The Impact of Democratically Elected Islamist Governments on the Implementation of Foreign Policy: Cases of Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia

This dissertation aims to examine the foreign policy of elected Islamist parties in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia while in power and compare their foreign policy with non-Islamist parties from their respective countries. It seeks to answer the following questions: What is the role of democratically elected Islamist parties on the implementation of foreign policy? Does the foreign policy of Islamist parties differ from that of non-Islamist parties? Do Islamist parties apply their Islamist ideology to foreign policy? Finally, do Islamist parties in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia share similar foreign policy approaches? The study concludes that the difference in foreign policy between Islamist and non-Islamist parties while in power was not significantly high. It also claims that while some Islamist parties do implement foreign policies that are consistent with their Islamist ideology, their foreign policy was more impacted by their respective political system and national context than their shared ideology. Additionally, the study shows that Islamist parties also are not monolithic regarding their foreign policy. Islamists parties not only have different national policies as other studies have shown, but also have distinct foreign policies that are highly influenced by their national context

A Heuristic Approach to the Consecutive Ones Submatrix Problem

أعطيت مصفوفة (0،1)، تم اقتراح مسألة المصفوفة الجزئية ذات الواحدات المتعاقبة والتي تهدف إلى إيجاد تبديل للأعمدة التي تزيد من عدد الأعمدة التي تحتوي معًا على قالب واحد فقط من الواحدات المتعاقبة في كل صف. سيتم اقتراح اسلوب الاستدلال لحل المسألة. كما سيتم دراسة مسألة تقليل القوالب المتتالية ذات الصلة بمسألة المصفوفة الجزئية ذات الواحدات المتعاقبة. تم اقتراح اجراء جديد لتحسين طريقة إدراج العمود. يتم بعد ذلك تقييم مصفوفات العالم الحقيقي ومصفوفات متولدة عشوائيًا من مسألة غطاء المجموعة و تعرض النتائج الحسابية.Given a matrix, the Consecutive Ones Submatrix (C1S) problem which aims to find the permutation of columns that maximizes the number of columns having together only one block of consecutive ones in each row is considered here. A heuristic approach will be suggested to solve the problem. Also, the Consecutive Blocks Minimization (CBM) problem which is related to the consecutive ones submatrix will be considered. The new procedure is proposed to improve the column insertion approach. Then real world and random matrices from the set covering problem will be evaluated and computational results will be highlighted

Bis(1-adamantyl)(2-morpholinophenyl)phosphine (Mor-DalPhos)

(ligand employed in transition metal-catalyzed reactions) Alternate Name: di(1-adamantyl)-2-morpholinophenylphosphine. Physical Data: mp 219–224 °C. Solubility: soluble in most polar organic solvents. Form Supplied in: White to pale yellow powder or crystals. Also commercially available as preformed Au-ligand complexes such as (MeCN)(Mor-Dalphos)Au(I) SbF_6 and [Mor-Dalphos]Au(I)Cl. Analysis of Reagent Purity: NMR, Elemental Analysis. Preparative Method: Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of N-(2-bromophenyl)morpholine and diadamantyl phosphine. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the phosphine is not particularly sensitive to air or moisture although precautions, such as storage under inert atmosphere in a cool place, should be taken during long-term storage. Bis(1-adamantyl)(2-morpholinophenyl)phosphine (Mor-DalPhos) is a phosphine ligand that has been employed in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and Au-catalyzed hydroamination and [3+2] annulations. This ligand, when combined with an appropriate Pd-source, is particularly effective for promoting selective monoarylation processes between aryl electrophiles and nucleophiles such as ammonia, hydrazine, and acetone

Highly active and selective photochemical reduction of CO2 to CO using molecular-defined cyclopentadienone iron complexes

Herein, we report highly active (cyclopentadienone)iron–tricarbonyl complexes for CO2 photoreduction using visible light with an Ir complex as photosensitizer and TEOA as electron/proton donor. Turnover numbers (TON) of ca. 600 (1 h) with initial turnover frequencies (TOF) up to 22.2 min−1 were observed. Operando FTIR measurements allowed for the proposal of a plausible mechanism for catalyst activation

Asymmetric image encryption scheme based on Massey Omura scheme

Asymmetric image encryption schemes have shown high resistance against modern cryptanalysis. Massey Omura scheme is one of the popular asymmetric key cryptosystems based on the hard mathematical problem which is discrete logarithm problem. This system is more secure and efficient since there is no exchange of keys during the protocols of encryption and decryption. Thus, this work tried to use this fact to propose a secure asymmetric image encryption scheme. In this scheme the sender and receiver agree on public parameters, then the scheme begin deal with image using Massey Omura scheme to encrypt it by the sender and then decrypted it by the receiver. The proposed scheme tested using peak signal to noise ratio, and unified average changing intensity to prove that it is fast and has high security

A Plant Propagation Algorithm for the Bin Packing Problem

We consider the one-dimensional Bin Packing Problem (BPP) and its solution using a novel heuristic approach namely the Plant Propagation Algorithm (PPA). The problem can be stated as follows: given a set of objects of various weights, sizes, or any measure, and a set of bins each with fixed capacity, find the minimum number of bins needed to pack all the items such that the sum of the elements packed inside each bin does not exceed its capacity. BPP is a well-studied problem, however, being NP-Hard, the search for a computationally viable solution approach for it continues. In this paper, we report on our implementation of PPA for BPP and its performance against other algorithms on number of non-trivial instances. Computational results and their discussion are included

Metal-Free Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid to H2 and CO2 Using Boron-Based Catalysts

International audienceFormic acid is at the crossroads of novel sustainable energy strategies because it is an efficient H2 carrier. Yet, its decomposition to H2 today relies on metal-based catalysts. Herein, we describe the first metal-free catalysts able to promote the dehydrogenation of formic acid. Using dialkylborane derivatives, HCOOH is decomposed to H2 and CO2, in the presence of a base, with high selectivity. Experimental and computational results point to the involvement of bis(formyloxy)borates as key intermediates in the C–H bond activation of a formate ligan

Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection Induced Allergic Airway Sensitization Is Controlled by Regulatory T-Cells and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) is associated with induction and exacerbation of asthma. CP infection can induce allergic airway sensitization in mice in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Allergen exposure 5 days after a low dose (mild-moderate), but not a high dose (severe) CP infection induces antigen sensitization in mice. Innate immune signals play a critical role in controlling CP infection induced allergic airway sensitization, however these mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Wild-type, TLR2−/−, and TLR4−/− mice were infected intranasally (i.n.) with a low dose of CP, followed by i.n. exposure to human serum albumin (HSA) and challenged with HSA 2 weeks later. Airway inflammation, immunoglobulins, eosinophils, and goblet cells were measured. Low dose CP infection induced allergic sensitization in TLR2−/− mice, but not in TLR4−/− mice, due to differential Treg responses in these genotypes. TLR2−/− mice had reduced numbers of Tregs in the lung during CP infection while TLR4−/− mice had increased numbers. High dose CP infection resulted in an increase in Tregs and pDCs in lungs, which prevented antigen sensitization in WT mice. Depletion of Tregs or pDCs resulted in allergic airway sensitization. We conclude that Tregs and pDCs are critical determinants regulating CP infection-induced allergic sensitization. Furthermore, TLR2 and TLR4 signaling during CP infection may play a regulatory role through the modulation of Tregs

Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Contributes to Inflammation and Muscle Tissue Injury

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) threatens public health worldwide, and epidemiologic data suggest that the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) expressed by most CA-MRSA strains could contribute to severe human infections, particularly in young and immunocompetent hosts. PVL is proposed to induce cytolysis or apoptosis of phagocytes. However, recent comparisons of isogenic CA-MRSA strains with or without PVL have revealed no differences in human PMN cytolytic activity. Furthermore, many of the mouse studies performed to date have failed to demonstrate a virulence role for PVL, thereby provoking the question: does PVL have a mechanistic role in human infection? In this report, we evaluated the contribution of PVL to severe skin and soft tissue infection. We generated PVL mutants in CA-MRSA strains isolated from patients with necrotizing fasciitis and used these tools to evaluate the pathogenic role of PVL in vivo. In a model of necrotizing soft tissue infection, we found PVL caused significant damage of muscle but not the skin. Muscle injury was linked to induction of pro-inflammatory chemokines KC, MIP-2, and RANTES, and recruitment of neutrophils. Tissue damage was most prominent in young mice and in those strains of mice that more effectively cleared S. aureus, and was not significant in older mice and mouse strains that had a more limited immune response to the pathogen. PVL mediated injury could be blocked by pretreatment with anti-PVL antibodies. Our data provide new insights into CA-MRSA pathogenesis, epidemiology and therapeutics. PVL could contribute to the increased incidence of myositis in CA-MRSA infection, and the toxin could mediate tissue injury by mechanisms other than direct killing of phagocytes