The Practice of Zakat: An Empirical Examination of Four Gulf Countries

As one of the cornerstones of Islamic economics, zakat has been given little attention in Islamic economics literature. Both theoretical and empirical studies are scarce, and thus this paper is an attempt to initiate discussion on the realities of the practice of zakat in the Muslim world. It is hoped that this will draw attention to the need to investigate the practice of zakat throughout the world. Some empirical results on a number of practical aspects of zakat are provided. The discussion is based on a collection of perception data from respondents in four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries regarding the evaluation, collection and payment of zakat.Zakat; Fiqh; Gulf Cooperation Council, Shari‘a.

Cry Baby : Song

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/2997/thumbnail.jp

Preparation of atomically clean and flat Si(100) surfaces by low-energy ion sputtering and low-temperature annealing

Si(100) surfaces were prepared by wet-chemical etching followed by 0.3-1.5keV Ar ion sputtering, either at elevated or room temperature. After a brief anneal under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, the resulting surfaces were examined by scanning tunneling microscopy. We find that wet-chemical etching alone cannot produce a clean and flat Si(100) surface. However, subsequent 300eV Ar ion sputtering at room temperature followed by a 973K anneal yields atomically clean and flat Si(100) surfaces suitable for nanoscale device fabrication.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Applied Surface Scienc

Discriminating cool-water from warm-water carbonates and their diagenetic environments using element geochemistry: the Oligocene Tikorangi Formation (Taranaki Basin) and the dolomite effect

Fields portrayed within bivariate element plots have been used to distinguish between carbonates formed in warm- (tropical) water and cool- (temperate) water depositional settings. Here, element concentrations (Ca, Mg, Sr, Na, Fe, and Mn) have been determined for the carbonate fraction of bulk samples from the late Oligocene Tikorangi Formation, a subsurface, mixed dolomite-calcite, cool-water limestone sequence in Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. While the occurrence of dolomite is rare in New Zealand Cenozoic carbonates, and in cool-water carbonates more generally, the dolomite in the Tikorangi carbonates is shown to have a dramatic effect on the "traditional" positioning of cool-water limestone fields within bivariate element plots. Rare undolomitised, wholly calcitic carbonate samples in the Tikorangi Formation have the following average composition: Mg 2800 ppm; Ca 319 100 ppm; Na 800 ppm; Fe 6300 ppm; Sr 2400 ppm; and Mn 300 ppm. Tikorangi Formation dolomite-rich samples (>15% dolomite) have average values of: Mg 53 400 ppm; Ca 290 400 ppm; Na 4700 ppm; Fe 28 100 ppm; Sr 5400 ppm; and Mn 500 ppm. Element-element plots for dolomite-bearing samples show elevated Mg, Na, and Sr values compared with most other low-Mg calcite New Zealand Cenozoic limestones. The increased trace element contents are directly attributable to the trace element-enriched nature of the burial-derived dolomites, termed here the "dolomite effect". Fe levels in the Tikorangi Formation carbonates far exceed both modern and ancient cool-water and warm-water analogues, while Sr values are also higher than those in modern Tasmanian cool-water carbonates, and approach modern Bahaman warm-water carbonate values. Trace element data used in conjunction with more traditional petrographic data have aided in the diagenetic interpretation of the carbonate-dominated Tikorangi sequence. The geochemical results have been particularly useful for providing more definitive evidence for deep burial dolomitisation of the deposits under the influence of marine-modified pore fluids

Risk Management - Hygiene and Legionella in water systems in hospitals: Relevance for Facility Management and Facility Services

To guide readers properly, it is necessary to say that this article is part of an ongoing research project. It is divided into four sections. For the purpose of introducing into the topic, a concise summary of the contextual framework and theoretical background is presented first. Here the authors introduce on the topic of hygiene, Legionella and risk management in the context of Facility Management and Facility Services. After sharing the perspective from the research project's context, section two reveals findings of a literature review, which worked out a potential search strategy for people new to the topic. It is also useful for people responsible, who wish to get deeper knowledge about the topics 'responsibility of stakeholders' and the ‘process’ of Legionella prevention. With the contents of section three shifting from research to (legal) practice, some responsibilities of stakeholders and the ‘process’ of Legionella prevention are presented. As the field work of the research project is still running, and participants (interview partners) are still needed, the last section of this article informs briefly about characteristics of the research project

Optimizing Project Delivery through Augmented Reality and Agile Methodologies

The construction sector, which has a long history to use visualisation to envisage proposed designs and project delivery, is beginning to see the benefits of augmented reality and agile project management methodologies. This study investigated the benefits of augmented reality and agile project management methodologies. Convergent design method was considered valuable and the most straightforward for this study, as different types of quantitative and qualitative data were required to be collected and analysed. The participants drawn from the construction sector revealed a number of augmented and agile determinants that facilitated the delivery of construction and integration of project teams. The participants suggested that the proposed ARGILE framework increases client understanding of the tasks output, increases client involvement and collaboration with the project team. It was further established that the proposed ARGILE framework enhances project time management, embeds the client and empowers multidisciplinary team, increases collaboration and communication

The differences between the branded and generic medicines using solid dosage forms: In-vitro dissolution testing

AbstractIntroductionDissolution is the amount of substance that goes into solution per unit time under standardised conditions of liquid/solid interface, solvent composition and temperature. Dissolution is one of the most important tools to predict the in-vivo bioavailability and in some cases to determine bioequivalence and assure interchangeability.AimTo compare the differences in dissolution behaviour of solid dosage forms between innovators (reference products) and their generic counterparts (tested products).MethodsFour replicates for each batch of 37 tested medicines was carried out using A PT-DT70 dissolution tester from Pharma Test. A total of 13 branded medicines and 24 generic counterparts were obtained locally and internationally to detect any differences in their dissolution behaviour. They were tested according to the British Pharmacopeia, European Pharmacopeia and the US Pharmacopeia with the rate of dissolution determined by ultra-violet Spectrophotometery.ResultsMost tested medicines complied with the pharmacopoeial specifications and achieved 85% dissolution in 60min. However, some generic medicines showed significant differences in dissolution rate at 60 and 120min. Many generic medicines showed a slower dissolution rate than their branded counterparts such as the generic forms of omeprazole 20mg. Some showed an incomplete dissolution such as the generic form of nifedipine 10mg. Other generics showed faster dissolution rate than their branded counterpart such as the generic forms of meloxicam 15mg. Moreover, some generics from different batches of the same manufacturer showed significant differences in their dissolution rate such as the generic forms of meloxicam 7.5mg. Nevertheless, some generic medicines violated the EMA and the FDA guidelines for industry when they failed to achieve 85% dissolution at 60min, such as the generic form of diclofenac sodium 50mg.ConclusionMost medicines in this study complied with the pharmacopeial limits. However, some generics dissolved differently than their branded counterparts. This can clearly question the interchangeability between the branded and its generic counterpart or even among generics

Governing Divorce Practices of Somali Finnish Muslims : Does Religious Literacy Matter?

Peer reviewe

Seeing the big PICTURE: A framework for improving the communication of requirements within the Business-IT relationship

The relationship between the business and IT departments in the context of the organisation has been characterised as highly divisive. Contributing problems appear to revolve around the failure to adequately communicate and understand the required information for the alignment of business and IT strategies and infrastructures. This study takes a communication-based view on the concept of alignment, in terms of the relationship between the retail business and IT within a major high street UK bank. A research framework (PICTURE) is used to provide insight into this relationship and guide the analysis of interviews with 29 individuals on mid-high management level for their thematic content. The paper highlights the lessons that can be derived from the study of the BIT relationship and how possible improvements could be made