Decision Support System for Urbanization of the Northern Part of the Volga-Akhtuba Floodplain (Russia) on the Basis of Interdisciplinary Computer Modeling

There is a computer decision support system (CDSS) for urbanization of the northern part of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. This system includes subsystems of cognitive and game-theoretic analysis, geoinformation and hydrodynamic simulations. The paper presents the cognitive graph, two-level and three-level models of hierarchical games for the cases of uncontrolled and controlled development of the problem situation. We described the quantitative analysis of the effects of different strategies for the spatial distribution of the urbanized territories. For this reason we conducted the territory zoning according to the level of negative consequences of urbanization for various agents. In addition, we found an analytical solution for games with the linear dependence of the average flooded area on the urbanized area. We numerically computed a game equilibrium for dependences derived from the imitational geoinformation and hydrodynamic modeling of flooding. As the result, we showed that the transition to the three-level management system and the implementation of an optimal urbanization strategy minimize its negative consequences.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures; Conference: Creativity in Intelligent Technologies and Data Science. CIT&DS 201

Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI): facing the challenges and pathways of global change in the 21st century

During the past several decades, the Earth system has changed significantly, especially across Northern Eurasia. Changes in the socio-economic conditions of the larger countries in the region have also resulted in a variety of regional environmental changes that can have global consequences. The Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) has been designed as an essential continuation of the Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI), which was launched in 2004. NEESPI sought to elucidate all aspects of ongoing environmental change, to inform societies and, thus, to better prepare societies for future developments. A key principle of NEFI is that these developments must now be secured through science-based strategies co-designed with regional decision makers to lead their societies to prosperity in the face of environmental and institutional challenges. NEESPI scientific research, data, and models have created a solid knowledge base to support the NEFI program. This paper presents the NEFI research vision consensus based on that knowledge. It provides the reader with samples of recent accomplishments in regional studies and formulates new NEFI science questions. To address these questions, nine research foci are identified and their selections are briefly justified. These foci include: warming of the Arctic; changing frequency, pattern, and intensity of extreme and inclement environmental conditions; retreat of the cryosphere; changes in terrestrial water cycles; changes in the biosphere; pressures on land-use; changes in infrastructure; societal actions in response to environmental change; and quantification of Northern Eurasia's role in the global Earth system. Powerful feedbacks between the Earth and human systems in Northern Eurasia (e.g., mega-fires, droughts, depletion of the cryosphere essential for water supply, retreat of sea ice) result from past and current human activities (e.g., large scale water withdrawals, land use and governance change) and potentially restrict or provide new opportunities for future human activities. Therefore, we propose that Integrated Assessment Models are needed as the final stage of global change assessment. The overarching goal of this NEFI modeling effort will enable evaluation of economic decisions in response to changing environmental conditions and justification of mitigation and adaptation efforts

Preparation and characterization of diamond-silicon carbide-silicon composites by gaseous silicon vacuum infiltration process

Diamond–SiC–Si composites have been prepared using gaseous silicon vacuum infiltration. The evolution of the phases and microstructures of the composites have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction technique and scanning electron microscopy. It has been found that the diamond–SiC–Si composite is composed of β-SiC, diamond, and residual Si. The diamond particles were distributed homogeneously in the dense matrix of the composites. Besides, the effects of particle size and content of diamond on the properties of diamond–SiC–Si composites have been analyzed. The thermal conductivity of the composites increases with particle size and content of diamond. When the particle size and content of diamond are 300 µm and 80 wt %, respectively, the thermal conductivity of the composites approaches the value of 280 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹.Проведен анализ эволюции фаз и микроструктуры композитов алмаз–SiC–Si, изготовленных с использованием процесса вакуумной инфильтрации газообразного кремния. Исследование выполнено с помощью дифракции рентгеновских лучей и сканирующей электронной микроскопии. Установлено, что композит алмаз–SiC–Si состоит из β-SiC, алмаза и остаточного Si. Алмазные частицы распределены однородно в плотной матрице композитов. Также проанализировано влияние размера частиц и содержания алмазов на свойства композитов алмаз–SiC–Si. Показано, что теплопроводность композитов возрастает с увеличением размера частиц и содержания алмазов. Теплопроводность композитов приближается к значению 280 Вт∙м⁻¹∙K⁻¹ при размере частиц и содержании алмаза 300 мкм и 80 % (по массе), соответственно.Проведено аналіз еволюції фаз і мікроструктури композитів алмаз–SiC–Si, виготовлених з використанням процесу вакуумної інфільтрації газоподібного кремнію. Дослідження виконано за допомогою дифракції рентгенівських променів і скануючої електронної мікроскопії. Встановлено, що композит алмаз–SiC–Si складається з β-SiC, алмазу і залишкового Si. Алмазні частки розподілені однорідно в щільній матриці композитів. Також проаналізовано вплив розміру частинок і вмісту алмазів на властивості композитів алмаз–SiC–Si. Показано, що теплопровідність композитів зростає зі збільшенням розміру частинок і вмісту алмазів. Теплопровідність композитів наближається до значення 280 Вт∙м⁻¹∙K⁻¹ при розмірі частинок і вмісту алмазу 300 мкм і 80 % (за масою) відповідно.This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 51102282) and Aid Program for Science and Technology Innovative Research Team in Higher Educational Institutions of Hunan Province

The most incompressible metal osmium at static pressures above 750 gigapascals

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Metastable phase transitions and structural transformations in solid-state materials at high pressure

We use a combination of diamond anvil cell techniques and large volume (multi-anvil press, piston cylinder) devices to study the synthesis, structure and properties of new materials under high pressure conditions. The work often involves the study of structural and phase transformations occurring in the metastable regime, as we explore the phase space determined as a function of the pressure, temperature and chemical composition. The experimental studies are combined with first principles calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, as we determine the structures and properties of new phases and the nature of the transformations between them. Problems currently under investigation include structural studies of transition metal and main group nitrides, oxides and oxynitrides at high pressure, exploration of new solid-state compounds that are formed within the C-N-O system, polyamorphic low- to high-density transitions among amorphous semiconductors such as a-Si, and transformations into metastable forms of the element that occur when its “expanded” clathrate polymorph is compressed