A compilation and characterisation of lithics in kimberlite and common maar-diatremes and tephra ring deposits

Maar-diatreme volcanoes are the second-most common type on land, occurring in volcanic fields within all major tectonic environments. Their deposits typically contain an abundance of lithic fragments quarried from the substrate, and many contain large, deep-sourced lithic fragments that were erupted to the surface. Primary volcaniclastic deposits fill the diatreme structure formed during eruption. There is negligible inelastic deformation of diatreme-adjacent country rock, indicating that country rock is removed to create the diatreme structures, either by being shifting downward below observable levels, ejected upward to contribute to surficial deposits, or dissolved and hidden in magma erupted or intruded at depth. No previous study has systematically reviewed and analysed the reported lithic fragments of maar-diatreme systems. We present a comprehensive compilation from published work of lithic characteristics in maar ejecta rings and in diatreme deposits of both common and kimberlite maar-diatremes. For maar-diatremes and their tephra ring deposits, we find no correlations among lithic clast sizes, shapes, depositional sites, and excavation depths. This is difficult to reconcile with models involving systematic diatreme deepening coupled with tephra-ring growth, but consistent with those involving chaotic explosions and mixing. Larger amounts of data are needed to further examine how these types of volcanoes operate.

Genomic epidemiology reveals how restriction measures shaped the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Brazil

Brazil has experienced some of the highest numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths globally and made Latin America a pandemic epicenter from May 2021. Although SARS-CoV-2 established sustained transmission in Brazil early in the pandemic, important gaps remain in our understanding of local virus transmission dynamics. Here, we describe the genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 using near-full genomes sampled from 27 Brazilian states and an adjacent country - Paraguay. We show that the early stage of the pandemic in Brazil was characterised by the co-circulation of multiple viral lineages, linked to multiple importations predominantly from Europe, and subsequently characterized by large local transmission clusters. As the epidemic progressed, the absence of effective restriction measures led to the local emergence and international spread of Variants of Concern (VOC) and under monitoring (VUM), including the Gamma (P.1) and Zeta (P.2) variants. In addition, we provide a preliminary genomic overview of the epidemic in Paraguay, showing evidence of importation from Brazil. These data reinforce the need for the implementation of widespread genomic surveillance in South America as a toolkit for pandemic monitoring and providing a means to follow the real-time spread of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants with possible implications for public health and immunization strategies.

A Compilation and Characterisation of Lithic Populations in Common and Kimberlite Maar-Diatremes and their Tephra Ring Deposits

Maar-diatreme volcanoes are the second-most common type on land, occurring in volcanic fields within all major tectonic environments. Their deposits typically contain an abundance of lithic fragments quarried from the substrate, and many contain large, deep-sourced lithic fragments that were erupted to the surface. Primary volcaniclastic deposits fill the diatreme structure formed during eruption. There is negligible inelastic deformation of diatreme-adjacent country rock, indicating that country rock is removed to create the diatreme structures, either by being shifting downward below observable levels, ejected upward to contribute to surficial deposits, or dissolved and hidden in magma erupted or intruded at depth. No previous study has systematically reviewed and analysed the reported lithic fragments of maar-diatreme systems. We present a comprehensive compilation from published work of lithic characteristics in maar ejecta rims and in diatreme deposits of both common and kimberlite maar-diatremes. For maar-diatremes and their tephra ring deposits, we find no correlations among lithic clast sizes, shapes, depositional sites, and excavation depths. This is difficult to reconcile with models involving systematic diatreme deepening coupled with tephra-ring growth, but consistent with those involving chaotic explosions and mixing. Larger amounts of data are needed to further examine how these types of volcanoes operate.

rbcL AND ITS BARCODING AND PHYLOGENETICS OF CYCAS PSCHANNAE Srivast & Singh

Barcoding of Cycas pschannae Srivast. & Singh from Andaman & Nicobar Islands was done with the help of rbcL and ITS(Standard Universal Barcode Sequence- CBoL) and submitted to GenBank. Phylogenetic relationship of this species was analyzed and Cladistic study of nine Cycas species from India and adjacent country including Cycas revoluta thunb had been conducted with help of BLAST tool by using rbcL barcode sequence, which reveals that Cycas pschannae has close relation with Cycas circinalis as compared to other Indian species.

Operating Features of the Extraordinary Diplomatic Mission of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in Romania in 1920

The article covers the activities of the Extraordinary Diplomatic Mission of the UPR in Bucharest. The year of 1920 marked a special period in the relations of the UPR of the Directorate times with the neighboring Kingdom of Romania, given a specific geopolitical situation and the conditions of almost complete isolation of Ukraine caused by the relentless advance of the Bolshevist army from the north and east as well as an offensive of the White Guard troops of A. Denikin and P. Wrangel from the south. Under such circumstances, the UPR considered Romania as its most important military, political, and economic partner. In turn, the erstwhile Romanian leadership was deeply interested in the existence of an independent Ukraine, primarily as a political and military buffer zone between Romania and the aggressive Soviet Russia. The article mentions the main areas of activity of the Extraordinary Diplomatic Mission in Bucharest: representing and protecting political, economic, and military interests of the UPR, encouraging trade relations, providing assistance to civilians and military emigrants from Ukraine who found themselves in the territory of the neighbouring country against their will as well as activities aimed at overcoming information vacuum around the UPR. The activities of the UPR Extraordinary Diplomatic Mission in Bucharest in 1920 contributed to the expansion of the Ukrainian idea abroad, promotion of knowledge about Ukraine and its struggle for independence, whilst drawing the attention of the international community to the acute problems Ukraine was facing at that time. The UPR Extraordinary Diplomatic Mission in Bucharest was also entrusted with a special task of providing the Ukrainian government with a full-fledged connection with Europe, especially with the En-tente countries. The article also is a pioneering research of the aspect of activities of the Extraordinary Diplomatic Mission in Bucharest associated with providing working conditions in the city for I. Mazepa, Head of the Council of People’s Commissars of the UPR, in March 2020, who was forced to flee Ukraine because of unconducive military circumstances and seek asylum in the adjacent country. Keywords: Extraordinary Diplomatic Mission, Ukrainian People’s Republic of the Directorate times, Kingdom of Romania, Isaak Mazepa, Kostiantyn Matsievych.