Using the NDVI vegetation index to assess the state of forest plantations on disturbed land

Проведено исследование данных спутниковых снимков высокого пространственного разрешения для оценки состояния лесных насаждений на нарушенных землях Свердловской области. Установлено, что применение вегетационного индекса NDVI позволяет успешно идентифицировать древесную растительность, произрастающую на отвалах вскрышных пород. Набор снимков в течение всего анализируемого года позволяет вычислить параметры активности вегетации древесной растительности на нарушенных землях. Объектом исследований являлась древесная растительность естественного происхождения, произрастающая на отвалах вскрышных пород ОАО «Уральский асбестовый горно-обогатительный комбинат». Отвалы формировались в период с 1991 по 1999 гг. На отвале «Восточный» заложены ПП № 1 (25,2 га) на верхней площадке и ПП № 2 (3,9 га) на склоне отвала. На отвале «Северо-Пролетарский» заложены ПП № 3 (4,9 га) на верхней площадке и ПП № 4 (7,8 га) на склоне отвала. Отсутствие травянистой растительности на изучаемых отвалах позволяет точно идентифицировать древесную растительность с помощью вегетационного индекса NDVI. В результате исследований установлено, что степень зарастания древесной растительностью составила от 61,6 до 69,4 % в зависимости от местоположения участка. Среднегодовая интенсивность вегетации лесных насаждений естественного происхождения на отвале «Восточный» характеризуется как средняя на всех высотных уровнях (ПП № 1 NDVI = 0,43; ПП № 2 NDVI = 0,33) а на отвале «Северо-Пролетарский» вегетация оценивается как высокая на склоне (ПП № 3 NDVI = 0,63) и хорошая на верхней площадке (ПП № 4 NDVI = 0,51). С помощью геоинформационных систем составлены карты и отражены зоны вегетации. Доля площади с низкой степенью вегетации (NDVI 0,2–0,3) наибольшая на склоне отвала (ПП № 2 – 38,4 %, ПП № 4 – 37,1 %). Данные о зонах с низкой степенью вегетации позволяют выявить локальные участки, лишенные растительности, для назначения мероприятий по рекультивации и планирования создания насаждений искусственным способом.The data of satellite images of high spatial resolution was studied. The assessment of the state of forest plantations on disturbed lands in the Sverdlovsk region was studied. It was found that the use of the NDVI vegetation index allows us to successfully identify woody vegetation growing on the dumps of mountain quarries. A set of satellite images allows you to calculate the parameters of vegetation activity of woody vegetation on disturbed lands. The object of research was wood vegetation of natural origin growing on the dumps of the Ural asbestos mining and processing plant. The dumps were formed between 1991 and 1999. On the «Vostochnyj» dump, there are laid out inventory plot № 1 (25,2 ha) on the upper platform and inventory plot № 2 (3,9 ha) on the slope of the dump. On the «Severo-Proletarskyj» dump, there are laid out inventory plot № 3 (4,9 ha) on the upper platform and inventory plot № 4 (7,8 ha) on the slope of the dump. The absence of grassy vegetation on the studied dumps allows for accurate identifi cation of woody vegetation using the NDVI vegetation index. As a result of research, it was found that the degree of overgrowth of woody vegetation ranged from 61,6 to 69,4 %, depending on the location of the site. The average annual vegetation intensity of forest stands of natural origin on the overburden dumps on the «Vostochnyj» dump is characterized as average at all high-altitude levels (inventory plot № 1 NDVI = 0,43; inventory plot № 2 NDVI = 0,33) and on the «Severo-Proletarskyj» dump vegetation is estimated as high on the slope (inventory plot № 3 NDVI = 0,63) and good on the upper platform (inventory plot № 4 NDVI = 0,51). With the help of geographic information systems maps have been drawn and refl ected areas of vegetation. The share of the area with a low degree of vegetation (NDVI 0,2–0,3) is highest on the slope of the dump (inventory plot № 2–38,4 %, inventory plot № 4–37,1 %). Data on areas with a low degree of vegetation allows you to identify local areas that are devoid of vegetation for the purpose of reclamation activities and planning the creation of artifi cial plantings

Stability of Negative Image Equilibria in Spike-Timing Dependent Plasticity

We investigate the stability of negative image equilibria in mean synaptic weight dynamics governed by spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP). The neural architecture of the model is based on the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) of mormyrid electric fish, which forms a negative image of the reafferent signal from the fish's own electric discharge to optimize detection of external electric fields. We derive a necessary and sufficient condition for stability, for arbitrary postsynaptic potential functions and arbitrary learning rules. We then apply the general result to several examples of biological interest.Comment: 13 pages, revtex4; uses packages: graphicx, subfigure; 9 figures, 16 subfigure

Potent E. coli M‑17 Growth Inhibition by Ultrasonically Complexed Acetylsalicylic Acid−ZnO−Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles

A single-step ultrasonic method (20 kHz) is demonstrated for the complexation of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)−ZnO− graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles with an average size of <70 nm in aqueous solution. ASA−ZnO−GO more e ffi ciently inhibits the growth of probiotic Escherichia coli strain M-17 and exhibits enhanced antioxidant properties than free ASA and ASA−ZnO in neutralization of hydroxyl radicals in the electro-Fenton process. This improved function of ASA in the ASA −ZnO GO can be attributed to the well-de fi ned cone-shaped morphology, the surface structure containing hydroxyl and carboxylate groups of ZnO−GO nanoparticles, which facilitated the complexation with ASA

Photoactive Properties of Transport Sol-Gel Layers Based on Strontium Titanate for Perovskite Solar Cells

In this work, we have investigated the photocurrent and spectral sensitivity of the silicon/SrTiO3:xNb/perovskite structures. The sol–gel method carried out the deposition of undoped SrTiO3 layers as well as niobium-doped (SrTiO3:Nb) layers at atomic concentrations of 3 and 6% Nb. The perovskite layer, CH3NH3PbI3_xClx, has been deposited by the vacuum co-evaporation technique. The layers have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. The volt–ampere characteristics and spectral sensitivity of the fabricated samples have been measured under illumination with selective wavelengths of 405, 450, 520, 660, 780, 808, 905, 980, and 1064 nm of laser diodes. We have shown that for different configurations of applied voltage between silicon, SrTiO3:xNb, and CH3NH3PbI3_xClx, the structures are photosensitive ones with a variation of photocurrent from microamperes to milliamperes depending on Nb concentration in SrTiO3, and the highest photocurrent and spectral sensitivity values are observed when a SrTiO3:Nb layer with 3 at.% of Nb is used. A possible application of the proposed structure with a SrTiO3:Nb layer for perovskite solar cells and photodetectors is being discussed

Network 'small-world-ness': a quantitative method for determining canonical network equivalence

Background: Many technological, biological, social, and information networks fall into the broad class of 'small-world' networks: they have tightly interconnected clusters of nodes, and a shortest mean path length that is similar to a matched random graph (same number of nodes and edges). This semi-quantitative definition leads to a categorical distinction ('small/not-small') rather than a quantitative, continuous grading of networks, and can lead to uncertainty about a network's small-world status. Moreover, systems described by small-world networks are often studied using an equivalent canonical network model-the Watts-Strogatz (WS) model. However, the process of establishing an equivalent WS model is imprecise and there is a pressing need to discover ways in which this equivalence may be quantified. Methodology/Principal Findings: We defined a precise measure of 'small-world-ness' S based on the trade off between high local clustering and short path length. A network is now deemed a 'small-world' if S. 1-an assertion which may be tested statistically. We then examined the behavior of S on a large data-set of real-world systems. We found that all these systems were linked by a linear relationship between their S values and the network size n. Moreover, we show a method for assigning a unique Watts-Strogatz (WS) model to any real-world network, and show analytically that the WS models associated with our sample of networks also show linearity between S and n. Linearity between S and n is not, however, inevitable, and neither is S maximal for an arbitrary network of given size. Linearity may, however, be explained by a common limiting growth process. Conclusions/Significance: We have shown how the notion of a small-world network may be quantified. Several key properties of the metric are described and the use of WS canonical models is placed on a more secure footing

Fabrication and simulation of silver nanostructures on different types of porous silicon for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

In this paper, we propose a systematic approach to controllably fabricate silver nanoparticles, dendrites and nanovoids on porous template based on silicon and two-step wet process. Geometry of metallic structures was managed by variation of dopant type of silicon, regimes of template formation and deposition of silver. General models of each structure were developed and studied for distribution and strength of electric field arising in them under 473, 633 and 785 nm laser excitation. Simulation results revealed reasons of variable activity of the fabricated structures in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, which allowed to define optimal conditions of analysis of target molecules

Dynamical principles in neuroscience

Dynamical modeling of neural systems and brain functions has a history of success over the last half century. This includes, for example, the explanation and prediction of some features of neural rhythmic behaviors. Many interesting dynamical models of learning and memory based on physiological experiments have been suggested over the last two decades. Dynamical models even of consciousness now exist. Usually these models and results are based on traditional approaches and paradigms of nonlinear dynamics including dynamical chaos. Neural systems are, however, an unusual subject for nonlinear dynamics for several reasons: (i) Even the simplest neural network, with only a few neurons and synaptic connections, has an enormous number of variables and control parameters. These make neural systems adaptive and flexible, and are critical to their biological function. (ii) In contrast to traditional physical systems described by well-known basic principles, first principles governing the dynamics of neural systems are unknown. (iii) Many different neural systems exhibit similar dynamics despite having different architectures and different levels of complexity. (iv) The network architecture and connection strengths are usually not known in detail and therefore the dynamical analysis must, in some sense, be probabilistic. (v) Since nervous systems are able to organize behavior based on sensory inputs, the dynamical modeling of these systems has to explain the transformation of temporal information into combinatorial or combinatorial-temporal codes, and vice versa, for memory and recognition. In this review these problems are discussed in the context of addressing the stimulating questions: What can neuroscience learn from nonlinear dynamics, and what can nonlinear dynamics learn from neuroscience?This work was supported by NSF Grant No. NSF/EIA-0130708, and Grant No. PHY 0414174; NIH Grant No. 1 R01 NS50945 and Grant No. NS40110; MEC BFI2003-07276, and Fundación BBVA

Научно-теоретическое обоснование системы совершенствования селекционно-племенной работы в молочном скотоводстве Новосибирской области

In the article, the authors presented the main achievements and problems of developing dairy cattle breeding associated with selection and breeding work in the Novosibirsk region. It is necessary to solve the following tasks step by step for the purpose of the sustainable, progressive development of the industry and improvement of selection and breeding work with dairy cattle in the region: the creation of a regional/regional council for breeding work; organization of the Novosibirsk tribal union of dairy industry enterprises; formation of an assistant service based on the Novosibirsk State Agrarian University (NSAU) in cooperation with the Siberian Federal Scientific Center for Agrobiotechnologies of the Russian academy of sciences and JSC Novosibirskagroplem (RSIC – Regional Selection and Information Center); formation of a unified global database of breeding resources of the Siberian Federal District (SFD), the central regions of the Russian Federation, member countries of the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) using foreign data sources; development and implementation of an information and analytical system that allows you to automate selection and breeding work at the level of the economy, region, country/countries; automating the process of phenotyping of dairy cattle and improving the quality of the work of assessors (classifiers) of the exterior. The implementation of the tasks outlined will contribute to the consolidation of approaches at the regional level. It will lead to an increase in the quality of primary zootechnical accounting, which, in turn, will allow the assessment of the genetic potential of dairy cattle productivity, taking into account regional specifics, with high accuracy. It is expected that the result of such activities will be the development of appropriate domestic software tools for gaining technological sovereignty and ensuring the food security of the region and the country.Освещены основные достижения и проблемы развития молочного скотоводства, связанные с развитием селекционно-племенной работы в Новосибирской области. С целью устойчивого, поступательного развития отрасли и совершенствования селекционно-племенной работы с молочным скотом в регионе следует поэтапно решить следующие задачи: создание областного/регионального совета по племенной работе; организация Новосибирского племенного союза предприятий молочной отрасли; образование ассистентской службы на базе Новосибирского ГАУ в сотрудничестве с СФНЦА РАН и АО «Новосибирскагроплем» (РИСЦ); формирование единой глобальной базы данных племенных ресурсов СФО, центральных регионов РФ, стран-членов ЕАЭС с использованием зарубежных источников данных; разработка и внедрение информационно-аналитической системы, позволяющей автоматизировать селекционно-племенную работу на уровне хозяйства, региона, страны/стран; автоматизация процесса фенотипирования молочного скота и повышение качества работы оценщиков (классификаторов) экстерьера. Выполнение обозначенных задач будет способствовать консолидации подходов на областном уровне и приведёт к повышению качества первичного зоотехнического учёта, что, в свою очередь, позволит осуществлять оценку генетического потенциала скота молочного направления продуктивности с учётом региональной специфики с высокой точностью. Ожидается, что результатом такой деятельности станет разработка соответствующих отечественных программных инструментов для обретения технологического суверенитета и обеспечения продовольственной безопасности региона и страны

An optical screen for light guiding in the vertical direction

Display devices with light guiding in the vertical direction with respect to the screen surface could be used for information security. Also the vertical light guiding could be used for interchip optical interconnects. We have developed the optical screen based on macroporous alumina or macroporous silicon membrane which can provide the light propagation in the vertical direction while the other directions are prohibited

Достоверность данных первичного зоотехнического учёта в молочном скотоводстве

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the primary databases of zootechnical records in western Siberia. The object of the study was the records on milk productivity (milk yield during the whole lactation, milk fat content, milk protein content, amount of milk fat, amount of milk protein), duration of lactation (service period, dry period, inter-breeding period), age of the first fruitful insemination and information on the origin of 20,000 Holstein cows. The validity of the raw data was assessed by assuming a Gaussian distribution without significant human influence. For this purpose, the Anderson-Darling test and corresponding visualization using histograms and quantile-quantile plots were applied. The list of traits of milk production was based on the values of the Anderson-Darling criterion. The authors found that the highest levels of this criterion were correlated with milk fat and protein. And the indicator «milk yield» was practically absent from the list of traits of dairy productivity. These results can be explained by the fact that in most enterprises, the value of milk yield was higher than the appraisal threshold values. An analysis of the genealogical trees of the studied breeding enterprises was carried out, along with the use of statistical criteria. This analysis revealed the inappropriate assignment of several dozen of offspring to a single mother. Thus, the presented approach can be used to identify outliers associated with human factors. And it can also be related to improper methodological support of the sampling process and errors in the work of the laboratories of selective milk quality control associated with the sampling and delivery of samples.Целью настоящей работы является оценка баз данных первичного зоотехнического учёта в Западной Сибири. Объектом исследований были записи о молочной продуктивности (удой за всю лактацию, содержание жира в молоке, содержание белка в молоке, количество молочного жира, количество молочного белка), длительности лактации (сервис-период, сухостойный период, межотельный период), возраст первого плодотворного осеменения и сведения о происхождении 20000 коров голштинской породы. Оценку достоверности исходных данных осуществляли исходя из предположения о гауссовом распределении при отсутствии значимого влияния человеческого фактора. С этой целью применяли критерий Андерсона-Дарлинга и соответствующую визуализацию с использованием гистограмм и графиков квантиль–квантиль. Список признаков молочной продуктивности был составлен исходя из значений критерия Андерсона–Дарлинга. Установлено, что самые высокие уровни данного критерия соотносились с такими показателями, как молочный жир и белок, тогда как удой практически отсутствовал в перечне признаков молочной продуктивности. Это объясняется тем, что у животных большинства предприятий величина удоя была выше пороговых значений бонитировки. Наряду с использованием статистических критериев, проведен анализ генеалогических деревьев исследуемых племенных предприятий, который позволил выявить неправомерное отнесение нескольких десятков потомков к одной матери. Таким образом, представленный подход может быть использован для выявления выбросов, сопряженных с человеческим фактором, неправильным методическим обеспечением процесса отбора проб и ошибками в работе лабораторий селекционного контроля качества молока, связанными с отбором проб и их доставкой