bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Trials in Neonates and Children: Report of the Pulmonary Hypertension Academic Research Consortium Pediatric Advisory Committee
Authors: Adatia Ian , Haworth Sheila G. , Wegner Max , Barst Robyn J. , Ivy Dunbar , Stenmark Kurt R. , Karkowsky Abraham , Rosenzweig Erika , Aguilar Christopher
Published: January 2014

Drug trials in neonates and children with pulmonary hypertensive vascular disease pose unique but not insurmountable challenges. Childhood is defined by growth and development. Both may influence disease and outcomes of drug trials. The developing pulmonary vascular bed and airways may be subjected to maldevelopment, maladaptation, growth arrest, or dysregulation that influence the disease phenotype. Drug therapy is influenced by developmental changes in renal and hepatic blood flow, as well as in metabolic systems such as cytochrome P450. Drugs may affect children differently from adults, with different clearance, therapeutic levels and toxicities. Toxicity may not be manifested until the child reaches physical, endocrine and neurodevelopmental maturity. Adverse effects may be revealed in the next generation, should the development of ova or spermatozoa be affected. Consideration of safe, age‐appropriate tablets and liquid formulations is an obvious but often neglected prerequisite to any pediatric drug trial. In designing a clinical trial, precise phenotyping and genotyping of disease is required to ensure appropriate and accurate inclusion and exclusion criteria. We need to explore physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling and simulations together with statistical techniques to reduce sample size requirements. Clinical endpoints such as exercise capacity, using traditional classifications and testing cannot be applied routinely to children. Many lack the necessary neurodevelopmental skills and equipment may not be appropriate for use in children. Selection of endpoints appropriate to encompass the developmental spectrum from neonate to adolescent is particularly challenging. One possible solution is the development of composite outcome scores that include age and a developmentally specific functional classification, growth and development scores, exercise data, biomarkers and hemodynamics with repeated evaluation throughout the period of growth and development. In addition, although potentially costly, we recommend long‐term continuation of blinded dose ranging after completion of the short‐term, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial for side‐effect surveillance, which should include neurodevelopmental and peripubertal monitoring. The search for robust evidence to guide safe therapy of children and neonates with pulmonary hypertensive vascular disease is a crucial and necessary goal.
Anticipated Classes of New Medications and Molecular Targets for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Morrell Nicholas W. , Archer Stephen L. , DeFelice Albert , Evans Steven , Fiszman Monica , Martin Thomas , Saulnier Muriel , Rabinovitch Marlene , Schermuly Ralph , Stewart Duncan , Truebel Hubert , Walker Gennyne , Stenmark Kurt R.
Published: January 2014

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a life‐limiting condition with a major impact on the ability to lead a normal life. Although existing therapies may improve the outlook in some patients there remains a major unmet need to develop more effective therapies in this condition. There have been significant advances in our understanding of the genetic, cell and molecular basis of PAH over the last few years. This research has identified important new targets that could be explored as potential therapies for PAH. In this review we discuss whether further exploitation of vasoactive agents could bring additional benefits over existing approaches. Approaches to enhance smooth muscle cell apotosis and the potential of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition are summarised. We evaluate the role of inflammation, epigenetic changes and altered glycolytic metabolism as potential targets for therapy, and whether inherited genetic mutations in PAH have revealed druggable targets. The potential of cell based therapies and gene therapy are also discussed. Potential candidate pathways that could be explored in the context of experimental medicine are identified.
Development of the Pulmonary Vasculature: Current Understanding and Concepts for the Future
Authors: Peng Tien , Morrisey Edward E.
Published: January 2014

The pulmonary circulation is a highly specialized vascular bed that physically and functionally connects the heart and the lungs. The interdependence of these two organs is illustrated in embryonic development, when the lung endoderm protrudes into the surrounding mesoderm as the heart tube elongates and folds into structurally distinct chambers. The pulmonary vascular precursors then undergo highly stereotyped cellular maturation and patterning to form a multilayered vascular network that parallels the airways and links the arterial and venous poles of the heart. Upon the first breath, the mature pulmonary circulation is poised to receive the entire cardiac output for efficient gas exchange, and deliver oxygenated blood to the systemic circulation. Disruption of this developmental process can result in congenital defects such as the syndrome tetralogy of Fallot, or differentiation defects leading to persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Prior studies into the role of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis in pulmonary vascular development have not clearly yielded the identity of pulmonary vascular precursors, or the signals coordinating vascular maturation. We outline key questions on pulmonary vascular development that consider the role of heart‐lung interaction in promoting the differentiation and patterning of the pulmonary vasculature.
Metabolism and Bioenergetics in the Right Ventricle and Pulmonary Vasculature in Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Archer Stephen L. , Fang Yong‐Hu , Ryan John J. , Piao Lin
Published: January 2014

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a syndrome in which pulmonary vascular cross sectional area and compliance are reduced by vasoconstriction, vascular remodeling, and inflammation. Vascular remodeling results in part from increased proliferation and impaired apoptosis of vascular cells. The resulting increase in afterload promotes right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and RV failure. Recently identified mitochondrial‐metabolic abnormalities in PAH, notably pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase‐mediated inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), result in aerobic glycolysis in both the lung vasculature and RV. This glycolytic shift has diagnostic importance since it is detectable early in experimental PAH by increased lung and RV uptake of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose on positron emission tomography. The metabolic shift also has pathophysiologic and therapeutic relevance. In RV myocytes, the glycolytic switch reduces contractility while in the vasculature it renders cells hyperproliferative and apoptosis‐resistant. Reactivation of PDH can be achieved directly by PDK inhibition (using dichloroacetate), or indirectly via activating the Randle cycle, using inhibitors of fatty acid oxidation (FAO), trimetazidine and ranolazine. In experimental PAH and RVH, PDK inhibition increases glucose oxidation, enhances RV function, regresses pulmonary vascular disease by reducing proliferation and enhancing apoptosis, and restores cardiac repolarization. FAO inhibition increases RV glucose oxidation and RV function in experimental RVH. The trigger for metabolic remodeling in the RV and lung differ. In the RV, metabolic remodeling is likely triggered by ischemia (due to microvascular rarefaction and/or reduced coronary perfusion pressure). In the vasculature, metabolic changes result from redox‐mediated activation of transcription factors, including hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α, as a consequence of epigenetic silencing of SOD2 and/or changes in mitochondrial fission/fusion. Randomized controlled trials are required to assess whether the benefits of enhancing glucose oxidation are realized in patients with PAH.
Developing Treatments for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Wilkins Martin R.
Published: January 2014

Developing new treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a challenge. We have enjoyed success with regulatory approvals for three drug classes—prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. But we have also seen some disappointing results, for example, from studies with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, statins and tergolide. Animal models are an unreliable predictor of efficacy in humans. The best model for the disease is the patient. This review discusses three major issues facing the evaluation of drugs in PAH patients—target validation, choosing the right dose, and early trial design.
Unintended Thermal Injuries from Radiofrequency Ablation: Organ Protection with an Angioplasty Balloon Catheter in an Animal Model
Authors: Knuttinen Martha-Grace , Van Ha Thuong G. , Reilly Christopher , Montag Anthony , Straus Christopher
Published: January 2014

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate a novel approach of using a balloon catheter as a protective device to separate liver from the diaphragm or nearby bowel during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatic dome tumors in an animal model.

Materials and Methods:

All experimental procedures were approved by animal Institutional Review Board. Using a 3 cm RF needle electrode, 70 hepatic ablation zones were created using ultrasound in 7 pigs. 50 lesions were created using balloon interposition between liver and diaphragm; 20 lesions were created using the balloon device interposed posteriorly between liver and bowel. Additional 21 control lesions were performed. Animals were sacrificed immediately; diaphragm and bowel were then visually inspected and sectioned. Diaphragmatic and bowel injury was then classified according to the depth of thickness.

Results:

Control lesions caused full thickness injury, either to diaphragm or bowel. During ablation of lesions with balloon interposition, there was significantly less diaphragmatic injury, P < 0.001 and less bowel injury, P < 0.01.

Conclusion:

Using balloon interposition as a protective device has advantages over previous saline infusion or CO2 insufflation, providing a safe way to expand percutaneous RFA of liver tumors located on the undersurface of the diaphragm. In addition, this method may be used in protection of other organs adjacent to areas being ablated.
Non-resolving Findings in a Long-term Radiographic Follow-up of an Infant with Acute Paraffin Oil Aspiration
Authors: Stathis George , Priftis Konstantinos N. , Moustaki Maria , Alexopoulou Efthymia
Published: January 2014

Acute lipoid pneumonia (LP) in children is a rare disorder caused by the aspiration of oil-based substances and is difficult to diagnose due to non-specific clinical symptoms and radiological findings. We report the case of a 5-month-old male infant with acute LP caused by accidental aspiration of a large amount of mineral oil. We present the imaging findings in the computed tomography scans performed during his hospitalization and focus on the residual abnormalities seen on a scan performed 7-years after the incident. This, to the best of our knowledge, is the longest follow-up report of an acute exogenous LP patient and the only case that demonstrates non-resolving abnormalities in a pediatric patient after a single acute episode of mineral oil aspiration.
Malignant Melanoma of the Rectum
Authors: Kohli Supreethi , Narang Seema , Singhal Anu , Kumar Vinod , Kaur Omkar , Chandoke Raj
Published: January 2014

Malignant melanoma of the rectum is an extremely rare disease. It typically presents in the fifth or sixth decade of life with nonspecific complaints such as rectal bleeding or anal pain. A timely diagnosis of anal melanoma is made even more difficult by the fact that most of the lesions lack obvious pigmentation and are even histologically amelanotic. Prognosis is very poor. Anorectal malignant melanomas spread along submucosal planes and are often beyond complete resection at the time of diagnosis. We present the radiological and pathological features seen in a 43-year-old woman diagnosed with melanoma of the rectum.
Symmetrical Chorioretinal Colobomata with Craniovertebral Junction Anomalies in CHARGE Syndrome - A Case Report with Review of Literature
Authors: Natung Tanie , Goyal Amit , Handique Akash , Kapoor Manish
Published: January 2014

CHARGE syndrome is a common cause of congenital anomalies. Its rate of incidence is about 1:10,000. It is phenotypically heterogeneous, usually a sporadic or autosomal dominant disorder resulting from a mutation in the CHD7 (chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein) gene. Since the time it was first described by Hall,[1] the knowledge of the clinical characteristics of CHARGE syndrome has increased over the years. Recently, basiocciput hypoplasia and basilar invagination in patients with CHARGE syndrome have been reported. We report here a case of CHARGE syndrome where there is involvement of symmetrical chorioretinal colobomata with craniovertebral junction anomalies. The patient had symmetrical chorioretinal colobomata, external and inner ear anomalies, sensorineural deafness, characteristic facial appearance, retarded growth and development, history of patent ductus arteriosus, and craniovertebral junction anomalies. Craniovertebral junction anomalies may be an under-diagnosed phenotypic expression of CHARGE syndrome. The diagnostic criteria of CHARGE syndrome may require further revision to include the addition of craniovertebral junction anomalies.
Soil seed bank community structure of pastures and hayfields on an organic farm
Authors: Sanderson Matt A. , Stout Robert , Goslee Sarah , Gonet Jeff , Smith Richard G.
Published: January 2014

Sanderson, M. A., Stout, R., Goslee, S., Gonet, J. and Smith, R. G. 2014. Soil seed bank community structure of pastures and hayfields on an organic farm. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 621–631. Understanding the composition of seed banks in pasture soils would help farmers anticipate and manage for weed problems. We characterized the soil seed bank in eight pastures and hayfields [two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and two predominantly grass hayfields; two recently established and two permanent pastures] within an organic dairy farm in southeastern New Hampshire. Seed banks were sampled in the upper 5 cm of soil in each field at a point scale in 2007 and 2010. In 2010, the seed bank was characterized at the field scale by taking soil samples on six 52-m transects in each field. Seed banks sampled at the field scale in 2010 contained 66 plant species. The total number of seeds in the seed bank ranged from 1560 m−2 in grass hayfields in autumn to more than 20 000 m−2 in alfalfa hayfields in summer. Annual forbs dominated the seed bank of alfalfa fields and recently established pastures, whereas perennial graminoids dominated in one grass hayfield and the permanent pastures. These results suggest that management history affects soil seed bank composition and abundance, and these effects should be considered before implementing management practices that could stimulate recruitment from the seed bank.
A Framework to Assess Legacy Software Systems
Authors:   Department of Computer Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Y. Alkazemi Basem
Published: January 2014

Enterprise organizations require flexible software systems that can handle emerging market needs from time to time, chiefly to ensure the organization has a competitive edge in the market. On the other hand, several organizations still possess legacy software systems, which have definite functionalities but may limit their development progress to comply with emerging e-business needs. Off-theshelf systems might be one possible option if a decision for replacement is made. Equally, improving the architecture of a legacy system can be a valid option to consider as well. The decision on which approach to follow when dealing with a legacy software system must be made based on a thorough investigation of the nature of the system. This paper develops a conceptual framework to analyse legacy software systems in order to support CEOs in making informed decisions about the appropriate approaches to follow in order to keep their organizations functional and competitive.
Dust deposition in an oligotrophic marine environment: impact on the carbon budget
Authors: Guieu C. , Ridame C. , Pulido-Villena E. , Bressac M. , Desboeufs K. , Dulac F.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. By bringing new nutrients and particles to the surface ocean, atmospheric deposition impacts biogeochemical cycles. The extent to which those changes are modifying the carbon balance in oligotrophic environments such as the Mediterranean Sea that receives important Saharan dust fluxes is unknown. DUNE project provides the first attempt to evaluate the changes induced in the carbon budget of an oligotrophic system after simulated Saharan dust wet and dry deposition events. Here we report the results for the 3 distinct artificial dust seeding experiments in large mesocosms that were conducted in the oligotrophic waters of the Mediterranean Sea in summer 2008 and 2010. Simultaneous measurements of the metabolic rates (C fixation, C respiration) in the water column have shown that the dust deposition did not change drastically the metabolic balance as the tested waters remained net heterotroph (i.e. net primary production to bacteria respiration ratio < 1) and in some cases the net heterotrophy was even enhanced by the dust deposition. Considering the different terms of the carbon budget, we estimate that it was balanced with a dissolved organic carbon (DOC) consumption of at least 10% of the initial stock. This corresponds to a fraction of the DOC stock of the surface mixed layer that consequently will not be exported during the winter mixing. Although heterotrophic bacteria were found to be the key players in the response to dust deposition, net primary production increased about twice in case of simulated wet deposition (that includes anthropogenic nitrogen) and a small fraction of particulate organic carbon was still exported. Our estimated carbon budgets are an important step forward in the way we understand dust deposition and associated impacts on the oceanic cycles. They are providing knowledge about the key processes (i.e. bacteria respiration, aggregation) that need to be considered for an integration of atmospheric deposition in marine biogeochemical modeling.
Brief Communication: The recent seismic activity in Central Greece in 2013 and its precursory electric signals in terms of criticality
Authors: Dologlou E.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Here, we check the obedience of new data, derived from the Mw = 5.4 earthquake on 7 August 2013 in Central Greece, to a previously found power law relation by the author between the stress drop of an earthquake and the lead time of its precursory seismic electric signal (SES). An exponent value α =0.329 has been found which is in excellent agreement with previous ones reported in a series of articles by the author. This value falls in the range of critical exponents suggested by various models for fracture and is very close to a reported one which interconnects the amplitude of the SES and the magnitude of the impending earthquake. The stability of this exponent confirms the credibility of the above-mentioned power law and probably implies that real physical dynamic processes evolving to criticality are present in the pre-focal area when the SES is emitted.
GYDYMO NURODYMŲ LAIKYMASIS: SOCIALINĖS PARAMOS VAIDMUO SERGANT HIPERTENZIJA
Authors: Zamalijeva Olga , Jusienė Roma
Published: January 2014

Background. The lack of adherence to treatment regimen among patients with chronic diseases is one of the main reasons for insufficient disease control and becomes a challenge to health care professionals. Scientific research shows that inability to ensure proper implementation of prescribed treatment has adverse impact on the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation, has significant negative health outcomes for patients with chronic illnesses, and also leads to losses on the state level. World Health Organization emphasises hypertension as one of the prioritized diseases in the context of long-term adherence to treatment regimen. Interventions that are designed to improve adherence to treatment regimen are occasionally based on social support enhancement. However, evaluation of effectiveness of such interventions yields controversial results. What is more, there is not enough empirical data to develop a comprehensive model that could explain the interaction between social support and adherence behaviour. The aim of this study is to identify associations between adherence to treatment regimen and perceived social support among patients with hypertension. Method. 101 hypertensive patients aged 33-89 were enrolled in the research. During the survey sociodemographic information was collected, perceived social support and adherence to treatment regimen was evaluated. The adherence to treatment regimen questionnaire depicts missed doses of prescribed medication, health monitoring, level of physical activity, characteristics of diet, and etc. Research results. Higher level of perceived social support among patients with hypertension is related to fewer missed doses of prescribed medication due to forget fulness, more orderly health monitoring, more appropriate diet. Conclusions. Age and the level of perceived social support can significantly predict misuse of prescribed medication determined by forget fulness among patient with hypertension
VIDURINIO MOKYKLINIO AMŽIAUS SPORTUOJANČIŲ IR NESPORTUOJANČIŲ MOKINIŲ VIDINĖ DARNA IR OPTIMIZMAS
Authors: Malinauskas Romualdas , Akelaitis Artūras , Šniras Šarūnas
Published: January 2014

Research aim was to establish peculiarities of well-being, activity, mood and optimism of sporting and non-sporting students. Research hypothesis was that sports activities would be beneficial to adolescents’ sense of coherence and optimism expression. The participants of the study were 342 sporting and non-sporting students of middle school age (172 females and 170 males). Among them were 178 sporting students and 164 non-sporting students. The survey included two measures: one for evaluation of sense of coherence, the other – for the establishment of the optimism expression. Student’s t test and χ² test were used to verify the hypotheses of mathematical statistics. The data in the research article show statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between adolescents engaged in sport and not engaged in sport in all investigated parameters. It was established that indices of sense of coherence and optimism for sporting students were higher compared to non-sporting students.
PERIOPERACINIS MIOKARDO INFARKTAS
Authors: Macas Andrius , Bakšytė Giedrė , Šilinskytė Laura , Petrauskaitė Jūratė
Published: January 2014

Perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) is defined as myocardial infarction (MI) during perioperative period (24-72 hours after non cardiac surgery). Worldwide, over 200 million adults have major non-cardiac surgery each year, and several million experience a major vascular complication (e.g.: nonfatal myocardial infarction). The prevalence of PMI for low risk patients without ischemic heart disease is from 0.3 to 3%, while for medium and high risk patients with coronary artery disease increases to 30%. It is believed that plaque rupture and myocardial oxygen supply-demand imbalance is the main reason of perioperative myocardial infarction. Mostly oxygen supply-demand imbalance predominates in the early postoperative period. Plaque rupture appears to be a more random event, distributed over the entire perioperative admission. Most patients with a perioperative MI do not experience ischemic symptoms, because of sedation and analgesia during surgery procedure. This is the reason why routine monitoring of troponin levels and electrocardiography in at-risk patients are needed after surgery to detect most MI. In 90% of cases troponin level inceases during the first 24 hours after surgery. Risk factors detection, serial troponin evaluation and specialised treatment can reduce hospital length of stay, treatment costs and PMI mortality.
BENDRI SENĖJIMO IR VĖŽIO MOLEKULINIAI MECHANIZMAI
Authors: Stonys Ričardas , Kazbarienė Birutė , Didžiapetrienė Janina
Published: January 2014

According to statistical data, cancer incidence are increasing with age, for this reason, researchers have begun to look at what links these two processes. This article reviews molecular mechanisms, which are usually referred to in the literature reviews, that links cancer and ageing: genome instability, telomeres and shelterin, autophagy. Genomic instability is one of the main factors that determines the malignant transformation of cell. Experimental data suggest that genomic instability has a significant impact on ageing and time of survival. On the other hand, telomeres and autophagy reduces the possibility of the occurrence of genome instability and prevent malignant cell transformation and cells or the whole organism aging. It is believed that the clarification of the molecular pathways, which overlap between ageing and carcinogenesis will help scientists to create a more effective can-cer treatment strategy.
How Did the Answer Get Bigger?
Authors: Johanning Debra I. , Mamer James D.
Published: January 2014

Developing number and operation sense associated with fraction division is viewed from multiple perspectives: modeling, equivalence, and symbolism.
Systematic Interventions for Teaching Ratios
Authors: Hunter Amy E. , Bush Sarah B. , Karp Karen
Published: January 2014

Consider this research-based intervention approach to ratio using concrete, semiconcrete, and abstract representations to help students who struggle with this concept.
Mixing Strategies to Compare Fractions
Authors: Tobias Jennifer M.
Published: January 2014

When students have many tools, including context and common numerators, they are more apt to develop mathematical proficiency.
Mathematical Explorations: How Tall Is That Tree?
Authors: Degner Kate M.
Published: January 2014

An activity explores how to estimate the height of trees. Activity sheets are included.
If the Shoe Fits, Wear it
Authors: Columba Lynn
Published: January 2014

Math by the Month is a regular department of the journal featuring collections of short activities focused on a monthly theme. These articles aim for an inquiry or problem-solving orientation that includes at least four activities each for grade bands K—2, 3—4, and 5—6. In the current issue, students look for one or more strategies to “step into” some process problems.
Beyond Cookies: Understanding Various Division Models
Authors: Jong Cindy , Magruder Robin
Published: January 2014

Build on teachers' and students' understanding of division by emphasizing partitive and measurement models and strategies for writing quality division story problems.
From Whole Numbers to Invert and Multiply
Authors: Cavey Laurie O. , Kinzel Margaret T.
Published: January 2014

An instructional sequence used in a course for prospective teachers directly relates to Common Core State Standards for grades 3–6.
A Fibonacci Simple Ecosystem: Prey and Predator
Authors: Garcia Jorge
Published: January 2014

Predators and prey in the population of an ecosystem can be evaluated and investigated with mathematical explorations. Intermediate elementary students explore Fibonacci sequences in relation to prey and discuss models to maintain a balance between the species through mathematics by modifying variables. iSTEM (Integrating Science, Technology, and Engineering in Mathematics) authors share ideas and activities that stimulate student interest in the integrated fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in K-grade 6 classroom.
The welfare ethics of the commercial killing of free-ranging kangaroos: an evaluation of the benefits and costs of the industry
Authors: Ben-Ami D , Boom K , Boronyak L , Townend C , Ramp D , Croft DB , Bekoff M
Published: January 2014

The commercial killing of kangaroos provides multiple benefits to society, but also causes both deliberate and unintended harms to kangaroos. The ethics of the kangaroo industry is assessed in terms of whether the assumed benefits justify the welfare costs. An analysis of the stated benefits indicates that killing for damage mitigation is beneficial mainly during drought and not at current levels; that there is a commercial value, although considerably lower than previously estimated, and that demonstrable environmental benefits from commercial killing of kangaroos are lacking; and that the commercial kill may ameliorate the suffering of kangaroos during drought. Welfare practices are very difficult to assess and regulate due to the size and remote nature of the industry. A combination of empirical data on welfare outcomes and inferences drawn from behavioural and reproductive knowledge of the commercially killed species are utilised to assess harm. The welfare costs include deliberate and indirect harm to dependent young (a by-product of the commercial kill), and a number of unintended harms to adult kangaroos, including increased mortality during drought, inhumane killing of a portion of adult kangaroos, and a disruption of social stability and the evolutionary potential of individuals. Furthermore, a substantial gap exists between the intended welfare standards of the code of practice governing the kangaroo industry and the welfare outcomes for both dependent young and adult kangaroos. We found that, on balance, the benefits are lower than expected and the welfare costs are likely to be considerably higher than acceptable. More research, particularly at the point of kill, is necessary to verify and assess the extent of harms. A number of improvements are suggested to the code of practice to improve welfare outcomes.
Defining and measuring farmers’ attitudes to farm animal welfare
Authors: Hansson H , Lagerkvist CJ
Published: January 2014

Identifying farmers’ attitudes to farm animal welfare (FAW) is an important step in determining farmers’ efforts to improve FAW, knowledge of which is of particular importance for understanding how the living conditions of production animals are determined. This study developed a hypothetical model of farmers’ attitudes to FAW, including the antecedents of these attitudes and possible influences on FAW-related behaviour. Two models for empirical measurement of attitudes, namely formative and reflective models, were also evaluated and compared. The results suggested that choice of measurement model considerably influences conceptualisation of attitudes and that there may be considerable model misspecifications in previous literature relating to farmers’ FAW attitudes. Existing literature on farmers’ FAW attitudes was reviewed with the aim of providing a preliminary indication of the coverage of farmers’ FAW attitudes. A need for future research related to farmers’ attitudes to FAW was identified.
The effect of fine granular sand on pododermatitis in captive greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Authors: Wyss F , Wenker C , Hoby S , von Houwald F , Schumacher V , Doherr MG , Robert N
Published: January 2014

Pododermatitis is a worldwide health and animal welfare problem in captive flamingos (Phoenicopteridae). Since sub-optimal substrate or flooring has been described as a factor in the development of pododermatitis in poultry and raptors, it is also suspected to play a role in flamingo foot health. Small groups of flamingos were separated from the main group in an indoor enclosure with artificial grass carpet and, in earlier years, concrete flooring, with additional fine granular sand in the water basin for the study year. Feet were evaluated before and after the separation. Judged subjectively, foot lesions had shown a general increase in the indoor enclosure in earlier years. In contrast, lesion severity and prevalence, scored in accordance with a standardised protocol, decreased when fine granular sand was provided. Since flamingos were observed mostly standing on sand and as this represented the major differentiating factor between years, it is concluded that fine granular sand is a favourable substrate to maintain, and one that may even lead to an improvement in flamingo foot health.
Risk factors for unassisted on-farm death in Swedish dairy cows
Authors: Alvåsen K , Thomsen PT , Sandgren C Hallén , Mörk M Jansson , Emanuelson U
Published: January 2014

Increased on-farm cow mortality (ie unassisted death and euthanasia) has been demonstrated in Swedish dairy herds during the last decade. Identifying risk factors associated with type of death is needed for future work in reducing cow mortality rates. The objectives of this case-control study were to quantify the relative proportion of unassisted dead cows among cows that die on-farm, and to identify risk factors associated with unassisted death (as opposed to euthanasia). In Sweden, cadavers and animal waste products are being processed into biofuel at destruction plants. Two destruction plants were visited three times in 2011-2012. All dairy cows (n = 556) entering the plants were examined. Farmers that had sent the cows were contacted by telephone to verify type of death. Of the 433 dairy cows included in the analysis, 30% had died unassisted. A stillbirth rate above or equal to the median in the study material (7%) increased the risk for unassisted death. The proportion of unassisted dead cows was lower than that found in other countries. The results indicate that it might be possible to study euthanasia and unassisted death as one group in Swedish dairy cows, because only one factor differentiating between the two types of death was identified. However, unidentified risk factors may still differ and, possibly more importantly, welfare implications may also differ between the two types of death which implies the need to separate them in future studies.
Can animal-based welfare assessment be simplified? A comparison of the Welfare Quality®protocol for dairy cattle and the simpler and less time-consuming protocol developed by the Danish Cattle Federation
Authors: Andreasen SN , SandØe P , Forkman B
Published: January 2014

Welfare assessment protocols using primarily animal-based measures are believed to give valid information about the welfare of animals. However, they tend to be time consuming and therefore costly, thus in practice there is often considerable reluctance to use them. In the present study, the relatively quick to use, simple but non-validated welfare assessment protocol for dairy cattle developed by the Danish Cattle Federation and the validated comprehensive Welfare Quality® protocol were compared in Danish conditions. In total, 44 Danish dairy herds were evaluated using the two protocols. The protocols were correlated on four sub-levels (corresponding to the ‘Principles’ in the Welfare Quality® protocol) and on the Overall welfare score. They correlated significantly with regard to the Principles ‘Good health’ and ‘Appropriate behaviour’. Significant correlations were not found for ‘Good feeding’, ‘Good housing’, and the Overall score. On the basis of this we changed the Danish Cattle Federation protocol by introducing six new measures, changing three measuring procedures and omitting two measures. This extended protocol was found to correlate significantly with the Welfare Quality® protocol in all four Principles and on the Overall score. The extended protocol still has the advantage of the original Danish Cattle Federation protocol whereby under Danish field conditions it will take only 2 h to apply as opposed to 7-8 h for the Welfare Quality® protocol. We believe that the extended protocol balances, in a good way, the demands of practicability against its value as a diagnostic test.
Does the current regulation of assisted reproductive techniques in the UK safeguard animal welfare?
Authors: Campbell MLH
Published: January 2014

Reproductive medicine is one of the fastest developing fields of veterinary medicine. Regulation of veterinary-assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is currently divided between the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (1986), the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966), and the Animal Welfare Act (2006). None of those pieces of legislation was purpose designed to protect the welfare of animals undergoing ARTs, either directly or by determining which veterinary ART procedures may or may not be performed. Consequently, due to the lack of reference to such procedures, the welfare protection aims of the legislation are sometimes ambiguous. It is therefore difficult to ascertain whether the aims of the legislation are being fulfilled but, in the opinion of this author, the legislation is anyway inadequate in scope, most particularly because it fails to provide a reporting function. It is unclear whether all or any veterinary ART procedures being undertaken on post-natal animals are associated with suffering. Some ARTs may cause discomfort, stress or pain: study or review of the welfare effects of these would be valuable. Any future review of the legislation regulating veterinary ARTs, be that an overall review or a review of one of the relevant statutes (for example the VSA), should take into account the interface between research and clinical medicine; the potentially welfare-compromising gaps between the Acts, the need to introduce reporting functions in order to build an evidence base, and the issue of veterinary specialisation and whether specialised techniques should be carried out only by those with specialist post-graduate qualifications.
Liquid silicon and its application in electronics
Authors: Shimoda Tatsuya , Masuda Takashi
Published: January 2014

We have been attempting to use liquid silicon (Si) in a solution process to develop semiconductor materials. We chose cyclopentasilane (CPS) as the raw material, which can be converted to poly(dihydrosilane) by photoinduced polymerization. Poly(dihydrosilane) is mixed with an organic solvent to form Si ink. We fabricated not only intrinsic Si ink but also both n- and p-type doped-Si inks. In the solution process, coating and pyrolysis are essential for device development. The parameters of these processes and the quality of the resultant solid film strongly depend on the properties and behavior of liquid Si, including those of CPS, poly(dihydrosilane), and Si ink. Here, we clarified the structure and properties of CPS, the photopolymerization of CPS, the structure of the polymer [poly(dihydrosilane)] in solution, the criteria for forming a uniform polymer film on a substrate, and the pyrolysis of a polymer film to an amorphous Si film. We also evaluated the properties of the resultant amorphous films. The quality of a solution-processed film was inferior to that of a vacuum-processed film just after the pyrolysis; however, it can be improved to a device-grade film by hydrogen radical treatment. So far, the devices that we have developed with liquid Si include polycrystalline Si thin-film transistors (TFTs), single-grained Si-TFTs, and thin-film solar cells. For TFTs, their excellent properties have been demonstrated. In this review article, we introduce the development of solar cells using hydrogenated amorphous Si (a-Si:H) films for the p–i–n structure. We also show that the solution-processed a-Si:H solar cells exhibit 0.31–0.51% efficiency under AM-1.5G (100 mW/cm2) illumination.
Phase refractive index dispersions of organic oligomer crystals with different molecular alignments
Authors: Sakurai Yusaku , Hayashi Waka , Yamao Takeshi , Hotta Shu
Published: January 2014

We grew slab crystals of end-capped oligothiophenes with phenyl, biphenyl, or methyl groups and unsubstituted oligophenyls. These crystals were grown in the vapor and liquid phases. We determined their dispersions and anisotropic refractive indices from interference fringes in the emission and reflectance spectra. To do this, we used pairs of parallel facets, which were naturally formed during the crystal growth or cleaved from wide crystals, as optical resonators. The unsubstituted oligophenyls indicated blue-shifted dispersions compared with the end-capped oligothiophenes. We discussed refractive indices in connection with molecular alignments in the crystals and compared them with computational results.
Effects of sputtered buffer layer on the characteristics of ZnO:Al films grown on glass substrates using high-temperature H2O generated by a catalytic reaction
Authors: Nishiyama Tomoya , Takezawa Kazuki , Nakazawa Yuta , Oyanagi Takahiro , Kato Takahiro , Oishi Koichiro , Nakamura Susumu , Yasui Kanji
Published: January 2014

The improvement in the quality of ZnO:Al films grown on glass substrates was investigated using a sputtered buffer layer inserted between a glass substrate and a ZnO:Al CVD film. ZnO:Al layers were grown at 773 K using dimethylzinc (DMZn), trimethylaluminum (TMAl), and high-temperature H2O generated by a catalytic reaction as zinc, aluminum, and oxygen sources, respectively. The electron mobility increased by approximately 20 cm2 V−1 s−1 with the use of a buffer layer with a thickness of approximately 40 nm. In addition, the optical transmittance in the wavelength range of 380–600 nm increased with the insertion of the buffer layer. For the growth of ZnO films on a sputtered buffer layer, the average surface roughness was reduced, and as a result the fluctuation in crystal orientation along the c-axis became smaller than that of the film grown directly on the glass substrate by the proposed CVD. This resulted in improvements in the optical transmittance and electron mobility of the ZnO:Al films.
Characterization of TiHfN ternary alloy films as a barrier between Cu plug and Si
Authors: Takeyama Mayumi B. , Sato Masaru , Aoyagi Eiji , Noya Atsushi
Published: January 2014

A TiHfN ternary alloy film is examined as a candidate reliable barrier to replace W with Cu in contact plug with Si. A low-resistivity Ti12Hf32N56 film (∼120 µΩ cm) is successfully obtained by reactive sputtering. The phase stability of the compound with a N-rich composition is observed. This is because both TiN and HfN, the constituents of this compound, have stable phases with N-rich composition and the same crystalline structure, and the TiHfN compound is considered as an alloy of these constituents. The Cu/Si contact model with a 10-nm-thick TiHfN barrier of nanocrystalline texture showed excellent barrier properties with negligible structural changes owing to annealing for 1 h at 500 °C or higher. The excellent barrier properties and low resistivity obtained are attributed to the structure of the alloy film, in which the alloy has a NaCl structure with Ti and Hf atoms randomly substituted at cation sites.
Preparation of nanocrystalline HfNx films as a thin barrier for through-Si via interconnects in three-dimensional integration
Authors: Takeyama Mayumi B. , Sato Masaru , Aoyagi Eiji , Noya Atsushi
Published: January 2014

We propose a barrier material applicable to the through-Si via (TSV), a key technology for the three-dimensional stacked integration, from the point of view of materials science, including excellent thermal and chemical stability, low resistivity, and conformability to thin-film formation. We examine N-rich HfN
x
films consisting of nanocrystalline grains as candidate barrier materials. The HfN
x
film consisting of a HfN single phase without contaminants shows excellent phase stability and low resistivity. The barrier in the Cu/HfN
x
/SiO2/Si model configuration shows excellent barrier properties with little structural change and without excess solid-phase reactions and/or diffusion due to annealing. A 5-nm-thick thin barrier applicable to TSV downsizing in the future is thus effective in satisfying the fundamental requirements of a good needed barrier, stemming from the low-temperature process of TSV technology.
Transition temperatures and irreversibility-field properties of (Cu1−
xCx)Sr2CaCu2O7−δ superconductors with precisely controlled oxygen contents
Authors: Shibaoka Shunki , Aoba Tomoya , Suzuki Tsuneo , Nakayama Tadachika , Suematsu Hisayuki , Niihara Koichi
Published: January 2014

(Cu1−

x
C
x
)Sr2CaCu2O7−δ samples with precisely controlled oxygen contents (δ = 0.10–0.35) were successfully synthesized under a pressure of 5.5 GPa and followed by annealing in He gas at various temperatures. The oxygen content of an as-synthesized sample was determined by iodometric titration, and the changes of the oxygen content were estimated by measuring weight-loss during the post-annealing. Superconducting transition temperatures (T
c) decreased from 93.1 to 83.1 K with decreasing the oxygen content from 6.90 to 6.65. Hole-doping level was tuned to be underdoped so that the slope of the irreversibility field (H
irr) increased.
Optical second harmonic generation from V-shaped chromium nanohole arrays
Authors: Quang Ngo Khoa , Miyauchi Yoshihiro , Mizutani Goro , Charlton Martin D. , Chen Ruiqi , Boden Stuart , Rutt Harvey
Published: January 2014

We observed rotational anisotropy of optical second harmonic generation (SHG) from an array of V-shaped chromium nanoholes fabricated by electron beam lithography. Phenomenological analysis indicated that the effective nonlinear susceptibility element

had a characteristic contribution to the observed anisotropic SHG intensity patterns. Here, coordinate 1 is in the direction of the tip of V shapes in the substrate plane, and 3 indicates the direction perpendicular to the sample surface. The SHG intensity for the S-polarized output light was very weak, probably owing to the cancellation effect of the image dipoles generated at the metal-air boundary. The possible origin of the observed nonlinearity is discussed in terms of the susceptibility elements obtained.
Fabrication and optical characterization of organic–inorganic hybrid films using ultraviolet-curable silsesquioxanes
Authors: Akiyama Hironori , Ohtani Naoki
Published: January 2014

Novel organic–inorganic hybrid materials consisting of organic emissive materials in SiO2 were fabricated by an ultraviolet (UV) curing method using curable silsesquioxanes (SQs). We evaluated their flatness and optical properties using by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The fabricated hybrid films revealed significant flatness. In addition, PL emission was observed from the emissive material tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (Alq3), although the FT-IR spectra indicated that some of the Alq3 molecules were destroyed following the UV irradiation. Moreover, their environmental durability was drastically improved because most of the Alq3 molecules in the hybrid films were not exposed to the outside. Thus, the UV-curing method has an advantage of low-cost production because it can exclude the sealing process and needs much shorter time to fabricate organic–inorganic hybrid films than that of the sol–gel methods.