Terminology

scCS uses a small set of names for the graph-based future-fate formulation. The names describe distinct quantities and should not be collapsed into one generic “commitment score.”

Discounted Future-Fate Propagation

Discounted Future-Fate Propagation (DFFP) is the recommended future-identity mode. It propagates transition probability on the original RNA-velocity graph with geometric stopping. It is not a transformation of UMAP arrows and does not use the star to define neighbors.

Conditional Fate Affinity

Conditional Fate Affinity (CFA) is the normalized distribution across the supervised fates after conditioning on selected-fate reach. The package exposes it as future_fate_affinity and the exact alias conditional_fate_affinity.

Discounted Fate Reach

Discounted Fate Reach (DFR) is the probability of reaching any supervised fate anchor before geometric stopping. It is exposed as future_fate_reach and discounted_fate_reach. Reach depends on the effective horizon and is interpreted as time-bounded resolution, not as physical time.

Future-Fate Specificity

Future-Fate Specificity (FFS) is one minus normalized Shannon entropy of Conditional Fate Affinity. It measures decisiveness among supplied fates but does not measure how much probability reaches those fates.

Resolved Commitment

Resolved Commitment (RC) is the product of Discounted Fate Reach and Future-Fate Specificity. It is exposed as reach_supported_specificity and the alias resolved_commitment. Report reach and specificity separately alongside this composite.

Signed Ordering Flux

Signed Ordering Flux (SOF) is the expected one-step change in the supplied ordering after conditioning on transitions retained within the selected furcation. It is exposed as signed_progression and signed_ordering_flux. Positive values are forward; negative values preserve retrograde motion; values near zero can indicate stationary, mixed, turning, or loop-like dynamics.

Unresolved Future Probability

Unresolved Future Probability (UFP) is the probability that geometric stopping occurs before any supplied selected or competing anchor is reached. It is exposed as unresolved_probability and unresolved_future_probability.

Display-only velocity projection

The scVelo grid, root rose, and branch-relative velocity profiles on the star are visualization diagnostics. They show how the source velocity graph appears after the standardized layout is drawn. They do not define DFFP probabilities, CFA, DFR, FFS, RC, or SOF.