Visualization and quantification of capillary drainage in the pore space of laminated sandstone by a porous plate method using differential imaging X-ray microtomography

The experimental determination of capillary pressure drainage curves at the pore scale is of vital importance for the mapping of reservoir fluid distribution. To fully characterize capillary drainage in a complex pore space, we design a differential imaging-based porous plate (DIPP) method using X-ray micro- tomography. For an exemplar mm-scale laminated sandstone microcore with a porous plate, we quantify the displacement from resolvable macropores and subresolution micropores. Nitrogen (N 2 ) was injected as the nonwetting phase at a constant pressure while the porous plate prevented its escape. The measured porosity and capillary pressure at the imaged saturations agree well with helium measurements and experi- ments on larger core samples, while providing a pore-scale explanation of the fluid distribution. We observed that the majority of the brine was displaced by N 2 in macropores at low capillary pressures, fol- lowed by a further brine displacement in micropores when capillary pressure increases. Furthermore, we were able to discern that brine predominantly remained within the subresolution micropores, such as regions of fine lamination. The capillary pressure curve for pressures ranging from 0 to 1151 kPa is provided from the image analysis compares well with the conventional porous plate method for a cm-scale core but was conducted over a period of 10 days rather than up to few months with the conventional porous plate method. Overall, we demonstrate the capability of our method to provide quantitative information on two- phase saturation in heterogeneous core samples for a wide range of capillary pressures even at scales smaller than the micro-CT resolutio

The Effects of Sarcoptic Mange on the Microbiomes of Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans)

As the world’s population continues to grow, emerging infectious diseases increase in frequency and intensity, often traveling between human, wild animal, and domestic animal populations. Sarcoptic mange, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, is an emerging infectious disease that frequently affects wild and domestic canine populations, especially red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Past studies have observed alterations in the skin microbiomes of individuals with diseases, including mange. The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences in diversity between healthy and mange-infected red foxes and coyotes, as well as the effects of the disease on the individual’s intestinal health and of urbanization on their microbiome. Using next-generation sequencing on red fox and coyote samples, I categorized their skin microbiomes, compared alpha and beta diversity between different sample groups, and tested for significant differences in the abundance of features for different sample groups. I found that mange individuals had decreased diversity in all alpha and beta diversity metrics, with increased abundances of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Additionally, I found that individuals with mange were not significantly more prone to intestinal worms, but individuals with worms did have higher species evenness and abundance than individuals without worms. Lastly, I found that healthy coyotes had higher species richness than healthy red foxes and that samples from more populated areas had increased species evenness than samples from less populated areas. This study has implications for the approach to the treatment of emerging infectious diseases and reiterates the importance of the microbiome’s inclusion in these efforts, especially when considering vulnerable wildlife populations

The Effects of Sarcoptic Mange on the Microbiomes of Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans)

As the world’s population continues to grow, emerging infectious diseases increase in frequency and intensity, often traveling between human, wild animal, and domestic animal populations. Sarcoptic mange, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, is an emerging infectious disease that frequently affects wild and domestic canine populations, especially red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Past studies have observed alterations in the skin microbiomes of individuals with diseases, including mange. The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences in diversity between healthy and mange-infected red foxes and coyotes, as well as the effects of the disease on the individual’s intestinal health and of urbanization on their microbiome. Using next-generation sequencing on red fox and coyote samples, I categorized their skin microbiomes, compared alpha and beta diversity between different sample groups, and tested for significant differences in the abundance of features for different sample groups. I found that mange individuals had decreased diversity in all alpha and beta diversity metrics, with increased abundances of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Additionally, I found that individuals with mange were not significantly more prone to intestinal worms, but individuals with worms did have higher species evenness and abundance than individuals without worms. Lastly, I found that healthy coyotes had higher species richness than healthy red foxes and that samples from more populated areas had increased species evenness than samples from less populated areas. This study has implications for the approach to the treatment of emerging infectious diseases and reiterates the importance of the microbiome’s inclusion in these efforts, especially when considering vulnerable wildlife populations

The Effects of Sarcoptic Mange on the Microbiomes of Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans)

As the world’s population continues to grow, emerging infectious diseases increase in frequency and intensity, often traveling between human, wild animal, and domestic animal populations. Sarcoptic mange, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, is an emerging infectious disease that frequently affects wild and domestic canine populations, especially red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Past studies have observed alterations in the skin microbiomes of individuals with diseases, including mange. The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences in diversity between healthy and mange-infected red foxes and coyotes, as well as the effects of the disease on the individual’s intestinal health and of urbanization on their microbiome. Using next-generation sequencing on red fox and coyote samples, I categorized their skin microbiomes, compared alpha and beta diversity between different sample groups, and tested for significant differences in the abundance of features for different sample groups. I found that mange individuals had decreased diversity in all alpha and beta diversity metrics, with increased abundances of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Additionally, I found that individuals with mange were not significantly more prone to intestinal worms, but individuals with worms did have higher species evenness and abundance than individuals without worms. Lastly, I found that healthy coyotes had higher species richness than healthy red foxes and that samples from more populated areas had increased species evenness than samples from less populated areas. This study has implications for the approach to the treatment of emerging infectious diseases and reiterates the importance of the microbiome’s inclusion in these efforts, especially when considering vulnerable wildlife populations

Fresh Food Consumption Increases Microbiome Diversity and Promotes Changes in Bacteria Composition on the Skin of Pet Dogs Compared to Dry Foods

The skin is the first barrier the body has to protect itself from the environment. There are several bacteria that populate the skin, and their composition may change throughout the dog’s life due to several factors, such as environmental changes and diseases. The objective of this research was to determine the skin microbiome changes due to a change in diet on healthy pet dogs. Healthy client-owned dogs (8) were fed a fresh diet for 30 days then dry foods for another 30 days after a 4-day transition period. Skin bacterial population samples were collected after each 30-day feeding period and compared to determine microbiome diversity. Alpha diversity was higher when dogs were fed the fresh diet compared to the dry foods. Additionally, feeding fresh food to dogs increased the proportion of Staphylococcus and decreased Porphyromonas and Corynebacterium. In conclusion, changing from fresh diet to dry foods promoted a relative decrease in skin microbiome in healthy pet dogs