Possibilities of using ultrasonographic fetal biometry in cats

Ultrasonographic fetal biometry is a technique used in both human and veterinary medicine to predict parturition time and evaluate fetal development. In domestic cats, the parameters that have been examined so far are the inner chorionic cavity diameter (ICC), biparietal diameter (BPD), deep portion of diencephalotelencephalic vesicle (DPTV), femur length (FL), body diameter/abdominal diameter (BD/AD), and eye diameter (ED). The most accurate are ICC and BPD measured in early and late pregnancies. With regard to breed and size differences, there are formulas dedicated to Maine coons. There is a need to develop formulas for other domestic cat breeds and to examine the course of development of more fetal structures.

Association of Radiation Doses and Cancer Risks from CT Pulmonary Angiography Examinations in Relation to Body Diameter

In this study, we aimed to estimate the probability of cancer risk induced by CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) examinations concerning effective body diameter. One hundred patients who underwent CTPA examinations were recruited as subjects from a single institution in Kuala Lumpur. Subjects were categorized based on their effective diameter size, where 19–25, 25–28, and >28 cm categorized as Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The mean value of the body diameter of the subjects was 26.82 ± 3.12 cm, with no significant differences found between male and female subjects. The risk of cancer in breast, lung, and liver organs was 0.009%, 0.007%, and 0.005% respectively. The volume-weighted CT dose index (CTDIvol) was underestimated, whereas the size-specific dose estimates (SSDEs) provided a more accurate description of the radiation dose and the risk of cancer. CTPA examinations are considered safe but it is essential to implement a protocol optimized following the As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle.

Theoretical studies of sorting rice seeds in the electric field

The article provides information about the device, the principle of operation of the developed dielectric device for sorting rice seeds, the results of determining the design parameters of bipolar electrodes and theoretical studies to substantiate the angle of separation of rice seeds from the surface of the working body and the magnitude of the applied voltage to bipolar electrodes, as well as the coordinates of the axis of the separation plane of the receiving hopper. The results of theoretical studies revealed that with a working body diameter of 350 mm and a frequency of its rotation of 50 min-1 for sorting rice seeds on a dielectric device, it is enough to apply a voltage of about 1500 V to the multipolar electrodes. At the same time, for a clear separation of rice seeds torn off from the working surface into the sowing and technical fraction, the coordinates of the axis of the dividing plane of the receiving hopper should be set from the axis of rotation of the working body at a distance: horizontally 165 mm and vertically 300 mm, with its height 150 mm.

Study of two species, one new and one known, of the genus Aporcella Andrássy, 2002 (Dorylaimida, Aporcelaimidae) from Iran, with a note on its phylogeny

Two species of the genus Aporcella, one new and one previously known, collected from cultivated fields in Iran are studied. Description, morphometrics, illustrations (both line and microphotographs) and D2–D3 sequences are provided for Aporcella talebii sp. n., which is characterized by its 1.66–2.02-mm-long body, lip region offset by constriction and 15–17 μm broad, odontostyle 14–17.5 μm long, neck 412–484 μm long, pharyngeal expansion occupying 46–50% of total neck length, uterus simple and 1.6–2.0 times the corresponding body diameter long, V = 52–59, tail conical (40–50 μm, c = 37–47, c′ = 1.1–1.4) with a weak but perceptible dorsal concavity at the end and male absent. Morphometrics, microphotographs and D2–D3 sequences of Aporcella simplex are also presented, this being its first Asian record. Molecular analyses confirm the monophyly of the genus, its close relationship with other taxa lacking pars refringens vaginae and the polyphyly of Aporcelaimidae.

Validation of two-dimensional vertebral body parameters in estimating patient height in elderly patients

Objectives Standardised comparison of abdominal muscle and adipose tissue is often utilised in morphometric clinical research. Whilst measurements are traditionally standardised against the patient’s height, this may not be always practically feasible. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between measurements of the vertebral body and patient height. Methods We analysed cross-sectional CT scans. Measurements of the vertebral body area (VBA), anteroposterior vertebral body diameter (APVBD) and lateral vertebral body diameter (LVBD) were made by two independent investigators by manual tracing. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 standardisation and Group 2 validation. We compared height and vertebral body parameters from patients in Group 1 and mathematically modelled this relationship. We then utilised the model to predict the height of patients in Group 2 and compared this with their actual height. Observer variability was assessed using Bland–Altman plots and t-tests of differences. Results CT scans from 382 patients were analysed. No significant intraobserver or interobserver differences were apparent when measuring vertebral body parameters. We describe models which enable the prediction of the patients’ height using the measured VBA, APVBD and LVBD. No significant differences were observed between the patients predicted and actual heights in the validation group. Conclusions We demonstrate an important relationship between measurements of the patient’s height and the vertebral body. This can be utilised in future research when the patient’s height has not been measured. Advances in knowledge In the absence of the patient’s height, we demonstrate that two-dimensional vertebral body parameters may be reliably used to standardise morphometric measurements.

Four new free-living marine nematode species (Sabatieria) from the Chukchi Sea

Four new free-living marine nematode species of the genus Sabatieria are described from the Chukchi Sea. Sabatieria chukchensis sp. n. is characterized by a long body (2052–2326 μm), two pairs of short cervical setae present, amphideal fovea spiral with 2.75–3.25 turns, and seven papilliform pre-cloacal supplements. Sabatieria parvamphis sp. n. is characterized by small amphideal fovea (equal to 55–72% corresponding body diameter), amphideal fovea spiral with 3.25 turns, short cephalic setae (6–7 μm, equal to 31–38% of head diameter), curved gubernacular apophyses, thirteen to fifteen prominent tubular pre-cloacal supplements with distance between adjacent supplements increasing towards the anterior. Sabatieria major sp. n. is characterized by a long body (3879–4255 μm), amphideal fovea spiral with 2.5–3.25 turns, and seventeen to thirty-two small tubular pre-cloacal supplements. Sabatieria multisupplementia sp. n. is characterized by a long body (3967–4294 μm), amphideal fovea spiral with 2.75–3 turns, and forty-one to forty-seven tubular pre-cloacal supplements.