Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES IN TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY: ADVANCING CHEMICAL HAZARD PRIORITIZATION, INTERVENTION, AND CHARACTERIZATION(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Habiballah, Sohaib; Reisfeld, BradThis dissertation develops computational approaches to address complementary challenges in toxicology and pharmacology spanning hazard prioritization, intervention discovery, and hazard characterization. Project I establishes an anticipatory framework for chemical hazard prioritization using data-driven models applied to under-characterized chemical space. Project II develops a computational strategy for prioritizing antidote candidates under experimental constraints by integrating efficacy, central nervous system accessibility, and synthetic feasibility. Project III establishes an integrated modeling framework for microcystin-LR hazard characterization that links external exposure to internal dose metrics to support cross-species interpretation relevant to human safety. Collectively, this work illustrates how computational approaches can support forward-looking, decision-relevant toxicological assessment across the chemical life cycle.8 0Item Restricted The Impact of FinTech Adoption on the Operational Efficiency of SMEs in the Middle East(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alotaybi, Ayied; Ehtisham, YasinThis paper will examine how the adoption of Financial Technology (FinTech) impacts the operational efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Middle East. The major challenges facing SMEs are limited access to finance, poor processes, and dependence on conventional banking systems. FinTech solutions, such as digital payments, mobile banking, and automated accounting, provide opportunities to enhance efficiency by increasing transaction speed, lowering prices, and improving financial accuracy. The study has taken a quantitative methodology based on survey data gathered among the owners, managers and financial experts of SMEs. The relationship between the adoption of FinTech and its operational performance is evaluated using statistical analysis, including correlation and regression. The results show that FinTech positively influences efficiency, especially in the cost reduction, productivity, and decision-making. Nonetheless, the issues of expensive implementation costs, a lack of digital skills, and cybersecurity-related concerns remain. The research offers information to SMEs, policy makers and financial institutions to aid successful FinTech adoption.6 0Item Restricted BUG-IN-EAR eCOACHING TO ENHANCE PARENTS’ USE OF EMBEDDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH PRESCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alturki, Aeshah; Chezan, Laura; Bobzien, Jonna L; McCammon, Meka NThe increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has heightened the need for effective communication interventions. Parents are key partners in intervention and, with appropriate support, can serve as effective intervention agents. However, parents often require ongoing support to implement evidence-based practices. The purpose of this study was to experimentally evaluate the effects of online Bug-in-Ear (BIE) eCoaching on parents’ fidelity of embedded choice-making during family routines with their preschool-aged children with ASD. This study also examined the generalization and maintenance, children’s communicative responses, and parents’ perceptions of the intervention. A single-subject nonconcurrent multiple- baseline design across two parent–child dyads was used. Results indicated that parents increased their correct implementation of embedded choice-making following online BIE eCoaching. Parents maintained and generalized the strategy. One child demonstrated increases in communicative responses. Social validity data indicated that parents viewed the intervention as acceptable. Implications for practice, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.12 0Item Restricted Implementing Non-Routine Mathematics Problems in Elementary and Middle School Classrooms: A Study of Teacher Agency in Practice(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alhuwaidi, Areej; Choppin, JeffreyNon-routine problems require students to engage in mathematical reasoning beyond procedural computation. Although research shows that such problems enhance mathematical understanding, elementary and middle school teachers face implementation challenges. We lack an understanding of how teachers navigate these challenges and exercise agency to implement reform practices despite constraints. Therefore, this study examined how elementary and middle school mathematics teachers exercise agency when implementing non-routine problems. Using a basic qualitative research design grounded in interpretive methodology (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016), I interviewed 13 elementary and middle school mathematics teachers in Western New York who regularly implement non-routine problems. I utilized Priestley et al.'s (2015) ecological agency framework to analyze their practices, as it conceptualizes agency as emerging from the interplay among teachers' goals, practices, materials, and institutional contexts. My analysis revealed that teachers exercised agency through task modifications, curriculum adaptations, and strategic responses to constraints. Yet collaboration and material sharing did not ensure consistent implementation. Analysis identified three cross-dimensional pathways: the Goals-to-Practice pathway, in which teachers maintained consistency by aligning implementation choices with stated goals; the Constraint-Navigation pathway, in which structural constraints sequentially activated material responses that influenced timing decisions; and the Collaboration-Complexity pathway, where teachers selectively transferred shared materials based on individual goals. These three mechanisms advance ecological agency theory by explaining how agency dimensions interact during implementation. The findings suggest that teachers exercise agency in different ways, requiring different forms of support depending on which pathway operates in particular implementation contexts.5 0Item Restricted DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING NONPARAMETRIC TESTS FOR MIXED DESIGNS COMBINING BLOCK AND COMPLETELY RANDOMIZED DESIGNS(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alnumani, Mahasin Atiatallah; Rhonda, MagelThis study develops and evaluates nonparametric tests for mixed experimental designs that integrate block and completely randomized designs. Traditional rank-based tests such as the Friedman, Modified Friedman, and Quade tests are widely used for randomized complete block designs (RCBDs), while the Kruskal–Wallis test is appropriate for completely randomized designs (CRDs). However, statistical tools that effectively address experiments combining both within- and between-subject factors remain limited. This research consisted of two major parts. Part I focuses on comparing the Friedman-type tests (Friedman, Modified Friedman, and Quade) under various distributions and design conditions to evaluate their power and Type I error performance. Part II extends the framework to mixed designs by combining each block-based test with the Kruskal–Wallis test, forming three new statistics evaluated through extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Results were analyzed under four probability distributions — Normal, Exponential, Chi-Square, and t-distribution — spanning symmetric, skewed, and heavy-tailed data-generating mechanisms. For each distribution, the between-subject (CRD) component is evaluated under multiple variance-ratio conditions relative to the within-subject (RCBD) component, with the Normal distribution examined under four conditions (2×, 4×, and 8× at two scale levels) and the remaining distributions under two conditions each, providing a comprehensive assessment of robustness under heterogeneous variance structures across multiple combinations of treatment numbers, block sizes, and sample sizes. Because rank-based procedures operate in the order of the observations rather than their magnitudes, they retain validity under conditions of skewness, outliers, or heavy tails where parametric mixed-model ANOVA can be fragile. This robustness motivates their use in mixed iv designs combining within- and between-subject factors (Hollander, Wolfe, & Chicken, 2014; Conover, 1999). The findings identified the most powerful and robust nonparametric procedures for mixed designs, contributing to more flexible and distribution-free analytical frameworks in experimental research.4 0Item Restricted Knowledge Management : Tesla Case Study(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) AlHarbi, Zaid; Milan, SimicKnowledge Management research has examined how firms create, share, and convert knowledge. Less attention has been given to how firms govern knowledge flows under selective openness, where selected knowledge is disclosed while strategically valuable assets remain protected. Existing frameworks address parts of this problem. SECI explains knowledge creation, open innovation identifies purposive external flows, absorptive capacity explains uptake, and intellectual property governance addresses appropriability. However, these perspectives do not provide an integrated Knowledge Management framework for explaining the governance architecture as a whole. This thesis refines, theoretically positions, and assesses SOIA as a Knowledge Management framework for governing knowledge flows in innovation-intensive firms operating under selective openness. SOIA comprises four core process constructs: Socialise, Open, Interface, and Absorb, with Protect and Tune operating as cross-cutting governance overlays. The study adopts a qualitative, theory informed, single-case design using secondary documentary evidence from Tesla Inc. The analytical strategy employs construct operationalisation, proposition development, pattern matching, rival explanation analysis, and a proposition-to-evidence matrix. The findings indicate that Tesla is not adequately explained as simply open or protective. Instead, the documentary evidence shows a recurring governance configuration in which selected knowledge is opened, boundary movement is structured through interfaces, strategic assets remain protected, and external or distributed knowledge is absorbed into firm-controlled capability. Strongest support is found for Open, Interface, Absorb, Protect, and recursive knowledge-flow dynamics. Tune receives inferential support, while Socialise remains difficult to confirm from public documents because tacit and cultural knowledge processes are not directly visible in corporate disclosures. The thesis contributes a refined middle-range Knowledge Management framework that explains how knowledge is selectively opened, governed through interfaces, absorbed into internal capability, protected through appropriability mechanisms, and recalibrated over time. It also shows how SOIA extends beyond SECI by shifting attention from knowledge creation alone to the governance architecture of knowledge flows. The study is limited by its reliance on secondary documentary evidence from a single case, which restricts generalisation and excludes direct observation of tacit and informal knowledge practices.7 0Item Restricted Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Moderate-to-Severe Upper-Extremity Motor Impairment After Stroke: Neural Targets and Stimulation Responsiveness(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Almalki, Ghaleb Awdah; Emily ,GrattanExtensive damage to corticospinal tract (CST) fibers originating from the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (iM1) post stroke leads to contralesional moderate-to-severe upper-extremity (UE) motor impairment. CST integrity is assessed using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the iM1 to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). Individuals who fail to elicit MEPs are presumed to have limited recovery potential and are routinely excluded from neuromodulatory trials. However, MEP absence may reflect insufficient activation of residual iM1 neurons by single-pulse TMS, rather than complete CST disruption. Thus, it is important to investigate: (1) non-primary motor areas as potential targets when iM1 is severely damaged; (2) alternative TMS paradigms to enhance MEP detection. This dissertation had two aims. First, we conducted a scoping review to summarize the roles of non-primary and primary motor areas in UE muscle recovery in individuals with moderate- to-severe UE impairment. Findings indicate that proximal recovery involves the contralesional M1 and dorsal premotor cortex, while distal recovery involves M1, premotor areas, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and intraparietal sulcus. The contralesional intraparietal sulcus exerts maladaptive effects early post-stroke, whereas the contralesional dorsal premotor cortex supports chronic-phase recovery. Second, we characterized clinical, biomechanical, and neurophysiological outcomes across TMS-responsiveness profiles and examined relationships between MEP amplitude and these outcomes in this population. This aimed to explore whether CST function exists on a continuum, potentially reducing misclassification of recovery potential and expanding trial eligibility. We defined profiles by the lowest TMS protocol eliciting consistent MEPs: single-pulse at rest (SP_Rest), paired-pulse at rest (PP_Rest), or paired-pulse during active motor threshold contraction (PP_AMT). A consistent pattern emerged: PP_AMT responders had the most severe UE impairment, followed by the PP_Rest and SP_Rest responders. PP_Rest TMS revealed CST function in individuals considered MEP-absent using SP_Rest. Furthermore, MEP amplitude demonstrated moderate to good relationship with neurophysiological (rs=−.58 to −.62), clinical (rs=.52 to .57), and force outcomes (rs=. 61). These findings may inform personalized stimulation protocols for neuromodulation-based rehabilitation. Future studies should consider: (1) how time since stroke influences non-primary motor areas’ contributions to UE recovery when selecting stimulation sites and (2) applying paired-pulse stimulation to optimize detection of residual CST function.11 0Item Restricted Preparing Saudi Paramedics for Effective Disaster Management: A Study of the Current State and Future Needs(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alqahtani, Mohammed Ali Ali; Sam, Toloo; Sheikhzadeh, YazdSaudi Arabia has experienced an increase in both the frequency and severity of both natural and human-induced disasters, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen national planning and preparedness. This need is particularly critical within the healthcare sector, where paramedics play a pivotal frontline role. Effective disaster response relies on well-structured education, practical training, and strong institutional support; however, disaster management education for paramedics in Saudi Arabia remains inconsistent, fragmented, and insufficiently aligned with international standards. Moreover, limited research has examined the competencies required for paramedics to respond effectively throughout the disaster cycle. To date, no comprehensive national framework has defined the competencies required for Saudi paramedics to function effectively across the disaster cycle. This study aimed to examine the current state of disaster preparedness and education among Saudi paramedics and to identify future priorities to strengthen national resilience. Perspectives from frontline paramedics, paramedic operational leaders, and academic experts were integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of the systemic challenges affecting disaster management education and practices. The research draws on international models, including the Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery PPRR framework and the Australian Generic Emergency and Disaster Management Standards (GEDMS), the study proposes a hybrid framework: the Saudi Paramedic Disaster Management Education Framework (SP-DMEF). This framework is intended as a foundational starting point for policymakers, researchers, universities, and healthcare organisations. ii For this research, A qualitative phenomenological design was adopted to explore lived experiences and expert insights. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with three participant groups: frontline paramedics with disaster experience (n = 14), paramedic leaders and managers responsible for operational oversight (n = 12), and academics involved in paramedicine and emergency management education (n = 12). Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-step process to generate meaning units, codes, categories and overarching themes. The findings revealed substantial deficiencies in disaster education and preparedness in Saudi Arabia. Frontline paramedics reported limited exposure to disaster content during undergraduate study, limited refresher training, and frequent reliance on improvisation when responding realworld events due to unclear operational guidance. Leaders identified the absence of national competency standards, weak inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and ambiguity regarding paramedic roles across the preparedness, response, and recovery phases. Academics highlighted curriculum inconsistencies, limited practical simulation opportunities, and a lack of integrated, competency-based frameworks embedding disaster management throughout paramedics’ education pathways. Collectively, these findings demonstrate systemic challenges that hinder the development of a disaster-ready paramedic workforce in Saudi Arabia. This study underscores the urgent need for national policies reforms, standardised educational competency frameworks, and evidence-based training programs that aligns with global best practice in disaster management. It contributes a hybrid analytical model that can be used to assess and enhance disaster management in Saudi Arabia and offers actionable recommendations for academic institutions, healthcare authorities, and policymakers. These findings align with the broader health transformation goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030 and provide a foundation for future research aimed at strengthening national disaster resilience and paramedic workforce iii capability. Notably, this study is the first qualitative investigation to engage paramedics from all professional levels, offering a comprehensive perspective on disaster management practices within the Saudi context. By doing so, it generates new empirical evidence in a minimally explored domain and addresses critical gaps in paramedic disaster management research across Saudi Arabia.8 0Item Restricted PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES IN INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY: A MULTIPHASE ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGES, VOCATIONAL FIT, AND FUNCTIONAL PREDICTORS(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alajmi, Mutrik; Andrew, PerschPeople with intellectual disabilities (ID), a condition marked by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that originate before age 22, have long faced barrier to systemic exclusion from meaningful work. Work is more than a paycheck; it offers structure, social networks and autonomy, yet employment for working-age adults with ID remains less than half that of the general population. These persistent inequities, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, motivated a multiphase dissertation that integrates environmental, measurement and personal factors influencing employment for young adults with ID. Chapter 2 synthesized 11 research articles published between December 2019 and November 2023 on supported employment during COVID-19. A scoping review was chosen to avoid additional survey burden and followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. Three themes emerged. First, disparities in remote work showed that disabled workers were far less likely than nondisabled peers to transition to telework. Lack of technology access and the concentration of people with ID in blue-collar roles limited flexibility. Second, employment disruptions and resilience revealed that individuals with developmental disabilities (DD), a broader category of lifelong conditions that includes ID, experienced disproportionate layoffs but also returned to work quickly when supports were available. Third, universal design (UD) and inclusive strategies highlighted the need for workplaces, technologies and policies that are accessible from the outset to improve remote work access and job retention. The review concludes that some pandemic-driven adaptations should become permanent inclusive practices and that UD can bridge digital divides. Chapter 3 assessed whether the Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA), an instrument measuring worker abilities and job demands, captures changes over time and predicts employment outcomes. Participants completed the VFA and employment follow-ups over roughly two years; mixed-effects models examined domain changes while exploratory factor analysis and regression assessed predictive validity. Six of ten domains showed significant improvements, whereas the other four remained stable. Moderate ID severity predicted lower self-determination, whereas services received through Project SEARCH , a business-led transition to work program, predicted higher scores. Factor analysis revealed three latent dimensions: physical/task independence, cognitive/technical ability and social/communication skills. Greater physical/task independence predicted more weekly work hours and lower odds of unemployment, while stronger social/communication skills predicted higher hourly wages. The study demonstrates that the VFA is responsive, functions as a dynamic indicator rather than a static screening tool, and provides actionable information to tailor transition planning. Chapter 4 used baseline data from the same cohort to test whether work-related physical abilities and self-determination mediate the relationship between physical health and employment support needs. Physical health was measured via the Short Form-12 Physical Component Summary, vocational abilities by relevant VFA subscales, and support needs by the Support Intensity Scale. Structural equation modelling showed that in single-mediator models, both work-related physical abilities and self-determination were associated with better health to lower support needs. However, in a parallel model the pathway through self-determination remained significant while the physical-ability pathway lost significance. The findings indicate that improvements in physical health reduce support needs primarily by enhancing personal agency rather than by directly boosting work-related physical capacity. Taken together, these three studies illustrate that improving employment outcomes for young adults with ID requires coordinated action across macro-, meso- and micro-levels. At the macro level, policies should codify remote-work accommodations and UD principles to ensure that technological innovations benefit disabled workers. At the meso level, measurement infrastructure such as the VFA is crucial for matching individuals to jobs, monitoring progress and informing interventions. At the micro level, interventions must integrate physical health promotion with strategies that foster self-determination, because personal agency is a key mechanism through which health status translates into reduced support needs. Overall, this dissertation advances understanding of how environmental disruptions, person–job fit and individual capacities converge to shape vocational trajectories, and it recommends inclusive design, data-driven assessment and empowerment-oriented supports as pathways to equitable employment.9 0Item Restricted Density Functional Theory Investigation of Atomic Quantum Clusters on Graphene and SnO for Enhanced CO₂ Electrochemical Reduction(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alsubaie, Sarah Hamoud; Colin, LambertFossil fuel combustion is a major source of atmospheric CO₂ and significantly contributes to environmental concerns. To address this issue, effective strategies are required to reduce emissions while simultaneously producing valuable materials, such as converting CO₂ into useful carbon-based chemicals. To systematically investigate the geometric and electronic structures of new catalysts for such conversion, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed using the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP). The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) was employed to describe the exchange–correlation functional, enabling accurate geometry optimisation and detailed analysis of electronic properties. This thesis focuses on investigating the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) using electrocatalysts based on graphene and SnO electrodes. It also examines the properties of pristine and defective graphene doped with Ag₅ and Au₅ atomic quantum clusters (AQCs), as well as the influence of the SnO oxide surface and Bi doping. To develop understanding of these materials, Bader charge analysis, charge density differences, and binding energies of these slabs are presented. The results suggest that incorporating Ag₅ and Au₅ into graphene and Bi into SnO significantly lowers the energy barriers of key intermediates, thereby enhancing selectivity toward products such as carbon monoxide (CO) and formic acid (HCOOH). Accordingly, Ag₅, Au₅, and Bi are proposed as effective surface modifications to optimise the catalytic performance of graphene and SnO for CO₂ reduction. These findings provide insight into surface engineering through defect and doping strategies, contributing to the optimisation of catalyst efficiency. Finally, the thesis concludes with a summary of the main findings and a discussion of future research directions.20 0