The Effect of Cash Flow Variation on Project Performance: An Empirical Study from Kuwait

Nawaf Marzouq AL-NASSAFI 한국유통과학회 2022 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.9 No.3

Despite the relationship between cash flow, financial management, and project performance, no study examined the mediating role of financial management on the relationship between cash flow and construction project performance, especially in Kuwait. The goal of this study was to examine the impact of cash flow fluctuations on construction project performance, as well as the role of financial management in mediating this relationship. To accomplish these goals, the researcher employed a descriptive-analytical method to create a questionnaire of 31 items. The study’s sample was chosen at random and includes (181) project managers and firm owners from contractors’ companies in Kuwait. The study found a statistically positive and significant effect of cash flow variation on project performance from the perspective of Kuwaiti contractors at the significance level (0.05), as well as a mediated role of financial management in the relationship between cash flow variation and project performance. The research came up with a number of recommendations based on the findings, including the need for contractors to have a better understanding of cash flow to arrange project activities correctly and efficiently. Further studies may be included into the effect of cash flow forecasting (planning) and financial management (control) on various construction activities.

Artificial Intelligence Application using Nutcracker Optimization Algorithm to Enhance Efficiency & Reliability of Power Systems via Optimal Setting and Sizing of Renewable Energy Sources as Distributed Generations in Radial Distribution Systems

Nawaf A. AlZahrani,Mohammad Hamza Awedh,Ali M. Rushdi International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2024 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.24 No.1

People have been using more energy in the last years. Several research studies were conducted to develop sustainable energy sources that can produce clean energy to fulfill our energy requirements. Using renewable energy sources helps to decrease the harm to the environment caused by conventional power plants. Choosing the right location and capacity for DG-RESs can greatly impact the performance of Radial Distribution Systems. It is beneficial to have a good and stable electrical power supply with low energy waste and high effectiveness because it improves the performance and reliability of the system. This research investigates the ideal location and size for solar and wind power systems, which are popular methods for producing clean electricity. A new artificial intelligent algorithm called Nutcracker Optimization Algorithm (NOA) is used to find the best solution in two common electrical systems named IEEE 33 and 69 bus systems to examine the improvement in the efficiency & reliability of power system network by reducing power losses, making voltage deviation smaller, and improving voltage stability. Finally, the NOA method is compared with another method called PSO and developed Hybrid Algorithm (NOA+PSO) to validate the proposed algorithm effectiveness and enhancement of both efficiency and reliability aspects.

E-Safety Awareness of Saudi Youths: A Comparative Study and Recommendations

Alharbi, Nawaf F,Soh, Ben,AlZain, Mohammed A,Alharbi, Mawaddah F International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2021 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.21 No.11

The use of the internet has become a basic need for many across the globe. The situation is very much the same for the youth in many countries like Saudi Arabia who have grown up surrounded and accessing the internet. This demographic, however, is at an increased risk of falling as victims to cybercrime because of a low level of technical awareness. This review looks at the level of technical awareness of internet use in 3 different countries which include the USA, South Africa, and New Zealand. The review will compare the situation in these nations with those in KSA. Based on the review and comparisons, recommendations are made for culturally and socially acceptable e-Safety awareness of Saudi youths.

Understanding the Risks on Saudi Arabian's Youth Being Online Without Having Strong Cyber-Security Awareness

Alharbi, Nawaf,Soh, Ben,AlZain, Mohammed A,Alharbi, Mawaddah International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2022 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.22 No.7

The Internet is becoming a basic need for many individuals globally in this digital age. The youths became more active online than before, with the majority relying on different platforms to communicate and interact with peers. Saudi Arabia is one of the nations where internet usage is high, with an increasing number of active internet users. The youth in Saudi Arabia are engaged in various online platforms. However, they lack adequate knowledge about cybersecurity and the dangers of internet usage, which exposes them to the risk of falling victims to cybercriminals. The most common dangers of internet usage include viruses, malware, phishing, and hacking, compromising users' sensitive information. Increased awareness of these potential threats helps protect Internet users and secure their data. The understanding of the dangers of Internet usage among youths varies across countries. In this regard, our study explores the risks of internet usage among youth in Saudi Arabia compared to the United States, South Africa, and New Zealand.

Influence of toothbrush abrasion and surface treatments on the color and translucency of resin infiltrated hybrid ceramics

Labban, Nawaf,Al Amri, Mohammad,Alhijji, Saleh,Alnafaiy, Sarah,Alfouzan, Afnan,Iskandar, Mounir,Feitosa, Sabrina The Korean Academy of Prosthodonitics 2021 The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Vol.13 No.1

PURPOSE. The study compared the color change, lightness, and translucency of hybrid resin ceramics exposed to toothbrush abrasion and surface treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Four hybrid ceramics [Lava Ultimate (LU), Vita Enamic (EN), Shofu HC (SH), and Crystal Ultra (CU)] were compared with a glass-ceramic (Vita Mark II) control. One hundred and twenty specimen blocks were prepared using a precision saw machine. Specimens in each material were divided into four subgroups based on the surface treatment (polishing or staining) and a storage medium (water or citric acid). Simulated tooth brushing with a mixture of 100 RDA (radioactive abrasives) with 0.3 ml distilled water was used for 3650 cycles (7300 strokes) for each specimen. Measurements for the color change, lightness, and translucency were measured after toothbrushing using a spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis compared outcomes using paired t-test, ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc test. RESULTS. The maximum color change was identified in SH (stained acid) [1.44 (0.40)], whereas the lowest was identified in EN (polished water) [0.66 (0.16)] material. The maximum and minimum loss of surface translucency was observed in SH (polished water) [12.3 (0.52)] and EN (stained acid) [6.5 (0.55)] specimens, respectively. Lastly, loss of lightness was the highest in VM (polished acid) [69 (0.95)], whereas the lowest was observed in CU (stained water) [56.7 (0.86)]. CONCLUSION. The comparison presented a significant effect of toothbrush abrasion on translucency and lightness of the hybrid resin ceramics. Color change was not significantly influenced irrespective of the storage medium employed. Surface staining demonstrated the preservation and stability of color and optical properties under the influence of toothbrush abrasion and chemical trauma.

Self-sufficiencies in Cyber Technologies: A requirement study on Saudi Arabia

Alhalafi, Nawaf,Veeraraghavan, Prakash International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2022 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.22 No.5

Speedy development has been witnessed in communication technologies and the adoption of the Internet across the world. Information dissemination is the primary goal of these technologies. One of the rapidly developing nations in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia, where the use of communication technologies, including mobile and Internet, has drastically risen in recent times. These advancements are relatively new to the region when contrasted to developed nations. Thus, offenses arising from the adoption of these technologies may be new to Saudi Arabians. This study examines cyber security awareness among Saudi Arabian citizens in distinct settings. A comparison is made between the cybersecurity policy guidelines adopted in Saudi Arabia and three other nations. This review will explore distinct essential elements and approaches to mitigating cybercrimes in the United States, Singapore, and India. Following an analysis of the current cybersecurity framework in Saudi Arabia, suggestions for improvement are determined from the overall findings. A key objective is enhancing the nationwide focus on efficient safety and security systems. While the participants display a clear knowledge of IT, the surveyed literature shows limited awareness of the risks related to cyber security practices and the role of government in promoting data safety across the Internet. As the findings indicate, proper frameworks regarding cyber security need to be considered to ensure that associated threats are mitigated as Saudi Arabia aspires to become an efficient smart nation.

The Current State of Cyber-Readiness of Saudi Arabia

Alhalafi, Nawaf,Veeraraghavan, Prakash International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2022 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.22 No.6

The continuous information technology and telecommunication (ICT) developments inspire several Saudi Arabia citizens to transact and interact online. However, when using online platforms, several people are likely to lose their personal information to cybercriminals. In the survey, 553 Saudi Arabia citizens and 103 information technology (IT) specialists confirm the expansion of digital economy and the need for smart cities with various services, including e-commerce and solid cyber security. 96.6% of the participants believe Saudi Arabia is digitalizing its economy; yet, 33.3% of the participants believe that residents are uninformed about living and operating in smart cities. Several people (47.29%) with medium internet speed are more aware about smart cities than those with fastest internet speed (34%). Besides, online transactions via credit cards subjected 55.5% of the participants to privacy and security issues. These findings validate the essence of cyber security awareness programs among Saudi Arabia citizens and IT professionals to boost public trust and acceptance of cybersecurity frameworks.

Generation of Finite Inductive, Pseudo Random, Binary Sequences

Paul Fisher,Nawaf Aljohani,백진숙 한국정보처리학회 2017 Journal of information processing systems Vol.13 No.6

This paper introduces a new type of determining factor for Pseudo Random Strings (PRS). This classificationdepends upon a mathematical property called Finite Induction (FI). FI is similar to a Markov Model in that itpresents a model of the sequence under consideration and determines the generating rules for this sequence. If these rules obey certain criteria, then we call the sequence generating these rules FI a PRS. We also considerthe relationship of these kinds of PRS’s to Good/deBruijn graphs and Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSR). We show that binary sequences from these special graphs have the FI property. We also show how such FIPRS’s can be generated without consideration of the Hamiltonian cycles of the Good/deBruijn graphs. The FIPRS’s also have maximum Shannon entropy, while sequences from LFSR’s do not, nor are such sequences FIrandom.

Differentiation between Normal and White Striped Turkey Breasts by Visible/Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Multivariate Data Analysis

Amal Zaid,Nawaf Abu-Khalaf,Samer Mudalal,Massimiliano Petracci 한국축산식품학회 2020 한국축산식품학회지 Vol.40 No.1

The appearance of white striations over breast meat is an emerging and growing problem. The main purpose of this study was to employ the reflectance of visible-near infrared (VIS/NIR) spectroscopy to differentiate between normal and white striped turkey breasts. Accordingly, 34 turkey breast fillets were selected representing a different level of white striping (WS) defects (normal, moderate and severe). The findings of VIS/NIR were analyzed by principal component (PC1) analysis (PCA). It was found that the first PC1 for VIS, NIR and VIS/NIR region explained 98%, 97%, and 96% of the total variation, respectively. PCA showed high performance to differentiate normal meat from abnormal meat (moderate and severe WS). In conclusion, the results of this research showed that VIS/NIR spectroscopy was satisfactory to differentiate normal from severe WS turkey fillets by using several quality traits.

Influences of luting cement shade on the color of various translucent monolithic zirconia and lithium disilicate ceramics for veneer restorations

Ghada Alrabeah,Nawaf Alamro,Atif Alghamdi,Ahmed Almslam,Meshari Azaaqi 대한치과보철학회 2023 The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Vol.15 No.5

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of resin cement shade on the color of different novel ultratranslucent monolithic zirconia and lithium disilicate veneer materials. Materials and methods. For a total of 40 specimens, flat cylindrical discs with a 9-mm diameter and 0.5-mm thickness were created using CAD/CAM technology. The specimens were divided into five groups according to their material (n = 8) (e.max, Prettau, Aidite, Shofu and Dima) using A1 shade. Resin discs with the same diameter and shade as the specimens served as tooth-colored substructures. Three shades (neutral, light and warm) of resin cement try-in pastes (Variolink Esthetic LC) were used as the luting cement material. The color of each material group was measured before and after cementation using the three cement shades, and the CIE L*a* b* coordinates were obtained with a spectrophotometer. Values for the translucency parameter (TP) and color change delta E (E) before (baseline) and after cementation of each specimen were determined. To compare differences among the material groups within each shade of cement and among various shades of cement within each material, the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc testing. Results. Color coordinates L*, a* and b* significantly changed after the application of try-in pastes relative to baseline values, with a noticeable decrease in lightness (L*) (P < .05). A significant color change (∆E) was observed in all tested materials after cementation, with ∆E values exceeding 3.3 (P < .05). Although TP changed after cementation for most materials tested, these changes were not statistically significant (P > .05). Shofu and Dima ceramics showed the lowest TP values, while Aidite and Prettau showed the highest TP values. For e.max, translucency decreased after cementation with neutral and warm shades, and it significantly increased after cementation with a light shade. Conclusion. The shade of cement significantly altered the final color of the ceramic veneer material to a level above the threshold at which the clinical perception of color change occurred (> 3.3). The TP was not influenced by the cement shade. The translucency levels of the novel ultratranslucent multilayer monolithic zirconia ceramics Aidite and Prettau were higher than that of the lithium disilicate e.max material.