Tiergerechtheit auf ökologischen Milchviehbetrieben

Ziel des vorliegenden Forschungsvorhabens war, nähere Daten über die Tiergerechtheit in der Ökologischen Milchviehhaltung zu gewinnen. Die hier vorgestellten Ergebnisse sind Teil eines Forschungsvorhabens mit dem Titel „Ökologische Milch- und Rindfleischproduktion“, welches im Rahmen des Bundesprogramms Ökologischer Landbau durchgeführt wurde, gefördert durch die Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), Bonn (HÖRNING et al. 2004). Dabei wurde ein zweistufiges Verfahren gewählt

Ökologische Mutterkuhhaltung in Deutschland

Die Untersuchung bestand darin, Kenndaten zur ökologischen Mutterkuhhaltung in Deutschland zuerfassen. In einem Forschungsprojekt im Rahmen des Bundesprogramms ökologischer Landbau wurden Fragebögen von 388 Bio-Betrieben mit Mutterkuhhaltung ausgewertet und darüber hinaus 27 Betriebe aufgesucht zur Erhebung genauerer Daten

Befragung zum Status-Quo der Tierhaltung bei 287 süddeutschen Bio-Betrieben (Demeter- und Bioland)[Inquiry to the status quo of livestock husbandry in organic farms in southern germany]

Fazit: Die gegenüber früheren Untersuchungen gestiegenen Bestandsgrößen weisen darauf hin, daß sich im ökologischen Landbau ein ähnlicher Strukturwandel wie in der konventionellen Landwirtschaft vollzieht (Wachstum und Spezialisierung). Die Auswertung zeigt ferner, daß die Betriebe zunehmend bemüht sind, bereits jetzt den zukünftigen Haltungsvorschriften der EU-Verordnung zu entsprechen. Fast alle Betriebe führen Weidegang durch und trotz der relativ geringen Bestandsgröße haben die meisten Betriebe bereits Laufställe; Auslaufmöglichkeiten fallen demgegenüber allerdings noch ab

Repurpose 2D Character Animations for a VR Environment Using BDH Shape Interpolation.

Virtual Reality technology has spread rapidly in recent years. However, its growth risks ending soon due to the absence of quality content, except for few exceptions. We present an original framework that allows artists to use 2D characters and animations in a 3D Virtual Reality environment, in order to give an easier access to the production of content for the platform. In traditional platforms, 2D animation represents a more economic and immediate alternative to 3D. The challenge in adapting 2D characters to a 3D environment is to interpret the missing depth information. A 2D character is actually flat, so there is not any depth information, and every body part is at the same level of the others. We exploit mesh interpolation, billboarding and parallax scrolling to simulate the depth between each body segment of the character. We have developed a prototype of the system, and extensive tests with a 2D animation production show the effectiveness of our framework

Group suckling in organic sow units

Group suckling - a combined system of single and group housing of lactating sows - appears a suitable system for organic pig production. The aim of the study was to describe the status quo of group suckling in organic farms. 31 organic sow units in Germany, Austria and Switzerland were investigated. Stockmen were interviewed, stables were inspected and animals were examined during three visits on each farm enterprise, respectively. The majority of farms kept three sows with piglets in one group suckling unit. 76 % of the group suckling sows (n=192) were in a good nutritional condition, 18 % were considered thin and 8 % of sows were too fat. Relatively few sows showed skin lesions caused by poor housing conditions. Only 18 of 203 sows behaved anxiously or aggressively. On average 9.1 piglets per sow and litter were weaned. Amongst the investigated farms, none was optimally managed. However, no plausible correlations between biological performance, animal health, human-animal relationship on the one hand and farm-specific production conditions (housing, management, feeding, watering) on the other hand were determined. It can therefore be deduced that the “success” or “failure” of the study farms can be attributed to the interaction of different factors rather than to individual production factors

Fourier Transform Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy: the possibility to obtain constant energy maps and the band dispersion using a local measurement

We present here an overview of the Fourier Transform Scanning Tunneling spectroscopy technique (FT-STS). This technique allows one to probe the electronic properties of a two-dimensional system by analyzing the standing waves formed in the vicinity of defects. We review both the experimental and theoretical aspects of this approach, basing our analysis on some of our previous results, as well as on other results described in the literature. We explain how the topology of the constant energy maps can be deduced from the FT of dI/dV map images which exhibit standing waves patterns. We show that not only the position of the features observed in the FT maps, but also their shape can be explained using different theoretical models of different levels of approximation. Thus, starting with the classical and well known expression of the Lindhard susceptibility which describes the screening of electron in a free electron gas, we show that from the momentum dependence of the susceptibility we can deduce the topology of the constant energy maps in a joint density of states approximation (JDOS). We describe how some of the specific features predicted by the JDOS are (or are not) observed experimentally in the FT maps. The role of the phase factors which are neglected in the rough JDOS approximation is described using the stationary phase conditions. We present also the technique of the T-matrix approximation, which takes into account accurately these phase factors. This technique has been successfully applied to normal metals, as well as to systems with more complicated constant energy contours. We present results recently obtained on graphene systems which demonstrate the power of this technique, and the usefulness of local measurements for determining the band structure, the map of the Fermi energy and the constant-energy maps.Comment: 33 pages, 15 figures; invited review article, to appear in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physic

Grain Size And Cap Layer Effects On Electromigration Reliability Of Cu Interconnects: Experiments And Simulation

This paper combined experiments and simulation to investigate the grain size and cap layer effects on electromigration (EM) reliability of Cu interconnects. First the statistical distribution of EM lifetime and failure modes were examined for in laid Cu interconnects of large and small grain structures with two different cap layers of SiCN vs. CoWP. The CoWP cap was found to significantly improve the EM lifetime due to the suppression of the interfacial mass transport as a result of strengthening of the Cu/cap interface bonding. In addition, the grain size was observed to affect the EM reliability significantly, particularly for the CoWP capped structures. Resistance traces and failure analysis revealed two distinct failure modes: mode I with voids formed near the cathode via corner and mode II with voids formed in the trench several microns away from the cathode via. It was found that large grain size and strong cap interface reduced the mass transport rate and the void diffusion in the Cu line, leading to a longer EM lifetime and a higher proportion of mode II failures. A statistical simulation of EM lifetimes was also applied to Cu interconnects with grain structures generated by the Monte Carlo method. The simulation results for different grain sizes and cap interfaces are in good agreement with the experimental observations.Microelectronics Research Cente

Gaps in care and support for patients with advanced breast cancer: a report from the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance

PURPOSE Although new therapeutic options continue to improve disease-related outcomes in advanced breast cancer (ABC), enhanced focus is needed to improve quality of life for patients currently living with ABC. METHODS In November 2019, a multidisciplinary workshop to explore patient perceptions of their information and support needs was held at the ABC Global Alliance Annual Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. Ninety-two attendees from 27 countries participated in the workshop. RESULTS Several key unmet needs were identified and discussed in the workshop, including the following: (1) Significant patient knowledge gaps exist related to the diagnosis and management of ABC, and the availability of patient-focused information to support these gaps in knowledge remains limited. (2) The development of meaningful relationships between patients and health care professionals, and the role of patients in decision making, is often overlooked for patients with ABC. (3) Multidisciplinary care approaches are crucial for patients with ABC; however, these often lack effective coordination. (4) Access to clinical trials for ABC also remains limited. (5) Caregivers, friends, and family members do not receive sufficient guidance to support patients with ABC and manage their own well-being. CONCLUSION The variety of unmet needs explored in the workshop demonstrates that patients with ABC still face considerable challenges related to quality of care and support, which will not be resolved until tangible action is taken. Issues highlighted in the workshop should be prioritized by working groups to shape the development of community-based solutions. There is a need for the global community to act proactively to maximize awareness of these ongoing unmet needs and existing resources, while socializing and building new initiatives and resources that will help to close these gaps for patients