Unprecedent green macroalgae bloom:mechanism and implication to disaster prediction and prevention

Green macroalgae bloom(GMB),with the dominant species of Ulva prolifera,has regularly occurred since 2007 along the China coast.Although disaster prevention and control achieved favorable results in 2020,the satellite-observed GMB annual maximum coverage(AMC)rebounded sharply in 2021 to an unprecedented level.The reasons for this rebound and the significant interannual variability over past 15 years are still open questions.Here,by using long-term time-series(2007-2022)optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite observations(1000+scenes),meteorological data and water quality statistics,the mechanism analysis was performed by exploring effects from natural factors and human activities.Two key determinants for AMC are successfully identified from numerous potential factors which are the macroalgae distribution in a key area(the Subei Shoal)during a critical period(from April to May 20)and the nutrient availability.Furthermore,by using these two parameters,a novel model for AMC prediction(R^(2)=0.87,p<0.01)is proposed and independently validated,which can reasonably explain the significant interannual variability(2014-2021)and agree well with the latest observation in 2022(percentage difference 12%).Finally,suggestions are proposed for future disaster prevention and alleviation.This work may aid future bloom prediction and management measure optimization.

Microsurgery for vestibular schwannoma:analysis of short-term clinical outcome

Background:Total removal of the vestibular schwannoma when preserving the function of the facial nerve is difficult.The objective of the current study was to investigate the short-term clinical outcome of vestibular schwannoma removal via retro-sigmoid approach.Methods:One-hundred consecutive patients diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma were surgically treated between December 2018 and August 2019 in Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University.The clinical classification,surgical position,gross total removal rate,the anatomical and functional preservation rates of facial nerve,and the postoperative complications were retrospectively analyzed.Results:All 100 patients including 34 males and 66 females were operated on via retro-sigmoid approach.According to Koos vestibular schwannoma grading system,18 cases were grade 2,34 cases were grade 3,and 48 cases were grade 4.According to Hannover vestibular schwannoma grading system,5 cases were T2,6 cases were T3a,8 cases were T3b,30 cases were T4a,and 51 cases were T4b.Seventy-three surgeries were performed under lateral position,and 27 cases were operated under semi-sitting position.The gross total removal rate was 90.0%;the anatomic reservation rate of the facial nerve was 96.0%.According to the House-Brackman system,the facial nerve function was grades 1-2 in 78.0%cases,grade 3 in 7.0%cases,and grades 4-5 in 15%cases.For patients with effective hearing before operation,the hearing reservation rate was 19.0%.Two patients(2.0%)developed intracranial hematoma after operation.Conclusion:Most vestibular schwannoma could be completely removed with good postoperative facial nerve function.If total removal of tumor is difficult,we should give priority to the functional preservation of the nerve function.

Assessing remotely sensed and reanalysis products in characterizing surface soil moisture in the Mongolian Plateau

Soil moisture(SM)plays a crucial role in the dynamics of coupled atmosphere,water,energy,and carbon cycles.In this study,the spatiotemporal distribution and variations of SM in the Mongolian Plateau were investigated for the period of 1982-2018 based on four gridded SM datasets.Taking the observed SM from 33 monitoring stations as a reference,the reliability of these four gridded products was validated,and the three-cornered hat(TCH)method was also applied to evaluate their uncertainties.Major results indicated that all these four products underestimated the SM in this region at different levels.The ERA-Interim SM performed much better than other three products,with a higher R of 0.53 and lower ubRMSE of 0.0378 m^(3)·m^(−3).Except for ECV,the surface SM exhibited a decreasing trend at−0.0004 to−0.0008 m^(3)·m^(−3)/decade in the warm season(from April to October)over the past 37 years.The greatest decreases in SM occurred in the summer season.Precipitation change plays a more important role in explaining the variations of SM than temperature reported by partial correlation analysis.The results of this study will benefit our understanding of the climate change effects and the protection of the ecological systems in this region.