Morphological Characteristics of Cambodia Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap Lake and Its Response to River-Lake Water Exchange Pattern

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest river-connected lake, buffer area and ecological zone of Mekong River, which plays a huge role in dispelling flood peak and compensating water, and the conservation of biological diversity. The river-lake relationship between Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake is unique and has always been a major focus in the international community. The land terrain and under-water topography were used to analyze the morphological characteristics of Cambodia Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap Lake. Long series of hydrological data of river-lake controlling stations were used to analyze the water level variation characteristics and water volume exchange pattern between Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake, and the response relationship to river-lake morphological characteristics were also researched. The results show that: Cambodia Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap Lake Area is low-lying and flat with gentle channel gradient and water surface gradient, making the relationship between water level and area (or volume) smooth. The channel storage capacity of Mekong River and Tonle Sap River is not enough compared to the inflow, so vast flooding plain is extremely prone to be inundated, making the flood relationships between the left and right banks become very complicated. Tonle Sap Lake is a seasonal freshwater lake with water flowing in and flowing out, and the timing and intensity of water exchange with Mekong River are closely related to the water flow resistance at the exit section of Tonle Sap Lake and the cross-sectional area of Tonle Sap River, which can be reflected by the river-lake water level difference and the water level of Tonle Sap River. Affected by the river-lake morphological characteristics, the water exchange intensity between Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake is great. Tonle Sap Lake not only stores 14.4% of flood volume (39.7 billion m3) from the Mekong River every year, but also supplies 29.7% of dry water (69.4 billion m3) to the Mekong River. Influenced by the adjustment of the floodplain, the water level fluctuation of Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake is slow, and the rising and droop rates of water level are positively correlated with the floodplain storage area. The research results will help to understand the relationship mechanism between Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake and provide a scientific basis for the comprehensive governance of Cambodia Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap Lake Area.

New Challenges and Opportunities for Flood Control in the Huai River: Addressing a Changing River-Lake Relationship

This paper addresses the change of the river-lake relationship in the Huai River and its causes due to environmental change and human activities. A preliminary analysis is made from three aspects: (1) the natural geographical change particularly captured by the Yellow River, (2) water conservancy project construction, and (3) socioeconomic development in the Huai River Basin. Key problems of changes in this river-lake relationship and the Huai River flood control are tackled, involving flood control and disaster alleviation ability of the Basin, engineering and non-engineering measurements applied to flood control and disaster mitigation, and water governance for adaptive management. Research shows that the Huai River is a rather complex one due to its complex geography with a hybrid wet and dry climate zoon, and higher population density. With the alternation of the river-lake relationship and socioeconomic development in the region, new problems keep arising, imposing new requirements on its sustainable water management. Thus, understanding the Huai River is a long and gradually improving process. Its future planning should keep absorbing new achievements of science and technology development, employing new technologies and methods, and gradually deepening our understanding of its fundamental principles. Water governance and adaptive water management will be new challenges and opportunities for the Basin in its river system change and flood control.

Relationship Between Diurnal Changes of Net Photosynthetic Rate and Influencing Factors in Rice under Saline Sodic Stress

The net photosynthetic rate of flag leaves and influencing factors under saline sodic soil conditions were investigated at the full heading stage of rice. The net photosynthetic rate of rice leaves showed a double-peak curve in a day in both non-saline sodic and saline sodic soil treatments. The first peak of the net photosynthetic rate appeared at 9：00-10：00 and 9：00 in the saline sodic and non-saline sodic soil treatments, respectively, whereas the second peak both at 14：00. The midday depression of the net photosynthetic rate always appeared regardless of non-saline sodic or saline sodic soil conditions. In addition, the net photosynthetic rate significantly decreased in all day under saline sodic conditions compared with that under non-saline sodic conditions. Some differences were observed in correlation characters between the net photosynthetic rate and all influencing factors during 9：00-13：00. Under non-saline sodic conditions, the diurnal changes of the net photosynthetic rate in a day were mainly caused by stomatal conductance, and the limitation value and the stomatal factors served as determinants; whereas under saline sodic stress, the diurnal changes of the net photosynthetic rate in a day were mainly caused by non stomatal factors including light intensity and air temperature.

Analysis and improving countermeasures of medical disputes from the perspective of legal changes

Under the background of medical disputes growing in number,scale and intensity,tracing back legal changes in medical field as a breakthrough point,this paper took a legal perspective to illustrate changes in medical dispute settlements from legislative orientation to legal system improvement.In view of the fact that early legislation in medical field was biased towards identification and punishment of doctors’responsibility,and later intensive legislation in balancing increasing"medical trouble"phenomenon with limited effects and difficulties to abide by the law,this paper proposed to improve doctor-patient dispute settlements system in China referencing from foreign law experience,to reduce investigation of doctors at the judicial level,and to establish a settlement mechanism on doctors’apology at the legislative level,so as to promote a healthy development of doctor-patient relationship.

Nonlinear model characterizing stress-strain relationship and permeability change of contact compression fracture at closing stage

Understanding the stress-strain relationship and permeability change for contact compression fracture at closing stage has been a hot issue for a long time.Previous investigations of this topic were mainly focused on experimental tests;however,theoretical approaches were rarely reported.Based on this,this paper focuses on the contact fracture at closing stage when rock is uniaxially loaded,and then a theoretical model is proposed.Based on the change of fracture elasticity modulus,it shows that as crack apertures are gradually reduced in the loading process,the permeability of rock sample will decrease progressively.This scenario shows that theoretical computation matches well with the experimental results.Finally,the effects of ratio of sample size to fracture aperture(n).pore pressure(P),and initial aperture(b) on stress-strain relationship and permeability change for contact compression fracture at closing stage are analyzed.

Relationship between changes of endogenous ABA level and resistance in hybrid rice under temperature stress

We studied the relationship between endogenous ABA and resistance to temperature stress in seedlings of hybrid rice. The hybrid rice Combinations Shanyou 63, Shanyou 287, Weiyou 63, and Weiyou 287 were treated under 2℃ and 42℃ respectively for 48 h. Endogenous ABA concentrations were obtained by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and a nickel labelled external standard. Leakage of electrolytes were determined. At optimal temperature (27℃), there was difference between the level of endogenous ABA and the leakage of electrolytes in hybrid rice combinations, which attributed to genetic difference. ABA level in Weiyou system was higher than that in Shanyou, and there were distinctions between Shanyou system itself (see table). At 2℃, the ABA content of rice seedling was increased. ABA level of Weiyou system maintained higher than Shanyou system at 27℃. The leakage quantities of

Projected Rainfall Intensity Duration Frequency Relationships under Climate Change:A Case Study Thane City

Climate change is the most important factor to increase in short-duration high-intensity rainfall and consequent flooding.Intensity-Duration-Frequency(IDF)curves are commonly used tools in Stormwater design,so a method to derive future IDF curves including climate change effect could be necessary for the mainstreaming climate change information into storm water planning.The objective of the present study is to define a mechanism to reflect the effect of climate change into the projected rainfall IDF relationships.For this,the continuously observed hourly rainfall data from 1969 to 2018 were divided into five subgroups.Then the IDF curve of each subgroup is defined.The rainfall intensity for the next 30 years was then estimated using a linear regression model.The obtained result indicates that for the same duration and for the same return period,the rainfall intensity is likely to increase over time:17%(2019-2028),25%(2029-2038)and 32%(2039-2048).However,the findings presented in this paper will be useful for local authorities and decision makers in terms of improving stormwater design and future flood damage will be avoided.

Energy Security and Climate Change in the European Union,China and Latin American Relationships:Major Challenges and Areas of International Cooperation

The author discusses the subject in both ecological and political perspectives based on a most comprehensive,authoritative and updated bibliography.Hence,Latin America and the Caribbean(LAC) is as much diversified as there are sub-regions and regional organizations in geopolitical and geo-economical terms and often dialectic regarding energy security,climate change and LAC ties with Europeans and China and so is the tripartite relations with the rest of the world so far as energy security and climate cha...

In vivo imaging of structural,metabolic and functional brain changes in glaucoma

Glaucoma, the world's leading cause of irreversible blindness, is a condition for which elevated intraocular pressure is currently the only modifiable risk factor. However, the disorder can continue to progress even at reduced intraocular pressure. This indicates additional key factors that contribute to the etiopathogenesis. There has been a growing amount of literature suggesting glaucoma as a neurodegenerative disease of the visual system. However, it remains debatable whether the observed pathophysiological conditions are causes or consequences. This review summarizes recent in vivo imaging studies that helped advance the understanding of early glaucoma involvements and disease progression in the brains of humans and experimental animal models. In particular, we focused on the non-invasive detection of early structural and functional brain changes before substantial clinical visual field loss in glaucoma patients; the eye-brain interactions across disease severity; the metabolic changes occurring in the brain's visual system in glaucoma; and, the widespread brain involvements beyond the visual pathway as well as the potential behavioral relevance. If the mechanisms of glaucomatous brain changes are reliably identified, novel neurotherapeutics that target parameters beyond intraocular pressure lowering can be the promise of the near future, which would lead to reduced prevalence of this irreversible but preventable disease.

Glacier variations and their response to climate change in an arid inland river basin of Northwest China

Glaciers are a critical freshwater resource of river recharge in arid areas around the world.In recent decades,glaciers have shown evidence of retreat due to climate change,and the accelerated ablation of glaciers and associated impacts on water resources have received widespread attention.Glacier variations result from climate change,so they can serve as an indicator of climate change.Considering the climatic differences in different elevation ranges,it is worthwhile to explore whether different responses exist between glacier area and air temperature in each elevation zone.In this study,we selected a typical arid inland river basin(Sugan Lake Basin)in the western Qilian Mountains of Northwest China to analyze the glacier variations and their response to climate change.The glacier area data from 1989 to 2016 were delineated using Landsat Thematic Mapper(TM),Enhanced TM+(ETM+)and Operational Land Imager(OLI)images.We compared the relationships between glacier area and air temperature at seven meteorological stations in the glacier-covered areas and in the Sugan Lake Basin,and further analyzed the relationship between glacier area and mean air temperature of the glacier surfaces in July–August in the elevation range of 4700–5500 m a.s.l.by the linear regression method and correlation analysis.In addition,based on the linear regression relationship established between glacier area and air temperature in each elevation zone,we predicted glacier areas under future climate scenarios during the periods of 2046–2065 and 2081–2100.The results indicate that the glaciers experienced a remarkable shrinkage from 1989 to 2016 with a shrinkage rate of–1.61 km^2/a(–0.5%/a),and the rising temperature is the decisive factor dominating glacial retreat;there is a significant negative linear correlation between glacier area and mean air temperature of the glacier surfaces in July–August in each elevation zone from 1989 to 2016.The variations in glaciers are far less sensitive to changes in precipitation than to changes in air temperature.Due to the influence of climate and topographic conditions,the distribution of glacier area and the rate of glacier ablation first increased and then decreased in different elevation zones.The trend in glacier shrinkage will continue because air temperature will continue to increase in the future,and the result of glacier retreat in each elevation zone will be slightly slower than that in the entire study area.Quantitative glacier research can more accurately reflect the response of glacier variations to climate change,and the regression relationship can be used to predict the areas of glaciers under future climate scenarios.These conclusions can offer effective references for assessing glacier variations and their response to climate change in arid inland river basins in Northwest China as well as other similar regions in the world.

Study on the Changes of the Major Nutrient Elements During Simple Composting Process of Dry Chicken Manure

[Objectives]This study was conducted to provide a theoretical basis for production and application of chicken manure compost.[Methods]With dry manure as a material,the variations of the major nutrients during simple composting process of dry chicken manure were studied,in order to get the best fermentation method.[Results]Chicken manure should not be preserved wet,but should be preserved after air-drying and fermented before use.Necessary moisture,simple sealing treatment and a certain amount of N element were conducive to simple fermentation of chicken manure.The treatments in which the chicken manure was wrapped around and compacted,added with an appropriate amount of water(50%-60%)and naturally fermented,or was wrapped around and compacted and added with an appropriate amount of water(50%-60%)and 0.2%of urea,were more appropriate for the production directly.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for the actual production and application of chicken manure compost.

Decadal Change in the Influence of the Western North Pacific Subtropical High on Summer Rainfall over the Yangtze River Basin in the Late 1970s

It is well known that on the interannual timescale,the westward extension of the western North Pacific subtropical high(WNPSH)results in enhanced rainfall over the Yangtze River basin(YRB)in summer,and vice versa.This study identifies that this correspondence experiences a decadal change in the late 1970s.That is,the WNPSH significantly affects YRB precipitation(YRBP)after the late 1970s(P2)but not before the late 1970s(P1).It is found that enhanced interannual variability of the WNPSH favors its effect on YRB rainfall in P2.On the other hand,after removing the strong WNPSH cases in P2 and making the WNPSH variability equivalent to that in P1,the WNPSH can still significantly affect YRB rainfall,suggesting that the WNPSH variability is not the only factor that affects the WNPSH-YRBP relationship.Further results indicate that the change in basic state of thermal conditions in the tropical WNP provides a favorable background for the enhanced WNPSH-YRBP relationship.In P2,the lower-tropospheric atmosphere in the tropical WNP gets warmer and wetter,and thus the meridional gradient of climatological equivalent potential temperature over the YRB is enhanced.As a result,the WNPSH-related circulation anomalies can more effectively induce YRB rainfall anomalies through affecting the meridional gradient of equivalent potential temperature over the YRB.

Great Changes Unseen for a Century in American Politics and the 2020 US Presidential Election

American politics is currently undergoing great changes unseen in a century,which has been predominately manifested in the following hree aspects:first,the rampant COVID-19 pandemic has caused the US tosuffer its worst economic recession since the Great Depression in 1929;second,social division and political polarization are besetting the US as evidenced in its wide partisan divide between the supporters of its two major parties on a range of critical issues;and third,the US is caught in anational identity crisis,while China's rise is believed to intensify such a crisis.These three factors are bound to exert great impacts on the 2020 presidential election of the United States:the COVID-19 pandemic will have certain influence on voter turnout and the approval rating of the two parties;in the context of the aforementioned serious social divide and highly polarized political landscape,the basic constituencies of the two parties are likely to show an extraordinary degree of party loyalty,which could result in the possibility that a few voters in a handful of key states will determine the results of the election;and as China's peaceful rise ismistaken as a serious threat to the national identity of the US.China will be one of the key topics in the coming US presidential election,hence further worsening the relations between China and the United States.

Warming induced changes in wood matter accumulation in tracheid walls of spruce

The warming-driven increase of the vegetation season length impacts both net productivity and phenology of plants, changing an annual carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. To evaluate this influence, tree growth along the temperature gradients can be investigated on various organization levels, beginning from detailed climatic records in xylem cells’ number and morphometric parameters. In this study, the Borus Ridge of the Western Sayan Mountains(South Siberia) was considered as a forest area under rapid climate change caused by massive Sayano-Shushenskoe reservoir. Several parameters of the xylem anatomical structure in Siberian spruce(Picea obovata Ledeb.)were derived from normalized tracheidograms of cell radial diameter and cell wall thickness and analyzed during 50 years across elevational gradient(at 520,960, and 1320 m a.s.l.). On the regional scale, the main warming by 0.42°C per decade occurs during cold period(November–March). Construction of the reservoir accelerated local warming substantially since 1980, when abrupt shift of the cold season temperature by 2.6°C occurred. It led to the vegetation season beginning 3-6 days earlier and ending 4-10 day later with more stable summer heat supply. Two spatial patterns were found in climatic response of maximal cell wall thickness:(1)temperature has maximal impact during 21-day period, and its seasonality shifts with elevation in tune with temperature gradient;(2) response to the date of temperature passing +9.5°C threshold is observed at two higher sites. Climate change yielded significantly bigger early wood spruce tracheids at all sites, but its impact on cell wall deposition process had elevational gradient: maximal wall thickness increased by 7.9% at the treeline, by 18.2% mid-range,and decreased by 4.9% at the lower boundary of spruce growth;normalized total cell wall area increased by 6.2%-6.8% at two higher sites but remained stable at the lowest one. We believe that these patterns are caused by two mechanisms of spruce secondary growth cessation: "emergency"induced by temperature drop versus "regular" one in warmer conditions. Therefore, autumn lengthening of growth season stimulated wood matter accumulation in tracheid walls mainly in cold environment,increasing role of boreal and mountain forests in carbon cycle.

Downstream Changes on a Tropical Fish Community Structure by Effluent from Wood Processing Factory

In order to plan a management programme for ensuring maximum production of fish in Cross River, impacted downstream changes in the fish community structure by effluents from wood processing industry, six years after establishment, was examined. Monthly samples were collected between January and December each year from 2000 to 2006 in three reaches (Upriver: I, Mid-river: II and Downriver: III) along the length of Cross River. Representatives of the fish families Osteoglossidae (i.e. Heterotis niloticus), Cichlidae (Tilapia melonopleura) and Characidae (Bryocinus nurse), Clupeidae (Cynothrissa sp), Mormyridae (Mormyrus deliciosus), Clariidae (Clarias gariepinus), Bagridae (Bagrus bayad) and Cyprinidae (Barbus occidentalis) were found to have declined in their importance compared to pre-industry period. On the other hand, Bagridae (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus), Cichlidaae (Orechromis niloticus), Claridae (Clarias anguillaris) and Mochokidae (Synodontis clarias) have currently emerged as most important. Estimated value of growth coefficient (b) of the length-weight relationship changed from isometry (b approx. = 3) to negative allometry (b ≤ 3), condition factor values decreased from range between 0.53 and 1.30 to range between 0.22 and 0.62. Main feeding groups of fish;planktivores, carnivores and insectivores declined in numbers while omnivores and detritivores increased, resulting in dominance of benthic and semi-pelagic omnivores. Values of fecundity distribution varied from 56,012 ± 5234 eggs, mode 12,500 and median 58,345 to mean value 23,122 ± 232 eggs, mode 2500 and median 20,349, egg size from mean value;1.82 ± 0.07 mm, mode 2.2, and median;1.8 to values of 0.8 ± 0.04 mm, mode;1.3 and median 1.1 and Gonadosomatic index from 20.5 ± 3.2, mode 19.1 ± 2.2 and median 21.4 to values of 12.4 ± 2.3, mode 4.5 and median 9.5 respectively. Three species found to have appeared in the river were Tilapia monody, Chrysichthys maurus and Synodontis violaceus. The appearance of these species and disappearance of 36 others indicates the restructuring of the fish community of the Cross River by effluents from the wood processing industry.

Impact of land use change on water quality in the Dianchi Lake watershed, Yunnan, China, 1988-2008

Land use changes occurring in China during the time period of rapid economic development are linked to the degradation of water quality in streams and lakes. This paper examines these linkages in the Dianchi Lake watershed in Yunnan in southwest China based on a twenty-year data set from 1988 to 2008. Pearson correlation analysis and simple linear regression analysis are employed to explore the relationships between land use change and water quality of two sub-basins, the Caohai Lake basin and the Waihai Lake basin, within the Dianchi Lake watershed. Land use categories more strongly correlate to water quality in the Caohai Lake basin than that in the Waihai Lake basin. The different structure of land use categories, spatial distribution of land cover, and scales of buffer zones could be the factors resulting in the dissimilarities between these two lakes. The research can provide valuable insights for policymakers into land use management in order to curb further water degradation in Dianchi Lake.

Changes in Post-World War II： Italians in Rochester, N.Y.

This article examines the major similarities and differences among Italians who migrated to Rochester, N.Y., before World War II and post-World War Ⅱ. It offers explanations on the similarities and differences among these two groups of migrants. Investigation of historical, sociological, and anthropological sources along with interviews among both populations provides abundant data bearing on the investigation. The successful completion of the research reported in this article has major bearing on the issue of migration itself, theories in history, sociology, and anthropology, and even on social psychological understanding of how choices are made and identity is formulated.

Climate Change and Its Influence on Agricultural Pest in Mexico

The present paper reviewed the researches of how they have affected agricultural pests in the territory of Mexico. It emphasizes that traditional climate models are not “predict” non-linear systems and are necessary to resort to the construction of scenarios for study. Some climate change models applied to Mexico used for this purpose obtained significant results. It showed that to better understand the ecology of pests and their hosts, it is necessary to further research the correlations between them and improve climate modeling and its consequences, to prioritize risks and improve the reliability of predictions and scenarios in the future.

Quantitative relationship between surface sedimentary diatoms and water depth in North-Central Bohai Bay,China

To study the quantitative relationship between surface sedimentary diatoms and water depth,67 surface samples were collected for diatom analysis on eight profiles with water depth variation from the muddy intertidal zone to the shallow sea area in North-Central Bohai Bay,China.The results showed that the distribution of diatoms changed significantly in response to the change in water depth.Furthermore,the quantitative relationship between the distribution of dominant diatom species,their assemblages,and the water depth was established.The water depth optima for seven dominant species such as Cyclotella striata/stylorum,Paralia sulcata,and Coscinodiscus perforatus and the water depth indication range of seven diatom assemblages were obtained in the study area above the water depth(elevation)of-10 m.The quantitative relationship between surface sedimentary diatoms and water depth provides a proxy index for diatom-paleo-water depth reconstruction in the strata in Bohai Bay,China.