Fourth KAS CRSL Research Conference "Innovative Research and Creativity at AUB"

Fourth KAS CRSL research conference
“Innovative research and creativity at AUB”
FYP Posters
Hostler center
Thursday May 7, 2015

Schoolman: A Scholastic Management Information System
Rene Adaimi, Christian Massabni, Joseph Mourad
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Emails: rma111@mail.aub.edu, crm07@mail.aub.edu, jmm31@mail.aub.edu
Presentation type reference: Poster
Abstract
Half of AUB students take more than two hours in building their first schedule. One third fail to
register a course because of an obscure restriction. This is why we propose Schoolman, a
complementary application to most Scholastic Information Management Systems (SIS) which
aims to simplify the lives of students and faculty by providing an intuitive and efficient way to
organize and manage their courses. Features include registration facilities, scheduling and
handling of grades. Chief among Schoolman’s assets is a modern Javascript UI (user interface)
which allows real time feedback and conflict detection. Schoolman will thus replace a tedious,
error prone and time consuming pen and paper procedure in which the students will have to
figure out which courses are adequate for their schedule. In order to further minimize student
frustration in the face of the competitive registration system, a report will be generated listing all
the courses in demand and handed to the respective departments. This is known as the pre-
registration phase and will allow for better planning administration wise, and alleviate the
pressure on registration day. The data will be stored in a MySQL database on a server which uses
a REST architecture and the Apache webserver.
Professors will also benefit from our new grade uploader, a script that acts as a plugin to the
Banner™ SIS and offers a new perspective on the tedious task of uploading. Professors will be
able to enter their grades, not one by one as the old system would have it, but simply by the click
of a button, offering increased reliability and speed.
Design and Fabrication of an Angular Steering Mobile Robotic Platform
Authors Arbid Josepy, Dib Samer, Rahal Rahaf, Rahbani Dana

Emails jna17@mail.aub.edu, swd05@mail.aub.edu, rhr10@mail.aub.edu, dgr00@mail.aub.edu
Department Mechanical Engineering
Preference Poster
Level Senior Students
Abstract
“Intelligent rescue robotic units” are needed in emergencies or in areas that are too difficult for
people to navigate through, such as damaged infrastructures after earthquakes or buildings on
fire [1]. Mobile robots sent into the areas to investigate the damage or send first aid supplies to
victims should be able to overcome obstacles found in these environments, which can range from
naturally rough terrains to stairs. This project concerns the development of a simple mobile
robotic platform that is capable of navigating through rough terrains as well as overcoming
obstacles found in human environments; the platform should also be easy to manufacture and to
control from a distance. Numerous other robots have been presented to attempt to solve the
problem, but their mechanical and/or electrical designs create significant complications. Some of
these robots have more than a dozen degrees of freedom, others use a large number of expensive
wheels, and many require advanced manufacturing techniques and control strategies [2, 3]. The
objective of this work is to design and build a platform that is capable of solving the problems
brought about by previous designs of step-climbing robots. A novel non-vertical steering
mechanism suggested by Dr. Elie Shammas and Dr. Daniel Asmar has been proposed to solve
the problem. Their preliminary design of the “swivel steering” mobile base has been thoroughly
analyzed by Wael Salem, whose results mark the starting point of this work. The objective
behind this work is to expand on the suggested platform by designing and building an active-
joint four-wheel drive mobile robotic platform that can steer by rotating its shaft and lifting a
wheel completely off the ground, a mechanism called “swivel steering” [2]. The platform must
also have a simple mechanical design, a maximum step height that is independent of the wheel
diameter, a minimal number of actuators, a low center of gravity and a simple control algorithm.
This project contributes to developing simple mechanical and electrical systems needed to build
a robot with a “swivel” steering mechanism. These systems have not been developed by any
party yet and can impact the development of “rescue robots”. The poster summarizes the work
accomplished by the team in six months to design, manufacture and assemble the novel platform.
Refereces
[1] A. Meghdari, F. Amiri, A. Baghani, H. Mahboubi, A. Lotfi, Y. Khalighi, R. Karimi, H. Nejat,
M. Amirian, Sh. Kamali, and S. Moradi. “CEDRA,” in RoboCup Rescue Robot League
Competition Awardee Paper, 2003, pp. 1-6.
[2] W. A. Salem. “Analysis of a Mobile Robot with an Angular Swivel Steering Mechanism with
Applications to Step Climbing.” M.En. Thesis, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, 2014.
[3] E. Shammas and D. Asmar. “Kinematic Analysis of an Active Angular Swivel Steering
Mechanism for Robotic Mobile Bases,” in Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE International
Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics, 2012, pp. 2138-2143.
CFD Model of a Solar Wind Energy Tower
Rani Assaf, Elias El Zoghbi, Mohamad Al-Sharif, Kevin Chiha
Abstract
The aim of this project is to build a 3D CFD model of a solar wind energy tower using ANSYS
FLUENT in order to simulate its performance under realistic weather conditions in the region of
Saudi Arabia. The main advantage that the Solar Wind Energy Tower offers over the traditional
energy sources is its clean electricity. The concept of the operation of the tower is based on as
follows: dry air is collected on the top of the tower where the cool water droplets are sprayed
which are then immediately evaporated by the hot dry air; the dry air becomes denser and
consequently accelerates downwards (downdraft) by gravitational effects. The air flowing down
at high speeds reaches the base of the tower where multiple turbines are installed to produce
electrical energy. The numerical methodology starts by drawing the exact tower geometry
(Height = 1000m, Base Diameter = 560m) followed by generating the numerical grid. In order to
mimic the weather conditions in Saudi Arabia, a virtual environment was constructed around the
tower, not reported earlier. The Lagrangian-Eulerian (LE) approach is adopted to resolve the
multiphase flow nature of the problem. In this approach, the humid air is treated as a continuous
phase by solving the time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations; whereas, the water droplets are
treated as dispersed (discrete) phase. The continuous and dispersed phases are fully coupled
where exchange of mass, momentum and energy occurs via source terms. Wind speed and
temperature profiles were assigned as boundary conditions based on correlations (to account for
variations in height) and from gathered weather data of Saudi Arabia. The sprayer located at the
top of the tower was modeled using the surface sprayer implemented in FLUENT. Water
droplets are ejected with a spray rate which is dependent on the humid air flow rate entering the
tower (≈ 7 grams of water liquid per kilogram of air) each of diameter 100 micrometers and a
temperature of 24oC. Moreover, a simple conceptual prototype of the tower was built to show
the notion of the tower operation.
Optimization of cooling system of Injection Molding Process
Ahmad Ayoub, Ali Al-Mostafa Atweh, Ibrahim Helbawi , Mahdi Hijazi
Department of Mechanical engineering
Injection molding process is a technique used to produce plastic bodies. The main steps in the
process are injection, cooling, ejection, and ventilation. However, cooling takes the greatest
portion of time (about 80%), thus decreasing the cooling time will result in a direct increase in
the productivity and thus an increase in profits. The main purpose of our project is to reach
design standards and methods that would decrease the cooling time while keeping the plastic
piece as defect free as possible, all while understating the physics of the problem. The economic
aspect will also be taken into consideration as the results will directly be implemented in the
local industry.
First, we did a literature review to comprehend the whole process and the main parameters that
we can control. In addition, we identified the main standards that indicate whether the product is
acceptable or not (volumetric shrinkage, weld lines, air traps…), and the parameters that mainly
affect them, such as the temperature gradient and cooling rate. Our sponsor, COPAR for Molds
and Mechanical Engineering, is a company that designs and reaches prototypes to be produced
on a large scale. It relies on trying multiple designs and it manufactures many prototypes, usually
with defects until it reaches acceptable results. This process is time consuming and economically
inefficient. They mainly rely on a simulation program, “Autodesk MoldFlow”. Our focus is to
understanding the way Autodesk MoldFlow does the analysis, and to discover the true potential
of this software until we are able to do actual designs using the software. Autodesk MoldFlow
will be used to simulate the injection molding process with the aim of optimizing the cooling
system. The simulations are accompanied with analytical models built from first principles. The
result of the project will be either verifying the cooling system designs utilized by the sponsor, or
finding better designs than what they actually used, and thus we will ultimately be helping the
local industry.
Quantum Computing
Final Year Graduation Project

Rafeh, Bayan
bwr00@mail.aub.edu
Department of Computer Science
Saleh, Adel
adel.saleh33@gmail.com
Zakhour, George
gez00@mail.aub.edu
March 26, 2015
Abstract
Quantum algorithms are intrinsically di_erent than classical ones, for many reasons, the most
relevant being that the CPU performs preparemanipulate- measure cycles as opposed to fetch-
execute ones. Moreover the linearity of the Schr•odinger equation forces all operations to be
unitary invertible matrices. It is thus natural to obtain this difference between the quantum and
classical environment.
Our project is to formalize and construct this environment, a \functional" programming language
and a quantum virtual machine with quantum control that can be ran as a service on any
machine. No such language nor pure quantum machine has been developed before. What has
been developed are procedural programming languages that combine classical and quantum code
in one place which is executed in a hybrid quantum classical virtual machine. Splitting this
system makes more sense and makes the environment more modular (similar to what we predict
will happen if quantum computers were to exist).
Presentation Preference Poster.

Smart Heads-Up Display for Cars
ECE department
Group members:
James Daou jcd04@mail.aub.edu
Yves Takshi yvt00@mail.aub.edu
Christelle El Ters cme10@mail.aub.edu
Price: Best FYP Poster for seniors
Abstract:
The automotive industry involves billions of people every day. The average person spends 101
minutes a day driving. Statistics provided by the Lebanese Internal Security Forces show that
there were 3305 car crashes in Lebanon in 2013, leading to 564 casualties. Other statistics
provided by Michael Pines law firm in San Diego state that the number one cause of accidents is
distracted driving. The goal of our final year project is to design and develop a prototype for a
smart Heads-Up Display (HUD) for cars that enhances driving safety by creating a new user
interface for the vehicle that displays all necessary information without the need to look away
from the road. Our product provides state of the art safety features such as obstacle detection and
safe Heads-Up navigation, it also interfaces with the user’s phone to display caller ID and SMS
alerts, all without distracting the driver. Our HUD design is divided into five logical blocks:
display, control, image processing, phone interfacing and navigation. The display block displays
the information and maintains the windshield’s transparency. Information displayed includes
navigation information, phone information, and road obstacles. The control block collects
information and data from the others blocks and commands the display block. Based on the
current speed and environment, the control block enables/disables functionalities to address
safety issues. The image processing block processes images from a real time feed of the road and
extracts useful information such as obstacles, hazards and Points of Interest. The phone
interfacing block feeds information from the phone to the control block while the navigation
block handles all GPS and guiding tasks. The challenges we expect to face are mainly to find a
feasible yet complete solution to display our information in transparency.
Rotating Poles
ABSTRACT:
Marai factory in Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest factories in the region. This company
uses crates to distribute its products to all the country. After distribution, the crates are placed on
a conveyor belt which inputs the crates, one after the other, to a washer which cleans from any
dirt. For stacking purposes, it is required to orient the crates in the same direction (either all at 0
degrees or at 180 degrees) after they exit the washing stage on the conveyor. For this purpose,
Technica has developed a mechanism that detects crates orientation and rotates those that are not
correctly oriented. However, the current implemented system is operating at its maximum speed
capacity, which is 2400 crates per hour. Since Marai is increasing its production rates and is
consuming more crates, a faster speed is required to satisfy these new requirements. Another
problem faced in the current system is that the detection part of the mechanism (that detects the
crate orientation) is not robust enough and fails when a crate has a remaining piece of dirt on it
that was not removed in the washing process. This causes a problem since if a wrongly-oriented
crate is not detected and by consequence not rotated, it would not be able to stack up properly
with the other crates, and even worse, would make the whole pile of stacked up crates fall on the
ground. For these reasons, we design first a mechanism system called “the rotating poles” that
contains lots of mechanical components (spur gears, bevel gears, sprockets, chain, bearings) with
only one servo motor that should be able to rotate the desired crates in a rate of 3000 crates per
hour with a motor speed of 22 rpm only(it is a low rpm value and the mechanism can be
accelerated if higher rates were needed). Also, we used labVIEW to write a program that detects
a certain shape in the crate and compares it to a specific shape given by the user in order to
decide if the crate should be rotated or not.
A new gold nanoparticle embedded Gelatin hydrogel helps in engineering and repair of
neural tissue
Alexandre Doumet, Alexandre Toubia, Joseph Kassab, Samir Arif1,

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Email : amd24@mail.aub.edu, aft04@mail.aub.edu, jgk12@mail.aub.edu, sha51@mail.aub.edu
Supervisor: Dr Anwarul Hasan*,
*Biomedical Engineering and Department of Mechanical Engineering, AUB
mh211@aub.edu.lb
Presentation Type Preference: poster
Abstract
The regeneration and repair of the central nervous system and nervous tissue is a
challenging problem for which no effective reproducible therapy has been found yet. The
inherent inability of the regrowth of axons limits the regenerative capacity of the central nervous
system. In this work, we have developed a gold nanoparticle embedded methacrylated gelatin
(GelMA) hydrogel for repair and engineering of neural tissue. This novel hydrogel will then be
characterized in order to prove its useful conductive properties. We have characterized this novel
hydrogel using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy as well as Ultraviolet-visible
spectroscopy. We have conducted these studies for different Gold nanoparticle concentrations to
study the extent to which they affect the properties of our hydrogel. We have also studied the
swelling properties of the gelMA. We will be analyzing the behavior of cells when grown in the
prepared hydrogels and establish a relationship between the composition of our hydrogel with an
enhanced neural tissue regeneration.
Design of a novel microfluidic chip to permit the testing of cytotoxicity of nanoparticles
Alexandre Doumet, Alexandre Toubia, Joseph Kassab, Samir Arif1,

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Email : amd24@mail.aub.edu, aft04@mail.aub.edu, jgk12@mail.aub.edu, sha51@mail.aub.edu
Supervisor: Dr Anwarul Hasan*,
*Biomedical Engineering and Department of Mechanical Engineering, AUB
mh211@aub.edu.lb
Abstract
The use of nanoparticles in medical applications is creating new breakthroughs in medicine and
health care day by day. Due to the nanoscale dimensions of these particles they have unique
properties, such as their ability to infiltrate the nuclei of cells through the pores of cell membrane
and nuclear membrane which allows the drugs to be delivered directly inside the cells and even
inside the cell nuclei. Many of these nanoparticles such as Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles, however,
may harm the DNA of the cells. A thorough understanding of the cytotoxicity of these particles
is therefore a growing necessity of time. The current methods for the investigation of
cytotoxicity include MTS assay, SRB assay, and clonogenic assay, which have severe limitations
including high cost, longer time requirement and increased reagent use. In the current project our
aim is to design and develop a new microfluidic device for investigation of cytotoxicity of
nanoparticles. The microfluidic device was designed and optimized using a computer simulation
software ANSYS. The effect of channel thickness and flow velocities was studied on the
distribution of the gold nanospheres within the microfluidic chip. The design of our chip allowed
the obtaining of a concentration gradient which permitted the simultaneous testing of different
concentrations of these nanoparticles on cells. Our future study is directed towards the
manufacturing of the chip using PDMS
material and a tentative to implement actual testing with neural cells to determine whether
the nanoparticles in question have any effect on these cells.
Dopamine
Electrical and computer engineering department
Yathreb El-Yaman, Zahraa Ibrahim, Ahmad Rammal
Abstract
Nurses play a significant role in hospitals where their job duties involve taking care of the
patients, monitoring the patients’ conditions and administering medicines on a daily basis. In
today’s competitive healthcare market, most hospitals are interested in making themselves
“cutting-edge” institutions with the most advanced technological equipment to compensate nurse
shortages and burn-outs. Our project, #DOPA, portrays a mobile robot developed to assist
nurses in their routine-like activities.
We anticipate that robotic maneuvering assistants would increase job satisfaction, and extend the
years of effective services that nurses could render in hospitals. These effects would reduce
hospital costs and ameliorate problems posed by the shortage of nursing staff.
The solution splits the problem into two sections, software and hardware. Our project deals with
the control and navigation in an indoor environment. Through a web application interface, the
nurse orders DOPA a set of tasks that have to be executed on FIFO bases, besides its daily tasks.
The navigation is based on travelling on a black-line track, using line following sensors to
maintain a steady path, while keeping knowledge of where it is at by an intelligent code and Near
Field Communication (NFC) readers that indicate the presence of tags associated to rooms. The
hardware design consists of Raspberry Pi B+, a microprocessor allowing back and forth
communication with Arduino Uno microcontroller board through a serial port. Apache
webserver is installed on RPi to allow it to serve web pages, where the web browser application
and web server share the same database for communicating tasks. Arduino Uno has many
digital/output pins that are connected to devices such as sensors for tracking, speed control,
motors and others that allow DOPA to act on its own. Another Arduino Uno is used in the
medicine dispenser (demo) present in the storage room; where DOPA transmits Radio Frequency
(RF) signals to the arduino that drives servo motors to get the determined quantity of the ordered
medicine type.
The deliverables can be described as the following:

 Design a Web application as an interface between nurse and robot
 Track the black line robustly
 Detect Obstacles along the way
 Read NFC tags to identify rooms
 Update the inventory
 Keep records of tasks executed and patient satisfaction
 Bring requested medicine from the dispenser (RF communication) in the storage room
and proceed to specified room
Our project aims at satisfying the needs of delivering medicine to the patients’ room based on the
nurse’s request and keep track of the inventory and daily actions for management purposes. Its
main requirements are to be modular and expandable for any add-on features, and intended to
be feasible to be implemented in hospitals which will open new horizons in the scope of nursing
care services that can be offered.
3D Concrete Printing: Machine and Mix Design
Nader El Zarwi  Hussein Hachem  Toufic Maalouf  Zeina Malaeb  Adel Tourbah
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
nje14@mail.aub.edu, hah42@mail.aub.edu, tfm04@mail.aub.edu, zmm17@mail.aub.edu,
aat17@mail.aub.edu
Presentation type: Poster
Done as part of the Final Year Project (FYP)
Abstract:
3D concrete printing is an innovative construction method that promises to be highly

advantageous in the construction field in terms of optimizing construction time, cost, design
flexibility, error reduction, and environmental aspects. The concrete is extruded through a nozzle
to build layer-by-layer structural components without the use of formwork or any subsequent
vibration. The contribution of this study is to identify and resolve its various design and
execution constraints which are of vital importance for future development of this construction
technique. This research project broaches the topic in two different phases: designing the printing
machine on one hand, and designing the concrete mix to be used on the other. Experimental
results are presented concerning the mix design and the tests performed to determine the fresh
and hardened concrete properties. Furthermore, a feasibility study that includes a financial and
environmental analysis of the printing technology is presented. Being the first of its kind, the
results might be invaluable to the future of 3D printing in the Middle East. It may lend itself to
become the blueprint for future bigger-scale projects such as creating whole buildings using 3D
concrete printers.
CFD Model of a Thermoelectric Cooled Micro Heat Exchanger
Ahmad Ziadeh, Bader Makki, Hadi Farah, Mohammad Alameh, Iyad Fayssal, and Fadl
Moukalled
Mechanical Engineering Department
Riad El-Solh / Beirut 1107 2020
Senior Students (FYP) emails: amz14, bam12, hef02, mha60
Fadl Moukalled: Professor of FEA, Mechanical Engineering Department (Project Advisor)

Iyad Fayssal: PhD Candidate, Mechanical Engineering Department (Project Collaborator)
Abstract
In this project, a 3-D CFD model of a thermoelectric cooled micro heat exchanger is developed. Micro
channels have been used extensively in cooling applications due to their high convection coefficients and
their lower pumping power demands. The aim of this project is to determine the allowable range of
operating parameters of the heat exchanger (inlet temperature, inlet velocity (or Reynolds number), and
pressure outlet) that will ensure that the flow would be within the continuum regime. The assessment of
the flow regime (i.e. whether it is within the continuum or not) was done by predicting the axial
distribution of the Knudsen number (Kn) in the heat exchanger micro channels. This is challenging due to
the dependence of Kn on flow properties (pressure and temperature). The heat exchanger consists of two
thermoelectric plates (23mm x 23mm) mounted on the top and bottom of 92 staggered rectangular PDMS
micro channels (150µm x150µm). Since the flow in micro channels is characterized by relatively low
Reynolds numbers, and accordingly to avoid extensive decrease in outlet air temperatures due to the heat
extracted from the cold side of the thermoelectric, a plate made of PDMS of thickness 1 cm was
introduced between the thermoelectric cold side and the channels. The physical domain was constructed
in ANSYS Design Modeler and then subdivided into small control volumes. The set of governing
continuity, momentum and energy equations were used to solve for velocity, pressure and temperature
profiles in each control volume. In order to induce the effect of the thermoelectric, a mathematical model
was implemented as a boundary condition to the energy equation that is used to solve for the temperature
distribution in the solid zone (i.e. the PDMS). This model relates the cold heat flux (Qc) at the cold
surface of the thermoelectric to the temperature difference of its cold and hot sides. Since the temperature
field is unknown, then the boundary condition will be predicted and becomes as an outcome of the
solution prediction. For that purpose, a user defined function was developed for serial and parallel
computations where the boundary conditions were resolved iteratively and predicted with the final
solution. As an initial step, only one thermoelectric was operated (the upper one) while the other was not
included in the simulation. Several extensive simulations were then performed by changing numerous
operating conditions (Reynolds number, inlet temperature, and outlet pressure) and reporting their effect
on Knudsen number. For 0 kPa outlet gauge pressure, results showed that for Reynolds number range
from 10 to 100 and for inlet temperatures of 323.15 K and 353.15 K, the predicted Knudsen number (Kn)
throughout the channel exceeded the allowable limit (0.001) at defined axial locations in the channel and
accordingly the flow was not within the continuum regime. Therefore, to acquire the correct solution, the
wall boundary condition should be modified to slip rather than no-slip (which is not the intention in this
project) or to state the limit of the range of parameters that could be allowed to reach by preserving
continuum all over the domain. Different profiles in Knudsen number variation were observed depending
on the simulated operating conditions. For instance, for inlet temperature fixed at 353.15 K, it was shown
that for higher Reynolds numbers (Re > 90), the pressure has a greater effect on the Knudsen number thus
forcing it to increase all over the channel axial positions. However for Re < 60, the temperature has a
greater effect on the Knudsen number, making it to decrease from the inlet to the exit of the micro
channel. For 60 < Re < 90 Knudsen distribution has a parabolic distribution (decreases to a minimum then
increases). The strength of Kn variation and it’s minimum was shown rely on the value of Reynolds.
Students’ Poster Presentations

1.30 -3.30 pm
Hostler Hall
POSTER # 1
Evolutionary potential and molecular speciation in protein-RNA recognition: HIV Rev-
RRE
Emane Y. Abdallah* and Colin Smith, Department of Biology, American University of Beirut,
Lebanon
E mail: eja12@mail.edu.lb
Abstract:
The binding of human immunodeficiency virus Rev protein via its arginine-rich motif (ARM) to
an internal loop in the Rev Response Element region IIB (RRE IIB) is an essential step in the
HIV lifecycle. Because of its small size, high specificity, induced fit, and many known variant
RNAs and ARMs, Rev-RRE offers an excellent model with which to study the fine structure of
how RNA-protein recognition evolves. Previously, randomized-codon libraries of Rev ARM
were assayed for their ability to bind RRE IIB using a bacterial reporter system based on
bacteriophage lambda N-nut antitermination. By chance and despite the essential role of Rev
asparagine 40, the Rev ARM double mutant R35G, N40V was found to be functional. Rev ARM
R35G, N40V binds RRE IIB with an affinity similar to wild-type Rev ARM, yet the entropy of
binding is different, consistent with the use of distinct recognition strategies. To examine how
RRE IIB may evolve specificities to wild-type Rev ARM and to R35G, N40V, ten RRE IIB
libraries, each completely randomized in overlapping regions, were screened with wild-type Rev
ARM and R35G, N40V. Wild-type Rev and R35G, N40V selections yielded similar, yet distinct,
functional RNAs. Consistent with previous studies, a core element of RRE IIB did not vary and
substitutions occurred at conserved residues only in the presence of other substitutions. Notably,
the groove-widening, non-canonical base pair G48:G71 was mutable to U48:G71 without strong
loss of binding to wild-type Rev ARM, suggesting U48:G71 performs the same role by adopting
a nearly isosteric, reverse-wobble base pair (Leontis-Westhof classification: G•U trans W.C.
/W.C.). Originating from RRE IIB, as few as one or two substitutions are sufficient to confer
specificity to wild-type Rev or Rev R35G, N40. The results support and aid the interpretation of
existing Rev-RRE and future R35G, N40V-RRE IIB structures. The diversity of Rev-RRE
mutants with relaxed specificity support neutral theories of evolution and illustrate paths by
which viral RNA-protein interactions can evolve.
POSTER # 2
Preparation of naphthalene-based nucleosides as potential
precursors for stimuli-responsive materials
Nadine Al Homsi, Zeina Neouchy, Sara Jaafar and Kamal Bouhadir
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut (AUB)
Background and Aims: Molecular recognition probes with the ability to detect specific DNA
sequences or mismatches in live cells are attractive in biology and more recently in drug delivery
and targeting. We are interested in the design and preparation of small molecules that could
potentially self-assemble into hydrogels or rigid porous composites in a controlled and reversible
manner, hence, generating stimuli-responsive materials.
Methodology: This study could be realized by incorporating nucleic bases into naphthalene and
perylene diimides. We describe herein the chemical synthesis and characterization of some of the
naphthalene-based nucleic bases starting with the commercially available naphthalene
dianhydride. The purity of the final products was assessed and the structures was elucidated
using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, FT-IR, and MS. The collected data
confirmed the chemical structures of all the products in this study.1
Results: All the collected spectroscopic results confirm the structures of the expected
compounds.
Conclusion: We succeeded in preparing and characterizing novel compounds derived from

functionalised naphthalenediimides. Our future goal is to evaluate the biological activity of these
compounds.
The authors are grateful to the University Research Board (URB) at AUB, the Lebanese National
Council for Scientific Research (LNCSR) and the Central Research Science Laboratory (CRSL)
at AUB.
1. Narayanaswamy, N.; Avinash, M. B.; Govindaraju, T., Exploring hydrogen bonding and
weak aromatic interactions induced assembly of adenine and thymine functionalised
naphthalenediimides.
POSTER #3
Evaluating the Contribution of Melanization to Antibacterial Defense in the Malaria
Vector Anopheles gambiae
Abou Matar, T.*, Osta, M.*

*
Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Melanization is a potent immune response used by arthropods. It involves the deposition

of melanin on the surface of pathogens and is also involved in wound healing. Innate immune
responses in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae are initiated by the recognition of pathogens
by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that bind to pathogen associated molecular patterns
(PAMPs) and trigger the activation of serine protease cascades that, among others, are involved
in converting prophenoloxidase (PPO) into active phenoloxidase (PO) that is involved in
melanization. The main proteins involved in these cascades are constituted predominantly of
clip-domain serine proteases family (CLIPs).
Previous studies have shown that A. gambiae rarely melanize Plasmodium parasites but
they do melanize bacteria. However, the contribution of melanization to antibacterial defense
remains controversial. A previous study have shown that melanization in Anopheles gambiae is
not required for resistance and tolerance of mosquitoes to infections with E. coli and S. aureus
bacteria, which are model bacteria and not common mosquito pathogens. Thus the need to
further characterize this response in Anopheles gambiae against a broader spectrum of species is
required. Here, we investigated the role of melanization in antibacterial defense to Streptococcus
iniae, a Gram-positive fish pathogen, as a model bacterium. We show that melanization plays an
important role in the defense against Streptococcus iniae bacteria. Western blot analysis revealed
that CLIPA8, a key regulator of melanization, is cleaved in the hemolymph of mosquitoes
infected with Streptococcus iniae. Moreover, comparing the dynamics of CLIPA8 cleavage
between the Gram-negative E. coli and the Gram-positive S. iniae shows that the later triggers
more cleavage of CLIPA8 protein. S. iniae triggered also a consistently higher hemolymph PO
activity than E. coli, implying enhanced activation of melanization. Strikingly, CLIPA8kd
mosquitoes showed significantly more compromised survival following S. iniae infection
compared to LacZ kd, while E. coli or S. aureus infected mosquitoes showed a similar survival
pattern to LacZ kd controls. Interestingly, CLIPA8 kd mosquitoes contained less S. iniae DNA
compared to LacZ kd controls and that at several days post-infection. This indicates that CLIPA8
kd mosquitoes are more resistant but less tolerant to S. iniae infections than controls.
The results obtained suggest that melanization affects bacterial tolerance and resistance
in a species-dependent manner. Therefore, to obtain a deeper in sight into the contribution of
melanization to antibacterial defense it is important to use a broad panel of bacterial species.
POSTER#5
Synthesis and characterization of novel molecules for new types of hydrogen-bonded

organic frameworks (HOFs)
Mira Diab El-Harakeh, Ali Koubeissi and Kamal Bouhadir*

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut (AUB).
*kb05@aub.edu.lb
The molecular self-assembly of nucleic bases have generated an increasing interest in the
development of novel molecules incorporating pyrimidine and purine groups within. Recently,
innovative Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks (HOFs) have been discovered proposing
potential highly crystalline porous materials utilized in gas adsorption and separation
applications. We are interested in employing a triazine-based core to integrate H-bond donors
and acceptors such as nucleic bases and design novel molecules capable of self-organizing into
new types of HOFs. This is achieved via a nucleophilic substitution reaction occurring between
cyanuric chloride and uracil, thymine, cytosine and adenine as nucleic bases.
Key Words: Self-assembly, Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks (HOFs), Triazine-based

core, Cyanuric chloride, Uracil, Thymine, Cytosine and Adenine.
Mira Diab-El Harakeh is a Master’s student in chemistry.

The authors are grateful to the University Research Board (URB) at AUB and the Lebanese
National Council for Scientific Research (LNCSR) for funding this project.
Presentation preference: poster

POSTER#11
Role of the Retinoblastoma protein, pRb, in the survival of Adult-Born Neurons in the
Olfactory Bulb
1Saad Omais (MSc candidate), 2Renaud Vandenbosch, 1Sawsan Al Lafi and 1*Noel
Ghanem
1
Department of Biology, American University of Beirut
2
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa
*corresponding author: ng13@aub.edu.lb
Keywords: neurogenesis, Rb, olfactory bulb, conditional knock-out mice, survival, differentiation
Descriptive statement: this study investigates how the tumor suppressor gene, pRb, controls of
the survival of new-born neurons in the adult brain, specifically the olfactory bulb.
Abstract: Neurogenesis is the developmental process leading to the formation of neurons in the
developing brain. This process is ongoing throughout life in the adult mammalian brain, typically
in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb (OB). We have recently shown that Rb regulates the rate
of proliferation of adult progenitors in the subventricular zone (SVZ) by inducing its deletion
using Nestin-CreERT2-YFP/YFP and Rbflox/flox animals. Hence, loss of Rb causes increased
progenitor’s proliferation with no subsequent effects on the migration of neuroblasts along the
rostral migratory stream (RMS) or their differentiation into GABAergic subtypes inside the OB.
In this study, we showed that Rb is not required for the survival and terminal differentiation of
adult-born GABAergic neurons in the OB, using a second Nestin-CreERT2 line as well as viral
stereotaxic injections. Interestingly, this comes in contrast to Rb’s role in embryonic
neurogenesis. Our data indicate that the Rb pathway may be manipulated in order to expand the
pool of adult progenitors for regenerative purposes in the future.
POSTER#12
Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Arsenic/Interferon in Preclinical Models of Chronic Myeloid
Leukemia Resistant to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Nagham Rasbieh1*, Rabab El Eit1*, Ahmad Iskandarani1, Mark Jabour2, Ahmad Santina1, Ghazi
Zaatari2, François-Xavier Mahon3, Hugues De Thé4, Ali Bazarbachi1,5, Rihab Nasr1#
1
Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, American University of
Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 2Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American
University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 3Laboratoire d’Hématologie et Service des Maladies du
Sang, CHU de Bordeaux, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, INSERM U876, Bordeaux,
France, 4Service de Biochimie, Equipe labellisée, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, CNRS,
INSERM, Université Paris Diderot UMR 7212, Hopital Saint Louis, Paris, France , 5Department
of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. *co-first authors.
Background and Aims: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder
characterized by t(9;22) translocation that generates bcr-abl fusion gene coding for BCR-ABL
oncoprotein with abnormal constitutive tyrosine kinase activity. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI)
have been successfully established for the treatment of CML. Despite high rates of clinical
response, CML patients can develop resistance against TKI mainly due to kinase domain
mutations. Of special interest is T315I mutation, which accounts for 15–20% of mutations
affecting ABL kinase domain. T315I confers resistance to almost all TKI. Ponatinib, the only
TKI effective against T315I single but not T315I-inclusive compound mutations, was suspended
due to its cardiac side effects and is currently limited to specific cases.
Recently, we demonstrated that arsenic trioxide (ATO) and interferon alpha (IFNα) inhibited
proliferation, induced apoptosis, prolonged survival and affected leukemia initiating cells activity
in wild-type bcr-abl CML models. Here, we investigate the effect of ATO and IFNα on the
proliferation of imatinib-resistant CML cell lines and its anti-tumor activity in CML mouse
model harboring the T315I mutation.
Methods: Imatinib-resistant K562 and AR230 CML cells were treated with different
concentrations of ATO and IFNα. The effect of the treatment on cell proliferation was performed
using MTT assay. Synergy analysis was calculated using the compusyn software. Using a
retroviral bcr-abl T315I transduction murine CML model, we studied the effect of ATO/IFNα on
the survival of leukemic mice harboring this famous mutation.
Results: Our preliminary results demonstrated that ATO and IFNα synergized to inhibit the
proliferation of imatinib-resistant CML cells. Importantly, this combination significantly
prolongs the survival of CML mice carrying the T315I mutation.
Conclusion: Our preliminary data provide clear evidence demonstrating a potential preclinical
efficacy of ATO/IFNα in TKI-resistant CML models, specifically in CML mouse models with
the T315I mutation, resistant to all available primary and secondary TKI.
Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia, arsenic trioxide, interferon alpha, resistance, T315I
#Corresponding Author: Dr. Rihab Nasr (rn03@aub.edu.lb)
Funding Source: Medical Practice Plan
POSTER#14
Ecogeographic study and preliminary molecular characterization of the genus

Matricaria L. in Lebanon to guide in-situ and ex-situ conservation efforts*
Soubra Noura1, Talhouk Rabih1, Yazbek Mariana2, Karam Nisreen3

1
Biology Department, American University of Beirut, 2Genetic Resources Section, International
Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), 3Faculty of Agriculture and
Veterinary Medicine, Lebanese University.
nas36@mail.aub.edu, rtalhouk@aub.edu.lb, mmy8@cornell.edu, karamnisrine@gmail.com
Ecogeographic survey, the process of collating diversity and ecological and geographic data and
synthesizing it, is needed to obtain baseline information regarding the species taxonomy,
distribution and ecology, and to ultimately develop any conservation plan. In addition,
knowledge of molecular data, habitat and environmental characterization of species distribution
areas, would aid in the assessment of the current conservation status of the target species and the
most important threats to develop an appropriate management plan. The latter includes
identification of areas for in situ conservation of the target species, as well as identification of
populations of the target species that contain unique genetic diversity not already conserved ex-
situ, and worth conserving, hence guiding collection missions to obtain representatives of the
genetic diversity.
An ecogeographic survey was conducted for Matricaria chamomilla (L.), the wild chamomile
and Matricaria aurea (L.) Sch. Bip., the Golden chamomile between March 2014 and June 2014.
Twenty seven sites located in different geographical Lebanese regions were assigned for the
study and the peculiarities of each site were recorded. Nine populations of M. chamomilla and
two from M. aurea were included in the molecular screening using the Start Codon Targeted
(SCoT) DNA markers. Results confirmed the fact that Matricaria may survive in various
environments but is exposed to many threats influencing its existence; mainly urbanization for
M. chamomilla and drought and grazing for M. aurea.
Preliminary results on molecular screening showed that DNA isolation from young plants of
Matricaria was difficult due to the presence of carbohydrates, and that using common protocols
for DNA isolation from medicinal plants were not able to generate good quality DNA.
Amplifiable DNA, for further molecular screening using SCoT markers, was obtained only by
using a commercial kit.
Keywords: Matricaria chamomilla (L.), Matricaria aurea (L.), ecogeographical survey, DNA
isolation, population genetics.
Preference: Poster
*Note that the same abstract was submitted for LAAS conference 2015
POSTER#15 Effects of Sub-lethal HIFU Exposure on Mechanotransduction and Cytotoxic
Response to Anti-neoplastic Agents in MCF-10A and MDA-MB-231 Cells
Ingrid F. Younes1, Lori H. Malkhassian1, Hind C. Zahr1, Mohamad Mahdi Sleiman1, Hussein
Daoud2, Moath Al Qraini2, Ghanem Oweis2, Diana E. Jaalouk1
1 Department of Biology, FAS, AUB; 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, FEA, AUB

Correspondence to: dj11@.aub.edu.lb; ify01@mail.aub.edu
Key words: HIFU, mechanotransduction, breast cancer, anti-neoplastic agents
Abstract
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a therapeutic device widely used to destroy
specific tissues including solid tumors inside the body in an ex-corporal and non-ionizing
modality. At the focal point where the acoustic waves are intensified, cell death can result from
cavitation and/or thermal ablation effects. However, the effects of sub-lethal HIFU exposure,
applied at a distance from the focal point, on cell function remain to be elucidated. Given that
HIFU exposure results in pressure/tension waves that can cause cellular deformations, we
hypothesize that sub-lethal HIFU treatment could result in mechanotransduction alterations that
may alter tumorigenesis of mammary epithelial cells and may modulate their response to anti-
neoplastic agents. The objective of this study is to examine the alterations in
mechanotransduction due to changes in the physical properties resulting from the exposure of
MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and MCF-10A immortalized mammary epithelial cells to
ultrasonic waves from a custom-designed HIFU setup and to determine consequences on cellular
response to anti-neoplastic agents. A HIFU setup was custom-designed to permit utilization of a
2.158 MHz transducer for in vitro exposure of MCF-10A and MDA-MB-231 cells. Real-Time
PCR was used to quantify mechanosensitive gene expression. We assessed the in vitro effects of
sub-lethal HIFU exposure on the expression of seven mechanosensitive genes namely CAV-1
(Caveolin-1 α & β), Hic-5 (Hydrogen Peroxide-Inducible Clone 5), PXN (Paxillin), TTLL4
(Tubulin-Tyrosine Ligase-Like Protein 4), TWIST1 (Twist-Related Protein 1), CTSD (Cathepsin
D), and HSPA1A (Heat Shock Protein 70). Cellular viability was assessed using trypan blue
exclusion assay. We quantified significant enhanced expression of CAV-1, PXN, and Hic-5 that
was immediate-early in MCF-10A and delayed in MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, we noted
an immediate-early transient increase in TTLL4 expression in both cell lines and in TWIST1
expression in MDA-MB-231 cells. Notably, sub-lethal HIFU exposure had no significant effect
on the expression of CAV-1(total pool), CTSD, and HSPA1A in both cell lines. Moreover, sub-
lethal HIFU exposure at 6hr or 30hr prior to the in vitro addition of anti-neoplastic agents
sensitized both cell lines to suboptimal cytotoxic doses of Taxol (1.5nM, 7.5nM) and
Doxorubicin (0.05M, 0.5M) when tested over a period of four days. Furthermore, MDA-MB-
231 cells surviving single or dual rounds of HIFU exposure at the focal spot and passaged over
3-to-6 weeks in tissue culture show no significant change in their in vitro sensitivity to Taxol or
Doxorubicin. Sub-lethal HIFU exposure significantly modulates the expression of select
mechanosensitive genes in MCF-10A and MDA-MB-231 cells and sensitizes them to suboptimal
cytotoxic doses of Taxol and Doxorubicin. Work is underway to determine if sonoporation -
among other mechanisms that are related to the above mentioned mechanotransduction
alterations - is implicated in the enhanced in vitro sensitivity of both cell lines to suboptimal
cytotoxic doses of Taxol and Doxorubicin post sub-lethal HIFU treatment. Subsequently, we
plan to assess post-translational changes in phosphorylation of Cav-1 (,), Hic-5, Paxillin,
TTLL4, and Erk in both cell lines and examine if cells exhibit changes in lumen formation
and/or cellular polarity in 3-D matrigel post in vitro exposure to sub-lethal HIFU.
Students’ Poster Presentations

1.30 -3.30 pm
Hostler Hall
POSTER #4
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Menadione Analogues
Hala Atallah1, Rana Mezher1,2, Jomana Elaridi2 and Kamal Bouhadir1

1
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut.
2
Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University.
Natural occurring quinones, possess anticancerous activities due to the quinone core which is
reportedly essential for biological activity. Naphthoquinones, in general, have been reported to
possess additional pharmacological properties including antibacterial, antifugal, antiviral, anti-
inflammatory, anti-artherosclerotic.(1) Thymoquinones have shown antiproliferation activity
against resistant cancer cell lines which can be significantly that could be improved by attaching
fatty acid-derived alkenyl groups through an acylhydrazone group.(2) In this study, we aim to
prepare a series of menadione-hydrazone derivatives as potential anticancer molecules that
involves a coupling reaction between menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) and several
hydrazides (benzoic, octanoic, undecenoic, lauric, stearic, myristic) through an acyl hydrazone
group by refluxing overnight under acidic conditions. All products were isolated, purified and
characterized (mpt., 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT, COSY, NOESY and FTIR).
Key Words: Naphthoquinone, Menadione, Fatty acids, Acylhydrazone
Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to The Lebanese National Council for Scientific
Research (CNRS) and The University Research Board (URB) at the American University of
funding this project.
References:
(1) Pinto, A.; de Castro, S.; The Trypanocidal Activity of Naphthoquinines: A Review.
Molecules 2009, 14, 4570-4590.
(2) Breyer, S.; Effenberger, K.; Schobert, R. Effects of Thymoquinone-Fatty Acid
Conjugates on Cancer Cells. ChemMedChem 2009, 4, 761-768
Preference of presentation: Poster

POSTER#6
A new nanosilver loaded GelMa hydrogel for antimicrobial coating of neural and cardiovascular
implants
Fatima El-Hajj1, 2, *, Nour Al-Rifai1, 2, *, Dr Anwarul Hasan1, **

1
Biomedical Engineering and Department of Mechanical engineering, American University of
Beirut
2
Department of biomedical physics, Lebanese University
Fatima.hajj.92@gmail.com, Nour.alrifai.na@gmail.com
*Masters Student, **Supervisor
Presentation Type Preference: Poster
Abstract
The bacterial adhesion to the surface of the implants for surgical procedures including neural and
cardiovascular implants represents a major issue in surgeries, and account for an increasing
number of deaths as well as high medical costs. Many different strategies have been developed to
decrease the incidence of medical device related infections. One way is by modifying the surface
of the devices using some antibacterial coatings designed to be non-fouling, meaning that
microbial adhesion are minimized. The capacity of nanosilver to destroy infectious micro-
organisms makes it one of the most powerful antimicrobial agents, an attractive feature against
“super-bugs” resistant to antibiotics. In this work we are developing a new nanosilver loaded
methacrylated gelatin hydrogel for antimicrobial coating of implants particularly for neural and
cardiovascular applications. Silver nanoparticles of different sizes and concentrations
synthesized using citrate and ascorbic acid reduction in glycerol water mixtures were
incorporated in a UV-photocrosslinkable methacrylated gelatin hydrogel. Analysis and
characterization of the obtained hydrogels were performed through SEM microscopy, TEM
microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and UV–vis spectrophotometry. The release of nanosilver from
the crosslinked hydrogel was quantified using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The
antibacterial activities of the newly developed hydrogel coating was tested on two different types
of bacteria, gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative Escherichia coli by
analyzing the growth, permeability, and morphology of the bacterial cells following treatment
with different concentration of nanosilver. Our future studies will involve investigation of the
effect of nanosilver on neural and cardiovascular cells.
POSTER#7
Body Mass Index, Waist-to-Height Ratio, Percent Body Fat, and Conicity Index Cut-off Values
to Predict Metabolic Syndrome in Lebanese Children and Adolescents
Darine Hachem1, Nahla Hwalla1, Farah Naja1, Hani Dimassi2, Nadine Yazbeck3 and Lara
Nasreddine1*
1
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American
University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
2
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University,
Byblos, Lebanon
3
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of
Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
*Lara Nasreddine, Corresponding Author

Presenting Author- Graduate Student: Darine Hachem
Email Address: darine.hhachem@gmail.com
Presentation Type: Poster
Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern given its association with
cardiometabolic risk factors and the metabolic syndrome. Although several anthropometric indicators
have been proposed to assess adiposity and the risk for metabolic abnormalities in the pediatric
population, recent studies have highlighted the need for ethnic-specific cut-off values for these
anthropometric indicators. Research tackling Middle-Eastern youth and identifying population-
specific cut-off values for adiposity indicators are lacking. This study aims at determining optimal
cut-off values for body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%BF), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and
conicity index (CI) to predict increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Lebanese children and
adolescents.
A cross sectional study was conducted on 490 children and adolescents aged between 7 and 19
years old. Data collection included anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist
circumference (WC), and percent body fat), blood pressure and biochemical assessment of fasting
serum glucose, HDL-C, TG, LDL-C, and total cholesterol. Individual metabolic abnormalities and
metabolic syndrome were identified using the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. Cut-off values were determined
using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
The optimal cut-off values for predicting MetS in boys and girls were, respectively, BMI Z
score above +2.35 and +2.29, %BF above 32.2% and 36.45%, WHtR above 0.58 and 0.54, and CI
above 1.58 and 1.45.
The best predictors of MetS were BMI and WHtR: BMI (AUC: 0.86, Sensitivity: 88.9%,
Specificity: 80.7% in males; AUC: 0.86, Sensitivity: 81.8%%, Specificity: 78.9% in females) and
WHtR (AUC: 0.87, Sensitivity: 88.0%, Specificity: 80.2% in males; AUC: 0.81, Sensitivity: 81.8%,
Specificity: 71.8% in females). These predictors were followed by %BF (AUC: 0.82, Sensitivity:
84.0%, Specificity: 71.1% in males; AUC: 0.75, Sensitivity: 78.8%, Specificity: 62.9% in females).
CI was found to be the weakest predictor of MetS (AUC: 0.89, Sensitivity: 76.0%, Specificity: 71.1%
in males; AUC: 0.75, Sensitivity: 72.7%, Specificity: 61.6% in females).
This study is the first to determine cut-off values for four anthropometric indicators (BMI,
%BF, WHtR, and CI) to predict increased risk of the metabolic syndrome in a sample of Middle-
Eastern children and adolescents. These cut-off values should assist in the screening and
identification of increased cardiometabolic risk in youth.
POSTER#8
The Role of CSRP1 in Cardiac Development and Disease
Amina Kamar1 (Phd Student),Kamel Shibbani2, Elias Baydoun1, Georges Nemer2
Aak56@mail.aub.edu,kamel.Shibbani@gmail.com,eliasbay@aub.edu.lb,gn08@aub.edu.lb
1
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology-FAS-AUB
2
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics-FM-AUB

Background: Abnormal cardiac development leads to human congenital heart disease (CHD)
which is responsible for the vast majority of neonates’ death around the world. Sequencing
results on various genes of a Lebanese family with various forms of CHDs (mainly septal
defects) identified a heterozygote frameshift mutation in CSRP1; a gene that encodes a LIM
domain protein. Our finding suggests that the heterozygote mutation detected in CSRP1 is the
cause of the cardiac defects in our case study. The aim of this study is to high light the role of
CSRP1 in cardiac development and disease.
Methods and Results: Our in silico analysis indicate a duplication of 14 nucleotides in exon 5
which results in a frame shift mutation at the level of the protein and leads to the formation of a
novel stop codon and the addition of 60 amino acids downstream E154 . E154fs mutation totally
disrupts the second LIM domain. Immunohistochemistry on cardiac tissues from mouse embryos
at E14.5 reveals the endogenous expression of CSRP1 in mammalian heart. In addition,
immunostaining done on Hela cells shows that E154fs mutation did not affect the cellular
localization of the protein and both the WT and E15fs CSRP1 shuttle between the cytoplasm and
nucleus. In addition, by luciferase assay we show that WT CSRP1 activates the transcription of
cardiac developmental promoters VEGF, eNOS and ANF. However, E154fs CSRP1 has no
effect on transcriptional activation of the cardiac promoters. Interestingly, E154fs mutation
abrogated the physical association between SRF and GATA4 proteins. Moreover, the functional
interaction between WT CSRP1, SRF and GATA4 is disrupted by E154fs CSRP1.
Conclusion: The in vivo expression of CSRP1 in heart confirms its potential role in cardiac
development and the novel mutation detected in the Lebanese family with various forms of CHD
is disease causing. This new finding provides fundamental knowledge into the molecular basis of
congenital heart defects and could unravel culprit gene(s) involved in cardiac development.
POSTER#9
“Factors that are significantly associated with academic performance among

undergraduate students at the American University of Beirut”
Alzahraa Majeda*, Joelle Abi Kharmaa, Miran Jaffaa

a
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, American
University of Beirut, Lebanon
Abstract
Background: Academic performance and the quality of education are the key establishers of
human and community development. Also, health and well-being support effective learning.
Thus, acquiring knowledge is crucial for the human living state knowing that health, education,
and social outcomes are strongly interdependent. Academic performance, measured by Grade
Point Average (GPA), is associated with several health related behaviors such as the sleeping
pattern, the daily eating habits, exercising, and stress management along with some demographic
and socio-economic factors. Although some studies have examined the effect of these indicators
on the academic performance, either each factor separately or more than one factor in groups, the
associated results found were not all comparable, leading to inconsistent results. Also, none was
done inside Lebanon or among AUB students.
Objectives: This study determines the prevalence of strong academic achievers among
undergraduate students studying at AUB, explore undergraduate students’ daily lifestyle factors,
and investigates the factors that impact academic performance among university students.
Methods: A cross sectional study was done among a convenient sample of 272 undergraduate
students from various faculties of AUB, through a self-administered structured questionnaire.
Results: Descriptive analyses and logistic regression were performed on the sample. Gender,
nationality, number of meals, alcohol consumption, smoking, faculty, and time management
were significantly associated with academic performance.
Conclusion: This study revealed that academic performance is affected by several factors. Future
studies are needed to validate the study results knowing that no published literature exists on this
topic in Lebanon. These results can be used to establish policies, make educational and
informational lectures along with workshops, and develop some awareness campaigns to target
students’ behaviors that can affect their academic performance.
Keywords: Academic performance, factors, undergraduate students, AUB, life-style

Position: MPH Students
*Corresponding Author:
Alzahraa Majed, MPH student
Email Address: alzahraamajed@gmail.com
Phone Number: 71133571
Authors: Alzahraa Majed and Joelle Abi Kharma
Presentation type: Poster Presentation
POSTER#10
Toxicity Equivalence and Cancer risk estimate of PAHs in AUB, Dora and Zouk
J. Nassara, R. Baalbakia, and N.A. Salibaa*
a
Chemistry Department, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut,
1107 2020, Lebanon
* Corresponding Author: e-mail address: ns30@aub.edu.lb.
Presenter: Julie Nassar
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) encompass hundreds of chemicals originating from different
sources such as agriculture (pesticides), industrial products (polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs),
combustion and industrial processes (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs; polychlorinated
dibenzo-p-dioxins PCDDs; and polychlorinated dibenzofurans; PCDFs). They are labeled as
persistent in the environment because their half-lives range from years-decades in soil/sediments
to several days in the atmosphere. This work aims at (i) building capacity at the Atmospheric
Analytical Lab (AAL-AUB) to assess POPs and (ii) being able to determine levels of these POPs
in the atmosphere. The first set of POPs we investigated is PAHs. Moreover, PAHs are known to
have toxic characteristics that can cause adverse health effects. For this, we conducted PAH
measurements in three sites (AUB, DORA and ZOUK) of urban-background, urban, and
industrial characteristics, respectively. In each site, six 24h-sampling periods were performed.
Collected gas and particles on Polyurethane foam (PUF) and quartz filters respectively, were
extracted and then analyzed using GC-MS. Results show different levels of PAHs at the different
sites. Experimentally determined PAH levels were used to calculate the Toxicity Equivalence
(TEQ) and cancer risk estimates.
POSTER#13
Dynamics of Inter-and De-Intercalation of Fluorescent Probes and Mechanisms of
Polymorphic Transformations in a Class of Layered Double Hydroxides
Daniel Saliba, Mazen Al-Ghoul*
Chemistry Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
We present a new method for the synthesis of layered double hydroxides (LHDs) based on a
reaction-diffusion framework, which consists of diffusing two initially separated co-precipitates
into a gel matrix. LDHs are anionic clays consisting of a mixture of divalent and trivalent cations
octahedrally surrounded by hydroxides and share edges to form positively charged sheets where
anions, water and other molecules such as biopolymers might intercalate between them.
The obtained precipitates are characterized by numerous techniques such as XRD, TGA, DSC,
EDX, ssNMR, Raman, FT-IR and elemental mapping. This novel method is also adapted to
study the kinetics of intercalation and de-intercalation of some anionic and cationic fluorescent
probes, such as Rhodamine B and HPTS, using in situ steady state fluorescence. The activation
energies of intercalation/de-intercalation of the dyes are computed. Moreover, the incorporation
of these dyes into the cavities of the LDHs and their expulsion from their interlayer region is
confirmed via XRD, fluorescence microscopy and ssNMR.
Furthermore, we report the synthesis and self-assembly of CdAlA-HT. This hydrotalcite assumes
a flowery-like shaped microstructure. Electron tomography performed on these microstructures
reveals an interior structure consisting of many individual and connected nano-sheets resulting in
voids and channels. On the other hand, we are able to shed light, using SEM and elemental
mapping, on the mechanism of the polymorphic transformation of this cadmium-aluminum LDH
to the brucite-like β-Cd(OH)2, whereby the flowery-like LDH dissolves, expels the aluminum
cations from the crystal lattice and reappears in the form of nano-spheres of the brucite
compound.
Finally, we show that this novel LDH can have two potential applications: the photo-degradation
of some organic compounds (polysaccharide mixture) and the photo-reduction of CO2 in the gas
phase, both under visible light.
Mazen Al-Ghoul: mg05@aub.edu.lb

Daniel Saliba: dss12@aub.edu.lb
Students’ oral presentations

Hostler center
Crystalline and optical properties of zno nanoparticles synthesized by a solvent based
technique
Authors : Reham Abu Amer (Graduate Student), Michel Kazan, Malek Tabbal, Digambara Patra
Affiliation: Departments of Physics & Chemistry, American University of Beirut, Bliss St. P.O.
Box:11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon 1107 2020
Email: ria29@mail.aub.edu; mk140@aub.edu.lb ; malek.tabbal@aub.edu.lb, dp03@aub.edu.lb
Presentation : Oral
--------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract :
ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via simple precipitation method by controlling
different parameters of the precipitation process such as solution concentration and calcination
temperature. The structural and morphological properties of these samples were investigated by
SEM and XRD analysis. SEM images showed uniformity in the particles size and shape for ZnO
nanoparticles calcined at different temperatures compared to the other synthesized samples. The
average crystallite size increases with increasing the calcination temperature. We used UV-VIS
and FTIR spectrophotometers to get the reflectivity data of the selected samples. By using
Kramers-Kronig (K-K) method, we then determined the optical constants, n and k with the real
and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant in the IR region. The K-K method was then
combined with a newly developed technique to compute the optical parameters in the UV-VIS
region. A shift in the absorption peak in the extinction c oefficients of the samples was observed
due to defects by varying the calcination temperature. Green emission was observed from 36 nm
grain size ZnO samples and yellow emission was observed from 470 nm grain size ZnO samples.
Finally, to verify the validity of our approach, we back calculated the UV-VIS reflectivity
spectra from the deduced optical parameters, and good agreement was found between the
measured and calculated spectra. This confirms the importance of our approach in developing a
new numerical technique for accurate measurement of the optical parameters at the UV-VIS
wavelengths. The reflectivity based technique described in this work could be applied to study
ZnO nanoparticles of smaller sizes reaching the quantum confinement region.
Design of Decision Support System for Hospital Evacuation
Authors: Nihal Abughali
Email Address: nja13@mail.aub.edu

Department: Engineering Management Department
Presentation Type Reference: Oral
Abstract
As of recently, all hospitals in the United States are required to develop and employ a proper
emergency plan which mainly includes efficient and quick evacuation scenarios in order to
safely transport patients of varying medical conditions to adequate care facilities. Hence, this
paper studies hospital evacuation planning which is a crucial part of a hospital's emergency
management plan. During hospital evacuation, patients must be moved from the main hospital
building to a staging area, where they then wait until they can be loaded onto a vehicle and
transported to alternate care facilities. Patients require specific assistance and medical care
throughout this process, and the level of care and assistance is dependent on the patients’
conditions. Furthermore, this process is generally accomplished under limited resources, e.g.,
medical transport teams and vehicle fleet size. Hence, we aim at developing an evacuation model
with the main objective being the minimization of transportation and health threatening risks to
patients. Transportation risks arise when the patients are being moved to the staging and loading
areas, as well as during moving them to alternative hospitals or care facilities. Accordingly, the
model presumes that patients will be helped to the staging area by specialized and trained staff,
and then adequately moved outside the building where they will be loaded onto the available
vehicles. Therefore, the evacuation from the hospital and the transportation to the respective
staging and loading areas are dependent. The resulting model is an integer program with a rather
complex structure. We exploit some of the structural properties of the feasible region and we
relax some of the integrality constraints of the decision variables in an attempt to simplify the
model. Constraints include the allocation of proper medical staff to patients, vehicle types that
will transport patients, bed capacities of alternative care facilities, routes available from hospital
being evacuated to other facilities, the number of lanes allocated to each vehicle type in the
loading area, etc. It is further noted that these resources are patient specific; i.e. the medical
conditions of each patient dictates the characteristics and quantity of the aforementioned
resources. We then propose a branch- and -price algorithm that reduces the memory
requirements required to solve this model. An application of the model to a realistic evacuation
process of a large regional hospital will be further utilized to demonstrate the strength and
benefits of the implementation of the model in real life.
Adding a New Dimension: 3D Human Breast Cancer Models to Evaluate
Natural and Synthetic Retinoids
Patrick Aouad1, Melody Saikali2, Dana Bazzoun1, Claudio Pisano3, Rabih Talhouk1* and
Nadine Darwiche2*
1 2
Department of Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, American
University of Beirut, Lebanon 3Biogem, Research Institute, Italy
*Corresponding Authors
Patrick Aouad paa10@aub.edu.lb; Melody Saikali mws11@aub.edu.lb; Dana Bazzoun
dab05@aub.edu.lb; Claudio Pisano claudio.pisano@biogem.it; Rabih Talhouk
rtalhouk@aub.edu.lb; Nadine Darwiche nd03@aub.edu.lb
Presentation Type Preference: Oral presentation
Background and Aims:

For more than four decades, the supporting substrates for cell growth have been made from
polystyrene or glass in the form of a flat two-dimensional (2D) surface where cells grow as
monolayers, deprived from their interaction with the microenvironment. Recent studies have
attempted to overcome these limitations by the development of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro
models for a more accurate tumor microenvironment representation and a more valid drug
screening. Retinoids are major regulators of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and cell death,
and have shown potent chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive properties. In this study, we
investigated the anti-tumor activities of the natural retinoid all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and
the synthetic retinoid ST1926 on the proliferation and cell death of human breast cancer cell
lines in 2D and 3D cell culture models.
Methodology and Results:

Using MTT cell proliferation and trypan blue exclusion assays, we have shown that in 2D
models MCF-7 and metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells are resistant to ATRA while being sensitive
to ST1926 where pharmacologically achievable micromolar (µM) concentrations caused growth
inhibition and apoptosis. ST1926-induced growth inhibition was irreversible in both cell lines
upon drug removal. Interestingly, ST1926 had no effect on the ‘normal-like’ breast epithelial cell
line MCF-10A even at suprapharmacological concentrations. Anchorage-independent growth
(3D) of MCF-7 and
MDA-MB-231 cells was examined using the soft agar colony formation assay where ST1926 at
sub-µM concentrations was shown to reduce the size and the number of breast cancer colonies
assessed by DNA labeled fluorometric analysis. Interestingly, ATRA was shown to decrease the
number of breast cancer colonies at pharmacologically achievable concentrations, as opposed to
the 2D culture model. Finally, anchorage-dependent growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 in the
3D 'on top' assay was assessed by trypan blue exclusion assay. ST1926 drastically induced cell
death in the 3D culture of breast cancer cells.
Conclusion:
These results hold great promise in the treatment of aggressive and metastatic breast cancer.
Importantly, ST1926 was shown to display more potent anti-tumor properties in 3D human
breast cancer models than in 2D. Because a 3D culture model offers a more accurate
representation of the tumor microenvironment in vivo, ST1926 is predicted to be potent in
patients with aggressive luminal A and triple negative breast cancer.
An Improvement Model:
Designing Structural Arrangements for Teachers’ Motivation in a Lebanese Private School
Nadia Al Saheb
In a small Lebanese private school where the researcher used to work, a concern of “teachers’
motivation” arose. As a teacher who loves teaching and enjoys interacting with students, the
researcher felt de-motivated and powerless operating in a rigid bureaucratic structure of
hierarchy and subordination. The researcher noticed that her case was similar to many teachers,
whose motivation become low due to structural constraints of hierarchy, fixed rules and
centralized decisions. The latter concern was supported when the researcher looked for factors
associated with low motivation in literature and found that teachers’ levels of motivation and job
satisfaction are strongly influenced by organizational structures (Paton & Miskel, 1991). From
this standpoint, the aim of this research study is to offer a proposal for a new structural
arrangement grounded in field based data and in literature about effective organizational
structures and designed to meet the needs and recommendations of both the teachers and
administrators in a Lebanese private school. In particular, this study investigates the following
questions: a) what are the structural barriers that are affecting teacher’s motivation from the
perspectives of teachers and administrators? b) what are the structural and policy changes that
need to be introduced to reduce the rigidity in the current structure from the perspectives of
teachers and administrators? and finally c) what is the ideal organizational model that the school
can adopt to achieve its organizational goals while improving teachers’ motivation?
This study follows an action research design which is a form of research that tackles a real
problem of practice, generates knowledge then calls for taking action to promote change
(Greenwood & Levin, 1998). Data for this study was collected from five main sources: three
focus group interviews with teachers, six individual interviews with teachers, two individual
interviews with administrators: the principal and the deputy headmaster, artifacts and the
researcher’s notes. The study employed qualitative (Merriam, 1998) data collection and analysis
methods (coding and memoing). Results from teachers’ responses identified structural barriers at
three levels: the decision making level, the policy making one and the institutional level of time,
resources and training. Teachers’ recommendations incorporated more flexibility and discretion
for teachers with policy implementation, improved communication channels, modifying some
policies and involvement in the decision making process. On the other hand, administrators’
responses revealed a directive managerial approach of leadership as well as Theory X
assumptions of organizational management and human motivation. Rooted in members’ needs
and recommendations, an improvement model, with both theoretical and practical dimensions,
was designed along with potential challenges to consider prior to implementing the improvement
model. The research concludes with implications and significance of the study.
Email: nia11@ aub.edu.lb
Department: Education Department
Presentation Type Preference: Oral

Investigating the Deregulation and Bio-functional Relevance of Caveolin-1
in Muscular Laminopathies
Dima A. Diab El Harakeh1, Lara A. Kamand1 and Diana E. Jaalouk1
1
Department of Biology, FAS, AUB
Correspondence to: dj11@.aub.edu.lb; dad09@mail.aub.edu
Key words: Lamins A/C, emerin, Caveolin-1, LKB1, Muscular Laminopathies
Presentation Type Preference: oral
Abstract
Laminopathies are a group of disorders arising from mutations or altered post translational processing of
nuclear envelope/lamina proteins. Many of these disorders are caused by mutations in the LMNA gene and
are manifested as pathologies affecting a wide range of tissues including skeletal and cardiac muscle. To
date, the molecular mechanisms underlying the phenotypic diversity and disease pathogenesis in
laminopathies have not been deciphered. Our objective is to gain a better understanding of the
mechanisms by which distinct mutations in the ubiquitously expressed LMNA gene contribute to the
tissue specific phenotypes that result in muscular laminopathies including Emery-Dreifuss Muscular
Dystrophy (EDMD) and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). We hypothesize that complete loss of or
specific mutations in LMNA associated with muscular laminopathies alter the expression levels, and/or the
intracellular distribution of caveolins, which in addition to their functional relevance to muscle biology
orchestrate many signaling pathways in response to changes in the cell’s biochemical or mechanical
environment. In this study, we assessed the transcript and protein expression of the mechanosensitive
gene Cav-1 (encodes for α & β isoforms of caveolin-1) in mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) lines derived
from mice lacking either A-type lamin (Lmna-/-) or emerin (Emd -/Y) which have the EDMD phenotype or
mice homozygous for the N195K mutant (Lmna N195K/N195K) which have the DCM phenotype versus wild-
type (WT) controls under baseline and oxidative stress conditions. Real-Time PCR quantification of Cav-
1 under baseline conditions showed a reduction in the Cav-1α transcript in Lmna-/- MEFs and a significant
elevation in the Cav-1α transcript in Lmna N195K/N195K and Emd -/Y MEFs. A similar pattern was obtained
upon evaluating the expression of both Cav-1 isoforms (α+β) in the MEF cell panel. However, Western
Blot analysis and densitometry quantification revealed no significant change in the soluble fraction of
Cav-1α in the three mutant cell lines in comparison to the WT controls. Immunofluorescence staining
suggests a marked increase in Cav-1α expression in Lmna N195K/N195K MEFs, yet no change was detected in
Lmna-/- and Emd -/Y MEFs. Intriguingly, Cav-1 gene expression profile was partially restored upon the
ectopic expression of LMNA WT or LMNA E358K mutant (EDMD) in lamin A/C deficient MEFs, but not
in LMNA L530P mutant that results in EDMD. Additionally, we noted a significant elevation in the
protein levels of Liver Kinase B1 (LKB1), a signaling partner that may plausibly control the activity of
Cav-1, in Lmna-/- MEFs but not in the Lmna N195K/N195K nor in Emd -/Y MEFs under baseline conditions. In
contrast, we noted a significant decline in LKB1 protein levels in lamin A/C-deficient MEFs ectopically
expressing LMNA L530P mutant form in comparison to their mock controls under baseline conditions.
Furthermore, under H2O2 - induced oxidative stress, we examined a differential pattern of induction in
Cav-1 (αβ) expression in both Lmna-/- and Lmna N195K/N195K MEFs in comparison to WT controls at the
transcriptional and translational levels. Work is underway to examine putative changes in caveolin-1
expression in striated muscle derived from the aforementioned mouse models. These findings provide a
possible path toward a mechanistic understanding of the potential contribution of caveolins in the
pathogenesis of muscular laminopathies.
Assessing the viability of Vermiculture in Lebanon: Case Study in Warhanieh
Nada Ghanem, and Dr. Salma Talhouk
Department of Landscape and Ecosystem Management, American University of Beirut
(nrg02@aub.edu.lb)
Oral Presentation
Soil quality deterioration is a problem faced by farmers in Lebanon even though they try to
restore it by using chemical and organic fertilizers. The adverse effects on ecosystems and health
particularly on water resources and food quality, affect everyone irrespective of age. Such a
situation calls for uncovering a new and scientific approach that can initiate and sustain long-
term soil quality management, aiming to successfully promote healthy diet, local food security,
and environment sustainability. In light of this, a new approach is suggested namely
Vermiculture. Vermiculture is the process of composting organic waste using earthworms
Eisenia foetida to produce vermicast, known as worm casting or worm manure. This fertilizer is
proved effective and is considered the best among all other fertilizers. In addition to the above
mentioned benefits, Vermiculture contributes to solid waste management which is a pressing
problem in Lebanon. Vermiculture is applied in many countries such as England, Canada, USA,
Italy, Philippines, Thailand, China, Korea, Japan, Brazil, France, Australia, Israel, Russia, India
and many others. However this technology is innovative for the Arab region. In order to combat
this unfamiliarity this study introduced Vermiculture to a rural community “Warhanieh” where
the technology was applied at the household level. Furthermore, the study examined the social
dimension of vermicomposting including people’s perceptions and attitudes towards it hoping to
spread the experience to other communities. The results were promising and will be discussed in
my presentation.
Oil Extracts from Spent Coffee Grounds to Modify the Physical Properties of Recycled
Asphalt Binder
Jalkh Rita, Dr. Abiad Mohamad

American University of Beirut, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences
rmj31@mail.aub.edu; ma192@mail.aub.edu
Dr. Chehab Ghassan
American University of Beirut, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
gc06@mail.aub.edu
Abstract
Increased environmental awareness combined with rising fuel costs and energy demands have encouraged
researchers around the globe to explore novel and sustainable resources for energy, polymers as well as alternative
binders and modifiers. Such resources are highly treasured especially if they stem from reusing existing material
and/or waste recycling. These initiatives have pushed for sustainable asphalt production and paving practices in an
attempt to reduce carbon emissions, reduced consumption of natural resources, and alleviated pressure on landfills
whilst increasing the materials’ cost effectiveness. Currently, alternative binders are produced from biomasses which
is considered as one of the largest sources of energy worldwide. On the other hand, utilizing biomass residues spent
coffee ground (SCG) could add a new array of applications for hazardous byproducts from the food industry. SCG is
a by-product of the coffee industry and it has shown to contain high percentages of oil, 11-20% (w/w dry basis). In
Lebanon, the coffee industry imports around 26,000 tons of green coffee beans annually.
In this study, oil was extracted from spent coffee grounds (SCG), collected from various coffee shops, using a reflux
extractor with hexane as the solvent. The extracted oil was further oxidized at 135℃ for 6, 9, 12, 24 and 48 hours
under a controlled air flow of 50ml/min. The oxidized oil was then physically and chemically characterized prior to
its use as a rejuvenator for aged asphalt binder. For this purpose, a PG-58 asphalt binder was aged for 24 hours at
165oC using a thin film oven yielding an aged binder with PG of 76. Basically, the objective of this aging was to
obtain a more brittle binder simulating an overheated or damaged binder which could then be modified using various
percentages of the oxidized oils. Accordingly, mixes incorporating 1, 5, 10, 12 and 15% oil were prepared. The
samples were tested for their rheological characteristics, rutting and fatigue performance under constant shear
loading as well as multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) as per ASTM and AASHTO standards.
Testing results showed that the SCG oil at reception had a peroxide value of 6.73 meq peroxide/kg and an acid value
of 10.92 mg KOH/g. As the oxidation time increased, the oil acidity also increased; however, it was observed that
beyond 12 hours of oxidation there was a significant decrease in the iodine value, a phenomenon associated with the
breaking of double bond. Upon oxidation, the peroxide value reached a maximum of 13.35 meq peroxide/kg after 6
hours of oxidation, followed by a constant decrease until a plateau is reached at 8.6 meq peroxide/kg. Furthermore,
the rheological characterization results showed that the addition of 1, 5, 10, 12 or 15% of SCG oil was able to
restore the linear behavior of the asphalt binder that had been lost during the induced aging process. It is also worthy
to note that adding extracted SCG oil also led to increased softening of the mixes thus decreasing the high
temperature grade. Moreover, compared to the control un-aged binder, all mixes resulted in higher recovery at low
stress levels; this can be translated into an improved performance with a lower susceptibility to rutting. Based on
analysis of the testing results, this research proposes a new potential application for recycling spent coffee grounds
by incorporating oxidized bio-oils in asphalt binders to help recover the loss of desired properties and thus increase
their resistance to permanent damage.
Large scale use of such a project would help alleviate environmental impacts, stress on depleting natural resources
and quarry products as well as illegal dumping by decreasing around 160 dump trucks of asphalt and spent coffee
grounds per month; whilst providing an innovative solution and new potential uses for their recycling. This
methodology has also zero waste since de-fatted SCG could be used as a potential potting mix after oil extraction. It
was also calculated that by using In Place Recycling (IPR) as a paving process, all rehabilitated roads in Beirut (40
Km) could be paved yearly if 20% recovery of SCG was assumed. Such a method would require less time, no road
closure thus cause less traffic, minimal usage of new binder and quarry products (stones, rocks, aggregates), require
less energy hence has less emissions. Moreover, a preliminary financial study using Palate, software developed by
the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, showed that by using IPR construction costs would be decreased by at
least 50%, contribute to 50% savings in energy consumption, have 40% reduction in CO2 emissions and would lead
to 80% reduction in energy consumption.
Application of advanced oxidation processes using iron-based industrial scrap for
persulfate activation toward ranitidine degradation in water.
Sahar Naim* and Antoine Ghauch1
American University of Beirut, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry

P.O. Box 11-0236 Riad El Solh – 1107-2020 Beirut – Lebanon
*
Graduate Student
This work assessed the use of iron-based industrial scrap in the activation of persulfate (PS) into
sulfate radicals (SRs) for the removal of ranitidine (RAN), an H2 receptor antagonist, from
aqueous systems. RAN (28.5 μM) was monitored by HPLC, PS (100 μM) by spectrophotometric
KI complexation, and dissolved iron species by Atomic Absorption. The employment of
industrial iron (iFe) in PS-based AOPs was evaluated with respect to Fe2+ salt and commercial
iron (cFe). Results showed that when Fe2+ salt was used, almost complete RAN removal in one
hour was achieved at optimal ratio of Fe2+:PS of 1:1. However, when a low load of iFe (1mg/20
mL) was used, it was feasible to get complete RAN removal with a ratio of dissolved iron
species (equivalent to Fe2+):PS of only 0.166:1. Furthermore, a comparative study revealed that
iFe present also some advantages over cFe in terms of RSE and sludge formation. Additional
work for evaluating iFe efficiency was conducted to study the effect of ionic strength and ionic
interactions in the presence of chloride and bromide, the main seawater components. Halides
appeared enhancing PS activation for RAN removal rather than quenching. The reactivity of
bromide was slightly more advantageous than the reactivity of chloride. In both ionic matrices,
iFe has sustained its activity with optimum concentration of Br- and Cl- of 1 mM. Total organic
carbon was analyzed at different iFe:PS ratios showing that iron corrosion products (ICPs)
formation is directly related to the amount of iFe used. Mineralization is negligible at low iFe
levels. However, co-precipitation may be more important at higher iFe levels. The HPLC/MS
chromatograms showed the presence of hydroxylated RAN intermediate detected at 331 m/ z
that dissipates rapidly throughout the treatment.
1 Corresponding author. Tel.: +961 1 350 000; fax: +961 1 365 217. E-mail address: antoine.ghauch@aub.edu.lb
Functional characterization of CLIPA14 a novel serine protease homolog involved in
mosquito immunity
Johnny Nakhle and Mike A. Osta
Functional genetic studies showed that the immune system of the malaria vector Anopheles
gambiae eliminates the majority of ookinete stage Plasmodium parasites as they egress from the
midgut epithelial cells into the basal labyrinth. Ookinete killing occurs through killing and/or
melanization. Melanization of Anopheles ookinetes is rarely observed in wildtype A. gambiae,
however studies in lab reared strains showed that silencing of C-type lectins specifically CTL4
and CTLMA2 genes lead to massive ookinete melanization. Preliminary data suggest that this
phenotype is probably due to enhanced complement-like activity. In order to shed light on the
modes of action of CTL4/CTLMA2 complex, a proteomic based approach was conducted to
identity the spectrum of proteins that co-immunoprecipitate with this complex from the
hemolymph of naive mosquitoes. Among the identified candidates is CLIPA14, a serine protease
homologue of the clip domain family. CLIPA14 knockdown by RNAi resulted in a similar
phenotype to that of CTL4 kd, characterized by massive ookinete melanization. In order to
determine whether CLIPA 14 and CTL complex act through the same pathway, we assessed
CLIPA14 RNAi phenotype using different infection models. Bacterial proliferation assays
revealed that CLIPA14 kd compromises the proliferation of Gram-positive and Gram-negative
following systemic infections as compared to control groups, which contrasts with the anti-
bacterial role previously described for the CTL complex. Additional bioassays with bacterial and
fungal infections will be conducted in order to identify the extent of overlap in the RNAi
phenotypes of both genes and whether they functional in the same or different pathways.
miRNA Expression Profile Analysis of Lebanese Breast Cancer Tissues
Farah Nassar1, Rabih Talhouk1, Nathalie K. Zgheib2, Maya El Sabban3, Arafat Tfayli4, Fouad
Boulos5, Mark Jabbour5, Claude Chelala6, Rose-Mary Boustany7, Nagi El Saghir4, Ali
Bazarbachi4, George Calin8, Rihab Nasr3#
1
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
2
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
3
Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of
Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
4
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
5
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
6
Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London,
Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
7
Departments of Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine, and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, American University
of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
8
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
#
Corresponding Author: Rihab Nasr, Ph.D.
Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences,
Faculty of Medicine, E-mail: rn03@aub.edu.lb
Keywords
microRNA, microarray, breast cancer, biomarkers, Lebanon.
Abstract
Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer in Lebanese women with a higher
percentage of young-aged patients than the West. microRNA (miRNA), a large group of small noncoding
RNA, regulate 60% of all protein-coding genes and play a vital role in cancer development. Since the
etiology of BC initiation is still not well-studied, we are interested in studying differentially expressed
miRNA with potential tumor initiation function. We have recently shown that differential expression of
certain miRNA in Lebanese BC tissues could be variable to what is reported in West. Hence, the
objective of this study is to investigate the global miRNA profile in Lebanese BC tissues and to identify
through in silico tools the relation of dysregulated miRNA to tumor initiation.
Methods: miRNA profiling was performed using Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 3.0 array after RNA
extraction of formalin fixed paraffin embedded 45 tumor and 17 normal adjacent tissues from Lebanese
BC patients. Validation of dysregulated miRNA was done using quantitative reverse transcription real
time PCR. In silico tools such as Diana tools and ingenuity pathway analysis were used to predict the
tumor initiation role of dysregulated miRNA.
Results: A total of 74 miRNA were significantly differentially expressed between tumor and normal
adjacent breast tissues. The top differentially expressed miRNA were validated. Using in silico tools,
most of dysregulated miRNA were found to be involved in cancer and p53 signaling pathway. More
analysis of the targets of miRNA and their implication in BC initiation is still in progress.
Conclusion: Lebanese BC patients have a set of dysregulated miRNA expression profile mostly
implicated in cancer. Further functional studies will be done on the dysregulated miRNA to comprehend
BC onset especially in young patients.
Funding Source
Medical Practice Plan and Kamal A. Shair CRSL
Presentation Type Preference Oral
Perceptions of How Language Anxiety Affects Achievement of
Adult English Language Learners in Lebanon
(in progress; will be finished before April 28)
Thesis advisor: Dr. Kassim Shaaban, Professor of English – AUB

(PhD, MA University of Texas at Austin; BA, American University of Beirut)
Thesis committee member: Dr. Lina Choueiri, Associate Professor of English Language– AUB
(PhD, MA University of Southern California; MS Georgetown University; BA Université
Saint-Joseph)
Thesis committee member: Dr. Rula Diab, Associate Professor of English/ Applied Linguistics –
LAU (PhD, University of Texas at Austin; BA, MA American University of Beirut)
Author: Arcella Delica Reyes, Graduate Student, Department of English - AUB

(MA Candidate English Language AUB; BA University of Houston; AA North Harris
Community College)
Abstract
The affective factor of anxiety has been found to significantly hinder the language learning process
although the nature of foreign language anxiety (FLA) has yet to be agreed upon. The purpose of
this in-progress MA thesis project is to investigate the personal and contextual factors that are
associated with FLA in relation to achievement in English language learning in the context of
Lebanon as perceived by adults in a working class vocational language program. In phase one,
students were asked to fill out a background questionnaire and a modified version of the Foreign
Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) by Horwitz, Horwitz & Cope (1986). Afterwards,
participants were separated into groups according to their scores on the FLCAS. In phase two,
participants were randomly selected to participate in focus groups, which were separated into low-,
medium- and high-anxiety levels; the question guide was based on Yan and Horwitz (2008) in
which university Chinese learners of English were prompted for their perceptions. A total of 17
adult students from Lebanon, Syria, Morocco and Iraq participated. Grounded-Theory Analysis
will be used to evaluate the corpus of focus group transcripts and a theoretical model of perceived
FLA factors will be generated. This exploratory study will help fill the significant knowledge gap
resulting from the scarcity of FLA literature in the Lebanese context; to the author’s knowledge no
such study on adult foreign language education has been conducted in Lebanon. As English is vital
to the Lebanese economic, educational, and social domains and as FLA varies from culture to
culture, this investigation will contribute to the worldwide body of FLA research.
Keywords: foreign language anxiety (FLA), Grounded-Theory Analysis (GTA), adult education,
English language learning, Lebanon
Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B., & Cope, J. (1986). Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety. Modern
Language Journal, 70(2), 125-132.
Yan, J. K. and Horwitz, E. K. (2008). Learner’s perceptions of how anxiety interacts with personal
and instructional factors to influence their achievement in English: A qualitative analysis of
EFL learners in China. Language Learning, 58, (1), 151- 183.
Submission for Department of English adr01@aub.edu.lb Presentation
Preference: Oral

Fourth KAS CRSL Research Conference "Innovative Research and Creativity at AUB"

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Fourth KAS CRSL research conference

“Innovative research and creativity at AUB”

Thursday May 7, 2015

Rene Adaimi, Christian Massabni, Joseph Mourad

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Authors Arbid Josepy, Dib Samer, Rahal Rahaf, Rahbani Dana

Rani Assaf, Elias El Zoghbi, Mohamad Al-Sharif, Kevin Chiha

Ahmad Ayoub, Ali Al-Mostafa Atweh, Ibrahim Helbawi , Mahdi Hijazi

Department of Mechanical engineering

Final Year Graduation Project

Presentation Preference Poster.

Alexandre Doumet, Alexandre Toubia, Joseph Kassab, Samir Arif1,

Alexandre Doumet, Alexandre Toubia, Joseph Kassab, Samir Arif1,

Electrical and computer engineering department

Yathreb El-Yaman, Zahraa Ibrahim, Ahmad Rammal

The deliverables can be described as the following:

3D concrete printing is an innovative construction method that promises to be highly

Fadl Moukalled: Professor of FEA, Mechanical Engineering Department (Project Advisor)

“Innovative research and creativity at AUB”

Thursday May 7, 2015

Students’ Poster Presentations

Preparation of naphthalene-based nucleosides as potential

precursors for stimuli-responsive materials

Nadine Al Homsi, Zeina Neouchy, Sara Jaafar and Kamal Bouhadir

Conclusion: We succeeded in preparing and characterizing novel compounds derived from

Abou Matar, T.*, Osta, M.*

Melanization is a potent immune response used by arthropods. It involves the deposition

Synthesis and characterization of novel molecules for new types of hydrogen-bonded

Mira Diab El-Harakeh, Ali Koubeissi and Kamal Bouhadir*

Key Words: Self-assembly, Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks (HOFs), Triazine-based

Mira Diab-El Harakeh is a Master’s student in chemistry.

Presentation preference: poster

Ecogeographic study and preliminary molecular characterization of the genus

Soubra Noura1, Talhouk Rabih1, Yazbek Mariana2, Karam Nisreen3

nas36@mail.aub.edu, rtalhouk@aub.edu.lb, mmy8@cornell.edu, karamnisrine@gmail.com

1 Department of Biology, FAS, AUB; 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, FEA, AUB

“Innovative research and creativity at AUB”

Thursday May 7, 2015

Students’ Poster Presentations

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Menadione Analogues

Hala Atallah1, Rana Mezher1,2, Jomana Elaridi2 and Kamal Bouhadir1

Key Words: Naphthoquinone, Menadione, Fatty acids, Acylhydrazone

Preference of presentation: Poster

Fatima El-Hajj1, 2, *, Nour Al-Rifai1, 2, *, Dr Anwarul Hasan1, **

*Lara Nasreddine, Corresponding Author

The Role of CSRP1 in Cardiac Development and Disease

Amina Kamar1 (Phd Student),Kamel Shibbani2, Elias Baydoun1, Georges Nemer2

Presentation type: Poster

“Factors that are significantly associated with academic performance among

Alzahraa Majeda*, Joelle Abi Kharmaa, Miran Jaffaa

Keywords: Academic performance, factors, undergraduate students, AUB, life-style

* Corresponding Author: e-mail address: ns30@aub.edu.lb.

Presenter: Julie Nassar

Presentation type: Poster

Daniel Saliba, Mazen Al-Ghoul*

Chemistry Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

Mazen Al-Ghoul: mg05@aub.edu.lb

Students’ oral presentations

Email: ria29@mail.aub.edu; mk140@aub.edu.lb ; malek.tabbal@aub.edu.lb, dp03@aub.edu.lb

Authors: Nihal Abughali

Email Address: nja13@mail.aub.edu

Presentation Type Preference: Oral presentation

Background and Aims:

Abou Matar, T., Osta, M.

Fatima El-Hajj1, 2, , Nour Al-Rifai1, 2, , Dr Anwarul Hasan1, **