research-compendium-en-2008-2009 by Ajman University

Ajman University of Science and Technology Network (AUST Network) Research, Information and Training Council (RIT Council)

ANNUAL RESEARCH COMPENDIUM 2008/2009

Volume 5 Ajman, United Arab Emirates February 2010

Supervision: Dr. Ahmed M. Ankit Vice President External Relations and Cultural Affairs Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Revision: Research and Working Team chaired by Dr. Abduelmula R. Abduelkarem College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Contact: Prof. Dr. Omer A. Attef General Secretary, Research, Information and Training Council Ajman University of Science and Technology Network PO Box: 346, Ajman, UAE Tel.: +971-6-7056221 Fax: +971-6-7055221 Email: jrac.attef@ajman.ac.ae

AUST Network - RIT Council

The Exalted Said:

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

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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. The diligent and persistent effort of the Research, Information and Training Council continues with the release of the fifth Annual Research Compendium in as many years. Those responsible for this effort deserve praise, and we look hope that this work will be carried on and that it will undergo sustained development in the upcoming years. In the form of its present release, the booklet adopts a more advanced formula for presenting the contribution of the Research and Work Groups, especially in relation to the summary of the results (the harvest) of the Reform and Development program currently witnessed by our Institution. An institution that possesses a comprehensive vision and a set of guiding principles (as our institution does) but fails to undertake and go through a proper process of reform and development is destined to deadly stagnation. Such an institution would not be capable of matching Ajman University Network's achievement. This should remind us to seek to articulate the unspoken meanings and communicate them to the intellects of people so that they are transformed into a concrete reality practiced in accordance with quality assurance standards that secure and guarantee excellence of performance. Our message here is aimed at members of the Research and Work Groups who make up the research working units in all the entities of Ajman University of Science and Technology Network. We call it a "university network" because -thanks to its comprehensive vision at the three levels of education, information, and investment- it has gone beyond the limiting 5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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confines of the purely academic institution to become educational, informational, and investment institution. In the process, it developed and released its own identifying principles and work mechanisms that characterize and distinguish it from conventional institutions. Among the mechanisms that proved to be effective in practical application and that resulted in the delivery of quality up to a reasonable level are the research and activation groups. These are research groups concerned with the research aspects of subjects relevant to the development of the standard of institutional performance. Simultaneously they are activation and work groups that apply and put into practice the products of research. This is in order not to turn research into a sterile activity by shelving its results or by practicing it as a luxury or for the sake of appearance and ostentatious display. Due to this highly advanced concept of research and the practice of research within the University Network, the affiliates of this institution are regarded as researchers and activators and each of activity they practice is similarly deemed to be a research activity. Consequently, research has become a necessity and a domain of practice mandatory to each and every affiliate of the University Network. Moreover, research practice constitutes one of the evaluation criteria applied by the Academic Promotions Committee (among other evaluation objectives). Together with its predecessors since the year 2004, this latest release of the annual research compendium represents a form of documentary memory striving to capture and preserve the research activities of the affiliates of the University Network. However, it can only document a tiny portion of that research activity, especially which published in journal, periodicals, books, conferences and other scientific symposiums, while the larger part of this research is preserved between the covers of documentary volumes that grace the shelves of the University Network's libraries at both Ajman and Fujairah campuses. We are proud of the capabilities of the affiliates of the University Network in all aspects and domains of scholarly and scientific research: whether the research is basic, applied, developmental,

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institutional, inter-disciplinary, and so on.. These various types of research practice shape our concept of research, that transcends the academic concept in its rigid form. We wish you success, and may Allah guide and bless all of our endeavors. Dr. Saeed Abdullah Salman

Supreme President, AUST Network Honorary President, Association of Arab Private Institutions for Higher Education President, Euro-Arab Research Network

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Preface In the name of Allah the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. I am pleased to introduce this issue of the Annual Research Compendium. This is the fifth consecutive year that this compendium has been published and once again the content abstracts of research papers and projects â&#x20AC;&#x201C; serves to highlight the current areas of research interest of the community members of Ajman University of Science & Technology. It is my hope that as you read this compendium your mind will be stirred, and new thoughts and ideas arise. Since the inception of the University in 1988, the President, H.E. Dr Saeed Abdullah Salman, has adopted a unique and specific approach to research. In highlighting five fundamental standards for faculty members, these being teaching, research, training, expertise and practice, it is not by chance that research is second only to teaching. We stress that, rather than the role of the faculty member ending once a lecture is over, it is in fact only beginning. In their research, faculty members spare no effort to utilize every available information and learning resource to deepen their knowledge of their area of specialization. They also use the latest multimedia systems in the generation of ideas and their interpretation in theoretical and field research projects. This, then, is the origin of the idea for an annual compendium. Not only does the publication provide an overview of research themes, but it also promotes and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;marketsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; researchers to students, other academics, the community, and the business world at large.

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I hope that this issue will give you much food for thought, and will also add value to the Arab research library.

Dr. Ahmed M. Ankit

Vice President External Relations and Cultural Affairs AUST Network

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Table of Contents College Of Engineering: -

A NEW APPROACH FOR ANALYZING THE LIMITING BEHAVIOR OF THE NORMALIZED LMS ALGORITHM UNDER WEAK ASSUMPTIONS: Eweda Eweda

PROJECTS-BASED EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH FOR DEVELOPING PRACTICAL SKILLS IN MEASUREMENT AND DATA ACQUISITION: Mustahsen Mir

SPICE MODELING OF A PRECISE TWO-DIMENSIONAL MOS MAGNETIC SENSOR: Ali Abouelnor, Ossama Abo-Elnor, Essam Mohamed and M. Ibrahim

A NOVEL BLIND IMAGE WATERMARKING TECHNIQUE FOR COLOUR RGB IMAGES IN THE DCT DOMAIN USING GREEN CHANNEL: Al-Gindy, H. Al-Ahmad, R. Qahwaj, and A. Tawfik

WATERMARKING OF COLOUR IMAGES IN THE DCT DOMAIN USING Y CHANNEL: Al-Gindy, H. Al-Ahmad, R. Qahwaj and A. Tawfik

A FREQUENCY DOMAIN ADAPTIVE WATERMARKING ALGORITHM FOR STILL COLOUR IMAGES: Al-Gindy, H. AlAhmad, R. Qahwaj and A. Tawfik

A NEW WATERMARKING SCHEME FOR COLOUR IMAGES CAPTURED BY MOBILE PHONE CAMERAS: Al-Gindy, H. AlAhmad, R. Qahwaj and A. Tawfik

VARIABLE STRUCTURE CONTROLLER WITH PRESCRIBED TRANSIENT RESPONSE TO CONTROL THE POSITION OF THE INDUCTION MOTOR DRIVES: Kasim Rashid and Hasan Zidan

FROM THE ARCHITECTURE OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF ARCHITECTURE: Sabah Mushatat and Bouzid Boudiaf

THE URBAN GROWTH IN THE U.A.E: CHALLENGES AND METAMORPHOSES: Bouzid Boudiaf and Sahar F. Makky

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REDUCING THE COOLING LOAD BY EVAPORATIVE COOLING OF THE ROOF: Sahar Najib Kharrufa

A SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY AS NECESSITY FOR INTERIOR DESIGN APPLICATIONS: Naglaa Sami AbdelAziz Mahmoud

THE BEAUTY OF ARCHITECTURE BETWEEN ITS FORM AND PERCEPTION: Abdulmounim T. Ali

THE ICONIC ARCHITECTURE OF HOUSING IN DUBAI: Harpreet Seth

College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences: -

VARIABILITY IN ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUG THERAPY AND COMPLIANCE: RESULTS FROM A RANDOM SURVEY IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Muaed Jamal Alomar and Claire Caroline Strauch

IMIDAZOLE-CONTAINIG DRUGS AND INHIBITION OF CYTOCHROME P450: Bassem Sadek

SECOND DERIVATIVE SYNCHRONOUS FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF CHLORZOXAZONE AND IBUPROFEN IN PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS AND BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS: N. El-Enany, F. Belal, Y. El-Shabrawy, M. Rizk

RISK CALCULATION OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES IN LIBYAN ADULTS: Abduelmula R Abduelkarem, Suleiman I Sharif, Amar M Hammrouni, Sana S Aldouibi, Wafa M Albraiki and Hawa J El-Shareif

TRENDS OF IN- HOME DRUG STORAGE AND USE IN UAE: Suleiman I. Sharif, Hadeel A. Bustami, Deema S. Khalil, Layal I. Haddad and Abduelmola R. Abduelkarem

EFFECTS OF BALLOTA UNDULATA ON BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND INSULIN IN ALBINO RATS: Moyad J. Shahwan, Tariq M. Al-Qirim, Haytham Daradka

EFFECT OF SOLANUM NIGRUM ON IMMOBILIZATION STRESS INDUCED ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE CHANGES IN RAT: Tariq Al-Qirim, Syed M. Zaidi, Moyad Shahwan, Ghassan Shattat and Naheed Banu

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HYPOLIPIDAEMIC EFFECTS OF EUPHORBIA PROSTRATA IN RABBITS: Moyad J. Shahwan, Tariq M. Al-Qirim, Haytham Daradka

THE SILENT THIEF: Nisreen Nabil, Sana Ghalib and Nihal Abdulla

OSTEOPOROSIS: Sara Sabri, Amira Gamaleldin, Buthaina Mostafa and Yasser Shabrawy

MARIJUANA: Hind Al-Khalifa, Marwa Al-nayer, Sara Mustafa and Ibrahim Abulfotooh

HISTAMINE H3-RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS FOR THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF ALZHEIMER DISEASE: Ahmed Sadeq and Yasser Shabrawy

RATIONAL USES OF SACCHARIN AND ITS HAZARDOUS: Yuosef Shamsaldeen, Hazem Shukfa and Yasser Shabrawy

College of Information Technology:

OPTIMIZED AND ITERATIVE WIENER FILTER FOR IMAGE RESTORATION: Abdul Majeed Al-Samarraie

A NEW ENERGY-AWARE APPROACH FOR PACKETS FLOW SIGNATURE: H. Khali, A. Farah and A. Araar

SEMANTIC RECONCILIATION IN PEER MULTI-DATA SOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: Nachouki Gilles, Nachouki Mirna and Chastang Marie-Pierre

A SYSTEMS THINKING APPROACH TO DOMAIN-DRIVEN DESIGN: Mohammed Salahat and Steve Wade 58

A SYSTEMIC FRAMEWORK FOR BUSINESS PROCESS MODELLING AND IMPLEMENTATION: Mohammed Salahat, Steve Wade and John Lu

PARTITIONING STRATEGY FOR LUT-BASED APPLICATIONS USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS: Riyadh A.K. Mehdi and H. Khali

AN OBJECT-ORIENTED EXPERT SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSIS OF FUNGAL DISEASES OF DATE PALM: M. Ayman Al Ahmar

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College of Dentistry:

THE ANTIANGIOGENIC AGENT ZD4190 PREVENTS TUMOUR OUTGROWTH IN A MODEL OF MINIMAL RESIDUAL CARCINOMA IN DEEP TISSUES: Kamis Y Gaballah

EVALUATION OF CHEMOMECHANICAL CARIES REMOVAL USING THE VICKERS HARDNESS TEST: “AN IN VITRO STUDY”: Ashraf S. Qasim and Abdul-Haq A. Suliman

SMILE PERCEPTION IN DENTISTRY: Abdul-Haq A. Suliman and Rawhi H Al-Qaisi

THE TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS AMONG DENTISTRY FACULTY MEMBERS IN UNIVERSITY OF MOSUL, IRAQ: Abdul-Haq A. Suliman, Mohammed N. Ahmed and Reem A. Al-Jarrah

HOW TO CARRY OUT SUCCESSFUL CLINICAL STUDIES: LESSONS FROM PROJECT MANAGEMENT: J.S. Feine, S.D. Wollin and F. Rashid

BASIC INFECTION CONTROL PROCEDURES IN DENTAL PRACTICE IN SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Atefeh Tahami, Raghad Hashim

DENTAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN AJMAN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Roaa Mahrouq, Neam Hadi, Raghad Hashim

THE PREVALENCE OF SEVER EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO CHILD AND FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS, ORAL HYGIENE PRACTICES: Raghad Hashim, Sheila Williams, Murray Thomson

PREVALENCE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF PROSTHETIC DENTAL RESTORATION AMONG PROSTHETIC DEPARTMENTS` PATIENTS AT RAS AL KHAIMAH (RAK) DENTAL CENTER UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Israa Hadi, Raghad Hashim

PLACEMENT OF BASES AND LINERS UNDER PERMANENT RESTORATIONS, WHERE WE ARE NOW?: Abdul-Haq AbdulMajeed Suliman

NEW TRENDS IN CARIES DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTS: Abdul-Haq Abdul-Majeed Suliman

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MATERNAL PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND PRETERM BIRTH / LOW BIRTH WEIGHT: A PILOT STUDY FROM UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Betul Urrehman, Mohammed M. Urrehman and Aysha Yehdek

MENTAL FORAMEN/CANAL/ AND MENTAL BLOCK ANESTHESIA: Mokhalad F. Almudares and Marwan M. AlSeghairi

POST-GEL POLYMERIZATION SHRINKAGE STRAIN EVALUATION OF FOUR LIGHT-ACTIVATED COMPOSITES USING DIFFERENT CURING MODES: Ali A. Razooki AlShekhli

DEPTH OF CURE EVALUATION OF FOUR DIFFERENT LIGHTACTIVATED COMPOSITES USING DIFFERENT CURING MODES: Ali A. Razooki Al- Shekhli

HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN AS ADVOCATES OF ORAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN SCHOOLS: Bhaskar S, Al Hamour A, Al Sharqi M and Al Adwani R

APICAL LEAKAGE OF THREE DIFFERENT OBTURATION TECHNIQUES: Hasanen H. Al Khafagy

College of Information, Mass Communication & Humanities -

AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF TESTING EFFECTIVENESS: Khalid Alkhaja and Maryam Bayshak

THE ROLE OF THE TEACHING ENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPING SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING: Khalid Alkhaja

College of Education and Basic Sciences -

LEARNING WITH TECHNOLOGY: USING DISCUSSION FORUMS TO AUGMENT A TRADITIONAL-STYLE CLASS: Zuhrieh Shana

RENOVATING THE JURISPRUDENT EXAMPLES: Ali Abdul Jabbar Al-Soroori

THE ROLE OF ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN THE U.A.E.: Amin Abdullah Al-Mekhlafi

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College of Law: -

THE THEORY OF SPORT LAW: TOWARDS SPECIFIC LEGISLATION FOR SPORTS TRANSACTIONS: Adnan A. Wali

College of Business Administration: -

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AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF ERP IMPLEMENTATION IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY: TOWARD A GENERIC FRAMEWORK: Mohamed Gamal Aboelmaged

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MANAGING INFORMATION SHARING WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING: A SOCIAL NETWORK PERSPECTIVE: John-Paul Hatala and Joseph George Lutta

106

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Ibrahim Elsiddig and Srinivas Inguva

107

CUSTOMERS’ PERCEPTION OF ONLINE BANKING IN QATAR: Abdulaziz A. Hashim and Mohammed Naim Chaker

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Institute of Environment, Water and Energy -

101

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DESALINATION AND WATER ENVIRONMENT IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS: Zeinelabidin S. Rizk and Mohamed S. Alasam

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UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, COMMUNITY NEEDS AND LABOUR MARKET: Riadh H. Al-Dabbagh

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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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College of Engineering

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A NEW APPROACH FOR ANALYZING THE LIMITING BEHAVIOR OF THE NORMALIZED LMS ALGORITHM UNDER WEAK ASSUMPTIONS Eweda Eweda Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Signal Processing, vol. 89, pp. 2143-2151, May 2009 This paper presents a new and simple approach to analyzing the limiting behavior of the normalized LMS algorithm under weak assumptions. No restrictions are made on the dependence between successive regressors, the dependence among the regressor elements, the length of the adaptive filter, or the distribution types of the filter input and the noise. The analysis holds for all values of the algorithm step-size in the range between 0 and 2. The analysis is carried out using a new performance measure, based on the time evolution of the component of the weight deviation vector in the direction of the regressor. This component is termed as the effective weight deviation since it is the only component that contributes to the excess estimation error at the output of the adaptive filter. The paper derives upper bounds for the long-term averages of the mean-square effective weight deviation, mean absolute excess estimation error, and of the mean-square excess estimation error. The analytical results of the paper are supported by simulations.

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PROJECTS-BASED EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH FOR DEVELOPING PRACTICAL SKILLS IN MEASUREMENT AND DATA ACQUISITION Mustahsen Mir Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network The EDULEARN 09 Conference, pp. 2693-2699, July 2009, Barcelona, Spain This paper presents a projects-based approach that gradually develops the design, implementation, and troubleshooting skills of students in measurement and data acquisition. Starting with relatively simple course-based design projects in two instrumentation and measurement courses, students take a completely projects-based course in the first semester of their junior year to enhance their design and practical skills. This is followed by a higher-level design project involving data acquisition and control through PCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parallel port. Subsequently, they complete a two-phase capstone project over two semesters of their final year utilizing microcontrollers, microprocessors, and data acquisition cards. Such an approach can be considered as an evolutionary approach as it starts with simple design and implementation experience and ends with automated data acquisition and control systems. Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; response to this approach has been highly positive in terms of enhancing their interest in practical work, developing design and development abilities, and improving their generic skills such as teamwork, planning, and communication skills.

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SPICE MODELING OF A PRECISE TWO-DIMENSIONAL MOS MAGNETIC SENSOR Ali Abouelnor, Ossama Abo-Elnor, Essam Mohamed and M. Ibrahim Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7293, p. 72930W-1, March 2009 A precise two-dimensional MOS magnetic sensor is suggested and its performance is investigated. The dependence of sensor sensitivity on the device geometric parameters and on the biasing conditions is accurately determined by a two dimensional physical simulator which self-consistently solves the magnetic field equations and the carrier transport equations. From the simulation results, a modified equivalent circuit model for MOS magnetic sensor is proposed and included in SPICE model to fully analyze the operation of suggested magnetic field sensor.

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A NOVEL BLIND IMAGE WATERMARKING TECHNIQUE FOR COLOUR RGB IMAGES IN THE DCT DOMAIN USING GREEN CHANNEL A. Al-Gindy, H. Al-Ahmad, R. Qahwaj, and A. Tawfik Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Mosharaka International Conference on Communications, Computers and Applications (MIC-CCA 2008), Amman, Jordan, 2008, pp.26-31 This paper presents a new algorithm for colour digital image watermarking. The 24 bits/pixel RGB images are used and the watermark is placed on the green channel of the RGB image. The green channel is chosen after an analytical investigation process was carried out using some popular measurement metrics. The analysis and embedding processes have been carried out using the discrete cosine transform DCT. The new watermarking method has shown to be resistant to JPEG compression, cropping, scaling, lowpass, median and removal attack. This algorithm produces more than 65 dB of average PSNR.

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WATERMARKING OF COLOUR IMAGES IN THE DCT DOMAIN USING Y CHANNEL A. Al-Gindy, H. Al-Ahmad, R. Qahwaj and A. Tawfik Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network The IEEE/ACS International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications, Rabat, Morocco, 2009, pp. 1025-1028 This paper presents a new algorithm for colour digital image watermarking. The 24 bits/pixel RGB images are used and the watermark is placed on the green channel of the RGB image. The green channel is chosen after an analytical investigation process was carried out using some popular measurement metrics. The analysis and embedding processes have been carried out using the discrete cosine transform DCT. The new watermarking method has shown to be resistant to JPEG compression, cropping, scaling, low-pass, median and removal attack. This algorithm produces more than 65 dB of average PSNR.

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A FREQUENCY DOMAIN ADAPTIVE WATERMARKING ALGORITHM FOR STILL COLOUR IMAGES A. Al-Gindy, H. Al-Ahmad, R. Qahwaj and A. Tawfik Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network The International Conference on Advances in Computational Tools for Engineering Applications, ACTEA '09, Beirut, Lebanon, 2009, pp. 186-191 This paper presents an adaptive algorithm for digital watermarking of still colour images. The watermark is embedded in the DCT coefficients of the green channel of the RGB colour image. The algorithm takes into account the perceptual capacity of each coefficient inside the DCT blocks before embedding the watermark information. Therefore, the first 16 low frequency coefficients (excluding the DC value) in the 8Ă&#x2014;8 DCT block was screened and the eight coefficients with the maximum magnitudes were selected for embedding. The algorithm used is blind and does not require the original image for extracting the watermark. The peak signal to noise ratios (PSNR) is around 60dB. The watermarking method is shown to be robust against JPEG compression, additive noise, cropping, scaling, low-pass and median filtering.

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A NEW WATERMARKING SCHEME FOR COLOUR IMAGES CAPTURED BY MOBILE PHONE CAMERAS A. Al-Gindy, H. Al-Ahmad, R. Qahwaj and A. Tawfik Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network IJCSNS International Journal of Computer Science and Network Security vol. 9, pp. 248-254, July 2009 A new frequency domain based watermarking scheme for colour images captured by mobile phone cameras is proposed. The proposed technique embeds personal mobile phone numbers inside the image. The aim of the scheme is to protect the copy right ownership of the image. Each bit of the decimal digits is inserted onto one low frequency coefficient of one of the DCT blocks of the host image. A DCT coefficient selection (DCS) process has been applied to increase the invisibility qualities, this process managed to find the coefficient with the maximum magnitude. Different embedding location depending on the spatial frequencies of the host image will be selected. The proposed algorithm achieves a high PSNR values and is found to be robust against JPEG compression and different image manipulation algorithms.

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VARIABLE STRUCTURE CONTROLLER WITH PRESCRIBED TRANSIENT RESPONSE TO CONTROL THE POSITION OF THE INDUCTION MOTOR DRIVES Kasim Rashid and Hasan Zidan Department of Electrical Engineering College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network International Journal of advanced Manufacturing Technology, Springer-Verlag London Limited. 2007/2008 This work demonstrates the efficacy of variable structure controllers with prescribed transient response to control the position of the induction motor drives. Based on the function augmented sliding hyper plane, it can be guarantee that the position tracking error converges within a realistic specified time interval. Better-quality performance for variable structure controllers is exhibited over fixed gain PID-controllers. Robustness of variable structure controller against parameter variations and external disturbances is established. Finally, the control algorithm has been validated by both simulation and experimental testing.

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FROM THE ARCHITECTURE OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF ARCHITECTURE Sabah Mushatat and Bouzid Boudiaf Department of Architectural Engineering & Interior Design College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network International Technology, education and Development Conference. Valencia (Spain); 09-11 March 2009 An opinion widely spread among professional architects and in most academic circles consists in believing that since Architecture is both Art and Technique, the object of architectural research is the same as the object of the project. One could therefore only speak of applied research or operational research; the first offering to define through the project more performing product (i.e. models) or innovating technologies; the second aiming at improving the methodological or administrative procedures in the conception of the project. Research would then be located within the process of designing with the task of conciliating the useful and the beautiful, the economic and the comfortable, â&#x20AC;Śetc. In fact, the design action is a period which starts with some specific problems and ends with again some specific solutions. A trial to understand at which point this action starts and ends is relatively easier than to state what kind of a transition between one point to another occurs during this period. It is rather difficult to understand especially the beginning of the process in which the designers start to transfer their first ideas to expressive media such as paper, computer, etc. If we can grasp how this period develops and if we can sufficiently define the things take place during this process, it will not be wrong to say that the design researches will gain a new dimension. This paper will be dealing with the structure of knowledge in architecture and the nature of design knowledge.

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THE URBAN GROWTH IN THE U.A.E: CHALLENGES AND METAMORPHOSES Bouzid Boudiaf and Sahar F. Makky Department of Architectural Engineering & Interior Design College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network SUPS 10: Capital Cities, Wicked Problems, Best Practices in Planning and Policy Response Mechanisms, American University of Sharjah, 23-25 November 2008 In 1990, just 15 percent of the world’s people were urban. Today the figure is closer to 50 percent and by 2025 it is likely to be at least 60 percent. The cities of the world take up 2% of the World’s land area, consume 75 percent of the world’s resources: 50% in buildings, 25% for transport and 25% for Industry; and produce most of its waste. In the U.A.E., cities are expanding at an unprecedented speed. This abnormal growth destabilizes the balance between natural resources and the morphological characteristics of each region. This paper will explore the following points: The different sorts of real estates, whether in terms of scale of the projects or the speed of their realizations are behind, in the cities of the U.A.E., are behind the incoherence of the city structure, and most of the time they led to the development of new patterns which are often fragmented; segregated and almost out of context. These new patterns are invented, to high light the “monumentalism par excellence” and to justify the creation of the artificial islands, “cities within the city”. The analysis of the current modes of urban design thinking is necessary but not sufficient to understand, interpret and recreate coherent patterns structure and identities.

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REDUCING THE COOLING LOAD BY EVAPORATIVE COOLING OF THE ROOF Sahar Najib Kharrufa Department of Architectural Engineering & Interior Design College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network In: Energy and Buildings: Efficiency, Air Quality, ISBN 978-1-60741-049-2, Editor: Joseph B. Utrick, pp. ÂŠ 2009 Nova Science Publishers Air conditioners consume large amounts of power to cool a building. The purpose of this paper is to test a method using evaporative cooling to reduce this load. An evaporative air cooler is used to cool the roof of a building. This should result in a lower temperature inside which would consequently lead to a drop in the cooling load as well. The tests were conducted in the hot dry weather of Baghdad, Iraq. Evaporative cooling is cheap and only uses a fraction of the power that compressor units do. Furthermore its cooling effect increases with the rise in temperature and drop in humidity, conditions that prevail in large parts of Iraq. The test included setting up a thermally insulated compartment above an isolated room. The compartment was cooled by a small evaporative cooler. The walls of the room itself were insulated by adding a 2cm layer of Styrofoam as well as a 10cm air cavity. The results showed that the combination of roof cooling and wall insulation resulted in an average 5.5oC drop in interior temperature, compared to an ordinary room. A computer simulation showed that this would reduce the cooling load on a compressor air conditioner utilized to further cool the interior by around 38%. These figures are based on the assumption that the temperature inside the room is cooled to acceptable comfort levels.

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A SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY AS NECESSITY FOR INTERIOR DESIGN APPLICATIONS Naglaa Sami AbdelAziz Mahmoud Department of Architectural Engineering & Interior Design College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Alternative Energy Applications – Option or Necessity, EC Kuwait 2009 Why it’s important to use sustainable lighting in interior? One of the current challenges is how to develop sustainable and green interior environment to suit the decreasing level of nonrenewable energy, by producing a minimum level of pollution and a minimum cost of energy, while increasing the comfort, health and safety of the users of these interior sustainable environment. Sustainable design is not a style, but an approach in which various inputs and outputs of the building are considered for the long-term, such as involving health and well being of people and their environment-lighting. To accomplish this, the paper will study the several technologies available to reach an interior that have a complete harmony and balance with nature, self sufficient in energy, a total lighting support system for people depending on function of this interior, by describing an application of the system. A sustainable lighting technology includes the uses of solar energy by transforming the daylight to artificial energy through specific types of glazing materials, or by integrating a mirror system to the interior design as reflectors to best benefits from the sunlight, specially in Arab countries almost all year times. This technology also, involves the different types of artificial light control, reducing the uses of artificial lighting. These include also the new type of energy saving lamps, theirs capacities, and their uses depending on the functions of interiors. The several solutions and implementation can benefit interior designers and authorities to use effectively the sustainable lighting according to the interior function type, as commercial, residential, hospitality, administrative,…etc. The study could reach some codes to guide

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in the building orientation to suite those systems. The adaptations of these systems together will be the important point to reach, to face the non-renewable energy decreases, and to enhance the interior design functionality.

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THE BEAUTY OF ARCHITECTURE BETWEEN ITS FORM AND PERCEPTION Abdulmounim T. Ali Department of Architectural Engineering & Interior Design College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network AUST Network Journal Vol.14, No 1 (2009) The present research is handling the division of beauty, perception and form in architecture and its relationship to the environmental and social influences. Thousands of years ago, the executive process in architecture was considered one of the main trends that express the existing situation with its different characteristics and various influences. Hence the executive process represented the interpreted adventure for need and interest. In our contemporary life, interest concentrates on searching for the new, renew, and provides in containing and applying have become the major interest of the individual or a group concerned with the beauty of form and conception. This led to getting away from the formative characteristics of architecture.

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THE ICONIC ARCHITECTURE OF HOUSING IN DUBAI Harpreet Seth Department of Architectural Engineering & Interior Design College of Engineering, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Architecture of Housing Conference, Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh, India, August 2009 Dubai with its strong desire to be the greatest Post Modern Cities of not only the Middle East but the world presently seems to Focus on Architectural Obsession, Excess and the Flagship Syndrome. This has seen the city grow at an unprecedented rate not experienced by any other country but at the same time has resulted in the Unconventional Landmark which is inflated in Size and Self Importance. In Dubai the focus seems to be on the Mega – Fast – Build Concept, Power and Glamour take the centre stage. The real estate and construction sectors of Dubai are taking the world by storm as landmark projects, which were mere architectural visions, take shape in emirates. Dubai is on the verge of superseding metropolises like New York, Paris, Shanghai and Taipei as an architectural show arena for numerous ‘firsts' in design and construction like the Burj Dubai and Dancing Towers. Housing which is the most common form of building in Architecture is abundant in the building typology of Dubai too. The Influences range from Demographic, Cultural, Economic, Social, Political, Financial, Technological, Modernity versus Tradition and Lifestyle. The Housing in Dubai has evolved and the Typologies changed with the changing times and the ever rowing demand. There exists the Architecture of Mass Housing, Architecture of Individual House, Traditional Housing Architecture, Modern Housing Architecture, Iconic Housing Architecture each creating its own specific impact on the Imageability and Livability of the city.

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Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Gated Communities such as the Greens or Ranches offer the wide variety. The Architecture of Housing is one that serves a community; addresses inequities in society; and responds to climatic, cultural and environmental conditions can be considered socially responsive. Socially responsible design goes beyond aesthetics and functionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it emphasizes interaction between structure and people.

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College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

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VARIABILITY IN ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUG THERAPY AND COMPLIANCE: RESULTS FROM A RANDOM SURVEY IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Muaed Jamal Alomar and Claire Caroline Strauch College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 4 (3):38-47, 2009, ISSN 1557-4962 Problem statement: Hypertension is one of the most common diseases known as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;silent killerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; because it shows no clinical signs and symptoms. The high prevalence of hypertension in the United Arab Emirates stresses the importance to initiate a nation-wide effort to prevent and control high blood pressure in the population, especially since the prevalence rates are indicative of one of the highest in the world. Approach: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of hypertension and antihypertensive medications in the United Arab Emirates-Abu Dhabi. A cross-sectional descriptive survey of one hundred sixty hypertensive patient ranging in age from 30 to above 60 years was carried out. A detailed questionnaire was printed out and distributed randomly among hypertensive patients in selected places in Abu Dhabi (pharmacies and hospitals). Results: UAE is a multicultural country with various nationalities living together. 26% of the patients included in this study were UAE nationals followed by Indians (15%). The prevalence of hypertension in males was higher than that in females. There was higher prevalence of hypertension in married patients (80.6%) as compared with the unmarried group (19.4%). A correlation exists between the high workload and the prevalence of hypertension. 36.2% of the individuals with mild obesity were hypertensive, while 26.2% of them were moderately obese. Obesity is certainly an important factor accounting for hypertension. It is observed that the worst association was obesity and familial history of hypertension, which had a prevalence of 27%, compared with other factors. 5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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Conclusion: Physicians, pharmacists and nurses should educate patients to understand their disease process which will help to improve compliance. It was suggested that programs for controlling systemic hypertension should be put in priority and better instructions for the population about the reasons that could make compliance with the antihypertensive treatment difficult, jeopardizing the appropriate control of blood pressure and increasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

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IMIDAZOLE-CONTAINIG DRUGS AND INHIBITION OF CYTOCHROME P450 Bassem Sadek College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Arab Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 3, No. 10, pp XXI-XXVIII, June 2009. Nowadays, multi-medicament use is increasing in clinical practice, especially, in the treatment of elder patients. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction of medicaments, which are expected to be co administrated in clinical practice, seems to be significant. The present review provides an update for the relationship between type of chemical substitution (aliphatic or aromatic) of imdazole-containig drugs and their tendency to affect hepatic metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP). In the present review, examples of different therapeutically used imidazole-containing drugs are highlighted to support the first evidence regarding the relationship between CYP-inhibition and chemistry of imidazole ring system. The informations provided throughout this article are intended to improve the medicinal chemistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge of imidazole-containig drugs that are therapeutically widely applied as agents including histamine H1 receptor antagonists (antiallergics), histamine H2 receptor antagonists (antiulcers), histamine H3 receptor antagonists (management of cognitive disorders and attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder), antivirals, antiHIV, antibacterials, antifungals, anethelmintics, antiemetics, and antihypertensives.

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SECOND DERIVATIVE SYNCHRONOUS FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF CHLORZOXAZONE AND IBUPROFEN IN PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS AND BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS

N. El-Enany1, F. Belal1, Y. El-Shabrawy2, M. Rizk3 1 Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mansoura, Mansoura, Egypt; College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Ajman University of Science and Technology, United Arab Emirates; 2 Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helwan, Cairo, Egypt. International Journal of Biomedical Science 5(2), 136-145, Jun, 2009

A rapid, simple and highly sensitive second derivative synchronous fluorometric method has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of binary mixture of chlorzoxazone (CLZ) and ibuprofen (IP). The method is based upon measurement of the synchronous fluorescence intensity of these drugs at Dλ=60 nm in methanol. The different experimental parameters affecting the fluorescence of the two drugs were carefully studied and optimized. The fluorescence-concentration plots were rectilinear over the range of 0.2-4 mg/mL and 0.1-1.6 mg/mL for CLZ and IP, respectively with lower detection limits (LOD) of 0.028 and 8.3 × 10-3 mg/mL and quantification limits (LOQ) of 0.086 and 0.03 mg/mL for CLZ and IP, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of the two compounds in synthetic mixtures and in commercial capsules. The high sensitivity attained by the proposed method allowed the determination of both drugs and real human plasma samples. The mean % recoveries in real human plasma (n=3) were 87.69 ± 6.15 and 92.57 ± 4.39 for each of CLZ and IP respectively.

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RISK CALCULATION OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES IN LIBYAN ADULTS Abduelmula R Abduelkarem1, Suleiman I Sharif2, Amar M Hammrouni3, Sana S Aldouibi3, Wafa M Albraiki3 and Hawa J El-Shareif4 1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network, Ajman, UAE 2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, UAE 3 Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Fateh University of Medical Sciences, Tripoli, Libya 4 Endocrine Department, Tripoli Medical Center (Al-Fateh University for Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine), Tripoli, Libya Practical Diabetes International 2009; 26(4): 148â&#x20AC;&#x201C;151 The aim of this study was to identify nationals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years in some areas across Tripoli Health Authority in Libya. In this questionnaire-based survey, a total of 400 Libyan nationals of both genders were randomly selected from seven areas across the central area of Tripoli Health Authority (Soug El-Juma, Zawet Dahmani, Al-Furnaj, Ain Zara, Al-Madena Centre, Al-Dhahra Centre, and Noflean). All participants approached (400) completed the study and responded to the items of the survey. Based on a modified Finnish Type 2 Diabetes Risk Score test (FINDRISC), 129 (32.3%) were categorised as either at moderate or at high/very high risk of developing diabetes within the next 10 years of life. Among the 129 participants at risk, body mass index was >25kg/m2 in 125 (96.9%) and waist circumferences were high (>88cm for females; >102cm for males) in almost 45% of the women and 22% of the men. We found that in the sample studied the risk of developing diabetes was clear, and there is no doubt that interventions to reduce such risk are a priority rather than a need. Diabetes has a great impact on the health of the nation and also on the future 5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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resources of the country in managing the disease and its complications; a health education/health campaign could be one good answer to tackle the problem.

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TRENDS OF IN- HOME DRUG STORAGE AND USE IN UAE Suleiman I. Sharif1, Hadeel A. Bustami1, Deema S. Khalil1, Layal I. Haddad1 and Abduelmola R. Abduelkarem2 1 Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE 2 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, AUST-Network, Ajman, UAE Medical Principles and Practice, volume 18(5), 2009 Objective: This study was carried out as a part of home pharmacy campaign, to assess the habits of home storage and use of over-the counter and prescription drugs. Subjects and Methods: A pre-tested questionnaire on habits of drug storage and use at homes was distributed to university students representing 300 household units in different regions of United Arab Emirates. The questionnaire covered the educational level of household chairs (parents), number of drugs stored at home, and various aspects of storage and use of OTC and prescription medicines at home. Results: No correlation was found between the level of education and the number of drugs stored at home. Only 2% of participants did not keep drugs at home, while the majority stored between 1-3 and 15-20 drugs. More than 50% of household units stored medicines in a home pharmacy (drug cabinet) kept by majority in the bedroom (39%) or kitchen (42%). Stored medicines were regularly checked and expired drugs were disposed mainly by throwing in waste (84%). Large proportion of participants (86%) exchange medicines with relatives and friends. Participants who used medicines prior to and after medical consultation comprised 45% and 55% respectively. Treatment course is completed as advised by the physician by 57% of participants while 43% stop medication as soon as they feel well. The preferred dosage forms of antibiotics were mostly tablets and capsules whereas injections constituted only 8%. The length of an antibiotic course as expressed by participants was between 3 and 7 days with treatment course completed by 68% and stopped on improvement by 32% participants. The various commonly stored OTC include; 5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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NSAIDs, antihistaminics, antidiarrhoeal, eye drops, nasal decongestants and oral contraceptives. Prescription drugs stored at home include; antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticholesterol, antiasthma, and antidepressants agents. Conclusion: This study revealed various misconceptions on issues of storage and use of medicines at home. The need is urgent for efforts to increase public awareness of proper storage and rational use of medicines at home.

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EFFECTS OF BALLOTA UNDULATA ON BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND INSULIN IN ALBINO RATS Moyad J. Shahwan1, Tariq M. Al-Qirim2, Haytham Daradka3 1 College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah Private University of Jordan 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Jerash Private University, Jordan Asian Biomedicine Vol. 3 No. 2, p171-175, 2009 Objective: To study the effect of Ballota undulata (70% ethanol) extract on blood biochemical parameters andInsulin in SpragueDawley strain (albino) rats. Materials and methods: The plant extract was orally administered to the albino rats (n=10) at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight for 7 days. Its effects on glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), troponin 1 (Tn1), serum creatine kinase (CK), total protein, total bilirubinand blood urea were investigated. The hypoglycemic effect of Ballota undulata extract on albino rats was further investigated by conducting a glucose tolerance test intraperitoneally (IPGTT). Healthy rats were fasted for 18 hours and followed by oral administration of a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight of the crude extract of Ballota undulata. Results: Ballota undulata extract caused a significant decrease in blood glucose, total serum cholesterol and CK levels. Blood levels of TnI, AST, ALT, triglycerides, total bilirubin, total protein and blood urea were unchanged. A significant decrease in blood glucose levels (after 15, 30, and 45 minutes) with a significant increase in serum insulin level (after 15 and 30 minutes) was noted. The crude extract of Ballota undulata had hypoglycemic, insulin-releasing and cholesterol-lowering effects in rats. Conclusion: The crude extract of Ballota undulata has hypoglycemic, insulin-releasing and cholesterol lowering effects in rats.

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EFFECT OF SOLANUM NIGRUM ON IMMOBILIZATION STRESS INDUCED ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE CHANGES IN RAT

Tariq Al-Qirim1, Syed M. Zaidi2, Moyad Shahwan3, Ghassan Shattat1 and Naheed Banu4 1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah Private University of Jordan, Amman (11733) Jordan VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, CA, USA 3 College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network 4

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Science, A.M.U. Aligarh, India

Research Journal of Biological Sciences 3 (12): 1426-1429, 2008 ISSN: 1815-8846, ÂŠ Medwell Journals, 2008 In the present study, the antioxidant potential of Solanum nigrum leaves extract was evaluated on the modulation of restraint induced oxidative stress. Rats were treated with crude extract of S. nigrum alone and both before (pre-extract stress treated) and after (post-extract stress treated) 6 h of stress exposure. Pro-oxidant effect of rat plasma was evaluated by determining the activities of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and the levels of glucose, uric acid and lipid peroxidation (MDA). About 6 h of restraint stress caused a significant decrease in the activities of SOD, CAT and GST and the level of glucose, while increase in the levels of MDA and uric acid. The post treatment of crude extract was found more effective in restoring restraint stress induced changes in rat plasma than pre treatment. In order to reduce oxidative stress, observed in many pathological conditions, the S. nigrum leaves extract can be given both as a prophylactic and therapeutic supplement for scavenging free radicals.

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HYPOLIPIDAEMIC EFFECTS OF EUPHORBIA PROSTRATA IN RABBITS Moyad J. Shahwan1, Tariq M. Al-Qirim2, Haytham Daradka3 1 College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, AUST Network 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah Private University of Jordan 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Jerash Private University, Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences 9 (1): 88-91, 2009 The aim of this research was to study the effect of 70% ethanol extract of Euphorbia prostrata on lipid profile in rabbits. The plant extract was orally administered to the atherogenic rabbits (atherogenic diet + cholesterol powder supplement at 400 mg/kg/body weight] day dissolved in 5 mL coconut oil) at dose of 0.0012 kg body weight/day. During the hall period of the experiment blood samples were collected and serum was analyzed for lipid profile. At the end of the experiment the animals were sacrificed; the heart and the liver were collected and stored at -20째C until assayed Biochemical analysis of blood serum and tissue (liver and heart muscle) were performed for cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides. In addition blood serum was analyzed further for HDL-cholesterol. All the results were statistically analyzed using students t-test. Hypolipidaemic nature of Euphorbia prostrata extract was studied in hyperlipidaemic rabbits. The increased cholesterol levels were brought to normal by administration of Euphorbia prostrata. Serum cholesterol levels dropped from 940.7 to 230.41 (75.55%) and further to 119.2 (87.32%) by the end of the experiment Similarly, phospholipids and triglycerides levels were reduced The tissues lipids profiles of liver and heart muscle showed similar changes in those noticed in serum lipids. We can conclude from these results that Euphorbia prostrata possesses active hypolipidaemic constituents. The results suggest the validity of Euphorbia prostrata clinical use in hypolipidaemic control, after their toxicological investigation.

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THE SILENT THIEF Nisreen Nabil, Sana Ghalib and Nihal Abdulla College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Ajman University of Science and Technology Network DUPHAT, The 10th Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition, Dubai, March 2009 Osteoporosis is a silent thief that you won’t be able to feel or see your bones while becoming weaker, so it’s very important to increase people’s awareness about such a disease. The aim of our project is mainly to discuss the risk factors of Osteoporosis, diagnosis, types, management and treatment. A questionnaire was formulated based on extensive research, where it was used as the primary tool for data collection in addition we visited hospitals in Dubai (American Hospital), Sharjah (Al-Zahra Hospital) and Ajman (Khalifa Hospital), to gather the required statistics and information about our topics.

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OSTEOPOROSIS Sara Sabri, Amira Gamaleldin, Buthaina Mostafa and Yasser Shabrawy College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Ajman University of Science and Technology Network DUPHAT, The 10th Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition, Dubai, March 2009 Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone mass and increased bone fragility, putting patients at risk of fractures, which are major causes of morbidity substantially in older people. Osteoporosis is currently attributed to various endocrine metabolic and mechanical factors. An activated immune profile has been hypothesized as important risk factor. Chronic inflammation and the immune system remodeling characteristic of ageing, as well as other pathological conditions commonly associated with Osteoporosis may be determinant path-genetic factors. The present poster will review the current perspective on the interaction between bone and immune system in the elderly, providing an interpretation of Osteoporosis in the light of inflame-ageing.

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MARIJUANA Hind Al-Khalifa, Marwa Al-nayer, Sara Mustafa and Ibrahim Abulfotooh College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Ajman University of Science and Technology Network DUPHAT, The 10th Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition, Dubai, March 2009 Cannabis sativa (of the family Canabinaceae) is the Latin name for Marijuana and Hemp. The primary reason for the cultivation of this plant was for making ropes and clothes from the fibers of the stem. The leaves and flowers of this plant produce resins, which is smoked to attain an alerted state of consciousness or generally known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;High.â&#x20AC;? In that state of mind, the individual experiences mild euphoria, stress reduction, increased appreciation, humor, music, art and colors. It also includes paranoia, anxiety, increased heart rate, dry mouth, decreased concentration and much more. Harvesting fibers differs from harvesting the leaves or the resins of this plant because they require different timings for their collection. The psychoactive constituents responsible for the pharmacological effects is delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9THC). When the herbal cannabis is inhaled in the mainstream smoke, nearly all of it is absorbed through the lungs, rapidly entering the blood stream and reaching the brain within minutes. This will in turn, affect multiple organ systems and the peripheral nervous system inducing atrophy, seizers and addiction or personality disturbances in the long term use. This plant is considered more of a health hazard and a major cause of psychotic illnesses and thus has been banned from the Unites States and many other countries

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HISTAMINE H3-RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS FOR THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF ALZHEIMER DISEASE Ahmed Sadeq and Yasser Shabrawy College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Ajman University of Science and Technology Network DUPHAT, The 10th Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition, Dubai, March 2009 In search of potent and selective H3 receptor antagonists, ketone derivatives as well as oxime derivatives (Imoproxifan) have been developed[2]. These compounds proved to inhibit the negative feedback loops of H3 receptors, thus leading to an increase of histamine level in the CNS. Most of the title compounds possess high antagonistic potency, especially Imoproxifan, which displayed high potency in vitro ([3H] histamine release model on rat synaptosomes; K= 0.26 nM) and also in vivo (increase of NMethylhistamine level in the cerebral cortex of Swiss mice after oral application; ED50=0.034 mg/kg). Furthermore, Imoproxifan was selected for determining of receptors profile, including various functional serotoninergic, adrenergic, histaminergic and muscarinic receptor models. The observed extraordinary potency and high selectivity of Imoproxifan suggests that this histamine H3 receptor antagonist might thus be a potential candidate for further investigation and development for the treatment of many different diseases influencing cognitive and memory functions, e.g. attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease or epilepsy.

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RATIONAL USES OF SACCHARIN AND ITS HAZARDOUS Yuosef Shamsaldeen, Hazem Shukfa and Yasser Shabrawy College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Ajman University of Science and Technology Network DUPHAT, The 10th Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition, Dubai, March 2009 We use it in our iced tea, put it in our cereal and eat it many reduced-calories or sugar-free foods and beverages everyday… saccharin. It has been a part of our daily lives for more than 100 years and is used by millions of people to stay in better overall health and control weight. Saccharin also has been the subject of controversy almost since it was discovered, but now it is one of the most thoroughly tested food ingredients. In fact, saccharin’s safety is supported by 30 human studies, a century of use, the approval of the World health Organization and 100 countries around the world, as well as health groups. Saccharin is not adequate to human health, since it’s carcinogenic especially for urinary bladder, but it’s not safe to be used since it has hazardous teratogenic effect. However, there are other substitutes and many procedures can be taken to avoid its carcinogenicity if it’s ingested.

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College of Information Technology

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OPTIMIZED AND ITERATIVE WIENER FILTER FOR IMAGE RESTORATION Abdul Majeed Al-Samarraie College of Information Technology Ajman University of Science and Technology Network The 6th IEEE International Symposium on Mechatronics and its applications (ISMA09) AUS, Sharjah, UAE, March 2009 Two new techniques were suggested in this research. The first one is for optimizing image restoration with Wiener filter by suggesting an efficient method for estimating an optimum value for the signal to noise ratio parameter used in Wiener filter restoration formula. The estimated value is different for each segment in frequency domain. Estimation depends on the degraded image only, without any prior knowledge about noise level in the degraded image. The second technique uses the above optimized Wiener filter iteratively to reduce the artifacts that normally appears in the restored image. Restoration using these techniques shows very good results for different degraded images.

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A NEW ENERGY-AWARE APPROACH FOR PACKETS FLOW SIGNATURE H. Khali, A. Farah and A. Araar College of Information Technology Ajman University of Science and Technology Network The 7th ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications, Rabat, Morocco, May, 2009, pp. 55-56 In this research paper, we aim at proposing a new energy-aware approach in order to authenticate packet flows in systems with limited energy. Reduction of power consumption is obtained by dynamically merging data packets and using lower message digests as a function of the system energy. This approach allows increasing the lifetime of battery-operated devices and avoids packets loss while maintaining an acceptable security level. Simulation results are presented in order to show energy savings.

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SEMANTIC RECONCILIATION IN PEER MULTI-DATA SOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Nachouki Gilles, Nachouki Mirna and Chastang Marie-Pierre College of Information Technology Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Thirteenth International Database Engineering & Applications Symposium, IDEAS09, Calibria â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Italy - 2009 In Peer Data Management system (PDMS), two fundamental problems for data fusion arise: (a) how to build a semantic reconciliation between data sources schemas managed by peers, and (b) how to locate relevant peers for a given query. Our proposal lies in the application of multi-data source fusion approach in the PDMS context. Multi-data source schemas, which are distributed shared and maintained by peers, are the basis of a semantic overlay network. The design for Peer MultiData source Management System (PMDMS) was presented in is an extension of MDS-Manager system where data sources are distributed among peers. In this paper, we focus on the MatchMaker component in PMDMS that has the semantic reconciliation (i.e. mapping) responsibility between concrete data sources schemas (i.e. schemas describing data to share with other peers) also known as expertise. Our approach of semantic reconciliation is based on ontologies and XML technologies. Indeed, the peer schema (i.e. an ontology expressed with OWL/RDF), is annotated with a set of synonymous in order to guide later the search of semantics equivalences between expertises. The mappings results are stored in an XML document called Conflicts data source (a part of the multi-data source) as semantic links between concepts such as equivalence, synonym, homonym or disjoint concepts.

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A SYSTEMS THINKING APPROACH TO DOMAIN-DRIVEN DESIGN Mohammed Salahat1 and Steve Wade2 1 Information Systems Department, College of Information Technology, Ajman University of Science and Technology, UAE 2 Informatics Department, School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield, UK The UKAIS 2009 Conference, March 2009, Oxford University, UK This paper builds on our earlier work in the construction of a systemic framework for developing information systems. In this paper we apply the framework to the development of a PeerTutoring System (PTS) for Introductory Programming courses in our Universities. The framework supports the full development life cycle from business process modelling to software implementation. We use Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) as a guiding methodology within which we have embedded a sequence of design tasks based on the Unified Modelling Language (UML) and Domain-Driven design techniques. Naked Objects Pattern is used as DDD approach. This leads to the implementation of a prototype software application using the Naked Objects framework. We have involved developers and management in reviewing the software system and the approach taken to develop it. The results suggest that the framework can lead to improved business process modelling and software implementation.

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A SYSTEMIC FRAMEWORK FOR BUSINESS PROCESS MODELLING AND IMPLEMENTATION Mohammed Salahat1, Steve Wade2 and John Lu2 1 Information Systems Department, College of Information Technology, Ajman University of Science and Technology, UAE 2 Informatics Department, School of Computing and Engineering University of Huddersfield, UK The 5th International Conference on Innovations of Information Technology (Innovationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;08), Dec 2008, UAE University, Al Ain, UAE. Indexed by IEEE xplore 978-1-4244-3397-1/08 This paper proposes a systemic framework combining techniques from Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), the Unified Modelling Language (UML) and the Naked Objects approach to implementing interactive software systems. The framework supports the full development cycle from business process modelling to software implementation. SSM is used to explore the problem situation, techniques based on the UML are used for detailed design and the Naked Objects framework is used for implementation. We argue that there are advantages from combining and using the three techniques together to improve the quality of business process modelling and implementation. The proposed systemic framework is explained and justified using Mingers multimethodology ideas. The approach is being evaluated through a series of action research projects based on real-world case studies.

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PARTITIONING STRATEGY FOR LUT-BASED APPLICATIONS USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS Riyadh A.K. Mehdi and H. Khali College of Information Technology Ajman University of Science & Technology The 7th ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications, Rabat, Morocco, May 2009, pp. 55-56 In system-level design using hardware-software co-design approaches, applications involved in embedded systems are usually represented as data flow diagrams (DFD) where nodes may either be implemented in software or in hardware, subject to cost-performance constraints. In our research paper, we present how genetic algorithms can be used in order to perform hardware-software partitioning of applications which graph nodes can be implemented in hardware as look-up tables (LUT). These applications are characterized by fixed communication delays and accurate cost predictions which help to reach costeffective implementations. Results of the proposed approach applied on a 3D range measurement application are presented.

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AN OBJECT-ORIENTED EXPERT SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSIS OF FUNGAL DISEASES OF DATE PALM M. Ayman Al Ahmar College of Information Technology Ajman University of Science and Technology Network International Journal of Soft Computing Vol. 4, No. 5, Pages 201-207, July 2009 In this study, an Object-Oriented (O-O) prototype Expert System (ES) for diagnosis of fungal diseases of date palm is presented. The objectives are to investigate the potential of a proposed O-O model for expert systems and to provide intelligent computerbased support for farmers and agricultural specialists. The modeling of the system is based on O-O database and O-O rule base. An overview of the system's model and a description of its implementation are presented. The architecture of the ES resulted in a successful and flexible system that enhances soft computing and can also be used to develop expert systems for other domains.

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5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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College of Dentistry

5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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THE ANTIANGIOGENIC AGENT ZD4190 PREVENTS TUMOUR OUTGROWTH IN A MODEL OF MINIMAL RESIDUAL CARCINOMA IN DEEP TISSUES Kamis Y Gaballah Dept of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network British Journal of Cancer (2009) 101, 418 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 423 BACKGROUND: Tumour cells may persist at the operative site after seemingly adequate surgery. Radiotherapy is often given in anattempt to prevent repopulation, but this modality cannot be relied upon to prevent locoregional recurrence. An alternative strategy is to take advantage of the requirement of tumour cells to develop an independent blood supply and block this process to prevent recurrence. METHODS: In this study, we evaluate the effect of the angiogenesis inhibitor, ZD4190, using a rodent model of residual carcinoma in deep tissues, mimicking the clinical scenario where low numbers of malignant cells persist at the operative site. RESULTS: The tumour burden that could be eliminated was dependent on the site where the cells were implanted. Immediate treatment with ZD4190 prevented outgrowth of up to 2.5105 cells in the rectus muscle and 1105 in the gastrocnemius, whereas control animals developed large tumours. When more than 2.5106 cells were implanted into the rectus or 1106 into the gastrocnemius and treatment was maintained for 3 weeks, the carcinomas that developed in ZD4190-treated animals showed a reduced microvessel density and increased necrosis when compared with the vehicle-treated controls, but an infiltrative growth pattern was common. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that antiangiogenic agents have a role to play in preventing outgrowth of residual carcinoma and are likely to be most effective when the tumour burden is minimal.

5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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EVALUATION OF CHEMOMECHANICAL CARIES REMOVAL USING THE VICKERS HARDNESS TEST: “AN IN VITRO STUDY”

Ashraf S. Qasim1 and Abdul-Haq A. Suliman2 1 Department of Operative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq Restorative Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network, UAE INTERNATIONAL DENTISTRY SA VOL. 9, NO.3:30-40 (2008)

Objectives: Invasive caries removal should be kept to a minimum. Chemomecanical caries removal is one of several alternative methods to conventional caries excavation that have been used and involves the selective removal of soft carious dentin and preservation of the sound dentin. The purpose of this study is to determine whether complete caries removal is possible using this technique. The Vickers hardness of the dentin at the cavity floor following the in vitro removal of caries by the Carisolv™ chemo-mechanical caries removal system; and the effect of Carisolv™ gel and sodium hypochlorite 0.25% on the microhardness of sound dentin will be evaluated. Methods and Materials: The carious dentin of eighteen extracted human permanent molars was removed using Carisolv™ for one minute with instruments and excavation until the gel was clear. Caries removal was verified according to the color and hardness of the lesion. The Vickers Hardness Number (VHN) of the cavity floor was determined and the adjacent sound dentin for each tooth was used as a control reference. In addition, ten extracted caries-free teeth were sectioned from the occlusal third to expose the dentin. Adhesive tape was placed on the sectioned surface to separate the tested area from the control. Carisolv™ gel and sodium hypochlorite solution 0.25% were then applied on the sound dentin of the prepared teeth for three minutes (5 teeth for each material). After the removal of the adhesive tape, the VHN was measured for both tested and control areas. Results: The VHN of the cavity floor of the carious teeth was almost similar to that of the adjacent sound dentin, while the

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VHN of the sound dentin treated with sodium hypochlorite 0.25% was much lower than the VHN of the sound dentin treated with Carisolv™ gel. Discussion: The microhardness in this study indicated that Carisolv™ solution does not produce any adverse side effects on dentinal microhardness. Sodium hypochlorite randomly dissolved both demineralized and denatured dentin. The difference between the action of Carisolv™ containing sodium hypochlorite and the pure sodium hypochlorite solution could be explained by the amino acids added to Carisolv™. The amino acids might react with the sodium hypochlorite, thus reducing the organic tissue solving properties of the sodium hypochlorite in Carisolv™ gel. Conclusions: Carisolv™ gel does not cause a significant change in the microhardness of sound dentin and the treated carious dentin. In addition, the aminoacids present in the Carisolv™ gel play a role in the control of the sodium hypochlorite and minimize its aggressive effect on sound dentin. Clinical Significance: Optimum carious dentin removal by Carisolv™ is no longer difficult when the appropriate clinical procedure is followed. Therefore, cavity preparation with Carisolv™, provides a clean dentin surface without affecting the adjacent sound dentin and may also be favorable in clinical dentistry.

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SMILE PERCEPTION IN DENTISTRY 1

Abdul-Haq A. Suliman1 and Rawhi H Al-Qaisi2 Restorative Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network, Ajman, UAE 2 Consultant at King Abdul-Aziz Naval Base Hospital, Al-Jubail, KSA Cairo Dental Journal 25(1): (2009) 53-60

Perception aesthetics is a philosophy which expresses an understanding of how smiles and consequently how results of aesthetic dentistry are perceived. It further studies what influences the perception of size, color and shape of teeth. Beyond rectifying problems for individual teeth. Through cosmetic bonding and laminate veneers, dentist can control shape by adding or taking away from the tooth, crown, or laminate. The first Golden proportion relationship, and the most to be discovered, is simple tooth to tooth Golden proportion to be used for determination of tooth size. From facial perspective, tooth proportions are guided by Golden Proportion. This article on aesthetic dentistry explores the principles of smile design, such as centerline, symmetry, smile line, incisal plane, gingival aesthetics, proportion and axial aligment.

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THE TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS AMONG DENTISTRY FACULTY MEMBERS IN UNIVERSITY OF MOSUL, IRAQ

Abdul-Haq A. Suliman1, Mohammed N. Ahmed2 and Reem A. Al-Jarrah2 Restorative Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network, UAE 2 College of Dentistry, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq. Tanmyat Al-Rafidain 30: (2008) 43-60

The present study shows the description on the situation of Dental Faculty members in 2004, in terms of the development of the concept of the Information Technology (IT). The strategy of questionnaires has been treated in this study to see the aspects of training needs responded by the faculty members and what type of the modules they seek to take. The study hypothesized that the academic staff in the faculty is in need for refresher courses, workshops and various seminars in the field of IT as a result of the global development in their fields of study and application. The study also provides a formal description to the effect of the IT, the computer implementation and web-site links in the fields of academic research. The study concluded that IT is habitually an essential template in order to develop the individual and academic abilities on the one hand and to keep coming with the excessive progress in the computerized information systems in the worldwide as well as the urgent need to develop the techniques of the academic teaching in the college.

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HOW TO CARRY OUT SUCCESSFUL CLINICAL STUDIES: LESSONS FROM PROJECT MANAGEMENT

J.S. Feine1, S.D. Wollin1 and F. Rashid2 1 Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network, UAE

Chapter in Book: Statistical And Methodological Aspects Of Oral Health Research, By: Emmanuel Lesaffre, Jocelyne Feine, Brian Leroux and Dominique Declerk 2009 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, Publication ISBN: 978-0-470-51792-5, pp 61-77 (2009) Chapter abstract; Like any successful business operation, a research study needs good strong management. Common issues that face everyday businesses also apply to running large scale clinical trials. The principle investigator needs to understand the importance of building a multidisciplinary team and then managing that team to yield a successful outcome. Basic team management principles such as; holding effective meetings, making your team better than you, setting boundaries, accepting limitations, encouraging people, inspiring loyalty, trusting staff, respecting individual differences, adapting your style to the members of your team, defining expectations, and training staff to bring you solutions instead of problems all apply to the field of scientific research. Many of the pitfalls scientists find themselves in could be avoided if they followed pure management principles in their research careers. Understanding management principles and building a strong team will enable the researcher to focus on the science, rather than being bogged down in administrative tasks and troubleshooting. In this chapter, specific, practical issues that must be handled throughout the development and implementation of a research study, focusing on randomized clinical trials are discussed.

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BASIC INFECTION CONTROL PROCEDURES IN DENTAL PRACTICE IN SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Atefeh Tahami, Raghad Hashim College of Dentistry Ajman University of Science and Technology Network The UAE International Dental Conference & Arab Dental Exhibition AEEDC, Dubai â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UAE, March, 2009 Objective: To evaluate infection control practices among dentists in private practice Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Methods: The study includes dentists who were currently working in Sharjah, and agreed to participate, resulting in a study population of 80 dentists. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed personally and variables were submitted to Chi2 test. Results: Seventy-six dentist 95% reported that they usually asked patients about their medical history, 90% were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Approximately 98% worn and change gloves during treatment and between patients, 91.3% worn face-mask but only 36.3% of the dentists change their face-mask between patients. Only 47.5% used eye-wear. All dental practitioners 100% changed extraction instrument and saliva ejectors. However, 65% reported that they changed handpieces between patients; about 88% used autoclaves for sterilization, 95% used plastic bags to wrap sterilized instrument. Approximately 59% disinfected impression before sending it to dental labs, 35% used rubber dams in their dental clinics and about 94% had special containers for sharps disposal. Conclusions: It is pleasing to note that high proportion of dentist are using personal protective equipment and follow recommended guidelines by their appropriate authorities as well as taking into consideration international standards for equipment sterilization. However changing face-mask between patients, the use of eye-wear and proper sterilization of hand pieces is still some way off from becoming a universal practice and there is thus room for improvement. The need exists for

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further education, training and regulations in the use of personal protective equipment and equipment sterilization.

5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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DENTAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN AJMAN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Roaa Mahrouq, Neam Hadi, Raghad Hashim College of Dentistry Ajman University of Science and Technology Network The UAE International Dental Conference & Arab Dental Exhibition AEEDC, Dubai â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UAE, March, 2009 Objective: To investigate the management of dental waste in Ajman. Methods: In this study 49 out of 52 clinics in the Emirate of Ajman were included of which 2 were governmental. A questionnaire was distributed to the dentists working in these clinics. Results: About 95 % of the dentist and 59% of the personnel are vaccinated against Hepatitis virus B. In 46% of clinics the waste handlers were responsible for waste collection; handling and storage of which 81% were given oral instructions when newly hired. In addition 51% of clinics segregated only infectious waste from the main waste stream. However, 71% dispose fixer and developer down the drain. 65% placed lead foil in the trash. Surprisingly, 67% do not have a policy outlining dental waste management, and 83 % of dentists where not aware of any policy for waste management. Conclusions: Clinics comply well with the municipal laws which have a clear shortage if compared to the international standards. Further research should be conducted, and construction of a training program for the dentists and personnel who are in charge of waste management will be beneficial.

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THE PREVALENCE OF SEVER EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO CHILD AND FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS, ORAL HYGIENE PRACTICES Raghad Hashim1, Sheila Williams2, Murray Thomson2 1 College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network, UAE 2University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand The First Jordanian and the 7th Arabic Congress of Pediatric Dentistry held in Dead Sea- Jordan, November 2008 Objective: To estimate the prevalence of sever Early Childhood caries (s-ECC) in the primary dentition of young children in Ajman, UAE, and investigate its association with child and family characteristics and oral hygiene practices. Methods: A two-stage cluster sample was used to randomly select children aged 5 or 6 years old who were enrolled in public or private schools in Ajman, UAE. Clinical examinations for caries were conducted by a single examiner using WHO criteria. Parents completed questionnaires seeking information on child and family characteristics, and oral hygiene. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk markers and risk indicators for s-ECC experience. The total number of children sampled was 1297. Results: Dental examination and questionnaire data were obtained for 1036 (79.9%), of whom 50.0% were female. The overall prevalence of s-ECC was 31.1% (95% CI, 23.6, 38.9). The prevalence of s-ECC was higher among children of low-income families. Conclusions: The prevalence of s-ECC in young children in Ajman is high, and socioeconomic characteristics and oral hygiene are important determinants of their dental caries experience. There is an urgent need for oral health programs targeted at the treatment and underlying causes of dental caries in these children.

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PREVALENCE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF PROSTHETIC DENTAL RESTORATION AMONG PROSTHETIC DEPARTMENTS` PATIENTS AT RAS AL KHAIMAH (RAK) DENTAL CENTER UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Israa Hadi1, Raghad Hashim2 RAK Dental Center, RAK Medical District, UAE 2 College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network, UAE 1

The UAE International Dental Conference & Arab Dental Exhibition AEEDC, Dubai –UAE, March, 2009 Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of various types of prosthetic dental restorations among patients who been treated in the prosthetic department of RAK dental center (the only government dental center which provides this service in RAK) and to investigate its association with some of the socio-demographic characteristics and medical health. Methods: Data has been collected from the patient’s files who have been treated in RAK dental center between February 2005 - December 2007. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the ministry of health – RAK medical district. Results: A total of 1010 patients were included in this study 64.5% females and 35.5% males, those who were already had or received prosthetics restoration during the mentioned period, patients who came for consultation or did not finish their treatment were not included. The age rang of the patients contributed in this study was 25- 70 years with the – mean age of 44.8 (sd=14.0) years. The majority of the patients (69.5%) were medically fit. The use of the removable dental prostheses (RDPs) was the highest 652. The rates for the complete dentures, single complete dentures (with or without other prosthetic restoration) and removable partial denture (one or more) were (17.4%), (7.8%), and (39.3%) respectively. The rates of the fixed restorations (bridges or implant), crowns were (20.4%), (15.0%) respectively. The prevalence of fixed and RDPs were higher among patients aged < 65 years, females, 5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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housewives and healthy individuals. Gender was significantly associated with the use of prosthetic dental restoration, Compared with 651 of prosthesis used by female, only 358 used by males. Conclusions: The study revealed that the prevalence of RDPs was high among the prosthetic departmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; patients in RAK dental center. The highest frequency of fixed and RDPs among housewives may reveal an association between tooth loss and education attainment or due to low level dental health care awearness. Further research is required to identify factors contributed to tooth loss among those patients.

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PLACEMENT OF BASES AND LINERS UNDER PERMANENT RESTORATIONS, WHERE WE ARE NOW? Abdul-Haq Abdul-Majeed Suliman College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network, UAE One day Workshop on "Updates in Dentistry" at the Dental Department of Zulekha healthcare Group in Association with Ajman University of Science and Technology Network, Ajman, UAE 14th November 2008 The process of selecting a new dental material includes reading the literature (including the manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; instructions) and talking to colleagues. In the market there is always a new dental material, furthermore, dental schools do not agree on the teaching of a protocol for the use of liners and bases. This implies that no single product or technique is the only correct choice. Consequently, the decision to use specific materials can be challenging for the clinician. Products currently in use should be constantly reassessed. This lecture will examine why clinicians use liners, and bases, the types of materials that are currently available, and how they can be used. The rationale for the use of liners and bases has changed over the years. Dental schools taught that this medicament was intended to protect the tooth from what was thought to be the toxic effects of the restoration, but Bacteria in the dentin can lead to severe inflammation and even necrosis of the pulpal tissues. A new model for the cause of postoperative sensitivity has emerged. Postoperative sensitivity is not caused by bacteria or their byproducts but is due to fluid that is found in the gaps at the tooth-restoration interface. It is the movement of this fluid that causes changes in osmotic pressures under the restoration, leading to postoperative sensitivity. For patient comfort, the reduction/elimination of microleakage and the elimination of any gaps between tooth structure and

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restorative material must be achieved. Liners and bases, help achieve this end. The rationale for the use of liners and bases will be discussed.

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NEW TRENDS IN CARIES DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTS Abdul-Haq Abdul-Majeed Suliman Restorative Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology Network The 6th International Dental meeting for the Faculty of Dentistry, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria, 28-30 April 2009 Caries and periodontal disease are the two primary diseases facing dentisrtry. Caries, by far, has been the greater challenge. Both periodontitis and caries basically are caused by an imbalance in the bacterial populations of what are natural and normally healthy biofilms. The complexities of the disease we know as caries are the multiple factors that are associated with the evolution of a healthy bacterial biofilm population to one that is pathological. Diagnostic and treatment philosophies are shifting to a medical model, based on evidence that caries is a disease. The hardest part has been making the change from a surgical model to a medical model of caries management and treatment. Caries is an infectious and transmissible disease, and the primary infection often can come from family members or caregivers. Even once all these factors are understood, it is still a significant challenge for many patients to be able to modify their risk factors to create an oral environment that will lead to a re-establishment of a healthy bacterial population within the oral biofilm. The surgical excision of demineralized and infected tooth structure does nothing to change the primary caries infection. The pathological biofilm is still present, and unless it is addressed, the patient is going to return in a year or two with further cavities. Treating caries with a focus on risk assessment and management has been shown to be more effective compared to simple restoration of cavities. The ideal in helping our patients prevent damage to their teeth from a caries infection would be to diagnose the presence of a pathological biofilm before it has done damage to the teeth. Our current diagnostic model relies primarily on the detection of the 5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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signs and symptoms of a caries infection. The ideal would be to screen patients to test their biofilm for the presence of an imbalance in the bacterial flora. Second, we need to effectively educate the patient on the potential consequences of a positive result. Finally, we have to offer patients an effective treatment and management program that they can take home with them. The current diagnosis model of visual, probe, and radiographic examination is qualitative, subject to operator interpretation and consequently can provide varied diagnoses from dentist examining the same patient. Recent advances in caries diagnosis and an understanding of the caries process, and bonding principles, which allow early intervention, will be dealt with in this presentation.

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MATERNAL PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND PRETERM BIRTH / LOW BIRTH WEIGHT: A PILOT STUDY FROM UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Betul Urrehman, Mohammed Mustahsen Urrehman and Aysha Yehdek College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology Network J. Pakistan Dental Association, Vol. 17 (04) 2008 Objective: This study was conducted to elaborate the association between maternal periodontal diseases and preterm birth (PB) and low birth weight (LBW) by excluding the possible known risk factors. Design: Case control study. Settings: Systemically healthy 40 pregnant women between 18-40 years of age, who received regular prenatal care in Fujairah Hospital, UAE and delivered in the same hospital during 2007. Subjects: Study group comprised of women who delivered babies below 37 weeks of gestation and/or body weight below 2,500 grams. Control group was age, and socio-demographic data matched women who delivered babies over 37 weeks of gestation and body weight over 2,500 grams. Clinical examination was performed within 48 hours after delivery Oral hygiene and gingival status, probing depth and clinical attachment level were measured. Statistical analysis: Chi-squared test (Test of Ď&#x2021;2) was used to analyze the correlation between the two variables. Results: The prevalence of chronic periodontitis varied among the two groups. Periodontitis was present in 3 out of 20 women in the control group, where as 7 out of 20 in the study group had periodontitis. Odds ratio (OR) related to periodontal disease was 1.73 (95% CI 0.41-7.34) for preterm delivery and 2.33 (95% CI 0.54-10.08) for low birth weight. Thus there was no statistically significant relation between periodontal disease and PB and periodontal disease and LBW. Although statistically there was no significant relationship found between maternal periodontal disease and pre term and low birth weight infants

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but clinically periodontal diseases were more common in the study group. Conclusions: Maternal periodontitis may be a risk factor but not a causative factor for pre term and low birth weight.

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MENTAL FORAMEN/CANAL/ AND MENTAL BLOCK ANESTHESIA Mokhalad F. Almudares and Marwan M. Al- Seghairi College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology Network Journal of International Dental and Medical Research, 2009, Vol 2(1):1 Fifty Chinese skulls were used in our study thirty one of their mandibles showed mental canals of various length and width extend from the mental foramen outward and the inferior dental canal inward. Also, the opening of the mental foramen is mostly directed upward and posteriorly. This will affect mental block anesthesia. If the insertion technique of the injecting needle into the mental foramen is not done properly, the anesthetic solution will not flow into the canal. Even the mental nerve is anesthetized and the lip numbs, but there will be no block anesthesia to the continuation of the inferior dental nerve. This will make confusion when the patient feels numbness of the lower lip whereas there is no nerve block which supplies the premolars and the anterior teeth. Palpation the foramen is not always possible because the opening is oblique and directed posterior-superiorly as reported in most studies.

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POST-GEL POLYMERIZATION SHRINKAGE STRAIN EVALUATION OF FOUR LIGHT-ACTIVATED COMPOSITES USING DIFFERENT CURING MODES Ali A. Razooki Al- Shekhli College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology Network J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2009; 21(2):14-17 Background: One of the ways of minimizing polymerization shrinkage of light-activated composites is by applying short pulses of light energy, prepolymerization at low light intensity followed by final cure at high intensity (soft-start polymerization) or a combination of both. This study investigated the influence of different curing modes on the postgel polymerization shrinkage strain of different light- activated composites. Materials and methods: This study investigated the Post-Gel Polymerization Shrinkage Strain of two mm thick composite specimens after exposure to different curing modes. Parameters included six conventional curing modes: Control (C), Pulse Delay I (PDI), Pulse Delay II (PDII), Soft-start (SS), Pulse Cure I (PCI), and Pulse Cure II (PCII) plus three experimental curing modes of higher energy density: Prolonged low-intensity pulse cure mode (PLPC), Prolonged moderate-intensity pulse cure mode (PMPC) and Rapid high-intensity continues cure mode (RHCC) for each of the four different light-activated composite materials (Tetric Ceram, Heliomolar, Herculite XRV and Degufill Mineral). Results: Statistical analysis of the data by using the one-way analysis of variance revealed that, there was a statistically significant difference for all the polymerization shrinkage strains with the composite type, curing mode and post-curing-time. Conclusion: Light intensity reduction and elongation of the curing time combined with pulse activation and soft start polymerization (PLPC curing mode) resulted in significantly lower and gradual post-gel polymerization shrinkage strain for all the light-activated composites being tested.

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DEPTH OF CURE EVALUATION OF FOUR DIFFERENT LIGHT-ACTIVATED COMPOSITES USING DIFFERENT CURING MODES Ali A. Razooki Al- Shekhli College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology Network J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2009; 21(1):5-8 Background: As light passes through the bulk of the composite material, the light intensity is greatly reduced due to blight absorption and scattering by resin composites, thus, decreasing the effectiveness of cure through the depth of the composite layer. This study investigated the influence of different new curing modes (conventional and experimental) and composite formulations on depth of cure using the ISO scraping test. Materials and methods: This study investigated the depth of cure (ISO scraping method) of four conventional composites after exposure to different curing modes. A two-piece aluminum mold with a diameter of 4mm and a height of 8mm was used as a mold for the composite specimens.VIP light curing unit was used to deliver all the curing modes for photo-curing of all the composite specimens in this study. Parameters included six curing modes: Control (C), Pulse Delay I (PDI), Pulse Delay II (PDII), Soft-start (SS), Pulse Cure I (PCI), and Pulse Cure II (PCII) plus three experimental curing modes of higher energy density: Prolonged low-intensity pulse cure mode (PLPC), Prolonged moderate-intensity pulse cure mode (PMPC) and Rapid high-intensity continues cure mode (RHCC) for each of the four different light-activated composite materials (Tetric Ceram, Heliomolar, Herculite XRV and Degufill Mineral). The height of the cylinder of cured material was measured with a micrometer to an accuracy of 0.01 mm. This value was divided by two (in compliance with ISO CD4049: 2000), and recorded as the depth of cure in mm for that specific specimen. Results: Statistical analysis of the data by using the one-way analysis of variance revealed that, there is statistically very

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highly significant difference for all the depth of cures between the curing modes and composite types. Conclusion: This study indicated that, although, both curing mode and composite type significantly affect depth of cure but the effect of composite composition on the depth of cure is more predominant than that of curing mode.

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HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN AS ADVOCATES OF ORAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN SCHOOLS Bhaskar S, Al Hamour A, Al Sharqi M and Al Adwani R College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology Network International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, Vol 19- Suppl- 1 page 51 June 2009 Introduction: School-based dental health programs were conducted by dentists, hygienists, dental nurses, school teachers and has shown several levels of success. The recent program was initiated and conducted as a pilot study. Aim of our study was to investigate the dental health knowledge in 9- to 10-yearolds. Material and Methods: Oral health education was designed for 20 high school children (Experiment Group-I) and 20 primary school teachers (Experiment Group-II) and training workshops were carried out by the dental team in liaison with school administrators and sponsors (Oral B, Wrigley’s). Group I and Group II were assigned with 305 and 298, grade 3 (age 9-10 years) children respectively in promoting oral health. There was no control group. A pre-program and post-program questionnaire survey for knowledge, attitude and practice to oral health was done by all the children at the beginning and at the end of the academic year. The data’s were statistically analyzed. Results: Knowledge about oral health was improved in both the group. Significant increase of attitude and practice of oral care was seen well in children under Group I. Level of motivation was high among high-school children as trainers, when compared to teachers. Conclusion: Adolescent’s interaction and reinforcement on regular basis had a great impact on younger children. Hence we recommend the inclusion of high school children in the oral health promotion program as they will be available in school for a period of 3-5 years.

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APICAL LEAKAGE OF THREE DIFFERENT OBTURATION TECHNIQUES Hasanen H. Al Khafagy College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Sciences and Technology Network Journal PDA, Vol. 18 No. 1, Jan-March 2009 Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the sealing ability of three obturation techniques, cold lateral condensation technique, carrier based thermafill technique, and Resilon and epiphany sealer using lateral condensation technique. Materials and methods: Fifty one single rooted extracted human teeth were selected and randomly divided into three groups, containing 15 in each group, setting aside six teeth as positive and negative control groups. They were obturated with gutta percha and adseal sealer using cold lateral condensation and carrier based thermafill with adseal sealer and with Resilon and epiphany sealer using lateral condensation technique. The apical leakage was measured using dye penetration methodology. Results: The teeth filled with Gutta percha and Adseal using cold lateral compaction technique showed the least apical leakage, while the most apical leakage was shown with Resilon. Conclusion: Based on the data of this study, all groups produced a satisfactory seal. However, Resilon and Epiphany sealer showed the most apical leakage.

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College of Information, Mass Communication and Humanities

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AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF TESTING EFFECTIVENESS 1

Khalid Alkhaja1 and Maryam Bayshak2 College of Information, Mass Communication & Humanities Ajman University of Science and Technology Network 2 UAE University, Al Ain, UAE Islamic and Arabic Studies College Magazine, No.37, 2009, pp. 24-46, Dubai, UAE

Testing is supposed to measure the effectiveness of teaching and/or learning against stated objectives of the instructional or educational system. Being an abstract and complex system, language does not lend itself to straightforward testing. Analytical, integrative, sociolinguistic, and communicative language testing theories have, generally, failed to propose universal testing methodologies. The aim of this article is to identify some theoretical and operational problems of TESOL and to present recommendations for test-designers that take both learner and matter into account.

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THE ROLE OF THE TEACHING ENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPING SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING Khalid Alkhaja College of Information, Mass Communication & Humanities Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Islamic and Arabic Studies College Magazine, No.37, 2009, pp. 6-21, Dubai, UAE The aim of this article is to examine whether conversation classes in informal settings with native speakers help ESL learner do better. Two experimental groups had 15 hours of conversational English: one group with native speakers in an informal setting and the other group with non-native speakers in formal settings. The results demonstrated that ESL learners (group one) of conversation classes with native speakers of English achieved far better results in terms of improving their English language proficiency.

5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

AUST Network - RIT Council

College of Education and Basic Sciences

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AUST Network - RIT Council

LEARNING WITH TECHNOLOGY: USING DISCUSSION FORUMS TO AUGMENT A TRADITIONAL-STYLE CLASS Zuhrieh Shana College of Education and Basic Sciences Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Educational Technology & Society*, 12 (3), 214â&#x20AC;&#x201C;228. (2009) There is considerable evidence that using technology as an instructional tool improves student learning and educational outcomes (Hanna & de Nooy, 2003). In developing countries, pre-university education focuses on memorization, although meting the mission of AUST requires students to manage technology and to think more independently. This study examines the impact of incorporating a discussion forum on the achievement of university students enrolled in a Distance Education course, Educational Technology Department at Ajman University of Science and Technology (AUST), United Arab Emirates. The study was conducted with 34 students divided into two sections, one a treatment group and one a control group. Both sections were exposed to the same teaching techniques covering the same course material on Distance Education. Four weeks after the course had commenced they were given the same teacher constructed test. However, after the first test, the treated group was exposed to the use of a World Wide Web (WWW) interactive discussion forum. At the end of the semester-long treatment period, a final test was given to both groups, and student scores were analyzed for any statistically significant difference. Questionnaires and interviews were also conducted to see if students had enjoyed the experience. The results of the study indicated that students in both groups showed learning improvement over the course of one semester, *

214 ISSN 1436-4522 (online: http://www.ifets.info/journals/12_3/19.pdf) and 1176-3647 (print). ÂŠ International Forum of Educational Technology & Society (IFETS). 5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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but discussion forums had an obvious impact on student achievement and attitude in distance learning/ educational technology course.

5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

AUST Network - RIT Council

RENOVATING THE JURISPRUDENT EXAMPLES Ali Abdul Jabbar Al-Soroori College of Education and Basic Sciences Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Journal of Social studies (University of Science and Technology – Sana’a - Yemen), 2009, Vol 14, No (28) PP 91 - 117 The present paper aims at exploring the problem of sticking to the old examples of jurisprudent rules, where contemporary researchers, scholars and teachers stick to the old examples given by early scholars. The paper demonstrates the meaning of the jurisprudent examples and their advantages, then the meaning and the necessity of renovating such examples as well as the benefits behind such an action. The paper states eleven examples taken from early scholars’ work, along with the suggested renovated examples for contemporary researchers, scholars and teachers. The paper concludes with several related recommendations.

5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

AUST Network - RIT Council

THE ROLE OF ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Amin Abdullah AL-Mekhlafi College of Education and Basic Sciences The "Colleges of Education Accreditation Conference: Visions and Experiences", College of Education, Taibah University, ALMadinah AL-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia, May 2009 The private sector, all over the globe, has started to invest in public education ranging from kindergartens to colleges and universities. This trend is driven either by pure financial motives, a mixture of financial and educational motives, or, in few cases, pure educational motives (e.g. charitable institutions). For this reason, governments and civil agencies call for state laws and policies to monitor such institutions and guard the public interest. The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is not an exception. The country has witnessed an increase in the establishment of private institutions of higher education. This pushes the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, hereafter referred to as (the Ministry), to subject private institutions to licensure and their academic programs to accreditation. The Ministry, represented by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), has established rigorous standards and criteria to ensure quality education, guarantee the achievement of high learning outcomes, and maintain the public trust. This paper investigates the accreditation movement in the U.A.E. and its role in the development and improvement of: (1) programs' theoretical components, (2) programs' practical processes, (3) faculty's professional skills and status, (4) teaching and learning resources, and (5) programs' learning outcomes in private institutions of higher education. The findings indicate that the accreditation process plays a significant role in the development and improvement of certain areas of academic programs but plays a moderate role in other areas.

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College of Law

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THE THEORY OF SPORT LAW: TOWARDS SPECIFIC LEGISLATION FOR SPORTS TRANSACTIONS Adnan A. Wali College of Law, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network 15th International Association of Sports Law Congress: â&#x20AC;&#x153;International Sports Events and Lawâ&#x20AC;?, Warsaw, Poland, November 19-21, 2009 It is well known that the great revolution in communication and transportation made the world just a global village. The interference of transactions between the people of different countries (including sports law), makes the necessity of legislating a model law for sport transactions is quite urgent in order to avoid legal conflicts problems and to find a uniformed language between nations. Although we already have an international uniform sport law (international bylaws) concerning different games, we find that the time has come to have a model law for all sports transactions applied in sports in general. Such international model sport law should be considered as a basic law or as a constitution for all sports transaction and give a good assistance for all countries to have their own sport law according to the international sports law model. We consider that going forward to an international sport law model should be a good occasion to re-examine the bylaws which are valid in many types of sports, especially football. Such goal can be achieved only if all legislators and experts in law, sport and business in all countries do as one team. The non-amateur sport culture which has become an international phenomenon presses on all of us to face the necessity of international sport law model.

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College of Business Administration

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AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF ERP IMPLEMENTATION IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY: TOWARD A GENERIC FRAMEWORK Mohamed Gamal Aboelmaged College of Business Administartion, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network International Journal of Enterprise Network Management (2009), Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 23-41 This paper uses empirical research to provide key insights into ERP implementation in a developing country â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the United Arab Emirates (UAE). UAE organizations are questioned through a cross-sectional survey about ERP applications in use, perceived barriers, critical success factors and benefits of ERP implementation. Based on the empirical analysis and discussion of the research result, a generic framework involving system adaptation, functional integration, information value and strategic justification is developed for successful implementation of ERP systems.

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MANAGING INFORMATION SHARING WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING: A SOCIAL NETWORK PERSPECTIVE John-Paul Hatala and Joseph George Lutta College of Business Administartion, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network Performance Improvement Quarterly, 2009, Vol. 21(4): 5-33 The International Society Of Performance Improvement Information sharing is critical to an organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competitiveness and requires a free flow of information among members if the organization is to remain competitive. A review of the literature on organizational structure and information sharing was conducted to examine the research in this area. A case example illustrates how a social network approach was used to explore the process of measuring the social structure of an organization and the implementation of change interventions to increase connectivity and manage information sharing. The process of conducting social network analysis is described using the case example. Interventions for increasing information flow are discussed. The authors provide an information-sharing model that demonstrates the various domains of connectivity within an organization at any given state. The benefits of using social network analysis for information sharing and the implications for further research and practice are discussed.

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CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1

Ibrahim Elsiddig1 and Srinivas Inguva2 College of Business Studies, Al-Ghurair University, Dubai, UAE 2 College of Business Administartion, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network The Journal of Management, Al Ghurair University, Volume I, Issue I, Spring 2009

The link between factor payments and factor productivities gives the national accounts a direct and fundamental role in the production theory. The present study aims to focus light on the development of production expenditure in the UAE from 2002 to 2005 in terms of the number of establishments, labor compensation and capital investment. The data for the study has been collected from the secondary sources and primary sources. Simple statistical tools are used to make the study easily understandable and useful. The comparison will be on annual and on Emirates basis to reflect similarities and/or differences, if any. The study results would be useful to help policyâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;makers and to certain extent useful to reduce inter emirate disparities. Since the study is confined to United Arab Emirates the results of the study may be useful to this region and the similar regions. The main findings of the study are; it is evident that Abu Dhabi and Dubai emirates are contributing more than 83% of the total fixed capital in the United Arab Emirates. More than 72% of the workers engaged in United Arab Emirates are working in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The growth of production in Abu Dhabi and the other northern emirates is slightly decreasing where as the production is increasing in Dubai. Increase in the compensation paid amount growth is high in Dubai followed by Ajman, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

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CUSTOMERS’ PERCEPTION OF ONLINE BANKING IN QATAR Abdulaziz A. Hashim1 and Mohammed Naim Chaker2 1 Head of Marketing Research Department, Qatar Steel Company, Mesaieed, State of Qatar 2 College of Business Administartion, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network J. for Global Business Advancement, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2009, Pages 252 – 263 Information technology plays a major role in shaping industries all over the world. Obviously, banks rely heavily on IT in conducting their businesses and spend huge amounts of money on such technology to reduce operation costs and gain competitive advantage over their rivals by offering customers better services through ATM machines, telephone banking and more evidently in the last decade internet banking (IB). Researchers have found that a significant number of customers are either not aware of the IB services or do not trust the IB as a channel to conduct their banking transactions. Researchers also have found that customers may adopt IB technology only if they perceive the technology to be useful. This research paper examines customers’ perception of using IB in Qatar. This paper can be a very useful reference for the banking industry to improve the level of IB services and for further future research.

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Institute of Environment, Water and Energy

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DESALINATION AND WATER ENVIRONMENT IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS Zeinelabidin S. Rizk1 and Mohamed S. Alasam2 1 Institute of Environment, Water and Energy, Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE 2 Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Environment and Water Workshop, Dubai Institute of Technology, TechnoPark, International Desalination Association World Congress 2009, November 2009, Dubai, UAE To bridge the gap between limited natural water resources and escalating demand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has adopted water desalination, water harvesting and reuse of treated sewage water as non-conventional water resources. Water desalination in the UAE started in 1969 in Abu Dhabi. In the present, over 83 desalination plants have been built all over the country and several others are planned in the future. Most of the plants are located in coastal areas or on islands desalinating seawater, while a few plants are built inland where brackish groundwater is desalinated. The annual production of desalination plants increased from 7.0 million cubic meters (Mm3) in 1969, to 395 Mm3 in 1997, reaching 1,825 Mm3 in 2005. In 2008, the UAE ranked second on the world by producing 8.4 Mm3 of desalination water per day, or 13% of world production. The multi-stage flash distillation is the dominant desalination method representing 52% in Sharjah, 88% in Abu Dhabi and 99.8% in Dubai. The multi-effect distillation method represents 10% in Abu Dhabi and 30% in Sharjah. The reverse osmosis desalination is 0.2% in Dubai, 2% in Abu Dhabi and 18% in Sharjah. The UAE has two experimental solar desalination plants in Abu Dhabi with total production capacity of 580 cubic meters per day (m3/d); the first plant desalts 500 m3/d of brackish groundwater and the second desalinates 80 m3/d of seawater. The desalination of seawater in the UAE is facilitated by its long coasts along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman (600 km). In 5th Annual Research Compendium: 2008/2009

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contrast, water desalination has been criticized on economic, environmental and security grounds. In addition to the problems affecting desalination plants such as scale formation, precipitation, membrane fouling and corrosion, the desalination process itself has negative physical, chemical and biological impacts on the marine environment. On the other hand, desalination plants are negatively affected by thermal, heavy metals and oil pollution of the Arabian Gulf. While the disposal of reject brine from coastal or inland desalination plants has considerable adverse effects on marine organisms and groundwater, extraction of salts from reject brines for industrial and commercial uses is a good prospect for beneficial utilization of the main pollutant generated by desalination plants. Alleviating the negative impacts of desalination industry in the UAE should focus on the use of renewable energy sources, achieving zero brine discharge by incorporating the solar pond technology and funding research and development in water desalination.

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UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, COMMUNITY NEEDS AND LABOUR MARKET Riadh H. Al-Dabbagh Institute of Environment, Water and Energy, Ajman University of Science and Technology Network AUST Network Journal Vol.14, Issue 3 (2009) Our present world is characterized by new challenges, new conditions and fresh developments in the social, economic, political and scientific spheres. Such developments left their imprints on the administrative work in the organizations and institutions that undertake, educationally and culturally, precise tasks such as universities. Since their modern inception, the universities have passed through constant developments as to their goals, concepts, functions, tasks, let alone their significant role in upgrading society at large and promoting both the economy and knowledge. Because of the special importance of universities, due attention must thus be paid to back them up and provide all their requirements. Part of the attention must be directed towards caring for the university administration and its environment to be an effective institution for both the community and the staff working in it.

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