United Arab Emirates University
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Using Importance-Performance Analysis for Measuring University Reputation and Setting Priorities
Get PDFThis study aimed to measure the university reputation using the importance-performance analysis (IPA) to determine the strengths and weaknesses in the aspects of the university reputation from the students\u27 point of view and to identify the priorities for improvement based on the priority index. Data were drawn from a sample of 354 students through a questionnaire. The results indicated that many of the areas that require more focus and resource allocation, which are the quality of education, the efficiency of the faculty, community service projects, and the provision of educational resources and equipment, The results of the Priority Index presented the most pressing areas that the university leaders should deal with immediately to improve their university reputation. This study contributes to the theory of marketing for higher education by introducing IPA as a useful quantitative tool used in higher education research to measure the reputation of universities and set priorities.
Keywords: Organizational Reputation, University Reputation, Importance-performance Analysis (IPA), Measuring University Reputation, Improve Reputatio
تكييف دور القضاء الدستوري في النظام الديمقراطي دراسة تحليلية مقارنة
Get PDFThe importance of the research emerges when the constitutional judiciary exercises its constitutional powers, including constitutional oversight. It performs many roles that highlight the reality of its status in the democratic system. These roles can be classified into three main categories. The first is the anti-majority role when it judges the unconstitutionality of the actions of elected bodies. The second role is the representative role when the constitutional judge responds to social demands that have not been met through the political process, and the third role is the enlightening role when the constitutional judiciary strengthens or encourages social progress regardless of the conditions of the political majority. Justification in the comparative democratic system. Therefore, the problem of the study relates to adapting the role of the constitutional judiciary and how to justify it in the comparative democratic system.
The main purpose of this research is to study and examine these main roles of the constitutional judge in contemporary democracies. The difficulty of demarcating the boundaries between law and politics in today\u27s complex and pluralistic societies.
It should also be noted that the conclusions of the study can be generalized, given that the roles of constitutional courts from the perspective of global constitutionalism have become a common practice in the civilized democracies of the world. Therefore, the study reached many results, most notably that the decisions of the constitutional judiciary do not depend exclusively on legal standards, but may also be affected by political considerations, in addition to the difficulty of democratic justification for the anti-majority judicial role, the ease of democratic justification for the representative judicial role, And the grave danger of the enlightening role of the constitutional judge because it leads to the dominance of the judiciary and opposition to religion and morals.
تبرز أهمية البحث حين يقوم القضاء الدستوري بممارسة اختصاصاته الدستورية، ومن ضمنها رقابة الدستورية ، فإنه يؤدي العديد من الأدوار التي تبرز حقيقة وضعه في النظام الديمقراطي ، ويمكن تصنيف هذه الأدوار إلى ثلاثة أصناف رئيسية : أولها الدور المناهض للأغلبية عندما يحكم بعدم دستورية أعمال الهيئات المنتخبة ، أما الدور الثاني فهو الدور التمثيلي عندما يستجيب القاضي الدستوري للمطالب الاجتماعية التي لم تُلبَّى من خلال العملية السياسية ، أما الدور الثالث فهو الدور التنويري عندما يعزز القضاء الدستوري أو يشجع التقدم الاجتماعي بغض النظر عن ظروف الأغلبية السياسية ، ولهذا فإن إشكالية الدراسة تتعلق بتكييف دور القضاء الدستوري وكيفية تبريره في النظام الديمقراطي المقارن ، كما أن الغرض الرئيسي لهذا البحث هو دراسة وفحص هذه الأدوار الرئيسية للقاضي الدستوري في الديمقراطيات المعاصرة ، ولتعزيز حجج البحث ستقوم الدراسة بتحليل الدور السياسي للقاضي الدستوري عندما يتم إضفاء السمة القضائية على السياسات فضلاً عن إبراز نشاطه القضائي عندما تزداد فاعلية دوره في النظام الديمقراطي، وكذلك تحليل قضية صعوبة ترسيم الحدود بين القانون والسياسة في المجتمعات المعقدة والتعددية في الوقت الحاضر .
و ينبغي ملاحظة أن استنتاجات الدراسة قابلة للتعميم بالنظر إلى أن أدوار المحاكم الدستورية من منظور الدستورية العالمية أصبحت فئاتها ممارسة شائعة في ديمقراطيات العالم المتحضرة ؛ لذلك توصلت الدراسة إلى العديد من النتائج أبرزها إن قرارات القضاء الدستوري لا تعتمد حصرياً على المعايير القانونية ، بل قد تتأثر أيضاً بالاعتبارات السياسية فضلاً عن صعوبة التبرير الديمقراطي للدور القضائي المناهض للأغلبية ، وسهولة التبرير الديمقراطي للدور القضائي التمثيلي ، و الخطورة الجسيمة للدور التنويري للقاضي الدستوري؛ لأنه يؤدي إلى هيمنة القضاء ومناهضة الدين والأخلاق
THEORETICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL ASTROCHEMISTRY: A VARIATIONAL QUANTUM MONTE CARLO (VQMC) STUDY OF THE TRIHYDROGEN MOLECULE CATION (H3 + )
Get PDFH3 + is the simplest three-center two-electron molecule and it is of much interest in astrochemistry due to its high occurrence in the outer space, high reactivity, and strong acidic properties. In addition, H3 + is involved in many chemical reactions in the interstellar medium (ISM) and its significant ability to absorb energy contributed to the cooling of the universe during its early stages. The main objective of this thesis is to approximate the ground state electronic energy of H3 + by using a simple trial wavefunction consisting of a doubly occupied molecular orbital multiplied by a Jastrow factor. The latter factor allows us to introduce some degree of electron correlation and obey the electron-ion cusp condition. With this trial wavefunction, we derived an expression for the local energy which was then implemented in a Variational Quantum Monte Carlo (VQMC) code in line with a Metropolis algorithm sampling technique. Moreover, the computer code was written in Python 3.6 language and was first tested on an analytically solvable system which is the quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO). Finally, the equilibrium H-H bond length at the fixed equilateral geometry and the normal breathing frequency were estimated. The calculated equilibrium H-H bond length of the equilateral triangular geometry is 1.800 Bohr (0.95 Å) which is only 1.8 % as a deviation from the experimental value of 1.833 Bohr (0.97 Å). Furthermore, the symmetric normal breathing frequency was also calculated to be 3240 cm-1 with a small error percentage of 1.7 % from the obtained experimental value of 3185 cm-1 . Thus, both values of bond length and frequency are in good agreement with the experiment and prior theoretical studies on the molecule. Last but not least, the calculated ground state energy value was -1.256458 Hartree. As a conclusion, the theory developed in this thesis goes beyond the independent-particle approximation and leads to promising, reliable, and reproducible results despite the simplicity of the used trial wave function
Analysis, Design, and Validation of the Structural System of AlAinSat-1 CubeSat
Get PDFThis thesis presents the process of conducting structural analysis on AlAinSat-1 CubeSat through numerical solutions using Siemens NX. AlAinSat-1 is a 3U remote-sensing CubeSat equipped with two Earth observation payloads and is scheduled for launch using SpaceX\u27s Falcon 9 rocket. To ensure the mission\u27s success and its ability to endure the launch environment, several scenarios must be analyzed. For the AlAinSat-1 model, the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method is employed, covering four types of structural analyses: modal, quasi-static, buckling, and random vibration analyses. The workflow cycle includes idealization, meshing, assembly, applying connections and boundary conditions, and finally, running simulations using the Siemens Nastran solver. The results of each analysis are reviewed, highlighting issues encountered during the analysis and proposing solutions. The simulation results for all types of analysis indicate that the model can safely withstand the loads experienced during launch. Additionally, the numerical results of the Command and Data Handling Subsystem (CDHS) module of AlAinSat-1 are experimentally validated through a vibration test conducted with an LV8 shaker. The module successfully met the test criteria provided by the launcher. The numerical simulations, coupled with the experimentally obtained results, are consistent and enhance the understanding of the design simulation and testing process
Satellite-Based Spatial and Temporal Characterization of Rainfall Over the UAE
Get PDFStudies on rainfall characteristics have been of particular interest in the arid and semi-arid regions, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), due to its impact on the built and natural environment. Rainfall represents a vital water source and a potential threat to the built environment, particularly during flash rainfall. This thesis evaluates spatial and temporal variation of rainfall in the UAE. The UAE is classified into four ecosystems with a distinct distribution of precipitation (East Coast, Mountains, the Gravel Plains, and Desert Foreland). Satellite data on daily rainfall for the years starting from 2001 up to 2020 was obtained from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. Several rainfall characterization metrics and their trends are evaluated; these include rainfall patterns, the probability of occurrence, the severity of precipitation, rainfall Intensity-DurationFrequency relationships (IDFs), Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), and Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMPs). The data is analyzed using statistical techniques to outline anomalies that may indicate climate change in the UAE. The outcome of this thesis will serve as baseline data for several activities, including irrigation scheduling, rehabilitation projects, and hydrological studies such as the mitigation of possible flood hazards and the design of dams. Moreover, satellite data will be beneficial in the case of insufficient ground data, mainly where rain gauges are generally scarce. Regions characterized by low population densities and remote locations and have a diminishing need to deploy a network of rain gauges and automated weather stations will benefit the most from this study. The findings indicate distinct patterns in rainfall distribution among the UAE\u27s ecosystems. The desert region encounters fewer rainfall events, whereas the east coast has the highest rainfall frequency. Additionally, the thesis reveals similar rainfall patterns in the mountain and gravel plains regions. Notably, high-intensity rainfall events are more prevalent on the east coast compared to the mountain and gravel plains. Further examination of Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) unveils the east coast as having the highest PMP, compared with the gravel plains region\u27s minimum PMP. This thesis makes significant contributions to the study of rainfall patterns in the UAE. Firstly, the open-source availability of our developed source code promotes collaboration and transparency, enabling fellow researchers to replicate and extend our analyses. Secondly, our meticulous two-decade spatial and temporal analysis enhances understanding of local climate dynamics, providing a comprehensive dataset for researchers and policymakers. Finally, the presentation of IntensityDuration-Frequency (IDF) curves and spatial maps offers clear visual insights into rainfall characteristics, aiding decision-makers in water resource management and infrastructure planning. Together, these contributions advance not only our understanding of UAE\u27s rainfall but also serve as a valuable resource for future research in similar climatic context
AN INTELLIGENT FRAMEWORK TOWARDS FULLY AUTONOMOUS DRIVING FUELED BY SMART ROADS
Get PDFAutonomous vehicles (AVs) are transforming next-generation autonomous mobility. Such vehicles promise to increase road safety, improve traffic efficiency, reduce vehicle emissions, and enhance mobility. The development of AVs involves the integration of various disciplines and technologies, i.e., sensors, communication, computation, and artificial intelligence (AI), to achieve higher levels of autonomous driving (AD). The main objective of this dissertation is to design and develop a novel approach for achieving higher levels of automation in AD through an end-to-end intelligent framework. This involves addressing the challenges of technological augmentation of road infrastructure to support intelligent transport system (ITS) services, service satisfaction in perception systems of AVs, enhancing the orchestration of perceptual tasks for complex driving scenarios, perceiving diverse objects in urban environments, real-time information exchange, decision-making based on distributed information, and integration of heterogeneous technologies. The methodology includes a comprehensive survey focused on 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardization perspectives to identify fundamental components of the proposed intelligent framework. It also encompasses the design of an enhanced Connected Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) infrastructure, the development of an intelligent perception model, the deployment of Deep Learning (DL) models on a diverse range of devices, and the integration of these components within a hierarchical vehicle-edge-cloud architecture. The dissertation presents several key findings: i) an exhaustive design and specification of sensory technologies and architecture for enhancing CCAM infrastructure, validated through ML algorithms for mobility applications; ii) an analytical model for selecting the right perception for AVs, which is validated through a custom dataset and DL-based model instances fine-tuned for object detection; iii) the proposed intelligent model accurately determined that AdamW-based DL model outperforms the SGD-based DL model when comparing performance at the class level; iv) a computational framework that integrates the perception model with enhanced CCAM infrastructure across a hierarchical structure and show consistent performance metrics and reduced inference times across different devices. The significant contributions of this dissertation include: i) enhancements in CCAM infrastructure imperative for intelligent road systems and decision-making of AVs; ii) the development of an intelligent service model for AV perception, improving service satisfaction and enabling proactive functionalities for AVs in urban environments; iii) The design of a computational framework that smartly stitches together the enhanced CCAM infrastructure and intelligent perception model to facilitate learning across different layers and settings. This research addresses the gap in integrating heterogeneous technologies and disciplines for higher levels of AD. It offers a novel approach that combines enhanced infrastructure, an intelligent perception model, and a computational framework to support advanced AD functionalities, thus filling a crucial gap in the current solution approaches for autonomous driving
THE ADEQUACY OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT GUARANTEES - A CRITICAL ANALYTICAL STUDY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF FEDERAL LAW NO. (32) OF 2021
Get PDFThe great economic competition between countries, and their endeavor to strengthen their economy through various fields; Make them compete with each other in attracting foreign direct investments to their territories; However, these investments cannot move from their home country to another country without having economic advantages and incentives that encourage them to invest in a country other than the home country. Likewise, these investments cannot carry out their work in any country without having the investor has many guarantees that protect this investment, and these guarantees can only be achieved through the presence of a strong, renewable legislative environment that keeps pace with global changes and ensures the preservation of capital coming into this country. So that these funds are not subject to any confiscation by the state that is distressed by this investment, in addition to providing a competitive environment free of any favoritism and characterized by clarity and transparency. On the other hand, the countries hosting foreign direct investment are trying - through their legislation - to balance between supporting the investment and maintaining economic security and state sovereignty, by codifying the investment process in some areas of a sovereign nature for the state. As such, this study aims to address the adequacy of the guarantees established by the Emirati legislator for the foreign investor, and examine the extent to which the Emirati legislation strike a balance between the interest of the investor through guarantees and incentives, and the interest of the state by ensuring the transfer of technology and providing job opportunitie
STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF CORRODED REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAM ELEMENTS REPAIRED WITH FABRIC-REINFORCED MATRIX COMPOSITES
Get PDFAdvanced methods for rehabilitation of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with corroded reinforcement were designed and implemented in this research. The nonlinear flexural and shear behaviors of RC beams with corroded reinforcement repaired with fabric-reinforced matrix (FRM) composites were investigated. Numerical simulation models were developed to predict the flexural response of flexure-deficient continuous RC beams before and after repair with FRM composites. A novel sustainable repair solution that involves the use of cement-free geopolymeric matrix reinforced with nonmetallic fabrics was also introduced for rehabilitation of shear-critical RC beams with corroded stirrups. Simplified and easy-to-use analytical approaches were adopted to estimate the strength of the beams before and after repair with FRM composites. Laboratory tests were conducted to validate the modeling predictions. The experimental campaign related to the flexural behavior included testing and analysis of continuous RC beams with corroded reinforcement of various severity of up to 40% cross-sectional loss in either the sagging or hogging region. Results of the corroded continuous beams repaired with FRM composites were compared to those of benchmark continuous beams that were not repaired. Reinforced concrete beams with 20–40% sagging corrosion exhibited a load capacity reduction of 9–15%, while those with hogging corrosion had a maximum strength reduction of 9%. The FRM repair technique designed and implemented in this research successfully recovered the flexural performance of a control beam that was neither corroded nor repaired. The behavior of the flexure-critical continuous RC beams predicted numerically was in good agreement with that obtained from the experiments. The experimental campaign related to the shear behavior included testing of 10 shear-critical RC beam specimens with various levels of stirrup corrosion. Test variables included the level of corrosion damage in the stirrups, 15 and 50%, the type of the reinforcing fabrics, carbon (C) and polyparaphenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO), and the type of the matrix, geopolymeric and cementitious. An uncorroded-unrepaired RC beam acted as a reference. The results showed that RC beams with 15 and 50% stirrup corrosion experienced respective shear strength reductions of 12 and 34%. The geopolymer-based FRM repair solution developed and implemented in this study was effective in restoring the original shear strength of the control beam, with a performance reaching 83–100% of that of the cement-based FRM repair solution. The analytical methodology adopted in the present study tended to provide reasonable conservative predictions for the flexural and shear strengths of the tested beams. The outcomes of this study would assist practitioners and researchers in proper design and implementation of innovative and sustainable solutions for rehabilitation of RC beams with corroded reinforcement
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS’ FEEDING STYLES, NUTRITION PRACTICES AND RISK OF OBESITY AMONG 3-5 YEARS OLD CHILDREN IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Get PDFPrevious studies suggest that parental feeding practices shape preschool eating and physical activity habits, ultimately influencing children\u27s weight status. Despite the high obesity rate in UAE youth, preschoolers’ nutrition habits and their links to parental feeding styles are explored. This study aims to describe parental feeding styles: Emotional (E), Instrumental (I), Prompting and Encouragement (PE), Control Over Eating (COE)), and their associations with nutrition practices, socio-demographic factors, and obesity in UAE preschoolers. Using an online questionnaire, a cross-sectional study surveyed Emirati families with 3-5-year-old children. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.29. 70 preschool Emirati children living in Abu Dhabi participated. The median age was 4.00 years (3.00-4.00). The average BMI was15.47±3.77 kg/m2. Almost a third (26.6%) of the sample were overweight or obese, while 33.1% were underweight. Children spent 151.75 minutes per day of total active time, 93.05 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity, and 60.13 minutes in sedentary activities. Children rarely or never consumed breakfast and snacks. Many children rather infrequently consume milk, yogurt, vegetables, and fruits. Around 60% of the children consumed meat products at least thrice weekly. By contrast, grains represented a major diet component, and sweetened beverages were very popular among the children. Interestingly, traditional dishes were frequently consumed, especially by girls. Parents showed a greater tendency to feed their children in PE style. Feeding styles positively correlated with physical activity, while PE score was related to a greater sedentary level. Overall, E and I scores influenced children’s dietary habits more than others, especially boys. Adopting more E and I feeding styles correlated with increased dried fruit consumption among boys but showed a decreased consumption among girls. The COE style was positively associated with boys\u27 consumption of processed and junk foods but negatively with girls. Overall, the four feeding styles appeared to have a more positive impact on girls than boys, particularly in reducing the frequency of processed and junk food consumption. Interestingly, boys of parents adopting a PES were more likely to be underweight or overweight/obese, while on the other hand girls of parents adopting ES were more likely to have a normal weight. PES is also associated with snack frequency and greater levels of sedentary. Mothers with a lower educational level were less likely to adopt E or I feeding styles but more likely to adopt the COE one. This style was more commonly observed at younger ages. The I style was less likely observed among males and at younger ages. A lower level of education among fathers was associated with a decreased likelihood of adoption of PE and COE feeding styles. Interestingly, the COE style was less common among families with higher incomes. This study highlights the pivotal role of parental feeding styles in shaping UAE preschoolers\u27 dietary habits, physical activity levels, and weight status. Sociodemographic factors, particularly parents\u27 educational level, employment status, and family income, emerged as major determinants of these feeding styles. These insights are crucial for guiding parents in promoting healthy eating habits tailored to their socio-economic backgrounds. Further research is needed to explore these dynamics across diverse cultural contexts