Mercury has a near-zero obliquity, i.e. its spin axis is nearly perpendicular to its orbital plane. The value of the obliquity must be known precisely in order to constrain the size of the planet’s core within the framework suggested by Peale [Peale, S.J., 1976. Nature 262, 765–766]. Rambaux and Bois [Rambaux, N., Bois, E., 2004. Astron. Astrophys. 413, 381–393] have suggested that Mercury’s ob...

the cracked brazilian disc (cbd) specimen is widely used in order to determine mode-i/ii and mixed-mode fracture toughness of a rock medium. in this study, the stress intensity factor (sif) on the crack-tip in this specimen is calculated for various geometrical crack conditions using the extended-finite element method (x-fem). this method is based upon the finite element method (fem). in this m...

a r t i c l e i n f o Global climate models predict that ice will be deposited in tropical regions during obliquity excursions from the current mean obliquity of ~25° to ~35°, but no geological evidence for such deposits has been reported. We document the presence of very small (decameter scale) pedestal craters in the tropics of Mars (the Daedalia Planum– Tharsis region) that are superposed on...

This study analyzes 39 Atlantic and seven Pacific benthic δC records to characterize obliquity and precession responses in Atlantic overturning since 3 Ma. Regional benthic δC stacks are also analyzed. A major transition in orbital responses is observed at 1.5–1.6 Ma coincident with the first glacial shoaling of Northern Component Water. Since ∼1.5 Ma, the phases of Atlantic benthic δC records ...

Introduction: Fan-shaped deposits on the flanks of the Tharsis Montes volcanoes [1-3] have been interpreted to be glacial in origin, and are likely Amazonian in age [4]. The deposits contain three distinct facies [5], each of which can be associated with different glacial processes [1]. Earth analogs to these three facies have been identified in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica and their climatic ...

Spinal fusion is used to treat scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Following intervention, the WHO considers activity and participation should be assessed to guide intervention and assess the effects. This study assesses whether spinal fusion for scoliosis improves activity and participation for children with severe CP.Retrospective cohort study of 70 children (39M:31F) with GMFCS l...