The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Real Wages in Egypt: A Sectoral Empirical Analysis

This research seeks to empirically examine the impact of Foreign Direct Investment )FDI( on real wages in Egypt. First, we test the effect of FDI on real wages on the whole economy, and then special attention is given to the basic sectors in the economy. For this purpose, we make use of time-series Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) models utilizing annual data covering the period 1985-2014. Our results reveal that FDI positively affects the average wages in the long-run in almost all conducted models. According to the sectoral models, the highest long-run effect of FDI on wages is detected in the manufacturing sector, while it is insignificant in the tourism sector. Attracting more FDI in general and manufacturing FDI in particular is recommended as this will have a positive effect on average wages and consequently raise the economy’s output and overall income

Antioxidant activity and mineral composition of three Mediterranean common seaweeds from Abu-Qir Bay, Egypt

AbstractAntioxidant activity and mineral composition were evaluated seasonally from spring to autumn 2010 in the three common seaweeds Ulva lactuca Linnaeus (Chlorophyta), Jania rubens (Linnaeus) J.V. Lamouroux and Pterocladia capillacea (S.G. Gmelin) Bornet (Rhodophyta). The antioxidant activity was measured with β-carotene, total phenol content and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). Seaweeds were collected from the rocky site near Boughaz El-Maadya Abu-Qir Bay of Alexandria, Egypt. The results showed maximum increase of β-carotene in P. capillacea during summer. A significant increase in total phenolic content at P⩽0.05 was found in the red alga (J. rubens) during summer. Also, U. lactuca showed the maximum antioxidant scavenging activity especially during summer. Minerals in all investigated samples were higher than those in conventional edible vegetables. Na/K ratio ranged between 0.78 and 2.4mg/100g, which is a favorable value. All trace metals exceeded the recommended doses by Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI). During summer season, it was found that Cu=2.02±0.13 and Cr=0.46±0.14mg/100g in U. lactuca and Fe had a suitable concentration (18.37±0.5mg/100g) in P. capillacea. The studied species were rich in carotenoids, phenolic compounds, DPPH free radicals and minerals, therefore, they can be used as potential source of health food in human diets and may be of use to food industry

THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF OMEGA-3 AGAINST GENOTOXICITY AND REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY OF COBALT OXIDE NANOPARTICLES ACUTE TREATMENT IN MALE MICE

Objective: Cobalt nanoparticles (NPs), especially cobalt oxide NPs (Co3O4 NPs) are attracting unique shaped NPs that are used in different biomedical applications and medicine. Different in vitro studies report their toxic and carcinogenic effect but limited in vivo studies were present on its genotoxic potential. The present study was aimed to evaluate the genotoxic potential of Co3O4 NPs on bone marrow cells and sperms and the protective role of omega-3 in male albino mice.Methods: Animals were segregated into four groups that were orally treated for 3 consecutive days, Group 1: Negative control; Group 2: Omega-3 (250 mg/kg); Group 3: Co3O4 NPs (20 mg/kg); and Group 4: Combined group (250 mg/kg Omega-3 and Co3O4 NPs 20 mg/kg).Results: The present results show that Co3O4 NPs administration significantly increased number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs)/1000 PCEs, sperm abnormalities, and DNA damage, significantly decreased sperm motility and concentration in comparison to negative control group. However, Omega-3 administration in the combined group modulates the genotoxic potential of Co3O4 NPs in comparison to Co3O4 NPs group.Conclusion: The present study reports the genotoxic potential of Co3O4 NPs in vivo and assesses the protective role of Omega-3 administration due to its antioxidant effect

Kinetic and mechanistic features on the reaction of stored TiO2 electrons with Hg (II), Pb (II) and Ni (II) in aqueous suspension

The reaction of electrons stored on TiO2 nanoparticles with heavy metal ions Hg (II), Ni (II) and Pb (II) has been studied employing steady state and stopped flow spectrophotometric techniques. Prior to kinetic investigation the formation of metal deposits is detected by their surface Plasmon absorbance observed after mixing of their corresponding metal ions with stored electron on TiO2 nanoparticles (eTiO2-). The dynamic of transfer of stored TiO2 electrons to Hg (II), Pb (II) and Ni (II) in water has been investigated after mixing in the stopped flow chamber following the decrease of the absorbance of eTiO2- at 600nm. The results indicate that Hg (II), Pb (II) and Ni (II) ions react readily with eTiO2-The kinetic parameters of the electron transfer reactions have been obtained by pseudo first order fitting. In the presence of Hg (II) ions, the transients decay followed by a buildup at 380-480nmrange. In the presence of Pb (II) and Ni (II), a concurrent decay of TiO2 electron absorbance and buildup of the absorbance of metal deposits were observed. The rate constants of the electron transfer reactions induced by TiO2 stored electrons to metal ions increase with the driving force of the reaction according to Tafel equation

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PUNICA GRANATUM L. PEELS AND ITS ROLE AS IMMUNOSTIMULANT AGAINST SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI INFECTION IN BIOMPHALARIA ALEXANDRINA

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activity and chemical composition of Punica granatum L. and test it as immunostimulants against Schistosoma mansoni infection to Biomphalaria alexandrina snails.Methods: Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the free radical scavenging activity of the 90% defatted methanol extract (90% DM) of P. granatum peels and its sub-derived fractions was evaluated via 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and its chemical constituents were identified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. B. alexandrina snails were exposed to pomegranate extracts (PEs) for 1 month before their challenging with S. mansoni miracidia. Infection rates, immunological and histological parameters were, then, evaluated in PE-exposed snails and compared to controls.Results: The antioxidants activities of PE, expressed as scavenging concentration at 50%, were in the following order; 90% DM (12.45) ˃n-butanol(15.59) ˃ethyl acetate (21.36) ˃water (49.16) µg/ml, compared to 7.50 µg/ml for ascorbic acid. The infection rates of PE-exposed snails were 20%,50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%, respectively, for 90% DM, n-butanol, ethyl acetate, water, and dichloromethane extracts compared to 95% in control snails. The number of amoebocytes showed a significant increase, clear differentiation, and size increment in exposed snails compared to controls. Moreover, hermaphrodite glands histology shows a full maturity in the formation of reproductive cells in PE-exposed snails. The GC-MS analysis of the 90% DM extract revealed the presence of 36 compounds representing 93.1% of the total composition. Piperidin-4-ol, 1,3-dimethyl-2,4,6-triphenyl (19.87%), and 6,11-dihydroxy-5,12 naphthacenequinone-1-carboxylic acid (7.80%) were the major components.Conclusion: The identified compounds in 90% DM extract of P. granatum may be responsible for the high antioxidant activity of the fruit and it may account for its immunostimulatory effect against S. mansoni infection in B. alexandrina.Keywords: Punica granatum L., Antioxidant activity, Biomphalaria alexandrina, Schistosoma mansoni, Infection rate, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Review: The Stochastic Approach and Systems of Index Numbers

The main objective of the paper is to review a number of widely used multilateral index numbers for International comparisons of purchasing power parities (PPPs) and real incomes that can be derived using the stochastic approach. The paper discuss that price index numbers from commonly used methods like the Ikleacute, the Rao-weighted, and an additive multilateral system are all estimators of the parameters of the countryndashproductndashdummy (CPD) model. The paper also presents the method of moments (MOM) as an approach to estimate PPPs under the stochastic approach and shows how the GearyndashKhamis system of multilateral index numbers is a method of moments estimator of the parameters of the CPD model.nbs

Predictive factors for nutritional behavior among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic in 6th of October City

Background: Good maternal nutrition during pregnancy is important to ensure health for the mother and the fetus. This study aimed to assess nutritional knowledge and behavior among a group of Egyptian pregnant women in addition to identify the factors influencing their nutritional behavior. Methods: This comparative cross sectional study included 300 pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinics in 6th of October University private hospital and El-Hosary primary healthcare (PHC) unit. The data was collected through a modified nutritional survey that was translated from Spanish to Arabic and revised by language experts for clarity.  Results: Almost all of the women attending the private hospital were university educated while about half of the women attending the PHC unit were graduated from technical education. In general, the level of knowledge about food requirements of both groups was satisfactory good; however, neither of them fulfilled the WHO recommendations of food intake during pregnancy or the optimum number of meals per day. The average random blood glucose was higher among the women attending the PHC unit; the BMI, mid arm circumference and subcutaneous fat were higher among the same group as well. In regard to fulfilling the WHO recommended servings per day, only starch and fat items were fulfilled by both groups, whereas the other three items (vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy products) were merely included in the diets of both groups. Conclusion: Healthy behavior among pregnant women in both group were influenced by their educational level, occupation as well as their pre-gestational BMI. Those were the only three significant predictive factors, where women with higher education showed an active lifestyle. In addition, women starting with normal BMI before pregnancy had better healthy behaviors including the choice of healthy diets

ENHANCED ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY OF STREPTOMYCES GRISEOPLANUS L-ASPARGINASE VIA ITS INCORPORATION IN AN OIL-BASED NANOCARRIER

Objective: L-asparaginase (L-asp) is a vital enzyme used as a therapeutic agent in combination with other drugs in the treatment of acute lymphoma, melanosarcoma and lymphocytic leukemia. Immobilization of enzymes through loading on nanoemulsion (NE) results in some advantages such as enhancing their stability and increasing their resistance to proteases. Aim of the present study is to formulate L-asp loaded nanoemulsion to enhance its efficiency and thermal stability. Methods: Nanoemulsion loaded with L-asp crude extract (specific activity 13.23U/mg protein) was prepared employing oleic acid as oil, tween 20/tween 80 as surfactants and propylene glycol (PG) as co-surfactant. L-asp loaded NE underwent several thermodynamic stability studies and the optimized formulae were further examined for their biochemical properties and thermal stability. Results The developed formulations were spherical in shape and their sizes were in the nanometric dimensions with negatively charged zeta potential values. Upon comparing the enzyme activity of L-asp loaded NE employing tween 20 (F1) or tween80 (F4) at different concentrations, the results revealed that F4 NE showed higher enzymatic activity [323 U/ml] compared to F1 NE [197 U/ml] at the same concentration. The nanosized immobilized L-asp was more stable in the pH range from 8 to 8.5 as compared to free L-asp. The immobilized enzyme preserved about 59.11% of its residual activity at 50 °C; while free L-asp preserved about 33.84%. Conclusion: In the view of these results, NE composed of oleic acid, tween 80 and PG represents a promising dosage form for enhancing the activity and stability of Streptomyces griseoplanus L-asp

The correlation of in vitro antioxidant potentials with the various biochemical responses of salinized basil leaves

One of the environmental sustainability issues is salinity. Basil seedlings (Ocimum basilicum L.) were treated using NaCl solutions of three different concentrations prepared using irrigation (40, 80, and 130 mM), and various biochemical analyses were performed on basil leaves. The number of leaves, leaf area, moisture, weights, and MDA content of basil decreased significantly as salinity levels increased from 40 to 130 mM; however, dry matter increased. As well, the current study investigated a significant increase in osmolytes (including total soluble sugars and proline) and Na+ contents. The highest activities of CAT and SOD in the leaf tissues of basil were recorded after treatment with 130 mM NaCl, whereas the polyphenol and total flavonoid contents were negatively influenced.  On the other hand, the highest ABTS scavenging activity was observed in the 40 mM-treated leaves at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL; however, the DPPH scavenging potential increased significantly in the 80 mM-treated leaves at 3000 µg/mL. Furthermore, the correlation between in vitro antioxidant potentials and biochemical responses was described. A strong correlation was identified between the in vitro antioxidant capacities of salinized O. basilicum leaves and SOD activity, total flavonoids, and the presence of phenolic acids, particularly p-hydroxybenzoic and o-coumaric acids at various concentrations. As a result, this is the first study to explain how basil may resist salinity by producing specific antioxidant compounds; therefore, our research recommends use of salinity issue to obtain a better plant material for producing dietary supplements or herbal drugs