Hereditary dependence of pigment composition in genus larch needles

The content and ratio of plastid pigments in the conifers of three species of the larch genus (Larix Mill.) were studied: Siberian larch (L. sibirica Ledeb.), Gmelin’s larch (L. Gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.), Sukachev’s larch (L. Sukaczewii Dylis). Their seed progeny is concentrated on a pilot site in the Sergachsky forestry of the Nizhny Novgorod region with geographical coordinates 55°32 ‘14,2” N 45°28’01,0” E and an absolute height of 160 m. The site is assigned to the zone of coniferous-broad-leaved forests (the third forest-growing zone) and is included in the area of coniferous-broad-leaved (mixed) forests of the European part of the Russian Federation. The content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in the needles was determined by spectrophotometric method at wavelengths: 665 nm, 649 nm, 452,5 nm. Samples for research were prepared in accordance with the principle of a single logical difference and randomized sample formation. Phenotypic differences in the pigment composition of needles between representatives of these species were revealed. The pigment composition of Siberian larch is dominated by chlorophyll a (3,76 ± 0,12 mg/g), significantly less chlorophyll b (1,87 ± 0,07 mg/g) and even less carotenoids (0,59 ± 0,02 mg/g). The same is observed in the pigment composition of other larch species. The hereditary conditionality of the species specificity of Siberian larch, Gmelin’s larch and Sukachev’s larch was established for all the tested characteristics. The greatest influence (29,84 ± 1,61 %) on the formation of the total phenotypic dispersion was observed in the ratio of the content of chlorophyll-a to the content of carotenoids, the least (5,89 ± 2,16 %) — in the content of dry matter in the needles. Relatively high values were obtained for the proportion of carotenoids (26,74 ± 1,68 %) and the ratio of their content to the total of chlorophylls (26,39 ± 1,69 %). The studied species showed an unequal level of similarity or significant differences in the individual characteristics of the pigment composition of needles.

GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF THE FOREST LAND OF FOOTHILL AND LOWLAND PARTS OF THE UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF DROHOBYCH DISTRICT, LVIV REGION)

The forest cover of Drohobych district is vectorized with the help of remote sensing of the Earth based on space images QuickBird. The geospatial analysis of forest lands of the foothills and lowlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians has been carried out. It is found that the proportion of forest throughout the region is higher than the average forest cover of Lviv region and more than doubled the average forest cover of Ukraine. Even though the forest cover of Drohobych district is more than optimal indicators for this natural area, forest land is extremely unevenly distributed. A created schematic map of forest resources has shown that the most forested is the mountainous part of the region with the absolute height between 500-1000 m, which decreases in the direction from southwest to northeast. Forest area significantly decreases at the changeover to Drohobych Upland, because of the extension of the boundaries and areas of influence of the Drogobych agglomeration increasing densities of human settlements. In the northeast section of the region, the forest is almost missing due to the significant agricultural development in the plains with a superior absolute height between 250–300 m. For the better analysis of the forest cover of the territory, the geoinformation model of the forest cover of Drohobych district from the perspective of administrative units is created and analyzed. This model allows to classify administrative units according to the proportion of forest land in 6 categories because a considerable variation of indicators is seen in the region. From completely deforested administrative units to rural councils in mountainous areas, where the proportion of forest areas is more than 70%. Administrative units with an insufficient level of reforestation, which are half of all in Drohobych district and with the reforestation level lower than average in Ukraine, are featured. Features of the geospatial distribution of such indicators are noted. It is analyzed that forest cover in urban and rural councils changes from significant in the town council of Boryslav to almost missing forest areas in the rural council of Medenychi. The reasons for such differences between the indicators are identified and the peculiarities of household land development of the territories that belong to urban and rural councils are stated. Key words: forest cover; decryption of ERSD; geoinformation modeling; optimization of natural resources.

A broadband radio study of PSR J0250+5854: the slowest-spinning radio pulsar known

We present radio observations of the most slowly rotating known radio pulsar PSR J0250+5854. With a 23.5 s period, it is close, or even beyond, the P-$\dot{P}$ diagram region thought to be occupied by active pulsars. The simultaneous observations with FAST, the Chilbolton and Effelsberg LOFAR international stations, and NenuFAR represent a five-fold increase in the spectral coverage of this object, with the detections at 1250 MHz (FAST) and 57 MHz (NenuFAR) being the highest- and lowest-frequency published respectively to date. We measure a flux density of 4 ± 2 μJy at 1250 MHz and an exceptionally steep spectral index of $-3.5^{+0.2}_{-1.5}$, with a turnover below ∼95 MHz. In conjunction with observations of this pulsar with the GBT and the LOFAR Core, we show that the intrinsic profile width increases drastically towards higher frequencies, contrary to the predictions of conventional radius-to-frequency mapping. We examine polarimetric data from FAST and the LOFAR Core and conclude that its polar cap radio emission is produced at an absolute height of several hundreds of kilometres around 1.5 GHz, similar to other rotation-powered pulsars across the population. Its beam is significantly underfilled at lower frequencies, or it narrows because of the disappearance of conal outriders. Finally, the results for PSR J0250+5854 and other slowly spinning rotation-powered pulsars are contrasted with the radio-detected magnetars. We conclude that magnetars have intrinsically wider radio beams than the slow rotation-powered pulsars, and that consequently the latter’s lower beaming fraction is what makes objects such as PSR J0250+5854 so scarce.

Suppressed Undergrowth of Siberian Spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) in Early Ontogeny: One-Way Ticket or Survival Strategy?

The study examined the growth characteristics of the Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) under the canopy of coniferous forests in early ontogeny. We revealed that spruce undergrowth in adverse conditions is suppressed, is slow to grow and has xylorhizomes. The result is a significant difference in height, age and stage of ontogeny that affects the forest’s growth dynamics. The formation of xylorhizomes changes the relative dimensions of the above-ground part and the plant’s absolute height from 42 to 75%, depending on age. We identified two periods of growth intensity (slow and stable) and the critical age for spruce undergrowth to move from one stage of ontogeny to the next. If it does not make the transition, it will die. There are two strategies for developing spruce undergrowth: a “direct” path during rapid growth and a “waiting” path when the plants are suppressed. Such growth pathways in the pre-generative stage of the Siberian spruce’s ontogeny allow the undergrowth, even in a suppressed state, to survive in an adverse environment under the forest canopy.

ANALYSIS AND BIAS IMPROVEMENT OF HEIGHT MODELS BASED ON SATELLITE IMAGES

Height models are a fundamental part of the geo-information required for various applications. The determination of height models by aerial photogrammetry, LiDAR or space images is time-consuming and expensive. For height models with large area coverage, UAVs are not economic. The freely available height models ASTER GDEM-3, SRTM, AW3D30 and TDM90 can meet various requirements.With the exception of ASTER-GDEM-3, which cannot compete with the other, the digital surface models SRTM, AW3D30 and TDM90 are analyzed in detail for accuracy and morphology in 4 test sites using LiDAR reference DTMs. The accuracy figures root mean square error, standard deviation, NMAD and LE90 are compared as well as the accuracy dependence on the terrain inclination. The analysis uses a layer for the open areas, excluding forest and settlement areas. Remaining elements that do not belong to a DTM are filtered. Particular attention is paid to systematic errors. The InSAR height models SRTM and TDM90 have some accuracy and morphological restrictions in mountain and settlement areas. Even so, the direct sensor orientation of TDM90 is better than for the other. Optimal results in terms of accuracy and morphology were achieved with AW3D30 corrected by TDM90 for the local absolute height level. This correction reduces the bias and also the tilt of the height models compared to the reference LiDAR DTM.

TanDEM-X PolarDEM 90 m of Antarctica: Generation and error characterization

We present the generation and validation of an updated version of the TanDEM-X Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of Antarctica: the TanDEM-X PolarDEM 90 m of Antarctica. Improvements compared to the global TanDEM-X DEM version include filling of gaps with newer acquisitions, interpolating of smaller voids, smoothing of noisy areas and replacing frozen or open sea areas with geoid undulations. For the latter, a new semi-automatic editing approach allowed the delineation of the coastline from DEM and amplitude data. Finally, the DEM was transformed into the cartographic Antarctic Polar Stereographic projection with a homogeneous metric spacing in northing and easting of 90 meters. As X-Band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) penetrates the snow and ice pack by several meters a new concept for absolute height adjustment was set up that relies on areas with stable penetration conditions and on ICESat (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite) elevations. After DEM generation and editing, a sophisticated height error characterization of the whole Antarctic continent with ICESat and IceBridge data was carried out and a validation over blue ice achieved a mean vertical height error of just −0.3 m ± 2.5 m standard deviation. The filled and edited Antarctic TanDEM-X PolarDEM 90 m is outstanding due to its accuracy, homogeneity and coverage completeness. It is freely available for scientific purposes and provides a high-resolution dataset as basis for polar research, such as ice velocity, mass balance estimation or ortho-rectification.

Efficacy in deceptive vocal exaggeration of human body size

How can deceptive communication signals exist in an evolutionarily stable signalling system? To resolve this age-old honest signalling paradox, researchers must first establish whether deception benefits deceivers. However, while vocal exaggeration is widespread in the animal kingdom and assumably adaptive, its effectiveness in biasing listeners has not been established. Here, we show that human listeners can detect deceptive vocal signals produced by vocalisers who volitionally shift their voice frequencies to exaggerate or attenuate their perceived size. Listeners can also judge the relative heights of cheaters, whose deceptive signals retain reliable acoustic cues to interindividual height. Importantly, although vocal deception biases listeners’ absolute height judgments, listeners recalibrate their height assessments for vocalisers they correctly and concurrently identify as deceptive, particularly men judging men. Thus, while size exaggeration can fool listeners, benefiting the deceiver, its detection can reduce bias and mitigate costs for listeners, underscoring an unremitting arms-race between signallers and receivers in animal communication.

Establishing percentiles for blood pressure based on absolute height for children and adolescents

Background Evaluating blood pressure (BP) is one element for diagnosing and preventing disease in student populations. The objectives of this research were to (a) identify the range of height for measuring BP adjusted for student populations and (b) propose percentiles for evaluating BP based on height. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out with 3,013 students. Weight, height, and diastolic (DBP) and systolic (SBP) blood pressure were evaluated. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Height ranges of 5 and 10 cm were generated. Results R2 values for height ranges of 5 cm consisted of [normotensive: DBP (R2 = 10 to 13%) and SBP (R2 = 14 to 20%), and for hypertensive: DBP (R2 = 0.07 to 15%) and for SBP (R2 = 29 to 32%)]. For height ranges of 10 cm, values included: [normotensive: DBP (R2 = 10 to 15%), and SBP (R2 = 15 to 21%) and for hypertensive: DBP (R2 = 0.07 to 16%) and SBP (R2 = 29 to 35%)]. For 5 cm height ranges, diferences occurred between both sexes for DBP (in 5 height ranges from 123 to 148 cm and 158 to 168 cm) and for the SBP (in 6 height ranges from 128 to 148 cm and from 158 to 168 cm). In the 10 cm categories, diferences appeared in DBP (from 138 to 148 cm) and in the SBP (from 158 to 168 cm). Conclusions Height is a determinant for evaluating blood pressure, and height ranges of 10 cm are more suitable for children and adolescents. The proposed percentiles based on height ranges allowed assessment of the DBP and SBP suggest their use in epidemiological and educational contexts.

SHELL MITES (ACARIFORMES, ORIBATIDA) INTRA-MOUNTAIN DAGESTAN (GUNIB DISTRICT)

Carapace mites are important regulators of the mineralization of organic residues and the immobilization of various biogens in the soil. In the course of the research conducted on the territory of the Gunib district of the Republic of Dagestan, only 89 species of shell mites belonging to 61 genera and 41 families were identified. New data have been obtained that complement the list of species of shell mites in the Caucasus as a whole. Recently described Liacarus (Dorycranosus) musaevi, and two endemics of the Caucasus – Xenillus sculptrus and Suctobelba cornigera – were noted for region. Among other groups of soil microfauna, shell mites occupy a leading position, both in terms of their number and abundance of species. In studies conducted in mountain systems, it was found that the General pattern is a decrease in the number of microarthropods with an increase in absolute height. Very often, the pattern of changes in the taxonomic richness and population density of the microarthropod complex is diamond-shaped, characterized by maxima in the zone with the most favorable microclimate for a large group of species. From top to bottom, the microarthropod population density and taxonomic richness decrease along the mountain profile. As a result of the study, the maximum population density and abundance of oribatid species is observed in the soil of a birch forest and its gradual decrease as it transitions to grasslands, which is explained by changes in the hydrothermal conditions of soil horizons, both due to an increase in height and due to a change in the nature of vegetation to treeless.

Establishing percentiles for blood pressure based on absolute height for children and adolescents

Background: Evaluating blood pressure (BP) is one element for diagnosing and preventing disease in student populations. The objectives of this research were to a) identify the range of height for measuring BP adjusted for student populations and b) propose percentiles for evaluating BP based on height.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 3,013 students. Weight, height, and diastolic (DBP) and systolic (SBP) blood pressure were evaluated. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Height ranges of 5 and 10 cm were generated.Results: R2 values for height ranges of 5 cm consisted of [normotensive: DBP (R2=10 to 13%) and SBP (R2=14 to 20%), and for hypertensive: DBP (R2=0.07 to 15%) and for SBP (R2=29 to 32%)]. For height ranges of 10cm, values included: [normotensive: DBP (R2=10 to 15%), and SBP (R2=15 to 21%) and for hypertensive: DBP (R2= 0.07 to 16%) and SBP (R2=29 to 35%)]. For 5 cm height ranges, diferences occurred between both sexes for DBP (in 5 height ranges from 123 to 148 cm and 158 to 168 cm) and for the SBP (in 6 height ranges from 128 to 148 cm and from 158 to 168 cm). In the 10 cm categories, diferences appeared in DBP (from 138 to 148 cm) and in the SBP (from 158 to 168 cm).Conclusion: Height is a determinant for evaluating blood pressure, and height ranges of 10 cm are more suitable for children and adolescents. The proposed percentiles based on height ranges allowed assessment of the DBP and SBP suggest their use in epidemiological and educational contexts.