Digital Commons Network^™

Modest Aspirations: Day Dreams, Frivolity, And Digital Lives Of Public College Girls In Lahore, Pakistan, Anam Khan

Theses and Dissertations

This project was conceived out of a policy announcement in 2016 where the Higher Education Commission Pakistan announced that the two-year colleges were to be phased out and eventually eliminated. In doing so, the notice suggested that they will be replaced by programs modeled around the United States community college and called Associate Degrees. This ongoing development formed the basis of my research as for many gender and class minorities, these programs are the only option for post-secondary education in a country where many do not have the privilege to go to college. I aimed to analyze the kind of …

Named Entity Recognition From Biomedical Text, Maged Guirguis

Theses and Dissertations

As vast amounts of unstructured data are becoming available digitally, computer-based methods to extract relevant and meaningful information are needed. Named entity recognition (NER) is the task of identifying text spans that mention named entities, and to classify them into predefined categories. Despite the existence of numerous and well-versed NER methods, the bio-medical domain remains under-studied. The objective of this research is to identify an efficient technique for NER tasks from biomedical data. This is achieved by investigating using deep learning technologies namely pre-trained BERT [1] model and its variances SciBERT [2] and BioBERT [3]. Preprocessing the data before passing …

Cross Cultural Adaptation And Validation Of A Self-Reporting Tool To Assess Health-Related Quality Of Life For Egyptians With Extremity Bone Sarcomas In Childhood Or Adolescence, Nesma Farid

Theses and Dissertations

Validated self-reporting tools are required to evaluate the functional outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for Egyptians who had extremity bone sarcomas in their childhood or adolescence. Thus, we pursued cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the pediatric Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (pTESS) and Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) to assess the physical function of children and adult survivors following surgeries of extremity bone sarcomas. Modified versions of pTESS and TESS, which contain additional mental domains, were developed to allow the evaluation of HRQOL using a specific instrument for childhood bone cancer. The internal consistency of the original pTESS and …

On The Balcony, Beyond “Balconearing”; Perception Of Cairene Women, Behind The Curtains., Rowida Magdy Al-Gebeily

Theses and Dissertations

This study sheds light on the significance and role of threshold spaces as means of accomplishing sociocultural needs, restoration and wellbeing in the residential environment. Understanding the function and uses of these spaces allows us to appreciate their benefits that are often neglected. The research particularly focuses on the social dimension of one fundamental threshold space; the Cairene balcony. It is an integral space that provides a valuable connection to the outside, and its importance in the development of urban living is widely recognized. If carefully designed to meet the residents’ needs and demands, they can promote a better quality …

Perceptions Of The Culinary Art Community On Their Higher Education Programs In Egypt: The Way Forward, Kadria Ali Abdel Motaal

Theses and Dissertations

Culinary art education used to have a narrow focus that forgoes its richness and ignores its infiltration into economic, political, and cultural aspects within society. Recently the world witnessed an evolution in this field of study as it reached tertiary education institutions. However, in Egypt, culinary art studies are integrated into hospitality education and are still confined to a shallow concept. This study aimed to explore the perception of the culinary art community in Egypt on their higher education programs from a sociocultural perspective. It also explored the possible new frameworks, and core competencies to improve culinary arts higher education …

Investigating The Feasibility Of Creating A Disease Registry In Egypt: A Case Study Of Dementia, Shimaa Adel Heikal

Theses and Dissertations

The increased interest in evidence-based medicine led to the emergence of disease registries worldwide to help tackle the impact of chronic diseases by providing accurate data on several aspects of the disease care process. Age-associated diseases, particularly dementia, are growing worldwide with several implications and increased economic burden, especially in lower-income countries. In Egypt, there is a lack of accurate dementia prevalence and statistics data which hinders the establishment of appropriate disease management and care strategies. A national dementia registry would provide a massive valuable source of patient data that will significantly advance the disease management strategies and quality of …

The Egyptian National Anti-Trafficking Law ‘Adoption Process And Assessment’, Nourhane Awad

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is about the impact of Egyptian national laws on the protection of African migrants and refugees. Egypt has been considered a transit country for African migrants and refugees fleeing their countries toward European countries or Israel in the past due to its specific geographic location. For that reason, Egypt is considered one of the essential parts of the trafficking process in the middle east. For that reason, it is essential to study and explore how the Egyptian government is controlling and governing the trafficking of persons. In addition, it is important to understand its institutional setup and framework …

Effective Organizational Change Management In The Public Sector: The Case Of The Egyptian Drug Authority, Amany Shehata Mahran

Theses and Dissertations

The thesis investigates the change management process in the public sector, with specific focus on a recent change process that took place in an Egyptian public organization as a case study, the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA). The research aims to explore the change management process that took place after the issuance of the founding law of case under study, the EDA, to achieve the organizational goals and objectives, and provide recommendations for improvement. The study used a mixed methods approach to answer the overarching research question as well as the sub questions. The qualitative part of the research used interviews …

How Can The Government Utilize Elites & Celebrities To Manage Global Public Opinion On Egypt? An Exploratory Study Of Mo Salah & Egypt, Sara S. Ibrahim

Theses and Dissertations

With Egypt’s latest global reputation index, nation brand, and soft power indices scoring low, such rankings have left room for finding new ways of enhancing Egypt’s global public opinion and reputation. This study showcases an untapped potential for enhancing a nation’s reputation and public opinion. This untapped potential lies in the power of elite commentary and celebrity activity. Such commentary and activity influence public opinion of the celebrity but also subsequently affect the public opinion of their country-of-origin nations.

With a global phenomenon such as football player Mo Salah, it has always been suggested that his performance positively affected Egypt's …

The Impact Of Egypt's Mega Events On Egyptians' Public Mood, Nouran Abass

Theses and Dissertations

The study aims to study the Impact of Egypt's Mega Events on Egyptians‟ Public Mood. Egypt organized two Mega Events in 2021: The Pharaohs‟ Golden Parade and Luxor Sphinx Avenue. The study also examines the impact of the two Mega Events on the Egyptian Identity. While the two Mega Events targeted Egypt's external publics to attract tourists to Egypt, the study attempts to assess the impact of the two Mega Events on one of Egypt's internal publics; the Egyptians. Depending on the concept of “Social Listening” as a theoretical framework, the study examines the possible ways the Egyptian government can …

Invisibility And Dis-Identification Of Algerian Women: Feminist Jurisprudence Eyes On The Legal Provisions Related To Personal Status And Criminal, Sophia Lina Meziane

Theses and Dissertations

Much of the debate around women’s rights in legal systems focuses on the increase of protection as a legal mechanism for approaching and guaranteeing gender equality. Yet, what extensive or comprehensive analysis has been done on how effective such laws are when applied? This thesis discusses the extent to which a feminist legal theory, separate and distinct from the patriarchal legal system, can demonstrate how an Islamic or Napoleonic order is conceptually another male rationality. While one could possibly identify inefficiencies of laws proclaiming equality and protection for women, the context of the question is inevitably entrenched in the very …

The Making And Unmaking Of Urban Citizenship In The Maspero Triangle, Nadine Abd El Razek

Theses and Dissertations

Cairo is undergoing a moment of sharpened exclusion and inclusion, with the city’s residents of informal settlements disproportionately experiencing displacement and abrupt interruptions to their social fabric to make way for investment opportunities. In pursuit of achieving the status of a global city, the Egyptian state has effectively widened its practice of structural violence, in order to accumulate capital through dispossession. In the process of doing so, the state has problematized the contested status of urban citizenship, disenfranchising the urban dwellers of Cairo from their right to the city. Following the temporal shifts in the negotiation for urban citizenship, the …

Chemical Vapor Deposition Grown Monolayer Graphene Microsensors With Rf Ring Oscillator Backend Circuit, Mohamed Ahmed Waheed Tawfik

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents the integration of a backend RF ring oscillator readout circuit to transduce structural changes in CVD-grown monolayer graphene into an electrical signal and the implementation of it to detect physical changes such as radiation and flexural strain. The novelty in this work lies in the following (1) the ability of the sensor platform to overcome environmental effects, such as light photons and temperature changes, through the readout circuit, and (2) it opens the door for the scalability of CVD-grown graphene-based for sensors and devices. Thus, the introduced sensors solve several downsides in the state-of-the-art graphene-based radiation and …

Influence Of Processed Natural Black Sand Vs. Natural White Sand And Silica Flour As Additives To Oil-Well Cementing Applications, Ramy Abuel Maaty

Theses and Dissertations

Cementing is a crucial and fundamental step in the process of drilling wells to extract oil from its reservoirs. Cementing main functions are to achieve zonal isolation and provide mechanical support to the casing. Impermeable and powerful cement is strongly desired to withstand high pressures and temperatures during the lifetime of the producing wells. Various additives to cement, such as silica flour, fly ash, Nano-additives and other advanced materials have been used and tested to attain improved cement of higher quality and enhanced properties such as permeability, porosity, mechanical and rheological properties. Very few researches have discussed the uses of …

Accurate Evaluation Of The Direction-Dependent Mechanical Properties Of Ideal Single Crystals: A Comparative Ab Initio Study, Jaylan Ali Elhalawani

Theses and Dissertations

The mechanical properties of a single crystal or a grain in a polycrystalline material are highly dependent on the direction of the applied load. Key properties of interest are the Young’s modulus and the Poisson ratio in the small strain limit, and the ideal tensile strength in the large strain regime. Prior atomistic computations of these properties interchangeably used two approaches. In one approach the stress-strain response is explicitly calculated via a numerical tensile test experiment. In the second approach the second order single crystal elastic constants are computed via small deformations and then used in analytical equations to derive …

Neuroprotective Effects Of Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) And Broccoli (Brassica Oleracea) Extracts In An In Vitro Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Sara Taha Fathallah

Theses and Dissertations

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in demyelination. Currently, there is no specific treatment for MS. Here, we propose testing the neuroprotective potential of Green tea (Camellia sinensis), and Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) extracts in an in vitro model of multiple sclerosis.

Methods and Results: Green tea and Broccoli plant extracts were analyzed with GC-MS and tested for their neuroprotective effects in an in vitro MS model using Cuprizone (CPZ) on the Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. Cell viability assays proved the safety of the extracts …

Preparation And Characterization Of Salvia Triloba Extract And Evaluation Of Its Cytotoxic Effect On Bone Cancer Cell Line, Basma Hossam Abdelmonem

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Osteosarcoma is a tumor of mesenchymal origin characterized by uncontrolled production of immature osteoid tissue. It is more common in children and adults over the age of 65. Many studies reported the cytotoxic effect of many plant extracts, including Salvia triloba, on different cancer cell lines when used alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents.

Methods: In our study, the methanolic extract obtained from the air-dried leaves of Salvia triloba leaves from Palestine was screened for its total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The major components of phenolics and flavonoids were detected using LC-QToF-MS technique. The two phenolics …

Sperm Dna Integrity In Absolute Teratozoospermia Patients And Its Impact On Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcome, Dina Faris

Theses and Dissertations

Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) is a common cause of male infertility, although it is underdiagnosed due to lack of routine testing. High levels of SDF are reported in men with abnormal sperm morphology. However, the implications of such findings on live birth following Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) have not been studied in absolute teratozoospermia men (100% abnormal sperm morphology). In this prospective study, the severity of DNA damage was evaluated in absolute teratozoospermia patients and its impact on ICSI outcomes, particularly live birth rate. My study included 36 men with absolute teratozoospermia and 30 men with normal sperm. Real-time assessment …

Vr-Based Safety Training Program For High-Rise Building Construction, Sahar Badr

Theses and Dissertations

The rates of fatal and non-fatal accidents within the construction industry across the globe are surging despite the massive efforts that are being exerted toward maintaining a safe working environment. Past research has proved that the provision of effective safety training programs is a primary course of action that should be taken to minimize construction accidents, fatalities, and both fatal and nonfatal injuries.

However, in acknowledging the limitations of traditional safety training programs within the construction industry, several researchers have addressed the urge to incorporate novel training practices that are based on the modern virtual reality (VR) technology to promote …

Enhancing Performance Of Gravity Driven Membranes For Water Purification In Small Rural Communities, Amr Ezzat Melligy Mr.

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the rapid population growth in Egypt, providing safe drinking water is becoming an ongoing challenge especially in rural scattered communities. It became more crucial than ever to find innovative and affordable solutions to purify water and reduce water-borne diseases. Ultrafiltration and micro-filtration membranes has been successful in large, centralized plants and is currently one of the popular solutions to provide high quality product water. However, using those membrane systems in rural areas is challenged by several parameters; among which are; the absence of skilled workers, stable energy sources and availability of chemicals. The goal of this thesis is …

Effects Of Date Seed (Phoenix Dactylifera) Extract In An Animal Model Of Diabetes Mellitus, Sara Refaat

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness and a global epidemic. The commercial diabetic medicines available are expensive and have several adverse effects. Alternative natural products are still being sought for. Date seeds ( Phoenix dactylifera) are either thrown away as garbage or utilized as animal feed. The use of seed extract as an alternative therapy for diabetes offers a cost-effective and all-natural method for managing the disease. Methods Sprague dawley rats were randomly distributed into groups with a sample size of 4 rats per group. Date seed powder was boiled producing a 10% date seed extract which was administered in …

Life At The Margins: Regional Inequality In Tunisia And International Migration, Hiba Belhadj

Theses and Dissertations

Drawing on De Haas’s (2021) argument on migration as a function of people’s aspirations and capabilities, this research examines how regional inequality in Tunisia – affecting both aspirations and capabilities – impacts and shapes the opportunities and outcomes of migration. Building on De Haas’s migration typology, this research will argue that people from marginalized regions undertake “precarious migration.” For this group of migrants, precarity is employed to explain not only their migration but also their employment and livelihood conditions at home. Those from developed regions undertake “free” or “improvement” migration. In a further step, the research examines how these different …

Education And Authoritarian Consolidation In Egypt Post 2013, Rola Tarek

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines how educational changes in school textbooks during a moment authoritarian rebuilding aim to politically demobilize students. This paper investigates how education is a sphere of influence for politics, and how authoritarian consolidation efforts manifest themselves in public and religious education. Focusing on the curricular and textbook changes in Egypt, and using secondary and primary sources the study traces the changing nationalist and religious narratives and how it aids in authoritarian rebuilding.

Eldest Daughter Or Third Parent? An Exploration Of Eldest Daughters In The Egyptian-American Diaspora, Fatima Abdel-Gwad

Theses and Dissertations

Egyptian-American first-born daughters in the diaspora women cope with the pressures of immigration by improvising processes of identity-making and preserving ethnicity. This group is subject to complex systems of gendered, classed, and racialized tensions that become relevant in their attempts to preserve cultural formations in the diaspora. This work seeks to showcase the various tensions present in diasporic existence and explore the methods with which these diasporic daughters participate in processes of cultural and ethnic preservation. Through the ethnographic accounts of six eldest daughters in the New York City and Northern New Jersey areas, this research explores the connections between …

“Tweeting During Emergencies”: The Egyptian Ministry Of Health Twitter Communication Strategy Under The Umbrella Of The Crisis And Emergency Risk Communication Model (Cerc) Case Study: Covid-19 Pandemic, Pakinam Elgohary

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates using the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Model (CERC) for COVID- 19 communication by analyzing the content of Twitter messages posted by the Government of Egypt through the Egyptian Ministry of Health (MOHP). It further examines how official communicators and institutions utilize social media to contact the public during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting critical strategies of recommendations. Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC), a five-staged theory, recommends a set of messaging and pertained communication characteristics to implement at each stage of the identified following stages: (1) “Pre-crisis, (2) Initial event, (3) Maintenance, (4) Resolution, and …

Towards A Structural Judicial Approach In The Egyptian Administrative Courts: Proportionality As A Practical Solution, Mohab Ali Rashdan

Theses and Dissertations

The lack of detailed and explicit law provisions governing human rights cases obliges judges to fill this legal gap by applying generic constitutional articles. Now that all human rights are interdependent and overlapping, they practically conflict with each other. Therefore, Egyptian judges are obliged to issue a decision in these cases despite such tensions, taking into consideration the lack of detailed and explicit law provisions regulating these disputes. The question here concerns the criteria that the administrative courts should adopt when overseeing administrative decisions to judge in a case when there are two or more disputing and conflicting interests organized …

Factors Affecting Consumers’ Purchase Intentions Towards Recycled Products, Sherine Esmat

Theses and Dissertations

The work executed addresses the status of recycling industry in Egypt and its relation to the current sustainability trends as well as climate change issues. It also identifies the main concerns of consumers when purchasing recycled products. Consequently, identifies the key pillars that need to be applied or communicated with the target consumers to enhance the concept of selling recycled products and increase its market share. Since this industry is significantly broad, the focus of the study was only on recycled PET plastic bottles (rPET), this is to ensure attaining accurate and reliable results.

An interview and a site visit …

A Preliminary Study Of Perceptions Of Community Hospitals In Cairo, Egypt: Towards Healthy Environmental Design, Veronica Iskander

Theses and Dissertations

Hospitals are a place that people dread and often avoid. Negative experiences in hospitals can contribute to pain and suffering, as well as to stress, loss of control and overall discomfort. While architecture has the power to heal when designed and maintained, it also has the power to harm if not done right. Each architectural element then has the potential to either reduce stress or contribute to it. From the location of the hospital to the colors used, there are many factors that work together to create a safe welcoming space promoting healing for all. In this study, a checklist …

Non-Dac Donors: A Better Alternative Or Rather Corruption Stimulants?, Farida Ehab Elzakzouk

Theses and Dissertations

Foreign development aid has for long been part of many aid receiving countries’ development agendas in hope of it assisting their economic and social development plans. For decades the traditional development aid providers, who are members of the OECD and are known as DAC donors, have been criticized for not specializing and instead fragmenting their donations hence leaving space for corrupt officials in the receiving countries to exploit the donations. Recently, a new type of donors has emerged, who are not part of the OECD. The emergence of these new donors, known as non-DAC donors, makes us, as political scientists …

Fs Steering Committee Minutes 2023-02-15, Northern Illinois University

Faculty Senate Archives

No abstract provided.