Central Sector Research Articles

Sustainable Strategies and Value Creation in the Food and Beverage Sector: The Case of Large Listed European Companies

Food and beverage in Europe represents a central sector in terms of contribution to GDP, employment, and the trade balance. At the same time, it has significant environmental, economic, and social implications, making the adoption of sustainable strategies of vital importance for companies in the sector. This study explores how sustainable business practices can create long-term strategic value, with a particular focus on the food and beverage sector. The research analyzes the relationship between sustainability and business strategy, focusing on how companies can thrive in the context of environmental uncertainties, social fluctuations, and economic interconnectedness. Specifically, the study aims to identify the key sustainability practices and strategies adopted by leading food and beverage companies and determine how these practices affect their ESG performance (environmental, social, and governance) results. The study uses a reasoned selection of case studies from one of the primary CSR regulatory categories—listed companies with considerable size (excluding tobacco companies and those with a capitalization of less than EUR 10 billion)—comparing companies’ sustainability reports and the latest 2023 integrated annual report to assess every aspect of each company, from market position to sustainability policies and sustainable reporting.

La compra eficiente en los territorios: un gran reto para el mercado de compra pública colombiano en un ambiente ampliamente regulado

The public procurement market is consolidated as the new paradigm to understand transactions between public authorities and the private sector to meet their needs. This makes the economic perspective of this discipline revolve around providing measures that seek the efficiency of the market. This text argues that such efficiency is achieved when the precise roles of the regulatory agent and the purchasing agent whose objectives are different but their harmonious collaboration is what generates the environment of commercial normality are identified and assigned; this position is explained through an analysis of the Colombian case with the risks to efficiency represented by a regulation directed exclusively from the central sector and an institutional measure is proposed to mitigate them.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBSIDENCE DYNAMICS AND PALAEOTEMPERATURE REGIME OF THE NORTHERN MARGIN OF THE SIBERIAN PLATFORM

The formation mechanisms of sedimentary basins are considered as a response of deep processes in the mantle, therefore they carry important information about the geodynamics and thermal regime of the lithosphere. For different sectors of the northern margin of the Siberian Platform, the dynamics of sedimentation and subsidence was reconstructed. The analysis of subsidence curves shows that during the Late Paleozoic the sedimentary infill formed in the foreland basin environment. In the Late Permian–Early Triassic time, in the central and western sectors, the subsidence was accelerating due to the development of a thick trap complex; after the Permian and Triassic boundary the subsidence slowed down. During the period of trap magmatism, an anomalously high subsidence rate up to 4.8 km/Ma in the central and up to 0.5–1.1 km/Ma in the eastern and western parts was reconstructed. The high rate and short duration of accumulation of volcanogenic sediments can be explained by an episode of short-term extension under the influence of a plume, followed by a long period of thermal subsidence. Numerical modelling of the temperature regime near mafic intrusive bodies was carried out, which showed that when determining the paleoheat flow, the influence of trap intrusions can be traced up to 400–500 m from the contacts. Estimates of the paleoheat flow for the Permian–Triassic stage of tectonic evolution of the eastern sector were obtained. It was calibrated using the PetroMod software package, based on laboratory measurements of modern values of vitrinite reflectance for rock samples from wells, modern temperature and heat flow in the sedimentary cover. It was determined that trap magmatism occurred at temperatures increased to 100 mW/m2, while the mantle component of the heat flow reached 38–72 mW/m2; it is several times higher as compared to modern one. The obtained paleoheat flow estimates for the Late Permian–Early Triassic stage appear to correspond to anomalously high values of modern continental rifts.

Retina in Clinical High-Risk and First-Episode Psychosis.

Abnormalities in the retina are observed in psychotic disorders, especially in schizophrenia. Using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, we investigated structural retinal changes in relatively metabolic risk-free youth with clinical high-risk (CHR, n = 34) and first-episode psychosis (FEP, n = 30) compared with healthy controls (HCs, n = 28). Total retinal macular thickness/volume of the right eye increased in FEP (effect sizes, Cohen's d = 0.69/0.66) and CHR (d = 0.67/0.76) compared with HCs. Total retinal thickness/volume was not significantly different between FEP and CHR. Macular retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness/volume of the left eye decreased in FEP compared with HCs (d = -0.75/-0.66). Peripapillary RNFL thickness was not different between groups. The ganglion cell (GCL), inner plexiform (IPL), and inner nuclear (INL) layers thicknesses/volumes of both eyes increased in FEP compared with HCs (d = 0.70-1.03). GCL volumes of both eyes, IPL thickness/volume of the left eye, and INL thickness/volume of both eyes increased in CHR compared with HCs (d = 0.64-1.01). In the macula, while central sector thickness/volume decreased (d = -0.62 to -0.72), superior outer (peri-foveal) sector thickness/volume of both eyes increased (d = 0.81 to 0.86) in FEP compared with HCs. The current findings suggest that distinct regions and layers of the retina may be differentially impacted during the emergence and early phase of psychosis. Consequently, oculomics could play significant roles, not only as a diagnostic tool but also as a mirror reflecting neurobiological changes at axonal and cellular levels.

Mud diapirs in a continental extensional basin: 3D seismic interpretation of the Central Recôncavo Basin (northeast Brazil)

Mud diapirs are present in different tectonic environments around the globe and are particularly prevalent in large deltas. The onshore Jurassic-Cretaceous Recôncavo Basin in northeast Brazil represents an atypical example of mud diapir occurrence in a rift basin. The intensity of mud diapirism is different in the three sectors of the basin, with the central sector exhibiting the best development. In the southern sector, diapirism is less significant, and it is practically nonexistent in the northeast sector. The 3D seismic, outcrop, and well data are used to geomorphologically characterize the onshore mud diapirs in the central sector of the Recôncavo Basin and correlate them with the structural and morphological aspects of the basin, in addition to elucidating the possible origins of their movement. After seismic interpretation, four mud diapirs are identified in the study area: Apraius-Miranga Norte, Pedra do Salgado, Biriba, and Carijó. Two internal seismic facies are identified as F1 and F2, with F1 having more disruptive features and F2 being more reflection-free. The eastern diapirs, close to the border fault conglomerates, are dominated by disrupted seismic facies (F1). The diapiric movement is associated with paleoseismicity and the rupture of an ancient delta front, together with the rapid basinward advancement of conglomerates during an active rifting phase. The Biriba diapir is possibly the first to arise, followed by Carijó and Apraius-Miranga Norte, and finally, Pedra do Salgado; this variable timing influences the location and migration of the depocenters in the area.

Effect of Organization Capabilities on the Growth of Fintech Providers in Kenya

Purpose: The Fintech industry has become a central service sector that has revolutionized financial services provision and fostered financial inclusion. However, the revolutionary nature of the various Fintech firms has resulted in their operations being unclear as their conduct in the market remains unsupervised. Further the Fintechs fail in diversifying their products and services thus limiting their growth within the country. This research sought to establish the effect of organization capabilities on the business growth of fintech providers in Kenya. The specific objectives of the research sought to establish the effect of resource capabilities, marketing capabilities, leadership capabilities and technological capabilities on the business growth of fintech providers in Kenya. The survey was grounded on the dynamic capabilities theory. Methodology: The study used a descriptive cross-section research design with study population drawn from the association of Fintech providers in Kenya. There are a total of 63 firms that was considered in the study with the three senior managers from each of the firm considered as the respondent. The research utilized random sampling in selecting the 189 participant. Data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire with drop and pick method applied in the study. The research data was analyzed using descriptive, correlation and regression analysis. Findings: The study established that there is a statistically significant relationship between organization capabilities and the business growth of fintech providers in Kenya (R2 = .487, Sig = .000). The findings of the first objective revealed that there was a positive and significant effect of resource capabilities on business growth of fintech providers in Kenya (coefficient β1 = .448, sig = .000<.05). Analysis of the second objective revealed that there was a positive and significant effect of marketing capabilities on business growth (β2 = .049, sig = .001<.05). The results of the third objective revealed that there was a positive and significant effect of leadership capabilities on business growth (β3 = .139, sig = .004<.05). Regression for the fourth variable showed that there was no significant effect of technological capabilities on business growth of Fintech Providers (β4 = .007, sig = .1936>.05). Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Based on the conclusions, the study recommends that the government should develop and maintain robust technology infrastructure that enables fintech providers to innovate and integrate advanced technologies. The study also recommends that fintech firms should continue to encourage open feedback and communication to build strong, collaborative teams. The study further recommends that firms should enhance social media marketing efforts to broaden market reach and engage with potential customers by investing in digital marketing tools.

Gravity and magnetic study of the Xitle volcanic field, Basin of Mexico – Inferences on the pre-eruptive topography

Results of a gravity and magnetic study over a lava field in the southern Basin of Mexico are used to investigate on lava emplacement and pre-eruptive topography. The characteristics of lava flows depend on multiple factors, including the lava composition, effusion rate, rheology, fluid content and underlying terrain. The ∼2000 years old volcanic field, formed by seven flow units emplaced by the Xitle eruption, covers an extensive area >80 km2 characterized by topographic relief on the Ajusco volcano flank and surrounding plain. The study is conducted on the northern end of the volcanic field. The gravity and magnetic study is based on regional-residual separation, vertical and horizontal derivatives, reduced to the pole, analytical signal, spectral analysis and forward modeling. The regional gravity field shows two anomaly lows in the central sector, with the residual field showing trends of gravity highs. The residual magnetic anomaly is characterized by trends of magnetic highs associated to the lava field. Depths estimated from spectral analysis of gravity and magnetic anomalies show shallow sources at ∼22 m and ∼46 m, and deep sources at ∼469 m and ∼268 m, respectively. The underground sequence is modeled as a volcanoclastic succession of varying thickness. The first vertical derivatives, gradients and analytical signal enhance the anomalies associated to lava thickness variations. Joint gravity and magnetic analysis constraints the deep/shallow anomaly sources in the volcanic field and relations to pre-eruptive structure.

Isotopic study for evaluating complex groundwater circulation patterns, hydrogeological zoning, and water-rock interaction in a Mediterranean coastal karst environment

In this study groundwater provenance, circulation, and rock interaction processes have been assessed by cross processing the spatial distribution of chemical and isotopic signatures in freshwater with the hydrogeological features of the coastal karst carbonate aquifer of Murgia, located in the southeastern end of Italy, along the Adriatic Sea. Thanks to widespread groundwater quality monitoring (major, minor, and trace-element analyses) and multi-isotopic measures of O, H, Sr, and B, some assumptions about complex groundwater circulation patterns, hydrogeological zoning, and water-rock interaction have been drawn. Three sectors have been distinguished into the Adriatic side of the Murgia aquifer all fed by two main recharge areas located on the most elevated, inner side of the aquifer. Each sector is characterized by different groundwater circulation patterns, residence time, and hydrogeochemical features. The water samples collected into the western sector evidence a certain degree of water-rock interaction, which allows us to assume long groundwater flow paths and residence time. On the contrary, the eastern sector of Murgia has been proven to be characterized by short residence times and a possible direct freshwater contribution even in the downstream course due to the massive presence of karst forms. Herein, the isotopic analysis of the water samples does not provide evidence of water-rock interaction. Finally, in the third, central sector, water infiltrated at different locations mixes flowing through relatively long paths even though not sufficient to allow groundwater to gain the rock's isotopic signature.

Seasonal assessment of surface water and sediments pollution in Rachiine River, Northern Lebanon, using multivariate statistical analysis

Urbanization has caused severe negative impacts on intra-urban river water worldwide. In this study, the WHO drinking water standards (2024) were used as reference to assess the physicochemical properties, heavy metals (HMs) content and microbial load in water and sediment samples collected from 25 locations along Rachiine River, located in Northern Lebanon, during wet and dry periods. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the seasonal variations in water and sediment quality, and determine the pollution sources. The microbial load assessment indicated high pollution levels by Escherichia coli, fecal enterococci, total coliform and fecal coliform, which generally increased as the river progressed downstream. Cluster analysis (CA) provided three major clusters in the study region, representing the northern, central, and southern sectors of the river. Principal components analysis (PCA) of water samples generated four principal components (PCs) accounting for 64.3, 11.4, 7.6 and 4.1 % of the total variance, whereas PCA of sediment samples explained 59.1, 16.9 and 11.1 % of the data set variance. These PCs revealed that the quality of water and sediments is significantly impacted by point and diffuse sources, including geological and anthropogenic factors. These findings call for urgent management strategies to limit future deterioration of the aquatic bodies.

A Review of the Oceanography and Antarctic Bottom Water Formation Offshore Cape Darnley, East Antarctica

AbstractAntarctic Bottom Water (AABW) is the densest water mass in the world and drives the lower limb of the global thermohaline circulation. AABW is formed in only four regions around Antarctica and Cape Darnley, East Antarctica, is the most recently discovered formation region. Here, we compile 40 years of oceanographic data for this region to provide the climatological oceanographic conditions, and review the water mass properties and their role in AABW formation. We split the region into three sectors (East, Central and West) and identify the main water masses, current regimes and their influence on the formation of Cape Darnley Bottom Water (CDBW). In the eastern sector, Prydz Bay, the formation of Ice Shelf Water preconditions the water (cold and fresh) that flows into the central sector to E, enhancing sea ice production in Cape Darnley Polynya. This produces a high salinity variant of Dense Shelf Water (DSW) (up to 35.15 g/kg) that we coin Burton Basin DSW. In contrast, the western sector of the Cape Darnley Polynya produces a low salinity variant (up to 34.85 g/kg) we coin Nielsen Basin DSW. The resultant combined CDBW is the warmest (upper temperature bound of 0.05C) AABW formed around Antarctica with an upper bound salinity of 34.845 g/kg. Our findings will contribute to planning future observing systems at Cape Darnley, determining the role that CDBW plays in our global oceanic and climate systems, and modeling past and future climate scenarios.

Awareness of Central Sector Scheme among the Entrepreneurs in MSME Sector: An Investigative Study

MSME is one of the key driving force to promote entrepreneurship and make effort to encourage entrepreneurial activity. Numerous policies, initiatives and programs are being implemented by Government at both national and international level for promoting entrepreneurial spirit among prospective entrepreneurs. The focal point of this research paper is to measure the extent of awareness regarding various central sector schemes of the Government of India. This was a descriptive study involving 396 sample respondents selected by applying Taro Yamane (1976) Formula and using stratified sampling technique. The study was conducted in MSME sector of Calicut district from Northern region in Kerala. A structured questionnaire is administered to collect data regarding demographic factors and awareness level of sample respondents in the study area and also test the association between these two variables. The Researcher discovered that most of the entrepreneurs have no awareness about the Government scheme. So, it should be the onus of the authorities to establish rapport with entrepreneurs and erect awareness through advertising initiatives, internet platforms etc and the banking institutions ought to reflect at its branches a variety of scheme promoted by the Government.

Microsurgical Anatomy of the Common Tendinous Ring and Its Surgical Implications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The common tendinous ring (CTR), also known as the common annular tendon or annulus of Zinn, is a critical anatomic structure located at the convergence of the orbital apex, superior orbital fissure (SOF), optic canal, and the anterior aspect of the lateral sellar compartment. It plays a vital role in both neurosurgical and neuro-ophthalmological interventions. The aim of this study was to delineate the complex 3-dimensional (3D) topography of the CTR and explore its implications for surgical procedures. METHODS: Ten formalin-fixed skull base specimens from adult Chinese cadavers were meticulously dissected to investigate the morphology of the CTR, focusing particularly on its relationship with the 4 extraocular rectus tendons, the optic strut, the SOF, and the optic canal. Additional skull base specimens were subjected to 3D surface scanning, computed tomography, and histopathological examinations to deepen our understanding of the CTR's structural complexities. RESULTS: The CTR establishes a spatial, 3D tendinous assembly, encompassing 4 rectus tendons, 2 tendinous connections, and a singular common tendinous root. These components interlink to form a distinctive dual-ring configuration, featuring the optic foramen and the oculomotor foramen. The posterior part of the superior rectus tendon demarcates the common boundary between these 2 foramina. The oculomotor foramen itself serves as the central sector of the SOF. Precise incisions of the medial and lateral tendinous connections and fusions are essential for safely opening the CTR. CONCLUSION: The structural composition, interconnections, and dual-ring configuration of the CTR are crucial for precise and safe surgery of orbital apex and adjacent regions.

A study based on high-density data examines the current status and evolution laws of heavy metal environmental capacity in the Bardawu area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

As the first ladder of China, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has always been known as the “roof of the world”. Its environmental carrying capacity can be estimated more accurately than other regions because of its harsh natural environment, low population density, limited industrial and agricultural development, and low human activities. However, the current ecological risks of Co and threshold research are limited, and there is a lack of awareness of W’s environmental risks. Hence, this study assessed the ecological support potential of the Bardawu region within Dulan County, Qinghai Province, using 7373 soil specimens, determined regional soil baseline measures, and applied the substance equilibrium linear technique along with the ecological aggregate indicator technique to examine the heavy metal content of the soil. A comprehensive evaluation of the environmental capacity and health risks was conducted to provide a reference for pastoral planning. The findings indicated that the cumulative static ecological capacity of the six trace heavy elements in the soil was ranked as follows: Cr > Li > Ni > Cu > W > Co, with W and Co positioned as the final pair. The remaining areas with a high environmental capacity were predominantly found in the study zone. The central sector exhibited diminished environmental capacity in the southwest and northeast and presented a contamination hazard. Land use, soil type, and geological type considerably affected the six elements in the study area at the p < 0.05. The Bardawu region’s mean comprehensive index of soil environmental capacity was 0.98, indicating an intermediate level of environmental capacity and a moderate health risk. This study focuses on the geological context and influence of pastoral activities on the soil, augments the distribution of various elements across the Tibetan Plateau, and suggests preliminary soil governance strategies. The findings of this study lay the groundwork for soil environmental conservation and remediation efforts in highland regions.

Puzzle feeder as a cognitive enrichment strategy determines long-term welfare improvements in a teleost fish

Providing access to cognitive tasks, such as puzzle feeders, holds promise as enrichment strategy to enhance the welfare of captive animals. Despite the substantial number of teleost fish in captivity, the effects of cognitive enrichments in this group remain relatively unexplored. To address this gap in knowledge, we investigated the response of zebrafish to a puzzle feeder. In the first experiment of this study, zebrafish were presented with the option of a puzzle feeder or freely available food. While the subjects exhibited a preference for the latter option, they demonstrated some interest in the puzzle feeder, continuing to use it even though there was easily accessible food nearby. In a subsequent experiment, zebrafish groups were maintained in either a cognitive enrichment condition, where food was consistently provided through puzzle feeders, or a control condition with no cognitive enrichments. Welfare effects of the treatments were then assessed using standard behavioural indicators in the open-field test (i.e., time spent in the centre of the apparatus; number of entrances in the central sector; swim velocity; erratic swimming). Results unveiled an improvement in three welfare indicators due to cognitive enrichment, becoming apparent approximately 20 days after the treatment. Our study underscores the significance of puzzle feeders as cognitive enrichments in captive fish welfare, although consideration of other welfare indicators and different types of puzzles that elicit a more pronounced attraction is required.

Neural network architecture of a mammalian brain

Connectomics research is making rapid advances, although models revealing general principles of connectional architecture are far from complete. Our analysis of 106 published connection reports indicates that the adult rat brain interregional connectome has about 76,940 of a possible 623,310 axonal connections between its 790 gray matter regions mapped in a reference atlas, equating to a network density of 12.3%. We examined the sexually dimorphic network using multiresolution consensus clustering that generated a nested hierarchy of interconnected modules/subsystems with three first-order modules and 157 terminal modules in females. Top-down hierarchy analysis suggests a mirror-image primary module pair in the central nervous system's rostral sector (forebrain-midbrain) associated with behavior control, and a single primary module in the intermediate sector (rhombicbrain) associated with behavior execution; the implications of these results are considered in relation to brain development and evolution. Bottom-up hierarchy analysis reveals known and unfamiliar modules suggesting strong experimentally testable hypotheses. Global network analyses indicate that all hubs are in the rostral module pair, a rich club extends through all three primary modules, and the network exhibits small-world attributes. Simulated lesions of all regions individually enabled ranking their impact on global network organization, and the visual path from the retina was used as a specific example, including the effects of cyclic connection weight changes from the endogenous circadian rhythm generator, suprachiasmatic nucleus. This study elucidates principles of interregional neuronal network architecture for a mammalian brain and suggests a strategy for modeling dynamic structural connectivity.

Severity Scale of Diabetic Macular Ischemia Based on the Distribution of Capillary Nonperfusion in OCT Angiography

To evaluate the severity scales of diabetic macular ischemia (DMI) by analyzing the quantity and distribution of capillary nonperfusion using OCT angiography (OCTA) images. A single-center, prospective case series. Three hundred one eyes from 301 patients with diabetic retinopathy. We acquired 3× 3-mm swept-source OCTA images and created en face images within a central 2.5-mm circle. The circle was divided into 15× 15-pixel squares and nonperfusion squares (NPSs) were defined as those without retinal vessels. Eyes with high-dimensional spatial data were arranged on a 2-dimensional space using the uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) algorithm and classified by clustering into 5 groups: Initial, Mild, Superficial, Moderate, and Severe. Development of a severity scale for DMI. Eyes arranged on a 2-dimensional UMAP space were divided into 5 clusters, based on the similarity of nonperfusion area distribution. Nonperfusion square counts in the deep layer increased in eyes of the Initial, Mild, Moderate, and Severe groups in a stepwise manner. In contrast, there were no significant changes in superficial NPS counts between eyes of the Initial and Mild groups. In the intermediate stage, eyes of the Superficial group exhibited higher NPS counts in the central sector of the superficial layer compared with those of the Moderate group. The foveal avascular zone extended into the temporal subfield of the deep layer in eyes of the Moderate group. Eyes of the Severe group had significantly poorer visual acuity that was more frequently accompanied with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The application of dimensionality reduction and clustering has facilitated the development of a novel severity scale for DMI based on the distribution of capillary nonperfusion in OCTA images. The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

An interactive reference-point-based method for incorporating user preferences in multi-objective structural optimization problems

Although multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) are often used to solve multi-objective structural optimization problems (MOSOPs), the incorporation of decision-maker (DM) preferences into MOEAs to search for regions of interest from the Pareto front has received limited attention in these problems. Recently, three MOEAs have shown promising results in solving MOSOPs incorporating DM’s preferences based on a priori reference points. However, providing this information can be challenging as the DM may not know an initial reference point for the MOSOP. Therefore, this study analyzes three interactive multi-objective optimization (IMO) algorithms, called I-NSGA-II, I-GDE3, and I-GDE3+APM, in which the reference points are progressively incorporated during the search process. These IMOs are applied to benchmark MOSOPs and evaluated using well-known performance indicators. The results demonstrate that I-NSGA-II outperforms I-GDE3 and I-GDE3+APM, which have similar overall performances. Additionally, the IMOs considered here outperformed their respective a priori approaches in MOSOPs where the reference points are located at the central sector of the Pareto front. Also, we identified the performance indicators in which the approaches considered in this work performed better than their corresponding a priori ones. Furthermore, the research findings suggest that these IMOs can generate good results without defining a priori reference points, making them a promising approach for solving MOSOPs and enabling DMs to make better and more reliable decisions.

Pre-shortening reconstruction of the adria microplate: Balanced and restored cross-sections through the Southern Apennines–Dinarides (Central Mediterranean Sea)

The Adria plate and/or microplate has accommodated the differential eastward motion of Africa, Europe-Iberia, since the Jurassic times, and the subsequent convergence between Africa and Eurasia from Middle Cretaceous onwards. Its complex tectonic deformation, responsible of the development of the opposing Apennines and Dinarides thin- and thick-skinned fold and thrust belts, remains poorly constrained, fueling an ongoing debate on the original position of Adria, its pre-compressional continental width, and crustal structure. Here we tackle these uncertainties by analyzing and integrating published structural cross-sections, subsurface data and 2D lithospheric numerical models to build a 758 km long regional balanced and restored cross-sections along a SW-NE transect through the Southern Apennines and Southern Dinarides. Employing the line length method for the sedimentary cover and assuming the preservation of the pre-Triassic continental crustal area, we reconstruct the pre-compressional continental width of Adria. The unfolding of the sedimentary cover along the SW-NE cross-section results in an undeformed continental Adria microplate width of approximately 1050 km, slightly under previous estimations (1175 to 1670 km). The minimum total shortening results in 291 km: 148 km across the Southern Apennines and 143 km across the Southern Dinarides. We then calculate the Adria microplate continental crustal thickness during Middle-Late Jurassic time assuming local isostatic balance, obtaining 23 km for the eastern and central Adria sectors, based on shallow water carbonate sequences. In contrast, the western Adria sector at the Southern Apennines results in a restored pre-Triassic continental crustal thickness of only 7 km, suggesting that the middle and lower crustal layers in this sector may have been partially removed, possibly by mantle delamination during Neogene to Quaternary collisional processes. The results strongly support that the Adria microplate was located to the east of the Pelagian Basin and formed part of the African Plate around the Permian–Triassic boundary interval.

Evolution of the transtensional Barreirinhas pull-apart system in the Brazilian Equatorial margin and its correlation with the African conjugate counterpart

The Barreirinhas pull-apart system encompasses marginal basins in divergent and transform margin segments in the central sector of the Brazilian Equatorial Margin and its African conjugate counterpart. This ancient pull-apart system evolved through transtensional strike-slip motion within a highly heterogeneous crystalline basement affected by multiple rift phases. The geometry and development of pull-apart structural elements during the final rifting phase before continental breakup and the mechanisms and extent to which they were influenced by preexisting crustal heterogeneities are comprehensively addressed using an extensive database of potential field (magnetic and gravity) and 2D seismic reflection data. We also assess the lithospheric thermomechanical conditions and their influence on transtensional extension throughout Curie Point Depth, Heat Flow, and Moho depth, derived from potential field data and published seismological models. Plate reconstruction of Brazilian and African equatorial margins based on gravity patterns and comparison with sandbox analog models allow a 3D synoptic model to reveal the Barreirinhas pull-apart system evolution during the Equatorial Atlantic opening. During the rift phase I, the location of major grabens was controlled by favorably oriented Neoproterozoic shear zones, while the cooler, stronger, and thicker crust beneath cratonic areas formed the western barrier to strike-slip rift activity during rift phase II. This same geological domain anchored the onset of the pull-apart system in the last rift phase III, whose principal displacement zones developed along the extensive oceanic fracture zones linked by sigmoidal fault systems. Toward the end of the rift phase, a large asymmetric lozangle to a lazy-Z-shaped, pull-apart basin developed above low overlapping ∼90°, releasing stepover in oblique transtensional strike-slip motion.

Expert-driven geothermal play fairway analysis for low to medium temperature hidden systems in northwestern Luzon Island, Philippines

The Philippines is the third largest geothermal power-producing country in the world. However, additional opportunities exist to expand the geothermal portfolio of the country with the exploitation of low- and moderate- temperature resources, as well as assessment and development of hidden geothermal systems (i.e., those with no active surface manifestations). As part of the Geothermal Development Initiative (GEODE) funded through the U.S. Department of State award to the University of Nevada, Reno, a collaboration between the Philippines Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) of the Department of Energy and the University of Nevada in Reno, Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy occurred from September 2022 to March 2024. As part of this collaboration, an expert-driven geothermal Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) was conducted in the northwestern portion of Luzon Island of the Philippines utilizing existing data sets available to the REMB. The goal of this PFA is to identify areas with greater relative geothermal favorability, determine where the data gaps are, and assist in the discovery of hidden geothermal systems. A geothermal PFA requires the compilation and transformation of datasets into appropriate formats (e.g., tables, shapefiles, and raster files) and evaluation of each dataset to determine how it can be used as a proxy for the key attributes of a geothermal system (e.g., heat and permeability). Once the data are organized, they are weighted for integration into the GIS software to develop a favorability model for heat and permeability. The attribute models are then combined to produce two PFA models: the conventional hydrothermal low- to moderate- temperature geothermal favorability and the hidden systems favorability. The data difference between the conventional geothermal favorability and hidden systems models is that hot springs are not used for the hidden systems model. The conventional favorability model of northwestern Luzon Island indicates areas of higher geothermal favorability in the central and southern sections of the study area. Many of the favorable areas identified in the conventional model already have active leases for geothermal exploration, lending more confidence to the methodology and model, and suggesting that the areas with no current leases and high geothermal favorability could represent future exploration targets. The hidden systems model shows favorable zones in the north, central and southern sectors, and can serve as a tool to decide the areas for exploration of potential hidden geothermal systems, particularly, in the Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Nueva Viscaya regions.