The ultimate publication activity of the Russian authors of the scientific journals

The paper deals with an approach to finding the ultimate number of papers Russian authors deliver to scientific journals. The approach is based on an assessment of the entire audience interested in publications in scientific journals, an assumption that each author personally pursues a research and writes a paper for the scientific journal, as well as an account for the co-authorship indicator, i.e. the involvement of colleagues into the research performed by the author. The research employs data by Rosstat, Higher School of Economics and Scientific Electronic Library to reveal all the authors interested in publication. This indicator is then multiplied by a value of co-authorship. The number of papers the authors publish per year is recommended to be taken as a random value, to be used later as a basis for building a probabilistic distribution of the ultimate number of papers among all authors. The distribution is built by the Monte Carlo method, and the analysis employs the apparatus of the probability theory and linear algebra. The obtained data and data from the Scientific electronic library have been exposed to comparative analysis. The work revealed that for the annual amount of more than one article the distribution of the number of papers received from the Russian audience can be approximated by a normal distribution, with all its parameters depending on maximum annual number of papers, scope of audience and co-authorship indicator. This gives the ultimate number of papers for any section (group of disciplines or a particular discipline). The article considers the examples of obtaining the distribution for the ultimate number of papers. The results can be used for correcting the research policy of an organization or an institute of higher education in the directions of activity being researched, and can serve as a guide to the necessary number of papers in various fields of science.

Global carbon sequestration through continental chemical weathering in a climatic change context

This study simulates carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration in 300 major world river basins (about 70% of global surface area) through carbonates dissolution and silicate hydrolysis. For each river basin, the daily timescale impacts under the RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 climate scenarios were assessed relative to a historical baseline (1969–1999) using a cascade of models accounting for the hydrological evolution under climate change scenarios. Here we show that the global temporal evolution of the CO2 uptake presents a general increase in the annual amount of CO2 consumed from 0.247 ± 0.045 Pg C year−1 to 0.261 and 0.273 ± 0.054 Pg C year−1, respectively for RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5. Despite showing a general increase in the global daily carbon sequestration, both climate scenarios show a decrease between June and August. Such projected changes have been mapped and evaluated against changes in hydrology, identifying hot spots and moments for the annual and seasonal periods.

PLANT POLLINATION CALENDAR AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR OPTIMIZATION OF THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF PATIENTS WITH SENSITIZATION TO PLANT POLLEN ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF THE CRIMEA

Air-aerosol pollen of plants can influence the results of climatotherapy and elimination therapy of respiratory allergic diseases. The diversity of the flora, the poorly studied prevalence and etiology of pollinosis on the Southern coast of the Crimea determine the need for aeropalinological studies of this region to optimize the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with respiratory sensitization. Objective To determine the content of plant pollen in the air, to develop a calendar of palination of plants in the Yalta resort, to identify periods that are potentially unfavorable for the stay of patients with pollen sensitization on the Southern coast of the Crimea. Material and methods Plant pollen in the air was determined gravimetrically. The taxonomic affiliation was identified and the amount of pollen deposited on the glass-traps in the coastal and foothill areas of Yalta city was calculated. The data obtained were averaged over the city as a whole. Results In 2011-2013, 19 pollen taxa were identified in the air of the resort, including 10 with sensitizing properties. Of these, cypress pollen accounted for 49.7% of the average annual amount, deciduous trees with allergenic pollen 4.7%, cereals and weeds 1.6% each. 79.0% of pollen was recorded in spring, 7.7% in summer, 8.6% in autumn, 4.7% in winter. In the air of the coastal area of the city, 2.2 times less pollen was detected than in the air of the foothill. Three waves of plants pollination were revealed: winter-spring pollination of trees and shrubs, late spring pollination of cereals, summer-autumn pollination of weeds. The calendar of pollination of plants of the Yalta resort has been developed. Conclusion The greatest risk of sensitization and exacerbation of respiratory allergies in the Yalta resort is created by cypress pollen in March April. The most favorable for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with respiratory allergies is the coastal area of the resort. The developed plant pollination calendar allows predicting unfavorable aeropalinological periods, optimizing the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with pollen sensitization at the Yalta resort.

Changes and contemporary trends in the annual amounts of precipitation in Serbia

The Republic of Serbia is а continental country located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, in Southeast Europe. In terms of physical characteristics, Serbia is divided into two parts: Pannonian part and mountainous part. The northern part of the country is located in the valley of the Middle Danube, the Sava River valley and the Tisza River valley. In the middle part of the country, the river valleys of the Drina, the Kolubara and the Morava are located. For the purposes of this research, the authors have used the annual precipitation data from 15 meteorological stations distributed throughout the Republic of Serbia. The data from these meteorological stations for the period between 1991 and 2019 has been provided by The Serbian Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. This data has been used to calculate the annual amount of precipitation, and the trends in annual precipitation.

Are We Overdoing It? Changes in Diagnostic Imaging Workload during the Years 2010–2020 including the Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Since the 1990s, there has been a significant increase in the number of imaging examinations as well as a related increase in the healthcare expenditure and the exposure of the population to X-rays. This study aimed to analyze the workload trends in radiology during the last decade, including the impact of COVID-19 in a single university hospital in Poland and to identify possible solutions to the challenges that radiology could face in the future. We compared the annual amount of computed tomography (CT), radiography (X-ray), and ultrasound (US) examinations performed between the years 2010 and 2020 and analyzed the changes in the number of practicing radiologists in Poland. The mean number of patients treated in our hospital was 60,727 per year. During the last decade, the number of CT and US examinations nearly doubled (from 87.4 to 155.7 and from 52.1 to 86.5 per 1000 patients in 2010 and 2020 respectively), while X-ray examinations decreased from 115.1 to 96.9 per 1000 patients. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic did not change the workload trends as more chest examinations were performed. AI, which contributed to the COVID-19 diagnosis, could aid radiologists in the future with the growing workload by increasing the efficiency of radiology departments as well as by potentially minimizing the related costs.

Erosion Dynamics of Cultivated Kelp, Saccharina latissima, and Implications for Environmental Management and Carbon Sequestration

A growing trend of interest for the cultivation of kelp is driven by predictions for high global demands of important commodities, which require the development of alternative supplies of natural resources. In this study the dynamics of loss of biomass from cultivated Saccharina latissima were studied from February to August 2018 at two kelp farms in Northern (69°45.26′N/019°02.18′E) and in Mid-Norway (63°42.28′N/08°52.23′E). Kelp fronds at each farm were individually followed throughout the growing season. Sectional regression was applied for conversion of measured frond lengths to estimated dry weights. The study shows that between 40 and 100% of all individuals in the studied kelp population constantly eroded slightly from their distal ends. However, until June the accumulated loss was only 8% of produced dry weight. Due to dislodgement of whole sporophytes this picture changed in July and August to heavy losses in Mid-Norway. Thus, the overall losses of kelp in terms of accumulated dry weight were only 8–13% of the gross growth until harvest in June in Mid-Norway and August in Northern Norway. Losses increased significantly in Mid-Norway during July and reached 49.4% of the annual production in August. The rates of losses were separated into specific erosion and dislodgement rates. Erosion rates over the whole experimental period for the two sites were not significantly different, while differences in dislodgement rates between farm sites proved to be highly significant. The exported annual amount of carbon was estimated on the basis of lost and measured carbon content in the tissue. From these data a scenario was built for a commercial Norwegian kelp farm growing S. latissima showing a carbon export of 63–88 g C m–2y–1. This is eight times less than has been reported from scenarios for kelp farms in China. This study confirms that optimal timing of harvest is the most important management tool for avoidance of heavy losses from kelp farms. In conclusion, an industry with early harvest will likely have a low carbon export, while a late-harvested bulk production could export four to six times as much carbon with an increased potential for carbon sequestration.

Effect of global climate change on the distribution of Anchomenus dorsalis (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Europe

Shifts in the bioclimatic range of Anchomenus dorsalis – specialized entomophage – were modeled in the MaxEntsoftware package and are presented on habitat maps. For the prediction, we used two climatic scenarios – mild (RCP2.6) and extreme (RCP8.5). Under the considered scenarios, the further warming would lead to shift and extension of the range to the north, northeast and east and decrease in the number of populations in the southern regions of Europe. The most important bioclimatic indicators which describe the geographic distribution of A. dorsalis are mean annual air temperature, mean daily amplitude of temperature for each month, overall amount of precipitations in the coldest quarter of the year, minimum temperature of the coldest month, mean temperature of the warmest quarter of the year, and annual amount of precipitations. Global warming causes the bioclimatic range of A. dorsalis to shift northeast and east in intracontinental territories, and west and northwest on islands. This species of ground beetle is an important object in monitoring of the condition of natural and agrarian ecosystems, sensitive to the growing global climate changes.  Poikilothermic animals may suffer from overheating, and even if they live far in the northern hemisphere, the ability of their organism to withstand increase in the environmental temperature is limited. Mild winters (with higher temperatures) may increase the mortality of A. dorsalis by exhausting their energy reserves.

International Completeness of Death Registration 2015-2019

Death registration completeness, the share of deaths captured by countries' vital registration systems, vary substantially across countries. Estimates of completeness, even recent ones, are outdated or contradictory for many countries. In this short paper, I utilize the annual amount of deaths registered in 139 vital registration systems around the world to provide the most up-to-date estimates of death-registration completeness from 2015 to 2019.

Energy and Environmental Implications of Using Energy-Harvesting Speed Humps in Nablus City, Palestine

Over the last three decades, transportation has become one of the main energy-consuming sectors around the world and, as a result, large amounts of emissions are produced, contributing to global warming, climate change, and health problems. Therefore, huge investments and efforts have been made by governments and international institutions to find new renewable and clean sources of energy. As a contribution to these efforts, this study determined the practical energy and environmental implications of replacing conventional speed humps with energy-harvesting speed humps in Nablus city, Palestine. The study was implemented using an energy-harvesting speed hump (EHSH) system developed in the laboratories at An-Najah National University and based on comprehensive traffic volume counts at all speed humps’ locations. In addition, a traffic volume prediction model was developed in order to determine the implications over the next 10 years. As a result of the study, the expected annual amount of generated energy was determined. Moreover, the expected reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the reduction in the cost of roadway network lighting were determined based on the current and future traffic conditions.

ELECTROMAGNETIC TREATMENT OF SEEDS AS A FACTOR OF THEIR GENETIC POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT

In bio-agricultural technologies are considered additional factors that without chemical stimulants of plant growth by electromagnetic processing of seeds to increase yields from 12% to 30%, reducing the annual amount of applied mineral fertilizer required to produce one ton of grain, with the consistency of water resources for a specific field in a specific agro-ecological environment. The rationale for the inevitable transition to bio-agriculture due to the lack of water for agricultural production in the coming years is given.