Assessing the Needs of People with Disabilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE

While there are many opportunities for people with disabilities (PWD) in Abu Dhabi (AD), UAE, there hardly been a study of what is required to get such people to meet their full potentials. This study commenced December 2012 and lasted for 4 months. The needs assessment based study tried to answer questions like what is needed to achieve the enhancement of the quality of life of PWD in AD region during and after school/centre times. It also looked at what type of needs (financial, assistive, emotional, and other) those people might have, and what are the needs of the parents of PWD that support the development of their children to reach their full potentials. Adding to that what could be recommended to bridge the gap in such needs. The purpose was mainly to develop a good understanding of the landscape. Benchmarking was undertaken from all private centers and scanning the needs of all parents of PWD in government centers across AD as well. It is hoped that researching the findings would help to develop the services on offer for PWD in the Emirate of AD. In order to achieve the aims of this study, 8 centres were selected out of the total of 17 which is the number of private centres in AD. The selection was based on size, location and type of disability as a purposeful sample to insure fair representation of the centres. The researcher conducted 8 filed visits of centers in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to assess their current services, operating model etc. Individual briefs were prepared for every center with comparisons across specific factors. Scanning all the needs of all the parents of people with disability in the government centres across Abu Dhabi was looked at differently. To insure validity of the data and because the Emirati people with disability clustered mainly in government centres, all nine government centres under Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care were visited and sample interviews (qualitative and quantitative) from all centres were undertaken. Selected participants were used to interview and investigate up close (purposeful sampling). Findings showed that there is a desperate need for support after school hours despite the care offered during school hours for those who are in school age. Parents need support on several levels especially with how to spend quality time with their children with disabilities

The Teacher Assistant Programme Across The UAE: Empower To Include

This paper presents the findings of a government-funded research project that was aimed at providing well-trained teacher assistants to enable inclusion of learners with intellectual disabilities in 21 Emirati government schools across the United Arab Emirates. The project is a first in the country and attracted media attention because of its dual benefit in not only supporting the national trend of the inclusion of learners with disabilities in mainstream schools, but also enabling empowerment of young Emirati women who did not make it to higher education for some reason or another but are keen to join the work force. The main research question was, “what is the impact of the programme on the lives of those Emirati women who became teacher assistants and on the education process in the school where they were trained?” Mixed methods were applied to achieve the aims of the project. Provisional results showed that having a well-trained teacher assistant in class, alongside the class teacher in Emirati mainstream schools, supports and empowers young learners with intellectual disabilities and contributes to an effective and long-lasting inclusive education. In relation to the Emirati trainees, the programme was effective and it supported such young women to secure a place in the work force as well as equipped them with new skills that they found useful for their own self-development and their respective communities across the UAE. The project was funded by the Emirates Foundation for the UAE Down Syndrome Association in collaboration with the British University in Dubai and the Ministry of Education in the UAE

Inclusion Of Student With Special Needs Within Higher Education In UAE: Issues And Challenges

This is an oral interactive presentation supported by evidences that present the current status of inclusion of students with special needs in the Higher Education sector in the UAE. It looks at the related issues and challenges in a country that is certainly heading towards inclusion of all learners in regular education following the ratification of the UN Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Issues of supporting students in the higher education sector will be discussed as well as what could be done to include such students effectively and to insure students involvement in decision making when providing for their needs in higher education. The presentation ends with recommendations for future practice

CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME ALGERIANS AND FOREIGN LENTIL ACCESSIONS BY QUALITATIVE TRAITS

In the present study an attempt has been made to characterize lentil accessions based on qualitative traits. There were variations among 44 lentil accessions. Erect growth habit was observed in 24 % of the accessions where 8% were from Algeria. Conversely, prostrate growth habit was observed in 34% of the accessions. The majority of the remaining accessions (41.32%) were intermediate. Stem with anthocyanin pigmentation was showed in 44% of the accessions, whereas, 56% had no pigmentation (green stem). About half of the accessions had grey green leaves (53%) and 23% of accessions were light green. Among the characters, flower color showed the highest variation. White flowers were observed in 64% accessions and violet flowers were found in 36% accessions. Flowers, with violet stripes in the standard petal (SVE) were observed in 44% accessions and the majority (56%) lacked violet stripes. Yellow cotyledons were observed in 61% accessions, while the rest (39%) had red cotyledons. The majority of accessions (81%) were observed with brown testa while 14% were green and 5% had yellow testa. Absence of seed coat pattern was observed in 69% accessions. However, 8% accessions with spots, 5% with dots, 16% were marbled and the remaining 2% were complex. Flattened seed shape was observed in 60% of accessions. Conversely, globose shape was observed in 40% of the accessions, among of them 27% were from Algeria

Pedra de tartera de Maria Barbal. Del català a l’àrab. Qüestions traductològiques

Treballs Finals del Màster de Teoria de la Literatura i Literatura Comparada. Facultat de Filologia. Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2022-2023, Tutor: Pere Comellas Casanova[eng] Classical and contemporary Arabic literature has been translated for many years into Catalan, including the translation of the Koran by Míkel de Epalza (2001). On the contrary, not a single Catalan novel has been translated. The author of the present M.A. thesis has translated Pedra de Tartera, the first novel by Maria Barbal (1985), from Catalan into Arabic and the publication is planned for January 2024. The research examines many issues arising from translation in this case. These issues are organized according to various linguistic levels: morphosyntax, lexicology, phraseology, pragmatics, and solutions are offered. The research work is also intended to help future translators from Catalan prose into Arabic. Keywords: Traductology, Catalan literature, Maria Barbal, Catalan-Arabic translation[cat] Fa molts anys que s'està traduint literatura àrab, clàssica i contemporània, al català, a més de la traducció de l'Alcorà, feta per Míkel de Epalza (2001). En canvi, no s'ha traduït mai una novel·la catalana a l'àrab. L'autora d'aquest treball Fi de Màster ha traduït Pedra de Tartera, que és la primera novel·la de Maria Barbal (1985), de l'original català a l’àrab, i la publicació està prevista pel gener 2024. La recerca analitza moltes qüestions que resulten de la traducció en aquest cas. Les qüestions s'organitzen per nivells lingüístics: morfosintaxi, lexicologia, fraseologia, pragmàtica, i dona les solucions trobades. Aquesta recerca està pensada també com una eina per ajudar altres traductors de prosa catalana a l'àrab. Paraules clau: traductologia, literatura catalana, Maria Barbal, traducció del català a l'àra

Collection and ethnobotanical investigation of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) in Algeria

This study aims to make an inventory of the existing diversity and establish a representative collection of the diversity of lentil crop in Algeria. Surveys and collection of lentil accessions were conducted in different agro-ecological zones of Algeria In 2011. From ten regions (Departments), fifteen villages were surveyed and 30 lentil accessions were collected. The present study was carried out to survey, identify and document the uses of lentil accessions collected. The information on ethnobotanical uses was collected through semi-structured questionnaires with local villagers, elders and those people having knowledge associated with the production and utilization of lentil (Lens culinaris).The study revealed that among the interviewed farmers, 64% were males while 36% were females. The commonest cropping system found was the cultivation of lentil alone (95.5% of producers) and associated with grass pea (2.5%). Regarding the plant part used, two main parts are used by the farmers interviewed: seeds and the aerial part after harvest as a straw to feed animals. Low yield (40% of responses), disease and insect attack (36%), and low rainfall (24%) were the main production constraints reported by the interviewees

Study of anti-microbial and anti-tanning agents

The paper surveys diverse antimicrobial and hostile to tanning agents.The objective this work is to formulate and evaluate a polyherbal face pack for cosmetic purpose from natural ingredients. As the biggest organ of the body, your skin retains heaps of supplements, as well as take in various poisons each day.Many restorative healthy skin items can contain endocrine-upsetting phthalates or parabens. These toxic substances can bring about regenerative issues and expanded growth hazard, and studies additionally recommend the more items you utilize, the higher harmful focuses can get in your body. And, because beautifying agents are infamous for having these dangerous ingredients, it is proposed to stay away from cosmetics totally. In any case, if you should utilize it, why not search for common or natural cosmetics?The volatile oils of clove [Syzygium aromaticum], papaya [Carica papaya], turmeric [Curcuma longa], lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck], neem [Azadirachta indica], tulsi [Ocimum tenuiflorum], aloevera [Aloe Barbadensis Miller]and honey were evaluated for antimicrobial movement against 3 distinct genera of microbes to be specific Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia Coli. The unpredictable oils displayed significant inhibitory impacts against every one of the life forms under test while their real parts exhibited different degrees of development restraint

The Effects of Online Collaborative Learning (OCL) on Student Achievement and Engagement

This study determined the effects of Online Collaborative Learning (OCL) on student achievement and engagement in physical science. A one-group pretest/posttest pre-experimental research design was employed. The participants were Grade 11 students (n=30) in a public stand-alone senior high school in Congressional District 1, Quezon City, Philippines, who were selected using purposive sampling. This study utilized five research instruments: (1) OCL-based lesson plans, (2) Learning Activity Sheets (LAS), (3) Physical Science Achievement Test (PSAT), (4) CIP Engagement Questionnaire, and (5) Student Learning Experience Survey. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative data were obtained from the validated 40-item achievement test and the adopted engagement questionnaire, while responses to the Student Learning Experience Survey provided qualitative data. Paired t-test was employed to determine the significant difference in achievement and engagement before and after the OCL’s implementation. The results showed a significant difference between the pretest and posttest mean scores of the students in the achievement and engagement in physical science. Likewise, there was a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest mean scores for all engagement factors: cooperation, interest, and participation. The result of the survey revealed that students’ exposure to the OCL strategy was effective in facilitating significant improvements in their achievement and engagement in physical science. Overall, the findings signified that Online Collaborative Learning (OCL) as a teaching-learning strategy enhanced students’ achievement and engagement in physical science

Boundary of oxidative and overflow metabolism (boom) controller for CHO cell feed control

There is limited literature for CHO cell cultures with low batch glucose concentrations (Gowtham et al. 2017; Lu et al. 2005; Wong et al. 2005). Work like Xu et al. (2016) and Berry et al. (2016) have shown positive results for controlled fed-batch cultures at low glucose concentrations following standard high glucose (5-6 g/L) batch cultures. However, the Xu et al. (2016) and Berry et al. (2016) approaches still accumulate lactate. Controlling glucose earlier could potentially avoid lactate accumulation and lead to even greater improvements in culture outcomes. The objective of this project was to develop an advanced feed controller for CHO cell cultures that maximizes cell growth by maintaining the culture in a state of maximal oxidative metabolism while minimizing overflow metabolism. The Boundary of Oxidative and Overflow Metabolism (BOOM) controller periodically manipulates the feed rate while monitoring online signals to gauge the remaining oxidative “space”, in order to decide whether feed can be increased while remaining in oxidative metabolism. The Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR) is the primary signal of interest, since it plateaus when a culture shifts from oxidative to overflow metabolism, encoding vital information about metabolic state. This project’s approach is different from past work in that the batch glucose concentrations is much lower (on the order of 1 g/L), the glucose and/or glutamine feeding begins very early in the process, and glucose feed is triggered/controlled by the off-gas sensing of the metabolic state instead of a targeted glucose concentration. During early runs several chemistry effects were observed directly due to the bolus feed additions interfering with the media-dissolved gas equilibrium. For example, a bolus feed that only contained 5 mM bicarbonate, resulted in an observed short sharp decrease in CO2 off-gas as the feed absorbed CO2 from the 5% CO2 sparge gas. Continuous feeding was introduced in subsequent runs as a means to mitigate disrupting the media-dissolved gas-equilibrium and disturbing the off-gas sensing. In order to have effective continuous feeding, the feed pump used a pulse width modulation (PWM) with a 10-minute period to allow extremely low effective feed rates required for the 1-L vessel. Two runs were used to demonstrate that the PWM feed pump could provide these very low pump feed rates for the 1-L vessel containing as little as 500 mL media. Initial glucose concentrations between 0.6 to 2.0 g/L were used (compared to 8 g/L glucose in the standard media formulation). Feedings have started between 6- and 20-hour post-inoculation. Distinct qualitative and quantitative differences have been observed in the corresponding oxygen uptake rate (OTR) responses due to the feeding spikes, suggesting that metabolic state can be detected. The development of the state estimator to control glucose feeding will be presented