Contourite depositional system after the exit of a strait: Case study from the late Miocene South Rifian Corridor, Morocco

Idealized facies of bottom current deposits (contourites) have been established for fine-grained contourite drifts in modern deep-marine sedimentary environments. Their equivalent facies in the ancient record however are only scarcely recognized due to the weathered nature of most fine-grained deposits in outcrop. Facies related to the erosional elements (i.e. contourite channels) of contourite depositional systems have not yet been properly established and related deposits in outcrop appear non-existent. To better understand the sedimentary facies and facies sequences of contourites, the upper Miocene contourite depositional systems of the South Rifian Corridor (Morocco) is investigated. This contourite depositional system formed by the dense palaeo-Mediterranean Outflow Water. Foraminifera assemblages were used for age-constraints (7.51 to 7.35 Ma) and to determine the continental slope depositional domains. Nine sedimentary facies have been recognized based on lithology, grain-size, sedimentary structures and biogenic structures. These facies were subsequently grouped into five facies associations related to the main interpreted depositional processes (hemipelagic settling, contour currents and gravity flows). The vertical sedimentary facies succession records the tectonically induced, southward migration of the contourite depositional systems and the intermittent behaviour of the palaeo-Mediterranean Outflow Water, which is mainly driven by precession and millennial-scale climate variations. Tides substantially modulated the palaeo-Mediterranean Outflow Water on a sub-annual scale. This work shows exceptional examples of muddy and sandy contourite deposits in outcrop by which a facies distribution model from the proximal continental slope, the contourite channel to its adjacent contourite drift, is proposed. This model serves as a reference for contourite recognition both in modern environments and the ancient record. Furthermore, by establishing the hydrodynamics of overflow behaviour a framework is provided that improves process-based interpretation of deep-water bottom current deposits

Six-Coordinate Nitrito and Nitrato Complexes of Manganese Porphyrin

Reaction of small increments of NO2 gas with sublimed amorphous layers of Mn(II)(TPP) (TPP = meso-tetra-phenylporphyrinato dianion) in a vacuum cryostat leads to formation of the 5-coordinate monodentate nitrato complex Mn(III)(TPP)(η(1)-ONO2) (II). This transformation proceeds through the two distinct steps with initial formation of the five coordinate O-nitrito complex Mn(III)(TPP)(η(1)-ONO) (I) as demonstrated by the electronic absorption spectra and by FTIR spectra using differently labeled nitrogen dioxide. A plausible mechanism for the second stage of reaction is offered based on the spectral changes observed upon subsequent interaction of (15)NO2 and NO2 with the layered Mn(TPP). Low-temperature interaction of I and II with the vapors of various ligands L (L = O-, S-, and N-donors) leads to formation of the 6-coordinate O-nitrito Mn(III)(TPP)(L)(η(1)-ONO) and monodentate nitrato Mn(III)(TPP)(L)(η(1)-ONO2) complexes, respectively. Formation of the 6-coordinate O-nitrito complex is accompanied by the shifts of the ν(N═O) band to lower frequency and of the ν(N-O) band to higher frequency. The frequency difference between these bands Δν = ν(N═O) - ν(N-O) is a function of L and is smaller for the stronger bases. Reaction of excess NH3 with I leads to formation of Mn(TPP)(NH3)(η(1)-ONO) and of the cation [Mn(TPP)(NH3)2](+) plus ionic nitrite. The nitrito complexes are relatively unstable, but several of the nitrato species can be observed in the solid state at room temperature. For example, the tetrahydrofuran complex Mn(TPP)(THF)(η(1)-ONO2) is stable in the presence of THF vapors (∼5 mm), but it loses this ligand upon high vacuum pumping at RT. When L = dimethylsulfide (DMS), the nitrato complex is stable only to ∼-30 °C. Reactions of II with the N-donor ligands NH3, pyridine, or 1-methylimidazole are more complex. With these ligands, the nitrato complexes Mn(III)(TPP)(L)(η(1)-ONO2) and the cationic complexes [Mn(TPP)(L)2](+) coexist in the layer at room temperature, the latter formed as a result of NO3(-) displacement when L is in excess

Accidents du travail et mesures de prévention: Année 2002

Ce rapport présente les statistiques relatives aux accidents du travail pour l’année 2002 pour les membres du personnel CERN et les entreprises. Il fournit également des analyses et recommandations relatives à l’ensemble des accidents et met en évidence l’évolution des taux de fréquence et de gravité, la répartition des accidents par cause et par lésion. Ce rapport montre aussi des résumés de rapports d’enquête d’accidents. Pour le personnel CERN, le taux de gravité poursuit une diminution notable Tg (-59%) et Tg (-66%) des accidents hors trajet. Pour le personnel des entreprises hors projet LHC, on constate une diminution des taux de fréquence Tf (-48%) et gravité Tg (-39%) qui étaient en légère hausse l’année dernière. De plus, il n’y a eu aucun accident de trajet avec arrêt en 2002. Pour le personnel LHC génie civil, les résultats poursuivent leur amélioration à la fois sur le plan fréquence des accidents (-30%) et sur le plan gravité (-51% ). Par contre, pour le personnel CERN le taux de fréquence des accidents de trajet poursuit sa hausse Tf (+106%). Le nombre d’accidents de trajet a doublé entre 2001 et 2002 (16 en 2002 contre 8 en 2001) . Pour l’ensemble des entreprises hors projet LHC, LHC génie civil et CERN, un travail sur l’amélioration des opérations de manutention et de manipulation manuelles pourra être effectué. En effet, ces opérations constituent la 1ère cause des accidents avec une contribution d’environ 30% . Par ailleurs, une sensibilisation particulière sur la protection des mains pourra être également faite car il s’agit là du 1er siège des lésions pour toutes ces catégories de personnel

Comparative trends and seasonal variation of 7Be, 210Pb and 137Cs at two altitude sites in the central part of France

The atmospheric concentrations of 137Cs, 210Pb, and 7Be were measured over a three-year period at two research stations located less than 12km apart and at different altitudes (puy de Dôme, 1465m a.s.l. and Opme, 660m a.s.l., France). Seasonal trends in all radionuclides were observed at both stations, with high concentration measured during the summer and low concentrations during the winter. The 210Pb concentrations at both stations were similar to each other. Higher concentrations of both 7Be and 137Cs were measured at puy de Dôme than at Opme. These observations can be explained by the stratospheric and upper tropospheric sources of 7Be and the long-range transportation of 137Cs at high altitudes. Air mass origins during sampling periods were classified into several groups by their route to the stations (marine, marine modified, continental and mediterranean). We observed that 7Be concentrations were constant regardless of the air mass origins, unlike 137Cs and 210Pb concentrations that increased when influenced by continental air masses. Higher 7Be concentrations were observed when air masses were arriving from the upper troposphere than from the boundary layer, the opposite was observed for 137Cs. The temporal trend in concentrations of 7Be shows good agreement with previous modelling studies suggesting that there is a good understanding of its sources and the atmospheric vertical mixing of this radionuclide. The sources and mixing of 210Pb, however, seem to be more complex than it appeared to be in previous modelling studies. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd

WORK AND SAFETY COORDINATION PLAN OF THE LHC ACCELERATOR 2008-9

This document addresses all persons likely to intervene on the LHC Accelerator installations, either CERN members (staff and users) or staff of contracting companies. This document aims at giving brief information on all the applicable organizational measures in matter of work planning and coordination, of general safety and radiation protection

Small molecule-mediated stabilization of vesicle-associated helical Alpha-synuclein inhibits patogenic misfolding and aggregation

α-synuclein is an abundant presynaptic protein that is important for regulation of synaptic vesicle trafficking, and whose misfolding plays a key role in Parkinson’s disease. While α-synuclein is disordered in solution, it folds into a helical conformation when bound to synaptic vesicles. Stabilization of helical, folded α-synuclein might therefore interfere with α-synuclein-induced neurotoxicity. Here we show that several small molecules, which delay aggregation of α-synuclein in solution, including the Parkinson’s disease drug selegiline, fail to interfere with misfolding of vesicle-bound α-synuclein. In contrast, the porphyrin phtalocyanine tetrasulfonate directly binds to vesicle-bound α-synuclein, stabilizes its helical conformation and thereby delays pathogenic misfolding and aggregation. Our study suggests that small-molecule-mediated stabilization of helical vesicle-bound α-synuclein opens new possibilities to target Parkinson’s disease and related synucleinopathiesFil: Fonseca Ornelas, Luis. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; AlemaniaFil: Eisbach, Sybille E.. University Medicine; AlemaniaFil: Paulat, Maria. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; AlemaniaFil: Giller, Karin. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; AlemaniaFil: Fernandez, Claudio Oscar. Universidad Nacional de Rosario; Argentina. Instituto de Investigaciones para el Descubrimiento de Farmacos de Rosario; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Outeiro, Tiago F. University Medicine; Alemania. University Medical Center; AlemaniaFil: Becker, Stefan. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; AlemaniaFil: Zweckstetter, Markus. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; Alemania. University Medical Center; Alemania. German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases; Alemani