An Analysis of the Relationship Between Strategic Management and Firm Performance: A Case of Telecommunication Firms in Saudi Arabia

The advantages of studying the analysis of relationship between the strategic planning processes and firm performance cannot be overemphasized, especially in the clustering industrials or firms environments where it is mainly used as a measured for strategic planning processes’ selection. Achieving organizational effectiveness is an exclusive and continuing struggle for every organizations or firms in Saudi Arabia, while many efforts that involve a huge amount of money are invested towards to meet this crucial aim. However, there has not been a research about the analysis of the relationship between the strategic planning processes and firm’s performance in Saudi Arabia, which is seen as a way for organizations to meet their set target for the yearly activities. Therefore, this study is presented to analysis the relationship between planning process and firm performance of telecommunication firms in Saudi Arab for proper method’s selection which will be benefited for the firms. The use of proportionate stratified random sampling was adopted where questionnaires were distributed among executives of the selected firms. The total of 120 executives was chosen from 20 selected firms as sample of this study. Thus, this study has helps to define the factors that required a crucial attention in the planning process and exhibited approach needed to have effective and profitable organizational performance in Saudi Arabia market

Metabolomic profiling of certain Salsola species growing in Saudi Arabia and isolation of their active principles

Medicinal plants have long been recognized as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic properties. Many of these plants contain a wide array of micro molecules, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and other phytochemicals, which have been found to possess antioxidant and anticancer properties. Oxidative stress can play a significant role in the development and progression of cancer. Therefore, searching for antioxidant compounds is indeed step towards protection against cancer. The flora of Saudi Arabia offers a valuable resource of plants that have not been extensively studied for their chemical and biological activity. Salsola kali (Amaranthaceae), commonly known as prickly saltwort or tumbleweed, is found in the Saudi flora, possesses medicinal importance and is employed in traditional medicinal practices. In this work, the biological activity of the aerial parts of Salsola kali total methanol extract (KM) as well as its ethyl acetate (EtOAc) (KE) fraction were tested for their antioxidant activity adopting DPPH assay. Moreover, their anticancer activities were assessed in vitro using brine shrimp assay and against different human cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7, HCT 116). The results showed promising antioxidant as well as anticancer activities especially against HepG2 with IC50 values of 104.5 μg/mL and 34.5 μg/mL for KM and KE, respectively. A metabolomics-guided approach was applied by using NMR and LC-HRMS as profiling tools to afford an intensive chemical profile of the Salsola to target the bioactive metabolites. The spectral data was processed using Xcalibur, MZmine 2.53, in-house MS-Excel macro, and Dictionary of Natural Products for dereplication studies. (KE) fractions were subjected to extensive metabolic studies. A supervised multivariate analysis was done by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) in SIMCA-P V 17.0 to predict and pinpoint the plausible bioactive components. The result revealed that 43 hits were detected in the extract which fall under the chemical classes of phenolics, more especially flavonoids and their derivatives, organic acids, nitrogenous compounds, and sugar derivatives. Further, the EtOAc fraction of Salsola kali (KE) was fractionated on MPLC and the obtained 15 fractions tested again for their antioxidant activity. Higher anti-oxidant activities for the EtOAc crude extract as compared to its methanolic congruent. Several EtOAc fractions including; F4, F5, F6, F7-9, F52-55, F56-60, and F61-76 showed significant anti-oxidant activities as compared to ascorbic acid within the range from 41% and up to almost 65 %. Major active compounds in the bioactive fractions were then isolated by different chromatographic techniques. The five isolated compounds were characterized by NMR and identified as lupeol (1), trans 4-methoxy cinnamic acid (2), ferulic acid (3), 4-anisaldehyde (4) and isorhamnetin -3-O-β-Dgalactopyranoside (5) which were reported for the first time in S. kali. Based on the presented data, our study would greatly add to the knowledge of identifying promising candidates of natural origin for drug discovery and development process.Medicinal plants have long been recognized as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic properties. Many of these plants contain a wide array of micro molecules, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and other phytochemicals, which have been found to possess antioxidant and anticancer properties. Oxidative stress can play a significant role in the development and progression of cancer. Therefore, searching for antioxidant compounds is indeed step towards protection against cancer. The flora of Saudi Arabia offers a valuable resource of plants that have not been extensively studied for their chemical and biological activity. Salsola kali (Amaranthaceae), commonly known as prickly saltwort or tumbleweed, is found in the Saudi flora, possesses medicinal importance and is employed in traditional medicinal practices. In this work, the biological activity of the aerial parts of Salsola kali total methanol extract (KM) as well as its ethyl acetate (EtOAc) (KE) fraction were tested for their antioxidant activity adopting DPPH assay. Moreover, their anticancer activities were assessed in vitro using brine shrimp assay and against different human cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7, HCT 116). The results showed promising antioxidant as well as anticancer activities especially against HepG2 with IC50 values of 104.5 μg/mL and 34.5 μg/mL for KM and KE, respectively. A metabolomics-guided approach was applied by using NMR and LC-HRMS as profiling tools to afford an intensive chemical profile of the Salsola to target the bioactive metabolites. The spectral data was processed using Xcalibur, MZmine 2.53, in-house MS-Excel macro, and Dictionary of Natural Products for dereplication studies. (KE) fractions were subjected to extensive metabolic studies. A supervised multivariate analysis was done by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) in SIMCA-P V 17.0 to predict and pinpoint the plausible bioactive components. The result revealed that 43 hits were detected in the extract which fall under the chemical classes of phenolics, more especially flavonoids and their derivatives, organic acids, nitrogenous compounds, and sugar derivatives. Further, the EtOAc fraction of Salsola kali (KE) was fractionated on MPLC and the obtained 15 fractions tested again for their antioxidant activity. Higher anti-oxidant activities for the EtOAc crude extract as compared to its methanolic congruent. Several EtOAc fractions including; F4, F5, F6, F7-9, F52-55, F56-60, and F61-76 showed significant anti-oxidant activities as compared to ascorbic acid within the range from 41% and up to almost 65 %. Major active compounds in the bioactive fractions were then isolated by different chromatographic techniques. The five isolated compounds were characterized by NMR and identified as lupeol (1), trans 4-methoxy cinnamic acid (2), ferulic acid (3), 4-anisaldehyde (4) and isorhamnetin -3-O-β-Dgalactopyranoside (5) which were reported for the first time in S. kali. Based on the presented data, our study would greatly add to the knowledge of identifying promising candidates of natural origin for drug discovery and development process

Primary cultures of chick osteocytes retain functional gap junctions between osteocytes and between osteocytes and osteoblasts

The inaccessibility of osteocytes due to their embedment in the calcified bone matrix in vivo has precluded direct demonstration that osteocytes use gap junctions as a means of intercellular communication. In this article, we report successfully isolating primary cultures of osteocytes from chick calvaria, and, using anti-connexin 43 immunocytochemistry, demonstrate gap junction distribution to be comparable to that found in vivo. Next, we demonstrate the functionality of the gap junctions by (1) dye coupling studies that showed the spread of microinjected Lucifer Yellow from osteoblast to osteocyte and between adjacent osteocytes and (2) analysis of fluorescence replacement after photobleaching (FRAP), in which photobleaching of cells loaded with a membrane-permeable dye resulted in rapid recovery of fluorescence into the photobleached osteocyte, within 5 min postbleaching. This FRAP effect did not occur when cells were treated with a gap junction blocker (18 alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid), but replacement of fluorescence into the photobleached cell resumed when it was removed. These studies demonstrate that gap junctions are responsible for intercellular communication between adjacent osteocytes and between osteoblasts and osteocytes. This role is consistent with the ability of osteocytes to respond to and transmit signals over long distances while embedded in a calcified matrix. </p

Application of Transtheoretical Model of Change on Foot Care Management among Diabetic Patients: Prevention Better than Cure

Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most common consequences of uncontrolled blood glucose level which takes place in 15% of people with diabetes, and precedes 84% of all diabetes-related lower-leg amputations that have the adverse effect on the diabetic patients causing physical, psychosocial, and financial burden as well as an economic burden on health care system. The aim of the study is to improve foot care management among diabetic patients by applying the Transtheoretical Model of Change. Design: A quasi-experimental design was conducted with a systematic random sample. Study sample: 154 patients who were selected from the registration system were divided equally into (77 study group) and (77 control group). Setting: the study was conducted at the outpatient diabetic clinic affiliated to Tanta University Hospital and Segar primary health care center affiliated to ministry of health, Tanat Governorate, Egypt. Tools: three tools were used for the purpose of data collection (I) Bio-socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire;(II)Trans-theoretical Model scale and (III) Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (DMSES). A survey was conducted by using Arabic version of self-reporting questionnaire to assess the stages of change and self efficacy among the studied groups as a baseline and during the implementation of foot care intervention program. Results revealed that, there was a statistical significant difference in the stages of change of the Transtheoretical Model for diabetic foot care management of the study group compared to the control group at 2, 4, and 6 months after implementation of intervention program. In addition, there was a statistical significant difference in Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Levels between study group who received program intervention compared to control group 6 months after intervention. Recommendation: encouraging nurses who are dealing with diabetic patients to use the Transtheoretical Model of change or other health promotion models to enhance diabetic patient for foot care management, and adoption of healthy behavior.Keywords: Transtheoretical model of change, diabetic foot care management

Software defined networking (SDN) and its security issues

The demand of network infrastructure and services is ever increasing. The network architecture and related technology must be flexible enough to accommodate the ever-growing number of users. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is an approach of networking architecture that improvise conventional network in terms of scalability, security, and availability. At the same time, SDN is vulnerable to security threats as well. This paper studies on SDN architecture, the improvement of SDN from conventional network, the vulnerability and threats in SDN, and possible solutions to some security threats examples. It gives an overview of SDN and security – the architecture advantages that can be leveraged to secure network systems, and the security threats that may occur if improper design and deployment of SDN take place

Early loss of primary teeth among children in Thamar city, Yemen

Objectives: The premature loss of primary teeth is a potential risk factor for poor arch length development. Adequate arch length is important to the progression of the permanent teeth. Poor arch length can lead to crowding, ectopic eruption, or impaction of these teeth. This study is designed to assess the prevalence of premature loss of primary teeth in the 5-10-year-old age group. Materials and Methods: The study group included 185 children, that is, 91 boys and 94 girls. The dental examination was conducted by an experienced examiner under sufficient artificial light. Data including patient age and missing teeth were collected. Descriptive statistics were applied for data analysis, and from the results, Chi-square tests were used at a level of significance of 5% (P < 0.05). Results: We observed a 40.54% prevalence of premature loss of primary teeth with no statistically significant difference between genders. The lower left primary second molar was the most commonly absent tooth in the dental arch (13.5%). Conclusion: The status of premature loss of primary teeth was high in the study group. Implementation of efficient educational and preventive programs to promote oral health would help children maintain a healthy primary dentition and eventually prevent the disturbances in the future development of normal occlusion. Early detection and management of the space problems associated with the early loss of primary teeth would help in reducing malocclusion problems

Thin-shell wormhole under non-commutative geometry inspired Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity

Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity is a generalization of the general relativity to higher dimensions in which the first and second-order terms correspond to general relativity and Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity respectively. We construct a new class of five-dimensional (5D) thin-shell wormholes by the `Cut-Paste' technique from black holes in Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity inspired by non-commutative geometry starting with a static spherically symmetric, Gaussian mass distribution as a source and for this structural form of the thin shell wormhole we have explored several salient features of the solution, viz., pressure-density profile, equation of state, the nature of wormhole, total amount of exotic matter content at the shell. We have also analyzed the linearized stability of the constructed wormhole. From our study we can assert that our model is found to be plausible with reference to the other model of thin-shell wormhole available in literature.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figure

Assessing the Relationship Between Marketing Mix Strategy and Physicians&apos; Satisfaction Through Perceived Value in Yemeni Pharmaceutical Industry

This study had brought together many areas such as marketing, relationship marketing, medicinal marketing, and industrial marketing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between three key variables, namely marketing mix strategy, customers&quot; perceived value and physicians&quot; satisfaction in the pharmaceutical industry in Yemen. The independent variables in this study consisted of the elements of marketing mix strategy that were empirically examined and found to be the antecedent of the customers&quot; perceived value, while the physicians&quot; satisfaction was the consequence of the perceived value. The theoretical model was tested using data collected from a self-administrated questionnaire distributed to 300 specialist physicians in Sana&quot;a city. Out of the 300 questionnaires, 170 were returned by the end of September 2013. The SPSS results of this study showed that the marketing mix strategy had a significant and positive impact on the customers&quot; perceived value and physicians&quot; satisfaction. In addition, the result showed that the customer perceived value had a significant impact on the physicians&quot; satisfaction. The research results obtained empirically proved that the customers&quot; perceived value mediated the relationship between the marketing mix strategy and physicians&quot; satisfaction