SACM - United Kingdom
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Item Restricted Exploring smartphone overuse and meaningful use(Lancaster University, 2024-09) Almoallim, Sultan; Sas, CorinaMost HCI studies on digital overuse emphasize the negative impacts of technology, particularly smartphones and apps, which are intended to be addictive and habit-forming. Thus, the phenomenon of smartphone overuse needs to be thoroughly understood in order to design effective mitigation measures. Traditionally, technologies and apps are designed to have as little friction as possible, while this thesis seeks to explore the reverse mainstream innovation principles. The research commenced with an autoethnographic study, reviewing both commercial and academic digital well-being applications. This initial step was essential in identifying theoretical underpinnings and features of existing apps. To examine the smartphone usage patterns in terms of meaningful and meaningless use, and to understand the motivations behind such behaviors, a diary study was conducted with 20 participants aged between 19 and 40. Participants were asked to self-report their usage through an online form over a 14-day period, and to upload screenshots of automatically tracked data from their smartphones. Following this diary study, these participants engaged in co-design workshops where they were presented with examples of design frictions to limit meaningless use. They were then encouraged to generate ideas to shed light on novel design frictions to support meaningful use. To further explore the application of design frictions in real-world contexts and assess their impact on smartphone usage, an additional 20 participants were recruited for a user study. This study involved evaluating a bespoke Android mobile app in the wild. Participants were asked to install the application on their smartphones and use it for a few minutes over a two-week period. After each usage, participants completed an online form and at the end of each week they participated in a half-hour interview. This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge by informing designers about the functionalities offered by top-rated digital well-being applications and providing guidelines for the design of such apps. The thesis also contributes to exiting knowledge by highlighting the origins of meaningful and meaningless smartphone use. This has an important design implications mainly to support meaningful use rather than limiting meaningless use. A pivotal implication is the integration of a hedonic element into the design to potentially enhance meaningful use. Moreover, the thesis provides a nuanced understanding of the relative value of different design frictions, demonstrating how some can facilitate meaningful use and mitigate problematic use. Conversely, it also highlights that certain frictions may be inappropriate for application in specific types of apps.12 0Item Embargo Integrating Project Risk Management into Enterprise Risk Management(Newcastle University, 2024-12-20) Aldwais, Naif; Casey, Rebecca; Elliott, Karen; Alderman, NeilProject Risk Management (PRM) with its long-standing presence in both the literature and the project profession is a formal methodology for managing risks at the project level and focuses primarily on project objectives. In contrast, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) deals with risks at the organisational level, encompassing strategic, operational, reporting, and compliance objectives (Coso, 2004). The disparities in objectives and scope pose difficulties in integrating these two systems. PRM empowers project managers to make decisions within their project's the scope of an individual project, while ERM's requirement for interdisciplinary expertise enables a holistic view of risks across the total projects, departments, and functions, fostering a comprehensive understanding that is unattainable when risks are managed in isolation. The evolution of risk perception, from an objective quantitative hazard to a subjective qualitative assessment influenced by cultural and human values, is evident in the risk management literature. While a positivist perspective dominates PRM, rooted in mathematical predictability, ERM acknowledges the need for subjectivity in managing uncertainties arising from a broader internal and external environment. Nevertheless, integrating PRM into ERM can yield benefits by enhancing risk awareness and fostering strong collaboration among projects throughout the organisation. This integration facilitates the incorporation of risk considerations into broader business decision-making processes, aligning them with organisational objectives (Agarwal & Virine, 2019). Additionally, ERM contributes to improving PRM by enhancing the communication of project risk information, aiding management in making better-informed decisions and handling project risks more effectively (Zhao et al., 2015). Consequently, this research advocates for the incorporation of Complex Adaptive System (CAS) theory into these organisational risk management systems to accommodate the two distinct perspectives on risk, facilitating their integration to support decision making processes. Stemming from a critical realism mindset, a qualitative methodological approach is adopted, employing three case studies in Saudi and British companies within the oil, petrochemical, and hospitality industries. Semi-structured interviews, supported by documentary analysis form the basis of data collection. A deductive analysis, guided by the Institute for Risk Management's (IRM) successful risk culture criteria, was used to examine the risk cultures of the three organisations. Additionally, an inductive exploration of their risk governance structures was conducted to understand and explain their roles in integrating (PRM) and (ERM). The findings reveal that Key cultural attributes such as openness, compliance, continuous learning, and adaptability were crucial for fostering a unified approach to risk management aiding the integration of PRM and ERM. Similarly, adaptable risk governance structures that consider their environment’s needs played an important role in shaping the risk governance structures that facilitate the integration. In contrast, siloed and closed risk cultures coupled with rigid governance structures hindered the integration of the two systems. Organisations with adaptive risk governance structures and open risk cultures showed alignment with their values, which acknowledged and responded to the complexities of their internal and external environments.5 0Item Restricted Freedom and Constraint in Saudi Women’s Writings(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-07-10) Alsulami, Bushra; Graham, HugganThis thesis seeks to examine how freedom and its constraints are represented in selected works by contemporary Saudi women writers. The thesis shows how Saudi women writers represent different forms of freedom through the lenses of genre and feminism. It also demonstrates how Saudi women writers navigate freedom’s social and religious constraints. My central contention is that freedom in Saudi women writings is shaped by the social, cultural, and religious contexts of Saudi Arabia. For all that, Saudi writers engage with Western feminist views, they adapt them to their own particular contexts. Nor do they blame religion – in this case, Islam – for restricting their freedoms; instead, they critique the extreme ideologies that impede their attainment of various types of freedom. These forms of freedom are analysed in depth: the freedom to love in Girls of Riyadh and Hend and the Soldiers; the freedom to move in Daring to Drive and Sixth of November; and the freedom to dream in Fatma and My Thousand and One Nights.23 0Item Restricted What helps or hinders end-of-life care in adult intensive care units in Saudi Arabia? A mixed methods study(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almalki, Nabat; O'Halloran, Peter ; Breidge, BoyleBackground: In the intensive care unit (ICU), many patients are dying despite advanced therapeutic technology and optimised treatment. The critical care team is expected to deliver end-of-life care for the dying patient and their family. However, it is challenging to provide adequate support to families due to the ideas and emotions associated with the end of life. This can be influenced by different beliefs and cultures among patients and healthcare professionals. However, while there has been significant progress in introducing palliative and end-of-life care into the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia, specialist services are not widely available, public knowledge is limited, and there is a persistent focus on curative treatments. Added to this research about end-of-life care practices in intensive care units in Saudi Arabia is limited. The research questions of this study are 1) What end-of-life care is provided by healthcare teams in adult intensive care units in Saudi Arabian military hospitals? 2) What helps or hinders effective end-of-life care in adult intensive care units in Saudi Arabian military hospitals? Method: A mixed methods, sequential, explanatory design was applied. It consists of two phases. Phase 1: a cross-sectional study design with a convenience sample of 251 ICU healthcare providers (nurses and physicians) who were recruited from three military hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The Palliative and End-of-Life Care Index (PEOL Care Index) was used to assess palliative and end-of-life care education, practice, and perceived competence among intensive care unit staff. Additionally, 15 ICU managers completed the questionnaire on the barriers to optimal end-of-life care and the perceived benefit of potential strategies to improve end-of-life care. Phase 2: qualitative descriptive design involving semi-structured interviews with five bereaved family members and then 14 ICU healthcare providers (nurses, physicians and managers). Results: From the overall synthesis of the multiple data sets, this study identified five main themes including organisational structure and management, communication, ICU environment, visiting time, and end-of-life aspects. End-of-life aspects were explored through subthemes involving physical and comfort care, psychological care, spiritual support, social support and after-death support. Helping or hindering factors in relation to end-of-life care were identified within these themes. Established guidelines and checklists in all three ICUs provided a basis for delivering end-of-life care and addressing essential aspects such as pain and symptoms management, communication with families, and providing needed support. However, a significant gap remains in the availability of specific guidelines for end-of-life decision- making, leaving healthcare providers without clear directives in complex challenging situations. This gap is exacerbated by the lack of integrated palliative care services within all three ICUs, compounded by a shortage of specialists and limited education and training in end- of-life care among healthcare professionals. Although communication strategies including family meetings and daily updates were in place, hierarchical communication led to families experiencing a lack of ongoing communication with bedside professionals. This was compounded by language barriers for the majority of nurses from overseas and family denial of the poor prognosis. The physical design of the ICU and limited visitation also impeded good communication. Consequently, families experienced a lack of psychological, spiritual and social support. Conclusion: The apparent gap between the intended services and the actual experiences of families indicates a need for better communication, coordination, and implementation of support systems to ensure that the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families are adequately addressed. The integration of palliative care in an intensive care setting is impeded by organizational structure including availability of resources and education and also professionals’ perceptions. Further research is needed to evaluate useful strategies for integrating palliative care into the ICU. There is also a need for research involving a multidisciplinary approach, combining insights from social, religious and palliative care specialists to improve end-of-life care in the ICU within the unique context of Saudi Arabia.7 0Item Restricted THE ROLE OF THE P53 TUMOUR SUPPRESSOR GENE IN CANCER DEVELOPMENT AND TREATMENT(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ABUKWAIK, ROBA MOSAB; Spill, FabianGenetic alterations grant cancer cells adaptive advantages, enabling them to survive the hostile microenvironment induced by anticancer therapies and relapse with a more aggressive phenotype— posing a significant challenge in oncology. At the forefront of these genetic regulators is the tumour suppressor gene p53, one of the most extensively studied in cancer research for its pivotal role in mediating cellular responses to treatment and regulating metabolic pathways that drive therapeutic resistance. However, the precise mechanisms by which p53 orchestrates these processes and interacts with other key regulatory networks remain incompletely understood. Building on existing experimental data, this thesis develops novel mathematical frameworks, modelling p53 dynamics in response to the chemotherapeutic agent Doxorubicin (Dox) and its role in cancer metabolism. By analysing these models using mathematical techniques and examining different scenarios commonly encountered by cancer cells, this work offers a deeper understanding of cancer resistance mechanisms and informs potential therapeutic strategies. Our first study (Chapter 2) investigating cellular responses to Dox treatment reveals that in addition to the variability in p53 dynamics across individual cells that may drive differential treatment outcomes, the heterogeneity in X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) induction rate can also play a role by blocking apoptosis even when p53 is highly activated. Expanding beyond its apoptotic function, the second study (Chapter 3) demonstrates how p53 counteracts theWarburg effect—a metabolic adaptation that enhances cancer cell adaptability and apoptosis evasion. This insight emerges from a comprehensive mathematical framework integrating p53 metabolic targets alongside other genetic regulators, accurately capturing experimental observations of glucose metabolism in both wild-type and p53-mutated colon cancer cells. Further exploring these findings, the third study (Chapter 4) provides additional perspectives by incorporating the impact of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) stabilisation following Dox treatment. The results suggest that although higher doses of Dox can trigger cell death more effectively through robust p53 activation, they risk promoting aggressiveness post-treatment if apoptosis is not successfully induced. Together, by integrating the apoptotic and metabolic roles of p53, this work highlights the importance of its functionality in overcoming therapeutic resistance, along with XIAP and HIF1 activation mechanisms, suggesting them as potential co-targets to increase cellular sensitivity and minimise the risk of relapse.9 0Item Restricted Secure multi-party querying over graph databases(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Aljuaid, Nouf Awadh; Lisitsa, AlexeiOver the last twenty years, secure multi-party computation (SMPC) has emerged as an active research area focused on enhancing data privacy. SMPC has found applications in fields such as machine learning, secure voting, and data processing. Most applications of SMPC in the context of databases are integrated with relational data models; however, Not Only SQL (NoSQL) databases, particularly graph databases, have gained significant popularity in various applications. Despite their widespread use, the application of SMPC in the context of graph databases has been minimally explored. This raises the question of whether SMPC queries are limited to relational databases or if they can also operate on other types of databases. This thesis focuses on combining the advantages of SMPC with those offered by graph databases to enable secure multi-party querying. It presents methods for securing multi-party queries on federated graph databases while balancing the trade-off between security and performance. Central to this research is the development of efficient and secure querying methods, allowing multiple parties to collaborate without exposing sensitive data. Our contributions are primarily demonstrated through the Privacy-Preserving Multi-party Querying (PPMQ) framework, which integrates SMPC protocols and is designed to facilitate secure data querying and analysis over distributed graph databases. Initially, we introduced a foundational model called Secure Multi-Party Queries (SMPQ) as a proof of concept for secure multi-party querying tailored to graph databases, building on Conclave [85], a system designed for secure multi-party relational queries that uses JIFF [2] as the backend for SMPC protocols. The findings indicated that while SMPQ offers strong security, it still incurs significant overhead compared to Neo4j Fabric [62] for federated query execution. Further development led to the introduction of PPMQ, which aimed to reduce the overhead associated with the SMPQ model. To achieve this, the architecture of the SMPQ model was reviewed to identify areas for improvement. A major change involved the elimination of the Conclave layer, which added unnecessary complexity and overhead. By removing this layer and connecting directly to JIFF, performance was improved. The system offers two distinct security protocols: a client-based protocol and a server-based protocol. In the client-based protocol, standard SMPC techniques are employed, allowing computations to be performed on data without exposing the data itself. The server-based protocol employs SMPC to facilitate secure data processing and is further enhanced by encrypted hashing, which adds an additional layer of security to prevent data exposure. The results indicate that PPMQ’s execution times and overheads are comparable to those of Neo4j Fabric, while outperforming both SMPQ and Conclave, demonstrating its superior efficiency. This thesis also expands the traditional concept of SMPC to include secure multi-party querying, which is specifically designed to secure traversal queries over federated graph databases. To facilitate these queries, three distinct security protocols have been proposed: client-based, server-based, and a hybrid client/server-based approach. Each protocol presents a different trade-off between data exposure and performance, allowing users to select the most suitable option for their needs. Overall, this research presents a comprehensive framework for secure, efficient multi-party querying over federated graph databases, contributing to the fields of cryptography and data privacy.8 0Item Embargo The Effectiveness of Communication Formats within Nation Branding: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia as a Global Tourism Destination(Loughborough University, 2025-06-16) Ghulman, Salma; Torrens, George; Downs, SimonPurpose: This thesis examines the role of communication formats in shaping Saudi Arabia’s nation brand under Vision 2030, by focusing on Generation Z’s perceptions and engagement with professionally generated content (PGC) and user-generated content (UGC). It also evaluates the effectiveness of biometric tools (eye tracking, EEG, and facial expression analysis) in assessing emotional and cognitive responses to nation branding strategies. Methodology: A multiphase mixed-method approach was employed, it integrates quantitative, qualitative, and biometric data. Study One used an online questionnaire to establish baseline perceptions of Saudi Arabia’s nation brand. Study Two conducted semi-structured interviews with policymakers to assess strategic implementation challenges. Study Three explored tourism service providers’ perspectives through an online survey. Study Four implemented a multimodal experiment using biometric measures to examine Generation Z’s engagement with different communication formats. Findings: The research identified key challenges in Saudi Arabia’s nation branding efforts, including fragmented messaging, the evolving role of digital platforms, and the impact of stereotypes. The findings revealed that Generation Z engages more with PGC than UGC, they established higher emotional arousal and cognitive engagement, as captured through biometric measures. Policymakers and service providers acknowledged the need for a cohesive, data-driven approach to branding, and leveraging modern communication tools. The integration of biometric tools provided novel insights into audience responses, and emphasises the role of emotionally driven content in nation branding. Contribution: This research bridges critical research gaps by comparing PGC and UGC effectiveness, introducing biometric methodologies in nation branding research, and providing empirical insights into the communication strategies shaping Saudi Arabia’s global image. The findings offer strategic recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders, it reinforces Vision 2030’s objectives of positioning Saudi Arabia as a competitive tourism destination. Keywords: Nation branding, Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030, Communication Strategies, Professionally Generated Content, User-Generated Content, Biometric Measures, Schema Theory, Generation Z.8 0Item Restricted Synthetic T cell receptor engagers to overcome suppression of the function of human anti-tumour T cells(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-03-22) Alsubaiti, Amal; Wülfing, Christoph; Wooldridge, LindaCytotoxic T cells (CTL) play a key role in the tumour microenvironment (TME), as they have the ability to recognize and kill tumour target cells. Yet, that ability is largely suppressed. The suppression of CTL function is difficult to study within the entire complex TME. Therefore, we built a reductionist experimental system for the investigation of the molecular and cellular mechanism of CTL suppression in their direct interaction with tumour target cells using 3D tumour cell spheroids. We incubated human CTL transduced to express a transgenic TCR with tumour cell spheroids in the presence of cognate antigen. This resulted in suppression of CTL function with impaired target cell killing and diminished IFN secretion. Moreover, induction of an exhaustion phenotype in spheroid-infiltrating lymphocytes was detected by the elevated frequency of the expression of suppression markers. We also investigated the mechanism of action of a TCR-based therapeutic called ImmTAC. ImmTAC-NYE combines a high-affinity TCR extracellular domain for a defined tumour-associated epitope (NY-ESO-1) with a humanised anti-CD3e antibody single chain Fv fragment to activate T cells (pHLA:ImmTAC:CD3). We determined T cell activation by ImmTAC-NYE against a panel of cell lines expressing medium, low and limiting levels of the targeted NY-ESO antigen. Our data demonstrate a positive correlation between NY-ESO-1 abundance and CD8+ CTL activation in tumour cell killing and IFN release. ImmTAC-NYE treated T cells showed greater tumour target cell killing with enhanced T cell infiltration into spheroids as compared to CD8+ T cells expressing a TCR, 1G4, recognising the same antigen. Comparing ImmTAC-NYE variants with different affinities for CD3e, an ImmTAC with intermediate-affinity anti-CD3e showed the best balance between sensitivity and specificity. Collectively, our 3D spheroid system allowed for a physiologically relevant investigation of the activation of T cell responses to tumour target cell by the ImmTAC-NYE.4 0Item Restricted Internal Adaptation and Fit of Auxilary Retentive Features for Chairside CAD-CAM Zirconia Crowns(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-07-13) Alsubaie, Norah; Fasbinder, DennisAbstract: Background: Restoration resistance and retention are crucial for the long-term success of restorations. The tooth preparation geometry is a significant factor in the creation of mechanical retention. A clinical benefit of zirconia restorations is the physical strength of zirconia restorations provides the ability to cement them rather than adhesively bond them to the tooth. Zirconia restorations are fabricated with a computer assisted design/computer assisted machining process (CAD/CAM) that may influence the intimate adaptation of the restoration to geometric aspects of a preparation affecting the restoration retention. Objective: The margin fit and internal adaptation will be measured for zirconia crowns with tooth preparations containing different auxiliary retentive features. The monolithic zirconia crowns will be fabricated with a chairside CAD/CAM workflow. Materials and Methods: A master zirconia crown was prepared on a typodont tooth and scanned to print four different sets of models. A total of 48 zirconia crowns were milled and divided into four groups (n = 12) based on the auxilary retentive features: control, small buccal groove, large buccal groove, and mesial proximal box. The internal fit was evaluated using the polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) replica method, sectioned horizontally to assess the internal fit adaptation of auxilary retentive features and vertically to evaluate marginal adaptation. The cement space was then measured under a microscope from the marginal and auxiliary retentive features. Results: Significant differences were found among groups for margin (p = .003), axial (p < .001), HorAxial (p = .009), and RetFeature (p < .001) adaptation. The box showed significantly higher margin and axial adaptation but poorer HorAxial and RetFeature adaptation values compared to other groups. No significant difference was observed for occlusal adaptation (p = .112) Conclusion: There is a statistical difference in the margin fit and axial fit of the crowns. However, there is no clinical significance in the difference in fit since all margins are less than 120 µm. The box design group showed that it does not fit well in the retentive feature compared to other groups.12 0Item Restricted Investigation into the Environmental Improvement of Passive Solar Design for Cooling (Comfort) in Residential Buildings in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-01) Albalawi, Abeer; Grant, JohnThis dissertation investigates the environmental improvement of passive solar design for cooling residential buildings within Saudi Arabia’s unique climatic and cultural context. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, incorporating case studies and surveys, to evaluate the integration of passive solar techniques and renewable energy technologies, such as photovoltaic systems and heat pumps. Key findings reveal that hybrid systems combining passive solar design with photovoltaics can reduce energy consumption by up to 70.7%, while ground-source heat pumps achieve a 34% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to air-source systems. The study also highlights the feasibility and cultural compatibility of integrating traditional architectural elements, like Mashrabiya, with modern sustainable solutions. These results underscore the potential of passive solar design and hybrid systems to align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sustainability goals. However, challenges such as high initial costs, limited public awareness, and expertise gaps necessitate targeted policy interventions, capacity building, and public education initiatives. This research provides valuable insights into sustainable housing practices, offering actionable recommendations for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and advancing environmentally responsible construction in extreme climates.7 0