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The Eastern Greywacke Zone is composed of three Alpine nappes. From bottom to top these are (1) the Veitsch nappe (Early Carboniferous to Permian molasse), (2) the Silbersberg nappe with intercalated slivers of the Kaintaleck Metamorphic Complex and Permian phyllites and conglomerates as cover, and (3) the Noric nappe (mainly Ordovician to Devonian shelf sediments and Permian cover). All units experienced Eo-Alpine lower greenschist facies metamorphism. Due to the development of ductile shear zones during Alpine nappe stacking, the Kaintaleck Complex was dismembered and emplaced as lens-shaped bodies of 10-100m thickness that stretch from West (Kalwang, Upper Styria) to East (Gloggnitz, Lower Austria) below the Noric nappe of the Eastern Greywacke Zone. Lithologically, the Kaintaleck Complex is represented by a mafic suite, comprising amphibolite, garnet-amphibolite, greenschist and serpentinite, and a felsic suite that consists mostly of gneiss and mica-schist (some of them garnet-bearing). The felsic suite corresponds to metamorphosed clastic sediments and granitoids, whereas the mafic suite represents most likely a former oceanic crust. This work tries to constrain the P-T-t path of the Kaintaleck Metamorphic Complex by applying U-Th/Pb monazite and zircon dating and geothermobarometry. Based on whole rock geochemistry, amphibolites from the locality of Frauenberg represent tholeiitic basalts with an E-MORB affinity, whereas garnet-amphibolites, amphibolites and greenschists from the localities of Prieselbauer, Oberdorf, Unteraich, Kalwang, Arzbach and Schlöglmühl show a T-MORB signature. Samples from the localities of Stübminggraben and Utschgraben have a N-MORB affinity. Garnet-amphibolite samples show distinct plagioclase-epidote-rich symplectitic coronae, which are indicative of decompression from former eclogite-facies conditions. P-T estimations based on Zr-in-rutile thermometry and phengite barometry yield up to 720°C and 19 kbar for the felsic suite, and 700°C and 21 kbar for the mafic suite, both interpreted as peak metamorphic conditions. Monazite dating by EPMA in garnet-mica-schist from the localities of Prieselbauer, Arzbach, Schlöglmühl and Oberdorf, revealed weighted average U-Th-total Pb dates of 351 ± 4 Ma, 358 ± 16 Ma, 349 ± 3 Ma and 362 ± 6 Ma, which are interpreted as reflecting peak Variscan metamorphism. Monazite in these samples is partly replaced by an apatite-allanite-corona, related to monazite-breakdown due to Alpine lower grade metamorphic overprint. Preliminary LA-MC-ICP-MS U/Pb age dating results of zircon grains from a garnet-amphibolite from the Prieselbauer locality yield a Devonian mean date of 400 ± 4 Ma ascribed to the protolith formation.

Recent studies revealed that the calc-alkaline metagranitoids of the Seckau Complex comprise both (1) a Late Cambrian to Early Ordovician and (2) a Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous (early Variscan) intrusive complex. The older rocks of the Hochreichart Plutonic Suite reflect I to S-type affinity and are peraluminous and characterized by a general decrease in TiO2, Al2O3, MgO, CaO, P2O5, FeOt and MnO with increasing SiO2. Chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) plots display a slight enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to heavy rare earth elements (HREE) as well as negative Eu anomalies ((Eu/Eu*)N = 0.15- 0.77). The whole-rock initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios calculated back to the time of emplacement (~ 496 Ma) vary between 0.7056 to 0.7061. The early Variscan rocks of the Hintertal Plutonic Suite can be subdivided into (a) the meta- to peraluminous granodioritic suite of the Pletzen Pluton and (b) the peraluminous granitic suite of the Griessstein Pluton. The Pletzen Pluton shows typical magmatic fractionation trends for most of the major oxides and trace elements plotted against SiO2. On a chondrite-normalized diagram, metagranitoids are strongly enriched in LREE and show no significant negative Eu anomaly. Metagranitoids of the Griessstein Pluton have a more peraluminous character and similar major and trace element fractionation trends compared to the Pletzen Pluton. However, the contents in SiO2, major and trace elements clearly point towards a more evolved melt with generally lower TiO2, Al2O3, MgO and CaO values and higher K2O content. Metagranitoids of the Griessstein Pluton are additionally characterized by a slight negative Eu anomaly of about 0.81 on a chondrite-normalized REE plot. Initial 87Sr/86Sr values calculated back to the time of emplacement (~ 353 Ma) of the Pletzen Pluton and the Griessstein Pluton vary between 0.7051—0.7061 and 0.7054—0.7063, respectively, and suggest the same magmatic source for both units. Application of rhyolite-MELTS modelling to the Hintertal Plutonic Suite revealed that the Griessstein Pluton formed by fractional crystallization (~ 30%) from the more primitive Pletzen Pluton. Our geochemical data from the Hochreichart Suite granitoids suggest the existence of a Late Cambrian to Early Ordovician active margin with its remnants now exposed in the Seckau Complex. The early Variscan grainitoids of the Seckau Complex are inferred as part of a magmatic arc along the southern Bohemian active continental margin that was related to the subduction of differently termed oceanic domains (Galicia-Moldanubian Ocean or Paleotethys), prior to the final collision of Gondwana and Laurussia. The general paleogeographic position of the Seckau Complex during the Variscan orogeny is considered to be south to southeast of the Bohemian Massif, adjacent to the eastern Hohe Tauern, the Schladming Tauern, and the Western Carpathians.

The low-grade metamorphic early Paleozoic basement of the Veitsch area presents a wide variety of sedimentary facies domains. The first domain consists of thick metadacites of Middle Ordovician age (Blasseneck Porphyroid), overlain by fine-grained metaclastics of the Rad Formation (Late Ordovician to Silurian) and Devonian limestones and calcitic marbles (Kaiserstein and Kaskögerl Formation, respectively). Rhyolitic to dacitic magmatism initiated at ca. 479 Ma (LAMC-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon data) and lasted until ca. 444 Ma. The second domain comprises metaclastics of the Stocker Formation (Early Ordovician to Silurian), characterized by thin volcanics and volcaniclastics of andesitic and rhyolitic composition. U-Pb zircon data give Middle Ordovician age (463 Ma – 468 Ma). The third domain, exposed northwest of Veitsch, consists of thick metadacites (Blasseneck Porphyroid, ca. 478 Ma), followed by (siliceous) phyllites which grade into turbiditic metasediments (Sommerauer Formation, Late Ordovician to Devonian?). Clastic sediments of the Stocker and Sommerauer Formations were sourced from northern Gondwana showing a prominent Pan-African detrital zircon peak at ca. 640 Ma. Middle to Upper Ordovician volcanics (ca. 462 Ma – 448 Ma) represent the second source. Tectonic reconstruction leads us to the arrangement of three facies domains. A shallow marine shelf facies is located in the present days southwest. A marginal basin with volcanic islands on a sloping continent, and a deep-water environment containing turbidites are situated further to the northwest. The present arrangement of these facies domains is explained by eo-Alpine and Variscan thrust tectonics.

We compare detrital U/Pb zircon age spectra of Carboniferous and Permian / Lower Triassic sedimentary rocks from different structural positions within the Austroalpine nappe pile with published ages of magmatic and metamorphic events in the Eastern Alps and the West Carpathians. Similarities between sink and possible sources are used to derive provenance of sediments and distinct frequency peaks in sink and source age pattern are used for paleogeographic plate tectonic reconstructions. From this, travel paths of Austroalpine and West Carpathian basement units are traced from the Late Neoproterozoic to the Jurassic. We place the ancestry of basement units on the northeastern Gondwana margin, next to Anatolia and the Iranian Luth-Tabas blocks. Late Cambrian rifting by retreat of the Cadomian Arc failed and continental slivers re-attached to Gondwana during a late Cambrian / early Ordovician orogenic event. In the Upper Ordovician crustal fragments of the Galatian superterrane rifted off Gondwana through retreat of the Rheic subduction. An Eo-Variscan orogenic event at ~390 Ma in the Austroalpine developed on the northern rim of Galatia, simultaneously with a passive margin evolution to the south of it. The climax of Variscan orogeny occurred already during a Meso-Variscan phase at ~350 Ma by double-sided subduction beneath Galatia fragments. The Neo-Variscan event at ~330 Ma was mild in eastern Austroalpine units. This orogenic phase was hot enough to deliver detrital white mica into adjacent basins but too cold to create significant volumes of magmatic or metamorphic zircon. Finally, the different zircon age spectra in today's adjacent Carboniferous to Lower Triassic sediments disprove original neighbourhood of basins. We propose lateral displacement of major Austroalpine and West-Carpathian units along transform faults transecting Apulia. The intracontinental transform system was released by opening of the Penninic Ocean and simultaneous closure of the Meliata Hallstatt Ocean as part of the Tethys.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the changes in ventilator management over time in patients with neurologic disease at ICU admission and to estimate factors associated with 28-day hospital mortality. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of three prospective, observational, multicenter studies. SETTING: Cohort studies conducted in 2004, 2010, and 2016. PATIENTS: Adult patients who received mechanical ventilation for more than 12 hours. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among the 20,929 patients enrolled, we included 4,152 (20%) mechanically ventilated patients due to different neurologic diseases. Hemorrhagic stroke and brain trauma were the most common pathologies associated with the need for mechanical ventilation. Although volume-cycled ventilation remained the preferred ventilation mode, there was a significant (p < 0.001) increment in the use of pressure support ventilation. The proportion of patients receiving a protective lung ventilation strategy was increased over time: 47% in 2004, 63% in 2010, and 65% in 2016 (p < 0.001), as well as the duration of protective ventilation strategies: 406 days per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days in 2004, 523 days per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days in 2010, and 585 days per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days in 2016 (p < 0.001). There were no differences in the length of stay in the ICU, mortality in the ICU, and mortality in hospital from 2004 to 2016. Independent risk factors for 28-day mortality were age greater than 75 years, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II greater than 50, the occurrence of organ dysfunction within first 48 hours after brain injury, and specific neurologic diseases such as hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and brain trauma. CONCLUSIONS: More lung-protective ventilatory strategies have been implemented over years in neurologic patients with no effect on pulmonary complications or on survival. We found several prognostic factors on mortality such as advanced age, the severity of the disease, organ dysfunctions, and the etiology of neurologic disease.

The aim of the current paper is to summarize the results of the International CytoSorb Registry. Data were collected on patients of the intensive care unit. The primary endpoint was actual in-hospital mortality compared to the mortality predicted by APACHE II score. The main secondary endpoints were SOFA scores, inflammatory biomarkers and overall evaluation of the general condition. 1434 patients were enrolled. Indications for hemoadsorption were sepsis/septic shock (N = 936); cardiac surgery perioperatively (N = 172); cardiac surgery postoperatively (N = 67) and “other” reasons (N = 259). APACHE-II-predicted mortality was 62.0±24.8%, whereas observed hospital mortality was 50.1%. Overall SOFA scores did not change but cardiovascular and pulmonary SOFA scores decreased by 0.4 [-0.5;-0.3] and -0.2 [-0.3;-0.2] points, respectively. Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels showed significant reduction: -15.4 [-19.6;-11.17] ng/mL; -17,52 [-70;44] mg/L, respectively. In the septic cohort PCT and IL-6 also showed significant reduction: -18.2 [-23.6;-12.8] ng/mL; -2.6 [-3.0;-2.2] pg/mL, respectively. Evaluation of the overall effect: minimal improvement (22%), much improvement (22%) and very much improvement (10%), no change observed (30%) and deterioration (4%). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of mortality, but there were improvements in cardiovascular and pulmonary SOFA scores and a reduction in PCT, CRP and IL-6 levels. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02312024 (retrospectively registered).

The Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS), as a tract of Neoproterozoic juvenile island-arc suites and intervening oceanic basin, extends from Egypt/Saudi Arabia southwards along eastern Africa and is considered to end in southern Kenya where the southernmost ophiolite remnants occur. It consolidated by closure of the Mozambique Ocean and final collision of West- and East-Gondwana fragments. Juvenile Neoproterozoic crust that experienced tectonic and metamorphic histories similar to the northern ANS, however, extends further south to Tanzania, Madagascar, and northern Mozambique. Here, the Mozambique or Neomozambique Ocean opened by separating Azania from cratonic Africa (wider Congo Craton) in the late Mesoproterozoic. The ocean started closing by formation of the Galana—Vohibory arc by c. 970 Ma that extended from southern Kenya to southeastern Madagascar. Successively evolving island arcs (Usambara Arc, Uluguru Arcs, and Ntaka Arc) and intervening oceanic basins amalgamated finally by c. 620 Ma to build the East African high-grade granulite belt. The high- to ultra- high-grade metamorphism in Tanzanian, Kenyan, and Ugandan granulites is explained by magmatic underplating in the back of retreating subduction zones. When the ANS is defined as a suite of Neoproterozoic oceanic basins and arcs that formed by closure of the Mozambique Ocean, it has to be traced further South to northern Mozambique-western Madagascar. That questions the meaning of the conventional understanding of the term “Arabian–Nubian Shield.” It is neither a shield nor limited to Arabia and ancient Nubia. Apparent differences between the northern (Egypt–Saudi Arabia–Ethiopia) and southern portions of the Mozambique Belt (Kenya–Tanzania–northeastern Mozambique) are considered artificial arising from the fact that different nomenclatures are used.

Context Early appropriate antimicrobial therapy leads to lower mortality rates associated with severe sepsis. The role of empirical combination therapy comprising at least 2 antibiotics of different mechanisms remains controversial. Objective To compare the effect of moxifloxacin and meropenem with the effect of meropenem alone on sepsis-related organ dysfunction. Design, Setting, and Patients A randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial of 600 patients who fulfilled criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock (n = 298 for monotherapy and n = 302 for combination therapy). The trial was performed at 44 intensive care units in Germany from October 16, 2007, to March 23, 2010. The number of evaluable patients was 273 in the monotherapy group and 278 in the combination therapy group. Interventions Intravenous meropenem (1 g every 8 hours) and moxifloxacin (400 mg every 24 hours) or meropenem alone. The intervention was recommended for 7 days and up to a maximum of 14 days after randomization or until discharge from the intensive care unit or death, whichever occurred first. Main Outcome Measure Degree of organ failure (mean of daily total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment [SOFA] scores over 14 days; score range: 0-24 points with higher scores indicating worse organ failure); secondary outcome: 28-day and 90-day all-cause mortality. Survivors were followed up for 90 days. Results Among 551 evaluable patients, there was no statistically significant difference in mean SOFA score between the meropenem and moxifloxacin group (8.3 points; 95% CI, 7.8-8.8 points) and the meropenem alone group (7.9 points; 95% CI, 7.5-8.4 points) (P = .36). The rates for 28-day and 90-day mortality also were not statistically significantly different. By day 28, there were 66 deaths (23.9%; 95% CI, 19.0%-29.4%) in the combination therapy group compared with 59 deaths (21.9%; 95% CI, 17.1%-27.4%) in the monotherapy group (P = .58). By day 90, there were 96 deaths (35.3%; 95% CI, 29.6%-41.3%) in the combination therapy group compared with 84 deaths (32.1%; 95% CI, 26.5%-38.1%) in the monotherapy group (P = .43). Conclusion Among adult patients with severe sepsis, treatment with combined meropenem and moxifloxacin compared with meropenem alone did not result in less organ failure. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00534287

The Moldanubian Zone in Austria is traditionally subdivided into several tectonostratigraphic subunits, which were juxtaposed to their nowadays position during the Variscan orogeny. The Gföhl unit at the highest tectonic position exposes the Moldanubian granulites at the top, underlain by the granitic Gföhl orthogneiss. At its base lies the Raabs unit, a sequence of mafic rocks (amphibolites and sepentinites) accompanied by metasediments. The Drosendorf unit represents a sedimentary sequence mainly consisting of paragneisses, amphibolites and marbles. At the lowest position the Ostrong unit is dominated by low-P paragneisses with local appearances of eclogites.A comprehensive study along four W–E profiles from the Danube valley (P1) in the south, to the Thaya valley (P4) in the north, revealed a disparate distribution of metamorphic conditions within the Drosendorf and the Gföhl units (Raabs unit and Gföhl orthogneiss). Along P1 several lithologies of the investigated units show similar P–T conditions of 0.8–1.2 GPa and 750–800 °C, followed by a decompression stage to 0.6–0.8 GPa and ~750 °C. Towards the north the temperature within the Drosendorf unit is continuously decreasing to 650–700 °C, at pressure conditions of 0.4–0.8 GPa. P–T conditions for Raabs unit and Gföhl orthogneiss are decreasing as well but are increasing again at P4. At the western end of P4 they reach similar conditions as in P1 (0.6–1.0 GPa and 725–800), but a decrease towards the east can be observed. A slight W–E decreasing trend is also observable in P2 and P3. Th–U–Pb microprobe dating of several metasedimentary and orthogneiss samples resulted in a Carboniferous age (~340 Ma) for metamorphism. At one locality in the south an older monazite generation indicates an incipient collisional metamorphism in the Devonian (~370 Ma).The observed N–S gradient indicates that the southern parts represent formerly deeper buried lower crustal parts, whereas towards the north middle crustal levels are exposed, which were exhumed in a first stage. In a second stage of exhumation in the northernmost area, the oblique thrusting of lower crustal segment including the Gföhl unit onto the already exhumed lower-middle crustal parts caused the formation of a duplex structure, which is responsible for the present appearance of the area around the Drosendorf window.

The granulite occurrences from the Moldanubian zone were extensively studied in the last three decades and their metamorphic overprint at high pressures and at UHT conditions are well constrained. However, there are still some discrepancies regarding the prograde PT-path evolution, the genesis of the granulites and the tectonic processes required to produce the proposed PT-paths. Here we present a comprehensive petrological study where we have investigated more than 300 granulite samples from one of the largest occurrences, the Poechlarn-Wieselburg area - Dunkelsteinerwald. Conventional geothermobarometry, garnet zoning pattern, thermodynamic modelling and Zr-in-rutile thermometry on rutile grains enclosed in garnets in felsic and mafic granulites allowed to constrain the prograde as well as the retrograde segments of the PT path. Polycrystalline melt inclusions and high-Ti biotite relics as well as a uniform temperature of approximately 800°C obtained from rutile inclusions (Zr-in-rutile thermometry) in garnet cores disagree with a continuous prograde garnet growth but favour a metastable overstepping of the garnet-in reaction and growth by the peritectic biotite breakdown reaction to garnet and melt within a very narrow PT interval. Subsequent heating to T>1000°C initiated a second stage of garnet growth with a very distinct chemical composition. The preservation of the zoning pattern at these metamorphic conditions clearly document a very short lived process. Diffusion models predict a time span of Zircon U-Pb ages usually cluster around 340 Ma representing the metamorphic peak. However, in mafic granulites zircon ages from approximately 410 Ma to 340 Ma are obtained indicating either an older formation age for the precursor rock of the mafic granulites or just documenting the occurrence of xenocrysts. We applied a series of coupled petrological–thermomechanical tectono-magmatic numerical model to reproduce our deduced PTt-path that evolved from exhumation of subducted lower crust followed by intense heating at the crust-mantle boundary.

High- to ultrahigh pressure rocks ((U)HP) from some collisional orogens bear evidences of post collisional heating recorded by a β-shaped pressure–temperature–time (P–T–t) path. The post peak pressure heating segment of the P–T–t path, which can be well developed such as in the Bohemian Massif of the Variscan orogenic belt, occurs after the (U)HP rocks are exhumated from mantle depths to various crustal levels. This process is often explained by geologists as a result of mantle delamination or slab breakoff. Based on a two-dimensional coupled petrological–thermomechanical tectono-magmatic numerical model, we demonstrate that slab rollback during ongoing continental subduction can be considered as a possible mechanism responsible for the effective extraction of (ultra)high pressure metamorphic rocks and their later heating. This slab rollback scenario is further compared numerically with the classical continental collision scenario associated with slab breakoff. The mantle upwelling occurring in the experiments with slab breakoff, which is responsible for the heating of the exhumed crustal material, is not directly related to the slab breakoff but can be caused either by slab bending before slab breakoff or by post-breakoff exhumation of the subducted crust.

The Neoproterozoic geology of East Africa records the events leading up to the formation of Gondwana and subsequently Pangea, and hence understanding the geodynamic history of this area offers a unique insight into supercontinent development. Eighteen new U-Pb zircon and two U-Pb monazite ages were collected in conjunction with 110 whole-rock lithogeochemistry analyses from a region of south-east Tanzania we designate the ‘Ntaka Terrane’. These new data suggest this area of the East African Orogen constitutes an exotic nappe terrane that was part of the Mozambique Ocean in the Neoproterozoic. The lithological sequence in the region consists of a 770–720 Ma ‘basement’ of intermediate-felsic paragneiss possibly derived from a volcano-sedimentary sequence and recording arc-like geochemical signatures. These are intruded by 700–650 Ma amphibolites (±garnet) with mafic-intermediate magmatic protoliths that also have arc-like geochemistry. This sequence is then intruded by a set of ca. 670–650 Ma ultramafic, dominantly pyroxenitic sills collectively termed the Ntaka Ultramafic Complex, which have a much more mantle-like, non-arc origin, possibly formed as the island-arc intersected a mantle plume ‘hot spot’. The mafic-intermediate intrusives occur synchronous with, and outlast, the high-Mg basalt magmatism, suggesting that this latter event was transient in the context of the overall tectonic regime. The final magmatic event in the terrane is the intrusion of 640–620 Ma syn-orogenic granites that are coeval with 640–600 Ma upper amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphism. The broader geodynamic setting consisted of the Congo-Tanzania-Bangweulu Block of east Africa to the west and the Azania Block to the east of the Neomozambique Ocean, both of which contain Archean-Paleoproterozoic detritus. Based on the island arc-like geochemical characteristics of the 700–650 Ma mafic intrusive rocks and the lack of detrital zircons >1000 Ma, we suggest that the Ntaka Terrane represents a Neoproterozoic intra-oceanic island arc which was accreted to either East Africa or Azania shortly before full continental collision (the East African Orogeny) at ca. 640–620 Ma. Data from the Ntaka Terrane correlate with the Vohibory Terrane (Madagascar), Eastern Granulites (northern Tanzania) and Cabo Delgado Nappe Complex (Mozambique), suggesting these areas represent a set of broadly correlative oceanic terranes.

The Variscan European Belt is a complex orogen with its southern margin partly obscured by Alpine tectonics and metamorphism. We present a study of one of the units, the Seckau Complex, that constitute the southern part of the Variscan European Belt in the Eastern Alps in order to clarify its origin, age and lithostratigraphy. The magmatic and geochronological evolution of this Complex in the northwestern part of the Seckau Nappe (as part of the Austroalpine Silvretta-Seckau Nappe System) was investigated by zircon U Pb dating of paragneisses and metagranitoids coupled with petrological and geochemical data. This reveals the distinction of three newly defined lithostratigraphic/lithodemic sub-units: (1) Glaneck Metamorphic Suite, (2) Hochreichart Plutonic Suite and (3) Hintertal Plutonic Suite. The Glaneck Metamorphic Suite is mainly composed of fine-grained paragneisses that yield U Pb zircon ages in the range between 2.7 Ga and 2.0 Ga, as well as concordia ages from 572 ± 7 Ma to 559 ± 11 Ma. All of these ages are interpreted as detrital zircon ages originating from an igneous source. The paragneisses are the host rock for the large volumes of metagranitoids of the Hochreichart Plutonic Suite and the Hintertal Plutonic Suite. The Hochreichart Plutonic Suite comprises highly fractionated melts with mainly S-type characteristics and late Cambrian to Early Ordovician U Pb zircon ages (508 ± 9 Ma to 486 ± 9 Ma), interpreted as magmatic protolith ages. The Hintertal Plutonic Suite is composed of metagranitoids with Late Devonian to early Carboniferous (365 ± 11 Ma and 331 ± 10 Ma) protolith ages, that intruded during an early phase of the Variscan tectonometamorphic event. The metagranitoids of the Hintertal Plutonic Suites define a magmatic fractionation trend, seen in variable Rb/Sr ratios. On this base they can be further subdivided into (a) the Griessstein Pluton characterized by S-type metagranitoids and (b) the Pletzen Pluton distinguished by intermediate to acidic metagranitoids with I-type affinity. The detrital zircon age spectra suggest a Neoproterozoic ancestry of the Glaneck Metamorphic Suite, which was located west of the Arabian Nubian Shield, probably next to the Trans-Saharan Belt. The early Paleozoic evolution of the recent Seckau Complex shows similarities to basement units of the Southalpine Unit, parts of the Austroalpine Unit and the Tatric and Veporic units of the Central Western Carpathians.

The ruby deposits of the Uluguru and Mahenge Mts, Morogoro Region, are related to marbles which represent the cover sequence of the Eastern Granulites in Tanzania. In both localities the cover sequences define a tectonic unit which is present as a nappe structure thrusted onto the gneissic basement in a north-western direction. Based on structural geological observations the ruby deposits are bound to mica-rich boudins in fold hinges where fluids interacted with the marble-host rock in zones of higher permeability. Petrographic observations revealed that the Uluguru Mts deposits occur within calcite-dominated marbles whereas deposits in the Mahenge Mts are found in dolomite-dominated marbles. The mineral assemblage describing the marble-hosted ruby deposit in the Uluguru Mts is characterised by corundum-dolomite-phlogopite ± spinel, calcite, pargasite, scapolite, plagioclase, margarite, chlorite, tourmaline whereas the assemblage corundum-calcite-plagioclase-phlogopite ± dolomite, pargasite, sapphirine, titanite, tourmaline is present in samples from the Mahenge Mts. Although slightly different in mineral assemblage it was possible to draw a similar ruby formation history for both localities. Two ruby forming events were distinguished by textural differences, which could also be modeled by thermodynamic T–X CO2 calculations using non-ideal mixing models of essential minerals. A first formation of ruby appears to have taken place during the prograde path (M1) either by the breakdown of diaspore which was present in the original sedimentary precursor rock or by the breakdown of margarite to corundum and plagioclase. The conditions for M1 metamorphism was estimated at ∼750 °C at 10 kbar, which represents granulite facies conditions. A change in fluid composition towards a CO 2 dominated fluid triggered a second ruby generation to form. Subsequently, the examined units underwent a late greenschist facies overprint. In the framework of the East African Orogen we assume that the prograde ruby formation occurred at the commonly observed metamorphic event around 620 Ma. At the peak or during beginning of retrogression the fluid composition changed triggering a second ruby generation. The late stage greenschist facies overprint could have occurred at the waning stage of this metamorphic episode which is in the range of ∼580 Ma.

Numerous (meta-)gabbroic dikes or stocks occur within the latest Neoproterozoic-early Cambrian series of the Menderes Massif (Anatolide-Tauride Block, western Turkey). These well-preserved rocks were locally converted into eclogitic metagabbros and garnet amphibolites along the contacts or shear zones. Both bulk-rock composition and compositions of igneous clinopyroxenes suggest continental tholeiitic affinity. U-Pb dating of igneous zircons from gabbroic rocks yielded a mean age of 563 +/- 1 Ma (2 sigma), indicating emplacement during the latest Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran). On the other hand, rims of zircons from eclogitic metagabbro gave 535 +/- 3 Ma (2 sigma) (early Cambrian), in addition to 558 +/- 3 Ma (2 sigma) obtained from the igneous core of zircons. These ages are interpreted as the time of high-P metamorphism and crystallization age of gabbroic protolith, respectively. Given the estimated paleogeographic position of the Anatolide-Tauride Block during the late Neoproterozoic and early Cambrian, this orogenic event can be spatially and temporally related to the northward continuity of 600-500 Ma orogenic event (Malagasy/Kuunga orogeny) extending from western margin of India, Madagascar, via Arabia up to northern margin of Gondwana beneath thick Phanerozoic cover series in Arabian Peninsula. Therefore, the high-P evolution of the basement of the Menderes Massif and associated basic intrusions can be interpreted to mark the latest stages of consumption of the basin/oceanic branches and final amalgamation of the Gondwana during the late Neoproterozoic-early Cambrian around the Arabian region. (C) 2015 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This study combines structural and thermochronological analysis with published geochronological data to evaluate the tectonic evolution of the ductile Main Mylonite Zone and the adjacent brittle Ragga–Teuchl fault to the southeast of the Tauern Window. The Main Mylonite Zone experienced ductile deformation with top-to-the-NW transport direction. From microstructural analysis and published K/Ar and Ar/Ar data the timing for this ductile deformation is proposed to be Late Cretaceous in age, contemporaneous to a well documented extensional collapse that affected large parts of the Eastern Alps. Subsequent brittle faulting affected the Main Mylonite Zone and neighbouring units. Apatite fission track data suggest that brittle deformation along the Ragga–Teuchl fault and adjacent units occurred in the middle- and late Miocene (~23 and ~11 Ma), contemporaneous with the main phase of lateral extrusion. Our results show that a rather small study area may comprise information about the evolution of the Eastern Alps from Late Cretaceous to late Miocene times. We also demonstrate that low-temperature thermochronology is a viable tool to resolve the timing of brittle faulting and accompanied fluid activity.

Distinctly different crustal blocks converge in southern Tanzania which are thought to belong to the Paleoproterozoic Usagaran/Ubendian Belt, the Mesoproterozoic Irumide Belt and the Neoproterozoic East African Orogen. Zircons from thirteen samples were dated by LA-SC/MC-ICPMS in order to assign the different crystalline basement rocks to one of the above mentioned geological units based on the age of metamorphism and formation of the igneous precursor rocks. The mainly migmatic gneissic samples were taken along a traverse from Mbamba Bay, Lake Malawi to Masasi, S-Tanzania. Zircon cores and rims trace magmatic protoliths between 1000 ± 9 and 1055 ± 6 Ma and metamorphism between 563 ± 10 and 616 ± 12 Ma. Ages belonging to the Usagaran/Ubendian event as well as the 640 Ma EAO event were only found in the westernmost and easternmost part of the transsect, respectively. Magmatic ages of 724 ± 6 and 764 ± 4 Ma were determined in locally confined undeformed granitoid bodies. Mostly similar ages as well as lithological units can be found in the Unango and Marrupa Complexes in N-Mozambique which are considered as part of the Southern Irumide Belt. The exact location of terrane boundary between the Southern Irumide Belt and the Western/Eastern Granulites and the Usagaran/Ubendien Belts in southern Tanzania remains uncertain. With aid of digital elevation data, satellite images and airborne geophysical data we suggest that a combination of fault systems is responsible for the distribution of the different units. The northeastern limit of the Southern Irumide Belt (Unango and Marrupa Complexes) can be traced along a major tectonic boundary, the Mwembesi Fault system, that extends from Malawi to the south of the Mahenge Mountains in Tanzania.

The 606 Ma old Abu Ziran granite of the Eastern Desert of Egypt intruded the southern margin of the Meatiq dome in a sinistral shear extensional setting. Its emplacement was enabled by a system of NW-trending sinistral shears, related Riedel shears and N–S extensional shear zones and faults. Magmatic flow was east-directed and controlled by Riedel shears that progressively rotated to an orientation favourable for extension. Strain markers that document magmatic flow show eastward decreasing strain together with strain increase from pluton centre to margins. This is explained by Newtonian flow between non-parallel plates and differences in flow velocities across the pluton. Solid state fabrics including shear fabrics, orientation of late magmatic dykes and quartz tension gashes, together with quartz C-axes distributions, document southward extensional shear within the solidified pluton and adjacent host rocks. Extensional shear is correlated with exhumation of the Meatiq dome coeval and soon after pluton solidification (585 Ma). Pressure temperature evolutionary paths, derived from fluid inclusions, show a clockwise path with exhumation by isothermal decompression in the Meatiq dome. By contrast, the overlying volcanosedimentary nappes experienced an anti-clockwise path released by temperature rise due to pluton emplacement followed by isobaric cooling. Quartz fabrics indicate high-temperature coaxial N–S flow in the northern Meatiq dome and lower-temperature, non-coaxial southward flow within the overlaying superficial nappe. This is explained by the exhumation process itself that progressively localised into simple shear domains when rocks approached higher crustal levels. Late extension at ca. 580 Ma was pure shear dominated and resulted in reversal of shear, now dextral, in the western Meatiq shear zone.

European journal of anaesthesiology 32(2), 106-116 (2015). doi:10.1097/EJA.0000000000000183, Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa.

Background: Up to every fourth woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) suffers a clinically relevant relapse during pregnancy. High doses of steroids bear some serious risks, especially within the first trimester of pregnancy. Immunoadsorption (IA) is an effective and more selective treatment option in disabling MS relapse than plasma exchange. Data on the use of IA during pregnancy and breastfeeding are scarce. Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, we analyzed the safety and efficacy of IA treatment in acute relapses during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The primary outcome parameter - change of acute relapse-related disability after IA - was assessed using Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and visual acuity (VA) measurements for patients with optic neuritis (ON). Results: A total of 24 patients were analyzed, 23 with relapsing–remitting MS, and 1 with NMOSD. Twenty patients were treated with IA during pregnancy. Four patients received IA postnatally during the breastfeeding period. Treatment was started at a mean 22.5 [standard deviation (SD) 13.9] days after onset of relapse. Patients were treated with a series of 5.8 (mean, SD 0.7) IA treatments within 7–10 days. Sixteen patients received IA because of steroid-refractory relapse, eight were treated without preceding steroid pulse therapy. EDSS improved clinically relevant from 3.5 [median, interquartile range (IQR) 2] before IA to 2.5 (median, IQR 1.1) after IA, p < 0.001. In patients with ON, VA improved in four out of five patients. Altogether, in 83% of patients, a rapid and marked improvement of relapse-related symptoms was observed after IA with either a decrease of ⩾1 EDSS grade or improvement in VA ⩾20%. No clinically relevant side effect was reported in 138 IA treatments. Conclusions: Tryptophan-IA was found to be effective and well tolerated in MS/NMOSD relapses, both as an escalation option after insufficient response to steroid pulse therapy and as first-line relapse treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Graphicalabstract Condensed timetable of major geologic events in the East African Orogen. Opening of the Mozambique Ocean and formation of rift basins in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and SW Madagascar was accompanied by emplacement of anorthosite melt in extending crust. A first phase of ocean closure and accretion of terranes defines the East African Orogeny. The second orogen phase, Kuungan Orogeny, mainly affected the southern parts of east Africa and Madagascar. Both shortening events were followed by extension phases that were accompanied by emplacement of late- to post-tectonic granitoids. EGCD: Eastern Granulite–Cabo Delgado Nappe Complex; Madag: Madagascar; Ub–Us: Usagaran/Ubendian Belts; WG: Western Granulite Belt; IB (Z–M): Irumide Belt of Zambia and Malawi; IB (M): Irumide Belt of Mozambique., Highlights • We review the tectonic evolution of the East African Orogen. • We present tectonic and metamorphic maps from East Africa and Madagascar. • We define orgogen styles of East African and Kuungan orogenies., The East African Orogen, extending from southern Israel, Sinai and Jordan in the north to Mozambique and Madagascar in the south, is the world́s largest Neoproterozoic to Cambrian orogenic complex. It comprises a collage of individual oceanic domains and continental fragments between the Archean Sahara–Congo–Kalahari Cratons in the west and Neoproterozoic India in the east. Orogen consolidation was achieved during distinct phases of orogeny between ∼850 and 550 Ma. The northern part of the orogen, the Arabian–Nubian Shield, is predominantly juvenile Neoproterozoic crust that formed in and adjacent to the Mozambique Ocean. The ocean closed during a protracted period of island-arc and microcontinent accretion between ∼850 and 620 Ma. To the south of the Arabian Nubian Shield, the Eastern Granulite–Cabo Delgado Nappe Complex of southern Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique was an extended crust that formed adjacent to theMozambique Ocean and experienced a ∼650–620 Ma granulite-facies metamorphism. Completion of the nappe assembly around 620 Ma is defined as the East African Orogeny and was related to closure of the Mozambique Ocean. Oceans persisted after 620 Ma between East Antarctica, India, southern parts of the Congo–Tanzania–Bangweulu Cratons and the Zimbabwe–Kalahari Craton. They closed during the ∼600–500 Ma Kuungan or Malagasy Orogeny, a tectonothermal event that affected large portions of southern Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar and Antarctica. The East African and Kuungan Orogenies were followed by phases of post-orogenic extension. Early ∼600–550 Ma extension is recorded in the Arabian–Nubian Shield and the Eastern Granulite–Cabo Delgado Nappe Complex. Later ∼550–480 Ma extension affected Mozambique and southern Madagascar. Both extension phases, although diachronous,are interpreted as the result of lithospheric delamination. Along the strike of the East African Orogen, different geodynamic settings resulted in the evolution of distinctly different orogen styles. The Arabian–Nubian Shield is an accretion-type orogen comprising a stack of thin-skinned nappes resulting from the oblique convergence of bounding plates. The Eastern Granulite–Cabo Delgado Nappe Complex is interpreted as a hot- to ultra-hot orogen that evolved from a formerly extended crust. Low viscosity lower crust resisted one-sided subduction, instead a sagduction-type orogen developed. The regions of Tanzania and Madagascar affected by the Kuungan Orogeny are considered a Himalayan-type orogen composed of partly doubly thickened crust.

Geochronological data are presented from Northern Tanzania, where deep-crustal terranes of different age are exposed. Stacking of these terranes was diachronous with one peak around 640 Ma, defined as East African Orogeny, and final consolidation at 550–580 Ma, that is defined as Kuunga Orogeny. This later event is predominant in the Western Granulite Belt of northern Tanzania and related to thrusting onto the Tanzanian Craton. The Tanzania Craton itself experienced a polycyclic history; age domains around 2.64 Ga prevail in the studied samples. There is no evidence of the Paleoproterozoic Usagaran Belt in northern Tanzania. Here the gneisses contain relicts of reworked Archean basement and are therefore considered part of the Western Granulites. Inliers of the Western Granulites are also found in the cores of marble antiforms that are part of the upper, sedimentary sequence of the Eastern Granulites. Those inliers formed during the Kuungan orogenic phase when the Eastern Granulites have taken their final position and were folded together with the Western Granulites.

There is compelling evidence that interference of various anesthetics with synaptic functions and stress-provoking procedures during critical periods of brain maturation results in increased neuroapoptotic cell death. The hypothesis is that adverse intrauterine environmental conditions leading to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) with altered brain development may result in enhanced susceptibility to developmental anesthetic neurotoxicity. This was a prospective, randomized, blinded animal study performed in a university laboratory involving 20 normal-weight (NW) and 19 IUGR newborn piglets. General inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane and nitrous oxide at clinically comparable dosages were administered for about 10 h. Surgical and monitoring procedures were accompanied by appropriate stage of general anesthesia. Resulting effects on developmental anesthetic and stress-induced neurotoxicity were assessed by estimation of apoptotic rates in untreated piglets and piglets after 10-h general anesthesia with MAC 1.0 isoflurane in 70 % nitrous oxide and 30 % oxygen. IUGR piglets exposed to different levels of isoflurane inhalation exhibited a significant increased apoptosis rate (TUNEL-positive neuronal cells) compared to NW animals of similar condition (P

The NNE trending Khlong Marui shear zone has a strong geomorphic signal with marked fault-strike parallel topographic ridges. The lithologies within the strike-slip zone mainly consist of vertical layers of mylonitic meta-sedimentary rocks associated with orthogneisses, mylonitic granites, and pegmatitic veins. The pegmatitic veins concordantly intrude the mylonitic foliation but were sheared at the rims indicating syn-kinematic emplacement. Microstructures and mineral assemblages suggest that the rocks in the area have been metamorphosed at amphibolite facies and low to medium greenschist facies by the first deformation. The Khlong Marui shear zone was deformed under dextral simple shear flow with a small finite strain. The ductile-to-brittle deformation involves a period of exhumation of lenses of higher grade rocks together with low grade fault rocks probably associated with positive flower structures. The final stage brittle deformation is reflected by normal faulting and formation of proto-cataclasites to cataclasites of the original mylonitic meta-sedimentary host rock. Although clear age-constraints are still missing, we use regional relationships to speculate that earlier dextral strike-slip displacement of the Khlong Marui shear zone was related to the West Burma and Shan-Thai collision and subduction along the Sunda Trench in the Late Cretaceous, while the major exhumation period of the ductile lens was tectonically influenced by the early India-Asia collision. The changing stress field has responded by switching from dextral strike-slip to normal faulting in the Khlong Marui shear zone, and is associated with “escape tectonics” arising from the overall India-Asia collision.

Monometamorphic metasediments of Paleozoic or Mesozoic age constituting Schneeberg and Radenthein Complex experienced coherent deformation and metamorphism during Late Cretaceous times. Both complexes are part of the Eoalpine high-pressure wedge that formed an intracontinental suture and occur between the polymetamorphosed Otztal–Bundschuh nappe system on top and the Texel–Millstatt Complex below. During Eoalpine orogeny Schneeberg and Radenthein Complexes were south-dipping and they experienced a common tectonometamorphic history from ca. 115 Ma onwards until unroofing of the Tauern Window in Miocene times. This evolution is subdivided into four distinct tectonometamorphic phases. Deformation stage D1 is characterized by WNW-directed shearing at high temperature conditions (550–600°C) and related to the initial exhumation of the high-pressure wedge. D2 and D3 are largely coaxial and evolved during high- to medium-temperature conditions (ca. 450 to ≥550°C). These stages are related to advanced exhumation and associated with large-scale folding of the high-pressure wedge including the Otztal-Bundschuh nappe system above and the Texel–Millstatt Complex below. For the area west of the Tauern Window, F2/F3 fold interference results in the formation of large-scale sheath-folds in the frontal part of the nappe stack (formerly called “Schlingentektonik” by previous authors). Earlier thrusts were reactivated during Late Cretaceous normal faulting at the base of the Otztal–Bundschuh nappe system and its cover. Deformation stage D4 is of Oligo-Miocene age and accounted for tilting of individual basement blocks along large-scale strike-slip shear zones. This tilting phase resulted from indentation of the Southern Alps accompanied by the formation of the Tauern Window.

During the late Cryogenian–Ediacaran (650–542 Ma), the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) underwent final assembly and accretion to the Saharan Metacraton concurrent with the assembly of eastern and western Gondwana. At the end of the Precambrian it lay at one end of the East African Orogen, with its northern margin (present coordinates) forming a low-relief stable shelf facing an open ocean; to the south the ANS transitioned into the Mozambique Belt. The geologic history of the ANS during this period provides insight into the closing developmental stages of one of the world’s largest accretionary orogens. Following a 680–640 Ma orogenic event reflecting amalgamation of a core grouping of island-arc terranes (the proto-Arabian–Nubian Shield; pANS), the region underwent extensive exhumation, erosion, and subsidence. Depositional basins formed in the northern and eastern pANS, with those in the east below sea level and connected to an ocean. Periodic basin closure and formation of new basins in other parts of the ANS followed. Many basins were filled by terrestrial, molasse-type sediments interfingering with subordinate to predominant amounts of volcanic rocks. Magmatism was extensive throughout the period, initially characterized by tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) and granite (monzogranite, syenogranite), but also characterized, from ∼610 Ma on, by increasing amounts of alkali-feldspar granite and alkali granite. The plutons are largely undeformed, except where cut by brittle–ductile shear zones. The magma sources of the late Cryogenian–Ediacaran granitoids were dominated by juvenile crust and(or) depleted mantle and magmas mostly originated in anorogenic, post-collisional, commonly extensional, settings. They were derived by melting and fractionation of anhydrous high-grade metamorphosed lower crust, mafic- to intermediate calc-alkaline crust, and(or) subduction-modified mantle wedges associated with slab break-off or delamination. By ∼630 Ma, the region was affected by oblique (transpressional) convergence of continental blocks that formed eastern and western Gondwana—the pANS was approaching the Saharan Metacraton; north-trending shear and shortening zones developed in the southern ANS; and northwest-trending strike-slip shear zones of the Najd fault system dominated farther north. In the northwestern ANS, convergence and Najd transpression buckled the crust causing structural highs with domes of gneissic infracrust overlain by supracrust composed of ophiolitic and volcanosedimentary assemblages dating from the Tonian–middle Cryogenian period of island-arc activity. The supracrust was extensively translated to the northwest above a high-strain zone. Extension and tectonic escape augmented exhumation of the gneissic infracrust particularly between ∼620–580 Ma. In the northeastern ANS, linear belts of gneiss formed from reworked older intrusive bodies or syntectonic intrusions that were emplaced along Najd faults. By ∼620 Ma a marine basin on the eastern margin of the pANS (present coordinates) was beginning to close. A thick sedimentary assemblage (Abt formation) in this basin underwent metamorphism and folding, and subduction-related magmatism and volcanism farther into this basin (Al Amar arc; >690–615 Ma) was coming to an end. Amalgamation of the Abt formation, Al Amar arc, and the pANS occurred between ∼620 and ∼605 Ma, and terminal collision between the pANS and the Saharan Metacraton was complete by ∼580 Ma. At this time, the ANS was fully assembled. Granite magmatism continued until ∼565–560 Ma and orogeny ceased by ∼550 Ma. During these terminal events, the region underwent strong chemical weathering and became a vast low-relief surface on which Lower Paleozoic sandstone was eventually deposited.

Meta-anorthosite bodies are typical constituents of the Neoproterozoic Eastern Granulites in Tanzania. The mineral assemblage (and accessory components) is made up of clinopyroxene, garnet, amphibole; scapolite, epidote, biotite, rutile, titanite, ilmenite and quartz. Within the feldspar-rich matrix (70–90% plagioclase), mafic domains with metamorphic corona textures were used for P–T calculations. Central parts of these textures constitute high-Al clinopyroxene – which is a common magmatic mineral in anorthosites – and is therefore assumed to be a magmatic relict. The clinopyroxene rims have a diopsidic composition and are surrounded by a garnet corona. Locally the pyroxene is surrounded by amphibole and scapolite suggesting that a mixed CO2–H2O fluid was present during their formation. Thermobarometric calculations give the following conditions for the metamorphic peak of the individual meta-anorthosite bodies: Mwega: 11–13 kbar, 850–900 °C; Pare Mountains: 12–14 kbar, 850–900 °C; Uluguru Mountains: 12–14 kbar, 850–900 °C. The P–T evolution of these bodies was modelled using pseudosections. The amount and composition of the metamorphic fluid and

Aim: Mild therapeutic hypothermia improves survival and neurologic recovery in primary comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. Cooling effectivity, safety and feasibility of nasopharyngeal cooling with the RhinoChill device (BeneChill Inc., San Diego, USA) were determined for induction of therapeutic hypothermia. Methods: Eleven emergency departments and intensive care units participated in this multi-centre, single-arm descriptive study. Eighty-four patients after successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest were cooled with nasopharyngeal delivery of an evaporative coolant for 1 h. Subsequently, temperature was controlled with systemic cooling at 33 degrees C. Cooling rates, adverse events and neurologic outcome at hospital discharge using cerebral performance categories (CPC; CPC 1 = normal to CPC 5 = dead) were documented. Temperatures are presented as median and the range from the first to the third quartile. Results: Nasopharyngeal cooling for 111 reduced tympanic temperature by median 2.3 (1.6; 3.0) degrees C, core temperature by 1.1 (0.7; 1.5) degrees C. Nasal discoloration occurred during the procedure in 10(12%) patients, resolved in 9, and was persistent in 1 (1%). Epistaxis was observed in 2 (2%) patients. Periorbital gas emphysema occurred in 1 (1%) patient and resolved spontaneously. Thirty-four of 84 patients (40%) patients survived, 26/34 with favorable neurological outcome (CPC of 1-2) at discharge. Conclusions: Nasopharyngeal evaporative cooling used for 1h in primary cardiac arrest survivors is feasible and safe at flow rates of 40-50 L/min in a hospital setting. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A section through the Neoproterozoic Mozambique Belt of Tanzania exposes western foreland (Archaean Tanzania Craton and Palaeoproterozoic Usagaran Belt), marginal (Western Granulites) and eastern, internal (Eastern Granulites) portions of the orogen. The assembly of granulite nappes at ca. 620 Ma displays westward emplacement along an eastward deepening basal decollement and forward propagation of thrusts, climbing from the deep crust to the surface. This goes along with eastward increase of syntectonic temperatures, derived from prevalent deformation mechanisms, and eastward decrease of the kinematic vorticity number. Distinctly different pressure - temperature paths with a branch of isothermal decompression (ITD) in Western Granulites and isobaric cooling (IBC) in Eastern Granulites reflect residence times of rocks within lower crustal levels. Western Granulites, exhumed rapidly at the orogen margin, display ITD and non-coaxial fabrics. Eastern Granulites in the internal orogen portions escaped from rapid exhumation and show IBC and co-axial flow fabrics. The vertical variation of structural elements, i.e. basement — cover relations within the Eastern Granulites, shows decoupling between lower and middle crust with horizontal west — east stretching in the basement and horizontal west — east shortening in the cover. A model of hot fold nappes [Beaumont, C., Nguyen, M.H., Jamieson, R.A., Ellis, S., 2006. Crustal flow modes in large hot orogens. In: Law, R.D., Searle, M.P., Godin, L., (eds). Channel Flow, Ductile Extrusion and Exhumation in Continental Collision Zones. Geological Society, London, Special Publications. vol. 268, 91–145] is adopted to explain flow diversity in the deep crust. The lower crust represented by Eastern Granulite basement flowed coaxially outwards (westward) in response to thickened crust and elevated gravitational forces, supported by a melt-weakened, viscous channel at the crustal base. Horizontal flow with rates faster than thermal equilibration gave rise to isobaric cooling. Simultaneously the mid crust (Eastern Granulite cover) was shortened when hot fold nappes moved along upward climbing thrust planes. Western Granulites preserved isothermal decompression through exhumation by thrusting and coeval erosion at the orogen front. Two different styles define the Neoproterozoic East African Orogen between northern Egypt and southern Mozambique. The Arabian Nubian Shield in the north is classified as small and cold orogen in which thin — skinned thrusting was associated with lateral extrusion. The Central Mozambique Belt in Tanzania/Southern Kenya is classified as large and hot orogen characterized by thick-skinned thrusting and assembly of large granulite nappes.

The Paleozoic of Graz is an isolated nappe complex of about 1,500 km2 size and belongs to the Austroalpine units of the eastern European Alps. Despite more than 500 publications on stratigraphy, paleontology and local structure, many aspects of the internal geometry of this complex as a whole remained unclear. In this contribution, we present integrated geological profiles through the entire nappe complex. Based on these profiles, we present (1) a simplified lithological subdivision into 13 rock associations, (2) a modified tectonostratigraphy where we consider only two major tectonic units: an upper and a lower nappe system and in which we abandon the traditionally used facies nappe concept, and (3) a modified paleogeography for the whole complex. Finally, we discuss whether the internal deformation of the Paleozoic of Graz is of Variscan or Eo-Alpine age and which of the published models best explain the tectonic evolution of the Paleozoic of Graz.

The Paleogene and Neogene evolution of Austroalpine basement units east of the Tauern Window is characterised by the formation of two major sets of faults: (1) ESE-WNW- to E-W-trending faults, associated with ENE- and NNW-trending conjugate structures and (2) N-S to NNE-SSW striking structures, mainly acting as high-angle normal faults, often associated with E-dipping low-angle normal faults along the western margin of the Styrian Basin.

The Central Tanzanian Shear Belt (CTSB) constitutes a 300-km long W–E trending dextral shear belt that was active during Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic orogenies. It formed along the southern margin of the Archean Tanzania Craton that acted as rigid indenter during both orogenies. Based on structural and microtextural methods several deformational stages have been identified. Paleoproterozoic shear is recorded in the 1.8–2.0 Ga old magmatic Usagaran Belt. This shear was accompanied by vast melt intrusions in a hot and soft crust leading to low strain and coaxial flow. It ceased in an exhumation phase with localized non-coaxial shear followed by the deposition of nonconform sediments dated around 1.9 Ga. In the Neoproterozoic, the CTSB is found as reactivated shear zones in the Usagaran Orogen and as megascale shear zone in the metamorphic Mozambique Belt. It is a release (or counterflow) structure that evolved in the course of crustal thickening in a strong crust around 0.6 Ga. Along the strike of the Neoproterozoic CTSB syntectonic conditions change from localized brittle shear along the Tanzania Craton to distributed high temperature coaxial shear in the eastern section of the orogen's root. This goes along with a significant change in microstructures and LPO patterns.

The Taita Hills–Galana River region is a key area to demonstrate the polycyclic nature of the Mozambique Belt in SE Kenya. On the basis of petrological and tectonic data, this area is composed of two different granulite-facies terranes, which are separated by the 20–30 km wide Galana Shear Zone. The Taita Hills and adjoining Sagala Hills exhibit a metamorphic overprint at 630–645 Ma, similar to areas in Tanzania. An emplacement age for the magmatic precursor rocks of 850–960 Ma was derived from zircon cores. Sm–Nd garnet–whole-rock analyses give an age of 585 Ma, interpreted as the cooling age after 630–645 Ma metamorphism. Nd crustal residence ages are between 1000 and 1500 Ma. The Galana Shear Zone east of the Taita Hills contains strongly deformed tonalitic migmatites with interlayered pegmatites that date a younger tectonometamorphic event at 560–580 Ma. East of the shear zone only a young metamorphic age of 550 Ma was found. The Nd model ages are c . 1500 Ma to c . 2900 Ma. In a continental configuration prior to Gondwana break-up our study area was located close to Madagascar, where several large shear zones are observed. One of these shear zones (Ranotsara Shear Zone) may be a continuation of the Galana Shear Zone.