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Electronic Transport in Twisted Bilayer Tungsten Diselenides
Full text linkThis thesis investigates density waves (DWs) in twisted bilayer tungsten diselenide (tWSe₂) using a mean field approximation, with a focus on electron-electron interactions, and the system’s free energy at zero temperature. For the mean field approximation, the study initially employed same-spin nesting vectors, which were found insufficient to induce DWs formation. In contrast, when opposite-spin nesting vectors were used, DWs emerged, indicating that these vectors can support DWs formation. The plots were produced under perfect nesting conditions, where van Hove singularities (VHS) occur. At zero temperature, perfect nesting provides a complete picture of the upper limit of DWs formation, as DWs’ strength peaks under these conditions. The plots were in terms of the applied displacement field and electronic filling, showing both the order parameter (OP) and the modulation of the electronic charge density. The plots revealed that DWs’ strength increases as the system moves away from half-filling and weakens near half-filling. The modulation patterns showed that the DWs state comprises coupled charge density waves (CDWs) and spin density waves (SDWs), with no evidence of competition between them. These findings from the mean field approximation offer valuable insights for future experimental and theoretical investigations of DWs in tWSe₂. To complement this, McMillan’s free energy framework was applied to model DWs, including a formulation for incommensurate order. This free energy analysis was then used to assess the viability of commensurate orders predicted by earlier theoretical studies. Corresponding formulations were developed for these potential commensurate states. Finally, the competition between superconductivity (SC) and DWs was explored using a Ginzburg-Landau free energy approach for SC. Together, the free energy formulations for DWs and SC provide a theoretical foundation to map out a complete phase diagram of their interactions in tWSe₂ using experimental results
Youth Development Programs Critical Analysis, Rethinking Real Sustainability Measures. Focus on Middle-Eastern and African Contexts.
Full text linkAbstract Using a systematic review of 18 research papers, policy documents, and evaluation reports, the study examines youth development programs sustainability through four aspects. First, the review explores how definitions of marginalized youth are applied in Middle East and African contexts. Furthermore, the review focuses on how programmatic suitability is discussed and implemented through the concepts of localization and contextualization. Additionally, the importance of locally grounded evidence as much as rigorous evidence and finally the implementation tactics. The review uses frameworks of ecological systems theory and empowering management approaches to analyze the data. The findings reveal significant variation in how marginalization is conceptualized—ranging from access gaps and displacement to civic exclusion and intersectionality—and highlight the lack of locally grounded frameworks for assessing suitability. Programs that prioritize contextualization and youth-led localization, and those that employ adaptive management approaches, demonstrate greater sustainability and relevance. However, many programs remain constrained by donor-driven logic models and rigid success indicators, which limit responsiveness to local realities. The thesis calls for a shift toward localized youth programs rooted in community ownership and offers practical recommendations for researchers and practitioners to build conceptual frameworks and to advocate for locally grounded evidence
Towards Enabling Environmental Social Enterprises: Two Case Studies from Egypt
Full text linkSocial enterprises (SEs) and environmental social enterprises (ESEs) are emerging as promising potential players in addressing global and Egyptian social and environmental challenges. Operating as a hybrid model of financial sustainability and environmental and social impact, ESEs operate through innovative business models to address community issues, waste management, and resource scarcity through financial sustainability. However, there is a lack of research on ESEs operations, challenges, and the enabling factors that can support their growth and impact. This study explores the enabling factors and challenges affecting ESEs in Egypt through qualitative research, analyzing two case studies from Egypt by conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews with ESE founders, employees, beneficiaries, and customers, in addition to experts in the field of SEs, including donors, academia, corporate social responsibility (CSR) professionals, and other stakeholders. The study findings identified that the enabling factors for ESE’s growth and performance are both external and internal. The external factors include regulatory frameworks, funding access, partnerships, and social and environmental factors. The internal factors include organizational culture (including leadership, culture, and structure), performance measurement systems, and access to markets and technology. The research identifies key obstacles and strategic necessities for enabling and aiding the growth, sustainability, and scalability of ESEs. Based on the interviews with the different stakeholders and the case studies, recommendations are proposed to support the improvement of the ecosystem and internal organizational processes to enable these enterprises to generate sustainable income while addressing Egypt’s socioeconomic and environmental issues. This study contributes to the literature by offering actionable insights to facilitate the growth of this important, promising emerging sector of ESEs, aiming to bridge the limited research on the topic
The West and The Rest: Misplaced Blame of Underdevelopment
Full text linkThis paper will discuss the link between the history of colonialism and the genesis and evolution of International Law and in turn the role played by this relationship to maintain it, directly or indirectly, to our current day. The blame of underdevelopment is often misplaced, and its responsibility falls on the Global South for their inability to follow the same momentum of development as the Global North. Nevertheless, the aim of this paper is to prove that this blame of underdevelopment given its original reasons should be placed elsewhere. With that, the discussion of where the blame should be is conducted on whether it lies in colonial history, the unjust nature of International Law, or the current legitimately exploitative world order. Colonial history as we know it has set the foundations for the creation of International Law. Due to its imperial nature, International Law in fact plays into further legitimizing colonial rule. Even after decolonization, the neo-colonial, or as often referred to neo-liberal, the International legal system plays a role in ensuring its continuity. Although colonialism as we see it now may not look exactly like the official era of colonization, it is quite similarly characterized. This discussion will be further solidified in the case study of Pakistan, following from its official colonization all the way to its decolonization and the aftermath. From this discussion every reader can conclude their own perspective on where the underdevelopment blame should be placed
The Impact of Universities’ Social Media Content and Digital Brand Equity on Potential Students’ Perception, Engagement and Trust: The case of Egyptian private universities
Full text linkUniversities are increasingly using social media platforms as tools for marketing, brand building, and student engagement as a result of the digital transformation in higher education. This study investigates how prospective students\u27 perceptions, levels of engagement, and trust are impacted by universities\u27 digital brand equity and social media content. This study attempts to close the knowledge gap on how visual and user-generated information influences the decision-making processes of potential students, given the competitive environment among Egyptian private institutions. Particular focus is placed on how authenticity, video content, and images influence educational institutions\u27 online appearance and reputation. The methodology used a mixed-approaches strategy that combined survey methodologies with content analysis. In order to classify and evaluate the communication tactics of a few private institutions in Egypt, visual and textual content from their Facebook and Instagram pages was first thoroughly examined. A sample of prospective students was then given a structured online survey to gauge their opinions, involvement, and trust in colleges depending on their exposure to social media. The correlations between the study variables were evaluated using statistical techniques such as regression analysis and hypothesis testing. Data gathered from more than 100 prospective students showed distinct trends connecting students\u27 attitudes and actions with the universities\u27 digital brand equity and the type of social media material they post. The results showed that students\u27 trust and engagement were positively impacted by visually appealing, real, and interactive content. Additionally, students\u27 emotional connection and sense of institutional trustworthiness were greatly improved by the strategic use of video narratives and user-generated content (UGC). These effects were further mitigated by the perceived utility and ease of use of the universities\u27 digital platforms. According to the research, private institutions in Egypt ought to carefully manage their social media presence in order to build their brand equity and strengthen their bonds with potential students. Building trust, improving perceptions, and increasing engagement all depend on content marketing that prioritizes authenticity, interactive participation, and excellent visual storytelling. In addition to adding to the larger scholarly conversation on digital brand equity and higher education marketing tactics in emerging economies, this study provides useful advice for university marketers
Philosophia from Dialectic to Dying Before Death: Traces of Plato’s Spirit in the Encounters Between the Falāsifa, Mutakallimūn, and Sūfiyya
Full text linkThis thesis offers a fresh approach to the question “What is philosophy?” by reconsidering Plato’s vision of philosophiaand seeking its traces in the encounters between the Falāsifa, the Mutakallimūn, and the Sūfiyya of the classical Muslim world. I argue that Plato’s true legacy lies in a vision of philosophia as dialectical inquiry that ultimately leads – due to the inextricable limitations of propositional language – to aporia and what he called “practicing for dying and death.” I then argue that this vision of philosophia finds resonance in the classical Muslim world in the embodied encounters between the rationalism of the falāsifa and mutakallimūn - who saw Plato as a rationalist philosopher – on the one hand, and the mysticism of the Sufis – who saw Plato as a divine sage – on the other. In considering such encounters as expressions of Plato’s vision of philosophia, I seek to show that the relation between rational inquiry and mysticism – and thus, the relation between what I call “the two faces of the Muslim Plato” – is one of neighbourhood and not violation. In doing so, I challenge dominant Western narratives that dichotomize “Occidental” and “Oriental” approaches to wisdom, separating the philosopher from the sage, and restate a vision of philosophy unconfined by cultural or linguistic boundaries—a shared human striving after wisdom that culminates in dying to the self in pursuit of truth
Managing Capacity Development for Administrative Staff in Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of The American University in Cairo
Full text linkCapacity development (CD) is a fundamental factor in the success of an organization, particularly in the initiation of higher education (HEIs) where administrative staff have a significant role in operational functions. This thesis presents several aspects that shape the capacity development for administrative staff in higher education institutions and the foundation of theories that relate to CD. Focusing on The American University in Cairo (AUC) as a case study to explore the current CD programs, how the administrative staff perceive the CD programs, and the challenges that hinder AUC in implementing these programs, and how AUC manages these programs. A qualitative research approach has been employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with 25 members of administrative staff and five of the experts who manage CD programs at AUC, providing a conceptual framework for this case study and presenting a brief on AUC. The study finds a variety of programs of CD for administrative staff at AUC, several policies and procedures of employment that organize the work at AUC, and the responsible offices for managing these programs. Additionally, this study presents a role model from AUC staff who could be a motivator to encourage staff to develop their skills. This study suggests strategies to enhance the overall effectiveness of CD programs in HEIs, provides valuable insights into development skills for administrative staff in educational institutions, and finds the best practices for improving the performance of the workforce as well as the workplace and fostering a culture of continuous learning. In conclusion, a strategic, data-driven, and inclusive approach to CD is critical to enhancing staff effectiveness and the institution\u27s performance
Ethical Communities, Care Practices, and Social Crises
No full textThis thesis experiments with archival ethnography to engage with the private and intimate family documents of an Egyptian Coptic family from the 1940s and 1950s. Through such an engagement this work attempts to make sense of the problematic of memory, time, history, and identity through the archival remainders of this family as they navigate communal instability, change, and transformation that parallel equally significant socio-cultural transformations surrounding them. The intimacy of letters, handwritten notes, fragmentary notebook scraps and collections of personal and familial letters and photographs are explored to make sense of these quotidian negotiations of communal identity
An Impact Assessment of The Effectiveness of Utilizing Informal Health Communication Interventions to Spread Health Recommendations and Change Public Perception
Full text linkBrain health is an increasingly urgent but critically under-addressed public health priority in Egypt and the wider MENA region. Despite its centrality to aging, productivity, and overall quality of life, public understanding of brain health remains limited, and stigma continues to shape responses to dementia and cognitive decline. This study evaluates the effectiveness of informal, culturally adapted health communication as a tool to shift perception, increase awareness, and promote behavior change among non-medically trained adults in Egypt.
Grounded in global evidence on cognitive reserve, neuroplasticity, and the life-course approach to brain health, the intervention translated expert-informed brain health recommendations into an Arabic-language, community-based workshop. The pilot was implemented in Cairo and Alexandria, engaging 20 participants through an accessible, dialogue-based format. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected using a validated Arabic assessment tool featuring Likert-scale and open-ended items. Quantitative analysis employed Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests and frequency analysis to assess changes in knowledge, motivation, and behavioral intent.
Results showed statistically significant improvements across all key domains. Participants demonstrated increased frequency of thinking about brain health (p = 0.001), greater likelihood of adopting protective lifestyle behaviors such as exercise, sleep hygiene, and nutrition (p \u3c 0.05), and enhanced willingness to seek help or share information with others. Qualitative data corroborated these findings, revealing shifts in attitudes toward dementia, heightened empathy for caregivers, and enthusiasm for continued learning. Notably, participants expressed a sense of empowerment and ownership over their cognitive well-being, reflecting the impact of the informal and culturally relevant delivery model.
This intervention underscores the potential of peer-led, community-based brain health education in medically underserved settings. It marks the foundational phase of El Feed El Mofeed, a broader Arabic-language science communication platform. The first program under this umbrella, Mind Lab, offers a scalable model that bridges the gap between evidence-based knowledge and everyday health practice. By centering cultural resonance, emotional safety, and accessibility, this research contributes to a growing field of informal health communication and advocates for inclusive, locally adapted strategies to promote brain health equity across the MENA region
Irrigation Efficiency in Green Wall Systems Utilizing IoT: Developing and testing a method to optimize water use for green walls
Full text linkThis study investigates the application of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based automated irrigation system for green walls in Cairo, Egypt, assessing its impact on water conservation, energy consumption, and plant health across a three-month experimental period. The research compared a sensor-controlled drip irrigation system utilizing the ESP8266 microcontroller and real-time environmental monitoring against conventional timer-based irrigation methods. Water usage data revealed that the IoT system consistently achieved substantial savings—averaging nearly 60% less water consumption than the control group—without compromising overall plant vitality. Energy efficiency was also improved, with automated cycles reducing pump operating time by more than 50%. Plant growth metrics, including stem development and leaf count, were monitored for two species: Duranta erecta and Asparagus densiflorus. Results demonstrated species-dependent responses; drought-tolerant Asparagus densiflorus thrived under the IoT regime, while Duranta erecta required adaptive moisture settings to prevent wilting during periods of higher temperature. This research highlights the potential of IoT-powered irrigation systems to enhance sustainability in urban garden management, especially when combined with species selection and dynamic environmental management. The findings support the viability of scalable digital solutions for resource-efficient green wall practices in arid region