What are the Motivations for undertaking Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Practices in the Middle-East? A Critical Literature Review

Corporate social responsibility henceforth CSR as a practice that involves doing well and doing good to the society cuts across countries cultures and corporations The CSR activities embarked upon by were mainly of philanthropic nature that is social actions not aimed at profitability or improved financial performance Literature established that the motivations for undertaking CSR differs across continents and corporations because of the influence history cultural norms and philosophies The purpose of this chapter is to discuss different motivations for undertaking CSR practices in the Middle- East with a view enriching the literature with emerging facts and richer understanding of social actions from non-Western hemisphere The authors adopt a qualitative research method by extracting new understanding on the meanings cultural context of CSR and motivations for CSR in the Middle-East using a critical literature review CLR The chapter found five 5 key motivations for CSR in the Middle-East namely religious economic social environmental and globalisation factor

Exploring the theological foundation of Corporate Social Responsibility in Islam, Christianity and Judaism for Strengthening Compliance and Reporting: An Eclectic Approach

Religion in the contemporary times has potentials from which conventional models and theories could leverage for public wellbeing. Considering the moral and ethical dimensions of corporate social responsibility (CSR), understanding this nebulous concept from the religious lenses could help strengthen CSR compliance and reporting in the industrial societies, where religions play direct and indirect role in corporate governance and people‘s lifestyle. This paper explores eclectic sources to provide answer to the questions: Does CSR have theological foundation in Islam Christianity and Judaism? Can religions strengthen CSR and fortify compliance and reporting? The authors sourced the required qualitative data from journal articles, Islamic jurisprudence, Judaic sources and Biblical texts as well as relevant online resources on the subject. The extractions from eclectic sources were subjected to content analysis from which conclusions on the two questions were established. The findings indicate that CSR has theological foundation in the three religions, and religious ethics and values could be potent drivers for strengthening CSR and reporting

ROLE OF THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF CARDIAC MEASURES AND DECLINING OF COMORBIDITIES.

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) can prevent many non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study aimed to assess the health benefits of physical activities including blood pressure and comorbid conditions. Methodology: This is a prospective cohort case-control study that recruited 300 Saudi volunteers living in the city ofHail, Northern Saudi Arabia. Results: Out of 300 participants 155(51.7%) were males and 145 (48.3%) were females. There were 111(37%) participants committed to regular physical activity and the remaining 189(63%) without a defined commitment to physical activity (Uncommitted). Among 111 persons who claimed a commitment to regular physical activity (committed), 61(55%) were males and 50(45%) were females. The majority of committed individuals were at the age group 21-25 years followed by age group 26-30 and 31-35 years representing 32, 30, and 20 persons, respectively. The physical activity was highly practiced at the age range 21-30 years and this was found to be statistically significant P < 0.001. Conclusion: There is a low prevalence of physical activity in Hail region, particularly among females, which necessitates the suggestion of appropriate awareness programs. Younger and elder populations are in much need to be targeted with PA awareness programs

Targeting Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus encoded protease (ORF17) by a lysophosphatidic acid molecule for treating KSHV associated diseases

Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is causative agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma, Multicentric Castleman Disease and Pleural effusion lymphoma. KSHV-encoded ORF17 encodes a protease which cleaves -Ala-Ala-, -Ala-Ser- or -Ala-Thr-bonds. The protease plays an important role in assembly and maturation of new infective virions. In the present study, we investigated expression pattern of KSHV-encoded protease during physiologically allowed as well as chemically induced reactivation condition. The results showed a direct and proportionate relationship between ORF17 expression with reactivation time. We employed virtual screening on a large database of natural products to identify an inhibitor of ORF17 for its plausible targeting and restricting Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus assembly/maturation. A library of 307,814 compounds of biological origin (A total 481,799 structures) has been used as a screen library. 1-oleoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-myo-inositol) was highly effective against ORF17 in in-vitro experiments. The screened compound was tested for the cytotoxic effect and potential for inhibiting Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus production upon induced reactivation by hypoxia, TPA and butyric acid. Treatment of reactivated KSHV-positive cells with 1-oleoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-myo-inositol) resulted in significant reduction in the production of Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus. The study identified a lysophosphatidic acid molecule for alternate strategy to inhibit KSHV-encoded protease and target Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus associated malignancies

Effects of total fat intake on body fatness in adults

Background: The ideal proportion of energy from fat in our food and its relation to body weight is not clear. In order to prevent overweight and obesity in the general population, we need to understand the relationship between the proportion of energy from fat and resulting weight and body fatness in the general population. Objectives: To assess the effects of proportion of energy intake from fat on measures of body fatness (including body weight, waist circumference, percentage body fat and body mass index) in people not aiming to lose weight, using all appropriate randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of at least six months duration. Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) to October 2019. We did not limit the search by language. Selection criteria: Trials fulfilled the following criteria: 1) randomised intervention trial, 2) included adults aged at least 18 years, 3) randomised to a lower fat versus higher fat diet, without the intention to reduce weight in any participants, 4) not multifactorial and 5) assessed a measure of weight or body fatness after at least six months. We duplicated inclusion decisions and resolved disagreement by discussion or referral to a third party. Data collection and analysis: We extracted data on the population, intervention, control and outcome measures in duplicate. We extracted measures of body fatness (body weight, BMI, percentage body fat and waist circumference) independently in duplicate at all available time points. We performed random-effects meta-analyses, meta-regression, subgrouping, sensitivity, funnel plot analyses and GRADE assessment. Main results: We included 37 RCTs (57,079 participants). There is consistent high-quality evidence from RCTs that reducing total fat intake results in small reductions in body fatness; this was seen in almost all included studies and was highly resistant to sensitivity analyses (GRADE high-consistency evidence, not downgraded). The effect of eating less fat (compared with higher fat intake) is a mean body weight reduction of 1.4 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.7 to -1.1 kg, in 53,875 participants from 26 RCTs, I2 = 75%). The heterogeneity was explained in subgrouping and meta-regression. These suggested that greater weight loss results from greater fat reductions in people with lower fat intake at baseline, and people with higher body mass index (BMI) at baseline. The size of the effect on weight does not alter over time and is mirrored by reductions in BMI (MD -0.5 kg/m2, 95% CI -0.6 to -0.3, 46,539 participants in 14 trials, I2 = 21%), waist circumference (MD -0.5 cm, 95% CI -0.7 to -0.2, 16,620 participants in 3 trials; I2 = 21%), and percentage body fat (MD -0.3% body fat, 95% CI -0.6 to 0.00, P = 0.05, in 2350 participants in 2 trials; I2 = 0%). There was no suggestion of harms associated with low fat diets that might mitigate any benefits on body fatness. The reduction in body weight was reflected in small reductions in LDL (-0.13 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.21 to -0.05), and total cholesterol (-0.23 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.14), with little or no effect on HDL cholesterol (-0.02 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.00), triglycerides (0.01 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.07), systolic (-0.75 mmHg, 95% CI -1.42 to -0.07) or diastolic blood pressure(-0.52 mmHg, 95% CI -0.95 to -0.09), all GRADE high-consistency evidence or quality of life (0.04, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.07, on a scale of 0 to 10, GRADE low-consistency evidence). Authors' conclusions: Trials where participants were randomised to a lower fat intake versus a higher fat intake, but with no intention to reduce weight, showed a consistent, stable but small effect of low fat intake on body fatness: slightly lower weight, BMI, waist circumference and percentage body fat compared with higher fat arms. Greater fat reduction, lower baseline fat intake and higher baseline BMI were all associated with greater reductions in weight. There was no evidence of harm to serum lipids, blood pressure or quality of life, but rather of small benefits or no effect

Discourse Analysis of the Dinar Currency System and the single currency agenda in the Gulf States

Dinar (Gold) currency system has been the focal point of monetary authorities in both medieval and modern periods. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the historical connection between the dinar currency system and the single currency agenda in the Gulf States. The authors adopt qualitative research method, while sourcing the required information from the documentary sources. The sourced materials were critically analysed using discourse analysis. The first finding indicates that there is a strong historical connection between the dinar currency system and the single currency system in the Gulf States because of its religious and cultural connection to Muslim countries especially in the Middle East and North Africa (often called MENA). The second finding indicates that the desire by the six GCC member nations to have a single currency is motivated by the strong belief that a single currency in the region would place them at a vantage position to assert their influence economically, diplomatically and politically at the level of international trade relations. The implication of the paper is that the modern calls for the formation of economic and political blocs in the Gulf region have religious and cultural connections with the dinar currency system which collapsed in Turkey in 192

Exploring the theological foundation of Corporate Social Responsibility in Islam, Christianity and Judaism for Strengthening Compliance and Reporting: An Eclectic Approach

Religion in the contemporary times has potentials from which conventional models and theories could leverage for public wellbeing. Considering the moral and ethical dimensions of corporate social responsibility (CSR), understanding this nebulous concept from the religious lenses could help strengthen CSR compliance and reporting in the industrial societies, where religions play direct and indirect role in corporate governance and people‘s lifestyle. This paper explores eclectic sources to provide answer to the questions: Does CSR have theological foundation in Islam Christianity and Judaism? Can religions strengthen CSR and fortify compliance and reporting? The authors sourced the required qualitative data from journal articles, Islamic jurisprudence, Judaic sources and Biblical texts as well as relevant online resources on the subject. The extractions from eclectic sources were subjected to content analysis from which conclusions on the two questions were established. The findings indicate that CSR has theological foundation in the three religions, and religious ethics and values could be potent drivers for strengthening CSR and reporting

The Australian Recommended Food Score did not predict weight gain in middle-aged Australian women during six years of follow-up

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between diet quality score, as measured by the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) and six-year weight gain in middle-aged Australian women. Methods: Participants were a sub-sample of women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) who were followed up from 2001 to 2007 (n= 7,155, aged 48 to 56 years). The ARFS was derived from responses to a sub-set of questions from a food frequency questionnaire, with possible scores ranging from 0 to 74 (maximum). Absolute weight gain was calculated from the difference in self-reported weight between 2001 and 2007. Linear regression was used to test the relationship between diet score and weight change. Results: On average, women gained weight during follow-up (1.6 ± 6.2 kg) and had a mean baseline ARFS of 32.6 (SD 8.7) which was not optimal. There was no association between ARFS and weight change during follow-up (β= 0.016; p=0.08) in the fully adjusted model that included total energy intake, education, area of residence, baseline weight, physical activity, smoking and menopause status. Conclusions: Weight gain and low ARFS were common. However, diet quality as measured by the ARFS did not predict six-year weight gain. Implications: This lack of association may be due to limitations related to AFRS, or may be a false negative finding. Further research is warranted to evaluate the impact of promoting optimal diet quality on weight gain prospectively. © 2013 The Authors. ANZJPH © 2013 Public Health Association of Australia