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We have analyzed the MZ6 onshore‐offshore wide‐angle seismic profile of the MOZ3‐5 survey to investigate the crustal structure of the South Mozambique passive margin. The NNW‐SSE, 625 km‐long profile runs across the Mozambique coastal plain (MCP), the Continental Shelf and Slope, the Almirante Leite Ridge (ALR), the North Natal Valley (NNV), the Ariel Graben and the Dana Plateau of the Mozambique Ridge. Forward modeling through combined interpretation of the multichannel seismic, the main reflected and refracted phases of the wide‐angle, drill hole data and bathymetric data reveal: (a) a sedimentary cover poorly compacted up to 3 km‐thick, intruded by magmatic dykes that reach the seafloor at the ALR forming 0.5 to 5 km‐wide corrugated mounts, (b) between 2 and 7 km, thick magmatic or volcano‐clastic deposits are observed both at the MCP and NNV, forming a 40 km‐wide terrace at the center of MZ6 and southward‐dipping reflectors in the southern part interpreted as the Pre‐Neocomian Formation contemporary of the Karroo and/or Bombeni‐Movene magmatic events reached in several wells, (c) onshore, the 3‐layered crust reaches 39 km thickness, gradually thinning to ∼27 km at the southern end of MZ6. In the deepest layer, velocities exceed 7.15 km/s, reaching at its base 7.55 km/s at the vertical of the ALR. (d) the seismic Moho is marked by a strong reflection on the wide‐angle data. These results suggests that the basement is composed of slightly thinned and altered continental crust, most likely intruded by several phases of intense magmatism. Plain Language Summary: About 200 Ma ago, the mega‐continent Pangaea broke up. The dispersion of the pieces, linked to the closure and disappearance of the Thetys paleo‐ocean, gave the birth of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In detail, the initial position of each piece of this jigsaw is of great importance as it has an impact on our understanding of the genesis of the continental passive margins, the role of tectonic inheritance, the pre‐rift and post‐rift evolution of the topography dynamic (vertical movement) and of the geodynamic of the plates (horizontal movement). Nevertheless, in the Western Indian Ocean, the initial pre‐beak‐up position of Antarctica plate respect to Africa plate is still under debate, mainly due to the lack of deep geophysical data. In 2016, an academic‐industrial collaboration succeeded in acquiring deep information along seven seismic profiles crossing the North Natal Valley (NNV) off the coast of Mozambique. The results falsify the presence of an oceanic crust in that area and thus most of the plate reconstruction models. The NNV presents a thick continental crust intrudedded by several phases of intense magmatism, with at its top, a volcano‐clastic pre‐Neocomian Fm contemporary of the crustal thinning and subsequent spreading between Africa and Patagonia plates. Key Points: The North Natal Valley (NNV) presents a ∼30 km‐thick continental crust, in contrary to what is proposed in most geodynamic modelsVelocity variations in the middle‐lower part of this crust probably represent mantle intrusions during several phases of intense magmatismOn the top of the basement, there is a volcano‐clastic pre‐Neocomian Fm, probably contemporary of the movement of the Patagonia plate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report measurements of dynamo action in a new experimental set-up, named Fury, based on the use of an anisotropic electrical conductivity. It consists of a copper rotor rotating inside a copper stator, electrically connected with a thin layer of liquid metal, galinstan. Grooves have been cut in the copper so that, everywhere, electrical conductivity can be considered to be that of copper along two directions while it is zero along the third one. The configuration is efficient and dynamo action can be powered by hand. We have also used a motor with better control, enabling us to drive the rotor at specified velocity or torque functions of time. The structure of the axisymmetric magnetic field produced is found to be close to the numerical modelling using FreeFem++. The experimental dynamo behaves very nearly as expected for a kinematic dynamo, so that the threshold dynamo velocity cannot be exceeded, or only briefly. More mechanical power in the rotor rotation leads to an increase in the magnetic field intensity, the magnetic energy being proportional to the extra mechanical power beyond the threshold. In the transient following a step increase of torque, magnetic and angular velocity oscillations have been observed and explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of structures results from the interplay of evolving far‐field forces, plate kinematics, and magmatic activity during continental break‐up. The east Limpopo transform margin, offshore northern Mozambique, formed as Africa and Antarctica separated during the mid‐Jurassic period break‐up of the Gondwana supercontinent. The nature of the crust onshore has been discussed for decades in an effort to resolve issues with plate kinematic models. Two seismic refraction profiles with coincident multichannel seismic reflection profiles allow us to interpret the seismic velocity structures across the margin, both onshore and offshore. These seismic profiles allow us to (a) delineate the major regional crustal domains; (b) identify widespread indications of magmatic activity; and (c) map crustal structure and geometry of this magma‐rich transform margin. Careful examination of the profiles allows us to make the following observations and interpretations: (a) on land, continental crust is overlain by a >10‐km thick volcano‐sedimentary wedge related to an early rifting stage, (b) offshore, thick oceanic crust formed due to intense magmatic activity, and between the two (c) a 50–60‐km wide transform zone where the crustal structures are affected by intense magmatic activity and faulting. The prominent presence of intrusive and extrusive igneous units may be attributed to the combination of a deep‐seated melting anomaly and a trans‐tensional fault zone running through thinned lithosphere that allowed melt to reach the surface. A comparison of the crustal thinning along other transform margins shows a probable dependence with the thermal and/or tectonic history of the lithosphere. Key Points: New seismic velocity models across east Limpopo delineates crustal domains, from stretched continental crust to thick oceanic crustIntense magmatic activity associated with a mantle plume affected the entire margin during all stages of its formationTransform margin structure and geometry are controlled by structural inheritance, syn‐tectonic sedimentation, and magmatic activity history [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Natal Valley (NNV) and the Mozambique Coastal Plain (MCP) are key areas for the understanding of the SW Indian Ocean history since the Gondwana break‐up. Nevertheless, the deep structures and the nature of the NNV and MCP remain discussed in the absence of deep geophysical data. In 2016, the NNV, MCP and Limpopo margin (LM) have been investigated along seven wide‐angle and MCS profiles. The combined wide‐angle and reflection seismic interpretation along the N‐S MZ7 profile reveals an upper sedimentary sequence characterized by low velocities generally not exceeding 3 km/s, with thicknesses varying from 0.150 km in the central part to ∼2.8 km in the south. The underlying sequence is formed of a 2.53.0 km thick volcano‐sedimentary sequence which presents important lateral and with depth changes and presence of high velocity lenses, indicating inter‐bedded volcanic sills and recurrent magmatic episodes. The south of the NNV including the Naude Ridge (NR) presents a disturbed sedimentary cover with structural highs and southward‐dipping reflectors and sub‐basins. The crust, reaching 35–40 km onshore below the MCP, gently thins below the continental shelf to a regular thickness of ∼29 km below the NNV. Crustal velocities reveal low velocity gradients, with atypical high velocities. South the ND, the crust thins to 15 km. We interpret the velocity architecture combined with the evidences of volcanism at shallower depths as indicating an intensively intruded continental crust. Contrary to what is proposed in most geodynamic models, the Mozambique Coastal plain and the Natal Valley are both of continental nature, with an abrupt necking zone located south of NR. The Antarctica plate was therefore situated at the eastern limit of these two domains before the Gondwana breakup. Plain Language Summary: About 200 Ma ago, the mega‐continent Pangaea broke up. The dispersion of the pieces of this mega‐continent, linked to the closure and disappearance of the Thetys paleo‐ocean, gave the birth of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In detail, the initial position of each piece of this jigsaw is of great importance as it has an impact on the palaeotopography and paleogeography, and our understanding of the genesis of the continental passive margins, the role of tectonic inheritance, the pre‐rift and post‐rift evolution of the topography dynamic (vertical movement) and of the geodynamic of the plates (horizontal movement). Nevertheless, in the Western Indian Ocean, the initial pre‐beak‐up position of Antarctica plate respect to Africa plate is still under debate, mainly due to the lack of deep geophysical data. In 2016, an academic‐industrial collaboration succeeded in acquiring deep information along seven seismic profiles crossing the North Natal Valley off the coast of Mozambique. The results falsify the presence of an oceanic crust in that area and thus most of the plate reconstruction models. They also argue in favor a new paradigm for the genesis of continental passive margin. Key Points: The basement of North Natal Valley and the Mozambique Coastal Plain is of continental natureThe location of the COB is South of the Naude Ridge, close to the Ariel Graben locationThese results preclude the possibility of an overlap of the Antarctica plate on the MCP and the NNV in Gondwana kinematic reconstructions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the ability of the self-organizing map (SOM), a type of artificial neural network, in revealing genetic patterns within the autotetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). A total of 591 potato varieties, originating from various main European breeder collections and released into different market segments between 1815 and 2015, were examined using a set of 21 informative microsatellite markers. The consistency of this artificial intelligence approach in detecting genetic stratifications in such a homogeneous population was evaluated through the comparison with three other multivariate methods that are widely used for this purpose. Results showed that the SOM was equally suitable for classifying varieties into main detected groups and visualizing inter-group genetic dissimilarities. When it came to reveal the organization of the population structure at the intra-group level, traditional multivariate methods lost in resolution. Contrariwise, the SOM provided additional information on the intra-group diversity by highlighting a multitude of consistent subgroups, which seemed to be mainly related to their common heritage, spatio-temporal features and certain agronomic traits. Relations between computed SOM subgroups and the market segments were subject to certain elucidations. The relevance of using more flexible multivariate statistical approaches for mapping population structures of crop species is considered throughout this paper in terms of current and future prospects for breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabry disease (FD) is a multisystem lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene. The clinical significance of the mutation p. D313Y is still under debate. Retrospective chart analysis of clinical (neurological, cardiac, renal, and ophthalmological), genetic, and biochemical (lyso-globotriaosylsphingosine, lyso-Gb3; enzyme activity) data was performed in all our patients carrying the p. D313Y mutation. Fourteen patients from 5 families (10 female, 4 male; age range 10-51) were included. Symptoms and organ manifestations compatible with FD could be identified in 10 patients. Cerebrovascular events occurred in 4 females. Seven patients reported pain or acroparaesthesia. Cornea verticillata was found in 1 patient, mild retinal vascular tortuosity in 5 patients. Lyso-Gb3 was elevated in 2 females with cerebrovascular involvement. Classical cardiac, renal or skin manifestations could not be identified. The mutation p. D313Y in the GLA gene may lead to organ manifestations and elevation of the Fabry-specific biomarker lyso-Gb3. Neurological symptoms (stroke and pain) and ocular manifestations seem to be the leading findings. Annual routine visits are recommended for patients carrying the p. D313Y mutation. Enzyme replacement therapy might be considered in symptomatic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a powerful technique for the characterisation of macromolecular structures and interactions. Its main advantage over other solution state approaches is the ability to use DO/HO solvent contrast variation to selectively match out specific parts of a multi-component system. While proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids are readily distinguished in this way, it is not possible to locate different parts of a protein-protein system without the introduction of additional contrast by selective deuteration. Here, we describe new methods by which 'matchout labelled' proteins can be produced using Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris expression systems in high cell-density cultures. The method is designed to produce protein that has a scattering length density that is very close to that of 100% DO, providing clear contrast when used with hydrogenated partner proteins in a complex. This allows the production of a single sample system for which SANS measurements at different solvent contrasts can be used to distinguish and model the hydrogenated component, the deuterated component, and the whole complex. The approach, which has significant cost advantages, has been extensively tested for both types of expression system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Sanba (Santos basin seismic transect) experiment in 2010-2011, a 380-km-long combined wide-angle and reflection seismic profile has been acquired using 30 ocean-bottom seismometers, a 4.5 km seismic streamer and a 8900 in.³ airgun array. The Sanba 3 profile crosses the southern flank of the Sao Paulo Plateau, the Sao Paulo Ridge and the easternmost Santos Basin in an east-west direction. Its eastern end is located on undisturbed oceanic crust. Tomographic and forward modelling of the wide-angle seismic data reveals that the sedimentary thickness is variable with only 1-2 km on top of the ridge and thickening to 4-5 km in the basin. Crustal thickness at the ridge is about 18 km and the relative layer thickness and velocity gradients indicate a continental origin of this ridge. The eastern Santos Basin is underlain by crust of only 5 km thickness, characterized by high seismic velocities between 6.20 km s-1 in the upper crust and 7.40 km s-1 in the lower crust. Three hypotheses for the nature of the crust in this region are tested here: (i) thinned continental crust, (ii) serpentinized upper mantle material, (iii) thin oceanic crust. As seismic velocity gradients seem to rule out a continental origin of this region, and clear Moho reflections argue against serpentinized upper mantle, we propose that the crust underlying the easternmost Santos Basin is of oceanic origin. Deviations from normal oceanic crustal velocities in the lower crust (6.70-7.00 km s-1) can be explained by accretion at slow spreading rates leading to the inclusion of serpentinite into the lower crust at the onset of organized seafloor spreading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torsvik et al. recently presented a revised model for the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean. According to these authors, this new plate tectonic model is internally consistent and consistent with globally balanced plate motion solutions and takes into account realistic intraplate deformation. However, this model shows a number of kinematic and geological problems that we underline here, together with some comparisons with the new kinematic model recently proposed by Moulin et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mean square displacements (MSD) of a model protein, the maltose binding protein, and its hydration water have been estimated from the elastic neutron scattering intensity measured on the IN5 time-of-flight spectrometer. The availability of the protein in both fully deuterated and hydrogenated form allowed reliable separation of the contribution of the solvent interacting with the biomolecule from that of the hydrated biomolecule. The thermal fluctuations of hydration water and protein activate in the same temperature range between 200-220 K. This result supports a picture where the dynamical coupling between the biomolecule and the solvent is already effective in the picosecond timescale. A quantitative agreement of the MSD, with values from molecular dynamics simulations, is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared diagnoses made by a teledermatologist from digital photographs and patient histories sent from general practitioners using a store-and-forward technique and those made by another dermatologist in a face-to-face consultation with the same patients. A total of 117 patients (mean age 47 years) were referred by 18 general practitioners for diagnosis of a skin condition. Between one and seven digital images were transmitted per case. In 31% of the cases, three images were transmitted. There was full concordance between store-and-forward and face-to-face diagnoses in 57 of 106 cases (54%); in 10 cases (9%) there was overlap between the differential diagnoses provided by the teledermatologist and the face-to-face consultant. Diagnostic categories with relatively high concordances were eczema and follicular eruptions. General practitioners need to be trained in the making of digital images and in giving a good patient history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haloperidol serum concentrations were determined after IM or oral treatment in 15 schizophrenic patients. No correlation was found between drug levels and therapeutic effect. However, a good relationship was found between the half-life calculated after the first IM injection and the BPRS decrease after 3 weeks. Therefore a serum level study on the first day may forecast the therapeutic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sparteine test was carried out in 14 patients suffering from acute schizophrenic psychoses before and 1-2 times during oral haloperidol treatment in doses of 10-40 mg day-1. In patients classified as extensive metabolisers (sparteine MR less than 20 before treatment), haloperidol treatment resulted in a rise in sparteine MR that correlated with the serum-haloperidol concentration both within and between patients. At the highest serum haloperidol concentrations (60- 80 nM) an increase in sparteine MR by a factor 15-50 was seen, but no patients were transformed into phenotypically poor metabolisers. The steady state concentration of haloperidol on the initial standard dose of 10 mg day-1 was the same in one patient classified as a sparteine poor metaboliser (MR = 112) as in eleven patients classified as extensive metabolisers (MR:0.22-1.47). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoroquinolone resistance was characterized in Escherichia coli O78:K80 isolated from diseased turkeys. The level of resistance to fluoroquinolones of the isolates appeared closely correlated with substitutions in GyrA and ParC, but not with the production of the AcrAB efflux pump. Among isolates highly resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC 8 mg/L) and harbouring identical substitutions (two in GyrA and one in ParC), two close but distinguishable ribotypes were identified. This indicated that at least two independent selection events may have occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifteen asthmatic patients receiving a sustained-release theophylline preparation were also treated with spiramycin for at least 5 days. The macrolide antibiotic had no significant effect on the steady-state theophylline concentration, unlike erythromycin and troleandomycin, which belong to the same class of antibiotics. The latter two drugs have different chemical structures and decrease theophylline clearance. Accordingly, spiramycin comedication does not require special serum level drug monitoring or adjustment of the dose of theophylline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthroscopy was carried out after subcutaneous injection of lignocaïne to produce local anaesthesia, using controlled pressure-irrigation with bupivacaïne, followed by final rinsing with an isotonic solution. This procedure, which was painless for the patient and had no systemic toxic effects, gave very good distension of the joint and clear visualization of its structure. A sharp peak in the serum bupivacaïne level (C: 76.2 ng/ml) was observed only 5 min after the start of the irrigation, which was attributed to synovial resorption. This was followed by a slight increase in blood concentration 4 to 5 h after the end of the arthroscopy, probably as a result of absorption by the peripheral soft tissues. Bupivacaïne concentrations never exceeded 350 ng/ml (much lower than the toxic level). The drug persisted in blood for 36 to 48 h (terminal half-life 12.1 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The von-Kármán plasma experiment is a novel versatile experimental device designed to explore the dynamics of basic magnetic induction processes and the dynamics of flows driven in weakly magnetized plasmas. A high-density plasma column (1016–1019 particles. m−3) is created by two radio-frequency plasma sources located at each end of a 1 m long linear device. Flows are driven through J × B azimuthal torques created from independently controlled emissive cathodes. The device has been designed such that magnetic induction processes and turbulent plasma dynamics can be studied from a variety of time-averaged axisymmetric flows in a cylinder. MHD simulations implementing volume-penalization support the experimental development to design the most efficient flow-driving schemes and understand the flow dynamics. Preliminary experimental results show that a rotating motion of up to nearly 1 km/s is controlled by the J × B azimuthal torque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To gain insight into the use of quality systems to improve urinary incontinence (UI) care in older adults receiving home care and to assess the associations between these quality systems and UI-related process and patient outcomes. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting 19 home care agencies in the Netherlands comprising 155 home care teams. Sample 3480 adults aged 65 years and older, screened for UI. Main outcome measures Percentage of patients with UI, percentage of patients with a diagnosis regarding type of UI, mean amount of urine loss and mean frequency of urine loss. Results The quality systems most commonly used included appointing a continence nurse (at the home care agency level) and documenting UI-related actions in the patient's record (home care teams). Mixed model analyses revealed no associations between the quality systems and the UI process or patient outcomes. Conclusion Most home care agencies and home care teams claim that they adopt quality systems to improve UI care for older adults. However, no associations were found between these quality systems and the UI process or patient outcomes. More research with a precise monitoring of implemented systems is therefore needed to gain insight into the effectiveness of quality systems and their applicability in the home care setting. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A correction is presented to the list of authors of papers published in the October 1, 2007 issue.