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Cobalt–Aluminum Layered Double Hydroxides And Their Hybrid Composites With Olive-Stone-Derived Biochar And Zif-8 For Dye Removal From Wastewater Via Integrated Adsorption And Photocatalysis
No full textFor advanced wastewater treatment using integrated adsorption–photocatalysis, this study describes the preparation, structural analysis, and functional evaluation of cobalt–aluminum layered double hydroxides (Co/Al-LDHs) and their composite materials integrated with olive-stone-derived biochar (OSBC600) and ZIF-8 metal–organic frameworks. SEM-EDX, FT-IR, XRD, and TGA were used to characterize the materials, which were synthesized using hydrothermal, co-precipitation, and mechanochemical methods. These analyses confirmed a heterogeneous morphology with well-dispersed LDH nanosheets anchored on the porous biochar matrix that improved interfacial contact and stability. Initial experiments on dye removal using carmine, methylene blue, methyl orange, safranin O, and titan yellow showed that the Co/Al-LDHs@OSBC600 composite exhibited superior performance compared to Co/Al-LDHs@ZIF-8. Of the dyes examined, safranin O and titan yellow experienced the greatest removal efficiency and were therefore selected for subsequent investigations.
The selected dye–adsorbent system was further optimized using a Box–Behnken experimental design, considering pH, starting dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, and contact time as the key variables. Statistical evaluation and regression analysis confirmed the robustness of the model, with the most important parameters being dye concentration and adsorbent dosage.
At low pH and high adsorbent dosages, the Co/Al-LDHs@OSBC600 achieved maximal removal efficiency, repeatedly outperforming OSBC600 alone.
The Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models provided the best fit to the adsorption equilibrium data, demonstrating heterogeneous and multilayer adsorption. Electrostatic interaction with the positively charged LDH layers allowed TY to exhibit a greater adsorption capacity and a stronger affinity than SFO. According to kinetic modeling, SFO followed the pseudo-second-order model, which suggests surface-controlled uptake, whereas TY followed the Elovich model, which suggests chemisorption on heterogeneous surfaces.
Lastly, Co/Al-LDH@OSBC600 showed impressive photocatalytic activity under UV light, decolorizing TY by about 97% and SFO by approximately 75% in just 10 minutes. The LDH framework and the conductivity of the biochar were shown to assist the production of reactive oxygen species and effective electron–hole separation, which were responsible for the increased activity. In summary, the hybrid Co/Al-LDH@OSBC600 composite showed itself to be a highly effective and thermally stable adsorbent–photocatalyst, providing a sustainable method for the combined removal of organic contaminants from wastewater through adsorption and photocatalysis
Strengthening Pakistan’s pharmaceutical workforce: from evidence to action
No full textSetting the scene:
Globally, pharmacists are increasingly recognised as vital members of the healthcare team. Their contributions extend beyond dispensing to ensuring rational use of medicines, supporting chronic disease management, and delivering essential public health services (Atif et al., Citation2020; Babar, Citation2016; Palaian et al., Citation2022; World Health Organization, Citation2019). Evidence from diverse health systems demonstrates the clinical and economic value of pharmacists across primary, secondary, and tertiary care (Babar, Citation2016; Chou et al., Citation2003; Hwang & Young, Citation2015; Scahill et al., Citation2017).
Yet in Pakistan, pharmacists remain marginalised within the health system. Despite more than 40,000 pharmacies operating nationwide, 95% lack a qualified pharmacist (Gulf News, Citation2019; Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Citation2020). This poses major risks for medication safety and rational use. Pharmacists’ invisibility is reinforced by limited roles in policy and practice, outdated regulations, and lack of public awareness campaigns (Hafeez, Citation1991; Malik et al., Citation2020; Mumtaz & Shaheed, Citation1987).
The FIP National Intelligence Report: Pakistan (Bukhari et al., Citation2023) highlights these systemic barriers and provides a roadmap for reform. It is complemented by insights from a practitioner poll of over 340 pharmacists, revealing frustrations with governance, training, and recognition. Together, these perspectives show both the urgency of reform and the profession’s aspirations (International Pharmaceutical Federation, Citation2019; UHC2030, Citation2021)
Appointment of the Associate Vice President for Student Success and Development = تعيين مساعد لنائب رئيس الجامعة للنجاح الطلابي والتطوير
No full textمكتب رئيس الجامعة يعلن عن تعيين الدكتورة شيماء علي محي الدين علي القرة داغي مساعدًا لنائب رئيس الجامعة للنجاح الطلابي والتطوير، وذلك اعتبارًا من 15 يناير 2026
Valuation of commodity option prices under a regime-switching model with stochastic convenience yield: Model calibration using flower pollination optimization algorithm
No full textThis research work seeks to construct a model for commodity spot prices by incorporating the concept of stochastic convenience yield within a Markov-switching framework. The model presented in this paper applies the Gibson-Schwartz commodity model under the risk-neutral measure, enabling regime-switching in the convenience yield and spot price dynamics. Using the WTI crude oil spot prices, the parameters involved in the proposed commodity regime-switching model are estimated by expectation–maximization algorithm. We then carry out a semi-analytical formula for the commodity futures contracts and European option price written on them. We calibrate the option pricing model parameters using the flower pollination optimization algorithm based on the European call option prices in WTI crude oil market. The results show that the provided Markov-switching model, whose parameters are calibrated by the flower pollination optimization algorithm is superior to the some common models in commodity literature.The authors would like to thank the reviewers for useful comments and suggestions and Qatar University for supporting their project under Grant QUCG-CAS-25/26-681. Also, thanks to Qatar National Library (QNL) for funding open access
Quantifying the fatal and non-fatal burden of disease associated with child growth failure, 2000–2023: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
No full textBackgroundChild growth failure (CGF), which includes underweight, wasting, and stunting, is among the factors most strongly associated with mortality and morbidity in children younger than 5 years worldwide. Poor height and bodyweight gain arise from a variety of biological and sociodemographic factors and are associated with increased vulnerability to infectious diseases. We used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 to estimate CGF prevalence, the risk of infectious diseases associated with CGF, and the disease mortality, morbidity, and overall burden associated with CGF. MethodsIn this analysis we estimated the all-cause and cause-specific (diarrhoea, lower respiratory tract infections, malaria, and measles) disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost and mortality associated with stunting, wasting, underweight, and CGF in aggregate. We combined the burden associated with mild, moderate, and severe forms of CGF: stunting was defined as height-for-age Z scores (HAZ) less than –1, underweight was defined as weight-for-age Z scores (WAZ) less than –1, and wasting was defined as weight-for-height Z scores (WHZ) less than –1, according to WHO Child Growth Standards. Population-level continuous distributions of HAZ, WAZ, and WHZ were estimated for 2000 to 2023 using data from surveys, literature, and individual-level study data. The risk of incidence of, and mortality due to, diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, malaria, and measles was separately estimated in a meta-regression framework from longitudinal cohort data for Z scores less than –1. Finally, fatal outcomes associated with these diseases were estimated with vital registration, verbal autopsy, and case-fatality data, while non-fatal outcomes were estimated with surveys as well as health-care utilisation and case reporting data. The exposure prevalence and relative risk estimates were from continuous distributions, allowing for direct assessment of the attributable fractions for mild, moderate, and severe stunting, underweight, wasting, and the combined impact of child growth failure within populations. All estimates were age-specific, sex-specific, geography-specific, and year-specific. FindingsWe estimated that, in children younger than 5 years in 2023, CGF was associated with 79·4 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 47·0–106) DALYs lost and 880 000 (517 000–1 170 000) deaths. This represented 17·9% (10·6–23·8) of 444 million (434–457) total under-5 DALYs and 18·8% (11·1–25·0) of all 4·67 million (4·59–4·75) under-5 deaths. Compared to stunting (33·0 million [24·1–42·2] DALYs, 373 000 [272 000–477 000] deaths) and wasting (39·2 million [23·8–53·0] DALYs, 428 000 [256 000–583 000] deaths), childhood underweight was associated with the largest share of CGF-related disease burden: 52·2 million (21·9–75·1) DALYs and 573 000 (236 000–824 000) deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2023. InterpretationCGF remains a leading factor associated with death and disability in children younger than 5 years, despite global attention and focused interventions to reduce the prevalence of associated CGF indicators. Our findings underscore the need for policies, strategies, and interventions that focus on all indicators of CGF to reduce its associated health burden. FundingGates Foundation
The Making of Migrant Community Schools in Qatar: A Case Study of The Filipino and Jordanian Schools
No full textWith the exponential growth of migrant population in the Arab Gulf States since the 1970s, the demand for schools for the children of different professional migrant communities has also heightened, giving rise to the emergence of migrant community schools throughout the Arab Gulf states. These schools are set up and run by those migrant communities who have a good size of professional migrants living with their families in the Gulf. Supported by favorable government policy and patronage, migrant community schools today are an inseparable part of education systems in the Arab Gulf states. Despite their ubiquitous presence across the Arab Gulf, there exists little research on the development of these schools in the region.
This study attempts to address this gap by focusing on the making of migrant community schools in Qatar. Drawing on the experiences of two schools in Qatar – the Filipino and Jordanian schools - this study explores the emergence and practices of these schools by shedding light on the opportunity structure for such schools and the migrant groups that these schools serve in Qatar. The data are collected through semi-structured interviews with school owners, administrators, and teachers, and participant observations in the school premises, and focused group discussions with parents whose children are studying in these schools. The findings reveal that both schools serve as cultural hub, preserving heritage, languages and identity while progressively adapting to national and international educational standards. The study also reports the nuanced practices within the two schools: the Filipino school focuses on international standards and technology integration and global competition but the Jordanian school centers on Arab cultural values and Qatari national education requirements. However, both schools encounter challenges related to accreditation, teacher training and resource allocation, reflecting tensions between cultural preservation and regulatory demands. The research highlights implications for policymakers, educators, and community leaders seeking to balance cultural diversity with inclusive, high-quality education, while contributing to broader debates on social integration, identity formation, and educational reform in Qatar and beyond
Erratum to “Report from the World Health Organization's Immunization and Vaccines-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC) meeting, virtual gathering, 1–5 September 2025” [Vaccine 68 (2025) 127903]
No full textThe publisher sincerely regrets the incorrect publication of the authors' affiliation details. The accurate affiliation information is provided above.
The publisher would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused
DEVELOPING A MEAL-PLANNING EXCHANGE LIST FOR THE COMMON FOODS CONSUMED IN QATAR
No full textBackground & Aim: Qatar faces a rising burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases due to dietary shifts from traditional to Westernized patterns. Effective prevention requires culturally relevant tools that balance macro and micronutrients. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a culturally adapted food exchange list (FEL) integrating both nutrient types.
Methods: The study involved four phases, analyzing 83 composite dishes and 188 individual foods with a focus on calcium, iron, and potassium. The collected laboratory analyzed nutrient data were validated against ESHA software-computed data using Stata SE 18. Macronutrient exchanges followed Wheeler et al.’s criteria, while micronutrient groups were defined by nutrient adequacy scores (≥10%), coefficient of variation (≤30%), and Z-scores (±2) using the Marques-Lopes method.
Results: Strong correlations were found between laboratory and software data. Macronutrient groups met standard limits established by Wheeler et al. Comparison between the exchange list and food composition table in meal planning revealed minimal differences (Ca 1.6%, Fe 4.8%, K 6.6%). Additionally, the FEL met 60% of adult RDA values.
Conclusion: The developed FEL offers a culturally tailored tool for both macronutrients and micronutrients-based dietary planning in Qatar and the region
The role of reviewers in the era of systematic reviews and meta-analysis: A practical guide for researchers
No full textA systematic review with meta-analysis (SRMA) represents the pinnacle of evidence, but its validity depends on methodological rigor. This narrative review synthesizes recommendations from major reporting frameworks—Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 (PRISMA-2020), Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) and Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews (PRIOR)—into a concise checklist for peer reviewers. The checklist addresses common sources of bias that often escape editorial assessment. Initially, it outlines how reviewers should assess the rationale for an SRMA by identifying existing syntheses on the same topic and determining whether the new work provides substantive novelty or a significant update. Best practices are summarized for protocol registration, comprehensive search strategies, study selection and data extraction, risk-of-bias evaluation, and context-appropriate statistical modeling, with a specific focus on heterogeneity, small-study effects, and data transparency. Case examples highlight frequent pitfalls, such as unjustified pooling of heterogeneous designs and selective outcome reporting. Guidance is also provided for formulating balanced, actionable review comments that enhance methodological integrity without extending editorial timelines. This checklist equips editors and reviewers with a structured tool for systematic appraisal across clinical disciplines, ultimately improving the reliability, reproducibility, and clinical utility of future SRMAs
تحسين كفاءة الطاقة في المباني عبر التصميم بيوفيلي (Biophilic Design) بوصفه خيارًا متاحًا للجميع
No full textفي خضم تزايد التحديّات البيئيّة؛ يتساءل البعض: هل الحلول المستندة إلى الطبيعة (NbS) ناجعةٌ بما يكفي؟ يُعتبر التصميم بيوفيلي مجالًا ناشئًا أحيا مُمارساتٍ ومبادئ معماريّة تقليدية لطالما وفرت للإنسان بيئاتٍ مُلهمة أقل استهلاكًا للطاقة؛ ولنا أن نلتمس صرامة المعماريّ والتزامه الأخلاقيّ تجاه ذات العامل في قول حسن فتحي:
" من الخطأ الفادح إدخال أي عنصر تصميميّ يُؤدِّي إلى زيادة درجة الحرارة ولو درجةً واحدةً أو تقليل سرعة حركة الهواء ولو سنتيمترًا واحدًا في الثانية"!
بيد أنّ الاستثمارات العالميّة في هذه الحلول الطبيعية لا تتجاوز 3% مما يُستثمر في حلول مضرة بالبيئةP0F P. نستكشف في هذا البحث التصميم بيوفيلي باعتباره حلًا مستدامًا؛ ونهجًا أكثر ثراءً وأثرًا؛ إذْ يتجاوز الاعتبارات الجمالية والتطبيقات الشكلية المقتصرة على الغطاء النباتيّ إلى ما هو أوسع بكثير!
إشكالية البحث هي: كيف يُسهم التصميم بيوفيلي في تحسين كفاءة الطاقة في المباني بوصفه خيارًا متاحًا للجميع؟ ونجيب على الآتي: ما هي المبادئ الأساسيّة في التصميم بيوفيلي؟ كيف يؤدي إلى خفض استهلاك الطاقة؟ وما هي التحديات التي تعيق العمل به لاسيما التضليل البيئيّ (Greenwashing)؟ وأخيرًا، ما هي تطبيقاته خاصةً في السياق المحليّ العربيّ؟
نعتمد على المنهج التحليلي النقدي ودراسة الحالة إذْ أنّ من أهداف البحث تحليل العلاقة بين التصميم بيوفيلي وكفاءة الطاقة، ونقد فعاليته بالنظر إلى حلولٍ أخرى أكثر كلفةً وتعقيدًا، وتحليل التحديات والتطبيقات العمليّة انطلاقًا من دراسة مبانٍ قائمة.
في ختام البحث؛ نُبلور النتائج في جملةٍ من التوصيات العمليّة لتبني ممُارسات التصميم بيوفيلي كنهجٍ مجتمعيٍّ مستدامٍ يرفع من كفاءة الطاقة؛ ويُسهم في نشر ممارسات أكثر وعيًا بالبيئة في التصميم المعماري الحديث؛ بله يُسهم في تشكيل مباني المُستقبل التي لا تقتصر على احتوائها عناصر من الطبيعة فقط؛ بل أن تكون مبانٍ حيّةٍ تستجيبُ لبيئتها وتتكيف معها وتسلكُ سلوكها تمامًا كالكائن الحيّ