Stress in physical education teachers in Qatar

Stress is an area of interest among researchers and practitioners in many fields – including teaching. Much of the research on causes of stress for teachers has focused on teachers in general; only a few studies have focused on physical education teachers. Although there have been a few studies of causes of stress for physical education teachers in the Middle East, no studies have been conducted on physical education teachers in Qatar. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify causes of stress for physical education teachers in Qatar at the beginning and end of the school year as well as any changes over the course of the year. A second purpose was to try to explain any differences in causes of stress according to: gender; nationality; type of school; and amount of experience. Results showed that there were different causes of stress for different groups of teachers which could be related to different backgrounds and experiences and different roles and responsibilities in society as a result of different cultural and social expectations and environmental factors

Pharmaceutical Industry in Qatar

Overview: * Current Pharma Market Share of Qatar * Consequences of depending on other countries * Main challenges and barriers of local production of medicines in Qatar * How to overcome the challenges and barriers * Advantages of producing locall

Understanding customer satisfaction at Al-Ahli hospital in Qatar

paper starts by discussing the importance of the healthcare industry in Qatar and provides a brief about Al-Ahli hospital and why is it important for Al-Ahli Hospital to understand their customer satisfaction. It also provides an overview about the customer satisfaction, the factors that impact customer satisfaction, why customer satisfaction is important and how to measure customer satisfaction. This research paper discusses seven studies conducted around the world tackling the customer satisfaction in the healthcare industry from different perspectives. The research paper uses a quantitative research methodology to test five hypothesis related to customer satisfaction. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire that was conducted in English and Arabic using an online surveying tool (survey Gizmo). The sampling method was convenient sampling and out of the 206 response attempts, 111 completed questionnaires were collected. The researcher then analyses the results using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using a new model that was created by the researcher. The model suggests that there are nine factors that impact customer satisfaction in the healthcare industry. These nine factors are price, customer efforts score, speed of service, ease of using the service, service escape, staff communication skills, staff courtesy, quality of service and competence. Each of the nine factors are measured using a range of questions. Using regression analysis, it was concluded that the factors that impact customer satisfaction differ based on the service provided (inpatient, outpatient or emergency). The common factor among all services is the speed of service which is driven by the urgency of getting healthcare services. Furthermore, net promoter score was calculated to test customer loyalty. Based on the analysis conducted, the researcher then provides Al-Ahli hospital with a list of recommendations to take this study forward and improve their services. The researcher also discusses the limitations of the study and provides recommendations to improve similar studies

VISUALIZATION OF FACTOR VIII WITH FLOW-CYTOMETRY AS A TOOL FOR NOVEL GENE THERAPY APPROACH IN HEMOPHILIA A

Haemophilia A is a genetic X-linked disorder, characterized by coagulation Factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency and leading to pathological bleedings. The disease occurs in a rate of 1 in 5000 males’ births. The treatment is the administration of plasma-derived or recombinant Factor VIII which is expensive and leads to the development of inhibitory antibodies in around 40% of patients affected by the severe form of the disease. The disease becomes for these patients life-threatening. New approaches to treat Haemophilia include Gene Therapy (GT). Cells corrected through genetic modifications are used to produce in Haemophilia A patients FVIII protein in a sustained manner, as long-term treatment for this disorder. The cells of choice should be persistent and equipped with the machinery for large protein assembly and secretion. So far, target cells for Haemophilia gene correction are mostly liver cells, although they are highly immunogenic and exposed to immune-mediated destruction after GT. Based on literature evidences, Bone Marrow Transplantation can correct Haemophilia A in mice, providing evidence that Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) or their progeny are able to produce FVIII. We chose the approach of correcting HSC with lentiviral vectors carrying the FVIII gene cassette. Whereas classically FVIII protein is visualized on adherent cells through immunohistochemistry staining, Flow-Cytometry (FC) literature publications are very scarce. FC analysis is an attractive method for analysing hematopoietic cells, and in general, a versatile method for protein visualization. However, large proteins as FVIII are difficult to be carefully analysed, and the method requires several steps of optimization. This joint project with Dr. Muhammad Elnaggar, (postdoctoral fellow) .aims to optimize a method to characterize large proteins as FVIII with a reliable FC staining protocol. To this aim we used cell lines to evaluate the expression and secretion pathways of FVIII, the intracellular requirements to fold and secrete large proteins, and the toxicities of protein accumulation, in case of GT mediated protein overexpression. To this aim, the FC experiments were performed to optimise the FC protocol for FVIII visualization, by improving blocking efficacy, antibody labelling efficacy and to ensure accuracy and validity through qPCR and FC double staining. This FC protocol proved its validity and usefulness in visualizing and studying functionally FVIII. The project successfully facilitated safe GT protocols in HSC, moreover, addressed the need in the field of biomedical research by optimizing a reliable FC protocol of staining and visualization of large proteins like FVIII

MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION AND THE UHI EFFECT IN DOHA: THE IMPACT OF TRAFFIC ON THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

Doha is a car-oriented city with rapid urban growth and development; one result of this is the replacement of large areas of the local terrain’s natural surface with asphalt paving and other building materials. Therefore, as the city and surrounding areas have developed, the local landscape has undergone profound changes. Buildings, roads, and other infrastructure have replaced open land and areas where vegetation once grew. Surfaces that were once permeable and moist have become impermeable and dry. At the same time, Doha has been experiencing rising temperatures associated with the growth of the urban land surface, a change that continues over time as new development occurs. As Doha becomes an increasingly car-oriented city, emissions from cars and asphalt, accompanied by solar radiation, are absorbed by the materials of the local buildings. The net result of all of this is a microclimate that has a negative impact on the environment. Against this background, this study explores the impact of the city’s transportation system on its environment. This thesis also explores possible solutions for enhancing the quality of development by reducing the impact of motorized vehicles (most notably cars) on the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The first question that will be addressed -- through an examination of the road network and vehicular movement in Doha in relation to the UHI effect -- can be posed as follows: Does the city’s traffic contribute to the UHI phenomenon? Furthermore, the use the Remote sensing (ENVI) program and Geographic Information System (GIS) data permits an examination of the relationship between (a) road surface temperature and its outgoing long wave radiation in Doha and (b) traffic volume. The results of this analysis reveal that automobile traffic is a key contributor to heat formation in Doha, especially in the context of traffic jams. The paved surface materials characteristic of urban roads emit a great deal of heat into the city, in part because they cover such a large fraction of the urban surface. It is also found that part of the UHI effect can be attributed to the dark pavements that are often used on streets and parking lots; these also contribute to the heat and emissions generated by cars and traffic jams, in turn worsening the heat island effect and accompanying pollution. This thesis will conclude with recommendations for achieving sustainable development, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life and reducing excessive pressure on the environment in Doha

Cyber-Attack Modeling Analysis Techniques: An Overview

YesCyber attack is a sensitive issue in the world of Internet security. Governments and business organisations around the world are providing enormous effort to secure their data. They are using various types of tools and techniques to keep the business running, while adversaries are trying to breach security and send malicious software such as botnets, viruses, trojans etc., to access valuable data. Everyday the situation is getting worse because of new types of malware emerging to attack networks. It is important to understand those attacks both before and after they happen in order to provide better security to our systems. Understanding attack models provide more insight into network vulnerability; which in turn can be used to protect the network from future attacks. In the cyber security world, it is difficult to predict a potential attack without understanding the vulnerability of the network. So, it is important to analyse the network to identify top possible vulnerability list, which will give an intuitive idea to protect the network. Also, handling an ongoing attack poses significant risk on the network and valuable data, where prompt action is necessary. Proper utilisation of attack modelling techniques provide advance planning, which can be implemented rapidly during an ongoing attack event. This paper aims to analyse various types of existing attack modelling techniques to understand the vulnerability of the network; and the behaviour and goals of the adversary. The ultimate goal is to handle cyber attack in efficient manner using attack modelling techniques

Systematic Methods for the Design of Industrial Clusters with Capped Carbon Emissions

Hydrocarbon resource centric economies, such as Qatar, are highly vulnerable to the impact of climate policy. Climate policies could decrease demand of hydrocarbon, lowering prices and would force countries to adopt mitigation technologies. Thus, having a climate strategy is important to meet future constraints. This work develops approaches to enable policy makers to systematically explore alternative emissions reduction paths in an integrated framework. The methods introduced explore the element of time, resources management, Carbon Capture Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) and energy integration including Renewable Energy (RE) use. The industrial city or cluster is taken as a system and modelled through balances and constraints, which were optimized applying deterministic solvers. Two approaches were developed. The first is a multi-period carbon planning approach that enables the assessment of different carbon dioxide reduction options, which may be applied to guiding transitions to a future target emission. Second is a systematic approach that enables the identification of economically optimal natural gas allocation in different conversion technologies under carbon emission targets with energy synergy. The multi-period planning approach identified allocation of carbon dioxide between sources and potential sinks in each period, compared cost elements simultaneously and resulted in a low cost network across all periods. Furthermore, the role of RE was investigated through a robust MILP. The results highlighted significant differences in economic impact of alternative footprint reduction policies. The systematic natural gas monetization approach simultaneously determined natural gas monetization and carbon dioxide management through CCUS as well as RE strategies. The method considered heat and power integration, enabling the assessment of the Natural gas (CH₄), CO₂ and Energy nexus. Several case studies were solved that indicated benefits of having optimized policies that screen all mitigation options given economic and environmental objectives out preformed adopted prescribed policies found around the globe

The Practice Of City Planning And Design In The Gulf Region: The Case Of Abu Dhabi, Doha And Manama

This research study explores the Arabian Gulf region’s practice of city planning and design in response to the active forces of globalization. The focused scope of analysis is justified by the commonalities that unite the Arabian Gulf region, among them is the active response to globalization and the rapid urbanization process. Following the coverage of the regional context, an investigation of the city planning and design is presented in the study as a case study approach. Three coastal Arabian Gulf capitals -Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama- are selected as primary units of analysis, investigating their urban evolution, the recent planning practice and urban development vision. The aim of the research study is to establish a theoretical connection between Gulf cities relying on their commonalities. The hypothesis assumes globalization to create a common urban planning practice based on (A) geopolitical facts, (B) historical evolution of urbanism and (C) the recent urban development trends that shape Gulf capital cities. The findings reveal that the urban practice in the Gulf region has been constantly altered in response to global challenges. New trends of megaprojects and international planning are dominating the urban development and growth of Gulf capital cities, where the knowledge of international expertise is flowing into the local planning practice. Therefore, the future of the urbanism is expected to focus on comprehensiveness, master-planning in the national scale, as well as establishing a regional interconnection as a strategic development vision unifying the whole Arabian Gulf region

A Systematic Approach to Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategies in Industrial Parks

Global concerns of the effects of increased carbon dioxide emissions have pushed policy makers to adopt strict emission targets .The introduction of such targets will require strategies to achieve them in efficient ways. In Qatar, the world highest per capita carbon emitter, stationary emission sources are responsible for the majority of the country’s footprint. Concentrated in industrial parks or clusters emissions cuts would be more significant and efficient to achieve as part of a national emission reduction strategy. Conventional mitigation techniques involve fossil fuel replacement, increasing energy efficiency and the use of carbon capture and sequestration. This research proposes an alternative method based on utilization or conversion of carbon dioxide within the industrial city. Carbon dioxide can be chemically or biologically converted into fuel, polymers, food supplements, fodder or another value added product could be used in applications of enhanced oil and gas recovery. Based on concepts of classical network design and Industrial Ecology (IE), a systematic approach was developed to obtain a cost optimal network of carbon reduction. The integrated analysis of utilization options together with the capture, separation, compression and transmission of carbon dioxide will be required to determine the most economically attractive footprint reduction solutions. The optimization was illustrated using a case study