Higher ethical objective (Maqasid al-Shari'ah) augmented framework for Islamic banks : assessing the ethical performance and exploring its determinants.

This study utilises higher objectives postulated in Islamic moral economy or the maqasid al-Shari’ah theoretical framework’s novel approach in evaluating the ethical, social, environmental and financial performance of Islamic banks. Maqasid al-Shari’ah is interpreted as achieving social good as a consequence in addition to well-being and, hence, it goes beyond traditional (voluntary) social responsibility. This study also explores the major determinants that affect maqasid performance as expressed through disclosure analysis. By expanding the traditional maqasid al-Shari’ah,, we develop a comprehensive evaluation framework in the form of a maqasid index, which is subjected to a rigorous disclosure analysis. Furthermore, in identifying the main determinants of the maqasid disclosure performance, panel data analysis is used by including several key variables alongside political and socio-economic environment, ownership structures, and corporate and Shari’ah governance-related factors. The sample includes 33 full-fledged Islamic banks from 12 countries for the period of 2008–2016. The findings show that although during the nine-year period the disclosure of maqasid performance of the sampled Islamic banks has improved, this is still short of ‘best practices’. Through panel data analysis, this study finds that the Muslim population indicator, CEO duality, Shari’ah governance, and leverage variables positively impact the disclosure of maqasid performance. However, the effect of GDP, financial development and human development index of the country, its political and civil rights, institutional ownership, and a higher share of independent directors have an overall negative impact on the maqasid performance. The findings reported in this study identify complex and multi-faceted relations between external market realities, corporate and Shari’ah governance mechanisms, and maqasid performance

The impact of corporate social responsibility disclosure on financial performance : evidence from the GCC Islamic banking sector.

This paper examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance for Islamic banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region over the period 2000–2014 by generating CSR-related data through disclosure analysis of the annual reports of the sampled banks. The findings of this study indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between CSR disclosure and the financial performance of Islamic banks in the GCC countries. The results also show a positive relationship between CSR disclosure and the future financial performance of GCC Islamic banks, potentially indicating that current CSR activities carried out by Islamic banks in the GCC could have a long-term impact on their financial performance. Furthermore, despite demonstrating a significant positive relationship between the composite measure of the CSR disclosure index and financial performance, the findings show no statistically significant relationship between the individual dimensions of the CSR disclosure index and the current financial performance measure except for ‘mission and vision’ and ‘products and services’. Similarly, the empirical results detect a positive significant association only between ‘mission and vision’ dimension and future financial performance of the examined banks

Three-dimensional evaluation of the effect of low-level laser therapy on facial swelling after lower third molar surgery: A randomized, placebocontrolled st

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a low‑level laser therapy (LLLT) on pain, trismus, and swelling of patients whose impacted 3rd molar tooth was extracted compared to placebo or “sham” treatment and measure volumetrically the edema with a three‑dimensional (3D) surface imaging device (3dMD face system).Materials and Methods: Forty‑five patients over 17 years of age were included in the study. Patients were randomized to three groups; Group 1, the control group, received only routine management (ice application) (n = 15); Group 2, received single‑dose LLLT immediately after surgery (n = 15); and Group 3, placebo group, received sham therapy immediately after surgery (n = 15). In this study, a gallium‑aluminum‑arsenide diode laser device was used. The laser was applied extraorally (0.3 W, 40 s, 4 J/cm2). The trismus, pain, and facial swelling were evaluated. A 3D surface imaging device (3dMD Photogrammetric System) was used to evaluate the volumetric changes of the swelling. The 3D morphology of the facial swelling was recorded using this imaging device immediately before surgery, the second day after surgery, and the 7th day after surgery. IBM SPSS statistics 22.0 program was used in the statistical assessment and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the edema and trismus between the groups. The pain level in Group 2 was significantly lower than that in Group 3 at all‑time points. Furthermore, the pain level in Group 2 was significantly lower than that in Group 1 on day 7.Conclusions: LLLT reduced the intensity of pain following third molar surgery by single dose. The results of this study revealed that LLLT reduced facial swelling, but no significant differences were found among the three groups. In addition, a 3D craniomaxillofacial imaging method provided insight into volume changes after 3rd molar surgery and the evaluation of facial swelling in an objective way.Keywords: 3dMD, low‑level laser therapy, mandibular third molar surgery, pain, swellin

Evaluation of calcified carotid atheroma on panoramic radiographs and Doppler ultrasonography in an older population

Yusuf Atalay,1 Fatih Asutay,1 Kamil Serkan Agacayak,2 Mahmut Koparal,3 Fahri Adali,4 Belgin Gulsun2 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, 2Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, 3Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, 4Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the reliability of panoramic radiograph (PR) as a screening tool for the detection of calcified carotid atheroma (CCA) by comparing it with Doppler ultrasonography (DU) examination. A second aim was to evaluate the relationship among CCA, systemic diseases, smoking, and body mass index in an older population.Materials and methods: A total of 1,650 PRs of patients aged over 45 years (736 males and 914 females) were randomly selected. All the patients had been referred to the Faculty of Dentistry, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, during 2013–2014 for routine PR screening. Medical data were collected from the archival records of the dental school. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A (study group), CCA findings were confirmed by DU (n=59); and Group B (control group), CCA findings were not confirmed by DU (n=34).Results: Of the 1,650 individuals, 93 (5.63%) were detected to have CCA on PR. The population consisted of 43 males and 50 females with mean age of 59.84±10.92 years. No difference was determined in respect of CCA between the sexes (P=0.745). There was a significant difference between Group A and Group B in respect of hypertension (P=0.004). But there was no difference between Group A and Group B in respect of age (P=0.495), BMI (P=0.756), diabetes (P=0.168), and smoking (P=0.482) distribution.Conclusion: Although PR cannot be used as an initial diagnostic method when searching for CCA, dentists should be aware of CCA on a routine PR, particularly in older patients who may also have the risk factors of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking. Recognizing of CCA especially in hypertensive patients could potentially increase the length and quality of life for individuals. Keywords: panoramic radiograph, calcified carotid atheroma, atherosclerosis, risk factors, ultrasonography&nbsp

An Evaluation of Effects Of Platelet‑rich‑fibrin on Postoperative Morbidities after Lower Third Molar Surgery

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess whether the use ofplatelet‑rich fibrin (PRF) decreased the pain, swelling, and trismus levels ofpostoperative third molar surgery. Materials and Methods: In a double‑blinded,split‑mouth randomized study, thirty patients (6 male/24 female, mean age20.32 years) with bilateral symmetric impacted third molars were enrolledin this study to receive surgery. The PRF mass was randomly placed in one ofthe extraction sockets, whereas the other socket was left without treatment.The outcome variables were pain, maximum mouth opening (trismus),swelling (edema), and the presence of dry socket which were measured using a10‑point visual analog scale, manual calipers, and 3dMD facial imaging systemwhich was used for the 1st time in the third molar surgery. Results: Statisticalanalyses revealed that there were no significant differences between the controland study groups regarding postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus (P > 0.05).Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that PRF was not observed to havea positive effect on postoperative discomfort, so even though, PRF is presumed tohave positive effects on healing and recovery processes.Keywords: 3dMD, pain, platelet‑rich fibrin, swelling, third molar surgery, trismu