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Designing standardized exams for EFL undergraduates is a matter of great concern in pedagogical practices that assess learners' academic achievements. This case study was conducted at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia, to explore the significance of educational exam standardization and its impact on the process of implementation, leading to a balanced and equitable assessment of English language skills. During the study, 250 final English skill exam questions of two semesters were analyzed. A mixed-method approach using a questionnaire and Focused Group Discussion was adopted to collect relevant data. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 16, and the qualitative data was processed by thematic analysis. The quantitative data results showed that questions were balanced, valid, and reliable in language skill exam papers designed for undergraduate English students. The qualitative data revealed four major themes -- standardization of questions, the efficacy of Bloom's taxonomy, assessment/evaluation, and alignment of the question with learning outcomes. These emerging themes highlighted the effectivness of standardizing exam papers, identified problems, and suggested ways of improvement. The study indicates that exams must be scrutinized for the sake of standardization in terms of maximum course coverage; the variety in the question item; clear, concise, and precise instructions; validity and reliability of exam papers; and the alignment of questions with the course and program learning outcomes to ensure the implementation of the revised Bloom's taxonomy. The study suggests, to generalize the results, that further investigation should be done in another Saudi university for the sake of comparison.

Language used to report research findings and put forward arguments is at the heart of effective communication with readers. To this end, scholars use a variety of stylistic features. One of these is variety in language, which includes structures, lexis, and organization markers. Although much research has been conducted on these aspects, a particular feature has received limited interest from researchers: sentence openers, a strategic use of which helps authors develop an individual style, and avoid stagnant prose. This helps them maintain readers' interest while communicating scientific knowledge. Due to the importance of sentence openers in scientific prose, university students' awareness should be raised about this aspect of academic writing. This requires identification of commonly occurring sentence openers in the texts they study. It is also useful to identify student tendencies regarding sentence openers and their perceived competence in varying sentence openers. Prompted by these necessities, this research investigated a 10,949 running-word corpus compiled from professionally-written texts used in a first-year writing course, as well as a 42,070 running-word student corpus compiled from the reflective writing papers of 35 first-year students. Data on students' perceived competence were collected using a survey. Results showed that the two most frequent sentence openers in both corpora were subject-verb and transition markers. However, the latter were used by the students with significantly higher frequency than they were by the professional writers. Data also revealed that the students lack awareness of sentence openers as a feature for making writing more interesting. Students further reported an inability to use a wide range of sentence openers in their writing. Results are discussed, and recommendations are made for increasing students' skill in composing effective academic texts.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the Arab World are still in their infancy. Many Arab countries are now starting to launch their MOOC platforms; however, there are only a few who have actually implemented such systems. This paper will explore online learning, in particular the rise of MOOCs around the world and their impact on the Arab World. The purpose of this paper is to give a true picture of the development of the first MOOC platforms in the Arab World. It will analyse in detail the concept, definitions, background, and types of MOOCs (xMOOCs and cMOOCs), as well as the main MOOCs platform in the Western and Arab worlds, and a timeline of the development of MOOCs. It will then observe the status of MOOCs in the developed world, opportunities in the Middle East, and the influence of Western MOOCs on the Arab world, from many perspectives, e.g. educational, religious, cultural and social.

This article describes how with the advent of computer-based technology, there is movement from manual to automated systems for different aspects of the education system. Testing is an essential part of teaching process that helps academics in classifying the level of students and evaluating the outcomes of their teaching process. The testing process requires a large amount of attention and professionalism. Automated Test Paper Generation is a system applying the shuffling algorithm in designing different sets of questions without repetition and duplication. It helps the faculty in developing and designing exams with a particular level of difficulty required in evaluating the students by using the utility-based agent. The system includes a knowledge base of many questions' types that are linked to a test engine where the faculty can specify the type and the difficulty level of the exam and then the system will assemble the exam and produce the output as electronic or paper-based. Questions will be picked randomly from the knowledge database. This automated system provides cost saving and time efficient solutions.

Introduction: Scientometric analysis helps to measure the research growth and highlights the salient characteristics of the specific dataset. Saudi Arabia is rapidly growing country in the field of science and technology and remarkably contributing in the research productivity in all areas of health sciences, including radiological sciences from 1995 to 2000 and is drastically increased globally. Aim: To analyse the credible literature on radiological sciences research from Saudi Arabia as reflected in the Scopus database. Materials and Methods: This was a quantitative exploratory study based on scientometric analysis. The data was extracted from the Scopus database. The subject category of "radiology, nuclear medicine and imaging" was selected in the advanced search feature of the Scopus database. All the relevant scholarly literature consisted of articles and reviews indexed under the country name of Saudi Arabia published in English language from 1985 to 2020 were included for analysis. Results: Saudi Arabia was ranked 33rd with 1,587 papers in radiological sciences, representing 0.43% of the global share. The slow progress was observed in the first 20 years but the remarkable growth was recorded during the last five years of study. King Saud University and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre were the most contributing institutions. Saudi radiologists collaborated with 99 countries of the world and the United States was on the top. Four national journals were included in the list of top 10 preferred journals. Conclusion: Although the rising tendency in radiological sciences research was evident during the last 10 years, still the share of Saudi Arabia was found much lower in comparison with the developed countries. Few well-established Institutions have taken lead in research productivity but a prioritised response from other Research Institutions is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most widely used measures of scientific impact is the number of citations. However, due to its heavy-tailed distribution, citations are fundamentally difficult to predict but can be improved. This study was aimed at investigating the factors and parts influencing the citation number of a scientific paper in the otology field. Therefore, this work proposes a new solution that utilizes machine learning and natural language processing to process English text and provides a paper citation as the predicted results. Different algorithms are implemented in this solution, such as linear regression, boosted decision tree, decision forest, and neural networks. The application of neural network regression revealed that papers' abstracts have more influence on the citation numbers of otological articles. This new solution has been developed in visual programming using Microsoft Azure machine learning at the back end and Programming Without Coding Technology at the front end. We recommend using machine learning models to improve the abstracts of research articles to get more citations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientometric studies play a crucial role in quantitatively assessing the impact and quantity of scholarly articles, providing a basis for policy-making and informed decision-making processes. Given the ongoing transformation within the Saudi scientific community across various domains, it is essential to establish a baseline for high-quality endodontic research. A comprehensive search in the PubMed database, using the keywords ["Saudi" OR "Saudi Arabia"] within the time frame of 2014 to 2021. The screening process involved evaluating the title and abstract of each article, with only those classified as endodontic articles included for analysis in this study. The analysis included factors such as the type of paper, the authors, the citations, and the year of publication. Featuring one or more authors affiliated with a Saudi dental institution, 70 papers were specifically categorized as endodontic papers. The most prevalent type of paper was case reports, accounting for 27 articles (28%), followed by literature reviews with 13 articles (18%). The number of authors ranged from one to ten, with a general trend of increasing publication rates over the years. In terms of citations, only four papers received more than 20 citations, while the majority of papers garnered between one and ten citations. Most articles in the field of endodontics exhibited low-level evidence. Therefore, it is recommended that the quality of research output and evidence be enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) causes global exhaustion, consumes economic resources, and has several risk factors. The bibliometric studies re-evaluate the research efforts on this illness using mathematical and statistical tools to indicate current research and future trends. This study examines KSA's DM research during 2010-2021. Data were acquired from Scopus and analyzed using VOSviewer and MS Excel. Several characteristics were examined to measure the quantity and quality of KSA-related DM articles. In total, 1,919 journal and conference papers were published. DM research included researchers from multidisciplinary sectors. Thirty-seven percent of them have ten or more scientific publications. Al-Daghri, N.M. (King Saud University) leads the pack. In total, 757 (39.44%) research projects got funding from 159 sources within and outside KSA. Memish, Z.A. is the most cited author. The Saudi Medical Journal has the most citations (1214). Al-Daghri, N.M. (KSU) collaborates the most. One hundred forty-one nations aided KSA's diabetes research. Egypt's High Institute of Public Health has the most scientific collaboration with KSA. Authors' and all Keywords analyses indicated a rich knowledge structure. Diabetes Care Journal has the most cocitations with 2,220 and a total link strength of 19,283, followed by The New England Journal of Medicine. The study results will be helpful to stakeholders to understand better the trends and performance of diabetes-related regional research, which will be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' knowledge and perceptions of research method courses in the Department of English Language and Literature, at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU). It also investigated the problems that students encounter and offered some suggestions for improving these courses. The significance of the study is that such topic has never been investigated before in such context. The study participants were 1,022 students (Levels three, four, five, six and seven) who voluntarily filled out a questionnaire consisting of sections on four factors/themes: knowledge, perceptions, problems, and suggestions. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics software to compare the students' answers, and a one-way analysis of variance test was used to detect the differences between academic levels regarding each theme. The results showed that regardless of the students' academic levels, all of them agreed on studying and therefore knowing the research basic components; however, regarding the elements constituting each of these basic components, significant differences were found between the five groups. The results also indicated that these students have positive perceptions of the courses even though they encountered some research-related problems such as in knowing all or some research basic components and their specific elements; writing all or some of them; citing, summarizing, and paraphrasing sources; allocating primary and secondary resources; collecting and analyzing data; and consulting research manuals. Finally, all students agreed that it would be helpful if they were assigned individual research supervisors and coauthored an article with them, a research course was taught in all academic levels for a bachelor's degree, a research club was established, and research seminars were held.

Objective: Oral cancer and precancers are a major public health challenge in developing countries. Researchers in Saudi Arabia have constantly been directing their efforts on oral cancer research and have their results published. Systematic analysis of such papers is the need of the hour as it will not only acknowledge the current status but will also help in framing future policies on oral cancer research in Saudi Arabia., Method: The search string "oral cancer" OR "Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma" OR "oral premalignant lesion" OR "oral precancer" OR "Oral Potentially malignant disorder" AND AFFIL (Saudi AND Arabia ) was used for retrieval of articles from Scopus database. Various tools available in Scopus database were used for analyzing the bibliometric related parameters., Results: The search revealed a total of 663 publications based on the above query. Maximum affiliations were from King Saud University (163) followed by Jazan University (109) and then King Abdulaziz University (106). A large number of international collaborations were observed, the maximum with India (176) and the USA (127). The maximum number of articles were published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (34) followed by the Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice (33) and Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine (19)., Conclusion: Saudi researchers are directing their efforts towards the public health menace of oral cancer. However, it was also observed that some institutions have emerged as front runners in research, whereas others are contributing significantly less. The health department should encourage and take necessary steps to increase the involvement of other institutions.

Designing standardized exams for EFL undergraduates is a matter of great concern in pedagogical practices that assess learners' academic achievements. This case study was conducted at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia, to explore the significance of educational exam standardization and its impact on the process of implementation, leading to a balanced and equitable assessment of English language skills. During the study, 250 final English skill exam questions of two semesters were analyzed. A mixed-method approach using a questionnaire and Focused Group Discussion was adopted to collect relevant data. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 16, and the qualitative data was processed by thematic analysis. The quantitative data results showed that questions were balanced, valid, and reliable in language skill exam papers designed for undergraduate English students. The qualitative data revealed four major themes -- standardization of questions, the efficacy of Bloom's taxonomy, assessment/evaluation, and alignment of the question with learning outcomes. These emerging themes highlighted the effectivness of standardizing exam papers, identified problems, and suggested ways of improvement. The study indicates that exams must be scrutinized for the sake of standardization in terms of maximum course coverage; the variety in the question item; clear, concise, and precise instructions; validity and reliability of exam papers; and the alignment of questions with the course and program learning outcomes to ensure the implementation of the revised Bloom's taxonomy. The study suggests, to generalize the results, that further investigation should be done in another Saudi university for the sake of comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines linguistic differences between male and female academic writing in Saudi Arabia, focusing on published research papers. Using Biber's multidimensional analysis as a model, the study examines both male and female authors' inherent lexical and grammatical preferences. A dataset of 20 research papers from each gender was tagged to analyze the linguistic features. ANOVA analyses were then conducted to identify patterns and variations. The research study provides interesting perspectives on the complex relationship between language and gender in academic settings. Though there are some similarities in the use of lexico-grammatical features between male and female research papers, noticeable differences suggest that gendered perspectives have an impact on scholarly writing. Both male and female research papers fall on the same polarity of the continuum across all five dimensions but with varying degrees. The findings suggest that male research writers tend to use more informational, explicit, and non-argumentative language while using less non-narrative and abstract discourse than their female counterparts. This study emphasizes how gender impacts the linguistic choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed at a systematic review of the role of FinTech in enhancing the digital transformation of Saudi Arabian banks. Google Scholar was searched with related search terms to finally select 28 papers using the PRISMA process of screening and selection. There were very few papers directly dealing with the use of FinTech as a tool for digital transformation in banks, not specifically in traditional banks. There were a few papers on digital tools used in FinTech. Overall, the digital transformation of any kind of bank using FinTech tools had been slow and a small percentage of the total. The situation was worse in the case of Saudi banks despite the large amounts of budgetary allocations for technologies in banking as a part of its Vision 2030. This was because of the late entry of Saudi Arabia into these concepts. The need for Islamic banks to follow Sharia rules was not found to be a great problem. All these points indicate to the need for greater acceleration of using FinTech tools for the digital transformation of Saudi traditional banks. Some limitations of this review are the low rigour of the available papers due to methodological limitations, discussion papers without empirical data dominating and a wide range of aims provided in the papers. The need for substantially more work on Saudi banks has been highlighted. The validity of the conclusions from this review needs to be verified using empirical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis encompassing all articles published on periodontics from Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Using the Scopus database on June 8, 2023, the search term "PeriodonticFNx01" was entered in the primary search bar to extract all documents published on periodontics. Following, the year filter was applied to include articles published from the earliest available date until the date of data collection, excluding 2023. Next, we used the country/region filter to limit our documents to Saudi Arabia (n = 1929). We used Microsoft Excel (v.16) to examine periodical growth, collaboration patterns, influential institutions, frequently used sources, international research collaboration, and most-cited papers. Results: Saudi Arabia ranked 11th in periodontics research, contributing 3.43% to the global research output, reaching a peak of 7.63% in 2022. Notably, there was significant growth observed during the last 5 years of the study, with an average of 232.8 documents per year. The analysis of citations revealed that the selected documents received an average of 13.39 citations per document. Indigenous literature received less citation on average compared to internationally collaborated documents. King Saud University ranked first among the most productive institutions in Saudi Arabia, accounting 40.74% of the total output. The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice published the highest number of documents, followed by the Saudi Dental Journal and the Journal of Periodontology. In terms of citation impact, the Journal of Periodontology emerged as the most influential, with an average of 32.83 citations per document. Research collaboration was most prevalent with researchers from the United States (22.03%), although Germany ranked first in terms of citation impact. Conclusion: Saudi Arabia's contribution to periodontics research has shown significant growth in recent years. The collaborative efforts with international researchers, particularly those from the United States, have played a crucial role in fostering advancements within the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study details the procedure and results of developing a mission statement at a language institute for the purpose of obtaining a program accreditation from an international language commission. A serious self-study process results in the development of a solid, true and ambitious mission since the mission covers all areas related to achieving students learning outcomes. It shows how the mission was changed and why. It also details how the new mission resulted in the improving quality, especially in the areas of curriculum and professional development of faculty and staff. Other aspects, such as facilities and student affairs were modified to achieve the goals and objectives of the new mission. This essay reports the changes that were implemented during the process of mission statement development. These changes resulted in plans to improve the quality of the English language teaching at the English Language Academy (ELA) which offers an English language program to Foundation Year students whose success in the program is a college requirement at the University of Business and Technology (UBT) in the academic year of 2016-2017. The program also aims at improving the English language proficiency of students so that they can use it in their future professions considering that the university logo is "Education for Job Opportunities." The third main goal or aim is related to the use of English to assist students in personal and social life. Critical thinking surfaced as a main concern of those surveyed for needs assessment. The report concludes with recommending conducting thorough and genuine self-study process which certainly ends with quality improvement. The report uses data collected from five questionnaires completed by students, faculty, alumni and employers of UBT graduates. The purpose of the survey was to identify the needs of the students. Based on those needs, the learning outcomes are identified and accordingly, the new mission statement is developed.

This is a qualitative review of the information systems used by public sector organisations in Saudi Arabia. The Google Scholar database was searched to select the papers dealing with IS in other countries and then specifically in Saudi Arabia. The selected papers were discussed under the sections of IS, IT, e-government, and information security in the case of other countries and under the sections of IS, IT, Knowledge management, and e-government in the case of Saudi Arabia. The difference between other countries and Saudi Arabia in the number of papers on each topic was considered to suggest future research topics. Some limitations of this review were also mentioned at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health policy and systems research (HPSR) can strengthen health systems and improve population health outcomes. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), there is limited recognition of the importance of HPSR and funding remains the main challenge. This study seeks to: (1) assess the reporting of funding in HPSR papers published between 2010 and 2022 in the EMR, (2) examine the source of funding in the published HPSR papers in the EMR and (3) explore variables influencing funding sources, including any difference in funding sources for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related articles. Methods: We conducted a rapid scoping review of HPSR papers published between 2010 and 2022 (inclusively) in the EMR, addressing the following areas: reporting of funding in HPSR papers, source of funding in the published HPSR papers, authors' affiliations and country of focus. We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for conducting scoping reviews. We also conducted univariate and bivariate analyses for all variables at 0.05 significance level. Results: Of 10,797 articles screened, 3408 were included (of which 9.3% were COVID-19-related). More than half of the included articles originated from three EMR countries: Iran (n = 1018, 29.9%), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (n = 595, 17.5%) and Pakistan (n = 360, 10.6%). Approximately 30% of the included articles did not report any details on study funding. Among articles that reported funding (n = 1346, 39.5%), analysis of funding sources across all country income groups revealed that the most prominent source was national (55.4%), followed by international (41.7%) and lastly regional sources (3%). Among the national funding sources, universities accounted for 76.8%, while governments accounted for 14.9%. Further analysis of funding sources by country income group showed that, in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, all or the majority of funding came from international sources, while in high-income and upper-middle-income countries, national funding sources, mainly universities, were the primary sources of funding. The majority of funded articles' first authors were affiliated with academia/university, while a minority were affiliated with government, healthcare organizations or intergovernmental organizations. We identified the following characteristics to be significantly associated with the funding source: country income level, the focus of HPSR articles (within the EMR only, or extending beyond the EMR as part of international research consortia), and the first author's affiliation. Similar funding patterns were observed for COVID-19-related HPSR articles, with national funding sources (78.95%), mainly universities, comprising the main source of funding. In contrast, international funding sources decreased to 15.8%. Conclusion: This is the first study to address the reporting of funding and funding sources in published HPSR articles in the EMR. Approximately 30% of HPSR articles did not report on the funding source. Study findings revealed heavy reliance on universities and international funding sources with minimal role of national governments and regional entities in funding HPSR articles in the EMR. We provide implications for policy and practice to enhance the profile of HPSR in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sign language is an essential means of communication for individuals with hearing disabilities. However, there is a significant shortage of sign language interpreters in some languages, especially in Saudi Arabia. This shortage results in a large proportion of the hearing-impaired population being deprived of services, especially in public places. This paper aims to address this gap in accessibility by leveraging technology to develop systems capable of recognizing Arabic Sign Language (ArSL) using deep learning techniques. In this paper, we propose a hybrid model to capture the spatio-temporal aspects of sign language (i.e., letters and words). The hybrid model consists of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) classifier to extract spatial features from sign language data and a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) classifier to extract spatial and temporal characteristics to handle sequential data (i.e., hand movements). To demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed hybrid model, we created a dataset of 20 different words, resulting in 4000 images for ArSL: 10 static gesture words and 500 videos for 10 dynamic gesture words. Our proposed hybrid model demonstrates promising performance, with the CNN and LSTM classifiers achieving accuracy rates of 94.40% and 82.70%, respectively. These results indicate that our approach can significantly enhance communication accessibility for the hearing-impaired community in Saudi Arabia. Thus, this paper represents a major step toward promoting inclusivity and improving the quality of life for the hearing impaired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of the Internet and communication technologies has improved our lives in numerous ways. To date, the Internet of Things has evolved the healthcare industry from healthcare 1.0 to 4.0 which is known as the MIoT. In Healthcare 4.0, data is shared among multiple stakeholders through the use of cloud computing, fog computing, and telehealth. MIoT devices and technology's interconnected, heterogeneous nature raises new concerns about access to confidential patient data, which is often done without patients' or medical staff's knowledge. This is because security and privacy concerns for MIoT devices and technology are frequently ignored or undermined by relevant stakeholders. Medical IoT security and privacy are becoming increasingly important as a result of the increasing number of security breaches targeting the MIoT in healthcare. To impartially reveal the research scenario of Security of MIoT biblioshiny and VOS viewer software are used to conduct a quantitative assessment of research papers belonging to this field for the period 2012-2021 in the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. From the results, it is seen that for the past 10 years, the sum of articles on Security of MIoT has increased. This research domain covers 35 territories. MIoT, Security, Privacy, authentication, access control are the most often used keywords in this field of research in recent years. The research flashpoints in the field primarily emphasize research directions such as the, the security and privacy concerns related to MIoT sensor data and how to get rid of them. The top five nations considering research volume are the China, India, Saudi Arabia, USA, and Korea, but a lack of collaborative work amongst these countries is seen. Finally, the paper provides future research directions on security of MIoT, such as Privacy of patient information, Lightweight Protocols for MIoT Devices, Trust management, patient data sharing and insecure networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endodontics is a subdivision of dentistry that deals with diseases and injury of the soft tissues inside the teeth. The current study aimed to investigate the bibliometric properties of endodontics publications contributed by Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2022. The quantitative bibliometric research method was applied to the meta-data retrieved from the Web of Science on December 7, 2022. The word Endodonti* was written in the main search bar, and from the year's filter, selected starting year 2010 to the date of data collection. In the first phase, to access the global publication growth of endodontics, no country/region filter was used. After getting the summary of the global intellectual landscape, we selected Saudi Arabia from the country/region filter to analyze certain characteristics of endodontics documents. Periodical growth, accessibility modes, collaboration patterns, influential institutions, frequently used sources, international research collaboration, and most-cited documents were analyzed by using Microsoft Excel (v.16) and SPSS (v.20). The authors affiliated with Brazil contributed the highest number of documents and Saudi Arabia stood in the eighth rank in endodontics research. The growing tendency was observed in Saudi Arabia from 1.29% in 2010 to 7.60% in 2022 from a global perspective. The quality of nonopen-accessed documents was higher than open-accessed as per citation impact, similarly, the documents written on international collaboration got a higher ratio of citations compared with national collaboration. King Saud University was found the most prolific institution and the Journal of Endodontics was the most preferred source of publications. The maximum research collaboration at the international level was performed with the authors of the United States. Fifteen most-cited papers obtained 21.42% of the citations. The findings show that endodontics research in Saudi Arabia has increased significantly over the years. The research collaboration at the national level has increased, which shows that teams of national researchers in endodontics have been prepared and conducting valuable research in a national context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is essential for practicing clinicians to have core knowledge of biostatistics. However, surveys indicated that clinicians' attitudes towards biostatistics are negative. Despite its importance, little is known about the knowledge of and attitudes towards statistics among trainees in family medicine, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The current investigation attempts to evaluate knowledge and attitudes held by family medicine trainees in Taif and explore their correlates. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study of residents in family medicine training programme in Taif, Saudi Arabia. We used Poisson regression modelling to evaluate the effect of background factors on knowledge and attitudes towards biostatistics. Results: The study included 113 family medicine trainees at different levels of training. Only 36 (31.9%) of the participating trainees expressed positive attitudes towards biostatistics. On the other hand, 30 (26.5%) participating trainees were found to have good biostatistics knowledge, compared to 83 (73.5%) trainees whose knowledge level was found to be poor. Upon adjusting for all background factors simultaneously, only younger age, level R4 training, publishing one or three papers were found to be associated with poorer attitudes towards biostatistics. Older age was associated with worsening of attitudes (adjusted odds = 0.9900, P = 0.00924), and so also was being a senior R4 trainee (adjusted odds = 0.9045, P = 0.01301). Publishing one paper (compared to publishing over three papers) was associated with poorer attitudes towards biostatistics (adjusted odds = 0.8857, P = 0.03525). Also, having published three papers (compared to publishing over three papers) was still associated with worse attitudes towards biostatistics (adjusted odds = 0.8528, P = 0.01318). Conclusion: The main finding of our current study is the poor level of knowledge and overtly negative attitudes held by family medicine trainees in Taif towards biostatics. Knowledge was particularly poor about advanced statistical concepts such as survival analysis and linear regression modelling. However, poor levels of knowledge about biostatistics could be a function of poor research productivity among family medicine trainees. Age, seniority in training and involvement in research also impacted positively on attitudes towards biostatistics. Therefore, it is recommended that the training curriculum for family medicine trainees should first cover essential biostatistics in a creative and accessible way and secondly encourage engagement research and publication from an early stage of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of regulation corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the return on asset and return on equity. In addition, this paper also investigates the relationship between CSR and accounting performance. This paper extend the previous research in terms of sample coverage and CSR measurement, which is zakat. Sample for this research is 709 observations firm year observation from companies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Malaysia. This research found that highly payment of corporate social responsibility exhibit high level of return on asset (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Unfornutaly, regulation doesnt affect the relationship between CSR and accounting performance. This suggest that corporate performance affected significantly by social responsibility. This findings of this research lay some foundation for corporate social responsibility regulation formulation. In addtion, this paper recommend the implementation of CSR program benefiting the society, in turn, leads the company to enhances the level of CFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Soft Computing technique is one of the essential problems solving techniques for the researchers present in the world. Compared to other issues solving techniques, the Soft Computing domain gives outstanding performance, so the researchers are concentrating the Soft Computing domain for solving problems. Soft Computing domain categorizes into many sub-domains, like Neural Networks, Machine Learning, and Genetic Algorithm. Through this paper, we considered to study the impact produced by the Institutions as well as authors in the domain of Soft Computing from the year 1999 to 2019 for PubMed database. From the overall study, we found that China has made more number of publications, author productivity, and influential authors. Some countries, like Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, with minimum author productivity and minimum publications from the Asian continent in the Soft Computing-related domains. From the research, we determined that china dominates in terms of Institutions wise and Author productivity in the field of Soft Computing domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Research in family medicine is important. The objectives of this study were to explore the contribution of family physicians, their attitudes and practice, and the barriers to research in family medicine in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on Saudi family physicians in 2021. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to family physicians through WhatsApp and email. Information sought included demographic data, scientific profile, number of publications, reasons for conducting research, barriers to the conduct of research, attitudes and skills for the conduct of research, and priority areas of research. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Descriptive statistics included mean and standard deviation for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Student's t-test was used to compare the means of two groups of physicians. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the association between categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 313 family physicians filled the questionnaire; majority were male (65%), were married (90%), and worked under the Ministry of Health (73%). The total number of publications since graduation was 1165 papers with an average of 3.8 papers per physician. More than 70% were interested in conducting research, and more than two-thirds considered research important to the advancement of family medicine. One-third of the family physicians were currently involved in conducting research, while 30% were supervising at least one research project. The top five areas of priority were chronic diseases, mental health, health promotion, quality of healthcare, and medical education/training; whereas the top five obstacles to the conduct of research were the lack of time, lack of research environment, lack of financial and technical support, and the absence of skills. CONCLUSION: Saudi family physicians make a good contribution to research. The researchers and research bodies should focus on identifying the priority areas for research in family medicine in the next few years and provide support to achieve some of the objectives of the National Vision of 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the quality of the air in rural areas is essential for determining base emissions of air pollutants, evaluating the effects of dust pollutants particular to rural areas, modeling the dispersion of pollutants, and developing appropriate pollution mitigation systems. The absence of a systematic review based on the assessment of air quality levels in agricultural settings based on integrated weather variables and air pollutants in the literature draws attention to the deficiencies and the necessity of further research in this area. Hence, our study aimed to develop an Arduino monitoring system with related sensors to acquire some air pollutants and weather parameters. Additionally, we proposed an innovative solution to compare air quality levels by suggesting a new criterion called an integrated indicator for air quality assessment (IAQA). It was created based on the weighted average method to combine the investigated air pollutants and weather parameters. This criterion was evaluated while conducting field measurements in 29 environmentally different agricultural regions located within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To determine the integrated indicator, all the values of the variables were normalized between 0 and 1. The agricultural setting with the lowest integrated indicator was the best environmentally. The lowest and highest values of the integrated indicator ranged from 37.03% and 66.32%, respectively, with an arithmetic average of 48.24%. The developed criterion can change its value depending on the change in the weight value of the variables involved, and it is suitable for application to any other agricultural or non-agricultural setting to evaluate the pollution level in the air. Although similar research has been published, this paper presents novelty findings based on integrated values of air pollutants and weather variables for defining a new criterion called IAQA. Additionally, this paper presents original results for air pollutants and weather aspects in different agricultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a constraint-based analysis of the syllable structure of onset consonant sequences in Najdi Arabic, spoken in central Saudi Arabia. Unlike Classical or Standard Arabic, Najdi is believed to allow consonant clusters in the onset. The study tested two assumptions. The first is that Najdi onset clusters result from a vowel deletion process, leading to different kinds of clusters with distinct sonority hierarchies and that these form complex onsets. The second is that Najdi inputs are different from Classical or Standard Arabic, in which there is no vowel in the underlying representation and hence no deletion occurs, resulting in simplex onsets. The paper adopted optimality theory to analyze the data, considering a phenomenon that occurs in the speech of Najdi speakers. Following this framework, constraints were utilized to demonstrate the syllable structure of the onset clusters in Najdi according to the above assumptions. The results revealed consonant sequences rather than consonant clusters, meaning the consonants were not parsed in the same syllable, agreeing with previous acoustic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a turnkey approach to deliver a construction project entails significant risks from the contractor's perspective. Essentially, the owner awaits project completion without commitments regarding additional expenditures incurred by the contractor during the project's duration. This paper specifically focuses on estimating and analyzing the contingency value for residential turnkey projects in Saudi Arabia. The contingency value across the project's life cycle is estimated using six Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models, which are compared to identify the best-trained network according to project complexity, contingency factor, and contingency impact during the project phases. The output layer provides the contingency factor percentages for each project phase. A 13-story reinforced concrete (RC) residential building established in one of Saudi Arabia's cities was selected to implement the developed methodology. The contingency estimation, performed using @Risk 7.5 and NeuralTools 7.5, was determined to be 11.34% and was distributed across the five phases of the project's life cycle: 0.30% for predesign, 0.99% for design, 2.61% for preconstruction, 6.33% for construction, and 1.12% for postconstruction. Furthermore, it was found that the estimated contingency varies based on project complexity, which is 7.20% for low complexity, 8.16% for medium complexity, 9.41% for complicated, and 11.34% for very complicated projects. Historical data and peer review approaches are employed to validate the results, both of which are endorsed by professionals in this field. This paper highlights two main contributions: Firstly, it significantly enhances risk management by facilitating a comprehensive understanding and systematic analysis of risks, thus improving the contractors' ability to mitigate potential negative impacts on projects. Secondly, it supports more informed decision-making through the use of advanced techniques to estimate and analyze contingency values. These contributions are critical for contractors engaged in Saudi construction projects, particularly those involving residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent statistics indicate that as of 2023, the global renewable energy capacity has reached new heights, with Saudi Arabia significantly contributing to this growth through its strategic initiatives. The kingdom is particularly focusing on harnessing solar power, given its abundant sunlight, and is also exploring wind energy, leveraging its vast desert landscapes. These efforts are part of Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to become a global leader in renewable energy. This paper provides a detailed exploration of Saudi Arabia's ambitious journey from a fossil-fuel-dominated energy sector to a more sustainable, renewable-energy-driven future. Anchored in the broader context of global energy trends, the study emphasizes the critical shift toward renewable resources, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia's unique position in this global movement. Key to this transition is Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a strategic framework that guides the country's renewable energy policies and initiatives. A comprehensive review of these policies, including other governmental and international collaborations that support renewable energy development, is offered. The current state of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia is assessed, including an overview of existing projects and production statistics. The paper also explores emerging technologies such as energy storage systems and smart grid solutions, emphasizing their role in Saudi Arabia's energy transition. An impact assessment is conducted to understand the environmental, economic, and social effects of this energy shift. The paper also includes a comparative analysis of other countries' renewable energy transitions, extracting lessons and best practices applicable to the Saudi context. Strategic recommendations and reflections on Saudi Arabia's future role in the global energy landscape are provided for stakeholders in energy policy, environmental planning, and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic development of countries depends upon their technological competitiveness. Computer technology is a major component of technology. More the people are competent in computer technology, the greater the chance of economic development. Saudi Arabia is no exception to this common view. Although computer education was started in Saudi Arabia in 1984, the progress had been slow for a long time. However, now, with the implementation of Vision 2030, there is a high focus on elevating the skills of the Saudi workforce to the global levels. Computer technology has a big role in this regard. The full implementation and achievement of developing computer skills among the Saudi workforce are affected by many issues and challenges. This paper reviews these challenges and issues and the possible solutions offered for some of them, using published literature. A systematic review methodology was utilised for this research. A total of 29 papers were shortlisted and reviewed. Challenges were noted both in learning and in teaching sides. Despite cultural segregation of gender, women are increasingly enrolling in computer programming courses due to government support, family influence, and a stable workplace. Needs and demands on computer skills are rapidly changing with time. This necessitates frequent updating of computer curricula. Many problems are faced by freshers and their seniors. Lack of knowledge in problem-solving affects their ability to construct algorithms and codes and variables for their programming. This is aggravated by a lack of feedback on errors. Other challenges include inadequate practice, inadequacies of time allocated for labs and tutorials, poor quantity and quality of homework, poor selection of instructors, discouragement by universities on computer use, lack of competency of instructors to motivate students, and absence of quality assurance and monitoring. Solutions have been suggested for some of these like 3D animation software like ALICE and automatic assessment. Teaching challenges include workloads due to large classes affecting individual attention to weak students and the need to address students' problems listed above. Common problems both students and teachers need to be solved through further research. Specific computer programming needs of healthcare professionals, hard of hearing students are to be addressed by implementing specific solutions. Some research in the future will also be helpful. The above challenges can be addressed by adapting solutions from research to the Saudi Arabia context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy revolution in Saudi Arabia has accelerated significantly since 2016, driven by the National Vision 2030. Significant changes to energy subsidies took place, and the renewable energy sector has seen rapid growth. The paper presents an empirical analysis of the Saudi energy transition by emphasizing the drivers of fuel consumption in KSA. It primarily attempts to explore the long-run (LR) connection between oil consumption and several economic variables such as economic growth, crude oil prices, investment, and the labor force in Saudi Arabia (KSA) from 1991 up to 2021. The paper implemented the vector error correction model (VECM) and performed different diagnostic tests to provide more evidence about the validity and robustness of the tests. The empirical findings highlighted how important the labor force, savings, GDP, and crude oil price are in determining oil consumption for KSA. The law of demand is significantly present, which negatively affects oil consumption for KSA as an oil exporting country. The results also supported the existence of a long-term direct correlation between the variables and oil consumption. Furthermore, the short-term estimation highlighted that only saving has a negative impact on oil consumption for a single lagged period. Our findings provide governments and regulators with further incentive to slow the expansion in oil consumption, as a larger labor force is demanding more oil to attain the target, faster economic growth, and increased savings are all contributing factors. Our findings are significant because they can assist policymakers, investors, and regulators in generating more efficient oil substitutes and making them affordable for the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the factors affecting risk-based internal audit (RBIA) implementation in public sector organizations in Saudi Arabia. This paper utilized 234 usable answered questionnaires from internal audit managers, internal auditors, accountants, and executives working in Saudi public sector agencies. The gathered data were analyzed by applying partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results show that management support, internal auditor role, risk management system, and training in risk management all positively and significantly influence the RBIA. Improved internal auditing procedures and an efficient internal monitoring system will significantly curtail any risks impeding the organization's goals, diminish the temptation to fabricate financial data or statistics, and enhance the accuracy of financial reporting/statements. Moreover, this study's results have crucial implications for managers of public sector organizations, heads of internal audit departments, internal auditors, and accountants seeking to improve the reliability of internal audits and other aspects of financial information. Published research on what variables are influencing RBIA implementation is scarce. This study adds to the nascent literature by focusing on Saudi Arabian public sector organizations, establishing empirical variables based on an in-depth review of the relevant research and conducting an empirical investigation of the factors associated with RBIA implementation in the Saudi economy. By concentrating on public sector organizations in Saudi Arabia, this paper sheds light on other nations with comparable systems for governance policies and processes in their government-run entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first to explore language attitudes of the endangered Faifi language in SA. Understanding these attitudes is crucial for future language revitalization efforts. Employing a conceptual framework from LA research, data were collected via an online Arabic questionnaire with a sample of 258 participants. This paper aims to explore the indigenous people's language attitudes, frequency of language use, and the influence of social backgrounds. Data were analyzed using factor analysis and multiple regression. Three key findings emerged: Firstly, a two-dimensional model encompassing status and dynamism dimensions was identified, offering new insights into LAs. Notably, the trait "educated" was associated with dynamism rather than the typical association with the status dimension, which can be attributed to educational factors related to the Faifi language's lack of formal instruction in schools. Secondly, the reported use of the Faifi language by its speakers indicated a positive trend. Lastly, age was found to be the only significant sociodemographic variable, with older participants exhibiting more positive attitudes compared to younger participants. In summary, this research contributes fresh perspectives on the dimensions of language attitudes, particularly by highlighting the deviation of the trait "educated" from its customary position within the status dimension. Additionally, the study emphasizes the salience of age as a factor. The paper recommends macro and micro language policies; macro language policy should consider integrating the language into the educational system, while micro language policy should originate from the indigenous community itself, initiating initiatives to further support language use among young speakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By adopting a critical discourse analysis (CDA) approach, this paper explores the strategies of persuasion employed in the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 document. More specifically, the paper attempts to identify the various persuasion strategies used in the document of the 2030 Vision, the way through which these persuasion strategies are linguistically manifested, and the different modes of persuasion used in the document. The primary research questions of this study are: first, what are the different modes of persuasion employed in the Saudi Arabia 2030 Vision? Second, what are the strategies of persuasion used in the document under investigation? Third, how are these strategies linguistically manifested in the document at hand? Findings reveal that there are five strategies that are highly representative as persuasion conduits in the Saudi Arabia 2030 Vision. These include lexical choices, the inclusive 'we', religionization, future promises, and compositional summarization. The five strategies accentuate the assumption that the process of persuasion is successfully communicated at the various levels of linguistic analysis: lexically, semantically, pragmatically, and stylistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precast concrete production process faces uncertainties and risks that reduce the efficiency of the Saudi precast concrete industry. Assessing the risk factors' interdependence yields better results than considering individual analyses only. The previous precast risk studies did not consider the interdependencies among risk factors concerning different process stages. This paper aims to identify precast risk factors and prioritize their importance in Saudi Arabia. Using a dynamic Bayesian network, the assessment considers the interrelationships among the risk factors and different production stages. The risk factors were collected from previous studies, evaluated, and classified into the five construction stages by performing structured interviews with ten experts. The probabilities of the root risks and conditional probabilities of intermediate and leaf risks were assessed based on the ten experts. Then, a Monte Carlo simulation was utilized to provide the status of these probabilities, which were considered input data for the GeNIe program. The main results revealed that erection productivity is the highest risk, with a probability value of 0.87. In addition, the design schedule's significance directly impacts production capacity, resulting in a probability value of 0.74. However, the site management risk is low, with a 0.32 probability value. This paper assists practitioners in optimizing construction schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), qualitative research methods are infrequently employed, as researchers in the region are more accustomed to quantitative approaches, with a certain hesitancy to embrace qualitative methodology. This research endeavor focuses on exploring the impediments faced by individuals engaged in qualitative research within the Saudi context. To do so, I conducted semi-structured interviews with eight doctoral students and employed a qualitative case study design for this paper. Utilizing the MAXQDA software, I also applied thematic analysis to the data gathered from the interviews. The primary findings highlight three significant themes: (a) challenges related to organizational aspects, (b) difficulties stemming from social and cultural factors, and (c) obstacles specific to qualitative research practices. This paper, unique in its contribution to the region, addresses a wide range of issues faced by qualitative researchers to support and enhance their research endeavors. While this study holds relevance for researchers, its significance extends notably to policymakers, academics, and higher education institutions in the KSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research paper is to engage with the ongoing scientific discourse surrounding the impact of electronic human resources management (EHRM) technology on organizational sustainability, performance, and innovation within the context of the dynamic Saudi Arabian hospitality industry. Drawing upon a quantitative research methodology, this study seeks to unveil the intricate relationship between the latent variable (e-HRM) and the dependent variables, namely, organizational innovation, organizational performance, and organizational sustainability. The systematic organization of literary sources and research approaches underpins the comprehensive nature of this study, which holds particular relevance against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 development plan. The plan envisions diversifying the economy, reducing dependence on oil, and fostering sustainable growth -- objectives that resonate strongly with the challenges and opportunities within the hospitality sector. The paper progresses logically, employing robust statistical software such as SPSS version 25 and SmartPLS 3.3.5 to rigorously evaluate and test the measuring and structural models. This meticulous approach includes hypothesis testing to assess indicators' reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The study meticulously examines a sample of 438 employees within the Saudi hospitality industry. Methodological tools, including detection analyses and correlation analysis, are deployed to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the data. The Saudi hospitality industry is strategically selected for its pivotal role in job creation, economic prosperity, and overall image projection. Empirical analysis forms the crux of this paper, revealing compelling results that underscore the positive and significant influence of e-HRM technologies on organizational innovation, organizational performance, and organizational sustainability. The model's robust fit, as evidenced by the SRMR value of 0.074 and the NFI score of 0.911, accentuates the reliability and validity of the research. Furthermore, the paper employs the blindfolding technique to assess the model's predictive validity, revealing effect sizes of 0.223, 0.109, and 0.439 for organizational innovation, organizational performance, and organizational sustainability, respectively. This research not only empirically confirms but also theoretically substantiates the pivotal role of e-HRM technologies in shaping organizational outcomes. By delving into the mediating relationship between organizational performance and organizational innovation, this study contributes significantly to understanding how e-HRM technologies can be a catalyst for organizational sustainability in the unique context of the Saudi hospitality industry. Beyond the academic realm, the findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, industry professionals, and stakeholders, aligning with the overarching goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to foster sustainable growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of electronic advertising in Saudi Arabia. The main purpose of this research is to explore the impact of internet advertising on companies' visits to stores through an exploratory study. The systematization of literary sources and approaches for solving electronic advertising problems indicates that new mediating and moderating variables could have an impact on the relation between Internet advertising and visits to stores. In this research, the disposition to visit the point of sale is assimilated as a mediating construct rather than an implication with the product as a moderating variable. The relevance of this scientific problem decision is that this investigation of the consequences of electronic advertising for offline customer comportment in Saudi Arabia is unprecedented research that seeks to address this interesting question. The investigation of the role of online advertising and the impact of mediating and moderating variables on the visit to the store in the paper was carried out in the following logical sequence: the data were collected via an electronic survey. Of the 500 randomly selected Internet users in Saudi Arabia, only 350 responses were valid. This research used a structural equation model and multigroup analysis to examine the direct and indirect influences of variables. This paper presents the results of an empirical analysis that revealed a positive relation between internet advertising and visits to points of sale. The disposition to visit the point of sale mediates the relationship between Internet advertising and concrete visits to the store. The effect of the product moderates the effect of internet advertising on the disposition to visit the point of sale in Saudi Arabia. The research empirically confirms and theoretically proves that Saudi shoppers fine online advertising to be attractive when this advertising must have some actions and concepts flash. Therefore, Saudi directors should follow this form and use an effective mixture of content and animation. The e-shoppers who are involved are persons who have little engagement; for this reason, they are simply concerned about the tools of the publicity communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although geoheritage is gaining importance wordwide, much appreciation is still required for the overlooked geoheritage resources. The geoheritage of Saudi Arabia is promising and gaining much attention towards geoconversation and geotourism, but thematic publications are limited compared to the global context. This paper aims to identify the relevant geosites in Saudi Arabia according to the IUCN theme and propose a geoheritage strategic plan. For identification of the geosite, we have conducted a comprehensive review of published literature and online material, including web blogs, YouTube videos, social media, and governmental websites. For the strategic plan for known/unknown geosite, published literature from established geoparks with similar key landforms has been reviewed. Seven IUCN themes can be linked with the geoheritage of Saudi Arabia. Most of these sites are local tourist spots, therefore, immense potential for the geotourism development. The key geomorphological heritage in Saudi Arabia is volcanic harrat, escarpment, cave, mesas, butte, pinnacle, canyon, island, aeolian dune, and submarine corals. Geological heritage includes various fossils in Tuwaiq Mountain. Submarine geoheritage includes different colourful corals and rock structures with high scientific value. Biodiversity-protected area and cultural heritage site enhance the geoheritage value of the geosite, and its geotourism importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : The volume and quality of biomedical research publications from an institution are considered adequate indicators of the quality of medical care in that institute. King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is one of the oldest and most distinguished medical centers in the country. Methods: In this study, we analyzed the number of publications from the Critical Care Unit of the hospital in the past two decades, from 1996 to 2016. The research publications were evaluated on various parameters. Moreover, the impact of their study on global medicine was determined. Results: Our results indicate a steady progression in the number of publications from the institute in the past two decades. An average of 17.3 papers was published each year during this time. Out of the 283 publications from KAMC included in this study, the majority of the publications were original articles, 61 were review articles, 66 were multicenter trial studies and 28 were randomized control trials. The citation profile of the publications was good indicating global impact of the studies. Conclusion: The global impact of research as evaluated through published manuscripts in KAMC is overall good. This was deduced from both the increase in the number of publications each year and also the quality of papers as evidenced by the citation index of the papers published between 1996 and 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical students can enhance their knowledge by accessing patients' medical records and documenting patient care. This study assessed medical students' access to paper medical records and electronic health records (EHRs) in Saudi Arabia and compared students' experience of accessing paper medical records and EHR from their perspective. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled second-year to intern medical students randomly from different medical colleges in Saudi Arabia. A self-developed survey was administered to them. It comprised 28 items in three sections: general information about medical students and their level of accessing medical records, their experience with the medical record system used in hospitals, and their preference for the medical record type. Results: 62.8% of participants had access to medical records, with 66.1% of them having access to EHRs and 83.27% had read-only access. The EHR group and paper group mostly liked being able to reach medical records effortlessly (70.1% and 67.1%, respectively). The EHR group had a better experience compared to the paper group with U = 5200, Mean Rank = 122.73, P =.04. Students who trained in University – owned and National Guard hospitals had better experiences compared to students who trained in other hospitals with Mean Ranks =122.35, and 147.99, respectively. Conclusion: Incorporating EHR access into the medical curriculum is essential for creating new educational opportunities that are not otherwise available to medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a pillar of United Nations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pursues to greener its economy and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. The green economy represents a catalyzer for sustainable development in its three dimensions -economic, social and environmental- aiming to improve human well-being and social equity and reduce environmental risks. However, the relevant previous studies lacked the role of green economy on sustainable development for the Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, this paper aims to explore how green is the kingdom and analyze its performance toward sustainable development from 2015 to 2020. To do so, we adopt the EEPSE Green Economy Index that combines educational, economic, political, societal and environmental indicators associated with the pillars of the Quintuple Helix Innovation Model. In this study, this index is composed of 42 indicators related to the green economy and the sustainable development. The empirical results suggest that the Saudi Arabia witnessed a significant progress of EEPSE GEI score. In addition, the findings support that the performance of the kingdom regarding the green economy is affected after the COVID-19 crisis. Thus, the paper provides original visions for policy makers to encourage the transition to green economy which constitutes the main locomotive to attain the economic, social and environment sustainability for the kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several research papers have attempted to describe the dynamics of COVID-19 based on systems of differential equations. These systems have taken into account quarantined or isolated cases, vaccinations, control measures, and demographic parameters, presenting propositions regarding theoretical results that often investigate the asymptotic behavior of the system. In this paper, we discuss issues that concern the theoretical results proposed in the paper "An Extended SEIR Model with Vaccination for Forecasting the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia Using an Ensemble Kalman Filter". We propose detailed explanations regarding the resolution of these issues. Additionally, this paper focuses on extending the local stability analysis of the disease-free equilibrium, as presented in the aforementioned paper, while emphasizing the derivation of theorems that validate the global stability of both epidemic equilibria. Emphasis is placed on the basic reproduction number R 0 , which determines the asymptotic behavior of the system. This index represents the expected number of secondary infections that are generated from an already infected case in a population where almost all individuals are susceptible. The derived propositions can inform health authorities about the long-term behavior of the phenomenon, potentially leading to more precise and efficient public measures. Finally, it is worth noting that the examined paper still presents an interesting epidemiological scheme, and the utilization of the Kalman filtering approach remains one of the state-of-the-art methods for modeling epidemic phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islamic banking is witnessing a significant increase in worldwide demand for its products alongside the increased interest in Sharīʿah governance, which is an essential means of ensuring that the products and activities of Islamic banking institutions fully comply with Sharīʿah (Islamic law), meet customer needs, and increase their competitiveness in both local and international markets. The aim of this paper is to evaluate Sharīʿah governance practices in Saudi Arabian banks and also examine the level of adherence to Sharīʿah governance principles, institutional frameworks, regulatory standards, and procedures within Saudi banks. This paper employs a descriptive analysis approach, while the data were collected through a questionnaire survey from 95 members of Sharīʿah advisory boards, Sharīʿah groups, and Sharīʿah governance committees in 11 banks operating in Saudi Arabia. A regression analysis was performed to estimate relationships between the level of compliance and commitment to Sharīʿah governance in Saudi banks as a dependent variable, and the implementation of Sharīʿah governance, its dimensions, and the availability of implementing procedures of Sharīʿah governance as independent variables. The findings confirm the existence of variations between banks at the level of implementing Sharīʿah governance principles and standards. The dimensions of Sharīʿah governance received varying levels of attention in the banks, with organizational structure ranking first, followed by the dimensions of responsibility and disclosure, and finally, control, auditing, and accountability. The study reveals disparities in the implementation levels of Sharīʿah governance between banks with full-fledged Sharīʿah compliance and conventional banks that offer Islamic windows. Additionally, the study indicates differences in the adequacy of implementing procedures for Sharīʿah governance principles and standards in both types of Saudi banks, attributed to variations in bank size, product type, and organizational structure. The results of the regression analysis demonstrate that the implementation of Sharīʿah governance dimensions and the availability of implementing procedures have a statistically positive effect on the level of commitment to Islamic banking and Sharīʿah governance. The paper suggests a necessity for training personnel in Islamic banking, activating the role of Sharīʿah compliance units, and developing the Sharīʿah governance framework in Islamic banking operations in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard currency (‘umlah) plays an essential role in any modern economy. The introduction of money as a means of remuneration successfully eliminated the problems posed by traditional barter trade. Gold and silver became the most widely accepted and circulated form of money in the medieval world, stored in the treasuries of the kings and the wealthy and powerful. In 1971 the US government abolished the Bretton Woods system and exchanged with the floating or fiat economy system which soon became the standard currency system worldwide. Disappointingly, no Muslim government produced legal rulings (fatwas) which rejected the legality of the fiat system and demanded the return to gold and silver backed currency. The single fatwa issued in Saudi Arabia in 1985 concluded that paper currency had completely replaced gold and silver and that all previous Islamic legal rulings issued on gold and silver were now applicable to paper currency. This paper study critically evaluates the 1985 fatwa, questions its legal validity and concludes that only a solid gold and silver currency fulfills the legal requirements of an Islamic currency of which all Muslim economies should adopt and protect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable mulch (BDMs) films are ecologically safe substitutes for polyethylene mulches (PEMs) in agricultural systems. However, since it is an innovative technology on the market, it is not easy for farmers to adopt it. Understanding farmers' familiarity with BDM and their willingness to adopt it in the future could play a crucial role in the design and implementation of effective agricultural interventions for promoting the adoption of BDM to reduce environmental pollution. Therefore, a study was undertaken to assess farmers' familiarity with BDM and their willingness to adopt it in the future. Data were collected fromfruit and vegetable growers located in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, using a simple random sampling approach with the help of a pre-tested paper-based questionnaire. The findings revealed that most of the farmers were not familiar with BDM. Despite the lack of awareness, a considerable portion indicated their willingness to adopt BDM in the future. The farmers' education level, farm size, and membership in agricultural cooperatives significantly influenced their familiarity with BDM. Education level, farming experience, and membership in agricultural cooperatives also showed significant relationships with their willingness to adopt BDM in the future. Moreover, the farmers were not aware of the potential benefits of this new innovation. The study recommends that extension education programs through the active involvement of agricultural cooperatives should be implemented to make farmers aware of the advantages of BDM over PEM. In addition, the government should facilitate the adoption of this promising innovation by enhancing its availability on the market and affordability to farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saudi Arabia is threatened by recurrent flash floods caused by extreme precipitation events. To mitigate the risks associated with these natural disasters, we implemented an advanced nationwide flash flood forecast system, boosting disaster preparedness and response. A noteworthy feature of this system is its national-scale operational approach, providing comprehensive coverage across the entire country. Using cutting-edge technology, the setup incorporates a state-of-the-art, three-component system that couples an atmospheric model with hydrological and hydrodynamic models to enable the prediction of precipitation patterns and their potential impacts on local communities. This paper showcases the system's effectiveness during an extreme precipitation event that struck Jeddah on 24 November 2022. The event, recorded as the heaviest rainfall in the region's history, led to widespread flash floods, highlighting the critical need for accurate and timely forecasting. The flash flood forecast system proved to be an effective tool, enabling authorities to issue warnings well before the flooding, allowing residents to take precautionary measures, and allowing emergency responders to mobilize resources effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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New perspectives incorporating a more flexible plurilingual approach to language teaching have recently emerged. This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework that suggests a teaching policy methodology that enhances English education in Saudi Arabia. It includes a thorough revision of the nature of Saudi language pedagogy. The study argued for a better understanding of bilingual practices and for utilizing students' pluralist resources of knowledge to develop their academic, communicative and literacy skills. It also called for a critical review of the conventional methodology of language education that is entirely based on adherence to the socially and politically defined boundaries between languages. As a result, it is suggested that translanguaging be implemented as a communicative strategy to support English education and encourage linguistic diversity in the Saudi context. Moreover, developmental recommendations regarding English teaching and translanguaging implementation that are useful both locally and internationally are incorporated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the rise in medical errors, establishing a strong safety culture and an effective incident reporting system is crucial. As part of the Saudi National Health Transformation Vision of 2030, multiple projects have been initiated to periodically assess healthcare quality measures and ensure a commitment to continuous improvement. Among these is the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture National Project (HSPSC), conducted regularly by the Saudi Patient Safety Center (SPSC). However, comprehensive tools for assessing reporting culture are lacking. Addressing this gap can enhance reporting, efficiency, and health safety. Objective: This paper aims to investigate the reporting practices among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Saudi Arabian hospitals and examine the relationship between reporting culture domains and other variables such as hospital bed capabilities and HCPs' work positions. Methods: The study focuses on measuring the reporting culture-related items measures and employs secondary data analysis using information from the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture conducted by the Saudi Center for Patient Safety in 2022, encompassing hospitals throughout Saudi Arabia. Data incorporated seven items in total: four items related to the Response to Error Domain, two related to the Reporting Patient Safety Events Domain, and one associated with the number of events reported in the past 12 months. Results: The sample for the analyzed data included 145,657 HCPs from 392 hospitals. The results showed that the average positive response rates for reporting culture-related items were between 50% and 70%. In addition, the research indicated that favorable response rates were relatively higher among managerial and quality/patient safety/risk management staff. In contrast, almost half had not reported any events in the preceding year, and a quarter reported only 1 or 2 events. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrates a strong negative correlation between bed capacity and reporting safety events, response to error, and number of events reported (r = -0.935, -0.920, and − 0.911, respectively; p < 0.05), while a strong positive correlation is observed between reporting safety events and response to error (r = 0.980; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Almost 75% of the HCPs reported fewer safety events over the last 12 months, indicating an unexpectedly minimal recorded occurrence variance ranging from 0 to 2 incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]