Measurement of Multidimensional Poverty in Egypt

Measuring poverty and targeting the poor is still challenging in many developing countries due to the absence of an agreed definition of poverty and the limited availability of data. Poor measurement and mal-targeting in anti-poverty policies makes those policies less effective. Egypt suffers from the problems because only a single dimension of poverty such as income is considered to measure and target poverty, while real poverty is multidimensional. Further, the access to those data is limited. This paper suggests a method of poverty measurement that enables us to consider the multi-dimensionality of poverty and circumvent the inaccessibility of household-level income data. First, we measure Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for Egypt using a publicized dataset to show that the MPI gives a closer estimate of actual poverty. Second, we identify the characteristics of poor households by using the probit model to use the results for better targeting

Vitrification for cryopreservation of 2D and 3D stem cells culture using high concentration of cryoprotective agents

Abstract Background Vitrification is the most promising technology for successful cryopreservation of living organisms without ice crystal formation. However, high concentrations (up to ~ 6–8 M) of cryoprotective agents (CPAs) used in stem cell induce osmotic and metabolic injuries. Moreover, the application of conventional slow-freezing methods to cultures of 3-D organoids of stem cells in various studies, is limited by their size. Results In this study, we evaluated the effect of high concentrations of CPAs including cytotoxicity and characterized human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) at single cell level. The cell viability, cellular damage, and apoptotic mechanisms as well as the proliferation capacity and multipotency of cells subjected to vitrification were similar to those in the slow-freezing group. Furthermore, we identified the possibility of vitrification of size-controlled 3-D spheroids for cryopreservation of organoid with high survivability. Conclusions Our results demonstrate successful vitrification of both single cell and spheroid using high concentration of CPAs in vitro without cytotoxicity

The Heterogeneity of Job Creation and Destruction in Transition and Non-transition Developing Countries: The Effects of Firm Size, Age and Ownership

This paper investigates how firm age, size and ownership are related with job creation and destruction, and how these patterns differ across transition and non-transition economies. The analysis finds that age is inversely related with gross job creation and net job creation in the two samples. This finding is consistent with the theory of the learning effect. The relationship between age and job destruction is indifferent in non-transition economies. On the contrary, old firms in transition economies destroy more jobs than young ones. The paper further establishes an inverse relationship between size and gross job creation in the two groups. However, there is divergence between the two samples; small firms in non-transition economies also exhibit a higher gross job destruction rate. Consequently large firms have a higher net job creation rate. In transition economies, small and large firms exhibit similar rates of job destruction. But small firms retain a higher net job creation rate. A more intriguing finding is that state owned firms do not underperform domestic private ones. This means these countries may be using soft budget constraint which allows state owned firms to overstaff. Finally, crowding out of SMEs by foreign owned firms is not evident in transition economies

Synthesis of dithioacetals via gold-catalysed hydrothiolation of vinyl sulfides

The synthesis of unsymmetrical dithioacetals based on gold catalysis is described. Although many approaches to the preparation of symmetrical dithioacetals have been developed, the methods to access unsymmetrical ones remain limited. In this regard, we report a mild synthetic method with a broad substrate scope. Screening of various gold catalysts identified a catalyst, which allows the hydrothiolation of both activated and unactivated vinyl sulfides with high efficiency. Moreover, the reaction displays broad compatibility for both aryl and aliphatic thiols

Electrochemical C(sp(3))-H Functionalization of gamma-Lactams Based on Hydrogen Atom Transfer

We describe the electrochemical alpha-amidoalkylation of gamma-lactams based on transition-metal-free cross-coupling via hydrogen atom transfer. The highly selective hydrogen atom transfer process allows for a broad substrate scope including both inter- and intramolecular reactions. Also, the construction of quaternary centers was realized by a double hydrogen atom transfer protocol to afford spirocycles. Detailed mechanistic studies including experimental and computational studies are provided to support the reaction pathway