University of Calgary in Qatar

Additive manufacturing has been prominent for making complicated polymeric structures, with PLA being preferred for its biodegradability, ease of use, and wide 3D printing compatibility. The present study aims to explore the effects of graphene-integrated adhesive on shear properties, failure modes, and vibrational response of adhesively joined bonded joints prepared with 3D printed short glass fibre-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) adherents. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to analyse fracture surfaces, while artificial neural networks (ANN) predicted failure modes using a backpropagation algorithm. Tensile testing of bulk samples indicated that samples printed with 0º raster orientation have higher tensile strength (30.7 MPa) than samples printed with 45º (26.7 MPa) and 90º (23.4 MPa) raster orientations. Shear test results demonstrate that incorporating 1.0 wt.% of graphene into the adhesive enhances the adhesive joint’s shear properties, leading to a 19.51% increase in shear strength compared to neat samples. The free vibrational analysis avowed that the addition of graphene up to 1.0 wt.% increases natural frequencies due to improved stiffness from its well-dispersed state within the epoxy matrix. Furthermore, the failure load was accurately predicted using an artificial neural network trained on data from stress–strain curves. The R2 value of 0.9861 indicates that the results are reliable and show a good correlation. Thereby, this study demonstrated how graphene-integrated epoxy adhesives enhance the mechanical and vibrational properties of adhesively bonded lap joints prepared with 3D printed short glass fibre-reinforced PLA adherents, while also using artificial neural networks to predict failure modes, providing a novel approach to optimise the performance of adhesively joined 3D printed components.

Abstract This chapter explores the concept of regenerative tourism as a sustainable approach to travel and destination development. It examines the interconnectedness of regenerative agriculture and tourism, incorporating the adaptive cycle model and principles from the regenerative development framework. The chapter proposes a conceptual framework comprising five design dimensions: regeneration mindset, inherent potential, systems capability, intended system effects and tasks and resources. These dimensions guide the design and development of regenerative tourism interventions, aiming to shift the tourism regime towards regeneration. The chapter highlights the importance of adopting an ecological worldview, discovering the unique potential of each place, leveraging tourism living systems, creating regenerative places and communities and collaborating to enact regenerative approaches. Regenerative tourism offers solutions for rethinking and rebuilding the tourism industry, enhancing local economies, preserving cultures and biodiversity and providing transformative experiences for guests. The descriptive methodology allows for a comprehensive exploration and explanation of the conceptual framework and its potential implications for the tourism industry. It serves to inform readers about the key concepts, principles and dimensions of regenerative tourism, facilitating a better understanding of its theoretical foundations and practical applications. The chapter concludes that regenerative tourism requires a change in the economic model and societal perspective, focusing on qualitative development and improving human well-being through ecosystem health. It recommends the adoption of regenerative practices, emphasizing the positive impacts on destinations and stakeholders. Future directions include further research on regenerative tourism's effectiveness, exploring innovative strategies and technologies and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to enhance its implementation.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic forced nursing education institutions to abruptly shift away from traditional in-person learning and find alternative approaches to fulfill program requirements. This integrative review explores the various innovative and restructured simulation strategies used by undergraduate nursing programs for lab and clinical courses in response to the pandemic. MethodsWhittemore and Knafl's (2005) five-step framework guided this review. A systematic search of six academic databases and quality appraisal using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool yielded 10 studies for the review. ResultsStrategies identified primarily employed virtual simulation methods using avatars or real people. Additional approaches included flipcharts and simulation-based flipped classrooms. Key themes pertaining to language and culture, immersion, facilitation and skills emerged. ConclusionVirtual simulation was a valuable tool during the pandemic, though not without challenges. Future implications are discussed. This review highlights the need for standardized terminology and considerations for cultural diversity in simulation. Additionally, further research into the effectiveness of virtual simulation as a replacement for in-person nursing clinical and lab experiences is warranted.

Background: Sickle cell diseases (SCDs) are inborn and catastrophic processes on vascular endothelium, particularly at the capillaries. Methods: All patients were included. Results: We studied 222 males and 212 females with similar mean ages (30.8 vs 30.3 years, p>0.05, respectively). Beside digital clubbing (14.8% vs 6.6%, p<0.001), smoking (23.8% vs 6.1%, p<0.001), alcohol (4.9% vs 0.4%, p<0.001), transfused red blood cells (RBCs) in their lives (48.1 vs 28.5 units, p=0.000), disseminated teeth losses (5.4% vs 1.4%, p<0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (25.2% vs 7.0%, p<0.001), ileus (7.2% vs 1.4%, p<0.001), cirrhosis (8.1% vs 1.8%, p<0.001), leg ulcers (19.8% vs 7.0%, p<0.001), coronary heart disease (CHD) (18.0% vs 13.2%, p<0.05), chronic renal disease (CRD) (9.9% vs 6.1%, p<0.05), and stroke (12.1% vs 7.5%, p<0.05) were all higher, and autosplenectomy (50.4% vs 53.3%, p<0.05) and mean age of mortality were lower in males, significantly (30.2 vs 33.3 years, p<0.05). Conclusion: The hardened RBCs-induced capillary endothelial damage initiates at birth, and terminates with multiorgan failures even at childhood. Parallel to digital clubbing, all of the atherosclerotic risk factors or consequences including smoking, alcohol, disseminated teeth losses, COPD, ileus, cirrhosis, leg ulcers, CHD, CRD, and stroke were higher, and autosplenectomy and mean age of mortality were lower in males which can not be explained by effects of smoking and alcohol alone at the relatively younger mean age. So autosplenectomy may be a good whereas male gender alone may be a bad prognostic factor, and digital clubbing may have an atherosclerotic background in SCDs. Key words: Sickle cell diseases, hardened red blood cells, capillary endothelial damage, capillary endothelial edema, sudden deaths, atherosclerosis, digital clubbing

Background: Falling is a big threat to community-dwelling older adults’ independence. The chance of falling increases as people become older, which increases morbidity and mortality. The outcomes related to falls impact families, communities, and healthcare systems. As a result, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) seeks to decrease the number of falls for community-dwelling older adults in Qatar.Aims: To explore the risk factors for falls in community-dwelling older adults. To inform the education of PHCC nurses so that they might begin to look at prevention strategies.Method: Cronin et al.’s framework guided this integrative literature review. CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, Embase, and PubMed databases were utilized to search for relevant articles. The search process returned 20 articles that met the inclusion requirements.Results: Various intrinsic and extrinsic factors lead to falls in community-dwelling older adults. The intrinsic factors include socio-demographic factors, physical health factors, physiological factors, sensory factors, psychological factors, and social factors. Environmental factors were the sole extrinsic factor.Conclusion: The findings of this literature review can be used to inform the creation of an educational program to improve home care nurses’ understanding of and attitudes toward the causes of falls in community-dwelling older adults. Through this program, nurses may begin to predict factors that lead to falls and, therefore, find strategies that help to reduce them.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of significant confusion and fear for healthcare workers as they try to maintain some sense of normalcy within their daily practices. One of the many areas affected by this pandemic has been palliative care. Palliative care nurses were thrust into a world of chaos as they faced increasing numbers of patients who were in the process of dying. The aim of this research was to explore the caring experiences of palliative care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative interpretive description design was used to explore the experience of nurses caring for dying patients in a palliative care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-two nurses working in a palliative care unit participated in this study. Data were collected during 1.5- to 2-hour focus group sessions that were guided by open-ended questions. The collected data were analyzed and coded into themes, including (a) transitioning to the new normal, (b) ethical dilemmas, and (c) collaboration and support for fellow colleagues. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet ended, this study provides relevant implications for practice. These implications include (a) holding continuing education sessions to help nurses better understand the meaning of pandemic conditions and how best to respond and (b) supporting nurses to better cope with the additional burdens faced because of increased patient loads. Overall, the nurses in this study were shown to have demonstrated reliance and resilience in the face of COVID-19.

BackgroundMaternal attitude toward infant feeding is an important determinant of breastfeeding. The Islamic faith encourages breastfeeding, yet many Muslim women do not breastfeed as per the World Health Organization recommendations. In the Middle East, research has not addressed attitudes toward infant feeding among Muslim women. Assessing women's attitudes toward infant feeding choices is crucial to improve breastfeeding rates among Muslim women. AimThe aims of this study are to (a) examine postpartum Muslim women's attitudes toward infant feeding, (b) identify the determinants of these attitudes, and (c) determine whether attitudes can predict breastfeeding intention among Muslim women. A secondary aim is to examine the psychometric attributes of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale among Muslim women. MethodA convenience sample of postpartum Muslim women (N = 414) were recruited between November 2019 and January 2020 in a large maternity facility in Qatar. A pre-developed questionnaire and the IIFAS were used to collect data. Both Arabic (n = 228) and English (n = 186) versions of the IIFAS were distributed postnatally to measure Muslim women's attitudes towards breastfeeding. A total attitude score was computed with higher scores indicating a more positive attitude toward breastfeeding. FindingsThe mean age of participants was 30.3 ± 5.2 years; 65.2% had a university degree and only 20.5% were employed. The mean attitude score was 61.8 ± 7.8. A significant association was found between the IIFAS attitude score and ethnicity, favouring Non-Qatari Arab women who had significantly higher attitude scores (p < .001). Women with full-time or part-time work had significantly higher scores than those not working (p = .008, p = .023). Older women had significantly lower attitude scores (adjusted slope = -0.230, p = .008). Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the Arabic and English versions of the IIFAS ranged from 0.69 to 0.80. ConclusionEthnicity, employment status, and age are determinants of infant feeding attitudes among Muslim women. In Qatar, Muslim women's attitudes related to breastfeeding trend toward positive; however, attitude is not a predictor of antenatal breastfeeding intention. Further research employing a larger sample with a focus on a culturally sensitive approach is recommended. The IIFAS has a moderate reliability level and needs to be culturally adapted to be used among a Muslim population.

Background: Primary healthcare nurses are pivotal to the successful uptake of immunization worldwide. Central to this, is the attitude and practice nurses may have toward vaccines during administration. It is postulated that altering knowledge towards immunization may impact both attitude and practice towards successful immunization uptake. The aim of this research was to assess nurses’ knowledge, attitude and practice after the delivery of a three-day continuing professional development program regarding administration, safe handling and delivery of vaccines. Method: This research consisted of a quantitative cross-sectional study, utilizing a self-administered survey. The survey contained questions related to immunization knowledge, attitude, and practice. Before and after attendance of an immunization program for continuing professional development, the survey was administered to nurses working in well-baby clinics, communicable diseases clinics, travel clinics and school nurses. Specific areas identified gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice among participating nurses. Results: Results from our study suggest that attitudes and practices of participants identified a significant difference after receiving an immunization educational program that focused on administration and delivery of immunization skills. Conclusion: Continuous professional development activities such as this have shown a marked increase in the attitude and practices of nurses making it tantamount to the success of vaccine uptake. Implications for Practice: Nurses are poised to be frontline advocates for the uptake of immunization; therefore education and training needs to be provided in order for them to understand and further affect change. Keywords: Vaccine, Immunization, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice