Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Flexural Strengthening Of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Nsm Gfrp: Assessing Key Parameters, Berlant Arab

Theses and Dissertations

The structural integrity and longevity of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams are critical to modern construction, influencing safety, usability, and maintenance costs over time. As civil engineering endeavors to meet the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and evolving usage demands, rehabilitating and strengthening RC structures have become essential practices globally. This research focuses on a prevalent yet innovative method of enhancing RC beams: the application of Near Surface Mounted (NSM) Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars.

GFRP is increasingly favored in structural engineering due to its superior properties to traditional materials. These include high tensile strength, resistance to corrosion, lightweight nature, …

The Role Of Business Viability Assessments In Microcredit - The Case Of Egypt, Ahmed Fadl

Theses and Dissertations

This paper aims to examine the role of business assessments of microfinance applicants and its correlation with microbusiness success as measured in income generated. The key research question of this study is: How do the results of business viability assessments influence the income generated by these businesses? The research methodology used in this study is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative research includes in-depth interviews with 10 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in five governorates (Al-Sharqia, Assiut, Beni Suef, Giza, and Minya) across Egypt. The quantitative research includes an interviewer-administered questionnaire of 151 micro-business owners who have been in …

Rural Entrepreneurship In Upper Egyptian Communities: Exploring The Intervention Of Agri-Tech Startups, Marwa Wael Abohamda Hulail

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change and economic disturbance have changed the state of the world and increased the dependence on digitization in running people's daily life. In Egypt, the economic instability and climate change have affected people’s standard of living, making it challenging to sustain their life, especially in the agriculture sector. Farmers have been affected by the risks of climate change, economic shocks, and trends of digitization, which have impacted their profit, employability, and livelihood.

Several Egyptian Agri-tech startups were launched to support the farmers in the digital revolution that came to agriculture, attempting to make a change in the Egyptian farming …

Mir-125a-3p And Its Targets: Promising Biomarkers For Ovarian, Liver, And Breast Cancers, Offering A Beacon Of Hope For More Effective Diagnosis And Treatment Strategies, Eman Kamaleldien Anwer

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is a worldwide health problem with various genetic and epigenetic alterations, resulting in disease heterogeneity. Effective diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring markers have been determined recently; however, new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic markers are needed. MicroRNAs (miRNA), short non-coding RNAs, have a highlighted role in cancer progression, migration, and programmed cell death. Our study aims to investigate the significance of miR-125a-3p and its downstream targets in breast (BRCA), hepatocellular (HCC), and ovarian (OVCA) malignancies and their possibility as diagnostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic agents. Bioinformatics and online tools were used to determine the miRNA-predicted downstream targets, analyze GEO datasets, …

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 …

Navigating Structural Barriers; Syrians In Cairo, Farah Hamdy Said Abdelghaffar

Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to study the strategies of refugees when they face structural challenges and barriers that hinder them from accessing their rights. The research shall analyze the relationship between the structure and agency of refugees and migrants in order to see how they act in the countries of asylum. The strategies and efforts of refugees will be analyzed in hosting communities that fill in the structural gap that refugees face. The study will focus on the Syrian population in Egypt and how they navigate their daily lives in the Egyptian context despite the lack of an asylum policy in …

Internet Penetration And Firm Innovation In The Digital Era: A Sectoral Analysis Of U.S. Firms, Mariam Elgarf

Theses and Dissertations

This paper studies the effect of macro-level internet penetration on firm-level innovation in the United States, proxied by research and development expenditure. The IV approach is used to address the problem of potential endogeneity, covering data from 2000 to 2022 across five super industries: consumer goods and retail, energy and electricity, media and entertainment, financial services, and technology and telecommunications. The results show that internet penetration has a positive effect on the innovative performance of all sectors; however, this effect is more pronounced in the financial service and media sectors. Firm-specific characteristics also influence this relationship, such as debt-to-assets ratio, …

Comparing The Quality Of Ai-Generated And Instructor Feedback In A University Writing Program, Hana Mohamed Nassar

Theses and Dissertations

Feedback is an undeniably important aspect of the language learning process. It helps students recognize their strengths and weaknesses and identifies ways they can improve. Over the years, feedback has been provided by teachers, peers and Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) tools. However, in recent years, artificial intelligence applications have proliferated significantly. With abilities to analyze and generate any kind of content, these models are being used to generate scores and feedback on written assignments to help lighten teachers’ load. ChatGPT has been called “the world’s most advanced chatbot” and “a potential chance to improve second language learning and instruction” (Shabara …

Determining The Limitations Of Class F Fly Ash Compared To Class G Cement In Hydrocarbon Wells Application, Youssef Helmy

Theses and Dissertations

Cement is a material commonly used in multiple applications in different industries. Among the industries that uses cement is the oil and gas industry. API (American Petroleum Institute) Class G cement that is the most incorporated form of cement used in the cementation of oil and gas wells to provide several forms of protection and stabilization for the casings. However, Class G cement is contested in terms of efficiency, costs, and environmental awareness against Class F fly ash geopolymers by researchers. This research aims to explore the potential limitations that fly ash geopolymer might have for its use in the …

Predicting The Indirect Cost Of Construction Projects In Egypt: An Artificial Neural Network Approach, Aya Effat

Theses and Dissertations

Cost estimation is one of the vital processes in construction management that needs to be done early in any project in order to determine the project's budget. The accuracy of the cost estimate is a key factor in the success of construction projects since it enables project managers to successfully control the project’s expenses. Construction costs mainly consist of direct cost and indirect cost. Generally, indirect costs can be categorized into two types: site overheads and general overheads. In a construction project, overheads, particularly site overhead costs, make up a considerable portion of a contractor's budget. Accordingly, accurately estimating the …

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 …

Cervical Cancer Screening And Hpv Vaccine Intentions: An Egyptian Population Assessment Through University Channels, Rita Hany Ebeid

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant global health burden, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. While HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening programs have shown promise in reducing incidence and mortality, access to these interventions remains limited in Egypt. The purpose of this study was to analyze female and male beliefs, knowledge of, and perceptions related to cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, and how these factors influence women and men’s intentions to respectively undergo or promote these behaviors in Egypt. This study also aimed to develop recommendations for more effective cervical cancer prevention measures that promote greater uptake among …

Partial Replacement Of Ordinary Portland Cement In Concrete By Limestone Calcined Clay (Lc2), Merna Abdelaziz

Theses and Dissertations

Limestone calcined clay (LC2) technique is a new approach that could address the environmental problem corelated with the construction industry due to its vital reliance on the ordinary Portland cement in its various applications. LC2 technique involves partial replacement of the OPC in concrete by limestone and calcined kaolinite clay with a ratio of 1:2 respectively. The main advantage of this technique is its high applicability due to its direct application on site. This study investigated the applicability of incorporating the LC2 technique in the construction industry. Three replacement percentages of OPC by LC2 in concrete were explored, which are …

Interfacial Phenomena In Molten Salt Systems And Wetting Transitions In Microcavities, Aaron Essilfie

Theses and Dissertations

Interfacial phenomena are the processes that occur at the interface between two phases of matter: solid-liquid, solid-gas, liquid-liquid, and liquid-gas. Wetting, spreading, adsorption, and capillarity are some features of interfacial phenomena. This research explores two areas of interfacial phenomena: the interfacial tension between a liquid and gas, and wetting transitions in microcavities. Surface tension has been a widely studied topic in surface chemistry. Many techniques have been employed to study the surface tension of liquids in various studies and research areas, but the interfacial tension between a liquid and gas has not been extensively researched. For this reason, part of …

Fragmentation Functions For Light And Heavy Quarks In Simulated Proton-Proton Collisions, Nermin Kamal Sadoun

Theses and Dissertations

In the first microsecond after the Big Bang, the early universe is believed to have been in an excited state known as the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) state, a state of free quarks and gluons. Conducted experiements, like Heavy-ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), have showed some evidences of the formation of this extreme states in the collisions. Jet quenching and elliptic flow are two phenomena that provide significant evidence for the creation of QGP and its distinctive characteristics. Although the major framework for studying QGP is still heavy-ion collisions, new research …

From Climate To Contracts: Advancing Temperature Options Pricing, Karim Hussein

Theses and Dissertations

Whether it's building dams to control rivers, crafting garments to withstand cold, or the simple act of carrying an umbrella, these actions reflect humanity's precautionary behavior to adapt to nature. Weather derivatives are an extension of this adaptive behavior of the humankind seeking to hedge against weather related risks. A recent example that motivated this work is the loss of revenue incurred by Egypt during the six- day closure of the Suez Canal caused by the wedging of large vessel due to bad weather conditions. In this thesis, we model and price a temperature-based weather contract, using a dataset of …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 Effect Of Age Of Acquisition On The Development Of Lexical Attainment And Oral Proficiency In English As L2 In Adult Native Arabic Speakers, Mona Ahmed Kamar El-Zaman

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of the age of acquisition (AoA) on the development of lexical attainment and oral proficiency in English as a second language (L2) among adult native Arabic speakers, focusing on classroom foreign language learners within the Egyptian context. AoA, a critical variable in second language acquisition (SLA) research, is explored in relation to two key domains: lexical knowledge and oral proficiency. The study examines the role of AoA and AoA related effects, such as the order of bilingualism and the length of exposure to rich language input (LoE) as a confounding factor. Through a mixed-methods approach, …

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 …

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 …

A Collective History On Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (Arora) And Their Adaptation To Donation Culture, Tara Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (ARORA) is continually addressing the organ shortage in Arkansas by increasing organ and tissue donation rates in Arkansas. Hospitals, Funeral Homes, and other referral partners collaborated with ARORA in their efforts to increase organ and tissue donation. Interviews from former and current ARORA employees, along with data analysis, highlight how ARORA worked to honor Arkansans decision to be a registered donor while also improving the procurement of organs. The findings reveal how ARORA adapted to donation culture related to public, cooperation with referral partners, among other barriers to create ARORA’s mission of “Restoring Lives” This …

Experimental Investigation And Operating Characteristics Of Lhr Engine Using Bio-Fuel Blends With Additives, Suresh R

Theses and Dissertations

The huge energy demand and environmental anxiety are the reasons for the focus on the interest in alternative fuels for diesel engines. This has resulted in a worldwide search for renewable, less pollutant and agricultural-based alternate fuels. Also, attention is given to increasing the efficiency of a conventional diesel engine when operating on alternative fuels. The bio-fuel derived from non-edible oil such as Pongamia oil and Neem seed oil are suggested alternative fuels for this LHR engine.

Diesel engine combustion components viz., the piston crown and liner were coated with Aluminium Titanate thermal barrier coating material. The objective of this …

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 …

Design And Modelling Of Advanced Power Converter Control For Harmonics Suppression And Energy Management, Jayant Sharma S

Theses and Dissertations

The quality of electrical power plays a crucial role in both industrial and domestic sectors. This issue becomes even more critical in systems that incorporate power converter-based loads, which are commonly integrated at the grid connection point. Motor drives and grid-integrated electric vehicle (EV) charging stations belong to a category of non-linear loads that inherently introduce substantial harmonic distortion into the current drawn from AC mains. This harmonic distortion adversely affects power quality, potentially leading to overheating and malfunctions in sensitive equipment across the grid. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology for EV charging stations has surged …

Bridging The Gap: Analyzing Volunteerism Barriers To The International Humanitarian Ngos In Egypt, Heba Fouad

Theses and Dissertations

In Egypt, volunteerism, within international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), functions in distinctive characteristics influenced by, among other things, cultural, educational, and economic factors. NGOs face challenges and obstacles in attracting motivated volunteers, engaging and training volunteers, as well as managing the staff-volunteers relationship, and implementing adequate human resources (HR) policies and strategies. In this context, this thesis seeks to bridge the knowledge gap of volunteerism challenges in Egypt, delving deep into understanding the barriers existing within the international humanitarian NGOs that directly and indirectly influence its volunteer engagement levels. The thesis also aims to understand the successful implementation of policies …