bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective inhibition of nuclear export function for cancer therapy
Authors: Mohammad Ramzi M , Azmi Asfar S. , Shacham Sharon , Kauffman Michael
Published: October 2012

Background and Aims:
Tumor suppressor proteins (TSPs) are inactivated by many different mechanisms, including nuclear exclusion by the chromosome region maintenance protein (CRM-1). Increased tumor levels of CRM-1 have been correlated with poor prognosis of patients with different cancers, making it a therapeutic target. We have developed selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs) that bind to CRM-1 to irreversibly inhibit its ability to export proteins. Here we investigated our new class of SINEs in multiple tumor models.

Methods:
We studied the effects of SINE analogs in a panel of pancreatic, colon, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), prostate, non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cell lines and non-transformed/normal cells using proliferation, apoptosis, immunoblot, co-immunoprecipitation, small inhibitor (Si)-RNA, and fluorescence microscopy analyses. The effects of the SINEs were also investigated in mice with subcutaneous, orthotopic tumors and in disseminated liquid tumor models.

Results:
SINEs (KPT-185, KPT-127, KPT-205, and KPT-227) inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of both solid liquid cancer cells, but did not affect normal lymphocytes or immortalized non-transformed cells. The nuclei of cells incubated with KPT-185 accumulated major TSPs such as p53, p73, p27, FOXO, p73, and prostate apoptosis response 4 (PAR-4) and inhibited interactions between CRM-1 and these proteins. Mutations in the region of CRM-1 that binds to SINEs (Cys-528), or siRNA knockdown of TSPs, prevented the ability of KPT-185 to block proliferation and induce apoptosis of cancer cells. Oral administration of the KPT SINEs to mice reduced growth of subcutaneous, orthotopic and disseminated xenograft tumors without major toxicity. Analysis of tumor remnants showed that KPT-SINE disrupted the interaction between CRM-1 and TSP, activated TSP function, and reduced proliferation of tumor cells.

Conclusion:
We identified SINEs that inhibit CRM-1 and promote nuclear accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins in multiple tumor models. Oral administration of the drug to mice reduces growth of xenograft tumors. Based on our solid preliminary studies a phase I clinical trial has been initiated for both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Our results provide conclusive evidence in support of a global therapy for different cancers that involves targeted inhibition of nuclear export protein function and warrants advanced clinical investigations.
Regulation of ERBB2 signaling and response to Trastuzumab by DARPP-32 in esophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: El-Rifai Wael , Hong Jun
Published: October 2012

Background:
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is characterized by a poor response to therapy with less than 10% five-year survival rates. Although Herceptin, a humanized monoclonal anti-ERBB2 antibody, has been successfully used for treatment of ERBB2-positive metastatic breast and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, a significant proportion of patients either fail to achieve initial response or develop acquired resistance. Clinical trials using Herceptin for the treatment of esophageal and gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas are ongoing in several Western countries. Understanding mechanisms that could hamper the response to Herceptin could influence the therapeutic decision making options and the management of these patients.

Methods and Results:
Truncated DARPP-32 (t-DARPP) (dopamine and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein of Mr 32,000), located at the 17q21 region, is a commonly amplified and overexpressed gene in upper gastrointestinal malignancies. The CellTiter cell viability, clonogenic survival, and Annexin V assays results indicated that stable or transient t-DARPP expression in OE19 cells significantly promoted cell survival and blocked apoptosis after treatment with 20 μg/ml Herceptin (p<0.01). The western blot results showed that t-DARPP sustained p-ERBB2 (Y1248) and p-AKT (S473) protein levels in response to Herceptin. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous t-DARPP in OE33 cells significantly decreased cell survival and p-ERBB2 (Y1248) and p-AKT (S473) protein levels in response to Herceptin (p<0.01). Western blot results showed that transient and stable t-DARPP expression without Herceptin increased protein levels of ERBB2, p-ERBB2 (Y1248), and p-AKT (S473). We hypothesized that t-DARPP enhances ERBB2 protein stability, thus blocking ERBB2 receptor steady-state down-regulation. The cycloheximide-based chase assay results showed that stable expression of t-DARPP increased the half-life of ERBB2 protein to 43.6 hours as opposed to 29.6 hours in control cells. We next investigated the effect of t-DARPP on Herceptin binding to ERBB2 receptor. Using co-immunoprecipitation, we have also shown that t-DARPP interacts with ERBB2 protein, hence, interfering with Herceptin binding to ERBB2 receptor, blocking Herceptin-induced down-regulation of downstream signaling. We also developed a Herceptin-resistant OE19 cell model, generated after selection with Herceptin for six months. The acquired resistance cell model demonstrated upregulation of endogenous t-DARPP and recapitulated the signaling events of Herceptin resistance.

Conclusions:
Our data demonstrate, for the first time, that t-DARPP enhances AKT signaling and is a key contributor to Herceptin resistance in EAC. In addition, t-DARPP mediates resistance to Herceptin through blocking ERBB2 receptor drug accessibility in EAC. The studies using in vivo models are ongoing.
Efficient siRNA delivery and gene silencing using self-assembled rosette nanotubes
Authors: Fenniri Hicham , Ho Uyen , Alshamsan Aws
Published: October 2012

Background:
Self-assembly and self-organization processes offer a powerful strategy for the design of nanomaterials from the ground up with predefined dimensions and properties. Central to these approaches is the design and synthesis of molecules with a built-in ability to undergo a hierarchical sequence of supramolecular reactions, culminating with the formation of a well-defined functional superstructure. The rosette nanotubes (RNTs) are a new class of biocompatible organic nanomaterials with tunable dimensions and properties. They are obtained through the hierarchical self-assembly of small synthetic organic molecules. They can be readily tailored to target and kill cancerous cells.

Objectives:
Our aim is to address the following issues: (i) extent to which the RNTs can capture and deliver siRNA to a tumour while retaining their activity, (ii) advantages and/or limitations of RNTs compared to clinically tested drug delivery systems (DDS), (iii) effectiveness of RNT-based formulations in cancer treatment, (iv) specificity and real-time tracking of the RNT DDS, (v) toxicity profile of the new RNT DDS, (vi) identification of optimal cancer targets for the RNT DDS, and (vii) categorization of the therapeutic advantages/challenges of this system in animal models.

Methods:
We have designed a family of RNTs and characterized them chemically and structurally. We have also tested their ability to capture siRNA and deliver it to cancer cells.

Results:
The binding efficiency was shown to be a function of RNT/siRNA ratio, net charge, and local cationic density. These formulations were reproducible at different ionic strength media and were shown to protect siRNA from degradation by serum nucleases. Moreover, the presence of siRNA also played a role in dictating the supramolecular shape of the nanocarrier, which may reflect in-cell uptake and the resulting silencing process. Fluorescence microscopy showed that Caco-2 cells can take up RNT derived assemblies very readily within 4 hours and retain siRNA up to 72 hours. Silencing experiments showed a dose-dependent reduction in VEGF protein levels secreted by Caco-2 cells reaching approximately 40% reduction at 20 nM siRNA.

Conclusions:
We have shown that the RNTs are effective oligonucleotide carriers. Future studies will involve animal studies and further optimization of the observed therapeutic effect.
Insights into the mechanism of function of a protein unfolding and degradation system
Authors: Houry Walid
Published: October 2012

ClpP is a cylindrical tetradecameric serine protease whose activity is regulated by the unfoldase ATP-dependent chaperones ClpX and ClpA of the AAA+ superfamily. The chaperones act to select substrate proteins, unfold them, and then thread them into the ClpP cylinder for degradation. ClpP can only degrade small peptides on its own. Structural and functional studies from my group have elucidated the mechanism of function of the ClpXP chaperone-protease system. These studies highlighted the importance of protein dynamics in this system. More recently, we used ClpP as a target in a high-throughput screen for compounds, which activate the protease and allow it to degrade larger proteins, hence, abolishing the specificity arising from the ATP-dependent chaperones. Our screen resulted in five structurally distinct compounds, which we designate as activators of self-compartmentalizing proteases 1 to 5 (ACP 1 to 5). The compounds are found to stabilize the ClpP double ring structure. The ACP1 chemical structure was considered to have drug-like characteristics and was further optimized to give analogs with bactericidal activity. Hence, the ACPs represent new classes of compounds that can activate ClpP and that can be developed as potential novel antibiotics.
Design and fundamental limitations of large-scale coherent dynamical networks
Authors: Bamieh Bassam
Published: October 2012

Networks of dynamical systems occur in diverse areas of engineering, such as distributed computation, automated vehicular formations, and power systems networks. We investigate the interplay between network coherence and the network's interconnection topology. In such networks, synchronization or more general coherence under stochastic uncertainty is an important measure of performance. For example, in power systems this notion corresponds to phase and frequency coherence of multiple generators (the lack of which may lead to so-called inter-area oscillations), while in vehicular formations this notion corresponds to how well vehicles are collectively tracking their commanded trajectories. We study abstractions of all of the above problems as distributed/cooperative control problems. We investigate the asymptotic limits of performance when network sizes become large as a function of the networks' topologies. This has important implications for the design of future highly-distributed-generation power networks, as well as large vehicular formation schemes such as those in proposed automated highway systems.

This talk will specifically address the notion of network coherence under stochastic disturbances, and its dependence on network topology and various notions of network dimension. Regular lattices and fractal networks provide case studies with both integer and fractional dimension. We give asymptotic lower bounds on network disorder and show its dependence on both the complexity of individual node dynamics, as well as network dimension. It turns out that higher connectivity improves coherence, while more complex node dynamics can hinder it. However, in all cases there is a critical network dimension above which purely local interactions can lead to the emergence of global order. We outline the connections between these results and those on the statistical mechanics of harmonic solids. For future highly-distributed-generation power networks, we quantify the cost of synchronization in terms of resistive line losses due to the power flow needed to achieve this synchrony. We show that this cost scales unboundedly with the number of generators in the network and is independent of the underlying connection topology. This result is a further argument for the use of information communication rather than only power flows to enhance synchrony in such large networks.
Integration of solar energy with post-combustion carbon capture
Authors: Abbas Ali , Qadir Abdul , Khalilpour Rajab , Chiesa Matteo
Published: October 2012

Background:
A techno-economic analysis has been performed for a coal-fired power plant retrofitted with solvent-based post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) technology where thermal energy is partially supplied by solar thermal collectors. The plant is compared with a generic PCC plant where all the thermal energy is provided by steam bled from the steam cycle. A suite of solar thermal collectors which include flat plate collectors, compound parabolic collectors, linear Fresnel collectors, evacuated tube collectors (ETCs) and parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) have each been tested for their viability. The plant has been simulated for several different locations in Australia: Sydney, Townsville and Melbourne.

Objectives:
This study investigates the integration of solar thermal energy in the energy mix of a power plant by using it to partially compensate for the debilitating energy penalty burdened by the introduction of the carbon capture process.

Methods:
The overall system consists of three subsystems: power plant, PCC plant and solar collector field. A base case scenario is studied in which there is no heat integration between the three subsystems and is compared to a system with heat integration. Additionally, incentives such as renewable energy certificates (RECs), carbon tax/credits and government subsidies have been considered in the economic model and a sensitivity analysis has been performed for each scenario of incentives for all five solar collector technologies at the three locations.

Results:
The ETC is found to be the best performer amongst solar collectors when the three subsystems have good heat integration while the PTC is the best performer in the case of no heat integration. The best location for the solar-assisted PCC (SPCC) plant is found to be Sydney.

Conclusions:
The SPCC plant is only economically viable in Sydney and Townsville once incentives such as RECs, carbon tax and subsidies are taken into account. By the use of solar energy and the available government incentives for their deployment, the cost of carbon capture is shown to be reduced.
Semantic modeling and natural language processing for environmental compliance checking
Authors: El-Gohary Nora
Published: October 2012

There is an increasing need for improved environmental compliance, while reducing the time and cost of compliance checking (CC). This research offers a new approach for automated environmental CC. The approach utilizes semantic modeling and natural language processing (NLP) techniques. Semantic modeling aims at offering the level of knowledge representation and reasoning that is needed to process applicable environmental regulations and check compliance of construction plans to the rules that are prescribed by those regulations. NLP techniques will facilitate text analysis and processing for achieving human-like extraction and formalization of rules and information. The approach is intended to automatically detect non-compliance instances and provide a rich analysis of the non-compliance such as which regulation was violated, reason for violation, possible consequences of violation. To achieve such deep levels of text processing and automated reasoning, three algorithms are developed and combined into one computational platform: (1) a machine-learning-based text classification algorithm to classify relevant text (in documents such as environmental regulations), (2) a hybrid syntactic-semantic, utilizing grammatical and meaning-descriptive features of the text, information extraction algorithm to facilitate text processing for extraction and formalization of rules and information, and (3) a logic-based algorithm for compliance reasoning. Automated analysis will be facilitated by a semantic model for environmental knowledge representation and reasoning. The algorithms will be implemented in a proof-of-concept prototype software for automated environmental CC, and will be tested and validated using real-life-based test case scenarios. This research will transform the way we conceptualize and formally reason about complex regulatory schemes and associated CC processes, and will advance the research in the areas of deep NLP and deep semantic reasoning. The results of this research will also transform the way construction professionals and government regulators (e.g. environmental protection agencies) check the compliance of construction projects with environmental regulations and green practices. The ultimate goals of this research, in terms of benefits to the society, are: (1) increasing environmental compliance in construction, thereby protecting human health and the environment, (2) promoting compliance with non-regulatory green construction practices, thereby supporting green and sustainable construction, and (3) reducing the time and cost of environmental CC.2

2 This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1201170. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
4dDoha: Buildings
Authors: Hutzell Kelly , el Samahy Rami , Gregson Spencer , Himes Adam , Ricco Kristina
Published: October 2012

A web-based application designed for the iPad which focuses on buildings designed for Doha across the decades. 

Over the years, some of the greatest architects of their respective eras have designed buildings for Doha. These buildings were preceded by the local vernacular architecture, of which a few notable examples remain. Each of these buildings responds, in its own way, to the local climate and culture.

More than any other single artifact, a building represents a culture's values and aspirations, socioeconomic conditions and construction techniques. Buildings project these attributes outward and become a means for a city or a nation to transmit its identity to others. It is not by accident that postcards of buildings are so common; an image of the city as represented by its architecture is disseminated outward across the globe. 

These digital postcards represent a curated selection of noteworthy buildings that were designed for Doha. They range in time, location, use, style and built status. These categories allow for different means of sorting the information: into different eras (pre-oil, independence, realignment, or expansion), by architectural language or style (vernacular, modern, postmodern or contemporary); and by its current condition (built, demolished, unrealized or renovated).

Part of an ongoing research project on the physical growth of Doha over time, 4dDoha: Buildings is an educational web-based application that focuses on the city's architecture throughout its history. Combining research, graphic design and interaction design, the iPad app allows users to sift through the data via a series of filters, while recording the users' choices on a projected map.

Created by Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture faculty Kelly Hutzell and Rami el Samahy with research associates Adam Himes, Spencer Gregson and Kristina Ricco.
Generous support provided by Carnegie Mellon Qatar and Qatar Foundation. Concept and software design by over,under, inc.
Transnational household finance: A field experiment on the cross-border impacts of financial education for migrant workers
Authors: Seshan Ganesh , Yang Dean
Published: October 2012

Background and Objectives:
We randomly assigned invitations to a savings-focused financial literacy workshop for migrant Indian workers in Qatar. Via surveys of migrants, as well as their wives remaining behind in India, we provide a unique window into financial decision-making in transnational households. We examine impacts on financial decision-making of the migrant workers, migrants' attempts to influence the financial decision-making of their wives in the home country, migrant beliefs about their wives' behaviors, and the wives' actual behaviors.

Method:
A randomized control trial approach was used to assign migrants to a control and treatment group. After completing a baseline survey, migrants were randomly offered an invitation to attend a one-time financial education workshop. A follow-up survey was administered 16 months later to all couples.

Results:
The treatment led to substantial changes in migrant financial practices, and more joint financial decision-making with their wives. Migrants with below-median baseline savings are most responsive to the treatment, increasing their own savings and the remittances sent to their wives. Comparison of treatment effects on financial outcomes reported separately by migrants and wives provides evidence of substantial information asymmetries within transnational households.

Conclusions:
The fact that a short, simple financial education invitation had identifiable and (in many cases) large effects on financial behaviors and outcomes is one of the key findings of this study. While we cannot tell whether the intervention improved the overall well-being of migrants or their families back home, we do identify a subgroup (migrants with initially low savings) who saw increases in two outcomes of significant interest to economists and policy-makers: savings and remittances. That migrants were induced by a relatively minimal intervention to change important economic behaviors suggests that this population could not have had very strong priors that their previous behaviors were optimal. From a practical standpoint, our results suggest that financial literacy interventions have real potential to change migrant financial behaviors. These findings should be an impetus for further exploration of the impacts of financial literacy interventions in different populations and contexts. Future work might also profitably explore what factors lead to suboptimal financial decision-making in transnational households.
Development and large-scale validation of an instrument to assess precollege Arabic speaking students' attitudes toward science
Authors: Abd-El-Khalick Fouad , Said Ziad , Summers Ryan , Culbertson Michael , Friesen Heather , Zemmahi Hicham
Published: October 2012

This study reports on the development and large-scale validation of the "Assessing Arabic Speaking Students' Attitudes toward Science Survey" (ASSASS). The study is part of a larger project funded by the Qatar Foundation and aimed at identifying factors that impact precollege (grades 3 through 12) Qatari students' interest in, and attitudes toward, science. The development was primarily motivated by the fact that no instruments have been specifically designed and systematically validated for use with Arabic speaking students. Additionally, most extant instruments were developed for use with a specific grade or school level, and many lacked grounding in a robust theoretical framework. ASSASS was grounded in the most recent revision of the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior (TRABP). A 10-member international panel of science educators and education researchers reviewed an initial pool of 74, 5-point Likert scale items for alignment with TRABP. A revised pool of 60 items was piloted with a purposively selected sample of 396 grade 3 through 12 students in Qatar. Survey administration was followed by individual interviews with a 10% random sample of the students to ensure that ASSASS items were comprehensible to, and meaningful from the perspective of, students. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of pilot data resulted in the deletion of 14 items, which had poor loadings on an initial six-factor model for the instrument. Next, the resulting 46-item version of ASSASS was administered to a nationally representative sample of 2,778 grade 3 through 12 students in Qatar. Again, survey administration was followed by individual interviews with a 3% randomly selected sample of respondents to help triangulate assertions derived from quantitative data. EFA followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) resulted in a robust model showing a very good fit, with a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) at .042 (among many other robust statistical indicators). The model included a single global factor ("attitudes toward science") plus four orthogonal residual factors (a sub-set of the six factors identified in the pilot study). These factors were: intention to pursue or engage in science, negative outlook toward science, perceptions of school science, and perceived utility of science.
In the shadow of the 'Arab Spring': The fate of non-Muslims under Islamist rule
Authors: Abu-Munshar Maher
Published: October 2012

In the view of many non-Muslims, Islam is a religion that promotes hatred and violence and claims are repeatedly heard of how difficult it is for non-Muslim minorities to live in peace and harmony in Muslims countries. Moreover, recent clashes between Muslim and Christian groups in the aftermath of the Egyptian revolution have exacerbated prejudices against Islam, namely that it is a religion that promotes violence and that Muslims are inherently militant and irrational people who cannot tolerate living and cooperating with the followers of other religions. This misconception has sounded alarm bells amongst many Arab Christian leaders, who warn Christians in the Arab world of the danger of allowing Muslim groups to rule. It therefore becomes imperative to counter such depictions. The aim of this article is to explain from a Qur'anic point of view what should characterize Muslim relations and attitudes towards non-Muslims in day-to-day life and the rules that should be applied to non-Muslims. It concentrates on a selection of key Qur'anic verses relating to the subject and attempts to demonstrate that Islam as prescribed in the Qur'an and exemplified by the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions accepts, celebrates and even encourages diversity, harmony and peaceful co-existence with non-Muslims.
Social sustainability and the historical district projects: Souq Waqif in Qatar as a case study.
Authors: Noufal Diaa
Published: October 2012

The conflicts between economic growth, social well-being and ecological environment have frequently been highlighted. There is evidence that rehabilitation projects, while generating economic activity and improving the physical environment, also lead to many serious social problems, such as forced eviction and gentrification. Other issues include conflicts involving the cultural role of heritage and loss of social continuity and community neighborhood, exclusion of community participation, property speculation, loss of sense of place, urban sprawl and social exclusion. Thus, there is an urgent need to address the concept of socially sustainable development in the rehabilitation of urban historic districts.
The case of Souq Waqif provides a unique opportunity for the topic where there was no previous relevant research. In addition, its urban context and the city are unique considering the architectural components, and environmental, cultural and social context. Lessons learned from studying social sustainability in Doha are expected to add remarkable input to the understanding of the city urban development and the resulting social change.
The complexity and the novelty of the research topic required a combination of methods or what the research sources refer to as 'triangulation'. The study evaluated a large amount of literature related to social and cultural values connected directly or indirectly to the built environment, particularly historical districts. Four main stages were done starting from literature review to collecting data, conducting surveys, analyzing them and arriving to solid results and recommendations. Interviews were conducted in three modes; face-to-face (F2F), telephonic, and online. Three main experts on the project participated during the research to reflect on different points studied over a carefully designed questionnaire. The experts represented the project designers, the development management and the academic perspective on the topic.
Results were able to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the development of Souq Waqif and the direct and indirect impacts of the project on the overall social life of the space users - whether they are tourists, labourers or business owners. The study has resulted in important messages for planning and social sustainability of similar projects, management recommendations and necessary practices to avoid anticipated decay.
إدارة المخاطر بين البنوك الاسلامية و التقليدية دراسة مقارنة على البنوك القطرية المدرجة في السوق المالي
Authors: Alqaradaghi Bahnaz Ali
Published: October 2012

المخاطر في مجال الصناعة البنكية أمر لابد منه تقتضيه طبيعة نشاط البنوك ، و هذا البحث هو استكشاف لعالم المخاطر في الصناعة البنكية قديما و حديثا، بالإضافة إلى اجراء التحليلات المالية و الاحصائية للبنوك المدرجة في السوق المالي القطري في الفترة ما بين 2006-2010
منهج البحث : قائم على لغة الارقام و التحليل و الاستقراء مع الاستعانة بمنهج الوصف و المقارنة .
هدف البحث : قياس المخاطر الرئيسية التي تتعرض لها البنوك الاسلامية و التقليدية في قطر من خلال النسب المالية و التحليل بالمخاطر الخاصة و التحليل الاحصائي لمعرفة من أكثر مخاطرة .
ومن اهم النتائج التي توصل اليها الباحث :
1-ان البنوك الإسلامية التزمت ببازل 1و2 لانه خيار يفرضه عليها العولمة ولكنها راعت في تطبيقه اختلاف طبيعة البنوك الإسلامية عن التقليدية .
2-إن لمجلس الخدمات الإسلامي و هيئة المحاسبة و المراجعة دورا بارزا في أسلمة بازل 1و2 لتلاءم البنوك الاسلامية و تراعي الاختلافات بينها وبين البنوك التقليدية .
3-التحليل المالي للبنوك الإسلامية و التقليدية يثبت تفوق البنوك الإسلامية في بعض النسب و تفوق البنوك التقليدية في نسب اخرى .
4-التحليل باستخدام معادلة المخاطر الخاصة تدل على تفوق البنوك الإسلامية .
5-التحليل الاحصائي للإنحراف المعياري للعائد على الملكية يظهر أن البنوك الإسلامية مجتمعة أقل خطرا من البنوك التقليدية مجتمعة .
6-التحليل الاحصائي يؤكد أن الحجم مؤثر في مخاطر البنوك الإسلامية و التقليدية .
7- التحليل الاحصائي يدل على ان العوامل المؤثرة في مخاطر البنوك الإسلامية و التقليدية تنقسم إلى قسمين :عوامل مشتركة و عوامل مختلفة لاتفاق كليهما في كونهما وسيطا ماليا و اختلاف كليهما في الطريقة .
التوصيات :في ضوء التحليلات التي قام بها الباحث و الاستنتاجات التي تم التوصل اليها يمكن التوصية باجراء المزيد من التحليلات المالية و الاحصائية للبنوك الاسلامية في الدول الخليجية و العربية و الاسلامية لمعرفة مدى أمان البنوك الإسلامية .
Renewal of Islamic jurisprudence Da'wah: Between acceptance and rejection
Authors: Mohammed Hossam Khalil
Published: October 2012

One of the terms that cause confusion, suspicion, many conflicts and disagreement is "Islamic renewal". While renewal is legitimate and necessary, as admitted by the imams of Islam, this term has become a source of contention in recent times. Some have tried to give this term a strange mission and vision far from the truth and essence of Islam.
One of the greatest fields where controversy erupts is the field of renewal of Islamic jurisprudence, where there are three different calls:

The first call believes that the renewal of jurisprudence leads to alienation of religion.
The second call, however, sees that the renewal of jurisprudence is legitimate.
The third call is also calls for renewal, but the renewal of its vision - meaning reformulating doctrine and religion to something different from what it known of Islam throughout its glorious history - to make it subservient to the values of other civilizations and its concepts.

Hence from that, the importance of this research to differentiate between "legitimate renewal" and the renewal which is alleged to undermine Islam.

This research was divided into four sections and a conclusion.
The first section deals with the concept of jurisprudence and its status and historical background. The second section addresses the concept of renewal of Islamic jurisprudence.
The third section addresses some very important issues pertaining to renewal of Islamic jurisprudence. The fourth section is allocated to discuss "alleged renewal" and the conclusion records the most important results of this research.
In pursuit of social justice: Qatar's leading role as an Islamic model.
Authors: Elbassiouny Nancy
Published: October 2012

Background:
Despite its relatively small native population, Qatar's impressive number of charitable and social organizations makes it unique. In response to the initiatives of Qatar Foundation, Qatar is constantly expanding its role in promoting philanthropy, social responsibility,and volunteerism as part of contributing to civil governance on both local and global levels, inspired by the Islamic model of social justice exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Objectives:
1. Support the claim that Qatar can serve as a possible Islamic model for social justice.
2. Show the strong connection between Qatar's leading role in promoting social justice and its strong support for interfaith dialogue and religious understanding and cooperation.

Methods:
Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, this research examines Qatar's philanthropic initiatives through government, nonprofit, and both national and international charitable organizations such as Qatar Red Crescent Society, Social Development Center (SDC), Qatar Charitable Society (QCS), and Reach out to Asia (ROTA).

Results:
Qatar's aim has been to promote economic prosperity and stability among its citizens and also has been a key aid provider on a global level as part of its commitment to the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC). Qatar's commitment to religous understanding and cooperation is an essential means to promote social justice.

Qatar's religious diversity enriched by its large expatriate community has helped it become a hub for interfaith dialogue, as shown by its public funding of sixteen Christian churches and its Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID), which hosts an annual conference and publishes a scholarly journal entitled 'Religions-Adyan'. The theme of its first numbered issue was, "Charity and Compassion: Interreligious Perspectives".

Conclusion:
Qatar is playing a key role in the pursuit of social justice on local, regional, and global levels while staying true to its Islamic character and thereby serving as a potential Islamic model.
The Qatari role in the Arab spring revolutions and its impact on Qatar's image in the Arab world: A comparative study between media and NGO's roles
Authors: Bayoumy Ashraf Galal Hassan Mohamed
Published: October 2012

As the Arab Spring swept across much of the Middle East and North Africa, Qatar was already well established as a state with a reach and influence far exceeding its physical size. Its role in negotiations in Lebanon, Darfur, and between Ethiopia & Eritrea, had established Qatar's pedigree as a neutral, well-resourced, and dedicated mediator. Though it was not always successful—such as in Yemen where various ceasefires broke down—Qatar had an effective combination: a non-threatening posture, lack of real political interests in the countries in question, significant financial inducements, and nimble rapid responses in the face of crisis thanks to a lack of bureaucratic impediments.
We record multiple forms of support for the Arab spring, such as the clear role of the media (Al Jazeera- Al Jazeera Egypt- Free Libya channel), military support, NGO's aid and a diplomatic role.

Research question:
What is the Qatari role in Arab spring revolutions and its impact on Qatar image in the Arab world?

Research importance:
1. Qatar is the only Arab state that has not faced increased agitation among citizens during a period of regional upheaval.
2. Qatar was leery of potentially weakening a fraternal Sunni monarchy, as any efforts to mediate or ease tensions would have profoundly fractured its relations with its key neighbor, Saudi Arabia.
3. Qatar support to the Arab Spring revolutions is in line with Qatari foreign policy.
4. In the wake of the Arab Spring, the U.S. has found Qatar to be an exceedingly useful ally. Its unique position as an ally for numerous Islamic actors has enabled it to play the critical role of interlocutor.

Research Methodology:
The research depended on both quantitative and qualitative techniques via descriptive exploratory methodology using survey and focus group discussions. The research depended on designing a well-structured questionnaire and meetings with 500 from Arabs (from Egypt, Syria, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen) plus the design of 10 focus group discussions (with male and females) to interpret the quantitative data. The study documented the Qatari role in the Arab Spring and its impact on forming the Qatari image for the Arab public.
Effective use of the web: Digital literacy in Qatar
Authors: Dun Susan , Kalaji Motasem , Mutassem Dina
Published: October 2012

Background/Objectives:
The digital divide, which separates those with and without access to web resources, is a significant concern, given the explosion of resources available via the web. However research carried out in the US demonstrates that access alone does not eliminate the digital divide; rather, users must have a relatively high level of digital literacy to effectively use web resources. The need to understand, measure, and potentially improve local levels of digital literacy is crucial for countries like Qatar that have already spent a great deal of effort to expand access to the internet and have as a goal to "universalize access to social services and to create a knowledge-based online society" (Al-Jaber & Dutta, citing ictQATAR's goals, 2008). Accordingly the objective of this study is to provide an initial assessment of internet digital literacy in monolingual and bilingual native speakers of Arabic and English in Qatar.

Methods:
The research utilizes observational methods established in Hargittai's digital literacy research. Data collection consisted of a 90 minute session of a pre-questionnaire, an observational session where the respondents perform internet searching tasks and finally a post-questionnaire.

We will analyze the level of digital literacy by measuring both the ability of the searchers to successfully complete the tasks as well their efficiency in doing so. We will correlate the results with demographic variables to determine if there are differences in digital literacy levels in Qatari/non-Qatari, Arabic vs. English and bilingual vs. monolinguals etc.

Results:
We are in the process of data collection. We expect our results will be particularly useful to ictQATAR in their policy decision-making. Knowing what levels of digital literacy exist in the Arabic subpopulations in Doha, especially Qataris, will help them design effective web-based tools.

Conclusions:
To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate Arabic users' and bilinguals' web searching strategies using observational methods. The results should not only aid local decision makers such as ictQATAR but also provide a groundbreaking source of information for scholars of the Internet and digital literacy, allowing the development of more effective educational interventions.
Communities in the 21st century: Effectiveness of new media channels in shaping public awareness and participation in development and charity campaigns
Authors: Bayoumy Ashraf Galal Hassan Mohamed
Published: October 2012

Background & Rationale:
The national vision of Qatar 2030 seeks to advance human development, social development, economic development and environmental development in the region, allowing it to modernize and stay relevant to 21st century global interactions while maintaining its morals, traditions, and culture.

The Qatari government has already devoted significant resources toward providing services that strengthen families in Qatar. As in many countries, various social campaigns are promoted through public service announcements in print media, billboards, and via radio and TV. However, technology and society are changing and these traditional approaches may not be the only way (or the best way) to reach all intended audiences especially in the field of developmental and charity work.

Purpose:
The study tested and evaluated the effectiveness of public service announcement campaigns and determineed if utilization of newer communication technologies (SMS, social media, etc.) can positively supplement more traditional methods of distributing public service announcements (e.g. billboard, radio, TV) and how this would be reflected on shaping public awareness and response to these campaigns in developmental and charity work.

The project enlisted the support of local organizations (such as Qatar Foundation, Supreme Council of Education, Supreme Council of Family Affairs, Supreme Council of Communication) and non-governmental organizations, regional and international agencies to assess the effectiveness of various public service announcement campaigns. In particular we were interested in how well messages reach target audiences via traditional means and what is the impact of these messages on public awareness and response. The project also investigated the effectiveness of new alternative messaging strategies to see if alternative messaging techniques such as SMS and social networking pages could enhance and improve the effectiveness of these campaigns.

Methodology:
The study depended on comparative methodology using content analysis, focus group discussions and surveying target audience. The study will compare and assess different campaigns locally, regionally and internationally so as to set a new model of designing and better use new media tools and techniques.

The results of this research provided useful data to help agencies determine the best ways to reach communities for which they can provide services.
Investigating student-centered teaching and learning in Qatar independent schools
Authors: Atmane Ikhlef
Published: October 2012

Qatari educational curriculum standards emphasize student-centered classrooms where students actively engage in inquiry and problem solving. Classrooms characterized by these elements should emerge as more successful on Qatari standards-based assessments, but little research has been done to determine whether these elements exist. The purpose of this study was to develop profiles of Qatar schools and to examine the relationships among classroom processes, teacher and student perceptions, and student achievement in math and science classrooms in higher and lower achieving elementary schools. Data were collected in October, 2008, in 17 schools randomly selected from 46 schools that had implemented the standards for at least 3 years. Descriptive data for school profiles were generated and compared qualitatively. Findings indicate that the percentage of standards met by schools is very low and the incidence of classroom behaviors associated with student-centered classrooms is also very low across schools (0% to 9.53%). However, teachers report high levels of efficacy on a 6 point scale for teaching in reform-oriented schools and perceive that they are implementing high levels of standards-based practices. Reports of inquiry practices were lower (4.2 to 5.76) but still high compared to observation of these practices. While schools making more progress meeting standards tended to exhibit higher levels of student-centered behaviors, no patterns existed for teacher perceptions. They tended to be high despite achievement level or level of observed implementation. Students' perceptions of classroom environment and problem solving also were high, but variations by achievement level were noted with higher performing schools reporting greater student-centeredness and problem-solving activities. The mismatch between participant perceptions and both observed behaviors and achievement has implications for the implementation of reform in general and professional development in particular.
أثر استخدام ذوي الإعاقة لوسائل الإعلام الاجتماعي علي تفاعلهم الاجتماعي في اطار نموذج الحوكمة الاعلامية
Authors: Bayoumy Ashraf Galal Hassan Mohamed
Published: October 2012

أثر استخدام ذوي الإعاقة لوسائل الإعلام الاجتماعي علي تفاعلهم الاجتماعي في اطار نموذج الحوكمة الاعلامية
مشكلة الدراسة:
شهد العالم اهتماما متزايدا بقضايا الإعاقة علي المستويين الرسمي والشعبي مما أثمر عن صدور اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لحقوق الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة التي أكدت حقوق المعاقين في ان يعيشوا حياة كريمة ويتمتعوا بكافة حقوقهم مثل أقرانهم الآخرين ، غير ان الممارسة الفعلية لهذه الحقوق تثبت عدم التطبيق الكامل لهذه الاتفاقية -علي الاقل فيما يخص الجانب الاعلامي - فما زالت الصور النمطية التي تقدم عن المعاقين في الاعلام وخاصة الدراما العربية بشقيها الافلام والمسلسلات سلبية ومن بينها تكريس صور للعجز والشفقة والانحراف والفساد ومهادنة السلطة والمهن التقليدية وهو أمر لا يتناسب تماما مع الواقع الفعلي للمعاقين في العالم عامة وفي قطر خاصة ، ومن هنا تتحدد مشكلة الدراسة في الإجابة علي السؤال البحثي التالي :ما طبيعة الصور الحالية التي يقدم بها المعاقين في الدراما العربية - بشقيها الأفلام والمسلسلات- وما هي الأسس العلمية التي ينبغي مراعاتها عند إعادة تقديم هذه الفئة في ضوء نموذج الحوكمة الاعلامية ؟
هدف الدراسة: ترشيد استخدام الدراما كأداة جذابة ومشوقة لتكوين صور ذهنية لدي المعاقين من خلال التقديم الواقعي لهذه الفئة بما يعكس دورها ومكانتها في المجتمع لتكوين صورة ذهنية طيبة عنها لدي الافراد.
الأهداف الفرعية :
1- التعرف علي طبيعة وحجم الصور الايجابية والسلبية التي قدم بها المعاقين في الدراما العربية.
2- قياس الي أي مدي تقترب الدراما العربية من تطبيق نموذج الحوكمة الاعلامية عند تقديمها لصور المعاقين.
أهم النتائج
1- ثبت ان الصورة التي يقدم بها المعاقين سلبية جدا في مجملها وتعكس معاني العجز والشفقة والخضوع ومحدودية الفكر وتولي المناصب التقليدية او البطالة والاعتماد علي الآخرين والانحراف الأخلاقي والسلوكي والفساد ، كما ان هناك اعاقات معينة تبرز للاثارة اكثر من غيرها.
2- تعاني الدراما العربية عند تقديمها لصورة المعاقين نقصا شديد في فهم طبيعة ونفسية المعاق وما زالت تقدمه في اطار يكرس معاني الانفصال والتبعية .
3- الدراما العربية تهتم فقط بالاثارة عند تقديم صور المعاقين ولا تراعي مباديء المسؤولية الاجتماعية او الحوكمة الاعلامية.
4- هناك العديد من الاسس الواجب مراعاتها عند التقديم الدرامي للمعاقين سواء في الافلام او المسلسلات.
An exploratory study of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as a behavioral screening instrument in Qatar
Authors: Al-Hendawi Maha , Keller Clayton
Published: October 2012

Background and Objectives:
Special education in Arab countries, including Qatar, is hampered by the lack of reliable and valid assessments that are (a) in Arabic, (b) contextualized to Arab countries, and (c) normed on appropriate local samples as such instruments are necessary for the accurate identification of disabilities and development of effective instruction.

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief behavioral screening tool completed by teachers and parents of children and youth. Its 25 items assess a range of emotional and behavioral disorders through six scales. The instrument, widely used in research as well as practice, has been translated into more than 50 languages and used across a number of countries. Its use in Arab countries, and especially the Gulf, has been limited, however.

This UREP-funded research assessed the adequacy of the Arabic version of the SDQ in Qatar by (a) examining the instrument's psychometric properties and (b) investigating its efficacy in identifying emotional and behavioral disorders.

Methods:
SDQs were collected on over 2,300 students from six primary schools in Qatar. The schools were selected based on geographic location and students' gender, academic performance, and nationalities.

Analyses investigated (a) the theoretical structure of the SDQ, (b) the reliability of the SDQ as a whole and its scales, and (c) score classification using standard scoring bands.

Results:
Results from confirmatory factor analyses suggested that the structure of the SDQ and its scales found in other research was replicated to a large extent, but not entirely. The internal consistencies of the instrument and its scales were adequate to strong for all but two scales. For only three of the 12 scales did the application of the standard scoring bands, however, begin to sort the students into the 80% normal, 10% borderline, and 10% abnormal distribution of scores supported by research in some countries.

Conclusions:
Additional work is needed to improve this instrument needed in Qatar by: (a) strengthening the internal consistencies of unreliable scales and (b) constructing Qatar‐specific bands for score classification. Doing so will provide schools with an important resource for addressing students' emotional and behavioral needs.