Effects of Various Mineral Trioxide Aggregates on Viability and Mineralization Potential of 3-Dimensional Cultured Dental Pulp Stem Cells

Three-dimensionally (3D) cultured dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) reportedly exhibit superior multi-lineage differentiation capacities and have a higher expression in regeneration-related gene categories compared to conventionally cultured DPSCs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various mineral trioxide aggregates (MTAs) on DPSCs cultured in 3D, assessing their cell viability and tissue mineralization properties. We examined the morphology, cell viability, alkaline phosphate (ALP) activity and qualitative alizarin red S staining assay of the DPSCs that reacted with various MTAs, which included ProRoot (PRM), Biodentine (BIO), and Well-Root PT (WRP), in two different culture plates, an ultra-low attachment plate (ULA) and a conventional monolayer plate (2D). As a control, MTA-free and IRM samples were prepared. None of the MTA groups affected the microsphere-forming characteristics of DPSCs that had been cultured in ULA. The DPSCs that were cultured in ULA showed high cell viability in all MTA groups compared to IRM. The mineralization potential was favorable in all MTA groups, with a significantly higher ALP activity among the DPSCs that were cultured in ULA. Among MTAs, the PRM group showed substantially higher ALP activity than the other MTA groups. In conclusion, our results indicate that 3D-cultured DPSCs with various MTAs showed comparable viability and mineralization capacity similar to those cultured without reacting with MTA cement.

Apatite and Zircon Geochemistry in Yao’an Alkali-Rich Porphyry Gold Deposit, Southwest China: Implications for Petrogenesis and Mineralization

The Yao’an gold deposit is located in the middle of the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan alkali-rich metallogenic belt, and this belt hosts many porphyry-type Cu-Au-Mo deposits formed at 46–33 Ma. Yao’an porphyry gold-mineralization is intimately associated with biotite syenite porphyry, whereas the contemporaneous quartz syenite porphyry is barren. In this study, we compared the major and trace elements of apatite and zircon and isotopic compositions of zircon from the biotite syenite porphyry and quartz syenite porphyry, to explore their geochemical differences that may affect their mineralization potential. The results show that both porphyries were derived from the partial melting of the thickened lower crust, which has been modified by slab-derived fluids, but has different mineral crystallization sequences, magma fluid activities, and magma oxidation states, respectively. REE contents in apatite and zircon can be used to reveal the crystallization sequence of minerals. A rapid decrease of (La/Yb)N ratio in apatite from both porphyries may be caused by the crystallization of allanite. Large variation of Cl contents and negative correlation between F/Cl and (La/Yb)N in apatite from fertile porphyry indicate that it has experienced the exsolution of Cl-bearing hydrothermal fluid. Higher Y/Ho and lower Zr/Hf in zircon from fertile porphyry indicate a stronger fluid activity than barren porphyry. The high S, V, As contents, δEu, low δCe in apatite, as well as high Ce4+/Ce3+ and log(fO2) estimated from zircon geochemistry from fertile porphyry, indicate high a oxidation state of fertile porphyry, similar to other fertile porphyries in this metallogenic belt. High fluid activity and fluid exsolution are conducive to the migration and enrichment of metal elements, which are very important for mineralization. High oxygen fugacity inhibits the precipitation of metal in the form of sulfide, thereby enhancing the mineralization potential of rock. Therefore, the exsolution of Cl-bearing hydrothermal fluid and high oxygen fugacity are the key factors promoting mineralization in Yao’an area.

Mineralization of Farm Manures and Slurries for Successive Release of Carbon and Nitrogen in Incubated Soils Varying in Moisture Status under Controlled Laboratory Conditions

Having up-to-date knowledge on the mineralization of organic materials and release of nutrients is of paramount significance to ensure crops’ nutrient demands, increase nutrient use efficiency and ensure the right fertilizer application at the right time. This study seeks to evaluate the mineralization patterns of various manures viz. cowdung (CD), cowdung slurry (CDSL), trichocompost (TC), vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM), poultry manure slurry (PMSL), and mungbean residues (MR). The objective being to establish their efficiency in releasing nutrients under aerobic (field capacity) and anaerobic (waterlogging) conditions. The incubation experiment was designed using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) that took into account three variables: Manures, soil moisture, and incubation period. The mineralization of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) ranged from 11.2 to 100.1% higher under aerobic conditions rather than anaerobic ones. The first-order kinetic model was used to mineralize both elements. C mineralization was 45.8 to 498.1% higher in an amount from MR under both moisture conditions. For N release, MR and PM exerted maximum amounts in anaerobic and aerobic scenarios, respectively. However, the rate of C and N mineralization was faster in TC compared to other manures in both moisture conditions. Although TC was 1.4 to 37.7% more efficient in terms of rapidity of mineralization, MR and PM performed better concerning the quantity of nutrient release and soil fertility improvement. PM had 22–24% higher N mineralization potential than PMSL while CDSL had 46–56% higher N mineralization potential than CD. C and N mineralization in soil was greater under aerobic conditions compared to what occurred in the anaerobic context. Depending on mineralization potential, the proper type and amount of manure should be added to soil to increase crops’ nutrient use efficiency, which in turn should lead to better crop production.

Paleozoic Magmatism and Mineralization Potential of the Sanchakou Copper Deposit, Eastern Tianshan, Northwest China: Insights from Geochronology, Mineral Chemistry, and Isotopes

The Sanchakou Cu deposit is located in the eastern section of the Dananhu magmatic arc in the Eastern Tianshan orogenic belt, northwest China. Sanchakou is hosted by quartz diorite and granodiorite intrusions. Chalcopyrite and bornite are the dominant ore minerals and occur as disseminations, patches, veins, and veinlets. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) U-Pb dating of zircons shows that the ore-bearing intrusions were emplaced at ca. 435–432 Ma, recording the early subduction of the Paleo-Tianshan oceanic plate. The enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs), depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs), and moderate Mg# values, together with mantle-like bulk Sr-Nd and zircon Hf-O isotope signatures (δ18O = 4.0–5.3‰), suggest that they were generated from partial melting of metasomatized mantle materials by subducted slab fluids. In situ S and whole-rock Pb isotope results imply that the Sanchakou diorite magmas provided ore-forming components (S and metals), with additional minor metals (e.g., Cu and Pb) sourced from crustal components beneath the Dananhu arc. The redox state of diorite magmas ranges from initial high fO2 (>FMQ + 2, where FMQ is the fayalite-magnetite-quartz buffer) to relatively low fO2 (<FMQ + 2) upon magma ascent and cooling. The late-stage less oxidized magma compositions are consistent with the presence of magmatic sulfides in primary plagioclase and magnetite. Estimates of water-sulfur-chlorine contents in magma using plagioclase, amphibole, and apatite compositions reveal that the diorite magmas had high water (>7 wt %), normal S (8–393 ppm), and systematically low Cl (38–1,100 ppm) contents. A constant and favorable elevated magma oxidation state appears critical for generating an economic porphyry Cu deposit. Additionally, Cl melt concentrations may be a key factor that controlled metal fertility of the deposits in the Eastern Tianshan, although the mineralization potential may also relate to depth of emplacement of the hydrothermal system. The anomalous presence of stellerite with chalcopyrite in late-stage veins indicates that original porphyry-style mineralization at Sanchakou underwent deformation-related modification after its formation.