Technology acceptance drivers for AR smart glasses in the middle east : a quantitative study

This study aims to establish Middle East users' perspectives on the major factors that impact their decision to adopt Augmented Reality AR smart glasses (ARSG). Thus, an online questionnaire was designed and sent directly to the respondents, and 584 valid data points were collected from individuals living in the Middle East. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) techniques using SPSS. Eleven hypotheses were tested using Multiple Regression analysis, where seven independent variables out of eleven were confirmed to have a significant impact on the perceived adoption of ARSG. The results indicate that four of the independent variables including Pre-Market Knowledge, Image, Own privacy and Technology innovativeness show the significant impact on ARSG adoption at the 1% significant level. In addition, the results indicate that three of the social and technological factors include Perceived Ease of use, Perceived usefulness and Other's privacy show the significant effect on ARSG adoption at the 5% significant level. Among the 7 social and technological factors, the results suggest that technology innovation expresses the strongest effect on ARSG adoption with the highest coefficient value of 0.413 (b = 0.413, t = 12.881, ρ < 0.01). Moreover, user intention is significantly impacted by gender and place of living but not by education or age. The research also provides pre-market insights on users' personal types that represent who will most likely adopt the new smart glasses and that differentiate them based on their priorities. To the best of our knowledge, this is among the first works to investigate technology acceptance drivers of AR smart glasses in the Middle East

The Jurassic–Cretaceous depositional and tectonic evolution of the southernwestern margin of the Neotethys Ocean, Northern Oman and United Arab Emirates

The concept that the autochthonous, parautochthonous and allochthonous Permian–Cretaceous sequences in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman record the transition from platform, slope to basin sedimentation within the southern part of Neotethys has been fundamental to the interpretation of the geological history of the region. The results of a major geological mapping programme of the UAE, carried out by the British Geological Survey for the Federal Government of the UAE, coupled with the detailed examination of key sections within northern Oman has led to a re-evaluation of the geological evolution of this region. This detailed study has led to a greater appreciation of the sedimentology and depositional setting of the sediments laid down along the northeastern Arabian continental margin during the Jurassic to Cretaceous, allowing a more refined model of Neotethys Ocean basin evolution to be established. The model charts the progressive breakup of the Arabian continental margin and closure of Neotethys during the mid to late Cretaceous and is divided into three main stages: Stage 1—Initial rifting and formation of the Neotethys Ocean, followed by a prolonged period of stable, passive margin sedimentation which extended from the Permian to Late Jurassic times; Stage 2—Uplift and erosion of the shelf margin during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, coincident with increased carbonate-clastic sedimentation in the outer ramp, distal slope and basinal areas; Stage 3—Increased instability during the Late Cretaceous leading to the breakup of the platform margin and foreland basin sedimentation accompanying the obduction of the Oman-UAE ophiolite. Data obtained for the upper part of the platform and platform margin to slope successions has revealed that the topography of the “shelf”-slope-basinal margin was more subdued than previously thought, with this more gentle ramp margin morphology persisting until early to mid-Cretaceous times when the platform margin started to become unstable during ophiolite obduction. The thrust-repeated allochthonous sedimentary rocks of the Hamrat Duru Group were deposited on the outer platform margin/lower slope rise to basinal plain of this basin margin and includes the dismembered remains of two turbidite fan systems which fed carbonate-rich detritus into deeper parts of the ocean. A re-evaluation of the chert-rich sequences, previously equated with deposition on the abyssal plain of Neotethys, has led to the conclusion that they may record sedimentation at a much shallower level within a starved ocean basin, possibly in a mid-ramp (above storm wave base) to outer ramp setting. A marked change in basin dynamics occurred during the mid-Cretaceous leading to the development of a shallow ramp basin margin in Oman with terrestrial to shallow marine sedimentary rocks interdigitating with red siliceous mudstones. By contrast, the contemporaneous succession in the Dibba Zone of the UAE indicates considerable instability on a steep shelf break. This instability is recorded by the presence of several major olistostrome deposits within the Aruma Group of the UAE which are thought to have been generated in advance of the rapidly obducting Oman-UAE ophiolite

The impact of eLearning as a knowledge management tool in organizational performance

This paper aims to understand the impact of eLearning capabilities on organizational performance. It also addresses the obstacles of organizational learning using eLearning methods and highlighting some emerging trends and technologies that will impact the eLearning experience in organizations. It examines a brief history of knowledge management and how it is related to learning, organizational learning, and performance. It also explores different eLearning technologies and trends. A systematic literature review was used to examine previous papers between 2016–2020. Results show eLearning can impact organizational performance in many ways, and human factors can be one of the most challenging obstacles in deploying eLearning solutions in organizations, and many emerging eLearning trends were explored including open educational resources, gamification, flipped classrooms, and many others

Association of interleukin-4, interleukin-13 gene polymorphisms, HLA-DQ and DR genotypes with genetic susceptibility of type-1 Diabetes Mellitus in Kuwaiti children

BackgroundType-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a complex multifactorial disease with an autoimmune etiology and is thought to result from an interaction between genetic and non-genetic factors. Cytokines play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases due to their effector and regulatory functions in immune responses. Interleukin-4 (IL4) and Interleukin-13 (IL13) are anti-inflammatory cytokines and are considered as important mediators in pathology of the autoimmune diseases.MethodsWe have determined the genotype frequency of IL4 gene promoter polymorphism (−590C/T, rs2243250), IL13 gene polymorphism p.(Arg130Glu, rs20541) and human leukocyte antigen, HLA-DQ and DR genotypes in Kuwaiti children with T1DM to investigate their role in genetic susceptibility. This study included 261 Kuwaiti children with T1DM and 214 healthy controls. The genotypes for IL4 (−590C/T) and IL13 p.(Arg130Glu) gene polymorphisms were detected by PCR-RFLP methods. HLA-DQ and DR genotypes were determined by sequence-specific PCR methods.ResultsThe CC genotype of IL4 gene polymorphism (−590C/T) was significantly related to the risk for T1DM in Kuwaiti patients (OR 1.64). The homozygous AA (QQ) and heterozygous AG (RQ) genotypes of IL13 gene polymorphism p.(Arg130Glu), also manifested a statistically significant association with T1DM (OR 2.92 and 4.79). In 55% T1DM patients, the HLA genotype was either DQ2/DQ2 or in combination with a DQ8 allele. Collectively, 91% Kuwaiti T1DM patients had either DQ2 or DQ8 alleles in different combinations highlighting them as the high risk-genotypes in comparison to the controls. In the case of HLA-DR, the genotypes DR3/DRB5, DR3/DR4, DR3/DR7 and DR4/DR4 showed highest frequency amongst the Kuwaiti T1DM patients and thus can be considered as high-risk genotypes when compared to the controls. A high degree of co-inheritance (&gt;80%) was detected between IL4 and IL13 gene polymorphism genotypes (CC and QQ) and the high-risk HLA-DQ and DR genotypes amongst the Kuwaiti T1DM patients.ConclusionsWe have identified the association of IL4 and IL13 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to T1DM in Kuwaiti children and the co-inheritance of these polymorphisms with high-risk HLA genotypes. The findings may contribute to early identification of childhood diabetes

Role of outer membrane permeability, efflux mechanism, and carbapenemases in carbapenem-nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Dubai hospitals: Results of the first cross-sectional survey

© 2019 The Authors Objectives: Carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is growing and results from variable mechanisms. The objectives of the current study were to investigate mechanisms of carbapenem resistance and genetic relatedness of P. aeruginosa isolates recovered in Dubai hospitals. Methods: From June 2015 through June 2016, carbapenem-nonsusceptible P. aeruginosa were collected from 4 hospitals in Dubai, and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular investigation of carbapenemases by PCR-sequencing, analysis of outer membrane porin OprD2 and multidrug efflux channel MexAB-OprM levels by qPCR, and fingerprinting by ERIC-PCR. Results: Out of 1969 P. aeruginosa isolated during the study period, 471 (23.9%) showed reduced carbapenem susceptibility. Of these, 37 were analyzed and 32% of them produced VIM-type metallo-β-lactamases, including VIM-2, VIM-30, VIM-31, and VIM-42, while GES-5 and GES-9 co-existed with VIM in 5.4% of isolates. Outer membrane impermeability was observed in 73% of isolates and 75.6% displayed overproduced MexAB-OprM. ERIC-PCR revealed one large clone including most carbapenemase-producing isolates indicating clonal dissemination. Conclusion: This is the first study on carbapenem-nonsusceptible P. aeruginosa from Dubai, incriminating VIM production as well as outer membrane permeability and efflux systems as resistance mechanisms. Further studies on carbapenem-nonsusceptible P. aeruginosa in Dubai are warranted for containment of such health hazard

Clonal emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST14 co-producing OXA-48-type and NDM carbapenemases with high rate of colistin resistance in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Few studies have addressed the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates in the Arabian Peninsula, and such investigations have been missing from Dubai, a major economical, tourism and medical centre of the region. The antibiotic susceptibility, the carbapenemase type produced, and the clonality of 89 CRE strains isolated in five major Dubai hospitals in June 2015 to June 2016 were determined. Thirty-three percent of the collection of 70 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 13 Escherichia coli and 6 other Enterobacteriaceae were extremely drug resistant, 27% were resistant to colistin, and 4.5% (4 K. pneumoniae isolates) were resistant to all antibiotics tested. The colistin resistance rate in K. pneumoniae was 31.4%. None of the isolates carried mobile colistin resistance genes. Seventy-seven isolates produced carbapenemase: 53.3% OXA-48-like, 24.7% NDM and 22.1% both OXA-48-like and NDM, respectively. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis clustered 50% of K. pneumoniae into a 35-membered group, which showed significant association with double carbapenemase production, with extreme drug resistance, and with being isolated from Emirati patients. Members of the cluster belonged to sequence type ST14. The rate of colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae ST14 was 37.1% vs. 27.1% of K. pneumoniae isolates outside of the cluster. Two of the panresistant K. pneumoniae isolates also belonged to ST14, whereas the other two were ST15 and ST231, respectively. In conclusion, beyond the overall high colistin resistance rate in CRE, the emergence of a highly resistant clone of K. pneumoniae ST14 in all Dubai hospitals investigated is a serious problem requiring immediate attention

High resolution seismic stratigraphic analysis: An integrated approach to the subsurface geology of the SE Persian Gulf

Papers included in this dissertation: Paper 1: Farzadi, P. 2006a. The development of Middle Cretaceous carbonate platforms, Persian Gulf, Iran: Constraints from seismic stratigraphy, well and biostratigraphy. Petroleum Geoscience, 12, 59-68. Paper 2: Farzadi, P. 2006b. Seismic facies analysis based on 3D multi-attribute volume classification, Dariyan Formation, SE Persian Gulf. Journal of Petroleum Geology,29/2, 159-174. Paper 3: Farzadi, P. & Hesthammer, J. (Submitted 2006). Diagnosis of the Upper Cretaceous paleokarst and turbidite systems from the Iranian Persian Gulf using volume-based multiple seismic attribute analysis and pattern recognition. N.B.: Originally accepted for publication in the AAPG Bulletin, later rejected because the US government prohibits the publication of papers using Iranian government datasets. The manuscript has been re-submitted to Petroleum Geoscience. Paper 4: Farzadi, P. & Alaei, B. (Submitted 2006). Stratigraphic architecture of the Zagros Basin: towards an objective comparison of the Fold-Thrust Belt and Foreland provinces. Submitted to the Journal of Petroleum Geology; under consideration for a thematic issue. Presentation (at international meeting and on web): Farzadi, P. 2005. Stratal geometries of the Cretaceous carbonate systems: application of multiple volumes attributes analysis to 3-D seismic data from the Persian Gulf. At: Middle to Far East Carbonate Reservoirs: Exploration, Development and Exploitation. PESGB Carbonate conference, 15th & 16th Nov. 2005 London

Thermal modelling of gas generation and retention in the Jurassic organic-rich intervals in the Darquain field, Abadan Plain, SW Iran

The petroleum system with Jurassic source rocks is an important part of the hydrocarbons discovered in the Middle East. Limited studies have been done on the Jurassic intervals in the 26,500 km2 Abadan Plain in south-west Iran, mainly due to the deep burial and a limited number of wells that reach the basal Jurassic successions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the Jurassic organic-rich intervals and shale gas play in the Darquain field using organic geochemistry, organic petrography, biomarker analysis, and basin modelling methods. This study showed that organic-rich zones present in the Jurassic intervals of Darquain field could be sources of conventional and unconventional gas reserves. The organic matter content of samples from the organic-rich zones corresponds to medium-to-high-sulphur kerogen Type II-S marine origin. The biomarker characteristics of organic-rich zones indicate carbonate source rocks that contain marine organic matter. The biomarker results also suggest a marine environment with reducing conditions for the source rocks. The constructed thermal model for four pseudo-wells indicates that, in the kitchen area of the Jurassic gas reserve, methane has been generated in the Sargelu and Neyriz source rocks from Early Cretaceous to recent times and the transformation ratio of organic matter is more than 97%. These organic-rich zones with high initial total organic carbon (TOC) are in the gas maturity stage [1.5–2.2% vitrinite reflectance in oil (Ro)] and could be good unconventional gas reserves and gas source rocks. The model also indicates that there is a huge quantity of retained gas within the Jurassic organic-rich intervals

Petrographical and geochemical evidences for paragenetic sequence interpretation of diagenesis in mixed siliciclastic–carbonate sediments: Mozduran Formation (Upper Jurassic), south of Agh-Darband, NE Iran

The Upper Jurassic Mozduran Formation with a thickness of 420 m at the type locality is the most important gas-bearing reservoir in NE Iran. It is mainly composed of limestone, dolostone with shale and gypsum interbeds that grade into coarser siliciclastics in the easternmost part of the basin. Eight stratigraphic sections were studied in detail in south of the Agh-Darband area. These analyses suggest that four carbonate facies associations and three siliciclastic lithofacies were deposited in shallow marine to shoreline environments, respectively. Cementation, compaction, dissolution, micritization, neomorphism, hematitization, dolomitization and fracturing are diagenetic processes that affected these sediments.Stable isotope variations of δ18O and δ13C in carbonate rocks show two different trends. High depletion of δ18O and low variation of δ13C probably reflect increasing temperatures during burial diagenesis, while the higher depletion in carbon isotope values with low variations in oxygen isotopes are related to fresh water flushing during meteoric diagenesis. Negative values of carbon isotopes may have also resulted from organic matter alteration during penetration of meteoric water. Fe and Mn enrichment with depletion of δ18O also supports the contention that alteration associated with higher depletion in carbon isotope values with low variations in oxygen isotopes took place during meteoric diagenesis. The presence of bright luminescence indicates redox conditions during precipitation of calcite cement