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Because scripture represents the direct word of God, it is the most sacred source for authority in the scriptural monotheisms. Scripture is conveyed to humanity through extraordinary individuals known as prophets. But if the purported prophet is a false prophet, then the conveyed message is false, resulting in the collapse of the structure upon which religious authority rests. This problem was recognized in the Hebrew Bible, and accusations of flawed prophecy and deceitful prophets figure prominently in relations between the scriptural monotheisms. Jews do not accept the authenticity of Jesus’ role as messiah (and prophet) in the NT, and Jews and Christians do not accept the authenticity of Muhammad’s role as prophet in the Qur’an. But the rejection is unidirectional. As a rule, established religions cannot accept new prophets, while new religions accept the prophets that lived before, though with certain qualifications. Each of the three classic scriptural monotheisms also declares an “end” to prophecy after the canonization of its scripture. Yet despite these deadlines, each acknowledges that God could nevertheless send another prophet, leaving open the wild card for new prophecy, new revelation, and even new religion; within each of the classic scriptural monotheisms, individuals arose after the canonization of scripture who were deemed by many to be prophets or something “like” prophets. This essay presents a preliminary phenomenology of prophethood, around which much of the religious polemics between the scriptural monotheisms are constructed. Full article

Nowadays, it is very important to secure our home perfectly. To make our life easier and more secure, we are presenting our smart door lock system project. We implement an IoT-based smart door lock system using an ESP32-CAM and an Android application in this project. Most of the time in our daily life, we forget to lock our doors and later we suffer from confusion about whether we locked all doors perfectly or not. In this project, we implement a smart door lock system, by which the owner can see the visitor’s picture and then lock or unlock their doors from anywhere and at any time using the Android application. Whenever visitors come to visit the home and press the doorbell, the owner will receive a notification on his/her smartphone and then the owner can see the visitor’s picture by using the Android app. After checking the visitor, the owner can let them enter the house by unlocking the door remotely. If the door is locked perfectly, then the door lock signal in the application will show a green signal. If the door is not locked perfectly, the signal will show red and then the owner can remotely lock their door easily from anywhere. In this project, we have also utilized a theft alert. If anyone comes in front of the door and tries to enter the house forcefully then a theft alert notification will be sent to the owner’s smartphone and a Buzzer Alert will ring in the house loudly so that the neighbors can be aware of the theft and can take action. The automatic door lock feature is also available in this system. Full article

This study examines the influence of outsider CEOs on corporate dividend policies, specifically within the framework of an imputation tax environment, like in Australia. The study analyses 9826 firm-year observations from Australian firms listed on the ASX from 2012 to 2021. The study reveals that outsider CEOs tend to distribute lower dividend payouts; a trend observed even after robustness tests. Methodologically, the study addresses potential endogeneity issues through sophisticated methods like propensity score matching, difference-in-difference approach, and two-stage system generalized method of moments. The findings indicate that firms led by outsider CEOs, particularly those with specialized industry knowledge, are more inclined to invest undistributed profits in capital expenditure projects, reflecting an investment-oriented strategy. This research contributes significantly to understanding the strategic decision-making of outsider CEOs and their impact on dividend policies in specific tax environments. Full article

The diet of Apis mellifera L. is a crucial factor for managing its colonies particularly during dearth periods. Numerous diets have been developed; however, their global implementation faces challenges due to diverse climatic conditions and some other factors. To address this issue, three previously evaluated diets (selected from seven) were tested to assess their effects on A. mellifera using key health biomarkers (immune function, stress response) and performance metrics (foraging activity, honey quality, and social interactions). The experiment was conducted using 12 colonies, including three replications, in The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from June to September 2023. The results revealed that all the tested parameters were significantly affected by diets. Highest phenol-oxidase activity was recorded in T1 (28.7 U/mg). Heat shock protein (HSP) bands showed that T1 had the fewest (Hsp70), while T0 had more bands (Hsp40, Hsp60, and Hsp70), indicating stress differences. In foraging activity, average number of outgoing bees were highest in T1 (81.8) and lowest in T0 (31.2) and similar trend was followed for returning bees, i.e., T1 (81.8) and T0 (31.2). For pollen-carrying bees, the highest bees were counted in T1 (34.9), and the lowest in T0 (4.10). Honey quality was also significantly affected by diets, pH was highest in T1 (3.85), while moisture was highest in T0 (19.44%). Diastase activity, ash content, and electrical conductivity were best in T1 (13.74 units/g, 0.17%, 0.94 mS/cm, respectively). Mineral content was highest in T1 (406.54 mg/kg), and fructose content also peaked in T1 (396.21 mg/kg). Antioxidant contents, total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and ORAC value were highest in T1 (60.50 mg GAE/100 g, 44.41 mg QE/100 g, 10,237.30 µmol TE/g), while T0 consistently showed the lowest values across all parameters. In social interaction experiments, trophallaxis events were most frequent in T1 (7.38), and T1 also exhibited the longest trophallaxis time (5.51 s). The number of bees per trophallaxis event and antennation frequency followed a similar trend, with the highest recorded in T1 (5.16 bees/event, 10.1 antennation frequency) and the lowest in T0 (2.94 bees/event, 4.18 antennation frequency). Therefore, diet-1 (Watermelon juice 20 mL + Fenugreek powder 2 g + Chickpea flour 20 g + Lupin flour 20 g + Mung bean flour 20 g + Yeast 10 g + Powdered sugar 40 g + vegetable oil 10 mL) is recommended as a suitable substitute for managing A. mellifera colonies during dearth periods. Full article

This study documents the comparative financial performance of the Islamic Banking Services Industry (IBSI) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. After drawing the performance evaluation framework (based on the CAMEL framework), the research conducted data analysis of the Islamic Banking Services Industry (IBSI) in the GCC region for 31 quarters (2013Q4–2021Q4). The analysis examines capital adequacy, asset quality, management performance, earnings, and liquidity management. Objectively classified data trends are reported through graphs. Additionally, the research documents internal determinants of financial performance. Findings suggest that the GCC-IBSI has shown overall progress in achieving primary objectives (commercial performance), including healthy capital adequacy, cost control, equity returns, and liquidity management. Capital adequacy, cost control, and liquidity management significantly contribute to financial performance. Managerial implications include cost control, reduction in non-performing loans, and prudent liquidity management. There exist opportunities in the GCC-IBSI for investors, given the mismatch in demand and supply of Islamic financial services. This study contributes to the literature by documenting findings on the achievements of the primary objective of IBSI in multiple GCC-IBSI markets comparatively. Full article

Sustainable groundwater development stands out as a contemporary concern for growing global populations, particularly in stressed riverine arid and semi-arid regions. This study integrated satellite-based (Sentinel-2, ALOS-DEM, and CHIRPS rainfall) data with ancillary lithology and infrastructure datasets using Weight of Evidence (WoE) and Frequency Ratio (FR) models to delineate Groundwater Potential Zones (GWPZs) in the Hangu District, a hydrologically stressed riverine region in northern Pakistan, to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ten key variables, including elevation, slope, aspect, distance to drainage (DD), rainfall, land use/land cover, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, lithology, and road proximity, were incorporated into the Geographic information system (GIS) environment. The FR model outperformed the WoE model, achieving success and prediction rates of 89% and 93%, compared to 82% and 86%. The GWPZs-FR model identified 23% (317 km²) as high potential, located in highly fractured pediment fans below 550 m, with gentle slopes (<5 degrees), DD (within 200 m), and high rainfall in areas of natural trees and vegetation on valley terrace deposits. The research findings significantly support multiple SDGs, with estimated achievement potentials of 37.5% for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 20% for SDG 13 (Climate Action), 15% for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 12.5% for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and notable contributions of 10% for SDG 2 and 5% for SDG 3. This approach provides valuable insights for policymakers, offering a framework for managing groundwater resources and advancing sustainable practices in similar hydrologically stressed regions. Full article

This study analyzes and investigates how financial factors, namely, derivatives, debt shifting, and transfer pricing, influence tax avoidance, with financial distress as an interaction variable, within the framework of stakeholder theory and positive accounting theory. Adding more uniqueness, this study injected the Maqasid Syariah elements into the framework. Conventional banks and non-bank institutions listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) between 2017 and 2022 were selected, comprising 414 final company-year observations. The study utilized E-Views software for data processing. The findings indicate that debt shifting negatively impacts tax avoidance, while derivatives have no significant influence. Transfer pricing positively impacts tax avoidance. Financial distress does not moderate the relationship between these financial practices and tax avoidance. From an Islamic perspective, practices such as transfer pricing and debt shifting, when used to avoid tax, contradict the principles of Maqasid Syariah, which emphasize fairness, wealth distribution, and societal welfare. Full article

Participation in PPG Daljab is essential for improving the performance of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) teachers and promoting internal quality assurance within teacher training institutes (LPTKs). However, how can we effectively assess participation, particularly for individual teachers? This quantitative study investigates the impact of in-service teacher education programs on PAI teachers’ competencies using individual self-assessment. This study involved 255 PAI teachers from three LPTKs under the Ministry of Religious Affairs: UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Teachers’ competencies were measured across four dimensions: pedagogical, personality, social, and professional competence. The findings indicate that the PPG program effectively supported the self-development of PAI teachers who have obtained professional certification. The PPG program enhanced teachers’ competencies across all dimensions, with the most significant improvement in personality competence. However, in the professional dimension, areas such as learning evaluation and the use of technology and digital learning require further strengthening post-PPG program. This article provides recommendations for stakeholders to develop continuing professional education programs following the PPG program, taking into consideration PAI teachers’ lack of competence. Full article

Intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) is a fundamental characteristic of breast cancer (BC), influencing tumor progression, prognosis, and therapeutic responses. However, the complexity of ITH in BC makes its accurate characterization challenging. This study leverages deep learning (DL) techniques to comprehensively evaluate ITH in early-stage luminal BC and provide a nuanced understanding of its impact on tumor behavior and patient outcomes. A large cohort (n = 2561) of early-stage luminal BC was evaluated using whole slide images (WSIs) of hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides of excision specimens. Morphological features of both the tumor and stromal components were meticulously annotated by a panel of pathologists in a subset of cases. A DL model was applied to develop an algorithm to assess the degree of heterogeneity of various morphological features per individual case utilizing defined patches. The results of extracted features were used to generate an overall heterogeneity score that was correlated with the clinicopathological features and outcome. Overall, 162 features were quantified and a significant positive correlation between these features was identified. Specifically, there was a significant association between a high degree of intra-tumor heterogeneity and larger tumor size, poorly differentiated tumors, highly proliferative tumors, tumors of no special type (NST), and those with low estrogen receptor (ER) expression. When all features are considered in combination, a high overall heterogeneity score was significantly associated with parameters characteristic of aggressive tumor behavior, and it was an independent predictor of poor patient outcome. In conclusion, DL models can be used to accurately decipher the complexity of ITH and provide extra information for outcome prediction. Full article

This paper aims to develop an optimisation-based price bid generation mechanism for the sellers and buyers in a double-auction-aided peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading market. With consumers being prosumers through the continuous adoption of distributed energy resources, P2P energy trading models offer a paradigm shift in energy market operation. Thus, it is essential to develop market models and mechanisms that can maximise the incentives for participation in the P2P energy market. In this sense, the proposed approach focuses on maximising profit at the sellers, as well as maximising cost savings at the buyers. The bids generated from the proposed approach are integrated with three different market clearing mechanisms, and the corresponding market clearing prices are compared. A numerical analysis is performed on a real-life dataset from Ausgrid to demonstrate the bids generated from sellers/buyers, as well as the associated market clearing prices throughout different months of the year. It can be observed that the market clearing prices are lower when the solar generation is higher. The statistical analysis demonstrates that all three market clearing mechanisms can achieve a consistent market clearing price within a range of 5 cents/kWh for 50% of the time when trading takes place. Full article

This article examines the conceptions of divine revelation held by two prominent figures in Islamic thought, Ibn Sīnā and Al-Ghazālī, through a comparative lens within the context of metaphysical and epistemological processes. Ibn Sīnā views divine revelation as a metaphysical process occurring at the highest level of intellect. According to him, divine revelation is an abstract reflection of divine knowledge transmitted to the prophet’s imaginative faculty through the Active Intellect. This process, explained within a philosophical framework, is grounded in the development of human intellectual capacity. In contrast, Ghazālī defines divine revelation as a mystical experience and considers it a divine encounter beyond the limits of human reason. For Ghazālī, divine revelation manifests as an expression of God’s attribute of speech and occurs solely by divine will. Moreover, this experience cannot be fully comprehended by reason. Ghazālī’s approach, imbued with Sufi depth, regards divine revelation as an integral part of spiritual growth. This article explores the fundamental similarities and differences between these two thinkers’ understandings of divine revelation and metaphysics. By analyzing how Ibn Sīnā’s reason-based approach intersects and diverges from Ghazālī’s intuition and inspiration-based Sufi approach, this study provides an in-depth examination of how the concept of divine revelation has been shaped within Islamic theology and philosophy, highlighting the contributions of both thinkers to the discourse on divine revelation. Full article

The inability to accurately predict the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) among open-heart surgery patients leads to concerning increases in POCD cases. Preoperative circulating biomarkers are important to identify as they are non-invasive and could provide an early prediction of POCD development, allowing for earlier and more strategized interventions. However, to date, no robust circulating biomarkers have proven effective for preoperative POCD prediction. This systematic review aims to synthesize current evidence on preoperative protein profiling among POCD patients following open-heart surgery. Thus, a thorough literature search employing PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Science Direct was carried out. This combination of keywords was used as part of the search strategy: (“Postoperative cognitive decline” OR “Postoperative cognitive disorders” OR “Postoperative cognitive dysfunction” OR “Postoperative cognitive complications”) AND (“Thoracic Surgery” OR “Cardiac Surgery” OR “Heart Surgery”) AND (“Protein expression” OR proteomic OR “Protein profiling”). Eight hundred and twenty-nine studies were retrieved and only clinical studies reporting the circulating preoperative differentially expressed Proteins (DEPs) in the POCD patients were selected. Six studies were selected following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only one preoperative DEP and four immediate postoperative DEPs were extracted from the studies. All four proteins were selected for analysis using DAVID, STRING, and Cytoscape software. Due to the very low number of proteins, no clusters have been identified. This systematic review demonstrates the lack of POCD preoperative biomarkers for open-heart-surgery patients. Thus, it is suggested that more studies can be conducted to fill this gap. Full article

Supernumerary B chromosomes (Bs) have been documented in over 2000 species across the plant, animal, and fungal kingdoms, representing one of the most intriguing components of the genome that have consistently garnered significant attention in the past. These Bs form a distinct category of chromosomes that are not deemed essential. While coexisting with the standard set of chromosomes in an organism, the copy numbers of Bs can vary among individuals within a population or even among cells within a single organism. Multiple processes, including chromosomal rearrangement, uneven segregation, chromatid non-disjunction, and deletion in specific regions, lead to the formation of the Bs from the A chromosome. These dispensable Bs possess their own genetic content and do not undergo recombination with A chromosomes. Although various roles of Bs in breeding have been explored in the literature, their specific role in wheat improvement remains unclear. The understanding of their origins, composition, and evolutionary history in wheat is still incomplete. Therefore, this review discusses the current knowledge of the genetic makeup of Bs, their functions, their relationship with A chromosomes, and the morphogenetic consequences in the context of wheat. Full article

The present article considers the intersection between genre and covenant in scripture in order to locate historical covenants and to trace their complex textual boundaries. Standing on the shoulders of Smith, Wellhausen, and Gunkel, the joint legacy left behind by Martin and Albrecht Noth is equally significant for both Biblical and Islamic studies. Nothian scholarship laid solid foundations for reconstructing the history of tribal traditions. Both of them together created a common frame of reference for studying primary and secondary themes (Themen), literary and documentary forms (Formen), introductory and concluding formulas (Formeln), and theological and political perspectives (Tendenzen), in addition to geographical, transitional, and framing devices (Schemata). In spite of this shared scholarly heritage, it appears that both Biblical and Qurʾānic studies have either been talking at cross-purposes or have reached a critical crossroads, as has happened in the case of covenant. All things considered, genre and tradition criticism allow us to move forward beyond the Methodenstreit in covenant studies. Full article