Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Effect of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channels on G Protein- Coupled Receptors (GPCRS).(University of Nottingham, 2024) Kotbi, Maryah; Canals, MeritxellPain and nociception are two closely related terms that almost affect us all at one point in our lives. Nociceptors are nerve fibers that conduct pain, on these nociceptors we have different G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) such as opioid receptors and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels such as TRPV1 and TRPA1. These receptors and channels are co-expressed in some areas of the body and this project studies the effect of these two TRP channels on the function of opioid receptors. In this project, a BRET (bioluminescence resonance energy transfer) assay was used to detect the protein-protein interaction between the four opioid receptor subtypes and -arrestin2 (Arr3). The findings of this study is that when TRP channels are activated they inhibit the recruitment of Arr3 to the opioid receptor. This will lead to desensitization occurring at a lesser rate and thus may prevent tolerance and addiction to opioids. Understanding the detailed mechanism of how this happens might lead to many advancements in pain management and to understand how GPCRs are affected by TRP channels in more detail.10 0Item Restricted POSITIONING AND PLACE CONSTRUCTION IN YOUTUBE TRAVEL VLOGS: A MULTIMODAL STUDY OF SAUDI ARABIA'S EMERGING IDENTITY(The University of Memphis, 2024-12) Alghamdi, Hind Saeed; WrightFollowing Saudi Arabia’s 2019 launch of tourism—amidst decisive social and cultural shifts—there was an influx of international travelers, many of whom documented their first visits on video blogs (vlogs). The present study provides an in-depth analysis of nine popular YouTube ‘vloggers’ from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Through a fine-tuned examination of the multimodal data, the research offers a novel expansion of Van Langenhove & Harré’ positioning Theory (1999b) by integrating Kress and Van Leeuwen’s Visual Grammar’s Interactive Framework (2006). This integration allows for examining meaning formation which accounts for visual cues that support verbal mode in vlog content. The study captures how these vloggers navigate their identities in relation to the newly accessible Saudi Arabia, while also balancing the distinctiveness of their personas with elements that enhance their reach in social media. Three themes—religion, gender, and hospitality—emerged as recurrent from the data as those that vloggers commonly use in shaping their online identities and collectively constructing Saudi place identities. The research illustrates how each aspect shapes these collective positioning practices, exploring the broad discursive and multimodal choices the vloggers make in negotiating local meanings. These practices reveal the interplay between the vloggers’ idealized identities and their use of identity markers—especially those aligned with qualities valued in social media culture. The study concludes that place identity is constructed in digital environments at the nexus of circulated place discourses, social media dynamics, and high- profile identity strategies that emphasize valued authenticity. Findings indicate complex identity formations which reinforce a place’s core religious status, engage with evolving gender norms, and converge in immersive participation with Saudi locals’ acts of hospitality—all while aligning with social media’s attraction and popularity formulas. This study crosses academic boundaries and provides multidisciplinary insights related to tourism and place identity, as well as linguistic and discourse analysis. The research contributes to our understating of the social phenomena that comes with place identity construction in newer social settings—social media—which influences and helps to shape values. It highlights different modes of construct that emerged within this digital space, underscoring the performative nature of identities and offers insights into the broader impact of meaning formation.5 0Item Restricted A drone concept for autonomous water sampling operations(Cranfield Univeristy, 2024-08) Alarifi, Nawaf; Zolotas, Argyrios; Ignatyev, DmitryThis thesis focuses on the design and study of a drone for autonomous water sampling operations motivated by the challenges of the traditional water sampling technique. This research is based on developing a mechanism for water sampling integrated into an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) responsible for producing samples from required depths, while contamination risks are minimized. The review of various sampling mechanisms in the available literature on water sampling technologies, and UAV applications, is holistic, touching on both the advantages and the shortcomings of each. Design work will comprise of the conceptualization of a novel water sampling system that will allow for self-opening and self-closing methodologies towards improved operation efficiency and the mitigation of operating complexity. Considering the detailed mathematical modelling and the material selection process ensures standards in durability and prevention of contamination. Material selection is one of the main factors in the problem encountered, and PTFE is observed to suit best among all calming agents because of its excellent chemical resistance and inertness. The flight controller, navigation, sensors, telemetry modules, and suchlike are carefully selected so that the drone sub-systems can be expressed to the highest capability even under harsh environmental capabilities and different weather conditions. The final design is validated by the theoretical calculations and simulations with the software eCalc, thus assuring the essence of reliable and effective water-sampling missions while having a flight time of around 35 minutes. A comparative analysis of both approaches to traditional boat-based sampling techniques shows that while the UAV-based approach is slightly pricier per sample, it gains the competitive edge in time efficiency and lesser environmental impact. The results show that UAVs are a potential, innovative solution to repetitive, on-demand, reconnaissance and autonomous water sampling, at remote or hazardous locations.4 0Item Embargo From Oil to Identity: Place branding for urban transformation in a top-down society (A case study of Saudi Arabia)(Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2024-12-11) Alsayel, Abdulrhman; Edelenbos, Jurian; De Jong, Martin; Fransen, JanThis dissertation investigates the transformation of Saudi Arabian cities under the ambitious Vision 2030 framework, focusing on the role of place branding within a centralized governance system. The research seeks to understand how cultural, institutional, and governance factors influence the effectiveness of place branding strategies in Saudi Arabia, offering a departure from Western-centric models that emphasize participatory and bottom-up approaches. By using Riyadh as a principal case study, the thesis sheds light on the implications of top-down city branding on urban development, cultural preservation, and social inclusivity. The research is structured into four interconnected papers. The first paper explores the tension between economic growth and social inclusivity through a comparative analysis involving Dubai, Amsterdam, and Toronto. The findings reveal that while creative city branding can drive innovation and attract investment, it often neglects inclusivity, leading to social exclusion. The second paper examines how various multi-level governance models impact the success of place branding in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating that cities directly aligned with central government resources tend to achieve more effective branding, though this can exacerbate regional disparities. The third paper delves into the cultural and institutional factors affecting place branding, emphasizing that while central government involvement can streamline efforts, it may limit local stakeholder engagement. The final paper focuses on the rebranding of Riyadh, drawing comparisons with global cities like Barcelona and Tokyo to reveal both the opportunities and social challenges associated with rapid urban transformation, such as gentrification and cultural homogenization. This thesis concludes that while centralized governance can expedite urban development and enhance city branding, maintaining cultural integrity and fostering social equity are essential to sustainable growth. The research advocates for future studies to employ mixed-method approaches for broader applicability and to explore comparative case studies in other centralized systems, such as China and the UAE, to enrich the understanding of place branding in non-Western contexts.10 0Item Restricted Perovskite Solar Cells Incorporated with Processing Additives(The University of Akron, 2024) Sawwan, Hussain; Gong, XiongThe increased use of solar energy for power is anticipated to lead to the shift from traditional power sources to renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic (PV) is a promising technology due to its ability to directly convert sunlight into electricity with no pollution. Solar cells, specifically those based on metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have gained popularity recently due to their power conversion efficiency (PCE) that have increased dramatically over the past 15 years, from 3.8% to more than 26 %. The rapid development in PCE is due to the advanced features that MHPs have such as cost-effective and easy processing, high absorption coefficient, large diffusion length, and low exciton binding energy. In particular, the purpose of this study is to develop solution-processed perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by tuning film morphology and optoelectronic properties of metal halide perovskites incorporated with processing additives, thereby optimizing the performance of PSCs. To maximize the potential of perovskite, controllable crystallization is crucial for producing high-quality perovskite thin films with fewer structural defects and additive engineering is a facile and effective method among other techniques. We mainly investigated the effects of various processing additives on the MHPs based on MAPbI3 perovskite (where MA is CH3NH3) and correlate PCE in term of film morphology, crystallinity, photocurrent hysteresis, optoelectronic properties, device performance and stability of PSCs.14 0Item Restricted EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF ONLINE TRAINING ADDRESSING CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA: A PILOT MIXED-METHODS STUDY(University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2024) Alqunaysi, Rayan; Meadan-Kaplansky, HeddaProfessionals working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities in Saudi Arabia have identified limited professional development opportunities related to autism as a persistent challenge. They also report insufficient use of data to inform decisions regarding plans and instructions for autistic individuals. To address these needs, I culturally and linguistically adapted online training modules that cover strategies based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to address challenging behaviors exhibited by individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Originally designed for English-speaking caregivers, these training modules were adapted for Arabic-speaking caregivers and, in the current study, further adapted for professionals in the Saudi context, resulting in a total of seven training modules. I employed a convergent mixed-methods design to investigate the correlation between participants' knowledge and self-efficacy regarding ABA-based strategies, to assess the impact of the training modules on their knowledge and self-efficacy, and to evaluate the social validity of the training modules. I collected quantitative data using various scales to assess knowledge and self-efficacy, and gathered qualitative data via semi-structured interviews and a social validity questionnaire. The results indicate that the culturally and linguistically adapted online training modules had a positive impact on the participants' knowledge and self-efficacy and were perceived as socially valid, although participants identified areas for improvement. Limitations and implications for practice and future research are discussed.7 0Item Restricted A Systematic Review of User Consent, Transparency, and Secure Data Transmission and Storage(University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 2024-11-03) Alharbi, Sultanah; Hussain, Farookh KhadeerSmart home technology is revolutionizing residential environments by connecting devices to enhance comfort, safety, and energy efficiency. However, these advancements raise significant privacy concerns, particularly in data collection, transmission, and storage. This systematic review examines user consent, transparency, and secure data handling in smart homes, identifying challenges and innovative solutions such as blockchain and AI integration. The review highlights deficiencies in current consent mechanisms, the complexity of GDPR compliance, and practical barriers to implementation, offering insights for future research and practical privacy frameworks.14 0Item Restricted Investigate Video Gaming Behaviour Among Young Adults.(ULSTER UNIVERSITY, 2022) AlQurashi, Yazeed; Dornan, LesleyIntroduction/Background: Video games is one of the most common types of entertainment today, particularly amongst young adults aged 18-34. Video games are not a new phenomenon. They began in the early 70s, and have been spread quickly among each new generation, as it is considered to be generally more engaging than television shows. Video game become important, and the amount spend on gaming is increasing even through and after the quarantine policies that aims to contain COVID-19, although concerns about promoting video gaming have been raised. Aim: An Examination of Video Gaming Behaviour among Saudi Young Adults aged 18-24 years using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Methodology: This study was adapted a cross-sectional quantitative design. Sample of young adults aged 18-24 in Saudi Arabia. Participants has been contacted via a Google form which has been disseminated within gamer's platforms, social groups, and social media. Sample of young adults in Saudi Arabia aged 18-24. Participants has been invited to complete the survey, consisting of two sections. The first section assesses the participant's sociodemographic data. The second section comprises of the Gaming Addiction Scale (GAS). Results: the sample consisted of 75% males and 21.7% females. However, half of the sample suggest that they play video games 3-5 hours per day, were 20% suggest that they play for 6 hours or more per day. Furthermore, the majority of the participants dramatically increased their time during Covid 19 restrictions were 33.3% and 32.8% increased to a great extent and quite a lot respectively. The results suggest that subjective norms did not impact on video gaming behaviour. Moreover, the results indicate that young adults in Saudi have a perception that they have control in their gaming behaviour, while the findings suggest that their behaviour slightly tends toward addictive gaming behaviour.16 0Item Restricted Integrating Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Sustainable Project Management(University of Exeter, 2024-07-04) Alqurashi, Abdullah; Roman, Jose MelenezSustainable project management encompassed the economic, environmental, and social aspects of a project to attain the project objectives in a sustainable manner. Nonetheless, the integration of AI technologies in sustainable project management was still low due to factors like inadequate knowledge of technical know-how, costs of implementing AI technologies, and resistance from the project team. This research aimed to identify the factors that hinder the application of AI in project management for sustainable practices and provided recommendations for enhanced application. The research sought to understand the status of AI adoption, challenges faced, and the impact of knowledge management practices on project performance based on the survey of 40 professionals in Saudi Arabia. The findings of this research enhanced the theoretical understanding of the topic by identifying that the level of awareness of AI is much higher than the level of its adoption. The research results show that although the level of awareness of AI technologies is relatively high, the implementation of the technologies is limited because of technical, financial, and organizational constraints. This research has also highlighted how knowledge management practice can be used to close this gap which can enhance increase in project performance, reduce costs and promote innovation. The research provided practical recommendations for organizations interested in using AI for sustainability and following best practices on a global level and in alignment with the vision of Saudi Arabia for the future. When applying these recommendations, professionals will be able to increase project efficiency, reduce costs, and promote innovation which contributes to sustainable development goals. This research presents a conceptual model that outlines how AI technologies can be applied in sustainable project management, fostering innovation and sustainable development. The research also highlights the necessity for future research to delve deeper into developing actionable frameworks and practical strategies for integrating AI into sustainable project management.9 0Item Restricted Evaluating the Long-Term Influence of Culture-Led Regeneration on Civic Pride, Community Cohesion, and Social and Economic Inequalities: The Case of Hull(Cardiff university, 2024) Albalawi, Najat; Thomas, SmithABSTRACT Hull, a historically industrial city, has faced significant socio-economic decline and territorial stigmatization in recent decades. In response to these challenges, the city was designated as the UK City of Culture in 2017, an initiative aimed at revitalizing the local economy, enhancing civic pride, and fostering community cohesion through cultural investment. While the event year saw an increase in tourism, local engagement, and economic activity, questions remain about the initiative’s long-term impact. This dissertation explores the sustainability of the positive changes resulting from the Hull UK City of Culture 2017 initiative, with a focus on how it influenced civic pride, community cohesion, and socio-economic inequalities. Using a mixed-methods approach, incorporating qualitative interviews and document analysis, the research critically examines whether the benefits of the cultural initiative have been sustained in the years following 2017. This dissertation concludes that while the Hull UK City of Culture 2017 brought short-term benefits to the city, it has fallen short in addressing deeper structural issues. The study highlights the importance of ongoing investment and long-term strategies to ensure the sustainability of culture-led regeneration in post-industrial cities like Hull.12 0