Reconciling the community with a concept—The uniformitarian principle in the dendro-sciences

The uniformitarian principle is one of the most important foundations of all dendro- and paleo-sciences. Without it, no inferences about the past can be made. However, the use of this principle in our community is not consistent and partially incorrect, with the main confusion relating to the understanding of the “uniformitarian principle” as somehow implying a stable relationship between climate and tree growth. To solve this, we look briefly at the history of the term, show how we teach this principle in our textbooks, give some examples of incorrect applications of this principle in the recent literature and close with a simple, logical and straightforward interpretation of this principle to the dendro-community. Applying the principle of aggregate tree growth we show that instable climate-growth relationships and the “no-analogue problem” are not a violation of the uniformitarian principle, but rather reflect our incomplete understanding of tree growth processes. Simply stated: The “uniformitarian principle” is an a priori assumption of spatial and temporal invariance of law’s describing nature’s processes. Applied to the dendro-sciences it means that the principle of aggregate tree growth is valid in time and space.     

The role of shear forces in arterial branching

A new optimality principle for the branching angles of blood vessels in the cardiovascular system is proposed: the principle of minimum drag. The results are examined in the light of general observations and compared with those obtained from the principles of minimum work and minimum volume. It is shown that in some aspects the new principle is equally consistent with observations, and, in other aspects, it is perhaps more plausible than the other two principles.     

The Principle of Competitive Exception in a Two-Species Community with One Metabolic Regulation Factor

The validity of the competitive exclusion principle (the Gause’s principle) at one metabolic regulation factor is demonstrated for a general model of two-species community. The competitive exclusion principle postulates that a long-term coexistence of species is impossible if their number exceeds the number of density-dependent growth-regulating factors. Previously, this principle was proved for the stationary states in a general model of a community with any number of factors. In the dynamic modes, the number of species in a community may exceed the number of regulating factors. However, under the influence of one factor, only one species survives.     

Morphofunctional changes in the chief cells of the intrinsic glands of the stomach in the presence of an excess of glucocorticoid and sex hormones in the body

In 260 male white rats electron microscopically, cytochemically with biochemical estimation of proteolitic activity of gastric juice, it has been demonstrated that principle cells of the gastric glands, after injection of small doses of hydrocorticone, respond with a complex of adequate ultrastructural, cytochemical and functional changes directed to realization of the drugs stimulating effect. With increasing time of the experiment, or the doses, progressively developing distrophic processes, involving predominantly the protein-synthesizing apparatus and, to a less degree, the mitochondrial mechanism, are observed in the principle cells. This results in inhibition of the pepsinogene synthesis phase and in decreasing proteolytic activity of gastric juice. Reaction of the principle cells is independent on testosterone doses; the protein-synthesizing and mitochondrial (to a less degree) apparatuses develop; the pepsinogene extrusion phase is suppressed; it results in its deposition in cytoplasm and in decreasing proteolytic activity of gastric juice. When testosterone and hydrocortisone are injected simultaneously in small doses, the stimulating effect of hydrocortisone to the principle cells is abolished and at large doses it is sharply manifested and is not accompanied with destructive changes in the principle cells.     

Bergmann's Principle and Deep-Water Gigantism in Marine Crustaceans

We present a review of the Bergmann's principle and deep-water gigantism in marine crustaceans. An increase in the geographic latitude and depth of crustaceans habitat (correlating mainly with lower temperatures) leads to an increased cell size, life span of the animal, and, as a result, an increase in the body size. Since Bergmann's principle and deep-water gigantism appear to be based on the same biological mechanisms, we propose a unified principle, according to which the size of the crustacean's body increases along the temperature gradient.     

Ecology and ethics: relation of religious belief to ecological practice in the Biblical tradition

The Bible, without which Western civilization is inexplicable, has powerful ecological teachings that support an ecological worldview. While these teachings are not widely practised in our time. continuing degradation of ecological systems by humanity requires their re-examination by ecologists and the church. Such re-examination can help develop the mutual understanding necessary for making ethical ecological judgements and putting these teachings into practice in an appropriate manner. Among these teachings are the expectation that people will serve and keep the Creation (earthkeeping principle), that creatures and ecosystems not be relentlessly pressed (sabbath principle), that provisions must be made for the flourishing of the biosphere (fruitfulness principle), that the Earth be filled with biologically diverse and abundant life (fulfilment principle), that pressing the biosphere's absolute limits must be avoided (buffer principle), that people should seek contentment and not selfish gain (contentment principle), that people should seek biospheric integrity rather than self-interest (priority principle) and that people should not fail to act on what they know is right (praxis principle). Ecologists need to recognize and respect these and other biblical ecological teachings and be ready to assist churches in their care and keeping of Creation. And churches must join ecologists in the work of assuring the continued integrity of the biosphere.     

Reflections on the Principle of Non-Cut Off: A Growing Concept in Maritime Boundary Delimitation Law

The application of the principle of non-cut off is a significant tool in maritime delimitation to provide an equitable solution. Unfortunately, scholars and experts have paid scant attention to this principle of maritime delimitation. This article analyzes the growing role of the principle of non-cut off in the law of maritime boundary delimitation and examines the related jurisprudence on the issue.     

农业资源环境评价方法与我国粮食主产区的确定

对我国31个省区的农业资源环境进行了系统辨识分析,运用评价分析结果与31个省区的粮食产量回归分析值进行综合分析,确定出15个粮食生产主产区和16个非粮食主产区,并提出了解决我国农业资源环境恶化的根本方法——以研发主产区与非主产区的农业宏观调控软件为依据,对农业实行WTO框架内的宏观调控。     

Reflecting the importance of human needs fulfilment in absolute sustainability assessments: Development of a sharing principle

Absolute environmental sustainability assessments (AESAs) evaluate whether the environmental impact of a product system is within its share of a safe operating space as determined by biophysical sustainability limits such as the planetary boundaries (PBs). The choice of sharing principle has significant influence on the result of an AESA, and any studies call for further research on how to share the safe operating space in an operational way that relates to the product's contribution to the welfare of the user. In this study, we develop the “Fulfilment of Human Needs” (FHN) principle as a sharing principle that operationalizes sufficientarianism (making sure everyone gets enough). The FHN principle is tested on two case studies (a food item and a textile) against four of the PBs: climate change, land-system change, water use, and nitrogen cycling. The operationalization of the FHN principle is slightly different between the PBs; the starting point for climate change is the average consumption pattern in countries classified as “most sustainable,” while for the other three PBs the status quo impact in the most sustainable countries is used. To operationalize the FHN principle on the product level, each consumption category is downscaled according to objective sources that determine the value delivered to the users. We demonstrate that, compared to other previously applied sharing principles, the FHN principle supports a stronger relation to the importance to the users of the delivered outcome.     

The optimality principle in undulatory swimming]

A comparative analysis of the experimental records of bending waves for various organisms (flagella, fish, dolphin) was performed. To explain the sphenoid shape of a bending wave, a new dynamic principle of optimal organization of wave drivers, the principle of focal optimality, was formulated and substantiated. According to this principle, each region of the body oscillates relative to the top of a wedge "focus" with a shift by about a phase quarter, thus providing a maximum contribution to the total driving force.     

The Ebbeson-Tang formula. Theoretical background of an alternative to the disector in stereologic cell count studies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the formula of Ebbeson and Tang (FET) with respect to the disector (DS) principle. STUDY DESIGN: The DS principle has been proposed for avoiding cell count bias. DS is a slice of tissue, and from it those cells by area are counted in microscopy; the cells are not in contact with one of the surfaces of the slice. The resulting number divided by the thickness of the DS gives an accurate figure for cell number by volume. FET applies two sections of different thickness, usually cut adjacent. Cells seen in the sections are counted by area, the figures are subtracted from each other, and the difference is divided by the difference between the thicknesses of the sections. The result is cell number by volume: NV = (NA1 - NA2)/(t1 - t2). RESULTS: FET and the DS principle superficially appear different. However, from a geometric point of view they are based on the same principle. When the thickness of the thinner section of FET approaches zero, the situation is in all respects equal to the DS principle. The formula for DS can thus be written: NV = (NA1 - NA2)/t1. CONCLUSION: The result proves that in principle DS and FET are equivalent methods of counting cell numbers by volume in tissues. FET may be more easily applied in histopathology practice because visual comparison of the sections is not necessary. Section thickness, however, has to be measured from vertically embedded sections or with scanning laser confocal microscopy. FET shares the stereologically unbiased character of the DS principle and is independent of the size and shape of structures counted.     

Variational principles in evolution

For a one-locus selection model, Svirezhev introduced an integral variational principle by defining a Lagrangian which remained stationary on the trajectory followed by the population undergoing selection. It is shown here (i) that this principle can be extended to multiple loci in some simple cases and (ii) that the Lagrangian is defined by a straightforward generalization of the one-locus case, but (iii) that in two-locus or more general models there is no straightforward extension of this principle if linkage and epistasis are present. The population trajectories can be constructed as trajectories of steepest ascent in a Riemannian metric space. A general method is formulated to find the metric tensor and the surface in the metric space on which the trajectories, which characterize the variations in the gene structure of the population, lie. The local optimality principle holds good in such a space. In the special case when all possible linkage disequilibria are zero, the phase point of then-locus genetic system moves on the surface of the product space ofn higher dimensional unit spheres in a certain Riemannian metric space of gene frequencies so that the rate of change of mean fitness is maximum along the trajectory. In the two-locus case the corresponding surface is a hyper-torus.     

The principle of complementarity in the design of reserve networks to conserve biodiversity: A preliminary history

Explicit, quantitative procedures for identifying biodiversity priority areas are replacing the often ad hoc procedures used in the past to design networks of reserves to conserve biodiversity. This change facilitates more informed choices by policy makers, and thereby makes possible greater satisfaction of conservation goals with increased efficiency. A key feature of these procedures is the use of the principle of complementarity, which ensures that areas chosen for inclusion in a reserve network complement those already selected. This paper sketches the historical development of the principle of complementarity and its applications in practical policy decisions. In the first section a brief account is given of the circumstances out of which concerns for more explicit systematic methods for the assessment of the conservation value of different areas arose. The second section details the emergence of the principle of complementarity in four independent contexts. The third section consists of case studies of the use of the principle of complementarity to make practical policy decisions in Australasia, Africa, and America. In the last section, an assessment is made of the extent to which the principle of complementarity transformed the practice of conservation biology by introducing new standards of rigor and explicitness.     

The sugars in the seeds and seedlings of Pinus Thunbergii

The yerba santa plant, Eriodictyon californicum, contains a substance antagonistic chiefly to gram-positive and acid-fast organisms.The active principle, named eriodin, has been prepared in partially purified form by adsorption on activated bone charcoal.Further work on the active principle is still in progress.     

On hygienic and ecological approaches in radiation protection

In this paper the problem of substantiation of one of the basic radiation protection ensurance principle is considered: sufficiency of a man radiation safety ensuring for guaranteed ensuring of radiation safety of the environment living components. This paradigm formulated in ICRP recommendations and is often referred to as hygienic or anthropocentric approach to environment radiation protection is laid down the basis of all national, including Russian, regulations in the field of radiation safety. During the last 5-10 years a lot of papers have been published, in which the hygienic principle of environmental safety ensuring is considered as a matter of dispute and the certain logical basis and the quantitative comparative estimations of human exposure doses and most irradiated vulnerable parts of nature doses are given. Change of one of the main radiation protection paradigms will demand for resolution of the enormously difficult and labor-consuming scientific problems. In the present paper, on the basis of UNSCEAR models of critical population groups dose formation and consistent application of conservativeness principle it is shown that for the ground ecosystems today there is no strong reasons for refusal of a hygienic radiation protection principle for benefit of ecological one.     

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.     

Some principles of spatial organization in art

Rules of composition in paintings form a rich probe into the principles of perceptual processing that have been discussed for centuries. These principles can be studied by controlled scientific experiments, but an alternative approach is to use the art works themselves as a database for direct analysis. This paper focuses on the analysis of composition in relation to the canvas frame. An underlying principle is the compositional pyramid rising from the bottom of the frame to a center of consciousness high on the midline, which also finds its expression in the configuration of portrait paintings. The analyses presented reveal a dominant positioning principle for one eye in a portrait to lie on the vertical axis with an unbiased accuracy of the order of +/-5%. Analysis of the vertical location shows that the dominant height is at or above the Golden Section level on the vertical axis. In general, the layout of the portrait follows the principle of the compositional pyramid, with a center of consciousness at its apex, but there are many other compositional principles at work in the corpus of portraits in general. Analysis of the portraits of particular artists reveals that special features of their work must be considered in order to identify those that do and do not conform to the eye-centering principle.     

The modelling of the process of image-sequence fixation and reproduction in a projective-associative network made up of excitatory neuron-like elements]

On mathematic model of several interconnected networks of excitatory neurone-like elements realized in the form of program on computer "Nord-100", a study of conditions of fixation and reproduction of symbols (words) succession was conducted. Connections between the receptive (C1 and C2) and associative (A1 and A2) networks were by the principle "one to one", connections between the networks A1 and A2 with reinforcing general activating network (GAN) were by the principle "all with all". Possibility was shown of restoration of images succession fixed in the network on the basis of the principle of chain conditioned reflexes provided a successive change of reinforcing GAN elements by means of the decrease of the threshold of their activation. It was found that contacts transferring the influences of the reinforcing network at learning by the Hebb principle, must either initially exert a subthreshold action or be "unlearning" for the elimination of the process of overexcitation.     

Interaction of the ultrastructures of the central osmoregulation system in the mechanism of axoplasmic flow and transport

An ultrastructural model of axoplasmatic current and transport is proposed based on the principle of countercurrent multiplier system of functioning. Dynamics of histophysiological processes connected with changes in the membrane permeability, transmembrane transport, metabolic pathways and removal of neurosecretion permits following this principle and substantiating morphological ideas of interaction of the neurosecretory system components in the capillary-macroglia-secreting neuron triad.