Digital Commons Network^™

Re-Defining The Women, Peace And Security Agenda In Libya, Aisha F. Altubuly

Theses and Dissertations

This project aims to examine the effectiveness of implementing the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda in Libya during the armed conflict and through continuous political instability. After the 2011 uprising that took place, Libya has gone through several civil wars, which led the UN Security Council (UNSC) to dedicate a special mission to mediate the armed conflict and facilitate the democratic transition period while ensuring inclusivity. Also, the mission’s mandate is to pay attention to social inequalities and use a gender-sensitive approach to build peace again in Libya and ensure its sustainability. I am particularly interested in researching and …

The Legal Framework Of Foster Care In Egypt: A Gender Analysis Of Alternative Families And Patrilineal Structures, Amira Fadel

Theses and Dissertations

The thesis explores women’s legal representation and agency over their non-biological children, and how the foster care system in Egypt either reinforces or deconstructs existing gender roles. Hence from a sociological perspective, it accounts for foster and alternative care laws in Egypt and the amendments thereof, to examine social relationships against the backdrop of more conventional, biological families, and kinship relations. In simple terms, studying foster and alternative care laws in Egypt is crucial to grasp how non-biological families are shaped in comparison to the more conventional bonds within biological families and traditional kinship relations, while accounting for the Christian …

Identification Of Novel Argonaute Proteins Using A Metagenomic Mining Approach, Lobna Abdallah Ghonaim

Theses and Dissertations

Gene editing is one of the most promising tools in science. It enables precise modifications of an organism's genetic material. Metagenomics is considered a powerful tool that unlocks the broad genetic potential found in uncultured microbial communities. Exploring the genetic diversity of uncultured microbial communities helps identify novel functional proteins with unique properties and make the best use of these diverse microbial ecosystems.

We developed and employed a metagenomic-based approach to mine more than 1000 metagenomes for prokaryotic argonaute proteins (pAgos), a potential gene editing machinery encoded in bacterial and archaeal genomes. Our workflow involved strict quality control, sequence assembly, …

The Effect Of China’S Universal Two-Child Policy On Female Employment: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Labor Market Outcomes, Sijia Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes the effects of China's Universal Two-Child Policy, enacted in 2016, on women's employment outcomes. The implementation of this policy has highlighted the challenges women face in the labor market, revealing a significant disparity between the policy's effects and expectations, as evidenced by the simultaneous occurrence of low fertility intentions and employment difficulties. This research employs a mixed methodology to systematically evaluate the policy's effects on the quality and stability of women's employment while also investigating the underlying mechanisms of this impact. The research indicates that the Universal Two-Child Policy adversely affects women's employment performance in multiple dimensions. …

Criminalizing Domestic Violence In Egypt: Legal Gaps, Risk Consequences, And The Need For Reform, Ahmed Hussein

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis advocates for the implementation of domestic violence legislation in Egypt as a crucial legal and judicial reform necessary to prevent such violence and challenge societal norms that normalize it. It first examines the evolution of domestic violence legislation in line with international human rights standards, highlighting its applications worldwide and the role of states to interfere in an aim to combat such violence. The arguments for and against explicit criminalization are analyzed, emphasizing how legal frameworks can alter social behaviors that normalize violence. Following this, the thesis will focus on Egypt's legal framework addressing domestic violence, showing how …

The Dilemma Of Shareholder Claims For Reflective Loss In International Investment Law: Diversification Or Fragmentation?, Mohamed Leila

Theses and Dissertations

Shareholder reflective loss (SRL) claims are filed by shareholders seeking compensation for the indirect damage they incur due to the injury directly suffered by their company. The loss of shareholders reflects the company’s loss in the form of a reduction of their share value. While national corporate laws generally adopt a consistent approach regarding SRL claims, fragmentation prevails on the international plane. Domestically, corporate laws prohibit SRL claims for policy reasons, granting the directly affected company the exclusive right of action. On the International level, customary international law, as deduced from the judgments of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), …

The Shift To Visual News Consumption: Exploring Egyptian Users' Motivations, Behaviors, And Perceptions Of News Values, Credibility, And Recognition On Instagram As A News Source., Hussein Battah

Theses and Dissertations

With the evolution of visual social media such as Instagram, news consumption and dissemination became different, focusing on Visual and Graphic content. With the current political and social-economic challenges in Egypt and the Region, such as The war in Gaza and the Egyptian economic crisis, the need for simple and immediate news updates became essential. Instagram has now satisfied that need among various users, specifically youth. This paper explores how consuming news over "Instagram" has influenced Egyptian users' perception of News Values and their definition of what to consider news. The paper also studies how several sources on Instagram have …

Sustaining Private Higher Education Institutions’ Quality With Expandability And Inclusivity, Amal Salah

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract The private higher education sector in Egypt is rapidly expanding. The Government of Egypt (GOE) supports its growth by providing legislation and incentives with the main objective of offering high-quality higher education to the growing youth bulge. Private universities react to the successive economic crises by raising their fees in order to maintain the quality of education. In the absence of supporting financial schemes for individual students, the surge in fees perpetuates inequity in access to private higher education for the lower socio-economic strata of the Egyptian society. This paper aims to address a gap in research concerning the …

1 Studying The Determinants Of Successful Aging: Diet, Lifestyle, And Social Relations In Egypt, Fayrouz Shaltout

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Background

The global population is aging rapidly, with projections indicating that by 2050, one in six people will be over the age of 65. In Egypt, the aging population, particularly those aged 60 and above, is expected to grow significantly, posing a growing public health concern. Unhealthful diets (that are associated with overweight and obesity), are one of the main reasons associated with non-communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) are major risk factors for poor aging outcomes. Despite this, there is limited research on the specific determinants of successful aging (SA) in Egypt, especially among individuals aged 50 …

Religion And Politics Under The Būyids: The Case Of Al-Sharīf Al-Murtaḍā And Al-Sharīf Al-Raḍī And The Development Of Twelver ShīʿIsm, Bayan Hasan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis aims to explore the religion and politics of tenth and eleventh-century Baghdad, with a main focus on Twelver Shīʿī doctrine, by shedding light on one highly significant family that was central to the regulation of the ʿAbbāsid and Būyid government. The ʿAlid Mūsawī brothers, al-Sharīf al-Murtaḍā (d. 966/1044) and al-Sharīf al-Raḍī (d. 969/1015), were both influential figures amongst Baghdad’s scholastic community and were closely connected with the ruling elites. In this research, I examine three main activities that the brothers were involved in: their contribution towards Shīʿī law, the niqāba office, and Qur’ānic exegesis.

My thesis shall examine …

Tailor-Designed Oxalic Acid-Crosslinked Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Chitosan Biodegradable Films For Active Food Packaging Applications, Reem Hazem Fathy Anwar Elaasar

Theses and Dissertations

Food packaging plastic waste is posing great threats to ecosystems, human health, and the planet's overall sustainability; therefore, research has been directed towards the fabrication of biodegradable food packaging materials. In this study, active and biodegradable oxalic acid (OA) crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/chitosan (CS) composite films of different weight ratios were synthesized via the solvent casting technique and their food packaging properties were investigated. Owing to its water resistance and antibacterial superiority, the composite film with the ratio of OA chemically crosslinked PVA/CS 80:20 was elected to be coated with green tea extract (GTE) to ameliorate its antibacterial and antioxidant …

Menstrual Poverty In Egypt: Padding The Way To Period Equity, Sara Hesham Nasr

Theses and Dissertations

With approximately 800 million women menstruating daily worldwide, a significant portion of this demographic experiences barriers to accessing sanitary products. In Egypt, despite having around third of the population in reproductive age and menstruating monthly, an economic turmoil in 2017 opted the government to label menstrual products as luxury items and the prices have increased since then.

The current study aimed to investigate menstrual poverty in Egypt, focusing on the economic and social challenges faced by women during menstruation. Key objectives include assessing the financial challenges related to menstruation, exploring existing policies aimed at alleviating these challenges, and proposing evidence-based …

Copyright Law And Metaverse: A Comparative Study Of Challenges And Opportunities Of The Egyptian Copyright Law Entering The Virtual Era, Ayat Khalaf

Theses and Dissertations

Metaverse invokes legal challenges of Intellectual Property Rights in a limitless world of imagination for both entertainment and business aspects. The virtual world requires special devices and technologies to be accessed such as VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) appliances. The creation and protection of these devices cannot operate without patents. Besides, the protection of their software and platforms goes through copyright protection. Moreover, this imposes a non-traditional sense of trademark protection for new categories of goods and services. The peculiarities of copyright in the metaverse lie in two main challenges: firstly, copyright in the virtual world is usually …

The Hypocrisy Behind The Absolute Banning Of Torture: Historical Fallacies, Factual Necessities, And Judicial Artifices, Abdelalim Morsy

Theses and Dissertations

The absolute and non-derogatory prohibition of torture is embedded in almost every international or regional human rights instrument that deals with civil rights. However, this ban witnesses a diversion between theory and practice. While this diversion is comprehendible in authoritarian states, democratic regimes also implement it in some instances. This usage notably arose in the wake of the 11th of September 2001 and the accompanying usage of physical coercion in the interrogation processes. Simultaneously, some scattered, though notable, scholarly voices started challenging the absolute prohibition against torture. This pro-torture school of thought echoed in some legislative and executive works. The …

Supporting Egypt's Industrial Decarbonization: The Role Of Dfis In Cbam Alignment, Malak Elsaid

Theses and Dissertations

The European Union’s (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) introduces a new linkage between trade and climate policy by requiring importers to report and pay for embedded emissions. For Egypt, characterized by high trade exposure to the EU through the export of carbon-intensive products, CBAM serves as a regulatory catalyst for industrial transformation, posing significant competitiveness risks. Recent assessments indicate that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces a significant CBAM burden, approximately three times that of other emerging market and developing economies.

Utilizing the Institutional-Capacity Response Model as an analytical tool, this study examines how such external …

Adapting Biological Mechanisms Into Machine Learning Structures And Gradient Propagation, Hao Yu

Theses and Dissertations

As neuromorphic computing gains traction, researchers look for learning schemes that are more suitable for brain-like structures. Although many algorithms have been discovered, such as surrogate gradient or Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity, those algorithms are either unsuitable for on-chip training or not biologically aligned. The goal of this thesis is to discover a learning algorithm which is biologically aligned and suitable for on-chip training. Through the discoveries of our two papers, we are able to introduce the concepts of synaptic clefts and neurotransmitters into a common spiking neuron network. We also designed an error propagation method aligning with biology. With …

Hypergraph Association With Lie Algebra Of Upper Triangular Matrices And Its Application To Wireless Networks, Supriya S

Theses and Dissertations

A hypergraph is a generalized graph characterized by edges spanning more than one vertices describing multiple relationships among them. It provides a mathematical framework for comprehending and learning about a wide range of real-world challenges. On the other side, the theory of non-associative algebras, such as Jordan, Octonions, Malcev, and Lie, has found significant impetus in recent years. These structures proved intriguing from an algebraic standpoint; they generated novel concepts and approaches that aided in solving specific classic algebraic problems, also progressing towards application.

A preeminent observation that galvanizes this thesis is that hypergraph association is still unexplored in Lie …

Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles To Facilitate Traffic Incident Management, Adam William Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Incident management teams (IMTs) minimize crash impacts and create a safer highway network for people and communities. Research has shown that optimizing the IMT fleet has strong benefits to the roadway network, but future models indicate that increasing IMT presence may have diminishing returns after excessive roadway saturation. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) would like to improve situational awareness in areas of poor or limited camera coverage, where situational awareness is typically poor. UDOT is considering the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to provide live camera coverage of traffic conditions in these instances. This thesis synthesizes practice from …

A Geomatic Appraisal On Restoration Of Tank Cascade Systems In Ambuliyar Watershed, Tamilnadu, Nasir N

Theses and Dissertations

Tanks and earthen embankments used for water harvesting and storage have been a significant part of India's irrigation system since the 2nd and 3rd centuries. In Tamil Nadu, around 39,202 tanks have storage capacities of around 178.94 million cubic feet. However, they have been impacted by natural and anthropogenic threats such as soil erosion, siltation, inadequate rainfall, and drought. This study aims to determine the current storage capacity of tanks, estimate the loss in storage capacity/volume of silt, estimate the rate of siltation and life of tanks, identify soil erosion-prone zones, and map deteriorating parameters along supply channels.

The study …

Integrated Agricultural Interventions And Women’S Empowerment\ A Case Study Of “She Feeds The World” – “Aysheen Bekhirha” Program In Egypt, Pakinam Shibl

Theses and Dissertations

“She Feeds the World” program is a program that empowers women in farming communities by integrating them into the agricultural value chain. With increased access to essential resources such as land, seeds, water, and technical training, women are expected to actualize their full potential and generate more income. This paper explores the intersection of societal mobilization and economic development through a case study of the “Aysheen Bekhirha” program. By drawing on primary sources, the researcher aims to provide insights into the program’s multifaceted approach and its impact on economic and social outcomes. The analysis focuses on the significance of women’s …

Reporting Sexual Violence: The Victim's Right To Protection And Justice, Nada Shehata

Theses and Dissertations

Incidents of sexual violence are still under-reported to legal institutions in Egypt despite the recent legal amendments. The reasons for under-reporting SV incidents to police stations appear to be the same that justifies victim’s non-reporting or resorting to various social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram as “Daftr Hekayat” and “AssaultPolice” which provided a safe space for them to reveal the assault incidents and warn potential victims from the shamed assailants. As successful as these accounts are, they have their drawbacks. It is not accessible to economically and educationally disadvantaged victims, and lately, the perpetrators started to file defamation lawsuits …

Operation And Maintenance Costs In Reverse Osmosis Desalination Projects Adopting Public-Private Partnerships: A Comprehensive Investigation And Analysis, Mayar Mohamed Khairy

Theses and Dissertations

Water Desalination projects, specifically ones adopting reverse osmosis (RO) technology, play a pivotal role in addressing the scarcity of water globally. Since these projects require huge investments, there is an imperative need to focus on the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in their developments. This research tries to provide a comprehensive investigation into the factors affecting O&M costs in PPP desalination projects due to their importance.

A comprehensive research approach, including a literature review, expert interviews, survey analysis, and statistical tools, is adopted in this research aiming to identify key factors and recommendations based on best practices in O&M costs …

Revisiting The Diffusion Of Innovations Theory In The Digital Era: Adoption Of Artificial Intelligence In Social Media, Aliaa Khaled Elshabassy

Theses and Dissertations

The present study aims at revisiting the applicability of Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory in the digital era, particularly in relation to recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence and their use in social media. The role of generational differences in influencing the adoption and non-adoption of these technologies is also explored. Drawing on the rich insights of qualitative data, the researcher adopts a multi-method approach comprising seventeen interviews with academic and professional experts and four focus group discussions among different generations to collect first-hand insights on AI adoption in the present time. AI was itself used for qualitative data analysis, including …

Unrwa And Palestinian Refugee-Ness: Material Bureaucracy And Political Potential, Paul James

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the ways Palestine refugees and UNRWA engaged with the material objects of humanitarianism in the context of Palestinian displacement. In particular, the focus is on UNRWA’s basic ration program and the techniques of humanitarian governance illustrated by the use of ration cards that shaped and were shaped by the refugee population. The research asks how the ration card, as both a contested site of governmental rationality and object of political meaning-making, functioned as a technique for defining the Palestine refugee identity. To answer this question, the thesis draws on literature and conceptual work rooted in critiques of …

The Right To Truth In Transitional Justice, Nouran Hassan

Theses and Dissertations

Transitional justice is sought by nations suffering from legacies of human rights violations. The field of transitional justice stands on four main pillars: truth seeking, criminal justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence. It promotes utilizing legal and non-legal mechanisms to achieve a transition to democracy and the mechanisms employed must relate to, at least, one of its pillars. Truth is considered substantial for transitions to happen. Revealing the truth is believed to be essential for reconciliation and promoting peace. However, in various experiences the truth did not lead to reconciliation and was widely distorted. The approach of the transitional justice …

Local And Transregional Networks Of Women In Late Medieval Mecca And The Mamluk Empire, Mona Hafiz

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the local and transregional networks of women in Mecca during the ninth/fifteenth century, as represented in the biographical dictionaries of al-Sakhāwī (d. 902/1497), Ibn Fahd (d. 885/1480), and al-Fāsī (d. 832/1429). It combines qualitative and quantitative methods in order to analyze the family, knowledge, and travels networks of women in late medieval Mecca and the Mamluk empire. It argues that Meccan women’s social and intellectual roles extended beyond their families, to other families, scholars, and regions. Simultaneously, the thesis focuses on Mecca as a central node in the networks that tied together different regions of the Mamluk …

Advanced Construction Scheduling: Capturing Conditional And Stochastic Relationships, Amr Elsabagh

Theses and Dissertations

Proper planning is a key factor in all business endeavors. This is especially important in the construction industry as a project is sensitive to countless factors that affect the project's time and cost. This created the need for agile and flexible schedules for close monitoring and dynamic planning for construction projects. The currently prevailing scheduling techniques are CPM and PERT, which professionals in the field widely use. These methods create static schedules that are vulnerable to any changes in the schedule logic, which often happens during construction projects. In addition, these Scheduling techniques do not capture the uncertainties and complex …

Exploring The Contributing Factors To Irregular Migration Towards Sweden Among Eritreans In Egypt, Mohammad Ammar Alhasn

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides an understanding of the interplay between individual aspirations, social networks, and policy frameworks to explore the impact of such factors on the mobility of Eritreans from Egypt towards Sweden. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, the study engaged with twenty-four Eritreans through semi-structured interviews to delve into their lived experiences and decision-making processes. The research is underpinned by theoretical frameworks as follows: social network theory, and institutional theory, which collectively inform the analysis of the migratory phenomenon. The findings reveal that the decision to undertake irregular migration is driven by a confluence of factors in Egypt as a …

A Framework To Harmonize Legal Provisions In Infrastructure Ppp Projects In Egypt Funded By Multilateral Development Banks, Menna Elkadi

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last decade, Egypt has witnessed an increase in the number of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, specifically in infrastructure, as a result of the growing interest and popularity of various entities participating in such projects. Public infrastructure systems are no longer thought to be exclusively provided by the government; instead, the private sector’s contribution in the provision of such services is increasing. However, not every PPP program has been equally effective or has made the optimum use of planning and decision-making. The possibility of a project failure as a result of poor risk allocation is increased, if the potential …

Knocking On Gelenbevī’S Door: A First Exploration Of The Epistemological Overcoming Of The Aristotelian Conception Of Metaphysical Modalities In The Thought Of IsmāʿĪl Gelenbevī (D. 1790/1 C.E.), Hisham Fahmy Al-Farrash

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a first exploration of the epistemological turn in metaphysical modalities within Arabic philosophy, particularly within its post-classical period (circa 1100 – 1900 C.E.), which is the turn that highlights the Arabic post-classical philosopher’s attempt(s) to overcome the Aristotelian conception of metaphysical modalities. I here focus on some linguistic, philosophical, and theological nuances of this turn, by synoptically comparing the conceptions of metaphysical modalities of Ismāʿīl Gelenbevī (d. 1790/91) and Aristotle (d. circa 322 B.C.) as two points of culmination in their respective tradition’s reflections on modalities, which is the comparison that presents Gelenbevī’s said conception for …