Dr. YOUSEF ABDULSALAM – Business Administration

Title
Hospital Merger & Acquisitions: To What Extent Do M&As Bend Costs?

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to increase understanding of the impact of mergers & acquisition activity on hospital performance and supply chains. We test whether economies of scale in supply chain operations are truly achieved after merger activities and ask how long it takes for changes to reflect on financial metrics: operating, supply, and pharmaceutical expenses. Through regression analysis on a data sample from 3,000 hospitals and about 250 merger events, we find that while there are efficiencies in operating expenses, the bulk of savings comes from payroll reductions rather than supply chain management efficiencies.

Dr. AHMAD ALANSARI – PAAET

Title
Designing a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit by Employing an Evidence-Based Design Approach

Abstract
This study aimed to develop a set of key evidence-based design considerations for a prototype (3-Dimensional) CICU that promotes patient health and safety, as well as staff work efficiency. To provide convergent evidence about the association between cardiac intensive care and the physical environment, searches were conducted in the PubMed, Google Scholar, and other databases, as well as in certain specialized journals. The inclusion criteria included: qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies and systematic reviews; written in English; related to the built environmental design of cardiac intensive care. The contents of the selected articles were first extracted and then analyzed and synthesized. The results of this review demonstrated that the physical design had a strong influence on patient health and safety. A total of more than 40 CICU design recommendations were identified. In practice, all environmental and non-environmental factors should be holistically considered in the design decision-making process. The next step is the development and testing of prototypes that incorporate relevant design strategies before wide application. This literature review disclosed the key design strategies that enhance the physical design of the cardiac intensive care units. Further research is needed to evaluate the prototype and to investigate the future needs and issues of designing CICU.

Dr. Maytham Abdulraheem – Business Administration

Title
Oil Prices and Public Expenditures Allocation in Kuwait: Understanding the Dynamics.

Abstract
This study examines the dynamics of Kuwait's government resource allocation in response to global real oil price shocks, utilizing a Bayesian Structural Vector Autoregressive model. Analyzing quarterly time series data from 1993Q3 to 2015Q4, the findings reveal that real oil price shocks significantly influence Kuwait's real current and capital public expenditures. Evidence indicates that real capital expenditures are significantly more sensitive to oil price fluctuations than current expenditures. While oil price shocks play a key role in explaining public expenditure variations, the influence of non-oil-related shocks has grown since 2006.

Dr. Amal Qasimi - Social Sciences

Title
القلق والاكتئاب لدى أمهات المعاقين مقارنةً بأمهات الأصحاء.

Abstract
هدفت الدراسة الراهنة للتعرف على مستوى القلق والاكتئاب لدى مجموعة من أمهات أبناء معاقين حركياً، مقارنةً بأمهات معاقين ذهنياً، كذلك على الفروق بين أمهات الأبناء المعاقين وأمهات الأصحاء في تلك المتغيرات. المنهج: اتبعت الباحثة المنهج الوصفي المقارن، وقد بلغ عدد المشاركات (102) من الأمهات الكويتيات، وقسمت المجموعة الكلية إلى مجموعات ثلاث: (40) من أمهات أبناء معاقين حركياً، و(32) من أمهات أبناء معاقين ذهنياً، و(30) من أمهات لأبناء أصحاء، وقد تراوحت أعمار الأبناء بين (15-25) سنة، أما شدة الإعاقة فتراوحت بين (بسيطة وشديدة)، وتم جمع البيانات باستخدام مقياس جامعة الكويت للقلق، وقائمة "بيك" الثانية للاكتئاب. النتائج: أشارت نتائج التحليل الإحصائي إلى ارتفاع مستوى القلق لدى أمهات المعاقين حركياً مقارنةً بأمهات الأصحاء، بينما لم تظهر فروقاً دالة إحصائياً بين المجموعات الثلاث في مستوى الاكتئاب. كما أظهرت النتائج أن أمهات المعاقين ذهنياً من المستوى التعليمي (أقل من الثانوي) كنَّ أكثر اكتئاباً من الأمهات ذوات المستوى التعليمي الأعلى. الخاتمة: يمكننا أن نستنتج أن نوع الإعاقة عاملاً محدداً لمستوى القلق لدى أمهات المعاقين، بالإضافة إلى ذلك كان المستوى التعليمي للأمهات عاملاً منبئاً أيضاً لمستوى الاكتئاب، وتوصي الدراسة بالاهتمام بالجانب النفسي لأمهات المعاقين، لتمكينهن من رعاية أبنائهن على الوجه الأكمل، وهذا بدوره قد يخفض مستوى القلق والاكتئاب لديهن.

Anoud Alabdulwahad– Law

Title
المواجهة الجنائية للجرائم البيئية في القانون الكويتي دراسة مقارنة.

Abstract
دراسة مقارنة للجرائم البيئية ما بين القانون البيئي الكويتي والقانون البيئي المصري وقوانين البيئة لبعض دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي.

Dr. Munirah AlAjlan – Arts

Title
Language as Leverage: Trump’s Rhetorical Playbook for the 2024 Campaign.

Abstract
This pilot study explores the rhetorical strategies employed by Donald Trump in his 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, examining how his language serves as a persuasive tool to mobilize support and shape public perception. Using a corpus of expressions gathered from media coverage, televised debates, and Trump’s Twitter posts, the analysis identifies key themes, framing techniques, and linguistic patterns that characterize his discourse. The study reveals that Trump`s language relies heavily on emotionally charged terms, repetitive slogans, and polarizing narratives designed to evoke strong responses among his audience. By constructing an "us vs. them" dynamic, Trump positions himself as a defender of American values while portraying opponents and outsiders as threats. Through methods such as keyword frequency analysis, sentiment analysis, and thematic coding, this paper highlights the central role of language in reinforcing political ideologies and influencing voter behavior. Preliminary findings indicate that Trump’s rhetorical approach combines populist appeals, appeals to authority, and intentional ambiguity to build resonance with key voter demographics. This research provides insight into the power of language as a tool for political influence, offering a nuanced understanding of Trump’s rhetorical playbook and its potential impact on the 2024 election.

Maram Almutairi – Business Administration

Title
Assessing the Economic Impacts of Renewable Energy Adoption Comparative Case Studies of the United Arab Emirates.

Abstract
This study examines the economic effects of renewable energy adoption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model on data spanning from 2010 to 2020. The analysis focuses on the impact of renewable energy consumption on GDP growth, capital formation, employment, and trade openness. The results show a significant positive effect of renewable energy consumption on GDP per capita in UAE.  Capital formation and employment also have remarkable positive impacts on GDP per capita too. The results indicate that investments in renewable energy are not only important for environmental sustainability but also for stimulating economic development, job creation, and capital investment. The research underscores the role of supportive policy frameworks in maximizing the economic gains of renewable energy uptake.

Lailah Alshammari – Social Sciences

Title
Intercomparison of Image Classification Methods and Machine Learning. Techniques at Different Spatial Resolution.

Abstract
This study evaluates the performance of three classification algorithms—Maximum Likelihood (ML), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF)—in land-use and land-cover (LULC) mapping using various remotely sensed data, including Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, PlanetScope, and UAV imagery. K-means clustering was first applied to identify land cover classes, followed by an object-based approach for training sample collection. The results showed that SVM consistently outperformed ML and RF, particularly with high-resolution UAV imagery, achieving a Kappa coefficient of 0.98 and an overall accuracy of 98%. SVM's robustness was evident in distinguishing subtle spectral and spatial differences, while ML exhibited the lowest accuracy (67%) with Landsat-8. The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate spatial resolutions and efficient algorithms to enhance classification accuracy, contributing to sustainable land cover monitoring and natural resource management.

Anfal Alenezi – Social Sciences

Title
investigating the influence of rainfall events in Kuwait Bay transparency by integrating multiple satellite sensors.

Abstract
Sea water transparency is a crucial indicator of understanding the optical properties of aquatic systems. Secchi disk is a field tool that can be used to measure water transparency. Secchi depths are usually integrated with satellite data to estimate seawater transparency over large areas. This project investigated the spatial and temporal changes of Secchi Disk Depth (SDD) after heavy rainfall events over Kuwait Bay using multiple satellite data (Landsat-8, Landsat-9, and Sentinel-2B). Kuwait Bay was divided into eight zones based on several factors: outfall locations, natural drainage areas, organic sediment sources, and anthropogenic activities. Field measurements of SDD were collected and included in the statistical analysis to evaluate the performance of two SDD models. Spatial and temporal variations of SDD were detected after four heavy rainfall events. The comparison between pre-events and post-events indicates that the impacts of rainfall events varied between zones. The reduction in SDD in the northern part of Kuwait Bay is a result of natural sediment from Jal Al-Zoor edge. The surface runoff from the urban area increased SDD values in some parts of the southern zones and did not significantly contribute to increased sediment in these zones.