Conference Papers

SF1: Health and Life Sciences

Distribution of Ghrelin in the Cytoplasmic Organelles of Pancreatic Islet Cells of Normal and Diabetic Rats

Haba El Abadlah (United Arab Emirates University, UAE)

Abstract

Ghrelin, a 28-amino acid peptide discovered in the rat stomach in 1999, is a potent growth hormone secretagogue and food intake modulator. Ghrelin has been postulated to play a role in insulin and glucagon secretion and in glucose homeostasis. Here we study the pattern of distribution of ghrelin in pancreatic islet cells in normal, diabetic and ghrelin-treated rats. The effect of chronic ghrelin treatment on blood glucose level was also investigated. We observed that ghrelin co-localizes with insulin and glucagon in pancreatic islet cells. It is worth noting that insulin is present in specific secretory granules of pancreatic beta cells. No other cytoplasmic organelles, other than secretory granules contain ghrelin. The pattern of distribution of ghrelin is altered after the onset of diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, ghrelin co-localizes with both insulin and glucagon in the islet of Langerhans and may indeed play a role in the regulation of islet hormones.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Kainic Acid Induced Neurodegeneration

Sara Sharkawi and Rajesh Mohanraj (UAE University, UAE); Eric Mensah-Brown (College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, UAE); Abdu Adem (UAE University, UAE)

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory cytokine with homeostatic and pathophysiological roles in the central nervous system. It was shown that mice lacking TNF receptor-1 (TNFR1) exhibit greater neurodegeneration in kainic acid (KA)-induced neurotoxicity, suggesting that TNF-alpha exerts its protective role via TNFR1. Here, we study the impact of TNF-alpha on neurodegeneration at several time points to find out possible mechanisms underlying its effects. KA (40 mg/kg body weight) was given intranasally to TNF-alpha knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (Wt) mice, and seizure severity was scored. Astrogliosis and microglial activation were assessed by immunohistochemistry and cytokine production was measured. TNF-alpha KO-mice showed significantly more severe seizures compared with Wt-mice. Hippocampal microglial activation and astrogliosis were enhanced and persisted up to 1 month in TNF-alpha KO-mice compared with Wtmice. These data suggest that deficiency of TNF-alpha worsens KA-induced neurotoxicity resulting in a vicious cycle of chronic neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Eating Disorders Prevalence and Determents in UAE

Alla Abdulla (University of Sharjah, UAE)

Abstract

To assess the prevalence of Disordered Eating Attitude (DEA); and to investigate the determinants of eating disorders in a representative sample of Emirate young females. A cross sectional study of a sample of 508 adolescent females were chosen through a stratified randomization technique. All consenting students in the selected classes filled the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and Body Figure Rating Scale (BFR). From the latter, body dissatisfaction score was calculated. EAT 26 was used to measure symptoms of DEA and body dissatisfaction. Then, a sample was selected for one to one interviews for further investigation on determinants of DEA.From the study sample, 37.8% scored at least 20 on EAT-26, and 65.2% had body dissatisfaction. Significant relationships were seen between the following pairs: 1) EAT-26 and body dissatisfaction, 2) BMI and body dissatisfaction. Family, media and bullying at either home or school, were the major determents for DEA among adolescents.

SG1: Operations Research & Management Science

A Mathematical Programming Framework for Energy Planning in Services' Sector Under Different Uncertainty

Moza Salim Al Naimi (Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, UAE); Mohamed Ali (Masdar, UAE); Ali Diabat (Masdar Institute, UAE)

Abstract

Management of energy resources plays an important role in economical, technical and human development. In the last few years, rising energy demand, decreasing energy reserves and growing environmental alarms have yield new challenges for planners to consider and propose sustainable energy management systems. Although there were many optimization methods used to assist in the formulation of energy systems which were effective in providing optimal decision alternatives, these plans were under uncertainty of some parameters like market conditions and resource availability. The objective of this research is to develop an energy planning model for an aluminum industrial firm in UAE where an optimal strategy to reduce energy consumption from different resources will be found with consideration of uncertainty in energy prices, demand and CO2 emission. Challenges in the research are to find the optimal structure, the beast equipment and the optimal size, and to find the energy flows for different interval.

The Application of Operations Research Optimisation Techniques in Civil Works and Electrical Contracting

Amani Alkhodari, Khaled ElSayed, Mansoor Al Jabri and Rashed Al Dhaheri (United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), UAE); Basel Alsayyed (UAEU, UAE)

Abstract

This paper presents the research undertaken in studying two Operations Research (OR) problems that commonly arise in the field of civil works and electrical contracting. As the complexity in organisations increases, it becomes demanding to handle activities in an optimal way. In this regard, OR tools have been applied extensively in areas as public services, health care, manufacturing, and the military. However, there has not been found in the literature as many applications in civil works and electrical contracting. This paper demonstrates how OR tools have been utilised in minimising the costs in this area while reaching goals effectively. Problems illustrated here are of a real-life project in the field whose scope covers the installation of underground cable circuits between two grid stations. This paper shows the mathematical models and optimal solutions of the problems of scheduling integer programming and transportation linear programming, which are very common to this field.

The Application of Queuing Analysis of Operations in Civil Works and Electrical Contracting

Amani Alkhodari, Khaled ElSayed, Mansoor Al Jabri and Rashed Al Dhaheri (United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), UAE); Basel Alsayyed (UAEU, UAE)

Abstract

This paper presents the research undertaken in studying one Operations Research (OR) problem that commonly arises in the field of civil works and electrical contracting; that is, queuing of arriving units and handling them efficiently. As the complexity in organisations increases, it becomes highly demanding to manage activities in an optimal way. In this regard, OR tools have been applied extensively in areas as public services, health care, manufacturing, and the military. However, there has not been found in the literature as many applications in civil works and electrical contracting operations. This paper demonstrates how OR tools have been utilised in minimising the costs of queuing problems while satisfying different demands. The problem illustrated here is of a real-life project in the field whose scope covers the installation of underground cable circuits between two grid stations. This paper shows the mathematical formulation and optimal solution of the studied queuing problem.

Optimal Resource Allocation in Operations of Civil Works and Electrical Contracting

Amani Alkhodari, Khaled ElSayed, Mansoor Al Jabri and Rashed Al Dhaheri (United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), UAE); Basel Alsayyed (UAEU, UAE)

Abstract

This paper presents the research undertaken in studying one major Operations Research (OR) problem that commonly arises in the field of civil works and electrical contracting; that is, the allocation of scarce resources among various competing activities. As the complexity in organisations increases, it becomes highly demanding to handle activities in an optimal way. In this regard, OR tools have been applied extensively in areas as public services, health care, manufacturing, and the military. However, there has not been found in the literature as many applications in civil works and electrical contracting operations. This paper demonstrates how OR tools have been utilised in cost minimisation and resource allocation in a problem of a real-life project in the field whose scope covers the installation of underground cable circuits between two grid stations. It shows the mathematical model and optimal solution of the problem of resource allocation using linear programming.

Automation of FTTH Network Design Based on Integer Linear Programming Approach

Kaltham Al Romaithi (Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, UAE); Kin Fai Poon and Anis Ouali (Khalifa University, UAE); Peng-Yong Kong (Khalifa University of Science, Technology & Research, UAE)

Abstract

With the increase in popularity of bandwidth intensive applications, the telecommunication companies have been driven to find alternatives for the existing VDSL infrastructure to meet the requirements of the subscribers. Fiber To The Home (FTTH) networks, based on the Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) topology, have proven to be a cost effective solution for a large scale deployment. In this paper, a one-level problem of a typical FTTH network is presented and modeled using the Integer Linear Programming (ILP) approach. Results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of such approach.

SA2: Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Utilization of Battery Storage Systems in Multi-Area Power Systems with High Penetration of PV for Secondary Frequency Regulation

Maksymilian Klimontowicz (Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, UAE); Amer Al-Hinai (Masdar Institute of Science and Technology & Institute Center for Energy, UAE); Jimmy Peng (Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, UAE)

Abstract

Frequency stability within conventional electrical power systems is highly dependent on active power management. Each second of power system operation active power demand changes in random manner it means that some loads are connected and at the same time some are disconnected what eventually creates mismatch between generated and consumed energy. Output active power from all interconnected energy sources have to follow changes in demand to reduce power mismatch to zero thus redress frequency and tie line power transfers to the scheduled values within strictly determined time. This paper presents load frequency control study on three area generalized power system model with distributed energy resources (DERs) and battery storage systems. Genetic algorithm was applied to find optimal control gains in conventional as well as distributed plants.

Optimizing Energy Performance of Magnetic Tunnel Junctions for STT-RAM Application

Ilyas Farhat (Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, UAE); Ella M Gale (University of the West of England, United Kingdom); Abdel Isakovic (KUSTAR, UAE)

Abstract

The report presents a scaling argument of MTJ in STT-RAM memory for several design parameters with the goal of optimizing the energy performance. An analytical study was conducted showing the dependence of critical current density on geometrical parameters. The effect of scaling down the width of the junction on the critical current density is then discussed showing a great potential for lowering the energy required for switching of magnetization.

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Education is a top national priority, and that investment in human is the real investment to which we aspire. -H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

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