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Evaluation of primary care mental health integration and screening of anxiety and depression symptoms in Qatar from 2018 to 2023
No full textThis study examines the development of the Primary Health Care Corporation’s (PHCC) mental health integration programs in Qatar, focusing on their impact on access to care and management of prevalent mental health conditions, and estimating their burden within primary care. We conducted a longitudinal retrospective analysis using de-identified, routinely collected data for all adult patients (≥ 18 years) who attended PHCC health centers from January 2018 to December 2023. The dataset includes scores from the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) for anxiety. Over this period, screening for both anxiety and depression symptoms increased significantly, with anxiety screenings rising from 199,465 in 2018 to 1,119,006 in 2023 and depression screenings from 187,653 to 1,107,551. Internal referrals to PHCC mental health clinics rose between 2018 and 2023, though they recently declined, especially within the Integrated Psychiatry Clinic. No-show rates for appointments improved from 2018 to 2021 but increased again in recent years, suggesting areas for improvement in patient follow-up. In 2023, we observed prevalence rates of 5.21% for depressive symptoms and 5.48% for anxiety symptoms, based on cut-off scores of ≥ 10. The expansion of PHCC’s screening and management programs from 2018 to 2023 has enhanced early identification and care for mental health conditions. These findings provide insights for optimizing mental health screening and addressing challenges in patient engagement and appointment adherence.The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is the funding Agency of this research
Spatio-temporal Variability in Macroalgal Biomass in the Central Arabian Gulf
No full textMarine macroalgae are productive multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes that cover around 28% of the world's coastal environments. They are critical primary producers, commonly known as seaweed, that have complex thallus structures and may reach several meters in length, forming underwater forests. They play a significant role in the global carbon and oxygen cycles, acting as a valuable carbon sink. Moreover, they provide critical habitats for enormous invertebrates and fish larvae. From an applied perspective, they seem to be a promising renewable source for bioenergy fuel, bioplastics, fertilizers, and animal feed.
Despite their importance, studies on macroalgae distribution in the Arabian/Persian Gulf are limited to descriptive small-scale studies in the areas off Iran and Kuwait. There is lack of information on the biomass, distribution, and function of macroalgae in the Gulf and in Qatar. The present study examines the spatio-temporal variability of macroalgal biomass in the Qatari coastal waters of the central Arabian Gulf. The study aims to characterize the dominant macroalgal species, assess their seasonal and spatial distribution, and evaluate the underlying environmental factors influencing their pattern. Quantitative sampling was conducted twice a year (summer and winter) across five coastal transects at depths ranging between 1 to ~ 10 meter. The collected macroalgae were stored in -20 ℃, sorted, identified to species level, dried, powdered, and processed for biomass and elemental composition (C, H, and N). Simultaneously, water samples were analyzed for a variety of nutrients (NO2-, NO3-, NH₃+, PO₄3-) in addition to physicochemical parameters in the field (temperature, salinity, pH, DO). Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses (PCA) were conducted to examine the effect of abiotic factors on the macroalgal biomass distribution. These analyses were performed using statistical software (SPSS and Origin Pro). The results of our study are important to understand the macroalgal ecology and biodiversity, as well as the management of resources for the application of bioenergy, especially in the extreme environment of the Gulf
ILLUMINATING URBAN SPACES - EXPLORING THE ACTIVATION AND THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHTING ON USER BEHAVIOUR: THE CASE OF MARINA DISTRICT, LUSAIL, QATAR
No full textUrban lighting has evolved beyond its functional role of ensuring visibility and safety to become a key determinant of how public spaces are experienced after dark. This thesis explores how lighting influences the activation of public spaces and users' psychological responses, focusing on the Marina District waterfront in Lusail, Qatar. Using a mixed-methods approach, integrating behavioral observations, lighting inventories, and user-perception surveys, the study examines how varying lighting conditions shape emotional comfort, perceived safety, and social interaction. Results show that balanced lighting enhances visibility and sociability, while adjacent dim zones provide opportunities for privacy and reflection. The findings highlight that lighting effectiveness relies on proportional distribution, contextual design, and visual comfort rather than brightness alone. The research proposes evidence-based strategies for designing inclusive, engaging, and energy-conscious waterfront environments applicable to similar urban contexts
A SYSTEMS ENGINEERING APPROACH TO DESIGNING A DASHBOARD FOR AIRLINE PASSENGER TRAFFIC ANALYSIS
No full textThis project proposes a Systems Engineering (SE) driven approach to design a dashboard for airline passenger traffic analysis, with a focus on improving usability, stakeholder alignment, and decision-making effectiveness. Traditional dashboard development in many airline environments often relies on varied KPI definitions, and fragmented data preparation practices, which might lead to misalignment in terms of decision-maker needs, operational requirements, and the intended business insights the dashboard is expected to deliver. It is proposed that this type of misalignment may be reduced if the whole process of dashboard development focuses on the system analysis and systems engineering process. The use of systems analysis supports requirements engineering, functional decomposition through an approach termed as BLOC-ICE modelling for subsystem definition so that end-to-end design process can be tailored. In this project, the dashboard architecture is decomposed into four functional subsystems: Data Integration, Data Validation & KPI Engine, Dashboard Visualization, and User Interaction. Detailed BLOC-ICE diagrams are developed for each subsystem, enabling clear traceability from stakeholder needs to system components
Adrenal insufficiency with peritoneal caking in a young male: The role of granulomatous disease in a non-classic presentation: A case report
No full textBackgroundAdrenal Insufficiency is an uncommon disease, presenting with relatively vague signs and symptoms making diagnosis highly challenging [1]. Generalized weakness, anorexia, fatigue, malaise, and weight loss are some examples of how a patient may present. We present a case of secondary adrenal insufficiency with evidence of peritoneal caking suggestive of, but unconfirmed as, granulomatous disease. Case presentationA 31-year-old male presented complaining of a one-month history of nausea, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Clinical examinations revealed tachycardia, altered mental status, and signs of dehydration. Hyperpigmentation of the oral mucosa and lips was evident, in addition to abdominal striae. Laboratory evaluation revealed normal serum potassium (4.2 mmol/L), hypercalcemia (3.35 mmol/L), and hypercalciuria. A diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency was confirmed by the Short Synacthen Test (SST) result which revealed: Baseline cortisol: 336 nmol/L, 30 min: 374 nmol/L, 60 min: 362 nmol/L, AM ACTH: 21.3 pg/mL. Adrenal CT showed normal adrenal glands. Pan-CT revealed nodular peritoneal thickening with omental caking; however, peritoneal biopsy was negative for tuberculosis and malignancy. The patient started glucocorticoid replacement therapy and showed improvement on follow-up. ConclusionSecondary adrenal insufficiency can present with rare and non-classic findings such as abnormal biochemical results and imaging features suggestive of infiltrative disease. This case highlights the importance of considering secondary and infiltrative causes in atypical presentations while acknowledging that definitive histological confirmation may not be obtained [2]
Digital Interventions for Palliative Care Education for Nursing Students: A Systematic Review
No full textBackground/Objectives: Palliative care education is a core component of undergraduate nursing preparation; however, many nursing students report limited exposure and confidence in providing end-of-life care. Digital and web-based educational approaches have increasingly been adopted to address gaps in palliative care training and to provide flexible, scalable learning opportunities. This mixed-methods systematic review examined the use of digital and web-based approaches in palliative care education for pre-registration nursing students. The aim was to synthesize existing evidence on educational outcomes, confidence development, practice preparation, and acceptability to guide future design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning in this field. Methods: The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. The search was conducted across Medline (Ovid), Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and PsycINFO in October 2025. Studies employing qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods designs were eligible if they evaluated fully digital or web-based palliative care educational interventions for nursing students. Screening, quality appraisal, and data extraction were undertaken independently by multiple reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Extracted data were synthesized narratively to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings. Results: The search yielded 1826 records; after removing duplicates and applying eligibility criteria, 12 studies were included in the final synthesis. Considerable heterogeneity in design and outcomes was observed. Most included studies reported improvements in students’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and reflective capacity, alongside high levels of acceptability. Conclusions: Digital and technology-enhanced learning appears feasible and acceptable for palliative care education; however, the current evidence base is limited by methodological heterogeneity, reliance on self-reported outcomes, and predominantly short-term evaluations. Further rigorous, large-scale studies with objective outcome measures are required to determine sustained educational and practice impact
Sound-to-Vibration Transformation for Sensorless Motor Health Monitoring
No full textAutomatic detection of motor failures, such as bearing faults, is essential for predictive maintenance across various industries, as bearing faults alone account for up to 51% of motor failures. While vibration-based diagnostics remain the de-facto standard, acquiring reliable vibration data is costly and sensitive to variations of the sensor model and quality, location, mounting and many other factors. To address this, we propose a novel sound-to-vibration transformation method that eliminates the need for onboard vibration sensors. Using any audio recorder (e.g., a mobile phone) and the proposed machine learning model, realistic vibration signals can be synthesized directly from the acquired sound under diverse operating conditions and fault scenarios. Experimental results on the Qatar University Dual-Machine Bearing Fault Benchmark (QU-DMBF) dataset show that the classification accuracy achieved with synthesized signals differs from real vibration data by less than 0.5%, demonstrating negligible loss in performance. This approach offers a low-cost, practical, and scalable alternative for accurate fault detection. The QU-DMBF benchmark dataset, results, and the optimized PyTorch implementation of the proposed sound-to-vibration transformer are publicly available for further research
Optimizing the Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Other Biotechnological Products by Halophilic Archaea Isolated from Qatari Extreme Environment
No full textPlastic pollution is a major global concern, posing severe threats to environmental sustainability and human health. Global plastic production has reached approximately 450 million tons annually, yet only about 9% is effectively managed. The accumulation of unmanaged plastic waste has become a serious environmental burden, emphasizing the urgent need for eco-friendly and biodegradable alternatives, such as bioplastics. Among the diverse biological sources explored for sustainable bioplastic production, halophilic archaea have emerged as highly promising candidates due to their robustness and ability to thrive under extreme conditions. In this study, we investigated the potential of an indigenous archaeal isolate, Halostagnicola larsenii L1QC2, obtained from a hypersaline Qatari environment, for bioplastic production.
The isolated archaeal strain exhibited pronounced halotolerance and thermotolerance, confirming its strong adaptability to extreme environmental conditions and its potential for industrial biotechnological applications. Morphological characterization by SEM- EDX revealed a homogeneous and compact cell structure with a smooth surface, indicative of efficient PHB accumulation within the cells. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic functional groups corresponding to poly(3- hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated its high thermal stability. The polymer exhibited an overall degradation between 143 °C and 520 °C, maintaining stability up to approximately 350 °C, with a total weight loss of 95.7%. Cultivation in glucose-based medium resulted in a relatively slow growth rate (0.175 ± 0.027 day⁻¹) and steady PHB accumulation from day 2 to day 6, reaching 11% of dry cell weight. To enhance sustainability and reduce production costs, food waste-based media containing 4000 ppm and 8000 ppm TOC were utilized, which markedly increased the growth rates to 0.485 and 0.599 day⁻¹, respectively. The corresponding doubling time decreased to 1.43 days, and PHB accumulation doubled, reaching 22% of dry cell weight. Scaling up the fermentation process further improved both growth performance and polymer yield; however, additional optimization of fermentation parameters remains necessary to maximize PHB productivity and process efficiency
Severe Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis in Children—The Toronto Experience
No full textPurposeTo report on the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of a large cohort of pediatric patients who presented with severe blepharokeratoconjunctivitis (BKC). DesignRetrospective consecutive cohort study. SubjectsPatients aged under 18 years with BKC presented to the Cornea Service at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, between 2006 and 2021. MethodsChildren with severe BKC, defined as BKC with inflammation, new vessel formation, scarring, thinning, and lipid deposits affecting the peripheral and/or central cornea, and a follow-up of at least 6 months were included. Basic demographics, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive error, disease laterality, type and duration of antibiotic therapy, flare-up rate, and extent of corneal involvement were analyzed. Main Outcome MeasuresBCVA, refraction, extent of corneal involvement, procedures, flare-up of BKC, and time to flare-up rate after cessation of systemic antibiotics treatment. ResultsOut of 2542 patients with blepharitis, 197 patients (315 eyes) were identified with severe BKC. The mean age at the first presentation was 7.6 years, with a 2:1 female predominance. At the presentation, 65% had a history of chalazion, and 28% had BCVA worse than 0.3 logMAR, which improved to 17% at final follow-up (P = .007). The most striking corneal pathologies affecting the peripheral and central cornea were scarring (83%) and new vessel formation (49%). One hundred forty-two patients (72%) required systemic antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, or doxycycline), of whom 23% experienced flare-ups requiring an escalation in treatment with topical steroids and/or systemic antibiotics, and 75% of these occurred within the first year of treatment cessation. Ninety-one percent of patients achieved complete response, defined as no disease activity and no use of topical steroids or systemic antibiotic treatment. Fifteen patients required surgical intervention. ConclusionsBKC is a serious disease in children, potentially causing irreversible ocular morbidity and vision loss. Central scarring and astigmatism can affect vision in a significant proportion of children. Therefore, early identification and treatment are necessary to reduce disease morbidity. Close follow-up is crucial as one in four patients may experience a flare-up, especially within the first year of treatment cessation. Most patients with severe BKC require both topical steroids and systemic antibiotics to control disease activity
Two-dimensional nanomaterials for infection control: A comprehensive review
No full textTwo-dimensional (2D) nanosheets provide orthogonal, multi-modal strategies to control infection at a time of rising antimicrobial resistance. This review highlights material families most relevant to graphene derivatives, transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), MXenes, graphitic carbon nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, and phosphorene. The review highlights antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal applications. We highlight convergent extracellular mechanisms across families, including membrane stress from atomically thin edges, reactive-oxygen-species generation, photothermal and photodynamic conversion, electron-transfer imbalance, and (in hybrids) controlled metal-ion release. From a translational standpoint, these mechanisms are increasingly being harnessed in deployable healthcare formats such as hydrogels, wound dressings, anti-biofilm and implant coatings, microneedles, and photo-addressable composites. These architectures enable localized, on-demand activation, high local payloads, and minimal systemic exposure, addressing key challenges in multidrug resistance and biofilm persistence. Collectively, these attributes position 2D nanosheets as modular building blocks for next-generation anti-infective technologies