Change and Persistence, Proceedings of the International Conference, Tunis, 12-13 November 2013

This publication is based on the proceedings of an international conference entitled ‘Arab Revolutions and Beyond: Change and Persistence’, which was held in the framework of a multilateral project called ‘Challenges and Transformations in the Wake of the Arab Spring’ (2012-2014). The project is funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and based upon the longstanding partnership between Cairo University in Egypt and Freie Universität Berlin in Germany, specifically between the EuroMed Study Program at the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences (FEPS) and the Centre for Middle Eastern and North African Politics at Otto-Suhr-Institute, Department for Political and Social Sciences. Dieser Sammelband ist ein Ergebnis der internationalen Tunis-Konferenz "Arab Revolutions and Beyond: Change and Persistence", die im Rahmen des multinationalen DAAD-Projekts "Challenges and Transformations in the Wake of the Arab Spring" im November 2013 stattfand. Neben Kolleg_innen der Universität Kairo, mit der bereits eine langjährige Partnerschaft besteht, sind auch Nachwuchsforscher_innen aus Tunesien, Libyen, Jordanien und weiteren Arabischen Staaten beteiligt. Das Projekt stellt sich den Herausforderungen, welche sich durch die politischen und sozialen Umbrüche in der Region für die akademische Bildung, v.a. in den Sozialwissenschaften ergeben haben. Hieraus soll ein produktiver Dialog über theoretische, methodische und thematische Felder der Sozialwissenschaften eröffnet werden, um die Strukturen von Forschung und Lehre dauerhaft zu verbessern.This publication is based on the proceedings of an international conference entitled ‘Arab Revolutions and Beyond: Change and Persistence’, which was held in the framework of a multilateral project called ‘Challenges and Transformations in the Wake of the Arab Spring’ (2012-2014). The project is funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and based upon the longstanding partnership between Cairo University in Egypt and Freie Universität Berlin in Germany, specifically between the EuroMed Study Program at the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences (FEPS) and the Centre for Middle Eastern and North African Politics at Otto-Suhr-Institute, Department for Political and Social Sciences. The project addresses the challenges of current political and social transformations and their ramifications for higher education and the social sciences in Egypt and the region. The overarching objective of the project is to enter a productive dialogue on theories, methodologies and topics in social science research among Arab and German researchers. At the same time, we aim to improve teaching and research structures in the social sciences in a sustainable and efficient way. This will build students’ and teachers’ capacities on both shores of the Mediterranean and at the same time strengthen institutional efforts to promote the role of social sciences in the current transformations

Comparative Responses of Three Pomegranates (Punica Granatum L.) Varieties to Salinity

During 2011 and 2012 seasons, three pomegranate cultivars Manfalouty, Wonderfull and Nab–Elgamal. were subjected to saline ground water at concentration (1.8 and 6.0 dSm-1). The trees about seven years old grown at 2.5 x 3.5 m apart in sandy clay loam soil under Sohag environmental conditions. Results revealed that irrigation with saline water (6dSm-1), increased salt accumulation in leaves. On the other hand, the higher significant reduction was observed in growth; flowering and yield with highly fruit cracking in relative to 1.8 dSm-1. Total Sugar and acidity percentages did not alter significantly with varying Saline irrigation. The studied varieties were affected differently by salt-stress, Manfalouty, Wonderfull, and Nab-Elgamal in descending order in response to salinity

Depositional History of the West Nile Delta- Upper Oligocene to Upper Pliocene*

Several Nile Delta publications in recent years have used very good quality data to illustrate and discuss depositional systems in great detail. The data presented in this study adds regional context to the common understanding. Recently acquired 3D seismic surveys in the onshore, offshore and transition zone were interpreted as part of a Nile Delta Prospectivity Study. Well data from more than 40 years of hydrocarbon exploration were intergrated. These data provided the basis for a regional understanding of the sedimentary and structural evolution during the past 30 million years. A robust biostratigraphic zonation scheme was adopted and consistently implemented to more than 60 wells throughout the study area. Integration of seismic surfaces and facies analysis using a variety of seismic attribute extractions and sedimentary facies, calibrated by well data and stacking pattern analysis, were done on a sequence by sequence level. A seismic facies catalogue was generated for different depositional environments. Paleo-depositional systems maps were constructed and serve as snapshots, mostly of lowstand systems, for each timeframe. These maps illustrate the regional depositional history for the West Nile Delta. They reflect, for instance, the relation between lowstand prograding deltas and relict shelf breaks at type one unconformities to the generally more distal and productive offshore slope settings. The different positions of the mapped relict shelfbreak and facies distribution in different sequences reflects the evolution of th

Carbon-dot-loaded CoxNi1−xFe2O4; x = 0.9/SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial potential: An engineered nanocomposite for wastewater treatment

Abstract Water scarcity is now a serious global issue resulting from population growth, water decrease, and pollution. Traditional wastewater treatment plants are insufficient and cannot meet the basic standards of water quality at reasonable cost or processing time. In this paper we report the preparation, characterization and multiple applications of an efficient photocatalytic nanocomposite (CoxNi1−xFe2O4; x = 0.9/SiO2/TiO2/C-dots) synthesized by a layer-by-layer method. Then, the photocatalytic capabilities of the synthesized nanocomposite were extensively-studied against aqueous solutions of chloramine-T trihydrate. In addition, reaction kinetics, degradation mechanism and various parameters affecting the photocatalytic efficiency (nanocomposite dose, chloramine-T initial concentration, and reaction pH) were analyzed in detail. Further, the antimicrobial activities of the prepared nanocomposite were tested and the effect of UV-activation on the antimicrobial abilities of the prepared nanocomposite was analyzed. Finally, a comparison between the antimicrobial abilities of the current nanocomposite and our previously-reported nanocomposite (CoxNi1−xFe2O4; x = 0.9/SiO2/TiO2) had been carried out. Our results revealed that the prepared nanocomposite possessed a high degree of crystallinity, confirmed by XRD, while UV–Vis. recorded an absorption peak at 299 nm. In addition, the prepared nanocomposite possessed BET-surface area of (28.29 ± 0.19 m2/g) with narrow pore size distribution. Moreover, it had semi-spherical morphology, high-purity and an average particle size of (19.0 nm). The photocatalytic degradation efficiency was inversely-proportional to chloramine-T initial concentration and directly proportional to the photocatalyst dose. In addition, basic medium (pH 9) was the best suited for chloramine-T degradation. Moreover, UV-irradiation improved the antimicrobial abilities of the prepared nanocomposite against E. coli, B. cereus, and C. tropicalis after 60 min. The observed antimicrobial abilities (high ZOI, low MIC and more efficient antibiofilm capabilities) were unique compared to our previously-reported nanocomposite. Our work offers significant insights into more efficient water treatment and fosters the ongoing efforts looking at how pollutants degrade the water supply and the disinfection of water-borne pathogenic microorganisms