Alien Registration- Delong, Stephen (Westbrook, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/20768/thumbnail.jp

Lawrence Head Volcanics and Dunnage Mélange, Newfoundland Appalachians: Origin by Ordovician Ridge Subduction or in Back-Arc Rift?

This paper reviews the geological setting and reports new geochemical trace element data from the Ordovician Lawrence Head Volcanics (LHV) and the underlying gabbro sills in the Exploits Group. In combination with existing published analyses and ages of these rocks, the volcanic rocks and sills are indistinguishable in composition and age, and the data are consistent with the hypothesis that they represent the same (mostly E-MORB composition) magmatic event in the early–mid Darriwilian (~465 ± 2 Ma). The LHV and their enclosing strata show regional evidence for: 1) upward decline of volume and grain size of arc-derived volcaniclastic materials over the uppermost interval of turbidite sedimentary strata below the LHV; 2) change to shallow marine conditions locally by the end of the LHV event, followed immediately by significant subsidence, and 3) no evidence of coarse-grained clastic input, nor of normal faulting, during or immediately after LHV magmatism. Ridge–trench interaction (ridge subduction) at a subduction system is consistent with all of these features and spatial distribution of related elements, but a rift (back-arc) origin over a subduction zone can only accommodate the compositions, and is inconsistent with the geological evidence. The Dunnage Mélange (DM) has been interpreted either as olistostromal in a developing back-arc rift basin, or as a subduction accretionary prism. Peraluminous intrusions in the mélange (Coaker Porphyry ― CP) are more readily explained by ridge subduction, and a previously reported zircon age (469 ± 4 Ma) is consistent with the age of the LHV and gabbro sills, also interpreted as products of ridge subduction. Localization of the CP in the eastern area of DM, and of most of the large LHV-derived volcanic blocks in the western DM, suggests a slightly younger age, and perhaps a different mechanism, for the origin of the western DM.SOMMAIRECet article passe en revue le contexte géologique et présente de nouvelles données géochimiques d’éléments traces des roches volcaniques ordoviciennes de Lawrence Head (LHV) et des filons-couches de gabbro sous-jacents du Groupe Exploits.  Considérant la combinaison des données d’analyse publiées et des datations de ces roches, les roches volcaniques et les filons-couches sont indiscernables tant en composition qu’en âge, et les données sont compatibles avec l’hypothèse selon laquelle ils représentent le même événement magmatique (principalement E-MORB) du Darriwilien précoce à moyen (~465 ± 2 Ma).  Les LHV ainsi que les strates de l’encaissant renferment des indices régionaux qui montrent : 1) que le volume et la granulométrie des matériaux volcanoclastiques d’arc diminuent vers le haut dans l’intervalle supérieur des strates de turbidites sédimentaires sous les LHV; 2) que le changement vers des milieux marins peu profonds localement vers la fin de l’événement des LHV a été suivi immédiatement par une subsidence importante, et 3) qu’il n’existe pas d’indices d’apports clastiques à gros grains, non plus que de formation de failles normales, durant ou immédiatement après le magmatisme des LHV.  L’interaction crête-fosse (subduction de la crête) au lieu d’un système de subduction concorde avec toutes ces caractéristiques et la répartition spatiale des éléments reliés, alors qu’une origine de crête (arrière-arc) au-dessus d’une zone de subduction ne peut expliquer que les compositions et qu’elle est incompatible avec l’évidence géologique.  Le Dunnage Mélange (DM) a été interprété soit comme un olistostome dans un bassin d’arrière-arc en développement, ou comme un prisme d’accrétion de subduction.  Les intrusions hyperalumineuses dans le mélange (Porphyre Coaker — CP), s’explique plus facilement par une subduction de crête, et un âge de datation sur zircon de (469 ± 4 Ma) correspond à l’âge des LHV et des filons-couche de gabbro, aussi interprétés comme produits d’une subduction de crête.  La localisation du CP dans la portion orientale du DM, et de la majeure partie des grands blocs volcaniques dérivés des LHV de la portion ouest du DM, suggère un âge légèrement plus jeune, et peut-être un mécanisme différent, pour l’origine de la portion ouest du DM

Boats and Wakes

This group aimed to quantify levels of boat wakes in the Venetian canals over the past decade. The group found that both boat traffic and boat wakes are increasing, and will continue to increase. The group then examined several ways Venice could reduce these destructive boat wakes. The four possibilities include; changing the hull shape, enforcing speed limits, a taxi re-engineering plan, and a cargo re-engineering plan. If adapted, these proposals could reduce boat wakes by 57% in Venetian Canals

Characterization of an autotrophic sulfide-oxidizing marine Arcobacter sp. that produces filamentous sulfur

Author Posting. © American Society for Microbiology, 2002. This article is posted here by permission of American Society for Microbiology for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology 68 (2002): 316-325, doi:10.1128/AEM.68.1.316-325.2002.A coastal marine sulfide-oxidizing autotrophic bacterium produces hydrophilic filamentous sulfur as a novel metabolic end product. Phylogenetic analysis placed the organism in the genus Arcobacter in the epsilon subdivision of the Proteobacteria. This motile vibrioid organism can be considered difficult to grow, preferring to grow under microaerophilic conditions in flowing systems in which a sulfide-oxygen gradient has been established. Purified cell cultures were maintained by using this approach. Essentially all 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride-stained cells in a flowing reactor system hybridized with Arcobacter-specific probes as well as with a probe specific for the sequence obtained from reactor-grown cells. The proposed provisional name for the coastal isolate is "Candidatus Arcobacter sulfidicus." For cells cultured in a flowing reactor system, the sulfide optimum was higher than and the CO2 fixation activity was as high as or higher than those reported for other sulfur oxidizers, such as Thiomicrospira spp. Cells associated with filamentous sulfur material demonstrated nitrogen fixation capability. No ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase could be detected on the basis of radioisotopic activity or by Western blotting techniques, suggesting an alternative pathway of CO2 fixation. The process of microbial filamentous sulfur formation has been documented in a number of marine environments where both sulfide and oxygen are available. Filamentous sulfur formation by "Candidatus Arcobacter sulfidicus" or similar strains may be an ecologically important process, contributing significantly to primary production in such environments.This work was supported by National Science Foundation grant IBN-9630054

Analyzing high resolution topography for advancing the understanding of mass and energy transfer through landscapes: A review

International audienceThe study of mass and energy transfer across landscapes has recently evolved to comprehensive considerations acknowledging the role of biota and humans as geomorphic agents, as well as the importance of small-scale landscape features. A contributing and supporting factor to this evolution is the emergence over the last two decades of technologies able to acquire high resolution topography (HRT) (meter and sub-meter resolution) data. Landscape features can now be captured at an appropriately fine spatial resolution at which surface processes operate; this has revolutionized the way we study Earth-surface processes. The wealth of information contained in HRT also presents considerable challenges. For example, selection of the most appropriate type of HRT data for a given application is not trivial. No definitive approach exists for identifying and filtering erroneous or unwanted data, yet inappropriate filtering can create artifacts or eliminate/distort critical features. Estimates of errors and uncertainty are often poorly defined and typically fail to represent the spatial heterogeneity of the dataset, which may introduce bias or error for many analyses. For ease of use, gridded products are typically preferred rather than the more information-rich point cloud representations. Thus many users take advantage of only a fraction of the available data, which has furthermore been subjected to a series of operations often not known or investigated by the user. Lastly, standard HRT analysis work-flows are yet to be established for many popular HRT operations, which has contributed to the limited use of point cloud data.In this review, we identify key research questions relevant to the Earth-surface processes community within the theme of mass and energy transfer across landscapes and offer guidance on how to identify the most appropriate topographic data type for the analysis of interest. We describe the operations commonly performed from raw data to raster products and we identify key considerations and suggest appropriate work-flows for each, pointing to useful resources and available tools. Future research directions should stimulate further development of tools that take advantage of the wealth of information contained in the HRT data and address the present and upcoming research needs such as the ability to filter out unwanted data, compute spatially variable estimates of uncertainty and perform multi-scale analyses. While we focus primarily on HRT applications for mass and energy transfer, we envision this review to be relevant beyond the Earth-surface processes community for a much broader range of applications involving the analysis of HRT

Autonomous Microbial Sampler (AMS), a device for the uncontaminated collection of multiple microbial samples from submarine hydrothermal vents and other aquatic environments

Author Posting. © Elsevier B.V., 2006. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier B.V. for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 53 (2006): 894-916, doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2006.01.009.An Autonomous Microbial Sampler (AMS) is described that will obtain uncontaminated and exogenous DNA-free microbial samples from most marine, fresh water and hydrothermal ecosystems. Sampling with the AMS may be conducted using manned submersibles, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), or when tethered to a hydrowire during hydrocast operations on research vessels. The modular device consists of a titanium nozzle for sampling in potentially hot environments (>350°C) and fluid-handling components for the collection of six independent filtered or unfiltered samples. An onboard microcomputer permits sampling to be controlled by the investigator, by external devices (e.g., AUV computer), or by internal programming. Temperature, volume pumped and other parameters are recorded during sampling. Complete protection of samples from microbial contamination was observed in tests simulating deployment of the AMS in coastal seawater, where the sampling nozzle was exposed to seawater containing 1x106 cells ml-1 of a red pigmented tracer organism, Serratia marinorubra. Field testing of the AMS at a hydrothermal vent field was successfully undertaken in 2000. Results of DNA destruction studies have revealed that exposure of samples of the Eukaryote Euglena and the bacterium S. marinorubra to 0.5 N sulfuric acid at 23°C for 1 hour was sufficient to remove Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifiable DNA. Studies assessing the suitability of hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing and DNA-destroying agent showed that 20 or 30% hydrogen peroxide sterilized samples of Serratia in 1 hr and destroyed the DNA of Serratia, in 3 hrs, but not 1 or 2 hrs. DNA AWAY™ killed Serratia and destroyed the DNA of both Serratia and the vent microbe (GB-D) of the genus Pyrococcus in 1 hour.This work was supported by a DOC/NOAA Small Business Innovative Research Award, Contract No. 50-DKNA-9-90116 awarded to McLane Research Laboratories, Inc. and (via subcontract) to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Some of the microbial testing work was also supported by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. IBN-0131557 and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst. Deep Ocean Exploration Institute Grant No. 25051131

A statistical framework to evaluate virtual screening

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is widely used to evaluate virtual screening (VS) studies. However, the method fails to address the "early recognition" problem specific to VS. Although many other metrics, such as RIE, BEDROC, and pROC that emphasize "early recognition" have been proposed, there are no rigorous statistical guidelines for determining the thresholds and performing significance tests. Also no comparisons have been made between these metrics under a statistical framework to better understand their performances.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have proposed a statistical framework to evaluate VS studies by which the threshold to determine whether a ranking method is better than random ranking can be derived by bootstrap simulations and 2 ranking methods can be compared by permutation test. We found that different metrics emphasize "early recognition" differently. BEDROC and RIE are 2 statistically equivalent metrics. Our newly proposed metric SLR is superior to pROC. Through extensive simulations, we observed a "seesaw effect" – overemphasizing early recognition reduces the statistical power of a metric to detect true early recognitions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The statistical framework developed and tested by us is applicable to any other metric as well, even if their exact distribution is unknown. Under this framework, a threshold can be easily selected according to a pre-specified type I error rate and statistical comparisons between 2 ranking methods becomes possible. The theoretical null distribution of SLR metric is available so that the threshold of SLR can be exactly determined without resorting to bootstrap simulations, which makes it easy to use in practical virtual screening studies.</p

Controlled Experiments of Hillslope Coevolution at the Biosphere 2 Landscape Evolution Observatory: Toward Prediction of Coupled Hydrological, Biogeochemical, and Ecological Change

Understanding the process interactions and feedbacks among water, porous geological media, microbes, and vascular plants is crucial for improving predictions of the response of Earth’s critical zone to future climatic conditions. However, the integrated coevolution of landscapes under change is notoriously difficult to investigate. Laboratory studies are limited in spatial and temporal scale, while field studies lack observational density and control. To bridge the gap between controlled laboratory and uncontrollable field studies, the University of Arizona built a macrocosm experiment of unprecedented scale: the Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO). LEO comprises three replicated, heavily instrumented, hillslope-scale model landscapes within the environmentally controlled Biosphere 2 facility. The model landscapes were designed to initially be simple and purely abiotic, enabling scientists to observe each step in the landscapes’ evolution as they undergo physical, chemical, and biological changes over many years. This chapter describes the model systems and associated research facilities and illustrates how LEO allows for tracking of multiscale matter and energy fluxes at a level of detail impossible in field experiments. Initial sensor, sampler, and soil coring data are already providing insights into the tight linkages between water flow, weathering, and microbial community development. These interacting processes are anticipated to drive the model systems to increasingly complex states and will be impacted by the introduction of vascular plants and changes in climatic regimes over the years to come. By intensively monitoring the evolutionary trajectory, integrating data with mathematical models, and fostering community-wide collaborations, we envision that emergent landscape structures and functions can be linked, and significant progress can be made toward predicting the coupled hydro-biogeochemical and ecological responses to global change

Predicting the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Age of Onset through Modelling Genetic Risk Variants with Smoking

The improved characterisation of risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suggests they could be combined to identify individuals at increased disease risks in whom preventive strategies may be evaluated. We aimed to develop an RA prediction model capable of generating clinically relevant predictive data and to determine if it better predicted younger onset RA (YORA). Our novel modelling approach combined odds ratios for 15 four-digit/10 two-digit HLA-DRB1 alleles, 31 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and ever-smoking status in males to determine risk using computer simulation and confidence interval based risk categorisation. Only males were evaluated in our models incorporating smoking as ever-smoking is a significant risk factor for RA in men but not women. We developed multiple models to evaluate each risk factor's impact on prediction. Each model's ability to discriminate anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive RA from controls was evaluated in two cohorts: Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC: 1,516 cases; 1,647 controls); UK RA Genetics Group Consortium (UKRAGG: 2,623 cases; 1,500 controls). HLA and smoking provided strongest prediction with good discrimination evidenced by an HLA-smoking model area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.813 in both WTCCC and UKRAGG. SNPs provided minimal prediction (AUC 0.660 WTCCC/0.617 UKRAGG). Whilst high individual risks were identified, with some cases having estimated lifetime risks of 86%, only a minority overall had substantially increased odds for RA. High risks from the HLA model were associated with YORA (P<0.0001); ever-smoking associated with older onset disease. This latter finding suggests smoking's impact on RA risk manifests later in life. Our modelling demonstrates that combining risk factors provides clinically informative RA prediction; additionally HLA and smoking status can be used to predict the risk of younger and older onset RA, respectively

A genomic storm in critically injured humans

Critical injury in humans induces a genomic storm with simultaneous changes in expression of innate and adaptive immunity genes