A Survey of Biology Alternative Conceptions among General Education Students in the Sultanate of Oman

This study aimed at investigating Omani general education alternative conceptions in some biological concepts. To achieve this aim, a two-tier MCQs biology test, consisting of 40 items, was constructed. The test was verified by a panel of experts in science teaching to check its validity, whereas the reliability was calculated using Cronbach alpha for internal consistency. Alpha value was 0.85. The test was administered to 1013 students, randomly selected from four educational governorates in the Sultanate of Oman in the 2010/2011 school year. The results of the study showed that Omani general education students held several alternative conceptions in all four domains of the biology: systems and life processes, reproduction and heredity, cell and its functions and diversity and adaptation. Accordingly, the study proposed several recommendations based on the results

Omani twelfth grade students' most common misconceptions in chemistry

The current study, undertaken in the Sultanate of Oman, explored twelfth grade students' common misconceptions in seven chemistry conceptual areas. The sample included 786 twelfth grade students in Oman while the instrument was a two-tier test called Chemistry Misconceptions Diagnostic Test (CMDT), consisting of 25 items with 12 items incorporating visual representations and eight items used sub-microscopic representations. In addition, nine items required participants to study the visual diagram(s) in order to answer the questions. The results confirmed several misconceptions that had been identified in previous studies, as higher percentages of the misconceptions were recorded compared to the findings of previous studies. Misconceptions receiving the highest percentages were associated with combustion, chemical equilibrium, and electrochemistry. The results also indicated that twelfth graders had a difficulty dealing with visual test items. These findings are serious alerts to the practice of chemistry education at the secondary level in Oman. Recommendations are given to improve the teaching of chemistry by taking research-diagnosed misconceptions into account when designing instructional materials and classroom activities

The Genus <i>Xanthagaricus</i>: An Updated Global Species Distribution and Phylogeny with the Description of Two New Species from Oman

Xanthagaricus is a saprotrophic mushroom genus with small-sized basidiomata in the family Agaricaceae (Agaricales). Prior to this study, 26 species belonging to this genus have been described and published. In this study, we reported Xanthagaricus for the first time from Oman with the description of two new species. Basidiomata of the new species Xanthagaricus appendiculatus and X. omanicus were collected during the monsoon rains of summer in 2018 in the southern coastal region of Oman. Species descriptions are based on morphological and molecular characterization. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA clustered the new species in the Xanthagaricus clade with strong statistical support. The new species Xanthagaricusappendiculatus can be distinguished from other species by its purplish pileus with umbonate disc and X. omanicus with the largest pileus (70–90 mm diameter) among the known species of the genus. A detailed description, photographs, line drawings, and a phylogenetic tree showing the position of both new species are provided. A dichotomous key to the known taxa of Xanthagaricus is proposed. Morphological comparisons of new species with known Xanthagaricus taxa are provided. Our observations highlight the diversity of Xanthagaricus and other lepiotaceous mushrooms in southern Oman and further document the need for additional systematic focus on the region’s fungi

Micropsalliota ventricocystidiata Al-Sadi & S. Hussain 2022, sp. nov.

Micropsalliota ventricocystidiata Al-Sadi & S. Hussain, sp. nov. (Figs. 3, 4) MycoBank no: MB842602 Diagnosis: Micropsalliota ventricocystidiata can be distinguished from other species by its: medium-sized basidiomata with hemispheric pileus, covered with reddish-brown squamules, basidiospores amygdaliform to oblong, measuring 7.5–8.5 × 4.5–5.0 µm, with ventricose cheilocystidia. Etymology: The specific epithet “ ventricocystidiata ” refers to the ventricose shape of the cheilocystidia of the new species. Type: Oman, Dhofar, Gogob, 17°18′28.9″ N and 54°06′27.6″ E under the trees of Anogeissus dhofarica, 2 Sept 2018, N. Al Dhanki, S. Al Salami, M. Al Jahwari and I. Al Sabahi, GOB-002 (holotype SQUH-GOB002; GenBank accession: ITS = OM 397374, 28 S = OM 630413). Description:Pileus 30–55 mm diam, at young stage ovoid to parabolic, as the pileus opened becoming hemispheric, at mature stage convex to plano-convex; surface finely squamulose, squamules more or less triangular or granular, slightly erect, concentrated at the center, sparse towards the margin, light reddish-brown (2.5YR 5/4–2.5YR 6/4) to moderate reddish-brown (7.5R 3/4–7.5R 3/6) on a white background; margins slightly scalloped. Lamellae free, crowded (25–30 per centimeter), ventricose, reddish-gray (7.5YR 6/2), with 1–5 series of lamellulae, becoming lightbrown (5YR 6/4) with age. Stipe 40–70 × 7–10 mm, central, equal, hollow, surface granulose, granules white, sparce above the annulus, more concentrated below the annulus, on a white background; annulus single layered, membranous, ascendant, white, smooth on both surfaces. Context white, unchanged on handling. KOH reaction reddish-brown on pileus. Odor and taste not recorded. Basidiospores [60/2/2] (7.0)7.5–8.5(9.0) × (4.0)4.5–5.0(5.5) µm, on average 8.2 × 4.8 µm, Q = 1.6–1.86, av. Q = 1.7, ellipsoid to amygdaliform with acute apex in side view, oblong to sub-cylindrical in frontal view, smooth, brownish in 5% KOH, germ-pore absent. Basidia 20–26 × 8–9.5 µm, clavate, hyaline, smooth, 4-spored. Cheilocystidia 36–46 × 9.5–16 µm, mostly ventricose, rarely sub-cylindrical, abundant, smooth, hyaline. Pleurocystidia absent. Pileus covering is a cutis with septate hyphae, 10–15 µm diam, rarely branched, terminal cells 51–67 × 10–12 µm with acute apex, pale brownish in KOH. Clamp connections absent. ......continued on the next page Habitat and distribution: Scattered in small groups, saprotrophic, on humus rich soil with dead leaves and wood under the trees of Anogeissus dhofarica. So far only known from southern Oman. Additional specimens examined: Oman, Dhofar, Attir, on a shady place with plenty of liverworts, 5 Sept 2018, N. Al Dhanki, S. Al Salami, M. Al Jahwari and I. Al Sabahi, ATR-004 (SQUH-ATR004; GenBank accession: ITS = OM 397373, 28 S = OM 630414). Notes: The new species Micropsalliota ventricocystidiata is characterized by a medium-sized basidiomata with hemispheric to plano-convex pileus, covered with reddish-brown squamules; basidiospores amygdaliform with obtuse apex in side view, oblong in face view, measuring 7.5–8.5 × 4.5–5.0 µm and the cheilocystidia mostly ventricose, rarely more or less subcylindrical. ML phylogenetic analyses revealed that the closely related species of M. ventricocystidiata are: M. suthepensis, M. megaspora, M. repanda and M. sp. (SDJ 2021-8-9) an undescribed species from China. Micropsalliota suthepensis, described from Thailand, differs from M. ventricocystidiata by (i) its smaller pileus (10–20 mm diam) with violet squamules (ii) smaller spores (5–6 × 3–3.5 µm) that are somewhat similar in shape and have apical thickening, and (iii) cheilocystidia clavate with non-capitate apex (Zhao et al. 2010). Micropsalliota megaspora, also described from Thailand, differs in its small sized basidiomata, smaller spores (5.2–6.5 × 3.4–4 µm) and pyriform shaped cheilocystidia (Zhao et al. 2010). Micropsalliota repanda, originally described from Togo, differs from the new species by its pinkish pileal fibrils with clavate cheilocystidia (Heinemann 1980). Morphological comparison of the new species with regards to other species of Micropsalliota are further sorted in detail in Table 2. Morphologically, the new species M. ventricocystidiata is similar to M. digitatocystis R.L. Zhao, J.X. Li & M.Q. He (2021: 171), a recently described species from China (Li et al. 2021). Both species share the reddish-brown pileal squamules. On the basis of basidiospores morphology, both species can be differentiated. Basidiospores in M. digitatocystis are mostly ellipsoid to amygdaliform and comparatively smaller (5.8–7.4 × 4–4.6 µm; Li et al. 2021). In M. ventricocystidiata, basidiospores are amygdaliform with obtuse apex to sub cylindrical or oblong and larger (7.5–8.5 × 4.5–5.0 µm). In M. digitatocystis cheilocystidia are cylindrical to subclavate, subcapitate to capitate, measuring 37.4–52 × 9–16.4 µm. On the other hand, cheilocystidia in M. ventricocystidiata are mostly ventricose, rarely subcylindrical.Published as part of Al-Kharousi, Moza, Hussain, Shah, Al-Muharabi, Marwa A., Al-Maqbali, Dua'A, Al-Shabibi, Zahra, Al-Balushi, Abdullah H., Al-Yahya'Ei, Mohamed N., Saady, Nadiya Al, Velazhahan, Rethinasamy & Al-Sadi, Abdullah M., 2022, Notes on the genus Micropsalliota (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) and the description of a new species from Southern Oman, pp. 113-126 in Phytotaxa 543 (2) on pages 119-123, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.543.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/645074

The Accuracy of Point of Care Ultrasound Performed by Emergency Physicians in Detecting Hydronephrosis in Patients with Renal Colic

Objectives: to determine the accuracy of renal point of care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by emergency physicians in detecting hydronephrosis in patients with renal colic. Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional diagnostic study at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, emergency department (ED), from February 2017 to October 2018. All adult patients with suspected renal colic and who can give informed consent were included. The emergency physicians perform POCUS on both kidneys and graded hydronephrosis as none, mild, moderate, or severe cases. We compared POCUS grade to non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) grade. Results: Three hundred and three participants were enrolled in the analysis. Most of the study population are adult males, 247 (81.5%), and the mean age is 39 years. Among the samples, 71.2% of patients had a degree of hydronephrosis based on CT findings. Ultrasound performed by emergency physicians had a sensitivity of 75.8% (95% CI: 69.5‒81.4), the specificity of 55.2% (95% CI: 44.1‒65.8), the positive likelihood ratio of 1.69 (95% CI: 1.32‒2.16), and negative likelihood ratio 0.43 (95% CI: 0.32‒0.59) for hydronephrosis using CT as the criterion standard. Conclusions: When evaluating patients with suspected renal colic, a bedside renal POCUS performed by emergency physicians (EP) has a moderate sensitivity to detect hydronephrosis and grade its severity. It should be utilized in the ED to screen patients for hydronephrosis. More training is required to improve the test's accuracy, as this might help as a screening tool in ED.Keywords: Hematuria; Hydronephrosis; Nephrolithiasis; Point-of-care testing; Renal colic; Ultrasonography

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population

Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study an international prospective cohort study

We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care. We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care