Effat University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
1865 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring the Essence of Saudi's Culture
No full textThis thesis investigates how sustainable tourism and the preservation of cultural
heritage can be integrated through the architectural design of a Saudi Cultural
Museum, which is adjacent to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Al-Balad. The
initiative "Al Barha: Exploring the Essence of Saudi's Culture" intended to be a lively
museum, is an educational, dynamic, immersive, and entertaining built environment
that reflects on the past, engages the present, and looks forward to a sustainable
future. It centers on the intent of Saudi's Vision 2030 and the King Salman Charter for
Architecture and Urbanism. The museum is designed as a procession of interlocking
buildings with shaded pathways and barhas that resonate with Al-Balad's traditional
urban fabric, which allows the engagement of the community. The architecture
responds to climatic, contextual, and social criteria through passive cooling strategies,
regional materials, and local forms like the Roshan windows and deep entrances. The
museum's program includes galleries for the history and the heritage of Al-Balad to
highlight the history, architecture, restoration, and the culture of its people, as well as
interactive spaces with the most modern technologies like holograms, VR, and 3D
printing. These will help at enhancing the awareness of the citizens and visitors
regarding Saudi Arabia's cultural and constructional heritage, while promoting
environmentally friendly building techniques
Mediating effect of intolerance of uncertainty between feeling of unsafety and depression/well-being among a sample of Lebanese adults.
No full textEastern Mediterranean countries, particularly Lebanon, have seen a significant rise in mental disorders, primarily driven by ongoing economic instability, political unrest, and regional conflicts. These conditions fuel feelings of unsafety, which are linked to lower psychological well-being and increased depressive symptoms. Unsafe circumstances inflate apprehension and uncertainty, leaving individuals unable to foresee a stable, secure tomorrow and often trapped in an anticipatory negative thinking state. Therefore, this study posits that in unsafe environments, Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) may mediate the relationships between the feeling of unsafety and depression/well-being and aims to test this hypothesis among a sample of adults from Lebanon, a frequently crisis-ridden country.A one-time-point online survey was conducted among Lebanese adults from the general population (N = 905; mean age = 27.38 (SD: 9.28); 60% females), recruited anonymously via snowball sampling. The questionnaire included socio-demographic variables and the following Arabic validated scales: Feeling of Unsafety Scale- Arabic (FUSA), World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.27 with mediation analysis via PROCESS MACRO v3.4 Model 4.After adjusting for potential confounders, mediation analysis showed that both prospective and inhibitory anxiety fully mediated the association between the feeling of unsafety and depression and partially mediated the association between the feeling of unsafety and well-being. Higher feeling of unsafety was significantly associated with higher prospective and inhibitory anxiety (Beta = 0.32; p < 0.001; 95% CI 0.27; 0.37 and Beta = 0.19; p < 0.001; 95% CI 0.15; 0.23 respectively), which in turn were significantly associated with higher depression (Beta = 0.42; p < 0.001; 95% CI 0.35; 0.48 and Beta = 0.62; p < 0.001; 95% CI 0.54; 0.70 respectively) and lower well-being (Beta = - 0.39; p < 0.001; 95% CI -0.44; -0.33 and Beta = - 0.39; p < 0.001; 95% CI -0.47; -0.32 respectively). It is of note that while higher feeling of unsafety did not show a direct association with higher depression (Beta = - 0.03; p = 0.187; 95% CI -0.09; 0.02 and Beta = -0.02; p = 0.399; 95% CI -0.07; 0.03 respectively), it was significantly and directly associated with lower well-being (Beta = - 0.07; p < 0.01; 95% CI -0.12; -0.03 and Beta = - 0.12; p < 0.001; 95% CI -0.17; -0.07 respectively).The hypothesis that IU mediates the relationships between the feeling of unsafety and depression/well-being is confirmed. This finding highlights a key target for interventions. Psychotherapeutic and public mental health initiatives could enhance psychological well-being by dedicating efforts to promoting uncertainty tolerance, particularly in vulnerable populations facing unstable settings
NA
No full textInternet gaming disorder (IGD) and competitiveness, influenced by gaming preferences, present growing challenges for adolescents. This cross-sectional study examines gender differences in IGD and competitiveness among adolescent gamers (boys: n = 227; girls: n = 160) using a convenient sampling technique. A two-way mixed factorial ANCOVA revealed that male gamers exhibited higher competitiveness than female gamers and non-gamers. Additionally, a mixed factorial ANOVA indicated that males playing PUBG had higher IGD scores compared to those playing other games. While females playing Puzzle/Quiz games exhibited greater IGD symptoms than those engaged in other games. Furthermore, both the male and female players of PUBG and Sport games demonstrated higher competitiveness than those preferring Puzzle/Quiz games. Notably, male PUBG players exhibited elevated IGD and competitiveness levels compared to both non-PUBG players and female players. These findings underscore the critical role of gaming genres in developing IGD symptoms and competitiveness, highlighting the need for age and gender-sensitive interventions. The results suggest that excessive engagement in competitive games may contribute to elevated IGD symptoms, underscoring the importance of monitoring adolescents’ gaming habits. Future research should explore underlying psychological and social mechanisms driving these differences to inform effective prevention strategies and digital literacy programs
Active Urban Design Framework for Jeddah City to Promote Sustainable Health and Well-Being
No full textThis research develops a comprehensive Active Urban Design Framework tailored for Jeddah City, addressing the urgent need to combat rising rates of physical inactivity, chronic disease, and declining well-being in the urban context. It examines how targeted urban design interventions can activate the city’s spatial fabric to promote regular physical activity, social cohesion, and healthier lifestyles across all age groups. The study adopts a mixed methods approach, beginning with a critical literature review that includes an in-depth analysis of internationally recognized Active Design Guidelines from New York City, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. It further evaluates global and local sustainable city rating systems, including LEED and Mostadam, to identify performance-based criteria relevant to active, health-oriented environments. This foundation is followed by detailed case study analyses of Copenhagen, Barcelona, and Dubai, cities that have pioneered integrated approaches to walkability, cycling, transit, and public space design. The proposed framework is structured around two main categories: the Active Travel Network and the Active Places Network. It identifies seven core domains essential to promoting health and movement in the urban context: walkability, Cyclability, connected active travel routes, mixed land use planning, public transit, open public spaces, and streets as active places. These elements are strategically integrated to support mobility, accessibility, and inclusive public life and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (particularly Goals 3 and 11) and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 under the “Vibrant Society” pillar and Quality of Life Program. This framework provides practical guidance for embedding Active Design principles in Jeddah’s future development, advancing the creation of livable, people-centered cities
2025 22nd International Learning and Technology Conference (L&T)
No full textEnergy and spectral efficiency in mobile networks are enhanced by Cell-free Massive-MIMO systems utilizing macro-diversity to optimize overall performance. However, multi-user interference, especially due to pilot reuse within the same cell, continues to pose significant challenges. This research introduces a Two-Dimensional Direction of Arrival (2D-DOA) Zero-Forcing Precoding method. It addresses both intra-cell and inter-cell interference, removing the requirement for Channel State Information exchange between Access Points (APs). A new expression for downlink spectral efficiency is developed, considering the impacts of imperfect CSI and pilot contamination. Utilizing UESPRIT and MUSIC -based 2D-DOA estimation techniques, the proposed method surpasses pilot-contaminated systems and deterministic Zero-Forcing precoding, demonstrating enhanced spectral efficiency even under constrained pilot resources.
Author Keywords
Zero Forcing Precoding
Cell-free Massive-MIMO
2D-Direction of arrivalEffat Universit
Sentiment Analysis for MOOC Learner Reviews
No full textDeveloping comprehensive analytics for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is essential for improving course design and enhancing learner engagement. In this work, we introduce MOOCSense, a multi-stage sentiment analysis module designed to analyze MOOC learner reviews and contribute to generating detailed MOOC analytics. In the first stage, we employ a mapping algorithm that extracts key MOOC-specific terms and central semantic phrases from the reviews. In the second stage, we propose a novel Centroid-Based Learning approach combined with the BERT (CLB) model to capture both implicit and explicit sentiment polarity in learner reviews, leveraging BERT’s deep contextual understanding of natural language. By focusing on the central semantics of each review, our approach uncovers the emotional drivers behind learner engagement or dissatisfaction. This dual-stage module enables more accurate sentiment association with specific course aspects, enriching MOOC analytics with valuable insights. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach across various MOOC datasets, achieving an accuracy of 92%, making it a promising solution for generating in-depth learning analytics and supporting course improvement strategies.Effat Universit
The moderating effect of the psychosocial working conditions (effort/reward/overcommitment) on the association between noise annoyance and cognitive performance among adolescents.
No full textThe primary objective of the current study was to evaluate the correlation between noise-induced annoyance and the cognitive performance within the Lebanese adolescent population and the moderating effect of psychosocial work aspects-namely effort, reward, and overcommitment- in this association.An anonymous online survey was conducted in Lebanon between April and May 2023, using a snowball sampling technique and distributed across various social media platforms, to gather data from Lebanese adolescents. The sample was composed of 1269 adolescents. Participants voluntarily completed a self-administered Arabic questionnaire that consisted of a sociodemographic section and implemented three scales: Noise Annoyance scale, Effort-Reward in school scale, as well as LEAF scale.The moderation analysis findings revealed that at low levels of effort, higher noise annoyance was significantly associated with worse memory function (Beta = 0.94; p =.002) and mathematics skills (Beta = 0.40; p =.002), whereas at low (Beta = 0.49; p <.001) and moderate (Beta = 0.29; p =.001) levels of effort, it was significantly associated with worse sustained sequential processing. At low and moderate levels of reward, higher noise annoyance was significantly associated with worse attention (Beta = 0.48; p <.001 and Beta = 0.20; p <.031 respectively), sustained sequential processing (Beta = 0.43; p <.001 and Beta = 0.22; p =.013 respectively) and working memory (Beta = 0.47; p <.001 and Beta = 0.28; p =.002 respectively). At low levels of reward, higher annoyance was significantly associated with worse memory function (Beta = 0.82; p =.007), processing speed (Beta = 0.38; p =.001) and mathematic skills (Beta = 0.28; p =.026). Finally, at low and moderate levels of overcommitment, higher noise annoyance was significantly associated with worse factual memory (Beta = 0.49; p <.001 and Beta = 0.25; p =.005 respectively), worse attention (Beta = 0.45; p <.001 and Beta = 0.26; p =.005 respectively) and worse processing speed (Beta = 0.43; p <.001 and Beta = 0.23; p =.012 respectively).This study could encourage the integration of targeted interventions and strategic measures that address both noise annoyance and psychosocial working conditions, defined as the academic work students perform both at school and at home, to proactively prevent the emergence of cognitive impairment among the adolescent population
Validation of the shortest version of the eating attitude test (EAT-7) as a screening tool for disordered eating in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.
No full textIndividuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have a two to five-fold higher risk of developing obesity and up to threefold higher risk of developing disordered eating behaviors relative to the general population. Over the past decades, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT) has been well-recognized and widely used in clinical practice. However, only little psychometric information is available on the EAT for researchers and clinicians who deal with patients with schizophrenia, and it is still unclear whether the scale could fulfill measurement needs and help clinical and research decision-making in the context of psychotic disorders. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the shortest version of the EAT (EAT-7) among newly-diagnosed patients with schizophrenia who had minimal exposure to antipsychotics at the start of the study.This is an observational, cross-sectional survey that was carried out in the department of psychiatry at Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia. The study took place between January and June 2024, and involved clinically-stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia who have had < 3 months of treatment with antipsychotics (N = 112; mean age of 24.44 ± 5.41 years).In terms of factor analysis, the EAT-7 presented a one-dimensional structure. All seven items strongly loaded on a single factor, with all indices of the CFA suggesting a good fit to the data. In addition, the EAT-7 yielded excellent reliability coefficients, with both a McDonald's ω and a Cronbach's α of 0.88. Measurement invariance of the EAT-7 across sex groups was tested using multi-group CFA, and established at the configural, scalar, and metric levels. No significant differences in EAT-7 scores between males and females were found. Finally, EAT-7 scores positively correlated with scores of depression and anxiety, supporting concurrent validity of the scale.The shortness, items' clarity and conciseness of the EAT-7 make it an efficient tool appropriate as a first-step screening tool to detect disordered eating in patients with schizophrenia at low cost and burden. We hope that this study will facilitate the widespread application of the EAT-7 in routine assessment and monitoring of disordered eating in patients with schizophrenia, in both clinical and research practices.Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia present higher rates of disordered eating than the general population. Disordered eating behaviors are more pronounced during the early stages of schizophrenia and are associated with a range of negative clinical outcomes. Therefore, valid and reliable screening tools are imperative to improve early identification and optimize clinical outcomes of people with schizophrenia at-risk for eating disorders. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) is one of the most widely used screening tools to detect eating disorders in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Our study proposed to test the psychometric properties of the shortest version of the EAT (EAT-7) in newly-diagnosed patients with schizophrenia who had minimal exposure to antipsychotics at the start of the study. The single-factor solution consisting of the seven items of the EAT-7 demonstrated good construct validity, excellent internal consistency reliability, measurement invariance across sex groups, and adequate concurrent validity. Therefore, our results justify the use of the EAT-7 as a screening tool to enable a timely detection of disordered eating symptoms in schizophrenia. The EAT-7 is short, simple to understand and quick-to-answer, minimizing the cognitive load on patients, and is easy to implement in clinical routine
eMotawif Automated Motawif Monitoring Pilgrims through the Pilgrimage Period
No full textThe E-Motawif project introduces a comprehensive, technology-driven application designed to enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience for millions of pilgrims through intelligent, real-time solutions. By integrating IoT, AI, and mobile technologies, the system addresses key challenges such as crowd control, health monitoring, emergency response, and seamless communication. Core functionalities include real-time location tracking via wearable devices, AI-powered lost-and-found services, and dynamic ritual guidance. Motawifs are equipped with live maps to monitor the location and health of their assigned pilgrims, while both user types benefit from a customized Startup Session page, chat system, and emergency SOS alerts. The application features a robust notification system that supports bidirectional in-app messages and local push notifications, ensuring timely communication during critical moments. A built-in customer support center and health tracking interface further enhance user confidence and safety. For administrators, a powerful dashboard enables full control over both Pilgrim and Motawif accounts, including assignment management, user data updates, and CSV export functionality. The AI-powered lost-and-found system uses machine learning techniques, specifically TF-IDF vectorization and a Random Forest classifier, which achieved an accuracy of 88.83% in classifying matching and non-matching items. Although currently hosted on a local infrastructure, future development will incorporate a scalable, cloud-based deployment to support millions of concurrent users with high availability. Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 11, E-Motawif promotes a safe, inclusive, and digitally empowered pilgrimage experience. The project sets a new benchmark for intelligent Hajj management through its role-based design, real-time capabilities, and commitment to innovation and user well-being
Enhancing 6G-Satellite Network Integration with Artificial Intelligence: A Future Communication Paradigm
No full textThe integration of 6G networks and satellite communications is set to revolutionize global connectivity, offering seamless coverage across terrestrial and non-terrestrial environments. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is essential for improving this integration, addressing challenges such as dynamic resource management, latency reduction, and network optimization. AI techniques like machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning offer innovative solutions to handle the complexities of 6G-satellite networks. These advancements promise to significantly improve network efficiency, enhance data transmission reliability, and ensure seamless connectivity across different areas. Potential use cases include smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, where AI-driven 6G-satellite integration will be crucial. The proposed AI-enhanced 6G-satellite framework not only addresses current challenges but also lays the groundwork for a resilient, scalable, and globally interconnected communication infrastructure, offering a promising future