This work aims to answer one central question: to what extent can open-source generative text models be used in a workflow to approximate steps in thematic analysis in social science research? To answer this question, we present the Generative AI-enabled Theme Organization and Structuring (GATOS) workflow, which uses open-source machine learning techniques, natural language processing tools, and generative text models to facilitate aspects of thematic analysis. To establish evidence of validity of the method, we present three case studies applying the GATOS workflow, leveraging these models and techniques to inductively create codebooks similar to traditional procedures using thematic analysis. We show that the GATOS workflow can identify themes in the text that were used to generate the original synthetic datasets. We conclude with a discussion of relevant considerations, the implications of this work for social science research, and the tradeoffs of using open-source generative text models to facilitate scalable qualitative data analysis.
Many of the outer Solar System’s icy satellites feature known or suspected subsurface oceans, at least some of which are likely situated atop rocky interiors. Water–rock interactions at and beneath these seafloors might support active chemoautotrophic habitats, with subseafloor fluid flow facilitated by active faulting and hydrothermal systems. Absent such phenomena, however, any attainment of chemical equilibrium between the seafloor and ocean might limit the availability of chemical energy for life. Here, we characterise the stress state of the seafloor of Jupiter’s moon Europa, and thus the prospect for fracturing and associated sub-seafloor fluid flow there. We consider stresses from tidal forcing, global contraction, mantle convection, and serpentinisation. We find that none of these mechanisms is likely able to drive slip along even weak, pre-existing fractures in the present. Ocean water–rock reactions taking place today are therefore probably restricted to fluid flow through only the upper few hundred metres of the seafloor. Any processes able to sustain habitable conditions at the Europan seafloor today must therefore be independent of ongoing tectonic activity. In this study, the authors model the current mechanical properties of the seafloor of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, and find those rocks to be too strong to allow the kind of fracturing that, on Earth, enables rock–water chemical reactions on which chemosynthetic life relies.
With accelerated urbanization, both urban expansion and renewal have significantly affected habitat connectivity and stability. Focusing on Nanning’s main urban area, this study used landscape pattern and complex network methods to evaluate habitat connectivity under different urban development scenarios. Results show that urban expansion—mainly converting unused suburban land into construction land—fragmented large habitat patches. Although ecological corridors increased by 211, overall connectivity decreased by 1%, and potential connectivity declined by 16%, considerably weakening ecosystem stability. In contrast, urban renewal—redeveloping old residential areas—added 7.21 km2 of green space and 213 ecological corridors, increasing overall connectivity by 1% and potential connectivity by 18%. This effectively offset connectivity loss from expansion, though compensation was unequal: approximately 2 units of renewed area were needed to counteract 1 unit of expanded area. The study identified 49 key ecological priority areas totaling 55.18 km2, whose degradation would severely impact the regional ecological network. Under combined expansion and renewal, the ecological network showed "overall weakening but local enhancement" in topology, with improved local robustness but reduced overall stability. Scientifically identifying and hierarchically managing priority conservation and restoration areas are crucial for enhancing urban ecosystem stability and services. These findings offer insights for ecological space optimization and spatial planning in Nanning and other fast-urbanizing regions.
Environmental civic engagement provides an essential avenue to combat global environmental crises. However, opportunity and ability to participate in such civic action are not equal for everyone. Concerningly, the conservation movement in the U.S. has historically marginalized Black, Asian, and Latine voices from policy and decision-making processes. While previous research has focused on predictors of civic engagement in general and what barriers reduce participation, using an asset-based framing to consider what supports environmental civic engagement is less common. We used qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate the role of community cultural wealth (CCW) in Black, Asian, and Latine/Hispanic individuals’ participation in environmental civic engagement. CCW is an asset-based model, which has been used to understand persistence of marginalized groups in historically exclusionary spaces. We used CCW to identify factors that support Black, Asian, and Latine/Hispanic individuals’ environmental civic engagement as these behaviors have been affected by structural racism. Results showed that understanding systems of oppression and being motivated to change such systems were important predictors of environmental civic engagement for Black, Asian, and Latine/Hispanic individuals. Furthermore, our results suggest that organizations, social connections, and family connections are important sources of civic knowledge and opportunity. These findings suggest that taking an asset-based approach can be a promising way to support environmental civic engagement among Black, Asian, and Latine/Hispanic individuals.
Abstract Sediments on Arctic continental shelves are impacted by sea ice and ice‐related processes for up to 9 months per year. As a result, seabed morphology in cold regions can exhibit features such as ice scours which are absent on lower‐latitude shelves. Previous literature has provided rich qualitative and some quantitative assessments of keel scours and strudel scours (i.e., feature density) in pan‐Arctic settings. However, based on a recent multibeam survey along >600 km of tracklines in Harrison Bay, Alaska, Arctic shelves can exhibit a much greater diversity of interesting morphologic features. In this paper we present an atlas of seabed features and some geotechnical properties observed across a 60 × 90 km portion of the Alaskan Beaufort Shelf, with the goal of highlighting the great diversity of Arctic continental‐shelf seabed morphologies. We applied a combined approach of modern geomorphologic and geotechnical analysis of Arctic seabed environments, including: (a) machine learning algorithms applied to keel scour data, in order to better describe densities, geometries, and orientations at different water depths; and (b) portable free‐fall penetrometer measurements collected at high spatial densities, in order to better characterize the geotechnical seabed properties associated with keel scour. Together this information about Arctic shelf seabed morphologies and applications of emerging quantitative tools to Arctic settings provides an advance in our understanding of Arctic seascape from a geotechnical and textural perspective.
