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The major purpose of this article was to disclose the quality of education in the Muslim world and try to clarify the misperceptions in the West and in the Muslim world about Islamic education. It also tries to highlight the efforts of Islamic scholars in filling the gaps between them. Education in the Muslim world and Islamic education have gained much attention in the past few years due to the perceived link between those issues and concerns for development and security in the Muslim world and beyond. This paper attempts to define Islamic education, provide an in-depth analysis of the educational systems and Islamic education in the Muslim world, using political-historical, socio-cultural, and religious analytical approaches, and identify challenges in improving Islamic education. The paper concludes with a synthesis of approaches and strategies for improving education in Islamic schools of Islamic world.

Sunlight and water are among the most plentiful and sustainable resources of energy. Natural photosystem II in the plants uses these resources in ecofriendly manner for the production of atmospheric oxygen and energy. Inspired by this natural process, the development of artificial catalytic system to facilitate the solar-induced water splitting for the continuous production of hydrogen is the holy grail of the chemist and energy experts to meet the future energy demand at minimal environmental cost. Despite considerable research efforts dedicated to this area in the last decade, the development of highly efficient, stable and economic photocatalysts remain a challenging task for the large scale H2 production from water. Polyoxometalates (POMs)-based materials are emerging photo/photoelectrocatalysts in this quest owing to their multi-electron redox potential and fast reversible charge transfer properties, which are the essential requirements of photo-assisted water splitting catalysis. They are generally soluble in aqueous medium and thus their inherent catalytic/co-catalytic properties can be better exploited by incorporating/immobilizing them over suitable support materials. Therefore, exploration of discrete POM units over the support materials possessing high surface area, functionalizable architecture, flexible pore size and good light harvesting ability is an attractive area of research that has resulted in the generation of a strong library of heterocatalysts. The underlying support not only offers stability and recyclability attributes to the POM units but also provides decent dispersion, easy/maximum accessibility to the active sites, enhanced absorption capability, and synergistically enhances the activity by transfer of electrons and efficient charge/carriers separation by creating POM-support junctions. This mini-review emphasizes on the strategies for the incorporation of POMs on various porous supports like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), oxide-based semiconductors, carbonaceous materials, etc., and their applications as effective photo/photoelectrocatalysts for water splitting. In addition, the mechanistic study, comparative analysis and the future potential of these novel nanoscale materials is also highlighted. We believe that this review article will provide a new direction and scientific interest at the boundary of materials engineering, and solar-driven chemistry for the sustainable energy conversion/storage processes.

Adequate transportation and administration of products and resources across borders are crucial in the logistics industry, particularly in locations such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, other hazards are associated with this, including global disputes, geopolitical tensions, trade battles, natural catastrophes, terrorist threats, and security breaches, all of which can disrupt the supply chain. These hazards highlight the need for robust supply chain risk management (SCRM) strategies to ensure the seamless distribution of products and services in the face of adversity. To address these challenges, this study examines the impact of customer relationships (CR) on supply chain risk management in the CPEC logistics sector. A survey conducted across various transportation and logistics firms' sites obtained data from 500 staff members. After removing 50 partial replies, 450 total responses were considered. The information also includes reactions for operational supply chain risk management (OSCRM), organization performance (OP), strategic supply chain risk management (SSCRM), and customer relationship (CR). To evaluate the respondents of the survey questionnaire using the Likert scale. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is utilized to validate the hypothesis, which is used for statistical analysis, validation of structural models, and measurement models. The measurement model established the measure's validity and reliability, while other approaches demonstrated discriminant validity. The structural model is employed to identify the significant relationships between CR and SCRM in the logistics sector. The findings emphasize CR's importance in managing the supply chain's inherent constraints, contributing to CPEC's sustainability. Overall, this research attempts to enhance understanding of the complex relationship between CR and SCRM in the dynamic world of global logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on how and when leader–member exchange (LMX) impacts work engagement in different public sector contexts and categories of employees is scarce. Utilising conservation of resources theory, we advance research on LMX and work engagement in two studies. Study 1 investigates the mediating role of a contextual resource (psychological safety) and an energy resource (job crafting) in a resource‐rich context, and Study 2 investigates the moderating role of a personal resource (optimism) in a resource‐poor context. Study 1 uses a three‐wave research design with employees from the engineering and technical divisions of an Irish public utility operating in the energy market and found that both psychological safety and job crafting functioned as partial mediators. Study 2 uses a sample of teachers and tutors from three Irish local authority education and training organisations and found that subordinate optimism moderated the LMX work engagement relationship. Our study findings highlight that both psychological safety and job crafting operated as important linking mechanisms and shed light on how LMX is linked to work engagement in the case of public utility employees. We also found that employee optimism provided an explanation of when it will impact work engagement with employees working in an education context. We highlight theory and practice implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, the types of impacts of land–atmosphere interactions have scarcely been clarified systematically. In this article, we present a classification of these impacts based on modeling boundary layer variables/parameters, which is grouped into local, regional, and remote impacts. In the narrow sense, land surface processes (LSPs) influence the atmospheric state via vertical land–atmosphere coupling at local scales, which is referred to as local LSP impacts. However, local LSP impacts can lead to the advection effect due to the horizontal heterogeneity in the parameters over a region, which can be defined as regional LSP impacts. Furthermore, remote LSP impacts on the regional atmospheric state are induced by some land/sea surface variables/parameters over remote key areas of the Earth's surface, which are conventionally taken as strong signals of climate variation. Of the three impacts, local impacts are the most important essential, as the other two types of impacts are derived from these impacts. We describe the quantification of local impacts based on our previous studies from the perspective of modeling approaches, and we discuss some issues related to these impacts. Previous investigations showed that local LSP impacts are mostly stronger than regional LSP impacts, e.g., the diabatic process is dominant in the physical processes responsible for daily maximum temperatures, and two first-order physical processes including vertical diffusion largely induce changes in surface wind speed in China. Finally, some aspects for future research are noted. This study provides insights into the research on land–atmosphre interactions at different scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South China, the large quantity of rainfall in the pre-summer rainy season can easily lead to natural disasters, which emphasizes the importance of improving the accuracy of precipitation forecasting during this period for the social and economic development of the region. In this paper, the back-propagation neural network (BPNN) is used to establish the model for precipitation forecasting. Three schemes are applied to improve the model performance: (1) predictors are selected based on individual meteorological stations within the region rather than the region as a whole; (2) the triangular irregular network (TIN) is proposed to preprocess the observed precipitation data for input of the BPNN model, while simulated/forecast precipitation is the expected output; and (3) a genetic algorithm is used for the hyperparameter optimization of the BPNN. The first scheme reduces the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and the root mean square error (RMSE) of the simulation by roughly 5% and more than 15 mm; the second reduces the MAPE and RMSE by more than 15% and 15 mm, respectively, while the third improves the simulation inapparently. Obviously, the second scheme raises the upper limit of the model simulation capability greatly by preprocessing the precipitation data. During the training and validation periods, the MAPE of the improved model can be controlled at approximately 35%. For precipitation hindcasting in the test period, the anomaly rate is less than 50% in only one season, and the highest is 64.5%. According to the anomaly correlation coefficient and Ps score of the hindcast precipitation, the improved model performance is slightly better than the FGOALS-f2 model. Although global climate change makes the predictors more variable, the trend of simulation is almost identical to that of the observed values over the whole period, suggesting that the model is able to capture the general characteristics of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained increasing attention as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Many countries should include electrification of their transport networks in their future smart city plans to ensure environmentally sustainable growth. The number of EVs in metropolitan areas is expected to experience extensive growth. EVs are often considered an alternative to addressing the challenges posed by increasing carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. However, the acceptance of EVs tends to be slow due to concerns such as range anxiety, prolonged charge times, inconvenient charging locations, and inadequate charging infrastructure. To address these challenges, this paper discusses the planning and optimization of EV charging infrastructure based on existing literature. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of publications focusing on EV charging stations. This demonstrates the growing interest and research activity in the field of EV charging infrastructure. Furthermore, the literature is categorized into recurring topics, specifically EV charging planning and optimization for EV charging infrastructure. This particular review paper includes empirical work on charging network planning for EVs. Therefore, this analysis provides the latest trends and findings for EV charging infrastructure planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequencies of liver cirrhosis-associated complications in patients with HCV+ diabetic patients and its association with HbA1C. Study Design: Observational Cross-sectional study. Setting: Medical Wards of Khyber Teaching Hospital. Period: October 2019 to November 2020. Methods: After approval from the hospital ethical committee, all HCV positive diabetic patients were enrolled in the study. Informed consent was obtained and relevant examination was performed. Hematemesis was diagnosed clinically, while venous blood was sent for all routine and relevant specialized investigations. Twenty-four-hour urinary output was calculated. Abdominal ultrasounds and Triphasic CT abdomen were done where required. Data were collected on structurally designed proforma. All data were entered into SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 62 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 49. 23 years ± 11.72 SD. Twenty-three patients (37.1%) were males, while 39 patients (62.9%) were females. Forty-nine patients (79%) were PCR-positive for HCV. Most patients (58.1%) had less than five years duration of HCV. Frequency of SBP was 16.1%, hepatic encephalopathy was 22.6%, ascites was 40.3%, hematemesis was 11.3%, portal vein hypertension was 45.2%, and HCC 3.2%. On poststratification, significant associations emerged with age, where SBP (p <0.01), hepatic encephalopathy (p<0.001), and ascites (p<0.0001), increased with advancing age, while hematemesis (p<0.04) and portal vein hypertension (p<0.04) were more pronounced in younger patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, individuals with both chronic HCV and diabetes mellitus exhibit an increased risk of cirrhosis-related complications. The most common complication was portal vein hypertension followed by ascites and hepatic encephalopathy. The complications like SBP, Hepatic encephalopathy and ascites associated with increasing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to spread and mutate, it remains important to focus not only on preventing spread through vaccination but also on treating infection with direct-acting antivirals (DAA). The approval of Paxlovid, a SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) DAA, has been significant for treatment of patients. A limitation of this DAA, however, is that the antiviral component, nirmatrelvir, is rapidly metabolized and requires inclusion of a CYP450 3A4 metabolic inhibitor, ritonavir, to boost levels of the active drug. Serious drug-drug interactions can occur with Paxlovid for patients who are also taking other medications metabolized by CYP4503A4, particularly transplant or otherwise immunocompromised patients who are most at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe symptoms. Developing an alternative antiviral with improved pharmacological properties is critical for treatment of these patients. By using a computational and structure-guided approach, we were able to optimize a 100 to 250 µM screening hit to a potent nanomolar inhibitor and lead compound, Mpro61. In this study, we further evaluate Mpro61 as a lead compound, starting with examination of its mode of binding to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. In vitro pharmacological profiling established a lack of off-target effects, particularly CYP450 3A4 inhibition, as well as potential for synergy with the currently approved alternate antiviral, molnupiravir. Development and subsequent testing of a capsule formulation for oral dosing of Mpro61 in B6-K18-hACE2 mice demonstrated favorable pharmacological properties, efficacy, and synergy with molnupiravir, and complete recovery from subsequent challenge by SARS-CoV-2, establishing Mpro61 as a promising potential preclinical candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings to light the autobiographical elements of Henrik Ibsen’s life (the limitations faced by him in real life) as dramatized in his plays. This study explores that Ibsen’s plays become an exercise in delving deep into the limitations faced by his near and dear ones as well as by himself. The characters in his plays often mirror his parents, and his own social and psychological sufferings and conflicts. Most of the autobiographical findings in this paper about Ibsen’s life, the limitations he faced in life, and the characters created by him which personify his own self, are based on the comments of different critics, and his biography written by his foremost biographer Michael Meyer. The limitations Ibsen faced, suffered, and portrayed in his plays are his poverty and financial problems, the scar of illegitimacy, his father’s bankruptcy, his cowardliness, his isolation in society, his loveless marriage, his fear of heights, his fears of youth in old age, his attraction to young women, and finally his emotional bankruptcy. This study brings to light all the mentioned autobiographical elements in Ibsen’s plays, how he climbed to the heights of arts and achieved materialistic success, fame, and popularity, yet at the cost of his emotional and spiritual sacrifices. This work will help the readers to find close resemblances between Ibsen’s real life and the characters he produced in his plays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to explore the differences in politeness strategies between Pakistani males and females, using English as their second language, and Native American males and females using English as their first language, specifically in the context of TV talk shows. The study investigates how politeness strategies vary based on gender, language proficiency, and cultural background, with a focus on positive and negative face-saving acts. The research methodology includes a quantitative analysis of twenty English-language TV talk shows from American and Pakistani channels, examining the politeness strategies used by hosts and guests of different genders. Findings of this study suggest that Pakistani speakers, especially males, tend to use more positive face-saving acts in interactions with females, while American speakers exhibit similar patterns but with variations based on cultural norms and language skills. Both cultures establish a preference for maintaining positive face and avoiding negative face-threatening acts, especially in cross gender interactions. The research study adds to what we already know about how language and gender are connected. It gives us new information about how people use politeness when they communicate with each other across different cultures. It also shows us how a person's language skills, their culture, and their gender all affect how they communicate with others. The results have implications for how we can make better communication between people from different languages and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to describe the process for improving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's occupational health and safety standards. To carry out the investigation, researchers employed a secondary data collection approach. It comprised interviews with quality assurance managers and health and safety executives who submitted reports to the department from six chosen secondary level hospitals, as well as an analysis carried out following the examination and analysis of reports, data, and other documents. The findings of this study indicate that the majority of Pakistan's workforce lacks occupational safety and health training and is illiterate. In Pakistan, there are much fewer occupational health doctors and nurses than there are workers overall. This indicates that the nation does not have a formalized system for occupational health. While the state of occupational safety and health (OSH) is typically improving in export-oriented businesses, most of these industries are ill-organized. The impact of a nation's labor force can be fully understood in the midst of an ongoing economic crisis, but even in growing nations like Pakistan, where economic progress is prioritized, circumstances for occupational health and safety remain appalling, as this review has shown. Not only are OHS regulations urgently needed to be strengthened, but methods for putting them into practice as well as increased OHS knowledge, training, and conditions across the nation must be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motorcycle crashes often result in severe injuries on roads that affect people's lives physically, financially, and psychologically. These injuries could be notably harmful to drivers of all age groups. The main objective of this study is to investigate the risk factors contributing to the severity of crash injuries in different age groups. This Objective is achieved by developing accurate machine learning (ML) based prediction models. This research examines the relationship between potential risk factors of motorcycle-associated crashes using (ML) and Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) technique. The SHAP technique further helped interpreting ML methods for traffic injury severity prediction. It indicates the significant non-linear interactions between dependent and independent variables. The data for this study was collected from the Provincial Emergency Response Service RESCUE 1122 for the Rawalpindi region (Pakistan) over three years (from 2017 to 2020). The Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) is employed to balance injury severity classes in the pre-processing phase. The results demonstrate that age, gender, posted speed limit, the number of lanes, and month of the year are positively associated with severe and fatal injuries. This research also assesses how the modeling framework varies between the ML and classical statistical methods. The predictive performance of proposed ML models was assessed using several evaluation metrics, and it is found that Catboost outperformed the XGBoost, Random Forest (RF) and Multinomial Logit (MNL) model. The findings of this study will assist road users, road safety authorities, stakeholders, policymakers, and decision-makers in obtaining substantial and essential guidance for reducing the severity of crash injuries in Pakistan and other countries with prevailing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study comprehensively reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on the relationship between corporate governance and financial distress and provides future research directions. We follow several different approaches by identifying, reviewing, and classifying related articles during the period 1985 to 2021. We used a set of keywords that included a combination of different terms of corporate governance and financial distress. Our review indicates that the majority of the studies based their arguments considering a single theory. The generalizability of different results in less explored countries is a serious concern and the one‐size‐fits‐all approach does not apply to the corporate governance‐financial distress relationship. Several different theories and confounding factors need consideration when examining the relationship between corporate governance and financial distress. Our review highlights future avenues by suggesting that studies should consider different governance attributes and test those factors in different and diverse contexts. Our review of the literature provides implications for academics and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]