Thoracic Surgery: Opportunities and Challenges in Saudi Arabia

The cardiothoracic surgery is an essential field of medical sciences in producing cardiothoracic surgeons with higher principles of knowledge, skills and integrity with a profound impact on health care system. Progress in achieving excellence in cardiothoracic surgery and its allied research goals varied over the time and across the countries. Saudi Arabia devoted special attention to fostering higher education on health care system although, the country is facing challenges in the management of cardiopulmonary diseases burden amenable to cardiothoracic surgical treatment. Patients have access to quality cardiothoracic surgical care, but still the state is struggling for enough number of trained thoracic surgeons to provide better health care services in cardiothoracic surgery field. This review article summarizes the opportunities and challenges in this promising surgical discipline

Giant esophageal leiomyoma and cardiac compression

Esophageal leiomyoma is rare diseases, it is often asymptomatic, and typically require only close surveillance except if became large and cause symptoms secondary to compression. We report a case with giant leiomyoma presented with chest pain and unstable blood pressure secondary to cardiac compression It is usually managed by thoracotomy and surgical enucleation and possible resection

Franchising and the internationalization of businesses: the case of fast food chains

The objective of this paper is to investigate the role of franchising in the process of internationalization of the fast food industry. The paper hypothesizes that franchising is an effective means of internationalization in the fast food industry that increases the revenues of the company. The hypothesis of the paper will be tested using the linear regression analysis. This analysis studies the relationship between revenues (dependent variable) and the number of outlets and the number of employees (independent variables). The sample includes 15 fast food chains from the list of 100 top franchises of 2017. The study of the annual reports of these 15 fast food chains revealed a correlation between the company’s decision to go global through franchising and the growth of its revenues. It is necessary to build a literature on the role of franchising in the internationalization of business. The originality of this paper lies in the way it seeks to illuminate future academic research on the impact of franchising as an internationalization process on business revenues

Predicting Student Performance on Virtual Learning Environment

Virtual learning has gained increased importance because of the recent pandemic situation. A mass shift to virtual means of education delivery has been observed over the past couple of years, forcing the community to develop efficient performance assessment tools. Prediction of students performance using different relevant information has emerged as an efficient tool in educational institutes towards improving the curriculum and teaching methodologies. Automated analysis of educational data using state of the art Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms is an active area of research. The research presented in this thesis addresses the problem of students performance prediction comprehensively by applying multiple machine learning models (i.e., Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), CATBoost, K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) and Support Vector Classifier (SVC)) on the two benchmark VLE datasets (i.e., Open University Learning Analytics Dataset (OULAD), Coursera). In this context, a series of experiments are performed and important insights are reported. First, the classification performance of machine learning models has been investigated on both OULAD and Coursera datasets. In the second experiment, performance of machine learning models is studied for each course of Coursera dataset and comparative analysis are performed. From the Experiment 1 and Experiment 2, the class imbalance is reported as the highlighted factor responsible for degraded performance of machine learning models. In this context, Experiment 3 is designed to address the class imbalance problem by making use of multiple Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) and generative models (i.e., Generative Adversial Networks (GANs)). From the results, SMOTE NN approach was able to achieve best classification performance among the implemented SMOTE techniques. Further, when mixed with generative models, the SMOTENN-GAN generated Coursera dataset was the best on which machine learning models were able to achieve the classification accuracy around 90%. Overall, MLP, XGBoost and CATBoost machine learning models were emerged as the best performing in context to different experiments performed in this thesis

High-Performance Flexible Magnetic Tunnel Junctions for Smart Miniaturized Instruments

Flexible electronics is an emerging field in many applications ranging from in vivo biomedical devices to wearable smart systems. The capability of conforming to curved surfaces opens the door to add electronic components to miniaturized instruments, where size and weight are critical parameters. Given their prevalence on the sensors market, flexible magnetic sensors play a major role in this progress. For many high-performance applications, magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) have become the first choice, due to their high sensitivity, low power consumption etc. MTJs are also promising candidates for non-volatile next-generation data storage media and, hence, could become central components of wearable electronic devices. In this work, a generic low-cost regenerative batch fabrication process is utilized to transform rigid MTJs on a 500 {\mu}m silicon wafer substrate into 5 {\mu}m thin, mechanically flexible silicon devices, and ensuring optimal utilization of the whole substrate. This method maintains the outstanding magnetic properties, which are only obtained by deposition of the MTJ on smooth high-quality silicon wafers. The flexible MTJs are highly reliable and resistive to mechanical stress. Bending of the MTJ stacks with a diameter as small as 500 {\mu}m is possible without compromising their performance and an endurance of over 1000 cycles without fatigue has been demonstrated. The flexible MTJs were mounted onto the tip of a cardiac catheter with 2 mm in diameter without compromising their performance. This enables the detection of magnetic fields and the angle which they are applied at with a high sensitivity of 4.93 %/Oe and a low power consumption of 0.15 {\mu}W, while adding only 8 {\mu}g and 15 {\mu}m to the weight and diameter of the catheter, respectively.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, Intermag 201

Kirjallisuuskatsaus monikulttuurisuudesta varhaiskasvatuksessa: Systemaattinen kirjallisuuskatsaus monikulttuurisuuden tutkimuksista suomalaisessa varhaiskasvatuksessa

Monikulttuurisuutta ilmenee yhä enemmän niin maahanmuuton kuin globalisoitumisen myötä myös suomalaisessa varhaiskasvatuksessa. Koulutus- ja kasvatuspolitiikan suuntaukset sekä ideologiat saattavat olla havaittavissa muun muassa valtakunnallisen tason asiakirjoissa, joiden avulla ohjataan varhaiskasvatuksen toimintaperiaatteita. Tämän systemaattisen kirjallisuuskatsauksen tavoitteena onkin tutkia monikulttuurisuutta käsitteleviä tutkimuksia suomalaisesta varhaiskasvatuksesta käsin. Tutkimustehtävänä on syventyä tutkimusten valossa asiakirjojen suhtautumiseen monikulttuurisuutta kohtaan. Aloitan kartoittamalla nykypäiväisen Varhaiskasvatussuunnitelman perusteiden (2018) suhtautumista kulttuuriseen moninaisuuteen, jonka jälkeen pyrin avaamaan monikulttuurisuuden lähtökohtia muiden valtioiden historiaan nojaten. Tämä on olennaista aiheeseen vaadittavan esiymmärryksen ja kehityskohtien hahmottamisen näkökulmasta. Tutkimustulosten perusteella koulutus- ja kasvatuskeskustelun taustalla ilmenneet ideologiat ovat ohjanneet jossain määrin asiakirjojen sisältöä monikulttuurisuuden osalta. Asiakirjojen johdonmukaisuus ei ole myöskään aina itsestään selvää. Monikielisyyden kautta ryhmitteleviä ja ristiriitaisia viestejä ilmeni varhaiskasvatusta käsittelevissä asiakirjoissa. Yleisesti ottaen suomalainen varhaiskasvatus voi toimia monikulttuurisuuskasvatusta vahvistajana yksilöllisyyden ja inkluusion näkökulmasta, mutta varhaiskasvatuksen henkilöstön valmiudet ja ajan tasainen koulutus tuodaan kehityskohtana esiin

To what extent has Saudi Arabia been able to position itself as a hub for global flows beyond oil and religion?

This thesis investigates the political-economic relationship between global flows and the ambitions of emerging powers, with a focus on Saudi Arabia's efforts to establish itself as a regional hub within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and beyond. At the centre of this investigation is Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an ambitious project aimed at transforming the country's economy by diversifying away from oil dependency and enhancing the role of the private sector. Vision 2030 represents a strategic shift to position the Kingdom as a key player in global economic and political systems, especially by facilitating new flows of capital, technology, and human resources. The central research question guiding this study is: To what extent has Saudi Arabia been able to position itself as a hub for global flows beyond oil and religion? In addressing this question, the thesis critically examines the interplay between Saudi Arabia’s religious influence, its historical reliance on oil, and its economic diversification ambitions. This research draws on frameworks within International Political Economy (IPE) and builds its argument through four key areas. First, it explores how institutionalised Islamic power, as analysed through Faiz Sheikh's work in Islam and International Relations, supports or challenges Saudi Arabia's aspirations. The Kingdom’s unique status as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites confers a significant degree of religious soft power, which plays a critical role in its global standing. However, the thesis also examines the inherent tensions between leveraging religious authority and advancing economic modernisation, especially as Saudi Arabia seeks to attract global flows while maintaining its conservative Islamic values. 4 Second, the research delves into the historical and continued significance of oil in shaping Saudi Arabia's political economy. The Kingdom has long relied on oil revenues to sustain its economic and social structures, making diversification away from oil a complex challenge. The thesis investigates how fluctuating oil prices, geopolitical shifts in global energy markets, and the increasing global emphasis on renewable energy affect Saudi Arabia’s diversification goals. Through case studies on Aramco’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the thesis highlights the paradoxical situation in which oil revenues are still the primary source of funding for diversification efforts under Vision 2030. Third, the thesis assesses Vision 2030 itself, as a blueprint for economic transformation and global repositioning under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. It evaluates the extent to which Vision 2030’s proposed reforms—ranging from privatization efforts to legal and regulatory changes—can transform Saudi Arabia into a dynamic, globally integrated economy. The study emphasizes the critical role of the state in these reforms, particularly through state capitalism, where government-controlled institutions such as sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) continue to dominate key sectors of the economy. While Vision 2030 aims to promote private sector growth, the thesis explores the inherent tensions between state-led development and the need to foster a more competitive private sector, as highlighted by the challenges faced in major projects such as the partial privatisation of Aramco. Fourth, the thesis examines the regulatory and zoning frameworks introduced to accommodate global flows, especially in finance, while remaining consistent with Islamic principles. The analysis focuses on the development of Saudi Arabia's urban megaprojects, such as King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), which are designed to position the Kingdom’s cities as global hubs for capital, commerce, and innovation. However, the research shows that both KAEC and KAFD have encountered significant challenges, including delays, regulatory hurdles, and difficulties in attracting foreign investment. These issues highlight the broader infrastructural and governance barriers Saudi Arabia faces in its efforts to rival established regional hubs like Dubai and Qatar. Throughout the thesis, Saudi Arabia's dual role in the global order is emphasised—one based on material power, derived from its vast oil wealth, and the other on immaterial influence, rooted in its religious leadership. As the global economy moves towards greater technological specialisation and renewable energy, the thesis questions how Saudi Arabia will navigate these challenges while maintaining its religious authority and economic ambitions. The Kingdom’s ability to balance its material and immaterial sources of power will play a crucial role in shaping its future within the global political economy. This study contributes to ongoing discussions about globalisation, state capitalism, and economic reform in the Gulf region. By engaging with theories of state capitalism, Global Production Networks (GPNs), and global cities, the thesis offers a comprehensive analysis of Saudi Arabia’s strategic efforts to deepen its integration into global production and trade networks. While Vision 2030 is a bold and forward-thinking reform initiative, the research highlights that the Kingdom is on the right path toward becoming a global hub for flows. However, its success will depend on addressing certain economic, political, and cultural challenges. With sustained commitment to reform and careful navigation of these complexities, Saudi Arabia has the potential to fulfil its Vision 2030 ambitions and solidify its place as a key player in the global economy. Keywords: International Relations, International Political Economy, Global flows, Global Cities, State Capitalism, Global Production Networks, Globalisation, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Vision 2030, Oil, Religion, Economic diversification, Economic Reform, Political Reform, and Social Reform

Highly rectifying silicon Schottky contacts using energetically deposited graphitic carbon

The formation of high quality Schottky diodes (i.e. high rectification ratio, low saturation current, low series resistance, and ideality factor close to 1) by Filtered Cathodic Vacuum Arc deposition of carbon (FCVA C) onto p-type silicon substrates has been demonstrated in this thesis. Electrical measurement results clearly indicate that the choice of FCVA’s deposition parameters (i.e. energy and temperature) have an influence on the quality of the Schottky junction. Moreover, these measurements have assisted in identifying both the effect of the varying microstructure of graphitic carbon films (sp2/sp3 ratio) caused by different deposition parameters and the presence of a thin, resistive interfacial layer between carbon and p-Si. Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) simulations based on a Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor (M-I-S) and on a Metal-Resistor-Semiconductor (M-R-S) diode structures were constructed to fit the experimental data. The M-I-S diode structure is a 2-D model where the interfacial layer was considered as an insulator. This model estimates the ‘metal’ work function and the thickness of the interfacial layer to approximate the experimental I-V results. The alternative M-R-S diode structure utilised 2-D and 3-D models to simulate the electrical behaviour of carbon/p-Si diodes. The primary feature in the M-R-S 2-D and 3-D models is the definition of a resistive interface (representing experimentally observed carbon/Si mixed interfacial layer) between the graphitic carbon thin film and Si. In addition to metal work function determination, Schottky barrier lowering can be incorporated in the M-R-S model to include image force effects reported in literature. Both models achieved excellent agreement with the measurement results in the forward I-V region. For the M-R-S model, the agreement with the measurement results in the reverse I-V region has improved significantly compared to simulation using the M-I-S model. The M-R-S model provided information that could not be obtained from measurements and suggested a path to improved devices

Investigating the impact of cultural, gender and professional design considerations on employee productivity: case study of female academics in Saudi female universities

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonPast research has confirmed that workplace design affects employee productivity. It is known to affect the employees both psychologically and professionally. Past researchers have looked at it from ergonomic, architectural and other perspectives. However, this research is limited to certain professions such as nursing and construction. However, the research indicates that sing workplace design it is possible to improve productivity of employees in other professions as well. This research aims to focus on how workplace designs can improve productivity of teachers. Teaching is an intellectual/ non manual work and hence design considerations for teachers should be more psychological in nature. Little research has been conducted on improving workplaces designs for non manual workers. Also past research has not paid sufficient attention to gender aspects of workplace design. This research looks at how designers’ consideration of culture, gender and profession of the occupants at the time of designing will affect employees’ perception of the psychological, social and functional quality of their workplace and consequently their productivity. This research primarily fills three gaps in existing literature: Firstly, it focuses on gender of occupants and how considering this during workplace design can affect the productivity of employees. Secondly, it looks at impact of workplace design on teachers, who carry out intellectual non manual work. Thirdly, this study is conducted in context of Saudi Arabia with an aim to reduce the scarcity of similar research in context of Saudi Arabia. Data or this research was collected in two stages. Firstly, female academics provided self-observation data in form of comments using a mobile app which was developed specifically for the purpose of this research. This data was quantified using thematic analysis approach and quantified data was analysed using regression analysis. The second aspect of this research included collecting quantitative data using semi-structured interviews with designers who have worked on designing all-female universities in Saudi Arabia. This research finds that by taking cultural, gender and professional factors into consideration it is possible to improve the social, psychological and functional experience of occupants of the workplace and this is likely to improve their ability to achieve organisational and personal objectives. This research, thus concludes that cultural, gender and professional consideration affect the employees; ability to contribute to employees’ and organisational outcomes.Saudi Arabia Cultural Burea