SACM - Australia
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9648
Browse
1843 results
Search Results
Item Restricted AI-Based Approaches for Respiratory Disease Detection Using Audio Signals and Imaging Data(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Shati, Asmaa; Hassan, Ghulam Mubashar; Datta, AmitavaRespiratory diseases (RDs) remain major global health concerns, typically diagnosed through imaging and auscultation, with cough sounds also offering diagnostic cues. These methods, however, are often subjective and depend on expert interpretation. Advances in machine learning (ML) enable automated RD diagnosis, yet challenges such as limited data, high computational costs, and accessibility gaps persist, underscoring the need for innovative approaches. This thesis proposes a series of novel approaches for automated RD detection, utilizing either cough audio or CXR as input modalities, selected for their availability and affordability. These approaches integrate advanced techniques for segmentation, feature extraction, and subsequent classification, offering practical and cost-effective diagnostic solutions. Extensive evaluation on multiple open-source datasets demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approaches across diverse diagnostic contexts.18 0Item Restricted Development of Tiling amplicon PCR for Ross River virus (RRV)(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alqallaf, Abrar; Imrie, Allison; Speldewinde, Peter; Ernst, TimoThe Ross River virus (RRV), an Australian alphavirus that causes epidemic polyarthritis, remains a priority for genomic surveillance due to its sporadic outbreaks and varying strains. Comprehensive genome amplification is necessary for monitoring its molecular evolution; however, successful multiplex PCR design requires consideration of primer quality metrics that need extensive computational analysis. We obtained publicly available RRV genomes from NCBI, aligned them using the QML1 strain (GenBank GQ433354.1) as a reference, and utilized Ubuntu-based Olivar v1.3.0 to design automated tiling amplicon primers. We looked at two tiling strategies: 50-bp and 100-bp stepwise intervals. These were amplicon sizes ranging from 300 to 600 bp. The ideal balance between coverage, efficacy, and primer quality was selected as the best 400-500 bp scheme. Primer candidates were in-silico checked using Geneious, MEGA, and SnapGene to identify which primers were specific, had a suitable GC content, and tolerated mismatches in multiple isolates of RRV. Simple adjustments to the positions and degeneracy were made to address off-target sites, three industrial mismatches, and heterodimer threats through manual curation. The predicted dimerization risk and stable thermodynamic profiles were obtained by spacing the primers evenly. The problems were corrected by redesigning and repositioning problematic primers, which demonstrated multi-site binding or primer primer complementarity. Mismatches at 3 ends of a short RNA strand were repaired with minimal IUPAC substitutions. The presence of amplicon overlaps (nominal 70 bp, insert level 24 bp) maintained the integrity of the data without adding any additional copies. In contrast, regions with extremely high GC content were automatically omitted to prevent amplification issues. Of the 22,374 annotated features of the primer, the residual off-target binding was 0.05%, indicating that the assay was overall highly specific. The 100-bp interval design is effective in recovering the complete genome of a wide variety of isolates, thereby providing a strong foundation for neutralizing genomic surveillance and lineage tracing efforts, as well as outbreak response efforts. Despite optimizing primers, residual mismatches and off-target products persist. Nevertheless, the methodological framework can be easily modified for other alphaviruses that necessitate comprehensive and strain-inclusive primer coverage.4 0Item Restricted The Effectiveness of Art-based Instrumental Mentoring in Enhancing Metacognitive Awareness Among First-Year University Students(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Aldossary, Maryam Salman; Smith, Cindy; Gardner, PaulThe first year of university presents one of the most challenging transitions in students’ lives, marked by significant changes in their social and academic systems. In response, higher education institutions have invested in research and support programs to help students develop the social and academic skills necessary for success. Among these, peer mentoring has emerged as a widely used approach to foster student confidence and engagement. However, limited research has explored the effectiveness of instrumental peer mentoring in enhancing social and academic competencies among first-year students. This study employed a Design-Based Research approach to develop and refine an Art-Based Peer Mentoring (ABPM) program aimed at creating a supportive, socially engaging environment for first-year students. The program facilitated interpersonal connections through artmaking, offering opportunities for metacognitive development, a skill crucial to academic achievement. In the first cycle, students participated in ABPM and provided feedback on their experiences; this feedback informed the second cycle, where original participants returned as mentors to incoming first-year peers. Data collection included weekly reflective journals, pre and post intervention survey using Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) and focus group interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted to examine students’ perceptions of their engagement with art activities and peer interactions. Descriptive analysis of the MAI scores provided insights into changes in metacognitive awareness. Findings revealed a modest improvement in MAI scores and identified themes supporting the role of shared art activities in fostering shared metacognitive learning, personal agency, and peer support. The results emphasise the value of structured mentor training and goal-oriented program design in enhancing the first-year university experience. Limitations and recommendations for future research and program development are also discussed.13 0Item Restricted Strengthening Socio-Economic Resilience to Natural Hazards and Compound Events in Western Australia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alnufaily, Eissa Ahmed E; Marleen, de RuiterThe socio-economic risk associated with natural hazards is becoming increasingly relevant, as climate change is affecting the frequency and intensity of climate induced hazards such as cyclones and bushfires across Australia. Especially in Western Australia, where it suffers from different types of natural hazards and disasters, and posing different risks such as mortality and infrastructural damages. Quantitative and qualitative approaches are currently being used to identify hazards and disasters in Australia, throughout Python, ArcGIS Pro, and statistical analysis. We were able to identify natural hazards affecting WA in a 30 years duration. Currently, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation strategies are being developed and implemented to reduce their risk and enhance resilience and recovery. Regardless, there are various gaps found in the current policies that needs more integration between stakeholders to enhance WA resilience and disaster recovery from climate risk.18 0Item Restricted TokenizedCarbon: Owner-Centric Ownership of Carbon Credits Using NFTs and Blockchain Technology(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Mistadi, Asma Majed; Hussain, Farookh KhadeerCarbon credits are an essential environmental and financial tool in our fight against climate change and global warming. They were developed under the Kyoto Protocol as part of a market-based mechanism to incentivise emission reduction by trading these assets for financial gain. In voluntary carbon markets, they are awarded to environmental projects that aim to reduce, avoid, or absorb carbon emissions from the atmosphere. These markets face several issues including centralisation, double counting, high cost, and a lack of transparency and traceability. This led to fraud and integrity issues and a lack of participation. The current literature is moving towards the use of blockchain technology for its unique features of decentralisation, immutability, security, and transparency. However, it still lacks a valid reliable and accessible methodology for the ownership provenance of those credits in an owner-centric manner that covers the different levels and states of the life of carbon credits since issuance, and it also lacks a post-issuance error handling approach and a subdivision approach for subdividing a single carbon credit to multiple units. In this thesis, our aim is to address these gaps using Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and their underlying blockchain technology and smart contracts to build a comprehensive solution to this problem in the form of a Decentralised application (DApp) that tokenises and manages carbon credits as NFTs from issuance until retirement or cancellation which is capable of managing multiple levels of granularity of those credits from micro-to-macro level and also incorporate an NFT-based subdivision of a single carbon credit to multiple units. This will ensure reliable, unique, immutable, and traceable ownership proofs. This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge in three dimensions. It presents a systematic literature review to identify gaps in the current literature and the need for an owner-centric NFT-based approach to the ownership provenance of carbon credits. Furthermore, it includes the development of a decentralised solution TokenizedCarbon (TC) that incorporates several services including the Multilevel Carbon Minting Service (MCMS), the Fractional Carbon Minting Service (FCMS) , the Carbon Retire and Cancel Service (CRCS) and the Intelligent Carbon Minting Service (ICMS) that integrates GenAI into the process to create CC-NFTs which addresses the current literature gaps. Additionally, it includes an evaluation of the proposed solution in simulated local and network environments. This solution takes these important environmental and digital assets and represents them using NFTs which act like an ownership certificate of these assets. This will increase participation, liquidity, integrity, and account ability in these markets, which also promotes global climate goals.8 0Item Restricted IDENTIFYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOMES AND TREATMENT WITH OPIATES IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT(Saudi Digital Library, 2022) Althagafi, Suhair; Hughes, JamesBackground and aim: Pain is considered the most common reason to present to the emergency department (ED). The overall increase of harms from opioid misuse and increases in mortality from opioid overdose may affect the use of prescribed opioids to treat pain in the ED. There is a paucity of literature to investigate patient reported outcomes (PROs) and demonstrate the relationship between opioid use in the ED and PROs. Literature demonstrates that opioid use in the ED can enhance the PROs, but further details at this time are unknown. This study aims to investigate the difference in PROs between patients who received opiate analgesics and those who did not by application of symptoms management theory (SMT) to investigate factors that may influence PROs of acute pain care in the ED. Method: This is a retrospective study using secondary data collected for another purpose by Hughes et al. (2020), which aimed to evaluate the application of Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ-R) of acute pain care received in the ED. This study used questions from Patient Experience of Pain in the Emergency Department (PEPED) questionnaire in addition to APS-POQ-R tool. Data were analysed by using descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate modelling to identify the relationship between PROs and treatment with opioid in the ED when controlling of other factors. Results of each analysis will be presented separately and will be discussed in more detail in result and discussion sections. Result: The total sample was 200 patients divided into patients who received opiates in the ED (n=170) and those who did not (n=70). In multivariate modelling, opioid administration is not significantly related to the overall PROs. However, receiving an opioid is significantly associated with the patient perception of acute pain care in the ED. Patients presenting with ongoing conditions or concern and being admitted to the hospital after ED pain care are factors associated with report of poor pain care in the ED. Conclusion: This study examined the relationship between PROs and treatment of acute pain with opiates in the ED. There is no relationship between PROs and treatment with opiates for acute pain care in the ED. However, there is an association between perception of ED pain care and opioid administration for acute pain care in the ED.18 0Item Restricted Essays on Religiosity and Finance: Evidence from Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alwehaibi, Abdulmajeed Abdullah; Chou, Daisy; Le, AnhThis thesis examines the relatively underexplored influences of informal institutions, particularly religiosity, on corporate outcomes. Drawing on the theory of social norms, it investigates how Islamic religiosity, as a form of religious social norms, shapes firm behaviour in Saudi Arabia. The study focuses on three key areas: corporate investment efficiency, corporate risk-taking behaviour and corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. The research employs panel data analysis to evaluate these relationships among companies listed in Saudi Arabia from 2012 to 2020. In the first essay, the primary finding is that the firm’s headquarters, located in a community with a higher Islamic religiosity level, positively influences corporate investment efficiency. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the beneficial link between religiosity and investment efficiency is more pronounced in firms that are not financially constrained and those without significant institutional ownership. In companies that do not face significant financial limitations, the principles guided by Islamic religiosity appear to facilitate more effective investment decisions and better allocations. Similarly, the absence of significant institutional ownership suggests that without strong external governance mechanisms, internal cultural norms such as religiosity can be critical in enhancing monitoring functions, guiding corporate behaviour, and improving investment efficiency. Finally, our study finds a negative correlation between Islamic religiosity and agency costs. This finding implies that the advantageous effect of Islamic religiosity may largely stem from its role in diminishing agency conflicts. Reducing these conflicts plays a key role in the beneficial outcomes associated with implementing these norms. In the second essay, empirical evidence demonstrates that firms headquartered in communities with higher Islamic religiosity tend to engage in lower levels of corporate risk-taking. This effect is more pronounced in firms with lower institutional and foreign ownership, where external monitoring is weaker. The results suggest that Islamic religiosity plays a monitoring role, helping to curb excessive risk-taking. They support the proposed mechanism that religiosity constrains corporate risk-taking, especially in settings with limited institutional oversight. Moreover, the influence of Islamic religiosity appears to be offset in firms with foreign ownership, likely due to the introduction of different cultural norms and governance practices. Conversely, firms without foreign ownership appear more aligned with local religious norms, reinforcing the inverse relationship between religiosity and risk-taking. Furthermore, the study identifies a positive relationship between Islamic religiosity and corporate performance. Firms headquartered in communities with higher levels of religiosity are more likely to experience exceptional positive performance and are less susceptible to extreme negative outcomes. This balance contributes to their superior average performance and highlights the value-enhancing effects of religiosity. Path analysis further shows that Islamic religiosity reduces risk-taking, which, in turn, contributes to higher firm performance. In the third essay, findings reveal that firms operating in communities with higher levels of Islamic religiosity tend to exhibit lower ESG activities. This effect is particularly pronounced among financially constrained firms, where the added costs and potential inefficiencies of ESG initiatives may shrink profit margins and thus weaken managerial incentives to invest in them, especially when firms align with prevailing religious norms and enjoy the confidence of market participants. Moreover, higher levels of Islamic religiosity are associated with reduced agency costs, indicating that Islamic religiosity promotes ethical behaviour and limits managerial self-interest, thereby diminishing the need for ESG as a governance mechanism. These findings suggest that Islamic social norms can serve as a substitute for corporate ESG. In highly religious environments, where ethical conduct is expected and stakeholder trust is strong, ESG activities may offer limited signalling value and appear less necessary. These results provide important implications for policymakers and investors, offering insights into decision-making processes in emerging markets. By addressing the previously unexplored relationship between Islamic religiosity and corporate outcomes, this thesis enriches the existing literature and sheds light on the unique characteristics of the Saudi financial market as an emerging economy.29 0Item Restricted Teaching Chinese in Saudi Arabia: Investigating the policy rationale and its implementation(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALKHALAF, ZIYAD AHMED; Hamid, ObaidThis doctoral thesis investigates the introduction and implementation of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) within the Saudi Arabian educational system, situating it within the broader economic and geopolitical context of China’s rise as a global linguistic and cultural superpower. Anchored in Kaplan and Baldauf’s (1997) language-in-education policy (LEP) framework and S. Zhao and Baldauf’s (2008) agency model, the study examines the rationale behind the adoption of CFL, stakeholder perceptions, and the challenges encountered during implementation. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research integrates classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and analyses of Twitter posts and media reports, collecting data from high schools, the College of Languages and Translation at King Saud University (KSU), and the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Riyadh. Findings reveal that the Saudi government’s decision to integrate CFL aligns with its geopolitical and economic strategies, particularly those outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, including diversification of the economy, fostering Saudi–Chinese relations, and positioning Chinese as a critical future language. Stakeholders – including policymakers, educators, students and families – acknowledge the strategic value of Chinese for labour market opportunities and global collaboration, while also recognising the continued dominance of English in Saudi education and society. However, Saudi citizens on Twitter have criticised the policy, questioning the prioritisation of Chinese over culturally influential languages like Korean and Japanese, while others have expressed concerns about the feasibility of mastering Chinese, given existing struggles with English. Some have also argued that strengthening Arabic education should take precedence, fearing that introducing another foreign language might further marginalise Arabic within the national curriculum. The study identifies significant challenges to implementation, including limited access to Chinese programs, personnel shortages, curriculum deficiencies, inadequate instructional resources, insufficient teaching methods and materials, limited community engagement, and gaps in program evaluation. These challenges underscore the complexities of translating national language policy into effective practice and highlight the need for targeted interventions to address gaps in policy execution. This thesis offers significant insights into the pivotal role of national language policies as instruments for economic, geopolitical and cultural development. By examining the intersection of global linguistic trends and local policy implementation, it highlights the transformative potential of language education in shaping international relations and labour market readiness, particularly within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030. Practically, the thesis offers actionable recommendations to advance Chinese language education and its integration into Saudi Arabia’s education system and broader society. These include establishing dedicated Chinese language institutions, fostering collaboration between Saudi ministries, and recruiting specialised teachers to enhance program delivery. Curriculum enhancements emphasise developing communicative and culturally relevant materials, integrating extracurricular activities, and providing additional practice-oriented lessons. To ensure societal inclusivity, the recommendations focus on expanding access to underserved regions through urban–rural partnerships and equitable resource distribution. Leveraging media and social platforms enhances the visibility of Chinese culture and language, bridging educational initiatives with societal engagement. These strategies align with Saudi Vision 2030’s strategic objectives, positioning Chinese language education as a cornerstone of national development and international collaboration. The study also makes significant theoretical and methodological contributions to the fields of applied linguistics and sociolinguistics. Theoretically, it extends Kaplan and Baldauf’s (1997) LEP framework by incorporating the emerging challenges of linguistic barriers, environmental considerations and media engagement. Methodologically, it underscores the value of employing multi- site qualitative tools, including thematic analysis, to capture the macro, meso and micro dimensions of language policy implementation. Ultimately, this thesis provides a comprehensive foundation for understanding the multifaceted dynamics of CFL in Saudi Arabia, examining its implications through the lens of linguistic capital, the political economy of language, and China’s broader linguistic and cultural diplomacy in global language planning. The adoption of CFL in Saudi Arabia is a strategic manoeuvre within the shifting global economic and geopolitical landscape, aimed at advancing Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives of economic diversification and international engagement; however, its success hinges on overcoming structural, linguistic and societal challenges to translate policy aspirations into tangible economic and geopolitical benefits.17 0Item Restricted Policy, Cultural, Social, and Environmental Barriers to Physical Activity in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alzahrani, Ali Ahmed; Gebel, KlausPhysical activity levels in Saudi Arabia remain low, contributing to rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases, highlighting the need for effective strategies to promote active lifestyles. This thesis explores the policy, cultural, social, and environmental barriers to physical activity in the Gulf region, with a specific focus on the southern region of Saudi Arabia. Through three interconnected studies, it examines the complexities of physical activity promotion at both the policy and community levels. The first study was a qualitative study with semi structured interviews with 19 policymakers from Saudi Arabia and Oman, exploring cross-sectoral challenges and facilitators of physical activity (PA) policies. It identified key gaps in policy implementation and intersectoral coordination. The second study was a qualitative study in which 39 PA policy documents from across the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries were analysed, providing a comparative overview that highlights policy inconsistencies and the absence of systematic evaluation mechanisms. The third study was based on interviews with 15 participants from diverse backgrounds in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. It offers a qualitative perspective on how local norms, safety concerns, and social expectations shape individuals' engagement in physical activity. One of the key findings was the need for improved collaboration among government sectors, particularly between health, education, municipal, and sports authorities, to effectively promote physical activity. The research highlights insufficient financial support and the lack of dedicated budgets for PA initiatives, which limits the scalability and sustainability of current efforts. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of developing culturally adapted interventions that are sensitive to local traditions, gender norms, and environmental constraints specific to the southern region. Safety concerns, limited access to appropriate facilities, and social perceptions around physical activity, especially for women, emerged as critical barriers. The thesis contributes valuable insights for policymakers and public health practitioners by emphasising the importance of context-specific, multisectoral strategies to enhance physical activity participation and reduce health disparities in the region. Recommendations for future research and policy development are provided to further address the barriers identified and promote a healthier, more active population. Key recommendations include strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration to create more integrated approaches, increasing financial support to ensure sustainable initiatives, and aligning physical activity programs with local cultural norms to foster cultural change and greater community acceptance.23 0Item Restricted Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Care Evidence Synthesis and Economic Evaluation(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) almuaddi, abdullah; Gao, Lan; Niu, Anthony; Nguyen, DieuAbstract Introduction/background/issues Cardiovascular disease remains the leading global cause of mortality, contributing over 18 million deaths annually. Despite advances in treatment, early detection and personalised intervention remain under research, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This thesis systematically evaluated the clinical performance and economic implications of artificial intelligence applications in cardiovascular disease management through integrated systematic review and economic modelling within the Australian healthcare context. Methods A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) standards was conducted across database such as PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar (2010-2025). Studies reporting clinical and economic outcomes for AI interventions in adult cardiovascular care were included. Data extraction and data synthesis were conducted with an emphasis on diagnostic accuracy, clinical outcomes, and economic indicators A decision-analytic model was developed for artificial intelligence-guided coronary computed tomography angiography within Australian healthcare perspective, utilising diagnostic performance data from Kübler et al. (2024) and Australian cost schedules. Results/discussions Ten studies demonstrated robust AI diagnostic performance across ECG, echocardiography, and coronary imaging modalities. Deep learning approaches achieved superior clinical effectiveness, with area under curve values exceeding 0.95 for coronary artery disease prediction and 21% higher performance than traditional methods for cardiovascular risk stratification. AI-enhanced coronary imaging showed excellent agreement with expert assessment (ICC 0.82-0.95) while reducing interpretation time from 25 minutes to seconds. However, significant economic evaluation gaps existed, with most studies lacking formal cost and cost-effectiveness analyses. Limited international economic evidence indicated promising cost-effectiveness ratios between £1,371-£3,244 per quality-adjusted life year in European contexts. The decision-analytic model, utilising AI performance parameters from the Kübler et al. (2024) examining artificial intelligence-enhanced coronary computed tomography angiography in asymptomatic (sensitivity 91.2%, specificity 63.3% for stenosis >0%), demonstrated that this specific AI-guided imaging approach was not cost-effective under Australian healthcare conditions, despite incorporating delayed treatment consequences leading to percutaneous coronary intervention and discounted lifetime costs. Conclusions/implications AI demonstrates significant clinical potential for cardiovascular management across diagnostic and prognostic modalities. However, economic evidence remains incomplete. The economic evaluation demonstrated that AI-guided coronary imaging was not cost-effective under Australian healthcare perspective, despite improved diagnostic performance. This reflects the critical need for standardised cost-effectiveness frameworks before widespread adoption15 0