Multimodality imaging characteristics of tension pyopneumothorax secondary to pulmonary carcinoma in a cat

A 3‐year‐old Himalayan cat was presented with respiratory distress. Radiography showed multiple gas opacity foci, with the locations dependent on patient positioning, and severe pleural effusion with a contralateral mediastinal shift. A large volume of fluid and air was aspirated, and the fluid components were consistent with a nonseptic exudate. A pulmonary mass, pleural nodules, and an air–fluid interface with air bubbles trapped in fibrous septations were identified using thoracic ultrasonography and CT. The cat died 2 days after imaging studies. Necropsy revealed tension pyopneumothorax caused by pulmonary carcinoma and multiple pleural metastases.     

Enhanced spinnability of carbon nanotube fibers by surfactant addition

A surfactant is used to enhance spinnability of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers during direct spinning via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In this study, the non-ionic surfactant, polysorbate, is used due to its good solubility in the CNT synthesis solution. The addition of the surfactant increased the specific strength and electrical conductivity of CNT fibers. Due to these enhanced properties, CNT fibers can be spun at higher speeds which results in lower linear density. These enhancements are due to the reduced agglomeration of iron catalysts during the synthesis of CNT fibers via CVD. This simple approach may create new applications for CNT fibers, such as for artificial muscles and power cables.     

Development of a low-density DNA microarray for diagnosis of target-site mutations of pyrethroid and organophosphate resistance mutations in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate detection of mutations related to insecticide resistance is essential for development of resistance management strategies to support sustainable agriculture. The M918V, L925I and T929V mutations of the voltage‐gated sodium channel gene (vgsc) and the F392W mutation of the acetylcholinesterase I gene (ace1) are reportedly associated with resistance to pyrethroids and organophosphates, respectively, in Bemisia tabaci. In order to detect known base substitutions in the ace1 and vgsc genes, a low‐density microarray with an allele‐specific probe was developed. RESULTS: Specific regions of the ace1 and vgsc gene mutations were amplified by multiplex asymmetrical PCR using Cy3‐labelled primers, and then the PCR products were hybridised on the microarray. After analysing the probe signal data, the microarray containing 12 allele‐specific probes produced a unique pattern of probe signals for field DNA samples of B. tabaci. To determine the optimal cut‐off value of each probe, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted using SPSS. Among 60 individual samples, microarray data for 57 samples were consistent with direct sequencing data. CONCLUSION: Although many molecular detection methods have been employed to monitor insecticide resistance, the present microarray provides rapid and accurate identification of target mutations in B. tabaci for resistance management. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Echocardiographic assessment of coronary artery flow in normal canines and model dogs with myocardial infarction

This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of coronary arterial profiles from normal dogs (11 animals) and canines (six dogs) with experimental myocardial infarction (MI) induced by ligation of the left coronary artery (LCA). Blood velocity of the LCA and right coronary artery (RCA) were evaluated following transthoracic pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography. The LCA was observed as an infundibular shape, located adjacent to the sinus of Valsalva. The RCA appeared as a tubular structure located 12 o''clock relative to the aorta. In normal dogs, the LCA and RCA mean peak diastolic velocities were 20.84 ± 3.24 and 19.47 ± 2.67 cm/sec, respectively. The LCA and RCA mean diastolic deceleration times were 0.91 ± 0.14 sec and 1.13 ± 0.20 sec, respectively. In dogs with MI, the LCA had significantly (p < 0.01) lower peak velocities (14.82 ± 1.61 cm/sec) than the RCA (31.61 ± 2.34 cm/sec). The RCA had a significantly (p < 0.01) rapid diastolic deceleration time (0.71 ± 0.06 sec) than that found in the LCA (1.02 ± 0.22 sec) of MI dogs. In conclusion, these profiles may serve as a differential factor for evaluating cardiomyopathy in dogs.     

Effects of Grasses on the Fate of VOCs in Contaminated Soil and Air

Plant toxicity and chemical removal tests were conducted to investigate the remediation ability of grasses with respect to volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) in contaminated soil and air. Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) were exposed to artificially contaminated soil or air containing a mixture of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), trichloroethylene (TCE), and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) under controlled laboratory conditions. The results showed that the grasses are more severely affected in hydroponics than potted soil contaminated with a mixture of these contaminants. It was observed from the results that more contaminants were detected in the shoot and root of plants grown in a closed system with contaminated air than in an open system with contaminated soil. It is suggested from the results that grasses can be used for purification of VOCs from contaminated air especially in a closed system, but the purification effects are likely to be low. The results also suggested that the concentration level of VOCs in shoot, root, and soil could be used as contamination indicator at contaminated sites.     

Treatment with aspirin or clopidogrel does not affect equine platelet expression of P selectin or platelet-neutrophil aggregates

Inflammation-induced P-selectin (CD62P) expression on platelets and endothelial cells facilitates interactions among platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), and can also promote coagulation. The effects of clopidogrel and aspirin (ASA) on equine platelet CD62P expression were investigated. Six horses were treated in a cross-over design with clopidogrel (2mg/kg PO q 24) or ASA (5mg/kg PO q 24h) for 5 days. Platelets collected at 24, 72, 96, 120, and 168h after the initiation of therapy were stimulated using 0.1μg/mL thrombin, followed by flow cytometric analysis using anti-CD41/61 and anti-equine CD62P antibodies. Platelet-PMN aggregates were also enumerated. Baseline CD62P positive platelet numbers were not different between groups (mean±SD): 4254±1785 (clopidogrel) and 3600±1780 (ASA, P=0. 435). Although expression tended to decrease, there were no significant changes in CD62P+platelets after treatment with either drug (clopidogrel P=0.139, ASA P=0.161). There was also no difference in platelet-PMN aggregates during or after treatment with ASA (P=0.513) or clopidogrel (P=0.543). Due to small numbers of horses, this study may have been underpowered to detect a true decrease in expression, and differences between therapies may have been more pronounced if this study had evaluated horses with systemic inflammation.     

3D pattern development of tight-fitting dress for an asymmetrical female manikin

Tight-fitting clothing pattern reflecting the accurate information of the 3D body shape has been one of the challenges for garment industry especially for those who have an abnormal body shape. The objective of the paper is to develop the process of making a final 2D pattern from 3D scanned surface with minimum errors that fit tightly to an asymmetrical female manikin and secondly, to verify the proposed pattern development process from the free drawn design line on the specific 3D body. On the continuum of the previous methodology which provided the precise flattening algorithm on the local 3D surface, total pattern making process was investigated step by step. Final 2D pattern was constructed using non-extensible fabric and the accuracy of the pattern was investigated by shell-shell deviation of original 3D nude and clothed image. Area of each pattern block and corresponding 3D surface block was compared, and the detailed view of the triangle arrangements for the final pattern examined, confirming the topology of the concave and convex surface reflected correctly in the pattern. As results, the accuracy of the tight-fit dress pattern was satisfactory even for the asymmetrical female manikin with prominent curvature.     

Phytoremediation and Modeling of Contaminated Soil using Eastern Gamagrass and Annual Ryegrass

The effectiveness of a warm season grass (eastern gamagrass), a cool season grass (annual ryegrass) and a rotation of warm and cool season grasses in the remediation of soil freshly contaminated with trinitrotoluene (TNT) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) was evaluated. A total of 96 columns were filled with a Weswood silt loam soil that was mixed with TNT and PBB compounds to a target concentration of 10 mg of each contaminant. Chemical losses during this two-year field lysimeter experiment were similar for all experimental treatments and at all depths. Although higher microbial biomass was found in the rhizosphere soil, enumeration of soil microorganisms revealed a robust population in both the bulk and rhizosphere soils and the microbial growth was not dependent on root exudates only. Microbial degradation rates in the freshly contaminated soil were more affected by soil properties and the chemical characteristics of the contaminant than the presence of roots. The field data collected from the lysimeter experiment was used to calibrate a recently developed phytoremediation model. The phytoremediation computer model successfully simulated TNT soil concentrations in the column lysimeters. The model may be a valuable tool for the selection and optimization of phytoremediation methods at contaminated field sites.