InfoConsult (Germany)

Obtaining information on the size and shape of individual sediment grains is fundamental to many geoscientific applications, as these properties provide insights into sediment transport and depositional processes. Conventional approaches for grain size and shape analysis rely on manual or semi-automated workflows and are therefore labor-intensive and time-consuming. Recent advances in deep learning, particularly in image segmentation and object detection, have enabled the development of automated methods for measuring grain size and shape. However, existing approaches typically are trained on homogeneous, task-specific datasets, which limits their ability to generalize across different data types and settings. Additionally, challenging image characteristics often compromise the segmentation accuracy.We present an upgraded version 2.0 of the ImageGrains framework (Mair et al., 2024), which leverages a recently published next-generation segmentation model, Cellpose-SAM (Pachitariu et al., 2025). We re-trained this model on our newly released open-access dataset comprising 243 images and more than 29,000 manually annotated sediment grains. This dataset consists of images from various settings, including photographs of fluvial gravel, coarse pro-glacial deposits, and X-ray computed tomography scans of glacial till and marine sand. We use these data to benchmark the segmentation performance of the method against ground-truth annotations and to compare it to the performance of existing segmentation methods.The results show that ImageGrains 2.0 achieves higher segmentation accuracy and improved generalization to previously unseen data compared to current state-of-the-art methods. When comparing the size and shape of grains predicted by the model with the ground truth annotations, we find that the increase in segmentation accuracy of our upgraded framework directly translates to more precise and realistic morphometric results, such as grain size distributions. We make our framework available to the community as a free and open-source installable Python package, as well as through interactive computing environments such as Jupyter Notebooks and a graphical user interface. ReferencesMair et al. (2024): Automated detecting, segmenting and measuring of grains in images of fluvial sediments: The potential for large and precise data from specialist deep learning models and transfer learning, ESPL, 49, 1099–1116, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5755.Pachitariu, et al. (2025): superhuman generalization for cellular segmentation, https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.28.651001.

The Engadine valley, located in the Grischun area in SE Switzerland, presents multiple mineralized springs distributed along the Engadine fault. Hydrogen (H2) concentration measured along the Engadine fault can reach up to 1900 ppm, indicating the presence of both, a deep groundwater flow system and a deep-seated 'kitchen'. These observations suggest that the Engadine fault may control the regional hydrodynamics and likely also the hydrogen production along the Engadine valley. A key factor to identify and understand the location of the H2 kitchen, fluid pathways and related water in- and H2 out-flow is the understanding of the nappe stack in the Grischun area and its relation to the Engadine fault. The latter, represents a major SW-NE striking >100km long structure that resulted from post-collisional oblique strike-slip movements during Oligocene-Miocene time. It transects the Late Cretaceous Austroalpine nappe stack, floored by the Pennine, ultramafic rocks bearing ophiolites, inherited from the closure of the Alpine Tethys proto-oceanic domain. Thus, a key question is whether there is a hydrodynamic link between the ultramafic source rocks flooring the rift-inversion nappe stack, the Engadine fault, acting as a possible conduit for deep water circulation, and the occurrence of springs and H2 anomalies in the soil gas. To answer to this question, we constructed a numerical hydrodynamic model of the Engadine and surrounding area, including the Engadine fault. This model allows us to carry out regional-scale simulations to investigate the interplay between topography and a deep, permeable conduit (e.g. Engadine fault) and its control on hydrothermal circulation. The model couples groundwater flow, heat transport and solute transport, and will be calibrated with surface observations (location of springs and chemical anomalies in water and soil gas). First results suggest that fluid upwelling occurs SW of St.Moritz and NE of Scuol along the Engadine valley, whereas the fault-segment between St.Moritz and Scuol corresponds to a region of meteoric recharge. This SW-NE distribution of deep upwelling correlates well with first geochemical field measurements. Future work will include chemical fluid-rock interaction to fully understand the hydro-chemical conditions of H2 formation and H2 pathways to the surface along the Engadine valley. Ultimately, this well-constrained, regional scale model, will serve as an exploration tool, allowing us to quantitatively evaluate the potential for energy-related exploitation (H2 and/or geothermal).

Natural hydrogen gas (H2) generated through the serpentinization of mantle rocks is a promising source of clean energy. For large-scale serpentinization and natural H2 generation to occur, the mantle rocks need to be brought into a optimal temperature range (the serpentinization window) and into contact with water. Alpine-style rift-inversion orogens, formed during the closure of rift basins, provide excellent environments for serpentinization-related natural H2 generation, while also harbouring extensive volumes of sediments in which natural H2 accumulation could form. In such orogens, erosion is known to have an important impact on exhumation processes and sediment distribution, but to what degree erosion efficiency influences natural H2 resource potential remains poorly understood. We use numerical geodynamic models of rift-inversion to explore and, importantly, quantify the relative roles of erosion and tectonic processes by applying different erosion efficiencies and initial rift phase durations.Our modelling shows that, regardless of erosion efficiency, initial rift duration is a dominant factor during both the extension and inversion phase. Prolonged rifting causes increased mantle exhumation and thus higher natural H2 generation potential. Erosion efficiency exerts only a secondary effect, in that more efficient erosion modestly reduces H2 generation potential by narrowing the serpentinization window. Inversion of advanced rift basins results in asymmetric orogens in which mantle material is incorporated into the overriding wedge, a configuration that is critical for generating high natural H2 generation potential in these systems. Nevertheless, efficient erosion of otherwise symmetric orogens formed after limited rifting allows for a shift to an asymmetric style, with significant mantle exhumation and natural H2 generation potential.However, efficient erosion and associated fast exhumation of relatively hot material in orogens can also decrease the vertical extent of the serpentinization window, reducing natural H2 generation potential. Moreover, rapid erosion can remove the otherwise abundant potential reservoir rocks and seals needed for exploitable natural H2 accumulations to form. Still, these negative effects of erosion on “conventional” natural H2 resources (involving H2 accumulation in reservoir rocks), may be favourable for “unconventional” natural H2 resources. Systems with relatively hot mantle material close to the surface may in fact be suitable for stimulated natural H2 exploitation efforts, involving direct drilling of the mantle source rock itself.Thus, although erosion efficiency is not the dominant factor, it can still have a considerable impact on natural H2 potential in rift-inversion orogens. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the evolution of those orogens targeted for exploration, will be of great importance. This challenge can be aided by numerical geodynamic models such as those presented here, with which we perform a first-order analysis of natural examples from the Pyrenees, Alps, and Betics.

Der Zellkern wird oft als dicht gepackt innerhalb einer weniger dichten Zelle dargestellt. Unsere Messungen liefern nun überraschende Einsichten in die Dichteverteilung innerhalb verschiedener Zellbestandteile.

The release of radionuclides initially encapsulated in a slowly degrading solid waste form and contained in an eventually corroding canister defines the source term for numerical simulations for the assessment of a geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste. While the details of waste degradation, canister corrosion, and dissolution and mobilization of the radionuclides in pore water include complex chemical reaction and transport processes that are coupled to the thermal, hydrological, microbiological, and mechanical conditions in the repository, the source-term model suitable for use in a numerical performance assessment model should be a defensible abstraction of these mechanisms. We developed a radiological source-term model and implemented it into a non-isothermal flow and transport simulator. While the proposed source-term model is applicable to various waste forms, canister systems, and disposal concepts, we specifically considered radionuclide releases from vitrified high-level waste placed in a cylindrical canister disposed in a deep vertical borehole repository. In this model, waste degradation is a function of temperature, and it can be adjusted to evaluate the influence of and propagate uncertainties in pH, passivation reactions, and chemical conditions as well as geometrical factors. The time-dependent, congruent release of safety-relevant radionuclides present in the decaying inventory is then calculated. Finally, the radionuclides are mobilized by diffusive and advective transport according to the thermo-hydraulic conditions prevailing in the near field of the repository, from where they migrate through the geosphere to the accessible environment. We examine the influence of the source-term model’s parameters on performance assessment calculations through sensitivity and uncertainty propagation analyses, identifying influential factors and confirming the upper bound of their impact. These considerations align with the overarching goal of repository design, which is to demonstrate that engineered and natural barriers can collectively delay radionuclide migration for timescales far exceeding human planning, thereby providing multiple, redundant barriers against environmental contamination.

Abstract Background: More attention has been drawn to Nigeria’s solid minerals sector in recent years, in an attempt to divert from over reliance on oil produce to grow its economy. Boki south-south which is a part of the oban massif possess the potential to host economical quantity of lithium due to its geologic and structural settings. Methods: Geophysical survey was employed to map the suspected lithium-rich pegmatic veins in the study area. Aeromagnetic survey was utilised for the survey. the survey was carried out using flight lines spaced at 500 meters, with tie lines at 2- kilometer intervals. An average terrain clearance of 80 meters was maintained to ensure highresolution detection of subsurface features. The flight lines were oriented northwest–southeast (NW–SE), while tie lines followed a northeast–southwest (NE–SW) orientation. Results: A geologically favorable environment for lithium exploration were delineated with high magnetic anomalies, elevated potassium concentrations and presence of numerous intersecting lineaments which all together indicate a structurally complex and potentially mineralized terrain. Conclusions: The northeastern and central parts of the study area exhibits signatures consistent with felsic lithologies, potassic alteration, and possible hydrothermal activity.

Abstract Pathogenic mutations in Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 ( LRRK2 ) are the predominant genetic cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and often increase kinase activity, making LRRK2 inhibitors promising treatment options. Although LRRK2 kinase inhibitors are advancing clinically, non-invasive readouts of LRRK2-linked pathway modulation remain limited. Profiling urinary proteomes from 1,215 individuals across three cohorts and integrating whole-genome sequencing from >500 participants to map genotype–proteome associations, we identified 177 urinary proteins associated with pathogenic LRRK2, enriched for lysosomal/glycosphingolipid, immune, and membrane-trafficking pathways. Machine learning narrowed the features to a cohort-agnostic 30-protein panel that classified G2019S carriers with a mean ROC AUC of 0.91 across independent tests. To evaluate translation, we performed multi-organ and urinary proteomics in rat gain- and loss-of-function models (BAC- LRRK2 G2019S and Lrrk2 KO ) and after Lrrk2 inhibition (MLi-2 and PF-475), revealing tissue-specific responses—strongest in kidney—and cross-species overlap, including 24 brain proteins detectable in human urine. Rat-derived perturbations predicted LRRK2 mutation status in patients (AUC 0.75) and reversed with Lrrk2 inhibition, supporting their pharmacodynamic utility. Together, our findings establish urine as a scalable, non-invasive matrix that captures systemic and brain-relevant consequences of LRRK2 dysfunction and nominate candidate pharmacodynamic markers set to support LRRK2-directed trials.

Summary Purpose Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common surgeries worldwide, with synthetic mesh as the standard of care. With interest in the potential of mesh weight to impact long-term outcomes, we compared short- and long-term safety and effectiveness outcomes of inguinal hernia repair using comparable heavy- and lightweight mesh. Methods A registry-based retrospective observational study of patients undergoing elective open and laparo-/endoscopic inguinal hernia repair with heavy- (3DMax™ Mesh; Davol Inc., subsidiary of C.R. Bard, Inc., BD) and lightweight (3DMax™ Light Mesh Davol Inc., subsidiary of C.R. Bard, Inc., BD) mesh was performed using data collected prospectively from the Herniamed registry. Perioperative, postoperative, and 1‑year clinical outcomes (complications and recurrences) were reported and compared between groups in unadjusted analyses. Results Of the hernia operations performed at more than 800 centers in the registry, 2420 patients with 3DMax™ Mesh and 9033 with 3DMax™ Light Mesh met the inclusion criteria. Most procedures were performed laparoscopically. There were no significant differences between these comparable heavy- and lightweight meshes in terms of interoperative complications, general complications, postoperative complications, or complication-related reoperations in the unadjusted analyses. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between mesh weights in terms of recurrence, trocar hernia, secondary hemorrhage, seroma, and infection at 1‑year follow-up. While heavyweight mesh was associated with significantly higher pain at rest (p = 0.014) and pain upon exertion (p = 0.035) at 1 year versus lightweight mesh, this could not be shown for pain requiring treatment at 1 year. Conclusion Postoperative complications and 1‑year outcomes did not significantly differ between inguinal hernia repair performed with heavy- and lightweight meshes in unadjusted analyses. These outcomes demonstrate the safety and performance of such mesh for inguinal hernia repair regardless of mesh weight, although additional studies with longer follow-up periods and multivariable analyses adjusting for confounders are needed.