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The fabrication and characterization of a hydrogel-based conductometric sensor have been carried out. The purpose of this research is to fabricate a small robust hydrogel-based conductometric sensor for real-time monitoring of pH in the physiological range.

A pH-responsive Chitosan/Gelatin composite hydrogel has been used for this purpose. This study reports and analyzes the sensing response obtained from four hydrogel compositions with varying Chitosan/Gelatin ratios. The pH-responsive nature of the hydrogel has been mapped out through volumetric and conductometric tests. An attempt has been made to correlate these characteristics with the physico-chemical nature of the hydrogel through scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques.

The four hydrogel compositions differed on the basis of gel composition ratios; the conductometric analysis results prove that the sensor with the hydrogel composition (Chitosan 2 per cent, Gelatin 7 per cent, ratio 1:2) produces the best pH resolution in the pH range of 4 to 9. The sensing mechanisms and the differences obtained between individual sensor outputs have been discussed in detail. On the basis of this extensive in vitro assessment, it has been concluded that while key pendant functional groups contribute to pH-responsive characteristics of the hydrogel, the overall sensitivity of the sensors gel component to surrounding pH is also determined by the crystalline to amorphous ratio of the hydrogel composite, its interpenetrating cross-linked structure and the relative ratio of the hydrophilic to the pH-sensitive components.

The conductometric sensor results prove that the fabricated sensor with the shortlisted hydrogel composition shows good sensitivity in the physiological pH range (4 to 9) and it has the potential for use in point of care medical devices for diagnostic purposes.

This is the first reported version of the fabrication and testing and analysis/comparison of a hydrogel-based conductometric sensor based on this composition. The work is original and has not been replicated anywhere.

Real-time monitoring of wound or injured tissues is critical for speedy recovery, and the onset of a cascade of biochemical reactions provides potential biomarkers that facilitate the process of wound monitoring, e.g. pH, temperature, moisture level, bacterial load, cytokines, interleukins, etc. Among all the biomarkers, pH has been known to have a profound impact on the wound healing process, and is used to determine the incidence of bacterial infection of the wound (persistently elevated alkaline pH), proteolytic activity at the site of injury, take rate in skin grafting, wound healing stage and preparation for wound debridement.

This review highlights the significance of pH in determination of clinical parameters and for selection of an appropriate treatment regime, and it presents an in-depth analysis of the designs and fabrication methods that use integrated pH sensors, which have been reported to date for the real-time monitoring of wound healing.

For an expedited wound healing process, the significance of pH mandated the need of an integrated sensor system that would facilitate real-time monitoring of healing wounds and obviate the requirement of redressing or complicated testing procedures, which are both labor-intensive and painful for the patient. The review also discussed different types of sensor systems which were developed using hydrogel as a pH-responsive system coupled with voltammetry, potentiometry, impedimetric and flex-circuit inductive transducer systems. All of the mentioned devices have considerable potential for clinical applications, and there is need of in vivo testing to validate their efficiency and sensitivity under practical scenarios.

This manuscript is an original review of literature, and permission has been granted to use the figures from previously published papers.

The aim of this paper is a steady-state analysis of the basic electrical characteristics of a wind farm with squirrel-cage induction generators (SCIG), integrated into a high power system. The SCIG are connected to the system by means of a step-up substation 21/115 kV, realized by cable lines.

The analyses have been done with the help of a computer model, developed in MATLAB/Simulink.

Results have been obtained, concerning the influence of the SCIG on the active and reactive power, on the power factor and the voltage deviation in the cases of only one generator operating, all generators operating and disabled generators.

The analysis has been carried out for an operating wind farm in the power system. The obtained results are applicable for optimizing and managing the modes of operation of the wind farm.

A mathematical model for studying the electrical parameters of an SCIG integrated into a high power system has been described. A computer model in MATLAB/Simulink has been synthesized. Numerical results have been obtained, concerning the dependence of the active power, the reactive power, the power factor and the voltage deviation on the shaft torque of the wind farms with SCIG.

The present study aims to investigate the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) by exploring the role of various economic factors including economic development, foreign investment, human capital, energy dependency, financial development (FD), etc., in CO₂ emissions.

For empirical analysis, the samples for the years 2001–2019 of six GCC region countries that apply the fully modified ordinary least squares model were utilized.

The statistical results show that economic development, foreign investment, energy dependency, human capital and oil rents have a direct impact on CO₂ emissions, whereas trade liberalization and FD have an indirect impact. Nonetheless, the empirical analysis rejects the EKC hypothesis in the set of GCC region countries. The empirical findings in connection to the basic premises of the EKC model are found to be statistically constant for the linear relationship. The GCC region is rigid regarding CO₂ emission because of its reliance on main energy sources like oil and gas.

The current analysis directs the policy recommendations about environmental sustainability to environmental economists and other policymakers. The development of such policy instruments as the adoption of contemporary technology and reduced reliance on fossil fuels is advised to mitigate the negative externalities of multiple economic factors. Similarly, future studies should focus on trade liberalization and FD, both of which have a declining trend in CO₂ emissions.

The present study is innovative by means of testing the EKC model and exploring how other factors related to CO₂ emissions in the GCC region.

The face value of nonowner-occupied real estate and business fixed assets is excluded from Zakah, according to most Fiqh scholars who argue that it has not been explicitly ordered during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (sas). This study aims to test the hypothesis that the role of these properties in the early Islamic economy was insignificant and, therefore, differed from today.

A qualitative historical analysis of primary Islamic sources and narrations from early Muslim historiography has been conducted to understand real estate sales and rent, construction costs and the number and size of houses owned by the Sahabah. In addition, inheritance reports and land gift records have been examined to obtain relevant information about the value of real estate. As for business fixed assets, the type, number and wealth of craftspeople as well as their tools have been analyzed to reveal their significance in comparison with today.

The findings of this study confirm the hypothesis that real estate for investment purposes and business fixed assets were quasi-non-existent during the lifetime of the Prophet (sas) and, therefore, irrelevant from a Zakah perspective.

This study intends to be a catalyst for the reconsideration of Zakah on these items of wealth and contributes to the Fiqhi discourse.

This study aims to examine the scholars’ views on the legality of bilateral rebate in Islamic financial transactions. It also aims to evaluate the contemporary application of bilateral rebate in Islamic banking operation as an alternative to the conventional mechanism in handling the events of early settlement of debt, early termination of debt facility and early withdrawal of term deposit.

The study used deductive and inductive methods to analyze the juristic literature of all the major schools of law on the legality of both bilateral and unilateral rebate in a financial transaction.

The study found bilateral rebate (ibra’ mutabadal), instead of unilateral rebate, to be the best and fairest Islamic mechanism to overcome injustice in several events that may impact the bank’s liquidity such as that of early settlement of debt facility and early withdrawal of term deposit in the sense that the interest (maslahah) of both transacting parties is equally secured.

This study has its limitation, as it only covers the applicability of bilateral rebate in Islamic banking operation. It does not include the applicability of bilateral rebate in other segments of Islamic finance such as Islamic capital markets and Islamic insurance (Takaful business).

This paper has practical implication for Islamic banking industry particularly with regard to its liquidity management in the event of early settlement of a debt facility, early termination of an Islamic facility and early withdrawal of Islamic term deposit. It may also assume policy implication in the event that the regulator adopts the legality of bilateral rebate in its Islamic banking policy and guidelines.

This paper offers an Islamic alternative to the conventional mechanism in handling the event of early settlement of a debt facility, early termination of an Islamic facility and early withdrawal of Islamic term deposit. Under conventional banking, there are certain fees and charges imposed on customers in the above events like early settlement charge and early withdrawal charge. Unlike its conventional counterpart, Islamic banks cannot opt for the conventional method that seems unjust to the customers as the charge is imposed without Sharīʿah basis. In this case, bilateral rebate serves as a fair mechanism to manage the bank’s liquidity in the aforementioned events.

This study examines the improvement of rice production in Nigeria through the government’s policy of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP). Rationalized by the production theory, the study utilizes quantitative methods such as surveys. The study investigates the influence of ABP on rice production, with particular emphasis on the experiences of smallholder rice farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research approach, and the target population comprised smallholder rice farmers in the state who have benefitted from ABP. The study obtained a representative sample of 400 respondents through stratified random sampling. The study adopts the administration of a structured questionnaire with rice farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, as the primary data collection method. Regression was used to test the hypotheses in SPSS version 23. From the findings, the study reveals the need for the ABP, banks and other lending agencies/programmes to train farmers. It shows that modern farming contributes to rice production in Ebonyi State.

This chapter presents a comprehensive framework for advancing smart cities in Bahrain, focusing on innovation, development, transformation, and prosperity. The framework integrates technological advancements with sustainable practices to enhance societal well-being, economic growth, and overall development. It aligns with Bahrain’s 2030 Vision, aiming to create Next Generation Smart Cities. The chapter emphasizes enhancing social impact, healthcare access, and promoting a healthy lifestyle, driving economic growth through digital infrastructure, and promoting sustainability through renewable energy and smart urban planning. It provides a roadmap for integrating smart technologies into urban planning, infrastructure development, and service delivery, improving residents’ quality of life and promoting economic growth. The framework highlights the importance of sustainability, emphasizing environmentally friendly practices and energy-efficient solutions. Bahrain’s smart city initiatives are multifaceted, encompassing social, economic, and sustainability agendas. Socially, the focus is on promoting cohesion and community engagement through smart parks, community centers, and digital platforms that facilitate communication and collaboration. Economically, Bahrain aims to drive growth and innovation by investing in digital infrastructure and deploying smart technologies across sectors like finance and tourism. Additionally, the kingdom is developing a skilled workforce in emerging technologies to enhance competitiveness. Sustainability is a key pillar, with Bahrain investing in renewable energy sources and smart grid technologies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve energy efficiency. These initiatives collectively aim to enhance the quality of life, drive economic prosperity, and promote environmental sustainability in Bahrain’s smart cities.

Literature has widely discussed the relevant role of financial development in determining atmospheric quality. However, there has not been much discussion of how financial inclusion (FIC) plays its role in environmental quality. Thus, this research aims to unveil the role of financial inclusion in determining the CO₂ emissions which serve as a proxy of environmental quality. In addition, this study examines the moderating role of corruption control (CC) in the nexus of FIC-CC.

The empirical results were based on 22 years of annual data from five Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economies, covering the years 1996–2017. The authors use the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to check regression among variables.

The empirical findings first disclosed the positive impact of FIC whereas CC had an inverse impact on CO₂ emissions. However, the moderating role of CC was observed in mitigating the adverse impact of FIC on ecological quality. In addition, the statistical analysis further showed an inverse impact of economic growth and foreign investment and a positive impact of trade volume and energy consumption on CO₂ emissions.

This analysis states an important policy regarding integrated FIC and green environmental requirements. Additionally, the negative externality of FIC can be controlled by improving the CC.

This study complements the existing literature on FIC and environmental quality by adding the moderating role of CC.

This paper aims to develop bilayer woven fabrics with different picking sequences with enhanced comfort without any change in the constituent materials.

Six bilayer woven fabrics were produced on Dobby loom with 3/1 twill weave using micro-polyester yarn. Three different picking sequences, i.e. single pick insertion (SPI), double pick insertion (DPI) and three pick insertion (3PI), were used in both face and back layers. The effect of picking sequence on air permeability (AP), volume porosity, thermal resistance and overall moisture management capability (OMMC) of the samples were analyzed.

The results showed that 3PI–3PI picking sequence gives the highest OMMC, AP and thermal resistance in bilayer woven fabrics and the least results exhibited by SPI–SPI picking sequence.

This research uses a bilayer woven system that develops channels and trapes the air causing higher thermal resistance; therefore, applicable for winter sports clothing rather than for summer wear. Developed bilayer woven fabrics can be used in winter sportswear to improve the comfort of the wearer and reduce fatigue during activity.

Authors have developed bilayer fabrics by changing the picking sequences, i.e. SPI, DPI and 3PI of weft yarns in both layers and compared their thermo-physiological comfort properties.