Hamad bin Khalifa University

• A cement-free, polymer-bound perlite composite demonstrated the feasibility of ultra-low-carbon insulation materials for non-structural building applications. • Porosity ranged from 28 % (S3) to 52 % (S2), with micropores (<2 µm), mesopores (2–50 µm), and macropores (>50 µm) identified. • Interfacial transition zone (ITZ) widths in cement-based samples were 10–30 µm (S3: 10–15 µm, S2: 25–30 µm), with gypsum forming ettringite and polymer creating a dual-layer ITZ. • Cracking depended on mix design, S2 showed shrinkage cracking at interfaces, S3 showed minimal cracking, and S6 remained crack-free (with occasional delamination). • Strength increased with 28-day density, S2 had 536 kg/m³ and 1.90 MPa, while S3 reached 917 kg/m³ and 7.41 MPa, intermediate samples followed the same trend. The concrete production process accounts for 8% of all global carbon emissions worldwide. This urge demands the development of construction alternatives away from cementious material. This experimental study develops six perlite-enhanced concrete admixtures and explores them using multi-scale scanning electron microscopy (100×–10,000×) combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy to establish quantitative relationships between microstructure and thermal insulation potential. Mixtures included variable quantities of water, cement, perlite, and additives, including gypsum and polymer, resulting in water-cement ratios ranging from 0.57 to 1.88. Elemental analysis shows calcium content ranging from 0.45 mass% in cement-free Sample 6 to 26.71 mass% in Sample 2, while silicon varied from 0.07 to 14.97 mass%. Ca/Si ratios ranged from 1.19 to 3.08, indicating varying extents of pozzolanic reaction. Sample 6 contained 21.15 mass% carbon from the glue binder and 21.79% aluminum content. Porosity ranged from 28% in Sample 3 to 52% in Sample 2, correlating with water content and thermal conductivity estimates of 0.15–0.45 W/m·K. Interfacial transition zones measured 10–30 m in width, with narrower zones in low water-cement ratio samples indicating better particle-matrix integration. Gypsum-containing samples exhibited sulfur contents of 4.46 and 0.91 mass%, resulting in the formation of ettringite crystals that bridge the interfaces. Multi-scale imaging captured three pore populations: micropores (<2 μm), mesopores (2–50 μm), and macropores (>50 μm), each contributing differently to thermal transport. The cement-free formulation proved feasible for ultra-low-carbon applications, whereas cement-based samples reduced cement use by 25% with perlite. These microstructure-property insights help optimize perlite concrete for sustainable construction by balancing thermal insulation and structural performance through porosity and interfacial control.

Purpose This research addresses the integration of sport into corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies by companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE). Theoretically underpinned by neo-institutional isomorphic pressures, the study aims to fill a gap in the literature on CSR practices in the Middle East by examining how Qatari firms use sport-related CSR initiatives to foster community engagement and meet sustainable development goals. Design/methodology/approach The research involved a comprehensive analysis of annual reports from QSE-listed companies (n = 47), ensuring reliability through an automated data retrieval and analysis framework. The study handled extensive data sets consisting of annual reports spanning 10–15 years and primarily used two components: prompts and retrieval augmented generation. Findings The results highlight an increased focus on and utilisation of sport within CSR strategies across various sectors. They further demonstrate significant sectoral differences in CSR strategies, with banks and financial services leading in activities linked to philanthropy, sponsorships and personnel engagement. Given Qatar’s strategic emphasis on sport, related CSR initiatives have seen parallel and substantial growth, strengthening their role in promoting societal well-being. Originality/value This study contributes to the understanding of CSR practices in the region, by offering theoretical and practical insights on developing effective “CSR through sport” programmes. The research further provides a methodological and data foundation for application into other/adjacent regional or sectoral contexts.

Background: Statins are central to primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease but are often underutilized due to myopathy and intolerance. While individual pharmacogenetic (PGx) variants, particularly in SLCO1B1, are linked to statin-associated muscle symptoms, the real-world impact of both clinical and cumulative PGx burden on regimen modification and adverse outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the existing uncertainty regarding whether combined PGx scores can effectively guide statin dose titration and regimen modification, thereby filling a key clinical gap. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 911 statin-treated patients with coronary artery disease was conducted from the Qatar Cardiovascular Biorepository with available whole-genome sequencing data. Variants in SLCO1B1, ABCG2, and CYP2C9 were combined into a functional PGx burden score, and their associations with statin regimen modification, intolerance, myopathy, liver injury, adherence, and composite adverse events were evaluated. The composite adverse events were defined as the occurrence of any statin-related adverse event, including statin-associated myopathy, liver injury, or poor medication adherence, during the follow-up period. Patients were classified as having experienced the composite outcome if at least one of these events occurred. Results: Over 12 months following statin initiation, 10.2% of patients underwent dose escalation, 11.4% de-escalation, and 78.4% remained on the same regimen. PGx burden is not statistically significantly associated with statin intolerance (OR 1.14; 95% CI: 0.73-1.76), composite adverse outcome (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.82-1.42), or time to regimen change (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.77-1.35). However, higher PGx burden showed a directional tendency toward dose de-escalation (RRR 1.18, 95% CI 0.76-1.84) and lower likelihood of escalation (RRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.56-1.54). Conclusions: Clinical factors, particularly statin intensity and myopathy, were the primary determinants of regimen modification. The PGx burden contributes to vulnerability to statin-related adverse effects in a context-dependent manner but does not independently drive statin regimen modification in routine clinical practice. Prospective studies are warranted to assess the clinical utility of PGx-guided workflows in statin therapy.

Immune system dysregulation is implicated in a wide range of human diseases, including cancer. Genetic studies have shown evidence of a link between immune diseases and cancer; therefore, deficits of immune system-related genes could be involved in cancer development. In this study, we compiled a curated list of immune system-related genes linked to cancer. In this study, we constructed a list of immune system-related genes by selecting relevant genes from Gene Autoimmune disease Association Database (GAAD), International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) and DisGeNET databases. After careful curation and deduplication, 722 genes were classified into three tiers according to gene-disease association scores from the DISEASES tool: Tier-1 (147 genes), Tier-2 (332 genes), and Tier-3 (243 genes), reflecting their links to immune diseases. Using online pathway analysis tools DAVID and Enrichr, we verified the biological functions of the genes in each tier. Functional validation analyses showed that Tier-1 genes were strongly enriched for cytokine-mediated signaling, interleukin pathways and innate/adaptive immune responses, reflecting important immune-cancer mechanisms. Tier-2 genes were mainly enriched for innate immune responses, chemokine signaling pathways, and T-cell differentiation and checkpoint pathways. This reflected the Tier-2 genes’ broader immune regulatory functions. Tier-3 showed less immune-related functional enrichment than Tier-1 and Tier-2, enriched for complement activation, telomere maintenance, and broad cellular pathways. We believe that this curated immune-cancer gene database of 722 genes will be a valuable and reliable source for scientists studying the relationship between immune system-related genes and cancer. It provides a biologically validated source that might complement automated gene-disease association sources and support the training and enhancement of current AI tools used to identify genes linked to cancer from large datasets.

Abstract This paper presents a case study investigating how climate-related health risks are communicated in Qatar through news media and government messaging, with a particular focus on migrant workers. It assesses the accessibility of media coverage and public communication strategies, as well as their alignment with international guidelines for inclusive risk communication. The study analyses existing online climate communication messages, channels, and resources, both prior to and during emergency situations. Accessibility is understood as the extent to which information is retrievable, comprehensible, and usable by people with a wide range of abilities. This includes physical, digital, linguistic, and social dimensions of access. By examining Qatar’s approach to climate risk communication in a multilingual and socioeconomically diverse context, the study highlights existing challenges and offers insights for improving the inclusivity and effectiveness of public communication in similar settings. Findings highlight key gaps and structural barriers in current practices, offering insights for the development of more equitable and inclusive public communication strategies in climate-vulnerable settings such as Qatar.