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Hanan Ibrahim Mudawi and Mohamed Osman Idris
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ability of four microorganisms to reduce disease infection of root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus spp.) and Fusarium spp. the causal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ability of four microorganisms to reduce disease infection of root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus spp.) and Fusarium spp. the causal agent of wilt/root-rot disease complex in chickpea.
Design/methodology/approach
A pot experiment was conducted for three consecutive winter seasons. A completely randomized design with five replicates was adopted. Two Bacillus isolates and Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride and their combinations were applied in infected soil. The effect on plant growth parameters, disease incidence and severity, root necrosis, weight of shoot and root, nematode population density and reproductive index were assessed.
Findings
The applications significantly (p=0.05) reduced the wilt/root-rot diseases complex. The reduction was attributed to the decline of the population density of nematodes in soil and root, and the suppression of the disease complex compared to controls, represented by reproductive index and the disease intensity index. Combinations were better than individual inoculation. The use of Bacillus isolate B3 and T. harzianum increased the number of flowers by 88.34 per cent. Reduction in the severity of root necrosis was in the range of 2.22-5.55 within a scale of 1-10. These findings indicate the significance of utilizing local bioagents for control of wilt/root-rot disease complex in chickpea plants.
Originality/value
The microorganisms used in this study are indigenous.
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Sohair I. Abou‐Elela, Fayza A. Nasr, Hala S. Doma, Hanan S. Ibrahim and Nagwa M. Badr
The main purpose of this study is to provide technical support for industrial firms in a new Egyptian industrial city in order to comply with the National Regulatory Standards for…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to provide technical support for industrial firms in a new Egyptian industrial city in order to comply with the National Regulatory Standards for wastewater discharge into the public sewerage network.
Design/methodology/approach
An execution plan has been prepared to identify the existing environmental status of all the enterprises in the city. To accomplish the planned activities, relevant information was collected from the available records in the city. A unified questionnaire format has been designed for all enterprises including all activities and information required for this study. Accordingly, industries were classified according to their activities and sizes. The information was fed to the computer using a database to control data entry, analysis, and retrieval. Also, the work plan included industrial auditing, wastewater characterization, and application of pollution prevention measures and treatment of end‐of‐pipe.
Findings
Statistical analysis of the collected data showed that 119 enterprises were distributed among different industrial sectors. The size of factories according to number of employees is categorized as micro, small and medium. Characterization of industrial wastewater produced from 37 plants indicated that 50 percent thereof do not comply with the Egyptian environmental laws, for industrial wastewater discharge into the public sewage network. In this study, three factories were selected to solve their environmental problems. Treatability studies and/or pollution prevention approaches for the selected factories were carried out and the recommended solutions were implemented and proved to be cost‐effective.
Originality/value
This paper provides the guidelines for other factories in this Egyptian industrial city to be environmentally friendly via compliance with the local regulatory standards. Dissemination of the achieved results can be applied by other industrial cities in Egypt.
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Sohair I. Abou‐Elela, Hisham S. Abdel‐Halim and Hanan S. Ibrahim
The main purpose of this study is to provide a simple, efficient and economic system for saline wastewater treatment.
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to provide a simple, efficient and economic system for saline wastewater treatment.
Design/methodology/approach
Industrial auditing was conducted to determine the water usage and wastewater characteristics during the manufacturing processes of pickling vegetables. In‐plant control measures were carried out prior to the end‐off‐pipe treatment. The treatment process was a simple pilot scale using two compartments alternated anaerobic fixed bed reactors (AAFBR).
Findings
The study indicated that applying the in‐plant control measures prior to final treatment of wastewater reduced the organic load and total suspended solids by almost 50 per cent. Post treatment of the end‐off‐pipe reduced the chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and dissolved salts by 84.2 per cent, 71 per cent and 52.4 per cent, respectively.
Originality/value
The proposed scheme was already implemented. The treated effluent from the factory was complying with the National regulatory standards for wastewater discharge into the public sewage network.
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Muazu Ibrahim, Alhassan Musah and Abdallah Abdul-Hanan
This paper aims to investigate the determinants of the motivation to pay tax in Ghana. Traditionally, raising tax morale to ensure compliance is often tied to the level of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the determinants of the motivation to pay tax in Ghana. Traditionally, raising tax morale to ensure compliance is often tied to the level of prevailing enforcement. But beyond enforcement, why do citizens pay tax?
Design/methodology/approach
This paper relied on the sixth wave of the World Values Survey data in determining the drivers of tax morale. It used the probit model with different specifications to determine robustness of the results.
Findings
The findings remain robust to model specification and show a non-linear relationship between age and tax morale. The level of education, marital status, patriotism, sector of employment, satisfaction with democracy and one’s “fear of God” do not matter in tax morale. The economic class of a person per se is also far from being a significant driver and that people are intrinsically motivated to pay tax once they are satisfied with their financial situation, have trust in the government as well as confidence in the parliament.
Originality/value
In addition to being a pioneering micro-econometric work on the determinants of tax morale in Ghana, the main contribution of the study lies in its investigation of a non-linear relationship between age and tax morale in Ghana.
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Yeslam Al‐Saggaf and Mohamed M Begg
There is a major transformation taking place in the Arab and Muslim worlds. People in these nations are poised on the edge of a significant new social landscape. Called the…
Abstract
There is a major transformation taking place in the Arab and Muslim worlds. People in these nations are poised on the edge of a significant new social landscape. Called the Internet, this new frontier not only includes the creation of new forms of private communication, like electronic mail and chat, but also webbased forums, which for the first time enables public discussion between males and females in conservative societies. This paper has been written as a result of an ethnographic study conducted in Saudi Arabia during the period 2001‐2002. The purpose of the study was to understand how online communities in Saudi Arabia are affecting people. The results of the study indicate that while participants to a large extent used online communities in accordance with their cultural values, norms and traditions, the communication medium and the features associated with it, such as the anonymity and lack of social cues, have affected them considerably. For example, many participants became more flexible in their thinking, more aware of the diverse nature of people within their society, less inhibited about the opposite gender, and more self‐confident. On the other hand, participants neglected their family commitments, became less shy and some became confused about some aspects of their culture and religion. These findings and their implications for the Arab and Muslim worlds will be highlighted in this paper.
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Rakesh Belwal, Hanan Al Balushi and Shweta Belwal
Universities and other higher educational institutions play an increasingly important role in providing entrepreneurship education, training, and technical assistance to existing…
Abstract
Purpose
Universities and other higher educational institutions play an increasingly important role in providing entrepreneurship education, training, and technical assistance to existing and potential entrepreneurs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate students’ perceptions of entrepreneurship and the role of universities in developing enterprise education in Oman, focusing on the case of Sohar University.
Design/methodology/approach
The research used a questionnaire based survey to collect primary data. From the total population of 3,633 students registered across different faculties during the academic year 2012-2013, a sample size of 200 was drawn using convenience sampling and the proportional allocation method.
Findings
The research outcomes revealed that the majority of the university students were optimistic and interested in starting their own business, but lacked knowledge about how to start a business. The students’ willingness to run a business and their sociable, go-getter attitude, confidence, and effective connections with established entrepreneurs were observed as enablers. Fear of failure and unwillingness to take risks were the major obstacles facing university students in treading an entrepreneurial path.
Practical implications
Overall, the study indicated a need for enterprise education, at programme and course levels, to nurture entrepreneurship among students in Oman.
Social implications
Currently, Omani society is affected by a high level of unemployment. The research outcomes will help policy makers in assessing the potential of enterprise education. The promotion of entrepreneurship among women will enable more women to work shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts in building Oman’s economy. In a region where even today large numbers of women would never remove the face veil in front of male non-family members, these developments are very significant.
Originality/value
Very few studies have examined university students’ attitude to entrepreneurship and enterprise education in Oman. This study helps in bridging that gap.
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Night Sadress, Juma Bananuka, Laura Orobia and Julius Opiso
The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of attitude towards electronic tax system, adoption of electronic tax system and isomorphic forces to tax compliance…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of attitude towards electronic tax system, adoption of electronic tax system and isomorphic forces to tax compliance of small business enterprises (SBEs) in a developing country in a single study.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is cross-sectional and correlational. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 214 owner-managed SBEs in Uganda through their managers. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences.
Findings
Attitude towards electronic tax system, adoption of electronic tax system and isomorphic forces significantly contribute to tax compliance to the extent of 57.4 per cent. Isomorphic forces have a high predictive power of tax compliance as compared with attitude towards electronic tax system. Further, coercive, normative and mimetic isomorphism as constructs of isomorphic forces are significantly associated with tax compliance.
Research limitations/implications
Given that this study was cross-sectional, monitoring changes in behaviour over time was not possible. The results are useful for policy makers and taxpayers in developing countries. These results can also be generalized to other developing countries especially those in Africa and other continents dominated by developing countries.
Originality/value
To the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the contribution of attitude towards electronic tax system, adoption of electronic tax system and isomorphic forces to tax compliance of SBEs in a developing country in a single study on the African scene.
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of implementing a toxicity tax for heavily polluting vehicles in United Arab Emirates. A fast-changing world needs…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of implementing a toxicity tax for heavily polluting vehicles in United Arab Emirates. A fast-changing world needs responsive policies to cope with the crisis human beings are currently facing on earth. Implementing a new policy represents a design for a change. Policies come in the form of regulations that have been officially agreed and chosen by either a political party, business or any other type of organization. This paper adopts the policy development cycle in the Australian policy handbook as a practical framework. A focus group comprising 35 participants and two decision makers thoroughly discussed each stage of the “policy development cycle”. A qualitative analysis of the data showed that there is potential for implementing a new tax to be imposed on highly polluting vehicles in United Arab Emirates (UAE) the most appropriate policy instrument in UAE is a policy enacted through restricted law; it might take more than 3 years to work; the expected tax would range between $280 and $1,100 per year; and there is concern that this new tax would slow Dubai’s preparation for EXPO 2020. These findings will help countries implement this new tax. Following the stages of the policy development cycle and their procedures will, therefore, inspire decision makers to formulate new environmental policies not only in UAE but around the world.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts the use of “focus groups” as its primary approach to data collection. A focus group is a common qualitative research technique and involves a small number of participants. The main reason for using qualitative research is because participants are asked for open-ended responses that convey their thoughts or feelings. The author of this paper served as the moderator who posed a series of questions intended to gain insight into the group’s views on the implementation of a toxicity tax for heavy polluting vehicles in the UAE. Time and attention were given to what it is that you expect to get out of focus-group research. The group was invited for one full day to a big hall and was seated around one table. The group was sometimes divided to obtain more focused views. Overall, four primary groups participated in this study. A fifth group, consisting of three senior members of a governmental agency who acted as decision makers, took part in one-to-one interviews at their place of work. Table I provides details on the backgrounds of the participant.
Findings
Research highlights the policy development cycle to investigate a new transport policy in UAE. A focus group comprising 35 participants and two interviews with two decision makers. There is potential for a tax to be imposed on highly polluting vehicles in UAE. The expected tax would range between $280 and $1,100 per year. The best policy instrument in the region is policy by law. The truck industry will be affected, and there will be a public refusal.
Research limitations/implications
A new policy of implementing tax for high polluting vehicles was, therefore, discussed in this paper. Participants thought the tax would work, but an in-depth feasibility study on both microeconomic and macroeconomic aspects will be required; providing governmental incentives will help support the shift to less-polluting vehicles.
Practical implications
The policy development cycle was utilized as a practical framework for this research.
Social implications
People were engaged into this study to make the policy viable. People will react positively to this policy.
Originality/value
Due to the lack of such research in this area, this paper will fill a gap in the knowledge. Moreover, the policy will be real implementation based on this publication. The findings will not only help UAE but also many countries that share same environmental and social contexts.
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Hanan AlMazrouei and Robert Zacca
The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of organizational justice and decision latitude on expatriate organization commitment and job performance.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of organizational justice and decision latitude on expatriate organization commitment and job performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 175 nonmanagerial-level expatriate employees in Dubai, UAE using a purposive sampling approach. A structural equation model with partial least squared analysis was utilized to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that decision latitude partially mediates the relationship between organization justice and organizational commitment and fully mediates the relationship between organization justice and job performance.
Research limitations/implications
Data were collected from a cross sectional sample in UAE, and hence, the generalizability of the results to other contexts may be limited.
Practical implications
The research study suggests ways in which human resource managers and practitioners can develop a stronger awareness of the importance of decision latitude in employee decision-making and the role it plays in promoting employees' commitment and job performance given perceived organizational justice.
Originality/value
The present research is among the first of its kind to examine the study variables within the nonmanagerial expatriate context.
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