Integrated microfossil biostratigraphy, facies distribution, and depositional sequences of the upper Turonian to Campanian succession in northeast Egypt and Jordan

Six upper Turonian to Campanian sections in Egypt (Sinai) and Jordan were studied for their microfossil biostratigraphy (calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifera), facies distribution and sequence stratigraphic frameworks. Carbonate (mostly chalk) and chert lithofacies dominate the basinward northern sections passing laterally and vertically to mixed carbonate/siliciclastic lithofacies towards the shoreline in the southeast. Twenty-six lithofacies types have been identified and grouped into six lithofacies associations: littoral siliciclastic facies belt; peritidal carbonate; intertidal carbonate platform/ramp; high-energy ooidal shoals and shelly biostromes; shallow subtidal; and pelagic facies association. The following calcareous nannofossil biozones were recognized: Luianorhabdus malefomis (CC12) (late Turonian), Micula staurophora (CC14) (early Coniacian), Reinhardtites anthophorus (CC15) (late Coniacian), Lucianorhabdus cayeuxii (CC16) (early Santonian) and Broinsonia parca parca (CC18) (Campanian). Equivalent planktonic foraminifera zones recognized are: Dicarinella concavata (Coniacian), the lower most part of Dicarinella asymetrica (earliest Santonian) and Globotruncanita elevata (early Campanian). The integrated zonation presented here is considered to provide higher resolution than the use of either group alone. The absence of calcareous nannofossil biozones CC13 and CC17 in most of the studied sections, associated with regional vertical lithofacies changes, indicates that recognition of the Turonian/Coniacian and Santonian/Campanian stage boundary intervals in the region have been hampered by depositional hiatuses at major sequence boundaries resulting in incomplete sections. These disconformities are attributed to eustatic sea-level fluctuations and regional tectonics resulting from flexuring of the Syrian Arc fold belt. The Coniacian to Santonian succession can be divided into three third-order depositional sequences, which are bounded by four widely recognized sequence boundaries

Discovery of 6.035GHz Hydroxyl Maser Flares in IRAS18566+0408

We report the discovery of 6.035GHz hydroxyl (OH) maser flares toward the massive star forming region IRAS18566+0408 (G37.55+0.20), which is the only region known to show periodic formaldehyde (4.8 GHz H2CO) and methanol (6.7 GHz CH3OH) maser flares. The observations were conducted between October 2008 and January 2010 with the 305m Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico. We detected two flare events, one in March 2009, and one in September to November 2009. The OH maser flares are not simultaneous with the H2CO flares, but may be correlated with CH3OH flares from a component at corresponding velocities. A possible correlated variability of OH and CH3OH masers in IRAS18566+0408 is consistent with a common excitation mechanism (IR pumping) as predicted by theory.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

On dimension reduction in Gaussian filters

A priori dimension reduction is a widely adopted technique for reducing the computational complexity of stationary inverse problems. In this setting, the solution of an inverse problem is parameterized by a low-dimensional basis that is often obtained from the truncated Karhunen-Loeve expansion of the prior distribution. For high-dimensional inverse problems equipped with smoothing priors, this technique can lead to drastic reductions in parameter dimension and significant computational savings. In this paper, we extend the concept of a priori dimension reduction to non-stationary inverse problems, in which the goal is to sequentially infer the state of a dynamical system. Our approach proceeds in an offline-online fashion. We first identify a low-dimensional subspace in the state space before solving the inverse problem (the offline phase), using either the method of "snapshots" or regularized covariance estimation. Then this subspace is used to reduce the computational complexity of various filtering algorithms - including the Kalman filter, extended Kalman filter, and ensemble Kalman filter - within a novel subspace-constrained Bayesian prediction-and-update procedure (the online phase). We demonstrate the performance of our new dimension reduction approach on various numerical examples. In some test cases, our approach reduces the dimensionality of the original problem by orders of magnitude and yields up to two orders of magnitude in computational savings

An approximate empirical Bayesian method for large-scale linear-Gaussian inverse problems

We study Bayesian inference methods for solving linear inverse problems, focusing on hierarchical formulations where the prior or the likelihood function depend on unspecified hyperparameters. In practice, these hyperparameters are often determined via an empirical Bayesian method that maximizes the marginal likelihood function, i.e., the probability density of the data conditional on the hyperparameters. Evaluating the marginal likelihood, however, is computationally challenging for large-scale problems. In this work, we present a method to approximately evaluate marginal likelihood functions, based on a low-rank approximation of the update from the prior covariance to the posterior covariance. We show that this approximation is optimal in a minimax sense. Moreover, we provide an efficient algorithm to implement the proposed method, based on a combination of the randomized SVD and a spectral approximation method to compute square roots of the prior covariance matrix. Several numerical examples demonstrate good performance of the proposed method

Cerebellar developmental venous anomaly with associated cavernoma causing a hemorrhage - a rare occurrence

Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are variations in the transmedullary veins required for drainage of the brain. Normally, when occurring in isolation, DVAs are not clinically significant and are therefore usually a benign diagnosis. Thus, they are most often an incidental finding unless associated with an adjacent pathology. However, intracranial haemorrhage induced by a DVA alone can rarely occur and has been scarcely reported. In this case report we discuss a 58-year-old woman who presented with signs and symptoms of a cerebellar syndrome. Following a non-contrast CT, a CT angiogram and MRI contrast scan of the brain, she was found to have a cerebellar DVA and an intracranial haemorrhage. Subsequent imaging 3 months later with CT and MRI redemonstrated additional evidence of a cavernoma. The patient was managed conservatively.</p

Fabrication and characterization of dual function nanoscale pH-scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) probes for high resolution pH mapping

The easy fabrication and use of nanoscale dual function pH-scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) probes is reported. These probes incorporate an iridium oxide coated carbon electrode for pH measurement and an SICM barrel for distance control, enabling simultaneous pH and topography mapping. These pH-SICM probes were fabricated rapidly from laser pulled theta quartz pipets, with the pH electrode prepared by in situ carbon filling of one of the barrels by the pyrolytic decomposition of butane, followed by electrodeposition of a thin layer of hydrous iridium oxide. The other barrel was filled with an electrolyte solution and Ag/AgCl electrode as part of a conductance cell for SICM. The fabricated probes, with pH and SICM sensing elements typically on the 100 nm scale, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and various electrochemical measurements. They showed a linear super-Nernstian pH response over a range of pH (pH 2–10). The capability of the pH-SICM probe was demonstrated by detecting both pH and topographical changes during the dissolution of a calcite microcrystal in aqueous solution. This system illustrates the quantitative nature of pH-SICM imaging, because the dissolution process changes the crystal height and interfacial pH (compared to bulk), and each is sensitive to the rate. Both measurements reveal similar dissolution rates, which are in agreement with previously reported literature values measured by classical bulk methods

Structural behavior of damaged reinforced concrete beams under static cyclic loading

Bridges are regarded as one of the most important components of transportation infrastructure. More and more repairs, inspections, alterations, and construction processes are required to maintain safe usage due to increasing travel demands in addition to bridge infrastructure aging. In this paper, we will discuss the experimental investigation using five reinforced concrete beams to evaluate the effect of making damage to experimental beams under static cyclic loading to investigate their ductility and energy dissipation. The defective parameters taken into consideration in the experimental program were the gap in the concrete mold and mild steel at the middle bottom reinforcement. All tested specimens had the same cross-sectional dimensions. The concrete dimensions of the beams were 200 mm in width and 300 mm in height, and the beam's length was selected to be 2200 mm, having a clear span of 2000 mm between the supports, they were tested in positive bending using a 3-point bending load system. According to the results, when (RC) beams were subjected to any of the mentioned types of damage, they showed a significant decrease in ultimate capacities ranging from 3.03% to 19.31%. The ANSYS model shows an average difference with the experimental program within 4 % as an acceptable agreement

L’hemorragie grave du peripartum en milieu de reanimation dans un centre universitaire tunisien de niveau 3: épidémiologie et facteurs de risque de mortalité maternelle

L'hémorragie grave du péripartum demeure une des causes principales de mortalité maternelle. L'objectif de notre étude était de décrire le profil épidémiologique des patientes qui ont été prises en charge en milieu de réanimation suite à une hémorragie grave du péripartum et de rechercher d'éventuels facteurs de risque de mortalité. Notre étude est rétrospective descriptive et analytique. Nous avons inclus tous les cas d'hémorragie du péripartum ayant séjourné en unité de réanimation obstétricale du centre de maternité et de néonatologie de Tunis (CMNT) au cours de la période allant de janvier 2010 à Décembre 2013. Nous avons recueilli les paramètres démographiques, obstétricaux, ceux relatifs à la prise en charge chirurgicale et réanimatoire, les scores de gravité SAPS obstétrical et APACHEII, ainsi que la morbi-mortalité. Au total nous avons colligé 322 cas sur quatre ans. La répartition annuelle des patientes ainsi que les caractéristiques démographiques et obstétricales étaient comparables dans leur globalité sur les quatre années. Les pratiques thérapeutiques étaient également comparables. Le taux global de mortalité par hémorragie dans notre unité était à 4,7%, avec un taux annuel de mortalité stable. L'analyse des facteurs de risque de mortalité par hémorragie en milieu de réanimation a montré une association statistiquement significative entre la survenue du décès et les facteurs suivants : recours aux catécholamines, survenue de sepsis, oedème pulmonaire aigu, coagulation intravasculaire disséminée, insuffisance rénale aigue avec recours à l'hémodialyse, SDRA ou TRALI, atteinte neurologique grave, défaillance multiviscérale et arrêt cardiaque récupéré

Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) Observatory Overview

NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is being designed to deliver unprecedented capability in dark energy and exoplanet science, and to host a technology demonstration coronagraph for exoplanet imaging and spectroscopy. The observatory design has matured since 2013; we present a comprehensive description of the observatory configuration as refined during the WFIRST Phase-A study. The observatory is based on an existing, repurposed 2.4 meter space telescope coupled with a 288 megapixel near-infrared (0.6 to 2 microns) HgCdTe focal plane array with multiple imaging and spectrographic modes. Together they deliver a 0.28 square degree field of view, which is approximately 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope, and a sensitivity that enables rapid science surveys. In addition, the coronagraph technology demonstration will prove the feasibility of new techniques for exoplanet discovery, imaging, and spectral analysis. A composite truss structure meters both instruments to the telescope assembly, and the instruments and the spacecraft are flight serviceable. We present configuration changes since 2013 that improved interfaces, improved testability, and reduced technical risk. We provide an overview of our Integrated Modeling results, performed at an unprecedented level for a phase-A study, to illustrate performance margins with respect to static wavefront error, jitter, and thermal drift

Recall or transfer? How assessment types drive text-marking behavior

IntroductionText marking is a widely used study technique, valued for its simplicity, and perceived benefits in enhancing recall and comprehension. This exploratory study investigates its role as an encoding mechanism, focusing on how marking impacts recall and transfer when learners are oriented toward different posttest items (recall or transfer).MethodWe gathered detailed data describing what learners were studying and how much they marked during studying. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design. One independent variable, examples, determined whether participants were trained using examples of the types of information required to answer posttest items. The other independent variable, orientation, determined whether participants were instructed to prepare for a recall test or for an application (transfer) test.ResultsStatistical analysis revealed a detectable effect of study orientation (transfer vs. recall), F = 2.076, p = 0.043, partial η2 = 0.114. Compared to learners oriented to study for recall, learners oriented to study for transfer marked information identified as examples (F = 3.881, p = 0.051, partial η2 = 0.028), main ideas (F = 7.348, p = 0.008, partial η2 = 0.051), and reasons (F = 5.440, p = 0.021, partial η2 = 0.038). Moreover, a statistically detectable proportional relationship was found between total marking and transfer performance (F = 5.885, p = 0.017, partial η2 = 0.042). Learners who marked more scored higher on transfer questions. Prior knowledge mediated approximately 52% of the effect, indicating that as prior knowledge increased, so did the frequency of marking.DiscussionOrienting to study for a particular type of posttest item affected studying processes, specifically, how much learners marked and the categories of information they marked. While the frequency of marking was proportional to achievement, orienting to study for recall versus transfer posttest items had no effect on recall or transfer. Prior knowledge powerfully predicted how much learners marked text