Changhua Liu

Over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans; globally, oceans provides a huge source of wealth to humans. In the literature, several sensors have been developed to investigate oceans. Electrical conductivity temperature depth (CTD) sensors were used frequently and extensively. Long-term accurate CTD data is important for the study and utilization of oceans, e.g., for weather forecasting, ecological evolution, fishery, and shipping. Several kinds of CTD sensors based on electrics, optical, acoustic wave and radio waves have been developed. CTD sensors are often utilized by measuring electrical signals. The latest progress of CTD sensors will be presented in order of performance. The principles, structure, materials and properties of many CTD sensors were discussed in detail. The commercially available CTD sensors were involved and their respective performances were compared. Some possible development directions of CTD sensors for ocean investigation are proposed.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of natural foci diseases transmitted by ticks. Its distribution and transmission are closely related to geographic and environmental factors. Identification of environmental determinates of TBE is of great importance to understanding the general distribution of existing and potential TBE natural foci. Hulunbuir, one of the most severe endemic areas of the disease, is selected as the study area. Statistical analysis, global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis, and regression methods were applied to detect the spatiotemporal characteristics, compare the impact degree of associated factors, and model the risk distribution using the heterogeneity. The statistical analysis of gridded geographic and environmental factors and TBE incidence show that the TBE patients mainly occurred during spring and summer and that there is a significant positive spatial autocorrelation between the distribution of TBE cases and environmental characteristics. The impact degree of these factors on TBE risks has the following descending order: temperature, relative humidity, vegetation coverage, precipitation and topography. A high-risk area with a triangle shape was determined in the central part of Hulunbuir; the low-risk area is located in the two belts next to the outside edge of the central triangle. The TBE risk distribution revealed that the impact of the geographic factors changed depending on the heterogeneity.