Corporate Social Responsibility and Impression Management: The American Arabian Oil Company (Aramco), 1932–1974

Ph. D. ThesisThe principal aim of this thesis is to contribute towards the understanding of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy of the Arabian-American Oil Company (Aramco) in Saudi Arabia. Multinational corporations present a positive image of their economic and social activities to investors and society in order to justify their exploitation of natural resources. Given the importance of CSR activities in the twentieth century, this study examines the role played by CSR programmes in Aramco’s strategy to strengthen its position in the Kingdom. These programmes have contributed to economic and social development, but were also a mechanism used by the company to maintain control of Saudi oil assets. Using Aramco as a case study, contrasts are drawn between the public pronouncements of its management concerning CSR activities and actual events as documented in the literature, official papers and archive records. Furthermore, forty-two management statements in the company reports are analysed to identify and categorise any impression management techniques identified. The findings show that these activities did not stem from a philanthropic rationale but were necessary to enable Aramco to create the infrastructure to find, extract and control oil assets. As a consequence of these activities, racism and discrimination were part of the company’s system of hierarchical control. However, Aramco adopted assertive strategies to present a positive image of itself as a socially responsible company that was contributing to the economic and social development of Saudi Arabia. The adoption of a longitudinal, historical analysis of the interrelationship between CSR activities and impression management strategies provides a rich understanding of how companies seek to present images of themselves in changing economic and political environments. By drawing on evidence from major archive documents, the research contributes theoretical, methodological and data insights. The study extends our theoretical understanding of CSR activities in a historical context. Historians of business and entrepreneurship could provide insights into the development of CSR and how it has been strategically utilised by companies. In terms of methodological contribution, the study presents a novel theoretical lens to investigate the motivations for CSR in the twentieth century using the impression management strategy framework. Third, in terms of data contribution, the unique analysis of 42 historical reports from 1938 to 1974 is conducted with the computer-aided content analysis program DICTION 7.0.Tabuk Universit

Higher-order modulation theory for resonant flow over topography

2017 Author(s). The flow of a fluid over isolated topography in the long wavelength, weakly nonlinear limit is considered. The upstream flow velocity is assumed to be close to a linear long wave velocity of the unforced flow so that the flow is near resonant. Higher order nonlinear, dispersive and nonlinear-dispersive terms beyond the Korteweg-de Vries approximation are included so that the flow is governed by a forced extended Korteweg-de Vries equation. Modulation theory solutions for the undular bores generated upstream and downstream of the forcing are found and used to study the influence of the higher-order terms on the resonant flow, which increases for steeper waves. These modulation theory solutions are compared with numerical solutions of the forced extended Korteweg-de Vries equation for the case of surface water waves. Good comparison is obtained between theoretical and numerical solutions, for properties such as the upstream and downstream solitary wave amplitudes and the widths of the bores

What is the right sequencing approach? Solo VS extended family analysis in consanguineous populations.

Testing strategies is crucial for genetics clinics and testing laboratories. In this study, we tried to compare the hit rate between solo and trio and trio plus testing and between trio and sibship testing. Finally, we studied the impact of extended family analysis, mainly in complex and unsolved cases. Three cohorts were used for this analysis: one cohort to assess the hit rate between solo, trio and trio plus testing, another cohort to examine the impact of the testing strategy of sibship genome vs trio-based analysis, and a third cohort to test the impact of an extended family analysis of up to eight family members to lower the number of candidate variants. The hit rates in solo, trio and trio plus testing were 39, 40, and 41%, respectively. The total number of candidate variants in the sibship testing strategy was 117 variants compared to 59 variants in the trio-based analysis. We noticed that the average number of coding candidate variants in trio-based analysis was 1192 variants and 26,454 noncoding variants, and this number was lowered by 50-75% after adding additional family members, with up to two coding and 66 noncoding homozygous variants only, in families with eight family members. There was no difference in the hit rate between solo and extended family members. Trio-based analysis was a better approach than sibship testing, even in a consanguineous population. Finally, each additional family member helped to narrow down the number of variants by 50-75%. Our findings could help clinicians, researchers and testing laboratories select the most cost-effective and appropriate sequencing approach for their patients. Furthermore, using extended family analysis is a very useful tool for complex cases with novel genes

Higher-order modulation theory for resonant flow

The flow of a fluid over topography in the long wavelength, weakly nonlinear limit is considered, for both isolated obstacles and steps or jumps. The upstream flow velocity is assumed to be close to a linear long wave velocity of the unforced flow, so that the flow is near resonant. Higher order nonlinear, dispersive and nonlinear-dispersive terms beyond the Korteweg-de Vries approximation are included, so that the flow is governed by a forced extended Korteweg-de Vries equation. For the isolated obstacle, modulation theory solutions for the undular bores generated upstream and downstream of the forcing are found and used to study the influence of the higher-order terms on the resonant flow, which increases for steeper waves. These modulation theory solutions are compared with numerical solutions of the forced extended Korteweg-de Vries equation for the case of surface water waves. Good comparison is obtained between theoretical and numerical solutions, for properties such as the upstream and downstream solitary wave amplitudes and the widths of the bores. They are also compared with numerical solutions of the forced extended Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation, which is asymptotically equivalent to the forced extended Korteweg-de Vries equation, but is numerically stable for higher amplitude waves. The usefulness of uniform soliton theory is also considered, for waves generated by an obstacle. It is based on the conservation laws of the extended Korteweg-de Vries equations for mass and energy and assumes that the upstream wavetrains is composed of solitary waves. We compare the solutions with theoretical and numerical solutions of the forced extended Korteweg-de Vries equation and the forced extended Benjamin-Bona- Mahony equation, to fully assess this approximation method for upstream solitary wave amplitude and wave speed. The flow of a fluid over a step or jump is also examined, and is a variation on the problem of flow over an isolated obstacle. Higher-order modulation theory solutions, based on the extended Korteweg-de Vries equation, for the undular bores generated upstream and downstream of the forcing are found. It is shown that an upstream propagating undular bore is generated by a positive step and formed by an elevation upstream of the step, and a downstream propagating undular bore is generated by a negative step and formed by a depression downstream of the step. An excellent comparison is obtained between the analytical and numerical solutions

Evidence for the Role of PWCR1/HBII-85 C/D Box Small Nucleolar RNAs in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prior work has suggested that loss of expression of one or more of the many C/D box small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) encoded within the complex, paternally expressed SNRPN (small nuclear ribonuclear protein N) locus may result in the phenotype of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). We suggest that the minimal critical region for PWS is ∼121 kb within the >460-kb SNRPN locus, bordered by a breakpoint cluster region identified in three individuals with PWS who have balanced reciprocal translocations and by the proximal deletion breakpoint of a familial deletion found in an unaffected mother, her three children with Angelman syndrome, and her father. The subset of SNRPN-encoded snoRNAs within this region comprises the PWCR1/HBII-85 cluster of snoRNAs and the single HBII-438A snoRNA. These are the only known genes within this region, which suggests that loss of their expression may be responsible for much or all of the phenotype of PWS. This hypothesis is challenged by findings in two individuals with PWS who have balanced translocations with breakpoints upstream of the proposed minimal critical region but whose cells were reported to express transcripts within it, adjacent to these snoRNAs. By use of real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we reassessed expression of these transcripts and of the snoRNAs themselves in fibroblasts of one of these patients. We find that the transcripts reported to be expressed in lymphoblast–somatic cell hybrids are not expressed in fibroblasts, and we suggest that the original results were misinterpreted. Most important, we show that the PWCR1/HBII-85 snoRNAs are not expressed in fibroblasts of this individual. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that loss of expression of the snoRNAs in the proposed minimal critical region confers much or all of the phenotype of PWS

Nonlinear Piecewise Caputo Fractional Pantograph System with Respect to Another Function

The existence, uniqueness, and various forms of Ulam–Hyers (UH)-type stability results for nonlocal pantograph equations are developed and extended in this study within the frame of novel psi-piecewise Caputo fractional derivatives, which generalize the piecewise operators recently presented in the literature. The required results are proven using Banach’s contraction mapping and Krasnoselskii’s fixed-point theorem. Additionally, results pertaining to UH stability are obtained using traditional procedures of nonlinear functional analysis. Additionally, in light of our current findings, a more general challenge for the pantograph system is presented that includes problems similar to the one considered. We provide a pertinent example as an application to support the theoretical findings

The Analytical Stochastic Solutions for the Stochastic Potential Yu–Toda–Sasa–Fukuyama Equation with Conformable Derivative Using Different Methods

We consider in this study the (3+1)-dimensional stochastic potential Yu–Toda–Sasa–Fukuyama with conformable derivative (SPYTSFE-CD) forced by white noise. For different kind of solutions of SPYTSFE-CD, including hyperbolic, rational, trigonometric and function, we use He’s semi-inverse and improved (G′/G)-expansion methods. Because it investigates solitons and nonlinear waves in dispersive media, plasma physics and fluid dynamics, the potential Yu–Toda–Sasa–Fukuyama theory may explain many intriguing scientific phenomena. We provide numerous 2D and 3D figures to address how the white noise destroys the pattern formation of the solutions and stabilizes the solutions of SPYTSFE-CD

Screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in neonates: a comparison between cord and peripheral blood samples

Abstract Background The use of cord blood in the neonatal screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is being done with increasing frequency but has yet to be adequately evaluated against the use of peripheral blood sample which is usually employed for confirmation. We sought to determine the incidence and gender distribution of G6PD deficiency, and compare the results of cord against peripheral blood in identifying G6PD DEFICIENCY neonates using quantitative enzyme activity assay. Methods We carried out a retrospective and cross-sectional study employing review of primary hospital data of neonates born in a tertiary care center from January to December 2008. Results Among the 8139 neonates with cord blood G6PD assays, an overall incidence of 2% for G6PD deficiency was computed. 79% of these were males and 21% were females with significantly more deficient males (p < .001). Gender-specific incidence was 3.06% for males and 0.85% for females. A subgroup analysis comparing cord and peripheral blood samples (n = 1253) showed a significantly higher mean G6PD value for peripheral than cord blood (15.12 ± 4.52 U/g and 14.52 ± 4.43 U/g, respectively, p = 0.0008). However, the proportion of G6PD deficient neonates did not significantly differ in the two groups (p = 0.79). Sensitivity of cord blood in screening for G6PD deficiency, using peripheral G6PD assay as a gold standard was 98.6% with a NPV of 99.5%. Conclusion There was no difference between cord and peripheral blood samples in discriminating between G6PD deficient and non-deficient neonates. A significantly higher mean peripheral G6PD assay reinforces the use of cord blood for neonatal screening since it has substantially low false negative results

Statistical and computational analysis for corruption and poverty model using Caputo-type fractional differential equations

Since there is a clear correlation between poverty and corruption, mathematicians have been actively researching the concept of poverty and corruption in order to develop the optimal strategy of corruption control. This work aims to develop a mathematical model for the dynamics of poverty and corruption. First, we study and analyze the indicators of corruption and poverty rates by applying the linear model along with the Eviews program during the study period. Then, we present a prediction of poverty rates for 2023 and 2024 using the results of the standard problem-free model. Next, we formulate the model in the frame of Caputo fractional derivatives. Fundamental properties, including equilibrium points, basic reproduction number, and positive solutions of the considered model are obtained using nonlinear analysis. Sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of solutions are studied via using fixed point theory. Numerical analysis is performed by using modified Euler method. Moreover, results about Ulam-Hyers stability are also presented. The aforementioned results are presented graphically. In addition, a comparison with real data and simulated results is also given. Finally, we conclude the work by providing a brief conclusion