99 research outputs found
Correction to: Understanding the process of meanings, materials, and competencies in adoption of mobile banking
No full textCorrection to: Electronic Markets (2022) 32: pp.2445-2469: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-022-00610-7. The original article was published on 28 November 2022. In the original article the affiliation of authors Wilson Ozuem, Kerry Howell and Silvia Ranfagni are missing. Given here are the complete affiliations.
Muhammad Naeem: School of Business & Management, Arden University, Arden House, Coventry, CV3 4FJ, UK.
Wilson Ozuem: Institute of Business, Leadership and Industry, University of Cumbria, Lancaster, LA1 1QD, UK.
Kerry Howell: Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK.
Silvia Ranfagni: Department of Economics and Business, University of Florence, Via delle Pandette, 9, Florence, 50127, Italy.
Corresponding author: Correspondence to Muhammad Naeem
RETRACTED ARTICLE: In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility study of polyacrylate TiO2@Ag coated nanoparticles for the radiation dose enhancement
No full textWe, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article:Ateeque Ur Rehman, Muhammad Hassan, Sadia Bano, Khizir Farooq, Aun Raza & Muhammad Naeem Anjum (2021) In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility study of polyacrylate TiO2@Ag coated nanoparticles for the radiation dose enhancement. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 49(1), 185–193, DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2021.1889574Since publication, concerns were raised about the methods and some images in this article. Specifically, some images in Figure 7 have been duplicated and rotated. When approached for an explanation, the authors were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for this. The corresponding author has been informed of our decision to retract.We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions.The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”
Calicnemia fortis Dow, Zia, Naeem & Rafi, 2014, sp. nov.
No full textCalicnemia fortis sp. nov. (Figs. 1 – 7) Type material. Holotype: ♂ (ODO/ZYG/ 217), Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Noseri, 11 v 2005, leg. S. A. Zia, deposited in the National Insect Museum, Islamabad, Pakistan. Paratype: ♂ (ODO/ZYG/ 218), data as holotype. Etymology. The species is named fortis, an adjective, meaning robust, referring to the strong build and relatively large size of the species. Description of holotype male. Head: labium dark brown. Labrum black, clypeus black except for 2 small pale, widely separated spots on postclypeus. Mandible bases black. Genae dark brown adjacent to mandible bases, elsewhere dark with irregular pale markings. An indistinct pale area at junction of frons and clypeus, frons otherwise matte black, vertex and occiput same, antennae with scape and pedicel black with brown sections at top, flagellum missing. Ocelli yellowish. Thorax (Fig. 1): Prothorax matte black with grey pruinesence covering most of propleuron, anterior lobe of pronotum and lateral anterior part of middle lobe. Synthorax matte black except for a narrow irregular yellowish stripe on metepisternum, broadest near legs where extending slightly onto mesepimeron, running above and over spiracle, tapering toward but not reaching antealar carina. A broad, irregular yellow stripe occupies much of metepimeron. Legs with coxae pale with obscure dark areas anteriorly and laterally, otherwise mostly dark brown and black with sparse grey pruinosity on trochanters and femora. Wings (Figs. 2 – 3) with 5 postquadrangular cells in Fw, 4 in Hw. 18 Px in Fw, 16 (left) and 15 (right) Px in Hw. Pt pale, covering ca 2 underlying cells, approximately rhombic, but with costal side a little shorter than anal side. Abdomen: S 1 black dorsally, laterally mostly yellow. S 2 mostly black with obscure rusty red markings in apical two thirds. S 3 – 6 red, darkening with each successive segment, black behind posterior carina dorsally and in upper part laterally. S 7 dark red dorsally except at apical extremity, same colour lower laterally, with a poorly defined black stripe between, except in basal ca one-fifth. S 8 black with obscure dark red markings lower laterally and in basal half dorsally. S 9 black except for apical red lower lateral mark. S 10 black. Genital ligula (Fig. 4) typical for group 2 Calicnemia, terminal segment with two broad apical lobes, almost square at ends. Anal appendages of typical form for the genus, as shown in Figs. 5–7 with interior ventral tooth located basally on cercus, bifurcated terminally. Measurements (mm): Abdomen without anal appendages 37, paraprocts ca 1.5; Hw 28.5. Female. Unknown. Variation in paratype male. The paratype male (Fig. 8) does not differ from the holotype in any significant way except that two full length pruinose antehumeral stripes are present, and there is more extensive pruinosity on the prothorax and laterally on the synthorax. Additionally abdominal S 1 – 2 are largely pruinose grey. Measurements (mm): Abdomen without anal appendages 35; Hw 28.5; 18 Px in Fw, 14 (right) or 16 (left) Px in Hw. Diagnosis. A robust group 2 Calicnemia with synthorax black with yellow lateral marks and abdomen with S 2 – 7 wholly or partly red. Separated from all other species of group 2 of Calicnemia except C. hasik Wilson & Reels, 2003, C. mortoni (Laidlaw, 1917), C. nipalica Kimmins, 1958, C. pulverulans (Selys, 1886) and C. rectangulata Laidlaw, 1932 by the black mesepisternum lacking antehumeral markings or with only pruinose blue antehumeral markings. Distinguished from C. pulverulans by the entirely black abdomen and the more rounded ends of the lobes of the terminal segment of the ligula of that species. Distinguished from C. hasik by more extensive red colouration on the abdomen, broader lobes of the terminal segment of the ligula and shorter tooth on the cercus in lateral view. C. rectangulata differs in the extent of the red markings in the abdomen and in having a much larger tooth on the cercus, very prominent in lateral view. C. nipalica has the terminal segment of the ligula deeply divided. C. mortoni has a longer but less broad tooth on the cercus and the terminal segment of the ligula deeply divided. Remarks. In his PhD thesis (Zia 2010) the second author gave this species a name, Indocnemis ahmedi, and presented a (composite) description, but also issued a disclaimer, citing article 8.2 of the International code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 2012), to the effect that “description of new species i.e. Indocnemis ahmedi provided in this dissertation is not issued for public and permanent scientific record or for purposes of zoological nomenclature”. The name ahmedi is therefore not available; in any case it would not have been available because no holotype was designated (article 16.4.1). Calicnemis fortis was found flying within tall grassy vegetation around an open spring which runs into a fast flowing stream. Calicnemia eximia was common at the same site. Unfortunately following the devastating earthquake in October 2005 the spring at the type locality dried up, and the species has not been relocated in that area despite repeated searches by the second author in the following three years. However, Zia (2010) lists two additional males from a location in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. These specimens have not been seen by the first author and in the view of the second author might represent a different species, because they differ quite substantially in colouration and some other characters as well; therefore they are left out of consideration here. The species should be searched for not just in neighbouring regions of Pakistan, but also in the neighbouring Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In life the markings on the abdomen were pinkish red, becoming darker on S 6–7; in the holotype they have faded considerably with preservation. The colour of the paratype male (Fig. 8) is better preserved than that of the holotype, as is the extensive pruinosity on the thorax and abdominal S 1–2. In the holotype there is no indication of any antehumeral markings, but pruinose antehumeral stripes are present in the paratype. Possibly, as is the case in males of some other Calicnemia species, e.g. C. soccifera Yu & Chen, 2013, yellow antehumeral markings are present in immature individuals but later these markings become completely pruinose (Yu & Chen 2013). In the case of C. fortis, possibly the underlying marking fades completely, leading to the condition now seen in the holotype. Calicnemia fortis comes closest to C. pulverulans, from which it differs principally in the colour of the abdomen and details of the genital ligula. Calicnemia pulverulans has been recorded as far west as the Nanda Devi Bisophere Reserve in Uttar Pradesh, India (Kumar 1997), but this is more than 600 km from the type locality of C. fortis. Differences from C. pulverulans and other species most closely resembling the available material of C. fortis are given in the diagnosis. Considering the remaining species in group 2 of Calicnemia, C. fortis males are easily separated from those of C. chaseni (Laidlaw in Campion & Laidlaw, 1928), C. miles (Laidlaw, 1917), C. miniata (Selys, 1886), C. chaoi Wilson, 2004, and C. zhuae Zhang & Yang, 2008, which have bright red or orange antehumeral stripes as well as differences in the anal appendages and genital ligula; uniquely in the genus C. chaoi possesses amber wings (Wilson 2004). Of three Chinese species with males possessing yellow or pruinosed antehumeral stripes: C. gulinensis Yu & Bu, 2008, C. porcata Yu & Bu, 2008 and C. soccifera, C. soccifera has the terminal segment of the genital ligula with much narrower lobes and legs with a red or yellow femur contrasting with a black tibia. Calicnemia gulinensis has an orange abdomen and far more extensive pale markings on labrum and clypeus and C. porcata differs in the colouration of the head, details of the tooth on the cercus and in the ligula, which bears a distinctive ridge centrally on the terminal segment, and has the lobes almost square ended. This leaves two species that have not been placed in either of Lieftinck’s groups within Calicnemia; these are dealt with below. The species group to which C. uenoi Asahina, 1997, from Vietnam belongs is unclear because Asahina provided no illustration of the ligula. Asahina (1997: 22) stated that C. uenoi is “One of the typical Calicnemia species...”, but judging from the illustrations it seems atypical in the form of the tooth on the cercus, a narrow median spine rather than the robust tooth, normally with a bifid tip, and typically placed more basally, that is usual in Calicnemia. The type series of C. uenoi was deposited in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan, but at the present time it cannot be located (Akihiko Sasamoto and Takuya Kiyoshi, personal communication). However, in the collection of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (RMNH), Leiden, there is a male labelled as C. uenoi from the area of the type locality, donated from the collection of Matti Hämäläinen and originally collected by Haruki Karube. It is difficult to reconcile the anal appendages of the RMNH specimen with Asahina’s illustrations, and this specimen seems close to C. hasik. When describing C. hasik, Wilson & Reels (2003: 266) commented on Asahina’s description of C. uenoi and, understandably, concluded that their species was distinct; the RMNH specimen suggests that further study of this matter is needed. It is to be hoped that the type series of C. uenoi will become available in the near future. In any case, C. uenoi as illustrated by Asahina is clearly distinguished from C. fortis by the form and position of the tooth on the cercus, and C. hasik and the RMNH specimen differ from C. fortis in the details of the ligula, anal appendages and colouration. Calicnemia sudhaae Mitra, 1994, known from Mizoram in northeast India and which is said (Mitra 2002) to resemble C. pulverulans, does not appear to have been assigned to either species group within Calicnemia. This species is illustrated in Mitra (2002: figs. 54-56) where the ligula appears to have ribbon-like flagellae, an impression confirmed by the text “flagella one pair, long ribbon like with pointed apex” (Mitra 2002: 56). Therefore C. sudhaae belongs to group 1 of Calicnemia and need not be considered further here. The large size and long wing length of this species partly accounts for the high count of postquadrangular cells in C. fortis, a character that Fraser (1933), following Laidlaw (1917), used to separate Calicnemia from Indocnemis Laidlaw, 1917. Recent authors have seldom or never given counts of the postquadrangular cells in their descriptions of Calicnemia species, but the illustration of the Hw of C. chaoi shows 4 postquadrangular cells (Wilson 2004: 429, fig. 21). Lieftinck (1977: 20, 22) stated that C. miniata males from northern India and Nepal examined have 3 – 4 postquadrangular cells and that even the holotype male of C miles has 3 – 3 - 1 / 2 postquadrangular cells. In fact the wing photograph of C. pulverulans in Laidlaw (1917: plate XV, fig. 3), the same publication where Indocnemis was described and where the count of postquadrangular cells was first used to distinguish Calicnemia from Indocnemis, shows almost 4 postquadrangular cells in the left Fw. It is to be hoped that these examples will finally lay to rest the idea that the count of postquadrangular cells is a character of value for distinguishing Calicnemia from related genera. With the addition of C. fortis, Calicnemia consists of 22 named species, unless C. pyrrhosoma Lieftinck, 1984 is recognised; this name persists on some world Odonata checklists although it was established as a junior synonym of C. doonensis Sangal & Tyagi, 1984 by Hämäläinen (1989). Yu & Bu (2008) commented on the extent of variability of markings with age and possibly location in C. sinensis Lieftinck, 1984, and geographical variation in markings may occur in other species, so that caution is needed in separating species based entirely on colour patterns. However, structural differences in ligula and caudal appendages are also often subtle, rendering Calicnemia a difficult genus to work on. As noted by Yu & Chen (2013), some of the Chinese species “seem to be closely related, and more detailed studies are needed to clarify their true relationships”; we can only extend this statement to the whole genus.Published as part of Dow, Rory A., Zia, Ahmed, Naeem, Muhammad & Rafi, Muhammad Ather, 2014, Calicnemia fortis sp. nov. from Pakistan (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae), pp. 338-342 in Zootaxa 3869 (3) on pages 338-342, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3869.3.7, http://zenodo.org/record/22935
ENGLISH-MARK GABRIEL’S CRITIQUE OF ISLAM: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE HISTORICAL CLAIMS, RELIGIOUS COMPARISONS, AND THEIR SOCIO-POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
No full textThe article performs a critical evaluation of writings by Mark A. Gabriel especially his perspectives on interfaith connections and Islamic beliefs. Gabriel, turned outspoken critic of Islam, has authored works like Jesus and Muhammad: Through his collection Islam and Terrorism and Islam and the Jews and Jesus and Muhammad: Profound Differences and Surprising Similarities, Mark A. Gabriel uses his platform to demonstrate how Islam fosters violent teachings and systematic repression. Gabriel's Islamic historical readings face widespread opposition because his critics believe his interpretation methods reveal biases and simplifications between Islam and Christianity. The author studies Gabriel's literary works while analyzing contextual evolution and key plotlines and analyzes their influence on societal perspective alongside their effect on religious cross-cultural conversations. Both Western reception of Islam through Gabriel's works and their role in creating Islamophobia combine to promote stereotypes that restrict true interfaith understanding
Assessment of morphological and biochemical characteristics of common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) accessions
No full textCommon purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), is both a wild plant and a weed, and is also recognized for its edible and nutritional value. This study determined morphological and biochemical characteristics of 25 accessions of common purslane. Seeds of the accessions were collected from various locations in Turkiye. The experiment was done four times; two repeats of it were used for recording morphological data while the other two were used for biochemical analysis. Results showed that the accessions BT-Altinkulak, Assem, and Yerli were respectively recorded for the highest plant height, root fresh weight, and plant fresh weight. The highest moisture content (95.14 %) and leaf fresh weight (39.18 g) were exhibited in the Yerli accession. Root length for all the accessions ranged from 18.2 to 30 cm. For biochemical characterization, the highest total phenolic content was found in accession Yagmur (685.4 mg AEE 100-1) while the highest total flavonoid content was found in Assya (0.569 mg mL-1). Anthocyanin was found the highest in Agr Tohum (1.09 mu g mL-1). Cookies were prepared from a mix of common purslane accessions with three different leaf powder quantities i.e., 10 g, 20 g, and 30 g. In product development, cookies with 10 g common purslane powder were found to be the best for all sensory characteristics. Results showed that common purslane accessions are a rich source of various bioactive compounds and have highly diverse morphological and biochemical traits. This diversity among common purslane accessions will assist plant breeding programs in future for the domestication of this wild plant.TUBITAKThis study was a part of the Ph.D. thesis work of 1st author Muhammad Yasir Naeem, and he also acknowledge the TUBITAK for providing scholarship during the Ph.D. (for living expenses) under the program of Bibed 2215
Estimating Recurrence Intervals of Extreme Rainfall Through a Probabilistic Modeling Approach for Different Urban Cities of Pakistan
No full textExtreme rainfall events give rise to severe flooding in Pakistan and their increasing magnitude have an extremely detrimental impact on the urban infrastructure. This work is an attempt to estimate the recurrence intervals of extreme rainfalls for the period 1981-2010 using extreme value theory through probabilistic modeling for different urban cities (Skurdu, Muzaffarabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi) of Pakistan. We use four models [generalized extreme value (GEV), Frechet, Weibull and Gumbel maximum] based on the extremal type theorem, among which the GEV distribution appears to be the best fitted model. Calculations reveal that among the considered urban cities, Muzaffarabad and Skurdu have the highest (129 mm) and lowest amount (41mm) of daily rainfall for the 5-year recurrence interval, respectively. The estimated 5-year recurrence interval for Lahore is 100 mm, while for Quetta, Peshawar and Karachi it is more than 50 mm. The aim of this paper is to present a contemporary statistical view of this problem
Tablet use : An empirical investigation of a learning situation
No full textOur empirical study falls under the domain of tablet computer use in a learning environment for higher education. We investigated various opportunities which employed iPad use in higher education. This included the reading of a syllabus and writing notes in terms of usability and interaction design, and how that can change the way we study today. We also looked into how we can make the current syllabus interactive and innovative based upon the ideas and findings from our study.
The collection of empirical data was conducted in a University involving a team of researchers and students from the geosciences field of study. Our research model is based upon both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, which involves observation, surveys, interviews, and focus groups. The raw data has been analyzed, compared, and transcribed. Patterns were discovered in the data enabling the drawing of conclusions and discussion about student perceptions, and use of tablets in their essential tasks.
Our findings show how tablets should be integrated in higher education with a digitalized syllabus. It also shows the strength and weakness of tablet technology over pen and paper, and how we can implement those findings to create a new way of interaction with a syllabus where the learning factor is emphasized
Uncovering the Enablers, Benefits, Opportunities and Risks for Digital Open Government (DOG): Enablers, Benefits, Opportunities and Risks for DOG
No full textThe systematic review approach has been used to collect, examine, interpret, and synthesize research regarding enablers, challenges, opportunities, risks, and the usefulness of open government. The current review adopted the meta-synthesis approach to conduct the systematic review on 61 selected research papers. The study has covered the enablers for such initiatives and how governments of various countries can achieve open government benefits like lower level of corruption, higher level of public awareness and education, high level of transparency, more democratic control, improve efficiency and effectiveness of public services, and improve public services. The author has extracted various risks and challenges that obstruct open government efforts from getting their full potential. The study is helpful for policymakers of those countries who are planning to implement an open government system in their countries. However, a cooperation bias is one of the most considerable limitations in research studies that are included in this systematic literature review. Copyright © 2019, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited
Structure and Performance of Commercial Banks in Pakistan
No full textCommercial banks undertake business of risk in an environment of asymmetric information. This is why, the industrial economists who are interested in theory of incomplete information and principal-agent framework have found the banking industry a promising field of research. There are number of studies on the behavior of commercial banks in various countries under structure-conduct-performance paradigm of industrial economics. However, there is hardly one in the context of Pakistan. This study attempted to analyze the structure and performance of commercial banks in Pakistan under the framework of industrial organization.commercial banks; Pakistan; Structure conduct performance;
Intellectual property laws and Islam in Malaysia.
No full textPhDThis study is undertaken on the premise that Islam and Islamic law is to be taken into
serious consideration in any future legislative reform of laws in Malaysia. Islam being
the religion of the country and the strong religious sentiment of the Muslims (who
form the majority in Malaysia) cannot be overlooked or dismissed lightly by the
legislators in Malaysia. Reformation of intellectual property laws is timely, as we are
now approaching to the dateline set by GATF-Trips agreement which aim is to
improve our standard of intellectual property protection. This study seeks to analyze
and evaluate the current legislation pertaining to intellectual property in Malaysia in
terms of the philosophy and rules governing the existence, ownership and exercise of
these rights and their consistency and inconsistency with Islam and Islamic law. The
main objective of this study is to prove that a coherent and logical conceptual
framework of ownership of intellectual property can be derived from an Islamic
perspective which not only offers the basis of rights but also defines the scope of
these rights. From the point of ownership of rights, support can be obtained from the
normative framework of property rights within the traditional classification of 'mal'
(property) and 'haqq al-milkiyyah' (ownership rights) under Islamic law. From the
point of exercise of rights, the exact scope can be defined from the analysis of
fundamental concepts which have been developed by Muslim jurists. It has been
established that Islam and Islamic law offers a sound and systematic paradigm, which
in deeper analysis, can satisfy both our current obligations under international
treatises, as well as our responsibility to practise our religion to the fullest
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