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The H5N8 avian influenza viruses have been widely circulating in wild birds and are responsible for the loss of over 33 million domestic poultry in Europe, Russia, Middle East, and Asia since January 2020. To monitor the invasion and spread of the H5N8 virus in China, we performed active surveillance by analyzing 317 wild bird samples and swab samples collected from 41,172 poultry all over the country. We isolated 22 H5N8 viruses from wild birds and 14 H5N8 viruses from waterfowls. Genetic analysis indicated that the 36 viruses formed two different genotypes: one genotype viruses were widely detected from different wild birds and domestic waterfowls; the other genotype was isolated from a whopper swan. We further revealed the origin and spatiotemporal spread of these two distinct H5N8 virus genotypes in 2020 and 2021. Animal studies indicated that the H5N8 isolates are highly pathogenic to chickens, mildly pathogenic in ducks, but have distinct pathotypes in mice. Moreover, we found that vaccinated poultry in China could be completely protected against H5N8 virus challenge. Given that the H5N8 viruses are likely to continue to spread in wild birds, vaccination of poultry is highly recommended in high-risk countries to prevent H5N8 avian influenza.

Plasma atherogenic index (AIP) reflects a novel intricate biochemical indicator of lipids’ metabolism. The involvement of lipid metabolism for pathogenesis concerning nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been established. However, the precise association across AIP and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis remains unclear. This present investigation explored the potential correlation across AIP, hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. Data were acquired through National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2020. Hepatic steatosis was detected through the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), while hepatic fibrosis was examined vialiver stiffness measurement (LSM). The study employed multiple linear, Fitted smoothed curves and subgroup analyses were used for investigating relationships between the AIP, CAP, and LSM. The study recruited 6239 participants. In multivariate linear regression analysis, findings indicated a remarkable correlation between AIP and exacerbated NAFLD risk [odds ratio (95% confidence interval), 1.17 (1.12, 1.21)]. Analysis further revealed a positive link across AIP and hepatic steatosis, as indicated through the CAP [β (95% CI), 4.07 (3.32, 4.82)]. Tests for non-linearity, revealed a non-linear correlation between AIP and CAP (inflection point = 0.22). Subgroup analyses assessed the consistency of the link across AIP and CAP, indicating that the association remained comparable across all subgroups. Following the adjustment for all relevant variables, the linear regression analysis revealed a lack of statistical significance across the AIP and hepatic fibrosis. [LSM, β (95% CI), −0.39 (−1.06, 0.28), P = .2501]. Smooth-fitting curves examined the link across AIP and LSM and showed a U-shaped pattern, indicating their positive correlation with AIP less than 0.48. However, no significant correlation was observed with AIP more than 0.48. This study highlighted a substantial positive relationship across AIP and hepatic steatosis, as measured through CAP, and suggests that it may be used as an efficient and rapid measure for clinical prediction of hepatic steatosis.

There are multiple published studies correlating DNA methylation with gene expression, but to date, most are associative in nature without precise localization of causal elements. Multiple CpG destinations have been described with inconsistent evidence supporting their causal association with transcription. This has hampered adoption and use of methylation signatures as biomarkers or for targeted therapies. This has had consequent effects in hindering mechanistic understanding in how global demethylation agents lead to responses in some patients, but not others. With this state of the literature in mind, we set out to better understand and locate causal methylation regulatory loci genome-wide.

Neighborhood impacts on decisions about out-migration, though less explored and understood than individual- and household-level impacts, can be significant; the integration of these impacts in decision-making analyses may reveal mechanisms undetectable otherwise. However, detecting these impacts can be difficult, especially when prior theorization is lacking. In this paper, we compare three methods of measuring and reducing neighborhood impacts: multilevel modeling, eigenvector spatial filtering (ESF) based on Euclidean distance, and ESF based on topological distance. The second ESF method, in particular, is developed to accommodate the elevation profile of our study site at the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve of Guizhou Province, China. Our previous work identified a suite of socioeconomic factors at individual and household levels that influence out-migration decisions, to which we apply the aforementioned methods to identify and control for neighborhood impacts. While the non-spatial and multilevel models generated nearly identical results, the results from the ESF models present several considerable differences. The Moran's I statistics for each non-binary variable show that spatial autocorrelation is present in some variables. Among the spatially autocorrelated variables, there are different degrees of change in significance levels when compared to those in the non-spatial model. Although most changes detected are small, we identify an additional significant variable—in our case area farmed—that was not observed before we apply the ESF. Changes in the significance levels of several other independent variables are also more significant after we applied the topological distance definitions. Methodologically, the new results suggest using the topological ESF approach may allow other studies to take into account spatial autocorrelation, especially in more rural areas where elevation differences are significant.

Alternate layers of Al2O3and ZrO2nanocomposite films were prepared on silicon wafers and glass substrates at room temperature using the electrostatic self-assembly monolayer (ESAM) process. The versatile approach of the ESAM process provides the possibility of integrating diverse inorganic colloids on the nanosize level in a layer-by-layer or block-by-block fashion. Further, it allows the combination of inorganic colloids and organic molecules, making it possible to fabricate thick films with large pores and good stress relaxation. Highly ordered, micron-thick films have been formed, sintered, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and ellipsometry. There is no significant visible crack formation for Al2O3–ZrO2composite films after heat treatment at 1200°C for 2 h, although significant thickness reduction occurs. The hardness and Young's modulus of these films before and after sintering were measured using nanoindentation techniques.

The ionic self-assembly monolayer process is a novel technique that has already been used to deposit ultrathin films on glass, polymer, and silicon substrates of different sizes and shapes. This technique is presented as a new tool with which to apply coatings on optical fibers. A nanometer-scale interferometric cavity was built up at the end of an optical fiber with discrete thickness increments of 4.75??nm for a total thickness of 1 ?m. Theoretical and experimental aspects of the nanometer-scale Fabry–Perot cavity are described, and both theoretical and experimental results show good agreement.

Clutches are widely utilized for not only implementing gear shifting but also transmitting power in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). During the driving mode transition in a P2-structure HEV, the coordination of between power sources, such as engine and electric motor, is realized by a hybrid clutch. Therefore, it is of great significance to establish a control strategy for the hybrid clutch ensure drivability and driving comfort. In this study, a physical model of the hybrid clutch and other relevant components in the hybrid system is established in MATLAB/Simulink firstly. Then, a model-based coordinated control strategy is developed for the hybrid clutch during the driving mode transition. The hydraulic oil filling and torque transferring characteristics of the hybrid clutch are mainly considered in the control strategy. Finally, the proposed control strategy is validated by simulation and the results show that the quality of driving mode transition is obviously improved.