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Under the Patronage of Ministry of Economy UAE, Ericsson Announces the Six Winning Teams of Its “Together Apart” Hackathon

  • Al Falasi: The UAE will thrive to become a preferred hub for global innovation
  • The six winning teams, focusing on key areas of UAE Vision 2021, have been announced and will showcase their solutions at the Swedish Pavilion in Expo2020 
  • The six winning teams proposed solutions tackling key topics in the vision including healthcare, sustainable environment, and education
  • The grand prize winner will get the chance to visit Ericsson’s headquarters in Sweden to present the team’s solution and interact with the entrepreneurial community

 

Under the patronage of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Economy, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) organized the “Together Apart” Hackathon and the time has come to unveil the six winning teams who contributed with unique solutions that are in line with UAE Vision 2021 tackling key topics in the vision including healthcare, sustainable environment, and education.

 

The “Together Apart” Hackathon aim is to accelerate the journey towards a more connected future and solving global challenges by working with innovators, disruptors, and creative people of the UAE to build technology-based solutions aligned with the UAE Vision 2021. Participants from across the UAE were invited to contribute their innovative solutions, showcasing the power of connectivity and 5G, while taking inspiration from the six broad themes of UAE Vision 2021 – World Class Healthcare, First Rate Education System, Competitive Knowledge and Digital Economy, Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure, Safe Public and Road Safety, and Cohesive Society and Preserved Identity.

 

The finalists presented their solutions in front of the judging committee which selected six winners. Members of the judging committee consisted of senior representatives from the public and private sector including BecanWellness Solutions, Du, Dubai Future Foundation, Ericsson, Etisalat, Nasdaq and SOMA MATER.

 

The winning solutions are:

RenAIssance.

Members: Himanshu Upadhyay, Siddiq Anwar, Mohammad Yaqub, Mecit Can Emre Simsekler

 

Quoting the team about their solution: “RenAIssance re-imagines a world where high-quality medical care can be consistently provided to improve healthcare outcomes across the globe. RenAIssance endeavors to provide risk-based decision-making tools to healthcare providers looking after patients suffering from kidney disease by leveraging its cutting-edge AI platform. It integrates disruptive technologies and innovations in medical Internet of Things (IoT) devices and 5G technology with its cloud-based, medical Intellectual Property (IP)-rich AI platform to deliver its services.”

 

Read the complete article here: https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/5/2021/under-the-patronage-of-ministry-of-economy-uae-ericsson-announces-the-six-winning-teams-of-its-together-apart-hackathon 

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Khalifa University to Highlight Its Status as Key Stakeholder in Knowledge and Human Capital Development at Aqdar World Summit 2021

University to Spotlight Latest Innovations in Sustainable Development, Especially in Science, Technology and Engineering Areas  

 

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced it will showcase its expanded academic offerings and research options at the Aqdar World Summit 2021 exhibition to demonstrate its status as a key stakeholder in the knowledge and human capital development sector.

 

Aqdar World Summit 2021 will be held from 25-27 October alongside the world’s greatest show, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Khalifa University’s participation in the exhibition under the ‘Future of Education’ segment, is also in line with the summit’s key slogan ‘Nourishing Minds, Flourishing Nations’, which is aimed at building the capabilities of communities in diverse cultures, with the UAE representing a part of this global diversity. The summit’s theme is ‘Positive Global Citizenship – Empowerment of Sustainable Investment Opportunities’.

 

Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Senior Vice-President, Academic and Student Services, Khalifa University, Khalifa University, said: “Knowledge and human capital development sector remains integral to any community’s overall progress, and universities and academic institutions have an essential role in contributing to this fundamental aspect. Through our participation in the Aqdar World Summit exhibition, we aim to showcase not only our academic and research strengths but also the innovative solutions that our expert faculty and talented students have been able to achieve over the years. For stakeholders interested in the latest innovations in sustainable development, especially in the science, technology and engineering areas, Khalifa University will spotlight the depth of its commitment towards creating, developing and building human and intellectual capital regionally and globally.”

 

Khalifa University’s 20 research centers drive innovation in an impressive array of research domains including the UAE’s strategic industries such as space systems and technologies, aerospace, robotics, machine intelligence, nuclear engineering, clean energy, sustainability, nanotechnologies, cyber security, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and supply chain logistics. At present, Khalifa University has 189 issued patents, with 247 pending patents numbering and 443 invention disclosures.

 

Currently, Khalifa University’s PhD offerings cover Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, Computer, Engineering Systems, Materials, Mechanical, Nuclear, Petroleum and Robotics areas. The University offers doctorate programs in 15 areas, as well as one MD, 17 Master’s and 16 Bachelor’s programs. The most recently launched PhD programs include Chemistry, Physics, Math, and Earth Sciences, while bachelor’s programs in Cell and Molecular Biology, and Earth and Planetary Sciences, as well as Master’s program in Aerospace Engineering were recently launched.

 

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
25 October 2021

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The Genes in Camel Kidneys Can Be Switched On and Off to Survive Dehydration

Researchers uncover how genes found in camel kidneys reveal a role for cholesterol in water conservation

 

Imagine a trek across the desert and you’ll likely picture a camel or two.

 

In the arid and semi-arid regions of North and East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Iran, the Camelus dromedarius is the most important livestock animal and continues to provide basic needs to millions of people. Thought to have been domesticated for more than 3000 years, they have long been valued as pack animals, for milk, meat, and shelter, and even sport.

 

The Arabian camel is a symbol of the Arabian region, with its single hump storing up to 80 pounds of fat which it can break down into water and energy during its long expeditions for water and food.

 

To better understand how the Arabian camel manages to preserve water, Dr. Abdu Adem, Professor of Pharmacology at Khalifa University, supervised an investigation by a team of researchers from the University of Bristol and United Arab Emirates University. The investigation examined the genes in the kidneys of camels exposed to chronic dehydration to determine how Arabian camels can survive long periods of time in harsh conditions without access to water and what humanity could possibly learn from this. The results were published in Communications Biology.

 

Dr. Adem said. “Behavioral and physiological adaptations ensure that water is never wasted. Camels will only eat the leaves of plants, they avoid exposure to direct sunlight where possible, restrict reproduction to the cooler winter season, and drink very large amounts of water when available to compensate for any fluid deficiency from their desert wandering.”

 

Camels have been known to drink 30 gallons of water in just 13 minutes, but even here they have an evolutionary adaptation to avoid osmotic shock: they absorb the water very slowly. An intricate nasal passage prevents too much water loss when the camel breathes out, but more importantly, water evaporates from the surface of the nostrils to moisturize dry air when the camel breathes in, helping to cool the blood in the veins of the nose. Thanks to thin blood vessel walls, this cooler venous blood can help cool the blood in the arteries leading to the brain, meaning the camel’s brain is considerably lower in temperature than the body core. Even the red blood cells themselves have a special shape shown to be advantageous in withstanding dehydration. On top of all this, camels rarely sweat, even in the searing temperatures of the desert, all helping to conserve water for as long as possible.

 

 

“In the current context of climate change, there is renewed interest in the mechanisms that enable camels and camelids to survive in arid conditions,” Dr. Adem said. “We investigated the camel kidney to see how gene expression has been influenced by chronic dehydration and rapid rehydration. Our analysis suggests that genes with known roles in water conservation are affected by changes in cholesterol levels. Suppressing the production of cholesterol may help the kidney retain water.”

 

Camels produce highly concentrated urine, preserving as much water as possible. To produce such urine, the kidney must possess certain anatomical features. Previous research has shown that the kidney of a young camel differs in structure from that of an adult, suggesting that the differences may be related to a greater degree of water deprivation experienced by adult animals. This would suggest that chronic dehydration causes genes in the adult camel kidney to be expressed differently, allowing the kidney to better preserve water.

 

The research team noted that the amount of cholesterol in the kidney has a role in the water conservation process.

 

“We found remarkable changes in the amounts of specific genes and proteins in the kidney of the one-humped Arabian camel during severe dehydration and subsequent acute rehydration,” Dr. Adem said. “Our data suggests that the suppression of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and the subsequent reduction in membrane cholesterol are a global response in the kidney to dehydration.”

 

Several ion channels and transporters are regulated by changes in the level of cholesterol in the cell. Dehydration and excessive heat cause electrolyte imbalances in the body, and the kidneys are one factor in keeping electrolyte levels balanced. If there is an increase of cholesterol in the membrane of the kidney, movement through the ion channels is blocked. When cholesterol levels are lowered, water and electrolytes can move across different parts of the kidney which helps reabsorb water and produce a highly concentrated urine. 

 

The researchers found that during the summer, the gene that regulates the production of a protein called aquaporin 2 is expressed more, presumably in preparation for the more challenging conditions of the season. Aquaporin 2 forms a channel in cell membranes to allow water molecules to pass through. During periods of dehydration, aquaporin 2 channels are inserted into the membranes of kidney cells which allows water to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream, making the urine more concentrated. The researchers found that when cholesterol was depleted, aquaporin 2 levels increased.

 

 

While this new knowledge contributes to our understanding of the immense evolutionary advantages the Arabian camel uses to survive in the desert, it could more importantly help humanity better adapt to advancing desertification amid climate change. Understanding the mechanisms of water control in dehydration could allow us to apply various principles to water conservation across a wide variety of disciplines.

 

Jade Sterling
Science Writer
24 October 2021

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Khalifa University Researchers Develop a New Environmentally-Friendly Way to Produce Nanoparticles that Fight Bacteria

Silver nanoparticles are potent antimicrobials but they are expensive to manufacture and require toxic solvents to produce. A team of researchers from Khalifa University has found a new way to produce silver nanoparticles using biochemistry and magnetic fields. 

 

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are useful in a wide variety of commercial applications and consumer products, with manufacturers taking advantage of their unique electrical, optical and catalytic properties. Silver nanoparticles are one such example, as due to their potent antimicrobial activity, they are often incorporated into soaps, wound-dressings, creams and biomedical devices, such as catheters and valves, which are especially susceptible to bacterial growth.

 

They published their findings in Scientific Reports earlier this month.

 

The team included Prof. David Sheehan, Professor of Biochemistry and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Siobhan O’Sullivan, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, both from Khalifa University, and  Ameni Kthiri , Dr. Selma Hamimed, Abdelhak Othmani, and Ahmed Landoulsi, from Carthage University, Tunisia.

 

“The aim of our work is to reduce the use of potentially harmful reagents in the manufacturing of silver nanoparticles in order to mitigate any health or environmental risks,” Prof. Sheehan explained.

 

“Green chemistry uses environmentally sustainable routes to design, and manufacture chemical products, and one popular approach to green metal nanoparticle synthesis is to use biological systems. Various bacteria, fungi, plants and biological waste products can catalyze the reactions that reduce metals and lead to useful nanostructures.”

 

Reduction is a chemical reaction in which an atom gains electrons from a reducing agent. Reducing agents can be natural or synthetic, with green synthesis methods sometimes involving plant-based extracts or microorganisms to eliminate the need for hazardous chemicals. Green synthesis has the added benefit of being cost-effective and efficient, as well as helping to stabilize the resulting nanoparticles. The methods used also offer the ability to fine-tune nanoparticle size by controlling the amount and type of reducing agent used.

 

Some cells contain or secrete enzymes that are biochemical routes to metal reduction, but the exact way they work is poorly understood.

 

Additionally, the antimicrobial properties of the resulting silver nanoparticles depend on their average diameter – the smaller the nanoparticle, the more effective against bacteria. When silver nanoparticles were developed using baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, they ranged between 11 and 25 nanometers.

 

Prof. Sheehan and his research team introduced a static magnetic field to the biosynthesis in their new approach. The nanoparticles from this method were significantly smaller than those typically produced biosynthetically, ranging from  2 to 12 nanometers in size. Plus, the nanoparticles obtained using the magnetic field were highly crystalline, stable and near-uniform in shape. Most importantly, the antibacterial activity was greater than that seen in the control cultures.

 

Image credit: Courtesy of the researchers

When a static magnetic field (SMF) is applied to this synthesis method, the nanoparticles produced are significantly smaller.

 

Magnetic fields are force fields created by a magnet, or as a consequence of the flow of electricity. A static magnetic field is one which does not vary with time, characterized by steady direction, flow rate and strength. They are constant and arise from a variety of sources including the Earth’s own magnetic field, direct current transmission lines, and domestic electrical devices, including microwaves and mobile phones.

 

The medical imaging technique, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), uses strong magnetic fields to generate images of the organs in the body because they can “readily penetrate biological material and interact with charged species such as ions and proteins,” Prof. Sheehan said.

 

 

The researchers found that Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the baker’s yeast bacteria they used in their experiment to develop silver nanoparticles, experienced oxidative stress and a profound reduction in growth rate when exposed to a weak static magnetic field.

 

They found that the nanoparticles developed with a magnetic field were notably smaller and more bactericidal, or better at preventing the growth of bacteria. 

 

The research team hypothesized that the silver nanoparticles were formed by reduction of the silver nitrate due to the adsorption of silver ions on the surface of the S. cerevisiae metabolic products, such as enzymes and polysaccharides present. The nitrate collected into the pores of the metabolic products, leaving the silver nanoparticles free in solution.

 

The research team also suggested that the static magnetic field creates waves through the liquid where the reaction takes place, which enhances the decomposition of biomolecules through oxidative stress, releasing free radicals which then act as reducing agents. 

 

Additionally, the team believes this is the first method to use static magnetic fields to produce metal nanoparticles from biosynthesis. As nanoparticles could provide a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics, making silver nanoparticles in a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally-friendly way could be vital to global public health and the fight against antibiotic resistance.

 

Jade Sterling
Science Writer
24 October 2021

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Combining Mathematical Modeling and Machine Learning to Better Predict Tumor Growth

 

When data is sparse and medical knowledge of a disease is limited, combining modelling approaches can lead to more accurate predictions of clinical outcomes

 

Big data in healthcare is nothing new. Hospital records, medical records, results of medical examinations and biomedical research generate vast quantities of information that need to be handled carefully and accurately.

 

Sometimes, clinicians and researchers don’t understand how a disease progresses or the biochemical mechanisms behind a disease. Other times the data available is sparse because it depends on when the patient physically attends a clinic or appointment.

 

In the first case, the predictive accuracy of clinical outcomes for any mathematical model is limited as the underlying biological mechanisms are only partly understood. Machine learning techniques do not require knowledge of the underlying interactions in biomedical problems but infrequent data does impact their use, restraining any algorithm from accurately inferring the corresponding disease dynamics.  

 

Combining the two approaches could be the solution. Dr. Haralampos Hatzikirou, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Khalifa University, proposed a method to improve individualized predictions in cancer patients based on the Bayesian coupling of mathematical modelling and machine learning. This approach was tested on a simulated dataset for brain tumor patients and on two real cohorts of patients with leukemia and ovarian cancer. The results were closely aligned with the actual clinical data for individual patients, suggesting its potential use in enabling accurate personalized clinical predictions in healthcare.

 

Dr. Hatzikirou worked with Pietro Mascheroni, Michael Meyer-Hermann and Juan Carlos Lopez Alfonso from Braunschweig Integrated Center of Systems Biology and Helmholtz Centre for Infectious Research, Germany, and Dr. Symeon Savvopoulos, Mathematics Post-doctoral Fellow at Khalifa University.

 

The results were published in Nature Communications Medicine.

 

In oncology, this clinical data is the cornerstone of providing personalized healthcare to the patient, but using the data is more challenging.

 

“Although mathematical models can be extremely powerful in proposing biological hypotheses, they require adequate knowledge of the underlying biological mechanisms of the analyzed system,” Dr. Hatzikirou explained. “Typically, this knowledge is not complete and we only know a limited amount of mechanistic interactions, such as molecular pathways, seen in cancer. Therefore, even though mathematical models provide a good description of an idealized version of what’s going on in cancer dynamics, they can’t always allow for accurate and quantitative predictions.

 

“On the other hand, machine learning techniques can handle the inherent complexity of biomedical problems. While mathematical models rely on causality, statistical learning methods identify correlations among data so they can systematically process large amounts of data and infer hidden data patterns. However, the data for each patient is limited to being collected whenever a patient is in the hospital or clinic. This doesn’t provide the algorithm with enough data to make meaningful individualized inferences.”

 

Dr. Hatzikirou and the research team proposed the first Bayesian method that combines the two techniques.

 

Bayes’ Theorem deals with probabilities based on prior experiences. These priors provide some information but once there is more data, the priors can be updated. It’s the law of probability governing the strength of evidence, saying how much to revise our probabilities when we observe new evidence. For example, if you know your patient has a positive cancer test result, and that’s all you know, you can look at how many people with a positive test result actually have cancer, and that is input to determining the probability that your patient has cancer.

 

The team first tested their approach on a simulated dataset of 500 virtual patients with brain cancer. Their model accounted for oxygen consumption by tumor cells, formation of new blood vessels due to the cancer spreading, and detecting the compression of other blood vessels by tumors growing and squashing them. For this demonstration, the team considered the tumor cell density to be the ‘modelable’ variable and the other variables as ‘unmodelable’ to represent the unknown mechanisms of disease progression. In the simulation, each patient attended appointments over a three-year period to serve as the sparse data collection opportunities.

 

First, a mathematical model for brain tumor growth was simulated, then a machine learning model, before finally the combined approach for comparison against the two individual models. The team found that their combined approach performs particularly well for prediction times larger than six months.

 

“Our method was able to correct the mathematical model predictions for most of the patients, particularly at later times,” Dr. Savvopoulos said. “We then tested our method on two cohorts of real life patients, using their data to more carefully test the effects of ‘unmodelable’ variables, or those unknowns. We used clinical datasets from patients with leukemia and patients with ovarian cancer.”

 

“Our proposed method aspires to solve a dire problem in personalized medicine that is related to the limited time-points of patient data collection and limited knowledge in cancer biology,” Dr. Hatzikirou said. “In all our tests, we found our model had excellent predictive capacity, but we did recognize some limitations that should be addressed when applying the methodology to real cases.”

 

Most importantly, this new combined approach is not restricted to Oncology. Most applications of clinical predictions concern data that is heterogeneous and sparse and there are always unknowns in our knowledge of disease mechanisms.

 

Jade Sterling
Science Writer
24 October 2021

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Khalifa University Showcasing New PhD and Master’s Offerings at Najah Abu Dhabi and International Education Show 2021

Khalifa University Currently Offers PhD, Master’s and 16 Bachelor’s Programs to Cover UAE’s Strategic Economic Sectors  

 

Khalifa University of Science and Technology announced it is showcasing its new PhD and Master’s academic programs as well as its overall research offerings at Najah Abu Dhabi 2021 and the International Education Show 2021.

 

The 17th International Education Show is being held from 19-21 October at Expo Center Sharjah, while Najah Abu Dhabi 2021 will be held from 27-29 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The events offer Khalifa University a suitable opportunity to identify the brightest talents who are keen to pursue higher studies in niche specializations. As a consistently top-ranked academic institution in the UAE in research and academics, Khalifa University also remains one of the primary institutions of choice for students seeking admissions.

 

Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Senior Vice-President, Academic and Student Services, Khalifa University, said: “Our participation in the International Education Show and Najah Abu Dhabi demonstrate our academic and research capabilities and strengths in diverse fields. As a research-oriented university and as an academic institution that develops local national talent, Khalifa University remains committed to providing the necessary manpower to drive the UAE’s knowledge economy. With our expert faculty and state-of-the-art lab facilities, we are in the forefront of offering a favorable learning environment. We believe our participation in these two events will offer potential students a platform to interact with our faculty and officials, and learn more in detail about our admissions processes for undergraduate, postgraduate, medical and doctorate programs.”

 

Khalifa University currently offers doctorate programs in 15 areas, as well as one MD, 17 Master’s and 16 Bachelor’s programs. Some of the most recent academic programs that were launched include PhD programs in Chemistry, Physics, Math, and Earth Sciences, as well as bachelor’s programs in Cell and Molecular Biology, and Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Master’s in Aerospace Engineering. The PhD offerings cover Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, Computer, Engineering Systems, Materials, Mechanical, Nuclear, Petroleum and Robotics areas.

 

In the research domain, Khalifa University’s offerings include strategic industries such as space systems and technologies, aerospace, robotics, machine intelligence, nuclear engineering, clean energy, sustainability, nanotechnologies, cyber security, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and supply chain logistics. At present, Khalifa University has 189 issued patents, with 247 pending patents numbering and 443 invention disclosures.

 

In the Nature Index 2021 ranking, Khalifa University ranked top in the UAE and second among Arab institutions in terms of research output. With a ‘share’ of 6.53 that is nearly three times higher than the second-ranked university, Khalifa University is ahead of all other contenders in the UAE in this ranking. The Nature Index is an indicator of high-quality research in the Natural and Physical Sciences, including Chemistry, Life Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Physical Sciences.

 

Khalifa University is also top-ranked in the UAE and among the top 10 out of 125 Arab institutions in the 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) Arab Universities Ranking. 

 

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
20 October 2021

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ICAPP 2021, Region’s First International Conference on Nuclear Energy, Opens in Abu Dhabi

Global Nuclear Energy Leaders Commend UAE for Successful Start of Barakah Unit 1, First Nuclear Power Project in UAE and the Arab World  

 

The International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP) 2021, the region’s first-ever international conference on nuclear energy, organized by Khalifa University of Science and Technology, opened on 17 October in Abu Dhabi, with global nuclear energy leaders commending the UAE for successfully starting the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant Unit 1, the first nuclear power project in the UAE and first in the Arab world.

 

H.E. Ambassador Hamad AlKaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Honorary Chair, ICAPP 2021, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, H.E. Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO, ENEC, attended the conference along with representatives from UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), industry experts, stakeholders, and global leaders from the nuclear energy community.

 

Co-sponsored by Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, as well as the American, French, Korean and Japanese nuclear societies, ICAPP 2021 provides a forum for leaders of the nuclear community to exchange information, present results from their work, review the status of the industry and discuss future directions and needs for the deployment of new nuclear power plant systems around the world.

 

In his welcome address, Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “We are proud to host the International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP) 2021 in partnership with our sponsors and highlight the success of the UAE in establishing and successfully operating a nuclear power facility, the first in the Arab world. Together with the global nuclear energy community, we also strongly support the role of nuclear power in achieving the net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal, by ensuring consistent energy supply, and a wider integration of renewables to drive the clean energy transition.”

 

“Moreover, our campus is also home to Emirates Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC), which supports the UAE’s nuclear power program and delivers the key stakeholders goals for safe, clean and efficient nuclear energy to meet the targets of Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030 and the UAE National Energy Strategy 2050. We are proud to be the sole academic partner for ENEC from the early stages of the UAE’s nuclear energy industry, and we are privileged to serve as the training arm for the nuclear energy industry in the UAE. As the first university in the UAE to offer a Master’s and PhD programs in Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University remains committed to developing human capital, facilitating knowledge-sharing in this strategic area.”

 

H.E. Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO, ENEC, said: “Nuclear energy is a significant pillar of the UAE’s long-term energy mix and will be for decades to come. The UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program is an important demonstration that nuclear projects can be delivered and operated safely and in a cost-efficient manner. In fact, nuclear energy is a key contributor to a country’s net-zero sustainable development. Today, nuclear and renewables are working together to generate clean electricity in the UAE with Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, already commercially operational. It is the single largest electricity generator in the Arab World, delivering clean electricity 24/7, and leading the largest decarbonization effort in the region.”

 

“Beyond clean and abundant electricity, Barakah is powering the UAE’s sustainable growth. By creating high-tech industries, and high-value local nuclear supply chains, Barakah is a bridge to new R&D opportunities such as clean hydrogen production, sustainable agriculture and deep space exploration.”

 

“Over the next 50 or more years, we will build on these successes and establish a truly knowledge-based net-zero economy using nuclear technology.” H.E Al Hammadi added.

 

Sama Bilbao y León, Director-General, World Nuclear Association (WNA), delivered the first plenary titled “New Builds: The Legacy Continues”.

Nasser Al Nasseri, Chief Executive Officer, Barakah One Company, UAE, delivered a talk on ‘Successfully Financing Nuclear New Build Projects’.

 

Delegates will have virtual visits to the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant , the first multi-unit operating nuclear plant in the UAE and Arab World. Unit 1 started commercial operations in April 2021, and Unit 2 was connected to the UAE electricity grid in September 2021, with two further units to come on line in the coming years, generating up to 25% of the UAE electricity when fully operational.

 

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
18 October 2021

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KU Start-Up Pioneers in Upcycling Waste for Circular-Economy Ceramics

Seramic Materials applies patented technology to upcycle industrial solid waste to sustainable and high-value ceramic products, driving the industry towards a near-zero waste goal

 

Started by Dr. Nicolas Calvet, Khalifa University Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and CEO of Seramic Materials, and Dr. Khalid Al Ali, Khalifa University Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of Operations at Seramic Materials, Seramic Materials Ltd. was established in 2019 to manufacture 100 percent recycled ceramic products from heavy industry waste, such as incinerator ash and byproducts from the steel industry.

 

“Seramic Materials is a UAE-based company born out of the unique and innovative environment of the Masdar Institute at Khalifa University,” Dr. Calvet said. “We developed a unique circular economy solution to recycling solid industrial waste into sustainable value-added products in the technical ceramics and construction materials markets.”

 

Replacing a precious natural resource with waste products for ceramic production has myriad advantages beyond keeping the conventional raw materials in the ground. Using waste products can be significantly cheaper, meaning a final product can be 10 to 50 percent cheaper depending on its application.

 

By avoiding the extraction of natural resources and their transport, carbon emissions are significantly reduced and manufacturing energy consumption is also lowered. Dr. Calvet says this represents at least a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared with conventional ceramic manufacturing methods. Plus, all the waste that would have headed to landfill can now be diverted to a second life and purpose.

 

. Seramic Materials can combine the UAE’s steel slag, municipal solid waste incinerator ashes, bauxite residue, waste sludge, broken glass and more with non-depleting natural resources, such as desert sand, to develop their ceramic products.

 

“We tune the properties of the final ceramic product depending on its expected use by mixing different waste products together,” Dr. Calvet said. “Our ceramic materials can be shaped in any form and dimension depending on their intended applications, such as bricks, floor and wall tiles, 3D claddings, pavers, and much more.

 

Seramic Materials is now expanding into technical ceramics, manufacturing advanced thermal energy storage materials, which can operate in temperatures as high as 1250°C, and which are, to date, the most cost-efficient ceramics on the market.

 

Thermal energy storage involves storing heat, generated for instance by solar energy, until it is needed to be turned into electricity or reused directly as process heat. It is the release of the heat that is used to generate the power.

 

“Our solution is called ReThink Seramic – Flora and it is a game changer in high-temperature applications – anything over 700°C,” Dr. Calvet said. “Until now, the bottleneck in this industry was the high cost of the ceramic material itself. By operating at a higher temperature, the heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency is improved, and since Flora is durable up to 1250°C, it can be thermally cycled over decades without damage.”

 

“We have developed the first state-of-the-art laboratory in the GCC dedicated to industrial solid waste valorization” said Dr. Khalid Al Ali.  Thanks to this one-of-its-kind laboratory, the team at Seramic Materials have developed formulations that are patented in Europe, USA, India, China and the GCC and are constantly working on new applications to support products across the ceramics value chain.  Seramic Materials recently signed an intellectual property (IP) agreement with Khalifa University to commercialize 5 patents related to steel slags upcycling.

 

“Our vision is a more sustainable present achieved by developing a circular economy,” Dr. Calvet said. “We have an innovative approach that we hope will continuously enhance our ceramic formulations and offer countless new value-added applications for our commercial products.”

 

Jade Sterling
Science Writer
18 October 2021

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Khalifa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences Organizes White Coat Ceremony for Third Cohort of 49 Students

 

Khalifa University has announced 49 newly enrolled students at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) to study the 4+4 American curriculum MD program took their customary oath at a White Coat Ceremony, marking the start of their Fall 2021 classes. 

 

During the ceremony, the class of 2025 cohort wearing their white coats, were officially welcomed by Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and Dr. John Rock, Dean, Khalifa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, after which they pledged their allegiance to the medical code of ethics. 

 

The White Coat Ceremony was streamed live on Khalifa University’s YouTube channel, with parents, friends and families participating virtually. Currently, a total of 113 students have enrolled across the first three years of the four-year postgraduate MD program at CMHS. 

 

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “The Khalifa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences has made steady progress over the years, generating significant interest among the students and implementing community-focused collaborations and new initiatives. As we warmly welcome the third cohort of medical students to Khalifa University, we believe they will contribute to the UAE’s healthcare ecosystem, not only through patient care but also through cutting-edge scientific and medical research that will benefit the community in general.” 

 

Dr. John Rock said: “We are delighted to welcome our largest class to date with the time-honored tradition of donning their first medical white coat. This is an exciting time for them to be joining our new and developing MD degree program. Over the past year, we successfully forged partnerships that enable our students, under the guidance of faculty, to be fully immersed in the Abu Dhabi community, providing healthcare in hospitals, clinics, and homes.” 

 

Last year, the second cohort of medical students received white coats at the ceremony, which symbolized welcoming the first-year students to the practice of medicine, elevating the value of humanism as the core of health care. The white coat, which stands as a symbol of the medical profession, also represents a student’s transition to a scientific approach to medicine, while signifying the commitment to the practice of medicine and the patient-physician relationship. 

 

Over the years, the Khalifa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences has registered remarkable achievements, including publishing 110 research papers in respected international scientific and medical journals. Khalifa University CMHS PubMed-listed research papers address a wide array of biomedical topics of relevance to the UAE and beyond, ranging from the Arab genome to diabetes, nanoparticles to cardiovascular and medical education. 

 

Over the past year, the Khalifa University CMHS received approval from the UAE’s Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) for implementation of the Clinical Phase of the MD program. This significant milestone for the university enabled the first cohort of CMHS medical students to commence their clinical clerkships in April of this year. 

 

Khalifa University continues to offer pipeline programs to stimulate interest and enhance the qualifications of potential applicants to the CMHS MD degree program. A weeklong Summer Med-Camp provided learning and growth opportunities for UAE National high school students with an interest in pursuing careers in medicine and health sciences. Khalifa University’s unique Pre-Medicine Bridge (PMB) Program conducted a Research Symposium to provide the transitioning students an opportunity to showcase their research efforts. 

 

Embracing a social-accountability-focused mission that incorporates attention to the social determinants of health, and develop socially accountable future physicians, the CMHS offers the Balsam program, which emphasizes social accountability and inter-professional education while providing evidence-based, patient- and family-centered care.

 

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
13 October 2021

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Dr. Linda Zou Chosen to be the Deputy of the MBRAS Women in Science Committee

Khalifa University’s Dr. Linda Zou, Professor of Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering, was selected by the Emirates Scientists Council to be the Deputy of the Women in Science Committee of the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists (MBRAS). Dr. Zou will be working with committee lead Dr. Saeeda Al Marzouqi and the other committee members to represent women in the science community. 

 

The committee aims to advocate the attraction, promotion, and retention of women in STEM fields. It will support and encourage women faculty and researchers to engage and thrive in their chosen careers, specifically in STEM, where women are still relatively minorities. 

 

“Women scientists have overcome many difficulties to be in current positions and made great contributions to the university and science. Our aim is to promote sustainable engagement and growth, to be recognized and have the same opportunity without facing disadvantages,” Dr. Zou said. 

 

Dr. Zou is regarded as an expert in water technologies and cloud seeding materials and is well-known for her ground-breaking research using nanotechnology to develop cloud seeding materials. 

 

Ara Maj Cruz
Creative Writer
13 October 2021

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Two Papers Presented at the ACS Conference Proposes New Techniques for Forensic Investigations

Dr. Mayssa Hachem, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Khalifa University, presented two papers at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2021 Conference that was held in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) from 22-26 August 2021. The conference was a hybrid event that was conducted virtually and in person. 

 

Dr. Hachem’s first presentation at the ACS was at the Division of Environmental Chemistry where she discussed her paper titled “Systematic Chemical Approaches for Soil Analysis in Forensic Investigation.” The paper highlighted the importance of soil as a valuable evidence during forensic investigations. Soils may be able to link an individual to a crime scene as soil transferred in mud sticking to footwear, tires, soil marks on vehicles, or traces left on clothes can correlate the presence or absence of this person on a particular scene of the crime. The soil has extreme complexity not only in components but also in its physical nature such as sediment, color, and structure. Dr. Hachem studied various physico-chemical properties of different types of soils in the UAE and found high variability in results among the tested samples. These results could refer to a unique fingerprinting for each soil type, which are vital findings for forensic soil investigations in a crime scene.

 

Dr. Mayssa Hachem
Dr. Mayssa Hachem

She then presented her second paper, “Prediction of Postmortem Interval (PMI) through Chemical Analysis of Blood Biomarkers in Forensic Examination: A Concept” at the Division of Biochemical Technology session. In the paper, Dr. Hachem outlines a concept of a device that can be used in the prediction of postmortem interval (PMI), or time since death, in forensic investigations. For years, the prediction of PMI has been one of the most challenging variables to quantify and establish for forensic examiners despite numerous developments in this area.

 

Dr. Hachem proposed a device that provides the chemical profiles of different metabolites in blood including protein biomarkers such as Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST). LDH is an enzyme typically restricted to the cytoplasm of cells and released only after cell death, while AST is an enzyme that converts aspartic acid to glutamate. Blood concentration of these enzymes normally increases in the first three days after death. In addition to protein biomarkers, Dr. Hachem also suggested the dosage of some lipid biomarkers such as triglycerides and cholesterol levels showed a postmortem decrease in the triglyceride and cholesterol concentration in blood in vitro over time. 

 

Dr. Hachem suggested that the device not only measure metabolites but also measures the pH level in the blood. Normal pH blood level is controlled within the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45. Alkaline pH more than 7.45 and acidic pH less than 7 can lead to death. After death, the pH of blood changes from 7 to 5.5, twenty hours postmortem. The accumulation of acidic metabolites, especially lactic acid, lowers the blood pH.

 

When a murder victim is found at a crime scene, the proposed device can analyze blood using Artificial Intelligence to determine the dosage of the mentioned metabolites and PMI estimation.

 

The ACS is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations with more than 155,000 members in 150 countries. Founded in 1876 and chartered by the US Congress, the organization aims to improve people’s lives through the advancement and promotion of the uses and benefits of chemistry. 

 

Ara Maj Cruz
Creative Writer
13 October 2021

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Prof. Minna Palmroth Gives Lecture on Space Sustainability at Main Campus

Space scientist Prof. Minna Palmroth gave an informative lecture at the KU Main Campus on Tuesday, 5 October on how she harnessed her passion in the field of sustainable use of space to became the Director of the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space and the Principal Investigator of Vlasiator, the world’s most accurate space environment simulation.

 

During the lecture, which was attended by dozens of KU undergraduate and graduate engineering students, Prof. Palmroth shared insights into the Vlasiator program and the significant potential that High Performance Computing can have in space research.

 

She also talked about the need to make space research and technology sustainable, the valuable role of Citizen Science in space research, and the critical role of women in science.