SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
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Item Restricted Influencer marketing: theories that can increase credibility, and enhance engagement.(Durham University, 2024-09-06) Aljezani, Renad; Price, GraemeThe marketing landscape has been reshaped by the rise of social media and its influencers, especially with Instagram emerging as a leading platform for influencer marketing. This study aims to study nano influencers (influencers with less than 10,000 followers), and the ways theories can enhance their engagement by establishing credibility. Using Parasocial relationships, social comparison, and attitude homophily, and credibility theories. The research identifies strategies to leverage these strategies to enhance the perceived authenticity and reliability of influencers. Using mixed method approach, including quantitative data collection via surveys and using metrics to calculate the engagement for the posts to conduct the analysis, the research highlights content preferences among international students and key factors driving user engagement. Results indicates that reliability, authenticity and interactive content foster stronger connections with audience, driving higher engagement rates. Aligning practical applications with theoretical insights, this study offers actionable recommendation for nano influencers and brands to optimize credibility on digital performance.14 0Item Restricted Investigating Cell Wall Modifications in Tobacco Cotyledons: Impacts of Salt and Drought Stress on Cellulose and Pectin Dynamics(University of Leeds, 2024) Manqarah, Afnan; Benitez-Alfonso, Yoselin; Novakovic, LazarDrought and soil salinity present significant challenges to global agriculture, threatening crop yields and food security. This study investigates the structural responses of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum SR-1) cotyledons to salt and drought stress, focusing on the remodelling of cellulose and pectins, major cell wall components. Cell wall nano-imaging using the atomic force microscopy showed that diameter of the cellulose microfibrils was significantly decreased under stress conditions, in response to stress. Confocal microscopy coupled with immunolocalization techniques, showed interesting changes in distribution of homogalacturonan (HG) pectins in the cotyledon cell wall of stressed plants compared to control conditions. While cell walls of plants grown under NaCl stress showed decrease in both de-esterified and methyl-esterified HG, which are essential for the cell wall integrity, plants grown on polyethylene glycol media, which simulated drought stress, exhibited observable increase in DE-HG. This could be a part of potential mechanism for drought resistance mediated via cell wall remodelling and strengthening through overproduction of HG, however additional research is needed to confirm and elucidate these findings. Our findings provide potential insights that may inform the development of crop varieties with improved resistance to abiotic stresses.14 0Item Restricted “Impact of Business Analytics Tools on Strategic Decision Making Process: Telecom Company in Saudi Arabia”(Manchester Metropolitan University, 2024) Alhayzan, Munirah; Mitchell, TomAbstract The research is focused on analysing the impact of Business Analytics Tools on Decision Making Process. Decision making is a constant requirement for all organisations that operate in highly competitive business environment. Business Analytics Tools have evolved significantly over the last couple of decades and thus it has changed how businesses handle their data, conduct processes and carry their decision making. For the purpose of this research, Empirical study has been conducted because this was the better option for the achievement of the research objectives. Researcher adopted primary method and the data was collected through researcher`s personal involvement. The results have highlighted that BA tools have a significantly strong impact on different aspects of decision making process but at the same BA Tools bring some challenges that need to be addressed as well in order to foster the best results from its application.4 0Item Restricted Ibn Saud's foreign policy towards Great Britain and Italy during 1932-1945: a comparative analysis.(Newcastle University, 2024) Alsharif, Ola; Berridge, WillowThis research provides a comparative analysis of Saudi international relations under Ibn Saud (1880-1953), focusing on the interactions with Britain and Italy. By examining these cases, the study offers a political perspective on the history of modern Saudi Arabia and its role in international politics, emphasizing the autonomy and diplomatic skills of King Abdulaziz. While Western historiography often attributes Ibn Saud’s rise to power primarily to British interests in the Middle East, this thesis seeks to uncover the internal and international forces that were crucial in consolidating his power and the Al-Saud dynasty. It aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of King Abdulaziz as an independent political figure who strategically navigated the complexities of international relations to secure his position and the sovereignty of his kingdom.6 0Item Restricted Mutation Identification and Filtering in Colorectal Cancer Sequencing Data: Improving Accuracy and Reliability(University of Leeds, 2024) Alharbi, Rahaf; Wood, Henry; Gusnanto, AriefUsing colorectal cancer (CRC) sequencing data in this study, we aimed to enhance the accuracy and reliability of mutation identification. This research focused on developing a comprehensive pipeline for detecting mutations in CRC due to the heterogeneity of the disease and technical artifacts that can be encountered during sequencing. To distinguish genuine mutations from artifacts, the study employed advanced filtering strategies to analyze sequence data from CRC samples processed with different sequencing technologies. To extract mutation data from BAM and VCF files, specific filters were applied based on sequencing depth, mutation frequency, and cross-referencing with COSMIC and gnomAD databases. To assess the significance of mutations, Fisher's Exact Test and Benjamini-Hochberg correction were used. The study identified 4,089 significant mutations after initial filtering, with 683 mutations shared between COSMIC and gnomAD databases, suggesting they are genuine cancer-related variants. The most significant genes were TP53, PDGFRA, DMD, and PIK3CA, with the most significant mutations occurring in TP53. The most frequent mutation consequences observed included missense variants, stop-gained mutations, and synonymous variants, with missense variants being predominant. Compared with gnomAD and COSMIC data, most mutations were categorized as probable single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), with a substantial number as probable cancer mutation. Several assays were flagged as potential issues due to inconsistencies across different experimental conditions for a smaller subset. This study has highlighted the importance of ongoing validation to mitigate technical artifacts, as well as identifying key CRC-related mutations and their consequences. As a result of the findings, precision oncology is improved, thereby facilitating more personalized treatment strategies for CRC patients.3 0Item Restricted Purification of a novel enzyme in methionine biosynthesis from tuberculosis(sheffield university, 2024) Alattas, Haifa; James, ReidThis study focuses on the characterization and purification of enzymes involved in methionine biosynthesis, specifically MetC, alongside the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), intending to understand their roles in bacterial pathogenicity and explore their potential as targets for antimicrobial drug discovery. Methionine biosynthesis is a crucial pathway in bacteria, influencing not only the growth and survival but also biofilm formation as well as virulence which makes it an attractive target for novel therapeutic agents. The study involves the expression of MetC enzymes followed by purification using affinity chromatography. Initial analyses including UV-visible spectroscopy to assess the integrity of the cofactor PLP and to determine the purity of the enzyme. Despite successful purification, kinetic assays showed no detectable activity which prompted further investigations into structural and functional integrity of the enzyme. SDS-PAGE analysis was conducted which confirmed the expected molecular weights, ruling out degradation or incomplete purification as a potential issue. Additionally, the negative staining technique was applied to allow visualization of the protein samples under electron microscopy without the need for crystallization which revealed the overall morphology and structural inactivity of the enzyme. Overall, the study seeks to elucidate the factors impacting enzyme activity which is critical for developing effective inhibitors targeting methionine biosynthesis. By understanding the structural and functional differences of the enzyme, the study hopes to contribute to the broader field of antimicrobial drug discovery, offering new avenues for the development of therapies against bacterial pathogens resistant to the current treatment options. Furthermore, the findings from this research could have significant implications for the design of novel antibiotics, particularly those that target metabolic pathways that are unique to bacteria.6 0Item Restricted Effectiveness of Adherence to Home Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) upon Hospitalisation Rate and Mortality of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients with Chronic Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure: A Structured Literature Review.(Glasgow Caledonian University, 2024-08) Alomari, Osama; Sharp, KathrynIntroduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) with Chronic Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure (CHRF) has a significant impact on hospitalisation rate and mortality. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a clinically established home-based intervention; however, its impact on hospitalisation rate and mortality remains undetermined. Review Aim: This review aims to investigate existing literature to establish the impact of adherence to home NIV on reducing hospitalisation rate and mortality among patients with COPD and CHRF. Method: Between May 2024 and June 2024, this review conducted a systematic literature search of the primary medical databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Embase). A quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment tool and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH) quality assessment tool. Findings: Six observational studies, involving 10,206 participants, analysed the impact of adherence to home NIV on hospitalisation rate and mortality. Five studies were considered to be high quality and one was moderate quality. Adherence to home NIV for at least four hours per day was associated with a significant reduction in hospitalisation rate and mortality. Conclusion: Adherence to home NIV significantly reduces hospitalisation rate and mortality among COPD patients with CHRF. These findings recommend the adoption of home NIV as a standard care practice for this population and emphasise the importance of patient compliance to maximise the therapeutic benefits of NIV. This review recommends that future research conducts additional randomised control trials (RCTs) to reinforce its initial findings.4 0Item Restricted Web-Based Intervention to Help Nurses to Manage Work-Related Stress in Saudi Arabia: A Feasibility Study(University of Nottingham, 2024-10) Allehyani, Yasser; Blake, HollyBackground: The prevalence of work-related stress (WRS) among healthcare employees globally is higher than that of other professions, with nurses reporting the highest rates. WRS results in functional limitations and decreased productivity at work, and high rates of presenteeism, sickness, absenteeism, and turnover, incurring massive costs for health systems. WRS poses a severe occupational risk for healthcare personnel that can negatively impact their health and the wider economy, but despite well-known prevalence in Saudi Arabia, little is known about particular local issues in this national context. Aims and objectives: This study aims to utilise a novel web-based intervention for work-related stress (WBI-WRS) to support behavioural self-management for nurses with WRS. This digital technology-based intervention can potentially meaningfully affect outcomes such as stress, mental well-being, turnover intentions, and presenteeism. These intervention techniques can improve the general standard of patient care inside healthcare organisations by favourably affecting nurses impacted by WRS. Method: The participants were chosen from a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. Convergent parallel mixed methods research with a feasibility study design was used. This was achieved by testing several variables, including the rate of participant attrition. participant recruitment, participant engagement with the intervention, the appropriateness of the outcome measures, and their experiences with the intervention’s various components. Secondary outcomes of this exploratory study included pre-post measurements of perceived stress, mental well-being, turnover intention, and presenteeism. Quantitative data were collected from a single group before and after the intervention to evaluate primary and secondary outcomes at baseline and six weeks after the WBI-WRS. Semi-structured interviews with 17 nurses were used to gather qualitative insights. Findings: From 81 initial recruits, sixty-eight nurses participated in the quantitative intervention feasibility study and completed three monthly follow-ups to evaluate the research design. It was determined that the research procedure and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis were practical. The intervention showed an attrition rate of 28% (n=19 drop-outs). Based on their experiences with the intervention, all nurses who completed the intervention expressed satisfaction with its impacts; the feasibility of outcome measures was the sole criterion that needed any degree of adjustment. Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 17 nurses (11 female and 6 male, aged between 18 and 55 years old) revealed five thematic topics from interviews concerning their perceptions of the WBI-WRS usability and prospective utility, participation in the toolkit, the impact of the toolkit, and their general attitude towards it: (1) Overview of Work-Related Stress; (2) WBI-WRS Toolkit Features; (3) Experiences with WBI-WRS Toolkit; (4) WBI-WRS Toolkit Impact; and (5) Improving the Toolkit. These topics gave insights into the characteristics required for nurses to use the WBIWRS successfully. As nurses demonstrated improvement in their secondary outcome measures following the WBI-WRS, the quantitative results supported the feasibility of the primary outcomes. Implications: A feasibility trial has been conducted to assess the WBI-WRS Toolkit. The study showed that the toolkit is accessible, acceptable to, and appropriate for nurses practising in Saudi Arabia. The efficacy and long-term usefulness of the WBI-WRS for nurses and other healthcare professionals in the Saudi context now need to be tested in a definitive trial.7 0Item Restricted ESSAYS ON BANK BAILOUTS: PREDICTIVE FACTORS, GENDER INFLUENCE ON BANK PERFORMANCE, AND RISK ASPECTS(Aston University, 2024-08) Alowisi, Mohajer; Chaudhry, SajidThis thesis provides comprehensive research on the banking industry, beginning with examining the predictability of bank bailouts. Following that, it proceeds to investigate the influence of gender diversity on the banking sector, closely examining the relationship between the involvement of women on the board of directors and the performance of banks. In addition, the study expands its range to evaluate the impact of gender diversity on different risk aspects in banks, such as credit, market, and operational risks. This offers an in-depth overview of how gender balance can influence risk management strategies in the banking sector. This study provides an empirical investigation of the impact of tail risk measures, namely value at-risk (VaR), Cornish-Fisher Value-at-Risk (VaRCF), and Expected Shortfall (ES), on the probability of bank bailouts for publicly traded bank holding companies (BHCs) in the United States. Our findings reveal a significant and positive association between tail risk measures and bank bailouts, indicating that BHCs with a higher incidence of extreme negative daily equity returns are exposed to greater tail risks, which increase their likelihood of receiving government assistance. These outcomes underscore the importance of prudential regulatory frameworks that promote market discipline to mitigate against potential tail risks. In addition, this thesis investigates the impact of gender diversity on the performance of the US banks after the government's bailout initiatives. Based on critical mass theory, the study provides comprehensive empirical evidence that the relationship between board gender diversity and bank performance is contingent on a specific level of gender diversity on the board. Specifically, the optimal proportion of women positively affecting performance is under the tilted groups, which is between 20% and 40% of the board members. This thesis not only investigates the ideal proportion of women on the board in relation to bank performance, but it also examines its impact on credit, market, and operational risks on the US banks after the government's bailout efforts. The research presents empirical data that supports the critical mass theory, indicating that the association between board gender diversity and bank risk depends on a certain level of gender diversity on the board. More precisely, the ideal ratio of women that has a negative impact on risk is also within the range of 20% to 40% of the board members in the tilted groups. These findings resolve the conflicting results from prior studies on this issue.20 0Item Restricted LIGHTREFINENET-SFMLEARNER: SEMI-SUPERVISED VISUAL DEPTH, EGO-MOTION AND SEMANTIC MAPPING(Newcastle University, 2024) Alshadadi, Abdullah Turki; Holder, ChrisThe advancement of autonomous vehicles has garnered significant attention, particularly in the development of complex software stacks that enable navigation, decision-making, and planning. Among these, the Perception [1] component is critical, allowing vehicles to understand their surroundings and maintain localisation. Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) plays a key role by enabling vehicles to map unknown environments while tracking their positions. Historically, SLAM has relied on heuristic techniques, but with the advent of the "Perception Age," [2] research has shifted towards more robust, high-level environmental awareness driven by advancements in computer vision and deep learning. In this context, MLRefineNet [3] has demonstrated superior robustness and faster convergence in supervised learning tasks. However, despite its improvements, MLRefineNet struggled to fully converge within 200 epochs when integrated into SfmLearner. Nevertheless, clear improvements were observed with each epoch, indicating its potential for enhancing performance. SfmLearner [4] is a state-of-the-art deep learning model for visual odometry, known for its competitive depth and pose estimation. However, it lacks high-level understanding of the environment, which is essential for comprehensive perception in autonomous systems. This paper addresses this limitation by introducing a multi-modal shared encoder-decoder architecture that integrates both semantic segmentation and depth estimation. The inclusion of high-level environmental understanding not only enhances scene interpretation—such as identifying roads, vehicles, and pedestrians—but also improves the depth estimation of SfmLearner. This multi-task learning approach strengthens the model’s overall robustness, marking a significant step forward in the development of autonomous vehicle perception systems.17 0