Corporate social responsibility in Islam

Notions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) have been suggested to be consistent with an Islamic view of society. Indeed, values and principles that have been central to Islam since the time of the holy Prophet Mohammed (Peace and Blessings be upon him) may serve as a foundation for notions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) similar to those in the West. Much contemporary discussion of CSR, however, has not recognized this. These discussions have largely been based on a Western orientation informed by Western religious values. Moreover, CSR has evolved literally in response to particular issues or problems that are specific to businesses in a Western context. This led to a lack of a comprehensive global context within which a wider perspective of CSR should be positioned. On the other hand, the notion of social responsibility and justice has been an integral part of Islamic society for nearly 14 centuries. However, the Islamic literature remains scattered, fragmented and lacks a coherent framework that would allow such a concept in Islam to be systematized. While Islamic philosophy is rich in precepts pertinent to CSR, these precepts have not yet been formally synthesized to present a systematic model with an explicit notion of CSR in Islam. Thus, there exists a gap in both the Western and Islamic literature. This was fruitfully exploited in this study to advance the understanding of the concept of CSR in a wider cultural and religious setting. This study explored this new territory and presented a conceptual framework of CSR in Islam based on Shariah (the Islamic legal and social system) derived from the holy Qur'an and Hadith. It provided both, a counterpart and a comparable base in the study of various issues relevant to CSR and international business from a much wider global perspective. It also provided significant insights into Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) regarding business practice. The consistency of the conceptual framework of CSR in Islam with contemporary business practices was explored using a survey of Islamic banks located in different parts of the world. The survey revealed that many current practices of Islamic banks mirror the expected behaviours or practices generated in the Islamic framework. In fact, it was possible to discern that the organizations surveyed implement the Islamic code of conduct rather extensively. Against this background, a consistency with the framework of CSR in Islam presented in this study was identified. Such consistency, however, was driven by legal requirements in adherence to Shariah rather than an explicit understanding or pursuit of CSR. The lack of a systematic framework with explicit notions of CSR from an Islamic perspective caused hindrance in implementing CSR practices in Islamic organizations. It follows that this study was a modest step towards filling this lacuna by presenting a systematic and coherent framework of CSR in Islam

Symptom Burden in Geriatric Hospitalized ESRD Patients: Quantifying symptoms to increase Nephrologist Awareness and use of Palliative Care Consultation

poster abstractBackground: End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients have significant symptom burden. Reduced provider awareness of symptoms contributes to underutilization of symptom management resources. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that improved nephrologist awareness of symptoms will lead to symptom improvement. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter intervention study, 27 geriatric ESRD inpatients underwent symptom assessment using the modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) at admission and 1 week post-discharge. Enrollees were sequentially randomized into 2 groups. In group 1, the nephrologist of each individual was provided baseline symptom assessment and not in group 2. Severity ratings were compared between in-hospital and post discharge scores as well as between the 2 groups. Results: 26 patients completed the study; 1 died. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics and scores, except increased diabetes in Group 2(P = 0.03). For 70% of the total cohort physicians reported not being surprised if the patient died within a year. Among the total cohort, total ESAS scores improved between initial and follow-up assessments except for depression, anxiety, lack of appetite and nausea. The absolute change in total ESAS scores was 10.9 in group1 and 6.8 in group2 (NS). Among individual symptoms significant improvement was found in pain and itching in group 1 only. Drowsiness and dyspnea improved in both groups. There was one palliative care consult. Conclusions: Our findings reinforce the high symptom burden in geriatric ESRD patients. Residual symptoms post hospitalization and low utilization of palliative care resources is suggestive of a missed opportunity by nephrologists to address the high symptom burden at the inpatient encounter which is selective for sicker patients and/or inadequacy of dialysis to control these symptoms. The trend in improvement in pain and itching in group 1 may indicate better achievable symptom control if physician awareness is increased and simple pharmacological interventions are available

Response of beam-to-column web cleated joints for FRP pultruded members

Physical testing is used to characterize the structural properties of beam-to-column joints, comprising pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) H-shapes of depth 203 mm, connected by 128 mm-long web cleats and two M16 bolts per leg. Testing is performed on two batches of nominally identical specimens. One batch had web cleats of pultruded FRP and the other had structural steel. The structural behavior of the joints is based on their moment-rotation responses, failure modes, and serviceability vertical deflection limits. Joints with FRP cleats failed by delamination cracking at the top of the cleats, and when the cleats were of steel, the FRP failure occurred inside the column members. Neither failure mode is reported in the design manuals from pultruders. At the onset of the FRP damage, it was found that the steel joints were twice as stiff as the FRP joints. On the basis of a characteristic (damage) rotation, calculated in accordance with Eurocode 0, the serviceability deflection limits are established to be span/300 and span/650 for the joints with FRP and steel cleats, respectively. This finding suggests that appropriate deflection limits, in relation to cleated connections, should be proposed in manufactures’ design manuals and relative design standards and design codes. Failure to address the serviceability, by the engineer of record, could lead to unreliable designs

Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Suppress Elastase-Induced Murine Abdominal Aortic Inflammation and Aneurysm Expansion Through Paracrine Factors

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially lethal disease associated with immune activation-induced aortic degradation. We hypothesized that xenotransplantation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) would reduce aortic inflammation and attenuate expansion in a murine AAA model. Modulatory effects of ADSCs on immune cell subtypes associated with AAA progression were investigated using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMNCs) cocultured with ADSCs. Murine AAA was induced through elastase application to the abdominal aorta in C57BL/6 mice. ADSCs were administered intravenously, and aortic changes were determined by ultrasonography and videomicrometry. Circulating monocytes, aortic neutrophils, CD28− T cells, FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), and CD206+ M2 macrophages were assessed at multiple terminal time points. In vitro, ADSCs induced M2 macrophage and Treg phenotypes while inhibiting neutrophil transmigration and lymphocyte activation without cellular contact. Intravenous ADSC delivery reduced aneurysmal expansion starting from day 4 [from baseline: 54.8% (saline) vs. 16.9% (ADSCs), n = 10 at baseline, n = 4 at day 4, p < 0.001], and the therapeutic effect persists through day 14 (from baseline: 64.1% saline vs. 24.6% ADSCs, n = 4, p < 0.01). ADSC administration increased aortic Tregs by 20-fold (n = 5, p < 0.01), while decreasing CD4+CD28− (-28%), CD8+CD28− T cells (-61%), and Ly6G/C+ neutrophils (-43%, n = 5, p < 0.05). Circulating CD115+CXCR1−LY6C+-activated monocytes decreased in the ADSC-treated group by day 7 (-60%, n = 10, p < 0.05), paralleled by an increase in aortic CD206+ M2 macrophages by 2.4-fold (n = 5, p < 0.05). Intravenously injected ADSCs transiently engrafted in the lung on day 1 without aortic engraftment at any time point. In conclusion, ADSCs exhibit pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects in vitro as well as in vivo during the development of AAA. The temporal evolution of these effects systemically as well as in aortic tissue suggests that ADSCs induce a sequence of anti-inflammatory cellular events mediated by paracrine factors, which leads to amelioration of AAA progression

Sexual Activity and Attitudes as Predictors of Sexual Satisfaction During Pregnancy: A Multi-Level Model Describing the Sexuality of Couples in the First 12 Weeks

The sexual satisfaction of couples during pregnancy is an under-researched area of study. Several limitations exist within the current literature, including a lack of inquiry into attitudes about sex during pregnancy, analysis of the relationship between sexual satisfaction and sexual behaviors, and analysis of dyadic interactions within the couple. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationships between attitudes toward having sex during pregnancy, various sexual behaviors, and sexual satisfaction among expectant couples via multilevel structural equation modeling. Recruitment focused on mixed-gender monogamous couples where the pregnant individual was between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation, and both partners were soon-to-be first time parents. Touching, hugging, or holding, kissing, vaginal and oral sex, and rubbing each other’s genitals were all common behaviors among the 116 couples in the current investigation. Anal sex and sex toy use were less common, but far from absent. According to our model, attitudes toward having sex during pregnancy significantly predicted sexual satisfaction by operating through specific sexual behaviors: kissing, vaginal fingering, and vaginal intercourse, while use of a toy alone and use of a toy with partner were independent predictors of sexual satisfaction. Gender had a direct relationship with satisfaction (men were more satisfied), as well as indirect relationship with satisfaction through an interaction with vaginal fingering and use of a sex toy alone. While multiple past month sexual behaviors were likely to increase satisfaction among pregnant and non-expectant couples alike, this improvement might depend on which behaviors are included and the gender of the individual

Evaluation of functional and clinical outcome of open reduction and internal fixation of Barton’s fracture of the wrist in a central hospital of Kashmir

Background: Fractures of the distal end of radius continue to pose a management challenge. Defective alignment of extra articular as well as intra articular fractures result in a variety of complications like post traumatic arthritis, decreased in grip strength and endurance as well as limited range of motion and instability of carpus. The main aim of this study is to assess the functional results of open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of volar Barton’s fracture.Methods: From December 2006 to December 2019, forty cases of volar Barton’s fracture were operated in Skims Medical College Hospital, Srinagar, Kashmir, however only 32 cases were included in the study group and 8 cases were lost to follow up. In the majority of our cases the injury was sustained as a result of road traffic accident followed by fall. Majority (24) of the cases were operated within one week of trauma, followed by six in two weeks and two in 3 weeks of time since injury.Results: Functional evaluation was done after a mean follow-up of 28.7 months. Fracture union was achieved within 8 to 12 weeks and excellent results were obtained in 18 cases and 10 cases were categorized as good followed by fair result in 4 cases. Median nerve compression was not observed in any case.Conclusions: Good to excellent result can be achieved after open reduction and internal fixation which restores joint congruity

Snake bite on scrotum – a case report

A 22-year old man was bitten by a snake on his scrotum. This interesting and unusual case occurred in the rural area of District Aligarh, India. The uniqueness of the case lies in the fact that scrotum is an extremely rare and unusual site for snake bite. Further, with negligible local signs of envenoming the patient presented with classical signs of neurotoxicity. Due to numerous superstitions associated with snake bite, the patient was treated with traditional home made ointment before coming to hospital. The authors realized that the case may be brought to the notice of the readers because the scrotal bite by the snake with no local signs of envenomation is the first reported case

Machine Learning-Based Approach for Modeling the Nanofluid Flow in a Solar Thermal Panel in the Presence of Phase Change Materials

Considering the importance of environmental protection and renewable energy resources, particularly solar energy, the present study investigates the temperature control of a solar panel using a nanofluid (NFD) flow with eco-friendly nanoparticles (NPs) and a phase change material (PCM). The PCM was used under the solar panel, and the NFD flowed through pipes within the PCM. A number of straight fins (three fins) were exploited on the pipes, and the output flow temperature, heat transfer (HTR) coefficient, and melted PCM volume fraction were measured for different pipe diameters (D_Pipe) from 4 mm to 8 mm at various time points (from 0 to 100 min). Additionally, with the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the best conditions for obtaining the lowest panel temperature and the highest output NFD temperature at the lowest pressure drop have been determined. While the porosity approach was used to model the PCM melt front, a two-phase mixture was used to simulate NFD flow. It was discovered that the solar panel temperature and output temperature both increased considerably between t = 0 and t = 10 min before beginning to rise at varying rates, depending on the D_Pipe. The HTR coefficient increased over time, showing similar behavior to the panel temperature. The entire PCM melted within a short time for D_Pipes of 4 and 6 mm, while a large fraction of the PCM remained un-melted for a long time for a D_Pipe of 8 mm. An increase in D_Pipe, particularly from 4 to 6 mm, reduced the maximum and average panel temperatures, leading to a lower output flow temperature. Furthermore, the increased D_Pipe reduced the HTR coefficient, with the PCM remaining un-melted for a longer time under the panel.Deanship of Scientific Research at Najran UniversityPeer Reviewe