Confidentiality as a Justification for Resorting to Arbitration in Investment Contracts Disputes

The study aimed to identify the extent of the arbitration parties' commitment to confidentiality in arbitration and to identify the extent to which the principle of confidentiality is assumed in arbitration. The study adopted the comparative analytical and descriptive method. The study reached results, the most important of which are: Confidentiality is the most important characteristic of arbitration, which makes arbitration distinct from the state’s judiciary, and that confidentiality is one of the justifications for resorting to arbitration, to preserve the commercial, industrial and technical secrets of the parties to the dispute. Confidentiality is an assumed principle in arbitration in investment contract disputes without stipulating it in the arbitration agreement. The study recommended: The arbitral institutions should confirm the extent to which the principle of confidentiality is applied in investment contract disputes in their arbitral procedures. Arbitral institutions should organize their position when justifications for transparency are achieved in the arbitral process. The contracting parties shall clarify in the arbitration agreement what is related to applying the principle of confidentiality and what is related to the application of transparency. Keywords: confidentiality, arbitration of disputes, investment contracts DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/110-13 Publication date: June 30th 202

Shear Strength of Reinforced Concrete Squat Walls

Squat shear walls are widely used in various structures to resist earthquake loads. However, the relevant design expressions found in building codes and literature do not incorporate the influence of all crucial parameters and provide inconsistent peak shear strength estimations. This study adopts the artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the peak shear strength of squat walls using an extensive database that includes the results of 487 walls with wide-ranging test parameters. The ANN models consider the effect of concrete strength, the wall aspect ratio, vertical and horizontal reinforcements, vertical reinforcement of boundary elements, and axial load ratio. These accurately predicted the available test results. They implemented it to carry out parametric and sensitivity analysis to investigate the effect of the main parameters on the peak strength and to give information about the factors that contribute most to the shear response. In addition, a softened strut and tie method is proposed, considering the variables that substantially influence the shear strength. A nonlinear regression analysis is employed to determine the coefficients of the proposed model using the available database. The performance of the proposed model is measured using the existing models, which results in the best favorable agreement with the test results. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-02-03 Full Text: PD

Alternative Strut and Tie Model for Reinforced Concrete Deep Beams

This paper presents a simple strut and tie model to calculate the shear strength of reinforced concrete deep beams. The proposed model assumes that the shear strength is the algebraic sum of three strength components: concrete diagonal strut, vertical stirrups, and horizontal web reinforcements. The contribution of each strength components was calibrated with the test results of 305 deep beams compiled from previous studies with wide range of geometrical and material properties. The predictions of the proposed model were compared with those of the current codes of practice (ACI-318-14 and ASHTOO 2014) and those of existing model in the literature. Comparisons revealed that the proposed model provided better predictions than other models. The mean of predicted strength to test of the proposed model, the ACI-318-14 model, the ASHTOO 2014 model were 0.98, 0.79, and 0.75, respectively. The corresponding standard deviations were 0.17, 0.28, and 0.49, respectively

LC–MS/MS-based in vitro and in vivo Investigation of Blood–brain Barrier Integrity by Simultaneous Quantitation of Mannitol and Sucrose

Background Understanding the pathophysiology of the blood brain–barrier (BBB) plays a critical role in diagnosis and treatment of disease conditions. Applying a sensitive and specific LC–MS/MS technique for the measurement of BBB integrity with high precision, we have recently introduced non-radioactive [13C12]sucrose as a superior marker substance. Comparison of permeability markers with different molecular weight, but otherwise similar physicochemical properties, can provide insights into the uptake mechanism at the BBB. Mannitol is a small hydrophilic, uncharged molecule that is half the size of sucrose. Previously only radioactive [3H]mannitol or [14C]mannitol has been used to measure BBB integrity. Methods We developed a UPLC–MS/MS method for simultaneous analysis of stable isotope-labeled sucrose and mannitol. The in vivo BBB permeability of [13C6]mannitol and [13C12]sucrose was measured in mice, using [13C6]sucrose as a vascular marker to correct for brain intravascular content. Moreover, a Transwell model with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain endothelial cells was used to measure the permeability coefficient of sucrose and mannitol in vitro both under control and compromised (in the presence of IL-1β) conditions. Results We found low permeability values for both mannitol and sucrose in vitro (permeability coefficients of 4.99 ± 0.152 × 10−7 and 3.12 ± 0.176 × 10−7 cm/s, respectively) and in vivo (PS products of 0.267 ± 0.021 and 0.126 ± 0.025 µl g−1 min−1, respectively). Further, the in vitro permeability of both markers substantially increased in the presence of IL-1β. Corrected brain concentrations (Cbr), obtained by washout vs. vascular marker correction, were not significantly different for either mannitol (0.071 ± 0.007 and 0.065 ± 0.009 percent injected dose per g) or sucrose (0.035 ± 0.003 and 0.037 ± 0.005 percent injected dose per g). These data also indicate that Cbr and PS product values of mannitol were about twice the corresponding values of sucrose. Conclusions We established a highly sensitive, specific and reproducible approach to simultaneously measure the BBB permeability of two classical low molecular weight, hydrophilic markers in a stable isotope labeled format. This method is now available as a tool to quantify BBB permeability in vitro and in vivo in different disease models, as well as for monitoring treatment outcomes

Postoperative administration of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil, interferes with bone healing and implant osseointegration in a rat model

Donepezil is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor commonly used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Its use has been associated with increased bone mass in humans and animals. However, the effect of postoperative administration of donepezil on bone healing remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of postoperative injection of donepezil on bone healing, titanium-implant osseointegration, and soft tissue healing. Twenty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of either donepezil (0.6 mg/kg) or saline as a control. In each rat, a uni-cortical defect was created in the right tibia metaphysis and a custom-made titanium implant was placed in the left tibiae. After two weeks, rats were euthanized, and their bones were analysed by Micro-CT and histology. The healing of bone defect and implant osseointegration in the rats treated with donepezil were significantly reduced compared to the saline-treated rats. Histomorphometric analysis showed lower immune cell infiltration in bone defects treated with donepezil compared to the saline-treated defects. On the other hand, the healing time of soft tissue wounds was significantly shorter in donepezil-treated rats compared to the controls. In conclusion, short-term administration of donepezil hinders bone healing whereas enhancing soft tissue healing

Head and Neck Surgery: A Differential Diagnosis in Otolaryngology

Introduction: In otolaryngology of the head and neck surgery; differential diagnosis is a practical and comprehensive guide that is organized uniquely by signs and symptoms instead of by diseases. Aim: This study will describe the keys to diagnostic evaluation and differential diagnosis of presenting symptoms for problems affecting each otolaryngology organ system.Methods: Each symptom opens with the patient’s presentation followed by an easily accessible list of potential diagnoses and supplementary data on the features of the different diseases to help correctly identify the problem. And identify features labeled by signs and symptoms, not by disease, and then enable quick clinical reference In-depth coverage of the diagnostic and treatment evaluation of all ENT disorders.

HCV Infection among Saudi Population: High Prevalence of Genotype 4 and Increased Viral Clearance Rate

HCV is a major etiological agent of liver disease with a high rate of chronic evolution. The virus possesses 6 genotypes with many subtypes. The rate of spontaneous clearance among HCV infected individuals denotes a genetic determinant factor. The current study was designed in order to estimate the rate of HCV infection and ratio of virus clearance among a group of infected patients in Saudi Arabia from 2008 to 2011. It was additionally designed to determine the genotypes of the HCV in persistently infected patients. HCV seroprevalence was conducted on a total of 15,323 individuals. Seropositive individuals were tested by Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HCV assay to determine the ratio of persistently infected patients to those who showed spontaneous viral clearance. HCV genotyping on random samples from persistently infected patients were conducted based on the differences in the 5′untranslated region (5′UTR). Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 7.3% of the totally examined sera. A high percentage of the HCV infected individuals experienced virus clearance (48.4%). HCV genotyping revealed the presence of genotypes 1 and 4, the latter represented 97.6% of the tested strains. Evidences of the widespread of the HCV genotype 4 and a high rate of HCV virus clearance were found in Saudi Arabia

Clinical features and outcome of acute myeloid leukemia, a single institution experience in Saudi Arabia

Aim: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of malignancy that is associated with a malignant alteration of normal hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. The aim of this study was to study the demographics and pathological subtypes of AML, evaluate the response and outcome to different treatment modalities. Methods: This was a retrospective study of adult patients diagnosed with AML at King Abdulaziz Medical City - Riyadh, between 2006 and 2013. Data were retrieved from patients′ files, electronic medical files and laboratory information system. Results: 91 patients were included in the study with a male dominance. M1 was the most common French-American-British subtype with 23 (32%) cases. Patients with intermediate-risk AML were the most common subgroup with 41 (48%) cases followed by high and low-risk subgroups, 29 (33%) and 16 (19%), respectively. 74 patients were treated with intensive chemotherapy, and 17 were on palliative chemotherapy or best supportive treatment. Remission rate was found to be 84% in patients who received induction chemotherapy while 41% of them relapsed. 93% of low-risk patients underwent complete remission (CR) compared to intermediate and high-risk patients (79% and 87% respectively), but it was not statistically significant (P = 0.4). The median follow-up was 19 months, with overall survival (OS) of 46% for all groups. The low-risk patients had the highest OS 57% compared to intermediate and high risk (52% and 36%, respectively), but it was not statistically significant (P = 0.3). 18 patients had been treated with allogeneic stem cell transplant and at a median follow-up of 17 months posttransplant the OS was 72%. Conclusion: This study shows M1 subtype to be the most common of AML in this population. In addition, the CR was better with similar survival rate as compared to other local and internationally published experiences. These results, albeit with its limitations, need to be confirmed in a prospective clinical trial or national disease registry