Software Piracy in Egypt: Analysis of the Institutional Environment and Efficiency of Enforcement Measures

This paper develops the first applied econometric model to examine the efficiency of existing enforcement measures and legal framework on prevailing software piracy rates in Egypt. Hence, it can be used as a tool when discussing new policies concerning the welfare of the interest groups and the pricing of protected software products (i.e., original software products). The model will focus on the available time-series data during 1992-2002 in Egypt. This time period was chosen due to the paucity of quantitative data concerning the model. The institutional environment is examined according to the New Institutional Economics (NIE) to illustrate the legal framework, the informal constraints and the enforcement authorities to support the empirical model. Analytical results show that efficient enforcement of property rights does not only imply increasing legal enforcement through imposing more severe punishments and prosecutions, as decreasing the prices of software plays a much bigger role. Thus relying on legal enforcement authorities alone is not always economically optimal, as it will not be able to deter IPR infringement on its own.Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Legal Enforcement, New Institutional Economics (NIE), Software Piracy, Egypt

The role of institutions within the IPR enforcement: The case of de facto software protection in Egypt

The present paper develops a new institutional perspective of intellectual property right (IPR) enforcement dilemmas in developing countries, focusing on the case of software protection in Egypt. Transplanting western made IPR rules and enforcement strategies to developing countries without any additional assistance from right holders did not fulfill the required enforcement standards. Satisfactory results can only be achieved gradually. Game theoretical examinations showed that decisions tak en by both parties (right holders and developing countries) under the homo-economicus assumption and in the absence of binding institutions lead to inefficient outcomes, while agreeing on a long-term cooperative second best mindset leads to higher welfare gains. In order to maintain a stable contractual outcome to enforce IPR, one should control for the process of structuring de facto institutions, especially enforcement authorities (prosecutors and judiciary) before signing the agreement and throughout the contractual phase. This hinders sharp fluctuations of transaction cost (TC) and expected value of future payoffs that might occur during the different stages of the contract. Accordingly, the paper provides a new policy tool that can be considered useful when discussing new strategies related to the possibility of establishing binding institutions to enforce IPR

Optical and interferometric studies on oscillating quartz crystals

The methods of investigation in the present work deal with: firstly the calculation of the frequencies of vibration of the different modes of extensional vibrations both radial and torsional of circular, solid and annular, plates as predicted by Love's theory. These are experimentally examined and empirical rules governing the frequencies are evolved. Secondly, the physical form of the vibration at the different calculated resonant frequencies is observed. This is carried out either by investigating the position of the nodal and antinodal regions on the vibrating surface or by investigating the distribution of stress inside the body of the vibrator. Three methods of observations have been used, namely, the interference method and this gives a measurement of displacements in the normal direction to the plate surface, together with an exact measurement of the surface amplitudes of the vibrating plate. Chapter IX is dealing with amplitude measurements. The powder method and it will be shown that it gives indication of both vertical and horizontal displacements. The third method used for the present investigation gives the stress distribution within the specimen provided the specimen is sufficiently thin. It is shown that it is generally unreasonable to expect any one method of observation to give a reliable solution to the type of motion and to the mode of vibrating body. The three methods together should be used in order to give a sound information about the vibrating motion; otherwise a misleading representation of the state of vibration is likely to arise.A practical agreement has been found between the theoretical and observed patterns for the second and third methods of investigation. The interference method did not offer a good correlation between theoretical and observed patterns; since it is always coupled to flexural modes of particular symmetry. However, the method gives an exact measurement of the surface amplitudes. The measurements require no calibration.<p

Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field Enhances the Therapeutic Efficacy of Low-Dose Cisplatin in the Treatment of Ehrlich Carcinoma

e present study examines the therapeutic efficacy of the administration of low-dose cisplatin (cis) followed by exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic �eld (ELF-MF), with an average intensity of 10 mT, on Ehrlich carcinoma in vivo. e cytotoxic and genotoxic actions of this combination were studied using comet assay, mitotic index (MI), and the induction of micronucleus (MN). Moreover, the inhibition of tumor growth was also measured. Treatment with cisplatin and ELF-MF (group A) increased the number of damaged cells by 54% compared with 41% for mice treated with cisplatin alone (group B), 20% for mice treated by exposure to ELF-MF (group C), and 9% for the control group (group D). Also the mitotic index decreased signi�cantly for all treated groups ( ). e decrement percent for the treated groups (A, B, and C) were 70%,65%, and 22%, respectively, compared with the control group (D). Additionally, the rate of tumor growth at day 12 was suppressed signi�cantly ( ) for groups A, B, and C with respect to group (D). ese results suggest that ELF-MF enhanced the cytotoxic activity of cisplatin and potentiate the bene�t of using a combination of low-dose cisplatin and ELF-MF in the treatment of Ehrlich carcinoma

Longitudinal Morphological Changes in the Adenoids and Tonsils in Japanese School Children

The adenoid (Ad) and tonsil (Ts), located in the upper airway, play an important role in immunological protection. These lymphoid tissues grow rapidly, reach a peak of growth at the age of 6–8 years, and decrease in their size thereafter. However, little information is available on the longitudinal growth patterns of Ad and Ts in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the individual growth of Ad and Ts during childhood using lateral cephalograms taken longitudinally from the same individuals at the ages of 8–12 years. Our results showed that the cross-sectional areas of the Ad, nasopharynx (Np), and oropharynx (Op) significantly increased with age while small changes in the size of Ts were present throughout the study period. In addition, the values of Ad/Np and Ts/Op decreased significantly with age in the elementary school. Furthermore, there was a strong and significant correlation between the Ad/Np ratio and upper airway resistance, indicating the narrowest distance in the upper airway. In conclusion, the airway occupation in Np and Op increased with age due to the increase in the sizes of Np and Op but not the decrease in the sizes of Ad and Ts

Development of a 3D Printed Neuroanatomy Teaching Model

Gross anatomy has been seen as one of the basic bodies of knowledge that must be mastered as part of medical training. Likewise, neuroanatomy has been seen as foundational to clinical neurosciences. However, Neuroanatomy is different from gross anatomy and this is due to the complexity of the central nervous system, moreover, some of its structures cannot be dissected or demonstrated in anatomy cadaveric lab. The use of anatomical models in medical curricula has been reported as an effective way in teaching and learning anatomy. They have been used to replace cadaveric material when the latter is difficult to acquire, or when the anatomical structures cannot be dissected like the brain ventricles for instance, moreover they have the privilege of visualizing the structures in a 3 dimensional modality. The goal of this study was to create a 3 D printed neuroanatomy model in order to complement the University of Ottawa anatomy models’ library, and help medical students visualize the pathway of different nervous tracts on a 3 D simulation model. To assist with this, 2D images of slices of the cerebrum, brainstem, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord were downloaded online to be imported to Adobe Photoshop CC 2015. The images were manually converted to black and white, and separated into different layers to export each components separately into Tinker CAD (online software). The different components were then assembled on Tinker CAD to create 3D printer compatible files. The files were printed using white ABS on a Replicator 2X MakerBot printer at the library of University of Ottawa.  

Formulation, Delivery and Stability of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins for Effective Bone Regeneration

Drug Delivery Technolog