July Humanities by Welcome to Ya 7elween!

CAN LIFE REALLY EXIST IN OUTER SPACE? | LETTER TO THE WEST |

HUMANITIES A Y7 COMMUNIT Y MAGAZINE

J U L- AU G 2 0 1 7 I S S U E 1 5

PHILOSOPHY

EXCLUSIVE

Lebanese Environmental Day

A MAN OF SUPERIOR TALENT

An Exclusive recap by Dr. Laurence Ajaka

AND WHY HE IS SUCH A GREAT INSPIRATION

SCIENCE

TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT This is certainly one big advancement in medicine!

INTRODUCTION TO

Security and Privacy

ONE LIFE, ONE OPPORTUNITY AND ONE YOU Take advantage of your chances!

Are your items really safe in the cloud?

MUHAMMAD ALI

EDITORIAL

Letter to the West

from the mouth of our Chief Editor

DEDICATION Written by Dr. Hassan A Farhat

BXDCREATIVEMAGAZINETEMPLATE04WWW.YOURDOMAIN.COMISSUE04-WINTER2015

MagAZINE

CONTENTS

FEATURES WRITERS FOR THIS ISSUE

2017 BEST BREAKTHROUGH PUBLICATION ISSUU.COM COMMERCIAL

HEALTH

OUTER VIEWING

DEPRESSION

MUHAMMAD ALI DEDICATION

SPACE

Y7 HIGHLIGHT

LIFE ON TITAN

BULLYING

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS HISTORY

SCIENCE

LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER

A TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT

POETRY

LETTER TO THE WEST Dr. Hassan A Farhat

EDITOR LETTER Dr. Hassan A Farhat

ONE LIFE ONE OPPORTUNITY AND ONE YOU Dr. Laurence Ajaka

A MAN OF SUPERIOR TALENT Dr. Laurence Ajaka

TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT Sabine Jabr

SECURITY AND PRIVACY Pierre Abi Younes

A WAKEUP CALL AWAY FROM THE ABYSS Dr. Laurence Ajaka

A LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER Dr. Toufic Ajaka

HAVE YOU TAKEN THE DECISION YET Dr. Laurence Ajaka

MUHMMAD ALI TRIBUTE Dr. Hassan A Farhat

PEARL HARBOR ATTACK Mostafa Abdallah

PEARL HARBOR

SILENTNESS

42 44

TECH

SECURITY AND PRIVACY

INTEREST

REACHING THE TOP Dr. Zeina Zeida Maalouley HOMECOMING: RETURN OF THE SYRIAN REFUGEES Dr. Laurence Ajaka LEBANESE ENVIRONMENTAL DAY Dr. Laurence Ajaka

THE GREAT DEPRESSION Julia Prokoptchick

SILENTNESS Julia Prokoptchick

LIFE ON TITAN Humanities Staff

MEMENTO Anca Stuparu

SO I REMAIN BEHIND Anca Stuparu

GARDENS Anca Stuparu

A MAN OF SUPERIOR TALENT

Editor

iNSIGHT A monthly word from our Chief Editor Dr. Hassan A Farhat THIS MONTH DINAH RASHID EDITOR

APRIL KHAN VICE PRESIDENT

SAOOD MUKHTAR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

JULY WRITERS ANCA STUPARU

SALINE JABR

DR. LAURENCE AJAKA

DR. TOUFIC AJAKA

DR. ZEINA ZEIDA MAALOULEY

PIERRE ABI YOUSEF

JULIA PROKOPTCHICK

MOSTAFA ABDALLAH PIERRE ABI YOUSEF

Letter to the West: A Calling Out to Mankind This letter is dedicated to my brothers of humanity, who are at the hands of sufferingâ&#x20AC;¦ All of our hearts are with you.

ABOUT THE EDITOR HASSAN A FARHAT MD works as an Associate Director of Emergency Care at NY Community Hospital as well as an Assistant Professor at Ichan School of Medicine Mt. SInai. He is known for his charitable works, friendly demeanor and poetic writings.

o not lose your senses from what is happening to you, your homeland or humanity. These disgraceful acts and indescribable fits of evil are completely unrelated to religion or any belief system. In fact, they are totally out of line with even the simplest ethical rule and humanitarian norm.

The wicked acts carried out by certain people -- who are themselves demons-- are not connected to this humanity, nor could we ever compare them to human beings, or even find words to describe them. They are the strangers, the intruders and vile creatures in your community, and in our communities – and in fact in all societies. They dispel love for the sake of their devilish goals. We grieve when witnessing the destruction of your homes and ours, which is a direct effect of these evil acts. In some places, this grief becomes hatred and disgust, which works to divide our nations, burn bridges and destroy hope. It also destroys the love we have for ourselves and others. It breaches the innocence of our children’s souls, who can’t yet discern good from bad. They approach anyone and anything with an innocent smile, and a soul-lifting laugh. They don’t inquire to others about their beliefs or race. They don’t place segregate people into groups or have prejudice. They are innocents and place no blame. So why do these diabolical creatures rip them away from the hearts of their mothers and fathers, and destroy our future generations

of hope? Because these very children will make this world into a safe haven and lead us unto salvation. Oh sons of my nation, who live in the western world. Do not harm the souls of others and do not think of their souls as unequal to yours. Open your homes as well your places of worship to others whom are your brothers and sisters in humanity. Your messages are the messages of hope. They create an atmosphere of tolerance.

And don’t ever sleep at night before exercising vigilance and making sure that they are comfortable. And never start your day without first checking on them in morning.

This peace from you, delivered to them will help us all return to our nightly slumber in peace. We ask you to make this pledge (Amana) and to say it from your soul and to let it reside there until the Day of Judgement. And for the sake of God, maintain the integrity of the communities that embraced you, and opened their doors for you and your families with roominess and an open heart. Expel those intruders from your mind, and homes, and streets and cities Lastly, always ask God to keep you safe and to keep your new communities in the west safe as well. Our problems aren’t with the west, but with ourselves. We shouldn’t make our problems the problems of others, and we shouldn’t

xport the problems that we face in our mother land to other lands. Yes, despite the sorrow, sadness, blood, and scanty of love within our motherland. We should always send hopeful messages of love and tranquility despite these new wounds.

Don’t ever forget that we are guests in the western lands and we need to return to them this favor with good words, and with a big smile and gentle approach. Our Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings be upon him) has said that “A kind word is equal to that of giving charity”. He also said, “All of mankind belong to Allah, and surely Allah loves most those who benefit their families”.

the voices of angels -- the Angels of mercy -- and let them hear the voice of one God who created us and create them. We say in our prayers, “All thanks to Allah” we do not state that Allah Almighty is only God of the Muslims. Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (4) Let us beg of God to enable us to prove ourselves his children.

We should be in the first defense line for the protection of their communities and we don’t need to wait an order from anyone. Everyone is responsible for his or her conscious and before Allah/God. And we should remember that the loss of one innocent person is the equivalent of the loss of the whole of mankind.

Sincerely,

In our holy book the Quran, we say that the killing of a person for reasons other than legal retaliation, or for stopping corruption in the land, is as great a sin as murdering all of mankind. However, to save a life would be as great of a virtue as saving all of mankind. (1)(2)(3)

President / HSF Media Inc.

O Western brothers, open your churches to your non-Christian brothers, and continue sending the voice of love while allowing unlimited space of freedom under the law and silent the voice of those who are willing to destroy your culture. These mischief makers not only want to destroy the hopes of your brothers, but they also want to destroy our compatriots who live in your dearest as well generous land. These incoming people, who established MICHELLE SYMONDS themselves here in the new lands, who believe in this humanitarian message, they carry a message of belief and faith that is outwardly different but has the same meaning and is almost indistinguishable from yours. And open your mosques to others who believe in a different faith, and let them hear your voices, the voice of hope and love, and let them hear the voices of the of messengers of God as well the voices of saints and

Hassan A. Farhat MD.

Director of Emergency Care / New York Community Hospital Assistant Professor / Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Senior Editor / Ya 7elween Magazine

References (1) “…if any one slew a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he slew the whole people; and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” [Quran 5:35] (2) “God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you in the religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them. God loves those who are just.” (Surat al-Mumtahana, 8) (3) “God does not love corruption”. (Surat alBaqara, 205) (4) Book of Matthew - New Testament Chapter 5:44

“In our magazine, each writer is distinguished by his own works and each one shines light upon an array of topics. With each published piece, the writer’s voice is decoded and shared between people of many diverse backgrounds, in various places around the world. Our topics help people to find answers to difficult and at times ‘taboo’ topics, which then sparks the need for conversation. You, our readers, are striving for a new horizon within yourselves and we are here to provide the opportunity. Not just for mental growth, but also for a better life. “ Hassan A Farhat MD.

One Life, One Opportunity and

One You!E DR. LAURENCE AJAKA

If tomorrow wasn’t promised, what would you give for today? Forget everything else and envision the world where there is no sunlight left. What would your priorities be? What would your last days on Earth count for? Will you spend it lamenting your last moments or will your thoughts be dedicated for those you love?

are just running away from reality and life itself.

What if the job you have is the only job you get this year? What if the relationship you are in is the only one you are supposed to have? What if the person you are with is the one you are destined to be with for the rest of your life? But what if you were given another chance at life? Wouldn’t you strive to do more than what you’ve accomplished in your previous life? It is proof that what we accomplish is only a fraction of our worth and capabilities. Take a moment to consider those terminally ill patients who have been given only a few weeks to live. If you were thrust into such a maelstrom, what regrets would taint your last days and what wishes will you take to your grave? What are the squandered dreams and lamentations that will darken the sanctity of your grave? Was fear holding you back and allowing procrastination to settle into a rut? With all the tumultuous storms in our lives, we are driven more and more to hide out in small confined places. Our houses become our self-imposed prisons where we hide out thinking that we are being safe when we

Changing your life isn’t about creating a revolution and rioting about life. Chaos will only destroy the fabric of your life and rend asunder the foundations you have struggled to build. And it’s not about voicing out your frustration against life and authority. It’s not about bringing down the pillars of civilized society to compensate your shortcoming. It’s all about bringing value and meaning for your own life. We all have our dreams and the only difference between those who realize their goals and those who don’t is the effort they put in. So make sure you leave this world with some sort of imprint or legacy that will give your time spent on this Earth meaning. You only get one chance so make sure you use it. When done right, a lifetime is all you need for greatness; when you slouch and drift through life, a hundred lifetimes will not even scratch the surface of reality.

We all have our dreams and the only difference between those who realize their goals and those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t is the effort they put in.

A Man of Superior Talent Photographed AL AN DERGHAM

WRITTEN BY DR. LAURENCE AJAKA Alan Dergham, a proud son of Eabreen, was born and raised in Batroun where he learned to love his country and forge an unbreakable bond living in the bosom of a family whose pillars were old-fashion morals and values. His father worked as a physician and his mother was a homemaker despite having earned her degree in political sciences and journalism. He has an identical twin Andrew; though they might look the same, their characters vary dramatically as Alan went into the liberal arts while Andrew fell in love with the challenge of numbers and figures. His older brother Anthony is a successful engineer and entrepreneur in the United States of America. He confesses to idolizing his father whose legacy has already been cemented as a God fearing man who treated most of his patients for free. He was a man dedicated to the good and his imprint of Alan’s life in unquestionable. His father didn’t just help the patients

in the medical sense, but he also tried to assist them when it came to finding jobs or overcoming personal hardships. He set a marvelous example for all of his children by being a generous and pious man to all. He even used to skip on bringing Alan and his brothers presents for Christmas and used the money instead to buy gifts for their less fortunate relatives. Alan and his brothers used to be resentful of that when they were younger, but they grew up to appreciate the values they were given. His father had a profound influence on his spiritual upbringing. His relationship with God is one of tolerance and love because he was brought up to be a God-fearing and loving human being instead of a judgmental bigot that criticizes others. He confesses that he doesn’t go to the Church every Sunday, but he believes in implementing what he calls the “Natural Law” that is unanimous in all religions preaching for the

Alan Dergham, a proud son of Eabreen, was born and raised in where he learned to love his country and forge an unbreakable living in the bosom of a family whose pillars were old-fashion and values.

n Batroun e bond morals

betterment of mankind. He believes in helping others, even in minimal ways, as he believes that comradery is the essence of what makes us human. Alan reflects back fondly on his decision to become a journalist. For him, it was always a clear choice, and he is grateful that he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to struggle as much as others did when electing their careers. He rejected the easy path of going into a major that will make him easy money and opted for the one he feels passionate about. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his belief that doing what you love means you will never work a day in your life. He took the even greater challenge of majoring in the United States of America and refused any sort of financial support from his parents. It led to a huge row, but he was adamant about succeeding or failing on his own terms. He took many odd jobs during these years; he worked at a gas

station and cashier during the day and he did PR during the nights. He laughs at the irony of pumping gas during the day while escorting celebrities such as Kim Kardashian at night. He managed to get a scholarship and enrolled in one of the top universities in Cleveland, Ohio and then Minneapolis, Minnesota to study journalism and political sciences. A mere year later, he was picked up by NBC network, and he became the first man to speak with an accent on local news in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His colleagues were skeptical at first because the station had a small market, but a former war correspondent Mark Mills believed in him and gave him a chance. Alongside that, he worked hard on galvanizing his social media at the time, and his efforts caught the attention of the mayor of Minneapolis. He asked Alan to be his representative for upcoming projects, and Alan is proud of having managed to bring the community together about new

metro stations and street name along with a number of other projects. Afterward, he got an offer to go back to traditional journalism as a news caster, and he worked for the next 6 years in Washington, D.C. for The Horra. He was extremely successful and managed to get some of the most coveted interviews at the time. He had 13 interviews with ex and present presidents in Latin America as well as a diversity of American, Arab and foreign personalities. His natural charisma and on-camera presence grabbed the attention of many and singled him out from most run-of-the-mill reporters. He also relied on diversifying the people he interviewed and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t restrict himself to political pieces. He even expanded to celebrities and sports athletes. He got involved in all aspects of journalism: research,

writing, editing and presenting. He worked on preserving and enhancing his Arabic language as an important asset to his life and career. One of his fondest projects was a documentary about 10 successful Lebanese people in different domains. The common denominator between them all was an insatiable drive for success with a laser focus on one point that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shaken by any external distractions. He measured their personal success and happiness for their accomplishments rather than the millions they made because Alan believes that the sense of inner peace is the only way for true happiness and success. He was humbled to be in presence of the greatest minds that all flock together to the greatest cosmopolitan capital in the world. Alan goes on to explain his decision for coming back to Lebanon and leaving behind all the success he had already

cultivated in the United States. He believes that it was high time that came back to undertake his share of responsibility in building and supporting his native country that had already given him so much. Alan speaks about the identity and character that defines each Lebanese person and underscores their unrelenting desire to become a successful contributor to society. He was adamant on starting anew and it was his conviction that only by bypassing a desire to compare/contrast between the two nations would he be able to turn a new leaf. He is seeing Lebanon with a brand new perspective of an unsullied newcomer. He sought the comfort of his old family and friends as well as his new acquaintances that provided him with the much-needed support system and acceptance. They encouraged his new found zeal and enthusiasm for change and new ideas. He started with MTV channel where he was given a free reign to explore new territories. He helped MTV become the first

Lebanese channel to have direct access to the White House and Washington instead of having to rely on news agencies. He goes on to say he is grateful that he has always had this freedom no matter who his boss was, putting it down to the natural charisma that happens between him and his employers and his reputation for an unorthodox mode of operation. Fame has never been a driving force or influence about Alanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to become a journalist. He chalks it down to an incessant desire to explore the unknown and bring forth important issues into the limelight. His mission is to help those unfortunate by shedding light on the issues that matter to them. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his homage to his father and the morals he was raised on. He remains forever thankful for his humble roots that helped keep him grounded in what promised to be a very pragmatic existence.

Tumor Microenvironment BY SALINE JABR

For the last few years, Immunotherapy has been an impressive clinical therapy and offered long term remissions. Scientists try hard to find the most suitable cure with a higher response. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why many studies have been done about tumor microenvironment.In 1975 treatments were based on chemotherapy (Dacarbazine) which is the first treatment approved by the FDA to treat the melanoma (Hardy, 2015). Later on, others discovered that checkpoint inhibitor therapies are used as a targeted therapy to kill the tumor by the re-activation of T-cells. The anti-PD-1 (Nivolumab) was approved by the FDA in 2014 (Motzer, 2015). As scientist noticed, the tumor cells find different ways to evade the immune system and suppress its primary function to kill the tumor. The tumor cells could be present on the surface of various types of receptors. Those would bind to T cells and inhibit their function. The T cells are losing their capacity by highly expressing (PD-1 and CTLA-4), and the tumor cells secrete cytokines such as TGF-Î˛ that suppress the T cell function as well as expressing checkpoint ligands on their surface such as PD-L1. It also recruits suppressive cells ( T regulatory cells and macrophages) that inhibit the T cell function (Karlo, 2015). Looking back to the precedent information, we will be focusing on the Nivolumab treatment that works on the microenvironment of the tumor which in this case is CTLA-4 and how it can eliminate the cancer cells from the melanoma patients. The checkpoint inhibitor is a new strategy used to treat the tumors; however, it needs some biomarkers to predict the response of AntiPD-1 and anti CTLA-4 and design a new strategy to avoid the evasion. This research is based on several types of research that are done and are still being done in this field. The researchers did not find a suitable and efficient treatment that is available for all patients. But we could not say that they are not working hard to reach the minimum level of efficiency. For decades, the scientists trying to find a replacement for chemotherapy with different side effects have proven that it is a treatment and a cause for cancer at the same time. My goal is to focus on the Nivolumab treatment, its efficacy and the duration of the above-mentioned treatment. The choice was made to emphasize that the future has never been brighter for melanoma patient and for clinicians that are working hard to improve the survival of the patients. This improvement is due to the shift from chemotherapy to immunotherapy. Motzer and colleagues established an experiment on stage II patients who received different doses of Nivolumab expressed on the kaplain Meier graph to prove that the immunotherapy is efficient regardless of the side effects. They announced that the doses did not have any significance in this experiment since the diminution in the survival rate is close among the three doses;

One of the benefits of immunotherapy is that the immune system can reach the entire body and kill all tumor cells. As we mentioned in the past treatment, the overall survival decreases from 100% to 60% in the first year. In the second year (24 months), 40 % of the patient only responds to the drug. This value is higher than the other therapy. However, the treatment did not reach 100% response among all the patients. Even though it has a durable response, this treatment couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be considered the cure especially that in stage II, the response is low. That is, if we move to a more advanced stage, the response will decrease further. Relying on Motzer and colleagues experiment and its results, it can be proven that the checkpoint inhibitor is a new strategy used to treat the tumor; however, it needs some biomarkers to predict the response of Anti-PD-1 and anti CTLA-4 and design a new strategy to avoid the evasion. Likewise, the introduction of the genetically engineered microorganisms, mainly the viruses, could be a great starter to eliminate and prevent the spread of the tumor. The combination of the immunology with the genetics could be a new field used to treat cancer. One of the benefits of immunotherapy is that the immune system can reach the entire body and kill all tumor cells. The main goal of any immunotherapy is to generate memory cells which will provide a long term and

durable protection against cancer. References 1) Hardy, K. M. (2015). P Radny, U. M. C., 1 J Bauer,1 T Paul,1 C Schlegel,1 T K Eigentler,1 B Weide,1 M Schwarz,1 and C Garbe1,2,*. (2003). Phase II trial of intralesional therapy with interleukin-2 in soft-tissue melanoma metastases. 2) Karlo Perica, B. S., 1,2 Juan Carlos Varela, M.D., Ph.D.,2,3 Mathias Oelke, Ph.D.,3,4 and Jonathan Schneck, M.D., Ph.D.1. (2015). Adoptive T Cell Immunotherapy for Cancer. 3) Motzer, R. J. (2015). Motzer. Robert J. Motzer, B. I. R., [...], and Hans J. Hammers. (2015). Nivolumab for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results of a Randomized Phase II Trial.

SCIENCE

SECURITY AND PRIVACY

DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY OVER THE CLOUS AND BETWEEN DEVICES Pierre Abi Younes

THE DESIGNERS Another solution is the Cloud ecosystem adopted today by many large firms and companies to store their data in a safe place. Nowadays, Cloud computing presents a hybrid cryptographic system that creates a secure Cloud environment. A third proposal is a device to device communication, which presents a new paradigm in mobile communication to facilitate data exchange between physically proximate devices over a secure channel.

Pierre Abi Y ousef

Security has always been a major issue in computing; whether your data is saved on premises or on the Cloud, a monitoring process should always be available to track suspicious activities. This will not only keep your data secure but also private since no user wants its private data to be publicly available. Hence, monitoring engines, along with humans, were put into action in order to track network activities and protect data against attacks. Still, with stronger encryption algorithms, hackers are able to make their way into the system and collect private information that users store.

Cloud computing has become an essential point in the IT industry nowadays: it presents a lot of advantages and simplifies a lot of work over on-premises systems (from backup to security…). Cloud security is an essential point of the platform; it creates a sense of trust between the clients and the service provider whose role is to protect the user’s data against security and privacy frauds. A great advantage of the Cloud is that it has “someone” that handles every problem that you might encounter, unlike on-premises system where you should do it by yourself.

SCIENCE

SECURITY IN THE CLOUD

The Cloud offers many security solutions such as authorization, trusted apps and key management. Another solution being offered by the Cloud environment is an algorithm that begins by creating a username and a password and protects the password with the SHA512 encryption method. Then, the HMAC algorithm guards the SHA512 key generated. After entering the credentials, the algorithm benefits from OTP authentication for decryption which has a validity period of 5 minutes. Finally, the user is logged in and can store his data online. The session is protected with SSL and TLS.

FACEBOOK HACKING

TRUE EXPERIENCES Security concerns in the Cloud Some of the main criteria defining security in the Cloud and keep it consistent are:  Data protection and encryption where your data is being kept encrypted and secured from unauthorized access  Traffic hijacking where high traffic and data demand is balanced and kept in control not to damage your data

Device to device communication is a great new technique enabling devices to be able to communicate without the need of an access point, or traversing fixed network infrastructure, hence directly. D2D comes within 2 versions: the standalone version of the technology counts on local hardware capabilities and strengths; network infrastructure is not necessary; As a result, D2D devices should be able to perform a connection and be able to communicate by themselves. On the other hand, as its name states, the network assisted D2D strategy is aided by a network infrastructure access point. D2D technology presents a great number of advantages from which we state mainly not storing your information over a central storage medium, as well as presenting better performance over older communication techniques.

Security and privacy in D2D technology Some of the privacy requirements in this technology are keeping the sender and receiver’s identity as safe as possible and staying as confident as possible with user’s data. As a solution, D2D proposes key management services, as well as authentication and authorization. Plus, your data stays with you – and the other device that you are communicating with. The research and their results prove that Cloud is not only a today’s focus, but also a more secure platform, easy to use and ready for migration for new users. Its security measures enable you to take full advantages of the online system by protecting user’s data. On the other side, device to device enables two parties to communicate faster, in a more secure way. Bibliography (Arora, Khanna, & Rastogi, 2017)(http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/ document/7943164/)

A WAKEUP

FROM TH

Dr. Laure Where is the haven we go to when all hope leaves and we are left out in the cold? How do we continue when life has become bereft of all joy? The world can become so indifferent that we struggle to find a place to lay our heads. That is when I get the urge to raise my eyes beyond the daily happenings that suffocate my existence. I want to soak in the warmth of the sky where the healing waves of the sun give its comfort to wash away the catacombs of despair. I am moved to climb the highest mountains to look down on God’s earth and admire the beauty that has been marred only by man’s greedy fingers. It restores my longing for a life well-lived; it thrusts me into the light to cease the day and the treasures that lay beyond the mundane details of life. It’s there in the beauty of the stars, shores and the endless skies; it is there for every one of us to grab.

CALL AWAY

HE ABYSS

ence Ajaka The fear of ending up alone is the deepest and darkest fear that haunts my psyche. I fervently want to grab on to my faith that there is more than life that meets the eye. Even if the world comes apart at the seams and it all tumbles down, I must hang on to life with my tenterhooks. I have always had a waking up call to remind me that God has a plan for my life and I need to plough through. Even my misery is a learning opportunity that could become a shaft of light in the suffocating abyss that is life. So for everyone who has or is navigating the murky waters of despair, take heed of my story. Take courage and comfort in my lessons of agony and plough forward to your own earthly nirvana.

Dr. Toufic Ajaka

A Letter to My Daughter

It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter that you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t physically close to me because you have haunted my heart and soul since the moment you were born. You are imprinted in every beat of my heart. You flow through my veins and fill me with so much love and regret for what we could have had, but never did. My pain is beyond words, and all the vocabulary of all the languages spoken by man fall short to express how it feels to have had you ripped away from my life. My heart refuses to stop agonizing because it feels you close and my mind is full of the possibilities of what life could have been for you were I permitted to love and support you emotionally as it was always my intention. My child, never doubt my love and commitment to you. They say those with an innocent soul such as yours know no malice or hate, and for that I am grateful. Just know that my thoughts and devotion are forever yours until God sees it fit to take me back to His embrace.

Have You Taken the Decision Yet?

By Dr. Laurence Ajaka The culture of mediocracy has convinced us all that we are part and parcel of this medley of gray. It has become our cloak of comfort that we don on to justify our failures and keep us content suspended in the middle of nowhere. It’s the Sandman’s sleeping potion that we scatter to sustain our coma when we waddle hesitantly, yet contently, through the maze of life. We all have our dreams; there is a path we envision for our lives and we yearn to see it come to fruition. Sadly, more often than not, it’s an elusive dream that can easily skittish away with the merest challenge or provocation. It’s an endless source of cheap excuses we use cloak our cowardice with validation and vindication. In the end, most of us leave this earth the same way we graced it. We hold on to the walls and hesitantly tiptoe through life afraid of taking a giant leap of faith into the unknown. What’s worse is that it makes us reject things before giving ourselves the opportunity to embrace new experiences making us miss out on a lot of the beauty life has to offer. Even the few who try only give it a token attempt to appease the niggling doubts that creep on

when least expected. They use their feeble attempts to justify their own perceived sense of failure. Failing is never synonymous with being a failure! Sometimes, the effort we put in is not enough to overcome the mountain standing in our way. With every feeble blow at the wall, we exonerate ourselves more and more from the burden of trying harder. We slip into the haven of self-acceptance and selfsatisfaction. We should all be proud of ourselves but never content to the point where we stagnate. We all deserve more than what we have, and we can all achieve more. Any of us is capable of finding a million reasons to give up. Life has its way of constantly knocking us back by its turbulent waves; almost nothing is achieved short of working very hard and diligently. But contrary to popular belief, the universe is not out to get us or any of those superstitions; it just has a rigorous selection process that only promotes those who have proven their merit. The universe senses the dreams that float through our minds, but it will not make the decision to fight for it because that is something we have to do on our own.

will always be more time to live out your dreams. It’s true that there it is almost never too late to dust off the cobwebs and follow our dreams, but it’s not as easy as that. The older we get, the more set in our ways we become making it even more difficult to let go of our personal comfort zone. We would have to push even harder than ever to break down our state of stillness. So we shouldn’t be complacent thinking we have all the time in the world to achieve our dreams. Is it possible for us to have all our dreams become a reality in our life time?

Yes, it is possible, but the real question is whether we have taken the decision to do so or not.

We might think that there 27

MUHAMMAD

ALI

Dr. Hassan A Farhat MD He died. The hero is dead. Mohammad Ali, you have passed away. The one whose name occupied the minds of people and the one whose name spread to every corner of this universe. You have left and Ramadan is yet to start. You have left early, and we haven’t had a chance to shake your blessed hands. All sports fans, everyone as well as the boxing ring will be sad because it will miss that floating butterfly which stings like a bee. You have left reaching out to sky. The dream is over, the love is over as well as entertainment. Boxing has vanished. Why did you leave early? Why didn’t you say any word to your followers. I was in love with the boxing because you were its back bone physically and spiritually. You were merciful when you faced your opponents in the ring. You used to hit them with soft hands and dance over their falling body. You never attacked them while they were on the ground; only once they fully recovered mentally and physically. You used to do that because you were a great ! You were a human being and will stay a human being in the minds of every one, because you displayed clear humanity to your friends as well opponents. You indeed, did not die , because you were a Hero --and you were one of the greatest alive. Your memory will stay alive forever no matter what happens. No boxer can be like you. No boxing ring will be happy without a dancing butterfly and stinging bee, like “ Clay”. 30

You transcended your birth name “Clay” and became Mohamad Ali and by doing that you included in the two characters of mercy and strength. Your hand was a God hand. Just in saying your name, fear entered the hearts of your opponents and their bodies shake even before the competition started . Oh! My God be merciful to the hero , make his grave big, and enter him into your heaven. He was the one who beamed happiness as well pleasure inside me and inside of every one who loved boxing . Oh! My God, reserve us this boxer , we would like to see him for a second time in Heaven on a bigger boxing ring, protected by the Angels and surrounded by stars in the sky. Let us see once again our boxer who “floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.” My dearest! Which name you would love to be called ? And which one would you prefer? By your composed name “ Mohammad Ali “ or single name “ Clay” I don’t like to call you either, as the Angels like to call you : Human being . You refused to participate in the Vietnam War because you considered it an aggression against poor people and by doing that you were a hero on the ring and a hero by standing for peace! Lucky you! That you were chosen by God to rest in peace at the beginning of Ramadan . It is a great win that you are in heaven and that you have chosen an eternal Fasting “ Ramadan” Oh, Human being , RIP!

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Pearl Harbor Attack Mostafa Abdallah

Pearl Harbor is a landmark battle that marked the entry of the United States of America into World War II, an event that served to turn the tide of the entire war. In an unprecedented and surprising attack, the Pearl Harbor is a landmark battle that marked the entry of the United States of America into World War II, an event that served to turn the tide of the entire war. In an unprecedented and surprising attack, the Imperial Japanese Navy made an air raid on the American naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the fateful morning of December 7, 1941. The United States of America had remained neutral for the most part, but this unexpected attack promoted its full engagement in the war. The economic cost of the war took its toll on all the nations worldwide including those who werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t involved in the military actions. Japan was one of the nations affected and sought to alleviate this pressure by expanding to neighboring China to take over its lucrative import markets; for that purpose, Japan declared war on China in 1937. The United States viewed this as an act of aggression on Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part and implemented economic The war between the sanctions and trade two embargoes on it to limit what was unexpected its access to money and was for Japan to start the supply in an attempt attack on American soils in to slow down and Hawaii only 4,000 miles even halt this proposed from Japanese shores. expansion into Chinese territories. The plan backfired and instead, Japan

became even more determined to go through with its plan. Months of agonizing negotiations were futile with each party sticking to its stand with a sign of relenting. The war between the two seemed unavoidable; what was unexpected was for Japan to start the attack on American soils in Hawaii only 4,000 miles from Japanese shores. The United States had intelligence reports predicting an attack on European colonies in the Pacific, and because of those predictions, the naval facilities in Pearl Harbor were ill-equipped to defend themselves.

The fleet was moored around Ford Island and the airplanes were crowded in neighboring airstrips. This left Pearl Harbor exposed and a prime target for the Japanese forces.

The attack: The attack started at 8 a.m. when Japanese planes crowded the skies of Pearl Harbor and released a barrage of bombs and bullets on the all the moored vessels. Ten minutes later, a 1,800-pound bomb hit the USS Arizona in its forward ammunition magazine causing it to explode and sink claiming the lives of 1,000 men. Torpedoes were used to attack USS Oklahoma that was also gone down with 400 sailors aboard. By the time the attack was over, all the nine ships had sustained considerable damage to the point where only two were later on salvaged. In total, 18 ships were sunk including 5 battleships. 188 of the 402 American aircrafts stationed in Hawaii were destroyed and 159 were damaged. Most of them didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even get the chance to take to air to defend the base. 9 civilian flights happened to be flying in the vicinity of Pearl Harbor, 3 of which were shot down.

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American Damage: The devastating attacks lasted only 90 minutes but managed to kill 2008 sailors and wound 710 others, killing 218 soldiers and airmen and wound 364 others, kill 109 marines and wound 96 others as well as killing 68 civilians and wounding 35. The finally tally was 2,403 kills and 1,178 wounded. All those who died were non-combatants owing to the fact that there was no declared war when the attack was carried out.

Salvage: There were momentous efforts made to salvage the ships that were sunk or heavily damaged because the sunken ships made up roughly 20% of the entire fleet. This meant that every ship would be needed for the long fight ahead especially that the Navyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building programs had halted in the recent years, and it would have taken some time to become as productive as needed. So the sunken ships needed to be salvaged. All types of ships were deemed necessary because they were expected to be needed during the coming military actions. Even if the ship wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t salvageable, it needed to be cleared from the vicinity to allow sound ships for mooring. It was also important to obtain all the equipment, machinery and armaments that can be used to equip other ships. Civilians and military alike collaborated to salvage the ships. The civilian contractors were invaluable as they proved to have even more experience than the Navy when it came to extracting and fixing those ships. Only 3 out of the 19 ships never returned to service. Despite numerous challenges, divers and engineers managed to save the majority of the weapons and ammunition on the ships.

Japanese damage: Only 55 airmen and 9 submariners were killed and 1 was captured. 29 out of 414 planes were lost and 74 were damaged by antiaircraft fire from below.

Objectives: The Japanese attack had many aims that they wanted to achieve. They wanted to destroy the American fleet units to prevent their interference in any future conquests of the Dutch East Indies and Malaya. The focus was on the American

battleships in particular to prevent any mobilization of American forces across the Pacific Ocean. It was also a delaying tactic that would allow the Japanese to boost their naval power before the impending 1940 VinsonWalsh Act that would halt such attempts. The Japanese also hoped that dealing such a devastating blow would affect the morale of the American troops and citizens so that they pressure the government into dropping its stance in the American-Japanese negotiations regarding the American sanctions. They hoped the Americans would try to reach a peaceful compromise with Japan that would allow the latter’s attempts at expansion into China and the Pacific Ocean to go unchallenged.

The attack failed in fulfilling any of its aims and backfired in many ways. The targeted ships were moored in extremely shallow waters which would make it easy to salvage them or at the very least be able to retrieve most of the equipment and ammunition. It was also fortuitous for the Americans that their three U.S. Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers the Enterprise, Lexington, and Saratoga were not moored in Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack, something that preserved most of their aircrafts. Another advantage the Americans had was that most of the crew members were on land which meant that the Navy still had enough skilled manpower to navigate the ships after the salvage.

Japanese declaration of war: The man responsible for the raid was Admiral Yamamoto. He had originally intended for the attack to take place 30 minutes after informing the United States of America that the peace negotiations between the two sides have come to an end. However, the attacks took place before this formal letter was delivered. Commonly referred to as the “14 Part Message”, the notification was a 5000word message written in two blocks. It was delivered to the Japanese Embassy in Washington, but it took the Japanese ambassador a long time to decipher and deliver to the U.S. government. In fact, it is believed that the U.S. intercepted the message and had it decoded hours before the Japanese ambassador delivered it. Although the final part of the message was a clear declaration of war for some, a number of senior U.S. government and military officers saw it as a sign of the end of the negotiation and that war is imminent. They did not see it as a declaration of war or the severance of all diplomatic relations between the two nations. Ironically, a copy of the declaration of war was printed in the evening edition of December 8 but it wasn’t delivered to the Americans until the day after the attack. In 1999, Takeo Iguchi a professor of law and international relations at the International University in Tokyo unearthed a diary that showed that the Japanese government might have intentionally delayed delivering the message. An entry in the diary on December 7, one day before the attacks, showed that the army and navy did not think it prudent to inform the American government of their intent. They wanted no declaration of war or any indication that the negotiations are at an end.

Further entries showed that they had been successful and the delay in delivering the message was intentional.

American Declaration of War: The United States of America declared war on Japan on December 6. The American President Theodor Roosevelt addressed the people assuring them that the U.S. will overcome this invasion and go on to win the war. He spoke of a nation united in their desire to make sure that such a traitorous attack would not be repeated. Congress approved of Rooseveltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to go to war on the same day. Three days later, Germany and Italy united with their ally Japan and declared war on the United States, a declaration that was echoed by the U.S. government.

The Pearl Harbor attack was an unprecedented act of tertiary and breach in all the international and diplomatic laws.

The Pearl Harbor attack was an unprecedented act of tertiary and breach in all the international and diplomatic laws. It failed to achieve all its goals and actually prompted the United States into officially joining the war against Japan and its allies. It remains one of the greatest military failures in the history of WWII.

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REACHING THE TOP

Dr. Zeina Zeida Maaloule

The Western world witnessed a surge in the number of women occupying elite positions over the past 50 years, a game changing improvement that could empower the lives of future generations. On the other hand, being a female and holding a Ph.D. in a male dominated region such as the Middle East remains an intriguing fact for most of the population in this part of the world. When people ask me how I managed to become the first chairwoman of a financial institution in the Middle East, the answer is simple and lies in the approach used in managing and making strategic decisions. The genuine concern for the wellbeing and future of the company is the driving force behind every action you take. Accepting that the interest of others is just as important as yours leads to embracing yourself with a clear positive mindset which in turn allows for healthy relationships with the people around you and an exuberant feeling of accomplishment, internal peace and satisfaction. My approach is simple: Never allow negativity to taint any idea; instead, keep pumping a healthy dose of positive energy whenever I feel the team going through hardships. Maintaining this attitude allows the people around me to persist in turning an idea into reality while minimizing damage if initial milestones are not reached. The latter is achieved using a combination of creativity and stealthy risk management. The approach that I mentioned has been my mantra for as long as I remember, and so far, it has served me well. Certain ventures may seem impossible yet such a case quickly warrants a session in the conference room focused on “impossible is a point of view”. It’s a matter of telling your team that it’s ok to hit a dead end and that they are still great people which are exactly what will motivate them to get more creative and unleash their hidden potentials.

Some might balk under the pressure of running more than one venture simultaneously, running multi-national companies and struggling to maintain healthy corporate environments by constantly projecting negativity and a constant sense of non-satisfaction with their team’s output, being validated drives the people around you to work harder and become more open to critique that might have otherwise been perceived in a negative and demoralizing manner. An energized and confident person is easier to work with that a beaten down, defensive human being. This has taught me to always let people have their own say while I work on discovering where they excel which would help me foster a better sense of self within them.

ideas and refines them before working on the execution.

While some of you might argue against the effectiveness of my philosophy, this is how I have been conducting myself and running all of my businesses these past years. It’s important to note that this article serves to relay my experience using this exotic style of management that introduces positive Zen to its human resources in complex corporate structures. Recognized or not, the excellent relationships that I have cultivated with employees, investors, students, friends and family as well as the amount of love I feel from these people that I interact with on a daily basis makes me confident that even though my approach might not be a common one, the self-satisfaction of all the positivity that surrounds me encourages me to write this article and share my experience with other entrepreneurs and business owners in the hopes of creating more positive corporate environments using simple methods of training yourself to always be positive.

venture comes from a place of love and a desire to extend support and sustenance for some of the needy families in a country whose economy has been ravished by endless cycles of war and corruption.

Furthermore, treating others the best way possible allows me to have a clear conscious whether a new venture comes to fruition or ends with a lesson. I have cultivated a strong and supportive network around me that filters my own

My next step is constructing two new platforms that will generate extra jobs for numerous families. While this step is risky, I rely on life experiences as my

Introducing the following 5 habits can create a better corporate environment with increased loyalty and productivity: 1. Be humane and not emotional! Don’t get personal but expect some shortfalls simply because they are humans. 2. No matter how big your firm is, make an effort to regularly meet and greet with your employees. 3. Always compliment your employees when they do a good job. 4. Make sure your team is paid decently, give them health benefits and a clear idea of how they can grow and develop their career path within your firm for the next 10 years. 5.

Smile at every chance you get!

Homecoming The Return of the Syrian Refugees W r i t t e n b y D r. L a u r e n c e A j a k a

Photography by K a t i e S a u n d e r s

here have been many accusations towards Lebanon in the aftermath of the Syrian refugee crisis where it was blamed for being inhumane towards them. The allegations are unfair to a nation that came out of the 2006 war severely battered with a compromised economy and infrastructure. The ever-increasing influx of refugees is creating further economic and geographic deadlock on the government and Lebanese citizens. What can all sides do to alleviate these shameful circumstances?

he retired General in the Internal Security Forces Fadi Noujaim diluted the problem into digestible blocks. The Lebanese government is in a financial strife with ever mounting debts that increase yearly. It does not have the resources to handle 2 million immigrants that are estimated to have migrated to Lebanon since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. It was no longer plausible to keep them grouped on the borders within refugee camps, and they

have moved into all Lebanese areas. Considering that the entire Lebanese population is estimated to be around 4 million citizens, having 2 million refugees will have dire consequences on the economy and infrastructure. This created a security crisis because there are simply not enough jobs to sustain 6 million people, so there was an increase in the number of robberies and murders.

ebanese people are constantly being fired in favor of hiring a Syrian worker who works for less than half the salary. This created some bad blood between citizens and refugees, and the effects are clear in the mutual random acts of violence. Unlike the exodus, the return has to occur with close collaboration between the Lebanese and Syrian governments to ensure that each refugee is properly and safely delivered over the borders. The two should also coordinate to be fully aware of who is entering the borders and ensuring that they are also returned back home.

he key for withstanding this crisis is by careful monitoring of who comes in and who goes out. The United Nations and other countries have been helping Lebanon, but this help is based on the numbers they are receiving. In reality, the official number doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even come

Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts Rachel Carson

close to the real number. As such, Lebanon hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been able to provide the refugees with the essentials they need. The Lebanese government is trying to bring a semblance of order to the chaos by appointing a minister for refugee affairs. This decision is late in happening because the problem has gotten out of hand. And even with an elected minister, it will take many months if not years to become organized to the extent that can keep the crisis in check.

The true victims in this unfortunate scenario are the Lebanese and Syrian citizens that were thrust into a series of events that created much animosity and bad blood between two neighboring nations that have withstood a lot together. Even after all this is done, there ought to be reconciliation attempts to restore true harmony between the two nations.

Lebanese Environmental Day

ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLLUTION SOURCES Dr. Laurence Ajaka The first speaker was Prof. Maurice Millet, Director of the Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Group, ICPEES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UMR 7515, at the University of Strasbourg, France of the Department of Biomonitoring

With the concerns about global warming and climate change mounting, the Lebanese University held a scientific day under the name of “Environmental Pollution and Sources” organized by the UL Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology on Thursday, July, 2017 in the Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology - Tripoli, Lebanon with the participation and collaboration of Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), University of Strasbourg (UOS), University of Lorraine (UOL), University of Balamand (UOB), Saint Joseph University (USJ), University of Balamand, University of Lyon (UCB Lyon 1), CNRS-France and the Lebanese University (UL). Special thanks go to Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) that funded this meeting and allowed the participations of speakers from France. The success of this meeting is attributed to the hard work and organizational skills of Prof. Ziad Fajloun Who worked tirelessly to bring forth all participants in this momentous scientific day. The first speaker was Prof. Maurice Millet, Director of the Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Group, ICPEES – UMR 7515, at the University of Strasbourg, France of the Department of Biomonitoring who held a presentation about “Alternatives to active samplers for monitoring atmospheric contamination”. Air monitoring is a vital component of combating pollution because it allows scientists to gauge the level of harmful gases. Active samplers have long been used for such monitoring, but they have proved to be cumbersome and expensive to maintain as they require physical stations and need costly maintenance. With the need of accurate data about air pollutant ever pressing, scientists are developing alternatives to active samplers The success of this meeting is attributed to the hard work and organizational skills known as passive samplers that of Prof. Ziad Fajloun Who worked tirelessly rely on diffusion to measure gas levels. They have better mobility to bring forth all participants in this and need less maintenance. momentous scientific day. Both techniques have their own advantages and disadvantages, and scientists are earnestly trying to find methods to incorporate the advantages and disadvantages of both techniques. The second speaker was Prof. Jalal Halawani, Director of the Laboratory of Water and Environmental Scientists, Faculty of Public Health 3, Lebanese University, Lebanon whose speech concerned “Biogeochemical processes in anoxic sediments for the evaluation of chemical pollution and its origin in the aquatic environment”. He talked about the studies made by his team centered in the Lebanese region of Akkar, an important agricultural area, where there are serious concerns about the fertilizers and pesticides used. The farmers

are often mistaken in the quantity needed, so they could be unintentionally harming their soil and the environment as a whole when the byproducts of these substances seep into the underground water and other bodies of water. And it’s a vicious cycle because the more fertilizers and pesticides used, the weaker the soil becomes necessitating even higher quantities used which would cause further damage. He spoke of the importance of further measures to guard the marine life in Lebanon because the fish and various other seafood products are found to contain high levels of environmental pollutants making them unsafe for consumption. This was followed by PhD-HDR Emmanuelle Vulliet, Head of the Analytical Chemistry Group for the Environment, Health, and Interactions, CNRS-France dealing with the “Analysis of micropollutants in biological matrices: analytical issues and challenges”. There have been many papers published concerning this topic because scientists do not always have the luxury of extracting and preserving samples to be tested in the controlled media of the laboratories. In many cases, it is more accurate to do the testing within the ecological sphere. This can be difficult because of the complex dynamism of any biological niche, so perfecting techniques to facilitate these tests remains a priority. Furthermore, similar techniques seek to lower the detection level or the minimal level of pollutant needed to be recorded. The lower this level is, the quicker measures can be taken to dilute the contamination and preserve the environment.

THE ULTIMATE CREATIVE EXPERIENCE

counterparts, it takes the measures quantities and correlates it directly to the health risks that can occur thereby validating the urgency of their results. Prof. Saab highlighted all the previous presentations beyond the analysis done to explain the importance of looking at the further implications of these pollutants. It’s important to know where these pollutants will migrate within the ecological cycles in the region. He also stressed the need to investigate the fate of these contaminants as they might, into even more toxic compounds or they could be broken down into benign metabolites. The fifth speaker was Dr. Salem HAYAR, a researcher in the Faculty of Agriculture and Laboratories PRASE in the Lebanese University, Lebanon talking about “Matrix effects on multiresidue analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry”. This topic gains its importance in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and speed of analysis of a certain sample. The matrix effect is concerned with the interaction between the various pollutants where the concentration of one compound could compromise the accuracy of the detection of another pollutant within the same sample. It is, therefore, crucial to create matrices that are capable of detecting all the present compounds and accounting for metabolizing certain pollutants. Coupling them with mass spectrometry remains one of the most efficient methods to accurately assess the real components of a sample. Dr. Olivier Delhomme is a teacher and researcher at the Laboratory of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Lorraine, France talked about “Quantifications of organic tracers to evaluate the origin of atmospheric aerosols”. Fossils fuels remain the main source of aerial pollutants even with the international trend of supporting and advocating green energy to minimize the harmful effects of global warming. There is no escaping the importance of acquiring all the relevant data of the sources of air pollution in order to adopt less harmful alternatives.

The fourth speaker for the day was Prof. Joseph Saab, Vice Dean for Scientific Research, Director of ThEA Group, Department of Chemistry and Life and Earth Sciences, FSUSEK who discussed his paper about “Contamination of food packaging: aqueous solubility, vapor pressure, and Henry’s law constant”. The discussion was particularly concerned with the physical and chemical properties of two phthalate isomers: dibutyl phthalate and di-isobutyl phthalate. Phthalates are plasticizers are heavily synthesized and utilized in many Desirethat is the starting point of all The seventh speaker was Dr. Maher Abboud, instructor, and industries including food packaging. Studies in Lebanon achievement, not a hope, nor a researcher, Director Genomic and Proteomic Environment have shown that phthalates are heavily used in all sorts of wish, but a keen pulsating desire Unit UEGP, Department of Chemistry, FS - USJ, Lebanon who packaging, especially in recycled material. The examination of which transcends everything spoke about “Air Quality in Beirut: Measurement, Modeling the properties of these two isomers is to investigate the fate Odi odiciunt, quos as esti aliqui ut anis ipsum faccati ut ea quaerferum inis poratiis eles Quote by and Health Impactfugia Chemical contaminants of these isomers and if they will migrate from the doluptatione package poriti dolore ni con porrum doles reand cumbacteriological erovid molorum fugit et quo et Hill fugiatia verio maionsedit nullam fugit entecti Optatecalled lautemfor de ped quation alongmin thecum Lebanese coast”. Dr.cus. Abboud rational to the matrix and Napoleon in which quantities. This topic remains rendempor rerepudae prorese sitem et od ellitat endicimus, ea volo doloreptatur sit. Borro and long-term stating that themaximi, complexity of these sensitive because the packaging is an integral process of thevolut dolorei tem. Tatissi citecto blanissolutions cuptaerrum am, test, quias sam et ad et odit plitatur andae vernaturiore nimporento nobis. mean thatque there can be no quick-fixbeatem solutions. marketing strategy and preservation of food, bothmolescid criteriaestibus that cusproblems It will also necessitate plenty of resources both financial heavily influence the bottom-line profit of manufacturers. The and manpower. He cites the meeting as an opportunity to importance of this particular study is that unlike most of its

harness the data and persuasive arguments of the findings to enable scientists and activists to exert a stronger lobbying force on those concerned with change within the Lebanese government. He believes that the upcoming political elections will facilitate the beginning of a change hoping that Lebanon can follow the model of France to witness real changes in the course of 10 to 15 years. He also advised the Lebanese people to take heed of the mistakes done in during the French experience to spare the nation the hazardous effects of such mishaps. The final speaker for the day was Dr. Mervat Eh Hoz, Director of the Environmental Engineering Program at the University of Balamand, Lebanon who talked about the “Assessment of exposure to anthropogenic groundwater pollution in northern Lebanon”. Although it is one of the richest countries with water resources, Lebanon is still facing a shortage in clean water due to the runoff of harmful pollutants into its underground reserves. It is, therefore, crucial to measure the levels of pollutants in these waters as well as discovering the sources of these compounds to protect the precious resources. The day ended with all participants advocating for a real and imminent change in the environmental protection of all resources. Armed with concrete data, the civil and scientific communities are at the cusps of winning muchneeded policies to minimize the pollution that threatens the ecosystem of Lebanon. “The CNF (Francophone Digital Campus) of Tripoli is a place for researchers and graduate students. Its mission is the implementation and monitoring of AUF (Academic Agency of La Francophonie) programs likely to interest the scientific and educational community in Lebanon. More specifically, it provides them with a set of means and tools to assist in training, research and mobility. It is also a technological platform specializing in pedagogical engineering and dedicated to the production and dissemination of knowledge and information through communication technologies.” The Director of CNF de Tripoli is Dr. Imad AL KASSAA, Microbiologist with Ph.D. on Engineering of biological function from Lille 1 University - France, and Associate professor and researcher at Lebanese University.

THE GREAT

Depression By Julia Prokoptchick

them without a sign of

The cycle of death would

warning

always repeat

So many have starved at

People dying, their family

The resentment for

this shocking time

mourning

which their lives have

Too many have killed for

Children going to school

been known

a nickel or dime

wearing ripped dirty

These were the countries

In the harsh winters they

clothes

that people called home.

had been bare

Holes in their footwear

The pillows were infested

showing their toes.

and left lice in their hair.

No food, no money, no

Poverty had stricken

heat

Silentness

Julia Prokoptchik By Julia Prokoptchik It is so silent, that no cars appear It is so weird that I do not hear I do not hear bells ringing in my ears Nor my next door neighbor crying all in tears. I don’t hear the leaves rustling in the wind Tis’ the night of silence, but it’ll soon end.

LIFE ON TITAN LIFE ON TITAN

Themostinnovativedesignersconsciouslyrejectthestandard optionboxandcultivateanappetiteforthinkingwrong. BY MART Y NEUMEIER

Saturn’s moon Titan harbors a key chemical ingredient that may allow organisms to exist on this distant, chilly world. Astronomers have spotted a molecule in Titan’s atmosphere that could be instrumental in the formation of cells, which are a crucial building block of life. That means the molecule — and possibly some form of cellular life — might be located on the moon’s surface as well. Researchers have suspected for a while that Titan might have this compound, called vinyl cyanide.

NASA’s Cassini probe, which has been exploring the Saturn system for 13 years, found hints of the molecule when sniffing out the moon’s atmosphere, but its measurements haven’t been conclusive. Now, astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or ALMA, observatory in Chile say they have definitely measured a large amount of vinyl cyanide in the upper atmosphere. They’ve detailed their findings in the journal Science Advances.

“IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE LIFE IN TITAN’S OCEANS, THEN IT’S PLAUSIBLE VINYL CYANIDE COULD BE A COMPONENT OF THAT.” On Earth, the outer layer of most cells — called membranes — are made up of fatty molecules called lipids. But lipids can’t form on Titan: they need liquid water to exist and the moon’s temperatures hover around -290 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface. However, Titan has liquid methane lakes, and astronomers have wondered if these liquids could take the place of

Titan has a big appeal as a place to look for life elsewhere in our Solar System.

in some kind of primitive life,” says co-author Martin Cordiner, an astrochemist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “But it gives us a starting point in that discussion. If there was going to be life in Titan’s oceans, then it’s plausible vinyl cyanide could be a component of that.”

water to build other forms of organic life. So in 2015, scientists used computer simulations to figure out what compounds could form stable cell membranes in the chilly lakes of Titan. And vinyl cyanide appeared to be the best candidate. Titan has a big appeal as a place to look for life elsewhere in our Solar System. Aside from its tantalizing lakes, the moon has a thick atmosphere, predominantly made up of nitrogen and other compounds commonly associated with life here on Earth. Detecting vinyl cyanide is a good reason to continue exploring Titan to see what might by lurking on its surface. “This is a far cry from saying [life] definitely happens on Titan and these cells are involved

be in the lakes below as well. Scientists think that methane goes through a weather cycle similar to the one on Earth. The methane forms into droplets in the atmosphere, which periodically fall to the surface as rainfall. The vinyl cyanide may be hitching a ride on this rain and traveling down from the atmosphere to the lakes, where it potentially forms pretty stable cell

The discovery was made possible by ALMA, one of the most sensitive telescopes in the world. Made up of 66 different individual telescopes in Chile’s Atacama Desert, the observatory is great for detecting super cold gases in space by measuring the radio waves these gases emit. In Titan’s atmosphere, the various gas molecules are constantly rotating, jumping back and forth from one level of energy to another. And whenever a molecule goes from a high-energy level to a lower one, it releases a radio wave. Different types of molecules emit waves at different types of frequencies. ALMA was able to figure out how much vinyl cyanide was present by measuring how many waves were coming off of Titan at a certain frequency.

membranes.

The researchers only spotted the compound in the moon’s upper atmosphere, but vinyl cyanide might

Of course, the idea that cell membranes even exist on Titan is all theoretical for now.

Based on the ALMA findings, it looks like there’s a lot of vinyl cyanide to do that. The researchers measured so much of the compound, that 10 million cell membranes per cubic centimeter could be present in one of Titan’s largest lakes, Ligeia Mare. These membranes could be pretty flexible, too, according to Paulette Clancy, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Cornell University, who worked on the original computer simulation. This is key for the cells to divide and reproduce. “The flexibility of that membrane would be the same as the flexibility for our cell membranes on Earth, which is really cool because they’re totally different in chemical composition,” Clancy says.

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Introducing The Poetic Writings of

Anca Stuparu - Memento - So I Remain Behind - Gardens

Memento For so long time I know you exist

Sunken, quietly, in the soul’s folds. I’ve always found you there When lost, I didn’t know How to get to perfection. I knocked at your door, As you knock off Difficult, country side roads In the quest of a monks’s cell, Of a great anchorite Of which you only heard, That he is able to redefine The trajectory of your life. You were staying in your desert Of white, immaculate sand, Like a sage, whom you ask for guidance, Like an old monk That always surrounds you with warmth. You hugged me with your arms of branches. You guided me to a new beginning, Never lived before, so pure, Barely emerged from the mornings dawn. You showed me how to step To carry with me traces of light. Exhausted, you sat next to me And I was quiet, and you prayed until

You had a revelation that I have a soul And stubbornly you wanted to go beyond it So intense, so deep, Dividing and ripping it chronologically In two eras: Before and after you. You caught me in your palms from a fall You wiped my wounds of blood. You didn’t look at me and didn’t know That I exist until A tear rolled on my face Then you realized that I am here, You saw me crying and you said:. “ I didn’t see you as a women, Even though you come to me for so long, Even though I look inside your soul Like looking through a dusted glass, Even though you asked me for so long How to walk without crushing petals Without destroying dreams, And I’ve always told you” It is only now that I you shine In such splendor Of various colors and nuances and I ask myself: Which ones existed before Believing in miracles, in utopia and dreams

So I Remain Behind So, I remain behind You left me like a trail of smoke Drawn on the sky by smoking chimneys In the winter, in the storm, in the stalactites Grown inside of us. You shook me,like you shake the leaves of trees in autumn: Instinctively, without regret, Without even realizing that Leaves are stuck desperately by your soles Screaming their pain in vegan cries You tangled in me randomly, on the run, Thoughts, pain, cries. You, only chose sharpened words High voices that strike profoundly When you call me, when you push me, When you strike with rotten syllables inside me, When you splash me with colors From an Impressionism reinvented by you Meaningless, pointless, lightless, Like an aesthetic of the ugly that you like,

Which suites you, and defines you, The way you are, standing vigil In tight spaces, shadows and semi darkness Where you want to close me in, Like another hunchbacked From a modern Notre Dame Which you are afraid to let out From which you run And desperately shout for In the middle of the road, of time, To come and bring you light.

Gardens Old streets, filled of azaleas, by leaves

flowers

Buds and petals crushed by steps

Of our whispers, of your shout.

The silence of the bricks pierced by a

Where did you leave? Where did you

bell

go?

Just woken up to life by the hands of

I’m looking for you passionately in the

the belfry

afternoons

Dry, old, descending down the steps

Went by slowly in these gardens

Of the absurdity between us, the

Streaked by the sun, covered with

loneliness in you;

leaves.

I am walking following your footsteps

You argue again with the morning fog

Lost in raw green, in a ray of twilight

You tell the seagulls to stop crying,

I’m sensing where your steps should be

To sit still without making noise

When you used to wander the

Not to fly, not to strike

wilderness of these gardens.

With their arched wings the horizon.

Im walking like a blind man holding on

What’s all this uproar?

to branches

Shut-up! Stop talking!

You passed by here, I can smell your

Dont write! Don’t dream! Don’t flow

hands,

In the forms of my mind and get out

The incense, the smell of pray and

From the Eden of these gardens!

beginnings Of cut grass and spring flowers; It smells like you, Of childhood, of play, of crushed lilac 60

”Health is a crown on the head of healthy people that nobody sees, but the ill” - Hassan Farhat MD

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