Eurasia Research Articles

Increased Extreme Precipitation in May over Southwestern Xinjiang in Relation to Eurasian Snow Cover in Recent Years

Abstract In this study, the interdecadal variations of extreme precipitation in May over southwestern Xinjiang (SWX) and related mechanisms were investigated. The extreme precipitation in May over SWX exhibited a decadal shift in the 1990s (negative phase during 1970–86 and positive phase during 2003–18). The decadal shift corresponded to strengthened moist airflow from the Indian Ocean and an anomalous cyclone over SWX during 2003–18. It is found that the interdecadal change of the wave trains in Eurasia might account for the differences in atmospheric circulation between the above two periods. Further analyses reveal that spring snow cover over Eurasia is closely linked to extreme precipitation over SWX during 2003–18. Increased snow cover in western Europe (WE) from February to March is accompanied by more snowmelt. This resulted in less local snow cover and lower albedo, leading to warm temperatures over WE in May. The changes in temperatures increase the local 1000–500-hPa thickness over WE. These factors provide favorable conditions for the enhancement of the Eurasian wave trains, which significantly influence extreme precipitation over SWX. On the other hand, corresponding to decreased albedo caused by the reduction of snow cover in northern Eurasia (NE) in May, anomalous surface warming occurs over NE. The anomalous warming results in positive geopotential height anomalies that intensify the meridional geopotential height gradient over Eurasia and cause an acceleration of the westerly jet in May. Anomalous upper-level divergence in SWX induced by the enhanced westerly jet provides a favorable dynamical condition for increased extreme precipitation.

Lake-level responses to climate change in an inland basin in the Japanese Islands during the last 16 kyr

During the last deglaciation and middle Holocene, rapid climatic changes occurred repeatedly. Previous research has primarily focused on investigating these periods in East Asia's coastal and inland regions of the Eurasian continent. In contrast, a limited number of studies have reported on climate change and its environmental impacts in island areas near the Pacific Ocean. This study aims to reconstruct paleosol drainage conditions and lake water level fluctuations in the Suwa Basin, an inland basin in central Japan, after the last deglaciation. We utilize the identification of paleosols and the geochemistry of lacustrine sediments to discuss climate change and its impacts on terrestrial environments in the East Asian coastal region. During the Last Glacial Maximum, the basin experienced a lowstand period; meandering fluvial systems led to the development of dry and well-drained paleosols. The lacustrine environment expanded between ca. 16 cal kyr BP and 5 cal kyr BP during a transgressive period. Short-term lake-level fluctuations were reconstructed by examining repeated paleosol development and changes in the bulk SiO2 content originating from biogenic silica in lacustrine sediments. Our data suggest that the lake's water level fell at ca. 12 cal kyr BP, 8 cal kyr BP, and 7 cal kyr BP. After 5 cal kyr BP, thin paleosols repeatedly formed during short exposure times due to the rapid sedimentation rate in the delta system, which corresponds to the highstand period. Short-term fluctuations between 16 kyr BP and 5 kyr BP, in the lake water level in the inland basin of the Japanese Islands was influenced by drying and cooling trends in the East Asian coastal region, as well as declines in sea surface temperatures in the western tropical Pacific Ocean. These fluctuations roughly synchronize with the Younger Dryas stadial and an 8.2 ka cooling event. Changes in precipitation, which responded to fluctuations in the East Asian summer monsoon intensity and tropical depressions, likely regulated the lake water level. These findings imply the predominant influence of paleoclimate fluctuations over thousands of years on the hydrological regime of lake systems across the island area of the East Asia.

When the woolly rhinoceroses roamed East Asia: a review of isotopic paleoecology of the genus Coelodonta from the Tibetan Plateau to northern Eurasia

East Asia, being the evolutionary center of Coelodonta, offers a unique opportunity to explore the spatiotemporal paleoecologies of this genus. This study utilized bulk and serial stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses on the Coelodonta nihowanensis and other ungulates from the Longdan fauna as well as two modern goats in the Linxia Basin, aiming to explore the paleoecology of C. nihowanensis at the periphery of the Tibetan Plateau during the Early Pleistocene. The isotopic results of these mammals indicated that C3 vegetation was possibly a major component of the local environment in the Linxia Basin, which was influenced by a seasonal summer monsoon. C. nihowanensis specimens in the Longdan fauna were possibly mixed feeders, as indicated by the wide distribution of their δ13C values and the intermediate δ18O values compared to other coexisting ungulates. Moreover, the comparison of the δ13C and δ18O values of similar taxa from the Linxia and Nihewan basins has revealed spatiotemporal differences in the paleoclimate and paleoenvironments of these two regions throughout the Early Pleistocene. This provides a holistic framework for understanding the paleoecology of the C. nihowanensis. The isotopic results of the C. nihowanensis in the Linxia and Nihewan basins suggested varied foraging ecologies across different sites and time spans during the Early Pleistocene. This underscores the adaptability of the C. nihowanensis to diverse environments from west to east in northern China. By scrutinizing the evolutionary ecological history of the woolly rhinoceroses from its ancestor, Coelodonta thibetana, to its final form, Coelodonta antiquitatis, this study sheds light on the ecological adaptation of this genus from the Pliocene to Late Pleistocene, spanning its migration from the Tibetan Plateau to northern Eurasia.

Russia-NATO and Ukraine-NATO relations: from “a new quality” to “a shattered peace”

Political and legal foundations of the relations between Russia and Ukraine with NATO are examined in a comparative manner. The basic documents for interaction were studied in detail: Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation and Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Ukraine.An analysis of statements by offi cials of the USA, NATO, Russia and Ukraine in connection with Russian special military operation in Ukraine is provided. NATO continues its provocative policy of expansion unwinding a spiral of militarization and aggravation of geopolitical tensions in order to achieve superiority. The notorious “open door” doctrine has become so ossifi ed and hardened in its immutability that there is no reason to expect any changes, corrections or simply rethinking of its consequences for the security interests of NATO itself, its members and invitees. A stream of spells and predictable ritual statements, which do not contain the slightest element of novelty, is pouring out from Brussels. Moscow’s view on this is also well known and opposite to NATO’s one: the origin of the current deepest security crisis in the Euro-Atlantics was the destructive policy of the collective West thoroughly saturated with anti-Russian approaches and completely negating the proposals and initiatives that Russia had put forward as a possible solution to existing problems. The naked double standards and rough actions of NATO countries in Eurasia and other regions of the world testify to their desire, through the so-called controlled chaos and suff ering of millions of people, to prevent the establishment of a just multipolar world order implanting in its place a fl awed “rules-based order.” The architects of a unipolar world will be disappointed: hegemony led by the United States is impossible since there are Russia, China and India on the Eurasian continent. American elites cannot help but understand that they live in a country isolated by two oceans, the history of which is far shorter than Russian, Chinese and Indian which stretch back thousands of years.

Sensitivity of soil dust emissions to driving factor variability in earth's main drylands

The identification of driving factors that contribute to dust emissions holds great significance on studying global climate change. In the present study, we constructed a new index, Dust Sensitivity Index, which allowed us to identify the sensitivity of dust emissions responding to variations in driving factors over 2003–2017 in Earth's main drylands. We found that dust emissions were sensitive to driving factor variability in eastern Brazil, the southern drylands of the Sahel, eastern Africa, eastern Australia and parts of northern Eurasia, where the aridity index (AI) is relatively high. The main factor affecting the DSI varies geographically over the Earth's main dryland regions. In total, wind speed made the largest relative contribution to DOD sensitivity (11.3%), followed by soil moisture (10.8%) and vegetation (10.4%). In addition, wind, vegetation, and soil moisture interact to impose complex and varying limitations on dust activity. 39.3% of the Earth's main drylands were limited by vegetation, 31.2% by wind and 29.5% by soil moisture. Our study also demonstrates that the residual effects of previous dust-driving factors have impacts on contemporary conditions. We found that regions characterized by lower DSI values displayed the most prominent residual effects in general.

Origin and dispersal history of Hepatitis B virus in Eastern Eurasia

Hepatitis B virus is a globally distributed pathogen and the history of HBV infection in humans predates 10000 years. However, long-term evolutionary history of HBV in Eastern Eurasia remains elusive. We present 34 ancient HBV genomes dating between approximately 5000 to 400 years ago sourced from 17 sites across Eastern Eurasia. Ten sequences have full coverage, and only two sequences have less than 50% coverage. Our results suggest a potential origin of genotypes B and D in Eastern Asia. We observed a higher level of HBV diversity within Eastern Eurasia compared to Western Eurasia between 5000 and 3000 years ago, characterized by the presence of five different genotypes (A, B, C, D, WENBA), underscoring the significance of human migrations and interactions in the spread of HBV. Our results suggest the possibility of a transition from non-recombinant subgenotypes (B1, B5) to recombinant subgenotypes (B2 - B4). This suggests a shift in epidemiological dynamics within Eastern Eurasia over time. Here, our study elucidates the regional origins of prevalent genotypes and shifts in viral subgenotypes over centuries.

Five new species of Pseudosperma (Inocybaceae, Agaricales) from Benin and Turkey based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic evidence

Species of Pseudosperma (Inocybaceae) are widely distributed from temperate to tropical regions. In this study, we describe and illustrate five new species of Pseudosperma: P. beninense, P. cremeo-ochraceum, P. squarrosofulvum, P. stramineum, and P. tiliae, based on comprehensive analyses of morphological and molecular data derived from specimens collected in Benin (West Africa) and Turkey (Western Eurasia). These new species have been found in forests with Isoberlinia spp. and other ectomycorrhizal tree species in Benin and in association with Tilia platyphyllos in Turkey. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species were inferred through analyses of nuclear rDNA sequences, encompassing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S rDNA, and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) region. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that P. beninense, P. cremeo-ochraceum, P. squarrosofulvum, and P. stramineum from Benin cluster with species from Australia, China, and India within a clade formed exclusively by species known from the palaeotropics and Australia, whereas P. tiliae from Turkey clustered with P. mediterraneum from Italy. Detailed descriptions are provided, supplemented by illustrations and line drawings of key micromorphological features. In addition, a comparative analysis with morphologically similar and phylogenetically closely related species is presented and discussed in detail.

Novel genetic association of the Furin gene polymorphism rs1981458 with COVID-19 severity among Indian populations

SARS CoV-2, the causative agent for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it enters the host cell by activating the ACE2 receptor with the help of two proteasesi.e., Furin and TMPRSS2. Therefore, variations in these genes may account for differential susceptibility and severity between populations. Previous studies have shown that the role of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene variants in understanding COVID-19 susceptibility among Indian populations. Nevertheless, a knowledge gap exists concerning the COVID-19 susceptibility of Furin gene variants among diverse South Asian ethnic groups. Investigating the role of Furin gene variants and their global phylogeographic structure is essential to comprehensively understanding COVID-19 susceptibility in these populations. We have used 450 samples from diverse Indian states and performed linear regression to analyse the Furin gene variant's with COVID-19 Case Fatality Rate (CFR) that could be epidemiologically associated with disease severity outcomes. Associated genetic variants were further evaluated for their expression and regulatory potential through various Insilco analyses. Additionally, we examined the Furin gene using next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from 393 diverse global samples, with a particular emphasis on South Asia, to investigate its Phylogeographic structure among diverse world populations. We found a significant positive association for the SNP rs1981458 with COVID-19 CFR (p < 0.05) among diverse Indian populations at different timelines of the first and second waves. Further, QTL and other regulatory analyses showed various significant associations for positive regulatory roles of rs1981458 and Furin gene, mainly in Immune cells and virus infection process, highlighting their role in host immunity and viral assembly and processing. The Furin protein–protein interaction suggested that COVID-19 may contribute to Pulmonary arterial hypertension via a typical inflammation mechanism. The phylogeographic architecture of the Furin gene demonstrated a closer genetic affinity of South Asia with West Eurasian populations. Therefore, it is worth proposing that for the Furin gene, the COVID-19 susceptibility of South Asians will be more similar to the West Eurasian population. Our previous studies on the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes showed genetic affinity of South Asian with East Eurasians and West Eurasians, respectively. Therefore, with the collective information from these three important genes (ACE2, TMPRSS2 and Furin) we modelled COVID-19 susceptibilityof South Asia in between these two major ancestries with an inclination towards West Eurasia. In conclusion, this study, for the first time, concluded the role of rs1981458 in COVID-19 severity among the Indian population and outlined its regulatory potential.This study also highlights that the genetic structure for COVID-19 susceptibilityof South Asia is distinct, however, inclined to the West Eurasian population. We believe this insight may be utilised as a genetic biomarker to identify vulnerable populations, which might be directly relevant for developing policies and allocating resources more effectively during an epidemic.

The Neanderthal niche space of Western Eurasia 145 ka to 30 ka ago

Neanderthals occupied Western Eurasia between 350 ka and 40 ka ago, during the climatically volatile Pleistocene. A key issue is to what extent Neanderthal populations expanded into areas of Western Eurasia and what conditions facilitated such range expansions. The range extent of Neanderthals is generally based on the distribution of Neanderthal material, but the land-altering nature of glacial periods has erased much of the already sparse material evidence of Neanderthals, particularly in the northern latitudes. To overcome this obstacle species distribution models can estimate past distributions of Neanderthals, however, most implementations are generally constrained spatially and temporally and may be artificially truncating the Neanderthal niche space. Using dated contexts from Neanderthal sites from across Western Eurasia, millennial-scale paleoclimate reconstructions, and a spatiotemporal species distribution model, we infer the fundamental climatic niche space of Neanderthals and estimate the extent of Neanderthal occupation. We find that (a.) despite the long timeframe, Neanderthals occupy a relatively narrow fundamental climatic niche space, (b.) the estimated projected potential Neanderthal niche space suggests a larger geographic range than the material record suggests, and (c.) that there was a general decline in the size of the projected potential Neanderthal niche from 145 ka ago onward, possibly contributing to their extinction.

Decolonising anthropology from the margin: A postcolonial and feminist anthropologist from South Asia in Europe

This article uses auto-ethnography to analyse the trajectory of an anthropologist and feminist from South Asia to Europe. Through analysing this journey it aims to turn anthropology's gaze from the margin to the centre. Tracing the trajectory, the article contrasts the dominant disciplinary frameworks for generating knowledge in the Global North and the Global South. This comparison suggests the need to focus on decolonial and feminist politics in anthropology in the Global North. To elaborate on the argument, this article historicises and problematises anthropology's discomfort with feminism, which contributes to a distance from political positioning and the obstacles to creating a solid foundation for feminist anthropology in the Global North. The article also analyses the forms of marginalisation practised in neo-colonial anthropology within the neo-liberal knowledge industry in the disciplinary sphere of the Global North, and the ways in which they could be challenged and reversed. It discusses the complex dynamics of gender, race, and colonial legacies, advocating for a reorientation within anthropology that acknowledges and searches for ways to resist the enduring influence of colonial power structures. In short, the article engages with anthropology's systemic, epistemological and methodological decolonisation as a discipline and practice.

The Great Tea Road and the Formation of the Community of the Chinese Nation

The Great Tea Road is another important international commercial and cultural channel connecting China to the world that has emerged on the Eurasian continent after the decline of The Silk Roads. It is the result of the prosperity and development of economic globalization since the 16th century. The Chinese National Community is a national community of economic interdependence and cultural compatibility formed by the people of all ethnic groups in China during the long-term historical development. As an important part of The Belt and Road Initiative, The Great Tea Road is the product of the integrated development of Chinese cultural identity and national economy, the concentrated embodiment of the consciousness of Chinese National Community, and an important medium to convey the Chinese nation's concept of friendly economic and cultural exchanges with other countries and to build a community with a shared future for mankind. It is of great significance to explore the value and realization path of The Great Tea Road to the formation the sense of community for Chinese nation for the using of The Great Tea Road as a heritage site and the promotion of economic and cultural cooperation among cities in countries along the route through tea culture as a medium.

The potential habitat and environmental fitness change of Aedes albopictus in Western Eurasia for 2081-2100.

The range of Aedes albopictus, the most important vector mosquito in Western Eurasia is growing due to climate change. However, it is not known how it will influence the habitats occupied by the species and its environmental fitness within its future range. To study this question, the habitat characteristic of the mosquito was investigated for 2081-2100. The models suggest a notable future spread of the mosquito in the direction of Northern Europe and the parallel northward and westward shift of the southern and eastern potential occurrences of the mosquito. The models suggest a notable increase in generation numbers in the warmest quarter, which can reach 4-5 generations in the peri-Mediterranean region. However, both the joint survival rate of larvae and pupae and the number of survival days of adults in the warmest quarter exhibit decreasing values, as does the potential disappearance of the mosquito in the southern regions of Europe and Asia Minor, along with the growing atmospheric CO2 concentration-based scenarios. While in 1970-2000 Aedes albopictus mainly occupied the hot and warm summer temperate regions of Europe, the species will inhabit dominantly the cool summer temperate (oceanic) and the humid continental climate territories of North and North-Eastern Europe in 2081-2100.

Trends and drivers of Arctic-boreal fire intensity between 2003 and 2022

Climate change has disproportional effects on Arctic-boreal ecosystems, as the increase of air temperatures in these northern regions is several times higher than the global average. Ongoing warming and drying have resulted in recent record-breaking fire years in Arctic-boreal ecosystems, resulting in substantial carbon emissions that might accelerate climate change. While recent trends in Arctic-boreal burned area have been well documented, it is still unclear how fire intensity has changed. Fire intensity relates to the energy release from combustion and to a large extent drives the impact of a fire on the vegetation and soils, the emission of various gasses and the combustion completeness of different fuels. Here, we used the active fire product from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to examine trends in fire radiative power (FRP) over the entire Arctic-boreal region. We found a significant increase in annual median fire intensity between 2003 and 2022 in Eurasian boreal forests, for both daytime (increase of 0.392 MW/km2 per year, R2 = 0.56, p < 0.001) and nighttime fires (increase of 0.175 MW/km2 per year, R2 = 0.47, p < 0.001), while no general trend in FRP was observed in boreal North America. This increase in FRP in Eurasian boreal forests was strongly associated with simultaneous increases in air temperature, vapour pressure deficit, fire weather and fuel availability. We estimated that for Eurasia with each degree increase in air temperature, annual median daytime FRP increases with 1.58 MW/km2 in the tundra and 0.94 MW/km2 in the taiga. Climate change has thus resulted in a widespread and clear increase in fire intensity in central and eastern Eurasia while we could not discern clear trends in Arctic-boreal North America. Arctic-boreal fire intensity may further increase with climate change, with potentially major consequences for fire regimes, carbon emissions and society.

Reconstructing the Genetic Relationship between Ancient and Present-Day Siberian Populations.

Human populations across a vast area in northern Eurasia, from Fennoscandia to Chukotka, share a distinct genetic component often referred to as the Siberian ancestry. Most enriched in present-day Samoyedic-speaking populations such as Nganasans, its origins and history still remain elusive despite the growing list of ancient and present-day genomes from Siberia. Here, we reanalyze published ancient and present-day Siberian genomes focusing on the Baikal and Yakutia, resolving key questions regarding their genetic history. First, we show a long-term presence of a unique genetic profile in southern Siberia, up to 6,000 yr ago, which distinctly shares a deep ancestral connection with Native Americans. Second, we provide plausible historical models tracing genetic changes in West Baikal and Yakutia in fine resolution. Third, the Middle Neolithic individual from Yakutia, belonging to the Belkachi culture, serves as the best source so far available for the spread of the Siberian ancestry into Fennoscandia and Greenland. These findings shed light on the genetic legacy of the Siberian ancestry and provide insights into the complex interplay between different populations in northern Eurasia throughout history.

The Hegemonic Defense Strategy of the Hegemon -- US Containment Strategy from the Perspective of Geopolitics

Hegemony preservation is the main strategic goal of hegemonic countries in the hegemonic cycle. After the end of World War II, in order to confront the Soviet Union and its Allies behind it, the national security strategy of the United States in the early postwar period centered on containment . The goal of the containment strategy of the United States is to control the heart zone of the Eurasian continent. By examining the way of maintaining the hegemony of the United States, it can be seen that it is an important feature of the strategy of the United States to identify its opponents and formulate corresponding strategies. Geopolitics has had a profound impact on the foreign strategy of the United States to varying degrees, especially on the containment strategy of the United States after the war. It can be said that geopolitics has, in a sense, served as an important tool for America s global expansion.

Sediment provenance records of the relationship between the southeast margin of the South China Block and Proto-Japan in the Late Triassic

The South China Block (SCB) and Proto-Japan (includes Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku) are the important geological units in Eastern Eurasia. Their relationship in the Early Mesozoic is contentious, understanding it is crucial for understanding East Asia's evolutionary history and reconstructing the paleo-continent. We present a detrital zircon and provenances study of the Late Triassic Xiaoping Formation, the Genkou Group, and the Wenbinshan Formation on the southeast margin of the SCB. All have similar detrital zircon UPb age distributions, and three main age groups: 200–300 Ma, 400–500 Ma, and 700–1000 Ma. The primary provenances of the study area are the Yunkai Massif to the west, Hainan Island to the south, and northern Fujian, eastern Hunan, Wuyi Terrane, and Jiangnan Orogen to the north. The distribution of detrital zircons in the southeast margin of the SCB and Proto-Japan is further compared by applying various methods such as multidimensional scaling and Chi-square tests, which shows significant differences in the age distribution patterns of detrital zircons between the two areas. Further provenance analysis reveals significant differences between the southeast margin of the SCB and Proto-Japan during the Late Triassic, suggesting a lack of affinity between the two regions. Therefore, the Late Triassic Proto-Japan likely not located to the southeast margin of the SCB and moving closer to its current position.

Dataset of stable isotopes of precipitation in the Eurasian continent

Abstract. Stable isotopes in precipitation can effectively reveal the process of atmospheric water circulation, serving as an effective tool for hydrological and water resource research, climate change, and ecosystem studies. The scarcity of stable isotope data in precipitation has hindered comprehension of the regional hydrology, climate, and ecology due to discontinuities on a temporal scale and unevenness on a spatial scale. To this end, we collated stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope data in precipitation from 842 stations in Eurasia from 1961 to 2022, totalling 51 752 data records. Stable isotopes in precipitation across various regions of Eurasia, as a whole, decrease with increasing latitude and distance from the coast. In the summer, stable isotopes in precipitation are relatively enriched, while in the winter, they are relatively depleted. In recent decades, the stable isotope values of Eurasian precipitation show an overall trend of increasing variation with the advancement of years, which is associated with global warming. Geographical location, underlying surface conditions, seasons, and atmospheric circulation are all factors that determine the characteristics of stable isotopes in precipitation. The dataset of stable isotopes in Eurasian precipitation provides a powerful tool for understanding changes in regional atmospheric water circulation and assists in conducting hydrological, meteorological, and ecological studies in related regions. The datasets are available at https://doi.org/10.17632/rbn35yrbd2.2 (Zhu, 2024).

Late Triassic Intracontinental Deformation of South Tianshan, Central Asia: Evidence from Syn‐tectonic Sedimentation and Detrital Zircon Provenances of the Kuqa Depression

AbstractThe Tianshan range, a Paleozoic orogenic belt in Central Asia, has undergone multiple phases of tectonic activities characterized by the N–S compression after the early Mesozoic, including the far‐field effects of the Cenozoic Indian–Asian collision. However, there are limited reports on the tectonic deformation and initiation of Triassic intracontinental deformation in the Tianshan range. Understanding this structural context is crucial for interpreting the early intracontinental deformation history of the Eurasian continent during the early Mesozoic. Growth strata and syn‐tectonic sediments provide a rich source of information on tectonic activities and have been extensively used in the studies of orogenic belts. Based on detail fieldwork conducted in this study, the middle–late Triassic Kelamayi Formation of the northern Kuqa Depression in the southern Tianshan fold‐thrust belt has been identified as the typical syn‐tectonic growth strata. The youngest detrital zircon component in two lithic sandstone samples from the bottom and top of the Kelamayi growth strata yielded U‐Pb ages of 223.4 ± 3.1 and 215.5 ± 2.9 Ma, respectively, indicating that the maximum depositional age of the bottom and top of the Kelamayi growth strata is 226–220 and 218–212 Ma. The geochronological distribution of detrital samples from the Early–Middle Triassic and Late Triassic revealed abrupt changes, suggesting a new source supply resulting from tectonic activation in the Tianshan range. The coupling relationship between the syn‐tectonic sedimentation of the Kelamayi Formation and the South Tianshan fold‐thrust system provides robust evidence that the Triassic intracontinental deformation of the South Tianshan range began at approximately 226–220 Ma (during the Late Triassic) and ended at approximately 218–212 Ma. These findings provide crucial constraints for understanding the intraplate deformation in the Tianshan range during the Triassic.

The Early Iron Age elite grave from the Kapiteljska njiva barrow cemetery (Novo mesto, Slovenia): an approach to dental profiling through non-invasive and minimally-invasive techniques.

Kapiteljska njiva is a prehistoric cemetery located in the town of Novo mesto in southern Slovenia. There is a long history of archaeological research at this site, as the first investigations date back to the end of the 19th century. In 2004, an Early Iron Age barrow XVI was investigated. The oldest surviving grave in the barrow is the central grave, numbered XVI/34, which according to its position and the richness of the grave goods, belongs to a woman of higher status. Most likely, she was the first member or initiator of a family that continued to bury its dead in the barrow for the next 300 years. There were no preserved skeletal elements; however, in the head part of the grave, remains of human teeth, mostly the tooth crowns and the shells of enamel from the tooth crowns, were found among the scattered amber beads of a necklace. Moreover, these tooth remains are one of the few human biological materials (mostly fragments of skull and long limb bones) unearthed in this cemetery, reflecting the influence of acidic soil from the burial site. This study aimed to create a dental profile of the deceased in a similar way as during a forensic investigation. The remains were examined macroscopically and stereo-microscopically. The morphological traits were scored following the ASUDAS protocol. Ancestry was estimated by entering these scores into a beta version of the web-based application rASUDAS. Brothwell's system was used for age at death estimation from occlusal attrition. Identification of sex was based on the analysis of sex-specific amelogenin isoforms in dental enamel by nanoflow liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS). The present study reveals that the dental remains from Kapiteljska njiva belong to the permanent dentition of a single individual and that only the right upper central incisor and third molar are completely absent. The remains of teeth exhibit a simple external morphology, characterised by the absence of morphological dental traits, with a notable exception of the two-rooted left lower canine. The probability of assigning this individual to the Western Eurasian ancestry group is 98%. According to the degree of dentine exposure on the occlusal surfaces of molars, the estimated age range is 17-25 years. Another line of evidence comes from the observation that the first signs of approximal attrition are present in lower third molars but absent in the only preserved upper counterpart, indicating that the age at which the lower third molars entered into occlusion represents a proxy of the individual's age at death. Data on the chronology of the lower third molar development and eruption in present-day European populations from forensic literature (Brkić et al. 2011; Olze et al. 2008; Selmanagić et al. 2013) and The London Atlas confirm the above age-range estimate. Caution is, however, needed in the interpretation of results, because reference data are not based on the population of the individual's origin. Proteomic analysis classified the individual as a female, which is in line with the archaeological evidence. No pathological lesions or indicators of systemic stress were identified; however, the absence of approximal attrition facets in upper anterior teeth indicates interdental spacing. The results of dental profiling are discussed in the context of historical background, today's clinical knowledge, and epidemiological data.

Potential Impacts of Winter Arctic Sea Ice on Subsequent Spring Thermal Condition Over the Tibetan Plateau

AbstractSpring thermal forcing over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is largely determined by surface sensible heating (SSH), which is an important fuel for atmospheric circulations over subtropics and even the globe. However, insufficient efforts were devoted on exploring the potential influencing factors of spring TP's SSH. In the current study, observational analysis and model results confirm that the sea ice concentration in the north of Greenland can act as a precursor. Specifically, the winter shrinkage of the sea ice concentration can stimulate a meridional Rossby wave train, with a remarkable positive‐negative‐positive pattern of geopotential height anomalies controlling the Arctic, western Eurasia, and the southeastern Mediterranean, respectively. This teleconnection is equivalent barotropic in the whole troposphere, which shifts southeastward from winter to spring, with a significant anomalous anticyclone and increased geopotential height dominating the western TP in spring. The surface northeasterly anomalies in the southeastern flank of the anticyclone decrease the climatological westerlies and weaken the SSH over the central‐southern TP. Existing literature mainly focused on the Arctic‐TP relationship in autumn and winter. Our finding can not only provide a new insight onto the variation of spring thermal condition over the TP, but also deepen our knowledge of cross‐seasonal relationships between the Arctic and the TP with similar snow‐ice albedo feedback.