Keystone Design Sliding Skin Flap for the Management of Small Full Thickness Burns

Deep dermal burns and full thickness burns are generally managed by excision and split thickness skin grafting. The skin graft may lead to unacceptable colour changes and be aesthetically unacceptable. Also, there may be a contour defect and, furthermore, it is followed by varying degrees of contracture. The keystone design sliding flap, first described in 2003, avoids the need for grafting and is not associated with any skin graft problems. We report two cases of the use of this flap as the primary surgery in reconstruction of small full thickness burn defects.

Studies on Salt and Heat Stresses Tolerance of Date Palm Plants Regenerated by Tissue Culture

This research was conducted during the period of 2001/2002 to determine the thermotolerance of date palm leaflets reproduced by tissue culture and compared that with the tolerance of offshoot for the same cultivar Rzaiz. Heat tolerance of these leaflets in the presence of high salt concentration was also determined. Tissue culture plantlets used in this investigation were at two stages of acclimatization, namely VP2 and VP3 (vitro plants under acclimation program for about 4 to 6 months and 10 months, respectively). Rzaiz offshoots attached to the mother plants were about 4 years old. The electrolyte leakage procedure was used to generate sigmodial curves, and from each curve the thermotolerance was determined at 50 % electrolyte leakage. Leaflets of the three stages of growth and development (VP2, VP3 and offshoot) were treated in the laboratory with each of heat, heat plus NaCI, heat plus KCI, Heat plus CaCI2, heat plus oleic acid, heat plus salt and oleic acid, heat plus salt and KCI and heat plus salt and CaCI2. Concentrations were: NaCI at 1 % w/v (mentioned as salt), KCl or CaCl2 (0.2 M) or oleic acid at 100 ppm. Treatments by various chemicals was done by dipping leaflet segments for 1 hr before going through the heat regime (series of temperatures ranged between 30 to 75 °C with 5 °C incrementes). A completely randomized design was used with three replications. Thermotolerance values were 53°C, 53.5 °C, and 58.5 °C for VP2, VP3, and offshoot leaflets, respectively. Pretreatment with potassium chloride, calcium chloride, or oleic acid markedly increased the thermotolrerance of leaflets. The used NaCI concentration was not effective 10 lowering the leaflet thermotolerance. However, heat plus salt treatment resulted in significantly higher electrolyte leakage than heat plus salt in the presence of oleic acid, KCI, or CaCl2 at sub lethal temperatures. Moreover, VP2 leaflets had higher electrolytes leakage than VP3 leaflets at sub lethal temperatures, even though their lethal temperature did not greatly vary. Investigations in this thesis provided for the first time an accurate determination for heat tolerance of the two acclimatization stages that are distributed to date palm growers. Results also revealed that there is a potential to increase the thermotolearance of VP2, VP3, or offshoots that could increase their survival under field conditions

Conceptualizing Digital Readiness, Strategic Foresight, and Strategic Flexibility as Drivers of Digitalization and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises

The drivers of digitalization and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) performance have been primarily examined through resource-based theories. Hence, this study presents an alternative perspective based on such organizations' readiness and dynamic capabilities through a conceptual framework. A conceptual framework is developed by drawing upon the digital readiness theory (DRT) along with the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) to propose an integrated framework that posits a set of propositions linking constructs that reflect both digital readiness as well as the dynamic capabilities of an organization as possible drivers of business process digitalization (BPD) and performance. The empirical literature based on the DRT suggests that digital readiness will likely drive BPD and performance. Whereas leveraging the premise of the DCV indicates that the ability to sense opportunities and threats is reflected by strategic foresight. In contrast, the ability to seize and transform is reflected through strategic flexibility. The propositions posit that all three factors influence performance directly and through the mediating effect of BPD. The framework developed in this study may provide clues to practitioners and policymakers related to SME development regarding potential drivers of digitalization and performance. Growing scholarly publications on antecedents of digitalization and the performance of SMEs have focused primarily on resources. The current study offers an alternate perspective by integrating the two theories based on such organizations' readiness and dynamic capabilities.  

Impact of work from home on work-life balance: Mediating effects of work-family conflict and work motivation

In the aftermath of the recent pandemic, organizations around the world had the opportunity to assess the benefits and drawbacks of allowing the bulk of their employees to work from home (WFH). As a result, many organizations realize that by using technology, it is possible to shift a significant percentage of their workforce to permanently function from any location without being physically present at a designated workplace. Although the economic benefits for organizations that allow WFH seem to be clear, how factors related to perceptions of employees such as their work motivation (WM) and their work-life balance (WLB) caused by blurred boundaries between work and family at home are not clearly understood. Therefore, the primary goal of this study is to determine how WFH impacts WLB through the possible mediating effects of work-family conflict (WFC) and WM. A cross-sectional survey instrument was developed using Likert type measurement scales that were adopted from top-tier journals. The data was collected through convenient sampling from 249 managerial and non-managerial employees in Omani business organizations. The relationships were tested through structural equation modeling. The results indicate that WFH increases WFC and WM, while the relationship between WFH and WLB is mediated by WFC, but not by WM. The findings of this study have implications for both theory and practice

Question mark ear deformity: a case study and surgical technique

Clefts of the ear are rare and typically develop within the earlobe. They were first described by Vincent et al. in association with urogenital anomalies. Subsequently, Cosman reported them in 1970, referring to the condition as “question mark ear,” which led to its naming. This deformity is infrequently reported and is not well-documented in the literature. In this paper, we present the first reported case in the Omani population of bilateral Cosman ear, associated with a mild cranial deformity. We also discuss the social impact of this condition and introduce our corrective technique for moderate forms of deformity

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

The Effectiveness of Robinson\u27s Strategy (SQ3R) on Developing Reading Comprehension Skills for Basic Eighth Grade Students in the Sultanate of Oman

This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of Robinson\u27s strategy (SQ3R) on developing reading comprehension skills of basic eighth grade students. The researchers prepared a list of reading comprehension skills for eighth grade students, a reading comprehension test, and a strategy guide to help teachers implement the strategy. The sample of the study was divided into two groups; experimental group, which studied reading using Robinson’s strategy and a control group which studied reading in the regular way. The results indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the students in the experimental and control groups in the post- test of the reading comprehension skills in favor to the experimental in five levels of reading comprehension, namely, literal, deductive, reasoning, critical, and creative. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at the explanatory and sense levels

Emotional Intelligence Among School Teachers in Oman

This paper sheds light into the role of emotional intelligence in school teaching. It reports the findings of a study that sought to investigate the emotional intelligence of 4,098 school teachers in the Sultanate of Oman in five dimensions using the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEIS). The study also measured the relationship between teachers’ emotional intelligence and a number of demographic teacher and school variables. The results showed that teachers’ emotional intelligence was high in all five dimensions. There were variations in teachers’ emotional intelligence based on certain teacher and school variables. Key words: job satisfaction, Sultanate of Oman, teachers’ emotional intelligence. Cet article fait la lumière sur le rôle de l’intelligence émotionnelle dans l’enseignement. L’article fait rapport des résultats d’une étude ayant porté sur l’intelligence émotionnelle, selon cinq dimensions, de 4 098 enseignants dans le Sultanat d’Oman en employant l’échelle de Schutte sur l’intelligence émotionnelle. L’étude a également mesuré le rapport entre l’intelligence émotionnelle des enseignants et un certain nombre de variables démographiques liées aux enseignants et aux écoles. Les résultats indiquent que l’intelligence émotionnelle des enseignants étaient élevée pour toutes les dimensions. Des variations dans l’intelligence émotionnelle des enseignants se sont révélées selon les variables liées aux enseignants et aux écoles. Mots clés : satisfaction professionnelle; Sultanat d’Oman; intelligence émotionnelle chez les enseignants   Saleh Al-Busaidi1, Said Aldhafri12, Marwa Alrajhi1, Hussain Alkharusi1,, Bader Alkharusi3,, Abdullah Ambusaidi1, Khoula Alhosni

Analysis of Blood Cultures in Major Burns in Tertiary Care Burn Unit in Oman

Objectives: In this study we review blood stream infections of major burns in a tertiary care burn unit to determine the most prevalent organisms in order to have a better empirical therapy protocol. Methods: This is a retrospective study where blood stream infection of major burns (>20% Total Body Surface Area) were analysed. Results:155 patients fulfilled the criteria. Median age was 33 years.  Median TBSA was 38%. 57.42% were males and 42.58% were females. Mortality was 25.16%. 50.9% of patients had positive blood culture. Expired patients had higher TBSA, Abbreviated Burns Severity Index score and earlier first positive blood culture. The most prevalent organisms grown from all blood cultures were Acinetobacter, staphylococci, Klebsiella, Enterococcus and pseudomonas. Candida is also commonly grown in blood cultures. All Acinetobacter species are always multidrug resistant. 8 of 14 patients had multidrug resistant Klebsiella.  There were only 4 patients who had Methicilin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) grown. The number of blood cultures samples taken ranged from 1 to 28 (median 6). First positive blood culture showed that Staphylococcus epidermidis   and Acinetobacter are the most common organisms. Conclusion: In conclusion multidrug resistant Acinetobcater has become the most predominant microorganism grown in blood cultures of major burns in our unit. Empirical therapy should include antibiotics that are effective against it to reduce the mortality. Keywords: Infection; Blood; Burn; Resistance; Antibiotics; Culture