Study of the closure temperature of(U-Th)/He in detrital zircon obtained from natural evolution samples

Zircon(U-Th)/He thermochronometry was used as an effective indicator to study the thermal history of deep sedimentary basins with high temperatures.Zircon He ages and closure temperatures are very important parameters.In this paper,detrital zircon He closure temperature was studied by establishing the evolutionary pattern between zircon He ages and burial depth of borehole samples obtained from the Cenozoic strata in the Bohai Bay and Tarim basins,which have different thermal settings.The results show that the zircon He closure temperature of natural evolution samples is 200℃,which is higher than the temperature obtained from thermal simulation experiments(183℃).The temperature range of 140-200℃corresponds to the zircon helium partial retention zone.By properly understanding zircon He closure temperatures,zircon(U-Th)/He thermochronometry can provide a correct explanation of the He ages,and significant guidance in the study of the evolution of source rocks and the process of hydrocarbon accumulation in deep sedimentary basins.

Forest structure of a maple old-growth stand: a case study on the Apennines mountains(Southern Italy)

In Europe, very small forest areas can be considered to be old-growth, and they are mainly located in Eastern Europe. The typical structures of old growth forests infrequently occur in Mediterranean mountainous environments, since they have been affected by human activities for centuries. This study focused on a remote and almost pure Italian maple stand located in southern Italy, which has not been managed for long time due to its inaccessibility. The effects of natural evolution on the forest stand were evaluated through the analysis of the spatial and chronological structure and the regeneration patterns, then estimating the amounts and quality of deadwood occurrence. Across the whole stand, all the trees with DBH （diameter at breast height） larger than 50 cm （LLT, large living trees） were measured （DBH and height） and age was also determined through a dendrochronological approach. The diameters observed ranged between 50 and 145 cm with ages of 12o to ~5o years. The Latham index calculated for trees within the sample plot highlighted a multilayered canopy with a dominant layer of largeliving trees （age 〉 120 years）. The size-class distribution of stems had a reverse-J shape, and basal area was 52 m2 ha-1. Deadwood was exclusively constituted by standing dead trees and CWD and its volume was on average 31 m3 ha-1. Pure Italian maple forests are generally rare in Europe, and it was unexpected to find a forest stand characterized by a so complex structure with old growth attributes. The study of complex forest stand, even if small, could give precious information on the forest evolution, clarifying also diverse auto-ecological traits of tree species that usually are not common in our forests.

Clinical features and changes of disease spectrum of zoneⅡretinopathy of prematurity:a 10-year review

AIM:To report the clinical features and evolution of zoneⅡretinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS:RetCam images of preterm infants with zoneⅡROP at our hospital between January 2009 and January 2019 were reviewed.The location,extent,and severity of ROP were recorded.Eyes were classified as typeⅠzoneⅡ,type 2 zoneⅡ,and mild zoneⅡROP.The clinical features and evolution of zoneⅡROP were analyzed.RESULTS:In total,184 infants(302 eyes)were enrolled.Of these,55 eyes(18%)developed typeⅠzoneⅡROP,39 eyes(13%)developed type 2 zoneⅡROP,and 208 eyes(69%)developed mild zoneⅡROP.The proportion of typeⅠzoneⅡROP significantly decreased over the IOy.The onset of type 2 zoneⅡand mild zoneⅡROP were Iwk earlier than typeⅠzoneⅡ,and both regressed at 45wk.Isolated neovascular tuft(popcorn)and double track signs were characteristic manifestations of zoneⅡROP.Eighty-seven percent of typeⅠzoneⅡROP regressed completely with an unfavorable outcome that emerged in seven eyes after laser treatment.CONCLUSION:ZoneⅡis an area with ROP disease at various risk levels.ZoneⅡROP has unique clinical presentations like popcorn and double track signs.Over time,the proportion of zoneⅡROP with high risk gradually decrease and respond well to therapy.

Nuclear geyser model of the origin of life:Driving force to promote the synthesis of building blocks of life

We propose the nuclear geyser model to elucidate an optimal site to bear the first life.Our model overcomes the difficulties that previously proposed models have encountered.Nuclear geyser is a geyser driven by a natural nuclear reactor,which was likely common in the Hadean Earth,because of a much higher abundance of 235U as nuclear fuel.The nuclear geyser supplies the following：（1）high-density ionizing radiation to promote chemical chain reactions that even tar can be used for intermediate material to restart chemical reactions,（2）a system to maintain the circulation of material and energy,which includes cyclic environmental conditions（warm/cool,dry/wet,etc.）to enable to produce complex organic compounds,（3）a lower temperature than 100℃ as not to break down macromolecular organic compounds,（4）a locally reductive environment depending on rock types exposed along the geyser wall,and（5）a container to confine and accumulate volatile chemicals.These five factors are the necessary conditions that the birth place of life must satisfy.Only the nuclear geyser can meet all five,in contrast to the previously proposed birth sites,such as tidal flat,submarine hydrothermal vent,and outer space.The nuclear reactor and associated geyser,which maintain the circulations of material and energy with its surrounding environment,are regarded as the nuclear geyser system that enables numerous kinds of chemical reactions to synthesize complex organic compounds,and where the most primitive metabolism could be generated.

Evolution Isn't a Natural Selection Here

进化论与神创论之争由来已久,堪萨斯州即将举行的课程改革听证会不禁让人想起1925年7月发生在美国田纳西州的斯科普斯进化论审判案;进化论要再次面临“自然选择”。孰为适者,必见分晓。

Changes in profile distribution and chemical properties of natural nanoparticles in paddy soils as affected by long-term rice cultivation

Systematic studies on the genesis,properties,and distribution of natural nanoparticles(NNPs)in soil remain scarce.This study examined a soil chronosequence of continuous paddy field land use for periods ranging from 0 to 1000 years to determine how NNPs in soil changed at the early stages of soil genesis in eastern China.Soil samples were collected from coastal reclaimed paddy fields that were cultivated for 0,50,100,300,700,and 1000 years.Natural nanoparticles were isolated and characterized along with bulk soil samples(<2-mm fraction)for selected physical and chemical properties.The NNP content increased with increasing soil cultivation age at 60 g m^(-2) year-1,which was related to decreasing soil electrical conductivity(172-1297μS cm^(-1))and NNP zeta potentials(from -22 to -36 mV)with increasing soil cultivation age.Changes in several NNP properties,such as pedogenic iron oxide and total organic carbon contents,were consistent with those of the bulk soils across the soil chronosequence.Notably,changes in NNP iron oxide content were obvious and illustrated active chemical weathering,pedogenesis,and potential impacts on the microbial community.Redundancy analysis demonstrated that the soil cultivation age was the most important factor affecting NNP properties,contributing 60.7% of the total variation.Cluster and principal component analysis(PCA)revealed splitting of NNP samples into age groups of 50-300 and 700-1000 years,indicating rapid evolution of NNP properties,after an initial period of desalinization(approximately 50 years).Overall,this study provides new insights into NNP evolution in soil during pedogenesis and predicting their influences on agriculture and ecological risks over millennial-scale rice cultivation.