Subsurface radiolocation tomography of cables under dual-polarization probing

It is proposed to use the tomographic approach to the problem of detecting and imaging concealed utility networks. This approach is based on generating the three-dimensional radio images of the space being explored from the results of measuring its location wave projections in a dual-polarization measurement mode. The problem is solved by focusing radiation first on the “air–dielectric” interface and then inside the dielectric. Experimental data processing results and reconstructed threedimensional radio tomograms are provided for a “twisted pair” cable and a fiber-optic cable with no metallic inclusions. The results confirm the operability of the approach

German-Russian Astroparticle Data Life Cycle Initiative to foster Big Data Infrastructure for Multi-Messenger Astronomy

Challenges faced by researchers in multi-messenger astroparticle physics include: computing-intensive search and preprocessing related to the diversity of content and formats of the data from different observatories as well as to data fragmentation over separate storage locations; inconsistencies in user interfaces for data retrieval; lack of the united infrastructure solutions suitable for both data gathering and online analysis, e.g. analyses employing deep neural networks. In order to address solving these issues, the German-Russian Astroparticle Data Life Cycle Initiative (GRADLCI) was created. In addition, we support activities for communicating our research field to the public. The approaches proposed by the project are based on the concept of data life cycle, which assumes a particular pipeline of data curation used for every unit of the data from the moment of its retrieval or creation through the stages of data preprocessing, analysis, publishing and archival. The movement towards unified data curation schemes is essential to increase the benefits gained in the analysis of geographically distributed or content-diverse data. Within the project, an infrastructure for effective astroparticle data curation and online analysis was developed. Using it, first results on deep-learning based analysis were obtained

Взаимоотношения неприсоединившихся стран Африки и «второго мира» (1960-1980-е гг.) на примере Сьерра-Леоне

The research covers Sierra Leone’s relations with the Second World through the prism of Sierra Leone’s foreign policy. Two periods of Sierra Leone’s foreign policy are considered: during the Westminster bipartisan model from 1961 to 1970, and when the authoritarian regime led by President Siaka Stevens was established from 1971 to 1985. The central issue of the research is analysis of Sierra Leone’s cooperation with the Soviet Union. The aim of the research is to identify the factors that guided the non-aligned countries within the bipolar confrontation of the second half of the 20th century in building their relations with the socialist bloc. The relevance of the topic is related to the fact that the logic and principles of building relations of small non-aligned countries with both limited power resources and little political and economic ambitions with key world powers are less reflected in studies. The research is based upon comparative and historical-genetic methods as well as case studies. The author makes use of materials from the Sierra Leone Public Archives. The author concludes that Sierra Leone’s relations with the Second World were based on economic pragmatism rather than ideological or political proximity. For Sierra Leone, relations with socialist countries served as a tool for diversifying its foreign policy. This set Sierra Leone apart from its neighboring West African states, which either maintained an orientation towards first-world countries, namely France and the US, or reoriented themselves towards the Soviet Union.Раскрывается проблематика отношений африканских стран с государствами «второго мира» через призму внешнеполитической деятельности Сьерра-Леоне. Рассматриваются два периода внешней политики Сьерра-Леоне - в годы существования Вестминстерской двухпартийной модели в 1961-1970 гг. и в 1971-1985 гг., когда в стране установился авторитарный режим во главе с президентом Сиакой Стивенсом. Центральное место занимает анализ сотрудничества Сьерра-Леоне и Советского Союза. Цель - определить, чем руководствовались страны, избравшие путь неприсоединения в рамках биполярного противостояния второй половины XX в., выстраивании своих отношений с социалистическим блоком. Актуальность темы связана с тем, что логика и принципы выстраивания отношения с ключевыми мировыми державами малых неприсоединившихся стран, обладающих как небольшими силовыми ресурсными возможностями, так и ограниченными политическими и экономическими амбициями, в меньшей степени отражены в научных работах. Исследование опирается на компаративистский и историко-генетический методы, а также на метод кейс-стади. Также используются материалы Государственного архива Сьерра-Леоне. Автор приходит к выводу, что отношения Сьерра-Леоне и стран «второго мира» основывались скорее на экономическом прагматизме, нежели чем на основе идеологической или политической близости. Для Сьерра-Леоне отношения с социалистическими странами выступали инструментом диверсификации внешнеполитической деятельности. Это выделяло Сьерра-Леоне на фоне соседних государств Западной Африки, которые либо сохраняли ориентацию на страны «первого мира», а именно Францию и США, либо же переориентировались на Советский Союз

Subsurface radiolocation tomography of cables under dual-polarization probing

It is proposed to use the tomographic approach to the problem of detecting and imaging concealed utility networks. This approach is based on generating the three-dimensional radio images of the space being explored from the results of measuring its location wave projections in a dual-polarization measurement mode. The problem is solved by focusing radiation first on the “air–dielectric” interface and then inside the dielectric. Experimental data processing results and reconstructed threedimensional radio tomograms are provided for a “twisted pair” cable and a fiber-optic cable with no metallic inclusions. The results confirm the operability of the approach

Towards the Baikal Open Laboratory in Astroparticle Physics

The open science framework defined in the German-Russian Astroparticle Data Life Cycle Initiative (GRADLCI) has triggered educational and outreach activities at the Irkutsk State University (ISU), which is actively participated in the two major astroparticle facilities in the region: TAIGA observatory and Baikal-GVD neutrino telescope. We describe the ideas grew out of this unique environment and propose a new open science laboratory based on education and outreach as well as on the development and testing new methods and techniques for the multimessenger astronomy