Qatar Foundation Annual Research Forum Volume 2010 Issue 1

Abstract Since its inception in early 2009, Dohaland has been tasked by its Board of Directors to support the intellectual and cultural efforts of Qatar Foundation by extending its work beyond day-to-day real estate development activities to include research projects that focus on the built form, the life patterns of Qatari residents, etc. This presentation will present and discuss current and future research-related projects and activitie Read More

Abstract It is known that medicine, like Islamic Sharia, was designed to bring about benefits and to ward off harm; therefore Islamic Sharia made it obligatory that medicine should be learned and taught, and considered this a collective duty. Treatment using nanotechnology is at the fore of new medical technologies; a ruling on it would thus constitute a part of understanding it, through knowledge of its methods, purposes and di Read More

Abstract Research shows that successful educational reform is multi-faceted, requiring rigorous planning and investment in teacher professional development. The focus of this study is female ESL teachers in Qatar's public school educational reform, Education for a New Era, which created 36 publicly funded Independent Schools with a standards-based curriculum using English as a Second Language as the medium of instructi Read More

Abstract Qatarization, a process to increase the number of Qatari nationals in the labor force, is considered one of the country top priorities to ensure its long-term economic development and security purpose. As 96 percent of Qatari men and 43 percent of Qatari women are currently in the labor force and women are more educated than men on average, it is clear that a significant increase in the labor force, especially i Read More

Abstract International remittances are playing an increasingly important role in the economies of developing countries. Aside from being an important source of foreign exchange for many recipient countries, recent research has shown that households that receive remittances are more likely to leave poverty status, to send their children to school and to invest in small enterprises, health, education and housing. While re Read More

Abstract The proof of concept is a research-based analysis by Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Center for Research in Design to evaluate the feasibility of converting surplus ISO shipping containers into housing units for migrant workers in the State of Qatar. The project addresses the need for temporary labor accommodation associated with Qatar's rapid growth and development. The goal for this proje Read More

Abstract Qatar is a rich developing country, which suffers the consequences of explosions in both human and vehicle population. This has been accompanied by a heavy toll of deaths. Road accidents in Qatar do not only represent an important social problem but also an economic one. There is room for improving traffic safety in Qatar. A comprehensive traffic safety program is urgently needed. In this paper an assessm Read More

Abstract Medical education is characterized by apprenticeship reflected in ‘see one, do one, teach one’. This research investigated effects of practice and individual guidance by a mentor for laparoscopic surgery using a simulation engine. Based on earlier research, we expected that it would take extensive training for self-directed, experience-based learning to compensate for individual, on-time instruction that is typical Read More

Abstract This study answers the following main questions: What system of concepts is related to the strategic planning and building of values? What are the reality, dimensions and outcomes of the conflict of values, and their relationship to identity and society's potential for growth and advancement? Are we suffering from a crisis in the planning and strategic construction of our values? Do we have a national project for Read More

Abstract 4D Doha is a both an art installation and a repository of information about Doha's growth over time. It is the result of a research project undertaken by professors and students of Carnegie Mellon and is funded by Qatar Foundation. This website and installation is led by Kelly Hutzell and Rami el Samahy, with team members Kristina Ricco, Spencer Gregson and Blake Lam. The pace of change in Doha, Qatar over the l Read More

Abstract Survey research has been used widely in various social sciences. A random selection of a survey respondent at the household level (so called within-household sampling) is critical for any valid statistical inference with the survey data. In this paper, we will review existing sampling methods. Some methods ensure the randomness, but require a lengthy and intrusive process and hence reduce cooperation. Some met Read More

Abstract The State of Qatar under the leadership of His Highness the Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani has invested heavily into higher education and research infrastructure development through Qatar Foundation under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned. Part of that effort is the establishment of the biomedical research program at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), which, in Read More

Abstract Due to the vision and foresight of HH Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Qatar is seeing rapid advances in the field of education and research due to the establishment of Education City by Qatar Foundation. Stem cell research is one of the major research areas worldwide and shows significant promise in helping healthcare and medicine reach frontiers never known to mankind before. The setting-up of a stem Read More

Abstract In ancient times, herbs, botanicals, fruit extracts, essential oils and natural minerals were the main ingredients for beauty products. Today, demand is growing for plant-based ingredients, as consumers increasingly view natural products as healthy, environmentally friendly and renewable. The present study, using modern methods and approaches and in vitro and in vivo test analyses, aims to characterize Qatari Read More

Abstract The DNA copy number of a region of a genome is the number of copies of genomic DNA. In humans the normal copy number is two for majority of autosomes. However, discoveries have revealed that many segments of DNA, ranging in size from kilobases to megabases, can vary in copy-number. These DNA copy number variations (CNVs) are common in normal individual and contribute to our uniqueness. These cha Read More

Abstract Background: It has been established that Vitamin D plays an active role in calcium homeostasis by regulating intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption, renal calcium reabsorption and bone mineralization. Vitamin D deficiency has also been related to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Purpose: Given that we have previously observed a very high rate of severe Vitamin D deficiency in Qatari girls the Read More

Abstract Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a heterogeneous autosomal recessive genetic disorder that leads to ultra structural and functional defects of cilia. This leads to recurrent and chronic respiratory infections, sinusitis, otitis media, and male infertility. In a fraction of patients situs inversus is present. Primary ciliary dyskinesia can result from mutations in at least nine different genes; however, these mutations are responsible f Read More

Abstract Aim: To analyze the factors influencing outcome in traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation in Qatar. Design & Methods: It was a retrospective descriptive study of 50 patients with TBI collected during Jan 2004 to Sep 2007 from the Rehabilitation Unit of Rumailah Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation. Demographic and clinical variables included; age at admission, length of stay in acute care (LOSa), and len Read More

Abstract Introduction: The United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has invested heavily in the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS). Funded by the Qatar National Research Fund, a research team formed of 3 collaborative institutions; Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar (WCMC-Q), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and University of Michigan (UM), is working on transla Read More

Abstract Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War have been reported to have an increased incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to personnel who were not deployed. An excess of ALS cases was diagnosed in Gulf War veterans younger than 45 years of age. Increased ALS among Gulf War veterans appears to be an outbreak time-limited to the decade following the Gulf War. Seeking to identify biologically pl Read More

Abstract Objective: To analyze factors associated with the level of satisfaction of outpatients with their relationship with their doctor at the largest public hospital in Qatar (Hamad General Hospital). Methods: Researchers surveyed 628 outpatients at Hamad General Hospital in Doha from September, 2009 to January, 2010 using a novel questionnaire designed to assess satisfaction with patients’ interaction(s) with their doc Read More

Abstract Characteristic movements of human body parts ranging from eye twitches to limbs jerky movements have been used for decades by physicians as clinical indicators of certain neurological disorders. Through a multidisciplinary research approach, our team, composed of medical experts, signal-processing specialists, wireless sensing experts, and computer scientists, aims at developing a sophisticated framework f Read More

Abstract Background: Recent trends suggest that the sharpest increases in the prevalence of obesity are in countries of the Middle East, such as Qatar, especially amongst women. A diet rich in fat and carbohydrates, combined with a lack of physical exercise, may be contributing factors to the obesity epidemic in the region. Obesity is manifest by an expansion in adipose tissue. In South Asian populations much of the increas Read More

Abstract Antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) is a novel strategy to improve the selectivity of cancer treatment. ADEPT is a two-step approach that seeks to generate a potent cytotoxic agent selectively at a tumor site. In the first step, a tumor-selective antibody is chemically linked to an enzyme such as glucarpidase and then administered intravenously. In the second step, a relatively non-toxic prodrug is admi Read More