543 research outputs found
Ecology and reproductive biology of Acanthodactylus schmidti in Central Arabia
No full textThe ecology and reproductive biology of Acanthodactylus schmidti (lacertidae) in Central Arabia north of Riyadh was studied from 1983 to 1985. The ecology of Acanthodactylus boskianus was also studied as a comparison during the same period. Growth of both species, survival and the morphological adaptations to the desert environment were examined. Home range size of both species was estimated in the study area. Home range size of male A. schmidti was four times that of the female's home range during spring. The male A. boskianus home range was about two times greater than that of the females. Utilization of home range and the social interactions of invdividuals of both species was investigated. Home range overlap, burrowing behaviour and burrow structure was also examined in the field. Male A. schmidti were observed to defend their home range against other males during spring. Activity and thermal ecology of both species was studied during winter and spring. Emergence behaviour, basking behaviour, daily and seasonal activity was studied and analysed. Both species were active throughout the year. However, it was found that during winter, activity was unimodal, which contrasted with the bimodal pattern during spring. The winter mean eccritic body temperature was 33.0 and 34.1oC for A. schmidti and A. boskianus respectively, and 36oC, 35.3oC during spring. A. schmidti was found to thermoregulate more effectively than A. boskianus during both winter and spring. Selected body temperature and critical minimum of both species were studied and measured in the laboratory. The reproductive biology of A. schmidti was studied in some detail. The reproductive season commenced in November and continued throughout May and was found to coincide with the rainy season of the area. Young lizards were observed between February and mid-June. This suggests the presence of multiple clutches (possibly 2-3) during the reproduction season. It was concluded that multiple clutches were an important adaptation for lizards in such an unpredictable desert environment. Reproductive behaviour, male and female reproductive cycle, and fat body cycle also were studied. Finally, the general ecology and conservation of Arabian desert reptiles is discussed and suggestions for management of desert reptile communities are suggested. (D73648/87)</p
Thermal ecology and activity of the sand fish lizard, scincus mitranus (Scincidae) in Central Arabia
No full textAuthors: Al-Johany Awadh M.& Al-Sadoon, Mohamed K. From Department of Zoology,
Author: Al-Farraj Saud A., From Department of Biology
Riyadh, Teachers' College, King Saud University, P.O. Box 4341,
Riyadh 11491. Saudi ArabiaThermal ecology and activity of Scincus mitranus was investigated during winter and summer seasons. Emergence and basking behavior and seasonal activity were studied and analyzed. The lizard was active throughout the year except during cold spells of winter. However, it was found that during winter, daily activity was unimodal, which contrasted with the bimodal pattern during summer. Selected body temperature, critical minimum and maximum were studied and determined in the laboratory
Shiite buildings of Awadh : characteristics and nomenclature
No full textThe region of Awadh (also known in older British sources as Oudh or Oude), located in northern India and now constituting a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, for several centuries has remained one of the largest and most significant Shiite centres in the Subcontinent. A particularly important role in shaping its cultural tradition was played by the Shiite dynasty of Nishapuri nawabs, which ruled the Awadh between 1722 and 1858. The cultural and religious heritage of the Shiites manifests itself, among other things, in the architecture of the region, abounding especially in buildings erected in connection with the mourning celebrations of the month of Muharram, commemorating the martyrdom and death of Imam Al-Husayn. Imambaras (assembly halls) and rauzas (mausoleums), dozens of which we find in Lucknow, the capital of historical Awadh, and in other localities of the region and thanks to which this part of the Subcontinent enjoys a unique character and colour, are characterized not only by specific Indo-Muslim architectural syncretism, but also by multi-source nomenclature. The names of the structures derive freely both from the indigenous languages, like Hindi and Urdu, and from the linguistic adstratum – mostly Persian and to some extent Arabic. The article aims at description and categorization of the main types of religious Shiite structures found in Awadh, as well as at characterization of their names
The Effectiveness of Using E-learning, Blended Learning and Traditional Learning on Students' Achievement and Attitudes in a Course on Islamic Culture: an Experimental study
No full textThis study is mainly concerned with establishing the benefits of e-learning (studying through an asynchronous classroom only) and blended learning (studying through an asynchronous virtual classroom in addition to a traditional learning) as compared to traditional learning (attending classroom lectures) in terms of their effects on students’ attitudes and achievement featuring the Islamic Culture course (101) at Umm Al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia. However, to reach that end the researcher had to find out as to whether there is a statistically significant difference between the above three methods of teaching.
For this purpose an ethics unit drawn from an Islamic culture course (101) has been electronically designed using a learning and content management system programme known as Moodle, based on the ADDIE model.
Two experimental groups together with a control group have been involved. The three groups have been randomly selected and assigned with the first and second experimental groups consisting of 43 and 55 participants respectively, and the control group consisting of 50 participants. After verifying their reliability and validity pre-achievement and post-achievement tests as well as attitude scale supported by interviews have been used as instruments for assessing students’ achievement and attitudes in the different groups.
The results of the study have revealed that there is a statistically significant difference (at the 0.05 level) between the three methods in terms of students’ achievement favouring blended learning method, while no statistically significant differences exist (at the 0.05 level) between e-learning and traditional learning in terms of students’ achievement. Yet, in terms of attitude, the results of this study have indicated that there is a statistically significant difference (at the 0.05 level) between the two experimental groups on the one hand and control group on the other hand favouring the former, while no statistically significant difference (at the 0.05 level) exist between blended learning and e-learning in terms of students’ attitude. However, based on these results the researcher has managed to put forward a number of recommendations and suggestions
The Poetics of Water in the Collection of Poems entitled “Running Water Betrays the Puddles” By the Omani Poet Awadh Al- Luweihi
No full textWater appears in modern Arabic poetry as a semantically distinguished and rich structural component where meanings expand and ideas flow. And this, in turn, enriches the poet’s imagination and fulfils his desire to depict his life experience using creative visions. This study aims to examine the poetics of water in the work of the Omani poet Awadh Al- Luweihi, namely his collection of poems entitled “Running Water Betrays the Puddles” which explicitly embodies the contemporary poet’s ability to open new poetic horizons in which rich vocabulary provides texts with new connotations that enjoy an obvious intellectual dimension, and mature artistic craft which creates images and different themes and connotations. The poet’s reliance on the concept of “water” in composing his poetry shows the impact of this poetic theme and its role in the understanding of the poetic self and the ability of portraying life with all its contrasts
Competitive strategies and barriers to achieving competitive advantage : a study of two Saudi Arabian industries.
No full textThis study focuses on how organisations achieve and sustain competitive
advantage and the possible barriers to this advantage. It first deals with a
theoretical framework by examining related literature on developing a better
understanding of competitive advantage and generic strategies, as well as the
important aspects that may affect a firm's achievement and the sustainability of
its competitive advantage. This study extends the strategic management
literature on competitive advantage and generic strategies mainly based on
Porter's (1980, 1985) work. In particular, instead of the two generic strategies
(differentiation and cost leadership) put forward by Porter, four competitive
strategies are developed. These are (1) price leadership, (2) low cost
differentiation, (3) imitation and (4) differentiation.
Barriers to competitive advantage are conceptionalised in terms of
"strategic coherence" model, which has three aspects. Competitive strategies
require internal consistency referred to as 'competitive coherence'. In addition,
'organisational coherence' needs to be built, involving the structure of internal
and external elements affecting an organisation's ability to achieve its
competitive advantage. The creation of this structure is not automatic. The
difficulties increase with growing dynamism and complexity of the environment
in which an organisation is operating. While competitive and organisational
coherence might exist accidentally, the third aspect developed in this study is
called 'cognitive coherence'. The lack of coherence in one or more of these
aspects is a barrier to a firm achieving and sustaining its competitive advantage.
Secondly, this study reports empirical evidence on the validity of the theoretical
framework. This study takes the case of two different industries (petrochemical
and food) in Saudi Arabia.
Results indicate that all four competitive strategies are possible and
statistically defined. In addition, high-performing firms, in both industries, have
more strategic coherence than lower performing firms. The results suggest that
high-performing firms are able not only to achieve their competitive advantage
but also to sustain it over time. Moreover, in each industry, firms with different
competitive strategies have different barriers to achieving their competitive
advantage. These results are consistent with those found in the existing
literature, lending support to the view that western strategy models seem to be
applicable to developing countries such as Saudi Arabia
Comparative analysis of the oil and supercritical CO2 extract of Schinus molle L. growing in Yemen
No full textIn this study, we report the preliminary data on the chemical composition of Yemeni Schinus molle L. volatile oil obtained by supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide (40°C and 90 bar), SFE, and by hydrodistillation (HD). The composition of the volatile oil has been analysed by GC and GC-MS. The content of the major constituents in the oils from leaves varied in the following ranges: germacrene D 3.7% in SFE and 16.7% in HD; β-caryophyllene 19.1% in SFE and 13.5% in HD. The amount of monoterpenes constituted 4%, in all the analysed samples, while the number of sesquiterpenes was 44% in supercritical and 67% in HD oil. Some compounds were not identified by GC-MS and it will require further analysis using other analytical techniques
Chemical and isotope composition of the oilfield brines from Mishrif Formation (southern Iraq): Diagenesis and geothermometry
No full textThis paper focuses on the geochemical composition and isotope geochemistry of brines in the Cenomanian–Turonian carbonate Mishrif reservoir of southern Iraq. Main dissolved constituents, trace elements, δ2H and δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr, mineral saturation indices and thermodynamic calculations were investigated in formation waters from the Mishrif Formation to obtain a better understanding of brine evolution and diagenetic effects over geological time. Previous published δ11B data were also reinterpreted as a geothermometer tool. The results are compared with previous published data for local oilfields and coeval formations in the Arabian Gulf. The Mishrif brine has a marine origin and is diagenetically modified to Ca-excess and Na-deficit. Formation waters are quartz supersaturated and are in equilibrium with chalcedony and calcite-dolomite in the temperatures range of 50–75 °C, which is also confirmed by calcite-water oxygen isotope fractionation and δ11B geothermometer. The potential role of clays in conditioning brine chemistry during diagenetic processes was highlighted by activity diagrams; in particular, their adsorption/exchange effect on sodium could explain the lower temperature obtained by the Na/Li geothermometer (42 ± 6 °C). The δ2H and δ18O values show that oxygen isotope composition of the brines was isotopically more affected by interaction with limestone during diagenesis than seawater evaporation. The main effect is an 18O-enrichment on the brine starting from the SMOW value. Locally, dilution by present-day meteoric water was also detected (Rumaila South), which is shifted towards the local meteoric water line. The strontium isotope ratios range from 0.707713 to 0.707749 and correspond to a marine strontium of late Cenomanian–early Maastrichtian age, except for the Majnoon sample, which shows a more radiogenic value (0.708043). Radiogenic strontium and gypsum and anhydride saturation indices of the Majnoon sample could indicate the contribution of calcium and sulphate from the strontium-rich sulphate minerals of the Cambrian salt domes occurring in the oilfields of southern Iraq. The higher manganese concentration (4 mg/l) and the slightly higher temperature inferred by geothermometers (up to 74 °C) in comparison with present-day could indicate that the Majnoon brine is a hot fluid, probably related to a deeper structure such as the Zagros Foredeep Fault
Annotated checklist and distribution of the Socotran Archipelago Herpetofauna (Reptilia)
No full textRazzetti, Edoardo, Sindaco, Roberto, Grieco, Cristina, Pella, Francesca, Ziliani, Ugo, Pupin, Fabio, Riservato, Elisa, Pellitteri-Rosa, Daniele, Butikofer, Luca, Suleiman, Ahmed Saeed, Al-Aseily, Badar Awadh (2011): Annotated checklist and distribution of the Socotran Archipelago Herpetofauna (Reptilia). Zootaxa 2826: 1-44, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27727
Literal Translation: Advantages and Disadvantages from the Perspective of Translation Students
No full textThe translator\u27s main task while practicing the process of translating from one language to another is to choose the suitable strategy for the suitable text. Literal translation is the starting point for any translator and may be changed according to the text-type. This means, it is not a fault in translation. While it is sometimes useful, it can have several disadvantages. One of the main drawbacks is that it can result in awkward or unnatural-sounding language, as it may not capture the nuances, idioms, or cultural references present in the original text. This can lead to a loss of meaning or confusion for the reader. This paper is going to search the advantages and disadvantages of literal translation according to the point of view of a group of translation students in Aden University (Yemen)
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