Quantum molecular dynamics simulations for the nonmetal-to-metal transition in fluid helium

We have performed quantum molecular dynamics simulations for dense helium to study the nonmetal-to-metal transition at high pressures. We present new results for the equation of state and the Hugoniot curve in the warm dense matter region. The optical conductivity is calculated via the Kubo-Greenwood formula from which the dc conductivity is derived. The nonmetal-to-metal transition is identified at about 1 g/ccm. We compare with experimental results as well as with other theoretical approaches, especially with predictions of chemical models.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

From photos to sketches-how humans and deep neural networks process objects across different levels of visual abstraction

Line drawings convey meaning with just a few strokes. Despite strong simplifications, humans can recognize objects depicted in such abstracted images without effort. To what degree do deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) mirror this human ability to generalize to abstracted object images? While CNNs trained on natural images have been shown to exhibit poor classification performance on drawings, other work has demonstrated highly similar latent representations in the networks for abstracted and natural images. Here, we address these seemingly conflicting findings by analyzing the activation patterns of a CNN trained on natural images across a set of photographs, drawings, and sketches of the same objects and comparing them to human behavior. We find a highly similar representational structure across levels of visual abstraction in early and intermediate layers of the network. This similarity, however, does not translate to later stages in the network, resulting in low classification performance for drawings and sketches. We identified that texture bias in CNNs contributes to the dissimilar representational structure in late layers and the poor performance on drawings. Finally, by fine-tuning late network layers with object drawings, we show that performance can be largely restored, demonstrating the general utility of features learned on natural images in early and intermediate layers for the recognition of drawings. In conclusion, generalization to abstracted images, such as drawings, seems to be an emergent property of CNNs trained on natural images, which is, however, suppressed by domain-related biases that arise during later processing stages in the network

Effects of degradable Mg-Ca alloys on dendritic cell function

Degradable magnesium alloys are new materials for implants used in orthopedic and trauma surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of degradable magnesium alloys on the function of dendritic cells (DC) as these cells represent the major antigen presenting cells of the body. MgP (pure magnesium), MgCa 0.6 (0.6% calcium), MgCa 0.8 (0.8% calcium), MgCa 1.0 (1% calcium), and MgCa 1.2 (1.2% calcium) alloys were degraded in cell culture medium. In parallel, murine bone marrow-derived DC were incubated with increasing concentrations (0.1-10 mmol/L) of magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, respectively. Incubation of DC with degradation media over 6 days had no influence on cell viability and only marginal influence on DC migration. Also, the production of TNFα and expression of CD86 was not enhanced by incubation with degraded magnesium alloys. The mixed leukocyte reaction revealed that there was also no increase of the T-cell proliferation in comparison to untreated controls. However, there was a trend toward macrophage development at the expense of DC expansion and an enhanced DC migration was induced by incubation with higher magnesium concentrations. Particularly the latter should be verified in in vivo experiments. © The Author(s), 2010

Facies analysis and stratigraphic assignment of Middle Jurassic unnamed fluvial deposits in the Southern Mendoza Neuquén Basin

Se realizaron estudios sedimentológico-estratigráficos en los depósitos fluviales innominados del Jurásico Medio de la Cuenca Neuquina surmendocina, que afloran en el anticlinal de Malargüe y Bardas Blancas. En el primero de ellos se reconocieron facies de sistemas fluviales entrelazados gravo-arenosos que se apilan en tres secuencias depositacionales mostrando un decrecimiento paulatino en el espacio de acomodación, en tanto que en el segundo se reconocieron facies de sistemas fluviales anastomosados que se agrupan en dos secuencias depositacionales con un incremento progresivo del espacio de acomodación. En el anticlinal de Malargüe las relaciones estratigráficas y el patrón de apilamiento sugiere la asignación de estos depósitos al Bajociano tardío-Bathoniano y su correlación con la Formación Lajas, por lo que se propone la denominación de Formación Puesto Pacheco nov. nom., con su estratotipo en la sección del arroyo Loncoche. En el área de Bardas Blancas la presencia de clastos de calizas y fragmentos de ostras en la base de la unidad permitiría establecer que los depósitos fluviales se habrían depositado con posterioridad a la discordancia Intracaloviana. En este sector se le asigna una edad Caloviana media - tardía y se los asigna a la Formación Lotena.Stratigraphic-sedimentological studies were performed on Middle Jurassic unnamed fluvial deposits of the Southern Mendoza Neuquén Basin, cropping out in the Malargüe anticline and Bardas Blancas. In the first area we recognized braided fluvial systems facies stacked in three depositional sequences showing a gradual decrease in the accommodation space, whereas in the second we recognized anastomosing fluvial systems facies grouped into two depositional sequences with a progressive increase in the accommodation space. Stratigraphic relationships and stacking pattern in the Malargüe anticline suggests the assignment of this unit to the late Bajocian-Bathonian and its correlation with the Lajas Formation, so the name of Puesto Pacheco Formation nov. nom. is proposed, with its stratotype in the Loncoche creek section. In the Bardas Blancas area the presence of limestone clasts and oysters fragments at the base of the unit, would establish that unnamed fluvial deposits would have been deposited after the Intracallovian unconformity. In this area it is given a middle-late Callovian age and the assignment to the Lotena Formation.Fil: Kietzmann, Diego Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos; ArgentinaFil: Palma, Ricardo Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos; ArgentinaFil: Ferreyra, Teresita M. A.. YPF - Tecnología; Argentin

X-Ray Computed Tomography: Semiautomated Volumetric Analysis of Late-Stage Lung Tumors as a Basis for Response Assessments

Background. This study presents a semiautomated approach for volumetric analysis of lung tumors and evaluates the feasibility of using volumes as an alternative to line lengths as a basis for response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). The overall goal for the implementation was to accurately, precisely, and efficiently enable the analyses of lesions in the lung under the guidance of an operator. Methods. An anthropomorphic phantom with embedded model masses and 71 time points in 10 clinical cases with advanced lung cancer was analyzed using a semi-automated workflow. The implementation was done using the Cognition Network Technology. Results. Analysis of the phantom showed an average accuracy of 97%. The analyses of the clinical cases showed both intra- and interreader variabilities of approximately 5% on average with an upper 95% confidence interval of 14% and 19%, respectively. Compared to line lengths, the use of volumes clearly shows enhanced sensitivity with respect to determining response to therapy. Conclusions. It is feasible to perform volumetric analysis efficiently with high accuracy and low variability, even in patients with late-stage cancer who have complex lesions

Las tempestitas peloidales de la Formación Vaca Muerta (Tithoniano-Valanginiano) en el sector surmendocino de la Cuenca Neuquina, Argentina

Se analizan los depósitos de tormenta de dos secciones estratigráficas de la Formación Vaca Muerta (Tithoniano-Valanginiano) en el área de Bardas Blancas, sur de la provincia de Mendoza. Estos depósitos incluyen: a) depósitos con estratificación entrecruzada de bajo ángulo; b) depósitos con estratificación entrecruzada hummocky de pequeña y gran escala; y c) depósitos laminados con gradación normal intralámina. Las secuencias completas con HCS están compuestas por tres unidades (Sa, Sb y Sc) asociadas al evento de tormenta y una unidad que incluye depósitos de post-tormenta y de buen tiempo (Sd). La comparación con ejemplos actuales y ejemplos del registro, permite estimar un rango batimétrico de 25 a 50 m para los depósitos con estratificación entrecruzada hummocky. Asimismo se discuten posibles orígenes alternativos relacionados con inestabilidades en la interfase de la picnoclina y los efectos de la compactación sobre la preservación de las texturas y estructuras primarias de los depósitos de la Formación Vaca Muerta

Estratigrafía y análisis de facies de la Formación Vaca Muerta en el área de El Trapial

La importancia de los análisis estratigráficos, de facies y sedimentológicos para evaluar el potencial de un reservorio no convencional para identificar las zonas más favorables para la prospección y explotación de hidrocarburos.Fil: González Tomassini, Federico. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Kietzmann, Diego Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos ; ArgentinaFil: Fantin, Manuel A.. Chevron; ArgentinaFil: Crousse, Luisa C.. Chevron; ArgentinaFil: Reijenstein, Hernán M.. Chevron Latin America Business; Estados Unido

Oxfordian microbial laminites from La Manga Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina: Remarkable nanobacteria preservation

Exceptionally preserved stromatolites have been found in the shallow marine carbonate facies of the Callovian-Oxfordian La Manga Formation, in the Neuquén Basin (Argentina). The stromatolites exhibit planar and crinkle lamination, often disrupted by sheet-cracks, mudcracks, and fenestral structures, which indicate periodic subaerial exposure. These and other evidences suggest that these stromatolites grew in low energy upper intertidal to lower supratidal environments. They consist of fine micrite/microsparite crystal fabrics (with a remarkable lack of allochems) that define submillimiter alternations of dense laminae. Extensive SEM examinations of polished samples of the stromatolites reveal exceptional preservation of rod-shaped bacteria, coccoid like microorganisms, and abundant aggregates of framboidal pyrite. The rod-like bacteria consists of a network of irregular distributed filaments, which range from 150 nm to an uncommon 640 nm in length; diameters range from 54 nm to 90 nm. Subspherical bodies range in size between 70 and 89 nm. The presence of abundant framboidal pyrites is interpreted as the result of the metabolic activity of sulfate–reducing bacteria and decay of organic matter.Se describen estromatolitos excepcionalmente preservados en facies carbonáticas marinas someras en la Formación La Manga, de edad Calloviense-Oxfordiense, en la Cuenca de Neuquén (Argentina). Los estromatolitos muestran una laminación tanto planar como ondulada, frecuentemente alterada por estructuras de tipo fenestral, y sheet y mud-crack, que indican etapas de exposición subaérea. Estas y otras características sugieren que estos estromatolitos crecieron en ambientes de baja energía, intermareales altos y supramareales. Están constituidos por una fábrica de micrita-microesparita (con una destacada ausencia de aloquímicos) que constituyen alternancias submilimétricas de laminación densa. Estudios detallados con SEM sobre muestras pulidas revelan una preservación excepcional con morfología alargada, microorganismos tipo cocoide, y abundantes agregados de pirita framboidal. Las bacterias con morfologías alargadas están constituyendo una red irregularmente distribuida de filamentos que oscilan en tamaño desde 150 nm hasta, excepcionalmente, 640 nm en longitud; el diámetro oscila entre 50 nm y 90 nm. Las morfologías subesféricas oscilan entre 70 nm y 89 nm. La presencia de abundantes piritas framboidales es interpretada como resultado de una actividad metabólica de bacterias sulfato-reductoras y la descomposición de materia orgánica

Recurrence is required to capture the representational dynamics of the human visual system.

The human visual system is an intricate network of brain regions that enables us to recognize the world around us. Despite its abundant lateral and feedback connections, object processing is commonly viewed and studied as a feedforward process. Here, we measure and model the rapid representational dynamics across multiple stages of the human ventral stream using time-resolved brain imaging and deep learning. We observe substantial representational transformations during the first 300 ms of processing within and across ventral-stream regions. Categorical divisions emerge in sequence, cascading forward and in reverse across regions, and Granger causality analysis suggests bidirectional information flow between regions. Finally, recurrent deep neural network models clearly outperform parameter-matched feedforward models in terms of their ability to capture the multiregion cortical dynamics. Targeted virtual cooling experiments on the recurrent deep network models further substantiate the importance of their lateral and top-down connections. These results establish that recurrent models are required to understand information processing in the human ventral stream

Palaeoenvironmental significance of middle Oxfordian deep marine deposits from La Manga Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina

The Callovian-Oxfordian of the Neuquén Basin (Argentina) is characterized by an extensive marine carbonate system (La Manga Formation) with a predominance of shallow and middle ramp deposits, although locally in tectonically controlled settings, deeper deposits also formed. These middle Oxfordian deeper deposits consist of mudstone-wackestone carbonates alternating with black shales and show marked centimetre-scale rhythmicity, probably controlled by the Earth’s orbit parameters, mainly precession and eccentricity. The present study was designed to examine these deposits in terms of their sedimentology, geochemistry, and small-scale stratigraphy in Arroyo Los Blancos, southern Mendoza Province, where they are exceptionally well exposed and preserved. Results indicate that the sediments were deposited in an anoxic to dysoxic, relatively deep, sea-floor environment as revealed by the presence of: a) organic-rich shales, b) undisrupted lamination in most facies, c) pyrite framboids, and d) absence or scarcity of trace fossils and benthic fauna. Thin beds of graded wackestone-packstone and accumulations of thin shells of Bositra bivalves indicate sporadic reworking of the sea floor by weak currents. Organic petrology, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and thermal maturity indicators were used to characterize TOC and different types of organic matter. Low pyrolysis S yields along with low hydrogen indices suggest poor kerogen convertibility. Vitrinite reflectance (%Ro) ranged from 2.39 to 2.97 with an average of 2.70. The thermal alteration index (TAI) was 4+(5), indicating overmaturity. A tectono-sedimentary model is proposed for these deposits. According to this model, the relatively deep, organic-matter rich facies of La Manga Formation would have been deposited in the deepest zones of topographic lows controlled by tilting and differential subsidence of tectonic blocks bounded by normal faults.These faults were probably inherited from previous extensional tectonics of Late Triassic - Early Jurassic age.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse