bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of drinks that are added as flavoring in oral midazolam premedication on sedation success
Authors: ISIK BERRIN , BAYGIN ÖZGÜL , BODUR HALUK
Published: March 2008

Background:  Midazolam is one of the most frequently used agents for sedation in pediatric dentistry. The injectable form of midazolam can also be given orally. However, its bad taste has negative effects on ingestion of the drug. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of drinks which were added to mask the bitter taste of midazolam for drug acceptance and sedation.

Methods:  In the laboratory; the pH values of 2.5 ml midazolam (15 mg·3 ml−1) and the mixtures of Pepsi Cola®, 10% sodium citrate, fresh pomegranate juice, and fresh grapefruit juice in equal volumes were measured. Seventy‐five patients between 2 and 8 years of age who were assessed to have anxiety with the Frankl Behavior Scale and whose dental treatment was planned under sedation were randomly divided into five groups. Pepsi Cola (Group I), 10% sodium citrate (Group II), pomegranate juice (Group III), and grapefruit juice (Group IV) which were added to 0.75 mg·kg−1 midazolam in equal volumes, and (Group V) 0.75 mg·kg−1 midazolam given orally to children. The drug compliance of children was evaluated. After 15 min, 4–5 l·min−1 of N2O : O2 (40 : 60) inhalation was started via a nasal hood. During the procedure, heart rate, and SpO2 were monitored with pulse oximetry and sedation levels with the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS). Anesthetist, dentist, and parental satisfaction levels were recorded.

Results:  The groups had similar demographics, drug ingestion was better in Groups I and II, but the mean RSS was the highest in Group II (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  As well as making drug ingestion much simpler, the addition of sodium citrate to the midazolam administered orally to the children increased the effectiveness of sedation.
Spatial mating networks in insect‐pollinated plants
Authors: Fortuna Miguel A. , García Cristina , Guimarães Jr. Paulo R. , Bascompte Jordi
Published: March 2008

Gene flow in plant populations is largely determined by landscape heterogeneity. Both the shape of the pollination kernel and the spatial distribution of trees affect the distribution of pollen grains and the genotypes they harbour, but little is known about the relative contribution of each of these two factors. Using genetic markers we build a spatial network of pollination events between any two trees in a population of Prunus mahaleb, an insect‐pollinated plant. Then, we apply tools from the science of complex networks to characterize the structure of such a mating network. Although the distribution of the number of pollen donors per tree is quite homogeneous, the identity of donors is distributed heterogeneously across the population. This results in a population structured in well‐defined modules or compartments, formed by a group of mother trees and their shared pollen donors. Long‐distance pollination events decrease the modular structure by favouring mating among all available mates. This increases gene flow across the entire population, reducing its genetic structure, and potentially decreasing the role of genetic drift.
Global concordance in diversity patterns of vascular plants and terrestrial vertebrates
Authors: Qian Hong , Ricklefs Robert E.
Published: March 2008

The factors that determine large‐scale patterns of species richness are poorly understood. In particular, biologists have not determined the relative roles of taxon‐specific characteristics that influence diversification and distribution, and region‐specific features that promote and constrain diversity. We show that the numbers of species of vascular plants and of four terrestrial vertebrate taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) vary in parallel across 296 geographic areas covering most of the globe, even after accounting for sample area, climate, topographic heterogeneity and differences between continents. Thus, a common set of regional characteristics and processes appears to shape patterns of species richness in a diverse set of taxa, despite substantial differences in their biological traits.
Approaches to Semantic Similarity Measurement for Geo‐Spatial Data: A Survey
Authors: Schwering Angela
Published: March 2008

Semantic similarity is central for the functioning of semantically enabled processing of geospatial data. It is used to measure the degree of potential semantic interoperability between data or different geographic information systems (GIS). Similarity is essential for dealing with vague data queries, vague concepts or natural language and is the basis for semantic information retrieval and integration. The choice of similarity measurement influences strongly the conceptual design and the functionality of a GIS. The goal of this article is to provide a survey presentation on theories of semantic similarity measurement and review how these approaches – originally developed as psychological models to explain human similarity judgment – can be used in geographic information science. According to their knowledge representation and notion of similarity we classify existing similarity measures in geometric, feature, network, alignment and transformational models. The article reviews each of these models and outlines its notion of similarity and metric properties. Afterwards, we evaluate the semantic similarity models with respect to the requirements for semantic similarity measurement between geospatial data. The article concludes by comparing the similarity measures and giving general advice how to choose an appropriate semantic similarity measure. Advantages and disadvantages point to their suitability for different tasks.
Vision and the foraging technique of Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo: pursuit or close‐quarter foraging?
Authors: MARTIN GRAHAM R. , WHITE CRAIG R. , BUTLER PATRICK J.
Published: March 2008

Predatory diving birds, such as cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), have been generally regarded as visually guided pursuit foragers. However, due to their poor visual resolution underwater, it has recently been hypothesized that Great Cormorants do not in fact employ a pursuit‐dive foraging technique. They appear capable of detecting typical prey only at short distances, and primarily use a foraging technique in which prey may be detected only at close quarters or flushed from a substratum or hiding place. In birds, visual field parameters, such as the position and extent of the region of binocular vision, and how these are altered by eye movements, appear to be determined primarily by feeding ecology. Therefore, to understand further the feeding technique of Great Cormorants we have determined retinal visual fields and eye movement amplitudes using an ophthalmoscopic reflex technique. We show that visual fields and eye movements in cormorants exhibit close similarity with those of other birds, such as herons (Ardeidae) and hornbills (Bucerotidae), which forage terrestrially typically using a close‐quarter prey detection or flushing technique and/or which need to examine items held in the bill before ingestion. We argue that this visual field topography and associated eye movements is a general characteristic of birds whose foraging requires the detection of nearby mobile prey items from within a wide arc around the head, accurate capture of that prey using the bill, and visual examination of the caught prey held in the bill. This supports the idea that cormorants, although visually guided predators, are not primarily pursuit predators, and that their visual fields exhibit convergence towards a set of characteristics that meet the perceptual challenges of close‐quarter prey detection or flush foraging in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Abnormal Hemostatic Profiles and Gastric Necrosis in Canine Gastric Dilatation‐Volvulus
Authors: MILLIS DARRYL L. , HAUPTMAN JOE G. , FULTON ROBERT B.
Published: March 2008

Hemostatic profiles (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen concentration, fibrin degradation product concentration, platelet count, and antithrombin III activity) were acquired prospectively in 20 dogs with a diagnosis of gastric dilatation‐volvulus. Eighteen dogs had abnormal results of one or more hemostatic test, including eight dogs that had hemostatic profiles consistent with a diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation. During surgery, or at necropsy, the dogs' stomachs were evaluated for gross abnormalities, and lesions were graded subjectively as mild, moderate, or severe. Eight dogs had mild gastric lesions, five had moderate lesions, and seven had severe changes indicating gastric necrosis. Seventy percent (7/10) of the dogs with two to six abnormal hemostatic test results had gastric necrosis, whereas none of the 10 dogs with no or one abnormality had gastric necrosis (p < .001). A multiple linear regression equation, based on fibrin degradation product concentration, activated partial thromboplastin time, and antithrombin III activity was derived to predict gastric necrosis. This equation correctly identified gastric necrosis with 86% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, and 93% negative predictive value.
Surgical Treatment of Intramural Esophageal Inclusion Cysts in Three Horses
Authors: SAMS ANDREW E. , WELDON ALAN D. , RAKESTRAW PETER
Published: March 2008

Three horses were diagnosed as having esophageal inclusion cysts. Clinical signs included dysphagia, swelling of the cervical esophagus, and salivation. Surgical removal of the cyst was attempted in two horses. Both horses survived, but multiple complications occurred, including esophageal fistulation and neurovascular damage. Marsupialization of the cyst was performed in the third horse. The stoma closed 3 weeks after surgery without complications, and endoscopic examination revealed a grossly normal esophagus. Marsupialization may be preferable to surgical removal for treatment of selected esophageal inclusion cysts in horses.
Comparison of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure in Propofol‐and Thiopental‐anesthetized Eucapnic Dogs
Authors: WOOTEN THOMAS L. , LOWRIE CHARLES T.
Published: March 2008

Cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) was measured as part of the neurologic assessment of dogs with suspected intracranial disease. Because propofol has not been shown to cause an increase in intracranial pressure in humans, the authors examined its effect on (CSFP) in dogs to determine if it would be an appropriate substitute for thiopental as an anesthetic agent for the measurement of CSFP. The CSF pressure in eucapnic propofol‐anesthetized dogs (105 ± 5.6 mm HPO) was not significantly different (p < .05) from CSFPin eucapnic thiopental‐anesthetized dogs (103.8 ± 6.6 mm HPO).
Hemodynamic Effects of Atropine and Glycopyrrolate in Isoflurane‐Xylazine‐Anesthetlzed Dogs
Authors: LEMKE KIP A. , TRANQUILLI WILLIAM J. , THURMON JOHN C. , BENSON G. JOHN , OLSON WILLIAM A.
Published: March 2008

Alterations in parasympathetic tone are partially responsible for xylazine's hemodynamic effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the hemodynamic changes caused by the administration of intravenous (IV) atropine or glycopyrrolate after IV xylazine in isoflurane‐anesthetized dogs. Six healthy beagles (8.2 to 10.7 kg) were used in two trials separated by 7 days. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen with controlled ventilation. Once constant end‐tidal isoflurane (1.8%) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (35 to 45 mm Hg) values were reached, baseline data were recorded and xylazine (0.5 mg/kg, IV) was given. In trial 1 atropine (0.1 mg/kg, IV) was given 5 minutes after xylazine, and in trial 2 glycopyrrolate (0.025, mg/kg, IV), was given 5 minutes after xylazine. Hemodynamic variables were recorded 3 minutes after xylazine and 3 minutes after anticholinergic administration. In trial 2, bilateral vagotomies were performed 10 minutes after glycopyrrolate, and hemodynamic variables were recorded 3 minutes later. Heart rate, cardiac index, and stroke index decreased; arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance increased after xylazine. Heart rate, cardiac index, and rate pressure product increased after anticholinergic administration. Significant differences between atropine and glycopyrrolate were not observed in any of the hemodynamic parameters. Similarly, significant differences between glycopyrrolate and bilateral vagotomy were not observed. The authors conclude that intravenous atropine and glycopyrrolate have equivalent hemodynamic actions during the increased pressure phase after IV xylazine in isoflurane‐anesthetized dogs; that intravenous atropine and glycopyrrolate produce comparable increases in heart rate and that both may increase the risk of myocardial hypoxia associated with an increase in rate pressure product; and that vagal blockade produced by high‐dose glycopyrrolate (.025 mg/kg, IV) is similar to that produced by bilateral vagotomy.
The Intercarpal Ligaments of the Equine Midcarpal Joint, Part 3: Clinical Observations in 32 Racing Horses With Midcarpal Joint Disease
Authors: WHITTON R. CHRIS , KANNEGIETER NICHOLAS J. , ROSE REUBEN J.
Published: March 2008

Objective—To characterize the clinical features of intercarpal ligament pathology and to determine the relationship among palmar intercarpal ligament tearing, dorsomedial intercarpal ligament (DMICL) hypertrophy, and other intraarticular lesions.

Study Design—Prospective clinical observations.

Animals or Sample Population—Twenty‐eight thoroughbred and four standardbred race horses.

Methods—Clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic examination of 53 midcarpal joints of 32 horses.

Results—Palmar intercarpal ligament tearing was observed in 30 joints of 22 horses. Some tearing of the medial palmar intercarpal ligament (MPICL) was present in 27 joints of 20 horses, and tearing of the lateral palmar intercarpal ligament in 9 joints of 7 horses. There was no correlation between the severity of clinical signs recorded and the degree of MPICL tearing. Joints with grade 2–4 MPICL tearing had significantly less cartilage and bone damage than joints with grade 1 or no ligament damage (P<.05). There was a significant inverse relationship between the number and size of intra‐articular fractures, as assessed radiographically, and ligament damage (R= ‐.31). The DMICL was identified in all joints, and in 18 joints the ligament was enlarged. There was a significant correlation between MPICL damage and hypertrophy of the DMICL (R=.35). There was no correlation between DMICL hypertrophy and articular cartilage damage or subchondral bone damage.

Conclusions—Severe subchondral bone and MPICL damage rarely occur in the same joint and DMICL hypertrophy may be associated with, rather than a cause of, joint disease.

Clinical Relevance—There are no clinical or radiographic findings that will differentiate intercarpal ligament injury from other carpal injuries. Diagnosis is only possible by arthroscopic examination of the midcarpal joint.
Evaluation of Surgical Scrub Methods for Large Animal Surgeons
Authors: WAN P. Y. , BLACKFORD J. T. , BEMIS D. A. , ROHRBACH B. W. , KNOLL D. E. , PROVENZA M. K.
Published: March 2008

Objective—The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 5–minute surgical scrub using either a one‐brush or a two‐brush technique in clean and dirty surgical procedures, and to compare the efficacy of povidone iodine with chlorhexidine as surgical scrub solutions.

Study Design—Prospective clinical trial.

Methods—Nine veterinarians scrubbed their hands on eight separate occasions using either povidone iodine or chlorhexidine gluconate. A 5‐minute scrub and either a one‐brush or two‐brush technique used in both clean and dirty operations were evaluated by taking glove juice samples before scrubbing, immediately after scrubbing, and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after scrubbing. Glove juice samples were cultured and the colonies were counted. Percent reductions of bacterial forming units were calculated for all eight scrub procedures.

Results—All scrub procedures provided an adequate percent reduction in colony forming units (CFU) during the 2–hour sampling period. The number of CFU immediately after scrubbing were significantly lower than prescrub. At 120 minutes, there were significantly fewer CFUs than presecrub, but there were more than immediately after scrubbing. No significant difference in reduction in CFUs were detected between one‐brush and two‐brush techniques. Both chlorhexidine and povidone iodine scrub solutions adequately reduced bacterial colony counts for 120 minutes after scrubbing regardless of the amount of contamination before skin preparation.

Conclusions—Bacterial counts after a hand scrub procedure using a one‐brush technique were not significantly different than after a procedure that used a two‐brush technique. Povidone iodine and chlorhexidine are equally effectively in decreasing bacterial numbers on the skin, given a variety of contamination levels present before the scrub procedure.

Clinical Relevance—Surgeons may use either chlorhexidine or povidone iodine for antiseptic preparation of their hands before surgery. A two‐brush technique is not necessary.
Central Nervous System Disorders After Renal Transplantation in Cats
Authors: GREGORY CLARE R. , MATHEWS KYLE G. , ARONSON LILLIAN R. , ILKIW JAN E. , LECOUTEUR RICHARD A. , ALDRICH JANET
Published: March 2008

Objective—This study describes the incidence and severity of postoperative central nervous system (pCNS) disorders in feline renal transplant recipients.

Study Design—A retrospective study based on the medical records of cats that received renal allografts from 1987 to 1996.

Animals or Sample Population—Fifty‐seven client‐owned cats received renal allografts for the treatment of renal failure.

Methods—The frequency, duration, severity, and treatment of episodes of pCNS disorders were recorded from the medical records.

Results

Twelve (21%) of 57 cats had pCNS disorders 1 hour to 5 days after the surgical procedure. Seven cats survived; four had single or multiple seizure episodes, and two had seizure episodes or disorientation followed by a period of coma. One cat became temporarily ataxic and blind after restraint for venipuncture. Five cats died; all had episodes of disorientation or seizures, or both, that progressed to a nonrecoverable comatose state, respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest, or both. There were no significant differences between the two groups in preoperative serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, or cholesterol levels, and intraoperative blood pressure measurements. There were no significant differences in the postoperative serum glucose levels, electrolytes levels, or osmolality between the two groups. The cats with pCNS disorders had a mean preoperative trough cyclosporine A (CyA) whole blood level of 429 ng/mL; cats without pCNS disorders had a significantly(P=.0116) higher mean preoperative trough CyA whole blood level of 736 ng/mL.

Conclusion—Central nervous system disorders are a common and often fatal complication of renal transplantation in cats.

Clinical Relevance—Recognition of pCNS disorders, and possible causes, will help develop hypotheses to investigate the problem.
Evaluation of the Sensitivity and Specificity of Diagnostic Criteria for Sepsis in Dogs
Authors: HAUPTMAN J. G. , WALSHAW R. , OLIVIER N. B.
Published: March 2008

Objective—To evaluate the ability of various individual criteria and grouped criteria to diagnose sepsis in dogs.

Study Design—Prospective acquisition of clinical data.

Animals or Sample Population—Client‐owned dogs; 30 septic and 320 nonseptic.

Methods—Rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, white blood cell (WBC) count with percent bands, platelet count, and serum glucose concentration were obtained on day 0. True sepsis was determined on days 0 to 3 according to the following criteria: (1) histological, microbiological, and/or gross confirmation of infection, and (2) systemic illness caused by infection. Data were analyzed by the Mann‐Whitney U test and multiple logistic regression. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated.

Results—The mean temperature, heart rate, WBC count, and percent bands were greater, whereas the mean platelet count was less in septic compared with nonseptic dogs. There was no difference in respiratory rate or glucose concentration. WBC/bands were the best individual criterion for the diagnosis of sepsis (sensitivity 87%; specificity 69%). The sensitivity and specificity of the grouped criteria (two of four; temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, WBC) varied according to ranges of normal used. Muliple logistic regression resulted in little improvement in the sensitivity/specificity of these diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of sepsis.

Conclusions—These criteria are useful for the diagnosis of sepsis when limits are used that result in a high sensitivity (eg, 97%). The high sensitivity was associated with a low false‐negative and a high false‐positive rate; sepsis was overdiagnosed with these grouped criteria.

Clinical Relevance—These criteria may be used for a sensitive, but nonspecific, diagnosis of sepsis in dogs.
Ex Vivo Biomechanical Comparison of Pin Fixation Techniques for Canine Distal Femoral Physeal Fractures
Authors: SUKHIANI H. R. , HOLMBERG D. L.
Published: March 2008

Objective—To compare the biomechanical properties of five intramedullary (IM) pin fixation techniques for Salter‐Harris type I fractures of the distal femur in dogs.

Study Design—Randomized, one‐way factorial design composed of five treatment groups: (1) single IM pin, (2) dynamic IM crossed pins, (3) paired convergent pins, (4) crossed pins, and (5) crossed polyglycolic acid (PGA) rods.

Sample Population—Forty pairs of cadaver canine femurs.

Materials—One femur of each pair was manually fractured and subsequently repaired; the contralateral intact femur served as its control. Each femur was loaded in torsion until failure occurred and load‐deformation curves were generated.

Results—The crossed‐pin technique sustained the greatest load to failure (116.8%) followed by the paired convergent pins (104.8%), dynamic IM pins (90.6%), single IM pin (72.1%), and crossed PGA rods (71.9%). Statistically significant differences in strength at failure were detected between the crossed‐pin and single IM pin and the crossed‐pin and crossed PGA rod techniques. All fixation techniques underwent greater deformation (1.5 times as much) and had a lower stiffness (66% to 75%) compared with the intact controls; however, there was no significant difference between techniques. Failure in the paired convergent and crossed‐pin techniques occurred by fracture of the bone; failure in the other techniques occurred by distraction at the fracture site.

Conclusion—The rotational stability of any of the fixation techniques appears to be primarily determined by the ability to prevent distraction and maintain interdigitation of the physis.

Clinical Relevance—When choosing a particular fixation technique for repair of a distal femoral physeal fracture, consideration should be given to the technique's relative biomechanical merits.
Euplotespora binucleata n. gen., n. sp. (Protozoa: Microsporidia), a Parasite Infecting the Hypotrichous Ciliate Euplotes woodruffi, with Observations on Microsporidian Infections in Ciliophora
Authors: FOKIN SERGEI I. , DI GIUSEPPE GRAZIANO , ERRA FABRIZIO , DINI FERNANDO
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT. A new microsporidian species, Euplotespora binucleata n. gen., n. sp., from the brackish‐water ciliate Euplotes woodruffi is described and defined on the basis of life history characteristics, light and electron microscopic features, and small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing. The life cycle of E. binucleata n. sp. probably has rather short merogonic and relatively long sporogonic phases. Some uninuclear meronts and sporonts, along with diplokaryotic sporoblasts and spores, were found in experimentally infected host cells. Such a peculiar life cycle has been induced experimentally in Euplotes eurystomus and constitutively microsporidian‐free stocks of E. woodruffi. Spores of E. binucleata n. sp. are monomorphic, ovoid–cylindrical in shape, 3.44±0.17 × 1.65±0.22 μm in size, and characterized by a diplokaryotic condition and a large posterior vacuole. The polar tube is isofilar, 4.5–5.5 μm in length when ejected, and lacking a distinctive coiled region (half‐coiled). The polaroplast is divided into two regions: the anterior part has a few lamellae close to the anchoring disc; and the posterior part is a rounded body (sack), about one‐quarter of the spore length. Spores do not appear to cluster together as a group. Each spore is surrounded by a sporophorous membrane closely adjacent to the exospore layer. A phylogenetic analysis of SSU rDNA sequences by different methods placed E. binucleata n. sp. in a clade with representatives of the microsporidian genera Cystosporogenes and Vittaforma. Observations of microsporidia in several other ciliates are discussed in view of the microsporidian infection frequency in the phylum Ciliophora.
Whole body extract of Mediterranean fruit fly males elicits high attraction in virgin females
Authors: Mavraganis Vassilis G. , Liaropoulos Constandinos , Papadopoulos Nikos T. , Kouloussis Nikos A. , Broumas Theodoros
Published: March 2008

The search for effective female attractants emanating from the host or body of fruit flies has been an area of intensive research for over three decades. In the present study, bodies of male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), were extracted with diethyl ether or methanol and subjected to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Analysis revealed substantial qualitative and quantitative differences between males from a laboratory culture and wild males captured alive in an orchard. Most notably, the hydrocarbon sesquiterpene (±)‐α‐copaene, which is known to be involved in the sexual behaviour of the species, was found in substantial amounts in wild males, but was not detected in laboratory males. In laboratory tests, 15 laboratory or wild male equivalents of diethyl ether extracts or combined diethyl ether and methanol extracts, or, to a lesser extent, methanol extracts alone, were found to attract virgin females. In a citrus orchard, traps baited with combined diethyl ether and methanol extracts of wild males attracted significantly more virgin females than traps baited with various doses of pyranone or blends of other compounds identified in the extracts or reported in the literature, such as ethyl acetate, ethyl‐(E)‐3‐octenoate, and 1‐pyrroline. Traps baited with blends of compounds, however, displayed substantial attractiveness compared to control (non‐baited) traps. These results are important for better understanding the mating system of C. capitata as well as for further improving existing monitoring and control systems.
Molecular sexing of Jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis) and Carrion crow (Corvus corone corone) using a feather
Authors: FUKUI Emiko , SUGITA Shoei , YOSHIZAWA Midori
Published: March 2008

A molecular sexing method using the intron‐size difference between chromo‐helicase‐DNA binding protein (CHD1) genes on the Z and W sex chromosomes (CHD1Z and CHD1W, respectively) was developed for wild Jungle crows and wild Carrion crows. The polymerase chain reaction product sizes were 661 bp for CHD1Z and 465 bp for CHD1W in both the Jungle and the Carrion crows. Each male crow sample produced a single fragment (CHD1Z), whereas female samples produced two fragments (CHD1Z and CHD1W), which differed by 200 bp in crows. In the present study, sexing live Jungle and Carrion crows was performed by applying the method to a feather for molecular sexing.
Comparison of carcass and meat characteristics of Brahman grade cattle (Bos indicus) and crossbred water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) fed on high roughage diet
Authors: LAPITAN Rosalina M. , DEL BARRIO Arnel N. , KATSUBE Osamu , BAN‐TOKUDA Tomomi , ORDEN Edgar A. , ROBLES Alberto Y. , CRUZ Libertado C. , KANAI Yukio , FUJIHARA Tsutomu
Published: March 2008

The objective of this study was to compare the carcass and meat quality in crossbred cattle and crossbred water buffalo at the same younger age and fed with high roughage in the Philippines. Ten crossbred cattle and 10 crossbred water buffalo, with an average age of 22 months (18–24 months) were used in this experiment. The animals were fed a similar diet, which consisted of 85% Napier or Para grass and 15% concentrate mixture on a dry matter basis, for 180 days before slaughter. Slaughter weight of the crossbred water buffalo was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the cattle, although the dressing percentage was significantly (P < 0.01) lower for the former than for the latter. The estimated lean yield was higher (P < 0.05) in crossbred cattle than crossbred water buffalo. The muscle fiber diameter of loin in buffalo meat was smaller (P < 0.05) than that in cattle. In regard to carcass and meat quality, the crossbred water buffalo was comparable or slightly superior to the crossbred cattle in tenderness, sensory score of color (P < 0.01) and flavor (P < 0.05). These results clearly indicate that at a younger age and even under high roughage‐based fattening rations, crossbred water buffalo are able to produce good quality meat, which will be by no means inferior to that of crossbred cattle in the Philippines.
Influence of replacing brewers' grains with green tea grounds on feed intake, digestibility and ruminal fermentation characteristics of wethers
Authors: XU Chuncheng , CAI Yimin , MORIYA Naoko , ERUDEN Bayaru , HOSODA Kenji , MATSUYAMA Hiroki
Published: March 2008

An experiment was conducted to examine feed intake, apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, ruminal fermentation and blood components of wethers fed diets containing increasing levels of wet green tea grounds (WGTG). The experimental design was a 4 × 4 Latin square with four wethers in four 15‐day periods. Wethers were allowed access to diets ad libitum, and allotted to one of four treatments in which WGTG replaced 0% (no WGTG added, CTG), 5% (low level, LBG), 10% (medium level, MTG), and 15% (high level, HTG) of total mixed ration (TMR) dry matter (DM) as wet brewers grains (WBG). All TMR silages were ensiled for 120 days and, irrespective of the WGTG addition, they were well preserved with a high lactic acid content, low pH and ammonia‐N contents. There were no differences among treatments in feed intake, with the exception of ether extract intake (P = 0.032). Digestibilities for LTG and MTG treatments were not different from CTG. However, the organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber and energy digestibilities for HTG treatment were lower than the CTG (P < 0.05). As the level of WGTG increased, nitrogen intake did not differ, but fecal nitrogen increased (P = 0.002), while urinary nitrogen decreased (P < 0.001). No differences among treatments were found in pH level and volatile fatty acids concentrations. However, the ruminal ammonia‐N of the HTG silage was lower than for the CTG silage at all times (P < 0.05). Increasing concentrations of WGTG in the TMR silage decreased (P = 0.019) plasma urea nitrogen content. Therefore, the possible mixing proportion of WGTG for TMR silages can be 10% of the diet DM.
Phylogenetic analysis of hindgut microbiota in Hokkaido native horses compared to light horses
Authors: YAMANO Hidehisa , KOIKE Satoshi , KOBAYASHI Yasuo , HATA Hiroshi
Published: March 2008

The analysis of 16S rDNA sequence of bacteria in feces of Hokkaido native horses and light horses were performed to compare the hindgut microbiota between the two breeds. One hundred and four bacterial 16S rDNA clones (57 clones from four native horses and 47 clones from two light horses) were obtained. Only four sequences (3.8% of total sequences) showed 97% or more similarity to known species. The sequences were mainly affiliated with Cytophaga–Flavobacter–Bacteroides and low GC Gram‐positive bacteria (LGCGP). Proportion of LGCGP was higher in light horses. Other phyla including Verrucomicrobia, Spirochaetes and Archaea were detected only for native horses, suggesting high diversity of microbiota in native horses. In LGCGP, clusters related to known cellulolytic species were found only for native horses, while a cluster related to soluble sugar‐utilizing species was detected only for light horses. The library composition‐comparing software LIBSHUFF showed significant (P < 0.05) difference of fecal microbiota between the horse breeds. The number of Fibrobacter succinogenes‐related sequence and the frequency of detection of novel groups were found to be higher in native horses by selective amplification analysis. The results suggest that genetic diversity and population size of the F. succinogenes group are higher in the hindgut of native horses.
CPM2: A Core Model for Product Data
Authors: Fenves Steven J. , Foufou Sebti , Bock Conrad , Sriram Ram D.
Published: March 2008

The initial core product model (CPM), developed at NIST for the support of in-house research projects, has been extended to create CPM2, intended to support a broad range of information relevant to product lifecycle management. CPM2 is a generic, abstract model with generic semantics. CPM2 gives equal status to three aspects of a product or artifact: its function, its form, and its behavior. Thus, CPM2 can support functional reasoning about a product in the conceptual stages of design, the recording and the modeling of its behavior in the postdesign stages as well as the “traditional” design phases. Three levels of CPM2 models, de-noted as the conceptual, intermediate, and implementation models, are described. Extensions of the initial CPM are briefly pre-sented. The facilities in CPM2 for building experimental intermediate systems are demonstrated and a short illustrative example is given. The full practical evaluation of CPM2 will require the development and use of implementation models.
Using a Design Repository to Drive Concept Generation
Authors: Bohm Matt R. , Vucovich Jayson P. , Stone Robert B.
Published: March 2008

This paper describes how a design repository can be used as a concept generation tool by drawing upon archived function-based design knowledge. Modern design methodologies include several types of activities to formally generate design concepts. Typical concept generation methods range from open-ended creative brainstorming activities to quantitative function-component analysis. A combination of two such methods—the chi-matrix and morphological matrix techniques—is the basis for this work. Building on existing functionality of the design repository, desired product functions can be specified in a search of stored design knowledge, returning a morphological matrix of artifacts solving the specified functions. Such a search is termed a morphological search. The repository morphological search feature is evaluated against concepts generated in a previous original design project. Results of the morphological search return are then compared to ten of the original concept variants generated during the design project. This comparison shows that 89% of the specified subfunctions return results and that, on average, 77% of the components used in the hand-generated concepts can be derived by using the morphological search feature.
Dynamics and Control of Supercavitating Vehicles
Authors: Lin Guojian , Balachandran Balakumar , Abed Eyad H.
Published: March 2008

Analytical and numerical investigations into the dynamics and control of dive-plane dynamics of supercavitating vehicles are presented. Dominant nonlinearities associated with planing forces are taken into account in the model. Two controllers are proposed to realize stable inner-loop dynamics, a linear state feedback control scheme and a switching control scheme. Through numerical simulations and estimation of the region of attraction, it is shown that effective feedback schemes can be constructed. In comparison to existing control schemes, the feedback schemes proposed in this work can stabilize a supercavitating vehicle with a large region of attraction around the trim condition instead of just stabilization around the limit cycle motion. In particular, the achieved stability is robust to modeling errors in the planing force. This robustness is especially important for supercavitating vehicles because the underlying planing force physics is complicated and not yet fully understood. Compared to the linear feedback control scheme, the switching control scheme is seen to increase the region of attraction with reduced control effort, which can be useful for avoiding saturation in magnitude. Analytical tools, including the describing function method and the circle criterion, are applied to facilitate understanding of the closed-loop system dynamics and assist in the controller design. This work provides a basis for interpreting the tail-slap phenomenon of a supercavitating body as a limit cycle motion and for developing control methods to achieve stable inner-loop dynamics in the full model.
Modeling and Specification of Time-Limited Dispatch Categories for Commercial Aircraft
Authors: Prescott D. R. , Andrews J. D.
Published: March 2008

Time-limited dispatch allows the degraded redundancy dispatch of aircraft. Aircraft can be dispatched with certain control system faults and fault combinations for specified periods of time if the failure rates from those configurations meet certification requirements. The various system faults and fault combinations are assigned to dispatch categories according to these failure rates. This gives the dispatch criteria for the system. The overall failure rate of the system can then be calculated according to the dispatch criteria. Dispatch criteria are allocated to a small example system, and the system is subsequently modeled using a reduced-state Markov approach currently recommended in SAE ARP5107. An alternative method of setting dispatch criteria and modeling systems, using Monte Carlo simulation, is proposed in this paper, and this technique is also applied to the example system. Dispatch criteria applied to the different models are seen to differ, as are the system failure rates calculated using the different models. A method for setting the dispatch criteria for a system using a Monte Carlo simulation approach is introduced. The method is applied to a simple system, giving auditable results that exhibit the expected behavior for such a system. Because restrictive assumptions in the mathematics are unnecessary with Monte Carlo simulation, it is expected to give more accurate results in comparison to Markov approaches. Also, the results of the reduced-state Markov model appear to be largely dependent on failure rates, which are very difficult to determine.
Modeling of a New Active Eddy Current Vibration Control System
Authors: Sodano Henry A. , Inman Daniel J.
Published: March 2008

There exist many methods of adding damping to a vibrating structure; however, eddy current damping is one of few that can function without ever coming into contact with that structure. This magnetic damping scheme functions due to the eddy currents that are generated in a conductive material when it is subjected to a time changing magnetic field. Due to the circulation of these currents, a magnetic field is generated, which interacts with the applied field resulting in a force. In this manuscript, an active damper will be theoretically developed that functions by dynamically modifying the current flowing through a coil, thus generating a time-varying magnetic field. By actively controlling the strength of the field around the conductor, the induced eddy currents and the resulting damping force can be controlled. This actuation method is easy to apply and allows significant magnitudes of forces to be applied without ever coming into contact with the structure. Therefore, vibration control can be applied without inducing mass loading or added stiffness, which are downfalls of other methods. This manuscript will provide a theoretical derivation of the equations defining the electric fields generated and the dynamic forces induced in the structure. This derivation will show that when eddy currents are generated due to a variation in the strength of the magnetic source, the resulting force occurs at twice the frequency of the applied current. This frequency doubling effect will be experimentally verified. Furthermore, a feedback controller will be designed to account for the frequency doubling effect and a simulation performed to show that significant vibration suppression can be achieved with this technique.
Engineering Complex, Information-Based, Networked Industrial Systems: A Research Roadmap
Authors: Jones Albert , Deshmukh Abhijit , Kumara Soundar , Li Man-Sze
Published: March 2008

The explosive pace of globalization and the rapid development of information and communications technologies continue to impact the evolution of industrial systems. They have become completely dependent on information—generating, exchanging, and processing far more electronic data than ever before. They have become geographically dispersed organizations that comprise numerous, tightly interconnected networks of diverse companies. As a result, current-day industrial systems exhibit highly nonlinear, chaotic, and unpredictable behaviors. How best to engineer these new systems is a question of both theoretical and practical importance. Albert Einstein believed that you cannot use old approaches to solve new, and fundamentally different, problems. (“We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”) That old approach, Descartes’ reductionism, said that you could infer the behavior of the entire system by knowing only the behavior of its components. This view is not valid for these new systems, because their behavior emerges in complex ways from the interactions of those components. Therefore, in this paper, we argue that a different approach to engineering these new types of industrial systems is needed. We base that approach on our view that these systems are remarkably similar to living systems. In this paper, we describe the major characteristics of living systems, summarize their similarities with these new systems, and use these similarities as a basis for a new research agenda.
Should post-trial provision of beneficial experimental interventions be mandatory in developing countries?
Authors: Zong Zhiyong
Published: March 2008

The need for continuing provision of beneficial experimental interventions after research is concluded remains a controversial topic in bioethics for research. Based on the principle of beneficence, justice as reciprocity, concerns about exploitation and fair benefits, participants should be able to have continuing access to benefits beyond the research period. However, there is no consensus about whether or not post-trial provision of beneficial interventions should be mandatory for participants from developing countries. This paper summarises recommendations from international and national guidelines. Ethical principles and practical issues relating to post-trial provision are also discussed. In conclusion, post-trial provision is not necessary in all situations and a set of criteria are proposed to identify the situations that beneficial interventions should be provided beyond the research period. However, mandatory post-trial supply of beneficial experimental interventions should be assured for those who still need and are able to benefit from them but have no alternative access. Mandatory provision is based on universal bioethical principles such as beneficence and justice. Furthermore, difficulties associated with implementation of post-trial provision are not unmanageable. Careful advanced planning and a comprehensive partnership among relevant parties would be very helpful in solving these difficulties in practice, which therefore should not be taken as an excuse to escape post-trial responsibility.
Unconscious emotional reasoning and the therapeutic misconception
Authors: Charuvastra A , Marder S R
Published: March 2008

The “therapeutic misconception” describes a process whereby research volunteers misinterpret the intentions of researchers and the nature of clinical research. This misinterpretation leads research volunteers to falsely attribute a therapeutic potential to clinical research, and compromises informed decision making, therefore compromising the ethical integrity of a clinical experiment. We review recent evidence from the neurobiology of social cognition to provide a novel framework for thinking about the therapeutic misconception. We argue that the neurobiology of social cognition should be considered in any ethical analysis of how people make decisions about participating in clinical trials. The neurobiology of social cognition also suggests how the complicated dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship may unavoidably interfere with the process of obtaining informed consent. Following this argument we suggest new ways to prevent or at least mitigate the therapeutic misconception.
Beyond informed consent: the therapeutic misconception and trust
Authors: de Melo-Martín I , Ho A
Published: March 2008

The therapeutic misconception has been seen as presenting an ethical problem because failure to distinguish the aims of research participation from those receiving ordinary treatment may seriously undermine the informed consent of research subjects. Hence, most theoretical and empirical work on the problems of the therapeutic misconception has been directed to evaluate whether, and to what degree, this confusion invalidates the consent of subjects. We argue here that this focus on the understanding component of informed consent, while important, might be too narrow to capture the ethical complexity of the therapeutic misconception. We show that concerns about misplaced trust and exploitation of such trust are also relevant, and ought to be taken into account, when considering why the therapeutic misconception matters ethically.
Do family practitioners in Lithuania inform their patients about adverse effects of common medications?
Authors: Liseckiene I , Liubarskiene Z , Jacobsen R , Valius L , Norup M
Published: March 2008

Objectives:

(1) To investigate the extent to which family physicians (GPs) in Lithuania inform their patients about possible side-effects when a common treatment is proposed. (2) To examine the relation between physicians’ estimation of the severity and frequency of these side-effects and their willingness to inform patients. (3) To identify the reasons for informing or not informing the patients.

Methods:

A questionnaire, presenting three hypothetical cases involving decisions about ordinary medical treatments and a series of general questions about information about side-effects, was distributed to 500 Lithuanian GPs. The response rate was 42%.

Results:

The respondents differed considerably with regard to their willingness to inform patients about side-effects, but they informed their patients significantly more if the side effect was considered to be common and serious, than in cases when it was considered to be rare and trivial. The majority of the respondents informed their patients primarily to enable them to react appropriately to the side-effects in question. The major reason for not informing was that the side-effects were considered too rare to be relevant to the patient’s decision-making.

Conclusion:

Information, given to patients about side-effects by Lithuanian GPs, is not in accordance with the principle of respect for patients’ autonomy and requirements of Lithuanian legislation.