Housing policy and finance in Egypt: extending the reach of mortgage credit

This thesis attempts to address the need for a clear strategy for the supply side in the Egyptian mortgage market. The thesis focuses for the first time on the issues in relation to the role of the bank and non-bank financial institutions in the creation of an effective and sustainable mortgage market that works better for low- and moderate-income households in Egypt as well as the role of these institutions after the mortgage market has reached a certain stage of development. The key research objectives are as follows: 1) to address why Egyptian housing co-operative societies can be seen as important policy agents to expand the mortgage credit beneficiaries base in Egypt; 2) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Egyptian housing co-operative societies as community based organisations and policy agents; 3) to identify and analyse the various economic, social and political factors influencing this effectiveness; 4) to assess the role of the banking institutions (as contextual stakeholders in the immediate environment of the Egyptian housing co-operative societies) in expanding access to mortgage credit and savings in Egypt; and 5) to identify which institutions constrain most the development of an effective and sustainable level of mortgage credit for low- and moderate-income households. In order to address these issues and objectives, the researcher reviewed the theoretical and empirical issues associated with the assessment of mortgage credit intermediation models to identify their reach and the limit of that reach and, implicitly, to examine what needs to be done to close the gap on what would be a more accessible mortgage market. Further, from 2008 to 2010, the researcher surveyed and interviewed a group of banking, co-operative and government officers in Cairo, Egypt. Questions regarding their attitudes towards housing policy and finance in Egypt were posed, especially in relation to the provision of mortgage credit in Egypt. The thesis found that Egyptian banking institutions, as agents in carrying out housing policies and finance, enabled the housing co-operative societies as stakeholders to form expectations towards the results of the new reforms with the same framework as they had done before. The survey and interviews showed that housing co-operative societies were dissatisfied with the expected results of recent reforms in the Egyptian housing and mortgage markets. It appears that resistance to the reforms was caused by the fact that housing co-operative societies were not interested. But the thesis found that the unfair distributive results associated with mortgage credit allocation were resented most by housing co-operative societies. Thus, the thesis concludes that to extend the reach of mortgage credit, there needs to be a wider strategy to reform the housing and mortgage markets in Egypt that includes strengthening the role of community institutions such as Egyptian housing co-operative societies based on well defined and structured stakeholder framework

Seismic performance evaluation of reinforced concrete moment resisting frames

During the last few decades, the concepts and procedures of seismic design of buildings have evolved significantly. Traditionally, seismic design was based on providing the structure with the strength it needs to resist equivalent lateral forces that represent the earthquake induced forces. This methodology has proven to be inefficient in providing the target level of seismic performance in all case scenarios. The new methodology in seismic design, performance-based design, aims at designing the structure to achieve the expected performance levels under different levels of seismic hazard. Although this goal is still not fully attained, several developments have taken place towards it. The latest edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC 2005) requires the use of dynamic analysis for the seismic design, except in the case of short to medium height simple buildings with regular geometry where the use of the equivalent static load method is still allowed. In this study, three moment resisting frame buildings assumed to be located in Vancouver, British Columbia are designed based on the equivalent static load method of the NBCC 2005 and their performance is evaluated using nonlinear dynamic time-history analysis. Multiple ground motion records corresponding to different seismic hazard levels are used in the analysis. The effect of infill panels on the seismic response is studied as well. The results show that the design is satisfactory and, in some cases, conservative. The results also show that infill panels, in most cases, enhance the dynamic response of the buildings, while in some cases they may have a negative impact on it

Serum selenoprotein P in lean and obese Egyptian individuals and its relation to insulin resistance

Background: Obesity is a major health problem with increasing prevalence and directly contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Selenoprotein P (Se P) is a novel hepatokine that affects glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and correlating with insulin resistance, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Plasma Se P level is one of the promising biomarkers for predictions or diagnoses/prognoses of the diseases.Objective: Evaluating the serum level of Selenoprotein P in overweight, obese, and lean individuals and its relation to insulin resistance and cardiometabolic parameters.Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Outpatient Endocrinology Clinics, Internal Medicine Department, Menoufia University Hospitals on 90 individuals that were divided into two groups: (group I) 50 overweight and obese individuals (with body mass index (BMI) in the range 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 and ≥30.0 kg/m2, respectively) and (group II) 40 lean individuals with BMI in the range (18.5–24.9) kg/m2. All subjects were subjected to detailed history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations including fasting and 2 hours postprandial blood sugar, lipid profile, fasting serum insulin level, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and serum Se P.Results: Se P concentrations were significantly increased in overweight and obese group than lean group (p < 0.001). Se P concentration was related to various cardio-metabolic parameters. In overweight and obese group there was a significant positive correlation between serum Selenoprotein p level and waist circumference (WC) (r −0.453, p <0.001), hip circumference (HC) (r = 0.464, p < 0.001), waist-hip ratio (WHR) (r −0.506, p < 0.001), visceral adiposity index (VAI) (r = 0.323, p = 0.022), fasting serum insulin (r = 0.585, p < 0.001), and HOMA-IR (r = 0.570, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Circulating Se P concentrations is elevated in obesity and related to insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, and atherogenic index of plasma

SELECTION OF GOOD MALE DATE PALM POLLINATORS FOR IMPROVING BOTH YIELDS AND FRUIT QUALITY, USING MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF POLLINATORS USING ISSR MARKERS

This investigation was carried out during three successive seasons (2011, 2012 and 2013) at Siwa Oasis, MatruhGovernorate and Tamiya District, Fayoum Governorate. The investigation included three types of experiments; the first was concerned with the evaluation of twenty chosen seedling palm males in order to select the most promising males. Five male pollinizers were selected according to spathes number, flowers number/spathe, start and duration of spathe burst, pollen grains weight, pollen grains viability (at Siwa Oasis in 2011 and 2012 seasons). The numerical selection ofselected male palms showed that pollinizer No. 5 (98.9 units), No. 14 (98.8 units), No. 7 (83.6 units), No. 12 (81.9 units) and No. 13 (81.8 units). The results indicated that the five selected pollinators increased the yield of both Seewy and Barhee cultivars in both two seasons (2012 and 2013) grown at Tamiya District, Fayoum Governorate. PollinizerNo. 12 induced an early harvesting in both Barhee and Seewy cultivars, while pollinizer No. 7 gave the highest yield in both Seewy and Barhee cultivars as well as moisture percentage. Meanwhile, pollinizer No. 12 gave the highest values of total sugar content and TSS % in Seewy cultivar. The results indicated that pollinizer No. 13 gave the highest dry matter %. Also, the results indicated that pollinizer No. 14 gave the highest fruit dimensions as well as both fruit weight and flesh weight. The pollinizer No. 5 gave the lowest seed weight in both two seasons. The selected five pollinators seedling weregenetically discriminated by inter-simple sequence repeats for characterization and construction of genetic linkage maps and the molecular genetic diversity among the five selected pollinators. The results indicated that pollinizers No. 12 and 14 recorded the highest similarity (100%), while the lowest similarity (0.0%) was detected between pollinizer No. 7 and No. 13

IgY antibodies: The promising potential to overcome antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a growing threat to global health security. Whilst the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural phenomenon, it is also driven by antibiotic exposure in health care, agriculture, and the environment. Antibiotic pressure and inappropriate use of antibiotics are important factors which drive resistance. Apart from their use to treat bacterial infections in humans, antibiotics also play an important role in animal husbandry. With limited antibiotic options, alternate strategies are required to overcome AMR. Passive immunization through oral, nasal and topical administration of egg yolk-derived IgY antibodies from immunized chickens were recently shown to be effective for treating bacterial infections in animals and humans. Immunization of chickens with specific antigens offers the possibility of creating specific antibodies targeting a wide range of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this review, we describe the growing global problem of antimicrobial resistance and highlight the promising potential of the use of egg yolk IgY antibodies for the treatment of bacterial infections, particularly those listed in the World Health Organization priority list

Monitoring and Assessing the Coastal Ecosystem at Hurghada, Red Sea Coast, Egypt

In the framework of the investment plan, the government of Egypt introduced an accelerated development of Hurghada in collaboration with the private sector, as   early as 1980's.  The government intended to construct tourist resort communities, which required establishment of infrastructures. The  demand  of  such  facilities, in absence of enforced environmental roles led owners  to implement  processes  of  landfilling  and  dredging  for the purpose of smoothing, paving and widening the beach in order to construct swimming pools, marinas and other recreational facilities. Such activities came on the expense of the marine ecosystem and especially assault on the coral reef communities. For monitoring and assessing such oppressive activities;  MSS,  TM,  ETM+,  and SPOT XS 4 satellite images acquired  during  1972,  1984,  1992,  2004  and 2011. Shoreline change detection from 1972 to 2011 reveals landfilling of some 7.56Km2 and dredging of 2.67km2, with loss of 5.34km2 of the reef tracts. At the same period, the region has witnessed expansions in urban and road network by 16.47km2 and 8.738km2 respectively. The Egyptian government issued the essential laws for regulating and saving the coastal ecosystem, yet mostly violated. Activation of such laws, applying judicial officers, toughening penalties and establishment of coastal building front line (CBFL), and a reef protection line (RPL) are important tasks especially south of Hurghada to the Egyptian-Sudanese borders to preserve the remnants of such unique coastal ecosystem. Keywords: Satellite images, Hurghada, Red Sea, coastal ecosystem, shoreline changes, urban, road network, environment law

IgY antibodies: The promising potential to overcome antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a growing threat to global health security. Whilst the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural phenomenon, it is also driven by antibiotic exposure in health care, agriculture, and the environment. Antibiotic pressure and inappropriate use of antibiotics are important factors which drive resistance. Apart from their use to treat bacterial infections in humans, antibiotics also play an important role in animal husbandry. With limited antibiotic options, alternate strategies are required to overcome AMR. Passive immunization through oral, nasal and topical administration of egg yolk-derived IgY antibodies from immunized chickens were recently shown to be effective for treating bacterial infections in animals and humans. Immunization of chickens with specific antigens offers the possibility of creating specific antibodies targeting a wide range of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this review, we describe the growing global problem of antimicrobial resistance and highlight the promising potential of the use of egg yolk IgY antibodies for the treatment of bacterial infections, particularly those listed in the World Health Organization priority list

Impact of Trunk Control on Balance and Functional Abilities in Chronic Stroke Patients

Background: The proximal trunk stability is a major pre-requisite for balance and coordinated extremity use in daily functional activities. Objective: To evaluate the trunk control in chronic stroke patients , and to determine to what extent it affects balance abilities and functional performance of those patients. Another aim is to detect the best clinical measure that can be used to test trunk muscle control and may predict functional recovery. Patients and Methods: Forty adult post-stroke ambulant patients participated in this study. The testing protocol included assessment of trunk control by Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), evaluation of balance ability by Biodex Balance System, and assessment of the functional performance by Functional Independence Measure (motor subscale). Results: The mean age of the study sample was 56.1 \ub15.45 years. The trunk control was impaired in 39 (97.5%) out of 40 patients. Measures of trunk control were significantly correlated with measures of balance and functional ability. Univariate regression analysis and partial correlation showed that the dynamic sitting balance subscale of the TIS has the highest effect on measures of balance and functional ability. In addition, the patients\u2019 functional performance is strongly dependent on their balance ability. Conclusion: The trunk performance is still impaired in most of chronic stroke patients and it strongly affects their balance and functional abilities. The dynamic sitting balance component of the TIS is a reliable clinical indicator of balance and functional recovery

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – a ten-year (2012-2022) global analysis of human and camel infections, genomic sequences, lineages, and geographical origins

OBJECTIVES:The World Health Organization priority zoonotic pathogen Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus (CoV) has a high case fatality rate in humans and circulates in camels worldwide. METHODS: We performed a global analysis of human and camel MERS-CoV infections, epidemiology, genomic sequences, clades, lineages, and geographical origins for the period January 1, 2012 to August 3, 2022. MERS-CoV Surface gene sequences (4061 bp) were extracted from GenBank, and a phylogenetic maximum likelihood tree was constructed. RESULTS: As of August 2022, 2591 human MERS cases from 26 countries were reported to the World Health Organization (Saudi Arabia, 2184 cases, including 813 deaths [case fatality rate: 37.2%]) Although declining in numbers, MERS cases continue to be reported from the Middle East. A total of 728 MERS-CoV genomes were identified (the largest numbers were from Saudi Arabia [222: human = 146, camels = 76] and the United Arab Emirates [176: human = 21, camels = 155]). A total of 501 ‘S’-gene sequences were used for phylogenetic tree construction (camels [n = 264], humans [n = 226], bats [n = 8], other [n=3]). Three MERS-CoV clades were identified: clade B, which is the largest, followed by clade A and clade C. Of the 462 clade B lineages, lineage 5 was predominant (n = 177). CONCLUSION: MERS-CoV remains a threat to global health security. MERS-CoV variants continue circulating in humans and camels. The recombination rates indicate co-infections with different MERS-CoV lineages. Proactive surveillance of MERS-CoV infections and variants of concern in camels and humans worldwide, and development of a MERS vaccine, are essential for epidemic preparedness