Genetic analysis of West Nile New York 1999 encephalitis virus

Analysis of the genome of the flavivirus responsible for the 1999 New York City encephalitis epidemic cloned from human brain by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction indicates its identity as a lineage I West Nile virus (WNV; WNV-NY1999) closely related to WNVs previously isolated in the Middle East.

PARA UMA PAZ SEM FIM : Um estudo, s��cio-pol��tico e teol��gico, da tipologia messi��nica nas per��copes de Isa��as 7,10-17 e 8,23-9,6.

O ato de ungir, do qual se origina o termo messias, era um costume dos povos do Antigo Oriente M��dio e foi assimilado por Israel. O Antigo Testamento, por��m, reinterpretou esta un����o. Ele atribuiu ao rei, num primeiro momento, o t��tulo de ungido, maxiah;. Nesta perspectiva, o rei Davi foi aquele que deu origem �� mentalidade messi��nica em Israel. E a respeito da teologia messi��nica, o profeta Isa��as tornou-se um dos seus expoentes. Ele se dirige �� classe alta de Jerusal��m e prop��e um Ungido de Jav�� em substitui����o ao rei da casa de Davi. Isto porque, o messianismo tamb��m se tornou um movimento de resist��ncia frente a n��o observ��ncia da justi��a e do direito, que culmina com a aus��ncia da paz. Nesse sentido, Isa��as apresenta tamb��m uma nova percep����o do messianismo, a saber, uma ruptura com a casa de Davi (7,17). Este messias n��o estava sob os crit��rios humanos de um bom rei, forte e guerreiro, mas sob a dire����o do Esp��rito de Jav��. Por isso, ele poder�� ser um messias crian��a (7,14; 9,5). Esta disserta����o tem, portanto, a finalidade de percorrer o caminho do surgimento do ungido, ou do ato de se ungir, at�� a concep����o isai��nica de messias. Esse desenvolvimento mostrar��, ao final do trabalho, a tipologia messi��nica apresentada pelo profeta Isa��as, a partir das per��copes de 7,10-17 e 8,23-9,6.(AU)

BALA��O ��� O QUE OUVE AS PALAVRAS DE EL, TEM O CONHECIMENTO DE ELYON E V�� A VIS��O DE SHADDAI: UM ESTUDO DE N��MEROS 22-24

A presente pesquisa busca avaliar exegeticamente o texto que se encontra na B��blia, especificamente no livro de N��meros cap��tulos 22-24 que relata sobre um personagem conhecido como Bala��o. A pesquisa tem tamb��m como objeto o estudo sobre o pante��o de divindades relatado no mesmo texto, assim como tamb��m o estudo dos textos descobertos em Deir Alla, na Jord��nia, que apresentam um personagem designado como Bala��o, possivelmente o mesmo personagem de Nm 22-24. A motiva����o que levou ao desenvolvimento dessa pesquisa foi o fato de se ter deparado com os conceitos dos diversos nomes divinos exibidos no texto, al��m da quest��o do profetismo fora de Israel, assim como as possibilidades hermen��uticas que se abrem para a leitura desse texto b��blico. O conceito geral sempre foi o de que Israel era a ��nica na����o onde existiam ���verdadeiros��� profetas e uma adora����o a um ��nico Deus, o ���monote��smo���. O que despertou interesse foi perceber, especialmente por meio da leitura dos livros b��blicos, que o profetismo n��o se restringiu somente a Israel. Ele antecede �� forma����o do antigo Israel e j�� existia no ��mbito das terras do antigo Oriente M��dio, e que Israel ainda demorou muito tempo para ser monote��sta. Quem �� esse Bala��o, filho de Beor? Estudaremos sobre sua pessoa e sua miss��o. Examinaremos os textos de Deir Alla sobre Bala��o e sua natureza de personagem mediador entre o divino e o humano. Esse personagem �� apresentado como um grande profeta e que era famoso como int��rprete de press��gios divinos. Analisaremos a importante quest��o sobre o pante��o de deuses que s��o apresentados na narrativa de Bala��o nomeados como: El, Elyon Elohim e Shaddai, al��m de Yahweh. Entendemos, a princ��pio, que o texto possui uma conex��o com a sociedade na qual foi criado e usando da metodologia exeg��tica, faremos uma an��lise da narrativa em quest��o, buscando compreender o sentido do texto, dentro de seu cen��rio hist��rico e social. Cen��rio este, que nos apresentou esse profeta, n��o israelita, que profere b��n����os dos deuses sobre Israel e que, al��m disso, pronuncia maldi����es sobre os inimigos desse mesmo Israel. Percebemos que, parte do texto pesquisado �� apresentado sob a ��tica de Israel sobre as outras na����es. A pesquisa defende, portanto, que o texto de Nm 22-24, al��m de nos apresentar um profeta fora de Israel igual aos profetas da B��blia, defende que, o pante��o de divindades tamb��m era adorado por Israel e que tais nomes s��o ep��tetos de uma mesma divindade, no caso YHWH. Defende, tamb��m, um delineamento de um projeto de dom��nio pol��tico e militar de Israel sobre as na����es circunvizinhas.

Challenging From Within : Youth Associations and Female Leadership in Swedish Mosques

This chapter focuses on women members of the Sunn��-dominated national organization Sweden's Young Muslims (Sveriges Unga Muslimer, SUM) and some of its local youth associations in different Swedish towns, to argue that involvement with these associations is increasing Muslim women's engagement with mosques and other venues for acquisition of Islamic knowledge. Illuminating the continuous challenges to the women's presence in mosques and their wider public activism the chapter examines how these women defend their right to exercise religious authority while supporting the traditional sources of Muslim authority in the public sphere. It analyzes how the women reinterpret the Islamic texts to change their daily lives as well as their position within both the Muslim community and Swedish society as a whole. The chapter emphasizes that in more informal situations, backstage among peers, the women put gender on the agenda, initiate reflexive deliberations, and test alternative norms and practices.

Introduction

Focusing on HRM developments in thirteen developing countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, this book explores the contextual functions of HR in these countries. In addition, it analyzes the more general issues of HRM in cross-national settings to give readers an understanding of HR that is both comparative and contextual. Covering the policies and practices of China, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, each chapter follows a framework that draws out all of the unique and diverse configurations of HRM. This important text is an invaluable resource for all HRM practitioners, students and scholars of HRM, international HRM and international business.

Human resource management in developing countries

Focusing on HRM developments in thirteen developing countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, this book explores the contextual functions of HR in these countries. In addition, it analyzes the more general issues of HRM in cross-national settings to give readers an understanding of HR that is both comparative and contextual. Covering the policies and practices of China, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, each chapter follows a framework that draws out all of the unique and diverse configurations of HRM. This important text is an invaluable resource for all HRM practitioners, students and scholars of HRM, international HRM and international business.

Quality management (QM) implementation in the Kuwaiti Oil Industry:An empirical study and a proposed generic framework

In an Arab oil producing country in the Middle East such as Kuwait, Oil industry is considered as the main and most important industry of the country. This industry���s importance emerged from the significant role it plays in both country���s national economy and also global economy. Moreover, Oil industry���s criticality comes from its interconnectivity with national security and power in the Middle East region. Hence, conducting this research in this crucial industry had certainly added values to companies in this industry as it investigated thoroughly the main components of the TQM implementation process and identified which components affects significantly TQM���s implementation and its gained business results. In addition, as the Oil sector is a large sector that is known for its richness of employees with different national cultures and backgrounds. Thus, this culture-heterogeneous industry seems to be the most appropriate environment to address and satisfy a need in the literature to investigate the national culture values��� effects on TQM implementation process. Furthermore, this research has developed a new conceptual model of TQM implementation process in the Kuwaiti Oil industry that applies in general to operations and productions organizations at the Kuwaiti business environment and in specific to organizations in the Oil industry, as well it serves as a good theoretical model for improving operations and production level of the oil industry in other developing and developed countries. Thus, such research findings minimized the literature���s gap found the limited amount of empirical research of TQM implementation in well-developed industries existing in an Arab, developing countries and specifically in Kuwait, where there was no coherent national model for a universal TQM implementation in the Kuwaiti Oil industry in specific and Kuwaiti business environment in general. Finally, this newly developed research framework, which emerged from the literature search, was validated by rigorous quantitative analysis tools including SPSS and Structural Equation Modeling. The quantitative findings of questionnaires collected were supported by the qualitative findings of interviews conducted.

An investigation into the adoption of electronic commerce among Saudi Arabian SMEs

Despite the proliferation of e-commerce adoption by SMEs and the world-wide growth of e-commerce, in general there is a paucity of empirical studies that examine the adoption of e-commerce by SMEs in the Middle East. In this paper, the authors provide insights into the salient e-commerce adoption issues by focusing on Saudi Arabian SMEs. This research was designed using a qualitative approach through in-depth case studies selected from firms in Saudi Arabia. The findings contribute toward a better conceptual and practical understanding of the main factors driving SMEs to adopt e-commerce. The authors find that the level of e-commerce implementation has yet to mature and customer readiness for Internet shopping must improve before e-commerce reaches the levels of maturity seen in other regions of the world. This study highlights directions for future inquiry and implications for information and technology managers and policymakers in developing Arab nations.

An investigation into the adoption of electronic business in Saudi Arabia using technology-organisation-environment framework

Despite the proliferation of e-business adoption by organisations and the world-wide growth of the e-business phenomenon, there is a paucity of empirical studies that examine the adoption of e-business in the Middle East. The aim of our study is to provide insights into the salient e-business adoption issues by focusing on Saudi Arabian businesses. We developed a conceptual model for electronic business (e-business) adoption incorporating ten factors based on the technology-organization-environment framework. Survey data from 550 businesses were used to test the model and hypotheses. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis to assess the reliability and validity of constructs. The findings of the study suggest that firm technology competence, size, top management Support, technology orientation, consumer readiness, trading partner readiness and regulatory support are important antecedents of e-business adoption and utilisation. In addition, the study finds that, competitive pressure and organisational customer and competitor orientation is not a predictor for e-business adoption and utilisation. The implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for future inquiry are presented.

E-business adoption in Saudi Arabian private sector

Despite the proliferation of e-business adoption by organisations and the world-wide growth of the e-business phenomenon, there is a paucity of empirical studies that examine the adoption of e-business in the Middle East. The aim of our study is to provide insights into the salient e-business adoption issues by focusing on Saudi Arabian businesses. We developed a conceptual model for electronic business (e-business) adoption incorporating nine factors. Survey data from 550 businesses were used to test the model and hypotheses. The findings of the study suggest that firm's technological readiness, top management Support, technology orientation, consumer readiness, trading partner readiness and regulatory support are important facilitators of e-business adoption. In addition, the study finds that, competitive pressure and organisational customer and competitor orientation is not a predictor for e-business adoption. The implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for future inquiry are presented.

Loan loss provisions, bank valuations and discretion : a comparative study between conventional and Islamic banks

This study investigates the use of reported loan loss provisions (LLP) by investors in their valuations of banks within the Middle East and North Africa region between the years 2006 and 2011. We decompose LLP into discretionary and non-discretionary components to test for differential valuations in the two banking sectors. We use alternative criteria to define the components of LLP in banks: loan quality/size and earnings management/ manipulation incentives. We employ a price-level valuation model estimated using two-stage analyses. We find that LLP has positive value relevance to investors in both banking sectors. Investors in Islamic banks price the discretionary component relatively lower than their conventional counterparts. We attribute this result to differences in product and governance structures as well as to the religious perception of Islamic banking. In both banking sectors, investors construe an increase in the non-discretionary component as irrelevant valuation information. Our results are relevant to bank regulators in showing the signalling effect of LLP to bank value and stability.

Loan loss provisions, bank valuations and discretion:a comparative study between conventional and Islamic banks

This study investigates the use of reported loan loss provisions (LLP) by investors in their valuations of banks within the Middle East and North Africa region between the years 2006 and 2011. We decompose LLP into discretionary and non-discretionary components to test for differential valuations in the two banking sectors. We use alternative criteria to define the components of LLP in banks: loan quality/size and earnings management/manipulation incentives. We employ a price-level valuation model estimated using two-stage analyses. We find that LLP has positive value relevance to investors in both banking sectors. Investors in Islamic banks price the discretionary component relatively lower than their conventional counterparts. We attribute this result to differences in product and governance structures as well as to the religious perception of Islamic banking. In both banking sectors, investors construe an increase in the non-discretionary component as irrelevant valuation information. Our results are relevant to bank regulators in showing the signalling effect of LLP to bank value and stability. �� 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Conjunctival UV autofluorescence - prevalence and risk factors

Purpose: Autofluorescence of ultraviolet (UV) light has been shown to occur in localised areas of the bulbar conjunctiva, which map to active cellular changes due to UV and environmental exposure. This study examined the presence of conjunctival UV autofluorescence in eye care practitioners (ECPs) across Europe and the Middle East and its associated risk factors. Method: Images were captured of 307 ECPs right eyes in the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Kuwait, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom using a Nikon D100 camera and dual flash units through UV filters. UV autofluorescence was outlined using ImageJ software and the nasal and temporal area quantified. Subjects were required to complete a questionnaire on their demographics and lifestyle including general exposure to UV and refractive correction. Results: Average age of the subjects was 38.5��12.2 years (range 19-68) and 39.7% were male. Sixty-two percent of eyes had some conjunctival damage as indicated by UV autofluorescence. The average area of damage was higher (p=0.005) nasally (2.95��4.52mm2) than temporally (2.19��4.17mm2). The area of UV damage was not related to age (r=0.03, p=0.674), gender (p=0.194), self-reported sun exposure lifestyle (p>0.05), geographical location (p=0174), sunglasses use (p>0.05) or UV-blocking contact lens use (p>0.05), although it was higher in those wearing contact lenses with minimal UV-blocking and no spectacles (p=0.015). The area of UV damage was also less nasally in those who wore contact lenses and spectacles compared to those with no refractive correction use (p=0.011 nasal; p=0.958 temporal). Conclusion: UV conjunctival damage is common even in Europe, Kuwait and UAE, and among ECPs. The area of damage appears to be linked with the use of refractive correction, with greater damage nasally than temporally which may be explained by the peripheral light focusing effect.