Area Of Global Importance Research Articles

Geoheritage of the Precious Opal Bearing Zone in Libanka Mining District (Slovakia) and Its Geotourism and Geoeducation Potential

The northern part of the Slanské Vrchy Mountains, in Slovakia, within the territory of Dubnik Opal Mines, is considered to be the historical source of opal, including the opal known to the Romans. Dubnik precious opal mineralization originating from post-magmatic hydrothermal fluids based on its values should be recognized as an area of global importance. Geological processes that are connected to Neogene volcanic activity took place in the territory of the Dubnik Opal Mines and resulted in the formation of various geological products and processes represented by polymetallic mineral formation, opal formation, antimonite formation, and mineralization of the supergene stage, as well as the stratovolcano rock environment, which are of geoheritage significance. Remnants of intensive mining activity that took place during the past 2000 years provide opportunities for visitors to explore, study, and appreciate this unique geological heritage of international importance. However, geo-interpretation aimed at the general public (the largest group of potential visitors from sustainable geotourism development) and research on (geo)tourism and/or geoheritage for tourism purposes, as discussed in this paper, are lacking.

Seabirds Breeding in Open Nests on the Yamskie Islands (Sea of Okhotsk): Numbers and Distribution

Abstract—The Yamskie Islands archipelago is regarded as a key marine bird area of global importance and since 1982 has been part of the Magadanskii Nature Reserve. The first survey of seabird numbers was conducted there in 1974 by A.G. Velizhanin. So far, his data for the Atykan, Baran, and Khatemalyu islands remain the only available information. On August 3, 2016, full photo surveys of the colonies of seabirds on these islands were carried out. The species list of all three islands includes six seabird species breeding in open nests: the Northern Fulmar, Pelagic Cormorant, Slaty-backed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Common and Thick-billed murres. Breeding of six auklet species in hidden nests and screes was confirmed: the Spectacled Guillemot, Tufted and Horned Puffins, Parakeet Auklet, and Crested and Least Auklets. The total numbers of seabirds nesting on Atykan, Baran, and Khatemalyu islands amount to more than 305 900, 103 500, and 102 000 individuals, respectively. In comparison with the previous counts, the following numerical trends have been noted. Considerable growth in the abundance of the Northern Fulmar on Atykan and Baran islands, the expansion of this species to Khatemalyu Island, and its presently high numbers on this island have been observed. The nesting population of the Black-legged Kittiwake has grown on all islands by more than twice. The abundance of the Pelagic Cormorant, which is the rarest species on the archipelago, has grown on Baran and Khatemalyu islands, which are both located closer to the mainland, with the first nests having already appeared on the most remote Atykan Island. A growing abundance of murres is noted only for Atykan Island. The stable numbers of murres on the small Baran and Khatemalyu islands possibly reflects the maximum saturation of nesting rocks accessible to murres.

Coded aperture optimization in compressive X-ray tomography: a gradient descent approach.

Coded aperture X-ray computed tomography (CT) has the potential to revolutionize X-ray tomography systems in medical imaging and air and rail transit security - both areas of global importance. It allows either a reduced set of measurements in X-ray CT without degradation in image reconstruction, or measure multiplexed X-rays to simplify the sensing geometry. Measurement reduction is of particular interest in medical imaging to reduce radiation, and airport security often imposes practical constraints leading to limited angle geometries. Coded aperture compressive X-ray CT places a coded aperture pattern in front of the X-ray source in order to obtain patterned projections onto a detector. Compressive sensing (CS) reconstruction algorithms are then used to recover the image. To date, the coded illumination patterns used in conventional CT systems have been random. This paper addresses the code optimization problem for general tomography imaging based on the point spread function (PSF) of the system, which is used as a measure of the sensing matrix quality which connects to the restricted isometry property (RIP) and coherence of the sensing matrix. The methods presented are general, simple to use, and can be easily extended to other imaging systems. Simulations are presented where the peak signal to noise ratios (PSNR) of the reconstructed images using optimized coded apertures exhibit significant gain over those attained by random coded apertures. Additionally, results using real X-ray tomography projections are presented.

Biodiversity: Broaden the Search

In their Policy Forum “Protected areas and effective biodiversity conservation” (15 November 2013, p. [803][1]), S. Le Saout et al. have provided a useful analysis to identify protected areas of global importance for the conservation of amphibians, nonmarine mammals, and birds. Indeed, reserve-

Turning the tide against tuberculosis

The history of tuberculosis is one of scientific medical and political failure. Although modern short-course treatment for tuberculosis is among the most effective and inexpensive of treatments for life-threatening diseases tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. When WHO declared tuberculosis a global emergency in 1993 the initial response from the international community was slow and inadequate. However the ensuing resurgence of tuberculosis which continues to kill nearly 2 million people each year the emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and the devastating effect of the HIV epidemic on control programmes in Africa has forced the international community to unite in a more synchronised and effective way. World TB Day is commemorated on March 24 each year and presents an opportunity to review progress in tuberculosis treatment and control the lessons that have been learnt and the challenges remaining in bringing the disease under control. To coincide with World TB Day 2006 we have put together in this issue a series of short essays written by experts from all over the world which analyse areas of global importance and raise awareness of existing research and programmatic developments and needs for the future. (excerpt)