Dominant Source Research Articles

This is not fiction: Russia and the Soviet Union in Finnish translated nonfiction in 2000–2023

ABSTRACT This study examined nonfiction literature on Russia or the Soviet Union, referred to as the ‘topic culture,’ published in Finland between 2000 and 2023. My aim was to provide a description of the characteristics of nonfiction literature on Russia or the Soviet Union published in Finnish during this period, to map the source languages and cultures of the publications, and to identify their topics and themes. An attempt was made to find links between the numbers and topics of translations and political events. The theoretical basis for this macro-level, mostly qualitative analysis is Toury's (1995/2012) concept of translation policy and attitudes toward indirect translation in the target culture. The topics and themes of the translated works were analyzed by examining the back cover texts or other descriptions of works available from the National Library of Finland and publishers’ websites. The study shows that a variety of topics and themes have been published, the most common being personal history, war history, and societal development. Russian was the most common source language at the beginning of the survey period but has been replaced by English as the dominant source language.

Oceanic evasion fuels Arctic summertime rebound of atmospheric mercury and drives transport to Arctic terrestrial ecosystems

Mercury (Hg) contamination poses a persistent threat to the remote Arctic ecosystem, yet the mechanisms driving the pronounced summer rebound of atmospheric gaseous elemental Hg (Hg0) and its subsequent fate remain unclear due to limitations in large-scale seasonal studies. Here, we use an integrated atmosphere–land–sea-ice–ocean model to simulate Hg cycling in the Arctic comprehensively. Our results indicate that oceanic evasion is the dominant source (~80%) of the summer Hg0 rebound, particularly driven by seawater Hg0 release facilitated by seasonal ice melt (~42%), with further contributions from anthropogenic deposition and terrestrial re-emissions. Enhanced Hg0 dry deposition across the Arctic coastal regions, especially in the Arctic tundra, during the summer rebound highlights the potential transport of Hg from the pristine Arctic Ocean to Arctic terrestrial ecosystems. Arctic warming, with a transition from multi-year to first-year ice and tundra greening, is expected to amplify oceanic Hg evasion and intensify Hg0 uptake by the Arctic tundra due to increased vegetation growth, underlining the urgent need for continued research to evaluate Hg mitigation strategies effectively in the context of a changing Arctic.

Evaluating sources of mercury in Canada's Mackenzie River.

Arctic rivers may be the largest net sources of mercury (Hg) to the Arctic Ocean, yet riverine sources of Hg remain poorly characterized compared to atmospheric processes. This article reviews the current state of knowledge on Hg inputs to the Mackenzie River and Valley in Northern Canada from six point and non-point sources. Point sources include the locations of mines, fossil fuel extraction facilities, and retrogressive permafrost thaw slumps. Non-point sources are assessed through models of Hg release from anthropogenic and wildfire-derived atmospheric Hg deposition (GEM-MACH-Hg), permafrost thaw (SiBCASA), and rainfall-induced soil erosion (RUSLE). Ongoing anthropogenic activity is likely a minor contributor to Hg levels in the Mackenzie Valley as production from the fossil fuel and mining industries have steadily declined over the past two decades. Conversely, Hg inputs from atmospheric deposition, permafrost thaw, and permafrost thaw slumps have increased due to climate change and the re-emission of legacy Hg. The widespread influence of atmospheric Hg deposition makes it the dominant source of Hg to both aquatic and terrestrial systems in the Mackenzie Valley, although soil erosion inputs, while higher, are restricted to regions of steep terrain. Climate-driven increases in terrestrial Hg release, particularly from permafrost degradation and erosion, are emerging as key localized drivers of Hg inputs in the Mackenzie Valley.

HIV-1 drug resistance and genetic transmission networks among patients with sexually transmitted HIV in Ningxia, China

BackgroundOver the past decade, sexual transmission has become a dominant source of new HIV-1 infection in China. However, very few studies have been conducted to characterize the two sexual transmissions, homosexual and heterosexual transmission. This study was conducted to better understand the relationship between genotypes, drug resistance, and molecular transmission networks in two groups of sexually transmitted HIV-1 in Ningxia, China.MethodsPlasma samples were collected from sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS patients in Ningxia between 2020 and 2021 for RNA extraction followed by HIV-1 genome sequencing, genotype and drug resistance analyses. The TN93 model in HyPhy2.2.4 with 1.25% as the threshold, was used to calculate the gene distance, and Cytoscape3.7.0 was used to generate a visual molecular transmission network.ResultsA total of 269 samples were successfully sequenced, and 10 HIV-1 subtypes were detected. The two most common subtypes were CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. All 10 subtypes were detected in heterosexually transmitted patients, and 7 subtypes were found in homosexually transmitted patients who were exclusively men sex with men (MSM). The drug resistance rates of heterosexual individuals and MSMs were 45.34 and 33.33%, respectively. Sequences from 120 patients entered the molecular transmission network, forming 35 clusters. The clustering rate for MSM (52.78%) was higher than that of heterosexual individuals (39.13%). Some MSM and HSTs were involved in the same cluster and might act as bridges for transmission between the two populations.ConclusionOur data showed that heterosexually transmitted HIV-1 was more likely to be a drug-resistant virus, whereas MSM was more likely to contract viruses through network connection. It is strongly recommended that resistance testing be conducted before ART to improve effective treatment and reduce the spread of resistant viruses. Molecular networks can help to identify transmission clusters and provide more precise interventions.

The Dominant Source Mechanism of Infrasound Generation in Powder Snow Avalanches

AbstractPowder snow avalanches (PSAs) radiate infrasound energy, yet the source mechanism remains unclear, limiting hazard monitoring and mitigation with infrasound‐based technologies. Here, we analyze a unique data set from a large PSA to improve the understanding of the source mechanism. Through comparison of cluster activity within the airborne layers of the PSA and the recorded infrasound signal in the frequency domain, we demonstrate that infrasound is mainly generated from particle clusters suspended by turbulent eddies or ejected from the denser basal layer. Further correlating infrasound amplitudes with radar‐derived spatial distributions of these clusters, we reveal a distributed source extending hundreds of meters behind the avalanche front. Additionally, we establish a relationship between infrasound and kinetic energy of suspended particles. These findings deepen our understanding of the complex dynamics of infrasound generation, offering valuable insights for avalanche detection and early warning strategies, and fundamental comprehension of PSA dynamics.

Signatures of high-redshift galactic outflows in the thermal Sunyaev Zel’dovich effect

Abstract Anisotropies of the Sunyaev Zel’dovich (SZ) effect serve as a powerful probe of the thermal history of the universe. At high redshift, hot galactic outflows driven by supernovae (SNe) can inject a significant amount of thermal energy into the intergalactic medium, causing a strong y-type distortion of the CMB spectrum through inverse Compton scattering. The resulting anisotropies of the y-type distortion are sensitive to key physical properties of high-z galaxies pertaining to the launch of energetic SNe-driven outflows, such as the efficiency and the spatio-temporal clustering of star formation. We develop a simple analytic framework to calculate anisotropies of y-type distortion associated with SNe-powered outflows of galaxies at z > 6. We show that galactic outflows are likely the dominant source of thermal energy injection, compared to contributions from reionized bubbles and gravitational heating. We further show that next-generation CMB experiments such as LiteBIRD are likely to detect the contribution to y anisotropies from high-z galactic outflows through the cross-correlation with surveys of Lyman-break galaxies by e.g. the Roman Space Telescope. Our analysis and forecasts demonstrate that thermal SZ anisotropies can be a promising probe of SN feedback and outflows in early star-forming galaxies.

Provenance of late Pleistocene loess in central and eastern Europe: isotopic evidence for dominant local sediment sources

Loess profiles along the Danube River provide a record of long-term Quaternary dust (loess) deposition in central-eastern Europe. Here, Sr–Nd isotopic data from four loess-palaeosol profiles (47 samples) spanning the last two-glacial-interglacial cycles are presented. The isotopic compositions generated by this study are compared with bedrock and sedimentary samples from Europe and North Africa to decipher the sources of sediment. The results demonstrate that over the last 300 ka the alluvial plains of the Danube (which are themselves sourced from surrounding mountain belts) are a local source of material and consequently sediment experiences aeolian transport over relatively short distances. The results dispute the commonly held assumption that the Sahara was a sediment contributor to loess in central-eastern Europe as North African contributions are not needed to explain loess signatures. Consequently, the findings suggest a suppressed southerly wind direction and dominance of the westerly and north-westerly wind systems over the entirety of the record.

NORDIC denoising on VASO data.

The use of submillimeter resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is increasing in popularity due to the prospect of studying human brain activation non-invasively at the scale of cortical layers and columns. This method, known as laminar fMRI, is inherently signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-limited, especially at lower field strengths, with the dominant noise source being of thermal origin. Furthermore, laminar fMRI is challenged with signal displacements due to draining vein effects in conventional gradient-echo blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) imaging contrasts. fMRI contrasts such as cerebral blood volume (CBV)-sensitive vascular space occupancy (VASO) sequences have the potential to mitigate draining vein effects. However, VASO comes along with another reduction in detection sensitivity. NOise Reduction with DIstribution Corrected (NORDIC) PCA (principal component analysis) is a denoising technique specifically aimed at suppressing thermal noise, which has proven useful for increasing the SNR of high-resolution functional data. While NORDIC has been examined for BOLD acquisitions, its application to VASO data has been limited, which was the focus of the present study. We present a preliminary analysis to evaluate NORDIC's capability to suppress thermal noise while preserving the VASO signal across a wide parameter space at 3T. For the data presented here, with a proper set of parameters, NORDIC reduced thermal noise with minimal bias on the underlying signal and preserved spatial resolution. Denoising performance was found to vary with different implementation strategies and parameter choices, for which we provide recommendations. We conclude that when applied properly, NORDIC has the potential to overcome the sensitivity limitations of laminar-specific VASO fMRI. Since very few groups currently have 3T VASO data, by sharing our analysis and code, we can compile and compare the effects of NORDIC across a broader range of acquisition parameters and study designs. Such a communal effort will help develop robust recommendations that will increase the utility of laminar fMRI at lower field strengths.

Nuclear Spins in a Solid Exceeding 10-Hour Coherence Times for Ultra-Long-Term Quantum Storage

Long-term quantum storage for quantum communication applications will require optically accessible states with coherence times exceeding the desired storage time. Ground-state hyperfine levels in Eu3+:Y2SiO5 have previously shown coherence times as long as 6 h at 1.4 K when operated at a zero-first-order-Zeeman (ZEFOZ) point. Here, we have characterized the limiting decoherence mechanisms acting in this regime, which shows that the coherence time is limited by the presence of spin impurities. This dephasing effect has been suppressed by cooling the sample to 125 mK, resulting in an extension in the coherence time to over 13 h. In the absence of these impurities, the dominant source of dephasing is the field inhomogeneity of the ZEFOZ point arising from the spin inhomogeneous broadening. We have shown that coherence times over 18 h can be achieved by operating using a spectrally narrow subensemble selected from within the inhomogeneous line. The observed coherence time is longer than that of any other system suitable for an optical quantum memory. Furthermore, at a much higher temperature of 6 K, we have realized a 6-h coherence time, which has been obtainable using single-stage cryocoolers. These results imply advanced engineering feasibility in designing and operating future quantum information-storage devices for a wide range of applications, including in satellites. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Ambient air pollution and carcinogenic activity at three different urban locations.

Measurements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were simultaneously carried out at three different urban locations in Croatia (Zagreb, Slavonski Brod and Vinkovci) characterized as urban residential (UR), urban industrial (UI) and urban background (UB), respectively. This was done in order to determine seasonal and spatial variations, estimate dominant pollution sources for each area and estimate the lifetime carcinogenic health risks from atmospheric PAHs. Mass concentrations of PAHs showed seasonal variation with the highest values during the colder period and the lowest concentration during the warmer period of the year. The contribution of four- and five-ring PAHs to the total PAH concentrations was slightly lower during the warmer period of the year at all locations, while the contribution of six-ring PAHs was higher in the warmer period compared to the colder one. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between temperature and PM10 and temperature and PAHs during the cold season, while in the warm period correlation with temperature was negative for PAHs and positive for PM10. Different statistical methods were used to estimate possible dominant pollution sources for each tested area. The obtained results indicated petrogenic and pyrogenic sources, petroleum combustion, and vehicle emission as dominant sources at the UR and UB locations, while vehicle emission, biomass and coal burning, and pyrogenic sources were recognized as dominant sources at the UI location. Cancer risk values obtained during the analysis were at an acceptable limit level, which was between 10-6 and 10-4 (values higher than 10-4 indicate high probable health risks).

Vertical and horizontal variabilities of ammonia in an agricultural area of Southeast China.

Ammonia (NH3) plays a crucial role in the global nitrogen cycle, the increased NH3 emissions from agricultural activities impacting air, soil, water quality, and human health. Accurately estimating both the vertical and horizontal transport distances of NH3 are important for effective pollution control. Therefore, we used a helium-filled balloon mounted sampler to analyze the vertical profiles of NH3 emissions and their seasonal variations in an agricultural area of southeast China. The annual mean concentration of NH3 in this area was 6.49±0.39μgm⁻3. Vertical measurements revealed a gradual and steady decrease with increasing height, though no significant variation detected between different heights. Seasonal variations showed that the highest concentration occurred in summer (9.98±0.11μgm⁻3) and the lowest in winter (4.65±0.02μgm⁻3). Concentrations in summer significantly higher than those in the other three seasons. NH3 concentrations during the fertilizer application period were much higher than those in the non-fertilizer application time. We also monitored the horizontal transport distance of NH3 after fertilization. It is indicated that NH3 concentrations emitted from agricultural activities decreased exponentially with horizontal transport distance and could only be transported over short distances, up to 250m. Therefore, local emissions are the dominant source of atmospheric NH3. Abetments such as enhanced-efficiency fertilizer could reduce agriculture NH3 emission to promote air quality.

Dynamic Methane Emissions from China's Fossil-Fuel and Food Systems: Socioeconomic Drivers and Policy Optimization Strategies.

In response to the 2023 "Action Plan for Methane Emission Control" in China, which mandates precise methane (CH4) emission accounting, we developed a dynamic model to estimate CH4 emissions from fossil-fuel and food systems in China for the period 1990-2020. We also analyzed their socioeconomic drivers through the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model. Our analysis revealed an accelerated emission increase (850.4 Gg/year) during 2005-2015, compared to 570.4 Gg/year in the preceding period (1990-2005), with a downward trend (-1216.6 Gg/year) detected after 2015. The fossil-fuel system was the primary contributor to these changes, with emissions positively correlated with per capita GDP and negatively influenced by energy intensity at the production stage and wastewater discharge intensity at the disposal stage. In the food system, CH4 emission intensity and waste treatment practices were the most significant negative drivers at production and disposal stages, respectively. Urbanization also played a notable role, contributing to 19.3% and 18.1% in livestock and rice cultivation emission reductions, respectively. Despite the observed changes, coal mining, livestock, and rice remain the dominant sources of CH4 emissions. Our findings suggest that effective CH4 emission mitigation can be achieved through strategies such as reducing energy intensity, improving agricultural production efficiency, and advancing urbanization efforts.

Do ice-dam rupture events leave a distinctive signature in proglacial lake sediments?

Abstract Lake sediment provides a valuable record of past environmental change. However, the controls on sedimentation in proglacial lakes and their relation to glacier retreat remain poorly understood. In this study we analyze glaciolacustrine sediment production and deposition in Canal de los Témpanos, Lago Argentino, Argentine Patagonia. We associate temporal changes in the sedimentologic and geochemical characteristics analyzed from Lago Argentino cores with Late Holocene fluctuations of the Perito Moreno and Ameghino glaciers. We show that the dominant sediment source at our study site switched from Ameghino to Perito Moreno Glacier after the recession of Ameghino Glacier and the formation of the marginal ice-contact lake into which it currently calves. Spectacular ice-dam rupture events generated by Perito Moreno Glacier redistribute large volumes of water through the lake system but do not leave a significant sedimentary signature. Our results demonstrate that a detailed analysis of sedimentologic, petrophysical, and geochemical changes in lake cores can provide insight into regional glacial dynamics and sedimentary processes even in complex systems with multiple competing glacial sources and that changing glacier geometries during retreat can provide insights into the provenience of the sediments.

Pulse-profile Modeling and Spin–Orbit Alignment in a Suzaku Sample of Accreting X-Ray Binary Pulsars

We report pulse-profile modeling of a sample of 23 X-ray binary pulsars observed with the Suzaku X-ray satellite. These pulsars have spin periods ranging from 0.7 to 9400 s, and their X-ray emission is powered by the accretion from their stellar companions. We fitted each individual pulse profile with the Polestar geometric model, which accounts for X-ray emission from two hot spots modeled as a simple combination of fan+pencil beam components, including an approximation for gravitational light bending. In 14 of 21 cases, our measurements of the inclinations of the pulsar spin axes broadly agree with the corresponding inclinations of the orbital planes of the binary systems determined by various other means, a striking outcome with a mere 6 × 10−7 probability of occurring by chance. The implications of our study are as follows: (a) apparently, accretion torques have had time to erase spin–orbit misalignment caused by supernova kicks in two-thirds of the systems; (b) many X-ray binary pulsars have dominant dipolar surface magnetic fields, in contrast to the recently reported exotic configurations in millisecond pulsars; and (c) if the binary inclinations can be determined by pulse-profile modeling, even for a subset of the ∼200 known X-ray binary pulsars, most of which orbital inclinations are as yet poorly constrained, it raises the prospect of tightening dramatically ongoing neutron-star mass determinations. This is because masses in binary systems overwhelmingly come from an orbital-mechanics formulation (Kepler’s third law), in which the dominant source of uncertainty is the inclination of the orbital plane.

Addressing Indonesia's Fossil Fuel Dependence: A Path Towards a Sustainable Future

Fossil energy technologies, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, have been crucial in meeting Indonesia's energy demands but contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. This study examines Indonesia’s current energy landscape, the potential for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and the role of clean energy technologies in supporting this shift. A qualitative research approach was employed, systematically reviewing recent literature to analyze the challenges and opportunities in Indonesia's energy sector. The findings highlight that while fossil fuels remain a dominant energy source, clean technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and improvements in energy efficiency offer promising solutions to reduce emissions. However, significant barriers remain, including high production costs for renewable energy, lack of infrastructure, and technological limitations. The study also finds that increasing investments in renewable energy and diversifying energy sources are critical to achieving Indonesia's energy security and sustainability goals. In conclusion, Indonesia must prioritize a gradual but firm transition to renewable energy, supported by clear policy frameworks, financial incentives, and international cooperation. A diversified energy mix will not only enhance energy security but also help reduce environmental impacts, aligning Indonesia with global climate goals.

Unravelling the orbits of cluster galaxy populations according to their dominant gas ionization source

ABSTRACT We investigate the kinematical and dynamical properties of cluster galaxy populations classified according to their dominant source of gas ionization, namely: star-forming (SF) galaxies, optical active galactic nuclei (AGNs), mixed SF plus AGN ionization (transition objects, T), and quiescent (Q) galaxies. We stack 8892 member galaxies from 336 relaxed galaxy clusters to build an ensemble cluster and estimate the observed projected profiles of numerical density and velocity dispersion, $\sigma _P(R)$, of each galaxy population. The MAMPOSSt code and the Jeans equations inversion technique are used to constrain the velocity anisotropy profiles of the galaxy populations in both parametric and non-parametric ways. We find that Q (SF) galaxies display the lowest (highest) typical cluster-centric distances and velocity dispersion values. Transition galaxies are more concentrated and tend to exhibit lower velocity dispersion values than SF galaxies. Galaxies that host an optical AGN are as concentrated as Q galaxies but display velocity dispersion values similar to those of the SF population. MAMPOSSt is able to find equilibrium solutions that successfully recover the observed $\sigma _P(R)$ profile only for the Q, T, and AGN populations. We find that the orbits of all populations are consistent with isotropy in the inner regions, becoming increasingly radial with the distance from the cluster centre. These results suggest that Q galaxies are in equilibrium within their clusters, while SF galaxies have more recently arrived in the cluster environment. Finally, the T and AGN populations appear to be in an intermediate dynamical state between those of the SF and Q populations.

The Relationship Between Carbon Emissions and Ecosystem Services in Guangdong Province, China: The Perspective of Ecological Function Zones

Ecosystem carbon sinks can offset part of the carbon emissions from human activities, playing a significant role in the carbon neutrality process. Clarifying the relationship between carbon emissions and ecosystem services is crucial for achieving the dual goals of carbon neutrality and ecological environmental protection. Effective ecosystem management is a prerequisite for controlling carbon emissions, as well as for ecosystem conservation and restoration, making a significant contribution to emission reduction and the enhancement of ecosystem services. Therefore, this study takes Guangdong Province as an example, starting with ecological functional zones—units that can enhance the effectiveness of ecosystem management—combining multi-source data and localized methods to develop annual carbon emissions (CEs) and ecosystem service value (ESV) data from 2000 to 2020, and reveals the spatiotemporal relationships between CEs and the ESV. The results showed the following from 2000 to 2020: (1) The net CEs increased from 203.73 to 482.80 million tons, representing an increase of 279.07 million tons, or 136.98%. The metropolitan residential security zone (MRSZ) was the dominant carbon source area, accounting for more than 60% of the total net CEs. (2) The total ESV gradually decreased from CNY 596.95 to 504.56 billion, representing a decline of CNY 92.39 billion, or 15.48%. The WCZ had the highest ESV, accounting for more than 50% of the total in all periods. (3) Temporally, the net CEs were negatively correlated with the total ESV in the study area, especially in the MRSZ, while a positive correlation was observed in the agricultural products provision zone (APZ). Spatially, the main clusters were Low–Low and High–Low clusters, primarily distributed in the APZ and MRSZ. This study explores and reveals the spatiotemporal relationship between CEs and the ESV, providing valuable references for related research in Guangdong Province and other regional comparative studies.

Ecological dynamics explain modular denitrification in the ocean

Microorganisms in marine oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) drive globally impactful biogeochemical processes. One such process is multistep denitrification (NO3-→NO2-→NO→N2O→N2), which dominates OMZ bioavailable nitrogen (N) loss and nitrous oxide (N2O) production. Denitrification-derived N loss is typically measured and modeled as a single step, but observations reveal that most denitrifiers in OMZs contain subsets ("modules") of the complete pathway. Here, we identify the ecological mechanisms sustaining diverse denitrifiers, explain the prevalence of certain modules, and examine the implications for N loss. We describe microbial functional types carrying out diverse denitrification modules by their underlying redox chemistry, constraining their traits with thermodynamics and pathway length penalties, in an idealized OMZ ecosystem model. Biomass yields of single-step modules increase along the denitrification pathway when organic matter (OM) limits growth, which explains the viability of populations respiring NO2- and N2O in a NO3--filled ocean. Results predict denitrifier community succession along environmental gradients: Pathway length increases as the limiting substrate shifts from OM to N, suggesting a niche for the short NO3-→NO2- module in free-living, OM-limited communities, and for the complete pathway in organic particle-associated communities, consistent with observations. The model captures and mechanistically explains the observed dominance and higher oxygen tolerance of the NO3-→NO2- module. Results also capture observations that NO3- is the dominant source of N2O. Our framework advances the mechanistic understanding of the relationship between microbial ecology and N loss in the ocean and can be extended to other processes and environments.

Media and the Case of State Capture in South Africa: How Independent Outlets Aided Whistleblowers in Communicating their Messages

State capture, which is when private actors influence the state through illegal and non-transparent forms, significantly impacted South Africa’s socio-political landscape during Jacob Zuma’s presidency. This transpired largely because of an unethical nexus that formed around Zuma, those in government loyal to him, and the powerful business family – the Guptas. These revelations came to the fore because of independent media, which focused on exposing the illicit relationships driving state capture. Independent media was reliant on whistleblowers to communicate a complete narrative, which resulted in a mutually beneficial collaboration between independent media and whistleblowers. A qualitative research approach employing two methods was utilised to examine this collaboration. The dominant source of information arose from semi-structured interviews conducted with whistleblowers and independent media outlet affiliates. This data was further supplemented with document analysis. This study found that independent media played a crucial role in providing support to state capture whistleblowers. Support occurred in three forms, namely: defensive; emotional; and offensive support. Defensive support entailed legal, financial and security aid. Emotional support was provided in the form of informal counselling. Offensive support entailed using media exposure to make the whistleblowers’ narratives public, as well as mediating between whistleblowers and official commissions of inquiry.

Biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition of potentially toxic elements at rural sites in Tuscany (Central Italy).

This study investigated the accumulation (deposition) of 13 potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in moss tissue (dominated by Hypnum cupressiforme at 64% and Pseudoscleropodium purum at 13.4%) collected from 33 rural sites of Tuscany (Central Italy). In addition, the magnetic susceptibility of moss was measured to provide insight into the accumulation of anthropogenic particles. Prior to the analysis, moss samples were washed, and the rinse waters were also analyzed for PTEs. Exploratory spatial analysis and source identification of airborne PTEs were carried out; the results suggest that the main anthropogenic airborne pollutants in the region were Cd and Zn from long-range transport with the mean concentrations of 0.12mg/kg and 18.2mg/kg, respectively. Wet deposition was the dominant source for these elements, which were however accumulated by moss in modest amounts. Soil also emerged as an important source for several elements i.e., Al, Fe, Cr and Ni, but its contribution was largely unpredictable, as indicated by the lack of correlation between moss tissue and rinse water concentrations. Further, sample washing of a few seconds was not effective in fully removing soil particles. The sensitivity analysis suggested that the results of the study are reliable and did not depend on the methodology used for data analysis. This is the first comprehensive regional-scale study in rural areas of Tuscany using moss biomonitoring, and as such, it provides important baseline data for future research.