Environmental architecture education : a comparative study between the curricula of Kuwait University and Newcastle University with reflection on policy making and end users

PhD ThesisThis study investigates how, if at all, sustainable architecture education is practised in the Department of Architecture at Kuwait University. The thesis begins with the development of sustainable design and a brief history of education in Kuwait. Furthermore, it includes a critical discussion of architectural education theory, the role of architecture bodies in regulating both the profession, and architecture education competencies. The thesis begins with a background of the history of education, architectural education from apprenticeship level to formal Higher Education, the initiation of architecture accrediting bodies, and how environmental concepts were introduced into the curriculum through architecture accrediting bodies. The thesis exhibits different cases of theoretical approaches of architecture education, beginning with the UK, in which the political situation is a major driving force behind environmental education, and shifting to architecture education in SAPL, America (Texas A&M University), Kuwait University and Australian Sydney University., The different case studies also contribute to the debate about whether architecture schools, due to their different educational approaches, should be more strongly linked to other fields of study such as engineering and/or sociology, biology, building services, etc. The thesis displays the actual methods used in collecting field data, a summary of data analysis results using graphs, charts, etc., with more details of raw material included in the appendix section. The thesis identifies and discusses the influences upon sustainable architecture including policy, regulations, market forces, etc. These influences are identified as part of the three drivers of sustainability; environment, economy and society. It further concludes by linking the drivers of sustainable architecture with the attainment of sustainable architecture in Kuwait by implementing policies promoting it in accordance with international environmental policies and strategies. The thesis constructs a thorough argument for a new teaching environment for sustainable architecture in Kuwait drawn from the data analysis results and architecture education theories examined within. The recommended architecture education delivered provides a diagram of curriculum recommendations, and new teaching, learning and assessment methods within the right environment. Indicators to monitor the success of the proposed approach are included. The final recommendation of the research thesis provides a constructive description of the overall study, the key findings and the implications of the research, with a suggested framework for future research into curriculum development.Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Kuwai

Prevalence of Rabies in Various Species in Yemen and Risk Factors Contributing to the Spread of the Disease

Objectives: This study aimed to describe for the first time the prevalence of the passively-reported rabies virus among different domestic and wild animals submitted to the Central Veterinary Laboratory from various areas in Yemen, and to study prevalence proportion ratios (PPR) that contributed to the spread of rabies among animals, and its transmission to humans. Methods: A brain sample was obtained from each of the 180 animals and tested for rabies virus by a direct fluorescent antibody test. Results: Out of the total number of animals involved in attacks on humans, 63.3 % were positive for rabies. Of these, dogs were the main animal involved in attacks with a percentage of 92%, of which 62.7% were positive for rabies. Of animals involved in attacks, 70.6% were males of which 60.6% were positive, and 29.4% were females of which 69.8% were positive. Males comprised 68.9% of the total human individuals attacked, of whom 62.9% were attacked by rabies-positive animals. The significant risk factors that contributed to the spread of rabies in general included the presence of poultry carcasses and other waste in the vicinity of the attacks (PPR = 9.5) with a percentage of 84.8%, followed by the time of year, in particular school vacations (PPR = 3.8) with a percentage of 78%. Conclusion: Rabies is endemic in Yemen with a very high rabies-positive rate for animals involved in attacks, particularly for stray male dogs. Male children were most often involved in attacks by rabies-positive animals. The presence of food waste (particularly poultry carcasses) and school vacation periods were found to correlate significantly with increased risk for human exposure to rabies

Airborne Bacterial Pollution in Clinical Environment, Sana'a - Yemen

Abstract: This work aims to know the extent of air pollution and common bacterial species in delivery rooms in some hospitals in Sana'a city. Six randomly airborne samples from delivery rooms of three hospitals (Algmhory, Althwrah and Alsabeen hospitals). Out of 65 airborne bacteria were isolated from delivery rooms, 89.2% of them showed Gram positive bacterial isolates and 10.8% Gram negative bacteria. Bacteria isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidemidis, Micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Corynebacterium sp., Klebsiella sp., Lactobacillus sp. and Proteus mirabilis. The highest percentage of bacterial isolates was recorded in Alsabeen hospital as 66.2%. Staphylococcus was the most dominant organism isolated from the delivery rooms in all examined hospitals (37 isolates, 56.9%), while the lowest percentages were: Lactobacillus (two isolates, 3.1%), Klebsiella and Proteus (one isolate, 1.5%) for each

An Insider Threat Categorization Framework for Automated Manufacturing Execution System

Insider threats become one of the most dangerous threats in the cyber world as compared to outsider as the insiders have knowledge of assets. In addition, the threats itself considered in-visible and no one can predict what, when and how exactly the threat launched. Based on conducting literature, threat in Automated Manufacturing Execution Systems (AMESs) can be divided into three principle factors. Moreover, there is no standard framework to be referring which exist nowadays to categorize such factors in order to identify insider threats possible features. Therefore, from the conducted literature a standard theoretical categorization of insider threats framework for AMESs has been proposed. Hence, three principle factors, i.e. Human, Systems and Machine have considered as major categorization of insider threats. Consequently, the possible features for each factor identified based on previous researcher recommendations. Therefore, via identifying possible features and categorize it into principle factors or groups, a standard framework could be derived. These frameworks will contribute more benefit specifically in the manufacturing field as a reference to mitigate an insider threat.   Keywords—automated manufacturing execution systems insider threats, factors and features, insider threat categorization framework

New Insider Threat Detection Method Based On Recurrent Neural Networks

Insider threat is a significant challenge in cybersecurity. In comparison with outside attackers, inside attackers have more privileges and legitimate access to information and facilities that can cause considerable damage to an organization. Most organizations that implement traditional cybersecurity techniques, such as intrusion detection systems, fail to detect insider threats given the lack of extensive knowledge on insider behavior patterns. However, a sophisticated method is necessary for an in-depth understanding of insider activities that the insider performs in the organization. In this study, we propose a new conceptual method for insider threat detection on the basis of the behaviors of an insider. In addition, gated recurrent unit neural network will be explored further to enhance the insider threat detector. This method will identify the optimal behavioral pattern of insider actions

PREVALENCE OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS AMONG ADULTS IN SANA’A CITY-YEMEN

Background and Aims: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic and human disease caused by species of Leishmania. Parasites are transmitted to the vertebrate host by the bite of a sand fly female (Phlebotomus longipalpis), where the infected promastigotes transform into amastigotes; and this is deadly if left untreated. The purposes of the current research were to reveal the prevalence and potential risk factors for VL in adults in Sana’a city, Yemen. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed during the period from January 2020 to November 2020. Individuals who come for a regular medical examination at Al-Zahrawi Medical Center, Althobhani Specialist Laboratories, Police Hospital, and University of Science and Technology Hospital. A target sample size of 300 was selected, and serum samples were collected from all subjects to determine the prevalence of anti-VL antibodies in human by immune-chromatographic assay using K39 recombinant antigen. Results: The ages of the participants' ranged from 18-65 years, with a mean of 29.8±8.2 years. The positive rate of antibodies against Leishmania species by immune-chromatographic dipstick strip (rK39) was 6.0%. There was statistically important association linking male gender and contracting VL (8.8%, OR=4.1, CI=1.2-14.4, P=0.01). There was a significant association (<0.001) between the presence of dogs, rats, and goats in or around live houses and positive VL antibodies with an OR equal to 8.8.7.3 and 8.4, respectively. There were significant risk factors for garbage around the living house, there was also a significant association between displacement and the incidence of VL (P<0.001) (OR=8.6, CI=2.8–27.2). Conclusion: Visceral leishmaniasis was highly prevalent in Sana'a city, and potential risk factors for VL were present with displacement, dogs, rats, goats, garbage, sleeping outside enclosed rooms, and sand flies in living houses. Further studies of human VL need to be conducted to clarify this issue in Yemen, to track and confirm potential reservoirs among canines and other animals, as well as to study vectors. Keywords: adults, immune-chromatographic assay, prevalence, potential risk factors, recombinant antigen K39, Sana’a city, visceral leishmaniasis, Yemen.                            Peer Review History: Received: 9 March 2022; Revised: 14 April; Accepted: 29 April, Available online: 15 May 2022 Academic Editor: Dr. Sally A. El-Zahaby, Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency.  Received file:                                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Suez Canal University, Egypt, [email protected] Dr. Nicola Micale, University of Messina, Italy,  [email protected] Dr. Rawaa Souhil Al-Kayali, Aleppo University, Syria, [email protected] Similar Articles:   PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS G VIRUS AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE AND HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS, SANA'A CITY-YEME

The Small GTPase RHOA Links SLP65 Activation to PTEN Function in Pre B Cells and Is Essential for the Generation and Survival of Normal and Malignant B Cells

The generation, differentiation, survival and activation of B cells are coordinated by signals emerging from the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) or its precursor, the pre-BCR. The adaptor protein SLP65 (also known as BLNK) is an important signaling factor that controls pre-B cell differentiation by down-regulation of PI3K signaling. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which SLP65 interferes with PI3K signaling. We found that SLP65 induces the activity of the small GTPase RHOA, which activates PTEN, a negative regulator of PI3K signaling, by enabling its translocation to the plasma membrane. The essential role of RHOA is confirmed by the complete block in early B cell development in conditional RhoA-deficient mice. The RhoA-deficient progenitor B cells showed defects in activation of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and fail to survive both in vitro and in vivo. Reconstituting the RhoA-deficient cells with RhoA or Foxo1, a transcription factor repressed by PI3K signaling and activated by PTEN, completely restores the survival defect. However, the defect in differentiation can only be restored by RhoA suggesting a unique role for RHOA in B cell generation and selection. In full agreement, conditional RhoA-deficient mice develop increased amounts of autoreactive antibodies with age. RHOA function is also required at later stage, as inactivation of RhoA in peripheral B cells or in a transformed mature B cell line resulted in cell loss. Together, these data show that RHOA is the key signaling factor for B cell development and function by providing a crucial SLP65-activated link between BCR signaling and activation of PTEN. Moreover, the identified essential role of RHOA for the survival of transformed B cells offers the opportunity for targeting B cell malignancies by blocking RHOA function