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Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences of three mitochondrial (COI, COII and ND2) and six nuclear (28S, atpA, CAD, EF2, HSPA4 and TUBA1) gene regions recovered a novel lineage (Crypsisteganasubgen.n.) and lends support to the monophyly of the subgenus Oxyphortica. Integrating molecular and morphological evidence, we revise the taxonomic status of Oxyphortica, reclassify species of uncertain affinity into four new species groups (adentata, geisson, polystylata and subconvergens) and place five new species discovered from southern China in Crypsisteganasubgen.n. and two species groups (geisson and polystylata) of Oxyphortica, respectively. To evaluate the performance of individual genes in phylogenetic inference, the phylogenetic informativeness profiles were generated. The results reveal mitochondrial loci possess much greater phylogenetic signal to resolve species‐level relationships, while nuclear loci perform better at the subgenus level within the genus Stegana. In addition, both tectonic and climatic events appear to have played pivotal roles in the diversification of Oxyphortica. The present distribution pattern of this subgenus might have been shaped from a rapid adaptive radiation in Southwest China as a secondary area of endemicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cross-border malaria in Laiza City of Myanmar seriously affected Yingjiang County of China and compromised reaching the goal of malaria elimination by 2020. Since 2017, a pilot project on 3 + 1 strategy of joint cross-border malaria prevention and control was carried out for building a malaria buffer in these border areas. Here, 3 were the three preventive lines in China where different focalized approaches of malaria elimination were applied and + 1 was a defined border area in Myanmar where the integrated measures of malaria control were adopted.Methods: A 5-year retrospective analysis (2015 to 2019) was conducted that included case detection, parasite prevalence and vector surveillance. Descriptive statistics was used and the incidence or rates were compared. The annual parasite incidence and the parasite prevalence rate in + 1 area of Myanmar, the annual importation rate in Yingjiang County of China and the density of An. minimus were statistically significant indictors to assess the effectiveness of the 3 + 1 strategy.Results: In + 1 area of Myanmar from 2015 to 2019, the averaged annual parasite incidence was (59.11 ± 40.73)/1000 and Plasmodium vivax accounted for 96.27% of the total confirmed cases. After the pilot project, the annual parasite incidence dropped 89% from 104.77/1000 in 2016 to 12.18/1000 in 2019, the microscopic parasite prevalence rate dropped 100% from 0.34% in 2017 to zero in 2019 and the averaged density of An. Minimus per trap-night dropped 93% from 1.92 in June to 0.13 in September. The submicroscopic parasite prevalence rate increased from 1.15% in 2017 to 1.66% in 2019 without significant difference between the two surveys (P = 0.084). In Yingjiang County of China, neither indigenous nor introduced case was reported and 100% cases were imported from Myanmar since 2017. The averaged annual importation rate from 2015 to 2019 was (0.47 ± 0.15)/1000. After the pilot project, the annual importation rate dropped from 0.59/1000 in 2016 to 0.28/1000 in 2019 with an overall reduction of 53% in the whole county. The reduction was 67% (57.63/1000 to 18.01/1000) in the first preventive line, 52% (0.20/1000 to 0.10/1000) in the second preventive line and 36% (0.32/1000 to 0.22/1000) in the third preventive line. The averaged density of An. Minimus per trap-night in the first preventive line dropped 94% from 2.55 in June to 0.14 in September, without significant difference from that of + 1 area of Myanmar (Z value = - 1.18, P value = 0.24).Conclusion: The pilot project on 3 + 1 strategy has been significantly effective in the study areas and a buffer zone of border malaria was successfully established between Laiza City of Myanmar and Yingjiang County of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stegana (Steganina) shirozui species group is mainly distributed in East Asia. In the present study, the molecular phylogeny of the S. shirozui group was investigated based on mitochondrial (COI and ND2) and nuclear (28S rRNA) markers. The resulting trees support the S. shirozui group as monophyletic and indicate that in this group, species associated with closer affinities show higher structural homogeneity in male genitalia. Molecular species delimitation assess most species limits and recognize four new species in the S. shirozui group from south-west China: S. alianya sp. nov. S. diodonta sp. nov. S. zebromyia sp. nov. and S. zopheria sp. nov. One new synonym was also recognized. Additionally, three typical male genital characters of the S. shirozui group were placed on the molecular phylogenetic framework. The outcome of both divergence-time estimation and ancestral area reconstruction suggests that the S. shirozui group likely originated in south-west China in the Middle Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the application of metallic silver coatings in optical telescopes. The silver film demonstrates high reflectance across the visible to the infrared spectral range and exhibits excellent adhesion properties. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyzes the bonding properties of the two interfaces above and below the silver layer. The main bonds identified in the silver interfaces were Ag–O, Ag–Si, and Ag–Al 2 O 3. The covalent character Ag–O bond is crucial for layer adhesion, as it causes a shift to the high binding energy of Ag0 in the Ag3d XPS spectrum. Enhanced silver multilayers retaining their reflectance and adhesion are essential for space optics in harsh environments. • XPS was employed to analyze the bonding properties between the upper (SAO) and lower (Al 2 O 3) layers of the silver coating. • Covalent character Ag–O bonds at the interface improves adhesion by shifting to a higher binding energy of Ag0. • The proposed silver coating design achieves high adhesion, making it suitable for highly reflective imaging systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]