Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted The Humanitarian Vehicle Routing Problem with Non-Routineness of Trips(Purdue University, 2024-04-22) Alturki, Ibrahim; Lee, SeokcheonThe escalating frequency and impact of natural disasters have necessitated the study of Humanitarian Logistics (HL) optimization to mitigate human and financial losses. This dissertation encompasses three pivotal studies that collectively seek to address some of the numerous gaps identified in the nascent literature of HL optimization, particularly in conflict-ridden and low-security environments. The first study conducts a comprehensive survey on the application of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods in HL, identifying a significant gap between academic research and practical challenges, and highlighting underexplored areas within multicriteria optimization in HL. The second study introduces innovative deterministic and possibilistic models to improve the safety and security of humanitarian personnel by developing a vehicle routing model that minimizes the predictability of trips, a novel aspect in HL research. This includes the introduction of the Humanitarian Vehicle Routing Problem with Non-Routineness of Trips (HVRPNRT), creation of a unique index to measure trip routineness and the provision of an approximate closed-form solution for the aid allocation subproblem, and introduces a novel case study from the ongoing civil unrest in South Sudan. The third study presents a novel heuristic solution algorithm for the HVRPNRT, which is the first of its kind, and outperforms the commercial solver CPLEX on some instances. This algorithm offers near-optimal solutions with reduced computational times and maintains feasibility under stringent security conditions, thereby advancing the field of security-aware HL optimization. Collectively, these studies offer significant contributions to the field of HL optimization, providing a recent through survey of the field, novel practical models, methodologies, and an algorithm that address both operational efficiency and security challenges, in an effort to bridge the gap between theoretical research and real-world humanitarian needs.36 0Item Restricted Exploring And Assessing The Level Of Physical Activity Among Physiotherapists In Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey(2023-03-06) Alnaji, Abdulelah Hussain; Phillips, NicolaBackground: Physical activity (PA) is an essential part of good health. There is considerable evidence of declining PA globally, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). One of the primary goals of physiotherapists is to advocate for a healthy lifestyle. Since physiotherapists act as healthy role models for their patients. However, there is a lack of information about PA among physiotherapists in KSA. Aim of the study: The current research aimed to explore the level of PA among physiotherapists in KSA and to understand the barriers to and facilitators of PA. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Methods: This study included 172 physiotherapists currently working in the KSA as citizens or residents, a large percentage of whom were male (71%; n: 122). Between 28 December 2022 and 2 February 2023, the investigator distributed an online form of the international physical activity questionnaire (short version) via various social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Results: The study's findings demonstrate: (1) 9.3% (n = 16) of the study respondents did not engage in any PA; (2) the majority of the participants (90.7%, n:156) engaged in various intensities of moderate, vigorous, and a combination of moderate and vigorous PA; (3) more than half (61%, n: 105) of the respondents followed the international PA recommendations; (4) lack of time and work commitments were the most significant challenges that the participants faced when they engaged in PA; (5) motivation to improve health and losing or maintaining weight were the most notable facilitators for participating in PA among the participants. Conclusion: According to the results, a high percentage of physiotherapists in this study participated in PA. However, nearly 39% of study participants did not meet international PA recommendations. Thus, a study with large sample size is needed to improve the generalisability of the findings.13 0