Remedy for Unproductive Researches and Disintegrated Information in Islamic Finance: ‘Riba Information Queries Digital Portal’

Abstract: Islamic finance industry evolution and development has been a central concern to scholars, researchers, and managers alike. However for last few years, academia and practitioners have indicated on a serious note that the success and growth of Islamic finance is getting affected because of lack of integration and collaborative approach between different institutions and key actors. Fragmentation plagues the thought process thus saps research productivity, it further create deadlock in research innovation, and makes it hard to be responsive according to the industry and customer needs.  In that case, it is essential to find an answer: How a valuable and impactful platform can be designed which can add knowledge to individuals, bankers and society aswell? Realizing the challenge of fragmented information and disconnected issues in Islamic finance sector, this research attempt to propose a solution which can assist Islamic bankers, Islamic finance education providers, shariah scholars, students and researchers in gathering information and conducting more useful and productive research.

Islamic Banks Service Innovation Quality: Conceptual Model

Customer perspectives and satisfaction level are considered important for analysing the performance of Islamic bank service quality. Sufficient researches has been done to explore customer perception and satisfaction level with Islamic banking service quality, however there is lack of data to compare and find the similarity in understanding the main determinant attributes needed for Islamic banking service quality. The purpose of this paper is to describe and integrate the results of existing wealth of research on service quality in Islamic banks. After weighing up all the views from existing research, common findings, concerns will be discussed. This research did not find much of information or studies indicating toward innovation in Islamic banking service quality. Thus based on review of the literature this paper suggests main key attributes of service for Islamic banks (RIBA Service IQ). This research strongly asserts that sincere motivation, truthful intention, dynamic and practical service innovation of quality approaches can uplift Islamic financial brandDOI: 10.15408/aiq.v8i2.316

Remedy for Unproductive Researches and Disintegrated Information in Islamic Finance: ‘Riba Information Queries Digital Portal\u27

Islamic finance industry evolution and development has been a central concern to scholars, researchers, and managers alike. However for last few years, academia and practitioners have indicated on a serious note that the success and growth of Islamic finance is getting affected because of lack of integration and collaborative approach between different institutions and key actors. Fragmentation plagues the thought process thus saps research productivity, it further create deadlock in research innovation, and makes it hard to be responsive according to the industry and customer needs. In that case, it is essential to find an answer: How a valuable and impactful platform can be designed which can add knowledge to individuals, bankers and society aswell? Realizing the challenge of fragmented information and disconnected issues in Islamic finance sector, this research attempt to propose a solution which can assist Islamic bankers, Islamic finance education providers, shariah scholars, students and researchers in gathering information and conducting more useful and productive research

Evaluating Saudi Corporate Companies Online Recruitment

Organisations are already using their corporate website to advertise jobs and receive resumes online. However the matter of question is how efficient is the web features and e-recruitment process? This research evaluates job opportunities advertised at Top Ten Saudi companies listed in February 2016. Factors evaluated on company webpage are: Navigation (career link), Job advertised (updated and information), nationality and gender focus for advertised job, information about company values on career page, process for filling application. These criteria were evaluated as they are the key determinant factors to identify efficiency and functionality of a webpage. Furthermore, it will assist to understand trend for pooling applicants in Saudi context. Based on concise review of online recruitment practices, it was possible to suggest ways on empowering and usability of e-recruitment method for Saudi companies

Need of elevating the role of shariah board and portraying them significantly on Islamic bank websites: Why and how? / Tahreem Noor Khan.

Islamic banking emerged rapidly to fulfil the financial needs of Muslim consumers, by using different viable modes of Islamic financing. These tools of financing were designed to avoid risk-free return, unjustified increase of money on money and uncertainty. To make these tool authentic, in all Islamic bank, Shariah board members are the pillar of the management structure. The presence of renowned scholars in a bank actually helps to increase the worth of a Shariah financial brand as they are the one who oversee and supervise the activities of banks. However, it is noticed that confusion and misperception exist generally about Islamic banks due to lack of devising authentic products, modes of structure and operational default. To identify the customer perception about Shariah scholars, Online Survey was conducted. In total 92 respondents participated. With that, 14 top Islamic bank websites (Bahrain, Lebanon, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Srilanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh, UAE, Pakistan, Malaysia, Kuwait, Jordan, Eygpt, Oman) was observed to figure how they have given importance and exposure to the Shariah board members. The findings suggested that web-marketing could highlight the role of Shariah scholars so that both users and non-users of Islamic banks were able to learn more about the machinery of Islamic financial products. In addition, Shariah board scholars should consciously reconsider and review their past and present approaches so as to perform better in the future

Understanding impulse purchased in facebook commerce-does big five matter?

The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of Big Five Model (BFM), the urge to purchase (UP) and urgency (UR) on impulse purchase (IP) in Facebook commerce (F-commerce), with the F-commerce purchase as control variable. So, the research purpose is explanatory as there is an existing model. Probability sampling technique was used in our research and data collection was done through Questionnaires. The sample size was 500 university students of Karachi. So, questionnaires are filled by the students of the different Universities of Karachi. The determination of the study was to classify the relationship of an impulse purchase in Face book commerce and the big five personality traits. In this research we are using correlation research design. Exploration of data was done through PLS (SEM) by performing reliability test, factor analysis and regression analysis test. The study presented that BFM, UP, UR and F-commerce purchase are important predictors of the F-commerce IP. UP is subjective by BFM and UR. BFM has a significant positive relationship with UR. The study confirms that consumer’s personality has great impact towards online buying the really most important factor in order to grab the consumer’s positive attitude towards online buying. In future researchers we can add moderating variables like age, gender and income in the same framework

Comparison of post-dural puncture headache incidence among patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section by using quincke 25-G and 29-G spinal needles

Background: Multiple complications including hypotension, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, transient neurological symptoms and headache have been associated with spinal anaesthesia. Importantly, post dural puncture headache (PDPH) varies with the type and size of spinal needle employed for inducing anaesthesia. Here, we aimed to compare the frequency of PDPH in patients underwent spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section using 25-gauge (G) and 29-G Quincke spinal needle.Methods: We designed a randomized control trial at Obstetrics and Gynecology Operation Theatres, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. A total of 152 patients having age 30.28±8.21 years were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups each comprising of 76 patients. In group 1, spinal anaesthesia was performed using 25-G Quincke spinal needle while in group 2 spinal anaesthesia was administered employing 29-G Quincke spinal needle. A standard dose of 10.5-12.0 mg (1.4-1.6 ml) of 0.75% bupivacaine is infiltrated in subarachnoid space at lumber region L3-L4 or L4-L5 following aseptic measures. The patients were evaluated for PDPH during the follow up period.Results: The previous history of PDPH was observed in 20.39% patients. The comparative study showed that the PDPH was observed in 12 (15.7%) patients in group 1 while the group 2 revealed PDPH in only 2 (2.6%) patients.Conclusions: Thus 29-G spinal needle can be regarded as a better option to reduce PDPH in patients subjected to spinal anaesthesia for elective cesarean in contrast to the use of 25-G Quincke spinal needle

Sleep Disturbances in Healthcare Professionals During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Objectives: To determine the incidence of sleep disturbances, including insomnia in healthcare professionals dealing with COVID-19 patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at inpatient infectious disease units, emergency department and ICU (for COVID-19 patients), at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) from February 2022 to April 2022. All the individuals participating in the study were healthcare professionals. Insomnia Severity Index was used for the questionnaire. The scores of the surveyed subjects were calculated and the characteristic demographics of the subjects were analyzed. Results: An upward trend in the incidence of poor sleep quality was noted among the healthcare professionals who participated in this study. Out of 160 healthcare professionals, 93(58.1%) of the population was females, while 67(41.9%) were males. The majority of participants (p<0.05) were between the ages of 20 and 30 years, followed by 31 to 40 years and 41 to 50 years. A significant proportion of the population (p<0.05) belonged to the unmarried group, followed by the married, separated, and divorced with a percentage of 60.6, 36.2, 2.5 and 0.6%, respectively. Moreover, 84.4% (135/160) of healthcare professionals (p<0.05) had a previous history of sleep disorders. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score system was used to analyze the intensity of sleep disorders and insomnia in the affected persons and it was found that most of the participants were diagnosed with subthreshold insomnia (38.8%). Conclusion: The study elucidated that there was a significantly higher incidence of sleep disturbances and insomnia, in healthcare professionals working in Covid-19 care units

Assembly of Smart Microgels and Hybrid Microgels on Graphene Sheets for Catalytic Reduction of Nitroarenes

Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-acrylic acid) [p(NIPAM-AAc)] microgel was successfully fabricated using the precipitation polymerization method. Silver (Ag) nanoparticles and graphene oxide (G) were used to fabricate the following hybrid microgels: Ag-p(NIPAM-AAc) (Ag-HMG), Ag-G-p(NIPAM-AAc) (Ag-G-HMG), and G-p(NIPAM-AAc) (G-HMG). Ag-HMG, Ag-G-HMG, and G-HMG were characterized using a Zetasizer and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The reduction of a series of different compounds with comparable and distinct chemical structures was catalyzed by synthesized Ag-HMG, Ag-G-HMG, and G-HMG hybrid microgels. The average size of Ag nanoparticles was found to be ~50 nm. Ag nanoparticles were synthesized within microgels attached to G sheets. Ag-p(NIPAM-AAc), Ag-G-p(NIPAM-AAc), and G-p(NIPAM-AAc) hybrid microgels were used for the catalytic reduction of nitroarenes and dyes. By comparing their apparent rate constant (kapp), reduction duration, and percentage reduction, the activity of HMG (hybrid microgel) as a catalyst towards different substrates was investigated. Graphene sheets play role in electron relay among Ag nanoparticles and microgels.publishedVersio

Probiotics: mechanism of action, health benefits and their application in food industries

Probiotics, like lactic acid bacteria, are non-pathogenic microbes that exert health benefits to the host when administered in adequate quantity. Currently, research is being conducted on the molecular events and applications of probiotics. The suggested mechanisms by which probiotics exert their action include; competitive exclusion of pathogens for adhesion sites, improvement of the intestinal mucosal barrier, gut immunomodulation, and neurotransmitter synthesis. This review emphasizes the recent advances in the health benefits of probiotics and the emerging applications of probiotics in the food industry. Due to their capability to modulate gut microbiota and attenuate the immune system, probiotics could be used as an adjuvant in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cancer, and gastrointestinal diseases. Considering the functional properties, probiotics are being used in the dairy, beverage, and baking industries. After developing the latest techniques by researchers, probiotics can now survive within harsh processing conditions and withstand GI stresses quite effectively. Thus, the potential of probiotics can efficiently be utilized on a commercial scale in food processing industries