Drosophila as a Model Organism in Host–Pathogen Interaction Studies

Owing to the genetic similarities and conserved pathways between a fruit fly and mammals, the use of the Drosophila model as a platform to unveil novel mechanisms of infection and disease progression has been justified and widely instigated. Gaining proper insight into host–pathogen interactions and identifying chief factors involved in host defense and pathogen virulence in Drosophila serves as a foundation to establish novel strategies for infectious disease prevention and control in higher organisms, including humans.We acknowledge Qatar University (QUST-1-CHS-2020-4) for funding this publication

Do income and consumption growth cause CO 2 emissions in Qatar? Implications for climate policy

Qatar has experienced a remarkable surge in all four components of gross domestic product (GDP)—consumption, government spending, investment, and net exports as well as significant growth in population over the past thirty years. Despite a potential link between increasing production and consumption and a corresponding rise in CO2 emissions in Qatar, there exists a significant gap in the literature addressing this linkage. Using sectoral data, this article investigates the long-term trends of GDP growth and expenditure and their nexus with CO2 emissions in Qatar. Least square regression analysis (multiple regression approach) and Granger Causality tests have been used to examine the long-term association between GDP-expenditure and its components and CO2 emission patterns. Additionally, the study discusses the environmental implications and the necessity for effective natural resource management in climate policy. Our analysis reveals consistent average annual increases in Qatar over the past three decades: 4.8% in total expenditure, 5.4% in GDP, 4% in government spending, 4.7% in household consumption, and 1.77% in CO2 emissions. During this period, production- and consumption-based emissions surged by 700%, while consumption-based emissions rose by 500%. The energy sector alone accounts for 86% of Qatar's total CO2 emissions. Significant Granger causality was found between CO2 emissions and various economic growth and GDP components, suggesting a potential inverted U-shaped Kuznets Curve, indicating a possible decline in CO2 emissions in future. However, achieving this decline in CO2 emissions in accordance with UN SDG Goal 12 requires additional policy measures focussed on carbon capture and storage, circular economy practices, carbon pricing, and complementary climate policies. Specific policy actions include establishing CO2 observatories, promoting clean energy initiatives, and engaging the private sector

Tacit rejection of policy and teacher ambivalence – insights into English language teaching in Bahrain through actors’ perceptions

This article develops Phillips and Ochs's (2003) framework for policy borrowing, particularly their theorisations about indigenisation of international programmes. It uses the example of communicative language teaching (CLT) in Bahrain, exploring teacher perspectives regarding the effects of CLT on the preexisting arrangements in the national education system and the impact of contextual factors on the potential for CLT implementation. The author conducted qualitative focus groups with English language teachers in 10 schools. The analysis elucidates how teachers were tailoring their own ways through the new reforms to strike a satisfactory balance between the government's aims and the attitudes of the public. It answers the question, "What happens to English language teaching policy when it is transplanted to a different culture?" and concludes that it becomes actively rejected. The conclusion offers a conceptual development of Phillips and Ochs's framework, adding the option of rejection to the indigenisation stage. The article ends with some practical implications

Medication Sector in Qatar: Hand in Hand Facing the Blockade

Conference agend

Assessment of natural radioactivity in various commercial tiles used for building purposes in Nigeria

In this study, we evaluated the activity concentration of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) for fifteen (15) different brands of tile samples used for building purposes in Nigeria. The tile samples were analyzed using High purity Germanium gamma detector. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were observed to be 61.1 �5.5 Bq/kg, 70.2 � 6.08 Bq/kg and 514.7 � 59.8 Bq/kg respectively. Various hazard indices such as absorbed dose rate, external and internal hazard index, annual effective dose rate, Gamma activity Index (Ig) and Alpha Index (Ia) were calculated. The obtained results showed that the mean radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (D), external and internal hazard index, the annual effective dose (AEDR) equivalent, Gamma activity Index (Ig) and Alpha Index (Ia) were: 204.42 Bq/kg, 177.61 nGyh1 , 0.55, 0.77, 0.96 mSvyr1 , 0.74 and 0.32 respectively. The average value of radium equivalent obtained in this study is less than that of the recommended value of 370 Bq/kg but the average values of the other radiological hazards for some samples are found to be slightly above international recommended values except Hex, Hin and AEDE which are within the international reference value of unity. The measured concentrations of these radioactive materials were correlated with other previous result obtained from similar tile materials used in other countries and found to be in good agreement with the international standard, however, the tiles are recommended for decoration purposes in Nigeria

Soil radioactivity levels, radiological maps and risk assessment for the state of Kuwait

An evaluation of the radioactivity levels associated with naturally occurring radioactive materials has been undertaken as part of a systematic study to provide a surface radiological map of the State of Kuwait. Soil samples from across Kuwait were collected, measured and analysed in the current work. These evaluations provided soil activity concentration levels for primordial radionuclides, specifically members of the (238)U and (232)Th decay chains and (40)K which. The (238)U and (232)Th chain radionuclides and (40)K activity concentration values ranged between 5.9 ↔ 32.3, 3.5 ↔ 27.3, and 74 ↔ 698 Bq/kg respectively. The evaluated average specific activity concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K across all of the soil samples have mean values of 18, 15 and 385 Bq/kg respectively, all falling below the worldwide mean values of 35, 40 and 400 Bq/kg respectively. The radiological risk factors are associated with a mean of 33.16 ± 2.46 nG/h and 68.5 ± 5.09 Bq/kg for the external dose rate and Radium equivalent respectively. The measured annual dose rates for all samples gives rise to a mean value of 40.8 ± 3.0 μSv/y while the internal and internal hazard indices have been found to be 0.23 ± 0.02 and 0.19 ± 0.01 respectively

Appropriateness of gentamicin therapeutic drug monitoring at a Middle Eastern tertiary hospital setting: a retrospective evaluation and quality audit

Introduction The use of gentamicin in the treatment of infectious diseases requires frequent monitoring to attain the best treatment outcomes.Objective This study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of gentamicin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) at a tertiary care hospital in Qatar.Methods A one-year quantitative retrospective chart review of all gentamicin TDM records was conducted. Evidence-based criteria were applied to evaluate the appropriateness of gentamicin TDM in terms of indication, sampling times, and post-analytical actions.Results Out of 59 captured gentamicin TDM records, 58 gentamicin samples were eligible for evaluation. Overall, gentamicin TDM appropriateness was achieved in 50% (n = 29) of the evaluated records. However, 12% (n = 7) of gentamicin drug concentrations were below the assay quantification limits or were not sampled appropriately. Inappropriate post-analytical actions (22.4%, n = 13) and inappropriate sampling times (44.8%, n = 26) were recorded. Most of the gentamicin blood samples (n = 43; 74.2%) were taken appropriately at steady-state. Inappropriate sampling time relative to the last dose was captured in 31% (n = 18) of the cases. Although 27.6% (n = 16) of gentamicin concentrations were non-therapeutic, continuing gentamicin dosing without adjustment was the most frequent post-analytical action (69.8%, n = 37). Gentamicin dose regimen continuations, dose regimen decreases and dose regimen discontinuations were inappropriately applied in 27% (n = 10), 25% (n = 2) and 14% (n = 1) of the times, respectively.Conclusion Suboptimal gentamicin TDM practices exist in relation to sampling time and post-analytical actions. Studies exploring setting-specific reasons behind inappropriate TDM practices and methods of its optimisation are needed

Continuing Professional Development Needs of Community Pharmacists in Qatar: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Objective: This study aims to assess the educational needs and professional competencies of community pharmacists in Qatar to inform the development of relevant continuing professional development (CPD) programs. Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional exploratory study targeting community pharmacists was conducted using a questionnaire and an event diary. Descriptive and inferential analyses were utilized to analyze the data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 software. For the event diary, thematic content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: Drug information skills and pharmaceutical care process were the most identified topics for inclusion in CPD programs. None of the pharmacists thought that they were competent in core areas of pharmacy practice. Community pharmacists who filled an event diary highlighted the need for development in areas such as communication skills and medication safety. Conclusion: The identified needs shall help in developing a CPD program that addresses what community pharmacists perceive as educational and professional training needs. The Author(s) 2020.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This publication was made possible by an Undergraduate Student Grant-QUST-CPH-SPR-13/14-12-from Qatar University. The funding organization was not involved in any part of the research. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.Scopu