Integration of remote sensing, modeling, and field approaches for rangeland management and endangered species conservation in Central Asia

Integration of robust scientific approaches and on-the-ground conservation practice to “bridge the gap” between biologists and field managers is a perennial challenge in biodiversity conservation. In this thesis I present five, related case studies of integrating key scientific approaches (remote sensing techniques, habitat modeling and suitability analysis, and population modeling) with field practices to facilitate sustainable and locally accepted rangeland management, support conservation of snow leopard and Altai argali, and suggest options for tiger restoration in Central Asia. My synthesis of these case studies reveals that to advance regional long-term conservation initiatives, conservation science has to address relevant conservation problem directly, suggest solutions and recommendations that can be implemented by conservation managers given their capacity levels, fit into local knowledge systems as they pertain to the ecosystems under consideration, and focus on sharing lessons learned across projects

Ум и сердце в научном исследовании

The article presents the opinions of prominent native and foreign scientists about the psychology of scientific creativity, the role of interest, love, and almost always, even a passion to the subject of research. Not all scientists discuss this topic, but when we get acquainted with the available information, we become convinced that great scientific achievements are created only by people who are in love with their work. Pushkins words are confirmed: Inspiration is needed in geometry, as in poetry. In the topic under discussion, a special place is occupied by the work of Donat Semenovich Sarkisov. Firstly, because of the structure of his mind, he turned out to be especially susceptible to rapidly forthcoming and developing methodological achievements into the theory and practice of medicine of the twentieth century. Electron microscopy, light and electron autoradiography, cyto- and immunochemistry became the technical basis for D.S. Sarkisovs theory of intracellular regeneration. His specialty: pathologist, general pathologist, general morphologist, happily coincided with the variety of scientific and clinical topics of the Institute of Surgery named after A.V. Vishnevsky of the Soviet years. Patriotism, love of science, widespread social activity, and the post of Scientific Secretary of the RAMS contributed to the implementation of the achievements of the mind and heart of Donat Semenovich in the practice of domestic medicine. A unique event in science the discovery (officially recognized) of the law of philosophy, of course, he applied to understand and describe the history of Russia. A lot of heart was spent by the patriot D. S. Sarkisov on this understanding and description!В статье представлены мнения выдающихся отечественных и зарубежных ученых о психологии научного творчества, роли в нем интереса, любви и страсти к предмету исследования. Несмотря на то что далеко не все ученые обсуждают эту тему в своих работах, возникает убеждение, что большие научные достижения создаются только влюбленными в свое дело людьми, подтверждая тем самым слова А.С. Пушкина: Вдохновение нужно в геометрии, как и в поэзии. В обсуждаемой теме особое место занимает творчество Доната Семёновича Саркисова. Во-первых, потому что по складу ума он оказался особенно восприимчивым к быстро возникающим и развивающимся методологическим основам теории и практики медицины ХХ века. Электронная микроскопия, световая и электронная авторадиография, цито- и иммунохимия стали технической основой для создания Д.С. Саркисовым теории внутриклеточной регенерации. Его специальности патологоанатома, общего патолога, морфолога широкого профиля счастливо совпали с разнообразием научно-клинической тематики Института хирургии им. А.В. Вишневского в советский период истории. Патриотизм, влюбленность в науку, широкая общественная активность, пост Ученого секретаря РАМН способствовали внедрению достижений ума и сердца Доната Семёновича в практику отечественной медицины. Уникальное в науке событие открытие официально признанного закона философии он использовал для понимания и описания истории России

Policy Influence in the Russian Federation: Evaluation of advocacy and campaigning on climate change

This evaluation is presented as part of the Effectiveness Review Series 2013/14, randomly selected for review under the policy influence thematic area. This report documents the findings of a qualitative impact evaluation, carried out from March to July 2014. The evaluation used process tracing to assess the effectiveness of the 'Advocacy and campaigning on Climate Change in the Russian Federation' project.The project began as a climate change campaign in the lead up to UNFCCC COP15 (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties) in Copenhagen in 2009. Re-launched in June 2011, the project focused on raising awareness of climate change impacts on food production and expanding the space for civil society activism on these issues in Russia.The evaluation assessed whether the project had effectively contributed to the development of internet community networks in support of climate change and food security issues in Russia; mobilization of activists by the campaign to promote climate change and food security issues amongst the general public; and increasing input from civic organizations and activists into developing governmental policies on climate change and food security issues at national and international levels.Read more about the Oxfam Effectiveness Reviews.

Estimation and Prediction of Grassland Cover in Western Mongolia Using MODIS-Derived Vegetation Indices

Spectral indices derived from satellite observations, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), are widely used for grassland monitoring and management around the globe. In this study we contrasted performance of NDVI and EVI metrics obtained from Aqua and Terra, the two satellite platforms carrying the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor, for estimating grassland cover measured at ground level on ninety-two 1×1 km blocks distributed from semidesert to high montane grasslands in the Sailugem Range of western Mongolia, where overgrazing and overstocking of domestic livestock are concerns for pastureland management. We also explored utility of late spring (May) vegetation indices for forecasting vegetation cover at the peak of the growing season (July). Vegetation indices developed using MODIS 1-km monthly data (MOD13A3 and MYD13A3) were strongly related to on-the-ground field estimates of the percentage of vegetation cover in July (74-85% variation explained), with second-order polynomial regressions demonstrating better fit to the data than first-order regressions, Aqua vegetation indices (VIs) explaining slightly more variance than Terra's VIs, and NDVI performing comparably to EVI for both Aqua and Terra. Both Aqua and Terra VIs for May were highly predictive of July vegetation cover (R2 = 0.80-0.84). We conclude that monthly MODIS NDVI and EVI datasets can be useful for rangeland managers in western Mongolia to monitor and predict summer pasture conditions at the regional level, where sciencebased guidance on grazing policy and practices is much needed. © 2017 The Society for Range Management. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The Rangeland Ecology & Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information

Rangeland vegetation dynamics in the Altai mountain region of Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan and China: effects of climate, topography, and socio-political context for livestock herding practices

Discriminating between climate- and human-induced variation in rangeland quality poses a major challenge for developing policy to sustain herder livelihoods and alleviate herder poverty. We contrasted changes in rangeland vegetation cover across a region—the Altai Mountains of central Asia (China, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia)—that juxtaposes strongly contrasting social, political and economic conditions across a community of herders of shared cultural background (all of Kazakh origin). Our analysis focused on a satellite-derived vegetation index (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index—NDVI) from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer sensor during the period 1982–2013, which included the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990 and heralded a transition away from pervasive state control on herding practices in many parts of the region. Grassland cover increased with decreasing elevation and increasing precipitation. Grassland also decreased under increased livestock density but was largely unresponsive to the dramatic changes that occurred in the sociopolitical context for grazing practices. Average NDVI values and duration of growing season were greater after the Soviet Union’s collapse across the region, trends that precipitation and temperature data indicate were most likely driven by a changing climate. We conclude that rangeland policy development to assure sustainability of herder livelihoods in the Altai Mountain region should focus on climate change adaptation measures rather than modifying herders’ grazing practices

Toward understanding the causes of blood pH irregularities and the roles of newly described binuclear neurons of carotid bodies on blood pH regulation during subarachnoid hemorrhage: Experimental study

Acidosis is the most dangerous complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Although the carotid bodies (CBs) network is essential for pH regulation, neither binuclear neurons (BNN) nor their functions have been mentioned so far in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the crucial roles of mononuclear (MNN) or BNN in CBs on acidosis following SAH. Twenty-five hybrid rabbits were used. Five rabbits were used as a control group, six for sham, and the remaining 14 rabbits were used as the study group by injection of 1 mL of autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna to produce SAH. Normal and degenerated MNN/BNN densities of CBs were counted by stereological methods. The mean blood pH values were: 7.362 +/- 0.041 in the control group; 7.324 +/- 0.064 in sham, 7.272 +/- 0.062 in the SAH group. The degenerated MNN and BNN values were 5 +/- 1/mm(3) and 9 +/- 3/mm(3) in the control group; 15 +/- 5/mm(3) and 22 +/- 6/mm(3) in sham, 965 +/- 113/mm(3) and 1532 +/- 176/mm(3) in the SAH group. Mean pH values were under 7.212 +/- 0.130 in animals with prominent degenerated BNN. The differences between MNN/pH changes were significant between the SAH and control groups (P < 0.005); whereas BNN/pH values were significant between the SAH and sham groups (pH < 0.005), SAH and control (P < 0.0001). BNN degeneration could result in more severe acidosis than MNN following SAH which has not been described so far