COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY OF BALL PYTHONS (Python regius) IN CURLED RECUMBENCY

Anesthesia and tube restraint methods are often required for computed tomography (CT) of snakes due to their natural tendency to curl up. However, these restraint methods may cause animal stress. The aim of this study was to determine whether the CT appearance of the lungs differs for ball pythons in a curled position vs. tube restraint. Whole body CT was performed on ten clinically healthy ball pythons, first in curled and then in straight positions restrained in a tube. Curved multiplanar reformatted (MPR) lung images from curled position scans were compared with standard MPR lung images from straight position scans. Lung attenuation and thickness were measured at three locations for each scan. Time for positioning and scanning was 12 ± 5 min shorter for curled snakes compared to tube restraint. Lung parenchyma thickness and attenuation declined from cranial to caudal on both straight and curled position images. Mean lung parenchyma thickness was greater in curled images at locations 1 (P = 0.048) and 3 (P = 0.044). Mean lung parenchyma thickness decreased between location 1 and 2 by 86–87% (straight: curled) and between location 1 and 3 by 51‐50% (straight: curled). Mean lung attenuation at location 1 was significantly greater on curled position images than tube restraint images (P = 0.043). Findings indicated that CT evaluation of the lungs is feasible for ball pythons positioned in curled recumbency if curved MPR is available. However, lung parenchyma thickness and attenuation in some locations may vary from those acquired using tube restraint.     

Isolation of chicken taste buds for real‐time Ca2+ imaging

We isolated chicken taste buds and used a real‐time Ca²⁺ imaging technique to investigate the functions of the taste cells. With RT‐PCR, we found that isolated chicken taste bud‐like cell subsets express chicken gustducin messenger RNA. Immunocytochemical techniques revealed that the cell subsets were also immunopositive for chicken gustducin. These results provided strong evidence that the isolated cell subsets contain chicken taste buds. The isolated cell subsets were spindle‐shaped and approximately 61–75 μm wide and 88–98 μm long, and these characteristics are similar to those of sectional chicken taste buds. Using Ca²⁺ imaging, we observed the buds' response to 2 mmol/L quinine hydrochloride (a bitter substance) and their response to a mixture of 25 mmol/L L‐glutamic acid monopotassium salt monohydrate and 1 mmol/L inosine 5′‐monophosphate disodium salt, umami substances. The present study is the first morphological demonstration of isolated chicken taste buds, and our results indicate that the isolated taste buds were intact and functional approaches for examining the taste senses of the chicken using Ca²⁺ imaging can be informative.     

Congenital Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 3-month-old intact female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was presented with a 2-month history of ataxia. On physical examination, the ferret had difficulty standing upright. During the neurologic examination, the patient had a left head tilt and positional strabismus, circled to the left, and was ataxic. Results of the complete blood count were consistent with a mild normocytic normochromic anemia. Initial treatment was supportive. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed and revealed an asymmetry of the inner ears. A brainstem auditory evoked response test was also performed. History, clinical signs, and diagnostic test results indicated that the ferret was suffering from congenital peripheral vestibular syndrome and left-sided deafness. Congenital disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young ferrets with peripheral vestibular syndrome. Supportive care and physiotherapy can improve balance and motor function, leading to an acceptable quality of life.     

Spinal deformity in triploid grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes)

From mid-2004 to mid-2005, several grass carp, Ctenophayngodon idella (Valenciennes), showing evidence of spinal deformity were presented to the Aquatic Animal Health Program, Cornell University. The carp were from three separate locations in New York State. The first case involved several fish from a natural body of water in the Catskill Mountain region of south-eastern New York State. The second was a single affected individual from a private pond in the Fingerlakes region of Central New York State. The third was a single individual from the Cold Springs Harbor Fish Hatchery, Cold Springs Harbor, Long Island. All fish were at least 7 years of age. Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans revealed the deformities to be of bony origin. The spinal deformities were characterized by variable amounts of kyphosis, scoliosis and rotation. While it is not possible to determine the specific cause(s) of the lesions, we consider a genetic component as a likely contributor to the observed pathology.     

PBL模式在兽医影像学课程教学中的应用——以“骨折影像学诊断”教学为例

以扬州大学兽医学院2009和2010级选修兽医影像学课程的学生为研究对象,研究问题引导式教学法在该课程“骨折影像学诊断”教学中的应用效果.结果表明,与基于讲义的教学模式（LBL）相比,采用问题引导式教学方法（PBL）,可显著提高学生的卷面考试成绩、读片考试成绩和病历书写成绩,有助于调动学生的学习积极性,加强学生对知识的掌握程度,提高学生的自主学习能力.     

ICP-MS测定区域地球化探样品中稀土元素的研究

[目的]为了提高化探样品的分析质量和分析速度.[方法]通过1/5万区域地质矿产调查项目,在青海东部地区发现土壤中含有稀土元素.稀土就是化学元素周期表中镧系元素-镧（La）、铈（Ce）、镨（Pr）、钕（Nd）、钷（Pm）、钐（Sm）、铕（Eu）、钆（Gd）、铽（Tb）、镝（Dy）、钬（Ho）、铒（Er）、铥（Tm）、镱（Yb）、镥（Lu）,以及与镧系的15个元素密切相关的2个元素-钪（Sc）和钇（Y）,共17种元素.采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（ICP-MS）,测试化探样品中的稀土元素.[结果]按照该研究分析方法测定稀土15种元素的结果令人满意.[结论]该方法具有操作简便、准确性良好的特点,适用于区域地球化探样品的分析测试.     

Moisture distribution in rice grains used for sake brewing analyzed by magnetic resonance imaging

Water absorption in individual white-core and non-white-core grains of rice varieties used in sake brewing was observed during soaking by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Water was absorbed faster in white-core grains than in non-white-core grains and was pooled in the core. Moisture distributions were compared using the line profiles of nuclear magnetic resonance signal intensities (SI profiles) generated from magnetic resonance images of grains soaked for 2 h. SI profiles of white-core and non-white-core grains overlapped despite slight differences in the central and intermediate regions of the grains. A white-core-like structure with loosely packed starch granules was found to exist in the endosperm of non-white-core grains. SI profiles of grains polished to 70% of the yield weight of brown rice were similar in shape to those of grains polished to 90% of the yield, but their overall moisture content was higher after the removal of the hydrophobic grain periphery. A varietal difference in the thickness of the intermediate region, which may affect fissuring resistance in the polishing process, was detected in SI profiles. Differences in water absorbability between parents and their offspring were also apparent from their SI profiles. MRI enabled the detection of variety-specific water-absorption properties in grains.     

Evaluation of fabric pilling using hybrid imaging methods

A study has been made on the quantification and evaluation of fabric pilling using two-dimensional and three-dimensional hybrid imaging methods. Two-dimensional imaging method was good for some samples while three-dimensional measurement method for others, according to the properties of their base fabric. Various image processing techniques as well as three-dimensional data processing algorithms were applied for the extraction of pills from measured data and a series of shape parameters have been defined for the objective evaluation of fabric pilling. An evaluation criterion that is compatible with the conventional evaluation method has been proposed by applying the new evaluation method to the current photographic standards.