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Building AI-Ready Graduates: The Impact of AI Literacy and AI Usage Behaviors on Student Employability
No full textThis research aims to investigate how generative AI literacy shapes students’ AI usage behaviors, which in turn influences their employability readiness. In an era where the value of university degrees as reliable indicators of employability is challenged, understanding these relationships is essential. Data was collected from junior and senior students in the College of Business and Economics and analyzed using PLS-SEM. Generative AI literacy significantly increased reflective use (β = 0.223, p = 0.007) and reduced thoughtless use (β = -0.217, p = 0.01). Reflective use (β = 0.213, p = 0.01) and generative AI literacy (β = 0.225, p = 0.05) predicted internal employability, while relationships with cautious use and external employability were not significant. These findings position AI literacy as a meaningful form of human capital that guides productive AI usage and strengthens internal employability perceptions, offering implications for AI education strategies
NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG ADULTS WITH A HISTORY OF BARIATRIC SURGERY IN QATAR
No full textObesity is a critical health concern in Qatar and has led to high rates of bariatric surgical procedures. While the procedures can leave patients susceptible to long-lasting nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency and anemia. his study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of nutritional deficiencies among adults with a history of bariatric surgery in Qatar. Data from 1,873 adults (703 males and 1,170 females) who took part in the Qatar Biobank were subject to analysis. Analyses involving weight loss metrics were conducted on a subset of 1,697 participants with complete data. Nutritional markers were gauged through biochemical measures, and eating styles derived by factor analysis on the basis of consumption frequency. Associations were examined using logistic regression analysis. Average age among participants was 38.8 years (SD 10.6) and the mean absolute weight loss was 27.6 kg (SD 18.0). The rate of obesity remission (defined as a BMI below 25 kg/m²) was 13.2% (17.0% among males, 10.9% among females).Age showed an inverse relationship with the resolution of obesity. Iron deficiency prevalence was observed to be 38.6%, and anemia was detected in 29.7% of the cases, with significantly higher rates among women (55.4% among women versus 6.1% among men). Female sex and greater magnitude of weight loss were associated with iron deficiency and anemia. Among women, adherence to a traditional dietary pattern was also linked to higher odds of iron deficiency. Significant interaction between gender and weight loss was identified regarding anemia outcome: among women, increased weight loss implied increased anemia risk (adjusted OR: 1.61), but not among men. Use of iron supplements remained at 22.5%. However, supplement use was more common among anemic and iron-deficient women, with those in the higher quartiles of the Traditional dietary pattern expressing elevated odds versus Q1 (OR: 1.53). These findings demonstrate the potential benefit of culture-adapted and gender-specific monitoring and interventions to optimize long-term outcomes among individuals receiving bariatric surgery
Characteristics of interstitial lung disease in the state of Qatar: A nine-year experience from a multi-center cohort
No full textBackgroundInterstitial lung diseases (ILDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of over 200 disorders affecting the lung parenchyma. Despite their clinical significance, global epidemiological data—particularly from the Middle East—remain limited. MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients aged >14 years enrolled in a multi-center ILD cohort in Qatar between January 2015 and December 2023. We analyzed clinical, radiological, and functional characteristics and determined the proportions of ILD subtypes. ResultsA total of 548 patients were included, with near-equal gender distribution (50.2 % females, 49.8 % males) and a mean age of 56 years (SD: 14.7). The most common ILD subtypes were sarcoidosis (28.3 %), connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD, 21.9 %), usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP, 14.6 %), and Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP, 9.1 %). Most patients were non-smokers (72.4 %). Common comorbidities included gastroesophageal reflux disease (21.9 %), Asthma (13.0 %), and COPD (6.4 %). Systemic corticosteroids were used in 63.9 % of cases.Pulmonary function testing revealed moderate impairment, with a mean FVC % predicted of 66.8 % (SD: 21.5), DLCO % predicted of 57.9 % (SD: 23.1), and a mean 6-minute walk test distance of 353.1 meters (SD: 94.7). Lung biopsies were obtained in 40.1 % of patients. Sarcoidosis and UIP were more prevalent among males, while CTD-ILD was more common in females (p < 0.0001). Current and former smokers more frequently exhibited IP and CPFE, whereas never-smokers predominantly showed CTD-ILD, HP, and sarcoidosis (p = 0.0102). ConclusionThis study provides the first comprehensive overview of ILD subtypes and clinical characteristics in Qatar. Sarcoidosis and CTD-ILD were the most common forms, with clear demographic and smoking-related associations
ROBUST ANDROID MALWARE DETECTION AGAINST OBFUSCATION AND ADVERSARIAL ATTACKS USING RGB MARKOV IMAGES AND DEEP ENSEMBLE LEARNING
No full textAndroid malware detection faces persistent challenges as attackers increasingly employ obfuscation and adversarial manipulation to evade conventional static and signature-based defenses. Existing detectors often fail to generalize when code structures are altered or encrypted, which results in poor resilience against real-world evasion. This thesis introduces a deep ensemble framework that transforms Android APK components into RGB Markov images, capturing both structural and statistical byte-level patterns. The ensemble integrates EfficientNet-B0, ConvNeXt-Small, and Swin-Base architectures, combining their predictions through majority voting to ensure stable and reliable detection. A balanced dataset, KindiDroid, comprising 95,400 images, including unobfuscated and 13 Obfuscapk-based variants, was constructed for evaluation. The framework achieved an F1-score of 99.13% and an AUC of 99.86% on clean data, maintaining over 96% accuracy across diverse obfuscation techniques. After adversarial training, robustness surpassed 97% under FGSM attacks on both clean and obfuscated inputs, demonstrating strong generalization against black-box and white-box threats
The Compatibility of The Qatari Criminal Legislation with the International Legal Framework Against Terrorism Financing: An Applied Analytical Study
No full textThis thesis critically examines both the international and Qatari national legal frameworks addressing terrorism financing, using the metaphor of a puzzle to argue for a more coherent, compatible, and integrated global response. It adopts an analytical and comparative approach to assess the interaction between the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, United Nations mechanisms, and the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations. Qatar’s national implementation is analyzed to highlight domestic alignment and divergences. The study goes beyond legal instruments to evaluate the institutional architecture of international tribunals and technical bodies that support the implementation of the international standards, their interpretation, operational cooperation, and accountability. By identifying key definitional, jurisdictional, and enforcement gaps, the thesis stresses the need for a coordinated legal and institutional response. It ultimately offers original insights and forward-looking recommendations aimed at enhancing global legal coherence to address the evolving threat of terrorism financing
تعيين العميد المشارك للشؤون الأكاديمية بكلية الهندسة = Appointment of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering
No full textمكتب نائب رئيس الجامعة للشؤون الأكاديمية يعلن بأنه قد تم تعيين الدكتور حمد ناصر النعيمي، عميد مشارك للشؤون الأكاديمية بكلية الهندسة، وذلك اعتبارًا من 11 يناير 2026
MEDIATED REALITY-BASED DIRECTIONAL VISUAL GUIDANCE FOR 360° IMMERSIVE ROBOT TELEOPERATION IN SEARCH AND RESCUE SCENARIOS
No full textRobot teleoperation plays a crucial role in Search and Rescue (SAR) scenarios where
operators must perform multiple tasks in unpredictable, high-stress environments. Immersive
technologies enhance spatial awareness and presence, particularly with a 360-
degree view; yet, little is known about the effect of Mediated Reality (MeR) visual
guidance in real-time 360° teleoperation. This thesis presents a framework for designing
MeR visual guidance for 360° immersive robot teleoperation. A 360° MeR
guidance system was implemented and evaluated through two controlled user studies.
The exploratory user study compared two MeR techniques with a zero-guidance condition,
showing significant improvements in task completion time and reductions in
cognitive load, while also introducing a tradeoff between increased performance and
reduced agency. A validation study then assessed static and dynamic directional cues
in comparison to non-directional visual guidance, demonstrating additional benefits of
directional guidance in lowering both mental and physical demands without evidence
of increased motion sickness or changes in agency. Despite the significant increase
in perceived performance, the predicted decrease in task completion time could not
be statistically supported. Overall, the results show that MeR-based visual guidance
can enhance efficiency and reliably reduces cognitive load in 360° SAR teleoperation.
The framework contributes to effective design strategies for 360° visual guidance, with
implications for advancing human-robot interaction in rescue missions
مبدأ حرية المنافسة كأحد المبادئ الحاكمة للتعاقد الإداري: دراسة مقارنة
No full textتهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تحليل مبدأ حرية المنافسة باعتباره أحد المبادئ القانونية الحاكمة للتعاقد الإداري، لما له من دور جوهري في تحقيق الشفافية والمساواة وتكافؤ الفرص بين المتعاملين مع الإدارة، فضلاً عن كونه وسيلة أساسية لترسيخ الحوكمة وضبط الإنفاق العام. وقد اعتمدت الدراسة على المنهج التحليلي المقارن، من خلال استقراء النصوص القانونية في النظام القطري ومقارنتها بالتجربتين المصرية والفرنسية، إلى جانب المنهجين الوصفي والاستقرائي لرصد الضمانات القانونية وتحليل الاتجاهات القضائية ذات الصلة. كشفت الدراسة عن مجموعة من النتائج التي تؤكد أهمية مبدأ حرية المنافسة كضمان لتحقيق العدالة التعاقدية، غير أن التطبيق العملي لهذا المبدأ لا يزال يواجه عدة تحديات على المستويين التشريعي والإجرائي. فقد أكدت الدراسة أن المشرع القطري قد نص صراحة على هذا المبدأ في قانون المناقصات رقم (24) لسنة 2015 ولائحته التنفيذية، من خلال مبادئ العلانية وتكافؤ الفرص، كما أن استخدام الوسائل الإلكترونية أضحى ضمانة فعالة لتعزيز الشفافية، إلا أن هذه الآليات تتأثر أحيانًا بممارسات إدارية تفتقر إلى الانضباط. كما بينت الدراسة أن لجنة المناقصات تلعب دورا محوريا في تفعيل هذا المبدأ، لكن فعاليتها تظل مرتبطة بالتزامها بالتقييم الموضوعي والتعليل الشفاف للقرارات وخلصت الدراسة أيضا إلى أن الاستثناءات من المنافسة، وإن كانت مشروعة في بعض الحالات، إلا أن غياب الضوابط الدقيقة قد يؤدي إلى تقويض التوازن التعاقدي. وتطرقت الدراسة إلى أثر الاتفاقيات الإطارية على بيئة المنافسة، حيث أظهرت أنها قد تحد من فرص المشاركة إن لم تفتح أمام منافسين جدد أو استخدمت لمدد طويلة دون مبرر. أما من الناحية القضائية، فقد أثبتت الدراسة أن الرقابة القضائية، من خلال دعوى الإلغاء ودعوى القضاء الكامل، تعد ضمانة فعالة لحماية المتعاملين مع الإدارة من الإقصاء أو التمييز إلا أن غياب آليات طعن سريعة وفعالة قد يقلل من الأثر العملي لهذه الرقابة. وفي ضوء ما سبق، أوصت الدراسة بعدد من المقترحات الهادفة إلى تعزيز فاعلية مبدأ المنافسة، من أبرزها : وضع معايير موحدة للعلانية تخضع للمراجعة الدورية، وتوسيع نطاق الرقابة المسبقة على عمل اللجان الفنية، وتفعيل آلية الاعتراض السريع. كما أوصت بالزام الجهات الإدارية بتعليل قراراتها في محاضر معلنة، والحد من الاستثناءات على المنافسة إلا في حالات الضرورة القصوى ووفق ضوابط مكتوبة، إلى جانب تفعيل الرقابة على الاتفاقيات الإطارية، وإقرار تنظيم قانوني مستقل ينظمها، وتحديد آليات واضحة للطعن الفوري على قرارات الترسية والاستبعاد، بما يضمن حسن سير العملية التعاقدية ويُعزز من ثقة المتعاملين في نزاهتها.This study aims to analyze the principle of free competition as one of the fundamental legal principles governing administrative contracting, given its essential role in ensuring transparency, equality, and equal opportunities among those dealing with the administration. It also serves as a key tool for reinforcing good governance and controlling public spending. The study adopts a comparative analytical approach by examining relevant legal texts in the Qatari legal system and comparing them with the Egyptian and French experiences. Additionally, descriptive and inductive methods were employed to identify legal safeguards and analyze judicial trends related to the protection of this principle. The study concluded that the principle of free competition is vital for achieving contractual justice. However, its practical implementation faces several legislative and procedural challenges. The Qatari legislator explicitly enshrined this principle in Law No. (24) of 2015 on Public Procurement and its Executive Regulations, emphasizing the values of publicity, equality, and the use of electronic means as effective guarantees of transparency. Nevertheless, the study found that these guarantees can be undermined by inconsistent administrative practices. It was also found that the Tender and Auction Committee plays a central role in enforcing this principle, but its effectiveness depends on objective evaluation and transparent reasoning behind decisions. The study further revealed that exceptions to the competition principle—whether mandatory or discretionary, are legally permissible in certain cases but risk disrupting contractual balance if not applied under strict and clear guidelines. Furthermore, framework agreements were shown to significantly affect the competitive environment, especially if not opened to new bidders or extended for long periods without justified reasons. From a judicial perspective, the study highlighted that judicial oversight—through annulment actions and full jurisdiction claims—provides an effective safeguard for protecting contractors from exclusion or discrimination. However, the lack of swift and effective appeal mechanisms may limit the practical impact of this judicial protection. Based on these findings, the study proposes several recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the competition principle. Chief among them are: establishing unified standards for publicity subject to periodic review; expanding preemptive oversight of technical committees; activating expedited objection mechanisms; requiring administrative bodies to provide reasoned decisions in published reports; limiting exceptions to competition to cases of absolute necessity and under documented justifications; strengthening oversight over framework agreements; and enacting a separate legal framework to regulate such agreements. The study also recommends introducing a prompt and efficient appeal system for major procurement decisions to ensure procedural integrity and build trust in the fairness of administrative contracting
Prospects for a Common Maritime Security Policy in the GCC: A Comparative Case Study of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman's Approaches
No full textThe Arab Gulf region is a crucially important area of the world. It contains one of the busiest waterways, the Strait of Hormuz, through which a high percentage of the vital hydrocarbons flow, supplying energy for the industries and power of countries great and small. It is a two-way traffic too, as the oil-rich GCC states rely on adjacent waters to remain open and well-guarded. Sea lines of communications (SLOCs) are also used to transport imported goods which are essential for building economies, and to accommodate the GCC states markets’ needs of various commodities. Naturally, all of this means that the waterways must be protected at all costs, and that maritime security is of paramount importance in what is a highly contentious and volatile region. And yet, it appears that the six monarchies that constitute the GCC, despite sharing so many common points and interests, are unable to find consensus and agree on a common maritime security policy. This dissertation aims to determine the root causes for the lack of a common maritime security policy. Through a detailed examination of the attitudes and policies of the three chosen cases, and applying academic rigor to an investigation of hypotheses, the research will shed light on one of the most critical issues of the twenty-first century. This is to answer a pressing question pertaining to a central element of the Gulf security: Why is it hard for the GCC countries to achieve a common maritime security policy
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE FOOD FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE TO ASSESS FOOD GROUPS INTAKE AMONG ADULTS IN QATAR
No full textBackground: Qatar's National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) emphasizes promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing non-communicable diseases, requiring precise dietary assessment tools. Previous Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) used in Qatar was adapted from the U.S. Diet History Questionnaire rather than developed from local dietary data. This study developed and validated a culturally adapted FFQ based on Qatar Biobank dietary data, reflecting Qatari and expatriate diets.
Methods: A cross-sectional validation was conducted among 121 adults (mean age 36.0±11.6 years; 74 females, 47 males), including Qatari citizens and expatriate residents who have lived in Qatar for more than 5 years. Ethical approval was obtained from Qatar University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB 084/2024-EA). The 97-item FFQ, covering 16 food groups, was validated against three non-consecutive 24-hour recalls (24-HR). The FFQ was administered twice, one month apart. Validity and reliability were assessed using Spearman correlations, cross-classification, and Bland–Altman analyses.
Results: Energy-adjusted Spearman correlations for major food groups ranged from r = 0.30 to 0.62 (p 0.05). Cross-classification indicated 52–88% agreement in the same or adjacent quartiles. Test–retest reliability ranged from moderate to excellent for most food groups (r = 0.47–0.82), with correlations exceeding 0.70 for meat, staples, dairy, and fats/oils (p < 0.001). Agreement between the FFQ administrations exceeded 85% for most food groups. The FFQ overestimated dairy, staples, and fruits while underestimating vegetables.
Conclusions: This culturally adapted FFQ demonstrates acceptable validity and good reliability for ranking individuals by food group intake, suitable for diet-disease research and public health policy aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030