The United Arab Emirates’ labour market: an overview

This paper provides an overview of both the quantity and quality of employment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s labour market. It first presents a review of employment regulation, covering legislation that apply to Emirati and migrant workers, as well as to the public and private sectors and details how particular subgroups of workers are treated differently by the existing employment legislation. The discussion shows that employment regulations are significantly more favourable in the public sector. While new labour laws introduced in the private sector are considered a crucial step in the right direction, they are not sufficient to level the playing field between different groups of workers. Second, the paper examines available data from the UAE’s labour force survey and discusses findings from relevant studies, while highlighting problems with data availability and gathering. It identifies key challenges in the UAE labour market. While the UAE performs well in terms of overall employment levels, there are considerable disparities between groups, particularly when data is disaggregated by nationality. Unemployment rates among Emiratis are much higher and participation rates are lower. Yet, employment conditions among Emirati workers are significantly better than those of migrant workers, mainly because they are more likely to work in the public sector. Conversely, non-Emiratis have higher participation rates and lower levels of unemployment, yet their working conditions are significantly worse than those of Emiratis. The paper concludes by discussing the policy implications of these findings

H5N1 Clade 2.2 Polymorphism Tracing Identifies Influenza Recombination and Potential Vaccine Targets

Highly pathogenic Influenza A H5N1 was first identified in Guangdong Province in 1996, followed by human cases in Hong Kong in 1997 1. The number of confirmed human cases now exceeds 300 and the associated Case Fatality Rate exceeds 60% 2. The genetic diversity of the serotype continues to increase. Four distinct clades or sub-clades have been linked to human cases 3.4. The gradual genetic changes identified in the sub-clades have been attributed to copy errors by viral encoded polymerases that lack an editing function, thereby resulting in antigenic drift 5. We traced polymorphism acquisition in Clade 2.2 sequences. We report here the concurrent acquisition of the same polymorphism by multiple, genetically distinct, Clade 2.2 sub-clades in Egypt, Russia and Ghana. These changes are not easily explained by the current theory of “random mutation” through copy error, and are more easily explained by recombination with a common source. This conclusion is supported by additional polymorphisms shared by Clade 2.2 isolates in Egypt, Nigeria and Germany including aggregation of regional polymorphisms from each of these areas into a single Nigerian human hemagglutinin gene

Isolation of avian influenza H5N1 virus from vaccinated commercial layer flock in Egypt

Uninterrupted transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 of clade 2.2.1 in Egypt since 2006 resulted in establishment of two main genetic clusters. The 2.2.1/C group where all recent human and majority of backyard origin viruses clustered together, meanwhile the majority of viruses derived from vaccinated poultry in commercial farms grouped in 2.2.1.1 clade. In the present investigation, an HPAIV H5N1 was isolated from twenty weeks old layers chickens that were vaccinated with a homologous H5N1 vaccine at 1, 7 and 16 weeks old. At twenty weeks of age, birds showed cyanosis of comb and wattle, decrease in egg production and up to 27% mortality. Examined serum samples showed low antibody titer in HI test (Log2 3.2 ± 4.2). The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the isolated virus were closely related to viruses in 2.2.1/C group isolated from poultry in live bird market (LBM) and backyards or from infected people. Conspicuous mutations in the HA and NA genes including a deletion within the receptor binding domain in the HA globular head region were observed. Despite repeated vaccination of layer chickens using a homologous H5N1 vaccine, infection with HPAIV H5N1 resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. In endemic countries like Egypt, rigorous control measures including enforcement of biosecurity, culling of infected birds and constant update of vaccine virus strains are highly required to prevent circulation of HPAIV H5N1 between backyard birds, commercial poultry, LBM and humans

Stability-Indicating Micelle-Enhanced Spectrofluorimetric Method For Determination of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride In Dosage Forms.

A rapid, simple and highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric method is developed for the determination of Tamsulosin hydrochloride (Tams.HCl) in pharmaceutical formulations. The proposed method is based on investigation of the fluorescence spectral behavior of Tams.HCl in a sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micellar system. In aqueous solution of Tris buffer of pH 7±0.2, SDS causes marked enhancement in the fluorescence intensity of Tams.HCl (about +110%). The fluorescence intensity is measured at 328 nm after excitation at 280 nm and the fluorescence-concentration plots are rectilinear over the range 0.1-1.2 µg ml-1, with lower detection limit of 0.027 µg ml-1 and quantification limit of 0.09 µg ml-1. The method is successfully applied to the analysis of the studied drug in its commercial capsules, and the results are in good agreement with those obtained with the official method. The application of the proposed method is extended to stability studies of Tamsulosin hydrochloride after exposure to different forced degradation conditions, such as acidic, alkaline and oxidative conditions, according to ICH guidelines

The Potential Contribution of Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases

The scope of this chapter is to review the significant effect that nanomedicine has had in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Nanotechnology has been widely studied in the last decade and proved to be an encouraging strategy in the healthcare system and the medical field. This novel technology provides a vast number of nanomaterials and tools that could actually diagnose and treat different inflammatory disorders and conditions. An enormous amount of in vivo and in vitro research was conducted by many groups to validate the positive contribution that nanoparticles have in regard to the treatment of inflammation and its associated illnesses. This contribution is due to the fact that nanoparticles could be modulated to pass through metabolic barriers and specifically targeted to deliver drugs to the required sites without affecting healthy cells and tissues. This makes them a promising therapeutical choice for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in the future

Insular and Amygdala Origin Seizures: Unmasked with Electrocorticography (ECOG)

Insular and Amygdala Origin Seizures: Unmasked with Electrocorticography (ECOG) Introduction: Insula and amygdala have a large network of connections to other cortical regions. Seizures originating from these structures may become evident only after propagation to other structures. High degree of attention must be paid to auras and seizure semiology in patients with medically intractable epilepsy. Methodology: We have described a series of three adult male patients with focal intractable epilepsy who did not have structural lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Patients underwent MRI, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, scalp electroencephalography (EEG), and stereo EEG implantation. Results: All three patients were found to have seizures originating from deeper structures with two having insular origins while the third patient had amygdala origin. Results with Individual ECOG data are described in the table and figures. Conclusion: Scalp EEG may not be adequate to determine seizures originating from deeper structures, which potentially contributes to delayed diagnosis. Focusing on patients\u27 auras and semiology in these cases was found to be impactful in epileptic zone localization

دراسة تأثير العوامل البيئية على الشبابيک الجصية بالقباب األثرية قبة النجومي بأسوان نموذجا . A Study the Effect of Environmental Hazards on the Stucco Windows in Archaeological domes: Al-Nujoumi Dome at Aswan Case Study.

{AR} يتناول البحث الدراسة الآثارية وحالة الحفظ لمقبرة النجومي، والتى ترجع أصولها إلى الأسرة العلوية, حيث تقع هذه المقبرة في أسوان في الجهة الجنوبية من المقابر الفاطمية وبالقرب من المسلة الناقصة. ويطلق عليها مقبرة الجنود المصريين أو مقبرة توشكا، وإن بناء القبة كبناء تذكاري تم بأمر من الملك فاروق في عهده، ولكن المنامة نفسها ودفن الشهداء والمعركة التي حدثت في(1310ه) كانوا في هذا المكان الذي اختاره فاروق لبناء هذا المبني. وبالرغم من موقعها وقربها من المسلة الناقصة وهى خلفها مباشرةً. نجد أنه لا يعرفها الكثيرون من المتخصصين وحتي أهالي محافظة أسوان نفسها لا يعرفونها, و ظلت تعاني الإهمال لفترات إلا أنه في الوقت الحالي لاقت اهتماماً من المحافظة, ويستهدف البحث رصد أهم المخاطر التي تتعرض لها قبة النجومي، ومنها أنه في عام (2018م) اشتعلت الحرائق في حديقة المقبرة بسبب عدم إزالة الحشائش لفترات. كما يستهدف رصد ما يعاني منه المكان من عدم النظافة وإلقاء المخلفات, كما أن النوافذ الجصية بالقبة تعاني من الإهمال مما يؤدي إلى تكسير وفقد أجزاء، وتم فحص عينات من الشباك الجصي للتعرف علي حالة الجبس. ومن المخاطر المستمرة المياه الأرضية والتي تم تحليلها والتعرف علي عناصرها. وللفحوص تم استخدام طرق مثل الميكروسكوب الرقمي، والميكروسكوب الإلكتروني الماسح المزود بوحدة SEM-EDX لفحص عينات من الشبابيك، واستخدام ICP ( (Inductively Coupled plasm لتحليل المياه. وتبين من نتائج الفحص SEM- EDX وجود أملاح الكلوريدات والكبريتات بنسب عالية. وباستخدام Wireless USB Digital Microscope الميكرسكوب المحمول ظهر تراكم الاتسخات بين الزخارف وتدهور بلورات الجبس, أما تحليل المياه باستخدام جهازICP فقد أظهر تركيزات عناصر(Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Ni, Pb, P)، وارتفاع معدلات الفسفور والحديد. {EN} This research presents the state of the Al-Nujomi Cemetery; Which traces its origins back to the Alawite family. This cemetery is located in Aswan. It is called the cemetery of the Egyptian soldiers or the tomb of Toshka, And the construction of the dome as a memorial building was done by order of King Farouk during his reign, but Manama itself and the burial of the martyrs and the battle that took place in (1310 AH) were in this place that Farouk chose to build this building . Despite its location and proximity to the missing obelisk, which is directly behind it? We find that many specialists do not know it, and even the people of Aswan Governorate itself do not know it. It has been neglected for periods, but at the present time it has received attention from the governorate. The research aims to monitor the most important risks to the Dome of Al-Nujumi, including that in the year (2018 AD) fires broke out in the garden of the cemetery due to the failure to remove the weeds for periods. The research also aims to monitor what the place suffers from uncleanness and dumping of waste. Also, the plaster windows in the dome suffer from neglect, which leads to cracking and missing parts. Samples of the plaster nets were examined to identify the condition of the stucco. One of the constant dangers is groundwater, which has been analyzed and its elements identified. For the examinations, methods such as: SEM-EDX and the use of ICP. The results of the SEM-EDX showed high levels of chloride and sulfate salts. using wireless USB digital microscopic accumulation of dirty between gypsum decorations. For water analysis using an ICP device, concentrations of elements such as (Fe, Zn, Cu,Cd, Ni, Pb, P) and high rates of phosphorus, iron and magnesiu

Exploring Cardiac Responses of Pain and Distress

Pain and distress stand at the intersection of multiple health crises and are leading contributors to disability. Current pain assessments rely on self-reports—which assume a capacity to understand and verbalize mental/emotional states—and behavioral observation which can be subject to limitations and misinterpretation. Methods to evaluate pain/distress can be substantially enhanced with biometrics that incorporate the physiological aspects of the full pain experience. This chapter explores how induced pressure pain influences cardiac activity elicited via the autonomic nervous system. We aim to uncover signatures in cardiac responses via personalized analysis of the frequencies and the timings of the heart’s inter-beat-interval. Autonomic responses such as cardiac activity serve as inevitable processes, which cannot be volitionally controlled—they exhibit a narrow range of dynamics, helping provide robust signatures of the body’s responses to pain/distress. We find that pain elicits shifts in the heart rate variability metrics of the cardiac signal, alluding to changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activation. Unique relationships are also observed between metrics obtained from the physiological data and self-reported pain ratings. The implications of this work are discussed in the context of precision medicine with possible applications in clinical populations such as autism