Infection with IBV DMV/1639 at a Young Age Leads to Increased Incidence of Cystic Oviduct Formation Associated with False Layer Syndrome

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is an avian coronavirus that causes respiratory disease but can affect the reproductive tract of laying-type chickens. If infection occurs in pullets, false layer syndrome, which is characterized by the development of large, fluid-filled cystic oviducts, can occur. Recently, IBV strain DMV/1639 has been detected in parts of Canada and the U.S., where false layer syndrome has occurred, though it is not clear if IBV is the sole cause or if age at infection is an influencing variable. Our study investigates the role and timing of IBV infection on the development of false layer syndrome, using the IBV types DMV/1639 and Massachusetts (Mass). Six groups of 120 SPF chickens were challenged at either three, seven, or fourteen days of age, using either DMV/1639 or Mass IBV. Cystic oviducts were seen in all the challenged groups, and the pullets challenged at 14 days of age had fewer cystic oviducts than pullets challenged at 3 or 7 days of age. The highest percentage of severe histology lesion scores were seen in the 3-day challenge groups. The data collected in this experiment confirm that IBV DMV/1639 causes cystic oviducts and indicate that age at infection plays a role in the pathogenesis of false layer syndrome.     

Added noise affects the neural correlates of upright and inverted faces differently

In five experiments, we examine the neural correlates of the interaction between upright faces, inverted faces, and visual noise. In Experiment 1, we examine a component termed the N170 for upright and inverted faces presented with and without noise. Results show a smaller amplitude for inverted faces than upright faces when presented in noise, whereas the reverse is true without noise. In Experiment 2, we show that the amplitude reversal is robust for full faces but not eyes alone across all noise levels. In Experiment 3, we vary contrast to see if this reversal is a result of degrading a face. We observe no reversal effects. Thus, across conditions, adding noise to full faces is a sufficient condition for the N170 reversal. In Experiment 4, we delay the onsets of the faces presented in noise. We replicate the smaller N170 for inverted faces at no delay but observe partial recovery of the N170 for inverted faces at longer delays in static noise. Experiment 5 demonstrates the interaction in low contrast at a behavioral level. We propose a model in which noise interacts with the processing properties of inverted faces more so than upright faces.     

Titanium-Pillared Clay: Preparation Optimization,Characterization, and Artificial Neural Network Modeling

Titanium-pillared clay (Ti-PILC), as one of the most suitable types of porous adsorbents/(photo)catalysts, was prepared from a local type of Iranian clay and titanium isopropoxide. The production process was optimized by changing three operating parameters, including the clay suspension concentration (in the range of 0.5–10% w/v), the H⁺/Ti ratio (2–8 mol/mol), and the calcination temperature (300–700 °C). The largest specific surface area for the Ti-PILC was about 164 m²/g under the clay suspension of 0.5% w/v, H⁺/Ti = 6, with a surface area 273% larger than that of the raw clay. The surface areas obtained from more concentrated clay suspensions were, however, comparable (159 m²/g for 3% w/v clay and H⁺/Ti = 4). An increase in the calcination temperature has a negative effect on the porous texture of Ti-PILC, but based on modeling with artificial neural networks, its contribution was only 7%. Clay suspension and H⁺/Ti ratio play a role of 56 and 37% of the specific surface area. The presence of rutile phase, and in some cases anatase phase of TiO₂ crystals was detected. FTIR and SEM investigations of Ti-PILCs produced under different operating parameters were analyzed.     

THE FLUORIDATION OF PUBLIC MATER SUPPLIES STATEMENT OF RECOMENDED POLICY

A statement approved "by the Board of Directors on May 29, 1949, and presented on'June 1, 1949, at the annual Conference, Chicago," by, A P. Black, Chairman, Special Committee on A. W. W. A. Policy re Fluoridation of public Water Supplies.     

The impact of rapport on intelligence yield: police source handler telephone interactions with covert human intelligence sources

Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) provide unique access to criminals and organised crime groups, and their collection of intelligence is vital to understanding England and Wales’ threat picture. Rapport is essential to the establishment and maintenance of effective professional relationships between source handlers and their CHIS. Thus, rapport-based interviewing is a fundamental factor to maximising intelligence yield. The present research gained unprecedented access to 105 real-life audio recorded telephone interactions between England and Wales police source handlers and CHIS. This research quantified both the rapport component behaviours (e.g., attention, positivity, and coordination) displayed by the source handler and the intelligence yielded from the CHIS, in order to investigate the frequencies of these rapport components and their relationship to intelligence yield. Overall rapport, attention and coordination significantly correlated with intelligence yield, while positivity did not. Attention was the most frequently used component of rapport, followed by positivity, and then coordination.Key words: Covert Human Intelligence Source, human intelligence, HUMINT, intelligence, interviewing, rapport, source handler