Analysis of Imaging Characteristics and Dynamic Changes of 3 Cases of Severe Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in Qinghai Province

Objective:To analyze the characteristics,dynamic changes,and outcomes of the first imaging manifestations of 3 patients with severe COVID-19 in our hospital.Methods:Computed tomography(CT)findings of 3 patients with severe COVID-19 who tested positive by the nucleic acid test in our hospital were selected,mainly focusing on the morphology,distribution characteristics,and dynamic changes of the first CT findings.Results:3 patients with severe pneumonia were older,with one aged 80.The first chest CT examination for all 3 patients differed.Imaging showed a leafy distribution of consolidation,primarily affecting the lower lobes of both lungs and extending subpleurally.A grid-like pattern was observed,along with changes in the consolidation and air bronchogram.These changes had slower absorption,especially in patients with underlying diseases.Conclusion:CT manifestations of severe COVID-19 have specific characteristics and the analysis of their characteristics and dynamic changes provide valuable insights for clinical treatment.

Changes of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in forage grass fields,citrus orchard and coniferous forests

Dynamic quantitative assessment of soil organic C and N is an available approach to understand the exact impact of land management on soils fertility. In this study the biomass of plants and content of soil organic C and N were compared in four typical land use systems which were planted with Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge.), Citrus (Citrus reticulata Blanco.), and Masson pine (Pinus Massoniana Lamb.) during 10 years in south China. Although biomass of plants in these four land use systems was nearly at the same level in the former investigation, total biomass for Ryegrass (RG), Bahiagrass (BG) was 3.68 and 3.75 times higher than that for Citrus (CT), and 2.06 and 2.14 times higher than that for Masson pine (MP) over 10 years of cultivation, respectively. Especially, underground total biomass for both RG and BG was over 10 times larger than that for CT and MP, indicating that forage grasses was much more beneficial to increase organic C and N storage in soils than CT and MP. The change content of soil organic C and N mainly occurred within soil depth of the 0–40 cm. The increased content of soil organic carbon and nitrogen was for 1.5 t·hm?2 and 0.2 t·hm?2 in the soil with planting RG and BG, and was for 1.2 t·hm?2 and 0.02 t·hm?2 in the soil with planting CT. An average loss was for 0.4 t·hm?2 and 0.04 t·hm?2 in the soil with planting MP during 10-year period. Keywords Soil organic carbon - Soil organic nitrogen - Dynamic change - Land use - Quantitative assessment CLC number S153.61 Document code A Foundation item: This research was partly supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (30100144), and by Scientific Committee of Shenyang City (1011501900).Biography: WANG Xiao-ju (1967-), mail, Ph.D. Researcher in Center for Environmental Science in Saitama. Saitama Prefecture 347 0115, Japan.Responsible editor: Zhu Hong

Study on the Quantity Dynamic Changes of Heterobacteria and Vibrios in Larvae Industrialized Culture System

[ Objective ] The dynamic change of heterobacteria and vibrios in larvae industrialized culture system was studied to provide scientific reference for healthy cultivation of shrimp. [ Method ] The heterobacteria, vibrios and pathogenic vibrio parahaemolyticus were monitored in larvae industrialized culture system. [ Result] The heterobacteria, vibrios and pathogenic vibrio parahaemolyticus were the most in fertilized eggs of shrimp but the least in nauplius, then their number would increase with growth. During whole rearing period, both boterobacteria in larvae, vibrios in water would increase by one order of magnitude, while both vibrios in larvae and heterobacteria in water would increase by two orders of magnitude. There were many heterobacteria and vibrios but few vibrio parahaemolyticus in living bait. The correlation coefficients between larvae and heterobacteria and vibrios in water were 0. 704 and 0. 840 in culture system respectively, while the correlation among heterobacteria, vibrios in living bait and larvae, water were weak or negative. [ Conclusion ] There was a dynamic relation between water and larvae in rearing period, and restrictly control of culture condition would restrain the occurrence of disease caused by vibrio parahaemolyticus, besides that bacteria number in bait was not obviously correlated with bacteria nubmer in culture system.

Drivers of spatial structure in thinned forests

Background:As is widely known,an increasing number of forest areas were managed to preserve and enhance the health of forest ecosystems.However,previous research on forest management has often overlooked the importance of structure-based.Aims:Our objectives were to define the direction of structure-based forest management.Subsequently,we investigated the relationships between forest structure and the regeneration,growth,and mortality of trees under different thinning treatments.Ultimately,the drivers of forest structural change were explored.Methods:On the basis of 92 sites selected from northeastern China,with different recovery time (from 1 to 15years) and different thinning intensities (0–59.9%) since the last thinning.Principal component analysis (PCA)identified relationships among factors determining forest spatial structure.The structural equation model (SEM)was used to analyze the driving factors behind the changes in forest spatial structure after thinning.Results:Light thinning (0–20%trees removed) promoted forest regeneration,and heavy thinning (over 35% of trees removed) facilitated forest growth.However,only moderate thinning (20%–35%trees removed) created a reasonable spatial structure.While dead trees were clustered,and they were hardly affected by thinning intensity.Additionally,thinning intensity,recovery time,and altitude indirectly improve the spatial structure of the forest by influencing diameter at breast height (DBH) and canopy area.Conclusion:Creating larger DBH and canopy area through thinning will promote the formation of complex forest structures,which cultivates healthy and stable forests.

Inflammation-related markers and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Inflammation-related markers including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR),monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR),systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),systemic inflammation response index(SIRI)and prognostic nutritional index(PNI)could reflect tumor immune microenvironment and predict prognosis of cancers.However,it had not been explored in alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)producing gastric cancer(GC).AIM To determine the predictive value of inflammation-related peripheral blood markers including as NLR,PLR,MLR,SII,SIRI and PNI in the prognosis of AFPproducing GC(AFPGC).Besides,this study would also compare the differences in tumor immune microenvironment,clinical characteristics and prognosis between AFPGC and AFP-GC patients to improve the understanding of this disease.METHODS 573 patients enrolled were retrospectively studied.They were divided into AFP+group(AFP≥20 ng/mL)and AFP-group(AFP<20 ng/mL),comparing the levels of NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI/PNI and prognosis.In AFP+group,the impact of NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI/PNI and their dynamic changes on prognosis were further explored.RESULTS Compared with AFP-patients,AFP+patients had higher NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/-SIRI and lower PNI levels and poorer overall survival(OS).In the AFP+group,mortality was significantly lower in the lower NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI group and higher PNI group.Moreover,the dynamic increase(NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/-SIRI)or decrease(PNI)was associated with the rise of mortality within 1 year of follow-up.CONCLUSION Compared with AFP-patients,the level of inflammation-related peripheral blood markers significantly increased in AFP+patients,which was correlated with OS of AFP+patients.Also,the gradual increase of SII and SIRI was associated with the risk of death within one year in AFP+patients.AFPGC should be considered as a separate type and distinguished from AFP-GC because of the difference in tumor immune microenvironment.It requires basic experiments and large clinical samples in the future.

Effect of Combined Application of Manure and Chemical Fertilizer on the Dynamic Changes of Purple Soil Nutrient and Soil Enzyme Activities

[Objective] The aim was to study the effects of combined of manure and fertilizer on the content of nutrients in purplish soil as well as release dynamics of enzyme activities.[Method] The effects of manure and fertilizer application on the content of AOM,NH＋4-N and NO-3-N in soil as well as release dynamics of enzyme activities were studied by means of simulation culturing.[Result] In the treatments of combined application of simulation culture experiment,the content of active organic matters,NH＋4-N,NO-3-N and soil enzyme activities changed dynamically,which showed a shape of inverted ＂S＂ with two or more peaks.Compared with the treatment of fertilization,their peaks were relatively flat and occurred relatively late,while the treatment of fertilization had only one but the highest peak.The content of active organic matter came to top around 10 d in the order of cow5fertilizer5pig5fertilizer5cow manurepig manurefertilizer Ⅰfertilizer Ⅱ;the activity of urease came to top around 10 d in all treatments and in the order of pig manurecow5fertilizer5cow manurefertilizer Ⅰfertilizer Ⅱpig5fertilizer5.The activity of saccharase was in the order of pig5fertilizer5pig manurecow5fertilizer5cow manureCKfertilizer Ⅱfertilizer Ⅰ.[Conclusion] The study could provide the theoretical basis for reasonable application of manure and fertilizer.

Dynamic Changes of Nitrogen in Saline-alkaline Paddy Field and Its Potential Environmental Impacts

[Objective] The paper was to study the dynamic changes of nitrogen in saline-alkaline paddy field and its potential environment impacts. [Method] With typical sodic saline-alkaline paddy fields of Songnen Plain as study object,field test method was used to explore the dynamic changes was strong alkof nitrogen in paddy field of the region and its potential impact on environment. [Result] The soil in test regionaline with high CEC and C/N ratios,as well as poor preserving capacity of fertilizer. During the two-year field experiment,the indicators of salinization fluctuated. Initially,the concentrations of total nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen reached their maximum values,then decreased over time as a result of heavy rain. The maximum of nitrate concentration appeared later than those of total nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen. Ammonia volatilization accounted for 18.9%-28.8% of the nitrogen loss. The total nitrogen concentration in surface water was higher than the national Class Ⅲ surface water environmental quality standard. The concentration of ammonia from the recession flow of agricultural field was considerably high,which would potentially threaten the fishery in the downstream of Chagan Lake. [Conclusion] The study provided theoretical basis for saline-alkaline soil management and conservation of water and fishery resources.

Soil Erosion Changes over the Past Five Decades in the Red Soil Region of Southern China

This paper reports the dynamic changes of soil and water loss in the red soil region of Southern China since the 1950s. The red soil region covers eight provinces: Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Hainan. From the 1950s to 1986, the annual rate of soil erosion increased by 3.4%. From 1986 to 1996 and from 1996 to 2000, the annual rates of soil erosion decreased by 2.0% and 0.32%, respectively. Field surveys showed that from 2000 to 2005, the area of soil and water loss decreased annually by 1.2%. This decrease was a result of large-scale erosion control activities across China. Although the eroded soil has been restored, the restoration process is very slow and full restoration will take a long time. Our report suggests that controlling soil and water loss is a challenging task, and additional measures must be taken to effectively control the soil erosion in the red soil region.

Spatial Process of Green Infrastructure Changes Associated with Rapid Urbanization in Shenzhen,China

Through a case study of Shenzhen City,China,this study focused on a quantitative method for analyzing the spatial processes involved in green infrastructure changes associated with rapid urbanization.Based on RS,GIS and SPSS statistics software,the approach includes selection of the square analysis units and representative landscape metrics,quantification of the change types of landscape metrics in all analysis units through two indices and hierarchical cluster analysis of the above analysis units with different landscape metric change types(i.e.spatial attributes).The analyses verify that there is a significant sequence of continuous changes in green infrastructure in Shenzhen.They are the perforation,the segmentation,the fragmentation,the evanescence and the filling-in processes,which have a good spatio-temporal correspondence with urbanization and reflect the synthetic influence of urban planning,government policies and landforms.Compared with other studies on quantifying the spatial pattern,this study provides an alternative probe into linking the spatial pattern to spatial processes and the corresponding ecological processes in the future.These spatio-temporal processes offer many opportunities for identifying,protecting and restoring key elements in an urban green infrastructure network for areas in the early stages of urbanization or for non-urbanized areas.

Dynamic changes of ocular biometric parameters:a modified form-deprivation myopia model of young guinea pigs

AIM: To evaluate the dynamic ocular biometric changes of a modified form-deprivation myopia model in young guinea pigs. METHODS: The animals were randomly assigned to two groups: the monocularly deprived facemask group (MDF, with all the right eyes covered, n=24) and the normal control group(free of facemask, n=24). Each group was then equally divided into four subgroups which were followed up for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Parameters measured from every eye included refraction, corneal curvature, axial length and the dry weight of sclera at the posterior pole. RESULTS: All the facemasks remained in place during the follow-up. The covered eyes developed myopia with the vitreous chamber lengthening and the dry weight of posterior sclera reduced at each time point compared with the contralateral uncovered (P<0.05 at all time points). The changes had a linear correlation with the deprivation time (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in all the parameters between the uncovered eyes of MDF group and the normal control group (P>0.05 at all time points). CONCLUSION: Monocular form deprivation with the facemask is highly effective and non-invasive in inducing axial myopia in guinea pigs. The axial myopia is mainly caused by the increased vitreous chamber length and the weakened posterior sclera rigidity. The form-deprivation eye didn't interfere with the natural development of the contralateral eye.

On arable land changes in Shandong Province and their driving forces

The decrease of total cultivated area and the lower per capita available arable land resource are now serious problems in Shandong Province, a major agricultural province in China. These problems will become more serious along with the further development of economy. In this paper, based on the statistical information at provincial and county levels, the changes of arable land in Shandong Province and their driving forces during the last 50 years are analyzed. The general changing trends of arable land and per capita available arable land are reducing, and the trends of decrease will continue when the economy is developing. The result of GIS spatial analysis shows that the change of the arable land use in Shandong Province has a regional difference. Eight variables having influences on cultivated land change are analyzed by principal component analysis. The results show that the dynamic development of economy, pressure of social system and progress of scientific techniques in agriculture are the main causes for cultivated land reduction. The principal factors which can be considered as driving forces for arable land change include per capita net living space, total population and per ha grain yield. By using regressive equation, along with analysis on population growth and economic development, cultivated areas in Shandong Province in 2005 and 2010 are predicted respectively. The predicted cultivated areas in Shandong will be 6435.47 thousand hain 2005 and 6336.23 thousand ha in 2010 respectively.

Temporal gravity changes before the 2008 Yutian Ms7.3 earthquake

Based on the data of the repeated gravity observation network in Chinese mainland since 1998, we analyzed the temporal changes of regional gravity field before the 2008 Yutian Ms7.3 earthquake. The result shows some mid-to-long term （two to ten years） changes during the earthquake＇ s preparation. Notable fea- tures are a gravity increase lasting several years and a relatively large-scaled gradient zone of gravity change, the former indicating a continuous energy accumulation and the latter a possible location of seismic rupture. These gravity changes showed a trend of increase-accelerated increase-decelerated increase, similar to that of the Tangshan Ms7.8 earthquake in 1976. The maximum accumulated gravity change related to the earthquake reached 200 × 10 -8 ms -2.

Dynamic Changes in DNA Damage and Repair Biomarkers with Employment Length among Nickel Smelting Workers

Our study explored the dynamic changes in andthe relationship between the DNA damage marker8-hydroxy-2＇-deoxyguanosine （8-OHdG） and theDNA repair marker 8-hydroxyguanine DNAglycosidase 1 （hOGG1） according to the length ofoccupational employment in nickel smeltingworkers. One hundred forty nickel-exposedsmelting workers and 140 age-matched unexposedoffice workers were selected from the Jinchangcohort. The 8-OHdG levels in smelting workers wassignificantly higher than in office workers （Z=-8.688,P〈0.05） and the 8-OHdG levels among nickelsmelting workers in the 10-14 y employment lengthcategory was significantly higher than among allpeers. The hOGG1 levels among smelting workerswere significantly lower than those of non-exposedworkers （Z=-8.948, P〈0.05）. There were significantdifferences between employment length andhOGG1 levels, with subjects employed in nickelsmelting for 10-14 y showing the highest levels ofhOGG1. Correlation analysis showed positivecorrelations between 8-OHdG and hOGG1 levels（r=0.413; P〈0.01）. DNA damage was increased withemployment length among nickel smelting workersand was related to the inhibition of hOGG1 repaircapacity.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography dynamic changes and steroid response in multiple evanescent white dot syndrome

Dear Editor,Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome （MEWDS） was first described in 1984 as a rare, acute, unilateral,multifocal retinochoroidal disorder, typically affecting young myopic women. Previous studies with fluorescein angiography （FA） and electrophysiology suggested that MEWDS to be a disease in the retinal pigment epithelium （RPE） or outer retina, while recent studies with spectral- domain optical coherence tomography （SD-OCT） suggested it may be an outer retinal disease due to observation of hyperreflective material in outer retina and subtle disruptionsof the ellipsoid zone without RPE disruption.

Dynamic changes of gravity fields before and after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake(Ms8.0)

The pattern evolution and dynamic mechanism of the dynamic changes of regional gravity fields occurring before and after the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake are analyzed, based on five epochs of 1998 -2007 mobile gravity data from the middle-south section of the north-south seismic belt, and two epochs of field research data collected after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in combination with GPS data, leveling observations, and geotectonic environment data. The regional dynamic gravity changes demonstrate the effects of the eastward flow of solid matter in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and the preparation of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake （2- 10 yr）. The two most meaningful gravity indicators of the Wcnchuan earthquake preparation are the positive （increasing） gravity changes occurring over many years in the southwest epicenter and the largescale gradient zone of gravity variation, with the cumulative difference between the two sides of the gradient zone of gravity exceeding 200 μGal. The positive gravity changes may facilitate a constant energy accumulation and the gradient belt may support seismic shear breakage. Overall, the gravity changes associated with the earthquake preparation indicate a pattern of accelerating increase-decelerating increase-earthquake occurrence. The Songpan-Ganzi block generally displays a negative gravity change, providing evidence for a local upwarp- ing of the deep crust-mantle and an interior expansion of the deep crust attributable to high temperatures. The viewpoint is consistent with the dilatant mechanism for earthquake preparation.

Dynamic changes of a typical linear dune in the Tengger Desert

The dynamical processes of a typical linear dune including morphological features, dune ridge swing range and crest height were investigated at different monitoring periods in the hinterland of Tengger Desert. The results indicated that the development of linear dune depends on not only the northwesterly prevailing wind, but also the winds from northeast and southwest. The dune ridge swayed along its fundamental strike and took on an eastward movement gradually. The original dune strike was NW70° on August 3, 1994, and then changed to NE15° on April 21, 2001. The dune crest increased by 1.8 m longitudinally, which manifested strong wind-blown sand activities in this region. Wind erosion frequently occured at the bottom of sand dune, while sand accumulation appeared on its mid-upper section. The mean wind erosion depth was 25 cm on the bottom of linear dune and the height difference of the control points on the dune’s ridge was 1.13 m. Although the linear dune swayed laterally, the horizontal displacement of its ridge moved eastward 5.8 m averagely. The swing range of the dune crest line is very distinct, with a maximum value of 13.2 m. The highest site on the K-profile swayed on both sides of the dune ridge and the heights were 19.88 m at the control point K5, 19.61 m at K6 and 19.05 m at K7, respectively. The results indicated that the lateral swing of the linear dune was distinct under the northwesterly wind and it moved toward east gradually.

Dynamic Changes of Lakes in Tibet Plateau and the Climate Interaction in the Past Forty Years

Lake change,as a mirror of climate change,has obvious indication and warning effect on climate.By extracting information of all lakes in Tibet Plateau from Landsat of the 1970’s,the 1990’s,around 2000 and 2010 based on RS and GIS,and,in combination with on-the-spot investigations to a few representative lakes,the authors

Noninvasive in vivo study of NADH fluorescence and its real-time intrinsic dynamical changes: Experiments and seven-layered skin model Monte Carlo simulations

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NADH)plays a crucial role in many biochemical reactions in human metabolism.In this work,a flow-mediated skin fluorescence(FMSF)-postocclusion reactive hyperaemia(PORH)system was developed for noninvasive and in vivo measurement of NADH fluorescence and its real-time dynamical changes in human skin tissue.The real-time dynamical changes of NADH fluorescence were analyzed with the changes of skin blood flow measured by laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI)experiments simultaneously with FMSFPORH measurements,which suggests that the dynamical changes of NADH fluorescence would be mainly correlated with the intrinsic changes of NADH level in the skin tissue.In addition,Monte Carlo simulations were applied to understand the impact of optical property changes on the dynamical changes of NADH fluorescence during the PORH process,which further supports that the dynamical changes of NADH fluorescence measured in our system would be intrinsic changes of NADH level in the skin tissue.

Study on dynamic changes of land desertification in the circum-lake zone of the Qinghai Lake in the past 30 years supported by Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System

The circum-lake zone of the Qinghai Lake is one of the most serious regions of desertification on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Based on Remote Sensing （RS） and Geographical Information System （GIS） techniques, the four sets of remote sensing images acquired in 1976, 1987, 1995, and 2006 were selected to conduct thematic information extraction in 14,300 km2 of land in the circum-lake zone using the Earth Resource Data Analysis System （ERDAS） image and information processing function. In the meantime the off-site interpretation and filed check-correction methods were used to recon- struct the temporal-spatial dynamic changes and differentiation patterns of land desertification in the circum-lake zone in the past 30 years, and based on this, the developmental trend of land desertification in the next 20 years was predicted. The results of the study show that in the past 30 years land desertification in the region experienced a continuous fluctuation between rapid- and slow-development processes in time, while in space it exhibited a few small patchy distributions or sporadic distributions in many places while at the same time, four large sand-dominated distributions stood out and evolved into a circum-lake belt differentiation pattern with a lakeside dike as the connecting line. Due to the integrated effects of climate changes, human activities and artificial rehabilitation, land desertification area in the region in the next 20 years will exhibit an increasing trend in the first 15 years and then increase at a slower rate, and afterward occur in a reverse, decreasing trend.

Dynamic Changes of the CT Perfusion Parameters in the Embolic Model of Cerebral Ischemia

Summary: To study the dynamic changes of CT perfusion parameters during the first 12 h in the embolic cerebral ischemia models. Local cerebral ischemia model were established in 7 New Zealand white rabbits. All CT scans were performed with a GE Lightspeed 16 multislice CT. Following the baseline scan, further CT perfusion scans were performed at the same locations 20 min, 1-6 h and 8, 10 and 12 h after the embolus delivery. Maps of all parameters were obtained by CT perfusion software at each time point. The brains, taken 12 h after the scan, were sliced corresponding to the positions of the CT slices and stained by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). On the basis of the TTC results, the ischemic sides were divided into 3 regions: core, penumbra and the relatively normal region. The changes of all parameters were then divided into 3 stages. In the first two hours (the first stage), the CBV dropped more remarkably in the core than in the penumbra but rose slightly in the relatively normal region while the CBF decreased and MTT, TTP extended in all regions to varying degrees. In the 2nd-5th h (the second stage), all the parameters fluctuated slightly around a certain level. In the 5th-12th h (the third stage), the CBV and CBF dropped, and MTT and TTP were prolonged or shortened slightly in the core and penumbra though much notably in the former while the CBV, CBF rose and MTT, TTP were shortened remarkably in the relatively normal region. We experimentally demonstrated that the location and extent of cerebral ischemia could be accurately assessed by CT perfusion imaging. The pathophysiology of the ischemia could be reflected by the CT perfusion to varying degrees.