Money, FDI and Economic Growth in MENA Countries.

First chapter examines the link between FDI, trade, capital formation and economic growth in 12 MENA countries using panel analysis for yearly data between the period 2001 to 2017. Using cointegration and Hausman test, our results indicate that, all the variables are stationary at first level, and long run relationship exist between our variables. A model of endogenous growth highlight that MENA countries favored FDI to trade, where trade has negative relation with economic growth. Capital formation and labor has positive and significant relation. We also, address the relation of education level, as we know that increase in Education level will enhance the adoption of foreign technology. The results were consistent with our initial model. Furthermore, we answered the question of whether FDI is a complement or substitute? Our result show that FDI has negative relation with stock market. In other words, FDI is a substitute not a complement to stock market. FDI is positively correlated with stock market liquidity, saving, GDP and political stability. Second chapter explores the long run demand for money and its stability for MENA countries for the period of 2002 to 2016 using annual data. By applying panel cointegration approach, the result reveals evidence of cointegration between the variables in the long run. Therefore, an error correction (ECM) is applied to determine the factors that influence real money aggregate(M2). The result show that, export and import have positive and negative effect respectively, increase in exporting will increase the value of the currency, and the opposite is true. Further, all the variables have significant effect in the long run, while GDP affect the demand for money in the short run. The CUSUM test of paraments stability show that money demand function is mostly stable over the period. At individual level, the result change from county to another

An investigation of the relationship between cyberbullying, cybervictimization and depression symptoms: A cross sectional study among university students in Qatar

Background Cyberbullying is a modern form of bullying that could be practiced electronically or on the internet. It is related to different mental health issues such as depression, which can affect both the cyberbully and the victim. Although a few studies have been conducted regarding the prevalence of cyberbullying and cyber-victimization among the younger generation in Qatar, no studies have been conducted among young adults despite studies showing that they are also prone to cyberbullying. Methods This is a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence and the relationship between cyberbullying, cyber-victimization, and depression symptoms among Qatar University students. A self-administered close-ended electronic questionnaire was used to assess student's cyberbullying/cyber-victimization behaviors and depression symptoms. The Revised Cyberbullying Inventory scale (RCBI-II) and Patient Health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were utilized to measure involvement in cyberbullying and depression symptoms, respectively. A total of 836 students participated in the study. Pearson Chi-Square test and binary logistic regression were conducted to analyze the data. Results Results indicated the majority of students have been involved in cyberbullying as follows: 6.8% cyberbullies, 29.2% cybervictims, 35.8% cyberbully-victims, and 28.2% not involved in either. Approximately 50% of the students scored a ten or higher on the PHQ9 test indicating symptoms of depression. Moreover, significant associations were found between cyberbullying experiences and gender (p = 0.03), depression and gender (p = 0.046), and between cyberbullying experiences and depression (p<0.001). Conclusion Our findings indicate that among Qatar University students, cyberbullying and cyber-victimization are prevalent behaviors that could be associated with the high reported rates of depression symptoms

Validation of a modified cryopreservation method for leukemic blasts for flow cytometry assessment

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation, a common method for storing human cells, has advantages when cells are used in retrospective studies of selected cell populations. Frozen lymphocytes can be used for tissue typing, for monitoring cell-mediated immunity, and for various immunological tests. Our report describes an efficient, simple and inexpensive method for cryopreservation of human acute leukemia cells. METHODS: Leukemia cells from 20 newly diagnosed cases were frozen at -80°C after cryopreservation with 5% dimethysulfoxide and then assayed by flow cytometry for antigen expression determined by monoclonal antibodies at different time intervals. RESULTS: All cases had viability above 75% at presentation. After 4 weeks, 91% of pre-B ALL, 88% of T-ALL, 100% of AML, and 100% of biphenotypic aliquots had viability over 75%. Viability continued to be reliably above 75% at 6 weeks from cryopreservation. CONCLUSION: We confirm that the method does not significantly alter the viability of cells and it preserved the antigenic expression of leukemia cells

The Relationship between Cyberbullying, Cyber-victimization and Depression among Qatar University Students

Background: Cyberbullying is a modern form of bullying that could be practiced electronically or on the internet. It is related to different mental health issues such as depression, which can affect both the cyberbully and the victim. Although a few studies have been conducted regarding the prevalence of cyberbullying and cyber-victimization among the younger generation in Qatar, no studies have been conducted among the young adult age group despite studies showing that they are also prone to cyberbullying. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence and the relationship between cyberbullying, cyber-victimization, and depression among Qatar University students. A self-administered close-ended electronic questionnaire was used to assess student's cyberbullying/cyber-victimization behaviors and depression symptoms. The Revised Cyberbullying Inventory scale (RCBI-II) and Patient Health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9) were used. A total of 836 students participated in the study. Pearson Chi-Square test and binary logistic regression were utilized to analyze the data. Results: Overall results indicated that the majority of students have been involved in at least one of the cyberbullying experiences as follows: (6.8% cyberbullies, 29.2% cyber-victims, 35.8% both cyberbullies and cyber-victims, 28.2% not involved in either). Approximately 50% of the students scored a ten or higher on the PHQ9 test indicating symptoms of depression. Moreover, significant associations were found between cyberbullying experiences and gender (p=0.03), depression and gender (p= 0.046), and between cyberbullying experiences and depression (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that among Qatar University students, cyberbullying and cyber-victimization are prevalent behaviors that could be associated with the high reported rates of depression symptoms