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The wireless communication systems, particularly the vehicle to everything (V2X) wireless networks, take advantage of machine learning (ML) to improve and overcome the issues facing classical methods of solving complex scenarios. This thesis assesses the new development in ML techniques for V2X in resource allocation, power efficiency, mobile intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS), downlink-uplink decoupling, and end-to-end (E2E) optimised communication systems. A survey summary has been produced on applying machine learning to wireless communications. In addition, deep Q-learning (DQL) was investigated with the classical maximum weight matching (MWM) to improve the radio resource allocation in vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, where approximately 50% increase in the cellular users' throughput in comparison with only using the DQL at dense V2V links and three power transmission levels scenario. In addition, the DQL and QL research investigate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) energy efficiency (EE). Showing ML techniques power in the proposed QL and DQL algorithms that perform better than the baseline fractional power control (FPC) scheme using the UHF and mmWave bands compared to conventional FPC schemes, where the QL(DQL) EE improvement are around 80%(100%) for the UHF band, and by around 160% (170%) for the mmWave band, in comparison to conventional FPC scheme. Furthermore, the research explored the E2E wireless model by proposing embedded variational autoencoders (EVAE). The result shows that the new technique learns the wireless environment autonomously through latent random variables (LRV), and the performance for the V2X scenario has improved, where the EVAE 8dB SINR bit error rate (BER) has approximately 3 dB improvement in comparison to the 8-QAM uncoded theoretical value and 1 dB in comparison to the 8-QAM VAE scheme. Moreover, the IRS has been modelled as an E2E communication system. The inferring of the signal constellations representation pattern reduces the wireless environment contamination impact on the received signal and improves the SER performance of the proposed E2E system compared to the conventional AE and classical IRS, this improvement can be quantified by 8 dB gain in SER performance comparing to classical IRS for 64 meta-surfaces and -20 dB and RS assisted AE-based scheme Eb/No is -20 dB. Lastly, the federated learning (FL) for distributed ML has been proposed to assist in offloading data from the mobile network using the mmWave band to improve mobile IRS selection. The FL utilises the UHF band to create global and local deep neural network (DNN) models to enhance the performance of MIRS-assisted-V2V communication throughput and reliability. Mobile IRS (MIRS), as a newly proposed type of mobile network resource, improves the network's performance when the number of MIRS classified as LOS increases in the system the quantification of the result shows that with four MIRSs the system can achieve BER of 10-6 in compare to 0.011 BER when only one MIRS used.

Great Britain has a modern road network and is well-known with the advanced technology in road engineering. Although with excellent road infrastructure, road accidents remain one of the main concerns in road safety literature among researchers and policymakers. One of the main strategies for improving road safety is to identify the contributing factors and then to develop countermeasures. There have been numerous studies that analyse road accident severity including binary outcome models, ordered discrete outcome models, unordered multinomial discrete outcome models, and other data mining approaches. The aim of this thesis is to identify the contributing factors affecting road accident severity in Great Britain and estimate the accident cost for all types of accident severity. For accident severity study, three statistical models are selected: multinomial logistic regression (MNL) model, log-linear graphical model and multinomial logistic with random effects (MNLRE) model. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation method by applying random walk Metropolis-Hastings (M-H) algorithm is used for parameter estimation in the MNLRE model. Accident cost study is investigated by applying three models: Gamma, Weibull and Log-normal distribution.

Over the last few decades, industrial and urban activities have contributed to the accumulation of trace metals and other contaminants in the marine environment, thereby impacting coastal ecosystems. Dubai has undergone incredible economic, social and industrial developments, resulting in a significant increase in anthropogenic impacts such as dredging, land reclamation, industrial and sewage effluents, desalination discharges, and oil pollution causing environmental degradation of Dubai's marine ecosystem. Sites were selected along the nearshore, offshore, creeks and port locations that characterise distinct environmental features within the marine environment of Dubai. Sediment, water and macro benthic samples were collected from fifty sampling stations in the coastal environment of Dubai during December 2013 (winter) and August 2014 (summer). The study of sediment, water and macro benthic revealed different types of pollution, identifying certain areas of concern. The status of trace metals in the sediment along the Dubai coast is principally influenced by the anthropogenic activities in the proximity of ship maintenance, ports and industrial areas (Dry Dock, Jaddaf, Jebel Ali Port, Wharfage, Hamriya and DUBAL). Copper and zinc were the major trace constituents found to affect these areas, with some trace metal hot spots (e.g., Dry Dock, Wharfage, Jebel Ali Port, Jaddaf and Sanctuary) identified including some contaminated stations, Jebel Ali Port, Dry Dock, Hamriya N and Jaddaf. The ecological risk indices showed that all stations were free from potential ecological risk, except for moderate ecological risk at Dry Dock because of its elevated sediment metal levels. The results of the water quality index (WQI) illustrated that the water quality at most stations, except STP (sewage treatment plant), Jaddaf and Sanctuary, was excellent with a score of >90. The low score (69.9-74.0) in STP, Jaddaf, and Sanctuary is linked to anthropogenic influences, as these stations are situated near the STP discharge and ship lifting yard in the upper region of Dubai creek. This upper area of Dubai creek is a partially enclosed lagoon and more vulnerable to organic pollution and severe environmental incidents such as fish mortality, algal blooms and eutrophication. The elevated levels of NO3-N, PO4-P and NH4-N associated with anthropogenic inputs (sewage effluent) are evident in this area, due to regular inputs of secondary treated effluents from the STP outfall. The macro benthic biomass along the Dubai coastal environment was found to be considerably lower than the biomass of the Arabian Gulf, also showing a decline from the soft-bottom substrate of the Arabian Gulf. This indicates the poor status of macro benthic ecology in terms of standing stock (biomass) and population, hence, the stressed state of macro benthic ecology, which could be linked to a variety of anthropogenic activities such as dredging, reclamation, organic and trace metal contamination along Dubai's coast. The distribution of the macrobenthic community along the Dubai coastal environment is characterised in several zones such as extreme and high severity, moderate and healthy areas. Signs of extreme severity (dead zone) were evident along the upper area of Dubai creek due to organic pollution, whereas high severity in macro benthic communities was also evident in Hamriya and Jebel Ali Ports. Based on this study's findings, a coastal zone management (CZM) plan for Dubai is needed to ensure access to safe and healthy water quality and ecosystems that sustain the coastal economy. Rigorous and systematics environmental monitoring programme along Dubai coastline for water quality, sediment and marine ecology is required with proper control and remedial measures in hot spot areas.

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) commonly occur following major abdominal surgery. There are different approaches to manage and minimise PPCs, one of which is respiratory physiotherapy. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) approach is currently considered within perioperative practice to enhance recovery and decrease postoperative complications in general. However, there a few interventions targeting PPCs in particular within ERAS. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to assess if implementation a perioperative respiratory care bundle improves postoperative respiratory outcomes following major abdominal surgery. Three studies were conducted in this thesis. First study aimed to find best respiratory care interventions that would be included within the bundle by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Second study investigated the need for improvement in perioperative practice by an observational study. Third study assessed the success of the implemented bundle by a quality improvement study. The incidence of PPCs was extremely high in local hospital and was associated with increased morbidities and length of stay. The proposed perioperative respiratory care bundle to be implemented, being called I-COUGH Plus, includes Incentive Spirometry (IS) plus Inspiratory Muscle Trainer (IMT), coughing and deep breathing, oral hygiene, understanding, get out of bed, head of bed elevated. The I-COUGH Plus was proposed aiming to improve respiratory muscle strength and patient outcomes postoperatively. Preliminary results showed that I-COUGH Plus has no effect on improving respiratory muscles and decreasing PPCs. However, I-COUGH Plus is still considered within perioperative practice hoping to show its effectiveness after recruiting sufficient number of patients.

Oral health is a very important aspect of general health, especially for vulnerable groups such as children with special healthcare needs (SHCNs). The oral care management of these children may require additional considerations, but evidence of the effectiveness of 'different' types of treatment in this population is limited. Pain-free treatment is important to reduce fear and anxiety in children. Different methods have been described for delivery of local anaesthetic with no agreement on which intervention is most successful in increasing its acceptance by children. In additional to professional considerations for oral care management, parents' views and understandings of oral care provision for their children is also of importance. Aims: (i) To assess the quality of clinical guidelines and the underpinning evidence to support oral care recommendations for children with special healthcare needs; (ii) To assess the effect of interventions for increasing the acceptance of local anaesthesia for children with and without special healthcare needs who are receiving dental treatment; (iii) To assess parental perceptions of the provision of oral care that children with special healthcare receive; (iv) To identify potential evidence-based interventions to overcome some of the identified barriers of oral care delivery for children with special healthcare needs. Methods: (i) Guidelines in paediatric dentistry published from 2007 onwards were appraised using the AGREE II instrument. The guidelines were qualitatively assessed to determine if there was a robust body of evidence to support their recommendations; (ii) A systematic review of RCTs, using the Cochrane methodology, was performed in order to determine the effect of methods for acceptance of local anaesthetic (LA) in children with and without special healthcare needs; (iii) A qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis was undertaken to investigate parental views of the oral care provided for children with special healthcare needs; (iv) A systematic review of evidence aimed at overcoming barriers to the delivery of oral care, was undertaken. Results: (i) The quality and reporting of guidelines for children with SHCNs in paediatric dentistry is very poor. The underpinning evidence that supports recommendations for children with SHCNs is also very limited. (ii) There is insufficient evidence to support any of the assessed interventions to increase the acceptance of LA due to variations in the reported methods, outcomes and timing of outcome measures. (iii) Several themes were identified:importance of oral health, parental roles oral care experiences relating to dental appointments, existing issues with current oral care, and parental views of ideal practice. (iv) Five systematic reviews and five guidelines were identified assessing interventions aimed at improving the delivery of oral care for children with special healthcare needs. Potential interventions include fluoride application, training and education programmes aimed at both caregivers and the dental team. Conclusions: The development and content of clinical guidelines focussing on oral care for children with SHCNs is concerning and the evidence base for their recommendations is limited. Guidelines in this area should be read with caution. The research and dental community need to work together to enhance the current standard of clinical guidelines in paediatric dentistry, specifically for children with special healthcare needs. High quality RCTs of interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment are required including children with SHCNs as participants. These should be fully reported according to CONSORT standards. Studies should consider the development and use of core outcome measures to increase the opportunity for pooling of data. The findings of this thesis also point to the need for improvements to the entire network of dental care services to this population. Oral care providers should establish and maintain good communication with the parents of these children and help them in obtaining required support. A number of interventions are needed in order to increase the awareness of parents and caregivers regarding the treatment as well as prevention measures of dental diseases.

This thesis is concerned with the development of physical models of multichannel crosstalk cancellation (CTC) systems and the analysis of those models. The physical principles of multichannel CTC systems are established through a course of analytical studies that rely on the singular value decomposition (SVD), eigendecomposition, and a novel analysis framework that was developed in the course of these investigations. In the first of these studies, a simple acoustic model is introduced and the singular system for asymmetric and symmetric geometries is derived. An analysis of the low frequency source strength solution leads to an amplitude panning function that is shown to be a solution to the multichannel sine law. The eigenvalues of the Gram matrix reveal that the system is generally dependent on a phenomenon identified as focusing crosstalk. In the second of these works, it is shown that the multichannel CTC system robustness and stability, as quantified by the system condition number and amplification factor of the pseudoinverse, respectively, can be described directly in terms of the focusing crosstalk at a single point. This realisation leads to a physical study of the symmetric CTC system and the focusing behaviour of specific multichannel geometries. In the absence of reflections, the focusing crosstalk is largely due to sidelobe radiation, and thus an intuitive link is formed between the physical concepts of beamforming and the stability of the inverse solution. In the third of these works, the analysis culminates in an examination of the general underdetermined linear discrete inverse problem in the context of sound-field control, and is centred on the focusing behaviour inherent to the inverse solution. The physical requirements for optimally-conditioned systems are rigorously established and shown to occur only when the focusing crosstalk is minimised at all control points in the field. Finally, an alternate method to achieve CTC is developed based on the derived source strength modes of an optimally-conditioned system. The practical implications of these physical studies are discussed and supported with simulations using measured data.

Background: Physical activity is recognised as an effective strategy to mitigate the side effects of cancer treatments. Despite this, a large number of women after breast cancer remain physically inactive. Cultural sensitivities may impact on and shape women's' physical activity participation. There is an important role for health care professionals who face challenges in promoting physical activity to their cancer patients. Study Design: This research was conducted in two phases. Firstly, a systematic review to identify factors affecting physical activity participation and promotion, from both women after breast cancer and oncology health care professionals' perspectives, worldwide. Following this, a qualitative study explored Palestinian women's perspectives of what affects their physical activity participation after breast cancer and health care professionals' perspectives of what affects their promotion of physical activity to cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territories. Findings: Phase one identified themes of daily living with breast cancer, altruism, changing identities, and promoting physical activity. While phase two highlights what can be described as Palestinian women's captivity to the consequences of breast cancer. Palestinian female Identity and a culture of shame and pettiness, as well as an ongoing political situation, which together imposes restrictions on their PA participation. Other barriers were encountered by health care professionals regarding physical activity promotion, all of which may be related to work pressure, lack of knowledge and health care system referral scheme to physical activity. Conclusion: This research provides new knowledge and understandings about physical activity participation in women after breast cancer emphasising the importance of culture. These findings help to raise the awareness of all women's experience and in particular, give Palestinian women a 'voice'. It highlights the need to develop and implement culturally tailored physical activity recommendations that may increase participation among women after breast cancer.

LMX (Leader-Member Exchange) theory is a theoretical lens which adopts a unique approach to evaluate the quality of the relationship between two parties, the leader and team members. This doctoral research aims to develop and contribute to the LMX framework through a contextual conceptualisation of LMX as a layer-based theory. Through a stratified double snowball sampling method, funded research projects representing seven fields of research are explored. To this end, 31 semi-structured interviews were conducted with both principal investigators (17) and research team members (14) drawn from 15 different universities in the UK. This research study includes funded projects ranging from £40,000 in value to £7,000,000 and focuses on research projects launched and completed between 2000 and 2018. Based on a constructionist thematic research strategy, a template analytical approach was used to interpret the data. Drawing upon the main constructs of LMX, the analytical process revealed a critical construct referred to as supportive acquaintances, which provides a desired space for professional friendships. The rationale for which was based upon the PI's and members' experiences in research teams and daily life. Autonomy was found to be a debatable construct associated with self-governance, differently perceived dependent upon the status of an individual within a team, and linked to the funded party. The research findings explain how role clarity and communication could manage the negative facet of autonomy that is manifested through a lack of guidance and loss of control. This study advances the LMX literature, by demonstrating that LMX relationships are more complex than traditional categorisations of high and low quality relationships. The new generated concept "dynamic common ground" more fully explains these relationships by exploring obscure notions such as team dynamic and team politics. This study recognises four layers of LMX. The layers include political layer "captured through the term political empowerment", perceptual layer "captured through the term inequality perceptions", informal layer "captured through the term friendships", and positional layer "captured through the term power". This study also identifies the importance of the novel political layer which is missing from the traditional conceptualisation of LMX. Furthermore, the identified informal layer of LMX highlights the increasing importance of the social nature of the workplace. This research study has implications for the work-life balance of academics.

Bridges are known to be crucial structures, which assist in the overall transportation infrastructure systems. They continue to serve for a long period of time and thus, they are usually subjected to multiple loadings in addition to several risks in their service life. Therefore, they require a great deal of maintenance in order to preserve their functionality. Risk management of bridges is particularly important for understanding the likelihood of extreme events and service distribution along with the consequences of service disruption. Thus, this thesis is concerned with developing and providing a detailed reliability risk-based methodology for the decision making of highway bridges made of concrete and steel. This research was aimed on delivering a successful tool which can provide a safety risk analysis for bridge structures. A review of the relevant literature was first carried out which assisted in providing a detailed background on bridges. This included discussing studies exploring bridge accidents in order to understand the reasons behind such accidents. Next, the aim of this study was successfully achieved by basing the proposed tool on a numerical model, which is relevant to the maintenance of bridge structures. The goals of this research were satisfied by reviewing, analysing and utilising the Fuzzy Reasoning Approach (FRA), Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) techniques. A new safety risk model applicable for bridges was then proposed. Three input parameters, Consequence Severity (CS), Failure Frequency (FF) and Weight Factor (WF) were introduced and then used for assessing the risks from components levels all the way to system level. Moreover, the Consequence Severity Criteria (CSC) parameter is introduced as the multi-consequences parameter, which takes into consideration eight factors that are considered significant for the risk analysis of bridges. The eight factors, which are, functionality, safety, value for money, environment, traffic delay, time, reputational damage and socio-economic consequences are discussed in detail. Three case studies were used for validating and verifying the reliability of the proposed risk assessment and safety management model. Overall, for the first time, this work has carried out research as well as propose a safety model for risk assessment of highway bridges. In the case of no available information or risk data, it is possible to use subjective estimations with the proposed risk model. This is because the model permits the use of imprecise as well as vague descriptors for directly capturing experts' judgements. While there are certain complexities associated with the application of FAHP, the proposed risk assessment model uses an enhanced version of FAHP, which needs only a few expert judgements. The developed model is based specifically on highway bridges. Hence, the benefits of the model can be summarised in its ability to combine engineering judgements as well as expert knowledge with various risk information for the assessment of highway bridges in a reliable approach.

Increasing representation of women on corporate boards of directors has been on the political and economic agendas of many governments around the world. Following in the footsteps of Norway's institution of a gender quota to its corporate boards in 2003, several EU countries legislated likewise (e.g. France and Spain). However, milder approaches to promote gender equality among its boards characterized initiatives undertaken by other countries (e.g. UK). Between the two approaches one may surmise the interaction different institutional and corporate environments that influence not only the presence of women in such positions but the effectiveness of women as participants in boards in terms of corporate outcomes (i.e. performance). The empirical evidence on the impact of presence of women on corporate boards is mixed and inconclusive. This might be due to difficulty of capturing complex interactions among endogenous and exogenous variables generating the level -- and effectiveness thereof -- of participation of women in corporate boards. Inadequate theoretical frameworks used to address this relationship and contextual disparities that perturb it also contribute to these inchoate results. In addressing this analytical gap, this doctoral thesis poses a complex question: why does effectiveness of women on boards vary from one country to another? In other words, why would women have a substantive impact on corporate performance in France yet only having a marginal impact on the same in USA? In answering this question, a comprehensive and multi-level literature review from various backgrounds was conducted. Following that, several theoretical frameworks that underpin the relationship between board gender diversity and firm performance are discussed with a view to the elaboration of endogenous and exogenous variables interacting in a conceptual model constructed in line with the integration of agency theory and institutional theory. The integration of both theories allows studying board gender diversity as a part of corporate governance phenomenon that affects firm performance in an external institutional environment that creates isomorphic pressures on the firm decisions and outcomes. The moderating role of country- and firm-level factors hypothesized in the relationship between board gender diversity and firm operational and market performance was tested using sixteen hypotheses. Most studies were conducted in western corporate environments with few in emerging economies. In this thesis, notably, substantial differences between western and emerging countries in terms of institutional and corporate environments were evaluated to gauge the extent to which these differences influence the ability of women to impact corporate performance. Panel data models were constructed using variables drawn from the conceptual model to investigate how firm and country-level factors affect the contribution to firm performance of women on boards. Firms listed in GCC countries' financial markets comprised the sample of the population of all GCC firms for the years (2017-2018). In addition, a control sample from publicly listed companies in France and UK was added. Firm-level data was collected on GCC firms from GCC financial markets and, for firms listed in UK and France, from the Bloomberg database, while country-level data was derived from global research projects (i.e. UNESCO, ILOSTAT, World Economic Forum). On the firm-level, findings indicated that institutional ownership and board independence influences the relationship between board gender diversity and firm operational and market performance. In contrast, ownership concentration only influences the relationship between board gender diversity and firm operational performance. On the country-level, female tertiary education influences the relationship between board gender diversity and firm operational and market performance. Both female labour market participation and legal support for women representation on boards only impact the relationship between board gender diversity and firm market performance. Moreover, culture only impacts the relationship between board gender diversity and firm operational performance. This study is the first to empirically investigate the influence of firm- and country-level factors in the relationship between board gender diversity and firm operational and market performance in GCC countries (KSA, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar). It indicates that effectiveness of women on firm performance is contingent on certain firm and country-level factors as well as on the performance measure that is used (i.e. market, operational or financial). On the basis of the findings derived from this study, policies of increasing women participation in boards of directors across all industries in the GCC merit implementation. Legislation should also be considered in order to enhance women representation in corporate leadership positions, as on board of directors, in a suitable form that matches the nature of their institutional and cultural environments such as quotas for at least one woman on corporate boards. On a firm level, corporate governance codes should promote gender diversity on boards of directors to enhance board independence especially in GCC countries.

This work seeks to illuminate the phenomenon of internal forced displacement in Palestine since 1967 by collecting and analysing the voices of displaced individuals and people vulnerable to displacement. The specific cases investigated are in Hebron city. The main reasons for selecting the subject of forced internal displacement, which I call “silent displacement”, are based on the nature of the phenomenon and the mechanisms of displacement. In contrast to the first displacement of Palestinians in 1948, the ongoing displacement in the Palestinian territories is not as apparent and it is, in many ways, silent and silenced. I discuss Israeli internal forced displacement policies by focusing on both their physical and non-physical aspects, including the imposition of checkpoints, settler attacks, deliberate killings, physical and psychological abuse of the population and the seizure of spaces and property by force. As well as using physical means to enforce its policy, Israel also implements a set of measures that affects the daily life of the population in this region, rendering Hebron and areas targeted for forced displacement as a ‘Death Zone’ where fear, fear of killings, and the destruction of space and property reign supreme. Drawing from semi-structured interviews, this research will also explore the survival strategies adopted by inhabitants of the city of Hebron exposed to internal forced displacement to counter Israel’s physical and silent uprooting policies. It will examine the tenacity of people to resist and remain in their homes and city, as well as cases where they were forced to flee. I will review the mechanisms and strategies adopted by Palestinians through what James Scott has termed forms of “everyday resistance” in order to show how Palestinians attempt to read Israeli policy, to interpret its consequences for their homes, city, and livelihood, and to develop mechanisms to resist and withstand it. This is all part and parcel of everyday life for Palestinians in Hebron.

Propolis is a natural product collected by bees from plants to seal their hives for defence against external contamination, and a range of microorganisms and parasites including the protozoal species Crithidia. Propolis has been used as a folk medicine due to its therapeutic properties; thus, it is more likely that active components would be found in propolis rather than from random screening of plants. Ethanolic extracts of four samples from the UK (S224, S225, D6, D7), one from Poland (P) and two from Saudi Arabia (SB, T2) were profiled by high-resolution LC-MS and tested against a wide range of microorganisms including T. brucei, L. mexicana, C. fasiculata, S. aureus. Additionally, cell-based assays for cytotoxicity activities were evaluated. Several compounds were isolated, which are related to the three groups: flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and triterpenes. In total fifteen isolated compounds were obtained as follows: twelve from the UK samples most of which were flavonoids including 3-Acetoxypinobanksin (1), 7-Methoxychrysin (2), Kaempferol (3), Pinocembrin (4), 4’-Methoxykaempferol (5), Galangin (6), Chrysin (7), Apigenin (8), Pinostrobin (9), Cinnamic acid (10), Coumaric acid cinnamyl ester (11a) and Coumaric acid benzylester (11b). Two compounds were isolated from Polish propolis namely 4’, 7-Dimethoxykaempferol (12) and Naringenin 4', 7-dimethyl ether (13), and three compounds from a Saudi propolis sample: Hesperetin-7-methyl ether (14a), Sakuranetin (14b) and Lupeol (15). Both the crude extracts and isolated compounds displayed variable activity against the range of microorganisms which were tested against including S. aureus, T. brucei, C. fasiculata, T. congolense and L. mexicana.

This study investigates the role of Cooperating Teachers (CTs) in the professional learning of Student Teachers (STs), within the practicum of Saudi Arabian ITE (Initial Teacher Education) programmes. Under an Interpretivist paradigm and a constructivist grounded theory (CGT) approach, semi-structured interviews were used to collect the study data. The interviews were conducted to investigate the reality, challenges and prospects of the role of the CT in the Saudi ITE context, from principal stakeholders’ perspectives. The findings mirror those reported in the international literature with regard to the benefits of developing CTs’ professional learning for both CTs and STs. However, the findings also indicated that the role of the CT takes the form of an apprenticeship relationship, involving observance of a set of responsibilities that reflect a traditional supervisory approach to teaching and learning. The hierarchical educational culture, time limitations, CT selection and preparation, support of CTs and their evaluation of STs were identified as among the major challenges facing the CT’s role. From the analysis of the research findings, recommendations are made for practice. This study proposes a hybrid model of learning that combines aspects of the existing behaviourist approach with cooperative methods of learning within a triadic relationship between all those involved in Saudi ITE practicum. This has the potential for developing a collegial learning environment in an attempt to reduce the hierarchy in the current CT and ST relationship in Saudi ITE, and help reduce the school-university gap by enabling improved teacher learning through a cooperative continuum between them. Based on the research findings and ITE literature, A National Mentoring Scheme (NMS), is recommended as a school-university collaborative programme overseen by the Saudi Ministry of Education (MOE). Implications of such a framework for the MOE, universities, schools’ HTs and CTs are also identified.

As the world economy is moving towards full liberalisation, competition law plays an important role in the regulation of anti-competitive practices and the need to have appropriate competition law and policy in developing countries is becoming crucial. There are issues and challenges faced by these countries but international best practices and experiences from advanced and matured jurisdictions are an important influence and provide a useful guidance. The thesis aims to explore and investigate the application of completion law in the Malaysian airline industry through the insights drawn from the application of the competition laws in the EU airline industry based on its established laws and jurisprudence. From the institutional perspective, Malaysia faces great challenges in providing competition expertise in its enforcement agencies and judiciary. This investigation is timely and important. Competition legislation has only been in place in Malaysia since 2010 and sector specific regulation, including competition regulation, was only enacted for the airline industry in 2015. The establishment of two separate independent bodies by this legislation (MyCC and MAVCOM) may have the potential to create uncertainties and inconsistencies in implementing the law in the industry. Legal certainty is particularly important for the treatment of anti-competitive agreements for a developing jurisdiction like Malaysia. Malaysian competition legislation is largely based on EU competition law and this together with the international nature of the airline industry makes the EU jurisprudence highly authoritative. It is to be cautioned however, any reference to the EU jurisprudence must take into account the different economic structure of a developing country where there is a general lack of competition culture and awareness.

The landscape of the power sector is undergoing a significant transformation. The growing demand for energy, the depletion of world’s fossil energy resources and the greenhouse effect are well-recognized challenges for the power sector. Through the integration of renewable resources to the energy mix, the power sector is becoming cleaner and more affordable. A fundamental requirement to handle these new developments is to have an efficient transmission and distribution network. Effective transmission and distribution of electricity depends on the condition of underground power cables and joints. Any malfunction in these elements can affect the reliability of the entire grid and this could have an economic impact on the system. Undoubtedly, having an efficient and reliable transmission network implies the need to know and determine the electrical, thermal and mechanical limits of cable systems (cable + accessory). The stresses affecting the service performance of cable system may be classified as thermal, electrical, mechanical and chemical or a combination of the aforementioned. The contributory effects of thermo-mechanical stresses on the degradation of cable joints have gained great attention. Correct expectation of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of all the components in the cable system allows optimisation of both the performance and reliability of these components while maintaining the component life. This research explores some aspects of the thermo-mechanical stresses inside the cable system components in more depth. This work investigates thermomechanical stresses in silicone rubber pre-moulded cable joints and in three core submarine export cables. It is known that the electrical breakdown strength of insulation interfaces in cable joints depends on the mechanical pressure. Based on the literature, it has been shown that increasing the mechanical pressure in cable joints at the interface is important for ensuring high electrical breakdown strength. However, there is no clear benchmark for interface pressure, and little knowledge about how the thermal behaviour of the cable system will affect it. Furthermore, there is no correlation between interface pressure and different parameters such as material strain, temperature, thickness and elastic modulus. In this research, the mechanical design of solid-solid interface in cable joints is studied to evaluate the main effects of the relevant parameters. More specifically, a model is developed using the finite element method to calculate mechanical stresses based on a non-linear elastic model. In addition, an improved analytical approach is developed to determine the changes in interface pressure during operation. This proposed analytical approach takes proper account of material properties and their changes with temperature. The analytical algorithm is validated using finite element method. The use of a more realistic interface pressure model increases the integrity of the cable joint design and better enables industry professionals and system operators to determine the limits of their system during operation. In three-core cables, the cores are subjected to higher internal thermo-mechanical stresses than single core cables since each core is expected to be more restricted. The effect of internal thermo-mechanical stresses on the electrical performance of the three-core cable should be examined properly, but is often neglected. During electrical testing of AC submarine cables, only one core of a three-core cable could be tested. In this thesis, the internal thermo-mechanical stresses generated inside a single core and a three core cable are examined. In particular, a 2D thermo-mechanical coupled model is developed using finite element modelling. The model is analysed through thermo-mechanical analysis, to investigate how the thermally induced deformations could affect the electrical performance of the cable. This study demonstrates the significance of testing the full three core submarine cable with armour rather than testing only one single core.

Teacher Research (TR) can be broadly defined as research conducted by teachers in their own classrooms as part of their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In TR literature, the purpose, process and value of TR are often conceptualised for teachers by leading scholars, with teachers being expected to engage with such conceptualisations unquestionably. The literature offers few examples of TR conceptualisation based on teachers’ own conceptions of TR and of its feasibility for their context. My research explores the possibility of developing a contextually appropriate conceptualisation of TR for CPD at a Saudi university English Language Institute (ELI). To this end, the study investigated participants’ understanding of the purposes of CPD, their understanding of TR for CPD, their conceptions of what might constrain the use of TR based CPD in their context and what would be needed to support it. Using a collective case study approach, the data were sequentially generated over four phases through open ended questionnaires, a first set of semi-structured interviews, focus groups and a final set of semi-structured interviews. The findings of this study show that the purpose of CPD as understood by participants is to help teachers develop their practices and thinking. Participants understand an ELI- relevant conceptualisation of TR (which can help teachers develop) as one which is carried out by teachers to understand and address issues in their classrooms and institution through a data driven process nurtured by reflection and informed by relevant literature if feasible. The findings further indicate that TR at ELI needs to be subjective in nature, but transparent enough to be first shared locally at ELI and then possibly disseminated externally through different means. The insights of this study suggest that while the teacher conceptualised version of TR is relevant to teachers’ needs in their context, it is not automatically applicable. Some barriers to the implementation of TR at ELI (such as standardisation, prioritising ‘best’ practice based CPD on the part of the institution) need to be considered. Participants propose several ways to address the constraints and to enable TR to become one means of engaging in CPD at ELI. This study contributes to TR literature through providing understandings of how the conceptualisation of TR based CPD can be made context specific through teachers’ own conceptions and informed by TR literature.

The first aim of this thesis was to exploit homologous recombination between two 1.4kb imperfect rbcL direct repeats (2.4% base divergence) to generate novel plastid alleles in planta. The rbcL gene encodes the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. Multiple recombination events were observed between the two rbcL repeats producing eight novel rbcL alleles, including mosaic sequences. Direct repeat recombination excised aadA and dao marker genes at high frequency allowing the isolation of marker-free plants in the T0 generation. High marker excision rates explained regeneration of plastid transformants on both D-alanine (marker-containing shoots) and D- valine (marker-free shoots) and the leaf-lamina-loss phenotype observed on spectinomycin. The second aim of this thesis was to assemble a vector comprised of imperfect direct repeats (1.4% base divergence) of the cyan fluorescent gene (cfp) and the yellow fluorescent gene (yfp). Both coding regions were fused to the whirly DNA binding protein. The cfp and yfp genes were made using overlap PCR on a codon-optimised gfp template. A change from cyan to yellow fluorescence would allow recombination to be visualized in plastids. The whirly binding domain would localize the fluorescence to nucleoids, potentially the nucleoids from which they were transcribed if transcription and translation were coupled. The vectors were partly assembled but due to a lack of CFP fluorescence and the apparent toxicity of the whirly fusion protein the project was not completed. The final aim of this thesis was to express, for the first time, the green-to-red photoconvertible Dendra2 protein, in plastids to track protein trafficking within and between plastids. The Dendra2 protein accumulated to high amounts in transplastomic plants and was visible as a distinct band when total leaf protein was fractionated by SDS- polyacrylamide- gel electrophoresis. Wild type and transplastomic Dendra2 seedlings were grown on 0.2 Î1⁄4M norflurazon to reduce red chlorophyll autofluorescence. Using a Leica SP5 inverted confocal microscope, Dendra2 was photoconverted with 405 nm UV at 20- 30% laser strength and an exposure time of 20-30 seconds. Photoconversion resulted in a change from green to red fluorescence, which was stable over the time observed. Photoconverted red stromules in individual plastids rapidly changed to yellow showing mixing of their contents with the green fluorescence in the stroma of the same plastids. Photoconverted whole red plastids remained red over several minutes despite apparent collisions with other more abundant green fluorescent plastids indicating limited or no mixing of the stromal proteins between plastids.

It has been reported that different shale reservoirs behave differently to hydraulic fracturing. The reason behind this can be linked to their mechanical properties. Experiments, such as triaxial tests, can be used to measure different rock properties such as Young's modulus and Yield strength. Crush tests can be used to measure proppant's mechanical properties such as ultimate compressive strength. Conductivity cells are being used to find the interaction of proppant packs with the rock by measuring the permeability or conductivity changes at different loads. However, this method cannot provide direct observation of the rock and proppant interaction, nor measure the stresses and contact areas. Numerical methods are usually used for such studies but they can be time consuming and totally dependent on the boundary conditions used in the model. Also direct observations of the rock and proppant interaction have not been reported. The experimental limitations leads to failure in addressing the real interaction taking place, so based on these difficulties the key question of this study is: How does the relative stiffness of the rock and proppants affect the conductivity of open fractures? This was addressed by developing a theoretical model and a new experimental approach that can measure contact area by direct observation. A theoretical model was developed that can analyse the deformation behaviour of two flat surfaces pressed against multiple spheres making up a single layer. In reality, proppants are stiffer than shales (higher Young's modulus) and most of the deformation occurs on the rock surface. This allows to model the spheres as rigid bodies whereas the flat surfaces can deform elastically. This model uses the principles of superposition to adjust locations of the spheres. Effects of sphere sizes, arrangements, material properties (Young's modulus) and contact parameters on the deformed surface are analysed. A dimensionless transition stress, when exceeded, causes the deformed surface to make contact with smaller spheres, was used as a representation of the larger sphere's capability of withstanding crushing. The numerical simulation results showed good agreement with the theoretical predictions hence validating the applicability of this model. A new experimental method was introduced that uses ultrasonic waves to measure the contact area and stress due to the interaction of bodies. This experimental design allows a single or multiple objects e.g. spheres to be in contact with two parallel plates. It allows for different combinations of sphere-plate models to be tested out. In this study the following plates were used: polycarbonate, phenolic and two types of aluminium. Spheres and flat-ended cylinders, made up of: steel, glass or plastic, were used in contact with the plates. These were selected to simulate the relative elastic modulii ratio and the yield strength of a shale-proppant system. The experiment uses an ultrasonic transducer to scan a contact by operating in a pulse-echo mode. Reflected signals were recorded and analysed to assess the applicability of this method in different materials. Stresses were measured experimentally by two methods and were compared to Hertz theory for elastic deformations. Reflected waves at the outer boundary of contact were also recorded and correlated with vertical displacements through a numerical model from which the influential area could be observed. This parameter is important for contact of multiple spheres as it shows if the individual sphere-plane interaction can influence the neighbouring sphere contacts e.g. proppants in a fractured reservoir. Experimental results of stresses showed good agreement in polycarbonate and aluminium but not in phenolic where large attenuations was observed. Larger contact areas were observed for plates with large E/sY property suggesting pile-up deformation takes place. This was confirmed through numerical simulations. Correlation of reflection coefficient and displacements were in good agreement at different loads. The relation between both parameters differs with type of material. This could be due to different factors including incidence angle, Poisson's ratio, and attenuation coefficient especially the scattering effect. A linear relation was obtained between vertical displacement and reflection coefficient at the outer boundary for the sink-in behaviour. A new relation was proposed to compare deformations of different materials based on their mechanical properties, applied load and recorded reflection coefficients from a fixed distance of the contact boundary.

The study emphasises on the fundamental understanding of the tribological behaviour for a lubrication system. In a dynamic system (e.g. piston ring/liner contact), the opposing sliding surfaces are separated by a layer of lubrication film, preventing direct metal-to-metal contact. Under critical operating conditions (e.g. high applied load), the film thickness might reduce to similar order of magnitude of the surface roughness, leading to boundary friction. A multi-scale approach is required to better predict the lubrication performance in a dynamic system. The first part of this study focuses on the development of a numerical algorithm using Reynolds equation to predict fluid film formation in a lubrication system. A rough surface contact model using the Greenwood and Tripp assumption is applied to predict the frictional properties along a lubricated conjunction using a three types of commercially available SAE grade lubricant namely, SAE5W40, SAE10W40 and SAE15W40. The simulated friction force is compared to the values measured using a pin-on-disc tribometer, showing good correlation between both data sets. With acceptable level of confidence on the mathematical model, the second part of the study attempts to simulate a tribological properties of lubrication system considering biodiesel as the lubricant in the engine lubrication system. As the rough surface contact parameters are considered to be consistent in both case study, Reynolds solution is modified in order to considers the fluid film formation of biodiesel with relation to their Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) compositions. Two parameters, namely 1) average number of carbon atom (zave) and 2) average number of double bonds (ndave) for biodiesels are included when introducing the effect of FAME compositions to the classical Reynolds equation. The term χ has been introduced to the modified Reynolds equation to correlate these two parameters. The value for the term χ is determined by fitting the simulated lubrication Stribeck curve to the measured data for each of the selected biodiesels. Through this, a polynomial correlation is then obtained for the term χ as a function of the product of average number of carbon atoms and average number of double bonds for the biodiesels. The coupling of Reynolds solution and rough surface contact model give a good correlation between measured data and predicted value in determining lubrication Stribeck curve regime for typical lubricants and biodiesel.

The nature and quality of the built learning environment affect occupants' comfort, wellbeing and performance. Within the broad range of studies of the physical indoor environment reported in the literature, there are several which have focused on the effects of these environmental conditions on the comfort and physical health of students and teachers, while the main consideration in others is the organizational health of the school. The parameters, which are measured often concern the state and condition of the physical environment. Categories of building features, which appear to influence comfort, health and wellbeing, include thermal sensation, acoustics, lighting, air quality, classroom equipment, learning resources and other aspects of the teachers' workspace. Those components of the physical of indoor environment, which are considered to most strongly affect occupants' comfort, wellbeing and performance, are subject to sets of standards. The aim of this study is to elucidate the association between the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of educational buildings and teachers' performance. Following a comprehensive review of the literature on the effects of IEQ on teachers' comfort, wellbeing and performance, a case study was conducted in which physical measurements were made of a range of indoor environmental variables in the classrooms of a technical college in Saudi Arabia, during lessons. At the same time, the teachers of those classes were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to investigate the quality of the indoor environment and explore teacher performance. An artificial neural network was then used to create an assessment model in order to test the hypothesis that the quality of the indoor physical environment in educational buildings is related to teacher performance and to predict future data. This research makes both academic and practical contributions to the study of the relationship between IEQ and teachers' performance. The findings of this research will be used as a primary knowledge resource for future researches and to identify initial IEQ parameters and tools for further in-depth studies. In practical terms, it offers standards to help designers to consider the importance of IEQ and its impact on building users.

Sustained competitive responses are required by firms that must prosper in dynamic business environments. However making any sustained competitive response will usually require the firm to possess a capability to continuously orchestrate its assets; such that collectively those assets remain aligned to changing market needs. But Asset Orchestration (AO) is known to require collective management, engineering and financial decisions to be taken, in addition to associated collective management, engineering and financial actions. Typically it follows that AO needs to be supported by suitable AO concepts, methods and technology. With this set of business requirements in mind this thesis proposes and tests the use of an 'Integrative Framework for AO' which: conceptualises the context for multi-level AO management decision and AO action making; and which can be deployed to systematically underpin practical examples of AO, leading to the firms sustainability. Very little of the current management literature describes the practical applications of emergent AO concepts. Hence, this research study has conducted an inductive multiple case study approach primarily utilizing semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire. Thus, the thesis conceived, developed and used a unique semi-generic "Asset Orchestration Reference Model" (AO-RM) to capture actual AO data within two case study firms. Data analysis shows how AO theory can be deployed to direct strategic decision making towards the sustainable configuration and deployments of a firms' resource portfolio. The study suggests that the AO-RM is highly applicable to the case study examples and that middle management can be shown to have a significant influence on organizational change through the integration of top and lower-level management. The study contributes to current knowledge by proposing and using an AO-RM that acts as a road map by which to guide managers during change projects. Therefore, we suggest the future study of AO in more detailed, specific forms of change projects.

This thesis is concerned with the development and application of optimally efficient numerical methods for the simulation of vascular tumour growth, based upon the multiphase fluid model introduced by Hubbard and Byrne [57]. This multiphase model involves the flow and interaction of four different, but coupled, phases which are each treated as incompressible fluids. Following a short review of models for tumour growth we describe in detail the model of Hubbard and Byrne [57], and introduce the discretization schemes used. This involves a finite volume scheme to approximate mass conservation and conforming finite element schemes to approximate momentum conservation and a reaction-diffusion equation for the background nutrient concentration. The momentum conservation system is represented as a Stokes-like flow of each phase, with source terms that reflect the phase interactions. It will be demonstrated that the solution of these coupled momentum equations, approximated using a Taylor-Hood finite element method in two dimensions, is the most computationally intensive component of the solution algorithm. The nonlinear system arising from the nutrient equation is the second most computationally expensive component. The solvers presented in this work for the discretized systems are based on preconditioned Krylov methods. Algebraic multigrid (AMG) preconditioner and a novel block preconditioner are used with Krylov methods for solving the linear systems arising from the nutrient equation at each Newton step and from the momentum equation, respectively. In each case these are shown to be very efficient algorithms: when the preconditioning strategies are applied to practical problems, the CPU time and memory are demonstrated to scale almost linearly with the problem size. Finally, the basic multiphase tumour model is extended to consider drug delivery and the inclusion of additional phases. To solve this extended model our preconditioning strategy is extended to cases with more than four phases. This is again demonstrated to perform optimally.

There are many studies dedicated to speech politics, yet the politics of listening remains an underdeveloped area of research. The conditions by which judges, lawyers, police, legislators, and witnesses listen—especially given the increasing employment of forensic audio technologies— deserve closer inspection. This practice-based PhD thesis investigates the political and legal implications of radically new modes of listening, recording, and audio analysis that have emerged since the mid-1980s. It borrows strategies from forensic audio analysis and art to map out the contemporary thresholds of audibility—both human and machinic—as new cultural and political frontiers where issues of subjecthood, citizenship, and testimony are being defined. This thesis is situated at the intersection of art, science, and advocacy, and as such each of the three chapters, together with the methodological introduction, develop their argumentation through a variety of means. The written component develops a historical and theoretical analysis of the ways in which we listen, while in the practice portfolio I test these propositions through both audiovisual artworks and investigative sonic experiments. The textual and practical dimensions are thus mutually constitutive: the historical and theoretical enquiry feeds into the practice, while the practice interrogates and attempts to materially implement these critical assumptions as political audio investigations for human and civil rights. In analysing the thresholds of sound and voice, we recurrently encounter forms of border-crossing, be they material, juridical, sensorial, or conceptual. In Chapter 1 we see the ways in which the voice transgresses the borders between states, both national and ontological. Chapter 2 discusses the blur between foreground and background, sound and noise. In Chapter 3 the way sounds bleed through the walls of a building leads us to the seepage between sound, sight, and touch. The title Aural Contract refers to a shift from the oral to the aural, and from a contract between speaking subjects towards a new set of propositions for the conditions by which we listen to one another and can produce audible evidence. With this shift of analysis from speaking to listening, new modes of political subjectivity emerge; a new spectrum of sounds and silences by which we can make audible those at the threshold of politics—the political prisoner, the colonised, the ghettoised, and the migrant.

Prior research has shown that there are a variety of ways in which business-IT alignment (BIA) can help an organisation. BIA can increase the UK's e-government maturity level, improve the quality of e-government and service redesign process, and ensure the establishment of an integrated, coherent, user-centred, and agile digital culture. However, business-IT alignment is challenging when there are many organisations (central and local government organisations) involved in the process. This research aims to increase our understanding of the 'process of aligning' - vertically (between central and local government), and horizontally (across government agencies). Data analysis was conducted by the use of grounded theory. A number of factors that influence alignment in UK service redesign were identified and discussed as 'enablers' or 'inhibitors' of alignment. This thesis captures alignment in both 'theory and practice'. It includes multiple case studies to explore business-IT alignment in the context of the UK government. Additionally, this study not only provides 'theory for explanation', making it scientifically useful, but also offers 'theory for design', for practical uses. During the analysis of the case studies governance is found to be one of the alignment enablers, and a number of governance frameworks were designed to facilitate alignment in UK service redesign. This thesis presents a theoretical model which demonstrates the interrelationships found between the alignment key factors (i.e. standardisation, shared domain knowledge, business-IT engagement and silo-based systems associated with localism) with the core factor: communication. Network theories are used in this research to propose actions. It therefore proposes the adoption of a goal-directed network aimed at alignment in service redesign. This research links alignment, e-government, service redesign and networks together, a connection which is not fully explored in the literature.

The growth in the ageing population is rapidly increasing and their care cost will be a challenging issue in the future. The number of elderly people worldwide (defined as those aged 60 years and older) was 202 million in 1950; this number has since quadrupled to reach 901 million and is expected to triple again by 2100. In particular, the number of elderly people in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is increasing rapidly, from 5% of the total population in 2015 to a forecasted 20.9% by 2050. Clearly, the cost of taking care of elderly people is already a challenge, but it will be very difficult to meet in the future, when it will lead to a much higher expenditure on healthcare facilities. Furthermore, although elderly people are vulnerable to a decline in their health, they do not wish to live as they did in the 1970s to 1990s. Instead, their desire is to live independently in their own homes and continue to practice normal activities. In fact, Saudi culture is changing, and the children tend not to live with their parents as they used to. However, the literature review indicates that there is a lack of professionally designed systems that can fulfil the growing needs or requirements of elderly people in the KSA. These demographic changes raise a number of challenges related to the elderly people’s quality of life, including health, autonomy, care, social communication, and the utilisation of institutional services. These challenges require novel approaches to provide dependable self-adapting technological innovations. The era of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has changed the world of the ageing population. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) aims to improve the quality of life of elderly people, and to provide them with technologies and services that support their daily activities, help them to live longer and remain independently at home. The aims and objectives of this research are to review Ambient Assisted Living Technology, to provide examples of relevant technologies and applications, and to examine attitudes and perceptions of elderly people towards using AAL technologies in the KSA. This research also explores the factors of AAL, identifying those that affect the adoption of these technologies in the KSA, by conducting a systematic review, and using quantitative and qualitative analyses. The questionnaire results showed that elderly Saudi Arabians are willing and intending to accept and use AAL technologies, and that there are many factors that influence their adoption and use of AAL technologies. This provides an insight for solutions to the provision of support for their independent living. Thus, we developed a conceptual model using AAL to provide a Home Proactive Monitoring System (AALHPMS) that supports the stakeholders in adopting AAL technologies. We envisage that the AALHPMS can fulfil the needs and requirements of elderly people, motivate healthcare providers to implement AAL technologies, and assist the Saudi Government to make suitable provision for issues associated with the ageing population. In addition, a knowledge-based-system was built using a rule-based system. Experiments using Smart watches were conducted to monitor the heart rates. Further experiments using ZigBee, Bluetooth beacons, and surveillance cameras technology were also undertaken for monitoring the movement of elderly persons at their home. A website was also developed to disseminate knowledge related to ageing population and AAL technology in Saudi Arabia.

The increasing popularity of online social networks (OSN) plays an important role in how people communicate among themselves, and how they consume and propagate online materials. Social Network unique features of openness and rapid information sharing have been influencing communities and individuals, thereby making them perfect medium for expressing opinion, call for action, or breaking news. This thesis presents an extensible approach to analyse activities on OSN through the use of graph construction. The study used Twitter as application environment and observed three types of activity on the platform; trends, participations and interactions. Trends are perceived as links between topics and places, and they were used to investigate public concerns and interests. This study used trends data to provide measures for temporal activities and geospatial spread of topics. Users tend to relate themselves to topics through their participation. This relationship was used to investigate communities of users and activities. These communities were clustered based on selected entities from user and post objects. Also, the study employed interaction relationships to conduct analysis on selected accounts and how they interact with their audience. It presents various measure for performance evaluation, such as latency and popularity of accounts. In addition, indirect engagements were also discovered and found to be linked to direct interactions.

Business excellence theorising has produced more than 100 business excellence models (BEMs). They can be divided (according to their context of development and application) into two broad groups: a) universal (e.g., the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award - MBNQA, and the European Foundation for Quality Management - EFQM models) and b) country-specific (e.g., the King Abdul Aziz Quality Award - KAQA model, i.e., the Saudi Arabia BEM). The literature is scarce and inconclusive as to the suitability/applicability of different BEMs. This is partly due to the lack of comparative and comprehensive studies (i.e., pursuing both conceptual and empirical comparisons) and robust methodological frameworks. Therefore, the key research question of this thesis: is the MBNQA and EFQM or the KAQA BEM better suited in the Saudi Arabia context? and which of these models' criteria is critical in influencing other criteria? Moreover, given the elevated emphasis in the literature of contextual factors (like strategic orientation and industry type), the key research question is complemented with a supplementary one concerning the effects these potential moderating factors may have in the (better suited-) BEM relations. To answer the above, the three BEMs are conceptually and comparatively investigated using a purposively developed methodological framework comprising a range of methods (e.g., structural equation modelling) and primary data from a survey of 233 firms in Saudi Arabia. The results are interpreted in light of the factors that underpin the differences between BEMs, indicating: 1) the KAQA BEM superiority and 2) the key role of leadership, strategic planning, and operations management in BEM relations. Significant differences in the KAQA relations are identified due to strategic orientation except for the relationships between leadership and strategic planning, and between strategic planning and suppliers and partners, but not due to industry type except for the links between strategic planning and suppliers and partners, operations management, and focusing on beneficiary constructs. Theoretical, methodological, policy, and practice contributions are developed on the basis of the above findings. Extant theorising concerning the suitability of the MBNQA, EFQM, KAQA BEMs is tested and extended, while the role of key criteria and moderating factors (namely, strategic orientation) are clarified. Enhancements to the studied BEMs are also suggested. The comparative and comprehensive methodological framework to test BEMs and to explain BEM-construct interrelations contributes to advancing from description to inference. Last, but not least, at the policy and practice levels, mechanisms for developing and/or reviewing BEMs are provided along with recommendations concerning considering local conditions in practising business excellence and the differentiating effects of contextual factors.

Background : Heart failure is one of the principal causes of death and disability. The causes of heart failure are many, and a number of technologies have been developed to address this issue by providing support to the failing heart, both as a permanent solution and as a bridge to recovery. These options are called Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices, a particular branch of these devices is the Ventricular Assist Devices, which have been under intense development over the recent years offering a promising solution for this major problem. However, these devices are still bulky, and heavy designed to support failing hearts in the adult population. On the other hand, little has been done in recent times on the development of implantable solutions for heart failure or insufficiency in children. There are many reasons for this, but primarily the relatively small number of children requiring these procedures, the challenges associated with growth, and the lack of physical space for such implantable circulatory support technologies in children are fundamental limitations to the development and deployment of these technologies. Aims of the project : The primary purpose of this project was to investigate the development of a new miniaturised self-power VAD that is suitable for paediatrics implantation. This project suggested the use of the newly developed Artificial Muscles to create a mesh that envelops the heart and works as an external assisting circulation mechanism. The same materials could be used to generate electricity when deformed, which can be used to power the proposed device. Critically, the project was to focus on optimising the materials with regard to their operating efficiency to ascertain whether they represent a viable option for VAD production. Materials and Methods : A full review of the current available Artificial Muscles was performed to choose the most suitable type for this project. Then different fabrication protocols were developed to make IPMC Artificial Muscles using platinum and palladium coatings. A series of characterization tests were conducted on the fabricated Ionic Polymeric Metal Composites (IPMC) to ensure their quality. Finally, the mechanical and electrical properties were tested and compared with the proposed device requirements. Results : The review of Artificial Muscles showed that IPMC would be the best candidate to use in this application. The characterisation tests showed as well that the produced IPMC Artificial Muscles were fabricated to the same standards as those commercially available, and the reported by other investigators. However, these materials showed very low mechanical output with high electrical power consumption, which made them far from practical and not suitable for the proposed application. On the other hand, IPMCs showed promising results as an option to generate electricity to power low consumption implantable devices.

This research undertakes a critical evaluation and analysis of the leadership style at higher education institutions in Oman and determines whether the direction it takes is in strict conformity with creating an enabling environment there. To address this, Saxena’s framework on creating an enabling environment in higher education is used as a foundation, along with the theoretical concepts of transformational leadership to explore the role of heads of higher education institutions in creating an enabling environment. Hence, the major question examined in this thesis is: “To what extent do presidents and deans create an enabling environment and act as transformational leaders at private higher education institutions in Oman?” The research employed a mixed method design in which data were collected through a combination of semi-structured interviews with presidents, deans, officials, and recent graduates. A survey of lecturers, full-time employees, and students was also undertaken to seek their views. The target sample in the main research was drawn from six private universities and colleges and selected public Ministries. In line with the theoretical structure, the findings of the research show the higher education environment in Oman to be an area of concern. The findings highlight four gaps, which also fall in line with the four components introduced by Saxena. The first gap is between the higher education institutions and industry; the second gap relates to empowerment among staff, management, governance and authorities; the third gap is between physical environment and facilities; and the fourth gap is between research and teaching. The findings recommend a leadership framework to provide necessary guidelines for creating an enabling environment. The research opens avenues for upcoming researchers who would add more to the previously achieved goals so that the sustenance offered by lifelong learning may also be perpetuated in the years to come.

Extremophilic microorganisms, including both halotolerant and halophilic bacteria and archaea, are a potentially untapped source for antimicrobial discovery. Hypersaline environments are receiving increasing interest in the search for novel antimicrobials. One such environment under investigation for its microbial biodiversity and potential antimicrobial diversity is Kilroot salt mine, Ireland’s only salt mine. The overall aim of this research was to explore its microbial biodiversity, through microbial isolation and identification, and to investigate these microbes as producers of antimicrobials with activity against the ESKAPE pathogens. In total 40 culturable isolates were obtained, two-thirds of which were halophilic, and one-third were halotolerant. Six halophilic isolates were proposed as a potential novel species, three of them were chosen for further investigation and extensive characterisation and are here reported as novel species of the Genus Salinisphaera. Following whole genome sequencing, genome mining results obtained from interrogation of the genomes using the antiSmash, and the RAST pipeline revealed the presence of various genes encoded in their genomes, including antibacterial peptide production, ectoine, siderophores, terpenes, and arylpolyenes production. Although culture based activity screening did not reveal antimicrobial activity, further investigations perhaps involving activation of silent gene clusters may yield novel and interesting antimicrobial activities. Isolate AB-7 from the genus Bacillus, exhibited antimicrobial activity against all ESKAPE strains. The Preliminary identification of the active compound indicated that it is non-proteinaceous, and could withstand heating up to 100°C. The structural elucidation of the purified compound identified it as indole. In the second isolate AC-12 from the genus Halovibrio, exhibited antimicrobial activity against all ESKAPE pathogens except P. aeruginosa. The preliminary identification of the active compound indicated that it is in part proteinaceous, and heat stable. This revealed that organisms from the hypersaline environments, are potential source for antimicrobials production.

Today, information and communication technologies (ICTs) affect political and administrative areas in a profound way, and the extent of this impact increases day by day. Nowadays, ICTs are increasingly employed to play an important role in the improvement of governmental work. Parliaments are central institutions in democratic government systems. ICT has the potential to assist in improving the representation function of these Parliaments by expanding the information capabilities for Parliaments and Members of Parliaments. As with any new technology, user acceptance of the new technology is often hard to measure. This thesis examines whether Parliamentarians in Kuwait were practically willing to accept ICT of various kinds. It focuses upon Kuwait, which has a developing economy with a rapid rate of growth, and therefore makes a unique case study. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) proposes that Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, and Social Influence predictBehavioural Intentiontowards the acceptance of information technology. The theory further proposes that Facilitating Conditions andBehavioural Intentionpredict use behaviour in the acceptance of information technology. The theory has been assessed using many different applications, and it has become the model for measuring user acceptance. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use III of Technology (UTAUT) with moderating variables such as age, gender and education level has been used in this study as a proposed conceptual framework. The study has also incorporated a model of cultural difference, to explore the influence of cultural factors. The study utilized mixed methods; questionnaires plus a set of interviews, within a case study approach. Two kinds of questionnaires were used. The first was an amended UTAUT model questionnaire and the second the software system usability survey (SUS). The sample was drawn from members of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, with 182 responses received. The interviews were conducted with Ministers, Members of Parliament, Heads of departments, and some employees of the National Assembly. The study found that Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, and Self-Efficacy were direct determinants of usage Intention in the Kuwait Parliament while Social Influence was not an effective determinant in this study, against the predictions of the UTAUT model. Gender and educational level had no influence as moderators on the determinant factors investigated in this study. However, age was found to be a moderator on the impact of the determinants on usage Intention and behaviour of the Parliamentarians for Performance Expectancy.

Scavenger receptors belong to a large receptor family that primarily bind lipid-containing molecules. Until recently, their expression has been described on macrophages and endothelial cells where their principal role is internalisation of lipoproteins and bacteria. However, to date, there is little evidence of scavenger receptor expression in the oral mucosa, therefore, this study aimed to determine functional expression of Class B scavenger receptors by oral keratinocytes. To achieve this, a panel of normal, dysplastic or cancerous oral keratinocytes from various oral sites were tested for the expression of class B scavenger receptor by qPCR, flow cytometry and by immunohistochemistry in patient biopsies. Internalisation of oxidised (ox) or acetylated (ac) low density lipoprotein (LDL), the main ligands for Class B scavenger receptors, was measured by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, and receptor activation by immunoblotting for several intracellular signalling molecules. The effects of ox/ac-LDL on cell adhesion, invasion and migration as well as markers for epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) were also measured in vitro. The results showed that class B scavenger receptor family members were expressed at the RNA and protein level by both normal and oral cancer cells with cancer cells expressing elevated levels. In addition, expression was markedly greater in oral cancer tissue than in normal oral mucosa. SCC4 cancer cells rapidly internalized ox/ac-LDL in a scavenger receptor-dependent manner that initiated phosphorylation of JNK. Stimulation with acLDL, and oxLDL in particular caused SCC4 cells to be less adherent, more invasive and display increased migration compared to controls. These cell functions were inhibited using fucoidan, a pan-class B scavenger receptor antagonist, or SP600125, a specific JNK inhibitor. In addition, oxLDL altered the expression of EMT markers driving oral cancer cells to a mesenchymal phenotype. These data suggest that class B scavenger receptors are up-regulated by oral cancer cells and that their activation by oxLDL pushes these cells to a more mesenchymal phenotype that significantly impacts on their ability to migrate, invade and therefore metastasise. These findings may have a significant impact on oral cancer.