Sero-prevalence and serotypes of infectious bronchitis virus in free-range chicken in Plateau state, Nigeria

Globally, infectious bronchitis (IB) is an important respiratory viral disease responsible for enormous economic losses to poultry farmers.  In Nigeria, limited reports on the prevalence and serotypes of the IB virus are available. Here, we investigated the prevalence and serotypes of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in chicken in Plateau State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out involving 440 apparently healthy free-range local chickens sampled from eleven villages in four Local Government Areas (LGA) of Plateau State. Sera collected from the birds were screened for the presence of four IBV serotypes namely; Massachusetts (Mass), Arkansas (Ark), Connecticut (Con) and Delaware (De-072) using haemagglutinationinhibition (HI) test. In all, a prevalence of 82.95% (n = 365) was recorded. At LGAlevel, prevalence of 79.50%, 47.37%, 95.45% and 100% were recorded in Kanam, Mangu, Qua’an pan and Bassa LGAs, respectively. Based on serotype prevalence, Mass had 89.30% (n = 326); Ark 79.70% (n = 291); Con 88.20% (n = 322) while De-072 was 42.70% (n = 156). There were statistically significant associations between dominant serotype and the LGAs (p≤0.001). This study shows high prevalence of IBwith at least four strains of IBV present in free-range chicken flocks in Plateau State requiring attention for control measures. Keywords: Free-range chicken; Infectious bronchitis virus; Plateau state, Serosurvey, Serotyp

Columnar and lamellar phases in attractive colloidal systems

In colloidal suspensions, the competition between attractive and repulsive interactions gives rise to a rich and complex phenomenology. Here, we study the equilibrium phase diagram of a model system using a DLVO interaction potential by means of molecular dynamics simulations and a thermodynamical approach. As a result, we find tubular and lamellar phases at low volume fraction. Such phases, extremely relevant for designing new materials, may be not easily observed in the experiments because of the long relaxation times and the presence of defects.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Досвід розроблення та використання засобів інформаційних технологій на підставі метал-діелектричних структур та плазмового розряду

The article has presented the analysis results of the construction principles and application examples of the modern information technology tools based on metal-dielectric structures. The authors have revealed that the rapid development of modern information technology tools is due to the using of the physical properties of surface plasmons and surface plasmon polaritons. The modulation impact of the surface impedance of metal-dielectric structures as well as the period and length of metallic radial inhomogeneities on the shape of the spatial field distribution is estimated. This effect can be used in the new tools development, such as antennas, microscopes, biosensors, spasers and interferometers, with the necessary electrodynamic characteristics. Corrugated metal structure is revealed to be used effectively as artificial dielectric for slowing of propagation electromagnetic surface wave in the means of electromagnetic energy transmission. The authors have also found that the excitation technology of surface plasmons and surface plasmon polaritons according to the Kretchman geometry is currently widely used in information technology tools. It has been established that the using of highly ionized gas as a component of a structure capable to propagate surface plasmon polaritons plays an important role in the development of modern radiating information technology tools. The number of advantages of information technology tools based on plasma discharge, which are due to the physical characteristics of plasma, are identified. The modern information-computer technologies for electrodynamics modeling of the radiating means parameters have been investigated. The modeling method overviews of the electromagnetic radiators based on the plasma discharge has found that in the research of such means are widely used finite-difference method in the time domain, as well as the finite element method. The analysis which has been performed in this paper enables concluding that corrugated rod structure based on plasma discharge can be used as means of electrodynamics for electromagnetic energy transmission.Наведено результати аналізу принципів побудови та прикладів застосування сучасних засобів інформаційних технологій на базі метал-діелектричних структур. Виявлено, що стрімкий розвиток сучасних засобів інформаційних технологій зумовлений використанням фізичних властивостей поверхневих плазмонів і поверхневих плазмон-поляритонів. Оцінено вплив модуляції поверхневого імпедансу метал-діелектричних структур на форму просторового розподілу поля. Виявлено, що в засобах передавання електромагнітної енергії ефективно використовується гофрована металева структура в ролі штучного діелектрика для сповільнення рухомої поверхневої хвилі. З'ясовано, що технологія збудження поверхневих плазмонів за геометрією Кретчмана дотепер широко вживана в засобах інфокомунікацій. Встановлено, що вагому роль у розвитку сучасних випромінювальних засобів інформаційних технологій відіграє використання високоіонізованого газу як компонента структури, здатної поширювати поверхневі плазмон-поляритони. Виявлено низку переваг засобів інформаційних технологій на базі плазмового розряду, які зумовлені фізичними особливостями плазми. Досліджено сучасні інформаційно-комп'ютерні технології модельних досліджень електродинамічних параметрів випромінювальних засобів. на підстаі здійсненого аналізу запропоновано використання ребристо-стержневих структур на базі плазмового розряду в ролі засобів передавання електромагнітної енергії

Non-Attenuation Of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 By Laboratory Exposure To Ultraviolet Rays

Avian influenza H5N1 represents one of the most researched viruses in laboratories world-wide in recent times with regards to its epidemiology, ecology, biology and geography. The virus has caused 409 human cases and 256 human fatalities to date. Some laboratory activities and other lab relatedworks predispose certain workers to exposure to this virus. In this work, we assessed the effect of exposure of HPAI infective allantoic fluid to ultraviolet rays for between 15 and 180 minutes. No significant difference was found between the unexposed and exposed viruses. The ability of the virus to haemagglutinate chicken red blood cells, the haemagglutination titre and its pathogenicity in embryonating eggs did not change despite this prolong exposure to UV-light. We call for caution in the handling of HPAI viruses in laboratory inside the microbiological safety cabinet despite sterilization using UV-light

Emergence of new Salmonella Enteritidis phage types in Europe? Surveillance of infections in returning travellers

BACKGROUND: Among human Salmonella Enteritidis infections, phage type 4 has been the dominant phage type in most countries in Western Europe during the last years. This is reflected in Salmonella infections among Swedish travellers returning from abroad. However, there are differences in phage type distribution between the countries, and this has also changed over time. METHODS: We used data from the Swedish infectious disease register and the national reference laboratory to describe phage type distribution of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in Swedish travellers from 1997 to 2002, and have compared this with national studies conducted in the countries visited. RESULTS: Infections among Swedish travellers correlate well with national studies conducted in the countries visited. In 2001 a change in phage type distribution in S. Enteritidis infections among Swedish travellers returning from some countries in southern Europe was observed, and a previously rare phage type (PT 14b) became one of the most commonly diagnosed that year, continuing into 2002 and 2003. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance of infections among returning travellers can be helpful in detecting emerging infections and outbreaks in tourist destinations. The information needs to be communicated rapidly to all affected countries in order to expedite the implementation of appropriate investigations and preventive measures

OECD/NEA Data Bank Scientific and Intergral Experiments Databases in Support of Knowledge Preservation and Transfer

The OECD/Nuclear Energy Data Bank was established by its member countries as an institution to allow effective sharing of knowledge and its basic underlying information and data in key areas of nuclear science and technology. The activities as regards preserving and transferring knowledge consist of the: — Acquisition of basic nuclear data, computer codes and experimental system data needed over a wide range of nuclear and radiation applications. — Independent verification and validation of these data using quality assurance methods, adding value through international benchmark exercises, workshops and meetings and by issuing relevant reports with conclusions and recommendations, as well as by organising training courses to ensure their qualified and competent use. — Dissemination of the different products to authorised establishments in member countries and collecting and integrating user feedback. Of particular importance has been the establishment of basic and integral experiments databases and the methodology developed with the aim of knowledge preservation and transfer. Databases established thus far include: — IRPhE – International Reactor Physics Experimental Benchmarks Evaluations, — SINBAD – a radiation shielding experiments database (nuclear reactors, fusion neutronics and accelerators), — IFPE – International Fuel Performance Benchmark Experiments Database, — TDB – The Thermochemical Database Project, — ICSBE – International Nuclear Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluations [1], — CCVM – CSNI Code Validation Matrix of Thermal-hydraulic Codes for LWR LOCA and Transients [2]. This paper will concentrate on knowledge preservation and transfer concepts and methods related to some of the integral experiments and TDB

Synthesis of a New Chelating Iminophosphorane Derivative (Phosphazene) for U(VI) Recovery

A new synthetic chelating N–hydroxy–N–trioctyl iminophosphorane (HTIP) was prepared through the reaction of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) with N–hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence of a Lewis acid (AlCl3 ). Specifications for the HTIP chelating ligand were successfully determined using many analytical techniques,13C–NMR,1H–NMR, FTIR, EDX, and GC–MS analyses, which assured a reasonable synthesis of the HTIP ligand. The ability of HTIP to retain U(VI) ions was investigated. The optimum experimental factors, pH value, experimental time, initial U(VI) ion concentration, HTIP dosage, ambient temperature, and eluents, were attained with solvent extraction techniques. The utmost retention capacity of HTIP/CHCl3 was 247.5 mg/g; it was achieved at pH = 3.0, 25◦C, with 30 min of shaking and 0.99 × 10−3 mol/L. From the stoichiometric calculations, approximately 1.5 hydrogen atoms are released during the extraction at pH 3.0, and 4.0 moles of HTIP ligand were responsible for chelation of one mole of uranyl ions. According to kinetic studies, the pseudo–first order model accurately predicted the kinetics of U(VI) extraction by HTIP ligand with a retention power of 245.47 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters ∆S◦, ∆H◦, and ∆G◦ were also calculated; the extraction process was predicted as an exothermic, spontaneous, and advantageous extraction at low temperatures. As the temperature increased, the value of ∆G◦ increased. The elution of uranium ions from the loaded HTIP/CHCl3 was achieved using 2.0 mol of H2SO4 with a 99.0% efficiency rate. Finally, the extended variables were used to obtain a uranium concentrate (Na2U2O7, Y.C) with a uranium grade of 69.93% and purity of 93.24%. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, PNU: PNURSP2022R13The authors express their gratitude for the support from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2022R13), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Efficient Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Zinc from Spent Ni–Metal Hydride Batteries: Statistical Studies

Considering how important rare earth elements (REEs) are for many different industries, it is important to separate them from other elements. An extractant that binds to REEs inexpensively and selectively even in the presence of interfering ions can be used to develop a useful separation method. This work was designed to recover REEs from spent nickel–metal hydride batteries using ammonium sulfate. The chemical composition of the Ni–MH batteries was examined. The operating leaching conditions of REE extraction from black powder were experimentally optimized. The optimal conditions for the dissolution of approximately 99.98% of REEs and almost all zinc were attained through use of a 300 g/L (NH4)2 SO4 concentration after 180 min of leaching time and a 1:3 solid/liquid phase ratio at 120◦ C. The kinetic data fit the chemical control model. The separation of total REEs and zinc was conducted under traditional conditions to produce both metal values in marketable forms. The work then shifted to separate cerium as an individual REE through acid baking with HCl, thus leaving pure cerium behind. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, PNU: PNURSP2022R13Funding: The authors express their gratitude for the support from the Princess Nourah bint Abdul-rahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2022R13), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Acknowledgments: The authors express their gratitude for the support from the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2022R13), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Everyday vulnerabilities and ''social dispositions'' in the Malian Sahel, an indication for evaluating future adaptability to water crises?

International audienceSince the 1970s, precipitation in the Sahel has decreased and become very irregular, leading to widespread drought, whilst the human need for water has rapidly increased. A new ''dispositions''-based approach was adapted in order to analyse human interactions with environmental hazards and applied to the case of Hombori village in northeastern Mali. This article explores how the population and political stakeholders perceive, live with and respond to the increasing scarcity of water. It also explores how their current vulnerability and ability to cope with variations in available water resources indicate future adaptability to climate shocks. On the one hand, this research shows how the population copes with variations in water resource availability: the population's socio-spatial organisation explains the inhabitants' exposure to this problem and some of the factors affecting vulnerability, the elderly and women being the hardest hit. The water issue is generally managed on a ''day-to-day'' basis and considered a big problem only in the dry season, thus lowering any incentive for self-protection. The main two variables that could explain this kind of risk management are the conflicting local governance and current social rules. On the other hand, the discussion of results, based on a conceptual model of social responses, explains why these current ''social dispositions'' to cope with and even address the water scarcity issue do not guarantee future adaptability to climate change