Managerial effectiveness in Saudi Arabia

"Managerial effectiveness" is a critical component of any organization, regardless of its national, cultural, ethnic or linguistic makeup (Drucker, 2001; Lund & Barker, 2007). This study explores the perceptions of "managerial effectiveness" amongst a group of Saudi and western expatriate senior managers working in Saudi Arabia. Twelve expatriate and twelve Saudi managers were interviewed and asked to define what "managerial effectiveness" means for them. The managers were also asked to describe a typical "effective" and "ineffective" manager in the context of working in Saudi Arabia. The managers were then asked to explain the factors which they perceive to influence "effectiveness" in the context of working in Saudi Arabia. This qualitative study aims to build upon the lack of information available about the concept of managerial effectiveness in Saudi Arabia. By further understanding the factors which influence managerial effectiveness, the study can be used to help Saudi and expatriate managers better understand and apply effective managerial concepts in the Saudi context. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed in relation to the managerial effectiveness literature

Sources of income for women in Islam

According to some studies, feminizing poverty has now become a usual attitude in Islamic societies with rates exceeding 70%, which completely contradicts with the essence of Sharia that allocates women thirty sources of income in addition to equaling them with men in terms of being financially independent, and to be taken care of in all their circumstances. That is to say, if a woman is wealthy, sharia maintains her money and gives her freedom to spend it the way she desires, and in the Muslim community there is always a breadwinner who is responsible for all her needs, protecting her honor, and providing her with foods, drinks, clothes, and housing to the extent of his ability. In case of the breadwinner’s absence, Allah (SWT) permitted numerous channels through which money can be delivered to her in order to keep her from begging. However, the present observations show a different situation although the Muslim woman is proud; she lives her life to spend, not to beg for aliment. What are those sources? What is their evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah and the doctrines of the jurists? Why do we witness a partial or complete absence of these sources in some societies? As for the obstacles of dealing with these sources, this needs further research

Incidence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from retail imported mackerel fish

During the past few years, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and other species of Enterobacteriaceae have become a matter of great concern in human and veterinary medicine. Several studies in recent years documented the prevalence and occurrence of ESBLproducing Enterobacteriaceae in food products such as meat, poultry and raw milk; therefore in this pilot study we examined imported raw frozen mackerel fish to determine the incidence of ESBLproducing E. coli from Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. From January to March, 2012, 45 samples were purchased from various supermarkets of this region and examined for the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli using ChromID ESBL agar plates and further confirmed by PCR amplification. Out of 45 mackerel fish samples, 23 (51.1%) were found to be positive for ESBL-producing E. coli and yielded 60 isolates. The higher rate of resistance was found to be with ampicillin (100%), piperacillin (96.7%), cefotaxime (93.3%), ceftriaxone (93.3%), tetracycline (53.3%), nalidixic acid (40%) and trimethoprim (30%). The least rate of resistance was recorded among chloramphenicol (15%), ciprofloxacin (15%), noroxin (11.7%) and nitrofurantoin (5%). All the 60 isolates in this study were found susceptible to amikacin, aztreonam, cefepime, ertapenem, gentamicin and kanamycin. Further characterization by PCR revealed that 49 (82%) out of 60 isolates of ESBL-producing E. coli were confirmed to be blaCTX-M type and were negative for blaTEM and blaSHV genes. This is the first study to demonstrate the occurrence of ESBL-producing E. coli in imported raw frozen mackerel fish in Saudi Arabia and the study result indicates that the mackerel fish might be the possible reservoir of blaCTX-M gene and may contribute to the dissemination and transfer of these β-lactamase genes to humans through food chain. The high rate of occurrence of ESBL-producing E. coli in the mackerel fish indicates that there is an established reservoir of these bacteria in the mackerel fish. Further national wide studies are necessary to assess future trends in imported fish to Saudi Arabia.Key words: Mackerel fish, Escherichia coli, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), antimicrobial resistance, PCR

Efficiency of linear-to-circular polarization conversion for light reflection at the principal angle by a dielectric-conductor interface

The efficiency ηLC of linear-to-circular polarization conversion when light is reflected at a dielectric–conductor interface is determined as a function of the principal angle ϕ¯ and principal azimuth ψ¯ . Constant- ηLC contours are presented in the ϕ¯ ,ψ¯ plane for values of ηLC from 0.5 to 1.0 in steps of 0.05, and the corresponding contours in the complex plane of the relative dielectric function ϵ are also determined. As specific examples, efficiencies ⩾88% are obtained for light reflection by a Ag mirror in the visible and near-IR (400–1200nm) spectral range, and ≥40% for the reflection of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft x-ray radiation by a SiC mirror in the 60–120nm wavelength range

Plurality of principal angles for a given pseudo-Brewster angle when polarized light is reflected at a dielectric-conductor interface

The pseudo-Brewster angle ϕpB of minimum reflectance for p-polarized light and the principal angle ϕ¯ at which incident linearly polarized light of the proper azimuth is reflected circularly polarized are considered as functions of the complex relative dielectric function ε of a dielectric–conductor interface over the entire complex ε plane. In particular, the spread of ϕ¯for a given ϕpB is determined, and the maximum difference (ϕ¯−ϕpB)max is obtained as a function of ϕpB . The maximum difference (ϕ¯−ϕpB)max approaches 45° and 0 in the limit as ϕpB→0 and 90°, respectively. ForϕpB\u3c22.666° , multiple principal angles ϕ¯i , i=1,2,3 , appear for each ε in a subdomain of fractional optical constants. This leads to an elaborate pattern of multiple solution branches for the difference ϕ¯i−ϕpB , i=1,2,3 , as is illustrated by several examples