MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF EQUINE NIGROPALLIDAL ENCEPHALOMALACIA

Magnetic resonance imaging (MR) was used to make a diagnosis of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia in a horse. Equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia is a neurodegenerative disease that has many characteristics with Parkinson-like diseases in humans. Historically, horses were euthanized based on clinical signs and exposure to the toxic weed, yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Previously, the disease has only been confirmed on necropsy. MR imaging can provide accurate and sensitive visualization of typical lesions seen in the brain of horses affected with equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia. Lesions were seen on T1-weighted, T2-weighted and proton density images. There was no contrast enhancement following Gd-DTPA administration. Lesions seen on MR were confirmed at necropsy. Using MR to confirm a diagnosis of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia will prevent unnecessary suffering of horses and expense to owners that would otherwise incur, while further diagnostics are performed.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF MULTILOBULAR OSTEOCHONDROSARCOMA IN 3 DOGS

Three dogs with multilobular osteochondrosarcoma of the skull were evaluated using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Spin echo T1, T2, proton weighted and post contrast T1W images were obtained with a 1.5 Tesla magnet. The MR imaging findings were similar in all three dogs with mixed signal intensities in the T1W, T2W and proton weighted images and fairly large areas of contrast enhancement in the post contrast T1W images. The extent of brain and soft tissue involvement were well delineated and provided useful information concerning surgical planning. MR imaging provided a useful method of evaluating dogs with skull tumors.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS OF PRESUMED CEREBELLAR CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT IN TWELVE DOGS

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of presumed cerebrovascular accident in 12 dogs are described. Fourteen lesions were seen, commonly (11 of 14) within the gray matter of the cerebellar hemispheres or vermis. Thirteen lesions were hyperintense on T2-weighted images (in 11 dogs) and one was hypointense. Eleven of 14 lesions were within the region supplied by the rostral cerebellar artery or one of its main branches and there was no, or minimal, mass effect. Contrast enhancement was only seen in six lesions and was mild in all. Gradient-echo images provided additional information in two dogs. The appearance of infarction in dogs with diffusion-weighted images (DWI) is similar to that in humans, and provided supportive evidence for the diagnosis of infarction in five dogs. The use of gradient-echo and DWI is recommended for the evaluation of suspected cerebrovascular accidents in dogs. Six of the 12 affected animals were spaniels or spaniel crosses, suggesting a possible breed predisposition.     

Material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of neurologic signs

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential significance of finding material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of 466 MR studies reviewed, an increased signal was identified in the tympanic bulla in 32 (7%) dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Cocker spaniels, Bulldogs, and Boxers were over-represented compared to the population of dogs having MR imaging. Five (16%) dogs had definite otitis media and one (3%) had a meningioma invading the middle ear. Of the remaining dogs, 13 (41%) had possible otitis media and 13 (41%) had neurologic conditions apparently unrelated to otitis media. The most common appearance of material in the middle ear was isointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. There was no apparent correlation between the signal characteristics of the material and the diagnosis. Enhanced signal after gadolinium administration was observed affecting the lining of the bulla in dogs with otitis media and in dogs with unrelated neurologic conditions. In dogs without clinical signs of otitis media, finding an increased signal in the middle ear during MR imaging may reflect subclinical otitis media or fluid accumulation unrelated to inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs may be predisposed to this condition.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS: MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF A CERVICAL WOODEN FOREIGN BODY IN A DOG

This article describes the discovery of a chronic cervical wooden foreign body ventral to the left transverse processes of the cranial cervical spine using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a dog that presented with chronic neck pain and lameness. The dog did not exhibit dysphagia or chronic draining tracts, the most common signs of the presumed cause, that of a penetrating oropharyngeal foreign body. The foreign body itself was represented on MR images as an oval straight-edged core within an inflammatory tissue reaction. The wood was slightly hyperintense on T2- and isointense on T1-weighted images relative to muscle. Surrounding this was a more conspicuous contrast-enhancing reactive tissue rim that was hyperintense on all pulse sequences. Adjacent musculature also exhibited diffuse edema and contrast enhancement that extended around the left cervical vertebral transverse processes and local intervertebral nerve roots. The foreign body was found to be a wooden stick upon surgical removal. MRI is an excellent method for visualizing the inflammatory tissue reactions associated with soft-tissue foreign bodies because of its contrast resolution and depiction of anatomy in multiple imaging planes.     

Applying Local Measures of Spatial Heterogeneity to Landsat-TM Images for Predicting Wildfire Occurrence in Mediterranean Landscapes

In mountainous Mediterranean regions, land abandonment processes in past decades are hypothesized to trigger secondary vegetal succession and homogenization, which in recent years has increased the size of burned areas. We conducted an analysis of temporal changes in landscape vegetal spatial pattern over a 15-year period (1984–1998) in a rural area of 672.3 km² in Eastern Spain to investigate the relationship between local landscape heterogeneity and wildfire occurrence. Heterogeneity was analyzed from textural metrics derived from non-classified remote sensing data at several periods, and was related to wildfire history in the study area. Several neural network models found significant relationships between local spatial pattern and future fire occurrence. In this study, sensitivity analysis of the texture variables suggested that fire occurrence, estimated as probability of burning in the near future, increased where local homogeneity was higher.     

脐橙糖度光谱图像检测技术研究

对采集到的不同波长的光谱图像灰度分布进行洛伦茨分布(LD)、高斯分布(GD)、指数分布(ED)函数拟合,通过比较发现洛伦茨分布为最优灰度分布拟合函数.将脐橙的糖度与洛伦茨分布函数拟合所得参数分别进行多元线性回归,建立最佳单波长、最佳双波长组合、最佳三波长组合和最佳四波长组合的校正方程.结果表明:利用光谱图像技术无损检测脐橙糖度是可行性的.     

基于多光谱成像技术快速无损检测紫花苜蓿人工老化种子

种子老化是影响种子生产和储藏的重要因素,给农业生产带来了严重的经济损失,已成为影响种子活力中最具威胁性的因素之一。老化种子的检测以及种子老化后发芽情况的鉴定对种子生产具有重要意义,但目前常用的检测手段都是一次性、破坏性的。因此,一种快速、无损的种子老化和发芽检测方法不仅是研究的需要,也是种子行业进行种子检测分选所急需的。利用多光谱成像技术,采集紫花苜蓿种子的形态和光谱特征数据,利用LDA（线性判别分析）、SVM（支持向量机）和nCDA（归一化标准判别分析）3种多元分析方法,对不同老化程度苜蓿种子及其发芽情况分别进行分类和预测。结果表明,不同老化程度种子平均光谱反射率在470~660 nm处出现了明显的区别。LDA可以区分老化种子和未老化种子（准确度93.0%~97.7%）,也可以区分不同老化程度的种子（准确度75.3%~91.7%）,且均高于SVM的分类结果（准确度分别为92.4%~94.9%和68.7%~78.8%）;nCDA对老化种子进行区分的准确度高达88%~98%。同时,LDA可以准确预测发芽种子和不发芽种子,准确度可达98.7%,高于SVM的92.1%;nCDA预测老化种子发芽准确度达到了90%~99%。本研究证明了多光谱成像与分析技术不仅可以区分老化种子,也可以预测种子的发芽。上述结果证实多光谱成像技术结合多元分析为高效无损检测苜蓿种子活力提供了新途径,具有良好的应用前景。     

Ultrasonographic anatomy of reproductive female leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Captive leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) often present to the exotic clinic for gastrointestinal impactions, follicular stasis, or dystocia. To our knowledge, normal ultrasonographic anatomy of these lizards has not been described. The objectives of this prospective, anatomic, analytical study were to develop ultrasound techniques for this species and to describe the normal sonographic anatomy of the head, coelomic cavity, and tail. Eleven, healthy, female leopard geckos were included. A linear array 13–18 MHz transducer was used. Geckos were sedated and restrained in dorsal recumbency for coelomic structure examination and in ventral recumbency for head and tail examinations. Sagittal and transverse images were acquired and authors recorded qualitative and quantitative ultrasonographic characteristics of anatomic structures. The ventral surface of the lungs, liver, gallbladder, caudal vena cava, portal vein, ventral abdominal vein, aorta, ovarian follicles, fat bodies, tail, and brain were visualized in 10 of 11 individuals. In one individual, molt precluded ultrasonographic examination. The heart, kidneys, urinary bladder, spleen, and pancreas were not visualized. The digestive tract was observed in 10 individuals but was too small to be measured. Findings from the current study could be used as a reference for future studies of leopard geckos.     

1990—2019年阿拉尔垦区植被覆盖时空变化特征分析

监测植被覆盖变化对区域生态环境评价和可持续发展具有重要意义。本文基于Landsat遥感影像和相关统计数据,运用像元二分模型和重心转移模型等方法分析阿拉尔垦区1990—2019年近30年的植被覆盖时空变化特征。结果表明：1990—2019年,阿拉尔垦区平均植被覆盖面积呈增加趋势,高和极高植被覆盖区的面积呈增加趋势,差异显著,分别增加了674 km²和1 147 km²;阿拉尔垦区植被覆盖变化存在时段性和区域性差异,时段上,2005—2010年垦区西北部开始出现植被,以中覆盖类型为主,区域上,垦区西北部植被覆盖的增加趋势最显著;近30年,垦区植被覆盖重心整体向东北方向转移;气候对阿拉尔垦区植被覆盖变化有一定的影响,但人类活动影响最直接。在未来发展中应注重保护自然植被,有计划地开垦土地,合理调整垦区农业结构,科学分配水权,保证垦区生态用水,实现可持续发展。