Crust Formation Research Articles

The Impact of Smoking and Lifestyle Factors on Hair Transplant Outcomes in Patients with Androgenic Alopecia

Background: Hair transplantation is a popular treatment for androgenic alopecia, a common form of hair loss that significantly affects self-esteem and quality of life. However, it is important to note that smoking can potentially have a detrimental impact on the efficacy of this procedure. Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the influence of smoking, alcohol consumption, and water pipe usage on hair density and growth rate in individuals with alopecia who have undergone hair transplantation at the Jordan Clinic in Tehran, Iran. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 23 smoker and 97 non-smoker patients who underwent hair transplantation at the Jordan Clinic between 2011 and 2013. A convenience sampling method was employed in the study. Data on smoking status, hair growth, and complications were collected and analyzed. The study included 94.2% male and 5.8% female patients. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 13. The repeated measures ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis, with a significance level of five percent. Results: The results showed that smokers experienced spontaneous bleeding at the implant site after surgery, resulting in hairless areas following crust formation, a complication not observed in non-smokers (P > 0.05). Smokers also had significantly lower hair density and growth compared to non-smokers (P > 0.05). Additionally, alcohol users demonstrated significantly less hair growth than non-drinkers. Conclusions: Smoking—including cigarettes, hookah, and combined smoking—and alcohol consumption negatively impacted hair transplant outcomes in patients with androgenic alopecia treated at the Jordan Clinic. These findings underscore the importance of addressing lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, in the management of androgenic alopecia and hair transplantation.

Geochemical constraints on reaction temperature and pressure and heat- and mass-transfer efficiency at Rainbow Hydrothermal Field

Seafloor vent fluids hosted by oceanic core complexes (OCCs) are thought to represent circulation of seawater-derived hydrothermal fluid along deeply penetrating, low-angle detachment faults. However, estimation of the source temperatures and pressures of such fluids has been limited because geochemical methods typically require vent fluid silica concentrations to be buffered by quartz, a condition not often met at oceanic core complexes. Here, we extend the calculation of the Si-Cl geothermobarometer to enable predictions of fluid Si concentrations in equilibrium with any Si-buffering mineral assemblage, rather than being restricted to quartz. We apply this method to Rainbow Hydrothermal Field vent fluid compositions and find that they are consistent with buffering by a plagioclase+talc+chlorite+tremolite mineral assemblage at conditions ranging from (430 °C, 359 bar) to (470 °C, 468 bar), which correspond to depths of 1.3–2.4 km below the seafloor. These estimates agree well with the locations of seismically imaged magma chambers within the Rainbow Massif. Additionally, calculations of fluxibility and Fe solubility support this relatively shallow origin for Rainbow vent fluids and imply relatively efficient heat and Fe extraction from the seafloor. We estimate that only 24–30 % of the heat content and almost no Fe is lost during upflow of Rainbow vent fluids.Compared to other OCC-hosted seafloor vents, the source region of Rainbow vent fluids is anomalously shallow, an observation consistent with geological interpretations of the Rainbow Massif. Vent fluids at Rainbow Hydrothermal Field have exhibited apparently stable and greater-than-seawater salinity for over two decades. We interpret these vent fluids as vapors derived from a higher-salinity source fluid that developed over multiple cycles of magma injection and phase-separation inherent to the formation of oceanic crust along slow-spreading, non-volcanic segments of oceanic spreading centers. Alternatively, higher-salinity source fluids could be derived from mineral hydration reactions associated with serpentinization of ultramafic rocks. The occurrence of greater-than-seawater salinity vent fluids is thus predicted to be a common feature of OCC-hosted vent fields, as indicated by several known examples, including the TAG, Kairei, and Edmond vent fields.

Uncovering the oxic-suboxic microenvironment change in seamount flank through authigenic clay minerals in basaltic substrate of ferromanganese crust, Magellan seamount

In low-temperature ocean environments, basalt alteration by seawater precipitates authigenic clay minerals that serve as proxies for reconstructing paleo-ocean conditions because they reflect surrounding oxic-suboxic conditions. In this study, alteration rims on basaltic substrate associated with ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) crust from the Magellan seamount KC-7 were identified by microscopic analyses. Mineralogical and geochemical analyses indicate that the alteration rims contain K-enriched Fe-smectite and glauconite which suggest that seawater-basalt interaction occurred under oxic conditions and in the presence of organic-rich suboxic conditions, respectively. These disparate environmental conditions suggest that the environment changed before and after Fe-Mn crusts formed. During the Cenozoic hyperthermal events, oxygen-rich bottom water was supplied by upwelling driven by the geomorphological influence of the seamounts, which may have led to basalt alteration. The K-enriched Fe-smectites, which indicate oxic condition, formed via seawater-basalt interactions before the Fe-Mn crust incrustation. Later, during the Eocene, the opening of the Drake Passage enhanced the supply of oxygen-rich seawater to the Magellan Seamounts, thereby enabling the formation of hydrogenetic Fe-Mn crust. After the incrustation of seamount flanks with Fe-Mn crusts, the carbonate fluorapatite (CFA), a product of the global phosphatization event, filled the pores in the Fe-Mn crusts during Oi-1 glaciation. As a result, seawater-basalt interactions decreased and led to suboxic conditions, in which glauconite formed as organic matter was remineralized under the organic-rich conditions in the basaltic substrate. This authigenic clay mineral formation sequence suggests that changes in ocean circulation and subsequent changes in the oxic-suboxic conditions in the basaltic substrate occurred on the western Pacific seamount KC-7.

Water content drives distinct evolution trajectory of Early Cretaceous granitoids in inland and coastal southeast China

Water plays a crucial role in determining the crystallization sequence of magma, which subsequently influences the chemical compositions of magmatic rocks across different tectonic settings. In this study, we compared the evolutionary features of granitic rocks along the coast and inland areas of southeast China, aiming to identify the key factors influencing their evolution. Our work indicates that multiple granitic intrusions formed between 126 and 142 Ma in the coastal region of southeastern China, which is consistent with the formation ages of large-scale granitoids in the inland Gan-Hang Belt. Isotopic characteristics suggest that the granitic rocks in southern Fujian originated from the melting of juvenile crust, while those in northern Fujian and eastern Zhejiang were formed from the partial melting of ancient crustal rocks, incorporating mafic magma evolved from the mantle. Most of the granitoids from the coastal region of southeastern China exhibit low zircon saturation temperatures (680–800 °C) and Zr/Sr ratios (<1), suggesting their origin from a cold, wet magma reservoir. The porphyritic quartz diorite and porphyritic monzogranite represent the residual cumulate rocks of this hydrous magma reservoir, whereas the granitic porphyry and high-silica equigranular alkali feldspar granite evolved from the felsic melts extracted from the same reservoir. In contrast, most of the Early Cretaceous granitoids in the Gan-Hang Belt, located in the inland areas of southeast China, display high zircon saturation temperatures (800–900 °C) and Zr/Sr ratios (>1), indicating their origin from hot, water-poor magma reservoirs. The porphyritic granites in this region represent residual cumulate rocks formed in water-poor magma reservoirs, whereas the high-silica equigranular granites evolved from hot felsic melts extracted from similar magma reservoirs. In the Early Cretaceous, the coastal region of southeastern China was closer to the Late Mesozoic paleo-Pacific subduction zone, where crystal-melt segregation within cold, wet magma reservoirs predominantly influenced magma evolution. Conversely, the granitoids in the Gan-Hang Belt in the inland region, located farther from the Late Mesozoic paleo-Pacific subduction zone, were associated with a rift tectonic setting and formed through crystal-melt segregation within hot, water-poor magma reservoirs. Our study underscores the critical role of water content in magma reservoirs in shaping the chemical composition of granitic rocks through crystal-melt segregation, thereby deepening our understanding of crustal formation processes across diverse tectonic environments.

The crustal juvenile and reworking in eastern Tibet due to tectonism and magmatism

Crustal thickening in Tibet results from the collision of India and Eurasia. The fine structure of the crust is vital information to detect the tectonic genesis of crustal growth and reworking. Here, we constructed the crustal structure of eastern Tibet and its neighboring areas using depth-domain receiver function imaging. The imaging results reveal widespread low-velocity layers in the mid-crust, alternating high- and low-velocity structures in the lower crust, and regional variations in the velocity at the bottom of the lower crust and the thickness of the entire crust. We propose that the lower crust is juvenile crust, formed by multiphase magmatism and tectonic activity during continental collision. The regional variations in crustal structure can be attributed to differences in the tectonic position of subduction-collision system and the distinct crustal-derived materials that contribute to the formation of the juvenile crust. The low-velocity layers in the mid-crust are more likely to be the product of arc magmatism during the assembly of micro-continents. Based on the constraints of the unique crustal structure, we suggest that tectonic compression and magmatism caused the juvenile and reworking of the Tibetan crust.

Assessment of the influence of climatic factors on the state of terrestrial ecosystems in the Northwestern region of Russia

The article analyzes the change of climatic conditions in the Northwest of Russia, including the characteristics of dangerous hydrometeorological events (cold and heat waves, strong winds, extreme rainfall, snowfall, ice-frost deposits, hail) and slow climatic changes (increase in the number of days with the transition of air temperature through 0°С, coastal abrasion) in connection with their negative impact on terrestrial ecosystems. It was found that the influence of meteorological and climatic factors on terrestrial ecosystems is most pronounced in the northern part of the studied region, especially on the coast of the Barents Sea. Towards the south, the values of all indicators gradually decrease, and their structure changes. In the northern part of the study area (Murmansk and Arkhangelsk oblasts, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug), phenomena associated with strong winds and intensive ice-frost deposition, which contribute to the formation of an ice crust on the Earth’s surface, prevail. As one moves away from the coast, severe frost is observed more often (Komi Republic). In the center and south of the region, heavy rainfall, severe frost, and intense heat are the most frequent, resulting in a high fire hazard. The study carried out the ranking of the subjects of the Northwestern Federal District according to the degree of intensity of this process. Comprehensive assessments of the negative impact of changing climatic conditions on terrestrial ecosystems can be used to make decisions on the development of a strategy for environmental security of the regions of the Russian Federation.

The healing effects of using tilapia skin to heal burns and wounds

Introduction: Tilapia skin, a freshwater fish, is being used to treat patients with severe burns. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the evidence on the use of tilapia skin in burn healing. Material and Methods: The methodology used was a literature review. The research was carried out by means of an electronic search for scientific articles published on the Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library Online) and Lilacs (Latin American Health Sciences Literature) and Pubmed websites. The health terminologies consulted in the Health Sciences descriptors (DeCS/BIREME) were used; evidence on the use of Tilapia skin in burn healing. Discussion: the good results with Tilapia skin, saline solution, hydrofiber with silver and silver sulfadiazine, however Tilapia skin and its derivatives showed better delineation of the wound edges, reduction of exudate, reduction of crust formation, maintenance of local humidity. This resulted in shorter healing times, fewer dressing changes and less pain related to dressing changes. Histological tests show biocompatibility between human skin and Tilapia skin, and in microbiological tests no bacterial growth was identified, and in biochemical analysis, Tilapia skin showed a higher percentage of type I collagen than observed in human skin, and proved resistant in tensile tests. Conclusion: The studies included in this review showed that the use of Tilapia skin as a biological dressing is effective in the treatment of burns, as it adheres well to the wound bed, has good tensile strength, no antigenicity, and reduces pain. The health care provided to burn patients is carried out directly by the nursing team, who perform all the dressings and assess the healing process. Using Tilapia skin as an alternative dressing for these patients allows nurses to provide better quality care and improve patient comfort.

Dermal toxicity studies of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (CAS number: 2634-33-5) in Sprague-Dawley rats

Biocides are used as preservatives in various household products, and 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (BIT) is one of the popular chemicals. Therefore, BIT is highly likely to be exposed to human skin, necessitating dermal toxicity evaluation. In this study, we aimed to investigate dermal toxicity, eyes and skin irritation, and skin sensitization of BIT. All studies were conducted according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development testing guidelines. In acute dermal toxicity using rats, no treatment-related responses were observed at the highest dose (2000 mg/kg). A 28-day repeated dermal toxicity study at 1, 4, and 12 mg/kg/day showed transient local skin irritation lesions, including erythema, exfoliation, and crust formation. Based on no systemic effects, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of BIT of the 28-day repeated dermal toxicity study was determined to be 12 mg/kg/day. Eye and skin irritation tests showed that BIT is a strong irritant and corrosive to the eyes and a mild irritant to the skin. However, BIT showed no skin sensitization reactions in a local lymph node assay. These dermal toxicity studies can provide valuable information for the risk assessment of BIT.

Nutrient removal performance and the nitrogen-sulfur conversion pathways in sulfur-iron based biofilter under acidic/alkaline conditions

The nitrate and phosphate removal in sulfur based (Vp) and sulfur-iron based autotrophic denitrification systems (Sp) with sponge iron as the iron source was investigated under different pH (6–9). In this study, Sp (>98 %) and Vp (>97 %) had higher nitrate removal efficiency at pH 7–8 and the highest phosphate removal efficiency (94.9 % ± 3.57 %) at pH 6. The flow cytometry detection revealed that the cell integrity was damaged due to the formation of iron crusts at pH 6, which resulted in irreversible inhibition in Sp. Electron transfer and nitrogen transformation showed that compared with the sustained inhibition of denitrification at pH 6, the inhibition at pH 9 occurred mainly in the initial 0–2 h due to the enhanced flow of electrons toward the formation of biological element sulfur (Sbio0). Coupled sponge iron promoted the adsorption and reduction of NO2−/N2O and reduced N2O emissions. Metatranscriptomics analysis showed that significant upregulation of key gene expression for nitrogen and sulfur metabolism in Sp, with complex regulatory mechanisms enhancing system stability and performance. Acidic conditions reduced the abundance of denitrification and sulfur oxidation functional genes. However, alkaline conditions (pH of 9) mainly caused the decreased abundance of denitrification functional genes, which was favorable for accumulation of Sbio0. This study provides a theoretical basis for the stable operation and regulation of the sulfur-iron based autotrophic denitrification process.

Incidence and Characteristics of Dermatophytosis Lesions in Cats (Felis catus) at Go Pet Care Animal Clinic (2020-2022)

Dermatophytosis, a dermatological condition caused by dermatophyte fungi, affects the superficial keratinized structures of the skin. The primary etiological agents include the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton. This study examines the incidence and characteristics of dermatophytosis lesions in domestic cats (Felis catus) at Go Pet Care Animal Clinic from 2020 to 2022. The research utilized secondary data from the clinic's medical records, which is a significant reference institution in Kabupaten Bandung Barat, to assess the prevalence and features of dermatophytosis within this population. The findings revealed a prevalence of 7.5% in 2020, 11.3% in 2021, and 3.7% in 2022. The incidence was highest in cats under 1 year of age, with a notable frequency in Persian breed cats and males. Common lesions identified included localized alopecia primarily in the ear region, alopecia in the back region, and crust formation also in the back area. This study provides critical insights into the epidemiology and clinical presentation of dermatophytosis in domestic cats, offering guidance for improved diagnosis and management of the condition.

Plate tectonics through Earth’s history: constraints from the thermal evolution of Earth’s upper mantle

ABSTRACT Temporal changes in Earth’s tectonic style play a crucial role in understanding the planet’s evolution. Modern-style tectonics is characterized by the formation of basaltic crust at divergent plate boundaries and its subsequent recycling at subduction zones, accompanied by wedge mantle formation and arc magmatism. It is commonly believed that the secular cooling of the mantle modified the tectonic style from stagnant lid or heat pipe on an early hotter Earth to horizontal tectonics during Meso-Neoarchean. However, various field, petrographic, and geochemical studies suggest that the onset of plate tectonics ranges from Hadean to Neoproterozoic. In this study, we re-evaluate the primary magma temperature (mantle potential temperature, Tp) of the upper ambient mantle, spanning from Eoarchean to Neoproterozoic. We used basalts from several Archean and Proterozoic greenstone belts worldwide, along with Proterozoic ophiolites, to (re)calculate the Tp using the FRACTIONATE-PT method. We observed a Tp range of 1444–1639°C during the Archean and 1414–1611°C during the Proterozoic. These findings indicate a strong correlation with previously estimated Tp values obtained from PRIMELT3 method. This further highlights strong internal consistency among different methods and supports models of a hot ambient mantle during the Archean and Proterozoic. We further reviewed numerical models regarding the effect of mantle temperature on the viability of early Earth plate tectonics. Such model results, composition of Archean continental crust, recent crustal growth models, and field evidence are consistent with the operation of plate tectonics on an early hotter Earth. The transition from a hotter mantle to a colder one from Eo-Neoarchean resulted in thinner oceanic lithosphere and a less depleted lithospheric mantle. Subduction of this thinner oceanic lithosphere led to modern-style tectonics. The intensity and style of plate tectonics on the early Earth differed from modern tectonics, which emerged during the Neoarchean.

Numerical analysis of duct wall failure in a prototype FAIDUS design-based generation IV SFR fuel subassembly under flow blockage accident

An ingenious prototype Fuel Assembly Inner DUct Structure (FAIDUS) design is conceptualized under the Generation IV safety philosophy to prevent large-scale corium pool formation following total coolant flow blockage accident. The early failure of the duct wall provides a built-in guideway for molten material relocation out of the core region, ensuring inherent safety robustness. Therefore, understanding the duct wall failure mechanism is critical for evaluating accident mitigation potential of the FAIDUS design. In this regard, a transient enthalpy-based multiphase computational model is developed to investigate the heat transfer and fluid flow behavior involved during the duct wall failure in 3-D domain. The numerical model is employed initially to simulate wall failure in the EAGLE ID1 in-pile test. The model results are validated against the in-pile test data. Subsequently, FAIDUS duct wall failure in a prototype fast reactor fuel subassembly (SA) is investigated employing the present model. The study reveals that the large heat flux from the molten pool to the duct is the main reason for the duct wall failure. The duct failure starts with an initial rupture across the corners of the hexagonal-shaped duct and progresses to total failure of the duct wall by the expansion of the rupture over the whole duct wall area with time. The outer hexcan wall sustains only minor thermal damage during the duct wall failure process. The present study explores the associated thermal-hydraulics, molten pool dynamics, crust formation behavior, and event sequences involved in duct wall failure in great detail. The simulation findings suggest that the FAIDUS SA design facilitates premature failure of the slim duct wall prior to the hexcan wall failure. This could potentially enable early discharge of the molten corium away from the core region, limiting the accident progress.

Correlation between perennial grass productivity and landscape and climatic conditions

The yield monitoring (1998–2023) of cloverothymothy grass stands of 1 year of use within the moraine hill was carried out in order to find patterns in the influence of weather conditions on it. The grass stands were operated in the conditions of the Tver region without fertilizers in a single-cut mode on a field divided into 120 plots. Using regression analysis, we determined the influence of temporal variability of average monthly values: average daily temperatures, their amplitude, amount of precipitation and hydrothermal coefficient on the hay yield of perennial grasses. It was revealed that in total these parameters determine about 43% of the variability in grass productivity, but fluctuations in temperature amplitudes are responsible for 32% of the temporal variability of the yield. The yield of herbs is affected by the variability of growing conditions not only in time, but also in space. The negative impact on the yield of air temperature changes is observed in all parts of the landscape, except for the flat top, where productivity responds positively to the growth of the hydrothermal coefficient and negatively to the increase in air temperatures in the pre-harvest period. The following have a negative impact on product yield: temperature changes in late summer and early autumn, especially on southern slopes, which can make it difficult for plants to overwinter; thaws in March, causing the formation of an ice crust on the soil surface and damaging the tillering nodes of plants; hot days in the pre-harvest period, accelerating the ripening of grasses and reducing the intensity of biomass accumulation. February thaws, promoting the accumulation of moisture in the soil, lead to an increase in grass yield. Measures that reduce the negative impact of temperature changes on the grass harvest include: autumn mowing of young grass, snow retention in meadows, and sprinkling of grass on the hottest days of the pre-harvest period.

Detrital K-feldspar as a novel archive of continental crustal evolution using coupled in situ Rb[sbnd]Sr dating and Pb isotope analysis

Here we present in situ RbSr and Pb isotopic analysis of K-feldspar from the Shap Granite, (Cumbria, UK) and detrital K-feldspar from the associated Shap Wells Conglomerate Formation, to investigate the potential of the detrital K-feldspar record as an archive of crustal composition. We use a unique, collision cell – multi collector inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometer to make the in situ isotope measurements, using ‘chemical resolution’ of 87Rb+ and 204Hg+ isobaric interferences on 87Sr+ and 204Pb+, achieved with SF6 and NH3 reaction gases, respectively. Using this technique, we successfully demonstrate that the majority of detrital K-feldspar RbSr ages, as well as initial Sr and Pb isotope ratios, from the Shap Wells Conglomerate are within uncertainty of those for parental Shap Granite K-feldspar (398 ± 1 Ma, n = 6). Some detrital K-feldspar grains record perturbed RbSr ages, reflecting post depositional alteration events. The majority of samples with disturbed RbSr ages carry distinct petrographic features evident in SEM imaging, prior to in situ dating, which indicates a means to help screen for reliable ages.We further illustrate the potential value of combined RbSr and Pb isotopic information preserved in K-feldspar to estimate the timing and chemical composition of juvenile continental crust formed in the past. Where UPb has been fractionated during juvenile crust formation, the initial Pb isotope ratio provided by the K-feldspar yields model crustal U/Pb (diagnostic of tectonic setting) and extraction age. The contrast in the U/Pb composition of juvenile crust formed in intraplate or subduction settings allows the model U/Pb ratios of the detrital K-feldspars to be used to constrain the style of juvenile crust formation. Additionally, the initial 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio measured in detrital K-feldspar can be combined with the calculated crustal extraction age and RbSr K-feldspar age to model the Rb/Sr of the juvenile crustal protolith.

Refining Hf crust formation ages in Precambrian terranes

Refining Hf crust formation ages in Precambrian terranes

Probing the timing of the onset of the modern-style plate tectonic regime in Earth's history

Following the Earth's formation about 4.6 Ga, its initial basaltic outer layer underwent differentiation, generating the oldest continental crust. However, how and when this differentiation took place and what processes led to the formation of early silicic continental crust are controversial topics, which are rooted in a bigger question of when modern-style plate tectonics started operating in Earth's history. In general, there is a well-accepted consensus that the Earth transitioned from single lid (squishy, stagnant, and/or sluggish lid?) to plate tectonics at some point, largely as a result of the establishment of the first subduction zone(s). Members of the geoscience community are divided in answering the question of the timing of the onset of plate tectonics, as reflected in the four perspective papers by different international research teams here. Using different proxies and datasets, the proposed models range from the Late Archean to Paleoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic for the beginning of a plate tectonic convective regime. Another interpretation states that we do not know when plate tectonics might have started based on the extant observations and data. Although the beginning of plate tectonics is still a subject of debate, most researchers agree on the definition of plate tectonics as a globally networked system of laterally moving rigid plates riding on the aesthenosphere and mantle convection cells, which facilitated recycling of the top boundary layer through time. Testing the proposed models and concepts in these perspective papers with new data, observations and geodynamic modelling efforts will be critical to better understanding the Earth's thermal history and evolution since 4.4 Ga.

The potential of soil endemic microorganisms in ameliorating the physicochemical properties of soil subjected to a freeze-thaw cycle

Establishing soil biological crusts will result in the long-term restoration of ecosystems. Nonetheless, little research has been conducted to demonstrate the influence of soil endemic microorganisms on suppressing the adverse effects of freezing-thawing on soil properties. This current study evaluated the formation of biological crusts, the enhancement of physical and chemical characteristics of soil, and surface soil stability by inoculating native bacteria and cyanobacteria into the soil during a freezing-thawing cycle. The soil was collected from the Badranlou Region in North Khorasan Province, Northern Iran, and native bacteria and cyanobacteria were isolated, identified, chosen, and cultured. The native treatments of bacteria and cyanobacteria were then inoculated in individual bacteria, cyanobacteria, and combined inoculation of cyanobacteria and bacteria onto an experimental soil in six replications. After 60 days, they were subjected to freezing-thawing conditions to have maximum effect on the soil environment, and finally, the soil surface properties were statistically compared. The results of the significant effect (p<0.001) of inoculation treatments on the physical and chemical properties of the study soil revealed that the carbon, nitrogen, organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, and surface soil stability in bacterial treatment compared to the control treatment increased by 68, 39, 68, 17, 25, 99 %, respectively. While under cyanobacterial treatment, they rose by 83, 61, 83, 18, 73, and 172 %, respectively. The combination inoculation treatment of bacteria and cyanobacteria enhanced the study variables by 73, 66, 73, 25, 58, and 189 %, respectively. Compared to control plots, the soil bulk density in bacterial, cyanobacterial, and compound inoculation treatments was substantially reduced (p<0.001) by 9, 15, and 12 %, respectively. The soil stability, carbon, and organic matter were among the most essential properties of the soil, and they best showed the difference between the various treatments applied. It confirmed the region's potential restoration by inoculating native soil microorganisms.

A long section of serpentinized depleted mantle peridotite.

The upper mantle is critical for our understanding of terrestrial magmatism, crust formation, and element cycling between Earth's solid interior, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Mantle composition and evolution have been primarily inferred by surface sampling and indirect methods. We recovered a long (1268-meter) section of serpentinized abyssal mantle peridotite interleaved with thin gabbroic intrusions. We find depleted compositions with notable variations in mantle mineralogy controlled by melt flow. Dunite zones have predominantly intermediate dips, in contrast to the originally steep mantle fabrics, indicative of oblique melt transport. Extensive hydrothermal fluid-rock interaction is recorded across the full depth of the core and is overprinted by oxidation in the upper 200 meters. Alteration patterns are consistent with vent fluid composition in the nearby Lost City hydrothermal field.

Editorial for the Special Issue “Formation and Evolution of the Continental Crust in North China Craton during Precambrian”

The North China Craton (NCC) preserves ancient rocks dating back to ca [...]

Modeling the evaporation and drying of two-component slurry droplets

In this paper, we present a mathematical model and numerical simulation for the evaporation and drying of a liquid droplet containing suspended solids, relevant to processes such as spray drying and spray pyrolysis in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The model comprises three stages: first is the evaporation of the liquid droplet consisting of solid particles, followed by the second stage starting with the formation of a porous crust around a wet-core region and, finally, the third stage with sensible heating of the dry particle. Using a finite difference method with a moving grid, we account for the moving interface between the crust and wet core. Our model incorporates spatial temperature variations and is validated against experimental data on colloidal silica droplet drying, showing good agreement. We examine model assumptions and analyze the impact of drying conditions on drying rate and final particle morphology. Along with the temperature and velocity of the drying gas, we also find that the shape of suspended solid particles inside the droplet and assuming continuum flow of vapor through the crust influence drying quality. Finally, we develop a regime map to predict whether the final particle will be solid or hollow based on operating conditions.