Rate Of Change Research Articles

Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Land Use and Cover Change in the Lancang–Mekong River Basin during 2000–2020

Exploring the mechanisms that drive land use and cover change (LUCC) is essential for informing the formulation and implementation of effective policies aimed at optimizing land use patterns. In this study, we examined the spatial and temporal patterns of LUCC within the Lancang–Mekong River Basin (LMRB) using Globeland30 data for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. Firstly, we analyzed the quantitative characteristics of LUCC within the LMRB in terms of the value of change and rate of change. Additionally, we investigated the converting characteristics of LUCC within the LMRB by employing land use transition matrices and land use transition probability matrices. Furthermore, we depicted the spatial distribution of LUCC within the LMRB through land use mapping and statistical analysis. The results indicate a substantial decline in forests, coupled with a notable expansion in cultivated land. Given the vital role of forests as carbon sinks, reforestation can enhance ecological services and address challenges related to climate change. Converting cultivated land to forests is an effective human intervention promoting forest transition. This study applies binary logistic models to explore the mechanisms that influence the conversion from cultivated land to forests. The results reveal that slopes ranging from 5° to 15° have the lowest probability of conversion, whereas distances between the cultivated land and the nearest tourist attraction ranging from 9 km to 18 km have the highest probability. Moreover, the conversion process is positively associated with traffic conditions and significantly influenced by human interventions. Within the study area, China, Laos, and Myanmar show a tendency to convert cultivated land into natural LULC types, while Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam tend to encroach on cultivated land and expand artificial surfaces. Promoting ecological restoration in the LMRB requires cooperation among these countries.

Concurrent and longitudinal associations of developmental language disorder with peer victimization in adolescence: evidence from a co-twin study.

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) experience higher levels of peer victimization than their peers. However, it is not known if such associations reflect genetic and environmental confounding. We used a co-twin control design to investigate the association of language difficulties (DLD and separately poor pragmatic language) with peer victimization and compare the developmental trajectories of peer victimization across adolescence for those with and without language difficulties. Participants were 3,400 pairs of twins in the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS), a UK-based population birth cohort. Language abilities were assessed via online tests at age 11 and peer victimization was self-reported at ages 11, 14 and 16. Language difficulties were defined as language abilities at least -1.25 SD below the mean of the TEDS sample. We performed linear regressions and latent growth curve modeling at a population level and within monozygotic and same-sex dizygotic twin pairs. At population level, youth with DLD experienced higher levels of peer victimization at ages 11 (β = 0.27, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.20-0.35), 14 (β = 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.27) and 16 (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-0.32) and a sharper decline in peer victimization between ages 11 and 16 compared to their peers without DLD. The associations between DLD and peer victimization were reduced in strength and not statistically significant in within-twin models. Moreover, there was no difference in the rate of change in peer victimization between twin pairs discordant for DLD. Results were similar for the association of poor pragmatic language with peer victimization. Associations between language difficulties (DLD and separately, poor pragmatic language) and peer victimization were confounded by genetic and shared environmental factors. Identifying specific factors underlying these associations is important for guiding future work to reduce peer victimization among adolescents with language difficulties.

Clinical Effects of Nitric Oxide Added to the Oxygenator of Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Pre-Post Cohort Study.

Nitric oxide (NO) can be safely delivered through the sweep gas to the oxygenator of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit. It has theoretical benefits such as preventing platelet adhesion to surfaces, mitigating inflammatory response and protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this uncontrolled before-after study of children on ECMO, the outcomes of those who received NO were compared with those who did not. Among 393 ECMO runs (from 337 patients), 192 of 393 (49%) received NO and 201 of 393 (51%) did not. The use of NO was associated with a 37% reduction in circuit change (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-0.93). The aRR (95% CI) for risk of neurologic injury was 0.72 (0.47-1.11). We observed potential heterogeneity of treatment effect for the risk of neurologic injury in children who had cardiac surgery: the risk with NO was lower in those who had cardiac surgery (aRR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26-0.96). There was no difference in survival between the study groups. In children managed with NO delivered through the ECMO circuit, we report a reduction in observed rate of circuit change and lower risk of neurologic injury in children who underwent cardiac surgery. Nitric oxide therapy on ECMO warrants prospective evaluation in children.

Common processes drive metacommunity structure in freshwater fish

AbstractAimEnvironmental change affects metacommunity structure both directly—via abiotic factors and dispersal that affect species occurrence—and indirectly—via complex interactions among co‐occurring species. We examined how the three main metacommunity factors—environmental conditions, spatial processes and species associations—affect metacommunity structure and whether responses are predictable in real‐world systems by using novel methods to disentangle the drivers.LocationEastern Asia, northern Europe and central North America.Time periodContemporary.Major taxa studiedFreshwater fish.MethodsWe used a dataset of freshwater fish species occurrences in temperate lakes in three countries in different biogeographic regions. We analysed co‐occurrence patterns by using a joint species distribution model.ResultsWe demonstrated that environmental processes are the main drivers of species' distribution and diversity, suggesting that future climate change (anthropogenic alteration of abiotic factors) will heavily influence the structure of metacommunities. We also showed that spatial processes and species interactions mediated the influence of environmental processes, especially at the lake level.Main conclusionsOur results indicate that ongoing changes in metacommunity structure are modulated not only by the direct impacts of shifting abiotic factors but also by indirect effects of species interactions. Our global analysis indicates that even under the current high rate of environmental change, an identifiable set of underlying processes can be used to predict impacts of this change on metacommunity structure.

Impact of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Eudrilus eugeniae: A Toxicological Study

The increasing use of nanotechnology means that nanomaterials will inevitably enter the environment. Eco-toxicological data are therefore required so that adequate risk assessments can be carried out. Nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit greater reactivity as their sizes, less than 100nm size, are so small that their surface area is larger. The NPs can intrude into human body more easily and are more toxic than bulk material due to increased reactivity to cells in the body. Further, investigations on the ecotoxicology of NPs have also been conducted, aiming to assess NP’s harmful effects to the ecosystem. NPs of titanium dioxide (TiO2) are widely used in sun care products as well as in self-cleaning coatings. During the life cycle of these commercial products, NPs may be released into the environment and become a threat to ecosystems. Particularly, TiO2 NPs have been shown to have toxic effects and can inhibit the growth of essential soil microorganisms. This study focused on the toxicological and histopathological effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on Eudrilus eugenia, aiming to shed light on the potential hazards posed by nanoparticles to soil organisms. This study assessed the toxicity, biomass change, cocoon production and mortality rate of earthworms under various concentrations of titanium dioxide. The results showed that TiO2 nanoparticles could lead to sublethal effects on earthworm survival and reproduction and the nanoparticles were accumulated in earthworm tissues. The study emphasized the need to consider nanoparticle interactions with soil organisms.

METHOD FOR FORECASTING INCREASE IN LIQUID PRODUCTION FOR OPTIMIZE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

Over the past 20 years, the structure of reserves of Russian oil fields has undergone significant changes: with a general increase in reserves, there has been a significant increase in the share of hard to recover reserves (HTR). In the HTR structure of the Russian Federation, low-permeability and heterogeneous reservoirs are identified as the main subgroup (64 %), in 2022, approximately 30 % of all Russian oil was produced from HTR (166 from 535 million tons). In such reservoirs, to maintain and ensure high levels of oil recovery, a workovers such as hydraulic fracturing (HF) is used.Petroleum production companies have various technical and infrastructal capabilities for the selection of candidate wells for workover. Some oil companies use the support of design institutes and service companies that mining andhave specialized geological software products for monitoring and selection of workovers, others make do with the knowledge and skills of selecting their own specialists. However, due to the development of residual recoverable reserves and the unprofitability of the workover every year to select candidate wells, it is becoming increasingly difficult to select candidate wells. Working out the entire well stock and selection candidate wells using standard techniques takes a huge amount of time for a specialist. The article proposes a solution to the topical issue of optimizing the selection of candidate wells for hydraulic fracturing by predicting the dynamics of production wells based on historical data for various geological conditions. The developed method for forecasting the flow rate of liquid and oil on the basis of the rate of change in reservoir pressure and water cut of the well allows you to predict the flow rate for two years ahead, monthly estimates the possible increase from hydraulic fracturing and allows you to determine the optimal time for repeated or primary hydraulic fracturing at the well. This approach sharply narrows the number of potential candidates from a coupe of hundred to two to three dozen potential candidates.

Digitized Continuous Magnetic Recordings for the August/September 1859 Storms From London, UK

AbstractDedicated scientific measurements of the strength and direction of the Earth's magnetic field began at Greenwich and Kew observatories in London, United Kingdom, in the middle of the nineteenth century. Using advanced techniques for the time, collimated light was focussed onto mirrors mounted on free‐swinging magnetized needles which reflected onto photographic paper, allowing continuous analog magnetograms to be recorded. By good fortune, both observatories were in full operation during the so‐called Carrington storm in early September 1859 and its precursor storm in late August 1859. Based on digital images of the magnetograms and information from the observatory yearbooks and scientific papers, it is possible to scale the measurements to International System of Units (SI units) and extract quasi‐minute cadence spot values. However, due to the magnitude of the storms, the periods of the greatest magnetic field variation were lost as the traces moved off‐page. We present the most complete digitized magnetic records to date of the 10‐day period from 25 August to 5 September 1859 encompassing the Carrington storm and its lesser recognized precursor on 28 August. We demonstrate the good correlation between observatories and estimate the instantaneous rate of change of the magnetic field.

The weakening effect of urbanization on tropical cyclone surface winds : An observational study for Shanghai

The observation-reanalysis difference method (OMR) and wind profile fitting method were used to analyze the influence urbanization has on the near-surface wind speed in Shanghai during tropical cyclone events. The data used include daily wind speed data from the Shanghai Meteorological Observatory Station collected from 1991 to 2020, hourly wind speed data from 100 m high wind towers from 2017 to 2019, and reanalysis data that covered the same period. The results indicated that during tropical cyclone occurrence, the wind speed of the OMR in the central urban region was significantly lower than that in the suburban area, and the OMR declined more obviously over the year, down to −8 m/s in 2020. Urbanization leads to the increase of average wind weakening rate to be higher than the maximum wind weakening rate, causing the maximum weakening rate of the central urban region to the average wind over 80%, while maximum wind speed was less than 80%. The weakening rate of both the average and maximum wind speeds during tropical cyclone impacts is greater than the rate that the annual average wind speed was reduced. A logarithmic variation was visible in the wind profile of the island station during tropical cyclone occurrence, with an average friction velocity U∗ of 0.9389 m/s and an average rough length Z0 of 0.4915 m. The wind speed during tropical cyclone events was higher than the three-year average wind speed within each layer. The suburban stations show a linear variation, and every hundred meters of height results in an increase of 5–6 m/s in the wind speed change rate. At 100 m of altitude, the wind speed in the suburban region is reduced by approximately 40%.

Mechanical behavior monitoring of composite hybrid bonded‐riveted joints using high‐stability MXene sensors

AbstractComposite adhesive rivet hybrid connection structure has been more and more recognized and applied in aerospace, automobile, and other industries due to its high strength, corrosion resistance, and good stability. However, due to the particularity of the composite structure and the complex nonlinear coupling factors existing in the bearing process of the adhesive rivet hybrid connection structure, it is difficult to carry out structural health monitoring of the composite adhesive rivet hybrid connection structure. In this paper, a new fabrication technique is proposed to fabricate MXene thin film sensors with excellent performance. The MXene sensor can be tailored to the required size and arrangement to monitor the hybrid connection structure. The multi‐stage loading‐unloading test verifies the feasibility of using the MXene sensor to monitor the hybrid connection structure. The monitoring curves of the MXene sensor for composite adhesive rivet mixed connection structure specimens under low‐speed impact test and vibration fatigue test were obtained, and the sensing mechanism of the MXene sensor was explained. The proposed monitoring method based on the MXene sensor is suitable for the health monitoring of adhesive rivet hybrid connection structures under tensile‐compression, impact, and vibration conditions.Highlights MXene sensors can be integrated into composite hybrid bonded‐riveted joints without defects. MXene sensors combined with flexible circuits can form a high‐stability monitoring array. Monitor the mechanical behavior of bonded and riveted areas by the resistance change rate of MXene sensors. Real‐time monitor the micro damage and acceleration changes under the vibration environments.

Multi‑parameter quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in the early assessment of radiation‑induced parotid damage in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma following intensity‑modulated radiotherapy.

The present study aimed to investigate the value of intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (IVIM) and three-dimensional pulsed continuous arterial spin labeling (ASL) in assessing dynamic changes of the parotid gland in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) following radiotherapy (RT). A total of 18 patients with NPC who underwent intensity-modulated RT were enrolled in the present study. All patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging, plus IVIM and ASL imaging of the bilateral parotid glands within 2 weeks prior to RT, and 1 week (1W) and 3 months (3M) following RT. Pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (F) and blood flow (BF) were analyzed. D and BF values were significantly increased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔD1W%: 39.28% (38.23%) and ΔBF1W%: 60.84% (54.88%)] and continued to increase from 1W post-RT to 3M post-RT [55.44% (40.56%) and ΔBF%: 120.39% (128.74%)]. In addition, the F value was significantly increased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT, [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔF1W%: 28.13% (44.66%)], and this decreased significantly from 1W post-RT to 3M post-RT. However, no significant differences were observed between pre-RT and 3M post-RT. Results of the present study also demonstrated that the D* value was significantly decreased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT and 3M post-RT [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔD*1w%: -41.86% (51.71%) and ΔD*3M: -29.11% (42.67%)]. No significant difference was observed between the different time intervals post-RT. There was a significant positive correlation between percentage change in ΔBF1W and radiation dose (ρ=0.548, P=0.001). Thus, IVIM-diffusion-weighted imaging and ASL may aid in the detection and prediction of radiation-induced parotid damage in the early stages following RT. They may contribute to further understanding the potential association between damage to the parotid glands and patient-/treatment-related variables, through the assessment of individual microcapillary perfusion and tissue diffusivity.

A Proposal for the Clinical Characterization of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Trend Arrow Accuracy.

The assessment and characterization of trend accuracy, that is, the ability of a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system to correctly indicate the direction and rate of change (RoC) of glucose levels, has received comparatively little attention in the overall evaluation of CGM performance. As such, only few approaches that examine the trend accuracy have been put forward. In this article, we review existing approaches and propose the clinical trend concurrence analysis (CTCA) which is an adaptation of the conventional trend concurrence analysis. The CTCA is intended to directly evaluate the trend arrows displayed by the CGM systems by characterizing their agreement to suitably categorized comparator RoCs. Here, we call on manufactures of CGM systems to provide the displayed trend arrows for retrospective analysis. The CTCA classifies any deviations between the CGM trend and comparator RoC according to their risk for an adverse clinical event arising from a possibly erroneous treatment decision. For that, the existing rate error grid analysis and a specific set of trend arrow-based insulin dosing recommendations were used. The results of the CTCA are presented in an accessible graphical display and exemplified on data from three CGM systems. With this article, we hope to increase the awareness for the importance and challenges of assessing the accuracy of trend information displayed by CGM systems.

Strengths intervention imparted through a blended learning approach to advance personal growth initiative among Pakistan’s university students during COVID-19

To enhance the teaching-learning process and protect all concerned during COVID-19, a blended learning approach—comprising online learning as well as offline personal and collaborative learning—was used to impart a strengths intervention to foster personal growth initiative (PGI) among Pakistan’s university students. The sample comprised 176 students randomly allocated to a treatment (n = 88) and a wait-list control (n = 88) group. Growth curve modeling analyzed the developmental changes in participants’ PGI scores over time. PGI increased to a greater extent in the treatment group than in the control group immediately after the intervention as well as four and eight months later. There were also significant changes in students’ initial status (intercepts) and rates of changes over time (slopes). Moreover, students with high initial PGI scores had a slower linear increase, whereas those with low initial PGI scores had a faster increase in linear growth over time.

Numerical investigation of the effect of bubble properties on the linear resonance frequency shift due to inter-bubble interactions in ultrasonically excited lipid coated microbubbles

Ultrasonically excited microbubbles (MBs) have numerous applications in various fields, such as drug delivery, and imaging. Ultrasonically excited MBs are known to be nonlinear oscillators that generate secondary acoustic emissions in the media when excited by a primary ultrasound wave. The propagation of acoustic waves in the liquid is limited to the speed of sound, resulting in each MB receiving the primary and secondary waves at different times depending on their distance from the ultrasound source and the distance between MBs. These delays are referred to as primary and secondary delays, respectively. A previous study demonstrated that the inclusion of secondary delays in a model describing the interactions between MBs exposed to ultrasound results in an increase in the linear resonance frequency of MBs as they approach each other. This work investigates the impact of various MB properties on the change in linear resonance frequency resulting from changes in inter-bubble distances. The effects of shell properties, including the initial surface tension, surface dilatational viscosity of the shell monolayer, elastic compression modulus of the shell, and the initial radius of the MBs, are examined. MB size is a significant factor influencing the rate of linear resonance frequency increase with increasing concentration. Moreover, it is found that the shell properties of MBs play a negligible role in the rate of change in linear resonance frequency of MBs as the inter-bubble distances change.The findings of this study have implications for various applications of MBs in the biomedical field. By understanding the impact of inter-bubble distances and shell properties on the linear resonance frequency of MBs, the utilization of MBs in applications reliant on their resonant behavior can be optimized.

Integrating SBAS-InSAR and Random Forest for Identifying and Controlling Land Subsidence and Uplift in a Multi-Layered Porous System of North China Plain

Controlling groundwater table decline could mitigate land subsidence and induced environmental hazards in over-explored areas. Nevertheless, this becomes a challenge in the multi-layered porous system as (in)elastic deformation simultaneously occurs due to vast spatiotemporal variability in the groundwater table. In this study, SBAS-InSAR was used to estimate annual land deformation during 2017–2022 in a specific region of North China Plain, in which aquifers are composed of many layers of fine-grained compressible sediments and the groundwater table has experienced a prolonged decline. The random forest (RF) was applied to establish the nonlinear relationship between accumulated deformation and its potential driving factors, including the depth to the groundwater table (GWD) and its change rate, and the compressible sediment thickness. Results show that the marked subsidence and uplift co-exist in the region even though the groundwater table has risen widely since the South–North Water Diversion Project. The land subsidence is attributed to inelastic compaction of the thick compressible deposits in depression cone centers, where the GWD is over 40 m and 90 m in the shallow and deep aquifers, respectively. In contrast, the marked uplift is primarily attributed to fast rising of the groundwater table (e.g., −2.44 m/a). The RF predictions suggest that, to control the subsidence, the GWD should be less than 20 and 70 m in the shallow and deep aquifers, respectively, and the rising rate of the GWD should increase to 2–5 times of current rates in the depression cones. To mitigate the marked uplift, the rising rate of the GWD should reduce to 1/2–1/5 of the current rates in the shallow aquifers. The uneven deformations of sediments in the depression cone centers and uplift in their boundaries may exacerbate geohazards. Therefore, it is vital to implement appropriate governance of groundwater recovery in the multi-layered porous system.

Delay estimation for cortical-muscular interaction with wavelet coherence time lag

BackgroundCortico-muscular coherence (CMC) between the cerebral cortex and muscle activity is an effective tool for studying neural communication in the motor control system. To accurately evaluate the coherence between electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) signals, it is necessary to accurately calculate the time delay between physiological signals to ensure signal synchronization. New methodWe proposed a new delay estimation method, named wavelet coherence time lag (WCTL) and the significant increase areas (SIA) index as a measure of the specific region enhancement effect of the magnitude squared coherence (MSC) image. ResultsThe grip strength level had a small effect on the information transmission time from the cortex to the muscles, while the transmission time from the cortex to different muscle channels was different for the same task. A positive correlation was found between the grip strength level and the SIA index on the β band of C3-B and the α and β bands of C3-FDS.Comparison with Existing Method: The WCTL method was found to accurately calculate the delay time even when the number of repeated segments was low in a simple motor control model, and the results were more accurate than the rate of voxels change (RVC) and CMC with time lag (CMCTL) methods. ConclusionsThe WCTL is an effective method for detecting the transmission time of information between the cortex and muscles, laying the foundation for future rehabilitation treatment for stroke patients.

Early post-settlement events, rather than settlement, drive recruitment and coral recovery at Moorea, French Polynesia.

Understanding population dynamics is a long-standing objective of ecology, but the need for progress in this area has become urgent. For coral reefs, achieving this objective is impeded by a lack of information on settlement versus post-settlement events in determining recruitment and population size. Declines in coral abundance are often inferred to be associated with reduced densities of recruits, which could arise from mechanisms occurring at larval settlement, or throughout post-settlement stages. This study uses annual measurements from 2008 to 2021 of coral cover, the density of coral settlers (S), the density of small corals (SC), and environmental conditions, to evaluate the roles of settlement versus post-settlement events in determining rates of coral recruitment and changes in coral cover at Moorea, French Polynesia. Coral cover, S, SC, and the SC:S ratio (a proxy for post-settlement success), and environmental conditions, were used in generalized additive models (GAMs) to show that: (a) coral cover was more strongly related to SC and SC:S than S, and (b) SC:S was highest when preceded by cool seawater, low concentrations of Chlorophyll a, and low flow speeds, and S showed evidence of declining with elevated temperature. Together, these results suggest that changes in coral cover in Moorea are more strongly influenced by post-settlement events than settlement. The key to understanding coral community resilience may lie in elucidating the factors attenuating the bottleneck between settlers and small corals.

Electromechanical enhancement of live jellyfish for ocean exploration.

The vast majority of the ocean's volume remains unexplored, in part because of limitations on the vertical range and measurement duration of existing robotic platforms. In light of the accelerating rate of climate change impacts on the physics and biogeochemistry of the ocean, the need for new tools that can measure more of the ocean on faster timescales is becoming pressing. Robotic platforms inspired or enabled by aquatic organisms have the potential to augment conventional technologies for ocean exploration. Recent work demonstrated the feasibility of directly stimulating the muscle tissue of live jellyfish via implanted microelectronics. We present a biohybrid robotic jellyfish that leverages this external electrical swimming control, while also using a 3D printed passive mechanical attachment to streamline the jellyfish shape, increase swimming performance, and significantly enhance payload capacity. A six-meter-tall, 13 600 l saltwater facility was constructed to enable testing of the vertical swimming capabilities of the biohybrid robotic jellyfish over distances exceeding 35 body diameters. We found that the combination of external swimming control and the addition of the mechanical forebody resulted in an increase in swimming speeds to 4.5 times natural jellyfish locomotion. Moreover, the biohybrid jellyfish were capable of carrying a payload volume up to 105% of the jellyfish body volume. The added payload decreased the intracycle acceleration of the biohybrid robots relative to natural jellyfish, which could also facilitate more precise measurements by onboard sensors that depend on consistent platform motion. While many robotic exploration tools are limited by cost, energy expenditure, and varying oceanic environmental conditions, this platform is inexpensive, highly efficient, and benefits from the widespread natural habitats of jellyfish. The demonstrated performance of these biohybrid robots suggests an opportunity to expand the set of robotic tools for comprehensive monitoring of the changing ocean.

Analyzing the Impact of Land Cover Changes on Spatio-Temporal Temperature Dynamics in the Kara Region of Togo

This comprehensive study delves into the intricate interplay between temperature trends and land cover dynamics in the Kara region, offering robust insights into the evolving climate and environmental patterns. Employing the Mann-Kendall trend test, our analysis reveals a statistically significant and consistent warming trend over the study period. The observed low p-values, positive Tau values, and upward-sloping regression lines emphasize the urgent need for proactive measures to address the climate-related challenges faced by the region. Simultaneously, a meticulous correlation analysis explores the relationships between land surface temperature (LST) and key land metrics- farms, barelands, built-ups, forests, and water bodies. Farmlands exhibit a noteworthy and statistically significant negative correlation of −0.74 with LST (p < 0.05), indicating a cooling influence and supported by a substantial 43.8% predictive power. Conversely, barelands and built-ups demonstrate strong positive correlations of 0.89 and 0.78, respectively, with LST both statistically significant at the 95% confidence level (p < 0.05), emphasizing their considerable warming impact. Forests and water bodies, with moderate negative correlations of −0.65 and −0.54, maintain statistical significance (p < 0.05), indicating their role in temperature moderation, supported by 8.5% and 13% significance. The inclusion of Sen’s slope values further enriches the analysis, providing quantitative insights into the rate of temperature change. The positive slope values underscore the increasing trend in temperatures over each respective decade. The observed statistical significances, Tau values, and Sen’s slope values accentuate the importance of these relationships for effective land management and environmental planning. Recognizing the cooling influence of farmlands suggests their potential use in strategic urban planning to mitigate temperature increases. Conversely, the warming impact of barelands and built-ups emphasizes the need for sustainable urban development practices to counteract rising temperatures in urbanized regions. Additionally, the cooling influence of forests and water bodies underscores their crucial role in temperature moderation.

Developmental Trajectories of Adolescents' Math Motivation: The Role of Mindset and Perceptions of Informal STEM Learning Site Inclusivity.

Motivation is a key factor in engagement, achievement, and career choices in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). While existing research has focused on student motivation toward math in formal school programs, new work is needed that focuses on motivation for those involved in informal STEM programs. Specifically, the role of math mindset and perceived inclusivity of informal STEM sites (to those of varying gender and ethnic backgrounds) on longitudinal trajectories of adolescents' math motivation has not been explored. This study investigates longitudinal changes in math expectancy, interest, and utility values and the effects of math fixed mindset, math growth mindset, and perceptions of the inclusivity of informal STEM learning sites on these changes for adolescents participating in STEM programs at these informal sites in the United Kingdom and the United States (n = 249, MT1age = 15.2, SD = 1.59). Three latent growth curve models were tested. The data suggest that math expectancy, interest, and utility values declined over three years. Growth mindset positively predicted changes in utility, while fixed mindset negatively predicted changes in utility. Inclusivity positively influenced the initial levels of utility. Girls reported lower initial expectancy than boys. Age influenced both the initial levels and rate of change for expectancy. Older adolescents had lower levels of expectancy compared to their younger counterparts; however, they had a less steep decline in expectancy over three years. These findings suggest that designing inclusive learning environments and promoting growth mindset may encourage math motivation.

Auroral Characteristics Related to AU&AL Indices

AbstractAuroral images of the N2 Lyman‐Birge‐Hopfield emissions from Polar Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) for 1.5 years are used to investigate the auroral characteristics related to the AU and AL indices that represent the directly driven and unloading processes in the solar wind‐magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling, respectively. Findings include: (a) Growing AL mainly relates to the nightside aurora and tends to keep the general auroral morphology. (b) As AU increases, the aurora brightens and expands more globally, especially in the midnight to postmidnight sector. (c) The regional auroral power (AP), equatorward boundary, poleward boundary, and peak intensity change quasi‐linearly with intensifying AU and AL. (d) The rates of change depend on the MLT and AU/AL levels. The same dataset has been used to construct the empirical Feature Tracking of Auroral Precipitation (FTA) model which specifies the global energy flux and mean energy determined by the AE index (FTA‐AE). As an extension of FTA‐AE, the relationships of the auroral emission with the AU&AL indices were derived to construct the FTA‐AU&AL model which specifies a more consistent aurora during different magnetospheric driving modes compared to FTA‐AE. Comparisons of AP from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imagers (SSUSI) measurements and empirical auroral models show that the FTA‐AE and ‐AU&AL models predicted larger AP than the Fuller‐Rowell and Evans (1987) model and the OVATION‐prime model did. As the activity level increased, all four models tended to underestimate the AP but the FTA APs increased relatively faster and were therefore more consistent with the data.