American University in the Emirates

Abstract Chapter 1 outlines the purpose and scope of this book, along with providing a historical context of higher education’s evolution. It traces the development of rights and responsibilities of students and faculty over time, highlighting significant milestones and legal precedents. The key topics covered in this chapter include student rights such as privacy, free speech, and due process in disciplinary actions. For faculty members, the chapter presents information related to academic freedom, professional conduct, teaching and research responsibilities, and employment-related legal issues. By examining these elements, the chapter provides a comprehensive overview of how rights and obligations have shaped and continue to influence the higher education landscape. Additionally, it discusses the broader societal and legal contexts driving these changes, emphasizing the dynamic and evolving nature of higher education. This knowledge is essential in understanding the subsequent discussions and analyses presented in the book, which provide context for readers to appreciate the complexities and dynamics of modern higher education institutions.

Background: Blockchain technology (BCT) is widely recognised for its potential to transform supply chain (SC) operations by enhancing SC transparency, hence fostering trust among SC partners. However, most empirical research has explored its direct impact through conceptual and causal models, while limited studies have explored how SC professionals themselves perceive the role of BCT in strengthening SC transparency and trust among SC partners, especially within emerging economies.Objectives: This study explores the perceptions of SC professionals regarding BCT technology, SC transparency and trust. The focus is on understanding how practitioners interpret the relational value of BCT in the context of emerging economies, with Egypt serving as a representative case.Method: This study employs an exploratory quantitative research approach through a quantitative method that utilises surveys to collect data from 63 SC professionals working in organisations operating in Egypt.Results: Findings confirm that professionals perceive BCT as a tool that positively influences both SC trust and SC transparency, with SC transparency partially mediating the relationship between BCT and trust. However, SC transparency alone does not fully explain trust-building, highlighting the importance of other BCT features such as immutability, traceability and smart contracts.Conclusion: This study reveals that SC professionals in emerging economies perceive BCT as a multifaceted trust-enabling mechanism, operating through SC transparency and other technological affordances.Contribution: By capturing practitioners’ perceptions, this study offers exploratory observations about the perceived relationship among BCT, SC transparency and trust, offering evidence-based understanding from an emerging economy perspective. The findings inform both academics and managers on how BCT’s perceived benefits can shape future trust-oriented SC practices.

ABSTRACT Credit risk, a pivotal bank concern, was initially addressed in the Basel framework through the capital adequacy ratio. The need for superior risk models remains pressing as the banking landscape evolves. This research examines the effectiveness of machine learning in credit risk assessment using a dataset comprising over 280 corporate loan applications from a public Tunisian bank for approved loans in 2023's challenging economic conditions. This study compares logistic regression, neural networks, and random forests, implementing preprocessing steps, including missing value treatment and variable selection through Lasso and Ridge regularization. Our findings reveal that random forests achieve 94% accuracy in predicting default probabilities, outperforming neural networks (92%) and logistic regression (88%). Return on assets emerges as the most significant predictor for random forests, while the debt‐to‐equity ratio dominates neural networks and logistic regression predictions. We implement a novel three‐tier interpretability framework combining SHAP, LIME, and Partial Dependence Plots (PDP) to address the “black box” challenge of machine learning algorithms. This comprehensive approach enhances model transparency and reveals critical financial thresholds specific to emerging markets, which is particularly valuable given Tunisia's economic context. The results demonstrate that sophisticated analytics combined with robust interpretability methods can significantly improve credit risk assessment in challenging economic environments. The implications extend beyond traditional banks to microfinance institutions, offering a framework that balances advanced prediction capabilities with transparent decision‐making processes. This approach proves particularly valuable in emerging markets, where default patterns differ significantly from those in developed economies.

The development of sustainable protein alternatives is crucial to addressing the limitations of conventional meat production, including energy consumption, food safety, and environmental impact. Simultaneously, protein deficiency in children remains a global issue, exacerbated by nutrient-poor snacks. To tackle these challenges, we propose a novel cultivated snack designed to provide a palatable and environmentally friendly source of meat protein. Central to this innovation is an edible porous scaffold (Carr:QSM) composed of kappa-carrageenan (Carr) and quince seed mucilage (QSM), naturally abundant polysaccharides. The newly developed scaffold exhibits a porous structure, a tenfold increase in swelling capacity, and superior mechanical performance compared to Carr. In vitro studies confirm its ability to support cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, with enhanced expression of myogenic-related genes. The essential amino acids (EAAs) profile of Carr:QSM cultured with primary bovine myoblasts (PBM) under differentiation conditions reveals all nine EAAs, closely matching conventional meat. Sensory evaluation with 20 volunteers using a nine-point hedonic scale classified the snack as highly acceptable. This study highlights the potential of polysaccharide-based biomaterials to shift from therapeutic applications to early nutritional intervention. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) shows that industrial-scale production is achievable at < $0.065 per snack, with projected retail pricing below $1 by 2030.

Blockchain technology (BCT) is one of the most promising and innovative technologies developed recently, with the supply chain management (SCM) field presenting a typical application for BCT. There are many attractive features of BCT, such as being a distributed ledger, offering decentralized control, transparency, permanency of transactions, preventing tampering or manipulation, and openness of accessibility. It is expected that BCT will introduce new ways of thinking in the supply chain (SC) field. Furthermore, since every component of the SC has an impact on the environment, BCT can be a problem solver for many challenges currently faced by supply chains concerning sustainability performance. Thus, BCT can be considered as an innovation promoting sustainability practices within SCs related to environmental, social, or economic pillars of sustainability. Although adopting BCT into SC will improve the entire process and sustainability performance, it was found that the actual implementation of BCT in SC is still in its infancy. Thus, this chapter aims to understand the significant technology–organization–environment (TOE) factors that influence BCT (as an innovation supporting sustainability performance) diffusion in SCM. This is achieved through integrating the TOE framework and the diffusion of innovation (DoI) theory, and also through an exploratory research approach focusing on Egypt as a sample for an emerging economy from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Empirical results of this chapter confirmed that knowledge about BCT, complexity of setup and usage, awareness about the benefits, collaboration and coordination among SC partners, and governmental policies are the most crucial factors among all the factors that influence BCT diffusion in SCM. Therefore, it needs to be treated as a priority. This chapter also offers a practical road map for BCT diffusion in SCM in Egypt. This approach not only facilitates effective BCT diffusion but also ensures that its adoption advances sustainability goals, providing a significant competitive edge in the marketplace. While research about BCT diffusion in SCM is widely discussed in the global context, very little attention was given to the Egyptian context; hence, this study is among the first studies to examine this issue in the Egyptian context. This contributes not only to academic literature but also to policymakers and industry practitioners in Egypt and similar regions. Collecting data from Egyptian companies adds value as well because empirical data from underrepresented regions can reveal new patterns, behaviors, and outcomes. Furthermore, this study enhances the understanding of how theories such as the TOE framework and BCT diffusion models apply in developing economies like Egypt.

The growing reliance on digital financial services necessitates a secure, efficient, and privacy-centric approach to identity verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance. Traditional identity management systems rely on centralized databases, making them susceptible to data breaches, inefficiencies, and regulatory constraints. Over 10 billion identity records have been exposed in centralized KYC breaches, leading to a 60% increase in financial fraud cases. The rise of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has further complicated KYC compliance, requiring innovative solutions that balance privacy and regulatory requirements. This paper proposes a Web3-powered decentralized identity framework that leverages blockchain technology, self-sovereign identity (SSI), verifiable credentials (VCs), and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). By eliminating reliance on centralized authorities, our system enhances data privacy, reducing personally identifiable information (PII) disclosure by 80% while ensuring compliance with AML and GDPR regulations. The integration of zk-SNARKs enables trustless identity verification with an average proof generation time of 12.5 seconds, significantly reducing the 3-5 day verification period required by traditional systems. Smart contract-based KYC automation eliminates intermediaries, cutting compliance costs by 40% and reducing fraud risk by 60%. Through comparative analysis, we highlight that decentralized KYC improves security, cost-effectiveness, and scalability compared to traditional models. Performance evaluation confirms that transaction throughput remains within acceptable blockchain limits, with gas costs stabilized at 35,000-55,000 Gwei per verification request. Despite challenges in regulatory adaptation and zk-SNARK scalability, the proposed model demonstrates the feasibility of Web3-driven identity management for trustless, privacy-preserving, and compliant financial ecosystems.

The study examines workplace dynamics in multinational corporations (MNCs) in Dubai through the application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). It explores key factors influencing employee satisfaction, productivity, and organizational commitment. Using a quantitative approach, survey data from employees of leading MNCs in Dubai were analyzed to identify latent variables and their interrelationships. The findings reveal that leadership style, cultural diversity, job satisfaction, and workplace environment significantly impact employee performance. This research provides empirical insights into HR strategies and corporate policies for enhancing workplace efficiency in a globally diverse business hub.

corrupted by Big Pharma and have laws and regulations requiring only pharmaceuticals to be used in medicine with total ignorance of biophysics and the electrical properties of body cells that are controlled by the mind.CellSonic clinics are praised by their customer patients and feel threatened by regulators who are an ignorant bunch not interested in helping fellow humans.Nevertheless, we have gathered some reports and placed them here.Much of it has to be made anonymous to protect the clinic.If you want to talk to the clinics and can assure me you are

Is the excitement about computerized thinking that is called artificial intelligence (AI) using synthetic brains more about the value of companies developing AI than the invention of a tool to help humanity?This article doubts that a computer program that only uses what already exists can move forward to an invention.It requires imagination and disobedience to break into new territory and only a real, not synthetic, brain can do that. The next big thingWe are being told by all sources of information that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a benefit and as important now as was steam power that led to the industrial revolution.For sure, augmenting muscle power, be it human or other animals, was useful.Eventually the quest for more power led to atomic power and that too has been used a lot, especially to kill.Something new always fascinates me.I was one of the first to have a mobile phone, a cumbersome item in the car with a bigger box in the boot (trunk to American readers).Now, I do not have a smartphone.Supposed advantages are not to me advantages.I do not want to carry a location device.If I get stuck as I might when out cycling and suffer a puncture then I have a repair kit and have to fix the puncture at the roadside, not call for help.I also do not want to be impacted by a continuous electrical field and bombarded by stories on a smart screen composed by humans or synthetic brains producing artificial intelligence.One of my best customers, Jette Breitenstein in Denmark, has written a book about the success of her medical clinics which could well be published about the time you read this article.She honored me with the task of writing the Forward and then sent me a version she got from Chat GPT expecting that it would help me or save me from mental exertion.