SACM - Spain
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14154/68029
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Item Restricted Citizen Translation in the Arab World: How Citizens’ Needs Are Met Through Non- Professional Translation in the Dissemination of Knowledge(The Autonomous University of Barcelona, 2024) Binomirah, Ghadah; Marta Arumi Ribas, Anna Gil-Bardají andThe phenomenon of citizen translation in the Arab world is emerging as a critical force in the dissemination of knowledge and cross-cultural communication. With the advent of Web 2.0 technologies and social media, bilingual citizens, driven by a sense of social responsibility and activism, are increasingly contributing to the translation landscape without formal training. This research addresses the gap in understanding how citizen translators influence the availability of Arabic content online and shape the socio-political discourse in the region. By employing a constructivist grounded theory methodology, this study investigates the motivations behind citizen translators' involvement, their impact on the professional translation field, and the broader implications for translation studies. The study involved qualitative data collection through in-depth interviews with active citizen translators across various online platforms. Data analysis revealed that these individuals often operate out of a commitment to preserving and promoting cultural identity and bridging the information gap in underserved fields such as philosophy, political science, and non-Western media. The research found that citizen translation is not merely a supplementary activity but is becoming a significant force that challenges traditional notions of translation professionalism and academic discourse. The findings suggest that citizen translation contributes to a democratization of knowledge, enabling broader access to information and participation in global dialogues. The study proposes a new theoretical framework that situates citizen translation within the larger context of socio-political activism and digital content creation. This framework offers insights into how non-professional translators can influence both the quality and quantity of translated content available in Arabic, shaping the cultural and intellectual landscape of the Arab world. The implications of this study extend beyond translation studies, offering a lens through which to understand the evolving role of digital media and grassroots movements in knowledge production. It highlights the need for further research into the socio-economic impacts of citizen translation and its potential to transform both local and global communication networks. Keywords: Digital Arabic content, translation, Web 2.0 tools, online content, Arabic language, content creation6 0Item Restricted Evolución y cambios en la producción de los contenidos digitales gubernamentales: el caso de la comunicación pública e institucional en Arabia Saudí(Complutense Madrid University, 2024-10-18) Alnajrani, Hasan Mansour A; Mateo, Raquel Caerols; Lorenzo, Francisco Cabezueloتدرس هذه الأطروحة التطور والتغيرات في إنتاج المحتوى الرقمي الحكومي، مع الإشارة بشكل خاص إلى حالة الاتصالات العامة والمؤسسية في المملكة العربية السعودية، وذلك باستخدام أساليب جمع البيانات. ومن أشهر الجامعات التي تدعمها الحكومة السعودية الجامعة الإسلامية التي تضم ما يقرب من 85% من طلابها من خارج المملكة. وقد تم تطبيق أساليب تحليل المحتوى الرقمي على هذه الجامعة. وقد تم الحصول على نتائج سلسلة من المقابلات مع مديري ستة من مديري إدارات الاتصال في المؤسسات الحكومية وشبه الحكومية السعودية، وأخيراً تم إعداد استبيان شارك فيه 111 مستجيباً. كان المحور الرئيسي لهذه الدراسة هو إنتاج المحتوى الرقمي داخل إدارات الاتصال في المؤسسات الحكومية في المملكة العربية السعودية في سياق ظهور منصات التواصل الاجتماعي. وتواجه الحكومات تحدياً يتمثل في تصميم محتوى رقمي يتكيف مع احتياجات المواطنين نتيجة لتلك المنصات. فحوالي سبعين في المئة من السعوديين هم دون سن الثلاثين من العمر، ولهذا السبب تحتاج الحكومة إلى تطوير إدارات الاتصال والإعلام من أجل تقديم محتوى يتوافق مع المستخدمين بعيداً عن المحتوى الرسمي والبيروقراطي. وبالإضافة إلى استكشاف العوامل المؤثرة في إنتاج المحتوى الرقمي في العصر الرقمي، تحدد هذه الأطروحة الحلول التي يمكن أن تساعد الحكومات في تلبية احتياجات المواطنين الراغبين في معرفة الخدمات الحكومية وتوفير المعلومات المفيدة للمساهمة في زيادة المعرفة والحد من نشر المعلومات الخاطئة. وقد تم تقسيمها إلى قسمين رئيسيين لغرض التحليل والمناقشة. أولاً، العوامل الداخلية التي أدت إلى ثلاثة عوامل رئيسية: نقص الكتّاب المحترفين، وعدم وجود خطة لإنتاج المحتوى الرقمي، وإنتاج المحتوى الرقمي باستخدام الذكاء الاصطناعي. ثانياً، كانت هناك عوامل خارجية أدت أيضاً إلى ثلاثة مخاوف رئيسية: الرؤى الحكومية، والتوظيف والتدريب، وفهم القادة لدور الإعلام. في هذه الأطروحة، أزعم أن إنتاج المحتوى الرقمي في الحكومة يحتاج إلى تطوير مستمر من أجل تلبية متطلبات المواطنين من المعلومات، خاصة في ظل ظهور تطبيقات جديدة للإعلام الرقمي. لذلك، تجادل الأطروحة أنه في سياق الحكومات في العصر الرقمي، نحتاج إلى التفكير بشكل مختلف حول ما يشكل إنتاج المحتوى الرقمي.6 0Item Restricted Designed and trained fuzzy systems in colour and imaging applications(UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE VALÈNCIA, 2024) Almutairi, Khleef Khalaf; Gómez, Samuel Morillas; Carmona, Pedro LatorreThis thesis uses fuzzy logic to provide solutions to problems in the areas of image smoothing and display characterization. The research is divided into two main areas: image processing and display technology. In the realm of image processing, we present novel colour image denoising frameworks that integrate fuzzy inference systems (FIS) with eigenvector analysis. This approach addresses the challenge of removing Gaussian noise while preserving image quality and details. By converting images from the RGB domain to an eigenvectorbased space, we extract relevant local information to dynamically adjust the denoising process. The FIS uses this information to determine the appropriate intensity of smoothing, recognizing that homogeneous areas may require more aggressive treatment than detailed regions. The effectiveness of our methods is validated through various image quality metrics and visual comparisons against state-of-the-art techniques, demonstrating superior performance in noise removal while maintaining original image details. The second part of the thesis focuses on display characterization, investigating the application of trained fuzzy inference systems to accurately reproduce colours across LCD, OLED, and QLED displays. By utilizing device-dependent RGB data and device-independent XYZ coordinates, as well as the xyY colour space, we assess the performance of our models. Although the use of the xyY colour space showed lower performance, the focus remains on the XYZ colour space, where we develop models that not only achieve high accuracy but also offer interpretability, providing valuable insights into display behaviour. Although we include other machine learning methods like neural networks for experimental comparison, the focus remains on fuzzy models. We evaluate the effectiveness of our models using the ΔE00 visual error metric. Our findings demonstrate that the Fuzzy Modeling and Identification (FMID) method strikes an optimal balance between accuracy and interpretability, offering the potential for future display calibration and optimization strategies. We employ both designed fuzzy systems, based on expert knowledge in the image processing realm, and fuzzy systems trained from data, which are particularly useful when data is available instead of expert knowledge. We apply data-driven approaches specifically in display characterization. The concluding insights underscore the importance of fuzzy systems, not only for their accuracy but also for their interpretability, which offers valuable perspectives for future advancements in image processing and display characterization. This research contributes to the ongoing development of more efficient and accurate techniques for image enhancement and colour reproduction in modern display technologies.8 0Item Embargo TWITTER PUBLIC AND DIGITAL DIPLOMACY BY THE UNITED STATES IN SAUDI ARABIA(SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, 2024) NAJMI, HUSSAIN ABDU; García, José SixtoThis thesis examines the effectiveness of U.S. public and digital diplomacy on Twitter. The research highlights significant communication challenges due to cultural and political differences. Negative comments hinder effective dialogue, underscoring the need for strategy revisions and increased engagement to improve the U.S. image. The embassy relied heavily on consensus-building strategies to promote cultural and educational relations and convey messages aligned with the U.S. vision. The second most common strategy was a media-based approach, focusing on one-way communication. The study also found that the U.S. The embassy heavily relies on hashtags to organise and classify posts on the X platform. The research found that hashtags are essential in increasing visibility and engagement with posts by facilitating their discovery and interaction. Two types of hashtags were identified: content-specific hashtags that clearly describe the topics and trending hashtags that help increase post visibility and boost likes and comments. Additionally, the embassy sometimes uses tweet threads to explain large and complex topics, such as U.S. positions on international issues or to elaborate on the history of U.S.-Saudi relations, enhancing storytelling and gradual information delivery. Regarding comments and relationship-building, the findings showed weak interaction with the embassy's posts, and most comments were negative, reflecting significant challenges in convincing the public of the messages conveyed by the U.S. Embassy. Despite the limited engagement with the embassy's posts, this may reflect dissatisfaction with certain U.S. policies among the public.66 0Item Restricted رسالة دكتوراه ( قدرة الجماعات الارهابية على استخدام مواقع التواصل في السعودية لتنجيد الشباب ونشر الايدلوجيا المتطرفة - دراسة تحليلية لبناء السرديات الجهادية في تويتر - )(Universidad De Alcala, 2024) Alghamdi, Saleh Saeed; Pertu, Julian LaThe rise of jihadi discourse on Twitter (now known as X) has represented an issue of increasing concern with its influence on online audiences and sociey. Despite counter strategies and global initiatives to curb extremist discourse and online radicalisation the influence of jihadi narratives on social media and Twitter remains a pervasive threat. The widespread adoption of social media and Twitter in Saudia and as a major power in the Middle East, Saudia Arabia has been the target of jihadi discourse and susceptible to extremist influence with far reaching regional and global implications. Given the rise and dissemination of jihadi discourse on Twitter relating to or emanating from Saudi Arabia this research investigates the ability of extremist groups to spread their ideologies through the social media platforms in Saudi Arabia on Twitter in the period 2015-2106. A systematic grounded discourse analysis of Twitter data was employed to comprehensively examine jihadi discourse on the platform. The findings reveal a deliberate and diverse narrative structure that integrates ideological, historical, religious, and socio-political elements, enhancing its persuasive power through strategic framing techniques. The communication strategies on Twitter, including rapid dissemination, amplification, and the use of multimedia, significantly enhance the discourse’s influence. This discourse shapes perceptions, behaviors, and identities, creating strong emotional and cognitive impacts. In Saudi Arabia, Twitter's role in propagating jihadi narratives is particularly impactful, linking messages to current events and leveraging multimedia to resonate with the audience, thereby posing a persistent threat to societal stability. This contributes a novel strategic framework for analysing online extremist communication that extends theory and supports policy guidance to counter online extremism by analysing jihadi discourse's persuasive power and influence on Twitter.137 0Item Restricted Cloud Cybersecurity(Universidad de Al cala, 2024) Bokhari, Nabil; Herraiz, Martinez; Javier, JoseThe rapid evolution of cloud computing has revolutionized modern business operations, from hosting applications to storing data in high-security environments. Competitive businesses are leveraging cloud computing solutions to maximize the benefits, including cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and scalability. Cloud computing enables enterprises to access on-demand and scalable computing resources, specifically computational power and vast data storage. Despite the immense benefits, the security of data transmitted and stored in a cloud computing environment is vulnerable to multiple cybersecurity attacks, including data manipulation, loss, and theft. The study aims to develop a security model for enhanced data privacy and security in the cloud by leveraging a hybrid of cryptographic algorithms and steganography image-based techniques. The security model innovatively combines Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA), and the Least Significant Bit (LSB) technique to enhance data privacy and security of data in motion in a cloud computing environment. The three-step security model was designed, developed, and evaluated using the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology. The model secures data through cryptographic algorithms, adds an extra security layer using steganography, and implements backup and data recovery. The methodology was selected because of its practicality and philosophical underpinnings on addressing contemporary challenges by developing novel and relevant artifacts using scientifically rigorous procedures. The findings show that a hybrid of cryptography and steganography provides unbeatable security for data in a cloud computing environment. Implementing the security model will enhance data privacy and security in the cloud by revolutionizing how data is encrypted and decrypted. In the future, the integration of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence methodologies and algorithms will quadruple the effectiveness and robustness of this data security model for the cloud.26 0Item Restricted Effects of Retargeting on Post-Purchase Behavior in the Tourism Industry(Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2024-07) Alghanayem, Haitham; Lopez-Sintas, Jordi; Lamberti, GiuseppeThis study examines the impact of digital retargeting strategies on consumers' post-purchase behavior within the e-tourism sector, specifically how these practices affect consumers' purchasing experiences, including satisfaction and repurchase intentions. This study provides an in-depth analysis of consumer reactions to retargeting ads in Saudi Arabia and Spain, offering valuable insights into the effectiveness of these marketing strategies in diverse global settings. This research uses a quantitative approach to analyze survey data from e-tourism consumers in Saudi Arabia and Spain who received retargeting ads after booking. Applying the Expectation Confirmation Theory, the study explores the relationship between such ads and consumers' expectations confirmation, satisfaction, and future purchasing plans. Additionally, it investigates the role of cultural values and how varying levels of trust in technology and digital skills influence the impact of retargeting ads. The findings reveal that post-purchase retargeting ads can negatively affect consumer expectation confirmation by altering their initial expectations, reducing their satisfaction, and repurchase intentions. This is particularly true for consumers with higher digital skills and trust in technology, who tend to scrutinize advertising practices more critically. Furthermore, even though the results were very similar across users from Spain and Saudi Arabia, individual cultural values play a crucial role in shaping the effectiveness of retargeting campaigns. The research advocates for a more personalized and culturally sensitive approach to retargeting in the e-tourism industry. These findings enrich the academic discussion on digital marketing strategies and offer strategic recommendations for marketers seeking to optimize engagement in culturally diverse markets.12 0Item Restricted Do the US Federal Reserve System Instruments Still Influence the Global Economy?(Esade Ramon Illul, 2023) Ferak, Rakan Ramiz; Garroum, GabrielThe Federal Reserve System (Fed) of the United States is a strong economic organization that substantially affects economies worldwide. The Federal Reserve has many tools at its disposal, including monetary policy instruments, such as interest rate changes and quantitative easing, and regulatory functions, such as monitoring banks and fostering financial stability. This plays the role of setting the currency exchange rate in the financial market. However, as the interconnectedness and complexity of the global economy have increased, doubts have been raised by economists and policymakers concerning the efficacy of the Fed's tools in tackling the issues faced by the global economy (Fischer, 2015). In this thesis, the geo-economic consequences of the Fed's instruments are analyzed, and an investigation is conducted to determine whether these instruments are still effective in the present state of the global economy. Through a mixed methods literature review, which aims to discern and synthesize existing narratives on this topic, this thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Federal Reserve's role in the global economy and the effectiveness of its instruments by analyzing the historical context of the Fed's instruments, an evaluation of their impact on the economies of the United States and the global economy, and an examination of current economic trends and challenges. This thesis seeks to contribute to ongoing discussions on the role of the Federal Reserve System through its policies, influence on the USD, and its effect on international economies.24 0Item Restricted Metagenomic Exploration of the Effects of Depth and Temperature on the Microbiome Structure and Function of the Gorgonian Eunicella singularis and the Cold Water Scleractinia Desmophyllum pertusum(University of Barcelona, 2024) Binsarhan, Mohammad; Logares, Ramiro; Calafat, AntonioCorals play an essential role in marine environments and their morphological structure provides microbes with different habitat types. In turn, the microbes provide corals with important compounds that contribute to coral fitness and health. Corals have been suggested to hold distinct microbes within the anatomical layer, such as the Skeleton, Surface mucus layer (SML), Tissue, and Gastric cavity. Furthermore, many factors can influence the structure and function of the microbiome, making it more challenging to understand. Coral age, taxonomy, disease, depth zones, and many other abiotic factors could shape coral microbiomes and are responsible for their stability. Disturbances in the relationship's stability between coral hosts and their associated microbes increase the chance of coral infections and bleaching, leading to mortality. Therefore, studying the influence of each factor on the microbiome could lead to a better understanding of the nature and dynamics of this complex system. However, many questions remain regarding how microbes are acquired and function in corals. In this thesis, we explored the coral microbiome and its relationship with two abiotic variables, depth and temperature. High-throughput meta-omics approaches have been used to investigate coral microbiomes. Some limitations may hinder the full benefits of meta-omics; however, these powerful tools open doors for understanding the coral microbiome. Our comprehensive analysis of the Mediterranean Eunicella singularis microbiome revealed significant differences between shallow and mesophotic colonies at both taxonomic and functional levels. While shallow water colonies prominently featured Symbiodinium, essential for coral energy production through photosynthesis, its absence in the mesophotic zone indicates a shift in microbial community structure. In deeper environments, the microbial community exhibited higher abundances of functional genes related to carbohydrate, energy, amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism. This potentially allows the microbiome to utilize carbon and nitrogen from various sources, such as glutathione, steroids, fatty acids, and aromatic hydrocarbons, which might help sustain coral nutrition through enhanced nutrient availability. Additionally, Metagenome-Assembled Genomes (MAGs) analysis identified microbiome taxa, such as DT-91 (Order Pseudomonadales) and Endozoicomonas, involved in nutrient recycling, vitamin production, and secretion systems, highlighting their role in microbiome fitness. These findings underscore potential microbial adaptation mechanisms to environmental conditions, emphasizing their potential role in facilitating coral resilience and adaptation to different contexts. Further investigations are needed to determine whether these genes are actively expressed in the microbial community and to assess the extent of their influence on both the coral's health and its associated microbiome. Our study of the potential influence of prolonged thermal stress on the cold-water coral D. pertusum revealed a significant impact on the microbiome structure at both taxonomic and functional levels. Metagenomic analyses supported previous research, showing an increase in Rhodobacterales under thermal stress conditions. Moreover, our analyses indicated an increase in the carbon metabolic genes, such as methylotrophy and glycoside hydrolase enzymes, which may destabilize the microbiome and promote the growth of opportunistic pathogenic organisms. Indeed, we found an increase in pathogenic marker genes within the D. pertusum microbiome as temperature increased. Interestingly, the microbial taxa associated with these markers, such as those related to type 1 and 3 secretion systems, also increased in abundance in thermally stressed microbiomes. Additionally, we observed an increase in genes associated with diazotrophic activity, including denitrification and nitrification, which could disrupt the nitrogen cycle balance between the coral and its microbiome, potentially increasing the susceptibility to diseases and mortality. Together, these findings underscore the influence of increasing temperature on the taxonomic and functional structure of the cold-water coral microbiome. However, further research is required to investigate the gene expression profiles associated with formaldehyde assimilation, denitrification, and nitrification. Examining the expression levels of these metabolic pathways would provide deeper insights into their activity and regulation, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of their roles in the microbiome's response to environmental stressors such as temperature increase.4 0Item Restricted A Sectorial Analysis of Municipal Water Consumption and Management(Universitat Politecnica De Valencia, 2023-11-15) Alhudaithi, Musaad Abdulaziz; Arregui de la Cruz, Francisco; Cobacho Jordan, RicardoThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing substantial economic, industrial, commercial, and population growth. This growth, in turn, leads to increased water demand in the region. In addition to population growth, industrialization and modernization have placed increasing pressure on KSA’s water infrastructure. There is an urgent need to increase the water capacity to meet the projected demand and maintain the water systems' security and reliability. Therefore, it is imperative to find solutions that improve the efficiency of the Kingdom’s water system. A key element in this effort is understanding and classifying how water is consumed with its micro-components within various segments. The thesis aims to collect precise knowledge about municipal water consumption patterns and trends to understand water consumption patterns and consumer behaviors better and develop preliminary estimates and assumptions. This will drive the municipal water demand model in KSA to be capable of dealing with different scenarios and constraints. The development of the municipal water demand model highlighted the need for reliable statistical and water billing data. These form the starting point of the forecast and need to be available at a high enough resolution. The model provides a framework for the required data to be built on further. The analysis results will also determine the drivers and categories used in the model. The model focuses on the non-Residential water demand. Still, separate forecasts are included for the residential category to enable the extrapolation of the results and downward analysis for a more accurate and cost-effective bottom-up approach to forecasting and an overall better understanding of the population’s water consumption behaviors.2 0
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