Emirates Aviation University

Thermally stable thermoplastic elastomeric nanocomposites derived from poly(styrene-b-ethylene-ran-butylene-b-styrene)-grafted maleic anhydride; SEBS-g-MA were prepared using copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as conductive nanofillers. The electrical conductivity was introduced in SEBS-g-MA, a triblock insulating polymer matrix, thus presenting a combination of conductivity and processability presenting a class of materials for conductive layers in electronic devices. Initial functional group analysis was carried out through FTIR, while XRD patterns confirmed the phase purity and incorporation of nanofillers effectively into the polymer matrix. Scanning electron micrographs depicted homogeneous nanofiller dispersion in the polymer matrix at lower filler proportions which tend to improve the mechanical and thermal characteristics. Conductive nanofillers incorporated the electrical conductivity in an insulating polymer system, depicting the better flow of electrons with a lower percentage of CNTs followed by rGO and Cu NPs. π–π interactions between polymer and CNTs/rGO facilitated electron transfer more effectively than Cu NPs. The decomposition temperature of the polymer was increased from 365 °C for the pure polymer to 430, 489, and 432 °C for Cu (4%), rGO (3%), and CNTs (3%), respectively. Similarly, while studying the mechanical properties, it was observed that Young’s modulus of the nanocomposites was increased with increasing amounts of nanofiller which is significantly dictated by the homogeneous dispersion and enhanced forces of interaction between reinforcement and matrix. Henceforth, the designed nanocomposites with enhanced conductive, thermal, and mechanical properties present a potential candidate to replace the pristine polymer systems with more durability in addition to conductivity. Agglomeration of nanofiller after an optimized proportion may lead to less pronounced improvement in thermal and mechanical resilience, thus better dispersion is to be ensured. These nanocomposites hold great promise for use in flexible electronics, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, and next-generation wearable devices.

The recent global environmental crisis and climate change have prompted greater interest among global citizens in sustainability issues. Consumers are demanding more to be done by product and service suppliers to ensure sustainability. This has sparked research and academic interest in understanding how various organisations position themselves from a sustainability perspective. This study emerges from the need to understand trends and developments in sustainability marketing. To this end, this study uses bibliometric data from the Scopus database to examine this development. The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer. The study found significant growth in the literature on green and sustainable marketing which is indicative of the subject over the past couple of years. In many respects green marketing is seen by many enterprises as playing a central role in shaping consumer perceptions and brand loyalty in many markets. However, green marketing and sustainability face various challenges such as misleading claims and greenwashing which threaten consumer confidence in sustainability efforts. Overall, this study found that integrating sustainability into marketing strategies fosters environmental responsibility, builds consumer trust, and enhances business performance. In addition, frameworks such as the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) provide a foundation for understanding consumers’ green attitudes and adoption behaviour. Greenwashing can be addressed by transparency, education, and regulatory compliance. Finally, practical recommendations include fostering international cooperation, developing targeted capacity-building initiatives, and leveraging sustainability marketing to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study provides a comprehensive framework for advancing green marketing research and practice, offering pathways for organisations to contribute to global sustainability while achieving long-term profitability.

Credit risk assessment plays a key role for financial services institutions to identify the categories (default or non-default) of borrowers. There are many machine learning algorithms for credit risk assessment. However, the credit data often present the phenomenon of unbalance (fewer defaulters and more non-defaulters) and redundant characteristic variables. In credit risk assessment, little attention is paid to the problem of data unbalance and characteristic variables screening. The paper designs a hybrid machine learning algorithm combining clustering algorithm, Random Forest (RF) and Bayesian Network (BN) to reduce redundant characteristic variables in data. Then the data processed by the hybrid machine learning algorithm is sampled (Fusion Sampling), and the sampled data is used to train the supervised learning algorithm. Experiments show that the selection of characteristic variables reduces the cost of computing resources and data storage, while also reducing the “noise” (the negative impact of variables on the classifier) in the data. The method of data sampling is simple and easy to implement, and greatly improves the prediction performance of the classifier. The paper applies the scheme to the analysis of three bank credit data, proving that the proposed scheme can ensure high predictive performance while deeply reducing characteristic variables and is superior to the state-of-the-art hybrid machine learning algorithms (the combination of supervised learning algorithm and unsupervised learning algorithm).

This study investigates the impact of family socio-economic status on children’s bilingual oral language and reading abilities. The participants were 92 Arabic–English bilingual children (Meanage = 8.52 years old) in Grade 3 of primary schools and their parents in the United Arab Emirates. A correlational research design was used. The children completed several bilingual oral language and reading tests, and their parents filled in the family background questionnaire. The results of general regression show that mothers’ education level and family income affected children’s English, but not Arabic, oral language and word reading abilities. Family income was a significant predictor of children’s English oral language skills, and mothers’ education level contributed to children’s English word reading. However, fathers’ education level did not predict children’s bilingual abilities. The contextual influence on children’s language and literacy development is discussed.

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained prominence through reticular chemistry, connecting building blocks to create specific structures. MOFs offer high surface areas, porosity, stability, and diverse functionalities. This makes them easily modifiable for various applications, evolving into complex architectures. Recent advancements in MOF‐derived multi‐shelled nanostructures are summarized herein. The advantages and disadvantages of these nanostructures over bare MOFs and single‐shelled structures are discussed. The recent progress and potential of multi‐shelled structures in energy storage applications are comprehensively explored. Challenges and prospects in this area are also outlined.

Milk pasteurization and sterilization by heat treatment have an exciting history, which followed steady steps. The main aim of these treatments is to extend the shelf life of milk by destroying pathogenic and milk spoilage bacteria. With developments in pasteurization techniques, the assurance of milk safety, and extended shelf life, pasteurized bovine milk has become a staple food, especially in Western diets. However, some concerns have recently been raised about the effect of pasteurization on the sensory properties and nutritional quality of milk, and alternative methods, such as high-pressure processing, are being investigated. The primary purpose of milk pasteurization and sterilization is summarized in this review article. The associated changes that affect the compositional, sensory, and nutritional quality of milk are discussed, with particular emphasis on protein structure and function. The review is concluded by considering alternative methods, their advantages and limitations, along with future prospects.

Coxiellosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) infection that occurs as subclinical and clinical infections in animals and humans worldwide except in the Antarctica and New Zealand. The objectives of this study were to estimate the seroprevalences of C. burnetti infections in slaughtered camels and abattoir workers as well as to detect C. burnetii DNA in the clotted blood in the same study subjects at Al Bawadi abattoir of Al Ain city, in the United Arab Emirates, UAE. A cross-sectional study design was used to test 393 slaughtered camels and 86 abattoir workers for C. burnetii antibodies between March 2022 and July 2023 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits supplied by ID Vet multispecies and Abbexa, respectively. Besides, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used for the detection of C. burnetti DNA in clotted blood of 366 camels and 86 abattoir workers. The seroprevalences of C. burnetii infection were 52.9% (95% confidence interval, CI: 46.0, 60.6%) and 24.4% (95% CI: 15.1, 37.3%) in camels and abattoir workers. But, C. burnetii DNA was not detected in clotted blood samples of camels and abattoir workers. Sex, age and body condition of the camels were not associated with the seroprevalence of C. burnetii while abattoir workers of African origin were more likely to be seropositive (odds ratio, OR = 3.70; 95% CI: 1.05, 13.60) than abattoir workers of south Asian origin. The seroprevalences of C. burnetii infections were high in both slaughtered camels and abattoir workers although its DNA was not detected in the clotted blood of either of the study subjects.

An 84-day experimental trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary thymol, P. acidilactici at separate or combined on growth performance, intestinal digestive enzymes, bacterial counts, intestinal histo-morphometric indices, hemato-biochemical indices, and antioxidant responses in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus . A basal diet (30.34 g kg ⁻ ¹ of crude protein) and isocaloric (19.21 MJ kg ⁻¹ gross energy) was used to form the the experimental treatments. Control group was the basal diet without additives and the other three formulated diets were supplemented with 2.32 thymol mg kg ⁻¹ diet or P. acidilactici at 2 × 10 ⁹ CFU kg ⁻¹ (probiotic; pro), and their mixture. A total number of 300 healthy fingerlings (Initial average weight 4.51 ± 0.01 g) were randomly allocated into four groups (25 fish for each group in triplicates). The results showed that the best values of growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded in fish fed diet containing a mixture of Thymol + P. acidilactici a. The activity of endogenous enzymes including; amylase, lipase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin was substantially boosted ( P ≤0.05) by supplemental diets with Thymol + P. acidilactici at. Furthermore, fish fed diet supplemented with Thymol + P. acidilactici at had greater villi width, villi height, goblet cells, absorption area, muscularis mucosa, and muscularis. Diets supplemented with a mixture of Thymol + P. acidilactici at substantially improved hematological markers. The supplemental diets with Thymol + P. acidilactici at improved the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) versus basal diet. In conclusion, the synergetic effect between Thymol + P. acidilactici at ameliorated the growth, feed efficiency, intestinal digestive enzymes, intestinal histological morphometric, hemato-biochemical indices, and antioxidant responses of Nile tilapia.

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are known as chronic mental disorders that can cause adverse physical and mental effects and affect different age groups, including children, and disrupt their growth and development. Based on this, the aim of this research is to determine the global prevalence of EDs in children. Methods: To conduct this research, each of the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, Embase, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar search engine were systematically searched using relevant keywords ("prevalence,""outbreak,""eating disorder,""feeding disorder,""eating problem,""appetite disorder,"to find all the studies that refer to the prevalence of EDs in children until July 23, 2024 to obtain and perform further evaluations. After data extraction, their analysis was done by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 2); Random effects model was used for analysis and I2 index was also used to check the heterogeneity of studies. Results: Based on the global prevalence of EDs in children based on meta-analysis was 1% (95% CI: 0.6-1.6); Subgroup analysis based on the study of eating disorders in children showed that the prevalence of pica among children is 2.1% (95% CI: 1-4.6), the prevalence of binge eating disorder is 1% (95% CI: 0.6-1.8), and the prevalence of anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa among children is 0.6% (95% CI: 0.01-34.4) and 0.1% (95% CI: 0-0.4), respectively. Conclusion: Considering the importance of nutrition in children and the report of EDs among them, healthcare workers and medical personnel must pay attention to this category of disorders by timely informing parents to reduce the complications caused by it.

The majority of research on quadratic stochastic operators (QSOs) has focused on finite-dimensional sets of probability distributions, known as simplices. However, extending this study to the infinite case presents an intriguing challenge. This paper specifically addresses infinite-dimensional Lotka–Volterra operators. Unlike the finite case, the non-compactness of infinite-dimensional simplices complicates the general analysis, so several subclasses of infinite-dimensional Lotka–Volterra operators are introduced. Additionally, Lyapunov functions are constructed for each subclass, enabling the exploration of the dynamics of these operators. The paper also describes the omega limiting sets of the Lotka–Volterra operators.

The aim of the current study is to investigate the influence of Lanthanum (La) doping on the structural, morphological, compositional, and elemental properties BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films and also to determine their application toward the resistive switching memory devices. Spray pyrolysis technique was used to deposit La-doped BFO thin films onto glass substrates and the La doping concentration was varied from 1 to 8%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a structural phase transition from rhombohedral to monoclinic/tetragonal with the increase of La doping concentration. A morphological study showed that La doping significantly improved the surface smoothness of thin films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis shows the presence of oxygen vacancies (VOs) and Fe²⁺ oxidation states, highlighting the role of resistive switching behavior. Using La:BFO as an intermediate layer, the resistive switching characteristics of fabricated ITO/La(x)/Al (X = 1 to 8%) device configurations were studied; however, the ITO/La(5)/Al-based resistive switching device exhibit enhanced resistive switching characteristics. The underlying resistive switching (RS) mechanism of the ITO/La(5)/Al devices was attributed to the formation and rupture of conductive filaments.

The Kitāb al-Ansāb (The Book of Genealogies) provides detailed accounts of the lineages and familial connections of Omani tribes in southeast Arabia, which is essential for understanding the social and political structure of the region during the premodern period. This book became an indispensable resource for historians seeking to write a comprehensive history of premodern Oman, as it was frequently quoted by later Omani historians and formed the foundation of premodern Omani cultural and religious practices. Compiled during the 4th/11th century, the identity of its writer has attracted much speculation. While widely attributed to an individual from the ʿAwtabī family, this attribution does not withstand scrutiny. This paper critically examines the author of the Kitāb al-Ansāb , his style and method, sectarian and factional affiliations, and attempts to place the text in its historical context. It argues that the author was most likely a nonsectarian moderate from the cosmopolitan city of Ṣuḥār, a coastal city in northern Oman, and completed the text in the year 345/956 or earlier. The confused and fragmentary condition of the text today is likely the result of subsequent copyists, with the oldest known manuscript dated 1086/1672. The paper concludes with a discussion of the extant manuscripts and a call for a critical edition.

The construction domain in the Middle East region has experienced significant growth in recent years. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for instance, the number of newly constructed areas with mixed-use development buildings is increasing yearly. Given the region’s harsh climatic conditions, characterized by an extremely hot climate, designing sustainable and energy-efficient buildings is crucial. Under these conditions, shading is a primary strategy. This research explores how parametric design and optimization based on genetic algorithms (GAs) can improve shading structures to reduce solar radiation and lower cooling energy consumption. It is focused on parametric design and optimization of window shading structures, either for retrofitting existing buildings or for new construction. Advanced tools are essential to achieve this goal, as they enable designers to incorporate various architectural features that enhance energy efficiency. The parametric structures are meant to increase the shaded parts by reducing the amount of solar radiation on building facades, reducing the amount of energy consumption for air conditioning and improving overall energy efficiency. The methodology follows the following steps: selection of the case study, weather analysis, modeling and simulation, parametrization process (maximize shaded area and reduce total solar radiation), results, and analysis. The modeling, simulation, and parametrization are completed using Rhino/GH. While the research focuses on a mid-rise building in Abu Dhabi as a case study, the approach can be applied more broadly to buildings in hot climates. Due to excessive solar radiation in arid climate regions, shading of fenestration is a primary focus. The findings show that the GA-based optimized shading system, based on the cumulative radiation, decreased the total radiation amount by 19% and reduced cooling energy use by 26.2% for the case study. This demonstrates that parametric design can contribute to more sustainable and energy-efficient architecture.