Article
Environmental Sciences
Harikishan Gandham, Hari Prasad Dasari, Md Saquib Saharwardi, Ashok Karumuri, Ibrahim Hoteit
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics and changes in dust emissions in the Arabian Peninsula using high-resolution data from MODIS. The results reveal that river basins and sand dunes are important dust sources in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, respectively, while Oman is the prominent source in the southern region. Furthermore, the study finds that drought conditions significantly enhance dust emissions in these regions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tullia Terraneo, Francesca Benzoni, Roberto Arrigoni, Andrew H. Baird, Kiruthiga G. Mariappan, Zac H. Forsman, Michael K. Wooster, Jessica Bouwmeester, Alyssa Marshell, Michael L. Berumen
Summary: The study utilized Restriction-site Associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to analyze the phylogenetic relationships within the coral genus Porites from the Arabian Peninsula. It identified eight molecular lineages, one of which included six morphospecies, demonstrating the power of RADseq data in solving species delineation issues in this complex coral genus.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Kira Schipper, Hareb Mohammed S. J. Al-Jabri, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria J. Barbosa
Summary: The study conducted a techno-economic feasibility analysis of algae biomass production costs in the Arabian Peninsula, revealing flat panel and raceway pond cultivation systems as the most economically attractive options, leading to potential cost reductions and highlighting the crucial role of sourcing local strains for algae commercialization in the region.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Abdollah Masoud Darya, Muhammad Mubasshir Shaikh, Ilias Fernini, Hamid AlNaimiy
Summary: This study investigates the temporal and spatial variability of ionospheric irregularities using data from a global navigation satellite system receiver. The results show that even during a solar minimum period, significant pre-sunset scintillation occurrences have been observed, particularly during the winter solstices. The study also finds that the impact of scintillation on GNSS constellations varies, with GPS being the most affected and BeiDou and Galileo satellites being the least affected.
IEEE GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Maher A. Dayeh, Ashraf Farahat, Haifa Ismail-Aldayeh, Abdelgadir Abuelgasim
Summary: Analyzing lightning activity data from two different regions in the Arabian Peninsula, this study found that aerosols have varying impacts on lightning activity, with a trend of reversal. The mountainous region showed a stronger correlation compared to the inland region. Both regions exhibited seasonal and asynchronous changes in lightning activity and aerosol loading.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Kutubuddin Ansari, Sunil Kumar Sharma
Summary: The study examined the variation of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) based on GNSS stations in the Arabian Peninsula, using cubic spline interpolation. The research found a strong correlation between observed and interpolated TEC values, with wavelet analysis revealing significant variability between the series.
ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Matthew F. Horan, Fulden Batibeniz, Fred Kucharski, Mansour Almazroui, Muhammad Adnan Abid, Joshua S. Fu, Moetasim Ashfaq
Summary: This study applies the Lagrangian-based moisture back trajectory method to investigate the moisture sources for wet season precipitation over the Arabian Peninsula. The results show that moisture in the northern part of the peninsula mainly comes from midlatitude land and water bodies, while the southern part relies on moisture transport from the Western Indian Ocean and parts of the African continent. Additionally, the El Nino-Southern Oscillation has a positive but seasonally varying influence on precipitation variability in the region.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Youssef Wehbe, Marouane Temimi
Summary: This study focuses on using remote sensing data to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of water resources in the Arabian Peninsula. By comparing trends and conducting trend analysis, the study reveals the relationship between precipitation and soil moisture trends and TWS, as well as the impact of excessive groundwater extraction on decreasing TWS.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Nasser A. Alsaaran, Ali S. Alghamdi
Summary: This study documents the spatiotemporal climatology of precipitation over the Arabian Peninsula, showing distinct seasonal variations in different regions. The research suggests that while the annual precipitation mean over Arabia is relatively stable, there are significant differences in precipitation trends across different seasons.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Salah Basem Ajjur, Sami G. Al-Ghamdi
Summary: This study presents a new, objective definition for seasons in the Arabian Peninsula by analysing changes in climatological parameters from 1950 to 2019. The results show that the characteristics of the four seasons differ from conventionally defined seasons, with significant changes noticed in the last 30 years.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joana C. Ferreira, Farida Alshamali, Luisa Pereira, Veronica Fernandes
Summary: This study identified a considerable amount of new variants in Arabians through whole exome sequencing. These variants are mainly located in genes associated with neurologic diseases and congenital malformations, and they are positively correlated with consanguinity level.
Article
Business, Finance
Alanoud Al-Maadid, Guglielmo Maria Caporale, Fabio Spagnolo, Nicola Spagnolo
Summary: The study found that recent political tensions in the Arabian peninsula have weakened linkages between stock markets of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, leading to increased volatility spillovers and fewer opportunities for portfolio diversification for investors in the region.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FINANCE & ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diana Francis, Michael Weston, Ricardo Fonseca, Marouane Temimi, Aisha Alsuwaidi
Summary: This study investigates methane concentration and trend in the United Arab Emirates and surrounding region, finding an increase in methane concentrations over the past 5 years, with a trend of approximately 9 ppb/year based on satellite data. The findings provide valuable information for assessing the state of methane emissions in this region and developing appropriate emission reduction strategies to achieve the proposed net-zero greenhouse gas emission target by 2050.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Safieddine, C. Clerbaux, L. Clarisse, S. Whitburn, E. A. B. Eltahir
Summary: This study analyzes land surface temperatures and human heat stress on the Arabian Peninsula using satellite observations, climate models, and climate projections. The findings highlight the importance of humidity and the potential risks to human survival under future climate change scenarios.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
M. Zampieri, R. Alkama, T. Luong, K. Ashok, I. Hoteit
Summary: The growth of vegetation in desert areas can significantly impact local climate, with managed vegetation having a cooling effect on surface temperatures. This study uses long-term satellite data to analyze the impact of vegetation on land surface temperature in Saudi Arabian agricultural regions, demonstrating a significant cooling effect during the day and hot weather events. The study also discusses potential solutions for sustainable irrigation, supporting green initiatives in the Middle East and other arid regions.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sule Canberk, Joana C. Ferreira, Luisa Pereira, Rui Batista, Andre F. Vieira, Paula Soares, Manuel Sobrinho Simoes, Valdemar Maximo
Summary: DICER1 gene variants are frequently associated with different types of PTC variants, including follicular and aggressive variants. Tumors harboring germline DICER1 mutations are more likely to be bilateral and encapsulated. DICER1 may have a haploinsufficiency tumor suppressor gene function.
EUROPEAN THYROID JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joao T. Fontes, Pedro E. Vieira, Torbjorn Ekrem, Pedro Soares, Filipe O. Costa
Summary: The study highlights the importance of molecular tools like DNA metabarcoding in biodiversity research. The BAGS application automates the auditing and annotation of COI sequences libraries, supporting researchers in obtaining the most useful and reliable data for species identification.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicole Pedro, Ricardo J. Pinto, Bruno Cavadas, Luisa Pereira
Summary: Sub-Saharan Africa is the most promising region for high-throughput studies on adaptations to infectious diseases due to its long evolutionary history, ongoing burden of infectious diseases, and diverse populations practicing various forms of subsistence.
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Maria Sousa-Silva, Daniel Vieira, Pedro Soares, Margarida Casal, Isabel Soares-Silva
Summary: Cyberlindnera jadinii is widely used for producing single-cell protein and valuable compounds for food and pharmaceutical industries. Evolutionary analysis revealed its roots and nomenclature changes, while highlighting its physiological traits and potential in biotechnology. Further research is needed to fully exploit its metabolic pathways and develop genetic manipulation systems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katharina Dulias, M. George B. Foody, Pierre Justeau, Marina Silva, Rui Martiniano, Gonzalo Oteo-Garcia, Alessandro Fichera, Simao Rodrigues, Francesca Gandini, Alison Meynert, Kevin Donnelly, Timothy J. Aitman, Andrew Chamberlain, Olivia Lelong, George Kozikowski, Dominic Powlesland, Clive Waddington, Valeria Mattiangeli, Daniel G. Bradley, Jaroslaw Bryk, Pedro Soares, James F. Wilson, Graeme Wilson, Hazel Moore, Maria Pala, Ceiridwen J. Edwards, Martin B. Richards
Summary: During the Neolithic period, Orkney was a major cultural center with flourishing farming and long-range contacts. New genomic evidence shows significant inward migration during the Bronze Age, but most of the male lineages originated from the local Neolithic period. Meanwhile, there is evidence of continuity in the female line of descent from the Mesolithic period to the present day.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Sousa-Silva, Pedro Soares, Joao Alves, Daniel Vieira, Margarida Casal, Isabel Soares-Silva
Summary: The yeast Cyberlindnera jadinii has great potential in the biotechnology industry due to its ability to produce a variety of compounds of interest, including carboxylic acids. In this study, genes encoding carboxylate transporters from C. jadinii were identified and functionally characterized. Sixteen plasma membrane carboxylate transporters belonging to various families were studied, and their substrate specificities were determined. These transporters are of interest as potential organic acid exporters in microbial cell factories.
Article
Microbiology
Ricardo Franco-Duarte, Neza Cadez, Teresa Rito, Joao Drumonde-Neves, Yazmid Reyes Dominguez, Celia Pais, Maria Joao Sousa, Pedro Soares
Summary: In this study, the genomes of Clavispora santaluciae strains were sequenced, assembled, and compared for the first time. The analysis revealed specific differences between strains, reflecting their isolation in different ecological niches and their adaptation to the environmental features of their respective locations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Margarida Silva, Ana Pontes, Ricardo Franco-Duarte, Pedro Soares, Jose Paulo Sampaio, Maria Joao Sousa, Patricia H. Brito
Summary: This study explores the population structure and genome variation of T. delbrueckii, finding that it is composed of five major clades, with one clade associated with wine fermentation and another with diverse anthropic environments. Comparisons with S. cerevisiae reveal that T. delbrueckii has a smaller variable genome proportion. An association between gene content and ecology supports the hypothesis that the Mix-Anthropic clade has the most specialized genome, with genes implicated in galactose and maltose utilization. Further analyses identify gene clusters associated with dairy products and expanded and functionally diversified genes in strains isolated from bread dough. The study expands our understanding of microbe domestication and adaptation to anthropic niches.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Mame Yoro Diallo, Martina Cizkova, Iva Kulichova, Eliska Podgorna, Edita Priehodova, Jana Novackova, Veronica Fernandes, Luisa Pereira, Viktor Cerny
Summary: The Sahara Desert has had a significant influence on African history, acting as a barrier for migrations. However, there have been instances of gene flow between North Africa and sub-Saharan populations. This study analyzed mitochondrial DNA diversity to demonstrate the importance of maternal gene flow in the circum-Saharan region, showing connections between North Africa and the Sahel/Savannah belt.
Article
Microbiology
Ana C. Magalhaes, Sara Ricardo, Ana C. Moreira, Mariana Nunes, Margarida Tavares, Ricardo J. Pinto, Maria Salome Gomes, Luisa Pereira
Summary: The study proposes a histology-based method for evaluating infection kinetics and demonstrates the advantages of InfectionCMA, which allows for side-by-side comparisons and evaluation of diverse cell lines, infection time points, and biomarker expression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luisa Sa, Mafalda Almeida, Simon Azonbakin, Erica Matos, Ricardo Franco-Duarte, Alberto Gomez-Carballa, Antonio Salas, Anatole Laleye, Alexandra Rosa, Antonio Brehm, Martin B. Richards, Pedro Soares, Teresa Rito
Summary: This study introduces a founder analysis method, validates its effectiveness by evaluating the age of sub-Saharan mitogenome lineages sampled outside Africa, confirms that lineages in the Americas date to the time of the Atlantic slave trade, and reveals that dispersal signals in North Africa, Southwestern Asia and Europe mainly date to the early Holocene.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Daniela M. Sousa, Veronica Fernandes, Catarina Lourenco, Carina Carvalho-Maia, Helena Estevao-Pereira, Joao Lobo, Mariana Cantante, Marina Couto, Francisco Conceicao, Carmen Jeronimo, Luisa Pereira, Meriem Lamghari
Summary: Breast cancer patients are influenced by the sympathetic nervous system, and the activation of this system is related to metastasis. The levels of catecholamines are elevated in the circulation of breast cancer patients, and the expression of adrenoreceptors and catecholamine metabolic enzymes are downregulated in breast cancer tissues. These findings are crucial for the development of new therapeutic approaches for breast cancer.
Article
Virology
Teresa Rito, Pedro Fernandes, Raquel Duarte, Pedro Soares
Summary: Following the emergence of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, genomic characterization of the virus and identification of variants have been crucial in containing the disease. This study aims to evaluate the global effort in characterizing SARS-CoV-2 lineages using data from GISAID. Data from major contributing countries over nearly three years were analyzed, including percentage of characterized isolates and time for data processing. The study also assessed early detection of seven major SARS-CoV-2 lineages. While Europe and the USA showed positive results, global efforts were heterogeneous. Monitoring potential variants that evade acquired immunity remains essential.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisca Carvalhal, Ana Cristina Magalhaes, Rita Rebelo, Andreia Palmeira, Diana I. S. P. Resende, Fernando Duraes, Miguel Maia, Cristina P. R. Xavier, Luisa Pereira, Emilia Sousa, Marta Correia-da-Silva, M. Helena Vasconcelos
Summary: This study focuses on the interaction between the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and the ACE2 receptor. Through virtual screening and in vitro assays, five synthetic compounds were identified as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with xanthene 1 being the most promising. It exhibited antiviral activity without cytotoxicity to human lung cells.
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily Hallinan, Omry Barzilai, Nuno Bicho, Joao Cascalheira, Yuri Demidenko, Mae Goder-Goldberger, Erella Hovers, Anthony Marks, Maya Oron, Jeffrey Rose
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)