Islamic Philosophy and the Challenge of Post Modernism: A Sociological Perspective

This paper briefly describes the Post Modernism philosophy, introduces the work of its key proponents, provides a critical appraisal of Post Modernism thought and finally it compares the Post Modernism philosophy with philosophical heritage of Islamic faith and civilization and recommends ways to cope up with the challenge of post modernism.Post Modernism, Sociology, Philosophy, History, Islamic Civilization, Modernism, Enlightenment, Globalization

Sources of Public Finance in an Islamic Economy

Since interest is prohibited in Islam, the government in an Islamic economy cannot issue interest based T-Bills, T-Bonds and/or obtain interest based sovereign debt. Based on the literature review, it is argued that neither Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) nor the pious Caliphates (rta) levied any taxes other than Zakah. Accordingly, this study explores the sources of revenue for a government in an Islamic economy. In discussing sources of tax revenue, it is maintained that Zakah is the only tax the government in an Islamic economy can levy. Nevertheless, the government can charge service/performance based fees, duties, charges etc in providing public goods. Furthermore, the profitable operations of state owned enterprises form an important part of non-tax revenues. It is also analyzed that how the non-profitable public institutions like police and courts will be funded. This study also discusses that how the government can finance its deficit keeping in view that interest is prohibited in Islam and Zakah rates are very low and Zakah base is very narrow as per common understanding. The study also gives brief insights into how much Zakah can be collected in Pakistan. Finally, it suggests that the nominal GDP growth linked rate of return can be used to benchmark domestic and external loans including those from IMF, WB and IDA etc.Public Finance, Taxation, Expenditure, Fiscsl Policy, Deficit Financing, Zakat, Redistribution.

A critical analysis of Mudarabah & a new approach to equity financing in Islamic finance

Financial intermediation serves a valuable purpose, but it can also be structured using equity modes of financing. This can relieve the financee and increase diversity of entrepreneurial undertakings as in debt based commercial financing, there is little room for diversity with obligatory and stipulated servicing of debt. Using Islamic equity modes of financing poses the challenge of the agency problem and moral hazard. The extent of this agency problem in Mudarabah and its impact on economic payoffs between counterparties is analyzed in this study with a simulation model. Based on review of alternate solutions proposed, the author presents two possible covenants which could make Mudarabah mode of financing more acceptable and widely usable in financial intermediation. This would also further the egalitarian objectives of an Islamic economic order.Interest free economy, Islamic Economic System, Mudarabah, Agency Problem, Moral Hazard, Adverse Selection

Properties of concrete containing construction and demolition wastes and fly ash

This paper reports the properties of concrete containing recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) sources from local construction and demolition (C&D) wastes and fly ash (FA) sourced from Western Australia (WA). The RCA is used as 25, 50, 75, and 100% (by weight) replacement of natural coarse aggregate (NCA). In addition, the effect of 40% (by weight) class F fly ash as partial replacement of cement on the properties of recycled aggregate concrete is also evaluated. The properties of concrete evaluated are the compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, flexural strength, and water absorption. All properties are measured at 7, 28, 56, and 91 days. The results show that better compressive, tensile, and flexural strength of concrete containing 25% RCA as partial replacement of NCA can be obtained in recycled aggregate concrete. However, in the case of recycled aggregate concretes containing 40% fly ash, the compressive strength at later ages, such as at 56 and 91 days is increased but the indirect tensile and flexural strengths are decreased at all ages. It is observed that the water absorption is decreased as RCA content increased. It is also observed that the water absorption is decreased significantly in recycled aggregate concretes containing 40% fly ash at all ages

Development of deflection hardening geopolymer based ductile fiber reinforced cementitious composites

Ductile fibre reinforced cementitious composites (DFRCC) are cement-based composites reinforced with short random fibres (metallic and/or non-metallic) which exhibit deflection-hardening and multiple-cracking behaviours in bending. It is a special class of high performance fibre reinforced cementitious composite (HPFRCC) that has higher deflection capacity than that of regular fibre reinforced concrete (FRC). Current DFRCCs are limited to cement-rich matrix system. This paper reports the development of geopolymer-based DFRCC where the cement binder in DFRCC is replaced by fly ash-based geopolymer binder and alkaline liquids (sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate) are used to activate the fly ash. In this study, three types of fibres are considered namely steel and two types of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres having different diameter, length and elastic modulus. The fibres used in the development of both cement-based and geopolymer-based DFRCCs are limited to single fibre type. The effects of two different sand sizes (1.18 mm and 0.6 mm) and sand/binder ratios of 0.5 and 0.75 on deflection-hardening and multiple-cracking behaviour of both types of DFRCC are also evaluated. Results reveal that deflection-hardening and multiple-cracking behaviour can be achieved in geopolymer-based DFRCC similar to that of cement-based system. For a given sand size, fibre type and sand content, comparable ultimate flexural strength and the deflection at peak load are observed in both cement and geopolymer-based composites. The proposed development exhibits a significant benefit for the use of geopolymer-based DFRCC over cement-based system as the former one is green in terms of no cement use

Review of mechanical properties of short fibre reinforced geopolymer composites

Concrete exhibits brittle behaviour due to its low tensile strength. The addition of fibres, either short or continuous, changes its brittle behaviour to ductile or quasi-ductile with significant improvement in tensile strength, tensile strain, toughness and energy absorption capacities. The binder in the fibre reinforced cement composites (FRCCs) is mainly Portland cement. The recent environmental awareness in construction industry promotes the use of alternative binders to partially or fully replace the cement as its production creates environmental pollution due to release of CO2 into atmosphere. Recent years have seen a great development in new types of inorganic cementitious binders called “geopolymeric cement” around the world. This prompted its use in concrete, which improves the greenness of ordinary concrete. Efforts have been made to replace the cement based binder in the current FRCC with “geopolymeric” binder resulting in fibre reinforced geopolymer composites (FRGCs), which is greener than the former one. The development of FRGC is relatively new in the field of construction materials. This paper presents the state-of-the-art development of short fibre reinforced FRGC and its mechanical properties with emphasis on compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and toughness capacities. The durability properties of FRGC are also discussed in this paper. The recent development on ductile fibre reinforced geopolymer composites (DFRGCs) exhibiting deflection hardening and multiple cracking behaviour in flexure is also presented here

Properties of Concrete Containing Recycled Fine Aggregate and Fly Ash

This paper reports the properties of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate (RFA) and fly ash (FA) obtained from local source in Perth, Western Australia (WA). This study is consisted of two parts. In the first part, the properties of concrete containing 25, 50, 75 and 100% (by wt.) replacement of natural fine aggregate (NFA) with RFA are considered. In the second part, the effect of class F fly ash as partial replacement of cement on the properties of recycled con-cretes containing 25% and 50% RFA are evaluated. The fly ash is used as 30% and 40% re-placement of cement. The properties of concrete evaluated are the compressive strength, indi-rect tensile strength, flexural strength and water absorption. All properties are measured at 7, 28 and 56 days. The results show that, better compressive, tensile and flexural strength of con-crete can be obtained in recycled aggregate concretes containing up to 50% RFA as partial re-placement of NFA. However, in the case of recycled aggregate concretes containing 30% and 40% fly ash the compressive strength is increase at 56 days and both compressive strength and tensile strengths are decreased at early ages. The flexural strength is increased in recycled aggregate concrete containing fly ash. It is observed that the water absorption is increased as RFA content increased. It is also observed that the water absorption is decreased significantly in recycled aggregate concretes containing fly ash at 56 days

Growth hormone deficiency during young adulthood and the benefits of growth hormone replacement

Until quite recently, the management of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) had focussed on the use of recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy to normalise final adult height. However, research over the past two decades that has demonstrated deficits in bone health and cardiac function, as well as impaired quality of life in adults with childhood-onset GHD (CO-GHD), has questioned this practice. Some of these studies suggested that there may be short-term benefits of rhGH in certain group of adolescents with GHD during transition, although the impact of GHD and replacement during the transition period has not been adequately investigated and its long-term benefits remain unclear. GH therapy remains expensive and well-designed long-term studies are needed to determine the cost effectiveness and clinical benefit of ongoing rhGH during transition and further into adulthood. In the absence of compelling data to justify widespread continuation of rhGH into adult life, there are several questions related to its use that remain unanswered. This paper reviews the effects of growth hormone deficiency on bone health, cardiovascular function, metabolic profile and quality of life during transition and young adulthood