CURRENT AND EXPECTED ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF GLOBAL ENERGY AND FOOD ON THE MOST IMPORTANT EGYPTIAN IMPORTS

The study aimed at studying economic effects of global energy and food on the most important Egyptian imports. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used to achieve study objectives. Mathematical averages percentages and annual growth rates of variables under study were estimated. Expected values of imported food commodities using double exponential smoothing method was used. The study reached to some important conclusions, namely Global price and production of oil, coal, natural gas, ethanol and biodiesel have risen during the period 1996-2011. There were also a significant relationship between world prices and production of the above products. The price elasticities were about 0.089, 0.32, 0.174, 0.062, and 2.5 for these products respectively. The increase of oil price has an impact on food imports showing an increase of about 3.46% as a result of 10%of oil price increase. The study revealed that world oil price will be about $133.2/ a barrel in the year 2015 compared with$112.9/ barrel in the year 2011. It is therefore expected that value of food imports will increase to about $12.9 billion in the year 2015 compared to$ 10.6 billion in 2011

Recent changes in monthly surface air temperature over Peru, 1964–2014

This study assessed changes in the maximum and minimum surface air temperatures across Peru during the period 1964–2014. For this purpose, we employed the most complete records of air temperature series that were also subjected to a rigorous quality control and homogenization protocol. Based on the homogenized series, we created a monthly gridded data set of maximum and minimum air temperatures at a 5 × 5 km grid spacing. The results suggest a general warming trend in surface air temperature across Peru, albeit with clear spatial and seasonal variation. Our results also reveal some differences in the detectable trends between maximum and minimum air temperatures. Maximum air temperature trends mainly increased during the austral summer (DJF), but cold season minimum air temperature trends showed an opposite pattern, with the strongest warming being recorded in the austral winter (JJA). In addition, maximum air temperature trends exhibited a clear elevation-warming dependency, with the strongest warming recorded at highly elevated sites. On the contrary, this dependency is weakened for minimum air temperature trends, as lower magnitudes of change and even a cooling trend were observed at high elevations during most months of the year. For mean air temperature trends, there are no clear spatial and temporal seasonal differences across Peru

Curr Diabetes Rev

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes represents an increasing health burden world-wide and its prevalence in particularly higher in elderly population. Consistent epidemiological evidence suggests an increased risk of dementia associated to type 2 diabetes; the mechanisms underlying these associations, however, remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to review epidemiological, clinical and pre-clinical data that weigh on pathophysiological links, mechanisms of disease and associations between type 2 diabetes and dementia to identify areas of opportunity for future research. METHODS: We searched the following electronic bibliographic databases: PUBMED, EMBASE, SCIELO, MEDLINE and OVID for clinical, translational and epidemiological research literature that summarize diabetes-related risk factors for dementia, metabolic and neurological changes associated to T2D, evidence of therapeutic approaches in type 2 diabetes and its pathophysiological implications for dementia. RESULTS: Type 2 diabetes mellitus increases risk for all-cause dementia, vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The most evaluated mechanisms linking both disorders in pre-clinical studies include an increase in neuronal insulin resistance, impaired insulin signaling, pro-inflammatory state, mitochondrial dysfunction and vascular damage which increase deposition of beta-amyloid, tau proteins and GSK3beta, leading to an earlier onset of dementia in individuals with impairment in the glucose metabolism. Neuroimaging and neuropathology evidence linking cerebrovascular lesions, neurodegeneration and particularly small-vessel disease in the onset of dementia is consistent with the increased risk of incident dementia in type 2 diabetes, but consistent evidence of AD-related pathology is scarce. Epidemiological data shows increased risk of dementia related to hypoglycemic episodes, glycemic control, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and genetic predisposition, but the evidence is not consistent and statistical analysis might be affected by inconsistent covariate controlling. Therapeutic approaches for T2D have shown inconsistent result in relation to dementia prevention and delay of cognitive decline; lifestyle intervention, particularly physical activity, is a promising alternative to ameliorate the impact of disability and frailty on T2D-related dementia. CONCLUSION: Vascular disease, inflammation and impaired brain insulin signaling might occur in T2D and contribute to dementia risk. Evidence from epidemiological studies has not consistently reported associations that could integrate a unified mechanism of disease in humans. Evaluation of the effect of antidiabetic medications and non-pharmacological interventions in dementia prevention in type 2 diabetes is promising but has thus far offered inconsistent results