Various Faces of Type IIA Supergravity

We derive a duality-symmetric action for type IIA D=10 supergravity by the Kaluza-Klein dimensional reduction of the duality-symmetric action for D=11 supergravity with the 3-form and 6-form gauge field. We then double the bosonic fields arising as a result of the Kaluza-Klein dimensional reduction and add mass terms to embrace the Romans's version, so that in its final form the bosonic part of the action contains the dilaton, NS-NS and RR potentials of the standard type IIA supergravity as well as their duals, the corresponding duality relations are deduced directly from the action. We discuss the relation of our approach to the doubled field formalism by Cremmer, Julia, Lu and Pope, complete the extension of this construction to the supersymmetric case and lift it onto the level of the proper duality-symmetric action. We also find a new dual formulation of type IIA D=10 supergravity in which the NS-NS two-form potential is replaced with its six-form counterpart. A truncation of this dual model produces the Chamseddine's version of N=1, D=10 supergravity.Comment: 36 pages, plain Late

EUNIS Habitat Classification: Expert system, characteristic species combinations and distribution maps of European habitats

Aim: The EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats. Location: Europe. Methods: We developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic, constant and dominant species for each habitat by calculating species‐to‐habitat fidelity and constancy (occurrence frequency) in the classified data set. Finally, we mapped the plot locations for each habitat. Results: Formal definitions were developed for 199 habitats at Level 3 of the EUNIS hierarchy, including 25 coastal, 18 wetland, 55 grassland, 43 shrubland, 46 forest and 12 man‐made habitats. The expert system classified 1,125,121 vegetation plots to these habitat groups and 73,188 to other habitats, while 63,064 plots remained unclassified or were classified to more than one habitat. Data on each habitat were summarized in factsheets containing habitat description, distribution map, corresponding syntaxa and characteristic species combination. Conclusions: EUNIS habitats were characterized for the first time in terms of their species composition and distribution, based on a classification of a European database of vegetation plots using the newly developed electronic expert system EUNIS‐ESy. The data provided and the expert system have considerable potential for future use in European nature conservation planning, monitoring and assessment

A New Model of Hemoglobin Oxygenation

The study of hemoglobin oxygenation, starting from the classical works of Hill, has laid the foundation for molecular biophysics. The cooperative nature of oxygen binding to hemoglobin has been variously described in different models. In the Adair model, which better fits the experimental data, the constants of oxygen binding at various stages differ. However, the physical meaning of the parameters in this model remains unclear. In this work, we applied Hill’s approach, extending its interpretation; we obtained a good agreement between the theory and the experiment. The equation in which the Hill coefficient is modulated by the Lorentz distribution for oxygen partial pressure approximates the experimental data better than not only the classical Hill equation, but also the Adair equation

The Role of Acidosis in the Pathogenesis of Severe Forms of COVID-19

COVID-19 has specific characteristics that distinguish this disease from many other infections. We suggest that the pathogenesis of severe forms of COVID-19 can be associated with acidosis. This review article discusses several mechanisms potentially linking the damaging effects of COVID-19 with acidosis and shows the existence of a vicious cycle between the development of hypoxia and acidosis in COVID-19 patients. At the early stages of the disease, inflammation, difficulty in gas exchange in the lungs and thrombosis collectively contribute to the onset of acidosis. In accordance with the Verigo-Bohr effect, a decrease in blood pH leads to a decrease in oxygen saturation, which contributes to the exacerbation of acidosis and results in a deterioration of the patient’s condition. A decrease in pH can also cause conformational changes in the S-protein of the virus and thus lead to a decrease in the affinity and avidity of protective antibodies. Hypoxia and acidosis lead to dysregulation of the immune system and multidirectional pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions, resulting in the development of a “cytokine storm”. In this review, we highlight the potential importance of supporting normal blood pH as an approach to COVID-19 therapy

Biodiversity revision of a large arctic region as a basis for its monitoring and protection under conditions of active economic development (Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug, Russia)

In the scope of implementing a UNDP / GEF / Ministry of Nature project, a database and a GIS to consider the biodiversity of the Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug were developed. They include information on 2035 animal and 1640 plant species, belonging to 15 model groups. Data were obtained using publications and unpublished sources, the results of studying collections / herbaria of four institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and data of fieldwork (2015) conducted in three coastal areas of Bolshezemelskaya Tundra. The taxonomic richness of the Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug biota is not lower (even higher in some animal groups) than in other large Arctic regions (e.g. Taymyr and Greenland). Some new vegetation syntaxa have been described. And some phytogeographic boundaries have been established. Several animal taxa have been described for the first time for science. Some of species were neither previously recorded in the Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug nor formerly known from Europe («Siberian» species), nor from Russia. Concerning types of ranges, the proportion of species having predominantly Siberian / East Palaearctic / Siberian-Nearctic ranges varied in different model groups from 0% to 30%. The fraction of arctic (in a wide sense) species ranged from 0% to 29%. We considered the status of the natural environment of the Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug to be satisfactory so far as its destruction is particularly local. We strongly confirm the need to create new Protected Areas. The material obtained during the project processing has been applied to the organisation of sanctuaries in the Khaipudyrskaya Bay and Pakhancheskaya Bay, Barents Sea

A raster version of the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM)

Land cover maps are the basic data layer required for understanding and modeling ecological patterns and processes. The Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM), produced in 2003, has been widely used as a base map for studies in the arctic tundra biome. However, the relatively coarse resolution and vector format of the map were not compatible with many other data sets. We present a new version of the CAVM, building on the strengths of the original map, while providing a finer spatial resolution, raster format, and improved mapping. The Raster CAVM uses the legend, extent and projection of the original CAVM. The legend has 16 vegetation types, glacier, saline water, freshwater, and non-arctic land. The Raster CAVM divides the original rock-water-vegetation complex map unit that mapped the Canadian Shield into two map units, distinguishing between areas with lichen- and shrub-dominated vegetation. In contrast to the original hand-drawn CAVM, the new map is based on unsupervised classifications of seventeen geographic/floristic sub-sections of the Arctic, using AVHRR and MODIS data (reflectance and NDVI) and elevation data. The units resulting from the classification were modeled to the CAVM types using a wide variety of ancillary data. The map was reviewed by experts familiar with their particular region, including many of the original authors of the CAVM from Canada, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway (including Svalbard), Russia, and the U.S. The analysis presented here summarizes the area, geographical distribution, elevation, summer temperatures, and NDVI of the map units. The greater spatial resolution of the Raster CAVM allowed more detailed mapping of water-bodies and mountainous areas. It portrays coastal-inland gradients, and better reflects the heterogeneity of vegetation type distribution than the original CAVM. Accuracy assessment of random 1-km pixels interpreted from 6 Landsat scenes showed an average of 70% accuracy, up from 39% for the original CAVM. The distribution of shrub-dominated types changed the most, with more prostrate shrub tundra mapped in mountainous areas, and less low shrub tundra in lowland areas. This improved mapping is important for quantifying existing and potential changes to land cover, a key environmental indicator for modeling and monitoring ecosystems. The final product is publicly available at www.geobotany.uaf.edu and at Mendeley Data, DOI: 10.17632/c4xj5rv6kv.1

Absolute keV X-ray yield and conversion efficiency in over dense Si sub-petawatt laser plasma

Laser-produced plasmas are bright, short sources of x-rays commonly used for time-resolved imaging and spectroscopy. Their usage implies accurate knowledge of laser-to-x-ray conversion efficiency (CE), spectrum, photon yield and angular distribution. Here, we report on soft x-ray emission in the direction close to the target normal from a thin Si foil irradiated by a sub-PW picosecond laser pulse. These absolute measurements cover a continuous and broad spectral range that extends from 4.75 to 7.3 Å (1.7-2.6 keV). The x-ray spectrum consists of spectral line transitions from highly charged ions and broadband emission with contributions from recombination and free-free processes that occur when electrons decelerate in plasma electromagnetic fields. Angular distribution of the emission was investigated via particle-in-cell simulations, which allowed to estimate the yield into the full solid angle. We find that experimental and simulation estimations of laser to free-free emission CE are in good agreement

Absolute keV X-ray yield and conversion efficiency in over dense Si sub-petawatt laser plasma

Laser-produced plasmas are bright, short sources of X-rays commonly used for time-resolved imaging and spectroscopy. Their usage implies accurate knowledge of laser-to-X-ray conversion efficiency, spectrum, photon yield and angular distribution. Here we report on soft X-ray emission in the direction close to the target normal from a thin Si foil irradiated by a sub-PW picosecond laser pulse. These absolute measurements cover a continuous and broad spectral range that extends from 4.75 to 7.5 Å(1.7–2.6 keV). The X-ray spectrum consists of spectral line transitions from highly charged ions and broadband emission with contributions from recombination and free-free processes that occur when electrons decelerate in plasma electromagnetic fields. Angular distribution of the emission was investigated via PIC simulations, which allowed to estimate the yield into the full solid angle. We found that experiment and simulation estimations of laser to free-free emission conversion efficiency are in a good agreement