Determinants of Internet Financial Reporting by Egyptian Companies

This research aims at examining the determinants of internet financial reporting by Egyptian companies through measuring the extent of internet financial reporting (IFR) practices in Egypt and the association between IFR and the Egyptian listed companies’ characteristics. The research sample consists of 133 Egyptian companies listed on the Egyptian stock exchange as well as Nile stock exchange. The sample includes only those companies that disclose financial information on the internet. This research considers; company’s size, profitability, liquidity, leverage, company’s age, auditor type and ownership structure as the independent variables that might impact the company’s’ corporate IFR practices. Moreover, a disclosure checklist of 56 voluntary items is adopted to measure the level of IFR. The findings of the multiple regression models revealed that three independent variables were found significantly associated with the level of Internet Financial Reporting including; company’s size, auditor type and the company’s age. However, other company characteristics were found insignificant such as liquidity, leverage, profitability and ownership structure. Keywords: Internet, Financial Reporting, Egypt, Disclosure, Corporate Financial Reportin

From Peshawar to Kabul: Preserving Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage during Wartime

This article profiles the Afghanistan Center at Kabul University (ACKU) as an example of an organization that has successfully engaged in preserving a nation’s cultural heritage during a time of war. The ACKU has emerged from, and been engaged in, efforts to preserve Afghanistan’s cultural heritage from the time of the Soviet occupation until today.Ope

2003-2007 Report on Hate Crimes and Discrimination Against Arab Americans

Analyzes rates, patterns, and sources of anti-Arab-American hate crimes and discrimination, including detainee abuse, delays in naturalization, and threats; civil liberties concerns; bias in schools; and defamation in the media. Includes case summaries

Studies on the control of protein biosynthesis in the skeletal muscle of diabetic rats

The overall aim of the work described in this thesis was to examine the effects of diabetes and insulin on the metabolism of mRNA in rat skeletal muscle. The primary objective was to determine whether insulin stimulates protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle of diabetic rats by promoting the translation of pre-existing mRNA. Initially the most suitable conditions for the isolation of skeletal muscle ribosomes, and the sedimentation of these on sucrose density gradients were determined. Ionic conditions of 50 mM Tris-HCl, 200 mM KC1, 5 mM MgC12 (pH 7.6) in the sucrose density gradients were found to be best for decreasing the dimerization of 80S ribosomes which hindered discrimination between monosomes and polysomes. Ribosomes extracted at high ionic strength (which gave superior yields) had similar sedimentation profiles to those isolated at low ionic strength, with about 60% of the total ribosomes in polysomes. Skeletal muscle polysomes were found to be small in size compared to those from some other cells and tissues, with the most predominant species being those containing three, four and five ribosomes. This small size did not appear to be due to nicking of the mRNA by ribo- nuclease, for ribosomes prepared under sterile conditions, in the presence of heparin (an inhibitor of ribonuclease) did not give larger polysomes. Neither did addition of cycloheximide, suggesting that the small size of the polysomes was not due to the ribosomes running off the mRNA during isolation. When skeletal muscle ribosomes were translated in a cell-free system from wheat germ, the major products were of molecular weight 15,500 - 17,500, although smaller amounts of species with molecular weights as high as 100,000 could be detected. Initially diabetes was induced with alloxan or streptozotocin and found to decrease the number of polysomes in rat skeletal muscle ribosomes, as judged by sucrose density gradient analysis. When insulin was administered to either alloxan- or streptozotocin- diabetic rats, and the ribosomes isolated at low ionic strength, the polysomes rapidly reassembled. However, when the ribosomes were extracted at high ionic strength, reassembly of polysomes was only observed with the ribosomes from the rats that had been made diabetic with streptozotocin. These observations imply that alloxan induces a ribonuclease activity that is extracted from another sub- cellular fraction of skeletal muscle by the medium of high ionic strength during isolation, breaking down the polysomes which had reassembled in vivo after injection of insulin. Attempts to detect this putative nuclease activity directly using yeast RNA or radioactive HeLa cell ribosomal RNA as a substrate were unsuccessful. The concentration of RNA per gram of DNA in rat skeletal muscle was found to decrease by about 25% from that in normal rats, 3 days after the induction of either alloxan- or streptozotocin-diabetes. Thus the putative ribonuclease, referred to above, cannot be responsible for the decreased skeletal muscle RNA in diabetes. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)

Netnography approach for UX research

This paper discusses on how netnography can be applied to gain an understanding on sensitive research topic in a high power distance culture. The study investigated the frustrations among practitioners in incorporating the User Experience Design (UXD) in software development process. Netnography has been applied to uncover the unspoken behaviors of stakeholders and attitudes of clients who disrespect designers that reflects the UX practitioners frustration on the stakeholiders‘ politics. This findings will be useful in seeking a solution to improve the UXD process. From this work it can be concluded that netnography can be a suitable approach to gain deeper insights into understanding practitioner’s frustrations in UX research study

Evaluation of the Biocompatibility of a Recent Bioceramic Root Canal Sealer (BioRoot™ RCS): In-vivo Study

BACKGROUND: Recently, new calcium silicate bioceramic sealers were introduced to the market. The selection of root canal sealers should not only be based on the different physical parameters but also on local biocompatibility and tissue tolerance. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the in-vivo biocompatibility of a BioRoot RCS in parallel to MTA Fillapex and AH Plus sealers. METHODS: Polyethylene tubes containing the freshly mixed test materials were implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of 32 Wistar rats. Empty tubes served as negative controls. After 7, 14, 30, and 60 days, the animals were sacrificed, and the implants with surrounding tissues were processed for routine histological analysis. Histological sections were analyzed under light microscopy. The tissue response was determined by the inflammatory cell infiltration intensity and the fibrous capsule thickness. RESULTS: Results revealed a statistically significant decrease of the inflammation intensity by time within each group for all tested sealers and control. A well-defined thin capsule was observed for all tested sealers at 60 days. CONCLUSION: BioRoot RCS exhibited rapid recovery of inflammation similar to controls. Thus, within the limitations of this study, it can be considered a biocompatible sealer with acceptable tissue tolerance

Evaluación de ácidos grasos en aceites vegetales, grasas y alimentos ricos en grasas de consumo habitual en Egipto

Forty-one individual food samples were analyzed for their fatty acid contents by gas-liquid chromatography using capillary tubes. The samples belonged to 5 different food groups and included vegetable oils, butter & ghee, animal fats, dairy products, fishes, chicken & meats and other popular dishes. The results show that maize oil was lowest in its total saturated fatty acid content (11%) and richest in linolenic acid. On the other hand, total saturated fatty acids made up 42-62 % of the total fatty acid patterns of the lamb and camel fat tallow, respectively. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (C20-C22) with two to six double bonds were present only in fishes. Estimate of fat intake amounted to 36 grams per subject per day and the % contribution of the analyzed fats was presented. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids amounted to 0.96; which falls within the optimum dietary goals.Cuarenta y una muestras de alimentos individuales fueron analizadas por su contenido en ácidos grasos mediante cromatografía gas-líquido usando columnas capilares. Las muestras pertenecieron a 5 grupos diferentes, incluyendo aceites vegetales, mantequilla y «ghee», grasas animales, productos lácteos, pescados, pollo y carnes, y otros platos populares. Los resultados mostraron que el aceite de maíz fue el que tuvo el más bajo contenido en ácidos grasos saturados totales (11%) y el más rico en ácido linolénico. Por otro lado, los ácidos grasos saturados totales alcanzaron el 42-62% de los ácidos grasos totales del sebo de cordero y camello respectivamente. Los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados de cadena larga (C20-C22) con dos a seis dobles enlaces estuvieron presentes solo en pescados. La estimación de la ingesta ascendió a 36 g por sujeto y día, y se presenta el porcentaje de contribución de las grasas analizadas. La relación de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados a saturados ascendió a 0.96; estando dentro del óptimo alimenticio

KIRURŠKO LIJEČENJE STRES URINARNE INKONTINENCIJE, FEKALNE INKONTINENCIJE I VAGINALNOG PROLAPSA NOVOM OPERACIJOM »URETRO-ANO-VAGINOPLASTIKA«

We put forward a novel concept explaining the mechanism of micturition and the factors that control urinary continence. Also, we describe the mechanism of defecation and the factors that control stool continence and prevent fecal incontinence. A weak internal urethral sphincter (IUS) will not withstand sudden rise of intra-abdominal pressure and urine will leak. The weakness of the IUS is mostly due to traumatic rupture of its wall as a result of the huge vaginal distension that happens during prolonged, difficult and multiple frequent labors. So, surgical correction is by exposing that rupture and mending its walls. Also the marked vaginal distension which occurs in labor will cause lacerations in the internal anal sphincter (IAS) which is intimately related to the posterior vaginal wall. The torn weak IAS will cause fecal incontinence (FI). Exposing the torn IAS and mending the torn walls will restore the sphincter strength and fecal continence. Vaginal prolapse occurs as a result of vaginal wall weakness, redundancy and flabbiness subsequent to its marked stretching of its walls during vaginal deliveries. Overlapping the vaginal flaps both in the anterior and posterior vaginal wall, such repair will strengthen the vaginal walls, as if we put a collagenous mesh but instead this is an autologus collagenous mesh. We innovated an operation called »urethro-ano-vagino-plasty« to surgically treat urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and and vaginal prolapse. Objectives. To describe this novel operation, and assess its results for a follow up period of 24 months. Methods. 134 patients with SUI and FI were assessed. Urethro-ano-vaginoplasty was done, and the results were assessed immediately and for 24 months follow up. Results. 121 (90.3%) gained urinary and fecal continence and remained continent in the follow up period. Conclusion. The internal anal sphincter (IAS) is a collageno-muscular tissue cylinder that surrounds the anal canal innervated by alpha-sympathetic nerve supply from the hypogastric nerves. It is surrounded in its lower part by the EAS which is a striated muscle innervated by the pudendal nerve. Its damage during childbirth causes fecal incontinence and mending the torn walls restores fecal continence.Predstavljena je nova koncepcija o mehanizmu mokrenja i čimbenicima koji reguliraju mokraćnu kontinenciju. Također, opisan je mehanizam defekacije te čimbenici koji kontroliraju kontinenciju stolice i sprječavaju fekalnu inkontinenciju. Slab unutarnji uretralni sfinkter (IUS) se ne može suprostaviti naglom porastu intraabdominalnog tlaka te će mokraća bježati. Slabost IUS-a je većinom posljedica ozljede njegove stijenke zbog silnog vaginalna širenja koje se zbiva tijekom produljenih, tešlih i učestalih rađanja. Kirurška korekcija se sastoji u nalaženju prsnuća i opskrbi njegove stijenke. Vaginalno širenje tijekom poroda uzrokuje prsnuće unutarnjeg analnog sfinktera (IAS), koji je intimno povezan sa stražnjom vaginalnom stijenkom. Oslabljeni i prsnuti IAS uzrokuje fekalnu inkontinenciju (FI). Prikaz prsnutog IAS-a i šivanje njegovih razderanih stijenki uspostavit će snagu sfinktera i fekalnu kontinenciju. Vaginalni prolaps nastaje kao posljedica slabosti i mlohavosti vaginalne stijenke te njene proširenosti, zbog istezanja tijekom vaginalnog rađanja. Preklapanjem vaginalnih režanja prednje i stražnje stijenke ojačava se stijenka, umjesto umjetne mrežice postavljamo vlastitu autolognu kolagenu mrežicu. Izumjeli smo za korekciju urinarne i fekalne inkontinencije te vaginalna prolapsa novu operaciju i nazcvali je »uretro-ano-vagino-plastika«. Cilj rada je opisati novu operaciju i prosuditi njen uspjeh nakon 24 mjeseca. Metoda. Operirane su 134 bolesnice sa stres urinarnom inkontinencijom i fekalnom inkontinencijom. Rezultati. 121 bolesnica (90,3%) je opet postigla mokraćnu i fekalnu kontinenciju i zadržala ih tijekom praćenja. Zaključak. Unutarnji analni sfinkter je kolegano-mišićni tkivni cilindar, inerviran alfa-simpatičnim živcima iz hipogastričkog pleksusa koji okružuje analni kanal. U donjem dijelu je okružen vanjskim sfinkterom koji je poprečno-prugaste mišićne građe i inerviran ograncima pudendalnog živca. Njegovo oštećenje tijekom rađanja uzrokuje fekalnu inkontinenciju, a šivanje prsnute stijenke uspostavlja fekalnu kontinenciju

Evaluation of Artesunate and Praziquantel Combination Therapy in Murine Schistosomiasis mansoni

Background: Despite the global efforts to control schistosomiasis, still prevalence in endemic regions unchanged. The present study was conducted to investigate the possible role of artesunate (AS) and praziquantel (PZQ) combination in enhancing cure in pre-patent and patent Schistosoma mansoni infection, and study the role of apoptosis in evaluation of the drugs efficacy. Methods: Eighty laboratory-bred Swiss albino male mice were classified into four groups (20 mice each); control, PZQ treated (500 mg/kg), AS treated (400 mg/kg) and combined AS (400 mg/kg) + PZQ (500 mg/g) groups. Efficacy of the drugs was assessed by parasitological (egg count/gram stool, worm burden, tissue egg load, oogram pattern), histopathological (haematoxylin and eosin –for detection of type of hepatic granulomas, number & diameter) and immunohistochemical studies (P53 and Bcl-2 markers for determination of inflammatory cells and the degree of apoptosis). Results: Significant reduction was recorded in stool egg count, tissue egg count (liver and intestine), worm burden, granuloma number and size and changed oogram patterns in artesunate -praziquantel combined group followed by artesunate monotherapy group. There was a significant increase in the apoptotic proteins P53 and slight increase in anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 in the infected group compared to the control healthy group. A significant decrease and increase in P53 & Bcl-2 expressions respectively were observed in artesunate – praziquantel combined group compared to control infected group. Conclusion: artesunate-praziquantel combination is a potential upcoming chemotherapy for schistosomiasis mansoni. Both Bcl-2 and P53 are good markers assessing S. mansoni apoptosis, morbidity and chemotherapy efficacy