Effectiveness of Learning with 3D-Lab on Omani Basic Education Students' Achievement, Attitudes and Scientific Thinking

This paper aims to measure the effectiveness of the 3DL on Omani students' acquisition of practical abilities and skills. It examines the effectiveness of the 3D-lab in science education and scientific thinking acquisition as part of a national project funded by The Research Council. Four research tools in a Pre-Post Test Control Group Design, findings show statistically significant differences in student achievement in favor of the experimental group. The results show students' attitudes are positive towards using 3D-lab in teaching. Improvements in logical and visual thinking are also observed. The paper then draws conclusions and recommendations

Supervisor’s Role as an Antecedent of Training Transfer and Motivation to Learn in Training Programs

Training and development program literature highlights two major characteristics ofsupervisor's role: support and communication. The ability of supervisors to provide adequate supportand practice good communication style in relation to training programs may lead to increased trainingtransfer and motivation to learn. Though the nature of this relationship is significant, little is knownabout the predictive properties of supervisor's roles in training program literatures. Therefore, thisstudy was conducted to measure the effect of supervisor's role on training transfer and motivation tolearn using 110 usable questionnaires gathered from employees who have attended training programs ina state public work agency in East Malaysia, Malaysia. The results of exploratory factor analysisconfirmed that the measurement scales used in this study satisfactorily met the acceptable standards ofvalidity and reliability analyses. Further, the outcomes of stepwise regression analysis showed fourimportant findings: first, support insignificantly correlated with motivation to learn. Second,communication significantly correlated with motivation to learn. Third, support significantly correlatedwith transfer of training. Finally, communication significantly correlated with transfer of learning.Statistically, this result confirms that support is an important antecedent of motivation to learn andcommunication is an important antecedent of motivation to learn. Conversely, support andcommunication are important antecedents of training transfer in the studied organization. In addition,discussion, implications and conclusion are elaborated

The impact of structured healthy lifestyle program among type 2 diabetic patients in Kelantan

A non-randomised control trial was conducted with the aim to assess the impact of structured healthy life-style program among Type 2 diabetic patients in Kelantan.One hundred and forty Type 2 diabetic patients from Selising Health Centre (inteivention group) and Gaal Health Centre (control group) in Pasir Puteh District were selected using multistage sampling technique.An intervention group was given a structured health education on self-care,dietary advise and exercise.The control group was given conventional health education.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, anthropometries measurement and blood sampling for random blood sugar and HbAlc. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 9.0 was used for analysing the data. The patients in both health centres had a similar sociodemographic distribution (p value > 0.05).Most of them are Malay(99%),females(59% intervention,66%control), married (74% intervention,86% control),and a non-smoker (67% intervention,73% control). Their mean(+SD)age was 56:0 + 10.17 year (intervention) vs 54.2 + 11.75 year (control) and mean (SD) duration of diabetes was 5.6(4.81) year (intervention) vs. 5.4(4.23) year (control).The intervention group showed a significant improvement in mean score of ·knowledge (16.5 (4.49) vs 23.8 {1.42)),practice (14.5(2.13) vs. 15.6 (2.42)), HbAlc (10.3{2.85) vs 8.9(1.93)) and BMI level (26.1(4.08) vs 25.8(3.98)) kgm-2 after the intervention program whereas no significant different seen in the control group.The study showed that the blood glucose control and BW of Type 2 diabetic patients could be improved if they are willing to change their lifestyle.The main challenge in management of these patients is however to sustained their healthy lifestyle

Accuracy of Platelet Counting by Optical and Impedance Methods in Patients with Thrombocytopaenia and Microcytosis

Objectives: Obtaining accurate platelet counts in microcytic blood samples is challenging, even with the most reliable automated haematology analysers. The CELL-DYN™ Sapphire (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois, USA) analyser uses both optical density and electronic impedance methods for platelet counting. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of optical density and electrical impedance methods in determining true platelet counts in thrombocytopaenic samples with microcytosis as defined by low mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of red blood cells. Additionally, the impact of microcytosis on platelet count accuracy was evaluated. Methods: This study was carried out between February and December 2014 at the Haematology Laboratory of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman. Blood samples were collected and analysed from 189 patients with thrombocytopaenia and MCV values of <76 femtolitres. Platelet counts were tested using both optical and impedance methods. Stained peripheral blood films for each sample were then reviewed as a reference method to confirm platelet counts. Results: The platelet counts estimated by the impedance method were on average 30% higher than those estimated by the optical method (P <0.001). The estimated intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.52 (95% confidence interval: 0.41–0.62), indicating moderate reliability between the methods. The degree of agreement between methods ranged from -85.5 to 24.3 with an estimated bias of -30, suggesting that these methods generate different platelet results. Conclusion: The impedance method significantly overestimated platelet counts in microcytic and thrombocytopaenic blood samples. Further attention is therefore needed to improve the accuracy of platelet counts, particularly for patients with conditions associated with microcytosis

Activated bentonite promoted Friedländer condensation reactions: Synthesis of thieno[2,3-b]quinolinones and tacrines analogues derivatives

Some new aminothieno[2,3-b]quinolinones and tacrine analogues derivatives were synthesized in high yield with acid activated bentonite as a catalyst via the Friedländer condensation reactions between 2-aminothiophene-3-carbonitrile and ketones. The structure elucidation of compounds was done by FT-IR, NMR spectroscopy and microanalytical elemental data

PROCEDURAL JUSTICE AS A MODERATOR IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL COMMUNICATION AND JOB SATISFACTION

This study was conducted to examine the effect of performance appraisal communication (i.e., feedback and interactional style) and procedural justice on job satisfaction using 150 usable questionnaires collected from employees who work in a national post office, Sarawak, Malaysia. The results of exploratory factor analysis confirmed that the measurement scales used in this study satisfactorily met the standards of validity and reliability analyses. Further, the outcomes of hierarchical regression analysis showed that interaction between procedural justice and performance appraisal communication (i.e., feedback and interactional style) significantly correlated with job satisfaction. Statistically, this result confirms that procedural justice does act as a moderating variable in the relationship between performance appraisal communication and job satisfaction in the studied organization. In addition, discussion, implications and conclusion are elaboratedThis study was conducted to examine the effect of performance appraisal communication (i.e., feedback and interactional style) and procedural justice on job satisfaction using 150 usable questionnaires collected from employees who work in a national post office, Sarawak, Malaysia. The results of exploratory factor analysis confirmed that the measurement scales used in this study satisfactorily met the standards of validity and reliability analyses. Further, the outcomes of hierarchical regression analysis showed that interaction between procedural justice and performance appraisal communication (i.e., feedback and interactional style) significantly correlated with job satisfaction. Statistically, this result confirms that procedural justice does act as a moderating variable in the relationship between performance appraisal communication and job satisfaction in the studied organization. In addition, discussion, implications and conclusion are elaborated

Enzymes in Biofuels Production

With the inevitable depletion of the nonrenewable resources of fossil fuels and due to their favorable environmental features, biofuels promise to be the preferred fuels of tomorrow. They can displace petroleum fuels and, in many countries, reduce the dependence on imported fuel. Biofuels, derived from biomass conversion, such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, and biogas, are sustainable and renewable sources of energy, which are also considered CO2 neutral. In addition, burning biofuels results in reduced levels of particulates, carbon oxides and sulfur oxides, emissions compared to fissile fuels

Rare Earth Elements Around the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, UAE

© 2020, International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. Rare earth element (REE) contamination has major consequences for the environment and humans. Some forms of REEs have more serious environmental impacts than others. It is thus crucial to monitor their levels in areas where they are expected to be released. Concentrations of 13 REEs (La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) around the Barakah nuclear power plant (NPP) area, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), were measured. Shore, soil, and marine samples were collected. REE concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. On average, REE concentrations were highest in the soil samples, followed by the marine samples and then the shore samples. La and Nd were the most abundant REEs in the soil, marine, and shore. The average (La/Yb)n ratios for shore, soil, and marine samples were 8.96, 9.75, and 9.39, respectively. The REE concentrations were strongly positively correlated with Al2O3 values, suggesting low mobility of the REEs in the Barakah NPP area. Light REEs (LREEs) were more enriched than heavy REEs (HREEs). The shore samples have minor enrichments in La and Tm. Otherwise, based on enrichment factors that do not exceed 1.2 and geoaccumulation indices that were all below zero, the Barakah NPP area was considered uncontaminated with REEs. This area was not polluted according to the pollution load indices (0.67, 0.52, and 0.17 for shore, soil, and marine sediments, respectively). The spatial distribution maps show the highest concentrations of REEs in the south area of the Barakah NPP. Overall, the Barakah NPP area does not have any alarming REE concentrations, and the baseline values were provided as a reference for future comparisons

Assessment of aflatoxin B1 content and aflatoxigenic molds in imported food commodities in Muscat, Oman

Aflatoxins, mainly produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are considered as serious food safety and human health issues due to their hepatotoxic effects. In the present study, the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the most potent human liver carcinogen, and prevalence of toxigenic isolates of Aspergillus spp. were assessed in 140 food commodities in Muscat markets, Oman, and the 95 quarantined imported food commodities. These samples consisted of rice, corn, peanut, red chilli powder, soybean, dried dates and tree nuts. AFB1 was analyzed using competitive ELISA/LC-MS and the aflatoxigenic fungi were detected using plating technique followed by molecular identification. No AFB1 was detected in 89 (63.6%) samples collected from local markets, while 44 (31.4%) samples contained 1-5 ppb and the remaining 7 (5%) samples (red chili powder) contained 6-10 ppb. None of the samples exceeded the maximum permissible limit of 10 ppb set for foods by Oman legislation. Of the 95 quarantined samples, only 17 (17.9%) samples were positive and contained AFB1 at concentrations ranging from 1-3.4 ppb. Four isolates of Aspergillus pp. were isolated from the collected samples and were identified as Aspergillus flavus (A14, A16 and A23) and A. chevalieri (A46) on the basis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of ribosomal DNA. Among them, A. flavus strain A14 alone produced AFB1 (7.6 ppb), while A16, A23, and A46 were non-toxigenic. This is the first detailed report on the occurrence of AFB1 in food commodities imported into Oman

Investigating the nutritional potential and vegetation blueprint mapping of Acacia tortilis and Acacia ehrenbergiana from the origin of Fujairah, UAE, for Arabian Tahr as native fodder plants

Background: Acacia ehrenbergiana and Acacia tortilis are the native plant of the Emirates of Fujairah, UAE. The qualities of these plants of bearing harsh environmental conditions makes it prime focus for native fodder plants for Arabian tahr and the priority plants for the Higher authorities in Fujairah.Methods: The following study has assessed the comparative nutritional values of Acacia tortilis and Acacia ehrenbergiana. The analyses have been determined by international standard procedures using Gravimetry, Soxhlet extraction, HPLC, and ICP-OES(AOAC 962.09, AOAC 941.12). The vegetation mapping for the blooming period has been done by NVDI using data from Sentinel-2 satellite. The statistics of agricultural and non-agriculture areas in kilometer square (km2) have been found to confirm the findings of the NDVI using the satellite images.Results: The study has highlighted the importance of these native plants as a fodder plant for Arabian tahr as potential source of potassium, calcium, and magnesium and phosphorus. Furthermore, the native plant's mapping showed Emirates of Fujairah's vegetation during March to May 2022.Conclusion: Results shows that the A. ehrenbergiana is comparatively healthier diet for Arabian Tahr than Acacia tortilis. Tahr can get on average 400 mg/100g of four important minerals including K, Ca, P and Mg while Acacia tortilis could provide 174 mg/100g. Moreover, the native plant’s vegetation mapping can work as blueprint and will help identify plant dispersion and expansion planning.Keywords: Acacia ehrenbergiana; Acacia tortilis; priority plant; Fujairah; Arabian Tahr; Extinction, Gravimetry, Soxhlet extraction; HPLC; ICP-OES; blueprint mapping; NVDI; Sentinel-2