Crustal and upper mantle structures in oceanic regions

Bathymetric data from the North Atlantic and other oceans reveal that, in addition to the well-documented variations of structure which occur at right angles to the ocean ridge crests, variations of structure also exist parallel to the strikes of the ridges. A thermal model of sea-floor spreading, together with data concerning possible mineralogical phase changes, is used to generate synthetic ocean ridge topography. Comparison of this with observed bathymetric data indicates that a peridotitic composition including water is favoured for at least the top half of the lithosphere, and allows a picture of the variations of structure in the upper mantle to be built up. It is found that lateral inhomogenities in mantle temperatures are able to explain both the variation of ocean ridge dimensions and the uplift of different parts of the ocean basins relative to sea level which are evidenced by observed data. An empirical relationship between the calculated thicknesses of the lithosphere and the depths of the ocean basins is suggested. A major area of raised temperatures may underly the North Atlantic, stretching from the Azores to a focus at Iceland. There is evidence for the existence of other regional anomalies in mantle temperatures, but none of the magnitude of that suggested to lie beneath the northern North Atlantic. The time taken for thicker lithospheres to cool to equilibrium following their formation at the ocean ridges imposes a fundamental limitation on the capabilities of the model, and makes undisturbed bathymetric profiles essential if reliable measurements are to be made in areas of lower mantle temperatures. The results support suggestions that large scale mantle convection, not necessarily related geographically to the ridge crests, may occur, and indicate that active replenishment of the thermal anomalies may be required to sustain them over geologically significant periods of time

Depth perception not found in human observers for static or dynamic anti-correlated random dot stereograms

One of the greatest challenges in visual neuroscience is that of linking neural activity with perceptual experience. In the case of binocular depth perception, important insights have been achieved through comparing neural responses and the perception of depth, for carefully selected stimuli. One of the most important types of stimulus that has been used here is the anti-correlated random dot stereogram (ACRDS). In these stimuli, the contrast polarity of one half of a stereoscopic image is reversed. While neurons in cortical area V1 respond reliably to the binocular disparities in ACRDS, they do not create a sensation of depth. This discrepancy has been used to argue that depth perception must rely on neural activity elsewhere in the brain. Currently, the psychophysical results on which this argument rests are not clear-cut. While it is generally assumed that ACRDS do not support the perception of depth, some studies have reported that some people, some of the time, perceive depth in some types of these stimuli. Given the importance of these results for understanding the neural correlates of stereopsis, we studied depth perception in ACRDS using a large number of observers, in order to provide an unambiguous conclusion about the extent to which these stimuli support the perception of depth. We presented observers with random dot stereograms in which correlated dots were presented in a surrounding annulus and correlated or anti-correlated dots were presented in a central circular region. While observers could reliably report the depth of the central region for correlated stimuli, we found no evidence for depth perception in static or dynamic anti-correlated stimuli. Confidence ratings for stereoscopic perception were uniformly low for anti-correlated stimuli, but showed normal variation with disparity for correlated stimuli. These results establish that the inability of observers to perceive depth in ACRDS is a robust phenomenon

Green Care: a Conceptual Framework. A Report of the Working Group on the Health Benefits of Green Care

‘Green Care’ is a range of activities that promotes physical and mental health and well-being through contact with nature. It utilises farms, gardens and other outdoor spaces as a therapeutic intervention for vulnerable adults and children. Green care includes care farming, therapeutic horticulture, animal assisted therapy and other nature-based approaches. These are now the subject of investigation by researchers from many different countries across the world

Implementation of a local principal curves algorithm for neutrino interaction reconstruction in a liquid argon volume

A local principal curve algorithm has been implemented in three dimensions for automated track and shower reconstruction of neutrino interactions in a liquid argon time projection chamber. We present details of the algorithm and characterise its performance on simulated data sets.Comment: 14 pages, 17 figures; typing correction to Eq 5, the definition of the local covariance matri

Le test de McKenzie-Stoughton: méthode de mesure de l’effect réservoir

A la suite de I'observation que firent Mac Kenzie et Stoughton en 1962, montrant que I'application locale de cortico'ldes anti-inflammatoires peut produire un blanchiment de la peau, des tests ont ete mis au point pour apprecier la constitution d'une telle paleur chez des sujets volontaires. Les techniques qui ont ete publiees sont variables quant a la methode d'application (avec ou sans occlusion), la duree d'application du cortico'lde (.c'est-a-dire duree breve de 6 a 8 heures ou prolongee de 16 a 20 heures) et quant a la methode d'appreciation de la reponse, enregistree par exemple comme etant presente ou absente, ou bien cotee, soit avec une simple lecture,. soit avec des lectures repetees, pendant un certain temps. Les auteurs ont mis au point des essais standart de vasoconstriction avec et sans occlusion, pour apprecier les preparations quant a leur efficacite clinique pour determiner la biodisponibilite des cortico'ldes a partir des supports pour applications locales. A condition que I'investigateur et Ie volontaire se conforment strictement au protocole du test les methodes suivantes ont une precision surprenante d'appreciation (Barry et Woodford, 1978)

Possible dosage regimens for topical steroids assessed by vasoconstrictor assays using multiple applications

The bioavailabilities and activities of three amcinonide preparations and Betnovate cream were assessed using three multiple-dosage regimen vasoconstrictor assays in 10 volunteers. Applications were made once daily, twice daily and every alternate day with an initial three times daily loading dose applied on the first day only. Blanching responses first increased and then decreased due to tachyphylaxis. It is proposed that clinically the most advantageous dosage regimen is a once daily application with no loading dose

Atmospheric temperature responses to solar irradiance and geomagnetic activity

The relative effects of solar irradiance and geomagnetic activity on the atmospheric temperature anomalies (Ta) are examined from the monthly to interdecadal timescales. Geomagnetic Ap (Ap) signals are found primarily in the stratosphere, while the solar F10.7-cm radio flux (Fs) signals are found in both the stratosphere and troposphere. In the troposphere, 0.1–0.4 K increases in Ta are associated with Fs. Enhanced Fs signals are found when the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is westerly. In the extrapolar region of the stratosphere, 0.1–0.6 and 0.1–0.7 K increases in Ta are associated with solar irradiance and with geomagnetic activity, respectively. In this region, Fs signals are strengthened when either the QBO is easterly, or geomagnetic activity is high, while Ap signals are strengthened when either the QBO is westerly, or solar irradiance is high. High solar irradiance and geomagnetic activity tend to enhance each other's signatures either making the signals stronger and symmetric about the equator or extending the signals to broader areas, or both. Positive Ap signals dominate the middle Arctic stratosphere and are two to five times larger than those of Fs. When solar irradiance is low, the signature of Ap in Ta is asymmetric about the equator, with positive signals in the Arctic stratosphere and negative signals at midlatitudes of the NH stratosphere. Weaker stratospheric QBO signals are associated with high Ap and Fs, suggesting possible disturbances on the QBO. The signals of Ap and Fs are distinct from the positive temperature anomalies resulting from volcanic eruptions