Introducing conventional human resources practices as part of civil service reform in Qatar 2006-2016

Qatar in the Arabian Gulf is one of many states worldwide trying to improve governance. In 2008, Qatar introduced various ‘human resources management (HRM) practices to improve management of employees. However, there is a growing belief that importing undiluted systems based on other cultures may potentially erode local Arab culture significantly and harmfully. The research project aimed to evaluate if Government Ministries in Qatar can use principally Western HRM theory and practice to manage employees successfully while still allowing them to preserve and strengthen Arab and Islamic values and identity. Some months into the project which commenced in 2006, the State initiated further major reforms and introduced new Ministers and top executive teams in each of 13 newly created Ministries. This created much additional noise in the data making it difficult to separate the effects of wider reforms from those caused by new HRM practices. Given the difficulties of using more conventional statistical analysis techniques, research then adopted a Mixed-Methods Exploratory Sequential Research Design the research completed extensive and detailed research into HRM systems in place in each Ministry. It also collected data and information about perceptions of executives about HR reforms, leadership and management style and other salient factors. The research reached eleven important findings. Among these, the findings showed the people management systems bore much closer resemblance to classic personnel management system. This negated any likely benefits of introducing HRM. The findings also found considerable differences between the national culture of Qatar and that of the West, from where the State drew many of its new ideas for reform. Adoption of such culturally dissimilar systems had the potential to offset efforts to preserve the Gulf’s highly distinctive culture. The work also make practical recommendations with which reform efforts could be improved, though not at the expense of local culture. The thesis completes with recommendations for further research

Crime Control, Policing and Security in the United Arab Emirates

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX218022 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Employing Modern Teaching Strategies and Their Practices in the Light of Teaching Quality Standards of the Faculty Members at College of Science and Arts in Shroura

The present study aimed at knowing the modern teaching strategies used in the College of Science and Arts in Shroura Governorate; and identifying the right practices of selecting and implementing  those strategies. It also aimed at investigating  the extent of the faculty members adherence to those practices.  To achieve that aim, a questionnaire was prepared and administered on 64 faculty members (33 females and 31 males). The sample of the students consisted of 161. (64 males and 97 females). The results showed that many of modern teaching strategies are employed and there is a good amount of quality in using the proper teaching strategies with different degrees. The range of employing modern strategies was high and moderate respectively. The sample stated that the faculty  members use the traditional strategies (Lectures, dialogue and discussion) with high degree. Statistically significant differences were found between faculty  members and students in using modern teaching strategies and in the quality of using modern strategies and practices of teaching. Keywords: teaching strategies, quality standards, teaching practices, faculty members

Morphology and ultrastructure of the pro- and postpharyngeal glands in workers of Pachycondyla sennaarensis

The pro- and postpharyngeal glands of Brachyponera sennaarensis both appear as globular formations at a general anatomical level. However, only for the propharyngeal gland do these formations correspond with spherical secretory cells with diameters of 30-40 µm. For the lobed postpharyngeal gland, in contrast, this globular appearance is caused by the bulbous protrusions of the epithelial cells. This lobed appearance and globular cell shape also occur in the postpharyngeal glands of other Ponerinae and thus may represent a phylogenetic character. At the ultrastructural level, the propharyngeal gland cells are characterized by a well-developed granular endoplasmic reticulum, which is in agreement with its presumed production of digestive enzymes. The postpharyngeal gland cells contain a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which allows the production of a non-proteinaceous secretion

The Gulf and Southeast Asia: Regional Security Complex and Regional Security Community. A Comparative Study

The study covers two regions. These are shown to constitute ‘Regional security complexes’. The Gulf region and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Southeast Asian region are the focus of study. The defence and security circumstances of the two regions and the responses of the regions’ governments severally and cooperatively are examined. The study has had to take account of the geographic, historical, ethno-cultural differences between the two regions. These are shown to be influential in their respective security responses. Nonetheless, the thesis demonstrates how the regions can be understood in terms of a common theoretical framework. The study is undertaken primarily within the framework of the theory of ‘Regional Security Complex’ (RSCT), as developed by Buzan and Waever in Regions and Power. Regional security complexes are areas of internal “security interdependence” and securitisation. The theory (RSCT) is discussed critically. ‘Security Communities’ is a major comparative feature of the study. Amitav Acharya develops this approach in Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia. Emphasis is on the “creative construction” of a ‘security community’. The Gulf Cooperation Council may also be viewed in this way. ‘Regional security complex’ and ‘regional security community’ are not alternative theories of regional inter-state relations. The second is superstructural on the prior facts of regional security complexity. The GCC is a partial response to regional security and is a securitising actor in the region. ASEAN is an attempt at region-wide inclusiveness and conflict avoidance. Institutional management of security is described. The two regional approaches differ as beliefs that the “enmity/amity balance” is amenable to official regional policy and action: the Gulf and GCC are apparently locked in a dominant ‘enmity’ scenario; ASEAN seeks to establish a regime of ‘amity’. Whether ASEAN is notably less militarily oriented than the Gulf is questioned. States’ insistence on national security ‘resilience’ and ASEAN norms of ‘sovereignty’, ‘non-interference’ and conflict avoidance’ impede regional security development. ASEAN’s progress towards an ‘ASEAN Security Community’ is examined. The study discusses practicalities of these policies. The application and limitations of ‘Revolution in military affairs’ (RMA) are discussed. The military are viewed as a principal operational actor in any regional security response to conditions of regional security complexity. An examination of state-military relations is based on the concepts of ‘grand strategy’ and ‘military doctrine’

Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection and Genotyping of Molluscum Contagiosum Virus in Diyala Province

Background: Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV): is a viral skin infection which may infect themucous membrane and skinoccasionally, It is caused by Molluscipox virus from family Poxviridae. Molluscum contagiosumvirus (MCV) was first described and later assigned its name by Bateman in the beginning of the nineteenth century. Aim: This study was done to confirm the clinical diagnosis of MCV by laboratory test through using PCR assay andto know the predominate type of MCV that found in Diyala Province. Patients, and methods:The present study was conducted for the period from1 November  2011 to 30 April of 2012 in outpatient clinic of Baquba Teaching Hospital in Baquba city.      The study aimed to confirm the clinical diagnosis of MCV by laboratory test through  using  PCR assay and to know the domain subtype of MCV that found in Diyala province Sixty (60) patients were diagnosed with clinical lesions of  MCV on different areas of the body, their  age ranged from(1-80 years) including 40(66.7%) males and 20(33.3%) females,  and the lesion samples were taken and examined by PCR Results: After testing by PCR, 51(85%) of patients gave positive results for MCV,30(58.8%) patients gave positive results for MCV type 1( 26.7%) and 2 (73.3). The results showed 23(45.1%) with age group (31-40 years), included  36(70.6%) were males and 15(29.4%) females, no significant difference showed between the MCV  infection  and either  the sex or age .      The results revealed that MCV type 2 was more prevalent 22(73%) compared with MCV type 1(26.7) ,most of type 2 (73.3) infected males 14(46.5%) , and  found in age group (31-40 years),while the MCV type 1 was  equally  affecting males and females , consisted of (100%) in age ( ≤10 years) ,with significant difference recorded between the types and age, but no significant difference between the types and the sex. Conclusions: 85%of examined patients with MC showed postive PCR results for MCV prevalence of MCV type 1 with  high in children of age group (≤10) .MCV type 2 was predominately seen in (31-40) patient age group

Urban Traffic Monitoring and Modeling System: An IoT Solution for Enhancing Road Safety

Qatar expects more than a million visitors during the 2022 World Cup, which will pose significant challenges. The high number of people will likely cause a rise in road traffic congestion, vehicle crashes, injuries and deaths. To tackle this problem, Naturalistic Driver Behavior can be utilised which will collect and analyze data to estimate the current Qatar traffic system, including traffic data infrastructure, safety planning, and engineering practices and standards. In this paper, an IoT based solution to facilitate such a study in Qatar is proposed. Different data points from a driver are collected and recorded in an unobtrusive manner, such as trip data, GPS coordinates, compass heading, minimum, average, and maximum speed and his driving behavior, including driver's drowsiness level. Analysis of these data points will help in prediction of crashes and road infrastructure improvements to reduce such events. It will also be used for drivers risk assessment and to detect extreme road user behaviors. A framework that will help to visualize and manage this data is also proposed, along with a Deep Learning-based application that detects drowsy driving behavior that netted an 82 percent accuracy.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, conference IINTEC'1