从Google Trends看“一带一路”倡议的国际反响

[目的/意义]2013年中国提出“一带一路”倡议,这对推动我国继续繁荣发展并为全球提供中国治理体系方案等具有重大意义。[方法/过程]利用Google Trends,分析中国“一带一路”倡议的国际反响及其潜在阻碍因子。[结果/结论]“一带一路”倡议受到国际上绝大多数国家民众的支持和关注;个别国家为了压制中国的国际影响力,通过“债务陷阱外交”“珍珠链战略”以及环境问题等方面抹黑“一带一路”,行动上提出“重建更好世界”等企图替代中国的“一带一路”倡议。得益于“一带一路”倡议投资没有附加条件以及G7国家内部自身问题,“一带一路”倡议仍然获得了广大第三世界国家的支持,并将继续是推动世界经济发展的重要力量。

Human brain organoid:trends,evolution,and remaining challenges

Advanced brain organoids provide promising platforms for deciphering the cellular and molecular processes of human neural development and diseases.Although various studies and reviews have described developments and advancements in brain organoids,few studies have comprehensively summarized and analyzed the global trends in this area of neuroscience.To identify and further facilitate the development of cerebral organoids,we utilized bibliometrics and visualization methods to analyze the global trends and evolution of brain organoids in the last 10 years.First,annual publications,countries/regions,organizations,journals,authors,co-citations,and keywords relating to brain organoids were identified.The hotspots in this field were also systematically identified.Subsequently,current applications for brain organoids in neuroscience,including human neural development,neural disorders,infectious diseases,regenerative medicine,drug discovery,and toxicity assessment studies,are comprehensively discussed.Towards that end,several considerations regarding the current challenges in brain organoid research and future strategies to advance neuroscience will be presented to further promote their application in neurological research.

Bibliometric analysis of hotspots and trends of global myopia research

AIM:To gain insights into the global research hotspots and trends of myopia.METHODS:Articles were downloaded from January 1,2013 to December 31,2022 from the Science Core Database website and were mainly statistically analyzed by bibliometrics software.RESULTS:A total of 444 institutions in 87 countries published 4124 articles.Between 2013 and 2022,China had the highest number of publications(n=1865)and the highest H-index(61).Sun Yat-sen University had the highest number of publications(n=229)and the highest H-index(33).Ophthalmology is the main category in related journals.Citations from 2020 to 2022 highlight keywords of options and reference,child health(pediatrics),myopic traction mechanism,public health,and machine learning,which represent research frontiers.CONCLUSION:Myopia has become a hot research field.China and Chinese institutions have the strongest academic influence in the field from 2013 to 2022.The main driver of myopic research is still medical or ophthalmologists.This study highlights the importance of public health in addressing the global rise in myopia,especially its impact on children’s health.At present,a unified theoretical system is still needed.Accurate surgical and therapeutic solutions must be proposed for people with different characteristics to manage and intervene refractive errors.In addition,the benefits of artificial intelligence(AI)models are also reflected in disease monitoring and prediction.

Global Scientific Trends in Research Related to Diabetic Sarcopenia from 1993 to 2023: A Bibliometric Analysis

Objectives: In this study, bibliometric approach was used to explore the literature in the field of research related to Diabetic Myasthenia Gravis in order to identify the current research progress in Diabetic Myasthenia Gravis related research and to help the researchers to predict the future hotspots in the field of research and to provide reference for the research. Methods: Literature related to diabetic sarcopenia published from 1993 to 2023 since the inception of the repository was extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and bibliometric analyses were performed. We have analysed the published literature of the last approximately almost 30 years, as well as publication and citation analyses from different countries, institutions, journals and authors. For keywords, we performed co-occurrence, clustering, timeline view and citation burst analysis. Results: On the basis of 1564 publications, we found a continuous increase in the number of publications and citations, especially in the last six years. The United States is the most representative country, and Seoul National University (SNU) is the most representative institution. The most popular journal in the field is Diabetes Care;Fukui, Michiaki is the most prolific author, leading many studies related to diabetic sarcopenia. The most frequently cited reference was a revised European consensus on the definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia;the most cited keywords were related to physiological factors of diabetes, sarcopenia and related conditions, such as “insulin resistance”, “skeletal muscle”, “body composition”, “risk” and “prevalence”. Conclusion: With more and more studies on the relationship between diabetic sarcopenia, this study presents the current status and trend of research related to diabetic sarcopenia over the past nearly 30 years through the visualization software CiteSpace. It can help researchers identify potential collaborators and partner institutions, hotspots and research frontiers in the field of diabetic sarcopenia. However, our work is only based on the English language literature in the WoSCC database, and for future studies, we recommend that researchers explore the literature from multiple databases to enhance the scope of their research.

Systematic bibliometric analysis of research hotspots and trends on the application of premium IOLs in the past 2 decades

AIM:To analysis of research hotspots and trends on the application of premium intraocular lens(PIOLs)in the past 2 decades.METHODS:The literature search was performed on the Web of Science and included PIOLs studies published between January 2000 and December 2022.The retrieved literature was collated and analyzed by R-tool’s Bibliometrix package,CitNetExplorer,CiteSpace and other software.RESULTS:A total of 1801 articles about PIOLs were obtained,most of which were published in Spain and the United States.The organization that published the most articles was the University of Valencia in Spain.Alió JL,and Montés-Micó R,from Spain were the most influential authors in this field.The Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and Journal of Refractive Surgery were the core journals for this field;the top 10 cited articles mainly focus on postoperative satisfaction with multifocal intraocular lens(IOLs)and postoperative results of toric IOLs.Through the keyword analysis,we found that trifocal IOLs,astigmatism and extended depth of focus(EDoF)IOLs are the most discussed topics at present,and the importance of astigmatism and the clinical application of the new generation of PIOLs are the emerging research trends.CONCLUSION:Bibliometric analysis can effectively help to identify multilevel concerns in PIOLs research and the prevailing research trends in the realm of PIOLs encompass the adoption of EDoF IOLs,trifocal IOLs,and their respective Toric models.

Climate Trends and Their Impact on Sorghum Production in Marigat, Baringo County: A Historical Analysis

Climate is subject to fluctuations in the majority of the world, mainly caused by rainfall as well as temperature variations. Climate fluctuations in Kenya have resulted in the spread of desert-like conditions in the ASALs region, such as Marigat in Baringo County. As a county, Baringo experiences great variations in climate annually, as well as uncertainty in expected rains, thereby negatively impacting the production of crops such as sorghum. This study applied the rainfall anomaly index (RAI), standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), standard precipitation index (SPI), and Mann-Kendall (MK) statistical test for trends on historical climatic data in analysing both temperature and precipitation data over the period 1990 to 2022 to determine their trend, patterns and how they affect the production of sorghum crops. The machine learning method (R studio) with inputs was used to calculate the SPI, SPEI, RAI and MK trend test. The rainfall varied from below average to above average during the study period with no clear pattern in the RAI, SPEI and SPI values. The years 2020 and 2000 stood out as they had higher and lower rainfall than usual, respectively. The Marigat area generally experienced more rainfall during the high/long rainfall season (AMJJ). The MK trend test on average monthly rainfall, SOND, AMJJ, and annual precipitation confirmed a positive trend in precipitation. However, the short rainy season (SOND) was found to be the most variable period for rainfall, and there was a slight increase in daily average temperatures during this season.

A positive trend in the stability of global offshore wind energy

The recognition on the trend of wind energy stability is still extremely rare,although it is closely related to acquisition efficiency,grid connection,equipment lifetime,and costs of wind energy utilization.Using the 40-year(1979–2018)ERA-Interim data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts,this study presented the spatial-temporal distribution and climatic trend of the stability of global offshore wind energy as well as the abrupt phenomenon of wind energy stability in key regions over the past 40 years with the climatic analysis method and Mann-Kendall(M-K)test.The results show the following 5 points.(1)According to the coefficient of variation(C_(v))of the wind power density,there are six permanent stable zones of global offshore wind energy:the southeast and northeast trade wind zones in the Indian,Pacific and Atlantic oceans,the Southern Hemisphere westerly,and a semi-permanent stable zone(North Indian Ocean).(2)There are six lowvalue zones for both seasonal variability index(S_(v))and monthly variability index(M_(v))globally,with a similar spatial distribution as that of the six permanent stable zones.M_(v) and S_(v) in the Arabian Sea are the highest in the world.(3)After C_(v),M_(v) and S_(v) are comprehensively considered,the six permanent stable zones have an obvious advantage in the stability of wind energy over other sea areas,with C_(v) below 0.8,M_(v) within 1.0,and S_(v) within 0.7 all the year round.(4)The global stability of offshore wind energy shows a positive climatic trend for the past four decades.C_(v),M_(v) and S_(v) have not changed significantly or decreased in most of the global ocean during 1979 to2018.That is,wind energy is flat or more stable,while the monthly and seasonal variabilities tend to shrink/smooth,which is beneficial for wind energy utilization.(5)C_(v) in the low-latitude Pacific and M_(v) and S_(v) in both the North Indian Ocean and the low-latitude Pacific have an obvious abrupt phenomenon at the end of the20th century.

A method to predict rockburst using temporal trend test and its application

Rockbursts have become a significant hazard in underground mining,underscoring the need for a robust early warning model to ensure safety management.This study presents a novel approach for rockburst prediction,integrating the Mann-Kendall trend test(MKT)and multi-indices fusion to enable real-time and quantitative assessment of rockburst hazards.The methodology employed in this study involves the development of a comprehensive precursory index library for rockbursts.The MKT is then applied to analyze the real-time trend of each index,with adherence to rockburst characterization laws serving as the warning criterion.By employing a confusion matrix,the warning effectiveness of each index is assessed,enabling index preference determination.Ultimately,the integrated rockburst hazard index Q is derived through data fusion.The results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves a warning effectiveness of 0.563 for Q,surpassing the performance of any individual index.Moreover,the model’s adaptability and scalability are enhanced through periodic updates driven by actual field monitoring data,making it suitable for complex underground working environments.By providing an efficient and accurate basis for decision-making,the proposed model holds great potential for the prevention and control of rockbursts.It offers a valuable tool for enhancing safety measures in underground mining operations.

Global research trends and hotspots in overweight/obese comorbid with depression among children and adolescents: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND Overweight/obesity combined with depression among children and adolescents(ODCA)is a global concern.The bidirectional relationship between depression and overweight/obesity often leads to their comorbidity.Childhood and adolescence represent critical periods for physical and psychological development,during which the comorbidity of overweight/obesity and depression may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes.AIM To evaluate the relationship between ODCA,we conduct a bibliometric analysis to aid in formulating prevention and treatment strategies.METHODS From 2004 to 2023,articles related to ODCA were selected using the Science Citation Index Expanded from the Web of Science Core Collection.Bibliometric analysis of relevant publications,including countries/regions,institutions,authors,journals,references,and keywords,was conducted using the online bibliometric analysis platforms,CiteSpace,VOSviewer,and bibliometrix.RESULTS Between 2004 and 2023,a total of 1573 articles were published on ODCA.The United States has made leading contributions in this field,with Harvard University emerging as the leading contributor in terms of research output,and Tanofsky being the most prolific author.The J Adolescent Health has shown significant activity in this domain.Based on the results of the keyword and reference analyses,inequality,adverse childhood experiences,and comorbidities have become hot topics in ODCA.Moreover,the impact of balancedrelated behavior and exploration of the biological mechanisms,including the potential role of key adipocytokines and lipokines,as well as inflammation in ODCA,have emerged as frontier topics.CONCLUSION The trend of a significant increase in ODCA publications is expected to continue.The research findings will contribute to elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms of ODCA and its prevention and treatment.

Panel Discussion on“Development Trends of Computer Science in the New Era”

At the panel session of the 3rd Global Forum on the Development of Computer Science,attendees had an opportunity to deliberate recent issues affecting computer science departments as a result of the recent growth in the field.6 heads of university computer science departments participated in the discussions,including the moderator,Professor Andrew Yao.The first issue was how universities are managing the growing number of applicants in addition to swelling class sizes.Several approaches were suggested,including increasing faculty hiring,implementing scalable teaching tools,and working closer with other departments through degree programs that integrate computer science with other fields.The second issue was about the position and role of computer science within broader science.Participants generally agreed that all fields are increasingly relying on computer science techniques,and that effectively disseminating these techniques to others is a key to unlocking broader scientific progress.

Trends and hotspots in gastrointestinal neoplasms risk assessment: A bibliometric analysis from 1984 to 2022

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal neoplasm(GN)significantly impact the global cancer burden and mortality,necessitating early detection and treatment.Understanding the evolution and current state of research in this field is vital.AIM To conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of publications from 1984 to 2022 to elucidate the trends and hotspots in the GN risk assessment research,focusing on key contributors,institutions,and thematic evolution.METHODS This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of data from the Web of Science Core Collection database using the"bibliometrix"R package,VOSviewer,and CiteSpace.The analysis focused on the distribution of publications,contributions by institutions and countries,and trends in keywords.The methods included data synthesis,network analysis,and visualization of international collaboration networks.RESULTS This analysis of 1371 articles on GN risk assessment revealed a notable evolution in terms of research focus and collaboration.It highlights the United States'critical role in advancing this field,with significant contributions from institutions such as Brigham and Women's Hospital and the National Cancer Institute.The last five years,substantial advancements have been made,representing nearly 45%of the examined literature.Publication rates have dramatically increased,from 20 articles in 2002 to 112 in 2022,reflecting intensified research efforts.This study underscores a growing trend toward interdisciplinary and international collaboration,with the Journal of Clinical Oncology standing out as a key publication outlet.This shift toward more comprehensive and collaborative research methods marks a significant step in addressing GN risks.CONCLUSION This study underscores advancements in GN risk assessment through genetic analyses and machine learning and reveals significant geographical disparities in research emphasis.This calls for enhanced global collaboration and integration of artificial intelligence to improve cancer prevention and treatment accuracy,ultimately enhancing worldwide patient care.

Comprehensive Analysis of Cancer Incidence and Mortality Trends in Costa Rica: Implications for Public Health

This commentary delves into the evolving landscape of cancer incidence and mortality in Costa Rica, presenting a comprehensive analysis of the data. Key findings reveal a concerning upward trajectory in cancer incidence rates, placing Costa Rica at the forefront within Central America. While prostate cancer and breast cancer dominate, disparities emerge when scrutinizing gender-specific trends. Notably, stomach and cervical cancers show declines, potentially attributed to targeted interventions. However, colorectal and liver cancers witness mortality increases, necessitating strategic responses. Geographical disparities persist across provinces, highlighting the need for equitable healthcare access. In conclusion, this commentary underscores the urgency of addressing the burgeoning cancer burden in Costa Rica, calling for evidence-based interventions and collaborative efforts on a global scale.

What induced the trend shift of mixed-layer depths in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current region in the mid-1980s?

An obvious trend shift in the annual mean and winter mixed layer depth(MLD)in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current(ACC)region was detected during the 1960–2021 period.Shallowing trends stopped in mid-1980s,followed by a period of weak trends.The MLD deepening trend difference between the two periods were mainly distributed in the western areas in the Drake Passage,the areas north to Victoria Land and Wilkes Land,and the central parts of the South Indian sector.The newly formed ocean current shear due to the meridional shift of the ACC flow axis between the two periods is the dominant driver for the MLD trends shift distributed in the western areas in the Drake Passage and the central parts of the South Indian sector.The saltier trends in the regions north to Victoria Land and Wilkes Land could be responsible for the strengthening mixing processes in this region.

Trends of autoimmune liver disease inpatient hospitalization and mortality from 2011 to 2017:A United States nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND Autoimmune liver diseases(AiLD)encompass a variety of disorders that target either the liver cells(autoimmune hepatitis,AIH)or the bile ducts[primary biliary cholangitis(PBC),and primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)].These conditions can progress to chronic liver disease(CLD),which is characterized by fibrosis,cirrhosis,and hepatocellular carcinoma.Recent studies have indicated a rise in hospitalizations and associated costs for CLD in the US,but information regarding inpatient admissions specifically for AiLD remains limited.AIM To examine the trends and mortality of inpatient hospitalization of AiLD from 2011 to 2017.METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis utilizing the National Inpatient Sample(NIS)databases.All subjects admitted between 2011 and 2017 with a diagnosis of AiLD(AIH,PBC,PSC)were identified using the International Classification of Diseases(ICD-9)and ICD-10 codes.primary AiLD admission was defined if the first admission code was one of the AiLD codes.secondary AiLD admission was defined as having the AiLD diagnosis anywhere in the admission diagnosis(25 diagnoses).Subjects aged 21 years and older were included.The national estimates of hospitalization were derived using sample weights provided by NIS.χ^(2)tests for categorical data were used.The primary trend characteristics were in-hospital mortality,hospital charges,and length of stay.RESULTS From 2011 to 2017,hospitalization rates witnessed a significant decline,dropping from 83263 admissions to 74850 admissions(P<0.05).The patients hospitalized were predominantly elderly(median 53%for age>65),mostly female(median 59%)(P<0.05),and primarily Caucasians(median 68%)(P<0.05).Medicare was the major insurance(median 56%),followed by private payer(median 27%)(P<0.05).The South was the top geographical distribution for these admissions(median 33%)(P<0.05),with most admissions taking place in big teaching institutions(median 63%)(P<0.05).Total charges for admissions rose from 66031 in 2011 to 78987 in 2017(P<0.05),while the inpatient mortality rate had a median of 4.9%(P<0.05),rising from 4.67%in 2011 to 5.43%in 2017.The median length of stay remained relatively stable,changing from 6.94 days(SD=0.07)in 2011 to 6.51 days(SD=0.06)in 2017(P<0.05).Acute renal failure emerged as the most common risk factor associated with an increased death rate,affecting nearly 68%of patients(P<0.05).CONCLUSION AiLD-inpatient hospitalization showed a decrease in overall trends over the studied years,however there is a significant increase in financial burden on healthcare with increasing in-hospital costs along with increase in mortality of hospitalized patient with AiLD.

Evaluating the role of 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in neurosurgery: Trends in literature since clinical approval

BACKGROUND After approval for clinical use in 2017,early investigations of ultra-high-field abdominal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)have demonstrated its feasibility as well as diagnostic capabilities in neuroimaging.However,there are no to few systematic reviews covering the entirety of its neurosurgical applications as well as the trends in the literature with regard to the aforementioned application.AIM To assess the impact of 7-Tesla MRI(7T MRI)on neurosurgery,focusing on its applications in diagnosis,treatment planning,and postoperative assessment,and to systematically analyze and identify patterns and trends in the existing literature related to the utilization of 7T MRI in neurosurgical contexts.METHODS A systematic search of PubMed was conducted for studies published between January 1,2017,and December 31,2023,using MeSH terms related to 7T MRI and neurosurgery.The inclusion criteria were:Studies involving patients of all ages,meta-analyses,systematic reviews,and original research.The exclusion criteria were:Pre-prints,studies with insufficient data(e.g.,case reports and letters),non-English publications,and studies involving animal subjects.Data synthesis involved standardized extraction forms,and a narrative synthesis was performed.RESULTS We identified 219 records from PubMed within our defined period,with no duplicates or exclusions before screening.After screening,125 articles were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria,leaving 94 reports.Of these,2 were irrelevant to neurosurgery and 7 were animal studies,resulting in 85 studies included in our systematic review.Data were categorized by neurosurgical procedures and diseases treated using 7T MRI.We also analyzed publications by country and the number of 7T MRI facilities per country was also presented.Experi-mental studies were classified into comparison and non-comparison studies based on whether 7T MRI was compared to lower field strengths.CONCLUSION 7T MRI holds great potential in improving the characterization and understanding of various neurological and psychiatric conditions that may be neurosurgically treated.These include epilepsy,pituitary adenoma,Parkinson's disease,cerebrovascular diseases,trigeminal neuralgia,traumatic head injury,multiple sclerosis,glioma,and psychiatric disorders.Superiority of 7T MRI over lower field strengths was demonstrated in terms of image quality,lesion detection,and tissue characterization.Findings suggest the need for accelerated global distribution of 7T magnetic resonance systems and increased training for radiologists to ensure safe and effective integration into routine clinical practice.

Sepsis during short bowel syndrome hospitalizations:Identifying trends,disparities,and clinical outcomes in the United States

BACKGROUND Short bowel syndrome(SBS)hospitalizations are often complicated with sepsis.There is a significant paucity of data on adult SBS hospitalizations in the United States and across the globe.AIM To assess trends and outcomes of SBS hospitalizations complicated by sepsis in the United States.METHODS The National Inpatient Sample was utilized to identify all adult SBS hospitalizations between 2005-2014.The study cohort was further divided based on the presence or absence of sepsis.Trends were identified,and hospitalization characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared.Predictors of mortality for SBS hospitalizations complicated with sepsis were assessed.RESULTS Of 247097 SBS hospitalizations,21.7%were complicated by sepsis.Septic SBS hospitalizations had a rising trend of hospitalizations from 20.8%in 2005 to 23.5%in 2014(P trend<0.0001).Compared to non-septic SBS hospitalizations,septic SBS hospitalizations had a higher proportion of males(32.8%vs 29.3%,P<0.0001),patients in the 35-49(45.9%vs 42.5%,P<0.0001)and 50-64(32.1%vs 31.1%,P<0.0001)age groups,and ethnic minorities,i.e.,Blacks(12.4%vs 11.3%,P<0.0001)and Hispanics(6.7%vs 5.5%,P<0.0001).Furthermore,septic SBS hospitalizations had a higher proportion of patients with intestinal transplantation(0.33%vs 0.22%,P<0.0001),inpatient mortality(8.5%vs 1.4%,P<0.0001),and mean length of stay(16.1 d vs 7.7 d,P<0.0001)compared to the non-sepsis cohort.A younger age,female gender,White race,and presence of comorbidities such as anemia and depression were identified to be independent predictors of inpatient mortality for septic SBS hospitalizations.CONCLUSION Septic SBS hospitalizations had a rising trend between 2005-2014 and were associated with higher inpatient mortality compared to non-septic SBS hospitalizations.

Spatial Variation and Trend of Extreme Precipitation in Africa during 1981-2019 and Its Projected Changes at the End of 21st Century

This study comprehensively examines the patterns and regional variation of severe rainfall across the African continent, employing a suite of eight extreme precipitation indices. The analysis extends to the assessment of projected changes in precipitation extremes using five General Circulation Models (GCMs) from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios at the long-term period (2081-2100) of the 21st century. Furthermore, the study investigates potential mechanisms influencing precipitation extremes by correlating extreme precipitation indices with oceanic system indices, specifically Ni?o 3.4 for El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Dipole Mode Index (DMI) for the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The findings revealed distinct spatial distributions in mean trends of extreme precipitation indices, indicating a tendency toward decreased extreme precipitation in North Africa, Sahel region, Central Africa and the Western part of South Africa. Conversely, West Africa, East Africa and the Eastern part of South Africa exhibit an inclination toward increased extreme precipitation. The changes in precipitation extreme indices indicate a general rise in both the severity and occurrence of extreme precipitation events under all scenarios by the end of the 21st century. Notably, our analysis projects a decrease in consecutive wet days (CWD) in the far-future. Additionally, correlation analysis highlights significant correlation between above or below threshold rainfall fluctuation in East Africa and South Africa with oceanic systems, particularly ENSO and the IOD. Central Africa abnormal precipitation variability is also linked to ENSO with a significant negative correlation. These insights contribute valuable information for understanding and projecting the dynamics of precipitation extreme in Africa, providing a foundation for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in the region.

Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Maximum and Minimum Temperature Trends in Northern Sudan during (1990-2019)

The study addresses an urgent and globally significant issue of climate change by focusing on the detailed spatial and temporal analysis of temperature trends in Northern Sudan. It fills a critical research gap by providing localized data over a substantial period (1990-2019), which could help in understanding the nuanced impacts of climate change in Sahel regions like Northern Sudan. In addition, the comprehensive coverage of both spatial and temporal dimensions, supported by a substantial dataset from five meteorological stations, provides a thorough understanding of the subject area. The utilization of robust statistical methods (Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope analysis) for analyzing temperature trends adds scientific rigor and credibility to the findings. Our results reveal a consistently increasing trend in maximum temperatures across most stations, particularly during the hot season (AMJ). However, the wet season (JAS) shows high maximum temperatures but no significant trend. Moreover, significant increasing trends in minimum temperatures were observed in all stations except Abu Hamed, where the trend, although increasing, did not reach statistical significance during the hot and cold seasons, and the coldest temperatures were observed during the cold season. These findings underscore the complex temperature dynamics in Northern Sudan and highlight the need for continued monitoring and adaptive measures in response to ongoing climate changes in the region.

Long-term trends in the abundance and breeding performance in Adélie penguins:the Argentine Ecosystem Monitoring Program

In this work,we report long-term trends in the abundance and breeding performance of Adélie penguins(Pygoscelis adeliae)nesting in three Antarctic colonies(i.e.,at Martin Point,South Orkneys Islands;Stranger Point/Cabo Funes,South Shetland Islands;and Esperanza/Hope Bay in the Antarctic Peninsula)from 1995/96 to 2022/23.Using yearly count data of breeding groups selected,we observed a decline in the number of breeding pairs and chicks in crèche at all colonies studied.However,the magnitude of change was higher at Stranger Point than that in the remaining colonies.Moreover,the index of breeding success,which was calculated as the ratio of chicks in crèche to breeding pairs,exhibited no apparent trend throughout the study period.However,it displayed greater variability at Martin Point compared to the other two colonies under investigation.Although the number of chicks in crèche of Adélie penguins showed a declining pattern,the average breeding performance was similar to that reported in gentoo penguin colonies,specifically,those undergoing a population increase(even in sympatric colonies facing similar local conditions).Consequently,it is plausible to assume a reduction of the over-winter survival as a likely cause of the declining trend observed,at least in the Stranger Point and Esperanza colonies.However,we cannot rule out local effects during the breeding season affecting the Adélie population of Martin Point.

Analysis of Temperature Trends and Variations in the Arabian Peninsula’s Upper Atmosphere

In this study, the trends of upper-air temperatures are analysed by utilising radiosonde observations for the barometric levels at 700, 500, 300, 200, 150, 100 and 50 hPa from five meteorological stations within the Arabian Peninsula from January 1986 to August 2015. The mean monthly variations of the temperatures at these levels are characterised and established. The magnitudes of the annual trends of the mean temperatures for each site for the selected barometric levels are studied and statistically tested using Mann-Kendall rank statistics at different significance levels. The temperature trends at different pressure levels show that the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere are warming, while the middle troposphere is cooling which is consistent with the findings of other studies. The variations in upper air temperature observed in this study can be attributed to a range of factors, including increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, variations in solar activity, aerosols and volcanic eruptions, and land use and land cover change.