Annual Rate Of Change Research Articles

Incidence and survival rates of primary cutaneous malignancies in Korea, 1999-2019: A nationwide population-based study.

Primary cutaneous malignancies are among the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer worldwide. We aimed to examine the incidence and 5-year survival rates of all types of primary cutaneous malignancies in the Korean population. Data from the Korean Nationwide Cancer Registry from 1999 to 2019 were analyzed. The crude incidence rates, age-standardized incidence rates, and 5-year relative survival rates of each type of skin cancer were calculated. A total of 89 965 patients were diagnosed with primary cutaneous malignancies, which was a 7-fold increase from 1999 to 2019. The age-standardized incidence rates increased 3.4-fold in basal cell carcinoma (3.7/100 000 person-years), 2.0-fold in squamous cell carcinoma (1.6/100 000 person-years), 12.0-fold in Bowen disease (1.2/100 000 person-years), and 1.8-fold in malignant melanoma (0.7/10 000 person-years) in 2019. Average annual percentage changes in age-standardized incidence rates were statistically significant in basal cell carcinoma (15.8%), Bowen disease (5.8%), squamous cell carcinoma (5.1%), malignant melanoma (1.2%), melanoma insitu (1.1%), dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (1.2%), mycosis fungoides (0.5%), primary cutaneous CD30+ T-cell proliferations (0.5%), adnexal and skin appendage carcinoma (0.4%), extramammary Paget's disease (0.2%), and Merkel cell carcinoma (0.2%). The 5-year relative survival rates were the highest in basal cell carcinoma (103.3%), followed by dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (99.7%) and mycosis fungoides (96.6%), and lowest in angiosarcoma (24.7%). The 5-year relative survival rates steadily increased in extramammary Paget's disease (23.6%), cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (21.3%), mycosis fungoides (20.2%), extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (18.1%), and malignant melanoma (16.1%) from 1996-2000 to 2015-2019. Most primary cutaneous malignancies have increased in incidence and survival rates in the Korean population, but to varying extents depending on the type of skin cancer.

Early glucose abnormalities revealed by continuous glucose monitoring associate with lung function decline in cystic fibrosis: A five-year prospective study

BackgroundCystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) is commonly associated with declining lung function and nutritional status. We aimed to evaluate the pulmonary impact of early glucose abnormalities by using 2-h standard oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). MethodsPwCF aged ≥10 years old without known CFRD were included in a five-year prospective multicentre study. Annual evaluation of nutritional status, lung function, OGTT and CGM was set up. Associations between annual rate changes (Δ) in lung function, ΔFEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 s) percentage predicted (pp) and ΔFVC (forced vital capacity) pp., and annual rate changes in OGTT or CGM variables were estimated with a mixed model with a random effect for subject. ResultsFrom 2009 to 2016, 112 PwCF (age: 21 ± 11 years, BMI (body mass index) z-score: −0.55 ± 1.09, FEV1pp: 77 ± 24 %, 2-h OGTT glucose: 122 ± 44 mg/dL, AUC (area under curve) >140 mg/dL: 1 mg/dL/day (0.2, 3.0) were included. A total of 428 OGTTs and 480 CGMs were collected. The participants presented annual decline of FVCpp and FEV1pp at −1.0 % per year (−1.6, −0.4), p < 0.001 and − 1.9 % per year (−2.5, −1.3), p < 0.001 respectively without change in BMI z-score during the study. Variation of two-hour OGTT glucose was not associated with declining lung function, as measured by ΔFEV1pp (p = 0.94) and ΔFVCpp (p = 0.90). Among CGM variables, only increase in AUC >140 mg/dL between two annual visits was associated with a decrease in ΔFVCpp (p < 0.05) and ΔFEV1pp (p < 0.05). ConclusionsThis prospective study supports the fact that early glucose abnormalities revealed by CGM predict pulmonary function decline in PwCF, while 2-h standard OGTT glucose is not associated with pulmonary impairment.

Longitudinal Changes in Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and Risk of Incident Diabetes: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

To investigate the associations of longitudinal changes in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone (T) over the menopause transition with the risk of diabetes. We followed 2,952 participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) who were premenopausal or early perimenopausal and diabetes-free at baseline. SHBG,T, and estradiol (E2) levels were measured at up to 13 follow-up visits (over up to 17 years). We used complementary log-log-based discrete-time survival models anchored at baseline. Diabetes developed in 376 women. A 5-unit increase in time-varying SHBG was associated with a 10% reduced risk of diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 0.91, 95% CI 0.87-0.95), adjusting for covariates, and baseline SHBG,T, and E2 levels. Time-varying T was not associated with diabetes risk. Compared with the lowest quartile for annual rate of change of SHBG since baseline (quartile 1 [Q1] -92.3 to -1.5 nmol/L), all other quartiles were associated with a decreased risk of diabetes adjusting for covariates and baseline SHBG; associations persisted after adjusting for rate of change of T and E2 (Q2 [> -1.5 to -0.2 nmol/L] HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.23-0.48; Q3 [> -0.2 to 1.3 nmol/L] HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.25-0.55; Q4 [>1.3 to 82.0 nmol/L] HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.30-0.63). Increasing levels of SHBG over the menopause transition were associated with a decreased risk of incident diabetes. Stable to increasing rates of change in SHBG were also independently associated with a decreased risk of diabetes compared with decreasing rates of change, suggesting SHBG may affect glucose through a mechanism beyond androgenicity.

COVID-19 and Youth Mental Health Disparities: Intersectional Trends in Depression, Anxiety and Suicide Risk-Related Diagnoses

ObjectivesMental health disparities were prevalent among racially and ethnically minoritized youth prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. As complete datasets from 2022 become available, we can estimate the extent to which the pandemic further magnified existing inequities. Our objective was to quantify disparities in trajectories of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk-related diagnoses in youth before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, using an intersectional lens of race, ethnicity and gender. MethodsUsing electronic medical record data from one mid-Atlantic health care system (2015–2022), we evaluated changes in annual rates of depression, anxiety and suicide risk-related diagnoses in 29,117 youths, aged 8–20 years, using graphical analysis, comparison of adjusted mean differences (AMD) and adjusted mixed multilevel logistic regression. ResultsAlmost all racial and gender subgroups had significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety after the start of COVID-19 compared to the years prior, with the greatest changes observed in Hispanic and Asian females. Suicide risk-related diagnoses significantly increased among all female subgroups, with the largest increase among Asian females (AMD 4.8, 95% CI 0.2–9.3) and Black females (AMD 4.6, 95% CI 2.2–6.9). ConclusionsRates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors in young people continued to increase in the post-pandemic period. Many pre-existing disparities between subgroups, especially females, significantly widened, highlighting the importance of using an intersectional lens. Urgent action is warranted, including universal screening of pediatric patients for suicide risk, broadening effective treatment and support options in minoritized patients, and increasing support services to patients and families.

Analyzing Cancer Incidence Trends in Oman From 1996 to 2019: A Comprehensive Study of the National Cancer Annual Reports.

Previous studies have reported that cancer incidence trends in Oman varied by tumor site and sex. No comprehensive analysis of all cancer sites had been reported. The objective of this study is to analyze cancer incidence trends in Oman and calculate the annual percent change (APC) in age-standardized rates (ASRs) for all-cancer and 61 individual cancer sites in Omani men and women from 1996 to 2019. We gathered incidence data from The Omani National Cancer Registry for all cancers combined and individual tumor sites. We estimated the APC using Poisson regression. The cancer ASR in the Omani population increased by 23% (from 95/100,000 in 1996 to 117.2/100,000 in 2019), with the increase being more pronounced in females (48% v 7% in males). Among the male population, there was significant increase in the ASRs of colon, rectum, thyroid, and prostate cancers, with APCs of 6.92%, 4.24%, 4.19%, and 2.03%, respectively. Among females, all-cancer incidence showed significant increase (APC = 1.39%), and increasing trends were observed in uterine, colon, rectum, thyroid, and breast cancers (APCs = 7.57%, 7.08%, 5.19%, 5.16%, and 4.19%, respectively). The ASR of all-cancer increased significantly in Omani women but not in men. Uterine cancer had the highest APC. Colorectal cancer and thyroid ASR increased in both males and females. Breast and prostate cancers showed increasing trends. Further research is needed to explore factors contributing to increasing cancer incidences.

Regional and Demographic Disparities in Atrial Fibrillation Mortality in the USA.

Despite the burden of atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) in the USA, an assessment of contemporary mortality trends is scarce in the literature. This study aimed to assess the temporal trends in AF/AFL deaths among US adults by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and census region from 1999 to 2020. National mortality data was abstracted from the National Center for Health Statistics to identify decedents whose underlying cause of death was cardiovascular disease and multiple cause of death, AF/AFL. Joinpoint regression assessed mortality trends, and we calculated the average percentage changes (APC) and average annual percentage changes in mortality rates. Results were presented as effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Between 1999 and 2020, 657,126 adults died from AF/AFL in the USA. Contemporary trends have worsened overall except among individuals from the Northeast region for whom the rates have remained stationary since 2015 (APC = 0.1; 95% CI, - 1.0, 1.1). Regional and demographic disparities were observed, with higher rates noted among younger persons below 65years of age, women (APC = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.7, 2.5), and non-Hispanic Blacks (APC = 4.5; 95% CI, 3.9, 5.2). The temporal trends in AF/AFL mortality in the USA have exhibited a worsening pattern in recent years, with regional and demographic disparities. Further investigations are warranted to explore the determinants of AF/AFL mortality in the US population and identify factors that may explain the observed differences. Understanding these factors will facilitate efforts to promote improved and equitable health outcomes for the population.

Clinical, tomographic and functional comparison of sporadic and tuberous sclerosis complex-associated forms of lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease that can occur sporadically (S-LAM) or associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC-LAM). The natural history of LAM is not completely understood, including whether there is a difference between the clinical courses of the two forms. This study aimed to compare the clinical, functional and tomographic features between S-LAM and TSC-LAM, and evaluate the annual rates of change in lung function. This retrospective cohort study included patients with LAM followed up between 1994 and 2019. Clinical, functional and imaging variables were evaluated, and the lung cysts were automatically quantified. Quality of life and predictors of lung function impairment were accessed, and the annual rate of lung function decline was compared between S-LAM and TSC-LAM. Of the 107 patients included, 77 had S-LAM and 30 had TSC-LAM. Although patients with TSC-LAM had a higher prevalence of renal angiomyolipomas and neurological and dermatological manifestations, pulmonary function tests were similar. Patients with S-LAM had a greater rate of forced expiratory volume in 1 s decline and a higher extent of cysts. Pneumothorax, desaturation in the 6-minute walking test and a higher extent of lung cysts were predictors of functional impairment. A greater impact on vitality and emotional health was observed in the TSC-LAM. Greater functional decline and a higher cystic extension were found in patients with S-LAM. Our study provides a broad clinical, functional and tomographic characterisation of patients with LAM, adding valuable information to the existing evidence to better understand the two forms of the disease.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mortality burden: Predictions for 2030 based on Bayesian age-period-cohort analysis of China and global mortality burden from 1990 to 2019.

This study assessed diabetes (type 1 and type 2) mortality in China and globally from 1990 to 2019, predicting the next decade's trends. Data came from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database. The annual percentage change (AAPC) in age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) for diabetes (type 1 and type 2) during 1990-2019 was calculated. A Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model predicted diabetes (type 1 and type 2) mortality from 2020 to 2030. In China, type 1 diabetes deaths declined from 6,005 to 4,504 cases (AAPC -2.827), while type 2 diabetes deaths rose from 64,084 to 168,388 cases (AAPC -0.763) from 1990 to 2019. Globally, type 1 diabetes deaths increased from 55,417 to 78,236 cases (AAPC 0.223), and type 2 diabetes deaths increased from 606,407 to 1,472,934 cases (AAPC 0.365). Both China and global trends showed declining type 1 diabetes ASMR. However, female type 2 diabetes ASMR in China initially increased and then decreased, while males had a rebound trend. Peak type 1 diabetes deaths were in the 40-44 age group, and type 2 diabetes peaked in those over 70. BAPC predicted declining diabetes (type 1 and type 2) mortality burden in China and globally over the next 10 years. Type 2 diabetes mortality remained high in China and globally despite decreasing type 1 diabetes mortality over 30 years. Predictions suggest a gradual decrease in diabetes mortality over the next decade, highlighting the need for continued focus on type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment.

Neonatal mortality in countries of the Americas, 2000-2020: trends, inequalities, and target-setting.

To analyze temporal trends and inequalities in neonatal mortality between 2000 and 2020, and to set neonatal mortality targets for 2025 and 2030 in the Americas. A descriptive ecological study was conducted using 33 countries of the Americas as units of analysis. Both the percentage change and average annual percentage change in neonatal mortality rates were estimated. Measurements of absolute and relative inequality based on adjusted regression models were used to assess cross-country social inequalities in neonatal mortality. Targets to reduce neonatal mortality and cross-country inequalities were set for 2025 and 2030. The estimated regional neonatal mortality rate was 12.0 per 1 000 live births in 2000-2004 and 7.4 per 1 000 live births in 2020, representing a percentage change of -38.3% and an average annual percentage change of -2.7%. National average annual percentage changes in neonatal mortality rates between 2000-2004 and 2020 ranged from -5.5 to 1.9 and were mostly negative. The estimated excess neonatal mortality in the 20% most socially disadvantaged countries, compared with the 20% least socially disadvantaged countries, was 17.1 and 9.8 deaths per 1 000 live births in 2000-2004 and 2020, respectively. Based on an extrapolation of recent trends, the regional neonatal mortality rate is projected to reach 7.0 and 6.6 neonatal deaths per 1 000 live births by 2025 and 2030, respectively. National and regional health authorities need to strengthen their efforts to reduce persistent social inequalities in neonatal mortality both within and between countries.

Trends in Mortality of Cirrhosis in China: An Analysis of the China Death Surveillance Database from 2008 to 2020.

China accounts for 14.9% of total cirrhosis deaths worldwide. A detailed and comprehensive understanding of the contemporary status of cirrhosis mortality in China is crucial for establishing strategies for intervention and decreasing the disease burden of cirrhosis worldwide. The study aimed to report the cirrhosis mortality rates in our whole country or province over time. Mortality data from 2008 to 2020 were retrieved from the Disease Surveillance Point System (DSPs) of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The crude mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate of patients with cirrhosis were stratified by sex, residential location, and region. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) in cirrhosis mortality rates from 2008 to 2020 was also calculated. The crude mortality rate of cirrhosis was 4.57/100,000 people in 2020. Compared with females and individuals living in urban areas, males and people living in rural areas had greater age-standardized mortality. The crude mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate in provinces in Southwest China (Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Qinghai) were greater than those in other provinces. Moreover, with increasing age, the age-specific mortality rate increased significantly. From 2008 to 2020, the mortality rate of cirrhosis in China decreased except for in males aged 50-59 years, females aged 45-49 years and females aged 80-84 years. The mortality rate of patients with cirrhosis in China decreased from 2008 to 2020. In the future, interventions of cirrhosis mortality control need to pay more attention to all males, females aged 45-49 and 80-84 years, and people living in rural areas and in provinces in Southwest China.

The burden of acute lymphoid leukemia among adolescents and young adults in the Western Pacific Region: evidence from Global Burden Disease 2019.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells. Here, we use data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, to estimate the burden and incidence rate changes in adolescents and young adults (AYA) ALL in the Western Pacific Region and to reveal potential risk factors of incidence- and mortality rates. The GBD 2019 study data was stratified by sex, age, country, and territory. We calculated the Estimated annual percentage changes (estimated APC) in mortality and incidence rates for each of the 25 countries and territories of the western Pacific region from 1990 to 2019. This study found global AYA ALL incidence rates had increased while the mortality rates had decreased between 1990 and 2019. Moreover, healthcare access and quality (HAQ), and government per capita health spending were identified as country-level risk factors of AYA ALL incidence rates, while HAQ, male education, and sex were identified as mortality rate predictors in 25 Western Pacific Region countries. To address and reduce the burden of incidence and mortality among AYA, various regions around the world, particularly developing countries, could revise their AYA prevention and treatment strategies.

Assessment of Shoreline Change from SAR Satellite Imagery in Three Tidally Controlled Coastal Environments

Coasts are continually changing and remote sensing from satellites has the potential to both map and monitor coastal change at multiple scales. Unlike optical technology, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is uninfluenced by darkness, clouds, and rain, potentially offering a higher revision period to map shoreline position and change, but this can only be feasible if we have a better interpretation of what shorelines as extracted from SAR imagery represent on the ground. This study aims to assess the application of shorelines extracted from SAR from publicly available satellite imagery to map and capture intra-annual to inter-annual shoreline variability. This is assessed in three tidally controlled coastal study areas that represent sand and gravel beaches with different backshore environments: low-lying dunes and marsh; steep, rocky cliff; and urban environments. We have found that SAR shorelines consistently corresponded to positions above the high-water mark across all three sites. We further discuss the influence of the scene geometry, meteorological and oceanographic conditions, and backshore environment and provide a conceptual interpretation of SAR-derived shorelines. In a low-lying coastal setting, the annual change rate derived through SAR presents a high degree of alignment with the known reference values. The present study contributes to our understanding of the poorly known aspect of using shorelines derived from publicly available SAR satellite missions. It outlines a quantitative approach to automatically assess their quality with a new automatic detection method that is transferable to shoreline evolution assessments worldwide.

Drivers of rising monthly water temperature in river estuaries

AbstractRiver estuaries are habitats for a variety of organisms, including many temperature‐sensitive species; water temperatures in estuaries are affected by several factors as they are influenced by both terrestrial and marine environments. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence river estuaries are essential for environmental management. However, no information exists on temperature change at high temporal resolution and over a wide area; moreover, the relationship with environmental factors has not yet been clarified. Here, we have described the actual status of water temperature change in riverine estuaries and its relationship with environmental factors for a wide area of the Japanese archipelago. Our results indicated that 217 of 294 rivers showed a significant monthly increase in water temperature. The average annual change in rates of water temperature increase was the highest in October at 0.090°C yr−1 and lowest in February at 0.068°C yr−1. Furthermore, snowfall, air temperature increase, sea water temperature, and land use were identified as factors increasing the rate of water temperature increase. Factors influencing the increase in river estuarine water temperature varied from month to month—with meteorological factors being the strongest influencers from spring to fall, and anthropogenic factors in winter. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering not only meteorological and oceanographic phenomena, but also anthropogenic influences and topographic features to understand the pattern of water temperature changes in river estuaries.

The extents and rates of conversions of ‘natural’ habitats are the non-linear functions of time periods in agroecosystems of west Ethiopia

The processes of habitat changes on the time continuum and their impacts on biodiversity were less understood in Afrotropical contexts. For instance, the temporal patterns of habitat conversions and the conservation implications were not well addressed. To fill this gap, we investigated the process of conversions among land use types for the period of 1973–2018 in agroecosystem of west Ethiopia. Here, we analyzed the area gains and losses as proxy measures of temporal ‘natural’ habitat changes. Accordingly, the satellite images with four resolutions were used to detect the cropland, forestland, grazing land, shrub land, bare land, and built-up land use types. Next, we analyzed the habitat dynamics by using the extents of area gains and losses and the annual rate of changes. Our results showed that the ‘natural’ habitats have been significantly decreasing due to the expansion of cropland over the past 45 years. As a result, the annual rates of change are higher for natural habitats (e.g., forest and grazing areas) when compared with that of crop land. The area gains were higher for cropland when compared with other land use types, despite the extents temporally varied. Whereas, the extents of area gains to ‘natural’ habitats (e.g., forest) from cropland, grazing land, and shrub land were much lower. Our overall results suggest that not only the habitat changes per se, but also the processes, extents, and rates of conversions need to be taken into account for effective land use planning and biodiversity conservation in tropical agroecosystems.

Evolutionary Characteristics and Driving Forces of Green Space in Guangzhou from a Zoning Perspective

Urban green spaces provide very important environmental and social services. Their dynamic changes are driven by a combination of natural and socioeconomic factors. However, the coupling mechanism of these factors has not been systematically studied. In this study, we examined dynamic characteristics of green space in Guangzhou from different zoning perspectives and explored the regional heterogeneity of the individual and interactive effects of driving factors using the geographic detector. The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2020, the annual change rate of green space area in the central area was more apparent than that in the suburban areas. The fragmentation of green space in the near suburbs had increased. (2) Changes in green space were influenced by the combination of topography, climate, and socioeconomic development. From 2010 to 2020, the expansion of built-up land and GDP growth gradually had a substantial effect on the change in green space in the central area and the near suburbs. (3) The q-values of the interaction detections of the geodetector showed that the explanatory power of most factor interactions exceeded that of individual factors. Green space in the central area was primarily influenced by the interaction of economic and built-up land expansion. In contrast, green space in the near suburbs was mainly influenced by the interaction of urban expansion and topography and climate. Green space in the far suburbs was mainly affected by climate factors and human activity intensity. The results and methods of this study can provide decision support for the zoning planning of urban green space system in other cities or regions.

Forest holds high rodent diversity than other habitats under a rapidly changing and fragmenting landscape in Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique

Habitat loss and fragmentation have widely recognised as the major challenge for biodiversity conservation across the world. This is particularly true in Quirimbas National Park (QNP) where holds unique fauna, and anthropogenic factors have been intensifying leading to a significant loss of biodiversity, especially rodents which play a vital role for the functioning of ecosystems. However, studies assessing rodent diversity, and deeply analysing spatiotemporal dynamics of this vulnerable landscape are still lacking although they are decisive for successful wildlife management and monitoring. This study aimed to assess the rodent diversity, change intensity and its driving forces, and fragmentation of different habitat types in QNP. Multi-temporal satellite images and field data were used to analyse the habitat fragmentation and change intensities at three levels (time interval, category, and transition) from 1990 to 2020. The stratified sampling and capture-recapture approaches were used to survey rodents in three habitats: forest, grassland and cropland. Ecological metrics were employed to measure rodent diversity, distribution and composition. Statistical tests were applied to check differences in rodent abundance and diversity among habitats. The findings revealed an increase in fragmentation of all habitats, and forest experienced the highest losses (107.3 km2) during 1990–2020. The annual rate change intensity was fast from 2010 to 2020. Cropland and built-up land experienced greater intensively gains and losses, while the annual change intensity of forest was dormant over time. Cropland and built-up land expanded at the expense of forest from 2010 to 2020, whereas from 2000 to 2010, cropland's gain targeted intensively grassland, built-up land and water body, and avoided forest. We recorded four rodent species: Acomys spinosissimus, Mastomys verreauxii, Dasymys incomtus and Aethomys chrysophilus; the last three species are new records for the park. Forest revealed the highest rodent diversity (Shannon entropy = 3.0), and the total species richness was comparable to previous studies in eastern Africa. We found significant differences in rodent abundance among habitats. Turnover and nestedness were the main cause of the overall beta diversity. This study can provide vital information for wildlife managers to better understand the process of habitat loss and fragmentation and its implication to biodiversity, which is crucial for applying appropriate conservation management.

A dataset of lake level changes in China between 2002 and 2023 using multi-altimeter data

ABSTRACT Lake water levels are an important indicator of water balance and water cycles, and are essential for climate and environmental change studies and water resource evaluation. Currently, lake level measurements are scarce or inconsistent throughout the country, and traditional gauge measurements of many lakes are not feasible, so satellite altimetry is a vital alternative to gauge lake levels. However, the accuracy and sampling frequency of lake level time series are usually low because of time and space coverage limitations; therefore, it is necessary to utilize multi-altimeter data to monitor lake levels and obtain lake level changes over long time series. In this study, we extracted the water level changes in 988 lakes (>10 km2) in China between 2002 and 2023 based on ICESat/-2, Cryosat-2, Jason-1/2/3, and Sentinel-3A/3B altimetry data using waveform retracking, lake level extraction, lake level time series construction, the fusion of multi-altimeter lake level time series, and outlier removal. A total of 55% of the lakes in this dataset have been monitored for more than 10 years, and 34% have more than 12 times the annual average water level monitoring. At the same time, in situ data from 21 lakes were used for validation, and the average root mean square error (RMSE) for each of the datasets of ICESat/-2, Cryosat-2, Jason-1/2/3, and Sentinel-3A/3B versus the in situ lake levels are 0.223 m, 0.163 m, 0.207 m, 0.596 m, 0.295 m, 0.275 m, 0.243 m, and 0.317 m, respectively, and the mean RMSE of the fused lake levels reaches 0.332 m. During the monitoring period, the water levels in Chinese lakes generally increased. The overall annual average rate of change at the 20 and 10-year scales was 0.123 m/a and 0.151 m/a, respectively, among which the overall water levels in large lakes increased significantly. The lakes with a faster rate of decline in the water level were primarily small. The water storage in each lake region in China shows an upward trend, with the most significant increase in the Tibetan Plateau region, where the average annual water level change rate has remained above 0.15 m/a over the past two decades. This dataset has high spatiotemporal coverage and accuracy and can support the estimation of changes in lake water storage, analysis of lake level trends, plateau flooding, and the relationship between lake ecosystems and water resources.

Investigating the Prevalence of Paratuberculosis in Hungarian Large-Scale Dairy Herds and the Success of Control Measures over Four Years.

Paratuberculosis (PTB) is a severe, slow-developing, untreatable disease of ruminants. Worldwide, the disease affects more than 50% of herds in the dairy industry, and causes substantial economic losses for dairy producers. Diagnostic tests show limited sensitivity, especially in the early stages of the disease. Our study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in large-scale dairy herds in Hungary, in association with the self-reported presence or absence of screening and intervention measures against MAP transmission. We processed data from 42 large-scale Holstein Friesian farms in Hungary between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021. An average of 32,009 (min.: 31,702; max.: 32,207) animals were blood sampled yearly (127,372 in total during the four years), corresponding to 15% of the Hungarian dairy cattle population. All female cattle older than 2 years were blood sampled on the farms enroled in the study. The samples were tested using a commercial ELISA (IDEXX paratuberculosis screening Ab test). Farm managers were interviewed about their on-farm diagnostic and intervention approaches using a uniform questionnaire, including questions on the level of awareness, frequency of ELISA and PCR testing, and their strategies for culling adult animals and reducing transmission to newborn calves. By comparing the annual rate of change in seroprevalence and the amount of change observed during the four-year period, we concluded that test-and-cull strategies implemented in parallel with newborn calf management that aimed at preventing MAP transmission were superior to test-and-cull strategies alone; moreover, fortifying culling decision making via additional ELISA and PCR tests is superior to using a single ELISA result. For farms that carried out a complex program with both "test-and-cull" and proper newborn calf management, there was a proportional reduction in apparent seroprevalence at an average of 22.8% per year. Fifteen of the sampled farms had no measures in place to control paratuberculosis. On these farms, the seroprevalence increased by 12.1% per year on average.

Coastal wetland degradation and ecological problems in the Yellow River Delta during 2005�2021

The Yellow River Delta wetland is one of the rare estuarine wetland ecosystems in the world, and it is also the most complete wetland ecosystem in the warm temperate zone in China. To understand its ecological problems as a sensitive and fragile new wetland ecosystem, we investigated and analyzed its coastal erosion, changes in wetland types, encroachment of invasive species, changes in the areas of seagrass beds and oyster reefs, ecosystem health status, and low salinity area. The investigation of the coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta revealed that from 2005 to 2020, the maximum deposition distance of the Yellow River port beach was about 10 km, and the maximum erosion distance was about 5 km. The siltation rate gradually decreased. From 2016 to 2021, the total area of the coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta remained stable. The area change rates of Spartina alterniflora, Phragmites australis, and Tamarix chinensis were 587, 282, and 57 ha/year, respectively, and the annual rate of change in Suaeda salsa was �60 ha/year. From 2015 to 2021, S. alterniflora increased the most sharply in the southern part of the Yellow River Estuary, and this region became the largest area of S. alterniflora in the delta. In recent years, the area of the coastal seagrass beds in the Delta has decreased sharply, and the area of the degraded oyster reefs has decreased further. The high nitrogen and phosphorus content of seawater is the main factor leading to the continuous eutrophication of the delta sea area. From 2011 to 2021, the health status of the Yellow River Estuary ecosystem remained in a sub-healthy state. The monitoring results for the low salinity area revealed that the areas of the low salinity area in 2020 and May 2021 were about 1200 and 1650 km2, respectively. Based on the survey results, the ecological problems faced by the wetlands in the Yellow River Delta such as dynamic coastline changes, coastal wetland degradation, and invasion of S. alterniflora were investigated.

Coastal wetland degradation and ecological problems in the Yellow River Delta during 2005-2021

The Yellow River Delta wetland is one of the rare estuarine wetland ecosystems in the world, and it is also the most complete wetland ecosystem in the warm temperate zone in China. To understand its ecological problems as a sensitive and fragile new wetland ecosystem, we investigated and analyzed its coastal erosion, changes in wetland types, encroachment of invasive species, changes in the areas of seagrass beds and oyster reefs, ecosystem health status, and low salinity area. The investigation of the coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta revealed that from 2005 to 2020, the maximum deposition distance of the Yellow River port beach was about 10 km, and the maximum erosion distance was about 5 km. The siltation rate gradually decreased. From 2016 to 2021, the total area of the coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta remained stable. The area change rates of Spartina alterniflora, Phragmites australis, and Tamarix chinensis were 587, 282, and 57 ha/year, respectively, and the annual rate of change in Suaeda salsa was �60 ha/year. From 2015 to 2021, S. alterniflora increased the most sharply in the southern part of the Yellow River Estuary, and this region became the largest area of S. alterniflora in the delta. In recent years, the area of the coastal seagrass beds in the Delta has decreased sharply, and the area of the degraded oyster reefs has decreased further. The high nitrogen and phosphorus content of seawater is the main factor leading to the continuous eutrophication of the delta sea area. From 2011 to 2021, the health status of the Yellow River Estuary ecosystem remained in a sub-healthy state. The monitoring results for the low salinity area revealed that the areas of the low salinity area in 2020 and May 2021 were about 1200 and 1650 km2, respectively. Based on the survey results, the ecological problems faced by the wetlands in the Yellow River Delta such as dynamic coastline changes, coastal wetland degradation, and invasion of S. alterniflora were investigated.