Yes / Mobile internet represents a breakthrough technology that has derived much attention from mobile organizations and services providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).1 However, the level of acceptance of mobile internet in the KSA is still below the level of ambition. This is in addition to the fact that there is a considerable need to discover the main factors shaping Saudi customers' intention and adoption of such a mobile system. For this reason, this study is conducted in the hope of providing further understanding about the adoption of mobile internet in the KSA. The extension version of Technology Acceptance Model TAM2 with perceived enjoyment was adopted as a theoretical foundation of the current study model. This was expanded by considering two additional factors: innovativeness and trust. The main empirical data collected through questionnaires was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM).3 Perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, trust, and innovativeness are statistically supported to have a significant impact on the Saudi customer intention to adopt mobile internet. Further discussion regarding the main contribution as well as research limitations and future directions are presented at the end of this paper.

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The main objective of the thesis is to implement different architectures of 16-bit adders such as; Ripple CarryAdder (RCA), Manchester Carry Chain Adder (MCCA) and Kogge Stone Adder (KSA), in 65nm CMOS technology and to study their performance in terms of power, operating frequency and speed at near threshold operating regions. The performance of these adders are evaluated and compared with each other and a final conclusion is made as to which adder structure is more suitable for implementation in a 65nmtechnology for low power applications. Several optimisation techniques are performed for the adders to reduce the delay and power consumption. Propagation delay is the most critical or essential parameter to be considered, hence, to minimise the delay of the adder, a technique called sizing and ordering are required for the transistors. The purpose of the thesis is to make a fair comparison among adders over several metrics which include linearity, delay and power. Simulation results of MCCA achieved a greater significant performance upon or over RCA and KSA, and proved it is the best suitable adder for low power applications.

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[ES] El Reino de Arabia Saudí está experimentando un importante crecimiento económico, industrial, comercial y demográfico. Este crecimiento, a su vez, provoca un aumento de la demanda de agua en la región. Además del crecimiento demográfico, también la industrialización y la modernización han ejercido una presión cada vez mayor sobre las infraestructuras hídricas del país. Urge aumentar la disponibilidad de agua para satisfacer la demanda prevista y mantener la seguridad y fiabilidad de los sistemas hídricos. Por lo tanto, es imperativo encontrar soluciones que mejoren la eficiencia del sistema hídrico del país. Un elemento clave en este esfuerzo es comprender y clasificar cómo se consume el agua con sus microcomponentes dentro de varios segmentos. La tesis recopila conocimientos precisos sobre las pautas y tendencias del consumo municipal de agua para comprender mejor los patrones de consumo y los comportamientos de los consumidores, así como desarrollar estimaciones e hipótesis preliminares. De este modo, se impulsará el modelo de demanda de agua municipal en el país para que sea capaz de hacer frente a diferentes escenarios y limitaciones. El desarrollo del modelo municipal de demanda de agua ha mostrado la necesidad de disponer de datos estadísticos y de facturación del agua fiables. Éstos constituyen el punto de partida de la previsión y deben estar disponibles con una resolución suficientemente alta. El modelo aquí presentado proporciona un marco para que nuevos desarrollos futuros. Los resultados del análisis también determinarán los factores y categorías utilizados en el modelo. El modelo se centra en la demanda de agua no residencial. No obstante, se incluyen previsiones separadas para la categoría residencial a fin de permitir la extrapolación de los resultados y el análisis top-down para un enfoque más preciso de las previsiones y, también, para una mejor comprensión general de los comportamientos de consumo de agua de la población. / [CA] El Regne de l'Aràbia Saudita està experimentant un important creixement econòmic, industrial, comercial i demogràfic. Aquest creixement, al seu torn, provoca un augment de la demanda d'aigua a la regió. A més del creixement demogràfic, també la industrialització i la modernització han exercit una pressió cada vegada major sobre les infraestructures hídriques del país. Urgeix augmentar la disponibilitat d'aigua per a satisfer la demanda prevista i mantindre la seguretat i fiabilitat dels sistemes hídrics. Per tant, és imperatiu trobar solucions que milloren l'eficiència del sistema hídric del país. Un element clau en aquest esforç és comprendre i classificar com es consumeix l'aigua amb els seus microcomponents dins de diversos segments. La tesi recopila coneixements precisos sobre les pautes i tendències del consum municipal d'aigua per a comprendre millor els patrons de consum i els comportaments dels consumidors, així com desenvolupar estimacions i hipòtesis preliminars. D'aquesta manera, s'impulsarà el model de demanda d'aigua municipal al país perquè siga capaç de fer front a diferents escenaris i limitacions. El desenvolupament del model municipal de demanda d'aigua ha mostrat la necessitat de disposar de dades estadístiques i de facturació de l'aigua fiables. Aquests constitueixen el punt de partida de la previsió i han d'estar disponibles amb una resolució prou alta. El model ací presentat proporciona un marc perquè nous desenvolupaments futurs. Els resultats de l'anàlisi també determinaran els factors i categories utilitzats en el model. El model se centra en la demanda d'aigua no residencial. No obstant això, s'inclouen previsions separades per a la categoria residencial a fi de permetre l'extrapolació dels resultats i l'anàlisi *top-*down per a un enfocament més precís de les previsions i, també, per a una millor comprensió general dels comportaments de consum d'aigua de la població. / [EN] The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing substantial economic, industrial, commercial, and population growth. This growth, in turn, leads to increased water demand in the region. In addition to population growth, industrialization and modernization have placed increasing pressure on KSA's water infrastructure. There is an urgent need to increase the water capacity to meet the projected demand and maintain the water systems' security and reliability. Therefore, it is imperative to find solutions that improve the efficiency of the Kingdom's water system. A key element in this effort is understanding and classifying how water is consumed with its micro-components within various segments. The thesis aims to collect precise knowledge about municipal water consumption patterns and trends to understand water consumption patterns and consumer behaviours better and develop preliminary estimates and assumptions. This will drive the municipal water demand model in KSA to be capable of dealing with different scenarios and constraints. The development of the municipal water demand model highlighted the need for reliable statistical and water billing data. These form the starting point of the forecast and need to be available at a high enough resolution. The model provides a framework for the required data to be built on further. The analysis results will also determine the drivers and categories used in the model. The model focuses on the non-Residential water demand. Still, separate forecasts are included for the residential category to enable the extrapolation of the results and downward analysis for a more accurate and cost-effective bottom-up approach to forecasting and an overall better understanding of the population's water consumption behaviours. / Alhudaithi, M. (2023). A Sectorial Analysis of Municipal Water Consumption and Management in Saudi Arabia [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/201553

<p>In this thesis, two different vaccines were evaluated as adjuvant therapy for patients with colorectal cancer. The ability of the two candidate vaccines to generate antigen-specific cellular and humoral responses, respectively, was studied. The effectiveness of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as a cytokine adjuvant to augment the immune response was also examined.</p><p>The first vaccination strategy involved immunization with the recombinant tumor-associated protein, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Recombinant CEA was administered at 4 different dose levels 7 times during one year. Peripheral blood samples were regularly analyzed during 36 months. This vaccination regimen induced a strong immunoglobulin 1 (IgG1) and IgG4 response, a moderate IgG2 response and a weak IgG3 response against CEA. GM-CSF markedly augmented the effect on IgG1 and IgG4 as well as the T cell response. In contrast, dose of rCEA had no or modest effect on induced immune responses. The response gradually increased during the 12 months immunization period. Responses of all three IgG subclasses and of T cells were protracted up to 36 months. The anti-CEA IgG titers related significantly to survival. Functional HLA-DR epitopes of CEA could be defined. These major histocompatibility class II epitopes may serve as putative components of a peptide-based vaccination strategy. </p><p>The other vaccine strategy consisted of the tumor-associated antigen epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-Cam) expressed as a transgene in a viral vector, ALVAC. Patients were immunized subcutaneously/intradermally 3 times over 6 weeks and monitored for immune responses for 46 weeks. No anti-Ep-Cam specific humoral response was induced, but Ep-Cam specific type 1 T cells (interpheron-gamma production) were induced, mainly in the GM-CSF group. The cytotoxic cellular response appeared late, or a few months after the last immunization.</p><p>Both vaccines were well tolerated. Since GM-CSF was an important component for both regimens, immungenicity of this cytokine was assessed. Multiple immunizations with low dose GM-CSF were associated with a low incidence of GM-CSF antibodies that did not neutralize the biological effect of GM-CSF. </p><p>In conclusion, both vaccines are promising candidate vaccines. GM-CSF is necessary to induce a strong humoral and cellular immune response. Large clinical trials are urgently warranted to evaluate the clinical efficacy.</p>

In this thesis, two different vaccines were evaluated as adjuvant therapy for patients with colorectal cancer. The ability of the two candidate vaccines to generate antigen-specific cellular and humoral responses, respectively, was studied. The effectiveness of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as a cytokine adjuvant to augment the immune response was also examined. The first vaccination strategy involved immunization with the recombinant tumor-associated protein, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Recombinant CEA was administered at 4 different dose levels 7 times during one year. Peripheral blood samples were regularly analyzed during 36 months. This vaccination regimen induced a strong immunoglobulin 1 (IgG1) and IgG4 response, a moderate IgG2 response and a weak IgG3 response against CEA. GM-CSF markedly augmented the effect on IgG1 and IgG4 as well as the T cell response. In contrast, dose of rCEA had no or modest effect on induced immune responses. The response gradually increased during the 12 months immunization period. Responses of all three IgG subclasses and of T cells were protracted up to 36 months. The anti-CEA IgG titers related significantly to survival. Functional HLA-DR epitopes of CEA could be defined. These major histocompatibility class II epitopes may serve as putative components of a peptide-based vaccination strategy. The other vaccine strategy consisted of the tumor-associated antigen epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-Cam) expressed as a transgene in a viral vector, ALVAC. Patients were immunized subcutaneously/intradermally 3 times over 6 weeks and monitored for immune responses for 46 weeks. No anti-Ep-Cam specific humoral response was induced, but Ep-Cam specific type 1 T cells (interpheron-gamma production) were induced, mainly in the GM-CSF group. The cytotoxic cellular response appeared late, or a few months after the last immunization. Both vaccines were well tolerated. Since GM-CSF was an important component for both regimens, immungenicity of this cytokine was assessed. Multiple immunizations with low dose GM-CSF were associated with a low incidence of GM-CSF antibodies that did not neutralize the biological effect of GM-CSF. In conclusion, both vaccines are promising candidate vaccines. GM-CSF is necessary to induce a strong humoral and cellular immune response. Large clinical trials are urgently warranted to evaluate the clinical efficacy.

In recent years, Internal Control has become the focus of attention every time there is a notable scandal in the corporate world. An effective internal control system can prevent an organisation from fraud and errors, and provide an organisation with assurance and competitive advantages. It is argued that in order to have a robust internal control system, an integrated system, such as an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is needed. ERP systems have the ability to control user access and facilitate the separation of duties, which is one of the most common internal control mechanisms used in order to deter fraud within financial systems. Moreover, there are other factors that can provide support for effective internal control systems. This thesis aims to explain how ERP success, organisational and ERP factors affect the effectiveness of internal control procedures. In particular, this thesis develops and validates a research model with empirical evidence collected in the context of the Saudi Arabia business environment. In order to achieve the research aim, this research identifies four key propositions derived from the existing literature to establish the relationships between organisational factors, ERP factors, ERP success and effectiveness of internal control procedures. An exploratory study is used to initially test the four propositions. The findings indicate that different companies follow different requirements that mainly depend on ownership. Additionally, the study indicates that the eight components of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management framework are considered by the companies investigated, however there are variations regarding their level of consideration. The findings suggest that further study is needed to explain the impact of ERP success on internal control and to measure the effect of the organisational and ERP factors. Based on the four propositions, four hypotheses are developed and tested in a quantitative study. A questionnaire is constructed and sent to 217 Saudi ERP-implemented companies. 110 valid responses are received. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is adopted for data analysis and hypothesis testing. The results suggest that the maturity of the ERP systems, formalisation and centralisation can impact on the success of ERP systems. Prospectors’ strategy, organisational culture and management support are positively related to the effectiveness of internal control procedures. The study results show a positive significant relationship between the success of ERP systems and effectiveness of internal control procedures. This research contributes to the knowledge at different levels. At the theoretical level, it develops and validates a theoretical framework that links the ERP system success to the effectiveness of internal control procedures. At the methodological level, unlike many of previous studies, this study adopts multiple data collection methods, and a powerful statistical technique, PLS-SEM to generate more robust outcomes. Finally, at the practice level, the study is conducted in Saudi Arabia, which is different from the developed countries in many aspects, such as internal control regulations and taxation system. Thus, the findings can be beneficial to Saudi organisations as well as other Middle-East countries.

Child abuse has become more recognised in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), after many years of receiving very little attention. Since 2014 domestic violence, including child abuse, has been made a criminal offence in KSA. This study takes place against a background where protection laws (2013 Legislation) have been introduced, where there are cultural limitations, and where professional child protection agencies are requiring their practitioners to deal with child abuse in the light of these new laws. The aim of this study was to identify the issues for social workers and other professionals in responding to child abuse and how these responses can be improved in KSA. There are two phases to this study. The first phase examines developments in child protection practices and policy through the analysis of newspaper reports and through a series of interviews with professionals, practitioners and managers in the Social Protection Department (SPD) in Riyadh, KSA. The findings of this initial study suggest that KSA is in the early stages of developing and implementing programmes in child protection practice. It was found that training was a major issue, in particular the provision of training that was accessible and relevant to the needs of the practitioners. The second phase focused on ways that professional child protection training programmes for practitioners may be improved to increase both their quality and relevance to child protection professionals and trainees. In order to achieve these objectives, interviews, written responses and surveys were conducted with child protection practitioners, training providers and social work educators and trainees in the (SPD), the National Family Safety Programme (NFSP), Al-Wafa Association (AWA), Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA) and three universities in Riyadh, KSA. The findings provide more understanding of how child protection training, teaching and learning for practitioners can be improved to enable them to respond more effectively to child abuse in KSA. Findings are discussed with reference to the current practices as England and in other Arab countries and recommendations are offered with a view to their suitability in KSA.

In recent years EFL education within Saudi Arabia has come under increased scrutiny, due to government efforts to reform the broader education system within the country, and the perceived importance of English as a global language of commerce and enterprise. EFL education within Saudi Arabia suffers from a number of problems, including low standards and a tendency within the Saudi education system to rely upon prescriptive and authoritarian teaching paradigms. In addition to this, there is no cohesive national strategy for EFL teacher training and education, and little emphasis on professional development opportunities for teachers within the EFL field. This study focuses attention on EFL teacher quality within Saudi Arabia as a critical component in improving English language education across the country. The study presents a case study of Umm al-Qura University, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in which the perspectives of students, teachers and managers were explored in depth in order to shed light on the current mechanisms for ensuring teaching quality in EFL. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the study engaged in an in-depth case study of the English Language Centre (ELC) at the Umm al-Qura University. A quantitative questionnaire was distributed to students within the ELC, and semi-structured interviews were undertaken with teachers and academic managers, in addition to classroom observations conducted by the researcher. The findings corroborated recent research on educational paradigms within Saudi Arabia, and highlighted a number of cultural factors that impacted upon teacher quality within the ELC. The findings of the study form the basis of a series of recommendations for improving English language teaching quality within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.