Browsing by Type "doctor thesis"

The nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (nMSME) sector plays a crucial role in fostering socio-economic growth, particularly in emerging economies. However, in Nigeria, the sector's contribution to economic development remains limited due to inadequate access to finance and the high cost of available funds. As a result, nMSMEs face low financial inclusion, a high mortality rate, and a minimal impact on GDP, contributing to widespread unemployment and psychological distress, particularly among the youth. Although several funding models have been proposed to address these challenges, the problem persists. Islamic Peer-to-Peer (P2P) financing has emerged as a potential solution that aligns with the principles of socio-economic justice, offering cost-effective financial options that promote entrepreneurial innovation, wealth creation, and employment opportunities. This study aims to develop an Islamic P2P financing framework as an alternative funding mechanism for nMSMEs in Nigeria. Employing an inductive research approach, this study prioritizes empirical data over theoretical constructs to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The research follows a pragmatic paradigm, as it seeks to address a real world issue, providing an affordable and accessible financing alternative for nMSMEs. A qualitative methodology is adopted to explore the research problem in depth. Primary data is collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, while secondary data is sourced from journal articles, e-books, P2P financing platforms, websites, portals, and other online resources. Data analysis is conducted using ATLAS.ti 9 software to ensure systematic coding and interpretation. The study concludes that Islamic P2P financing represents a disruptive innovation with the potential to enhance nMSMEs� access to non-interest financing in Nigeria, thereby fostering inclusive and equitable economic development. This financing model offers a platform that is transparent, cost-effective, accessible, and user-friendly. The study proposes a framework based on the principle of Wak?lah bi Al-Istithm?r (Investment Agency), ensuring Shari�ah-compliant financial solutions for nMSMEs. Key findings highlight that Nigerian nMSMEs struggle to access non-interest financing due to factors such as limited awareness and understanding of Islamic finance products, lack of collateral, stringent regulatory requirements, lengthy processing times, inadequate capacity-building initiatives, and high financing costs. The study also identifies the role of financial technology (FinTech) in enhancing the accessibility and availability of non-interest financing. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of developing a Shari�ah-compliant framework for Islamic P2P financing and presents a model based on Wak?lah bi Al-Istithm?r to facilitate seamless funding arrangements, ensure transparency, and effectively connect nMSMEs with suitable investors. The proposed model is expected to promote risk-sharing, ethical financing, and a shared sense of accountability and ownership between investors and nMSMEs while narrowing the existing funding gap.

Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), or clubfoot, is hindfoot varus, metatarsus adducts, cavus, and equines, with a birth prevalence of 1�4 per 1000 live births. Approximately 80% of cases are isolated, while 20% are syndromic. This study aimed to identify disease-causing genomic variants in CTEV-affected families using whole exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger validation. For this purpose, six families were analysed from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, comprising both isolated and syndromic CTEV cases. DNA from affected and unaffected members underwent WES, followed by Sanger sequencing for segregation analysis. Family A had a ZNF384 variant that did not segregate. Family B showed CTEV with peroneal nerve involvement evident on nerve conduction studies, but no causal variant. Family C had a segregating ADGRA2 (c.298C>T; p.Arg100Cys) variant. Family D had OBSL1, MAN2B1, and SH3PXD2B variants, with SH3PXD2B (c.280C>G; p.Arg94Gly) linked to FTHS. Family E had PIEZO2 (c.273_279delACCTGGC; p.Pro92fs*18) and SH2B3, with PIEZO2 segregating. Family F had ASB15 and KIR2DL4 variants, but no segregation. Protein modeling was done for PIEZO2, ADGRA2, and MAN2B1. We identified novel ADGRA2 and PIEZO2 genes with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance, alongside expanded phenotypes of peroneal nerve involvement. Variants in other genes suggest indirect roles, emphasizing the need for further genomic studies and genetic testing for personalised management.

Heart failure is a medical disorder characterized by mortality as one of its ultimate consequences. It is characterized by a multitude of signs and symptoms that often overlap with those observed in various other medical disorders and diseases. The collective manifestation of these signs and symptoms has the potential to result in the mortality of the patient. The capacity to anticipate the risk of mortality in individuals with heart failure enables healthcare professionals to allocate resources more effectively to mitigate or avert potential fatalities. A large dataset is recommended for creating machine learning models that can be accurately generalized. Medical data is generally difficult to obtain, and studies use data that is either collected firsthand or conduct secondary analyses on data that was collected by others. To this end, this study uses a curated dataset of a cohort of heart failure patients obtained from the MIMIC-III database, and the results were compared with previous studies that used a distinct, but much smaller dataset of heart failure patients. This has the added advantage of the research being reproducible. Within the context of the using machine learning to predict mortality risk in heart failure patients, this study examines many signs and symptoms associated with heart failure to ascertain the characteristics that can effectively forecast the risk of death. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate the extent to which these findings can be applied to heart failure patients as a whole. In the evaluation of serum creatinine, ejection fraction, and binned age as features, the experimental analysis findings provide evidence of the potential efficacy of machine learning in appropriately categorizing heart failure patients according to their risk of mortality. This information has the potential to enable doctors to take preemptive measures and enhance treatment procedures, ultimately resulting in enhanced patient outcomes and allocation of resources. This study investigates a range of machine learning techniques, including logistic regression, random forests, and gradient boosting, to determine the optimal method for predicting mortality risk. The research demonstrates the effectiveness of employing machine learning methods to leverage extensive clinical datasets such as MIMIC-III for the purpose of improving the accuracy of mortality risk prediction in patients with heart failure. The present study significantly contributes to the expanding field of predictive analytics in healthcare, providing vital insights for physicians and academics who seek to enhance heart failure therapy and improve patient care.

It has been acknowledged that financial technology is one of the most prominent outcomes of the digital revolution in the world, as many entrepreneurial companies have emerged which have contributed to facilitating innovative financial transactions through the development of innovative digital financial solutions and services. Consequently, financial inclusion has been raised and enhanced. Financial inclusion is defined by the World Bank as providing users with affordable and useful products and services that meet their needs and are delivered responsibly and sustainably. Based on this, the study was designed to identify the most important factors affecting the intention and behavior of Algerian customers to accept and utilize digital financial services. The objectives of the study are achieved through a descriptive analytical approach, which includes a study population of banks that have been approved for activity by the Bank of Algeria, as well as a questionnaire consisting of 49 statements, along with six demographic expressions. To analyze its hypotheses derived from the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the theory of innovation diffusion (IDT), the study uses structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings of the study found that trust, financial cost, concessional terms, and attitude are the most influential factors influencing individuals' behavioral intention to adopt (or continue to use) financial digital services. Algerian service providers and decision makers should take note of the results of this study in achieving financial inclusion. Keywords: Financial Inclusion, Financial Technology, Structural Equation Modeling, Algerian Banks, Customers Intention and Behavior

The objectives of the pillars of Iman (conviction) are considered fresh studies that still need further research and investigation due to their importance in restoring the central role of the Islamic Creed in the life of a Muslim. Therefore, the researcher decided to participate and contribute to this trend based on the problem of disrupting the behavior of Iman, which results from the incompatibility between Iman and the apparent behaviour of a Muslim, and the practical aspect and daily practices of a Muslim are mostly devoid of Iman and spiritual meanings. The validity of Iman and Creed does not translate into practical behavior that indicates it. The research aims to clarify the purposes of the pillars of Iman and their effective role in building the Muslim’s personality and re-establishing the connection, interconnectedness, and harmony between the Muslim’s Iman and behavioral foundations. The research derives its importance from the fact that it is concerned with the subject of objectives in the chapter on Iman, and the attempt to show the fruits of Iman and its abundant shadows on the life of a Muslim, to contribute to the formation and building of the balanced and complete personality of the Muslim today, so that he is qualified to exercise his important and functional role in existence. In preparing his study, the researcher followed two methods, the inductive method, by extrapolating verses, hadiths, research, and writings that touch on the pillars of Iman, whether combined or individually, concerning interpretations and explanations of the hadith in the chapter on Īmān and related actions and its role in correcting behavior and morals. The analytical method is used by analyzing and deducing the practical aspect and highlighting the practical objectives of the predicates of belief stated in the verses and hadiths in the books that were concerned with explaining the practical effects of the pillars of Iman. One of the most important results of the research is that the objectives of Iman are no less important than the objectives of Shariʿah for the sake of building a righteous and reformed Muslim. The objectives of the pillars of Iman are truly effective in shaping the Muslim’s personality in an integrated manner in all fields. Finally, intentional consideration of the pillars of Iman is sufficient to rebuild bridges between Iman and practical behaviour apparent in a Muslim’s life