The political change in Oman from 1970: transition towards democracy

The aim of this thesis is to study the political changes in Oman from 1970 with the focus on the transition towards democracy. The core issue is the change from the policy of the previous sultan, who banned the participation of the nation and oppressed it. This led the country to civil war, isolation and the end of the regime. The current sultan, who launched a coup against his father in 1970, adopted various changes in areas such as the economy, politics and infrastructure, and allowed the people to run the country. The important changes were the process of democratisation in Oman, which is discussed in the context both of democratic theory, and change in the South. The thesis will offer an overview of democratic political theory, an account of political change in the South in general, and in the Middle East region in particular. The focus on Oman will seek to answer three questions: when did the process of democratisation begin; why was it begun, and how has it been managed? The core of the argument will look at the creation of formal institutions of democracy, such as the Majlis Ash-Shura (Consultative Council), and the State Council, and informal institutions, such as the media, the Chamber of Commerce, the Businessmen's Council, Sablat Alarab (the Arab Council Web Site), and the role of leading individuals in the democratic debate. These changes led the current sultan to receive internal and extemallegitimacy. Omani citizens are now aware of the development in other parts of the world and they will force the current sultan to add further changes. He should respond positively in order to remain in power

Prevalence and Predisposing Factors of Urinary Tract Infections among Pregnant Women in Abha General Hospital

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnant women, to identify infectious agents causing the infection, and to explore relationship of specific soci

INVESTIGATION OF NOISE EXPOSURES, PERCEPTION, AND HEALTH EFFECTS IN DIFFERENT MICROENVIRONMENTS IN A UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

This study aims to assess noise levels in selected outdoor and indoor microenvironments in a University community in Oman. The perception of noise levels within the Sultan Qaboos University campus was investigated through a survey study. Also, the effect of exposed noise levels on annoyance and sleep disturbance were predicted including their potential risk on cardiovascular health. Among all the measured parameters, it was found that outdoor (41.6%-50%) and indoor (38.5%-46.2%) microenvironments have exceeded the critical levels of 55 dB during morning and afternoon periods. The respondents (698 people) identified traffic and indoor building-related activities as the main sources of noise levels but the majority (44%) of them rated their impact as low. However, more than 30% of the respondents considered traffic as the main contributor to University noise levels. The percentage of highly annoyed persons was predicted to be high in outdoor areas especially in the residential (25%) and near the hospital (13%) areas. However, indoor environments including construction materials and structures labs (14%) showed similar annoyance rates. Also, the percentage of high sleep disturbed persons was found higher in residential areas (7.4%) areas compared to hospital areas (5.3%) locations. The study concluded that there might be an association between the exposed noise levels and the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. This is the first study that has provided a high spatial variability noise exposure levels across a University environment in Oman, this will contribute to designing future sustainable mitigation strategies to improve the health and well-being of the exposed population. The study has provided a baseline knowledge needed for future epidemiological studies

The Effect of Using Critical Thinking Activities on Knowledge Monitoring in Science of Seventh Graders in the Sultanate of Oman

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of using critical thinking activities in the classroom to enhance and develop students’ knowledge monitoring and whether knowledge monitoring predicts students’ academic achievement in Science. Fifty females were randomly selected from the seventh grade at one of Al-Saeeb province schools in Muscat governorate. Subjects were assigned to an experimental group (n=24) and to a control group (n=26). Both groups were taught same materials by the same teacher. The critical thinking activities were manipulated into the experimental group, whereas the control group received no critical thinking activities. Pre and post tests of knowledge monitoring were obtained. Subjects took an academic test at the end of the experiment. The results demonstrated that knowledge monitoring in experimental group significantly improved. Significant differences were found between pre and post knowledge monitoring in the experimental group. Recommendations and suggestions are discussed

Effects of saline irrigation water on morphological characteristics of banana (Musa spp.)

Banana is one of the most important food crops after rice, wheat and corn around the world. It is susceptible to a wide spectrum of non-infectious problems such as abiotic stresses resulting in restricting growth and production. Studies were conducted to determine the effects of four salinity levels (0.17 (control), 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 dS m-1) on morphological characteristics of four banana cultivars at vegetative growth stage. Banana cultivars from the Cavendish group (Williams, Malindi) and plantains group (FHIA18 and Diwan) were grown in 61 x 76 cm polyethylene bags filled with soil mixture comprising of top soil, sand and peat moss (3:1:2 v/v), with pH ranging from 6 - 6.5 and EC 0.02 mScm-1. The experiment was carried out under a rain-shelter in split-plot design with three replicates. Plants were irrigated manually. Data were collected at 3, 6 and 9 months after transplanting. The results revealed that, the number of leaves, stem height, stem girth and total leaf area were significantly affected by salinity, variety and plant age. Significant interaction was also found between salinity and variety, salinity and plant age, as well as variety and plant age. The morphological characteristics of banana were negatively affected by higher salinity levels (6.0 and 9.0 dS m-1). Under similar salinity level, cultivar Malindi had higher number of leaves, stem height, stem girth and total leaf area as compared to cultivar Williams. Among plantains banana, cultivar FHIA18 was more tolerance to high salinity levels than Diwan cultivar, while Malindi from Cavendish group shows high salt tolerant than Williams. Therefore cultivars Malindi and FHIA18 could be grown in arid and semiarid environment depend on their tolerance to high salinity level above 1.0 dS m-1

Critically ill patients with diabetes and Middle East respiratory syndrome:a multi-center observational study

Background: Diabetes is a risk factor for infection with coronaviruses. This study describes the demographic, clinical data, and outcomes of critically ill patients with diabetes and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at 14 hospitals in Saudi Arabia (September 2012–January 2018). We compared the demographic characteristics, underlying medical conditions, presenting symptoms andsigns, management and clinical course, and outcomes of critically ill patients with MERS who had diabetes compared to those with no diabetes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine ifdiabetes was an independent predictor of 90-day mortality.Results: Of the 350 critically ill patients with MERS, 171 (48.9%) had diabetes. Patients with diabetes were more likely to be older, and have comorbid conditions, compared to patients with no diabetes. They were more likely topresent with respiratory failure requiring intubation, vasopressors, and corticosteroids. The median time to clearance of MERS-CoV RNA was similar (23 days (Q1, Q3: 17, 36) in patients with diabetes and 21.0 days (Q1, Q3: 10, 33) in patients with no diabetes). Mortality at 90 days was higher in patients with diabetes (78.9% versus 54.7%, p <0.0001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that diabetes was an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality(odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–3.72).Conclusions: Half of the critically ill patients with MERS have diabetes; which is associated with more severe disease. Diabetes is an independent predictor of mortality among critically patients with MERS

Critically ill patients with diabetes and Middle East respiratory syndrome:a multi-center observational study

Background: Diabetes is a risk factor for infection with coronaviruses. This study describes the demographic, clinical data, and outcomes of critically ill patients with diabetes and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at 14 hospitals in Saudi Arabia (September 2012–January 2018). We compared the demographic characteristics, underlying medical conditions, presenting symptoms andsigns, management and clinical course, and outcomes of critically ill patients with MERS who had diabetes compared to those with no diabetes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine ifdiabetes was an independent predictor of 90-day mortality.Results: Of the 350 critically ill patients with MERS, 171 (48.9%) had diabetes. Patients with diabetes were more likely to be older, and have comorbid conditions, compared to patients with no diabetes. They were more likely topresent with respiratory failure requiring intubation, vasopressors, and corticosteroids. The median time to clearance of MERS-CoV RNA was similar (23 days (Q1, Q3: 17, 36) in patients with diabetes and 21.0 days (Q1, Q3: 10, 33) in patients with no diabetes). Mortality at 90 days was higher in patients with diabetes (78.9% versus 54.7%, p <0.0001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that diabetes was an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality(odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–3.72).Conclusions: Half of the critically ill patients with MERS have diabetes; which is associated with more severe disease. Diabetes is an independent predictor of mortality among critically patients with MERS

The political change in Oman from 1970: transition towards democracy

The aim of this thesis is to study the political changes in Oman from 1970 with the focus on the transition towards democracy. The core issue is the change from the policy of the previous sultan, who banned the participation of the nation and oppressed it. This led the country to civil war, isolation and the end of the regime. The current sultan, who launched a coup against his father in 1970, adopted various changes in areas such as the economy, politics and infrastructure, and allowed the people to run the country. The important changes were the process of democratisation in Oman, which is discussed in the context both of democratic theory, and change in the South. The thesis will offer an overview of democratic political theory, an account of political change in the South in general, and in the Middle East region in particular. The focus on Oman will seek to answer three questions: when did the process of democratisation begin; why was it begun, and how has it been managed? The core of the argument will look at the creation of formal institutions of democracy, such as the Majlis Ash-Shura (Consultative Council), and the State Council, and informal institutions, such as the media, the Chamber of Commerce, the Businessmen's Council, Sablat Alarab (the Arab Council Web Site), and the role of leading individuals in the democratic debate. These changes led the current sultan to receive internal and extemallegitimacy. Omani citizens are now aware of the development in other parts of the world and they will force the current sultan to add further changes. He should respond positively in order to remain in power

An investigation on the impact of gender diversity in purchasing and supply management on supply chain social sustainability in the oil and gas industry

EMBARGOED – expected end date 08.01.2026</p

Atypical Case of Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a life threatening obstetric emergency. The most common presentation is malaise, nausea, vomiting and epigastric pain followed by jaundice. Due to high maternal and perinatal mortality, early diagnosis, prompt delivery and supportive care are required. We report an atypical case of AFLP and discuss the management and complications of this rare obstetric disorder