Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Stress Distribution During Cold Compression of Rocks and Mineral Aggregates Using Synchrotron-based X-Ray Diffraction
Published on: May 20, 2018
Determination of baseline bone mineral density using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in Suffolk-Dorset hybrid ewes
Subburamanujam Ayyappan1, Bharathi Niveditha2, Gert J Breur1
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, IN 47907, United States.
Abstract:
Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) has the ability to rapidly and non-invasively measure bone mineral density and is the most widely accepted method for quantitative assessment of bone mineral status in vivo. There is scarce information available on the baseline bone mineral density (BMD) values in adult intact Suffolk Dorset ewes (5-7 years), a frequently used animal model for the study of post-menopausal osteoporosis. The objective of the present study was to determine the baseline bone mineral density values in 26 adult intact Suffolk-Dorset hybrid ewes using a Lunar Prodigy DPX x-ray bone densitometer. The DEXA scans of the femur, lumbar spine (L3-L6) and calcaneus were obtained. Because of the low variability between the scans for the lumbar vertebrae and calcaneus in the first two animals, only two scans were obtained for the remaining animals of the study. The femoral scans were rejected due to high variability between the scans. The BMD was calculated using the standard GE antero-posterior human spine acquisition software. The bone mineral densities of regions of interest (ROIs) were compared by the Bonferroni significant difference technique. The results of the study demonstrated that the BMD progressively reduced from L3 to L6 and a strong correlation was found between the BMD values for the ROIs from L3 to L6. The present study provided a precise and rapid method for measuring the BMD of the lumbar spine in Suffolk-Dorset breed of sheep and recorded reference values in adult sheep.
Related Concept Videos
Strain-Energy Density
In the elastic region of a material, the relationship between the stress and the strain is linear and follows Hooke's Law. The strain energy density in this region...
Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
X-ray Crystallography
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Water and Mineral Acquisition
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I
Minerals
Major...

