The Practice of Law by Foreign Lawyers in the Sultanate of Oman

This article discusses the practice of foreign commercial lawyers operating through branch offices of foreign firms in the Sultanate of Oman. In order to see how the present situation has developed, it is necessary to consider the particular circumstances of modern Oman. Part I outlines some important aspects of Oman\u27s history. Part II focuses on the development of the Omani legal and judicial system since 1970 with regard to commercial law. Finally, part III examines the practice of the foreign lawyer operating in Oman, and illustrates the kind of legal work which he may carry out

The Effects of Initiating Metformin, to Prevent or Delay Type II Diabetes, in Patients with Prediabetes

The purpose of this literature review is to explore metformin’s role in the treatment of patients with prediabetes within the primary care setting. The efficacy of metformin versus lifestyle modifications will be compared as well as metformin, as adjunctive therapy, to lifestyle modifications. Along with efficacy, a systematic analysis will examine the three above mentioned therapies regarding diabetes risk reduction. Lastly, this review will examine the safety and tolerability of metformin, specifically in patients with prediabetes. The data presented shows evidence that lifestyle modifications are first line treatment for prediabetes while metformin use should be reserved for those who fail lifestyle modifications or are considered to be high risk and/or patients that have shown more effective results with metformin therapy: BMI ≥ 35 kg/m 2 , patients less than 60 years old, and women who have a prior history of gestational diabetes mellitus. Decades of research show that metformin is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with prediabetes. However, the combined efficacy of lifestyle modifications and metformin use in prediabetic patients needs to be further studied to find out why additive benefits are not demonstrated.https://commons.und.edu/pas-grad-posters/1176/thumbnail.jp

Measuring homelessness and residential stability: The residential time-line follow-back inventory

Reliable and valid longitudinal residential histories are needed to assess interventions to reduce homelessness and increase community tenure. This study examined the test-retest reliability, sensitivity to change, and concurrent validity of the Residential Time-Line Follow-Back (TLFB) Inventory, a method used to record residential histories in the Collaborative Program to Prevent Homelessness (n = 1,381). The Residential TLFB Inventory yielded temporally stable aggregate measures of duration in residential categories, and it revealed significant differences in change over time when contrasting study groups. A comparison of agency and participant data at one site

Syrian Refugees in Turkey and the Politics of Postconflict Reconciliation

Finding suitable settlements to civil wars, then proceeding to reconcile and reintegrate civilian communities to realize such settlements and avoid future conflict, poses many seemingly insurmountable challenges. The Syrian conflict is a case in point. Not only has a settlement proved elusive, but little is known about how the millions of civilian refugees who have fled the war feel about postconflict reconciliation and the future of their country. We use an original survey of 1,384 Syrian refugees conducted in Turkey in 2016 to draw attention to how refugees view the politics of postconflict reconciliation and reconstruction. We find that refugees desire peace in Syria more than anything else, yet they also desire harsh punishments for the perpetrators of violence, especially against civilians, from all sides of the conflict, which is likely to complicate any process of reconciliation

The WorkingWell Smartphone App for Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses: A Proof-of-Concept, Mixed Methods Feasibility Study (Preprint)

Background: The disparities in employment for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) have been well documented, as have the benefits of work. The benefits of mobile technology in providing accessible, in-the-moment support for these individuals has been demonstrated. The WorkingWell mobile app was developed to meet the need for accessible follow-along supports for individuals with SMI in the workplace. Objective: We explore the usability, usage, usefulness and overall feasibility of the WorkingWell mobile app with individuals with SMI receiving community-based services and actively employed. Methods: In this proof-of-concept, mixed methods, two-month feasibility study (N=40), employed individuals with SMI were recruited in mental health agencies. Participants completed surveys regarding background characteristics and cellphone use at enrollment; and responded to interview items regarding app usability, usage and usefulness in technical assistance calls at one, two, four and six weeks of study participation and in the exit interview at 8 weeks. Data on the frequency of app usage were downloaded and monitored on a daily basis. A version of the System Usability Scale (SUS) was administered in the exit interview. Feasibility was determined by the percent of users completing the study. General impressions were obtained from users regarding user support materials, technical assistance, and study procedures. Results: Over half of the participants were male (60%, 24/40). The majority were age 55 or under (70%, 28/40), Caucasian (80%, 32/40), had less than a 4-year college education (78%, 31/40), were employed part-time (98%, 39/40), had been working more than six months (60%, 24/40), and indicated a diagnosis of bipolar, schizoaffective or depressive disorder (84%, 16/25). The vast majority of participants owned cellphones (95%, 38/40), using them multiple times per day (83%, 33/40). Their average rating on SUS usability items was 3.93 (SD = 0.77; range = 1.57 to 5.00), reflecting positive responses. Participants, in general, indicated WorkingWell was “very easy”, “straightforward”, “simple”, and “user-friendly”. Usability challenges were related to personal issues (e.g., memory) or to difficulties with the phone or app. Data on app usage varied considerably. The most frequent navigations were to the home screen, followed by Rate My Day and My Progress, and then by Manage the Moment and Remind Me. The app was described as useful by most study participants; 86% (30/35) agreed the app would help them manage better on the job. Thirty-five of the 40 original participants (87%) completed the study. Conclusions: The WorkingWell app is a feasible approach to providing accessible, as-needed employment support for individuals with SMI. The app would benefit from additional modifications to address recommendations from feasibility testing. Controlled research with larger samples, more diverse in individual characteristics and workplace settings, is essential to demonstrating the effectiveness of the app

Interactions Of Structural Defects With Metallic Impurities In Multicrystalline Silicon

Interactions between structural defects and metallic impurities were studied in multicrystalline silicon for solar cells applications. The objective was to gain insight into the relationship between solar cell processing, metallic impurity behavior and the resultant effect on material/device performance. With an intense synchrotron x-ray source, high sensitivity x-ray fluorescence measurements were utilized to determine impurity distributions with a spatial resolution of {approx} 1{micro}m. Diffusion length mapping and final solar cell characteristics gauged material/device performance. The materials were tested in both the as-grown state and after full solar cell processing. Iron and nickel metal impurities were located at structural defects in as-grown material, while after solar cell processing, both impurities were still observed in low performance regions. These results indicate that multicrystalline silicon solar cell performance is directly related to metal impurities which are not completely removed during typical processing treatments. A discussion of possible mechanisms for this incomplete removal is presented