On symbolon and synthēma in the Platonic Theology of Proclus

Many recent studies propose that symbolon and synthēma are synonymous in the writings of Proclus. However, his Platonic Theology contains reliable evidence to put this opinion to doubt. The goal of this research is to determine the meaning of both terms from the contexts of their usage, engaging the textual analysis and the following philosophical reconstruction. As distinguished from a symbol, a synthēma has substantial nature, is stable and remains invariable when is discovered at different levels of the ontological hierarchy. In the Platonic Theology, a symbol is often considered in terms of the hierarchic level, where it appears: in the material world, it is corporeal; among numbers, it is ontologically irrelevant, the intelligible realm contains its proper symbols as well. A significant difference between symbolon and synthēma is related to the dialectics of participation: synthēma in an object keeps it on an unparticipated level, while a symbol implies further participation to a symbolic object. Finally, a synthēma is described as “disseminated,” “planted,” or in any other way hidden in the being; while a symbol is “discovered,” or found in the being, therefore synthēma may be considered an inner kernel of what is discovered as a symbol, and a symbol — as an outward expression of a synthēma. Such understanding of these terms agrees with both exegetical and theurgic contexts in Proclus’ Platonic Theology.

Fractal calculus for analysis of wool fiber: Mathematical insight of its biomechanism

Wool fiber has a complex hierarchic inner structure. However, like most of the natural things, wool fiber does not have an exactly strict self-similar fractal feature. Here, we calculate the fractal dimension of each hierarchic level of wool fiber using the two-scale dimension method. The obtained fractal dimension of wool fiber in different hierarchic level ranges between 1.37 and 1.47, which is close to that obtained according to the traditional fractal geometry. Thermal property of wool fiber is investigated based on the fractal feature of wool fiber. The result shows that the temperature gradient and the rate of the temperature gradient along the fiber is very slow, suggesting that wool fiber has a good thermal retention property.

Rapid action in the Palaeogene, the relationship between phenotypic and taxonomic diversification in Coenozoic mammals

A classic question in evolutionary biology concerns the tempo and mode of lineage evolution. Considered variously in relation to resource utilization, intrinsic constraints or hierarchic level, the question of how evolutionary change occurs in general has continued to draw the attention of the field for over a century and a half. Here we use the largest species-level phylogeny of Coenozoic fossil mammals (1031 species) ever assembled and their body size estimates, to show that body size and taxonomic diversification rates declined from the origin of placentals towards the present, and very probably correlate to each other. These findings suggest that morphological and taxic diversifications of mammals occurred hierarchically, with major shifts in body size coinciding with the birth of large clades, followed by taxonomic diversification within these newly formed clades. As the clades expanded, rates of taxonomic diversification proceeded independently of phenotypic evolution. Such a dynamic is consistent with the idea, central to the Modern Synthesis, that mammals radiated adaptively, with the filling of adaptive zones following the radiation.

ECOLOGICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING OF YAZILI CANYON NATURE PARK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION, TURKEY / EKOLOGINIS TURKIJOS VIDURŽEMIO JŪROS REGIONO YAZILI KANJONO GAMTINIO PARKO ŽEMIŲ KLASIFIKAVIMAS IR KARTOGRAFAVIMAS / ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ КЛАССИФИКАЦИЯ ЗЕМЛИ И КАРТОГРАФИЯ КАНЬОНА УАЗИЛИ ВНАЦИОНАЛЬНОМ ПАРКЕ СРЕДИЗЕМНОМОРСКОГО РЕГИОНА ТУРЦИИ

Distinction of lands corresponding to hierarchical sequences of plant communities means hierarchical classification of ecosystems. In this context, it is essential in determining of effective environmental characteristics at each different hierarchic level of vegetation distinction. Thus, a hierarchical mapping including ecological land units can be provided owing to comparison of same hierarchical level of vegetation classes with the land units marked at the hierarchical level of the map. The study was carried out in order to classify and map hierarchically Yazili Canyon Nature Park situated in the Mediterranean region, Turkey. 107 sample plots were selected. TWINSPAN (the two-way indicator test) was applied in order to divide land into units, and chi-square tests were applied for confirmation of the units. Interspesific correlation analysis was also applied to determine the indicator species at each level of division. As a result, six portions were defined at different hierarchical levels in Yazili Canyon Nature Park. Climatic heterogeneity – which originated from the heterogeneous landscape structure of the canyon – plays an important role in this separation. Santrauka Hierarchinis augalijos pasiskirstymas vietovėje lemia hierarchinę augalijos klasifikaciją. Svarbu nustatyti efektyvias aplinkos apsaugos charakteristikas kiekviename hierarchiniame augalijos lygmenyje. Tyrimas vyko siekiant atlikti hierarchinę ekosistemos klasifikaciją ir sukurti hierarchinį Turkijos Viduržemio jūros regiono Yazili kanjono gamtinio parko žemėlapį. Pasirinkta 107 ploteliai. Skirstant į tam tikrus vienetus, dviem būdais taikytas indikacinis testas (TWINSPAN), vienetai įvertinti pagal chi kvadrato testą. Abipusės koreliacijos būdu kiekviename lygmenyje nustatyta indikacinės rūšys. Pagal tai skirtinguose Yazili kanjono gamtinio parko hierarchiniuose lygiuose apibrėžtos šešios dalys. Skirstymui didelę įtaką turėjo tokio tipo vietovei būdingas klimato heterogeniškumas, kurį lemia kanjonui būdingas aplinkos heterogeniškumas. Резюме Уникальность местности зависит от иерархического распределения растительности или иерархической классификации экосистемы. В этом контексте важно установить эффективные природоохранные характеристики для каждого иерархического уровня растительности. Настоящим исследованием преследовалась цель классифицировать экосистему и создать иерархическую карту каньона Уазили в Национальном парке Средиземноморского регионаТурции. Для этого были выбраны 107 участков. Два способа индикаторного теста TWINSPAN предназначалисьдля распределения по определенным единицам, а тест квадрата chi – для оценки этих единиц. Интерспецифическая корреляция была приспособлена для выявления индикаторных видов на каждом уровне. В результате былиустановлены шесть частей на разных иерархических уровнях каньона Уазили в Национальном парке. Гетерогенность ландшафтного климата, происходящая из характерного для каньона гетерогенного ландшафта, оказываетбольшое влияние на такое распределение.

Crises in Cephalopod Evolution

The 520 million year evolutionary history of the Cephalopoda is punctuated by a number of severe crises during each of which this class came very close to extinction. These are fully documented only for the externally shelled, or ectocochlian, cephalopods to which my remarks are, therefore, restricted. The word crisis should be defined narrowly in the sense in which it is used in medicine, business, and the social sciences: “a condition…. felt to endanger the continuity of the individual or his group “(Webster's Third International Dictionary). Within species, genus, and family groups evolutionary crises are, of course, commonplace, and even orders may disappear without threatening the extinction of an entire class. It is only when all, or almost all, taxa of family-group and lower hierarchic level disappear more or less simultaneously, or within a geologically very short period of time, that we may speak of a crisis, a situation that threatens the very survival of a class, or higher taxon, of organisms. It is the purpose of this presentation to study in some detail this kind of situation as it has affected the evolutionary history of the Cephalopoda.

Excavations at Nohoch Ek, British Honduras

The course of Maya archaeology has been characterized for the most part by an intensive interest in large ceremonial centers, and justifiably so in view of their clearly rich and rewarding content. Yet the nature of these excavations has necessarily restricted knowledge of preconquest developments in this region to a highly hierarchic level, as witnessed by work in such sites as Kaminaljuyu, Copan, Uaxactun, and Piedras Negras. Remarkably little is known of conditions on a less spectacular level, but a recent trend in this direction is evident in the house-mound and population studies by Carnegie at Mayapan and by Gordon Willey in British Honduras. And we hope that Nohoch Ek, about as insignificant as Maya sites of this type come, may help to illustrate the evolution and workings of an obviously minor ceremonial center.