Economic Significance Research Articles

INCREASE OF TECHNOLOGICAL INDICATORS USED IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY

When evaluating the suitability of using coal in various industries, it is subjected to technical analysis and a number of special technological studies. The obtained results in combination with elemental and group analysis allow choosing the most rational and economically efficient directions of their use, which plays not the least role in determining the economic significance of coal mining deposits. The work is based on theoretical research methods based on the basics of probability theory and mathematical statistics - to improve the existing methods of processing results and assessing the uncertainty of measurements; theories of accuracy - for the development of procedures for assessing the uncertainty of measurements of the quality parameters of solid mineral fuel during its tests; statistical modeling methods - to check the reliability of the developed provisions. A generalized parameter of the quality of solid mineral fuel has been synthesized, which makes it possible to evaluate its quality based on the results of tests conducted in coal chemical laboratories. improvement of methods of testing solid mineral fuel according to quality parameters by developing uncertainty assessment procedures.

Phylotranscriptomics reveals the phylogeny of Asparagales and the evolution of allium flavor biosynthesis

Asparagales, the largest monocot order, is renowned for its ecological, economic, and medicinal significance. Here, we leverage transcriptome data from 455 Asparagales species to explore the phylogeny of Asparagales. Moreover, we investigate the evolutionary patterns of the genes involved in allium flavor formation. We not only establish a robust bifurcating phylogeny of Asparagales but also explore their reticulate relationships. Notably, we find that eight genes involved in the biosynthesis of allium flavor compounds underwent expansion in Allium species. Furthermore, we observe Allium-specific mutations in one amino acid within alliinase and three within lachrymatory factor synthase. Overall, our findings highlight the role of gene expansion, increased expression, and amino acid mutations in driving the evolution of Allium-specific compounds. These insights not only deepen our understanding of the phylogeny of Asparagales but also illuminate the genetic mechanisms underpinning specialized compounds.

Exploring the response of yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) root to drought mediated by pathways related to phytohormones, lipid, and redox homeostasis.

Yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) is a high-protein crop of considerable economic and ecological significance. It has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with Rhizobium, enriching marginal soils with this essential nutrient and reducing the need for artificial fertilizers. Additionally, lupine produces seeds with a high protein content, making it valuable for animal feed production. However, drought negatively affects lupine development, its mutualistic relationship with bacteria, and overall yield. To understand how lupine responds to this stress, global transcriptome sequencing was conducted, along with in-depth biochemical, chromatography, and microscopy analyses of roots subjected to drought. The results presented here contribute to strategies aimed at mitigating the effects of water deficit on lupine growth and development. Based on RNA-seq, drought-specific genes were identified and annotated to biological pathways involved in phytohormone biosynthesis/signaling, lipid metabolism, and redox homeostasis. Our findings indicate that drought-induced disruption of redox balance characterized by the upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes, coincided with the accumulation of lipid-metabolizing enzymes, such as phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX). This disruption also led to modifications in lipid homeostasis, including increased levels of triacylglycerols (TAG) and free fatty acids (FFA), along with a decrease in polar lipid content. Additionally, the stress response involved alterations in the transcriptional regulation of the linolenic acid metabolism network, resulting in changes in the composition of fatty acids containing 18 carbons. The first comprehensive global transcriptomic profiles of lupine roots, combined with the identification of key stress-responsive molecules, represent a significant advancement in understanding lupine's responses to abiotic stress. The increased expression of the Δ12DESATURASE gene and enhanced PLD activity lead to higher level of linoleic acid (18:2), which is subsequently oxidized by LOX, resulting in membrane damage and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. Oxidative stress elevates the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT), while the conversion of FFAs into TAGs provides protection against ROS. This research offers valuable molecular and biochemical candidates with significant potential to enhance drought tolerance . It enables innovative strategies in lupine breeding and crop improvement to address critical agricultural challenges.

Analysis of GCRV Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Measures Through Proteomic and Metabolomic Investigations in GCRV-Infected Tissues of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Hemorrhagic disease caused by grass carp reovirus (GCRV) infection is a major problem affecting the grass carp aquaculture industry. Therefore, inhibiting the spread of GCRV infection is of great economic significance. Herein, we sequenced five tissues (gill, liver, intestine, kidney, and muscle) from grass carp before and after GCRV infection using data-independent acquisition proteomic and untargeted metabolomic technologies, and quantitatively identified 10,808 proteins and 4040 metabolites. Then, we analyzed the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and metabolites (DEMs) before and after GCRV infection in the five tissues. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the five tissue DEPs were enriched in metabolic, including carbohydrate and lipid metabolic processes. Chemical taxonomy analysis showed that the categories of DEMs mainly included carbohydrates and lipids, such as fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, steroids, and their derivatives. Both the proteomic and the metabolomic data showed that GCRV affected the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the host. Shared pathway analysis was performed at both the protein and metabolic levels, showing significant enrichment of the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways (p < 0.001). Further analysis of glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway inhibitors revealed that these two pathways are important for GCRV replication. As the kidney was the most affected among the five tissues, we analyzed the butanoate metabolism in the kidney, which revealed that most of the differentially expressed proteins and differently expressed metabolites in the butanoate metabolism were related to the TCA cycle. Further investigation showed that fumaric acid, an intermediate product in the TCA cycle, significantly inhibited GCRV replication in the CIK cells (p < 0.001), and that this inhibitory effect may be related to its induction of interferon system activation. The addition of fumaric acid to feed increased the survival rate of juvenile grass carp by 19.60% during GCRV infection, and protected the tissues of those infected with GCRV, making it a potential anti-GCRV feed additive. Our results provide new perspectives on GCRV pathogenesis and antiviral strategies for grass carp.

Deep geophysical investigations (DERT and Seismic Reflection) to unravel the Ferrara urban area geology

Exploring the ‘fragile crust of our planet’ is crucial for human survival holding an immense social and economic significance. Therefore, innovative approaches become of utmost importance for obtaining precise subsoil models in urban areas making the latter more resilient to natural disasters. Due to logistic issues and a high level of anthropogenic disturbance and related background noise, urban areas are usually intrinsically more problematic for applying geophysical prospecting methods. This work presents the results obtained by Deep Electrical Resistivity Tomography and P wave Seismic Reflection surveys performed along the Ferrara, north Italy, city walls documenting the adaptability of the geophysical surveys and how it is possible to obtain high-quality electrical resistivity and seismic data even in complex urban settings. The joint interpretation of geoelectrical and seismic data fully integrated with tectonic, geological and hydrogeological information allowed to reconstruct the stratigraphic evolution down to a depth of about 1.5 km. These results highlight the occurrence of a syndepositional Quaternary tectonic tilting associated with the growth of a fault-propagation fold.

One-step fabrication of Bi2MoO6 nanowires-g-C3N4 composites for outstanding photocatalytic performance in cyclohexane oxidation

Selective oxidation of cyclohexane into cyclohexanone (K) and cyclohexanol (A) stands as a pivotal process in industrial chemistry. However, the challenges associated with activating the C-H bond and the vulnerability of KA oil to over-oxidation detract from the economic significance of this reaction. This study focuses on the preparation of a bismuth molybdate ultrathin nanowires-carbon nitride (Bi2MoO6-g-C3N4) heterojunction through a one-step hydrothermal approach for significantly improving the photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexane. Bi2MoO6 ultrafine nanowires with the diameter of 6 nm were adhered tightly on the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets with the assistance of oleyl amine. The type II heterojunction of Bi2MoO6-g-C3N4 composite facilitated a more efficient separation of charges and boosted the photocatalytic performance in the cyclohexane oxidation. The Bi2MoO6-g-C3N4 composite demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic performance with a 10.66 % conversion rate of cyclohexane, surpassing the individual efficiencies of Bi2MoO6 and g-C3N4 by 1.9 and 2.2 times, respectively. Moreover, it demonstrated an outstanding KA oil selectivity of 99.32 %, showcasing exceptional levels of both conversion and selectivity simultaneously. Through the utilization of photoelectrochemical analysis, research on band structures, experiments on radical trapping and monitoring, we have extensively investigated the mechanism of photocatalysis. The type II charge transfer in Bi2MoO6-g-C3N4 heterojunction restricted the redox capacity of electrons in the conduction band and holes in the valence band, effectively curbing over-oxidation reactions of KA oil, thus achieving remarkable KA oil selectivity. It offers a valuable insight into the creation of heterojunctions to boost the efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexane, showing promise for advancing the field of photocatalysis.

Impact of temperature on sphalerite chemistry: Simulation experiments of sphalerite in MVT Zn-Pb sulfide deposits in the Beiba Dome, northern Sichuan Basin, China

Many sedimentary metal deposits are rich in organic matter, and some organic deposits are metal deposits themselves. These metal deposits, represented by MVT Zn-Pb deposits, are widely distributed in the world, and their industrial types (Pb + Zn > 5 %) are also very rich, which has important theoretical and economic significance. However, there is no systematic research on the metallogenic mechanism of MVT Zn-Pb deposits in the participating organic matter. Therefore, geochemical simulation experiments and thermodynamic calculations have been used to examine the role of organic matter in reconstructing the ore-forming process of MVT Zn-Pb sulfide deposits. Additionally, the precipitation chemistry of sphalerite under the mineralization process mediated by organic matter is explained. Guided by the evidence on the homogenization temperature of fluid inclusion, the temperature range, from 60 °C to 200 °C, has drawn a close relationship between the temperature and the ore-forming mechanism. Notably, this reflects sphalerite’s chemical composition and morphology, even assisting in interpreting its chemical formation. The results showed that 80 °C is the beginning temperature for ZnS formation calculated from the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis (ICP-MS) under the precipitation simulation experiments with the participation of organic matter. With the increased temperature, the rate of ZnS formation showed a trend of rapid growth in the early stage (80–140 °C) and relatively slow in the later stage (160–200 °C). This finding suggests a closer coupling relationship between metal mineralization and the maturation-genesis of organic matter, mainly the formation of the ancient oil reservoir. Following the continued increase in temperature, the morphology of ZnS was significantly different from that of the scanning electron microscope (SEM), with an apparent fine granular structure at high temperature. Likewise, more ZnO was also found through the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis (XPS), reducing the purity of the ZnS in sphalerite. Thus, this study helps reveal the metallogenic mechanism of MVT Zn-Pb sulfide deposits from the viewpoint of sphalerite chemistry under the participation of organic matter from temperature change. Furthermore, it provides a valuable theoretical and experimental basis for the later prospecting of the metal deposits.

Does board gender diversity improve stock liquidity?

PurposeFirms with gender diverse boards have been shown to have increased transparency and disclosure, resulting in reduced information asymmetry, which is a key factor influencing stock liquidity. This paper explores the influence of information asymmetry resulting from board gender diversity on stock liquidity. We examine the impact of gender diverse firms on stock liquidity in US listed firms from 2006 to 2022, capturing 28,280 firm-year observations across 4,349 firms. Using mediation models, we distinguish between direct and mediated effects to examine the impact of gender diverse boards on three dimensions of stock liquidity. We find a positive and significant relation between board gender diversity and stock liquidity, and our findings highlight the substantial mediating role of information disclosure in this association. To address concerns of endogeneity, we use instrumental variables regression, and our conclusions remain robust to a range of alternatives.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate the association between board gender diversity and stock liquidity and the underling mechanism that drives the relation, we utilize a dataset comprising 4,349 listed US firms from 2006 to 2022. We adopt a comprehensive approach to measure stock liquidity that spans three dimensions: Amihud illiquidity (LIQ) as a representation of price impact, the quoted spread (SPREAD) to gauge transaction costs and the stock turnover (TURNOVER) to assess trading frequency. To evaluate board gender diversity, we examine female directors and female independent directors, utilizing both the percentage and the presence (as a binary variable).FindingsThe results of our analysis reveal not only a statistically significant effect of board gender diversity on liquidity but also demonstrate its economic significance. One standard deviation increase in the percentage of female directors (12% more female directors) is associated with a 5.8% decrease in price impact, a 5.1% reduction in transaction costs and a 3% increase in trading frequency. These findings highlight the material economic importance of the relationship, which stands in contrast to previous studies reporting only a 1% change in average stock liquidity in the Australian stock markets (Ahmed and Ali, 2017). To further investigate the underlying mechanism driving the association between board gender diversity and liquidity, we employ mediation models to separate the direct and mediated channels. Our results indicate that the effects of the percentage of female directors are mediated on liquidity (LIQ, SPREAD, and TURNOVER) through information disclosure, albeit with a relatively small magnitude (mediation proportion is 18.2, 3.9 and 22.9%, respectively).Research limitations/implicationsWe include a comprehensive set of variables in our analysis and adopt an instrumental approach to mitigate endogeneity concern. However, we acknowledge the possibility of omitted variable biases or reverse causality in our empirical analysis.Practical implicationsOur study contributes to the understanding of the association between board gender diversity and stock liquidity, focusing on the underlying mechanisms. Gender diversity on boards enhances corporate governance, leading to reduced managerial opportunism (Adams and Ferreira, 2009; Nielsen and Huse, 2010). This, in turn, increases information transparency and results in increased stock liquidity. By exploring the empirical evidence of the impact of gender diverse boards on stock liquidity through the information channel, we provide valuable insights to the existing literature. Our study uses US data to examine this association, addressing the small sample concerns of prior research that may have contributed to inconsistent findings.Social implicationsThis research can drive both economic and social transformations as it provides evidence that gender diverse boards lead to improved market outcomes.Originality/valueOur study differs from previous research by incorporating all three dimensions of liquidity, ensuring a comprehensive analysis. Through our investigation, we aim to deepen understanding of how gender diversity on corporate boards shapes market dynamics and contributes to understanding of corporate governance and market efficiency. Our study investigates how the impact occurs by employing mediation models to separate the direct and mediated channels of impact. We show that the effects of gender diverse boards on liquidity are mediated through information disclosure.

Economic and Performance Analysis of Achilles Tendon Rupture in the National Basketball Association.

Achilles tendon ruptures are common and potentially career-ending injuries for National Basketball Association (NBA) players. Many studies have reviewed the impact of Achilles tendon ruptures on return to play (RTP) and performance, but there are no studies on their economic significance. This study aimed to analyze the economic and performance consequences of Achilles tendon ruptures usingthe cost of recovery (COR) for NBA franchises as well as preinjury salary/career success. It was hypothesized that players with higher preinjury salaries or performance would have an increased COR, higher rates of RTP, and more career success after their injury. Descriptive epidemiology study. Publicly available data of NBA players who sustained an Achilles tendon rupture between 1990 and 2023 were analyzed. Data were retrospectively gathered by R software code to include players' ages, positions, salaries, pre- and postinjury player efficiency rating, time missed after injury, and RTP. Performance impact was measured by advanced statistics: player efficiency rating, Win Shares per 48 Minutes, and Value Over Replacement Player. Two groups of 3 cohorts were created: All-Star, Starter, and Reserve versus group A (<$3,999,999), group B (≥$3,999,999 to ≤$8,999,999), and group C (>$8,999,999). Analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey tests for continuous data and Fisher exact tests for categorical data was used. Significance levels were set at P < .05. A total of 37 players met the inclusion criteria and played between the years of 1992 through 2019. The mean COR that NBA teams faced was $4 million per player. The cumulative economic loss from Achilles tendon ruptures in the NBA between 1992 and 2019 was $117,578,851. Overall RTP was 78.38%, and 31.03% of players who returned to play were out of the NBA within 3 years. RTP to the highest playing level was highest in group B (45.5%), followed by group A (40%) then group C (12.5%). The COR of All-Star players, Starter players, and Reserve players averaged $5.7 million, $3.4 million, and $3 million, respectively. This study investigated the financial and performance implications of Achilles tendon ruptures among NBA athletes. Most players struggled to restore their preinjury performance, except for Reserve players. The findings provide valuable insights into the complexities of COR and postinjury performance.

Coordinated regulation of two LacI family regulators, GvmR and GvmR2, on guvermectin production in Streptomyces caniferus

Guvermectin, a purine nucleoside natural product produced by the genus Streptomyces, has recently been registered as a new biopesticide to boost rice yield. Despite its economic and agricultural significance, the regulatory mechanisms of guvermectin biosynthesis remain essentially unknown, hindering industrial production and widespread agricultural application. Here, we examined the roles of two LacI family regulators, gvmR and gvmR2, located within and adjacent to the guvermectin biosynthesis cluster, respectively, in guvermectin production in Streptomyces caniferus NEAU6. GvmR activated the expression of the guvermectin cluster by binding to the promoters of gvmR, gvmA, and O1, while GvmR2 repressed the guvermectin cluster via competitive binding to promoters containing GvmR-binding sites, specifically, a 14-bp palindromic sequences: 5′-RTCATWCGYATGAY-3′ (R=G/A, W=A/T, Y=T/C). Moreover, GvmR indirectly activates the expression of gvmR2 while GvmR2 feedback inhibits gvmR transcription, suggesting a functional interaction between the two regulators for coordinating guvermectin production. Overexpression of gvmR via the T7 RNA polymerase-T7 promoter system in the gvmR2 mutant significantly elevated guvermectin production by 125% (from 631 mg L-1 to 1,422 mg L-1), compared to the parental strain NEAU6. This suggested that combinatorial manipulation of gvmR and gvmR2 is useful for improving guvermectin production. These findings enrich our knowledge of the regulatory network for guvermectin biosynthesis, and offer key targets and effective strategies for high-titer guvermectin production.

Bi-functional active sites Cu/MgO-La2O3 catalysts the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

Selective hydrogenation of biomass with high efficiency to produce fine chemicals has high economic value and research significance. The Cu/MgO-La2O3 catalyst exhibits distinct active sites that facilitate the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. Under optimal reaction conditions (90℃, 70 min) with the Cu/MgO-La2O3-6 catalyst, furfural conversion and furfuryl alcohol selectivity exceed 99.9 %. The catalyst’s activity remained approximately 97.6 % after five cycles. The combination of catalytic data, characterization tests, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirms that the addition of La promotes Cu reduction, resulting in a structured arrangement of highly hydrogenated copper sites (activation H2) and strongly adsorbed lanthanum sites (adsorbed furfural). Mechanistic studies indicate that the two active sites can simultaneously activate hydrogen and furfural. The strong adsorption of furfural enhances the hydrogenation reaction, while the weak adsorption of furfuryl alcohol inhibits side reaction pathways, thus achieving excellent catalytic selectivity.

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the multistage magmatic processes of the Lianhuashan batholith, South China: Implications for the petrogenesis and polymetallic mineralization

The Lianhuashan batholith, which is a composite pluton located in the middle part of a world-class giant tungsten (W) polymetallic belt of South China, hosts a huge reserve of more than 50000 t of W. Despite this great economic significance, the petrogenesis of each phases of the Lianhuashan batholith, as well as its temporal and genetic relationships to the W polymetallic mineralization, is still unclear. To address these questions, we conducted a comprehensive study for the Lianhuashan batholith, including LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating, whole-rock geochemical and in-situ mineral trace element analyses. Different from previous studies, four main granitic phases (G1 to G4) were identified. The biotite granite (G1) formed from 168.6 to 165.3 Ma, has the lowest Si content and high Al and Fe contents, and is significantly depleted in Ba, Sr, Ti, P, and Nb whereas enriched in U, Hf, Zr, and Y contents. In contrast, the two-mica granite (G2) and fine-grained muscovite granite (G3), formed from 162.8 to 160.5 Ma, exhibit similar characteristics including enrichment in La, Y, Hf, Th, U, and depletion in Ba, Sr, and P. The porphyritic granite (G4) is the latest magmatic phase and formed at 158.3 Ma. It is characterized by high K, Si, Th, U, Zr, Hf contents but low Al, Fe, Sr, P, and Ti contents. These features support that four main phases of the Lianhuashan batholith belong to S-type granites that experienced significant fractional crystallization, and display reduced and low temperature features. Combined with previously published studies, we suggest that the Lianhuashan batholith formed in an intraplate extensional setting triggered by the high-angle rollback subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate. The three early phases (i.e., G1–G3) are in turn more oxidized and are responsible for the transition from Sn- to W-dominated mineralization. In contrast, the G4 granite, characterized by lower oxygen fugacity, is resposible for Pb-Zn-Ag-U polymetallic mineralization.

Financial constraints for R&D and innovation: new evidence from a survey experiment

ABSTRACT We utilize a survey experiment to evaluate the existence and degree of financial constraints for R&D. The experiment not only allows for the deduction of the presence of financial constraints but also for evaluating their economic significance. Using data on German companies, we find that financial constraints exist, but their relevance might have been overestimated in the literature. Most R&D projects that have not been implemented because of financial constraints seem to have low expected marginal rates of return. While this finding contrasts with other studies, we also find results that align with the literature: young firms are most constrained, and the constraints occur at the intensive margin, i.e. our results do not suggest that firms are deterred from innovation. Instead, highly innovative companies are restricted by the capital market. Small firms, in particular, had innovation projects in their portfolios that were not implemented.

Analysis of population heterogeneity in CHO cells by genome-wide DNA methylation analysis and by multi-modal single-cell sequencing

CHO cells are major hosts for the industrial production of therapeutic proteins and their production stability is of considerable economic significance. It is widely known that CHO cells can rapidly acquire genetic alterations, which affects their genetic homogeneity over time. However, the role of non-genetic mechanisms, including epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, remains poorly understood. We have now used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to establish single-base methylation maps of eight independent CHO cell lines. Our results identify CpG islands and low-methylated regions as conserved elements with dynamic DNA methylation. Interestingly, methylation patterns were found to cluster clearly along the three main branches of CHO evolution, with no directional changes over short culture periods. Furthermore, multi-ome single-cell sequencing of 9833 nuclei from three independent cultures revealed dynamic subpopulation structures characterized by robust expression differences in pathways related to protein production. Our findings thus provide novel insights into the epigenetic landscape and heterogeneity of CHO cells and support the development of epigenetic biomarkers that trace the emergence of subpopulations in CHO cultures.

The Influence of Social Media Marketing, Brand Image, and Word of Mouth on Purchasing Decisions of Arak Bali Beverages in Bali Province

As a regional staple that is of considerable cultural and economic significance in the Bali region, Arak Bali is the subject of this study, which aims to investigate the influence that social media marketing, brand image, and word of mouth have on the decisions that customers make about the purchase of Arak Bali. In a preliminary study with 10 participants, it was discovered that twenty percent of respondents were more interested in purchasing Arak Bali, while eighty percent preferred alcoholic beverages that were imported from other countries. This was the finding of the survey. For the purpose of this investigation, a quantitative methodology is applied, with a specific emphasis placed on the positivist paradigm. In addition to that, a survey that is comprised of questionnaires and random sampling is utilized. This study is centered on individuals who are wine drinkers and who reside in the province of Bali. These individuals are the focus of the investigation. For the purpose of this experiment, the sampling was carried out using the method of random sampling, and samples were gathered from as many as one hundred different individuals. Subsequent to the implementation of a double linear regression analysis strategy, the data is processed with the help of SPSS software version 29, which is the method that is utilized for the purpose of data analysis. The conclusions of this study indicate that the significance value of social media marketing is 0.001 less than 0.05, the significance value of brand image is 0.007 less than 0.05, and the meaning value of word of mouth is 0.001 less than 0.05. As a result, it is possible to draw the conclusion, on the basis of the analysis of the data, that social media marketing, brand image, and word of mouth have a substantial positive influence on the decision to purchase Bali Beverages in the province of Bali. Based on the data, it can be concluded that good marketing through social media, the building of a powerful brand image, and positive word of mouth all have a significant impact on the decisions that consumers make regarding their purchases. These findings provide essential information that can be utilized by Arak Bali in the development of its marketing strategy in highly competitive sectors.

Fluid inclusion LA-ICP-MS constraint on hydrothermal evolution of proximal cassiterite-bearing quartz veins in the giant Gejiu orefield: Implications for controls on metallogenic potential of granite-related skarn system

Sn and Cu are proposed to have their mineralization potential predetermined by their contents in initial fluids of granite-related magmatic-hydrothermal systems. However, it remains ambiguous whether the giant Sn-mineralized skarn system is applicable, and whether the Sn-Cu association in some deposits is predominantly determined by their initial metal contents. The Gejiu orefield is one of the most essential Sn-polymetallic districts worldwide, with proven resources of 3.27 million tons of tin, 3.25 million tons of copper, 4.29 million tons of lead and zinc, and >20 other metals with economic significance. Sn-polymetallic mineralization at Gejiu constitutes a composite skarn ore system that includes proximal skarn and related cassiterite-sulfide, greisen, and tourmaline-vein types. The Laochang Sn-polymetallic deposit hosts several largest skarn and cassiterite-sulfide orebodies in the eastern part of Gejiu. Recent exploitation at Laochang discovered Sn-mineralized quartz veins hosted in the concealed granite, providing a valuable opportunity to characterize the proximal magmatic-hydrothermal process of the mineralizing granitic system. Here, fluid inclusion analysis is carried out on these veins to discuss the fluid evolution, cassiterite precipitation mechanism and whether metal content in early proximal magmatic fluids determines the metal association and endowment in the deposit.Based on the paragenesis of ore and gangue minerals, three hydrothermal stages are distinguished, including quartz-tourmaline stage (Stage I), cassiterite-arsenopyrite-quartz stage (Stage II) and late sulfide stage (Stage III). Fluid evolution controlling vein formation is constrained by microthermometry and LA-ICP-MS analysis of four fluid inclusions generations successively entrapped in quartz and cassiterite. The fluids involved during vein formation show an interplay between single-sourced magmatic fluids and meteoric water. The intermediate-density single phase fluid recorded at stage I quartz is derived from initial fluids directly exsolving from granitic magma. At stage II, fluid immiscibility occurred and the separated brines were entrapped in quartz and early-formed cassiterite. Along with cassiterite precipitation, brines were mixed with low-salinity and cooler meteoric water, leading to entrapment of low-salinity aqueous fluid in outer growth zones of cassiterite at stage II. The constructed fluid evolution history suggests that fluid immiscibility may have facilitated the nucleation of cassiterite crystals at the onset of deposition while mixing of magmatic fluid with meteoric water likely dominate later cassiterite mineralization.Compared with the fluid dataset of barren and mineralized granitic systems worldwide, pre-ore fluids of the studied quartz veins are enriched in Sn, confirming that high Sn content in the initial magmatic fluid can serve as indicator to distinguish mineralized system. In contrast, although Cu mineralization is economically important in the Laochang deposit, predicted Cu contents in pre-ore proximal magmatic fluids are as low as those obtained from Cu-barren system. This implies introduction of Cu into the hydrothermal system from other sources.

Seroprevalence of Avian Influenza in Guinea Fowls in Some Districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

The guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) holds significant agricultural importance in Ghana, particularly in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. Despite their economic and cultural significance, guinea fowls face a potential threat from avian influenza, a global concern for its adverse impact on poultry populations. This study assessed the seroprevalence of the virus in mature guinea fowls in the Upper East Region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three districts within the Upper East Region from April to June 2023. Blood samples were collected from 397 guinea fowls that are over 4 weeks old, and seroprevalence was determined using ID Screen Influenza A Antibody Competition Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study analysed demographic factors such as sex, age and source of birds, employing statistical methods to establish associations. Among the sampled guinea fowls, 24.7% tested positive for avian influenza antibodies, whereas 75.3% were seronegative. Age did not show statistically significant associations with seroprevalence, but intriguing patterns were observed. Adult guinea fowls exhibited higher seroprevalence (23.7%) compared to growers (1.0%). The source of birds showed no significant association, but birds from slaughter points demonstrated higher seroprevalence (11.6%) compared to households (5.0%) and live bird markets (8.1%). In conclusion, the study underscores the importance of monitoring avian influenza in guinea fowls to implement effective control measures. The presence of antibodies suggests guinea fowls may contribute to virus transmission in the Upper East Region. The study recommends ongoing nationwide surveillance to assess the true prevalence of avian influenza in guinea fowls across Ghana.

Petrogenetic relationship of the variably Ni−Cu−platinum-group element (PGE)-mineralized intrusions of the Thunder Bay North Intrusive Complex, Midcontinent Rift, Canada: Implications for mineral exploration in mafic−ultramafic complexes

The Thunder Bay North Intrusive Complex (TBNIC) of Canada comprises six variably Ni−Cu−platinum-group element (PGE)-mineralized mafic−ultramafic intrusions that intruded the Archean Quetico Subprovince. These are the Current, Escape, Lone Island, Greenwich, and 025 intrusions, with the former three aligned along an east−west-trending intrusion termed the East−West Corridor. These intrusions have a consistent igneous stratigraphy comprising, from bottom to top, peridotite, gabbros, and quartz gabbro. Only the Current and Escape intrusions are known to host sulfide mineralization in the peridotite. Despite the economic significance of the TBNIC, little work has been done to characterize its petrogenetic evolution and the causes of the apparent variable fertility. Our new ages for Escape (1107.6 ± 0.9 Ma) and Greenwich (1105.7 ± 0.9 Ma), combined with previously determined ages for Current (1106.6 ± 1.6 Ma) and Lone Island (1106.3 ± 2.1 Ma), demonstrate that the TBNIC was emplaced as part of the ca. 1.1 Ga Midcontinent Rift event. The similarities in their rare earth element geochemistry and consistently low Th/La−Sri values indicate that the intrusions crystallized from genetically related magmas that did not assimilate significant amounts of crustal material. Accordingly, their systematically negative εNdt values and Nb anomalies likely reflect that their parent magmas were largely sourced from the subdcontinental lithospheric mantle and not the Keweenaw Plume. Given their genetic relationship, the variable fertility of the intrusions cannot be related to processes that occurred in their mantle sources. Since the gabbros have systematically depleted Cu/Zr−Cu/Pd ratios and the peridotites have enriched ratios, the apparent variable fertility is likely related to the timing and location of sulfide segregation and accumulation, with the barren gabbros preserving magmas that lost sulfide liquid during transport to shallow crustal levels, and the mineralized peridotites recording accumulation of sulfide liquid. This interpretation has important implications for exploration as it implies that sulfide mineralization in the apparently barren intrusions may be located at depth in undiscovered ultramafic cumulates.

Effects of economic drivers on work health and safety in global supply chains: A discussion of the effectiveness of regulatory strategies and their economic contexts

Abstract Outlining the economic significance of the role of global supply chains (GSCs) in the organisation of the global economy, this paper initially presents some indications of health and safety outcomes in low- and middle-income counties (LMICs) where GSCs source much of the production destined for use in advanced economies. It goes on to discuss the operational dynamics of these chains and the corporate priorities that they reflect, which, it argues, do little to improve the poor work health and safety (WHS) outcomes in LMICs. It then examines evidence for the effectiveness of various private and public regulatory strategies that are claimed to bring about improved health and safety practices and outcomes among GSC suppliers in these countries. The paper critically evaluates this evidence and argues that, while there may be some examples of effective strategies and regulatory practices in particular contexts, their overall influence remains limited. It identifies and discusses the principal reasons for these limitations and concludes that the global regulation of conditions of labour – including WHS – at the end of GSCs falls well short of universal best practice and is, more generally, insufficient to counter the economic forces working against the maintenance of adequate standards of worker protection.

A Rapid Method for Obtaining the Transgenic Roots of Crassulaceae Plants.

Crassulaceae plants are valued for their horticultural, ecological, and economic significance, but their genetic improvement is hindered by the absence of efficient and stable genetic transformation methods. Therefore, the development of a tailored genetic transformation method is crucial for enhancing the progress of the genetic improvement of Crassulaceae plants. The results indicate that, in the transformation experiments conducted on Kalanchoe tetraphylla, the K599 strain exhibited the highest transformation efficiency (76.67%), while C58C1 was least efficient (21.43%). An acetosyringone concentration of 100 μM was optimal for the hairy root transformation, and the immersion method yielded the highest efficiency. Additionally, the Silwet L-77 concentration significantly influenced the transformation efficiency, with 0.05% leading to a decrease. Upon four Crassulaceae species, notable differences were observed, with K. tetraphylla exhibiting the highest efficiency of 100%, and Sedum alfredii displaying the lowest efficiency of 5%. The RUBY reporter gene offers a more distinct advantage over GFP in observing the transformation effects. This study developed a simple, feasible, and cost-effective method for obtaining transgenic roots from leaves of Crassulaceae. The methodology provides technical support for the genetic improvement and gene function research of Crassulaceae plants.