Democratization and Extremism: The Case of Tunisia

Terrorism has become a real security threat for nearly every country in the world. Despite of the declaration and adoption of several procedures to fight terrorism and its perpetrators, countries have not yet succeeded to control the huge numbers of recruits being mobilized by terrorist organizations.[1] The literature has covered several factors that make recruits vulnerable and easily mobilized and radicalized by terrorist organizations, among which is the suppression of civil and political rights in non-democratic countries, as well as weak political institutions.[2] Among the Arab world countries, it has been puzzling to find out that despite of being the sole democratizing Arab country, Tunisia has been found to generate the greatest number of foreign fighters joining jihadist groups.[3] At the same time, the country’s main Islamist party, Ennahda, decided to back up the new democratic government after the Arab Spring, accept a constitution that contradicts the party’s Islamist ideology, and be part of the democratization process in Tunisia.[4] Not only that, but also, Ennahda party was able to win the elections of the Constituent Assembly with a momentous margin, as the party won 89 seats out of a total of 217 seats.[5] Therefore, Tunisia has been a battle ground for these two competing mechanisms; the issue which poses an empirical puzzle for this thesis. Hence, the main research question of this thesis would be: why has the democratic transition in Tunisia been associated with a high rate of recruits joining terrorist organizations? [1]Almakan Orozobekova, The Mobilization and Recruitment of Foreign Fighters: The Case of Islamic State, 2012–2014. Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes15, no. 3 (2016): 83-100, p. 83. [2]Geoffrey Macdonald, and Luke Waggoner, Dashed Hopes and Extremism in Tunisia. Journal of Democracy29, no. 1 (2018): 126-140, p. 126. [3]Meirav Mishali-Ram, Foreign Fighters and Transnational Jihad in Syria. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 41, no. 3 (2018): 169-190, p. 170.; Ric Neo, The Jihad post-Arab Spring: Contextualising Islamic radicalism in Egypt and Tunisia. African Security Review 28, no. 2 (2019): 95-109, p. 100. [4]Fabio Merone, Between social contention and takfirism: the evolution of the Salafi-jihadi movement in Tunisia. Mediterranean Politics22, no. 1 (2017): 71–90, p. 81.; Geoffrey Macdonald, and Luke Waggoner, Dashed Hopes and Extremism in Tunisia. Journal of Democracy(Johns Hopkins University Press) 29, no. 1 (2018): 126-140, p. 126. [5]Ahmad Najib Burhani, The Reformasi ’98 and the Arab Spring: A Comparative Study of Popular Uprisings in Indonesia and Tunisia. Asian Politics & Policy(Wiley Periodicals, Inc.) 6, no. 2 (2014): 199-215, p. 199

Data-driven algorithms for enhanced transportation infrastructure asset management

State highway agencies collect a considerable amount of digital data to document as well as support a variety of decision-making processes. This data is used to develop insights and extract information to enhance serval decision-making systems. However, digital data collected by highway agencies has been consistently underutilized especially in supporting data-driven or evidence-based decision-making systems. This underutilization is a result of a poor established connection between the data collected and its final possible usage. This study analyzes the digital data collected by highway agencies to enhance the reliability of decision-making systems by utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analytics. This study will a) develop an enhanced Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) for pavement rehabilitation investment decisions by establishing a novel cost classification system , b) identifying the barriers and challenges faced by agencies to adopt a data-driven pavement performance evaluation process, and c) develop a dynamic pavement delineation algorithm that aggregates the pavement condition data at the distress level. In order to achieve these objectives, the study uses different digital dataset including a) pavement rehabilitation historical bid-data, b) pavement rehabilitation as-built drawings, c) pavement condition data, and d) pavement maintenance and rehabilitation geospatial data. The study developed an enhanced life-cycle cost analysis practice that would significantly improve the economic evaluation accuracy of investment decisions. Additionally, the study identified seven major barriers and challenges that hinder the adoption of a data-driven pavement performance evaluation. Finally, the study developed and automated a pavement delineation algorithm using Python programming language. This study is expected help highway agencies utilize their historical digital datasets to support a variety of decision-making systems. Furthermore, the study paves the way to adopting and implementing data-driven and evidence based decision-making processes

Patient characteristics that can predict response to omalizumab an (Anti-IgE Antibody) for achieving better control of asthmatic patients

AbstractBackgroundOmalizumab is a monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody indicated for the treatment of inadequately controlled severe persistent asthma despite optimal controller therapy. It is an expensive medication so there is a need to identify those patients most likely to benefit.Aim of the studyTo investigate characteristics associated with response to omalizumab in difficult asthma.Patients and methodsThe study enrolled 42 patients (15 female, 27 male) with age range (20y–52y) with severe asthma that was inadequately controlled despite step 4 treatment as described in (GINA) guidelines. Omalizumab was given as add-on therapy to concomitant asthma treatment and administered subcutaneously every 2 or 4 weeks according to patients’ pretreatment bodyweight and baseline IgE levels, for at least 16 weeks. Those who showed better asthma control were analyzed to investigate whether pre-treatment patient baseline clinical characteristics could be reliably identified and to be predictive of a superior response to omalizumab.Results{(12/42 (28.6%)} of enrolled patients showed better asthma control. Using univariate and multivariate regression analysis, many variables showed significant effect on response to omalizumab including; age, duration of asthma, history of allergic rhinitis, history of allergic dermatitis, bronchial reversibility, no of positive results to common allergen in immediate skin-prick test, sputum eosinophilia and baseline total (IgE).ConclusionOmalizumab is an expensive medication so it is recommended to target its use to patients most likely to benefit rather than recommend widespread use. Further studies are needed to confirm these dat

A novel admission control scheme for network slicing based on squatting and kicking strategies

New services and applications impose differentquality of service (QoS) requirements on network slicing. Tomeet differentiated service requirements, current Internet servicemodel has to support emerging real-time applications from 5Gnetworks. The admission control mechanisms are expected tobe one of the key components of the future integrated serviceInternet model, for providing multi-level service guarantees withthe different classes (slices) of services. Therefore, this paperintroduces a new flexible admission control mechanism, basedon squatting and kicking techniques (SKM), which can beemployed under network slicing scenario. From the results, SKMprovides 100% total resource utilization in bandwidth contextand 100% acceptance ratio for highest priority class underdifferent input traffic volumes, which cannot be achieved byother existing schemes such as AllocTC-Sharing model due topriority constraints.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Climate Policy in Developing Countries: Analysis of Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Measures in Egypt

The Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) refers to a country’s climate action plan to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate change hazards. Each country is obliged to submit its NDCs to the UNFCCC, adhering to a guideline for increasing clarity and transparency. Nonetheless, few studies have employed this guideline to assess countries’ contributions, particularly the NDCs of developed countries. Our article centers on the case of The Arab Republic of Egypt (hereafter Egypt), which is extremely susceptible to climate change impacts due to its geographic location and economic structure. Using desk research and a systematic NDC analysis, this paper reviews recent measures Egypt has taken to build national resilience against climate change. We also assess Egypt’s planned mitigation and adaptation measures until 2030, documented in its updated NDC according to four criteria: mitigation ambition level, comprehensiveness, implementation plan, and transparency. The results show that Egypt’s 2022 NDC is more advanced on different fronts than the 2015 submission, focusing on fewer sectors and specific quantified targets for mitigation and adaptation. However, the updated NDC only partially meets the essential criteria for mitigation ambition level, implementability, and transparency. We provide a set of methodological and policy recommendations for improvement

Entwicklung eines beidseitig antastenden Interferometers zur Messung der absoluten Länge von Endmaßen

The work presented in this thesis describes a prototype version of a double-ended interferometer built at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) for measuring the length of short as well as long gauge blocks. In this setup, more than one wavelength is used which makes this interferometer much more effective for accurate extraction of the integer orders of interference. A special design for the light source is found to allow the same adjustment states at the different wavelengths. The PTB double-ended interferometer prototype shows consistent results for the two wavelengths used and a good agreement with well-established PTB gauge block interferometers (INKO5 and Köster). The current uncertainty of the double-ended interferometer prototype is limited by the gauge block temperature deviation from the reference temperature of 20.000 °C. The phase change on reflection of steel gauge blocks is measured using the stack method. It shows a good agreement with the calculated ones. The phase correction of ceramic gauge block is estimated from the difference between the double-ended interferometer and the INKO5 measurement results and is measured using the stack method. Its value is compatible with the values reported in the literature using the same method. The good experimental results introduce this interferometer as a traceable tool for other gauge block length interferometers.Ein in der Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) entwickelter Prototyp eines beidseitig antastenden Interferometers zur Messung der absoluten Länge von sowohl kurzen als auch langen Endmaßen wird beschrieben. In dem neu entwickelten Aufbau wurden zwei Wellenlängen ( 633 nm und 512 nm ) verwendet, was zu einer genaueren Bestimmung der ganzzahligen Ordnungen der Interferenzen führt und somit das Interferometer mehr effektiv macht. Für die zwei unterschiedlichen Wellenlängen wurde eine spezielle Anordnung realisiert, die die gleiche Justierung beider Strahlen im Interferometer erlaubt. Mit dem entwickelten Prototyp wurden Längenmessungen an diversen Endmaßen aus Stahl und Keramik ( 2 mm bis 500 mm ) durchgeführt. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse sind für die beiden verwendeten Wellenlängen konsistent und zeigen ebenfalls eine gute Übereinstimmung mit den Ergebnissen mit den etablierten Endmaßkomparatoren der PTB (INKO5 und Köster). Die erreichte Messunsicherheit des beidseitigen Interferometerprototyps wird durch die Abweichung der Endmaßtemperatur von der Referenztemperatur von 20.000°C begrenzt. Unter Verwendung der Stack-Methode wurde die Phasenänderung bei der Reflexion an Endmaßen aus Stahl gemessen, wobei eine gute Übereinstimmung der gemessenen mit den berechneten Werten erzielt wurde. Bei Endmaßen aus Keramik wurde die Phasenkorrektur aus der Differenz der Messergebnisse mit dem Prototyp und dem INKO5 abgeschätzt und mit der Stack-Methode gemessen. Die Ergebnisse der ermittelten Phasenkorrektur stimmen gut mit denen in der Literatur überein. Die gut erzielten Ergebnisse des beidseitig antastenden Interferometers sind eine gute Basis für die Weiterentwicklung des Prototyps in einer temperaturstabilisierten Vakuumkammer, wie es beim Präzsionsinterferometer der PTB [52, 53].der Fall ist

Multi-Microgrids Reliability and Islanding Operation Enhancement, under Different Dispatchable-Renewable DG Units Penetration Levels

Electrical reliability assurance is a very important aspect of electrical power systems; significant consideration should be given to reliability at both the planning and operation stage of power systems. A decrease in reliability levels can lead to enormous economic losses, especially for certain industrial facilities, and utilities could be penalized for violation of the mandatory reliability standards. Besides the traditional methods for electrical reliability enhancement, it is highly recommended to consider the adoption of innovative technologies, such as the integration of Distributed Generation (DG) units into the electrical network, especially those which are based on renewable energy source (wind and photovoltaic). Distributed Generation technologies can be beneficial to the electrical distribution system performance. However, these pose certain technical challenges to the reliable operation of the system. In this work, we also focus on the micro-grid operation security during islanding mode of operation in the presence of DG units. In this thesis, the unique aspects of reliability evaluation for an electrical distribution system has been performed using system-independent analytical expressions, considering probabilistic load and DG unit modeling, under different scenarios including dispatchable and renewable DG units with reasonable penetration levels. Further, a modified adequacy formulation has been adopted during the islanding mode of operation in order to consider micro-grid load correlation and an additional load curtailment level introduced in this work. The extra curtailment is needed to ensure adequate technical constraints and allow successful micro-grid operation, when the dispatchable DG units rating in a micro-grid is less than a defined percentage of the micro-grid peak load at time of islanding. Afterwards, during islanding, a second load curtailment level is adopted as needed to ensure service continuity under different operational conditions. A distribution test system is considered, and accordingly reliability indices are evaluated for both the worst case load scenario (islanding occurs at peak load), and for a realistic case (islanding might occur at any load level). Further, Expected Energy Not Served is evaluated. In conclusion, the impacts of DG units and islanded operation of micro-grids have been analyzed for the enhancement of the overall reliability of the distribution system and the successful islanding mode of operational conditions

Iowa Pavement Asset Management Decision-Making Framework

Most local agencies in Iowa currently make their pavement treatment decisions based on their limited experience due primarily to lack of a systematic decision-making framework and a decision-aid tool. The lack of objective condition assessment data of agency pavements also contributes to this problem. This study developed a systematic pavement treatment selection framework for local agencies to assist them in selecting the most appropriate treatment and to help justify their maintenance and rehabilitation decisions. The framework is based on an extensive literature review of the various pavement treatment techniques in terms of their technical applicability and limitations, meaningful practices of neighboring states, and the results of a survey of local agencies. The treatment selection framework involves three different steps: pavement condition assessment, selection of technically feasible treatments using decision trees, and selection of the most appropriate treatment considering the return-on-investment (ROI) and other non-economic factors. An Excel-based spreadsheet tool that automates the treatment selection framework was also developed, along with a standalone user guide for the tool. The Pavement Treatment Selection Tool (PTST) for Local Agencies allows users to enter the severity and extent levels of existing distresses and then, recommends a set of technically feasible treatments. The tool also evaluates the ROI of each feasible treatment and, if necessary, it can also evaluate the non-economic value of each treatment option to help determine the most appropriate treatment for the pavement. It is expected that the framework and tool will help local agencies improve their pavement asset management practices significantly and make better economic and defensible decisions on pavement treatment selection