Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Partial Schauder estimates for second-order elliptic systems(Wollongong University, 0018-07-17) Alharthi, Saleh; Du, KaiSecond order elliptic equations and systems are among the most important types of partial differential equation(PDEs). The classical Schauder’s theory for this type of equations has played an essential role in the study of linear and non-linear elliptic equations, which reveals that if all the coefficients and data are Holder continuous in all variables, then the solutions and all their derivatives up to second order will also be Holder continuous in all the variables. The main objective of this research is to obtain a class of pointwise estimates, called partial Schauder estimates, for second-order elliptic systems. The desired result will show that if the inhomogeneous term f ^a is Holder continuous in the x_n direction, then the u_x , ...,u_x_n derivatives are also Holder continuous.93 0Item Restricted THE ANTIM ICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF COMMIPHORA MOLM OL (MYRRHA) EXTRACT(Long Island University, 0019-07-15) Alenezi, Tahrir; Bhattacharjee, MrinalThe Commiphoramolmol (myrrha) has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries in different cultures. An ethanol extract o f myrrha was evaporated under vacuum to obtain an oil. A 20% solution o f this oil in ethanol was used to determine antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus, the Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli, MVlONal, and fungi, (yeast), Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The MIC forÆ’. coli and S. aureus were determined on phosphate buffer since the oil did not show antibiotic activity on growing cells. The MIC o f myrrha oil in phosphate buffer for E. coli was 0.56% (5.6 mg/ml) and for S. aureus was 0.1% (1 mg/ml). However, the oil could be used to kill cells in a nutrient-rich medium provided growth o f the bacteria is first stopped using a bacteriostatic antibiotic such as Chloramphenicol. The results show that chloramphenicol enhanced the antimicrobial activity o f myrrha oil. Zone o f inhibition test shows myrrha extract has antibacterial property against S. aureus. Furthermore, the antifungal activity of myrrha extract was prodigious since most o f the cells were killed in 10 minutes at a dose o f 0.05% (0.5 mg/ml) o f myrrha extract. Repeated attempts to obtain an E. coli or S. aureus strain that is resistant to myrrha oil were unsuccessful. A possible explanation o f this can be that myrrha oil is a membrane acting antibiotic. In conclusion, the results o f this study suggest that myrrha extract could be a prom ising antibacterial and antifungal drug.32 0Item Restricted A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE OCCLUSION FOR STROKE PREVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH NON-VALVULAR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: EFFICACY AND SAFETY COMPARED TO ORAL ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY.(University of Brighton, University of Sussex, 0022) Alshahrani, Ali; O'Nunain, SeanBackground: Atrial Fibrillation AF is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While anticoagulation is generally an effective therapy to reduce the incidence of stroke, one in 10 individuals has a contraindication to anticoagulants. Given that in non-valvular AF (NVAF), 90% of thrombi originate from the left atrial appendage (LAA), closing the LAA using a percutaneous device has been developed to prevent AF-related stroke in high-risk patients. Nevertheless, there is limited data about the efficacy and safety of LAA occlusion (LAAO) compared to anticoagulant therapy. Methods: In this thesis, a comprehensive systematic review was done to compare LAA occlusion and anticoagulant therapy (Warfarin or NOACs) in stroke prevention for patients with NVAF. Meta-analysis was conducted to obtain a single summary estimate of stroke prevention (haemorrhagic stroke versus ischemic stroke). Results: Six studies (3 randomized control trials and 3 observational studies) were eligible which involved a total of 4891 participants with a follow-up time of 18-36 months. Compared to anticoagulant therapy, LAAO showed no significant difference in preventing ischemic stroke or systemic embolism. Procedure and device-related complications in the LAAO arm drove these outcomes. However, significant trends were seen favouring LAAO in reducing haemorrhagic stroke or major bleeding. Moreover, CV mortality showed better outcomes with LAAO in some studies. Conclusion: This thesis showed that LAAO can be effective replacement therapy for anticoagulation in preventing stroke. It may be practically useful in minimising haemorrhagic stroke and in patients with a clear contraindication to anticoagulant therapy. Physicians should consider late device-related complications including device-related thrombosis and peridevice leaks when planning for LAAO, as this can increase the risk of stroke.26 0Item Restricted The Role of Angiopoietin-Like 4 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression and Dissemination(University of Maryland, 0022-07-19) Hefni, Eman; Montaner, SilviaDysregulation of cellular signaling and behavior are instrumental in promoting tumor cell metabolism, proliferation, tissue invasion and metastasis. Extensive investigations in human cancer development have identified various of these alterations within tumors and their microenvironments that have helped guide the direction of drug development in cancer. Different types of molecular-based therapies for this disease are designed to modulate or interact with cell surface receptors (monoclonal antibodies), intracellular cascades (small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors) as well as microenvironment components related to the functionality of the extracellular matrix, tumor vasculature and immune response. To design these cancer molecular-based therapies, an improved understanding of the molecular underpinnings leading to tumor formation and growth is essential. The overall aim of our investigation is the identification of the molecular mechanisms associated with the induction of tumor cell migration and proliferation induced by Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), a pro-tumorigenic and pro- angiogenic factor, in head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). HNSCC accounts for approximately 900,000 cases and over 400,000 deaths annually, with around 54,000 new cases and 11,000 deaths per year in the United States. Unfortunately, the clinical management of this tumor remains challenging and there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic alternatives. Our studies, divided into two research aims, use in vitro cell- based models together with signal transduction and cell and molecular biology methods. Our results demonstrate that: 1) ANGPTL4 is upregulated in human-derived dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOKs) and HNSCC cell lines, but not in normal oral keratinocytes (NOKs), suggesting an early and sustained role for ANGPTL4 in disease progression. ANGPTL4 is a molecular marker in biopsies from patients with mild-moderate or moderate oral epithelial dysplasia, primary HNSCC and metastatic HNSCC. ANGPTL4 is necessary and sufficient to promote cell migration in DOKs and HNSCCs lines. Binding of ANGPTL4 to neuropilin-1 (NRP1) leads to paxillin (PXN) phosphorylation and cell migration in an ABL1-dependent manner, exposing the ANGPTL4/NRP1/ABL1/PXN cascade as a vulnerable target for HNSCC treatment. 2) Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)- and Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1)-mediated pathways cooperate in the upregulation of ANGPTL4 in normal and dysplastic oral keratinocytes and HNSCC cells. Besides EGF, the EGF ligand, amphiregulin leads to an increase in ANGPTL4 and is upregulated in HNSCC lesions. ANGPTL4 activates the HNSCC molecular markers p38 MAPK, AKT and mTOR in NOKs; these kinases may act as potential intracellular regulators of the autocrine signals and paracrine secretions that ANGPTL4 activates to promote HNSCC tumorigenesis. Collectively, our findings are clinically relevant and suggest that ANGPTL4 and its associated signaling molecules are potential therapeutic targets in HNSCC clinical management.14 0Item Restricted The Critical Success Factors for Security Education, Training and Awareness (SETA) Programme Effectiveness: A Lifecycle Model(0022-09-30) Alyami, Areej Nasser; Sammon, David; Neville, Karen; Mahony, CarolanneSecurity Education, Training, and Awareness (SETA) programmes are one of the most important cybersecurity strategies to protect the valuable assets of any organisation, raise awareness, change behaviour, comply with Information Systems (IS) security policy, and minimises IS security threats. The significance of SETA programmes is widely accepted by both academics and practitioners. However, more research is needed to improve SETA programme effectiveness in organisations. A review of the relevant IS/cyber security literature reveals a lack of research into the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for SETA programme effectiveness. Therefore, this research study explores the CSFs for SETA programme effectiveness. A multi-stage research design is adopted for this research study. Stage One involves the gathering and analysis of lived experiences (using semi-structured interviews) from 20 key expert informants. Emerging from this stage are 11 CSFs for SETA programme effectiveness. These CSFs are mapped along the phases of the SETA programme lifecycle (design, development, implementation, evaluation). Furthermore, 9 relationships between these CFSs are identified (both within and across the lifecycle phases). This research output is a Lifecycle Model of CSFs for SETA programme effectiveness. Stage Two of this research involves an evaluation of the importance of the 11 CSFs for SETA programme effectiveness (emerging from stage one). This evaluation is achieved through administering a short online survey questionnaire (completed by 65 respondents - IS/cyber security professionals) and a series of follow-up probing interviews (with 9 IS/cyber security professionals – 4 key informants for stage one, and 5 survey respondents for stage two). Emerging from this stage is a ranked list of CSFs and 5 guiding principles to overcome the challenges of delivering an effective SETA programme. This research output is an evaluated Lifecycle Model of CSFs for SETA programme effectiveness. Overall, this research provides a depth of insight contributing to both theory and practice and lays the foundation for further research.54 0Item Restricted EVALUATION OF NON-ADHERENCE IN CLINICAL TRIALS OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS FOR MAJOR DEPRESSION DISORDER: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND METAANALYSIS.(Saudi Digital Library, 0022-10-03) Alrasheedi, Maram; Williams, SianMajor depression disorder is a serious mental issue which affects the physical and mental well-being of affected persons. Hence, there is a need to develop antidepressants to treat major depression disorder. However, medicine non-adherence is a major challenge in major depression disorder drug development. Similarly, medication adherence is an essential aspect of the success of antidepressant development. Adherence/non-adherence data informs the interpretation of antidepressant clinical results, reducing clinical risks and realising antidepressant benefits in clinical trials. However, adherence prevalence is a crucial aspect of clinical research, existing evidence points to underreporting adherence assessment methods and outcomes in published clinical trials. Also, RCTs that report adherence measures and outcomes fail to provide adequate methodology regarding adherence measures and outcomes. To improve the completeness and quality of the information in antidepressant clinical trials, this research examined medication adherence prevalence in RCTs, measures of adherence/non-adherence, and clinical and cost impacts of non-adherence. A systematic review and meta-analysis methodology was adopted. Meta-analysis findings affirm that medication adherence prevalence in clinical trials for antidepressant development is 72.2%, translating to a 27.8% non-adherence level. Qualitative findings from the studies established direct and indirect non-adherence measures of adherence, including self-report measures and the use of questionnaires. Impacts of non-adherence include disease relapse and recurrence (clinical impact) and increased clinical trial costs. Keywords: Major depression disorder, Antidepressant clinical trials, Non-adherence, Adherence, Adherence prevalence.34 0Item Restricted Polimi Home(0023) Almomatten, Zainab; Barbara, Anna“The Idea of Migration, Urban Campfires, and the Sense of Feeling at Home.” Starting from the assumption that living means feeling everywhere at home, this is the opening sentence that Professor Ico Migliore started the lecture on New Interior 2021-2022. What I'm investigating in my research is the Idea of Migration, Urban campfires, and the sense of feeling at home. If we investigated our history as human beings, we would see that our ancestors have migrated, looking for better habitats, environments, and food. However, not only Human are living creature that migrates, but also animals such as birds. It’s always have been a crucial journey for living beings to look for a better home. What if everywhere we go, we can feel at home? A primary Number of the Corvetto population are foreign inhabitants, and soon, Polimi international students will be part of the Corvetto community. The student life will be occupied by working, meeting, and studying, yet finding themselves on the weekend or in their free time facing the challenge of social isolation. Social isolation is one of many challenges that create a gap between students and their community. In trying to understand how to fill this social gap, this research focuses on the international student’s social life during the weekend and how to dissolve the challenges of social barriers to encourage engagement between international students and their beers and the local community. To achieve social sustainability through “fostering social cohesion, promoting social justice, tackling loneliness and mental health.” “Corvetto is one of Milan's most ethnically diverse and socially challenged neighborhoods.” Polimi Home Polimi Home is a space that emphasizes social diversity and reflects international students' needs. Also, respecting Heritage by considering the different layers of understanding the building. A space to be diverse and inclusive by reflecting the tangible and intangible needs of international students and the local community.20 0Item Restricted The potential and challenges of recycling metals swarf from machining processes(Saudi Digital Library, 0023) Abdulelah, Asiri; McLaren, AndrewThe dissertation discusses the challenges and opportunities for efficient and sustainable recycling of metal swarf, which is a hazardous waste generated during metal processing. The study investigates the effectiveness of different recycling methods for aluminum, steel, and titanium, including hot extrusion, equal channel angular pressing, forging, and spark plasma sintering. The dissertation also highlights the importance of addressing the particle size distribution of swarf and the presence of cutting fluids in the recycling process. The findings suggest that while direct conversion recycling methods of swarf shows promise, further research is needed to optimise recycling practices and reduce energy consumption associated with metal swarf recycling.23 0Item Restricted Accuracy of ultrasonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis(0023-03-09) Alqahtani, Yahya; Street, AngelaBackground: Acute appendicitis (AA) is a common reason for surgical intervention. Considering the high burden of AA, early and correct diagnosis is crucial. Two imaging modalities (i.e., ultrasonography and computed tomography) are frequently used for the diagnostic evaluation of AA. However, there is lack of clarity regarding their diagnostic accuracy. Choosing the most valid intervention to diagnose AA would have important clinical implications. Aim of Study: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of AA in adolescents and adults. Methods: This structured literature review (SLR) was carried out using the components of the PICO framework. The literature search was conducted using Cochrane, Embase and PubMed databases. All steps in the SLR were followed, from searching for relevant studies to selecting them, extracting their data, assessing their quality, and synthesising their results. Results of the search process were recorded according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram. This SLR included studies on adolescents and adult patients (aged >14 years) with confirmed AA, that were diagnosed using both US and CT. Articles published before 2012, those published in languages other than English, or with no available full text were excluded. The quality assessment of the selected articles was done using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Results: Five articles were included in this SLR. The highest reported sensitivity for US was 98.5%, while the lowest was 58.2%. The highest specificity of US was 97.3%, while the lowest was 54.2%. High diagnostic accuracy rates of US were reported by the included studies ranging from 83% and 93.14%. All included studies reported that CT had very high sensitivity for the diagnosis of AA, reaching 100% in one study, while slightly lower sensitivity rates were reported by other studies ranging from 96% to 98.9%. The specificity of CT was reported to be 100% by two studies, while other high specificity rates were reported by three studies (i.e., 97.2%, 89% and 88.9%). The diagnostic accuracy for CT was consistently higher than that of US. Conclusions and implications: The diagnostic accuracy of CT is higher than that of US. However, CT cannot be routinely used because of its high cost and the associated potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Therefore, it is recommended that in cases clinically suspected to be AA, US can be used as the first-line diagnostic modality, followed by CT when the results of US are not conclusive. Keyword: Ultrasonography, Computed tomography, Acute appendicitis, Diagnostic Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, Predictive Value, Validity.23 0Item Restricted System Strength and Dynamic Voltage Recovery of Power Grids with High Penetration of LSPV Plants(Saudi Digital Library, 0023-05-26) Alshareef, Abdulrhman; Mithulananthan, Nadarajah; Rakibuzzaman, ShahThis research investigates the impact of high levels of large-scale photovoltaic (LSPV) power plant penetration on dynamic voltage stability. Verified LSPV plant model has been utilised to capture its behavior and system strength at various penetration levels with the impact of inverter-based loads on dynamic voltage stability. Moreover, it develops a reliable global dynamic voltage stability assessment index and proposes effective countermeasures to alleviate the detrimental impacts of LSPV plants. The countermeasures includes a data- driven approach considering full voltage trajectory and involving various dynamic interactions to allocate dynamic VAr source to secure system strength with higher penetration of LSPV plants.38 0Item Restricted Exploring teachers’ and students’ efficacy in the teaching and learning of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 0023-06-06) Alkhairi, Ahmad Hassan E; Alkhairi, AhmadThis qualitative case study explored teaching and learning practices of English-as-a Foreign Language (EFL) in the school context in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study is underpinned by Bandura’s (1977, 1986) triadic reciprocal causation model, derived from his Social Cognitive Theory. In particular, the research focused on the teacher-efficacy of Saudi EFL teachers and the self-efficacy of students learning the English language. The approach of the research explores self-efficacy through a qualitative method. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with secondary school teachers and through focus group discussions with their students, through classroom observations, and through examination of teaching materials to comprehend the teaching and learning environment of EFL in Saudi schools.38 0Item Restricted Unhealed Wounds: From Complex Trauma Exposure to Wellbeing and the Role of Coping(0023-07-23) Alsubaie, Mohammed; Bentley, JacobComplex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD) emerged as a theoretical construct reflecting symptoms beyond our current conceptualization of posttraumatic stress. Research examining its validity is still ongoing and cross-cultural research on the matter is emerging. An important risk factor to developing cPTSD is the experience of complex trauma, which constitutes experiences that reflect interpersonal violations of bodily boundary and integrity or betrayal (e.g., sexual assault and emotional abuse). There is still a gap in the literature linking complex trauma exposure to wellbeing or positive functioning in general. Survivors’ style of coping with trauma might influence later adjustment. With a sample of trauma survivors from Saudi Arabia, the present study evaluated the construct validity of cPTSD as well as examined the relationship between complex trauma and wellbeing as moderated by styles of coping. Results showed that all conceptualizations of complex trauma significantly predicted decreased wellbeing, but that such associations were not moderated by active nor passive style of coping. Factor and network analyses provided evidence for the construct validity of cPTSD, with the 6 first-order correlated factors model representing the best fit for the data, χ2 (155) = 431.373, p < .001, CFI = .941, TLI = .928, RMSEA = .064, 90% CI [.057, .071], SRMR = .041. Exploratory network analyses yielded 4-factor solutions distinguishing boundaries between PTSD, disturbance in self-organization (DSO), depression, and anxiety. Collectively, these findings call for systemic efforts to help increase access to well-researched and effective interventions as well as provide suggestions for central symptoms in these networks, and offer practitioners evidence for cPTSD validity and an assessment tool to utilize in Arabic.27 0Item Restricted DIGITAL COLLABORATION IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS: TRANSFORMING SAUDI ARABIA'S DISASTER RESPONSE(Saudi Digital Library, 0023-09-21) Almalki, Raed; Aryal, Komal RajThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on a worldwide scale, which has led governments to develop a variety of preventative and response measures in an effort to lessen the severity of its consequences. The education system, particularly that of Saudi Arabia, faced tremendous problems and was required to fast adjust to the new conditions brought about by the epidemic. This dissertation analyzes the transformational influence of digital cooperation in Saudi Arabia's reaction to the COVID-19 crisis, with a special emphasis on education, health, safety, and security. The topic of this research is COVID-19. During the epidemic, Saudi Arabia, like with many other nations, understood the significance of digital technology, particularly in the fields of public health, healthcare services, education, telecommunication, commerce, and risk communication. Analysis of publicly available official announcements, press briefings, published data, research, and professional discussions were performed with the goal of gaining a thorough understanding of Saudi Arabia's digital response. According to the findings of the research, the pandemic prompted a faster adoption of digital solutions across a variety of industries. The education system in Saudi Arabia has shown resiliency by adopting online education platforms to guarantee that students always have the opportunity to learn new things. The cooperation provided by telecommunications firms was essential to the continuing efforts, and those working to disseminate information about potential dangers made good use of websites, social media platforms, and SMS text messaging. This study comes to a close by investigating the role that digital cooperation had in changing Saudi Arabia's emergency reaction to the COVID-19 issue. The research adds vital insights to continuing worldwide efforts in harnessing digital collaboration to lessen the effect of crises and influence future disaster response tactics by studying its impact on education, health, safety, and security. These are only few of the areas that were investigated in the study.56 0Item Restricted Perception of residents about sustainability impacts of mega events: A case study of Qatar World Cup 2022(Saudi Digital Library, 0023-09-29) Alyami, Hamad; Terzidou, MatinaThe objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the perception of the residence of the Doha city about the sustainability impact of the World Cup 2022. Using stakeholder and triple bottom line theories, this study argues that degree of involvement (independent variable) of the residents of host city in a mega event depends upon their perception about event’s economic, social, and environmental (dependent variables) impact on the host city. Following quantitative methodology, this dissertation collected 246 responses through conducting an online survey using convenience sampling technique. Findings subjected to descriptive and correlation analysis to test research hypothesis. Analysis of data reveals that despite of having economic, social, and environmental concerns, residents of the Doha city showed their commitment towards involving in the World Cup 2022. This is proved by the results of correlation analysis that reveals positive and significant relation between economic and social perception of Doha residents about World Cup 2022 and their involvement in the event. However, moderate yet significant relationship is found between the perception of Doha city residents about the environmental impact of the World Cup 2022 and their involvement in the event. It is found that reason behind trade-offs between economic, social, and environmental perception of the World Cup 2022 and their involvement in the event comes from their emotional attachment to the event as it created their social identity, development tourism brand image of the Doha city, and led to developing their national pride. These findings implicate that residence of the Doha forgo economic, social, and environmental concerns because of their emotional attachment with the country, however organizers could have done more to take locals in confidence through more direct communication. Therefore, this study recommends authorities to develop clear communication plan to improve awareness of the people about sustainability issues while holding future mega events. Exclusion of demographic variables from the analysis and small research population are two key limitations of this study.13 0Item Restricted Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’ Electricity Sector Forecasting: Consumption Growth Issue and Renewable Energy Penetration Progress Challenges(Lancaster University, 0023-10-18) Alharbi, Fahad Radhi; Csala, Denes; Wang, Ziwei; Campobasso, M.SThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries depend on substantial fossil fuel consumption to generate electricity which has resulted in significant environmental harm. Fossil fuels also represent the principal source of economic income in the region. Climate change is closely associated with the use of fossil fuels and has thus become the main motivation to search for alternative solutions, including solar and wind energy technologies, to eliminate their reliance on fossil fuels and the associated impacts upon climate. This research provides a comprehensive investigation of the consumption growth issue, together with an exploration of the potential of solar and wind energy resources, a strict follow-up to shed light on the renewable energy projects, as currently implemented in the GCC region, and a critical discussion of their prospects. The projects foreshadow the GCC countries’ ability to comply with future requirements and spearhead the renewable energy transition toward a more sustainable and equitable future. In addition, four forecasting models were developed to analyse the future performance of GCC power sectors, including solar and wind energy resources along with the ambient temperatures, based on 40 years of historical data. These were Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), Brownian Motion (BM), and a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous factors (SARIMAX) model model-based time series, and bidirectional long short-term memory (BI-LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) model-based neural networks.24 0Item Restricted Examining Academics and Students Attitudes to Mobile-learning in a Transformative University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a study of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University(Saudi Digital Library, 0023-10-27) Alshehri, Eman; Preston, Greg; Buchanan, RachelAlthough there is a growing interest in mobile-learning and its potential benefits in higher education, limited research has investigated cross-contextual mobile-learning issues such as university technology policies, usage levels, and practices in relation to students' gender, contextual, educational, and gender-based mobile-learning attitudes. This study was undertaken as a case study at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), to investigate the attitudes of both academic staff and students towards the adoption of mobile-learning with Smartphones. The first purpose of this study was to explore the current Smartphone policies, level of usage, preferred learning activities by students and academics at IAU. The second purpose of the study was to investigate the student’s and academics’ attitudes and perceptions toward using their Smartphones as learning and teaching tools, with particular regard to the challenges and/or enablers that they may encounter. This study used an adapted version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and a sequential mixed methods design to collect the data using online surveys with students (N=325), and semi-structured interviews with academics (N=21). Regression analysis was used to analyse the online surveys (quantitative data), and a thematic analysis was used to analyse the semi-structured interviews (qualitative data). The study findings revealed that both students and academics generally have a positive attitude toward the use of Smartphones in the learning environment at IAU. Around 98% of students at IAU use Smartphones every day for learning, while the use by the academics was substantially less. From the nine measured variables, only four predictors had a significant influence on students’ attitudes to mobile-learning: self-efficacy, enjoyment, perceived ease of use, and mobile-learning preferences. For academics, the most frequently reported challenge they faced when adopting mobile-learning was the lack of policies and regulations governing their use. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on mobile-learning in higher education and offers useful insights into how Smartphones are currently used by students and academics at IAU and the best practices for implementing Smartphones as learning and teaching tools.61 0Item Restricted Factors contributing to hate crimes and racial discrimination against Arab Muslims in the UK(Saudi Digital Library, 0023-11-23) Alanazi, Maryam; Alanazi, MaryamIn recent years, a considerable body of research and surveys has been undertaken, notably in the aftermath of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. These investigations have shed light on a noticeable increase in hate crimes directed explicitly towards the Muslim community within the UK, notwithstanding the existence of specific surveys conducted among Muslims residing in the United Kingdom, which have produced positive outcomes, indicating a positive trend in the degree of acknowledgement granted to Muslims within the nation (Ghani & Nagdee, 2019). According to the 2021 report published by the UK Home Office, it was determined that around 50% of individuals targeted in hate crimes are affiliated with the Muslim community in England and Wales. What determinants contribute to hate crimes and racial discrimination towards Arab Muslims in the United Kingdom? Is the United Kingdom considered to have the lowest incidence of racial discrimination against Muslims compared to other European nations? What factors contribute to the increase in hate crimes? Do Arab Muslims perceive a sense of societal failure? This ongoing crisis of racism has prompted numerous inquiries, including those about Arab Muslims, which are but a small subset of the broader range of questions being posed. And lastly, what do Arab Muslims anticipate from the government in combating prejudice and hate crimes? This research examines the variables causing hate crimes and racial prejudice against Arab Muslims in the UK in response to this problem and the abovementioned points. To do this, the research will first depend on secondary data from administratively released national-level statistics, which will be analysed in the literature review last section. After that, a varied sample of Arab Muslims from throughout the UK will be used for semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire-based survey to gather primary data using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. This study attempts to provide a thorough investigation of the views and perceptions of Arab Muslims about the causes influencing hate crime and racial prejudice by integrating primary and secondary data sources.10 0Item Restricted The Effects of Transport Urban Renewal: A Study of Road-Rail Level Crossings in Melbourne, Australia(Saudi Digital Library, 0023-11-29) Gbban, Abdulrhman; Kamruzzaman, Liton; Coxon, Selby; Dolbex, AlexaABSTRACT Transport infrastructure plays a vital role in shaping and structuring urban economic, environmental, and social activities by enabling access to destinations. However, it can also pose a significant barrier for communities. Despite numerous studies documented the enabler effects of transport infrastructures, little research focuses on identifying their barrier effects (or community severance). Most of these studies, however, focus on a particular type of barrier effect (direct, indirect, or wider) using cross-sectional data, and as a result, they lack to provide causal evidence of barrier effects in a more systematic way. Studies have hypothesized that direct, indirect and wider barrier effects occur in a sequential manner. Rarely studies examined this sequential flow on barrier effects (from direct to indirect to wider) and how they vary according to the design of transport infrastructure. This study aims to address these gaps in the literature using the road-rail level crossing removal project (LXRP) in Melbourne as a case study. In particular, the study questions and objectives are: Research Question 1: To what extent does the renewal of level crossings reduce community severance directly, indirectly, and catalytically? Research Objective 1: Assess the direct barrier removal effects of rail crossing upgrade Research Objective 2: Assess the indirect barrier removal effects of rail crossing upgrade Research Objective 3: Assess the wider/catalytic barrier removal effects of rail crossing upgrade Research Question 2: What is the level of (in)consistency between objective and subjective measures of barrier removal effects caused by the renewal of level crossings? Research Objective 4: Assess the consistency of the objective and subjective measures of the wider barrier removal effects. To answer the research questions, a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was employed. Qualitative data was used to understand the perceived barrier removal effects of LXRPs from the perspective of residents, whereas quantitative data complemented the qualitative data to objectively measure the wider barrier removal effects of LXRPs. A quasi-panel design was utilized in this study to assess the impact of infrastructure upgrades on residents' perceptions of their urban environment. An online questionnaire survey was designed to collect qualitative data from 776 residents living around 13 LXRP sites (cases) and 13 control sites. The questionnaire captured residents' perceptions of changes in the patterns of walking and cycling, travel time, and social life within their neighborhoods, respectively representing direct, indirect, and wider barrier removal v effects. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to understand if the reported changes were significantly different between the case and control sites. Quantitative data collection involved the extraction of land use data from satellite images in the case and control sites in 2015 (pre-LXRP) and 2020 (post-LXRP). The case-control study design ensured that the observed changes in land use patterns in the LXRP sites were not due to chance (e.g. external effects). A difference-in-difference method was employed to robustly infer about the causal impacts of LXRPs on land use patterns. Furthermore, the gathering of both qualitative and quantitative data enabled the study to evaluate the degree of consistency between the two measures. This evaluation was conducted using the %agreement analysis to assess the level of agreement between these two types of measures. The survey data indicate that the removal of level crossing barriers resulted in: a) an enjoyment of walking and cycling in the communities (direct effects); b) a reduction in cycling time to workplaces, shops and restaurants, and schools (indirect effects); and c) an increase in open spaces and commercial use, and a decrease in residential areas (wider effects). Note, however, that some of the positive effects were found only when the new infrastructure was built above the ground suggesting the significant effects of infrastructure design on barrier removal effects. The %agreement analysis results, however show that while there is a considerable agreement between the objective and subjective measures in the perception of changes in shops and restaurants, parking lots and public buildings, noticeable inconsistencies exist in the measurement of houses and apartments, vacant lots and industrial buildings. This thesis, for the first time, provides causal evidence of barrier removal effects of transport infrastructure and how these can be observed in a sequential order from direct to indirect to wider. The findings are encouraging for transport authorities aiming to reduce barrier effects for communities. It also provides evidence of the effective ways of reducing the barrier effects through the design of infrastructure (above the ground vs. underground). However, the discrepancy between the objective and subjective measures suggests that residents are unaware of the positive impacts that LXRPs are making on the communities. This can be achieved, for example, through communication strategies.43 0Item Restricted دور تكنولوجيا المعلومات في تطوير المزيج التسويقي بالتطبيق على المنظمات الصحية بمحافظة حفر الباطن(جامعة حلوان, 0024) الظفيري، حمود بن منشد بن محمد; بهلول، محمد; محمد، شلابي مصطفىتهدف الدراسة إلى التعرف على دور تكنولوجيا المعلومات في تطوير المزيج التسويقي، وأجريت الدراسة على المنظمات الصحية بمحافظة حفر الباطن. ولنحقيق لهذا الهدف تم صياغة العديد من الفروض، وتم الاعتماد على قائمة الاستقصاء لجمع البيانات التي تخدم هدف الدراسة. ومن خلال استخدام عدد من الأساليب الإحصائية ومنها: معامل الثبات والصدق، والمقاييس الإحصائية الوصفية، وأسلوب تحليل الارتباط الخطي ، وتحليل الانحدار الخطي المتعدد، تم اختبار فروض الدراسة. توصلت الدراسة إلى مجموعة من النتائج أهمها وجود علاقة معنوية بين محاور تكنولوجيا المعلومات ومحاور تطوير المزيج التسويقي في المنظمات الصحية بمحافظة حفر الباطن، بالإضافة الي وجود تأثير معنوي لمحاور تكنولوجيا المعلومات على تطوير المزيج التسويقي في المنظمات الصحية بمحافظة حفر الباطن. وذلك بدرجة ثقة (95%). بالإضافة الي تقديم العديد من التوصيات الهامة.127 0Item Restricted Evaluation of the Digital Transformation in Engineering Management in Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Transport and Logistics Service(University of the West of England, 0024-02-07) Alrehaili, Ahmad Zaben; Algharaibeh, SanaThis thesis examines the digital transformation initiatives within the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Service in Saudi Arabia, focusing on engineering management practices. The study aims to assess the impact of digital transformation on engineering management processes, evaluating the efficiency and transparency of technological advancements specifically in the Ministry's engineering department. A quantitative methodology is used, using online questionnaire surveys to gather insights from stakeholders, government officials, engineers, and IT professionals involved in the digital transformation initiatives within engineering department of Ministry of Transport and Logistics. Hence, the quantitative measures were employed to assess key performance indicators, such as project timelines, cost efficiency, and resource allocation, before and after the implementation of digital tools. The findings of this research contribute to existing literature on digital transformation in the public sector, offering insights into challenges and successes in engineering management. Recommendations will be provided, guiding future strategies for digital transformation in government engineering projects and shedding light on best practices for similar initiatives in the broader context of public administration36 0