Universal human rights : a comparative study of the Charter of Medina and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Islam often receives criticism, particularly from right-wing movements, sections of media, governments, and the wider community in the West, for its lack of respect for respect human rights. In order to dispel such common myths about Islam, this study compares the Charter of Medina and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in terms of basic human rights, civil and political rights, and economic and social human rights. It also analyses the contents, concepts and principles of the Medina Charter, highlights the opinions and translations of Orientalists regarding the Charter, and identifies mistakes and shortcomings in those translations. To achieve these objectives, this study adopts a qualitative approach to analyse the Medina Charter and the UDHR. Document analysis, content analysis and thematic analysis were undertaken. These analyses show that the Orientalists are not proficient in Arabic and, at times, they have even relied on controversial Arabic books such as Al-Aghani (The Book of Songs) to understand and interpret the Medina Charter. The findings of the study also reveal that the Medina Charter could be used to establish universal legal frameworks that include both the individual and the tribe in order to achieve a level of political stability. The data analysis indicates that the Medina Charter considered the cultural and religious differences among people, unlike the Universal Declaration, which was drafted solely on the basis of Western thought. More importantly, the analysis shows that all the political and civil rights tenets stated in the UDHR were originally derived from the Medina Charter. This is indicative of the precedents set in the Sharia and their influence on the determination and preservation of human rights. Further, the data analysis reveals that the Sharia could be used to develop legal and policy mechanisms to protect all human rights of individuals, and that the rights relating to safety and social security in the UDHR in practice are less desirable than those in the Medina Charter. The research argues that the West can learn from Islam by knowing and understanding its approach to, and application of, human rights. This may enable Orientalists and Western-centric cultures to change their ill-informed stance. The study concluded that human rights embodied in the UDHR are less universal and overarching than those in the Sharia. Consequently, the reforms needed in the UDHR would benefit from the existing legislation in the Medina Charter that consider the cultural and religious differences in society

An ecophysiological study on the moss hydrogoniuh fontanum from the Asir mountains, Saudi Arabia

The thesis describes a study on the ecophysiology of the moss Hydrogonium fontanum (C. Mail.) Jaeg., the dominant plant at a waterfall in Saudi Arabia. The influence of environmental variables and water stress on the growth, stress metabolite accumulation and phosphatase activities of the moss was studied in laboratory axenic culture along with observations and experiments conducted in the field. The variables chosen for growth experiments were light flux, flooding, nutrient concentrations and water stress. For phosphatase activities, the influence of temperature, pH, ions, water stress were studied. Differences were found in phosphatase activities for rhlzoids, protonema and leafy shoots of the moss and, therefore, the phosphomonoesterase (PMEase) and phosphodiesterase (PDEase) activities of these fractions were also investigated. H. fontanum was originally collected from the tufa-depositing waterfall (Water chemistry - 44 mg 1(^-1) Na, 44 mg 1(^-1) Ca). High Na and Ca had significant positive effect on yield of the protonema under the laboratory conditions. Low light intensity (10 µmol photon m(^-2) s(^-1)) decreased the yield, but high light intensity (90 µmol photon m(^-2) s(^-1)) increased the yield of the protonema. The moss showed no response to water stress in respect to praline accumulation. Protein content decreased significantly over 48 h with increase in water stress. The Influence of water stress was greater in terms of dry weight and chlorophyll content changes in protonema than in leafy shoots. The protonema was capable of using various organic P substrates as sources of phosphorus and showed both PMEase and PDEase activities. PMEase and PDEase activities were detectable in all moss fractions (rhizoids, protonema, leafy shoots). Laboratory grown material showed higher activities than field grown material. Rhizoids produced the highest PMEase and PDEase activities among the moss fractions. Some leafy shoots collected from the field had low phosphorus content with high phosphatase activities, while others had high phosphorus content with low phosphatase activities. Changes in phosphatase activities in batch culture were studied in relation to growth rate. PMEase activity was first evident when cellular P was 1.15% with low activity (0.117 µmol pNP mg d. wt(^-1) h(^-1)) and PDEase appeared 4 days later when cellular P was 0.54%. The activities increased up to day 12 after which the activities maintained this level. The optimum temperatures, measured over a period of 1 h, for PMEase and PDEase activities were 60 ºC and 65 ºC with pH optima of 5.5-6.0 and 6.4-6.8, respectively. Of the six ions tested, Ca, Zn and P had significant inhibitory effects on the activities at the highest concentration used (10 mM).Drying the moss decreases PMEase and PDEase activities by about 23% and 21% (5-d) and 3.7 and 2,8 times (3 months), respectively. Water stress (PEG treatment) also reduced significantly the activities of PMEase and PDEase with a greater effect on the activity of the latter. A brief comparison in PMEase activity using two different substrates p- nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) and 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (4-MUP) was made to investigate the pH optima and time course. PMEase activity measured using 250 µM 4-MUP was about 60% of that measured using the same concentration of pNPP

Occurrence and germination of dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments from the Red Sea off the coasts of Saudi Arabia

AbstractThe distribution and abundance of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages were investigated in surface sediments from south-western Red sea coasts of Saudi Arabia at six sites during March 2010. A total of 19 taxa of dinoflagellate cysts were identified from all sites. The sampling sites showed a similar cyst assemblage, but they differed in total cyst abundance (3 to 4083 cysts g−1 dry weight). Cyst abundance was strongly correlated with sediment characteristics, the highest numbers being recorded in sediments with large contents of organic carbon, silt and clay. Cyst assemblages were dominated by cysts of potentially toxic species, including Cochlodinium polykrikos, Prorocentrum minimum, Dinophysis acuminata, Alexandrium catenella and Scrippsiella trochoidea. Most cysts germinated successfully at different rates at 15 and 25° C. This study suggests that surface sediments from all Saudi Red Sea coasts should be monitored for the presence of dinoflagellate cysts to give ample warning of the presence and abundance of toxic species in a given area

Direct Enantiomeric Resolution of Betaxolol with Application to Analysis of Pharmaceutical Products

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the separation and determination of S- and R-enantiomers of betaxolol in tablets and ophthalmic preparations. Baseline resolution was achieved by using teicoplanin macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phase (CSP) known as Chirobiotic T with fluorescence detection at excitation/emission wavelengths 275/305 nm. The polar ionic mobile phase (PIM) consists of methanol-glacial acetic acid-triethylamine, (100:0.020:0.025, v/v/v) has been used at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min. All analytes with S-(–)-atenolol as internal standard were conducted at ambient temperature. The method is highly specific where another coformulated compounds did not interfere. The stability of betaxolol enantiomers under different degree of temperature also studied. The results showed that it is stable for at least 7 days at 70°C. The method validated for its linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness. Experimental design was used during validation to evaluate method robustness. Using the chromatographic conditions described, S- and R-betaxolol were well resolved with mean retention times of 11.3 and 12.6 min, respectively. Linear response (r > 0.997) was observed over the range of 10–500 ng/ml of betaxolol enantiomers, with detection limit of 5 ng/ml. The recoveries of S- and R-betaxolol from tablets and ophthalmic preparation ranged from 97.4 to 101.4% and 98.0 to 102.0%, respectively. The mean relative standard deviation (R.S.D.%) for both enantiomers were 1.1–1.4% and 1.3–1.7% in tablets and ophthalmic solution, respectively

LEADERSHIP STYLE AMONG MIDDLE MANAGERS IN SAUDI MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Background: Middle managers within ministry of health act under continuous pressure from board level to be successful leaders of today's and tomorrow's healthcare service. Leadership styles are important factors among middle managers to retain employees in organizations and to ensure a high quality of practice.Aims: Two main aims: to examine the leadership style(s) of middle managers as perceived by them as leader from different departments of the Saudi Ministry of Health, and to examine the leadership style(s) of the middle managers as perceived by their subordinates as raters from different departments of the Saudi Ministry of Health.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to answer the research questions. A convenience sample of 121 participants, 30 middle managers and 91 subordinates, who were recruited through different departments at Saudi Ministry of Health during the period of June 2010 through September 2010.Participants were subjected to Univariate and Multivariate analysis. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to collect data.Results: the mean ratings of all four components of transformational leadership for the subordinates and middle managers were between 2.90 to 3.29 .The mean ratings for contingent reward and management by exception active were 3.30 and 2.50 respectively and this was well within the optimum range as suggested by Bass. Management by exception passive and laissez-faire showed mean ratings of 1.67 and 1.25 respectively. The correlation coefficients among transformational leadership style and each variable of, satisfaction, effectiveness and extra effort for raters and leaders sample was high positively reached (r = .72, p< 0.05) , (r = .81, p< 0.05) , (r = .80, p< 0.05) respectively, The correlation coefficients among transactional leadership style and each variable of, satisfaction, effectiveness and extra effort for raters and leaders sample was high positively reached (r = .20, p<0.05) , (r = .44, p< 0.05) , (r = .35, p< 0.05) respectively, and The correlation coefficients among laissez -Faire leadership style and each variable of, satisfaction, effectiveness and extra effort for raters and leaders sample was high negatively reached (r = -.48, p< 0.05) , (r = -.46, p< 0.05) , (r = -.43, p< 0.05) respectively. There are agreement between leaders and raters on transformational, transactional and laissez-faire as distributive in Saudi Ministry of Health in kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The result showed there was no significant difference on the MLQ factors for raters and Leader due to gender, marital status, and age. Also , the analysis showed significant differences among raters’ opinions due to work experiences as contingent reward and extra effort in favor of raters who experience of them more than ˃ 6 Month, and finally, the analysis showed there significant differences among raters’ opinions due to period working with leaders as transformational, idealized Influence attributed, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, contingent reward, and effectiveness in favor of raters who working with leaders for a period between 6 months - ˂ 1 year, but significant differences among raters’ opinions due to period working with leaders as Laissez –Faire in favor of raters who working with leaders for a period between 1 year - 2 years.Conclusions: transformational leadership can contribute a lot to the effectiveness of organizations and that there is a need for further investigation of leadership at different levels

Induced voltages on fence wires and pipelines by AC powertransmission lines

A method is developed for calculating the induced voltages on fence wires/pipelines underneath AC power transmission lines. The method is based on the charge simulation technique and takes into account the disturbances of the electric field and potential due to the presence of the fence wire/pipeline underneath the line. The calculated values of the induced voltage on fence wires are compared with those measured before. Induced voltages on pipelines underneath 230- and 380-kV lines are measured, correlated to the calculated values and discussed in the light of electric field induction on objects adjacent to AC power transmission line

Metrics for Broadband Networks in the Context of the Digital Economies

In a transition to automated digital management of broadband networks, communication service providers must look for new metrics to monitor these networks. Complete metrics frameworks are already emerging whereas majority of the new metrics are being proposed in technical papers. Considering common metrics for broadband networks and related technologies, this chapter offers insights into what metrics are available, and also suggests active areas of research. The broadband networks being a key component of the digital ecosystems are also an enabler to many other digital technologies and services. Reviewing first the metrics for computing systems, websites and digital platforms, the chapter focus then shifts to the most important technical and business metrics which are used for broadband networks. The demand-side and supply-side metrics including the key metrics of broadband speed and broadband availability are touched on. After outlining the broadband metrics which have been standardized and the metrics for measuring Internet traffic, the most commonly used metrics for broadband networks are surveyed in five categories: energy and power metrics, quality of service, quality of experience, security metrics, and robustness and resilience metrics. The chapter concludes with a discussion on machine learning, big data and the associated metrics