Absolute Height Research Articles

Shoulder balance in patients with Lenke type 1 and 2 idiopathic scoliosis appears satisfactory at 2years following anterior vertebral body tethering of the spine.

Shoulder balance is an important factor for patient satisfaction following surgery for idiopathic scoliosis (IS). There is no literature reporting the effect of anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT) on shoulder balance. The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence of postoperative shoulder imbalance in patients undergoing AVBT for IS. In this retrospective case series, patients enrolled in a multicenter scoliosis registry who underwent AVBT from 2013 to 2017 in two Canadian centers were identified. The primary outcome was shoulder imbalance, defined as an absolute radiographic shoulder height of > 2cm, at 2 years postoperatively (follow-up range: 22-30months). Clavicular angle and T1 tilt angle were also investigated. Of the 50 patients identified (92% female; preoperative age: 11.9 ± 1.4years), there were 43 (86%) patients with Lenke 1 and 7 (14%) patients with Lenke 2 curves. The mean Cobb angles of the proximal thoracic and main thoracic curves were 22.8° ± 8.8° and 49.4° ± 8.5° preoperatively and 13.1° ± 7.5° and 24.9° ± 9.5° at a mean follow-up time of 2.1years. Absolute clavicular angle and T1 tilt angle were 2.8° ± 2.2° and 4.8° ± 3.5° preoperatively and 2.2° ± 1.7° and 4.7° ± 4.2° at 2-year follow-up. Preoperatively, absolute shoulder height averaged 15.6 ± 10.4mm, and 15 (30%) patients had shoulder imbalance. At 2-year follow-up, absolute shoulder height averaged 11.2 ± 8.3mm, and 8 (16%) patients had shoulder imbalance. Of the patients who had acceptable shoulder balance preoperatively, 4 (11.4%) became imbalanced at 2 years postoperatively. Postoperative shoulder imbalance in this early group of patients with IS undergoing AVBT was seen in 16% of patients, a reduction from 30% preoperatively. These results likely reflect the potential of the proximal thoracic curve to correct spontaneously following AVBT. Level III.

Soil texture and other site-level factors differentially affect growth of Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings in the western Pacific Northwest

The invasive shrub Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link) is a pervasive threat to regenerating Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) stands in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Field observations indicate that the susceptibility of areas to Scotch broom invasion and dominance can vary by site. We selected 10 sites throughout the western Pacific Northwest that spanned a gradient of soil textures and other factors to test the site-specific susceptibility of Douglas-fir to overtopping by Scotch broom. We expected to find that the ability of Scotch broom to dominate a site was mediated by site-level factors, particularly those influencing soil water — the most limiting factor to growth in the region. We found Scotch broom and Douglas-fir were inversely affected by site-level factors. In general, Douglas-fir absolute height growth rates were more competitive with those of Scotch broom on fine-textured soils than on more coarsely textured soils. We also found Douglas-fir to have a more dramatic response to increasing down woody material than Scotch broom. Scotch broom height growth approached an asymptote at 3 m. Sites with fast-growing Douglas-fir were able to surpass this height 6–7 years after planting and appear likely to avoid suppression by Scotch broom.

The vegetation cover of the «Aryskannyg» cluster of the «Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina» Reserve (Ubsunur hollow) (the southern slopes of the East Tannu-Ola Mountain Range, Republic of Tyva)

This paper studies the vegetation cover organization of the Aryskannyg cluster of the state natural biosphere reserve Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina. In the course of the work 2 ecological and phytocoenotic profiles were laid and 2 large-scale mapping was carried out. The steppe type of vegetation is mainly represented by different variants of real turf-and-slag steppes: shrubby, petrophytic and dry. The original steppe communities are the resurrection (Selaginella sanguinolenta) and eastern feather grass coenoses (Stipa orientalis). An independent high-altitude belt forms mountain expositional forest-steppes. The forest component consists of grass and rhytidium larch forests, and the daurian rhododendron occupies an active position in the undergrowth. The steppe component consists of thickened mixed-grass-stop-grass meadow, as well as mixed-grass-fine-grained-slag petrophytic steppes. The mountain-taiga belt is represented by communities of larch and cedar formations. The high-altitude belt is dominated by yernik (Betula rotundifolia) and dryad (Dryas oxyodontha) mountain-tundra communities. It is revealed that the territory has a complex vegetation cover, which was formed in the conditions of mountain relief and sharply continental climate, the diversity of plant communities (from dry-steppe to mountain-tundra) is due to the length of the cluster territory in three high-altitude zones and the complex influence of latitudinal and local abiotic factors. The leading factors in the distribution of vegetation are the exposure of the slopes and the absolute height of the terrain.

Forest structure drives changes in light heterogeneity during tropical secondary forest succession.

Light is a key resource for tree performance and hence, tree species partition spatial and temporal gradients in light availability. Although light distribution drives tree performance and species replacement during secondary forest succession, we yet lack understanding how light distribution changes with tropical forest development.This study aims to evaluate how changes in forest structure lead to changes in vertical and horizontal light heterogeneity during tropical forest succession.We described successional patterns in light using a chronosequence approach in which we compared 14 Mexican secondary forest stands that differ in age (8–32 years) since agricultural abandonment. For each stand, we measured vertical light profiles in 16 grid cells, and structural parameters (diameter at breast height, height and crown dimensions) for each tree.During succession, we found a rapid increase in stand size (basal area, crown area and length) and stand differentiation (i.e. a gradual leaf distribution along the forest profile), which leads to fast changes in light conditions and more light heterogeneity. The inflection points of the vertical light gradient (i.e. the absolute height at which 50% relative light intensity is attained) rapidly moved towards higher heights in the first 20 years, indicating that larger amounts of light are intercepted by canopy trees. Light attenuation rate (i.e. the rate of light extinction) decreased during succession due to slower accumulation of the crown area with height. Understorey light intensity and heterogeneity slightly decreased during succession because of an increase in crown size and a decrease in lateral gap frequency. Understorey relative light intensity was 1.56% at 32 years after abandonment.Synthesis. During succession, light conditions changed linearly, which should lead to a continuous and constant replacement of species. Especially in later successional stages, stronger vertical light gradients can limit the regeneration of light‐demanding pioneer species and increase the proportion of shade‐tolerant late‐successional species under the canopy. These changes in light conditions were largely driven by the successional changes in forest structure, as basal area strongly determined the height where most light is absorbed, whereas crown area, and to a lesser extent crown length, determined light distribution.

True-to-size surface mapping with neutral helium atoms

Three-dimensional mapping of microscopic surface structures is important in many applications of technology and research, including areas as diverse as microfluidics, MEMS, and geoscience. However, on the nanoscale, using established techniques for such imaging can be extremely challenging. Scanning helium microscopy is a technique that uses neutral helium atoms as a probe, enabling completely nondestructive imaging. The technique is broadly applicable and ideal for many otherwise difficult-to-image materials, such as insulators, ultrathin nanocoatings, and biological samples. Here we present a method for implementation and operation of a stereo helium microscope, by applying the photometric stereo method of surface reconstruction to helium microscopy. Four detectors around the sample are typically required, but we show how sample rotation can be used to perform stereo reconstruction with a single-detector instrument, or to improve the quality of the reconstructed surface by increasing the number of independent measurements. We examine the quality of the reconstructed surface and show that for low aspect ratio good absolute height is recovered. For features with height/width $\ensuremath{\sim}1$ the shape of the surface is still recovered well (8% error) despite multiple scattering and masking of the helium beam by surface topography. Therefore, it is possible to perform accurate reconstruction of the shape of nanoscale structures with a height to width ratio of at least unity.

Investigating the influence of synoptic circulation patterns on regional dry and moist heat waves in North China

Summer (June–August) heat waves in North China are found to be either primarily dry or moist, based on surface meteorological observations. This study characterizes synoptic circulation patterns (i.e., 500 hPa geopotential height) using the self-organizing map (SOM) method and investigates the influence of synoptic circulation patterns on these two types of heat waves. Results show that regional dry and moist heat waves are associated with different circulation patterns, which significantly modulate the advection of water vapor within the low-level atmosphere, and soil moisture and evaporation conditions at the surface. Regional dry heat waves are associated with times when a continental high pressure ridge is situated to the northwest of North China, and when the northern edge of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) is south of 30° N. Regional moist heat waves are associated with a northward shift of the WNPSH. Long term variations of dry and moist heat wave occurrences correlated significantly with the occurrences of their associated circulation patterns at 0.38 (p = 0.02) and 0.71 (p = 0.00), respectively. On sub-seasonal time scales, the dominant heat wave type transforms from dry in June to moist in late July, which is in accordance with summer north–south WNPSH shifts. In addition, training the SOM with absolute geopotential height results in representative circulation patterns that are closely related to surface heat wave conditions in North China rather than the anomaly field, which mixes different circulation regimes.

Chromospheric Activity of Periodic Variable Stars Based on the LAMOST Low- and Medium-resolution Spectral Survey

Abstract We present a catalog of 75,867 periodic variable stars from data release 7 of the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope. We calculated the chromospheric activity index, equivalent widths for 201,349 spectra, and excess fractional luminosity ( R H α ′ ) for 130,796 spectra. Based on the intensity of the Hα line, we detected 30,719 F-, G-, and K-type variable stars with Hα fill-in or emission and 2521 M-type variable stars exhibiting Hα emission. Furthermore, 14,938 out of 30,573 periodic variable stars showed Hα variability. Analysis of samples with different spectral types confirmed that the activity fraction of stars with later spectral type clearly decreases as the absolute Galactic height increases away from the Galactic plane. The results also show that at the same absolute Galactic height, the activity fractions in eclipsing binaries are higher than those in single stars. In this study, we present the activity–rotation relations for F-, G-, K-, and M-type variable stars. The results of analysis show that rapid rotators keep a saturated value, and the absolute value of the power-law index exhibits an increasing trend from F- to K-type stars in the unsaturated regime. Moreover, we confirm that the angular momentum and magnetic momentum are positively correlated, which indicates that the α–ω dynamo may be working. In addition, we confirmed the correlations among the Hα, Hβ, Hγ, Hδ, Ca ii H&K, and Ca ii infrared triplet lines.

Three-dimensional shape measurement based on speckle-embedded fringe patterns and wrapped phase-to-height lookup table

A three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement method based on speckle-embedded fringe patterns (composite fringe patterns) and wrapped phase-to-height lookup table (LUT) is proposed. As an auxiliary signal, speckle is embedded into the phase domain of the projected fringes, and the wrapped phase and deformed speckle modulated by the objects are demodulated by phase-shifting algorithm. With the assistance of the LUT established in advance, the candidate heights are directly obtained by the wrapped phase. Subsequently, the speckle correlation is used to eliminate the height ambiguity, and then the absolute spatial height of the measured objects can be reconstructed without projecting any additional pattern. In this paper, the cooperation of embedded speckle and LUT allows the speckle to do correlation operation in some certain smaller area of the candidate heights’ location, instead of matching within the whole measurement range, thus it can improve the computational efficiency in the determination of the unique accurate height. Theoretical analysis and experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed method can achieve high-accuracy and robust 3D shape measurement of dynamic and static complex scenes.

Assessment of Terrestrial Laser Scanner against Different Surveying Techniques.( Dept. C)

Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) has become a familiar instrument to be used in wide range of engineering application. It can be used for the rapid capture of accurate and highly detailed 3D point cloud datasets. The advantage of laser scanner is that it can record huge number of points in a short period of time. The main idea in this contribution assesses the accuracy of TLS relative to other traditional surveying instruments. This is done throughout four different case studies. In all case studies the 3D coordinates, obtained using total station (TS) are assumed the reference coordinates. First, a control point network, that consists of nine points, is measured using TS, TLS, and real time kinematic global navigation satellite system (RTK-GPS). The precision of each instrument is investigated considering the standard deviation (SD) of measurements. In addition, the accuracy of TLS and RTK-GPS is investigated considering the measurements RMS. Secondly, a grid levelling for a 30,000m2 ground terrain was performed using TS and TLS. After words, the RMS of TLS measurements is computed and a grid of 5mx5m is generated from both surfaces; formed using TS and TLS measurements. Thirdly, the effect of incidence angle on TLS measurements is assessed by measuring fifty-six points fixed on a building facade using different incident angles. Those points were measured using both TS and TLS, and then the absolute height differences between TS and TLS measurements were calculated to figure out the effect of decreasing the incidence angle on measurements. In the fourth case study, the accuracy of TLS on steep-vertical cut measurements is investigated by surveying a downhill area of 500m2 by both TS and TLS, the RMS of TLS measurements was calculated. Finally, based on the obtained results, it was found that TLS produces a higher vertical accuracy than RTK-GPS in measuring control point networks. The RMS of TLS measurements was about 5cm. Moreover, TLS incidence angle is not preferable to be less than 45 degrees as the accuracy degrades significantly after this value. In steep-vertical cut measurements, TLS obtained RMS almost of 6mm discrepancies with a lower measurement period. Eventually, despite the fact that TLS is more expensive than traditional surveying techniques, it is more beneficial in terms of time and effort saving. In addition, it can figure out acceptable accuracy ranges with more detailed surveyed data.

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.

Pediatric-onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease Has Only a Modest Effect on Final Growth: A Report From the epi-IIRN.

The impact of pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on growth is debated. We aimed to investigate the effect of IBD on anthropometric measures at young adulthood. Children diagnosed with Crohn disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) (2005-2019) were identified in a national database along with matched non-IBD controls. Overall, 2229 IBD cases (68% CD) were matched to 4338 controls. Only females with CD differed in final height from controls (z scores: -0.37 ± 1.09 vs -0.25 ± 1.06, respectively; P = 0.01), corresponding to a mean difference of 0.7 ± 0.2 cm (all females) and 1.2 ± 0.3 cm in females diagnosed <14 years (P = 0.02). Final height was reduced in both sexes according to adjusted mean height difference analysis (-0.43 cm, 95% confidence interval -0.85 to -0.02; P = 0.04). This difference increased in patients with CD who underwent abdominal surgery (-0.91 cm, 95% confidence interval -1.39 to -0.42; P = 0.01). The proportion of patients with CD achieving final height z scores of -1 and zero differed significantly from controls for both males (71.1% and 34.8% vs 79.1% and 43.0%, respectively; P < 0.001) and females (67.7% and 30.4% vs 79.6%, and 43.3%, respectively; P < 0.001). Patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents during growth potential had similar height improvement to other regimens. Predominantly, patients with CD were leaner, with a greater proportion of subjects with underweight, compared with controls. In pediatric-onset IBD, absolute final height was modestly affected by females with CD. Nevertheless, greater proportions of both sexes with early diagnosis of CD failed to achieve normal final height, compared with controls.

Structural complexity shapes the behavior and abundance of a common herbivorous fish, increasing herbivory on a turf-dominated, fringing reef

Coral-dominated reefs typically have abundant refuges and limited resources for herbivores; conversely, algal-dominated reefs have abundant resources but often have limited refuges. This difference results in a trade-off between risk and reward for herbivorous fishes. However, disturbances that kill coral but retain topographic complexity can decouple this tradeoff, challenging this paradigm. Many fringing reefs in Moorea, French Polynesia are algal-dominated with heterogeneous structural complexity likely driven by disturbances associated with crown-of-thorns predation and typhoons, which occurred between 2006 and 2010. Short turfs are a good recruitment surface for coral larvae, and thus has a greater potential to recover to coral dominance than long turfs. To explore how variation in complexity impacts the behavior of herbivorous fishes, we compared abundance, residence time, and time budgets of Acanthurus nigrofuscus, a common herbivore species, in paired high versus low complexity areas. We chose areas in close proximity to maximize the likelihood fish could choose between complexity types. We also measured turf height in high versus low complexity plots. Fish were ~3× more abundant, spent roughly double the time in, and budgeted more than 4× as much time to hiding in high complexity reef areas. Although, on average, individual herbivores spent the same proportion of time foraging in both areas, their greater abundance and longer residence time suggests their local herbivory rates could be 7.5 times higher in high complexity areas. We also found turfs in high complexity plots were roughly 75% the height of turfs in low complexity plots. This provides some evidence for stronger overall herbivory pressure in high complexity areas, albeit differences in absolute turf height were modest (~0.5 mm). Combined, these results suggest reefs that retain structural complexity following disturbance may be more likely to recover due to the higher localized herbivory rates resulting from uncoupling of the tradeoff between structural complexity and resource limitation.

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

BackgroundEvaluating 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsR2 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).ConclusionsHeight 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.

The use of tool flank wear and average roughness in assessing effectiveness of vegetable oils as cutting fluids during turning—a critical review

Vegetable oils have significant potential to replace conventional cutting fluids for green machining due to their lower environmental impact. The effectiveness of these oils when used as cutting fluids has been assessed using several measures, such as tool wear, cutting forces, surface roughness of workpiece, cutting zone temperature, vibration, and chip formation. Among these, the two most commonly investigated parameters in the past are tool flank wear and average surface roughness (Ra). The use of flank wear and average roughness in assessing the effectiveness of the oils as cutting fluids, however, has resulted in confusing and contradicting findings in many of the published literature. One common anomaly found in many of the published works is the improvement in surface roughness in spite of an increase in tool flank wear. This contradiction is mainly due to the poor correlation between the major flank wear and average roughness Ra. Moreover, since Ra is a measure of the average absolute height of the roughness profile, and thus is insensitive to changes in the overall morphology of the surface profile of the workpiece as a result of tool wear, the use of Ra as the sole roughness measure could potentially lead to erroneous conclusions. In this paper, the major issues and anomalies in previously published research are highlighted and discussed critically. More reliable measures of surface finish quality that could be used to assess the effectiveness of vegetable oils as cutting fluids are proposed and demonstrated using simulated and real surfaces produced by finish turning. The cross-correlation method is shown to provide a more reliable means of assessing the deterioration of the surface morphology due to gradual and excessive tool wear compared with Ra.

Landscape structure of the Iya river basin

The article deals the landscape structure of the Iya river basin (left tributary of the Oka river). Landscape analysis was conducted in order to identify landscape-hydrological conditions of flood formation in 2019. Since the available small-scale landscape maps for the study area did not meet the requirement of the scientific issue in detail, a landscape map was compiled at a scale of 1: 500 000. The territory is heterogeneous in its physical and geographical conditions and topographic and humidification features, which resulted in formation of different landscapes and different types of intralandscape differentiation. We used a standard set of data to create the landscape map of the Iya river basin at a scale of 1: 500 000: electronic multi-scale topographic maps, Landsat 7 and 8 satellite images, digital terrain model, slope steepness and exposure maps, small-scale landscape, geobotanical and soil maps. We based on the landscape classification, which was developed for the map “Landscapes of the South of Eastern Siberia”. The landscape diversity of the basin is represented by 39 groups of facies, united in 17 geoms and 4 classes of geoms. The landscapes of the mountainous, foothill-plain and upland-plain parts of the Iya River basin are substantially different in their appearance, characteristics of individual components, and their nature. The area of landscape units increases from southwest to northeast as the absolute height and vertical dissection of the relief decrease, their diversity increases towards the foothill part of the Iya river basin.

Modern exogenous processes in the mountains of Cisbaikalia

Lake Baikal and its shores become attractive for tourists. The growth of tourist flow forces the stakeholders to develop new territories and water areas, create a tourist infrastructure, involve more natural resources, but also concern about safety of tourists. In the ridges of the Baikal region as in most mountainous countries hazardous exogenous processes present a danger to tourists. We studied modern processes and prepared to their mapping in order to identify areas which are subject to one or another exogenous process and intensity of their occurrence at two key areas in the Baikal and Barguzin Ranges. We arranged field expeditions, analyzed remote sensing data of the Earth, used meteorological data, studied geological structures, made morphometric mapping, and took samples for chemical analysis of sediments, mapped plant groups, measured areas, lengths, and depths of relief forms created by exogenous processes. The results obtained led to the creation of large-scale maps of main exogenous processes of relief formation, intensity of their course, length and action mode and to the adjustment of meteorological parameters, absolute heights and slopes, tectonics and ancient glaciation. Our study determined the patterns of exogenous processes, areal, linear, fan-shaped, pointed and diffused. Development of certain types of exogenous processes in the mountains of Cisbaikalia is due to seismic activity, high vertical and horizontal dissection of the relief, and the peculiarities of climatic conditions. Paying attention to them will ensure avoiding catastrophic impact on the recreational development of the mountainous territories of Cisbaikalia.

To the Found of New North Ossetia’s Population of Greek Clouded Yellow (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Colias aurorina&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Herrich-Schäffer, 1850)

Greek Clouded Yellow is a rare and endangered species of butterflies, previously listed and now proposed for listing in the Red Book of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The species is also listed in IUCN Red List and Red Books of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria. Earlier in the republic there were two populations of Greek Clouded Yellow reliably established. During field research in May-July 2021 in the vicinity of the village of Ksurta on the territory of the Sadono-Unalskaya semiarid intermountain depression, a previously unknown habitat of Greek Clouded Yellow was found. It is used the reference practical standard of entomological material’s collecting and registration, of visual observations and images taken with digital cameras. Geographical coordinates and absolute heights were measured by means of the GPS navigator. Determination of butterflies was carried out on external diagnostic signs. The method of relative accounting of butterflies based on records on the route per unit of time was applied. In the period 30.05-03.07.2021, occurrence indicates the multiplicity of the specimens in this habitat. The identified habitat is 2.3 km northwest of the previously known Unal habitat. These lands are used by the local population as pastures for cattle and horses and the slopes were intensively trampled and covered with a dense network of paths. The discovered population gives hope for the preservation of this species in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.

Панцирные клещи (Acariformes, Oribatida) Внутригорного Дагестана (Гунибский район)

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.

Reconciling different methods of high‐latitude blocking detection

AbstractBlocking is associated with outbreaks of easterlies induced by a continuum of features including anticyclones, cyclones or both. Blocking identification methods disagree on the levels of high‐latitude blocking (HLB) activity. We investigate the cause of the disagreement in HLB activity over the Northern Hemisphere obtained by two 2D methods: the PV– index and the Absolute Geopotential Height (AGH) reversal method. Although both classify as absolute field methods, the former yields nearly twice the winter HLB activity of the latter method. We show that this discrepancy is caused by the addition of a poleward criterion in the AGH method that requires strong poleward westerlies. The additional criterion in the AGH method shifts the focus on the detection of blocking ridges and thus other blocking circulation patterns are under‐represented. Both methods agree on the climatology of midlatitude blocking because the poleward criterion has been tuned to capture the strong midlatitude blocking, but the discrepancy grows in high latitudes. HLBs are different because they occur on the northern flank of the westerlies and are associated with the equatorward displacement of the midlatitude jet. HLB anticyclones are weaker and do not induce strong poleward westerlies compared to their midlatitude counterparts. The implementation of a strict poleward criterion designed to identify midlatitude blocks rejects many HLBs. The use of the less strict cut‐off threshold (CT) of 0 m (°lat)−1 in the poleward criterion for latitudes higher than 60°N results in the convergence of climatology, interannual variability and trends of HLB between the two methods, especially during winter. The additional HLBs identified by the modified AGH algorithm develop from cyclonic wave breaking that is typical for oceanic blocking. The modified AGH method can be useful in detecting more robust HLB trends in climate model projections.

ПОДІЛЬСЬКЕ ПРИДНІСТЕР'Я, ЯК МОДЕЛЬНИЙ РЕГІОН ДЛЯ РОЗВИТКУ ЕКСТРЕМАЛЬНОГО ТУРИЗМУ

The purpose of the study – substantiate the possibilities for the development of extreme tourism within the Transnistria of Podillia, taking into account modern socio-economic conditions and the state of natural conditions and resources of the region. Research methodology. Analysis and generalization of available literary and cartographic sources and materials of own field landscape and tourism research using the principles of historicism and natural-anthropogenic combination. Processing, storage and visualization of analytical information by geoinformation methods using Delta software (version 5). Results. It is shown that the development of extreme tourism within the Transnistria of Podillia is facilitated by the «low-mountain» landscape in the structure of which there are deep (up to 200-220 m) canyon-like valleys of the Dniester and its left tributaries, almost «mountainous character» of rivers with waterfalls and numerous rapids, unique climatic conditions and vegetation. The relief and its forms are of particular importance for the development of extreme tourism here: the absolute heights of the surface decrease from north to south from 340 to 100 m, and the depth of incision of canyon-like river valleys from 60 to 220 m. The presence of steep (up to 400) slopes and cliffs up to 20 m high. The nature and landscape of Transnistria of Podillia is everywhere supplemented by numerous historical and architectural monuments, and is also reflected in the numerous and original traditions and customs of the local population. All together, it makes it possible to develop the tourism and recreational sphere, and extreme tourism in its structure, much more actively within the Transnistria of Podillia. Scientific novelty. Its essence is in a complex descriptionof natural and socio-economic conditions of Transnistria of Podillia suitable for the development of various types of extreme tourism, substantiation of their development, identification of priority types of extreme tourism in modern conditions and in the future. various types of extreme tourism, including training for children of middle and senior school age. The Tovtry of Podillia and Murafa are kind of «extreme» rest for elderly, especially a section of the Grand Canyon of the Dniester, the Kremenets and Podillia Mountains, the hollow sections of the channel of the Southern Bug and its tributaries.Their development in order to develop extreme types of tourism requires further detailed recreational and tourist research. Practical significance. The development of such types of extreme tourism as hot air ballooning, delta and paragliding tourism, parachuting, equestrian sports, Bicycle and hiking tourism, rafting tourism in the future, kayaking and jailoo tourism, hunting tourism and water tourism is justified. Territories in the area of the towns of Zalishchyky, Khotyn, Novodnistrovsk towns, as well as villages confined to the Dniester valley (Okopy, Bila, Busha) and its tributaries (Nyrkiv, Zavallia, Zaluchia, Stina) have similar natural and social conditions to this center of aeronautics. The rest of these types of extreme tourism, although developing within the Transnistria of Podillia, but still at a slow pace. Types of limited development include such types of extreme tourism as jail tourism, motorcycle racing in deserted terrain and extreme racing. It is noted that gradually extreme tourism can become a leader in the development of tourism and recreation not only in Transnistria of Podillia but also Podillia in general. This will allow not only to use more rationally public funds and funds of local communities, which are already allocated for the development of certain types of extreme tourism, jailoo tourism, motorcycle racing and extreme racing are classified as limited development but also to streamline their spontaneous manifestation and prevent injuries.