Information behaviour of researchers at Sultan Qaboos University

The present study investigates the information gathering behaviour of the academic researchers at Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman. It endeavours to explore researchers' awareness and attitudes towards information sources and services. Research methods for this study were designed from the user-centred perspective with triangulation approach. Hence, data was collected by the use of semistructured interviews as the main instrument with journal study and observation as supplementary tools. The information was collected from the members of the research community in their capacity as users of information. The study investigates the information needs and information gathering habits of the research community and attempts to identify the problems experienced by researchers in accessing and using information. It also seeks to explore the national policy for planning and provision of information. Finally the study examines the performance of the various information services in the context of user needs and the status of the institution library information service provision. The research concludes that present information environment at Sultan Qaboos University is inadequate to meet the information needs of the research community. It was found that the major causes for the situation was the lack of clear information policies, inadequate funding, ineffective partnership between top management and academic researchers, lack of effective in house training and finally absence of a reliable information technology infrastructure

Can Date Pits Replace Crude Oil?

Date pits are an underutilised waste biomaterial, produced in large quantities in the Sultanate of Oman along with bulk date waste biomass and produce. As with most biomass, they have the potential to increase their value through traditional and novel methods and techniques. By breaking down the durable date pits into softer yields, they can open pathways for renewable biomass processing in the Sultanate and the region. By reviewing the research performed on date pits; biomass as a whole and microwave interactions with date pits/biomass, a few points can be added to these specific areas by the research presented in this thesis. Especially with regards to bio-oil production via date pit valorisation and with regards to macroscopic microwave effects on biomass. This thesis uses microwave methods to valorise date pits in a manner that would increase their calorific output as a potential solid fuel, soften them for mechanical and future processing and extract by-products that can be used as fuels or sources for platform chemicals. Using TGA, GC/MS and ABSL analytical methods, the date pit biomass potential has been observed and reported to compare the raw material and extracts appropriately based on their proximate data, higher heating values (as fuels) and degradation outputs. Hydrothermal microwave pyrolysis managed to soften the date pits and liberate some of the lignin chains as a solid residue/powder; albeit in an insufficient and non-profitable quantity (0.6% of the date pits mass collected as lignin residue). The dry pyrolysis method quickly softened the date pits. It produced reasonable amounts of fermentable bio-oils while providing insight into microwave interactions with dry biomass and the mechanisms that induce fast pyrolysis and make bio-oil. The sequence of events leading up to bio-oil release from date pits and softening them by breaking down the hemicellulose chains is a critical contribution to future studies on renewable microwave practices

Can Date Pits Replace Crude Oil?

Date pits are an underutilised waste biomaterial, produced in large quantities in the Sultanate of Oman along with bulk date waste biomass and produce. As with most biomass, they have the potential to increase their value through traditional and novel methods and techniques. By breaking down the durable date pits into softer yields, they can open pathways for renewable biomass processing in the Sultanate and the region. By reviewing the research performed on date pits; biomass as a whole and microwave interactions with date pits/biomass, a few points can be added to these specific areas by the research presented in this thesis. Especially with regards to bio-oil production via date pit valorisation and with regards to macroscopic microwave effects on biomass. This thesis uses microwave methods to valorise date pits in a manner that would increase their calorific output as a potential solid fuel, soften them for mechanical and future processing and extract by-products that can be used as fuels or sources for platform chemicals. Using TGA, GC/MS and ABSL analytical methods, the date pit biomass potential has been observed and reported to compare the raw material and extracts appropriately based on their proximate data, higher heating values (as fuels) and degradation outputs. Hydrothermal microwave pyrolysis managed to soften the date pits and liberate some of the lignin chains as a solid residue/powder; albeit in an insufficient and non-profitable quantity (0.6% of the date pits mass collected as lignin residue). The dry pyrolysis method quickly softened the date pits. It produced reasonable amounts of fermentable bio-oils while providing insight into microwave interactions with dry biomass and the mechanisms that induce fast pyrolysis and make bio-oil. The sequence of events leading up to bio-oil release from date pits and softening them by breaking down the hemicellulose chains is a critical contribution to future studies on renewable microwave practices

Essays on modelling the volatility dynamics and linkages of emerging and frontier stock markets

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University London.This thesis consists of three essays and empirically studies the behaviour of emerging and frontier stock markets against instability in the commodity and international financial markets. The first essay considers symmetric and asymmetric dynamic conditional correlation multivariate GARCH models to examine the correlations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stock markets and the Brent and OPEC crude oil price indices and to gauge the oil shocks effect on the dynamics of the GCC stock markets. The analysis uses weekly data covering the period December 31st, 2003 to December 27th, 2012. The results show that: (i) two of the GCC stock markets are asymmetrically correlated with both the Brent and OPEC crude oil price indices and only two are symmetrically correlated with Brent oil; (ii) all the GCC stock markets exhibit positive and symmetric conditional correlations overtime and these correlations are more pronounced during periods of high oil price fluctuations. The second essay investigates the contagion effect and volatility spillovers from the U.S. financial, the Dubai and the European debt crises to the GCC stock markets, with particular focus on financial and non-financial sectors. It uses weekly data for the period December 31st, 2003 to January 28th, 2015 and applies GARCH models and indicators of crisis. The empirical results show that: i) contagion effects are present on some of the GCC stock markets and are more pronounced during the U.S. financial and Dubai debt crises, with a larger impact on financial sectors; ii) there is significant evidence of volatility spillovers from the financial sectors of the U.S., European and Dubai stock markets to some of the GCC sectors considered, even though spillovers are rather weak in magnitude. The last essay investigates the extent to which the GCC stock markets are correlated and integrated with those of the Asian countries. The analysis is carried out using the Johansen cointegration approach, the dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) GARCH model, and a standard correlation analysis based on a rolling window estimation scheme. The sample period of the analysis spans from December 31st, 2003 to September 30th, 2015. The empirical analysis offers three main results. First, there is a relatively moderate evidence of cointegration among some of the GCC and Asian stock markets particularly with of those of strong economic linkages among them. Second, evidence of time-varying correlation is found in some cases, while not large in magnitude, and shocks to volatility are highly persistence. Third, stock returns show a common trend exists, only during the global financial crisis.Ministry of Manpowe

The evaluation of training and development of employees: The case of a national oil and gas industry

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonDespite the fact that oil and gas companies invest heavily in training, there are considerable evidences to show that evaluation of the training is seldom undertaken, which leads to failure in determining the effectiveness of training. Kirkpatrick‘s four levels model (1959) sets out to be the key evaluation criteria to measure the effectiveness of training which has been used for more than 50 years to assess training effectiveness. This study focuses on the evaluation and improvement of Kirkpatrick‘s four levels model. It argues that Kirkpatrick‘s four levels model (1959) fails to account for factors such as work environment, individual factors, training characteristics, and their impact on training effectiveness. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the moderating variables of training characteristics and evaluate their subsequent impacts on Kirkpatrick‘s four training outcomes (reaction, learning, behaviour and results) and on intention to transfer learning. The objective of this study is to identify those training variables (pre-training interventions and activities, trainee readiness, training environment, training methods, trainer performance and behaviour, training content and objectives) and their effect on improving employee performance. In this study, training characteristics are referred to as pre-training interventions and activities, trainee readiness, training environment, training methods, trainer performance and behaviour, training content and objectives. To achieve the aim of this study, quantitative research was adopted. The study was conducted at three separate times (pre-training, immediately after completion and post-training 2-3 months). The hypotheses were tested by selecting a sample of n1 = 406, n2 = 402, n3 = 391 trainees in health and safety training working in national oil and gas companies located in Oman by using convenience sampling. Structural equation model (AMOS) software is used to validate the research model. The study has contributed to the field of training evaluation by developing Kirkpatrick‘s four levels model through an the examination of the impact of training characteristics on Kirkpatrick‘s four levels (reaction, learning, behaviour and results) and on intention to transfer learning in the national oil and gas industry in Oman before and after training was completed. The findings indicated that pre-training intervention and practices were positively and significantly related to expectations of training outcomes, and only trainee readiness was found to be positively and significantly related to the expectations of training environment and expectations of trainer performance and behaviour. The result confirmed the positive and significant correlation between reaction and learning, and between behaviour and results. Moreover, the results indicated that trainer performance and behaviour were positively and significantly related to the two training outcomes: reaction and learning; and in addition, training environment had a strong and positive impact on learning. Training content and objectives were positively and significantly related to behaviour. ii Nevertheless, pre-training interventions and activities had an insignificant effect on expectations for the training outcomes. Further, trainee readiness had an insignificant effect on expectations for the training environment and on expectations of trainer performance and behaviour. Learning had an insignificant effect on intention to transfer learning. The training environment and training methods were not found to be positively and significantly related to reaction. Training methods were not found to be positively and significantly related to learning. Further, the training characteristics, such as the training environment, training methods and trainer performance and behaviour had an insignificant impact on intention to transfer learning. The findings did not support that training characteristics had a moderating role on the relationship between training outcomes. This research has empirically investigated the moderating effects of training characteristics on the relationship between reaction, learning, intention to transfer learning, behaviour and results. This study has contributed to the literature empirically by showing that pre-training interventions and activities were the strongest factor contributing to expectations of the training environment, as well as to expectations of trainer performance and behaviour. Trainee readiness was the strongest factor contributing to expectations of the training outcomes. Furthermore, this study has contributed to the extant literature empirically by showing that trainee reaction is related significantly to trainee learning. This study has contributed to the literature by showing that trainer performance and behaviour was the strongest factor contributing to reaction. Furthermore, the training environment (followed by trainer performance and behaviour) was the strongest factor supporting learning. This study has further contributed to the extant literature empirically by showing that behavioural change is related significantly to results. This study also shows that training objectives (followed by training content) was the strongest factor affecting behaviour. From a practical perspective, the findings of this research have significant and practical implications for instructors, training designers, managers and supervisors when creating effective training programmes. In addition, this study contributes a framework for the practice of evaluating training effectiveness.Omani Ministry of Man Power and the Omani Cultural Burea

Post-occupancy evaluation for enhancing building performance and automation deployment

Building automation systems are building control and management systems that control/operate different systems in a building such as HVAC, lighting, safety systems, security and access control, surveillance, indoor air quality, and waste management. These systems manage, control, and integrate other building systems to enhance living experience and optimise energy use through a set of sensors and actuators that are deployed in the building to collect data and execute commands that are sent through a gateway. These management systems generate real-time commands and act or reacts to stochastic occupant behaviours. Buildings in Oman used to be built with burned clay mixed with date palm leaves, and wadi stones and date palm trunks are used for building structure. This architecture keeps the indoor environment warm in winter and cold in summer. However, with advancing technology there has been a shift in building towards using concrete and steel that have high thermal conductivity and pose some challenges for energy use. This paper will show that the main concern of occupants in Oman is indoor temperature control, especially during summer months. This has raised concerns for building performance in Oman and shows a need to review building materials, recommend sustainable alternatives, and more widely, implement sustainable building techniques. This paper seeks to develop recommendations to overcome these issues by exploring post-occupancy satisfaction measures and potential use of BAS and sustainable building materials to enhance building performance in Oman. Following on from this, this paper explores the motivations behind people's decision in Oman to deploy home automation and explore techniques to enhance building performance

Pathology-MRI correlations in diffuse low-grade epilepsy associated tumors

It is recognized that IDH mutation negative, low-grade epilepsy associated tumors (LEAT) can show diffuse growth patterns and lack the diagnostic hallmarks of either classical dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNT) or typical ganglioglioma. “Nonspecific or diffuse DNT” and more recently “polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young” have been terms used for these entities. There are few reports on the MRI recognition of these diffuse glioneuronal tumors (dGNT), which is important in planning the extent of surgical resection. In 27 LEATs T1, T2, FLAIR, and postcontrast T1 MRI were evaluated and the pathology reviewed, including immunostaining for NeuN, CD34, MAP2, and IDH1. Each case was then independently classified by pathology or MRI as simple DNT, complex DNT, or dGNT. There was agreement in 23/27 (85%; Kappa score 0.62; p < 0.01). In 4 cases, there was discrepancy in the diagnosis of simple versus complex DNT but 100% agreement achieved for dGNT. DNT showed significantly more expansion of the cortex, cystic change and ventricle extension than dGNT. dGNT showed significantly more subcortical T2w hyperintensity and focal cortical atrophy which correlated on pathology with CD34 expression, cortical neuronal loss and white matter rarefaction. There was no distinct cortical dysplasia component identified by MRI or pathology in any case. This study highlights that dGNT can be reliably discriminated on MRI from DNT

Pathology–MRI Correlations in Diffuse Low-Grade Epilepsy Associated Tumors

It is recognized that IDH mutation negative, low-grade epilepsy associated tumors (LEAT) can show diffuse growth patterns and lack the diagnostic hallmarks of either classical dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNT) or typical ganglioglioma. “Nonspecific or diffuse DNT” and more recently “polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young” have been terms used for these entities. There are few reports on the MRI recognition of these diffuse glioneuronal tumors (dGNT), which is important in planning the extent of surgical resection. In 27 LEATs T1, T2, FLAIR, and postcontrast T1 MRI were evaluated and the pathology reviewed, including immunostaining for NeuN, CD34, MAP2, and IDH1. Each case was then independently classified by pathology or MRI as simple DNT, complex DNT, or dGNT. There was agreement in 23/27 (85%; Kappa score 0.62; p < 0.01). In 4 cases, there was discrepancy in the diagnosis of simple versus complex DNT but 100% agreement achieved for dGNT. DNT showed significantly more expansion of the cortex, cystic change and ventricle extension than dGNT. dGNT showed significantly more subcortical T2w hyperintensity and focal cortical atrophy which correlated on pathology with CD34 expression, cortical neuronal loss and white matter rarefaction. There was no distinct cortical dysplasia component identified by MRI or pathology in any case. This study highlights that dGNT can be reliably discriminated on MRI from DNT

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Information behaviour of researchers at Sultan Qaboos University

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