Damage Model of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Coal Gangue Concrete under Freeze-Thaw Cycles Based on Weibull Distribution.

In order to improve the utilization rate of coal gangue and expand the application range of coal gangue concrete (CGC), a certain proportion of steel fiber was added to the concrete, and the freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) and flexural tests were used to explore the effects of different mass replacement rates of coal gangue (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and different proportions of the volumetric blending of the steel fiber (0%, 0.8%, 1.0%, and 1.2%) on the frost resistance of steel fiber-reinforced CGC (SCGC). The governing laws of mass loss rate, relative dynamic elastic modulus and load-midspan deflection curve were obtained on the base of the analysis of testing results. The damage mechanisms of the SCGC under the FTCs were analyzed using the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on the Lemaitre's strain equivalence principle and Krajcinovic's vector damage theory, a damage evolution model of the SCGC under the FTCs was established by introducing the damage variable of the SCGC satisfying Weibull distribution. The results show an increasing mass loss rate of the SCGC and a decreasing relative dynamic elastic modulus with an increasing mass replacement rate of coal gangue. The proper content of the steel fiber can reduce the mass loss rate of concrete by 10~40% and the relative loss rate of dynamic elastic modulus of concrete by 2~8%, thus significantly improving the ductility and toughness of the concrete. The established damage evolution model is well validated by the experimental results, which further help to improve the modelling accuracy. This study provides key experimental data and a theoretical basis for a wider range of proper utilization of coal gangue in cold regions.

Experimental study on remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil by combination of freeze-thaw and electro-osmosis.

Electro-osmosis has been well recognized as a technique for the remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil, however seasonally freezing and thawing adds the complexity of petroleum mobility in cold regions. To investigate the influence of freeze-thaw on the electroosmotic removal of petroleum and explore the enhancement of freeze-thaw on the electroosmotic remediation efficiency in remediating the petroleum-contaminated soils, a set of laboratory tests were performed in three types of treatment modes, freeze-thaw (FT), electro-osmosis (EO) and freeze-thaw combined electro-osmosis (FE). The petroleum redistributions as well as the moisture content changes after the treatments were evaluated and compared. The petroleum removal rates of the three treatments were analyzed, and the underlying mechanisms were elaborated. The results indicated that the overall efficiency of the treatment mode regarding petroleum removal from soil followed the order of FE > EO > FT, corresponding to 54%, 36% and 21% in maximum, respectively. A considerable amount of water solution with surfactant was driven into contaminated soil during FT process, but the petroleum mobilization primarily occurred inside of the specimen. A higher remediation efficiency was yield in EO mode, but the induced dehydration and cracks leaded to the dramatical depression in the efficiency in further process. It is proposed that the petroleum removal is closely related to the flow of water solution with surfactant that is favorable to the solubility and mobilization of the petroleum in soil. Thus, the water migration induced by freeze-thaw cycles substantially improved the efficiency of the electroosmotic remediation in FE mode that gave the best performance for the remediation of the petroleum-contaminated soil.

Anchoring grassland sustainability with a nature-based small burrowing mammal control strategy.

Over the last 40 years, a burrowing mammal eradication policy has been prevalent on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). This policy is based on similar burrowing mammal eradication programs in other areas and is justified on the assumptions that burrowing mammals compete with livestock for forage and contribute to grassland degradation. However, there is no clear theoretical or experimental evidence supporting these assumptions. This paper synthesizes the ecological functioning of small burrowing mammals in natural grasslands and discusses the irrationality and consequences of burrowing mammal eradication for sustainable livestock grazing and grassland degradation. Past burrowing mammal eradication efforts have failed because increased food availability for the remaining rodents and reduced predator populations led to rapid population rebounds. Herbivores differ in diet, and there is clear evidence that burrowing mammals, especially plateau zokors Myospalax baileyi, have a different diet than livestock. In QTP meadows, burrowing mammal eradication induces a shift towards plant communities with fewer species preferred by livestock and more species preferred by burrowing mammals. Thus, eradicating burrowing mammals has the opposite effect, a reduction in livestock preferred vegetation. We suggest that the policy of poisoning burrowing mammals needs to be reconsidered and revoked as soon as possible. We argue that incorporating density-dependent factors such as predation and food availability are essential for maintaining a low burrowing mammal density. For degraded grasslands, we suggest that the optimal sustainable approach is to decrease the intensity of livestock grazing. Lower grazing induces changes in vegetation structure and plant species composition that increases predation on burrowing mammals and decreases the abundance of plants preferred by burrowing mammals. Such a nature-based grassland management system maintains the density of burrowing mammals at a low stable density while minimizing human management and interventions.

Formation processes of shallow ground ice in permafrost in the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A stable isotope perspective.

The Source Area of the Yellow River (SAYR) on the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) stores substantial amounts of ground ice, which plays a significant role in understanding the hydrological processes and past permafrost evolution on the QTP. However, little is known about the initial sources and controlling factors of the ground ice in the SAYR. In this study, for the first time, ground ice stable isotope data (δ18O, δD, and d-excess) are presented, along with cryostratigraphic information for nine sites is integrated into three cryostratigraphic units (palsa, thermo-gully, and lake-affected sites) in the central SAYR. The ground ice in the nine sites exhibited diverse structures, ice contents, and stable isotopes due to differences in the initial water sources, ice formation mechanisms, soil types, and climate conditions. All of the freezing lines of ground ice are below those of the precipitation, streams, and lakes in most cases, suggesting the freezing of liquid water. The near-surface ground ice (NSGI) originated from precipitation, active layer water, and precipitation-fed springs. The NSGI was formed by quick freezing at the thermo-gully site (TG-1). In contrast, the formation of the NSGI at the palsa site (Palsa-1) experienced a slow segregation process during the permafrost aggradation. The NSGI was formed by quick freezing at the lake-affected sites under colder climate conditions. Conversely, the deep-layer ground ice (DLGI) at the lake-affected sites was fed by isotopically negative water and lake water occurred during a colder climate period. The DLGI at the TG-1 and Palsa-1 formed via similarly slow segregation of supra-permafrost water (mixed with precipitation), but had opposite water migration directions. The stable isotope compositions of the DLGI at the lake-affected sites became gradually more positive with decreasing distance from WL Lake, emphasizing the large influence of the lake changes on the growth of ice. The two end-member mixing model estimated that the contributions of paleo-lake water to the DLGI ranged from 9.8 % to 63.4 % towards the lake at the lake-affected sites, while the meltwater from past permafrost/ground ice contributed 36.6-90.2 % of the total input. A conceptual diagram of the δ18O trajectories of ground ice was constructed, the water migration patterns and ground ice formation processes between the palsa, thermo-gully, and lake-affected sites were clarified. The results of this study emphasize the influence of lake changes and past permafrost evolution on ground ice growth and improve our understanding of permafrost changes on the QTP.

Determination of methanol partition coefficient in octanol/water system by a three-phase ratio variation headspace gas chromatographic method.

Determining the methanol partition coefficient (Kow) in octanol/water system is important to assess the risk of its impact to humans and the environment. In this paper, we report a novel method for the determination of the Kow of methanol with headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC), using a three-phase equilibrium-based phase ratio variation approach. Three headspace vials with different phase ratios [(1) 0.2 mL of water plus 3 mL of octanol, (2) 1 mL of water plus 3 mL of octanol and (3) 1 mL of water plus 10 mL of octanol] were used in the experiment. After pre-standing at 25 °C for > 10 h and equilibrating in the headspace oven at a temperature of interest for additional 25 min, the methanol signals of the vapor phase (i.e., the headspace) in these vials were measured by HS-GC, from which the Kow of methanol can be calculated based on the established equations. The results showed that the method has good precision (within 0.06 log unit in standard deviation) and acceptable accuracy (with method error within 0.5 log unit). A correlation between the Kow of methanol and temperature extrapolated the Kow values in a temperature range of interest. The present method represents a simple and in-situ approach for the determination of the Kow of methanol and is also suitable to be applied to other volatile compounds.

Holocene monsoon dynamics at Kunlun Pass on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Various proxy records have been used for the understanding of environmental and climate variations during the Holocene. Here, for the first time, we use meteoric 10Be isotope measurements performed on sediments from a drill core collected at the Kunlun Pass (KP) on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (NETP) to investigate hydroclimate changes during the Holocene. The 10Be flux suggests relative low levels in the Early Holocene, followed by a sharp increase to high values at around 4 ka BP (4 ka BP = 4000 years before present). Afterwards, the 10Be flux remains on a high level during the Late Holocene, but decreases slightly towards today. These 10Be deposition patterns are compared to moisture changes in regions dominated by the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM), East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM), and the Westerlies. Different from the gradual changes in monsoon patterns, the 10Be data reveal low levels during the Early Holocene until ~4 ka BP when an obvious increase is indicated and a relative high level continues to this day, which is relatively more in agreement with patterns of the Westerlies. This finding provides a new evidence for a shift in the dominant pattern of atmospheric circulation at the KP region from a more monsoonal one to one dominated by the Westerlies. Our results improve the understanding of non-stationary interactions and spatial relevance of the EASM, the ISM and the Westerlies on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Permafrost Degradation Leads to Biomass and Species Richness Decreases on the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Degradation of permafrost with a thin overlying active layer can greatly affect vegetation via changes in the soil water and nutrient regimes within the active layer, while little is known about the presence or absence of such effects in areas with a deep active layer. Here, we selected the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the study area. We examined the vegetation communities and biomass along an active layer thickness (ALT) gradient from 0.6 to 3.5 m. Our results showed that plant cover, below-ground biomass, species richness, and relative sedge cover declined with the deepening active layer, while the evenness, and relative forb cover showed a contrary trend. The vegetation indices and the dissimilarity of vegetation composition exhibited significant changes when the ALT was greater than 2.0 m. The vegetation indices (plant cover, below-ground biomass, evenness index, relative forb cover and relative sedge cover) were closely associated with soil water content, soil pH, texture and nutrient content. Soil water content played a key role in the ALT-vegetation relationship, especially at depths of 30-40 cm. Our results suggest that when the ALT is greater than 2.0 m, the presence of underlying permafrost still benefits vegetation growth via maintaining adequate soil water contents at 30-40 cm depth. Furthermore, the degradation of permafrost may lead to declines of vegetation cover and below-ground biomass with a shift in vegetation species.

Use of 10Be isotope to predict landscape development in the source area of the Yellow River (SAYR), northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The magnitude of soil and sediment erosion and accumulation processes can profoundly affect landscape development and hamper efficient management of natural resources. Consequently, estimating the rates and causes of these processes is essential, particularly in remote regions, for prediction of changes in landform and river evolution and protection of local ecosystem. We here present the results of a soil and sediment erosion investigation in the Source Area of the Yellow River (SAYR), northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on a combined analysis of 10Be cosmogenic isotope and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) simulation modelling. The data reveal variable soil erosion trends that range between 103 and 830 t km-2 a-1. The low values occur in the western part of the basin that are associated with low sediment yield, while the high values appear in the dominant sediment export part of the basin along the main stream of the Yellow River in the east. Generally, soil and sediment accumulation is characterized by high 10Be concentration in the western part and the northwest of Ngöring Lake. The style of landform development by the erosion/accumulation processes is closely linked to the distribution and degradation extent of the permafrost in the study region. Soil surface erosion increases with more permafrost degradation from the western to the eastern part of the basin, and surface soil particles are dominantly removed from the surface rather than deeper layers.

Three-dimensional distribution of permafrost and responses to increasing air temperatures in the head waters of the Yellow River in High Asia.

Fine-scale three-dimensional (3D) permafrost distributions at the basin scale are currently lacking. They are needed to monitor climate and ecosystem change and for the maintenance of infrastructure in cold regions. This paper determined the horizontal and vertical distributions of permafrost and its quantitative responses to climate warming in the High Asia region by constructing a quasi-3D model that couples heat transfer and water movement and is forced by spatially-interpolated air temperatures using an elevation-dependent regression method. Four air temperature scenarios were considered: the present state and air temperature increases of 1, 2 and 3 °C. A fine-scale permafrost map was constructed. The map considered taliks and local factors including elevation, slope and aspect, and agreed well with field observations. Permafrost will experience severe degradation with climate warming, with decreases in area of 36% per degree increase in air temperature, increases in the depth-to-permafrost table of 2.67 m per degree increase in air temperature, and increases in 15 m-depth ground temperatures of 1.25 °C per degree increase in air temperature. Permafrost is more vulnerable in and beside river valleys than in high mountains, and on sunny rather than shady slopes. These results provide an effective reference for permafrost prediction and infrastructure and ecosystem management in cold regions affected by global warming.

Evaluation of groundwater discharge into surface water by using Radon-222 in the Source Area of the Yellow River, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Understanding hydrological processes in the Source Area of the Yellow River (SAYR), Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is vital for protection and management of groundwater and surface water resources in the region. In situ water measurements of exchange rates between surface water and groundwater are, however, hard to conduct because of the harsh natural conditions of the SAYR. We here present an indirect method using in situ 222Rn measurements to estimate groundwater discharge into rivers and lakes in the SAYR. 222Rn was measured in rivers, lakes, groundwater and springs during three sampling periods (2014-2016), and the results indicate large variability in the concentration of the isotope. The data also indicate decreasing 222Rn trends in groundwater in the cold season (the Feb-2015 sampling period) which may be linked to frequency of capturing 222Rn in the frozen ground caused by geocryogenic processes. In addition, permafrost spatial extent and freeze-thaw processes have strongly affected the hydrological conditions in the region.

Thermal regime of warm-dry permafrost in relation to ground surface temperature in the Source Areas of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, SW China.

Ecology, hydrology, and natural resources in the source areas of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers (SAYYR) are closely linked to interactions between climate and permafrost. However, a comprehensive study of the interactions is currently hampered by sparsely- and unevenly-distributed monitoring sites and limited field investigations. In this study, the thermal regime of warm-dry permafrost in the SAYYR was systematically analyzed based on extensive data collected during 2010-2016 of air temperature (Ta), ground surface temperature (GST) and ground temperature across a range of areas with contrasting land-surface characteristics. Mean annual Ta (MAAT) and mean annual GST (MAGST) were regionally averaged at -3.19±0.71°C and -0.40±1.26°C. There is a close relationship between GST and Ta (R2=0.8477) as obtained by a linear regression analysis with all available daily averages. The mean annual temperature at the bottom of the active layer (TTOP) was regionally averaged at -0.72±1.01°C and mostly in the range of -1.0°C and 0°C except at Chalaping (~-2.0°C). Surface offset (MAGST-MAAT) was regionally averaged at 2.54±0.71°C. Thermal offset (TTOP-MAGST) was regionally averaged at -0.17±0.84°C, which was generally within -0.5°C and 0.5°C. Relatively consistent thermal conductivity between the thawed and frozen states of the soils may be responsible for the small thermal offset. Active layer thickness was generally smaller at Chalaping than that on other parts of the QTP, presumably due to smaller climatic continentality index and the thermal dampening of surface temperature variability under the presence of dense vegetation and thick peaty substrates. We conclude that the accurate mapping of permafrost on the rugged elevational QTP could be potentially obtained by correlating the parameters of GST, thermal offset, and temperature gradient in the shallow permafrost.

Unraveling of permafrost hydrological variabilities on Central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using stable isotopic technique.

Permafrost degradation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) will substantially alter the surface runoff discharge and generation, which changes the recharge processes and influences the hydrological cycle on the QTP. Hydrological connections between different water bodies and the influence of thawing permafrost (ground ice) are not well understood on the QTP. This study applied water stable isotopic method to investigate the permafrost hydrological variabilities in Beiluhe Basin (BLB) on Central QTP. Isotopic variations of precipitation, river flow, thermokarst lake, and near-surface ground ice were identified to figure out the moisture source of them, and to elaborate the hydrological connections in permafrost region. Results suggested that isotopic seasonalities in precipitation is evident, it is showing more positive values in summer seasons, and negative values in winter seasons. Stable isotopes of river flow are mainly distributed in the range of precipitation which is indicative of important replenishment from precipitation. δ18O, δD of thermokarst lakes are more positive than precipitation, indicating of basin-scale evaporation of lake water. Comparison of δI values in different water bodies shows that hydrology of thermokarst lakes was related to thawing of permafrost (ground ice) and precipitation. Near-surface ground ice in BLB exhibits different isotopic characteristics, and generates a special δD-δ18O relationship (freezing line): δD=5.81δ18O-23.02, which reflects typical freezing of liquid water. From isotopic analysis, it is inferred that near-surface ground ice was mainly recharged by precipitation and active layer water. Stable isotopic and conceptual model is suggestive of striking hydrological connections between precipitation, river flow, thermokarst lake, and ground ice under degrading permafrost. This research provides fundamental comprehensions into the hydrological processes in permafrost regions on QTP, which should be considered in investigating the influence of thawing permafrost on the hydrological cycle on QTP.

No protection of permafrost due to desertification on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Desertification of tundra regions may form an escalating cycle with permafrost degradation where more permafrost thaw leads to continued desertification. This traditional viewpoint has been challenged in recent reports that state desertification protects the underlying permafrost. However, our measurements of soil temperature from nine sites in the Honglianghe River Basin, interior Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, show that desertification can degrade permafrost. If one compares the permafrost temperatures at sites with thin sand covers (e.g. site Yu-7, permafrost temperature of -0.64 °C; site Yu-6, permafrost temperature of -1.15 °C) with that of site Xie-1 (-0.65 °C, with a 120-cm-thick sand cover), the permafrost temperature is not significantly different. It is clear that a thick sand cover does not influence the underlying permafrost temperature. Our observations support traditional geocryological knowledge which states that, under most circumstances, desertification does not protect, but rather degrades, permafrost.

Hydrocarbon degraders establish at the costs of microbial richness, abundance and keystone taxa after crude oil contamination in permafrost environments.

Oil spills from pipeline ruptures are a major source of terrestrial petroleum pollution in cold regions. However, our knowledge of the bacterial response to crude oil contamination in cold regions remains to be further expanded, especially in terms of community shifts and potential development of hydrocarbon degraders. In this study we investigated changes of microbial diversity, population size and keystone taxa in permafrost soils at four different sites along the China-Russia crude oil pipeline prior to and after perturbation with crude oil. We found that crude oil caused a decrease of cell numbers together with a reduction of the species richness and shifts in the dominant phylotypes, while bacterial community diversity was highly site-specific after exposure to crude oil, reflecting different environmental conditions. Keystone taxa that strongly co-occurred were found to form networks based on trophic interactions, that is co-metabolism regarding degradation of hydrocarbons (in contaminated samples) or syntrophic carbon cycling (in uncontaminated samples). With this study we demonstrate that after severe crude oil contamination a rapid establishment of endemic hydrocarbon degrading communities takes place under favorable temperature conditions. Therefore, both endemism and trophic correlations of bacterial degraders need to be considered in order to develop effective cleanup strategies.

Midline submental intubation might be the preferred alternative to oral and nasal intubation in elective oral and craniomaxillofacial surgery when indicated.

PURPOSE: No consensus exists to date regarding the best method of controlling the airway for oral or craniomaxillofacial surgery when orotracheal and nasotracheal intubations are unsuccessful or contraindicated. The most commonly used method of tracheostomy has been associated with a high degree of morbidity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the indications, safety, efficacy, time required, drawbacks, complications, and costs of the midline submental intubation (SMI) approach in elective oral and craniomaxillofacial surgical procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case series study was used to evaluate the surgical, financial, and photographic records of all patients who had undergone oral or craniomaxillofacial operations at Sharda University School of Dental Sciences, Greater Noida, from April 2006 to March 2014. The indications, drawbacks, time required for the procedure, ability to provide a secure airway, intra- and postoperative complications, and additional costs associated with SMI were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 2,823 patients treated, the present study included 120 patients (97 men and 23 women, aged 19 to 60 years). The average time required for SMI was 10 ± 2 minutes. No episode of intraoperative oxygen desaturation was noted. One intraoperative complication, an injury to the ventral surface of the tongue, was encountered. Two patients developed infection at the skin incision site. No significant additional cost was incurred with the use of SMI. CONCLUSIONS: SMI has been successfully used in elective oral and craniomaxillofacial surgical procedures for which oral and nasal intubations were either not indicated or not possible. The advantages include a quick procedure, insignificant complications, the ability to provide a stable airway, and no added costs, making SMI a quick, safe, efficient, and cost-effective alternative in such cases.

Topical review: the enigma of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, stiffness, nonrestorative sleep, fatigue, and comorbid conditions. Recognition of the condition and its associated medications and challenges, along with knowledge of treatment modifications and precautions in drug prescription, can ensure safe and effective delivery of oral health care in fibromyalgia patients. The ever-evolving research into the condition makes it necessary for the oral health care provider to be informed about the current state of the literature and treatment standards regarding the management of fibromyalgia patients. This article reviews the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of fibromyalgia, as well as therapeutic advances. Also highlighted are issues that are important to the oral health care provider, including orofacial manifestations and oral health care considerations for patients with fibromyalgia.

Crude oil treatment leads to shift of bacterial communities in soils from the deep active layer and upper permafrost along the China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline route.

The buried China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline (CRCOP) across the permafrost-associated cold ecosystem in northeastern China carries a risk of contamination to the deep active layers and upper permafrost in case of accidental rupture of the embedded pipeline or migration of oil spills. As many soil microbes are capable of degrading petroleum, knowledge about the intrinsic degraders and the microbial dynamics in the deep subsurface could extend our understanding of the application of in-situ bioremediation. In this study, an experiment was conducted to investigate the bacterial communities in response to simulated contamination to deep soil samples by using 454 pyrosequencing amplicons. The result showed that bacterial diversity was reduced after 8-weeks contamination. A shift in bacterial community composition was apparent in crude oil-amended soils with Proteobacteria (esp. α-subdivision) being the dominant phylum, together with Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. The contamination led to enrichment of indigenous bacterial taxa like Novosphingobium, Sphingobium, Caulobacter, Phenylobacterium, Alicylobacillus and Arthrobacter, which are generally capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The community shift highlighted the resilience of PAH degraders and their potential for in-situ degradation of crude oil under favorable conditions in the deep soils.

A new headspace gas chromatographic method for the determination of methanol content in paper materials used for food and drink packaging.

This study reports on a method for determination of methanol in paper products by headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC). The method is based on the hydrolysis of the pulp or paper matrix, using a phosphoric acid solution (42.5%) as the medium at 120 °C in 5 h (excluding air contact) in order to release matrix-entrapped methanol, which is then determined by HS-GC. Data show that, under the given conditions of hydrolysis, no methanol was formed from the methoxyl groups in the material. Reproducibility tests of the method generated a relative standard deviation of <3.5%, with recovery in the range of 93.4-102%. The present method is reliable, accurate, and suitable for use in batch testing of the methanol content in paper-related materials. The method can play an important role in addressing food safety concerns that may be raised regarding the use of paper materials in food and beverage packaging.

[Change of T lymphocyte subsets, interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in tumor-bearing mice and patients with oral cancer receiving thermo-chemotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of T lymphocyte subsets, interleukin (IL)-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the tumor- bearing mice and patients with oral cancer receiving thermo-chemotherapy, and investigate the correlation among them. METHODS: After treatments, the expression of lymphocyte transformation index (LTI), IL-2 and TNF-alpha in the tumor-bearing mice were detected with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), the expression of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in the patients with oral cancer were detected with MTT, the expression of LTI, CD4+ and CD8+ were detected with 3H-TdR incorporation. RESULTS: LTI, IL-2 and TNF-alpha of thermo-chemotherapy group (HP group) had no significant difference comparing with those of normal mice group (N group) (P>0.05), but which were significantly higher than those of chemotherapy group (P group) and no treatment group (NT group) (P<0.01). In clinical trials, the expression of LTI, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, IL-2 and TNF-alpha on oral cancer patients after thermo-chemotherapy were significantly higher than those before thermo-chemotherapy (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: After thermo-chemotherapy, the expression of LTI, IL-2 and TNF-alpha of tumor-bearing hosts are significantly improved, there is a significant correlation between IL-2 and T cell.