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Abstract Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) affects the fate and storage of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems, but its global importance remains uncertain. Accurately modeling and predicting CUE on a global scale is challenging due to inconsistencies in measurement techniques and the complex interactions of climatic, edaphic, and biological factors across scales. The link between microbial CUE and soil organic carbon relies on the stabilization of microbial necromass within soil aggregates or its association with minerals, necessitating an integration of microbial and stabilization processes in modeling approaches. In this perspective, we propose a comprehensive framework that integrates diverse data sources, ranging from genomic information to traditional soil carbon assessments, to refine carbon cycle models by incorporating variations in CUE, thereby enhancing our understanding of the microbial contribution to carbon cycling.

Financial self-efficacy is used as an intermediary variable in this study to examine how Islamic financial literacy affects financial inclusion. The participants in this study are final-semester Muslim economics students. Accidental sampling is the method employed. The response percentage for the 300 questionnaires distributed—181 of which were returned—was 60%. The investigation came to two important conclusions. First, financial inclusion and financial self-efficacy are significantly impacted by Islamic financial literacy. Second, the effect of Islamic financial literacy on financial inclusion is not significant. These findings may have an impact on legislators, service providers, and institutions of higher learning. Islamic finance should be a subject covered in higher education, either as part of the core curriculum or as an elective. To help the consumer better understand the given product information, the service provider should give them comprehensive information. The provision of financial education to certain groups, such as housewives or workers in offices, must be addressed in a number of ways by policymakers.

Abstract Numerical models are crucial to understand and/or predict past and future soil organic carbon dynamics. For those models aiming at prediction, validation is a critical step to gain confidence in projections. With a comprehensive review of ~250 models, we assess how models are validated depending on their objectives and features, discuss how validation of predictive models can be improved. We find a critical lack of independent validation using observed time series. Conducting such validations should be a priority to improve the model reliability. Approximately 60% of the models we analysed are not designed for predictions, but rather for conceptual understanding of soil processes. These models provide important insights by identifying key processes and alternative formalisms that can be relevant for predictive models. We argue that combining independent validation based on observed time series and improved information flow between predictive and conceptual models will increase reliability in predictions.

Macrobenthos animals are an architect of a variety of roles including as a part of the food web of aquatic ecosystem and improve the structure of the sediment and can determine the quality of the water. Macrobenthos communities have shown their potential role in biomonitoring to analyze contaminant loads due to high sensitivity to organic pollutants along the coastal water area. Besides, it is also used to determine heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in coastal water due to their long sustainability with chemicals are primarily related with industrial calamities and occupational activities. Based on above perspectives, this systematic review has shown interesting findings about the macrobenthic diversity including community composition in the coastal areas of Malaysia. The study has focused on the diversity and abundance of macrobenthos communities along some potential coastal areas of Malaysia which emphasis on the states of Johor, Pulau Pinang, Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu, and Sarawak. Several studies have evidently revealed that pollutants and human activities have contributed to loss of macrobenthos towards abundance (individuals/m2) and species richness. The highest abundance of macrobenthos was Coleoptera sp. (1650 ind./m2 followed by Hemiptera sp. (860 ind./m2) were observed in Sarawak and Crustacea sp. (597 ind/m2) was found in Selangor, respectively. While Crustacea (10 ind/m2) was found as the lowest in the coastal water Pahang only. A major shortcoming among the studies was sampling time along with sampling method which was observed in this systematic review of different studies of macrobenthic assemblages in the coastal waters of Malaysia. However, the existing study reveals the baseline information on macrobenthic community which are still inadequate in Malaysia. Hence, a long-term monitoring for eco-biology and species diversity of macrobenthic assemblages are necessary for their sustainable development in this fascinating tropical coastal water of Malaysia.

Determination of the quality of food products is an essential key factor needed for safe-guarding the quality of food for the interest of the consumers, along with the nutritional and sensory improvements that are necessary for delivering better quality products. Bacteriocins are a group of ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides that help in maintaining the quality of food. The implementation of multi-omics approach has been important for the overall enhancement of the quality of the food. This review uses various recent technologies like proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics for the overall enhancement of the quality of food products. The matrix associated with the food products requires the use of sophisticated technologies that help in the extraction of a large amount of information necessary for the amelioration of the food products. This review would provide a wholesome view of how various recent technologies can be used for improving the quality food products and for enhancing their shelf-life.

Fintech is growing at an exponential rate which leads to the emergence of innovative business models. Advanced technologies like Blockchain, internet of things (IoT’s), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics have become mature enough to create disruption in banking and finance industry both conventional and Islamic finance industry. Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, both, offer wide range of Shari'a compliant services. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the potential impact of Fintech on the Islamic banking and finance industry in Brunei and Malaysia. Accordingly, this research deals with the qualitative method to accomplish and fulfill the research objectives. Content analysis and Semi-structured interview approach were employed throughout the research. The results clearly show that Fintech has great potential impact on both conventional and Islamic finance industry. This potential impact is in both ways i.e. positive and negative. And, the response and reaction of Islamic finance industry towards the emergence of Fintech and its potential impact seems very slow as compared to their conventional counterparts. This study has indicated important points which include the necessity for the Islamic financial institution to cope with the growth of Fintech.

Abstract Recently, yield shocks due to extreme weather events and their consequences for food security have become a major concern. Although long yield time series are available in Europe, few studies have been conducted to analyze them in order to investigate the impact of adverse climate events on yield shocks under current and future climate conditions. Here we designated the lowest 10th percentile of the relative yield anomaly as yield shock and analyzed subnational wheat yield shocks across Europe during the last four decades. We applied a data‐driven attribution framework to quantify primary climate drivers of wheat yield shock probability based on machine learning and game theory, and used this framework to infer the most critical climate variables that will contribute to yield shocks in the future, under two climate change scenarios. During the period 1980–2018, our attribution analysis showed that 32% of the observed wheat yield shocks were primarily driven by water limitation, making it the leading climate driver. Projection to future climate scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 suggested an increased risk of yield shock and a paradigm shift from water limitation dominated yield shock to extreme warming induced shocks over 2070–2099: 46% and 54% of areas were primarily driven by extreme warming under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. A similar analysis conducted on yields simulated by an ensemble of crop models showed that models can capture the negative impact of low water supply but missed the impact of excess water. These discrepancies between observed and simulated yield data call for improvement in crop models.

This research paper discusses the concepts of debt in Islam in relation to the category of al-gharimun that entitle for receive zakah. The data from the authority department has shown an alarming increase in number of applicant for zakah under the category of asnaf Al-Gharimun. Why was the number increased and who are actually eligible to receive zakah under the category of Al-Gharimun? This paper tries to answer these questions. The concept of debt in al-Qur’an will be discussed and various discussions by Islamic scholars and researchers will be analysed. Data gathered from several officers of Islamic Religious Council of Brunei Darussalam through personal interviews. The phenomenon was due to misunderstanding and ignorant among the public with regards to what kind of debts that are eligible under the category of Al-Gharimun to receive zakahDOI: 10.15408/aiq.v9i2.5092

The early of the millennium witnesses fast development in Islamic Financial Institutions. Professional practise and Islamic Financial specialist academics have been breathlessly racing to invent new Islamic Financial Institutions innovation in a rushing attempt to fill in all gaps and satisfy every need that may be thought of. The present paper aims at studying the risk management innovation arrangement in Islamic finance as may be derived from the axioms and rulings, especially in relation to the managing the risk. This is necessary to investigate the means and processes of risk management based on the Islamic financial paradigm. Even though, on average the Islamic Financial Institutions have good risk management practices, there is still enough room for Islamic Financial Institutions to improve their risk management system. The introduction of an effective risk management culture in Islamic Financial Institutions will ensure their competitiveness in the financial industry and financial crises.

Abstract Background Alcohol dependence is a significant and costly problem in the UK yet only 6% of people a year receive treatment. Current service provision based on the treatment of acute episodes of illness and emphasising personal choice and motivation results in a small proportion of these patients engaging with alcohol treatment. There is a need for interventions targeted at the population of alcohol dependent patients who are hard to engage in conventional treatment. Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), a model of care based on assertive outreach, has been used for treating patients with severe mental illnesses and presents a promising avenue for engaging patients with primary alcohol dependence. So far there has been little research on this. Methods/Design In this single blind exploratory randomised controlled trial, a total of 90 alcohol dependent participants will be recruited from community addiction services. After completing a baseline assessment, they will be assigned to one of two conditions: (1) ACT plus care as usual, or (2) care as usual. Those allocated to the ACT plus care as usual will receive the same treatment that is routinely provided by services, plus a trained key worker who will provide ACT. ACT comprises intensive and assertive contact at least once a week, over 50% of contacts in the participant's home or local community, and comprehensive case management across social and health care, for a period of one year. All participants will be followed up at 6 months and 12 months to assess outcome post randomisation. The primary outcome measures will be alcohol consumption: mean drinks per drinking day and percentage of days abstinent measured by the Time Line Follow Back interview. Secondary outcome measures will include severity of alcohol dependence, alcohol related problems, motivation to change, social network involvement, quality of life, therapeutic relationship and service use. Other outcome variables are treatment engagement including completion of assessment, detoxification and aftercare. Discussion Results of this trial will help clarify the potential beneficial effects of ACT for people with alcohol dependence and provide information to design a definitive trial. Trial registration number ISRCTN: ISRCTN22775534

Background: Multi-morbidity poses a substantial challenge for health care in an aging population. Recent studies did not provide evidence for general side effects of anti-cancer therapy regarding the growth rate of coincident abdominal aortic aneurysms, although it was suggested that specific therapeutic substances might accelerate growth. Aneurysm pathology, however, differs with respect to localization. Hence, we present the first ever analysis on the association of cancer and cancer therapy with growth alteration of aneurysms of the ascending aorta (AscAA). Patients and methods: A retrospective single-center identification of AscAA+cancer patients was performed in the institutional picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Included were all patients with ≥2 CT angiograms over ≥6 months and additional malignancy. Clinical data and aneurysm diameters were retrieved and analyzed for an association of cancer (stratified by tumor entity) or cancer therapy (stratified by several classes of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy) with annual growth rate, respectively. Statistics included t-test, Wilcoxon test, and a linear regression model accounting for initial AscAA diameter and type of treatment. Results: From 2003 to 2021, 151 patients (median age 70 years; 85% male) with AscAA and coincident 163 malignancies were identified. Prostate (37%) and hematologic cancer (17%) were most frequent. One-hundred-eleven patients (74%) received chemotherapy and 75 patients (50%) had radiation. After exclusion of six patients with an initial AscAA diameter >55 mm, the average annual AscAA growth rate was 0.18±0.64 mm/year, with only 12 patients experiencing a growth rate >1mm/year. Neither tumor entity nor radiation or chemotherapy - alone or in combination - were significantly associated with an alteration of the annual AscAA growth rate. Likewise, a subanalysis for singular chemotherapeutic agents did not reveal a specific association with AscAA growth alteration. Conclusions: Growth rates of AscAA are low in this cohort with coincident malignancy. Cancer and/or chemotherapy or radiation are not associated with an alteration of the annual growth rate. Additional control examinations seem unnecessary.