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Representations of Black -type Coffins in the New Kingdom
No full textThis thesis examines depictions of twenty-three owners’ “black”-type coffins depicted in tomb wall paintings from eleven Theban tombs and on eight Theban papyri dating from the Eighteenth Dynasty to the early Twenty-first Dynasty. Four research methods are employed: descriptive, analytical, comparative, and contextual. First, a stylistic and iconographic analysis identifies four phases in the evolution of the “black”-type coffins depicted in the funerary art and explores the factors that influenced these representations by comparing them with actual “black”-type coffins and relevant artistic representations. The results indicate that the representations of “black”-type coffins feature a distinct evolution pattern, which is based on decorative patterns of actual coffins but also influenced by other factors. Second, the thesis examines funerary scenes in which “black”-type coffins appear, including workshop scenes, coffin transportation, the Opening of the Mouth ritual, and the Book of the Dead. It investigates functions and roles of “black”-type coffins in these scenes. In general, the “black”-type coffins serve primarily as body containers. They also serve as substitutes for the deceased, which are similar to other anthropoid coffins and mummiform figures of the deceased. Third, the representations of “black”-type coffins are contextualized within the broader funerary culture through textual, artistic, and material evidence to explore the possible ritual use of actual anthropoid coffins. Lastly, all representations of “black”-type coffins considered in this thesis are described in detail in Appendix I with a brief introduction to their owners and sources
Towards Decarbonizing Concrete Industry in Egypt: Material Alternatives, and Economic Viability
No full textThe construction industry remains one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, with cement and steel production accounting for approximately 15% of total emissions. As global infrastructure demands continue to rise, there is an increasing need for practical tools that support low-carbon construction practices in line with international climate commitments. This research presents the development and testing of a mathematical, adaptable decision support system designed to assess both the environmental and financial impacts of material selection in concrete production. Focusing on life cycle stages A1 to A3, raw material extraction, transportation, and manufacturing, the decision support system enables evaluation of various low-carbon alternatives for cement, steel, and aggregates. The decision support system is built on Microsoft Excel while featuring a user-friendly interface that allows full customization of concrete and material choices, including manufacturer selection and dosage adjustment. Drawing from a comprehensive database of certified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), it integrates emissions and cost data from both local and global sources, making it applicable across diverse geographic and market contexts. The decision support system is designed to support informed decision-making by balancing sustainability targets with economic feasibility. To experience its effectiveness, the decision support system was tested using a dataset of over 100 certified EPDs and applied to ten real-world construction projects in Egypt, covering a range of scales and locations. Results demonstrated that the use of low-carbon alternatives achieved an average reduction of 13% in embodied carbon, with an associated average cost increase of 33%. A local and global sensitivity analysis further tested the decision support system’s responsiveness to variations in emission factors, material availability, and market prices. Through Pareto-based analysis, the decision support system identified the finest material combinations that balance environmental performance with financial viability. By offering a scalable and technically accessible solution, this research contributes to the global decarbonization of the construction sector and supports national efforts to meet international climate targets under the Paris Agreement
Multifunctional Green Wall Systems for Greywater Treatment and Hygrothermal Regulation in Egypt
No full textIncreasing environmental concerns regarding climate change and the intensifying challenge of water scarcity in Egypt necessitate the development of innovative, sustainable, and resource-efficient strategies for wastewater reuse. In the built environment, greywater constitutes a significant, relatively low-contaminant wastewater stream that, if treated to comply with Egyptian Codes and relevant international standards, can be safely reused for non-potable applications such as irrigation, landscaping, and building services. This research investigates the efficacy of an integrated green wall panel system, installed on building façades, for decentralized greywater treatment under Egypt’s climatic and environmental conditions, while simultaneously enhancing hygrothermal performance to reduce building energy demand.
The proposed green wall system was developed as a multilayer treatment assembly incorporating sequential filtration stages and vegetation, designed for concurrent greywater treatment and environmental performance enhancement. Experimental optimization of the primary filtration stage (Phases I–II) identified a medium composed of 50% sand and 50% activated carbon as the most effective configuration, achieving the highest contaminant removal efficiency and outperforming other tested ratios and filtration media in reducing turbidity and pollutant loads. Phase III results demonstrated that Canna indica, characterized by its extensive fibrous root system, consistently outperformed Ruscus aculeatus across all seven water quality parameters, achieving superior removal efficiencies. The temporal analysis revealed significant performance improvements over successive experimental runs, confirming the system\u27s capacity for optimization and long-term viability. The optimized Canna indica green wall system achieved compliance with major regional and international reuse standards. Annual scaling analysis confirmed a treatment potential on a multi-story building, highlighting its feasibility as a sustainable decentralized wastewater management solution. In Phase IV, two plant species; Canna indica and Ruscus aculeatus, were comparatively evaluated for their phytoremediation capacity and hygrothermal performance. Canna indica proved more effective in lowering internal air temperatures within adjacent test chambers and enhancing indoor microclimatic conditions through improved relative humidity. These hygrothermal improvements were further validated through Heat Index calculations, which quantitatively demonstrated Canna indica\u27s superior performance in 1 reducing indoor thermal stress, decreasing cooling energy demand, and generating enhanced cost savings. Taken together with its higher greywater purification efficiency, Phase IV demonstrated that the Canna indica green wall offers the strongest potential to serve as a dual-function system, integrating decentralized wastewater treatment with passive thermal regulation to enhance both environmental performance and energy savings in sustainable building design.
Overall, the findings demonstrate that optimized green wall panel configurations can consistently produce high-quality treated greywater meeting both Egyptian and international reuse standards while delivering co-benefits such as façade shading, thermal buffering, and microclimate enhancement. The study concludes that integrating greywater treatment into green wall systems represents a viable dual-function strategy for water reuse and energy efficiency in water-stressed and hot-climate regions. However, it also identifies the need for further research into long-term performance, standardized maintenance protocols, and design refinements to enable large-scale implementation
Family Caregivers and Suicide Prevention: A Needs and Assets Assessment in Egypt
Full text linkIn the Arab world, suicide prevention is shaped by cultural stigma and religious beliefs, shaping both help-seeking behaviors and the design of support systems. Family caregivers play a vital role in suicide prevention but often face significant emotional and logistical burdens. This study is the first known scholarly effort in Egypt to examine the intervention needs of these caregivers. It explored three key questions: the roles and challenges of caregivers supporting individuals with suicidal thoughts or behaviors; the availability of clinical and community-based resources; and the characteristics of future interventions to support them. A total of 92 mental health professionals participated via an online survey, representing diverse specializations including psychiatry, clinical psychology, and counseling psychology. Respondents described family members engaging in universal caregiving roles, such as attending to basic needs and safety planning, along with a distinctive emphasis on religious guidance due to religious prohibitions of suicide. Reported family caregiver challenges spanned ecological levels, including patient issues, caregiving environment, family attitudes towards services, mental health infrastructure, and culture and policy. While professionals offered practical, informational, empathetic, and motivational support, gaps remain in community-based services such as case management, peer support, and respite care. Although respondents favored future interventions designed and delivered in clinical settings by professionals with mental health or social services expertise, they also welcomed initiatives from governmental, academic, religious, and nonprofit sectors. The study concludes with a set of interdisciplinary interventions involving caregivers in suicide prevention efforts at universal, selective, and indicated levels, and calls for future research that centers caregivers’ voices, especially in suicide bereavement
Radioactive Silence: Investigating the Erasure of France’s Nuclear Testing In The Algerian Sahara.
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An Examination of the Determinants of Audit quality: Implications from Firms Listed in US Stock Markets
Full text linkThe purpose of this thesis is to examine the effect of several audit determinants, namely audit tenure, non-audit to audit fees ratio, auditing firm size, and firm size, impact on audit quality. This thesis extends the existing literature on audit determinants effect on audit quality using a Generalized Linear Model, (GLM) regression with robust estimation by analyzing a sample of 446 companies from the USA in the manufacture and service sectors. This is conducted through a series of diagnostic tests to identify an appropriate regression model. Such tests include testing and checking of baseline regression models to check for multicollinearity, best model fit for log or non-log transformed dependent variable, and outliers. After that, several tests as Hausman Test, RESET Test, and Breusch-Pagan Test are used to test for fixed and random effects, linearity, and heteroscedasticity respectively. Based on results of these tests, the method of regression selected and used is the Generalized Linear Model, GLM, using a robust estimation. The findings showed that three of the determinants showed a non-significant relationship, while only one determinant showed a positive significant relationship with the audit quality. This thesis contribution comes from extending previous literature providing valuable insights on audit quality determinants effect on audit quality
A Novel Sustainable Nature-Based Approach for Enhanced Removal of Solids and Organics in Activated Sludge Treatment
No full textThis study explores the performance enhancement of conventional plug flow activated sludge (AS) systems through direct integration of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) within the aeration tank, under Egyptian municipal wastewater treatment conditions. A pilot-scale system was constructed in the Madinaty Wastewater Treatment Plant, comprising control (AS only) and experimental (AS with plant integration) lines. Across six replicated experimental runs and two validation campaigns, the system was evaluated for key treatment parameters including COD, BOD₅, TSS, DO, MLSS, and MLVSS, alongside kinetic and oxygen transfer analyses. Results revealed significant improvements in oxygenation and improved TSS removal efficiency. Although COD and BOD5 concentrations remained above regulatory thresholds, the experimental configuration consistently outperformed the control in effluent quality. The integration of plants led to a more favorable F/M ratio and a higher SRT, suggesting enhanced biological stability. These findings position plant-integrated aeration as a viable retrofit strategy to improve energy efficiency, and effluent quality in existing AS facilities—particularly in energy-constrained, climate-sensitive contexts like Egypt
Advancing Climate Transition through Fiscal Tools: The Role of Carbon Taxation and Fuel Subsidy Reform
Full text linkThis study highlights how fiscal policy tools can accelerate Egypt\u27s climate transition, with emphasis on carbon taxes and fossil fuel subsidies reforms. It investigates how fiscal tools can reduce carbon emissions and promote economic development by primarily relying on qualitative interviews with policymakers, consultants, representatives of the private sector, and civil society actors, paralleled with some descriptive and comparative analysis. The results show that even though Egypt has made significant strides in advancing green transition, including updating the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), introducing the first African Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), as well as phasing out fossil fuel subsidies gradually, institutional coordination, governance readiness, and social acceptance are still major challenges. According to the findings, fiscal policies, alone are insufficient in the absence of supportive policy reforms and enabling regulatory measures that support green transitions. The findings draw attention to the importance of a strong Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework in this context to evaluate the success of fiscal reforms, boost investor confidence, and guarantee compliance with global commitments and obligations. International binding treaties such as the Paris Agreement urges signatory countries, to set and implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to advance their climate agendas. Other trade instruments such as Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) represents global market pressures that drive Egyptian exporters to adapt to maintain competitiveness in EU markets. The study suggests a gradual fiscal reform plan that gradually eliminates inefficient subsidies, implements carbon pricing, and reallocates funds to accelerate the adoption of green energy solutions in key sectors such as energy and transport
Assessing The Effectiveness of a Habit Recording Tool To Improve Mental Health of University (AUC) Students
Full text linkIntroduction: According to previous research, the mental health of university students has become an alarming public health concern worldwide. Most of the mental disorders begin among young adults, attributed to the transition to university and increased financial and societal pressure. Despite the important effect of daily habits on mental health, there still remain research gaps in Egypt in exploring their effect among university students and exploring the potential opportunities to support their well-being. Objectives: To assess depression rates among AUC students and to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly designed habit recording board, Make an Impact (MAI) to improve depression symptoms and promote mental health among AUC undergraduate students. Methods: The study employed a mixed-method approach, by using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) survey to assess the depression prevalence among AUC students, and in-depth interviews to assess the effectiveness of the MAI tool in promoting mental wellness among students. Results: Key findings reveal that depression symptoms are common among graduate and undergraduate students overall. The highest proportion among the total sample and graduate students was mild depression with 33% and 41% respectively, while undergraduates showed the highest rates of moderate depression (30%). Severe depression was least common across all groups. No statistically significant differences in depression severity were found between graduate and undergraduate students (all p \u3e 0.05). Student feedback indicated promising results for the MAI tool in building healthy habits among students. However, based on baseline depression status, there were mixed results regarding the effectiveness of the MAI tool on improving mental health status. Conclusion: The study sheds light on the mental wellness of university students, the link between habits and mental well-being, and the university students’ vulnerability to depression. The results of the current study indicate the potential benefits of building habits that support students’ mental health. The study results offer insights into the mental health status of university students while also highlighting gaps in existing support systems and recommendations for future research and mental health interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of university students
Women Representation in Higher Education Leadership in Egypt: A Qualitative Study
Full text linkThe purpose of this research is to investigate women representation in higher education leadership in Egypt. Currently, the representation of women in leadership roles in higher education is not proportionate to the percentage of women in Egypt, or even to the percentage of women employed in education. The importance of this topic arises from the implications of gender inequality. This research explores the perceptions of women in higher education regarding the social and cultural barriers that hinder their advancement to leadership positions. The discussion is in light of the social dominance theory and the cultural and social issues that stand as barriers between women and equal opportunity. It looks at concepts such as glass ceiling, statistical discrimination, preferential male treatment, gender stereotypes, and socially imposed gender roles. The study interviewed 12 women administrators assuming middle management positions at a private higher education institute in Egypt. The interviews showed policy, individual, behavioral and societal bias that disadvantage women