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This study investigates students' behavioural intention towards e-learning practices through the augmented reality app during the COVID-19 pandemic. It extends the literature on the effectiveness of e-learning through the augmented reality app by investigating the students' social, personal, emotional, and cognitive roles in their behavioural intention towards e-learning in Saudi Arabian higher education institutions. For this study, convenience sampling was used to collect data from 152 graduate and postgraduate students from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. For data analysis, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling method was applied to investigate the proposed hypotheses' path modelling. Furthermore, the proposed model for students' behavioural intention towards e-learning through augmented reality was tested using the social cognitive theory dimensions. It was discovered that personal, social, and emotional factors positively impact the students' cognitive engagement and behavioural intention towards e-learning. Moreover, the results revealed that the personal, social, and emotional factors affect the behavioural intention of the students towards e-learning through the mediating effect of cognitive engagement. The findings of this study indicated that the students were motivated to learn through the augmented reality app. Thus, educational institutions should upgrade their e-learning practices from traditional to advanced learning techniques such as augmented reality.

Extra virgin olive oil is one of the superlative due to its health benefits. In this work, the Fluorescence spectra of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) from different olive growing regions of Pakistan and Al-Jouf region from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) were obtained. The emission bands depicted relative intensity variations in all non-heated and heated EVOO samples. Prominent emission bands at 385, 400, 435 and 470 nm represent oxidized products of fatty acids, bands at 520 and 673 nm has been assigned to beta carotene and chlorophyll isomers respectively. All EVOO samples collected from Al-Jouf region, KSA and from Pakistan (Loralai Baluchistan, Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal and Morgha Biodiversity Park, Rawalpindi) regions showed thermal stability. Other EVOO samples from Chaman Baluchistan and one sample from wild specie (Baluchistan) bought directly from farmers showed denatured spectra even without heating. Chemical characteristics of all EVOO samples changed significantly at 200 °C. Relatively, EVOO samples from Al-Jouf showed more thermal stability which might be due to geographical distribution, environmental effects, genetic background and processing or storage conditions. These results demonstrated fluorescence spectroscopy as a quick, cost-effective and reliable approach to assess the quality and thermal stability of EVOO. These characteristics of fluorescence spectroscopy may lead to the development of portable device for the onsite monitoring of EVOO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In a country like Saudi Arabia, where the construction industry is witnessing an impressive growth in the post-oil era, it is important to examine the occupational health and safety behaviors of construction workers (CWs). Design/methodology/approach: The present study aims to investigate the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) on workers' stress and safety behaviors. Data were collected from CWs (n = 265) at a major construction site in the city of Jeddah. Two questionnaires comprising 25 and 32 questions were used to measure their EI and stress levels, respectively. Furthermore, structured interviews were conducted with the managers and supervisors to inquire about the safety behavior of their respective workers. Descriptive statistics, simple and companion regression were used for data analysis. Findings: The findings indicate that EI plays an important role to enhance the safety behaviors of the CWs besides reducing their workplace stresses. Furthermore, workers' stress levels are found to negatively impact their safety behaviors, indicating that any reduction in occupational stress can reciprocally enhance their safety compliance. The findings are further discussed with the concerned stakeholders to recommend a seven-point therapeutic role of EI for the safety of CWs. Originality/value: Results of the study can be used by managers and supervisors of the Saudi construction industry to reduce workplace accidents and improve the productivity of their organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste characterization is a fundamental step for the development of solid waste management plan. In this regard, understanding the waste generation and disposal patterns plays a crucial role in developing realistic waste reduction strategies. Presently, there exists no solid waste management plan for higher education institutes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hence, this article details the fundamental study related to the waste generation and disposal behaviour. The study also dwells into the existing practices of solid waste management and sheds light on the new polices that can be adopted for waste reduction, along with highlighting barriers to optimization of solid waste management. Through investigation, it was found that by adopting E-learning system for examination and replacing paper towels with air dryers in washroom and by revising policy related to printing, considerable reduction in paper waste could be achieved. Furthermore, the adoption of the proposed sustainable drinking water solution led to 90% reduction in plastic pet bottle waste. The recommendations made by the presented investigation can be employed by other similar sized institutes in developing countries for the development of sustainable green campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies related to BIM implementation status, awareness level, and implementation challenges and barriers in selected GCC have been well reported. Despite the vast Saudi Arabian economy and the volume of construction projects being undertaken in the Kingdom, there is no clear evidence for any such study conducted within the local construction industry. Thus, the authors make a pioneering attempt to first examine the level of subcontractors’ awareness and preparedness for BIM implementation in construction projects in the Saudi Arabian construction industry. This is necessary because the subcontracting sector, which comprises mainly of the small- and medium-scale construction companies greatly outnumber the big construction companies in the local construction industry. Thus, industry wide survey was conducted to this effect. Findings of the study reveal a widespread lack of BIM knowledge across subcontracting sector of Saudi Arabian construction industry. Most of the subcontractors lack some basic understanding of the functions of BIM in the feasibility, construction and maintenance management stages of construction project. Other findings suggest reluctance among the subcontracting companies toward implementing BIM in construction projects. Thus, to maximize full advantages of BIM and to facilitate full adoption of BIM among the subcontracting sector, valuable recommendations were highlighted. It is anticipated that the findings of this paper could be valuable to regulators of the Saudi Arabian Construction Industry and serve as basis for urgent preparation of guidelines and policies to improve the general level of BIM adoption and expertise within the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]