Revisiting the distinctive features of the information society’s technological structure

The paper dwells upon the distinctive features of the information society’s technological structure, with the main focus being put on a comprehensive analysis of this structure as it considered within the framework of the modern social and philosophical discourse. The specific of techno and technological structure’s impact on human nature is also under consideration as well as the specific of information society as a continuous conception refinement process

СТАТИСТИЧЕСКАЯ ОЦЕНКА НАЛОГОВОГО КОНТРОЛЯ КАК ИНСТРУМЕНТ НАЛОГОВОГО МОНИТОРИНГА

In the framework of this study, the authors developed and tested a methodology for assessing tax control in Russia as one of the main instruments of tax monitoring. We analyzed the dynamics of the increase in tax revenues to the budget of the Russian Federation due to the intensive work of tax authorities in the regions, which consists in automating the mechanisms of tax administration. We conducted a typification of the regions of Russia in terms of the level and quality of tax control

СТАТИСТИЧЕСКАЯ ОЦЕНКА НАЛОГОВОГО КОНТРОЛЯ КАК ИНСТРУМЕНТ НАЛОГОВОГО МОНИТОРИНГА

In the framework of this study, the authors developed and tested a methodology for assessing tax control in Russia as one of the main instruments of tax monitoring. We analyzed the dynamics of the increase in tax revenues to the budget of the Russian Federation due to the intensive work of tax authorities in the regions, which consists in automating the mechanisms of tax administration. We conducted a typification of the regions of Russia in terms of the level and quality of tax control

Tree diversity patterns along the latitudinal gradient in the northwestern Russia

Background One of the key forest characteristics is the biodiversity, particularly the diversity of trees which are forest ecosystem engineers. Nowadays the most worldwide common approach for assessment of forest conditions and dynamics is based on the systematic monitoring, performed at a set of regularly structured plots. To fulfill the existing gap in this sort of knowledge on the Russian forests, an extensive study of tree species diversity on a regular network was conducted in north-west of Russia. Methods The study used the ICP Forests monitoring network that spans over 1700 km along the western Russian border from forest-tundra in the north to broadleaved-coniferous forests in the south. Tree data were collected at 710 sites that were assigned along a regular grid. We performed series of statistical analyses of the tree species distribution and diversity in relation to environmental and anthropogenic factors. Results According to the Maxent species distribution modelling results only Pinus sylvestris, Betula sp. and Picea abies have the potential to grow throughout the study area. The locally maximum tree species diversity varies along the latitudinal gradient from 1 to 3 species in the north to 5–7 species in the south. Monocultural stands are relatively abundant across the study area, being especially common in the south taiga. The prevailing part of the monocultural stands is represented by Scots pine (72%). The age distribution of dominant trees has a clear connection with the intensity of forest use. We found that recent wildfire events had only little effect on tree diversity in the study area. Conclusions We demonstrated that ICP Forests monitoring network enables to successfully establish the main qualitative and quantitative relations of the spatial variation of tree species diversity to climatic, landscape, soil and anthropogenic factors. Analysis of the influence of these factors on tree species distribution allowed us to conclude that with the continuing trend of reducing the frequency and intensity of fires, Norway spruce will further replace Scots pine and Betula sp. in the north-western Russia. Extending the monitoring network, especially adding the time-series context, could provide novel appealing opportunities for forest dynamics projection and sustainable management.Peer reviewe

Air pollution impacts on forests in a changing climate

Growing awareness of air pollution effects on forests has, from the early 1980s on, led to intensive forest damage research and monitoring. This has fostered air pollution control, especially in Europe and North America, and to a smaller extent also in other parts of the world. At several forest sites in these regions, there are first indications of a recovery of forest soil and tree conditions that may be attributed to improved air quality. This caused a decrease in the attention paid by politicians and the public to air pollution effects on forests. But air pollution continues to affect the structure and functioning of forest ecosystems not only in Europe and North America but even more so in parts of Russia, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. At the political level, however, attention to climate change is focussed on questions of CO2 emission and carbon sequestration. But ecological interactions between air pollution including CO2 and O3 concentrations, extreme temperatures, drought, fire, insects, pathogens, and fire, as well as the impact of ecosystem management practices, are still poorly understood. Future research should focus on the interacting impacts on forest trees and ecosystems. The integrative effects of air pollution and climatic change, in particular elevated O3, altered nutrient, temperature, water availability, and elevated CO2, will be key issues for impact research. An important improvement in our understanding might be obtained by the combination of long-term multidisciplinary experiments with ecosystem-level monitoring, and the integration of the results with ecosystem modelling within a multiple-constraint framework

Multisite two-photon imaging of neurons on multielectrode arrays

We wish to understand how neural systems store, recall, and process information. We are using cultured networks of cortical neurons grown on microelectrode arrays as a model system for studying the emergent properties of ensembles of living neurons. We have developed a 2-way communication interface between the cultured network and a computer- generated animal, the Neurally Controlled Animat. Neural activity is used to control the behavior of the Animat, and 2- photon time-lapse imaging is carried out in order to observe the morphological changes that might underlie changes in neural processing. The 2-photon microscope is ideal for repeated imaging over hours or days, with submicron resolution and little photodamage. We have designed a computer-controlled microscope stage that allows imaging several locations in sequence, in order to collect more image data

Plant functional groups for carbon and nitrogen cycle modelling and diversity estimation in boreal forest ecosystems

We have developed a system of plant functional groups (PFGs) for modelling dynamics and biodiversity estimation of forest ground vegetation. Species Ellenberg ecological values and phytocoenotic characteristics together with morphological traits were used to classify plant species into the functional groups [1]. Ground vegetation patches dominated by species of different PFGs were distinguished in the forest floor. We have characterized biomass of these patches performing statistical analysis of biomass values taken from published data and results of field investigations combined into the database "Biomass" [2]. The database contains data on aboveground and belowground biomass of species and groups of species occurred in the ground layer of boreal and hemiboreal forests of European Russia. There are more than 7000 records on biomass and productivity for 196 vascular species, 32 bryophytes and 4 lichen species and for tens groups of species. Biomass of vascular plants and bryophytes quite well differed between the patches dominated by species of different PFGs. According to statistical analysis results, the patches explain much more of biomass variance than the forest types; differences in the influence of the factors are more pronounced for belowground than for aboveground biomass. The values of the belowground biomass for all groups were higher than the values of the aboveground biomass, and differed between the analyzed groups to a greater extent than the values of the aboveground biomass. Database "Elements" on element concentrations of plants was also developed on the basis of results of field investigations in the North and the Middle Taiga. The database contains data on more than 2500 samples of 80 plant species. The PFGs also differed well in the content of the chemical elements in species that comprise the group. The groups differed most in the following elements: N, Mg, Ca, P, S, Mn, Al, Zn, Fe and slightly less C. We have proposed a conceptual model of dynamics of ground forest vegetation; a model compatible with the individual-based EFIMOD model of forest growth, carbon and nitrogen cycles in forest ecosystems [3]. Spatial unit of the ground vegetation model is the same as spatial unit of the EFIMOD (0.5×0.5 м); it is a patch of the forest floor dominated by species from one or two functional groups. Development and analysis of the database “Elements” was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project 16-17-10284. The results on modelling of ground vegetation were received under umbrella of POLYFORES project (ERA-NET Sumforest). REFERENCES: 1. Khanina, L.G., Bobrovsky, M.V., Smirnov, V.E., Grozovskaya, I.S., Romanov, M.S., Lukina, N.V., Isayeva, L.G., 2015. Ground vegetation modeling through functional species groups and patches in the forest floor. Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics. 10, 15–33. 2. Khanina, L.G., Grozovskaya, I.S., Smirnov, V.E., Romanov, M.S., Bobrovsky, M.V., 2013. Analysis of database on the biomass of forest ground vegetation for modelling plant dynamics in forest ecosystem models. Khvoinye borealnoi zony (Coniferous in the Boreal Region). 31, 22–29. (in Russ.) 3. Komarov, A.S., Chertov, O.G., Zudin, S.L., Nadporozhskaya, M.A., Mikhailov, A.V., Bykhovets, S.S., Zudina, E.V., Zoubkova, E.V., 2003. EFIMOD 2 – a model of growth and cycling of elements in boreal forest ecosystems. Ecol. Model. 170, 373–392

Clash or concert in European forests? Integration and coherence of forest ecosystem service-related national policies

This paper compares how forest ecosystem service-related policies are integrated in different national European forest governance contexts. Efforts to achieve policy integration at the EU and national levels are often described in terms of limited success. Our analysis of forest, energy/bioeconomy, climate, and conservation policies sug-gests that notions of progress or failure merit careful assessment. Combining theories of policy integration (PI), environmental policy integration (EPI), and policy coherence, we argue that integration outcomes depend on the combined effects of the degree and nature of PI, EPI, and multilevel coherence in the context of the prevailing forest governance system. The nature of the interdependencies, specifically anticipated synergies, and the scope of FES-related climate objectives, are crucial. Realizing the range of FES-related objectives entails safeguarding objectives not synergistically aligned with economic aims. Failures to safeguard biodiversity and regulating and cultural ecosystem services in the process of integration may have far-reaching consequences

The Forest Observation System, building a global reference dataset for remote sensing of forest biomass

International audienceForest biomass is an essential indicator for monitoring the Earth's ecosystems and climate. It is a critical input to greenhouse gas accounting, estimation of carbon losses and forest degradation, assessment of renewable energy potential, and for developing climate change mitigation policies such as REDD+, among others. Wall-to-wall mapping of aboveground biomass (aGB) is now possible with satellite remote sensing (RS). However, RS methods require extant, up-to-date, reliable, representative and comparable in situ data for calibration and validation. Here, we present the Forest Observation System (FOS) initiative, an international cooperation to establish and maintain a global in situ forest biomass database. aGB and canopy height estimates with their associated uncertainties are derived at a 0.25 ha scale from field measurements made in permanent research plots across the world's forests. all plot estimates are geolocated and have a size that allows for direct comparison with many RS measurements. The FOS offers the potential to improve the accuracy of RS-based biomass products while developing new synergies between the RS and ground-based ecosystem research communities

The number of tree species on Earth

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global groundsourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are 73,000 tree species globally, among which ∼9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness