vaccines: Is There Hope for the Future?
Authors: Carter Philip B.
Published: January 2008

This article is an overview and assessment of available veterinary vaccines, placed in a historical context. A more complete presentation of the main tenets of the symposium talk at Agenda for Action: Veterinary Medicines Role in Biodefense and Public Health is published elsewhere. The symposium presentation contained a critical evaluation of the current state of the field of veterinary vaccines for both food and companion animals and of promises for future vaccine development. There is considerable variability in safety and sustained efficacy among veterinary vaccines, especially those developed for companion animals. Standardization of vaccines and vaccinal strains and detailed knowledge of their safety, efficacy, and potency and of the duration of immunity are needed before rational recommendations can truly be made. It is proposed that the establishment of an international vaccine advisory committee be supported, which would function to apprise the veterinary profession of the current status of vaccines and their use, and that a system for reporting vaccine adverse events, similar to that for humans, should be established.
Outcome-Based Education
Authors: Davis Margery H.
Published: January 2008

The move to outcome-based education has been one of the most important trends in health-profession education in recent years. This paper defines outcomes and outcome-based education, describes the development of outcome-based education, identifies several different ways that outcomes have been presented, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the outcome-based educational approach. The implementation of outcome-based education at the University of Dundee medical school, Scotland, UK is described as a case study for curriculum planners in veterinary medical education. The lessons learned in Dundee from six years’ experience with outcome-based education are identified to aid veterinary medical educators wishing to implement the approach.
Information Technology in Veterinary Pharmacology Instruction
Authors: Kochevar Deborah T.
Published: January 2008

Veterinary clinical pharmacology encompasses all interactions between drugs and animals and applies basic and clinical knowledge to improve rational drug use and patient outcomes. Veterinary pharmacology instructors set educational goals and objectives that, when mastered by students, lead to improved animal health. The special needs of pharmacology instruction include establishing a functional interface between basic and clinical knowledge, managing a large quantity of information, and mastering quantitative skills essential to successful drug administration and analysis of drug action. In the present study, a survey was conducted to determine the extent to which veterinary pharmacology instructors utilize information technology (IT) in their teaching. Several IT categories were investigated, including Web-based instructional aids, stand-alone pharmacology software, interactive videoconferencing, databases, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and e-book applications. Currently IT plays a largely ancillary role in pharmacology instruction. IT use is being expanded primarily through the efforts of two veterinary professional pharmacology groups, the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology (ACVCP) and the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (AAVPT). The long-term outcome of improved IT use in pharmacology instruction should be to support the larger educational mission of active learning and problem solving. Creation of high-quality IT resources that promote this goal has the potential to improve veterinary pharmacology instruction within and across institutions.
Non-linear, Visual-Rich Supplemental Material Designed for an Introductory Course in Veterinary Anesthesia
Authors: Dyson Doris H.
Published: January 2008

A possible reason for superficial learning in an introductory anesthesia course was considered to be a lack of visual reinforcement at the time of examination preparation. Students had limited access to live animal laboratories and clinical cases during the course, reducing their ability to depend on experiential learning. In an attempt to improve student learning, simple presentation software was used to develop a supplemental CD. The design involved multiple PowerPoint presentations that incorporated text, pictures, videos, and self-assessments. Non-linear exploration of the topics covered was made possible by extensive use of hyperlinks within and between presentations, moving the student to definitions, background material, videos, advanced details, and previously covered information. Comments received from students on a prototype were positive overall, and improvements were made related to their feedback. Other supplemental materials and lecture presentations can easily incorporate the techniques described here.
The Building Blocks in the Professional Education Process That Lead to Best Practices and Quality Medicine
Authors: Thomson John U.
Published: January 2008

It is time for the faculty of veterinary colleges to take responsibility for the veterinary curriculum, to move beyond the debate over teaching styles, and to understanding what a curriculum needs to accomplish. Our challenge is to engage students, faculty, and all veterinary professionals in evidence-based medicine and medical outcomes assessment and to identify best practices and continually improve the quality of veterinary health care. The education program of students must lay the foundation for this essential approach to veterinary practice.
Accreditation of Veterinary Schools in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Craven John , Strous Julie
Published: January 2008

Veterinary schools in Australia and New Zealand are assessed for accreditation purposes every six years by the Veterinary Schools Accreditation Advisory Committee (VSAAC), which is a standing committee of the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC). Prior to undertaking an assessment, VSAAC requests a Self Evaluation Report from the school and subsequently spends a week on site to collect additional information. The committee also takes into consideration other quality assurance procedures within the university and aims for a process that complements other evaluation activities. Internal evaluation procedures within VSAAC are designed to reflect the process and outcomes of each visit and lead to annual revisions of the publication Policies, Procedures and Guidelines. The committee has close links with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), and there is a routine exchange of observers on all visits in the United Kingdom and Australasia. In recent years VSAAC has become increasingly interested in looking at ways to place greater emphasis on the outcomes of veterinary education and, eventually, to reduce our reliance on input measures. There has been good progress in identifying desirable attributes for veterinary graduates, but further work is needed to establish the reliability of assessment procedures. The Australasian accreditation system is very supportive of recent moves to achieve greater compatibility of veterinary accreditation systems in different parts of the world because we believe it has the potential to assist globalization of animal disease control and veterinary education.
Comparison of Accreditation Practices and Standards of US Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Authors: Barzansky Barbara
Published: January 2008

There are 126 medical education programs leading to the MD degree in the United States, and 16 in Canada, that are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). This article summarizes the current policies and procedures used by the LCME and traces their historical development. The external factors that have acted to influence accreditation in the United States, such as recognition of accreditation agencies by the US Department of Education, are then described. Finally, comparisons are drawn between the accreditation systems for medical education and veterinary medical education programs.
Implementing a Simulated Client Program: Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice
Authors: Adams Cindy L. , Ladner Lynda
Published: January 2008

Introduction – This paper outlines the design and implementation of an innovative communication skills training program at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). Based upon the body of research in human medical education reporting effective results through the use of standardized patients (SPs) for this type of training, an experiential learning laboratory using simulated clients (SCs) and patients was introduced to first-year veterinary students.

Method – One hundred and four first-year students were assigned to 12 groups of eight or nine students plus a facilitator. Each student interacted with a simulated client and a patient while being observed by peers and a facilitator. The Calgary–Cambridge Observation Guide (CCOG) was used to guide students and facilitators with performance standards and feedback. Assessment strategies were utilized.

Results – Implementation of this program required extensive resources, including funding, expertise, facilitator training, time allotment in an already overburdened curriculum, and administrative and faculty support. Preliminary assessment revealed high student and facilitator satisfaction. The potential of this program for student education and assessment was recognized, and it will be expanded in years 2 and 3 of the DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) curriculum.

Conclusions – Medical educators have created resources, including skills checklists and experiential learning modalities, that are highly applicable to veterinary medical education. Ongoing evaluation of the program is essential to determine whether we are meeting expectations for communication competency in veterinary medicine.
A Quiz Becomes a Multidirectional Dialogue with Web-Based Instructional Tools for an Anatomical Pathology Rotation
Authors: Fales-Williams Amanda , Kramer Travis , Heer Rex , Danielson Jared
Published: January 2008

Senior veterinary students in the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine (ISU CVM) participate in clinical rotations, among them a two-week necropsy rotation. The students have access to the rotation syllabus on the ISU CVM intranet site. To promote rapid comprehension of necropsy protocol, students completed a pre-exam on the syllabus. This exercise evolved from a paper quiz to an online pre-exam, using course management software to improve use of class time, increase feedback, and shift the focus to acquisition of knowledge. The students were encouraged to work collaboratively on the pre-exam and could make repeated attempts. We predicted that professional students would make multiple attempts at the pre-exam until the desired score was attained.

This exercise achieves multiple goals. First, the exam encourages early review of necropsy protocol. Second, use of WebCT allows for instant, automatic, and consistent feedback from the instructor, reducing redundancy while improving the quality of communication between student and instructor and thus using faculty time more efficiently. The instructor can quickly identify and rectify common misunderstandings through this interface. Third, by allowing discussion and repeated attempts, we can ensure that there is less pressure associated with the exam. Statistical analysis of the students’ performance supports the prediction that students would repeat the exam until the desired score was achieved. Subjectively, as a result of implementation of an online pre-exam, the instructor has observed students to be more engaged with the material at an earlier point in the rotation.
Teaching the Didactic Aspects of Ophthalmology and Dermatology Using an Off-Site Instructor
Authors: Dhein Cheryl R , Noxon James O. , Deykin Anna
Published: January 2008

A shortage of veterinary educators in various clinical disciplines is requiring faculty at veterinary schools to develop novel approaches to teaching professional students a core of information in each major clinical discipline. This article presents experiences at Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine in the teaching of the didactic components of ophthalmology and dermatology over four years using pre-prepared lectures developed by off-site instructors. The methodology of lecture preparation and presentation and various perspectives of student satisfaction with this teaching/ learning method are presented.
Coping with Stress: A Survey of Murdoch University Veterinary Students
Authors: Williams Sandy M. , Arnold Pauline K. , Mills Jennifer N.
Published: January 2008

Students in veterinary schools can experience stress in balancing the different demands on them—academic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and professional or work related—as well as managing potential conflict between animal and human interests. Practicing veterinarians report many similar stressors and reactions. Stressful stimuli produce stress reactions that can be inimical to physical and psychological well-being, and students’ performance in veterinary programs can be adversely affected if they do not have coping resources. While there has been some research into stress among university students in general, and among medical students in particular, there is little on the experience of veterinary students. This article describes a study by the School of Psychology, commissioned by the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, at Murdoch University in Western Australia. It was designed to investigate the levels and causes of stress among, and the frequency and type of coping strategies used by, fourth- and fifth-year students. Results indicate that the students in this cohort faced frequent stressors and felt at least moderately stressed but did not routinely and systematically use a range of coping strategies. Academic stressors and perceived responsibilities attached to moving into practical or professional areas figured strongly and were associated with higher levels of stress in the students, in particular physical sequelae. Though the numbers were small, it is of concern that some students were using measures that were potentially harmful. Some recommendations are made here about measures that veterinary programs may be able to incorporate to address stress in their students. Information is included on current strategies within the curriculum to manage potential stressful situations as part of students’ professional development.
Stress in Veterinary Science Students: A Study at the University of Queensland
Authors: McLennan Malcolm W. , Sutton Richard H.
Published: January 2008

This paper reports on the results of a survey of selected University of Queensland (UQ) veterinary students aimed at elucidating factors causing stress during the five undergraduate years of the program. Students from each of the five years were asked to form six- or seven-member focus groups. Each focus group was then interviewed and their opinions sought on causes of ongoing stress and the ranking of those causes into predetermined categories. They were also asked to give their opinions on counseling services available within the university and what, if any, services they would like to see in place to help students with stress-related problems.

Students in the first, third, and fourth years of the program rated academic issues as the most likely causes of ongoing stress, while students in the second and fifth years of the program ranked lifestyle and financial issues as more likely to cause ongoing stress. In most cases, students coped well with these causes of stress and tended not to use counseling services available to all UQ students.

When faced with stressful issues, students looked to their classmates or family members for help and not to university counseling services. Students were also happy to approach staff members in the Veterinary School when faced with a problem.

The authors nevertheless conclude that mechanisms set in place at the undergraduate level to help veterinary students cope with stress should particularly benefit those students when they become new graduates and are faced with the stresses of veterinary practice.
Professionalism in the Health Sciences: Lessons Learned from its Definition, Evaluation, and Teaching in a Medical School
Authors: Talbott John A.
Published: January 2008

For the past 15 years, the medical profession has been concerned about the professionalism, or lack thereof, exhibited by many physicians, and similar concerns are evident for the broad scope of health professions. This article summarizes the efforts of one school of medicine to define the problem, embark on a program to improve the situation, and evaluate its progress. Because the author’s experience is within the realm of human medicine and the education of medical students, the article has been written from this perspective, but it is hoped that readers in the other health professions will find this account of benefit. While the vignettes presented here are taken from human medicine, readers in other health professions should be readily able to translate them into their own spheres of interest.
Developing and Implementing an Assessment Method to Evaluate a Virtual Canine Anatomy Program
Authors: Linton Andrea , Schoenfeld-Tacher Regina , Whalen L. Ray
Published: January 2008

A computer-based anatomy program, Virtual Canine Anatomy: The Head, was incorporated into a first-year veterinary dissection laboratory two years ago to address challenges inherent in the traditional pedagogical approach. The program uses specimen photographs, QuickTime Virtual Reality, and interactive features to help students study the dissection, osteology, and radiology of the canine head. Photographs of each phase of dissection are displayed in the program, along with dissection instructions. Students can click on anatomical structures in each photograph to highlight the selected structure and display a complete description of it. Related structures and views are accessible through hyperlinks. This study was designed to measure student and faculty attitudes toward the instructional software, to gauge its effect on student achievement, and to propose evaluation methodology and instrumentation for similar projects. Observations, interviews, focus groups, surveys, and test results were used for this assessment. Results suggest positive student and faculty attitudes toward the program. Students felt the program met their needs, increased their confidence and efficiency, and was easy to use. Both students and instructors felt the program was beneficial during dissection. There was no significant change in student achievement on course tests. Future research will measure the program’s effect on student–instructor interactions.
Funding Opportunities for Veterinary Medicine with USDA Competitive Programs
Authors: Fenwick Brad
Published: January 2008

Dramatic changes are underway in how public higher education and professional training are funded. The shift from a public to a beneficiary funding model is driving increases in tuition for students, the collection of user fees, and fee-for-service activities and has focused increased attention on the need for funding support from federal grants and contracts. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) was the first federal agency to support university-based research and education. While the funding provided by the USDA is now only a fraction of what is available through other federal sources, the USDA remains an important source of funding dedicated specifically to farm-animal-related research and the training of the next generation of veterinary scientists and educators.