Garnet-controlled very low velocities in the lower mantle transition zone at sites of mantle upwelling

Deep mantle plumes and associated increased geotherms are expected to cause an upward deflection of the lower–upper mantle boundary and an overall thinning of the mantle transition zone between about 410 and 660 kilometres depth. We use subsequent forward modelling of mineral assemblages, seismic velocities and receiver functions to explain the common paucity of such observations in receiver function data. In the lower mantle transition zone, large horizontal differences in seismic velocities may result from temperature‐dependent assemblage variations. At this depth, primitive mantle compositions are dominated by majoritic garnet at high temperatures. Associated seismic velocities are expected to be much lower than for ringwoodite‐rich assemblages at undisturbed thermal conditions. Neglecting this ultra‐low‐velocity zone at upwelling sites can cause a miscalculation of the lower–upper mantle boundary on the order of 20 kilometres

Nomenclature for standardized designation of diploid genotypes in genetically modified laboratory animals

Information about the diploid genotype of a gene-modified or mutant laboratory animal is essential for breeding and experimental planning. It is also required for the exchange of animals between different research groups or for communication with professional genotyping service providers. While there are detailed, standardized rules for creating an allele name of a genome modification or mutation, the notation of the diploid genotype after biopsy and genotyping has not been standardized yet. Therefore, a uniform, generally understandable nomenclature for the diploid genotype of gene-modified laboratory animals is needed. With the here-proposed nomenclature recommendations from the Committee on Genetics and Breeding of Laboratory Animals of the German Society for Laboratory Animal Science (GV-SOLAS), we provide a practical, standardized representation of the genotype of gene-modified animals. It is intended to serve as a compact guide for animal care and scientific personnel in animal research facilities and to simplify data exchange between groups and with external service providers

Ti6Al7Nb-ODH im Vergleich zu anderen biomedizinischen Werkstoffen. Eine komparative Analyse unter Anwendung einer humanen Knochenmarkszellkultur

Vergleich von biomedizinischen Werkstoffen aus Titan, Polyäthylen , Keramik unter Anwendung einer humanen Knochenmarkszellkultur

Über die mechanischen Ursachen von parallelen Abschiebungen

Gruppen von parallel einfallenden Abschiebungen treten in der Natur sehr häufig und in unterschiedlichsten Dimensionen auf. Existierende, überwiegend experimentelle Arbeiten führen einheitliches Einfallen auf laterale Festigkeitsschwankungen oder, vor allem, auf horizontale Scherspannungen zurück (e.g. Brun et al. 1994, Behn et al. 2002). Einheitliche horizontale Scherspannungen im großen Maßstab werden mit einer konsistenten Fließrichtung in der mittleren und/oder unteren Kruste erklärt. Beobachtungen in einigen der bedeutensten Rift-Systeme lassen jedoch beide Erklärungen als zentrale Ursache unwahrscheinlich erscheinen. In der Basin-and-Range-Provinz in den westlichen Vereinigten Staaten ändert sich die Einfallrichtung von parallelen Abschiebungen im Streichen der Störungen, so dass strukturelle Domänen mit intern einheitlicher Einfallrichtung entstehen, die von Blattverschiebungen untereinander getrennt werden. Eine solche Geometrie ließe sich nur mit bizarren Fließmustern in der Unterkruste erklären. Wir präsentieren numerische Extensionsexperimente von sprödem Material, das auf einem linear-viskosen Substrat ruht... In unseren Modell sind parallele Abschiebungen nicht, wie bisher angenommen, auf einheitlichen horizontalen Scherstress, sondern auf vertikale Normalspannungen zurückzuführen, d.h. auf den Widerstand, den das viskose Substrat vertikalen Blockbewegungen in der spröden Lage entgegensetzt. Wenn unser Modell richtig ist, würde das für Gebiete wie die Basin-and- Range-Provinz bedeuten, dass die spröde Oberkruste auf einer wenige Kilometer dicken, viskosen mittleren Kruste liegt, die wiederum ein festeres Substrat hat. Die Unterkruste müsste deutlich fester sein als die mittlere Kruste. Es scheint, dass Folgen von parallelen Abschiebungen häufig in dünnen, niedrig viskosen Lagen (etwa Ton oder Salz) wurzeln.conferenc

The Schwarzhorn Amphibolite (Eastern Ratikon, Austria): an Early Cambrian intrusion in the Lower Austroalpine basement

The Alpine nappe stack in the Penninic-Austroalpine boundary zone in the Ratikon (Austria) contains a 4x1 km tectonic sliver of meta-diorite, known as the Schwarzhorn Amphibolite. It was deformed and metamorphosed in the amphibolite facies and is unconformably overlain by unmetamorphic Lower Triassic sandstone, indicating pre-Triassic metamorphism. Cataclastic deformation and brecciation of the amphibolite is related to normal faulting and block tilting during Jurassic rifting. Zircon dating of the Schwarzhorn Amphibolite using LA-ICP-MS gave a U-Pb age of 529+9/-8 Ma, interpreted as the crystallization age of the protolith. Geochemical characteristics indicate formation of the magmatic protolith in a supra-subduction zone setting. The Cambrian protolith age identifies the Schwarzhorn Amphibolite as a pre-Variscan element within the Austroalpine basement. Similar calc-alkaline igneous rocks of Late Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian age are found in the Upper Austroalpine Silvretta Nappe nearby and in several other Variscan basement units of the Alps, interpreted to have formed in a peri-Gondwanan active-margin or island-arc setting

Land seismic data of the ALPHA amphibious controlled source experiment - Report

Raw-, SEG-Y and other supplementary data of the landside deployment from the amphibious wide-angle seismic experiment ALPHA are presented. The aim of this project was to reveal the crustal and lithospheric structure of the subducting Adriatic plate and the external accretionary wedge in the southern Dinarides. Airgun shots from the RV Meteor were recorded along two profiles across Montenegro and northern Albania

Deformation in the Greiner Shear Zone ̶ Pfitsch Valley, Southwestern Tauern Window

The Greiner Shear Zone is located within the Subpenninic core of the southwestern Tauern Window, Eastern Alps. It strikes SW-NE and separates the upright folded Zillertaler and Tuxer Zentralgneis Nappes from one another, whilst transecting their parautochthonous cover and allochthonous hanging-wall units. The Greiner Shear Zone is generally regarded as a transpressive shear zone, composed of multiple high strain zone splays, in which dextral, but dominantly sinistral shear sense indicators have been reported (Behrmann & Frisch 1990; Barnes et al. 2004). Deformation in the Greiner Shear Zone is pervasive and characterized by a sub-vertical foliation and west-southwest plunging lineation. However, the tectono-metamorphic history of the Greiner Shear Zone has not yet been fully clarified. To better constrain the structural architecture, kinematics, relative timing and spatial extent of the Greiner Shear Zone, geologic mapping within the Pfitsch Valley was carried out and structural data were collected. Optical and scanning electron microscopy analyses including EBSD were utilized to characterize the microstructure of deformed Furtschagl Schists incorporated within the shear zone. Deformed, inter-tectonic(ally grown) biotite porphyroblasts were characterized to ascertain the finite deformation history, as well as conduct a Schmid Factor analysis for (001)-slip of biotite grains, which is indicative of post-growth kinematics. Crystallographic dispersion axes of quartz grains were used to derive a vorticity axes distribution to better constrain the kinematics of the late Greiner Shear Zone. Furthermore, thermodynamic modelling using Theriak Domino was conducted to constrain the metamorphic evolution for shear zone samples stemming from the Furtschagl Schists, Venediger Nappe and Glockner Nappe. Geologic mapping resulted in a new geologic map of the study area, and three cross-sections constructed perpendicular to strike of the Greiner Shear Zone of the Pfitsch Valley section. Unoriented biotite grains in the Furtschagl Schist are interpreted to have grown a) over a pre-existing foliation and b) prior to the (late) Greiner Shear Zone activity, the latter resulting in a co-planar fabric with a rather minute overprint of the pre-existing deformation fabric. Schmid Factor analysis on those biotites indicates a sub-horizontal to N-plunging, N-S directed compression direction which resulted in sinistral shearing at the time deformation was ceasing. Results of the crystallographic dispersion axis analyses suggest shallow NE to E plunging axes on a shallow N- to steep NW-dipping flow plane, respectively. Based on the petrological investigations and thermodynamic modelling, a clockwise pT-path from blueschist facies to amphibolite facies conditions of approx. ~570°C and 6.8-7.5 kb could be derived for the Furtschagl Schists of the Venediger Nappe. Peak amphibolite facies conditions occur at the transition from early, syn-kinematic Greiner shearing to an inter-tectonic phase (Tauern Crystallization) as indicated by garnet and biotite growth. Therefore, post-Tauern Crystallization deformation of the Greiner Shear Zone within the Furtschagl Schists is the result of general shear dominated transpression at amphibolite facies metamorphic conditions, linked to sinistral strike-slip kinematics, which were active during N-S directed compression. The shear zone is further interpreted to exhibit a heterogenous monoclinic deformation symmetry, which is likely the result of an interconnected, anastomosing shear zone network

Predictive and prognostic value of circulating nucleosomes and serum biomarkers in patients with metastasized colorectal cancer undergoing Selective Internal Radiation Therapy

Background Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) is a new and effective locoregional anticancer therapy for colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases. Markers for prediction of therapy response and prognosis are needed for the individual management of those patients undergoing SIRT. Methods Blood samples were prospectively and consecutively taken from 49 colorectal cancer patients with extensive hepatic metastases before, three, six, 24 and 48 h after SIRT to analyze the concentrations of nucleosomes and further laboratory parameters, and to compare them with the response to therapy regularly determined 3 months after therapy and with overall survival. Results Circulating nucleosomes, cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and various liver markers increased already 24 h after SIRT. Pretherapeutical levels of CYFRA 21-1, CEA, cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), asparate-aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as 24 h values of nucleosomes were significantly higher in patients suffering from disease progression (N = 35) than in non-progressive patients (N = 14). Concerning overall survival, CEA, CA 19-9, CYFRA 21-1, CRP, LDH, AST, choline esterase (CHE), gamma-glutamyl-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and amylase (all 0 h, 24 h) and nucleosomes (24 h) were found to be prognostic relevant markers in univariate analyses. In multivariate Cox-Regression analysis, the best prognostic model was obtained for the combination of CRP and AST. When 24 h values were additionally included, nucleosomes (24 h) further improved the existing model. Conclusion Panels of biochemical markers are helpful to stratify pretherapeutically colorectal cancer patients for SIR-therapy and to early estimate the response to SIR-therapy