On Income Inequality and Poverty in Egypt: Is Prosperity Immoral?

There are varying perspectives on, and divergent solutions to, the phenomena of income inequality and poverty. There seems to be polarizing views on both of these sensitive topics. One side of the argument believes income inequality should in itself be mitigated through redistribution measures, while the other argues that this should not be the focus of policy makers, as it deters them from facing the more pressing issue facing society – which is absolute poverty. The relationship between income inequality, poverty, and citizen well-being in Egypt is one that warrants further research, and this paper aims to fill this lacuna. After analyzing the empirical data through quantitative tools, this paper shows that the relationship between these variables is rather blurred in the country, and that a decrease in Gini levels for instance are not necessarily a cause for celebration. Qualitative research was also conducted, and showcased that the sentiment of policy makers and policy influencers in Egypt was rather clear. Interviewees painted a vivid picture regarding the fact that income inequality should not be the focus of the government, rather the focus should be on absolute poverty – albeit through a multidimensional lens. There is indeed a massive effort in Egypt in order to drive down the poverty rates in the country, and these efforts have also been reflected upon in this research piece. However, there is room for additional measures, and this paper proceeds to provide a number of suggested policy tools that may help drive down these persistently high poverty rates in Egypt, rather than dwell on the incomes of the wealthy. Recommendations of this research are to 1) establish a national committee that is tasked with reducing multidimensional poverty in Egypt; 2) supplement income poverty with a multidimensional poverty index; 3) define equality of opportunity and then champion it across the board; 4) support primary economic sectors in Egypt; 5) heavily engage the private sector; 6) foster a culture of entrepreneurship; and 7) augment the labor force via including women

A Conceptual Model to Measure ERP User-Value

The critical factors in the onward and upward phase that maximize the value o the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system from the user’s point of view remain unidentified. A recent study of a public sector organization in the state of Colorado showed that the users’ perspectives regarding the benefits of an ERP system are unrecognized, as well as how the users of the ERP system view the ERP benefits post-implementation. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that maximize the value of the implemented ERP system in the onward and upward phase postimplementation from the user’s point of view (ERP user value), and how these factors affect the ERP user productivity, effectiveness, and internal efficiency which are major issues for management. A proposed conceptual structural model, based on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, is presented. It is posited that the conceptual model can be used to predict the post-implementation factors from the ERP user’s point of view and measure their impact on the overall ERP benefits for the organization. The research question, hypotheses, and current state of research are presented and discussed

Elective Division Versus Preservation of The Ilioinguinal Nerve to Reduce Postoperative Pain in Hernioplasty for Inguinal Hernia

Background: Lichtenstein tension-free mesh hernioplasty is the gold standard and the method of choice for the repair of inguinal hernia in developed countries. Chronic post-operative inguinal pain (CPIP), which is defined as pain lasting at least 2–3 months after surgery, is a major problem that affects about 8-16 % of inguinal hernia patients and affects their daily lives. Pain can be caused by perioperative injury to nerves or nerves that are being trapped and impaired by sutures or perforated by fixation devices such as tacks. Ilioinguinal nerve trauma throughout dissection, inflammation or fibrosis, and nerve entrapment by the mesh have all been involved in the pathogenesis of inguinodynia. Objective: To evaluate the effect of ilioinguinal neurectomy versus nerve preservation on the incidence and severity of chronic groin pain following Lichtenstein tension-free mesh hernioplasty for inguinal hernia. Patients and Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 100 patients with inguinal hernias who underwent Lichtenstein tension-free mesh hernioplasty. They were divided randomly into 2 equal groups; ilioinguinal neurectomy group (A) and nerve preservation group (B). There was no significant difference in patients of both groups regarding age, type of the hernia, precipitating factors, or type of anesthesia. Follow-up of postoperative groin pain was done at1st and 7th POD and after 1, 3, and 6 months during rest as well as after minor exercises using NRS. Results: The Incidence of postoperative groin pain was significantly lower in the neurectomy group than the preservation group in all follow-up periods. Conclusion: Resection of ilioinguinal nerve during inguinal hernia repair reduces significantly the incidence of postoperative chronic pain

Spectrophotometric and theoretical studies on the determination of etilefrine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations and biological samples

Purpose: To develop a simple and cost effective spectrophotometric method for the determination of etilefrine hydrochloride (ET) in pharmaceutical formulations and human plasma.Methods: The method is based on extraction of ET into chloroform as ion-pair  complexes with bromocresol green (BCG) and methyl orange (MO) in acidic medium. The interaction of ET with BCG and MO reagents were investigated using  B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. The geometrical parameters of the interacting species and the ion pairs formed were characterized based on their frontier  molecular orbitals, atomic charges, electrostatic potential map, as well as NBO analysis.Results: The colored species exhibited absorption maxima at 410 and 479 nm for the two systems in universal buffer of pH range (3.0 - 3.5), with molar absorptivity of 2.4 × 104 and 1.7 × 104 Lmol-1cm-1, for BCG and MO methods, respectively. The methods demonstrated good linearity with correlation coefficient ranging from  0.9987 – 0.9991 in the concentration ranges 0.5 – 16 and 2.0 – 18 μgmL-1 for BCG and MO methods, respectively. The composition ratio of the ion-association complexes was 1:1 in all cases as established by Job’s method. Sandell,s  sensitivity, correlation coefficient, detection and quantification limits were also calculated. Molecular descriptors were obtained based on optimized structures of the molecules under investigation, by applying the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method, and used to interpret the mode of interaction between these molecules to form the investigated ion pairs.Conclusion: The proposed methods make use of simple reagents, which a basic  analytical laboratory can afford. No interference was observed from common  pharmaceutical excipients and additives. ETMO ion pair has a larger interaction energy (higher stability) than ET-BCG ion pair as inferred from their interaction energies.Keywords: Density functional theory, Etilefrine hydrochloride, Ion pair complex, Spectrophotometry, Bromocresol green, Methyl orange, Geometric analysi

Sustainability of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Benefits Postimplementation: An Individual User Perspective

Although there is research about the use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) from a management perspective, the research is not clear as to whether the ERP benefits justify the costs, not only in dollars, but also in effort, from the end user\u27s perspective. Using the theory of diffusion of innovation (DOI), the purpose of this quantitative research was to identify the set of postimplementation sustainability factors that maximized ERP user value, which are major issues for management, and measured their relative significance. The study\u27s structural model incorporated the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, which is a conceptualization of the theory of diffusion of innovation, to predict the postimplementation sustainability factors from the ERP user\u27s point of view. The partial least squares structure equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach provided the needed explanatory analysis to test the predictive power of the structural model. The target population was organizational employees who had used an operational ERP system for at least 4 years in the state of Colorado. A convenience sample of 163 cases responded to the online questionnaire. Hypotheses testing indicated that the independent variables of ERP information quality, ERP system quality, ERP knowledge and learning, shared beliefs, job relevance, and coordination significantly impacted the dependent variable ERP user value. The positive social change implications of this study include a better understanding of ERP postimplementation sustainability factors from the users\u27 perspectives and their social impact on organizational performance, which could lead to increased employee effectiveness, productivity, efficiency, and individual satisfaction due to ERP usage

Development of Statistical Model, Mixture Design, Fresh and Hardened Properties of Furnace Slag - Lightweight Self Consolidating Concrete (FS-LWSCC)

A response surface method was carried out to model the influence of key mixtureparameters on properties affecting the performance of Expended Furnace Slag - LightweightSelf Consolidating Concrete (FS-LWSCC). Three key parameters that have significantinfluence on mixture characteristics of LWSCC were selected to derive mathematical modelfor evaluating the concrete fresh and hardened properties. Experimental levels of the variables(maximum and minimum) water/binder ratio (0.30 to 0.40), HRWRA (SP) (0.3 to1.2% bytotal content of binder), and total binder content (410 to 550kg/m3) were used for the designof Furnace Slag-LWSCC mixtures. A total of 18 mixtures were designed and produced. Theresponses of the derived statistical model were slump flow, V-funnel flow time, J-Ring flow,J-Ring height difference, L- box, filling capacity, bleeding, air content, initial and final settingtime, sieve segregation test, fresh unit weight, 28 days air dry unit weight, 28 days oven dryunit weight, and 7 and 28 days compressive strengths. It was seen that the proposed mixdesign model is a useful tool to understand the interactions between mixture parametersaffecting important characteristics of Expanded Furnace Slag - LWSCC. This understandingmight be simplified the mix design process and the required testing, as the model identifiesthe relative significance of each parameter, therefore providing important informationrequired to optimize the mix design. Consequently, minimize the effort needed to optimizeLWSCC mixtures ensuring balance between parameters affecting fresh and hardenedproperties

Robustness of Firm-Specific and Macroeconomic Determinants of Exploration Investments: Implications from Egyptian Oil & Gas Industry

The uncertainty that surrounds Oil and Gas exploration environments call for an examination at different angles. In terms of robustness, this study focuses on three performance measurements: (a) the amount of exploration investments, (b) the growth rate of exploration investments and (c) the Value at Risk (VaR) of exploration investments.The study utilizes the properties of discriminant analysis for deriving Z-score models that can be used for monitoring firms\u27 performance. A co-integration analysis is utilized as well in order to examine the level of co-integration between predictors of each performance measure. The sample includes annual data for forty one firms (local and multinational) working in the Oil and Gas industry in Egypt for the period 2009-2014.The results show that (a) amount and growth of exploration investment are quite robust performance measures in the Oil and Gas industry, (b) VaR of exploration investment is sporadic as it firm-specific, (c) GDP, Capital expenditure and operating expenditure are quite relevant for managing and monitoring growth of exploration investments.The study offers robust evidence that amount and growth of exploration investment are quire relevant firm performance in the Oil and Gas Industry

Impact of Total Salpingectomy Versus Tubal Conservation During Abdominal Hysterectomy on Ovarian Function

Background: Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries in women worldwide. It is applied for the treatment of various problems, such as pelvic pain, menstrual problems, tumors, and other related diseases. Objective: The aim of this work was to preservation of ovarian function as long as possible to decrease manifestation of menopause in hysterectomized patients. Patients and Methods: The study was case control study included 58 patients attendant in outpatient clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology department, Zagazig University Hospital, and Banha Teaching Hospital during the period from April 2017 to October 2018. All patients were scheduled to total abdominal hysterectomy without oophorectomy due to benign uterine disease. Patients was classified into two groups randomly: Group 1: included odd number of patients 29 was subjected to total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral complete excision of the tubes. Group II: included an even numbers of patients (n =29) for whom the classical approach of hysterectomy was performed. Results: There was no significant difference between groups regarding Operation, time Hospital stay and Bleeding. Also regarding number of antral follicle post operatively. While these are significant differences between Ovary size distributions between studied groups at different times. Conclusions: It could be concluded that salpingostomy with abdominal hysterectomy is a safe and convenient treatment that does not have a deleterious effect on ovarian reserve