Effect of Management Practices on Seasonal Dynamics of Organic Carbon in Soils Under Bamboo Plantations

Soil samples for conventional management (CM) and intensive management (IM) practices were taken over a year at 2-month intervals to determine the effect of management practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) and to quantify seasonal dynamics in SOC for bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex H. de Lehaie) stands. The results with IM compared to CM showed large decreases in total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and the MBC/TOC ratio in the soils. With all IM plots in the 0-20 cm depth across sampling periods, average decreases compared with CM were: TOC, 12.1%; MBC, 26.1%; WSOC, 29.3%; the MBC/TOC ratio, 16.1%; and the WSOC/TOC ratio, 20.0%. Due to seasonal changes of climate, seasonal variations were observed in MBC and WSOC. Soil MBC in the 0-20 cm depth in September compared to May were 122.9% greater for CM and 57.6% greater for IM. However, due primarily to soil temperature, soil MBC was higher during the July to November period, whereas because of soil moisture, WSOC was lower in July and January. This study revealed that intensive management in bamboo plantations depleted the soil C pool; therefore, soil quality with IM should be improved through application of organic manures.

Soil and Water Resources and Land Sustainable Productivity in the Catchment Area with Intensive Management in Hilly Red Soil Regions,China

Taking an example of Majiayu Catchment Area (14.15 ha) in Taoyuan County of HunanProvince, the soil and water resources dynamics, fertility evolution characteristics andland productivity changing situation were studied. Fixed observation results from 1993to 2002 showed that pools covering about 15% of total area could store up 10% of surfacerunoff, keep 78.1% of eroded soil and 65.4% of lost nutrients. The yearly ratio ofinterception and evapotranspiration in land, storage in pools and drainage was 7:2:1,which ensured the resources and nutrients equilibrium and a benign recycle in thecatchment area system, and benefited the aquatic culture and helped to resist seasonaldrought. Moreover, the results showed that soil erosion modulus decreased significantly,equal to or lower than soil loss tolerance (≤500 tkm-2) in reddish yellow soil regions.Soil organic matter, total and available N content in sloping land, dryland and paddyfield increased steadily (>10%); water storage enhanced by more than 20% in sloping landand dryland in drought season; crop production increased by more than 20%; and productionof trees, fruits, tea and fish as well as land productivity increased yearly.

Responding to fire in an intensive care unit: Management and lessons learned

Healthcare institutions are vulnerable to disruptionfrom events such as earthquakes, fires, and floods, andthe damage incurred can endanger the lives of patientsin the hospital.[1] In this type of scenario hospital staffhave primary responsibility for the hospitalized patients＇safety, since patients are neither fit to respond to sucha disaster, nor do they know how to respond.[2,3] Thesituation becomes more difficult and challenging if thedisaster occurs in critical care areas such as intensivecare units （ICUs） and operating rooms.

Pattern of Stroke Admissions, Radiodiagnostic Compliance, and Outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital, South-South, Nigeria

Background: Stroke patients form an integral part of patients admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU);and may need airway maintenance, supplemental oxygen and even endotracheal intubation for mechanical ventilation. Method: In this retrospective study, the medical records and radiological investigations of the patients were assessed. Also, their socio-demographics, and clinical diagnosis and background co-morbidities were noted. The radiological diagnosis post CT was used to determine the type of stroke for those compliant;while clinical assessment alone was used to determine the diagnosis in those who did not do CT. They were also classified into 2 groups: those requiring mechanical ventilation (for ICU care) and those without the need for mechanical ventilation (for high dependency Unit (HDU) care). The eventual clinical outcome was noted. Result: A total of eighty-eight cases, 67% (n = 59) were males and 33% (n = 29) females. 89.8% (n = 79) had hypertension, 3.4% (n = 3) had diabetes while 6.8% (n = 6) had both hypertension and diabetes. Of the hypertensives, 36.7% (n = 29) had hemorrhagic stroke and 66.3% (n = 50) had ischaemic stroke. 53.3% (n = 46) patients had High dependency Unit (HDU care while 47.7% (n = 42) were mechanically ventilated. Of the number in HDU, 51.5% (n = 17) were haemorrhagic, while 52.7% (n = 29) were ischaemic. Clinical diagnosis of ischemic stroke was done in 55 (62.5%) and hemorrhagic stroke in 37.5% (n = 33). Of the lot, only 19.3% (n = 17) of them did CT and 80.7% (n = 71) did not have CT done. None did MRI. Late presentation (beyond 24 hrs) was a common feature for most of the patients, for whom immediate cardio-respiratory support became necessary. Overall mortality rate was 62.5% (n = 55). 39.1% (n = 18) of the HDU (46) patients died, while 88.1% (n = 37) of the ventilated (42) patients died. 56.6% (n = 26) were discharged from the HDU and 4.3% (n = 2) referred to another facility. Of the 42 patients on mechanical ventilation 88.1% (37) died, 9.5% (n = 4) discharged, and 2.4% (n = 1) referred to another health facility. Summary: Low neuroimaging compliance by Stroke patients in our environment and late presentation to hospital, impacts negatively on good outcome of the disease. This, coupled with the high cost of these facilities, makes their use unaffordable, suggesting a strong indication for comprehensive quality and affordable health care and health insurance in the country.

Functional group richness increases multifunctionality in intensively managed grasslands

Background:Agricultural yields have increased continuously over the last few decades.However,a focus solely on production can harm the environment.Diversification of agriculture has been suggested to increase production and sustainability.Biodiversity experiments showed positive effects on ecosystems and productivity.However,application of these results to intensively managed grasslands has been questioned due to differences in plant species and management regimes.Research on whether diversity can benefit multifunctionality,that is,an integrated index of multiple ecosystem functions,under intensive management,is still scarce.Methods:To address this,we manipulated plant species richness from one to six species spanning three functional groups(legumes,herbs,and grasses)in intensively managed multispecies grassland leys and examined seven ecosystem functions.Results:We found that multifunctionality increased with functional group and species richness.Legume+herb mixtures showed high multifunctionality,while grass monocultures and mixtures with high proportions of grasses had low multifunctionality.Different plant species and plant communities drove different ecosystem functions.Legumes and herbs improved productivity and water availability,while grasses enhanced invasion resistance.These results indicate that multifunctionality and individual ecosystem functions can be promoted through targeted combinations of plants with complementary ecological traits.Conclusions:Plant diversity can improve multifunctionality also under intensive management,potentially benefitting agroeconomics and sustainability.

The Effect of "Pressure-Type" Fiscal Incentives on Industrial Restructuring in China

The optimization and upgrading of industrial structure is the driving force to build a new development pattern and improve the quality and efficiency of economic development.China's"pressure-type"fiscal incentives(PTFIs)are an important perspective from which the law of industrial structure change can be analyzed.Based on the dynamic panel data of 285 cities in China and the behavioral characteristics of local governments,this paper explores the effects of PTFIs on industrial restructuring using the GMM estimation method.It is found that PTFIs are conducive to improving the"quantity"of industrial structure upgrading(ISU),but not conducive to improving the"quality"of ISU or the rationalization of industrial structure(RIS).Mechanism identification reveals that,with PTFIs,local governments influence industrial restructuring mainly by"expanding financial resources with land"(EFRWL)and increasing the intensity of tax collection and management(ITCM).Further discussion reveals that a higher degree of fiscal decentralization and environmental regulation can effectively alleviate the negative impact of PTFIs on industrial restructuring.Accordingly,this paper puts forward some policy recommendations to promote the balanced development of industrial structure,such as improving the institutional conditions and standardizing the behavior of local governments.

Delirium in Intensive Care Unit Patients： Ten Important Points of Understanding

INTRODUCTION Delirium is a significant independent indicator of poor prognoses for critically ill patients （including in-hospital mortality, prolonged hospitalization, increased medical costs, and long-term cognitive impairment）. Intensive care medicine experts have been paying attention to and carried out research on delirium for better prediction, prevention, management, and treatment, and even better prognosis of patients in critical condition. Based on the latest findings of theoretical research and in combination with clinical experience, literature on delirium has been reviewed and ten points of basic understanding of delirium in critically ill patients have been identified.

Effect of cultivation time on soil heavy metal accumulation and bioavailability in Phyllostachys praecox stands

Phyllostachys praecox is a bamboo species cultivated for edible shoots under intensive management.However,the potential pollution risk of heavy metals in bamboo soils is not clear under the intensive management for a long term.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cultivation time on soil heavy metal accumulation and bioavailability in bamboo stands subjected to intensive management.Soil samples were collected from a chronosequence of bamboo stands which had been cultivated for 0,1,2,4,8,and 10 years in Lin’an,Zhejiang Province of China.Eight heavy metals(Cu,Zn,Pb,Ni,Cr,Cd,As,and Hg)present in the soil were selected,and their potential pollution risk was evaluated by chemical speciation analysis.Possible heavy metal sources were explored using multivariate and cluster analysis.Our results showed that Zn,Cu,Hg,and Cd contents in the soil increased with the cultivation time,while Ni,Cr,Pb,and As levels were similar among all stands.Furthermore,the bioavailabilities of all analyzed heavy metals increased with the cultivation time.Multivariate and cluster analysis showed that sources of Ni,Cr,Pb,and As were likely lithogenic in origin,whereas input of Zn,Cu,Hg,and Cd was mainly due to cultivation practices.Current bamboo management strategies raised the potential risks of heavy metal pollution in bamboo shoots in the long term.Soil acidification in P.praecox stands induced by intensive cultivation should be controlled since it stimulated and improved the bioavailability of heavy metals.Appropriate management strategies should thus be adopted to ensure safe and sustainable production of bamboo shoots.

A Study on the Effects of Insect Pests and Diseases on Intensively Managed Plantations

Basedon the results of monitoring the environment of China National Afforestation Project (NAP) and the investigation on insect pests and diseases in 1.2 million ha of plantations, the author elaborates the areas, species and causes of insect pests and diseases occurring in the project's areas and provides fundamental theory for guiding environmental protection and plantation establishment in a sound way. Since the project's activities strictly follovved the guideline of environmental protection in past...