Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted DOES AI INTEGRATION MODERATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIRM GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE IN SMES: THE INFLUENCE OF DECISION-MAKING AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE(University of South Alabama, 2025-05) AlQahtani, Dalal T; Butler, Frank C; Gillis, William E; Hair Jr, Joe F; Scott, Justin TToday’s dynamic business environment requires small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to keep up with technological advancements in order to remain competitive. Business growth creates more challenges for SMEs since they possess fewer available resources than big organizations. Since the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI), several SMEs have been able to compete more effectively and deliver better performance. As part of this research, I examine the possibility that AI integration (AII) will moderate the relationship between firm growth and both decision-making and operational performance, ultimately affecting the performance of SMEs. The aim of this research is to provide practical implications for AI as a strategic resource for improving decision-making capabilities, performance and growth by utilizing the resource-based view (RBV) and information processing theory (IPT). A partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze data from 338 SME business strategy decision-makers in the United States. In order to verify the measurement model’s reliability and validity, a Confirmatory Composite Analysis (CCA) was performed, followed by the evaluation of the structural model in order to test the hypotheses. In contrast to initial hypotheses, this study found that firm growth is positively related to both decision-making and operational performance. Nevertheless, the study results support the original hypothesis that both decision-making performance (DMP) and operational performance (OPP) positively affect a firm’s performance. Furthermore, AII significantly moderated the relationship between FG and OPP, while it did not significantly moderate the relationship between FG and DMP. This indicates the complexity of the role AI integration plays in SMEs. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research, as well as guidance for practitioners regarding how SMEs can improve their decision-making capabilities and performance using AI.11 0Item Restricted The role of Proline-Rich Homeodomain protein PRH/HHEX in cholangiocarcinoma.(The University of Nottingham, 2024) Ghouth, Nahlah; Gaston, Kevin; Bates, DavidCholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignancy of the bile ducts that arises from their lining epithelial cells. CCA has increasing incidence and mortality. Proline Rich Homeodomain / Haematopoietically Expressed Homeobox Protein (PRH/HHEX) is a transcription factor that acts as an oncoprotein in CCA. Here, using cumulative growth and EdU incorporation assays, I show that PRH expression in immortalised cholangiocytes (AKN1 cells) increased cell growth and proliferation. Additionally, I show using immunofluorescence imaging and Western blotting that PRH expression in AKN1 cells induces cellular phenotypes that resembles partial epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and that this morphological transformation is accompanied by an increase in cell migration and cell invasion. Recently, PRH expression has been reported to upregulate the expression of the mesenchymal marker protein Vimentin in CCA cells. To date most published research has focused on Vimentin expression in mesenchymal cells and its roles in the cytoplasm. Vimentin is known to participate in several biological processes such as cell proliferation, EMT, cell adhesion, cell migration, and cell invasion which have been reported to be upregulated in cancer cells with the consequence of increased tumour growth and disease progress. Knowledge on the role or roles of Vimentin in the nucleus is limited. However, nuclear Vimentin was reported to exhibit gene regulatory activity in Neuroblastoma cells. To expand knowledge on the importance of Vimentin in CCA, I used a combination of high and super-resolution imaging techniques to show that PRH may spatially exist near Vimentin in the nuclear subcellular regions of CCA cells. In addition, I used siRNA to deplete Vimentin in CCA cells and to reveal that Vimentin loss inhibits cell proliferation, induces an epithelial-like morphology, and reduces cell migration. Gene ontology (GO) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of RNAseq data generated using these cells revealed that Vimentin, in conjunction with PRH, regulates multiple signalling pathways in line with the phenotype of Vimentin-depleted cells. This project provides new insights into the importance of PRH and Vimentin in CCA. The novel PRH and Vimentin spatial organisation and the identified target genes co-regulated by PRH and Vimentin serve as new potential targets for future interventional studies.24 0