Strategija razvoja kontejnerskog terminala u luci Port Saidu

Since 1960 there has been a growing trend for utilizing containers in marine shipping due to the growth of global trade, safety of containers, faster handling in ports and door to door services. This trend led to a development of container ships from 1000 TEU to 12000 TEU capacities. Consequently there is a continuous development in all related parties to container shipping such as port authorities, container terminals, cargo handling equipment manufacturers, management of container terminals and information technology. The system of containerization made a revolution at the entire pattern of trade and ports around the world, gearing up to meet trade growth and its requirements. Although there is a development in most of container terminals globally, our Egyptian container terminals still suffer from low performance which leads to losing the competitive capability. The paper is discussing the problems of public sector container terminals in Egypt and pointing particularly to Port Said Container Terminal, focusing on existing problems and suggested solutions for solving and improving the performance and productivity to compete and face the challenges due to the continuous growth in container shipping market.Od 1960. stalno raste trend rabljenja kontejnera u pomorskom brodarstvu. Taj je rast generiran prije svega zbog rasta globalnog prometa, sigurnosti kontejnera, bržeg rukovanja u lukama i servisom „od vrata – do vrata“. Taj trend doveo je do kontejnerskih brodova kapaciteta od 1000 do 12000 TEU. Sukladno tome, došlo je do razvoja svih ostalih subjekata međusobno povezanih s kontejnerskim brodarstvom, kao što su: lučke vlasti, kontejnerski terminali, proizvođači za opremu pri rukovanju teretom, upravom kontejnerskih terminala i tehnologijom informacija. Sustav prijevoza robe u kontejnerima revolucionarno je djelovao na globalnu strukturu prometa i luka, čvrsto se povezujući da bi se zadovoljio zahtjev porast prometa. Na globalnom planu većina se kontejnerskih terminala razvila. Ali, primjerice, egipatski kontejnerski terminali još uvijek pate od niskog stupnja učinkovitosti, što dovodi do nedostatne konkurentske sposobnosti. U ovom se radu raspravlja o problemima javnog sektora kontejnerskih terminala u Egiptu s posebnim osvrtom na kontejnerski terminal Port Saida, fokusirajući se na postojeće probleme i na elaboriranje prijedloga za rješavanje i usavršavanje rada i produktivnosti kako bi se povećala konkurentnost i suočilo s izazovima neprekidnog rasta na tržištu kontejnerskog brodarstva

Effects of EGTA and cytochalasin-B during freezing and vitrification of immature and mature bovine and rhesus monkey (M. mulatta) oocytes.

Cryopreservation procedures have been shown to be extremely disruptive to the plasma membrane and intracellular organization of mammalian oocyte. Cytochalasin-B (Cyt-B) or EGT A may stabilize oocyte cytoskeletal elements prior to Cryopreservation and make the plasma membrane less rigid and more elastic to avoid injury during the osmotic stresses of freezing. Experiments were conducted to assess the morphological viability and developmental potential of bovine and rhesus monkey oocytes roter exposure to Cyt-B or EGTA prior to freezing and vitrification. ln the bovine experiments: The methods of oocyte isolation, in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) , and embryonic development (IVC) were as described elsewhere (Biol Reprod. 55:333-339, 1996). AIl data were analyzed by ANOV A and Chi-square using "StatMost" for Windows. ln an initial experiment, a group of ilnmature (GV) oocytes and oocytes roter IVM (ova) were randomly selected and pretreated for 5 min with EGTA (O.IM) or Cyt-B (Img/ml) without cryoprotectant (CPA), and another group were equilibrated for 15 min with the CPA (1.5 M ethylene glycol mixed with 0.5 M glycerol in PHS) roter pretreatment with EGTA or Cyt-B. AIl oocytes were diluted and/or washed and immediately used for IVM and/or IVF and IVC. No significant differences in cleavage (C) development and blastocyst (B) hatching among treatments in the GV oocytes group. Percentages of early C, morula (M), B, and expanded B (EB) development ranged 72-82%, 53-65%, 40-47% and 25-35% respectively. Ova treated with EGTA without CPA produced significantly (P<.05) higher C (31/41,75%), M (48.8%), B (40%) and EB (24.4%) than with Cyt-B. ln the slow freezing experiment, a total of 105 GV oocytes and 155 ova were exposed to (a) zero (b EGTA, or ~) Cyt-B before equilibration with CPA + 0.5 sucrose in PHS plus 15% Fetal bovine serum (PBS/FBS). Gametes were loaded into sterile cryovials, cooled at 2°Chnin to -7°C, seeded, cooled at 0.3°Chnin to -32°C, then plunged in LN2. They were thawed.in air (10 sec), then wann water (35°C), and diluted out of CPA in 3 steps (1, 0.5, 0.2 M sucrose). Three replicated showed that although many of the frozen-thawed oocytes/ova survived as judged by morphology (range 70-80%), their developmental potential was severely retarded. C ranged between 0% to 14.3%. ln the vitrification experiment, a total of 135 GV oocytes and 90 ova were grouped as above and vitrified in straws containing a mixture of 3.25M glycerol and 4.5M ethylene glycol plus 0.5 sucrose in PBS/FBS. Here, higher (P<.05) morphological survival rates (98%) foIlowed pretreatment with EGT A. However, the developmental potential was very low among aIl groups ranging between 0% to 17.7%. ln the monkey experiments: The methods of oocyte isolation, IVM and IVF was as described ( Theriogenology 43:362, 1995). A total of 72 GV oocytes and 42 ova were subjected to slow rate freezing and vitrification in groups as described for cow oocytes above. Pretreatment of both GV oocytes or ova with EGTA or Cyt-B prior to freezing or vitrification resulted in 77.6% morphological survival which was significantly (P<.OI) higher than for the control (50%). No differen?s in fertilization and development were detected mnong treatment. Per?ntages of C to 4-?Il stage ranged from 50-67%. Results suggest prefreeze treatment with EGTA and/or Cyt-B may be useful in enhancement of oocyte/ovum cryopreservation.Proceedings Annual Conference of the International Embryo Transfer Society, Nice Acropolis, Nice, France, Jan., 1997

Brazil's Engagement in International Development Cooperation: The State of the Debate

The international development cooperation architecture has changed dramatically over the last decade. The global context, characterised by a lingering financial crisis and the emergence of new powers, has brought South–South Development Cooperation (SSDC) to the core of international development debate. The growing influence of emerging countries, such as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), as development cooperation providers requires a deeper understanding of how and to what extent these countries are promoting sustainable and inclusive development by cooperating with partners in the global South. To be able to answer these questions, the national dynamics need to be unpacked by mapping institutions, ideas, and interests informing decision-making processes, and shaping, not only policy priorities, but also the effectiveness of development cooperation. Brazil is in the spotlight and Brazilian cooperation, in all its different modalities (from technical, scientific and technological, educational, and humanitarian cooperation to contributions to international organisations, refugee support and protection, and peace operations), has risen to unprecedented levels in recent years. According to official data, Brazilian development cooperation increased from US$160 million in 2005 to more than US$900 million in 2010. In that period, the country’s technical cooperation disbursements grew almost fourfold and its humanitarian cooperation expanded from less than half a million dollars in 2005 to US$161 million in 2010. However, interviews and the current budget freeze on the Brazilian Cooperation Agency’s (ABC) activities indicate that the upward trend may have changed in the last three years.UK Department for International Developmen

Transvenous Lead Extraction in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Device: The Impact of Systemic and Local Infection on Clinical Outcomes. An ESC‐EHRA ELECTRa (European Lead Extraction Controlled) Registry Substudy

Background: Infections of cardiac implantable devices (CIEDI) have poor outcomes despite improvement in lead extraction (TLE) procedures. Methods: To explore the influence of CIEDI on the outcomes of TLE and the differences between patients with systemic (Sy) vs. local (Lo) CIEDI, we performed a sub‐analysis of the EORP ELECTRa (European Lead Extraction ConTRolled) Registry. Results: Among 3555 patients enrolled by 73 centers in 19 Countries, the indication for TLE was CIEDI in 1850: 1170 with Lo‐CIEDI and 680 with Sy‐CIEDI. Patients with CIEDI had a worse in‐hospital prognosis in terms of major complications (3.57% vs. 1.71%; p = 0.0007) and mortality (2.27% vs. 0.49%; p &lt; 0.0001). Sy‐CIEDI was an independent predictor of in‐hospital death (H.R. 2.14; 95%CI 1.06–4.33. p = 0.0345). Patients with Sy‐CIEDI more frequently had an initial CIED implant and a higher prevalence of comorbidities, while subjects with Lo‐CIEDI had a higher prevalence of previous CIED procedures. Time from signs of CIEDI and TLE was longer for Lo‐CIEDI despite a shorter pre‐TLE antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: Patients with CIEDI have a worse in‐hospital prognosis after TLE, especially for patients with Sy‐CIEDI. These results raise the suspicion that in a relevant group of patients CIEDI can be systemic from the beginning without progression from Lo‐CIEDI. Future research is needed to characterize this subgroup of patients

Banana as adjunct in beer production: applicability and performance of fermentative parameters

Traditionally, the raw materials for beer production are barley, hops, water, and yeast, but most brewers use also different adjuncts. During the alcoholic fermentation, the contribution of aroma compounds from other ingredients to the final beer flavor depends on the wort composition, on the yeast strain, and mainly on the process conditions. In this context, banana can also be a raw material favorable to alcoholic fermentation being rich in carbohydrates and minerals and providing low acidity. In this work, the objective was to evaluate the performance of wort adjusted with banana juice in different concentrations. For this, static fermentations were conducted at 15 °C at pilot scale (140 L of medium). The addition of banana that changed the concentration of all-malt wort from 10 °P to 12 and 15 °P were evaluated (°P is the weight of the extract or the sugar equivalent in 100 g solution, at 20 °C). The results showed an increase in ethanol production, with approximately 0.4 g/g ethanol yield and 0.6 g/L h volumetric productivity after 84 h of processing when concentrated wort was used. Thus, it was concluded that banana can be used as an adjunct in brewing methods, helping in the development of new products as well as in obtaining concentrated worts.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)EMATER-MGJohnson-DiverseyFapesp (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/Brasil)Wallerstein Industrial & CommercialNovozymesCAPES (Coordenação para Aperfeiçoamento do Ensino Superior/ Brasil)Malteria do ValeGRICES (Gabinete de Relações Internacionais da Ciência e do Ensino Superior/Portugal

MRI-visible polymer based on poly(methyl methacrylate) for imaging applications

Macromolecular contrast agents are very attractive to afford efficient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualization of implantable medical devices. In this work, we report on the grafting of a Gd-based DTPA contrast agent onto a poly(methyl methacrylate) derivative backbone by combining free radical polymerization and copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). Using free radical polymerization, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-propargyl methacrylate) copolymers were prepared with a control of the ratio in propargyl methacrylate monomer units. The synthesis of a new azido monofunctionalized DTPA ligand was also reported and characterized by 1H NMR and mass spectroscopy. After complexation with gadolinium, this ligand has been grafted on the polymer backbone by click chemistry reaction. The obtained macromolecular contrast agent was then coated on a polypropylene mesh using the airbrushing technique and the mesh was assessed for MRI visualization at 7 teslas. The polymeric contrast agent was also tested for cytocompatibility and stability to assess its suitability for biomedical applications

Progression and Regression: Distinct Developmental Patterns of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Treated in the Diabetes Care System West-Friesland, the Netherlands

OBJECTIVE: To identify distinct developmental patterns of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and assess the risk factor levels of patients in these clusters. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cohort of 3,343 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) monitored and treated in the Diabetes Care System West-Friesland, the Netherlands, was followed from 2 to 6 years. Risk factors were measured, and two-field fundus photographs were taken annually and graded according to the EURODIAB study group. Latent class growth modeling was used to identify distinct developmental patterns of DR over time. RESULTS: Five clusters of patients with distinct developmental patterns of DR were identified: A, patients without any signs of DR (88.9%); B, patients with a slow regression from minimal background to no DR (4.9%); C, patients with a slow progression from minimal background to moderate nonproliferative DR (4.0%); D, patients with a fast progression from minimal or moderate nonproliferative to (pre)proliferative or treated DR (1.4%); and E, patients with persistent proliferative DR (0.8%). Patients in clusters A and B were characterized by lower risk factor levels, such as diabetes duration, HbA(1c), and systolic blood pressure compared with patients in progressive clusters (C-E). CONCLUSIONS: Clusters of patients with T2DM with markedly different patterns of DR development were identified, including a cluster with regression of DR. These clusters enable a more detailed examination of the influence of various risk factors on DR

Progesterone regulation of implantation-related genes: new insights into the role of oestrogen

Genomic profiling was performed on explants of late proliferative phase human endometrium after 24-h treatment with progesterone (P) or oestradiol and progesterone (17β-E2+P) and on explants of menstrual phase endometrium treated with 17β-E2+P. Gene expression was validated with real-time PCR in the samples used for the arrays, in endometrium collected from early and mid-secretory phase endometrium, and in additional experiments performed on new samples collected in the menstrual and late proliferative phase. The results show that late proliferative phase human endometrium is more responsive to progestins than menstrual phase endometrium, that the expression of several genes associated with embryo implantation (i.e. thrombomodulin, monoamine oxidase A, SPARC-like 1) can be induced by P in vitro, and that genes that are fully dependent on the continuous presence of 17β-E2 during P exposure can be distinguished from those that are P-dependent to a lesser extent. Therefore, 17β-E2 selectively primes implantation-related genes for the effects of P