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This study aims to describe the role of knowledge diffusion in evolving governance principles for Islamic banking.

This study develops a discursive theoretical debate using the discourse analysis method on the Sharīʿah principles related to interest (Riba), excessive uncertainty (Gharrar) and profit and loss sharing and their convergence with the conventional banking principles of profitability, solvency and liquidity.

The study proposes a novel framework that describes how knowledge diffusion bridge-up the Sharīʿah and banking principles in terms of integration of banking principles by Sharīʿah scholars, integration of Sharīʿah principles by managers and the resultant, emergent principles for the governance of Islamic banking.

The proposed framework can inform professionals on how knowledge of banking practices and Sharīʿah can help them in governing Islamic banking. The Board of Directors may adopt a holistic approach for encouraging enhanced interactions between Sharīʿah scholars and managers. Such interaction may be increasing harmony, reducing conflicts and better coordination resulting in Sharīʿah-compliant and market wise viable products and services, thus increasing banking profitability.

This is the first study, which acknowledges and illustrates the role of the knowledge diffusion process in evolving governance principles for Islamic banks. This paper contributes to the theory of corporate governance by using the knowledge, aptitude and practice theory lens to examine conceptually how Islamic banking governance principles emerged through the knowledge diffusion process.

The aim of this study is to employ the failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) for risk management in cross-country pipelines, coupled with the utilization of Geographic Information System (GIS). The objective is to enhance the significance of the project, considering the potential severe consequences of pipeline failures. These consequences encompass environmental damages, loss of life and disruptions to critical services like energy and water supply. By identifying the most frequent causes of pipeline failures and developing a predictive model, the intention is to contribute toward the prevention of such incidents and minimize their impact.

A total quality management (TQM) technique for risk management; FMEA, was employed in this study integrated with GIS. Eight specific failures were identified and analyzed, exploring their effects and severity, causes and likelihood of occurrence as well as control and detection value. To find the likelihood of occurrence along the pipeline, the GIS was utilized to survey a 10 km wide area along the pipeline of 180 km long. Occurrence spatial mapping for each individual failure was generated. Subsequently, the risk priority number (RPN) was calculated for each failure, presenting the values as separate maps. By overlaying the RPN maps, a final map was generated, illustrating the areas with the highest risk along the pipeline.

A modified risk management model has been developed to detect potential pipeline failures before they escalate into catastrophic events. The results provide a visual representation of the average failure modes along the pipeline, clearly highlighting regions with varying probabilities of failure based on RPN values. The RPN has been meticulously calculated across the entire pipeline, with results presented through both 2D spatial mapping and a comprehensive line graph. This comprehensive approach sets our study apart from others in the field. Our emphasis on a thorough and inclusive risk assessment methodology represents a key novelty in this research. The findings underscore the paramount importance of proactive maintenance and regular inspection practices, with these measures emerging as critical strategies for enhancing the reliability and safety of pipeline infrastructure.

This research study aims to enhance the safety and quality of cross-country pipelines. The main limitations of the study include the inability to consider the risks associated with the flow characteristics inside the pipeline and the exclusion of the future master plan from our analysis.

The current integrated model is significant for pipeline operative companies and the oil and gas industries. These pipelines are susceptible to failures that can have alarming negative impacts on the environment, human safety and public health. It can improve the quality of risk management and elevate the safety integrity level of their pipelines. Focusing on the high-risk areas, taking action and implementing proactive measures can reduce the risk of failure and improve the safety and reliability of the pipeline system. It utilizes GIS-detailed surveying of the areas along the pipeline without the necessity of making on-site visits.

This study introduces a novel framework incorporating FMEA for quality risk management with advanced spatial mapping GIS software. This approach stands out as a unique contribution to the field, as prior studies have not undertaken the comprehensive task of highlighting risks along the entire pipeline using such a sophisticated methodology. This research makes a significant contribution to the field of crude oil transportation through pipelines, ultimately mitigating the risk of undesirable events.

The purpose of this paper is to objectively evaluate the cost benefit of applying corrosion prevention coatings throughout a mid-life logistics fleet supporting the Canadian Army.

A database of maintenance records for an Army logistics vehicle throughout a four-year study period is mined. Statistical analysis (primarily ANOVA) accounting for the frequency of treatment and geographic region is executed.

Statistical analysis indicates counter-intuitive results. Vehicles that are most frequently treated to prevent corrosion incur the highest maintenance costs. Consultation with operational units suggests that a strategic approach to corrosion prevention is largely absent. Instead, vehicles are treated on an ad hoc basis, or – equivalently – on an as available basis.

Among high tempo organizations, vehicles most readily available to maintenance support are those that are in the greatest state of disrepair. Vehicles that are in better condition are preferred by operators for daily operations and are not available. Consequently, the vehicles that are subject to preventative maintenance most often are those near their end-of-life or are in disrepair and therefore gain little through further investments in corrosion prevention initiatives.

Clearly, having corrosion prevention compounds applied to a fleet on an ad hoc basis suffers from the natural bias occurring among operators to retain vehicles in best condition for operational purposes. Corrosion prevention requires a more strategic approach including disciplined maintenance operations in order to provide dividends on a fleet-wide basis.

The purpose of this study is to critically evaluate how conventional and Islamic banks trade off risk, efficiency and financial performance in their business models, to investigate how patterns of risk and efficiency vary between conventional and Islamic banks and to critically evaluate how the profitability of conventional and Islamic banks varies following the financial crisis.

This study uses univariate and multivariate statistical techniques by investigating 12 Islamic banks and 34 conventional banks operating in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has been studied over the period 2011–2018.

The results suggest that Islamic and conventional banks differ not in the levels of efficiency, risk and profitability, but rather in how risk and efficiency influence banks’ financial performance. Islamic banks are found to be less influenced by the adverse effects of credit risk, which is consistent with the risk-sharing nature of Islamic financing. However, the results only hold for return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) while the net interest margin is observed to be negatively influenced by credit risk. Lower cost-income efficiency is also found to boost ROA and ROE of Islamic banks which could be attributed to a larger share of non-interest revenues due to Sharīʿah-compliance.

From a theoretical point of view, this study helps to understand the risk, efficiency and financial performance of Islamic banks in comparison with conventional banks.

The results of this study can serve bank managers, regulators and shareholders. Policymakers should encourage a more risk-sharing structure of Islamic financing as it brings less adverse effects of credit risk and increases income sustainability for Islamic banks. The present study may help bank managers to improve the financial performance of their firms by controlling risk and efficiency. The study results also have implications for shareholders and depositors of Islamic and conventional banks as they should have a predetermined position about the level of credit risk and efficiency in each banking system.

The foremost contribution is that this is one of the few studies to compare risk, efficiency and financial performance of Islamic and conventional banks in the GCC region. By using the latest data, this paper hopes that the findings will be more relevant than previous studies to the current situation of the banking industry in the region.

To determine the electrical, structural, optical and transport properties calculated using WIEN2k code.

By employing the WIEN2k code, we have theoretically examined the physical properties of the full-Heusler Te₂AcGa alloy. The FP-LAPW technique is utilized for theoretical calculations.

An indirect bandgap of 0.42 eV is seen with the GGA potential. An enhancement in bandgap with a value of 0.97 eV is observed with mBJ potential. The density of states is determined to verify the band structure profile. The dynamical and structural stability is attained through the computations. The electron density contour plot is utilized to explore the bonding nature of the compound. Optical properties have been calculated with respective potentials showing significant absorption in the visible region. Furthermore, thermoelectric properties have been evaluated to confirm the potential of Te₂AcGa for thermoelectric devices. At elevated temperatures, the ZT with mBJ potential obtained a large value of 0.8.

High absorption and ZT values make the Te_2AcGa alloy have potential for optoelectronic and renewable energy devices.

In the submitted manuscript, first principle calculations are carried out for the first time to study the structural, dynamic, electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of the full-Heusler Te₂AcGa alloy. Modified Becke–Johnson (mBJ) exchange-correlation potential provides very accurate results. The bandgap profiles and related properties are calculated in the present work. The entire work gives useful results of fundamental importance, which can be utilized for the fabrication of optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications.

The discourse traverses the intricate landscape of the metaverse, exploring its evolution, intricacies, and the symbiotic integration of artificial intelligence (AI). The metaverse, a virtual realm where individuals interact with digital entities, burgeons from a decades-old concept to a contemporary reality, captivating attention with its immersive potential. The union of AI and the metaverse heralds unprecedented possibilities and challenges. It fuels personalized recommendations, realistic avatars, intelligent Non-Playable Character (NPCs), and predictive analytics. However, concerns loom, spanning addiction, privacy, and security, as users immerse themselves in virtual realms, potentially neglecting real-world responsibilities and sharing sensitive information has been discussed in this chapter. The narrative further delves into the metaverse's anatomy, delineating its infrastructure, hardware, software, content creation, and commerce. The integration of AI into metaverse security epitomizes a confluence of innovation and growth. Balancing the potential benefits and risks, stakeholders embark on a journey toward a secure, immersive digital realm. The discourse advocates for proactive and responsible AI usage, encompassing transparency, accountability, and trustworthiness. Regulatory frameworks and standards emerge as essential guardrails, protecting user privacy and forestalling AI misuse.

This paper aims to investigate seven prominent translations of the Qur'anic verb-noun collocations into English (Pickthall, 1930; AL-Hilali and Khan, 1977; Ali, 1934; Arberry, 1955; Shakir, 1999; Sarwar, 1981; Saheeh International, 1997) to unfold their renditions of the style and meaning of such Qur'anic verb-noun collocation into English.

The study follows a corpus-based research in a sense that the study is conducted on seven translations of the Noble Qur'an that have been taken form The Qur'anic Arabic Corpus, using linguistic and exegetical analyses. Based on Reiss’ model of text analysis (2000), the author analyses the intralinguistic and extralinguistic features of the Qur'anic verb-noun collocations.

Findings reveal that linguistic and exegetical analyses are perquisites for adequate rendition, which prevent deviation in meaning and translation loss. It is also found that Qur'anic collocations use unique literary techniques and devices, which hinder their natural and adequate renditions into English.

The novelty of this study lies in studying the architectural design of the Qur'anic verb-noun collocations in terms of the unique selection of words and style. Such unique architectural design of such collocations creates monumental hindrances in their rendition into other languages, which have not been given due attention in translation studies.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the characteristics of audit committee chairman (ACC) (tenure, age, gender, ethnicity, accounting expertise and directorship) on earnings management (EM) practices.

The Jones model and modified Jones model by Dechow et al. (1995) were used to determine the discretionary accruals (DA) of 288 Malaysian listed firms with lowest positive earnings for the years 2013‒2015.

The results of the ordinary least squares regression indicate that only tenure, gender and ethnicity of the ACC are associated with DA. A further test was conducted by dividing firms into two groups: firms whose boards are chaired by a family member and firms whose boards are chaired by a non-family member. The results reveal that it is possible for firms whose boards are chaired by family members to cause the corporate governance (CG) mechanisms, particularly the audit committee, to lose their effectiveness in overcoming the EM problem. In addition, robustness tests were conducted by using panel data regression, where the results were found to be similar to the original regression results.

This study alerts policymakers, firms and their stakeholders, as well as researchers, regarding the importance of having an independent board chairman, who has no relationship with any directors or major shareholders, as this may hinder the effectiveness of CG mechanisms in curbing EM, especially in emerging countries, such as Malaysia, where it is very difficult to stop members of the family from becoming board directors.