SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
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Item Restricted An Analytical Study of the Rising Cyber Attacks in Saudi Arabia(University of Portsmouth, 2025-05-07) Almutairi, Khaled; Martin, SparriusThis final-year project examines whether Saudi Arabia's cybersecurity infrastructure is sufficiently robust to withstand future cyber threats. this study examines previous cyber incidents in Saudi Arabia and assesses the effectiveness of national responses to evaluate the country's preparedness for future cyber threats. A questionnaire was distributed to 50 cybersecurity professionals in Saudi Arabia to assess their preparedness for emerging threats. The results indicate that ransomware is the most anticipated threat, with small to medium-sized businesses expected to be the primary victims. One key finding is the overconfidence of employees, which hinders adequate preparation for future threats. The study concludes that although Saudi Arabia is making considerable progress, it is still in a developmental phase and not yet fully prepared for emerging cyber threats. Based on the findings, the following recommendations are made: • Compulsory training should be provided for cybersecurity professionals and non-specialised employees to improve overall awareness and response capabilities. • A centralised cyber threat intelligence sharing platform should be established to enable real-time data sharing across organisations, enhancing collective defence efforts. • Increased Research and Development investments are necessary to develop advanced technologies to keep up with emerging cyber threats. • Government-supported cybersecurity assistance for SMEs involves assigning a cybersecurity professional to new SMEs for two years, ensuring they have the expertise needed to defend against cyber risks and build resilient security practices. These strategies are crucial for enhancing Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity preparation against future challenges.19 0Item Restricted Mobility Assistive Technology Provision in Saudi Arabian Healthcare: Identifying Barriers and Developing Implementation Strategies(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-07-28) Aldawood, Asma; Hind, Daniel and Rushton, Simon and Field, BeckyBackground: Mobility-related disabilities are the most prevalent in Saudi Arabia, significantly impacting quality of life. While mobility assistive technologies (MATs) help mitigate impairments, unmet needs persist in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system, with a critical knowledge gap regarding factors influencing their provision. Aim: To investigate the factors influencing MAT provision in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system and recommend strategies to overcome the identified barriers to inform policy. Methods: First, a scoping review was conducted to understand the barriers to MAT provision by summarising and synthesising theories, models and frameworks (TMF) and identifying key determinants and gaps (Chapter 2). Second, an online survey across three hospitals in two geographical regions assessed MAT availability in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system, with descriptive statistics used to summarise the findings (Chapter 3). Third, a qualitative embedded multiple-case study was conducted, involving 33 semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals, managers and leaders, along with an analysis of six documents. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided data collection and analysis (Chapter 4). Finally, the findings from the previous chapters were triangulated, and the CFIR-Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) matching tool was used to develop strategies (Chapter 5). Results: The scoping review synthesised 8 TMFs into nine propositions describing MAT provision barriers. The survey showed limited and inconsistent MAT provision across hospitals. The qualitative investigation identified barriers across the CFIR domains, with integration identifying six key barriers: healthcare system and policy, procurement and delivery, device-related, information and awareness, resource and infrastructure, and personal and environmental barriers. The CFIR-ERIC matching process identified priority strategies, including identifying and preparing champions, conducting educational meetings, assessing readiness, and conducting local consensus discussions. Conclusion: This research provides the first comprehensive investigation of MAT provision barriers in Saudi Arabia and identifies strategies for improvement. Future research should evaluate these strategies within the Saudi context.16 0Item Restricted Exploring the Antimicrobial Properties of Isolated Glucosinolate Compounds from Rocket Leaves(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-07-31) Aldossari, Huda M; Wagstaff, CarolWhile plant-derived antimicrobial agents are increasingly recognized, the bioactivity of glucosinolates (GLS) from underutilized Brassicaceae species such as Eruca sativa (rocket) remains poorly characterized. E. sativa contains unique GLS, including Diglucothiobeinin, Glucosativin, and Dimeric 4-mercaptobutyl glucosinolate, which are structurally distinct from those in well-characterized Brassicaceae vegetables. This study aimed to elucidate the antimicrobial efficacy and mechanistic pathways of E. sativa-derived GLS against bacterial pathogens, with implications for natural food safety interventions. Methodologically, a series of protocols combining analytical chemistry and molecular microbiology were employed. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was optimised to isolate four glucosinolate (GLS) compounds (Diglucothiobeinin, Glucosativin, DMB, and 4-Methoxyglucobrassicin), with purity and structural identity confirmed via Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography UHPLC-MS. Antimicrobial assays revealed concentration-dependent inhibition of Escherichia coli K-12, with Diglucothiobeinin exhibiting the highest potency (MIC: 450 ng/μL), followed by glucosativin and DMB (MIC: 800 ng/μL). Glucosativin also demonstrated selective efficacy against antibiotic-resistant Listeria monocytogenes strains. Further studies showed E. coli K-12 metabolized GLS via endogenous β-glucosidases, delaying growth inhibition. Deletion mutants lacking ascB or bglA genes (encoding 6-phospho-β-glucosidases) exhibited impaired GLS consumption and enhanced susceptibility, confirming bacterial enzymatic activation, their involvement in GLS metabolism and subsequent generation of antimicrobial compounds. Screening of the KEIO collection (single-gene knockout strains in the K12 BW25113 strain background) identified genes involved in metabolising GLS. The ΔemrA mutant, which lacks a functional EmrAB-TolC efflux system, exhibited hypersensitivity to both intact GLSs and their hydrolysis products, underscoring the role of this efflux system in mediating resistance. In contrast, the ΔccmE mutant, deficient in cytochrome c maturation, displayed increased resistance, likely due to alterations in redox homeostasis. These findings provide novel insights into the antimicrobial potential of E. sativa-derived GLSs, which combine direct inhibitory effects with bacterial metabolism-dependent activation. The results highlight their potential as natural alternatives against antibiotic-resistant pathogens, particularly in food preservation and sanitation contexts where microbial enzymatic activity may enhance efficacy.7 0Item Restricted An Analysis of The Importance of Sustainability in the Tourism Sector in the Perspective of Locals: A case Study of Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-03-31) Alanazi, Salman; Robinson, PeterSustainability Tourism Saudi Arabia Sustainable tourism Environmental awareness Tourist behavior Vision 2030 Local engagement Eco-tourism Sustainable development8 0Item Restricted Environmental Design and Thermal Comfort in Urban Courtyards Within Different Urban Design Patterns in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-05) Alosimi, Turki; Gadi, MohamedUrban open space design and patterns play a vital role in shaping the microclimate of outdoor environments, significantly influencing user comfort and activities. In a harsh arid environment like that of Saudi Arabia, creating high-quality, thermally comfortable outdoor urban spaces is critical. However, studies have highlighted the lack of detailed policies for the environmental planning and design of outdoor urban spaces in Saudi cities, particularly in Makkah, contributing to increased thermal discomfort. This research investigates the influence of alternative urban design patterns on the microclimate and thermal comfort of outdoor urban spaces in Makkah, as an example of a city in a hot-arid climate region. Using three types of courtyard at Umm Al-Qura University (semi-enclosed, partially-open with a canopy, and fully-enclosed), the study analyzes key urban design parameters, namely, orientation, aspect ratio, tree coverage, and mist system density and examines their impact on air temperature, RH, WS, mean radiant temperature (MRT) and physiological equivalent temperature (PET). Field measurements were conducted during extreme summer and winter conditions, with meteorological data outside the courtyards recorded for 10 days and microclimatic conditions inside each courtyard monitored for 48 hours. Numerical modelling using ENVI-met software was then used to simulate a series of proposed scenarios (seven for orientation, three for aspect ratio, five for tree coverage, and three for misting), which were then assessed against the base case data to identify the most effective options in each case. The findings reveal that the impact of the design parameters varies by courtyard type. Orientation adjustments had the greatest influence on the fully-enclosed courtyard, where a 135° rotation reduced daily PET by 0.39°C in summer through improved shading. In contrast, the partially-open courtyard benefitted most from orientation changes that enhanced airflow, reducing PET by 0.15°C in winter. Aspect ratio changes were particularly effective in the semi-enclosed courtyard, where increasing the height-to-width ratio to 0.75 H/W lowered PET by 1.08°C in winter and 0.41°C in summer, due to enhanced shading, without significant airflow restriction. The fully-enclosed courtyard and the partially-open courtyard with the structural canopy benefitted more from the lowest aspect ratio (0.25 H/W), as this enhanced airflow and reduced PET. In winter, the most significant PET reduction occurred in the fully-enclosed courtyard with a low aspect ratio (0.25 H/W), achieving a daily PET reduction of 1.34°C, driven by an increase in WS of 0.66 m/s. Tree coverage was found to provide substantial cooling across all courtyard types, with 30% coverage reducing PET by 2.34°C in summer and 2.78°C in winter in the fully-enclosed courtyard. The semi-enclosed courtyard experienced a PET reduction of 1.46°C in summer, while the partially-open courtyard with the canopy showed more moderate reductions due to the pre-existing shade. High-density mist systems (2-meter intervals) proved most effective in reducing PET during summer, with the semi-enclosed courtyard showing the largest reduction of 7.61°C, followed by the fully-enclosed courtyard at 6.98°C. However, excessive humidity in enclosed spaces during winter required balancing mist density to prevent discomfort. These findings are used to develop actionable urban design guidelines for architects and urban designers to promote the efficient use of orientation and aspect ratios to optimise shading and airflow and to ensure that tree coverage and mist systems are utilised most effectively. Recommendations for policy-makers are also provided to create a holistic framework to support the use of urban design to enhance outdoor thermal comfort in Makkah. This research therefore contributes to sustainable urban planning in hot-arid climates by offering practical strategies to reduce thermal stress and mitigate rising temperatures caused by climate change. At the local level it offers solutions to create more comfortable outdoor environments in Makkah and in other Saudi cities, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. At an international level, the findings will also be of benefit in other regions which experience similar climatic conditions.22 0Item Restricted Growth and Characterisation of Cu-Doped NiO Thin Films by Molecular Beam Epitaxy for Optoelectronic Applications(University of York, 2024-12) Althumali, Ahmad Owayedh; Vlado Lazarov and Dr Leonardo LariThis thesis investigates the role of Cu concentration on the structural, electrical, and optical properties of single-crystal NiO thin films deposited on single-crystal MgO(001) substrates via the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth technique, as well as the use of MBE-grown NiO thin films in optoelectronic applications. This study is the first to utilise the MBE technique and MgO(001) substrates to examine Cu doping in NiO films, providing new insights into material behaviour and potential applications. This project comprises three parts. In the first part, the impact of Cu concentrations (0, 3, 6, 10, 24 and 42 at.%) on the properties of NiO films has been investigated. The findings indicate a shift from 2D to 3D growth modes as Cu content increases, with single-crystal cubic structures developing into polycrystalline films beyond 10 at.% Cu due to Cu phase segregation. A transition from p-type to n-type conductivity is observed at 6 at.% Cu doping concentrations, alongside with a decrease in the band gap (from 3.61 eV to 3.36 eV) and resistivity with increasing Cu content. These findings demonstrate the potential of Cu-doped NiO films for use in devices requiring p-type or n-type materials, provided doping levels are carefully controlled. The next part focuses on low Cu doping (0, 0.7, 1.2, and 2.4 at.%) in forming p-type single-crystal NiO films, showing that doping maintains high crystallinity and homogeneous Cu distribution without phase segregation. Electrical and optical measurements reveal enhanced conductivity and a slight reduction in the band gap, suggesting the capability of low Cu doping to adjust NiO film properties while maintaining structural quality. In the final part, the influence of NiO thin film thickness on its properties using polycrystalline ITO substrates has been examined. Increasing the NiO films thickness results in higher surface roughness, reduced transparency, and band gap. Finally, MBE-grown NiO films have been incorporated into optoelectronic devices, including a perovskite solar cell (PSC) and a novel homojunction p-i-n (p-type NiO:Mg/intrinsic NiO/n-type NiO:Cu) photodiode. The use of undoped NiO film as a hole transport layer in PSC resulted in a 5.66% power conversion efficiency. MBE-grown NiO thin films have also been successfully employed in a novel homojunction p-i-n (p-type NiO:Mg/i-NiO/n-type NiO:Cu) UV photodiode, demonstrating good diode characteristics and performance, with a forward current of 38 mA and a reverse current of 1 mA at ±2 V.12 0Item Restricted Symmetry Breaking in a Delay Differential Equation Modelling Auditory Streaming(University of Exeter, 2025-07) Alawfi, Asim Abdulrahman; Jan, SieberThis thesis develops new methods for bifurcation analysis of delay-differential equations (DDEs). These methods can be used to find and track symmetry-breaking bifurcations of periodic orbits in DDEs with discrete symmetry. The method development is motivated by a modelling problem posed by Ferrario and Rankin (2021) who studied perceptual bistability of the auditory system. The Ferrario and Rankin (2021) model describes two coupled identical neural populations with delayed cross-inhibition coupling, such that the model is a four-dimensional system with periodic forcing. The model has a reflection symmetry, and the breaking of this symmetry corresponds to a switch between two distinct auditory perceptions. The thesis starts with an overview of the general concepts of DDEs and bifurcation theory. We then develop and apply specialized techniques for tracking symmetric solutions and symmetry-breaking bifurcations, extending existing methods for tracking steady-state solutions and periodic orbits by enforcing symmetry on a fixed-point sub- space of equivariant systems. These methods are implemented in DDE-Biftool. We use our symmetry-extended defining systems to perform a bifurcation analysis on the periodically forced auditory streaming model proposed by Ferrario and Rankin (2021) (after reformulating it as an autonomous DDE). By studying the dependence of the perception boundary on the choice of threshold, our bifurcation analysis precisely determines the perception switching boundaries in the space of two experimentally relevant input parameters, the tone frequency difference and the presentation rate. These boundaries appear to approximate the symmetry-breaking solutions, identified by analysing non-symmetric periodic solutions in which the maximum activity of one neural population touches the threshold during the active-tone interval of the other neural population. We find that the dynamical bistability requires symmetry-breaking, but symmetry-breaking is not sufficient for perceptual bistability. We extend the study by Ferrario and Rankin (2021) by varying additional parameters such as the tone duration, the coupling delay, and the internal time scale of the excitatory neural population. Further, we find that increasing the delay leads to new phenomena such as period doubling and torus bifurcations which were not observed in the original study of Ferrario and Rankin (2021), but which may be present in experiments. Additionally, we find that reducing the internal time scale for the excitatory neural population results in more realistic neural pulses, but it reduces agreement with the experimental data in parameter space suggesting that other system parameters need to be adjusted.10 0Item Restricted Implementing Technological Circular Economy in the Waste Management of Construction Sector(Saudi Digital Library, 2024-09-08) Alsufyani, majed Hussain H; Demian, PeterThe construction industry is among the top contributors to resource depletion and global waste. Conventional construction practices produce a lot of waste, which is highly challenging for the environment. This requires the adoption of circular economy concepts to mitigate such issues. Circular economy (CE) policy serves as an alternative solution as it helps minimize waste production and maximize utilization of resources. The purpose of this study was to establish how to integrate technological circular economy concepts into business models within the Waste Management of the construction sector in order to enhance its sustainability. The study involved both primary and secondary research. In primary research, a survey questionnaire was employed to collect data from a sample of 41 participants. In secondary research, a case study approach was adopted to collect data from projects that have utilized a circular economy. The analyses revealed various circular economy practices adopted in construction projects, including waste reduction, material reuse, and material recycling. Digital technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Waste tracking software help manage waste and enhance sustainability construction projects. The adoption of circular economy practices is associated with many benefits, including enhanced recycling rates, reduced waste generation, reduced operational costs, improved regulatory compliance, reduced waste emissions, and energy saving. This study provides a strategic roadmap to the adoption of CE principles in the management of waste in the construction sector.7 0Item Restricted Supporting Clients with a History of Complex Trauma to Build a Life Worth Living(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-07-30) AlSayedNasser, Batool AThis thesis focuses on the extent to which existing therapies are able to build positive mental health in clients exposed to complex trauma and evaluates a novel wellbeing focused therapy for depression in the context of complex trauma. This general introduction chapter will begin by defining complex trauma, reporting frequency of complex trauma exposure, and presenting the mental health consequences following the experience of complex trauma. It will then discuss how building positive mental health alongside symptom relief is key to recovery from mental health problems, particularly for clients who have experienced complex trauma. The chapter will then briefly review existing psychological interventions for the mental health consequences of complex trauma exposure, particularly focusing on treating depression in clients with a history of complex trauma. The general introduction will conclude with a summary of key literature gaps and how this thesis aims to begin to close these gaps.15 0Item Embargo Reinforcement Learning For Game Theory(Saudi Digital Library, 2028-07) Ulian, Salem; Hedges, JulesReinforcement learning, especially deep reinforcement learning, has recently achieved impressive results in playing complex board games like chess and Go, as well as video games such as StarCraft II. However, there has been limited research into how these techniques work with strategic games from game theory. This project aims to create a reinforcement learning system that learns to play a repeated game, such as the iterated prisoner's dilemma, against itself and to compare its performance with traditional strategies.10 0