Risk Assessment of Land Degradation Using Satellite Imagery and Geospatial Modelling in Ukraine

In this publication, the authors considered the effect of unprecedented human activity into land degradation and desertification processes in Ukraine. The land degradation mapping technique based on processing of a two-level model for multispectral satellite imagery of low and medium spatial resolution was described. This technique was used to investigate land degradation and desertification within relatively pristine and human-inspired mining and industrial landscapes located in the central, southern, and eastern parts of Ukraine. In each particular case, the authors offered thematic land degradation maps obtained as a result of multispectral images processing, allowed assessing the state and tendencies in land degradation processes within the study areas. Data obtained visually emphasize the level of anthropogenic stress, impact of long-term change of vegetation cover, and correlation of intensive development of mining, construction, agricultural and other human activities with high level of land degradation within investigated areas. The transition to adaptive farming systems implies the achievement of maximum compatibility between soil and plant, development of crop rotation, soil conservation tillage system. Conducted research on the creation of adaptive systems of crop production takes into account the environmental, landscape and geochemical peculiarities of the steppe zone of Ukraine, to get the production of environmentally safe agricultural products. They can be used in further studies of a differentiated approach to achieving a balanced potential of agricultural landscapes. Remote detecting of degradation and desertification processes intensification at early stages will be able to promote further measures for improving the territories conditions. The further research has to be directed on development of geoinformation technologies for landscape changes remote mapping

Geostatistical and geospatial assessment of soil pollution with heavy metals in Pavlograd city (Ukraine)

This paper presents the result of studies of the geostatistical and geospatial assessment heavy metal pollution in soils caused by various technogenic sources to assess the environmental impact of industrial agglomeration activitiy in the Pavlograd city. The main sources of technogenic pollution in the Pavlograd city and suburban areas are industrial enterprises, coal-fired plants, mine dumps and other. The vast number of analyzed soil samples with weakly acidic pH values from 6.3 to 6.8 is characterized as loam (63 %), the rest are sand (33 %) and clay soils (4 %). The correlation matrix of metals data indicates positive correlation with correlation coefficient r 2 > 0.5 among texture – Ni (0.705) and Pb – Zn (0.695) within the Pavlograd city area. In the case of Cu (2.73) and Cd (4.27), the geoaccumulation index indicated “moderately to strongly” and “strongly to extremely” polluted soils accordingly. Means of pollution index (PI) for heavy metals were between uncontaminated ( PI ≤ 1) and of moderate contaminated soils ( PI ≥ 1).The results of this study show that industrial enterprises’ activities lead to heavy metal contamination in the topsoil of the studied sites and close to the background values. Similar properties were confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. The PCA and cluster analysis results indicate that Cd, Ni, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn in topsoil were affected by the technogenic activity. The spatial distribution characteristics of Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn in the geochemical maps are also similar. Highlighted are some of the halos in Pavlograd of high density of total soil contamination with heavy metals. The metals come from anthropogenic sources, mainly produced with four industrial enterprises in Pavlograd city. Mostly they are concentrated in the Southeast and West of the city and suburban areas of the Pavlograd district. Therefore, it is necessary arrangements to predict of the development of ecologically dangerous state of environmental pollution within the area of industrial enterprises of city

Soil Contamination Mapping with Hyperspectral Imagery: Pre- Dnieper Chemical Plant (Ukraine) Case Study

Radioactive contamination of soils is an issue of severe importance for Ukraine remaining with a significant post-Soviet baggage of not settled problems regarding radioactive waste. Regular radioecological observations and up-to-date contamination mapping based on advanced geoinformation techniques give an ability to prepare for, respond to, and manage potential adverse effects from pollution with radionuclides and heavy metals. Hyperspectral satellite imagery provides potentially powerful tool for soil contamination detection and mapping. An intention to find a relation between remotely sensed hyperspectral and ground-based measured soil contamination fractions in area of the uranium mill tailings deposits near Kamianske city was made. An advanced algorithm based on known TCMI (target-constrained minimal interference)-matched filter with a nonnegative constraint was applied to determine the soil contamination fractions by hyperspectral imagery. The time series maps of spatial distribution of the soil contamination fractions within study area around the Sukhachevske tailings dump are presented. Time series analysis of the map resulted in two independent parameters: the average value for the entire observation period and the daily mean increment of the soil contamination fractions

Выбор оптимального количества бинов для расчета взаимной информации между сигналами ЭЭГ и кардиоритмограммы

В роботі розглянуто метод визначення взаємної інформації для оцінки взаємозв’язку між сигналами ЕЕГ та кардіоритмограми. У розробленому методі кількість бінів вибирається базуючись на значеннях взаємної інформації, які розраховані на проміжку значень бінів. При застосуванні методу до сигналів ЕЕГ та КРГ було знайдено, що метод може бути застосований при аналізі взаємозв’язку між сигналами ЕЕГ в каналах, що розташовані поряд або симетрично, згідно з системою 10-20. Для взаємної інформації між сигналами ЕЕГ та КРГ, що пов’язані у значно меншій мірі, метод не може бути застосований для малого обсягу вибірки.In the present work the problem of optimal bin number selection for equidistant Mutual Information (MI) estimator between electroencephalogram (EEG) and cardiorhythmogram (CRG) is addressed. In the previously developed method the bin number selected based on the finding an optimal bin number on the MI values on the range of bin numbers. With application to the real raw EEG and CRG signals it was found that for closely placed or symmetrical channels of EEG data the method can be applied, and the true value of MI value can be found with proposed method. In application to MI calculation between raw EEG and CRG signals that are not significantly coupled, true MI value cannot be estimated with proposed method for small sample size.В работе рассмотрен метод определения взаимной информации для оценки взаимосвязи между сигналами ЭЭГ и кардиоритмограммы. В разработанном методе количество бинов выбирается на промежутке значений бинов. При применении метода к сигналам ЭЭГ и КРГ было найдено, что метод может быть применим при анализе взаимосвязи между сигналами ЭЭГ в каналах, что расположены рядом или симметрично, в соответствии с системой 10-20. Для взаимной информации между сигналами ЭЭГ и КРГ, что связаны в значительно меньшей мере, метод не может применяться для малого значения выборки

Criminal law as a means of protecting human rights and freedoms in the modern world

Гальцова, В. В. Кримінальний закон як засіб охорони прав і свобод людини в сучасному світі / Вікторія Володимирівна Гальцова, Сергій Олександрович Харитонов, Олександр Миколайович Храмцов, Олександр Олександрович Житний, Андрій Анатолійович Васильєв // Вісник Національної академії правових наук України. - 2021. - Т. 28, № 3. - С. 248-256. - DOI: 10.37635/jnalsu.28(3).2021.248-256.Надано аналіз теоретичних та прикладних питань, що стосуються засобів захисту прав людини та законних інтересів проти суспільно небезпечних посягань, а також формулювання науково обґрунтованих пропозицій щодо вдосконалення чинного законодавства України та практики його застосування у цій сфері. Виявлено правові характеристики прав і свобод людини як на національному, так і на міжнародному рівнях. Засоби захисту прав були продемонстровані через приціл кримінального права. Проаналізовано форми впровадження міжнародної практики у національне законодавство України як засіб захисту прав і свобод людини в сучасному світі.This paper is a comprehensive study of the problems of criminal law as a remedy for human rights and freedoms in the modern world. The relevance of this subject lies in the systematic violations of constitutional human rights and freedoms and the inaction of the criminal law in such cases. Nowadays, the criminal law as a remedy for human rights and freedoms in national and international law is described by imperfection in its adaptation to rapidly changing social relations, which, accordingly, leads to problems in their legal protection. There are various reasons for this in the legal sphere, such as gaps in the legal provisions, conflicts of legal regulation and inconsistency of the rules of legislation with existing public relations in the state. All of the above determines the relevance of the subject matter of this study. Thus, the purpose of this study was a comprehensive analysis of theoretical and applied issues relating to the remedies for human rights and legitimate interests against socially dangerous encroachments, and the formulation of scientifically sound proposals for improving the current legislation of Ukraine and the practice of its application in this area. Ultimately, this study identified the legal characteristics of human rights and freedoms at both the national and international levels. The remedies for rights were demonstrated through the lens of criminal law. In addition, the study analysed the forms of implementation of international practice in the national legislation of Ukraine as a remedy for human rights and freedoms in the modern world. The significance of the results of this study was expressed in the further research of related subjects concerning this issue, namely the history of the development of EU criminal law standards and the historical establishment of the concept of human and citizen rights and legitimate interests. Furthermore, the materials of this study can be used in the preparation of educational materials, methodological recommendations, as well as training in various fields of legal science. This, in turn, will allow properly using the criminal law protection of human rights and freedoms without violations on the part of criminal justice bodies.Представлен анализ теоретических и прикладных вопросов, касающихся средств защиты прав человека и законных интересов против общественно опасных посягательств, а также формулирование научно обоснованных предложений по усовершенствованию действующего законодательства Украины и практики его применения в этой сфере. Выявлены правовые характеристики прав и свобод человека как на национальном, так и международном уровнях. Средства защиты прав были продемонстрированы через прицел уголовного права. Проанализированы формы внедрения международной практики в национальное законодательство Украины как средство защиты прав и свобод человека в современном мире

NEXMIF encephalopathy:an X-linked disorder with male and female phenotypic patterns

Purpose Pathogenic variants in the X-linked gene NEXMIF (previously KIAA2022) are associated with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder, and epilepsy. We aimed to delineate the female and male phenotypic spectrum of NEXMIF encephalopathy. Methods Through an international collaboration, we analyzed the phenotypes and genotypes of 87 patients with NEXMIF encephalopathy. Results Sixty-three females and 24 males (46 new patients) with NEXMIF encephalopathy were studied, with 30 novel variants. Phenotypic features included developmental delay/ID in 86/87 (99%), seizures in 71/86 (83%) and multiple comorbidities. Generalized seizures predominated including myoclonic seizures and absence seizures (both 46/70, 66%), absence with eyelid myoclonia (17/70, 24%), and atonic seizures (30/70, 43%). Males had more severe developmental impairment; females had epilepsy more frequently, and varied from unaffected to severely affected. All NEXMIF pathogenic variants led to a premature stop codon or were deleterious structural variants. Most arose de novo, although X-linked segregation occurred for both sexes. Somatic mosaicism occurred in two males and a family with suspected parental mosaicism. Conclusion NEXMIF encephalopathy is an X-linked, generalized developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by myoclonic-atonic epilepsy overlapping with eyelid myoclonia with absence. Some patients have developmental encephalopathy without epilepsy. Males have more severe developmental impairment. NEXMIF encephalopathy arises due to loss-of-function variants

NEXMIF encephalopathy: an X-linked disorder with male and female phenotypic patterns

Purpose: Pathogenic variants in the X-linked gene NEXMIF (previously KIAA2022) are associated with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder, and epilepsy. We aimed to delineate the female and male phenotypic spectrum of NEXMIF encephalopathy. / Methods: Through an international collaboration, we analyzed the phenotypes and genotypes of 87 patients with NEXMIF encephalopathy. / Results: Sixty-three females and 24 males (46 new patients) with NEXMIF encephalopathy were studied, with 30 novel variants. Phenotypic features included developmental delay/ID in 86/87 (99%), seizures in 71/86 (83%) and multiple comorbidities. Generalized seizures predominated including myoclonic seizures and absence seizures (both 46/70, 66%), absence with eyelid myoclonia (17/70, 24%), and atonic seizures (30/70, 43%). Males had more severe developmental impairment; females had epilepsy more frequently, and varied from unaffected to severely affected. All NEXMIF pathogenic variants led to a premature stop codon or were deleterious structural variants. Most arose de novo, although X-linked segregation occurred for both sexes. Somatic mosaicism occurred in two males and a family with suspected parental mosaicism. / Conclusion: NEXMIF encephalopathy is an X-linked, generalized developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by myoclonic–atonic epilepsy overlapping with eyelid myoclonia with absence. Some patients have developmental encephalopathy without epilepsy. Males have more severe developmental impairment. NEXMIF encephalopathy arises due to loss-of-function variants

Problems of qualification of complicity in criminal offenses with a special subject

The article is devoted to the study of actual problems of the qualification of complicity in criminal offenses with a special subject. The authors of the article pay special attention to the lack of an agreed point of view in the science of criminal law regarding the recognition of general and special subjects as complicit in a criminal offense and the need to develop rules for the qualification of criminal offenses with a special subject in complicity. The main doctrinal approaches to the qualification of complicity of a general subject in criminal offenses with a special subject are considered. It has been established that the rules for qualifying the actions of accomplices require a differentiated approach and depend on the characteristics of the special subject and the characteristics of other elements of the criminal offense

Regularization methods used in error analysis of solar particle spectra measured on SOHO/EPHIN

Context. The telescope EPHIN (Electron, Proton, Helium INstrument) on the SOHO (SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory) spacecraft measures the energy deposit of solar particles passing through the detector system. The original energy spectrum of solar particles is obtained by regularization methods from EPHIN measurements. It is important not only to obtain the solution of this inverse problem but also to estimate errors or uncertainties of the solution. Aims. The focus of this paper is to evaluate the influence of errors or noise in the instrument response function (IRF) and in the measurements when calculating energy spectra in space-based observations by regularization methods. Methods. The basis of solar particle spectra calculation is the Fredholm integral equation with the instrument response function as the kernel that is obtained by the Monte Carlo technique in matrix form. The original integral equation reduces to a singular system of linear algebraic equations. The nonnegative solution is obtained by optimization with constraints. For the starting value we use the solution of the algebraic problem that is calculated by regularization methods such as the singular value decomposition (SVD) or the Tikhonov methods. We estimate the local errors from special algebraic and statistical equations that are considered as direct or inverse problems. Inverse problems for the evaluation of errors are solved by regularization methods. Results. This inverse approach with error analysis is applied to data from the solar particle event observed by SOHO/EPHIN on day 1996/191. We find that the various methods have different strengths and weaknesses in the treatment of statistical and systematic errors

Solar energetic particle spectra from the SOHO-EPHIN sensor by application of regularization methods

Context. The Electron Proton Helium Instrument (EPHIN) on ESA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) measures solar energetic electrons, protons, and alpha particles with a stack of six solid-state detectors forming a telescope. The energy deposit in these detectors must be inverted to derive the original energy of the incident particles, thus leading to the original energy spectrum of solar energetic particles. Normal inversion techniques, such as least-squares methods, rely on fitting a known functional behavior of the spectral dependence (normally a power law) to the measured data with some account taken for the instrument response. Such procedures can fail to retrieve accurate particle spectra, e.g., when count rates are low and unphysical negative counts result from the fitting procedure. Aims.We show how regularization methods can be applied to energetic particle measurements to unambiguously derive the original particle spectrum without any assumptions about its functional behavior, while also satisfying constraints such as non-negative counts. Methods. Such inversion techniques still require knowledge of the instrument response function, however, it is an improvement upon normal least-squares or maximum-likelihood fitting procedures because it does not require any a-priori knowledge of the underlying particle spectra. Given the instrument response function in matrix form (here derived using Monte Carlo techniques), the original Fredholm integral equations reduce to a discrete system of linear algebraic equations that can be solved by ordinary regularization methods such as singular value decomposition (SVD) or the Tikhonov method. This procedure alone may lead to unphysical negative results, requiring the further constraint of non-negative count rates. This technique avoids full deconvolution because it involves the solution of ill-conditioned or singular linear systems. Results. We analyze data from SOHO/EPHIN by full deconvolution of the measured data with the instrument response function. We apply the SVD and Thikonov methods with and without constraints to measured data from SOHO/EPHIN. Conclusions.The derived results agree well with those of other methods that rely on a-priori knowledge of the spectral shape of the particle distribution function, demonstrating the power of the regularization method for more general cases