Land use and related pressures have reduced local terrestrial biodiversity, but it is unclear how the magnitude of change relates to the recently proposed planetary boundary ("safe limit"). We ...estimate that land use and related pressures have already reduced local biodiversity intactness–the average proportion of natural biodiversity remaining in local ecosystems–beyond its recently proposed planetary boundary across 58.1% of the world's land surface, where 71.4% of the human population live. Biodiversity intactness within most biomes (especially grassland biomes), most biodiversity hotspots, and even some wilderness areas is inferred to be beyond the boundary. Such widespread transgression of safe limits suggests that biodiversity loss, if unchecked, will undermine efforts toward long-term sustainable development.
In this article, based on the developed methodology, the stages of designing two designs of high-performance radio-frequency single-pole single-throw microelectromechanical switches are investigated. ...These radio-frequency microelectromechanical switches are designed to operate at a central resonant frequency of 3.6 GHz and 3.4 GHz, respectively, as well as to work both in mobile communication devices and in the design of the architecture of 5G mobile networks, in particular in arrays of integrated antennas and radio-frequency interface modules. The manufacture and study of two designed structures are researched. For the first manufactured experimental sample in the open state the insertion loss is no more than -0.69 dB and the reflection loss is -28.35 dB, and in the closed state the isolation value is at least -54.77 dB at a central resonant frequency of 3.6 GHz. For the second in the open state the value of the insertion loss is no more than -0.67 dB and the reflection loss is -20.7 dB, and in the closed state the isolation value is not less than -52.13 dB at the central resonant frequency of 3.4 GHz. Both manufactured experimental samples are characterized by high linearity, as well as a small value of contact resistance in the closed state.
In this article, based on the developed methodology, the stages of designing the sensitive element of a microelectromechanical gyroscope with an open-loop structure are considered. This structure is ...intended for use in control units for mobile objects such as robots, mobile trolleys, etc. To quickly obtain a ready-made gyroscope, a specialized integrated circuit (SW6111) was selected, for the use of which the electronic part of the sensitive element of the microelectromechanical gyroscope was developed. The mechanical structure was also taken from a simple design. The simulation of the mathematical model was carried out in the MATLAB/Simulink software environment. The mechanical elements and the entire structure were calculated using finite element modeling with ANSYS MultiPhysics CAD tools. The developed sensitive element of the micromechanical gyroscope was manufactured using bulk micromachining technology-silicon-on-insulator-with a structural layer thickness equal to 50 μm. Experimental studies were carried out using a scanning electron microscope and a contact profilometer. Dynamic characteristics were measured using a Polytec MSA-500 microsystem analyzer. The manufactured structure has low topological deviations. Calculations and experiments showed fairly accurate results for the dynamic characteristics, with an error of less than 3% for the first iteration of the design.
Habitat loss and degradation, driven largely by agricultural expansion and intensification, present the greatest immediate threat to biodiversity. Tropical forests harbour among the highest levels of ...terrestrial species diversity and are likely to experience rapid land-use change in the coming decades. Synthetic analyses of observed responses of species are useful for quantifying how land use affects biodiversity and for predicting outcomes under land-use scenarios. Previous applications of this approach have typically focused on individual taxonomic groups, analysing the average response of the whole community to changes in land use. Here, we incorporate quantitative remotely sensed data about habitats in, to our knowledge, the first worldwide synthetic analysis of how individual species in four major taxonomic groups—invertebrates, ‘herptiles’ (reptiles and amphibians), mammals and birds—respond to multiple human pressures in tropical and sub-tropical forests. We show significant independent impacts of land use, human vegetation offtake, forest cover and human population density on both occurrence and abundance of species, highlighting the value of analysing multiple explanatory variables simultaneously. Responses differ among the four groups considered, and—within birds and mammals—between habitat specialists and habitat generalists and between narrow-ranged and wide-ranged species.
The article outlines the main concept and examples of mathematical models needed to estimate system potential and digitalization performance indicators. Such an estimation differs in that it is ...performed with predictive mathematical models. The purpose of such an estimation is to enable a set of problems of system design and functional design of information technologies to be solved as mathematical problems, predictively and analytically. The hypothesis of the research is that the quality of system functioning in changing conditions can be evaluated analytically, based on predictive mathematical models. We suggested a property of the system potential (or system capability) that describes the effects of the compliance of changing system functioning with changing conditions analytically and predictively. Thus, it describes the performance of the use of information operations to realize functioning in changing conditions. The example includes system’s environment graph-theoretic models and system’s models regarding IT use to react to changing environments. As a result of the suggested models and methods, the quantitative estimation of system potential regarding information technology use becomes possible depending on the parameters and variables of the problems to be solved. Use cases of problems decision with the use of such indicators include choosing optimal information technology implementation and the synthesis of information operation characteristics.
Land use has large effects on the diversity of ecological assemblages. Differences among land uses in the diversity of local assemblages (alpha diversity) have been quantified at a global scale. ...Effects on the turnover of species composition between locations (beta diversity) are less clear, with previous studies focusing on particular regions or groups of species. Using a global database on the composition of ecological assemblages in different land uses, we test for differences in the between-site turnover of species composition, within and among land-use types. Overall, we show a strong impact of land use on assemblage composition. While we find that compositional turnover within land uses does not differ strongly among land uses, human land uses and secondary vegetation in an early stage of recovery are poor at retaining the species that characterise primary vegetation. The dissimilarity of assemblages in human-impacted habitats compared with primary vegetation was more pronounced in the tropical than temperate realm. An exploratory analysis suggests that this geographic difference might be caused primarily by differences in climate seasonality and in the numbers of species sampled. Taken together the results suggest that, while small-scale beta diversity within land uses is not strongly impacted by land-use type, compositional turnover between land uses is substantial. Therefore, land-use change will lead to profound changes in the structure of ecological assemblages.
The article outlines conceptual and corresponding formal models of system functioning. Models provide means for estimation of information operation effects and the operational properties of systems ...and their functioning. Such systems are changed due to information operations. Examples of operational properties are efficiency, the effectiveness of system functioning, system capabilities and system potential. Operational properties are estimated based on functioning effects. Such effects of information operations are manifested through a system functioning under the conditions of a changing environment. An estimation of effects and operational properties is fulfilled analytically. It is made through plotting the dependences of the predicted values of effects and operational properties of information operations and corresponding IT usage against the variables and options of problems solved. To develop this type of model, the use of information operations during system functioning is analyzed through an example of a technological system. General concepts and principles of the modeling of information operations during the operation of such systems are defined. An exemplary modeling of the effects of technological information, and the related technological non-information operations of technological systems operation is provided. Based on concept models of information operations of technological systems, functioning set-theoretical models followed by functional models are introduced. An example of operational properties indicators estimation is considered. It is based on Architecture of Integrated Information Systems (ARIS) diagramming tools’ usage. Use cases of such indicators include choosing optimal information operations characteristics.
This study presents a global analysis of forest cover and forest protection. An updated Global Forest Map (using MODIS2005) provided a current assessment of forest cover within 20 natural forest ...types. This map was overlaid onto WWF realms and ecoregions to gain additional biogeographic information on forest distribution. Using the 2008 World Database on Protected Areas, percentage forest cover protection was calculated globally, within forest types, realms and ecoregions, and within selected areas of global conservation importance. At the 10% tree cover threshold, global forest cover was 39
million
km
2. Of this, 7.7% fell within protected areas under IUCN management categories I–IV. With the inclusion of IUCN categories V and VI, the level of global forest protection increased to 13.5%. Percentage forest protection (IUCN I–IV) varied greatly between realms from 5.5% (Palearctic) to 13.4% (Australasia), and for forest types from 3.2% (temperate freshwater swamp forest) to 28% (temperate broadleaf evergreen forest). Median protection of forest cover in 670 ecoregions (forest above a specified threshold) was 5.9% (IUCN I–IV); at IUCN I–VI, 46% of the ecoregions had less than 10% forest protection. Considering their biodiversity importance, forest protection within global priority areas was insufficient, e.g., median protection of 8.4% in biodiversity hotspots (IUCN I–IV). Results have policy relevance in terms of the target of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), reconfirmed in 2008, to effectively conserve “
at least 10% of each of the world’s forest types”. Regular updates of these analyses would allow progress towards achieving that target to be monitored.
Currently, the technology of microelectromechanical systems is widely used in the development of high-frequency and ultrahigh-frequency devices. The most important requirements for modern and ...advanced devices of the ultra-high-frequency range are the reduction of weight and size characteristics, power consumption with an increase in their functionality, operating frequency and level of integration. Radio frequency microelectromechanical switches are developed using the technology of the manufacture of CMOS-integrated circuits. Integrated radio frequency control circuits require low control voltages, the high ratio of losses to the isolation in the open and closed condition, high performance and reliability. This review is devoted to the analytical approach based on the knowledge of materials, basic performance indices and mechanisms of failure, which can be used in the development of radio-frequency microelectromechanical switches.
Radio-frequency switches manufactured by microelectromechanical systems technology are now widely used in aerospace systems and other mobile installations for various purposes. In these operating ...conditions, these devices are often exposed to intense mechanical environmental influences that have a strong impact on their operation. These negative effects can lead to unwanted short-circuit or open-circuit in the radio-frequency transmission line or to irreversible damage to structural elements. Such a violation in the operation of radio-frequency microelectromechanical switches leads to errors and improper functioning of the electronic equipment in which they are integrated. Thus, this review is devoted to the analysis of the origin of these negative intense mechanical effects of the environment, their classification, and analysis, as well as a review of methods to reduce or prevent their negative impact on the design of radio-frequency microelectromechanical switches.