52Mn translocation in barley monitored using a positron-emitting tracer imaging system

Abstract

Until now, the real-time uptake and movement of manganese (Mn), an essential plant nutrient, has not been documented in plants. In this study, the real-time translocation of Mn in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Ehimehadaka no. 1) was visualized using the positron-emitting tracer ⁵²Mn and a positron-emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS). PETIS allowed the non-destructive monitoring of Mn translocation in barley under various conditions. In all cases, ⁵²Mn first accumulated in the discrimination center (DC) at the basal portion of the shoot, suggesting that this region may play an important role in Mn distribution in graminaceous plants. Manganese-deficient barley showed greater translocation of ⁵²Mn from roots to shoots than did Mn-sufficient barley, demonstrating that Mn deficiency causes enhanced Mn uptake and loading into vascular bundles. In contrast, the translocation of ⁵²Mn from roots to shoots was suppressed in Mn-excess barley. In these plants, the uptake of Mn may be suppressed or Mn may accumulate in the intercellular organelles of root cells, resulting in low rates of Mn translocation to shoots. In Mn-sufficient barley, the dark treatment did not suppress the translocation of ⁵²Mn to the youngest leaf, suggesting that the translocation of Mn to the youngest leaf is independent of the transpiration stream. When ⁵²Mn was supplied to the cut end of an expanded leaf, ⁵²Mn was transported to the DC within 27 min and then retranslocated to roots and other leaves. Our results show that the translocation of Mn from the roots to the DC depends passively on water flow, but actively on the Mn transporter(s).     

断层和裂缝尺度识别的地球物理方法探讨

由于地球物理方法本身受分辨率和保真度的限制,其在断层和裂缝识别上的应用也就有精度和尺度上的差异。为此,可采用不同的方法技术来识别不同尺度的断层和裂缝,即在断层识别上,利用地震剖面和水平切片解释大断层,采用相干分析方法识别小断层;在裂缝识别上,主要采用多方位AVO方法识别大尺度裂缝的发育特征,采用成像测井来识别微小裂缝的特征情况。实际应用表明,上述方法在相应尺度断层和裂缝上的识别效果较好。     

In-Laboratory Diffraction-Enhanced X-Ray Imaging of an Equine Hoof

We describe and demonstrate the first application of a laboratory-based diffraction-enhanced X-ray imaging instrument for noninvasive equine imaging. A formalin-preserved disarticulated forelimb from a near-term aborted miniature horse fetus was imaged with diffraction-enhanced X-ray imaging. The resultant calculated images—absorption, extinction, refraction, and scattering—are presented, and soft-tissues such as the dorsal digital extensor tendon, articular cartilage, as well as various joint, tendon sheath, and bursa recesses are observed in simultaneous registration with the adjacent dense bone tissue. Radiation dose calculations were performed and a calculated surface dose of 0.6 mGy for the soft muscular tissue was determined for the imaging experiment.     

Thermographic Eye Temperature as an Index to Body Temperature in Ponies

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a passive, remote, and noninvasive method of measuring surface temperatures. Select surface locations, such as the eye, could indicate body temperature. To investigate whether thermographic eye temperatures were associated with body temperatures and could be used to detect febrile ponies, we measured IRT eye temperatures, rectal temperatures, and implanted thermal microchip temperatures from 24 male ponies daily for 3 consecutive days. Information regarding distance of the pony from the IRT device, presence of direct sunlight during the measurement period, and ambient temperature were also collected. A multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that 60.41% of the variance in IRT was accounted for by rectal temperature, sunlight, and distance between the camera and the pony, with rectal temperature being the major contributor to variance (46.23%). Using a rectal temperature of >38.6°C (101.5°F) as the indicator of febrile status, sensitivity and specificity of the IRT device used to detect the febrile ponies were found to be 74.6% and 92.3%, respectively, when using the maximum IRT eye temperature per pony per day. In conclusion, IRT eye temperature could be a preliminary screening tool to determine whether a more time-consuming, labor-intensive, and invasive method (e.g., rectal temperature) is warranted for fever validation.     

Current concepts of navicular disease

Navicular disease is unlikely to be a single disease. The close anatomical and functional relationships between the navicular bone, collateral sesamoidean ligament, distal sesamoidean impar ligament, deep digital flexor tendon, navicular bursa and distal interphalangeal joint result in the frequent occurrence of combinations of injuries. There are a number of different pathological processes that affect the navicular bone, which probably have different aetiopathogeneses. While there is strong evidence that biomechanical forces may result in failure of functional adaptation and excessive modelling, it is likely that each disease or injury type has a multifactorial cause.     

STATIC AND DYNAMIC 18FDG‐PET IN NORMAL HISPANIOLAN AMAZON PARROTS (AMAZONA VENTRALIS)

Positron emission tomography (PET) is often used to stage and monitor human cancer and has recently been used in a similar fashion in veterinary medicine. The most commonly used radiopharmaceutical is 2‐Deoxy‐2‐[¹⁸F]‐Fluoro‐d ‐glucose (¹⁸F‐FDG), which is concentrated and trapped within cells that use glucose as their energy substrate. We characterized the normal distribution of ¹⁸F‐FDG in 10 healthy Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) by performing whole body PET scans at steady state, 60 min after injection. Significant variability was found in the intestinal activity. Avian species are known to reflux fluid and electrolytes from their cloaca into their colon. To evaluate reflux as the cause of variability in intestinal distribution of ¹⁸F‐FDG, dynamic PET scans were performed on the coelomic cavity of six Hispaniolan Amazon parrots from time 0 to 60 min postinjection of radiotracer. Reflux of radioactive material from the cloaca into the colon occurred in all birds to varying degrees and occurred before 60 min. To evaluate the intestinal tract of clinical avian patients, dynamic scans must be performed starting immediately after injection so that increased radioactivity due to metabolism or hypermetabolic lesions such as cancer can be differentiated from increased radioactivity due to reflux of fluid from the cloaca.     

EVALUATION OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE SAFETY OF VETERINARY RADIOFREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION DEVICES AT 1 T

Implants containing metallic components have the potential to become heated or move within the patient while in the magnetic resonance (MR) environment. Despite containing a ferromagnetic core and having been in use for over 20 years, no information is available on the safety of veterinary radiofrequency identification devices during MR examinations. These devices are the most commonly encountered metallic implants in dogs and cats undergoing MR imaging. Three commercial veterinary microchips were evaluated for safety in the MR environment at 1 T. Parameters tested were translational force, torque, heating, artifact production, and function. Translation and torque were larger than that expected from normal activity under normal gravity. No significant heating was observed. Signal void artifacts may affect diagnosis if they are too close to the area of clinical importance. Microchip function was unaffected by routine clinical MR imaging. Capsule formation around devices is a major factor in counteracting translation and torque. Our findings support that is acceptable for patients to undergo MR imaging with this 1 T system following an interval of 3 months postimplantation to allow capsule growth. Because of the complex interactions involved, these observations may not be translatable to MR scanners of different field strength and/or manufacturer. Further safety testing of these and other radiofrequency identification devices is therefore recommended at different field strengths and equipment specifications.