The effects of the overriding plate thermal state on the slab dip in an ocean-continent subduction system

To evaluate the effects of variations in the thermal state of the overriding plate on the slab dip in an ocean-continent subduction system, a 2-D finite element thermo-mechanical model was implemented. The lithosphere base was located at the depth of the 1600 K isotherm. Numerical simulations were performed while taking into account four different initial thicknesses for the oceanic lithosphere (60, 80, 95 and 110 km) and five different thicknesses of the overriding plate, as compared in terms of the continental-oceanic plate thickness ratio (100, 120, 140, 160 and 200% of the oceanic lithosphere thickness). The results of numerical modeling indicate that a high variability of the subducting plate geometry occurs for an oceanic lithosphere thickness ranging from 60 to 80 km, while the variability decreases where the oceanic plates are thicker (95 and 110 km). Furthermore, the slab dip strongly depends on the thermal state of the overriding plate, and, in particular, the slab dip decreases with the increase in the upper plate thickness. The model predictions also confirm that a direct correlation between the slab dip and the age of the oceanic lithosphere does not exist, at least for subduction plates thinner that 110 km. These conclusions are supported by the good agreement between the model results and the natural data referring to worldwide ocean-continent subduction zones.Comment: 7 figures, 1 tabl

The TREAT-NMD DMD Global Database: analysis of more than 7,000 Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutations.

Analyzing the type and frequency of patient-specific mutations that give rise to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an invaluable tool for diagnostics, basic scientific research, trial planning, and improved clinical care. Locus-specific databases allow for the collection, organization, storage, and analysis of genetic variants of disease. Here, we describe the development and analysis of the TREAT-NMD DMD Global database (http://umd.be/TREAT_DMD/). We analyzed genetic data for 7,149 DMD mutations held within the database. A total of 5,682 large mutations were observed (80% of total mutations), of which 4,894 (86%) were deletions (1 exon or larger) and 784 (14%) were duplications (1 exon or larger). There were 1,445 small mutations (smaller than 1 exon, 20% of all mutations), of which 358 (25%) were small deletions and 132 (9%) small insertions and 199 (14%) affected the splice sites. Point mutations totalled 756 (52% of small mutations) with 726 (50%) nonsense mutations and 30 (2%) missense mutations. Finally, 22 (0.3%) mid-intronic mutations were observed. In addition, mutations were identified within the database that would potentially benefit from novel genetic therapies for DMD including stop codon read-through therapies (10% of total mutations) and exon skipping therapy (80% of deletions and 55% of total mutations)

Species abundances in experimental units

The data contains the properties of the experimental units examined and the numbers of individuals for all the macrobenthic organisms found within these units upon retrieval in the end of the experiments

Bored to Death: Community-Wide Effect of Predation on a Foundation Species in a Low-Disturbance Arctic Subtidal System

<div><p>The strength of top-down control by consumers is predicted to decrease with latitude, but most data confirming this assumption come from latitudes <60°, while empirical studies of predation in sub-arctic and arctic marine habitats are few. A barnacle <i>Balanus crenatus</i> is a native foundation species in the shallow subtidal of the White Sea (65° N), hosting a diverse (250+ species) assemblage of macrobenthic organisms. On mixed sediments live barnacles share primary substrates (shells and gravel) with numerous empty barnacle tests, 7% of which had drill holes of an unidentified origin. We manipulated the densities of (i) adult muricid whelks <i>Boreotrophon clathratus</i> (of previously unknown feeding habits), to check if they prey on barnacles, (ii) other predators to reveal their effect on juvenile <i>Boreotrophon</i>, and (iii) empty tests to assess the community-wide effect of predation on barnacles. The abundance of drilled empty tests in the field correlated with that of <i>Boreotrophon</i>. A year-long caging experiment clearly confirmed predation, showing the highest barnacle mortality and proportion of drilled tests in whelk enclosures, and the lowest — in predator exclosure treatments. <i>Boreotrophon</i> preferred the barnacles attached to conspecifics to those from primary substrates. Because of its scarcity <i>Boreotrophon</i> had a minor direct effect on barnacle abundance in the field. Yet, initially defaunated empty tests and live barnacles developed markedly different macrobenthic assemblages, suggesting a strong indirect effect of the predation. Juvenile <i>Boreotrophon</i> were 5-6 times less abundant in open and partial cages than in exclosures and enclosures, which indicates that the recruitment and, consequently, the abundance of <i>Boreotrophon</i> and its predation on <i>Balanus</i> are top-down controlled by apex predators. In contrast, in tropical and temperate intertidal the predation on barnacles is stronger and primarily limited by environmental stress and prey availability.</p></div

Plant Part Age and Size Affect Sessile Macrobenthic Assemblages Associated with a Foliose Red Algae <i>Phycodrys rubens</i> in the White Sea

Facilitation by foundation species commonly structures terrestrial and marine communities. Intraspecific variation in individual properties of these strong facilitators can affect the whole suite of the dependent taxa. Marine macroalgae often act as ecosystem engineers, providing shelter and substrate for numerous associated organisms. Epibiosis of foliose red algae, however, remains underexplored, especially in the high latitudes. Here we studied sessile macrobenthic assemblages associated with a foliose red algae Phycodrys rubens in the White Sea (66&#176; N) shallow subtidal, and the effect of individual plant properties on their structure. The blades of P. rubens develop annually, and it is possible to tell the young (usually larger) plant parts from the old ones. We hypothesized that epibenthic community structure depends on plant part age and size. We examined epibiosis on 110 plants at two sites, and the results generally supported our hypotheses. Old plant parts were several times smaller, and had higher total cover than young parts. Sponges strongly dominated the epibiosis on old parts, and young parts were dominated by polychaetes and bryozoans. Plant part surface area negatively correlated with total cover on young parts, while on old parts the relatioship was location-specific. On young parts the relative abundance of a polychaete Circeis armoricana increased with surface area, and the proportion of sponges decreased. The patterns indicate that epibenthic community structure is linked to the demography of an ecosystem engineer

Study of Social and Language Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

One of the main obstacles to full communication and socialization is the impairment of the communication sphere in children with autism spectrum disorder. Competent diagnostics will help to identify at what level of development of social and speech skills the child is and in the future to develop goals and objectives for correctional work. This article discusses the problem of diagnosing the formation of speech and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder, describes the results of a diagnostic study, based on the analysis of the results, formulates conclusions about the level of development of speech and social skills. Analysis of the data obtained showed that the survey participants were insufficiently developed in all categories of skills acquired through VB-MAPP. The least developed were the skills of naming objects, expressing requests, social skills. Based on these results, it can be concluded that children with autism spectrum disorder experience the greatest difficulties in social contacts, such as difficulties in making requests, interacting with people and in the absence of reactions to speech addressed to them. In this regard, difficulties occur in the development of speech skills. The survey showed that all participants in the experiment need an intensive program of correctional work, including work on the development of communication skills, speech understanding; training in cooperation, social and play skills. The research results can be used in the development of individual correctional and pedagogical work on the development of communication skills in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders

Study of Social and Language Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

One of the main obstacles to full communication and socialization is the impairment of the communication sphere in children with autism spectrum disorder. Competent diagnostics will help to identify at what level of development of social and speech skills the child is and in the future to develop goals and objectives for correctional work. This article discusses the problem of diagnosing the formation of speech and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder, describes the results of a diagnostic study, based on the analysis of the results, formulates conclusions about the level of development of speech and social skills. Analysis of the data obtained showed that the survey participants were insufficiently developed in all categories of skills acquired through VB-MAPP. The least developed were the skills of naming objects, expressing requests, social skills. Based on these results, it can be concluded that children with autism spectrum disorder experience the greatest difficulties in social contacts, such as difficulties in making requests, interacting with people and in the absence of reactions to speech addressed to them. In this regard, difficulties occur in the development of speech skills. The survey showed that all participants in the experiment need an intensive program of correctional work, including work on the development of communication skills, speech understanding; training in cooperation, social and play skills. The research results can be used in the development of individual correctional and pedagogical work on the development of communication skills in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders

Contributions of drilled and intact empty tests in total mortality of barnacles in different treatments.

<p>(A) Total mortality of adult barnacles and the proportion of fatally drilled ones. (B) The proportion of drilled empty barnacle tests of total number of empty tests by the end of the experiment. Barnacles with aperture length not less than 5 mm were taken into account. Error bars denote S.E.</p

Weight of predators vs weight of prey consumed.

<p>The relationship of the weight of <i>Boreotrophon clathratus</i> and approximated weight of fatally drilled <i>Balanus crenatus</i> by cage in the field experiment.</p