Targeting murine heart and brain: visualisation conditions for multi-pinhole SPECT with 99mTc- and 123I-labelled probes

The study serves to optimise conditions for multi-pinhole SPECT small animal imaging of (123)I- and (99m)Tc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals with different distributions in murine heart and brain and to investigate detection and dose range thresholds for verification of differences in tracer uptake.A Triad 88/Trionix system with three 6-pinhole collimators was used for investigation of dose requirements for imaging of the dopamine D(2) receptor ligand [(123)I]IBZM and the cerebral perfusion tracer [(99m)Tc]HMPAO (1.2-0.4 MBq/g body weight) in healthy mice. The fatty acid [(123)I]IPPA (0.94 +/- 0.05 MBq/g body weight) and the perfusion tracer [(99m)Tc]sestamibi (3.8 +/- 0.45 MBq/g body weight) were applied to cardiomyopathic mice overexpressing the prostaglandin EP(3) receptor.In vivo imaging and in vitro data revealed 45 kBq total cerebral uptake and 201 kBq cardiac uptake as thresholds for visualisation of striatal [(123)I]IBZM and of cardiac [(99m)Tc]sestamibi using 100 and 150 s acquisition time, respectively. Alterations of maximal cerebral uptake of [(123)I]IBZM by >20% (116 kBq) were verified with the prerequisite of 50% striatal of total uptake. The labelling with [(99m)Tc]sestamibi revealed a 30% lower uptake in cardiomyopathic hearts compared to wild types. [(123)I]IPPA uptake could be visualised at activity doses of 0.8 MBq/g body weight.Multi-pinhole SPECT enables detection of alterations of the cerebral uptake of (123)I- and (99m)Tc-labelled tracers in an appropriate dose range in murine models targeting physiological processes in brain and heart. The thresholds of detection for differences in the tracer uptake determined under the conditions of our experiments well reflect distinctions in molar activity and uptake characteristics of the tracers

Using computer simulation to aid the research of drilling processes

Drilling wells is one of the primary methods used for mineral exploration. Scientific studies have aimed at improving the technical and economic aspects of drilling because of the current competitive economic conditions. Note that the primary topic of these studies has been developing new effective rock-cutting tools. To design a new rock-cutting tool, a thorough, reliable, and accurate study of the processes that occur during drilling is necessary. During drilling, mechanical, hydraulic, thermal, and chemical phenomena, which are interdependent and affect the performance of a drilling tool, simultaneously occur; therefore, a systematic, integrated approach is required for studying drilling processes. Field-based and laboratory experiments are quite tedious to perform and require high material costs, and it is often not possible to separately evaluate small elements of the drilling model. Therefore, computer simulation is an important research tool that enables accurate and reliable visualization of even small parts of the model. The aim. The aim of this study is to examine the potential for computer simulation of the processes that occur during drilling. Objective. In this study, we evaluated the simulation features of various software products, such as KOMPAS-3D, ANSYS, Delphi, and LabVIEW, for their utility in studying the processes that occur during drilling. The possibility of computer simulation for studying drilling processes, including its advantages and disadvantages, are demonstrated. The results are obtained from a model that simulates a rock cutting tool. The main uses of the rock cutting tool are outlined, and the drilling simulation development is planned. Choice of research method. The study of the capabilities of existing modern software products, for use in drilling process research, is carried out by an analytical review method