Fundamental for self-developing processes model and problems of its application to earthquakes prediction in the Far East region

Seismic activation in the period of foreshocks (prior to the mainshock) described by the model of self-developing processes (SDP) is possibly a manifestation of explosive instability of low frequency straining waves in metastable medium. To highlight so nontrivial relationship of continuous wave motions and discrete seismic events flow is a goal of this narrative. Thus, the rationale of the SDP model (the equation, in reality) has been modified, which is of importance in relevance with the article by the Malyshevs in the current issue (A.I. Malyshev, L.K. Malysheva. Precedent-extrapolation estimate of the seismic hazard in the Sakhalin and South Kurils region) which is to improve the seismic hazard estimates by means of this model. A new way to reveal the very beginning of blow-up regime after quasi-stationary one is proposed.

On the genus Ulota (Orthotrichaceae, Bryophyta) in Russia

Specimens of the genus Ulota kept in the bryological herbaria of MW, MHA, LE, NSK, IRK, UUH, VLA and VBGI were revisited basing on the recent taxonomical treatments of the genus in Europe, Asia and North America. Among ten species of the genus previously known from the territory of Russia, U. phyllantha was recently transferred to the new genus, Plenogemma, while Ulota crispa, which has been considered before in the broad sense, was proved to include at least three separate species, U. crispa s. str., U. intermedia and U. crispula; all three species occur in Russia. According to our results, diversity of the genus within North East Asian center (cf. Garilleti et al., 2015) was underestimated. Two new species from the of U. japonica affinity, U. orientalis sp. nov. and U. pacifica sp. nov. are described herein from north Pacific Region (Khabarovsk Territory and South Kurils correspondingly). Thus, at least thirteen taxa of the genus are presently known in Russia; distribution data were significantly corrected for some of them. Key to identification of Ulota species in Russia and adjacent areas is provided; their distribution is discussed and mapped.