Digital Commons Network^™

Daughterly Narratives In Search Of Voice: Fadwa Tuqan, Latifa Al-Zayyat, And Samar Attar, Rania Bedeir

Theses and Dissertations

A myriad of pressures and struggles affect Arab women as they are coming of age due to the familial and societal constructs they face. As daughters, they yearn for a voice amidst a plethora of generational boundaries, transmissions, and ideals. The intricacy of the psychological and interconnected structural factors is augmented by their gender in societies that are motivated, and often governed by, the implications of gender roles. While multiple layers of influence such as familial and sociocultural institutions affect how consciousness is formed, generational transmission, through the maternal figure, is paramount. Daughters, therefore, cannot narrate their personal stories without …

Assessing Artificial Intelligence Readiness Of Faculty In Higher Education: Comparative Case Study Of Egypt, Ayatallah Ali

Theses and Dissertations

The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been gaining considerable attention from many countries worldwide due to its rapid development and its potential benefits in different sectors. One of the leading global sectors that are currently considering the adoption of AI is the education sector. As a developing country, Egypt is gradually realizing the importance of AI and has begun considering the integration of AI in numerous sectors. Despite the importance of the field, there is a lack of published research on the integration of AI in education in Egypt or on the readiness levels of any stakeholders in the …

Assessing The Effect Of Fintech Adoption On Country's Productivity, Mai Metwally

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between total factor productivity of countries, for both low-income and high-income countries, and Fintech adoption will be examined in this paper. Also, a background on Fintech history will be discussed and explored briefly along with Fintech future risks and opportunities. Starting off with the importance of TFP, it is also known to be "Solow residual" (named after American Economist "Robert Solow"). TFP shows and examines the performance along with efficiency of the entity or country. It shows how well and efficient the firm or country in transforming its inputs to the desired outputs. Moreover, it is the ratio …

Cytotoxic Activity Of Salvia Officinalis Extract Mediated By The Inhibition Of Jak2 In Breast Cancer, Salma Alawadi Dawood

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of invasive cancer in women in their forties and fifties. Recent evidence suggests that JAK2/STAT3 signaling is constitutively active in breast cancer. Previous studies suggest that plant extracts, including Salvia Officinalis, have strong cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells. The differential expression of miRNAs is also strongly linked to cancer development.

Aim: In the current study, we hypothesize that S. Officinalis extract suppresses JAK2 expression and has strong anticancer potential in MCF7 breast cancer cell lines.

Methods: GC-MS analysis showed the presence of flavonoids in dried leaf of …

Accessibility Of Blended Learning For Special Needs Students In Higher Education, Reem Yaseen Al-Sulaimani

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated the experiences of visually impaired students and their faculty members with blended learning at University X. Qualitative research methods were employed to gather data through interviews with six visually impaired students and six professors. The study analyzed the data using two frameworks, Universal Design of Learning (UDL) and Community of Inquiry (CoI). The findings indicate that the course design, personalization of accessibility, social inclusion and classroom dynamics, university support and resources, and technology accessibility and digital literacy have an impact on the experiences of visually impaired students and their professors. The study provides recommendations for improving the …

Exploring The Challenges For Women Trying To Assume Mid And Senior Leadership Positions In Higher Education In Yemen, Shaima Al-Monefie

Theses and Dissertations

Women in higher education have the potential to serve as influential agents of change, impacting the economic and societal growth of their respective countries through acquiring leadership positions. However, in Yemen, female administrators face a range of challenges that hinder their progression into senior leadership positions within higher education institutions. This study shed light on these obstacles by conducting qualitative interviews with female administrators from a university in Northern Yemen. Drawing upon Morales's Academic Resilience Theoretical Framework for women's empowerment, the research examined the interplay of institutional, cultural, educational, and professional barriers and other challenges that prevent women from assuming …

Privacy Perceptions Transformation In Cairo’S Home Designs - A Case Study: Gated Communities, Yasmine Esmat

Theses and Dissertations

The infrastructure of gated communities in Egypt’s New Cairo and 6th of October cities have become the new normal. The streets bordered by fences, walls, and the occasional gate, formed when two or more gated communities face each other, dominate the urban landscape today (Kostenwein, 2021). Nowadays, it is highly common to see billboards advertising new gated communities everywhere on the roads and bridges. Gated communities offer various privileges, and one of them is privacy. Taking Cairo city with its several gated communities as a case study, the research focuses on the transformation of privacy perception for Cairo’s home designs …

User Profiling Through Zero-Permission Sensors And Machine Learning, Ahmed Elhussiny

Theses and Dissertations

With the rise of mobile and pervasive computing, users are often ingesting content on the go. Services are constantly competing for attention in a very crowded field. It is only logical that users would allot their attention to the services that are most likely to adapt to their needs and interests. This matter becomes trivial when users create accounts and explicitly inform the services of their demographics and interests. Unfortunately, due to privacy and security concerns, and due to the fast nature of computing today, users see the registration process as an unnecessary hurdle to bypass, effectively refusing to provide …

Combating Counterfeit Medicines: A Case Study Of The Egyptian Pharmaceutical Traceability System, Nourhan Yasser Ahmed Abdelfatah

Theses and Dissertations

Counterfeit medicines are a global challenge that has attracted the attention of many authorities in recent years. The problem worsened dramatically, causing adverse public health impacts and significant financial repercussions. Many countries, including Egypt, have attempted to adopt pharmaceutical track-and-trace systems to secure supply chains. Despite the significance of the problem, only a few scholars have studied the topic in Egypt. This qualitative study seeks to bridge the research gap and provide a clearer picture of counterfeit medicines in the Egyptian context. In addition, it aims to understand the role of the Egyptian Drug Authority and the policy motivations behind …

Netflix’S Role In Reshaping The Global Audience’S Perception Of Arabs And Muslims, Menatalla Abbas

Theses and Dissertations

This research study investigates Netflix’s role in reshaping the global audience’s perceptions of Arabs and Muslims. The aim of this study is to understand how Netflix has positioned itself as a powerhouse in the streaming-service industry, and whether or not it has been able to use that power to promote authenticity, diversity, and inclusion. This study employed the triangulation method in order to develop a cohesive understanding of how, and to what extent, Netflix has reshaped the global audience’s perceptions of Arabs and Muslims. A content analysis of four Netflix Original Arabic productions were chosen, consisting of two series: Finding …

Fragments Of A Writer’S Mind: Virginia Woolf In Her Own Words, Baheya Zeitoun

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides a thematic reading of select autobiographical and theoretical works by Virginia Woolf. It utilizes Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophy of the rhizome as a methodological framework. The rhizome does not have a hierarchal structure but is rather interconnected. In the same way, the chapters interweave the multi-disciplinary theoretical approaches to connect the disparate factions of the modernist writer’s mind and life.

The early twentieth century saw the rise of post-suffrage writers with narratives that diverged from male-centric values. Woolf is one of the writers who makes a clear distinction between male and female values by championing women’s experiences …

Resources Based Planning Framework For Infrastructure Maintenance And Rehabilitation Projects, Heba Gad

Theses and Dissertations

Infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation projects involve activities scattered over a large geographical area (e.g., scattered road segments maintenance, telecom towers maintenance program, etc.). Planning such projects require a resource-based approach that accounts for the implications of resource mobility between activities’ locations in terms of time & cost. Existing scheduling techniques fall short of addressing the unique challenges of the scattered nature of these projects in combination with organization's limited resources availability. To address this need, this research presents a resources-based planning framework for infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation scattered projects with the objective of enhancing resources utilization achieving time and cost …

A Qualitative Study Of Instructional Leadership Practices In Egyptian Public Schools, Jaida M. Aly

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigates the experiences of public-school principals with instructional leadership and the barriers to the effective use of instructional leadership. Scholars found that school leaders who lead successful schools are instructional leaders. Instructional leadership is a learning-centric leadership model that strongly impacts learning. Instructional leaders engage in the process of teaching and learning to ensure the best quality education is offered to students. As studies shed light on the importance of instructional leadership for the effectiveness of the school, it is essential to understand the perception of school principals on instructional leadership. To gain an in-depth understanding of …

Architectural And Heritage Experience Through Playful Learning (An Interdisciplinary And Exploratory Action Research Focused On The Egyptian Context), Atheer Ahmed Salama

Theses and Dissertations

“The lack of awareness of the value of heritage and the lack of opportunities to engage in preserving and safeguarding heritage in the public sphere not only puts the heritage in risk of being irremediably lost. It also impoverishes the younger generation’s sense of identity and belonging within its respective socio-cultural continuum, and thus limits its ability to engage and contribute meaningfully to society at large” (UNESCO, 2021). With conducting this research, the researcher believes that heritage-themed analog games may carve the younger generation’s memory of heritage, allowing them to boost their sense of identity and belonging; thus, widening their …

Shifting From A System Of Grades To A Culture Of Learning: Moving Toward A More Equitable Culture Of Assessment, Jennifer Pamela Mccoy

Theses and Dissertations

Upon identifying a problem of practice centering on students and staff alike focusing on points and grades instead of learning, a small team of teachers were assembled to participate in a cycle of inquiry. The purpose of this cycle of inquiry was to research and test the effectiveness of an intervention related to assessment. The team selected a student self-assessment in the form of an exit slip. Qualitative methods were used to code teacher responses while they implemented the exit slip with students. The team ultimately found that they were able to use the exit slip feedback from the students …

Evaluating The Impact Of Oxidation On Moisture Resistance Of Asphalt Components And Mixtures, Ahmad Alfalah

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of asphalt oxidation and testing temperature on moisture damage in asphalt mixtures, using AASHTO T283 and Surface Free Energy (SFE) testing. The study assessed the impact of three asphalt binder grades (PG 64-22, PG 76-22, and PG 52-34) and three test temperatures (ALT, AIT, and CIT) on the susceptibility to moisture damage. Additionally, three oxidation levels (OTC, STOC, and LTOC) were evaluated to determine the optimal level of oxidation and testing temperature for AASHTO T283 to detect moisture damage. Load-displacement curve parameters and IDEAL-CT were analyzed to better understand the effects of oxidation and moisture …

Global Health Governance And Its Role In Health Equity: The Case Of Covid-19, Wafa Abu El Kheir-Mataria

Theses and Dissertations

In the globalized world, we are living in, health became the joint responsibility of individuals, their governments, and the global health governance system. Moreover, based on the right to health, health equity is increasingly in demand, and adopting it to a global level has become an even more complex task to realize. This thesis is focuses on health equity at a global level. The main research questions addressed are: Is health equity present at an intercountry /global level? how is it related to Global Health Governance (GHG)? Is GHG performing well in achieving health equity? what are the reasons behind …

Using Multicultural Texts To Motivate Special Education Middle Schoolers To Read Independently, Ramona Maria Di Maria

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to investigate and examine middle school students’ motivation to read independently. The goal was to see what happens to seventh grade special needs students’ motivation when using authentic multicultural texts during independent reading. Motivation profiles, student interest surveys, reading habit observations and student multicultural book choices were collected and analyzed. The special needs students that participated in the study showed how a structured daily independent reading schedule, choice of multicultural literature, and classroom environment can increase their motivation to read independently. The implications for teaching independent reading in a middle school special needs …

More Than Athletes: Do Student Athletes Perform Better Academically In Their Respective Competitive Season?, Kristiina Michele Castagnola

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to analyze the grade point averages of student athletes in their competitive season versus their “off” season. This study also provides suggestions to Rowan University on how they can better support their student athlete’s academic success. This research study used surveys and a quantitative data analysis to analyze the grade point averages of the student athletes. The participants in this research study were student athletes that attended Rowan University in the 2021-2022 academic school year and had completed one full academic year. The most significant data collected was that student athletes do not …

Proletariat Cinema: The Representation Of The Working Class In Egyptian Cinema Over 80 Years, Reham Emam

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the representation of the working class “Proletariat” in Egyptian Cinema. One of the main goals of the thesis is to investigate how the working class were depicted in the Egyptian Cinema and film industry over 80 years (1940-2020). What picture of the working class was conveyed to the mass audience, and what messages were eventually hoarded throughout the years? This is a qualitative descriptive study that conducts in-depth interviews with four categories of stakeholders in the Egyptian film industry including film directors, film critics, and film and media scholars. The study explores what values of working-class people …

Understanding Student Reading Motivation In Relation To Representation And Reader’S Workshop, Abigail Sophie Ronberg

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a case study on one group of on-level learners in a sixth grade language arts class in northern New Jersey. Students were instructed using Reader’s Workshop principles throughout the school year. This study looks at whether student choice, using reader’s workshop, and providing student feedback affect reading motivation. Motivation to read is measured though Gambrell’s Motivation to Read Profile, once at the beginning of a Reader’s Workshop unit and once at the end. Throughout the unit, students are asked to rate their experiences and share their thinking. Parents are interviewed to determine familial literacy history and provide …

A Person-Centered Approach To Identifying Predictors Of Sexual Violence Risk Recognition Among Women During Alcohol Intoxication Using A Laboratory Paradigm, Ebru Yucel

Theses and Dissertations

This study employs a person-centered approach to identifying predictors of sexual violence risk recognition among women during alcohol intoxication, utilizing a laboratory paradigm. Sexual violence remains a pervasive social issue with significant implications for individuals and society at large. Alcohol intoxication has been consistently associated with increased vulnerability to sexual violence; however, little is known about the factors that contribute to women's ability to recognize and assess risk in such situations. This study aims to fill this gap by employing a person-centered approach to understand the impact of individual and situational factors on women's risk recognition. In summary, the findings …

Modeling The Financial Signaling Of Zero-Default Debt: Empirical Study On The Firms Listed In Djia30 And Nasdaq100, Ahmed Salah Zaki Saeed

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the financial factors that corporate planners must consider to reach a zero-default debt. The thesis examines the financial fundamentals associated with zero-default debt along with the size and industry effects. The data includes quarterly financial indicators for the non-financial firms listed in DJIA30 and NASDAQ100 for the period 1990-2018. The results conclude that the fixed assets turnover is the only robust variable that can be optimized to reach zero-default debt and has positive and significant signaling effect.

Mother’S Coping While Caring For A Child With Cancer And Its Relationship With Mother-Child Relationship, Alaa Nasr

Theses and Dissertations

Having a child with cancer is one of the most stressful situations families can experience. This study sheds light on mothers’ stress and coping with pediatric cancer in the Arab world, with a specific focus on Kuwait. The first aim of this study was to examine mothers’ stress and how it related to the quality of mother-child relationship, and subsequently the child’s behavioral problems. The second aim was to explore mothers’ main stressors, resources and services that help or could help with alleviating the stress experienced from having a child with cancer. A total of 102 mothers living in Kuwait …

Language Borrowing Among Syrians Speaking Arabic In The United States: Arabization Of English Words, Joanne Stephen

Theses and Dissertations

Immigration to the United States from different Arab countries have been occurring for the past couple of centuries. Arabs from many countries are still migrating to different States in America. Getting adapted to a whole new place, new culture, and especially a new language could be difficult. Cultural and language contact in some cases causes what is called “language borrowing”. This study identified and examined different words that Syrian Arabic speakers in the United States of America borrow from the English language and arabize them. This study investigated the different approaches that native Arabic speakers follow in order to adapt …

Repress Or Defect: Military Defections In Syria In 1982 And 2011, Namat Abulebada

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates two events in modern Syrian history to understand military behavior under authoritarian regimes. It looks at and examines the behavior of the Syrian military in two cases: The Hama massacre of 1982, and the Syrian civil war from 2011 up until the end of 2012. The research studies how the same military, under similar conditions, could exhibit different behaviors when given orders of repression during anti-regime civil uprisings. The main research question tackled in the study is: why did large-scale military defections of out-group (Sunni) soldiers and officers occur in 2011 but not in 1982? Drawing on …

Historical Trauma: Literary And Testimonial Responses To Hiroshima, Mariam Ghonim

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of trauma is controversial in literature. While one may be able to come up with ways to describe trauma in fiction, representing historical trauma is a hard task for writers. Some argue that trauma can not be described through those who did not experience it, while others claim that, provided some elements are added, one can represent trauma to the reader. This thesis focuses on twentieth-century historical traumas related to a nuclear catastrophe and explores the different literary and testimonial responses to the catastrophic man-made event of Hiroshima (1945). In this thesis, Kathleen Burkinshaw’s historical fiction The Last …

Embodying Abortion: Approaches To Sexual And Reproductive Experiences Of The Cairene Youth., Ruth Morales Cosano

Theses and Dissertations

Whilst abortion in Egypt has been sorely neglected in academic literature, and highly criminalized by state institutions, women in Egypt have by no means ceased to perform it and, what is more, upon reasons that exceed any institutional or legal reasoning. The thesis stems from the need to give voice and continuity to the experiences of women who abort in Cairo. Given the almost complete lack of material showcasing this reality, this research project investigates the meaning-making process of abortion among Cairo's middle and upper classes. Understanding this construction requires studying abortion in its embeddedness in the material, social, and …

The Wallet Of Digital Citizens: Online Payment Adoption In The Developing Countries’ Public Administration – Case Of Egypt, Ahmed El Masry

Theses and Dissertations

Online payment methods play a crucial role in helping digital citizens interact and receive e-government services. Citizens’ tendency to accept online payments in the public sector is a vital factor in implementing successful e-government services. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the behavioral, institutional, and social aspects that influence citizens’ tendency to accept the usage of digital payments in the Egyptian public sector. To achieve this objective, the study relies on conducting in-depth interviews with citizens who belong to different age, and social and educational backgrounds, in addition to policy experts and public employees. Meanwhile, the study adopts the lens …

The Egyptian Private-Climate Nexus: Private Sector Perceptions On The Green Transition, Yehia Shaheen

Theses and Dissertations

The issue of climate change poses the most pressing threat for humanity. This is especially the case amongst developing countries who, while emitting the minority of global emissions, are forecast to bear the most damage. Such is the case with Egypt, who suffers from marked water scarcity and is vulnerable to climate change driven detriments across a number of levels. As climate finance and private sector investments are key towards the green transition; transitioning to a green economy to fight the adverse impacts of climate change, this thesis aims to analyze the perceptions of private sector actors on the issue …