Abstract Objective: Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis (BVFP) is a rare but significant resource of respiratory distress in neonates and infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and functional outcomes of Endoscopic Percutaneous Suture Lateralization (EPSL) for the treatment of BVFP in neonates and infants. Methods: A case series study of nine patients undergoing EPSL for BVFP between January 2019 and June 2021 was conducted. All patients were candidates for tracheostomy prior to EPSL. Demographic features including gender, age at diagnosis and surgery, main symptoms, airway comorbidities, airway support, and etiology were collected preoperatively. Patients were evaluated for breathing, swallowing and phonation postoperatively. Surgical success was defined as the ability to avoid tracheostomy. Functional Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) was conducted to identify aspiration. Voice evaluation was based on clinical observation. Results: Nine patients underwent ten EPSL procedures (one in the left vocal fold, and nine in the right vocal fold). Eight patients (8/9) were able to successfully avoid tracheostomy and feed orally without aspiration after the procedure. One patient experienced clinical improvement in respiratory support requirements and underwent laparoscopic nissen and gastrostomy tube placement. At the last follow-up, two patients regained normal voice, two patients had mild dysphonia, and five patients had moderate dysphonia. Five patients showed partial return of the contralateral vocal fold function. Conclusion: EPSL is an effective and safe treatment for neonatal and infantal BVFP, which enables patients free from tracheostomy without significant impact on swallowing function or phonation. Level of evidence: Level 4.

The article aims to argue that the pandemic caused by COVID-19 strengthened religious faith. This objective is argued from the perspective of advanced economies studies. In the post epidemic era people's lifestyle and shopping habits have undergone tremendous changes due to the development of the Internet economy. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, research pointed towards an alleviating effect of Internet usage for religious purposes. This study explores the impact of Internet economy on consumers' psychology and behavior in the post epidemic era, and analyses the factors that affect consumers' purchase intention. The research has certain guiding significance for the development of Internet economy, the relief of residents' psychological pressure and the solution of psychological problems in the post epidemic era. Consumers in the Liaoning province were interviewed by means of questionnaires through group chat links and website advertisements. Consumption information and data were gathered from 15 March 2020 to 15 March 2021. After collecting the questionnaires, 500 effective questionnaires were selected. Questionnaire data were analysed by self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and the influencing factors of consumers' purchasing psychology were judged by self-rating depression scale (SDS). The overall psychological status of consumers was evaluated by SCL-90. The software SPSS® 18.0 was used to analyse the data collected from the questionnaire. The corresponding strategies for the development of Internet economy are proposed according to the analysis results. The results of data analysis show that appropriate Internet economic consumption can alleviate the negative emotions and psychological pressure of consumers due to long-term home isolation. CONTRIBUTION: This study demonstrates that appropriate Internet economic consumption can alleviate the negative emotions and psychological pressure of consumers due to long-term home isolation. The research outcome can be utilised by scholars in the field of the psychology of religion, sociology of religion and pastoral care focusing on trauma caused be the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus Houtt.) is a troublesome annual weed and widely distributed in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields in the North China Plain. A B. japonicus population (TJ06) suspected of resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors was found in Tianjin, China. In this study, the TJ06 population with an Asp-376-Glu mutation in ALS gene was identified. TJ06 population developed 66.7-fold resistance to flucarbazone-sodium and exhibited obvious cross-resistance to other two ALS-inhibiting herbicides. The 50% plant growth reduction (GR50) to herbicides of pyroxsulam and mesosulfuron-methyl were 28.72 and 39.44 g ai ha-1, respectively. In in vitro ALS activity assays, the concentration of flucarbazone-sodium required to inhibit 50% ALS activity (I50) for TJ06 was 11.3-fold greater than that for a susceptible population (TJ01), which was highly correlated with that of whole-plant response experiments and indicated that the Asp-376-Glu mutation leading to resistance reduced sensitivity of the ALS enzyme to flucarbazone- sodium. Besides, one derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) marker was designed to quickly detect Asp376 mutation in ALS gene of B. japonicus.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of Periplaneta americana extract promoting intestinal mucosal repair of OXZ-induced colitis in rat. Methods: All experiments used an equal number of male and female SD rats (n=48). We injected OXZ into the colon to induce UC rat model. To determine the optimal concentration of P. Americana's extract (PA-40), it was classified into low (L), medium (M), and high (H) doses. After OXZ treatment, each drug was administered by enema for 7 consecutive days. Rats were divided into the following 6 groups: (1) Saline treatment group (NC), (2) OXZ treatment UC model group (MC), (3) OXZ + budesonide group (BUN), (4) OXZ + PA-40 L group, (5) OXZ + PA-40 M group, (6) OXZ + PA-40 H group. Disease activity index (DAI) scores, colon length, histopathological score, serum cytokine level (IL-4, IL-10, iNOS, tNOS), and amount of MPO, EGF, IL-13 in colonic mucosa were measured. Results: PA treatment had a significant healing effect on the OXZ-colitis model and significantly reduced the lesioned area, especially in the PA-40H groups. PA treatment did not alter the expression of IL-10 and MPO level, but increased EGF (epidermal growth factor) and decrease IL-13 in the colonic tissue. PA inhibited the rise of NOSs (nitric oxide synthase) and decreased the serum IL-4 level. Conclusions: The data suggest that Periplaneta americana extract may be a potential compound for the treatment of colonic lesions. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the secretion of IL-13 and promoting the formation of EGF.

In this work, we investigated the effect of yttrium(Y) on microstructure, the mechanical and corrosion properties and the cytotoxicity of Zn-1.5Mg-xY(x=0, 0.2, 0.5wt%) alloys prepared by casting and extrusion. The results showed that the microstructure of extruded Zn-1.5Mg-xY alloys consisted of α-Zn matrix, Mg2Zn11 particles and Y containing blocks. The tensile strength and compressive strength of Zn-1.5Mg-xY alloys improve with the increase of Y content. Alloying with Y also had an impact on the corrosion resistance of Zn-Mg alloys. In terms of toxicity, the cells cultured in the leachate of Zn-1.5Mg-xY alloys with concentrations of 25% and 50% showed good growth morphology with the relative proliferation rate (RGR) values being greater than 100% and the cytotoxicity level being 0, the addition of Y has little effect on the compatibility of alloy with cells.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effects of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) on the content of triglyceride (TG), as well as on the gene and protein expressions of adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38MAPK), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the liver of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) so as to provide theoretical basis for exploring the mechanism by which 1,25(OH)2D3 regulates TG. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=25), with different treatments and detected the gene and protein expressions of AdipoR2, p38MAPK, and LPL in the liver tissue by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. Meanwhile, the content of TG in the liver tissue was detected by the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The expression of AdipoR2, p38MAPK, LPL gene and protein in the liver of VitD intervention group was significantly higher than that in T2DM group (P <0.05), while the TG content was significantly lower than that in T2DM group (P <0.05). Conclusion: 1,25(OH)2D3 can decrease the content of TG in the liver, and its mechanism may be achieved by upregulating the expressions of AdipoR2, p38MAPK, and LPL in the liver.

Cuscuta chinensis polysaccharide (CPS) was extracted using hot water and enzymatically hydrolyzed C. chinensis polysaccharide (ECPS) was produced by the mannase enzymatic hydrolysis process. The purpose of this research was to investigate the antimelanogenic activity of ECPS and CPS in B16F10 melanoma cells. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by their ferric iron reducing power and DPPH free radical scavenging activities. The molecular mass distribution of polysaccharides was determined using SEC-MALLS-RI. CPS was successfully enzymatically degraded using mannase and the weighted average molecular weights of CPS and ECPS were 434.6 kDa and 211.7 kDa. The results of biological activity assays suggested that the enzymatically hydrolyzed polysaccharide had superior antimelanogenic activity and antioxidant effect than the original polysaccharide. ECPS exhibited antimelanogenic activity by down-regulating the expression of tyrosinase, MITF, and TRP-1 without cytotoxic effects in B16F10 melanoma cells. In conclusion, ECPS have the potential to become a skin whitening product.

ABSTRACT American slough grass (Beckmannia syzigachne Steud. Fernald) is an annual grass which has developed resistance to acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, and the major mechanism of resistance is target site based. Target site resistance-conferring mutations may confer pleiotropic effects on a weed's life cycle. The effects of three American slough grass spontaneous ACCase mutations (Ile1781Leu, Trp2027Cys and Ile2041Asn) on seed germination and viability under different experimental factors had been investigated in this paper. Seeds containing homozygous 1781Leu/Leu ACCase showed a greater germination under salt and osmotic stress, but no fitness variation in optimal experimental conditions. Homozygous 2027Cys/Cys ACCase caused nonsignificant effects on seed germination in optimal experimental conditions, but caused a greater germination after 16 d incubation at 40 °C and 100% RH. Homozygous 2041Asn/Asn ACCase tended to cause nonsignificant effects on seed germination or seed viability. Finally, an obvious population effects on seed germination was observed between six subpopulations, which indicated that fitness assessing should be measured in resistant and susceptible individuals that share a similar genetic background. These findings suggest that the absence of fitness penalty associated with these three homozygous mutant ACCase alleles may be a contributing factor for resistance spread.

Experiments in soil columns were conducted to evaluate the single and interactive effects of water, salt and nitrogen stress at different sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) growth stages in Hetao Irrigation District, China. The study factors included soil salinity (S0: ECe=2.5-3.6 dS m-1; S1: ECe=9.6-10.7 dS m-1), soil moisture (W0: 35％-55％of field water capacity; W1: 75％-100％of field water capacity), and nitrogen application rates (N0: 0 kg N ha-1; N1: 135 kg N ha-1). The results indicated that the S1 treatments increased the duration of the seedling stages by 23.91% but decreased the duration of maturity by 33.09% on average compared with the S0 treatments. Similarly, water deficit significantly retarded anthesis and prolonged the total growth period. The comprehensive stress assessment index (CSAI) was obtained using principal component analysis (PCA) and membership function analysis (MFA). The CSAIs in different treatments showed that soil salinity was the main limiting factor for sunflower vegetative growth from seeding to bud (SS1), whereas water stress dominated the development from bud to flowering (SS2) and flowering to maturity (SS3). Although statistically non-significant, nitrogen stress was intensified after bud initiation and the CSAI in W1S0N0 treatment was 40.68% lower than W1S1N1 treatment in SS3. Moreover, the interactive effects of the three factors were complicated. Our experiments suggested that adequate water supply after bud initiation and the reasonable nitrogen application rate (135 kg N ha-1) can alleviate adverse effects on sunflower reproductive growth under different saline conditions.

Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus Houtt.) is a winter annual weed commonly found in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields of China. It is prevalent in northern China and produces obvious wheat yield losses. Information on the interference of Japanese brome on wheat density and its economic threshold (ET) is unknown; this information is useful to manage Japanese brome. Two-year field experiments were designed to determine the ET of Japanese brome in wheat. The dry weight of Japanese brome with a density of 320 plants m-2 was similar to the ’natural weeds including Japanese brome’ treatments and higher than other Japanese brome densities, except for the 640 plants m-2 density which had the highest weed dry weight and yield loss. In the absence of Japanese brome, natural weed infestation was less competitive. The ET of Japanese brome in wheat was between 4 and 5 plants m-2 with 80% efficiency for the herbicide flucarbazone. It predicted that 4 plants m-2 of Japanese brome can cause 2.11% to 2.24% yield losses. This information can contribute to decision making for Japanese brome management. Given several production factors, this ET is more precise and reliable than the ET determined with only yield losses and can be used to develop better control strategies.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify differences between solitary pulmonary inflammatory lesions and peripheral lung cancers with contrast-enhanced computed tomography. METHODS: In total, 64 and 132 patients with solitary pulmonary inflammatory masses/nodules and peripheral lung cancers, respectively, were enrolled in this study. Their computed tomographic findings were summarized and compared retrospectively. RESULTS: Compared with the peripheral lung cancers, the inflammatory lesions were located closer to the pleura (p<0.0001). The majority of the inflammatory lesions were patchy and oval-shaped (82.8%), whereas most of the tumors were lobulated (82.6%). Almost all the inflammatory cases were unclear (93.8%), whereas most of the tumors had spiculated margins (72.7%). Computed tomography values were significantly higher for the inflammatory lesions than for the cancers (p<0.0001). More than half of the inflammatory lesions had defined necrosis (59.3%). Furthermore, 49.2% of the cancers enhanced inhomogeneously, but only 24.6% had ill-defined necrosis or cavities. The peripheral zones of 98.4% of the inflammatory lesions and 72.7% of the tumors were unclear, with peripheral scattered patches (92.2%) and beam-shaped opacity (66.7%) being the most common findings, respectively. Adjacent pleural thickening was more frequent for the inflammatory lesions than the cancers (95.3% vs. 21.1%, p<0.0001), whereas pleural indentation was found in 67.4% of the subjects with cancer. In addition, hilar (p=0.034) and mediastinal (p=0.003) lymphadenopathy were more commonly detected in the cancers than in the inflammatory cases. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography findings for pulmonary inflammatory lesions and peripheral lung cancers were significantly different in many aspects. Developing a comprehensive understanding of these differences is helpful for directing their management.

Alopecurus aequalis Sobol. is a common grass weed, which has become increasingly troublesome to control in China wheat fields. One A. aequalis population, collected from Anhui Province China, was suspected to be resistant to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl and mesosulfuron-methyl. This study aimed to establish the cross-resistance pattern using the purified subpopulation and explore the potential target- site and non-target-site based resistance mechanisms. Sequencing results showed that a single nucleotide change of ATT to AAT was present in acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) gene of the resistant (R) plants, resulting in an Ile2041Asn amino acid substitution. Besides, another single nucleotide change of CCC to CGC was present in acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene of the R plants, resulting in a Pro197Arg amino acid substitution. The homozygous resistant plants were isolated and the seeds were used in whole-plant herbicide bioassays. Compared with the susceptible (S) population, R population displayed high level resistance to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl and mesosulfuron- methyl. Cross resistance patterns showed that the R population was highly resistant to clodinafop-propargyl, moderately resistant to pyroxsulam and flucarbazonc- sodium, lowly resistant to pinoxaden, and susceptible to tralkoxydim, sethoxydim, and isoproturon. The pretreatment of piperonyl butoxide reduced the 50% growth reduction (GR50) value of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, suggesting that target-site resistance and non-target-site resistance mechanisms were both present in fenoxaprop- P-ethyl-resistance of A. aequalis. This is the first report of ACCase Ile2041Asn and ALS Pro197Arg mutation in A. aequalis

Sugarcane smut disease caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum is one of the important fungal diseases affecting sugarcane yield and sucrose content around the world. Cultivar resistance is the most appropriate control method for this disease. In this study, 37 BC1 lines chosen from the crossing YC96-40 (F1 of Erianthus arundinaceus) × CP84-1198 (commercial sugarcane cultivar) and 42 BC2 lines chosen from the crossing YCE01-116 (BC1 of E. arundinaceus) × Neijiang57-416 (commercial sugarcane cultivar) were evaluated for smut resistance using artificial inoculation. The results showed that of 79 tested BC1 and BC2 lines of E. arundinaceus, 10 (12.7%) were highly to moderately resistant to smut. BC1 of E. arundinaceus had more resistant lines than BC2 of E. arundinaceus. Of the 37 tested BC1 lines of E. arundinaceus, seven (18.9%) were highly to moderately resistant, while three (7.1%) of the 42 tested BC2 lines of E. arundinaceus were highly to moderately resistant to smut. The resistant lines identified in this study could be used as sources of smut resistance in sugarcane breeding programs.

We developed 15 novel polymorphic microsatellites for the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas by screening genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs) found in GenBank. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 24 with an average of 8.7, and the values of observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.026 to 0.750 and from 0.120 to 0.947, respectively. No significant pairwise linkage disequilibrium was detected among loci and eight loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Transferability of the markers was examined on five other Crassostrea species and all the markers were amplified successfully in at least one species. These new microsatellites should be useful for population genetics, parentage analysis and genome mapping studies of C. gigas and closely related species. The nine markers identified from known genes are expected to be especially valuable for comparative mapping as type I markers.