SACM - Australia
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9648
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Item Restricted Cloud computing efficiency: optimizing resource utilization, energy consumption, latency, availability, and reliability using intelligent algorithms(The Universit of Western Australia, 2024) Alelyani, Abdullah Hamed A; Datta, Amitava; Ghulam, Mubasher HassanCloud computing offers significant potential for transforming service delivery with a cost-efficient, pay-as-you-go model, which has led to a dramatic increase in demand. The advantages of virtual machine (VM) and container technologies further optimize resource utilization in cloud environments. Containers and VMs improve application reliability by distributing replicated tasks across different physical machines (PMs). However, several persistent issues in cloud computing remain, including energy consumption, resource management, network traffic costs, availability, latency, service level agreement (SLA) violations, and reliability. Addressing these issues is critical for ensuring QoS. This thesis proposes approaches to address these issues and improve cloud performance.13 0Item Restricted GENERATION OF FLOOD SUSCEPTIBILITY MAP USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A CASE STUDY, TABUK, KSA(Griffith University, 2025) Alabbas, Mohammed; Currell, MatthewThis study focused on flood susceptibility mapping (FSM) for Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, using artificial intelligence and advanced techniques in an effort to find areas that are more prone to flooding. The study thus aims at generating a reliable tool for urban planning and flood risk management in a flash-flood-prone arid region. The acquisition of data involved various sources, among others, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), land use and land cover (LULC), hydrological data (Topographic Wetness Index, Stream Power Index), and noted flood records. Four ML models- Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and Decision Trees (DT)-were used to assess the environmental conditions and produce an FSM. They were validated using metrics like Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and R-squared (R²) to assess their predictive performance. The results seem rather to show that the low-lying areas, proximity to streamlines, and several topographic features contribute significantly to the flood susceptibility of the town. Shortages of historical flood data are one of the limitations that can provide obstacles to the prediction ability of the models used for flood risk assessments, with no consideration given to socio- economic factors. Recommendations for improvement in the relational modeling for better forecast of flood vulnerability include more accurate data, collecting long-term historical records of flood occurrence, and considering socio-economic factors into integrated flood risk models for providing proper flood management plans.10 0Item Restricted Dissent and Fairness in the Development of the Law(The University of Melbourne, 2024) Alamodi, shifa Mohammed; Bourke, JudyFar from mere disagreement, dissenting judgments are engines of legal evolution. This essay explores how dissent sharpens the common law's understanding of fairness by challenging dominant interpretations and offering principled alternatives. Focusing on Mabo v Queensland (No.2) and Carr v Western Australia, it argues that dissent not only safeguards judicial independence but also bridges legal certainty and social justice-ensuring fairness keeps pace with society's evolving values.23 0Item Restricted Defining the Genetic Causes of Antifungal Drug Resistance in Cryptococcus neoformans(Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology RMIT, 2024) Albehaijani, Samah Hamad I; Assoc Huynh, Tien; Boyce, KylieImmunocompromised individuals face heightened morbidity and mortality from fungal infections, contributing to 1.5 million annual deaths globally. Cryptococcus neoformans, an encapsulated yeast, is a major cause of life-threatening meningoencephalitis and meningitis, typically treated with fluconazole (FLC). However, widespread FLC use in clinics and agriculture has driven the evolution of resistant strains, compromising treatment efficacy. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises C. neoformans as a critical public health threat, highlighting azole resistance as a primary concern due to its frequent use in long-term monotherapy. While the microevolution of azole resistance in C. neoformans has been studied, the underlying genetic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This research aimed to elucidate the microevolution of FLC resistance in C. neoformans through genetic determinants, measuring the DNA content, chromosomal changes, and cell morphological changes before, and after fluconazole treatment. Our findings demonstrated that FLC exposure induces whole genome amplification rather than specific chromosome amplification. We also observed that FLC resistance can arise independently of ERG11 mutations, the most frequently cited resistance mechanism. Instead, mutations in MSH2 were identified as a common evolutionary route to FLC resistance. We also highlighted the high plasticity of C. neoformans under drug exposure. finally, we revealed some putative metabolic functions associated with antifungal resistance. This study represents the first comprehensive characterisation of polygenic resistance development through point mutations in Cryptococcus. Consequently, this research provides a foundation for developing targeted genetic therapies to mitigate the emergence of drug-resistant strains.12 0Item Restricted Perspectives on Mandatory XBRL-Based Reporting in Saudi Listed Companies: Factors Influencing Compliance Quality(RMIT University, 2024-10-08) Nabhan, Nasseem; Khan, Tehmina and Siriwardhane PavithraExtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is a type of electronic financial statement based on Extensible Mark-up Language (XML). It offers several benefits for businesses, such as cost reduction, improved control, time savings, accuracy, and enables the exchange of financial and economic information internationally. Several governments worldwide have used the XBRL system, either voluntarily or mandatorily. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that has mandated the use of XBRL. Despite the benefits of XBRL use and the Saudi government’s efforts to implement XBRL, the lack of studies on the quality of XBRL financial statements and its application in Saudi companies, and the lack of research related to the factors that impact compliance and non-compliance with XBRL implementation requirements in the organisation are evident. Consequently, this thesis aims to investigate compliance and non-compliance with XBRL implementation by Saudi-listed companies from the perspective of financial statement preparers, addressing a gap in organisational-level studies on this topic. By utilising a sequenced mixed methods, quantitive (secondary data) and qualitative (primary data) research strategy, the major outcome of this thesis was that Saudi-listed companies demonstrate their commitment to the government-imposed deadline of disclosing financial statements. It also illustrated the three major factors that impact negatively on timeliness, namelythe procedure of preparing financial statements using XBRL; having a new investment plan; and the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this thesis observed that the age and size of the company exert a significant positive impact on the timeliness of such financial reports. Regarding relevance and completeness, this study found that the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of Islamic elements such as Zakat in the XBRL taxonomy, negatively impact the relevance and completeness of XBRL financial statements. Moreover, this thesis finds that the Saudi banking sector recorded the lowest relevance and completeness score. This thesis discovered that the size of the company has a significant positive impact on the relevance of financial statements, whereas the age and sector of the economy in which the company operates exert an insignificant positive effect. The age and size of the company have an insignificant negative impact on the completeness of financial statements, whereas the sectors in which companies operate have an insignificant positive impact on the completeness of financial reports. Regarding institutional pressures, the coercive, mimetic pressures played key roles in listed companies compliance with XBRL implementation requirements, while the absence of normative pressure negatively impacted the acceptance of XBRL in Saudi listed companies. This thesis also generates important information for the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) and other relevant government and industry regulators, universities, policymakers, and stakeholders to use, and principally to understand the extrnal pressures and issues related to compliance with XBRL implementation. The findings lead to recommendations on how government bodies and regulators can collaborate to increase XBRL usage, thereby contributing to the objectives and intentions of the Saudi government’s Vision 2030 economic blueprint.3 0Item Restricted Dissent and Fairness in the Development of the Law(The University of Melbourne, 2024) Mohiadeein, Nayar; Bourke, JudyThe Thesis focuses on the connection between dissenting judgments and the aspect of fairness in Australia by highlighting the importance of dissent and societal views, viewing different versions of fairness in dissenting judgments in two crucial cases (Mabo v Queensland) and (Carr v Western Australia), the rewards and risks of judicial dissent , and lastly judicial activism.23 0Item Restricted Adsorption of Heavy Metals onto Thermochemically Treated Waste Materials(University of Newcastle, 2024) Alatawi, Rehab; Donne , ScottHeavy metals pose serious environmental threats due to their toxicity, impacting both health and ecosystems. Among the various technologies for removing heavy metals from aqueous solutions, adsorption is widely recognized as one of the most efficient. Biochar, with its remarkable efficiency as an adsorbent for heavy metal removal, has attracted considerable attention This thesis focuses on how biochar, produced under varied pyrolysis conditions, effectively adsorbs heavy metals, offering strong evidence of its efficacy in this regard. Chapter 3 investigates how different pyrolysis conditions, such as temperature, atmosphere, heating time, and activation agents, affect the physical and chemical properties of biochar derived from pine wood chips and sugarcane trash and its ability to adsorb heavy metal ions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were utilised to analyse the biochar's surface area, pore size, and functional groups. The adsorption capacity for heavy metal ions was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results show that pyrolysis temperature notably impacts the surface areas of biochar, especially above 500°C, significantly affecting carbon surfaces. Consequently, higher pyrolysis temperatures lead to increased adsorption of heavy metal ions. Additionally, longer pyrolysis durations generally result in higher adsorption capacities. Furthermore, pyrolysis gases enhance surface areas and functional groups, making them highly effective at adsorbing heavy metals. Activated biochar with KOH significantly increased the porosity, pore sizes, and oxidative functional groups on its surface, thereby increasing its ability to adsorb heavy metals. In chapter four, the removal of cadmium (Cd (II)), copper (Cu (II)), lead (Pb (II)), and iron (Fe (II)) by biochar produced from pine wood chips and sugarcane trash under optimal (WC600, SC600) and suboptimal (WC300, SC300) pyrolysis conditions, considering factors such as temperature, atmosphere, activation, and duration, as detailed in Chapter 3, has been found to be the initial metal concentration and pH of the solution. The Langmuir isotherm model was employed to determine adsorption parameters. Surface complexation, ion exchange, and precipitation were identified as the primary removal mechanisms. Adsorption isotherm studies revealed that on WC600, the order of adsorption capacities was Pb > Cu > Cd > Fe, while on SC600, it was Cu > Pb > Cd > Fe. Conversely, on WC300 and SC300, the order was Cu > Fe > Pb > Cd due to the specific iv properties of these biochars. The pH of the solution has a significant impact on the adsorption of heavy metal ions onto biochar within the pH range of 1-8. Chapter 5 aimed to study the competitive adsorption of heavy metals in quaternary-metal solutions on KOH-activated biochars from pine wood chips and sugarcane trash (WC600 and SC600), focusing on equilibrium analysis. Batch experimental data fit the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities of metals by WC600 followed the order Fe (0.0033 mg g -1 ) > Cu (0.00182 mg g-1 ) > Pb (0.00112 mg g-1 ) > Cd (0.00035 mg g-1) , while for SC600, they were in the sequence Fe (0.00295 mg g-1 ) > Cu (0.00177 mg g-1 ) > Pb (0.00098 mg.g-1 ) > Cd (0.00036 mg.g-1 ) in the quaternary- metal adsorption isotherm. Fe exhibited the highest retention, while Cd showed easy exchange with Fe. Adsorption of Fe2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ on WC600 reached equilibrium within 1 to 24 hours. Surface complexation, cation-cation interaction, precipitation, and ion exchange are crucial in biochar adsorption behaviour. Chapter six details the enhancement of activated pine wood chips and sugarcane trash by KOH through an electrochemical process to improve heavy metal ion removal from water. Treatment was carried out at different potentials (-0.3, -0.6, 0.3, 0.6, 1.5, 2 V) to modify the biochar. FTIR analysis identified oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon-containing functional groups on the modified biochar surface. Results show that higher potentials (1.5, 2 V) led to increased oxygen-containing groups on the biochar surface, improving the removal of heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Fe2+). Lead and iron had the highest adsorption rates, while cadmium had the lowest. Notably, treating with hydrogen peroxide at 2V enhanced cadmium adsorption. Electrochemically modified biochar offers an efficient method for removing heavy metal ions from wastewater, with benefits such as high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reduced processing time, making it a valuable tool for environmental remediation. This study's findings provide useful insights into developing biochar-based materials for wastewater treatment applications16 0Item Restricted Bimetallic Nanoporous Sponges(University of Technology Sydney, 2025-02-11) Alzahrani, Sanaa Abdullah M; Dowd, Annette Roslyn, Cortie, Michael Bernard, De Silva, Sujeewa Sujeewa BuddhimaliNanoporous silver (np-S) is a promising nanomaterial with unique physical properties distinct from its bulk counterpart, including high surface area, enhanced chemical sensing and tuneable optical and electrical properties. This thesis explores the fabrication and characterisation of np-S thin films and bulk structures using the dealloying method. Ag-Al alloy precursors with varying aluminium content (24.6–72.6 at.%) were sputter-deposited as thin films and dealloyed in NaOH, resulting in a ligament-pore structure. Smaller ligament sizes (13 nm) increased electron scattering, increased electrical resistivity and altered optical behaviour toward less metallic characteristics. Additionally, gradient np-S thin films (G-np-S) were synthesized, showing systematic shifts in optical properties and enhanced Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) activity with decreasing pore size. Antibacterial studies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli revealed that np-S films with smaller ligaments exhibited moderate antibacterial effects due to increased surface area. Heat treatment of bulk Al-Ag precursors affected morphology, increasing pore and ligament sizes, which improved antibacterial performance against E. coli due to structural homogenisation. This research demonstrates the potential of np-S for applications in biosensors, plasmonic photocatalysis, and optical devices, highlighting the role of preparation conditions in controlling morphology, in turn tuning its electrical, optical and antibacterial properties.22 0Item Restricted Public Language and the Construction of Meaning: A Poetics of Recent American Presidential Inauguration Speeches(Victoria University, 2024-12-17) Fath Addin, Mohammed; Clark, Tom and Lucas, RoseThis thesis investigates how public language constructs and communicates meaning by focusing on the 21st-century American presidential inauguration speeches of Presidents George Walker Bush, Barack Hussein Obama, Donald John Trump, and Joseph Robinette Biden. This research examines the poetic and rhetorical devices, patterns of repetition and variation, and the evolution of the inauguration speech as a genre through a case study approach using close poetic readings informed by the analysis of poetry. This research is significant because it contributes to understanding meaning construction in public language, the evolution of the inauguration speech genre, and the significant power of poetry and poetics in enhancing message delivery in what might be described as non-poetic language. Employing the Inaugural Speech Genre Theory developed by Campbell and Jamieson, this study sheds light on the intricate interplay between language, power, and meaning in the context of presidential inaugurations. It draws upon previous studies on political rhetoric, public discourse, and speech genre analysis and provides new perspectives and methodologies, offering valuable insights into the construction and communication of meaning in public language. By examining the poetic elements, rhetorical strategies, and patterns of repetition and variation in the selected speeches, this research enriches the field of presidential inaugurations and contributes to the broader literature on political rhetoric and public discourse. This study provides a framework for analysing the aesthetic and persuasive dimensions of public language, opening avenues for further research in the analysis of meaning construction in diverse communicative contexts.19 0Item Embargo Development and Evaluation of an Educational Resource to Promote Skin-to-Skin Contact between Mother and Neonate in Saudi Arabia(The University of Newcastle, 2024-12) Hawsawi, Abeer; Fernandez, Ritin; Mackay, Maria; Alananzeh, Ibrahim; Al Mutair, AbbasIntroduction Skin-to-skin contact is crucial for both the baby and the mother for a better health outcome but the low practice rate in Saudi Arabia is a national concern. Consequently, there was an urgent need to develop an educational intervention to improve the uptake of skin-to-skin contact. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of educational resources to promote skin-to-skin contact in Saudi Arabia. Methodology and methods A multi-method design, grounded in the Knowledge to Action framework, included a scoping review, surveys, and a clinical controlled trial followed by a mixed-methods approach incorporating semi-structured interviews and surveys. The educational resources, available in both English and Arabic, consisted of a pamphlet, a PowerPoint presentation, and a short video. These resources were developed through co-creation, involving healthcare providers, mothers, and university researchers. An online consensus development conference involving 14 participants ensured the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the resources. A total of 383 participants were recruited from two Saudi hospitals (control, n=192 and intervention, n=191) using a convenience sampling method to test the effect of the educational resource. Data analysis Data were collected using online surveys before and after the educational intervention. Semi structured interviews with eight mothers in the intervention group further explored their experiences with the intervention. The data were analysed using SPSS version 29. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square and T-tests, were used to compare outcomes between the control and intervention groups. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Qualitative data from interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results The online consensus development conference effectively guided the development and implementation of the educational intervention. The rates of correct skin-to-skin practice and breastfeeding within an hour after birth were significantly higher in the intervention group. Mothers reported a highly positive experience with the educational intervention. Conclusion The online consensus development conference facilitated the design and implementation of an effective intervention, significantly improving adherence to optimal skin-to-skin and early breastfeeding practices, with high maternal satisfaction.27 0