Islamic Formula of Future Value of Asset

Increasing price of an asset being sold on credit is a common practice of Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) and certain retailers using formulas of compound interest (Riba) and speculation (Maysir). As Islam prohibits both these both concepts, relevant literature was qualitatively probed to find Shariah compliant mechanism for setting future value of an asset being sold on credit negating Riba and Maysir. The study thus extracted a formula from authentic Shariah sources and presented it quantitatively as an alternate to abandon the conventional formulas of interest and speculation. It further contributed recommendations for credit sellers and buyers in the light of Shariah principles and possible future research

The racialising effects of non-marriage in English Law: a critical postcolonial analysis

In this article I argue that the judicial concept of non-marriage racialises and orientalises minoritised communities and their marriages. Applying a critical postcolonial lens, I show how the development of non-marriage has been influenced by colonial racialising attitudes towards marriage. This has led to its application in racist and orientalist ways to demean and other minoritised marriage practices. My analysis of the case law exposes three patterns in the judicial discourse in this area. First, that the courts emphasise “English (Christian) marriage” and its supposed hallmarks when deciding if a ceremony is non-existent; second that judgments foreground the technical, formal aspects of the law obscuring the use of personal judicial opinions which are orientalist. Finally, the application of this concept to playacting, sham and forced marriages at the same time as legitimate minoritised marriage practices is demeaning and insulting to the already marginalised communities that practise them

Back at the kitchen table: Reflections on decolonising and internationalising with the Global South socio-legal writing workshops

It has been three years since we held the Feminism, Legality and Knowledge (FLaK) seminar to respond to our developing frustrations and excitement around feminist legal studies and academic publishing. In the wake of our 25th anniversary in 2018, we critically reflect further on our original intention to stock up on decolonising techniques to mix feminism, legality and knowledge whilst building on previous consideration of our self-proclaimed ‘international’ status. These reflections are prompted by editorial board members’ experiences as participants in the Cardiff Law and Global Justice Centre’s British Academy-funded Global South Socio-Legal Writing Workshops in Accra (Ghana), Nairobi (Kenya) and Recife (Brazil) in 2018. Following an explanation of the concerns with academic publishing that have prompted this reflection, we provide a narrative of our experiences in each of the three workshops exploring the lessons learned and their impact on our practice as editors and scholars in feminist legal studies. We finish with a renewal of our commitment to decolonise our minds and practices by continuing to struggle to earn the label ‘international’ for the journal now and in future. A brief introduction to the contents of this issue of FLS follows the reflection

Enhanced methane production from anaerobic co-digestion of wheat straw rice straw and sugarcane bagasse: A kinetic analysis

Future energy and environmental issues are the major driving force towards increased global utilization of biomass, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. Lignocellulosic residues are abundant in Pakistan. The present study investigated the best-mixed proportion of mechanically pretreated lignocellulosic residues i.e., wheat straw and rice straw (WSRS), bagasse and wheat straw (BAWS), bagasse, and rice straw (BARS), bagasse, wheat straw, and rice straw (BAWSRS) through anaerobic co-digestion. Anaerobic batch mode bioreactors comprising of lignocellulosic proportions and control bioreactors were run in parallel at mesophilic temperature (35 degrees C) for the substrate to inoculum (S/I) ratio of 1.5 and 2.5. Maximum and stable biomethane production was observed at the substrate to inoculum (S/I) ratio of 1.5, and the highest biomethane yield 339.0089123 NmLCH4/gVS was achieved by co-digestion of wheat straw and rice straw (WSRS) and lowest 15.74 NmLCH4/gVS from bagasse and rice straw (BARS) at 2.5 substrates to inoculum ratio. Furthermore, anaerobic reactor performance was determined by using bio-kinetic parameters i.e., production rate (Rm), lag phase (lambda), and coefficient of determination (R2). The bio-kinetic parameters were evaluated by using kinetic models; first-order kinetics, Logistic function model, Modified Gompertz Model, and Transference function model. Among all kinetic models, the Logistic function model provided the best fit with experimental data followed by Modified Gompertz Model. The study suggests that a decrease in methane production was due to lower hydrolysis rate and higher lignin content of the co-digested substrates, and mechanical pretreatment leads to the breakage of complex lignocellulosic structure. The organic matter degradation evidence will be utilized by the biogas digesters developed in rural areas of Pakistan, where these agricultural residues are ample waste and need a technological solution to manage and produce renewable energy.Web of Science1113art. no. 606

Whole-of-school physical activity implementation in the context of the Dubai Fitness Challenge

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) promotion among school-aged youth is a global health priority. Recommendations for such promotion include implementing whole-of-school approaches that maximize resources across the school environment. This study examined schools’ participation in an annual, government-led, and emirate-wide initiative in Dubai, called the Dubai Fitness Challenge, in which the goal is to accrue 30 minutes of PA every day for 30 days (as such, the initiative is colloquially referred to as “Dubai 30x30”). Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed for this study. Three schools were recruited using convenience sampling. Participants were 18 physical education teachers, 20 classroom teachers, 2 principals and 45 students. Data sources included surveys, focus groups, and interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, and open and axial coding to develop themes. Results: School staff reported that most Dubai 30x30 activities were provided in physical education, at break times during school, and before and after school. Students reported that they mainly participated in Dubai 30x30 activities during physical education and occasionally participated in activities after school and on weekends. During school, students were more likely to reach higher PA intensity levels when they were in contexts other than the regular classroom setting. Among school staff, physical education teachers were most involved and classroom teachers were least involved in promoting Dubai 30x30. Parent engagement was high. Staff perceived that Dubai 30x30 brought the community together, but physical education teachers also indicated there was a lack of implementation guidance and they felt burdened. Participants believed Dubai 30x30 increased PA participation and helped to promote their schools. Discussion: This study provides an initial glimpse into schools’ participation in Dubai 30x30 and suggests that a whole-of-school PA lens is useful in gleaning information that could help to increase and optimize PA opportunities for students

Youth Culturally adapted Manual Assisted Problem Solving Training (YCMAP) in Pakistani adolescent with a history of self-harm: protocol for multicentre clinical and cost-effectiveness randomised controlled trial

Introduction: Suicide is a global health concern. Sociocultural factors have an impact on self-harm and suicide rates. In Pakistan, both self-harm and suicide are considered as criminal offence’s and are condemned on both religious and social grounds. The proposed intervention ‘Youth Culturally Adapted Manual Assisted Problem Solving Training (YCMAP)’ is based on principles of problem-solving and cognitive–behavioural therapy. YCMAP is a brief, culturally relevant, scalable intervention that can be implemented in routine clinical practice if found to be effective. Method and analysis: A multicentre rater blind randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of YCMAP including a sample of 652 participants, aged 12–18 years, presenting to general physicians/clinicians, emergency room after self harm or self referrals. We will test the effectiveness of 8–10 individual sessions of YCMAP delivered over 3 months compared with treatment as usual. Primary outcome measure is repetition of self-harm at 12 months. The seconday outcomes include reduction in suicidal ideation, hopelessness and distress and improvement in health related quality of life. Assessments will be completed at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months postrandomisation. The nested qualitative component will explore perceptions about management of self-harm and suicide prevention among adolescents and investigate participants’ experiences with YCMAP. The study will be guided by the theory of change approach to ensure that the whole trial is centred around needs of the end beneficiaries as key stakeholders in the process. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of University of Manchester, the National Bioethics Committee in Pakistan. The findings of this study will be disseminated through community workshops, social media, conference presentations and peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number: NCT04131179

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods: Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results: The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion: We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

Critical Perspectives on Trafficked Persons in Canada and the US: Survivors or Perpetrators?

Review of Julie Kaye: Responding to Human Trafficking: Dispossession, Colonial Violence, and Resistance among Indigenous and Racialized Women. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 2017, 180 pp, ISBN: 9781487521615 Alicia W. Peters: Responding to Human Trafficking: Sex, Gender and Culture in the Law. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 2015, 256 pp, ISBN: 978081222421