SACM - Malaysia
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9660
Browse
71 results
Search Results
Item Restricted PRE-ANALYTICAL FACTORS IMPACTING BLOOD CULTURE POSITIVITY OUTCOMES: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY AT SULTAN AHMAD SHAH MEDICAL CENTRE, IIUM(INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA, 2024) Hakami, Aeshah Ali; Kamarudin, NorhidayahBlood culture (BC) is a crucial test for diagnosing bloodstream infections (BSIs) and can be significantly influenced by pre-analytical factors. Despite its importance, concerns persist regarding the reliability of BC results, often due to contamination and variability in positivity outcomes. This study addresses the research gap concerning the impact of specific pre-analytical factors such as location, transportation time, site of collection, and sample volume on BC positivity rates at Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre @ IIUM. A cross-sectional analysis of 276 BC vials from 138 patients revealed that 58% were male, with a mean age of 61.8 years. Samples for the BC analysis were collected from emergency wards (35.5%) and peripheral veins (84.8%). The overall positivity rate was 29.0%, with 34 (24.6%) positive aerobic vials and 24 (17.4%) positive anaerobic vials. Optimal blood volume (8-10 ml) was achieved in only 17.4% of cases. The mean blood volume was 6.3 ± 3.7 ml for aerobic vials and 5.9 ± 3.0 ml for anaerobic vials, both of which are considered suboptimal based on the literature review (<8 ml). The mean time to positivity (TTP) was significantly different in anaerobic cultures when comparing varying blood volumes (p = 0.009). Although demographics and other pre-analytical factors did not significantly predict true or false positives (p > 0.05), the observed trends underscore the need for improved diagnostic practices. This study provides valuable insights into the pre-analytical factors affecting BC outcomes, emphasizing the importance of refining protocols to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient management for suspected BSIs.14 0Item Restricted LUMINOSITY AND CONTRAST ADJUSTMENT OF FUNDUS IMAGES WITH REFLECTION(University of Malaya, 2024) Alrowaily, Mofleh Hannuf; Bin Arof, HamzahThis thesis presents an automatic correction method for luminosity and contrast variations in fundus images. One hundred retina or fundus images with various levels of exposure are selected from online databases and used to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. There are four stages in the approach, and they are preprocessing, lowpass filtering, luminosity, and contrast adjustment and postprocessing. First, a color fundus image is read as input, and its three-color components, red (R), green (G) and blue (B), are separated into different channels or arrays. Next, the eye region or the region of interest (ROI), is identified along with its border via thresholding. After that, the original ratios of red-to-green and blue-to-green for every pixel in the ROI are computed and stored. Then, the ROI for the three channels is subjected to lowpass filtering, using one and two-dimensional inverse distance filter, to create a smooth background luminosity surface. This surface does not contain foreground objects such as blood vessels, optic discs, lesions, microaneurysms and others. The outcome is a smooth luminosity surface that estimates the luminosity surface or background brightness of the entire ROI. Once the background brightness is established, the luminosity of all pixels in the ROI is equalized, such that every pixel will have the same background brightness. Next, the contrast and stability of the green channel is further enhanced by adding details from the blue and red channels. Afterward, the histogram of the green channel is stretched using CLAHE to improve the contrast between the foreground objects and the background. Finally, in the post-filtering stage, the intensities of the blue and red channels are adjusted according to their original ratios to the green channel. When all three channels are recombined, the resulting color image looks similar to the original image but shows improved luminosity and contrast. The performance of the method is compared to a few other methods of similar complexity.6 0Item Restricted INTERNATIONAL NON-MUSLIM TOURIST SATISFACTION WITH ISLAMIC AND GENERIC DESTINATION ATTRIBUTES IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA(UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA, 2024-09) Basendwah, Mohammed Abdulrahman; Rahman, SuraiyatiSaudi Arabia has traditionally been a hub for religious tourism. With the introduction of the 2030 Vision, the country expands its tourism offering beyond religious tourism. This shift marks a strategic realignment to attract more diverse global travellers by implementing regulations designed to enhance the destination's appeal. Despite these ambitious reforms, there remains a critical gap in understanding the experience of tourists from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds when navigating conservative Islamic customs in a Muslim-majority country. Moreover, given that Saudi Arabia's tourism sector primarily focused on religious pilgrimages before the introduction of the leisure tourist visa in 2019, further research is needed on the satisfaction of international tourists visiting for non-religious activities. Literature shows that studies utilising the disconfirmation theory are scarce within the context of Islamic destination attributes. By utilising the disconfirmation theory, this study examines international non-Muslim tourists' satisfaction with Islamic destination attributes as well as the generic ones within the context of Jeddah city. Tourist satisfaction was assessed using the HOLSAT model, while the influence of Islamic and generic attributes on travel satisfaction was evaluated utilising the Expectancy Disconfirmation Model (EDM), with the aim to determine whether Islamic attributes hinder the success of the travel experience of non-Muslim tourists. Notably, the study's conceptual model, which is grounded in the EDM, was slightly modified to incorporate the loyalty variable. Data were collected via a self-administered survey, yielding 391 usable responses, and analysed using SPSS software. Paired sample t-tests were employed to compare tourists' pre- and post-visit perceptions, while linear regression analysis was utilised to examine the study's conceptual model. The HOLSAT model result indicates that seven of the 25 generic attribute statements and three of the 10 Islamic attribute statements experienced a negative gap between expectation and experience, indicating areas of potential improvement in tourist satisfaction. Additionally, the relationship between the research variables in the study's conceptual framework aligns with previous findings, albeit with slight variations in strength and significance. This study enhances theoretical understanding by expanding the HOLSAT model as well as the EDM model within the context of Islamic attribute satisfaction, highlighting the distinctive nature of Islamic destination attributes from the generic ones. Besides, the research outcomes lay the groundwork for developing strategies that foster a genuinely inclusive and accommodating atmosphere for international tourists visiting Saudi Arabia for non-religious purposes, thereby contributing to the overall enhancement of Saudi Arabia's growing tourism sector.13 0Item Restricted THE INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP STYLE ON INNOVATION: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF JOB SATISFACTION IN SAUDI HOSPITALS IN RIYADH(LINCOLN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, 2024-08) Almughim, Tareq Mohamed; Abdulsamad, AkramThe study goal of this study is to examine the influence of direct empirical relationship between leadership styles, job satisfaction and innovation. In addition, this study examined the mediating role of job satisfaction as a mediator in the relationship between leadership styles dimensions (transformational leadership, transactional leadership, organizational commitment, laissez faire leadership) and innovation in Saudi healthcare. The PLS path coefficient showed four (4) formulated direct and indirect hypotheses had a significant effect on job satisfaction and innovation among employees of healthcare in the Saudi Arabia. The study establishes that job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between leadership styles and innovation, with high leadership styles having a strong positive influence on innovation and job satisfaction in Saudi hospitals. Thus, leadership styles, such as transformational leadership, transactional leadership, organizational commitment, laissez faire leadership all contribute to job satisfaction and services and PIN in Saudi hospitals. Furthermore, the findings contribute to the ongoing discourse about the importance of job satisfaction by examining the distinctive mediating effect of leadership styles on innovation among employees of healthcare in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the results of this study indicate that hospitals leaders, policymakers, and government organization officials must understand the reasons why employees of healthcare in Saudi Arabia have job dissatisfaction. Finally, the study gives insights into the state of leadership styles in Saudi hospitals and its impact on job satisfaction and innovation among Saudi healthcare and provides points of reference for academics, practitioners, and policymakers.10 0Item Restricted APPROXIMATE SOLUTION FOR TIME FRACTIONAL PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH VARIABLE COEFFICIENTS(UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA, 2024-09) Alsidrani, Fahad; KilIcman, AdemThis thesis investigates one-dimensional time-dependent partial differential equations, focusing on two types of fractional derivative definitions and their properties. The primary goal is to derive semianalytical approximate series solutions for the spatial variable ν within a bounded interval [a,b], where a and b are real numbers. Three powerful numerical methods are employed to obtain approximate analytical solutions for fractional order partial differential equations: the variational iteration method (VIM), the Adomian decomposition method (ADM), and the homotopy analysis method (HAM). These techniques balance the simplicity of analytical solutions with the accuracy of numerical approaches. The study includes a comprehensive convergence analysis of the approximate series solutions obtained from VIM, ADM, and HAM. The differential equation under investigation is derived from the traditional Fornberg-Whitham equation and the Helmholtz equation by replacing the integer order time derivative with noninteger derivatives of order μ in the range n - 1 < μ ≤ n, for n ∈ N, incorporating variable coefficients. Novel approaches are developed to compute the Laplace transform in the Atangana-Baleanu fractional derivative operator, enhancing the performance and accuracy of the semianalytical methods. The research extends to validate the effectiveness of fractional order methods. To demonstrate the applicability of these techniques, computational analyses of various test problems are provided, featuring two fractional derivatives and variable coefficients. Comparisons reveal that the absolute differences between the approximate solutions derived from VIM, ADM, and HAM decrease with the parameter μ approaches to the integer order. The findings indicate that the differences between ADM and HAM are consistently smaller than those involving VIM, signifying that while all methods yield similar results, ADM and HAM show closer alignment and potential excellence in specific scenarios. According to the results and graphical representation, it can be seen that the proposed methods are efficient in obtaining an analytical solution for time-fractional differential equations.17 0Item Restricted CULTURAL IMPACT ON SELF-EFFICACY OF DIVORCED WOMEN AND THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS MARRIAGE IN AL-AHSA, SAUDI ARABIA(UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA, 2024) Almuthaffar, Nouf khaleed; Lyndon, Novel AnakABSTRACT The increasing rate of divorce in Saudi Arabia has become a social problem that has weakened the cultural values, the social relationships of Saudi families and affected not only divorced women but their children as well. Hence, this study explored the socio- demographic profiles of divorced women in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia as well as the impact of cultural factors on the self-efficacy of divorced women. The impact of divorce on the social relations of Al-Ahsa children is also discussed in this study. The study also examined the attitudes of divorced women towards the institution of marriage in Al- Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The theory of feminism was applied as a theoretical framework in this study. The study used qualitative data collection techniques based on a case study approach. Both purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select informants. A total of eighteen informants comprising divorced women, parents, children from divorced families, academics, and social leaders were selected for in- depth, face-to-face interviews. Thematic data analysis has been used to analyze and interpret data. The findings showed that divorced women experienced emotional emptiness, had self-esteem problems, and were very depressed by the status of widows labelled by society. This situation clearly shows that the cultural impact faced by Saudi women is related to social, economic, psychological, and legal challenges in family and marriage institutions. This study also found that the self-efficacy of divorced women is particularly affected by women who are fully dependent on their husbands, especially in terms of finances. In addition, the vast majority of divorced women in the study still believe that they can remarry, do not give up hope of getting a better life, and believe in the role and function of marriage as an institution. This study concludes that the impact of divorce on women's self-efficacy is high in Al-Ahsa Saudi Arabia due to traditional cultural views on male and female roles and gender inequality. The implication of the study is that female-friendly intervention programs are needed to help divorced women adapt to the needs of life that are within the social structure of society.5 0Item Restricted ABSORPTION AND ADSORPTION OF BENZENE, TOLUENE, AND XYLENE FROM WATER USING A HYDROPHOBIC POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE FOAM(Universiti Putra Malaysia, 2024-01) Alatawi, Lila; Abdullah, Abdul HalimDue to untreated wastewater disposal from a growing population and industry, biological and chemical pollutants have accumulated in the environment. Benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) are among the most common pollutants in industrial wastewater. Due to their toxic and carcinogenic nature, BTX-containing industrial wastewater requires proper treatment prior to discharge to open water. The low adsorption capacity and low recyclability of the current sorbents have motivated the search for more efficient sorbent for BTX removal. In this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam was prepared and used to remove BTX from water. A facile and green synthesis was developed for the preparation of PDMS foam. Using the gas foaming method, PDMS was polymerized with the addition of NaHCO3 as a blowing agent and acetic acid as the catalyst. The prepared PDMS foams were characterised by their density, morphology (FESEM), hydrophobicity (water contact angle), and mechanical properties. By changing the NaHCO3: acetic acid ratios and the curing temperature, foams with varying properties were obtained. The PDMS foam produced at a 1: 2 NaHCO3: acetic acid ratio and cured at 100°C (1:2(100) foam) has the highest hydrophobicity of all the PDMS foams. All PDMS foams can be compressed to a maximum strain of 95% and retained their original size, showing excellent mechanical properties. With increasing curing temperatures, the porosity of the foams increases while their density, elastic modulus, and compressive strength decrease. However, the PDMS characteristics does not depend on the NaHCO3: acetic acid ratio, as no clear trend in feature change is observed with the changing of the NaHCO3: acetic acid ratio. The potential of the synthesised PDMS foams as sorbents to remove BTX from water was evaluated. The absorption of BTX by PDMS foams was studied at high BTX concentrations (higher than the solubility of BTX compounds in water). In contrast, the adsorption study was applied to remove low- concentration BTX when these organic compounds are dissolved in water. In the absorption method, the 1:2(100) PDMS foam exhibited the highest absorption capacity with 7.5 g/g, with 95% uptake occurring within the first minute, attributed to its higher hydrophobicity and medium porosity. The absorption capacity of PDMS foam followed the order: X>T>B. The PDMS foam retained its high absorption capacity for B, T, and X even after 10 absorption-desorption cycles, indicating its excellent stability and reusability. For the adsorption study, batch experiments were carried out for B, T, and X uptake from aqueous solution onto PDMS foam in mono-component systems at varied operating conditions. 1:2(100) PDMS foam was found to have the highest adsorption capacity with 4.2 mg/g at 50 mg/L of benzene concentration. BTX adsorption also increased with increasing concentration. The adsorption data were well-fitted with Freundlich isotherms and a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Theadsorption capacityof PDMS foam followed the order X>T>B. Based on experimental findings, PDMS foam is a promising sorbent with high stability and reusability for BTX removal from water.10 0Item Restricted INCLUSIVE DESIGN TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE LIVING OF ELDERLY CITIZENS IN SAUDI ARABIA(University Putra Malaysia, 2024-04) Alfetais, Aysha Mnea; Noor, Mohd Zairul bin MohdGlobally, the elderly suffer an increased number of falls in their homes. Notably, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a high percentage of elderly falls due to due to inadequate home interior design for independent living. However, the Ministry of Housing is currently unable to fulfil these housing requirements. In this study, the researcher aimed to document best practices in interior design that support independent living for the elderly. The study looks into the current challenges that elderly people face in interior home design. Accordingly, the study develops and formulates building codes that support independent living for the elderly to reduce falls among this population. A qualitative method based on a case-study approach was employed, whereby a total of 12 informants, including 10 elderly and two professionals from Saudi Building Codes, were purposefully and snowball-identified. Data are collected through thematic review, in-depth semi-structured interviews, and physical observations of the interior design of existing elderly homes. The data obtained from the review and interview were analysed based on a thematic analysis matrix using Atlas.ti software. The thematic review revealed that the integration of i inclusive principles in interior design plays a crucial role in promoting independent living for elderly citizens. It is understood that accessibility, flexibility, safety, environmental comfort, and social interaction have been considered and incorporated as requirements in interior design houses in most countries across the globe. The result further revealed that most of the elderly faced obstacles related to the lack of an elevator for easier movement in the building, and the main challenges that increased the risk of falling and leading to serious injury among the elderly in their independent living in Saudi homes were due to slippery floors and physical barriers. The findings suggest some important changes to the existing residential codes for future practice to reduce the high rate of falls among the elderly. First, the codes formulated, which include flexibility 1029.14.1, social interaction 1029.5, and accessibility codes 1105.1.8, should be considered by the Saudi Building Code Committee, the Saudi Council of Engineers, and the Ministry of Housing in providing homes to the elderly. The findings of the study will therefore be helpful to policymakers in understanding the issues of poor housing that affect elderly independent living. Therefore, the findings of the study contribute to improved knowledge of the framework of best practices for interior design that provide an inclusive strategy to support independent living for the elderly.17 0Item Restricted Evaluating Riyadh’s Tourism Growth and Economic Diversification under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Strategies and Outcomes(Taylor's University, 2024) Alsader, Gazwa Naif; Ismail, KhairiahThis study evaluates the impact of tourism strategies implemented in Riyadh within the framework of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, focusing on three key areas: and it safer for the economic development, cultures, and visitors who will benefit this place. It analyses the role of tourism in the diversification of the Saudi Arabian non-oil revenues and discusses the challenges and opportunities of the development strategy for the tourism industry in Riyadh. In this study, a quantitative design was employeds, and structured questionnaires are administered to 385 participants categorized in to tourists, residents and workers in the tourism sector. Tests of regression and correlation were also used to determine significance of economic, cultural and social effects of tourism with regards to the implementation of the set tourism programs. The findings also provide evidence of the relationship between tourism development, economic growth in Riyadh, and Vision 2030 objectives. Tourism has helped in employment opportunities, infrastructural developments, development of small businesses, and-Cultural Consciousness and placing Riyadh as a Cultural centre. However, the following issues were pointed out as the challenges; Cultural commodification and The need to diversify the tourism products. On the whole, the outcomes show the positive attitude of visitors; however, there is a need for further development in international marketing andleisure activities asthe factors affecting the image of Riyadh on the international level. Based on the findings,the following policy guidelines for the development of tourism are recommended: proliferation of tourism products; infrastructural development; promotion of the buying local products; and increasing utilization of products from the tourism sector. The study adds to the theoretical frame work of the impacts of tourism in diversification of economy and nation branding, culture and social relations in context of nation- wide development plans, Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia. It provides fresh ideas on theorising the relationship between tourism development and nation-state’s economic plans, and underlines the possibilities of utilising tourism as an additional non-oil source of revenues for Saudi Arabia while at the same time demanding responsible and culturally appropriate tourism growth in Riyadh. In addition, it deals with the theoretical-emprical deficiencies regarding the sociological consequences of tourism for communities.9 0Item Restricted Unveiling Factors for Sharing of Travel Experiences on YouTube by Inbound Tourists to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Social Influence Theory Perspective(TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY, 2024) Alzahrani, Meshari; Lim, JoannThis research aims to investigate how the uploading of travel experiences on YouTube by inbound tourists to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is influenced by key determinants and how YouTube plays a role in their decision-making process, as explained by Social Influence Theory. The study employed an explanatory quantitative research method, surveying 402 inbound tourists who use YouTube during their travels. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the interactions between factors such as Identification with vloggers, Internalization, Social norms, and Perceived Enjoyment in influencing travel decisions. The findings indicate that identification with YouTube vloggers, internalization of travel content, and compliance with social norms have a substantial influence on tourists' destination decision-making in Saudi Arabia, with Perceived Enjoyment playing a moderating role. Both practically and theoretically, this research provides valuable insights for tourism marketers on how to leverage emotional appeal on YouTube to engage potential travellers. Additionally, this study offers a conceptualization of Social Influence Theory within the tourism context, contributing a new perspective on how technology impacts travel behaviour. While few studies have applied Social Influence Theory to the use of YouTube in tourism marketing in Saudi Arabia, this research aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen the country's international tourism brand.19 0