Exploring, Examining, and Explaining How Participatory Governance Adds Value to Saudi Foundations’ Philanthropic Strategy

Foundations’ flexibility, given their independence from fundraising imperatives, competition forces, and accountability pressures, enables them to invest in long-term, high-risk, multi-level experiments to deal with the increasingly complex societal problems. This flexibility, coupled with the growing role philanthropy plays in promoting social welfare across the world, is arguably what makes studies that focus on foundations’ philanthropic approaches of utmost importance. There is a mounting interest among scholars in the governance of foundations, the systems and processes concerned with ensuring the overall strategic direction of organizations. Influenced by agency and stewardship theories, an increasing number of studies address such topics as boards’ internal control, e.g. CEO oversight, and collaborative, e.g. resource development, practices. One topic that has received little attention, both in academia and in a plethora of best practice toolkits, is stakeholders’ participation. Beyond board compositional representation, relatively little research has been conducted about the democratic and collective intelligence approaches of decision making that can create more sustainable social transformations. This study employed a three-phase, mixed-methods research design to study the role of participatory governance in shaping Saudi foundations’ philanthropic strategy. The study started with an initial exploratory investigation of strategy formulation processes among seven diverse foundations. Based on the literature review and exploratory phase findings, a dataset on 54 foundations was developed to statistically examine the relationships between governance practices and philanthropic strategy. A seven-months case study was then conducted to explore potential factors that may explain how participatory practices may influence strategies. Results suggest a significant relationship between participatory governance and philanthropic strategy. Comprehensive, deep and systematic stakeholders’ participation practices are positively associated with more evolved, high risk, multi-level, and resourceful philanthropic approaches. Additionally, while control and stewardship governance practices showed a negative association with philanthropic strategy, their implementation in high levels marginally improve the positive impact of participatory governance on strategy development. Explanatory factors included exposure to broader issues/factors, revelation of alternative solutions, reinforcing trust and commitment, and key players’ identification and engagement. Results may be used to inform the development of participatory forms of leadership, even among society’s most unconstrained organizations

Comparative Immunomodulatory Activity of Nigella sativa L. Preparations on Proinflammatory Mediators: A Focus on Asthma

Introduction: A range of traditional and commercial preparations of NS is frequently used in the treatment of several inflammatory diseases. Often, these preparations have poor preclinical characterization that may lead to variable pharmacological effects.Objective: To assess the in vitro effects of different chemically defined preparations of NS on some asthma-related mediators of inflammation.Methods: Different NS preparations were obtained by either seed extraction with a spectrum of solvents ranging from lipophilic to hydrophilic, or commercial products were collected. The TQ concentration of NS was analyzed by HPLC. Immunomodulatory activity was assessed by the release of mediators (IL-2, IL-6, PGE2) in primary human T-lymphocytes, monocytes, and A549 human lung epithelial cells.Results: Ten distinct NS preparations showed variability in TQ concentration, being highest in the oily preparations extract-7 (2.4% w/w), followed by extract-10 (0.7%w/w). Similarly, the release of mediators was varied, being greatest in extract-7 and 10 via significantly (<0.05) suppressing IL-2, IL-6, and PGE2 in T-lymphocytes as well as IL-6 and PGE2 in monocytes. Also, PGE2 release in A549 cells was significantly enhanced by both extracts.Conclusion: The TQ concentration and in vitro activity were variable among the different NS preparations. TQ-rich oily NS preparations produced potent favorable immunomodulation in asthma inflammation and can be used in future studies

The Use of the Deep Convective Cloud Technique (DCCT) to Monitor On-Orbit Performance of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM): Use of Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Data as Proxy

The Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on the next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) will not have onboard calibration capability to monitor its performance. The Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been providing observations of total lightning over the Earth's Tropics since 1997. The GLM design is based on LIS heritage, making it a good proxy dataset. This study examines the performance of LIS throughout its time in orbit. This was accomplished through application of the Deep Convective Cloud Technique (DCCT) (Doelling et al., 2004) to LIS background pixel radiance data. The DCCT identifies deep convective clouds by their cold Infrared (IR) brightness temperatures and using them as invariant targets in the solar reflective portion of the solar spectrum. The GLM and LIS operate in the near-IR at a wavelength of 777.4 nm. In the present study the IR data is obtained from the Visible Infrared Sensor (VIRS) which is collocated with LIS onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. The DCCT is applied to LIS observations for July and August of each year from 1998-2010. The resulting distributions of LIS background DCC pixel radiance for each July August are very similar, indicating stable performance. The mean radiance of the DCCT analysis does not show a long term trend and the maximum deviation of the July August mean radiance for each year is within 0.7% of the overall mean. These results demonstrate that there has been no discernible change in LIS performance throughout its lifetime. A similar approach will used for monitoring the performance of GLM, with cold clouds identified using IR data from the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) which will also be located on GOES-R. Since GLM is based on LIS design heritage, the LIS results indicate that GLM should also experience stable performance over its lifetime

Assessing the Lifetime Performance of the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS): Implications for the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM)

Project motivation is to analyze the performance of the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) over its 13 years in orbit and examine implications for the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM)

Assessing the Lifetime Performance of the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS): Implications for the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM)

The Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been providing observations of total lightning over the Earth s Tropics for 13 years. This study examines the performance of the LIS throughout its time in orbit. Application of the Deep Convective Cloud Technique (DCCT) (Doelling et al., 2004) was performed on the LIS background pixels to assess the stability of the LIS instrument. The DCCT analysis indicates that the maximum deviation of the monthly mean radiance is within 2% of the overall mean, indicating stable performance over the period. In addition, an examination of the number of flashes detected over time similarly shows no significant trend (after adjusting for the orbit boost that occurred in August 2001). These and other results indicate that there has been no discernible change in LIS performance throughout its lifetime. A similar approach will used for monitoring the performance of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) onboard the next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R). Since GLM is based on LIS design heritage, the LIS results indicate that GLM may also experience stable performance over its lifetime

Initial Results from the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on the International Space Station (ISS) and Comparison with Observations from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) LIS

No abstract availabl

Variation of a Lightning NOx Indicator for National Climate Assessment

In support of the National Climate Assessment (NCA) program, satellite Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) data is used to estimate lightning nitrogen oxides (LNOx) production over the southern portion of the conterminous US. The total energy of each flash is estimated by analyzing the LIS optical event data associated with each flash (i.e., event radiance, event footprint area, and derivable event range). The LIS detects an extremely small fraction of the total flash energy; this fraction is assumed to be constant apart from the variability associated with the flash optical energy detected across the narrow (0.909 nm) LIS band. The estimate of total energy from each flash is converted to moles of LNOx production by assuming a chemical yield of 10(17) molecules Joule(-1). The LIS-inferred variable LNOx production from each flash is summed to obtain total LNOx production, and then appropriately enhanced to account for LIS detection efficiency and LIS view time. Annual geographical plots and time series of LNOx production are provided for a 16 year period (1998-2013)

Investigating the Use of Deep Convective Clouds (DCCT) to Monitor On-orbit Performance of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) using Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Measurements

There is a need to monitor the on-orbit performance of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R (GOES-R) for changes in instrument calibration that will affect GLM's lightning detection efficiency. GLM has no onboard calibration so GLM background radiance observations (available every 2.5 min) of Deep Convective Clouds (DCCs) are investigated as invariant targets to monitor GLM performance. Observations from the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) and the Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite are used as proxy datasets for GLM and ABI 11 m measurements

Nigella sativa supplementation Improves asthma control and biomarkers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Poor compliance with conventional asthma medications remains a major problem in achieving asthma control. Nigella sativa oil (NSO) is used traditionally for many inflammatory conditions such as asthma. We aimed to investigate the benefits of NSO supplementation on clinical and inflammatory parameters of asthma. NSO capsules 500 mg twice daily for 4 weeks were used as a supplementary treatment in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in asthmatics (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02407262). The primary outcome was Asthma Control Test score. The secondary outcomes were pulmonary function test, blood eosinophils and total serum Immunoglobulin E. Between 1 June and 30 December 2015, 80 asthmatics were enrolled, with 40 patients in each treatment and placebo groups. After 4 weeks, ten patients had withdrawn from each group. Compared with placebo, NSO group showed a significant improvement in mean Asthma Control Test score 21.1 (standard deviation = 2.6) versus 19.6 (standard deviation = 3.7) (p = 0.044) and a significant reduction in blood eosinophils by −50 (−155 to −1) versus 15 (−60 to 87) cells/μL (p = 0.013). NSO improved forced expiratory volume in 1 second as percentage of predicted value by 4 (−1.25 to 8.75) versus 1 (−2 to 5) but non-significant (p = 0.170). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that NSO supplementation improves asthma control with a trend in pulmonary function improvement. This was associated with a remarkable normalization of blood eosinophlia. Future studies should follow asthmatics for longer periods in a multicentre trial

ПРОБЛЕМЫ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ ПРОИЗВОДСТВА БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИ ПОЛНОЦЕННЫХ КОМБИКОРМОВ ДЛЯ РЫБ В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ БЕЛАРУСЬ

Development of aquaculture in recent decades demonstrates rapid growth. In a number of countries the volume of bred fish already exceeds the volume of caught fish from natural reservoirs. In this regard there is a need to develop efficient feed products, as well as develop technologies for fish feed production. In the Republic of Belarus, the formulations and technologies are already developed for production of feeds for carp of different ages, young salmon and sturgeon fish, as well as requirement specifications for these feeds. At present, developments are in progress for therapeutic and preventive compound feeds against bacterial infections of carp fish, researches and development of new raw materials components. The further development of the fish industry of the republic depends on high-quality and biologically complete compound feeds. The article considers peculiarities of freshwater fish feeding. The main directions of research in the field of development and improvement of compound feeds for fish are outlined, the main of which are the development of new types of modern raw materials and improvement of production technology thereof. Recommendations are proposed for development of waste free technologies for processing raw food products with obtaining high-tech feed products of domestic production, namely fry compound feeds by microgranulation and microextruding methods, which will allow to reduce the country’s dependence on imported compound feeds.Развитие аквакультуры в последние десятилетия демонстрирует стремительный рост. В ряде стран объемы выращиваемой рыбы уже превышают объемы выловленной рабы из естественных водоемов. В связи с этим возникает необходимость разработки эффективных кормовых продуктов, а также развития технологий производства рыбных комбикормов. В Республике Беларусь уже разработаны рецептуры и технологии производства кормов для карпа разных возрастов, сеголеток лососевых и осетровых рыб и технические условия на эти комбикорма. В настоящее время ведутся разработки лечебно-профилактических комбикормов против бактериальных инфекций карповых рыб, исследование и разработка новых сырьевых компонентов. Дальнейшее развитие рыбной отрасли республики зависит от качественных и биологически полноценных комбикормов. В статье рассмотрены особенности питания пресноводной рыбы. Намечены основные направления исследований в области развития и совершенствования комбикормов для рыб, основными из которых являются разработка новых видов современного сырья и совершенствование технологии их производства. Предложены рекомендации по развитию безотходных технологий переработки пищевого сырья с получением высокотехнологичных кормовых продуктов отечественного производства, а именно мальковых комбикормов методом микрогранулирования и микроэкстудирования, что позволит снизить зависимость страны от импортных комбикормов.