Effect of crystallinity on thermal transport in textured lead zirconate titanate thin films.

We demonstrate the use of the time domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) technique towards understanding thermal transport in textured Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) thin films grown by a sol-gel process on platinized silicon substrates. PZT films were grown with preferred crystallographic orientations of (100), (110), and (111). Grain orientation was controlled by manipulating the heterogeneous nucleation and growth characteristics at the interface between the film and the underlying Pt layer on the substrate. TDTR was used to measure both the PZT film thermal conductivity and the interface thermal conductance between the PZT and Pt as well as that between the PZT and an Al thermoreflectance layer evaporated on the PZT surface. We find a hierarchical dependence of thermal conductivity on the crystallographic orientation of the PZT films and observed differences in the thermal conductances between the Al-PZT and PZT-Pt interfaces for a varying degree of preferred orientations (100), (110), and (111). Thus, the technique based upon nanoscale thermal measurements can be used to delineate PZT samples with different crystallographic orientations. The thermal conductivities of the PZT films with different crystal orientations were in the range of 1.45-1.80 W m(-1) K(-1). The interface thermal conductance between the PZT and Pt layer was in the range of 30-65 MW m(-2) K(-1), while the conductance between the Al layer and PZT was in the range of 90-120 MW m(-2) K(-1). These interfacial conductances exhibit significant correlations to the texture of the PZT film and elemental concentration and densities at those interfaces.

A software tool for automatic analysis of selected area diffraction patterns within Digital Micrograph™.

A software package "SADP Tools" is developed as a complementary diffraction pattern analysis tool. The core program, called AutoSADP, is designed to facilitate automated measurements of d-spacing and interplaner angles from TEM selected area diffraction patterns (SADPs) of single crystals. The software uses iterative cross correlations to locate the forward scattered beam position and to find the coordinates of the diffraction spots. The newly developed algorithm is suitable for fully automated analysis and it works well with asymmetric diffraction patterns, off-zone axis patterns, patterns with streaks, and noisy patterns such as Fast Fourier transforms of high-resolution images. The AutoSADP tool runs as a macro for the Digital Micrograph program and can determine d-spacing values and interplanar angles based on the pixel ratio with an accuracy of better than about 2%.

Echocardiographic evaluation of the effects of medetomidine and xylazine in dogs.

The echocardiographic effects of medetomidine and xylazine were evaluated in 6 healthy dogs. Values for echocardiographic variables were significantly different from pre-treatment values after administration of both drugs. The effects of medetomidine were similar to that of xylazine. Because of their cardiac depressant effects, both drugs should be used with care in sick dogs.

An oesophageal diverticulum in a dog.

An 11-month-old male Miniature Poodle was found to regurgitate small volumes of fluid and food particles due to a diverticulum in the thoracic oesophagus. The diverticulum was removed surgically. Histologically the wall contained extensive scar tissue. Longterm recovery was uneventful and 5 months after surgery the dog is in good health

Relationship between apex cardiogram and left ventricular pressure events in Greyhound dogs.

Temporal relationships between the left apex cardiogram (ACG) and left ventricular and aortic pressure events were studied in 10 anesthetized Greyhound dogs. A close relationship existed between onset of the upstrokes of the ACG and left ventricular pressure. The nadir of the protosystolic upstroke of the ACG invariably occurred after the peak rate of change of left ventricular pressure increase (d/dt)LVP and the onset of aortic pressure increase, but occurred virtually simultaneously with the peak rate of change of aortic pressure increase (d/dt)A. The relationship between the protodiastolic nadir of the downstroke of left ventricular pressure and that of the ACG was close but variable. The ACG could be of value as a noninvasive examination technique in canine cardiovascular studies.

The value of arterial blood pressure measurement in assessing the prognosis in equine colic.

Indirect arterial blood pressure was determined on 33 horses prior to surgical intervention for the diagnosis and/or correction of acute abdominal disorders and a relationship between low systolic blood pressure and non-survival was established. It is suggested that blood pressure determination should be used to augment other methods of clinical and laboratory examination in cases of equine colic.

A method for indirect measurement of arterial blood pressure in the horse.

A method using the Doppler ultrasound principle for indirect determination of arterial blood pressure in the horse is described. The method is simple and suitable for field situations. Validation studies show that systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements bear a close relationship to true values obtained by direct measurement.

Successful repair of a diaphragmatic hernia in a foal.

The diagnosis and successful surgical treatment of a diaphragmatic hernia in a 12 weeks old standardbred foal are described. The clinical syndrome in horses generally is contrasted with that seen in the foal described in this paper. Some of the factors contributing to the clinical signs are discussed.