Oncotic pressure and the effects of water deprivation in healthy captive Asian elephants.

We evaluated the oncotic pressure (plasma colloid osmotic pressure, π) in a group of healthy, captive Asian elephants ( = 21) with a colloid osmometer with a membrane cutoff of >20,000 daltons. The median π for these elephants was 26.3 mm Hg with an interquartile interval of 25.

Comparison of osmolality and refractometric readings of Hispaniolan Amazon parrot (Amazona ventralis) urine.

To evaluate the relationship between osmolality and specific gravity of urine samples from clinically normal adult parrots and to determine a formula to convert urine specific gravity (USG) measured on a reference scale to a more accurate USG value for an avian species, urine samples were collected opportunistically from a colony of Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). Samples were analyzed by using a veterinary refractometer, and specific gravity was measured on both canine and feline scales. Osmolality was measured by vapor pressure osmometry.

Serum osmolality and effects of water deprivation in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

Serum from 21 healthy, captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) was evaluated by measured and calculated osmolality. Serum osmolality results for this population of Asian elephants had a median of 261 mOsm/kg and an interquartile interval of 258-269 mOsm/kg when measured by freezing point osmometry and a median of 264 mOsm/kg and an interquartile interval of 257-269 mOsm/kg when measured by vapor pressure osmometry. These values are significantly lower than values reported in other mammalian species and have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Survey of haircoat fungal flora for the presence of dermatophytes in a population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Virginia.

Before releasing rehabilitated wildlife, patients should be cured of all infectious agents that pose a risk to free-roaming wildlife or humans after release. Dermatophyte fungi, commonly known as "ringworm," have zoonotic potential and may be carried as normal flora on the haircoats of certain species. Outbreaks of ringworm are anecdotally reported to occur in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns, but no prevalence surveys have been conducted on the haircoat flora of free-roaming individuals.

Computational efficiency of ultrasonic guided wave imaging algorithms.

Guided wave imaging techniques employed for structural health monitoring (SHM) can be computationally demanding, especially for adaptive techniques such as minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) imaging, which requires a matrix inversion for each pixel calculation. Instantaneous windowing has been shown in previous work to improve guided wave imaging performance. The use of instantaneous windowing has the additional benefit of significantly reducing the computational requirements of image generation.

A model-based approach to dispersion and parameter estimation for ultrasonic guided waves.

A model-based algorithm is presented that adaptively estimates in situ ultrasonic guided wave system parameters. Dispersion curves, propagation loss, transducer distances, transmitted signal, and mode weighting coefficients are estimated using minimal a priori information and assumptions. The five-part algorithm is scalable to accommodate two or more receivers and one or more propagating modes, provided that mode separation can be achieved prior to use of the algorithm.