Transnational NGOs between Popular Uprising and Authoritarian Regime: Developments in Egypt

Scholars differentiate the concepts of internationalism and transnationalism. While the first refers to the connectivity between macro institutions such as states, multinational corporations and other institutionalized actors within and beyond national boundaries, the second term emphasizes public movements, organizations and communities engaged in de-territorialized socio‐cultural, political and economic activities. This paper focuses on the role of transnational NGOs (TNGOs) in recent developments in Egypt. The current scholarly debate on the so‐called “Arab spring” considers the mobilization of disempowered youth, intense media-tech application and sustained international pressure as crucial to ousting authoritarian regimes in North Africa. Delineating the role of TNGOs complements such findings. TNGO activities and responses to the Egyptian uprising in 2011 and to the ensuing coup in 2013 reveal the capability of such organizations to balance civic transformational oriented mobilizations with state centred institutional considerations. Furthermore though TNGOs cannot directly change the current political stalemate in Egypt, the power elite might misinterpret the changing and sometimes contradictory positions of these organizations and might eventually encourage the return to authoritarianism. After introductory remarks on the background of the uprising, the paper proceeds to theoretical discussion of transnational engagement followed by recent historical and current empirical developments

Relative commutants of strongly self-absorbing C*-algebras

The relative commutant $A'\cap A^{\mathcal{U}}$ of a strongly self-absorbing algebra $A$ is indistinguishable from its ultrapower $A^{\mathcal{U}}$. This applies both to the case when $A$ is the hyperfinite II$_1$ factor and to the case when it is a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra. In the latter case we prove analogous results for $\ell_\infty(A)/c_0(A)$ and reduced powers corresponding to other filters on $\bf N$. Examples of algebras with approximately inner flip and approximately inner half-flip are provided, showing the optimality of our results. We also prove that strongly self-absorbing algebras are smoothly classifiable, unlike the algebras with approximately inner half-flip.Comment: Some minor correction

The Auditory Nerve Overlapped Waveform (ANOW) detects small endolymphatic manipulations that may go undetected by conventional measurements

Electrocochleography (ECochG) has been used to assess Ménière's disease, a pathology associated with endolymphatic hydrops and low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. However, the current ECochG techniques are limited for use at high-frequencies only (≥1 kHz) and cannot be used to assess and understand the low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss in ears with Ménière's disease. In the current study, we use a relatively new ECochG technique to make measurements that originate from afferent auditory nerve fibers in the apical half of the cochlear spiral to assess effects of endolymphatic hydrops in guinea pig ears. These measurements are made from the Auditory Nerve Overlapped Waveform (ANOW). Hydrops was induced with artificial endolymph injections, iontophoretically applied Ca2+ to endolymph, and exposure to 200 Hz tones. The manipulations used in this study were far smaller than those used in previous investigations on hydrops. In response to all hydropic manipulations, ANOW amplitude to moderate level stimuli was markedly reduced but conventional ECochG measurements of compound action potential thresholds were unaffected (i.e., a less than 2 dB threshold shift). Given the origin of the ANOW, changes in ANOW amplitude likely reflect acute volume disturbances accumulate in the distensible cochlear apex. These results suggest that the ANOW could be used to advance our ability to identify initial stages of dysfunction in ears with Ménière's disease before the pathology progresses to an extent that can be detected with conventional measures

Awareness on Digital Drugs Abuse and its Applied Prevention among Healthcare Practitioners in KSA

Digital drugs abuse, also known as I-dosing, has recently emerged as a danger to Middle Eastern teen­agers through different media channels. This study aimed to investigate the level of knowledge of digital drug abuse among health practioners in KSA, explore their attitude towards it and describe the possible pre­ventive policies if any, and their experience of any medicolegal implemented awareness strategies to combat this phenomenon.  A cross-sectional survey was used to gather data. An open-ended questionnaire with two parts contain­ing open-ended questions was developed, validated, pretested, and randomly distributed to 200 voluntary participating health care practitioners of both sexes (n = 200) attending a continuous medical education seminar in May 2015 held in Madinah. Ethical approval and an informed written consent was obtained. Participants were males (65%) and females (35%) with different professional degrees. The knowledge of I-dosing of digital drugs was 30%. The source of this knowledge was through media (96%) and through receiving inquiries concerning this topic (71.9%). Only 14.7% of participants knew the mechanism of action of digital drugs. However, 65% of the participants thought digital drugs are real threats. From the participants, 16.9% were approached by an awareness program concerning this issue. This study concluded the urgent need for an awareness program directed at medical practitioners and communities in KSA.   Keywords: Forensic Science, Digital Drug, I-Dosing, Teenage, Abuse, Prevention, Healthcare Practitioners

Phytochemical Screening and Elemental Analysis of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Datura innoxia Seeds and Leaves

The present study is aimed to screen the phytochemicals analysis and elements content of Datura innoxia seeds and leaves. The aqueous and methanol extracts were carried out by using the maceration method and soxhlet apparatus, respectively. Results of the study of Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of a high concentration of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpines, and low concentration of saponin and coummarins. The elements in the leaves and seeds (K, Ca, S, Si, Cl, Fe, Al, P, Mg, Ti, Mn, Zn, Sr, Cu, V, Br, and Zr) were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. K content was the highest in seeds (5.469 ± 0.021%), Ca and S the highest in leaves (2.461 ± 0.019 %, 1.254 ± 0.022 %, respectively). The elements Ti, Mn, Sr, V, Br, and Zr were detected in the leaves with range concentration 0.062-0.002 %. The elements Si, Cl, Fe, Al, P, Mg, and Zn concentration in seeds varied from 0.002 to 0.942% and in leaves varied from 0.014 to 0.346%. The concentration of these elements did not exceed the standard of dangerous toxic levels

Pendidikan Rohani Dalam Tradisi Amaliyah Di Pondok Pesantren Salafiyah Kota Kediri

In this study, the authors used a descriptive qualitative approach which departed from two questions, namely; 1.) "What is Amaliyah doing at the Salafiyah Islamic Boarding School in Kediri?", 2.) How is the relationship between Amaliyah at the Salafiyah Islamic Boarding School and spiritual education? " With these several questions, the results of the research conducted found that spiritual education in the amaliyah tradition at the Salafiyah Islamic Boarding School includes: grave pilgrimages, prayer beads, and recitation of 1000 sholawat. With this amaliyah tradition, we are able to; 1.) overcoming anxiety, fear, and uneasiness of the hearts of the students, 2.) calming the soul, because in it there are things that bring calm, such as dzikrullah in reading tahlil, tahmid, tasbih, and sholawat., 3.) giving direction, motivation and finally grow full awareness to obey, submit to carry out orders and know the prohibitions

Inflammatory myopathy occurring shortly after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination: two case reports

Background: Vaccination remains the cornerstone approach to exiting the current global coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The novel messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines offer a high level of protection and are widely used throughout the world. With more people receiving the vaccines, better understanding of their relative safety can be reached. In this report, we describe two patients who developed inflammatory myopathy within 48 hours of receiving the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine. Case presentation: Patient A, a 55-year-old South East Asian woman, presented with a 6-week history of pruritic facial and torso rash and a 1-week history of worsening proximal myopathy. Her rash first developed 2 days after receiving the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccine. Patient B, a 72-year-old Caucasian woman, presented with a 2-week history of proximal myopathy a day after receiving the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine. Both patients had elevated creatine kinase on admission. Patient A tested positive for anti-Mi-2a antibody and anti-Ro-52 antibody, while Patient B was positive for anti-fibrillarin antibody. Magnetic resonance imaging subsequently confirmed generalized acute muscle inflammation and subcutaneous inflammation consistent with inflammatory myositis. Both patients did not have a previous history or family history of autoimmune disease. Patients A and B were diagnosed with dermatomyositis and inflammatory myositis, respectively. They were initially treated with pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisolone. However, as their conditions were resistant to corticosteroids, both eventually received and responded well to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Conclusion: There are previously reported cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-induced and other vaccine-related inflammatory myopathies. However, the precise mechanisms are not elucidated. Without more evidence and convincing pathophysiology, it is not possible to conclude that our patients developed inflammatory myopathy because of the vaccine. However, the timing of the disease onset and the lack of previous history raise an important question of this novel messenger ribonucleic acid therapy