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The elemental analysis of ancient gold items in the context of provenance studies in archaeology and history may characterize metallic stocks and highlight metal circulation in a given space and time; however, they cannot point to a specific geological province and/or ore. In contrast, isotope analysis may offer valuable insight into provenance studies. For instance, lead isotopes may provide relations with the geodynamic provinces of the host mineralizations and some insight into their timing. Iron and copper isotopes may give information on the ore type, i.e., supergene versus hydrothermal or igneous. We thus adapted a single column separative chemistry, initially intended for silicate rocks, for ancient gold matrices to recover purified fractions of Pb, Fe and Cu based on anionic exchange chromatography. Isotopic measurements of these elements on new home-made gold standards, as well as on ancient gold test coins, were carried out using Multi-Collector – Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). Our results show that it is possible to obtain precise and accurate measurements of Pb, Cu and Fe isotope compositions in gold matrices reflecting various elemental compositions. We characterized our gold test coins with the following uncertainties: ±0.036 on 208Pb/204Pb, ±0.016 on 207Pb/204Pb, ±0.019 on 206Pb/204Pb, ±0.00041 on 208Pb/206Pb and ±0.00006 on 207Pb/206Pb (2SD; n = 14); ±0.047‰ for δ57FeIRMM14 (2SE; n = 15) and ±0.043‰ for δ65CuSRM976 (2SE; n = 12). These uncertainties are in good agreement with the long-term (>1.5 years) reproducibilities (2SD) estimated in the course of this study on the basis of repeated measurement of in-house standards. The potential of these new tracers in addressing archaeological and historical questions, such as the provenance of ancient gold coins, is then emphasized. The combination of Pb, Fe and Cu isotopes with gold chemistry appears particularly promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) can spread among cervids by direct and indirect transmission, the former being more likely in emerging areas. Identifying subpopulations allows the delineation of focal areas to target for intervention. We aimed to assess the population structure of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the northeastern United States at a regional scale to inform managers regarding gene flow throughout the region. We genotyped 10 microsatellites in 5701 wild deer samples from Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. We evaluated the distribution of genetic variability through spatial principal component analysis and inferred genetic structure using non‐spatial and spatial Bayesian clustering algorithms (BCAs). We simulated populations representing each inferred wild cluster, wild deer in each state and each physiographic province, total wild population, and a captive population. We conducted genetic assignment tests using these potential sources, calculating the probability of samples being correctly assigned to their origin. Non‐spatial BCA identified two clusters across the region, while spatial BCA suggested a maximum of nine clusters. Assignment tests correctly placed deer into captive or wild origin in most cases (94%), as previously reported, but performance varied when assigning wild deer to more specific origins. Assignments to clusters inferred via non‐spatial BCA performed well, but efficiency was greatly reduced when assigning samples to clusters inferred via spatial BCA. Differences between spatial BCA clusters are not strong enough to make assignment tests a reliable method for inferring the geographic origin of deer using 10 microsatellites. However, the genetic distinction between clusters may indicate natural and anthropogenic barriers of interest for management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around the world the Earth's crust is blanketed to various extents by sediment. For continental regions, knowledge of the distribution and thickness of sediments is crucial for a wide range of applications including seismic hazard, resource potential and our ability to constrain the deeper crustal geology. Excellent constraints on the sediment thickness can be obtained from borehole drilling or active seismic surveys. However, these approaches are expensive and impractical in remote continental interiors such as central Australia. Recently, a method for estimating the sediment thickness using passive seismic data, the collection of which is relatively simple and low cost, was developed and applied to seismic stations in South Australia. This method uses receiver functions, specifically the time delay of the P -to- S converted phase generated at the sediment-basement interface, relative to the direct- P arrival, to generate a first-order estimate of the thickness of sediments. In this work, we expand the analysis to the vast array of over 1500 seismic stations across Australia, covering an entire continent and numerous sedimentary basins that span the entire range from Precambrian to present day. We compare with an established yet separate method to estimate the sediment thickness, which utilizes the autocorrelation of the radial receiver functions to ascertain the two-way traveltime of shear waves reverberating in a sedimentary layer. Across the Australian continent the new results match the broad pattern of expected sedimentary features based on the various geological provinces. We are able to delineate the boundaries of many sedimentary basins, such as the Eucla and Murray Basins, which are Cenozoic, and the boundary between the Karumba Basin and the mineral rich Mount Isa Province. Contrasts in seismic delay time across these boundaries are upwards of 0.4  |$\, \mathrm{s}$|⁠. The delay signal is found to diminish to <0.1  |$\, \mathrm{s}$| for older Proterozoic basins, likely due to compaction and metamorphism of the sediments over time. As an application of the method, a comparison with measurements of sediment thickness from local boreholes allows for a straightforward predictive relationship between the delay time and the cover thickness to be defined. This offers future widespread potential, providing a simple and cheap way to characterize the sediment thickness in underexplored areas from passive seismic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present understanding of Greenland's subglacial geology is derived mostly from interpolation of geologic mapping of its ice‐free margins and unconstrained by geophysical data. Here we refine the extent of its geologic provinces by synthesizing geophysical constraints on subglacial geology from seismic, gravity, magnetic and topographic data. North of 72°N, no province clearly extends across the whole island, leaving three distinct subglacial regions yet to be reconciled with margin geology. Geophysically coherent anomalies and apparent province boundaries are adjacent to the onset of faster ice flow at both Petermann Glacier and the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream. Separately, based on their subaerial expression, dozens of unusually long, straight and sub‐parallel subglacial valleys cross Greenland's interior and are not yet resolved by current syntheses of its subglacial topography. Plain Language Summary: The Greenland Ice Sheet obscures the rocks beneath 79% of Greenland. By necessity, scientists have relied mostly on studying the rocks exposed along Greenland's edge to understand the island's interior geology. We examine geophysical data from seismometers on the ground, satellites that measure Earth's gravity and magnetic fields and surface topography, and aircraft that measure those same properties and ice thickness. We draw a new map of Greenland's geology beneath the ice sheet by examining where those data show similar signals regarding the nature of the underlying rock, and where they could be related to mapped rock exposures. We also find evidence of some areas with geophysical expressions that are distinct from the rocks found at the island's edges. Some geologic structures, which are entirely covered by ice, may affect how ice flows from Greenland's vast interior toward its coast. Finally, we identify many valleys beneath the ice that are very long and often aligned with each other, but which are not yet fully captured in present maps of the topography beneath the ice. Key Points: We produced a new synthesis of subglacial boundaries for Greenland's geologic provinces from seismic, gravity, magnetic and topography dataThree subglacial regions in central and northern Greenland cannot yet be reconciled with surface‐exposed geologic provincesWe find evidence for a large subglacial valley network that is not fully resolved by subglacial topography syntheses for Greenland [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are numerous complex barriers and facilitators to continuously wearing hearing protection devices (HPDs) for noise-exposed workers. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between HPD wearing behavior and hearing protection knowledge and attitude, HPD wearing comfort, and work-related factors. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 524 noise-exposed workers in manufacturing enterprises in Guangdong Province, China. Data were collected on hearing protection knowledge and attitudes, HPD wearing comfort and behavior, and work-related factors through a questionnaire. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we tested the association among the study variables. Results: Among the total workers, 69.47% wore HPD continuously, and the attitudes of hearing protection (26.17 ± 2.958) and total HPD wearing comfort (60.13 ± 8.924) were satisfactory, while hearing protection knowledge (3.54 ± 1.552) was not enough. SEM revealed that hearing protection knowledge had direct effects on attitudes (β = 0.333, p < 0.01) and HPD wearing behavior (β = 0.239, p < 0.01), and the direct effect of total HPD wearing comfort on behavior was β = 0.157 (p < 0.01). The direct effect also existed between work shifts and behavior (β=-0.107, p < 0.05). Indirect relationships mainly existed between other work-related factors, hearing protection attitudes, and HPD wearing behavior through knowledge. Meanwhile, work operation had a direct and negative effect on attitudes (β=-0.146, p < 0.05), and it can also indirectly and positively affect attitudes through knowledge (β = 0.08, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The behavior of wearing HPD was influenced by hearing protection knowledge, comfort in wearing HPD, and work-related factors. The results showed that to improve the compliance of noise-exposed workers wearing HPD continuously when exposed to noise, the HPD wearing comfort and work-related factors must be taken into consideration. In addition, we evaluated HPD wearing comfort in physical and functional dimensions, and this study initially verified the availability of the questionnaire scale of HPD wearing comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparison of the 87Sr/86Sr signatures of archaeological osteological material with features of geological provinces can be applied to determine the places of birth and living of individuals. Such reconstructions were conducted for both humans and domestic animals at the Late Bronze–Early Iron Age sites of the Crimea. The Crimean Peninsula is an interesting testing polygon for such research because it is characterized by a diverse geological situation within a relatively small area. The initial data allowed us to distinguish between three groups of mobility at the Bai-Kiyat I settlement and two groups at the Dolgii Bugor site. The Bai-Kiyat I site is located on the seacoast, so the proxy line for this area will correspond to the value of the ratio of strontium isotopes in seawater (0.7092). The inhabitants of this settlement, including a child from a burial on the settlement, are characterized by this value of strontium isotopes. Other groups include nonlocal people. The data obtained indicate that the steppe zone of the Northern Black Sea region was an ecumene, within which active mobility of groups of people was registered. This mobility is associated primarily with the pastoral type of economy in the period from the Chalcolithic to the Early Iron Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The Jornada Basin Long‐Term Ecological Research Site (JRN‐LTER, or JRN) is a semiarid grassland–shrubland in southern New Mexico, USA. The role of intraspecific competition in constraining shrub growth and establishment at the JRN and in arid systems, in general, is an important question in dryland studies.Using information on shrub distributions and growth habits at the JRN, we present a novel landscape‐scale (c. 1 ha) metric (the 'competition index', CI), which quantifies the potential intensity of competitive interactions. We map and compare the intensity of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa, Torr.) competition spatially and temporally across the JRN‐LTER, investigating associations of CI with shrub distribution, density, and soil types.The CI metric shows strong correlation with values of percent cover. Mapping CI across the Jornada Basin shows that high‐intensity intraspecific competition is not prevalent, with few locations where intense competition is likely to be limiting further honey mesquite expansion.Comparison of CI among physiographic provinces shows differences in average CI values associated with geomorphology, topography, and soil type, suggesting that edaphic conditions may impose important constraints on honey mesquite and growth. However, declining and negative growth rates with increasing CI suggest that intraspecific competition constrains growth rates when CI increases above c. 0.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermochemical structure of the lithosphere controls melting mechanisms in the mantle, as well as the location of volcanism and ore deposits. Obtaining reliable images of the lithosphere structure, and its complex interactions with the asthenosphere, requires the joint inversion of multiple data sets and their associated uncertainties. In particular, the combination of seismic velocity and electrical conductivity, along with proxies for bulk composition and elusive minor phases, represents a crucial step toward fully understanding large‐scale lithospheric structure and melting processes. We apply a novel probabilistic approach for joint inversions of 3D magnetotelluric and seismic data to image the lithosphere beneath southeast Australia. The results show a highly heterogeneous lithosphere with deep conductivity anomalies that correlate with the location of Cenozoic volcanism. In regions where the conductivities have been at odds with sub‐lithospheric temperatures and seismic velocities, we observe that the joint inversion provides conductivity values consistent with other observations. The results reveal a strong relationship between metasomatized regions in the mantle and (a) boundaries of geological provinces, elucidating the subduction‐accretion process in the region; (b) distribution of leucitite and basaltic magmatism; (c) independent geochemical data, and (d) a series of lithospheric steps which constitute areas prone to generating small‐scale instabilities in the asthenosphere. This scenario suggests that shear‐driven upwelling and edge‐driven convection are the primary mechanisms for melting in eastern Australia, contrary to the conventional notion of mantle plume activity. Our study presents an integrated lithospheric model for southeastern Australia and provides valuable insight into the mechanisms driving surface geological processes. Plain Language Summary: The lithosphere is the Earth's outermost rigid layer and the focus of important geological processes, such as earthquakes, volcanism, and mineralization. The location of these processes often coincides with deep discontinuities in the lithosphere. Imaging the structure of the lithosphere using geophysical techniques is crucial to fully understand the nature of these processes. The most reliable images of the lithosphere are obtained by joint analysis of two or more geophysical data sets. In particular, the combination of magnetotellurics (an electromagnetic technique) and seismic data holds great potential because of their complementary sensitivity to the Earth's properties. Furthermore, our understanding of the variability of the lithospheric structure is enhanced by combining this joint analysis with a probabilistic approach. This is because probabilistic methods provide a large number of models that can explain the data. Given the substantial data coverage in southeast Australia, we use a new probabilistic approach for the joint analysis of magnetotelluric and seismic data to image the lithospheric structure beneath this region. Our results show a complex lithosphere in line with the location of volcanism and the tectonic history of the region. The lithospheric composition derived from the models provides significant insights into melt production in the area. Key Points: We apply a novel approach for joint probabilistic inversions of 3D magnetotelluric and seismic dataWe use the new method to image the lithosphere‐asthenosphere system beneath southeastern of AustraliaThe imaged lithospheric structure provides insights on metasomatism and melt production in the region [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the long‐term trends of preterm birth rates in China and their geographic variation by province. Objectives: To estimate the annual spatial–temporal distribution of preterm birth rates in China by province from 1990 to 2020. Data Sources: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, WANFANG and VIP from January 1990 to September 2023. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies that provided data on preterm births in China after 1990 were included. Data were extracted following the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting. Synthesis: We assessed the quality of each survey using a 9‐point checklist. We estimated the annual preterm birth risk by province using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models considering potential socioeconomic, environmental, and sanitary predictors. Results: Based on 634 survey data from 343 included studies, we found a gradual increase in the preterm birth risk in most provinces in China since 1990, with an average annual increase of 0.7% nationally. However, the preterm birth rates in Inner Mongolia, Hubei, and Fujian Province showed a decline, while those in Sichuan were quite stable since 1990. In 2020, the estimates of preterm birth rates ranged from 2.9% (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI] 2.1, 3.8) in Inner Mongolia to 8.5% (95% BCI 6.6, 10.9) in Jiangxi, with the national estimate of 5.9% (95% BCI 4.3, 8.1). Specifically, some provinces were identified as high‐risk provinces for either consistently high preterm birth rates (e.g. Jiangxi) or relatively large increases (e.g. Shanxi) since 1990. Conclusions: This study provides annual information on the preterm birth risk in China since 1990 and identifies high‐risk provinces to assist in targeted control and intervention for this health issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) have a Holarctic distribution, but some details of that overall distribution are poorly understood, including parts of the range in eastern North America. Recent studies in the region suggest that Golden Eagles may be more widely distributed than previously recognized. For species specific conservation efforts to be effective, an understanding of the distribution of the species is essential. Thus, the goal of this study was to map the winter distribution of Golden Eagles in the eastern half of the USA. To accomplish this, we reviewed and compiled 11,981 Golden Eagle records from eight data sources, including literature and ornithology records, community science data, survey data, and telemetry data. We found that Golden Eagles were observed in winter in each of the 31 states that lie completely east of the 100th meridian and in 1244 of the 2045 counties (61%) in those states. The proportion of counties with records varied by physiographic province, with higher proportions in physiographic provinces with more rugged terrain and greater forest cover. Our study shows that Golden Eagles are more widely distributed during winter in eastern USA states than was previously recognized. This work provides an important foundation for future management and research at a time when threats to this species are expanding rapidly on the landscape. Si bien Aquila chrysaetos tiene una distribución holártica, algunos aspectos de su distribución en el este de América del Norte no son del todo claros. Estudios recientes en la región sugieren que su distribución puede ser más amplia que la distribución previamente reconocida. Para que los esfuerzos de conservación para una especie en particular sean efectivos, es esencial comprender su distribución. Así, el objetivo de este estudio fue elaborar un mapa de la distribución invernal de A. chrysaetos en la mitad oriental de EEUU. Para esto, revisamos y compilamos 11,981 registros de A. chrysaetos provenientes de ocho fuentes de datos, incluyendo literatura y registros ornitológicos, datos de ciencia comunitaria, datos de censos y datos de telemetría. Encontramos que A. chrysaetos fue observada en invierno en cada uno de los 31 estados que se encuentran completamente al este del meridiano 100 y en 1244 de los 2045 condados (61%) de estos estados. La proporción de condados con registros varió según la provincia fisiográfica, con proporciones más altas en provincias fisiográficas con terreno más accidentado y mayor cobertura forestal. Nuestro estudio muestra que la distribución de A. chrysaetos durante el invierno en los estados del este de EEUU es efectivamente más amplia que la previamente reconocida. Este trabajo proporciona una base importante para la gestión e investigación futura en un momento en que las amenazas para esta especie se están expandiendo rápidamente en el paisaje. [Traducción del equipo editorial] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven species of the freshwater isopod genus Lirceus occur in the Interior Highlands, a region of the south-central United States comprised of the Ozark and Ouachita physiographic provinces. As part of research on the morphology and molecular genetics of eastern North American asellid isopods, three new species of Lirceus were discovered in the Interior Highlands. Lirceus slayorum, n. sp., is described from Greathouse Spring, Washington County, Arkansas and occurs in caves and springs associated with the Ozark Springfield Plateau. Lirceus ozarkensis, n. sp., is described from Maxey Cave, Pulaski County, Missouri and was originally identified in 1949 by Hubricht and Mackin as a subspecies of Lirceus hoppinae. In actuality, L. ozarkensis is quite distinct from L. hoppinae, and occurs allopatrically in caves and springs of the southern Ozark Salem Plateau in southern Missouri. Lirceus robisoni, n. sp., is described from Abernathy Spring, Polk County, Arkansas and is found in only a few springs in a narrow area of the Ouachita Mountains in western Arkansas. Eight other species of Lirceus occur in the Interior Highlands, most of which are confined to springs and caves. New localities are presented and the ranges of the species are established. Illustrations of the genital pleopods demonstrate a common theme across the species of the Interior Highlands, with all possessing a sperm-transfer cannula arising adjacent to a variously papillate or dentate digitiform lateral process, and nestled under a dominant broadly rounded or subtriangular apex. Within this morphological template, some of the Ozark species, like Lirceus bidentatus, are among the most anatomically bizarre in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to the arguments in most of the literature, the central government of China applies diversified rather than homogenous measures to govern its Ethnic Tibetan Autonomous Areas (ETAA). Applying the analytical framework of 'inner and outer peripheries', this research argues that the central government has favoured the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), particularly in state fiscal assistance, over the other ETAAs, due to its unique governance challenge. This research analyses the central government's fiscal assistance to the ETAAs from 2010 to 2019 and reveals an increasing fiscal gap between them. Not only has the TAR been consistently in the lead but fiscal inequality has also grown among ETAAs in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai and Gansu. Fieldwork in the TAR, Yunnan, Gansu and Sichuan reveals that the fiscal gap, combined with varied local circumstances, has created multifaceted social and economic unevenness in the ETAAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the flow of embodied energy between provinces in China and the factors affecting the network has an important impact on reducing energy consumption in each province and promoting balanced regional development. This paper uses the multi-regional input–output model to construct the interprovincial embodied energy flow network in China and defines the energy flow between provinces under the trade of products and services. Then, it uses the ecological network model to carry out the ascendency and network environ analysis of the interprovincial embodied energy flow network in China and uses the Quadratic Assignment Procedure regression model to calculate the impact of various factors on the flow network. The main research conclusions are as follows: (1) The embodied energy flow in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River is relatively high. The embodied energy flow value in Ningxia and Qinghai is low. Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu often have the highest embodied energy outflow value, while Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and other provinces have higher inflows. (2) The center of gravity of through flow in the flow system is biased to Jiangsu, Guangdong, and other places; Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Hainan are at the edge of the system. (3) The differences in the economic development level, population size, and energy structure have a positive impact on the embodied energy flow network between provinces in China; the geographic distance will have a negative impact on the flow network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, the seismicity rate in the state of Oklahoma has increased significantly, which has been linked to industrial operations, such as saltwater injection and hydraulic fracturing. Taking advantage of induced earthquakes and recently deployed seismometers, we construct a 3‐D radially anisotropic seismic velocity model for the crust of Oklahoma by using full waveform inversion. To mitigate the well‐known cycle‐skipping problem, we use misfit functions based on phase and waveform differences in several frequency bands. Relative velocity perturbations in the inverted model allow us to delineate major geological provinces in Oklahoma, such as the Anadarko Basin and the Cherokee Platform/Shelf. In addition, radial anisotropy in the inverted model reflects deformation within the crust of Oklahoma, which might correlate with sedimentary layering, microcracks/fractures, as well as dominant orientation of anisotropic minerals. The crystalline basement beneath Oklahoma can be inferred from the new velocity model, which enables us to better classify induced seismicity in current earthquake catalogs. Furthermore, synthetic experiments suggest that the new velocity model enables us to better constrain earthquake locations in Oklahoma, especially for determining their depths, which are important for investigating induced seismicity. Plain Language Summary: Taking advantage of induced earthquakes and seismometers deployed in Oklahoma in the last decade, we construct a radially anisotropic seismic velocity model for the crust beneath Oklahoma by using full waveform inversion. The data misfit is iteratively reduced by about 40%, and predicted seismograms based on the new velocity model can fit observations very well. We can identify geological structures from the velocity model, such as low velocity anomalies associated with the Anadarko Basin, and fast anomalies related to the Cherokee Platform. Positive radial anisotropy (RA) in the shallow crust might reflect layered sedimentary structure, while negative RA within the middle crust may relate to preferred orientation of anisotropic minerals, such as plagioclase, mica, and amphibole. Furthermore, synthetic tests are used to illustrate the impact of lateral variations of seismic velocity on earthquake locations, especially for focal depths. Therefore, this new 3‐D model provides us an opportunity to improve current earthquake catalogs in Oklahoma, as well as improving our understanding of the triggering mechanisms of induced earthquakes. Key Points: We use full waveform inversion to construct a 3‐D radially anisotropic seismic velocity model for the crust of OklahomaSpatial distributions of inverted velocity and radial anisotropy agree with geological provinces and tectonic deformation in OklahomaLateral velocity heterogeneities have strong impact on earthquake locations, especially for focal depths [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The city has also been variously termed "Southeastern Virginia", and its Census Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) remains "Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC, MSA." In recent decades, various institutions have increasingly adopted the "Hampton Roads" name, including those that span the individual cities, such as Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, and the Hampton Roads Sanitation District. In 1680, the town of Norfolk was officially named (after Norfolk, England) when the Virginia Assembly established a trading center. Norfolk, Virginia, is the host city of the 78th annual meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers (SEDAAG). [Extracted from the article]

Microbial communities in terrestrial geothermal systems often contain chemolithoautotrophs with well-characterized distributions and metabolic capabilities. However, the extent to which organic matter produced by these chemolithoautotrophs supports heterotrophs remains largely unknown. Here we compared the abundance and activity of peptidases and carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) that are predicted to be extracellular identified in metagenomic assemblies from 63 springs in the Central American and the Andean convergent margin (Argentinian backarc of the Central Volcanic Zone), as well as the plume-influenced spreading center in Iceland. All assemblies contain two orders of magnitude more peptidases than CAZymes, suggesting that the microorganisms more often use proteins for their carbon and/or nitrogen acquisition instead of complex sugars. The CAZy families in highest abundance are GH23 and CBM50, and the most abundant peptidase families are M23 and C26, all four of which degrade peptidoglycan found in bacterial cells. This implies that the heterotrophic community relies on autochthonous dead cell biomass, rather than allochthonous plant matter, for organic material. Enzymes involved in the degradation of cyanobacterial- and algal-derived compounds are in lower abundance at every site, with volcanic sites having more enzymes degrading cyanobacterial compounds and non-volcanic sites having more enzymes degrading algal compounds. Activity assays showed that many of these enzyme classes are active in these samples. High temperature sites (> 80°C) had similar extracellular carbon-degrading enzymes regardless of their province, suggesting a less well-developed population of secondary consumers at these sites, possibly connected with the limited extent of the subsurface biosphere in these high temperature sites. We conclude that in < 80°C springs, chemolithoautotrophic production supports heterotrophs capable of degrading a wide range of organic compounds that do not vary by geological province, even though the taxonomic and respiratory repertoire of chemolithoautotrophs and heterotrophs differ greatly across these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of the crust is one of the most uncertain and controversial components of continental estimates due to (1) limited direct access and (2) inconsistent indirect assessments. Here we show that by combining high-resolution shear velocity (Vs) models with newly measured with newly measured ratio of compressional wave velocity (Vp) and Vs, or Vp/Vs ratio, for the crystalline crust, a 3-D composition (SiO2 wt%) model of the continental crust can be derived with uncertainty estimates. Comparing the model with local xenolith data shows consistency at mid and lower crustal depths. The spatial patterns in bulk SiO2 content correlate with major geological provinces, including the footprints of Cenozoic and Mesozoic mafic volcanism in the western U.S., and offer new insight into the composition and evolution of the continental U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volcanism is a dominant natural source of mercury (Hg) to the atmosphere, biosphere, ocean and sediments. In recent years, sedimentary Hg contents have emerged as a tool to reconstruct volcanic activity, and particularly activity of (subaerially emplaced) large igneous provinces in geological deep time. More specifically, Hg has shown potential as a useful proxy to illuminate the previously elusive impact of such large-scale volcanism on marine and terrestrial paleo-environments. While Hg is now widely applied as volcanism tracer, non-volcanic factors controlling sedimentary Hg content are generally not well constrained. Part of this uncertainty stems from our inability to directly observe a natural unperturbed "steady-state" environment as a baseline, as the modern Hg cycle is heavily influenced by anthropogenic activity. Here we focus on the effects of ambient redox conditions in the water column and shallow sediments (early diagenesis), quantify their influence on the geological Hg record and thereby contribute to constraining their potential impact on the use of Hg as a proxy for deep-time volcanic activity. Constraining these factors is of critical importance for the application of Hg as such a proxy. Many periods in the geological past for which records have been generated, such as the Mesozoic Oceanic Anoxic Events, are marked by a variety of high-amplitude environmental perturbations, including widespread deoxygenation and deposition of organic-rich sediments. We estimate the impact of redox changes and early diagenesis on the geological Hg record using a suite of (sub)recent–Pleistocene and Upper Cretaceous sediments representing oxic to euxinic marine conditions. Our sample set includes a transect through an oxygen minimum zone and cores that record transient shifts in oxygenation state, as well as post-depositional effects – all unrelated to volcanism, to the best of our knowledge. We find substantial alterations to the Hg record and the total organic carbon and total sulfur content, which are typically assumed to be the most common carrier phases of Hg in marine sediments. Moreover, these biases can lead to signal alteration on a par with those interpreted to result from volcanic activity. Geochemical modifications are ubiquitous and their potential magnitude implies that the factors leading to biases in the geological record warrant careful consideration before interpretation. Factors of particular concern to proxy application are (1) the disproportionate loss of organic carbon and sulfur relative to Hg during oxidation that strongly modulates normalized Hg records, (2) the evasion of Hg in anoxic and mildly euxinic sediments and (3) sharp focusing of Hg during post-depositional oxidation of organic matter. We suggest that paired analyses of additional redox-sensitive trace elements such as molybdenum, and organic-matter characteristics, particularly the type of organic matter, could provide first-order constraints on the role that redox and diagenetic changes played in shaping the Hg record as part of checking the attribution of enrichments to volcanic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintaining the performance of healthcare centers during an earthquake is essential. Evaluating the seismic vulnerability of these centers is a priority. This study aims to evaluate seismic vulnerability using geographic information systems (GIS) in urban and rural health service centers of Hamadan Province, Iran, in 2021. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive, analytical cross-sectional study that was conducted in comprehensive health centers. The data of this study were collected in the form of a questionnaire and a map and analyzed using the hierarchical analysis model. In the study, 10 criteria, such as the type of materials, the age of the building, the quality of the building, the number of floors, the area of the centers, as well as the distance from the existing fault lines, and the proximity to the hazardous centers, are defined using a valuation questionnaire, using the chain analysis method, weighting and prioritizing, and using GIS, vulnerability maps of comprehensive urban and rural health centers of Hamadan province were obtained. Results: Among the indices, the distance from the fault index with a weight of 0.328 has the highest and the area distance with a weight of 0.17 has the lowest final weight. The vulnerability distribution of the centers included 46.99% very low vulnerability, 7.23% low vulnerability, 5.42% moderate vulnerability, 20.48% high vulnerability, and 19.88% very high vulnerability. Conclusion: Considering that many urban and rural health service centers are vulnerable to seismic hazards, it is necessary to strengthen vulnerable centers against earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

East Antarctica along with Greater India played a vital role in the accretion and breakup of the Indo-Antarctic landmasses during the supercontinents Nuna, Rodinia and Gondwana. Without geophysical potential field methods, interpreting the architecture of the ice-covered geological provinces of Antarctica is impossible. We present here a crustal element map of East Antarctica between Enderby Land and Princess Elizabeth Land (Indo-Antarctica tectonic element) using aerogeophysical data interpretation. The data reveal distinct anastomosing geophysical provinces that correlate with sparse geological data. Our crustal element map shows the Oygarden Province and the Northern and Southern Rayner provinces are arcuate belts that wrap around the Archean Napier Province. These provinces represent the remnants of an accretionary tectonic margin, which evolved between ca 1300 Ma and 900 Ma. The arcuate geometry of these Meso- to Neoproterozoic provinces formed during the collision with the Napier Province, which represents a microcontinent. This collision triggered widespread extension and ultra-high temperature metamorphism in the Northern and Southern Rayner provinces. The southernmost provinces include the Fisher Province, Lambert Province and a transition zone. The provinces are truncated by a suture zone with the Archean Ruker Province, following north-dipping subduction during the Meso- to Neoproterozoic. Our interpretation provides a template upon which to correlate geological provinces with the terranes on the conjugate eastern Indian margin. An aeromagnetic interpretation is given for Enderby Land and Princess Elizabeth Land of East Antarctica. Napier Province is a microcontinent that collided with the Rayner Province during a ca 1000 Ma orogenic event. A new interpretation of potential field data suggests anastomosing provinces accreted as part of a collisional event. New structures/piercing points are identified at the Mawson Coast and in Kemp Land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the unique drinking behavior of capped langurs, highlighting their adaptation to arboreal life and reliance on various water acquisition strategies, including ingesting water from tree holes. The study emphasizes the importance of continuous field observations to document such behaviors, especially during the rainy season, to better understand the ecology of arboreal species and their adaptation to changing environments.

One such Chantilly specimen has white heulandite crystals to about 3 mm sparsely scattered over calcite crystals and prehnite in a prehnite-lined vug in diabase. According to Medici ([17]), the 1967 find of prehnite and apophyllite provided two types of apophyllite specimens depending on whether they crystallized within or external to the prehnite tubes. At the Vulcan Sanders quarry, white chabazite crystals to 8 mm, calcite rhombohedral crystals to 1 cm, and laumontite crystals to 1 cm were found in vuggy diabase by Al Bullock, in April 1983. In 1999 a large specimen of white, zoned apophyllite crystals on a diabase matrix was found, with individual crystals to 7.5 × 3 cm. Numerous specimens of apophyllite are known to have been collected in the south pit of the Luck Leesburg Plant during 1990-2005. The numerous trap rock quarries of northern Virginia have been a prolific source of macro- and micromineral specimens for many decades. [Extracted from the article]

The uneven development between geographical areas has long been analysed in detail, especially in regard to the relationship between urban and rural areas. However, studies on the impact of the advantages in competitive characteristics of urban areas on rural areas seem to be overlooked. This study, therefore, analyses the effects of metropolises on the structural transformation of provinces based on specific metropolises' competitiveness characteristics. Firstly, Moran's I is used on the share of non-agricultural sectors in the economic structure in order to measure the spatial autocorrelation between provinces in Vietnam as a typical developing country. Furthermore, the relationship between metropolises and the change in the economic structure of provinces is analysed quantitatively using spatial panel data models based on data from the statistics yearbook of all 63 areas in the period 2010 to 2019. The research results confirm the role of metropolises' competitiveness characteristics in the provinces' structural transformation process. Provinces with a high proportion of nonagricultural sectors in their economic structure are concentrated around metropolises. With advantages in competitiveness characteristics, the metropolis is the destination for migration, the origin of remittance, and the market for neighbouring provinces. These roles are seen as driving forces for off-farm activity through changes in the incomes of neighbouring provinces. Accordingly, focusing on specific metropolises' competitiveness characteristics and enhancing regional connectivity will promote effective provincial structural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical and isotopic characteristics of groundwater and dissolved gas of central Mexico provide valuable information about the geologic and tectonic context of the area. Low–high- enthalpy manifestations (up to 98 °C in springs and more than 100 °C in geothermal wells) are distributed within the San Juan del Río, Querétaro, and Celaya hydrologic basins, located at the boundary between the current Mexican magmatic arc and an extensional continental area with intraplate volcanism called Mesa Central Province. Groundwaters in the study area represent a mixture between the cold water end- member with a Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3- composition and a hydrothermal end- member enriched in Na+, K+, SO42−, and Cl-. Cold and hot groundwaters δ²H and δ18O plot along the same evaporation lines and do not exhibit a magmatic input. Dissolved and free gas do not show a typical volcanic composition signature. He and Ne isotope composition provide evidence of an important contribution of non-atmospheric noble gases. Although helium composition mainly has a crustal origin (21–83%), the mantellic contribution (1–39%) is higher than expected for an area lacking recent volcanism. A volatile- rich magma aging at depth was discarded as the source of this mantellic helium signature but points out a recent mantellic contribution. Thus, we propose that mantellic helium comes from the sublithospheric mantle into the shallow crust through the highly permeable tectonic boundaries between the geologic provinces, namely the N−S Taxco−San Miguel de Allende and Chapala-Tula fault systems. Mantellic helium flow rates through these fault systems were estimated to have values ranging from 0.1 m/yr to 2.9 m/yr. This He flux range implies that aside from subduction, mantle volatile degassing enhanced by crustal fault systems is the main degassing process in the region studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In all, 13 stream water‐quality parameters, including specific conductance (SC), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), three nutrients, and six major ions were compared between the northern bedrock and southern coastal plain regions of New Jersey, USA and related to watershed‐disturbance gradients characterized by the percentage of urban land, impervious surface (IS), agriculture, and altered land (sum of urban land and agriculture) in the watersheds. SC, DO, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and chloride concentrations were greater in the north. DOC was higher and pH was lower in the south. Nutrient, potassium, and sulfate concentrations did not differ between regions. Regional water‐quality differences are attributed to geologic setting and land use. Except for DO in southern streams, all water‐quality parameters were related to urban land, agriculture, or both. Significant correlations between urban land and IS and water‐quality variables were similar in both regions with differences in unitless correlation coefficients ranging from 0.00 to 0.06. Compared to urban land and agriculture, relationships between most water‐quality variables and altered land were stronger in the south. The extent of urban and agricultural lands in the watersheds did not differ by region. Altered land was correlated with urban land in both regions and with agriculture only in the south. Although focused on New Jersey, this study has broader implications for watershed planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intussusception is the most common cause of bowel obstruction in children aged 3 months to 6 years of age. We sought to describe patterns of incident childhood intussusception. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal cohort study utilizing population-based health administrative data and a validated case definition was used to identify patients <18 years of age treated for intussusception between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2016 in Ontario, Canada. Descriptive statistics, graphical analyses, and a Poisson regression model were performed for trend analysis. Results: The overall incidence of intussusception in Ontario children (<18 years) was 3.3 cases/100,000 child years (cyrs), 95% CI [3.2.3.5]. The overall incidence increased from.9 cases/100,000 cyrs to 2.3 cases/100,000 cyrs. The highest incidence was in children aged 6-12 months at 28.9 cases/100,000 cyrs, 95% CI [26.2.31.9]. Incidence increased in all age-groups between 6 months and 5 years (at a rate of 5% to 16% per year; all P <.05). Month of year did not predict intussusception counts in a log-linear Poisson models, nor did rotavirus immunization implementation in 2011. There was a 3-fold variability across geographic areas in the province. There was a high rate of readmission for recurrence within 1 year (10.7%). Conclusion: The incidence of intussusception more than doubled in Ontario from 1997 to 2016. The incidence increased for children aged between 6 months and 5 years at a rate of 5-16% per year, suggesting that an increased rate of idiopathic intussusception is responsible for the increase in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although variation of air temperature with respect to terrain altitude is widely understood, less is known about the altitudinal behaviour of precipitation. The eastern slope of Mexico is the most contrasting physiographic province of the country due to its relief. This area is also one of the most important regions of Mexico and of the intertropical region of America because of its biodiversity. Due to the vital and ecosystemic value of precipitation, this work seeks to analyse the altitudinal distribution of precipitation as a function of the relief. Our main methodology consisted of analysing the climatological normal of 86 weather stations to determine accumulated precipitation during rainy, dry and annual periods. Precipitation was correlated with the altitude of the relief, which allowed the study area to be divided into groups relative to the degree of accumulated rainfall throughout the year, as well as by the gradient of variation according to the elevation of the terrain. The results indicated that during the year, precipitation was favoured by the humidity of the Gulf of Mexico and decreased at a rate of -3.7 mm/m in coastal areas. Subsequently, precipitation increased with the altitude of the relief at a rate of 0.7 mm/m, between ~700 and ~1500 masl, which is where the greatest accumulation of rainfall was concentrated. Thereafter, it decreased by -0.9 mm/m until it reached the highest volcanic watershed. Crossing this watershed, the foehn effect caused rainfall rates to be much lower than on the windward slope, where the central plateau of the country begins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While variations in crustal structure beneath the Denali fault in Alaska are well‐documented, the existence of fault‐correlated structures throughout the entire thickness of the continental lithosphere is not. A new model of shear‐wave velocity structure obtained through joint inversion of surface wave and converted body wave data shows a northward increase in lithospheric thickness and velocity occurring across the Denali fault system. In northern Alaska, a dramatic increase in lithospheric thickness at the southern margin of the Arctic‐Alaska terrane lies in the vicinity of the Kobuk fault system. These correlations support the view that transpressive deformation tends to localize at the margins of thicker, higher‐strength lithosphere. Plain Language Summary: Major faults in Earth's tectonic plates, such as Alaska's Denali fault, begin as brittle fractures of the shallow crust and progress to include ductile shearing of the deeper crust. Changes in tectonic plate thickness or internal temperature have been observed beneath some faults, consistent with feedback between the strength of the deeper plate and the location of the fault. Using global earthquake signals, we built a new 3‐D model of seismic velocity structure throughout Alaska, extending from the surface to hundreds of kilometers in depth. According to the model, the Denali fault coincides with a northward thickening and an apparent abrupt temperature increase within Alaska's plate. Further north, at another boundary between geological provinces near the Kobuk fault, we also find an abrupt thickening of the plate. These relationships are consistent with faults being located near the edges of thicker, stronger regions of the tectonic plates. Key Points: A new model of seismic shear‐wave velocity beneath Alaska was obtained by jointly inverting surface wave and Sp body wave dataThe Denali fault lies just south of the margin of thicker and higher velocity upper plate lithosphere, as does the Kobuk faultThese results support the view that gradients in lithospheric strength can be key to the localization of major continental strike‐slip faults [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study offers a novel opportunity to characterize the structural style and tectonic evolution of the Mesozoic Shabrawet inverted structure zone and its interaction with the northward propagation of the Gulf of Suez rift, Egypt. Based on the integration of fieldwork, detailed surface mapping and subsurface imaging by borehole data and seismic interpretation, the geology of Shabrawet area is characterized into the northern, central, and southern structural subareas. The central subarea has exposures of Cretaceous rocks whereas the northern subarea has the Jurassic/Cretaceous subcrop capped by the Oligo/Miocene rocks with remarkable stratigraphic hiatus probably due to differential erosion or non-deposition of the Lower Tertiary-Cretaceous sediments. The southern subarea represents a SW-dipped gulf-parallel block of Middle/Late Eocene and Oligo/Miocene sediments. The structural elements of the Shabrawet area are represented by a group of plunging and double plunging folds of NE-ENE-, E-W, WNW- trends that are dissected by NE-reverse faults, ENE-trending transpressional faults, N-S sinistral faults, E-W to WNW – trending dextral faults and NW-trending normal faults. Structural analysis, fault slip data, and the constructed subsurface seismic profiles and thickness maps reveal the tectonic history of the area through a Late Cretaceous-Eocene transpressional inversion of E to ENE-extensional Jurassic border faults. This ENE-inverted Syrian arc structure zone played as structural high with non-deposition of Eocene sediments and differential erosion of Cretaceous sediments. During the Oligo-Miocene NE-extension, this high-oblique inverted zone terminates the northward propagation of gulf parallel faults and SW- block rotation of the northern structural province of the Gulf of Suez rift at the southern subarea and the central Bitter Lake. Further westward, this ENE-inverted Shabrawet-Abu Sultan intrabasinal Jurrassic half-graben of N- dipping might be structucturally correlatable with the NE- inverted structural belt of Gebel Maghara in Northern Sinai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best-formed small (less than 10-mm) spinel crystals have been found in the salmon-pink calcite, whereas the best larger spinel crystals and the best corundum pseudomorphs appear to occur in gray calcite toward the center of the vein-dikes. Epitaxy of magnesiohögbomite on an octahedral face of spinel crystal overgrown by another spinel crystal from the DeWitts Corners occurrence. Due to the composite nature of the spinel crystals (see further on), magnesiohögbomite crystals can be found on faces of spinel crystals that have been overgrown by other crystals when forming larger composite spinel crystals (fig. 13). This locality, little known among mineral collectors, is a source of unusual spinel specimens, aesthetic pseudomorphs of corundum after spinel, and superb specimens of two polytypes of magnesiohögbomite. [Extracted from the article]

The Baishi W-Cu deposit is located in the Nanling metallogenic belt, which is famous for its numerous W deposits and reserves. The formation age of this deposit remains unclear. In order to further infer the formation age of the deposit, this study conducted detailed LA-ICP-MS U-Pb isotopic analyses of zircon and monazite selected from ore-related Baishi granite. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb weighted average ages of Baishi granite were determined to be 223 ± 2 Ma and 226 ± 1 Ma, and the LA-ICP-MS U-Pb weighted average ages of monazite were determined to be 224 ± 2 Ma and 223 ± 1 Ma. The BSE image of monazite was homogeneous, and the pattern of rare earth elements had an obvious negative Eu anomaly, indicating that monazite was of magmatic origin. Combining the ages of zircon and monazite, this study inferred that Baishi granite and the Baishi W-Cu deposit formed in the Triassic. The determination of the ore-forming event of the Baishi W-Cu deposit provides new data regarding the important Indosinian (Triassic) mineralization events in the Nanling metallogenic belt and suggests that geologists should strengthen the prospecting work of Indosinian tungsten deposits in the Nanling area. In terms of tectonic setting, it was inferred that the Triassic Baishi W-Cu deposit was formed in the extensional environment after intracontinental orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a relic species in China and a flagship species in the field of endangered wildlife conservation. The conservation of the giant panda's habitat has gained widespread attention for this reason. Historically, Chinese Giant Panda Nature Reserves are surrounded by communities and the resource utilization behavior of households disturbs the giant panda habitat. Changes in these communities and in Giant Panda Nature Reserves began around 2010, with the feminization and aging of the farm labor force. These changes brought different resource utilization behaviors that led to different evolutionary tendencies in giant panda habitats. This research study assesses the impact of these tendencies based on data from the fourth survey of the giant panda in the Sichuan Province and from geographic information data. The paper aims to uncover the internal mechanisms of farmers' resource utilization behavior in terms of the changes wrought to giant panda habitats. The paper simulates the future habitat of the giant panda based on the LUCC (land use/cover change) model to identify anticipated changes in future landscape patterns and the habitat quality of giant pandas under the current scenarios. The paper analyzes the spatial-temporal change of landscape patterns through the land use transfer matrix, based on the Markov model. The results of the scenario analyses illustrate the spatial and temporal difference in habitat quality. The driving mechanism for landscape pattern change is explored using the logistic regression model. The paper simulates the variation tendency of giant panda habitats under differential labor force structures and resource utilization behavior based on the CA (cellular automata) model, with the robustness of the results verified by participatory experiment. Through four scenarios of simulated farm labor force structure and resource utilization behavior, results suggest that the quality of giant panda habitats in the future will be relatively high when workforce feminization and aging is intense and resource utilization behavior is weakened. The simulated results confirm that the current agricultural labor force structure can reduce the intensity of resource utilization behavior. In this scenario, disturbance to giant panda habitats would decrease and their quality would improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mineral exploration, detailed hydrothermally altered minerals mapping is an important approach prior to the field campaign. The study area contains several gold‐bearing quartz veins associated with hydrothermally altered zones rich in sulphides, muscovite/sericite, iron oxides, and hydrous silica. In this study, Aster 07XT, Landsat 8, and aeromagnetic data were integrated to detect potential zones associated with gold mineralization in Northern Cameroon. For this purpose, the relative band absorption depth, band ratioing, and analytic signal techniques were applied to enhance, identify and map hydrothermal alteration minerals, that is, hydroxyl‐bearing, iron oxide/hydroxide. In addition, a semi‐automatic approach was applied to extract remotely sensed and aeromagnetic lineaments from PCI Geomatica and Centre for Exploration Targeting Grid Analysis respectively. Hence, several potential mining targets were delineated from the processing of both remote sensing and aeromagnetic data. The major directions of the lineaments affecting the area include NE–SW/ENE–WSW, E–W, and N–S. Detailed field campaigns, petrographic analyses, and spectral measurements of rock samples were carried out in Tchollire and environs to verify the results from remotely sensed data. The analytical observations indicated the presence of quartz, epidote, chlorite, magnetite, haematite, sericite, galena, sulphide, telluride minerals, etc. Moreover, the target hydrothermal alteration zones were proved to be spatially associated with known mining areas and gold occurrences in the study area. Consequently, new prospective mining areas have been designated. This study confirmed the reliability and applicability of the processing of satellite imagery in mineral exploration in Northern Cameroon. It is suggested that the dataset used in this study provides a suitable tool for mapping hydrothermal alteration minerals linked to gold deposits and can be applied in other provinces with similar geological settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[[1]] Sulphide-sulphide liquid immiscibility as an additional mechanism for Norilsk ores PGE enrich... Fractional crystallisation of sulphide liquids is widely recognised as the main mechanism of palladium-group platinum group element (PGE) enrichment of Norilsk magmatic sulphide ores. Two styles of PGE-Cu-Ni mineralisation are hosted in the Critical Zone-like sequences: (i) contact PGE-Ni-Cu mineralisation confined to the basal parts of the intrusions and within the footwall and (ii) reef-style (strata-bound) PGE horizon associated with discontinuous chromitite seams in the upper part of the intrusions [[1]]. Nickel sulphide mineralisation in Lower Zone serpentinised ultramafic rocks as well as PGE-Cu-Ni mineralisation in Critical Zone lithologies are targets of the recent exploration campaign by Lesego Platinum Uitloop (Pty) Ltd on the Uitloop II body [[1]] (Figure 1). Widespread, albeit low volume, chalcopyrite-galena symplectite ores at the top of the Oktyabrsky sulphide body indicate an onset of sulphide-sulphide immiscibility in residual sulphide liquid and its possible role in separation of the chalcophile elements. As the main carrier phase of chalcophile elements, immiscible sulphide liquid in mafic-ultramafic magmas has been considered as the crucial factor in forming magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulphide deposits. [Extracted from the article]

Chemical provinces were defined on Mars a decade ago using orbital nuclear spectroscopy of K, Th, Fe, Si, Ca, Cl, and H2O. However, past multivariate analyses yielded three sets of provinces, suggesting methodologic variability. Province‐stability to the inclusion of Al and S is also unknown, presenting additional uncertainties for geologic insight. Here we consolidate key multivariate methods to define the first cross‐validated provinces. In southern highlands, the highly incompatible K and Th show non‐uniform distribution with higher values in mid Noachian and Hesperian than late Noachian – early Hesperian volcanic terrains. Silica‐ and Al‐depletion trends from Noachian to Amazonian indicate highly differentiated mantle with variable degree of melting. Late Hesperian lowlands are highly depleted in Al and enriched in K and Th, consistent with volcanic resurfacing from a low‐degree partially melted, garnet‐rich mantle. Furthermore, older volatile‐rich regions such as Medusae Fossae Formation exhibit igneous geochemistry, consistent with water‐limited isochemical weathering throughout Mars's history. Plain Language Summary: Topographically Mars can be divided into two large regions: southern highlands and northern lowlands. However, the compositional evolution of these two landforms and their source characteristics remains unclear. Therefore, using enhanced satellite nuclear spectroscopic data, we develop a set of consolidated geochemical provinces of Mars using three multivariate analysis techniques. We identified the correlation of distinct geochemical provinces with mapped geologic units, which demonstrates the effect of bedrock composition over bulk soil composition. Our study depicts discrete igneous provinces within the southern highlands, which follow a secular chemical pattern, indicating a highly differentiated mantle source with an evolving formation pressure and degree of melting. The northern lowlands, on the other hand, are uncorrelated with the chemical trend of southern highland provinces, suggesting a distinct evolution. Our findings further reveal that regardless of volatile enrichment, igneous crustal composition dominates over chemical alteration signatures indicating a limited role of liquid water on the martian landscape. Key Points: We have consolidated three key multivariate methods, yielding the first unified set of chemical provinces of MarsIgneous geochemistry pervades volatile‐rich regions, consistent with water‐limited isochemical weathering throughout Mars's geologic historySecular chemical trends suggest complex processes of mantle melting for highlands, which differs from a possibly garnet‐rich lowland source [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Headwater streams can contribute significant amounts of fine sediment to downstream waterways, especially when severely eroded and incised. Potential upstream sediment source identification is crucial for effective management of water quality, aquatic habitat, and sediment loads in a watershed. This study explored topographic openness (TO) derived from 1-m lidar for its ability to predict incision in headwater streams and to remotely detect changes in incision over time. Field surveys were conducted in one forested and two recently urbanized headwater watersheds in the Maryland Piedmont physiographic province, USA to characterize the level of stream channel incision (none, moderate, or severe) in the main stem of each watershed. Predictions of the severity of stream channel incision derived from TO were compared against the field surveys. Channel incision was detected with an overall accuracy of 67 %, with best performance in reaches with either severe or no incision (79–86 % accuracy). The method was also applied to repeat lidar collected over the same area to model the extent of channel incision in 2002 before urban development began and in 2008 and 2013 during active construction in the urban watersheds. Results showed increasing incision over time in all three watersheds, with similar patterns in the forested and urban watersheds. This new method of remotely measuring channel incision can be used to identify potential sediment sources across a watershed, enhance water and habitat quality predictions, and detect changes over time where multiple years of overlapping lidar are available. • Topographic openness from lidar DEMs was used to remotely map stream incision. • Repeat lidar collection revealed changes in stream incision over 16 years. • Reforested and suburbanizing watersheds showed similar incision patterns. • Land use legacies, changing weather, and stormwater practices may influence incision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Precisely determined the metallogenic age of Banjiaoyuan tin deposit. • Analyzed the origin of ore-forming fluid. • Discussed the elemental substitution mechanism and precipitation of cassiterites in Banjiaoyuan tin deposit. Situated in the central part of the Southern Hunan segment of the Nanling Metallogenic Belt, the Banjiaoyuan tin deposit represents a significant Indosinian quartz vein type tin deposit. Based on field geological surveys and petrographic observations, the mineralization in the area can be divided into three stages: (I) early greisen stage, (II) cassiterite-quartz vein stage, and (III) late barren quartz vein stage. The dating results show that the 40Ar-39Ar plateau age of muscovite in stage I is 215.51 ± 0.87 Ma, and the Rb-Sr isochronous age of quartz mineral in stage II is 214.2 ± 3.1 Ma (MSWD = 1.3), both of which are coincide with the cassiterite U-Pb lower intercept age (215.7 ± 1.3 Ma, MSWD = 1.2), confirming the existence of metallogenic events in this region during the late Indosinian. The δD and δ18O of quartz in stage II range from −66.2 to −80.2 ‰, and 3.71 to 6.17 ‰, respectively, indicating that the ore-forming fluid is mainly derived from a mixture of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids and a small amount of meteoric water. We applied LA-ICP-MS chemical mapping and trace elements analysis to cassiterites, found that they underwent a transition from oxidation to reduction during precipitation when the fluids tend to be more volatile-rich and highly fractionated. The formation of the Banjiaoyuan tin deposit is closely related to the late Indosinian magmatic activity in the Yangmingshan region. Besides, the deep and peripheral parts of the mining area also have the potential for large-scale vein-type and greisen-type W-Sn mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some studies have found hot temperatures to be associated with exacerbations of schizophrenia, namely psychoses. As climate changes faster in Northern countries, our understanding of the association between temperature and hospital admissions (HA) for psychosis needs to be deepened. 1) Among adults diagnosed with schizophrenia, measure the relationship between mean temperatures and HAs for psychosis during summer. 2) Determine the influence of individual and ecological characteristics on this relationship. A cohort of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 30,649) was assembled using Quebec's Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System (QICDSS). The follow-up spanned summers from 2001 to 2019, using hospital data from the QICDSS and meteorological data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Daymet database. In four geographic regions of the province of Quebec, a conditional logistic regression was used for the case-crossover analysis of the relationship between mean temperatures (at lags up to 6 days) and HAs for psychosis using a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM). The analyses were adjusted for relative humidity, stratified according to individual (age, sex, and comorbidities) and ecological (material and social deprivation index and exposure to green space) factors, and then pooled through a meta-regression. The statistical analyses revealed a statistically significant increase in HAs three days (lag 3) after elevated mean temperatures corresponding to the 90th percentile relative to a minimum morbidity temperature (MMT) (OR 1.040; 95% CI 1.008–1.074), while the cumulative effect over six days was not statistically significant (OR 1.052; 95% IC 0.993–1.114). Stratified analyses revealed non statistically significant gradients of increasing HAs relative to increasing material deprivation and decreasing green space levels. The statistical analyses conducted in this project showed the pattern of admissions for psychosis after hot days. This finding could be useful to better plan health services in a rapidly changing climate. • Heat is suspected to raise hospital admissions for people living with schizophrenia. • We found an increase in admissions for psychosis 3 days after hot periods. • The overall pooled cumulative effect over 6 days was not significant. • Those living in privileged and greener neighborhoods were potentially less at risk. • These findings can inform health care services planning in response to heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the 2023 GAC-MAC Annual Meeting in Sudbury, which includes 10 pre- and post-conference field trips in partnership with the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA). Topics include the Paleozoic geology of Manitoulin and evolution of subglacial processes on Shield bedrock terrains; and the effects of past mining and smelting practices on local landscapes which will explore differential metal endowment in the Eastern and Western Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

The main strategic direction of promoting rural revitalization is to achieve high-quality rural development, maintain the dominant position of farmers, and promote common prosperity of farmers. In recent years, the sustainable development of economy has raised farmers' awareness of starting their own businesses, and their entrepreneurial enthusiasm has been heating up. Based on the empirical survey data of typical rural areas in the Zhejiang Province and structural equation model analysis technology, this paper makes an empirical analysis of the relationship among network embeddedness, entrepreneurial resources, and entrepreneurial ability. The results show that knowledge resources have a significant negative impact on farmers' inclusive entrepreneurial behavior. The dual embedment of social network and industrial network has a significant positive impact on migrant workers' access to knowledge resources and operational resources needed for entrepreneurship, and the entrepreneurial ability of migrant workers mainly depends on operational resources. Under the background of common prosperity, we should continue to implement the policy of supporting farmers' inclusive entrepreneurship and encouraging industrial and commercial capital to enter rural areas, and at the same time, provide rural areas with agricultural knowledge, agricultural skills, and market guidance to promote employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cenozoic Colorado Plateau physiographic province overlies multiple Precambrian provinces. Its ∼2-km elevation rim surrounds an ∼1.6-km elevation core that is underlain by thicker crust and lithospheric mantle, with a sharp structural transition ∼100 km concentrically inboard of the physiographic boundary on all but its northeastern margin. The region was uplifted in three episodes: ∼70–50 Ma uplift above sea level driven by flat-slab subduction; ∼38–23 Ma uplift associated with voluminous regional magmatism and slab removal, and less than 20 Ma uplift associated with inboard propagation of basaltic magmatism that tracked convective erosion of the lithospheric core. Neogene uplift helped integrate the Colorado River from the Rockies at 11 Ma to the Gulf of California by ∼5 Ma. The sharp rim-to-core transition defined by geological and geophysical data sets suggests a young transient plateau that is uplifting as it shrinks to merge with surrounding regions of postorogenic extension. The Colorado Plateau's iconic landscapes were shaped during its 70-million-year, still-enigmatic, tectonic evolution characterized by uplift and erosion. Uplift of the Colorado Plateau from sea level took place in three episodes, the youngest of which has been ongoing for the past 20 million years. Tectonism across the Colorado Plateau's nearest plate margin (the base of the plate!) is driving uplift and volcanism and enhancing its rugged landscapes. The bowl-shaped Colorado Plateau province is defined by ongoing uplift and an inboard sweep of magmatism around its margins. The keel of the Colorado Plateau is being thinned as the North American plate moves southwest through the underlying asthenosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Takahashi et al. ([5]) successfully produced lab-grown scepter quartz using the microchannel epitaxy concept by artificially masking the prism faces of a quartz crystal with silver and leaving the apex unmasked. First, crystals tend to grow roughly perpendicular to the walls of the vein because any other orientation would put these crystals at a disadvantage in the competition with other crystals for space. All specimens pictured from the Lyndhurst area, Ontario, Canada Quartz is a common and deceptively simple mineral that keeps giving us riddles. Quartz crystals were found in hydrothermal quartz veins located in light beige to light gray quartzite (meta-sandstone) interlayered with gneiss. [Extracted from the article]