Territorial Attractiveness of the foreign direct investment: empirical evidence from panel data analysis for the case of Tunisia

In this sense, we propose in this article an evaluation of different macroeconomic variables that may promote the entry of FDI in the industrial sector in Tunisia. Through an econometric modelling with panel data over a period of 15 years (2000-2014), we found that FDI traditional factors have the greatest impact. Indeed, the difference in factor endowments and market size between Tunisia and the investor countries and the geographical distance and the availability of labor are the most important +determinants of FDI in Tunisia

The long-run relationships between transport energy consumption, transport infrastructure, and economic growth in MENA countries

This paper investigates the impact of transport energy consumption and transport infrastructure on economic growth by utilizing panel data on MENA countries (the Middle East and North Africa region) for the period of 2000-2016. The MENA region panel is divided into three sub-groups of countries: GCC panel (containing the Gulf Cooperation Council countries), N-GCC panel (containing countries that are not members of the Gulf Cooperation Council), and North African countries (called MATE — Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt). Using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), we find that transport energy consumption significantly adds to economic growth in MENA, N-GCC and MATE regions. Transport infrastructure positively contribute to economic growth in all regions. The Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality analysis shows the feedback effect of transport energy consumption and transport infrastructure with economic growth. The empirical results add a new dimension to the importance of investing in modern infrastructure that facilitates the use of more energy-efficient modes and alternative technologies that positively affect the economy with minimizing negative externalities

The Long-Run Relationship between Transport Energy Consumption and Transport Infrastructure on Economic Growth in MENA Countries

This paper investigates the impact of transport energy consumption and transport infrastructure on economic growth by utilizing panel data on MENA countries (the Middle East and North Africa region) for the period of 2000-2016. The MENA region panel is divided into three sub-groups of countries: GCC panel (containing the Gulf Cooperation Council countries), N-GCC panel (containing countries that are not members of the Gulf Cooperation Council), and North African countries (called MATE — Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt). Using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), we find that transport energy consumption significantly adds to economic growth in MENA, N-GCC and MATE regions. Transport infrastructure positively contribute to economic growth in all regions. The Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality analysis shows the feedback effect of transport energy consumption and transport infrastructure with economic growth. The empirical results add a new dimension to the importance of investing in modern infrastructure that facilitates the use of more energy-efficient modes and alternative technologies that positively affect the economy with minimizing negative externalities

In vitro and in vivo effects of the PPAR-alpha agonists fenofibrate and retinoic acid in endometrial cancer.

UNLABELLED: Fenofibrate, an agonist of PPAR-alpha, in doses above 25 microM, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells. We show that these effects are potentiated by retinoic acid, an agonist of the retinoid-X-receptor. DNA content analysis shows that G1/S phase progression through the cell cycle is inhibited. Independent Component Analysis of gene microarray experiments demonstrated downregulation of Cyclin D1 (CCND1) and associated changes in cell cycle gene expression. Expression of PPAR-alpha mRNA was reduced by >75% using RNA-interference but this resulted in only minor changes in biological effects. A nude mouse model of endometrial carcinoma was used to investigate the effect of fenofibrate in vivo but failed to show consistent inhibition of tumour growth. CONCLUSION: The combination of fenofibrate and retinoic acid is a potent inhibitor of Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell growth in vitro

The role of country-level institutional factors in escaping the natural resource curse: Insights from Ghana

Empirical research shows that developing countries that are rich in natural resources tend to suffer slow economic growth and development due to various factors such as quality of institutions, governance, among others. The phenomenon of slow growth is widely known as the ‘natural resource-curse’ within the energy sector literature, and past research suggests that the membership of international non-governmental organisations and transparency are key factors in supporting economic development. However, limited research has been conducted to explore the key factors and their impact on the ‘natural resource-curse’. This study utilizes 222 cases from 18 of Ghana's key stakeholders and finds that the membership of country's Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and petroleum revenue management policies are insufficient to avert its ‘resource-curse’ unless they are complemented with country-level institutional factors such as the quality of institutions, quality of governance, government effectiveness, accountability, corruption control mechanisms, natural resource sustainability and effective accounting practices. Consequently, the study contributes to the deeper understanding of complex macro-level factors interlinked with the ‘natural resource-curse’. We also discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings, along with suggestions for future research

Territorial Attractiveness of the Foreign Direct Investment: Empirical Evidence from Panel Data Analysis for the Case of Tunisia

The present article aims to evaluate the role of different macroeconomic variables that may promote the entry of the foreign direct investment (FDI) in the industrial sector in Tunisia. In recent decades, several researches indicate that despite the significant impact of the FDI as an important catalyst of development, its benefits remain unequally distributed between countries, sectors and communities. For this reason, the competition between countries becomes more intense and depends on a large set of factors having different importance. In the same order of ideas, we try to estimate the impact of these factors on the FDI attractiveness in Tunisia through an econometric modelling with panel data over the period 2000-2014. We found that the traditional economic factors have the greatest and more significant impact. Also, the results imply that the multinational companies adopt essentially the vertical implementation strategy to invest in Tunisia. The findings have a great value for the decision-makers in Tunisia who can concentrate their efforts on the most important variables to develop the competitiveness of Tunisia

Evaluation of compact pulsed lasers for two-photon microscopy using a simple method for measuring two-photon excitation efficiency.

SIGNIFICANCE: Two-photon (2p) microscopy has historically relied on titanium sapphire pulsed lasers that are expensive and have a large footprint. Recently, several manufacturers have developed less expensive compact pulsed lasers optimized for 2p excitation of green fluorophores. However, quantitative evaluation of their quality is lacking. AIM: We describe a simple approach to systematically evaluate 2p excitation efficiency, an empiric measure of the quality of a pulsed laser and its ability to elicit 2p induced fluorescence. APPROACH: By measuring pulse width, repetition rate, and fluorescence output, we calculated a measure of 2p excitation efficiency η, which we compared for four commercially available compact pulsed lasers in the 920 to 930 nm wavelength range. RESULTS: 2p excitation efficiency varied substantially among tested lasers. The Coherent Axon exhibited the best 2p excitation efficiency (1.09±0.03), exceeding that of a titanium sapphire reference laser (defined to have efficiency = 1). However, its measured fluorescence was modest due to its long pulse width. Of the compact lasers, the Toptica Femtofiber Ultra exhibited the best combination of measured fluorescence (0.75±0.01) and 2p excitation efficiency (0.86±0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We describe a simple method that both laser developers and end users can use to benchmark the 2p excitation efficiency of lasers used for 2p microscopy

Do Transport Infrastructures Promote the Foreign Direct Investments Attractiveness? Empirical Investigation from Four North African Countries

The relationship among foreign direct investments and economic growth is a very controversial issue that has given rise to an abundant literature. Numerous research studies examine the bidirectional causal relationship and investigate the major determinants of these investments. In the same order of ideas, this article gives an empirical study from four North African countries to evaluate the role of transport infrastructures to improve the territorial attractiveness for the foreign direct investment. The present paper starts by a theoretical study explaining the role of transport as a major determinant of FDI. In a second section, we represent the empirical study. By using an econometric model with panel data, we found that traditional determinants of FDI have the most significant influence on the international investors’ decision. However, the same findings verify a positive impact of transport and consider it as a new important factor with strategic issues that cannot be avoided. The empirical validation from the four countries leads to verify that it is necessary to adopt development strategies that take into account the transport infrastructures and logistics functio

Simulation of mixed convection in a horizontal channel heated from below by the lattice Boltzmann method

We perform a contribution with a simulation study of the mixed convection in horizontal channel heated from below. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used with the Boussinesq approximation to solve the coupled phenomenon that governs the systems thermo-hydrodynamics. The double populations thermal lattice Boltzmann model (TLBM) is used with the D2Q5 for the thermal field and D2Q9 model for the dynamic field. A comparison of the results of the averaged Nusselt number obtained by the TLBM with other references is presented for an area stretching. The streamlines, the vortices, the isotherms, the velocity profiles and other parameters of the study, are presented at a certain time tT which is chosen arbitrarily. The results presented here are in good agreement with those reported in the scientific literature which gives us high expectations about the reliability of the TLBM to simulate this kind of physical phenomena