United Arab Emirates University
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FAITHFUL REPRESENTATION OF FREE GROUPS AND CONGRUENT SUBGROUPS OF 3 ()
Get PDFThis thesis is concerned with the matrix representation of a free non-abelian group by matrices of size ≥ 3. We proceed from defining an equivalence classes and then transitioning to free groups. We discuss in details the group () which is the group generated by the matrices filled with first, (second, etc.) column, except for the intersection with the diagonal, and we have ones on the diagonal and zeros at the other places. The filled places are occupied by the same parameter . An alternative proof for the known fact that (3) is not free is provided. The main objective of this thesis is to find a lower bound for the parameter. An explicit value of the lower bound is found which is a refinement of a previous lower bound
LOCALLY TAILORED KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS DIET SUSTAINABILITY QUESTIONNAIRE: DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION AMONG UAEU ADULTS
Get PDFFood production is a major contributor to global environmental change and sustainability. Sustainable diets can be defined as “diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and healthy life for present and future generations”. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) aims to enhance its food security to meet the current local demand and future needs of an increasing population. Before determining a sustainable diet pattern for the UAE population, it is foremost more important to understand the perception of sustainable diet production and consumption. A thorough comprehension of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the United Arab Emirates population is crucial for the development of targeted programs aimed at promoting sustainable diets. Rationale: To the best of our knowledge, no detailed validated questionnaire that measures the attitudes and behaviors toward sustainable diet production/ consumption exists as these tools are vital in analyzing the gap between current practice and optimal practice and determining future trends. Aims: to design and validate adapted tools and to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of adults toward adopting a sustainable diet in the United Arab Emirates population. Method: A cross-sectional study has been conducted at UAEU in 2023. The study was conducted over two phases. Phase 1 was about generating the items, designing the questionnaire, and pilot testing of the questionnaire on a smaller group of participants by using Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin’s (KMO), Bartlett\u27s Tests, Cronbach’s α, Confirmatory Factorial analysis, and Fit Indices. In phase 2, the same tests mentioned earlier in phase 1 were used beside item-tototal correlation to validate the questionnaire on a larger group of participants. Reliability was assessed in phase 2 and test-retest reliability was done by using the Mann-Whitney test, Bland-Altman Analysis, and Cronbach α. Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward diet sustainability have been assessed by using a questionnaire that has been tailored from an existing English questionnaire. It was filled online by 389 participants from the United Arab Emirates University. Sociodemographic data were collected including age, gender, BMI, employment status, educational level, income, nationality, marital status, family size, diet counseling, nutrition education, and nutrition knowledge. The questionnaire was administered twice to the participants with a one-month interval between two administrations for reliability assessment purposes. Statistical analysis was done to compare the diet practices of the UAEU participants with the EAT-Lancet recommendations. Results: In phase 1, construct validity was done for pilot testing of 86 participants as a pre-test administration with satisfied KMO ranged between 0.720 and 0.852, and Bartlett\u27s tests of sphericity were statistically significant. All factorial weights in phase 1 i were beyond 0.5, and acceptable association between the items and the factor except in domain D which led to item modifications. Internal consistency for 86 participants by measuring Cronbach’s α was acceptable and satisfied. In phase 2, 389 questionnaires were collected from adults (80.70% female) aged 25.0±9.7 on average. Factor analysis revealed that the three-factor model had moderate fit indices. High internal consistencies, Cronbach\u27s α of 0.900, 0.960, and 0.897 for knowledge, attitude, and practice respectively were observed. Data of test-retest reliability using Bland-Altman Analysis shows the reliability between 2 responses. Results showed that participants had poor knowledge, and practice, with a positive attitude toward food sustainability compared with EAT-Lancet recommendations of high consumption of fruits and vegetables, moderate dairy products, white meat, and fish, and very low consumption of red and processed meat, and sugars. Significant correlations between domain response and all sociodemographic characteristics (P-value=≤ 0.05) were found, except BMI with knowledge domain. Conclusion: the questionnaire of the present study is reliable, valid, and can be used as the best tool compared to others for the UAE adult population. Moreover, reliable data preferably from validated present questionnaire will be needed to develop interventions, awareness campaigns, and programs accordingly in the future
ON THE PROJECTIONS AND UNITARY GROUPS OF UNITAL C*-ALGEBRAS
Get PDFH. Dye proved that the unitary group in a factor determines the algebraic type of that factor. Al-Rawashdeh, Booth and Giordano established that, for a large class of simple unital C*- algebras, an isomorphism between the unitary groups, induces an isomorphism between their K0-ordered group and K1-groups. Then using the results of Dadarlat-Elliot-Gong and KirchbergPhillips, the C*-algebras are isomorphic. Dye introduced special projections P{i,j}(a) of the matrix algebra Mn(A), and he used it as a main tool to establish his results in the case of von Neumann factors. Precisely, in case of von Neumann algebra, he proved that if is an orthoisomprhism which fixes all the P{i,j}(a), then it is the identity mapping on the projections. We discuss these projections and we give more properties in the case of C*-matrix algebras. Using Dye\u27s approach, we prove that for a unital C*-algebra A, if is an orthoisomorphism on P(Mn(A)) which fixes the P{i,j}(a), then fixes all the projections on class D, consisting of some decomposition of P{i,j}(a). We introduce the invariant unitary groups property (IUG-P), the orthogonal IUG-P and the topological IUG-P. We investigate that some properties are IUG-P, orthogonal IUG-P or topological IUG-P, for certain C*-algebras. If the general linear groups (GL(A)) are isomorphic, we prove that the induced mapping between idempotents preserves the orthogonality, for a large class of unital C*-algebras, including certain type of UHFalgebras, 2-divisible K0-groups, Cuntz algebras On, 2 ≤ n ≤ ∞, and for simple unital purely infinite C*-algebras having 2-divisible K0- groups. We prove that if N is a normal subgroup of GL(On), then N contains all the symmetries of On. Also, we show that if N is any normal subgroup of unitary groups of compact operator K, which contains some certain type of involution, then N contains all the involutions of K
INVESTIGATING PARENTAL ROLES IN DEVELOPING PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN\u27S EMERGENT LITERACY IN ENGLISH, THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE, THROUGH STORYBOOK READING IN A SAMPLE OF KUWAITI HOMES
Get PDFUsing a convergent mixed methods design, this study explored home emergent literacy environments actualized by six mothers of young preschool-aged children living in Kuwait. It investigated the role of these Kuwaiti mothers in developing their bilingual preschool-aged children’s print knowledge, oral language, and phonological awareness, as three areas associated with emergent literacy (EL). In particular, the study explored the influence of parental storybook reading on the development of bilingual children’s EL skills in English, their second language (L2). Using purposive sampling, this case study obtained statistical quantitative results from parents who responded to a questionnaire about their home literacy experiences and from fourteen bilingual preschool-aged children who undertook a pretest and a posttest. Qualitative data were also obtained from six families’ audiotaped home reading sessions and from semi-structured interviews with the six mothers and three classroom teachers. The research questions were carefully curated as to trace the influence of storybook reading on the children’s EL development, which was found to be strongest for oral language development. Moreover, while, on average, there were noted instances of stimulating EL development authentically in the families’ homes, parallels were generally drawn between the mothers’ and the classroom teachers’ reading purposes, being strategically motivated by a number of didactic practices. Ultimately, the study concluded with a number of practical and ecological recommendations, amongst which pertain to transitioning from authentic book reading to direct teaching not only strategically but also sequentially and separately. Ecologically, the study recommends increasing social interactions in children’s home literacy environments. The study also concluded with research-inspired home book reading recommendations, hoped to guide regional communities seeking to create similar home environments and experiences and to inspire future relevant research to become explanatory in nature
PRODUCED WATER MANAGEMENT FROM PRODUCTION SITES IN THE STATE OF KUWAIT
Get PDFCrude oil extraction leads to the production of produced water (PW). PW is by far the most significant by-product in the process of extracting hydrocarbons from the subsurface. Consequently, handling PW has become a great concern to oil and gas producers. The increasing amounts of PW and more stringent environmental and safety regulations in regard to PW make more efficient treatment methods necessary, where sustainable long-term solutions for PW management need to be provided. The focus of this study is on PW from onshore operations as the majority of the oil and gas extraction operations (upstream processes) are conducted onshore, and it is here that greater quantities of produced water are generated. The additional expense of PW treatment facilities and their relatively low economical returns on investment have always been the major issues for the implementation of innovative water treatment technologies. Therefore, simple disposal of excess PW by means of subsurface reinjection wells remains very common. The current study is directed towards the concept of merging different methods of treatment, namely the Ceramic Membrane Filtration Technology and Adsorption of Hydrocarbon content from Produced Water for the remainder, to achieve an adequate purification of PW at a reasonable cost and by reclaiming other natural waste material found in PW. This study will illustrate the significant economic, environmental, and technical benefits of implementing the experimented treatment methods to the GCC oil producing states by fully utilizing the natural resources at the oil production sites and how it can benefit the overall economy by reducing the waste streams generated at the oilfields in the State of Kuwait
INVESTIGATING THE MAGNETIC CYCLE OF THE PLANET-HOSTING STAR HD189733
Get PDFHD189733 is a planet-hosting star, harboring a hot Jupiter situated at approximately 8.8 stellar radii. This system is among the most studied systems for stellar magnetism, Star-Planet Interactions, and exoplanetary atmospheric studies. The large-scale magnetic field of the star exhibits variability on relatively short timescales, however, no magnetic field cycle, including polarity flips, has been observed to date. This absence of cycle detection could be due to observational gaps between observing campaigns. This thesis aims to explore the variability of the activity of HD189733 by conducting a homogeneous analysis of several publicly available datasets, obtained using several spectrographs/telescopes, spanning 18 years. The primary objective is to assess whether this active star manifests an activity cycle, and to this end, an in-depth examination of activity indices periodicity is performed. Drawing inspiration from the Sun, where the activity cycle is known to be half of the magnetic polarity flip cycles (11 years versus 22 years), this study will explore the correlation between the star\u27s activity information and its magnetic map information. This research explores correlations between different magnetic manifestations to identify potential patterns, allowing for insights into the star\u27s magnetic field behavior. Our results may help identify optimal observation periods to witness a polarity flip of the magnetic field of HD189733. This investigation not only contributes to the understanding of stellar magnetic activity but also has implications for refining observational strategies for stellar activity studies
ADAPTIVE INTER-VEHICULAR COLLABORATION FOR LEVEL 5 AUTONOMOUS DRIVING
Get PDFThe evolution of sensor technologies, mobile networks, and artificial intelligence has significantly expanded the horizons of various sectors, notably in autonomous driving. According to the World Health Organization, over 1.3 million people succumb to traffic accidents annually, predominantly due to human negligence. Complex urban environments, characterized by mixed traffic flow involving Human Driven Vehicles and Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, intricate traffic patterns, frequent lane changes, and slow speeds, face escalating challenges related to traffic accidents and congestion. These challenges lead to wasted time, increased fuel consumption, and heightened pollution emission levels. Hence, the development of a safe and robust version of collaborative autonomous driving, known as convoy driving, is anticipated to greatly enhance road safety, traffic efficiency, and overall mobility by transitioning driving control from humans to autonomous systems. While collaborative autonomous driving solutions have existed for some time, the focus has predominantly been on classical problem domains of lower automation levels and vehicular networks on highways. Although substantial research has been dedicated to convoy driving for heavy-duty trucks, demonstrating its benefits on highways, challenges arise when extending collaborative driving functions to smaller lightweight vehicles in urban settings. Having highlighted such challenges, this work justifies the need for an evolved version of collaborative autonomous driving. The primary focus of this thesis is to investigate and overcome existing limitations and challenges associated with urban convoy driving by proposing novel theoretical frameworks. It introduces integrated solution components tailored to enable urban convoys, envisioning a future where convoy driving becomes a win-win solution - beneficial for the environment, the collective transportation system, and individual vehicle owners, contributing to the goals of achieving Level 5 autonomous driving. This means that it is investigated how convoy driving adds to road safety and efficiency, which is translated into a number of local objective functions. It is believed that this work is among the pioneers that study the aspects of collaborative autonomous driving, addressing not only collaboration for short time quanta but its benefits at societal and individual vehicle levels. This claim is supported by extensive literature surveys conducted to highlight gaps and differentiate the standing of this work, which is published in reputable venues. This thesis covers the following three main dimensions: I) Defining, modeling, and simulating the environment that captures the dynamics of a complex urban setting. The environment is modeled using a probabilistic graphical model (PGM), and an extension of the Car Learning to Act (CARLA) simulator, termed CARLA+, is developed by integrating the PGM framework. This proposed approach provides a unified framework to automate the behavior of dynamic environments using PGMs. II) Modeling Convoy Driving - Convoy driving is modeled by leveraging coalitional game theory in urban settings. Novel utility functions capturing relevant parameters and various benefits for convoy driving are designed and developed. The proposed theoretical framework can decide which traveling mode - coalition-driven or traveling alone - is beneficial for a vehicle in a given setting. This also forms the basis of the next contribution. III) Modeling Societal and Individual Vehicle Level Benefits of Convoy Driving. A theoretical incentivizing framework is proposed to investigate how the adoption of convoy driving can be incentivized to promote convoy driving in a mixed-traffic environment. The fundamental diagram model, VT-Micro model, and coalitional game theory framework are employed to model benefits at both the societal and individual vehicle levels. Experimental results demonstrate the pronounced advantages of convoy travel over solo travel. It is concluded that convoy travel is advantageous for a convoy size of two-six vehicles with an inter-vehicle spacing of less than four meters, considering the stability of the traffic flow and the urban environment limitations. Traveling in a convoy allows vehicles to save fuel, reduce travel time, and enhance safety and comfort. Notably, the research findings underscore that realizing the substantial benefits of coalition-driven driving necessitates finding the right equilibrium between vehicle speed, inter-vehicle distance, and coalition size
INTEGRATING COMPUTER VISION IN CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS MONITORING: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Get PDFThis thesis presents an in-depth exploration of the integration of Computer Vision (CV) in Construction Progress Monitoring (CPM), a field that has traditionally relied on manual and document-centric approaches. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the potential of CV technology to transform CPM into a more efficient, accurate, and automated process. This is achieved through a series of comprehensive studies encompassing a systematic review, critical appraisal, barrier analysis, feature classification, and assessment of construction professionals\u27 perceptions. The first segment of the thesis systematically reviews the current state of automated CV-based CPM, identifying the technological advancements and limitations in data acquisition, information retrieval, progress estimation, and output visualization. Following this, a critical appraisal of traditional CPM methods is conducted, highlighting the inefficiencies, and proposing a shift towards automated solutions. A pivotal part of the research identifies and analyzes barriers to adopting CV in CPM. This multi-method analysis employs a thorough literature review, expert opinions, and robust statistical methods to categorize and prioritize these barriers within the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, offering insights into the complexities of implementing this technology in construction practices. Furthermore, the thesis classifies essential features of CV-CPM using the Kano model, based on the preferences of construction practitioners. This classification provides a user-centric perspective on the desirable features and their potential impact on user satisfaction and technology adoption. Finally, an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is utilized to understand construction professionals\u27 perceptions of CV-based CPM. This analysis, supported by a survey and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), provides empirical insights into the factors influencing the acceptance and potential use of this innovative technology in the construction industry. This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a holistic understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and user perspectives in integrating CV into CPM. It offers valuable recommendations for researchers, technology developers, and construction industry practitioners, paving the way for more innovative, efficient, and effective construction progress monitoring practices
GENOMICS INSIGHTS INTO ANTI-PLATELETS THERAPY: UNRAVELING OF VARIANTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CLOPIDOGREL-GUIDED THERAPY IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Get PDFAnti-platelet therapy is a cornerstone in the management of cardiovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stroke. These medications are essential for reducing the risk of thrombotic events by preventing platelet aggregation. However, variations in cardiovascular pharmacogenes can significantly impact the metabolism, efficacy, and safety of anti-platelet therapies, making personalized medicine increasingly important for optimizing treatment outcomes. Pharmacogenomic testing has emerged as a crucial tool in tailoring anti-platelet therapy, particularly for patients with subtherapeutic responses due to genetic factors. While extensive research has been conducted globally to identify and study the effect of the pharmacogenomic variants that influence anti-platelet management, interest in this area within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is relatively new. Studies on pharmacogenomic variants specific to the Emirati population are still in their infancy and remain limited.In this current study, whole exome sequencing data from 298 healthy Emirati individuals were analyzed to investigate the key pharmacogenes, variants, haplotypes, and diplotypes known to affect the pharmacokinetics of clopidogrel, which could influence its efficacy. The analysis revealed a high frequency of the 11 actionable variants in several pharamcogenes, including cytochrome P-450 (CYP2C19), ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), Paraoxonase-1 (PON1), and the purinergic receptor (P2Y12R). These variants are known to impact clopidogrel metabolism and response.Further, in this thesis, I describe the first prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in the UAE to evaluate the impact of pharmacogenomic testing for five actionable CYP2C19 variants in 169 anti-platelet users with acute coronary syndrome. The results demonstrated a 10% improvement in clopidogrel efficacy, reducing the clinical risk of subsequent cardiovascular complications. Nevertheless, incorporating pharmacogenomic testing did not significantly mitigate the adverse outcomes of anti-platelet therapy (bleeding outcomes) (P-value \u3e0.05). One explanation for this is that ticagrelor, the safer anti-platelet for patients with impaired CYP2C19metabolism, is known to be associated with a higher risk of bleeding compared to clopidogrel.Additionally, a retrospective cohort study was conducted in this research to examine the association of three ABCB1 variants—rs1045642 (C3435T), rs2032582 (G2677T), and rs1128503 (C123T)—with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 174 ACS patients. Despite the high prevalence of the mutant alleles in the multiethnic UAE population (48.85%, 50%, and 51.03%, respectively), these variants did not significantly affect the risk of thrombotic complications in patients with a history of myocardial infarction (P\u3e0.05).This research highlights the critical pharmacogenes impacting clopidogrel efficacy, UAE-specific genetic variants, unexplored adverse events and complications, and the potential for broader pharmacogenomic implementation in the UAE healthcare system. These findings open the door for future research opportunities and contribute valuable insights to the local and global scientific communities
Quality of academic life and its relationship to the ability of self-learning and social skills among university students
Get PDFThe aim of the current study is to study the quality of academic life and its relationship to the ability to self-learning and social skills. The descriptive method was used to investigate the correlations and variations among the variables. The sample included 129 male and female university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To measure the study variables, the academic quality of life scale prepared by Mansi and Kazem (2010), the ability to self-learning prepared by Eid (2018), and the social skills scale prepared by Eid (2012) were used. There is a positive correlation between the quality of academic life and the ability to self-learning. Also, there is a significant positive correlation between the quality of academic life and social skills. There are no statistically significant differences between older and younger university students in the quality of academic life. There is no significant correlation between the ability to self-learning and social skills. There are no statistically significant differences between males and females in the quality of academic life, ability for self-learning, and social skills. One of the recommendations of the study is the need to help increase the university students\u27 sense of the quality of academic life. It encourages learners to practice self-learning and social skills.
Keywords: Academic life quality, self-learning ability, social skills, university students, Academic environmen