The observational signature of the first H ii regions

We use three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations together with a dynamical ray-tracing scheme to investigate the build-up of the first H  ii regions around massive Population III stars in minihaloes. We trace the highly anisotropic breakout of the ionizing radiation into the intergalactic medium, allowing us to predict the resulting recombination radiation with greatly increased realism. Our simulations, together with Press–Schechter type arguments, allow us to predict the Population III contribution to the radio background at  ∼100 MHz  via bremsstrahlung and 21-cm emission. We find a global bremsstrahlung signal of around  1 mK  , and a combined 21-cm signature which is an order of magnitude larger. Both might be within the reach of the planned Square Kilometer Array experiment, although detection of the free–free emission is only marginal. The imprint of the first stars on the cosmic radio background might provide us with one of the few diagnostics to test the otherwise elusive minihalo star formation site.     

Non-Gaussian distribution and clustering of hot and cold pixels in the five-year WMAP sky

We present measurements of the clustering of hot and cold patches in the microwave background sky as measured from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe 5-year data. These measurements are compared with theoretical predictions which assume that the cosmological signal obeys Gaussian statistics. We find significant differences from the simplest Gaussian-based prediction. However, the measurements are sensitive to the fact that the noise is spatially inhomogeneous (e.g. because different parts of the sky were observed for different lengths of time). We show how to account for this spatial inhomogeneity when making predictions. Differences from the Gaussian-based expectation remain even after this more careful accounting of the noise. In particular, we note that hot and cold pixels cluster differently within the same temperature thresholds at few-degree scales. While these findings may indicate primordial non-Gaussianity, we discuss other plausible explanations for these discrepancies. In addition, we find some deviations from Gaussianity at sub-degree scales, especially in the W band, whose origin may be associated with extragalactic dust emission.     

Late Pleistocene and Holocene environments in the Nile basin

Owing to the very gently sloping nature of the flood plain in the lower White Nile valley, which is underlain by a former lake-bed, the depositional record in that area is unusually well preserved. In Egypt and along the Blue Nile phases of erosion have destroyed segments of the sedimentary record, but the White Nile sequence is a good proxy for both the main Nile and the Blue Nile. During the last 15 ka, at least, times of high flow in the Blue Nile and main Nile were synchronous with those in the White Nile.Not all the White Nile flood deposits have been preserved but calibrated radiocarbon dates obtained on fossil freshwater and amphibious Pila shells and fish bones indicate that White Nile levels were high around 14.7–13.1 ka, 9.7–9.0 ka, 7.9–7.6 ka, 6.3 ka and 3.2–2.8 ka. The Blue Nile record is more fragmentary and that of the main Nile even more so except for the Holocene Nile delta. Calibrated radiocarbon ages for high Blue Nile flows indicate very high flood levels towards 13.9–13.2 ka, 8.6 ka, 7.7 ka and 6.3 ka.Incision by the Blue Nile and main Nile has caused progressive incision in the White Nile amounting to at least 4 m since the terminal Pleistocene  15 ka ago and at least 2 m over the past 9 ka. The Blue Nile seems to have cut down at least 10 m since  15 ka and at least 4 m since 9 ka. The time-transgressive and relatively late inception of plant domestication in the Nile valley may partly reflect this history of incision. Nile incision would propagate upstream into the White Nile valley, draining previously swampy areas along the valley floor, which would then become accessible to cultivation.     

四川犍为晚侏罗世一新的肉食龙类

记述了四川盆地西南部晚侏罗世上沙溪庙组顶部的中国盗龙型肉食龙类化石材料,并依此建立一新属新种——犍为乐山龙 (Leshansaurus qianweiensis gen. et sp. nov.)。它以上枕骨中嵴呈尖峰状,额骨最大长度与最大宽度之比约2.86,基蝶骨之基翼骨突细长,环椎间椎体马蹄形,背椎横突相当细长,背椎和荐椎神经棘非常薄,荐椎椎体具有明显的腹嵴,肠骨内侧髋臼缘存在一明显的嵴等特征区别于其他肉食龙类。犍为乐山龙是目前所知四川盆地产出层位最高的肉食龙材料,它的发现扩大了肉食龙类的时代分布和地理分布,对探讨肉食龙的演化具有比较重要的意义。     

Matrix micrite δC and δO reveals synsedimentary marine lithification in Upper Jurassic Ammonitico Rosso limestones (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain)

Matrix micrites are a commonly used carbonate archive for the reconstruction of past environmental parameters, but one that is submitted to known limitations. Main reasons for the often ambiguous value of many micrite-based isotope data sets are the unknown origin of the micrite components and their poorly resolved diagenetic history. Here we present carbon and oxygen-isotope data retrieved from Oxfordian to Tithonian Ammonitico Rosso nodular micrites sampled from three sections in the Betic Cordillera (Southern Spain). All three sections were correlated and sampled using a rigorous biostratigraphic framework. A noteworthy feature is that analyzed matrix micrites are more conservative in terms of their isotopic composition than other carbonate materials commonly considered to resist diagenetic alteration under favourable circumstances. Remarkably, this refers not only to δ¹³C ratios, which reflect the typical Late Jurassic global trend, but also to δ¹⁸O ratios that range around 0.3‰. The ¹⁸O-enriched oxygen-isotope ratios are considered to represent diagenetic stabilization of carbonate ooze under the influence of marine porewaters within the sediment–water interphase (i.e., the immature sedimentary section, usually submitted to biogenic activity). This interpretation agrees with the very early lithification of micrite nodules with cements precipitated from marine porewaters, enriched by the dissolution of aragonite skeletals (i.e., ammonite shells). According to the model proposed, low sedimentation rates as well as rapid early marine differential cementation, under the influence of currents and seawater pumping, affected the sediment–water interphase of epioceanic swells where deposition resulted in early lithified Ammonitico Rosso facies. The data obtained show that special care must be taken to prevent oversimplified interpretations of carbonate archives, particularly in the context of epioceanic settings.     

Carbon-isotope records of the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) oceanic anoxic event from the Valdorbia (Umbria–Marche Apennines) and Monte Mangart (Julian Alps) sections: palaeoceanographic and stratigraphic implications

The Toarcian oceanic anoxic event ( ca 183 Ma) coincides with a global perturbation marked by enhanced organic carbon burial and a general decrease in calcium carbonate production, probably triggered by changes in the composition of marine plankton and elevated carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. This study is based on high-resolution sampling of two stratigraphic successions, located in Valdorbia (Umbria–Marche Apennines) and Monte Mangart (Julian Alps), Italy, which represent expressions of the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event in deep-water pelagic sediments. These successions are characterized by the occurrence of black shales showing relatively low total organic carbon concentrations (compared with coeval strata in Northern Europe), generally < 2%, and low hydrogen indices. On this basis, they are similar to other Toarcian black shales described from the Tethyan region. The positive and negative carbon-isotope records from the two localities permit a high-resolution correlation such that ammonite biostratigraphy information from Valdorbia can be transferred to those parts of the Monte Mangart section that lack these fossils. Spectral analyses of δ¹³C_org values and of CaCO₃ percentages from the sedimentary records of both the Valdorbia and Monte Mangart sections reveal a strong cyclic pattern, best interpreted as an eccentricity signal which hence implies a duration of ca 500 kyr for the negative carbon-isotope excursion. Based on the carbon-isotope curves obtained, the high-resolution correlation between the Italian successions and a section in Yorkshire (Northern Europe) confirms the supposition that the apparent mismatch between the dating of the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event in the Boreal and Tethyan realms is an artefact of biostratigraphy.     

Overprinted strike-slip deformation in the southern Valley and Ridge in Pennsylvania

Two major faults, over 32 km long and 6.4 km apart, truncate or overprint most previous folds and faults as they trend more northerly than the previous N25°E to N40°E fold trends. The faults were imposed as the last event in a region undergoing sequential counter-clockwise generation of tectonic structures. The western Big Cove anticline has an early NW verging thrust fault that emplaces resistant rocks on its NW limb. A 16 km overprint by the Cove Fault is manifested as 30 small northeast striking right-lateral strike-slip faults. This suggests major left-lateral strike-slip separation on the Cove Fault, but steep, dip-slip separation also occurs. From south to north the Cove Fault passes from SE dipping beds within the Big Cove anticline, to the vertical beds of the NW limb. Then it crosses four extended, separated, Tuscarora blocks along the ridge, brings Cambro-Ordovician carbonates against Devonian beds, and initiates the zone of overprinted right-lateral faults. Finally, it deflects the Lat 40°N fault zone as it crosses to the next major anticline to the northwest. To the east, the major Path Valley Fault rotates and overprints the earlier Carrick Valley thrust. The Path Valley Fault and Cove Fault may be Mesozoic in age, based upon fault fabrics and overprinting on the east–west Lat 40°N faults.     

鄂尔多斯盆地侏罗纪西界分析

鄂尔多斯盆地西界,特别是其早—中侏罗世盆地西界,由于不同期次、不同性质的构造相互叠加而模糊不清,究竟是在贺兰山以西还是现在银川盆地以东的问题,至今尚无共识,极大地影响着矿产资源的评价和找矿战略的部署。本文在前人工作的基础上,通过针对性的野外工作,分析和筛分了不同时期的古构造,探讨了晚侏罗世和早—中侏罗世盆地的西界。文章认为,鄂尔多斯盆地西部巨大的近南北向挤压构造形成于晚侏罗世,而东西向的挤压构造则出现于晚三叠世。两期方向截然不同的挤压构造相互叠加,构成了鄂尔多斯盆地西部复杂的叠加构造和不规则的盆地西界。晚期挤压构造较为清晰,表现为近南北向的逆冲推覆构造带和纵贯盆地南北的“古脊梁”,使盆地西界退缩到桌子山东麓断裂、横山堡—磁窑堡断褶带以及马儿庄冲断裂和崆峒山断裂以东。早期挤压构造受后期构造的叠加改造,断断续续,时隐时现。近东西向挤压构造受古亚洲域的影响,是印支运动的产物,近南北向挤压构造转受滨太平洋域的作用,是燕山运动的表现。在古亚洲域向太平洋域转换过程中的早—中侏罗世,鄂尔多斯盆地西部出现了近东西向的拉张伸展,在盆地内部表现为近东西向隆起凹陷的古地形,使盆地西缘波状弯曲,而非平直,“银川古隆起”和“汝箕沟—鄂尔多斯盆地”两者并存,并不矛盾。早—中侏罗世盆地西界可能远至阿拉善地块。上述中生代构造又经新生代构造改造,变得更加复杂多样,甚至面目全非。如不注意构造筛分,中生代构造乃至盆地边界的研究就会被误导,从而得出错误结论。