bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complicated Role of Post-translational Modification and Protease-Cleaved Fragments of Tau in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Tauopathies
Authors: Yang Jie , Shen Naiting , Shen Jianying , Yang Ying , Li Hong-Lian
Published: December 2023

Tau, a microtubule-associated protein predominantly localized in neuronal axons, plays a crucial role in promoting microtubule assembly, stabilizing their structure, and participating in axonal transport. Perturbations in tau’s structure and function are implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as tauopathies, the most common disorder of which is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In tauopathies, it has been found that tau has a variety of post-translational modification (PTM) abnormalities and/or tau is cleaved into a variety of fragments by some specific proteolytic enzymes; however, the precise contributions of these abnormal modifications and fragments to disease onset and progression remain incompletely understood. Herein, we provide an overview about the involvement of distinctive abnormal tau PTMs and different tau fragments in the pathogenesis of AD and other tauopathies and discuss the involvement of proteolytic enzymes such as caspases, calpains, and asparagine endopeptidase in mediating tau cleavage while also addressing the intercellular transmission role played by tau. We anticipate that further exploration into PTMs and fragmented forms of tau will yield valuable insights for diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions targeting AD and other related disorders.
Evaluation of Spatio-temporal Variability of a Flood Using the Hydrological Process of Flood Frequency in Ghagra River Basin, India
Authors: Verma Rahul , Rai Suresh Chand
Published: December 2023

The present research study aims to analyze flood frequency to relate flood magnitudes with corresponding return periods. These estimates are crucial for the development of flood-preventive hydrological infrastructures and flood plain zoning, etc. Basin-wide high intensity of rainfall and high discharge from the upper riparian region during monsoon months creates flooding in the middle and lower reaches of the Ghagra River basin. Therefore, the flood estimates for three gauging sites situated on the mainstream of the Ghagra River viz., Elginbridge, Ayodhya, and Turtipar, have been comprehended using the Gumbel distribution (Extreme Value Type I) method and the Log-Pearson Type III distribution method. Flood estimates are calculated for 1.01, 1.05, 1.11, 1.25, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 years return periods considering flood time series of 50 years to reduce estimation uncertainty. The findings of flood frequency analysis (FFA) revealed that the probability of occurrence of the flood is more than 80% at all three sites because Ghagra River can carry around 7800 to 9000 m3/s of water discharge without posing a high risk of levee break. The upper and lower limits of discharge carrying capacity depend on the river’s desiltation process. Hence, the flood occurs almost every year in the basin; its only variation is its severity. The rainfall-runoff relationship is estimated by integrating a simple linear model and for rainfall trend analysis Mann-Kendall is applied. Linear regression analysis-based rainfall-runoff relationship outcomes revealed a significant relationship with a positive correlation coefficient i.e., 0.2722 for Elginbridge, 0.39624 for Ayodhya, and 0.4844 for Turtipar gauging site in the monsoon season but other factors like a high amount of water discharge from dams in upper riparian regions, etc. are also responsible for flooding in the middle and lower reaches. The Mann-Kendall trend analysis shows a decrease in annual average rainfall and rainfall in the monsoon season. Discharge variability indicates the direct relationship between flood fury and changes in climatic patterns in recent decades. This paper identifies that future research is needed to better inform the policy planners who strive to design sustainable infrastructure.
Decadal Variations in Area under Different Soil Erosion Classes using RUSLE and GIS: Case Studies of River Basins from Western and Eastern Arunachal Pradesh
Authors: Vese M. , Mishra P. , Singh W. R. , Lowang P. , Assumi S. , Bandyopadhyay A. , Bhadra A.
Published: December 2023

This study provides a comparative evaluation of spatio-temporal distribution of soil erosion in Western (Mago Basin) and Eastern (Dibang Basin) basins of Arunachal Pradesh, India as these two basins are vulnerably exposed to soil erosion due to its topographical characteristics of mountainous steep slope and experiences heavy rainfall. The study was carried out for a ten-years period (2003 to 2014) using RUSLE model which encompasses five important factors contributing to soil erosion. Rainfall erosivity (R factor) map was calculated using Climate Prediction Center gridded precipitation. Soil map and soil samples were used to analyze soil erodibility (K factor) map. Slope length and slope steepness (LS factor) maps were computed from SRTM DEM (30 m resolution). MODIS NDVI images were used to obtain cover management (C factor) map. Landuse Landcover map was used to obtained support practice (P factor) map. Higher value in rainfall erosivity and cover management factor was observed in Mago basin which contributed to higher average annual soil loss of 17.423 t ha−1 y−1 in Mago basin and 5.461 t ha−1 y−1 in Dibang basin, whereas the other three factor values were almost the same. The spatial maps showed 56.65% of Mago basin area and 76.27% of Dibang basin area was under the class of slight erosion, with the remaining areas of moderate to severe erosion risk for both the basins. Temporal average soil erosion in Mago basin varied within moderate to very high erosion classes whereas Dibang basin erosion classes varied from slight to moderate. The temporal trend line showed that the overall soil erosion was increasing at an alarming rate for Mago basin whereas a slight increase in Dibang basin was observed.
Nature of the Two Episodes of Paleoproterozoic Magmatism (2495 Ma and 2190 Ma) in the Trans-North China Orogen, North China, with Implications for the Tectonic Evolution
Authors: Liu Haiyan , Peng Chong , Zhang Ruiying , Kong Dewei , Jofrisse Cremilda Samuel , Xue Linfu , Pan Baozhi
Published: December 2023

Understanding the temporal and spatial evolution of the North China Craton (NCC) basement, formed by amalgamation, is a crucial issue in global geosciences. The Huozhou complex is situated at the core of the Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO) in the NCC and comprises a considerable number of Palaeoproterozoic granitic gneisses, providing valuable insights into the tectonic evolution of the TNCO. In this study, comprehensive field geological surveys, petrology, chronology, geochemistry, and Hf isotope analysis were conducted to investigate the genesis and tectonic context of the Xingtangsi and Zhengnangou granitic gneisses and elucidate the TNCO’s tectonic evolution. The Xingtangsi granite gneiss yielded a magmatic zircon age of 2495±34 Ma, implying its Palaeo-proterozoic or Archean origin, as previously suggested. Its protolith was I-type peraluminous granite, primarily generated through the partial melting of pre-existing continental crust materials with a small quantity of mantle-derived magma. The Zhengnangou granitic gneiss’s protolith was A-type granite, and its magmatic zircon age was 2,190 ±11 Ma, indicating its Palaeoproterozoic origin rather than Archean. TDM1(Ma) for the Zhengnangou granitic gneiss ranged from 2,424 to 2,498 Ma, TDM2(Ma) varied from 2563 to 2684 Ma, and the εHf(t) value ranged from 1.3 to 3.3. These results suggest that it was primarily derived from newly formed crustal materials without any mantle-derived addition. Integrating our data with the literature, the ∼2.5 Ga magmatic activity in the Huozhou area may have formed in the tectonic setting of the continental arc, and ∼2.2 Ga A-type granite may have formed in a post-collisional extensional environment.
Optimized Mask-RCNN model for particle chain segmentation based on improved online ferrograph sensor
Authors: Wang Shuo , Wan Miao , Wu Tonghai , Bai Zichen , Wang Kunpeng
Published: December 2023

Ferrograph-based wear debris analysis (WDA) provides significant information for wear fault analysis of mechanical equipment. After decades of offline application, this conventional technology is being driven by the online ferrograph sensor for real-time wear state monitoring. However, online ferrography has been greatly limited by the low imaging quality and segmentation accuracy of particle chains when analyzing degraded lubricant oils in practical applications. To address this issue, an integrated optimization method is developed that focuses on two aspects: the structural re-design of the online ferrograph sensor and the intelligent segmentation of particle chains. For enhancing the imaging quality of wear particles, the magnetic pole of the online ferrograph sensor is optimized to enable the imaging system directly observe wear particles without penetrating oils. Furthermore, a light source simulation model is established based on the light intensity distribution theory, and the LED installation parameters are determined for particle illumination uniformity in the online ferrograph sensor. On this basis, a Mask-RCNN-based segmentation model of particle chains is constructed by specifically establishing the region of interest (ROI) generation layer and the ROI align layer for the irregular particle morphology. With these measures, a new online ferrograph sensor is designed to enhance the image acquisition and information extraction of wear particles. For verification, the developed sensor is tested to collect particle images from different degraded oils, and the images are further handled with the Mask-RCNN-based model for particle feature extraction. Experimental results reveal that the optimized online ferrography can capture clear particle images even in highly-degraded lubricant oils, and the illumination uniformity reaches 90% in its imaging field. Most importantly, the statistical accuracy of wear particles has been improved from 67.2% to 94.1%.
Scuffing failure analysis based on a multiphysics coupling model and experimental verification
Authors: Lyu Bugao , Meng Xianghui , Yin Jiabao , Cui Yi , Wang Chengen
Published: December 2023

General reductions in lubricant viscosities and increasing loads in machine components highlight the role of tribofilms in providing surface protection against scuffing. However, the relationship between the scuffing process and the growth and removal of tribofilm is not well understood. In this study, a multiphysics coupling model, which includes hydrodynamic lubrication, asperity contact, thermal effect, tribochemistry reaction, friction, and surface wear, was developed to capture the initiation of surface scuffing. Simulations and experiments for a piston ring and cylinder liner contact were conducted following a step-load sequence under different temperature conditions. The results show that high temperature and extreme load could induce the lubricant film collapse, which in turn triggers the breakdown of the tribofilm due to the significantly increased removal process. The failures of both lubricant film and tribofilm progress instantaneously in a coupling way, which finally leads to severe scuffing.
Ultraviolet-Irradiated All-Organic Nanocomposites with Polymer Dots for High-Temperature Capacitive Energy Storage
Authors: Ding Jiale , Zhou Yao , Xu Wenhan , Yang Fan , Zhao Danying , Zhang Yunhe , Jiang Zhenhua , Wang Qing
Published: December 2023

Polymer dielectrics capable of operating efficiently at high electric fields and elevated temperatures are urgently demanded by next-generation electronics and electrical power systems. While inorganic fillers have been extensively utilized to improved high-temperature capacitive performance of dielectric polymers, the presence of thermodynamically incompatible organic and inorganic components may lead to concern about the long-term stability and also complicate film processing. Herein, zero-dimensional polymer dots with high electron affinity are introduced into photoactive allyl-containing poly(aryl ether sulfone) to form the all-organic polymer composites for high-temperature capacitive energy storage. Upon ultraviolet irradiation, the crosslinked polymer composites with polymer dots are efficient in suppressing electrical conduction at high electric fields and elevated temperatures, which significantly reduces the high-field energy loss of the composites at 200 °C. Accordingly, the ultraviolet-irradiated composite film exhibits a discharged energy density of 4.2 J cm−3 at 200 °C. Along with outstanding cyclic stability of capacitive performance at 200 °C, this work provides a promising class of dielectric materials for robust high-performance all-organic dielectric nanocomposites.
Primary Austenite Morphology and Tensile Strength in CGI for Different C Contents, Cooling Conditions and Nodularity
Authors: Fourlakidis Vasilios , Hernando Juan Carlos , Diószegi Attila
Published: December 2023

Compacted graphite iron (CGI) is a good option for the blocks and cylinder heads in heavy duty engines due to their well-balanced thermal and mechanical properties. In this work, a remelting technique has been utilized for the production of CGI with different nodularity (10 and 20%), C contents (CE=3.5, 3.8, 4.2) and under different solidification and cooling rates. The employed experimental parameters had a sizeable influence on the morphology and fraction of the inter-dendritic structure and resulted in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) that ranged from 335 to 456 MPa and 371 to 521 MPa for the 10 and 20% nodularity, respectively. The results show that the UTS is linearly related to the solidification time and the microstructural parameter that express the scale length of the inter-dendritic region. Different CE and nodularity provide different relationships between UTS, solidification time and microstructure. Finally, an empirical model has been developed for the prediction of the UTS.
Assessing the Yuli surface deformation from the 20220918 Chishang earthquake: an integrated RTK GNSS network approach
Authors: Widiatmoko Fajar Rizki , Yen Jiun-Yee , Yen I-Chin , Huang Shao-Yi , Shih Nai-Wun
Published: December 2023

The 20220918 Chishang earthquake impacted the Yuli area in the Longitudinal Valley of eastern Taiwan. Longitudinal Valley is situated near the boundary of the Philippine Plate and Eurasian Plate boundary with frequent seismicity and historical earthquakes. This study uses RTK GNSS measurements to characterize the 0918 seismic effects, revealing different coseismic displacement patterns in the Central Range, Coastal Range, and Longitudinal Valley blocks. Ruptures were mainly in the Longitudinal Valley, extending into downtown Yuli township. The influence on these geological formations highlights the complex interactions between the structures and underlying tectonic forces. Our investigations show that the Central Range block experienced a 1.17 m SW horizontal displacement and 1.1 m vertical uplift, while the Coastal Range block displayed a 1.18 m NW horizontal displacement and 0.65 m subsidence. The Longitudinal Valley block was divided by recent ruptures, with its western part impacted by the Central Range block, experiencing a 0.79 m SW displacement and 0.63 m uplift, and its eastern part influenced by the Coastal Range block, experiencing a 1.02 m NW displacement and 0.13 m subsidence. Our data indicates that different blocks were all affected differently, reflecting complex relationships between the subsurface faults to the surface fault traces. The result suggests the Central Range Fault have triggered the Yuli Fault for west-side up motion and possess a westward dip connected to the Central Range Fault. The post-seismic surveys reveal complex interactions between the Central Range and Longitudinal Valley Faults, vital for advancing earthquake mitigation strategies.
A Modern Migration Theory
Authors: Hansen Peo
Published: December 2023

Current migration policy is based on a seemingly neutral accounting exercise, in which migrants contribute less in tax than they receive in welfare assistance. A 'fact' that justifies increasingly restrictive asylum policies. Peo Hansen shows that this consensual cost-perspective on migration is built on a flawed economic conception of the orthodox 'sound finance' doctrine prevalent in migration research and policy. By examining migration through the macroeconomic lens offered by modern monetary theory, Hansen is able to demonstrate sound finance's detrimental impact on migration policy and research, including its role in stoking the toxic debate on migration in the European Union. More importantly, Hansen's undertaking offers the tools with which both migration research and migration policy could be modernized and put on a realistic footing.
Banking on the State
Authors: Cassell Mark K.
Published: December 2023

Germany's public savings banks 'Sparkassen' are a remarkable and puzzling phenomena. No other advanced industrial country relies as heavily on such small, public financial institutions to fuel its economy and how is it that such small institutions can drive one of the biggest and most successful economies in the world?

In theory, their diminutive size should hinder their ability to function in an environment where they compete with the capital and muscle of major international banks. Yet at the height of the financial crisis, when other banks drastically reduced lending, new loans made by Sparkassen increased as they continued to provide liquidity and lend to start-up firms. How have they managed to survive the economic turmoil and global pressures of the last few decades? What has enabled them to stay at the heart of the German economy? In a period of neoliberal 'too-big-to-fail' thinking, how have these relics of an ordoliberal past managed to flourish?

Mark Cassell answers these and many other questions in his exploration of the unique entity that is Germany's public savings bank system and the lessons it offers to banking systems worldwide.
Blockchain and the Digital Economy
Authors: Steinmetz Fred , Ante Lennart , Fiedler Ingo
Published: December 2023

Blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt digital interaction across our economy and society. As the internet has changed our lives, the potential for blockchain and distributed ledger technologies to do the same is considerable. Fred Steinmetz, Lennart Ante and Ingo Fiedler assess this rapidly developing technology and its imminent economic and societal impact.

The ideas behind blockchain technology stem from an open-source movement and build on existing technology to facilitate the exchange of value in general and assets in particular via a protocol on top of the internet. Current platform-based business structures face the risk of being replaced by evolving decentralized ecosystems and individuals are set to become empowered by sovereignty over their digital data and footprints.

The book begins by explaining the key concepts of blockchain technology and presents an overview of the involved technical and economic elements. These form the basis for a discussion of the socio-economic implications of this new technology. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of significant case studies in the sectors of energy, digital identity, capital markets, logistics and gambling that outline the risks and benefits of the technology. The book strives to be non-technical and accessible, and to demystify the functionalities of blockchains and their potential for a range of readers in the wider social sciences.
The Strongmen
Authors: Kribbe Hans
Published: December 2023

Seven decades after the liberation of Europe, the strongmen of global politics are back. With a style and strategy of leadership that is anathema to liberal democratic norms and practices, the strongman challenges the principles of consensus and collaboration, willingly tears up trade agreements, invades territory and seeks to provoke and disrupt the status quo in order to achieve advantage.

In this fascinating study of strongman power, Hans Kribbe draws on a range of political ideas to provide insight into the strongman's seemingly irrational and idiosyncratic behaviour to better understand how he (it is always 'he') wields power and to what end.

Although the strongman's behaviour confounds and frustrates his counterparts abroad, Kribbe's analysis offers hope that it can be understood, anticipated and even neutralized. The implication of Kribbe's study is unequivocal: with the world's largest economies, as well as strategic neighbouring states controlled by strongmen, Europe must learn to speak their language if it is to beat them at their own game.
The European Social Question
Authors: Crespy Amandine
Published: December 2023

Over recent years it has become increasingly clear that the European Union is falling short of its promise to enhance social cohesion across the continent. Welfare state modernization has been at the centre of divisive debates over the redistribution of wealth and imbalances between a wealthy European core and its peripheries. Some see the policies and governance of the EU as part of the problem, others rather as the solution.

This book examines the key issues facing the EU's social policy-making. Each chapter focuses on a single challenge and explores the arguments and considerations that coalesce around it. The book helps students and researchers alike to understand how the EU operates and shapes social policy on multiple levels, and to better assess the EU's role in supporting social cohesion.
The Royal Workshops of the Alhambra
Authors: Porras Alberto García , Duckworth Chloë N. , Govantes-Edwards David J.
Published: December 2023

The Alhambra is one of the most famous archaeological sites worldwide, yet knowledge of it remains very partial, focussing on the medieval palaces. This book addresses that imbalance, examining the adjacent urban and industrial zone.
‘Vaccines are for children only’? Some institutional roots of popular scepticism about vaccines for COVID-19 in Sierra Leone
Authors: Mokuwa Esther Yei
Published: December 2023

Vaccines for COVID-19 began to be available in Africa from mid-2021. This paper reports on local reactions to the possibility of vaccination in one West African country, Sierra Leone. We show that the history of institutionalisation of vaccine is highly relevant to understanding these reactions. Given lack of testing for the disease, medical authorities could not be sure whether there was a hidden epidemic. In addition, many people associate vaccination with care of children under 5 years, and not adults, and an emphasis on vaccinating the old at first seemed strange and worrying. This paper examines evidence from ethnographic studies in two rural areas selected for varying exposure to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), supplemented by some interviews in two provincial urban centres, Bo and Kenema. We describe local ideas about vaccination (maklet) and body marking with leaf medicine (tεwi). We asked about attitudes to the idea of COVID-19 vaccination both before and after vaccines were available. A number of reasons were given for scepticism and hesitation. These included lack of experience with vaccines for adults and lack of experience of COVID-19 as a severe disease. Medical evidence suggests the vaccination protects against serious illness, but local people had their own views about control of infection, based both recent experience (notably EVD) and the history and institutionalisation of vaccination and public health measures in Sierra Leone more broadly.
Minding Creation: an overview
Authors: Leidenhag Joanna
Published: December 2023

The doctrine of creation is a teaching shared across many faith traditions that requires urgent interdisciplinary attention today. Joanna Leidenhag's book Minding Creation considers how the philosophy of panpsychism might be beneficial to the Christian articulation of creation. This article is an overview of the book, in order to contextualize the four responses and author's reply that follows.
‘From all quarters of the Indian world’: the temple at Rameshvaram, Hindu kings, and Dutch merchants
Authors: Bes Lennart , Branfoot Crispin
Published: December 2023

On Rameshvaram island in the south-east corner of India lies one of Hinduism's most important temples—the Rāmanāthasvāmi, one of the four dhams (‘holy abodes’) and the site of two Śiva-liṅgas said to have been consecrated by Rāma himself. A temple has existed here since at least the eleventh century, although most of the present temple dates to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when the island was protected by the Setupati rulers of nearby Ramnad. In several of the long corridors and halls for which this temple is famous are brightly painted life-sized standing images of over 100 male figures attached to columns. Though such images are characteristic of many south Indian temples from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, there are far more at Rameshvaram than at any other south Indian temple. This article examines the number, location, and significance of these numerous standing images within this temple. By exploring the significance of the temple as a long-standing site for the royal performance of devotion, this article seeks to address whether the great number and identity of the life-sized donor images can be explained by both Purāṇic ideas of kingship and seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Dutch observations of the pan-Indian status of the temple.
New Zealand household purchases of sugar-sweetened, artificially sweetened, and unsweetened beverages: 2015–2019
Authors: Eyles Helen , Dodd Sah , Garton Kelly K , Jiang Yannan , Gontijo de Castro Teresa
Published: December 2023

Objective:

To assess annual household purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), artificially sweetened beverages (AFSBs), and unsweetened beverages (USBs) by household composition and income, and over time.

Design:

Observational cohort study using beverage purchasing data linked to a supermarket database. ANOVA was used to compare total household purchase volumes (L) and the contribution of beverages purchased by category, household composition (size), household income (four categories from New Zealand (NZ) < $30 000 to > $90 000), and over time (trend from 2015 to 2019).

Setting:

Aotearoa NZ.

Participants:

∼1800 households in the NielsenIQ Homescan® market research panel.

Results:

In 2019, the mean (sd) annual household purchase volume and relative contribution to total beverage volume of SSBs were 72·3 (93·0) L and 33 %, respectively. Corresponding values for AFSBs were 32·5 (79·3) L (15 %), and USBs were 112·5 (100·9) L (52 %). Larger households purchased more of all beverage types except AFSBs. Total purchases were similar by income, but households earning < $NZ 30 000 purchased fewer AFSBs and USBs (but not SSBs) than households earning > $NZ 90 000. Total and USB purchases were unchanged over time, but SSBs dropped by 5·9 L (P-trend = 0·04), and AFSBs increased by 5·3 L (P-trend = 0·00).

Conclusions:

USBs contributed the most to household beverage purchases. Total purchases were higher for larger households and similar by income, including for SSBs. The reduction over time was too small for health benefits. Findings support policies and interventions to reduce SSB consumption and highlight the importance of focusing on equitable outcomes.
CNL2ASP: Converting Controlled Natural Language Sentences into ASP
Authors: CARUSO SIMONE , DODARO CARMINE , MARATEA MARCO , MOCHI MARCO , RICCIO FRANCESCO
Published: December 2023

Answer set programming (ASP) is a popular declarative programming language for solving hard combinatorial problems. Although ASP has gained widespread acceptance in academic and industrial contexts, there are certain user groups who may find it more advantageous to employ a higher-level language that closely resembles natural language when specifying ASP programs. In this paper, we propose a novel tool, called CNL2ASP, for translating English sentences expressed in a controlled natural language (CNL) form into ASP. In particular, we first provide a definition of the type of sentences allowed by our CNL and their translation as ASP rules and then exemplify the usage of the CNL for the specification of both synthetic and real-world combinatorial problems. Finally, we report the results of an experimental analysis conducted on the real-world problems to compare the performance of automatically generated encodings with the ones written by ASP practitioners, showing that our tool can obtain satisfactory performance on these benchmarks.
The Lazy Legislature: Incorporating and Horizontalising the Charter of Fundamental Rights through Secondary Union Law
Authors: Mast Tobias , Ollig Christian
Published: December 2023

Constitutionalising private law – Horizontal effect of fundamental rights –New legislative techniques in the EU in platform governance – References to the Charter of Fundamental Rights in secondary union law – Article 14(4) of the Digital Services Act – Article 5(1) subparagraph 2 of the Terrorist Content Online Regulation – Compatibility of secondary union law references to the Charter with primary union law – Interpretative methodology of secondary union law references
Participatory approaches for water monitoring and harvesting: Case study from India
Authors: Chinnasamy Pennan , Gupta Meeta
Published: December 2023

North Gujarat in India currently extracts three billion cubic meters of groundwater per year, which is up to 95% of the groundwater resources available in the region. This unsustainable abstraction has led to changes in groundwater levels and created water scarcity in many parts of the region. To address these issues, integrated groundwater resource management is required, which should be driven by good quality and quantity of groundwater data. However, current groundwater data are scarce; thus, new, affordable monitoring approaches are necessary. Participatory and community-based monitoring involving citizen scientists provides an approach to complement existing government-run monitoring. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing a large-scale groundwater level monitoring wells network by directly involving farmers in two agriculturally-dominated blocks in North Gujarat, India. First, long-term groundwater level data for government-monitored wells were analyzed, and the regions lacking monitoring were identified. Then a network of 43 farmers was established through the field survey, who were trained to provide groundwater level observations for their wells every month. The data collected through the field survey were then integrated with the data from the existing government monitoring programs to understand the groundwater dynamics in the region. Results for the post-monsoon season 2022 show that the groundwater levels in Unjha block (Mehsana district) have declined to more than 100 meters below ground level due to unsustainable pumping for irrigation. The evaluation of the participatory approach showed that concern for existing groundwater challenges, social inclusion and contribution to scientific knowledge were the top three reasons that motivated farmers to participate in this research. Of the total volunteering farmers, 71% have shown interest in providing long-term observations for up to 3 years, and 57% agreed to provide observations weekly. Additionally, 70% of the farmers agreed to engage fellow farmers in groundwater monitoring, and 50% agreed to train new farmers. Thus, this study shows that farmers can play an important role in improving the existing challenges of groundwater monitoring through participatory training, and the integration of primary and secondary data can lead to better decision-making regarding need for well construction, crop selection, recharge methods and pathways for sustainable groundwater management.
Personal Exposure to Source‐Specific Particulate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Systemic Inflammation: A Cross‐Sectional Study of Urban‐Dwelling Older Adults in China
Authors: Xu Jia , Zhang Nan , Zhang Yujuan , Li Penghui , Han Jinbao , Gao Shuang , Wang Xinhua , Geng Chunmei , Yang Wen , Zhang Liwen , Han Bin , Bai Zhipeng
Published: December 2023

Environmental exposure to ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can disturb the immune response. However, the evidence on adverse health effects caused by exposure to PAHs emitted from specific sources among different vulnerable subpopulations is limited. In this cross‐sectional study, we aimed to evaluate whether exposure to source‐specific PAHs could increase systemic inflammation in older adults. The present study included community‐dwelling older adults and collected ﬁlter samples of personal exposure to PM2.5 during the winter of 2011. Blood samples were collected after the PM2.5 sample collection. We analyzed PM2.5 bound PAHs and serum inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)1β, IL6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels. The Positive Matrix Factorization model was used to identify PAH sources. We used a linear regression model to assess the relative eﬀects of source‐specific PM2.5 bound PAHs on the levels of measured inflammatory cytokines. After controlling for confounders, exposure to PAHs emitted from biomass burning or diesel vehicle emission was significantly associated with increased serum inflammatory cytokines and systemic inflammation. These findings highlight the importance of considering exposure sources in epidemiological studies and controlling exposures to organic materials from specific sources.
Extremely Distant Magnetopause Locations Caused by Magnetosheath Jets
Authors: Němeček Z. , Šafránková J. , Grygorov K. , Mokrý A. , Pi G. , Aghabozorgi Nafchi M. , Němec F. , Xirogiannopoulou N. , Šimůnek J.
Published: December 2023

Magnetopause position is controlled mainly by the solar wind dynamic pressure and north‐south interplanetary magnetic field component and these quantities are included in different empirical magnetopause models. We have collected about 50,000 of dayside magnetopause crossings observed by THEMIS in course of 2007–2019 and compared the observed magnetopause position with model prediction. The difference between observed and predicted magnetopause radial distance, Robs − Rmod is used for quantifying the model‐observation agreement. Its median values are well predicted for cases up to Robs ≈ 12 RE for all models but higher positive deviations are found for larger magnetopause distances, mainly under a nearly radial field and low dynamic pressure. The analysis reveals their connection with transient magnetopause displacements caused by strong sunward flows in the magnetosheath. We discuss the possible origin of the observed magnetosheath flow switching in terms of the interaction of magnetosheath jets with the magnetopause.
Identifying Perturbations That Tipped the Stratosphere Into a Sudden Warming During January 2013
Authors: Kent Chris , Scaife Adam A. , Seviour William J. M. , Dunstone Nick , Smith Doug , Smout‐Day Kerry
Published: December 2023

We present a new methodology demonstrating that specific small‐magnitude regional perturbations can cause large systematic responses in subseasonal predictions. We show this with ensemble forecasts of the January 2013 Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) from an operational long‐range global prediction system. In forecast members which predict the SSW, tropospheric ridging over the North Atlantic is strengthened 10 days prior to the event. This subsequently enhances planetary wave forcing and weakens the stratospheric polar vortex. Transplanting tropospheric conditions in this region from “correct” to “incorrect” forecasts (and vice versa) significantly alters the SSW forecast probability. The occurrence of this SSW is therefore strongly controlled by the troposphere several days prior. Tipping more members into a sudden warming also significantly affects surface predictions the following month. Despite chaotic behavior of the climate system, small‐magnitude synoptic‐scale perturbations can drive different dynamical states and systematically impact medium and long‐range predictions.
Connection Between Chorus Wave Amplitude and Background Magnetic Field Inhomogeneity: A Parametric Study
Authors: Wu Zeyin , Huang Hua , Wu Yifan , Tao Xin , Katoh Yuto , Wang Xiaogang
Published: December 2023

Whistler mode chorus waves frequently appear as discrete, repetitive, and quasi‐monochromatic emissions with frequency chirping. With different wave amplitude and frequency chirping rate, chorus waves have been observed not only in the magnetosphere of the Earth but also in the magnetospheres of other planets, such as Saturn and Jupiter. Motivated by understanding different properties of chorus waves at these planets using the recently proposed “Trap‐Release‐Amplify” (TaRA) model, we perform a parametric study using Particle‐In‐Cell simulations by varying background magnetic field inhomogeneity and the corresponding threshold hot electron number density. We show the consistency between simulation results and theoretical predictions for threshold hot electron number density, chorus chirping rate, and wave amplitude. Our results suggest the significant role of the background magnetic field inhomogeneity in affecting chorus wave properties, including its amplitude at different planets as predicted by the TaRA model.
Bayesian Inversion of Lithology and Liquid Phase Parameters From Seismic Velocity and Electrical Conductivity in the Crust and Uppermost Mantle
Authors: Kuwatani Tatsu , Nagata Kenji , Sakai Toshimoto , Iwamori Hikaru
Published: December 2023

To deeply understand various geodynamic processes, including volcanic activities and earthquakes, it is essential to extract detailed information about Earth materials, such as lithology and geofluid, from geophysical, petrological, and geochemical observations of Earth's interior. We developed a Bayesian probabilistic framework that can estimate the lithology and geofluid type (aqueous fluid or melt), geofluid amount (porosity), and parameters related to the fluid geometry (aspect ratio and critical fluid fraction related to connectivity) from P‐wave and S‐wave seismic velocities and electrical conductivity data obtained from geophysical tomography. By conducting synthetic inversion tests, we showed that methods based on a joint probability distribution, which simultaneously determines all parameters, sometimes fail to narrow the number of possible answers from 78 lithologies (e.g., basalt, granite, and eclogite) × two geofluid type (melt or aqueous fluid) candidate sets. This failure is derived directly from the difficult nature of inversion problems with relatively large data uncertainties. The proposed method uses a marginalization technique that first estimates lithology and geofluid type and then quantifies geofluid parameter values, which can narrow the probable lithology, geofluid type, and geofluid parameter sets in many cases. In addition, the computational cost of the proposed marginalization method is comparative to a former joint‐estimation method, which is theoretically identical to a previous heuristic method based on the least squares method. Therefore, the marginalization method is useful for geophysical data analyses that involve large amounts of observational data with relatively large uncertainties.
A Diffuse Interface Method for Earthquake Rupture Dynamics Based on a Phase‐Field Model
Authors: Hayek Jorge N. , May Dave A. , Pranger Casper , Gabriel Alice‐Agnes
Published: December 2023

In traditional modeling approaches, earthquakes are often depicted as displacement discontinuities across zero‐thickness surfaces embedded within a linear elastodynamic continuum. This simplification, however, overlooks the intricate nature of natural fault zones and may fail to capture key physical phenomena integral to fault processes. Here, we propose a diffuse interface description for dynamic earthquake rupture modeling to address these limitations and gain deeper insight into fault zones' multifaceted volumetric failure patterns, mechanics, and seismicity. Our model leverages a steady‐state phase‐field, implying time‐independent fault zone geometry, which is defined by the contours of a signed distance function relative to a virtual fault plane. Our approach extends the classical stress glut method, adept at approximating fault‐jump conditions through inelastic alterations to stress components. We remove the sharp discontinuities typically introduced by the stress glut approach via our spatially smooth, mesh‐independent fault representation while maintaining the method's inherent logical simplicity within the well‐established spectral element method framework. We verify our approach using 2D numerical experiments in an open‐source spectral element implementation, examining both a kinematically driven Kostrov‐like crack and spontaneous dynamic rupture in diffuse fault zones. The capabilities of our methodology are showcased through mesh‐independent planar and curved fault zone geometries. Moreover, we highlight that our phase‐field‐based diffuse rupture dynamics models contain fundamental variations within the fault zone. Dynamic stresses intertwined with a volumetrically applied friction law give rise to oblique plastic shear and fault reactivation, markedly impacting rupture front dynamics and seismic wave radiation. Our results encourage future applications of phase‐field‐based earthquake modeling.
Updating Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound (BVOC) Emissions With Locally Measured Emission Factors in South China and the Effect on Modeled Ozone and Secondary Organic Aerosol Production
Authors: Wang Peng , Zhang Yanli , Gong Haixing , Zhang Hongliang , Guenther Alex , Zeng Jianqiang , Wang Tao , Wang Xinming
Published: December 2023

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted from terrestrial plants contribute substantially to ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in the troposphere. Accurate estimation of BVOC emissions is highly challengeable with a variety of uncertainties, one of which is the use of default emission factors (EFs) particularly for underrepresented regions without local data. In this study, locally measured BVOC‐EFs in south China, a subtropical region with abundant vegetation, were used to update regional BVOC emissions as estimated by the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN). These EFs were recently determined in situ with characterized dynamic chambers for the emissions of isoprene, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes from tree species. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model was then employed to see how much the regional O3 and SOA production is altered with the updated BVOC emissions. Results revealed lower BVOC emission estimates in south China when using the localized EFs than the MEGAN default ones, particularly for sesquiterpenes with a notable average reduction rate of approximately 40%. Using the updated BVOC emissions improved model O3 predictions in all seasons when compared to surface O3 monitoring, yet the lower BVOC emissions resulted in modeled O3 and SOA concentrations decreased by up to −6 ppb and −1.5 μg m−3, respectively, throughout south China. This study highlights the significance of localized EFs in refining emission estimates and air quality predictions in regions with a wealth of vegetation.
Implementation of the Novel Duo‐Grid in GFDL's FV3 Dynamical Core
Authors: Mouallem Joseph , Harris Lucas , Chen Xi
Published: December 2023

The gnomonic cubed‐sphere grid has excellent accuracy and uniformity, but the “kink” in the coordinates at the cube edges in the halo region can leave an imprint of the cube in the solution, and requires special edge handling. To reduce grid imprinting, we implement the novel “Duo‐Grid” within the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's (GFDL) Finite‐Volume Cubed‐Sphere Dynamical Core (FV3). The Duo‐Grid remaps a cube face's data from neighboring face from kinked to natural locations along great circle lines using 1D piecewise linear interpolation. A 2D interpolation algorithm is used to fill correct data at the eight corners of the cubed‐sphere needed for FV3's 2D advection scheme. The Duo‐Grid was tested in idealized tests using the 2D shallow water solver and the 3D hydrostatic and non‐hydrostatic solvers. We found that error norms are greatly reduced and grid imprinting is practically eliminated when employing the Duo‐Grid. These results indicate that FV3's accuracy and robustness have improved.
A Systematic Role for Extreme Ocean‐Atmosphere Oscillations in the Development of Glacial Conditions Since the Mid Pleistocene Transition
Authors: Barker Stephen , Knorr Gregor
Published: December 2023

We introduce a new hypothesis concerning the role of internal climate dynamics in the non‐linear transitions from interglacial to glacial (IG‐G) state since the Mid Pleistocene Transition (MPT). These transitions encompass large and abrupt changes in atmospheric CO2, ice volume, and temperature that we suggest involve critical interactions between insolation and high amplitude oscillations in ocean/atmosphere circulation patterns. Specifically, we highlight the large amplitude of millennial‐scale climate oscillations across the transition from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 to 4, which we argue led to amplified cooling of the deep ocean and we demonstrate that analogous episodes of extreme cooling systematically preceded glacial periods of the last 800 kyr. We suggest that such cooling necessitates a reconfiguration of the deep ocean to avoid a density paradox between northern and southern‐sourced deep waters (SSW), which could be accomplished by increasing the relative volume and or salinity of SSW, thus providing the necessary storage capacity for the subsequent (delayed) and relatively abrupt drawdown of CO2. We therefore explain the transient decoupling of Antarctic temperature from CO2 across MIS 5/4 as a direct consequence of millennial activity at that time. We further show that similar climatic decoupling typically occurred during times of low obliquity and was a ubiquitous feature of IG‐G transitions over the past 800 kyr, producing the appearance of bimodality in records of CO2, benthic δ18O and others. Finally we argue that the apparent lack of bimodality in the pre‐MPT record of benthic δ18O implies that the dynamics associated with IG‐G transitions changed across the MPT.