Naturally occurring radionuclides can be categorized into two main groups: primordial and cosmogenic, based on their origin. Primordial radionuclides stem from the Earth’s crust, occurring either individually or as part of decay chains. Conversely, cosmogenic radionuclides originate from extraterrestrial sources such as space, the sun, and nuclear reactions involving cosmic radiation and the Earth’s atmosphere. Gamma-ray spectrometry is a widely employed method in Earth sciences for detecting naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Its applications vary from environmental radiation monitoring to mining exploration, with a predominant focus on quantifying the content of uranium (U), thorium (Th), and potassium (K) in rocks and soils. These elements also serve as tracers in non-radioactive processes linked to NORM paragenesis. Furthermore, the heat generated by radioactive decay within rocks plays a pivotal role in deciphering the Earth’s thermal history and interpreting data concerning continental heat flux in geophysical investigations. This paper provides a concise overview of current analytical and measuring techniques, with an emphasis on state-of-the-art mass spectrometric procedures and decay measurements. Earth scientists constantly seek information on the chemical composition of rocks, sediments, minerals, and fluids to comprehend the vast array of geological and geochemical processes. The historical precedence of geochemists in pioneering novel analytical techniques, often preceding their commercial availability, underscores the significance of such advancements. Geochemical analysis has long relied on atomic spectrometric techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS), renowned for its precision in analyzing solid materials, particularly major and trace elements in geological samples. XRFS proves invaluable in determining the major constituents of silicate and other rock types. This review elucidates the historical development and methodology of these techniques while showcasing their common applications in various geoscience research endeavors. Ultimately, this review aims to furnish readers with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts and potential applications of XRF, HPGes, and related technologies in geosciences. Lastly, future research directions and challenges confronting these technologies are briefly discussed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought life changing conditions to families that require coping strategies in order to survive and achieve family well-being. This study aims to analyze differences between single earner and dual earner families during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the factors that influence subjective family well-being. The research design used was a cross sectional study with sample collection through non-probability sampling. Data collection was carried out by filling out questionnaires online. The number of respondents involved in the study was 2084 intact families with children residing in DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Banten Provinces. Reliability and validity tests were conducted. The results of the independent t-test showed that dual-earner families experienced better life changes and a higher level of subjective family well-being than single-earner families and had lower economic pressure and lower economic coping than single earner families. The SEM analysis found that life changes affected economic coping negatively and subjective family well-being positively. Family income influenced economic coping negatively and subjective family well-being positively. Finally, it was found that economic coping had no effect on subjective family well-being.

Afforestation is a main tool for preventing desertification and soil erosion in arid and semiarid regions of Iran. Large-scale afforestation, however, has poorly understood consequences for the future ecosystems in the term of ecosystems protection. The objective of the present study is to identify changes in soil properties following different intervals of planting of Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) in semiarid afforestation of Iran (Chitgar Forest Park, Tehran). For this purpose, sand, silt and clay ratios, bulk density, soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, total soil N, and total carbon was measured. Our study highlighted the potential of the invasive trees by A. altissima, to alter soil properties along chronosequence. Almost all soil quality attributes showed a declining trend with stand age. A continuous decline in soil quality indicated that the present land management may not be sustainable. Therefore, an improved management practice is imperative to sustain soil quality and maintain long-term productivity of plantation forests. Thinning activity will be required to reduce the number of trees competing for the same nutrients especially in a older stand to protect forest soils.

The fresh dried pollen of grape and seedless grape varieties were used as the research material. Each cultivar was stored at room temperature, 5 C, 0 C, -18 C and -40 C respectively. Sucrose 200g / L + boric acid 50mg / L + agar 8g / L as the nutrient substrate, and the comparative study on the germination and culture of the nuclear breed and the seedless cultivar. The results showed that the pollen viability decreased with the increase of storage time at different temperatures. The pollen viability decreased at -18 C and -40 , and the pollen viability decreased at the same temperature The There was a significant difference in pollen viability between different cultivars at the beginning of storage, and the pollen viability of the kernel breed was higher than that of the seedless grape.