Moisture and temperature in a proppant-enveloped silt block of a recharge dam reservoir: Laboratory experiment and 1-D mathematical modelling

Mosaic 3-D cascade of parallelepiped-shaped silt blocks, which sandwich sand- lled cracks, has been discovered in the eld and tested in lab experiments. Controlled wetting-drying of these blocks, collected from a dam reservoir, mimics field ponding-desiccation conditions of the topsoil layer subject to caustic solar radiation, high temperature and wind, typical in the Batinah region of Oman. In 1-D analytical modelling of a transient Richards’ equation for vertical evaporation, the method of small perturbations is applied, assuming that the relative permeability is Avery-anov’s 3.5-power function of the moisture content and capillary pressure is a given (measured) function. A linearized advective dispersion equation is solved with respect to the second term in the series expansion of the moisture content as a function of spatial coordinates and time. For a single block of a nite thickness we solve a boundary value problem with a no- ow condition at the bottom and a constant moisture content at the surface. Preliminary comparisons with theta-, TDR- probes measuring the moisture content and temperature at several in-block points are made. Results corroborate that a 3-D heterogeneity of soil physical properties, in particular, horizontal and vertical capillary barriers emerging on the interfaces between silt and sand generate eco-niches with stored soil water compartments favourable for lush vegetation in desert conditions. Desiccation significantly increases the temperature in the blocks and re-wetting of the blocks reduces the daily average and peak temperatures, the latter by almost 15°C. This is important for planning irrigation in smartly designed soil substrates and sustainability of wild plants in the region where the top soil peak temperature in the study area exceeds 70°C in Summer but smartly structured soils maintain lash vegetation. Thee layer of dry top-blocks acts as a thermal insulator for the subjacent layers of wet blocks that may host the root zone of woody species

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

A model of intention to use mobile government services

The aim of this research was to develop and validate a model which was designed to be useful for many countries considering delivery of mobile government (m-Government) services as the literature had not revealed any comprehensive model that is specifically used in the m-Government services context. The existence of this gap encouraged this research to empirically test and validate the combination of the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) model and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as well as external variables including Perceived Security, Perceived Trustworthiness, Perceived Enjoyment and Personal Innovativeness. Therefore, in order to fill the gap, this research developed a validated Model with relevant hypotheses which was tested for its predictive value

Moisture and temperature in a proppant-enveloped silt block of a recharge dam reservoir: Laboratory experiment and 1-D mathematical modelling

Mosaic 3-D cascade of parallelepiped-shaped silt blocks, which sandwich sand- lled cracks, has been discovered in the eld and tested in lab experiments. Controlled wetting-drying of these blocks, collected from a dam reservoir, mimics field ponding-desiccation conditions of the topsoil layer subject to caustic solar radiation, high temperature and wind, typical in the Batinah region of Oman. In 1-D analytical modelling of a transient Richards’ equation for vertical evaporation, the method of small perturbations is applied, assuming that the relative permeability is Avery-anov’s 3.5-power function of the moisture content and capillary pressure is a given (measured) function. A linearized advective dispersion equation is solved with respect to the second term in the series expansion of the moisture content as a function of spatial coordinates and time. For a single block of a nite thickness we solve a boundary value problem with a no- ow condition at the bottom and a constant moisture content at the surface. Preliminary comparisons with theta-, TDR- probes measuring the moisture content and temperature at several in-block points are made. Results corroborate that a 3-D heterogeneity of soil physical properties, in particular, horizontal and vertical capillary barriers emerging on the interfaces between silt and sand generate eco-niches with stored soil water compartments favourable for lush vegetation in desert conditions. Desiccation significantly increases the temperature in the blocks and re-wetting of the blocks reduces the daily average and peak temperatures, the latter by almost 15°C. This is important for planning irrigation in smartly designed soil substrates and sustainability of wild plants in the region where the top soil peak temperature in the study area exceeds 70°C in Summer but smartly structured soils maintain lash vegetation. Thee layer of dry top-blocks acts as a thermal insulator for the subjacent layers of wet blocks that may host the root zone of woody species.

Moisture and temperature in a proppant-enveloped silt block of a recharge dam reservoir: Laboratory experiment and 1-D mathematical modelling

Mosaic 3-D cascade of parallelepiped-shaped silt blocks, which sandwich sand- lled cracks, has been discovered in the eld and tested in lab experiments. Controlled wetting-drying of these blocks, collected from a dam reservoir, mimics field ponding-desiccation conditions of the topsoil layer subject to caustic solar radiation, high temperature and wind, typical in the Batinah region of Oman. In 1-D analytical modelling of a transient Richards’ equation for vertical evaporation, the method of small perturbations is applied, assuming that the relative permeability is Avery-anov’s 3.5-power function of the moisture content and capillary pressure is a given (measured) function. A linearized advective dispersion equation is solved with respect to the second term in the series expansion of the moisture content as a function of spatial coordinates and time. For a single block of a nite thickness we solve a boundary value problem with a no- ow condition at the bottom and a constant moisture content at the surface. Preliminary comparisons with theta-, TDR- probes measuring the moisture content and temperature at several in-block points are made. Results corroborate that a 3-D heterogeneity of soil physical properties, in particular, horizontal and vertical capillary barriers emerging on the interfaces between silt and sand generate eco-niches with stored soil water compartments favourable for lush vegetation in desert conditions. Desiccation significantly increases the temperature in the blocks and re-wetting of the blocks reduces the daily average and peak temperatures, the latter by almost 15°C. This is important for planning irrigation in smartly designed soil substrates and sustainability of wild plants in the region where the top soil peak temperature in the study area exceeds 70°C in Summer but smartly structured soils maintain lash vegetation. Thee layer of dry top-blocks acts as a thermal insulator for the subjacent layers of wet blocks that may host the root zone of woody species

Hydrographical Observations during a Red Tide with Fish Mortalities at Masirah Island, Oman

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) can have a significant impact on the distribution and  survival of coastal fishes and invertebrates, and consequently they can affect local economies where fishing is an important activity. In October 2005, extensive algal blooms with brownish/orange discoloured water and fish mortalities were observed east of Masirah Island. Satellite images revealed cooler upwelled surface water along a broad front just prior to the event, followed by a gradual warming period coinciding with the mortalities. Depth profiles of dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, salinity and pH taken on 19th October (during the fish mortality event) showed a pronounced thermocline at ~15 m depth and minimum DO of 0.82 ml/L at 25 m depth, and a slight improvement in DO to 1.3 ml/L was measured on 22nd October (after the event). Demersal fishes of several families were prominent among mortalities. No bacterial infestation was found in fish samples and no human poisoning was reported. Planktological data showed that marine dinoflagellates Noctiluca scintillans and  Prorocentrum micans and toxic blooms of cyanobacterium Trichodesmium erythraeum were present

Hydrographical Observations during a Red Tide with Fish Mortalities at Masirah Island, Oman

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) can have a significant impact on the distribution and  survival of coastal fishes and invertebrates, and consequently they can affect local economies where fishing is an important activity. In October 2005, extensive algal blooms with brownish/orange discoloured water and fish mortalities were observed east of Masirah Island. Satellite images revealed cooler upwelled surface water along a broad front just prior to the event, followed by a gradual warming period coinciding with the mortalities. Depth profiles of dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, salinity and pH taken on 19th October (during the fish mortality event) showed a pronounced thermocline at ~15 m depth and minimum DO of 0.82 ml/L at 25 m depth, and a slight improvement in DO to 1.3 ml/L was measured on 22nd October (after the event). Demersal fishes of several families were prominent among mortalities. No bacterial infestation was found in fish samples and no human poisoning was reported. Planktological data showed that marine dinoflagellates Noctiluca scintillans and  Prorocentrum micans and toxic blooms of cyanobacterium Trichodesmium erythraeum were present

Hydrographical Observations during a Red Tide with Fish Mortalities at Masirah Island, Oman

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) can have a significant impact on the distribution and  survival of coastal fishes and invertebrates, and consequently they can affect local economies where fishing is an important activity. In October 2005, extensive algal blooms with brownish/orange discoloured water and fish mortalities were observed east of Masirah Island. Satellite images revealed cooler upwelled surface water along a broad front just prior to the event, followed by a gradual warming period coinciding with the mortalities. Depth profiles of dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, salinity and pH taken on 19th October (during the fish mortality event) showed a pronounced thermocline at ~15 m depth and minimum DO of 0.82 ml/L at 25 m depth, and a slight improvement in DO to 1.3 ml/L was measured on 22nd October (after the event). Demersal fishes of several families were prominent among mortalities. No bacterial infestation was found in fish samples and no human poisoning was reported. Planktological data showed that marine dinoflagellates Noctiluca scintillans and  Prorocentrum micans and toxic blooms of cyanobacterium Trichodesmium erythraeum were present

Use of Soil-Structured Capillary Barrier can Mitigate the Impact of Saline-Irrigation Water on Marigold Grown Under Field Condition

Capillary barriers (CBs) as engineered porous composites is novel and promising technology for mitigating salinity and drought stress of plants. This study aimed to imitate a naturally formed CB structure recently discovered in the reservoir bed of Al-Khoud dam at the Governorate of Muscat in northern Oman and to test the impact of this unique CB on mitigating the salinity stress of marigold plants grown under an open field condition. A plot was constructed and divided into “structured” (engineered cascade CB design) and “unstructured” soils and planted with marigold (Tagetes erecta) plants that were subjected to four salinity treatments (control with ECi ≈ 0.6 dS m-1 ; 3 dS m-1; 6 dS m-1; and 9 dS m-1). Plant physiological, vegetative, and reproductive growth parameters were measured in each treatment. The results showed that the structured soil significantly saved irrigation water and reduce salts accumulation. Structured soil improved all vegetative and reproductive plant parameters measured and helped in reducing the effects of salinity stress on the growth and production of the marigold under arid-climate field conditions. The results also showed the capability of structured soil in water saving and improving water use efficiency. This study substantiates a novel method in mitigating salinity problem and in water saving in arid and semi-arid regions, in particular in Oman. Further studies are required to test the use of the engineered cascade CB design with different crops and with alternative (e.g. subsurface) irrigation methods

COVID-19 and Pulmonary Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Coinfection

The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was classified as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. It is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus affects mainly the human respiratory system. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is another respiratory infection known to affect humans and may share joint clinical presentations and risk factors with COVID-19 infection. Therefore, clinicians must have a high index of suspicion that the two infections might coexist so that there is no delay in diagnosis and starting the appropriate treatment. There are few case reports about TB and COVID-19 coinfection. The first case report ever was from China and there have been a few others around the world. Here, we report two cases of coexisting COVID-19 and newly diagnosed pulmonary TB infection in Oman