Poverty Alleviation on a Sustainable Basis in the Islamic Framework

Allah (SWT) is the sole creator of this vast universe and whatever it contains. He created man as a master piece of His creation and elevated him to be His vicegerent on earth. He made all physical systems and other creations to cater human needs from the time immoral. And those holding political power in Muslim countries under Islamic teachings are required to make necessary arrangements for the satisfaction of his material needs through efficient utilisation of resources and equitable distribution of goods and services and also to fully protect him from all kinds of fear besides the fear of starvation. There is ample evidence in Quran, Sunnah, and practice of Caliphs to provide food as well as social security to each and every individual in an Islamic economy. Pointing to this fact, an Ayah of Quran enjoying upon Quraish to worship Allah because He has protected them both from starvation and fear by granting them food and peace. Similarly a Hadith says that a society where a Muslim has to starve is forsaken by Allah. The first four Caliphs were fully conscious of their obligation towards meeting the needs of poor. Hazrat Umar (RA) declared, “if a camel dies at the bank of Euphrates, I am afraid Allah would make me accountable for it”. The overwhelming stress on satisfaction of basic needs and social security both of current and future generations leaves no justification for the prevalence of widespread poverty in Islamic framework. As a matter of fact, Islam and absolute poverty cannot persist together.

Immature rat seminal vesicles show histomorphological and ultrastructural alterations following treatment with kisspeptin-10

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Degenerative effects of critical regulators of reproduction, the kisspeptin peptides, on cellular aspects of sexually immature male gonads are known but similar information on accessory sex glands remain elusive.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prepubertal laboratory rats were injected kisspeptin-10 at three different dosage concentrations (10 pg, 1 ng and 1 microgram) for a period of continuous 12 days at the rate of two doses per day. Control rats were maintained in parallel. The day following the end of the experimental period, seminal vesicles were removed and processed for light and electron microscopic examination using the standard methods. DNA damage was estimated by DNA ladder assay and DNA fragmentation assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results demonstrated cellular degeneration. Epithelial cell height of seminal vesicles decreased significantly at all doses (<it>P </it>< 0.05). Marked decrease in epithelial folds was readily noticeable, while the lumen was dilated. Ultrastructural changes were characterized by dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, heterochromatization of nuclei, invagination of nuclear membranes and a decreased number of secretory granules. Percent DNA damage to the seminal vesicle was 19.54 +/- 1.98, 38.06 +/- 2.09 and 58.18 +/- 2.59 at 10 pg, 1 ng and 1 microgram doses respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study reveals that continuous administration of kisspeptin does not lead to an early maturation but instead severe degeneration of sexually immature seminal vesicles.</p

Englishization of Urdu

The present research is intended to explore the mechanism which is causing driving and accelerating the process of language change in Urdu The particular focus is on the interplay of various factors which are resulting in the emergence of a more English-like Urdu language The phenomenon of language change has been approached from a societal perspective and the link between social change and language change has been given particular attention by assuming that a change in society leads to a corresponding change in language and vice versa Keeping in view the complex and multi-pronged nature of language-change a mixed methodology has been employed The findings show that changes in language are caused by different and numerous considerations and that these changes are natural neutral and inevitabl

Relationship between students’ information literacy skills and availability of digital information resources in universities library of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

The present study was conducted with an aim to determine the relationship between students’ information literacy skills and availability information resources in universities library of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. A survey research design was used to collect data from the participants. The population of this study were post-graduate students enrolled in public sector universities of AJ&K. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data. A statistical package for social sciences (SPSS-20) was used for the analysis of data. The descriptive statistics was used to determine percentage, frequency, mean and standard deviation, and inferential statistic was used to determine relationship among variables. The results of the study revealed that a good number of information resources were available in university libraries but they were not properly utilized due to lack of information literacy skills (M=3.56). Lack of information literacy training and workshops were the main barriers faced by respondents while acquiring information literacy skills (M=3.56). Moreover, it was found that a statistical significant relationship (P= .000) exists between age of the respondents and their information literacy skills. Which shows that age of the respondents and information literacy skills were correlated with each other. The results of study also revealed that information literacy skills of respondents were correlated with age, gender, and availability of digital information resources. Further, the statistical value (P=. 218) indicated that level of degree and information literacy skills of respondents were not correlated

Transient Analysis of Current Transformers

The objective of the present work is to investigate the performance and transient behavior of conventional electromagnetic current transformers in comparison to the unconventional current transducers during power system faults. The research has been carried out using PSPICE simulation tools and experimental testing of current transducers. Different types of transducers considered in this research include normal electromagnetic current transformers (EMCT) and its various types, Hall effect current transformers (HECT) and Opto-couplers. The simulation results have shown that electromagnetic current transformers (EMCT) can suffer from transient saturation during high frequency disturbances or permanent saturation during high fault currents. The electromagnetic current transformers (EMCT) were found to saturate above 20 kHz current surges whilst the Hall effect current transducers (HECT) were found to work up to several 100 kHz. The transformation capability of opto-coupler current transducers, using LED/Si based opto-coupler, was found to be more than 1 MHz. It was estimated that a laser and avalanche photo-detector (APD) based magnetooptic current transformer (MOCT) could effectively translate 1 GHz frequency surges. The simulation results have been experimentally tested and found to be correct within the accuracy resolution of available test and measurement equipment. Based on this work it is safe to declare that EMCT can be used for normal monitoring and measurement applications in utility. It is not good for the reliable protection and control application. Anyway, it does not compete the alternate options such as HECT and MOCT in protection and control applications regarding bandwidth, rise time and fault current diagnostics

Language Shift

This research is intended to ascertain the factors that are responsible for banishing Punjabi language and a corresponding adoption of English language though apparently the panoramic milieu is hostile to this shift Language shift is a societal trend and society formation is based on collaborative work of certain factors by following this line of reasoning a hypothesis is formed that language shift is burgeoned motivated and accelerated by an implicit working of historical cultural social economic and psychological factors In order to examine the validity of hypothesis data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire with a sample size of hundred people The result shows that these factors are involved though at varying degree in this germinating trend of shift from Punjabi to English languag

Poverty Alleviation on a Sustainable Basis in the Islamic Framework

Allah (SWT) is the sole creator of this vast universe and whatever it contains. He created man as a master piece of His creation and elevated him to be His vicegerent on earth. He made all physical systems and other creations to cater human needs from the time immoral. And those holding political power in Muslim countries under Islamic teachings are required to make necessary arrangements for the satisfaction of his material needs through efficient utilisation of resources and equitable distribution of goods and services and also to fully protect him from all kinds of fear besides the fear of starvation. There is ample evidence in Quran, Sunnah, and practice of Caliphs to provide food as well as social security to each and every individual in an Islamic economy. Pointing to this fact, an Ayah of Quran enjoying upon Quraish to worship Allah because He has protected them both from starvation and fear by granting them food and peace.1 Similarly a Hadith says that a society where a Muslim has to starve is forsaken by Allah.2 The first four Caliphs were fully conscious of their obligation towards meeting the needs of poor. Hazrat Umar (RA) declared, “if a camel dies at the bank of Euphrates, I am afraid Allah would make me accountable for it”.3 The overwhelming stress on satisfaction of basic needs and social security both of current and future generations leaves no justification for the prevalence of widespread poverty in Islamic framework. As a matter of fact, Islam and absolute poverty cannot persist together

Provision of Public Goods in an Islamic Economy

Islam establishes a welfare society. It obligates the society to make arrangements for need-fulfilment of all citizens. The Islamic economy working with the market and non-market institutions and guided by Islamic values meets the personal and public needs of its people. The market system in a secular economy under appropriate conditions can efficiently meet personal needs of the people; however, it fails to do so in case of public goods. While supplementing the market system with other institutions, the Islamic economy manages to supply optimal quantity of the public goods. The paper studies this issue in the light of the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and Islamic history.

Interrelationship Between Librarians\u27 Level of Knowledge of Information Technologies and their Attitudes in Applying These Technologies in Libraries

The paper presents librarians’ attitudes toward information technology, their level of knowledge in IT, and their relationship with each other. Secondary data was collected through review of the relevant literature. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire survey of 244 librarians of libraries in Pakistan. The study revealed that awareness of the potential of IT, recency of attaining professional qualifications, and knowledge in IT had a significant relationship with librarians’ attitudes. The study also revealed that librarians’ level of knowledge in technology is a good predictor of their attitude toward application of information technology in libraries. Based on the findings, the paper puts forward recommendations to improve the librarians’ attitudes toward IT applications in Pakistan and other developing countrie

Molecular evolution of the inflated calyx syndrome in Withania (Solanaceae)

Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der molekularen Grundlage der Evolution morphologischer Neuheiten in Solanaceen, mit dem Ziel, zum Verständnis der Subfunktionalisierung bzw. der Neofunktionalisierung der beteiligten Gene beizutragen. Frühere Studien verließen sich hinsichtlich ihrer Methodik größtenteils auf DNA-Sequenz-Analysen, entbehrten aber der funktionellen Untersuchung duplizierter Gene, was oft zu widersprüchlichen Ergebnissen führte. In dieser Arbeit wurden bioinformatische und experimentelle Herangehensweisen vereint, um die Fragen von Duplikation, Sub- und bzw. oder Neofunktionalisierung, Selektion und Diversifizierung von Genen zu untersuchen, die der - in den Withaninae vorherrschenden - evolutionären Neuerung des Inflated Calyx Syndroms (ICS) zu Grunde liegen. In der Gattung Withania, ebenso wie in Physalis, nehmen die Sepalen nach der Bestäubung das Wachstum wieder auf und hüllen schließlich die reife Frucht vollständig in einer Ballon-ähnlichen Struktur ein, was als Inflated-Calyx-Syndrom (ICS) bezeichnet wird. Während Withania-Arten eine Vielfalt an aufgeblähten Calyces aufweisen, besitzt Tubocapsicum - eine nahe verwandte Gattung - lediglich einen rudimentären Kelch. Pflanzenhormone - wie Cytokinine und Gibberelline - können die Befruchtungssignale imitieren und sind unerlässlich für die ICS-Ausprägung in Withania. In der diploiden Art Physalis floridana ist ein einzelnes Gen � das MADS-Box-Gen MPF2 � zusätzlich zur ICS-Ausprägung für Blattentwicklung und männliche Fertilität verantwortlich. Dagegen bietet sich in Withania, einer laut Ploidie-Untersuchung offenbar tetraploiden Gattung, die Möglichkeit, diese Funktionen von einander getrennt zu untersuchen. Zwei Klassen von MPF2-Orthologen � MPF2-like-A (z.B. WSA206) und MPF2-like-B (z.B. WSB206) � wurden aus Withania isoliert, jedoch nur eine Klasse � MPF2-like-B (TAB201) � aus Tubocapsicum, da MPF2-like-A-Gene im Genom dieser Art nicht vorhanden sind. Trotz ähnlicher Gen-Struktur besitzen MPF2-like-A Proteine mit einer 3 Aminosäuren umfassenden Deletion in ihrer C-terminalen Domäne und dem Vorhandensein von 8 zusätzlichen Aminosäuren am C-terminalen Ende im Vergleich zu MPF2 von Physalis einen ungewöhnlichen Aufbau. Nichtsdestotrotz scheinen sie phylogenetisch näher mit MPF2 verwandt zu sein als die MPF2-like-B-Gruppe. Positive Darwinsche Selektion wurde in den phylogenetischen Ästen, die zu Physalis MPF2-like und Withania MPF2-like-A-Proteinen führen, detektiert. Im Gegensatz dazu waren sowohl MPF2-like-Proteine von Arten, die kein ICS aufweisen, als auch alle MPF2-like-B-Proteine unter negativer (reinigender) Selektion. Während MPF2-like-B-Protein-Überexpression in Arabidopsis-Pflanzen keine phänotypischen Abweichungen im Vergleich zum Wildtyp hervorrief, traten bei MPF2-like-A-Protein-Überexpression stark vergrößerte Sepalen und Abweichungen in Form und Anzahl der Früchte auf, was darauf hindeutet, dass die Funktion beider Proteine unterschiedlich ist. Dies wird durch ihre divergenten Expressionsmuster gestützt. Während MPF2-like-A-Gene in Withania zusätzlich zu vegetativen auch in floralen Geweben exprimiert werden und somit eine Korrelation zur ICS-Bildung aufweisen, ist die Expression von MPF-2like-B-Genen auf vegetative Gewebe beschränkt. Dies verhält sich anders in Tubocapsicum, wo MPF2-like-B-Gen-Expression in allen untersuchten Geweben gefunden werden konnte, jedoch kein ICS ausgeprägt wird. Bioinformatische Analysen der Sequenzen von Promotoren und ersten Introns dieser Gene zeigten das Vorhandensein einer konservierten CArG-Box - putatives Bindemotif für AG, SEP1, SEP4, AGL1, and AGL15 - nahe dem Transkriptionsstart in allen hier untersuchten MPF2-like-Genen, außer in MPF2-like-B-Genen in Withania. Dahingegen treten Auxin-Response-Elemente (AuxREs), die in einer 100 Basenpaare umfassenden hoch-konservierten Region im 1. Intron von MPF2-like-B-Genen identifiziert wurden, nicht in MPF2-like-A-Genen auf. Sowohl MPF2-like-A- als auch MPF2-like-B-Gen-Promotoren riefen starke GUS-Expression in den Blüten transgener Arabidopsis-Pflanzen hervor. Dagegen unterdrückten Sequenzen des ersten Introns generell die Reportergen-Expression (GUS und YFP) in Blättern von Arabidopsis bzw. in transient transformierten Blättern von Nicotiana benthamiana. Nur MPF2-like-A Proteine sind in der Lage, im Yeast-2-Hybrid-System Homodimere zu bilden. Das Repressor-Motiv am C-Terminus der MPF2-like-A-Proteine ist in Autoaktivierung involviert. Durchmustern einer Arabidopsis-oligo-dT-Hefe-Library mit diesen Proteinen führte zur Identifizierung zahlreicher MADS- und Nicht-MADS-Domänen-Proteine als putative Interaktionspartner. Die Interaktion von MPF2-like-A-Proteinen mit Arabidopsis-Proteinen, die an der Regulation der Blütenentwicklung beteiligt sind (z.B. SOC1, AGL27, AGL19, AGL31, AGL42, AGL68, MAF4, SEP3, SEP4), und die ausschließliche Interaktion von Wihania MPF2-like-B-Proteinen mit Nicht-MADS-Domänen-Proteinen, (z.B. IAA16, EMB1417, ATSIP, AKIN, MYB4), unterstützt eine funktionelle Divergenz der Proteine und korreliert mit ihren divergenten Expressionsmustern. Tubocapsisum MPF2-like-B-Proteine dagegen sind in der Lage mit SOC1, AGL27 und MAF5 zu interagieren, was auf eine intermediäre Funktionalität zwischen den beiden Gruppen von Withania MPF2-like-Proteinen hinweist. Withania MPF2-like-B-Proteine können mit MAGO NASHI-Homologen von Withania, Tubocapsicum und Physalis interagieren. MAGO NASHI ist ein hoch-konserviertes Protein, das an diversen Entwicklungsprozessen, zum Beispiel Keimzell-Differenzierung, beteiligt ist. Anders als Withania MPF2-like-B-Proteine können MPF2-like-A-Proteine mit keinem dieser MAGO NASHI-Proteine von Solanaceen (WSMAGO1, WSMAGO2, TAMAGO1, TAMAGO2, PFMAGO1, PFMAGO2) interagieren, doch die Fähigkeit von Tubocapsicum MPF2-like-B Proteinen, einige dieser MAGO NASHI-Homologe zu binden, weist erneut auf ihren intermediären Charakter zwischen Withania-MPF2-like-Proteinen hin. Eindeutig sind MPF2-like-A-Gene in die ICS-Ausprägung involviert, die Funktion von MPF2-like-B-Genen � abgesehen von einer möglichen Rolle in der Blattentwicklung - bleibt jedoch ungewiss. Allotetraploidisierung trug wesentlich zur Subfunktionalisierung der MPF2-like-Gene und positive Darwinsche Selektion ist von großer Bedeutung für die evolutionären Geschichte der Physaleae. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen die Auswirkungen von Genduplikationen auf die Anpassung und Anpassungsfähigkeit von Organismen und demonstrieren die Leistungsfähigkeit von Studien in evolutionärer Entwicklungsgenetik, die Sequenz-Analyse und funktionellen Untersuchungen kombinieren. Die hier beschriebenen Ergebnisse sind nicht nur essentielle Grundlage für das Verstehen, wie die evolutionäre Calyx-Neuerung in den Withaninae entstand und erhalten wurde, sondern geben auch ein elegantes Beispiel dafür, wie wilde �evolutionäre Mutanten� zur Aufschlüsselung komplexer Merkmale genutzt werden können