Quantitative Identification Cracks of Heritage Rock Based on Digital Image Technology

Digital image processing technologies are used to extract and evaluate the cracks of heritage rock in this paper. Firstly, the image needs to go through a series of image preprocessing operations such as graying, enhancement, filtering and binaryzation to filter out a large part of the noise. Then, in order to achieve the requirements of accurately extracting the crack area, the image is again divided into the crack area and morphological filtering. After evaluation, the obtained fracture area can provide data support for the restoration and protection of heritage rock. In this paper, the cracks of heritage rock are extracted in three different locations.The results show that the three groups of rock fractures have different effects on the rocks, but they all need to be repaired to maintain the appearance of the heritage rock.

Current State of Natural Conditions and Ecosystems in Pamir-Alay

Research relevance in this article given analyzes the current state of the natural conditions of the Pamir-Alai ecosystem in Kyrgyzstan, where live over 2500 plant species, 20 mammal species and 288 bird species. Research objectives: Studying and preserving the general species diversity are the main conservation tasks. Research materials and methods: This article provides analysis of the current state of the natural conditions of the Pamir-Alai within Kyrgyzstan, where over 2500 species of plants, 20 species of mammals, 288 species of birds live. Research results: It is highlighted that the following species included in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan are present in the Alai fauna: Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), mountain sheep (Ovis ammon), stone marten (Martes foina). Conclusions: Considering the economic, scientific, natural value of flora and fauna, we must find an approach to the conservation, restoration and protection of wildlife.

Recreational Services from Green Space in Beijing: Where Supply and Demand Meet?

Green space, mainly forests, shrubs, and grasslands, provides essential ecosystem services for human well-being. Based on multi-source data and using the Maximum Entropy model and Geographical Information System (GIS) tools, this research comprehensively assesses the supply and demand of recreational services from green space in Beijing. The supply of recreational services in Beijing is influenced by natural and human factors, showing large spatial variability. The supply level of mountainous areas with good natural geographical conditions and intact ecological landscape is significantly higher than that of plain areas with reduced vegetation and overexploitation. Residents have a high demand for recreational services in green space landscape and low demand in non-green space landscape. The quantitative balance pattern of supply and demand varies greatly, and most areas show the state of undersupply. The spatial matching pattern of supply and demand varies significantly too, and the mismatch is apparent. Spatial allocation should be more carefully considered than the aggregated supply and demand. Differentiated development strategies such as ecological reshaping, ecological development, restoration, and protection should be implemented for different areas in the future of planning and management in urban green areas. This will optimize and balance the supply-demand matching pattern for recreational services and promote the effective improvement of ecosystem service functions and residents’ ecological welfare.

Evaluating Natural Ecological Land Change in Function-Oriented Planning Regions Using the National Land Use Survey Data from 2009 to 2018 in China

The natural ecological lands, such as forest land, grassland, wetland, etc., constitute the most important factor for maintaining and preserving the earth’s ecosystem, which must be well concerned in the regional function-oriented planning for the sustainability of human economic development. We analyzed and evaluated the change of natural ecological land in the function-oriented planning regions where we applied the major function-oriented zones introduced as a new concept in China. Using the land-use data from 2009 to 2018 that were produced by the National Land Use Survey, we re-classified natural ecological land types into the forest, grassland, wetland, and bare land, and then addressed the changes of natural ecological land types from 2009 to 2018 in the major function-oriented zones. As a result, the area of natural ecological lands generally tended to decrease from 2009 to 2018, while the decreasing trend of natural ecological land areas was controlled after 2015 with the implementation of governmental policies for environment protection and eco-logical projects. Especially, the decrease of forest land area significantly tended to be zero in 2018 in optimal development zones. The decreased areas of natural ecological lands were mostly converted from artificial land from 2008 to 2019. On the other side, the forest lands mostly changed from cropland and grassland in key development zones, agricultural production zones, and key ecological function zones, due to the fact that grassland conversed in afforestation during this period. The evaluation of natural ecological land changes, which could be implemented by using the annual updates of national land-use data in China, is significant to support the government’s spatial regulation design, to reshape the planned regions, and make policies for environmental restoration and protection management.

The Damage of Ocular Surface Due to Uncontrolled Intraocular Pressure in Neovascular Glaucoma

Neovascular Glaucoma (NVG) is a severe form of glaucoma characterized by neovascularization and the proliferation of fibrovascular tissue in the anterior chamber angle. Patients with NVG generally present with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and may experience severe pain. Ocular surface is affected by high IOP and can lead from moderated to marked conjunctival congestion that is frequently associated with edematous cornea. The aim of the study is to show how the high IOP can affect the ocular surface of the NVG patients and how we can treat and prevent the suffering. Materials and methods: We took in the study a number of 38 eyes from 35 patients with NVG in stage 3 with angle closure glaucoma, that presented high IOP and impaired ocular surface. Results and discussions: The ocular surface was damaged in patients that presented IOP between a minimum of 38 mmHg and maximum of 89 mmHg. The symptoms that patients presented were: conjunctival congestion in particular perikeratic, epithelial and stromal corneal edema, epithelial bubble, corneal ulcerations. Treatment followed rapid drop in IOP and the restoration and protection of ocular surface. The management of neovascular eye with high IOP was medical, laser and surgical. The restoration of ocular surface was made with lubricating hyperosmotic ophthalmic solutions, regenerative and protective agents. In all cases after the treatment was performed the ocular surface was restored. Conclusions: NVG is a very difficult pathology and is very hard to manage. The uncontrolled IOP in NVG patients affect the ocular surface and leads to complications. Long-term maintenance of normal intraocular pressure is important in NVG management but also in protecting the ocular surface.

Pre-Protection Analysis of Unearthed Water-Saturated Lacquered Woodware -- With Lacquered Woodware Unearthed from the Zeng Guo Cemetery of Guojiamiao, Hubei Province as Examples

Wooden lacquerware cultural relics are very characteristic cultural relics in China. Ancient wooden lacquerware excavated underground has relatively intact paint cover, but its bodies are mostly decayed, generally with a moisture content of 100-400%, and in some cases going as high as 700%. Therefore, dehydration and reinforcement of water-saturated bamboo, wood, and lacquer artifacts is the most critical step for restoration and protection. In order to protect the unearthed wooden lacquerware in a targeted manner, it is necessary to conduct a detailed pre-protection analysis of the cultural relics. In 2014 and 2015, the Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology worked with Jingzhou Cultural Relics Conservation Center and many other organizations to respectively carried out a more comprehensive excavation of the Caomenwan and Guojiamiao Cemeteries, and cleared more than 110 tombs. The tomb in question was inscribed on the list of China's Ten Major Archaeological Discoveries in 2014. From the tomb 186 water-saturated pieces of lacquered woodware were unearthed. Due to the biological and microbial corrosion in the buried environment, the lacquered woodware urgently needed protective dehydration. In order to better protect the cultural relics and retain as much of the original information as possible, it is necessary to analyze this batch of lacquered woodware before placing them under protection.

Status of endemic reed-warblers of the Mariana Islands, with emphasis on conservation strategies for the endangered Nightingale Reed-warbler

Summary Insular species, particularly birds, experience high levels of speciation and endemism. Similarly, island birds experience extreme levels of extinction. Based on a 2012 taxonomic assessment, historically there were four reed-warbler species in the Mariana Islands, the Guam Reed-warbler Acrocephalus luscinia (Guam), the Nightingale Reed-warbler Acrocephalus hiwae (Saipan and Alamagan), the Aguijuan Reed-warbler A. nijoi (Aguiguan or Aguijuan), and the Pagan Reed-warbler A. yamashinae (Pagan). Between 2008 and 2010 we surveyed for three of these species on Alamagan, Aguiguan, and Pagan. Our results indicate that reed-warblers are extinct on Aguiguan, likely extinct on Pagan, and only the Nightingale Reed-warbler on Alamagan and Saipan remains. We estimated the global population at between 1,019 and 6,356 birds (95% CI; mean estimate 3,688), which has declined by more than 1,000 birds since the first quantitative surveys were conducted in 1982, i.e. a 24% decline in 28 years. Camp et al. (2009) describe the status of the Nightingale Reed-warbler on Saipan, which has also declined. We estimated the Alamagan population to be between 428 and 1,762 birds in 2010 (mean estimate 946). Thus, the Alamagan population is ~25 % of the global population, and it has declined slightly since 2000. This decline was not significant but is concerning, especially given a similar decline on Saipan. Restoration and protection of tall-stature native and secondary forest could benefit the Alamagan population, as would similar conservation on Saipan that includes wetland habitat. After suitable restoration of forest and wetland habitats on Aguiguan, Guam and Pagan, individuals from Alamagan and Saipan could serve as founder populations. Careful consideration of the extent and habitat preference of individuals translocated to Tinian, where an unknown reed-warbler species previously occurred, is warranted.

Restoration of I. O. Shenderov’s House in Rostov-on-Don

The article reviews the history of I. O. Shenderov’s rental house designed by Rostov-on-Don city architect Nicolay Matveevich Sokolov (1859-1906) and the restoration of the cultural resource of regional significance. The aim of the study is to analyze the measures for restoration and protection of one of the largest rental houses in Rostov-on-Don. As a result, basic methods and techniques were revealed to be used in contemporary restoration of regional architecture of the late XIXth century.