The uses of smart phones and their sociopolitical implications on Egyptian society

Socio-political awareness of a nation is the cornerstone for building well informed citizens that are the heart of any societal development and progress. This study examined the various uses of smart phones mobiles and their sociopolitical implications on the Egyptian Society from the January 25th revolution to the present. The research explores the impact of the mobile smart phones’ usage on changing the reality of the Egyptian society. The primary research linked the uses and gratification theory and the Apparategeist theory to the Egyptians’ civic engagement attitudes and political participation in the real world. Findings of the study show that accessing and acquiring knowledge through mobile smart phones is the main use of smart phones mobiles by Egyptian media experts and youths during the January 25th revolution, followed by June 30th and up-to-date. Based on the results of this study, smart phones’ usage for “surveillance” and being a source of information and dissemination of news is the main pillar for creating a well-informed Egyptian citizen who can transform the social and political face of the Egyptian society. The testimonies also show that the most used news websites by respondents are Youm 7, CNN, BBC and AL Arabyia. By being civically and politically engaged through smart phones’ usage, Egyptians are becoming active key players in sustaining and nourishing the democratic process. The findings also illustrated other uses of smart phones, however not as significant as being a source of accessing and acquiring news. The study uses a quantitative survey methodology in exploring the uses of smart phones and their sociopolitical implications before and after the revolution. It also observes the relationship between the usage and being civically and politically engaged in real life behaviors and or attitudes. Two primary surveys were conducted among two different samples. The first was a purposive sample of Egyptian elite media experts ( 50 participants) whom are civically engaged and actively involved in the Egyptian revolution phase and the second was a stratified sample of elite university students ( 200 participants). The research employed the two questionnaires to examine the relationship between smart phones’ usage and civic engagement attitudes of Egyptians in real life. The study proceeded with conducting a comparison between Egyptian media experts’ perspective of smart phones’ usage and the revolution and that of the Egyptian youth

Interference-Based Optimal Power-Efficient Access Scheme for Cognitive Radio Networks

In this paper, we propose a new optimization-based access strategy of multipacket reception (MPR) channel for multiple secondary users (SUs) accessing the primary user (PU) spectrum opportunistically. We devise an analytical model that realizes the multipacket access strategy of SUs that maximizes the throughput of individual backlogged SUs subject to queue stability of the PU. All the network receiving nodes have MPR capability. We aim at maximizing the throughput of the individual SUs such that the PU's queue is maintained stable. Moreover, we are interested in providing an energy-efficient cognitive scheme. Therefore, we include energy constraints on the PU and SU average transmitted energy to the optimization problem. Each SU accesses the medium with certain probability that depends on the PU's activity, i.e., active or inactive. The numerical results show the advantage in terms of SU throughput of the proposed scheme over the conventional access scheme, where the SUs access the channel randomly with fixed power when the PU is sensed to be idle

News Trend in Political Participation: Does News Convince Female Electors to Vote? A Comparative Study between Egypt’s (Cairo) and Morocco’s (Rabat) Media Campaigns

The aim of this paper to explore the news availability and its effect on female voting behaviour in Egypt’s capital Cairo and Morocco’s capital Rabat political elections. The study used an exploratory research design, working within a qualitative paradigm two sources of evidence were employed. Commentary was compiled from respondents: (i) Twenty in-depth face-to-face interviews with key respondents from Egypt and Morocco (ii) Four focus groups with each group containing six respondents in Egypt and Morocco. In regards to the findings, the media impact was apparent in both countries that influence citizens. However, they mentioned minimal influence by the available political news. Egyptian citizens confirmed that they were not convinced that the available news convince females to vote, as they felt that the available newspapers and news websites is of less credibility, yet Moroccan citizens confirmed that the available news is credible and it does convince females to vote. Mentioning social and cultural determinates that affects females in the society, both Egyptians and Moroccans claimed that females have their full rights that gives full freedom to participate in the elections. Finally, both citizens conformed that the social media, is the most effective medium employed in political media campaigns

Taxonomic revision of the cultivated species of Mimusops (Sapotaceae) in Egypt, with new records

During the process of updating horticultural records of this genus in Egypt, five problems were identified: lack of publications, lack of clarity between species, numerous errors of identifications, loss of earlier documented records of identity, as well as, the introduction and cultivation of new plants during the 19th Century added to the complexity of the problem. In this study, the taxonomic aspects of genus Mimusops, were thoroughly studied to identify the most reliable characters for taxon delimitation. Our assessment was based on morphological characters representing habit, leaves, petioles, flowering pedicels, buds, floral parts, fruit and seed. Fieldwork have revealed the presence of four species, of which Mimusops kummel and M. zeyheri are new records. The latter species is represented in Egypt by M. zeyheri var. laurifolia. This variety has been neglected by many authors. Additionally, Mimusops elengi L. was believed to be cultivated in Egypt, but no materials have been encountered that could confirm it. The specimens earlier identified as M. elengi actually belong either to M. kummel or to M. laurifolia. A detailed description of the genus and species with photographs, an identification key, and synonymy for each taxon are provided

Optimization of Renewable Energy-Based Smart Micro-Grid System

Optimization of renewable energy-based micro-grids is presently attracting significant consideration. Hence the main objective of this chapter is to evaluate the technical and economic performance of a micro-grid (MG) comparing between two operation modes; stand-alone (off-grid), and grid connected (on-grid). The micro-grid system (MGS) suggested components are; PV panels, wind turbine(s) inverter, and control unit in case of grid connected. In the stand alone mode diesel generator and short term storage are added to the renewable generators. To investigate the performance of the MGS; technically, detailed models for each component will be presented then the complete MGS model is developed. Another objective of this study is the economical evaluation of MGS by comparing the system net present cost (NPC) and cost of generated electricity for the two modes of operation; off-grid and on-grid

Optimising the urban environment through holistic Microclimate Modelling – The case of Beirut's pericenter

Various studies have suggested that urbanisation may significantly alter microclimate conditions. To address this, expanding urban vegetation cover can be used to aid the dissipation of excess heat through enhancing evapotranspiration. This study aims to numerically assess and optimize the use of green corridors to reconnect leftover and in-between building plots within Beirut city centre through the use of ENVI-met V4, a holistic microclimate modelling system used to optimize green infrastructure strategy to improve pedestrian comfort levels. Analysis results illustrate the significant effect of urban intervention strategies in decreasing pedestrian heat stress, where the air temperature is reduced by 4-5 (PET) °C. Furthermore, a correlation between the leaf area density and PET values was identified. In the wider context, this work supports the case for the application of ecological urbanism supported by integrated micro-urban environment modelling as a catalyst for the improvement of the quality of urban space

Dietary Behavior Related to Cancer Prevention in a Low Income Community

Background: The incidence of cancer is increasing in developing countries. Diet and cancer have a close relationship. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to measure the cancer prevention-related nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practice and barriers related to healthy food in a low income community, and to assess their cancer worries. Subjects and Methods: This cross-section descriptive study was carried out in a slum area in Cairo on a convenience sample of 414 adults permanently residing in the area. A structured interview questionnaire was used for collecting participants' socio-demographic data, knowledge about cancer, attitude and practice towards cancer dietary prevention, cancer worry scale, and the barriers preventing eating healthy food. Results: The study revealed a wide range of participants' knowledge scores. Participants' attitude towards a healthy diet was also low. The most deficient practices were related to the intake of balanced diet and vitamins, practice of exercise, and cancer screening.  The most frequent barrier to a healthy diet was taste (42%), while the lack of information was the least (3.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that the knowledge score was positively predicted by cancer worry score. The attitude score was positively predicted by age and knowledge score, and the practice score by married status, crowding index, and attitude score. Conclusion: there is a poor level of knowledge and inadequate practices regarding cancer dietary prevention despite good attitudes, in addition to high worries about cancer. Implications for Practice: There is urgent need for awareness raising intervention programs for dietary prevention of cancer. Keywords: Cancer, Diet, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Barrie

Improve Knowledge, Beliefs and Behavior of Undergraduate Female Nursing Students in Al-Alzhar University toward Breast Self-Examination Practice

Breast cancer is a public health problem that is most common form of cancer among females in both developed and developing world, The Health Belief Model (HBM) has been used as a theoretical framework to study Breast Self-Examination and other breast cancer detection behaviors. The aim of this study: Was to improve knowledge, beliefs and behavior of undergraduate female nursing students in Al-Alzhar University toward breast self examination practice. Design: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. Setting: The study was conducted in Health Technical Institute for female students at Al-Alzhar University for 113female student nurse. Tools: data was collected using self administered questionnaires prepared by researchers and Health Belief Model Scale Data. Results: The participants in the study showed more deficiency on screening knowledge, and poor practice of BSE at pre education. Also, the results of this study highlight the positive impact of the educational training on nursing students’ breast cancer and breast self exam  knowledge, practice and health beliefs which there was statistically significant differences were found between students' pretest and posttest BSE Knowledge, practice and  beliefs. Conclusion and recommendation: the results of this study concluded that this program could be instrumental in increasing nursing students’ perception of susceptibility may serve to improve not only their own health status but may empower them to teach women about the importance of early diagnosis and to seek early medical advice. This study emphasizes that the need to teach nursing students breast cancer awareness and early detection of breast cancer in their undergraduate courses. In addition, the provision of regular interventions is necessary to increase and build up the confidence and skills of nursing students in teaching preventive health behaviors including BSE to society and other students as colleagues. Keywords: Breast Self Exam (BSE), Breast Cancer, Nursing Students, Health Beliefs Mode