Search

Let B g (1) ⊂ H 2 be the unit geodesic ball and W 0 1 , 2 be the standard Sobolev space. Let λ 1 (B g (1)) be the first Dirichlet eigenvalue in B g (1) associated to the Laplace–Beltrami operator - Δ g on H 2 . In this paper, we establish a sharp Moser–Trudinger inequality involving the Adimurthi–Duret term by a delicate blow-up analysis. Specifically, we prove that sup u ∈ W 0 1 , 2 (B g (1)) , ‖ ∇ g u ‖ 2 = 1 ∫ B g (1) e 4 π (1 + α ‖ u ‖ 2 2) u 2 d Vol g < ∞ if and only if α < λ 1 (B g (1)) . We also prove the existence of extremal functions for the above inequality when α is sufficiently small, which, to our knowledge, is the first result on the extremal function of Moser–Trudinger inequality involving Adimurthi–Druet term in Hyperbolic space. Besides, we extend the above results to the entire space H 2 partially, namely, we prove that sup u ∈ W 1 , 2 (H 2) , ‖ ∇ g u ‖ 2 = 1 ∫ H 2 e 4 π (1 + α ‖ u ‖ 2 2) u 2 - 1 d Vol g is finite if α < 1 / 4 , and is infinite if α > 1 / 4 . If α = 1 / 4 , we derive a different Adimurthi–Druet type result using an effective scaling argument, which is established by Chen et al. in [9] and [10]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been no previous study on the availability of different glucocorticoid varieties used in the multimodal cocktail for harvesting autologous costal cartilage. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to compare the significance and complications of betamethasone and triamcinolone acetonide as a component of the cocktail for harvesting costal cartilage in patients. Materials and Methods: The patients were randomized to two groups. The group A used multimodal cocktail: ropivacaine, parecoxib sodium, epinephrine, and triamcinolone acetonide; group B used multimodal cocktail: ropivacaine, parecoxib sodium, epinephrine, and betamethasone. The primary outcomes were chest pain after surgery evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes evaluated the quality of recovery. The tertiary outcomes included rescue analgesic consumption, the first feeding time and the time to the first ambulation, and duration of hospital stay. Results: The VAS scores between the two groups was not considered clinically significant, but the groups achieved a VAS score of 3 or less. However, the time until the first rescue analgesia and the number were significantly longer and smaller for group A. Additionally, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the duration of hospital stay, first feeding time, the quality of recovery, and the first ambulation time. Conclusion: Adding corticosteroids into the multimodal cocktails could improve pain relief after costal cartilage harvest. And the efficacy of Triamcinolone acetonide was better than betamethasone. Level of Evidence II: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in promoting growth and development, nutrient absorption, and disease resistance in poplar plantations. Long-term planting decays soil nutrient contents and changes the microfloral structure, and pathogenic microorganisms accumulate. It is of great significance to clarify the distribution and synergistic relationships between beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms in plantation soil for solving the long-term planting obstacles of poplar plantation. Methods: High-throughput sequencing, culture, pure bacterial identification, functional verification, and bioinformatics methods were used to explore the population and functional characteristics of the soil microorganisms in the perennial poplar forest, identify the main pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms in the soil, and investigate the synergistic relationships among the microorganisms in the system. Results: An evaluation of soil from a perennial poplar plantation revealed the presence of many beneficial microbes, such as Bacillus, Sphingomonas, Variovorax, and Streptomyces, as well as pathogenic microorganisms, including Fusarium and Alternaria. Most of these microorganisms were enriched in the rhizosphere soil. The study found that phosphorus was the driving factor affecting soil microorganisms, with available phosphorus (K = 0.189) and pH value (K = 0.113) significantly affecting fungal phylogeny. Bacterial community assembly processes were deterministic (βNTI < − 2), while those of fungi were stochastic (− 1 > βNTI > − 2). The microbial network in the rhizosphere was more stable than that in the bulk soil. This study expands our knowledge of the functional microbial germplasm resources of forest plantations and provides a theoretical basis for soil remediation in perennial poplar plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rhinoplasty for caudal septal cartilage defects is a challenge due to the difficulty of fixation of the grafts. Objectives: This study presents an approach for correcting defects in caudal septal cartilage with the costal cartilaginous framework using a mortise–tenon technique. Methods: From May 2019 through May 2022, a retrospective analysis of patients with caudal septal cartilage defects underwent rhinoplasty using a mortise–tenon cartilaginous framework by a senior surgeon was performed. The surgical outcomes were evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: This study involved 17 patients, ranging in age from 27 to 58 years. There were 22.4 months of follow-up on average. There was no long-term or short-term complication observed. The aesthetic outcome of all cases was satisfactory. The mean score for the patients of the perceptions of improvement in their noses was 8.11. Conclusion: Correction of caudal septal cartilage defects with this costal cartilaginous framework using the mortise–tenon technique is feasible and effective. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface fouling poses a significant challenge that restricts the analytical performance of electrochemical sensors in both in vitro and in vivo applications. Biofouling resistance is paramount to guarantee the reliable operation of electrochemical sensors in complex biofluids (e.g., blood, serum, and urine). Seeking efficient strategies for surface fouling and establishing highly sensitive sensing platforms for applications in complex media have received increasing attention in the past. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent research efforts focused on antifouling electrochemical sensors. Initially, we present a detailed illustration of the concept about biofouling along with an exploration of four key antifouling mechanisms. Subsequently, we delve into the commonly employed antifouling strategies in the fabrication of electrochemical sensors. These encompass physical surface topography (micro/nanostructure coatings and filtration membranes) and chemical surface modifications (PEG and its derivatives, zwitterionic polymers, peptides, proteins, and various other antifouling materials). The progress in antifouling electrochemical sensors is proposed concerning the antifouling mechanisms as well as sensing capability assessments (e.g., sensitivity, stability, and practical application ability). Finally, we summarize the evolving trends in the field and highlight some key remaining limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a malignant tumor associated with unfavorable outcomes. Studies suggest that anoikis plays a crucial role in tumor progression and cancer cell metastasis. However, its specific role in bladder cancer remains poorly understood. Our objective was to identify anoikis-related genes (ARGs) and subsequently construct a risk model to assess their potential for predicting the prognosis of bladder cancer.The transcriptome data and clinical data of BLCA patients were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas and GEO database. We then performed the differential expression analysis to screen differentially expressed ARGs. Subsequently, we conducted non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering analysis to establish molecular subtypes based on the differentially expressed ARGs. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to estimate the quantification of different cell infiltration in BLCA tumor microenviroment. A prognostic risk model containing 7 ARGs was established using Lasso-Cox regression analysis. The nomogram was built for predicting the survival probability of BLCA patients. To determine the drug sensitivity of each sample from the high- and low-risk groups, the R package “pRRophetic” was performed. Finally, the role of LYPD1 was explored in BLCA cell lines.We identified 90 differential expression ARGs and NMF clustering categorizated the BLCA patientss into two distinct groups (cluster A and B). Patients in cluster A had a better prognosis than those in cluster B. Then, we established a ARGs risk model including CALR, FASN, FOSL1, JUN, LYPD1, MST1R, and SATB1, which was validated in the train and test set. The results suggested overall survival rate was much higher in low risk group than high risk group. The cox regression analysis, ROC curve analysis, and nomogram collectively demonstrated that the risk model served as an independent prognostic factor. The high risk group had a higher level TME scores compared to the low risk group. Furthermore, LYPD1 was low expression in BLCA cells and overexpression of LYPD1 inhibits the prolifearation, migration and invasion.In the current study, we have identified differential expression ARGs and constructed a risk model with the promise for guiding prognostic predictions and provided a therapeutic target for patients with BLCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) poses a severe global public health risk. This study reveals the worldwide geographic spreading patterns and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of resistance genes in 7918 CREC isolates belonging to 497 sequence types (ST) and originating from 75 countries. In the last decade, there has been a transition in the prevailing STs from highly virulent ST131 and ST38 to higher antibiotic-resistant ST410 and ST167. The rise of multi-drug resistant strains of CREC carrying plasmids with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) resistance genes could be attributed to three important instances of host-switching events. The spread of CREC was associated with the changing trends in blaNDM-5, blaKPC-2, and blaOXA-48, as well as the plasmids IncFI, IncFII, and IncI. There were intercontinental geographic transfers of major CREC strains. Various crucial transmission hubs and patterns have been identified for ST131 in the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, and China, ST167 in India, France, Egypt, and the United States, and ST410 in Thailand, Israel, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. This work is valuable in managing CREC infections and preventing CREC occurrence and transmission inside healthcare settings and among diverse hosts. Analysis of 7918 global carbapenem-resistant E. coli genomes reveals the transitions of diverse sequence types (STs), three host-switching events leading to the spread of resistance plasmids, and the crucial transmission country hubs and patterns of major STs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graphene sheets (GNs) and toluene-soluble component of pitch (TS) are used as the mixed carbon source in the synthesis of LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4@C@GNs through different carbon-coating methods. The results show that the ball–milling (BM) method is more favorable for the uniform dispersion of GNs and reduction of agglomeration compared to mechanical agitation (MA). The bridging effect of GNs and the pyrolytic carbon of TS with a high graphitization degree constructs an intact carbon skeleton on the surface of LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4 crystal, thus greatly improving the structural stability and electronic conductivity. Sample BM–1.5 containing 1.5 wt.% GNs prepared by ball–milling has a small (111) grain size, large specific surface area (48.32 m2·g−1), and mesoporous volume (0.099 cm3·g−1). Cathode BM–1.5 delivers the discharge-specific capacity of 150.9, 150.4, and 115.7 mAh·g−1 at the rate of 0.1 , 1, and 5 C, respectively, which are the optimal values of all samples. Moreover, the capacity in BM–1.5 at 1 C is well maintained at the retention of 95.7% after 100 cycles. And no obvious crack appears in the cathode film, showing excellent structural stability. LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4@C@GNs prepared by ball-milling with the toluene-soluble component of pitch and graphene sheet as the mixed carbon source has excellent electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural object manipulation is one of the important human skills. However, generating natural hand manipulation motions that are adaptive to object shapes and the tasks at hand in virtual reality is still a challenge. In this paper, we propose a neural network-based finger movement generation approach, enabling the generation of plausible hand motions interacting with objects. Given the object shape and movement features in the wrist coordinate system, the first network Generator infers the hand pose at the current frame that matches the object motion and shape. The second network Optimizer then fine-tunes the pose to improve the plausibility of hand-object interaction. Notably, a differentiable optimization module is proposed to generate the training dataset for Optimizer. Experimental results show that our approach can generate plausible dexterous hand manipulation motions for hand-object interaction without obvious delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite iridates are a promising material platform for hosting unconventional superconductivity. Transport measurements of Sr2IrO4 thin-film field-effect transistors are expected to provide irrefutable evidence for the existence of superconductivity. However, these experiments have revealed a remarkably robust insulating state over wide electron and hole doping ranges; this finding is in contrast to the case of the bulk material, in which metallicity appears upon moderate electron doping by substituting cations in place of Sr. The nature of this robust insulating state and whether any metallic state can be realized in the Sr2IrO4 thin film are two remaining challenges that preclude further progress in the search for superconductivity in this system. Here, we show that this insulating state is enhanced in Sr2IrO4 thin films by thermal annealing under vacuum conditions, while it can be destroyed upon annealing in an oxygen atmosphere within restricted ranges of oxygen pressure, annealing temperature and ion substitution levels. The resulting films exhibit metallic transport behavior near room temperature and a metal–insulator crossover at ~200 K. Our results point to the potentially important roles of the oxygen vacancies at different atomic sites in the formation of the robust insulating state and the new metallic state and to their interplay in the Sr2IrO4 thin film. This finding opens new possibilities in the search for unconventional superconductivity by further tailoring the as-found metallic state in properly oxygen-annealed Sr2IrO4 thin films. Despite enormous efforts by many research groups, Sr2IrO4 was found to stay remarkably insulating in thin film form. Now, a high-pressure oxygen annealing treatment on the Sr2IrO4 thin film realized the long-sought metallicity for the first time. An emerging transport phase diagram was deduced from the experiment that features an interplay between two states: the robust insulating state, which is likely dominated by the defect scattering effect of planar oxygen vacancies O(2), and the new metallic state, which likely reflects an intrinsic bulk-like property of the IrO2 planes with effective electron doping due to apical oxygen vacancies O(1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the characteristics of marine natural gas hydrate, China has proposed the solid-state fluidization exploitation technology or natural gas hydrate, with subsea exploitation being key to the commercial recovery of gas. In this paper, two new integrated tools are proposed for breaking and collecting natural gas hydrate, and their working principles and steps are illustrated. Finite element analysis, three-dimensional modeling, and simulations were conducted for both exploitation tools to verify their technological feasibility. The results show that the two exploitation tools can effectively improve the efficiency of hydrate exploitation and ensure the stability of the hydrate reservoir. This provides a reference for further research on the solid-state fluidization exploitation technology of marine gas hydrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prickly nightshade Solanum rostratum, an annual malignant weed, is native to North America and has globally invaded 34 countries, causing serious threats to ecosystems, agriculture, animal husbandry, and human health. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of S. rostratum. The contig-level genome was initially assembled in 898.42 Mb with a contig N50 of 62.00 Mb from PacBio high-fidelity reads. With Hi-C sequencing data scaffolding, 96.80% of the initially assembled sequences were anchored and orientated onto 12 pseudo-chromosomes, generating a genome of 869.69 Mb with a contig N50 of 72.15 Mb. We identified 649.92 Mb (72.26%) of repetitive sequences and 3,588 non-coding RNAs in the genome. A total of 29,694 protein-coding genes were predicted, with 28,154 (94.81%) functionally annotated genes. We found 99.5% and 91.3% complete embryophyta_odb10 genes in the pseudo-chromosomes genome and predicted gene datasets by BUSCO assessment. The present genomic resource provides essential information for subsequent research on the mechanisms of environmental adaptation of S. rostratum and host shift in Colorado potato beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) is the causal agent of citrus yellow vein clearing disease. In the present study, we performed agroinoculation of a full-length cDNA clone of CYVCV (AY221) to several herbaceous plants, including Nicotiana benthamiana. Molecular and serological detection assays for CYVCV were carried out on the inoculated plants. The results showed that the inoculation induced local infection in broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and successfully induced systemic infection in 'Xiaocai' pea (Pisum sativum L.) and N. benthamiana. The symptoms included chlorotic mottling and crinkling on the systemically infected leaves of N. benthamiana. Ultra-thin sections of the leaves of CYVCV-infected N. benthamiana and 'Eureka' lemon (Citrus limon Burm. f.) were examined with transmission electron microscopy. Flexuous filamentous particles of the same size and morphology as those of CYVCV were observed in the infiltrated and upper uninoculated leaves of N. benthamiana. Similar pathological changes of subcellular structures were observed in the symptomatic leaves of CYVCV-infected N. benthamiana and 'Eureka' lemon plants, and the subcellular disturbances were mainly observed in the chloroplasts, which facilitated understanding of the pathogenesis of CYVCV. The ability of the full-length cDNA clone of CYVCV to induce systematic infection in the model plant N. benthamiana was reported for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is one of the most important antioxidant enzymes in the reactive oxygen metabolic pathway of plants. The role of APX under biotic and abiotic stress conditions has been explored, but the response pattern of APX under biotic stresses is relatively less known. In this study, seven CsAPXs gene family members were identified based on the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) genome and subjected to evolutionary and structural analysis using bioinformatics software. The APX genes of lemon (ClAPXs) were cloned and showed a high conservation to CsAPXs by sequences alignment. In citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV)-infected Eureka lemons (C. limon) at 30th day post inoculation, APX activity and accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde were measured to be 3.63, 2.29, and 1.73 times to that of the healthy control. The expression levels of 7 ClAPX genes in different periods of CYVCV-infected Eureka lemon were analyzed. Notably, ClAPX1, ClAPX5, and ClAPX7 showed higher expression levels compared to healthy plants, while ClAPX2, ClAPX3, and ClAPX4 showed lower expression levels. Functional identification of ClAPX1 in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that increasing the expression of ClAPX1 could significantly reduce the accumulation of H2O2, and it was verified that ClAPX1 is located in the plasma membrane of the cell. The present study provided information on the evolution and function of citrus APXs and revealed for the first time their response pattern to CYVCV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Then, to answer the question that why AP/BP transformation did not accompany with obvious I ASXL1 i mutations expansion, we analyzed the co-mutations in PMF-AP/BP patients who had I ASXL1 i mutations at the chronic stage. As mentioned above, I ASXL1 i mutations play a critical role both in the progression from Pre-PMF to Overt-PMF and through Overt-PMF to PMF-AP/BP. Contrary to I ASXL1 i , I RUNX1 i mutations (4 in 5, 80%), I RAS i pathway mutations (7 in 8, 87.5%) and I TP53 i mutations (1 in 1,100%) were more likely to be freshly acquired during the transformation from Overt-PMF to PMF-AP/BP (Fig. Dear Editor, In primary myelofibrosis (PMF), there is a stepwise evolution from an initial prefibrotic (Pre)/early stage, characterized by hypercellular bone marrow with absent or minimal reticulin fibrosis, to an overt fibrotic (Overt) stage with marked reticulin or collagen fibrosis in the bone marrow [[1]] and 5-30% of patients develop to blast phase [[2]-[6]]. [Extracted from the article]

Assessing the scale effects of land use on water quality is of great significance for effectively controlling nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in river basins. In this study, redundancy analysis (RDA) and stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) analysis were applied to assess the effects of land use on water quality across multiscales in the Tuojiang River Basin. All monitoring sections were classified into three groups according to the characteristics of land use and cluster analysis of water quality. Results showed that the improvement in water quality of rivers in the Tuojiang River Basin lies in the emphasis and protection of the small-scale scope. Concomitantly, the linkages between individual water quality parameter and land use were highly dependent on spatial scales and regional basis. For the upstream group A, urban land is the main source of COD and TN pollution, while industrial and rural residential land contributed the most to TP pollution. Water body exhibits favorable effects on ammonia nitrogen due to its absorption and degradation, together with the growth of phytoplankton within it. For group B in the middle-lower reaches, controlling the input of organic fertilizers in paddy field will effectively alleviate COD pollution. Increasing the proportion of grassland near the riparian zone can have a positive effect on TN and TP pollution. It should continue to strengthen the strict supervision of NH3-N concentration in wastewater discharge from industrial enterprises. Our results can provide important information for land use planning and making multiple scale measures for water quality conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Parameter server (PS) as the state-of-the-art distributed framework for large-scale iterative machine learning tasks has been extensively studied. However, existing PS-based systems often depend on memory implementations. With memory constraints, machine learning (ML) developers cannot train large-scale ML models in their rather small local clusters. Moreover, renting large-scale cloud servers is always economically infeasible for research teams and small companies. In this paper, we propose a disk-resident parameter server system named DRPS, which reduces the hardware requirement of large-scale machine learning tasks by storing high dimensional models on disk. To further improve the performance of DRPS, we build an efficient index structure for parameters to reduce the disk I/O cost. Based on this index structure, we propose a novel multi-objective partitioning algorithm for the parameters. Finally, a flexible workerselection parallel model of computation (WSP) is proposed to strike a right balance between the problem of inconsistent parameter versions (staleness) and that of inconsistent execution progresses (straggler). Extensive experiments on many typical machine learning applications with real and synthetic datasets validate the effectiveness of DRPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cr3+-activated far-red and near-infrared phosphors have drawn considerable attention owing to their adjustable emission wavelengths and wide applications. Herein, we reported a series of Cr3+-doped phosphors with β-Ca3(PO4)2-type structure, of which Ca9Ga(PO4)7:Cr3+ possessed the highest far-red emission intensity. At an excitation of 440 nm, the Ca9Ga(PO4)7:Cr3+ phosphors exhibited a broad emission band ranging from 650 to 850 nm and peaking at 735 nm, and the broadband superimposed two sharp lines centering at 690 and 698 nm. The optimal sample Ca9Ga0.97(PO4)7:0.03Cr3+ had an internal quantum efficiency of 55.7%. The luminescence intensity of the Ca9Ga0.97(PO4)7:0.03Cr3+ phosphor obtained at 423 K could maintain 68.5% of that at room temperature, demonstrating its outstanding luminescence thermal stability. A phosphor-conversion light-emitting diode was fabricated, indicating that the Ca9Ga(PO4)7:Cr3+ phosphor has potential applications in indoor plant cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal batteries using solid electrolytes are considered to be the next-generation lithium batteries due to their enhanced energy density and safety. However, interfacial instabilities between Li-metal and solid electrolytes limit their implementation in practical batteries. Herein, Li-metal batteries using tailored garnet-type Li7-xLa3-aZr2-bO12 (LLZO) solid electrolytes is reported, which shows remarkable stability and energy density, meeting the lifespan requirements of commercial applications. We demonstrate that the compatibility between LLZO and lithium metal is crucial for long-term stability, which is accomplished by bulk dopant regulating and dopant-specific interfacial treatment using protonation/etching. An all-solid-state with 5 mAh cm−2 cathode delivers a cumulative capacity of over 4000 mAh cm−2 at 3 mA cm−2, which to the best of our knowledge, is the highest cycling parameter reported for Li-metal batteries with LLZOs. These findings are expected to promote the development of solid-state Li-metal batteries by highlighting the efficacy of the coupled bulk and interface doping of solid electrolytes. Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) have attracted intense interest but the instability issues limit its practical deployment. Here, the authors report a durable LMB with high energy density using a garnet-type solid electrolyte with a tailored Li-metal compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractures greatly impact the hydraulic and mechanical characteristics of fault zones; thus, the hydraulic characteristics of single fractures are critical for better understanding the hydrology of regional fault zones. A number of geophysical methods are applicable on the in situ field measurement scale. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a sensitive and nondestructive approach capable of imaging the spatiotemporal resistivity variations within a fractured medium. In this study, we conducted two water infiltration monitoring experiments along in situ single fractures within tight rock using the ERT method. First, we constructed a three-dimensional (3-D) variable-density model subdivided into tetrahedra identical to the in situ fracture and verified the feasibility and accuracy of the fracture-tracking ERT (FT-ERT) through numerical simulations. Second, based on the verification of FT-ERT, the fracture resistivity variations were obtained, and the spatial and temporal variations in electrical resistivity inside the fracture were used to delineate the internal water infiltration fronts. Finally, we depicted the infiltration fronts, calculated the water infiltration velocity, and estimated the fracture permeability. The electrical response characteristics of the fractured medium revealed obvious preferential flow during infiltration. Moreover, the results indicate that the internal structure of field fractures is discontinuous and heterogeneous and that FT-ERT monitoring can not only effectively capture the spatial structures of subsurface fractures but also provide quantitative data for assessing the water conductivity of discontinuous media with strong spatial anisotropy and heterogeneity. Studying the internal hydraulic characteristics of fractures is particularly valuable for understanding the water-conducting and water-resistive characteristics of fault zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucoromycota are diverse in microbial oils, but oil-related studies have long been confined to a few particular genera and species. This study used the Sherlock Microbial Identification System to determine fatty acid compositions and consequently discover potential resources from 669 strains representing 133 species in 28 genera in 11 families from the core mucoromycotan orders Mortierellales, Mucorales, and Umbelopsidales. Results showed that 34% of strains, 50% of species, and 46% of genera were oleaginous. Eleven genera were proposed as oleaginous taxa for the first time. Among them, Backusella was highlighted in accumulating as high as 59.08 ± 2.24% of oils. Twenty-five and 50 strains were screened as potential high-yield fungi for oils and high-value fatty acids respectively. Pilaira produced the most C18:2, while Rhizopus and Thamnostylum produced the most C18:3. Only strains of Mortierella produced C20:4; Mo. amoeboidea CGMCC 3.15949 yielded 58.00% ± 1.15% of C20:4, which suggests it is an excellent source of C20:4. This study suggests for the first time that the bulk of Mucoromycota is rich in lipids. More genera and species were discovered herein as oil-producing resources. These findings serve as a foundation for further research on microbial oil production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin-integrated electronics, also known as electronic skin (e-skin), are rapidly developing and are gradually being adopted in biomedical fields as well as in our daily lives. E-skin capable of providing sensitive and high-resolution tactile sensations and haptic feedback to the human body would open a new e-skin paradigm for closed-loop human–machine interfaces. Here, we report a class of materials and mechanical designs for the miniaturization of mechanical actuators and strategies for their integration into thin, soft e-skin for haptic interfaces. The mechanical actuators exhibit small dimensions of 5 mm diameter and 1.45 mm thickness and work in an electromagnetically driven vibrotactile mode with resonance frequency overlapping the most sensitive frequency of human skin. Nine mini actuators can be integrated simultaneously in a small area of 2 cm × 2 cm to form a 3 × 3 haptic feedback array, which is small and compact enough to mount on a thumb tip. Furthermore, the thin, soft haptic interface exhibits good mechanical properties that work properly during stretching, bending, and twisting and therefore can conformally fit onto various parts of the human body to afford programmable tactile enhancement and Braille recognition with an accuracy rate over 85%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eco-environmental problems caused by land desertification are becoming the main restricting factors in regional development. In this study, the engineering eco-environment patterns (EEPs) are proposed to evaluate the eco-geological environment fragility to desertification in arid and semiarid areas. A revised zoning method in the variable-weight theory (VWT) was used for EEPs and applied in the Dousitu River Basin (DBR). First, the EEP mechanism was elucidated, of which four types were divided. Second, ten key controlling indicators from climatology, geography, vegetation and social conditions were collected, of which the thematic maps were imported. Third, the weight and its interval of the indicator were determined, establishing the partial stimulation-punishment variable-weight zoning model. Finally, the evaluation result was obtained and mapped in four models or zones. Furthermore, the evaluation via the CWT method was also completed for comparison. Both results from VWT and CWT were validated with the ecological groundwater level (EGL) theory, which proved the accuracy of the VWT study. The method helps with the rational plan and design for the regional economic development and protection of eco-geological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capabilities for continuous monitoring of pressures and temperatures at critical skin interfaces can help to guide care strategies that minimize the potential for pressure injuries in hospitalized patients or in individuals confined to the bed. This paper introduces a soft, skin-mountable class of sensor system for this purpose. The design includes a pressure-responsive element based on membrane deflection and a battery-free, wireless mode of operation capable of multi-site measurements at strategic locations across the body. Such devices yield continuous, simultaneous readings of pressure and temperature in a sequential readout scheme from a pair of primary antennas mounted under the bedding and connected to a wireless reader and a multiplexer located at the bedside. Experimental evaluation of the sensor and the complete system includes benchtop measurements and numerical simulations of the key features. Clinical trials involving two hemiplegic patients and a tetraplegic patient demonstrate the feasibility, functionality and long-term stability of this technology in operating hospital settings. Uninterrupted monitoring of pressure and temperature at skin interfaces can help to minimize the potential for pressure injuries in hospitalized or bedridden patients. Here, the authors introduce a soft, skin-mountable sensor that can continuously provide readings via antennas mounted under bedding, and demonstrate the functionality and robustness of the devices on patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stereotactic removal of intracerebral hematoma is a routine procedure for treating hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage, but the complex sequence of operations limits its adoption. We explored the application of a novel surgical technique for the removal of spontaneous intracerebral hematomas. The surgical technique based on computed tomography (CT) images was used in hematoma projection and surgical planning. Markers placed on the scalp based on an Android smartphone app allowed the installation of a stereotactic head frame to facilitate the selection of the best trajectory to the hematoma center for removing the hematoma. Forty-two patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage were included in the study, including 33 cases of supratentorial hemorrhage, 5 cases of cerebellum hemorrhage, and 4 cases of brain stem hemorrhage. The surgical technique combined with the stereotactic head frame helped the tip of the drainage tube achieve the desired position. The median surgical time was 45 (range 25–75) min. The actual head frame operating time was 10 (range 5–15) min. Target alignment performed by the surgical technique was accurate to ≤ 10.0 mm in all 42 cases. No patient experienced postoperative rebleeding. In 33 cases of supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage, an average evacuation rate of 77.5% was achieved at postoperative 3.1 ± 1.4 days, and 29 (87.9%) cases had a residual hematoma of < 15 ml. The novel surgical technique helped to quickly and effortlessly localize hematomas and achieve satisfactory hematoma removal. Clinical application of the stereotactic head frame was feasible for intracerebral hemorrhage in various locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review compares the effects of peripheral dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine on postoperative analgesia. We included six randomized controlled trials (354 patients) through a systematic literature search. We found that analgesia duration was comparable between dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine (58.59 min, 95% CI (confidence interval), − 66.13, 183.31 min) with extreme heterogeneity. Secondary outcome was also compared and no significant difference was observed in sensory block onset and duration and motor block duration and also for postoperative nausea and vomiting. It is noteworthy that dexamethasone reduced analgesic consumption (fentanyl) by 29.12 mcg compared with dexmedetomidine. We performed subgroup analyses and found no significant difference between the following: (1) lidocaine vs ropivacaine (P = 0.28), (2) nerve block vs nerve block + general anesthesia (P = 0.47), and (3) upper limb surgery vs thoracoscopic pneumonectomy (P = 0.27). We applied trial sequential analysis to assess the risks of type I and II errors and concluded that the meta-analysis was insufficiently powered to answer the clinical question, and further analysis is needed to establish which adjuvant is better. In conclusion, we believe that existing research indicates that dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine have equivalent analgesic effects in peripheral nerve blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suncun coal mine in Xinwen mining area is a typical deep rockburst mine. And the main mining seams are the No.2 and No.4 coal seams. The No.2 coal seam is with the weak bursting liability, and its roof and floor with the strong bursting liability; the No.4 coal seam and its roof and floor are with the weak bursting liability. In order to ensure the safe production of mine, the No.4 coal seam should be chosen as the liberating seam and firstly mined. Therefore, first of all, the upward mining feasibility of coal seam group is studied by theoretical analysis method, and then the structural evolution, fracture development and stress distribution characteristics of overlying strata in stope after mining of No.4 coal seam are studied by numerical simulation method. The research results show that the mining of No.4 coal seam do not destroy the mining condition of No.2 coal seam, instead, it can effectively reduce or even eliminate the bursting risk in the process of No.2 coal seam mining. Based on the above research results, the No.4 coal seam was mined by the following prevention and control rockburst measures, namely: the large-diameter borehole for pressure relief of coal mass, and the drilling cutting method for effect test and evaluation. Besides, the borehole stress sensors are used to monitor and analyze the pressure relief effect of No.2 coal seam after mining of No.4 coal seam. The in-situ monitoring results show that the implementation of large-diameter pressure relief borehole in the front of working face can effectively ensure the safe production in coal seam with weak bursting liability; and the mining of liberating seam is an effective measure for safe production in coal seam with strong bursting liability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of berberine hydrochloride (BH) on Candida albicans (C.albicans) ATCC10231 biofilm formation. Results: This paper found a positive correlation between the concentration of BH and its inhibitory effect on the cellular activity of early biofilms because we found that 128 and 32 μg/mL BH significantly inhibited biofilm formation (P < 0.05). BH significantly inhibited the cellular activity in early biofilms, destroyed the microscopic morphology of C.albicans and reduced the thickness of the biofilm. Both 128 and 32 μg/mL concentration solutions of BH significantly inhibited biofilm formation (P < 0.05). We found that the inhibitory effect of BH solution was positively correlated with its concentration and 128 μg/mL BH was better than 4 μg/mL fluconazole. Additionally, the results of RT-PCR indicated that 128 and 32 μg/mL BH inhibited the expression of EFG1, HWP1, ECE1, and ALS1 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The efficacy of BH in inhibiting the formation of C.albicans biofilm by killing the cells in the biofilm and destroying its structure; and the mechanism may be to down-regulate the expression of EFG1, HWP1, ECE1, and ALS1 in hyphae formation, thereby, retarding the morphological transformation of C. albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dimensionality problem is posing an enormous challenge for cascade hydropower reservoirs operation because the memory usage and execution time grow exponentially with the expansion of system scale. To effectively address this problem, this paper develops a novel Latin dynamic programming algorithm for dimensionality reduction in hydropower reservoir operation problem, where the Latin hypercube sampling method is firstly adopted to produce a subset of discrete state variables at each stage, and then the standard dynamic programming recursive equation is used to search for a modified trajectory around the newly-generated solutions, while the iterative search strategy is used to gradually enhance the solution quality. The results in a real-world hydropower system of China demonstrate that compared with the standard dynamic programming method, the execution efficiency of the presented method is significantly improved while the power generation is well maintained in different scenarios. Hence, the novelty of the paper is to provide an effective dimensionality reduction tool for solving the complex hydropower operation problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper was written in honor of Prof. Ted Geballe's 100th birthday. It concerns a new emergent phenomenon called three-dimensional negative electronic compressibility. The physical content, driving mechanism, and context of the initial discovery of this phenomenon in an iridate material are reviewed. An integrative approach based on multiple experimental methods for carrier concentration modulation and chemical potential shift measurement is proposed for the quest of this phenomenon in other materials. Its implications on the physical properties of materials, in particular terms of electrostatic screening and phase separation, are discussed along with some of its unique prospects for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first systematic assessment of the Lower Ordovician microbial carbonates in Songzi, Hubei Province, China. This paper divides the microbial carbonates into two types according to growth patterns, namely nongranular and granular. The nongranular types include stromatolites, thrombolites, dendrolites, leiolites and laminites; the granular types are mainly oncolites and may include a small amount of microbiogenic oolite. According to their geometric features, the stromatolites can be divided into four types: stratiform, wavy, columnar and domal. Additionally, dipyramidal columnar stromatolites are identified for the first time and represent a new type of columnar stromatolite. The thrombolites are divided into three types: speckled, reticulated and banded. The grazing gastropod Ecculiomphalus and traces of bioturbation are observed in the speckled and reticulated thrombolites. This paper considers these two kinds of thrombolites to represent bioturbated thrombolites. These findings not only fill gaps in the field of domestic Ordovician bioturbated thrombolites but also provide new information for the study of thrombolites. Based on the analysis of the sedimentary characteristics of microbialites, the depositional environments of the various types of microbialites are described, and the distribution patterns of their depositional environments are summarized. The relationship between the development of microbialites and the evolution and radiation of metazoans during the Early to Middle Ordovician is discussed. Consistent with the correspondence between the stepwise and rapid radiation of metazoans and the abrupt reduction in the number of microbialites between the late Early Ordovician and the early Middle Ordovician, fossils of benthonic grazing gastropods (Ecculiomphalus) were found in the stromatolites and thrombolite of the study area. It is believed that the gradual reduction in microbialites was related to the rapid increase in the abundance of metazoans. Grazers not only grazed on the microorganisms that formed stromatolites, resulting in a continuous reduction in the number of stromatolites, but also disrupted the growth state of the stromatolites, resulting in the formation of unique bioturbated thrombolites in the study area. Hydrocarbon potential analysis shows that the microbialites in the Nanjinguan Formation represent better source rocks than those in the other formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to know if any protein encoded by citrus vein enation virus (CVEV) might act as an RNA silencing suppressor (RSS), five open reading frames (ORF) of CVEV, including the coat protein (CP) gene, were individually cloned into the binary expression vector pBI121. The silencing suppression ability of the five ORFs was tested by 'viral minireplicon infectivity assays' based on a beet yellows virus (BYV) minireplicon carrying a reporter gene (BYVminiR-GFP). GFP imaging and microscopic analyses were used to observe whether RNA silencing suppression occurred or not. In addition, real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to quantify the mRNA expression of GFP in the injected region. The fluorescence intensity of leaves with CP expression was stronger than that of the empty vector negative control, but it was weaker than that of the positive control HC-Pro of tobacco etch virus (TEV), indicating that the CP of CVEV partly inhibited the GFP gene silencing. Co-expression of each of the other four ORFs with BYVminiR-GFP showed an almost complete quenching of GFP fluorescence in infiltrated areas, similar to that of the negative control. The amount of GFP mRNA in the leaves co-expressed with CP was nearly twice as much as that of either the negative control or other ORFs. These results suggest that CP of CVEV is a weak gene silencing suppressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) has shown many obvious advantages compared with open surgery in the treatment of common bile duct (CBD) stones, it remains unclear regarding risk factors of conversion from LCBDE to open surgery and whether conversion will counteract the advantages of LCBDE. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors and consequences of conversion from LCBDE to open surgery.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, using a database of 644 patients with LCBDE between 2011 and 2017. Risk factors for conversion to open surgery were determined based on univariable and multivariable analysis. The consequences of conversion to open surgery in LCBDE were analyzed.Results: Conversion was required in 27 (4.2%) of 644 patients undergoing LCBDE. Independent risk factors for conversion were as follows: the max diameter of stones in CBD (odds ratio (OR) 2.234, 95%CI 1.031-4.842; p = 0.042), edema of CBD (OR 12.530, 95%CI 4.633-33.887; p < 0.001), and multiple stones in CBD (OR 3.438, 95%CI: 1.133-10.428; p = 0.029). These risk factors and their combined were good predictors for conversion in LCBDE. More blood loss, longer operative time, longer postoperative hospital stay, and higher incision infection were identified in patients with conversion than those without conversion. However, no significant differences were observed regarding mortality, readmission within 30 days, reoperation, bile leakage, and intra-abdominal fluid collection.Conclusion: Conversion to open surgery in LCBDE was associated with acute edematous CBD with large and multiple stones. Conversion can offset the advantages of LCBDE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to explore the effects of continuing nursing care intervention on postoperative urinary control and quality of life among patients with prostate cancer.Methods: This was a single-center, parallel, and randomized controlled trial that was carried out at the Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, China. The participants underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) between October 2014 and April 2016. The patients were randomized to the experimental and control groups (n=37/group). Patients in the control group received routine nursing care, while patients in the experimental group received continuing nursing care. During the 6-month follow-up, each patient was invited at the hospital discharge and at 1, 3, and 6 months to fill the ICI-Q-SF and SF-36 questionnaires.Results: The scores of urinary incontinence were improved in the intervention group compared with controls at 3 and 6 months after discharge (both P < 0.01). The scores of quality of life in the experimental group were significantly higher than control group at 1, 3, and 6 months (all P < 0.01). Adverse events were mild or moderate in intensity and were resolved in all patients. All adverse events were related to RARP.Conclusions: Continuing nursing care intervention had significant beneficial effects on urinary functions and quality of life in patients with prostate cancer after RARP. This approach warrants to be promoted in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid immunochromatographic strip (ICS) test for detection of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) was developed. The test is based on an antibody sandwich format and uses the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1E1, which is specific for CYVCV. MAb 1E1 labeled with 30-nm colloidal gold particles was coated on a gold conjugate pad. A secondary goat anti-mouse IgG was coated on the surface of a nitrocellulose filter membrane (NC) as the control (C) line, while 1E1 was coated on the surface of the NC as the test (T) line. The ICS test was evaluated for specificity and sensitivity and then applied for virus detection in field samples. There was no cross-reaction with citrus tristeza virus (CTV), satsuma dwarf virus (SDV), citrus tatter leaf virus (CTLV), citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), citrus mosaic virus (CiMV), citrus psorosis virus (CPV), citrus ringspot virus (RSV) or ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas). The ICS test was still able to detect CYVCV in tissue extracts at a dilution of 1: 320 (w/v), which is as efficient as the dot-ELISA assay. In general, the ICS assay is less expensive, faster and simpler to conduct than conventional CYVCV detection methods, so it may be useful for large-scale detection or monitoring of CYVCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6), via activating its downstream JAK/STAT3 and Ras/ERK signaling pathways, is involved in cell growth, proliferation and anti-apoptotic activities in various malignancies. To screen inhibitors of IL-6 signaling, we constructed a STAT3 and ERK dual-pathway responsive luciferase reporter vector (Co.RE). Among several candidates, the natural compound 20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol (25-OCH-PPD, GS25) was identified to clearly inhibit the luciferase activity of Co.RE. GS25 was confirmed to indeed inhibit activation of both STAT3 and ERK pathways and expression of downstream target genes of IL-6, and to predominantly decrease the viability of HepG2 cells via induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Interestingly, GS25 showed preferential inhibition of HepG2 cell viability relative to normal liver L02 cells. Further investigation showed that GS25 could not induce apoptosis and block activation of STAT3 and ERK pathways in L02 cells as efficiently as in HepG2 cells, which may result in differential effects of GS25 on malignant and normal liver cells. In addition, GS25 was found to potently suppress the expression of endogenous STAT3 at a higher concentration and dramatically induce p38 phosphorylation in HepG2 cells, which could mediate its anti-cancer effects. Finally, we demonstrated that GS25 also inhibited tumor growth in HepG2 xenograft mice. Taken together, these findings indicate that GS25 elicits its anti-cancer effects on HepG2 cells through multiple mechanisms and has the potential to be used as an inhibitor of IL-6 signaling. Thus, GS25 may be developed as a treatment for hepatocarcinoma with low toxicity on normal liver tissues as well as other inflammation-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is much interest in using chickens as 'bioreactors' to produce large quantities of biopharmaceuticals. However, transient expression of foreign genes have been known to cause low efficiency of obtaining transgenic offspring, especially when using nonviral vectors. In present study, a transgenic chicken model was investigated to determine whether an exogenous gene can be expressed stably and transferred to its offspring through a matrix attachment region (MAR)-mediated non-viral vector using the eGFP marker gene. The eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1-MAR, which contains the eGFP gene and MAR, was constructed and transfected into a chicken stage-X blastoderm to produce a G0 generation of transgenic chickens. The hatchabilities of different injection regions were tested; 18 of the 40 eggs injected with pEGFPN1- MAR in the area opaca hatched after 21 days of incubation, and had a hatchability rate of 45%. By contrast, eggs injected at the area pellucida did not hatch. Results from the fluorescence signal detection and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) verified that four hatched chicks from the G0 generation expressed the eGFP gene. Furthermore, fluorescence signal detection results indicated that 2 of the 65 chicks from the G1 generation expressed the eGFP gene. We conclude that MAR facilitates the production of transgenic chickens; pEGFP-N1-MAR application is a novel approach that can produce transgenic chicken offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juglans mandshurica Maxim ( Juglandaceae) is a famous folk medicine for cancer treatment and some natural compounds isolated from it have been studied extensively. Previously we isolated a type of ω-9 polyunsaturated fatty acid (JA) from the bark of J. mandshurica, however little is known about its activity and the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we studied anti-tumor activity of JA on several human cancer cell lines. Results showed that JA is cytotoxic to HepG2, MDA-MB-231, SGC-7901, A549 and Huh7 cells at a concentration exerting minimal toxic effects on L02 cells. The selective toxicity of JA was better than other classical anti-cancer drugs. Further investigation indicated that JA could induce cell apoptosis, characterized by chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and activation of the apoptosis-associated proteins such as Caspase-3 and PARP-1. Moreover, we investigated the cellular apoptosis pathway involved in the apoptosis process in HepG2 cells. We found that proteins involved in mitochondrion (cleaved-Caspase-9, Apaf-1, HtrA2/Omi, Bax, and Mitochondrial Bax) and endocytoplasmic reticulum (XBP-1s, GRP78, cleaved-Caspase-7 and cleaved-Caspase-12) apoptotic pathways were up-regulated when cells were treated by JA. In addition, a morphological change in the mitochondrion was detected. Furthermore, we found that JA could inhibit DNA synthesis and induce G/M cell cycle arrest. The expression of G-to-M transition related proteins, such as CyclinB1 and phosphorylated-CDK1, were reduced. In contrast, the G-to-M inhibitor p21 was increased in JA-treated cells. Overall, our results suggest that JA can induce mitochondrion- and endocytoplasmic reticulum-mediated apoptosis, and G/M phase arrest in HepG2 cells, making it a promising therapeutic agent against hepatoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for detecting genetic diversity of the Citrus tatter leaf virus (CTLV) strain of Apple stem grooving virus was developed based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of the 889 nt 3′ sequence amplified by RT-PCR, and nine Hinf I RFLP patterns were defined. This RFLP assay, together with biological indexing and sequencing, was applied to characterize 18 CTLV isolates collected from seven provinces of China. The results indicated that the majority of these isolates (16/18) presented as single well-defined RFLP patterns, among which RFLPIand RFLPII were dominant. In contrast, two samples exhibited as a mixture of two RFLP patterns, suggesting a mixed infection of CTLV variants. Of the 18 isolates, six of eight samples with RFLPIIor RFLP III induced mild to moderate symptoms on indexing plants ( Citrus. sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata cv. Rusk), while four isolates conforming to RFLPIand six samples to RFLP IV ~ IX induced severe symptoms. In the phylogenetic tree constructed according to the 3′ nucleotide sequence of the 18 CTLV isolates, RFLPIIand RFLP III samples clustered into phylogenetic group A, whereas the others gathered into phylogenetic group B. These results revealed correlation among mild (moderate) symptoms, phylogenetic group A and RFLPIIor RFLP III restrictotypes, suggesting the RFLP assay may be useful in quick identification of CTLV strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]