Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Accounting and Accountability in Resource Risk Management Control Systems: What Can Public Health Care Environments Learn From the COVID-19 Pandemic?(RMIT University, 2024) Gundah, Yasser Saeed Ali; Khan, TehminaThe COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented global challenges, significantly affecting healthcare sectors worldwide and raising profound concerns about preparedness for future crises. The outbreak placed substantial strain on health systems, often revealing critical inadequacies in resources, governance and existing management control and accountability mechanisms, leading to service disruptions and exacerbating societal inequalities. This highlighted the complexity of managing resources and risks during systemic health emergencies and underscored the urgent need for more resilient, equitable and accountable approaches within global health governance. This thesis critically examines the interplay of resource allocation mechanisms, risk management control systems (RMCS) and accountability mechanisms within major international health organisations (IHOs) and associated public health systems during the 2019–2024 pandemic period. Employing a critical realist philosophical stance, the research utilises qualitative content analysis of 620 publicly available documents from ten key IHOs. The research identifies critical resource risks, evaluates management strategies and examines the role and limitations of specific non-financial and financial accounting and control tools employed within RMCS during the pandemic response. Contingency theory and resource dependence theory serve as primary analytical lenses for the interpretation of the context-dependency of system effectiveness and the management of crucial external resource dependencies. The research finds that traditional RMCS and accounting frameworks—often siloed, reactive and focused primarily on financial controls—proved insufficient for the systemic, interconnected and dynamic nature of the pandemic crisis. The central argument derived from the synthesised findings is that achieving effective pandemic resilience demands a fundamental paradigm shift towards RMCS and associated management accounting systems and control practices that are simultaneously anticipatory—embedding equity considerations and systemic risk analysis into pre-crisis planning—and dynamically adaptive—enabling transparent, accountable and stakeholder-responsive decision-making during crises to mitigate fragmentation and injustice. This study contributes an empirically grounded, theoretically informed analysis of the complex interplay between risks, strategies and control tools in global health emergencies. It offers critical insights for the development of more integrated, adaptive and equitable RMCS for future pandemic preparedness and response.18 0Item Restricted Methodology for Selection of Optimal Satellite Constellation for Precise GNSS Positioning(University of Nottingham, 2025-01) Alluhaybi, Abdulaziz; Psimoulis, Panagiotis; Remenyte-Prescott, RasaContinuous advancements in GNSS systems, apart from the broadly used GPS, have led to the development of other satellite systems (Galileo, BeiDou, GLONASS), which have significantly increased the number of available satellites for GNSS positioning applications. However, GNSS satellites’ redundancy and potential poor GNSS satellite signals can negatively affect the GNSS’s positioning speed and accuracy. On the other hand, selecting high-quality GNSS satellite signals by retaining a sufficient number of GNSS satellites can enhance the GNSS’s positioning performance. Various methods have been applied for satellite selection. However, the selected satellites via these methods could be insufficient for precise positioning. These methods were designed to select satellites for Single Point Positioning (SPP) solution with meters level accuracy. This is because these satellite selection methods only consider SPP factors. To choose satellites for precise positioning, new satellite selection method was developed considering Precise Point Positioning (PPP) factors. Various satellite selection methods were investigated and assessed to developed new satellite selection method that fit PPP- satellite selection. To test the performance of the new satellite selection method, several experiments have been conducted. Satellites were selected for various PPP applications: i) static open-sky, ii) kinematic open-sky, and iii) static at multipath conditions. In addition, satellites were selected in all possible subset sizes, i.e., they were selected in subsets with all possible numbers of satellites. According to experiment results, the efficiency of the new satellite selection method was excellent at low multipath environment regardless of PPP modes: static or kinematic. The positioning accuracy of original PPP, using all satellites, was achieved by multiple sizes of selected satellite subsets by the selection method. It was also obtained by selected satellites with different subset sizes. In terms of high multipath environments, the performance of the satellite selection method was less effective. The positioning accuracy of the original PPP was not achieved by the selected satellite subsets although they provided positioning accuracy close to the original PPP with a few satellites. This achievement is quite promising although the new satellite selection method needs further improvement.3 0Item Restricted A Qualitative Exploration of the Adoption of Big Data Analytics Applications in Healthcare: Insights from Saudi Hospitals(University of Southampton, 2025) Almoosa, Alya Abdulwahab A; So, Mee Chi; Kunc, MartinThe emergence of big data analytics (BDA) has introduced innovative solutions to disease prediction and diagnosis, personalised medicine, and hospital management. These advancements have offered opportunities for healthcare organisations to address the sector's pressing demands to reduce cost, improve care quality, and enhance accessibility to healthcare services. The aim of this study is to uncover the factors influencing the adoption of BDA applications in hospitals, promoting a better understanding of BDA adoption within the sector. This research also aims to explore how BDA solutions are being adopted in practice. To address these aims, this investigation followed a qualitative multiple-case study approach. The study investigated five large public hospitals in Saudi Arabia with differing levels of BDA adoption. Data sources included semi-structured interviews, documents, and memos, with interviews serving as the primary research method. A total of 36 interviews were conducted with employees involved in the adoption process. The findings suggest that BDA adoption in hospitals is shaped by a complex interplay of technological, organisational, environmental (TOE), and processual factors. Technological enablers such as data quality, data availability, compatibility, infrastructure, expertise, and trust in BDA applications create a foundation for BDA adoption and their absence results in major barriers. While organisational needs such as healthcare service types, patient volume and internal pressures act as drivers, BDA literacy, business-IT alignment, and decision-making culture are essential enablers for BDA adoption. Similarly, dynamic environments, competition, and changes in medical practices are external drivers for BDA solutions, whereas regulations and vendor support emerged as enablers. The study reveals that a well-defined adoption process and stakeholder consensus facilitate the adoption. Challenges to BDA adoption include resistance to change, vendor lock-in, ethical concerns, and public sector-specific issues such as decision-making dependencies and funding mechanisms. The study also reveals that advanced analytical solutions in hospitals are often adopted as objective-specific projects driven by localised needs and priorities. This sheds light on the role of BDA beneficiaries in the adoption process and the unique challenges to BDA adoption. This study contributes to both theory and practice. Theoretically, it contributes to the information systems (ISs) innovation adoption literature by advancing the understanding of the drivers, enablers, and barriers impacting BDA adoption in hospitals, particularly in public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. In addition to the well-established dimensions of the TOE framework, the study suggests the relevance of a processual dimension in shaping adoption outcomes. This dimension emphasises how aspects of the adoption process itself can influence the adoption. The study also provides insights into how BDA solutions are adopted, further emphasising the importance of understanding the adoption process of emerging technologies in IS adoption research. Practically, the study offers actionable recommendations for hospitals to overcome adoption barriers, improve organisational readiness, and support the effective integration of BDA technologies. It also provides valuable insights for policymakers, IS vendors, and professional bodies by highlighting the need for detailed regulatory frameworks for BDA applications in healthcare, improved vendor practices, and targeted awareness initiatives that promote responsible and ethical BDA adoption in healthcare.5 0Item Restricted Environmental Sustainability in Coca Cola(Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), 2025) Bakoban, Aseel; Lucy, LunevichEnvironmental conservation is a critical challenge for companies operating in the manufacturing sector. The problem is experienced by all manufacturing companies regardless of their location, especially those who are producing beverages due to the nature of raw materials required to make such products. Coca-Cola is one of the largest multinational corporations that is leading in plastic pollution and carbon emissions in the world. The company’s large size and presence in many parts of the world has resulted in devastating environmental impacts in many countries. Coca-Cola sells 1.9 billion liters of beverages in more than 200 countries daily. Besides water consumption, Coca-Cola is also facing sustainability issues in its packaging material. It is worth noting that the company mainly relies on plastic packaging which is the major contributor of littering in landfills and water bodies. Low recycling rates have contributed to high level of plastic pollution by Coca-Cola. Being one of the top producers of plastics in the world, the company contributes a great share to 8 million plastic bottles that are found in marine environment. Break Free From Plastic has ranked the company as a top contributor of plastic pollution for many consecutive years. Coca-Cola has a made a significant step in environmental sustainability through the 100% plant-based bottle innovation. Since the release of this sustainable packaging in 2023, the company has managed to reduce plastic pollution and environmental degradation in areas that serve beverages contained in plant-based bottles (Coca-Cola, 2023, p. 2). The main advantage of using bioplastics is that it reduces the pressure of extracting virgin materials or fossil fuels. When the company no longer needs petrochemical materials, environmental degradation from mining activities reduces. However, the innovation presents many challenges to Coca-Cola due to the nature of materials used to make plant-based bottles. Unlike traditional plastic bottles that are strong, durable and provides protection during transportation, plant-based bottles cannot withstand the logistics of transport and environmental conditions during storage and transportation. Recycling of packaging materials can be easy or complex depending on the nature of the packaging. Even though a circular economy can help Coca-Cola to become more environmentally sustainable, it depends on the material. Some research studies claim that complex materials consume more energy during recycling, thus, reducing the efficiency of a circular economy.25 0Item Restricted Diagonal Approximations on Finite Regular CW Complexes: Theory, Implementation, and Applications(University of Galway, 2025-08) Alzobydi, Khaled Ahmad; Eills, GrahamWe describe an algorithm for recursively constructing diagonal approximations on finite regular CW-complexes where the closure of each cell can be explicitly collapsed to a point. The algorithm is based on the standard proof of the acyclic carrier theorem and is made constructive through the use of explicit contracting homotopies. We compare the algorithm’s output with existing diagonal approximations for the families of simplices, cubes, associahedra, and permutahedra11 0Item Restricted An Analysis of the Saudi Commercial Court System: Challenges of Litigation and the Role of International Commercial Courts and AI Integration in Judicial Reform(University ofLeeds, 2024) Alessa, Hibah; Subhajt, BesuThis thesis critically examines the historical development and modern reform of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commercial courts and litigation framework, assessing their capacity to attract transnational litigants in alignment with the Kingdom’s ambitious international investment agenda. Through a constitutional analysis of Saudi Arabia’s legal system, the study situates the commercial courts within the broader institutional context, employing comparative and applied theoretical methods to explore the global rise of international commercial courts and the integration of technologies, including artificial intelligence, in courtroom practices. The thesis concludes by exploring how institutional and technological innovations from other jurisdictions could enhance the efficiency and legitimacy of Saudi Arabia’s litigation framework while also critically reflecting on the legal and ethical consequences of the Kingdom’s increasing reliance on de-judicialised, informal, and technology-driven alternatives to traditional court processes. The study advocates for reforms that balance international commercial adaptability with preserving Saudi Arabia’s legal traditions, cultural values, and public interest, proposing a litigation framework that empowers an autonomous judiciary and develops commercial law principles responsive to global and local imperatives.1 0Item Restricted Human Vulnerability Attack in Saudi Arabia(University of Portsmouth, 2025) AlZabin, Naif Abdullah M; Zaynab, LamoyeroHuman vulnerability attacks, which use people rather than technology to get into networks, are a growing cybersecurity problem. This research examines human vulnerability attacks in all key Saudi Arabian industries and proposes effective mitigation techniques. A quantitative survey was used to collect data from Saudi Arabian banking, healthcare, energy, and government professionals. According to the results, psychological biases and repeated lapses dramatically increase cyberattack risk. A majority of respondents agreed that combining training, policy, and technology minimizes the danger of human vulnerability assaults, supporting the theory. Ineffective training and incomplete technical implementation were found, highlighting the need for adjustments. The research underlines the significance of leadership in developing cybersecurity awareness and establishing a security-conscious culture in enterprises. Implementing technical defenses, improving training, and strengthening policies are the study's cybersecurity suggestions. Future studies should increase sample size, examine particular psychological biases, and assess the long-term efficacy of integrated cybersecurity methods.3 0Item Restricted A REVIEW OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING-GUIDED ADAPTIVE RADIATION THERAPY: CURRENT CHALLENGES(Boston Universty, 2022) Alsufyani, Maha; Thomas, KevinRadiation Therapy (RT) is considered one of the most prevalent options for oncologic cancer treatment. However, due to changes in some patients' organs, size, shape, tumor position, or movement that may occur over the treatment period, adaptive radiotherapy (ART) was a new method introduced in 1997 (Yan et al., 1997). ART is used to correct these anatomical and functional variations by modifying plans during the treatment. Image-guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), as part of the ART process, is a technique used to detect these variations and adjust treatment plans accordingly (Sterzing et al., 2011). Currently, the IGRT technique uses onboard Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), which is an effective technique. However, CBCT generates insufficient soft tissue contrast images to accurately distinguish between normal tissues and tumor fields. Therefore, a new method using Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy (MRgRT) was introduced to advance ART by providing real-time visualization of the cancer and the tissue around it (Acharya et al., 2016). To further identify and monitor anatomic motion, MRgRT offers real-time images (Chin et al., 2020). In this review, an investigation of previous studies and clinical trials was conducted to understand the challenges and limitations that can be faced by using MRgRT. The results of the study might suggest MRIgRT's potential function in enhancing radiation therapy.13 0Item Restricted DEVELOPMENT OF PSMA-TARGETED RADIOPHARMACUTICALS FOR ROUTINE CLINICAL APPLICATIONS(Texas A&M University, 2022) Abusalem, Mohammed; Ford, JohnProstate cancer (PCa) is regarded one of the most prevalent cancer diagnoses amongst men in the United States and worldwide. Moreover, PCa is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in America. Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been recognized as a promising molecular target in the detection of PCa, which has led to the development of specific radiolabeled tracers for PCa imaging and radioligand therapy. Consequently, PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals applications in molecular imaging have significantly grown in recent years, evidenced by the number of clinical studies published, and the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Gallium-68 labeled PSMA-11 (68Ga-PSMA-11), a positron emission tomography imaging agent for PSMA positive lesions in men with prostate cancer. In this study, the aim is to preclinically evaluate Copper-64 labeled PSMA-I&T (64Cu-PSMA-I&T), as a potential PSMA-targeted imaging agent for routine clinical applications. In vitro and in vivo biological evaluation studies will be conducted to assess the specificity and binding affinity of the radiotracer to target, as well as estimating the absorbed dose delivered to target organs via internal radiation dosimetry measurements. PSMA-I&T (for Imaging & Therapy) offers high potential as a PSMA- binding-inhibitor, and is considered one of the first theranostic tracers, as it can be radiolabeled with various radiometals for imaging or therapy of PCa. While 64Cu is a well- established clinically available PET isotope that can be produced in large batches by a cyclotron and has a relatively long half-life (12.7 hrs.), which is important to facilitate the accessibility to and overcome logistical burdens associated with the production and commercial distribution of medical radioisotopes.20 0Item Restricted A study of dimensional accuracy in a partially edentulous arch by using a new alternate method to scan: An in-vitro study.(Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, 2023) Kazim, Sohil; Kamel, Mohamed; Saghiri, Mohamed Ali; Morgano, Steven; Morgano, StevenObjective: This study aims to determine the dimensional accuracy of 3D virtual casts generated by using 2D imaging (3DV) compared with a 3D scanned cast made with a table-top scanner (3DS) of a partially edentulous mandibular stone cast. The 3D scanned cast (3DS) was selected as a control because of its high precision and accuracy. Material and methods: A partially edentulous mandibular stone cast was scanned 5 times by using a 3D table-top scanner (Shining3D Dental, Zhejiang, China) to generate STL files. After a critical examination of all 5 STL 3D scans, 1 of them was chosen for the study with optimal landmarks and no surface defects. One hundred images of the mandibular stone cast were made by using a smartphone (iPhone 12 plus, Apple Inc, Cupertino, CA) from various angles. Then, the 2D images were converted to a 3D model by using the process of photogrammetry. The software used to render this process was Autodesk ReCap software (Autodesk ReCap, Inc, San Rafael, CA). The entire procedure was repeated 12 times to obtain 12 different data sets. To ensure repeatability of this alternate method to scan, all 3DV group casts were superimposed on each other to observe the difference between the superimposed casts. The selected 3D scanned cast from the 3DS group was compared with the 3DV group by using Autodesk Recap software to observe the match between the 2 groups. After completing the Autodesk Recap procedure, ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) was used to analyze and measure the dimensional difference between the selected 3DS cast and 3DV group. The data were analyzed by using the 1-sample t-test. Results: Twelve virtual casts of the 3DV group were overlapped on the selected 3D scanned cast which was obtained by using the table-top scanner. Significant overlaps were observed between both methods to scan for the partially edentulous mandibular stone cast (P < 0.05, CI 95%). Conclusion: The proposed method was highly accurate and comparable to a commercially available 3D table-top scanner. Clinical relevance: This new scanning technique is highly accurate and less expensive, easier to use and handle, and less space-consuming in the laboratory when compared with the results obtained from a 3D table-top scanner. Statement of problem: - High price of a 3D table-top scanner. - Size of the 3D table-top scanner.19 0