Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/10
Browse
8 results
Search Results
Item Restricted Evaluating the thermal impact of built environment surfaces on urban trees for achieving maximum cooling performance in the school's car parking and walkways in the UK and Saudi Arabia.(University of Reading, 2024-04) Aldosary, Nada; Shao, Li; Vahdati, MariaDuring heatwaves built, urban areas can easily overheat, which can put peoples health at risk or require expensive mechanical air conditioning. However, greener areas remain several degrees colder and powerful in reducing the heat island effect and provide thermal comfort. Urban greening proposed to be an approach to mitigating health consequences resulting from climate change increased temperatures and heatwaves (Bowler, et al., 2010). Built environment surfaces usually contribute to increasing local climate temperatures, and this research would investigate the impact of built environment surfaces temperatures such as walkways in streets and parking, on urban trees thermal performance. Before something can be managed, it should be measured as a first step. Urban tree thermal effect is one of the essential indicators of green infrastructure quality. On the city scale, one of the biggest challenges of green infrastructure is how to deal with severe heat waves by improving healthy growth and prosperity and improving the cooling performance of urban trees. Particularly walkways and parking areas, where urban heat island radiated. Those areas where impervious surfaces are increasing with urban expansion. This research intends to enrich the decision-making process specifically architects, in improving the pavement surface materials used in schools and built environments to tackle climate change challenges in summer, particularly heat waves. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of built environment surfaces temperatures on the urban tree cooling potentials and in turn, its impact on urban microclimate in the UK and KSA hot climate. This research examines and assesses the relationship between the surfaces of urban built environments and the cooling potential of green spaces and trees in urban areas. A total of 18 experimental case studies have been conducted to assess the impact of heatwaves and climate change on urban trees in both British and Saudi contexts. These studies also examined the effects of construction materials used around trees in schools, walkways, and car parking areas on the thermal performance of the trees. A comprehensive statistical analysis has been conducted to assess the overall influence of construction materials on trees in urban environments in both the UK and Saudi Arabia. The findings reveal that the impact of construction materials temperature on urban trees is significant, and the effect in Saudi Arabia is more substantial than it in UK. This variation could be attributed to the decrease in relative humidity and the increase in air temperature. Consequently, climate change may result in a similar outcome in the UK, as a result of more extensive heatwaves over the summer.18 0Item Restricted Metagenomic Exploration of the Effects of Depth and Temperature on the Microbiome Structure and Function of the Gorgonian Eunicella singularis and the Cold Water Scleractinia Desmophyllum pertusum(University of Barcelona, 2024) Binsarhan, Mohammad; Logares, Ramiro; Calafat, AntonioCorals play an essential role in marine environments and their morphological structure provides microbes with different habitat types. In turn, the microbes provide corals with important compounds that contribute to coral fitness and health. Corals have been suggested to hold distinct microbes within the anatomical layer, such as the Skeleton, Surface mucus layer (SML), Tissue, and Gastric cavity. Furthermore, many factors can influence the structure and function of the microbiome, making it more challenging to understand. Coral age, taxonomy, disease, depth zones, and many other abiotic factors could shape coral microbiomes and are responsible for their stability. Disturbances in the relationship's stability between coral hosts and their associated microbes increase the chance of coral infections and bleaching, leading to mortality. Therefore, studying the influence of each factor on the microbiome could lead to a better understanding of the nature and dynamics of this complex system. However, many questions remain regarding how microbes are acquired and function in corals. In this thesis, we explored the coral microbiome and its relationship with two abiotic variables, depth and temperature. High-throughput meta-omics approaches have been used to investigate coral microbiomes. Some limitations may hinder the full benefits of meta-omics; however, these powerful tools open doors for understanding the coral microbiome. Our comprehensive analysis of the Mediterranean Eunicella singularis microbiome revealed significant differences between shallow and mesophotic colonies at both taxonomic and functional levels. While shallow water colonies prominently featured Symbiodinium, essential for coral energy production through photosynthesis, its absence in the mesophotic zone indicates a shift in microbial community structure. In deeper environments, the microbial community exhibited higher abundances of functional genes related to carbohydrate, energy, amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism. This potentially allows the microbiome to utilize carbon and nitrogen from various sources, such as glutathione, steroids, fatty acids, and aromatic hydrocarbons, which might help sustain coral nutrition through enhanced nutrient availability. Additionally, Metagenome-Assembled Genomes (MAGs) analysis identified microbiome taxa, such as DT-91 (Order Pseudomonadales) and Endozoicomonas, involved in nutrient recycling, vitamin production, and secretion systems, highlighting their role in microbiome fitness. These findings underscore potential microbial adaptation mechanisms to environmental conditions, emphasizing their potential role in facilitating coral resilience and adaptation to different contexts. Further investigations are needed to determine whether these genes are actively expressed in the microbial community and to assess the extent of their influence on both the coral's health and its associated microbiome. Our study of the potential influence of prolonged thermal stress on the cold-water coral D. pertusum revealed a significant impact on the microbiome structure at both taxonomic and functional levels. Metagenomic analyses supported previous research, showing an increase in Rhodobacterales under thermal stress conditions. Moreover, our analyses indicated an increase in the carbon metabolic genes, such as methylotrophy and glycoside hydrolase enzymes, which may destabilize the microbiome and promote the growth of opportunistic pathogenic organisms. Indeed, we found an increase in pathogenic marker genes within the D. pertusum microbiome as temperature increased. Interestingly, the microbial taxa associated with these markers, such as those related to type 1 and 3 secretion systems, also increased in abundance in thermally stressed microbiomes. Additionally, we observed an increase in genes associated with diazotrophic activity, including denitrification and nitrification, which could disrupt the nitrogen cycle balance between the coral and its microbiome, potentially increasing the susceptibility to diseases and mortality. Together, these findings underscore the influence of increasing temperature on the taxonomic and functional structure of the cold-water coral microbiome. However, further research is required to investigate the gene expression profiles associated with formaldehyde assimilation, denitrification, and nitrification. Examining the expression levels of these metabolic pathways would provide deeper insights into their activity and regulation, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of their roles in the microbiome's response to environmental stressors such as temperature increase.4 0Item Restricted The impact of climate change on international security(Birkbeck University, 2023-12-01) Albader, Abdulaziz; Colas, AlexClimate change has brought significant changes to the environment, causing a shift in weather patterns. The resultant effect is the displacement of people from their homes due to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts. Climate-induced migration is on the rise globally, with millions of people displaced annually. Addressing climate change displacement requires a comprehensive approach that focuses on both mitigating its effects and addressing the root causes. Food security is a critical aspect of human welfare that is highly influenced by various factors, including climate change. Climate change can lead to food insecurity, which affects the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people globally. Food insecurity remains a significant challenge globally and is exacerbated by climate change. The recommended strategies, such as improving agricultural practices and technologies, promoting sustainable land use practices, encouraging crop diversification and livestock farming, and enhancing access to financial services for smallholder farmers, offer practical solutions towards mitigating its effects. The impacts of climate change on water security are numerous. Precipitation pattern changes can alter the timing and amount of surface runoff into streams and reduce available groundwater replenishment periods. Political tensions related to climate change represent a pressing issue that requires urgent and comprehensive action from governments and other stakeholders. Economic disparities due to climate change refer to the uneven distribution of benefits and costs brought about by changing weather patterns.20 0Item Restricted Temperature Extremes Exposure and Children’s Health: Extreme Heat- and Cold-Related Impacts in Edmonton, Alberta(University of Alberta, 2024) Alsunaidi, Sara; Jones, C. Allyson; Yamamoto, Shelby S.; Osornio-Vargas, AlvaroIn the current context of escalating climate change effects on public health, Canada's distinctive geographic position causes it to warm at double the global average rate. This phenomenon leads to potentially heightened health risks for its residents through direct and indirect mechanisms. Particularly at risk are the most vulnerable age groups, such as children aged 0-5 years. Extreme temperature events—both hot and cold—pose latent health threats, especially to this demographic. It is imperative to note that while all children within this age range are at risk, certain age-specific and sex-specific factors may exacerbate or mitigate their vulnerability. Given the transformative developmental stages within these early years and the pronounced physiological differences between sexes, these factors are crucial to understand. This study, focusing on Edmonton, AB, aims to explore the health ramifications of such temperature extremes on children aged 0-5. To achieve a comprehensive analysis, the research segments its investigation based on age brackets (0-1, 2-3, 4-5 years) and sex (male and female). The objective is to examine the association between outdoor exposure to extreme temperature conditions and the incidence rate of hospital admissions and emergency visits for children in this age group. It utilizes health data from Alberta Health Services (AHS) and environmental data from the Alberta Climate Information Service (ACIS) from 2015 to 2018, focusing on age- and sex-specific trends. Time-series analysis, including Poisson and negative binomial regression, were applied to examine the correlation between temperature extremes—quantified by the 95th and 5th percentiles of weekly average temperatures—and pediatric hospital admissions and emergency visits. The analyses were stratified by age and sex and adjusted for confounding variables such as air pollution, relative humidity, seasonality, and long-term trends. During the study period, we recorded 5,970 hospital admissions and emergency visits for the 0-5 age group, with a notable majority (92.2%) for respiratory diseases. A significant increase in health service utilization was found in the 2–3-year age group during extreme heat (IRR= 1.36, 95% CI 1.03-1.80, p=0.03) and cold (IRR= 1.30, 95% CI 1.01-1.67, p=0.05) events. No significant associations were found in the 0-1- and 4-5-year age brackets, nor were there sex-based differences in health outcomes. The study revealed that pediatric respiratory diseases, such as asthma, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia, were significantly associated with extreme temperature events in the 2–3-year age group. The effects of cold temperatures persisted up to four weeks post-exposure (IRR= 1.30, 95% CI 1.00-1.69, p=0.05), while the impact of heat was more immediate (IRR= 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.83, p=0.04), suggesting different temporal patterns of risk. These findings demonstrate a rising trend in the risk of negative respiratory health effects in young children linked to extreme hot and cold temperatures, highlighting the need for a more thorough assessment across various health outcomes. Additionally, they emphasize the need for ongoing research to refine our understanding of how these events affect pediatric health and develop comprehensive mitigation and adaptation strategies. Future studies should investigate more precise and direct methods for assessing the health impacts of such events, explore the contributing factors of these temperature extremes, including the role of climate change, and explore preventative strategies to mitigate their effects. This research is crucial for developing robust measures to protect our youngest and most vulnerable residents from the health hazards of extreme climate variability.9 0Item Restricted What factors influence automotive consumers' behaviour regarding climate change government policies and regulations?(The University of Warwick, 2023-12-06) Bin-Eidan, Rasha; Eubanks, DawnAccording to Jaguar Land Rover (2023) in United Kingdom, a survey was conducted on 234 participants shows that clients are taking sustainable actions and nearly three quarter of the market is insulating their homes to save energy. This research study investigates the factors influencing consumers’ behaviour in the automotive industry, with a particular focus on the impact of climate change government policies and regulations. The objectives of the study include identifying these factors, understanding barriers that limit consumers’ behaviour, and analysing the relationship between culture, government policies, and automotive consumers' behaviour in the United Kingdom. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with managers from Jaguar Land Rover in the UK. The study finds that factors such as consumer awareness of environmental issues, personal values, and government support for environmentally friendly vehicles significantly influence consumers’ behaviour. It also notes the evolving landscape of government regulations in the automotive industry and highlights Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality by 2039, including the introduction of electric vehicles and clean fuel-cell power. The abstract provides context for the research study, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer behaviour in the context of climate change policies and the automotive industry.29 0Item Restricted Waste Gasification for Hydrogen Production(University College London (UCL), 2023) Lahig, Talal; Materazzi, MassimilianoThe vision for hydrogen being at the forefront of the energy transition is already in existence, due to its high energy density and its zero greenhouse gas emissions during use. Current production methods include steam-methane reforming and coal gasification, which lead to high CO2 emissions that will amplify climate change with increasing demand. Opposite to this is waste gasification, which provides a sustainable gateway for clean hydrogen production as waste contains biogenic carbon and can attain negative carbon emissions when coupled with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). This study concentrates on the development of a novel approach to predict the pyrolysis yields of diverse waste based on its components of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, polyethylene and polypropylene. The work demonstrates that the flexibility and predictive capability of an air-steam bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) gasification model for a wide array of waste types is improved. The model was rigorously validated against pilot plant data through comparison of the outlet syngas composition, the tar content, the heating value and the temperature profile across the fluidised bed gasifier at a range of conditions. The effects of the feedstock type, equivalence ratio (ER) and the steam-to-waste ratio (STWR) are investigated to determine the optimal conditions for achieving a high H2 yield, while maintaining medium heating values. It was found that a H2/CO ratio of 2.37 is achieved with an ER of 0.30 and a STWR of 1.2 using sugarcane bagasse.34 0Item Restricted Vulnerable Pawns, Leading securitizing actors, or both? A study of Small Island Developing States and Climate Security(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-12-01) Qadhi, Rawan; Tansey, OisinClimate change is not officially recognized as a traditional security threat by international bodies regardless of the climate-related security concerns raised by small and developing countries such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which are threatened by the increasing sea level rise (SLR) resulting from the warming of global temperature. Exploring the subject of climate change in relation to SIDS is highly important as they are explicitly viewed as vulnerable pawns in the climate change regime regardless of their strategies and powers as small state actors. This research project, therefore, turns attention to the domestic construction of climate change and asks: how do SIDS frame climate change, and with what strategies do they apply to strengthen climate security and governance globally? This research utilizes the frameworks of the Copenhagen School of Security Studies as well as small state studies to explore climate security discursive practices and powers across three selected cases: the Bahamas, Tuvalu, and the Maldives. The main findings of the research are that SIDS frames and securitizes climate change as an existential threat to different security sectors depending on domestic understanding and priorities. Further, SIDS integrates their climate securitization moves into the realm of global climate security and governance by employing powers of small states that rely on cooperation, morality, and global public awareness. The main objective of this research is to move away from the vulnerability rhetoric that addresses SIDS as pawns in the game of climate change due to inherent and structural elements of island states rather than leading powers with the will and skills to expand on the meaning of security.33 0Item Restricted Recent Advancements in Graphene Oxide Adsorbents for Wastewater Treatment(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-10-02) Alyami, Hussain Hadi; Tahir, Asif; Roy, AnuragThe rapid increase in the world's population, alongside accelerated industrial expansion and the profound impacts of climate change, is intensifying the global water scarcity crisis. Graphene oxide (GO) and its varied composites play a pivotal role in wastewater purification, attributed to their superior adsorptive, oxidative, and catalytic properties. This review highlights the advances in hybrid graphene-based membrane materials, specifically engineered for water purification, addressing the growing demand for potable water. Intrinsically, graphene and GO and their composites boast a considerable pore volume, outstanding conductivity, diverse surface chemistry, and a remarkable aspect ratio. These attributes position them as ideal agents for the adsorption and catalysis of organic pollutants from wastewater. Notably, the sheet-like, resonant, polyaromatic π-system inherent in graphene derivatives facilitates critical interactions with organic pollutants, be it π–π stacking, hydrogen bonding, or electrostatic interactions. Such pollutants span from dyes and pharmaceutical by products to a spectrum of agricultural and industrial effluents. Many of these pollutants possess reactive unsaturated aromatic structures and abundant oxygen-rich functional groups. Numerous studies have meticulously analyzed the adsorption capacities of these pollutants, often framed within the context of established adsorption isotherm models such as Langmuir and Freundlich. Likewise, kinetic models, determinative factors, and the reusability of adsorbents have been thoroughly investigated. However, there's a noticeable gap in comprehensive dialogues comparing graphene-based membranes to other hybrid counterparts. Deepening our understanding of these graphene-infused membranes is crucial, marking a new paradigm in graphene applications. It is projected that upcoming research endeavors will further scrutinize and perfect the fabrication techniques of these cutting-edge graphene membranes, catalyzing more innovations in the sector.21 0