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H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the Asian lineage (A/goose/Guangdong/1/96) belonging to clade 2.3.4.4 have spread worldwide through wild bird migration in two major waves: in 2014/2015 (clade 2.3.4.4c), and since 2016 up to now (clade 2.3.4.4b). Due to the increasing risk of these H5 HPAI viruses to establish and persist in the wild bird population, implementing vaccination in certain sensitive areas could be a complementary measure to the disease control strategies already applied. In this study, the efficacy of a novel DNA vaccine, encoding a H5 gene (A/gyrfalcon/Washington/41088-6/2014 strain) of clade 2.3.4.4c was evaluated in specific pathogen-free (SPF) white leghorn chickens against a homologous and heterologous H5 HPAI viruses. A single vaccination at 2 weeks of age (1 dose), and a vaccination at 2 weeks of age, boosted at 4 weeks (2 doses), with or without adjuvant were characterized. The groups that received 1 dose with or without adjuvant as well as 2 doses with adjuvant demonstrated full clinical protection and a significant or complete reduction of viral shedding against homologous challenge at 6 and 25 weeks of age. The heterologous clade 2.3.4.4b challenge of 6-week-old chickens vaccinated with 2 doses with or without adjuvant showed similar results, indicating good cross-protection induced by the DNA vaccine. Long lasting humoral immunity was observed in vaccinated chickens up to 18 or 25 weeks of age, depending on the vaccination schedule. The analysis of viral transmission after homologous challenge showed that sentinels vaccinated with 2 doses with adjuvant were fully protected against mortality with no excretion detected. This study of H5 DNA vaccine efficacy confirmed the important role that this type of so-called third-generation vaccine could play in the fight against H5 HPAI viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the Three Dimensional-Single Bin-Size Bin-Packing Problem (3D-SBSPP). The aim is to pack n boxes of different dimensions and weights into a minimum number of equally balanced bins. The boxes can be rotated according to six possible orientations. Balancing the bins, volume and weight wise, is of high importance. To achieve this goal, a three-stage heuristic was developed. In the first stage, the different possible layers are generated. Each layer is formed by boxes of same type packed according to a common given orientation. The second stage generates solution candidates using the layers formed in stage 1. In stage 3, the boxes to be shipped are placed in the bins following the solution candidates of stage 2 that give the best volumetric and/or weight utilization. The proposed heuristic was successfully validated through an exhaustive experimental study using a variety of problem instances and involving comparisons with other existing heuristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of crowdsensing and some of its applications. Crowdsensing is a part of the collecting data situations also; it's built on a data system on multiple customer interactions. Moreover, writing the general information of the smart cities can be used to boost to received number frequency to send messages. This work mentioned the Crowdsensing layers that describe Mobile crowdsensing. The article focuses on crowdsensing layers, developed an application in Coalition Game using crowdsensing in terms of GPS. In addition, this paper discussed the Mobile crowdsensing system and how important the cloud is in serving the wireless network, the Internet of things (IoT), and data collection. Furthermore, this research also has developed a smart crowdsensing parking system that will help by reducing the time-wasting users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Poor eggshell quality of aged laying hens is a major problem affecting rearing length. • Mn glycine have higher deposition efficiency in eggshell than inorganic Mn. • Mn glycine decrease mammillary layer thickness in blunt end, equator, and acute end. • Mn glycine increase the palisade layer and effective layer thickness in equator. • Dietary supplementation with 80 mg/kg Mn from Mn glycine enhances eggshell strength. Poor eggshell quality of eggs laid by aged laying hens is the major problem affecting the length of the rearing period in the laying hen industry. Trace elements are required and play vital roles in the eggshell quality of laying hens. Appropriate dose of organic microelements is environmentally friendly and sufficient to satisfy the needs of hens because of their greater bioavailability and lower excretion than inorganic forms. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of manganese (Mn) glycine (MG) on eggshell quality, elemental deposition, and eggshell ultrastructure in aged laying hens. A total of 720 Hy-Line Brown hens 70 weeks old were assigned equally to four groups with six replicates of 30 birds each. The hens were fed basal diets (without Mn supplementation) supplemented with 120 mg/kg of Mn from manganese sulfate monohydrate (MSM), or 40, 80, or 120 mg/kg Mn from MG for 12 weeks. Dietary supplementation with 80 mg/kg Mn from MG resulted in the greatest eggshell strength after 6 weeks of treatment (P = 0.047), and in greater eggshell strength than observed in the MSM control after 12 weeks of treatment (P = 0.025). After 12 weeks of treatment, the eggs of hens in the MG groups showed lower mammillary layer thickness in the blunt end, equator, and acute end than observed in the MSM control group (P < 0.001). With the exception of the blunt ends of eggs from hens in the 120 mg/kg MG group, the eggs of hens in the MG groups, compared with the MSM control group, exhibited a lower mammillary layer ratio, and greater palisade layer ratio and effective layer ratio in the blunt end, equator, and acute end (P < 0.001). Dietary supplementation with 80 mg/kg Mn from MG, compared with the MSM control and 40 and 120 mg/kg MG, resulted in the greatest palisade layer thickness and effective layer thickness, and the lowest mammillary layer thickness in the equator (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, supplementation with 80 mg/kg Mn from MG exhibited the greatest ratio of the palisade layer and effective layer, and the lowest mammillary layer ratio in the blunt end and equator (all P < 0.001). The Mn content of eggshells in hens-fed diets supplemented with 80 and 120 mg/kg Mn from MG was greater than that in the MSM control and 40 mg/kg MG groups (P = 0.035). Dietary supplementation with 80 or 120 mg/kg Mn from MG resulted in greater tibia Mn content than observed in the 40 mg/kg MG group (P = 0.019), and greater yolk Mn content than observed in the 40 mg/kg MG and MSM control groups (P = 0.018). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 80 mg/kg Mn from MG, compared with the MSM control (120 mg/kg Mn), may increase the deposition efficiency of Mn, alter eggshell elemental composition, improve eggshell ultrastructure, and enhance eggshell strength in aged laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial-scale production and commercialisation of graphene and related 2D materials introduces the need for rapid, reliable and cost-effective quality control procedures. Currently, microscopy-based techniques are used to measure the lateral size and thickness of particles but while powerful, these techniques suffer from limitations such as lengthy analysis time, high costs and limited sampling. In the case of carbon-based 2D materials, as the stacking of multiple graphene sheets causes a reduction in the surface to mass ratio, the number of layers can hypothetically be calculated by comparing the theoretical surface area of monolayer graphene (2630 m2/g) to the calculated specific surface area (SSA) measured by gas physisorption measurements. However, despite the potential of this method of analysis, there is limited understanding regarding the characterisation of commercial graphene/graphite powders produced via bottom-up and top-down methods. Herein, the SSAs of a variety of commercially-available graphitic powders were measured using nitrogen physisorption isotherms at 77 K and applying Brunauer-Emmett-Teller theory. The as-obtained SSAs were then correlated to the structural and chemical properties of the materials (obtained using conventional techniques) to demonstrate the suitability of this measurement technique for quality control of graphitic powders. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the current study was to evaluate increasing levels of manganese hydroxychloride (MHC) in 45-wk-old white leghorn laying hens, using yolk and shell manganese (Mn) content as a potential marker for Mn concentration. A total of 80, 45-wk-old white leghorns were assigned to 6 dietary treatments, each consisting of 14 individually caged laying hens, with the exception of the reference diet containing 10 individually caged laying hens. The experiment consisted of a reference diet that contained 70 ppm of supplemental inorganic Mn in the form of Mn oxide and 5 experimental treatments each containing 0, 15, 30, 60, and 90 ppm supplemental MHC. Experimental birds were subjected to a 21 D depletion phase in which no supplemental Mn was included in the diet; however, during this time reference fed birds were fed the control diet (70 ppm Mn). After the 21 D depletion phase, the depleted birds were fed experimental diets for a 35 D evaluation period. Yolk and shell Mn content were analyzed at the end of the depletion phase and during the experimental phase on day 5, 10, 15, 25, and 35. During the experimental phase, Mn was replenished in the yolk and shell in all experimental treatments containing supplemental Mn; however, dose and time impacted the rate of replenishment. The yolk tended to be more sensitive to variations in Mn level as increases in Mn inclusion significantly (P < 0.05) increased concentration. These data demonstrate the ability to deplete and replenish Mn, and the use of egg yolk Mn concentration as measurement for determining changes in dietary Mn. At the conclusion of the experiment at 35 D, 60 ppm of Mn hydroxychloride seemed to be adequate in replenishing Mn to the level of the reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D is essential for the metabolism of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in birds. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different isoforms of dietary vitamin D on Ca and P utilization, egg quality, and bone mineralization of laying hens. A total of 42 Lohmann white laying hens at 57 wk of age were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments for 6 wk. Dietary treatments were: 3,000 IU/kg Vit D3 as control, and control with additional 3,000 IU/kg 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (T1), 9,000 IU/kg 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (T2), 3,000 IU/kg vitamin D3 (T3), 9,000 IU/kg vitamin D3 (T4), 3,000 IU/kg of vitamin D2 (T5), or 9,000 IU/kg of vitamin D2 (T6). Egg production and egg quality were measured weekly. Fecal samples were collected at weeks 2 and 6 to measure Ca and P utilization. After 6 wk, the left tibia and femurs were collected to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC). A 1-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD means separation test was used for statistical analysis. There were no significant differences in egg production, egg quality, BMD, or BMC of tibia and femurs among the treatments (P > 0.05). T6 significantly reduced feed intake (P < 0.05). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of Ca was higher (P < 0.012) in treatments supplemented with additional vitamin D, irrespective of forms. The ATTD of P was higher (P < 0.0001) in T5 compared to the other treatments at both time points. The utilization of Ca and P by laying hens can be improved through the addition of different isoforms of vitamin D in diets. However, additional vitamin D supplementation to laying hens, regardless of forms, had no effect on either bone mineralization or measures of egg quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study objective was to determine the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) attributes of select foodborne bacteria recovered from egg-producing (layer) chickens between 2007 and 2021 using different sample matrices (Study 1: liquid whole eggs, Study 2: spent hen cecal samples, Study 3: environmental sponge swabs and fecal samples from layer chicken barns, and Study 4: fecal samples from layer chicken barns). Samples from each study were submitted for the culture of Escherichia coli and Salmonella. In addition, samples from layer chicken barns were submitted for the culture of Campylobacter. Isolates were tested by microbroth dilution and interpreted using both clinical breakpoints and epidemiological cut-offs (ECOFFs). The ECOFFs were applied to detect non-wild type (NWT) strains. The proportion of resistant, NWT, and distribution of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were assessed. Ceftriaxone resistance was detected at a low-level in E. coli (< 2 %, all studies) and Salmonella (4.3 %, Study 2). Very low-level ciprofloxacin resistance was detected in E. coli (<1 %, Study 1) but a slightly elevated ciprofloxacin NWT E. coli (1 % to 6 %) observed. Only the farm fecal samples in Studies 2 and 3 were tested for Campylobacter as part of its study design, and moderate level ciprofloxacin resistance (<15 %) was observed. The MIC distribution patterns were similar across the organisms tested/studies and no substantial shifts in the distributions were detected. This analysis demonstrated that resistance to very important antimicrobials in bacteria from layers in Canada remains low, however, the detection of ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter and the implications of this observation to the safety of egg products, and the role of laying flocks (i.e., as reservoir for resistant organisms) needs to be investigated. • E. coli and Salmonella were detected from laying hens, their environment and products. • Campylobacter was detected where it was included in the study sampling design (fecal samples only). • Observed levels of resistant bacteria in layers were low across the samples tested and studies conducted in the last 14 years. • The detection of ciprofloxacin-resistance in Campylobacter may signify an emerging public health concern. • Monitoring of foodborne pathogens, at least on a periodic basis, complements industry-led on farm food safety programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• lattice Green functions. • layered Hubbard model. • bound 2-particle states. • attraction threshold for pair formation. • dilute limit. The condition of the existence of a bound 2-particle state (BS) is examined in the empty lattice limit within the attractive Hubbard model on layered systems. It is known, that in low-dimensional systems an infinitesimal attraction suffices to form BS, while in three dimensions (3d), a threshold must be reached. Current results indicate an abrupt transition between "infinitesimal" and "finite threshold" regimes with an increasing number of layers for infinite systems and smooth crossover for finite ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) infection in laying hens is a significant threat to public health and food safety. Host resistance against enteric pathogen invasion primarily relies on immunity and gut barrier integrity. This study applied the ST infection model and a dual live vaccine containing Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) strain Sm24/Rif12/Ssq and ST strain Nal2/Rif9/Rtt to investigate the cellular cytokine expression profiles and the differential community structure in the cecal microbiota of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicks and field-raised layers. The results showed that ST challenge significantly upregulated expressions of IL-1β in SPF chicks. Vaccination, on the other hand, led to an elevation in IFNγ expression and restrained IL-1β levels. In the group where vaccination preceded the ST challenge (S.STvc), heightened expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12β were observed, indicating active involvement of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity in the defense against ST. Regarding the cecal microbiota, the vaccine did not affect alpha diversity nor induce a significant shift in the microbial community. Conversely, ST infection significantly affected the alpha and beta diversity in the cecal microbiota, reducing beneficial commensal genera, such as Blautia and Subdoligranulum. MetagenomeSeq analysis reveals a significant increase in the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the groups (S.STvc and STvc) exhibiting protection against ST infection. LEfSe further demonstrated Faecalibacterium prausnitzii as the prominent biomarker within the cecal microbiota of SPF chicks and field layers demonstrating protection. Another biomarker identified in the S.STvc group, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes , displayed an antagonistic relationship with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii , suggesting the limited biological significance of the former in reducing cloacal shedding and tissue invasion. In conclusion, the application of AviPro Salmonella DUO vaccine stimulates host immunity and modulates cecal microbiota to defend against ST infection. Among the microbial modulations observed in SPF chicks and field layers with protection, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii emerges as a significant species in the ceca. Further research is warranted to elucidate its role in protecting layers against ST infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given a local ring (R , m) and an elliptic curve E (R / m) , we define its elliptic loop as the points of P 2 (R) projecting to E under the canonical modulo- m reduction, endowed with an operation that extends the curve's addition. While its subset of points satisfying the curve's Weierstrass equation is a group, this larger object is proved to be a power-associative abelian algebraic loop, which is seldom completely associative. When an elliptic loop has no points of order 3, its affine part is obtained as a stratification of a one-parameter family of elliptic curves defined over R , which we call layers. Stronger associativity properties are established when m e vanishes for small values of e ∈ Z. When the underlying ring is R = Z / p e Z , the infinity part of an elliptic loop is generated by two elements, the group structure of layers may be established and the points with the same projection and same order possess a geometric description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between bird type (broilers and layers) and corn particle size (fine, medium, and coarse) on the coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) of DM, nitrogen (N), starch, fat, gross energy (GE), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), and AMEn was investigated in a 2 by 3 factorial study of 6 dietary treatments. Whole corn was ground in a hammer mill to pass through screen sizes of 2.0, 5.0, and 8.0 mm for fine, medium, and coarse grades, respectively. A corn-soybean meal diet, mixed using the same batch of ingredients, was fed to both bird types. Titanium dioxide was included in all diets for digestibility measurements. 35-day-old Ross 308 male broilers and 59-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were used in this study. For each bird type, 108 birds of uniform body weights were accommodated in 18 replicates (6 replicates per particle size and 6 birds per replicate). The treatment diets were offered ad libitum for 7 d prior to the collection of ileal digesta. A bird type by particle size interaction was observed (P < 0.001) for the CAID of DM, starch and GE. In broilers, CAID of DM, starch and GE was unaffected by particle size, whilst in layers, increasing the corn particle size to medium and coarse resulted in a greater (P < 0.05) CAID for DM, starch and GE compared to fine particles. The CAID of N and fat was greater (P < 0.05) in broilers than layers and the opposite was observed (P < 0.05) for Ca and P. Regardless of bird type, coarse and medium-ground corn resulted in a greater (P < 0.05) Ca digestibility compared to finely-ground corn. Overall, broilers had a greater digestibility of nutrients than layers, except for Ca and P. Feeding medium and coarse corn particles benefited the CAID of DM, starch and GE in layers, suggesting that digestive system in these birds is probably more sensitive to feed particle size than broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in modern human diets have resulted in a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids. Rectifying this deficiency and increasing dietary levels of omega-3 fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can improve overall human health. Fish are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids; however, low levels of consumption in many parts of the world, coupled with declining fish stocks, mean that alternative dietary omega-3 sources are required. The enrichment of commonly consumed foods has been suggested as a strategy that could increase omega-3 consumption. Eggs are an obvious target for enrichment as they are consumed worldwide and can have their omega-3 content altered through dietary manipulation of hens. In the current study, algae were included in the diet of hens, at 3 inclusion levels, in order to increase the omega-3 content of their eggs. For each treatment, the DHA content of eggs reached a plateau, proportional to the level of inclusion in the diet, which was then maintained for the duration of the experimental period. Higher inclusion levels reached this plateau quicker; however, the efficiency of transfer was reduced with increased dietary DHA. This maintenance of an increased egg DHA content over a prolonged period of time emphasizes the suitability of dietary supplementation with algae as a means to improve the nutritional value of hen's eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Green synthesis of nanosized AlPO- n and SAPO- n (n = 5 and 18) crystals with AFI- and AEI-type structures from non-reacted precursor suspensions with an essential chemical compensation is presented. The crystallization of both materials was accomplished within few minutes (5–18 min) instead of several days by replacing the conventional with microwave heating. The nanosized AlPO- n and SAPO- n (n = 5 and 18) crystals were stabilized in coating suspensions and deposited in layers on silicon wafers. It was shown that the AFI-type crystals (one-dimensional pores with a diameter of 0.73 nm) were primarily oriented with (001) direction perpendicular to the substrate, while the AEI-type crystals (three-dimensional pores with a diameter of 0.38 nm) were randomly oriented. The relationship between the crystal orientation and the adsorption behavior of the AFI and AEI layers toward water was studied by GI-XRD and operando IR spectroscopy. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Green synthesis of nanosized AlPO- n and SAPO- n (n = 5 and 18). • Nanosized AlPO- n and SAPO- n crystals with high yield. • Orientation of AlPO- n and SAPO- n nanocrystals in layers. • Water sorption capacity of AlPO- n and SAPO- n layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials capable of dramatically changing their stiffness along specific directions in response to an external stimulus can enable the design of novel robots that can quickly switch between soft/highly–deformable and rigid/load–bearing states. While the jamming transition in discrete media has recently been demonstrated to be a powerful mechanism to achieve such variable stiffness, the lack of numerical tools capable of predicting the mechanical response of jammed media subjected to arbitrary loading conditions has limited the advancement of jamming-based robots. To overcome this limitation, we introduce a 3D finite–element-based numerical tool that predicts the mechanical response of pressurized, infinitely–extending discrete media subjected to arbitrary loading conditions. We demonstrate the capabilities of our numerical tool by investigating the response of periodic laminar and fibrous media subjected to various types of loadings. We expect this work to foster further numerical studies on jamming–based soft robots and structures by facilitating their design, as well as providing a foundation for combining various types of jamming media to create a new generation of tunable composites. • Materials capable of dramatically changing their stiffness along specific directions in response to an external stimulus can enable the design of novel robots that can quickly switch between soft/highly-deformable and rigid/load-bearing states. • While the jamming transition in discrete media has recently been demonstrated to be a powerful mechanism to achieve such variable stiffness, the lack of numerical tools capable of predicting the mechanical response of jammed media subjected to arbitrary loading conditions has limited the advancement of jamming-based robots. • To overcome this limitation, we introduce a 3D finite--element-based numerical tool that predicts the mechanical response of pressurized, infinitely-extending discrete media subjected to arbitrary loading conditions. • We demonstrate the capabilities of our numerical tool by investigating the response of periodic laminar and fibrous media subjected to various types of loadings. • We expect this work to foster further numerical studies on jamming-based soft robots and structures by facilitating their design, as well as providing a foundation for combining various types of jamming media to create a new generation of tunable composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Instabilities of bilayered systems with a thin layer on top of a thick substrate have been extensively studied throughout the past decade; yet, the general instability of a thin layer embedded in a matrix with different stiffnesses above and below the layer remains underinvestigated. Here, we characterize the shape instability of a layer embedded in an inhomogeneous matrix of infinite size using linear stability analysis. The layer and the matrix above and below it are composed of three different incompressible neo-Hookean materials subjected to unidirectional plane strain compression. We characterize the critical strain beyond which wrinkling occurs for varying shear moduli of the three materials. For the special case of a homogeneous matrix, a study of the serpentine and pinched modes of wrinkling reveals that serpentine wrinkling is associated with a selected wavelength if the layer is stiffer than the matrix, whereas no finite wavelength is found in the linear regime for the pinched mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layer cage cleaning and disinfection are important for disease prevention; however, published research is limited. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of commonly used products on soiled layer cages. Trial one was conducted at a university poultry research farm, and trial two was completed in a commercial pullet house. All products were mixed according to manufacturer recommendations. Treatments consisted of a negative control, a low-pressure water rinse (LPWR, garden hose), a high-pressure water rinse (HPWR, power washer), a soap, a chlorinated cleaner, a quaternary ammonium, a glutaraldehyde, a peroxyacetic acid, a phenolic, a potassium peroxymonosulfate, a hydrogen peroxide, and a quaternary/glutaraldehyde blend product. Swabs of cage floors were collected post treatment to determine if bacterial loads were reduced (P < 0.05) as compared to the appropriate controls. Aerobic bacteria were significantly reduced by 4 disinfectants in trial one and by all 7 disinfectants in trial two as compared to the HPWR control. No treatment in the first trial decreased (P < 0.05) coliforms or Staphylococcus spp. when compared to untreated control cages and the HPWR. However, reduction (P < 0.05) of coliforms and Staphylococcus spp. were observed with all disinfectants in trial two. Two disinfectant products reduced (P < 0.05) Pseudomonas spp. in trial one, and 5 disinfectant products reduced Pseudomonas spp. in trial two. These data suggest that characteristics of cleaning and disinfection regimens can vary significantly and should be taken into consideration when choosing a chemistry for disinfecting agricultural surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of feeding dried cabbage leaf residues (DCR) on egg production parameters, egg components, and egg fatty acid, cholesterol, and α-tocopherol concentrations and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD). Seventy-two 34-week-old layers were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments: 0, 4, 8, or 12% DCR with 6 replicates with 3 birds each. Results showed that feed intake, egg production, and feed conversion ratio were unaffected by dietary treatments. Similar treatment effects also were observed for egg yolk and albumin percentages. However, eggshell percentage decreased (quadratic effect, P = 0.008) with increasing DCR. Egg yolk concentrations of α-tocopherol (linear effect, P <0.001), polyunsaturated fatty acids (linear effect, P = 0.0288), and linolenic acid (quadratic effect, P = 0.025) increased with increasing dietary DCR. However, inclusion of DCR had no influence on egg yolk cholesterol concentration. ATTD of dry matter (quadratic effect, P = 0.005), organic matter (quadratic effect, P = 0.008), neutral detergent fiber (quadratic effect, P = 0.0012), apparent metabolizable energy (quadratic effect, P = 0.0006), and apparent metabolizable energy corrected-nitrogen (quadratic effect, P = 0.0006) increased as the level of DCR in the diet increased. However, ATTD of crude protein and gross energy was similar among treatments. It was concluded that DCR can be fed to layers up to 12% without adverse effects on production parameters and may improve total tract nutrient utilization and egg quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The mixed adsorption layers of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) and neutral detergents at the mercury/chlorates(VII) interface are described. The adsorption parameters for the double electrical layer were calculated from the differential capacity measurements extrapolated to zero frequency. It was found that 6-mercaptopurine dominates in the formation of adsorption equilibria of the studied mixture. Competitive adsorption between the 6-mercaptopurine-Triton X-100 and 6-mercaptopurine – Tween 80 or mixed micelles cannot be excluded. Highlights • Adsorption of 6MP and detergents at mercury/chlorates(VII) interface are described. • Mercaptopurine dominates in the formation of adsorption equilibria studied mixture. • Competitive adsorption 6MP–Triton X-100, 6MP–Tween80, micelles cannot be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-step genomic prediction method has been proposed to improve the accuracy of genomic prediction by incorporating information of both genotyped and ungenotyped animals. The objective of this study is to compare the prediction performance of single-step model with a 2-step models and the pedigree-based models in a nuclear population of layers. A total of 1,344 chickens across 4 generations were genotyped by a 600 K SNP chip. Four traits were analyzed, i.e., body weight at 28 wk (BW28), egg weight at 28 wk (EW28), laying rate at 38 wk (LR38), and Haugh unit at 36 wk (HU36). In predicting offsprings, individuals from generation 1 to 3 were used as training data and females from generation 4 were used as validation set. The accuracies of predicted breeding values by pedigree BLUP (PBLUP), genomic BLUP (GBLUP), SSGBLUP and single-step blending (SSBlending) were compared for both genotyped and ungenotyped individuals. For genotyped females, GBLUP performed no better than PBLUP because of the small size of training data, while the 2 single-step models predicted more accurately than the PBLUP model. The average predictive ability of SSGBLUP and SSBlending were 16.0% and 10.8% higher than the PBLUP model across traits, respectively. Furthermore, the predictive abilities for ungenotyped individuals were also enhanced. The average improvements of prediction abilities were 5.9% and 1.5% for SSGBLUP and SSBlending model, respectively. It was concluded that single-step models, especially the SSGBLUP model, can yield more accurate prediction of genetic merits and are preferable for practical implementation of genomic selection in layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to compare the hen-day egg production (HDEP) (%), egg size (ES) (g), feed intake (FI) (g), bodyweight (BWT) (kg), body weight gain (BWTG) (g), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed utilization (FU), and mortality of imported and local commercial egg layers from one to 20 wk of lay, as well as to predict their egg sizes. Two-thousand-six-hundred Hy-line Silver Brown commercial layers (imported) and 2,470 Boschveld indigenous commercial layers (local) were reared from d old to 44 wk of age and fed the same diet throughout. ANOVA was used to test their effects due to the strains, and the CHAID algorithm of regression tree method was used to predict the ES. The local strain came into lay first at wk 20, while the imported came into lay at 21 wk of age. The imported layers performed better in ES, FI, HDEP, BWTG, and FCR (P < 0.05) throughout the laying period, while the local layers were better (P < 0.05) in BWT with higher mortality than the imported. Also, the imported layers performed better in FU (P < 0.05) at wk 4, 8, and 24. Among the imported, the highest ES (58.116 g) was obtained from chickens with HDEP of 13.266 < HDEP < 20.35 and FI of 137.95 < FI< 138.176, while in the local layers, the highest ES (54.802 g) was obtained from chickens with HDEP of 37.876 < HDEP < 47.802. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection can be associated with respiratory, renal, and/or reproductive diseases in chickens. Under natural conditions, conjunctiva, mucosa of upper respiratory tract, and cloaca are the main routes of IBV entry. Experimentally, the study of IBV infection involved various routes of inoculation. This study investigated the impact of adding the trachea as a potential route of viral entry to the oculo-nasal infection on the host responses, pathogenicity, and tissue tropism of the Canadian IBV Delmarva (DMV/1639) strain in laying chickens. Specific-pathogen-free laying chickens were divided into three experimental groups: control group (Con group), oculo-nasal challenged group (ON group), and oculo-nasal/intratracheal challenged group (ON/IT group); all groups were observed for 12 days post-infection (dpi). The clinical signs and reduction in egg production in the ON/IT group started slightly earlier compared to the ON group. At 12 dpi, the gross lesions in the ON/IT group were confined to the ovary, while the ON group showed regressed ovary and atrophied oviduct. Only the ON group showed significantly higher microscopic lesion scores in the lung, kidney, magnum, and uterus compared to the control group at 12 dpi. The oviduct tissues of the ON group showed a significant increase in B cells infiltration compared to ON/IT and control groups. The viral shedding (detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)), tissue tropism (detected either by qRT-PCR or immunohistochemistry (IHC)), T/natural killer cells infiltration in reproductive tract (detected by IHC), and antibody-mediated immune responses (measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) showed similar patterns in the ON and ON/IT groups. • The Canadian IBV DMV/1639 strain shows wide tissue tropism in infected layers. • Oculo-nasal and intratracheal routes of challenge can both produce IBV based disease. • Including intratracheal route of IBV challenge could lead to early systemic viral replication. • Different routes of IBV challenge could alter the temporal patterns of inflammatory cells recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in laying patterns depending on the age of different genotypes of laying hens. In the experiment, six genotypes were evaluated (brown-egg hens Bovans Brown, Bovans Sperwer and Isa Sussex, white-egg hens Dekalb White, and laying hens with tinted shells Moravia Barred and Moravia BSL) in three periods during the laying cycle (the onset of lay between 20 and 26 weeks of age, the middle from 36 to 42 weeks of age and the end of lay between 64 and 70 weeks of age). A significant interaction between genotype and age was apparent in mean sequence length (P < 0.001), length of the prime sequence (P < 0.001), mean number of sequences (P < 0.001) and mean time of oviposition (P ˂ 0.001). The longest lag during the course of the experiment was with Moravia BSL, which was more than 3 h; the shortest lag was observed in Bovans Brown, which was less than 1 h. The mean time of oviposition was also affected by genotype (P ˂ 0.001). Bovans Brown laid their eggs approximately 3.5 h after the lights came on, whereas Moravia BSL laid their eggs almost 6 h after the lights came on. Egg weight increased with age (P ˂ 0.001), and the smallest differences in egg weight were with ISA Sussex (5 g), whereas the biggest differences were with Moravia BSL (10 g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When laying hen diets are enriched with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to generate value-added eggs for human consumption markets, concentrations of alpha-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) in the yolk can reach 250 mg/50 g whole egg. Flaxseed, a rich source of ALA, is commonly used for omega-3 enrichment; however, the impact of dietary flaxseed source (extracted oil vs. milled seed) on fatty acid transfer to egg yolk in laying hens is unknown. Therefore, transfer of ALA, EPA, and DHA into egg yolk from extracted flaxseed oil or milled flaxseed was evaluated in Hy-Line W-36 laying hens over an 8-week feeding period (25 to 33 wk old). Hens (n = 132) were randomly housed with 3 birds/cage (4 replicates/treatment) for each of the 11 treatment groups. Diets were isocaloric and consisted of a control diet, 5 flaxseed oil diets (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, or 5.0% flaxseed oil), and 5 milled flaxseed diets (calculated flaxseed oil concentration from milled flaxseed 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0%). Increasing dietary concentrations of flaxseed oil and milled flaxseed resulted in increased ALA, EPA, and DHA concentration in egg yolk, and fatty acid deposition from flaxseed oil was 2 times greater compared to milled flaxseed when fed at the same dietary inclusions (P < 0.01). Egg yolk EPA and DHA concentrations were not different due to oil or milled source (P = 0.21); however, increasing dietary inclusion rates of flaxseed oil from either source increased yolk EPA and DHA (P < 0.01). Hens fed either flaxseed oil or milled flaxseed resulted in reduced BW change as dietary concentrations increased (P = 0.02). Feed efficiency increased as flaxseed oil increased in concentration, while feeding milled flaxseed decreased feed efficiency (P = 0.01). Analysis of the nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy of flaxseed oil resulted in 7,488 kcal/kg on an as-fed basis. Dietary flaxseed oil improved feed efficiency and increased ALA deposition into yolk compared to a milled source, demonstrating flaxseed oil to be a viable alternative for ALA egg enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional renders based on lime had an aesthetic as well as a protective role for the historic masonry. They were applied in layers in order to ensure good adhesion and cohesion with the substrate but also in order to be functional. The technology of each layer was different in relation to the maximum grain size of the aggregates and the binder/aggregate ratio. Main requirements were the high water vapor permeability, the low water retention in order to avoid salt formation and the capacity of water absorption by capillarity of each layer should increase outwards. As moisture has a detrimental role in the thermal behavior of materials, an effort has been made to record the effect of layering in energy properties. Lime-based renders were tested in relation to their hybrid properties when different application techniques were followed. Two-layer renders with different technological characteristics in each layer were produced. Their behavior, in various deterioration mechanisms such as capillarity, external water uptake (measured by karsten tubes) and water vapor permeability was monitored. It seems that low porosity and adequate permeability is achieved in two-layer renders while the thermal conductivity was effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In our paper, we give the energy deposition inside a phantom tissue as function of wavelengths and depth. • The phantoms mimic a real tissue with its optical properties. We study the penetration depth as a function of wavelengths. • The wavelength range of our study is from 200 to 1000 nm. • The numerical study is performed for The Fitzpatrick skin types: very fair, fair, median and dark. • Our results were discussed in comparison with others research. Light beam propagation inside biological tissue, is crucial for many fields. Giving that, we had investigated the effect of melanin, on light propagation inside different type of tissue. We had constructed phantoms that approximates a real tissue and mimic its reaction to light. The skin model of seven layers takes into consideration the volume fractions and optical properties of blood, water, and melanin content. We developed a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the intensity distribution inside tissues of a light beam. The study is done for different Fitzpatrick skin types. We provide the intensity distribution and the penetration depth in the 200–1000 nm wavelength range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel thin solid film of interconnected carbon nanospheres (ICNS) has been developed and characterized as electrode. The thin film is composed of interconnected carbon nanospheres with average crystallite size of ~ 5 nm and laminar graphene layers separated by an interplanar spacing of ~ 0.32 nm. An electrode was prepared in a one-step process by depositing ICNS onto a niobium substrate by hot filament chemical vapour deposition. To prepare an electrode, solvent-refined oil without additives was annealed up to 530 °C under ~ 2700 Pa of a gas mixture containing ethanol, methanol, water, and boron trioxide. The resulting ICNS film was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, plus Raman, Fourier transform infrared and energy dispersive spectroscopies. The contact angle between deionized water and the ICNS surface was zero - the water droplet instantaneously spread over the sample surface indicating a hydrophilic surface. The film behaviour as an electrochemical electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. ICNS layers exhibited a large potential window, low uncompensated resistance, as well as low charge-transfer impedance in the presence of ferrocene-methanol or ferrocyanide as redox probes. These useful properties make ICNS electrodes very promising for future applications in electrocatalysis and (bio)sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey on the prevalence of Salmonella (S.) species was carried out on 39 layer farms in Kosovo between April and September 2012. In total 367 samples, comprising feces, dust, eggs, and internal organs from dead birds, were investigated using bacteriological culture methods. Additionally, data on the location of the farm, the total number of birds on the farm, age of birds, and laying performance were collected. Salmonella were isolated from 38 samples obtained from 19 (49%) farms. The most common serovar identified was Salmonella enteritidis, found on 18 farms. The most common S. enteritidis phage type was PT29 followed by PT6, PT7, PT21, PT13a, PT8, PT14b, and PT4. One S. enteritidis isolate was not typable. Six farms had more than one phage type. Furthermore, serovar S. Bovismorbificans also was found in samples from 3 farms. Flock size or production stage was not associated with the probability of isolating Salmonella. The only flock factor found to be significantly associated was percent hen/day production: It was 2.8 times more likely to isolate Salmonella from flocks with production above 80% hen/day production compared to flocks producing at a lower level. Analysis of antimicrobial resistance patterns of 30 isolates revealed that all isolates were sensitive to gentamicin, ampicillin, sulphamethoxazole trimethoprim, and oxytetracycline, and 29 (97%) were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. All isolates showed intermediate resistance or were resistant to minocycline and cloxacillin. Twenty-six isolates (86%) had intermediate resistance to amoxicillin and 27 isolates (90%) were fully resistant to streptomycin. The present survey revealed a high prevalence of Salmonella enteritidis in layer flocks in Kosovo, indicating that table eggs have to be suspected as an important source of human salmonellosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical diffusion and mixing of tracers in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) are not uniform, but primarily occur due to patches of turbulence that are intermittent in time and space. The effective diffusivity of regions of patchy turbulence is related to statistical parameters describing the morphology of turbulent events, such as lifetime, number, width, depth and local diffusivity (i.e., diffusivity within the turbulent patch) of the patches. While this has been recognized in the literature, the primary focus has been on well-mixed layers, with few exceptions. In such cases the local diffusivity is irrelevant, but this is not true for weakly and partially mixed layers. Here, we use both theory and numerical simulations to consider the impact of intermediate and weakly mixed layers, in addition to well-mixed layers. Previous approaches have considered only one dimension (vertical), and only a small number of layers (often one at each time step), and have examined mixing of constituents. We consider a two-dimensional case, with multiple layers (10 and more, up to hundreds and even thousands), having well-defined, non-infinite, lengths and depths. We then provide new formulas to describe cases involving well-mixed layers which supersede earlier expressions. In addition, we look in detail at layers that are not well mixed, and, as an interesting variation on previous models, our procedure is based on tracking the dispersion of individual particles, which is quite different to the earlier approaches which looked at mixing of constituents. We develop an expression which allows determination of the degree of mixing, and show that layers used in some previous models were in fact not well mixed and so produced erroneous results. We then develop a generalized model based on two dimensional random-walk theory employing Rayleigh distributions which allows us to develop a universal formula for diffusion rates for multiple two-dimensional layers with general degrees of mixing. We show that it is the largest, most vigorous and less common turbulent layers that make the major contribution to global diffusion. Finally, we make estimates of global-scale diffusion coefficients in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere. For the lower stratosphere , κ eff ≈ 2x10 − 2 m 2 s − 1 , assuming no other processes contribute to large-scale diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterized changes in the composition of subsurface layer of silver ion-exchanged soda-lime glass during annealing in hydrogen atmosphere. The formation of tens of nanometers distanced layers of silver nanoparticles in the glass at temperature of 300 °C has been revealed. Performed numerical modeling of the process demonstrates a good qualitative agreement with the experiment. This is of interest for simple formation of 3D-optoplasmonic structures, Bragg gratings or photonic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In minimally invasive surgery, there is a continuous trend towards the miniaturization of instruments in order to keep the incisions as small as possible. In this context, extensive use is made of electrosurgery. In order to optimize and miniaturize electrosurgical instruments, new ultrathin insulation methods with film thicknesses below 50 μm need to be developed. These electrical insulation films must comply with the requirements of Standard DIN EN ISO 60601-2-2. For this purpose, a high-voltage insulation layer based on a diamond like carbon (DLC) multilayer in combination with a topping layer of Parylene C has been developed. With a total thickness of less than 50 μm, this film withstands an electrical high-voltage treatment of more than 1 kV required in Standard DIN EN ISO 60601-2-2. In addition to the film's dielectric strength, its adhesion and suitability for reprocessing were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the efficiency of the use of Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) for the strengthening of existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams has been investigated. Experimental work has been conducted to determine UHPFRC material properties. Dog-bone shaped specimens have been tested under direct tensile loading, and standard cubes have been tested in compression. These results have been used for the development of a numerical model using Finite Element Method. The reliability of the numerical model has been validated using further experimental results of UHPFRC layers tested under flexural loading. Further numerical study has been conducted on full-scale beams strengthened with UHPFRC layers and jackets, and these results were compared to respective results of beams strengthened with conventional RC layers and with combination of UHPFRC and steel reinforcing bars. Superior performance was observed for strengthened beams with UHPFRC three side jackets, and the efficiency of this technique was highlighted by comparisons with other strengthening techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results of the preparation and optical characterization of As 2 S 3 layers by using spin or dip-coating technique and As 2 S 3 solutions in ethylenediamine and n-propylamine as solvents. These solutions were prepared from arsenic sulfide powders obtained from laboratory-prepared bulk glasses. Ethylenediamine and n-propylamine solutions with the same As 2 S 3 concentration of 0.7 mol/l were used for the layer preparation. Layers were prepared by both the dip-coating and spin-coating techniques with velocity of 0.2–30 cm/min and 2000 rpm for 90 s, respectively. Substrates used in these experiments were microscopic slides (refractive index of about 1.49). All applied As 2 S 3 layers were dried in vacuum for 60 min and then heat-treated at 180 °C for 60 s in nitrogen atmosphere. Prepared As 2 S 3 layers were characterized by transmission spectroscopy in the wavelength range of 200–100 nm. Thicknesses of applied layers in the range of 200–1500 nm and their refractive indices ranging from 1.7 to 2.3 at 800 nm were estimated from interference bands in measured transmission spectra using Swanepoel's method. Dispersion curves of the refractive index are shown in the paper. Optical band gaps of prepared layers in the range of 2.15–2.35 eV were determined from measured transmission spectra by using Tauc's extrapolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-layered UHTC composites for use in an extreme oxidation environment were fabricated by co-sintering. The multi-layered composite system consists of three layers and was designed with (i) an outer surface with the capacity to withstand heat fluxes in excess of 25 MW m −2 , (ii) an intermediate layer with the ability to curtail diffusion of O 2 and (iii) a bottom layer with better performance at high temperatures. One design has MeB 2 (where Me = Zr or Hf) as the outer or top layer, MeC x O y as the intermediate layer and MeB 2 /SiC as the bottom layer. Since little is known about MeC x O y ceramics, a detailed study has been carried out to synthesise and characterise them focussed on controlling MeC x O y stoichiometry. During co-sintering, the outer MeB 2 layer thickness played a crucial role in providing a crack-free component. Indicative calculations of the residual stresses confirm that a compressive stress due to bending of the disks can stop crack growth through the MeB 2 layer when its thickness is increased to 3 mm, and that the tensile stress in the bottom layer is also reduced. The cross-section microstructure of the optimised multi-layered UHTC composite shows a crack-free seamless interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of long-term inclusion of the trace elements zinc, copper, and manganese chelated with the hydroxy analogue of methionine on layer performance, eggshell quality, tibia breaking strength, and immune response. A total of 216 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens were allocated to 6 treatments with 36 pens/treatment and 1 hen/cage using a randomized complete block design. There were 6 treatments with supplemental Zn-Cu-Mn, as follows: T1 0-0-0 ppm, T2 20-5-20 ppm as sulfates, T3 20-5-20 ppm as chelates, T4 40-10-40 ppm as sulfates, T5 40-10-40 ppm as chelates, and T6 80-10-80 as sulfates. The feeding of dietary treatments started at wk 24 pullet age and measurements of the key parameters were made from wk 44 to 80. Overall results (one-way ANOVA) indicated a significant treatment effect (P < 0.05) for shell thickness (at wk 74). Hens fed either no supplemental trace minerals (T1) or lower levels of supplemental inorganic trace minerals (ITM) (T2) had lower (P < 0.05) shell thickness when compared to high levels of sulfates (T6). Supplemental minerals as chelates at lower levels (T3) resulted in comparable (P > 0.05) response to T1 and T6 but different (P < 0.05) from T2. Factorial analysis of the data showed an improvement in shell breaking strength (P < 0.05 at wk 68), shell thickness (P = 0.08 at wk 68; P = 0.03 at wk 74), tibia breaking strength (P = 0.07) and antibody (Ab) titers to SRBCs (P < 0.05 at wk 63; 1 wk after secondary antigen challenge) in hens fed chelated trace mineral when compared to inorganic trace minerals. In summary, feeding laying hens' diets containing supplemental chelated trace minerals showed improvements in eggshell thickness and immune response when compared to inorganic salts at specific time points measured during the latter part of the laying cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure and properties of the composite TiN–Ti–Al type titanium nitride surface layer with a sub-layer of titanium and aluminium produced on AZ91D magnesium alloy using a hybrid PVD method including final sealing by hydrothermal treatment were investigated. The results were analysed in terms of the microstructure–properties correlation, to approach the role of the sub-layers and the mechanisms involved in the properties improvement. The microstructure investigations indicate that the composite titanium nitride layers are tight and have nano-crystalline, diffusive character and multi zone microstructure of the type Ti x O y –TiN–Ti–Al–Al 3 Mg 2 –Al 12 Mg 17 . The significant corrosion resistance improvement of the AZ91D alloy obtained using the sealed composite titanium nitride layers was found to be the result of a synergistic mechanism which combined hydrothermal treatment of the layer with an action of aluminium sub-layer which is critical to make the sealing effective. The diffusive bonding via Mg–Al zone improves adhesion and the load bearing capacity of titanium nitride layers in wear conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of protecting and conserving the environment has led the research community to think seriously about the use of used tyres in the field of civil Engineering, as a mean to absorb the huge quantities spread all over the world. The research has found that used tyre could resolve some problems related to stability or bearing and also to protect certain structures. The problem of used tyre is a problem related to all countries; in fact millions of tonnes of waste are thrown away prompting a serious threat to the ozone layer. In this article, it will be discussed the construction of a backfill in a full scale. This backfill is set at the bottom of a big slope reaching 20m high, conducted during the construction of a highway in Sidi Lakhdar in the wilaya of Mostaganem West of Algiers. Layers of used tyres were spread on a orthorhombic pattern over a height of about 20m and a base length of 100m. The analysis and later the checks conducted were able to quantity the degree of success of this technique “Pneusol” for slope stability, as well as its effect on improving the soil against skidding, of course in addition to its environmental importance. This project which is the second one conducted in full scale in Algeria will have the benefit to improve slope stability for the adjacent road. In this project we absorbed about 6000 used tyres of trucks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nontyphoidal Salmonella infection was one of the predominant foodborne illnesses in humans. The medical burden and antimicrobial resistance of salmonellosis gained importance in public health and requested the poultry industry to seek effective measures to control the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a commercial bivalent live attenuated vaccine (AviPro Salmonella DUO) in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens and field layers. It explored its safety and efficacy against medically important strains, Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and S. Typhimurium (ST). The results demonstrated that ten vaccine doses in SPF chickens and regular doses in commercial layers showed desirable safety without affecting chicken health. Vaccinated layers demonstrated lower flock mortality and higher egg production performance than the unvaccinated layers during the raising and egg production periods. Additionally, no visceral colonization and egg contaminations were detected. Cloacal shedding of vaccine strains was noted, but the colonization of Salmonella disappeared within four weeks of the last vaccination. Regarding vaccine efficacy, one dose significantly reduced Salmonella cloacal shedding (P = 0.037 for SE and P = 0.027 for ST) and viable cell counts (P = 0.003 for SE and ST) on day 7 post the challenges. Significantly low Salmonella loads of cloacal samples on day 14 after the challenges were also determined in the vaccinated group (P = 0.006 for SE; P = 0.041 for ST). Triple immunizations effectively prevented layers from the cloacal shedding on either day 7 or day 14 post Salmonella challenges. Total viable counts of SE and ST in tissues of vaccinated layers were also reduced on day 14 after the challenges (P = 0.026 for SE; P = 0.002 for ST). To conclude, one dose of vaccine exhibited inhibitory effects on Salmonella shedding and tissue invasions in young layers. Following the regimen of triple vaccinations, Salmonella shedding was completely inhibited, and tissue invasions were significantly reduced. Incorporating this vaccine into a comprehensive Salmonella control program is promising to protect layers from the risks of contaminating the flocks and egg products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an efficient mathematical model for studying the slip-buckling behaviour of longitudinally delaminated elastic Reissner’s two-layer composite columns. The present mathematical model is used to evaluate exact critical buckling loads of these columns for the first time. The results prove that the presence of longitudinal delamination can significantly reduce the critical buckling load. The comparison of the results show that if sections outside of full delamination are undelaminated, the results are identical to the ones in the literature. On the other hand, the significant discrepancy may exist when those sections are partially longitudinally delaminated. Moreover, the critical buckling load for shear-stiff column with almost freely sliding longitudinal delamination along the whole column length can be up to approximately 4 times smaller compared to the buckling load of the same but undelaminated column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topographic organization is a hallmark of sensory cortical organization. Topography is robust at spatial scales ranging from hundreds of microns to centimeters, but can dissolve at the level of neighboring neurons or subcellular compartments within a neuron. This dichotomous spatial organization is especially pronounced in the mouse auditory cortex, where an orderly tonotopic map can arise from heterogeneous frequency tuning between local neurons. Here, we address a debate surrounding the robustness of tonotopic organization in the auditory cortex that has persisted in some form for over 40 years. Drawing from various cortical areas, cortical layers, recording methodologies, and species, we describe how auditory cortical circuitry can simultaneously support a globally systematic, yet locally heterogeneous representation of this fundamental sound property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite, diffusive titanium nitride layers formed on a titanium and aluminum sub-layer were produced on the AZ91D magnesium alloy. The layers were obtained using a hybrid method which combined the PVD processes with the final sealing by a hydrothermal treatment. The microstructure, resistance to corrosion, mechanical damage, and frictional wear of the layers were examined. The properties of the AZ91D alloy covered with these layers were compared with those of the untreated alloy and of some engineering materials such as 316L stainless steel, 100Cr6 bearing steel, and the AZ91D alloy subjected to commercial anodizing. It has been found that the composite diffusive nitride layer produced on the AZ91D alloy and then sealed by the hydrothermal treatment ensures the corrosion resistance comparable with that of 316L stainless steel. The layers are characterized by higher electrochemical durability which is due to the surface being overbuilt with the titanium oxides formed, as shown by the XPS examinations, from titanium nitride during the hydrothermal treatment. The composite titanium nitride layers exhibit high resistance to mechanical damage and wear, including frictional wear which is comparable with that of 100Cr6 bearing steel. The performance properties of the AZ91D magnesium alloy covered with the composite titanium nitride coating are substantially superior to those of the alloy subjected to commercial anodizing which is the dominant technique employed in industrial practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplemental phytase in diets containing graded concentrations of calcium (Ca) and non-phytin phosphorus (NPP) on performance of WL layers. Eight diets with four graded concentrations of Ca (35, 37.5, 40 and 42.5gkg−1) and two concentrations of NPP (3 and 1gkg−1) were prepared. The low phosphorus diets were supplemented with phytase (500FYTkg−1). Each diet was fed ad libitum to 8 replicates consisting of 88 laying chickens each from 25 to 72 weeks of age. Data were compiled and analysed in 3 phases (phase 1, 25 to 40 weeks; phase 2, 41 to 56 weeks; phase 3, 56 to 72 weeks of age) and all the 3 phases as the overall period. The interaction between Ca concentration and phytase supplementation significantly influenced egg production (EP), feed intake (phase 1), egg weight (phase 3), egg mass (phase 2 and 3), feed efficiency (FE) and Ca and P concentrations in tibia ash at 44 weeks of age. Feed intake during phases 2 and 3, egg weight during phases 1 and 3, egg mass during phase 1, body weight during phases 1, 2 and overall period, egg shell defects, shell weight, shell percent and bone mineral parameters at 72 weeks of age were not affected by the interaction. EP, EM and FE improved significantly with increase in dietary Ca concentration from 35 to 37.5gkg−1 in groups fed without phytase and further improvement was not observed at higher concentrations of Ca in diet. While the layer performance in groups fed 35g Ca with phytase supplementation improved similar to those fed ≥37.5gCakg−1 diet without phytase. The layer performance reduced significantly in groups fed diets supplemented with phytase at higher concentrations of Ca (40 and 42.5gCakg−1) compared to those fed 35gCakg−1 suggesting the inhibitory effect of higher dietary Ca concentrations on utilization of phytase phosphorus. Based on the study, it is concluded that WL layers reared in open sided poultry houses in tropical climate require lower intake of Ca (3.32, 3.80 and 4.00gbird−1 day−1) when the diets are supplemented with phytase (500FYTkg−1) compared to those fed without phytase (3.58, 4.14 and 4.30gbird−1 day−1 during 25–40, 41–56 and 57–72 weeks of age, respectively, during phase 1–3). At higher concentrations of Ca (40 and 42.5gkg−1), response to supplemental phytase appears to be reduced in terms of performance in layers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The project objective is to closely investigate select UAE poultry industry production issues as well as technical and marketing aspects. A comprehensive cross-sectional survey was conducted of UAE poultry farms using PDA (Portable Data Assistant) technology. Study objectives include: (1) obtaining baseline information on existing broiler and layer farm subsectors; (2) quantifying the amount of input used in the production process and the outputs obtained, and to identify some main and by-products that might have some economic value; (3) and assessment of feed-utilization produced by the feed industry. Economic characteristics of a typical poultry farm in UAE include: average broiler production at about 2,880 tons; average layer production at about 49 million eggs; and feed cost share of the average farm's operational cost estimated at 95%. This indicates the importance of expanding investment in UAE poultry sector. Efficiency of feed utilization of birds fed feeds from one company was slightly better (1.68 vs. 1.71) than birds fed feeds from the other company. Feed utilization efficiency of selected major feed producers in the UAE could meet the standards of high quality, commonly used meat-type strains. Such results are useful to the decision-maker at both the farm and policy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Crack-like cohesive defect propagation within a plane orthotropic linear elastic layer is considered by assuming that the defect, and its growth under load, can be modeled as the evolving separation along a straight, predetermined nonlinear, nonuniform Needleman-type cohesive interface. The analysis exploits a general form of orthotropy rescaling originally developed for the displacement boundary value problem by Krenk (1979). It is shown that when the material is degenerate orthotropic (i.e., ρ =1, ρ is the orthotropic shear parameter) rescaling enables the determination of solutions from isotropic ones and, when the material is fully orthotropic, rescaling allows for solutions to be obtained from problems with the simpler cubic symmetry. (These are well known attributes of linear static sharp crack analysis, which depend on an alternative form of rescaling the traction boundary value problem (Suo, 1990; Suo et al, 1991).) The procedure is demonstrated by obtaining degenerate orthotropic response from isotropic solutions recently obtained by the authors in an investigation of both solitary as well as multiple cohesive defect interaction problems in layered systems under arbitrary loading (Nguyen and Levy, 2009, 2011). In order to obtain fully orthotropic solutions via rescaling, a novel integral equation formulation is developed based on exact infinitesimal strain elasticity solutions for rectangular domains composed of cubically symmetric media and subject to arbitrary loading. Explicit results are obtained for the simple edge notch bend configuration, chosen so as to shed light on the mechanisms of defect propagation in orthotropic layers. It is demonstrated that increasing the orthotropic stiffness ratio can precipitate a quasi-brittle defect growth response. Furthermore, it is well known that in a number of technically important problem geometries and loadings, static sharp crack solutions are only weakly dependent on shear parameter ρ enabling the estimation of fully orthotropic behavior from isotropic solutions (Suo et al, 1991). This result is shown to be true for nonlinear cohesive fracture analysis of the edge notch bend configuration analyzed in this study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Graphene based two-dimensional carbon nanostructures serve as a support to disperse TiO2 nanoparticles. Here, a facile decoration of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (G) sheets with TiO2 nanoparticles at different contents (1–10%) has been demonstrated. Then the as-prepared TiO2–GO samples were heat treated at 450°C under oxidizing (O2), inert (N2) and (Ar) and reducing (N2/H2) conditions to obtain multi-layers TiO2–GO and TiO2–G nanocomposites. The findings indicated that the lattice fringes of TiO2 anatase exhibit the typical distances of (101) (3.54Å) with high crystallinity. HRTEM images show the multi-layers TiO2–G sheets with thicknesses ∼2.4nm. The newly prepared multi-layers TiO2–GO and TiO2–G nanocomposites have been compared with a commercial photocatalyst P-25 by the determination of their photocatalytic efficiencies for degradation of methylene blue. It can be observed that when TiO2–GO calcining in N2/H2, the produced TiO2–G shows a higher photocatalytic activity than those treated in N2 and O2. Also, the photocatalytic degradation rates of MB by TiO2–G are faster 6 and 2 times than that by P25 and TiO2–GO respectively, which is due to the better contact between G and TiO2 and the more effective charge transfer from TiO2 to G multi-layers. From the economic point of view, the consumed amount of TiO2–G sheets in photocatalysis process is one fifth of commercial photocatalyst P-25 without loss of photocatalytic performance. Incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles onto multi-layers graphene sheets provide greater versatility in carrying out photocatalytic processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aqueous electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of a diamond/diamond laminate with two alternating grades of diamond was investigated. Diamond particles of average particle size 0.5μm and 2μm were deposited in an alternating manner onto tungsten carbide substrate. The layered diamond deposit was sintered with the carbide substrate in a high-pressure, high-temperature press. The sintered deposit was examined for evidence of alternating residual stresses. Differences of cobalt content in the 0.5 and 2μm layers were observed by image analysis. The sintered diamond laminate demonstrated only minimal crack deflection during three-point bending. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The principal purpose of the paper is to present an efficient mathematical model for studying the buckling behaviour of geometrically perfect, elastic Reissner’s two-layer composite columns with interlayer slip and uplift between the layers. The present mathematical model is capable of predicting exact critical buckling loads and corresponding buckling modes. Thus, it is used to study the influence of the transverse interlayer stiffness in combination with the longitudinal interlayer stiffness on critical buckling loads and modes. This effect is proved to be significant. The critical buckling loads calculated by the proposed method can be up to approximately 89% smaller than those where interlayer uplift is neglected. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]