Cost-Benefit Analysis of Egypt’s Free Economic Zones: A Way Forward for Libya

Libya has an economy over dependent on hydrocarbon and the petroleum industry. In a bid to diversify, the Libyan government is looking at Free Economic Zones (FEZ) as a viable option versus other avenues, like Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This thesis explores FEZ as a tool to fetch investment for the development of Libya's economy. Some of the factors in favour of FEZ are believed to be employment opportunities for local labour, enhancing their skills and knowledge, as well as bringing new technology along with management styles, thereby boosting not only the national economy, but overall growth of society. This thesis examines these arguments by comparing existing FEZ in various parts of the world, particularly Al-Ameria FEZ in Alexandria, Egypt. The case study revolves around this FEZ, as it has geographical and cultural similarity to that of Libya. In stimulating a potential decision making process, cost-benefit analysis is carried out to evaluate financial return against benefits envisaged. Finally, the study recommends the perceived best way forward in establishing successful FEZ to achieve desired sustainable economic growth in Libya. This is the first study of its kind in the Arab world that covers cost-benefit analysis of different industries within FEZ, and could prove to be a guideline for academics and business communities working in this field

The Development of a Knowledge-Based Wax Deposition, Three Yield Stresses Model and Failure Mechanisms for Re-starting Petroleum Field Pipelines. Building on Chang and Boger’s Yield Stresses Model, Bidmus and Mehrotra’s Wax Deposition and Lee et al.’s Adhesive-Cohesive Failure Concepts to better Underpin Restart Operation of Waxy Crude Oil Pipelines

Twenty years ago, Chang et al. (1998) introduced the three-yield stresses concept (dynamic, static and elastic limits) to describe yielding of waxy crude oils cooled below the wax appearance temperature (WAT). At the time, the limits in rheological instruments were such that they never actually measured the elastic-limit, a key fundamental property. Using modern instruments, this research succeeds in recording for the first time the entire yielding process down to stresses of 10-7 Pa and shear rate of 10-6 min-1 as a function of temperature, cooling rate and stress loading rate using two waxy oils of different origins and wax content. A four-yield stress model is established using derivative data (dynamic fluidity and failure acceleration). In addition, calorimetry (DSC) and microscopy (CPM) helped extract WAT, the gel and pour points and link gel crystal structure and its yielding and breakage to rheological properties. The yielding stresses measured rheologically were tested in laboratory pipelines at two diameter scales, 6.5mm and 13.5mm to compare stresses in uniform and non-uniform cooling. It is demonstrated that rheological instruments can only predict gel breaking pressure when the cooling rate is low, i.e. yielding at the pipe wall. A complementary heat transfer study was performed on a section of pipe statically cooled, both experimentally and theoretically to predict the gel front-liquid oil interface that develops in industrial pipeline where gel breaking occurs. This key information together with rheological data provide the means to predict accurately restart pressures of shut gelled pipelines that have eluded previous research.Ministry of Higher Education of the Libyan Governmen

Rheology of waxy crude oils in relation to restart of gelled pipelines

YesWaxy crude oils are pumped hot but upon power cut, pumping stops, the oil cools leading below the wax appearance temperature to precipitation of the wax and the formation of a gel throughout the pipe. In such a situation, what is the minimum pressure required to restart flow, not to merely deform the gel or break it? This paper provides a solution to this problem using microscopic observations under controlled cooling conditions and rheological data conducted in constant stress mode under controlled temperature and cooling conditions and restart experiments in laboratory pipelines replicating the rheometric conditions and deviations from them to inform large diameter operation in the field. Three important findings derive from the experimental data collected: (i) A fragmentation stress , rather than the static stress that precedes it, is found to be the more accurate predictor of flow re-start pressures; (ii) Waxy crude oils gels exhibit true yield stress and yielding process but also show flow on application of the slightest stress below yielding; (iii) This flow, in the elastic region, is jagged rather than continuous suggesting a consolidation process of the crystals and their agglomerates forming the gel. In the broader context of the existence of a yield stress, the data presented here show that there is such a thing as a yield stress and the concepts of a yield stress and that everything flows are not mutually exclusive

The amino acid transporter SLC7A11 expression in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a complex disease with diverse molecular profiles and clinical outcomes, making it challenging to develop effective treatments. Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer and SLC7A11, an amino acid transporter, plays a crucial role in this process. This study investigated the role of SLC7A11 in BC using genomic, transcriptomic, and protein analyses.SLC7A11 gene copy number and mRNA expression were evaluated using the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) cohort (n=1,980) and Breast Cancer Gene Expression Miner (n=4,712). SLC7A11 protein was assessed using immunohistochemistry in a large BC cohort (n=1,981). Additionally, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset was used to explore SLC7A11 DNA methylation patterns using MethSurv (n=782) and association of SLC7A11 mRNA expression with immune infiltrates using TIMER (n=1,100). High SLC7A11 mRNA and SLC7A11 protein expression were significantly associated with high tumor grade (p≤0.02). Interestingly, SLC7A11 copy number gain was observed in HER2+ tumors (p=0.01) whilst SLC7A11 mRNA expression was higher in basal-like/triple-negative (TN) and luminal B tumors (p≤0.02). In contrast, high SLC7A11 protein expression was predominantly observed in Estrogen Receptor (ER)-negative and TN BC. SLC7A11 correlated with other amino acid transporters and glutamine metabolism enzymes and with neutrophil and macrophage infiltration.These findings suggest that SLC7A11 plays a significant role in BC metabolism and may be a potential therapeutic target. Further studies are needed to elucidate its precise mechanisms and explore its therapeutic potential

A density functional study of structural and elastic properties of LaN under high pressure

Structural and elastic properties of LaN at normal and high pressures are investigated using ab initio calculations based on full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) within both local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Our results concerning equilibrium lattice parameter and bulk modulus agree well with the available experimental and previous theoretical findings. The transition pressure from NaCl (B1) to CsCl (B2) phase is found to be 31.05 GPa from LDA, and 42.2 GPa from GGA. To the best of our knowledge, the elastic properties for LaN in the B1 structure in the presence of pressure have never been reported so far. The linear pressure coefficients of elastic constants and their related bulk modulus are determined from the pressure dependence of these parameters. Furthermore, the mechanical stability criteria for LaN in B1 phase are found to be fulfilled at normal conditions

ATF4 as a Prognostic Marker and Modulator of Glutamine Metabolism in Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

Introduction: ATF4, a stress-responsive transcription factor that upregulates adaptive genes, is a potential prognostic marker and modulator of glutamine metabolism in breast cancer. However, its exact role remains to be elucidated.Methods: ATF4 expression was evaluated at genomic and transcriptomic levels using METABRIC (n=1980), GeneMiner (n=4712) and KM-Plotter datasets. Proteomic expression was assessed via immunohistochemistry (n=2225) in the Nottingham Primary Breast Cancer Series. ATF4 genomic copy number (CN) variation and mRNA/protein in association with clinicopathological parameters, amino acid transporters (AATs), and patient outcome was investigated. Results: Genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic overexpression of ATF4 was associated with more aggressive ER-negative tumours. ATF4 mRNA and protein expression were significantly associated with increased expression of glutamine related AATs including SLC1A5 (p<0.01) and SLC7A11 (p<0.02). High ATF4 and SLC1A5 protein expression was significantly associated with shorter breast cancer-specific survival (p<0.01), especially in ER+ tumours (p<0.01), while high ATF4 and SLC7A11 protein expression was associated with shorter survival (p<0.01).Conclusion: These findings suggest a complex interplay between ATF4 and AATs in breast cancer biology and underscore the potential role for ATF4 as a prognostic marker in ER+ breast cancer, offering a unique opportunity for risk stratification and personalised treatment strategies

Tripartite Motif Containing 2, a glutamine metabolism-associated protein, predicts poor patient outcome in triple negative breast cancer treated with chemotherapy

Background Breast cancer (BC) remains heterogeneous in terms of prognosis and response to treatment. Metabolic reprogramming is a critical part of oncogenesis and a potential therapeutic target. Glutaminase (GLS), which generates glutamate from glutamine, plays a role in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, targeting GLS directly may be difficult, as it is essential for normal cell function. This study aimed to determine potential targets in BC associated with glutamine metabolism and evaluate their prognostic value in BC.Methods The iNET model (https://inetmodels.com) was used to identify genes in BC that associated with GLS using RNA-sequencing data. The prognostic significance of Tripartite Motif Containing 2 (TRIM2) mRNA was assessed in BC transcriptomic data (n=16,575), and TRIM2 protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry (n=749) in early-stage invasive breast cancer patients with long-term follow-up. The associations between TRIM2 expression and clinicopathological features and patient outcome were evaluated. ResultsPathway analysis identified TRIM2 expression as an important gene co-expressed with high GLS expression in BC. High TRIM2 mRNA and TRIM2 protein expression were associated with TNBC (p<0.01). TRIM2 was a predictor of poor distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) in TNBC (p<0.01) which was independent of established prognostic factors (p<0.05). particularly in those who received chemotherapy (p<0.05). In addition, TRIM2 was a predictor of shorter DMFS in TNBC treated with chemotherapy (p<0.01).Conclusion This study provides evidence for association between TRIM2 and poor patient outcome in TNBC especially those treated with chemotherapy. The molecular mechanisms and functional behaviour of TRIM2 and the functional link with GLS in BC warrant further exploration using in vitro models