Closed-Loop Supply Chain Integration: Assessing Marketing Impacts and Customer Perceptions of Sustainable Brand Value in the Saudi Photovoltaic Industry

Purpose:  This investigation addresses the influence of closed-loop supply chain integration (CLSCI) on consumer perception of sustainable brand value, examining its effect on purchasing decisions, brand loyalty, and image.   Theoretical framework:  The study operates within a framework that posits CLSCI as a potential enhancer of sustainable brand value, mediated by demographic variables and consumer consciousness of sustainability practices.   Design/methodology/approach:  A cross-sectional analysis was performed with 240 Saudi participants using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to assess the hypotheses derived from the theoretical framework.   Findings:  Results indicate a direct correlation between CLSCI and brand image, strengthened by consumer awareness. Moreover, age and awareness significantly mediate the relationship between CLSCI and perceived brand value and purchasing decisions.   Research, Practical & Social implications:  Findings underscore the necessity for Saudi photovoltaic (PV) firms to elevate CLSCI awareness and its linkage to brand image. The study also prompts further examination of age-related influences and sustainable waste management practices.   Originality/value:  his study contributes to the limited research on CLSCI's role within the Saudi PV sector, providing empirical evidence and a conceptual model for CLSCI implementation, offering insights for enhanced consumer engagement and sustainable brand development

Investigating Patient Attitudes towards Quality of Service Management in the Public Health Service Sector: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Purpose - Healthcare has been recognised as one of the key social responsibilities in any society, and the quality of healthcare available in a country is one of the key recognised standards and indicators for measuring the quality of life and standard of living obtainable in a particular society or country. Several previous studies have also shown that service satisfaction and quality experienced by patients vary from one country to another, while most developing nations fall at the bottom of these satisfaction ladders or rankings due to little (or non-available) research evidence in these areas. Therefore, this study will employ various empirical approaches and apply the quantitative surveys. This study investigates the quality of care, available communication processes and patient engagement in Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector, and their effects on patients' satisfaction. Using SERVQUAL multi-dimensional instruments, the study explores the potentials and opportunities in the Saudi Arabia Healthcare Sector in order to develop integrated frameworks for patient-centred strategies, which could help to maximise patients (or customers) satisfaction and quality of service across the two cities in Saudi Arabia hospitals. These hospitals will be between two cities. One of these hospitals is one of the largest government hospitals in Saudi (National Guard Hospital) in Jeddah and the other will be in Mecca called (Hera Hospital)Saudi Arabia scholarship -king Abdull

The Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) as a Microbial Control Agent against Musca domestica in Makkah Region

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a gram-positive spore forming bacteria. It forms a spore in an adverse condition i.e. when nutrients are limited. Bt produces protein crystals in the cytoplasm of the mother cell during sporulation. The protein crystals are insoluble protoxins, when synthesized the ä- endotoxins consist of two multigenic families, Cry and Cyt. Cry proteins are toxic to different insect orders. They are toxic to Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and also to nematodes.The use of manufactured high toxic pesticides with their harm environmental effect led to search for non-traditional means of control. Musca Domestica plays an important role in the transmission of many pathogens such as cholera, typhoid, trachoma, diarrhea, tuberculosis, salmonella and intestinal sedimentation.The results recorded illustrated the efficiency of Bti bacteria at concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 20%) against the second instar larvae of the domestic fly M. domestica. The results of this study show that the different concentrations of Bti Clearly indicate the percentage of larvae where they increase directly and gradually by increasing the concentration (16, 52 and 80%) of the concentrations used respectively. The results recorded potential effects of the laboratory biocide on the second larval life span of Mucosa domestica. The life span of the mature phase, the number of eggs per female (fertility) and the percentage of hatching, and the number of mutilated individuals were recorded. The results shown that the bacterial pesticide causes a significant decrease in larval life span compared with the control group (10.36±0.027) since the minimum life span is 2.45±0.251 days at concentration of 0.5%, maximum life span is (8.68± 0.158) Days at concentration of 20%

Modification of structural, thermal and optical properties of PC-PET/CdSe NCP using gamma radiation

In the current study we synthesized a nanocomposite (NCP) from polycarbonate/polybutylene terephthalate (PC-PET) blend and CdSe nanoparticles (NPs) through ex-situ casting methodology. CdSe NPs were synthesized using thermolysis technique with N2 gas flow. X-ray diffraction data for CdSe NPs are reported. The Rietveld refinement indicated that the synthesized CdSe acclimatizes cubic zinc blends constitution of a lattice parameter 6.057 Å and an average grain size of 2 nm. The PC-PET/CdSe NCP samples were irradiated by gamma doses between 20 and 230 kGy. The induced variations in the structure, thermal and optical properties of the gamma irradiated PC-PET/CdSe NCP have been illustrated by means of TEM, XRD, TGA, FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopes. The irradiation with doses in the range 50–230 kGy leads to the domination of crosslinking that improves the amorphous content. This increases the degradation temperature from 417 to 432 °C indicative of an enhancement in the thermostability of the NCP samples. Also, the optical band gap is reduced from 4.28 to 3.76 eV which is ascribed to the enhancement in the amorphous content of the irradiated PC-PET/CdSe NCP. This specifies that the gamma irradiation causes a more compactness of the NCP and leads to appropriate spreading of CdSe NPs within the PC-PET matrix. Additionally, the CIE approach was used to describe the colored samples. It is found that the PC-PET/CdSe NCP acquires color due to gamma doses, as the color intensity reached a remarkable color difference larger than 5 (14.9) which is a reasonable challenge in saleable reproduction on printing press

Effect of X-ray irradiation on the structure, thermal and mechanical properties of polyester

Samples from sheets of the polymeric material polyester have been exposed to X-rays from a 50 kV X-ray tube in the dose range 10–100 kGy. The resultant effect of X-rays has been investigated using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction XRD, thermogravimetric analysis TGA, differential thermal analysis DTA and stress-strain measurements. The results indicate that the polyester decomposes in one weight loss stage. Also, the X-ray irradiation in the dose range 30–100 kGy led to a more compact structure of polyester, which resulted in an improvement in its thermal stability. The variation of transition temperatures with the X-ray dose has been determined using DTA. The polyester thermograms were characterized by the appearance of an endothermic peak due to the melting of the crystalline phase. The melting temperature of the polymer Tm was investigated to probe the crystalline domains of the polymer. At the dose range 30–100 kGy, the defect generated destroys the crystalline structure, thus reducing the melting temperature. In addition, the stress-strain measurements indicate that the X-ray irradiation at the same dose range 30–100 kGy yields crosslinked polyester of high resilience that is suitable for manufacturing protective clothes that reduce heat stress

Structural and Optical characterization of gamma irradiated PVA-PEG/Cr

Polyvinyl alcohol-Polyethylene glycol/Chromium oxide nanocomposite (PVA-PEG/Cr2O3 NCP) was synthesized by means of the thermolysis and casting procedures. The NCP films were irradiated with various X-ray dosages (15–130 kGy). The resultant outcome of the X-ray irradiation on the structural and optical characteristics of the NCP films were explored applying X-ray diffraction and UV spectroscopy. The optical band gap, refractive index, Urbach energy and optical dielectric parameters were characterized and interpreted based on the X-ray dosage. The optical bandgap dropped from 3.91 to 2.7 eV for a X-ray dosage of 130 kGy, accompanied with a rise in Urbach energy of the samples. We attribute this to the dominance of crosslinking. Additionally, the color differences between the pristine and the irradiated samples were characterized. The pristine NCP film was uncoloured. It exhibited noteworthy color changes during the X-ray irradiation, as the color intensity reached a value greater than 5. This is an acceptable match in commercial reproduction on printing presses

Tailoring the optical properties of PC/ZnS nanocomposite by γ radiation

Chemical coprecipitation methodology in atmospheric air has been used to prepare Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles (NPs); EDTA-ethylenediamine was used as stabilizing agent. Then ex-situ casting technique was used to synthesis nanocomposite (NCP) from Polycarbonate polymer (PC) and the synthesized ZnS NPs. Detection analysis of XRD records demonstrated that synthesized ZnS adjusts cubic zinc blend construction of lattice constant matches 5.345 Å and an average grain size 4nm. PC/ZnS NCP samples were irradiated with doses of gamma radiation in the range 25‑230 kGy. The modifications in optical parameters of the irradiated NCP samples were investigated using UV spectroscopic analysis and CIE color variation technique. Tauc's model and optical dielectric loss assisted in estimating the optical band gap (Eg) and to recognize the type of electronic transition. Eg decreased from 3.83 to 3.00 eV upon increasing the radiation doses γ up to 230 kGy; demonstrating the enhancement of the amorphous phase in the NCP. This was conveyed by an increase in the refractive index. Moreover, the color variations were explored using UV transmission spectra and the CIELAB color space methodology. The γ radiation causes a reduction in green and blue color components, conveyed by an increase in whiteness. This led to a noteworthy color variation that is applicable in marketable imitation on printing press

Color changes in X-ray irradiated PM-355 and Makrofol DE 7-2 nuclear track detectors

Effects of X-ray irradiation on the color changes of PM-355 and Makrofol DE 7-2 nuclear track detectors have been investigated. Samples from PM-355 and Makrofol DE 7-2 polycarbonates were irradiated with X-ray doses at levels between 10 and 250 kGy. The transmission of these samples in the wavelength range 370–780 nm, as well as any color changes, was studied. The Commission International de E’Claire (CIE units x, y and z) methodology was used in this work for the description of colored samples. The color differences between the non-irradiated sample and those irradiated with different X-ray doses were calculated. The results indicate that both PM-355 and Makrofol DE 7-2 detectors acquire color changes under X-ray irradiation, but the PM-355 detector has more response to color change than that of Makrofol DE 7-2