research-compendium-english-2004-2005 by Ajman University

Contact us: DR. OMER ALI ATTEF General Secretary of the Research, Information & Training Council Ajman University of Science & Technology Network Tel.: +971-6-7482222, ext. 213 Fax: +971-6-7482277 jrac.attef@ajman.ac.ae

AUST Network - RIT Council

The exalted said:

" O my Lord ! increase me in knowledge." 020.114

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

Message From His Excellency, The President of AUST Network In the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, His Family and His Companions. Dear Scholars and researchers, Greetings, I am pleased to have this opportunity to author the Foreword to the Annual Research Compendium of the Abstracts of Published Researches, to which I give my blessings. This booklet aims to document the research activities of the affiliates of the AUST Network during the previous academic session. A total of 170 or more researches published in scientific journals, magazines, books and local and international conferences represented the contribution of this University Network to scientific research last year alone. I hope and trust that this effort will continue in the years to come. I always keep repeating that an educational, informational and investment institution lacking in research resembles the body without a soul. If that is generally true, it would be even more so in the case of AUST Network at which the three dimensions of education, information and investment integrate, interact and harmonize. I am confident that the realization of this vision will in turn give birth to the Futuristic University model. It is a model which we advocate and which depends on the vision of Ajman University Network as an open system where the conventionalmodernized university environment intersects with the elements of the virtual environment to realize the environment of creativity and innovation as the way ahead for the nation. It is hoped thus that the nation can be saved from the present shallowness of thought and superficiality of action in which it has been plunged. But in making this effort we are by no means the

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

sole players on the field as there are a number of other successful models at the local, Pan-Arab and Islamic levels. To paraphrase a line of verse which my mentor Ahmad Bin Hajar used to repeat to us when we were small children, one cannot hope for a reform of the country if the salt of the earth goes bad. On the present occasion, the salt of the earth is research since without research a scholar or scientist is not entitled to this name, a sentiment also expressed by Henry Loust, the leader of orientalists. Research leads to detailed information through investigation and analysis. Detailed information is vital but what is even more so is knowing how to get it and use it. Besides the accuracy of information, I should stress the importance of descriptive and digital analysis or, in broad terms, the mechanisms and methodologies which help us to arrive at the accuracy of information. Furthermore, sustainable documentation and archiving, be it centralized or specialized, should be emphasized. Therefore, we should not overlook the inter-relationship between research outcomes and patents nor should we neglect to uphold intellectual property rights. We hear a lot about the importance of research, but what is more crucial is determining the characteristics of the research we strive for, the approach and methodology to use and the school of thought to adopt and customize. I would like to urge every one of you as a researcher to identify the methodologies which he or she employs or which are practiced by universities and research and productive institutions prior to matching them with our research methodology through our familiar vision and the mechanisms which evolved from it. May Allah Bless You. Dr. Saeed Abdullah Salman

President, Ajman University of Science & Technology Network President, Association of Arab Private Institutions for Higher Education President, Euro-Arab Research Network

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

Table of Contents Faculty Of Engineering: - Tracking Of The Sign Algorithm With A Central Dead Zone In The Noise Distribution: E. Eweda…………………………………….. - Signal Behavior Of Adaptive Filtering Algorithms In A Nonstationary Environment With Singular Data Covariance Matrix: E. Eweda…………………………………………………………………… - Information Technology In Engineering Education: Fahar G. Hayati & Anas N. Ali, …………………………………………………………… - Enhancement Of Technical-Cum-Generic Skills Through Design Experience In Labs: Fahar G. Hayati, Mir, Mustahsan……………………………………………………………………………… - A Pilot Project For E-Learning Based On Telemetry Of RealTime Data From Electronics Laboratory: Al-Saleh, Mohammed, Mir, Mustahsan, Omer Khayat, Ehssan Gamrah………………………………………………………………………………… - Utilization Of Students’ Feedback To Improve Quality Of Teaching: Fahar G. Hayati, Mir, Mustahsan………………………… - A Laboratory Setup For Learning Remote Monitoring And Control Of Industrial Processes: Mir, Mustahsan, T. Sharif, Z. Ahmadian, And A. Hassanpour………………………………………… - Distance Learning Of Electronics Experiments In Real-Time: Mir, Mustahsan, Z. Ahmadian, T. Sharif, And A. Hassanpour - A Hybrid Training Program For Engineering Students: Fahar G. Hayati, Mir, Mustahsan…………………………………………………… - Characterization Of A Precise Mosfet-Ics Magnetic Sensor Using An Efficient Two-Dimensional Physical Simulator: Ali Abou-Elnour, E. Y. Mohamed, Ossama Abo-Elnor, And M. Ibrahim…………………………………………………………………………………… - A Rate Determination Algorithm For Variable-Rate Speech Coder: S. El-Ramly And A. Tawfik………………………………………… - Cultural Idiom For Interiors In UAE, Towards Environmental Totality Of Interior Design Aesthetic Materials: Harpreet Seth…………………………………………………………………………………………

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Integrated Information Systems For Real Estate Development In Dubai: Harpreet Seth………………………………………………………………………………………… Colors In Living Spaces Kreationz Unlimited 2005, Mahe, Knowledge Village: Harpreet Seth………………………………………… Case Study - Capstone Course In Design Programs CoOperative Teaching Forum: Harpreet Seth………………………….. Public Spaces In Shopping Centers, Formal Jury And Exhibition: Harpreet Seth……………………………………………………… Airports As Windows Of Their World Formal Jury And Exhibition: Harpreet Seth……………………………………………………… Energy Savings Of Office Buildings By The Use Of SemiTransparency Solar Cells For Facades; Potential And Opportunity: Mohammad Al-Shakarchi, Mushtat Sabah, A Zahedi…………………………………………………………………………………… Urban Planning In Sharjah, The Present And The Future Challenges: M. S. Arar………………………………………………………….. The Role Of Aga Khan Award In Addressing The Identity Crisis In The Eastern Arab City: T. Abdelsalam…………………… An Approach For Expressing Socio-Cultural Identities In Architecture Of The Contemporary Cities: T. Abdelsalam…… The Architectural Legacy And Contemporary Identity: Impact Of The Early 20th Century Architecture Of Beirut On The Architectural Identity Of Its New Central District: T. Abdelsalam……………………………………………………………………………. The Relationship Between Micro-Spatial Conditions And Behaviour Problems In Housing Areas: A Case Study Of Vandalism: Faisal Hamid………………………………………………………. Social Sustainability Of Housing: Multi-Storey Housing In A Modern Age British City And A Post-Modern Gulf City: Faisal Hamid………………………………………………………………………….. The Role Of Empirical Studies In The Process Of Urban Development: Faisal Hamid………………………………………………….. The Need For An Effective Knowledge Management Model In Engineering Organizations: Obaid And M. Alshawi………… Concepts And Characteristics Of The Contemporary City: Bouziad Boudiaf…………………………………………………………………….. Esthetics Of Shade And Light On Dubai Historical Buildings: A Alkhalidi………………………………………………………………………………

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Faculty Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences: - Synthesis, Antimicrobial Activity and Conformational Analysis of Novel Substituted Pyridines: BF3-Promoted Reaction of Hydrazine With 2-Alkoxy-pyridines: Fatma E.Goda, Alaa A.-M. Abdel-Aziz And Omer A. Attef…………… - Determination Of Pesticide Residues In Khat Leaves By Solid-Phase Extraction And High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: N.A. Awadh, D. Lemme, Th. Jira, Omer Attef And K. Al-Rahwi……………………………………………………………. - CGMSTM/KADIS®-Based Diabetes Management Improves HbA1C In Outpatients…………………………………………………………… - Pharmacokinetic Studies On The New Formulations Of Naproxen By High Pressure Liquid Chromatograpy (HPLC): A. Ali, Y. El-Shabrawy, A.M. Gusbi And B.A. Mulley……………. - Polarographic Determination Of Benzaepril In Dosage Forms And Spiked Human Urine: Yaser El-Shabrawy, M.Riz, F.Belal, F. Ibrahim And A.O. Mesbah……………………………………. - Sensitive Kinetic Spectrophotometric Determination Of Captopril And Ethamsylate In Pharmaceutical Preparations And Biological Fluids: Y. El-Shabrawy, N. El-Enany And K. Salem……………………………………………………………………………………… - Unexpected Partial H1-Receptor Agonism Of ImidazoleType Histamine H3-Receptor Antagonists Lacking A Basic Side Chain: B. Sadek, S. Elz, H.H. Pertz, H. Stark And W. Schunack……………………………………………………………………………….. - Helicobacter Pylori Center, A Luxury Or Necessity: Tarik AiZubaidy………………………………………………………………………………….. - Students Awarenes Of Counterfeit Drugs In Ajman University Of Science And Technology Network-Fujairah Campus: Tarik Saleh Al-Zubaidy And Khairi M. Saleem……… - Incidence Of Hepatitis B In Certain Occupations Of Expatriates In UAE: Tarik Al-Zubaidy, Abedul Jalil Thwaini, Samir Bloukh And El Sayed Moh'd Balasy…………………………… - Is It Time To Change Diabetic Disease Nomenclature? Abduelmula R Abduelkarem, Mike A Sackville, Rae M Morgan, Anthony J Hildreth…………………………………………………… - Childhood Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes: A Growing Public Health Challenge In UAE: Abduelmula R. Abduelkarem……...

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Are Arabs Controlling Their Diabetes, Or Is Diabetes Controlling The Arabs? Abdulkarem, Ar., D’souza, M.S., Sayegh, S.R………………………………………………………………………….. Dyslipidemia Crisis In The UAE: Lack Of Services To Treat Current Population Suffering From Dyslipidemia And Those Potentially At Risk: Abduelkarem, A.R., Usman, B., Alaa, H…………………………………………………………………………………………….. Is There Any Role Of Pharmacists In The Primary Health Care Team In The UAE? Perception Of Doctors, Nurses And Pharmacists: Abduelkarm, A.R., Rashida, S., And Shyma, E. ………………………………………………………………………………………….. Addressing The New Role Of Pharmacists Towards Wound Healing In The U.A.E.: Abdulkarem, A.R., Dada, M.Y., Yuosuf,N.M…………………………………………………………………………….. Is It Time To Start Pharmaceutical Care In Libya? Abduelkarem, A.R…………………………………………………………………. The Interaction Between Glutamine And Arginine Contents In Various Tissues Of Cholesterol – Fed Rats, Possible Pharmacological And Therapeutical Implications Of Glutamine And Arginine Combination In Hypercholestrolemia: Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab…………………… New Sight In The Role Of Isoleucine Intake In The Cardioprotective Of Certain Amino Acids In Rats: Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab………………………………………………………… Involvement Of Certain Amino Acids In The CardioProtective Actions In Cholesterol-Fed Rats: Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab……………………………………………………………………………………. Current Concepts Of The Relationship Between Cholesterol Fed Rats And Endogenous Amino Acids: Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab…………………………………………………………………………………… The Influence Of Cholesterol Intake In Glutamine Metabolism By Inducing A Renal Acidosis In Rats: Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab………………………………………………………… Pharmacological And Pathological Role Of Taurine On Female Reproductive System: Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab………. Central Monoamines And Their Role In Major Depression: Abdalla Salem Elhuwegi………………………………………………………… Concepts Of Accreditation And Program Assessment In The Medical Education: Abdalla Salem Elhuwegi………………………. Five Years Correlations Between Formative And Summative Examination In Pharmacology At A.U.S.T. Network, AbuDhabi Campus, U.A.E.: Abdalla Salem Elhuwegi…………………

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Depression: Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment: Adel Wasfi.. Ozone Therapy: Adel Wasfi…………………………………………………… Liquid Chromatographic Assay Of Abouthiouzine In Plasma And Its Application To Pharmacokinetic Studies: Khalid M. Alkharfy, Rao Muzaffar A. Khan, Badraddin M. Al-Hadiya, Hisham S. Abou-Auda, Rafiq R. Abou-Shaaban……………………

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Faculty of Foreign Languages & Translation: - Translation Teaching: A Student-Centered Perspective: Sahab Abdul Aziz Salih………………………………………………………… - Language: A Powerful Weapon Of Mass Deception: Najib Ismail Jarad…………………………………………………………………………… - Levels Of Communicative Competence & Classroom Interaction: Najib Ismail Jarad And G. Barakat…………………… - A Cross-Cultural Study Of Revision Requesting Strategies In Referees’ Reports: Tharwat El-Sakran…………………………….. - Teaching Simultaneous Interpretation With Limited Resources: Tharwat El-Sakran………………………………………………

Faculty of Business Administration: - Implications Of Personal Networks (Ala’aqat) In The African Context: The Case Of Strategy Formation In Two Major Sudanese Enterprises: Abdallah Elamin………………………………. - Prediction Of Failure In Islamic And Conventional Banks, The Case Of Sudanese Commercial Banks: Ibrahim Elsiddig Ahmed……………………………………………………………………………………. - An Empirical Investigation Of Factors Influencing Employees’ Intention To Use Intranet Technology: Mohamed Gamal Aboelmagd………………………………………………… - The Effect Of Internal And Personal Characteristics On Organizational Commitment In Etisalat Company Employees: Shawky Elsubbaugh………………………………………….. - The Search For An Economic Integration Between Gcc And D-8 Countries: An Experience From European Union: Amzad Hossain………………………………………………………………………. - Locus Standi Rule For Judicial Review: The Current Law In The UK And Malaysia: Md. Abdul Jalil…………………………………. - Amendment To Order 53 Of The Rules Of High Court (Malaysia) In The Year 2000: An Analysis: Md. Abdul Jalil…. - The Spirit Of Communiqué In The Plethora Of Communication Materials For Higher Education: Rubeena Çetin……………………………………………………………………………………….

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Financial Reporting Differences In The UAE Banks: A Study With Reference To Select International Accounting Standards And Accounting Policies: Srinivas Inguva…………… Management Accounting And Its Role In The Business: A Study With Reference To Banks In UAE: Ibrahim El Siddig & Srinivas Inguva………………………………………………………………….. Determinants Of An Optimal Debt – Equity Choice: Reviewing The Changing Paradigms: Rajesh Mohnot…………. Managing Translation Exposure Towards A Strategic Approach: Rajesh Mohnot…………………………………………………….. Use Of International Financial Reporting Standards In UAE: El-Khider Ali Musa………………………………………………………………… The Role Of Government And Private Bodies In The Regulation Of The Public Auditing Profession Of The United Arab Emirates: El-Khider Ali Musa………………………………………… Oil Production And Reserves In The Uae And Sultanate Of Oman, Confirming Its Viability To Serve Future Generations: Husein Matar Essale And Salim Ali Al-Jundi…… A Situational Analysis Of Aust Network As A Target Market For Enrolment In The Segment Of Undergraduate Studies That Avails In The Institutions Of Higher Educational Service In The UAE: Husein Matar Essale……………………………. A Contemporary Comparative Critical Content Analysis Between Personnel And Hrm In The New Millennium: Husein Matar Essale………………………………………………………………. The Role Of Women In Management: A Situational Analysis In The Gcc Region: Husein Matar Essale………………………………

Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering: - A Simulation Study Of A Reliable Dynamic Multicast Environment: Abdelaziz Araar, Hakim Khali, MIEEE, And Riyadh A.K. Mahdi…………………………………………………………………. - Real-Time 3D Image Computation Using LUT-Based DSP Systems: Hakim Khali, MIEEE, Mehdi Riyadh, And Abdulaziz Araar…………………………………………………………………….. - Generating Fuzzy Rules For Classification Problems Using Genetic Algorithms: Riyadh A.K. Mehdi, Hakim Khali, And Abdelaziz Araar……………………………………………………………………… - Evaluation Of Ticket History Method In Distributed Mutlidatbase Systems: Nasser Taleb And Ghassan Aouad….

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Reinforcement Learning Based Group Navigation Approach For Multiple Autonomous Robotic Systems: O. Azouaoui, A. Cherifi, R. Bensalem And A. Farah……………………………………….. A Novel Cyclic Stratified Learning Model For E-Learning Content Development And Learner Assess-ment: Ismail AlAni, Mohammed Salahat And Izharul Haq……………………………. New Ec-Learning Model: (A Bridge Between E-Learning & C-Learning): Mohammad Salahat, Izharul Haq, Ismail Al Ani………………………………………………………………………………………….. Modeling Of Action Potential Propagation In Cardiac Cells Dispersed In Heterogeneous Media: Lina Al-Kury And Izharul Haq……………………………………………………………………………. Atherosclerosis-Targeted Nanolipase Buckyballs: Lina AlKury, Samar Ziad, Mais Salah, Izharul Haq…………………………. Simulation Of Calcium Ions Transport Through SERCA2A Pump/Nanotubes Using Stochastic Method And Percolation Theory: Lina Al-Kury And Izharul Haq…………………………………. Simulation Of Hypoxia-Induced SERCA2A Pump Blockage Using Nanotubes: Lina Al-Kury And Izharul Haq…………………. Computational Modeling And Nanotechnology For Investigating And Improving Cardiac Cell Function: Lina AlKury And Izharul Haq……………………………………………………………. An Arabic Character Recognition System Using General Auto-Associative Memory Model: Amer Al- Nassiri……………… A Learning Vector Quantization Based Recognition Technique For Arabic Characters: Amer Al- Nassiri……………..

Faculty of Dentistry: - Analgesics In Dentistry: Salem Abu Fanas…………………………… - The Pattern Of Maxillofacial Fractures In Sharjah, United Arab Emirates:A Review Of 230 Cases: Hamad Ebrahim Al Ahmed, Mohamed A. Jaber, Salem H. Abu Fanas, And Mark Karas……………………………………………………………………………………… - Association Between Periodontal Disease And Cardiovascular Disease: Rehman M M And Salama R…………. - Dentist Laboratory Communication: Sabah A Ismail And Abdul-Haq A Suliman……………………………………………………………. - Evaluation Of Composite Resin Surface Roughness After Two Years Storage In Deionized Water: Sabah A Ismail And Abdul-Haq A Suliman……………………………………………………………. - Effects Of Composite Thickness On Shear Bond Strength To Dentin: Sabah A Ismail And Abdul-Haq A Suliman………………

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Dental Caries Prevalence In Relation To Socio-economic Status Of Preschool Children In Ajman, United Arab Emirates: Hashim, R., Thomson, M., Ayer, K.,Lewsely, J., Awad, M…………………………………………………………………………………. Biochemical Analysis Of Serum Pancreatic Amylase And Lipase Enzymes In Human Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Adib A. Aughsteen, Mustafa Abu-Umair & Sameer Alhaj Mahmoud…………………………………………………………………….. Fixed Partial Denture For Primary Teeth Replacement: Afraa Salah Al-Obaidi……………………………………………………………. Early Loss Of Primary Teeth: Afraa Salah Al-Obaidi……………. Baby Bottle Caries: Afraa Salah Al-Obaidi…………………………… Management Of Peri-Operative Intraoral Bleeding: Sam Thomas…………………………………………………………………………………… One Visit Root End Closure Using MTA: Mohammed Noushad Rahim……………………………………………………………………… Sem Study Of Removal Of Intracanal Smear Layer Using Different Concentrations Of Maleic Acid: Mohammed Noushad Rahim……………………………………………………………………… Endodontic Emergencies: Mohammed Noushad Rahim………. One Visit Apexification: Mohammed Noushad Rahim…………. The Endodontic Triad: Problem Solving During Endodontic Access Cavity Preparation: Mohammed Noushad Rahim……. Endo-Perio Lesions: Mohammed Noushad Rahim………………… Endodontic Perforations Part I: Factors Affecting Prognosis: Mohammed Noushad Rahim………………………………………………….

Faculty of Information, Mass Communication and Public Relations: - Social Communication: Identity And Forms Of Community Media Adaptation In France: Khaled Zamoum…………………… - The Algerian TV: Is It A Community Medium Channel To Preserve Identity, Or As A News Choice For The Algerians Immigrants In France: Khaled Zamoum……………………………… - The Closed Circle Vs The Discontinuity Of The Self: The Influence Of Globalization Upon The Contemporary Arab Music Videos: Mohamed Hossam Ismail………………………………. Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences - Research Issues Contemporary Islamic World (Priorities) Educational Challenges: Ahmed Babiker El-Tahir…………………

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Impact Of Globalization On Future Education: Yusuf Mahmoud………………………………………………………………………………. Relationship Between Thought And Matter: Yusuf Mahmoud………………………………………………………………………………. Disability: The Wisdom Behind It, The Practical Regulations In Islamic Sharia’a: Ali Abduljabbar Al-Srori……………………….. Causality In Islamic Thought: Abdulhakim Ajhar………………… The Internet And EFL Teaching: What UAE Secondary School English Language Teachers Have To Say About It?: Amin Al-Mekhlafi……………………………………………………………………. Some Analytical Properties Of Solutions Of Differential Equations Of Non-Integer Order: Samir B. Hadid……………….. Lyapunov Stability Solutions Of Integro-Fractional Differential Equations: Samir B. Hadid………………………………… On The Continuous Dependence Of Solutions Of IntegroFractional Differential Equations With Respect To Initial Conditions: Samir B. Hadid…………………………………………………… Factors In Children's Security And Safety Based On Their Mothers' Perceptions And Measures Insuring Them. "Field Study": Mohamed Mahmoud Sheikh Hasan, Ahmed Mohammed Laid Bendania And Sameh Khamis Al Sayed…… A Scientific Study To Develop And To Improve Professional And Technical Performance Of The Teaching Staff Of AUST Network: Hadi Mahmoud Shamchy El Zubaidi…………………….. On The Maximality Of Conway’s Group C1 In O+(24,2): Mustafa Ahmed Salman………………………………………………………… Randomness Test Based On Frequency Of LCP Of Binary Sequence: Mustafa Ahmed Salman……………………………………… Critical Eigenvalues For A Non-Linear Problem: Eslko Weld Ahmed…………………………………………………………………………………… Defaut D’estimation A Priori Pour Un Probleme De Dirichlet (In French): Eslko Weld Ahmed……………………………………………. The Atitude Of Muslim Scholars Towards Language Rise: Hazim Said Younis………………………………………………………………… The Ultimate And The Purpose: Abdullah Abdulrahman Assad Alsadi…………………………………………………………………………… Developed Achievement Test Matrix: Nadeem Ashuraey……. The Relationship Between Moral Thought And Moral Action In Kohlberg's Theory: Nadeem Ashuraey……………………………. Images Of Beta Maps: Osama Ajamy Rashwan…………………… Two Categories Of T-Fuzzy Subgroups: Osama Ajamy Rashwan…………………………………………………………………………………

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The Role Of Educational Supervisors On The Improvement Of The Islamic Education Teachers Performance In Jordan: Majed Al-Jallad………………………………………………………………………. The Degree Of Acquisition Of Islamic Education Teaching Competencies By Students Of Diploma Program For Teaching Methods Of Islamic Education: Majed Al-Jallad And Muath Khalaf Al Omari…………………………………………………… Problems Of The Students Of Faculties Of Islamic Law At Public Jordanian Universities: Majed Al-Jallad And Ibrahim Al Zuabi…………………………………………………………………………………. A Study Of Family Violence Toward Children: Mohamed Ziad Hamdan………………………………………………………………………… Children’s Discipline, From Infancy To Young Adulthood: Mohamed Ziad Hamdan………………………………………………………… Studying Superiority Of Children: Mohamed Ziad Hamdan… Children’s Anxiety In Exams: Mohamed Ziad Hamdan……….. Children’s Superiority In Exams: Mohamed Ziad Hamdan…. Children’s Learning On The Internet: Mohamed Ziad Hamdan…………………………………………………………………………………. Children’s Education In The 21st Century, Building Moral Characters With Respect, Responsibility & InterIndependence: Mohamed Ziad Hamdan………………………………. Children’s Management Of Time: Mohamed Ziad Hamdan….

Institute of Environment, Water and Energy - Inorganic Chemicals In Domestic Water Of The United Arab Emirates: Zeinelabidin S. Rizk……………………………………………… - Water Resources In The United Arab Emirates: Present Status And Future Challenges: Zeinelabidin S. Rizk…………….

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The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in their articles and for the validity of the results herewith published which do not necessarily reflect the opinion of AUST Network.

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Faculty of Engineering

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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TRACKING OF THE SIGN ALGORITHM WITH A CENTRAL DEAD ZONE IN THE NOISE DISTRIBUTION E. Eweda Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network Signal Processing vol. 84, No. 1, pp. 379-386, Feb. 2004 The paper analyzes the tracking performance of the sign algorithm when the noise distribution has a dead zone that includes the origin. The analysis is done in the context of the identification of a time-varying plant with a Gaussian input. A random-walk model of the plant variation is assumed. Upper bounds of the time-averaged mean absolute excess estimation error and the time-averaged mean norm of the weight misalignment vector are derived. The bounds hold for all values of the algorithm step size. The minima of the bounds are derived. It is found that the tracking performance of the algorithm is poor in comparison with that in the case of a Gaussian noise. The wider is the dead zone in the noise distribution, the worse is the performance. It is found also that the tracking performance is strongly dependent on the width of the dead zone and weakly dependent on the degree of nonstationarity of the plant. The analytical results of the paper are supported by simulations.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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SIGNAL BEHAVIOR OF ADAPTIVE FILTERING ALGORITHMS IN A NONSTATIONARY ENVIRONMENT WITH SINGULAR DATA COVARIANCE MATRIX E. Eweda Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network Signal Processing vol. 85, No. 6, pp. 1263-1274, June 2005 The paper analyzes the signal behavior of adaptive filtering algorithms when the target weights of the adaptive filter are time varying and the covariance matrix of the filter input is singular. The signal behavior is evaluated in terms of moments of the excess output error of the filter. Two algorithms are considered: the LMS algorithm and the sign algorithm. The analysis is done in the context of adaptive plant identification. The plant parameters vary according to a random walk model. The plant input, plant noise, and plant parameters are assumed mutually independent. Under these assumptions, it is found that the signal behavior of the algorithms is the same as the signal behavior in the case with positive definite input covariance matrix.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION Fahar G. Hayati and Anas N. Ali, Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network First Annual Conference for Middle East Teachers of Science, Mathematics and Computing, Abu Dhabi, April 2005 This paper investigates the application and impact of information technology (IT) on engineering education, and underlines the extent to which it should be used. The integration of multimedia in theoretical and laboratory lectures, with emphasis on mathematics and applied science courses, is thus presented. The required hardware and software infrastructure to realize such integration are outlined. In addition, a case study is presented where the theoretical lectures for a particular engineering course in Ajman University are implemented using one aspect of IT, namely, multimedia. The study reflects the impact of multimedia on the teaching and learning process, where statistical results are presented based on a survey conducted on a sample of students.

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ENHANCEMENT OF TECHNICAL-CUM-GENERIC SKILLS THROUGH DESIGN EXPERIENCE IN LABS Fahar G. Hayati, Mir, and Mustahsan Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training, pp. 668-671, IEEE Catalog No. 04EX898, Turkey, May 2004. The usefulness of project-based courses for improving the technical as well as generic skills of engineering students is emphasized. A case study is presented to demonstrate that in contrast to a traditional laboratory-based course, a projectbased course involving design, implementation, and testing of assigned projects greatly increases studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interest in practical work and significantly improves their technical as well as soft skills.

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AUST Network - RIT Council

A PILOT PROJECT FOR E-LEARNING BASED ON TELEMETRY OF REAL-TIME DATA FROM ELECTRONICS LABORATORY Al-Saleh, Mohammed, Mir, Mustahsan, Omer Khayat, and Ehssan Gamrah Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network Proceedings of the Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Conference on Telecomputing and Information Technology (ICTIT), pp. 238-243, September 2004, Jordan. This paper describes the design, implementation, and test results achieved at the completion of a pilot E-Learning project. The complete project aims at developing a distance education setup for Electrical and Computer Engineering students to enable them to remotely monitor over the Internet real-time experiments performed in the Electrical/Electronics laboratories. At this stage, telemetry of experimental data for E-Learning has been successfully accomplished and a student sitting at a remote station can observe the same waveforms from a circuit board as observed on the oscilloscope by a student present in the laboratory. Also the voltage data are transmitted in real-time over the Internet and displayed on the screen just as a student in the laboratory will read the measured values from digital multimeters.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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UTILIZATION OF STUDENTS’ FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF TEACHING Fahar G. Hayati, Mir, and Mustahsan, Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network Proceedings of 2nd IEEE-GCC Conference, 23-25 Nov. 2004, Bahrain This paper reports the results of a study, based primarily on students’ course evaluation feedback, to enhance the quality of teaching. It analyzes the response of more than 2000 engineering students to a course evaluation questionnaire. After determining that students’ response is a fairly good indicator of the quality of teaching, the paper points out the most desired characteristics of a good lecturer as viewed by the students. It then describes a systematic approach for developing such characteristics. The paper also discusses the role of peer evaluation, in conjunction with students’ feedback, for more balanced and effective evaluation in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of a lecturer in terms of quality of teaching.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

A LABORATORY SETUP FOR LEARNING REMOTE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES Mir, Mustahsan, T. Sharif, Z. Ahmadian, and A. Hassanpour, Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network Proceedings of the 2nd AUS International Symposium on Mechatronics, UAE, pp. 39-42, April 19-21, 2005 This paper describes the development of a laboratory setup for EE students to gain practical experience, through their active participation, in designing and implementing real-time systems for remote monitoring and control over the Internet. The learning outcomes include design of process interface (signal conditioning circuits and digital control circuits), user interface, automated data acquisition and transmission for remote monitoring, reception of control signals and initiation of appropriate switching and control operations. A PC with a data acquisition card is setup as Lab Server to acquire data from different sensors and transmit it over the Internet to remote users. Besides initiating some switching (on/off) operations, the remote user can control the setting of reference voltages in the laboratory setup. The software is developed using the LabVIEW package. Implementation of the laboratory setup is described and some tests results are presented. The educational effectiveness of the presented setup is also discussed.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

DISTANCE LEARNING OF ELECTRONICS EXPERIMENTS IN REAL-TIME Mir, Mustahsan, Z. Ahmadian, T. Sharif, and A. Hassanpour Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network Proceedings of INISTA 2005 Symposium on Innovations in Intelligent Systems and Applications, Turkey, pp. 178-181, June 2005. This paper describes the development of a laboratory setup for distance learning of electronics experiments over the Internet using only virtual instruments, that is, without involving any laboratory measuring instruments. In addition to observing the waveforms on the PC screen, as on an oscilloscope, and reading the measured values of voltage or current, as from a digital multimeter, the remote user can change certain parameters of the experiment through limited control of the circuit board in the laboratory. The Lab Server utilizes a multifunction data acquisition card and LabVIEW software package. Besides presenting the results from this laboratory setup, the paper describes the potential and limitations of this setup for distance teaching of electronics experiments in real-time.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

A HYBRID TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS Fahar G. Hayati, Mir, and Mustahsan Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network ITHET 6th Annual International Conference, July 7-9, 2005. The paper describes a newly developed hybrid training program at AUST that, unlike its predecessor, requires trainee students to undergo an intensive internal training prior to their external training at engineering sites. An analysis of the feedback obtained from faculty and trainee students, at the completion of the internal training phase, is also presented. It is shown that the requirement of a well-designed internal training phase as a pre-requisite for external training improves the preparedness of trainee students, and thereby helps them take maximum benefit from their on-site external training.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

CHARACTERIZATION OF A PRECISE MOSFET-ICS MAGNETIC SENSOR USING AN EFFICIENT TWODIMENSIONAL PHYSICAL SIMULATOR Ali Abou-Elnour, E. Y. Mohamed, Ossama Abo-Elnor, and M. Ibrahim Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network International Conference on Innovation in Intelligent Systems and Applications, INISTA, p.338, Istanbul-Turkey, 15-18 June 2005 In the present work, the performance of a new proposed MOSFET integrated circuit magnetic sensor is investigated. The sensor sensitivity, which is measured by the effect of external applied magnetic field on the electrical characteristics of the MOSFET, is accurately determined by using an efficient twodimensional physical simulator. With the direct coupling scheme of the magnetic field equation and the carrier transport equation in the present simulator, the effects of all device and circuit parameters on the sensor sensitivity can be obtained. Based on the previous results, a new complete magnetic field detection systems is proposed and its behavior is finally analyzed.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

A RATE DETERMINATION ALGORITHM FOR VARIABLE-RATE SPEECH CODER S. El-Ramly and A. Tawfik, Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, AUST Network International Conference on Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (ICEEC'04), Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 2004. In this paper, an efficient rate-determination algorithm (RDA) is presented. This proposed RDA algorithm has been developed in order to reduce the bit rate needed to quantize the spectral parameters of the existing coders. This technique uses a combination between voice activity detection based on voiceunvoice classification of speech frames and rate-determination mechanism. The proposed algorithm has been simulated and tested. The results show that the proposed RDA offers a moderate quality speech with a high improvement in the average data rate.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

CULTURAL IDIOM FOR INTERIORS IN UAE, TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL TOTALITY OF INTERIOR DESIGN AESTHETIC MATERIALS Harpreet Seth Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network Symposium by Interior Design Department, AUSTN, Conference Center, Al Jarf, 2005 Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of space and interior definition has today become the melting pot of the diverse nationalities that have made Dubai their home. What are the cultural idioms used by people, can they really help to convey the true nature of the region and its people. The paper explores the various issues and their relevance in the fast growing real estate market. Interiors are indicators of the socio-economic status of the inhabitants. And people are constantly trying to create a sense of belonging within their interiors. It is really a question of cultural diversity versus cultural identity. It is important to test the reality of stereotyping, influence of supply, advertising, media, fashion and the fusion processes. How then does the interior culture reflect the origins and identity of different people with very differing backgrounds. Does interior attempt at reflecting a symbolic expression of the origins of the people.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

INTEGRATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN DUBAI Harpreet Seth Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network Architecture and Real Estate Development in UAE, Shangrila, Dubai, UAE, Symposium on 21st March 2005 Integrated Information Systems for the fast growing Real Estate Development in Dubai today is a challenge for the team of Town Planners, Urban Designers, Traffic Engineers and Graphic Designers. Inclusive Information environment informs, communicates, and pleases everyone travelling in unfamiliar territory. These information systems in Dubai address a multilingual society and therefore the approach to design needs to be unique and original. These systems establish a strong legible corporate identity for the whole city. And the resulting ease and pleasure of travelling experience remains in peoples memories and becomes the best advertisement for the developments in the city. The paper evaluates the existing information design systems such as way finding systems and destination signageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and proposes to integrate them for the benefit of the, residents and tourists at the same time. The presentation will touch the following aspects: Existing signage systems, Street patterns, Cognitive systems and structural hierarchy of information system, issues of identity, Information for elderly and handicapped, Adapting to advertisements, Materials and execution.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

COLORS IN LIVING SPACES KREATIONZ UNLIMITED 2005, MAHE, KNOWLEDGE VILLAGE Harpreet Seth Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network Dubai. Seminar and Exhibition by Interior Design Department, 13th April 2005 With world becoming one large village where regional influences have crossed all boundaries, colors have contributed to unifying people’s taste and ideas across the globe. People are ready to experiment, accept and propagate new colors in their living environment. With better accessibility enjoyment of experiencing new colors has reached new heights. Colors no longer have remained any ad-hoc or casual component, but have become the foremost in establishing images: look at some of the colors associated with brands. Marketing Psychologists State that a lasting impression is made within ninety seconds and that color accounts for 60% of the acceptance or rejection of an object, person, place, or circumstance. Because color impressions are both quick and long lasting, decisions about color are critical factors in success of any visual experience. Interiors need to express your personality and lifestyle. And when that happens the interior will make your heart sing. Trust yourself and your senses, be brave and move out of the “Vanilla Boxes” that we have all got used to living in. There is inspiration all around you.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

CASE STUDY - CAPSTONE COURSE IN DESIGN PROGRAMS CO-OPERATIVE TEACHING FORUM Harpreet Seth Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network Seminar in Dubai University College, Dubai. June 2004 A review of the aims of the capstone project.collective application of various theoretical, technical and experience based study matter to develop, design and detail a real time interior design project. A collective application of various theoretical, technical and experience based study matter. Anthropometrics, color theory, design principles, history. Comfort: environment, design materials, lighting. Site features, understanding functional aspects and client brief.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

PUBLIC SPACES IN SHOPPING CENTERS, FORMAL JURY AND EXHIBITION Harpreet Seth Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Interior Design, AUST Network College of Design and Applied Arts, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai. June 2004. The topic is very unique and challenging with the intent if achieving an original contribution to design related knowledge. With the ever- increasing retail space in Dubai the subject takes an important place not only for the new malls but also the existing shopping centers. Public spaces are a vital part of shopping centers. A space which makes people comfortable, welcome and gives a strong sense of community, at the same time providing setting for activities and uses which develop an effective relationship between the surrounding retail and activities. The under-performing public spaces in shopping malls need to be turned into vital public places. The definition of roles in creating effective public spaces gets Grey when it comes to design of most of the shopping centers. The big question is ‘whose job is it to create the effective public place’ whether it’s the architect of the mall, mall management, or the interior designer of the retail outlets. On numerous occasions in the absence of a clear sensibility the design of public spaces suffers, and it is this issue which needs to be addressed by the design and management professionals.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

AIRPORTS AS WINDOWS OF THEIR WORLD FORMAL JURY AND EXHIBITION Harpreet Seth Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Interior Design, AUST Network College of Design and Applied Arts, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai. January 2005 Designing Airports as windows of their world is challenge that many designers face. It is a research which is an investigation into the issues and problems related to design with the intent of achieving an original contribution to the design of airports. The design process was intended to stimulate the dialogue that occurs between the designers, client, consultants, users and regulatory agencies. The topic is very unique and challenging with the intent contributing to the interior spaces of the tourism industry. Airport interiors have always been very popular design projects. But what sets this topic apart is the issue of giving the international airports an identity. This identity and image orients the traveler and informs him about where he is. The recent trend for airport design is moving towards the regional or historic themes. And it has become very important for the airport interior to reflect the local culture. A design that embraces the past and includes a future dimension.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

ENERGY SAVINGS OF OFFICE BUILDINGS BY THE USE OF SEMI-TRANSPARENCY SOLAR CELLS FOR FACADES; POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY, Mohammad Al-Shakarchi, Mushtat Sabah, and A Zahedi Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network Journal of Applied Sciences, Montash University, Australia, Vol. 2-6, pp: 213-229 (2005) Environmental concerns are growing and interest in environmental issues is increasing and the idea of generating electricity with less pollution is becoming more attractive. Unlike fuel of the conventional generation systems, the solar photovoltaic (PV) energy is available at no cost and solar photovoltaic energy systems generate electricity pollution- free and can easily be installed on the roof of residential places as well as on the wall of commercial buildings. Grid-connected solar photovoltaic electricity generating system is a PV application which has attracted lots of interest among the developed countries. These systems come in two form i) grid-connected rooftop systems, which are installed on the roof of residential buildings ii) as building faรงade installed on the walls of commercial buildings. These days we are observing more commercial building developments with dyed glass being used as building faรงade. The authors of this paper believes that using semitransparency solar cells as building faรงade instead of glass not only maintains the beauty of the building but also produces electricity which can cover up to a reasonable percentage of the building demand on electricity. This study has investigated a photovoltaic faรงade on the commercial building in Dubai with semitransparent solar cells. The facade provides natural light transmission into the building as well as producing electricity. The objective of this project is to raise the issue of opportunity and advantage of building integrated solar photovoltaic (BIPV) on commercial buildings. A further objective is to present the results obtained from a computer simulation developed for optimization of the size and performance prediction of a BIPV in

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

Dubai. And also another objective is to find out the optimum transmittance level of the solar cells and its relation to energy savings of the building. The provisional results are showing that the solar cell transmittance level of 50% can achieve a minimum energy consumption in the building.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

URBAN PLANNING IN SHARJAH, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE CHALLENGES M. S. Arar Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network The Eighth Sharjah Urban Planning Symposium Federalism and Strategic Planning Coordination: Theory, Practice and the Case of the UAE, Sharjah, UAE, 2004 The urban development in Sharjah city is growing so rapidly in the last decade. It seems that this growth has been influenced by the mega growth that is taking place in Dubai city. This growth can be classified in three categories: an economic investment to establish real estate projects to satisfy the increasing needs for livable space, commercial infrastructure to serve these residential projects, and recreational and educational projects to be part of the whole development. This paper focuses on the recent residential projects and the negative urban impacts that are taking place due to the poor choices of urban design solution, and may be with out any urban planning study to deal with in the first place. These developments and as a result, have created such a city with tremendous pressure in terms of congestion, traffic jam, and chaotic growth with no means to control some of the important factors that are considered basic requirements in urban planning and urban design theory such as parking, zoning, traffic circulation, environmental impact analysis, open space, and building codes. The paper will explore these different issues and will provide case studies in Sharjah city to illustrate the negative impacts and its effect in the surrounding environment. However there are some positive out come of these developments but the debate in this paper will concentrate on the negative side and the solution to reduce or even eliminate some of these problems The objective of this study is to establish some guidelines and recommendations as a policy framework to solve and upgrade the existing environment and the possibility to apply it in any

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AUST Network - RIT Council

future developments. Sharjah city is still young in age but has tremendous future potential.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

THE ROLE OF AGA KHAN AWARD IN ADDRESSING THE IDENTITY CRISIS IN THE EASTERN ARAB CITY T. Abdelsalam Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network Contemporary Discourses In Architecture Lebanese American University Beirut, May 13-14, 2004 In urban mass society, identity, or rather the loss of it appears to be a growing problem. The loss of architectural identity in Eastern Arab cities and the role of Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) in addressing this crisis are the main interests of this research. In this sense, we tried to answer a critical question, through this paper, which represents the main theme of the research that is; does the framework of AKAA represent an appropriate step towards addressing critical issues related to the identity crisis in the Eastern Arab architecture? The main objective of this research is to examine the role of AKAA in addressing this crisis. To attain this objective, AKAA as a program that is interested in addressing the identity crisis in the architecture of Islamic world, of which Eastern Arab world is a part, was investigated. The investigation dealt with the appropriateness of AKAA objectives for the current situation in the region. In addition, the research examined the possible impact of the awarded projects on the identity crisis in the Eastern Arab cities and the implications for the architectural practice. This research relies on the theoretical investigation. A documentary analysis of secondary data was used to attain the objective and answer the research question. This research concluded that the AKAA objectives are appropriate to deal with the symptoms of identity crisis in the Eastern Arab architecture, and the awarded projects in this region could play an effective role in guiding the designers for the appropriate solutions. It also concluded that factors of recognition of these projects represent criteria and guidelines for designers in dealing with the

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AUST Network - RIT Council

architectural identity in their contemporary designs. This research proposed a number of recommendations for the municipalities of the Arab cities, schools of architecture, and practicing architects.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

AN APPROACH FOR EXPRESSING SOCIO-CULTURAL IDENTITIES IN ARCHITECTURE OF THE CONTEMPORARY CITIES T. Abdelsalam Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network XXII World Congress of Architecture UIA 2005 Istanbul, 3-7 July 2005 Identity as a significant demand for human life, embraces both our ability to recognise ourselves, and the possibility of being recognised by others. The desire for maintaining a national identity is based on the following social phenomena; (1) political and ideological motives, (2) the need for a sense of belonging, (3) a reaction against change as inimical to continuity, (4) a need for cultural variety in a world whose culture is increasingly homogenous, and (5) pride in national, racial, ethnic, or other social identities. However, in urban mass society, identity, or rather the loss of it appears to be a growing problem. The issue of identity in general and the expression of socio-cultural identities in architecture of the contemporary cities in particular are the main interests of this Paper. Because of the great transformations that the contemporary cities have been witnessing during the last decades, as a consequence of Globalisation, the social and cultural norms have been affected negatively. Accordingly, architecture of these cities has been suffering from a serious crisis. The values that ruled traditional architecture have been influenced by inappropriate norms and trends. Most of the contemporary architects slipped into the blind copy of the contemporary trends and waves. In the meantime, conservative architects call for the absolute adoption of the traditional model. We believe that both trends are inappropriate. As an attempt to address the identity crisis in the contemporary cities, the main objective of this paper is to develop an approach for understanding the issue of architectural identity and expressing socio-cultural identities in architecture of the contemporary cities. To attain this objective, the research

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will focus on the definition of the concept of identity in general, expression of the elements of socio-cultural identity in architecture, and the reflection of these elements on the contemporary cities with examples from different parts of the world. It is expected that the developed approach will help professionals, scholars, theorists, decision makers, and students in dealing with the issue of socio-cultural identity in architecture at many levels.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

THE ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY AND CONTEMPORARY IDENTITY: IMPACT OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE OF BEIRUT ON THE ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITY OF ITS NEW CENTRAL DISTRICT T. Abdelsalam Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network The Mediterranean Medina, PESCARA, Italy, June 17-19, 2004 War destruction and post-war construction has provided an excellent opportunity to rebuild the contemporary identity of Beirut Central District (BCD). Due to the occupation by other cultures, the identity of the city has always come from abroad, from Italy, France, Ottoman dynasty. During the late 19th century and early 20th century Beirut has witnessed new transformations and shaping forces that affected the built environment. As the seat of the French Mandate in the region, the city was influenced by the hybridization of local architecture with the western oriented trends and styles, in addition to imported construction materials and techniques. Therefore, this period represents a significant stage in shaping the architectural legacy of Beirut, which has an apparent impact on the new developments in the city. The project of reconstruction of Beirut central district (1994-2000) is one of the most significant examples that reflect the clear influence of this legacy on the contemporary identity of the city. The objective of this research is to determine to what extent the architectural legacy can play a significant role in shaping the contemporary identity of the Eastern Mediterranean Medina. The research aims also to identify the most appropriate approach for dealing with the issue of architectural legacy in addressing the dilemma of contemporary identity in the Eastern Mediterranean city. To achieve these two objectives the research focused on two issues. Firstly, tracing and analyzing examples of the architectural legacy of the early 20th century in Beirut, and secondly, investigating and analyzing the experiment of the reconstruction

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of Beirut central district. The investigation and analysis of this experiment focused on the approaches that were adopted to deal with the architectural expression, character, and reflections of the heritable elements on the new buildings of the central district. This research relies on the theoretical investigation, in addition to a photographic survey carried out by the author. A documentary analysis of secondary data was used to attain the objectives and answer the research questions. This research concluded that the architectural legacy is a significant motive in the process of shaping the contemporary identity of Beirut as an example of the Eastern Mediterranean Medina. The research concluded also that there are two approaches for dealing with the issue of architectural legacy in addressing the dilemma of contemporary identity in the Eastern Mediterranean Medina. The first approach is based on the absolute adoption of the historical model, and the second approach is based on the perfect re-use of the historical model, where the model is researched, studied, and analyzed to learn from the experiment. The second approach could be adopted at two levels: (a) the re-use of the traditional thought, and (b) the re-use of the traditional elements. This research proposed a number of recommendations for municipalities of the Mediterranean cities, schools of architecture, practicing architects, and developers who are dealing with the historic contexts.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MICRO-SPATIAL CONDITIONS AND BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS IN HOUSING AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF VANDALISM Faisal Hamid Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network 9th Annual International 'Crime Prevention Trough Environmental Design (CPTED)' Conference Proceedings, Adelaide, Australia, 2004. The literature offers a range of causes for the increase of problems such as noise, vandalism, aggression and crime in some housing areas, which are mainly in relation to the design features of the housing environment and social characteristics of residents. The design features tend to be of a "macro" nature, such as: the urban layout; the extent of available public space and the height of multi-storey blocks of flats. "Micro" spatial conditions, in particular, visibility through dwelling windows and accessibility to dwelling entrances are also cited, but these conditions are not identified and studied as causal factors independently of the design features. The study described in this paper investigates the effect of visibility and accessibility on the problem of vandalism. The study concludes that vandalism is strongly related to visibility through dwelling windows, and is partially related to accessibility from dwelling entrances. Also, the level of vandalism may increase within spaces of low visibility and accessibility as the percentage of adolescents increases. The case study lends no support to the claimed relationship between "macro" design features such as the height of blocks of flats or the extent of public space and vandalism.

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AUST Network - RIT Council

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF HOUSING: MULTI-STOREY HOUSING IN A MODERN AGE BRITISH CITY AND A POST-MODERN GULF CITY Faisal Hamid Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network The Seventh Sharjah Urban Planning Symposium, Sharjah Planning Department and London South Bank University, 2004 "Modern" multi-storey housing during the reconstruction decades after the Second World War in Britain and the Western world is recognised as socially unsustainable due to social problems associated with it. For the last two decades, multi-storey housing in Britain is being demolished or renovated for new uses. The "post-modern" replacement is often low-rise neo-traditional housing. In contrast, Middle Eastern cities are increasingly adopting multistorey housing policies for their expanding population needs. Such housing policies need to be examined, taking into consideration the western experience with multi-storey housing. This paper attempts to investigate the probability of social problems in multi-storey housing in Gulf cities. Due to the lack of empirical research into social aspects of housing in Gulf cities, the paper identifies, from evaluating a number of empirical research published in Britain and America, the factors that are recognised to have causal effects on social problems in multistorey housing. Then the paper tentatively assesses the extent of these factors in multi-storey housing examples in a Gulf city in comparison to their extent in examples of post-war multistorey housing in a British city. The paper concludes that there are many similarities between British post-war multi-storey housing and multi-storey housing in Gulf cities. The paper points out to situations where the extent of these factors seems to be more acute in Gulf examples than in the British. The paper makes several housing design and policy proposals.

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AUST Network - RIT Council

THE ROLE OF EMPIRICAL STUDIES IN THE PROCESS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT Faisal Hamid Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network The Eighth Gulf Engineering Forum Proceedings, Society of Engineers of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, 2004. This paper attempts to investigate the role of empirical studies in advising the built environment decision and policy makers. It examines the development of the built environment decisionmaking process in Britain from a close process administered by the professionals, to an open process influenced by variety of players. The main new players are individual community members, civic organizations, and empirical studies conducted by research organisations and universities. The paper emphasis the effect of the type of decision-making process on the resulting built environment and highlighted some cases were empirical studies have a major impact on the built environment decision or policy. The paper concludes that there are many benefits in opening the built environment decision-making process, especially in our cities.

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AUST Network - RIT Council

THE NEED FOR AN EFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT MODEL IN ENGINEERING ORGANIZATIONS A. Obaid and M. Alshawi Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Dept. of Electrical Eng., AUST Network CIB W102 2005 Conference, May 2004, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 450-413 Successful engineering organizations have recognized that engineering practice is a continuous improvement process essential to which are the effective capture and reuse of engineering knowledge. Knowledge management (KM) is an emerging discipline that promises to capitalize on organizations intellectual capital. In recent years, KM has referred to efforts to capture, store, and deploy knowledge using a combination of information technology and business processes. Approaches to KM included emphasizing the capabilities of information and communication technologies as well as social systems such as employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; training and motivation. This paper aims to explore the benefits of KM to engineering organizations, identify the activities and elements characterizing KM implementation, and demonstrate the need for an effective KM model that supports the knowledge life-cycle within engineering organizations and provides guidance for successful KM implementation. The aims are achieved through extensive literature review and interviews with personnel involved with KM in engineering organizations.

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AUST Network - RIT Council

CONCEPTS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONTEMPORARY CITY Bouziad Boudiaf Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Architecture Engineering, AUST Network The Eighth Sharjah Urban Planning Symposium: Federalism And Strategic Planning Coordination: Theory, Practice And The Case Of The U.A..E, April. 2005 Type, or the classification of cities into categories; according to their characteristics (functional “historical, cultural, industrial”, demographical “town, city, metropolis”, physical “defensive, climatic, topographical”); reflects the issues dealing with the production, the preservation and the comprehension of the built environment. Ideas and events of urban design and urban planning are employed to construct a paradigm. In this paper we will try to describe the paradigm which is based on pattern of alternating uniformity and diversity within and between cities of the UAE. The choice of the Emirate cities illustrates the rapid environmental change. This choice is also our acknowledgment to Sheikh Zayed Ben Nihyane. This change has been concomitant with economical growth and modernization of the life style in the UAE. The cities chosen are categorized by type according to their physical characteristics and the reasons behind the choice of the site for the location of major civil buildings and the symbolism inherent within them. It is argued that a city can be apprehended as a mosaic pattern of many functions as well as a hierarchical pattern of areas which shows their social status. In this way there are differences from city to city. The paper deals with the ideas of “centrality” of location for the main civil public buildings, and identifies and categorizes the kind of the vocation that led to the choice of site in each of the cases. The aim of this paper is to discuss the methods of learning and establishing guidelines for approaching the future development of a city, according to its characteristics. For that purpose, the rest of the paper focuses in on the central areas of the cities, in an attempt to identify the role of the city systems

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on the spatial hierarchy of the city and its components. The paper concludes that, although there have been drastic and rapid changes in the physical form of these cities, it is argued that the interpretation of the messages encoded in the civil public buildings and urban planning of these cities reveal much more their fragmentation and collage and demonstrate the persistence of their decision makers.

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AUST Network - RIT Council

ESTHETICS OF SHADE AND LIGHT ON DUBAI HISTORICAL BUILDINGS A Alkhalidi Faculty of Engineering, Dept. of Interior Design, AUST Network Seminar In Dubai Municipality, Dubai, UAE May 2005 The seminar proceeded to analyze the structural base for those designs and linking them with the encompassing or interfering space as it highlighted all concepts including the structural engagement .The seminar discussed the diversity in the shade of shadows through a diversity in the openings and in the tactual and visual of the faรงade in addition to the diversity in the proportional system. Finally, the lecture concluded by clarifying the extent of the importance of applying the beauty elements of shades on the contemporary buildings and it took (Al Jumerah city) as a case study to explain the mass - space relation and the mechanism of employing the shades in interior spaces.

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AUST Network - RIT Council

Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

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AUST Network - RIT Council

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AUST Network - RIT Council

SYNTHESIS, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND CONFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS OF NOVEL SUBSTITUTED PYRIDINES: BF3-PROMOTED REACTION OF HYDRAZINE WITH 2-ALKOXYPYRIDINES Fatma E.Goda a, Alaa A.-M. Abdel-Aziz a and Omer A. Attef b a Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mansoura, Egypt b Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 12, Issue 8, p. 1811-1970 (15 April 2004) Some new 2-alkoxy-3-cyano-4,6-diarylpyridines were synthesized by condensation of different α,β-unsaturated ketones with malononitrils, followed by cyclization in sodium alkoxide/alcohol system. Lewis acid-catalyzed reaction with hydrazine afforded the corresponding 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines. The potency of the results as antimicrobial agents has been evaluated. The structure of the newly prepared compounds was assessed by microanalysis, IR and NMR spectra. Molecular mechanics (MM2) and semiemperical (AM1) molecular orbital calculations have been performed for the most biologically active compounds to get insight into their molecular structures and to learn more about their stable molecular conformations.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

AUST Network - RIT Council

DETERMINATION OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN KHAT LEAVES BY SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY N.A. Awadh a, D. Lemme, Th. Jirab, Omer Attef c and K. AlRahwia a Sana'a University Yemen; b Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Germany; c Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network Afr. J. Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, Afr. J. Trad. CAM (2005) 2 (3): 282-290 The purpose of this investigation is to develop a simple method for the assessment of pesticides in Khat leaves, Catha edulis FORSK. (Celastraceae) shrub, chewed by about 60% of the Yemeni people, producing amphet-amine-like psychostimulation. The first procedures involve solid-phase extraction using Adsorbex® RP-C18 and Bakerbond® RP-C18 disposable cartridges with 40 % acetonitrile for elution. Isocratic and gradient analysis was carried out by means of high-performance liquid chromatography using different stationary phases to analyse methidathion, peconazole and dimethoate. An Ultrasphere ODS RP-18-column with UV-detection at 210 nm and 80/20 % (v/v) acetonitrile/ water as mobile phase (isocratic) was used to determine the content of methidathion, peconazole and dimethoate (detection limit 20-25 ng). The method was validated with fortified samples at pesticide concentration of 0.1 mg/ml. Average recoveries ranging from 97.9 and 101.6% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.7-3.8 %. Each recovery analysis was repeated four times. Limits of detection ranged from the analytical procedures were applied to 5 samples of khat and no detectable amounts of pesticides were found in any sample under the conditions described.

Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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CGMSTM/KADIS®-BASED DIABETES MANAGEMENT IMPROVES HbA1C IN OUTPATIENTS Institute of Diabetes ”Gerhardt Katsch” Karlsburg, Germany; Medtronic MiniMed Inc., USA; Innovative Medical Environment Team*, AUST Network; Ajman Medical District and Sheikh Khalifa Hospital Ajman, UAE Diabetes Technology Meeting (DTM), Poster Presentation, Philadelphia, USA, November 2004. The study revealed the outcomes of a new CGMSTM/ KADIS®based diabetes management approach. The study demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of the KADIS®-based advisory system based on CGMSTM-data. A 6 months Pilot Study has been performed in 12 insulin treated diabetic volunteers in the UAE Region. The CGMSTM/KADIS®-based diabetes management approach combines the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System CGMSTM with the Diabetes-Management System KADIS® to manage outpatients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. CGMSTM measures 72 h glucose profiles in diabetic patients and the data are transfered into the KADIS® system via the telematic platform TeleDiab®. The computer-based Karlsburg DiabetesManagement System KADIS® is an interactive Diabetes Disease Management Program optimizing a person's daily diabetes treatment regimen based on individual insulin/glucose sensitivity characterization. This procedure results in the KADIS® Report, which provides patient specific recommendations to optimize their individual daily diabetes management. The study concludes that the combination of CGMSTM and KADIS® represents a new technology in diabetes care and management, which is highly efficient and cost effective to improve significantly the overall metabolic control in ambulatory Abdul Azim A. Ali, Zakia Metwali, Omer Attef, Wafa Amour and Iman Salman

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insulin-treated patients following the recommendations suggested by the integrated CGMSTM/ KADIS速 advisory system.

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PHARMACOKINETIC STUDIES ON THE NEW FORMULATIONS OF NAPROXEN BY HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPY (HPLC) A. Alia, Y. El-Shabrawya, A.M. Gusbiband B.A. Mulleyb a Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network b School of Pharmacy, Bradford University, UK 7th Scientific Meeting of the Association of Schools of Pharmacy in the Arab World, Universite' Saint-Joseph Beirut, Lebanon The present work describes single and multi-dose pharmacokinetic studies on the new formulations in nine human volunteers with and without taking of food. Moreover, it describes a new sensitive and specific high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique for the determination of plasma naproxen concentrations using phenylbutazone as internal standard. The method was based on mixing plasma-containing naproxen with an internal phenylbutaone in acetonitrile in a polyethylene centrifuge tube. The tube was left for 5 minutes then mixed for 10 second on a vortex mixture and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 3000 r.p.m. a sample (20ÂľL) was injected to25 cm x 4.6 mm i.d. column packed with Partisil 10 ODS. The mobile phase was a mixture of 55% acetonitril and 45% aqueous solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) (v/v) at pH 3.7. The mobile phase flow rate was 1.5ml/min. Detection was by measuring the absorbance at 254 nm. The retention times were 3.4 and 7.4 min, for naproxen and internal standard respectively. All experimental conditions were carefully studied and performed at room temperature. The analytical procedure was valid with respect to linearity, accuracy and intra-and interday reproducibility. The proposed procedure was successively applied for the determination of naproxen plasma level. The relative bioavailability was 100 per cent.

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POLAROGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF BENZAEPRIL IN DOSAGE FORMS AND SPIKED HUMAN URINE Yaser El-Shabrawya, M.Rizb, F.Belalb, F. Ibrahimb and A.O. Mesbahb a Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network b Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mansoura, Egypt Alexandria Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol 18 (1), March 2004, pp: 21-26 (EGYPT) An electrochemical study of the behavior of benazepril HCl, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, at the stopping mercury electrode is reported. The study involved the use of direct current (DCt), differential pulse (DPP) and alternating current (ACt) polarography. The drug exhibited a well defined cathodic wave with E ½ of -1.22V vs Ag/AgCl in Britton Robinson buffer of pH 8.5. the limiting current is diffusion-controlled and the electrode process is completely irreversible. The diffusion current constant is 1.12 ± 0.02. The proposed method could be applied to the determination of banazepril HCl adopting each of DCt, DPP and ACt polarographic modes over the range of 4.8 – 60 µg.ml-1, 2.4 - µg.ml-1, and 1.2 – 12 µg.ml-1 respectively with minimum limit of detection (S/N = 2) 0.12 µg.ml-1 (2.6x10-7M) using the ACt mode. The average % recoveries are 100.20 ± 0.74, 99.71 ± 1.05 and 100.13 ± 1.13 for DCt , DPP and ACt, respectively. The drug could be determined in its tablet form without interference from the common additives. The results obtained are in good agreement with those obtained using a reference method. Moreover, the method could be applied to spiked human urine sample adopting the ACt technique, the average percentage recover (n = 4) was 94.63 ± 0.09.

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SENSITIVE KINETIC SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF CAPTOPRIL AND ETHAMSYLATE IN PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS AND BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS Y. El-Shabrawya, N. El-Enanyb and K. Salema Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network b Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mansoura, Egypt

IL FARMACO 59 (2004) 803-808 (Italy) A highly sensitive kinetic spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of captopril (CPL) and ethamsylate (ESL) in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids. The method is based on a catalytic acceleration of the reaction between sodium azide and iodine in an aqueous solution. Concentration range of 0.1–1.5 μgml–1 for CPL and 0.3– 3 μgml–1 for ESL was determined by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of iodine at 348 nm by a fixed time method. The decrease in absorbance after 5 min was markedly correlated to the concentration. The relative standard deviations obtained were 1.30 and 1.87 for CPL and ESL, respectively, in pure forms. Correlation coefficients were 0.9997 and 0.9999 for CPL and ESL, respectively. The detection limits were determined as (S/N = 3) were 20 ngml–1 for CPL and 50 ngml–1 for ESL. The proposed procedure was successively applied for the determination of both drugs in pharmaceutical preparations and in biological fluids.

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UNEXPECTED PARTIAL H1-RECEPTOR AGONISM OF IMIDAZOLE-TYPE HISTAMINE H3-RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS LACKING A BASIC SIDE CHAIN B. Sadeka, S. Elzb, H.H. Pertzc, H. Starkd and W. Schunackc a Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network b Institute for pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Germany; c Institute for pharmacy, Free University of Berlin, Germany; d Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, John Wolfgang GoetheUniversity, Germany European Journal of Inflammation Research, Vol. 53, Supp. 2 (2004), pp: 109-115 Objective and design: The putative partial H1-receptor agonism of some H3 receptors antagonists belonging to the proxifan series was characterized in a functional in-vitro assay using guinea-pig ileum. Methods: whole segments of guinea-pig ileum were mounted in Tyrodeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solution under isotonic conditions in the presence of atropine (10-7 M) and were cumulatively treated with histamine as an internal reference. After washout, the putative H1-receptor agonists were added cumulatively to determine agonist potency (pEC50) and intrinsic activity (Emax) relative to histamine. Maximal or supramaximal concentrations of partial agonist, or sufficient concentrations of H1-receptor antagonists were incubated 3-15 minutes prior to constructions of a second concentration-effect curve to histamine in order to calculate partial agonist or antagonist affinity for the H1 receptor (pKp or pA2 value, respectively). Results: several analogues of FUB 372 displayed low H1-receptor affinities (pA2 or pKp 4.2-5.5) except for methyl benzoate derivative (pA2 = 6.81, schild plot slope unity). FUB 372, four ortho-substituted derivatives (R=F, CH3, OCH3, CF3), and ciproxifan were weak contractile agents (Emax 9-38%, pEC50 4.73-5.68, histamine: 6.70) susceptible to antagonism by the H1-antihistaminergic drug mepyramine (2.10-9- - 10-7 M). agonist potency and H1 receptor affinity of these compounds did not

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correlate with the data of a set of H1-histaminergic 2pheylhistamines bearing the same substitiuents. Conclusions: This new and unique class of imidazole-type H1receptor agonists lacking a basic side chain nitrogen deserves further efforts concerning synthesis of novel compounds, pharmacological evaluation, and characterization of structureactivity relationships.

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HELICOBACTER PYLORI CENTER A LUXURY OR NECESSITY Tarik AI-Zubaidy Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network The 22nd Annual Meeting of ARABMED in Europe, AUST Network, Ajman- March 2005

It is estimated that approximately two-third of world's population is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori), which is a spiral - shaped bacterium that found in the gastric mucus layer or adherent to the epithelial lining of the stomach. A wealth of information has shown that H. Pylori causes more than 90 % of duodenal ulcers and up to 80 % of gastric ulcers. Large audients of scientist believe that infected persons have a 2- to 6- fold increased risk of developing gastric cancer and a mucosal - associated lymphoid -type ( MALT) , lymphoma compared with their uninfected counter parts. There are world wide spread of H. Pylori centers in the world offering their services to the communities. Establishing H. Pylori center in Ajman University Network will be in the core of mission and the goals of innovated medical environment which is pioneered by H. E. Dr. Saeed A. Salman, AUST president, seeking for creation of medical team who will share in offering health care services to reach to the' Healthy Society' through health promotion, prevention and unique therapy. In addition, breaking the barrier between the academic entity and society, such as hospitals, regional and international institutes. An outline will be presented for the services that H. Pylori center will offer to the staff members, students and community at large.

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STUDENTS AWARENES OF COUNTERFEIT DRUGS IN AJMAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NETWORK-FUJAIRAH CAMPUS Tarik Saleh Al-Zubaidy and Khairi M. Salim Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network The 5th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy, 23rd.-26th July 2005, Penang, Malaysia Drug counterfeiting has steadily evolved from small-scale, opportunistic, activities in less regulated parts of the world to what has become a widespread global threat to consumers and brand owners. Informed estimates put the size of the annual global market in fake drugs somewhere in the region of US$ 30 billion, representing about seven percent of pharmaceutical industry revenue. Even more alarming are results of surveys showing that counterfeit drugs in some countries comprise in excess of 50 per cent of the market. These activities clearly put consumers at risk, threaten corporate and brand integrity, and generate significant cash for organized crime and terrorist groups (Mafia). Even countries with highly regulated drug industries such as the US are not immune to the growing epidemic of fake drugs. Therefore, the presence of National Consumer League or any concerned body; should provide information and alerts to consumers concerning counterfeit drugs. Educating people (to be aware) about the ways of counterfeiting drugs, would participate in curbing faked drugs. 483 students requested to answer the questions pertaining to awareness amongst students. The results showed that 83.9 percent purchased prescription drugs. 24 percent suspected the drug of being faked. When they asked in such case what he should do. 56.1 percent would tell the doctor. 62.9 percent would tell the pharmacist. 52.6 would tell drug control agency. 24.4 percent did not want to do anything. Only 25.7 percent have an idea about drug counterfeit.

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INCIDENCE OF HEPATITIS B IN CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS OF EXPATRIATES IN UAE Tarik Al-Zubaidy1, Abedul Jalil Thwaini2, Samir Bloukh1 and EL Sayed Moh'd Balasy 3 1 Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, Petra University, Amman, Jordan 3 Director of Preventive Medicine Dept., Abu Dhabi, UAE The Third Conference in Medical & Biological Sciences, Zarka Private University, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences Amman, Jordan, 20-22 April 2004 Hepatitis B remains a public health problem in developing countries. Unless hepatitis B vaccination is introduced with extended program of immunization as recommended by World Health Organization, the carrier rate will remain high in these countries with its disturbing consequence. This screening test is intended to shed light on this problem and its relevance in UAE. Screening test for hepatitis B was done for all expatriates who came under the job category of domestic helpers, private drivers, servants, cooks, all house holders, and food handlers. All screened expatriates were adults above 18 years of age. Hepatitis B screening was done on UAE nationals only as prerequisite for marriage. HBsAG antigens were tested with ELISA. All sera positive for (HBsAG) were tested for HBeAg, which indicate viral replication and thus highly infectious person. The carrier rate among Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Philippines is higher than Indians. These figures do not reflect the actual rate of carriers in these countries. The carrier rate in the Indian sub-continent has bean found to be 8.6%, and in Southeast Asia 13 - 18%. The carrier rate in UEA nationals seems to be similar or less than other Middle Eastern countries. The carrier rate is important since it implies the occurrence of complications. These include chronic active hepatitis, which may lead to cirrhosis and hepato-cellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B carriers are 200 times more likely to get liver cancer than non-carriers. This is not seen until 20-30 years after infection. The cancer cells contain multiple integrated copies of hepatitis B viral DNA and this could

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be the carcinogenic factor. Integration takes place in infected liver cells after about 2 years of carriage.

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IS IT TIME TO CHANGE DIABETIC DISEASE NOMENCLATURE? Abduelmula R Abduelkarem1, Mike A Sackville2, Rae M Morgan2, and Anthony J Hildreth3 1 Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network 2 Sunderland School of Pharmacy, Sunderland, UK 3 Sunderland University Hospital, Sunderland, UK Pharmacy World and Science:International Journal of Pharmaceutical Care. 2004, 26 (1), 3-5. (Holland) The study explored the confusion in diabetes terminology as illustrated by the use of insulin in non-insulindependant diabetes. It is proposed that a new terminology for both types of diabetes be introduced. In order to investigate this proposal, we invited a total of 84 medical professionals to contribute their views via a one-page questionnaire, personally handed to the participants. Considering the variety of terms in the sample polled for this study, and the fact that patients with type 2 diabetes might need insulin management at any stage of their life, some professionals persist in using the old names, a fact that seems to fly in the face of logic. Most pharmacists will be aware that not only are the professionals confused by the current situation but that patients are also perplexed when, for example, receiving treatment with insulin after being told that they have non-insulin dependent diabetes.

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CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND TYPE 2 DIABETES: A GROWING PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE IN UAE Abduelmula R. Abduelkarem Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network International Diabetes Federation: Journal of Diabetes Voice. 2005, 50(3), 9-11. In the oil-exporting Arab countries â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the economic growth and development over the past three decades have been dramatic. This socio-economic progress has brought benefits to many people in the region, such as improved access to health care, education, and safe drinking water. However, economic development has set scene for the transformation of lifestyle, eating habits, and traditional societal and family structures in the region. These changes are not all for the better. In fact, lifestyle-related non-communicable health conditions are having an increasingly negative impact on the health of many adults and children. In the UAE, the prevention of type 2 diabetes in young people through the reduction of childhood obesity remains a major public health challenge. The Ministry of Health has developed educational programs to raise awareness amongst health-care providers about the prevention and management of diabetes. Children and their families learn about the links between obesity and diabetes through school-based health education programs. While expectation for such programs are limited due to the lack of diabetes educators and culturally appropriate materials in the region, primary school health education might hold the key to raising awareness amongst children and their families and teachers on the prevention of obesity and diabetes.

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ARE ARABS CONTROLLING THEIR DIABETES, OR IS DIABETES CONTROLLING THE ARABS? Abdulkarem, AR., D’Souza, M.S., and Sayegh, S.R. Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network The 5th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy, 22-26 July 2005, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia Objective: To measure the health-related quality of life for people with type 2 diabetes, in the Northern emirates. Method: A sample of 60 subjects who have had diabetes type 2 for at least a year, from the Northern emirates were interviewed and requested to answer a health status questionnaire, the SF36, the standard instrument of health related quality of life (QOL). The 36-item questionnaire covered eight health concepts, as effective factors on QOL. Key findings: A total of sixty adults with a mean age of 47.17±11.32 were interviewed. The percentage of male patients in this study was 56.7% and mean BMI (kg/m2) level calculated was 29.28±5.16, where 80% of the subjects fell into the “overweight-obese” range. Their scores for the eight concepts individually were: 62.67% for Physical functioning, 60.13% for Bodily Pain, 57.22% for Role Emotional, 52.50% for Role Physical, 51.90% for General Health, 50.80% for Mental Health, 46.67% for Social Functioning and 43.33% for Vitality. Therefore, the average of these eight concepts was 53.15%, which is the measure of quality of life of diabetes type 2 patients in this study. Rating is such that 100% signifies complete management of QOL. Conclusion: The study confirms that the quality of life of type II diabetic patients in the Northern emirates is poorly controlled and definitely needs professional intervention. The high BMI values suggest a positive relationship between obesity and the low scores of SF-36 reported in this study. Our findings can be used to increase awareness among diabetic patients about the importance of certain interventions to avoid the progression of complications and to learn methods to improve quality of life.

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Furthermore, these findings should prompt the health care professionals and stakeholders to devise different strategies to help their patients. Findings also suggest that the best interventions are through diet, lifestyle modifications and medicines and not necessarily through exercise, as the study shows that most patients were comfortable with daily routine physical activities but limited in strenuous activities. What could be more uniquely important is to identify specific medical and lifestyle interventions best suited for this region. The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever-growing, highly sedentary cosmopolitan population needs to be taught about the dangers of obesity and life-long complications associated with diabetes.

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DYSLIPIDEMIA CRISIS IN THE UAE: LACK OF SERVICES TO TREAT CURRENT POPULATION SUFFERING FROM DYSLIPIDEMIA AND THOSE POTENTIALLY AT RISK Abduelkarem, A.R., Usman, B., and Alaa, H. Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network The 5th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy, 22-26 July 2005, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia Objective: To determine people’s perception of dyslipidemia and their willingness to partake in a pharmaceutical care service specially designed for the treatment and prevention of the disease. Moreover, to determine the pharmacist’s knowledge with regards to dyslipidemia and their willingness to implement a pharmaceutical care service in their daily practice. Cross-sectional questionnaire survey directed at Method: community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, as well patients suffering from or already established dyslipidemia. Pharmacist’s surveys as well as patient's survey consisted of a 39 items. Key Findings: The response rates were 78% and 76% for pharmacists and patients respectively. More than half of the patients under investigation were unaware of the term dyslipidemia and its consequences. Although 40% of patients under investigation were willing to work with pharmacist in the treatment and prevention of dyslipidemia, over half of the pharmacist poled are un-willing to implement such a pharmaceutical care process in their pharmacy practice. However, only 20% of pharmacists either agreed or strongly agreed that physicians have waited and emphasized adequate therapeutic lifestyle changes prior to beginning treatment with lipid lowering agents. In-addition more than 90% of respondent pharmacists reported they do not have an adequate system to check for potential drug-interactions, which can lead serious consequences given the high number of dyslipidemia patients being treated for other co- existing disease states such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus’, coronary artery disease, etc.

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Conclusion: The information gathered from this study reflects patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lack of knowledge with regards to dyslipidemia, however their desire to solve this dilemma. This study also dictates the pharmacistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own hesitation as well as obstacles in providing optimal therapy to its dyslipidemia patient population. Thus all health care officials are encouraged to undertake a heavier role in dealing with the increasing dyslipidemia population in the U.A.E. Furthermore it is prudent for stakeholders to push for adequate nutritional values such as cholesterol, saturated fat, triglyceride, etc. to be listed on packaged food items in order to assist consumers in making proper choices based on their dietary needs. Therefore this would enable consumers to prevent the growth of dyslipidemia and allow for a healthier society.

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IS THERE ANY ROLE OF PHARMACISTS IN THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TEAM IN THE UAE? PERCEPTION OF DOCTORS, NURSES AND PHARMACISTS Abduelkarm, A.R., Rashida, S., and Shyma, E. Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network The 5th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy, 22-26 July 2005, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Objectives: To find out the role of pharmacists in the primary health care (PHC) and if they were eager to engage themselves in the PHC activities. Method: A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed to pharmacists either in community or hospital. Another 100 questionnaire were also distributed during the study period to doctors and nurses working in 3 different hospitals of Dubai health authority. A first reminder (personal visit) was offered to all of the participants after 10 days from the commencing date. A second phone call reminders were given to non-respondents pharmacists, doctors and nurses one week from the closing date of the research work. Key findings: The average response rate was 49% and 71% for pharmacists and other health professional respectively. Almost 88% of doctors and 75% of nurses were in agreement that pharmacists dispense according to a doctor’s prescription either “appropriate or important”. However, when doctors and nurses were asked about their opinion on the statement that pharmacist “counsel patients about OTC drugs, more doctors (94%) than nurses (70%) reported that will be either “appropriate or important”. Where the newer primary health care activities are concerned, the variations in the response among doctors and nurses were more obvious. More doctors (46%) than nurses (20%) supported the idea of pharmacists order laboratory tests. Furthermore, pharmacists participate in health promotion programs in the community were seen appropriate or important by more doctors (89%) than nurses (75%) under investigation. The results of this study revealed the differences between the

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activities of community pharmacists and those who were practice their profession in hospital. More than 80% of community pharmacists compared with only 62% of hospital pharmacists reported that either “most of the time or very often” they manage their pharmacy. Provision of counseling about OTC drugs was reported to be either important or appropriate by more community pharmacists (81%) than hospital counterpart (37%). On the other hand, more pharmacists from hospital reported that it is either appropriate or important for pharmacists to be able to order laboratory tests (25%) or immunization (38%). Cholesterol monitoring/testing was selected as either “appropriate or important” by more hospital pharmacists (38%) than community pharmacists (24%) throughout the study period. Conclusion: Despite the fact that doctors in this study were very optimistic from the involvement of pharmacists in some of primary health care activates, our results show that the majority of pharmacists under investigation were not interested either in pharmacy research or in the primary health care activities. Our findings can be used to promote discussion in the profession and with stakeholders about the future role of the pharmacists in primary health care activities.

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ADDRESSING THE NEW ROLE OF PHARMACISTS TOWARDS WOUND HEALING IN THE U.A.E. Abdulkarem, A.R., Dada, M.Y., and Yuosuf, N.M. Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network The 5th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy, 22-26 July 2005, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Objective: Despite the increased demand of services that pharmacists can provide, the provision of wound management services by either hospital or community pharmacists has never been studied in the gulf area. The objective of this study was to conduct a survey in two cities, Dubai and Sharjah, to determine the pharmacistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wound management experience and their views on this role. Method: A cross-sectional survey with the setting being community pharmacists in Dubai and Sharjah. A questionnaire adapted with prior permission of Sussman, G* was selfadministered to a total of 70 pharmacists. The pharmacists were individually approached and invited to participate, if they agreed, the questionnaire inclusive of a cover letter with brief background to the study was left with them and recollected after two weeks. Key findings: 60 pharmacists responded (30, Dubai and 30, Sharjah), a total of 7 forgot to answer and 3 returned the form and declined to participate due to lack of time. The responses between the two cities were similar. Only 33% of pharmacists in Dubai and 23% in Sharjah, reported that they rarely dealt with wound cases i.e advised and sold wound dressings to customers, but 20% in Dubai and 27% in Sharjah, reported that they always saw minor wound cases, and only 3%, Dubai and none in Sharjah saw major wound cases. Half of the respondents in Dubai and 37% in Sharjah rated poor or fair when asked about their understanding of wound causes and management. Almost 75% in both areas confirmed that they had no specific wound management training in the past and almost 83% of both respondents admitted that they did not have any reference

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books in the pharmacy. In addition 60% of respondents in both areas disagreed that education on wound care had been adequate to meet the needs of their practice, on the other hand 80%, of Dubai and 90% of Sharjah respondents where in favour of increased and improved wound management training. When asked, how important they saw wound management in the future of community pharmacy practice, more than 80% in both areas rated important or very important. Almost 60% of pharmacists in both areas disagree that wound management is the role of doctors and nurses only, and not that of pharmacists. Conclusions: A high percentage of wound related cases are dealt with in the pharmacy but these are restricted to mostly minor wounds. The poor knowledge on wound management amongst the pharmacists is expected because their basic knowledge is not upgraded with trainings and further reading. Despite this, an increased percent show willingness to train, in order to better equip themselves for the role. Also the high importance given by pharmacists and agreement that wound management is not just a role of other health care professionals, further shows their interest. However the pharmacists here are at present, not ready to deal with more elaborate roles on wound management unless appropriate training and government support is offered.

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IS IT TIME TO START PHARMACEUTICAL CARE IN LIBYA? Abduelkarem, A.R. Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network Libyan Pharmaceutical Association: Pharmacy Dayâ&#x20AC;?, 21 August 2005, General Trauma Hospital, Tripoli-Libya Drug therapy, in general, has become so complex that one professional should no longer be expected to control the entire process alone. Around 1990 in many European countries the focus of the pharmacist's activities started to shift from the drug to the patient. This was due, in part, to the philosophy of pharmaceutical care developed in the USA. Pharmaceutical care is the direct, responsible provision of medication-related care for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life. Furthermore, it describes a model of practice in which the patients is the primary focus and in which the pharmacist accepts responsibility for ensuring appropriate outcomes from drug therapy. Although pharmaceutical care as a concept is sweeping over the pharmaceutical world, in daily pharmacy practice little has been implemented so far due to theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re being a number of barriers. The presentation discussed these barriers in details and explored different ways to sort out these barriers and to help implementation the concept in Libya and other Arabic courtiers.

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THE INTERACTION BETWEEN GLUTAMINE AND ARGININE CONTENTS IN VARIOUS TISSUES OF CHOLESTEROL – FED RATS, POSSIBLE PHARMACOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF GLUTAMINE AND ARGININE COMBINATION IN HYPERCHOLESTROLEMIA Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network University Sharjah Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol 3 No 2, 65-80 (2005) The effects of long-term feeding of cholesterol on free Arg and Glu contents in the different organs of rats were investigated using an automatic LKB Amino Acid Analyzer. Cholesterol at a daily dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 20 weeks significantly elevated the contents of free Glu and free Arg in the heart tissue from 204 ± 017 to 293 ± 025 µmol /100 g wet tissues (**P< 0.001, N = 10),and from 74.00 ± 009 to 390 ± 010 (****P< 0.001, N = 10) respectively. In the plasma both free amino acids levels were significantly elevated from 285.0 ± 013 to 339.0 ± 09 and from 104.0 ± 09.7 to 140 ± 09.2 nmol/L (*P< 0.05, N = 10), respectively. Under the same conditions cholesterol intake significantly decreased the free Glu and free Arg contents in the brain tissue from 313 ± 13 to 186 ± 01 µmol /100 g wet tissues (****P< 0.001, N = 10), and from 111 ± 08 to 66 ± 07 (****P< 0.001, N = 10) respectively. In the lung tissue cholesterol induced a significant decrease in the contents of free Glu and free Arg from 116 ± 07 to 63 ± 07, (*P< 0.05, N = 10), and from 124.0 ± 02 to 36 ± 03 µmol /100 g wet tissues (***P< 0.005, N = 10), respectively. In the kidney tissue the content of free Arg was elevated from 471 ± 057 to 592 ± 065 µmol /100 g wet tissue (**P< 0.05, N = 10), associated with a significant decrease in the content of free Arg in the pancreatic tissue from 1321 ± 241 to 688 ± 052 µmol /100 g wet tissues (**P< 0.01, N = 10) in the treated group. These effects were concomitant with almost depleted contents of free Glu in the liver and the kidney tissues in the treated animal groups. Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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In conclusion, a new line of evidence arose from these observations that the utilization of the two amino acids increases in response to high cholesterol intake, thus a combination of Gln and Arg may have pharmacological and therapeutically implications in hypercholesterolemia. Under normal conditions, Gln and Arg are nonessential amino acids. But it seems likely that Cholesterol intake increases demand for both Gln & Arg and consequently endogenous Gln and Arg supplies become a limiting factor for cholesterol metabolic processes; for this reason, in the subjects that have high cholesterol intake or even those who are prone to develop hypercholesterolemia, Gln and Arg are essential nutrients. Gln & Arg supplements should be administered in combination and should consider the dose carefully and according to clinical trial.

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NEW SIGHT IN THE ROLE OF ISOLEUCINE INTAKE IN THE CARDIOPROTECTIVE OF CERTAIN AMINO ACIDS IN RATS Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network MJPS Vol. 20, 125-139 (2004) The influence of the chronic intake of isoleucine on free amino acids in the heart and the plasma after long-term administration of rats were investigated, using an automatic Amino Acid Analyzer. Feeding isoleucine intake 100 mg/kg/day for 14 weeks significantly elevates the contents of aspartate, glutamine, alanine, ornithine, lysine and histidine in the cardiac tissues. These increases are concomitant with completely abolishing the content of arginine and a significant decrease in the content of tyrosine. Under the same conditions chronic oral treatment of rats with isoleucine 100 mg/kg/day for 14 weeks significantly elevated the plasma levels of glycine, alanine, leucine, tyrosine and arginine. These results indicated that mobilization of the cardioprotective amino acids in the cardiac tissue along with the abolishing of arginine in the cardiac tissues is concomitant with an increase in free arginine in the plasma. These changes remain important from a physiological standpoint in myocardium metabolism and function. Thus, this finding of the current study provides physiological data indicating that isoleucine may be beneficial particularly in protecting the myocardium against insulting stress and other stimuli that precipitate ischemia and arrhythmias and these result also explain the fact that isoleucine is involved in stress, energy and muscle metabolism.

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INVOLVEMENT OF CERTAIN AMINO ACIDS IN THE CARDIOPROTECTIVE ACTIONS IN CHOLESTEROL-FED RATS Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network Arab Pharm. J. vol 2, N 10, 41-56 (2005) The effects of the cholesterol intake on free amino acids in the heart after long-term administration of rats were investigated, using an automatic LKB Amino Acid Analyzer [Biochrom Ltd., Cambridge, England]. Feeding cholesterol intake 100mg/kg/day for 20 weeks significantly elevates the contents of aspartate from 135 ± 014 to 187 ± 008 µmol /100 g wet tissues (***P< 0.005), glutamine from 204 ± 017 to 293 ± 025 µmol /100 g wet tissues (**P< 0.01), ornithine from 7 ± 001 to 114 ± 008 µmol /100 g wet tissues (****P< 0.001), histidine from 44 ± 005 to 79 ± 008 µmol /100 g wet tissues (***P< 0.005 ) and arginine from 74 ± 009 to 390 ± 010 µmol /100 g wet tissues (****P< 0.001) in the heart. These increases are concomitant with slight increase in cardiac taurine from 1891± 156 to 2064 ± 136. However, this increase was insignificant (P more than 0.05) These alterations in the contents of the amino acids in the heart were associated with a significant elevation in the plasma Gamma Glytamyl transferees [γGT] activity. It is suggested that mobilization of the protective amino acids in the cardiac tissue indicates that there are interaction mechanisms between cholesterol intake and these certain amino acids that are considered the factors for generating metabolic events, which play physiological functions in the protection of myocardium muscle from the action of cholesterol Thus, under pathological conditions, there is an imbalance between these interaction mechanisms which enhances risk for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

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CURRENT CONCEPTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHOLESTEROL FED RATS AND ENDOGENOUS AMINO ACIDS Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network MJPS Vol. 20, 106-124 (2004) The effect of long term feeding of cholesterol 100 mg/kg/day for 20 weeks on free amino acid patterns in plasma and liver contents in rats was investigated using LKB-amino acid analyzer [Biochrom Ltd., Cambridge, England], these results were correlated with their effects on plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein and Gamma Glutamyl Transferas [γGT]. Results indicate that all amino acid contents in the liver were significantly decreased in the cholesterol fed animal group. The amplitude of reductions varied between 40-100 %. Glutamine and tryptophan were not detected in the liver of cholesterol fed group. The plasma concentrations of taurine, glutamate, alanine, valine and phenylalanine were elevated, mean percentage increases were 48 ± 4, 40 ± 3, 25 ± 3 and 35 ± 4 respectively. These increases were associated with significant decrease in the concentration of ornithine (37%). Meanwhile proline was not detected in the plasma of treated animals. Also, plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins and γGT were determined by colorimetric methods. Results indicated that feeding cholesterol significantly increased the plasma γGT activity. In these experimental conditions, the chronic intake of cholesterol had no significant effects on plasma cholesterol or other plasma lipids parameters tested except plasma triglycerides which was significantly increased. In conclusion, these results indicated that there are interactions between cholesterol intake and hepatic glutamine and tryptophan as well as plasma proline and these interaction mechanisms may be considered the factor generating metabolic events, which play physiological functions in the regulation of plasma cholesterol. Thus, under pathological conditions there is an imbalance between these interaction mechanisms which Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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cause an increase in the circulating levels of cholesterol, leading to pathological processes such as hyperlipedemias, atherosclerosis and bile stones.

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THE INFLUENCE OF CHOLESTEROL INTAKE IN GLUTAMINE METABOLISM BY INDUCING A RENAL ACIDOSIS IN RATS Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network 22nd Annual meeting of ARABMED in Europe, UAE, 25-31 2005, P. 318 The effects of the long - term cholesterol intake on free amino acids in the kidneys, plasma and liver of rats were investigated, using an automatic LKB Amino Acid Analyzer [Biochrom Ltd., Cambridge, England]. Administration of cholesterol at 100mg/kg/day for 20 weeks significantly elevates the free levels of aspartate from 1759 ± 197 to 2022 ± 66 (*P< 0.05), therionine from 880 ± 026 to 1082 ± 093, serine from 1279 ± 033 to 1621 ± 154 (**P< 0.01),glutamic acid from 1340 ± 073 to 2128 ± 172 (****P< 0.001), glycine from 1894 ± 137 to 3175 ± 314 (****P< 0.001), alanine from 2548 ± 245 to 3851 ± 268 (***P< 0.005 ), valine from 1064 ± 033 to 1447 ± 41 µmol /100 (*P< 0.05), cystine from 103 ± 006 to 168 ± 001 (****P< 0.001), methionine from 371 ± 011 to 455 ± 033 (*P< 0.001), isoleucine from 683 ± 021 to 871± 110(*P< 0.05), leucine from 1359 ± 048 to 2033 ± 061 (***P< 0.005 ), lysine from 1182 ± 055 to 1514 ± 25 (*P< 0.05 ), histidine from 318 ± 014 to 388 ± 032 (*P< 0.05 ) and arginine from 471 ± 057 to 592 ± 065 µmol /100 wet tissue (*P< 0.05 ) in the kidneys. Under the same condition cholesterol administration at 100 mg/kg/day for 20 weeks significantly decreased homocystine from 100 ± 007 to 57 ± 018µmol /100 wet tissues (*P< 0.05 ) in the kidneys Meanwhile, glutamine was not detected in the kidneys of the cholesterol fed rat. Results also indicate that all amino acid contents in the liver were significantly decreased in the cholesterol feed animal group. The amplitude of reductions varied between 40-100 %. Glutamine and tryptophan were not detected in the liver of cholesterol feed group. The plasma concentrations of taurine, glutamate, alanine, valine and phenylalanine were elevated whose mean percentage increases were 48 +/- 4, 40 +/-3, 25 Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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+/- 3 and 35 +/- 4 respectively. These increases were associated with significant decrease in the concentration of ornithine (37%). Meanwhile proline was not detected in the plasma of treated animals. These alterations in the content of the amino acids in the tissues of the experimental group were associated with a significant elevation in the plasma gamma glytamyl transferees [ÎłGT] activity. In conclusion, this stud provides the first evidence that the cholesterol intake increases the Gln utilization in the renal and hepatic tissues. Under normal conditions Gln is nonessential amino acids, but it seems likely that Cholesterol intake increases demand for Gln and consequently endogenous Gln supplies become a limiting factor for cholesterol metabolic processes which is a necessary feature of the normal physiological homeostasis such as acid â&#x20AC;&#x201C; base balance in the kidney.

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PHARMACOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL ROLE OF TAURINE ON FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Abdulrahim Abu Jayyab Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network 22nd Annual meeting of ARABMED in Europe, UAE, 25-31 2005, P. 25-31 The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of taurine on pregnancy in rats including number of nidation as well as prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 uterine levels. Four groups of rats each consisted of 7 rats. Group I served as a control receiving ordinary drinking water, Group II received taurine 50 mg/kg/day, group III received taurine 100 mg/kg/day and group IV received taurine 200 mg kg/day. Duration of treatment was 14 weeks before subjected to mating and conception. Taurine was continuously given daily during pregnancy. On the 16th day of pregnancy animals were sacrificed and dissected to calculate number of faeti. The uterus also isolated, homogenized with iced Krebs's solution to prepare the uterine 6-oxo-PGF1 and TXB2 an organic solvent (a mixture of ethyl acetic acid: water in the ratio (v/v/v/v) 110: 50: 25: 100) was prepared. The silica gel mini column was used to collect the two fractions. The prostanoids were quantitated using radioimmunoassay kits (Amersham) utilizing a high specific activity 6-oxo-PGF1 or TXB2 iodotyrosine methyl ester traces. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test. The results showed that taurine decreased the fetal number in dose-dependent manner compared with the control group, concomitant with increase in uterine prostacycline level in dose dependent manner. In conclusion, taurine might influence of infertility rate as well as an important Pharmacological as well as physiological and pathological effects on reproductive mechanism.

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CENTRAL MONOAMINES AND THEIR ROLE IN MAJOR DEPRESSION Abdalla Salem Elhuwegi Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry: 28 (2004) pp. 435â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 451 The role of the monoamines serotonin and noradrenaline in mental illnesses including depression is well recognized. All antidepressant drugs in clinical use increase acutely the availability of these monoamines at the synapse either by inhibiting their neuronal reuptake, inhibiting their intraneuronal metabolism, or increasing their release by blocking the alpha2 auto- and heteroreceptors on the monoaminergic neuron. This acute increase in the amount of the monoamines at the synapse has been found to induce long-term adaptive changes in the monoamine systems that end up in the desensitization of the inhibitory auto- and heteroreceptors including the presynaptic alpha2 and 5-HT1B receptors and the somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptors located in certain brain regions. The desensitization of these inhibitory receptors would result in higher central monoaminergic activity that coincides with the appearance of the therapeutic response. These adaptive changes responsible for the therapeutic effect depend on the availability of the specific monoamine at the synapse, as depletion of the monoamines will either reverse the antidepressant effect or causes a relapse in the state of drug-free depressed patient previously treated with antidepressant drugs. Furthermore, blocking the somatodendritic 5-HT1A or nerve terminal alpha2 receptors proved to increase the response rate in the treatment of major and treatmentresistant depression, providing further support to the assumption that the antidepressant effect results from the longterm adaptive changes in the monoamine auto- and heteroregulatory receptors. On the other hand, the chronic treatment with antidepressants resulted in D2 receptors supersensitivity in the nucleus accumbens. This supersensitivity

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might play a role in the mechanisms underlying antidepressant induced mood switch and rapid cycling.

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CONCEPTS OF ACCREDITATION AND PROGRAM ASSESSMENT IN THE MEDICAL EDUCATION Abdalla Salem Elhuwegi Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network 1st Libyan Physicians doctors in and out, Tripoli- Libya Aug. 2005 The following points were discussed: 1. What is meant by accreditation? 2. Why we need assessment? 3. What is meant by program assessment? 4. What are the different types of assessments? 5. How program assessment is carried out? 6. How we start the process of accreditation and program assessment in Libya?

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FIVE YEARS CORRELATIONS BETWEEN FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE EXAMINATION IN PHARMACOLOGY AT A.U.S.T. NETWORK, ABU-DHABI CAMPUS, U.A.E. Abdalla Salem Elhuwegi Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network Represented in the 22nd Annual Meeting of ARABMED in Europe, Ajman- March 2005 This investigation was carried out to study the correlations between formative & summative assessments of Pharmacology subject thought to Pharmacy student at A.U.S.T. network. It also studied the correlations between student performance in pharmacology, their semester grade point average (GPA), overall grade point average (AGPA) and school average (Sch. Avg.) A complete data sets for 321 students included Pharmacology score (year, midterm and final exam marks), GPA, AGPA and school average. Significant high correlations were found between year, midterm, final marks and total pharmacology scores. There was also significant high correlation between pharmacology scores, GPA, AGPA and School average scores. The high correlation between year, midterm and final exam marks indicates that the continuous (formative) assessment is essential in improving student performance in the final (summative) assessment. It can also be used as a predictor of student performance in the final exam. The significant correlation between the total score in pharmacology and students GPA & AGPA indicates the reliability of the assessment results in pharmacology and also reflects the homogeneous performance of the students between the different subjects thought in the Faculty of Pharmacy & Health Sciences of A.U.S.T network.

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DEPRESSION: CAUSES, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT Adel Wasfi Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network As Seha wa Teb, No. 318, 25 Dec 2004, page 30 A disease that effects millions each year, believed to be caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain called (NEUROTRANSMITTERS). Anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socio-economic, can suffer from Depression status. Depression influences your attitude toward yourself, others, and life in general. It takes away your feelings of well-being. Depression changes the way you feel, think, and how you behave.

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OZONE THERAPY Adel Wasfi Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network As Seha Awalan, 3/4/2005, page: 54 The oxygen atom exists in nature in several forms: 1. As a free atomic particle (O), it is highly reactive and unstable. 2. Oxygen (O2), its most common and stable form, is colorless as a gas 3. Ozone (O3) has a density one and a half times that of oxygen. Ozone is a powerful oxidant. Of importance to biological systems is Ozone interaction with tissue, especially blood.

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LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHIC ASSAY OF ABOUTHIOUZINE IN PLASMA AND ITS APPLICATION TO PHARMACOKINETIC STUDIES Khalid M. Alkharfy1, Rao Muzaffar A. Khan1, Badraddin M. Al-Hadiya1, Hisham S. Abou-Auda1, and Rafiq R. AbouShaaban2 1

College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia Dept. of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network

Journal of Chromatography B, 817 (2005) 183-186 Abouthiouzine is a newly synthesized antithyroid agent with a proposed less adverse effects profile than other currently used drugs. A simple and rapid reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography assay was developed to determine the concentration of abouthiouzine in human plasma. The procedure involved extraction of the drug and propranolol (internal standard) from the plasma using ethyl acetate. The extract was evaporated under nitrogen and the residue was constituted with the mobile phase and injected onto µ-Bondapack phenyl column (10 micron, 3.9 mm×150 mm). The mobile phase consisted of 10 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer, acetonitrile, and methanol in the ratio of 60:25:15 (v:v:v, pH =3.0), which was delivered at a rate of 1.5 ml/min. Abouthiouzine and the internal standard were monitored using UV detection at 240 nm; the run time was less than 5 min. The detection limit of abouthiouzine is 0.5 µl/ml. The within- and between-day coefficients of variation were less than 7%. Our method has been successfully used to measure abouthiouzine plasma concentrations in a rabbit model following an intravenous administration of the drug.

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Faculty of Foreign Languages & Translation

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AUST Network - RIT Council

TRANSLATION TEACHING: A STUDENT-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE Sahab Abdul Aziz Salih Faculty of Foreign Languages & Translation AUST Network English Language and Literature Studies, May 2004 The present paper is concerned with the teaching of translation. Students studying translation at the College level in certain Arab State Universities complained of serious deficiencies in their study of translation, particularly in terms of teaching methods, techniques and procedures, besides that their classes were dull and boring. This is because translation is imposed by teachers on their students without being aware of how is the text translated. The paper has two interrelated objectives. First, it attempts to bring together, along eclectic lines, new insights into the nature of translation teaching. In doing that, it adopts a studentâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; centered approach in the teaching of translation. Second, it proposes a new method of teaching translation. The proposed method includes three main parts; namely preparation, presentation and practice.

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LANGUAGE: A POWERFUL WEAPON OF MASS DECEPTION Najib Ismail Jarad Faculty of Foreign Languages & Translation AUST Network English Language & Literature Studies, 3, 2: 121-146. 2004 (Egypt) The purpose of this article is to examine the effect of language on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perception and behaviour, and how it influences their thought of and reaction to war. The article also investigates the repercussions of war on language since each war generates its own lexicon, some of it military, some of it political. The interesting thing about the new words and phrases is that they are derived by a wide range of creative resources provided by the language. These resources include many different word formation processes, including novel derivations, acronyms, blends, clippings, back formations, and compounding processes of various sorts.

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LEVELS OF COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE AND CLASSROOM INTERACTION Najib Ismail Jarad and G. Barakat Faculty of Foreign Languages & Translation AUST Network Journal of Ajman University of Science & Technology Network, vol. 9, 2: 37-74. 2004 (UAE) The purpose of this paper is to look at the effect of foreign/second language (henceforth, L2) learners' levels of communicative competence on their attitudes to a number of activity types involving different kinds of classroom interaction. Three types of classroom activity were examined: whole-class activities (teacher- centered, with the participation of the whole class); group-work activities (student- centered, with groups of three to six students); pair-work activities (student-centered, with the participation of only two students). Three different groups of learners were surveyed: Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate.

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A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY OF REVISION REQUESTING STRATEGIES IN REFEREES’ REPORTS Tharwat El-Sakran Faculty of Foreign Languages & Translation AUST Network Journal of the English Language and Literary Studies, Vol.3, No.1 (2004) This paper presents the results of a genre analysis of reviewers’ reports on research manuscripts submitted for publication consideration in refereed journals. Following the methodology developed in Swales (1981) and Bhatia (1993), 64 reviewers’ reports were examined in terms of their schematic structure. The component moves were identified and their linguistic signals were highlighted. It is concluded that the nature of reviewers’ reports, being personal and evaluative in nature, necessitates the use of the first- person writer pronoun (“I”), qualitative adjectives and premodifying adverbs. The results also show that the ‘evaluation’ move is lengthier, in terms of the number of words used, than the other moves in the reports since it represents the main communicative purpose of the report. Evaluation is couched in three different ways: explicit, implicit and flagged. A strong relationship is established between the reviewers’ cooperation with the manuscript writer and the final decision provided in the ‘position’ move. That is, the more questions a reviewer raises, the less favourable the decision is going to be and the more suggestions for improvements are given, the more positive the ‘position’ move is going to be. Points and/or issues that reviewers look for are singled out and the linguistic features pertinent to the moves and the steps used for their realization are identified. The study concludes with some guidelines for cooperative and successful reviewing.

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TEACHING SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION WITH LIMITED RESOURCES Tharwat El-Sakran Faculty of Foreign Languages & Translation AUST Network The English EFL Skills Conference held at the American University in Cairo, Jan.21-24 2005 Interpreters, often mistakenly called translators, are those who render verbal speech from one language into another. Interpreting is a skill that requires training and practice. Being bilingual is not enough. Training interpreters for the millennium poses many practical problems for teaching institutions with limited resources and prospective interpreters who find it difficult to speak in public and/or booths due to many factors such as anxiety. This paper examines the development of confidence and fluency in trainee interpreters at different levels of training and experience through a conference approach. It focuses on pauses as an index of fluency in simultaneous interpretation from English into Arabic and vice versa. Statistical analyses and feedback from students point to the usefulness of such an approach in developing the interpretation skill as well as other related skills.

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100

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Faculty of Business Administration

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101

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102

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IMPLICATIONS OF PERSONAL NETWORKS (ALAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;AQAT) IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT: THE CASE OF STRATEGY FORMATION IN TWO MAJOR SUDANESE ENTERPRISES Abdallah Elamin Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Integrating for Excellence 1ST International Conference proceedings, pp 80-87, July 2005, Sheffield Hallam University, (UK) ISBN Number 1843871319 Personal networks permeate Africa and are considered to be a salient feature of the African culture. The present paper attempts to shed light on the influence of such a vital cultural phenomenon on a managerial process of strategy formation within an enterprise context of an African country (Sudan). There has been an increase in recent years in the number of publications, which focus on strategy formation process from the network perspective by emphasising the totality of interorganisational relationships direct and indirect, that a firm is involved in. This paper deviates from this view by presenting some strategic implications of viewing strategy formation processes as a function of personal networks instead. Using the grounded approach the paper discovered that there are two types of personal connections that are extensively influence strategy-making processes in the Sudanese context: personal connections between executives at inter-firm level and connections with government officials.

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PREDICTION OF FAILURE IN ISLAMIC AND CONVENTIONAL BANKS THE CASE OF SUDANESE COMMERCIAL BANKS Ibrahim Elsiddig Ahmed Dept. of Accounting, Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Proceeding of Accounting Conference II, International Islamic University, Kuala lampur, Malaysia, 15 – 17 Feb. 2004 Since the late 1980s Sudanese commercial banks, as part of the global economy, suffer a lot from financial problems and some of these banks had been declared as failed banks in the mid1990s. This study tries to investigate the determinants of financial distress in Sudanese conventional banks as compared to the Islamic banks, and the ability to predict the factors of financial distress. The multiple discriminant analysis was used to discriminate between the two groups of healthy and distressed banks. Different tools under this methodology were applied to provide comprehensive analysis for the study. The main findings of this study are: • The final model is composed of four variables and a constant. The variables represent the different groups of ratios with the relevant coefficients. The validity of the model and its ability to predict financial distress was tested, and the model give a high degree of discriminatory power. • We can state that the Sudanese commercial banks are subject to different types of distress and at different levels. The financial statements can provide comprehensive analysis for the banks. • There is an obvious difference between distress variables in conventional and Islamic banks. • Islamic financial reporting has an increasing role in the determination of failure in Sudanese commercial banks.

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AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS INFLUENCING EMPLOYEES’ INTENTION TO USE INTRANET TECHNOLOGY Mohamed Gamal Aboelmagd Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Journal of Economic and Business Review, Vol.4 No.4, pp. 34-64 , 2004 (Egypt) This research attempts to investigate a number of factors that influence employees’ intention to use Intranet technology in selected United Arab Emirates (UAE) organizations. Organizational, personal motivation and technology factors has been identified and hypothesized through extensive literature review. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed in two steps on the research variables to empirically test the suggested hypotheses, and reveal some important findings. First, men and women do not differ in their intention to use Intranet technology. Second, employees of large organization will have more intention to use Intranet technology than employees of small organizations. Third, there was no evidence to support the influence of organizational factors on employees’ intentions to use Intranet technology; top management support and perceived decentralization. Fourth, employees’ intention to use Intranet is mainly influenced by personal motivation factors (i.e., technology championing and enjoyment), and perceived technology attributes (i.e., relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, observability, and trialability. Important managerial implications and recommendations for future research are also presented.

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THE EFFECT OF INTERNAL AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS ON ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT IN ETISALAT COMPANY EMPLOYEES Shawky Elsubbaugh Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Menoufia University Journal, Vol: I (1), pp: 1-19, Jan. 2005 (Egypt) This study aims to examine the relationship between internal marketing and the three dimensions of organizational commitment (affective, continuance and normative commitment). In addition investigating the relationship between the personal characteristics and organizational commitment as whole. Simple random sample was selected from Etisalat company employees to attain these objectives. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between internal marketing and organizational commitment (affective and continuance). However normative commitment was not significant. Also, results reveal that there was a significant relationship between personal characteristics and organizational commitment as a whole. While age was not significant.

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THE SEARCH FOR AN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION BETWEEN GCC AND D-8 COUNTRIES: AN EXPERIENCE FROM EUROPEAN UNION Amzad Hossain Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Pakistan Journal of Social Science, vol. 2 No. 4, pp: 295-303, October - December 2004 Economic integration between GCC and D-8 countries does not necessarily imply non-economic cooperation with rest of the world. Therefore, economic integration between these two groups of countries could be a key to their long-run economic development. This paper discusses a comparative analysis of selected economic indicators of the GCC and D-8 countries with European Union. The comparisons between the GCC-D-8 countries and EU indicate that manufacturing industries and agriculture in the GDPs show wide difference, but GDP growth rate, inflation rate and their average rates are not significantly different. The GCC and D-8 countrys' mesmerizing consumer market, which is larger than that of EU, the investment ardor of foreign suitors. Labor absorbing capacity of the GCC and D-8 countrys' economy is higher than that of EU economy. Apart from petroleum, to establish a common policy for other products within GCC and D-8 countries will not necessarily impede GCC countries' trade relationship with others as well as their export earnings. Thus, there is a potential opportunity to establish a common market within GCC and D-8 countries, which could be expanded in other OIC member countries. Some policies and issues of common economy within GCC and D-8 countries and its effectiveness for sustained economic growth and trade balances to meet emerging challenges also are explored.

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LOCUS STANDI RULE FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW: THE CURRENT LAW IN THE UK AND MALAYSIA Md. Abdul Jalil Faculty of Business Administration, AUST Network Faculty of Business and Law, Multimedia University Malaysian Journal of Law and Society Vol. 8, pp: 40-55 (2004) In an application for judicial review the court first determines whether the applicant has locus standi to bring the case to the court. If the court finds that the applicant does not have locus standi, the court will dismiss the case as frivolous and vexatious. It is important to make locus standi rule flexible. If the locus standi rule is made strict then in some cases a person whose right or interest is not adversely affected may not apply for judicial review although the person is representing other people who are adversely affected. Strict interpretation of locus standi rule bars public interest litigation in judicial review. In this paper I have examined the current locus standi rule in the UK and Malaysia, and have suggested that the locus standi rule might be made flexible so that a public-spirited man or a representative body can have standing to apply for judicial review to protect down-trodden public interest in genuine cases.

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AMENDMENT TO ORDER 53 OF THE RULES OF HIGH COURT (MALAYSIA) IN THE YEAR 2000: AN ANALYSIS Md. Abdul Jalil Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network IIUM Law Journal, 2004, Vol. 12, pp. 213-234 (Malaysia) Order 53 of the Rules of High Court 1980 (Malaysia) was amended by the Parliament in the year 2000. As Malaysia is a commonwealth country and follows the UK administrative law decisions, it was long expected that Order 53 (Malaysia) will be reformulated in light of the new Order 53 of the Rules of Supreme Court (UK) which was amended in 1978 (later replaced by part 54 of Civil Procedure Rules 1998) and provide uniform procedure and locus standi rule for all types of remedies available in the judicial review proceedings. However, the expectation was partially fulfilled. In this paper I have discussed and analysed different aspects of the amendment in the Order 53 of the Rules of High Court 1980 (Malaysia), the benefits it has offered and the drawbacks still found in this Order 53.

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THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNIQUÉ IN THE PLETHORA OF COMMUNICATION MATERIALS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Rubeena Çetin Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Exploring New Frontiers in Marketing 2005 Annual Conference Proceedings, Published by Marketing Management Association, March, pp. 188-197, Chicago – USA In today’s information-rich environment, higher educational institutions face challenges in developing promotional materials, which is more than basic information. Consequently, based upon the empirical data, it is formulated that new universities (1-10 years), middle level universities (10-25 years) and established universities (25 and more years) should practice necessary communication campaigns.

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FINANCIAL REPORTING DIFFERENCES IN THE UAE BANKS: A STUDY WITH REFERENCE TO SELECT INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES Srinivas Inguva Dept. of Accounting, Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Global Finance Conference 2005: 27-29 June 2005, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland It is common knowledge that banks and financial institutions play a basic infrastructure and supporting role in the growth and development of business organizations in any country. The banking sector in the UAE has enjoyed substantial growth since the establishment of the country. Currently there are 21 national banks and 28 foreign banks carrying various banking activities in the UAE and serving a population of approximately two million people. The UAE central bank is monitoring the financial sector and all commercial banks are regulated by the central bank. In the UAE, a well structured net work of local banks and branches of foreign banks provide a full range of commercial banking services. The Central Bank is based in Abu Dhabi. In addition to its role as the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advisor on financial and monetary matters, the Central Bank issues currency, regulates monetary policy, maintains gold and foreign-currency exchanges, controls the banking sector and acts as the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial and monetary advisor, among others. It is well known fact that the International Accounting Standards board is an apex body providing accounting standards to maintain the commonness of financial reporting of various countries and organizations irrespective of regional disparities. In this way the International accounting standards board is playing an important role to internationalize the same accounting practices and reporting standards to see the universality of global financial and accounting reports. According to the directions of the central bank of UAE all the banks in UAE have to follow the international accounting standards in their financial reporting. Although, the Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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central bank has directed all the banks functioning in the UAE to follow the international accounting standards, the financial circumstances and accounting policies of individual banks may differ in their financial reporting. There must be some differences in the financial disclosure and following of International accounting standards and accounting policies. The main objective of the present study is to notice the differences in the financial reporting of the banks in the light of International Accounting Standards and accounting policies of individual banks and to notice such differences. The data for the study has been drawn from the annual reports of the banks for the year2002 and 2003 and 2004 and be given statistical treatment wherever necessary for better analysis and interpretation. The results of the study are, whether the financial reporting in the banking sector is strictly according to the international accounting standards or not? If there is a variation in the financial reporting, what are the causes for such variations in the financial reporting. The main limitation of the study is that the study is limited to select International Accounting Standards and individual accounting policies of the sample banks functioning in the UAE only.

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MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING AND ITS ROLE IN THE BUSINESS: A STUDY WITH REFERENCE TO BANKS IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Ibrahim El Siddig & Srinivas Inguva Dept. of Accounting, Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network The First International Conference On Business, Management and Economics, Yasar University, Izmir, Turkey, 16-19 June 2005 The present day business organizations are equipping themselves with different decision making tools and techniques in order to take scientifically reasonable business decisions. These are very much essential in a dynamic business environment. During the process of the evolution as a decisionaiding accounting, Management accounting is playing a dominant role in the decision making process of every organization, especially in the case of banks. It is common knowledge that banks and financial institutions play a basic infrastructural and supporting role in the growth and development of business organizations in any country. It is of great importance to consider here the effect of the acute competition in the UAE banking sector as well as the UAE economy as a whole. The competition factor requires managers to take accurate decisions based on well selected techniques that suite the banking condition and environment. The specific objective of the current study is to analyze the management accounting techniques applied in the decision making process of the Banks in UAE and the impact on their performance due to the recent changes in the application of the techniques. A part from this, the present paper is aimed at studying the variance in the application of management accounting tools and techniques as a control system among the Banks. The data required for the study would be collected from both primary and secondary sources. The financial reports of the banks functioning in The United Arab Emirates will be collected for the years 2001 through 2004 and a sample of about 30 per cent would be Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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analyzed to derive the conclusions. Since, the study is related to the banking sector of The United Arab Emirates both local and foreign, the conclusions are expected to be useful not only to the Banking sector but also to other similar sectors and with the same operational conditions. The study is limited to the application of management accounting techniques, recent changes and their impact on the decision making process /performance of the banks located in The United Arab Emirates only.

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DETERMINANTS OF AN OPTIMAL DEBT – EQUITY CHOICE: REVIEWING THE CHANGING PARADIGMS Rajesh Mohnot Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Bankers’ Journal Malaysia, June 2005 Issue, published by Institute Bank Bank, Malaysia An optimal debt – equity choice decision has been one of the most debating issues in the modern corporate finance ever since the renowned authorities Modigliani and Miller revealed the relationship between firm’s value and an appropriate debt – equity ratio. The current article endeavors to review the emerging factors of determinants concerning debt – equity choice and theoretically evaluate the appropriateness of empirical model to measure the so-called optimum debt – equity mix.

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MANAGING TRANSLATION EXPOSURE TOWARDS A STRATEGIC APPROACH Rajesh Mohnot Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Journal for International Financial Analysts, Volume 5, Summer 2004, ISBN 0-9749946-0-X, By The American Academy of Financial Management, USA Since the 1950s, the global environment in which Multinational Corporations (MNCs) have operated has remarkably grown. The share of world exports in world GDP between the early 1970s and late 1990s increased from one-eighth to one-fifth. The stock of foreign direct investment as a proportion of world output doubled from 5 to 10 % during a period of 1980-1996. Global volume in foreign exchange trading exceeds $ 1500 billion a day in 1997. As per the UNCTAD 2000 reports, there are around 60,000 companies having more than 500,000 affiliates all over the world. International money and capital markets in stocks, bonds, foreign exchange futures, options and euro-currencies approach 24 hours a day operational status. Because of this growth in international commercial transactions, cross-border investments, fund flows and financial operations in general have to be considered when global companies plan, formulate and implement optimal organizational structures for their international operations. These international operations must be consolidated, translated into the parent companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currency reported back to parent firms, accounted for, so that international top management may properly manage their respective companies.

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USE OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS IN UAE El-Khider Ali Musa Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network J. Economic Horizons, Vol. 26 No. 103, 2005 (3), pp 11-13 This research investigates implementation of the international financial reporting standards by the public and private enterprises of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The objective of this research is to shed light on this topical issue in the wake of the UAE being a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).The study adopted questionnaire survey as the main method of research to collect data. The study concludes that many publicly-listed companies of the UAE have already adopted the international financial reporting standards (IFRSs) at their own initiative.Many of them are doing this because they think it is necessary to take advantage of the economic globalization and the integration of the international capital markets.All the national commercial banks, however, have to adopt the international accounting standards in response to the directions of the UAE Central Bank. Nonetheless, the study concludes that there is more room for the advancement of the international accounting standards in the UAE.Creating strong public and private bodies to regulate the accounting and auditing profession in the UAE, among other initiatives, is central to promoting these international accounting standards.

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THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE BODIES IN THE REGULATION OF THE PUBLIC AUDITING PROFESSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES El-Khider Ali Musa Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Arab Journal of Administration, Vol 25, No 1 (2005) p. 141 Since its federation in one state in 1971, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced a successful economic development in which the national and foreign private sector play a key role.The proliferation of the private sector enterprises made it necessary to introduce the legal framework for the public auditing profession in the country.This paper discusses the role of the Government of the UAE and the Association of Accountants and Auditors(AAA) of the UAE in the regulation of the public auditing profession. The paper demonstrates clearly that the government assumes an active role in the regulation of the public auditing profession. This is because Law No.22 of 1995 has vested the Federal Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MOEC) with full powers regarding registration of practicing auditors and development of the auditing profession.While MOEC did very well on the first role, there is no evidence that it promoted the auditing profession as envisaged by the Law. The AAA, on the other hand was established in 1997 as a nonprofit organization aiming at promoting the accounting and auditing profession in the UAE as it was established after 1995, the year in which Law 22 of 1995 was enacted, the AAA has not been influential in regulating the public auditing profession. Moreover, inspite of its serious efforts, the AAA did little on Emiratization of the public auditing profession, which is still dominated by expatriates and foreign big Auditing companies such Price Waterhouse and KPMG.

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OIL PRODUCTION AND RESERVES IN THE UAE AND SULTANATE OF OMAN, CONFIRMING ITS VIABILITY TO SERVE FUTURE GENERATIONS Husein Matar Essale and Salim Ali Al-Jundi Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Center of Strategic Studies and Researches, Abu Dhabi, 2004, page 49, Fall 2004 The oil production and sale, in the GCC countries, contribute a vital percentage of its national income, and in some instances form around 90-95% of its GDP, especially when the oil prices are souring high with the increase in seasonal or accidental demand. This forms a major revenue contribution in the GCC national economies that are considered leaning towards complete dependence on oil revenue. It is in the interest of such oil rich countries to start diversification of its income-earning industries to, at least: â&#x20AC;˘ enable find an equilibrium between such components in national income, or, â&#x20AC;˘ to change the dependency in favor of the diversification and industrialization which is supposed to shoulder the national income when the oil reserves are exhausted or substituted by an energy source to take over the crude oil market place as a source of energy. The crucial question that comes forward: "Is it viable for a certain country, such as the UAE or Oman, to keep pumping oil at the highest level to enable satisfying the increasing demand? Taking into consideration that, will be expediting or shortening the life span of such oil reserves, as the oil reserves are finite and subject to exhaustion. On the other hand, what are the policies required to start looking into other alternatives of diversification and the wellbeing of its future generations?

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A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF AUST NETWORK AS A TARGET MARKET FOR ENROLMENT IN THE SEGMENT OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES THAT AVAILS IN THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICE IN THE UAE Husein Matar Essale Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Athens Institute for Education and Research (Atiner) Publications 2005, Fall 2004 Drawing upon the writings of Dowling & Midgley, 1988, Churcill, 1995, Kotler & Armstrong, 1991, Belk, 1975, Neal Quester & Hawkins, 2002 and Peter Donnelly, 2003, this situational study is trying to match theory to practice, linking a successful endeavor in creating a unique educational institution in a competitive market (The UAE), with different strategies, ideologies and approaches. The marketing challenges faced, and being challenged, are huge and give little pace for chances of luck to succeed. This entails that adopting a mission and outlining goals-path plans to achieve set objectives are crucial in any marketing strategies and management practices used in such educational institutions. This led to its success, growth through fulfilling its objectives in a very promising target market. Conducting a limited scale survey, in Al-Ain Campus, the outcomes were concrete evidences of challenges that must be faced and environmental changes that must be looked into to shoulder the Council of Directors endeavor to push forward for excellence in light of a wider vision for the future. The findings necessitate reinforcing the need for a tight fit between available resources and potentialities in the UAE to enable achieve an outstanding performance to enhance comparative advantages in the field of higher educational institutes.

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A CONTEMPORARY COMPARATIVE CRITICAL CONTENT ANALYSIS BETWEEN PERSONNEL AND HRM IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM Husein Matar Essale Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Institute of Busienss Management & Research Publication – Indore – India Page 100, Oct. 2004 Strategic Role of HRM in New Millennium: As HRM in the new millennium recognizes that human resource planning must be integrated closely with strategic organizational planning, Human Resource Managers are becoming more involved in the decision making of top management, who are gradually recognizing the importance of the functions performed by human resource departments in the achievement of organizational objectives. In the New Millennium, the contemporary field of HRM is the product of evolutionary development reflecting the concepts of human relations movements and the scientific management. The most recent conceptual development has been the emergence of behavioral science which has contributed to better understanding of organizational behavior and to programs for organizational development. This evolution is characterized by: • A growth in its professional status as reflected in the code of ethics developed by the American Society for Personnel Administration. • A growth of literature and research efforts within the field. The Human resources of an organization typically includes individuals with a wide variety of knowledge, skills, and abilities who are expected to perform job activities in a manner that contributes to the attainment of organizational goals. HRM represents a new concept and approach in performing personnel functions. It still requires the performance of those personnel functions that have evolved over the years in response to emerging needs. However, instead of being treated

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as being separate and distinct, these functions are being performed as interrelated parts of a management system.

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THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT: A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS IN THE GCC REGION Husein Matar Essale Faculty of Business Administration AUST Network Indian Government Secretariate 2005, Spring 2005 By the start of the 21st century, women were faced with a number of challenges. There is an apparent need to explore new ways of settling differences, create a more humane society, protect the environment and make an effort for a fairer distribution of power and resources. That is, to identify a new socio-political culture. It is becoming obvious that no problems of our times can ever be adequately solved without the ideological contribution and the political participation of women. Women make up around half the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population. They play crucial roles in the preservation of norms, values and practices that richly endow the diverse societies of the world and are fundamental to human existence. They also have been a powerful force in economic decision-making all over the world, particularly in purchasing within the households and consumer market, and have contributed to the world's development in many fields. Women are also fit to be business leaders, and will, increasingly, go on to hold business positions at the highest levels of decision making and corporate leaders as they have the same abilities and the same skills that men possess. Pursuant to what the traditional societies see women role as, one of the discussants volunteered to suggest that, women are supposed to be grouped into three categories: 1. Reproduction (Motherhood and maternal instinct to secure kind), 2. Production (Contribution to the family economic life), and, 3. Community role (Practicing social and political activities on the sidelines).

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This study focuses on one of the most important matters in the GCC Region in particular, as it is becoming a major research problem facing the entire women's society in the region, and in particular, the Business Woman. Although women were neglected in the European society in the early and in the Middle Ages; women got all their rights during the twentieth century, profoundly taking up public responsibilities in the government, enabling them to take the posts of: A president, vice president, prime minister, minister, in addition to being jury and judge in the legislative authority. This soft, gentle, passionate and lovely creature had indulged herself in the business life to become a business woman, a manager of large companies and industrial firms, a decision maker, a supervisor, even as a helper and a caring worker. Nearly on a daily basis we come to knows about famous womenleaders on T.V. and see their names on newspapers performing their duties as CEOs in multinationals, which were able to restructure failing multinationals into success.

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Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering

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A SIMULATION STUDY OF A RELIABLE DYNAMIC MULTICAST ENVIRONMENT Abdelaziz Araar, Hakim Khali, MIEEE, and Riyadh A.K. Mahdi Faculty of Computer Science & Computer Engineering AUST Network The International Arab Journal of Information Technology (IAJIT), Vol. 2, No. 2, pages 135-140, April 2005 In the dynamic multicast environment, static multicast retransmission modes may lead to congestion and loss of packets due to propagation errors of the wireless network. This paper logically divides the dynamic multicast network into fixed and mobile parts, and focuses on the dynamic wireless environment, where mobile member may enter in non-covered areas. The group is divided into many subgroups of mobile members. Each subgroup has one designated receiver (DR), which is responsible of multicast. Simulation studies have been conducted to determine the benefits of integrating an improved Forward Error Control (FEC) codes to a reliable multicast protocol P_Mul in the dynamic environment. Members can leave and join the subgroup based on some distributions. DR can support two modes of FEC: proactive and reactive. The simulation tool using OPNET shows that reactive FEC is better with high rate of leave and low rate of join. However, for proactive FEC, it is the opposite. Also Simulation results show that the number of designated receivers is parabolic with respect to the number of retransmissions. This paper investigates the benefits of an improved FEC mechanism for the reliable dynamic wireless networks.

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REAL-TIME 3D IMAGE COMPUTATION USING LUT-BASED DSP SYSTEMS Hakim Khali, MIEEE, Mehdi Riyadh, and Abdulaziz Araar Faculty of Computer Science & Computer Engineering AUST Network The 2004 IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Circuits and Systems, December 6-9, 2004, pp. 369-372 In a typical embedded laser-based acquisition system, real-time 3D image computation may be affected by several main factors, like processor speed, complexity of re-mapping functions, the size of the 3D image and the correctness of optical data (artifact correction). To achieve the desired performance, the designer may choose a fully hardware-based solution. However, this will increase the system cost. In this paper, we propose a hardwaresoftware system design framework based on a DSP processor, and look-up tables (LUTs) to compute a 3D image in real-time and achieve the desired throughput.

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GENERATING FUZZY RULES FOR CLASSIFICATION PROBLEMS USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS Riyadh A.K. Mehdi, Hakim Khali, and Abdelaziz Araar Faculty of Computer Science & Computer Engineering AUST Network The IASTED International Conference, AIA Feb 16-18, 2004, Innsbruck, Austria, pp 74-77 The problem of extracting fuzzy rules for classification purposes is very important. In this paper we propose a coding scheme for chromosomes that will allow for the generation of classification rules such that the number of rules required to cover each class and the appropriate features to be included in each rule is determined by the optimal genetic solution for the problem under investigation. The coding scheme proposed does not require the clustering of features as input to the genetic solution proposed. The rules obtained are expressed in terms of linguistic variables. The main advantage of the method proposed is that it overcomes the problem of exponentially growing number of possible conjunctive prepositional rules. The results obtained are very encouraging and further refinements of the genetic solution may increase the performance significantly.

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EVALUATION OF TICKET HISTORY METHOD IN DISTRIBUTED MUTLIDATBASE SYSTEMS Nasser Taleba and Ghassan Aouadb Faculty of Computer Science & Computer Engineering AUST Network b Salford Centre for Research & Innovation (SCRI) University of Salford, Salford, M7 9NU

Theoretical Evaluation of the Ticket History Method MultiDatabase Systems.5th International Postgraduate Research Conference in the Built and Human Environment, Manchester, UK This paper investigates and evaluates the performance of two transaction management protocols that serialize global nested transactions in multi-database systems with emphasis on transaction submission characteristics. The first algorithm, the Ticket History Method (THM), guarantees global serializability of nested transactions in multi-database systems. The second algorithm studied, the Nested Tickets Method for Nested Transactions (NTNT) is a technique that provides correctness of nested transactions in multi-database systems. Based on the outcome of the evaluation, the THM requires significantly fewer transactions to be started and potentially restarted than the NTNT algorithm. This work also demonstrates that THM algorithm outperforms NTNT algorithm under heavy loads. Despite the improvement offered by the THM, it still may encounter performance bottlenecks because all global nested transactions are required to take a single ticket number from the same centralized global ticket database. However, this can be avoided by installing an in-process application that may make taking global tickets more efficient.

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REINFORCEMENT LEARNING BASED GROUP NAVIGATION APPROACH FOR MULTIPLE AUTONOMOUS ROBOTIC SYSTEMS O. Azouaoui, A. Cherifi, R. Bensalema and A. Farahb CDTA – Centre de Développement des Technologies Avancées, Laboratoire de Robotique et d'Intelligence Artificielle, Algiers, Algeria, bFaculty of Computer Science & Computer Engineering AUST Network

IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics & Automation, Niagara Falls, Canada, July 2005 In several complex applications, the use of multiple Autonomous Robotic Systems (ARS) becomes necessary to achieve different tasks such as foraging and transport of heavy and large objects with less cost and more efficiency. They have to achieve a high level of flexibility, adaptability and efficiency in real environments. In this paper, a Reinforcement Learning (RL) based group navigation approach for multiple ARS is suggested. Indeed, the robots must have the ability to form geometric figures and navigate without collisions while maintaining the formation. Thus, each robot must learn how to take its place in the formation and avoid obstacles and other ARS from its interaction with the environment. This approach must provide ARS with capability to acquire the group navigation approach among several ARS from elementary behaviors by learning with trial and error search. Then, simulation results display the ability of the suggested approach to provide ARS with capability to navigate in a group formation in dynamic environments.

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A NOVEL CYCLIC STRATIFIED LEARNING MODEL FOR E-LEARNING CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNER ASSESSMENT Ismail Al-Ani, Mohammed Salahat and Izharul Haq Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network The International Telework conference & workshop Langshire, UK, 29th August â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1st September 2005 Traditional learning has been around for many years and has been established firmly in terms of standardization based on the local practices. The new trend is now to amalgamate the traditional learning with e-Learning. However, there are many basic questions that need to be addressed in order to understand how people learn from such new environment. eLearning has become popular due to the fact that it provides great flexibility to the users. There are numerous courses on the Internet but most of these are made on an ad-hoc basis. Thus, there is a great need for standardization of e-Learning content development and learner assessment. In this paper we propose a new learning model, Cyclic Stratified Learning (CSL), which can be used to develop an e-Learning course and for assessing the learner. The basic structure of CSL model consists of five main layers each connected to the consecutive layer by a vertex. Each layer is divided into three sub-layers: elements, meta-elements and applications. The element sub-layer consists of several groups of learning elements. The meta-elements sub-layer defines the rules to use those elements. The application sub-layer is used to assess the learner. The user goes through an e-Learning content cycles that traverse each layer incrementally. The assessments are carried out at certain well-defined intervals i.e., intra layer and inter layer. The learner can progress through the layers in a linear or non-linearly depending on their abilities. The CSL is a generic model that can be implemented using various methods and techniques. An architecture that uses several IT tools to implement the CSL model is suggested.

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NEW EC-LEARNING MODEL: (A BRIDGE BETWEEN E-LEARNING & C-LEARNING) Mohammad Salahat, Izharul Haq, Ismail Al Ani, Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network International Scientific Conference e-Learning: a challenge for modern education, Warsaw Argiculture University, Poland, 16-17 May 2005 Conventional learning (C-Learning) and E-Learning have their advantages. In C-Learning a proper administering, place, timing, monitoring is required and student must also adhere to other formalities. For students such activities are often engaging, challenging and provides a sense of belonging to a particular learning institution. In E-Learning the scenario is different: The advent of E-Learning, has brought about polarization of ELearning and C-Learning. While no one can claim that one approach is superior to the other there is a consensus that a better learning paradigm must be sought to eliminate the existing dichotomy and take full advantage of both approaches. Hence, today one of the biggest challenges of E-Learning is to provide students with established â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;best practicesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; models of CLearning and integrate these with benefits of E-Learning techniques. Here we propose a new EC-Learning model that provides a better Human-Computer-Interaction and a more fully immersed learning experience. The proposed model assists in narrowing the 'digital divide' between different countries.

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MODELING OF ACTION POTENTIAL PROPAGATION IN CARDIAC CELLS DISPERSED IN HETEROGENEOUS MEDIA Lina Al-Kury and Izharul Haq Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network 13th Nordic Baltic Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics, NBC, 2005, Sweeden In this paper a cardiac cell capacitor model (CCCM) has been proposed. Myocardial cells are represented as capacitors dispersed in an amorphous material representing the extracellular fluid. Using discretized Laplace equation we calculate the distribution of the electric field (EF) within the intercellular space. Our results show that the EF induces spontaneous propagation of action potential (AP) that cascades across all myocardial cell membranes leading to excitation. We also show the effect of varying the number of gap junctions (GJs) on AP propagation. Finally, we propose a new bionano switch based on the GJ characteristics.

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ATHEROSCLEROSIS-TARGETED NANOLIPASE BUCKYBALLS Lina Al-Kury, Samar Ziad, Mais Salah, and Izharul Haq Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network The First UAE International Conference on Biological and Medical Physics, ICBMP, 2005 Coronary disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This narrowing is due to the buildup of plaque on the inner walls of the arteries (atherosclerosis) reducing blood flow to the heart. Consequently, this decreases the oxygen supply to the heart muscle that may subsequently lead to a heart attack. Nanotechnology may offer a new way to identify regions of cholesterol deposit and destroy them, hence returning the normal blood flow. In this proposal we suggest a novel approach of using buckyballs coated with specific types of proteins that have an affinity towards the cholesterol molecules. The coated buckyballs are used to encapsulate enzymes (e.g., synthetic lipases) that can react with the cholesterol to break it down. Various ways of releasning lipases from the buckyballs at the site of the atherosclerosis is discussed. The advantage of using nanolipase (consisting of buckyball, lipase and coating protein) is that it can be administered to the patients orally or intravenously. Buckyballs consist of carbon molecules covalently bonded together to form a spherical structure. The interior is hollow and hence can act as a container to carry active chemicals for targeted function. We have also investigated through computer simulations, using Navier-Stokes equation, the dynamics of blood flow through the atherosclerosis region.

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SIMULATION OF CALCIUM IONS TRANSPORT THROUGH SERCA2A PUMP/NANOTUBES USING STOCHASTIC METHOD AND PERCOLATION THEORY Lina Al-Kury and Izharul Haq Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network The International Conference on Bionanotechnology Research, 2005, UK A phenomenological model is proposed describing a possible mechanism by which calcium ions are transported through SERCA2a pump from the cytosol into the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (SR) lumen using stochastic method. Furthermore, the time needed for this passage was determined using percolation theory. From the simulations, we have established semi-quantitative results of various factors that may cause impairment of the SERCA2a pump such as the density ratio of PLB to SERCA2a pump within a single cluster and the depletion of ATP supply caused by hypoxia. In this paper we discuss the use of nanotubes for the study of SERCA2a pump by coating these nanotubes with the protein sequence which is known to be responsible for calcium binding and transport through the pump.

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SIMULATION OF HYPOXIA-INDUCED SERCA2a PUMP BLOCKAGE USING NANOTUBES Lina Al-Kury and Izharul Haq Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network The First UAE International Conference on Biological and Medical Physics, ICBMP, 2005 Heart attack is one of the major killer diseases in the world. Extensive research is being conducted on myocardial cell membranes showing conformational changes or blockage of ion channels. One of the main problems associated with studies of real membranes is that they die within a short time. Therefore, current methods relay on computer modeling and simulations to determine the chemical pathways leading to such conditions. In this paper we propose a simplified phenomenological computer model of a myocardial cell to simulate the effect of blocking the Sarcoplasmic/ Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase (SERCA2a) pump. A novel approach of using nanotubes was applied to model SERCA2a pump. Discretized Laplaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equation was applied to determine the electric field distribution within the cytoplasm of a myocardial cell to show the path taken by calcium ions from the extracellular fluid to the interior of the cell. We also simulated the movement of calcium ions before and after their detachment from the actin molecule using diffusion equation coupled with Monte Carlo technique. From these results we showed that a deficiency in ATP production during hypoxia may lead to impairment of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATP-dependent calcium pump (SERCA2a). Furthermore, our results have shown that in order for Ryanodine Receptors (RyR) to be activated, the concentration of SR calcium ions must reach a threshold; else, it may lead to irregularity in heart beats.

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COMPUTATIONAL MODELING AND NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR INVESTIGATING AND IMPROVING CARDIAC CELL FUNCTION Lina Al-Kury and Izharul Haq Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network The Second International Conferenceon Innovations in Information Technology, IIT, Dubai 2005 Computer modeling and simulations play a very crucial role in understanding biological processes and systems. More powerful algorithms and faster computers are increasingly providing solutions to problems that were once unattainable. One active area of research is to investigate how proteins fold into their native state or undergo reversible conformational changes. Proper folding of a protein places a prominent role in determining its function. However, in cases where a protein â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;misfoldsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, this can lead to various types of physiological disorders and diseases. In the heart, such conditions may develop into severe cardiomayopathies. Our focus here is on Phospholamban (PLB), a regulatory protein in the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane. Using a 2-D computer model we have simulated the conformational changes in a simple dipeptide amino acid sequence. Similar mechanism is believed to be responsible for the reversible conformational changes in PLB. Furthermore, we have investigated the effect of PLB mutation on the uptake of calcium ions by Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum ATPase pump (SERCA2a). We propose the use of specific protein-coated nanoparticles (PCN) to target and breakdown amyloid fibrils accumulated in cardiac tissue. By investigating the physiological processes underlying cardiac disorders, this will provide clues toward understanding and curing many heart diseases.

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AN ARABIC CHARACTER RECOGNITION SYSTEM USING GENERAL AUTO-ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY MODEL AMER AL- NASSIRI Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network ACIT2004, Mentouri University of Constantine, Algeria, Dec. 2004 This paper proposes a method for the recognition of typewritten Arabic characters. Recognition has been done in using a general auto-associative memory (GAM) based approach, and an improved chain code and invariant moments shape descriptor, as the main features. The role of GAM artificial neural network used as a classifier is examined, investigated, and its performance is evaluated when trained and tested with printed Arabic characters using structural features. The feature vector, which is used to train the GAM recognition model, is the chain code (direction and length), number of holes and /or dots with their position, and moments of segmented character. By using the new GAM concept called supporting function, the model shows a storage capacity suitable for storing all Arabic characters. A simple experiment was conducted to show the effectiveness of the Sample Learning Algorithm (SLA) in the recognition of noisy Arabic characters. The system has been tested using a set of data and the result obtained has proved its efficiency and robustness.

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A LEARNING VECTOR QUANTIZATION BASED RECOGNITION TECHNIQUE FOR ARABIC CHARACTERS AMER AL- NASSIRI Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Engineering AUST Network IEEE GCC 2004, Manamah, Bahrain, Nov. 2004 Artificial Neural Networks (ANN`s) have been successfully applied to optical character recognition (OCR) yielding excellent results. This paper describes improvements to a system that recognize Arabic character in a low and high resolution binary document images. A classical conventional algorithm that uses chain coding for the segmentation of words, while a Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) network is used to identify the segmented Arabic characters. Performance advances reflected in the current system largely result from the introduction of ensembles Freeman Arabic Classification Tree (FACT) [1], as the base for LVQ recognizer. By using features produced by chain coding algorithm, FACT, and LVQ (as a classifier), we have obtained high recognition rate on printed Arabic character. Application of LVQ demonstrates the arbitrary of the method to significantly reduce the computational lost of the classification system and improves the recognition rate. On characters extracted from more than 40 test images (pages) scanned with various kinds of scanners with 300 & 600 dpi scanning resolution, in addition to various degree of noise, the current system attains a character recognition rate within 88- 92%.

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Faculty of Dentistry

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ANALGESICS IN DENTISTRY Salem Abu Fanas Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network The First Dental Symposium, Faculty of Dentistry- Sharjah University-2005 Pain is a protective mechanism for the body. However, on many occasions pain seems pointless, only contributing to the discomfort of the patient. In dentistry, pain may be expected either as a result of pathology or caused by dental procedures. This presentation is a review of pharmacologic pain management in adult dental patients. Numerous analgesics are available, and recent introduction of new agents provides even more options from which to choose. It discusses the pharmacology and therapeutic utilization of opioid and nonopioid analgesics limited to dentistry and the selection of single and combined analgesic regimens.

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THE PATTERN OF MAXILLOFACIAL FRACTURES IN SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: A REVIEW OF 230 CASES Hamad Ebrahim Al Ahmed, Mohamed A. Jaber, Salem H. Abu Fanas, and Mark Karas Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network J Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol & Oral Radiol Endo Vol 98: 166-170 USA (2004) Objectives: Maxillofacial injuries constitute a substantial proportion of cases of trauma. This descriptive analytical study: 18 assesses the cause, type, incidence, demographic, and treatment data of maxillofacial fractures managed at Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, during a 4-year period and compares them with the existing body of literature on the subject. Study design: The medical records and radiographs of 230 patients treated for maxillofacial fractures at the Al Qassimi General Hospital over a 4-year period (from 1999 to 2002) were reviewed. A number of parameters, including the patient’s age, gender, race, occupation, and mechanism of injury, type of facial injuries, treatment modality, and postoperative complications were recorded and assessed. Results: Men 20 to 29 years of age sustained the most maxillofacial fractures. The ratio of males to females was 11:1. Most fractures were caused by motor vehicle crashes (75%), followed by falls (12%) and violent assaults (8%). There were 150 (51%) mandibular, 102 (34%) maxillary, and 22 (7.4%) zygomatic fractures. Regarding distribution of mandibular fractures, the majority (25%, 38/150) occurred in the condyle, 23% (35/150) in the angle, and 20% (30/150) ½Q2_ in the body. The distribution of maxillary fractures were 49.0% (50/102) dentoalveolar, 29.4% (30/102) Le Fort I, and 10.7% (11/102) 30 were Le Fort II fractures. ½Q3_ More than half of all cases

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were treated by closed reduction (67%). Complications occurred in 5.6% of patients. Conclusion: The findings of this study, compared with similar studies reported in the literature, support the view that the causes and incidence of maxillofacial injuries vary from one country to another and, as such, can provide a guide to the design of programs geared toward prevention and treatment.

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ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Rehman M M and Salama RI Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Pak J Med Sci April-June 2004 Vol. 20 No.2 151-156. Studies have supported the notion that subjects with periodontitis and patients with multiple tooth extractions as a result of chronic advanced periodontal disease (PDD) have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) than those who had little or no periodontal infection. Periodontitis may predispose affected patients to CVD by elevating the systemic C- reactive protein level and pro-inflammatory activity in atherosclerotic lesions and accelerate development of CVD. Oral health variables including loss of teeth, positive plaque Benzoyl-D-Arginine-Naphthyl Amide test (BANA) scores, and complaint of xerostomia may be considered as risk indicators for CVD. Exact mechanism which links PDD and CVD has not been firmly established. The link between PDD and CVD may be attributed to bacteria entering blood stream and attaching to the fatty plaque in coronary artery and contributing to clot formation which can lead to heart attack. Inflammation caused by PDD increases the plaque build up. The association between the two disease entities is cause for concern. However, dental and medical practitioners should be aware of these findings to move intelligently to interact with inquiring patients with periodontitis. They should be urged to maintain medical surveillance of their cardiovascular status, and work on controlling or reducing all known risk factors associated with CVD, including periodontal infection.

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DENTIST LABORATORY COMMUNICATION Sabah A Ismail and Abdul-Haq A Suliman Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Al-Rafidian Dental Journal, Vol 4, No. 2, 2004 PP 143-148 The aim of this study was to evaluate the common errors that may occur during crown and bridge construction. Four hundred stone models were used in this study for fabrication of 265 bridges and 135 single crown. The total number of units was 1141. Four main parameters were evaluated for each stone model: General information about the case, the condition of the stone model, the type of impression material and the prepared abutment tooth. The result of the study showed that 33.7% of the models were one unit and 48.7% of the models were 2-4 units and the remaining 17.5% more than five units. The models without opposing arch was 8.7% of the models. Alginate impression materials were used in 95% of the cases and only 5% of the cases in which elastomeric materials was used. The finishing line was absent in 19.7% of the cases. Enough tooth reduction was done in 61.3% of the cases and 16.3% of the cases showed too much tooth reduction while, 22.4% of the cases the tooth reduction was not enough. In order to avoid these errors continuous education courses and journal clubs are highly recommended.

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EVALUATION OF COMPOSITE RESIN SURFACE ROUGHNESS AFTER TWO YEARS STORAGE IN DEIONIZED WATER Sabah A Ismail and Abdul-Haq A Suliman Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network The Iraqi Journal of Oral and Dental Sciences, Vol 3, No. 1, 2004 Surface roughness value of restorative materials were obtained using surface profile instrument (Profilometer), the importance of storage time on the quality of the restorative material is demonstrated. Two types of composite resin were evaluated a hybrid composite (Prodigy) and organically modified ceramic (Definite). Twelve disks samples were prepared six of each composite type, three of each were stored for one week in deionized water while the other were stored for two year. The result revealed no significant changes in surface roughness between materials and time.

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EFFECTS OF COMPOSITE THICKNESS ON SHEAR BOND STRENGTH TO DENTIN Sabah A Ismail and Abdul-Haq A Suliman Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Mustansiria Dental Journal Vol 2, No. 2, 2005 (IRAQ) Sixty non carious extracted human molars were used in this study. The enamel on the occlusal surfaces of the crown of the tooth was removed by a diamond bur, then the surfaces of the teeth were ground flat. The teeth were randomly divided into six groups each of ten and stored in distilled water at 37 degree C. Two types of composites were used in the study, Definite and Tetric. The bonding agents Etch and Prime were prepared according to the manufacturers directions and applied to the dentin surface of the first three groups and light cured for 20 sec. The composite Definite was packed into either 2, 3 and 4mm thick using split mold in the first second and third groups respectively and bulk cured from top of the composite for 40 seconds, the same procedure was repeated in the remaining three groups but the composite used was Tetric with its corresponding bonding agent (Excite). The bond strength was measured with universal compression machine. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two types of composite, Tetric and Definite used in the study. The shear bond strength was affected by the thickness of the composite, the 2mm increment showed higher bond strength than 3mm and the 4mm increment in both composite.

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DENTAL CARIES PREVALENCE IN RELATION TO SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN AJMAN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Hashim, R., Thomson, M., Ayer, K., Lewsely, J., and Awad, M. Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network The International Dental Association Conference 83rd March 2005 (Colgate Award) Objective: the study was carried out to assess dental caries in the primary dentition of preschool children in Ajman, UAE, and to assess the influence of socioeconomic status. Method: Cluster sampling was used to select children enrolled public & private schools aged 5 & 6 years in Ajman, UAE. Clinical examination was carried out by one examiner using dmfs index & WHO criteria. Questionnaires for information related to the socioeconomic background, oral hygiene, dietary history, exposure to fluoride and dental service utilization were completed by their parents. Results: The total number of children sampled was 1297, of which 1036 individuals have completed both dental examination & questionnaire. There were 518 males (50.0%) & 518 females (50.0%). The prevalence of dental caries in 5- & 6-year-old children was 72% & 80% with mean dmfs of 9.2 & 11.3 respectively. Age, sex, income, nationality, motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education, dietary habits, oral hygiene & dental utilization were significantly associated with caries level. Conclusion: The results suggest that socioeconomic factors, dietary habits, oral hygiene, & dental utilization are important as determinants of dental caries in preschool children in Ajman, UAE. The high levels of dental caries found among preschool children stress the urgent need for oral health programs targeted at the underlying causes of dental caries.

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BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SERUM PANCREATIC AMYLASE AND LIPASE ENZYMES IN HUMAN TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS Adib A. Aughsteen, Mustafa Abu-Umair & Sameer Alhaj Mahmoud Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Saudi Medical Journal, 2005; Vol.26(1):73-77 (KSA) Objectives: To examine the pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in human diabetes mellitus by estimating serum pancreatic amylase and lipase enzymes in healthy subjects and in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: The study was conducted on twenty normal healthy volunteers and thirty-nine diabetic patients referred to Al-Isra medical laboratory, Amman, Jordan during the period from April to November 2003 after recording their age and sex. The age onset of diabetes and the type of treatment were determined and the patients were categorized into type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), serum insulin, and serum pancreatic amylase and lipase enzymes. All biochemical tests were carried out in the medical laboratories of Islamic Hospital, Amman, Jordan. All estimates presented are means Âą standard deviation (SD), and statistical treatment of data was performed using student t test. Results: The FBS and HbA1C estimates were consistently higher in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, while no significant changes in the estimates of serum insulin between the normal and diabetic patients were observed. Reduction in serum pancreatic amylase was recorded in both types of diabetes, which amounted to 71% for type 1 diabetics and 49% for type 2 diabetics. On the other hand, reduction in serum lipase was only detected in type 1 diabetics and amounted to 31%. Correlation of the reduction in serum amylase and lipase levels with the duration of disease and with the serum insulin level in type 1 diabetic patients revealed a remarkable decrease in both Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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enzymes in patients with longstanding disease (76% and 39%, respectively), and in patients with very low serum insulin estimates (77% and 42%, respectively). Similarly, the reduction in serum amylase in type 2 diabetes was higher in patients with longer duration of illness (59%) and in patients with low serum insulin value (79%), while reduction in serum lipase was only detected in patients with very low serum insulin (34%). No differences in all measured parameters between males and females were recorded in type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Conclusion: Although most of diabetic research has been focused on dyslipidemia as a major risk factor for cardiac, cerebral and renal complications, the present study clearly illustrates an impairment of pancreatic exocrine function in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We suggest that analysis of serum pancreatic enzymes could be additional informative parameters for the assessment of chronicity and progress of the illness as well as the response to therapy.

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FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE FOR PRIMARY TEETH REPLACEMENT Afraa Salah Al-Obaidi Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Dental News Journal, volume XI, number II, 2004 Case report of a three and a half â&#x20AC;&#x201C; year- old child lost his anterior primary teeth in an accident and a new treatment approach has been done for fixed replacement of the lost teeth.

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EARLY LOSS OF PRIMARY TEETH Afraa Salah Al-Obaidi Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Al-Siha wateb Magazine, number 316 (2004) Early loss of primary teeth should be considered as an important issue regarding the oral health of the child. The community awareness about the importance of the primary teeth is one of the main goals to achieve better standard of child oral health.

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BABY BOTTLE CARIES Afraa Salah Al-Obaidi Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Al-Siha wateb Magazine, number 358 (2005) Baby bottle caries one of the main problems that affect the primary teeth and the sequences related to this type of caries may lead to loss of primary teeth early and affect the eruption of the permanent teeth.

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MANAGEMENT OF PERI-OPERATIVE INTRAORAL BLEEDING Sam Thomas Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Symposium of the All Kerala Medical Graduates Association, Ajman 2004 Excessive haemorrhage may complicate any intraoral procedures. A few dental procedures may result in fatal complications, especially if the perioperative haemorrhage is not adequately controlled. This article aims to stress the importance of good perioperative haemorrhage control using basic procedures. It also aims to promote the awareness of various local haemostatic agents for the control of perioperative haemorrhage.

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ONE VISIT ROOT END CLOSURE USING MTA Mohammed Noushad Rahim Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network World Endodontic Congress in Brisbane, Australia, Sept 2004 Mineral Trioxide Aggregate has revolutionized the material science in endodontics like no other in recent times. Originally designed for root end surgeries, this material can be used to induce a root end closure by an apical plug. This eliminates the need for long waiting period associated with calcium hydroxide. This paper reviews the apexification procedure by Calcium hydroxide and MTA. A two year follow up of cases done at Ajman University of Science and Technology in which MTA has been used to produce the apical plug will be presented and discussed

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SEM STUDY OF REMOVAL OF INTRACANAL SMEAR LAYER USING DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF MALEIC ACID Mohammed Noushad Rahim Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network World Endodontic Congress in Brisbane, Australia, Sept 2004: The aim of the study was to evaluate the smear layer removing ability of 5%, 7%, 10% and 15% maleic acid in the middle and apical third of instrumented root canals and compare it with 15% EDTA and 5.25% Sodium hypochlorite. Sixty freshly extracted human maxillary anterior teeth were divided into six groups of ten teeth each. After access cavity preparation and length determination, the root canals were prepared to size 60. The teeth were irrigated using the test solutions in each of the six groups, namely 5%, 7%, 10% and 15% maleic acid. The teeth were then split longitudinally and analyzed using an SEM in the middle and apical third for smear layer removal. Two independent evaluators assessed the groups. The results showed that 5% and 7% maleic acid were significantly better in removing the smear layer than EDTA or Sodium hypochlorite. The 10% and 15% maleic acid produced some demineralization. Therefore it can be concluded that a lower concentration of maleic acid can remove the intracanal smear layer better than EDTA; but more studies like the biologic effects are required before it can be used in vivo.

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ENDODONTIC EMERGENCIES Mohammed Noushad Rahim Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network An Endodontic Symposium organized by Emirates Medical Association in association with Saudi Dental Society: Dubai, Feb 2005 Endodontic emergencies can be both perplexing and demanding. They include situations of pain or swelling that requires the immediate attention of a dentist. These emergencies can interrupt the schedule of the patient and the dental team. A swift and correct diagnosis of emergency problems is essential when providing treatment, especially in a busy dental practice. A diagnosis must be made and appropriate treatment provided in usually just a few minutes. Management of the emergency must always be done in a manner that removes the source of the problem and that provides comapssion for the patient and by not adding any additional insult to the inflamed or infected tissues. In the lecture, the clinical conditions that might require emergency therapy, etiologies of these conditions, and the minimal treatment needed to alleviate the signs and symptoms will be discussed. Current opinions on these issues are also presented.

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ONE VISIT APEXIFICATION Mohammed Noushad Rahim Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Kuwait Dental Conference, Kuwait, March 2004 An open apex is one of the most challenging of all endodontic treatments. The root is thin, fragile, immature and above all the apex is wide open making it difficult to obtain a three dimensional obturation without an apical barrier. Conventional therapy involved inducing an apical barrier formation using Calcium Hydroxide. While this time honoured treatment has achieved spectacular results, it requires a very long waiting period of around 6 to 24 months and sometimes it even ends up in a failure in obtaining an apical barrier. A newly introduced material has been found to be quite effective in creating an artifical barrier in the first visit itself. This presentation will assess critically this material and the technique of inducing an artificial barrier.

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THE ENDODONTIC TRIAD: PROBLEM SOLVING DURING ENDODONTIC ACCESS CAVITY PREPARATION Mohammed Noushad Rahim Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition, AEEDC: Dubai 2004 The basis of modern endodontic therapy includes a proper access cavity, chemomechanical preparation and a threee dimensional obturation all together known as the endodotic triad. At the base of this pyramid is the access opening, something to which least importance is accorded. Here we will explore why this step has to be accorded its due importance as we shall see some cases wherin improper access has resulted in some dramatic failures of endodontic therapy. They range from the most common perforations to procedural errors to even missing of the accessory canals. A series of cases wherin access cavity preparation can determine success or failure of endodontic therapy will be presented here and ways of solving some common problems encountered during the access cavity preparation.

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ENDO-PERIO LESIONS Mohammed Noushad Rahim Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Multidisciplinary Symposium in Periodontics organized by Emirates Medical Association Dubai, Oct 2004 The differential diagnosis of perio-endo lesions has become increasingly important as the demand for complicated restorative work has grown. Neither periodontic nor endodontic treatment can be considered in isolation as clinically they are closely related and this must influence the diagnosis and treatment. The influence of infected and necrotic pulp on the periapical tissues is well known, but there remains much controversy over the effect that periodontal disease could have on a vital pulp.

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ENDODONTIC PERFORATIONS PART I: FACTORS AFFECTING PROGNOSIS Mohammed Noushad Rahim Faculty of Dentistry, AUST Network Dental Evolve Vol 1, 2005 pages 3-5 When an access cavity preparation goes off badly, the long term success of any tooth can plummet within seconds. Perforations occurring during access procedures are typically located in the most difficult place to repair, the cervical region. Perforation during access is always a threat, even in non-calcified teeth. Perforation can also occur during root canal instrumentation or during a post space preparation. Its been reported that the second most common cause for an endodontic failure is a perforation

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Faculty of Information, Mass Communication and Public Relations

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SOCIAL COMMUNICATION: IDENTITY AND FORMS OF COMMUNITY MEDIA ADAPTATION IN FRANCE "Sociologie de la Communication: Identite et Forme d’Adaptation Mediatique Communautaire en France" Khaled Zamoum Faculty of Information, Mass Communication and Public Relations, AUST Network A book published by: Continental Ed., Montreal, 2004 This book talks about the concept of social communication within the social change philosophy and its relation to the integration (assimilation) of the foreign communities –including the Algerian community - the French society. The study problem focused on the methods and means used by foreign communities to protect their identity and cultural values from being diluted in French society. The study focused also on the politics adopted by the French authorities towards the foreign communities in order to wipe out their cultural identity especially in the public spaces such as schools. Indeed, the French state was established upon the idea of cultural and linguistic homogeny. On the other hand, this book discusses the importance of social communication and different media as a means for foreign communities to preserve their identity and interests. We’re talking here about radio, magazines, newspapers, social, cultural and religious gatherings. Moreover, the book addresses the laws and decisions legislated by the European Union and related to the minorities and foreign communities rights including the right to use the media to express themselves and defend their rights and interests. Finally, the study concludes that the foreign community in France has became one of the biggest communities in Europe using the internet and consuming the satellite TV programs, Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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including the Arab satellites as a result of the drop out by the French authorities that ignored their cultural and educational rights. Indeed, modern communication technologies provided the opportunity for the minorities to achieve their dreams.

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THE ALGERIAN TV: IS IT A COMMUNITY MEDIUM CHANNEL TO PRESERVE IDENTITY, OR AS A NEWS CHOICE FOR THE ALGERIANS IMMIGRANTS IN FRANCE. "La Chaine Algerian TV: Support Communautaire ou Choix Mediatique pour les Algeriens ĂŠmigrĂŠs en France" Khaled Zamoum Faculty of Information, Mass Communication and Public Relations, AUST Network In Algerian Communication Revue, N0. 18, June 2004, Algiers, Algeria, pp. 29-44 Started from a main problematic focusing on the research of sociologic specificities of the public Algerian TV audience in France and his relation to the idea of saving the identity. The study used the social research method research of a survey that gathered answers from a sample of about 200 persons in Paris during the period between march 21 and march 25 2002. The result of the research shows that 60% of the population target watch Algerian TV programs. 51.5% said they watch the channel on daily basis especially the news programs. The study has shown also that 28% of the women prefer the Algerian cultural programs. Regarding the issue of the integration 51.4% of the people within the sample that they reject it completely, and only 18.5% of the sample said they accept it along with their Arab and Muslim identity. But still, an important minority (16%) is for an absolute integration inside the French society. However, the study highlights the determination of the Algerian TV to link the immigrants to their country of origin by broadcasting all kinds of programs in three spoken languages (Arabic, French and amazigh). The above result shows that the Algerian TV has an influence on the immigrant in France.

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THE CLOSED CIRCLE VS THE DISCONTINUITY OF THE SELF: THE INFLUENCE OF GLOBALIZATION UPON THE CONTEMPORARY ARAB MUSIC VIDEOS Mohamed Hossam Ismail Faculty of Information, Mass Communication and Public Relations, AUST Network The professional Education Section of The International Conference of the IAMCR "Media Panics: Freedom, Control and Democracy in the Age of Globalization", Taipei, Taiwan, July 26-28, 2005. Contemporary Arab music videos depict Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shifting relationship with the world economy through images of a productive hybrid relation between the national/religious and the global. Socio-economic analysis is given to distinguish between the upper classes and upper middle classes that produce and consume Arab music videos that in turn, change their worldview to a kind of pre-modern / postmodern mixture. The fetishization of hybridity in the Arab music videos can be read in light of postmodern notions of pastiche and schizophrenia. The lowmiddle classes and the deteriorating intermediate-middle classes resist this Discontinuity of the self via declaring social Jihad to stop the subversive attack of the MTV-style music videos that would break the gender roles in a very patriarchal culture preserving their closed Arab-Muslim culture circle and worldview.

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Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences

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RESEARCH ISSUES CONTEMPORARY ISLAMIC WORLD (PRIORITIES) EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES Ahmed Babiker El-Tahir Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Conference of Institute of Research and Studies in Islamic World, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan, Jan. 2005 The paper discusses the educational challenges that face the Muslim World in an age of amazing and rapid changes. The Muslim World, for one reason or another remained a consuming society to Western technology. Western civilization has produced challenges for those who live outside its globalization might bring us problems along with its undoubted benefits. We, in the Islamic World are all struck by the increasing impact of Science & Technology. The hardwarecum-soft ware revolution has given us possibilities that we have taken for granted, the internet may have the most influence of any single movement upon global educational and cultural developments. The knowledge explosion in which we are not taking a part is at the heart of the modernization and globalization of world society. We speak of developing an educational system that looks for the future if we really want to catch up with the technologically advanced nations we must pause to scrutinize our educational system, if we want to work toward a knowledge-based society, we must set our priorities right. The alternative is simply to do nothing; to let the knowledge explosion deepen and intensify in technology rich societies while Muslim countries fall further and further behind. This is the most significant challenge we face. We have no time to waste in responding.

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IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON FUTURE EDUCATION Yusuf Mahmoud Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Conference of Faculty of Education, Hussain Bin Talal University, Jordan, 2004/2005 We witness, at this period of time, great changes in different aspects of life that are dissimilar to any changes in the past. Changes related to communication and informatic technologies on one side and those related to the collapse of socialist countries on the other side have led to the phenomenon called globalization. In spite of the foggy definition of the concept, we can clearly distinguish between two aspects of globalization, the first is technical and is a fact of life that can not be denied, and the other is humanistic and controversial. The first aspect is a destiny that all human beings have to accept and live with, while the other aspect is dialectic, humanistic and depends on the free will of people to accept or reject. Both aspects of globalization have influenced all facets of life among which education. In this study we clarify the globalizational constraints on education in present time. These constraints include the necessity of change in all elements of the educational process at all levels, impact of the great scientific growth on education, influence of globalization on amplifying the scientific and technological gap between those who own them and those who do not, the impact of globalizational tools on the waste of time that is the most important factor that need to be utilized, considering education as a commodity and its amalgamation with markets and the influence of globalization on elements of identity which necessitates selectivity and monitoring scientific and technological changes according to set of values of human societies via educational systems.

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOUGHT AND MATTER Yusuf Mahmoud Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network AUST Network Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2 (2005) Clarifying the relationship between thought and matter is one of the most ancient dilemmas that faced and puzzled mankind. Among the Greeks there existed wide range of variety of opinions regarding this matter. On the one hand the Ionians, represented by Thales, give high regard to matter without paying attention to mind, while on the other hand the Pythagoreans give the sole respect to mind and thought. In between the two views comes Aristotle, who pays some attention to perceived matter even though he is closer to Pythagoreans in giving the greatest respect to mind. In the midst of the twentieth century we find C. P. Snow (1959) dividing intellectuals into two categories: humanistic, who give great regard to thought and mind and thereby have a human touch and feelings and scientific technical who concentrate on knowledge related to matter and its applications. Still we may notice that this dileema is really the oldest that faced mankind: it was the first dilemma that faced Adam when he ate from that well mentioned tree. His dilemma consisted of the contradiction between thought included in the word of Allah and matter and its connections. Therefore this dilemma is indeed a historic one that necessitates writing this article to clarify its different facets in variety of fields.

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DISABILITY: THE WISDOM BEHIND IT, THE PRACTICAL REGULATIONS IN ISLAMIC SHARIA’A Ali Abduljabbar AL-Srori Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Salaeh Kamil Islamic Economical Journal – Al-Azhar Universitythe 23rd issue, Cairo-Egypt (2004) Disables and disability have recently occupied a great deal of attention among researchers, policy makers, and government and non-government agencies. That is simply because the number of disable is constantly increasing and it might research 3% of the total population in of the world. This research focuses on disability from the point of view of the wisdom behind it, and the ways to prevent disability as laid out in the Qura’an and the Sunnah (the Prohpet’s traditions and life). The researcher was able to induce 29 methods of disability prevention in the Qura’an and the Sunnah. He showed how adhering to these method could reduce or eliminate disability. The researcher concluded with a list of conclusions and recommendations.

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CAUSALITY IN ISLAMIC THOUGHT Abdulhakim Ajhar Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network AUST Network, No. 2, Vol. 9, 2004 Causation is an important but perplexing issue in the Islamic thought. This study will explore the theological and philosophical views about the principle of causality as the cause/effect relationship. The central point of difference between Muslim theologians (mutakallimūn) and philosophers is related to the role of God’s free will. Muslim theologians maintained that the principle of causality contradicts the Islamic belief of God’s free will. They believed that holding the creed of absolute God’s free will, leads necessarily to remove any sort of causality in the natural realm. Whereas causality in the way presented by philosophers cannot be limited to the existential relation between cause and effect, it rather involves necessary relation as well. Existence and necessity of the effect are not separable. In addition, this study deals with two considerable attempts that tried to find a proper answer to the question of causality. The first attempt was that of Al-Ghazali who remained hesitant and uncertain regarding reconciliation between God’s free will and natural causality. The second try, represented by Ibn Taymiyya, offers a coherent and consistent theory of causality with taking into consideration the Divine absolute power and free will. If we limit the principle of causality, according to Ibn Taymiyya, to the need of effect in its existence for a cause, and consider the effect as something that depends in its existence on both the cause preceded it and the originator, at the same time, there seems no contradiction between causality and free-will. It seems possible, according to Ibn Taymiyya, to have something dependent on something else on the basis of conditional relationship, with admitting at the same time that it is only God creates something out of something else. In this way, there would be no contradiction between causality of a voluntary agent Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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and the principle of necessity and causal law that governs the natural realm.

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THE INTERNET AND EFL TEACHING: WHAT UAE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT? Amin AL-Mekhlafi Dept. of English Education, Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Journal of the Research, Development and Educational Center in Yemen, Vol 19, pp: 1-32 (2004) This study investigates the current status of using the Internet in UAE secondary schools, the beliefs of UAE secondary school English language teachers of the benefits of the Internet in EFL teaching, their willingness to integrate this technology in foreign language (FL) teaching and the concerns they might have due to classroom Internet integration. The study seeks answers to the following questions. 1) To what extent are UAE secondary school English language teachers familiar with the Internet? 2) What is the status of using the Internet in EFL teaching? 3) Are UAE secondary school English language teachers aware of the benefits of using the Internet in EFL classrooms? 4) To what extent are they willing to use the Internet in EFL classrooms? And 5) what kinds of concerns do they have regarding using the Internet in EFL classrooms? A questionnaire was sent to 250 English language secondary school teachers in six main cities. The results showed that teachers are familiar with modern technologies, willing to integrate the Internet in teaching despite some of the concerns they have. However, it was very surprising to find out that the majority of the teachers are not currently using the Internet technology in their EFL teaching.

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SOME ANALYTICAL PROPERTIES OF SOLUTIONS OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS OF NON-INTEGER ORDER Samir B. Hadid Dept. of Mathematics and Basic Science, Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network International J of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences, Vol. 13, (2004), No. 13, 697-701, USA The analytical properties of solutions of the nonlinear differential equations:

x(α ) (t ) = f (t , x(t )) ,

α ∈ ℜ, 0 < α ≤ 1

of noninteger order have been investigated. We obtain two results concerning the frame curve of solutions. Moreover, we proved a result on differential inequality with fractional derivatives.

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LYAPUNOV STABILITY SOLUTIONS OF INTEGROFRACTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS Samir B. Hadid Dept. of Mathematics and Basic Science, Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences, No. 45-48, 2503-2507, (2004), USA Lyapunov stability and asymptotic stability conditions for the solutions of the integro–fractional differential equations: t

x(α ) (t ) = f (t , x(t )) + ∫ K (t , s (t ), x(s ))ds ,

α ∈ ℜ, 0 < α ≤ 1

with the initial condition

x(α −1) (t 0 ) = x0 , have been investigated. Our methods are Gronwall’s Lemma and Schwartz inequality.

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applications

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ON THE CONTINUOUS DEPENDENCE OF SOLUTIONS OF INTEGRO-FRACTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH RESPECT TO INITIAL CONDITIONS Samir B. Hadid Dept. of Mathematics and Basic Science, Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Journal of Nonlinear Functional Analysis and Applications, Vol. (9), No. (1), 2004, Korea The continuous dependence of the integro–fractional differential equations: t

(α )

(t ) = f (t , x(t )) + ∫ K (t , s (t ), x(s ))ds ,

α ∈ ℜ, 0 < α ≤ 1

with respect to initial conditions have been investigated. We obtain two results concerning the existence and continuity of solutions with respect to initial conditions. Moreover, we obtain a result that involves estimating a function satisfying an integro– fractional differential inequality by the maximal solution of the corresponding equation.

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FACTORS IN CHILDREN'S SECURITY AND SAFETY BASED ON THEIR MOTHERS' PERCEPTIONS AND MEASURES INSURING THEM "FIELD STUDY" Mohamed Mahmoud Sheikh Hasan1, Ahmed Mohammed Laid Bendania2 and Sameh Khamis Al Sayed2 1 Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, UAE University 2 Dept. of Educational & Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network The Egyptian Journal of Psychological Studies, Vol. 25, No. 49, Oct 2005

This study was carried out to shed light on UAE mothers’ beliefs about the main factors that influence their children’s safety and security. It set out to delineate the major precaution measures mothers took to insure their children’ safety and security. A sample of 115 mothers from UAE major cities participated in the study. Results showed that 97% of the mothers were concerned about their children’s security. 99% of mothers expressed their anxiety about their children’s safety. 93% of them believed that crime against children was increasing. There were many sources from which mothers' got information. The main source was different mass media, about 70% overall (newspapers, 80.9%; periodical, 64.3 %; television, 53 %; and radio, 26.1 %). Other sources were personal (friends, 55.7%; neighbors 38.3%). The other source can be considered as official specialized sources, namely, Lectures and forums, security reports, and road and traffic weekly campaigns usually led by security and police departments. Mothers believed that there were many factors that influence children’s safety and security. Mothers’ agreement on these were in the following order of importance: Educational and psychological (82.6%) health (76.9%), crime (87.82%), media (84.1%), home (73.04%), road and traffic (87.82%), and social (85.9%). Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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Mothers took different measure to insure their children’ safety and security. They undertook two set of measures; namely practical and behavioral (86.64%), educational and guidance (76.47%). The research tried to find out whether there were any relationship between the mothers’ beliefs about children security and safety with the precaution measures they undertook. There were no significant correlation between beliefs and practical precautions that mothers undertook to protect their children. One exception, albeit very weak correlation, 0.19 at .039, was their precautions taken to insure their children’s health safety. The study ended by giving some recommendation as implications of the research. Those related to devising programmes geared towards children’s safety and ways and means to insure and safeguard it.

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A SCIENTIFIC STUDY TO DEVELOP AND TO IMPROVE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE TEACHING STAFF OF AUST NETWORK Hadi Mahmoud Shamchy El Zubaidi Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Conference on "Quality of Higher Education", Faculty of Education, University of Bahrain, April 2005 Most universities would like to have the best result from their graduate students. To achieve this goal, universities’ administrators should choose an adequate teaching staff and improve their teaching ability. “If we went to have the best education result, we must keep our vision on the teaching staff” (Boud,1988). Ajman University of Science and Technology Network intends the contributing to the development of society through highly educated and competent graduate students. The aim of this study is to establish a vocational and technical training center for teaching staff of AUST. The objective of this center is to improve the teaching ability of the instructors of Ajman University of Science and Technology Network in order to improve high quality education. This study will be presented on the eighth index file which serves as an implementation strategies of the AUST.

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ON THE MAXIMALITY OF CONWAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GROUP C1 IN O+(24,2) Mustafa Ahmed Salman Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Southeast Asian Bulletin of Mathematics, 2004 In this paper, an alternative proof to the maximality of Conwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group C 1in O+(24,2) is given. The proof is based on computing connected points of a regular graph defined on set of singular point of quadratic. The proof also makes a good use of the classification of all finite simple group that was established in .1980The previous method was based on McLaughlin theorem of some subgroup that contains transvection in the above orthogonal group.

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RANDOMNESS TEST BASED ON FREQUENCY OF LCP OF BINARY SEQUENCE Mustafa Ahmed Salman Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Inter. Jour. Of Applied Science & Computations, Aug. 2005 A randomness test based on linear complexity profile of a binary sequence produced from stream cipher system is presented. The test use Berlkamp- Massey algorithm to produce linear complexity profile of a slide door subsets of the binary sequence. The test was executed on different systems and shown be very reliable.

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CRITICAL EIGENVALUES FOR A NON-LINEAR PROBLEM Eslko Weld Ahmed Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Nonlinear Differ. Equa. App. 11 (2004), p. 225-236 For every positive real greater than 1, we study the the supremum of the eigenvalues of a nonlinear elliptic problem, with a nonlinearity given by an exponent equal to this real. We first carry out this study on a unit ball and show that, as a function, this supremum is decreasing with respect to the nonlinearity; our study can be easily extended to a ball, with any positive radius. These critical eigenvalues are important in modeling problems, especially in electric engineering and the equilibrium of plytropic gaseous stars. We study the case where the real is equal to 1 and give explicitly the critical eigenvalue and show that in this case, the critical problem doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t admit a solution. At the end, we use a Maple application to compute approximations for some of these critical eigenvalues.

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DEFAUT Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ESTIMATION A PRIORI POUR UN PROBLEME DE DIRICHLET (in french) Eslko Weld Ahmed Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Rend. Circ. Mat., Vol. 53 (2004), p. 61-70 We deal here with a boundary elliptic partial differential equation, with a polynomial nonlinearity. The boundary values are assumed to be constant. We show that there is a critical boundary constant, above which there is no solution for the nonlinear problem and under which solution does exist. We use this result to study the existence of an a priori estimate for a nonlinear elliptic problem; under weakened Gidas and Spruckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assumptions, we show a lack of a priori estimate for a class of elliptic nonlinear problems. This result suggests to find ways other than the standard fixed point theorems, to prove existence results for this class of problems. This class of problems is known to be important in applications, as stationary state for a wide variety of parabolic and hyperbolic nonlinear PDE problems.

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THE ATITUDE OF MUSLIM SCHOLARS TOWARDS LANGUAGE RISE Hazim Said Younis Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Al-Tarbiyah wal-Ilm magazine, Faculty of Education, University of Mousel, Vol 11, No. 3, 2004 This research is interested by scholars in the past and recent days, but they did not come to a clear cut idea about the topic because the research deals with the philosophical concept. Consequently, they have adifferent views. The Islamic scholars have talked this issue and have their own views and concepts as the linguistis (Ibn Jinni) and (Ibn Faris). A question might be raised by researchers: why do we tackle such topics? The answer is that being is interested to know the truth.

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THE ULTIMATE AND THE PURPOSE Abdullah Abdulrahman Assad Alsadi Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network AUST Network Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2 (2005) The Arabic language is based on three fundamental lexicons namely: the noun, the verb and the “particle”; some of which might be used as connectors between words and sentences despite of the differences in their utterances and their meanings; and one of the distinctive specialties of the Arabic language are those utterances which have been deeply studied by the language scholars in depth and details and assayed and synthesized their semantics, let alone their structures, and elicited their functions and what each of their positions may underlies in terms of their syntax, semantics and linguistic connotations until the result of the scholars’ - our good ancestors - efforts has reached us as a ripe and fruitful crop, ready for its seekers, either, in the folds of the “general linguistic texts”, or in the books of the explanations and interpretations of the meanings of the “Holy Quran”, or in the specialized linguistic or syntactic texts.

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DEVELOPED ACHIEVEMENT TEST MATRIX Nadeem Ashuraey Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Journal of the Faculty of Education, Faculty of Education, Assiut University, Vol. 21, 1 PP.44-56, Jan 2005 This paper introduces a practical response to a strong need in the area of achievement assessment. It introduces a developed objective test with its items being put in matrix. Such matrix integrates the techniques of both multiple choice and matching questions. The author expects that the test-makers in schools and universities would find such matrix very useful in at least two ways. First it would help assess types of learning more effectively than other objective questions such as testing the students abilities to pull together what they had learned in an entire unit of a course or a chapter of a text book and testing the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; abilities for classification, discrimination, and comparison. Second the nature of the matrix help test makers avoid the common mistakes made in preparing and using both multiple choice questions, true-false questions and matching questions. The paper makes a comparison between the proposed test matrix on the one hand and multiple-choice, true-false and matching questions on the other. It gives step-by-step instructions for preparing the matrix with illustrations of hypothetical test matrix in various subject areas, and matrix used in actual undergraduate psychology course. The proposed test matrix are not intended to replace any of the three types of questions mentioned earlier. The author claims, however, that they would in many of the secondary school and university tests be indispensable either with other types of questions or by themselves. They would surely alleviate the pressure on those three types of questions.

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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MORAL THOUGHT AND MORAL ACTION IN KOHLBERG'S THEORY Nadeem Ashuraey Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network The Journal of Egyptian Psychological Society, 2005 This paper reviews the theoretical and empirical works on Kohlberg's moral reasoning stages. It focuses on the question of the relationship between moral reasoning and moral action. The theoretical bases and empirical findings reviewed point to a clear gap between thought and action. It is argued that the failure of moral reasoning level to predict moral behavior is related to problems in the stages themselves and the assumption of the universality. In other words it is hypothesized that it is unreasonable to expect a strong relationship between moral development level and moral action when the moral development level is based on questionable theory and empirical findings. Another reason for the reasoning â&#x20AC;&#x201C; action gap put forth in this paper is the influence of noncognitive factors on human action, namely emotion. Kohlberg theory, like other cognitive theories have had no place for emotions in their systems. The paper reviews the theoretical background of Kohlberg's stages particularly Piaget's theory and his stages of moral development. This is followed by a review of Kohlberg's levels and stages of moral reasoning. The core part of the paper deals with the problems facing Kohlberg's stages particularly with regard to the validity of the stages, the claim of universality (cultural wise and gender wise) and the relationship between moral thought and moral action.

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IMAGES OF BETA MAPS Osama Ajamy Rashwan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network UAE Mathematics Day, American University, Sharjah, 2004 Let A be the set of all subset of an infinite set X with k-element, that is, the set of all subsets with cardinality k. The symmetric group Sym(X) acts in the natural way on A and turns FA, the vector space over a field F with basis consisting of the elements of FA. There is a natural homomorphism between FA and FB, where B is the set of all subsets with cardinality l where k>l. This natural homomorphism is called her Beta Map. A submodule of FA as a finite sum of images of some Beta maps is presented and a Latice of submodule structure is given.

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TWO CATEGORIES OF T-FUZZY SUBGROUPS Osama Ajamy Rashwan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network UAE Mathematics Day, UAE University, April 2005 The fuzzy subgroups formulated by Rosen and redened by Anthony, Sherwood. Chen De-Gang in dened the concept of T fuzzy subgroups for an arbitrary t-norm T. Eroglu proved that the homomorphic image of T fuzzy subgroup is always a T fuzzy subgroup when T = ^ (meet). In this paper we generalize this result for a subclass of t-norms we call the class of supremumpreserving t-norms. Furthermore two categories of T fuzzy subgroups, for which the category of groups "Grp" is a full subcategory, are introduced and studied.

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THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL SUPERVISORS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ISLAMIC EDUCATION TEACHERS PERFORMANCE IN JORDAN Majed Al-Jallad Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Yarmouk Researches "Human and Social Sciences Serie", Faculty of Education, Yarmouk University Vol. 20, No. 3(B), pp: 1577-1606 (2004) This study aimed at the identification of the role of educational supervisors on the improvement of the Islamic Education teachers performance in Jordan in the light of the variables of sex, experience and academic qualification. The sample consisted of (147) male and female teachers of Islamic Education, selected randomly. Their perceptions were elicited by a questionnaire especially designed by the researcher which comprised (87) items distributed over seven dimensions. The main findings of the present study revealed that the role of the educational supervisors on the improvement of teachers performance was moderate, the findings also showed that the role of the supervisors on the dimensions of the study was ordered descendingly as follows: educational and vocational development, evaluation, teaching strategies, planing, content, educational aids, and educational activities. The analysis demonstrated no significant effects in favor of the variables of sex, experience, and academic qualification on the role of educational supervisors on the improvement of the Islamic Education teachers perfor-mance.

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THE DEGREE OF ACQUISITION OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION TEACHING COMPETENCIES BY STUDENTS OF DIPLOMA PROGRAM FOR TEACHING METHODS OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION 1

Majed Al-Jallad1 and Muath Khalaf Al Omari2 Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network 2 Al Marqab Al Khams University, Libya Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp: 135-164 (Sep 2005)

This study aimed at identifying the degree of students acquisition of Islamic Education teaching competencies, and specifically students who was enrolled in Diploma program for methods of teaching Islamic Education. The sample of the study consisted of (199) students (75 male, 124 female) who were enrolled in Diploma program for teaching methods of Islamic Education, the sample were distributed randomly to three Jordanian Universities: Jordan University, Yarmouk University and Mu`tah University. The research instrument (questionnaire) was constructed by the researchers, it was cosseted of (99) items as indicators for acquisition of the competences divided into seven domains including: recitation of the Holy Quran, interpretation of the Holy Quran, Hadeeth (A record of the sayings and doings of the Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him), Aqidah (Faith, doctrine), Fiqh: (Islamic jurisprudence), Sira The biography of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), Akhlaq (Morals). The main results of the present study showed that students responses revealed a high degree of acquisition of Islamic Education teaching competencies in all of the study domains, it is also showed that the Sira domain acquired the highest degree of responses where the interpretation of the Holly Quran got the Lowest degree. The analysis also revealed that there were significant differences regarding the sex on acquisition of Islamic Education teaching competencies in the favor of female students, besides;

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differences concerning the variables of university and students general average were statistically significant.

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PROBLEMS OF THE STUDENTS OF FACULTIES OF ISLAMIC LAW AT PUBLIC JORDANIAN UNIVERSITIES Majed Al-Jallad and Ibrahim Al Zuabi Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Studies of Educational Sciences, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp: 105-124 (2004) This study aimed at highlighting the problems that faced students of Faculties of Islamic Law at the Jordanian universities and finding out if there were significant effects of the variables of sex, academic level, average, and university. To attain the goals, the researchers developed a questionnaire with appropriate validity and reliability. The final form consisted of 77 items distributed to four domains: student-related problems, syllabus-related problems, instructorrelated problems, and the administration-related problems. The sample of the study consisted of (470) students for the academic year 2000/2001. The results showed that the order of problems was as follows: administration, syllabus, student and instructor. To answer the questions of the study the researchers used means, standard deviations for each domain. T-test, one-way ANOVA and Neuman Keul's tests were also used. The findings indicated that the problems that face students are: • There are some students who are not complying with the Islamic teachings. • Few meetings between administration, department and students. • Shortage in some sections. • Lack of material and kind motivation and incentives for students. • There is lack in the suitable learning atmosphere and there are no halls for symposiums. There were significant differences between the means of problems due to sex in favor of male students, academic level,

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in favor of fourth year students, university in favor of the students of Balqa' University. There were no significant differences between the means of the problems of Islamic law students at Jordanian universities due to level.

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A STUDY OF FAMILY VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN Mohamed Ziad Hamdan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network Amanthoumah Journal, No.2, Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs, Dubai, UAE (2005) This study analyzed the problem of family violence toward children throughout infancy and adolescence. The study explained types and means of violence that are practiced by Arab family, discussing thereafter the negative implications of violence on the brain, personality and the behavior of children. The study at end, proposed several counseling and guidance procedures which the family could use to minimize violence and thus neutralizing the ruining effects of violence on children’s life and future. The headlines which are discussed: • Negative consequences of violence on child’s brain. • Justifications for avoiding hitting children when punishment. • Family discharge of anger using positive means. • Available peaceful alternatives for the family to avoid punishment. • Family guidance of children’s violations without punishment. • Education and counseling children without punishment.

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CHILDREN’S DISCIPLINE FROM INFANCY TO YOUNG ADULTHOOD Mohamed Ziad Hamdan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network A book published by: Modern Education Publisher, Syria (2005) General Contents: • Peaceful Discipline of Children • Discipline of Children from Infancy to Adolescence • Effective Principles & Procedures for Discipline of Children • General Rules & Techniques for Discipline of Children • Discipline of Children’s Daily Habits- Several Real Life Examples

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STUDYING SUPERIORITY OF CHILDREN Mohamed Ziad Hamdan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network A book published by: Modern Education Publisher, Syria (2004/2005) General Contents: • Introduction to Studying Superiority of Children • Practical Principles & Habits for Children’s Studying Superiority • Cognitive Skills for Children’s Studying Superiority • Sensory- Cognitive Skills for Children’s Studying Superiority • Administrative-Organizational Skills for Children’s Studying Superiority • Social Skills for Children’s Studying Superiority • Questionnaires of Children’s Learning Styles Utilized in Studying & Superiority • Effective Methods Utilized by Children in Studying & Superiority • Academic Areas of Children’s Studying & Superiority • Overcoming Problems of Psychological Pressures & Low Motivation in Studying & Superiority • Improvement of Children’s Studying Habits & Skills

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CHILDREN’S ANXIETY IN EXAMS Mohamed Ziad Hamdan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network A book published by: Modern Education Publisher, Syria (2004/2005) General Contents • Introduction to Exam’s Anxiety of Children. • Symptoms & Factors Children’s Anxiety in Exams. • Prevention Guidelines for Children’s Anxiety in Exams. • Exam Phobias by Children. • Psychological Pressures of Children in Exams. • Prevention Methods of Exam’s Anxiety, Phobias & Pressures by Children’s.

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CHILDREN’S SUPERIORITY IN EXAMS Mohamed Ziad Hamdan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network A book published by: Modern Education Publisher, Syria (2004/2005) General Contents • Introduction to Children’s Superiority in Exams. • General Practical Guidelines for Children’s Superiority in Exams. • A Grand Strategy for Children’s Superiority in Performing Exams. • Children’s Superiority in Oral & Essay Exams. • Children’s Superiority in Objective Exams. • Children’s Superiority in Laboratory Reports & Research Papers. • Children’s Superiority in Math Exams.

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CHILDREN’S LEARNING ON THE INTERNET Mohamed Ziad Hamdan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network A book published by: Modern Education Publisher, Syria (2004/2005) General Contents • General Issues of Children’s Learning on the Internet • The Internet - the Basic Contemporary Source for Children’s Electronic Learning • Differences Among Internet, Distance, & Conventional Classroom Learnings • Surveying Instruments of Qualified Children for Learning on the Internet • Prerequisites for Children’s Learning on the Internet • Guidelines for Children’s Successful Learning on the Internet • Questionnaires of Children’s Learning Styles on the Internet • Children’s Learning Projects on the Internet • Services & Resources for Children’s Learning on the Internet • Children’s Evaluation of Learning Programs on the Internet • Screening Plagiarism in Children’s Learning on the Internet • 12-Children’s Learning on the Internet in the Future

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CHILDREN’S EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY BUILDING MORAL CHARACTERS WITH RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY & INTER-INDEPENDENCE Mohamed Ziad Hamdan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network A book published by: Modern Education Publisher, Syria (2004/2005) General Contents • Introduction to the Family, Children & Moral Education • Dimensions of Children’s Moral Characters • Education of Children’s Moral Characters • Parents Mistakes in Rearing Children’s Moral Characters • Developing Children’s Moral Characters with Safe Sex Education • Collaboration of Family & School in the Education of Children’s Moral Characters • Effectiveness Evaluation of Family & School in the Education of Children’s Moral Characters

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CHILDREN’S MANAGEMENT OF TIME Mohamed Ziad Hamdan Faculty of Education and Basic Sciences, AUST Network A book published by: Modern Education Publisher, Syria (2004/2005) General Contents • Children’s Study of the Uses of Daily Time • Children’s Planning of Time Management • Matching Children’s Goals of Study & life with Management Plans • 4-Application of Children’s Management of Study Time

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Institute of Environment, Water and Energy

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INORGANIC CHEMICALS IN DOMESTIC WATER OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Zeinelabidin S. Rizk Institute of Environment, Water and Energy AUST Network AUST Network Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2 (2005) pp: 142-179 There has been several complains lately about the quality of drinking water in the United Arab Emirates relating that to several reasons starting with water source and ending with the plastic bottles used for water storage and distribution. Laboratory analysis has shown a wide range of variation in concentration of inorganic chemical constituents in drinking water related to the source of such water and the large number of companies producing and distributing domestic water. The objectives of this study are to correlate the concentrations of inorganic chemicals in different domestic water types (mineral, desalted or natural) used in the United Arab Emirates with the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards. The results of the present study reveal a wide variation in concentrations of major, minor and trace inorganic chemical constituents in domestic water of the United Arab Emirates. For example, the so-called "Mineral Water" sold for drinking is almost deprived of most ions, and the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in some brands does not exceed 100 milligrams per liter (mg/l). On the other hand, some of domestic water used may contain as high as 3000 mg/l, which is way above the WHO standards for drinking water (500 to 1500 mg/l). The same fact applies for the minor ions and trace constituents. Whereas the drinking mineral water is almost free of trace ions and minor constituents, some domestic water may have concentrations higher than the WHO recommended limits for drinking water. The main problem is that the control over drinking water quality is very week in some emirates and does not exceed measurement of a few parameters before allowing this water to be distributed for human use. Those few parameters are not Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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necessarily enough to judge if water is suitable for drinking or not. Therefore, the user may receive water of uncertain quality. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the scope of the present drinking water examination conducted by the food control laboratories to include physical, chemical (inorganic and organic) and bacteriological analyses, which are internationally agreed upon to assure the suitability of water for human consumption before this water reaches the consumer. It is also advisable to set guidelines for concentrations of drinking water constituents based on the WHO standards to help water production companies overcome the wide variation in concentrations of water-dissolved constituents and its negative impact on public health.

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WATER RESOURCES IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES Zeinelabidin S. Rizk Institute of Environment, Water and Energy AUST Network Water Resources, Technologies and Management in the Arab World: 8-10 May 2005, Sharjah University, UAE Due to natural and human-related contraints, the available, conventional water resources in the United Arab Emirates (seasonal floods, springs, falajes and groundwater) fall very shot to meet the increasing demands for water, reflecting the need for additional non-conventional water sources such as desalinated water and treated-sewage water. The existing conventional water resources in the United Arab Emirates include: 125 million cubic meters per year (m3/yr) from seasonal floods, 3 million m3/yr from permanent springs, 22 million m3/yr from seasonal springs, 20 million m3/yr of falaj discharges, 120 million m3/yr of aquifer recharge and about a billion m3 of stored non-renewable groundwater. The existing non-conventional water resources include 694 million m3/yr of desalinated water and 175 million m3/yr from treated-sewage water. Augmentation of water resources may increase the discharge of seasonal springs to 40 million m3/yr and falaj discharges to 40 million m3/yr. Parallel increases in the annual volumes of desalinated water and treated-sewage water are also possible. Weather modification, water harvesting and artificial recharge of groundwater are possible options to save additional quantities of water. The future challenges facing water resources in the United Arab Emirates are the depletion of aquifers in several areas, such as Al Dhaid, Al Ain and Liwa; saline-water intrusion along the eastern coast and water-quality degradation, such as that associated with the oil industries and agricultural activities. Improvement of the present water-resources management in the United Arab Emirates can lead to water conservation, maintain better-quality water and restore deteriorating aquifer Annual Research Compendium: 2004/2005

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systems in many areas. The use of advanced irrigation techniques, construction of groundwater-recharge dams and growing salt-tolerant crops are practiced agricultural technologies. Development of human resources provides trained, national experts in water-related fields. Establishment of data banks and the application of advanced groundwater modeling and isotope hydrology techniques represent powerful waterresources management tools.

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