Research Profiles

Stigma towards mental disorders and to persons with mental illness (PWMI) is well known. It affects the PWMI, their families, network of friends, general public and health care professionals. It is a major barrier for PWMI to seek treatment which contributes to the burden of disease, disability and mortality. Stigma can also hinder the early recognition of mental disorders which impedes early intervention, which is critical for successful recovery. While research on stigma and discrimination towards mental disorders and PWMI in non-Middle Eastern countries is rich, it is relatively scant in the Middle East and particularly in Qatar. To address stigma effectively in a given culture, it is essential to study its nature in the context where the PWMI experience internalized stigma. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the levels and perception of internalized stigma in PWMI in Qatar.

In Qatar, there has been increasing recognition of the negative impact of mental illness, with the launching in 2013 of the Qatar National Mental Health Strategy called Changing Minds, Changing Lives. The strategy highlights the critical importance of designing a mental health service model that decreases stigma, while developing a mental health workforce that is sensitive to the issues arising from stigma. However, while stigma towards PWMD is widely acknowledged as problematic, there has been no research in Qatar. Therefore, given the high burden of mental disorders in Qatar, the commonly acknowledged presence and impact of stigma, and the lack of research on the topic, we developed and implemented a qualitative study to develop a better understanding of stigma based on the stories and experiences of PWMD in Qatar.

"Negative attitudes toward mental illness by Health Care Professionals (HCP) have been reported in many countries across the world. Stigmatizing attitudes by HCP can have adverse consequences on people with mental illness from delays in seeking help to decreased quality of care provided. Assessing such attitudes is an essential step in understanding such stigma and, if needed, developing and testing
appropriate and culturally adapted interventions to reduce it. Therefore the purpose of this study was to assess physicians’ and nurses’ attitudes toward mental illness and to determine associated factors with different levels of stigma."

Education plays an essential role in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This research aims to assess the level of awareness among members of a university in Doha, Qatar concerning food waste (SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production). The research includes a survey to identify opportunities for reducing assess food consumption and waste and identify opportunities concerning shopping and eating habits and preferences, and food waste attitudes and preferences. The results of the survey will guide an educational program with the university community to reduce food waste.

In The State of Qatar, municipalities are responsible for solid waste collection both directly, using their own logistics, and indirectly through private sector contracts. Waste collection and transport is carried out by a large fleet of trucks that collect wastes from thousands of collection points scattered across the country. The conventional waste collecting method (leaving waste in waste containers or trash bins prior to collection by a waste collector) is not convenient. Sometimes, waste collectors take trips to garbage bins that are either partially or completely empty. This increases the service time, number of trips from/to collection points, increases unnecessary traffic on the streets, increases fuel consumption, and increases the number of people working than might otherwise be needed. In contrast, overfilled bins result in rubbish falling out while being collected, and if containing organic waste may cause contamination of surrounding soil. In addition, in hot countries like Qatar, hazardous rubbish like batteries, lighters, empty petrol or oil cans can cause fires igniting other trash in the bin. The Ministry of Municipality and Environment in Qatar, which is responsible for waste collection and management, strives to find solutions for smart and safe waste collection specially that Qatar is going to host The 2022 World Cup event where the number of people will be increased drastically. A literature review reveals that several researchers have attempted to address the problem of waste collection. One smart solution proposed includes the use of implant sensors in the trash cans to monitor the trash cans' status (full or empty), followed by the use of a central system to receive the signals from the sensors resulting in an optimal schedule to collect the waste. Researchers in another project also developed a set of algorithms to optimize the waste collection routes. Though both of these proposals allow for an optimal collection route based on waste can fill patterns, neither address the importance of prioritizing the collection of waste containing flammable materials nor altering collection routes to maximize collection of more frequently filled trash cans. Utilizing machine learning models our project aims to take both of these factors into consideration. Six CNAQ students propose a smart cross platform mobile application that can not only monitor the fill status of trash cans but also predict which trash cans are the busiest and which ones frequently contain flammable materials. Our App will be designed to prioritize the collection of such cans to reduce the possibilities of fire ignition, especially during summer when temperature can reach as high as 50 Celsius degree in the State of Qatar. To decide if a waste in the trash can is flammable or not, we propose using a combination of two types of data collected using a temperature detector and a gas detector. With these goals in mind, we will build a machine learning model that can use previously collected data to predict which trash cans require the most urgent collection and to predict the busiest areas, allowing the preparation of an optimal collection plan. The objective of this project is twofold. Firstly, to design and develop an intelligent cross-platform mobile application to optimize the waste collection at the State of Qatar. Secondly, to promote good research integrity and to emphasize the importance of inquiry, investigation, and immersion. In addition to the above-mentioned goal, our application provides the following features: 1. Workers Management System The system will manage the attendance and schedule of workers. 2. Map and tracking System The tracking system will provide collecting line to the truck drivers in order to manage the best way. 3. Report/Ticket Users can report any problems that arises, and an agent/admin can handle this ticket and provide solutions to the problem.

In The State of Qatar, municipalities are responsible for solid waste collection. The conventional waste collecting method is not convenient. Sometimes, waste collectors take trips to garbage bins that are either partially or completely empty. In contrast, overfilled bins result in rubbish falling out while being collected, and if containing organic waste may cause contamination of surrounding soil. In addition, in hot countries like Qatar, hazardous rubbish like batteries, lighters, empty petrol or oil cans can cause fires igniting other trash in the bin. This project aims to design and develop an intelligent cross- platform mobile application to optimize the waste collection in the State of Qatar.

Recently parking management systems have gained huge attention by the business companies. After all, parking plays a major role in a customer choice where to shop. According to Planning and Statistics Authority in The Sate of Qatar, the number of registered vehicles has increased by 41.2% just in one month [1]. Moreover, the number of vehicles in Qatar are expected to reach more than 912,000 units by the end of 2020. Such increase is the highest annualize growth in the gulf region[2]. Based on this fact, queues, difficulties in finding a parking spot has extended to educational institutions and College of the North Atlantic in Qatar (CNAQ) is no exception. Currently CNAQ has more than 300 instructors and approximately 3000 students. At present, there are 10 parking areas with a total of 1653 parking spaces. Finding a free parking spot has become a major concern for many students. Therefore, a group of third year students in the Department of Computer Sciences has decided to create a smart solution to help manage the parking process at the college. Finally, it has been said that [3] “Research and inquiry is not just for those who choose to pursue an academic career. It is central to professional life in the twenty-first century.” Thus, the present research project aims at: 1- Provide a motivational and enjoyable learning experience for the students as researchers through research and inquiry. 2- Design and implement of a machine learning model to accurately predict the waiting time for the next available parking lot. 3- Design and implement an algorithm to facilitate and encourage carpooling between employees and students. 4- Design and implement of the back-end of the mobile app. 5- Design and implement of the look-and-feel user interface of the mobile app. 6- Test the app using simulated data at the first stage and then test it with a real data. Deliverable: In addition to the smart parking mobile app, we are planning to write a conference paper once the research is finished and submit it to a national scientific conference. References [1] Planning and Statistics Authority, “https://www.psa.gov.qa/en/statistics1/Pages/LatestStats/10102017a.aspx” [2] Alpen Capital, “www.alpencapital.com” [3] Brew, A., 2007, April. Research and teaching from the students’ perspective. In International policies and practices for academic enquiry: An international colloquium (pp. 19-21).

This paper proposes a design of closed-loop control of pulse width modulated DC converter with PID control methods used to control a braking system in an electric car. The control output determines the desired switching signals to reduces the tracking error in presence of a variable setpoint. The setpoint is a function of the car’s speed and it reaches zero as the car comes to a complete stop. The proposed system of the controller, the converter, and the electric brakes, is designed to reduce the speed to zero in two seconds. The system is described using mathematical equations, simulated with Matlab/ Simulink, and will be tested practically by a scaled prototype experiment.

This project aims to facilitate the sustainable and profitable production of vegetables by applying internet of things (IoT), big data and 5G communication technologies to photovoltaic (solar energy) integrated, next generation smart green houses.

The goal of this project proposal is to enhance the distribution network functionality and increase its reliability by reducing the technical losses, allow direct demand-side management using conservative voltage reduction strategy, improve power quality, and allow increased renewable energy and electric vehicle penetration in the network using Capacitor-less DSTATCOM device..

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are the set of systems located at the border of digital and physical systems, which puts them in a central and essential position for the development of intelligent ecosystems. These intelligent ecosystems are characterized by the openness, heterogeneity, dynamics and ubiquity of the entities that constitute them. Given the sensitivity and central role of CPS, their robustness (security & reliability) as well as their optimization and decision-making efficiency ("intelligence") become a major issue in their design and development. The problematic of this project is then to investigate and exploit technological and methodological levers to reinforce the robustness of intelligent CPS.

"Aim: The aim of this study was to validate a job satisfaction scale among acute care nurses in the context of Qatar.
Design: Cross-sectional correlational survey.
Methods: A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 295 acute care nurses between June 2021 and September 2021. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used for item reduction and convergent and discriminant validity evaluation. Pearson correlations were conducted to evaluate the concurrent and convergent validity of the revised scale. Reliability was tested using several internal consistency indicators.
Results: A revised scale was proposed, the ACNJSS-R scale; it is composed of 13 items loaded on five factors. The composite reliability (CR) and the maximal reliability (MaxR) were greater than 0.7 for all factors. The study provides empirical support for the validity and reliability of the ACNJSS-R scale."

The rapidly growing knowledge and complexity of health challenges in nursing education necessitate the implementation of concept-based curricula (CBC) to enhance critical thinking skills and meaningful learning in nursing students. The University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) has been actively transitioning to a CBC approach in its nursing program over the last three years. This qualitative study aims to investigate the experiences of nursing faculty at UCQ while developing and implementing CBC and to identify the barriers and facilitators of this curricular reform in the Qatari context. A naturalistic inquiry-based, descriptive research design will be used, with purposeful sampling to recruit nursing faculty members involved in the CBC implementation process. In-depth individual semi-structured interviews will be conducted, and data will be analyzed using an iterative, inductive thematic approach. The findings will provide qualitative evidence for effective strategies in concept-based pedagogical reform, thereby contributing to the successful implementation and improvement of CBC in nursing education.

This mixed methods systematic review (MMSR) aims to explore predictors, barriers, and facilitators of refugee women's employment and economic inclusion in host countries, given the growing global displacement and the unique challenges faced by this marginalized population. Despite the consensus on the importance of employment for refugee women's integration and well-being, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing their economic participation. Drawing from Sandelowski’s (2006) segregated approach, this MMSR will synthesize recently published evidence, considering the experiences and perspectives of refugee women. The review is expected to reveal key factors affecting their employment experiences, identify gaps in the current literature, and inform best practice guidelines for employment organizations and policymakers. The findings will contribute to the development of culturally-sensitive and equitable employment models, fostering a more inclusive and cohesive society for all.

"Sustainable manufacturing is urgently required nowadays, more than ever before, to overcome current challenges in climate changes, depleting natural resources and polluting environment. Based on the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) and the third Qatari National Development Strategy (2023-2027), converting industrial solid waste in Qatar into value-added products is an important target which should be implemented to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns as set by the United Nations, in the global goal: SDG 12. Away from dumping in landfills, preserving value of waste and byproduct in Qatari industries is an ideal approach to maximize economic gain, keep clean environment, optimize sustainability and reduce carbon footprint. Upgrading existing industrial procedures and increasing recycling rate should be considered for the production of new or improved quality products.
Marble mining and processing generate around 200 million tons of waste per year worldwide. Quarrying, cutting, sawing, sizing, carving and polishing marbles produce aqueous slurry, sludge, powder or dust wastes from marble materials. These wastes lead to destructive irreversible impacts on ecological systems, the environment, and public health, particularly when they are discharged arbitrarily to the environment or even dumped into the landfills. Converting waste marble powder into alternative marketable products at a lower cost or better performance compared to that for the current existing products will promote sustainable economic growth and development. Marble waste can be used in different applications such as asphalt, road construction, gypsum plaster, cement, aggregates, concrete, mortar, brick making and other building materials. Also, marble waste can be used for replacing the traditional clay, fillers and other conventional materials to manufacture of high-performance hybrid composites. The socioeconomic benefits of producing hybrid polymer composites are not only recycling marble waste but also making a cost-effective sustainable construction material with desired characteristics for green building. The unsaturated polyester is selected as polymeric matrix due to its low cost and good properties. High performance hybrid polymer composites are prepared from unsaturated polyester and then, tested for their mechanical, physical, and thermal properties. In this progress work, we have explored the challenges to produce ecofriendly tiles which are costeffective, durable and suitable for green building. The disadvantages of marble powder-polyester composite are low modulus and insufficient rigidity, shrinkage particularly during curing, low aging resistance, less water resistance compared to metals or high-performance engineering plastics. This project is still in progress. The plan for the remaining work is to use different additives in small amount, without any significant increase in the cost, in order to overcome the challenges and disadvantages of the produced hybrid composite which can be used for manufacturing tiles. The plan could also include to make some tests, with a fixed percentage of marble powder, but testing different resins, such as vinyl-esters and epoxies. For demo testing; two model houses (prototypes) with a size of 60x60x60cm will be constructed. One will be made from the hybrid composite tiles and the second made from traditional tiles. Heat leak test will be conducted in both prototypes by measuring the difference in temperatures which is created between inside the prototype box and the outside surroundings, and the required time to reach thermal equilibrium will be recorded. The longer the time to reach the thermal equilibrium the better the thermal insulation. Reducing the heat leak in green building is one of the most effective method in decreasing the indoor required cooling energy during hot weather. This also can be applicable to the heat leaking out of buildings in a cold weather environment."