Although crop conversion from annual to perennial crops has been considered as one path towards climate-smart and resource-efficient agriculture, the effects of this conversion on soil multifunctionality and biomass yields remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of one annual and three perennial crops (a grass (Lolium perenne), a legume (Medicago sativa), and their mixture) on soil multifunctionality and biomass yield on the Yellow River floodplain. Soil multifunctionality was assessed by the capacity of water regulation and the multifunctionality of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles. Results showed that perennial crops enhanced soil multifunctionality by 207% for L. perenne, 311% for M. sativa, and 438% for L. perenne + M. sativa, compared with annual winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). The effect of perennial crops on soil multifunctionality increased with infiltration rate, dissolved organic C, microbial biomass C, and extracellular enzymatic activities for both C and N acquisition. However, we observed that perennial crops had lower biomass yield than annual crop. Therefore, the transition of agricultural landscapes to perennials needs to take into account the balance between environmental protection and food security, as well as environmental heterogeneity, to promote sustainable agricultural development.

Background: Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare reported oral cancer as one of the most prevalent malignant cancers, with the third highest incidence and the fifth leading cause of death among men in Taiwan. Lymph node metastasis in oral cancer usually has a low survival rate, with no significant improvement in the past 30 years. Therefore, a more effective survival predictor is warranted. Many cancer studies revealed that monitoring tumor thickness and lymph node density, in addition to tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stages, can provide more accurate predictions.Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 612 patients with oral cancer who had the habit of chewing betel nuts. The study focused on tumor thickness, lymph node density, and the regional distribution of lymph node metastasis to determine their effectiveness as predictors.Results: The results revealed that a tumor thickness of 6 mm indicated cervical lymph node metastasis and was the optimal cutoff point for overall survival. The optimal cutoff value for lymph node density was 0.04. Patients with a tumor thickness of >6 mm and a lymph node density of >0.04 had significantly lower overall survival rates. Additionally, patients with >1 lymph node metastasis level and lower cervical metastasis exhibited a relatively worse prognosis.Conclusion: Therefore, in addition to TNM staging, tumor thickness, lymph node density and metastasis level are suitable as a parameter for predictors that can be used as references for adjuvant therapies for better therapeutic effects.