United Arab Emirates University
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CRIMINAL MEDIATION (COMPARATIVE STUDY)
No full textThe study dealt with criminal mediation (a comparative study), and the study aims to identify the legal provisions of criminal mediation in UAE legislation and comparative legislation, and to highlight the objectives of criminal mediation in UAE law compared to other legislation, as well as determine the field of criminal mediation in UAE legislation compared to other legislation. Clarifying the procedures for practicing penal mediation in UAE legislation compared to other legislation and proposing appropriate solutions in order to remedy the shortcomings that prevent the development of penal mediation in this area as a new procedure. The importance of this topic is highlighted in that it provides a theoretical and practical benefit at the same time, as for the theoretical importance, it appears in shedding light on this topic, which needs extensive and in-depth studies, especially as it came as a result of the justice reform program as well as the amendments that affected the penal field in the UAE legislation, as well as the practical importance that it highlights through the advantages it provides to the judiciary and litigants, as it is an effective way to reduce the burden on the courts, maintain friendly relations between litigants and protect their rights. The process is of a confidential nature that prevents the secrets of the parties from being made public. Criminal mediation has great importance in some Arab and comparative legislation in general, and the procedural impact of criminal mediation on the criminal case varies according to the result that reached it, whether success or failure, and before that, it must be noted the impact of the mediation process itself on the statute of limitations of the criminal case for countries that adopt the statute of limitations and other countries, so the research lies problematic and raises the following question: How adequate, are the provisions in achieving the purposes of penal mediation? In order to emphasize the quality and importance of the topic, several approaches will be pursued, between the descriptive approach that relies on information and facts about the research and placing it in a tight and complete template, as well as the analytical method, which depends on conducting an in-depth study of each part of the research, it is not enough to display and collect what is existing and existing, but each part is addressed after describing it with analysis, including the analysis of jurisprudential opinions, model laws, national laws and others, as well as the comparative approach through comparison between different opinions. Jurisprudence, legislation and regulations that dealt with the subject of penal mediation and compared the UAE legislation compared to other legislations such as Algerian and French, in order to clarify the truth of matters and draw conclusions
THERMO-CHEMICAL RECYCLING OF WASTE PLASTICS CONTAINING HALOGENATED POLYMERS (Br−, Cl−, F−) USING POTENTIAL ADDITIVES
No full textPlastic waste handling is a daunting task due to the presence of halogenated polymers, specifically those cluttered with bromine (Br), chlorine (Cl), and fluorine (F). Halogenated plastics can be mixed with other polymers in the general plastic waste, particularly in the recycling stream. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are mainly present in e-waste and from the use of flame retardants in household items, textiles, and furniture. Plastics from discarded electronics often contain significant levels of bromine and chlorine, predominantly from flame retardants and plasticizers. Being the most deployed thermoplastic worldwide, waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) generation is expected to increase by about 80% over the next couple of decades. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), considered as the ‘forever chemicals’, are found mainly in firefighting gear, specifically in firefighting foams, and also in countless consumer goods like non-stick coatings, stain-resistant fabrics, and food packaging.The conventional treatment of these waste plastics such as open incineration and landfilling leads to toxic pollutants seepage deep into aquifers and the emission of highly toxic and corrosive halogen-bearing gases, such as HBr, HCl, and HF, in addition to other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polyhalogenated dibenzofurans, and hence poses a significant threat to both environmental and human health. In adherence to the Stockholm Convention treaty (2004), studies are underway to mitigate the POPs due to their potential health hazards. In the line of inquiry, critical analysis of the obstacles and prospects associated with many degradation techniques on the halogenated polymer has been performed, assessing based on the degradation efficiency, treatment upscaling, pollution control, and feasibility. Though many treatments show promising results, they also entail drawbacks. The thermal treatment exploiting various metal oxides is considered the most executable technique for halogenated polymer valorization coupled with mineralization/metal extraction due to its intuitive operational feasibility and potential scalability. Strategies for combating the soaring halogenated polymeric wastes, studied herein tap into promoting a circular economy approach for their sustainable disposal and recycling.This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation and collectively highlights the significance of pyrolysis using readily available metal oxide additives as a viable, scalable, and environmentally sound solution for managing halogenated polymeric waste. The research demonstrates the remarkable capacity of these additives to act as in-situ dehalogenation agents, effectively capturing toxic acidic gases and converting them into benign products and solid metal halides that are retained in the residual char. Outcomes reported in this study are instrumental to designing and operating a thermal recycling facility contaminated with high loads of mixed halogenated waste plastics
INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE AND AIRTIGHTNESS OF SHORT CARBON FIBER REINFORCED POLYPROPYLENE PRESSURE VESSEL FABRICATED VIA FDM 3D PRINTING
No full textThis work offers a thorough investigation into the performance of 3D-printed, short carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene pressure vessels, specifically designed for gas storage in demanding sectors like aerospace, drones, and medical equipment, operating within a pressure range of 0-10 bar. A key challenge in FDM additive manufacturing of pressure vessels is achieving airtightness due to the inherent porosity and micro-gaps resulting from the printing process. To address this, the fabricated vessel models were coated with various commercially available materials to effectively fill these microscopic imperfections and ensure the necessary tightness. Spray coating and adhesion coating materials were applied to the outer surface of the vessel models. Although spray coating was simple to apply, it did not fully achieve airtightness. Conversely, while applying Bond + Seal adhesion sealant was challenging due to the high viscosity of the rubbery material, it exhibited superior properties, with no leaks detected, resulting in complete airtightness.The study systematically evaluated a structural design of three distinct vessel models, varying in uniform wall thickness (1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm). Performance was assessed through rigorous pressure testing, utilizing an air compressor and a meticulously designed piping setup to determine the vessels\u27 structural integrity and outstanding capabilities against internal pressure. Interestingly, a 3D printed pressure vessel of 3 mm wall thickness withstands 10 bars operating pressure without bursting, while the 2 mm burst at 8.1 bars. This work highlights the profound significance of such an approach for the future of polymeric pressure vessel manufacturing. The proposed methodology leverages the advantages of 3D printing, offering an easy, sustainable, and cost-effective fabrication process that yields lightweight components with excellent strength, thereby bridging a crucial gap in current manufacturing paradigms for advanced containment solutions
ENHANCED AIR HOCKEY ROBOT PERFORMANCE THROUGH ADAPTIVE CONTROL ALGORITHM USING AI-BASED HIERARCHICAL DECISION ARCHITECTURE
No full textThis thesis presents the development of an intelligent air hockey robot that combines precise mechanical design, computer vision, and adaptive control within an AI-based hierarchical decision architecture. The system integrates synchronized stepper motors, high-speed image processing, and a real-time decision framework to achieve competitive gameplay performance. The robot detects the puck using adaptive HSV color segmentation, supported by dynamic calibration that maintains accuracy under different lighting conditions. A two-stage trajectory prediction model, based on exponential decay velocity estimation, enables anticipation of puck motion and improves response time during fast gameplay.At the decision level, a fuzzy-logic supervisor governs the robot’s strategic behavior, determining when to defend, attack, leave, or return to home position according to real-time game conditions such as puck position, speed, and predicted path. The lower control layers execute these decisions through precise motion coordination using Arduino-based stepper motor control. Experimental evaluation confirms significant improvement in interception accuracy, stability, and adaptability compared with conventional reactive systems.The proposed adaptive fuzzy-hierarchical framework demonstrates how intelligent decision-making and predictive control can enhance robotic performance in highly dynamic environments. Its structure can be extended beyond entertainment robotics to other real-time applications that require perception, prediction, and adaptive response
The Perspectives of School Leaders about the Teacher Competency Evaluation System and the Obstacles to its Application: A Mix-Method Study
Full text linkThe study explores and evaluates the views of school leaders about the teacher competency evaluation system and the obstacles to its application. The study adopted the descriptive approach by adopting the mixed method in collecting data by applying a questionnaire consisting of (40) items and conducting personal interviews. The participants were (353) leaders working in public education schools in the State of Kuwait, and it also included (16) leaders participating in personal interviews. The results showed a moderate level in leaders’ perspectives regarding the teacher competency evaluation system, as the content of the teacher competency evaluation elements received the highest response of the sample, while the use of the competency evaluation system in school improvement received the least response of the sample. The results of the personal interviews showed that there are obstacles to the application of the teacher\u27s competency evaluation system, which were: the lack of comprehensiveness of the teacher\u27s evaluation system, the shortage in school attendance items, and the lack of disclosure in the results of the teacher\u27s evaluation process. The study recommended a review of the items for evaluating teacher competence, including special items to collate between teacher evaluation and student achievement, and providing training courses for evaluating teacher competence.
Keywords: Teacher evaluation, school leaders, Ministry of Education, Teachers, Mix method study
Identifying Research-Based Practices for Increasing Peer Interaction in Children with Hearing Impairment: A Review of the Literature
Full text linkEstablishing peer interaction is critical for all childhood development, especially for children with hearing impairment (HI), who tend to experience a lot of difficulties in interaction. Practices aiming to promote peer interaction in children with HI need to be informed by evidence from quality research. This paper aims to review and evaluate research studies that focus on interaction between children with HI and their peers (with or without HI) in self-contained and inclusive classrooms. Seven empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals from 1990 to 2023 were examined and evaluated, using the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC, 2014) quality indicators. Several practice themes emerged after coding these studies: multifaceted training, parallel talk, social intervention, and social stories. Results indicated that most of the reviewed studies met the majority of identified quality indicators, including context and settings, participants, intervention agents, description of practice, and data analysis. However, few studies reported implementation fidelity, and none of the studies met the quality indicator related to outcome measures for dependent variables. The limitations of this review, implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Keywords: peer interaction, social interaction, literature review, hearing impairment, research-based practic
Collection of Self-Research Papers Analyzing the Enhancement of UAE-China Cooperation through Public Policy Lenses
Full text linkThis thesis examines how UAE public policies can align with China’s commercial and political interests to strengthen the current strategic partnership between the two nations, with a focus on bilateral business cooperation encompassing diplomatic collaboration, free zone trade, and energy sector corporate governance. The primary objective of this thesis is to analyze whether this comprehensive relationship can be sustained or elevated to “allweather, all-round, strategic, and future-oriented” strategic partnership amid global challenges. To achieve this objective, multiple analytical models were employed to assess relevant public policies and their implementation mechanisms, including historical analysis, dynamic modeling, and socio-legal analysis. The findings derived from these models indicate that there is sufficient potential to successfully align UAE public policies with China’s commercial interests and foreign policy objectives, as well as to advance the existing strategic partnership between the two countries in the areas of diplomacy, free zone trade, and energy sector corporate governance. Based on these results, this thesis presents a research opportunity to analyze and understand the foreign relations between the UAE and China by examining each nation’s national interests within a practical framework that incorporates multi-stakeholder engagement and leverages the two countries’ experiences in international cooperation. Furthermore, the thesis provides scholarly and practical recommendations to enhance the strategic partnership between the UAE and China, building on their past successes and fruitful collaboration. It also addresses a critical gap in academic research on bilateral relations and strategic cooperation between the UAE and China by employing public policy tools and legaladministrative models, with a focus on shared economic dimensions and mutual interests
THE CELLULAR TRAFFICKING AND TARGETING OF ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING-ENZYME-2 (ACE2) AND NEUTRAL-AMINO-ACID-TRANSPORTER (B0AT1) VARIANTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PATHOGENESIS OF ASSOCIATED DISEASES AND THERAPY
Full text linkAngiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the neutral amino acid transporter B0AT1, encoded by SLC6A19, are membrane proteins with pivotal roles in human physiology. ACE2 is involved in regulating blood pressure and serves as the cellular entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, while B0AT1 facilitates amino acid absorption in the intestine. The interplay between ACE2 and B0AT1, particularly their physical interaction and co-expression in the intestine, underscores their relevance in both normal physiology and disease. Dysregulation of these proteins has been implicated in conditions such as hypertension, and Hartnup disease and they have been usurped by SARS-CoV-2 to cause COVID-19. Despite their importance, knowledge gaps remain regarding the impact of naturally occurring ACE2 variants and disease-associated B0AT1 mutations on their biogenesis, trafficking, and function, as well as their roles in disease pathogenesis. The general aim of my PhD thesis was to address some of these knowledge gaps by investigating how specific ACE2 and B0AT1 variants affect their subcellular localization, and interactions. To achieve this, I employed a multidisciplinary approach, including site-directed mutagenesis to generate 39 naturally occurring and structural ACE2 variants and 18 Hartnup disease-causing B0AT1 mutations. The impact of these variants has been analysed using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, Western blotting, and N-glycosylation profiling to evaluate their effects on subcellular localization and protein maturation. In silico analyses were also conducted to assess binding affinity changes within the [ACE2:B0AT1 super-complex], and drug screening assays were performed to explore modulators of ACE2 maturation as a potential approach to decreasing cell surface ACE2 expression and consequently SARS-CoV-2 viral entry. Our findings revealed that wild-type ACE2 is targeted effectively to the plasma membrane approximately within 10 hours post-transfection, as demonstrated by cycloheximide chase assays. Although at least three of the naturally occurring ACE2 variants (R768W, G575V, and G173S) were predicted to be deleterious, none of the examined 38 genetic generated variants showed significant effects on the protein’s intracellular trafficking or targeting to the plasma membrane; in fact, only one mutant disrupting the signal peptide led to total loss of plasma membrane trafficking and targeting. Small molecules and drugs screening results showed that ACE2 maturation is generally fast and robust, with certain compounds having mild impact on its maturation. In particular, out of twenty-three tested compounds, eight significantly reduced ACE2 maturation levels, and three caused approximately 20% decrease. Screening trafficking inhibitors revealed significant effects for most molecular modulators of protein trafficking, mild effects for most proposed COVID-19 drugs, and no effects for statins. Noting that manipulating ACE2 levels could be beneficial or harmful, depending on the context. Thus, using this approach to uncover leads for COVID-19 therapeutics requires a thorough understanding of ACE2 biogenesis and biology.
In the context of B0AT1, I evaluated the subcellular localization of 18 Hartnup disease-causing variants and found 9 of them (R57C, G93R, R95P, R178Q, L242P, G284R, S303L, D517G, P579L) to be retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), disrupting the protein’s maturation and consequently affecting ACE2 localization to varying degrees. Notably, R178Q and S303L B0AT1 mutations had significant impacts on ACE2 intracellular trafficking and plasma membrane targeting. In conclusion, this study advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing ACE2 and B0AT1 biogenesis and some of their interplay in health and disease. By identifying key variants and modulators that influence these processes, this research may contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies and biomarker discovery. Future studies should further explore the clinical implications of these findings and investigate additional molecular modulators to mitigate disease progression and improve patient outcomes
FRAMING SUSTAINABILITY GOVERNANCE IN UAE FEDERAL PUBLIC POLICIES: AN INTERPRETIVE ANALYSIS
No full textThis thesis explores the framing of sustainability by the UAE federal government through the public policy documents and legislation. The primary aim of this study is to map the integration of sustainability across key development sectors and identify the federal entities responsible for governing those mandates to understand the sustainability themes. This study employs a qualitative methodology using interpretive policy analysis through collecting official documented federal public policies and legislation from UAE Legislation Portal, using targeted keyword to trace development sectors coverage, federal entitles leading it and key sustainability themes. The findings reveal that UAE government frames sustainability not only through policy language but also as a strategic priority aligning the national public policies, legislation, and governance structure. This has been seen through key development outcomes by the federal government specifically in the Telecommunication, Technology and Space Sector. The study identified common sustainability themes such as sustainable development which have shown alignment with international Sustainable Development Goals, while sector specific themes varied and reinforced emerging sectors such as Telecommunication, Technology and Space. This study contributes to the understanding of sustainability governance in the UAE federal government by offering interpretive analysis. The study addresses an unexplored gap in literature by exploring how governments frame sustainability through their public policy documents
Screening of Potential Plant Growth‐Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)-assisted Phytoremediation to Mitigate Lead Toxicity in UAE Soils
No full textPlant growth-promoting actinobacteria can enhance plant resilience to heavy metal contamination. This study evaluated the effects of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD)-producing rhizosphere-competent (RC) and non-rhizosphere-competent (NRC) actinobacterial strains on corn growth and lead (Pb) tolerance. A greenhouse experiment was conducted under Pb stress [1000 mg/kg soil as Pb(NO₃)₂] to compare the two isolates. Inoculated plants performed better than uninoculated controls, particularly in non-contaminated soils. Under Pb stress, the isolates #22 (NRC) and #30 (RC) significantly enhanced plant height, dry weight, and chlorophyll content, with RC isolate #30 exhibiting the most pronounced effects. Identified as Streptomyces mirabilis UAE2, isolate #30 reduced electrolyte leakage by 26.7% and H₂O₂ content by 23.7%, while boosting antioxidant enzyme activities compared to plants grown in Pb-contaminated soil. In addition, isolate #30 stimulated the production of key plant growth regulators, including auxins and polyamines, further improving stress tolerance. A central mechanism of isolate #30 involved lowering endogenous ACC levels in plant tissues by 67.2–72.8% under Pb stress, thereby mitigating ethylene-induced growth inhibition. Notably, isolate #30 decreased Pb accumulation in shoots and roots by 51.1% and 63.0%, respectively. The same isolate also significantly increased microbial activity in the soil, highlighting its potential to improve phytoremediation and soil health. The RC strain S. mirabilis UAE2 demonstrated superior Pb tolerance and regulation of Pb bioavailability, making it a promising candidate for sustainable bioremediation strategies