IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF INTRATHORACIC HISTIOCYTIC SARCOMA IN DOGS

In this retrospective study, two observers independently reviewed thoracic imaging studies of 39 dogs with confirmed histiocytic sarcoma. The most common findings were intrathoracic lymphadenopathy, identified by the first and second observers in 82.1% and 87.2% of dogs, respectively, and pulmonary masses (74.4% and 82.1%). Right middle lung lobe masses were significantly more common than masses in any other lung lobe (P<0.0013), with the majority having a ventral distribution. Sternal and tracheobronchial lymphadenopathy were significantly more common than cranial mediastinal lymphadenopathy (P‐values of 0.0002 and 0.012, respectively). Interobserver agreement regarding distribution of lymphadenopathy and pulmonary masses was good (κ=0.64 and 0.75, respectively). Other findings included pulmonary nodules, pleural effusion, and abnormal pulmonary patterns. In patients with CT examinations, the majority of masses were mildly to moderately enhancing and heterogeneous, poorly marginated, and bronchocentric. Lymphadenopathy and pulmonary masses are the most common intrathoracic findings in dogs with histiocytic sarcoma, and the strong predilection for the ventral aspect of the right middle lung lube may help to differentiate it from other types of neoplasia.     

Imaging and histological features of central subchondral osteophytes in racehorses with metacarpophalangeal joint osteoarthritis

Reasons for performing study: Marginal osteophytes represent a well known component of osteoarthritis in man and animals. Conversely, central subchondral osteophytes (COs), which are commonly present in human knees with osteoarthritis, have not been reported in horses. Objectives: To describe and compare computed radiography (CR), single‐slice computed tomography (CT), 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and histological features of COs in equine metacarpophalangeal joints with macroscopic evidence of naturally‐occurring osteoarthritis. Methods: MRI sequences (sagittal spoiled gradient recalled echo [SPGR] with fat saturation, sagittal T2‐weighted fast spin echo with fat saturation [T2‐FS], dorsal and transverse T1‐weighted gradient‐recalled echo [GRE], and sagittal T2*‐weighted gradient echo with fast imaging employing steady state acquisition [FIESTA]), as well as transverse and reformatted sagittal CT, and 4 computed radiographic (CR) views of 20 paired metacarpophalangeal joints were acquired ex vivo. Following macroscopic evaluation, samples were harvested in predetermined sites of the metacarpal condyle for subsequent histology. The prevalence and detection level of COs was determined for each imaging modality. Results: Abnormalities consistent with COs were clearly depicted on MRI, using the SPGR sequence, in 7/20 (35%) joints. They were identified as a focal hypointense protuberance from the subchondral plate into the cartilage, at the palmarodistal aspect (n = 7) and/or at the very dorsal aspect (n = 2) of the metacarpal condyle. COs were visible but less obvious in 5 of the 7 joints using FIESTA and reformatted sagittal CT, and were not identifiable on T2‐FS, T1‐GRE or CR. Microscopically, they consisted of dense bone protruding into the calcified cartilage and disrupting the tidemarks, and they were consistently associated with overlying cartilage defects. Conclusions: Subchondral osteophytes are a feature of osteoarthritis of equine metacarpophalangeal joints and they may be diagnosed using 1.5 Tesla MRI and CT. Potential relevance: Central subchondral osteophytes on MRI represent indirect evidence of cartilage damage in horses.     

基于多重分形理论的原木CT腐朽图像分析与处理

使用计算机断层扫描技术进行原木无损检测,采用多重分形频谱分析方法可以对原木CT图像进行有效的边缘检测,该方法首先计算图像各像素点的H lder指数α(x,y),然后估计出其多重分形频谱f(α)的值,对图像的像素点进行分类,f(α)=1为平滑边缘点,1≤f(α)<1.5为奇异边缘点。根据多重分形理论,平滑点和奇异点的集合即为图像的边缘点。实验结果表明,该方法对原木CT图像的边缘检测具有良好的效果,并具有较好的局部性,为原木CT图像的边缘检测提供了一种新方法。     

A COMPLEMENTARY RADIOGRAPHIC PROJECTION OF THE EQUINE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT

The complexity of the equine skull makes the temporomandibular joint a difficult area to evaluate radiographically. The goal of this study was to determine the optimal angle for a complementary radiographic projection of the equine temporomandibular joint based on a computed tomography (CT) cadaver study. CT was performed on six equine cadaver heads of horses that were euthanized for other reasons than temporomandibular joint disease. After the CT examination, 3D reconstruction of the equine skull was performed to subjectively determine the angle for a complementary radiographic projection of the temporomandibular joint. The angle was measured on the left and right temporomandibular joint of each head. Based on the measurements obtained from the CT images, a radiographic projection of the temporomandibular joint in a rostral45°ventral-caudodorsal oblique (R45°V-CdDO) direction was developed by placing the X-ray unit 30° laterally, maintaining at the same time the R45°V-CdDO angle (R45°V30°L-CdDLO). This radiographic projection was applied to all cadaver heads and on six live horses. In three of the live horses abnormal findings associated with the temporomandibular joint were detected. We conclude that this new radiographic projection of the temporomandibular joint provides superior visualization of the temporomandibular joint space and the articular surface of the mandibular condyle.     

Diagnostic imaging of a renal adenoma in a Red Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus Cuvier, 1829)

This case report describes the radiographic, ultrasonographic and computed tomographic (CT) examination of an abdominal swelling in a Red Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus Cuvier, 1829). While radiography only demonstrated caudoventral compression of the swimbladder, ultrasonography found a huge tumor-like parenchyma in the caudal abdomen. CT studies detected a possible connection between the tumor and the kidneys. Necropsy and pathohistology were performed. A papillary-cystic adenoma of the kidney was diagnosed.     

基于CT扫描与细观力学的植物侧根固土机理分析

为了探寻植物根系加固土体、防护边坡的作用机理,该文从细观角度对根系固土的力学特性进行了探讨,并利用长江科学院研制的CT三轴仪,分别对素土样和2种含根土样进行不固结不排水的CT实时三轴剪切试验。通过对试样3个断面在不同应变时刻所对应的CT扫描数据进行定量分析发现,3个扫描层中素土样的(CT数均值)ME-ε1关系曲线下降段和(CT数方差)SD-ε1关系曲线上升段的变化幅度均大于2种含根土样曲线相应阶段的变化幅度;这说明含根土体内部缺陷发育速度更慢,含根土样内部裂纹萌生和扩展得更加缓慢,根系具有阻裂作用。文中重点对3种土样在高度的7/16处的断面上的CT扫描图片进行了定性和定量分析。利用Matlab软件自编后处理程序,对CT扫描图片进行了二值化处理,并统计出断面上的裂隙率、根附近区域及其之外区域的总裂隙大小、最大裂隙区域的长度和宽度信息。通过对含根土样和素土样受压过程的CT演化图片和断面上统计的裂缝数据信息进行比较分析,来对比说明素土和含根土样中裂纹扩展以及试样破坏过程的差异,从而揭露了根系的阻裂作用和桥联作用。最后得出根系固土的细观力学机理主要表现为根系对土体的阻裂作用和桥联作用。     

基于CT图像的土壤孔隙结构重构

土壤孔隙的几何结构和空间特征决定了土壤的透气性和保水性,对土壤功能多样性和生态修复具有重要影响,但现有对土壤孔隙的研究中,缺乏可直观性和定量性对孔隙特征进行描述的工具和方法。针对这一问题,本文采用基于面绘制的移动立方体法(Marching cubes, MC)和基于体绘制的光线投射法(Ray casting, RC)还原土壤孔隙的几何形态和空间分布。以单个孔隙和不同孔隙密集程度的土壤孔隙CT图像为应用对象进行实验,结果表明,2种算法的重构效果均不受土壤样本孔隙密集程度的影响。其中,MC算法重构出的孔隙结构存在边界锯齿化和缺失的现象,且其孔隙体积也小于实际情况;而RC算法重构的孔隙轮廓清晰,结构真实,可完整地呈现出孔隙结构的细节信息。为进一步评价2种算法的重构性能,采用模型品质、绘制速度和内存消耗3个指标进行实验结果的比较分析。结果表明,MC算法存在二义性的不足,使得孔隙结构存在一定程度的失真,重构的孔隙模型质量一般,但由于其只针对表面体素进行重构,因而具有较快的绘制速度和较小的内存消耗;而RC算法采用为每个体素分配不透明度和光强的方法来合成模型,避免了MC算法的缺点,能够保持孔隙模型的细节信息,但由于其重构过程中所有体素点都参与运算,使得其绘制速度较慢,内存占用较大。通过对模型品质、绘制速度和内存消耗3个指标的综合分析,RC算法更加适用于土壤孔隙的三维重构,不仅为土壤孔隙的可视化分析提供了一种较为先进的方法,也为研究土壤水分和养分的运移以及空气的交换奠定了技术基础。     

基于图像处理和深度迁移学习的芒果果实病状识别

目的 基于计算机层析成像(Computed tomography, CT)设备所得芒果CT序列图像,实现芒果内部品质的无损检测和病状识别分类。方法 利用分段函数法、中值滤波结合双边滤波,实现芒果图像增强;采用局部自适应阈值法,实现二值化处理;采用种子填充法进行区域填充;最后通过差影法准确提取芒果果实内部组织的坏损区域。基于深度迁移学习模型,对未处理和已处理的芒果图像数据开展训练和测试,通过AlexNet和GoogLeNet深度学习网络开展迁移学习,调整超参数完成训练过程的网络微调,在不同模型中对比未处理和已处理的芒果测试集在模型上的分类结果。结果 基于未处理数据集,GoogLeNet模型在学习率为0.0002下训练,Accuracy和Macro-average指标分别为98.79%和98.41%。基于已处理数据集,GoogLeNet模型在学习率为0.0002下训练,Accuracy和Macro-average指标分别为100%和100%。深度迁移学习模型在已处理数据集下的模型分类指标较未处理的数据集下有较大的提升。基于同一数据集且超参数一致时,GoogLeNet网络的分类效果明显优于AlexNet网络。结论 设定学习率为0.0002、迭代轮数为3、最小批值为64,基于GoogLeNet网络开展深度迁移学习训练,将所得模型作为最终的分类模型。     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF NASAL DISEASE IN 100 DOGS

One hundred dogs with nasal disease were evaluated by computed tomography (CT). Certain findings were significantly correlated with neoplasia. These included patchy areas of increased density within soft tissue opacity, destruction of part or all of the ethmoid bones, abnormal soft tissue in the retrobulbar spaces, destruction of one or both the lateral maxillae, destruction of the nasal bone or rostral dorsal maxilla, or hyperostosis of the lateral maxilla. Combinations of these findings were even more significant for neoplasia. No single finding or combination of findings was absolutely definitive of neoplasia. The results of this study are useful in indicating that biopsy results should be questioned if one or more of the above factors is present and a diagnosis of inflammation is made.     

Selection for lean weight based on ultrasound and CT in a meat line of sheep

Genetic parameters for carcass traits in lambs at weaning (average age of 128 days) measured by ultrasound (n = 1821) and computer tomography (CT) (n = 234), and response to selection for ultrasound eye muscle depth (UMD) and carcass LEAN weight, were estimated. The research flock comprised a meat line (ML) and a control line (CL) of Norwegian White Sheep. The ML was crossed with Texel from 1998, and selected for UMD from 1993 to 2001, and for LEAN weight from 2001 to 2004. For CT scanning, a mean of 23 images was taken per animal. Genetic parameters were estimated with univariate and bivariate mixed-animal models using AIREML, including all animals with records and their relatives. The statistical models included fixed effects, live weight or age of lamb at weaning (covariate), and a random genetic effect.

Heritability estimates for weight of LEAN, FAT and BONE were 0.57, 0.29 and 0.51 using model corrected for live weight. The heritability estimates were lower when these traits were adjusted for age. High genetic correlation was found between LEAN and UMD (0.70), and between carcass FAT and ultrasound fat depth (UFD) (0.82). The genetic trend for UMD regressed on year of birth was significantly greater for ML than CL in 2004.