The relationship between the Kuwaiti National Court and commercial arbitration

This thesis examines how best Kuwait might reform its arbitration legislation to meet modern needs. Yet, the particular focus of the study is the relationship between the Kuwaiti national courts and commercial (voluntary) arbitration, with particular emphasis on how national courts can serve arbitration, and when the court should intervene in arbitration. On the one hand, the court provides valuable assistance and support to the arbitration by staying court proceedings, appointing arbitrators when required, and generally providing assistance in the conduct of the reference. Such support and assistance is very important to guarantee both the effectiveness and efficiency of the arbitral agreement, the arbitral process and the ultimate award. On the other hand, the court must have jurisdiction to intervene in the arbitral process and to scrutinise the award in order to ensure the fairness, integrity, legality and neutrality of the arbitral process. It is argued that court supervision of arbitration is the price that has to be paid for the support and assistance of the court to arbitration. This study is divided into two parts, the support given by the court to arbitration, and the control exercised by the court over arbitration. The arbitration agreement should also be closely examined in order to understand the relationship between the court and arbitration, as the arbitration agreement is the foundation stone of arbitration. These parts are divided into five chapters. Chapter one is an introductory chapter. It highlights generally the role of arbitration, the value of arbitration for foreign investors, the link between arbitration and trade and the importance of the relationship between the court and arbitration. It also introduces the arbitral system in Kuwait, the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and the English Arbitration Act 1996. Chapter two is devoted to examining the most important aspects of the arbitration agreement. It is divided into four sections, namely, the definition and nature of arbitration and the arbitration agreement, the autonomous nature of the arbitration agreement, arbitrability and formality. Chapter three addresses the modes of assistance and support given by the court to arbitration. It is split into six sections as follow; the general principles of an Arbitration Act, enforcing an arbitration agreement, extending contractual time- bars, the constitution of the arbitral tribunal, the conduct of the arbitral proceedings and the enforcement of the arbitral award. Chapter four considers the judicial supervision of arbitration. It deals with judicial supervision over the arbitration agreement, the conduct of the arbitral tribunal and the arbitral award, while chapter five contains the conclusion of this thesis

Business Cycle and The Macroeconomics Performance: Evidence of Malaysia and Indonesia

Stable economic growth is the major macroeconomic goal which is all nations seek. Economist and policy makers have been tried to find the ways to sustain and maintain stable economic growth. This paper examines the macroeconomic fluctuations and economic growth in Malaysia and Indonesia and its determinant by using multiple regression models. Five variables were chosen for the model namely variables are Money supply (MS), Industrial production (IP), Interest rate (IR), exchange rate (ER), Consumer price Index (CPI) and stock prices. The study shows that Money supply (MS), Interest rate (IR), exchange rate (ER), and stock prices are among others, the determinant factors of macroeconomic fluctuations in both countries. Specifically, the empirical results reveal that Interest rate (IR), exchange rate (ER), and stock prices has significant contribution to the performance of real GDP in Malaysia while Money supply (MS) and exchange rate (ER) are the main cause of macroeconomic fluctuations in Indonesia. This may be due to the different monetary policies pursued by the two countries. The two countries might have different monetary policy strategies; Malaysia pursues interest rate targeting policy, whereas Indonesia applies inflation rate targeting policy.The study recommends for both countries government policies play an important role in economic performance. Therefore, a careful policy should be the foremost important factor for economic in these nations and the every country in general

Business Cycle and the Macroeconomics Performance: Evidence of Malaysia and Indonesia

Stable economic growth is the major macroeconomic goal which is all nations seek. Economist and policy makers have been tried to find the ways to sustain and maintain stable economic growth. This paper examines the macroeconomic fluctuations and economic growth in Malaysia and Indonesia and its determinant by using multiple regression models. Five variables were chosen for the model namely variables are Money supply (MS), Industrial production (IP), Interest rate (IR), exchange rate (ER), Consumer price Index (CPI) and stock prices. The study shows that Money supply (MS), Interest rate (IR), exchange rate (ER), and stock prices are among others, the determinant factors of macroeconomic fluctuations in both countries. Specifically, the empirical results reveal that Interest rate (IR), exchange rate (ER), and stock prices has significant contribution to the performance of real GDP in Malaysia while Money supply (MS) and exchange rate (ER) are the main cause of macroeconomic fluctuations in Indonesia. This may be due to the different monetary policies pursued by the two countries. The two countries might have different monetary policy strategies; Malaysia pursues interest rate targeting policy, whereas Indonesia applies inflation rate targeting policy.The study recommends for both countries government policies play an important role in economic performance. Therefore, a careful policy should be the foremost important factor for economic in these nations and the every country in general

5,5-Dimethyl-2,2-bis­(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3-diazinane

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, C16H20N4, the 1,3-diazinane ring adopts a chair conformation and the dihedral angle formed by the pyridine rings is 78.64 (8)°. The mol­ecular conformation is stabilized by an intra­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bond, forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, centrosymmetrically related mol­ecules are linked into dimers by pairs of N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, generating rings of R 2 2(10) graph-set motif

Perceptions of Assistant Principals’ and Principals’ of Bahrain Government Schools about the Impact of the Bahrain Teachers College Educational Leadership Program on Their Performance

This article examines the perceptions of school assistant principals and principals who completed the Bahrain Teachers College higher diploma of education leadership program about its impact on their performance. The study sample consisted of 141 program graduates from 9- cohorts. A multilevel concept in measuring the impact of the educational leadership program on the graduates’ performance was employed. The framework consisted of 4 levels: self-learning, changing others, embedding changes in school practices and sustainability of change and scaling up the school performance. The study questionnaire was designed on the basis of this framework. Results show that the Educational Leadership program positively affected its graduates’ performance in the 4 levels. The majority of the program graduates agreed that the program positively affected their personal qualities, leadership styles and practices to support school development, school staff, students’ performance and school ranking. The majority of the program graduates also agreed that the program positively affected their skills in dealing with curriculum innovations, professional development, research, strategic planning, staff appraisal, communication with community, using ICT, improving students’ learning and applying educational ethics.     Keywords: Education Leadership, School Principals’ Performance, Leadership Styles, School Practices, Leadership Skill

The Mediating Role of Religious Orientations in the Relationship between Intergroup Contact and Sectarian Prejudice among Omani Citizens

ملخص: تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى الكشف عن العلاقة بين أنماط التَّديُّن بأشكاله: (الظاهري والجوهري والاستقصائي والأصولي)، والتَّواصل بين الجماعات والتَّعصُّب المذهبي، كما تهدف أيضًا إلى التحقق من الدور الوسيط لأنماط التَّديُّن في العلاقة بين التَّواصل والتعصب. وقد ضمّت عينة الدراسة 2498 مواطنًا عُمانيًّا من المذاهب الثلاثة: الإباضيَّة، والسنّة، والشيعة (Mage=31 years، SDage=9.9) وطُبّق عليهم مقياس أنماط التَّديُّن ومقياس التَّواصل بين الجماعات ومقياس التعصب. وأظهرت النتائج أنّ أنماط التَّديُّن الأصولي والتَّديُّن الظاهري والتَّديُّن الجوهري مرتبطة إيجابيًا بالتَّعصُّب المذهبي. وبيّنت أيضًا أنّ التَّديُّن الاستقصائي والتَّواصل بين الجماعات يرتبطان سلبًا بالتَّعصُّب المذهبي، وأنّ التَّديُّن الاستقصائي والتَّديُّن الأصولي يتوسطان العلاقة بين التَّواصل بين المجموعات والتَّعصُّب المذهبي. كما بيّنت النتائج أنّ جزءًا معتبرًا من التَّعصُّب المذهبي يمكن تفسيره من خلال نمط التَّديُّن الظاهري ونمط التَّديُّن الأصولي، وأن التَّواصل بين أفراد الجماعات المذهبية يرتبط بانخفاض التَّعصُّب المذهبي، ويتوسط كلٌّ من التَّديُّن الاستقصائي والتَّديُّن الأصولي هذه العلاقة.Abstract: This study aimed to understand the interlinks between religious orientations (extrinsic, intrinsic, quest, and fundamentalist), intergroup contact and sectarian prejudice, verifying whether religious orientations mediate the contact-prejudice links. A sample of 2,498 Omani citizens (Mage=31 years, SDage=9.9) who belong to either Ibada, Sunnah, or Shi'a sects responded to a questionnaire measuring the study variables. The results indicated that fundamentalist, extrinsic, and intrinsic religiosity were positively correlated with sectarian prejudice. Furthermore, quest religiosity and contact were negatively correlated with sectarian prejudice, and we found that quest and fundamentalist orientations mediate the association between contact and sectarian prejudice. We concluded that sectarian prejudice can be significantly explained by fundamentalist and extrinsic religiosity, and that quest and fundamentalist religious orientations mediate the contact-sectarian prejudice relationship

Laparoscopic Splenectomy Alone for Sickle Cell Disease : Account of 50 paediatric cases

Objectives: In Oman, the most frequent indication for a splenectomy in children is sickle cell disease (SCD), which is one of the most common haematological disorders in the Gulf region. This study aimed to describe paediatric laparoscopic splenectomies alone for SCD at a tertiary hospital in Oman. Methods: This study was conducted between February 2010 and October 2015 at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. The medical records of all children aged ≤15 years old undergoing splenectomies during the study period were reviewed. Results: A total of 71 children underwent laparoscopic splenectomies during the study period; of these, 50 children (28 male and 22 female) underwent laparoscopic splenectomies alone for SCD. The children’s weight ranged between 11–43 kg. The most common indication for a splenectomy was a recurrent splenic sequestration crisis (92%). Surgically removed spleens weighed between 155–1,200 g and measured between 9–22 cm. Operative times ranged between 66–204 minutes and intraoperative blood loss ranged between 10–800 mL. One patient required conversion to an open splenectomy. Postoperative complications were noted in only four patients. The median hospital stay duration was three days. Conclusion: Among this cohort, the mean operating time was comparable to that reported in the international literature. In addition, rates of conversion and postoperative complications were very low. These findings indicate that a laparoscopic splenectomy alone in paediatric patients with SCD is a feasible option

Investigation of Biochemical Alterations in Ischemic Stroke Using Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging Spectroscopy-A Preliminary Study.

Brain damage, long-term disability and death are the dreadful consequences of ischemic stroke. It causes imbalance in the biochemical constituents that distorts the brain dynamics. Understanding the sub-cellular alterations associated with the stroke will contribute to deeper molecular understanding of brain plasticity and recovery. Current routine approaches examining lipid and protein biochemical changes post stoke can be difficult. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) imaging spectroscopy can play a vital role in detecting these molecular alterations on a sub-cellular level due to its high spatial resolution, accuracy and sensitivity. This study investigates the biochemical and molecular changes in peri-infract zone (PIZ) (contiguous area not completely damaged by stroke) and ipsi-lesional white matter (WM) (right below the stroke and PIZ regions) nine weeks post photothrombotic ischemic stroke in rats. FTIR imaging spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were applied to investigate brain tissue samples while hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained images of adjacent sections were prepared for comparison and examination the morphological changes post stroke. TEM results revealed shearing of myelin sheaths and loss of cell membrane, structure and integrity after ischemic stroke. FTIR results showed that ipsi-lesional PIZ and WM experienced reduction in total protein and total lipid content compared to contra-lesional hemisphere. The lipid/protein ratio reduced in PIZ and adjacent WM indicated lipid peroxidation, which results in lipid chain fragmentation and an increase in olefinic content. Protein structural change is observed in PIZ due to the shift from random coli and α-helical structures to β-sheet conformation. FTIR imaging bio-spectroscopy provide novel biochemical information at sub-cellular levels that be difficult to be obtained by routine approaches. The results suggest that successful therapeutic strategy that is based on administration of anti-oxidant therapy, which could reduce and prevent neurotoxicity by scavenging the lipid peroxidation products. This approach will mitigate tissue damage in chronic ischemic period. FTIR imaging bio-spectroscopy can be used as a powerful tool and offer new approach in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases research

Epidemiology, clinical features, and impact of food habits on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: A case-control study in Bangladesh.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most predominant cause of HCC. Concerns arise for the presence of additional risk factors, as there is still a large proportion of patients without HBV or HCV infection. Previous studies have reported that higher intake of fruits and vegetables and reduced consumption of red/processed meat might play a protective role in HCC etiology, though the nationwide proof is limited. Hence, we studied multiple risk factors including food habit, lifestyle, and clinical implications of HCC patients in Bangladeshi. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data, as well as data on food habits, were collected in this study. Our results indicated that a high intake of rice (AOR 4.28, 95% CI 1.48 to 14.07, p = 0.011), low intake of fruits (AOR = 4.41 95% CI 1.48-15.46; p = 0.012), leafy vegetables (AOR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.32-6.08; p = 0.008), and fish (AOR = 4.64 95% CI 2.18-10.23; p<0.001) increased the HCC risk. Moreover, a high intake of eggs (AOR = 2.07 95% CI 0.98-4.43; p = 0.058) also showed an increased risk. Roti, non-leafy vegetables, red meat, and tea were found to have no association with HCC risk. This study revealed that food habit patterns and lifestyle may have a profound effect on HCC development among Bangladeshi patients in addition to well established risk factors

Assessing quality management system at a tertiary hospital in Oman using a hybrid knowledge-based system

YesThe cost of medical care is snowballing at an alarming and unmaintainable rate universally. Consequently, the need for a trusted quality management (QM) system at healthcare organizations is a must. Such system will aid the healthcare governance to increase the effectiveness and decrease the cost. It will help in minimizing the risk and enhancing patient safety. Several challenges facing healthcare QM in Oman are creating computerizing monitoring tool and confirming commitment of decision makers at all levels. The Report of Quality and Patient Safety (RQPS) in Oman 2016 highlighted the low level of patient safety and quality culture among staff. It recommended to inaugurate a well-defined organizational chart based on each healthcare organization’s vision and mission. Therefore, it is important to design a national accreditation system that is accredited by an international accreditation body. Such step will help in prioritizing the needs and minimizing the cost of maintaining and upgrading systems. To overcome these challenges, this article is presenting a novel methodology of hybrid knowledge-based (KB) system to assess QM in healthcare environment (QMHE) using gauging absence of prerequisites tool for benchmarking and analytical hierarchy process for prioritizing. The KB-QMHE model can be used as a standard to assess QM at any healthcare organization around the globe. The results showed that 852 questions were answered by the quality managers in a tertiary hospital in Oman; the percentage of bad points in this hospital was 32%. The KB-QMHE model has clearly shown that the priority 1, in level 0, is to focus on the patient-centered dimension in the healthcare quality dimensions submodule. Output, also, suggested a prioritized action plan covering healthcare governance module, healthcare leadership module and healthcare organization’s resources module in level 1–3