SACM - Australia
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Item Restricted Development of the breastfed infant oral microbiome over the first two years of life(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Arishi, Roaa Ali A; Geddes, Donna; Stinson, Lisa; Tat Lai, ChingThe oral microbiome is critical for oral and systemic health and undergoes development during early life. This thesis investigated factors shaping the infant oral microbiome across the first two years of life, with a focus on temporal development, breastfeeding practices, and human milk composition. Using oral swabs from the BLOSOM cohort and high-resolution 16S rRNA gene sequencing, I demonstrated that the introduction of solid foods and weaning were the strongest drivers of microbial change. Breastfeeding behaviours and milk components, including HMOs and antimicrobial proteins, were associated with modest but significant shifts in oral microbial composition, highlighting the influence of milk.17 0Item Restricted Exploring the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Achieving Saudi Vision 2030(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alessa, Abdulaziz; Dhakal, Subas; Bayerlein, LeopoldVision 2030 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia involves significant institutional developments related to corporate social responsibility (CSR), aimed at transforming the economy into a more sustainable one. The private sector is expected to play a central role in achieving the Vision 2030 goals, and consequently, many Saudi companies have begun adopting CSR practices. However, the extent to which these initiatives—particularly in the banking sector—contribute to achieving these goals remains unclear. More importantly, studies on the link between CSR practices and Vision 2030 remain scarce. According to Carroll (1991), CSR involves conducting business in economically profitable, law-abiding, ethical and socially supportive ways. Grounded in this understanding, this thesis contends that CSR implementation in the Saudi banking sector can meaningfully support the Vision 2030 goals by serving as a mechanism for sustainable development. The study used a mixed methods approach: a document analysis of annual reports from 10 banks, semi-structured interviews with 10 CSR policymakers and a survey of 204 branch managers. This approach was used to assess the magnitude of these banks’ CSR initiatives, their policy formulation at the corporate level and their CSR initiatives at the branch level. The results revealed a multilayered picture of CSR within the Saudi banking sector. Document analysis showed that although banks are actively engaged in CSR initiatives—particularly in areas such as supporting small and medium enterprises, housing and charitable giving, environmental sustainability remains a peripheral focus. Further, the interviews with the CSR policymakers revealed that CSR policy formulation is centrally controlled and follows a top-down approach, often shaped by Vision 2030 priorities, board directives and alignment with Vision 2030. Some banks involve regional managers in the consultation process, but corporate management makes the final decisions, limiting input from operational staff. Moreover, governance plays a pivotal role: some banks have strong board oversight and structured CSR committees, while others rely on more ad hoc approaches with less formal integration. In addition, the survey results indicated a moderate alignment between branch-level practices and CSR policies, but also highlighted gaps in CSR-specific training, the insufficient allocation of financial resources and limited decision-making autonomy. Notably, statistical analysis showed that factors such as managerial experience, awareness of CSR policies and the availability of institutional support strongly influence branch-level CSR initiatives. These findings are supported by institutional and attitude–behaviour theories and offer in-depth insight into the multi-level dynamics of CSR policy and practice within the Saudi banking sector. This study provides valuable implications for policymakers, government regulators and banking professionals by highlighting the importance of aligning corporate-level CSR polices with operational initiatives to effectively support Vision 2030. In particular, regulatory bodies and CSR departments may use these findings to enhance policy communication, standardise reporting frameworks and strengthen branch-level capabilities, which would ensure that CSR becomes a more impactful, integrated tool for achieving the Vision 2030 goals.17 0Item Restricted Peptides Derived from Sea Anemones as Therapeutic and Bioinsecticide Candidates: Structural and Functional Studies(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Albar, Renad A; Norton, Raymond SSea anemone venoms are rich sources of peptide toxins that exhibit diverse biological activities. The thesis investigates peptides derived from sea anemones, focusing on their structural and functional properties. The project characterised the structure and activity of Avt1, a novel peptide sequence from of the sea anemone Aulactinia veratra, and further explore its potential insecticidal effects. In addition, the structure-activity relationships of Tst2 peptide and its interaction with the TRPV1 channel were investigated.25 0Item Restricted Beyond the Hype: Drivers and Barriers to Augmented Reality Use in University Teaching(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Albishri, Baraa; Blackmore, Karen; Prieto, ElenaThe COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift toward digital teaching in universities and renewed interest in Augmented Reality (AR). AR technology overlays digital content onto the physical environment, offering opportunities to make learning more interactive and engaging. Research suggests that such experiences can increase student motivation and improve learning outcomes. Despite this potential, adoption of AR in higher education remains low. This thesis investigates the factors that influence academics' decisions to adopt AR and provides practical guidance to support its implementation. The primary goal of this research is to identify and examine the factors that influence academics' acceptance of AR in higher education, with attention to cross-cultural differences and the post-COVID-19 context. The main research question asks: what factors are most likely to influence the acceptance and use of AR applications by academics in higher education institutions in the post-COVID-19 period? Four sub-questions address the roles of personal characteristics, cross-national differences between Australia and Saudi Arabia, qualitative reasons behind academics' attitudes, and the effectiveness of practical adoption resources. The research employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design organised into three phases. Phase 1 began with a pilot study involving 35 academics from Australia and Saudi Arabia. The aim was to develop and validate a survey instrument based on an extended version of the UTAUT2 framework, referred to as UTAUT2-ARHE. The price value construct was excluded because it lacks relevance in educational settings where technology costs are typically borne by institutions rather than individual users (Ain et al., 2016). Two constructs were introduced to the model: content quality and resistance to change. These additions captured pedagogical and dispositional concerns that academics commonly raise when considering AR adoption. The refined survey was completed by 436 academics from universities worldwide. Three quantitative analyses were conducted. First, a descriptive analysis was performed to provide context for subsequent analyses and for Phase 2 qualitative analysis. Second, a global analysis using covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) identified performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, and content quality as significant predictors of intention to use AR. The model explained 66.3% of the variance in behavioural intention. Facilitating conditions and resistance to change showed no direct effect on intention at the global level. Third, a comparative analysis using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) examined sub-samples from Australia (n=157) and Saudi Arabia (n=203). Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and hedonic motivation predicted intention in both countries. However, social influence and content quality were significant predictors only in the Saudi Arabian sample. The effect of hedonic motivation on intention was also stronger among Saudi academics. Phase 2 integrated quantitative and qualitative approaches. PLS-SEM analysis revealed that facilitating conditions and resistance to change operated through indirect pathways. Facilitating conditions positively influenced perceptions of both performance expectancy and effort expectancy, while resistance to change negatively affected effort expectancy. Age emerged as a moderator of the relationship between facilitating conditions and intention. Two focus groups involving 12 academics provided qualitative insights that supported and enriched the quantitative findings. Participants recognised AR as a valuable tool for increasing student engagement and clarifying complex concepts. They also identified barriers including limited institutional support, poorly targeted training programmes, and established teaching routines. Several participants noted that the pandemic had made them more receptive to experimenting with new technologies. Phase 3 translated these findings (from Phase 1 and 2) into practice. Two resources were developed: an Educators' Checklist for Implementing AR and a Summary of Managerial Guidance to facilitate AR Adoption. These tools were evaluated through an online survey completed by 53 academics. The evaluation assessed perceived usefulness, clarity, and practical applicability. The UTAUT2-ARHE model explained 66.3% of the variance in behavioural intention. Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, and content quality emerged as significant direct predictors. However, facilitating conditions and resistance to change had indirect effect on behavioural intention. This thesis contributes to technology acceptance research by confirming core theoretical propositions and extending them to the AR context in higher education. The findings indicate that academics are more likely to adopt AR when they perceive it as useful and enjoyable. However, positive intentions alone are insufficient. Successful adoption requires institutional commitment, training that addresses discipline-specific needs, and access to high-quality content aligned with curriculum objectives. In the absence of these supporting conditions, AR is likely to remain underutilised in university teaching.8 0Item Restricted Genome mining and biosynthetic investigation of secondary metabolites produced by fungal highly reducing polyketide synthases(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Arishi, Amr Abker Y; Chooi, Heng; Flematti, Gavin; Shang, ZhuoFungi produce diverse bioactive metabolites with pharmaceutical and agricultural relevance. Among these, polyketides generated by highly reducing polyketide synthases (HR-PKSs) are promising drug leads, although their biosynthetic mechanisms remain only partially understood. This thesis employs genome mining and heterologous expression to investigate selected fungal HR-PKS pathways. It reports the discovery of luteodienoside A, released via a glucinol-utilising cAT domain; elucidates the cerulenin biosynthetic pathway; characterises collaborative HR-PKS and type III PKS systems producing alkylresorcinols; and identifies genes essential for hymeglusin biosynthesis. Collectively, this work advances our understanding of HR-PKS-mediated biosynthesis and expands the known chemical diversity of fungal polyketides.25 0Item Restricted NANOCARBON ORGANISATION UNDER FLOW IN THE VORTEX FLUIDIC DEVICE (VFD)(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alotaibi, Amjad Eid H; Colin, RastonThe development of tuneable carbon nanostructures has garnered considerable attention due to their advantageous chemical and physical properties, such as high electrical conductivity, robust mechanical strength, and favourable optical and thermal characteristics. A variety of fabrication strategies both top-down and bottom-up have been established to enable precise control over key parameters including size, shape, morphology, and surface functionality of the particles. These engineered nanomaterials have demonstrated broad applicability across numerous technological domains. Despite significant progress in their synthesis, several challenges remain. These include low production yields, reliance on chemical stabilisers, prolonged and complex processing protocols, elevated manufacturing costs, and the use of high molecular weight reagents. The challenges and constraints previously outlined may be effectively addressed through the implementation of thin film microfluidic technologies, which have recently exhibited notable progress particularly in the development of simplified, single-step methodologies for synthesising zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D), and two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. These innovations are pivotal in advancing sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing processes. Thin film microfluidics confer distinct advantages in chemical synthesis, including an elevated surface-to-volume ratio, reduced reaction durations, precise regulation of residence time and thermal conditions, improved operational safety, and most importantly the inherent potential to factor in scalability at the inception of the research. This dissertation aims to initiate a paradigm shift in nanoscience through the application of a thin-film microfluidic platform, the vortex fluidic device (VFD) to precisely control the fabrication of nanocarbon materials. The VFD has demonstrated versatility across a range of applications, including but not limited to: the transformation of zero-dimensional (0D) fullerenes into two-dimensional (2D) sheets; the exfoliation and v functionalisation of graphene sheets with nanodiamonds exhibit promising performance in electrochemical applications, particularly in the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR); the unzipping of multiwalled carbon nanotubes under continuous flow conditions; and the controlled synthesis of composite nanocarbon structures from graphene oxide and fullerene C₇₀. Furthermore, the VFD has enabled the encapsulation and decoration of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with 0D fullerenes, these fabricated nanocarbon composites are currently under investigation for their electrochemical applications. Notably, the high shear fluid dynamics within the VFD have been shown to induce chirality within flow of the liquids, contingent on the direction of tube rotation, with the process further influenced by the Earth's magnetic field. The primary advantage of the VFD lies in its capacity to fabricate nanomaterials without utilising toxic and harsh chemicals, employing straightforward one-step methods that exclude chemical stabilisers and surfactants, while also ensuring scalability of the processing.15 0Item Restricted Involvement of TRPV4 genetic mutations in regulation of intracellular calcium level and bone and cartilage abnormalities(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALAMRI, SULTAN; Lamande, Shireen; John, Bateman; Peter, MclntyreContinuous remodeling and reshaping of the bones are essential for repairing micro-damaged bones and maintaining calcium balance in the body. The transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of genes includes calcium channels that serve as a sensory system for the musculoskeletal system. One such channel is Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid family member 4 gene (TRPV4), which is a non-selective cation channel capable of allowing calcium ions (Ca2+) to pass through. TRPV4 functions as both a mechanosensory and osmosensory channel, contributing to the development of various musculoskeletal tissues. During the formation of joints, TRPV4 is involved in chondrocyte proliferation and joint shaping. It also plays a crucial role in bone and cartilage development, osmoregulation, pain sensation, and apoptosis. Considering the crucial functions of TRPV4 in the development of bone and cartilage, it is not surprising that mutations in this mechanosensor channel can result in various skeletal abnormalities. Over 50 mutations in TRPV4 gene have been identified, leading to channelopathies affecting the skeletal system, ranging from dwarfism to prenatal death, skeletal dysplasia, and arthropathies. While the location of the mutation is likely related to the specific phenotype observed, little is currently known about the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, the objective of this project was to investigate the disease mechanisms caused by TRPV4 mutations that disrupt calcium regulation in multiple tissues, particularly chondrocytes. This will be accomplished through experiments involving HEK and chondrocyte cells, as well as mouse models, as TRPV4 mutations result in abnormal bone and cartilage development in human skeletal dysplasias. Scottish fold cats show a dominantly inherited osteochondrodysplasia involving malformation in the distal forelimbs, distal hindlimbs and tail, and progressive joint destruction. Using genome mapping techniques, our collaborators identified a p.V342F mutation (c.1024G>T) in TRPV4 as the underlying cause of the Scottish fold cat phenotype. Functional analysis in stably transfected HEK293 cells indicated that the TRPV4 V342F variant was weakly expressed on the cell surface in comparison to TRPV4 WT and therefore the maximum response to a synthetic agonist, GSK1016709A, was decreased. A higher basal activity and an increased response to hypotonic conditions were detected in mutant TRPV4 channels. So far, researchers have created TRPV4 knockout (KO) mouse models and transgenic mouse models, where mutated genes are overexpressed alongside a wild-type (WT) background. We have characterised a TRPV4 V620A mouse model, which was generated by ENU mutagenesis, and is the first knock-in TRPV4 mutant mouse. Our findings revealed significant changes in spine curvature, vertebral angle, tibia and femur length, as well as several trabecular bone parameters in TRPV4 mutant mice compared to WT mice as well as TRPV4 KO mice. The phenotype observed in the TRPV4 V620A mouse is milder compared to the more severe phenotype of the TRPV4 V620I transgenic mouse. Moreover, the TRPV4 V620A mouse exhibits a less pronounced phenotype than the human TRPV4 V620I condition. In contrast to the findings in the transgenic model (V620I mutant), where skeletal malformations were observed in the mutant model compared to WT mice, the TRPV4 V620A mice in this study exhibited no significant alterations when compared to WT mice. Experiments on the stimulation of the TRPV4 WT, TRPV4 KO, TRPV4V620A/+, and TRPV4V620A/V620A chondrocytes indicated less calcium influx in response to GSK101 stimulation in homozygous mutant chondrocytes compared to WT and heterozygous chondrocytes. Although TRPV4V620A/+, and TRPV4V620A/V620A chondrocytes showed higher constitutive intracellular calcium than WT and KO, after normalization, all mutant and WT chondrocytes and even KO showed a normal peak in response to hypotonicity. However, increased level of [Ca2+]i remained lower in heterozygous and even much lower in homozygous and KO compared to WT, but this level in TRPV4V620A/+ cells reached the same level as WT in sustained phase over the time course. TRPV4 KO and homozygous mutant chondrocytes did not respond to hypotonicity stimulation, while the heterozygous mutant TRPV4 has a reduced response compared to WT. The V620A heterozygous variant showed no significant effect on the response of PAR1 and 2 channels when stimulated with PAR1 and PAR2 agonists. Experiments to explore the mechanism by which V620I and V620A variants in TRPV4 could disrupt ion channel function in HEK293 cells indicated that TRPV4 WT transfected HEK cells as well as mutant channels responded to agonist GSK101 but non-transfected cells did not respond to the treatment. However, the maximum response to GSK101 was low in both mutant TRPV4 than WT. Same as chondrocytes, in which TRPV4 WT, TRPV4V620A/V620A and TRPV4V620A/+ indicated proper response to GSK101 stimulation, HEK cells transfected with TRPV4 WT, TRPV4 p.620A and TRPV4 p.620I had favorable response towards GSK101 stimulation. HEK cells transfected with TRPV4 p.V620I had a lower maximum response as well as decreased sustained [Ca2+]i level compared to cells expressing WT, subsequent to the adjustment of the leading basal action. This shows that the mutant V620I channels have a low hypotonicity sensitivity than the WT channel. However, cells transfected with TRPV4 p.V620A did not respond to hypotonicity stimulation. The results indicated that PAR1 peak responses in both TRPV4 p.V620A and TRPV4 p.V620A expressing HEK cells. However, the peak response to PAR1 agonist treatment was a little lower in the TRPV4 p.V620A cells compared to the TRPV4 p.V620A expressing cells. The peak responses were typical in TRPV4 WT expressing HEK cells. Same pattern of baseline and peak responses were observed when cells were treated with PAR2 agonist treatment. Therefore, PAR2 stimulates the activation of TRPV4, allowing an influx of calcium. In conclusion, this research aimed to investigate the role of TRPV4 genetic mutations on the calcium metabolism in different models that might be associated with bone and cartilage abnormalities. Our data on the effect of TRPV4 620A variant on the pathologic presentations of the mouse indicated that this variant was associated with larger thoracolumbar kyphosis and cervicothoracic lordosis, but shorter tibia and femur length, suggest abnormalities during endochondral ossification. Likewise, the larger bone volume fraction and the smaller trabecular number of the trabecular bone, as well as the smaller trabecular separation of the femoral head in the TRPV4V620A/+ and TRPV4V620A/V620A mice compared to WT group, confirmed the hypothesis that this variant has harmful effects on bone development. In addition, TRPV4 620A variant in mouse chondrocytes was associated with an impaired response to the synthetic agonist triggering and hypotonicity stimulation. Putting these observations together, TRPV4 V620A variant is associated with impaired channel function that is probably mirrored in raising pathologic bone and cartilage presentations. On the other hand, the behaviors of HEK cells transfected with TRPV4 620A and TRPV4 620I were not similar to each other. As a consequence, our results on Trpv4 620A variant in mice partly resemble the phenotype of the V620I variant in human Brachyolmia.3 0Item Restricted Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Wounds in Adults with Dementia(Saudi Digital Library, 2022) Fatani, Rawan; Finlayson, KathleenBackground As the population of older people grows worldwide, the ageing process is associated with critical physical, mental, and cognitive well-being changes. Ageing is a risk factor for chronic diseases and health problems, such as dementia, which have adverse effects on individuals, communities, and the healthcare system. Skin integrity in the epidermis and dermis is affected by ageing. As a result of dementia and cognitive decline, persons with dementia may have difficulty processing information accurately, which increases their risk of wounds and impacts their ability to manage them. Individuals with cognitively impaired are more likely to develop wounds because their impaired cognition may lead to falls and altered mobility. There is insufficient literature reporting the prevalence of wounds among adults with dementia and cognitive impairments. Most of the studies on wounds that excluded these populations from the research, most likely because of difficulties in communication and obstacles in handling information, and there are thus few reports in the literature on the factors that contribute to the incidence of wounds in this population. Aim This study aims to identify the prevalence of wounds in older adults with dementia and to explore the wound types and factors associated with the prevalence of wounds in this particular group. Methods This is a retrospective study using a secondary analysis of data from two previous cross-sectional studies collected for another purpose. The total sample was 65 participants with inclusion criteria including all adults 18 years or over with dementia, who provided consent (and/or their substitute decision-maker provided consent), who were inpatients or and residents in the organisations on the day of data collection. Data were examined using descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate modelling to identify the prevalence of wounds and explore the wound types and factors associated with the presence of wounds in older adults with dementia. The results of each analysis are reported separately and explored in further depth in the results and discussion chapters. Results Forty-one (66.1%) of participants with dementia had a wound detected on clinical examination. The most common wound types were skin tears (36.9%) and pressure injuries (10.8%). In bivariate analysis, the variables significantly associated with increased prevalence of wounds in adults with dementia included sites (i.e., Residential aged care had a higher prevalence of wounds (63.4 %) compared with Acute hospital and Transitional care (ꭓ2 = 4.055, df=1, p-value=0.044), higher age (t= -2.518, p-value=0.014), and impaired mobility (ꭓ2 =2.637, df=1, p-value= 0.104). Other variables were significantly associated with decreased prevalence of wounds in patients with dementia, i.e., use of risk assessment tools for impaired skin integrity (ꭓ2 = 5.833, df= 1, p-value= 0.016), allied health involvement (ꭓ2 =6.563, df=1, p-value=0.010), and allied health involvement specific for social worker (ꭓ2 =4.704, df= 1, p-value=0.030). In the multivariate model, only allied health involvement and age were entered into the model to avoid multicollinearity. The overall final fitted model was significant (p<0.004), explaining 23% of the variation in wound prevalence among adults with dementia, the R2 value is 0.23 (ꭓ2 =11.2). Conclusion Although the study had a small sample size of 65 residents, the study identified the prevalence of wounds in adults with dementia, types of wounds, and some protective and risk factors associated with wounds in this population.35 0Item Restricted DETERMINATION OF CULTURAL DYNAMICS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF MOBILE HEALTH (M-HEALTH) APPLICATIONS BY THE ELDERLY POPULATION OF SAUDI ARABIA(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alshammari, Abdulaziz; GUDUR, RAGHAVENDRA REDDY; MASOUD, MOHAMMADIAN; SARVJEET, KAUR CHATRATHThis thesis investigates how socio-cultural, technological, personal, and demographic factors shape attitudes toward mobile health (mHealth) applications and their adoption by older adults in Saudi Arabia. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, it specifies and tests a model in which family support, social influence, cultural values, service attributes, perceived usefulness, security concerns, and interface and user experience predict attitudes toward mHealth and adoption. Demographic characteristics, including age, gender, education, living arrangement, and familiarity with technology, are examined as direct determinants of attitudes and adoption. A cross-sectional survey was administered through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to adults aged 60 years and over who use national mHealth services, yielding 354 valid responses. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Adoption was operationalized through reported frequency and duration of use, range of features, and health tasks completed. The results show that technological and personal factors underpin positive attitudes, which are positively associated with adoption. Socio-cultural and demographic conditions contribute additional variation in adoption and highlight groups who may require tailored support. The findings offer design and policy guidance for strengthening sustained engagement with mHealth among older Saudis.11 0Item Restricted The Role of Behavioural Incentives and Punishments in Promoting Tax Compliance(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Turkistani, Maram; Hafalir, ElifTax non-compliance is a significant issue and has created a tax funding gap of 7.5% in Australia, which represents a tax revenue shortfall of $44.5 billion during the 2021–2022 income tax year. Tax authorities in most jurisdictions worldwide seek to establish the most effective measures to promote tax compliance. The present study investigated the determinants of tax compliance behaviours in Australia. Specifically, the study examined the effect of behavioural incentives (rewards and fines/penalties), social norms, and compliance costs on tax compliance behaviours. A quantitative experimental research design using an online survey was employed to estimate the determinants of tax compliance. The online survey, which was administered to a sample of 311 Australian taxpayers in Qualtrics, was conducted between 13 May 2025 and 22 May 2025. The final sample size, after eliminating entries associated with older participants, was 299 subjects. Data was analysed using the ordered logit regression analysis model, given the categorical attribute of the dependent variable (tax compliance). Our results revealed that only the perception of social norms and compliance costs had a significant effect on tax compliance in Australia. While the presence of social norms increased tax compliance, compliance costs negatively influenced tax compliance. We did not find a significant effect of the interaction between social norms and behavioural incentive on tax compliance. Our findings have considerable theoretical and public policy implications. Australian tax authorities need to integrate more behavioural-based nudges and eliminate tax system complexities or bureaucracy through the implementation of an e-tax filing system to improve tax compliance behaviours.11 0