bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly Multiplexed, Efficient, and Automated Single‐Cell MicroRNA Sequencing with Digital Microfluidics.
Authors: Chen Yingwen , Wang Xuanqun , Na Xing , Zhang Yingkun , Li Zan , Chen Xiaohui , Cai Linfeng , Song Jia , Xu Ren , Yang Chaoyong
Published: November 2023

Single‐cell microRNA (miRNA) sequencing has allowed for comprehensively studying the abundance and complex networks of miRNAs, which provides insights beyond single‐cell heterogeneity into the dynamic regulation of cellular events. Current benchtop‐based technologies for single‐cell miRNA sequencing are low throughput, limited reaction efficiency, tedious manual operations, and high reagent costs. Here, a highly multiplexed, efficient, integrated, and automated sample preparation platform is introduced for single‐cell miRNA sequencing based on digital microfluidics (DMF), named Hiper‐seq. The platform integrates major steps and automates the iterative operations of miRNA sequencing library construction by digital control of addressable droplets on the DMF chip. Based on the design of hydrophilic micro‐structures and the capability of handling droplets of DMF, multiple single cells can be selectively isolated and subject to sample processing in a highly parallel way, thus increasing the throughput and efficiency for single‐cell miRNA measurement. The nanoliter reaction volume of this platform enables a much higher miRNA detection ability and lower reagent cost compared to benchtop methods. It is further applied Hiper‐seq to explore miRNAs involved in the ossification of mouse skeletal stem cells after bone fracture and discovered unreported miRNAs that regulate bone repairing.
Effect of Starch Nanoparticles and Tea Polyphenol Inclusion on Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Starch‐Based Films
Authors: Yang Qiang , Zhao Yidi , Hu Xiaopei , Bao Qiqi , Zhao Qiyue , Zhang Fenshu , Guo Kai , Li Suhong , Li Tuoping
Published: November 2023

Starch nanoparticles (SNPs) and tea polyphenols (TPs) are combined with potato starch (PS) to prepare food packaging film with improved quality. The developed film and its components are characterized using various methods and techniques. The results show that the tensile strength of the obtained film increases from 5.72 ± 0.11 to 9.57 ± 0.18 MPa after the incorporation of SNPs at a concentration of 5%. Also, tensile strength and elongation at break of PS‐based film are improved significantly with addition of TP (5%). However, the mechanical properties of PS‐based film are weakened with addition of SNPs (≥5%). To increase the TP content of the film, PS and TP are combined separately at different ratios and the complex is incorporated into the film formulation. Combining PS and TP at a ratio of 1:6 is found to be optimal, and the prepared films show maximum tensile strength. The PS and TP form a complex non‐inclusive combination without chemical bonds. Additionally, PS‐TP complex has a typical B‐type crystalline structure, and TP is absorbed on the surface of PS particles. The obtained results indicate that the incorporation of SNPs and TP at a certain concentration significantly improves the mechanical properties of starch‐based films.
Glutathione carbon dots as an intracellular reactive oxygen species scavenger for reducing cisplatin‐induced ototoxicity
Authors: Tu Yaqin , Fan Guorun , Wu Nan , Liu Bo , Sun Haiying , Wang Qiong , Zou Wenqing , Xiao Hongjun , Tan Songwei
Published: November 2023

It is widely recognized that platinum‐based chemotherapy, particularly cisplatin therapy, can cause ototoxicity. At present, there are no Food and Drug Administration‐approved drugs to prevent or alleviate ototoxicity. Ototoxicity is generally believed to be caused by excessive reactive oxygen species production in the inner ear. Accordingly, a variety of antioxidants have been developed to protect against ototoxicity. To improve the efficiency of drug delivery to the cochlea, here, we synthesized simple and easy‐to‐obtain glutathione carbon dots (GSH CDs) with ultra‐small dimensions. The experimental results revealed that the GSH CDs have strong free‐radical scavenging activity and can restore mitochondrial function, maintain hair cell stability, and protect hair cells from cisplatin‐induced oxidative stress. Thus, GSH CDs may serve as a new therapeutic agent for preventing cisplatin‐induced ototoxicity.
Linking horizontal crosshole GPR variability with root image information for maize crops
Authors: Lärm Lena , Bauer Felix Maximilian , van der Kruk Jan , Vanderborght Jan , Morandage Shehan , Vereecken Harry , Schnepf Andrea , Klotzsche Anja
Published: November 2023

Non‐invasive imaging of processes within the soil–plant continuum, particularly root and soil water distributions, can help optimize agricultural practices such as irrigation and fertilization. In this study, in‐situ time‐lapse horizontal crosshole ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements and root images were collected over three maize crop growing seasons at two minirhizotron facilities (Selhausen, Germany). Root development and GPR permittivity were monitored at six depths (0.1–1.2 m) for different treatments within two soil types. We processed these data in a new way that gave us the information of the “trend‐corrected spatial permittivity deviation of vegetated field,” allowing us to investigate whether the presence of roots increases the variability of GPR permittivity in the soil. This removed the main non‐root‐related influencing factors: static influences, such as soil heterogeneities and rhizotube deviations, and dynamic effects, such as seasonal moisture changes. This trend‐corrected spatial permittivity deviation showed a clear increase during the growing season, which could be linked with a similar increase in root volume fraction. Additionally, the corresponding probability density functions of the permittivity variability were derived and cross‐correlated with the root volume fraction, resulting in a coefficient of determination (R2) above 0.5 for 23 out of 46 correlation pairs. Although both facilities had different soil types and compaction levels, they had similar numbers of good correlations. A possible explanation for the observed correlation is that the presence of roots causes a redistribution of soil water, and therefore an increase in soil water variability.
Science Education: From an Ideology of Greed to an Ideology of Thriving
Authors: Love Kurt
Published: November 2023

Life in the Anthropocene is heavily impacted by a small group of humans who, despite falling into a statistical anomaly, have an inordinate amount of influence and systematic control. Science and technology are often bent in the direction of those human interests with inordinate influence in the Anthropocene, resulting in global crisis. Science education tends to be controlled by a mainstream message that ideologically promotes the same value system via anthropocentric and techno-dominant thinking because it is driven by corporate interests and reinforced by educational leaders with similar mindsets. Today’s science education is an effort to make students into workers, which ultimately means that they are servants to corporate profit and limited in their abilities to be stewards of nature. Science education’s discursive “connective tissue” is in service to corporate competition and profit (an ideology of greed). However, science education can be reoriented around an ideology of thriving, where well-being, sociocultural solidarity, ecological restoration, and societal regeneration are intended outcomes. This chapter explores the internalized greed that drives science education at the level of higher education and counternarratives that aim to redesign science education toward a balanced, thriving planet where humans are a more responsible, sustainability-based species.
Management and outcomes of acute appendicitis in children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Miscia Maria Enrica , Lauriti Giuseppe , Di Renzo Dacia , Cascini Valentina , Lisi Gabriele
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way to manage the emergencies, as people faced fear of the hospitals, with possible delay in the diagnosis. Moreover, clinicians had to rearrange protocols for diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to assess whether COVID-19 pandemic influenced severity of inflammation, management, and outcomes of acute appendicitis (AA), when compared to the pre-COVID era. Using defined search strategy, two independent investigators identified those studies comparing pediatric AA during COVID-19 pandemic versus the pre-COVID-19 period. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Data are mean ± SD. Of 528 abstracts, 36 comparative studies were included (32,704pts). Time from symptoms onset to surgery was longer during the pandemics compared to the pre-COVID-19 (1.6 ± 0.9 versus 1.4 ± 0.9 days; p < 0.00001). Minimally Invasive Surgery was similar during COVID-19 (70.4 ± 30.2%) versus control period (69.6 ± 25.3%; p = ns). Complicated appendicitis was increased during the pandemics (35.9 ± 14.8%) compared to control period (33.4 ± 17.2%; p < 0.0001). Post-operative complications were comparable between these two groups (7.7 ± 6.5% versus 9.1 ± 5.3%; p = ns). It seems that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the time of diagnosis, severity of inflammation, and type of surgery. However, the number of post-operative complications was not different between the two groups, leading to the conclusion that the patients were correctly managed.

Level of Evidence

Level 3 Meta-analysis on Level 3 studies
Multilevel modeling for investigating the probability of digital innovation in museums
Authors: Maggio Sabrina , De Iaco Sandra , Cappello Claudia
Published: November 2023

Museums represent a fundamental asset for the Italian cultural and social background, and the use of digital technologies can be considered as a keystone for their attractiveness. Thus, assessing the specific determinants which stimulate to invest in new digital solutions and to provide a competitive museum offer is of crucial interest. For this reason, a performing multilevel approach for modeling the probability of including digital innovations in museums will be discussed and different modeling options will be compared. In particular, the implementation of a multilevel binary logit model will be useful to detect the factors of adopting at least basic digital tools. Then, the development of an innovative and flexible multilevel multinomial ordered model will be suitable to further investigate on the probability for the museums to move towards medium/low or high levels of digitalization, on the basis of an increasing sorting criterion. This will be realized by considering the variation of such probability both at regional and provincial levels for some key specific museums features, as well as by including some regional/provincial contextual factors.
Totally Administered Heteronomy: Adorno on Work, Leisure, and Politics in the Age of Digital Capitalism
Authors: Reeves Craig , Sinnicks Matthew
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to demonstrate the contemporary relevance of Adorno’s thought for business ethicists working in the critical tradition by showing how his critique of modern social life anticipated, and offers continuing illumination of, recent technological transformations of capitalism. It develops and extrapolates Adorno’s thought regarding three central spheres of modern society, which have seen radical changes in light of recent technological developments: work, in which employee monitoring has become ever more sophisticated and intrusive; leisure consumption, in which the algorithmic developments of the culture industry have paved the way for entertainment products to dominate us; and political discourse, in which social media has exacerbated the anti-democratic tendencies Adorno warned of in the mid-twentieth century. We conclude by presenting, as a rejoinder to these developments, the contours of an Adornian ethics of resistance to the reification and dehumanisation of such developments.
Physicochemical properties of mountain streams in the High and Western Tatras
Authors: Solár Jaroslav , Tomaškovič Jakub
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study was to measure the physicochemical properties of 28 mountain streams in Tatra National Park, Slovakia. Sampling sites (119) were selected based on a previous study conducted in 2010. Physical properties (e.g., temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, pH, and dissolved oxygen) and chemical components (e.g., nitrogen oxides, ammonia oxides, chloride compounds, and chemical oxygen demand) of the water were determined. Environmental parameters of streams (elevation, slope, aspect, width, depth, flow accumulation, watershed size, bedrock, and presence of mountain lakes) at sampling sites were examined. While comparing results from both periods (2010 and 2017), we found a correlation in data trends, concluding that elevation plays a significant role in almost all investigated parameters. Downstream, streams were more saturated by dissolved solids, CaCO3, and nitrates, increasing the pH level. Despite this well-known trend, we observed significant higher levels of ammonias and chlorides in the alpine zone, especially at sites where higher water temperature and lower values of dissolved oxygen were observed. This occurred in the Eastern Tatras, below mountain lakes, and where watersheds had granite origins. There are indications that denitrification processes were significantly stronger in 2017, but, on the other hand, increased chlorides resulted in stronger inhibition of nitrification processes in alpine zones at sites below mountain lakes.
Dominant Smart Contracts Based on Major Bargaining Solutions
Authors: Mohammadhosseini Fadafan Elmira , Vetschera Rudolf
Published: November 2023

We consider a situation in which two parties have concluded an efficient contract corresponding to one major bargaining solution. After the parties have agreed on one particular contract, an unanticipated shock may change the contract outcomes in a way that benefits one party but harms the other party. If this happens, they have the option to either stay with the original exchange contract or adjust some contract parameters such as the price. We propose a model to perform such adjustments automatically, to obtain the same bargaining solution as in the initial contract under the restriction that the new contract dominates the outcomes of the original contract. We study several bargaining solutions within this general framework. These bargaining solutions offer various sharing rules to distribute the benefit between the parties. To reflect practical considerations, we only consider adjustments made via one contract parameter (the price), while all other parameters result from the original contract and the random shock. To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed approach, we also compare it to a full re-negotiation scenario, in which all parameters can be modified within the boundaries resulting after the random shock. However, waiting and re-negotiation might be costly compared to the situation when the smart contract executes the adjustment automatically. Therefore, the automatic adjustment might be more efficient compared to the other types of contracts. We present several numerical examples and run large random simulations, which we also check statistically.
Deep reinforcement learning for multi-class imbalanced training: applications in healthcare
Authors: Yang Jenny , El-Bouri Rasheed , O’Donoghue Odhran , Lachapelle Alexander S. , Soltan Andrew A. S. , Eyre David W. , Lu Lei , Clifton David A.
Published: November 2023

With the rapid growth of memory and computing power, datasets are becoming increasingly complex and imbalanced. This is especially severe in the context of clinical data, where there may be one rare event for many cases in the majority class. We introduce an imbalanced classification framework, based on reinforcement learning, for training extremely imbalanced data sets, and extend it for use in multi-class settings. We combine dueling and double deep Q-learning architectures, and formulate a custom reward function and episode-training procedure, specifically with the capability of handling multi-class imbalanced training. Using real-world clinical case studies, we demonstrate that our proposed framework outperforms current state-of-the-art imbalanced learning methods, achieving more fair and balanced classification, while also significantly improving the prediction of minority classes.
Asymmetric electrochemical synthesis in flow
Authors: Mazzarella Daniele
Published: November 2023

We are currently experiencing a resurgence in the realm of electrochemical organic synthesis, driven by the transformative potential of conducting redox chemistry under mild conditions through the simple use of electrons, thereby circumventing the use of harmful reductants and oxidants. This renaissance is further bolstered by the fusion of electrochemistry with flow chemistry, which not only grants precise control over reaction parameters but also promotes sustainability and heightened reproducibility. Despite these promising advancements, the application of flow electrochemistry to steer asymmetric processes remains in its nascent stage. This perspective delves into the limited contributions to date, shedding light on critical challenges and presenting prospective solutions that are essential for fully unleashing the untapped potential of this field.

Graphical abstract
Smart control of traffic lights based on traffic density in the multi-intersection network by using Q learning
Authors: Mortazavi Azad Seyedeh M. , Ramazani A.
Published: November 2023

In urban areas, utilizing traffic lights to prioritize vehicles at the intersection is a solution to control traffic. Among the smart traffic light methods, the methods based on machine learning are particularly important due to their simplicity and performance. In this paper, Q-learning with deep neural network are combined and used in two different intersection models. The first one is an individual intersection, and the second one is two intersections that are connected and shared their actions. By using this method, the traffic light can make an intelligent decision at the intersection to reduce vehicle consumption time by managing the allocation of phases. The proposed smart traffic light is studied and simulated via SUMO. The results illustrated that compared to fixed-time traffic lights, the average queue time of each vehicle in different traffic scenarios has been reduced by 34% in the individual intersection. In the case of two intersections, awareness and communication between agents led to a 24% reduction in the queue time of all cars in the heavy traffic scenario.
Multimodality and Translanguaging in Video Interactions
Authors: Sindoni Maria Grazia
Published: November 2023

This Element presents and critically discusses video-mediated communication by combining theories and empirical methods of multimodal studies and translanguaging. Since Covid-19 gained momentum, video-based interactions have become more and more ingrained in private and public lives and to the point of being fully incorporated in a wide range of community practices in personal, work and educational environments. The meaning making of video communication results from the complex, situationally based and culturally influenced and interlaced components of different semiotic resources and practices. These include the use of speech, writing, translingual practices, gaze behaviour, proxemics and kinesics patterns, as well as forms of embodied interaction. The Element aims at unpacking these resources and at interpreting how they make meanings to improve and encourage active and responsible participation in the current digital scenarios.
Exit, voice, and loyalty in the platform economy of Bologna city
Authors: Frapporti Mattia , Pirone Maurilio
Published: November 2023

In the article, we will explore the impact of platform labour on urban spaces and the new frontiers of unionism by leveraging a ground analysis and theoretical elaborations from the PLUS project. PLUS was designed to analyse the impact of four platforms (Uber, Airbnb, Helpling, and Deliveroo) in seven European cities (Barcelona, Berlin, Bologna, Lisbon, Paris, London, and Tallinn). In doing so, PLUS supported its sociological investigations with theoretical and historical elaborations concerning the operation of contemporary platforms and the characteristics of the new form of unionism. We will present some results from PLUS, with a focus on the Bologna case, where platform workers express their dissatisfaction with their organizations, attempting to relate their strategies to certain structural aspects of business territorialization within urban spaces. We will draw upon the well-known distinction proposed by Albert Hirschman between exit, voice, and loyalty and adapt it to frame the various strategies that platform workers may adopt.
Human favoritism, not AI aversion: People’s perceptions (and bias) toward generative AI, human experts, and human–GAI collaboration in persuasive content generation
Authors: Zhang Yunhao , Gosline Renée
Published: November 2023

With the wide availability of large language models and generative AI, there are four primary paradigms for human–AI collaboration: human-only, AI-only (ChatGPT-4), augmented human (where a human makes the final decision with AI output as a reference), or augmented AI (where the AI makes the final decision with human output as a reference). In partnership with one of the world’s leading consulting firms, we enlisted professional content creators and ChatGPT-4 to create advertising content for products and persuasive content for campaigns following the aforementioned paradigms. First, we find that, contrary to the expectations of some of the existing algorithm aversion literature on conventional predictive AI, the content generated by generative AI and augmented AI is perceived as of higher quality than that produced by human experts and augmented human experts. Second, revealing the source of content production reduces—but does not reverse—the perceived quality gap between human- and AI-generated content. This bias in evaluation is predominantly driven by human favoritism rather than AI aversion: Knowing that the same content is created by a human expert increases its (reported) perceived quality, but knowing that AI is involved in the creation process does not affect its perceived quality. Further analysis suggests this bias is not due to a ‘quality prime’ as knowing the content they are about to evaluate comes from competent creators (e.g., industry professionals and state-of-the-art AI) without knowing exactly that the creator of each piece of content does not increase participants’ perceived quality.
Association between seaweed intake and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kim Chaehyun , Park Kyong
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to identify the longitudinal association between seaweed and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Korean population. Data from 148 404 Korean adults aged 40 years and older without a history of T2DM, cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline were obtained from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study data. The participants’ seaweed intake was obtained using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and the diagnosis of T2DM was surveyed through a self-reported questionnaire during follow-up. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for T2DM were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard regression, and the dose–response relationship was analysed using a restricted cubic spline regression. Participants had a mean follow-up period of 5 years. Participants with the highest seaweed intake had a 7 % lower risk of T2DM compared with the group with the lowest intake (95 % CI (0·87, 0·99)). Interestingly, this association was stronger in those with normal weight (HR: 0·88, 95 % CI (0·81, 0·95)), while no association was observed in participants with obesity. Spline regression revealed an inverse linear relationship between seaweed intake and T2DM risk in participants with normal weight, showing a trend where increased seaweed intake is related to lower instances of T2DM (Pfor nonlinearity = 0·48). Seaweed intake is inversely associated with the onset of T2DM in Korean adults with normal weight.
REPRODUCING INEQUALITY? ELITE-BIASED POLICY AND THE RURAL–URBAN EDUCATIONAL GAP IN COLOMBIA AND ITS REGIONS, 1920-2019
Authors: España-Eljaiek Irina , Mejía Daniela , Melendez Nohemí Samara Gaviria
Published: November 2023

In Latin America, Colombia stands out for its more significant and persistent rural–urban educational performance gaps. This paper studies the evolution of this under-performance of Colombian rural areas by conducting a long-term descriptive analysis of a new dataset. The results suggest that the role of the national government is a source of these educational inequalities because rural education was introduced late and deficiently. That is, the national government delayed the provision of education to rural areas. Moreover, even when implemented, these rural educational initiatives proved deficient due to their lack of funds, lower quality, curricula detached from the rural context and a design that amplified regional disparities, thus producing and maintaining significant and persistent rural–urban gaps in education.
Materials and techniques used for Portrait of Yi Bok Shin oiled paper sketches: scientific analysis and practical application
Authors: Chung Doo Hee
Published: November 2023

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), many silk portraits were made of kings and other public officials. Most of these are now lost. Silk canvases are partially transparent, which allows pigments on both sides of the canvas to be seen. Before working with a silk canvas, artists would create several drafts of their portraits on paper, which was made translucent through the application of oil. In this research, a set of three paper drafts for a portrait from the eighteenth century was analysed via X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic data and microscopic imagery to identify the type of paper and pigments used. Using this analysis, along with surviving historic records, comparisons to other historic portraits, and an artistic analysis of the line and colouring techniques, new insights into the process of making these portraits are presented. Novel features of the three sketches are identified. Furthermore, the step-by-step process used to create these sketches is discussed and illustrated using a reproduction that employs traditional techniques and materials.
Uyghur–Chinese early successive bilingual children's acquisition of voluntary motion expressions
Authors: Tusun Alimujiang
Published: November 2023

This study explores the implications of Talmy's (2000) motion event typology and its subsequent articulations in relation to Slobin's (1996, 2006) thinking-for-speaking hypothesis for the early successive bilingual acquisition of Uyghur (verb-framed) and Mandarin Chinese (equipollently-framed). Specifically, it examines how 4-, 6-, 8- and 10-year-old bilingual children acquire motion expressions in their L1 and L2 respectively, and how cross-linguistic influence shapes their L2 acquisition process. Results show that, in their L1 Uyghur, bilinguals follow general developmental trajectories observed for children acquiring verb-framed languages. While sensitive to the equipollent Chinese system from early on, due to L1 and other factors, bilinguals fully converge on the Chinese pattern only at age 10, a feat in place in monolinguals from age 3. Our findings highlight that bilingual children do eventually come to develop language-specific thinking-for-speaking patterns in their L2, but they traverse a distinct developmental path.
Error propagation and attribution in simulation-based capital models
Authors: Crispin Daniel J.
Published: November 2023

Calculation of loss scenarios is a fundamental requirement of simulation-based capital models and these are commonly approximated. Within a life insurance setting, a loss scenario may involve an asset-liability optimization. When cashflows and asset values are dependent on only a small number of risk factor components, low-dimensional approximations may be used as inputs into the optimization and resulting in loss approximation. By considering these loss approximations as perturbations of linear optimization problems, approximation errors in loss scenarios can be bounded to first order and attributed to specific proxies. This attribution creates a mechanism for approximation improvements and for the eventual elimination of approximation errors in capital estimates through targeted exact computation. The results are demonstrated through a stylized worked example and corresponding numerical study. Advances in error analysis of proxy models enhance confidence in capital estimates. Beyond error analysis, the presented methods can be applied to general sensitivity analysis and the calculation of risk.
The Electoral Dynamics of Capital Punishment Commutations
Authors: Gerez Julian E. , Miller Michael G.
Published: November 2023

We explore electoral explanations for U.S. governors’ willingness to commute death sentences in their state. Across descriptive tests and pre-registered regression specifications, we find little evidence that election timing or term limits affect either the probability of commuting death sentences or the proportion of such sentences governors might commute. However, we do find evidence that governors are more likely to commute sentences – and commute sentences for a higher proportion of defendants – during the “lame duck” period after their successor’s election but before their inauguration.
Martian Crustal Model From a Joint Inversion of Receiver Functions and Apparent Shear Wave Velocity
Authors: Dai Mingwei , Sun Daoyuan
Published: November 2023

Receiver function (RF) based studies have revealed the layered Martian crustal structure beneath the InSight, which provides key information about the composition, rock alteration, deep magma process, and thermal history of Mars. However, limited by the frequency and trade‐offs between the thickness and velocity, inverting RFs alone is difficult to provide an accurate image of the upper crust. Here, by achieving stable measurements of the apparent shear wave velocities (Vs,app) at different frequencies for high‐quality marsquakes, we perform a joint inversion with the RFs. Our crustal models differ from previous models by having an extra shallow structure in the upper crust, either a layer with a sharp velocity jump interface at 4.0 ± 0.9 km depth or a gradient structure with shear wave velocity increasing gradually from 1.1 ± 0.1 km/s near the surface to 1.7 ± 0.3 km/s at a depth of 6.0 ± 2.4 km, which well fits both RFs and Vs,app's. Such an upper crustal velocity model is consistent with the depth‐decaying of porosity due to self‐compaction and indicates a highly porous upper crust with a surface porosity larger than 30%. Besides, a much higher porosity decay constant than that scaled from the Moon is derived, suggesting different mechanical properties of the lunar and Martian crust.
Deep Learning for Seasonal Prediction of Summer Precipitation Levels in Eastern China
Authors: Lu Peirong , Deng Qimin , Zhao Shuyun , Wang Yongguang , Wang Wuke
Published: November 2023

Skilled seasonal forecasting will effectively reduce the economic losses caused by droughts and floods. Because of the powerful data mining capability of deep learning networks, it is increasingly applied in studies of seasonal rainfall prediction. However, there remain two prominent issues in the modeling process: the lack of enough training samples and the effect of a small number of extreme values on the model optimization. To tackle these deficiencies, we combine strategies such as principal component analysis, reduction of model hidden layers, and early‐stopping with Attention U‐Net to construct a rainfall classification forecasting model. These steps reduced the model outfitting and improved the model generalization. The results show that the prediction accuracy of this network with leads of 1–3 months is obviously better than that of the numerical model. Further analysis also supports that the spatial features of precipitation predicted by the network are very close to the observations.
Amplified Interhemispheric Rainfall Contrast in Boreal Summer Due To Reduction in Anthropogenic Emissions Under COVID‐MIP Green Economic‐Recovery Scenarios
Authors: Yu Xiaochao , Zhang Hua , Xie Bing , Forster Piers M.
Published: November 2023

Our study looks at the precipitation responses to two possible future emission‐mitigation pathways, pushed by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic (COVID‐19) and achieving carbon neutrality in the mid‐21st century. We find that a simultaneous‐reduction in well‐mixed greenhouse gases (WMGHGs) and anthropogenic aerosol emissions results in an enhanced interhemispheric precipitation contrast in the 2040s by amplifying the interhemispheric thermal contrast and strengthening the meridional overturning circulation in the tropics. Reduced aerosol emissions induce generally‐increased precipitation in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and an amplified intertropical rainfall contrast, while reduced WMGHG emissions dominate decrease in precipitation in the areas away from aerosol emission sources. Further, the above precipitation contrast will be enhanced under stronger emission‐mitigation pathways, mainly attributed to larger precipitation increases in the NH caused by reduced aerosols. More aggressive WMGHGs mitigation policies are necessary to counteract the aerosol‐induced warming in the NH, thereby mitigating the risk of regional drying or wetting due to the asymmetry in interhemispheric energy budgets.
Carbon Footprint of Railway Projects Under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Future Low‐Carbon Pathways
Authors: Wang Xin , Meng Jing , Liu Miaomiao , Bi Jun
Published: November 2023

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) makes headway in constructing railway projects invested by China, yet related environmental impacts are rarely discussed. Here we quantify the carbon footprint of railway project construction (RPC) under the BRI and identify the drivers behind their variations to find possible carbon reduction pathways. Our results show that China‐invested overseas RPC in BRI countries induced 2,095.2 Mt CO2 emissions through the global supply chains during 2008–2017. Specifically, 73% of the carbon footprint relies on supply chains in BRI countries, and 27% spills over to other regions serving as the suppliers of global resources. Upgrading key industries' technological levels in BRI countries to China's average level can mitigate the carbon footprint by 77%. Once all industries achieve China's average technological level, nearly 90% of the carbon footprint can be avoided. The findings potentially provide valuable insights into achieving sustainable project construction in cross‐regional cooperation and promoting green development of the BRI.
Bolstered by Buoys: Predicting El Ni�o
Authors: Sidder Aaron
Published: November 2023

Scientists investigate the importance of a Pacific buoy network in monitoring and predicting the El Ni�o–Southern Oscillation.
The Role of Exsolved Fluids on the Mo Isotopic Composition of Arc Lavas: Insights From the Adakitic Rocks of Solander Volcano
Authors: Bezard Rachel , Rushmer Tracy , Turner Simon , Eroglu Sümeyya
Published: November 2023

The Molybdenum isotopic composition (δ98/95Mo) of arc lavas is highly variable. While source processes play an important role in controlling the δ98/95Mo of arc magmas, the impact of differentiation on this variability remains poorly understood. In this study, we assess and deconvolute the effects of source and crustal processes on the δ98/95Mo of lavas and enclaves with adakitic compositions from Solander volcano, located above the incipient Puysegur subduction zone. These rocks show extreme δ98/95Mo variation (−0.35‰ to +0.79‰). The most mafic samples have light δ98/95Mo (−0.35‰ to −0.29‰) and low Mo/Ce ratios (0.006–0.007) consistent with published models invoking the addition of altered oceanic crust melts to their mantle source. However, the range of δ98/95Mo in the rest of the sample set is unlikely to result from source processes. Covariations of δ98/95Mo and Mo contents with MgO concentrations indicate that the δ98/95Mo and Mo content variability was generated during differentiation. Similar Sr‐Nd isotope compositions of all Solander lavas exclude a significant role for crustal assimilation. Mineral fractionation alone cannot reproduce the observed systematics without invoking unreasonable δ98/95Mo for the fractionated phases. Instead, we suggest that Mo mobility and associated isotopic fractionation during supercritical fluid exsolution and unmixing, followed by brine assimilation and magma mixing, are the first order controls on δ98/95Mo and Mo concentration variation in the Solander adakitic magmas. Thus, the role of magmatic fluids on the δ98/95Mo of intermediate‐silicic arc rocks can be significant, at least in adakitic systems, and needs to be considered prior to a source assessment.
MMS Observations of Warm‐Ion (E < 100 eV) Heating Inside Plasmaspheric Plumes
Authors: Kim M. J. , Goldstein J. , Fuselier S. A. , Vines S. K. , Usanova M. E. , Gonzalez C. A. , Mukherjee J. , Burch J. L.
Published: November 2023

Near‐Earth plasma surges sunward during enhanced magnetospheric convection (driven by dayside magnetic reconnection) to form a pathway feature called a plasmaspheric plume. This study uses Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations to investigate the heating of warm ions (H+ and He+) inside plumes. We identify 287 plume events using targeted in‐situ‐observational criteria and plasmapause test particle simulations. One plume‐crossing event by MMS shows that the scalar temperatures of warm He+ increase from ∼10 to ∼40 eV during simultaneous observations of helium‐band electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves, while H+ temperature is almost constant. Next, we analyze all individual observations to investigate warm‐ion heating and its possible association with EMIC waves. The statistical results show that EMIC waves associated with the plume have left‐hand polarizations and small normal angles and the temperatures of warm He+ are always higher than those of warm H+. Also, the minimum resonant energies for H+ are mostly above 100 eV, whereas 17% of warm He+ observations show that they can interact with the H+‐band EMIC waves via cyclotron resonance. These observations suggest that while EMIC waves play a role, there is an unknown mechanism for warm‐ion heating inside the plume that requires more investigation.
The Distribution and Evolution of Storm Time Pc3‐5 ULF Wave Power Based on Satellite and Ground Observations
Authors: Li Yu‐Xuan , Yue Chao , Liu Jianjun , Zong Qiugang , Hu Hongqiao , Zhou Xuzhi , Hu Zejun , Yang Fan , Zhao Xingxin
Published: November 2023

The geomagnetic storm is an intense geomagnetic activity, and one important research aspect is the storm time ultralow frequency (ULF) waves, which can resonate with injected particles and impact particle dynamics in the inner magnetosphere. This study focuses on analyzing ULF wave power during geomagnetic storms on the ground, in the magnetosphere and in the solar wind. During the Van Allen Probe era from year 2012–2019, we identified 94 geomagnetic storm events with 25 as strong storms and 69 as moderate storms based on the variation of SYM‐H index. The analysis revealed that for both satellite and ground‐based measurements during storms with different intensity, the ULF wave power was dramatically enhanced in the main phase. In addition, the ULF wave power of strong storms was significantly stronger than that of moderate storms within the magnetosphere and on the ground. While the finding is opposite in the solar wind. Furthermore, the ULF wave power of strong storms exhibited a higher intensity at higher L shell values and in some cases, it can last up to ∼2 days. Besides, the ULF wave power displayed a linear correlation with the absolute value of the SYM‐H index during the storm main phase while it exhibited an exponential association with the absolute value of the SYM‐H index during the recovery phase. This comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the evolution of ULF waves in the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetic storm events, shedding light on plasma waves and wave‐particle interactions in this region.
Growth and Global Persistence of Stratospheric Sulfate Aerosols From the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai Volcanic Eruption
Authors: Boichu Marie , Grandin Raphaël , Blarel Luc , Torres Benjamin , Derimian Yevgeny , Goloub Philippe , Brogniez Colette , Chiapello Isabelle , Dubovik Oleg , Mathurin Théo , Pascal Nicolas , Patou Maximilien , Riedi Jérôme
Published: November 2023

Stratospheric sulfate aerosols play a key role on atmospheric chemistry and Earth’s radiation budget, but their size distribution, a critical parameter in climate models, is generally poorly known. We address such gap for the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai (HT–HH) volcanic eruption by exhaustively analyzing a set of satellite observations (TROPOMI, IASI, AHI, and CALIOP) together with photometric ground observations from the worldwide open‐access AERONET network. We document a rapid growth of HT–HH sulfate aerosols in the days following eruption, faster than observed for 1991 Pinatubo eruption, likely due to the exceptional hydration of the stratosphere by this phreatomagmatic eruption. An unusual aerosol fine mode (peak radius in 0.3–0.5 µm) is identified at 20 stations of the Southern Hemisphere until May 2023 (time of writing). Nevertheless, 1.4 years after eruption, HT–HH sulfate aerosols remain smaller than Pinatubo particles. Smaller aerosols backscatter more efficiently visible light and sediment more slowly than larger particles, implying stronger and longer‐lasting negative radiative forcing.
Soil Temperature Controls the Month‐To‐Month Lead‐Lag Correlations of Near‐Surface Air Temperatures in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Basin
Authors: Song Yaoming , Chen Haishan , Wang Lin , Huang Anning , Gu Wei , Ma Yutong
Published: November 2023

The relationships between the variables at different times are crucial in climate prediction. This study explores the lead‐lag correlations between monthly near‐surface air temperatures, and analyzes the associated influencing factors and processes using mathematical physics equations and statistical methods, based on monthly observations and ERA5 reanalysis data spanning from 1979 to 2013. The results reveal high lead‐lag correlations of near‐surface air temperatures in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin, characterized by high frequency and intensity of heatwaves. The lead‐lag correlations between near‐surface temperatures are mainly due to the lead‐lag relationships between soil temperatures (STs). Current and accumulated net solar radiation, current latent heat flux and antecedent ST of several or many months ago are the main factors affecting the lead‐lag relationships between STs. The processes associated with lead‐lag correlations between STs are triggered by antecedent ST, concurrent and accumulated influence factors, respectively. The anomalies of antecedent ST can lead to the anomalies of current one by the persistence of anomaly signals in soil. The effects of accumulated or concurrent influential variables on the lead‐lag correlations between STs are attributed to the signals similar to antecedent STs in these influential variables, and the signals may arise from the response of atmosphere to land or ocean forcing. Moreover, the use of reanalysis data increases the uncertainty of the results. The study reveals influential factors and possible physical processes associated with lead‐lag correlations between near‐surface temperatures, which is helpful for understanding lead‐lag relationship between land surface and the atmosphere.
Conditions under which faithful cultural transmission through teaching promotes cumulative cultural evolution
Authors: Nakata Seiya , Takezawa Masanori
Published: November 2023

It has been argued that teaching promotes the accurate transmission of cultural traits and eventually leads to cumulative cultural evolution (CCE). However, previous studies have questioned this argument. In this study, we modified the action sequences model into a network exploring model with reinforcement learning to examine the conditions under which teaching promotes CCE. Our model incorporates a time trade-off between innovation and teaching. Simulations revealed that the positive influence of teaching on CCE depends on task difficulty. When the task was too difficult and advanced, such that it could not be accomplished through individual learning within a limited time, spending more time on teaching—even at the expense of time for innovation—contributed to CCE. On the contrary, the easier the task, the more time was spent on innovation than on teaching, which contributed to the improvement of performance. These findings suggest that teaching becomes more valuable as cultures become more complex. Therefore, humanity must have co-evolved a complex cumulative culture and teaching that supports cultural fidelity.
Study on characters associations and path coefficient analysis for quantitative traits of amaranth genotypes from Ethiopia
Authors: Yeshitila Mekonnen , Gedebo Andargachew , Degu Hewan Demissie , Olango Temesgen Magule , Tesfaye Bizuayehu
Published: November 2023

Selection based on yield alone may not be effective for yield improvement in plant breeding programs. Thus, in order to progress the genetic gains during selection, yield should be considered along with potential yield contributing traits. The objective of this study was to improve the genotype of amaranth and increase the effectiveness of selection in the program by identifying the correlation and path coefficients between yield and its relevant attributes. On 120 genotypes of amaranth planted during two growing seasons in 2020 and 2021, the study was carried out using an alpha lattice design with two replications. The results revealed significant positive phenotypic and genotypic associations on leaf yield, with leaf area, leaf breadth, branch number, leaf number, plant height at flowering, and grain yield all having positive direct effects. Similar strong positive phenotypic and genotypic relationships were found for grain yield and grain sink filling rates. Using path coefficient analysis, the direct and indirect effects of yield-related traits on yield were also determined. In addition to having a strong direct impact on grain output, the grain sink filling rates showed both phenotypic and genotypic evidence of substantial positive relationships with grain yield. It was further suggested that leaf yield in amaranth genotypes may increase through the indirect selection of plant height at maturity, leaf length, and terminal inflorescence lateral length, which showed such significant indirect influences, mostly through leaf area, days to maturity, and days to emergence, which displayed such strong indirect effects, primarily through plant height at flowering. This study consequently shows the need for traits with significant positive indirect impacts via leaf area to be considered indirect selection criteria for improving leaf yield in amaranth genotypes. The grain sink filling rate also significantly improved grain yield indirectly at both the phenotypic and genotypic levels, mainly via days to flowering and leaf yield. This demonstrated that selection that mainly targeted days to flowering, leaf yield, and grain sink filling rate would ultimately boost the grain yield in amaranth genotypes.