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This intervention is by a collective of scholars working on various facets of urbanisation in Asia. Focusing on the notion of arrangements/re‐arrangements, it seeks to extend the consideration of urban politics as a matter of surges, a provisional consolidation of intensities, inhabitants and their practices, affiliations and orientations that give rise to continuously mutating forms of sense, care, and collective action. Whereas the work and effects of institutions, with their genealogies, remits, and competencies, are to a large extent specifiable according to their operating norms and the various regulatory frameworks that govern their operations, the dispositions of arrangements – what they do, what they actually bring about – are not readily definable or clear, enacting a form of performative ambiguity. Involving workarounds, collaborations, exchanges, and agreements that exceed the familiar protocols of interaction among households, local authorities, markets, civil institutions, brokers, and service providers, arrangements entail the enactment of caring, provisioning, regulating, mapping, and steering as the purview of more provisional, incessantly mutating forms that fold in bits and pieces of discernible institutions. In this heuristic intervention we seek to further the 'urbanisation' of urban geography itself, in the sense of complexifying both the terrain and the methodological practices brought to bear. It attempts to open a way of speaking about urbanisation processes that exceed binary formulations, countervailing scales, or structural absences to encompass a broader range of processes at work in shaping dispositions that are materialised or simply potentiated. It proceeds from a process of collective composition whose objective is to diversify the working tools of urban analysis rather than simply offering new conceptual formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the utilization of response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the engine performance and exhaust emission parameters of a compression ignition (CI) engine which operate using neat Hermetia illucens larvae oil (HILO) blends of 25, 50, 75, and 100% named as B25, B50, B75, and B100. The engine testing experiments were operated at different engine loads for each fuel blends and at 25 different experimental conditions. The brake power and brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) of HILO-diesel fuel blends were almost similar with diesel fuel while the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) was slightly increased. Furthermore, NOx emissions decreased with HILO addition. However CO, CO2, and UHC emissions increased. Optimization of independent variables was achieved via the RSM desirability approach with the aim of maximizing performance and minimizing emissions parameters. Therefore, the engine performance and emissions parameters for various HILO-diesel fuel blends were observed nearly similar to diesel fuel. An engine load of 92.72% and a blend of 6.43% of HILO with 93.57% diesel fuel were observed to be an optimum input point. The finding of this investigation exposed that at optimum input point, the values of the brake power, BMEP, BSFC, BTE, CO, CO2, UHC, and NOx were found to be 3.21 kW, 399.70 kPa, 0.071 mg/J, 27.26, 0.024, 5.30%, 0.62 ppm, and 537.93 ppm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hermetia illucens larvae oil (HILO) is among biofuel feedstock from insects that has high potential to reduce dependency on petroleum resources. The present paper is motivated by the need to critically examine the effect of HILO mixed with diesel fuel (DF) on combustion, engine performance, and emission characteristics of a single cylinder direct injection (DI) compression ignition (CI) engine. The experiment was performed at a constant speed of 1500 rpm under various engine loads. The results revealed that the in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate (HRR), and the ignition delay (ID) were reduced by an average of 3.32%, 12.89%, and 4.36%, respectively. The brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and exhaust gas temperature (EGT) increased considerably at all engine loads. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) was discovered to be lower by 11.47% compared to DF. The finding also shows that carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) emissions increased with the addition of HILO. The nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission reduced by 19.80% compared to DF at all the engine loads. Overall, this study concluded the potential of HILO in CI engine as a promising renewable and environmentally friendly resource for the better earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research re-examines the structured financing involving two waqf real estate development projects in Singapore and the issuance of musharakah bonds in 2001 and 2002. This study seeks to address how and why the financing was structured. Moreover, the research had no influence over the behavioural events surrounding these transactions and that the projects are both contemporary in nature. The methodology involves case study research, including documentary and content analysis of selected materials. In terms of analytical generalization and external validity, we adopt the framework of the Islamic normative theory of profit. The study finds that despite the noble intention of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) to issue musharakah bonds in developing the waqf properties in assessing substance over form, they do not satisfy the conditions relating to a valid contract and lawful income. Accordingly, we recommend an alternative mechanism for the future development of waqf projects, structured on the basis of a real estate investment trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few centuries, there have been numerous attempts to find suitable methods that would help blind people read and write, thus improving their quality of life. At present, Louis Braille (1809-1852 CE) is probably the best-known inventor creating a writing system known as “The Braille Language” that aids the blind to read and write. Consequently, one question arises: Was Louis Braille the first one to invent the language for the blind, or did others precede him to that? Using descriptive analytical approach, this research aims to present three inventions by three Muslim scholars who created methods for the blind to read and write. The first of which dates to the 5th century A.H. (1009-1106 CE), i.e., seven centuries before Louis Braille’s attempt. After reviewing and studying the relevant literature, the study concluded that like Braille, all three Muslim scholars used the sense of touch to achieve this goal. The first, Muhammad bin Abdul Warith (d. 5th century A.H.)created embossed figures from pitch analogous to the Arabic alphabetical letters to teach his blind son read and write. Second, Zein-Eddine Al-Amidy, (d. 712 A.H. / 1312 CE) a blind Muslim scholar, fashioned paper-made letters to read, write, and remember the prices of his books. Third, Wazir Al-Sarraj (d. 1149 A.H. / 1736 CE), another Muslim scholar, created waxed letters for his blind teacher to help him read and write. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, insect biofuel from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil was investigated as a potential alternative fuel in a single cylinder direct injection compression ignition (CI) engine. The neat of BSFL oil and its blends (B25, B50, B75, and B100) were utilized in the engine, in order to identify its combustion, performance, and emission characteristics. This was followed by an experimental performance at a constant speed with variable engine loads. The result showed a slight decrease by 3.28% in the cylinder pressure, with an 8.21% reduction in brake thermal efficiency; while an increment in the brake specific fuel consumption was noticed. Furthermore, there was a decreasing trend of about 19.62% and 1.84% in NO x and O 2 respectively. Nevertheless, an increase in CO, CO 2 , HC, and exhaust gas temperature was also discovered. It could be concluded that, the BSFL oil possesses a high potential to be utilized as an alternative fuel for CI engines in the future. • Insect biofuel is produced from black soldier fly larvae oil. • The cylinder pressure and brake thermal efficiency were lowered by 3.28% and 8.21%. • The brake specific fuel consumption was 47.57% higher than diesel fuel. • Nitrogen oxides indicate improvement by 19.62% as compared to diesel fuel. • Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions increased with addition of BSFL oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]