878 research outputs found
A model of a private sector organisation's intention to adopt cloud computing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
No full textCloud computing is a paradigm for providing and delivering IT services over the Internet. The cloud can provide several benefits for organisations, including cost reduction and flexibility. In developing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, cloud computing is still not widely adopted. In fact, migrating an existing system to the cloud depends on a number of factors that may affect an organisation's decision to adopt the cloud in the private sector in Saudi Arabia. In order to encourage the adoption of cloud computing, it is important to understand why some organisations are willing to move to the cloud while others are not. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the factors that may influence an organisation's decision regarding adopting cloud computing. An integrated model is proposed which incorporates critical factors derived from a literature review on technology adoption and cloud computing along with other factors (such as physical location) that have not been examined in previous studies as main factors that may affect the organisation’s decision to adopt cloud services.A study was conducted in private sector organisations in Saudi Arabia in order to improve the proposed model. Interviews were carried out with IT experts to review the identified factors and explore other factors that were not mentioned in previous studies. The second stage of this study was an online questionnaire which was used to confirm the existing factors in the cloud adoption model and other factors that were identified from interviews (trialability, external support, industry, and culture). Among the 17 factors examined, the results of the questionnaire revealed that only two, complexity and competitive pressure, did not significantly impact the adoption decision.Finally, a questionnaire was conducted with 300 IT staff in different organisations in the private sector in Saudi Arabia, in order to test the model for cloud adoption and to explore factors that were positively or negatively associated with cloud adoption. The findings of the evaluation study showed that there was both a direct and indirect effect of the factors on an organisation's intention to adopt the cloud. The findings of this study showed that quality of service and trust are the most influential determinants of cloud adoption. However, security and privacy concerns still prevent cloud adoption in this country. Furthermore, the physical location had a significant direct effect on compliance with regulation and privacy.This study also showed that the effect of these variables differed according to organisation size and in adopter and non-adopter companies. The results confirmed that the proposed model was well-fitted with the collected data. Thus, the developed model is valuable in explaining the adoption of the cloud at organisational level. Overall, the findings of this research provide great value in terms of guidelines to the organisations, cloud providers, managers, government and policy makers on ways of increasing the implementation and encouraging the spread of cloud computing in Middle Eastern countries particularly in Saudi Arabia
Ibn al-Haytham and analytical mathematics: A History of Arabic Sciences and Mathematics
No full textThis volume provides an unique primary source on the history and philosophy of mathematics and the exact sciences in the mediaeval Arab world. The second of five comprehensive volumes, this book offers a detailed exploration of Arabic mathematics in the eleventh century as embodied in the legacy of the celebrated polymath al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham. Extensive analyses and annotations from the eminent scholar, Roshdi Rashed, support a number of key Arabic texts from Ibn al-Haytham’s treatises in infinitesimal mathematics, translated here into English for the first time. Rashed shows how Ibn al-Haytham’s works demonstrate a remarkable mathematical competence in mathematical subjects like the quadrature of the circle and of lunes, the calculation of the volumes of paraboloids, the problem of isoperimetric plane figures and solid figures with equal surface areas, along with the extraction of square and cubic roots
Inevitability of Environmental CSR in Dire Environmental Difficulties and its Ways-Out: Bangladesh Perspective
No full textLink to publisher's homepage at http://ijbt.unimap.edu.myFor being a populated country with inadequate resources, the present environmental state
of Bangladesh is alarming due to on-going exhaustion of the natural environment and its
consequences on society. In Bangladesh, human health, ecosystems and economic growth
are threatened by severe environmental pollution and other environmental concerns.
Bangladesh is facing several natural catastrophes such as floods, cyclones, and tidal-bores
every year due to the environmental externalities which cause severe socio-economic and
ecological damage. Thus, this study aims to highlight various ecological difficulties
currently faced by Bangladesh and its impact on human life and nature. In addition, this
study also focuses on the essence of implementing environmental CSR for sustainable
development. From the literature review, it was found that several environmental concerns
such as air, water and soil pollution, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity are
continuously degrading the natural environment of Bangladesh and its resources.
Concurrently, all these environmental concerns are creating a negative impact on the
socio-economic growth of Bangladesh and its environment. Hence, corporate social
responsibility, mainly, corporate environmental responsibility can play a significant role in
their environment-related activities to lessen the current environmental degradation of
Bangladesh. At the same time, the government should undertake several initiatives to
protect environmental degradation and foster the environmental CSR activities within all
business sectors and increase environmental awareness which is mandatory in order to
attain sustainable development
Corporate performance under corporate governance in the GCC countries / Wael E. AL-Rashed
No full textThis study is an attempt to explore the relation between the new corporate governance enforcement in the Gulf -GCC- countries and management performance at large. Independent variables within corporate governance cluster have been identified to determine their possible effect on other dependent variables within the cluster of management performance. The study provides empirical support of the added value of corporate governance at both the national as well as the regional level. A deductive research method is adopted to better identify the problem and reach some conclusions. It includes a recognized statistical testing as well as a basic arithmetic model to build up some relationships which may lead to some sort of correlations that assist in interpreting and determining perceptions toward the issue. Results have shown noticeable impact of the same across the tested data and calls for more rigid enforcement of legislative governance among GCC firms
Clostridium paraputrificum Bacteremia in a Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review
No full textNehal Hosin,1,* Batool M Abu-Ali,2,* Abdullatif S Al Rashed,1,* Sara M Al-Warthan,3,* Asim E Diab1,* 1Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahd Hospital of the University (Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University), Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Abdullatif S Al Rashed, Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966555969048, Email [email protected]: Clostridium paraputrificum (C. paraputrificum) is clinically important due to its association with underlying medical conditions. Infection with C. paraputrificum may worsen HIV prognosis, leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. However, it is not frequently isolated and its susceptibility to antibiotics has not been well studied. Our report examines the case of a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, who was diagnosed with Clostridium paraputrificum bacteremia. A 59-year-old male was admitted to hospital with a medical history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and neck pain. Following episodes of high fever, the patient received a full work up to test for sepsis. Blood culture revealed bacterial growth, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry confirmed the diagnosis of Clostridium paraputrificum bacteremia. The patient received treatment with meropenem and vancomycin antibiotics, which cleared the infection after 48 hours; however, inflammatory markers remained high. To date, a limited number of reported cases of C. paraputrificum exist; thus, this case report contributes valuable information to the literature to improve our understanding of its action and resistance profiles and aid future bacteremia management.Keywords: clostridia, gram-positive bacteria, anaerobe, pathogen, hepatitis C, hepatitis
Fabrication and characterization of high surface area nickel-deposited graphite substrates
No full textThesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, June 2015. First author.Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, June 2014. Second author.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-63).In certain electrochemical battery cells, inefficiencies arise due to the formation of hydrogen from corrosion reactions at the anode. One way to reduce these inefficiencies is to operate the cell at high current densities, which is obtainable given a high cathode to anode surface area ratio; however, commercially available metal foams often do not provide sufficient surface area density (cm 2/g). Coating high-surface area materials in the appropriate metal is a premier alternative, but while methods to effectively coat two-dimensional substrates in metal through electrodeposition has been well documented, attempts to scale electrodeposition to three-dimensional coating to achieve high-surface area catalysts has encountered certain challenges. The formation of a pure metal crust on the outer surface area of the catalyst prevents the penetration of metal ions into the inner fibers of the material, resulting in a lower surface area density. This thesis describes simple, repeatable electrodeposition methods to increase the homogeneity of the nickel coating throughout highly porous graphite catalysts and prevent the formation of a metal crust. Parameters such as direct/pulsating current, ultrasonic vibration pretreatment, and varying electrodeposition solution concentrations were tested in order to optimize the electrodeposition procedure. Three techniques were used to characterize the post-synthesis surface condition including scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersive spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The improved electrodeposition method led to nickel-coated graphite felt with a specific surface area of 620 cm2/cm 3 and a surface area density of 7500 cm2/g, achieving a 890% higher surface area and 4650% higher surface area density than commercially available nickel foams. The proposed electrodeposition method provides high-surface area, full-volume coating of highly porous catalysts, applicable not only to electrochemical batteries but to any battery chemistry with an electrolyte that contains fuels, particularly flow batteries. The proposed methods to obtain effective full-coated, high-surface area catalysts have the potential to optimize outputted battery power and thereby revolutionize battery electrode fabrication.by Rashed Al-Rashed [and] Marta Krason.S.B
Before and After the Commentators: An Essay in Periodization.
No full textL'articolo considera il significato storico e filosofico dei commentatori neoplatonici di Aristotele. Gli autori situano il recente Sourcebook sui commentatori edito da Richard Sorbji in un contesto più ampio, che include il contributo dei commentatori nella formazione della filosofia tardo-antica e la loro posterità nella tradizione filosofica islamica. Dopo una sezione introduttiva (1) sullo stato attuale della ricerca in questo ambito, gli autori affrontano i temi seguenti: (2) Plotino, i commentatori e lo sviluppo del pensiero tardo antico; (3) il Sourcebook e la filosofia islamica. Riccardo Chiaradonna è co-autore della sezione (1) e autore della sezione (2), dove la ricezione dei trattati di scuola aristotelici è presentata come una caratteristica fondamentale nella transizione dalla filosofia post-ellenistica a quella tardo-antica. Plotino ha un ruolo cruciale in questo processo e l'assimilazione neoplatonica dei trattati di Aristotele non avrebbe avuto luoro senza il suo contributo.This article considers the historical and philosophical significance of the Neoplatonic commentators on Aristotle. The authors set Richard Sorabji's recent Sourcebook on the commentators within a wider backgroung, which covers the commentators' contribution in the shaping of late antique philosophy and their posterity in the Islamic philosophical tradition. After an introductory section (1) regarding the current status of research in this area, the authors tackle the following issues: (2) Plotinus, the commentators and the development of late antique thought; (3) the Sourcebook and Islamic Philosophy. Riccardo Chiaradonna is co-author of section (1) and author of section (2), where the reception of Aristotle's school treatises is set out as a key feature in the transition from Post Hellenistic to Late Antique philosophy. Plotinus has a pivotal position in this process and the Neoplatonic incorporation of Aristotle's treatises would have not taken place without Plotinus' contribution
Language learning needs analysis for the Reform of the omani grade 11 EFL program / Said Hamed Rashed Al- Saadi
No full textTo develop a national framework of needs analysis, the present study investigated the
English language learning needs of the Omani Grade 11 EFL students. Using a
multidimensional model of needs analysis, it addressed the language use context, the
English language instruction context, the learners’ motivation and goal context, and
Means Analysis context. The research questions covered each of the needs dimensions
and examined the competing discourse found between the different stakeholders. In
order to put needs analysis on a sound theoretical and empirical base, the present study
examined the needs of new explored population by addressing the language learning
needs of the pre-university/school level students in the Arab world. Multiple sources,
such as 982 students, 64 teachers, 4 supervisors, 3 heads of department and 4 English
language textbooks were approached for data collection. In addition, a variety of data
was gathered and compared using multiple methods such as questionnaires, interviews,
and textbook analysis. Textbook analysis revealed that reading skill and listening skill
were the language macro skills used most frequently whereas little attention was paid to
speaking and writing skill. Most of the teachers, supervisors and heads of department
perceive speaking as the most important skill to be taught for the Grade 11 students and
listening as the least important skill. The subject of needs analysis (NA) had not yet
received sufficient attention from researchers and language teaching professionals in the
Omani educational system. It was found that the Grade 11 EL curriculum did not meet
the perceived needs of Omani students according to the expectations of students,
teachers, supervisors and heads of department. The majority of respondents considered
that the purpose of the Grade 11 EL program was to prepare the students well to pass
the General Diploma examination. The majority of the teachers, supervisors and heads
of department were not satisfied with the Grade 11 EL program. Examining the comporting discourse among different stakeholders revealed that there was significant
difference found between teachers and students in their attitudes toward the current
English Language program in Grade 11, in their perception of writing and speaking
difficulties. No statistically significant difference was found between urban and rural
students in their perception of the EL learning needs of Omani students in Grade 11.
Finally no significant difference was found between female and male students in their
attitudes toward the current English language program and in their perception of writing
and speaking difficulties.. The implementation needs of the study findings were
analyzed and were provided in reference to the theoretical and the methodological
implications, the underpinning principles and content implications, the teaching material
and methodology implications, and the implications for teacher training and assessment
<i>Persicaria lapathifolia</i> Essential Oil: Chemical Constituents, Antioxidant Activity, and Allelopathic Effect on the Weed <i>Echinochloa colona</i>
No full textThe exploration of new green, ecofriendly bioactive compounds has attracted the attention of researchers and scientists worldwide to avoid the harmful effects of chemically synthesized compounds. Persicaria lapathifolia has been reported to have various bioactive compounds, while its essential oil (EO) has not been determined yet. The current work dealt with the first description of the chemical composition of the EO from the aerial parts of P. lapathifolia, along with studying its free radical scavenging activity and herbicidal effect on the weed Echinochloa colona. Twenty-one volatile compounds were identified via GC–MS analysis. Nonterpenoids were the main components, with a relative concentration of 58.69%, in addition to terpenoids (37.86%) and carotenoid-derived compounds (1.75%). n-dodecanal (22.61%), α-humulene (11.29%), 2,4-dimethylicosane (8.97%), 2E-hexenoic acid (8.04%), γ-nonalactone (3.51%), and limonene (3.09%) were characterized as main compounds. The extracted EO exhibited substantial allelopathic activity against the germination, seedling root, and shoot growth of the weed E. colona in a dose-dependent manner, showing IC50 values of 77.27, 60.84, and 33.80 mg L−1, respectively. In addition, the P. lapathifolia EO showed substantial antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid as a standard antioxidant. The EO attained IC50 values of 159.69 and 230.43 mg L−1, for DPPH and ABTS, respectively, while ascorbic acid exhibited IC50 values 47.49 and 56.68 mg L−1, respectively. The present results showed that the emergent leafy stems of aquatic plants such as P. lapathifolia have considerably low content of the EO, which exhibited substantial activities such as antioxidant and allelopathic activities. Further study is recommended to evaluate the effects of various environmental and climatic conditions on the production and composition of the EOs of P. lapathifolia
Application of tandem mass spectrometry to the diagnosis of tyrosinemia type-i in the Saudi population
No full textThis study is conducted & Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Biochemistry Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud Universit, Riyadh - Saudi Arabia. 8-5-1426 H
15-6-2005 G.
Also Part of this thesis has been published in the Analytical Biochemistry JournalTyrosinemia type-I (Hereditary Tyrosinemia; HT-I) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder. It is the most serious and common of the genetic defects in tyrosine catabolic pathway. The disorder results in extensive clinical and pathological manifestations involving mainly the liver, kidney, and peripheral nerves. HT-I is caused by deficient fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) activity, which leads to the accumulation of succinylacetone (SA), the key marker of the disorder, in the urine and plasma of affected individuals. As HT-I may now be effectively treated and early diagnosis has proven to yield a better clinical outcome, its inclusion in newborn screening programs is being considered in many countries.
Current methods for the detection of the disease are based on the measurements of the SA in urine, plasma, and amniotic fluid by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A semiquantitative spectrophotometric assay, whereby inhibition of δ-aminolevulinic dehydratase by SA in dried blood spot (DBS) is used to rule out the disorder, however possible problems with this strategy is false-positive results if the DBS was exposed to high temperatures, in cases of hereditary δ-ALA dehydratase deficiency, or in cases of lead exposure via cord blood. The disease can be detected by determining FAH deficient activity in human liver, lymphocytes and fibroblast. However, the demonstration of FAH activity alone in any tissue may not be conclusive for the diagnosis of HT-I due to the presence of pseudodeficiency gene of FAH that results in enzyme activity nearly as low as the HT-I gene.
A stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of SA in urine for the diagnosis of HT-I was developed, where the 15N-5(3)-methyl-3(5)-isoxazole propionic acid is used as an internal standard (IS). To urine samples, hydroxylamine HCl was added under acidic condition and heat to yield the methyl-isoxazole propionic acid derivative; this was followed by ether extraction and then the addition of butanolic HCl to give the butylated derivative. The butyl isoxazole derivatives of SA and its IS were detected and quantified using positive-ion Electrospray LC-MS/MS with selected reaction monitoring. The turn around time between injections was 10 min. Calibrations were linear over the range of 0.0633-63.3 μmol/L. The intra- and inter-day assay variations were less than 7%. Mean recoveries of SA at three different concentrations ranged from 96% to 109%. During the course of this study we identified 12 new patients with HT-I and applied this method to follow-up the treatment of four of these patients
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