Analysis Of Structural Data Research Articles

Thrusting, exhumation, and basin fill on the western margin of the South China block during the India-Asia collision

Abstract The pattern and timing of deformation in southeast Tibet resulting from the early stages of the India-Asia collision are crucial factors to understand the growth of the Tibetan Plateau, but they remain poorly constrained. Detailed field mapping, structural analysis, and geochronological and thermochronological data along a 120 km section of the Ludian-Zhonghejiang fold-and-thrust belt bounding the Jianchuan basin in western Yunnan, China, document the early Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the conjunction between the Lanping-Simao and South China blocks. The study area is cut by two major southwest-dipping brittle faults, named the Ludian-Zhonghejiang fault and the Tongdian fault from east to west. Numerous kinematic indicators and the juxtaposition of Triassic metasedimentary rocks on top of Paleocene strata indicate thrusting along the Ludian-Zhonghejiang fault. Similarly, structural analysis shows that the Tongdian fault is a reverse fault. Between these structures, fault-bounded Permian–Triassic and Paleocene rocks are strongly deformed by nearly vertical and upright southwest-vergent folds with axes that trend nearly parallel to the traces of the main faults. Zircon and apatite (U-Th)/He and apatite fission-track data from a Triassic pluton with zircon U-Pb ages of 237–225 Ma in the hanging wall of the Ludian-Zhonghejiang fault, assisted by inverse modeling, reveal two episodes of accelerated cooling during 125–110 Ma and 50–39 Ma. The Cretaceous cooling event was probably related to crustal thickening during the collision between the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes. The accelerated exhumation during 50–39 Ma is interpreted to record the life span of the fold-and-thrust belt. This timing is corroborated by the intrusive relationship of Eocene magmas of ca. 36–35 Ma zircon U-Pb age into the fold-and-thrust belt. Early Cenozoic activity of the deformation system controlled deposition of alluvial-fan and braided-river sediments in the Jianchuan basin, as evidenced by eastward and northeastward paleoflows and terrestrial clasts derived from the hanging wall of the Ludian-Zhonghejiang thrust. Since 39 Ma, decreasing cooling rates likely reflect cessation of activity on the fold-and-thrust belt. Early Cenozoic compressive deformation on the western margin of the South China block together with geological records of contraction in central, northern, and eastern Tibet document Eocene upper-crustal shortening located in the Himalaya, Qiangtang terrane, and northern plateau margins together with contractional basin development in the intervening Lhasa, Songpan-Garze, and Kunlun terranes, coeval with or shortly after the onset of the India-Asia collision. This suggests that moderate crustal shortening affected a large part of Tibet in a spaced way, contrary to models of homogeneous crustal thickening soon after the collision, and prior to the main crustal thickening, propagating progressively from south to north. This complex deformation pattern illustrates the complexity of Asian crustal rheology, which contrasts with assumptions in existing geodynamic models.

The timing of brittle deformation: An example from the Cenozoic faults in the Youjiang fold‐thrust belt in southwestern China

The Cenozoic evolution of SE Asia is marked by thousands of kilometres extension on the continental margin, including normal faults, half‐grabens, and volcanic rocks, but dating of brittle faults in the shallow crust is difficult because of a lack of synkinematic minerals. The Cenozoic extension in the Youjiang fold‐thrust belt in southwest China is marked by brittle normal faults and half‐grabens filled with Paleogene sediments in the region. Here, we identified a strongly weathered mafic sill that was truncated by normal faults in the fold‐thrust belt and present the age and chemistry of zircons from a weathered sill. The zircons from the sill yielded a mean age of ~35 Ma. Integrating cross‐cutting relationship and zircon U–Pb dating suggest that the Cenozoic extension was initiated later than ~35 Ma in Youjiang fold‐thrust belt in southwest China. Combined with structural analysis and previous fission track data in the region, we suggest that the normal faults in this study provide evidence of surface fault activity of Cenozoic extension in SE Asia caused by retreat of a trench system. Furthermore, this study provides a case study to discuss how to decipher brittle normal faulting using zircon geochronology and structural and textural analysis from the mesoscale to the microscale.

Role of the Hydroxo Group in the Coordination of Citric Acid to Trivalent Americium

The molecular characterization based on multi‐technique approach has led to major highlights on revealing the coordination of americium with citric acid. The structure of the different complexes at pH 1 and 3 are described. These characterizations are made possible by the comparison of the americium‐citric acid system with the americium‐tricarballylic acid (one analogue of the citric acid without the alpha‐hydroxo group). The structural analyses (Vis spectrophotometry, NMR, EXAFS, TRLFS and capillary electrophoresis) were carried out after the establishment of the speciation distribution diagrams, allowing to take into account the species repartition for structural analysis data treatment. For the 1:1 complex the hydroxo group is counter intuitively deprotonated and coordinated to the Am(III) at pH 1 as well as two carboxylate functions, whereas at pH 3 the hydroxo is not coordinated and stays protonated allowing the three carboxylate functions to coordinate the metallic cation. Therefore, the hydroxo group affects the Am complexation differently depending on the pHs: by inductive effect at pH 3, and by direct coordination at pH 1.

Interaction between water and the composite materials based on chitosan and chitin nanofibrils

Sorption experiments, X-ray structural analysis and NMR relaxation measurements were used in the study of peculiarities of interaction between water and chitosan-based composite films containing from 0.5 to 30 wt% of chitin nanofibrils. Comparison between dependences of amplitude of free induction decay signal, as well as spin-spin (spin-lattice) relaxation times on moisture content in samples led us to the conclusion that the composite films have more ordered supramolecular structure than pure chitosan films. It was demonstrated that the results of sorption and NMR relaxation experiments correlate well with the data of X-ray structural analysis.

Influence of fracture stratigraphy on hypogene cave development and fluid flow anisotropy in layered carbonates, NE Brazil

Abstract Fractured and karstified carbonates are often major aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs. The Toca da Boa Vista (TBV) and Toca da Barriguda (TBR) caves in NE Brazil, which form the longest cave system in South America, developed in a gently folded, layered and fractured Neoproterozoic carbonate sequence made of different lithological units (limestones versus siliciclastic rocks and marls) with variable bed properties (bed thickness, surface roughness of bed-to-bed interlayers) and fracture attributes (spacing, height). The functional organization of the hypogenic cave system has been recently revealed, with subdivision in three speleo-stratigraphic storeys which, from bottom to top, acted as recharge, lateral redistribution and outflow components of the rising fluid flow system, respectively. Structural analysis and new fracture data from TBV and TBR indicate that the stratigraphic setting controlled the fracture pattern development during two tectonic phases, which determined the fluid flow anisotropy during speleogenesis. We found that mechanical and fracture stratigraphy, in conjunction with bed thickness and bed-to-bed interlayer characteristics, controlled the spacing and height of fractures and, as a result, strongly influenced the fluid flow pattern and functional organization of the cave system. In particular, bed-normal rising fluids localized along m-to tens of m-spaced throughgoing fractures developed in the lower and upper storeys, whereas horizontal and bed-parallel fluid flow was focused in a package of thin carbonates, siliciclastics and marls with cm-spaced, strata-bound fractures. This fluid flow anisotropy is attained also due to the presence of rough-walled, bedding-parallel interlayers (i.e., burial stylolites) in the lower massive grainstone which hampered bed-parallel flow, and smooth, planar bedding-parallel interlayers which enhanced lateral fluid movements in the well-layered and fractured middle storey units. Therefore, we conclude that in heterolithic layered carbonate packages, the intricate hypogenic karst pattern is related to heterogeneous fluid flow behaviour associated with the structural complexity imparted by the mechanical versus fracture stratigraphy.

Deep learning for mining protein data.

The recent emergence of deep learning to characterize complex patterns of protein big data reveals its potential to address the classic challenges in the field of protein data mining. Much research has revealed the promise of deep learning as a powerful tool to transform protein big data into valuable knowledge, leading to scientific discoveries and practical solutions. In this review, we summarize recent publications on deep learning predictive approaches in the field of mining protein data. The application architectures of these methods include multilayer perceptrons, stacked autoencoders, deep belief networks, two- or three-dimensional convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, graph neural networks, and complex neural networks and are described from five perspectives: residue-level prediction, sequence-level prediction, three-dimensional structural analysis, interaction prediction, and mass spectrometry data mining. The advantages and deficiencies of these architectures are presented in relation to various tasks in protein data mining. Additionally, some practical issues and their future directions are discussed, such as robust deep learning for protein noisy data, architecture optimization for specific tasks, efficient deep learning for limited protein data, multimodal deep learning for heterogeneous protein data, and interpretable deep learning for protein understanding. This review provides comprehensive perspectives on general deep learning techniques for protein data analysis.

Characterization of an intermolecular quaternary interaction between discrete segments of the Streptococcusmutans adhesin P1 by NMR spectroscopy.

Cell surface-localized P1 adhesin (aka Antigen I/II or PAc) of the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcusmutans mediates sucrose-independent adhesion to tooth surfaces. Previous studies showed that P1's C-terminal segment (C123, AgII) is also liberated as a separate polypeptide, contributes to cellular adhesion, interacts specifically with intact P1 on the cell surface, and forms amyloid fibrils. Identifying how C123 specifically interacts with P1 at the atomic level is essential for understanding related virulence properties of S.mutans. However, with sizes of ~51 and ~185kDa, respectively, C123 and full-length P1 are too large to achieve high-resolution data for full structural analysis by NMR. Here, we report on biologically relevant interactions of the individual C3 domain with A3VP1, a polypeptide that represents the apical head of P1 as it is projected on the cell surface. Also evaluated are C3's interaction with C12 and the adhesion-inhibiting monoclonal antibody (MAb) 6-8C. NMR titration experiments with 15 N-enriched C3 demonstrate its specific binding to A3VP1. Based on resolved C3 assignments, two binding sites, proximal and distal, are identified. Complementary NMR titration of A3VP1 with a C3/C12 complex suggests that binding of A3VP1 occurs on the distal C3 binding site, while the proximal site is occupied by C12. The MAb 6-8C binding interface to C3 overlaps with that of A3VP1 at the distal site. Together, these results identify a specific C3-A3VP1 interaction that serves as a foundation for understanding the interaction of C123 with P1 on the bacterial surface and the related biological processes that stem from this interaction. DATABASE: BMRB submission code: 27935.

Investigation of the Cathode Plane Radiation Damage in the Prototypes of Multiwire Proportional Chamber from the CMS Experiment

The new results of cathode surface degradation in muon proportional chambers of CMS after a long-term irradiation with a 90Sr β-source are presented. The data of the complex analysis of the copper foil samples from the cathode are shown. The AFM method revealed the general radiation damage of the copper surface and the dynamics of its change. It is clearly demonstrated that the revealed development of the radiation erosion on the cathode is a result of electron irradiation. Moreover, the nature of erosion and level of the destruction of copper are associated with irradiation intensity. The study of the elemental and phase composition together with the data of structural analysis allowed us to single out the stages of the radiation aging of the copper surface on the cathodes and consider the processes which are at the basis of them.

Formation of conformal NiO underlayer on carbon for strong metal-support interactions effects on electrocatalytic performance of supported Pd nanoparticles

Enhancing the performance of noble metal electrocatalysts is regarded as an urgent issue for the commercialization of fuel cells in the near future. In this study, we demonstrate that the electrocatalytic performance of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) supported on carbon can be enhanced by introducing NiO coating on carbon. We further demonstrate that a uniform thin layer of NiO coating on carbon support can be readily achieved by using a sonochemical reaction (ultrasound-assisted polyol synthesis, UPS) method. NiO-modified carbon (NiO/C) supports were synthesized by two different methods, atomic layer deposition (ALD) and UPS methods, and Pd NPs were formed on them. Compared with Pd NPs on carbon support, Pd NPs on NiO/C supports showed 3–5 fold enhanced electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions. Between the two NiO/C supports, the one synthesized by UPS method outperforms the one by ALD by up to 2 times. Detailed structural analysis data show that the NiO/C synthesized by UPS is composed of uniform and continuous thin (0.42 nm) NiO coating on the external surface of carbon while the NiO/C by ALD has thicker (1.13 nm) NiO islands to form patch-like coating on the carbon surface. The enhanced electrocatalytic performance of Pd NPs on NiO/C supports can be explained by the change of the electronic structure of strong metal-support interaction between Pd and NiO and the bifunctional mechanism enabled by the NiO surface around Pd NPs.

Two-dimensional models of variable inertia from LiDAR data for structural analysis of timber trusses

Historical wooden structures often present numerous irregularities and changes of section along the longitudinal axis of the beams that compose them. For this reason, in order to carry out a structural analysis, the creation of models that take into account the variation in the moment of inertia presented by each beam of the structure is fundamental. This geometrical characteristic is especially important in structures of timber beams and trusses when the loads are located out of the nodes. To achieve this aim, this work presents an algorithm that makes it possible to automatically carry out 2D models of variable inertia for the analysis of structures of beams from LiDAR data. The proposed methodology is based on the creation of beam elements of variable inertia, where the geometrical properties of each section of each beam and the general geometry of the structure are considered. The results obtained are very promising, presenting relative errors in the deformation analysis lower than 8% compared to other methods of classical modelling and a reduction of the processing time by more than 85%.

Synthesis and X-ray structural studies of 5-methyl-6-nitro-7-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-а]pyrimidine L-arginine and piperidine salts

The previously described L-argininium 5-methyl-6-nitro-7-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinide monohydrate and piperidinium 5-methyl-6-nitro-7-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinide, which has not been described previously, were synthesized as promising antiviral drugs. A detailed comparison of the crystal structures of these two compounds was performed. It is shown that the replacement of the L-arginine cation with piperidinium one leads to a serious reorganization of the system of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the solid state, which, in our opinion, can have a significant impact on the interaction of the new drug with biological targets. Thus, by comparing the X-ray structural analysis data, the probability of the influence of the nature of the counterion on the biological effect of the drug was demonstrated.

A multi-view optical technique to extract the operating deflection shapes of a full vehicle using digital image correlation

Abstract The automotive and aerospace industries are increasingly using light-weight material to improve vehicle performance while reducing fuel consumption. However, using light-weight material can increase the air-borne and structure-borne noise. Thus, special attention needs to be paid in designing the vehicle body structure and evaluating its dynamics. In order to accomplish this, modal analysis is conventionally used. In this technique, the structure is excited using an impulse hammer or a mechanical shaker, and the response is measured using accelerometers. However, using contact-based transducers can mass-load the structure and can only provide data at a few discrete points. In the last decade, stereo-photogrammetry and three-dimensional digital-image correlation have received special attention in collecting operating data for structural analysis. These non-contact optical techniques provide a wealth of distributed data over the entire structure. However, the stereo-camera system is limited by the field of views of the cameras and can only measure the response on the parts of a structure for which cameras have lines of sight. Therefore, a single pair of DIC cameras may not be able to provide deformation data for an entire structure. A multi-view 3D DIC approach, however, can be used to predict the vibrational characteristics of a full vehicle. A pair of DIC cameras is passed over the entire vehicle to capture the deformation data of each field of view. The measured data includes the geometry and displacement data, which is mapped into a global coordinate system using 3D transformation matrices. The obtained data in the time domain for each field of view is transformed to the frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) to extract the operational deflection shapes and resonant frequencies for each field of view. The obtained deflection shapes are scaled and stitched in the frequency domain to extract the operating deflection shapes of the entire vehicle.

SYNTHESIS AND X-RAY STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF 5-METHYL-6-NITRO-7-OXO-4,7-DIHYDRO-1,2,4-TRIAZOLO[1,5- а ]PYRIMIDINE L-ARGININE AND PIPERIDINE SALTS

The previously described L-argininium 5-methyl-6-nitro-7-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinide monohydrate and piperidinium 5-methyl-6-nitro-7-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinide, which has not been described previously, were synthesized as promising antiviral drugs. A detailed comparison of the crystal structures of these two compounds was performed. It is shown that the replacement of the L-arginine cation with piperidinium one leads to a serious reorganization of the system of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the solid state, which, in our opinion, can have a significant impact on the interaction of the new drug with biological targets. Thus, by comparing the X-ray structural analysis data, the probability of the influence of the nature of the counterion on the biological effect of the drug was demonstrated.

Molecular architecture of bacterial amyloids in Bacillus biofilms.

The formation of biofilms provides structural and adaptive bacterial response to the environment. In Bacillus species, the biofilm extracellular matrix is composed of exopolysaccharides, hydrophobins, and several functional amyloid proteins. We report, using multiscale approaches such as solid-state NMR (SSNMR), electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and immune-gold labeling, the molecular architecture of B. subtilis and pathogenic B. cereus functional amyloids. SSNMR data reveal that the major amyloid component TasA in its fibrillar amyloid form contain β-sheet and α-helical secondary structure, suggesting a nontypical amyloid architecture in B. subtilis. Proteinase K digestion experiments indicate the amyloid moiety is ∼100 aa long, and subsequent SSNMR and FTIR signatures for B. subtilis and B. cereus TasA filaments highlight a conserved amyloid fold, albeit with substantial differences in structural polymorphism and secondary structure composition. Structural analysis and coassembly data on the accessory protein TapA in B. subtilis and its counterpart camelysin in B. cereus reveal a catalyzing effect between the functional amyloid proteins and a common structural architecture, suggesting a coassembly in the context of biofilm formation. Our findings highlight nontypical amyloid behavior of these bacterial functional amyloids, underlining structural variations between biofilms even in closely related bacterial species.-El Mammeri, N., Hierrezuelo, J., Tolchard, J., Cámara-Almirón, J., Caro-Astorga, J., Álvarez-Mena, A., Dutour, A., Berbon, M., Shenoy, J., Morvan, E., Grélard, A., Kauffmann, B., Lecomte, S., de Vicente, A., Habenstein, B., Romero, D., Loquet, A. Molecular architecture of bacterial amyloids in Bacillus biofilms.

Early Carboniferous High Ba‐Sr Granitoid in Southern Langshan of Northeastern Alxa: Implications for Accretionary Tectonics along the Southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Voluminous granitoids are widely distributed in the Langshan region, northeast of the Alxa block, and record the evolutionary processes of the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The Dabashan pluton was emplaced into the Paleoproterozoic Diebusige complex. Early Carboniferous zircon LA‐ICP MS U‐Pb ages were from 327 Ma to 346 Ma. The Dabashan pluton can be classified as monzogranite and syenogranite, and exhibits high K2O contents and K2O/Na2O ratios, which reveal a high‐K calc‐alkaline nature. The samples display strongly fractionated REE patterns, and are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) relative to high field strength elements (HFSE). The Dabashan plutons display unusually high Ba (823–2817 ppm) and Sr (166–520 ppm) contents and K/Rb ratios (315–627), but low Rb/Ba ratios (0.02–0.14), and exhibit fertile zircon Hf isotopic compositions [εHf(t)=–14 to –20], which are comparable to those of typical high Ba–Sr granitoids. Based on the geochemical compositions of the samples, we suggest that subducted sediments and ancient crustal materials both played important roles in their generation. Basaltic melts were derived from partial melting of subcontinental lithophile mantle metasomatized by subducted sediment‐related melts with residual garnet in the source, which caused partial melting of ancient lower crust. Magmas derived from underplating ascended and emplaced in the middle–upper crust at different depths. The resultant magmas experienced some degree of fractional crystallization during their ascent. Given these geochemical characteristics, together with regional tectonic, magmatic, and structure analysis data, an active continental margin environment is proposed for the generation of these rocks.

CLUSTERING SLOPE STABILITY USING DEM LINEAMENT EXTRACTION AND ROCK MASS RATING IN PANGKALAN KOTO BARU,WEST SUMATRA, INDONESIA

Clustering slope stability in the Pangkalan Koto Baru, West Sumatra has become one of priority in disaster management. The method used for this study is using a combination of structural lineament analysis, scanline with window sampling and Rock mass rating (RMR) calculations. The analysis results of the fourteen observed slope sites showed significant outcome, which seen in the structural lineament show dominant trend from northwest-southeast, which also correlate from the measurement of discontinuity by using scanline with window sampling. From RMR calculation, value showed range between 17 - 42 which belonged to class V (Very Poor Rock) - class III (Medium Rock ). Integration data of structural lineament, scanline method and RMR analysis suggested that 1 slope included in the very poor rock category, 12 slopes are poor rock category, and 1 slope in the medium rock category. So, it can be ascertained that most of the slopes will potentially be prone to landslides.

Structure-based design of a hyperthermostable AgUricase for hyperuricemia and gout therapy.

Arthrobacter globiformis Uricase (AgUricase) is a homotetrameric uricase with the potential for therapeutic use in treating hyperuricemia-related diseases. To achieve sufficient therapeutic effects, it is essential for this enzyme to have high thermostability and long half-life in physiological condition. To improve the thermostability of this enzyme, we introduced a series of cysteine pair mutations into the AgUricase subunits based on its structural model and studied the thermostability of the mutant enzymes with introduced disulfide bridges. Two intersubunit cysteine pair mutations, K12C-E286C and S296C-S296C, were found to markedly increase the melting temperatures of the corresponding mutant enzymes compared with WT AgUricase. The crystal structure of the K12C-E286C mutant at 1.99 Å resolution confirmed the formation of a distinct disulfide bond between the two subunits in the dimer. Structural analysis and biochemical data revealed that the C-terminal loop of AgUricase was flexible, and its interaction with neighboring subunits was required for the stability of the enzyme. We introduced an additional intersubunit K244C-C302 disulfide bond based on the crystal structure of the K12C-E286C mutant and confirmed that this additional disulfide bond further stabilized the flexible C-terminal loop and improved the thermostability of the enzyme. Disulfide cross-linking also protected AgUricase from protease digestion. Our studies suggest that the introduction of disulfide bonds into proteins is a potential strategy for enhancing the thermostability of multimeric proteins for medical applications.

Comparative assessment of the yield components of the tetraploid wheat world collection

Nowadays, a large number of cultivars of various origins are attracted to the wheat breeding improvement, and as a result, an assessment of the accessions’ yield in various agroclimatic conditions isrequired. Genotype-environment interaction is the main reason for the fact that in different years and (or)in other conditions of cultivation, cultivars and lines differ in rank according to the level of the yield. Thestudy aims to investigate the suitability and adaptability of accessions of world tetraploid wheat collection, including durum wheat cultivars, to the Kazakhstan conditions. Three hundred twenty-eight (328)tetraploid wheat accessions of different genetic and geographical origin were grown in 2 randomizedreplicates in two contrasting regions of Kazakhstan – Kostanay region on the North and Almaty regionon the South-east of the country. Phenological observations and structural analysis were conductedfollowing Dospekhov and the Zadoks scale. Correlations coefficients among all characters (days to tillering, days to booting, days to heading, days to anthesis, days to maturity, plant height, peduncle length,number of fertile spikes per plant, spike length, number of kernels per spike, weight of kernels per spike,number of kernels per plant, 1000 kernels weight) were computed using GraphPad software. To assessthe contribution of genotypic and environmental variability to the total phenotypic variation of yield andthe main economically valuable traits, we evaluated the genotype-environment interaction. Productiveand adapted accessions for the both Almaty and Kostanay regions were selected. The data of phenological observations and structural analysis will be used in a genome-wide association study for the traits,related to productivity and quality.Key words: tetraploid wheat, cultivar, yield, phenology, pre-breeding, genotype x environment interaction.

Hydrogeologic Characterization of a Fault-Related Dome Using Outcrop, Borehole and Electrical Resistivity Data

Geological structures introduce heterogeneity along deformed strata, which in turn exert a strong control on regional groundwater occurrences and water flow. We developed and applied procedures of structural, borehole and direct current resistivity (DCR) data to (1) figure out a reliable structural model of a fault-related dome, (2) visualize the relationship between structural complexity and aquifers geometry and (3) characterize the fault damage zones and its related sealing potentialities. The present approach was applied at the northern Eastern Desert, Egypt, considering its complex deformation history. To alleviate the uncertainties and artifacts in solving the DCR inverse problem, advanced and non-conventional inversion schemes were applied. Moreover, fault seal potentialities were assessed by applying the shale gouge ratio (SGR) estimation to predict the groundwater pathway flow. The main findings include: (a) The DCR measurements can be considered as a complementary tool to visualize the relationship between subsurface structures and aquifers geometry at highly deformed areas; (b) detailed surface structural data analysis combined with sophisticated inversion algorithms application can increase the reliability of the constructed geo-electrical cross sections for deep and large-scale geological surveys; and (c) the structural modeling of geological units and faults distribution contributes to clarify hydrogeological settings and aquifers connectivity. The approach can be readily applied elsewhere, as long as detailed structural analysis, geometric parameters and high-resolution DCR resistivity data are available.

Scanning Electron Microscopy Study of Drilling Cuttings in Tomsk Oblast Sites

The research is focused on determining mineralogical composition of drilling cuttings by scanning electron microscope as well as imaging the sample surface of high resolution that allows studying the structural characteristics of the site. In addition, a number of other techniques permit obtaining information on chemical composition of sample in near-surface layers. The study in drilling cuttings by means of scanning microscopy has revealed the presence of titanium, iron, zirconium oxides, iron sulphide, barium sulphate. The former is a mineral that concentrates rare-earth elements, presumably monocyte, as well as uranium silicate, etc. The results obtained confirm the data of previous X-ray structural analysis, i.e. the study samples consist of alumosilicate matrix. Apart from silicon and aluminium oxides, the matrix includes such elements as Na, K, Mg. Such a composition corresponds to rock-forming minerals: quartz, albite, microcline, clinochlore, muscovite, anorthoclase.