Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted An Evaluation of Fire Safety Preparedness in Saudi Arabian Hospitals: A Case Study of Riyadh City Public Hospitals(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alotaibi, Abdullah; Nandi, ErnestModern hospitals are complex environments where fire safety is not just a technical challenge but a critical matter of protecting human lives and property. This study evaluates fire safety preparedness in five tertiary public hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, employing a mixed-methods approach to examine the multidimensional nature of institutional safety. Data were collected from 108 participants across various professional roles using a structured questionnaire covering five key domains: infrastructure, training, organizational culture, system functionality, and human factors. The research utilized advanced statistical techniques, including descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, linear regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze quantitative data, complemented by thematic analysis of qualitative responses. The findings reveal that fire safety preparedness is a complex, interconnected ecosystem rather than a linear construct. Organizational culture emerged as the strongest predictor of overall readiness, followed by system effectiveness, infrastructure, and training. The SEM analysis demonstrated significant pathways between variables, with system effectiveness directly influencing readiness and training, significantly impacting both culture and human factors. Significant differences in preparedness were observed across hospitals, demonstrating the impacts of awareness, training, the contribution of the human factor, organisational culture, and leadership. However, no significant differences were found across professional roles, suggesting consistent perceptions of fire safety across different staff categories. The study contributes to the understanding of institutional health and safety management by highlighting the multidimensional, interconnected nature of fire safety preparedness. Also, it provides practical recommendations for enhancing safety protocols in Saudi Arabian hospitals. These findings have important implications for hospital administrators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals seeking to improve fire safety in complex healthcare environments. Keywords: Fire safety, Saudi Hospitals, System Effectiveness, Infrastructure, Fire Safety Training, Structural Equation Modelling, Mixed-Method Analysis.5 0Item Restricted The role of gap junction intercellular signalling in platelet-neutrophil interactions(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALALYAN, SALIHAH SAAD; SALIHAH, ALALYANBackground Platelets are increasingly recognised for their roles beyond thrombosis and haemostasis, notably in modulating inflammation through direct interactions with innate immune cells. Connexins, a family of transmembrane proteins, form hexameric hemichannels that dock between adjacent cells to create gap junctions, enabling direct intercellular communication. Several connexins, including Cx37, Cx40, and Cx62, are expressed in human platelets, while Cx37 and Cx40 are also found in blood neutrophils, where they mediate communication with endothelial cells. Given the critical role of platelet-neutrophil interactions in inflammation, connexins may facilitate intercellular signalling between these cells. Aim and Hypothesis This study aimed to determine whether connexin-mediated gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) facilitates platelet-neutrophil signalling and modulates inflammatory processes. It was hypothesised that connexins (Cx37, Cx40, and Cx62) enable direct intercellular communication between platelets and neutrophils, supporting bidirectional calcium signalling and promoting aggregate formation. Results The expression of Cx37, Cx40, and Cx62 in human neutrophils was confirmed by western blotting. Platelet-neutrophil interactions were evaluated using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Stimulation with PMA (10 ng/mL), TRAP-6 (30 μM), or fMLP (1 μM) significantly enhanced these interactions. However, treatment with the non-selective gap junction inhibitor carbenoxolone (Cbx), as well as selective Gap27 peptides targeting Cx37, Cx40, and Cx62, significantly reduced platelet-neutrophil aggregate formation. To investigate calcium signalling, neutrophils were loaded with Fura-2 and co-incubated with washed platelets, then stimulated with CRP-XL or fMLP. CRP-XL-induced platelet activation triggered intracellular calcium mobilisation in neutrophils, a response inhibited by Cbx and each Gap27 peptide. Notably, CRP-XL alone did not stimulate neutrophil calcium signalling in the absence of platelets. Similarly, fMLP-induced neutrophil activation triggered calcium mobilisation in platelets, which was likewise inhibited by Cx-specific inhibitors. However, fMLP alone did not activate platelets. To assess hemichannel function, calcein dye transfer was monitored. Upon PMA, TRAP-6, or fMLP stimulation, fluorescence transfer from donor neutrophils to platelets was observed, indicating functional gap junction formation. This dye transfer was abolished by Cbx and each connexin-specific inhibitor, confirming the role of connexins in mediating intercellular exchange. Conclusion This study provides strong evidence that connexin-mediated GJIC plays a pivotal role in platelet-neutrophil interactions by supporting bidirectional calcium signalling and the exchange of small molecules, such as calcein. Inhibition of Cx37, Cx40, and Cx62 significantly disrupted these processes, underscoring their importance in direct intercellular communication. These findings reveal connexins as key regulators of inflammatory platelet-leukocyte crosstalk and suggest their potential as therapeutic targets in thrombo-inflammatory conditions.8 0Item Restricted Narrating Alternative Nations: Oral Tradition and Counter-Hegemonic Nationalism in Scottish and Anglo-Irish Fiction, 1800-1818(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alreshidi, Hani Hameed; McKeever, Gerard LeeThis dissertation examines how Romantic-era fiction in Scotland and Ireland reimagines oral tradition as a literary and political form through which alternative models of nationhood are negotiated under the conditions of the Union. Focusing on Maria Edgeworth’s Castle Rackrent (1800), Sydney Owenson’s The Wild Irish Girl (1806), and Walter Scott’s Waverley (1814) and The Heart of Midlothian (1818), it argues that representations of oral storytelling operate not as nostalgic survivals of premodern culture but as formal strategies that mediate relations between vernacular voice and imperial authority. The dissertation identifies four modes of preservation—structural resistance, sentimental mediation, aesthetic containment, and institutional incorporation—to describe how these texts transform oral forms such as digression, recursion, and vernacular idiom into narrative techniques that both challenge and adapt to modern print culture.27 0Item Restricted Nawa (نوى): From Seed to Strategy — A Sustainability Advisory for Aspiring Entrepreneurs(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alqahtani, Rozan; Ramli, KautsarNawa Consulting helps early-stage founders in Saudi Arabia and the GCC build practical sustainability into their businesses. Year 1 delivers fast audits and 1:1 coaching (Arabic/English, digital-first); Year 2 adds ESG-readiness projects; Year 3 offers strategy, impact KPIs and investor-readiness packs. The model is lean, remote and partner-led, using repeatable toolkits to keep prices accessible and delivery quick. Primary customers are aspiring entrepreneurs and micro-SMEs reached via startup hubs, universities, webinars and referrals. Evidence comes from customer interviews, a simple market scan and live experiments; risks and ethics are addressed with clear consent, data-minimisation and no-greenwashing rules. Financially, break-even is ~70 billable hours/month (reached Jan 2026). Year-1 totals: sales SAR 518k; cash in SAR 546k; cash out SAR 417k; year-end cash SAR 129k, with one early cash dip mitigated by spend controls and part-payments. An SDB loan at month 12 funds conversion to an LLC and a first hire; from Year 2, 10% of net cash supports founder-focused initiatives. The plan sets a 24-month path to a resilient, values-led advisory ready to scale or partner for strategic growth.6 0Item Restricted The Experiences of Psychological Well-Being Amongst Paramedics During The COVID-19 Pandemic(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alalhareth, Musalli; Peters, RosemaryParamedics are critical frontline healthcare providers during emergencies. However, they often work in high-stress environments with a myriad of challenges, which affect their psychological wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these challenges, potentially worsening the paramedics’ mental health. Yet paramedics’ psychological experiences remain underexplored compared to other healthcare workers. This study sought to systematically review literature on the psychological wellbeing of paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify stressors, coping mechanisms, and assess the role of organizational support. The review synthesized four analytical themes. On the theme of psychological issues, it emerged that paramedics faced high rates of stress, anxiety, PTSD, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization. Major stress and risk factors included fear of infection, inadequate PPE, long shifts, social stigma, leadership failures, and poor communication. The study identified various protective factors and coping mechanisms including personal resilience, humor, exercise, therapy, supportive leadership, peer support, and incentives. However, some used maladaptive strategies like alcohol overuse. There was substantial variation of experience by role and context. Student and less-experienced paramedics, and older staff faced more severe impacts while frontline paramedics experienced higher distress compared to second responders. This study makes several recommendations for improving the mental wellbeing of paramedics during emergencies. Organizations should improve communication, ensure PPE supply, provide psychological screening, promote healthy coping strategies, and tailor support by role and demographic. Educational institutions should integrate stress management and ethics training into paramedics’ curricula. Strategic interventions are vital for enhancing resilience and reducing attrition in future public health crises.11 0Item Restricted UNAMA and the Limits of Liberal Peacebuilding: Hybrid Governance, Elite Capture, and Rentier State Dynamics in Afghanistan post-2001(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Algheraimil, Saud; Jacob, ErikssonThis study evaluates the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s (UNAMA) statebuilding initiatives under the liberal peacebuilding framework, focusing on its interactions with Afghanistan’s hybrid governance structures post-2001. It explores why sustained international peacebuilding interventions often fail to establish legitimate, inclusive and stable governance despite considerable investment and prolonged period of engagement. Using an interpretivist research philosophy, the study employs a qualitative-led mixed-methods approach, incorporating thematic analysis of existing empirical literature complemented by quantitative data from the World Bank and the Fragile States Index. Tensions arising from UNAMA’s promotion of democratic governance led to a ‘meta-conflict’ over ownership as local actors consistently resisted externally imposed models of governance. Additionally, Afghanistan’s hybrid governance arrangements facilitated elite capture, reinforcing patronage networks rather than promoting accountable institutions. Persistent dependency on international aid reinforced rentier state dynamics, adding to corruption and redirecting accountability towards foreign donors instead of Afghan citizens. International narrative framing Afghanistan as a ‘failed state’ justified technocratic interventions, which actually enabled warlords and informal elites to manipulate peacebuilding resources and consolidate their power. This study provides important theoretical insights which challenge conventional liberal peacebuilding paradigms and practical policy recommendations for international organisations. It recommends the need to adopt flexible, locally informed strategies that prioritise internal legitimacy and accountability while reducing aid dependency. Future research should comparatively assess similar contexts, deepen empirical inquiry at grassroots levels, and identify policy mechanisms to counteract elite capture and rentierism within hybrid governance contexts.27 0Item Restricted Health Related Behaviours, Autistic and ADHD Traits, and Well-being in Students.(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almobayed, Shikhah; Smith, AndrewBackground: The recent increase in chronic diseases and mental health problems has piqued the interest of researchers in understanding healthy behaviour. Health- related behaviours (HRBs) are essential for determining physical and mental health outcomes. Therefore, positive health behaviours can result in enhanced health outcomes and well-being. Conversely, negative health behaviours can lead to various harmful health influences and the adoption of risky behaviours. Adolescents frequently engage in behaviours that impair their health and well-being, including the high consumption of sugary food and lack of physical activity. Moreover, adolescents and young adults with ADHD/autism traits have lower well-being. Aims and Methodology: This thesis investigates the associations between HRBs and ADHD/autism traits, well-being, and behavioural outcomes. Moreover, it aims to replicate the results found in WPQ studies using multivariate analyses in different populations. Results: According to univariate analysis, there is a significant correlation between health-related behaviours and well-being and SDQ outcomes. Similar findings were found between ADHD/autism traits and well-being and SDQ outcomes. When including HRBs and ADHD/autism traits in multivariate analyses, most significant correlations disappeared after controlling for well-being predictors. However, some HRBs remained significant, such as tea consumption increased flourishing among secondary students, and physical health in university students. In addition, high fruit and vegetable consumption increased prosocial behaviours among secondary and university students. It is observed that ADHD/autism traits correlated with SDQ outcomes but not well-being outcomes. Conclusion: The results showed that while HRBs are linked to well-being outcomes in univariate analyses, they often have less predictive power when other well-being predictors are taken into account. This research emphasises the importance of considering multiple factors when examining the relationship between lifestyle behaviours and well-being. Moreover, the fact that some HRBs remained significant indicates that promoting healthy behaviours improves health and well-being.8 0Item Restricted Cybersecurity Governance for Critical Infrastructure in Finance and Energy: Bridging the Compliance–Readiness Gap between Saudi Arabia and the United States (OT/IoT, AI, and Post-Quantum Cryptography)(King’s College London, 2025) Alshuwaier, Abeer Abdulrahman; Urbelis, AlexanderThis dissertation critically examines the cybersecurity governance of critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the United States, focusing on the finance and energy sectors. It explores how regulatory compliance translates into operational readiness against emerging risks from Operational Technology (OT), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The research applies Digital Security Risk Management (DSRM), the Regulatory Governance and Collective Accountability (RGCA) model, and Calo’s framework on privacy harm to assess the effectiveness of each jurisdiction’s cybersecurity architecture. Through a comparative legal and policy analysis, it identifies systemic gaps that hinder resilience and proposes a governance roadmap for Saudi Arabia to strengthen sectoral coordination, enforce quantum-aware breach disclosure, and institutionalize PQC migration. Ultimately, the study argues that bridging the compliance–readiness gap requires integrated oversight between legal and technical domains, proactive threat modelling, and adaptive regulatory mechanisms that align with technological evolution and interdependent risk environments.7 0Item Restricted Supply Chain Management Research Portfolio(University of Portsmouth, 2025) Alnawmasi, Majed Madallah; Leseure, MichelThis project examines the performance and sustainability of supply chains, focusing on supplier development, governance, and the role of trust. Using both quantitative modeling and qualitative analysis, it explores how transactional, collaborative, and hybrid approaches affect risk, service quality, and trust-based performance. Case studies, including offshore wind supply chains in the UK and DHL customer feedback analysis, highlight practical implications for local and global strategies, operational efficiency, and stakeholder satisfaction. Findings show that collaborative and hybrid approaches enhance trust, resilience, and innovation, while hybrid supply chains offer a balanced solution by integrating local development with global networks. This study contributes to sustainable supply chain management by linking theory with practice and provides guidance for managerial decision-making and policy development.28 0Item Restricted A critical analysis of confidentiality under the Arbitration Act 1996: Safeguard or obstacle to justice(Saudi digital library, 2025) Alotaibi, Ziad sajdi; Maniruzzaman, MunirThe purpose of this research is to analyse how important it is to keep information about an arbitration confidential considering the Arbitration Act of 1996. The research aims to explain whether or not confidentiality under the English Arbitration Act promotes justice. Confidentiality is important as it keeps trade secrets safe, maintains good customer relationships and promotes honest opinions among parties. However, there are also some issues on whether through maintaining the confidentiality, the process remains just, all parties have equal opportunities to seek justice and whether or not there is any reasonable basis for this kind of behaviour. The study used existing information from the case law, journal articles and institutional rules to analyse the legal basis for confidentiality with a specific focus on the fact that the Act does not contain any specific clauses on the matter, while it follows certain implied obligations which have been identified by the judiciary. The research analyses different viewpoints about confidentiality by looking at how other countries such as Singapore, Sweden or Australia balance individual rights with the public good. Findings of this research show that there should be more focus on confidentiality in the law about what must keep confidential, and information should be available for public.20 0