Angular momentum dependent friction slows down rotational relaxation under non-equilibrium conditions

It has recently been shown that relaxation of the rotational energy of hot non-equlibrium photofragments (i) slows down significantly with the increase of their initial rotational temperature and (ii) differs dramatically from the relaxation of the equilibrium rotational energy correlation function, manifesting thereby breakdown of the linear response description [Science 311, 1907 (2006)]. We demonstrate that this phenomenon may be caused by the angular momentum dependence of rotational friction. We have developed the generalized Fokker-Planck equation whose rotational friction depends upon angular momentum algebraically. The calculated rotational correlation functions correspond well to their counterparts obtained via molecular dynamics simulations in a broad range of initial non-equilibrium conditions. It is suggested that the angular momentum dependence of friction should be taken into account while describing rotational relaxation far from equilibrium

On optimizing the deployment of an internet of things sensor network for soil and crop monitoring on arable plots

One of the main stream of digitalization in agriculture is the introduction of Internet of Things technologies, which is expressed in the creation and use of specialized sensors that are placed in the fields. The placement of such sensors within agricultural plot should make it possible to characterize all the microvariability of soil fertility parameters in the field. That is, their number and spatial location should be optimal, on the one hand, in terms of costs of their acquisition and operation, and, on the other hand, in terms of accuracy of interpolation of data obtained with their help to the entire plot. It has been shown that the use of crop condition maps obtained on the basis of satellite data and the separation based on them of management zones can lead to significant errors in the interpolation of monitoring results, obtained in separate points, on the whole plot. An approach for optimization of sensor placement is proposed based on the use of soil fertility mapping, which is the result of refinement, updating and clarification of traditionally drawn soil maps on the basis of high spatial resolution remote sensing data. The possibilities of using the approach are demonstrated by the example of a test plot in Leningrad region of Russia

Gray whale <i>Eschrichtius robustus</i> in Russian Far East: the history of discovery, research, and harvesting

Discovery and research of gray whale in Chukotka are outlined and recent data on its whaling are presented on the base of authors’ and cited sources. The species was described for the first time in the late 16th century. Almost all its studies concerned the California-Chukotka population (East Pacific gray whale), whereas annual monitoring of the Korean-Okhotsk population started in 1995 only. Aboriginal nations of North America and Chukotka traditionally hunted on this whale: about 58 thousand whales of this species were landed in the period from 1600 to 1930, including 5,000 ones in Chukotka (8.6 %). Commercial whaling was developed at California in 1846-1890s and in the USSR waters in 1933-1937. Since 1937, the commercial whaling was banned and the gray whale harvesting for aboriginal people was permitted only. Scientific research of the gray whale started by biologists of the USSR Academy of Science in 1933 and continued till nowadays by Pacific Fisheries Research Center and its Magadan and Chukotka branches. The aboriginal whaling was realized from small motor-boats and kayaks by rifles and iron harpoons in the 1930s - early 1950s, from boats by large-calibre guns in 1956-1969. In total, 4060 whales were landed in 1922-1969. In 1969-1992, the whales for aboriginal people were landed by the whale-boat «Zviozdny». The aboriginal whaling from motor-boats by rifles and tilting handle-harpoons was renewed in 1994. Recently (since 1998) the quota is 135 gray whales per year, but real mean annual harvesting is about 110 whales, so only 2197 whales were landed in 1994-2013. The usual season for the whaling lasts from middle May till late November - early December. Taking into account the modern period of whaling, about 75 thousand of the East Pacific gray whales were landed in the period since 1600 to nowadays. Annual harvesting within the statutory quota does not influence negatively on the stock of this population. Moreover, increasing of the quota is available (aboriginal people can consume up to 350 whales annually) but the aboriginal whaling needs financial and material support for extending the harvesting

Limits of Possibility: Practices of Administrative Sanctions Against Russian Periodical Press at Beginning of 20th Century

The study examines the mechanisms of censorship restrictions on Russian periodical press that had become widespread by the beginning of the 20th century. It explores the history of the development of censorship during the post-reform era and the stages of reorganization of the censorship apparatus in the context of changing Russian realities in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The issue of legislative initiatives regulating the coverage of domestic political events in the pages of Russian periodicals is addressed. Special attention is given to the practice of using administrative resources in the form of mandatory decrees by governors to establish control over local press. The documents for analysis were extracted by the authors from the archives of the Police Department of the State Archive of the Russian Federation. They contain information about specific instances of administrative penalties and fines imposed by governors on newspaper editors. Comparing this information with the content of articles subjected to penalties allowed for the identification of "the limits of possibility" for periodical press that existed locally in the perceptions of administrators. The review conducted led to the conclusion that mandatory decrees provided provincial administrations with the right, based on their own biases and convictions, to censor political content in print publications, thereby influencing public opinion

Minsk Military District at Initial Stage of First World War

The article deals with the issue of organizing the Minsk Military District during the First World War. Attention is paid to the interpretation of the conditions in which the process of formation of this important structure in wartime conditions took place. The authors dwell on the main functions of this territorial entity related to the need to prepare reserves and supply the army in the field. In the presented study, it is shown that in an emergency, for the implementation of these tasks, it was planned to change the system of civilian administration with its subordination to the military leadership of the district. The novelty of the study is seen in the reflection of the problem of reconfiguring the borders of a part of the border military districts, which affected, among other things, the construction of censorship bodies, their ability in practice to adequately and promptly respond to the demands of difficult wartime. It is proved that the “mobility” of the borders of military censorship regions, caused by changes in the operational situation, was reflected in the creation and functioning of the necessary unified district censorship system, which also explains the violations of the “Provisional Regulations on Military Censorship” that occurred within the borders of the district. The stated problem is investigated by the authors of the article on the basis of materials from periodicals and documents stored in local and central archives

Symmetrization of mathematical model of charge transport in semiconductors

A mathematical model of charge transport in semiconductors is considered. The model is a quasilinear system of differential equations. A problem of finding an additional entropy conservation law and system symmetrization are solved

Entropy approximation for the system of moment equations describing charge transport in semiconductors

The question of possibility to build additional entropy conservation law for the system of moment equations, which appear in mathematical modelling of the charge transport in semiconductors, is discussed

Chromatographic techniques in forensic chemical examinations

Some aspects of the use of chromatographic analytical techniques in the forensic chemical examination of materials, substances, and products were considered. The detection and subsequent expert examination of various materials (psychoactive drugs, explosives, gunshot residues, etc.) was exemplified. It was demonstrated that the effectiveness and validity of the evidential matter of expert examinations can be provided by tdeveloping a uniform system for comprehensive forensic chemical examinations of material and products; within the framework of this system, expert examinations should be performed with a required reliability and accuracy