The Effects of the Fiscal Policy on Economic Activity in Saudi Arabia: An Empirical Analysis

The fiscal policy has been studied extensively, but only as a one shot deal and with emphasis on developed economies. The study of fiscal policy as a trajectory and of its consequences, also, as trajectory has been pioneered by Blanchard and Perotti (2002). This study applies the Blanchard-Perotti concept to Saudi Arabian economy. We used structural vector autoregression (SVAR) technique. The results show that government spending shocks have positive effects on GDP and private consumption, but they have negative effects on private investment (i.e., crowding out), exports and imports, while net tax revenue has a negative effect on GDP. When we extended the model by including inflation and interest rates, we obtained similar results. The government spending shocks are found to have positive effects on inflation and interest rates. As a check on our methodology, similar analyses are performed on Indonesia, Malaysia, and Norway and we found that they validate our findings

Combination Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy for Temozolomide-Resistant Glioblastoma

Polymer based nanoparticles (NPs) are useful vehicles for drug therapy in treating glioblastoma because of their ideal characteristics such as small size, to cross the blood-brain barrier, and bind to overexpressed transferrin receptors via peptide conjugation and surface modification of NPs. The use of a photosensitizer drug such as verteporfin, or BPD, in combination with a repurposed drug, Cediranib (CED), prepared as a nanoparticle therapy will provide the medical field with new research on the possible ways to treat glioblastoma. BPD-CED-loaded NPs have the potential to induce cytotoxicity in glioblastoma cells by 1) remotely triggering BPD through photodynamic therapy by irradiating laser at 690 nm and subsequent production of reactive oxygen species and 2) anti-angiogenesis mechanisms which may allow for longer progression free survival in patients and fewer systemic side effects due to the nanoparticle drug delivery. The specific aims of this research were to synthesize, using nanoprecipitation, and characterize pegylated and transferrin-peptide conjugated PLGA-CED NPs, PLGA-BPD NPs, and PLGA-BPD-CED NPs which were less than 100 nm in size for enhanced permeation and retention effects. NPs were characterized using dynamic light scatter (DLS) to determine particle size, PDI, and zeta potential, while absorbance spectroscopy was used to find encapsulation efficiency of loaded drugs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to obtain topographical and 3-D structural imaging of NPs. The cytotoxicity of the free drugs, targeted and non-targeted single and dual-drug-loaded NPs was evaluated using MTT assay in the U87-MG cell line. MTT assay results showed increased cell death by combination nanoparticles. The size, PDI, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of synthesized nanoparticles were acceptable. The major goal of this research was to investigate a new combination of photodynamic-chemotherapy drugs in NP formulation to provide for a more effective targeted cell therapy in glioblastoma patients

Remotely Triggered Polymeric Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) has the worst prognosis among all the sub-types of breast cancer. Currently no targeted treatment has been approved for TNBC management. While TNBC does not overexpress hormone receptors, it has been found to over express certain receptors like transferrin (TfR) or folate receptors. The aim of this research is to synthesize targeted polymeric nanoparticles for TNBC. MDA-MB-231 cells are used as a representative TNBC cell line in this study. Active targeting of TNBC is achieved by conjugating the nanoparticles to a peptide (Tr) that binds to the TfR. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) using polymeric nanoparticles was explored for TNBC treatment. PDT utilizes a secondary form of targeting by remotely triggering benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid (BPD) using near infrared light. When irradiated at 690nm, BPD induces cytotoxicity via generation of reactive oxygen species. The polymeric nanoparticles were characterized for size, zeta potential, and drug release at 37°C. The morphology of the nanoparticles was confirmed using electron microscopy and cell uptake was monitored in vitro using fluorescent microscopy. PDT was carried out at 500nM BPD concentration using a 690nm laser. Cytotoxicity of these targeted polymeric nanoparticles was assessed using a standard colorimetric viability assay (MTT). The nanoparticles synthesized were fairly monodisperse and the release studies demonstrated sustained BPD release from the nanoparticles. Receptor mediated endocytosis of the active nanoparticles was studied by using FITC conjugated peptide and the FITC signal was observed using fluorescent microscopy. Stronger BPD fluorescent signal for the active targeting nanoparticles (PLGA-PEG-Tr) compared to the passive (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles. Significant cell death following PDT was observed in all the treatment groups, which was also confirmed by imaging the cells post-treatment using standard live-dead stain. PDT is a fairly versatile and non-invasive form of treatment and using targeted nanoparticles it can be adapted for other drugs and diseases

Pleomorphic Adenoma of Minor Salivary Gland in Parapharyngeal Space

A case of pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary gland in parapharyngeal space is being reported as the incidence of pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary gland in parapharyngeal space is of very rare occurrence. Transpalatal complete excision of tumor was done under general anesthesia

Targeted Destruction of Triple Negative Breast Cancer using Nanoparticles

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a combination of light and photosensitizing drug in which a photosensitizer is injected intravenously and accumulates in the tissue. This tissue is then irradiated by light at an appropriate wavelength and the drug leads to cytotoxicity with a cascade of biochemical responses which affects and inactivates the cancer cells in the tumor tissue. In the cells, PDT generally induces mitochondrial damage and apoptosis which destroy the tissue and induce an antitumor activity upon illumination. Benzoporphyrin-derivative verteporfin (BPD) and curcumin are two photosensitizer drugs having the capability in use of PDT. The therapeutic potential of BPD and curcumin as photosensitizers is limited by their low aqueous solubility and applicability. In this study, it is aimed to increase the bioavailability of these drugs to induce antitumor activity in the tumor cells. Liposomes and PLGA-based polymeric nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) are used as the drug carrier nanoparticles which have been considered as perfect carriers for cancer therapeutics and they are remarkably used in cancer therapy. BPD and curcumin-loaded liposomes and PLGA NPs were synthesized and characterized in terms of size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation efficiency and morphology. These nanoparticles were targeted towards breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) in vitro MTS cytotoxicity assays and imaging

Estudio para el mejoramiento del sistema de emergencia 118 de la Policía Nacional de Nicaragua: aplicado al municipio de Managua

Tesis (Ingeniero en Sistemas)--Universidad Americana, Managua, 2002La presente tesis desarrolla un estudio que permite proponer un plan de mejoramiento al Sistema de Emergencia Policial de Nicaragua, aplicado al Municipio de Managua, con el fin de que el sistema atienda con mayor eficacia las denuncias y solicitudes urgentes de la comunidad en relación con la seguridad personal y publica

Magnetite (Fe 3

Accumulation of heavy metals in the ecosystem and their toxic effects through food chain can cause serious ecological and health problems. In the present study, experiments were performed to understand how the addition of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles reduces the toxicity caused by Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in cucumber plants. Plant growth parameters, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes were measured in seedling samples treated with either metals or metals supplemented with Fe3O4 to demonstrate the reduction in metal-induced oxidative stress conferred by Fe3O4. Results showed that the toxic effect of metals on seedling growth parameters can be arranged in the rank order of inhibition as follows: Cu > Cd > Zn > Pb. Exposure to metals significantly decreased the seedlings growth, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidases (POD), while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content significantly increased in cucumber seedlings. The reducing activity of nano-Fe3O4 against heavy metals stresses was confirmed in this study by the decrease in MDA content. The correlation between the decrease of MDA concentration and the increase in SOD and POD activities in the presence of nano-Fe3O4 suggest that the MDA reduction in the tested seedlings can result from the increased enzyme activity

Otpornost bakterija Escherichia coli i Pseudomonas aeruginosa na karbapenem u antilope (Antilope cervicapra) i leoparda (Panthera pardus) iz zatočeništva u Indiji

The study aimed to investigate the occurrence of carbapenem resistant E. coli and P. aeruginosa in apparently healthy, captive blackbucks and leopards of India. Faecal samples of blackbucks (n = 7) and leopards (n = 7) were processed to isolate carbapenem resistant E. coli (CRE) and P. aeruginosa (CRP). Forty (leopards n = 26; blackbuck n = 14) E. coli and two P. aeruginosa (blackbuck n = 2) samples were isolated from the faecal samples (n = 14). Eleven carbapenem resistant isolates were recovered, of which 10 were CRE and one was CRP. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for meropenem for carbapenem resistant isolates and was between 8 and 64 μg/mL. All the CRE and CRP were phenotypically multidrug resistant, and six CRE were extended-spectrum beta- lactamases (ESBL) producers. On genotypic screening, seven CRE and one CRP were positive for the blaNDM carbapenemase gene. Efflux pump-mediated carbapenem resistance was noticed in four CRE isolates (36.4%, 4/11). Of the six ESBL producing CRE, four isolates carried blaCTX-M-1 genes. The CRE isolates also harbored blaTEM-1, blaAmpC, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, tetA, tetB and sul1 resistance genes. On Shiga toxin virulence screening, Stx1, Stx2 genes were detected in two and one isolates, respectively. Plasmid typing of CRE revealed that the blaNDM genes were carried on an Incl1 plasmid. The plasmid multilocus sequence typing (pMLST) of the isolates showed the Sequence Type (ST) 297. The occurrence of carbapenem resistance bacteria in captive wildlife should be a major public health priority.Cilj rada bio je istražiti slučajeve otpornosti bakterija E. coli i P. aeruginosa na karbapenem u zdravih antilopa i leoparda iz zatočeništva u Indiji. Uzorci izmeta antilopa (n = 7) i leoparda (n = 7) obrađeni su kako bi se izolirale bakterije E. coli (CRE) i P. aeruginosa (CRP) otporne na karbapenem. Iz uzoraka izmeta (n = 14) dobiveno je 40 izolata (leopard n = 26, antilopa n = 14) E. coli i 2 izolata P. aeruginosa (antilopa n = 2). Pronađeno je 11 izolata otpornih na karbapenem, od kojih je 10 E. coli i 1 P. aeruginosa. Određena je minimalna inhibicijska koncentracija (MIK) za meropenem za izolate otporne na karbapenem, od 8 za E. coli i 64 μg/mL za P. aeruginosa. Svi izolati E. coli i P. aeruginosa fenotipski su bili otporni na širok spektar lijekova, a 6 izolata E. coli proizvodilo je beta- laktamaze širokog spektra (ESBL). Genotipskim probirom 7 izolata E. coli i 1 izolat P. aeruginosa bili su pozitivni na karbapenemaza gen blaNDM. Otpornost na karbapenem putem efluks pumpe zabilježena je u 4 izolata E. coli (36,4 %, 4/11). Od 6 ESBL producirajućih CRE, 4 izolata nosila su gen blaCTX-M-1. Izolati E. coli također su sadržavali blaTEM-1, blaAmpC, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, tetA, tetB i sul1 gene otpornosti. Pretragom na šiga-toksin, Stx1 i Stx2 geni utvrđeni su u dva odnosno jednom izolatu. Tipiziranje plazmida CRE otkrilo je prisutnost blaNDM gena na Incl1 plazmidu. Multilokusno tipiziranje sekvencija plazmida (pMLST) izolata otkrilo je sekvenciju tipa (ST) 297. Pojava otpornosti bakterija na karbapenem u divljih životinja iz zatočeništva trebala bi biti javnozdravstveni prioritet

Secure Many-to-One Communications in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are formed by nodes with limited computational and power resources. WSNs are finding an increasing number of applications, both civilian and military, most of which require security for the sensed data being collected by the base station from remote sensor nodes. In addition, when many sensor nodes transmit to the base station, the implosion problem arises. Providing security measures and implosion-resistance in a resource-limited environment is a real challenge. This article reviews the aggregation strategies proposed in the literature to handle the bandwidth and security problems related to many-to-one transmission in WSNs. Recent contributions to secure lossless many-to-one communication developed by the authors in the context of several Spanish-funded projects are surveyed. Ongoing work on the secure lossy many-to-one communication is also sketched

Municipal waste management systems for domestic use

© 2017 The Authors. Every year, the average citizen of a developed country produces about half a tonne of waste, thus waste management is an essential industry. Old waste management systems based on the collection of mixed/ sorted waste and transporting it a long way to disposal sites has a significant negative impact on the environment and humans. This paper will review the available waste management systems for house- holds. Biological methods (such as composting or anaerobic digestion) and physicochemical methods (such as burning or pyrolysis) of waste utilization will be considered from the householder’s point of view. The most important features of each system will be discussed and compared. Municipal waste management systems for domestic use could eliminate or significantly reduce the stage of waste collection and transportation. Additionally, they should not require special infrastructure and at the same time should allow garbage to be changed into safe products or energy sources with no harmful emissions. The aim of the work is to identify the best available waste disposal systems for domestic use.This reported work was conducted as part of the“Design Optimisation of the HERU Waste Treatment System”project that wasfunded by Manik Ventures Limited Project ID: 10300