Tectonic synthesis and contextual setting for the Palaeozoic of the Moray Firth region, Orcadian Basin

This report is designed simply to provide a summary tectonic outline and contextual setting against which offshore seismic and well data relating to the Devono-Carboniferous evolution of the Inner Moray Firth region, adjacent areas of the Orcadian Basin, and UK offshore regions can be considered. This summary is intended to help better frame the questions that will arise during interrogation of that data; the findings that result from that analysis are presented elsewhere in the report series (Arsenikos et al., 2016; Kimbell & Williamson, 2016; Monaghan et al., 2016). The pattern of Devonian and Carboniferous tectonics in the Moray Firth region will be strongly influenced by the underlying pattern of (N)NE-(S)SW tending Caledonian basement discontinuities transecting the region, in particular the expression of regional stress patterns along and across the trace of the Great Glen – Walls Boundary Fault Zone (GGFZ). Sinistral motion, on that very large-scale intra-Laurussian structure, is seen throughout most of the Upper Palaeozoic (Dewey and Strachan, 2003) but by the late Carboniferous, interaction of Baltica-Siberia across the Ural Sea foredeep had come into play, promoting dextral shear on the GGFZ (Coward, 1993; cf. Domeier and Torsvik, 2014). In the Devono-Carboniferous, and under the influence of overall sinistral transcurrent motion on the GGFZ, E(SE)-W(NW) directed stretching should be anticipated in the Moray Firth region with N(NE)-S(SW) oriented extensional faults likely. Such structures would be similar in style to the patterns of faulting associated with the Devonian outliers observed onshore in Moray- Buchan, and also as described in the Helmsdale region (Underhill & Brodie, 1993). In addition to a strong ‘basement’ control from inherited Caledonian (N)NE to (S)SW features, there is likely also to be underlying control from any Caledonian plutonic complexes present (Kimbell & Williamson, 2016). The present day pattern of Moray Firth faulting, established depocentres and intra-basinal highs, comprises a strong Mesozoic pattern of tectonic features (e.g. Andrews et al., 1990; Underhill 1991; Thomson and Underhill 1993) superimposed on older (‘post-Caledonian’) tectonic patterns established in the Late Carboniferous, most likely in response to the south-westwards movement of Baltica relative to Laurussia at this time (cf. Coward, 1993). Those regional stresses generated dextral shear in the GGFZ, coincident with strongly partitioned strain in the North Sea basin interior (Leslie et al. 2015). From Late Carboniferous times, N(NW) – S(SE) directed extension in the Inner Moray Firth region generated W(SW)-E(NE) trending extensional faults (e.g. the Banff and Wick faults). This stress régime sets in place the framework of highs and lows preceding any Permian uplift and younger tectonics as the switch to the earliest Atlantic-opening stresses occurred. WNW-ESE directed extension, observed and dated in the Pentland Firth area (267+/-3 Ma, Dichiarante et al. 2015), will likely generate increasingly oblique (sinistral?) wrench on the Wick/Banff Faults from this time. Dip-slip components of movement are likely on the older (N)NE- (S)SW-trending structures inherited from the Caledonian, e.g. the Helmsdale/Strathconnon Faults, and perhaps the GGFZ; the latter may be too steep and fundamental a structure to actively respond in pure extension at this time

Tectonic synthesis and contextual setting for the Central North Sea and adjacent onshore areas, 21CXRM Palaeozoic Project

This report is designed simply to provide a summary tectonic outline and contextual setting against which offshore seismic and well data relating to the Devono-Carboniferous evolution of the Central North Sea, Forth Approaches, and adjacent UK onshore region can be considered. This summary is intended to help better frame the questions that will arise during interrogation of that data; the findings that result from that analysis are presented elsewhere in the report series (Arsenikos et al., 2015; Kimbell & Williamson, 2015; Monaghan et al., 2015). Apparently contradictory, wrench- or extension-dominated patterns of Lower Carboniferous basin development are recorded in the Forth Approaches, Quadrant 29, North Dogger and Silverpit basins of the Central North Sea, as well as the Midland Valley of Scotland (MVS) and Northumberland and Solway basins onshore. Partitioning Carboniferous deformation across inherited pre-existing Caledonian or Tornquist structures is likely to be an important control on the tectonic architecture developed in these regions during intervals of the geological record in the Carboniferous. Onshore, spatially separate but contemporaneous domains of extension-dominated tectonics versus wrench-dominated tectonics explain the contrasting tectonic framework of the MVS/Forth Approaches region (wrench-dominated) compared with Northumberland Basin (classic ‘stags head’ structure). NE-SW trending Caledonian inheritance strongly controls the domain boundaries and the patterns of deformation created in each of these domains. Offshore, in the Devono-Carboniferous basins of the Central North Sea, the likelihood that strain is partitioned in a similar way across features inherited from the NW-SE Tornquist trend is proposed and examined. The data currently under consideration suggests that a NW-SE trending wrench-dominated domain is spatially associated with the region underlain by the Dogger Granite pluton; domains affected by extension-dominated tectonics appear to be arranged on either side of that feature, namely the Quadrant 29 and North Dogger basins to the NE, and the Silverpit Basin to the SW. Extension is expressed as a NE-SW directed stretch in both of these domains. Patterns of broadly N-S trending fold axes need to be carefully assessed in terms of their structural setting, as folding cannot implicitly be linked with inversion/compression when partitioned strains are developed. Superficially similar features can develop in the MVS in dextral transpression, in north Northumberland buttressed around the Cheviot Granite in overall dextral wrench, and as superimposed late compressional folds in end-Variscan convergence, for example in the Boldon syncline of County Durham. Offshore, similar inversion effects can be seen in the patterns of transpressive faulting associated with features such as the Murdoch Ridge, and with examples of superimposed NE-SW trending extensional faults active in the latest Carboniferous to early Permian

Rotational kinetics of absorbing dust grains in neutral gas

We study the rotational and translational kinetics of massive particulates (dust grains) absorbing the ambient gas. Equations for microscopic phase densities are deduced resulting in the Fokker-Planck equation for the dust component. It is shown that although there is no stationary distribution, the translational and rotational temperatures of dust tend to certain values, which differ from the temperature of the ambient gas. The influence of the inner structure of grains on rotational kinetics is also discussed.Comment: REVTEX4, 20 pages, 2 figure

Cosmic Censorship, Area Theorem, and Self-Energy of Particles

The (zeroth-order) energy of a particle in the background of a black hole is given by Carter's integrals. However, exact calculations of a particle's {\it self-energy} (first-order corrections) are still beyond our present reach in many situations. In this paper we use Hawking's area theorem in order to derive bounds on the self-energy of a particle in the vicinity of a black hole. Furthermore, we show that self-energy corrections {\it must} be taken into account in order to guarantee the validity of Penrose cosmic censorship conjecture.Comment: 11 page

Removing Discrete Ambiguities in CP Asymmetry Measurements

We discuss methods to resolve the ambiguities in CP violating phase angles $\phi$ that are left when a measurement of $\sin 2 \phi$ is made. We show what knowledge of hadronic quantities will be needed to fully resolve all such ambiguities.Comment: 23 pages, revtex, no figure

Evidence for a mixed mass composition at the `ankle' in the cosmic-ray spectrum

We report a first measurement for ultra-high energy cosmic rays of the correlation between the depth of shower maximum and the signal in the water Cherenkov stations of air-showers registered simultaneously by the fluorescence and the surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Such a correlation measurement is a unique feature of a hybrid air-shower observatory with sensitivity to both the electromagnetic and muonic components. It allows an accurate determination of the spread of primary masses in the cosmic-ray flux. Up till now, constraints on the spread of primary masses have been dominated by systematic uncertainties. The present correlation measurement is not affected by systematics in the measurement of the depth of shower maximum or the signal in the water Cherenkov stations. The analysis relies on general characteristics of air showers and is thus robust also with respect to uncertainties in hadronic event generators. The observed correlation in the energy range around the `ankle' at $\lg(E/{\rm eV})=18.5-19.0$ differs significantly from expectations for pure primary cosmic-ray compositions. A light composition made up of proton and helium only is equally inconsistent with observations. The data are explained well by a mixed composition including nuclei with mass $A > 4$. Scenarios such as the proton dip model, with almost pure compositions, are thus disfavoured as the sole explanation of the ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray flux at Earth.Comment: Published version. Added journal reference and DOI. Added Report Numbe

An Integrated TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource to Drive High-Quality Survival Outcome Analytics

For a decade, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program collected clinicopathologic annotation data along with multi-platform molecular profiles of more than 11,000 human tumors across 33 different cancer types. TCGA clinical data contain key features representing the democratized nature of the data collection process. To ensure proper use of this large clinical dataset associated with genomic features, we developed a standardized dataset named the TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource (TCGA-CDR), which includes four major clinical outcome endpoints. In addition to detailing major challenges and statistical limitations encountered during the effort of integrating the acquired clinical data, we present a summary that includes endpoint usage recommendations for each cancer type. These TCGA-CDR findings appear to be consistent with cancer genomics studies independent of the TCGA effort and provide opportunities for investigating cancer biology using clinical correlates at an unprecedented scale. Analysis of clinicopathologic annotations for over 11,000 cancer patients in the TCGA program leads to the generation of TCGA Clinical Data Resource, which provides recommendations of clinical outcome endpoint usage for 33 cancer types

Selection platforms for directed evolution in synthetic biology

Life on Earth is incredibly diverse. Yet, underneath that diversity, there are a number of constants and highly conserved processes: all life is based on DNA and RNA; the genetic code is universal; biology is limited to a small subset of potential chemistries. A vast amount of knowledge has been accrued through describing and characterizing enzymes, biological processes and organisms. Nevertheless, much remains to be understood about the natural world. One of the goals in Synthetic Biology is to recapitulate biological complexity from simple systems made from biological molecules – gaining a deeper understanding of life in the process. Directed evolution is a powerful tool in Synthetic Biology, able to bypass gaps in knowledge and capable of engineering even the most highly conserved biological processes. It encompasses a range of methodologies to create variation in a population and to select individual variants with the desired function – be it a ligand, enzyme, pathway or even whole organisms. Here, we present some of the basic frameworks that underpin all evolution platforms and review some of the recent contributions from directed evolution to synthetic biology, in particular methods that have been used to engineer the Central Dogma and the genetic code