Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 (H9N2) and Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) are frequently isolated in chickens with respiratory disease. However, their roles in co-infection remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that C. psittaci enhances H9N2 infection through suppression of host immunity. Thus, 10-day-old SPF chickens were inoculated intra-tracheally with a high or low virulence C. psittaci strain, and were simultaneously vaccinated against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Significant decreases in body weight, NDV antibodies and immune organ indices occurred in birds with the virulent C. psittaci infection, while the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells increased significantly compared to that of the lower virulence strain. A second group of birds were inoculated with C. psittaci and H9N2 simultaneously (C. psittaci+H9N2), C. psittaci 3 days prior to H9N2 (C. psittaci/H9N2), or 3 days after H9N2 (H9N2/C. psittaci), C. psittaci or H9N2 alone. Survival rates were 65%, 80% and 90% in the C. psittaci/H9N2, C. psittaci+H9N2 and H9N2/C. psittaci groups, respectively and respiratory clinical signs, lower expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and higher pathogen loads were found in both C. psittaci/H9N2 and C. psittaci+H9N2 groups. Hence, virulent C. psittaci infection suppresses immune response by inhibiting humoral responses and altering Th1/Th2 balance, increasing mortality in H9N2 infected birds.

Abstract-The PowerChip research program is developing technologies to radically improve the size, integration, and performance of power electronics operating at up to grid-scale voltages (e.g., up to 200 V) and low-to-moderate power levels (e.g., up to 50 W) and demonstrating the technologies in a high-efficiency light-emitting diode driver, as an example application. This paper presents an overview of the program and of the progress toward meeting the program goals. Key program aspects and progress in advanced nitride power devices and device reliability, integrated highfrequency magnetics and magnetic materials, and high-frequency converter architectures are summarized.Index Terms-Gallium nitride, high frequency (HF), integrated magnetics, integrated power converter, light-emitting diode (LED) driver, PwrSoC.

Since 2007, most areas of China have seen outbreaks of poultry airsacculitis, which causes hugely economic losses to the poultry industry. However, there are no effective measures to combat the problem. In this study, 105 rations were collected to isolate Aspergillus spp. from the diseased farms. In subsequent experiments, SPF chickens were inoculated with Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT), Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) and Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), and mortality rate, body weight gain and lesion score were evaluated. Of these ration samples, 63 (60.0%) were A. fumigates, 21 (20.0%) were Aspergillus niger (A. niger) and 11 (10.5%) were Aspergillus candidus (A. candidus). Furthermore, SPF birds infected with C. psittaci, ORT, H9N2 virus and A. fumigatus conidia exhibited a mortality rate of 40%, while simultaneous co-infection with C. psittaci, ORT and A. fumigatus resulted in a mortality rate of 20%. The avian airsacculitis was manifested in the C. psittaci + ORT/A. fumigatus, C. psittaci + H9N2 + ORT/A. fumigatus and C. psittaci + H9N2/A. fumigatus groups while others had transient respiratory diseases without mortality. Our survey indicates that feed-borne A. fumigatus is prevalent in poultry rations. The combination of C. psittaci, ORT, H9N2 and A. fumigatus conidia contributes to the replication of avian airsacculitis by aggravating the severe damage to the air sacs and lungs of chickens.

This is a repository copy of Thickness control in a new flexible hybrid incremental sheet forming process.