Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference Proceedings Volume 2016 Issue 1

Recently, a new group of 2D material showed a great promise in supercapacitors and batteries application due to their good conductivity as well as hydrophilic nature [1]. It has general formula Mn+1Xn, where n = 1, 2 or 3, M is an early transitional metal and X is C and/or N [2]. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) studies, MXenes can be terminated with a mixtur Read More

Background & Objectives: Power converters have become over the last decades an enabling technology for PV applications. As demonstrated by scientific literature on the subject, current research efforts are directed toward the use of intermediate solutions between fully centralized and totally distributed (one inverter for each panel or strings of panels) PV grid connection architectures, for cost, reliability and maintenanc Read More

Microalgal bioassays are currently used worldwide to help assess the impacts of contaminants on aquatic ecosystems. Algae are particularly important to such assessments because they represent the basic trophic level of the aquatic food web and contribute to ecosystem biodiversity. Toxicological impacts to these species may have follow-on effects (e.g., depletion of food source) on higher trophic levels and subsequen Read More

The major threats to community health were recognized as coming from poor housing, poor management of sewage and drainage, foul air in industrialized towns, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate control of pests. Increasing pest infestation in urban areas is now a reality. The reliance on the use of chemical pesticides leads to negative results. Use of clean ecological methods must be the strategy of the future. Pests ar Read More

Microbial communities in the date palm rhizoshere can play a vital role in the development of the palm and its health. Using the metagenomic as a tool can help in exploring these microbial communities in searching for microorganisms with potential for agricultural practices. Samples (roots and soil) were collected for metagenomic analysis from 12 date palms (khalas cv) growing at Roudat Alfars Research Farm of the Ministry of Read More

One of the most toxic heavy metals in the environment is mercury (Hg). However, it still has major uses in various industrial and agricultural applications; leading to localized mercury pollution. There has been an increase in the number of used fluorescent lamps compared to incandescent bulbs. Mercury is being used in fluorescent lamps in the elemental form where it can be vaporized under high pressure. Th Read More

An important objective of aquatic toxicological assessments is to evaluate the effects of water-borne toxic compounds on organisms which play a crucial role in aquatic communities. In marine ecosystems, copepods have a major impact on essential ecological processes: they exert grazing pressure on phytoplankton, and are a significant food source for several fish and macro crustaceans. Euterpina acutifrons, a harpacticoi Read More

Drill string models are of two major types- Conventional and Periodic. Conventional drill string models are widely used due to their simplicity in manufacturing and dynamics analysis. Drill strings are affected mainly by torsional, lateral and axial vibrations. The dispersive or propagative nature of these vibrations can only be analyzed by using periodic drill string models. Drill pipe makes up the majority of the drill string. In Read More

The marine species Pinctada radiata is the most abundant pearl oyster found in Qatari waters; however, little is known about its reproductive biology, ecological importance and life cycle. This species has been harvested for many centuries primarily for natural pearls but also for edible flesh and lustrous shell. Wild stocks of P. radiata are now significantly threatened in the Arabian Gulf region as a result of both natural (e. Read More

Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) has been attracting lots of attention as a power source for transportation, stationary and portable electronic devices due to the high energy density of methanol and ease of handling compared to gaseous fuels such as hydrogen and natural gas. However, the commercialization of DMFC is still limited due to some technical challenges such as methanol crossover and low methanol electro-ox Read More