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A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF BALANCING, GEOMETRIC TRANSFORMATION, GENERATIVE NETWORKS, AND ROI TECHNIQUES IN EYE DISEASES CLASSIFICATION
No full textAutomatic detection of ocular diseases helps medical professionals efficiently identify eye disorders, reduce diagnostic errors, and accelerate diagnoses to prevent blindness. Deep learning has been successfully utilized in various fields, including medical image classification. However, in spite of these advancements, challenges remain in ocular disease classification.
The objective of this work is to address these challenges using data processing, data augmentation in combination with Region of Interest (ROI) techniques. Medical datasets often suffer from scarcity, imbalance, and low-quality images, leading to inaccurate classification. To mitigate these issues, we utilize the ODIR dataset, which contains 7,000 labelled training images for both left and right eyes, and propose a data augmentation method using a Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) algorithm. This method aims to augment and balance the fundus images across eight different categories of ocular diseases, including normal fundus images. The generated images were then used to train transfer learning models, with 3,000 generated images per category. The data was split into 80% (2,400) for training, 10% (300) for testing, and 10% (300) for validation.
Using only generated images, the testing accuracy of a transfer learning model – Inception V3 – after training for 25 epochs, improved significantly to about 95% for eight eye disease categories. We further trained the filtered and separated ocular disease images using an unsupervised model – StyleGAN – for 160 to 260 iterations. A portion of the 2,400 generated images was then used to train transfer learning models to avoid overfitting and enhance accuracy. Additionally, we applied ROI and post-processing techniques to enhance the images. Using only real images for the binary glaucoma test resulted in an improvement of approximately 10% compared to unmodified images which achieved only 72% testing accuracy.
We have demonstrated that augmenting medical datasets with GANs, combined with the use of appropriate ROI techniques tailored to the characteristics of two categories of eye diseases, significantly improves classification accuracy. This comprehensive study includes numerous experiments using ocular disease images, ranging from imbalanced, unmodified, non-augmented data to balanced, augmented, and edited data. The study employs multi-approach methods with a standard benchmark, using only real, unadjusted images as testing data, and hence highlighting the challenges and uniqueness of this work
EVALUATING LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS FOR AUTOMATED CV RANKING: A HYBRID EMBEDDING APPROACH FOR ENHANCED RECRUITMENT
No full textIncreasing numbers of applications have revealed limitations in legacy keyword-filtering-based Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which commonly overlook candidate potential and ignore contextual or transferable skills. Advances in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Models (LLMs) offer an exhilarating alternative, supporting context-sensitive and human-crafted reasoning in candidate evaluation. This thesis systematically evaluates four classes of approaches, lexical models, embedding-based methods, Large Language Models (LLMs), and hybrid ensembles, for automation of Curriculum Vitae (CV) to Job Description (JD) matching without exploiting prior annotations or annotations at match time. Using a combination of publicly available datasets and real-world sample data covering three technical roles, human raters established ground-truth rankings as baselines to measure performance against. We discovered that lexical models achieved efficiency at the loss of poor correlation to human judgment, while embedding‑based models, including Sentence‑BERT (SBERT) and Masked and Permuted Network (MPNet), raised semantic similarity but did not offer evaluative reasoning.
Large Language Models showed superior correlation to human ranking, reaching high accuracy and contextual comprehension, in spite of results being input-sensitive and computationally costly. The paper offers empirical insights into prompt engineering, hybrid modeling, and awareness of fairness, and identifies a pivotal role for LLMs in revolutionizing recruitment practice. It concludes that, despite being able to simulate recruiter judgments, hybrid systems outperform and provide stability, and lay foundations for scalable, transparent, and ethically responsible recruitment technologies
DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-CARBON CEMENTITIOUS COMPOSITES WITH VOLCANIC ASH AND CALCIUM CARBIDE RESIDUE USING CARBONATION CURING
Full text linkThe production and use of cement and concrete is a major contributor to numerous environmental problems, primarily centered around high carbon emissions, extensive resource depletion, and vast waste generation. This thesis aims to develop and characterize low-carbon concrete by using volcanic ash (VA) and calcium carbide residue (CCR) as partial cement substitutes while exposing the cementitious composite to accelerated carbonation curing. The study is a multi-level assessment of the incorporated materials and curing method divided into four phases. The first stage studied and optimized the CCR content and carbonation curing parameters of carbonation-cured concrete. It was revealed that using 5% CCR was optimum for strength, whereas up to 10% CCR was optimum for carbon sequestration. Meanwhile, prolonging the carbonation curing duration (up to 40 hours) and increasing the CO2 pressure (up to 5 bars) improved all properties. The second phase aimed to optimize the mix design parameters of cementitious composites containing VA and dune sand. Using the Taguchi-TOPSIS hybrid method, the optimum mix was determined to have a binder content of 500 kg/m3, a water-to-binder ratio of 0.5, a dune sand content of 20%, a VA content of 20%, and a superplasticizer content of 0.75%. The optimum mix was validated experimentally and had superior fresh, mechanical, and durability properties to other mixes. Phase three investigated the ternary system replacing cement with VA and CCR. The inclusion of CCR alone was more impactful on the fresh properties than VA, decreasing the flow and prolonging the setting time. Meanwhile, incorporating VA and CCR extended the setting time except for the mix made with 20% VA and 5% CCR. At these replacement levels, the highest mechanical and durability performance was achieved.
The fourth phase optimized the mix design and process parameters of carbonation-cured concrete containing VA and CCR. The carbonation regime involving 20-hour initial air curing and 4-hour carbonation rendered the highest carbon sequestration at 5-40% CCR and 0-5% VA. Conversely, the best early-age performance was reported for a binder comprising 0-20% CCR and 0-5% VA. Meanwhile, the optimum 28-day performance was for a mix made with a binder incorporating 0-5% CCR and 10-35% VA and exposed to a carbonation scheme of 4-hour initial air curing and 20-hour carbonation. This thesis develops innovative low-carbon concrete solutions by integrating recycled waste materials with carbonation curing. These composites address multiple environmental challenges in a single approach, contributing to reduced carbon emissions and resource conservation
UTILIZING UAE DATE PALM LEAF ASH IN REMOVING AMMONIATED COMPOUNDS FROM REJECT BRINE AFTER THE SOLVAY PROCESS
Full text linkThis study addresses the critical challenge of managing ammonia-laden reject brine from desalination plants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where desalination is the primary freshwater source. The environmental impact of brine disposal, particularly ammonia contamination, necessitates the development of sustainable treatment solutions. This research explores the potential of date palm leaf ash (DPLA), an agricultural byproduct, as a low-cost and eco-friendly adsorbent for ammonia removal, aligning with the UAE’s sustainability and circular economy goals. The study evaluates the ammonia adsorption capacity of DPLA and optimizes its performance through thermal ashing at 750°C and chemical activation using calcium oxide (CaO), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄). Adsorption efficiency was tested under varying ash dosages and ammonia concentrations, while advanced characterization techniques—including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)—were employed to assess the structural and chemical modifications of DPLA before and after activation and ammonia exposure. The results demonstrated that H₃PO₄-activated DPLA achieved the highest ammonia removal efficiency of 67.87%, with optimal adsorption observed at an ash weight of 5 g and an initial ammonia concentration of 3.61 mg/L. Characterization analysis confirmed that the adsorption process was driven by physical and chemical interactions, with phosphate and oxygen-rich functional groups enhancing ammonia capture. The study also highlights the potential of ammonia-saturated DPLA as a slow-release fertilizer and its catalytic properties for industrial applications such as hydrogen production and syngas reforming. This study contributes to sustainable brine management by developing a low-cost, eco-friendly adsorbent from agricultural waste. The findings provide a potentially viable approach for ammonia removal from desalination reject brine, reducing the environmental impact of brine disposal. Additionally, the valorization of ammonia-saturated DPLA for agricultural and industrial applications supports the principles of a circular economy, offering a pathway for resource recovery and waste minimization. Future research should focus on pilot-scale implementation, regeneration studies, and cost-benefit analysis to assess the economic feasibility and scalability of DPLA-based adsorption for desalination brine treatment
The Degree to which Science Teachers in the Sultanate of Oman Practice Social -Emotional Learning Skills in the Classroom Situation from the Students’ Point of View.
Full text linkThe study aimed to reveal the degree to which science teachers in the Sultanate of Oman practice social-emotional learning skills in the classroom from the students’ point of views. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach to achieve its aims based on a questionnaire which consisted of comprising (27) statements distributed over five main domins (enhancing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, social relations, and responsible decision-making). The reliability coefficient reached of the questionnaire is (0.939). The study was adminstered to a sample of (1470) male and female students from the ninth and tenth grades in the six Omani governorates. The results of the study revealed that science teachers\u27 practice of social-emotional learning skills in the Sultanate of Oman was moderate from the students’ point of view. The results of the study also revealed a statistically significant difference in six domains. In addition, thre is a signifcatint diffrernce due to sex in favor of female students in enhancing self-awareness and erasing social awareness and in the class grade level variable in favor of the ninth-grade students in all domains. The study recommended the necessity of implementing training workshops for science teachers on social-emotional learning skills in the classroom setting.
Keywords: practices, teachers, social-emotional learning, students, skills
Criminal liability for trafficking in human organs and tissues In light of Federal Decree Law No. (25) of 2023 “a comparative study
Full text linkThis study aims to explore the possibility of compensation for the abuse of the right to divorce and voluntary separation under the current UAE law. The study begins by identifying the cases excluded from the scope of abuse, with the objective of accurately defining the cases that warrant compensation. It examines the potential forms of abuse in the context of divorce and voluntary separation, and addresses the adequacy of current legal standards in assessing appropriate compensations./= / \u3e/= / \u3eThe study employed an analytical methodology to achieve its objectives, analyzing relevant texts in the Personal Status Law and Civil Transactions Law, along with other related legislation, and examining a selection of judicial rulings./= / \u3e/= / \u3eThe study resulted in several important findings, the most prominent of which is that damages resulting from arbitrary divorce or voluntary separation, whether material or moral, merit compensation. It also revealed that current legal compensations are insufficient to cover the damages that one spouse may suffer due to abuse. Consequently, the study recommended the adoption of new legal standards for assessing and compensating damages, with the aim of addressing the existing legislative gaps in this area
نظام الرجوع عن القرارات والأحكام القضائية في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة
Full text linkAbstract
The legislator in the United Arab Emirates has approved ways to appeal against judicial decisions and rulings, among them some are ordinary ways of appeal, which are represented by the way of appeal in the UAE civil judiciary, through which the principle of two-tier litigation is realized, and some are unusual ways of appeal represented in the petition for reconsideration and cassation. And, by Federal Decree-Law No. 15 of 2021, a system was created for reversing civil judicial decisions and judgments.
The UAE legislator, in the text of Article 187 bis, under which the system of reversal is introduced, did not explicitly specify the judicial decisions and judgments subject to this system, and Instead, it merely referred in general terms to the cases and procedures of recourse without detailing them. Through our research, we reached to some conclusions and recommendations.
Among the most important conclusions is: that the system of reversal of judicial decisions and judgments introduced in the UAE, aims to achieve justice that transcends the sanctity of judgments. It is not limited to the UAE\u27s supreme courts, but also includes rulings of special courts. Furthermore, it is a discretionary and non-mandatory system.
The research’s most important recommendations include: An appeal to the UAE legislator to make the system of reversal of judicial decisions and judgments a mandatory, given the justice it achieves. Reconsider the value of the insurance required to be paid by the applicant for reversal, who was affected by the decision or court ruling subject to reversal. Reconsider the inclusion of the system of reversal of judicial decisions and rulings among the methods of appeal, given the inaccuracy of this term in the event that the decision or judgment is retracted by the same court that issued the decision or judgment subject to reversal.
الملخص
أقرّ المشرّع في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة طرقاً للطعن على القرارات والأحكام القضائية، منها طرق طعن عادية وتتمثّل في طريق الاستئناف في القضاء المدني الإماراتي الذي به يتحقق مبدأ التقاضي على درجتين، ومنها طرق طعن غير عادية متمثلة في التماس إعادة النظر، والنقض. واستحدث بموجب المرسوم بقانون اتحادي رقم 15 لسنة 2021، نظام الرجوع عن القرارات والأحكام القضائية المدنية.
لم يحدّد المشرّع الإماراتي في نص المادة 187 مكرراً المستحدث بموجبه نظام الرجوع، بشكل صريح، القرارات والأحكام القضائية الخاضعة لهذا النظام، واكتفى بالإشارة، بشكل عام، لحالات الرجوع وإجراءاته دون تفصيل. وتوصلنا من خلال بحثنا هذا لنتائج وتوصيات.
فمن أهمّ النتائج: إنّ نظام الرجوع عن القرارات والأحكام القضائية المستحدث في دولة الإمارات يهدف لتحقيق العدالة التي تعلو على قُدسية الأحكام. وهو غير مقصور على المحاكم العليا فقط في دولة الإمارات، بل يشمل أحكام المحاكم الخاصة. يضاف لذلك أنّه نظام جوازي وغير إلزامي.
أمّا توصيات البحث فأهمّها: مناشدة المشرّع الإماراتي بجعل نظام الرجوع عن القرارات والأحكام القضائية نظاما إجباريا لما يحقّقه من عدالة. إعادة النظر في شأن قيمة التأمين الملزم بدفعها مقدم طلب الرجوع المتضرر من القرار أو الحكم القضائي محل الرجوع. إعادة النظر في إدراج نظام الرجوع عن القرارات والأحكام القضائية ضمن طرق الطعن؛ لعدم دقة التسمية تلك في حال الرجوع عن القرار أو الحكم من تلقاء نفس المحكمة مصدرة القرار او الحكم محل الرجوع
الإنهاء الضمني للعقد الإداري في قضاء مجلس الدولة الفرنسي
Full text linkAbstract
As the French Council of State is an inexhaustible source for establishing the principles and rules of administrative law, making its rulings and decisions foundational references in the study of this field, this study examines a recent position adopted by the Council, through which it established a new legal rule regarding the unilateral termination of an administrative contract. Accordingly, this kind of termination is not necessarily taken by explicit administrative decision, rather it can be inferred from approach of the administration, circumstances of its approach and the expiration of the specified execution deadlines stipulated in the contract, especially during litigation against the administration\u27s actions. Therefore, this study includes the most important judicial decisions issued by the Council in this regard, along with their analysis, to identify the key conditions for implicit termination, the potential resulting effects, and the extent of the contract judge\u27s authority in relation to it.
ملخص البحث
لمّا كان مجلس الدولة الفرنسي معيناً لا ينضب في وضع مبادئ القانون الإداري وقواعده، وبشكل جعل من أحكامه وقراراته أساساً لدراسات القانون الإداري، فقد جاءت هذه الدراسة لتتناول موقفاً حديثاً له، أقرّ بموجبه قاعدة قانونية جديدة بخصوص الإنهاء الإنفرادي للعقد الإداري، مفادها أنّ هذا النوع من الإنهاء ليس بالضرورة أن يكون بقرار صريح من الإدارة؛ وإنّما يمكن أن يستنتج من موقف الإدارة، ومن الظروف التي تصاحب هذا الموقف، وانقضاء المدد المحددة للتنفيذ، المنصوص عليها في العقد أثناء الطعن بتصرف الإدارة أمام القضاء. لذلك؛ اشتملت الدراسة على أهم الاحكام القضائية الصادرة عن المجلس بهذا الخصوص مع تحليل لها وصولاً إلى أهمّ شروط الإنهاء الضمني والآثار التي يمكن أن تترتب عليه من جهة، ومدى سلطة قاضي العقد بشأنه من جهة ثانية
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF HIP IMPLANTS FOR LONGEVITY THROUGH INTEGRATING ADVANCED GROOVE STRUCTURES AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Full text linkThis doctoral research concerns the design and optimization of hip implants (HIs) to enhance performance, durability, and improve patient outcomes by addressing the key issues of wear, deformation, and stress distribution. Innovative surface groove designs have been introduced to both a solid and a hollow femoral head with the aim of reducing friction and wear. The addition of grooves, with both a hemispherical and rectangular cross-section, onto the femoral head reduced friction, as debris produced by the inner liner was trapped within the grooves, significantly reducing adhesive wear. A numerical simulation study compared the effects of surface modifications — both grooves and dimples — on wear reduction under static loading. The simulations showed that incorporating grooves on the femoral head led to a 10% reduction in wear rate, and the addition of dimples contributed a 3% improvement. A comprehensive optimization of femoral head design was conducted using full factorial design methods and Finite Element Analysis to assess stress distribution and deformation. Three groove configurations were evaluated: no grooves, horizontal grooves, and vertical grooves. The results revealed that vertical grooves provided the best performance in terms of stress distribution and wear resistance. Hollow femoral heads with wall thickness 0.1 mm and vertical grooves demonstrated superior load-bearing capacity, reduced weight, and enhanced structural integrity. Despite the reduced material volume, the hollow components exhibited sufficient durability and strength to withstand high load conditions, making them a promising option for future HI designs. Such design innovations are expected to contribute significantly to improving patient outcomes by reducing wear and improving joint functionality. Additive Manufacture was used to fabricate models to demonstrate custom designed femoral heads of complex geometry composed of high-strength, biocompatible Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V). AM technology enabled precise implementation of groove patterns. The successful implementation of these designs could position them, or variations of them, as a commercially viable solution, offering both improved patient outcomes and cost-effective manufacturing processes. The research culminated in the patent of a HI with reduced wear properties. This patented design — comprising a grooved femoral head, inner liner, and outer acetabular cup — is considered to present a breakthrough in reducing friction and wear during total hip arthroplasty
EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF CO₂ AND UV-B ON SPOROBOLUS VIRGINICUS (L.) KUNTH GROWTH UNDER OPEN TOP CHAMBER: A COMPARISON OF SILICON NANOPARTICLE-TREATED AND UNTREATED PLANTS
Full text linkThis study looked at how silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs; 50 mg/L) affected the growth and health of Sporobolus virginicus in four different environments: normal conditions, high CO₂, UV-B radiation, and a mix of high CO₂ and UV-B. Plants treated with SiNPs showed much better growth, with more biomass, larger leaves, and better root development, regardless of what stress condition they faced (Ahmad et al., 2024). Additionally, SiNPs improved photosynthetic efficiency, as evidenced by increased levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids. SiNP application also reduced oxidative stress by lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms through the elevated activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) enzymes (Wang et al., 2022). The biggest improvements in growth and plant health were seen with the treatment that combined SiNP, CO₂, and UV-B, showing that these elements work together to boost the plant\u27s ability to handle stress. These findings support the hypothesis that SiNPs promote plant growth and photosynthetic function and offer significant protection against abiotic stressors. This research helps us better understand how salt-loving plants like S. virginicus can adjust to climate challenges, and it indicates that SiNPs could be a useful and eco-friendly way to strengthen coastal plants and support ecosystem stability (Ma et al., 2021)