Leader's spiritual intelligence and religiousness: Skills,factors affecting,and their effects on performance (a qualitative study by grounded theory)

Spiritual intelligence has received increasing quantitative research interest, while there is still no attention regarding to investigate spiritual intelligence with applying qualitative methods, especially grounded theory design. This study aimed to detect the skills, affecting factors, and the effects of spiritual intelligence and religiousness on performance. The qualitative analysis of the data collected through the in‐depth interview of the participants after encoding and classification, and the continuous comparison of the data by encoding and data by axes, resulted in these data can be coded in three axes: leader's spiritual intelligence skills, factors that affect leader's spiritual intelligence, and the effects of leader's spiritual intelligence on performance. The results revealed that there are five skills of leader's spiritual intelligence: work‐life balance skill, consists of (5) sub‐skills, leadership transcendence skill includes (6) sub‐skills, leadership meaning and purpose production skill includes (4) sub‐skills, leadership mindfulness skill consists of (9) sub‐skills, and the fifth skill is leadership virtue behavior includes (8) sub‐skills. And also, the results indicated that there are many factors that impact the leader's spiritual intelligence, were classified into three objects: personal (three factors), social and family (two factors), and work factors (4 factors). All participants were agreed unanimously that the leader's spiritual intelligence and religiousness are determined and affect the performance of the leader and his subordinates, these were classified into two objects: The first object is a leader's work‐performance, consisting of (16) indicators, and the second object is a workers performance includes (12) indicators. In light of these results, the study recommended the necessity of developing leaders' awareness of the importance of passion of spiritual intelligence skill and their impacts on performance. Thus, these findings shed new light on the importance of developing leaders' spiritual intelligence skills to resolve leadership problems, and increasing productivity, creativity, and well‐being among leaders and workers in Arab World.     

Crowdfunding operations: Outreach factors in developing economies

This study aims to explore factors that contribute to the outreach of crowdfunding platforms in developing economies. Specifically, it aims to examine the perspectives of experts, funders, and fundraisers to provide several applicable recommendations to accelerate the outreach. An initial framework has been developed to fit with the developing economies; experts from Jordan were meet to validate the framework suitability; two questionnaires were developed for funders and fundraisers; crowdfunding experts from more than 10 countries worldwide reviewed and validated the methodology and the questionnaires; 833 questionnaires were collected, coded, and analyzed; analysis and statistical tests validated by statistical academic and analysis specialists. Outcomes affirm the importance of crowdfunding outreach proposed factors in developing economies with a variation between concerned parties: Experts emphasize “supervision and a regulatory framework”; funders focus on “Openness and Transparency”; and fundraisers focus on “Financial Knowledge” as essential factors to the outreach of these platforms. This study focused on the “Debit ‐based” and “Equity ‐based” crowdfunding platforms. Therefore, some findings may not be generalized to the “Donation ‐based” and “Reward ‐based” platforms. Several applicable recommendations have been suggested.     

Comparison of four DNA extraction methods to extract DNA from cigarette butts collected in Lebanon

Cigarette butts collected from crime scenes represent valuable sources of DNA. However the extraction of the genetic material may deem challenging especially when different contaminants may compromise the integrity, quality, and quantity of DNA obtained. This study aims at comparing four extraction methods (Chelex-100, soaking + Chelex-100, Chelex-100?+?PK, and DNA IQ? System) with the intention of identifying the one with maximal recovery rate and profiling success. DNA was extracted using aforementioned four methods from 70 cigarette butts collected from sites across Lebanon. DNA was quantified by qPCR using TaqMan Quantifiler Kit on an Applied Biosystems 7300 SDS instrument and genotypes were obtained using the PowerPlex® 21 kit on an Applied Biosystems 3130 Genetic Analyser. The findings of this work showed that DNA extraction with Chelex-100?+?PK is preferred to the other three methods when seeking both, a high yield and the generation of maximal numbers of full profiles. The Chelex-100?+?PK method is simple, cost effective, and therefore suitable for routine cigarette butts case studies.     

Chronological study of diazinon in putrefied viscera of rats using GC/MS, GC/EC and TLC

A qualitative and qualitative weekly study of diazinon in experimental rats after a lethal dose is described. GC/MS and TLC were used for qualitative, and GC/EC for quantitative analysis. The replicate content of diazinon in stomach and intestine (S/I) revealed a high rate of decrease during the first month. The liver (L) content fluctuates through a general trend of decrease. Immediate post-mortem content of 34.5 mg in summer and 94 in winter was found in S/L samples, while it was 0.79 and 0.63 respectively for L-samples. The respective remaining amount after 2 months was 1. 16, 4.40 (S/I), 0.61 and 0.66 mg (L). A round figure of 4% remains in S/L samples. The chronological plots indicate the possibility of detection at longer periods. Interpretation of data is outlined regarding relative contents of organs and the factors affecting persistence of diazinon in putrefied viscera.     

Testing Claims about Large Land Deals in Africa: Findings from a Multi-Country Study

Abstract

Despite much research on large land deals for plantation agriculture in Africa, reliable data remain elusive, partly because of limited access to information and practical and methodological challenges. International debates are still shaped by misperceptions about how much land is being acquired, where, by whom, how and with what consequences. This article aims empirically to test some common perceptions through an analysis of findings from research conducted in three African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, and Tanzania. The article presents new evidence on the scale, geography, drivers and features of land deals, relates findings to data from earlier research and international efforts to monitor land deals, and outlines possible ways forward for ongoing monitoring of the deals.     

Insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress in victims of sexual abuse: the role of perceived social support and abuse characteristics

In this study of victims of sexual abuse, the aim was to investigate the role of perceived social support and abuse characteristics in self-reported insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress. Four hundred sixty Norwegian victims of sexual abuse completed a questionnaire assessing perceived social support, abuse characteristics, insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress. Results show that higher levels of perceived social support were related to lower scores on all symptom outcome measures. Abuse involving oral, genital, or anal penetration was related to more insomnia symptoms. Longer duration of abuse and threatening conducted by the perpetrator were related to higher nightmare frequency, while threats and abuse involving penetration were related to higher degrees of distress associated with nightmares. In conclusion, the present study provides preliminary data indicating that perceived social support may affect the nature of sleep difficulties in sexual abuse victims. Also, more severe forms of sexual abuse are related to higher levels of sleep difficulties.