Danish Site Research Articles

Association between cholesterol and response to escitalopram and nortriptyline in patients with major depression: Study combining clinical and register-based information

Little is known whether cholesterol levels affect depression treatment outcomes. We aimed to study the association between baseline and changes in blood cholesterol levels with drug-specific antidepressant response and long-term prognosis in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). From the Danish site of the GENDEP trial, we included patients with MDD randomized to escitalopram or nortriptyline treatment. Total and free cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and depression severity using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression rating scale (MADRS) were measured at baseline and after 26 weeks of treatment initiation. By linkage with nationwide registers, we analyzed psychiatric and cardiometabolic hospital contacts during the five years after the trial. We assessed the association of cholesterol levels with a) depression severity using linear and mixed effects regression analyses; and b) the register-based outcomes using Cox regression analyses. Among 78 patients (mean age 38 years, 74% women, mean MADRS score 28 [SD=4.5]), baseline cholesterol levels were not correlated with antidepressant response. Among 58 patients with measurements at week 0 and 26, cholesterol levels significantly increased in both treatment groups. Only in patients using escitalopram did the increase in total and free cholesterol and LDL correlate with improved antidepressant response. Baseline or changes in cholesterol were not associated with 5-year outcomes. Secondary analyses on a rather small sample. This study provides clinical insight into potential drug-specific associations between increases in cholesterol levels and antidepressant response to escitalopram but not nortriptyline. • Cholesterol levels increased during 26 weeks of antidepressant treatment • Among those treated with escitalopram, the increase correlated with improved response • We found no correlation between change in cholesterol and response in the nortriptyline group • Baseline or change in cholesterol levels were not associated with differential 5-year prognosis

Surface-area development of foredune trough blowouts and associated parabolic dunes quantified from time series of satellite imagery

• Blowout surface area quantified from medium-scale satellite imagery. • Blowouts grow, stabilize and decay with a life time exceeding multiple decades. • Seasonal variation in blowout area increases with latitude. • Foredune erosion results in episodic, yet temporary increase in blowout surface area. Foredune trough blowouts are elongated wind-eroded depressions in the most seaward dune and their adjoining depositional lobes. Despite their importance to the sand budget and floral diversity of coastal dunes, the spatiotemporal evolution of trough blowouts is not well understood. We designed an automated workflow in the Google Earth Engine platform to produce time series of blowout surface area from medium-resolution satellite imagery available since the mid-1980s and applied it to a blowout system in the Netherlands, Denmark and the USA. Blowout surface areas were found to vary on multi-annual, seasonal and episodic time scales. Multi-annual change reflects successive development through stages of growth, stabilization and decay. The transition from growth to stabilization appears to be related to a change in blowout shape (width-to-length ratio). The decay phase starts with vegetation obstructing the blowout connection to the beach; the lobe can still migrate inland and develop into a parabolic dune before also becoming fully vegetated. The seasonal variations in blowout area increase with latitude; the observed larger areas in winter at the Dutch and Danish site presumably reflect seasonal plant development and the effect of stronger winds in winter. Episodic increases in blowout area, observed during winter at the Danish site only, are associated with pronounced foredune erosion. None of the episodic events changed blowouts into a different stage or persistently affected seasonal dynamics. Future work should focus on the combined analysis of changes in blowout area and sand volume to improve our understanding of sand-vegetation interactions driving blowout dynamics.

Intergenerational Associations Between Maternal Diet and Childhood Adiposity: A Bayesian Regularized Mediation Analysis

Growing evidence supports a positive association between childhood obesity and chronic diseases in later life. It is also suggested that childhood obesity is more prevalent for children born from pregnancies complicated by metabolic disorders such as gestational diabetes, and can be related to maternal dietary factors during gestation. Extending conventional analyses that report only the marginal associations within non-causal mediation frameworks, we present mediation analysis in the case of multiple exposures and multiple mediators using a regularized two-stage approach. By placing shrinkage priors on each parameter relating to direct and indirect effects, a parsimonious model can be obtained, and consequently, the most relevant pathways will be selected to inform the development of efficient prevention programs. We apply this method to data from the Danish site of the Diabetes & Women’s Health Study, Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC), and find 6 significant maternal risk factors either directly or indirectly affecting childhood body mass index z score at age 7. Simulations with data-generating mechanisms similar to the DNBC data demonstrate good performance of the proposed model.

To be a Bookeater


 
 
 Today, adolescent fiction readers are increasingly engaged in different forms of ‘social reading’ in online communities. Through an analysis of Bookeater.dk, a Danish site for adolescent readers, we show how a communal reader identity is constructed via predominant conceptions of reading among the site’s users and how this influences literary value assessment. Overall, the article argues that the young readers’ adherence to this communal identity creates a culture of consensus rather than opening up space for critical discussion about literary value. Neverthe- less, they show critical awareness of the different interests surrounding the publica- tion and promotion of literature.
 
 

Resistant Soil Microbial Communities Show Signs of Increasing Phosphorus Limitation in Two Temperate Forests After Long-Term Nitrogen Addition

Forest soils harbor diverse microbial communities that are responsible for the cycling of elements including carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Conversely, anthropogenic N deposition can negatively feedback on soil microbes and reduce soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. Mechanistically, this includes reductions of decomposer biomass, especially fungi, and decreases in activities of lignin-modifying enzyme (LMEs). Moreover, N inputs can decrease the C:N imbalance between microbial decomposers and their resources by lowering resource C:N, resulting in slowed microbially-mediated decomposition and larger SOM pools. Here, we studied the long-term impact of N addition on soil microbes and associated decomposition processes along the topsoil profile in two temperate coniferous forests in Switzerland and Denmark. We measured microbial biomass C and N, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarkers and potential enzyme activities. In particular, we investigated shifts in community level homeostasis and relative elemental limitation after two decades of N addition. Contrary to prevailing theory, microbial biomass and community composition were remarkably resistant against twenty years of 780 and 1280 kg ha-1 of cumulative N inputs at the Swiss and Danish site, respectively. While N reduced fungal-specific PLFAs and lowered fungi:bacteria ratios in some horizons, it increased the fungi:bacteria ratio in other horizons. We did not find a consistent reduction of lignin-modifying enzymes (LMEs). This questions prevalent theories of responses of lignin decomposition and SOC storage to elevated N inputs. We further showed that microbial communities responded in part non-homeostatically to decreasing resource C:N, likely through adaptations in microbial elemental use efficiencies. In contrast, the expected increased allocation to C- and decreased allocation to N-acquisition enzymes was not found. Microbial investment into P acquisition (acid phosphatase activity) increased in nutrient-poor Podzols (but not in nutrient-rich Gleysols), while enzyme vector analysis showed decreasing C but increasing P limitation of soil microbial communities at both sites. We conclude that simulated N deposition in two independent, long-term experiments led to physiological adaptations of soil microbial communities with implications for tree nutrition and SOC sequestration. However, we expect that microbial adaptations are not endless and may reach a tipping point when ecosystems experience nitrogen saturation.

Mapping the effect of IEQ on health, comfort and perception – a real-life Danish multiple site longitudinal panel study

Mapping the effect of IEQ on health, comfort and perception – a real-life Danish multiple site longitudinal panel study

Association of copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, with insulin resistance: Influence of adolescence and psychological stress

In middle-aged and elderly individuals, circulating copeptin concentrations, a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion, associates with insulin resistance (IR). Whether this association is present in adolescents and young adults is unclear. Because psychological stress associates with higher circulating copeptin concentrations and IR, it has been speculated that increased AVP secretion could be a link between psychological stress and IR. We measured plasma copeptin concentrations in 351 14–16-year-old adolescents and 617 20–28-year-old young adults from the Danish site of the European Youth Heart Study, a population-based cardiovascular risk factor study in adolescents and young adults. IR was determined by the homeostatic model assessment method. Among the young adults, we used symptoms of depression, evaluated by means of the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) scale, as a measure of psychological stress. We applied linear regressions to examine associations, expressed as unstandardized regression coefficients (B) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), between variables of interest, stratified by age group and adjusting for age, sex and Tanner stages. Copeptin and IR were log-transformed. Among the young adults, copeptin associated with IR (B (95%CI) = 0.19 (0.11 to 0.27), P < 0.001). This association was not found among the adolescents (B=-0.01 (-0.12 to 0.09), P = 0.78). MDI score associated with IR (B = 0.010 (0.004 to 0.016), P < 0.001) and copeptin (B=0.010 (0.004 to 0.015); P<0.002) in the young adults. Adjusted for copeptin, the strength of the association between MDI score and IR somewhat diminished (to B=0.008). In conclusion, adolescence and psychological stress appear to influence the association between copeptin and IR.

Lessons learned from measuring fidelity with the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity code (MITI 4)

Background and aimsThe Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity code (MITI) measures fidelity to, and the quality of, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and can also be used when MI is combined with other treatment methods. The current study presents a fidelity measurement with the MITI 4.2.1, in both Motivational Enhancement Therapy sessions and the combined Community Reinforcement Approach-Senior (CRAS). MethodThe MITI 4.2.1 was used to evaluate treatment sessions provided in the Elderly Study, a multi-national randomized trial evaluating treatment for alcohol use disorders in the elderly. Following expert recommendations, training was conducted at two international sites as well as at the Danish site. Twenty percent of the sessions at the Danish study site were rated. Twelve percent were multiply rated by all raters. Interrater reliability was assessed by the Intraclass Correlations Coefficient (ICC). ResultsMean ICC of the 52 sessions rated by all raters was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.70; 0.86). The rare measures confront and emphasize autonomy, and the global measure softening sustain talk only reached fair levels of ICC, while the remaining measures were good or excellent. In the sessions of MI combined with other treatment approaches in the CRAS, the MITI 4.2.1 has a similar reliability as in MET sessions only, except for the measure persuade with permission. ConclusionThe MITI 4.2.1 is a reliable instrument for measuring fidelity to Motivational Interviewing elements, also in the context of Community Reinforcement Approach Senior. However, in softening sustain talk, the rare measures, and persuade with permission it has proved more difficult to reach high levels of interrater reliability.

PCN40 - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC CASTRATION-RESISTANT PROSTATE CANCER (MCRPC) PRESCRIBED ABIRATERONE ACETATE + PREDNISONE PRIOR TO CHEMOTHERAPY IN SWEDEN, NORWAY AND DENMARK

The objective of the study was to determine abiraterone acetate + prednisone (AAP) treatment outcomes in the pre-chemotherapy real-world setting. A multi-center (4), multi-country (3) retrospective chart review of adult men diagnosed with mCRPC receiving and progressing on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) prior to treatment initiation with abiraterone no later than December 31, 2014. Summary statistics and Kaplan Meier curves were used to estimate treatment outcomes in months (m). The sites enrolled 168 patients, 132 were per protocol. Mean age was 77, with the highest mean age from the Norwegian site (79.5). Median treatment duration was shortest in Sweden (4.3 m and 6.4 m), longer in Denmark (8.6 m) and longest in Norway (13.9 m). Norway had the longest overall survival (OS) with 18.4 m and the longest progression free survival (PFS) with 7.5 m. Sweden had the shortest reported PFS (4 m and 5.1 m at each respective site) and shortest OS (4.9 m and 9.6 m). PFS for the Danish site was 5.1 m and OS 16.1 m. Real-life treatment use of AAP for pre-chemo mCRPC patients varied substantially in the Nordic countries during the study period. Patients offered AAP were generally old and frail during this period of observation closely following a new therapeutic launch. Most of the men initiating treatment were described as ineligible for chemotherapy. Compared to later real- world outcomes studies in Europe with patients taking AAP in this indication, including Swedish sites (Time-To-Progression 11.4 m)[1]), and Swedish registry data (treatment duration 10m, OS 25 m[2]), patient outcomes for this study period were worse, likely due to the underlying frailty status of the patient population chosen for this therapy when it was first introduced. A sequential cohort model, accounting for changes in practice in various time periods post-introduction, is recommended for future therapeutic follow-up.

Vertical Redistribution of Soil Organic Carbon Pools After Twenty Years of Nitrogen Addition in Two Temperate Coniferous Forests

Nitrogen (N) inputs from atmospheric deposition can increase soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in temperate and boreal forests, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of anthropogenic CO2 emissions on global climate. However, direct evidence of N-induced SOC sequestration from low-dose, long-term N addition experiments (that is, addition of < 50 kg N ha−1 y−1 for > 10 years) is scarce worldwide and virtually absent for European temperate forests. Here, we examine how tree growth, fine roots, physicochemical soil properties as well as pools of SOC and soil total N responded to 20 years of regular, low-dose N addition in two European coniferous forests in Switzerland and Denmark. At the Swiss site, the addition of 22 kg N ha−1 y−1 (or 1.3 times throughfall deposition) stimulated tree growth, but decreased soil pH and exchangeable calcium. At the Danish site, the addition of 35 kg N ha−1 y−1 (1.5 times throughfall deposition) impaired tree growth, increased fine root biomass and led to an accumulation of N in several belowground pools. At both sites, elevated N inputs increased SOC pools in the moderately decomposed organic horizons, but decreased them in the mineral topsoil. Hence, long-term N addition led to a vertical redistribution of SOC pools, whereas overall SOC storage within 30 cm depth was unaffected. Our results imply that an N-induced shift of SOC from older, mineral-associated pools to younger, unprotected pools might foster the vulnerability of SOC in temperate coniferous forest soils.

Genetic diversity and genotypic stability in Prunus avium L. at the northern parts of species distribution range

Large genetic variation was found in Prunus avium L. populations from the northern parts of the species distribution range. The ranking of genotypes in terms of growth was stable when tested at three trial sites within the northern parts of the species distribution range. Peripheral populations especially those in the leading edge are isolated from rest of the areas in the species distribution range. This can make them less genetically diverse yet genetically distinct from the rest of the populations in the species distribution range. Evaluation of their genetic diversity is thus crucial in understanding the local adaptation potential of a species. We investigated the genetic diversity and genotype by environment interaction at the northern parts of the distribution range of P. avium. Quantitative genetic variation of growth, stem form, and spring phenology were assessed in progenies from 93 plus trees of P. avium selected from 43 locations at the north of the species distribution range in Sweden and tested at two Swedish sites and one Danish site. We find large quantitative genetic variation in growth and phenology at the northern part of the distribution range of P. avium. Only a limited genotype by environment interaction was observed with no clear indication of local adaptation at the northern parts of the species distribution. We conclude that P. avium harbors a high level of genetic diversity at the north of its distribution range. Present patterns therefore reflect more likely the recent introduction of the species and dispersal dynamics rather than a long-term loss of diversity along South-North ecological clines during the Holocene. With no indications of genetic depletion in growth or phenology, the gene pool in the breeding program is considered suitable for the future propagation of the species in the tested area.

Effects of an aged copper contamination on distribution of earthworms, reproduction and cocoon hatchability

Contaminated soil is a problem throughout the industrialized world, and a significant proportion of these sites are polluted with heavy metals such as copper. Ecological risk assessment of contaminated sites requires ecotoxicological studies with spiked soils as well as in-situ ecological observations. Here, we report laboratory and field assessment of copper toxicity for earthworms at a Danish site (Hygum) exclusively contaminated with an increasing gradient in copper from background to highly toxic levels (>1000mgkg−1 dry soil). More specifically, we report effects on field populations, body contents of copper, hatching of earthworm cocoons and reproduction of the common species Aporrectodea tuberculata. Abundance of earthworms and cocoons decreased significantly from about 400–150m−2 along the gradient as the soil copper concentration increased from ca. 50 to ca. 1000mgkg−1. At lower concentrations, the population was dominated by endogeic species, whereas at high concentrations the population was dominated by epigeic species. At high copper contents the internal concentration of copper was in the range 100–160mgkg−1 dry tissue. Despite the high internal copper contents, hatchability of field collected cocoons was not impaired in any species. The EC50 reproduction value of A. tuberculata was about 220mg copper kg−1 dry soil in the first two exposure periods, but nearly doubled in the third period suggesting that an acclimation response had occurred. Also in the laboratory reproduction test, cocoon hatchability was not reduced, but rather slightly stimulated by copper. Based on these results we discuss the possibility that acute exposure in laboratory experiments is more detrimental than exposure in a field situation, perhaps because increased tolerance may be acquired through natural selection and genetic adaptation through increased use of defense mechanisms such as metallothioneins. Further, we discuss that the rather high tissue copper level of earthworms from the Hygum site may have smaller effects in these free-ranging worms than it would have in acute-exposure laboratory tests because the copper is more efficiently sequestered and detoxified in the field situation where populations have been exposed for many generations.

In situ Preservation Solutions for Deposited Iron Age Human Bones in Alken Enge, Denmark

The rich mass deposition of Iron Age human bone material from the Danish site, Alken Enge, is extraordinary not only from an archaeological perspective but also from a preservation point of view. The main find is situated in a waterlogged, anoxic environment which provides excellent preservation conditions and therefore enables in situ preservation of the human bones. However, major differences in local environmental conditions challenge an in situ preservation of the entire site area as parts of the bone material presently deteriorate. In this paper, a multi-proxy environmental monitoring approach is used to document threats and to suggest the best preservation solution for the archaeological finds, whether in or ex situ.

3B.07

Objective:To study the relationship between blood pressure, circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations, gender, and pubertal stage in generally healthy adolescents.Design and method:Cross-sectional study of 15-year-old females and males (n = 335) from the Danish site of the European Youth Heart

Mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and blood pressure in adolescents: Effect of gender and pubertal stage

Little is known about blood pressure in relation to circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations and gender in generally healthy adolescents. We studied 15-year-old females and males (n = 335) from the Danish site of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS). Blood pressure was measured using a standardized protocol, sexual maturity was assessed according to Tanner stage, and as a surrogate for atrial natriuretic peptide, we measured mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) in plasma. Compared with boys, girls had lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mean ± SD: 109.6 ± 9.9 mmHg vs 116.9 ± 11.4 mmHg, p < 0.0001) and higher plasma MR-proANP concentrations [median (interquartile range): 42.1 pmol/l (31.9–50.2 pmol/l) vs 36.6 pmol/l (30.6–44.9 pmol/l), p = 0.0046]. When female adolescents were further subdivided according to Tanner stage, there were no differences in blood pressure and plasma MR-proANP concentrations between post-pubertal and pubertal girls (p > 0.17). In contrast, after similar subdivision, post-pubertal boys had higher SBP (mean ± SD: 117.7 ± 11.7 mmHg vs 111.4 ± 7.9 mmHg, p = 0.029) and lower plasma MR-proANP concentrations [median (interquartile range): 36.2 pmol/l (30.6–43.1 pmol/l) vs 46.4 pmol/l (30.3–51.1 pmol/l), p = 0.043] compared with pubertal boys. Given their higher SBP, boys had lower than expected plasma concentrations of MR-proANP compared with girls, and given their higher SBP, post-pubertal boys had lower than expected plasma concentrations of MR-proANP compared with pubertal boys.

Associations between bicycling and carotid arterial stiffness in adolescents: The European Youth Hearts Study.

The aim of the study was to investigate the associations between bicycling and carotid arterial stiffness, independent of objectively measured moderate-and-vigorous physical activity. This cross-sectional study included 375 adolescents (age 15.7 ± 0.4 years) from the Danish site of the European Youth Heart Study. Total frequency of bicycle usage was assessed by self-report, and carotid arterial stiffness was assessed using B-mode ultrasound. After adjusting for pubertal status, body height, and objectively measured physical activity and other personal lifestyle and demographic factors, boys using their bicycle every day of the week displayed a higher carotid arterial compliance {standard beta 0.47 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-0.87]} and distension [standard beta 0.38 (95% CI -0.04 to 0.81)]. Boys using their bicycle every day of the week furthermore displayed a lower Young's elastic modulus [standard beta -0.48 (95% CI -0.91 to -0.06)]. Similar trends were observed when investigating the association between commuter bicycling and carotid arterial stiffness. These associations were not observed in girls. Our observations suggest that increasing bicycling in adolescence may be beneficial to carotid arterial health among boys.

Coupled Dynamic Flow and Geomechanical Simulations for an Integrated Assessment of CO2 Storage Impacts in a Saline Aquifer

Abstract Pore pressure variation resulting from geological CO 2 storage may compromise reservoir, caprock and fault integrity. Therefore, we investigate the mechanical impact of industrial-scale CO 2 storage at a prospective Danish site by coupled 3D hydro-mechanical simulations carried out by two independent modelling groups. Even though the two chosen modelling strategies are not identical, simulation results demonstrate that storage integrity is maintained at any time. Vertical displacements are mainly determined by hydraulic fault conductivity influencing spatial pore pressure elevation. The introduced fault zone implementation in the hydro- mechanical model allows for localization of potential leakage pathways for formation fluids along the fault plane.

Spatial and temporal variation in N transfer in grass–white clover mixtures at three Northern European field sites

The N flow dynamics in grass–clover mixtures are not well understood. Spatial distributions and temporal differences in inter- and intra-species N transfer were investigated at field sites in Iceland, Germany, and Denmark, with three different managements at the Danish site. Both grass and white clover were leaf-labeled four times during a full year and the short-term N transfer to neighboring grass and white clover was determined in 10 cm intervals up to 1 m from the labeled plant. In addition 15N-injection of inorganic N at 5, 15, and 25 cm soil depth was carried out at the Danish site to compare spatial and temporal N transfer patterns to soil inorganic N uptake. The short-term N transfer from white clover to the closest companion grass reached levels of more than 50% of N from labeled white clover late in the growing season, thus questioning whether longer-term root turnover processes are dominating N transfer. The horizontal N transfer to grass exceeded 50 cm from the labeled plant at one site. The study showed that the competitive ability of white clover is as important for N dynamics in grass–white clover mixtures as that of the companion grass. Intra-species N transfer showed that both grass and white clover have reuptake of deposited N corresponding to at least 1% of the N found in leaf biomass. The study also showed that N transfer cannot be explained simply by competition for soil inorganic N, which indicates transfer via organic N forms.

CCS demo Denmark: The Vedsted case

Abstract Vattenfall is a major operator on the energy market in Europe and have a broad portfolio of energy production from nuclear power, biomass and coal fired power plants together with a growing amount of wind turbines. Large research programs are looking into optimizing production and reducing environmental impact from the different units. It is Vattenfall vision to be CO 2 neutral in the Nordic countries in 2030 and for the entire group in 2050. To obtain these goals Vattenfall is very active in developing technologies for carbon capture and storage (CCS). In Denmark Vattenfall operates three coal-fired power plants and a screening survey in 2007, matching power plant and storage site location–source sink matching - pointed towards Nordjyllandsvaerket near the city of Aalborg as the most obvious plant with safe onshore storage opportunities only 30 km away. It was decided to develop the project into a full scale demo project with post-combustion capture, pipeline transport and onshore storage in an aquifer. The whole project has been driven by a very firm time schedule in order to meet the 2015 deadline. When the CCS project on the Vattenfall operated power plant Janschwalde in Germany was granted funding through the European Commission the CCS project at Nordjyllandsvaerket was turned into an early commercial project aiming at 2020 for commissioning. The site characterization is still ongoing on the Danish site.

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating investigations of rock and underlying soil from three case studies

Three rock samples and associated underlying surface (floor) soils of geoarchaeological significance from Greece, Sweden and a modern surface stone-sample from a Danish site were investigated using OSL dating. Thin slice, sub-samples, from drilled core surfaces were prepared. A single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol was used on whole rock slices to estimate the laboratory equivalent dose. Laboratory tests showed that the SAR protocol successfully corrected for sensitivity changes and that a known laboratory dose could be measured accurately. The luminescence signals from quartz and feldspar stimulated by blue light and from feldspar under IR stimulation were employed in equivalent dose calculations. Only IR signals showed measurable fading on a laboratory timescale. Laboratory tests showed that daylight bleaching of the rock surfaces is rapid, and that the light-exposed region extended into the solid rock. The geoarchaeological ages obtained for the rocks and soils were in satisfactory agreement with independent age estimates.