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An extreme heatwave, in terms of intensity and duration, is projected to occur at the end of the 21st century (2071–2100) over the whole of East Asia. The projection is calculated using daily maximum temperature data of 25 km horizontal resolution produced by 12 general circulation model-regional climate model chains participating in the CORDEX-East Asia Phase 2 project. An ‘extreme’ heatwave is defined as one in which the heatwave magnitude (HWM), which is the accumulated daily intensity of a heatwave during the heatwave period, is higher than the 95th percentile of the HWM for the reference period (1981–2005). In historical simulations, heatwaves have occurred mainly from April to June in India, in April and May in Indochina, from June to August in China and Mongolia, and in July and August in the Korean Peninsula and Japan; most heatwaves last three to four days. In India and Indochina, long-lasting and intense heatwaves occur more often than in other regions. In future, heatwave intensity will increase, the average duration of heatwaves will be approximately two to three weeks, and the heatwave season will be lengthened. Therefore, extreme heatwaves will occur more frequently and strongly. Under two representative concentration pathway scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) and two shared socioeconomic pathway scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5), the proportion of extreme heatwaves to all heatwave events will increase from 5.0% (historical) to 8.0%, 20.8%, 19.3%, and 36.3%, and the HWM of the extreme heatwave will be 1.4, 3.5, 3.0, and 9.0 times stronger, respectively. The main reason for the increase in the HWM of extreme heatwaves is the increased duration rather than the daily intensity of the heatwaves. In East Asia, the temporal and regional disparities of heatwave damage will be much more prominent as extreme heatwaves become stronger and more frequent in these regions and during the periods that are more affected by heatwaves in the present day.

This study examines the spatiotemporal characteristics of the summer monsoon rainy season over East Asia using six regional climate models (RCMs) participating in the Coordinated Regional Domain Experiment (CORDEX) East Asia Phase II project. The framework combining multiple global climate models (GCMs) with multiple RCMs produces a larger spread in summer monsoon characteristics than driving GCMs only, enabling a better quantification of uncertainty factors. On average, the RCM simulations reproduce the observed summer monsoon duration and area better than the corresponding boundary GCMs, implying the added values of downscaling. Both the area and duration of the East Asian summer monsoon are projected to increase by the late 21st century, more strongly in high emission scenarios than in low emission scenarios, particularly in China. Different responses between scenarios, which indicate warming mitigation benefits, only become significant in the late 21st century due to large intersimulation uncertainties. Analysis of variance results show that uncertainty in future monsoon area and duration is larger between boundary GCMs than between RCMs over East Asia and its coastal subregions. A strong intersimulation relationship between RCMs and GCMs supports that boundary GCMs substantially diversify downscaled RCM projections through different climate sensitivities. Furthermore, the distinct subregional responses in future monsoon area and duration emphasize the importance of fine-resolution projections with appropriate uncertainty measures for better preparing region-specific adaptation plans.

In this study, we investigated the future changes in tropical cyclone (TC) activities using regional climate models (RCMs) forced by multi-global climate models (GCMs). The simulation experiments were conducted at a 25-km horizontal resolution over the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX)-East Asia (EA) domain. The ensemble mean method was applied to reduce the uncertainty of each single RCM. During the historical period (1981–2005), the ensemble mean of RCMs captured TC frequency comparable to observation data but simulated their intensity weakly. When comparing the near future (2026–2050) and far future (2076–2100) periods under the high emission scenario to the historical period, the RCMs exhibited a consistent feature: the core region of TC genesis migrated northward. As the genesis region shifted, the TC activities also moved northward to the mid-latitude. In addition, the extreme intensity of landfalling TCs had increased above 25 °N compared to the historical period. These results are related to environmental fields; increasing relative vorticity and specific humidity of 850 hPa and weakening of vertical wind shear over the mid-latitude due to higher sea surface temperature compared to the historical period.

In this study, diurnal characteristics and long-term changes in extreme precipitation (PR) in the Republic of Korea (KR) are investigated. Hourly PR data from 59 ASOS stations across the country over a 50-year period (1973–2022) are used. The focus is on the summer season (June to September), during which extreme PR frequently occurs. During the period 1973–1997 (FP), both the amount and frequency of extreme PR events peak between 01 and 09 LST. In contrast, during the period 1998–2022 (LP), a notable increase in extreme PR and its frequency is observed between 04 and 12 LST, with the peak occurrence hours shifting to this time frame. An analysis of atmospheric variables related to extreme PR is conducted for the 04–12 LST time frame. Compared to all PR events during the summer season, a low-level low-pressure anomaly is found west of the KR, leading to southerly winds and positive specific humidity anomalies over the south of the KR. Relative to the FP period, both the amplitude and frequency of high water vapor content have increased during the LP period. This intensified moisture may be associated with the observed increase in extreme PR during 04–12 LST. However, no significant changes are found in the strength and frequency of the southerly wind.

Among the various thermal stress indices, apparent temperature (AT) is closely related to public health indicators, and consequently is widely used by weather agencies around the world. Therefore, in this paper we estimate the changes in AT and contributing components in Korea as a whole and in five major cities (Seoul, Gwanju, Daegu, Daejeon, and Busan) using national standard climate scenarios based on the coupled model inter-comparison project (CMIP6). In the present day, high AT occurs in major cities due to high temperature (TAS) and relative humidity (RH). Our findings reveal that even when TAS is relatively low, large AT occurs with higher humidity. Notably, in future warmer climate conditions, high AT may first appear in the five major cities and then extend to the surrounding areas. An increase in TAS and RH during the pre-hot season (March to June) may lead to earlier occurrence of thermal risks in future warmer climate conditions and more frequent occurrence of high thermal stress events. Our study can serve as a reference for future information on thermal risk changes in Korea. Considering those who have not adapted to high temperature environments, our findings imply that thermal risks will become more serious and that heat adaptation strategies will be needed during the pre-hot season under future warmer climate conditions.

Background/Objectives: The direct superior approach (DSA) is a tissue-sparing alternative to the traditional posterior approach (PA) in total hip arthroplasty (THA), potentially offering improved recovery and fewer complications. This study compares perioperative parameters, radiological and functional outcomes, and complications between the DSA and the PA in primary THA. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Databases searched included MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus. Studies comparing the DSA and the PA in primary THA were included based on predefined criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two authors. Statistical analyses included calculating standardized mean differences (SMD), odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using the χ2 test, I2 statistics, and sensitivity analyses. Results: Out of 126 identified articles, 10 studies were included, which encompassed 28,063 patients (DSA: 1464; PA: 26,599). Significant advantages of the DSA over the PA were observed in blood loss (SMD −0.26, p < 0.01), transfusion rate (OR 0.59, p = 0.03), length of stay (SMD −0.59, p < 0.01), discharge to home rates (OR 2.32, p < 0.01), and incision length (SMD −2.75, p < 0.01). No significant differences were found in radiological outcomes or most functional scores, although the DSA showed higher Harris Hip Scores at 1 month (SMD 0.77, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The DSA offers significant perioperative advantages over the PA, including reduced blood loss, transfusion rates, LOS, incision length, and improved early functional recovery with higher discharge to home rates. Comparable complication rates and radiological outcomes support the DSA’s safety and efficacy for quicker recovery in THA.

Background: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) is a common orthopaedic procedure, but it has a high rate of retears that can negatively affect the functional outcomes. Bone marrow stimulation (BMS) has been suggested as an additional treatment to improve the outcomes of RCR. Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of the BMS procedure during RCR with conventional RCR. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus, on March 1, 2023, for studies comparing postoperative retear rates and functional outcomes between patients who underwent primary arthroscopic RCR with and without the BMS procedure. Only level 1 and 2 randomized controlled trials with a minimum 12-month follow-up were included. The primary outcomes were retear rates and functional outcomes as measured by the Constant; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES); and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) scores and by postoperative range of motion. Subgroup analyses were performed based on repair technique (single-row repair vs double-row or suture-bridge repair). The standardized mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio (OR) were utilized to synthesize continuous and dichotomous outcomes, respectively. Homogeneity was evaluated using the chi-square test and I2 statistic. Results: The literature search yielded 661 articles, of which 6 studies (522 patients; 261 with BMS, 261 without BMS) met the eligibility criteria. The combined analysis showed no significant decrease in retear rates with the utilization of the BMS procedure during RCR (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.35 to 1.03; P = .07; I2 = 24%). There was no significant intergroup difference in functional outcomes (Constant score: SMD, 0.13; 95% CI, –0.04 to 0.31; P = .13; I2 = 0%; ASES score: SMD, 0.04; 95% CI, –0.20 to 0.28; P = .73; I2 = 0%; UCLA score: SMD, –0.13; 95% CI, –0.50 to 0.23; P = .47; I2 = 0%). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences in postoperative retear risk or total Constant score according to the repair technique. Conclusion: Based on the available evidence, this systematic review did not find a significant benefit of the BMS procedure at the footprint during arthroscopic RCR compared with conventional RCR in terms of retear rates and functional outcomes at short-term follow-up.

Spectral nudging (SN) is an effective numerical technique that prevents the background field from deviating excessively from the boundary conditions in regional climate modeling. This study investigates the effectiveness of SN in convection-permitting model simulations of three typical events of warm-season extreme precipitation in South Korea. The case studies show that SN improves extreme precipitation simulations by keeping synoptic circulations more consistent with observations. Trajectory analysis also shows that SN influences the moisture transport and local ascent that trigger extreme precipitation. However, the extent of the improvement depends on the synoptic condition and the domain size. The influence of SN generally increases with increasing domain size, especially for events driven by the developing upper-level trough with strong baroclinic instability compared to those influenced by surface processes. SN is also found to be more effective in events whose dominant wave scales fall between the domain size and the cut-off wavelength used for SN. Based on a series of sensitivity experiments, it is proposed that the most effective configuration for simulating extreme precipitation events is to apply SN to a domain approximately 3000 km wide.

This study investigated future projections of extreme precipitation (PR) over the Korean Peninsula (KP) under global warming levels of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C (GWL 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C). The bias-corrected large ensemble of the Regional Climate Model (RCM) in the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment–East Asia Phase 2 was used. Under GWL 1.5 °C, the RCM multi-model ensemble (MME) predicted the extreme PR intensity (RX1day) to increase by 10.14% more than the mean PR of 4.69%. A regional difference was observed in the projection, with a larger increase over the northern KP (NKP) and southern KP (SKP) than central KP. Accordingly, the distribution of extreme PR was expected to shift with the right, and extreme events occurring once every 20 years over the SKP and NKP were expected to change to a reoccurrence of 12.56 years and 10.04 years, respectively. The mechanism of extreme PR was examined for cases from June to September. The expected increase in extreme PR per warming over the SKP and NKP was 5.64% °C−1 and 8.37% °C−1, respectively, which was close to the Clausius-Clapeyron scale (7.7% °C−1). This implies that increased moisture capability from the warming will affect the change in extreme PR. Other possible factors were investigated and the RCM MME predicted vertical instability over East Asia to continue, and moisture flux and convergence around the KP to be intensified. Meanwhile, under GWL 2.0 °C, mean PR and extreme PR were projected to increase more than under GWL 1.5 °C.

Purpose - While many studies have investigated the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on a host country's economic development, little research has been done on the role of FDI as related to economic decline and recovery. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the economic effects of inward and outward FDI during turbulent times.Design methodology approach - This paper develops a theoretical argument postulating that FDI will have a stabilizing effect on a nation's economic growth during crisis and also at times of recovery. Hypotheses were advanced and tested with data collected from affected economies during the Asian financial crisis using a fixed-effect panel regression analysis.Findings - Results confirm that both inward and outward FDI stabilizes a country's economic growth during times of a financial crisis. Countries that had higher levels of FDI prior to the crisis experienced a milder recession and a more gradual recovery. This stabilizing effect, however, is found to be more robust for FDI-stock than for FDI-flow.Social implications - This paper reveals that FDI has a stabilizing rather than an accelerating effect on a country's economy growth during both periods of crisis and recovery. It contradicts the common belief that FDI would help speed up, not stabilize or dampen the uptake of economic activities during the recovery period. This finding will help policy makers educate the public and set realistic expectations about the economic impact of FDI.Originality value - This paper makes original contributions by uncovering the complex and unexpected role of FDI as related to a nation's economic decline and recovery during a financial crisis. The findings have important implications for both international business scholars and public-policy decision makers.