Towards the Development of an Empirical Model for Islamic Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from the Middle East

Academic research suggests that variances in contextual dynamics, and more specifically religion, may lead to disparate perceptions and practices of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Driven by the increased geopolitical and economic importance of the Middle East and identified gaps in knowledge, the study aims to examine if indeed there is a divergent form of CSR exercised in the region. The study identifies unique CSR dimensions and constructs presented through an empirical framework in order to outline the practice and perception of CSR in a context with strong Islamic beliefs. The framework goes beyond the platform of mere Islamic philanthropy and is based on CSR-stakeholder management practices. Following an exploratory research design and collecting interview data from representatives of 63 organisations from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, the study offers a snapshot of the CSR reality from the perspective of those living the phenomenon. The results suggest that the practice and perception of CSR in the examined context are largely grounded in the areas of social and altruistic actions but they cannot be examined in isolation from the religious context of CSR operation. This focus is mainly attributed to the dominant role of Islam in the examined sample, which leads to forms of non-structured or semi-structured approaches to CSR. Apart from the theoretical advancements offered to the CSR literature, the study also provides contributions for practitioners and policy makers.</p

Tropospheric wet delay estimation using GNSS: Case study of a permanent network in Egypt

The tropospheric delay is a serious error source for positioning using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Since the scientific applications of GNSS positioning such as crustal deformation studies and earthquakes prediction require high accuracy in positioning, analysis of tropospheric delay calculation is necessary to improve GNSS positioning accuracy. In this study data from ground based GNSS receivers are used to evaluate effect of the tropospheric delay in position determination accuracy. These data are also used to study the tropospheric delay characteristics. The collected GNSS data are for the year 2013, taken from 8 stations from Egypt Permanent GNSS Network (EPGN) and 13 IGS stations. The GNSS data were processed using advanced GNSS software called Bernese V 5.0. The results show that the RMS of the coordinates is better in case of making estimation for the troposphere ZWD and bad in case of ignoring the troposphere. Also there is a correlation between the troposphere and the height component. The troposphere ZWD values have daily, temporal and spatial variation, depending on time in the day, day in the year, geographic location of the station and how near it to water. The ZWD values also go upward from the start to the end of the year, and also it shows high correlation with the water vapor content in the troposphere

Insight into Analysis of Essential Oil from <i>Anisosciadium lanatum</i> Boiss.—Chemical Composition, Molecular Docking, and Mitigation of Hepg2 Cancer Cells through Apoptotic Markers

Essential oils have been used in various traditional healing systems since ancient times worldwide, due to their diverse biological activities. Several studies have demonstrated their plethora of biological activities—including anti-cancer activity—in a number of cell lines. Anisosciadium lanatum Boiss. is a perennial aromatic herb. Traditionally, it is an edible safe herb with few studies exploring its importance. The current study aims to investigate the chemical composition of essential oil isolated from Anisosciadium lanatum using GC-MS, as well as report its anti-cancer potential and its mechanistic effect on HepG2 liver cancer cell lines, and conduct molecular docking studies. To achieve this, the essential oil was isolated using a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed using GC-MS. The cell viability of HepG2 liver cancer and normal fibroblast NIH-3T3 cell lines was assessed by MTT cytotoxicity assay. The effects of the essential oil on cell migration and invasion were assessed using wound healing and matrigel assays, respectively. The effect of the essential oil on migration and apoptotic-regulating mRNA and proteins was quantified using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot techniques, respectively. Finally, computational docking tools were used to analyze in silico binding of major constituents from the essential oil against apoptotic and migration markers. A total of 38 components were identified and quantified. The essential oil demonstrated regulation of cell proliferation and cell viability in HepG2 liver cancer cells at a sub-lethal dose of 10 to 25 μg/mL, and expressed reductions of migration and invasion. The treatment with essential oil indicated mitigation of cancer activity by aborting the mRNA of pro-apoptotic markers such as BCL-2, CASPASE-3, CYP-1A1, and NFκB. The algorithm-based binding studies demonstrated that eucalyptol, nerol, camphor, and linalool have potent binding towards the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2. On the other hand, camphor and eucalyptol showed potent binding towards the pro-apoptotic protein CASPASE-3. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the essential oil isolated from Anisosciadium lanatum to drive alleviation of HepG2 cancer cell progression by modulating apoptotic markers. Our findings suggest that Anisosciadium lanatum could be used as a phytotherapeutic anti-cancer agent, acting through the regulation of apoptotic markers. More well-designed in vivo trials are needed in order to verify the obtained results

Analysis of Volatile Secondary Metabolites in Ocimum basilicum Cell Suspensions: Inhibition, In Silico Molecular Docking, and an ADMET Analysis against Proteolytic Enzymes of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Our study&rsquo;s overarching goal was to determine which O. basilicum cell suspensions approach yielded the most insecticidal and R. ferrugineus-inhibitory volatile secondary metabolites. After inoculation with Verticillium dahliae as an activator, the growth kinetics were measured, and the extract was identified using GC-MS. Validation was achieved for the insecticidal efficacy of a volatile extract, the pure phenolic content against larva and adult R. ferrugineus, and the inhibitory effect on proteases (in vivo and in vitro). The volatile extract achieved an LC50 of 1229 &micro;g/mL and an LD50 of 13.8 &micro;g/larva. The LC50 values for &beta;-bergamotene, &alpha;-eudesmol, &beta;-farnesene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, &alpha;-guaiene, and &beta;-caryophyllene were 1294, 1312, 1356, 1398, 1426, 1459, 1491, and 1523 g/mL, respectively. The LD50 activities of &alpha;-eudesmol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, and nerol were 12.4, 13.7, 13.9, 14.2, and 15.6 g/larva, respectively. Active volatile extract of O. basilicum inhibited trypsin proteinase, elastase, cysteine, overall protease, and metalloprotease activity with IC50 values of 89.4, 101.7, 394.7, 112.4, and 535.2 &micro;g/mL and 178.5, 192.4, 547.3, 208.3, and 924.8 &micro;g/mL, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. There was evidence of action against total proteases (in vitro) with IC50 values of 78.9, 81.2, 88.6, 90.7, 91.5, 97.6, 107.4, and 176.3 &micro;g/mL for &beta;-bergamotene, &alpha;-eudesmol, &beta;-farnesene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, &alpha;-guaiene, and &beta;-caryophyllene, respectively. Total proteases (in vivo) are inhibited by the &alpha;-eudesmol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, nerol, and (E)-&beta;-ocimene, with IC50 values of 162.3, 192.7, 193.1, 201.4, 248.6, and 273.2 &micro;g/mL, respectively. ADMET and molecular docking modeling were the only two methods used to conduct in-depth computational analyses of compounds. The study recommended using an efficient cell suspension method to produce a volatile extract rich in useful secondary metabolites that may be utilized as a bio-insecticide

Biomolecule from Trigonella stellata from Saudi Flora to Suppress Osteoporosis via Osteostromal Regulations

Trigonella stellata has used in folk medicine as palatable and nutraceutical herb. It also regulates hypocholesterolemia, hypoglycemia, and has showed anti-inflammatory activities as well as antioxidants efficacy. Osteoporosis is a one of bone metabolic disorders and is continuously increasing worldwide. In the present study, caffeic acid was isolated from Trigonella stellata and identified using 1 D- and 2 D-NMR spectroscopic data. Caffeic acid was investigated on osteoblast and osteoclast in vitro using mice bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells. Caffeic acid played reciprocal proliferation between osteoblast and osteoclast cells and accelerated the bone mineralization. It was confirmed by cytotoxicity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alizarin red S (ARS), and Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay. Caffeic acid regulated the osteogenic marker and upregulated the osteopontin, osteocalcin, and bone morphogenic proteins (BMP). Quantitative real time PCR and Western blot were used to quantify the mRNA and protein markers. It also regulated the matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) and cathepsin-K proteolytic markers in osteoclast cells. In addition, caffeic acid inhibited bone resorption in osteoclast cells. On the other hand, it upregulate osteoblast differentiation through stimulation of extracellular calcium concentrations osteoblast differentiation, respectively. The results also were confirmed through in silico docking of caffeic acid against cathepsin-B and cathepsin-K markers. These findings revealed that caffeic acid has a potential role in bone-metabolic disorder through its multifaceted effects on osteoblast and osteoclast regulations and controls osteoporosis

Date Palm Extract (Phoenix dactylifera) PEGylated Nanoemulsion: Development, Optimization and Cytotoxicity Evaluation

Date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) is reputed to have numerous biological activities, including anticancer properties. To utilize the great fortune of this fruit, the current study aimed to maximize its pharmacological activity. Date palm extract (DPE) of Khalas cultivar was obtained in powder form and then was formulated into nanoemulsion (NE). The optimized DPE-NE was formulated along with its naked counterpart followed by studying their physical and chemical properties. A qualitative assessment of total serum protein associated with the surface of formulations was implemented. Studies for the in vitro release of DPE from developed NE before and after incubation with serum were investigated. Eventually, an MTT assay was conducted. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 22.89 ± 0.013 mg GAE/g of dry DPE and 9.90 ± 0.03 mg QE/g of dry DPE, respectively. Homogenous NE formulations were attained with appropriate particle size and viscosity that could be administered intravenously. The optimized PEGylated NE exhibited a proper particle size, PDI, and zeta potential. Total serum protein adsorbed on PEG-NE surface was significantly low. The release of the drug through in vitro study was effectively extended for 24 h. Ultimately; PEGylated NE of DPE attained significant inhibition for cancer cell viability with IC50 values of 18.6 ± 2.4 and 13.5 ± 1.8 µg/mL for MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines, respectively. PEGylated NE of DPE of Khalas cultivar will open the gate for future adjuvants for cancer therapy

Groundwater pumping and land subsidence in the Emilia-Romagna coastland, Italy: Modeling the past occurrence and the future trend

The Emilia-Romagna coastland south of the Po River delta, Italy, has experienced a dramatic land settlement mainly due to the large groundwater withdrawal related to the local economic and tourist development started in the early 1950s. Although the use of surface water has reduced the settlement rate over the last three decades, anthropogenic land subsidence still continues in a few kilometer wide coastal strip at a rate larger than the natural one. The occurrence is reconstructed since 1946 with the aid of advanced finite element flow and poromechanical models implemented with a realistically detailed geology of the regional shallow multiaquifer system. The models have been calibrated against the piezometric, leveling, and extensometer records observed over the last 50 years, and a land subsidence prediction in 2016 is performed. The results show that the extensive groundwater pumping that occurred in the past is most likely the main cause of the recent land settlement as well because of the delayed compaction of the clay aquitards comprised between the depleted aquifers. However, the available pumping data do not allow for a thorough understanding of the current local settlement process along the coastline, which is the most vulnerable area of the Emilia Romagna region from an environmental viewpoint. If the planned scenario of groundwater resource management will be implemented, anthropogenic land subsidence is bound to become a marginal problem for the central and northern portion of the Emilia-Romagna coastland