Homogeneous Texture Research Articles

Genetic implications of vein texture and mineralogy at the Au-bearing El Morado mining district, Sierras Pampeanas, San Juan, Argentina

El Morado mining district is located in Sierra de La Huerta, in the Sierras Pampeanas of San Juan province, Argentina. It comprises numerous Au-bearing quartz veins hosted by intensely deformed igneous-metamorphic units of lower Paleozoic age. In the El Morado mining district, Maira mine is the only deposit producing gold at the present time. Quartz veins in this mine and surroundings, occur in concordance with their host rocks foliation and show numerous evidences of brittle-ductile deformation, mainly represented by a pinch-and-swell structure and extended development of breccia bodies.The application of scanning electron microscopy cathodoluminiscence in quartz samples lead to the recognition of homogeneous texture, which is evidence of recrystallization, commonly observed in orogenic gold quartz veins. Intracrystalline deformation is ubiquitous and represented by undulose and patchy extinction in relicts of large old grains where bulging and sub-grain rotation recrystallization microstructures are well represented. These dynamic quartz deformation processes indicate temperatures going up to ∼350 °C. Fluid inclusion post-entrapment modifications were recognized in quartz veins as numerous collapsed, small-sized fluid inclusions.Ore mineralization at Maira mine occurred after quartz veins emplacement and deformation in the upper crustal brittle-ductile transition zone. Galena, chalcopyrite and lesser pyrite and bornite, together with gold and tetrahedrite were identified infilling fractures in quartz veins. Gold grains were also identified closely related to malachite, cuprite, goethite and lepidocrocite in oxidizing horizons.

The effect of soil texture, layering and water head on the infiltration rate and infiltration model accuracy

AbstractInfiltration is one of the most important physical characteristics of soil and depends on various factors. This study investigated the influence of soil texture, layering and water head on the soil water infiltration rate. It also selected the most accurate infiltration models to determine the water infiltration rate in homogeneous and heterogeneous soil profiles. Experiments were carried out in four soil containers with a length, width and height of 20 × 20 × 70 cm. Treatments consisted of two soil textures (sandy loam, SL; clay loam, CL), four soil profiles (homogeneous texture, SL and CL; and heterogeneous texture, lighter texture on the top, SL/CL, and heavier texture on the top CL/SL) and three water head sizes (4, 7 and 10 cm). Several models were used to determine the water infiltration rate under homogeneous (Kostiakov, modified Kostiakov, Philip, Horton, traditional Green–Ampt, modified Green–Ampt and HYDRUS‐1D) and heterogeneous soils (traditional Green–Ampt, modified Green–Ampt and HYDRUS‐1D). According to the results, the infiltration rate decreased over time and along the soil profile. Nevertheless, it jumped at the interface of two‐layered soils when the heavier soil was in the bottom layer (SC treatments) due to the high potential of the second layer, and then it decreased. In the reverse layering, the infiltration rate in the interface was lowest (CS treatments) because of the higher hydraulic conductivity of the second layer. Additionally, the infiltration rate increased with increasing water head, but the rate of this increase was higher by changing the water head from 7 to 10 cm. The results of infiltration models showed that the accuracy of these models was higher in clay loam texture than in sandy loam texture. The modified Green–Ampt was the most accurate model in homogeneous and layered soils, with average RMSE of 0.0204 and 0.019, respectively. The Horton model had the weakest simulation in homogeneous soils, with an average RMSE of 0.1299. Additionally, the accuracy of HYDRUS‐1D in layered soils was less than that in homogeneous soils (NS of 0.95 and 0.85, respectively), and its accuracy decreased with increasing water head in most treatments.

Comparative Assessment of Neural Radiance Fields and Photogrammetry in Digital Heritage: Impact of Varying Image Conditions on 3D Reconstruction

This paper conducts a comparative evaluation between Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) and photogrammetry for 3D reconstruction in the cultural heritage domain. Focusing on three case studies, of which the Terpsichore statue serves as a pilot case, the research assesses the quality, consistency, and efficiency of both methods. The results indicate that, under conditions of reduced input data or lower resolution, NeRF outperforms photogrammetry in preserving completeness and material description for the same set of input images (with known camera poses). The study recommends NeRF for scenarios requiring extensive area mapping with limited images, particularly in emergency situations. Despite NeRF’s developmental stage compared to photogrammetry, the findings demonstrate higher potential for describing material characteristics and rendering homogeneous textures with enhanced visual fidelity and accuracy; however, NeRF seems more prone to noise effects. The paper advocates for the future integration of NeRF with photogrammetry to address respective limitations, offering more comprehensive representation for cultural heritage preservation tasks. Future developments include extending applications to planar surfaces and exploring NeRF in virtual and augmented reality, as well as studying NeRF evolution in line with emerging trends in semantic segmentation and in-the-wild scene reconstruction.

Performance analysis of lithium-ion battery with solid electrolyte membrane

Herein, a prototype Li-ion battery (LIB) was fabricated using a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membrane in place of a liquid electrolyte and a separator to enhance electrochemical performances. The SPE was synthesized using a casting method, employing a lithium chloride (LiCl) to polystyrene (PS) composition ratio of 1:5 in a solvent of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). SEM investigation of SPE revealed a uniform and homogenous texture with a microporous structure, which is promising for the flow of Li-ion through the membrane. A remarkable thermal stability up to 400 °C was found in TGA analysis. In electrochemical analysis, it is observed that the charging and discharging performances of Li-ion batteries were improved. The output voltage of the pouch cell exhibited an increase from an initial value of 0.4 V to a maximum value of 1 V after being charged with a steady supply of 4 V. The average current flow during the discharging process was measured as 4.53 μA, while the specific capacity of the pouch cell was found to be 6.734 μAhr/gm. With the aforementioned characteristics, this battery offers a promising alternative to the traditional LIB for modern industrial applications.

Development of a Palm Kernel-Based Emulgel Loaded with Mitracarpus scarber Leaf Extracts for Effective Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Mitracarpus scaber is a tropical herb used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of inflammation and a variety of other diseases. The aim of this study was to develop a palm kernel-based emulgel containing Mitracarpus scarber and examine the product's physicochemical characteristics and anti-inflammatory efficacy on Wister rats. Different batches of emulgel comprising Mitracarpus scarber leaf extracts (MSE), different proportions of oils (palm kernel oil and/or liquid paraffin), and surfactants (tween-80 and/or Cremophor EL-30) were prepared. The freshly prepared and 5-month-old formulations, stored at room temperature (28 ± 2 °C), were evaluated for rheology, syneresis, and extract/excipient compatibility using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The spreadability, extrudability, and anti-inflammatory activity of the optimal formulation were compared with those of a commercial anti-inflammatory emulgel. Even after five months of storage, the created emulgels remained olive green and creamy, with a homogeneous texture, consistency, and glossy appearance. The optimized batch containing palm kernel oil, tween-80, and xanthan gum had the most stable characteristics, with no significant change in pH (P = 1.000) or FT-IR spectrum after 5 months of storage. It exhibited spreadability and extrudability of 12.75 cm2 and 600 g/cm2, respectively, compared to 16.82 cm2 and 400 g/cm2 for the commercial formulation. Four hours post-treatment, the anti-inflammatory effect of the optimized batch was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of the aqueous MSE dispersion. The obtained results demonstrate the prospects of palm kernel-based emulgel loaded with Mitracarpus scarber leaf extracts as an innovative therapeutic approach to inflammation treatment. Keywords: Inflammation, Emulgel, Mitracarpus scarber, Palm kernel oil, Formulation

Primary source of titanomagnetite ores at the Orokolo Bay placer deposit: Implications for petrogenesis

AbstractCoastal and river sand sequences of Holocene age at Orokolo Bay in Papua New Guinea are host to secondary titanomagnetite ore deposits. The resource developer (Mayur Resources) declares a measured orebody of 139 million tons at grades of 11.35% Fe, 1.94% Ti, and 712 ppm Zr. Orokolo Bay is located near the boundary between the Papuan Thrust and Fold Belt and the Aure Fold Belt. This region is characterized by sedimentary rocks of the Papuan Basin, which are intruded and overlain by a diverse array of magmatic intrusive and volcanic rocks, ranging from mafic alkaline to felsic calc‐alkaline types related to arc–continent collisions in the Cenozoic. The Vailala and Purari rivers located to the east and west of Orokolo Bay, respectively, are the main sediment pathways. Earlier provenance studies have suggested that the deposited sediments mainly come from the erosion of volcanic rocks found within the catchments of these two rivers. However, these studies did not specifically identify the primary source of the Fe‐Ti ores within this region. Here, we report on a potential primary source of the Fe‐Ti ores by examining the occurrence and chemical compositions for detrital titanomagnetites, and associated pyroxene and amphibole minerals. The purpose of this was to discern specific attributes of the primary source for its identification. Lithic sediments comprised of magnesio‐hornblende (Mhbl), tschermakaite (Tsr) and magnesio‐hastingsite (Mhst) amphiboles, clinopyroxene (Cpx), and Fe‐Ti oxide minerals dominate the heavy sands. Feldspar is more abundant than quartz, and Cr‐spinel is rare. Two primary titanomagnetite types were categorized based on their homogeneous grain textures and TiO2 content, Tmt1 (average 28 wt% TiO2) and Tmt2 (average 7 wt% TiO2). Pleonaste exsolutions and zircon inclusions distinguish Tmt1 from Tmt2, while apatite and quenched glass inclusions occur in both. A portion of both primary titanomagnetites exhibits hydrothermal overprinting, this subset was categorized as Tmt3 (average 12.5 wt% TiO2). Fe‐Ti oxides are associated with Cpx and amphiboles as inclusions, and as pseudomorphs in opacitic amphiboles. Tmt1 coexists predominantly with Mhst‐Tsr but also appears less frequently with Mhbl and Cpx. Tmt2 occurs almost exclusively with Mhbl and Cpx. Titanomagnetite chemistry is low in Cr, Mg, and V content suggesting crystallization from evolved melts. Tmt3 is shows enriched Si, Ca, Al, and Mg concentrations that are characteristic of late‐stage fluids derived from calcareous rocks. Amphibole and Cpx chemistry indicate they were derived from a subalkaline source magma of arc affinity. Fe‐Ti thermobarometry reveals Tmt1 (990 to 967°C, −0.51 to −0.18 ΔNNO) formed at higher temperatures and in less oxidized conditions than Tmt2 (834 to 689°C, 0.33 to 3.2 ΔNNO). Amphibole thermobarometry reveals Mhst‐Tsr and Mhbl formed under similar conditions as Tmt1 and Tmt2, respectively. The lack of Cr‐spinel, olivine, and the abundant occurrence of zircon and Mhbl indicate an evolved subalkaline source characterized by felsic rocks related to arc magmatism. The only volcanic source which aligns with these characteristics is Mount Yelia within the Vailala River catchment. Compositional variation between Tmt1 and Tmt2 titanomagnetites and associated silicate minerals is attributed to heterogeneous temperature and ƒO2 conditions within the melt during crystallization. The provenance of Ti‐rich titanomagnetite ores from sources related to arc magmatism indicates the potential of other areas associated with arc activity in Papua New Guinea to host secondary deposits rich in Fe‐Ti ores.

Self-Supervised Cyclic Diffeomorphic Mapping for Soft Tissue Deformation Recovery in Robotic Surgery Scenes.

The ability to recover tissue deformation from visual features is fundamental for many robotic surgery applications. This has been a long-standing research topic in computer vision, however, is still unsolved due to complex dynamics of soft tissues when being manipulated by surgical instruments. The ambiguous pixel correspondence caused by homogeneous texture makes achieving dense and accurate tissue tracking even more challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel self-supervised framework to recover tissue deformations from stereo surgical videos. Our approach integrates semantics, cross-frame motion flow, and long-range temporal dependencies to enable the recovered deformations to represent actual tissue dynamics. Moreover, we incorporate diffeomorphic mapping to regularize the warping field to be physically realistic. To comprehensively evaluate our method, we collected stereo surgical video clips containing three types of tissue manipulation (i.e., pushing, dissection and retraction) from two different types of surgeries (i.e., hemicolectomy and mesorectal excision). Our method has achieved impressive results in capturing deformation in 3D mesh, and generalized well across manipulations and surgeries. It also outperforms current state-of-the-art methods on non-rigid registration and optical flow estimation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work on self-supervised learning for dense tissue deformation modeling from stereo surgical videos. Our code will be released.

Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopic (CSLM) characterization of volcanic rocks

Optical and microscopical analyses of surficial and internal textures are key elements of volcanic rock characterization. Yet conventional methods for textural analyses often pose challenges and difficulties in terms of sample preparation and/or time and resources consumption, beside their inherent limitations. Here, we performed Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM) to characterize vesicles in volcanic rocks and their experimental analogs and to compare the results to those of conventional Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) investigations. Further, we discuss surface roughness analysis as a possible parameter to analyze different vesicle textures. CSLM obviates the need for sample impregnation (using fluorescent resin) and polishing, it enables fast and automated analyses of samples surfaces at lower costs than conventional techniques. Calculated vesicle size distributions and vesicle number densities of the analyzed samples were compared in order to determine the potential and precision of volume and area information directly obtainable from CSLM measurements in 3D. Monodisperse samples with homogeneous vesicle texture show remarkable similarities in vesicle size and volume distribution, when compared directly with the two methods. For all experimental and natural samples, roughly half of them show VNDs and porosity show the same range, which can be explained by vesicle coalescence. After de-coalescing the images of CSLM for FOAMS analysis, these differences vanish almost entirely for most of the sample types. Combining our textural data and our numerical modeling, we present a universal scaling model to link surface roughness with vesicle number density, porosity, and polydispersivity. These results indicate that CSLM can be a powerful tool to investigate vesicle structures from the millimetric to micrometric scale. The resulting data is both quantitatively and qualitatively equivalent to SEM-derived data for a variety of volcanic rock types. This, combined with the simple sample preparation and handling make CSLM a valid alternative to SEM investigations to characterize vesicles, particles, and any sort of rock property that reflects on topography. Surface roughness can become a new key parameter to interpret porous networks in volcanic rocks and can be applied to other geological fields.

Effect of mixture microstructure/compatibility on the properties of type-A gelatin-dextran edible films

The influence of phase separation behavior on bio-based film properties has attracted more and more attention. This work investigated the effects of microstructure and compatibility of the type-A gelatin (GE)-dextran (DE) mixtures on GE-DE edible film properties. Three kinds of GE-DE edible films with different textures were prepared via modulating the microstructure and compatibility of film-forming mixtures using the method of gelation-drying, e.g., homogeneous films, microphase separated films with relatively homogeneous texture, and microphase separated films with uneven texture. The optical, mechanical, water barrier, and thermal properties of films were characterized. Results showed that microstructure and compatibility significantly affected the film properties. In general, films with DE-in-GE microstructure exhibited the best film properties, followed by films with water-in-water-in-water/bicontinuous microstructure, and then films with GE-in-DE microstructure. And homogeneous films showed the best film properties, followed by films with relatively homogeneous texture, and then films with uneven texture. The weight loss results suggested the potential of GE-DE edible films for application in cherry tomato preservation. This work provided interesting information for the design of film with fabricated microstructure and properties.

Development of Face Pack Powder of Arabica Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Using Variations of Binders with D-Optimal Mixture Design

Cosmetics like face pack powder are popular preparations used by men and women. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) and carbopol are commonly used binders and are suited to dispersal by water. Many natural ingredients such as arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) are useful for cosmetics. Chlorogenic acid and α-tocopherol is a bioactive compound for antioxidant activity and is important in its application in face pack powder. This study aimed to determine the ratio comparison of the composition of the three polymers used as the binders for preparations of the coffee face pack powder using a D-optimal mixture design, analyze the evaluation results of the optimum face pack powder formula, and determine its antioxidant activity. The study began with coffee extraction with 70% ethanol as solvent, wet granulation process with binders and other excipients, evaluation of organoleptic properties, pH, and water content, stability observation for 28 days, and in-vitro measurement of antioxidant activity. One-sample t-test was applied to analyze the results. The obtained optimum formula was with the ratio of HPMC (8.43): carbopol (1.16): CMC-Na (5.41). The evaluation results of the optimum formula showed that the face pack powder has ash brown color, weak aromatic typical coffee fragrance, homogeneous texture, pH value of 5.93 ± 0.06, and water content of 0.89 ± 0.15%. The resulting study shows the coffee face pack powder and crude extract have antioxidant activity (34.94 ppm ± 0.75 and 15.78 ppm ± 2.53). The analysis with the one-sample t-test showed that the experimental results were not significantly different from the software predictions, so the Design-Expert® software using the D-optimal mixture design is applicable to predict the optimum formula of coffee face pack powder

Tensile behaviour of WAAM high strength steel material and members

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), a method of metal 3D printing, has the capacity to create large scale elements suitable for construction applications with a high degree of design freedom and structural efficiency. There is currently however a lack of fundamental experimental data on the material and structural performance of such elements. Towards addressing this limitation, the tensile behaviour of WAAM high strength steel produced using different printing strategies is the focus of the present study. WAAM steel plates and tubular tension members manufactured with different interpass temperatures and toolpaths using ER110S-G welding wire were examined. A total of 60 tensile coupons, consisting of 40 as-built and 20 machined specimens, and 8 as-built circular hollow section (CHS) tension members, were tested. The examined WAAM materials were found to exhibit very little anisotropy, corroborated by a nearly homogeneous crystallographic texture observed by microstructural analysis, while the inherent surface undulations were shown to result in a varying degree of reduction in the material stiffness, strength and ductility at different angles to the print layer orientation. The different printing strategies led to varying surface geometries; combined with different interpass temperatures, they also resulted in different thermal histories and thus different mechanical properties. The tension members showed good structural resistance, but a considerable reduction in ductility compared to the coupon tests, due to the greater geometric variability and manufacturing defects.

Characterization and application of the (NH4)2.5Co0.25PMo12O40 for degradation of orange II under solar light

(NH4)2.5Co0.25PMo12O40, an insoluble heteropolysalt, was prepared from H2.5Co0.25PMo12O40 and urea by a dry way. The physical characterizations showed that the compound crystallizes in a Keggin-type structure, with a cubic symmetry, a mesoporous nature and an homogeneous texture. The UV–Visible diffuse reflectance showed two allowed optical transitions, directly at 2.33 eV and indirectly at 1.90 eV. The compound is chemically stable in Na2SO4 electrolyte (0.5 M), test with thiocyanate was negative. The intensity potential (J- E) characetristics showed an irreversible electrochemical system with a weak hysteresis loop. The n-type behavior was determined from the “capacitance−2 – potential” characteristic with a valence band positioned at 6.83 eV under vacuum (+0.18 VSCE), composed of O2−: 2p while the conduction band derives from the Mo6+: 5s wave functions. (NH4)2.5Co0.25PMo12O40 showed a good photoactivity for the degradation of Orange II (OII), a recalcitrant dye, by •OH radicals, under solar light (93 mW cm−2). Thus, a conversion of 58% was achieved in OII solution (10 mg L−1) in 80 min, under solar light and the kinetic obeys to a first order model with a rate constant of (30.776 ± 0.554) × 10−3 min−1 (t1/2 = 23 min).

Apatite geochemical composition of Mesozoic granitoids in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen, S. China: insights into petrogenesis and intrinsic magmatic variables

ABSTRACT The geochemical compositions of apatite are commonly used to provide reliable constraints on the intrinsic magmatic variables of the parental magma. There is a widespread distribution of Mesozoic granitic rocks in the eastern Jiangnan Orogen (EJNO), which include I-type and A-type granitoids. This study aims to investigate the geochemical composition of apatite in 11 representative I-type and A-type granitic intrusions from the EJNO to understand their petrogenesis, intrinsic magmatic variables, and polymetallic mineralization potential. The results show that apatites in these granitoids were characterized by oscillatory zonation and homogeneous texture, and exhibited high F, and low Cl contents, as well as high REE, Y, and Th contents, indicating magmatic origin. These apatites were divided into two groups depending on their geochemical characteristics and original rock types. In Group I apatites (in the I-type granitoids), the absence of an abrupt change in major and trace element concentrations from the core to the rim of the apatite crystals, combined with their low levels of MgO, Sr, and HREY (HREE+Y), serves as evidence to classify the I-type granitoids as low Sr-Y adakitic granitoids with a low Mg#, which can be attributed to the partial melting of the thickened lower crust. In Group A apatites (in the A-type granites), the normal increase in incompatible elements from the core to the rim, as well as the presence of a flat REE pattern with pronounced Eu anomalies, can be attributed to crystal fractionation of plagioclase, allanite, and zircon. Furthermore, Group I apatites have higher SO3, Cl, and molar OH/F and Cl/F ratios compared to Group A apatites. Quantitative calculation by apatite-melt partitioning and modelling suggests that the I-type granitic magmas were more volatile-rich and more oxidized than A-type granitic magmas. Taken together, based on the relationship between the intrinsic magmatic variables and the behaviour of ore-forming elements, our study demonstrates that early I-type granitoids of the EJNO have a strong W-Mo-Cu polymetallic mineralization potential, while late A-type granites may possess rare metal mineralization potential.

Structural elucidation by Raman spectroscopy and analysis of luminescence quenching by the Inokuti-Hirayama model in the Pr3+ doped multi-component silicate photonic films

Thin films of multi-component silica glasses doped with Ca2+ and Pr3+ modifiers were fabricated by the spin coating technique. Surface micrographic images extracted by the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope revealed a homogeneous texture of the films. Detailed structural analysis by Fourier Transform Raman spectroscopy confirmed the existence of Si-O-Si and polyphosphate groups in the glass matrix. The Burstein-Moss shift was evidenced with doping, by an increase in the band gap of the glass films, evaluated by Tauc’s plots. The films exhibit red and near infra-red emissions (NIR), corresponding to the transitions: 3P0→3F2 and 3P0→3F4 respectively. The decay analysis by the Inokuti-Hirayama (I-H) model validated the contributions of multi-polar interactions particularly that of dipole-quadrupole mechanisms, leading to significant quenching in the highly doped film. The energy transfer efficiency between the sensitizer and activator ions, determined by the formulations of the model was 51.8 %. The decreasing lifetime of the metastable state observed in the glass films could be considered to be prospective for NIR waveguide lasers and red laser sources for optical display screens.

Imaging Histology Correlations of Intraretinal Fluid in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Fluid presence and dynamism is central to the diagnosis and management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. On optical coherence tomography (OCT), some hyporeflective spaces arise through vascular permeability (exudation) and others arise through degeneration (transudation). Herein we determined whether the histological appearance of fluid manifested this heterogeneity. Two eyes of a White woman in her 90s with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treated bilateral type 3 neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration were osmicated, prepared for submicrometer epoxy resin sections, and correlated to eye-tracked spectral domain OCT. Examples of intraretinal tissue fluid were sought among similarly prepared donor eyes with fibrovascular scars, in a web-based age-related macular degeneration histopathology resource. Fluid stain intensity was quantified in reference to Bruch's membrane and the empty glass slide. Exudative fluid by OCT was slightly reflective and dynamically responded to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. On histology, this fluid stained moderately, possessed a smooth and homogenous texture, and contained blood cells and fibrin. Nonexudative fluid in degenerative cysts and in outer retinal tubulation was minimally reflective on OCT and did not respond to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. By histology, this fluid stained lightly, possessed a finely granular texture, and contained mainly tissue debris. Quantification supported the qualitative impressions of fluid stain density. Cells containing retinal pigment epithelium organelles localized to both fluid types. High-resolution histology of osmicated tissue can distinguish between exudative and nonexudative fluid, some of which is transudative. OCT and histological features of different fluid types can inform clinical decision-making and assist in the interpretation of newly available automated fluid detection algorithms.

Comparing consumer acceptance, sensory profile, and chemical properties in artisanal and industrial Greek-style yogurts processing: A path to enhancing food safety

Greek-style yogurt consumption has increased due to consumer interest on high protein foods. The processing conditions of Greek-style yogurt influence chemical composition, sensory properties, and consumer acceptance. As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, local trade and regional commercialization have increased and local small food entrepreneurs have emerged as a reaction. The aim of this study was to compare the physicochemical and sensory properties of artisanal and industrially produced Greek-style yogurt commercialized in Costa Rica. Mechanically drained samples had a more traditional chemical profile, with high-protein and low-carbohydrate content. Enriched yogurts were the most popular due to their sweetness and homogeneous texture, related to the recipe and process. Artisanal samples showed an unexpected chemical profile, with lower total solids and protein, and sensory aspects that negatively impact liking. Artisanal products lacked sweetness, brightness and homogenous texture that were well accepted by consumers and could be linked to a lack of mechanization and process controls.

Tunable rice protein–starch composite soft gels: Structural role of ultrasound-modified protein

Soft composite gels were prepared with ultrasound-treated rice protein (URP, 4%) and rice starch (RS, 6%). The compositional and physical attributes of URP were elucidated, and the textural, rheological and structural properties of the composite gels were characterized. URP showed a reduced particle size, improved solubility, and increased heat tolerance. Cooked (65 °C for 20 min, then heated to 95 °C at 1 °C/min) RS + URP gels displayed a homogeneous and smooth texture with a range of reduced hardness (62%–78.3%) compared with RS gel while largely retaining the water-holding capacity. The viscosity and shear moduli (Gʹ and G′′) of the gels decreased correspondingly, and starch retrogradation was partially inhibited by the interaction with URP. A salient amorphous state revealed by X-ray diffraction confirmed weaker amylose association, in corroboration with non-covalent interactions between RS and URP shown by FTIR spectroscopy. These findings suggest that URP can be a functional ingredient for the development of soft, protein-rich, starch-based gel products suitable for the dysphagia diet.

The ca. 349 Ma metamorphic enrichment of the Tianhu metamorphosed sedimentary Fe deposit in the eastern Tianshan: Evidence from apatite trace elements, oxygen isotopes, and U-Pb chronology

Apatite is a common accessory mineral in iron oxide-apatite (IOA), magmatic Fe-Ti oxide, and metamorphosed sedimentary Fe deposits. Apatite chronology and oxygen isotopes in the IOA deposits have been extensively studied, however, such information in the metamorphosed sedimentary Fe deposits remains poorly understood. Here, we report detailed trace elements, oxygen isotopes, and U-Pb chronology of apatite from the Tianhu metamorphosed sedimentary Fe deposit in the eastern Tianshan, NW China. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the in situ oxygen isotopes of apatite from the metamorphosed sedimentary Fe deposits. Cathodoluminescence imaging of the apatite grains from the Tianhu massive Fe ores show a homogeneous texture, suggesting that they were formed by a single event rather than multiple superimposed events. These apatite grains contain abundant fluid inclusions, and show relatively high δ18O values of 7.9 ‰-14.0 ‰ and low Th and U contents, which are consistent with their metamorphic hydrothermal origin. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) dating of the studied apatite grains yielded a U-Pb age of 348.5 ± 18.5 Ma, indicating that the metamorphic enrichment of the Tianhu metamorphosed sedimentary Fe deposit occurred considerably later than the Ordovician ore-hosting rocks. Combined with previous studies, we suggest that the metamorphic massive ores of the Tianhu metamorphosed sedimentary Fe deposit formed in an orogenic setting. Our study highlights that a combination of trace elements, oxygen isotopes, and U-Pb chronology of apatite can be used as powerful tools to constrain the genesis of metamorphosed sedimentary Fe deposits.

Magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of the aquamarine-bearing Yamrang Pegmatite, Eastern Nepal: Insights from beryl, garnet, and tourmaline mineral chemistry

The Ikhabu Pegmatite Field (IPF) in the Nepal Himalaya is a newly discovered rare-element (REL) pegmatite field that hosts the Yamrang pegmatite, the primary source of the famous Nepalese aquamarines. In this contribution, we provide a comprehensive description of the geology of both the IPF and the Yamrang pegmatite, offering insights into the evolutionary stages of the Yamrang pegmatite based on its internal texture and the mineral chemistry of beryl, garnet, and tourmaline. The Yamrang pegmatite is classified as a beryl-columbite subtype of REL pegmatite, exhibiting axial symmetric zonation and is differentiated into five mineralogical-textural zones during magmatic and hydrothermal stages. The magmatic stage involves undercooling, disequilibrium crystallization, and fractional crystallization whereas the hydrothermal stage comprises alkali-enriched fluid exsolution, the formation of miarolitic cavities, and the crystallization of aquamarine. Yamrang aquamarines are enriched in FeO, up to 1.1 wt%, with Fe2+ as the primary chromophore, resulting in their blue color. Two types of beryl have been identified: magmatic beryl in zones 3 and 4 and hydrothermal beryl in miarolitic cavities (zone 5). Magmatic beryls are characterized by their alkali-poor to sodic composition, prismatic to columnar habit, homogeneous texture, and the presence of Fe-Al octahedral substitution. In contrast, hydrothermal beryls belong to the sodic to Li-Cs beryl group, with tabular to acicular habit, weak compositional zoning, and channel-tetrahedral substitution. Yamrang garnet belongs to the almandine-spessartine series, while the tourmalines are Mg-Ca rich dravite-schorl to Fe-Mn rich schorl variety. Alkali-poor to Li-Cs beryl with low REE contents, spessartine garnet (spessartine component, Xsps ∼ 52) with high HREE, and schorl with high Ti but low Li, Pb, and REE contents suggests that the Yamrang Pegmatite is an intermediate-fractionated REL pegmatite. Potential pegmatite evolution indicators for IPF include high alkali, Fe, Mn, and Rb contents in beryl, high Xsps in garnet, and an increase in Li, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ga, and Nb, alongside depletion of Mg, Ca, Ti, and Ta in schorl. The identification of a rare metal pegmatite field in the Nepalese Himalaya reinforces the general rare metal mineralization potential of the entire Himalaya region.

New Method for Modelling Seasonal Variation in Resistance and Performance of Earthing Systems

The current techniques utilized for estimating seasonal fluctuations in earthing system resistance, including artificial neural networks (ANNs) and correlation/correction factors, rely on resistance records, soil resistivity measurements, and meteorological data collected across broad areas. However, they frequently fail to consider the impact of soil conditions and properties at the actual earthing location. As a solution, this research introduces a new method that models atmospheric conditions as soil suction and incorporates hydraulic soil properties (soil water retention characteristics and hydraulic conductivity) to estimate the seasonal changes in earthing resistance and performance. To illustrate this approach, this study constructs geometric models of vertical earthing rods for three homogeneous soil textures (clayey, silty, and sandy) utilizing COMSOL Multiphysics software. By coupling the differential equations governing electric current and water flow using Archie’s formula and solving numerically with the finite element method (FEM) for various soil suctions, this research reveals that soil water retention and resistivity variations are notably influenced by soil texture. Sandy soil displays higher variability, silt soil demonstrates moderate changes, while clayey soil exhibits lower fluctuation. By linking soil resistivity changes to soil suction and hydraulic properties, this innovative method predicts seasonal trends in earthing resistance and performance.