This research explores a circularly polarized (CP) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) designed specifically for 5G Sub-6 GHz and WiMAX applications. The antenna system utilizes a unique H-shaped feeding strip to excite each DRA element. This specialized feeding mechanism facilitates the activation of higher-order degenerate modes, including TE$_{\delta13}^x$ and TE$_{1 \delta 3}^{y}$, which are essential for achieving circular polarization. The antenna exhibits a reflection coefficient of −37.52 dB at 3.49 GHz, covering the entire CP passband and operating over a broad bandwidth of 1.35 GHz (3.40–4.75 GHz) yielding a return loss of 35.52%, making it suitable for Sub-6 GHz applications. An axial ratio bandwidth of 24.6% (3.4–4.2 GHz) is observed, with inter-port isolation of greater than −25.3 dB throughout the usable frequency band with a maximum efficiency of approximately 98%, indicating near-lossless power radiation. Additionally, the estimated gain is 5.95 dBic. The proposed MIMO design presented effectively reduces the intersecting spatial field components between antenna elements, leading to a lower envelope correlation coefficient and enhanced inter-port isolation. This diversity gain of the proposed antenna is a strong candidate for use in rich multi-path environments, helping to mitigate the effects of channel fading.. Initially, the proposed antenna design was examined using the time-domain solver of CST, followed by the fabrication of a prototype for experimental validation. The antenna exhibits a stable response, making it well-suited for 5G Sub-6 GHz and WiMAX applications.There is a satisfactory alignment between the results obtained from simulations and those observed experimentally.

System-level change is crucial for solving society's most pressing problems. However, individual-level interventions may be useful for creating behavioral change before system-level change is in place and for increasing necessary public support for system-level solutions. Participating in individual-level solutions may increase support for system-level solutions – especially if the individual-level solutions are internalized as part of one's social identity.

United Arab Emirates is an important range country for the ‘Vulnerable’ Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis and Abu Dhabi Emirate holds most of the remaining breeding colonies. Emirate-wide monitoring of all breeding colonies was undertaken annually for 11 breeding seasons from 2006–2007 to 2016–2017 to monitor the status of breeding colonies and estimate the nesting population. Breeding was recorded in 10 colonies that were used intermittently with an average of four (± 1.3 SD) colonies active each year. The highest number of eight active colonies was recorded in 2016–2017. Establishment of two new breeding colonies on Butinah and Digala in 2016–2017 and recolonisation of three previously inactive colonies during the monitoring period emphasised the ability of the species to relocate and colonise suitable sites. Continued threats at some breeding colonies caused abandonment and subsequent relocation, resulting in a gradual shift of breeding colonies to safer areas. Presently, most of the breeding sites (62%) with an increased number of breeding birds are found in colonies with restricted access. The Emirate-wide nesting population witnessed a 10-fold increase in the last decade; after an initial decline in 2006–2007 it increased from about 5,000 pairs in 2007–2008 to nearly 52,000 nesting pairs in 2016–2017. Combined with the nesting population from the Siniya colony, the overall UAE nesting population is estimated at 60,000 to 70,000 pairs, nearly half of the global breeding population. Further augmentation of the current breeding numbers is possible if breeding colonies remain safe from human disturbance and invasive predators. For long-term conservation of Socotra Cormorant, protection of all remaining colony sites, including inactive ones, is important in addition to minimising disturbance along with widespread public awareness to change the people’s perception of the species as a competitor to commercial fisheries.

Apis mellifera jemenitica, the only indigenous honey bee race of Saudi Arabia, is well adapted to the harsh local environmental conditions. A large-scale field survey was conducted to screen major Saudi Arabian beekeeping locations for infection by Paenibacillus larvae. Paenibacillus larvae is one of the major bacterial pathogens of honey bee broods and is the causative agent of American foulbrood disease. Larvae from samples suspected of infection were collected from different apiaries and homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline. Bacteria were isolated on MYPGP agar medium. Two bacterial isolates, ksuPL3 and ksuPL5 (16S rRNA GenBank accession numbers, KR780760 and KR780761, respectively), were subjected to molecular identification using P. larvae-specific primers. A BLAST sequence analysis revealed that the two isolates were P. larvae with more than 98% sequence identity. This detection of P. larvae in the indigenous honey bee is the first recorded incidence of this pathogen in Saudi Arabia. This study emphasizes the need for the relevant authorities to take immediate steps towards treating and limiting the spread of this disease throughout the country.

The random neural network (RNN) is a probabilitsic queueing theory-based model for artificial neural networks, and it requires the use of optimization algorithms for training. Commonly used gradient descent learning algorithms may reside in local minima, evolutionary algorithms can be also used to avoid local minima. Other techniques such as artificial bee colony (ABC), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and differential evolution algorithms also perform well in finding the global minimum but they converge slowly. The sequential quadratic programming (SQP) optimization algorithm can find the optimum neural network weights, but can also get stuck in local minima. We propose to overcome the shortcomings of these various approaches by using hybridized ABC/PSO and SQP. The resulting algorithm is shown to compare favorably with other known techniques for training the RNN. The results show that hybrid ABC learning with SQP outperforms other training algorithms in terms of mean-squared error and normalized root-mean-squared error.

The present research is focused on studying the evolution of microstructure and texture of a magnesium based alloy with the target composition Mg–3Al–1Zn–(0.5AgIn). Three samples A, B, and C were warm rolled at 300 °C to a cumulative reduction of 33% in 1, 2, and 8 passes, respectively. The optical microstructures and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed that sample A possessed more dynamic recrystallization (DRX) as compared to samples B and C. A split of basal pole from normal direction (ND) toward transverse direction (TD) was observed for sample A. However, as the number of passes was increased, the basal pole split was converted into a single peak for samples B and C. The basal intensity of sample C became almost double than that of sample A. It was concluded that a higher reduction per pass resulted in a larger volume fraction of DRXed grains and a weaker basal texture.

The movement and migration pattern of the ‘Near Threatened’ Sooty Falcon Falco concolor is poorly known. Sooty Falcons breed on the islands of the Arabian Gulf after arriving from their non-breeding areas that are mainly in Madagascar. In the first satellite tracking of the species we fitted a 9.5 g Argos solar powered transmitter on an adult breeding Sooty Falcon off the western coast of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The bird successfully undertook autumn migration to Madagascar, a known wintering area for the species. We document the Sooty Falcon’s autumn migration route and stop-over sites. The adult Sooty Falcon initiated its migration at night and with tailwinds, and travelled mainly during daytime hours for 13 days over an inland route of more than 5,656 km. The three stop-over sites in East Africa were characterised by moderate to sparse shrub cover associated with potential sources of water. We discuss the migration pattern of the tracked bird in relation to importance of non-breeding areas for Sooty Falcons and recent declines in numbers in their breeding range.