Then and Now: Reappraising Freedom of the Seas in Modern Law of the Sea

The principle of freedom of the seas remains the governing paradigm of the high seas in modern law of the sea. Although the principle, as embraced by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC), is no longer an absolute norm, it continues to present fundamental challenges for achieving effective conservation on the high seas as it stands in direct contrast to the conservation duty imposed on states by LOSC. The recent UN General Assembly resolution calling for the adoption of a further Implementing Agreement under LOSC to address conservation on the high seas, highlights the need to build a new ethos for management of the high seas, which will require states to loosen their firm grip on the Grotian doctrine. This article seeks to contribute toward shifting attitudes in relation to the principle of freedom through an examination of the nature and scope of the principle in its historic context and in contemporary law of the sea.     

海南植物区系的多样性

记载海南维管束植物的多样性,表明蕨类植物区系已有古生代和中生代的孑遗,又有白垩纪以来的现代蕨类,它们都存在着许多特有种;裸子植物则以泛热带成分及华夏成分为主;有花植物包括全球植物区系8个植物区的成分,而以热带成分及全球性分布成分最多。最后,文章分析了海南植物区系多样性的地史背景及自然条件的因素。     

海南植物区系的多样性

记载海南维管束植物的多样性,表明蕨类植物区系已有古生代和中生代的孑遗,又有白垩纪以来的现代蕨类,它们都存在着许多特有种;裸子植物则以泛热带成分及华夏成分为主;有花植物包括全球植物区系8个植物区的成分,而以热带成分全球性分布成分最多。最后,文章分析了海南植物区系多样性的地史背景及自然条件的因素。     

Studies on the energy coupling sites of photophosphorylation IV. The relation of proton fluxes to the electron transport and ATP formation associated with Photosystem II

1. By using dibromothymoquinone as the electron acceptor, it is possible to isolate functionally that segment of the chloroplast electron transport chain which includes only Photosystem II and only one of the two energy conservation sites coupled to the complete chain (Coupling Site II, observed P/e₂ = 0.3–0.4). A light-dependent, reversible proton translocation reaction is associated with the electron transport pathway: H₂O → Photosystem II → dibromothymoquinone. We have studied the characteristics of this proton uptake reaction and its relationship to the electron transport and ATP formation associated with Coupling Site II.

2. The initial phase of H⁺ uptake, analyzed by a flash-yield technique, exhibits linear kinetics (0–3 s) with no sign of transient phenomena such as the very rapid initial uptake (“pH gush”) encountered in the overall Hill reaction with methylviologen. Thus the initial rate of H⁺ uptake obtained by the flash-yield method is in good agreement with the initial rate estimated from a pH change tracing obtained under continuous illumination.

3. Dibromothymoquinone reduction, observed as O₂ evolution by a similar flash-yield technique, is also linear for at least the first 5 s, the rate of O₂ evolution agreeing well with the steady-state rate observed under continuous illumination.

4. Such measurements of the initial rates of O₂ evolution and H⁺ uptake yield an H⁺/e⁻ ratio close to 0.5 for the Photosystem II partial reaction regardless of pH from 6 to 8. (Parallel experiments for the methylviologen Hill reaction yield an H⁺/e⁻ ratio of 1.7 at pH 7.6.)

5. When dibromothymoquinone is being reduced, concurrent phosphorylation (or arsenylation) markedly lowers the extent of H⁺ uptake (by 40–60%). These data, unlike earlier data obtained using the overall Hill reaction, lend themselves to an unequivocal interpretation since phosphorylation does not alter the rate of electron transport in the Photosystem II partial reaction. ADP, P_i and hexokinase, when added individually, have no effect on proton uptake in this system.

6. The involvement of a proton uptake reaction with an H⁺/e⁻ ratio of 0.5 in the Photosystem II partial reaction H₂O → Photosystem II → dibromothymoquinone strongly suggests that at least 50% of the protons produced by the oxidation of water are released to the inside of the thylakoid, thereby leading to an internal acidification. It is pointed out that the observed efficiencies for ATP formation (P/e₂) and proton uptake (H⁺/e⁻) associated with Coupling Site II can be most easily explained by the chemiosmotic hypothesis of energy coupling.     

A primer of community ecology using the R language

Community ecology beginners often struggle to understand theories expressed in complex mathematical formulas and to master computer programming. To remedy this situation, this article provides a practical, R-based introduction to community ecology by illustrating core concepts (vital rates, carrying capacity, and density dependence) and models that can be used to explore the patterns of species abundance and diversity. The structure of this article consists of three modeling exercises, each asking a general question that can be answered by a combination of theory and R programming: (1) what determines the abundance of species, and what makes a population persist and go extinct?; (2) what determines the distribution of species and species diversity?; (3) what determines the relative abundance of species and what allows species to coexist? Through the exercises, I discuss the following five concepts and ideas that provide valuable insights into the questions: (i) the tragedy of the commons, (ii) the theory of island biogeography, (iii) competitive exclusion, (iv) the neutral theory of biodiversity, and (v) frequency dependence. These materials are thus designed to guide the reader in developing an intuition for ecological thinking that will help capture the essence of the global environmental and biodiversity crisis. Although this article does not delineate the scope and depth of the vast field of community ecology, I hope that it will motivate the reader to step up to a more formal introduction to community ecology.     

安徽省高校共建共享动物学野外实习基地的初步探讨

动物学野外实习是生命科学本科教学的重要组成部分,承担着培养学生的实践与创新能力的作用。从建立共享实习基地的可行性、选择原则和建设内容三个方面着手,对安徽省高校与区域内的自然保护区、森林公园之间如何共同建设动物学野外实习基地、共享野外实习教学资源进行了初步探讨。     

Vietnam's national interests and the law of the sea

This article explores the relationship between Vietnam's national interests and the international law of the sea. Vietnam's national interests in the marine sphere include defense (the maintenance of a maritime buffer); international relations (enhancing its regional position through joint development and favorable resolution of boundary and fisheries disputes); and economics (stimulating development of its maritime resources). Although ratification of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention would be somewhat disadvantageous to Vietnam's maritime defense strategy, many provisions would promote Vietnam's interests. Moreover, ratification and implementation of the Convention would signal Vietnam's support for international law and its desire to “rejoin”; the community of Southeast Asian nations. It might also encourage resolution of its boundary disputes, thus opening new areas to resource exploration and development by foreign companies.     

Today's Customary International Law of the Sea

International courts and tribunals, governments, and scholars over the past half-century (many in the past two decades) have identified various provisions of the 1958 and 1982 treaties on the law of the sea that are customary international law and thus binding on all states, including those not party to these treaties. This article systematically collects these opinions and identifies provisions that have not yet attracted their attention.     

磁处理白术药液对小白鼠免疫器官指数影响的药效研究

目的 :从免疫学方面探讨磁处理白术药液对小白鼠免疫器官指数影响的药效作用。方法 :用不同强度的磁处理白术药液及非磁处理白术药液对小白鼠进行腹腔注射 ,连续 7d ,每天一次 ,末次给药 1 2h后处死 ,称其体重 ,取出胸腺、脾脏及肝脏 ,称重 ,计算各器官指数。结果 :与正常对照组比较 ,磁处理白术药液组对小白鼠的肝脏指数、脾脏指数均有极显著的提高 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,胸腺指数也有影响 ,但差异不显著 (P>0 .0 5 ) ;与非磁处理药液组比较 ,磁处理药液组对小白鼠的肝脏指数、脾脏指数、胸腺指数有影响 ,但差异不显著 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :磁处理白术药液对免疫器官指数有明显作用     

生态径流评价中的Tennant法应用

Tennant法在生态径流研究中起着重要作用.但是,对于保护河流生命健康与维持生物多样性来说,Tennant法存在着某些不合理之处;在具体应用中又有年均值比和同期均值比之别.鉴于Tennant法在我国应用较为广泛,文中对该方法的合理性及应用中的不同理解进行了探讨和评价.认为:Tennant法在生态径流评价中存在一定局限性;Tennant法的同期均值比相对年均值比合理.     

Biomathematics in Embryogenesis and the Conception of the Phoronomics of the Entropy

The fundamental ideas of the phoronomics of the entropy are developed. There are some important kinematic quantities and three kinematic decompositiones.     

Third Party Intervention in the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf Regarding a Submission Involving a Dispute

The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) was established in accordance with Article 76 of the Law of the Sea Convention. CLCS has the mandate to consider data submitted by coastal states concerning the outer limits of their continental shelf in areas where those limits extend beyond 200 nautical miles and to make recommendations to the submitting state on matters related to the establishment of the limits. For third parties that have actual or potential disputes, unresolved borders, or unresolved land or maritime disputes with the submitting state, the recommendations of the CLCS can be very sensitive. The focus of this article is on the practice of third parties in responding to submissions and how third parties have constructed their Notifications.     

黑河中下游绿洲生态安全评价

生态安全包括自然生态安全、经济生态安全和社会生态安全 ,尤指自然和半自然生态系统的安全 ,即生态系统完整性和健康的整体水平反映。生态安全是维护地区或国家乃至全球的生态环境不受威胁的状态 ,能为整个生态经济系统的持续发展提供生态保障。从水安全、土地安全、经济社会安全出发 ,选取水资源量供需比、地表水质量、地下水埋深和地下水矿化度 4种水安全评价指标 ;土地人口承载度、林地覆盖率、草地载畜度、绿洲面积变化率、绿洲土地沙化率、绿洲土地盐碱化率和抗灾度等 7种土地安全评价指标 ;人均 GDP产值、单位面积农业生产总值、农民人均纯收入、绿洲人口密度、城市化率和文明度等经济社会安全评价指标 ;共计 17项 ,建立了绿洲生态安全评价综合指标体系。然后 ,应用综合评价法、层次分析法和 GIS等多种方法与手段 ,在绿洲尺度上对黑河干流中下游地区的张掖、临泽、高台、鼎新和额济纳 5个绿洲进行绿洲生态安全综合评价。评价结果显示 :自黑河中游至下游 ,各个绿洲的生态安全状况依次降低 ,最下游的额济纳绿洲生态安全仅为 4级的差状态。其中 ,水安全是关键 ,土地安全是载体 ,经济社会安全是保障 ,以上几方面相互关联 ,共同作用导致绿洲的生态安全综合水平。     

A study of the apolar interaction of the enzyme rhodanese with octyl substituted agarose gel

The accessibilities of sites on the surface of the enzyme rhodanese for binding to macromolecular apolarity have been measured for the two forms of the enzyme related to obligatory catalytic intermediates: the free enzyme, E and the sulfur substituted enzyme, ES. This study was done using a micromethod developed for this purpose which allows facile assessment of the apolar binding of proteins to commercially available beads of cross-linked agarose on which hydrophobic groups have been immobilized. The results indicate that the enzyme rhodanese can bind to macromolecular apolarity and that there is considerably more binding of the E form than the ES form. The fact that the binding is relatively slow implicates a protein conformational change in the rate limiting binding step. In fact, there is a large increase in the binding when the temperature is raised from 23° to 40° which correlates with previous results showing a conformational change in rhodanese over the same temperature range. These results in comparison with other solution studies and with x-ray studies are consistent with a model for rhodanese which has an apolar active site and a mechanism for catalysis that includes a conformational change.     

Disputed Areas and the 10-Year Time Frame: A Legal Lacuna?

Where a coastal state intends to delineate, in accordance with Article 76 of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the outer limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, it is to submit scientific and technical data of such proposed limits to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf within 10 years of the entry into force of the Convention for that state. This obligation has subsequently been subject to a general de facto amendment by which the commencement of the 10-year time frame has been postponed to May 13, 1999, for the states for which the Convention had entered into force prior to the above date. This article discusses whether any provision in the Convention, any subsequent agreement, or any subsequent practice render inoperative the 10-year time frame with regard to those parts of the outer continental shelf that are disputed areas. It is concluded that nothing in the Convention, no subsequent agreements, and no subsequent practice allow for derogation of the 10-year time frame with regard to disputed areas.     

A Note on the European Union's Integrated Maritime Policy

This article analyses the characteristics of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as an international decision-making institution in the process of establishing the seaward limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines of the territorial sea under Article 76 of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Commission may be compared to scientific bodies established to give advice relating to the implementation of treaty provisions. However, in the exercise of its functions, the Commission also performs legal-administrative tasks, and its recommendations to individual coastal states entail significant legal effects; for instance, as a means of interpretation under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. The Commission's functions and competencies must be taken into account in classifying and understanding this unique international institution.     

牧民对高寒牧区生态环境的感知——以甘南牧区为例

地处青藏高原的甘南牧区是典型的生态敏感区,牧民作为牧区最主要的经济活动主体与最基本的决策单位,其对生态环境的认识和响应影响着牧区的生态安全.采用参与性农户评估方法(PRA)对甘南牧区的97户牧民家庭进行了调查,并根据分布区域将其分成纯牧区牧户和半农半牧区牧户两组,就牧民的环境意识、对环境变化的感知、对环境变化原因的认识进行比较分析,基于分析结果,提出了相关的政策建议.研究结果表明:研究区牧民对生态环境重要性的认识非常明确,但在生产中却较少真正考虑对生态环境的影响;与20a前相比,85%的牧户认为生态环境有所恶化,纯牧区牧户的感受更为深刻;对于生态环境恶化的原因,超过40%的牧户认为是超载过牧,其次是破坏植被(22.68%)和气候变化(18.56%).两组牧户对于生态环境恶化原因的认识具有一定差别,纯牧区牧户认为主要原因是过度放牧及气候变化,半农半牧区牧户认为是过度放牧与破坏植被、滥垦土地.     

Influence of the Geometry of an Axo-Dendritic Synapse and Its Position on the Dendrite on the Current Recorded from the Neuronal Soma

Using mathematical simulation,we studied the influence of the geometry of an axo-dendritic synapse and its position on the dendrite on the value of the postsynaptic current that arrives at the soma. It was shown that the geometric dimensions of the synaptic cleft and the conductance of postsynaptic receptor-channel complexes determine the value of the current coming into the postsynaptic cell, while the geometry and conductance of the dendrite determine the part of this current arriving at the soma. At a constant conductance of the postsynaptic membrane but with an increase in the diameter of the synaptic contact and a decrease in the width of the synaptic cleft, the current coming into the postsynaptic unit decreases, but the reversal potential for this current under these conditions does not change. Vice versa, influences determined by changes in the geometry and ion conductance of the dendrite membrane are capable not only of decreasing the current injected into the soma but also of changing its reversal potential. The thinner the dendrite and the more distant the location of the synapse from the soma, the more significant such effects. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 101–107, March–April, 2005.     

生川乌中生物碱成分含量随煎煮时间变化的研究

本文研究乌头中生物碱成分的含量随煎煮时间变化的趋势,为考查乌头类中药的毒性,提供定量指标.按不同时间水煎提取样品;分别采用容量法、比色法和薄层扫描法测定总生物碱、双酯性生物碱和乌头碱的含量.生川乌醇水双提总生物碱含量最高,水提样品中以煎煮4 h较高;生川乌醇水双提酯性生物碱含量最高,水提样品中以煎煮2 h为最高,比双提酯性生物碱含量低;生川乌醇水双提乌头碱含量最高,水提样品中以煎煮2h为最高,比双提乌头碱含量低.为乌头类中药的毒性研究提供了详细的参考指标.