193 research outputs found
Isma'il Fahd Isma'il: A thematic study of his novels.
No full textOf all Kuwaiti novelists, Isma'il Fahd Isma'il is the only one who has established himself as an important novelist among his generation in the Arab world. With his first novel Kanat al-Sama'Zarqa (The Sky Was Blue) in 1970, Isma'il Fahd Isma'il was introduced to the Arabic literary scene with great enthusiasm by the Egyptian poet Salah 'Abd al-Sabur. The novel was soon widely recognized for its importance. Since 1970 Isma'il Fahd Isma'il has published 11 novels. The most striking characteristic of these novels is their diversity of subject and theme. Beginning with the theme of Iraqi society in the 60s, he has dealt with such diverse themes as the Palestinian question, the issue of terrorism, Kuwaiti society and Egyptian history. To facilitate understanding and appreciation of this novelist and his work, this study begins with a historical background of Kuwait with special emphasis on the intellectual and fictional development. The second chapter presents a biographical sketch of the author's life and discusses the personal, political and intellectual factors which shaped his intellectual and artistic development. The third chapter deals with the aftermath of June 1967 which caused the author to change his political ideology in a radical manner. The fourth chapter touches the works written about Kuwaiti society, and the fifth chapter deals with the historical novel written about Egypt at the end of the eighteenth century. The aim of this study is to achieve two things, first to explain the underlying reasons for the diversity of subject matter in the author's work, and second to present a comprehensive thematic study of those works.PhDLanguage, Literature and LinguisticsMiddle Eastern literatureUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/128471/2/9023504.pd
Adaptive Multi-Layered Space-Time Block Coded Systems in Wireless Environments
No full text© 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York. Multi-layered space-time block coded systems (MLSTBC) strike a balance between spatial multiplexing and transmit diversity. In this paper, we analyze the block error rate performance of MLSTBC. In addition, we propose an adaptive MLSTBC schemes that are capable of accommodating the channel signal-to-noise ratio variation of wireless systems by near instantaneously adapting the uplink transmission configuration. The main results demonstrate that significant effective throughput improvements can be achieved while maintaining a certain target bit error rate.The author would like to acknowledge the support provided by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) through Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) grant RG1312. In addition, the work was partially supported by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) project number EE002355
The Hajj : past, present and future: the communication aspect
No full textIt is the aim of this thesis to investigate the work of the Saudi Arabian media and the information services in relation to the Hajj, to examine their policies, procedures and problems faced by them, and to propose solutions and improvements. The basic objective of this study during the Hajj is to examine how the Saudi Arabian media can serve more effectively the needs of the pilgrims, with their different cultures and languages.
An historical examination of the evolution of the Hajj, the services and the media form the background and context for the examination of the current position. The following
research methods were adopted:
1- Group discussions and interviews were carried out amongsts ome of the Islamic media visiting the Hajj in order to highlight any problems and concerns
about the work of the Saudi Arabian media during the Hajj.
2- A content analysis of the Saudi Arabian newspapers
during the Hajj season was carried out using a quota sampling procedure. In total 434 articles were studied using nine coding categories.
3- The content and form of Saudi Arabian radio and television programmes, Hajj handbooks,cassettes and video tapes provided for the pilgrims were analysed.
4- The daily routine of the average pilgrim during the 1993 Hajj season was observed.
This work is divided into eight chapters. The Introduction (Chapter One) covers a statement of the problems, aims of the study and gives the various sources of information. In Chapter Two the historical background of the city of Mecca and the Kaaba is discussed, thus providing the historical aspects of the Hajj. The Saudi Arabian Royal Family and the Hajj are discussedin Chapter Three with respect to the importance of the Hajj as a religious obligation. Chapter Four examines the present Saudi Arabian official Hajj policy and procedures, the ministries and committees administering the Hajj and their terms of reference, and specific problems related to the Muslim calendar, weather, transport, accommodation, food, health, and security. Chapter Five is' devoted to the development of the Saudi Arabian media and their coverage of the Hau. Chapter
Six analyses the problems which face the Saudi Arabian media during the Hai. Chapter Seven deals with proposed solutions. Finally, conclusions are presented regarding the
main features of the present communication systems with regard to the coverage of the Hajj.
There are nine major findings in this study:
1- Much has been written on the history of the two Holy cities of Mecca and al-Madina and Arabia's Hajj before and under the Islam, but little attention has been paid to the communication aspects of information and instruction
available to the pilgrims.
2- The Saudi Arabian media strives to cater for all the pilgrims during their Haij.
3- The Pilgrims, however need more and better targeted information before, as well as after, their arrival in Saudi Arabia.
4- Most of the pilgrims have no radio or television sets in their buildings and so they are not directly exposed to Saudi Arabian Information.
5- The Saudi Arabian Hajj newspapers provide special information supplements, but these are not as effective as had been hoped.
6- The Islamic media delegation which visit Saudi Arabia during the Hajj believes that the Saudi Arabian media does not serve the pilgrims from different cultures adequately as there is a lack of programme targeting and a shortage of
information for non arabic speaking pilgrims.
7- The Saudi Arabian television channels are unable, as yet, to provide services in the main pilgrims' languages, but new technologies should be able to redress this.
8- The Saudi Arabian Radio and TV stations need better scheduling.
9- No systematic study has yet been carried out about the pilgrims' attitudes, their daily movements, access and reaction to the Saudi Arabian Media during the Hail: such a study should form the basis of future media and information
policies
H∞-synthesis and control of uncertain fractional-order systems of commensurate type
No full textNew Linear-Matrix-Inequality (LMI) conditions are proposed for H∞ analysis and synthesis of uncertain fractional-order systems where the non-integer order of differentiation belongs to the set ]0 2[. The developed conditions are extended LMI conditions involving additional LMI variables needed for numerical calculation of the feedback gains. The stability conditions are embedded with the necessary H∞ LMI conditions leading to new formulation of the bounded-real-lemma result. The stabilizability conditions with H∞ performance are subsequently derived and tested with static-pseudo-state feedbacks and static-output feedbacks as well.The author thanks King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for supporting this research and acknowledge the support of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Technology Innovation Center (TIC) for Solid-State Lighting (SSL) grant EE002381, which is subawarded to KFUPM, from the primary grant KACST TIC R2-FP-008 awarded to King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Secondary Alcohol Dehydrogenase
No full textRacemization of enantiopure alcohols is the key step to accomplish a dynamic kinetic resolution, and thus overcome the intrinsic drawback of 50 % yield with high enantioselectivity that is associated with kinetic resolution. Herein, the concurrent use of I86A and W110G mutants of Thermoanaerobacter pseudoethanolicus secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (TeSADH) in racemization of enantiopure phenyl-ring-containing alcohols is reported. The efficiency of this bienzymatic racemization approach is also compared with that reported previously using W110G TeSADH and is marginally more efficient.The author gratefully acknowledges funding by Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), project number DF191007. The author also thanks Professor Claire Vieille, from the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University, for providing the plasmid of TeSADH, and Professor Samir M. Hamdan, from the Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, for providing purified TeSADH mutants
Catalytic Transformation of Ethylbenzene over Y-Zeolite-based Catalysts
No full textCatalytic transformation of ethylbenzene (EB) has been investigated over ultrastable Y (USY)-zeolite-based catalysts in a novel riser simulator at different operating conditions. The effect of reaction conditions on EB conversion is reported. The USY catalyst (FCC-Y) was modified by steaming to form a significantly lower acidity catalyst (FCC-SY). The current study shows that the FCC-SY catalyst favors EB disproportionation more than cracking. A comparison has been made between the results of EB conversion over the lowly acidic catalyst (FCC-SY) and the highly acidic catalyst (FCC-Y) under identical conditions. It was observed that increase in catalyst acidity favored cracking of EB at the expense of disproportionation. Kinetic parameters for EB disappearance during disproportionation reaction over the FCC-SY catalyst were calculated using the catalyst activity decay function based on time on stream (TOS). © 2008 American Chemical Society.The author would like to express his appreciation for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) for their financial support. Also the support of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals is highly appreciated. Acknowledgement also goes to Mr. Mariano Gica for his help during the experimental work and Dr Nassem Akhter
On-line estimation of the Caputo fractional derivatives with application to PIµD? control
No full textThis paper proposes new procedures for calculation of the Caputo derivative of model-free measured signals. The evaluation of the non-integer derivative is realized by integrating a set of ordinary differential equations and convolution. The derivative of order ? (0 < ? < 2) is seen as an output of a linear-time-varying system driven by a time-dependent known signal. Two procedures are proposed depending on the variation range of the non-integer differentiation order. The proposed formulations facilitate the estimation of the fractional derivatives when they are associated to dynamical systems represented by integer-order differential equations. The efficiency of the developed numerical procedures are validated and compared to exact fractional derivatives for different values of ?. It is shown that PIµD? controllers can be easily realized by system augmentation and convolution. The advantages, the straightforwardness and the main features of the proposed design are given.The author thanks King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for supporting this research and acknowledge the support of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Technology Innovation Center (TIC) for Solid-State Lighting (SSL) grant EE002381, which is sub-awarded to KFUPM, from the primary grant KACST TIC R2-FP-008 awarded to King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Modeling a Two-section Monolithic InAs/InP Quantum-dash Laser: Wavelength Tunability and Sharp Turn-on Characteristics
No full textRate-equation based numerical model for the analysis of two-section InAs/InP quantum-dash tunable laser is developed. The model takes into account quasi-zero dimensional density of states of dashes in the linear optical gain formulation besides incorporating both homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening of the active region. The simulation results show a broad tunability of ~22 nm from longer 2000 µm device with 700 µm absorber length compared to 1000 µm device with 300 µm absorber length, which exhibited ~15 nm tuning window, in the L-band. Moreover, a sharp turn-on behavior is also observed, which is found to be in good agreement with our recent experimental results. Such devices and their comprehensive analysis would enable design optimization of two-section quantum-dash lasers, which are promising candidates as monolithic tunable lasers for next-generation access networks.This work was supported by Deanship of Research, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, through grant no. IN161029. The author gratefully acknowledge contributions from Emad Alkhazraji from KFUPM and Mohd. Sharizal Alias from KAUST, for heling with the experimental results and the device fabrication, respectively
Enhancing sustainable passenger experience through duty-free shopping at King Fahd Airport: A multimodal perspective
No full textWith the increasing significance of travel retail within the global tourism industry, understanding the effects of duty-free shopping experiences on traveler well-being and brand perceptions has become crucial for enhancing customer satisfaction and engagement. This study examines the relationships between duty-free shopping experiences, traveler well-being, and brand perceptions at King Fahd International Airport. Utilizing a quantitative research approach, data were collected from 412 passengers who had recently engaged with duty-free shops. The study incorporated four key experiential dimensions—pragmatic, sociability, hedonic, and usability experiences—alongside well-being, brand engagement, brand experience, and word-of-mouth (WOM) advocacy. The findings indicated positive associations between well-being and pragmatic, hedonic, and usability experiences. Moreover, well-being significantly influenced brand engagement and brand experience, but not WOM. Brand engagement was found to be a significant predictor of brand experience, while it had no significant effect on WOM. Additionally, WOM did not significantly influence brand experience. These insights contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between shopping experiences, well-being, and brand-related outcomes, providing valuable guidance for airport retailers and marketers to optimize traveler satisfaction and engagement. © 2024 by author(s).Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research; Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University; King Faisal University, KFU, (5412); King Faisal University, KFUFunding: This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Grant No. 5412]
Factors Impeding Online Shopping: An Arab World Perspective
No full textThe purpose of this study is to examine the factors that impede online shopping in the Arab region. This region has witnessed a fast growth in internet usage and offers a lot of potential for online retailing. The study is conducted in Saudi Arabia, which is the largest market in the Arab region. This study investigates the barriers to online shopping in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Empirical research is used to determine the difference in the barriers to online shopping by the shoppers and non-shoppers. Results based on a survey indicate that the major factors that impede online shopping are digital concerns, financial security concerns and online store barriers. Non-shoppers express more profound concerns than online shoppers. The paper discusses the implications of these and makes recommendations. The study provides valuable insights into online shopping in Saudi Arabia that has not been previously investigated. From a practical point, findings of this study will be particularly useful to online retailers, shoppers, financial institutions and telecommunication service providers
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