Debt Instruments in Islamic Finance: A Critique

This article assesses the employment of traditional Islamic debt instruments by contemporary Islamic banks from an economic efficiency perspective. We highlight the fact that the performance of the bulk of the instruments pales in front of the modern facility of participating preferred ijāra. Thus, the shortcomings of the traditional instruments illustrate that the future does not augur well for either the Islamic banking industry or the emerging Muslim economies. For the Muslim world to move beyond its current malaise, it is necessary to scientifically restructure its financial intermediation system in such a way as to meet the challenges of the modern age also conforming to the spirit of the Sharīʿa

Wavefront-guided laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy in low myopia, myopic astigmatism and high myopia

AIM: To compare the safety, efficacy, predictability, stability and complications of wavefront-guided laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) in low myopia, myopic astigmatism and high myopia correction. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 416 eyes were assigned to 3 groups: 159 eyes with low myopia (LM) and mean refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE) of -3.68±1.33 dioptre (D); 161 eyes with myopic astigmatism (MA) and MRSE of -5.99±2.24D and mean cylinder of 2.41±1.07D; and 96 eyes with high myopia (HM) and MRSE of -7.41±0.80D. After an epithelial flap creation, a wavefront-based excimer laser ablation was performed. Safety, efficacy, predictability and stability were evaluated at day 10, 2, 6 and 12mo postoperatively. RESULTS: At 12mo, the MRSE was -0.36±0.31D in LM group, 0.15±0.41D in MA group and 0.58±0.68D in HM group. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 20/20 in 90.60 of patients in LM group, 78.90 in MA group and 67 in HM group. Efficacy indices were 0.98, 1.04 and 0.92 in LM, MA and HM groups, respectively. Safety indices were 1.00, 1.07 and 1.05 in LM, MA and HM respectively. Five eyes (3.1) in the LM group gained 1 line. Forty-four eyes (27.3) in MA gained 1-3 lines and eighteen eyes (19.2) of HM group gained 1-2 lines of BSCVA. Only 2 eyes in LM group developed corneal haze. There were not statistically significant differences in efficacy and safety indices amongst three groups. CONCLUSION: Wavefront-guided LASEK is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of LM, MA, and HM.although in myopic astigmatism the predictability, efficacy and safety indices had been better. ©, 2015, International Journal of Ophthalmology (c/o Editorial Office). All right reserved

Pedo-Chemical Studies on Saline Playas in the Arabian Shelf

This research was undertaken to study the pedo-chemical characteristics of selected playas (sabkhahs) in the Arabian Shelf. Results indicated that most of the sabkhahs are flat to almost flat having salt crusts with variable thickness. Profiles representing the sabkhah surface are extremely saline compared with that of the surrounding landscapes. The dominant soluble salts are Cl- and SO4(2-) of Na+ followed by Ca2 + or Mg2+. The compositions of the coastal sabkhahs profile layers are closely related to the Gulf water composition while the inland playas are more associated with local conditions. This was continued from the similarity in salt levels, ion molar ratios and relatively high correlation coefficients between the electrical conductivity of soluble salts (EC) and either soluble B3+ (r2 =0.80) or soluble Mg2 (r2=0.60) in coastal compared with that of the inland sabkhahs (r2=0.17) and (r2 =O.37), respectively. The main pedological process affecting the formation of coastal sabkhahs is the upward movement of the water table which is rich in sales originating from the Gulf waters either directly or through wind action. Leaching, accumulation of sediments and evaporative concentrations of the solutes are the processes prevailing in the inland sabkhahs. Salt crusts are dominated by Cl-and SO4(2-) of Na+ , Mg2+ and Ca2+ salts while K+ salts are relatively low. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the presence of halite, gypsum and carbonate minerals. Epsomite and bloedtte minerals were identified in both coastal and inland sabkhahs. Specific minerals and relative abundance was quite variable between the salt cmsts due to the characteristic conditions of each sabkhah. The major differences between the inland and coastal sablthahs are related to the source, composition and depth of the water table and consequently the composition and mineralogy of the surface salt crusts

Diagnostic yield of rare skeletal dysplasia conditions in the radiogenomics era

Background Skeletal dysplasia (SD) conditions are rare genetic diseases of the skeleton, encompassing a heterogeneous group of over 400 disorders, and represent approximately 5% of all congenital anomalies. Developments in genetic and treatment technologies are leading to unparalleled therapeutic advances; thus, it is more important than ever to molecularly confirm SD conditions. Data on ‘rates-of-molecular yields’ in SD conditions, through exome sequencing approaches, is limited. Figures of 39% and 52.5% have been reported in the USA (n = 54) and South Korea (n = 185) respectively. Methods We discuss a single-centre (in the UK) experience of whole-exome sequencing (WES) in a cohort of 15 paediatric patients (aged 5 months to 12 years) with SD disorders previously molecularly unconfirmed. Our cohort included patients with known clinical diagnoses and undiagnosed skeletal syndromes. Extensive phenotyping and expert radiological review by a panel of international SD radiology experts, coupled with a complex bioinformatics pipeline, allowed for both gene-targeted and gene-agnostic approaches. Results Significant variants leading to a likely or confirmed diagnosis were identified in 53.3% (n = 8/15) of patients; 46.7% (n = 7/15) having a definite molecular diagnosis and 6.7% (n = 1/15) having a likely molecular diagnosis. We discuss this in the context of a rare disease in general and specifically SD presentations. Of patients with known diagnoses pre-WES (n = 10), molecular confirmation occurred in 7/10 cases, as opposed to 1/5 where a diagnosis was unknown pre-test. Thus, diagnostic return is greatest where the diagnosis is known pre-test. For WGS (whole genome sequencing, the next iteration of WES), careful case selection (ideally of known diagnoses pre-test) will yield highest returns. Conclusions Our results highlight the cost-effective use of WES-targeted bioinformatic analysis as a diagnostic tool for SD, particularly patients with presumed SD, where detailed phenotyping is essential. Thorough co-ordinated clinical evaluation between clinical, radiological, and molecular teams is essential for improved yield and clinical care. WES (and WGS) yields will increase with time, allowing faster diagnoses, avoiding needless investigations, ensuring individualised patient care and patient reassurance. Further diagnoses will lead to increased information on natural history/mechanistic details, and likely increased therapies and clinical trials

Determination of in vitro antidiabetic effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale rhizomes were studied to evaluate their antidiabetic effects on protein glycation and on the diffusion of glucose in vitro in the present study. Zingiber officinale rhizome aqueous extract were examined at concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 40 g/L. The antidiabetic effects were found to be dose-dependent. Antidiabetic potential of Zingiber officinale was mainly through inhibition of the glucose diffusion and to a limited extent by reducing the glycation. However, further studies are needed to determine in vitro effects of therapeutic potential by restraining postprandial glucose absorptions and plasma protein glycations in diabetic subjects.Extratos aquosos de rizomas Zingiber officinale foram estudados para avaliar os seus efeitos antidiabéticos em glicação de proteínas e sobre a difusão de glicose in vitro, no presente estudo. Extratos aquosos de Zingiber officinale foram examinados nas concentrações de 5, 10, 20 e 40 g extrato de planta/L. Os efeitos antidiabéticos observados eram dependentes da dose. O potencial antidiabético de Zingiber officinale se verificou, principalmente, através da inibição da difusão de glicose e, em menor extensão, através da redução da glicação. Estudos adicionais são necessários para elucidar se efeitos in vitro representam potencial terapêutico, restringindo a absorção de glicose pós-prandial e a glicação de proteínas plasmáticas em indivíduos diabéticos

Stability indicating RP-HPLC method for simultaneous determination of gatifloxacin and dexamethasone in binary combination

Abstract In this study, conditions were optimized for development of a simple RP-HPLC method for simultaneous analysis of gatifloxacin and dexamethasone in different matrices like pharmaceuticals, human serum and urine. Good separation of gatifloxacin and dexamethasone from the induced degradation products was accomplished using C8 as stationary phase; 0.02 M phosphate buffer (pH 3.0) and methanol (42:58 v/v) as mobile phase. The concentration was measured with DAD at 270 nm. Linearity was observed in the range of 0.000040-0.000280 mol/L for gatifloxacin (r2≥0.999) and 0.000013-0.000091 mol/L for dexamethasone (r2≥0.999). Both the analyte peaks were completely separated from the peaks of induced degradation products as indicated by the peak purity index (≥0.9999 for both analytes). The optimized method is recommended to be used for concurrent analysis of gatifloxacin and dexamethasone in different matrices

Topics in Noncommutative Geometry Inspired Physics

In this review article we discuss some of the applications of noncommutative geometry in physics that are of recent interest, such as noncommutative many-body systems, noncommutative extension of Special Theory of Relativity kinematics, twisted gauge theories and noncommutative gravity.Comment: New references added, Published online in Foundations of Physic

ARIA 2016: Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma a

Mapping subnational HIV mortality in six Latin American countries with incomplete vital registration systems

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a public health priority in Latin America. While the burden of HIV is historically concentrated in urban areas and high-risk groups, subnational estimates that cover multiple countries and years are missing. This paucity is partially due to incomplete vital registration (VR) systems and statistical challenges related to estimating mortality rates in areas with low numbers of HIV deaths. In this analysis, we address this gap and provide novel estimates of the HIV mortality rate and the number of HIV deaths by age group, sex, and municipality in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico.MethodsWe performed an ecological study using VR data ranging from 2000 to 2017, dependent on individual country data availability. We modeled HIV mortality using a Bayesian spatially explicit mixed-effects regression model that incorporates prior information on VR completeness. We calibrated our results to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.ResultsAll countries displayed over a 40-fold difference in HIV mortality between municipalities with the highest and lowest age-standardized HIV mortality rate in the last year of study for men, and over a 20-fold difference for women. Despite decreases in national HIV mortality in all countries-apart from Ecuador-across the period of study, we found broad variation in relative changes in HIV mortality at the municipality level and increasing relative inequality over time in all countries. In all six countries included in this analysis, 50% or more HIV deaths were concentrated in fewer than 10% of municipalities in the latest year of study. In addition, national age patterns reflected shifts in mortality to older age groups-the median age group among decedents ranged from 30 to 45years of age at the municipality level in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico in 2017.ConclusionsOur subnational estimates of HIV mortality revealed significant spatial variation and diverging local trends in HIV mortality over time and by age. This analysis provides a framework for incorporating data and uncertainty from incomplete VR systems and can help guide more geographically precise public health intervention to support HIV-related care and reduce HIV-related deaths.Peer reviewe