A Feature Modelling Language Based on Product Family Algebra

Feature modelling is an emerging software engineering paradigm, which helps organizations to develop products from core assets. Products are organized into families that share common core features. Feature modelling involves capturing, into a feature model, the commonality and variability of product families and several relationships among features or products. This thesis is about proposing a language for specifying feature models that is based on product family algebra (PFA). The language is intended to encompass the constructs found in early feature modelling graphical notations and languages. The thesis gives the syntax and the semantics of the proposed language. It discusses the design of its compiler that takes a feature model specification and generates its corresponding PFA, which can be analyzed using the tool Jory. The thesis uses a quite extensive case study to illustrate the use of the proposed language and its compiler.Master of Applied Science (MASc

A Formal Approach to Secure the Segmentation and Configuration of Dynamic Networks

Network segmentation and layered protection are critical strategies used in building and designing secure networks. Although they are recommended by security practitioners and agencies, they are defined vaguely and lack precise formal treatment. Implementing these strategies might be achievable for a small network with few resources; however, it is nearly an impossible task for a large network with a large number of resources and complex policies. The challenge is even harder for dynamic networks, where resources frequently join and leave the network. This case requires an adaptive approach for maintaining the implementation of these strategies. In this thesis, we provide a formalism for the strategies of layered protection and network segmentation. The formalism is based on Product Family Algebra (PFA) and guarded commands. We use this formalism to assess whether a network satisfies these strategies. Furthermore, we articulate two implementation schemes for the layered protection strategy. Moreover, based on the introduced formalism, we propose two algorithms for structuring and configuring robust and secure networks. We then extend the formalism and the algorithms to handle networks with several entry points, where each entry point is intended to give access to a certain subnetwork. We employ the algorithms for the dynamic configuration and governance of Software Defined Networks (SDN). In addition to SDN data and control planes, we propose a plane in charge of the configuration and governance of SDN data planes. We call it the Dynamic Configuration and Governance (DCG) plane and it is intended to give agility to dynamic networks. Moreover, we propose and assess three architectures that use the DCG plane. The assessment results identify an architecture that is suitable for dynamic networks and another for networks that are more stable regarding changes to policy and network topology. The formalism presented in this thesis provides an automatic and adaptive approach for the segmentation and configuration of networks. It takes into consideration the security requirements of local resources as well as the global security situation. It constitutes a foundational framework for automated security solutions applicable to computer networks that use any type of connecting technology or topology.ThesisDoctor of Philosophy (PhD

The Reading Perception Of Medical Staff About The Use Of Prehospital Ultrasound

This study was a focus on the use of pre-hospital ultrasound in Saudi Arabia. Generally, ultrasound is used in a high frequency by health care providers in different countries within hospitals or pre-hospital. The main point of using the ultrasound was to reduce the time of diagnosis at the hospital and decrease the rate of mortality and morbidity. The study was a cross-sectional study and was used to assess the perception of medical staff about the use of pre-hospital ultrasound. This survey study had 130 participants, and 80 of them were agreed to involve in this study. It was conducted in King Abdulaziz Hospital of National Guards, Al Ahsa and College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa Campus, Saudi Arabia. ATLAST ti 8 was used for systematic literature review and SPSS v23 obviously for data analysis. This was a new and novel study as the Pre-hospital ultrasound was not used before in the pre-hospital. On the other hand, the findings showed that the participants displayed a high level of interest in improving their knowledge and skills of using ultrasound during its application in the pre-hospital setting. It was also recommended to have more research in future on the subject

Studying The Association Of Metformin Dose With Peripheral Neuropathy In Diabetic Patients At Jordanian Royal Medical Services

The aim of the present study was to study the association of metformin dose with peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients at Jordanian Royal Medical Services. A retrospective study was conducted to collect data from files of 392 diabetic patients at Jordanian Royal Medical Services. A working sheet was created for each patient that included the following information: gender, age, peripheral neuropathy, vitamin B12 status, metformin use, and metformin dose. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Data were represented as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables such as gender, and vitamin B12 status; means and standard deviations for continuous variables such as age. The relationships between variables were examined using Chi-Square, and One Way Anova. Significance was considered at alpha level <0.05. Study findings showed that the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy among participants was about 43%. Vitamin B12 deficiency was about 7%. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy was significantly associated with gender (p=0.018). No significant associations were observed between peripheral neuropathy and vitamin B12 or metformin dose. Taken together, the results of the present study showed that treatment with metformin did not lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, although the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was relatively high (about 43%)

Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice towards COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

(1) Background: COVID-19 has become a worldwide public health problem. No previous study has investigated factors associated with COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) after completely lifting the curfew in all Saudi Arabia regions and cities. Therefore, adequate knowledge, a positive attitude, and correct control of COVID-19 are essential to eradicate the disease. Hence, this study aims to assess factors associated with KAP of COVID-19; (2) Methods: This cross-sectional web-based survey was performed with the participation of 4305 individuals aged over 15 years living in Saudi Arabia from 11 to 19 August 2020. They were included using the snowball sampling method; (3) Results: Of the 4305 participants, 94.9% were Saudis, 60% females, and 45.4% were in the age group of 20–34 years, 61.7% married, and 49.3% from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Most of the participants demonstrated good KAP levels (89.6%, 87.2%, and 87.2%) towards the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. In addition, most of the participants (85.8%) used the internet and social media as a source for COVID-19 information (4) Conclusions: The finding showed that most of the participants demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19, positive attitudes, and demonstrated good practices for preventing the spread of disease infection

Global, regional, and national burden of headache disorders, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023

Background: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 estimates health loss from migraine, tension-type headache, and medication-overuse headache. This study presents updated results on headache-attributed burden from 1990 to 2023, along with clinical and public health implications. Methods: Data on the prevalence, incidence, or remission of migraine, tension-type headache, and medication-overuse headache were extracted from published population-based studies. We used hierarchical Bayesian meta-regression modelling to estimate global, regional, and country-level prevalence of headache disorders. For the first time in GBD 2023, age-specific and sex-specific estimates of time in symptomatic state were applied by meta-analysing individual participant data from 41 653 individuals from the general populations of 18 countries from all parts of the world. Disability weights were applied to calculate years lived with disability (YLDs). Since medication-overuse headache is a sequela of a mistreated primary headache (due to medication overuse), its burden was reattributed to migraine or tension-type headache, informed by a meta-analysis of three longitudinal studies. Findings: In 2023, 2·9 billion individuals (95% uncertainty interval 2·6–3·1) were affected by headache disorders, with a global age-standardised prevalence of 34·6% (31·6–37·5) and a YLD rate of 541·9 (373·4–739·9) per 100 000 population, with 487·5 (323·0–678·8) per 100 000 population attributed to migraine. The prevalence rates of these headache disorders have remained stable over the past three decades. YLD rates due to headache disorders were more than twice as high in females (739·9 [511·2–1011·5] per 100 000) as in males (346·1 [240·4–481·8] per 100 000). Medication-overuse headache contributed 58·9% of the YLD estimates for tension-type headache in males and 56·1% in females, as well as 22·6% of the YLD estimates for migraines in males and 14·1% in females. Interpretation: Headache disorders, in particular migraine, continue to be a major global health challenge, emphasising the need for effective management and prevention strategies. Much headache-attributed burden could be averted or eliminated by avoiding overuse of medication (including over-the-counter medication), underscoring the importance of public education

The impact of nationality on the perception of project management and its success among construction project managers in Saudi Arabia

Cultural differences in project teams within the construction industry are a recognized phenomenon in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study investigates the crucial role culture plays and how cultural differences among project managers influence their perceptions of two key aspects: project management practices and project success in the context of the Saudi construction industry. A custom questionnaire was used to gather the perceptions of 150 Saudi and non-Saudi project managers from Riyadh city. The statistical tests applied include frequencies, percentages, descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings reveal that the nationality of the managers significantly impacts their perceptions of cultural differences, which in turn influences the two aforementioned aspects