bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethical AI governance: mapping a research ecosystem
Authors: Knight Simon , Shibani Antonette , Vincent Nicole
Published: February 2024

How do we assess the positive and negative impacts of research about- or research that employs artificial intelligence (AI), and how adequate are existing research governance frameworks for these ends? That concern has seen significant recent attention, with various calls for change, and a plethora of emerging guideline documents across sectors. However, it is not clear what kinds of issues are expressed in research ethics with or on AI at present, nor how resources are drawn on in this process to support the navigation of ethical issues. Research Ethics Committees (RECs) have a well-established history in ethics governance, but there have been concerns about their capacity to adequately govern AI research. However, no study to date has examined the ways that AI-related projects engage with the ethics ecosystem, or its adequacy for this context. This paper analysed a single institution’s ethics applications for research related to AI, applying a socio-material lens to their analysis. Our novel methodology provides an approach to understanding ethics ecosystems across institutions. Our results suggest that existing REC models can effectively support consideration of ethical issues in AI research, we thus propose that any new materials should be embedded in this existing well-established ecosystem.
TAI-PRM: trustworthy AI—project risk management framework towards Industry 5.0
Authors: Vyhmeister Eduardo , Castane Gabriel G.
Published: February 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in manufacturing to automate tasks and process data, leading to what has been termed Industry. 4.0. However, as we move towards Industry 5.0, there is a need to incorporate societal and human-centric dimensions into the development and deployment of AI software artefacts. This requires blending ethical considerations with existing practices and standards. To address this need, the TAI-PRM framework has been developed. It builds upon established methods, such as Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) and the Industrial ISO 31000, to manage risks associated with AI artefacts in the manufacturing sector. The framework identifies ethical considerations as hazards that can impact system processes and sustainability and provides tools and metrics to manage these risks. To validate the framework, it was applied in an EU project for Digital Twins on AI for manufacturing. The results showed that TAI-PRM can effectively identify and track different failure modes associated with AI artefacts and help users to manage ethical risks associated with their deployment. By incorporating ethical considerations into risk management processes, the framework enables the developing and deploying trustworthy AI in the manufacturing sector.
Enabling brief assessments of alexithymia: psychometric properties of the Russian version of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire-Short Form (PAQ-S) and its correlates with ill-being and well-being
Authors: Larionow Paweł , Preece David A. , Iakovleva Maria V. , Scherba Ekaterina K.
Published: February 2024

Alexithymia is a trait involving deficits in emotion processing. As an important risk factor for a wide range of psychopathologies, its assessment is important in both research and clinical practice. Originally developed in English, the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire-Short Form (PAQ-S) is a 6-item self-report measure of alexithymia, with its brevity designed to enable alexithymia assessments in a wide range of settings. In the present research, we aimed to introduce the first Russian version of the PAQ-S and examine its psychometric properties. Our sample consisted of 203 Russian-speaking adults aged 18–74 years, recruited from the general community in Russia. The PAQ-S’s factor structure was verified with confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed via relationships with psychopathology symptoms and well-being. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated. The Russian version of the PAQ-S demonstrated strong factorial validity, with support for the intended 1-factor structure as an overall marker of alexithymia. The PAQ-S total scale score showed good internal consistency reliability. As expected, its convergent and divergent validity was also supported. PAQ-S scores were significant predictors of higher ill-being (anxiety, depression, and stress) and lower well-being, thus demonstrating the high clinical relevance of the alexithymia construct as measured by the PAQ-S. There were no gender differences in PAQ-S scores, and alexithymia was higher in younger people and those with less education. Overall, the Russian PAQ-S therefore demonstrated strong psychometric properties as a brief and robust measure of overall alexithymia, performing similarly to other language versions.
The New Age Movement
Authors: Løøv Margrethe
Published: February 2024

This Element introduces New Age religion. The New Age Movement is a loosely cohesive conglomerate of different spiritual currents with no common founder, leader, institution, dogma, or scripture. Because of its diversity, it may appear amorphous and incoherent at first sight. This Element emphasizes both the unity and diversity of the New Age. It approaches the phenomenon from three main perspectives: 1) the historical development of New Age religion, 2) ideas and practices associated with the New Age, and 3) the social organization of the New Age movement. It thus provides a wide-angle view that sketches out some of the main patterns that emerge from a mosaic of individual currents and actors associated with the New Age. It also highlights some of the differences within the movement by exploring some ideas and practices in depth.
Strategies for Enhancing Economic Sustainability: Modeling Reduced Bale Handling Costs in Cotton Warehousing
Authors: Richard Jessica , DeVuyst Eric A. , Kenkel Philip , Radmehr Reza
Published: February 2024

Cotton warehouses face unique inventory management challenges. This research addresses this challenge by proposing innovative strategies to enhance warehouse efficiency. Three key objectives are addressed: modeling cotton bale movements, evaluating an alternative to the current bale handling process, and evaluating an alternative to the current cotton bale marketing system. Results reveal significant cost savings. Changing bale receiving and placement strategy by using gin codes yields a $499,000 per-cycle reduction for an Oklahoma cotton warehouse case. Altering order fulfillment techniques, such as grouping 30 orders, saves $34,000 per cycle. Implementing quality-based bale substitution leads to a $1.3 million saving per cycle.
Archives et État dans l’Orient islamique (note critique)
Authors: Bramoullé David
Published: February 2024

Loin de se limiter à fournir des informations relatives aux communautés juives de l’Égypte médiévale, les documents dits de la Genizah du Caire contiennent de très nombreuses pièces d’archives de l’administration du califat fatimide (910-1171) lors de sa phase égyptienne (973-1171). Considéré comme l’un des califats les plus puissants de son temps, le fonctionnement de son administration n’était jusqu’à présent connu qu’à travers quelques manuels de chancellerie rédigés au xiie siècle et édités. Ces textes, composés par des administrateurs fatimides, offrent soit des données techniques et très spécifiques qu’il est difficile de généraliser soit une tentative de réforme d’une administration considérée entre les lignes comme sinon défaillante en tout cas amendable. Marina Rustow se propose de comparer les différentes pièces d’archives fatimides retrouvées dans le corpus de la Genizah du Caire avec certains manuels de chancellerie afin d’éclairer les procédures administratives fatimides. Son objectif est de mettre en évidence le caractère moderne et même wébérien, selon ses termes, de l’administration fatimide afin de rompre avec ce qu’elle considère comme une idée reçue, à savoir que les administrations califales médiévales, aux mains de despotes orientaux, n’auraient pas été capables de créer des archives et des procédures standardisées d’administration et d’archivage. Cette approche, en tout point novatrice, permet à l’autrice des conclusions très intéressantes et audacieuses qui doivent toutefois être nuancées.
À l’épreuve de la peste
Authors: Nicoud Marilyn
Published: February 2024

Longtemps dénigrée pour son incapacité à guérir et à comprendre les mécanismes de diffusion de la maladie, la littérature de temps de peste, rédigée en grand nombre à partir du milieu du xive siècle, mérite d’être réexaminée pour ce qu’elle représente : une tentative de réponse à un défi intellectuel et social majeur qui met en péril la survie des sociétés européennes. L’effort d’objectivation des médecins médiévaux, majoritairement formés dans les universités, s’y conjugue à un souci de prévention et à des conseils thérapeutiques, fruits de l’expérience répétée de crises épidémiques. Rédigés à la demande d’autorités publiques ou d’individus soucieux de bénéficier de conseils, ces traités contre la peste témoignent de la place qu’occupe, aux derniers siècles du Moyen Âge, le métier médical dans les questions de santé et des efforts de la profession pour se construire une image d’expert.
Centering Health Equity in the Implementation of the Hospital Incident Command System: A Qualitative Case Comparison Study
Authors: Moyal-Smith Rachel , Marsteller Jill A , Barnett Daniel J , Kent Paula , Purnell Tanjala , Yuan Christina T
Published: February 2024

Objective:

Disasters exacerbate inequities in health care. Health systems use the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) to plan and coordinate their disaster response. This study examines how 2 health systems prioritized equity in implementing the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and identifies factors that influenced implementation.

Methods:

This is a qualitative case comparison study, involving semi-structured interviews with 29 individuals from 2 US academic health systems. Strategies for promoting health equity were categorized by social determinants of health. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided analysis using a hybrid inductive-deductive approach.

Results:

The health systems used various strategies to incorporate health equity throughout implementation, addressing all 5 social determinants of health domains. Facilitators included HICS principles, external partnerships, community relationships, senior leadership, health equity experts and networks, champions, equity-stratified data, teaming, and a culture of health equity. Barriers encompassed clarity of the equity representative role, role ambiguity for equity representatives, tokenism, competing priorities, insufficient resource allocation, and lack of preparedness.

Conclusions:

These findings elucidate how health systems centered equity during HICS implementation. Health systems and regulatory bodies can use these findings as a foundation to revise the HICS and move toward a more equitable disaster response.
Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators of Mask-Wearing Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan, the United States, the Netherlands, and Haiti: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Wang Chia-Wen , de Jong Erik Pieter , Faure Josemyrne Ashley , Ellington Jaylynn Leigh , Chen Chi-Hsin Sally , Chan Chang-Chuan
Published: February 2024

Objective:

This study explored the barriers and facilitators of mask-wearing behaviors during the pandemic in Taiwan, the United States, the Netherlands, and Haiti.

Methods:

Face-to-face interviews were conducted in Taiwan and online interviews were conducted with participants in the United States, the Netherlands, and Haiti.

Results:

In general, the habit of wearing a mask before coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported by Taiwanese participants. Additionally, Taiwanese participants perceived that wearing a mask was a social responsibility during the pandemic, suggesting that the collectivistic context might influence mask-wearing behavior. Unlike the Taiwanese population, some people in the United States and the Netherlands were reluctant to wear masks due to perceived restrictions on their freedom. Participants from Haiti mentioned that people who wore masks encountered violence, bullying, and discrimination. The results of this study suggest that political leadership and mask mandates have a strong impact on people’s mask-wearing behavior.

Conclusions:

These findings have valuable implications for the design of diverse behavioral interventions to enhance mask-wearing as part of infectious disease preparedness. Additionally, the findings from these countries offer valuable insights for the development of effective public health interventions to enhance society’s resilience during the current pandemic and future infectious disease outbreaks.
Unveiling the relationships between eco-anxiety, psychological symptoms and anthropocentric narcissism: The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Hogg eco-anxiety scale
Authors: Çimşir Elif , Şahin Murat Doğan , Akdoğan Ramazan
Published: February 2024

The increasing number of losses and damages caused by the climate crisis has rendered the psychometric assessment of the climate crisis more important than ever, specifically in developing countries, such as Turkey. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS-13), using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) on the cross-sectional data collected from 445 adults (286 females and 159 males; Mage = 29.76, range 18–65). The results supported the four-factor solution of the original version in the Turkish sample. Further analysis confirmed the invariance of the HEAS-13 across genders. The results demonstrated significant correlations of the HEAS-13 subscales with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Anthropocentric Narcissism Scale (ANS), except for that between the behavioral symptoms subscale of the HEAS-13 and the ANS. Both the total and the subscale scores of the HEAS-13 were also found to be reliable, given the internal consistency and test–retest reliability values. The Turkish version of the HEAS-13 can expand the scientific understanding of eco-anxiety, which can help develop mental health services to mitigate the negative mental health impacts of the environmental crisis.
The influence of turbulence and inertia in radial fracture flow
Authors: Gee Bruce , Gracie Robert
Published: February 2024

Industrial applications of flow through fractures such as geothermal energy or hydraulic stimulation involve forcing large flow rates through small fractures, thereby inducing inertial fluid behaviours and turbulence. The most common fracture flow model, Poiseuille flow (the cubic law), is incapable of capturing these phenomena and thus the impact of inertial and turbulent forces in fracture flow has remained relatively unexplored. The GG22 flow model is a newly derived fracture flow model that is capable of capturing inertial, transient and turbulent forces. In this article, we apply the GG22 flow model to hydraulic stimulation of radial fractures for the first time to determine how these phenomena manifest. We show that inertia and turbulence only manifest near the wellbore (within 30 radii) and lead to changes in fracture shape and injection pressure but have little impact on tip behaviour. Turbulence increases wellbore pressure and aperture while inertia decreases wellbore pressure and aperture. The majority of the pressure loss along the fracture occurs near the wellbore and is captured by turbulence where entrance correction factors would otherwise be needed. Using water, turbulence is the dominant mechanism that causes departures from Poiseuille flow at high

$Re$

. The solution departs immediately upon the manifestation of turbulence (

$Re\geq 2\times 10^3$

), while inertial effects manifest at higher flow rates (

$Re\geq 2\times 10^4$

). Using slickwater, the opposite trend is observed: inertial effects manifest first (

$Re\geq 5\times 10^3$

), while turbulent effects are delayed (

$Re\geq 10^4$

). In both cases, the threshold for departures from the Poiseuille flow solution are low and the differences are large.
MODIS land surface temperature in East Antarctica: accuracy and its main affecting factors
Authors: Zhai Zhaosheng , Wang Yetang , Reijmer Carleen H. , Smeets Paul C. J. P. , Zhang Xueying , Zhang Wuying
Published: February 2024

Recently released Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) collection 6.1 (C6.1) products are useful for understanding ice–atmosphere interactions over East Antarctica, but their accuracy should be known prior to application. This study assessed Level 2 and Level 3 MODIS C6.1 LST products (MxD11_L2 and MxD11C1) in comparison with the radiance-derived in situ LSTs from 12 weather stations. Significant cloud-related issues were identified in both LST products. By utilizing a stricter filter based on automatic weather station cloud data, despite losing 29.4% of the data, accuracy of MODIS LST was greatly improved. The cloud-screened MODIS LST exhibited cold biases (−5.18 to −0.07°C, and root mean square errors from 2.37 to 6.28°C) than in situ LSTs at most stations, with smaller cold biases at inland stations, but larger ones at coastal regions and the edge of plateau. The accuracy was notably higher during warm periods (October–March) than during cold periods (April–September). The cloud-screened MODIS C6.1 LST did not show significant improvements over C5 (Collection 5) version across East Antarctica. Ice-crystal precipitation occurring during temperature inversions at the surface (Tair-Tsurface) played a crucial role in MODIS LST accuracy on inland plateau. In coastal regions, larger MODIS LST biases were observed when the original measurements were lower.
An exponential nonuniform Berry–Esseen bound of the maximum likelihood estimator in a Jacobi process
Authors: Jiang Hui , Lin Qihao , Wang Shaochen
Published: February 2024

We establish the exponential nonuniform Berry–Esseen bound for the maximum likelihood estimator of unknown drift parameter in an ultraspherical Jacobi process using the change of measure method and precise asymptotic analysis techniques. As applications, the optimal uniform Berry–Esseen bound and optimal Cramér-type moderate deviation for the corresponding maximum likelihood estimator are obtained.
Who Pays a Visit to Brussels? Firm Value Effects of Cross-Border Political Access to European Commissioners
Authors: Biguri Kizkitza , Stahl Jörg R.
Published: February 2024

This study analyzes meetings of firms with policymakers at the European Commission (EC). Meetings with Commissioners are associated with positive abnormal equity returns for U.S. firms. Firms of the European Union (EU), however, do not experience significant value increases. We identify regulatory outcomes as a channel that can rationalize this difference in value effects of political access. U.S. firms with meetings are more likely to receive favorable decisions in their EC merger decisions than their EU peers. The results suggest that cross-border political access can alleviate uncertainties and alleged discriminatory behavior of regulators in foreign markets.
Addressing the global obesity burden: a gender-responsive approach to changing food environments is needed
Authors: McKenzie Briar L , Pinho-Gomes Ana-Catarina , Woodward Mark
Published: February 2024

Obesity is a leading cause of death and disability globally. There is a higher proportion of women living with obesity than men, with differences in prevalence rates between women and men particularly staggering in low- and middle-income countries. The food environments that most people live in have been defined as ‘obesogenic’, characterised by easy access to energy dense, highly palatable foods with poor nutritional value. There is an established need to intervene to change food environments to prevent obesity. However, minimal successes are evident with no country set to meet the WHO goal of reducing obesity prevalence to 2010 numbers by 2025. In this review, we provide a narrative around the sex (biological)- and gender (sociocultural)-related considerations for the relationship between nutrition, interactions with the food environment and obesity risk. We provide an argument that there are gendered responses to food environments that place women at a higher risk of obesity particularly in relation to food industry influences, due to gendered roles and responsibilities in relation to paid and unpaid labour, and due to specific food security threats. This review concludes with hypotheses for addressing the obesity burden in a gender-responsive manner, with a call for gender equity to be a key component of the development, implementation and monitoring of obesity prevention focused policies going forward.
Prosodic processing in sentences with ‘only’ in L1 and L2 English
Authors: Ganga Rachida , Ge Haoyan , Struiksma Marijn E. , Yip Virginia , Chen Aoju
Published: February 2024

It has been proposed that second language (L2) learners differ from native speakers in processing due to either influence from their native language or an inability to integrate information from multiple linguistic domains in a second language. To shed new light on the underlying mechanism of L2 processing, we used an event-related potentials (ERP) paradigm to examine the processing of sentences with only in English by native speakers of English and advanced Dutch learners of English. Successful processing of sentences with only requires rapid integration of prosodic information with semantic and syntactic information. We found that L2 listeners showed native-like processing of the acoustics of contrastive pitch accents when adjacent to only. However, they needed more cues than L1 listeners to perform native-like in forming expectations for focus placement. Our results thus provide first ERP-based evidence for difficulty in the integration of information for focus expectation in difficult L2 constructs.
Policy Learning in Governing Complex Technologies: The Pendulum Swing of China's Central Government
Authors: Jiang Ziying , Feng Kaidong
Published: February 2024

As an emerging science and technology (EST), stem cell therapy presents a highly dynamic and complex landscape, posing significant challenges for the Chinese central government and requiring substantial policy learning. Delving into the realm beyond the traditional literature on Chinese government's policy learning, which primarily focuses on conventional policy areas and local government experiments, this article examines how the technical and interest complexities, along with the fragmented authoritarian structure of central departments, influence policy learning in the field of stem cell therapy. The findings reveal a recurring pendulum swing pattern, wherein top decision makers direct central departments to engage in multiple rounds of policy swings, navigating between developmental objectives and regulatory objectives.
Neuroticism and extraversion as predictors of first-lifetime onsets of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in high-risk adolescents
Authors: Pawlak McKinley , Schmidtler Hayley , Kopala-Sibley Daniel C.
Published: February 2024

There is substantial evidence that personality traits, in particular neuroticism and extraversions predict depressive and anxiety episodes as well as suicidal ideation. However, little research has examined whether these traits predict the first onset of depressive and anxiety disorders and suicidal ideation. Moreover, the few studies to date have not adjusted for pre-existing subthreshold symptoms, assessed dimensionally. In this study, 144 adolescents were assessed at baseline, 9-, and 18-month follow-ups. Neuroticism and extraversion were assessed via self-report, and depressive and anxiety disorders and suicidal ideation were assessed with diagnostic interviews. Adjusting for age, sex, and baseline symptoms, logistic regression analyses showed that neuroticism predicted the first onset of depressive disorders. However, neither neuroticism nor extraversion predicted first onsets of anxiety disorders, extraversion did not predict depressive disorders, and neither trait predicted suicidal ideation onset or severity after adjusting for baseline symptoms. Neuroticism and extraversion may respectively predispose youth to depressive or anxiety disorders but not to suicidal ideation over and above pre-existing symptoms. Results have implications for the early identification of at-risk youth and prevention of depressive and anxiety disorders and suicidal ideation.
The acquisition of rhetorical questions in bilingual children with Italian as a heritage language
Authors: Ferin Maria F. , Marinis Theodoros , Kupisch Tanja
Published: February 2024

Rhetorical questions (RhQs) are a complex phenomenon at the interface of pragmatics, prosody and syntax, which requires reasoning on intentions and goals, and which involves a mismatch between literal and intended meaning. In Italian, RhQs can be marked by optional particles and verbal morphology. We investigated when children aged 6-9 acquire the relevant patterns of optional modification and exploit them in the appropriate pragmatic context. In an elicited production study with 84 monolingual and 88 Italian–German bilingual children, we found that development in monolinguals was determined by age with a progression between 6 and 9 years, while bilingual development was influenced by proficiency in the heritage language and dominance more generally. These results are in line with Tsimpli's (2014) proposal that “very-late-acquired phenomena”, especially interface domains, depend on their timing in acquisition. Unlike for other pragmatic phenomena, such as irony and conversational competence, there was no evidence for a bilingual advantage.
Mixed-method examination of factors associated with adolescent decision-making and involvement in care in the context of advanced cancer
Authors: Sutherland-Foggio Malcolm , Olsavsky Anna L. , Skeens Micah A. , Nahata Leena , Hill Kylie , Schaefer Megan , Himelhoch Alexandra , Kenney Ansley E. , Humphrey Lisa , Olshefski Randal , Gerhardt Cynthia A.
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Adolescents with cancer often experience significant symptom burden and aggressive treatment near end-of-life. Increased adolescent involvement in care and decision-making may benefit health outcomes. Limited research has examined factors associated with adolescents’ involvement in care in the context of advanced disease. Thus, we examined the impact of background factors and decision-making perceptions on both adolescents’ involvement in care and their desired change in involvement.

Methods

Adolescents with advanced cancer (<60% survival or refractory/relapsed disease), ages 10–23 (n = 41; Mage = 15.37), were recruited approximately 1 month after diagnosis to complete measures of decision-making perceptions and their family role. Hierarchical regressions examined the contributions of background factors and decision-making perceptions to adolescents’ frequency and desired involvement in their care. Qualitative interviews regarding decision-making were analyzed using deductive analysis.

Results

The model examining frequency of involvement in care was significant, F(5,34) = 3.12, p = .02, R2= .31. Older age was the only significant predictor (β = .13, p= .003). The model examining desired involvement was non-significant, F(5,34) = 2.22, p = .075. Qualitative analysis indicated that (1) older adolescents have more involvement in decision-making, (2) collaborative decision-making occurred between the adolescent and extended family, and (3) adolescents trusted others to make decisions. Integration of qualitative and quantitative data revealed congruence in findings.

Significance of results

Adolescents with advanced cancer, who consider how decisions directly impact them and prefer greater autonomy, may be more involved in their medical care. Research is needed to identify other longitudinal predictors of decision-making and involvement in care. Providers should consider encouraging families to communicate their preferences and engage in shared decision-making.
Trilateral politics in hierarchy, war, and state formation
Authors: McDonald Patrick J. , Galambos Kevin
Published: February 2024

This paper presents a set of theoretical models that links a two-phase sequence of cooperative political integration and conflict to explore the reciprocal relationship between war and state formation. It compares equilibria rates of state formation and conflict using a Monte Carlo that generates comparative statics by altering the systemic distribution of ideology, population, tax rates, and war costs across polities. This approach supports three core findings. First, war-induced political integration is at least 2.5 times as likely to occur as integration to realize economic gains. Second, we identify mechanisms linking endogenous organizations to the likelihood of conflict in the system. For example, a greater domestic willingness to support public goods production facilitates the creation of buffer states that reduce the likelihood of a unique class of trilateral wars. These results suggest that the development of the modern administrative state has helped to foster peace. Third, we explore how modelling assumptions setting the number of actors in a strategic context can shape conclusions about war and state formation. We find that dyadic modelling restrictions tend to underestimate the likelihood of cooperative political integration and overestimate the likelihood of war relative to a triadic modelling context.
Research into land atmosphere interactions supports the sustainable development agenda
Authors: Hayman Garry , Poulter Benjamin , Ghude Sachin D. , Blyth Eleanor , Sinha Vinayak , Archibald Sally , Ashworth Kirsti , Barlow Victoria , Fares Silvano , Feig Gregor , Hiyama Tetsuya , Jin Jiming , Juhola Sirkku , Lee Meehye , Leuzinger Sebastian , Mahecha Miguel D. , Meng Xianhong , Odee David , Purser Gemma , Sato Hisashi , Saxena Pallavi , Semeena Valiyaveetil S. , Steiner Allison , Wang Xuemei , Wolff Stefan
Published: February 2024

Non-technical summary

Greenhouse gas emissions and land use change – from deforestation, forest degradation, and agricultural intensification – are contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss. Important land-based strategies such as planting trees or growing bioenergy crops (with carbon capture and storage) are needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and to enhance biodiversity.

The integrated Land Ecosystems Atmospheric Processes Study (iLEAPS) is an international knowledge-exchange and capacity-building network, specializing in ecosystems and their role in controlling the exchange of water, energy and chemical compounds between the land surface and the atmosphere. We outline priority directions for land–atmosphere interaction research and its contribution to the sustainable development agenda.

Technical summary

Greenhouse-gas emissions from human activities and land use change (from deforestation, forest degradation, and agricultural intensification) are contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss. Afforestation, reforestation, or growing bioenergy crops (with carbon capture and storage) are important land-based strategies to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and to enhance biodiversity. The effectiveness of these actions depends on terrestrial ecosystems and their role in controlling or moderating the exchange of water, heat, and chemical compounds between the land surface and the atmosphere.

The integrated Land Ecosystems Atmospheric Processes Study (iLEAPS), a global research network of Future Earth, enables the international community to communicate and remain up to date with developments and concepts about terrestrial ecosystems and their role in global water, energy, and biogeochemical cycles. Covering critically important topics such as fire, forestry, wetlands, methane emissions, urban areas, pollution, and climate change, the iLEAPS Global Research Programme sits center stage for some of the most important environmental questions facing humanity. In this paper, we outline the new challenges and opportunities for land–atmosphere interaction research and its role in supporting the broader sustainable development agenda.

Social Media Summary

Future directions for research into land–atmosphere interactions that supports the sustainable development agenda
Food Demand‐Driven Scarce Water Use Amplified by Pollution in China
Authors: Liang Yuhan , Li Hui , Liang Sai , Yeboah Frederick Kwame , Yang Zhifeng
Published: February 2024

Food system has significant impacts on water scarcity, which in turn becomes a bottleneck for food security and socioeconomic development. Existing research has primarily concentrated on the relationship between food consumption and quantity‐based scarce water use but has overlooked quality‐based scarce water use. Here, we constructed an aggregative scarce water use indicator, considering water quantity and water quality simultaneously. The food demand‐driven aggregative scarce water use of Chinese provinces in 2017 was investigated based on a scarce‐water extended multiregional input‐output model. The results demonstrated that food demand‐driven scarce water use is amplified eight (8) times by water quality degradation. Henan, Shanxi, and Tianjin were found to be the primary contributors to the food demand‐driven aggregative use of scarce water. Moreover, the study reveals food demand‐driven virtual aggregative scarce water flows among regions and sectors. Production‐side measures on reducing water scarcity include the improvements of water use efficiency and wastewater treatment capacity in exporters of net virtual aggregative scarce water (e.g., Hebei and Henan). Furthermore, demand‐side measures are equally important, including food demand optimization in importers of net virtual aggregative scarce water (e.g., Zhejiang and Beijing). In addition, interregional cooperation (e.g., transferring advanced water conservation and contaminant mitigation technologies from developed regions to regions with high aggregative water scarcity) in China is critical for promoting the sustainable management of food and water resources. The study's findings provide significant insights for policymakers at the regional and interregional levels to develop coordinated water resource and environment management strategies in China.
Ozone Anomalies in Dry Intrusions Associated With Atmospheric Rivers
Authors: Hall Kirsten R. , Wang Huiqun , Souri Amir H. , Liu Xiong , Chance Kelly
Published: February 2024

As a result of their important role in weather and the global hydrological cycle, understanding atmospheric rivers' (ARs) connection to synoptic‐scale climate patterns and atmospheric dynamics has become increasingly important. In addition to case studies of two extreme AR events, we produce a December climatology of the three‐dimensional structure of water vapor and O3 (ozone) distributions associated with ARs in the northeastern Pacific from 2004 to 2014 using MERRA‐2 reanalysis products. Results show that positive O3 anomalies reside in dry intrusions of stratospheric air due to stratosphere‐to‐troposphere transport (STT) behind the intense water vapor transport of the AR. In composites, we find increased excesses of O3 concentration, as well as in the total O3 flux within the dry intrusions, with increased AR strength. We find that STT O3 flux associated with ARs over the NE Pacific accounts for up to 13% of total Northern Hemisphere STT O3 flux in December, and extrapolation indicates that AR‐associated dry intrusions may account for as much as 32% of total NH STT O3 flux. This study quantifies STT of O3 in connection with ARs for the first time and improves estimates of tropospheric ozone concentration due to STT in the identification of this correlation. In light of predictions that ARs will become more intense and/or frequent with climate change, quantifying AR‐related STT O3 flux is especially valuable for future radiative forcing calculations.
Combined Neutron and X‐Ray Tomography—A Versatile and Non‐Destructive Tool in Planetary Geosciences
Authors: Martell J. , Alwmark C. , Woracek R. , Alwmark S. , Hall S. , Ferrière L. , Daly L. , Koch C. Bender , Hektor J. , Johansson S. , Helfen L. , Tengattini A. , Mannes D.
Published: February 2024

With several upcoming sample return missions, such as the Mars Sample Return Campaign, non‐destructive methods will be key to maximizing their scientific output. In this study, we demonstrate that the combination of neutron and X‐ray tomography provides an important tool for the characterization of such valuable samples. These methods allow quantitative analyses of internal sample features and also provide a guide for further destructive analyses with little to no sample treatment, which maintains sample integrity, including minimizing the risk of potential contamination. Here, we present and review the results from four case studies of terrestrial impactites and meteorites along with their analytical setup. Using combined X‐ray and neutron tomography, a Ni‐Fe silicide spherule, that is, projectile material, was located within a Libyan Desert Glass sample and the distribution of hydrous phases was pinpointed in selected impactite samples from the Chicxulub IODP‐ICDP Expedition 364 drill core and the Luizi impact structure, as well as in the Miller Range 03346 Martian meteorite.
Stream Network Dynamics of Non‐Perennial Rivers: Insights From Integrated Surface‐Subsurface Hydrological Modeling of Two Virtual Catchments
Authors: Zanetti F. , Botter G. , Camporese M.
Published: February 2024

Understanding the spatio‐temporal dynamics of runoff generation in headwater catchments is challenging, due to the intermittent and fragmented nature of surface flows. The active stream network in non‐perennial rivers contracts and expands, with a dynamic behavior that depends on the complex interplay among climate, topography, and geology. In this work, CATchment HYdrology, an integrated surface–subsurface hydrological model (ISSHM), is used to simulate the stream network dynamics of two virtual catchments with the same, spatially homogeneous, subsurface characteristics (hydraulic conductivity, porosity, water retention curves) but different morphology. We run two sets of simulations to reproduce a sequence of steady‐states at different catchment wetness levels and transient conditions and analyze the joint variations of the stream length (L) and discharge at the outlet (Q) with high spatio‐temporal resolutions. The shape of the L(Q) curves differs in the two catchments but does not depend on the climate forcing, as it is mainly controlled by the underlying topography. We then analyzed the suitability of the topographic wetness index and the contributing area to identify the spatial configuration of the maximum stream length in the two catchments. These two morphometric parameters provided a good estimate of the spatial distribution of the maximum flowing network in both the study catchments. Our numerical simulations indicate that ISSHMs have the potential to accurately describe the spatio‐temporal variations of the stream networks and the processes driving such dynamic behavior and that, overall, they can be useful tools to gain insights into the main physical drivers of non‐perennial streams.
New rabies viral resources for multi-scale neural circuit mapping
Authors: Bouin Alexis , Wu Ginny , Koyuncu Orkide O. , Ye Qiao , Kim Keun-Young , Wu Michele Y. , Tong Liqi , Chen Lujia , Phan Sebastien , Mackey Mason R. , Ramachandra Ranjan , Ellisman Mark H. , Holmes Todd C. , Semler Bert L. , Xu Xiangmin
Published: February 2024

Comparisons and linkage between multiple imaging scales are essential for neural circuit connectomics. Here, we report 20 new recombinant rabies virus (RV) vectors that we have developed for multi-scale and multi-modal neural circuit mapping tools. Our new RV tools for mesoscale imaging express a range of improved fluorescent proteins. Further refinements target specific neuronal subcellular locations of interest. We demonstrate the discovery power of these new tools including the detection of detailed microstructural changes of rabies-labeled neurons in aging and Alzheimer’s disease mouse models, live imaging of neuronal activities using calcium indicators, and automated measurement of infected neurons. RVs that encode GFP and ferritin as electron microscopy (EM) and fluorescence microscopy reporters are used for dual EM and mesoscale imaging. These new viral variants significantly expand the scale and power of rabies virus-mediated neural labeling and circuit mapping across multiple imaging scales in health and disease.
Proteome-Wide Identification of RNA-dependent proteins and an emerging role for RNAs in Plasmodium falciparum protein complexes
Authors: Hollin Thomas , Abel Steven , Banks Charles , Hristov Borislav , Prudhomme Jacques , Hales Kianna , Florens Laurence , Stafford Noble William , Le Roch Karine G.
Published: February 2024

Ribonucleoprotein complexes are composed of RNA, RNA-dependent proteins (RDPs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and play fundamental roles in RNA regulation. However, in the human malaria parasite,Plasmodium falciparum, identification and characterization of these proteins are particularly limited. In this study, we use an unbiased proteome-wide approach, called R-DeeP, a method based on sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, to identify RDPs. Quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry identifies 898 RDPs, including 545 proteins not yet associated with RNA. Results are further validated using a combination of computational and molecular approaches. Overall, this method provides the first snapshot of thePlasmodiumprotein-protein interaction network in the presence and absence of RNA. R-DeeP also helps to reconstructPlasmodiummultiprotein complexes based on co-segregation and deciphers their RNA-dependence. One RDP candidate, PF3D7_0823200, is functionally characterized and validated as a true RBP. Using enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (eCLIP-seq), we demonstrate that this protein interacts with variousPlasmodiumnon-coding transcripts, including thevargenes andap2transcription factors.
Performance metrics to unleash the power of self-driving labs in chemistry and materials science
Authors: Volk Amanda A. , Abolhasani Milad
Published: February 2024

With the rise of self-driving labs (SDLs) and automated experimentation across chemical and materials sciences, there is a considerable challenge in designing the best autonomous lab for a given problem based on published studies alone. Determining what digital and physical features are germane to a specific study is a critical aspect of SDL design that needs to be approached quantitatively. Even when controlling for features such as dimensionality, every experimental space has unique requirements and challenges that influence the design of the optimal physical platform and algorithm. Metrics such as optimization rate are therefore not necessarily indicative of the capabilities of an SDL across different studies. In this perspective, we highlight some of the critical metrics for quantifying performance in SDLs to better guide researchers in implementing the most suitable strategies. We then provide a brief review of the existing literature under the lens of quantified performance as well as heuristic recommendations for platform and experimental space pairings.
Gene-expression-based T-Cell-to-Stroma Enrichment (TSE) score predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in urothelial cancer
Authors: Rijnders Maud , Nakauma-González J. Alberto , Robbrecht Debbie G. J. , Gil-Jimenez Alberto , Balcioglu Hayri E. , Oostvogels Astrid A. M. , Aarts Maureen J. B. , Boormans Joost L. , Hamberg Paul , van der Heijden Michiel S. , Szabados Bernadett E. , van Leenders Geert J. L. H. , Mehra Niven , Voortman Jens , Westgeest Hans M. , de Wit Ronald , van der Veldt Astrid A. M. , Debets Reno , Lolkema Martijn P.
Published: February 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) improve overall survival in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC), but therapeutic success at the individual patient level varies significantly. Here we identify predictive markers of response, based on whole-genome DNA (n = 70) and RNA-sequencing (n = 41) of fresh metastatic biopsy samples, collected prior to treatment with pembrolizumab. We find that PD-L1 combined positivity score does not, whereas tumor mutational burden and APOBEC mutagenesis modestly predict response. In contrast, T cell-to-stroma enrichment (TSE) score, computed from gene expression signature data to capture the relative abundance of T cells and stromal cells, predicts response to immunotherapy with high accuracy. Patients with a positive and negative TSE score show progression free survival rates at 6 months of 67 and 0%, respectively. The abundance of T cells and stromal cells, as reflected by the TSE score is confirmed by immunofluorescence in tumor tissue, and its good performance in two independent ICI-treated cohorts of patients with mUC (IMvigor210) and muscle-invasive UC (ABACUS) validate the predictive power of the TSE score. In conclusion, the TSE score represents a clinically applicable metric that potentially supports the prospective selection of patients with mUC for ICI treatment.
Intrinsic dichroism in amorphous and crystalline solids with helical light
Authors: Jain Ashish , Bégin Jean-Luc , Corkum Paul , Karimi Ebrahim , Brabec Thomas , Bhardwaj Ravi
Published: February 2024

Amorphous solids do not exhibit long-range order due to the disordered arrangement of atoms. They lack translational and rotational symmetry on a macroscopic scale and are therefore isotropic. As a result, differential absorption of polarized light, called dichroism, is not known to exist in amorphous solids. Using helical light beams that carry orbital angular momentum as a probe, we demonstrate that dichroism is intrinsic to both amorphous and crystalline solids. We show that in the nonlinear regime, helical dichroism is responsive to the short-range order and its origin is explained in terms of interband multiphoton assisted tunneling. We also demonstrate that the helical dichroism signal is sensitive to chirality and its strength can be controlled and tuned using a superposition of OAM and Gaussian beams. Our research challenges the conventional knowledge that dichroism does not exist in amorphous solids and enables to manipulate the optical properties of solids.
Giant electric field-induced second harmonic generation in polar skyrmions
Authors: Wang Sixu , Li Wei , Deng Chenguang , Hong Zijian , Gao Han-Bin , Li Xiaolong , Gu Yueliang , Zheng Qiang , Wu Yongjun , Evans Paul G. , Li Jing-Feng , Nan Ce-Wen , Li Qian
Published: February 2024

Electric field-induced second harmonic generation allows electrically controlling nonlinear light-matter interactions crucial for emerging integrated photonics applications. Despite its wide presence in materials, the figures-of-merit of electric field-induced second harmonic generation are yet to be elevated to enable novel device functionalities. Here, we show that the polar skyrmions, a topological phase spontaneously formed in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 ferroelectric superlattices, exhibit a high comprehensive electric field-induced second harmonic generation performance. The second-order nonlinear susceptibility and modulation depth, measured under non-resonant 800 nm excitation, reach ~54.2 pm V−1 and ~664% V−1, respectively, and high response bandwidth (higher than 10 MHz), wide operating temperature range (up to ~400 K) and good fatigue resistance (>1010 cycles) are also demonstrated. Through combined in-situ experiments and phase-field simulations, we establish the microscopic links between the exotic polarization configuration and field-induced transition paths of the skyrmions and their electric field-induced second harmonic generation response. Our study not only presents a highly competitive thin-film material ready for constructing on-chip devices, but opens up new avenues of utilizing topological polar structures in the fields of photonics and optoelectronics.