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The Effect of China’s Universal Two-Child Policy on Female Employment: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Labor Market Outcomes
Get PDFThis study analyzes the effects of China\u27s Universal Two-Child Policy, enacted in 2016, on women\u27s employment outcomes. The implementation of this policy has highlighted the challenges women face in the labor market, revealing a significant disparity between the policy\u27s 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\u27s effects on the quality and stability of women\u27s employment while also investigating the underlying mechanisms of this impact. The research indicates that the Universal Two-Child Policy adversely affects women\u27s employment performance in multiple dimensions. Quantitative analyses indicated that second births significantly decreased women\u27s income levels. Qualitative interviews further demonstrated that women\u27s work engagement and efficiency typically declined despite no substantial change in the working hours. Regarding employment satisfaction, only a few women in particular roles and sectors reported increased happiness associated with larger family sizes, whereas most respondents exhibited negative sentiments. Quantitative findings indicate that childbearing behavior diminishes labor force participation, while qualitative research corroborates the occurrence of career interruptions that influence women\u27s career trajectories. An analysis of the underlying causes reveals that the impact mechanism entails a complex interaction among family responsibilities, economic development, and labor market structure. Rising costs linked to alterations in family structure, the efficiency focus of businesses, gender-biased employment practices, conventional cultural norms, and insufficient policy support systems collectively create obstacles to achieving work-family balance for women. This thesis recommends enhancing anti-employment discrimination mechanisms, bolstering the government\u27s regulatory role, refining the public service system, and implementing a gender impact assessment mechanism to facilitate the integrated advancement of fertility policy and employment security
Elite Cohesion and Its Historical Sources: Analyzing its Impact on Democratization in Nigeria and Botswana
Get PDFThis thesis examines the divergent democratization trajectories of Botswana and Nigeria, focusing on the role of colonial legacies and post-colonial elites in shaping elite cohesion. While both countries experienced British colonial rule, their transitions to democracy in the post-independence period have differed significantly. This study argues that elite cohesion, although insufficient on its own, is a critical facilitating factor in democratic consolidation that warrants greater attention in the democratization literature. This cohesion is largely shaped by the sociology of political elites, with historical contexts influencing how elites organize. Through process tracing, the thesis argues that colonialism in Botswana did not fragment elites to the extent seen in Nigeria, where British divide-and-rule strategies fostered deep ethnic, regional, and religious cleavages. In contrast, Botswana’s relatively homogenous elite structure and limited colonial interference allowed for a smoother transition to democracy. In that sense, the thesis attempted to integrate elite cohesion as well as sociology of political elites into already existing models of democratization
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Public Private Partnerships: Case Study of the Suez Canal Container Terminal, Egypt
Get PDFThe study explores the public-private partnerships (PPPs) in constructing, managing, and operating container terminals in Egypt. It examines the benefits the public sector gains from such collaborations and the pitfalls that can be mitigated to foster more effective institutional cooperation. The study specifically focuses on enhancing Egypt\u27s marine container terminals through these partnerships, emphasizing the potential use of growing technology to enable equipment automation. It also highlights concerns regarding the risk of mismanagement of Egyptian terminals, arising from insufficient expected volume to ensure appropriate profitability, especially with the opening of new terminals. The study adopts a qualitative methodology and presents a case study of the Suez Canal Container Terminal, a joint venture in one of Egypt\u27s most strategic locations. It utilizes the input of 13 semi-structured in-depth interviews with field experts who maintain widespread knowledge of the industry. The study\u27s key findings reveal the benefits and pitfalls of PPP in Egyptian Maritime Container Terminals. Among the benefits accruing to the public sector are the revenue income from the lease, the use of experts\u27 experience and finances, the employment opportunities, and the community projects. Meanwhile, some of the pitfalls identified include missing some items in the agreement, the conflict on delivery standards and dates, inflexible regulations, and lack of proper infrastructure and facilities. Ultimately, the study provides an outlook into the industry\u27s future and provides field experts’ recommendations for better cooperation
Load Balancing in Mobile Networks Using Deep Reinforcement Learning and Traffic Prediction
Get PDFWireless communication networks are advancing at a rapid pace, driven by various challenges and ambitious goals. This rapid growth is driven by a range of applications, including technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as innovations in smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and more. Different applications demand specific performance criteria such as high data throughput, low latency, robust reliability, and efficient energy usage. In this thesis, we investigate two enhancements that can be adopted in wireless networks to tackle the challenges of resource optimization and network management. The motivation behind this is the fact that future networks will face challenges like severe congestion and varying traffic demands. The objective is to achieve higher network throughput and more data transmission by adjusting the network parameters. The first proposed approach introduces an enhanced self-optimization framework using deep reinforcement learning (RL) to dynamically adjust network parameters such as handover parameters, power levels, and MIMO technology. The proposed approach offers significant gains in network throughput by effectively balancing the load distribution. The proposed framework explores the trade-off between system complexity and performance improvement, demonstrating that adopting a scenario-aware optimized agent can outperform generalized agents under specific network conditions. The second approach we tackle is to adopt a proactive concept while controlling the network. The proposed approach is based on the ARIMA model used to predict the next states of the environment so that the RL agent considers them in the decision-making process. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach leads to higher throughput and improved network performance, which underscores its potential as a robust alternative to the conventional agent existing in earlier works
Impact of cultivar types and thermal processing methods on sweet potato metabolome, a comparative analysis via a multiplex approach of NIR and GC–MS based metabolomics coupled with chemometrics
No full textThis study comprehensively analyzes the primary metabolites of sweet potato peels and pulps from four cultivars and assesses the impact of four different processing methods on pulp metabolome using a multiplex metabolomics approach of GC–MS and NIR. A total of 69 metabolites were identified. Beauregard cv. showed the highest sugar content (387.85 mg/g), whereas Sahrawy cv. was higher in alcohols (24.63 mg/g) and organic acids (2.98 mg/g). The chemometric analysis identified key markers that distinguished each cv. represented by its pulp, peel, and processed pulp. KEGG enrichment analysis pinpointed key metabolic pathways leading to the metabolic discrepancy of the specimens. Sugars were the most altered class by processing as manifested by a 5 to 11-fold increase, notably in the air-fried pulp. Air-frying also increased alcohol and organic acid contents. NIR analysis revealed that air-frying was the preferred method of processing, preserving the majority of pulp\u27s metabolites, including β-carotene and phenolics
Waste-to-energy: Repurposing flexible polyurethane waste for triboelectric nanogenerator applications
No full textTriboelectric Nanogenerators (TENG) is a promising approach for clean energy harvesting. Light weight, flexible, cheap and environmentally-friendly materials are being explored as potential components in the TENG device in order to increase its efficiency. This paper reports the first effort to successfully utilize rebonded flexible polyurethane (RFPU) waste as a tribopositive material in a TENG device. A batch moulding technique was used to create two different densities (60 and 70 kg/m3) of flexible polyurethane (FPU) scraps, including customer waste and slabstock foam production waste. The current study investigates the effect of density on the compression strengths of the RFPU materials, as well as the impact on the output voltage of the TENG. Additionally, the effect of various RFPU sheet thicknesses (2, 4, 6, and 8 mm) as well as the effect of different applied forces and frequencies on the TENG\u27s output voltage were investigated. The findings showed that the compressive strength increases with higher RFPU density. The output voltage values of the TENG device were recorded both with and without pre-charging. The results, without pre-charging, revealed that the highest output voltage of the TENG was obtained using an RFPU sheet with a density of 60 kg/m3. Furthermore, output voltage was shown to decrease with increasing RFPU sheet thickness and to increase with applied frequency. Pre-charging showed a similar trend, but yielded better results compared to the RFPU samples that were not pre-charged. The power density peaked at 0.085 mW/cm2, at a load resistance of 5 MΩ and a force of 4.7 N. The RFPU-based TENG successfully powered four white LEDs connected in series. Analysis of the embodied energy associated with using PU foam waste instead of virgin PU foam was conducted and demonstrated that utilizing PU foam waste provides environmental benefits due to the significant contribution of raw materials to the overall embodied energy in PU foam that is saved when reusing foam waste. Additionally, assessing the embodied energy of the components of the TENG device was also conducted and shows that the generated energy can partially offset the embodied energy of the TENG device. As a result, the prepared RFPU material not only helps to safeguard the environment but also shows great promise for use in developing more efficient and affordable TENGs in the future
From Drama to Change: The Role of Female-Led Egyptian TV Dramas in Tackling Women’s Issues and Inspiring Youth
Get PDFThe media is widely recognized as a powerful tool for driving social change, shaping public opinion, and influencing societal discourse. In Egypt, it has played a critical role in addressing women’s issues, including discrimination and societal challenges, by raising awareness and either reinforcing or challenging societal issues. This paper examines the impact of female-led Egyptian TV dramas in addressing women’s issues, specifically taboos, stereotypes, and personal status laws. The paper aims to examine their potential to raise awareness, challenge cultural norms, and inspire youth-driven social change. To achieve its objectives, three female-led Egyptian TV dramas addressing specific women’s societal issues were analyzed for their impact on youth (ages 20–35) through an online survey with 291 responses (N = 291). While the sample size provides useful insights, its size is slightly smaller than ideal for accurately representing the larger population. This may slightly limit how well the findings apply to all Egyptian youth aged 20-35. Using Social Cognitive Theory and Cultivation Theory as theoretical frameworks, the findings revealed that greater exposure to these dramas led to increased awareness among youth and influenced their opinions on the issues addressed in each series. The findings revealed that for (H1), (H2), and (H3), analyzed separately for each series, the significance value (p-value) was \u3c 0.001, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis and confirming that all three hypotheses were statistically significant and supported across all three TV dramas. Additionally, the survey also found that youths\u27 willingness to participate in initiatives aimed at empowering women was relatively high, with mean scores ranging from M = 4.46 to M = 4.53 (SD = 0.61–0.67), regardless of their level of exposure. This suggests that youths’ willingness to act may be influenced by factors beyond media exposure, such as pre-existing values, social environments, or education. However, this study does not aim to explain a cause-and-effect relationship; rather, it argues that a correlation exists between the tested variables. A relationship is evident between exposure, awareness, and willingness to participate, but no causal link is established. This suggests that while media exposure plays an important role in raising awareness and influencing opinion, other factors like personal beliefs, cultural background, and social influences also contribute to shaping people’s willingness to take part in social initiatives
Unraveling Novel Biosynthetic Gene Clusters from the Siwa Oasis Microbiome
No full textThe growing demand for novel therapeutics—such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory agents—underscores the need to explore new avenues for pharmaceutical discovery. Microbial communities serve as invaluable reservoirs of bioactive compounds encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, traditional natural product discovery faces significant challenges, including the inability to culture most microorganisms and the frequent rediscovery of known metabolites. Sequence-based metagenomics offers a transformative approach, enabling the rapid identification of BGCs directly from environmental samples. In this study, NovaSeq-6000 shotgun sequencing was employed to investigate the biosynthetic potential of microbial communities in Cleopatra and Fatnas Springs, two unique freshwater hot springs in the Siwa Oasis. These springs harbor diverse microbes dominated by bacteria (~99%), with a negligible representation of archaea (\u3c 0.01%). Taxonomic analysis revealed a community primarily composed of mesophilic bacteria in the phyla Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, Actinomycetota, and Planctomycetota, collectively accounting for ~93% of the microbial population. The integrated bioinformatics pipeline used reconstructed 37 medium-to-high quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), half of which were phylogenomically related to genomes from other freshwater ecosystems. Moreover, a total of 147 BGCs was identified, predominantly from MAGs in the phyla Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Acidobacteriota. While Cleopatra Spring exhibited a higher prevalence of BGCs potentially producing terpenes, followed by ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), Fatnas Spring showed greater richness in RiPPs-associated BGCs. Remarkably, 100% and 96.6% of these BGCs were deemed novel compared to the MiBIG and BGC Atlas databases, respectively. These findings underscore Siwa Oasis as a promising reservoir for natural product discovery and emphasize the capacity of the untapped biosynthetic potential of unique ecosystems in addressing global health crises
Development of Preventive Dental Guidelines in the Primary Healthcare Setting in Egypt: A Delphi Method
Get PDFThis study addresses the critical need for standardized preventive dental care guidelines within Egypt\u27s primary healthcare system amid the rising burden of oral diseases. Through a systematic two-phase methodology combining a comprehensive literature review and a Delphi consensus-building process engaging 35 dental professionals, the research established priorities for contextually appropriate preventive measures. The consensus framework revealed strong support for clinical interventions (mean of 83% agreement), particularly fluoride-based prevention; community initiatives (mean of 83%), especially school-based programs; policy measures (mean of 77%) such as workforce and educational development, though with variable support for taxation and social determinants approaches. Statistical analysis demonstrated progressive convergence of expert opinions across rounds, yielding a hierarchical implementation framework categorized by priority level. The resulting evidence-informed guidelines provide Egyptian policymakers with a structured approach to integrate preventive dental services within primary healthcare, potentially enhancing oral health outcomes and healthcare equity nationwide. This research addresses a significant gap in Egypt\u27s oral healthcare infrastructure by providing a blueprint for sustainable, context-appropriate preventive dental strategies
The Sealed Palace: How Direct Access to the Supreme Constitutional Court Can Bridge the Gaps in Constitutional Review in Egypt
Get PDFThis thesis examines the limitations of Egypt’s current constitutional review system and argues for the introduction of a direct access mechanism to the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC). Under Egypt’s centralized model of judicial review, individuals are restricted to indirect access through ordinary courts, which has resulted in significant procedural and substantive inefficiencies. The referral-based mechanism of judicial review of legislation has caused delays in adjudicating constitutional claims, the insulation of certain laws from review, legislative omissions, and excessive gatekeeping by lower courts. Through a comparative analysis of direct access models in Colombia, Germany, Turkey, and South Africa, the thesis identifies alternative procedural frameworks that have enhanced judicial
efficiency and individual rights protection in those jurisdictions. It evaluates their potential for adaptation to the Egyptian context.
Building on these insights, the thesis proposes a tailored direct access mechanism for Egypt’s SCC, outlining the necessary legal foundations, scope of admissibility, and safeguards to balance accessibility with judicial efficiency. The study also addresses potential objections, such as concerns over caseload and politicization, and offers counterarguments grounded in comparative experience and Egypt’s constitutional context. Ultimately, the thesis argues that introducing a direct access procedure would bridge critical gaps in Egypt’s constitutional review system, strengthen the rule of law, and align Egypt with global best practices in constitutional justice