Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted The Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Male and Female Public Education Teachers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.(Nottingham Trent University, 0024-07) Alobaidi, Batool; Dillon, GayleThis study investigated teachers' knowledge of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and examined what factors influenced the knowledge that teachers had. In Saudi Arabia, ASD is common but often diagnosed late (Hayat et al., 2019). This highlights the need to assess teachers' ASD knowledge, as they are well-positioned to notice signs of ASD. Understanding teachers' awareness can guide targeted training programs, improving early detection and support for students with ASD. Participants included 197 male and female teachers from public schools who completed the Autism Spectrum Knowledge Scale-General Population (ASKSG, 2019) and the Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW, 2008) scale. The findings revealed that participants demonstrated an average level of knowledge across both scales, scoring below average on the ASKSG but above average on the KCAHW, suggesting a potential gap in understanding ASD. Teachers with prior contact with individuals with ASD spectrum exhibited significantly higher ASD knowledge compared to those without such exposure, underscoring the impact of firsthand experience. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences in ASD knowledge were found based on gender, teaching experience, or school level taught between all educational levels, be it primary, secondary, or high school. The results aligned with previous regional studies (Alharbi et al.,2021; Otaif et al.,2019) documenting weak to moderate ASD knowledge among Saudi Arabian educators. Due to the findings from previous studies in Saudi Arabia until this study, which find that teachers' ASD knowledge has not improved, the study accentuates the pressing need for intensified and reinvigorated ASD training initiatives tailored to teachers, emphasising immersive, experiential learning modalities. By addressing the identified knowledge gaps and recognized limitations, further research efforts can help to provide a comprehensive understanding of teachers' knowledge of ASD. These studies will help to develop comprehensive and tailored programs to provide teachers with the knowledge needed to support children with ASD best.6 0Item Restricted Treatment Strategies for Delayed Cerebral Ischaemia After Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: A Systematic Review(Queen Mary University of London, 1431-07-18) Alanazi, Abdullah; Zolfaghari, ParjamABSTRACT Delayed cerebral ischaemia (DCI) is a devastating complication which may occur after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). It significantly increases mortality among SAH patients and leads to poor functional outcomes. Due to uncertainty among researchers and healthcare professionals regarding the pathophysiology and clinical diagnosis of DCI, no sufficient treatment model has been proposed. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to address the literature gap in the current recommendations on the treatment for DCI. In doing so, we aim to bring to light potential avenues for novel therapies, which have not yet been addressed by treatment models, and to inform directions for future research. Methodology: Three electronic databases (Pubmed, Medline, and Embase) were systematically searched for randomised control trials (RCT) and retrospective cohort studies that addressed various treatment methods of DCI. These included data on the use of statins, endovascular rescue therapy (ERT), calcium antagonists and vasodilators, assessing their efficacy and safety profile. Studies were included on the basis of predetermined inclusion criteria. Primary and secondary outcomes included mortality rate, ICU and hospital length of stay, incidence of vasospasm, and adverse events for each treatment modality. Results: A total of nine studies were included: 3 RCT and 6 retrospective cohort studies. No study reported a significant increase in adverse events, indicating that the included treatments are safe to use. A significant improvement in the severity of vasospasm was reported after the given treatment modalities; however, changes in functional outcome (Glasgow Coma Scale, Glasgow Outcome Scale, modified Rankin Scale) were not significant. Only the studies on statins included the length of hospital stay as a measure, which also showed insignificant results. Adjunct therapy of ERT with nimodipine appears to improve functional outcomes compared to single therapies. Conclusion: There is currently insufficient evidence for the addition of milrinone and statins to the current guidelines. However, adjuvant therapies show promise and more combinations should therefore be explored in the future. Keywords: Delayed cerebral ischaemia, cerebral vasospasm, aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, treatment, statins, endovascular rescue therapy, balloon angioplasty, nimodipine, milrinone37 0Item Restricted Treatment Quality, Duration and Accuracy with LightForce™ 3D-Printed Custom Brackets and Clear Aligners(Unviversity at Buffalo, 0095-06) Hamiduddin, Aliyyah; Al-Jewair, Thikriat; Aszkler, Robert; Warunek, StephenIntroduction: New custom 3D-printed bracket workflows have emerged during the past few years. LightForceTM (LF, Burlington, MA) is a custom 3D-printed labial bracket that is indirectly bonded to teeth. The manufacturer claims that they are precise in delivering tooth movement, accurate in bracket placement, efficient in clinic visits. Clear Aligners (CA) have been utilized more commonly in clinical practice with similar claims to 3D-printed brackets in terms of its precision, accuracy, and efficiency. In Addition, CAs are more esthetic, better in oral hygiene maintenance, less susceptible to white spot lesions compared to fixed orthodontic brackets, however, they have some drawbacks such as patients’ compliance is required in wearing their aligners, the main movement produced is tipping and the predictability of controlled tipping ≤ 50% of the required tooth movement. To our knowledge, the treatment quality, duration, and accuracy of LF customized 3-D printed brackets in comparison to CAs has not been investigated in the literature Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the treatment quality, duration and accuracy of LF bracket system and CA therapy. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study of patients presenting for comprehensive orthodontic treatment with either LF or CAs (Invisalign®, San Jose, CA) in one private practice. A total of 70 subjects were included (37 in the LF group and 33 in the CA group). The mean age at the start of the treatment was 13.42 ± 1.09 in LF group and 15.8 ± 3.36 in the CA group. Pre- and post-comprehensive treatment records were compared. Treatment quality was evaluated on post-treatment 3-D printed models and panoramic radiographs using the ABO Cast-Radiograph evaluation (C-R Eval) grading system. Treatment duration was compared between the groups in months. Treatment accuracy was evaluated by comparing the predicted (TP) and the achieved (T1) arch width changes at the canine, first premolar and first molar between the groups. Results: The total C-R Eval score was 35.08 ± 9.99 in the LF group and 32.55 ± 8.85 in the CA group. The scores showed no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.503). The treatment duration was 15.89 ± 3.49 in the LF and 14.39 ± 4.69 in the CA group and the difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.138). There was significant difference between LF and CA groups in TP-T1 of the maxillary inter- canine width (LF= 0.87, CA=0.23, P= 0.013) Conclusion: Treatment quality and duration were comparable between LF and CAs in mild to moderate crowding cases. CAs demonstrated accuracy in archwidth predictions, whereas LF showed accuracy in predicting maxillary inter-canine width, mandibular intermolar and inter-premolar widths. CAs showed higher accuracy in the prediction of maxillary inter-canine width than LF.54 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 IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ON THE TOURISM SECTOR IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA(Bournemouth University, 0024-05-24) Alrashdi, Mohammed Sulaiman; ShivaThe research is based on the importance of public transportation development and its impact on the tourism industry of Saudi Arabia (SA). It highlights the impact of developing the transport facility that can help in attracting the potential tourist from the UK. SA has potential tourist destination in the country that makes it one of the major tourist spot for the visitors around the globe. The research questions have identified in the research that highlights various aspects of the research topic. In the theoretical framework, the innovation and future development process of SA’s public transportation system highlights the adoption of new technologies and scientific techniques. The developed strategies of public transportation in tourism contribute to enhance its profitability. The strategies of Tourism marketing follow and understand the needs and expectations of customers for online bookings, focusing on mobile, as well as optimized market. Sustainable tourism widely focuses on schemes to create a low carbon as well as encourage travel. Scientific Management Theory and Diffusion of Innovation Theory develop new ideas and practices of tourism key concepts. The research methodology introduces the concept and benefits of positivism research philosophy, deductive research approach, and descriptive research design. The data collection method is done through primary quantitative method from survey. Reliability and validity are used in research study for maintain accuracy and consistency of research study. Random sampling is used for collecting responses from 155 people working in Saudi Arabian tourism sector. Ethical considerations are used in research paper to protect it from any type of harm. Findings and discussion of the research topic is by conducting an online survey among 155 participants regarding the 11 questionnaires. Public Transport helps in reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion in the country for tourist’s attraction that are environment conscious. The development of Saudi vision 2030 strategy focuses on developing the sector of tourists. The outcome of the research has been identified. It identifies that development and innovation of the PT system improves tourism comfort ability and safety. Some recommendations on the development of PT have also been given; the future scope and research limitation have also been identified here.33 0Item Restricted A Survey Assessing the Perceptions and Interpretations of Saudi Therapists on the Use of Virtual Reality Therapy for Patients with Spinal Cord Injury(Cardiff University, 0024-06-13) Alqarni, Rawabi; Williams, AlisonTitle: A Survey Assessing the Perceptions and Interpretations of Saudi Therapists on the Use of Virtual Reality Therapy for Patients with Spinal Cord Injury. Background: Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing rehabilitation, particularly for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and neurological conditions. This study offered a comprehensive examination of VR-based interventions, encompassing the user experience (UX), game mechanics (GM), in-game assistance (IGA), and VR-induced symptoms and effects (VRISE). Methods: A descriptive survey with a self-developed questionnaire investigating the 31 Saudi therapist's perspectives that were based on patient feedback who were recruited via WhatsApp then filled up the questionnaire that contained 22 questions (both closed& opened-ended), providing a well-rounded assessment of the VR rehabilitation experience. Statistical outcomes, therapist involvement, and specific context were considered to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for further research. Results: The study highlighted the significance of enjoyment in fostering patient engagement and the need for customized VR setups aligned with patient preferences. Graphics and sound quality, while important, are not the sole determinants of engagement, emphasizing the importance of a holistic VR experience. GM and IGA show promise but require customization. Addressing VRISE through technological advancements is essential. Conclusion: This research underscored the continuous evolution of VR technology and design to better serve individuals with SCI and neurological conditions, emphasizing the importance of tailored approaches and ongoing advancements in VR-based rehabilitation.8 0Item Restricted Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing and Delivering Chronic Healthcare Services among Rural Areas in Makkah Region of Saudi Arabia: Perspectives of Rural Women and Healthcare Providers(The University of Sheffield, 0024-08-06) Albogame, Ashwaq; Thompson, Jill; Hinchliff, SharronBackground: Health disparities exist for rural residents, particularly women, due to multiple, complex barriers to accessing healthcare. Studies from around the world have identified factors influencing women's access to healthcare. Despite the Saudi Health Ministry’s efforts to reduce health disparities and provide comprehensive care for rural regions, Saudi Arabia (SA) still lacks comprehensive healthcare services for rural women. In recent years, the prevalence of chronic diseases has increased significantly in SA and people diagnosed with chronic conditions require continued medical attention and easy access to healthcare services. In SA, limited research has been conducted on the experiences of rural women with chronic conditions and their access to healthcare services. Aim: This PhD thesis aims to explore barriers and facilitators for accessing, receiving, and delivering healthcare services for rural women diagnosed with chronic diseases (Diabetes Mellitus (DM type 1 & 2) and/or Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) in rural areas near Taif city in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews, was conducted remotely. The participants included rural women (n = 13) living with chronic conditions and healthcare providers (n = 15). Participants were recruited from three different primary healthcare centres located in three rural areas and two secondary healthcare facilities located in Taif city. The responses from participants in the interviews were analysed using inductive-deductive thematic analysis guided by Levesque’s conceptual model of access to healthcare from the patient and the providers’ sides. Findings: Several barriers and facilitators were identified including health literacy, language barriers, cultural norms, transportation, and financial constraints which were all found to impact their access to, and experiences of, health services. Healthcare providers identified other barriers including communication difficulties, gender-related cultural norms, resource limitations, and fragmented referral systems. These barriers intersect to make access to healthcare services and management of rural patients’ chronic conditions difficult. Barriers can be minimized by facilitators such as family support, maximizing access to two levels of healthcare facilities - Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCCs) and Secondary Healthcare Facilities (SHCF), long work experience of HCPs, reforming the healthcare system and women’s rights. Conclusion: Despite international efforts to enhance women’s health, rural women still struggle to take advantage of improvements in the healthcare system. In the context of rural areas in SA, increasing distribution of PHCCs in rural areas and the provision of free services may not necessarily address the healthcare needs of rural women with chronic conditions. Researchers, policymakers, and rural community members need to work collaboratively to develop strategies to address barriers and prioritize rural dwellers’ needs. Improving healthcare access for rural women can help meet the country’s Vision 2030 objectives which include enhancing accessibility to healthcare services, health quality, and women's empowerment.12 0Item Restricted THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHTS IN ENHANCING ATTENDEE ENGAGEMENT AND EVENT BRAND EQUITY(Bournemouth University, 0024-07-16) Alessa, Abdullah; Moital, MiguelThe world of marketing in the 21st Century is a completely transformed one with the advent of the internet and social media. Today, companies and various brands are increasingly resorting to social networks to reach their prospective customers. This transformation is prompted by the level at which consumers are equally embracing digital media at the expense of legal media that is deemed outdated. This research presents a current study on the effectiveness of the Instagram Highlight feature in fostering enhanced attendee engagement and event brand equity. It utilizes a qualitative research methodology to collect primary data from a sample of social media experts working in various companies of relevance to the studied variables. The research performs a critical literature review of the existing scholarly work on the User Engagement Theory (UET). The research gap identified is the missing knowledge on the specific Instagram feature of the Highlights as used in the promotion of attendee engagement and event brand equity. To analyze data, the study uses both thematic analysis methods that are done along the identified themes within the area of study. The results are then presented in a simplified manner making specific quotations to indicate ethnicity of the same. Following a detailed discussion of the findings, the study highlights practical recommendations applicable by social media marketers seeking optimum performance for their Instagram Highlight posts. The study also highlights the typical limitations of qualitative research. It also declares no conflict of interest between the research and the subject under examination.27 0Item Restricted MEASURING THE IMPACT OF MEGA-EVENTS ON TOURISM AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SAUDI ARABIA(Leeds Beckett University, 0024-07-02) Alasseri, Reem; Cox, PerterThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) recently announced its intention to expand its tourism sector as part of its economic diversification plans; a deliberate attempt to mitigate reliance on the petroleum industry. The KSA seeks to leverage the potential of the growing and expanding global tourism industry. The KSA has stated its clear intention to fully pursue this diversification, through its Vision 2030 programme, investments in developing tourism infrastructure, and deliberate efforts to host significant sporting events (mega-events). This paper evaluates whether the KSA’s aggressive approach of pouring billions of dollars into mega events and infrastructure helps the country’s bid to become one of the most favored tourist destinations in the world. It compares current efforts and previous approaches towards economic diversification used by different countries in the recent past, both those that succeeded and those that failed. This deliberate, systematic review predicts the KSA’s success if it leverages its greatest assets – the enormous wealth and investment capital provided by the sovereign wealth fund, its unique geopolitical position, a unifying branding strategy, and its budding young population. In doing so, however, the KSA needs to consider the cultural impacts of its tourist expansion efforts.14 0Item Restricted EXTRACTION OF TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EVENTS FROM NEWS ARTICLES FOR TIMELINE GENERATION(University of Manchester, 0024-06-27) Alsayyahi, Sarah; Batista- Navarro, RizaExtracting temporal information from natural language texts is crucial for understanding the sequence and context of events, enhancing the accuracy of timeline generation and event analysis in various applications. However, within the NLP community, determining the temporal ordering of events has been recognised as a challenging task. This difficulty arises from the inherent vagueness of temporal information found in natural language texts like news articles. In Temporal Information Extraction (TIE), different datasets and methods have been proposed to extract various types of temporal entities, including events, temporal expressions, temporal relations, and the relative order of events. Some of these tasks have been considered easier than others in the field. For instance, extracting the temporal expressions or events is easier than determining the optimal order of a set of events. The complexity of determining the event order arises due to the requirement of commonsense and external knowledge, which is not readily accessible to computers. In contrast, humans can effortlessly identify this chronological order by relying on their external knowledge and understanding to establish the most appropriate sequence. In this thesis, our goal was to improve the performance of state-of-the-art methods for determining the temporal order of events in news articles. Accordingly, we present the following contributions: 1. We reviewed the literature by conducting a systematic survey, categorising tasks and datasets relevant to extracting the order of events mentioned in the news articles. We also identified existing findings and highlighted some research directions worth further investigation. 2. We proposed a novel annotation scheme with an unambiguous definition of the types of events and temporal relations of interest. Adopting this scheme, we developed a TIMELINE dataset, which annotates both verb and nominal events and considers the long-distance temporal relations between events separated by more than one sentence. 3. We integrated problem-related features with a neural-based method to improve the model's ability to extract temporal relations that involved nominal events and the temporal relations with small classes (e.g., EQUAL class). We found that integrating these features has significantly improved the performance of the neural baseline model and could achieve state-of-the-art results in two datasets in the literature. 4. We proposed a framework that uses local search algorithms (e.g., Hill Climbing and Simulated Annealing) to generate document-level timelines from a set of temporal relations. These algorithms have improved the performance of the current models and resolved the problem in less time than the state-of-the-art models.26 0