Economic development, aid and debt crisis in sub-Saharan Africa

This thesis examines the inverse relationship between foreign capital inflow and domestic savings. The results of the tests lead to a variety of outcomes: (1) There is a positive relationship between the domestic savings ratio and the foreign savings ratio in sub-Saharan African countries. (2) The conclusion from the statistical use of the Chow Test shows that the derived results are reliable results, with the exception of one country, Tanzania. (3) There is no evidence from the cross-sectional study of sub-Saharan Africa to support the negative effect. (4) The performance of the lagged form indicated that the lagged function is the correct function for the negative effect of foreign savings on the domestic savings ratio; In general, the evidence that the foreign savings ratio caused the domestic savings ratio to decline was found in the long-run, rather than the short-run. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)

Homomorphic Data Isolation for Hardware Trojan Protection

The interest in homomorphic encryption/decryption is increasing due to its excellent security properties and operating facilities. It allows operating on data without revealing its content. In this work, we suggest using homomorphism for Hardware Trojan protection. We implement two partial homomorphic designs based on ElGamal encryption/decryption scheme. The first design is a multiplicative homomorphic, whereas the second one is an additive homomorphic. We implement the proposed designs on a low-cost Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA. Area utilization, delay, and power consumption are reported for both designs. Furthermore, we introduce a dual-circuit design that combines the two earlier designs using resource sharing in order to have minimum area cost. Experimental results show that our dual-circuit design saves 35% of the logic resources compared to a regular design without resource sharing. The saving in power consumption is 20%, whereas the number of cycles needed remains almost the sam

Comparative study between serum level of hepatocyte growth factor and CA-125 in patients with suspicious malignant adnexal masses

Background: Hepatocyte growth factor has been described to be increased in different cancers. The aim of the present study is to evaluate as a screening marker the‏ serum level of Hepatocyte growth factor among suspicious adnexal masses as compared to serum levels of CA125.Methods: The present study included 80 female patients who are admitted to the Gynecology unit in Elshatby Maternity University Hospital divided into two groups. Forty patients with benign gynecological conditions (control group) and 40 patients with suspicious malignant adnexal masses (cases group). Preoperative blood samples were withdrawn from all patients of both cases and control group to assess the level of serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and serum cancer antigen 125 (CA 125). Both were quantified using ELISA technique.Results: Out of the 40 cases with suspicious malignant adnexal masses, 35 had ovarian cancer while five only were borderline. Patients with ovarian carcinomas had significantly higher preoperative HGF and CA 125 serum levels than patients with borderline pathology. Patients with borderline tumors had a significantly higher serum HGF and CA 125 levels than patients with benign gynecological conditions in control group.Conclusions: HGF in serum was elevated in 71% of patients with suspicious malignant adnexal masses proved to be ovarian cancer by histopathology using a quantitative ELISA. HGF can be used as a screening tool for ovarian cancer

Examination of ocular biomechanics with a new Scheimpflug technology after corneal refractive surgery

PURPOSE To analyze the early results of a new device measuring ocular biomechanics after corneal refractive surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty nine refractive surgery patients were enrolled in the study (age: 32.6±9.9 years). Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) was performed on 52 eyes of 26 patients and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was done on 26 eyes of 13 patients. Ten device-specific biomechanical parameters, intraocular pressure (IOP) and pachymetry were measured preoperatively and at day 1, week 1 and month 1 after the surgeries with a new technology based on Scheimpflug imaging (CorVis ST, Oculus). RESULTS In case of LASIK, the day after the procedure, radius values showed significant differences compared to preoperative data. One month after surgery, radius values, velocity of the second applanation and pachymetry showed significant differences compared to preoperative data. In case of PRK, the day after the procedure, significant differences in IOP, maximum amplitude at the apex, A1 time, A2 velocity and highest concavity time were measured. After 1 month of PRK, there were no differences in the parameters compared to preoperative data except pachymetry. CONCLUSIONS We observed that some specific biomechanical parameters changed measured with CorVis ST after LASIK and PRK, in the early postoperative time. However, most of these parameters remain unchanged after one month of LASIK and PRK compared to preoperative data

Intraoperative and postoperative corneal thickness change after collagen crosslinking therapy.

PURPOSE To assess intraoperative and postoperative changes in corneal thickness subsequent to riboflavin-UVA (collagen crosslinking [CXL]) treatment. METHODS Forty-one eyes of 41 patients (mean age 27.97 ± 6.97 years) were treated with CXL technique. During treatment, isotonic riboflavin was instilled and corneal thickness measurements were obtained at the cornea apex, the thinnest point, and the pupil center at 15 and 30 minutes, then 3 days, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery using Pentacam HR and an ultrasound pachymeter. RESULTS A decrease in corneal thickness was detected 15 minutes intraoperatively with a value of 108.95 ± 48.6 µm, and 112.35 ± 47.3 µm at 30 minutes (p<0.001). Three days after the operation, no deviation was found from the initial values (p = 0.17). No further changes were detected during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Isotonic riboflavin solution used during CXL treatment resulted in a significant decrease in corneal thickness, but its effect had disappeared by postoperative day 3

Scheimpflug imaged corneal changes on anterior and posterior surfaces after collagen cross-linking

<b>AIM:</b> To compare the anterior and posterior corneal parameters before and after collagen cross-linking therapy for keratoconus.<b>METHODS:</b> Collagen cross-linking was performed in 31 eyes of 31 keratoconus patients (mean age 30.6±8.9y). Prior to treatment and an average 7mo after therapy, Scheimpflug analysis was performed using Pentacam HR. In addition to corneal thickness assessments, corneal radius, elevation, and aberrometric measurements were performed both on anterior and posterior corneal surfaces. Data obtained before and after surgery were statistically analyzed.<b>RESULTS:</b> In terms of horizontal and vertical corneal radius, and central corneal thickness no deviations were observed an average 7mo after operation. Corneal higher order aberration showed no difference neither on anterior nor on posterior corneal surfaces. During follow-up period, no significant deviation was detected regarding elevation values obtained by measurement in mm units between the 3.0-8.0 mm-zones.<b>CONCLUSION:</b> Corneal stabilization could be observed in terms of anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, elevation and higher order aberration values 7mo after collagen cross-linking therapy for keratoconus