The Stock Market and its Economic Interactions: An Empirical Study of Egypt

This thesis investigates the relationship between stock market development and economic growth in Egypt. Its aim is to determine the direction of causality between stock market development and economic growth. This study also includes the analysis of stock market behaviour, in particular the respond toward major international crisis namely the Luxor terrorist attack, Iraq war, and September 11. The analysis uses selected fundamental economic variables namely, inflation, interest rate, exchange rate, money supply, budget deficit, and gross domestic product and the data is analysed using quarterly data that covered the period between 1993:l to 2008:4 which includes the above three international incidents. The existence of a long-run relationship between the stock market development and the economic growth is tested using Johansen's cointegration test, followed by the analysis of the short-run dynamic, which is based on the vector error correction model (VECM), while the determination of causality between variables is based on the Granger causality test. The result of the cointegration test shows the existence of the positive long-run relationship between the stock market development and economic growth in Egypt. It shows a positive relationship between economic growth and stock market development, while the causality is from economic growth to stock market development. Additionally, this thesis also examines the relationship between the stock market volatility and economic fundamentals using generalised autoregressive conditional heterokedasticity (GARCH) model. The result shows the existence of relationship between stock market volatility with gross domestic product, government budget deficit, and interest rate. Finally, as for the reaction of the Egyptian stock market towards the world crisis namely Luxor terrorist attack, Iraq war and September 11, the results exhibit different reaction from the Egyptian stock market before and after the crisis

Carbon nanotubes-cellulose acetate nanocomposites: membranes for water desalination

Cellulose acetate (CA) (Mw = 52,000 Da) membranes were prepared by phase inversion (PI) using acetone as a solvent. Investigation of different preparation conditions were carried out. The effect of membrane casting thickness, CA content, coagulation bath temperature (PI temperature), solvent evaporation, addition of a non-solvent (deionized water), and addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on membrane morphology and performance (permeation rates and salt rejection rates) were investigated. Membranes morphologies were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Membranes permeations rates and salt rejection rates were investigated using 1000 ppm NaCl solution. Optimum conditions for developing a CA based nanocomposites were attained, entailing 15 wt% CA content, 20 wt% H2O non-solvent additive, low functionalized CNTs contents (0.0005, 0.005, and 0.01 wt%), PI at room temperature, and sonication time for CNTs proper dispersion less than 1 minute. MWCNTs/CA nanocomposites membranes were prepared. MWCNTs were first functionalized by oxidation purification in a strong acidic medium to enhance their dispersion within the polymer matrix, and the success of the functionalization of MWCNTs was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The nanocomposites morphologies were characterized by several methods by SEM and nitrogen adsorption. SEM images showed large networks of MWCNTs, randomly oriented and properly dispersed, with a significant decrease in the number of macrovoids development with CNT content increase at the same final thickness of the nanocomposites. This was verified by analysis of pore sizes (differential volumes and surface areas), which were found to decrease with the increase in CNT content. Nanocomposites permeations rates and salt rejection rates were investigated using 1000 ppm NaCl solution, and it was found that permeation improved significantly with the addition of CNTs, with the improvement being highest for lowest CNT content. Salt rejection was found to decrease with the presence of CNTs. However the decrease was minimal for low CNT contents. In this respect, it was possible to prepare CA-CNT nanocomposite membranes with improved permeation of 19.57 L/m2h, together with a minimal decrease of salt retention performance of 69.4% at 24 bars operating pressure. The membranes performance could be explained by membrane morphology (surface areas and porosity)

Radiation Damage in XFEL: Case study from the oxygen-evolving complex of Photosystem II

Structural changes induced by radiation damage in X-ray crystallography hinder the ability to understand the structure/function relationship in chemical reactions. Serial femtosecond crystallography overcomes this problem by exposing the sample to very short and intense laser pulse leading to measurement before destruction. Here we use molecular modeling to map the radiation damage during the 10–50 fs to the intensity, the energy and the time duration of the laser pulse on the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II. In the model, the nuclei move classically in a fully quantum potential created by electron density under the effect of strong laser pulse in the Ehrenfest dynamics regime. The results show that the Mn-Mn and Mn-Ca distances are less affected by radiation damage due to the their heavy masses, while one μ-oxo bridge (O5) moves significantly. The radiation damage may induce conformational changes of the water ligands but only bond elongation for the amino acids ligands. These effects are relatively intensity independent from 1016 to 1017 W/cm2, but changes increase dramatically if the beam intensity is increased to 1018 W/cm2. In addition, the self amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) nature of the laser beam does not affect the dynamics of the ions

Adverbial Errors in Arabic-English Bidirectional Translation among English Department Sophomore and Junior Students at the Islamic University of Gaza

Adverbial Errors in Arabic-English Bidirectional Translation among English Department Sophomore and Junior Students at the Islamic University of Gaz

Flexural performance of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with prestressed near-surface-mounted FRP reinforcements

YesA numerical method for estimating the curvature, deflection and moment capacity of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with prestressed near-surface-mounted (NSM) FRP bars/strips is presented. A sectional analysis is carried out to predict the moment–curvature relationship from which beam deflections and moment capacity are then calculated. Based on the amount of FRP bars, different failure modes were identified, namely tensile rupture of prestressed FRP bars and concrete crushing before or after yielding of steel reinforcement. Comparisons between experimental results available in the literature and predicted curvature, moment capacity and deflection of reinforced concrete beams with prestressed NSM FRP reinforcements show good agreement. A parametric study concluded that higher prestressing levels improved the cracking and yielding loads, but decreased the beam ductility compared with beams strengthened with nonprestressed NSM FRP bars/strips

Gut Microbiota and the Alteration of Immune Balance in Skin Diseases: From Nutraceuticals to Fecal Transplantation

T The P.N.E.I. (Psycho-Neuro-Endocrine-Immunology) approach is represented by the interdisciplinary concept of bidirectional cross-talk between the psycho-neuro-endocrine and immune systems, which can influence the immune response. The well-known Gut-Brain Axis and the Gut-Skin Axis can be merged in a bigger network- the Gut-Brain-Skin Axis, with complex regulation by cytokines, neuro-peptides, neuro-hormones and another messenger (signalling) molecules and maybe the most important modulator of the Gut-Brain-Skin Axis/ the gut microbiota. The role of gut bacterial homeostasis is very important, and the homeostatic imbalance of the immune response may be a relevant etiologic/pathophysiologic factor for extra-intestinal and intestinal inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune diseases. The Low Dose Cytokines Medicine (LDM) is an innovative therapeutic approach. It is based on the most advanced knowledge in molecular biology and low dose pharmacology with the primary outcome. The SKA (Sequential Kinetic Activation) technology, codified and standardised by GUNA S.p.a. -Italy- makes the low doses of signalling molecules able to be active even below the minimum dose classically considered as effective and the significative efficacy of orally administered low-dose signalling molecules is the most representative aspect of LDM. The Physiologic Nutraceuticals and the Low Dose Medicine are two of the most promising approaches for the treatment of skin diseases based on the rebalance of the immune response and the recovery of gut dysbiosis. &nbsp

A core outcome domain set for clinical research on capillary malformations (the COSCAM project):an e-Delphi process and consensus meeting

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence on the best available treatment options for capillary malformations (CMs), mainly due to the absence of uniform outcome measures in trials on therapies. A core outcome set (COS) enables standard reporting of trial outcomes, which facilitates comparison of treatment results. OBJECTIVES: To develop a core outcome domain set (CDS), as part of a core outcome set (COS), for clinical research on CMs. METHODS: Sixty‐seven potentially relevant outcome subdomains were recognized based on the literature, focus group sessions, and input from the COSCAM working group. These outcome subdomains were presented in an online Delphi study to CM experts (medical specialists and authors of relevant literature) and (parents of) patients with CM (international patient associations). During three e‐Delphi study rounds, the participants repeatedly scored the importance of these outcome subdomains on a seven‐point Likert scale. Participants could also propose other relevant outcome subdomains. Consensus was defined as ≥ 80% agreement as to the importance of an outcome subdomain among both stakeholder groups. The CDS was finalized during an online consensus meeting. RESULTS: In total 269 participants from 45 countries participated in the first e‐Delphi study round. Of these, 106 were CM experts from 32 countries, made up predominantly of dermatologists (59%) and plastic surgeons (18%). Moreover, 163 (parents of) patients with CM from 28 countries participated, of whom 58% had Sturge–Weber syndrome. During the two subsequent e‐Delphi study rounds, 189 and 148 participants participated, respectively. After the entire consensus process, consensus was reached on 11 outcome subdomains: colour/redness, thickness, noticeability, distortion of anatomical structures, glaucoma, overall health‐related quality of life, emotional functioning, social functioning, tolerability of intervention, patient satisfaction with treatment results, and recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the CDS to be used as a minimum reporting standard in all future trials of CM therapy. Our next step will be to select suitable outcome measurement instruments to score the core outcome subdomains. What is already known about this topic? Besides physical and functional sequelae, capillary malformations (CMs) often cause emotional and social burden. The lack of uniform outcome measures obstructs proper evaluation and comparison of treatment strategies. As a result, there is limited evidence on the best available treatment options. The development of a core outcome set (COS) may improve standardized reporting of trial outcomes. What does this study add? A core outcome domain set (CDS), as part of a COS, was developed for clinical research on CMs. International consensus was reached on the recommended core outcome subdomains to be measured in CM trials: colour/redness, thickness, noticeability, distortion of anatomical structures, glaucoma, overall health‐related quality of life, emotional functioning, social functioning, tolerability of intervention, patient satisfaction with treatment results, and recurrence. This CDS enables the next step in the development of a COS, namely to reach consensus on the core outcome measurement instruments to score the core outcome subdomains. What are the clinical implications of this work? The obtained CDS will facilitate standardized reporting of treatment outcomes, thereby enabling proper comparison of treatment results. This comparison is likely to provide more reliable information for patients about the best available treatment options