The Impact of E-Service Quality on Institutional Excellence Within abu Dhabi Municipality in UAE

Purpose: The study aims to empirically examine the influence of different organisational practices on institutional excellence in municipality of Abu Dhabi. E-service quality is examined as mediator and quality of polices is examined as a moderator.   Theoretical Framework: Activity theory support the assumption that the excellence is a result of the integrated system that encompass the people through their activities and interaction. The proposed conceptual framework includes three dependent variables; employee motivation, internal knowledge sharing, and collaborative e-culture. The three variables hypothesised to influence E-service quality as a mediator and institutional excellence as the dependent variable. Besides, quality of polices is hypothesized to moderate the relationship between the mediator and the dependent variable.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The quantitative research methodology was considered from the positivist philosophical perspective. With the help of the survey questionnaire, data was collected from 335 employees in Abu Dhabi municipality who represent the population of 2500. The data analysis used the PLS-SEM techniques by using the software package SmartPLS ver. 3.0,   Findings: The results show that employee motivation, internal knowledge sharing, and collaborative culture are significant antecedents of e-service quality even though e-service quality fails to significantly predict institutional excellence. Also, company quality policy enforcement does not moderate the effect of e-service quality on excellence.   Research Practical and Social Implications: The results are useful for the decision makers in Abu Dhabi municipal and other organisations in the UAE because it shows that the proposed practices have essential impact on the organisational excellence.   Originality/Value: The study is the first study to be conducted in Abu Dhabi municipality. Besides, the examination of E-services quality as a mediator towards institutional excellence is unique add on to the academic knowledge

Climate Change and South Asia: What Makes the Region Most Vulnerable?

Climate change is no more a distant possibility rather a reality. Due to geo-physical conditions and socio-economic-demographic backwardness South Asia is projected as one of the worst affected regions from global warming and climate change. The region is the home of about 1.5 billion of the world’s population and a chunk of the global poor. Climate change will affect agriculture sector across South Asian countries very hard. The overwhelming dependence on agriculture and natural resources for living makes the people of this region very vulnerable from climate change. South Asia is under serious threat from sea-level rising and increasing incidences of extreme events such as floods, droughts, cyclones, storms and irregularity of monsoon. Rapid urbanization has only fuelled the situation which may turn pathetic due to large-scale influx of ‘climate refugees’ to the ill-equipped cities in near future. It is not yet too late to be pessimistic, rather quick and effective actions across areas where South Asia is vulnerable can make a significant difference. There is need for global, regional and local level mitigation and adaptive strategies to face the reality of climate change. South Asian countries ‘as a block’ can make a better negotiation with the international communities and designing joint coping mechanisms. For that there is need for more regional understandings, collaborations and cooperation for minimizing the negative effects of climate change on South Asian countries. The article tries to review the overall situation of climate change in South Asian context and also explains various reasons of this vulnerability from different dimensions

Climate Change and South Asia: What Makes the Region Most Vulnerable?

Climate change is no more a distant possibility rather a reality. Due to geo-physical conditions and socio-economic-demographic backwardness South Asia is projected as one of the worst affected regions from global warming and climate change. The region is the home of about 1.5 billion of the world’s population and a chunk of the global poor. Climate change will affect agriculture sector across South Asian countries very hard. The overwhelming dependence on agriculture and natural resources for living makes the people of this region very vulnerable from climate change. South Asia is under serious threat from sea-level rising and increasing incidences of extreme events such as floods, droughts, cyclones, storms and irregularity of monsoon. Rapid urbanization has only fuelled the situation which may turn pathetic due to large-scale influx of ‘climate refugees’ to the ill-equipped cities in near future. It is not yet too late to be pessimistic, rather quick and effective actions across areas where South Asia is vulnerable can make a significant difference. There is need for global, regional and local level mitigation and adaptive strategies to face the reality of climate change. South Asian countries ‘as a block’ can make a better negotiation with the international communities and designing joint coping mechanisms. For that there is need for more regional understandings, collaborations and cooperation for minimizing the negative effects of climate change on South Asian countries. The article tries to review the overall situation of climate change in South Asian context and also explains various reasons of this vulnerability from different dimensions

How Does Maize-Cowpea Intercropping Maximize Land Use and Economic Return? A Field Trial in Bangladesh

Cultivating multiple crops together can provide numerous benefits, including improved soil health and crop yield. The objective of our study was to determine the optimum planting techniques in intercropping systems, and to maximize their benefits by mitigating competition for resources such as land, space, light interception, and nutrition. The performance of successively planted maize (Zea mays L.) grown with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) was evaluated with a field trial in Bangladesh. The treatments in our study were: (a) sole maize, (b) sole cowpea, (c) crops sown simultaneously, and (d) crops sown with different time lags (1, 2, and 3 weeks) between the maize-sowing and cowpea-sowing dates. Data on the crops’ physiological parameters were recorded. These included light interception, leaf area index (LAI), Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD), harvest index, and yield. Simultaneously, canopy coverage was measured using camera-based photo analysis. In addition, an economic analysis of intercropping maize with soybean or cowpea was conducted using gross margin analysis and benefit-cost ratio. In our results, the below-canopy photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was significantly higher in intercropping treatments when maize was sown three weeks after cowpea. In contrast, the LAI value of the maize and cowpea was significantly greater when sown on the same day than in other intercropping treatments. As a result, the maize yield reduced when intercropped with cowpea. This reduction maximized when both species were sown simultaneously due to higher competition for resources, including nutrients and light. Intercropping was more beneficial in terms of land equivalent ratio than both sole cropping of maize and cowpea, especially when maize was planted three weeks later. However, this benefit was not retained when calculated as maize equivalent yield since the contribution of cowpea was small in the overall maize yield, suggesting the importance of the relative economic value of the component species. Among all treatments, the lowest maize equivalent yield (6.03 ± 0.14 t ha−1) was obtained from sole cowpea, and the largest land equivalent ratio (1.67 ± 0.05) was obtained from intercropping with maize sown three weeks after cowpea. This treatment provided a net income of USD 786.32 ± 25.08 ha−1. This study has shown that together, maize–cowpea intercropping with a temporal niche difference of three weeks may be a better option for sustainable crop production in Bangladesh, maximizing land use. However, it may not provide a significantly greater maize equivalent yield and economic return

أثر القيادة األخالقية لمديري المدارس ومساعديهم في سلوك المواطنة التنظيمية في مدارس سلطنة عمان: من وجهة نظر المشرفين والمعلمين= The impact of ethical leadership for school principals and their assistants on organizational citizenship behavior in the sultanate of Oman schools: supervisors and teachers perspectives

The study aimed to discuss the level of availability of moral leadership among educational leaders represented by school principals and their assistants, the degree to which teachers practice organizational citizenship behavior, and the extent to which the moral leadership of principals and their assistants influence the behavior of organizational citizenship. The descriptive analytical method was adopted. The study population consisted of (1640) supervisors and (129221) teachers. A stratified random sample of (380) educational supervisors and teachers was selected, according to the Stephen Thompson equation. The researcher developed two questionnaires by making use of the theoretical literature; The ethical leadership questionnaire consisted of (58) phrases distributed in (4) domains. A questionnaire on organizational citizenship behavior of (53) phrases distributed in (5) domains. Statistical methods: descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, Cronbach's alpha coefficient analysis, multiple linear regression analysis. The findings revealed that; the overall average degree of moral leadership for school principals and their assistants was significantly high. The human relations domain came first, then the teamwork, then ethical management qualities. And finally personal moral qualities: All the (5) domains of the organizational citizenship behavior's questionnaire Was in a high degree as well, where the civility domain ranked first, followed by the conscience awareness domain, then the altruism domain. The dimensions of ethical leadership combined; Significantly related to the dependent variable organizational citizenship behavior, with a strong and positive correlation coefficient (0.688), and these dimensions explain (47.4%) of the dependent variable

Knowledge and Awareness of Medical Practitioners of Jazan City towards Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as a Specialty

BACKGROUND: In many health services communities the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) as a discipline is frequently not probably understood. Good awareness towards OMFS among different branches of health services providers is essential for better referral strategies and will be for the benefit of the patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was done using a specially prepared questionnaire distributed randomly to 125 general medical practitioners working in Jazan province. In this questionnaire, there were also some close-ended questions to evaluate awareness regarding a variety of conditions treated by the oral and maxillofacial surgeons.RESULTS: Out of 125 participants, 105 (84%) were aware of the oral and maxillofacial surgery as a speciality branch of dentistry. Only 52 (41.6%) participants were aware of the different treatment modalities coming under the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Also in the referral of cases to the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, 50 (40%) participants referred their oral and maxillofacial region cases to OMS. Tooth removal was the only procedure where most of the medical practitioners knew it is a speciality procedure of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. For facial fractures, 76 medical practitioners believe it comes under the scope of the orthopaedic surgeon. Similarly, for facial abscesses, 81 and 36 practitioners responded that it is a job of a general surgeon and OMS respectively.CONCLUSION: There is low awareness toward the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery in the medical community. Knowledge and awareness of the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery can improve the success and promptness of delivery of health services

Dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis in human lung cancer tissue and tumour-associated macrophages

Background Based on reports on elevated cholesterol levels in cancer cells, strategies to lower cholesterol synthesis have been suggested as an antitumour strategy. However, cholesterol depletion has also been shown to induce tumour-promoting actions in tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs). Methods We performed lipidomic and transcriptomic analyses of human lung cancer material. To assess whether the TAM phenotype is shaped by secreted factors produced by tumour cells, primary human monocyte-derived macrophages were polarized towards a TAM-like phenotype using tumour cell-conditioned medium. Findings Lipidomic analysis of lung adenocarcinoma (n=29) and adjacent non-tumour tissues (n=22) revealed a significant accumulation of free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters within the tumour tissue. In contrast, cholesterol levels were reduced in TAMs isolated from lung adenocarcinoma tissues when compared with alveolar macrophages (AMs) obtained from adjacent non-tumour tissues. Bulk-RNA-Seq revealed that genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism were downregulated in TAMs, while cholesterol efflux transporters were upregulated. In vitro polarized TAM-like macrophages showed an attenuated lipogenic gene expression signature and exhibited lower cholesterol levels compared with non-polarized macrophages. A genome-wide comparison by bulk RNA-Seq confirmed a high similarity of ex vivo TAMs and in vitro TAM-like macrophages. Modulation of intracellular cholesterol levels by either starving, cholesterol depletion, or efflux transporter inhibition indicated that cholesterol distinctly shapes macrophage gene expression. Interpretation Our data show an opposite dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis in tumour tissue vs. TAMs. Polarization of in vitro differentiated macrophages by tumour cell-conditioned medium recapitulates key features of ex vivo TAMs

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Gut Microbiota Extracellular Vesicles as Signaling Molecules Mediating Host-Microbiota Communications

Over the past decade, gut microbiota dysbiosis has been linked to many health disorders; however, the detailed mechanism of this correlation remains unclear. Gut microbiota can communicate with the host through immunological or metabolic signalling. Recently, microbiota-released extracellular vesicles (MEVs) have emerged as significant mediators in the intercellular signalling mechanism that could be an integral part of microbiota-host communications. MEVs are small membrane-bound vesicles that encase a broad spectrum of biologically active compounds (i.e., proteins, mRNA, miRNA, DNA, carbohydrates, and lipids), thus mediating the horizontal transfer of their cargo across intra- and intercellular space. In this study, we provide a comprehensive and in-depth discussion of the biogenesis of microbial-derived EVs, their classification and routes of production, as well as their role in inter-bacterial and inter-kingdom signaling

Gut Microbiota Extracellular Vesicles as Signaling Molecules Mediating Host-Microbiota Communications

Over the past decade, gut microbiota dysbiosis has been linked to many health disorders; however, the detailed mechanism of this correlation remains unclear. Gut microbiota can communicate with the host through immunological or metabolic signalling. Recently, microbiota-released extracellular vesicles (MEVs) have emerged as significant mediators in the intercellular signalling mechanism that could be an integral part of microbiota-host communications. MEVs are small membrane-bound vesicles that encase a broad spectrum of biologically active compounds (i.e., proteins, mRNA, miRNA, DNA, carbohydrates, and lipids), thus mediating the horizontal transfer of their cargo across intra- and intercellular space. In this study, we provide a comprehensive and in-depth discussion of the biogenesis of microbial-derived EVs, their classification and routes of production, as well as their role in inter-bacterial and inter-kingdom signaling