The Sahin-Francis Scale of Attitude towards Islam: A Study among Students in Pakistan

Recent years have seen growing interest in empirical religious research within the Islamic context. This paper contributes to that growth by exploring the reliability of the Sahin-Francis Scale of Attitude toward Islam. The scale is a 23-item instrument which measures attitudes toward Islam on a 5-point Likert scale. A total of 729 English speaking Pakistani young people (45% male and 55% female) completed the FSCAI. The data demonstrated that the scale is a reliable measure achieving a Cronbach Alpha of .91 and accounting for 37.4% of the variance. The measure is recommended for further research in the Muslim context

An oscillating hydromagnetic non-Newtonian flow in a rotating system

AbstractAn exact solution of an oscillatory boundary layer flow bounded by two horizontal flat plates, one of which is oscillating in its own plane and the other at rest, is developed. The fluid and the plates are in a state of solid body rotation with constant angular velocity about the z-axis normal to the plates. The fluid is assumed to be second grade, incompressible, and electrically conducting. A uniform transverse magnetic field is applied. During the mathematical analysis, it is found that the steady part of the solution is identical to that of viscous fluid. The structure of the boundary layers is also discussed. Several known results of interest are found to follow as particular cases of the solution of the problem considered

Developing a Measurement Framework for Ethiopian Dry Port Sustainability: An Empirical Study

In the context of a dry port, sustainable operations involve developing and implementing policies and procedures that reduce adverse effects on the environment, advance economic viability, and strengthen social responsibility. Several factors contribute to achieving environmental, economic, and social sustainability, making it critical to identify the factors influencing the sustainability of dry port operations. This research aims to identify decisive factors associated with economic, social, and environmental sustainability, and to develop a framework for measuring sustainability in dry port operations. The research utilises exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) to develop a measurement framework for assessing the sustainability of Ethiopian dry ports. EFA is an effective method with which to identify factors that contribute to sustainable dry port operations. To provide a frame for the critical sustainability performance metrics for dry ports, the AHP approach was used. Data were collected from 300 stakeholders using surveys to identify key factors, and 20 senior experts were involved in validating and rating the most influential factors determining dry port sustainability. This research asserts the most pertinent factors guiding dry port sustainability operations, resource allocation, and decision-making. From an environmental sustainability perspective, critical factors include minimising business-partner impacts, reducing waste, addressing climate change, providing environmental planning education to teams, and implementing measures to protect the national environment. From a social perspective, the factors identified include a resettlement policy, employment opportunities for the community, workplace safety, stakeholder consultation, and top-management guidance. From an economic standpoint, critical factors include value-added services, reduced transportation costs, decreased time, enhanced productivity in the trade supply chain, and profit orientation. The research provides valuable insights with which to guide the development of practices and policies aimed at ensuring sustainable dry port operations, a critical domain of the trade supply chain

Global Health Commodities Supply Chain in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges, Impacts, and Prospects: A Systematic Review

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the most substantial health crisis in the 21st Century. This pandemic interrupted the supply of essential commodities for human beings. Among the essential commodities for human survival, disruption of the supply of essential health commodities has become a global concern. Objective: The study aimed to systematically analyze published articles on the challenges, impacts, and prospects of the global health commodities’ supply chain in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A standard searching strategy was conducted in seven research databases to retrieve pertinent articles. Finally, 459 articles were retrieved for further screening, and only 13 articles were selected for final synthesis. Results: Almost 38.5% of the studies targeted the supply chain of health commodities used to treat HIV, TB, and malaria. Lockdown policies, travel restrictions, lack of transportation, low manufacturing capacity, and rising costs were the significant challenges indicated for the supply interruption of essential health commodities and COVID-19 vaccines. Findings indicated that the supply interruption of essential health commodities leads to a devastating impact on global health. Conclusion: Global medicine shortages due to the pandemic crisis can have a devastatingly harmful impact on patient outcomes and might result in a devastatingly long-lasting effect on the health of the world community. Supply-related challenges of the COVID-19 vaccine affect countries’ ambitions for achieving herd immunity quickly. Monitoring the pandemic’s effect on the health commodities’ supply system and designing a short-term and long-ter

SK2 channels are required for function and long-term survival of efferent synapses on mammalian outer hair cells

Cochlear hair cells use SK2 currents to shape responses to cholinergic efferent feedback from the brain. Using SK2-/- mice, we demonstrate that, in addition to their previously defined role in modulating hair cell membrane potentials, SK2 channels are necessary for long-term survival of olivocochlear fibers and synapses. Loss of the SK2 gene also results in loss of electrically driven olivocochlear effects in vivo, and down regulation of ryanodine receptors involved in calcium-induced calcium release, the main inducer of nAChR evoked SK2 activity. Generation of double-null mice lacking both the α10 nAChR gene, loss of which results in hypertrophied olivocochlear terminals, and the SK2 gene, recapitulates the SK2-/- synaptic phenotype and gene expression, and also leads to down regulation of α9 nAChR gene expression. The data suggest a hierarchy of activity necessary to maintain early olivocochlear synapses at their targets, with SK2 serving an epistatic, upstream, role to the nAChRs.Fil: Murthy, Vidya. Tufts University; Estados UnidosFil: Maison, Stéphane F.. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Estados Unidos. Harvard Medical School; Estados UnidosFil: Taranda, Julian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Tufts University; Estados UnidosFil: Haque, Nadeem. University of Notre Dame; Estados UnidosFil: Bond, Chris T.. Oregon Health Sciences University; Estados UnidosFil: Elgoyhen, Ana Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Adelman, John P.. Oregon Health Sciences University; Estados UnidosFil: Liberman, M. Charles. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Estados Unidos. Harvard Medical School; Estados UnidosFil: Vetter, Douglas E.. Tufts University; Estados Unido

Efectos inducidos por el hábitat sobre mutaciones y perfil de ácidos grasos en carpas mrigala que habitan en el fondo del río Chenab

Fish from the river Chenab were analyzed for DNA damage by the Comet and Micronucleus assays. The fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatography using a Flame Ionization Detector. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry showed significant (p < 0.05) levels of contamination due to Cd, Hg, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cr, Sn and phenols in the fish habitat. The Comet assay revealed significant (p < 0.05) DNA damage in Cirrhinus mrigala of 37.29±2.51%, 34.96±2.53% and 38.80±2.42% in the comet tail, in the tail moment of 23.48±3.90, 19.78±4.26 and 14.30±1.82, in the olive moment of 16.22±2.04, 13.83±1.96 10.99±0.90, respectively, from three experimental sites. The micronucleus assay showed a high frequency of single micronucleus induction of 44.80±3.73, double induction of 06.20±0.97 and nuclear abnormalities of 09.60±1.72, as calculated in a thousand cells. C8:0, C12:0, C20:0, C16:1(n-7), C16:1(n-9), C20:1(n-9), C18:2(n-6), C18:4(n-3), C20:5(n-3), C22:4(n-6) fatty acids were found missing in the fish with a higher intensity of DNA damage but were found in optimal amounts both in farmed and wild fish from non polluted habitats. A highly significant (p < 0.01) correlation was also found in saturated, unsaturated fatty acids and DNA damage and habitat. The present study revealed that the habitat of even lower intensity pollutions not only induce DNA damage but also confiscate essential fatty acids of the omega series and reduce the amount of unsaturated fatty acids for which fish is preferred over other animals.Los daños en el ADN de los peces del río Chenab se analizaron mediante la técnica del “ensayo del cometa” y el ensayo de micronúcleos. El perfil de ácidos grasos se determinó mediante cromatografía de gases con detector de ionización de llama. La espectrofotometría de absorción atómica mostró diferencias significativas (p < 0.05) de los niveles de contaminación por Cd, Hg, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cr, Sn y fenoles en el hábitat de los peces. El ensayo del cometa mostró daños significativos (p < 0,05) en el ADN de las carpas mrigala de tres sitios experimentales: 37,29±2,51%, 34,96±2,53 y 38,80±2,42% del ADN en la cola del cometa, momento de la cola con 23,48±3,90, 19,78±4,26 y 14,30±1,82% y cola media con 16,22±2,04, 13,83±1,96 10,99±0,90. Los ensayos de micronúcleos mostraron una alta frecuencia de inducción de micronúcleos como única 44,80±3,73, 06,20±0,97 y doble anomalías nucleares 09,60±1,72 calculados en miles de células. C8:0, C12:0, C20:0, C16:1(n-7), C16:1 (n-9), C20:1(n-9), C18:2(n-6), C18:4(n-3), C20:5(n-3) y C22:4(n-6) se mostraron como ácidos grasos que faltan en el pescado que tiene una mayor intensidad de daño en el ADN, aunque se encuentran en cantidades óptimas, tanto en los peces de piscifactoría como en los salvajes donde no hay hábitats contaminados. Se encontró una correlación altamente significativa (p < 0,01) también en ácidos saturados, ácidos grasos insaturados, daño del ADN y hábitat. El presente estudio reveló que la intensidad de la contaminación del hábitat aún en la más baja no sólo induce daño en el ADN, sino también en la composición de los ácidos grasos de la serie omega y de los ácidos grasos insaturados, para los que se prefiere ingerir pescado a otros animales

Kinetic and equilibrium modeling of Cu(II) and Ni(II) sorption onto physically pretreated Rosa centifolia distillation waste biomass

The removal of Cu(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution by physically pretreated (boiled, heated and autoclaved) Rosa centifolia distillation waste biomass was conducted in batch conditions. The obtained results revealed that initial metal ion concentration, kinetics, and temperature affected the adsorption capacity of the physically pretreated R. centifolia distillation waste biomass. The Cu(II) and Ni(II) equilibrium sorption data agreed well to Langmuir isotherm model and the sorption kinetics were accurately described by pseudo second order kinetic model. The Cu(II) and Ni(II) uptake capacities (mg g-1) of physical pretreated R. centifolia distillation waste biomass were in following order: boiled (66.91) &gt; heated (52.51) &gt; autoclaved (49.82) &gt; native (42.68) and boiled (67.55) &gt; heated (65.19) &gt; autoclaved (58.09) &gt; native (45.19), respectively. The nature of R. centifolia distillation waste biomass surface functionalities was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy.Keywords: Cu(II), Ni(II), isotherms, kinetics, pretreatment, Rosa centifolia

Effect of Growth Media, pH and Temperature on Yeast to Hyphal Transition in Candida albicans

The transition of C. albicans from unicellular yeast form to filamentous form i.e., pseudohyphae and hyphae is referred to as morphogenesis. C. albicans has the ability to respond to environmental conditions and accordingly changing its cell morphology. Three main morphological forms of C. albicans are unicellular yeast, pseudohyphae and hyphae. The effect of different growth media (Horse serum medium, RPMI-1640, MSGB), incubation temperatures (34˚C, 37˚C, 40˚C) and pH values (5.4, 6.4, 7.4) on germ tube production by C. albicans was evaluated. Horse serum medium noticeably promotes filamentation while RPMI-1640 medium shows moderate filamentation and MSGB media shows moderately low filamentation. The germ tube of C. albicans developed early in 1.5 hr at high temperature i.e., 40˚C. Incubation temperature of 37˚C was associated with highest germ tube formation while 34˚C shows low filamentation. A pH of 5.4 also induces low filamentation, pH 6.4 gives moderately lower than pH 7.4. A pH of 7.4 was best suited for germ tube induction. The peak of mycelium production appears between 1.5 and 6 hr after inoculation of C. albicans culture. These results suggested that environmental factors are important in selectively favoring yeast or hyphal form, most important being the growth medium, incubation temperature and external pH value

Spin-glass freezing of maghemite nanoparticles prepared by microwave plasma synthesis

Magnetic properties of 6nm maghemite nanoparticles (prepared by microwave plasma synthesis) have been studied by ac and dc magnetic measurements. Structural characterization includes x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The temperature scans of zero field cooled/field cooled (ZFC/FC) magnetization measurements show a maximum at 75 K. The ZFC/FC data are fitted to the Brown-Ne´el relaxation model using uniaxial anisotropy and a log-normal size-distribution function to figure out the effective anisotropy constant K$_{eff}$. K$_{eff}$ turns out to be larger than the anisotropy constant of bulk maghemite. Fitting of the ac susceptibility to an activated relaxation process according to the Arrhenius law provides unphysical values of the spin-flip time and activation energy. A power-law scaling shows a satisfactory fit to the ac susceptibility data and the dynamic critical exponent (zv$\thickapprox$10) takes value between 4 and 12 which is typical for the spin-glass systems. The temperature dependence of coercivity and exchange bias shows a sharp increase toward low temperatures which is due to enhanced surface anisotropy. The source of this enhanced magnetic anisotropy comes from the disordered surface spins which get frozen at low temperatures. Memory effects and thermoremanent magnetization experiments also support the existence of spin-glass behaviour. All these magnetic measurements signify either magnetic blocking or surface spin-glass freezing at high and low temperatures, respectivel