Impacts of anthropogenic and natural sources on free tropospheric ozone over  the Middle East

Abstract. Significant progress has been made in identifying the influence of different processes and emissions on the summertime enhancements of free tropospheric ozone (O3) at northern midlatitude regions. However, the exact contribution of regional emissions, chemical and transport processes to these summertime enhancements is still not well quantified. Here we focus on quantifying the influence of regional emissions on the summertime O3 enhancements over the Middle East, using updated reactive nitrogen (NOx) emissions. We then use the adjoint of the GEOS-Chem model with these updated NOx emissions to show that the global total contribution of lightning NOx on middle free tropospheric O3 over the Middle East is about 2 times larger than that from global anthropogenic sources. The summertime middle free tropospheric O3 enhancement is primarily due to Asian NOx emissions, with approximately equivalent contributions from Asian anthropogenic activities and lightning. In the Middle Eastern lower free troposphere, lightning NOx from Europe and North America and anthropogenic NOx from Middle Eastern local emissions are the primary sources of O3. This work highlights the critical role of lightning NOx on northern midlatitude free tropospheric O3 and the important effect of the Asian summer monsoon on the export of Asian pollutants.

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Impacts of anthropogenic and natural sources on free tropospheric ozone over the Middle East

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-15-35523-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (24) ◽

pp. 35523-35545

Author(s):

Z. Jiang ◽

K. Miyazaki ◽

J. R. Worden ◽

J. J. Liu ◽

D. B. A. Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Tropospheric Ozone ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Critical Role ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Nox Emissions ◽

Total Contribution ◽

Regional Emissions ◽

Tropospheric O3 ◽

Lightning Nox

Abstract. Significant progress has been made in identifying the influence of different processes and emissions on the summertime enhancements of free tropospheric ozone (O3) at northern mid-latitude regions. However, the exact contribution of regional emissions and chemical processing to these summertime enhancements is still not well quantified. Here we focus on quantifying the influence of regional emissions on the summertime O3 enhancements over the Middle East. We use updated reactive nitrogen (NOx) emissions from an ensemble Kalman Filter that assimilates satellite observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), O3, and carbon monoxide (CO) to provide an improved estimate of O3 precursor emissions. We then use the adjoint of the GEOS-Chem model with these updated NOx emissions to show that the global total contribution of lightning NOx on middle free tropospheric O3 over the Middle East is about three times larger than that from global anthropogenic sources. The summertime free tropospheric O3 enhancement is primarily due to Asian NOx emissions, with approximately equivalent contributions from Asian anthropogenic activities and lightning. In the Middle Eastern lower free troposphere, emissions from European and North American anthropogenic activities and from lightning NOx are the primary sources of O3. This work highlights the critical role of lightning NOx on northern mid-latitude free tropospheric O3 and the important effect of the Asian summer monsoon on the export of Asian pollutants.

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Accurate satellite-derived estimates of the tropospheric ozone impact on the global radiation budget

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-9-5505-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 5505-5547 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Joiner ◽

M. R. Schoeberl ◽

A. P. Vasilkov ◽

L. Oreopoulos ◽

S. Platnick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tropospheric Ozone ◽

Radiative Forcing ◽

Global Radiation ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Radiation Budget ◽

Radiative Effect ◽

Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽

Cloud Data ◽

Cloud Effect ◽

Tropospheric O3

Abstract. Estimates of the radiative forcing due to anthropogenically-produced tropospheric O3 are derived primarily from models. Here, we use tropospheric ozone and cloud data from several instruments in the A-train constellation of satellites as well as information from the GEOS-5 Data Assimilation System to accurately estimate the radiative effect of tropospheric O3 for January and July 2005. Since we cannot distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources with the satellite data, our derived radiative effect reflects the unadjusted (instantaneous) effect of the total tropospheric O3 rather than the anthropogenic component. We improve upon previous estimates of tropospheric ozone mixing ratios from a residual approach using the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) by incorporating cloud pressure information from OMI. We focus specifically on the magnitude and spatial structure of the cloud effect on both the short- and long-wave radiative budget. The estimates presented here can be used to evaluate the various aspects of model-generated radiative forcing. For example, our derived cloud impact is to reduce the radiative effect of tropospheric ozone by ~16%. This is centered within the published range of model-produced cloud effect on instantaneous radiative forcing.

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Accurate satellite-derived estimates of the tropospheric ozone impact on the global radiation budget

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-9-4447-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (13) ◽

pp. 4447-4465 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

J. Joiner ◽

M. R. Schoeberl ◽

A. P. Vasilkov ◽

L. Oreopoulos ◽

S. Platnick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tropospheric Ozone ◽

Radiative Forcing ◽

Global Radiation ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Radiation Budget ◽

Radiative Effect ◽

Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽

Cloud Data ◽

Cloud Effect ◽

Tropospheric O3

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Global O<sub>3</sub>-CO Correlations in a Chemistry and Transport Model during July–August: Evaluation with TES Satellite Observations and Sensitivity to Input Meteorological Data and Emissions

10.5194/acp-2016-1079 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Hyun-Deok Choi ◽

Hongyu Liu ◽

James H. Crawford ◽

David B. Considine ◽

Dale J. Allen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomass Burning ◽

Fossil Fuel ◽

Transport Model ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Convective Transport ◽

Data Sets ◽

Nox Emissions ◽

Tropospheric O3 ◽

Lightning Nox ◽

Co Concentrations

Abstract. We examine the capability of the Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) chemistry and transport model to reproduce global mid-tropospheric (618 hPa) O3-CO correlations determined by the measurements from Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) aboard NASA’s Aura satellite during boreal summer (July–August). The model is driven by three meteorological data sets (fvGCM with sea surface temperature for 1995, GEOS4-DAS for 2005, and MERRA for 2005), allowing us to examine the sensitivity of model O3-CO correlations to input meteorological data. Model simulations of radionuclide tracers (222Rn, 210Pb, and 7Be) are used to illustrate the differences in transport-related processes among the meteorological data sets. Simulated O3 values are evaluated with climatological ozone profiles from ozonesonde measurements and satellite tropospheric O3 columns. Despite the fact that the three simulations show significantly different global and regional distributions of O3 and CO concentrations, all simulations show similar patterns of O3-CO correlations on a global scale. These patterns are consistent with those derived from TES observations, except in the tropical easterly biomass burning outflow regions. Discrepancies in regional O3-CO correlation patterns in the three simulations may be attributed to differences in convective transport, stratospheric influence, and subsidence, among other processes. To understand how various emissions drive global O3-CO correlation patterns, we examine the sensitivity of GMI/MERRA model-calculated O3 and CO concentrations and their correlations to emission types (fossil fuel, biomass burning, biogenic, and lightning NOx emissions). Fossil fuel and biomass burning emissions are mainly responsible for the strong positive O3-CO correlations over continental outflow regions in both hemispheres. Biogenic emissions have a relatively smaller impact on O3-CO correlations than other emissions, but are largely responsible for the negative correlations over the tropical eastern Pacific, reflecting the fact that O3 is consumed and CO generated during the atmospheric oxidation process of isoprene under low NOx conditions. We find that lightning NOx emissions degrade both positive correlations at mid-/high- latitudes and negative correlations in the tropics because ozone production downwind of lightning NOx emissions is not directly related to the emission and transport of CO. Our study concludes that O3-CO correlations may be used effectively to constrain the sources of regional tropospheric O3 in global 3-D models, especially for those regions where convective transport of pollution plays an important role.

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The Effect of the Political Situation in the City of Jerusalem on the Rights of the Jerusalem Women

Al-Raida Journal ◽

10.32380/alrj.v0i0.52 ◽

1970 ◽

pp. 36-47

Author(s):

Fadwa Al-Labadi

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Colonial Period ◽

Sexual Life ◽

Family Status ◽

Colonial Legacy ◽

Legal Principle ◽

The Social ◽

The City ◽

Legislative Processes

The concept of citizenship was introduced to the Arab and Islamic region duringthe colonial period. The law of citizenship, like all other laws and regulations inthe Middle East, was influenced by the colonial legacy that impacted the tribal and paternalistic systems in all aspects of life. In addition to the colonial legacy, most constitutions in the Middle East draw on the Islamic shari’a (law) as a major source of legislation, which in turn enhances the paternalistic system in the social sector in all its dimensions, as manifested in many individual laws and the legislative processes with respect to family status issues. Family is considered the nucleus of society in most Middle Eastern countries, and this is specifically reflected in the personal status codes. In the name of this legal principle, women’s submission is being entrenched, along with censorship over her body, control of her reproductive role, sexual life, and fertility.

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Akulturasi Budaya pada Ornamen Eksterior Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah: Analisis Semiotik

Metahumaniora ◽

10.24198/mh.v7i2.18828 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 40

Author(s):

Panji Maulani

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Field Research ◽

Research Process ◽

Analytic Method ◽

Important Thing ◽

Eastern Culture ◽

Observational Measures ◽

Central Java ◽

Library Research

ABSTRAKProses penelitian ini dilakukan dengan melakukan penelitian lapangan danpenelitian kepustakaan. Analisis mendalam terkait akulturasi budaya pada arsitektur MasjidAgung Jawa Tengah didapat melalui penggunaan metode deskriptif-analitik dengan langkahlangkahobservatif. Langkah-langkah tersebut disesuaikan dengan sumber terkait, sehinggadata pada objek penelitian dapat dideskripsikan serta dianalisis dengan pendekatan budayadan arsitektur. Penelitian ini menjadi penting untuk dilakukan karena Masjid Agung JawaTengah memiliki ornamen eksterior yang sangat khas, berbeda dengan ornamen masjidraya-masjid raya lain di Indonesia, yang umumnya memiliki ornamen eksterior yang hanyaberakulturasi dengan budaya Timur Tengah. Pada Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah kita dapatmerasakan suasana seperti di masjid Nabawi dan suasana Colloseum di zaman Romawi.Terdapat 6 buah payung hidrolik seperti di masjid Nabawi dan gerbang Al-Qanathir yangmenyerupai Colloseum pada pelataran masjid akibat pembangunan Masjid Agung JawaTengah menggunakan paduan tiga unsur budaya: Jawa, Timur Tengah, dan Romawi.Kata kunci: akulturasi, ornamen, masjid agung, Jawa TengahABTRACTThe research process was conducted by field research and library research. Depthanalysis related to acculturation on the architecture of the Central Java Great Mosque obtainedusing descriptive-analytic method with observational measures. The steps are adapted to thecorresponding source, so that data on the research object can be described and analyzed withcultural and architectural approach. This research becomes important thing to do because ofthe Great Mosque of Central Java has a very distinctive exterior ornament, in contrast to theother great mosques in Indonesia, whose the exterior ornament is generally only acculturatedwith Middle Eastern culture. In Central Java Great Mosque we can feel the atmosphere likeat the Nabawi Mosque and the atmosphere of the Colosseum in Roman times. There are sixpieces of hydraulic umbrella like in Nabawi Mosque and Al-Qanathir gate that resembles theColosseum in the courtyard of the mosque as the result of the construction of the Central JavaGreat Mosque using a combination of three elements of culture: Java, Middle East, and Roman.Keywords: acculturation, ornament, grand mosque, Central Java

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Clinical Presentation, Quality of Care, Risk Factors and Outcomes in Women with Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI): An Observational Report from Six Middle Eastern Countries

Current Vascular Pharmacology ◽

10.2174/1570161116666180315104820 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 388-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abdulla Shehab ◽

Khalid F. AlHabib ◽

Akshaya S. Bhagavathula ◽

Ahmad Hersi ◽

Hussam Alfaleh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Quality Of Care ◽

Middle East ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Inhospital Mortality ◽

Acute Stemi

Background: Most of the available literature on ST-Elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) in women was conducted in the developed world and data from Middle-East countries was limited. Aims: To examine the clinical presentation, patient management, quality of care, risk factors and inhospital outcomes of women with acute STEMI compared with men using data from a large STEMI registry from the Middle East. Methods: Data were derived from the third Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE-3Ps), a prospective, multinational study of adults with acute STEMI from 36 hospitals in 6 Middle-Eastern countries. The study included 2928 patients; 296 women (10.1%) and 2632 men (89.9%). Clinical presentations, management and in-hospital outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Results: Women were 10 years older and more likely to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia compared with men who were more likely to be smokers (all p<0.001). Women had longer median symptom-onset to emergency department (ED) arrival times (230 vs. 170 min, p<0.001) and ED to diagnostic ECG (8 vs. 6 min., p<0.001). When primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) was performed, women had longer door-to-balloon time (DBT) (86 vs. 73 min., p=0.009). When thrombolytic therapy was not administered, women were less likely to receive PPCI (69.7 vs. 76.7%, p=0.036). The mean duration of hospital stay was longer in women (6.03 ± 22.51 vs. 3.41 ± 19.45 days, p=0.032) and the crude in-hospital mortality rate was higher in women (10.4 vs. 5.2%, p<0.001). However, after adjustments, multivariate analysis revealed a statistically non-significant trend of higher inhospital mortality among women than men (6.4 vs. 4.6%), (p=0.145). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that women in our region have almost double the mortality from STEMI compared with men. Although this can partially be explained by older age and higher risk profiles in women, however, correction of identified gaps in quality of care should be attempted to reduce the high morbidity and mortality of STEMI in our women.

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The burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Middle East: A systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on primary prevention

Current Vascular Pharmacology ◽

10.2174/1573406416666200611104143 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

Author(s):

Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula ◽

Abdullah Shehab ◽

Anhar Ullah ◽

Jamal Rahmani

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Family History ◽

Primary Prevention ◽

Middle East ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

History Of

Background: The increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) threatens the Middle Eastern population. Several epidemiological studies have assessed CVD and its risk factors in terms of the primary prevention of CVD in the Middle East. Therefore, summarizing the information from these studies is essential. Aim: We conducted a systematic review to assess the prevalence of CVD and its major risk factors among Middle Eastern adults based on the literature published between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2018 and carried out a meta-analysis. Methods: We searched electronic databases such as PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Embase and Google Scholar to identify literature published from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018. All the original articles that investigated the prevalence of CVD and reported at least one of the following factors were included: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, smoking and family history of CVD. To summarize CVD prevalence, we performed a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 41 potentially relevant articles were included, and 32 were included in the meta-analysis (n=191,979). The overall prevalence of CVD was 10.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.1-14.3%, p<0.001) in the Middle East. A high prevalence of CVD risk factors, such as dyslipidaemia (43.3%; 95% CI: 21.5-68%), hypertension (26.2%; 95% CI: 19.6-34%) and diabetes (16%; 95% CI: 9.9-24.8%), was observed. The prevalence rates of other risk factors, such as smoking (12.4%; 95% CI: 7.7-19.4%) and family history of CVD (18.7%; 95% CI: 15.4-22.5%), were also high. Conclusion: The prevalence of CVD is high (10.1%) in the Middle East. The burden of dyslipidaemia (43.3%) in this region is twice as high as that of hypertension (26.2%) and diabetes mellitus (16%). Multifaceted interventions are urgently needed for the primary prevention of CVD in this region.

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Digital Middle East

10.1093/oso/9780190859329.001.0001 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

New Media ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Information Technologies ◽

Complex Dynamics ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Mena Region ◽

New Information ◽

Fast Pace ◽

Information And Communication

In recent years, the Middle East’s information and communications landscape has changed dramatically. Increasingly, states, businesses, and citizens are capitalizing on the opportunities offered by new information technologies, the fast pace of digital transformations, and enhanced connectivity. These changes are far from turning Middle Eastern nations into network societies, but their impact is significant. The growing adoption of a wide variety of information technologies and new media platforms in everyday life has given rise to complex dynamics that beg for a better understanding. Digital Middle East sheds a critical light on continuing changes that are closely intertwined with the adoption of information and communication technologies in the MENA region. Drawing on case studies from throughout the Middle East, the contributors explore how these digital transformations are playing out in the social, cultural, political, and economic spheres, exposing the various disjunctions and discordances that have marked the advent of the digital Middle East.

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TERT promoter mutations in thyroid cancer: a report from a Middle Eastern population

Endocrine Related Cancer ◽

10.1530/erc-15-0396 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 901-908 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Ebtesam Qasem ◽

Avaniyapuram Kannan Murugan ◽

Hindi Al-Hindi ◽

Mingzhao Xing ◽

Mai Almohanna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Middle East ◽

Direct Sequencing ◽

Tumour Size ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Middle Eastern Population ◽

Thyroid Adenomas ◽

Cell Variant ◽

Hürthle Cell Thyroid Cancer ◽

Promoter Mutations

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations C228T and C250T have recently been described in follicular cell-derived thyroid cancer (TC) in patients from North America and Europe. In this study, we explored whether these findings could be replicated in patients from a different ethnic group. We screened 17 benign thyroid adenomas and 265 TC samples from patients in the Middle East for these mutations by PCR and direct sequencing using DNA isolated from paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. None of the 17 benign adenomas harbored TERT promoter mutations. Of 265 TC, 34 (12.8%) harbored TERT promoter mutations, including 10/153 (6.5%) conventional papillary TC (CPTC), 8/57 (14.0%) follicular variant PTC, 9/30 (30%) tall cell variant PTC, 1/3 (30%) Hurthle cell thyroid cancer (HTC), 1/5 (20%) follicular TC, and 5/13 (38.5%) poorly differentiated TC. C250T mutation was present in only 6/265 (2.3%) cases, while C228T mutation was present in a total of 28/265 (10.6%) cases. These two mutations were mutually exclusive. TERT promoter mutations were significantly more common in older (≥45 years) than younger patients and were associated with larger tumour size, vascular invasion, higher TNM stage (stage III and IV), BRAFV600E mutation and persistent/recurrent disease at 6–12 months after initial treatment and at the last follow up. These associations were stronger in non-CPTC. Thus, this study on a large cohort of TC patients from Middle East demonstrates that TERT promoter mutations are relatively common, especially in the non-CPTC, and are associated with more aggressive histopathological features, BRAFV600E mutation, and disease persistence/recurrence than the WT TERT.

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