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Knowledge of the rates of carbonate rock denudation, the relative apportionment of chemical weathering versus physical erosion, and their sensitivity to climate, vegetation, and tectonics is essential for disclosing feedbacks within the carbon cycle and the functioning of karst landscapes that supply important services to humans. Currently, however, for carbonate lithologies, no method exists that allows to simultaneously partition denudation into erosion and weathering fluxes at spatial scales ranging from soil to watersheds. To determine total denudation rates in carbonate landscapes from an individual soil or river sample, we adapted a published framework that combines cosmogenic meteoric 10Be as an atmospheric flux tracer with stable 9Be that is released from rocks by weathering, to the limestone‐dominated French Jura Mountains. By analyzing water, soil, sediment, travertine, and bedrock for 10Be/9Be, major and trace elements, carbon stable isotopes and radiogenic strontium, we quantified contributions of Be from primary versus secondary carbonate phases and its release during weathering from carbonate bedrock versus silicate impurities. We calculated partitioning of Be between solids and solutes, and rates of catchment‐wide (from sediment) and point source (from soil) denudation, weathering and erosion. Our results indicate that average denudation rates are 300–500 t/km2/yr. Denudation is dominated by weathering intensity (W/D) ratios of >0.92, and a non‐negligible contribution from deeper (below soil) weathering. Our rates agree to within less than a factor of two with decadal‐scale denudation rates from combined suspended and dissolved fluxes, highlighting the substantial potential of this method for future Earth surface studies. Plain Language Summary: Carbonate rocks, constituting about 10% of the terrestrial Earth's surface, play a crucial role in the short‐term carbon cycle by absorbing atmospheric CO2 and forming karst landscapes. These landscapes, supporting 10% of the global population with vital services, remain poorly understood due to a lack of tools for assessing erosion and weathering rates. In our study of the French Jura Mountains, we utilized a novel method involving the isotope ratio of 10Be/9Be from the cosmogenic meteoric 10Be, raining onto Earth from the atmosphere at a specific rate, and the stable trace element 9Be released from rocks by weathering, to measure erosion, weathering, and total denudation. Our results indicate an annual soil and sediment erosion of 300–500 tons per square kilometer, with 90% attributed to rock dissolution (weathering) and 10% to physical erosion. A non‐trivial fraction of weathering appears to happen deep (below soil). Our new rates agree closely with rates estimated independently from suspended and dissolved river loads. As such, they demonstrate the considerable potential of the 10Be/9Be technique as a rate meter at Earth's surface. Key Points: Denudation rates from 10Be/9Be in a carbonate landscape agree within a factor of 2 with rates from suspended and dissolved river loadsMeteoric 10Be/9Be‐derived carbonate denudation is dominated by weathering (>0.9 W/D)A non‐negligible contribution in denudation originates in deeper (below soil) weathering [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of karst landscapes is the result of a series of processes, whereby rock weathering and denudation play important roles. Soluble carbonate rocks are chemically weathered (dissolved) on the surface or under soil cover resulting in the formation of different karst morphologies and controlling surface denudation. The Dinaric karst area is the type-site for numerous karst features and phenomena, but studies on carbonate weathering in this region are still scarce, especially in the mountainous regions. To better understand the formation of Dinaric karst mountainous landscapes, we studied denudation rates at the northern part of Velebit Mountain using the rock tablet method. Denudation was measured using rock tablets consisting of local lithologies and “standard rock tablets” exposed to the natural environment at the surface, but also buried in the soil. Furthermore, rock tablets were placed in three different settings (open slope, small clearing, bottom of a doline) to evaluate the local factors impacting the denudation rate. The results of this study showed that the denudation rate is highly dependent on local factors and lithology, and that local rock tablets from different lithologies should be used to determine the actual denudation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Golan Heights plateau in northern Israel is underlaid by volcanic rocks ranging in age from ~5.5 to 0.1 Ma. Throughout the Golan Heights, these rocks are covered by shallow soils that rarely exceed 0.5 m in depth. The soils are generally assumed to form a chronosequence, in which their ages correspond to those of the basalts they cover. Such age correspondence would imply that the soils have been slowly accumulating over hundreds of thousands to a few million years, suggesting a generally stable system. The ages of these soils and their temporal correlation to the basalts, however, have never been determined or tested. Here, we present age constraints for the soils of the Golan Heights. Soils were surveyed and sampled with their corresponding basalt bedrock. Mass balance calculations based on conservative immobile elements, coupled with 36Cl-based basalt denudation rates, suggest that the soil ages are decoupled from the ages of the underlying basalts, and represent up to a few thousand years of soil production, at most. This time frame is orders of magnitude shorter than the basalt age, challenging the prevalent assumption that the soils form a chronosequence. Our findings strongly suggest that erosion is a significant factor controlling soil formation and accumulation on the plateau, despite the generally flat morphology of the Golan Heights. The erosion is associated with tectonic activity along the Dead Sea transform, with the development of the Kinarot and Hula valleys, and with the consequential development of drainage systems of various sizes on the plateau. Throughout the Golan Heights, the timing of volcanic activity in relation to the development of the valleys and drainage systems also appears to strongly affect soil development and accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying Earth's surface denudation rates is crucial for estimating sediment flux and its role in regulating global climate change. The inability of in-situ cosmogenic 10Be in to quantify denudation rates in quartz–free environment has prompted the need for a new proxy–the ratio of meteoric 10Be met to mineral-weathered 9Be in reactive phase (precipitated in or adsorbed onto secondary minerals). This study utilized 10Be in –26Al in , 10Be met /9Be, and major element analyses of reactive and mineral phases of bedload sediments to infer basin-wide denudation rates and sediment recycling (reworking of deeply buried sediments) in the Three River Source Region (TRSR) of the central Tibetan Plateau. Results from 10Be in -26Al in analysis of bedload sediments and bedrock samples (quartz grain, 250–500 μm) suggest that the sediments underwent burial events since at least 0.54 ± 0.16 million years ago. Combining paleoclimate records in the central Tibetan Plateau, we interpret the "Great Burial" as most likely the result of climate-controlled deglaciation and denudation at the termination of Naynayxungla glaciation during the MIS 13–15 period. This event marks the first widespread deglaciation on the Tibetan Plateau. The 10Be in -26Al in derived paleo–denudation rates range from 4.2 - 0.8 + 0.9 to 151 - 32 + 37 mm/kyr, consistent with previous 10Be in –derived modern denudation rates of 10–117 mm/kyr in TRSR. These rates show a moderate positive correlation with regional topography, particularly channel steepness, indicating a decrease in both relief and denudation rates from lower to upper streams. This spatial discrepancy is likely due to enhanced river headward incision and active neotectonic activities in the southeast. Denudation rates derived from the 10Be met /9Be proxy range from 13 to 248 mm/kyr, alongside a chemical weathering intensity ranging from 43 % to 67 %. These denudation rates are strongly correlated with, but about 1.5 times higher than, the 10Be in –26Al in derived paleo–denudation rates from the same watershed. This suggests that the 10Be met /9Be extracted from fine grains (<64 μm) may reflect a different sediment recycling pattern compared to 10Be in –26Al in in quartz sediments. Alternatively, the 10Be met /9Be ratio could indicate a mixture of carbonate rock with a high denudation rate and silicate rock with a lower denudation rate, whereas 10Be in –26Al in reflects a single silicate denudation signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical denudation in karst is the basic process of karst relief formation. However, it is influenced by many factors of varying intensity that depend on the climatic conditions and characteristics of each given location. Based on measurable results of weight loss of limestone tablets, we monitored the intensity of chemical denudation in two areas of the Slovak Karst, Silica Plateau and Jasov Plateau that are situated in the most developed karst plateau region of Slovakia. Both experimental sites are similar in terms of geographical conditions, thus comparable between them. In each locality, we placed three sets of standardized tablets at a depth of 50 cm, 20 cm, and on the soil surface. The research began in December 2016 and has continued up to the end of 2021, with drying and weighing of the samples taking place each three months. The lowest weight loss was recorded on samples placed on the surface (in both sites) and the highest at the depth of 20 cm. This is due to biological activity in the soil during the growing season (2.65 - 2.82 mg/cm2/year). The highest weight losses over time are observed at the turn of winter and spring, where the effect of snowfall and snow melting water plays an important role. The average dissolution rate in the spring season is between 3.78 and 4.12 mg/cm2/year, whereas in winter is from 3.24 to 4.06 mg/cm2/year.

Excessive agricultural intensification adversely affects soil quality, particularly in hilly terrain, leading to increased erosion. Anthropogenic denudation, intensified by tillage erosion, results in the displacement of soil material from hilltops and shoulders to their bases. The research hypothesis posits that tillage erosion adversely affects the microbiological and chemical properties of soils, especially at the hilltops of intensively cultivated areas. The study aimed to assess the microbiological and chemical properties of Luvisols cultivated under conventional plowing in the moraine region of the Southern Krajna Lakeland, Poland. The evaluation focused on the results of soil sample analyses taken from the hilltops and foothills of eroded mounds. Microbiological investigations included determining the abundance of actinomycetes, filamentous fungi, heterotrophic bacteria, cellulolytic microorganisms, copiotrophs, and oligotrophs. Additionally, pH values and the contents of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, total organic carbon, and nitrogen were determined. A higher abundance of bacteria, actinomycetes, and copiotrophs was observed at the foothills. Statistically significant differences due to slope effects were noted for all chemical parameters, with higher concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus found in the foothill areas. Understanding denudation processes can contribute to sustainable soil resource use and agrocenosis conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the maturity of laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M), some barriers prevent the manufacturing process from fully being established in the industry. One drawback is spatter formation, which is disadvantageous to PBF-LB/M for three main reasons. First, adhering spatter can initiate coater collision, resulting in process failure. Second, large adhering spatter may cause lack-of-fusion defects as they require more energy to remelt sufficiently compared to unprocessed powder. Furthermore, big nonadhering spatter cannot be recycled as powder. The recycling of small spatter particles potentially results in degraded material properties. Ring-shaped beam profiles have been established for deep penetration welding to reduce spatter formation. Investigations on ring-shaped beam profiles in PBF-LB/M focus on improving productivity and process robustness. Qualitative spatter reduction in PBF-LB/M using ring-shaped beam profiles has also been reported. This publication quantitatively examines the influence of ring-shaped beam profiles on spatter formation in PBF-LB/M. Image processing algorithms of on-axis high-speed images are utilized for spatter detection and tracking. A self-developed spatter segmentation is used to determine the spatter size. A Laplacian of Gaussian filter is combined with a Kalman tracker to count and track the spatter. The results show that spatter formation is highly influenced by the beam profile and the chosen process parameters. Considering the melt track width, ring-shaped beam profiles could reduce the number of spatter per fused area. High numbers of spatter are generated when parameter sets result in balling. Moreover, spatter velocity is primarily dependent on the introduced dimensionless enthalpy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, weathering processes – physical weathering (temperature weathering, frost weathering, insolation weathering, mechanical weathering), chemical weathering (hydration, hydrate water eluvium deposits), biological or organic weathering, the effect of weathering on the terrain, and the sequence of weathering processes and what stages this sequence passes through about denudation (local, linear and surface), denudation agents – erosion, suffosis, exacation, deflation, abrasion and pediplain, peneplain and pediments are informed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (TCN) are widely employed to infer denudation rates in mountainous landscapes. The calculation of an inferred denudation rate (Dinf) from TCN concentrations is typically performed under the assumptions that denudation rates were steady during TCN accumulation and that soil chemical weathering negligibly impacted soil mineral abundances. In many landscapes, however, denudation rates were not steady and soil composition was significantly impacted by chemical weathering, which complicates interpretation of TCN concentrations. We present a landscape evolution model that computes transient changes in topography, soil thickness, soil mineralogy, and soil TCN concentrations. We used this model to investigate TCN responses in transient landscapes by imposing idealized perturbations in tectonically (rock uplift rate) and climatically sensitive parameters (soil production efficiency, hillslope transport efficiency, and mineral dissolution rate) on initially steady‐state landscapes. These experiments revealed key insights about TCN responses in transient landscapes. (a) Accounting for soil chemical erosion is necessary to accurately calculate Dinf. (b) Responses of Dinf to tectonic perturbations differ from those to climatic perturbations, suggesting that spatial and temporal patterns in Dinf are signatures of perturbation type and magnitude. (c) If soil chemical erosion is accounted for, basin‐averaged Dinf inferred from TCN in stream sediment closely tracks actual basin‐averaged denudation rate, showing that Dinf is a reasonable proxy for actual denudation rate, even in many transient landscapes. (d) Response times of Dinf to perturbations increase with hillslope length, implying that response times should be sensitive to the climatic, biological, and lithologic processes that control hillslope length. Plain Language Summary: In geomorphology, the rate at which mountains wear down is commonly inferred from concentrations of cosmogenic nuclides in minerals in soil or river sand. Cosmogenic nuclides are isotopes that build up in minerals during exposure to high energy particles from space, accumulating at a rate that depends on the degree to which the soil is chemically altered and the mountain's erosion rate itself. To explore how cosmogenic nuclide concentrations change in soil over time, we developed a computer model that tracks cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in soil across a landscape. We used this model to perform two model experiments: one driven by a change in the rate at which the bedrock is rising (the so‐called tectonic experiment), and the other driven by a change in rainfall (the climatic experiment). Our experiments confirm that accounting for soil composition is necessary to accurately infer erosion rate. They also show that cosmogenic nuclide concentrations respond differently to tectonic changes than climatic changes, implying that patterns of cosmogenic nuclide concentrations may reflect perturbation type. The time it takes cosmogenic nuclide concentrations to respond to a perturbation increases with the length of the hills from the ridge to the valley, implying that response times should be influenced by climate, life, and rock type. These results show how this model can be used to explore how mountainous topography, soils, and cosmogenic nuclides change simultaneously. Our model will be a useful tool for improving field measurements of cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in soil and in stream sediment. Key Points: We developed a model to compute terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) concentrations in transiently evolving topography and chemically weathering soilsTCN‐based denudation rates track actual denudation rates more closely during responses to changes in uplift rate than to changes in climateSoil chemical weathering influences modeled TCN concentrations, confirming that this should be accounted for in TCN‐based denudation rates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper addresses investigation of modern morphodynamic processes, which lead to relief modelling on one hand and the formation of new landforms and deposits on the other. Erosional, denudational and gravitational landforms and deposits were observed in three key areas in the Zavalska Mountain (Western Srednogorie), Strazha and Lyubash (Kraishte). The aim of this study is to trace the intensity of exogenous landforming processes, to characterize the deposits and elucidate the connection between the geological base, the topography and the local hydroclimatic conditions for their genesis and dynamics. To achieve this goal, field and laboratory methods were employed, as well as data from an automatic weather station in the territory of the Breznik Municipality. Despite the short observation period of three months, the data reveal significant dynamics, rendering the selected study areas interesting for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on well horizon calibration, the typical seismic profiles in southwestern Tarim Basin were interpreted systematically, regional geological sections were established, and the regional denudation thickness of each tectonic period was restored. On this basis, the plane morphology maps of ancient structures of the Cambrian pre-salt dolomites in different periods were compiled, and the spatial distribution, development, evolution and migration of paleo-uplift in the late Early Paleozoic were analyzed. In the late Early Paleozoic, there existed a unified regional paleo-uplift widely distributed in southwestern Tarim Basin, which is called the southwestern Tarim plaeo-uplift. The “Tarim SW paleo-uplift” and “Hetian paleo-uplift” proposed in previous literatures are not independent, but the result of the spatio-temporal migration and evolution of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift identified in this paper. The southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift emerged at the end of Middle Ordovician, and took its initial shape with increased amplitude in the Late Ordovician. During the Silurian, the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift rose steadily and expanded rapidly to the east, incorporating Pishan—Hetian and other areas, with the structural high locating in the Pishan—Hetian area. During the Devonian, the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift began to shrink gradually, to a limited range in the Pishan—Hetian area in the southern part of the basin. During the Carboniferous, the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift became an underwater uplift, that is, the paleo-uplift gradually died out. The southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift belongs to the forebulge of the southwestern Tarim foreland basin in the late Early Paleozoic, and its formation and evolution are related to the early Paleozoic orogeny of the West Kunlun orogenic belt in the south of the Tarim Basin. The migration of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift from the northwestern part of the southwestern Tarim Basin to the Pishan—Hetian area indicates the early Paleozoic orogenic process of the West Kunlun orogenic belt, which started in the western section at the end of Middle Ordovician and extended from west to east in a “scissor” style. The migration and evolution of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift controlled the development of unconformities at the end of Middle Ordovician, the end of Late Ordovician, and the end of Middle Devonian, and the spatial distribution of dissolved fracture-cave reservoirs in weathered crust below the unconformities in the southwest of Tarim Basin. The migration of the structural high of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift also played an important role in controlling the development of dissolved fracture-cave reservoirs in weathered crust.

Abstract Background Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has become a common method of fertilization in assisted reproduction worldwide. However, there are still gaps in knowledge of the ideal IVF-ICSI workflow including the optimal duration of time between induction of final oocyte maturation, oocyte denudation and ICSI. The aim of this study was to examine outcomes following different workflow protocols in IVF-ICSI procedures in blastocysts that have undergone undisturbed incubation and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) prior to transfer. Methods Retrospective secondary analysis of 113 patients (179 IVF cycles, 713 embryos), all of whom have gone through IVF-ICSI and PGT-A using undisturbed culture. Predictive test variables were the length of time from: trigger to OPU, OPU to denudation, and denudation to ICSI. Outcome metrics assessed were: maturation, fertilization, blastulation and euploid rates. Generalized Estimated Equations Linear Model was used to examine the relationship between key elements of a given cycle and continuous outcomes and LOESS curves were used to determine the effect over time. Results In a paired multi-regression analysis, where each patient served as its own control, delaying OPU in patients with unexplained infertility improved both maturation and blastulation rates (b = 29.7, p

The Taiwan Western Foreland Basin is thought traditionally to have received sediment mainly from Eurasia until the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene, after which time, the Taiwan orogen became the dominant source. However, a combination of clay mineralogy, δ13Corg and C/N of organic matter, and mass‐specific magnetic susceptibility of late Miocene to early Pliocene strata of the Kueichulin Formation indicate that onset of major sediment contributions from Taiwan occurred much earlier, and correlates closely to the uplift and initial emergence of the Taiwan orogen. Clay mineralogy shows an upsection increase in illite and illite crystallinity, and a decrease in chlorite and kaolinite after the late Miocene, and this is attributed to rapid erosion of the Taiwan orogen. Results from δ13Corg and C/N analyses show that organic material in the Kueichulin Formation changed from dominantly marine to dominantly terrestrial in the early Pliocene, and this is linked to the delivery of large quantities of terrestrial organic material from the Taiwan orogen to the adjacent Taiwan Strait. Magnetic susceptibility also decreases significantly during the early Pliocene, resulting from dilution of magnetic minerals through the influx of non‐magnetic minerals delivered from the Taiwan orogenic belt. The establishment of the growing Taiwan orogen as a major sediment source to the Western Foreland Basin occurred at the Miocene–Pliocene transition, about two million years earlier than previously recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims:Debate over the optimal timing of oocyte denudation following oocyte retrieval continues. Multinucleation has been associated with lower embryo quality and implantation rate. Defining oocyte characteristics might increase the chances of better embryo selection. This study aimed to investigate the laboratory and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection when the oocytes were denuded immediately after oocyte retrieval.Methods:A prospective randomized sibling-oocyte study was performed. The participants were under 40 years of age with more than 5 oocytes. Patients with male factors were excluded. The study and control groups were formed by simple randomization. The study group underwent oocyte denudation immediately. In the control group, oocytes were routinely incubated in an equilibration solution for 2 h until the removal of the cumulus cells. Outcome measures were normal fertilization (two pronuclei, 2PN), multinucleation rate, the proportion of good quality embryos, blastocyst formation, and pregnancy rate.Results:A total of 792 oocytes were collected from 54 participants (mean age: 30.6±3.7 years). The fertilization rate was higher in the study group (n=209 in 376) compared with the controls (n=201 in 416) (55.6% vs. 48.3%, p=0.041). The multinucleation rate (6.6% vs. 4.3%, p=0.150), proportion of grade 1 embryos on day 3 (48.7% vs. 43%, p=0.112) and day 5 (27.7% vs. 23.8%, p=0.214), the proportion of embryos reaching blastocyst stage (34.0% vs. 28.1%, p=0.072), and the pregnancy rates (78.6% vs. 71.4%, p=1.000) were similar.Conclusions:Our results demonstrated that immediate removal of cumulus cells does not have any negative impact on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes.

Tree mortality can fundamentally affect soils, which in turn shape forest regeneration and dynamics. Here, we quantify the dynamics of soil volumes associated with tree mortality, parsing effects by mode of tree death (broken vs uprooted) and species. The concept of ecosystem biogeomorphic succession was also tested. We used repeated tree censuses carried out in ten European and North American forests, differing in species composition, climate, and disturbance regimes. Development of more than 172,000 individual trees was recorded over periods of up to 48 years, during which more than one-third of the trees died. Biogeomorphic impact of deaths was modeled using allometry and field measurements. Tree uprooting-related soil volumes accounted annually for 0.01–13.5 m3ha−1, reaching maximum values on sites with infrequent strong windstorms (European mountains). The redistribution of soils related to trees that died standing ranged annually between 0.17 and 20.7 m3ha−1 and were highest in the presence of non-stand-replacing fire (Yosemite National Park, USA). Comparison of the results with known long-term erosion rates suggests that on certain sites over the last few millennia, tree uprooting may represent a significant driver of landscape erosion. Despite the key role of severe disturbances, the data showed potential for future increases in the intensity of biogeomorphic processes. The high biogeomorphic potential in some USA sites that has not yet been realized can be activated by external changes in the disturbance regime. Forests in Central Europe, on the other hand, are more sensitive to changes in biogeomorphic processes due to species turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Biome of Brazilian savannah, Cerrado, an important ecological-economic region with a large production of commodities, has in its northern portion the recent agricultural frontier outside the Amazon. Problems derived from environmental degradation, such as erosive processes and the loss of soil productivity have shown their relevance. In this context, this paper analyses the space-time variabilities in soil losses rates calculated for watersheds draining the Emas National Park (PNE), and National Park of Brasilia (PNB), and their surroundings by applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) for the years 1970,1985 and 2018. Results indicate that the higher average rates were calculated for the surroundings of PNB, 10 ton.h-1, hangingfrom 3.8 to 20.8. Oppositely, for the PNE soil loss rates were 10 times lower from those of PNB, where no significant differences were observed, with average rate of 0.3 ton.h-1.a-1 (hangingfrom 0.1 to 0.5). Oppositely, the controlling factors of soil loss differed among the two sites, as for the PNB land-use changes controlled the time-space variabilities, and for the PNE only the morphologic differences played this role. The rates calculated for the PNE and surroundings differ from the general trend observed for other Savannahs in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive agricultural intensification adversely affects soil quality, particularly in hilly terrain, leading to increased erosion. Anthropogenic denudation, intensified by tillage erosion, results in the displacement of soil material from hilltops and shoulders to their bases. The research hypothesis posits that tillage erosion adversely affects the microbiological and chemical properties of soils, especially at the hilltops of intensively cultivated areas. The study aimed to assess the microbiological and chemical properties of Luvisols cultivated under conventional plowing in the moraine region of the Southern Krajna Lakeland, Poland. The evaluation focused on the results of soil sample analyses taken from the hilltops and foothills of eroded mounds. Microbiological investigations included determining the abundance of actinomycetes, filamentous fungi, heterotrophic bacteria, cellulolytic microorganisms, copiotrophs, and oligotrophs. Additionally, pH values and the contents of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, total organic carbon, and nitrogen were determined. A higher abundance of bacteria, actinomycetes, and copiotrophs was observed at the foothills. Statistically significant differences due to slope effects were noted for all chemical parameters, with higher concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus found in the foothill areas. Understanding denudation processes can contribute to sustainable soil resource use and agrocenosis conservation.

The thermal history of the Late Paleozoic granitoids of the Angara–Vitim batholith (AVB) was reconstructed using a comprehensive approach including U/Pb, 40Ar/39Ar, and fission track dating methods. The rocks of the Barguzin and Chivyrkui complexes were studied at sites in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the batholith, as well as on the Svyatoi Nos Peninsula and the eastern shore of Lake Baikal. A generally similar thermal history is reconstructed for the rocks of all sites. The steep slope of the thermal history curve immediately after the formation of the AVB rocks indicates an epoch of intensive denudation which removed about a 5- to 7-km-thick stratum and was related to the Late Paleozoic orogeny. After the epoch of tectonic stabilization, characterized by the gradual closure of the biotite isotope system in the time period of 170–295 Ma, the closure of the feldspar/plagioclase isotope system occurs in the time period of 140–167 Ma. This interval coincides with the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean and the onset of the formation of the Mongol–Okhotsk orogen and is characterized by denudation of an about 3-km-thick rock sequence. Then, in the period of 60–3 Ma ago, a slow denudation took place in the territory of the Transbaikalian region, which ended with a relatively abrupt cooling of rocks during the last 3 Ma and denudation of about 2- to 3‑km-thick stratum. This might be due to the remote tectonic impact of the Indo-Eurasian collision. The obtained data on the tectonic-thermal evolution of the AVB rocks can serve as a basis for correlating the formation of the Mongol–Okhotsk orogen and sedimentation in the Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Irkutsk, Kansk–Achinsk, Tuva, Kuznetsk, and West Siberian basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has become a common method of fertilization in assisted reproduction worldwide. However, there are still gaps in knowledge of the ideal IVF-ICSI workflow including the optimal duration of time between induction of final oocyte maturation, oocyte denudation and ICSI. The aim of this study was to examine outcomes following different workflow protocols in IVF-ICSI procedures in blastocysts that have undergone undisturbed incubation and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) prior to transfer. Methods: Retrospective secondary analysis of 113 patients (179 IVF cycles, 713 embryos), all of whom have gone through IVF-ICSI and PGT-A using undisturbed culture. Predictive test variables were the length of time from: trigger to OPU, OPU to denudation, and denudation to ICSI. Outcome metrics assessed were: maturation, fertilization, blastulation and euploid rates. Generalized Estimated Equations Linear Model was used to examine the relationship between key elements of a given cycle and continuous outcomes and LOESS curves were used to determine the effect over time. Results: In a paired multi-regression analysis, where each patient served as its own control, delaying OPU in patients with unexplained infertility improved both maturation and blastulation rates (b = 29.7, p < 0.0001 and b = 9.1, p = 0.06, respectively). Longer incubation with cumulus cells (CCs) significantly correlated with improved ploidy rates among patients under 37, as well as among patients with unexplained infertility (r = 0.22 and 0.29, respectively), which was also evident in a multiple regression analysis (b = 6.73, p < 0.05), and in a paired analysis (b = 6.0, p < 0.05). Conversely, among patients with a leading infertility diagnosis of male factor, longer incubation of the denuded oocyte prior to ICSI resulted in a significantly higher euploid rate (b = 15.658, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In this study we have demonstrated that different IVF-ICSI workflows affect patients differently, depending on their primary infertility diagnosis. Thus, ideally, the IVF-ICSI workflow should be tailored to the individual patient based on the primary infertility diagnosis. This study contributes to our understanding surrounding the impact of IVF laboratory procedures and highlights the importance of not only tracking "classic" IVF outcomes (maturation, fertilization, blastulation rates), but highlights the importance that these procedures have on the ploidy of the embryo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan-Tibetan orogen is one of the active orogens on Earth. The processes caused by the collision of two continents have attracted attention of many researchers, and over the past decades, a large amount of geological and geophysical data has accumulated, on which models of the evolution of the region are based. The paper presents a model of the evolution of the Tibet plateau and the adjacent mountain chains, which complies with the modern concepts of the structure of the crust. The reference parameters of this model are the data on the values of stresses and on the patterns of the spatial distribution of principal stresses obtained in our own tectonophysical studies in region, as well as in other intracontinental orogens and in subduction zones between lithospheric plates. The basic assumptions of the model are the factors of the long stage of the Indian plate underthrusting beneath the Eurasian continent, metamorphic processes in the submerged slab (oceanic lithosphere) and in the continental lithosphere above it, combination of absolute horizontal movements of the Eurasian and Indian plates, small-scale convection in the upper mantle and vertical movements of matter, both in the continental lithosphere itself and in the upper mantle.

Aims: Debate over the optimal timing of oocyte denudation following oocyte retrieval continues. Multinucleation has been associated with lower embryo quality and implantation rate. Defining oocyte characteristics might increase the chances of better embryo selection. This study aimed to investigate the laboratory and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection when the oocytes were denuded immediately after oocyte retrieval. Methods: A prospective randomized sibling-oocyte study was performed. The participants were under 40 years of age with more than 5 oocytes. Patients with male factors were excluded. The study and control groups were formed by simple randomization. The study group underwent oocyte denudation immediately. In the control group, oocytes were routinely incubated in an equilibration solution for 2 h until the removal of the cumulus cells. Outcome measures were normal fertilization (two pronuclei, 2PN), multinucleation rate, the proportion of good quality embryos, blastocyst formation, and pregnancy rate. Results: A total of 792 oocytes were collected from 54 participants (mean age: 30.6±3.7 years). The fertilization rate was higher in the study group (n=209 in 376) compared with the controls (n=201 in 416) (55.6% vs. 48.3%, p=0.041). The multinucleation rate (6.6% vs. 4.3%, p=0.150), proportion of grade 1 embryos on day 3 (48.7% vs. 43%, p=0.112) and day 5 (27.7% vs. 23.8%, p=0.214), the proportion of embryos reaching blastocyst stage (34.0% vs. 28.1%, p=0.072), and the pregnancy rates (78.6% vs. 71.4%, p=1.000) were similar. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that immediate removal of cumulus cells does not have any negative impact on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the dynamics of slope processes and the characteristics of their deposits in the Viskyar Mountain, SW Bulgaria. For the purpose of the study, 4 key sites with а different lithology, exposition, slope and altitude were observed. The results are gathered from 2-months period of monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tannuola Terrane of Tuva, which is located in the northern part of the Central Asian Fold Belt, formed as a result of island-arc and accretionary-collision events in the Early Paleozoic. Further tectonic evolution of the terrane is related to a multiple reactivations of large and mostly normal fault structures. In the middle Paleozoic, the extension of the crystalline basement of the terrane led to the active uplift of mafic melts along the faults to the surface and formation of subalkaline igneous rocks. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic igneous complexes within the Tannuola Terrane are unknown; thus, its tectonic evolution in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic could be considered only after a sedimentary record, which is preserved in the Mesozoic intermountain depressions of Tuva and adjacent Cenozoic Ubsunur Basin. This geological information, however, is insufficient for an exhaustive consideration of the regional tectonic regime taking into account the lack of confirmation of present-day precise methods. The understanding the Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Tannuola Terrane is impossible without the analysis of data on low-temperature thermochronology for rocks of the crystalline basement. In our study, fission-track analysis of apatite from 12 samples of the early Paleozoic granitoids of the Tannuola Terrane is conducted in order to recognize the stages of activation and tectonic stability within the absolute time scale. The analysis showed a wide range of ages from 83.4 ± 4.7 (Late Cretaceous) to 35.5 ± 2.2 (late Eocene) Ma at variation of the mean fission-track length from 11.4 to 12.3 µm. The modeling of the thermal evolution of the basement of the Tannuola Terrane, which is based on these data, indicated three stages of tectonic activation of various origins and intensities divided by stages of tectonic quiet periods for the last ~185 million years: (i) ~185–135 Ma (Jurassic–Cretaceous), (ii) ~90–35 Ma (Cretaceous–Paleogene), and (iii) ~15–0 Ma (Neogene–Quaternary). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of two-step denudation on maternal contamination, ploidy concordance between spent embryo culture medium (SCM) and trophectoderm, blastocyst formation, and clinical outcome. Methods: Sibling embryos of the same couple were re-denuded (treatment) and not re-denuded (control) on day 3, and trophectoderm biopsy and SCM collection were performed on day 5/6. Sex chromosomes of 20 pairs of SCM and biopsy samples were analyzed to determine the reduction in maternal contamination. Blastocyst formation, implantation, and ongoing pregnancy rates were analyzed by recruiting 565 cleavage embryos on day 3. A total of 113 SCM samples and their corresponding trophectoderm results were collected for ploidy concordance analysis. Results: The detection rate of XX between the treatment and control groups was significant (12/20 (60.0%) versus 19/20 (95.0%), p = 0.02). Concordance of sex chromosomes between the two groups was significant (17/20 (85.0%) versus 8/19 (42.1%), p = 0.003). There were no significant differences in blastocyst formation rate, implantation rate, and ongoing pregnancy rate between the two groups. Among the 113 pairs of SCM and its corresponding trophectoderm, 37 cases (33.33%) were completely concordant, 39 cases (35.14%) were partially concordant, and 35 cases (31.53%) were discordant. Conclusion: Our results suggest that re-denudation on day 3 reduces the influence of maternal contamination and improves the accuracy of cfDNA detection. Moreover, the procedure had no significant effect on blastocyst formation, implantation, and ongoing pregnancy rates. In addition, the ploidy concordance approached 70% compared with biopsy, which is acceptable but still not ideal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory of the bladder, while statin can increase its risk. Recently, the exact mechanism is yet known. We hypothesizedsimvastatin can induce alteration of bladder thickness. Methods: Twenty-four female Wistar rats were aged 6-8 weeks old were divided into two groups and were treated with simvastatin 50 mg/kg BW or carboxymethylcellulose 0.5% by oral gavage for 30 days. Each group was then equally subdivided into three groups: control, Interstitial Cystitis (IC) day-0, and IC day-3. Either IC or control rat group was induced by intravesical instillation of protamine sulfate or buffered saline respectively. All animals in the control and IC day-0 group were sacrificed and collected for the bladder tissue in less than three hours following intravesical treatment, while animals in the IC day-3 group three days after. All collected tissue was prepared in hematoxylin-eosin staining and measured for the bladder thickness, namely the urothelial, suburothelial, and detrusor layer by image analyzer application. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups receiving simvastatin and placebo in the thickness of the urothelium, suburothelium, and detrusor layers in all rat models, both control, IC0, and IC3 rats (all p values > 0.05). However, the thickness of the urothelium layer was consistently lower in the simvastatin group than in the placebo group in all rat models. Conclusion: Mechanism of simvastatin toxicity on bladder tissue through urothelial denudation thus may alter the urothelial barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In patients with atrial fibrillation, left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion devices represent an alternative to anticoagulation but are associated with residual peridevice leaks (PDLs) and device-related thrombi (DRT). Similarly, cerebrovascular aneurysms can be treated with coil embolization, but pericoil leaks represent a significant limitation. In experimental models of cerebrovascular aneurysms, endothelial denudation achieved independently with (1) embolization with radioactive coils, (2) mechanical removal of the endothelium, or (3) radiofrequency ablation was dramatically effective in preventing or eliminating pericoil leaks.Anatomical, physiological, and blood flow similarities exist between the LAA and saccular aneurysms. Concepts developed in treating aneurysm leaks can be used to treat similar problems in the LAA. Learning from aneurysms, we conceived of a novel technique to denude local endothelium and thus eliminate residual leaks around LAA-occlusion devices. We recently successfully tested this hypothesis in patients with a PDL in a prospective manner in a multicenter study. In this article, we expand on the rationale of the technique developed to close PDLs and potentially also prevent DRTs.

Thermochronological methods were applied to the Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) nappe and the underlying Lesser Himalayan Sequences (LHS) to elucidate the denudation process for the middle‐ and upper‐crust of eastern Nepal over millions of years. Thermochronological inverse modeling was undertaken for new results of fission‐track (FT) age and FT length data of zircon and apatite in order to reconstruct the time‐temperature (t‐T) paths in the temperature range of 60–350°C. Eight t‐T paths calculated along the across‐strike section show that the cooling process of the HHC nappe in this study area is characterized by the following three aspects: (a) gradual cooling followed by rapid cooling and subsequent gradual cooling, (b) northward‐younging of the timing of the rapid cooling, and (c) gradual cooling followed by <2 Myr rapid cooling in the frontmost part of the HHC nappe. The observed FT ages and t‐T paths were then compared with those predicted by forwarding thermokinematic modeling. The results of the thermokinematic modeling for the "Flat‐Ramp‐Flat MHT model", in which the HHC and the underlying LHS are denudated in direct proportion to the uplift of rocks transported along the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), reproduced the observed t‐T paths and FT ages in eastern Nepal. This indicates that the observed FT ages and t‐T paths reflect a denudation process driven by the movement of the MHT with a flat‐ramp‐flat geometry and that the denudation rate and its spatial distribution have roughly been constant in eastern Nepal since ca. 9 Ma. Plain Language Summary: Motion of the deep‐seated rocks toward earth's surface (exhumation/denudation) in continental collision zones is a key phenomenon to understanding the mechanism of mountain building associated with a continental collision. Thermochronological method enables us to reconstruct the cooling history of the rock samples and address their denudation history of them. In this study, we collected metamorphic rocks from eastern Nepal and succeeded in reconstructing a detailed cooling history. The observed cooling history was compared with the predicted cooling history derived from numerical modeling of three different denudation processes. As a result, the observed cooling history in eastern Nepal was explained well by denudation associated with the movement of a stable, single plate‐boundary fault. This indicates that the denudation style of the deep‐seated rocks in eastern Nepal was established about 9 million years ago and remained unchanged since then. This finding contributes to understanding mountain building process that affects shallow crustal levels. Key Points: Inversion of fission‐track data and forward thermokinematic modeling were applied to reconstruct the denudation history of eastern NepalObserved gradual‐rapid‐gradual cooling time‐temperature paths were reproduced by the model assuming the flat‐ramp‐flat structure of the MHTOur result indicates that the denudation pattern has roughly been constant in southeastern Nepal since ca. 9 Ma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Columbia River Gorge has long been an icon of naturalistic geology. Incised through the Cascade Anticlinorium, the Columbia River supposedly exemplifies the antecedent river hypothesis. This assumes the Cascade Anticlinorium was uplifted at the same rate the Columbia River eroded. In addition to generic challenges to antecedence, it fails to explain planation surfaces along Rowena Gap near the eastern entrance to the Columbia River Gorge. As much as 700 meters above the current river, these planation surfaces truncate folded Columbia River Basalts and extend over 40 kilometers north and south of the Columbia River. Due to their planar nature and no evidence of post-erosion faulting, the planation surfaces were eroded at their current elevation. Secular and post-Flood models alike fail to explain them. That much erosion at such elevation can only be achieved during the Genesis Flood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The durability of modified soil is of great significance to the longterm stability of earth buildings. The sticky rice，tung oil，straw，lime，cement and fine sand are used as modified materials，which are added into the plain soil（PS）separately or mixed in a certain proportion，and the optimal proportion is studied through shear strength and permeability tests. Based on the optimal proportion of modified soil，longterm natural denudation test，capillary elevation model test，unconfined compressive strength test by considering age and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）test were carried out to evaluate their regularities of durability and microstructure. The results show that ：（1）There is an optimal proportion of modified materials added into the PS. and too little or too much modified materials are not conducive to improve the strength and permeability of PS；The shear strength of the modified soil is about 1.3～3.5 times that of the PS，and the saturated permeability coefficient is about 1/3～1/1650 times that of the PS.（2）The denudation resistance of different modified soils is about 1.3～30.0 times of that of PS，and the maximum capillary elevation is about 24～93% of that of PS. The unconfined compressive strength of sticky ricebased modified soils reaches the maximum value at the age of 7-14 days，and then decreases with age. The cementbased and limebased modified soils shows an increasing trend with age.（3）The porosity percentage （PP）and fractal dimension（FD）of the modified soil decreased by 0.3-5.5% and 0.6-3.7% after denudation in the natural environment，while the PP and FD of the PS decreased by 11.2% and 4.3%，respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock contains > 99% of Earth's reactive nitrogen (N), but questions remain over the direct importance of rock N weathering inputs to terrestrial biogeochemical cycling. Here we investigate the factors that regulate rock N abundance and develop a new model for quantifying rock N mobilization fluxes across desert to temperate rainforest ecosystems in California, USA. We analyzed the N content of 968 rock samples from 531 locations and compiled 178 cosmogenically derived denudation estimates from across the region to identify landscapes and ecosystems where rocks account for a significant fraction of terrestrial N inputs. Strong coherence between rock N content and geophysical factors, such as protolith, (i.e. parent rock), grain size, and thermal history, are observed. A spatial model that combines rock geochemistry with lithology and topography demonstrates that average rock N reservoirs range from 0.18 to 1.2 kg N m-3 (80 to 534 mg N kg-1) across the nine geomorphic provinces of California and estimates a rock N denudation flux of 20-92 Gg yr-1 across the entire study area (natural atmospheric inputs ~ 140 Gg yr-1). The model highlights regional differences in rock N mobilization and points to the Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and the Klamath Mountains as regions where rock N could contribute meaningfully to ecosystem N cycling. Contrasting these data to global compilations suggests that our findings are broadly applicable beyond California and that the N abundance and variability in rock are well constrained across most of the Earth system.

We present a detailed analysis of weathering fluxes at Lake Baikal, the largest lake in the world, using the major element, trace element and isotope geochemistry of major inflowing rivers, the lake itself, and its sediments. Our objective is to assess how lake records could be used to understand river-catchment-scale denudation and weathering processes. Total denudation rates at Lake Baikal, as obtained from meteoric 10Be/9Be, are an order of magnitude lower than the global average, at 16–35 t km−2 yr−1. Chemical weathering rates obtained from the riverine dissolved load and discharge are, on the other hand, in the same range as global values, at 6–29 t km−2 yr−1. Chemical weathering rates are higher in the north of the catchment than in the south, consistent with higher runoff in the north. In contrast, 10Be/9Be-derived denudation rates are higher in the south. We hypothesize that this pattern of variation may be due to the stabilizing effect of permafrost soils preventing erosion in the north. An inverse model shows that the Selenga River, Lake Baikal's major tributary, has a silicate weathering contribution to riverine dissolved cation fluxes of 42 mol%; this and other characteristics are representative of large rivers globally. Many trace elements have much lower concentrations in the lake than in inflowing rivers (Be (5%), Mn (3%), Fe (0.4%) and REE (1–2%)). We suggest, based on REE patterns and Mn, Fe-depth profiles in the lake, that this removal is the result of pH induced changes in dissolved-adsorbed partitioning at the river-lake interface, and the incorporation of trace elements into authigenic Fe-Mn (oxyhydr)oxide phases forming within the lake. Strontium is isotopically uniform within the lake, demonstrating that the whole lake mixes on a timescale shorter than its residence time (<330 years). Neodymium and Be, in contrast, show isotopic variability between the basins. While the Sr isotope budget of the lake is largely consistent with observed riverine Sr fluxes, an unradiogenic Nd source is needed to explain lake Nd isotope compositions, especially in the Northern Basin. This source appears to derive from old crustal rocks in this part of the catchment and could be hydrothermal, or small rivers that were not sampled here. Similarly, elevated 10Be/9Be ratios in the lake basins relative to the river input imply variable but significant atmospheric inputs of 10Be into the lake. Overall, this study demonstrates that records of the paleo-chemistry of lakes, and Lake Baikal in particular, hold promise for understanding denudation and weathering on the continents, in ways that are more directly relatable to the environmental conditions of the catchment than is possible with marine records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The study aimed to investigate whether and how general and partial time intervals between processes, from human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) trigger to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), affected the laboratory and reproductive outcomes in ICSI cycles. Methods This was a retrospective data analysis of 3602 women who underwent ICSI treatment cycles using partner or donor sperms, performed at Reproduction Medicine Center of Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China) between October 2016 and September 2018. The clinical pregnancy rate was the major outcome in the study. The fertilization and available embryo rates were secondary outcomes. Results Data from 3602 consecutive fresh ICSI cycles was analysed. Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression analysis of factors related to fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates showed that fertilization rate (P = 0.001) and clinical pregnancy rate (P = 0.037) were significantly associated with denudation (DN)-ICSI interval. Long DN-ICSI interval was associated with higher rate of fertilization than short DN-ICSI interval but significantly decreased clinical pregnancy rate when the interval is over 4 h (P

The present study proposes a comprehensive 3D computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method (CFD-DEM) coupled simulation model to investigate the particle dynamics induced by SS316L metal vapor spouting during single-scan-track laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processing. The model provides the ability to examine the effects of nonconventional process variables such as the chamber pressure and gravitational force on the suppression of the spatter and denudation phenomena. The simulation results imply that adjusting the gravitational force provides an effective technique for suppressing both spatter formation and powder bed denudation. In addition, the chamber pressure has only a marginal effect on the denudation phenomenon. In particular, under a higher operating pressure, the metal vapor tends to spout in the upward direction, while under a lower pressure, the spouting is more radially distributed. As a result, the simulation results obtained in this study have suggested that the chamber pressure and gravitational force may both provide feasible approaches for suppressing the spattering and denudation phenomena, particularly in the L-PBF processing of light-weight materials., (Copyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.)

Headwaters are complex hydrogeomorphological systems where the combined action of fluvial drainage and underground water that emerges in springs contribute to the landscape evolution. This relationship can lead to hilltops degradation, river capture, drainage network extension, and geochemical loss in slopes. Attempting to clarify the geomorphological processes of mass wasting of these systems, this work aims to investigate the geochemical dynamics in headwaters of Paraiba do Sul Depression, bring elements to understand the role of springs and low order streams on local-regional morphodynamics and morphology. The study area is two headwaters into de Paraiba do Sul Depression, next to its contact with the Northern Serra da Mantiqueira (Minas Gerais, Brazil). We analyse the dissolved load along the drainage network, to understand the inter-scale relationships between local and regional factors that contribute to explain the geochemical denudation of these systems. The results show low chemical mass wasting of great variability (in time and space), with absolute values between 373 and 3,024 kg/km²/y, what corresponds to a relief degradation of 0.6 m/My (average of study area). Therefore, that is a direct relation between geochemical denudation and the drainage hierarchy in headwaters, but little differences in the mineralogy of soils and rocks or disturbances in the seasonal hydrologic characteristics could result in great changes in the evolution pattern of headwaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As reverse weathering has been shown to impact long‐term changes in atmospheric CO2 levels, it is crucial to develop quantitative tools to reconstruct marine authigenic clay formation. We explored the potential of the beryllium (Be) isotope ratio (10Be/9Be) recorded in marine clay‐sized sediment to track neoformation of authigenic clays. The power of such proxy relies on the orders‐of‐magnitude difference in 10Be/9Be ratios between continental Be and Be dissolved in seawater. On marine sediments collected along a Chilean margin transect we chemically extracted reactive phases and separated the clay‐sized fraction to compare the riverine and marine 10Be/9Be ratio of this fraction. 10Be/9Be ratios increase fourfold from riverine to marine sediment. We attribute this increase to the incorporation of Be high in 10Be/9Be from dissolved biogenic opal, which also serves as a Si‐source for the precipitation of marine authigenic clays. 10Be/9Be ratios thus sensitively track reverse‐weathering reactions forming marine authigenic clays.

Study Question: Does the time elapsed between oocyte pick-up (OPU) and denudation or injection affect the probability of achieving a live birth (LB) in ICSI cycles?Summary Answer: Prolonged oocyte culture before denudation (>4 h) was associated with an increase in clinical pregnancy (CP), LB and cumulative LB (CLB) rates when compared with earlier denudation timings.What Is Known Already: Oocyte maturation is a complex and dynamic process involving structural and biochemical modifications in the cell necessary to support fertilization and early embryo development. While meiotic competence is easily identifiable by the presence of an extruded first polar body, cytoplasmic maturation cannot be assessed microscopically. Culturing oocytes with their surrounding cumulus cells (CCs) prior to ICSI can enhance the completion of in vitro cytoplasmic maturation; conversely, prolonged culture may induce cell degeneration. The optimal culture intervals prior to oocyte denudation and/or injection have not yet been established and may prove relevant for the improvement of ICSI reproductive outcomes.Study Design, Size, Duration: This is a single-centre retrospective cohort analysis of 1378 ICSI cycles performed between January 2005 and October 2018. Data were categorized according to: (i) the time interval between OPU and denudation (<3 h, 3-4 h and ≥4 h), (ii) the time interval between denudation and ICSI (<1.5 h, 1.5-2 h, ≥2 h) and (iii) the time interval between OPU and ICSI (<5 h, 5-6 h and ≥6 h). The effect of these timings on fertilization, CP, LB and CLB rates were compared. The culture intervals between different procedures were dependent exclusively on laboratory workload.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: ICSI cycles performed in women younger than 40 years old using autologous gametes with at least one metaphase II injected oocyte were included. The effect of oocyte culture duration prior to denudation and injection of the oocytes was compared using multivariable regression accounting for potential confounding variables.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: Fertilization and oocyte damage rate after ICSI was found to be independent of the time interval to denudation (<3 h, 3-4 h and ≥4 h) and/or injection (<5 h, 5-6 h and ≥6 h). Extending oocyte culture before denudation significantly improved CP (29.5%, 42.7% and 50.6%, respectively), LB (25.1%, 34.4% and 40.7%, respectively) and CLB rates (26.0%, 36.1% and 42.2%, respectively), particularly if the time interval was at least 4 h. Additionally, LB (31.7%, 35.8% and 27.4%, respectively) and CLB rates (34.2%, 36.6% and 27.7%, respectively) were also dependent on the time from OPU to injection.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: This study is limited by its retrospective nature and potential unmeasured confounding cannot be excluded. Furthermore, the effect of even shorter or longer periods of culture before denudation and/or injection were not evaluated and should not be extrapolated from these results.Wider Implications Of the Findings: Our findings propose new evidence of a previously unrecognized protective effect of the CCs-oocyte interactions in human ART, raising the question of a possible downstream effect in embryogenesis which significantly affects LB rates. Additionally, this is the first study to suggest a negative effect of further extending culture before ICSI on LB and CLB rates, thus potentially allowing for the narrowing of an optimal ICSI time interval. Simple strategies such as the establishment of more effective time frames to perform these procedures and adjusting laboratory practice may prove beneficial, ultimately improving ICSI reproductive outcomes.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): None.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the physical mechanisms of the spattering and denudation phenomena in the laser powder bed fusion process, we develop a multiphase flow model by bi-directionally coupling the discrete element method and finite volume method, where the exchanges of both momentum and energy between the powder particles and gases are incorporated. It is the first time that the dynamic behaviours of both the gas phase and powder particles during the spattering and denudation phenomena are reproduced in computational modelling, which agree well with the published experimental observation. The metal vapour spouts out and decelerates sharply along the jetting direction while expanding radially, which induces remarkable vortex flows of the ambient gas. With comparative simulation cases, the vapour jetting and the consequent vortex flow are demonstrated to be dominant in the spattering and denudation phenomena, and the thermal buoyancy effect is proved to be negligible. Moreover, the influence of the jetting angle is investigated: no remarkable effect within the range of 60° - 120°; while larger than 150°, the accumulation zone is eliminated leading to a completely exposed denudation zone. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cratons are ancient regions of relatively stable continental fragments considered to have attained long‐term tectonic and geomorphic stability. Low‐temperature thermochronology data, however, suggest that some cratons have experienced discrete Phanerozoic heating and cooling episodes. We report apatite fission track, and apatite and zircon (U‐Th)/He low‐temperature thermochronology data from the Archean Pilbara craton and adjacent Paleoproterozoic basement, NW Australia. Inverse thermal history simulations of this spatially extensive data set reveal that the region has experienced ~50–70°C cooling, which is interpreted as a response to the unroofing of erodible strata overlying basement. The timing of cooling onset is variable, mainly ~420–350 Ma in the southern and central Pilbara‐eastern Hamersley Basin and ~350–300 Ma in the northern Pilbara, while the westernmost Pilbara‐central Hamersley Basin does not record a significant Paleozoic cooling event. These differences are attributed to variations in sedimentary thickness and proximity to adjacent rift basins, which lack Archean age zircons in their Paleozoic strata. The onset of Paleozoic cooling coincides with the timing of the episodic intraplate late Ordovician‐Carboniferous Alice Springs Orogeny. This orogeny is thought to have resulted from far‐field plate margin stresses, which in turn caused the opening of the adjacent Canning Basin, to the north and east of the craton. We propose that basin development triggered a change of base level, resulting in denudation and the crustal cooling event reported here. Our results provide further evidence for the transmission of far‐field forces to cratons over hundreds of kilometers and support the view that cratons have experienced geomorphic changes during the Phanerozoic. Key Points: Pilbara Craton basement records a widespread cooling episode mainly between ~420 and 300 Ma resulting from denudation of a sedimentary coverDenudation is related to rifting adjacent to the craton associated with far‐field intraplate deformation transmitted over hundreds of kilometersDifferences in unroofing estimates and timing are related to the thermal effect and variable thickness of the sedimentary blanket [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed to investigate whether and how general and partial time intervals between processes, from human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) trigger to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), affected the laboratory and reproductive outcomes in ICSI cycles. Methods: This was a retrospective data analysis of 3602 women who underwent ICSI treatment cycles using partner or donor sperms, performed at Reproduction Medicine Center of Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China) between October 2016 and September 2018. The clinical pregnancy rate was the major outcome in the study. The fertilization and available embryo rates were secondary outcomes. Results: Data from 3602 consecutive fresh ICSI cycles was analysed. Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression analysis of factors related to fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates showed that fertilization rate (P = 0.001) and clinical pregnancy rate (P = 0.037) were significantly associated with denudation (DN)-ICSI interval. Long DN-ICSI interval was associated with higher rate of fertilization than short DN-ICSI interval but significantly decreased clinical pregnancy rate when the interval is over 4 h (P < 0.05). Conclusions: DN-ICSI time interval can act as an independent predictor for clinical outcomes in ICSI cycles. The optimal time for ICSI is within 4 h after oocyte denudation for excellent laboratory and reproductive outcomes in ICSI cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]