Giant piezoelectricity on Si for hyperactive MEMS

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) incorporating active piezoelectric layers offer integrated actuation, sensing, and transduction. The broad implementation of such active MEMS has long been constrained by the inability to integrate materials with giant piezoelectric response, such as Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3)-PbTiO(3) (PMN-PT). We synthesized high-quality PMN-PT epitaxial thin films on vicinal (001) Si wafers with the use of an epitaxial (001) SrTiO(3) template layer with superior piezoelectric coefficients (e(31,f) = -27 ± 3 coulombs per square meter) and figures of merit for piezoelectric energy-harvesting systems. We have incorporated these heterostructures into microcantilevers that are actuated with extremely low drive voltage due to thin-film piezoelectric properties that rival bulk PMN-PT single crystals. These epitaxial heterostructures exhibit very large electromechanical coupling for ultrasound medical imaging, microfluidic control, mechanical sensing, and energy harvesting.     

Assessment of smooth muscle function in Sesbania drummondii toxicosis in Gallus domesticus

An in vitro assessment based on tissue responsiveness to 2 agonists-histamine and carbachol-was made on smooth muscle activity in chickens experimentally poisoned with sesbania. Crude extracts of Sesbania drummondii were prepared and 2 dosage levels, 0.25% and 0.5% of body weight, were used. The birds were dosed orally with the extract for 3 consecutive days, and on the 4th day segments of ileum and lung were collected from each bird. The isometric contractions of each tissue, produced by the addition of histamine or carbachol in graded concentrations, were recorded. The cumulative concentration-effect curves for the tissues to the agonists were constructed and compared with respective control curves. The results indicated the responsiveness of the tissues in the treated groups was significantly decreased, compared with that of tissues in the controls. Responses of both intestinal and parenchymal strips in the chickens given the higher dosage (0.5%) were decreased significantly, whereas in those given the smaller dosage (0.25%), only parenchyma had a significant response. This indicates that the activity of smooth muscles in general was depressed by sesbania. The effect was more evident in the lung than in the intestine. Therefore, an active principle in the extract which affects smooth muscle, rather than causing direct irritation, may exist. This assessment of smooth muscle activity is sensitive and was effective in detecting changes in tissues from sesbania-treated birds which had not shown any clinical signs. The results also support the possibility that smooth muscle involvement could be a primary cause of toxicity in sesbania poisoning.     

Herbivores promote habitat specialization by trees in Amazonian forests

In an edaphically heterogeneous area in the Peruvian Amazon, clay soils and nutrient-poor white sands each harbor distinctive plant communities. To determine whether a trade-off between growth and antiherbivore defense enforces habitat specialization on these two soil types, we conducted a reciprocal transplant study of seedlings of 20 species from six genera of phylogenetically independent pairs of edaphic specialist trees and manipulated the presence of herbivores. Clay specialist species grew significantly faster than white-sand specialists in both soil types when protected from herbivores. However, when unprotected, white-sand specialists dominated in white-sand forests and clay specialists dominated in clay forests. Therefore, habitat specialization in this system results from an interaction of herbivore pressure with soil type.     

Clinical application of multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of cranial nerves in horses in comparison with high resolution imaging standards

Although horses are affected by cranial nerve disease, our understanding of these structures' imaging anatomy is limited, and the optimal modality for imaging of each of these nerves is unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the imaging appearance of the equine cranial nerves on high‐resolution 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans of a cadaver head, and with these as standards, examine the utility of MRI and CT performed in clinical cases. High‐resolution MRI and CT images were prospectively acquired of the head of a normal Thoroughbred gelding following euthanasia. Ten clinical cases undergoing high‐field MRI under general anaesthesia and 10 clinical cases undergoing CT in the standing horse under sedation were retrospectively evaluated by three reviewers to assess cranial nerve visibility. On high‐resolution, thin‐slice, MRI scans of the normal cadaver head, each of the 12 cranial nerves and their topographic location could be appreciated. On high‐resolution cadaver CT, cranial nerves II, V and VII were clearly visible, but others were less easily identified; osseous structures were clearly visualised. Clinical MRI and CT allowed for variable visualisation of the cranial nerves, dependent on the sequence and the orientation of scan planes. High‐field MRI allowed excellent visualisation of equine cranial nerves, whereas CT allowed for more detailed visualisation of the osseous canals and foramina. In live horses, the ability to identify all 12 nerves is challenging with either MRI or CT; however, high‐field MRI enables better visualisation of the nerve bundles than CT.     

The physical state and plasma biochemical profile of young calves on arrival at a slaughter plant

AIM: To determine the welfare of calves arriving at a slaughter plant by assessing their physical state and plasma biochemical profile. METHODS: Calves (n=7,169) aged 4-10 days, were examined immediately after they were unloaded from trucks (n=20) and categorised on physical grounds as being in an 'unacceptable', 'marginal' or 'acceptable' state. 'Unacceptable' calves were lying down, unable to walk, extremely weak or seriously injured. 'Marginal' calves had a wet umbilicus, were hollow sided, apparently immature, or weak and slow and unsteady on their feet. 'Acceptable' calves were strong, walked freely, round-sided, bright and alert and had a dry umbilicus. After unloading, 27 'unacceptable', 306 'marginal' and 289 'acceptable' calves were weighed, examined clinically and a blood sample was taken from each. A second blood sample was taken from 118 of these calves, 12-15 hours later. The packed cell volume (PCV) and plasma concentrations of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), total plasma proteins (TPP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), urea, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate were measured. RESULTS: Only 27 of the 7,169 calves examined (0.4%) were categorised as being in an 'unacceptable' state on arrival and these were euthanased shortly after unloading. Generally, the plasma biochemical profiles of the 'acceptable' calves were similar to those of 'marginal' animals. However the glucose concentration of 'marginal' calves was lower than that of 'acceptable' calves, suggesting that they had lower energy reserves. After 12-15 h in lairage, plasma glucose concentration decreased and the BHB concentration increased in both 'acceptable' and 'marginal' calves compared with concentrations measured on arrival. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of calves presented for slaughter in an 'unacceptable' state was small (0.4%). However, 4% of calves were classified as 'marginal' and failed to meet all the requirements of the code of recommendations and minimum standards governing the welfare of young calves in New Zealand. The categorisation of calves by a physical assessment was supported by results of plasma biochemistry. As a result, plasma biochemical profiles are considered unnecessary for making decisions regarding the welfare status of calves arriving at a slaughter plant; an assessment of their physical state is sufficient.