Critical Knowledge Research Articles

Real-world data show sustained therapeutic effects of dupilumab in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) over 3 years.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory condition affecting the nose and paranasal sinuses, posing a significant socio-economic impact with substantial challenges in management. Biologics targeting type 2 inflammation such as dupilumab, have emerged as promising options. This study addresses a critical knowledge gap by comprehensively evaluating the 3-year impact of sustained dupilumab therapy in CRSwNP. A multicentric, retrospective collection of real-world data from five tertiary referral centers in Germany was conducted, enrolling 150 adult patients. The study investigated patient-reported outcomes, disease-specific indices and clinical measures, focusing on therapeutic response persistence, adverse events, and factors influencing treatment continuity. Results indicate significant improvements in clinical parameters from baseline (n = 150) with sustained effectiveness after 36 months (n = 138) as indicated in mean score ± standard deviation. Dupilumab treatment significantly improved overall disease-related impairment (VAS score: 7.5 ± 2.5 to 1.6 ± 1.3) and rhinosinusitis symptoms (SNOT-22: 59.4 ± 19.4 to 18.0 ± 15.0). Nasal Polyp Scores (NPS) decreased (5.3 ± 1.8 to 0.7 ± 1.1), and olfactory function improved (3.2 ± 2.5 to 8.4 ± 2.8), with three out of four patients achieving normosmia or hyposmia after 36 months. An "Excellent" treatment response according to EUFOREA23 criteria was observed in 76.5% of patients after 36 months. Sixteen patients discontinued Dupilumab, 12 permanently. Adverse events totaled 69 in 48 patients, commonly self-limiting. The study highlights the enduring effectiveness and lack of habituation to dupilumab after a sustained therapy of 3 years, providing valuable insights into its long-term therapeutic implications for CRSwNP patients.

‘Data Deficient’ but potentially threatened: first biological observations on the poorly known quagga catshark (Halaelurus quagga)

Context The quagga catshark (Halaelurus quagga) is a small-sized (~370-mm total length), deep-water catshark (Family: Pentanchidae), assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List. Aim We aimed to bridge critical knowledge gaps on aspects of the life history and exploitation of H. quagga to make a meaningful Red List assessment, and develop management plans. Methods Specimens landed as bycatch in three harbours along the Laccadive Sea coast of south-western India were examined to gather the first information on exploited length classes and aspects of reproductive biology. Key results Halaelurus quagga had a female-dominated sex ratio, a positively allometric growth in females, and isometric growth in males. Mature H. quagga males ranged between 294 and 336 mm, and females between 315 and 370 mm, with pregnant females carrying two, three or four egg cases with embryos in each uterus. Conclusions This study provides the first information on the biology and exploitation of H. quagga, showing that the species is landed (and discarded) as bycatch in trawl fisheries, with the catches comprising a significant amount of reproductively active individuals. Implications The intense deep-sea bottom-trawling off south-western India is a major threat to H. quagga, and, if left unmanaged, could likely trigger a threatened category on the IUCN Red List.

Exploring the Role of English Literature in Developing Cultural Competence among ESL Students

The study of English literature is a fascinating and effective technique for teaching English. It combines language instruction with literary analysis, contextualizing language, raising cultural awareness, honing critical thinking skills, expanding vocabulary and knowledge, boosting interpersonal skills, and enhancing writing ability. Teachers can enhance students' learning experience in English as a second language by employing these strategies: selecting appropriate texts, integrating reading practices, designing literacy exercises, assessing aesthetic aspects, and creating writing projects. The use of English literature in language studies fosters students' language development in relevant and real-world contexts, leading to a greater understanding of the language and its cultural nuances. Furthermore, culture affects values, beliefs, rituals, and behaviors and is reflected in language, dress, food, materials, and social institutions of a group (“Purnell, 2002”) qtd in (Sharifi et al., 2019). This understanding underscores the importance of integrating cultural elements into language instruction to provide students with a holistic view of language and its sociocultural context. Additionally, this approach allows us to examine how literature and language resources portray people of various origins, identities, demographics, and competences, seamlessly integrating diverse perspectives into the educational framework. This research involves investigating how a more varied educational environment affects student motivation, self-esteem, and the ability to communicate across cultures.

A novel mouse model of hepatocyte-specific apoptosis-induced myeloid cell-dominant sterile liver injury and repair response.

Apoptosis, inflammation, and wound healing are critical pathophysiological events associated with various liver diseases. Currently, there is a lack of in vivo approaches to study hepatocyte apoptosis-induced liver injury and repair. To address this critical knowledge gap, we developed a unique genetically modified mouse model, namely, 3-Transgene (Tg) with inducible Hepatocyte-Specific Apoptosis Phenotype (3xTg-iHAP) in this study. The 3xTg-iHAP mice possess three transgenes including Alb-Cre, Rosa26-rtTA, and tetO-Fasl on a B6 background. These mice are phenotypically normal, viable, and fertile. After subcutaneous administration of a single dose of doxycycline (5 mg/kg, Dox) to 3xTg-iHAP mice, we observed a complete histological spectrum of sterile liver wound-healing responses: asymptomatic hepatocyte apoptosis at 8 h, necrotic liver injury and sterile inflammation at 48 h, followed by hepatocyte mitosis and regeneration within 7 days. During the injury phase, the mice exhibited an increase in the biomarkers of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), and IL-6 in peripheral blood, as well as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein in liver tissues. Conversely, the mice displayed a decrease in these markers in the recovery phase. Remarkably, this model shows that the sterile liver injury following elevated hepatocyte apoptosis is associated with an increase in myeloid cells in the liver. Within 7 days post-Dox administration, the liver of Dox-treated 3xTg-iHAP mice displays a normal histological structure, indicating the completion of wound healing. Together, we established a novel mouse model of injury and regeneration induced by hepatocyte apoptosis. This tool provides a robust in vivo platform for studying the pathophysiology of sterile liver inflammation, regeneration, and new therapeutic interventions for liver diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Bu et al. present a triple-transgenic mouse model, namely, 3xTg-iHAP mice that are engineered to explore hepatocyte apoptosis-triggered sterile liver injury and regeneration. This model demonstrates a full spectrum of liver wound-healing responses from asymptomatic apoptosis to injury, myeloid cell-dominant sterile inflammation, and repair after induction of hepatocyte-specific apoptosis. The robust nature of this model makes it an invaluable in vivo tool for studying sterile liver inflammation, regeneration, and new therapeutic strategies.

Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Medical and Surgical Specialties: Quality, Evaluation, Evidence, and Enforcement.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used in various medical and surgical specialties for its regenerative properties, including aesthetics (facial rejuvenation, hair restoration, and skin tightening) and orthopedics (treatment of tendinitis and osteoarthritis). However, the inconsistent literature on PRP's efficacy and safety leads to critical knowledge gaps. This systematic review evaluates quality control measures in PRP preparation and application and explores the regulatory environment governing its clinical use. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, for studies published from January 2020 to April 2024. The review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving human participants undergoing PRP treatment for aesthetic or regenerative purposes. Key parameters such as the PRP preparation methods, platelet concentration, and quality control measures were analyzed. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024557669). Results: Out of 75 RCTs involving 5726 patients, the review identified significant variability in PRP preparation methods and application techniques, including differences in centrifugation protocols and platelet concentration levels. A new evidence-based scoring system, the William-Eqram Scoring System for PRP Quality Reporting (WESS-PQR), was proposed to address these inconsistencies. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.79) between proper temperature control during preparation and PRP efficacy. Initial platelet count assessment showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.57) with efficacy. Conclusions: Standardized PRP preparation protocols and robust regulatory frameworks are urgently needed to ensure the safety and efficacy of PRP treatments. The proposed WESS-PQR scoring system can serve as a valuable tool for clinicians and researchers, promoting consistency and reliability in PRP applications.

Effect of Ground Motion on Fragility and Vulnerability of Reinforced Concrete Bridge in Different Soil Conditions

Bridges are essential components of transportation networks, serving as lifelines for the movement of people and goods. The bridges' resilience to natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, is an issue of paramount significance. Yet, a critical knowledge gap exists when it comes to understanding how bridges perform in the challenging terrain of medium-density sandy and clay soils during seismic events. This study seeks to bridge that gap by developing fragility curves that quantitatively evaluate the likelihood of bridge damage or failure across varying levels of earthquake magnitudes. The CSI Bridge v25.0.0 was used to simulate earthquake ground motions specifically within medium-density sandy and stiff clayey soils. Nonlinear time history analyses of the bridge were performed by using 5 different earthquake events with PGA ranging from 0.25 – 1.5g. Fragility analysis is performed to develop seismic fragility curves for the critical part of the bridge for various peak ground acceleration (PGA) in two types of soil conditions. The findings revealed that the deck component is more susceptible to damage than the pier. The impact of seismic activity on medium-dense soil is more significant than on stiff clayey soils in relation to the critical components of the bridge. This result enhances the ability to design bridges that can withstand and recover from seismic events more effectively.

Best practices towards the digitization of 3D traces from virtual outcrop models

With the expanding application of virtual outcrop models (VOMs) within the geosciences, there is a growing need to establish standards for the digital measurement of geological discontinuities exposed therein. Such standards should be tailored towards the complexities of natural outcrops, where geological discontinuities often intersect the outcrop topography and are expressed as 3D traces. Digitizing geological discontinuities expressed as trace data is typically conducted manually via polyline interpolation along the exposed trace, with discontinuity orientation estimated through planar model fitting through the polyline's component nodes. Presently, establishing quality control for such measurements lacks standardization due to the absence of robust benchmarks, with the validity of the resultant orientation data heavily reliant on the experience of the interpreter.With the aim of bridging this gap, we present the results of the manual digitization and orientation estimation of bedding planes expressed as traces across seven natural outcrops. We use two digitization strategies: one employing a previewed best-fit plane during digitization and another without. The first digitization method is carried out by an expert user who visually filters data according to visual alignment with the intended bedding prior to best fit plane estimation. In contrast, the non-visually aided method mimics acquisition by a novice user, with no a priori data filtering based upon trace geometry with respect to the outcrop. Comparison of the results obtained by these ‘expert’ and ‘novice’ acquisition modes is aimed at building benchmarks and best practices. Specifically, we analyze parameters derived from the digitized traces and their corresponding best-fit planes. We compare these parameters with the deviation of the best-fit plane from the mean orientation of the bedding surface as measured using visually-aided acquisition. Comparing these datasets reveals that visually-aided digitization yields more precise and accurate bedding measurements, characterized by traces with lower vertex collinearity. Notably, comparable results can be achieved in the non-visually assisted dataset by excluding traces with high node collinearity. Consequently, we provide robust benchmarks for trace collinearity and its relationship to best fit plane quality to aid the practical implementation of the results of this study. Furthermore, we supplement quantitative comparative analysis with recommended best practices for 3D trace digitization, such as ensuring high values of coplanarity, maintaining a quasi-constant node-to-node distance relative to the model's resolution, and ensuring a minimum number of nodes to guarantee the robustness of the fitted planar model. Critically, our study highlights the critical role tacit geological knowledge plays in the robustness of 3D trace digitization from virtual outcrop models.

The other side of the coin: An integrative review connecting pay and health.

The organizational sciences have long been interested in the effects of various compensation strategies, and on enhancing employee health. Research examining the connection between pay and health, however, remains a relative rarity. The work that has been done is scattered across disparate disciplines and lacks a unified framework for systematically exploring the effects of pay on health. We argue that greater insecurity at work, as well as rising discontent over wages and work conditions, necessitates a richer understanding of the ways in which organizational pay affects employee psychological, physiological, and behavioral health. We first conduct a comprehensive review of existing research across a broad range of disciplines, taking note of the different ways that pay is conceptualized and the impact it has on employee health. We identify critical knowledge gaps in why and when pay is related to health, noting several disciplinary trends. Drawing on prominent theories of occupational health, we then build a theoretical framework that illustrates three mechanisms underlying the effect of pay on health. We further advance prior work by integrating allostatic load theory to explain how pay gets "under the skin" to affect health, while also identifying relevant moderators and boundary conditions. Taken together, our review integrates findings from a variety of disciplines and facilitates knowledge building across these fields to generate a more comprehensive understanding of the connection between pay and health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Awareness and Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Study Among the Population of the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a prevalent and preventable health issue globally. This study aims to evaluate the symptoms, knowledge, beliefs, and preventive practices regarding NIHL among the general population of the southern region of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2024, using a self-administered, validated electronic questionnaire distributed in Arabic via social media platforms. The questionnaire assessed socio-demographic data, NIHL awareness, attitudes towardprevention, and personal practices regarding noise exposure. The sample included 400 participantsanalyzed using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with associations measured through the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Most participants were Saudi nationals (97%) and females (81.3%). Symptoms of NIHL, such as tinnitus and the need to increase TV or radio volume, were prevalent among participants. Most participants (88.5%) were aware that high sound levels affect hearing, yet only 9.5% correctly identified the minimum duration of exposure that could harm hearing. Social media was the primary source of information (51.3%). Positive preventive practices were noted, with 66% lowering device volumes and 55.3% recommending sound restrictions on tablets. Significant associations were found between better preventive practices and higher income as well as marital status. The study highlights the high basic awareness of NIHL but identifies critical knowledge gaps regarding the minimum sound level and duration that affect hearing negatively. Enhanced public health education and technological interventions are needed to improve prevention practices. Future research should include longitudinal studies and diverse populations to better understand and address NIHL.

Social Media Applications and their Effect on Undergraduate Students’ Learning in Higher Education

The development of social media has significantly impacted education, with institutions striving to use these tools to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and knowledge creation among students. This study investigates the effects of social media on student learning in higher education through the lived experiences of six participants using a qualitative methodology. Interviews were conducted to explore the impact of social media on academic performance, its use for learning assistance, academic goals, and perceived benefits. The findings show that social media is widely used by college students, who believe it plays a significant role in their academic growth. Social media facilitates interactions with educational content outside traditional classroom settings, peer collaboration, and access to quality educational resources. Additionally, participants emphasized that social media helps connect people globally, providing access to diverse learning opportunities and perspectives. This study suggests that incorporating social media into teaching strategies can drastically alter students' learning experiences, boosting engagement and preparing them for success in a technology-driven world.

O Presente sob a forma das “tarefas infinitas” da herança e das realidades futuras da Zona Oriental de Lisboa

The contemporary city is covered with legacies as “infinite tasks”, which require critical and historical (re)knowledge, foreseeing its future transformation and adaptation. The Eastern Area of Lisbon (EAL) performs a case study of urban transformation, where critical, historical and affective interpretations of the passage of time over the territory come together in the present.

Positive Impact on Critical Care Knowledge Acquisition and Skills of VietnameseNurses through an Online Standardized Training Program

Background Improved access to healthcare, increasing elderly population, growing incidence of chronic diseases, combined with the high prevalence of accidents and infectious diseases are driving the demand for critical care services in acute hospitals. However, low and middle-income countries not only have a shortage of critical care nurses, but there are also gaps in their graduate, post-graduate, and specialized training as well as in their continuing education to support them in their role. Methods This quality improvement project aimed to assess the effect of a web-based group study program on knowledge acquisition and skills and competency development of critical care nurses at seven private,not-for-profit hospital sites within a hospital system in Vietnam. The Essentials of Critical Care Orientation 4.0 course from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses was delivered to two cohorts of ICU nurses who worked in critical care. Course content was translated in Vietnamese. The program leveraged a preceptor-facilitator-learner model that depended on group discussions and self-learning. Program effectiveness was evaluated using quantitative pre- and post-test design, combined with a post-program survey. ResultsAverage post-test scores of the first cohort increased by 34.0% over pre-test while those of the second cohort increased by an average 41.0%.Post-program survey revealed that all learners were satisfied with the quality of content, the web-based delivery system, content translation and the overall teaching methodology. Learners also demonstrated greater confidence in delivering safe, proactive patient care. Conclusion The utilization of an online, standardizedwestern education program, translated to Vietnamese,delivered through a facilitator-group learning model is successful in increasing the knowledge level of Vietnamize critical care nurses.

Recent advances of PIWI-interacting RNA in cardiovascular diseases.

The relationship between noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and human diseases has been a hot topic of research, but the study of ncRNAs in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is still in its infancy. PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), a small ncRNA that binds to the PIWI protein to maintain genome stability by silencing transposons, was widely studied in germ lines and stem cells. In recent years, piRNA has been shown to be involved in key events of multiple CVDs through various epigenetic modifications, revealing the potential value of piRNA as a new biomarker or therapeutic target. This review explores origin, degradation, function, mechanism and important role of piRNA in CVDs, and the promising therapeutic targets of piRNA were summarized. This review provide a new strategy for the treatment of CVDs and lay a theoretical foundation for future research. piRNA can be used as a potential therapeutic target and biomaker in CVDs. piRNA influences apoptosis, inflammation and angiogenesis by regulating epigenetic modificaions. Critical knowledge gaps remain in the unifying piRNA nomenclature and PIWI-independent function.

Effects of Clinical Mutations in the Second Coordination Sphere and Remote Regions on the Catalytic Mechanism of Non-Heme Fe(II)/2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Aspartyl Hydroxylase AspH.

Aspartyl/asparaginyl hydroxylase (AspH) catalyzes the post-translational hydroxylations of vital human proteins, playing an essential role in maintaining their biological functions. Single-point mutations in the Second Coordination Sphere (SCS) and long-range (LR) residues of AspH have been linked to pathological conditions such as the ophthalmologic condition Traboulsi syndrome and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although the clinical impacts of these mutations are established, there is a critical knowledge gap regarding their specific atomistic effects on the catalytic mechanism of AspH. In this study, we report integrated computational investigations on the potential mechanistic implications of four mutant forms of human AspH with clinical importance: R735W, R735Q, R688Q, and G434V. All the mutant forms exhibited altered binding interactions with the co-substrate 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) and the main substrate in the ferric-superoxo and ferryl complexes, which are critical for catalysis, compared to the wild-type (WT). Importantly, the mutations strongly influence the energetics of the frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) and, thereby, the activation energies for the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) step compared to the WT AspH. Insights from our study can contribute to enzyme engineering and the development of selective modulators for WT and mutants of AspH, ultimately aiding in treating cancers, Traboulsi syndrome and, CKD.

Acute Chagas disease outbreaks in Colombia in 2019

This study seeks to address the critical knowledge gap surrounding the acute phase of Chagas disease in Colombia, with a specific focus on cases reported in 2019. The acute phase of Chagas disease is a pivotal period for intervention, yet it remains poorly understood, particularly in regions where oral transmission is presumed to be a significant factor. By analyzing these recent cases, our research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics of Chagas disease during its acute phase in Colombia in 2019. This understanding is essential not only for improving disease management and treatment strategies but also for enhancing public health responses to this neglected tropical disease. In particular, our study highlights the importance of identifying and addressing the unique challenges posed by oral transmission routes, which have been increasingly recognized within Colombia's Chagas disease landscape.

Efficient uncertainty quantification in a spatially multiscale model of pulmonary arterial and venous hemodynamics.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a debilitating disease that alters the structure and function of both the proximal and distal pulmonary vasculature. This alters pressure-flow relationships in the pulmonary arterial and venous trees, though there is a critical knowledge gap in the relationships between proximal and distal hemodynamics in disease. Multiscale computational models enable simulations in both the proximal and distal vasculature. However, model inputs and measured data are inherently uncertain, requiring a full analysis of the sensitivity and uncertainty of the model. Thus, this study quantifies model sensitivity and output uncertainty in a spatially multiscale, pulse-wave propagation model of pulmonary hemodynamics. The model includes fifteen proximal arteries and twelve proximal veins, connected by a two-sided, structured tree model of the distal vasculature. We use polynomial chaos expansions to expedite sensitivity and uncertainty quantification analyses and provide results for both the proximal and distal vasculature. We quantify uncertainty in blood pressure, blood flow rate, wave intensity, wall shear stress, and cyclic stretch. The latter two are important stimuli for endothelial cell mechanotransduction. We conclude that, while nearly all the parameters in our system have some influence on model predictions, the parameters describing the density of the microvascular beds have the largest effects on all simulated quantities in both the proximal and distal arterial and venous circulations.

Transient efficacy of buparvaquone against the US isolate of Theileria orientalis Ikeda genotype in sub-clinically infected cattle.

Theileria orientalis, an economically significant tick-borne hemoparasite, infects cattle globally. The T. orientalis Ikeda genotype, transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks, is associated with clinical manifestations characterized by anemia, abortions, and mortality, although subclinical infections prevail. Despite the common occurrence of subclinical infections, therapeutic interventions targeting T. orientalis Ikeda in such cases are currently lacking, impeding effective parasite control measures. To address this critical knowledge gap, we assessed the efficacy of buparvaquone (BPQ) in eliminating the T. orientalis Ikeda, US isolate, in sub-clinically infected cattle. Twelve sub-clinically infected calves, identified by the presence of T. orientalis in peripheral blood alongside the absence of fever and anemia, were enrolled in the study. Six calves received two treatments of the BPQ label dose (2.5 mg/kg) at a 48-h interval, while additional three calves received the drug at a dosage of 6 mg/kg following the same regimen. Three untreated calves served as controls. Endpoint and quantitative PCR analyses revealed that BPQ exerted a transient effect on T. orientalis parasitemia. Parasites remained undetectable in peripheral blood until weeks 4 and 11 post-treatment in animals administered 2.5 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg of BPQ, respectively. Intriguingly, following recrudescence, administering 6 mg/kg to animals previously treated with 2.5 mg/kg did not result in a reduction in parasite load. Pharmacokinetic analysis data suggested that escalating the dosage led to a less than proportional increase in serum concentrations of BPQ. Moreover, a significant yet reversible decrease (p < 0.05) in blood urea nitrogen was observed in animals treated with the drug, irrespective of the dosage. Despite parasitemia relapse, animals treated with 6 mg/kg BPQ exhibited a noteworthy decrease (p < 0.05) in IgG levels specific to the T. orientalis major piroplasm surface protein compared to controls and animals treated with 2.5 mg/kg of the drug. BPQ did not demonstrate efficacy in clearing subclinical T. orientalis Ikeda infection. Future investigations are warranted to explore innovative therapeutic modalities that, in synergy with vaccines and diagnostic assays, can facilitate the development of comprehensive programs aimed at controlling and eradicating this parasite.

Intercultural knowledges and practices in postgraduate game design and making education: insights from a UK-based degree

ABSTRACT In this paper, I explore my experience around teaching a digital game design and making postgraduate course in an intercultural setting in the UK Higher Education. I focus on how locality and disciplinary aspects create and mediate hierarchies of knowledges and practices that shape this kind of course, and how the intercultural setting studied here affords critical interrogations about the supposed universal nature of game design, as a field and as a practice. In particular, I examine an educational approach adopted in this course centred on the critical pedagogy notion of ‘cultural work’ and on philosophy of technology, rejecting mechanistic approaches to game design and making in favour of thinking with and through tools and processes. Through interviews with former students around their expectations about learning game design and making and their (changing) perspectives during this course, I explore how such an approach can create educational experiences for both students and game educators to build different (i.e. more critical and diverse) knowledge and practice foundations for those who will be working in/with games in the future as well as developing new vistas for understanding game design and making not as universal but as practices heavily informed by specific contexts.

Climate trend analysis in the ramis catchment, upper wabi shebelle basin, Ethiopia, using the CMIP6 dataset

Climate change, a global concern, has significant implications for rainfall and temperature patterns. A critical knowledge gap exists in understanding these implications for the Ramis catchment of the Upper Wabi-Shebelle Basin. This research projects future rainfall and temperature patterns in the Ramis catchment of the Upper Wabe-Shebelle basin. The projection utilized a multimodel comprising eight distinct general circulation models from coupled model intercomparison phase six (CMIP6) data simulation. These models were selected based on their performance, considering two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The Quantile Mapping (QM) bias correction technique, implemented in R, was used to enhance the reliability of extracted data. The Mann‒Kendall (MK) trend test method was employed to analyze temperature and precipitation trends for two future periods, 2030–2060 and 2061–2090, annually and seasonally. The results suggest a decrease in rainfall during the spring and Winter seasons for 2030 to 2060 and 2061 to 2090 respectively, potentially leading to water scarcity that could impact crop growth and water supply. A decreasing trend in annual rainfall was observed from 2030 to 2060 under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. The study also uncovered significant and consistent warming trends in maximum and minimum temperatures across the Ramis catchment under both the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI) analysis predicts a minor increase in rainfall in the Ramis catchment from 2030 to 2090 under both scenarios, with a notable RAI decrease expected in 2043–2071, indicating potential drought conditions. These findings offer critical insights for regional climate change impact assessments across the Ramis catchment.

Ice sheet-free West Antarctica during peak early Oligocene glaciation.

One of Earth's most fundamental climate shifts, the greenhouse-icehouse transition 34 million years ago, initiated Antarctic ice sheet buildup, influencing global climate until today. However, the extent of the ice sheet during the Early Oligocene Glacial Maximum (~33.7 to 33.2 million years ago) that immediately followed this transition-a critical knowledge gap for assessing feedbacks between permanently glaciated areas and early Cenozoic global climate reorganization-is uncertain. In this work, we present shallow-marine drilling data constraining earliest Oligocene environmental conditions on West Antarctica's Pacific margin-a key region for understanding Antarctic ice sheet evolution. These data indicate a cool-temperate environment with mild ocean and air temperatures that prevented West Antarctic Ice Sheet formation. Climate-ice sheet modeling corroborates a highly asymmetric Antarctic ice sheet, thereby revealing its differential regional response to past and future climatic change.