Qatar Foundation Annual Research Forum Volume 2012 Issue 1

Background: The mammalian proprotein convertases (PCs) constitute a family of nine secretory serine proteases related to bacterial subtilisin and yeast kexin. Seven of them (PC1/3, PC2, furin, PC4, PC5/6, PACE4 and PC7) activate cellular and pathogen precursor proteins by cleavage at single or paired basic residues, while SKI-1/S1P and PCSK9 regulate cholesterol/lipid homeostasis via cleavage at non-basic residues or through Read More

Background: The recent approval by the FDA of the autologous, cell-based vaccine Provenge was hailed as a major advance for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) and reinvigorated interest in the field of PCa immunotherapy. Peptide-based vaccines represent a viable, cost-effective formulation in the field of cancer vaccine development. This approach has been used successfully to treat melanoma where va Read More

Background and Aims: Tumor suppressor proteins (TSPs) are inactivated by many different mechanisms, including nuclear exclusion by the chromosome region maintenance protein (CRM-1). Increased tumor levels of CRM-1 have been correlated with poor prognosis of patients with different cancers, making it a therapeutic target. We have developed selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs) that bind to CRM-1 to Read More

Background: Self-assembly and self-organization processes offer a powerful strategy for the design of nanomaterials from the ground up with predefined dimensions and properties. Central to these approaches is the design and synthesis of molecules with a built-in ability to undergo a hierarchical sequence of supramolecular reactions, culminating with the formation of a well-defined functional superstructure. The roset Read More

Background: The multi-disciplinary team (MDT) coordinator’s role is relatively new and as such is evolving. What is apparent is that the coordinator's work is pivotal to the effectiveness and efficiency of an MDT. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the views and needs of MDT-coordinators. Methods: Views of MDT-coordinators were evaluated through an online survey that covered their current practice and role Read More

Networks of dynamical systems occur in diverse areas of engineering, such as distributed computation, automated vehicular formations, and power systems networks. We investigate the interplay between network coherence and the network's interconnection topology. In such networks, synchronization or more general coherence under stochastic uncertainty is an important measure of performance. For example, in pow Read More

Background: A techno-economic analysis has been performed for a coal-fired power plant retrofitted with solvent-based post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) technology where thermal energy is partially supplied by solar thermal collectors. The plant is compared with a generic PCC plant where all the thermal energy is provided by steam bled from the steam cycle. A suite of solar thermal collectors which include flat plate Read More

In recent years, concentration has been adopted as a promising strategy to high $/W ratio of photovoltaic energy conversion. In concentrated photovoltaics, the Sun's energy is focused into a smaller area allowing for the conversion of sunlight into electricity using only a small low-cost photovoltaic cell. Conventional solar concentrators, which use III-V are, however, costly to produce. Ideally, the material should perform Read More

The evaluation of the contaminant transport is dictated by the Federal Soil Protection Regulation (BBodSchV, 1999) for sites that are suspected to endanger the groundwater. Vulnerability maps are often used for this evaluation. However, vulnerability maps consider the intrinsic vulnerability according to different methods taking some soil properties into account. Such qualitative method is not accurate when it comes to calcu Read More

Water is not just the essential ingredient for life, but also a fundamental factor in the economy and security of any country. Coupled with increased population and climate change effect, the availability of food, water, and energy are the biggest challenges that the world faces. There is also the dependency of these essential gradients and basic needs on each other; i.e., water is needed to produce energy and energy is needed t Read More

'Big Data' analysis has become a central activity in business and science. Companies such as Facebook, Yahoo, and Google now own petabyte-scale data warehouses that are accessed on a regular basis. Terabyte-scale data warehouses are now common in many smaller organizations. This big data analysis is mostly supported by the MapReduce programming and execution model and its implementations, most notably Hadoop Read More

With over 80 million Internet users in the Arab world, Arabic content growth continues to grow dramatically but lags behind other languages in comparison to the number of global Internet users. Many factors are challenging the growth of Arabic language content on the web. Just like any market and economic formula, supply and demand complement each other. The greater demand on content, the greater the need for s Read More

Background: Minimal technologies exist that provide tissue specific molecular information to the surgeon in real-unsupervised principal components time. Rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry allows near real-time characterization of tissue by mass spectrometric analysis of the smoke plume released during electrosurgical dissection. Objectives: To develop and optimize a statistical strategy for the real-time recognition Read More

HEK-293 cell lines have been widely used for over 35 years by the scientific community. Currently HEK-293 cells are the most efficient system for the improved production of ribosomal proteins and viral vectors by large-scale transfection of suspension-growing cells in serum-free medium. Also, it is the most established cell line for the production of adeno- and adeno-associated viruses, retro- and lentiviruses for gene thera Read More

Background and Objectives: This NPRP project focuses on the assessment of urban qualities needed to enhance the sustainability of urban developments with a focus on Qatar's capital Doha. Since the end of the 20th century various urban development strategies have been introduced to reduce the economic dependence on fossil fuels by attracting knowledge economies and thus to transform Doha into an international Read More

Background: Regeneration may be induced by various drivers or catalysts - such as the improvement of neighborhoods, the introduction of art and culture, the construction of iconic architecture, the reactivating of ecologies, the restoring of landscapes and archaeologies, the recycling of transport and industrial infrastructures, the revitalization of communities and economies. Good cities are dynamic and constantly reinve Read More

Background and Objectives: We randomly assigned invitations to a savings-focused financial literacy workshop for migrant Indian workers in Qatar. Via surveys of migrants, as well as their wives remaining behind in India, we provide a unique window into financial decision-making in transnational households. We examine impacts on financial decision-making of the migrant workers, migrants' attempts to influence the financial deci Read More

أن ظاهرة المديونية ليست بظاهرة جديدة على الانسان كما أنها منتشرة بين كل الشعوب، إلا أنها تأخذ أشكالا ًوأبعاداً مختلفة، كما أنها تظهر لأسباب و ظروف متباينة. و تأتي هذه الدراسة في ضوء اتساع ظاهرة المديونية بين الأسر القطرية و لجوء الكثير منهم لتمويل إنفاقها الاستهلاكي أو الاستثماري عن طريق القروض مما يشكل عبءً على كاهل بعضها ويؤثر على مستوى رفاهيتها. تهدف الدراسة إلى قياس حجم ظاهرة المديونية على مستوى الأسر القطرية و أفرادها. هذا بالإضافة إلى التعرف على خصائص تلك الاسر و تشخيص الع Read More

In the view of many non-Muslims, Islam is a religion that promotes hatred and violence and claims are repeatedly heard of how difficult it is for non-Muslim minorities to live in peace and harmony in Muslims countries. Moreover, recent clashes between Muslim and Christian groups in the aftermath of the Egyptian revolution have exacerbated prejudices against Islam, namely that it is a religion that promotes violence and t Read More

ترمي هذه الدراسة إلى تجلية الاشارات النفسية في مؤلفات علماء الدين الاسلامي وإلى الكشف عن مدى تمكن بعضهم في الحديث عن الشخصية الانسانية من الناحية النفسية ومن خلال اطلاع الباحث على مؤلفات اولئك العلماء فقد لاحظ شمول مؤلفاتهم على المشاعر الانسانية كما لاحظ كذلك أنهم طرحوا جملة من الاطروحات وعددا من القضايا التي يمكن ان تضاف إلى الرصيد العربي في مجال علم النفس. يعد الدين من مكونات الثقافة الأساسية في كثير من المجتمعات ويقوم علماء الدين بتوضيح التعاليم والاحكام الدينية لكل Read More

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Cultural diversity provides opportunities and challenges. Diversity in the workplace requires efficient communication to deliver effective leadership. Hamad Medical Corporation's expatriate population is one of its strengths. However, communication between cultures remains an issue. The aim of the study is to correlate relationships between the cross-cultural communication barriers and the l Read More

This research project explores the implementation of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs within the broader rule of law program context. A case study is presented using field research and primary sources of one well-developed ADR country, Qatar. In particular, Qatar showcases how arbitration and mediation are being used as positive means of resolving legal disputes and working towards better administration of justi Read More

One of the terms that cause confusion, suspicion, many conflicts and disagreement is "Islamic renewal". While renewal is legitimate and necessary, as admitted by the imams of Islam, this term has become a source of contention in recent times. Some have tried to give this term a strange mission and vision far from the truth and essence of Islam. One of the greatest fields where controversy erupts is the field of renewal of Read More

الناظر إلى واقع الأمة الإسلامية اليوم، على مختلف اتجاهاتها وتياراتها الفكرية والسلوكية؛ يرى انحرافا خطيرا عن الوسطية التي هي أخص خصائص هذه الأمة، إما إلى إفراط وإما إلى تفريط، إما إلى غلوّ وإما إلى جفاء. هذا على مستوى الأمّة عمومًا، فإذا نظرنا إلى واقع الغيّورين الذين أقضَّ مضاجعهم هذا الواقع المؤلم لأمّتهم، فطفقوا يبحثون عن سبل العلاج وطوق النَّجاة، فإننا نجد انعكاس واقع الأمة على حالهم، فمنهم المفرِط والمفرِّط، والمشَرِّق والمغرِّب، منهم من غلا وأفرط في الغلوّ، فنشأت جماعات تكفير ، وعادت سوق الخو Read More

Research has shown that students' performance on college-level mathematics is poor across the globe and Qatar is no exception. Thus, there is a need to analyze in depth the weaknesses in the educational system, its pedagogical approaches and the materials it employs. The main purpose of this research is to assess the mathematics performance of college students in Qatar. There could be a number of reasons for this under Read More

Inequities in learning motivation among school students have been attributed to many factors, among which school environment and family support are important and well documented. Most of these studies have been in culturally different societies, which do not share much commonality with schools and societies of Arab world. Diversity within Arab world countries, with respect to their socioeconomic status, Read More

Energy consumption can be attributed to many factors; technology, energy prices, general economic conditions, attitude and behavior towards energy use. Studies indicate that although people are often aware of the benefits of using energy more efficiently, a variety of social, cultural, and economic factors often prevent them from doing so. This paper presents the findings of a research project funded by Qatar Foundation Read More

Objective: We dedicated our work to study the socio-demographic aspect of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients seeking psychiatry treatment in outpatient clinic of Hamad General Hospital for a duration of approximately 5 years of continuous follow-up. Methods: Out of 8878 individual patients who attended the psychiatric outpatient clinic from August 1996 to December 2001, we reviewed a total number of 3 Read More

Background & Rationale: The national vision of Qatar 2030 seeks to advance human development, social development, economic development and environmental development in the region, allowing it to modernize and stay relevant to 21st century global interactions while maintaining its morals, traditions, and culture. The Qatari government has already devoted significant resources toward providing services that strengt Read More

In order to meet the customers' requirements, firms need to design a product line rather than a single product because customers belong to different segments and each segment has its own specific product requirement which usually does not meet by a single product. The two major objectives of Product Line Design (PLD) are: (i) customers' satisfaction and (ii) the firm's profit maximization. Existing works consider cus Read More

أثر استخدام ذوي الإعاقة لوسائل الإعلام الاجتماعي علي تفاعلهم الاجتماعي في اطار نموذج الحوكمة الاعلامية مشكلة الدراسة: شهد العالم اهتماما متزايدا بقضايا الإعاقة علي المستويين الرسمي والشعبي مما أثمر عن صدور اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لحقوق الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة التي أكدت حقوق المعاقين في ان يعيشوا حياة كريمة ويتمتعوا بكافة حقوقهم مثل أقرانهم الآخرين ، غير ان الممارسة الفعلية لهذه الحقوق تثبت عدم التطبيق الكامل لهذه الاتفاقية -علي الاقل فيما يخص الجانب الاعلامي - فما زالت الصور النمطية التي Read More

In consideration of the many challenges associated with Qatar's continued growth and demographic changes, the government of Qatar is interested in updating its school transportation system (STS). This work assesses the perspectives of parents and school administrators on Qatar's STS, identifies a vision and goals for the STS, reviews international norms for school transportation, and discusses strategies to achieve t Read More

Today, in the globalized world in which we are living, with a full diversity of beliefs, thoughts and cultures, it has become essential for us all to focus on common ground and areas of cooperation, as well as challenges that face us regardless of our faith or belief systems. Our mutual coexistence is facing numerous challenges, starting with the acute ignorance of one another, the increase of mistrust amongst followers of different re Read More

Background/Objectives: Qatar's entry to the global elite sporting scene, most obviously through its stunning coup to win the hosting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has been accompanied by pressure to increase participation of female athletes. In response, Qatar has dedicated considerable resources to women's sports and Qatari women have been prominently featured in the 2011 Arab Games and the 2012 Su Read More

Based on the idea that museums are non-formal education places and therefore play an important role in the collective memory of their respective societies, this paper aims to examine the Olympic Education Program realized in the 'Olympics through Media Exhibition' organized by the Qatar Museums Authority departments in Doha, Qatar in 2012. The phrase 'olympic education' (OE) was first used by Norbert Muller in 1975. Read More

Qatar aims to transition to a knowledge-based economy by 2030. This vision requires labor forces with high skills. On the other hand, high school students are reluctant to enroll in disciplines such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering and technology. This fact raises questions about the society capacity to provide the appropriate labor force to achieve such a vision. Therefore there is a need to search for ways to rais Read More

Background and Objectives: This study examines the production of urbanism by focusing on the collective spatial practice and inhabitants' perceptions of the urban environment in emerging cities, with Doha as a case study. While the built environment is necessarily an important and obvious aspect of cities, this study attempts to apply a holistic approach to the understanding of what the reality of the space of a city is Read More

Background: Sleep deprivation is associated with a reduction in sustained alertness and increased risk of road traffic crashes. Sleep deprivation has been reported in Muslims who observe daily intermittent fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Epidemiological studies from Muslim countries, UAE and Saudi Arabia, show an increase in road traffic crashes during Ramadan. Aim: To determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on sle Read More

يعتبر السلوك العدواني في المدارس أحد المظاهر السلوكية المنتشرة بين الطلاب على اختلاف أعمارهم ومستوياتهم الدراسية. وتعاني المدارس في قطر مثل بقية المدارس في العالم من هذه الظاهرة، وإن كانت لم تبلغ هنا تلك الحدود القصوى التي عرفتها بعض البلدان حيث يقع فيها اللجوء لاستعمال الأسلحة بكل أنواعها. تكمن أهمية هذا الموضوع في الآثار السلبية الناتجة عنه التي تطال الطلبة، وتهدد تماسك الأسرة، والعلاقات بين الجماعات في المدرسة، بين الطلبة أنفسهم، وبينهم وبين المعلمين. من هذا المنطلق تبرز أهمية إجراء Read More

فاعلية قانون المرور رقم (19) في الحد من الحوادث المرورية وأثره على سلامة الأسرة والمجتمع كان صدور قانون المرور رقم (19) لسنة 2007 تعبيراً عن اهتمام دولة قطر في مشكلة الحوادث المرورية وأهمية السيطرة عليها حفاظاً على الثروات البشرية والاقتصادية وعلى الأسرة والمجتمع. وهدف هذه الدراسة قياس اثر القانون المذكور على الحوادث المرورية وذلك بعد مرور سنة على تطبيقه واقتراح الإجراءات التي من شأنها المساهمة في زيادة السيطرة على الحوادث المرورية وتقليلها والحد من اثارها. وقد اعتمدت ا Read More

Background & Objectives: Our research investigates the social implications of genetic knowledge in Qatar. Specifically, a social and cultural context for the specific interface between consanguinity and genetic risk is the focus. Genetic disorders are particularly significant in the Gulf region and the Middle East because of marriage among close relatives, which is a risk factor for genetic disorders. We are focusing on the way in w Read More

This study explores the secular increase of national intelligence in Qatar (Flynn effect) between the periods 2000-2011 by using the Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) that was standardized on a representative sample of 1135 participants from Doha area, to age group 6-11.6 year olds (males N=517, females N=618). The SPM was administered in 2011 to a representative sample of 1003 (males, N=469; females N=534 Read More

This is a sociocultural linguistic study on the ways whereby language is used by residents, both natives and expats, of Qatar, a highly globalized country in the Gulf area. The motivation for this study is Arabic sociolinguist Reem Bassiouney's observation that issues of social stratification and how the latter is reflected on language in the Arab world, and most prominently in the Gulf countries, are under-researched. Against this Read More

In recent decades, scholars of the Middle East have observed the activism of the Middle Eastern poor in response to conditions of increasing economic deprivation and social marginalization. Much of the work has exclusively focused on the poor's reactive acts of political agency. Surprisingly little is understood, with any empirical leverage, about the mechanisms involved in leading poor individuals to adopt the deci Read More

إثبات حكمة الله تعالى وتعليل أفعاله وأحكامه بالمصالح من أجلّ المسائل العقدية المتعلقة بالتوحيد إذ بها تظهر حكمة الله تعالى وعظمته ورحمته بعباده. كما أنها ضرورة ملحة لفهم الكتاب والسنة واستلهام هديهما، إذ لا يتأتي ذلك إلا بإدراك أن لكل فعل من أفعاله وحكم من أحكامه غاية يحققها وحكمة يعمل لإيجادها ومقصداً وهدفاً يقصده ويستهدفه لتحقيق مصلحة الإنسان أو دفع مفسدة عنه ، ومن هنا كان ارتباط الحكمة والتعليل بالبعد المقاصدي للشريعة ارتباط الروح بالجسد والأصل بالفرع ولعل هذا ما حدا الإمام الشاطبي أن ي Read More

بحث ادارة استراتيجيات التفوق البشري لأطفال الربيع العربي المقدمة تعد قطر من الدول الرائدة في مجال إعانة شعوب الرَبيع العربي مادياً وسياسياً ، وكون الطفل العربي المحور الأساسي لربيع يزهر علماً ،فكراً ، سلاماً ، ارتأينا أن ندعم الطفل العربي ذهنيًا بإقامة مركز خاص يشرف على تطبيق مشروع الاتساق الذهنيَ ، نعمل من خلاله على ادارة استراتيجيات التفوق البشري لبناء شخصيتهم المتوازنة ومساعدتهم على تجاوز الصَعوبات ، فبناء الفكر البشريَ السَليم في ظل هذه المتغيرات يساهم في خلق آفاق عربية سليمة. الأه Read More

Qatari society is witnessing an increase in cultural diversity due to a large number of immigrants from different cultures. This cultural diversity may create a kind of cultural isolation between non-Qataris and Qatari people. International migration has led to diverse and plural cultural identities and ethnic groups in the same society. Studies have shown that immigrants face problems of adaptation to, and integration with, the cul Read More

Bilingual education was introduced to Qatar schools several years ago in order to achieve Qatar's National Vision of 2030. The main purpose of the research is to provide a clear image of education in Qatar and show how bilingualism affects the country academically. The term 'bilingualism', in its simplest definition, is knowing two different languages based on competency in four skill areas; understanding, speaking, reading and wr Read More

Background and Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex disease with multiple metabolic defects including insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction. Although both insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction are present in type 2 diabetic individuals in all ethnic groups, we previously have shown that the contribution of each abnormality to the deterioration of glucose homeostasis is ethnic dependent with th Read More