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Aquaculture is expanding globally and is an increasingly important component of world food security. However, climate change can impact aquaculture through a variety of mechanisms varying by location and aquaculture type with implications for future productivity. Understanding the risks that climate change poses on different culture systems in different locations is important to enable the design of targeted adaptation and resilience building actions.Here we present an aquaculture climate risk assessment framework, applied to the aquaculture sector of the Sultanate of Oman, that identifies the sensitivity and exposure of different components of the sector to climate change risk.Oman has aspirations to significantly expand aquaculture over the next decade focussing on coastal shrimp ponds, finfish sea cages, land-based recirculating aquaculture systems, and ponds and raceways. We quantify overall climate risk as the combination of four risks: (1) species’ temperature sensitivity, (2) flooding and storm surge exposure, (3) low-oxygen hazard and (4) disease vulnerability. Shrimp culture is identified as highest risk due to high exposure of shrimp ponds to flooding and storm surges, and high disease vulnerability. Seabream cage farming also faces high risk due to high thermal sensitivity and high potential of low-oxygen levels affecting sea cages. Following the risk assessment a stakeholder workshop was conducted to identify targeted adaptation measures for the different components of the sector. The framework for assessing climate risk to aquaculture demonstrated here is equally applicable at the regional, national or sub-national scale to support design of targeted resilience building actions and enhance food security.

Climate change poses a major threat to vegetation and land cover worldwide. The loss of vegetation as a result of climate change can alter the functions and structure of the environment and its ecological systems. In the first part of this study, Sentinel-2 data, normalised different vegetation index (NDVI), and multiple regression methods were used to examine the impacts of the climatic factors of humidity, rainfall, and air temperature on vegetation dynamics from 2015 to 2021 in Dhofar, Southern Oman. In the second part of this study, random forest regression was employed to model the relationships between the NDVI and temperature, humidity, rainfall, soil map, geology map, topographic wetness index, curvature, elevation, slope, aspect, distance to buildings, and distance to roads. The multiple regression values revealed significant associations between the spatial distributions of the NDVI and the abovementioned climatic factors. The findings also indicated an increase of 1 °C in air temperature fluctuations between 2018 and 2021 over all five sites, with a strong tendency over Qairoon Hairiti Mountain. The rainfall records clearly indicated an increasing tendency from 2018 to 2020 due to the impact of frequent cyclones. Therefore, the results revealed a significant increase of 0.01 in the vegetation cover trend in 2018, 2019, and 2020 along the Sadah Mountain range and the eastern part of the Jabal Qara Mountains under the areas directly impacted by the cyclone, whereas there was a decrease along the western mountain range consisting of Jabal Qara and Jabal Qamar Mountains due to the impact of warm, dry air. The results revealed that NDVI values were sensitive to heavy rainfall over Jabal Samhan Mountain. The 12 variables that influenced NDVI levels had different levels of importance. Soil types, elevation, slope, rainfall, curvature, humidity, and temperature had the highest importance, while topographic wetness index, distance to urban area, aspect, distance to roads, and geology map had the lowest. The findings provide a significant foundation for Oman’s planning and management of regional vegetation, water conservation, and animal husbandry.

Mentors play a vital role in students' academic journey by providing guidance and encouragement to achieve ambitions and educational goals in future. What if the mentor is an alumnus? In this article, a case study of alumni mentoring in Postgraduate Studies at Middle East College, Sultanate of Oman is presented and proposes an alumnus mentoring framework with three major phases for a systematic implementation across the institution. The practice was implemented in a phased approach, starting with 1st semester modules, and further extended to higher semester modules based on student feedback. The survey conducted to review the effectiveness of alumni mentoring sessions confirms that the alumni mentoring practice contributes significantly to shaping students' journey to academic success and supports in creating a community of learners.

Online International Learning (OIL) facilitates bringing together students virtually from various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) located at different countries. The framework adopted for Collaborative OIL implementation involved academic staff members and students from Middle East College (MEC), Sultanate of Oman, Coventry University (CU), UK and Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), Ghana, in solving a particular problem or a set of tasks based on the Internationalized Learning Outcomes over an online platform, in a collaborative manner. The whole experience provides students and academic staff members a new perspective of interaction, experience and learning in Higher Education with a global impact. Collaborative OIL (COIL) was executed as a driving force towards Internationalization strategy at the participating HEIs. Students expressed their satisfaction and mentioned in the feedback that the activities benefit them to improve digital competences, intercultural experiences, and collaborative skills that would help them succeed in their future career prospects.

Copyright of Arab Journal of Plant Protection is the property of Arab Society for Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study deals with the microscopic investigation of the Wahiba sand dunes to deduce the depositional history and the provenance. Petrographic investigation reveals that Wahiba sands consist mainly of fine to very fine-grained and moderately well-sorted siliciclastic-carbonate components. Sand components consist of quartz, feldspar (microcline and plagioclase), fossils (benthic foraminifera and shell fragments), and several kinds of rock fragments; sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. The heavy minerals recognized in Wahiba sand dunes include opaque iron minerals, augite, hornblende, epidote, zircon, tourmaline, rutile, garnet, kyanite, olivine, biotite, and chlorite, in addition to weathered carbonate minerals. These kinds of heavy minerals indicate that Wahiba dunes are derived mainly from igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary sources. Ancient wadis brought ambiguous amounts of detrital materials from the steep mountains to be deposited in the marine shelf environment, then mixed with recent marine deposits and reworked by currents and waves. When sea level dropped in the Late Quaternary, these continental shelf deposits were subjected to subaerial processes where winds expedited the transport of the mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sediments to form aeolianites near the coast. These aeolianites have been recycled again by the complex wind processes and mixed with recent detrital materials. The latter originated from the steep mountains in the northeast and west to form the northern Wahiba dunes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Research in Educational Sciences (IJRES) is the property of International Journal of Research in Educational Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The use of a variety of instruments for quality assurance, management, and enhancement in higher education is well recognized. This article investigated the instruments used by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Oman to measure, control, and manage the quality of their services in alignment with the standards set by Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA). Quality Assurance Managers (QAMs) from five HEIs were interviewed to identify the instruments used by them to fulfil the requirements of each standard and the way they make use of the data gathered by using these instruments. Findings from the study reveal that questionnaires and meetings are the most common instruments used by these institutions to measure, control and assure the efficacy of their current quality activities. In addition, HEIs use summary statistics to analyse data and then present them in meetings or through reports. On the other hand, it was found that substantial efforts are made to collect data but the efficient usage of data is missing. The QAMs reported a lack of awareness among the staff on the importance of collecting data since the staff members believe that these data are collected for documentation purposes only. This study emphasizes the importance of using the data gathered from different instruments in decision making and enhancing the quality of HEIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Arts & Social Sciences (JASS) is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Arts & Social Sciences (JASS) is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study aimed to equate General Education Diploma results of physics exam in the Sultanate of Oman using Item Response Theory (IRT) and setting them in a common scale. The study sample included all of the General Education Diploma students both male and female who passed the physics exam in the academic years 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 with a total sample of (17175 & 18966) respectively. Two different copies of physics exam were used for the purpose of the study. The first one consisted of 40 items and the other was 36 items. The data was analyzed by Multilog 7.03 program, to estimate the parameters of the items and the abilities of examinees and to check the IRT hypotheses. Moreover, the method of True Score Equation was used. The Results showed that there are no statistically significant differences between the means of the true scores of the criteria exam and the results, which were equated to the new exam. The equation accuracy was checked by Equating Bias method [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies aimed to uncover the reasons for the reluctance of the administrative and teaching staff in schools from supervisory positions and the effect of that on developing school performance from the point of view of the staff themselves. The study adopted the analytical descriptive approach, and the study sample consisted of (108) first teachers, assistant principals, and school principals for the academic year 2020-2021, and the study tool consisted of a questionnaire divided into three parts. The second measures the reasons for abstaining from supervisory positions, and the third part measures the effect of the reasons for abstaining from supervisory positions on the development of school performance, and the results of the study showed: The reality of the school's administrative and teaching staff’s orientation to supervisory positions was to a large degree, with an average of (3.84), and the results showed that there is no Statistically significant differences in the overall score in the reality of the administrative and teaching staff’s orientation to supervisory jobs according to the variables of the study, and that the reasons for abstaining from supervisory positions were to a large extent, and with an average of (3.53), the administrative reasons came first, then technical reasons, then personal reasons, and finally reasons The results also showed that there are no statistically significant differences in the reasons for abstaining from supervisory positions due to the variables (academic qualification and current job. Mechanism, years of experience, educational governorate, and school stage) While there are statistically significant differences in the reasons for reluctance. The current study recommended: Work to overcome administrative, technical, personal, and social obstacles that may hinder the path of those wishing to go to supervisory positions. Encouraging joining the supervisory profession by providing incentives and financial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of current paper is to create a smart and effective tool for telemedicine to early detect and diagnose COVID-19 disease and therefore help to manage Pandemic Crisis (MCPC) in Sultanate of Oman, as a tool for future pandemic containment. In this paper, we used tools to create robust models in real-time to support Telemedicine, it is Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), Convolutional Neural Networks using Tensorflow (CNN-TF), and CNN Deployment. These models will assist telemedicine, 1) developing Automated Medical Immediate Diagnosis service (AMID). 2) Analysis of Chest X-rays image (CXRs). 3) Simplifying Classification of confirmed cases according to its severity. 4) Overcoming the lack of experience, by improving the performance of medical diagnostics and providing recommendations to the medical staff. The results show that the best Regression among the five Regression models is Random Forest Regression. while the best classification among the eight classification models and Recurrent Neural Network using Tensorflow (RNNTF) is Random Forest classification, and the best Clustering model among two Clustering models is K-Means++. Furthermore, CNN-TF model was able to discriminate between those with positive cases Covid-19 and those with negative cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates learners' awareness of their linguistic landscape (LL) and perspectives on the use of LL as part of classroom teaching and learning. It also examines the course instructor's pedagogical perspective on the use of LL. The study aims to explore the potential benefits of utilizing bilingual public signage representing translational content to develop translation students' critical literacy, language awareness, and translation skills through reflecting on the use of LL as a teaching and learning material. The study is significant as it addresses the gap in the literature on the use of LL to promote students' critical literacy, language awareness, and translation skills in the EFL context of Oman. The samples of the study are 58 participants enrolled in undergraduate translation courses at Dhofar University. The data collection methods used in the study consist of focus group discussions, online surveys, and teacher's retrospective reflection. The quantitative data were analyzed by IBM SPSS V26, while the qualitative data were analyzed by common themes that emerged from students' feedback and teacher's reflection. The findings of the study showed positive outcomes on the use of LL as a teaching and learning resource such as improved language awareness, language proficiency, translation skills, creativity, and critical thinking skills. The implication of the study is to draw attention to the existing quality of the learners' LL and invite them to actively and responsibly participate in improving the linguistic landscapes of their local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Educational Psychological Studies (EPS) is the property of Refaad for Studies, Research & Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The preservation of rock art in open-air contexts is a global issue controlled by several environmental processes, which are less investigated than the cultural significance of engravings and paintings. For that reason, we discuss the age, preservation, and palaeoenvironmental context of petroglyphs discovered on the flat, almost vertical face of a large boulder fallen along the western slope of Jabal Hammah, a rocky hill that borders the oasis of Salut (northern Sultanate of Oman). Geoarchaeological investigation highlighted that, in the region, the preservation of petroglyphs is due to the interplay of two contrasting weathering processes. On one hand, karst dissolution – even if it is a very slow process in arid and semi-arid lands – gradually levels the surface of boulders. On the other hand, a biomineralized Mn- and Fe-rich rock varnish has developed inside the grooves of the engravings, thus sheltering them from extreme dissolution and promoting the preservation of the pristine shape of the representations. Moreover, organics trapped within the rock varnish have been radiocarbon dated to 2600 ± 60 uncal. years BP. This result allows establishing a limit ante quem for the production of these specific engravings and to root it to the Bronze or Iron Age exploitation of the area. This result is of particular relevance in a region where well-dated rock art is virtually absent. Today, the biogeochemical processes leading to the formation of the protective crust are almost inactive, and not consistent with the present dry environmental settings. Their occurrence is in accordance with other local palaeoclimatic record, and suggests Bronze and Iron Age climatic conditions wetter than today. A broader implication of our work is that it shows how a multidisciplinary approach to the study of rock art provides the opportunity of understanding the age of rock art and its paleoenvironmental significance. We demonstrate that physical, chemical, and biological weathering processes are in charge of the preservation and/or destruction of rock art; such processes have to be seriously taken into account in projects of rock art field assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates the use of ASTER data for the mapping of gypsum deposits and associated geological formations that occurred in the Thumrait region of southern Oman. The measurement of spectra over samples of gypsum in the 1,300–2,500 nm wavelength using a PIMA spectrometer showed the presence of distinct absorptions at 1400–1600, 1750, 1940, 2,100, and 2,400 nm characteristics to OH stretching, H2O combinations, and SO bending overtones and stretching, respectively. Studying the unique spectral absorption characters of gypsum samples, we developed a false color composite (FCC) and an image by decorrelation stretch using the spectral bands 7, 3, and 2 of ASTER. The results FCC showed the regions of gypsum occurrences, and the decorrelated image discriminated the gypsum occurrences from other geological formations of the area. The study of surface mineralogy of the region using the VNIR‐SWIR bands by the spectral angle mapper method showed the presence of sulfate, carbonate, and clay minerals of the geological formations in the study area. We compared the results of ASTER with the results obtained using spectral bands 12, 8, and 4 of Sentinel‐2A processed by the same methods. The study showed that the spectral bands of ASTER can be used for mapping the gypsum and associated geological formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sultanate of Oman has a rich biodiversity, particularly in medicinal plants, and plays a crucial role in traditional healthcare practices. However, the wealth of knowledge about these plants is scattered across various literature, making it challenging for researchers, practitioners, and the public to access comprehensive information. Therefore, the availability of a centralized, user-friendly online database to catalog Oman's medicinal plants is of great importance. PlantMedOman presented here, which currently holds 186 records helps to enhance academic research, support drug discovery studies, promote the conservation of medicinal plants, and foster greater awareness of Oman's ethnomedicinal heritage., (© 2024 Biomedical Informatics.)

Background: The scope of practice of plastic and reconstructive surgery is very wide, but it is largely under-recognised by lay people. This study aims to assess the public's knowledge of plastic surgery in Oman. Methods: A total of 12,183 members of the public completed an online survey where they selected the procedures that they think are performed by plastic surgeons. Results: Fifty-seven percent of the participants thought that plastic surgery aims to correct both function and form. Plastic surgery was correctly chosen for the treatment of maxillofacial fractures (65.2%), cleft lip and palate (69.9%) and burns (53.4%). Only 29.8% chose plastic surgeons to repair hand trauma. Conclusions: Despite the rapid growth of plastic surgery in the past few decades, it remains poorly understood and under-appreciated by the general public in Oman. Level of evidence: Not ratable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a unique rock inscription found during the 2011 survey conducted by the author in the area of Ja’alan Bani Bu Hasan in the Southern Sharqiyah Province, Oman. This type of inscriptions is not recorded in the northern part of Oman, and is frequently found in the south. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, several amateurs and travelers have reported the discovery of many of these inscriptions in the Province of Dhofar. Several of these inscriptions have been found near tombs and triliths in Dhofar. This is also the case with the Ja’alan’s rock inscription which was found near one of the triliths recorded in the area of Saih al-Sa’ad. This type of inscription was not previously found by any traveler or researcher working in the northern and central parts of Oman. For example, in 1970s, the British expedition carried out an archaeological survey in the eastern region of Oman and documented a number of archaeological features, including a large number of prehistoric tombs and triliths, but did not find such an inscription. Hence, the discovery of Ja’alan rock inscription with its letters or symbols is the first of its kind in the eastern region of Oman. Although they have been frequently found, their symbols or characters have not yet been fully decoded. Therefore, the available information does not help understanding several related aspects including their content, meaning, purpose, as well as their dating, and who executed them; all of which remain unanswered. This paper attempts to present the Ja’alan inscription, and compare it with similar inscriptions from other areas, particularly Dhofar. This will be done in order to understand its content and dating, as well as the distribution of this type of inscriptions in Oman.

This study tried to dive in the archives relating to Oman in the Algerian contemporary press, (1986-2016), and its goal is to look for the Oman presence in the Algerian press, and its role in consolidating of Algeria's Oman relations in the past and present. Based on the above, we have attempted in this study to analyze the subject - after a systematic approach- in the following topics: 1. Introduction to the interesting of Algerian journalists about Oman in modern-day. 2. Algerian press and the contemporary cultural scene in Oman. 3. Algerian press and document the views of the Algerian and Omani on topical issues. Among the findings of the research is the extrapolation of the huge amount of Algerian press material covered by the period of study. That the reasons of Omani-Algerian relationship extend in the depths of history, back to the second century AH, and she has stimulated the efforts of the press pioneers in Algeria and Zanzibar this relation and contributed to its consolidation in this modern age. The study also concluded that the image of the Sultanate of Oman in this press embodies a mosaic of high cultural characteristics. The first is: Oman's adherence to its religious and Arab identity. The second is: his struggle for his freedom and his struggle against colonialism throughout history. The third is: the wrapping of the Omani people around their political leadership and their pride in their scientists. The fourth: the sense of citizenship and co-existence and the entrenchment of the right to difference. The fifth: focus in the renaissance on the humans before the structures, and finally, the image of the Sultanate of Oman in short is: "Is the originality of history, the renaissance of the future, and a worthy example to study and follow-up".

The parental academic involvement is an important variable in achieving cooperation between home and school with the aim of improving the performance of their children and boosting the school's attempt to understand and appreciate the values and cultures of families to effectively meet the needs of their children. It is also considered an added value to develop the educational process of children at all ages. The importance of the research lies in its findings which reveal that the parental academic involvement of the selected sample of students in light of parenthood and school stage (secondary-university) is a decided advantage, as this makes a better understanding of this variable and its constituents in Oman. This would help draw guidelines and instructions and give rise to counseling programs, making parents and educationalists aware of the educational process, and improving the academic performance and the behavior of their different. The study sample consists of 210 students in their 10th grade at the secondary stage and 152 male and female students in their 2nd year in the College of Education at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). Two scales were devised, one which is applied to secondary stage students and another applied to SQU students. The findings show that there are specific factors related to parental academic involvement concept, as there are fatherhood and motherhood factors applicable to secondary stage and others applicable to university students. These factors vary by type (Father-Mother) and the school stage (secondary–university).

Oman is one of the top nine countries in the world with highest prevalence of diabetes. There is therefore more awareness among the people to take necessary precautions to preserve their health by reducing their sugar consumption and replacing it with low calorie sweeteners. Stevia is a natural herbal sweetener that is safe and does not have the neurological or renal side effects associated with some of the artificial sweeteners. A feasibility study to grow Stevia was undertaken after obtaining the seeds that were initially planted in greenhouse to study their growth habits under controlled conditions. The plants were then transferred to the field in Jabal Al-Akhdar at an elevation of 1079 m above sea level where temperatures were appropriate for Stevia growth in summer since it was within its tolerant temperature range. Two types of Stevia plants were transferred to JA for the three months field study; those that originated directly from seeds and those from transplant cuttings. Drip irrigation system with timer was installed with two laterals each having six emitters spaced 60 cm apart and each supplying 2 liters of water per day. Moderate fertilizer NPK was applied. Five out of six plants in each of the two plots grew very well to the end of the season. Some insects were attracted by the sweetness of the leaves but proper measures were taken to prevent damage. Results show that it is feasible to grow Stevia in JA in summer.

Increasing demands of the contemporary labor market environment are having a direct bearing on the courses offered by higher education institutions worldwide, and Sultanate of Oman is not an exception. One of such responses verbalized by many educational policy makers and curriculum developers in the country is an expected high level of critical thinking and problem solving skills from the students who take ESP foundation program courses. This paper reports on a study that examines to what extent ESP foundation program courses at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman impart critical thinking and problem solving skills intended for empowering our students and developing their personalities. Broadly speaking, it aims to present a comprehensive view about how critical thinking and problem solving skills teaching and learning approaches, models and practices are adopted in the context of the ESP foundation programs in Oman. More specifically, using the example of English for Science foundation program courses, it focuses on a variety of issues and context-specific factors related to ESP and critical thinking skills teaching, learning and outcomes.

The Blanford’s Fox Vulpes cana is known to be distributed in the Hajar Mountains and the mountains of Dhofar in northern and southern Oman, respectively. We report the first record of the Blanford’s Fox in Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve in central Oman. Despite a large survey effort of 169 camera traps set for 53,524 trap nights in an area of 5,400km2, only two camera traps detected Blanford’s Fox in a small area covering 46km2. The survey suggests that the population is small and possibly isolated, as the northern and southern Blanford’s Fox populations are 310km and 330km away, respectively.

Brachyuran crabs are an important ecological and economical, yet often unstudied aspect of intertidal mudflats of the Arabian Peninsula. Here we provide baseline density estimates of crabs at the relatively pristine intertidal mudflats of Barr Al Hikman (Sultanate of Oman) and provide information on their life cycle and habitat preference. Across the winters of 2012–2015 crabs were sampled on a grid covering the entire intertidal depth gradient. 29 species were found and average densities varied between 12 and 54 crabs/m2. Deposit-feeding and herbivorous crabs were the most abundant species across all winters. Size frequency data and the presence of ovigerous females show that most crabs species reproduce in the intertidal area. P. segnis, the most important crab for local fisheries, was found to use the intertidal area as a nursery ground. We analysed the relationships between the two most abundant crab species, Macrophthalmus sulcatus and Thalamita poissonii and the environmental variables: seagrass density, tidal elevation, median grain size and sediment depth using Random Forest models. The predictive capacity of the models and the relative importance of the environmental predictors varied between years, but crab densities in general were positively associated with seagrass density, presumably because seagrass offers feeding habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research analyses overtourism in a fast-changing destination on the Arabian Peninsula with its social 'ordering', conceptualized in local community perceptions, local memories and representations. The souq, located opposite the cruise terminal in Muscat, is the oldest marketplace in Oman and one of the top tourist destinations. The construction of a new USD 2 billion Waterfront Development facing the souq will start by the end of 2019. How does the local, multi-ethnic community consisting of sellers, business owners, tour guides, residents and government officials experience the spatial and social changes? How authentic is the souq for them? Cultural brokers like shop vendors, business-owners and tour guides are seen as local agents. Their perspectives are analyzed within a capitalist, neoliberal development, reinforced since the arrival of mega-cruise tourism in the Sultanate of Oman in 2004. The research is part of a long-term, qualitative, ethnographic research project conducted between 2012 and 2014 and 2017 and 2019 on cruise tourism development transforming Souq Muttrah into a 'hybrid space'. Results indicate that mega-cruise tourism has created signs of overtourism, operationalized in overcrowding along the main streets, a monoculture of shops, unethical guiding and selling practices transforming the souq into a hybrid space and a staged culture. Interviewees felt being part of a dynamic, cultural and historical process or legacy in Souq Muttrah. To maximize benefits and to increase their quality of life, it is recommended to introduce regulatory, economic and physical measures while including all stakeholders of the local community in cruise tourism planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Burn injuries cause a significant physical and psychological suffering. Burn survivors report low quality of life score. Understanding the physical and psychological sufferings of burn survivors is a critical step towards improving the quality of life of such survivors. There is limited data about the quality of life from developing countries such as the Sultanate of Oman. This study aims to report the physical and psychological sufferings of burn survivors in the Sultanate of Oman. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of burn survivors using the Burn Specific Health Scale-brief tool. Adult survivors were asked to rate the quality of their lives post-injury in four domains. The domains are hand function, affect, interpersonal relations, and heat sensitivity. Results: There were 48 participants in this study. Males constituted 52.1% of the sample. The average age was 37.6 years. The mean estimated total body surface area of the burn was 27%. The cause of burn was flame in almost half of the participants (41.7%). Burn survivors in this study reported low scores in terms of hand function (average 3). While 64% of them reported feeling sad and unhappy about their appearance. Furthermore, 39.6% indicated that the burn has negatively impacted their interpersonal relationships with their families and friends. Conclusions: This study highlighted that burn survivors in the Sultanate of Oman report low quality of life as measured by the Burn Specific Health Scale-brief. Such physical and psychological areas should be targeted for comprehensive improvement of burn care in the Sultanate of Oman. Level of evidence: Level IV, risk/prognostic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to identify The role of school principals in leading entrepreneurship education in post-basic education in the AlBatinah North Governorate, Sultanate of Oman, study used a descriptive method, also used the questionnaire to collect data and information were applied to a sample of (250) teachers. The findings of the study showed that The role of school principals in leading entrepreneurship education in post-basic education was came generally Medium; They also came Medium of all Fields: Planning, implementation and evaluation,; Results also showed that there were no significant differences at (α ≤ 0.05) in the study variables which are academic level and Years of experience, as for the sex variable, these differences did not exist in the implementation and evaluation Fields, but were found in the planning Field and in favor of females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to identify the reality of practicing spiritual leadership by the school principals of the state of Ibri at Al-Dhahirah Governorate, Sultanate of Oman, study used a descriptive method, also used the questionnaire to collect data and information were applied to a sample of (105) assistance principals and senior teachers. The results of the study showed that the reality of practicing spiritual leadership by the school principals of the state of Ibri at Al-Dhahirah Governorate, Sultanate of Oman was came generally high degree ; They also came high degree of all Fields: Faith, altruism, human relationships, and vision; Results also showed that there were no significant differences at (α ≤ 0.05) in the study variables which are gender, Years of experience and academic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to identify The requirements of entrepreneurship education for students of post-basic education schools in Al Batinah North Governorate, Sultanate of Oman from the teachers’ Perspective, study used a descriptive method, also used the questionnaire to collect data and information were applied to a sample of (245) teachers. The findings of the study showed that The requirements of entrepreneurship education for students of post-basic education schools was came generally high; They also came high of Fields: Physical and legislative requirements, but it came Medium in the field of human requirements,; Results also showed that there were no significant differences at (α ≤ 0.05) in the study variables which are sex, academic level and Years of experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the concept of personal social responsibility from the teachers' self-perceived perspective of its occurrence and understanding in the context of English language teaching and learning. It seeks to highlight the variety of constituents, qualities, and characteristics that shape it. Mixed methods research methodology is used for the analysis and interpretation of personal social responsibility taking into account teachers' descriptions of its constituents' level of importance, attitudinal characteristics to the chosen profession, qualities that characterize individual's behavior towards other people, community and society, and how teaching personal social responsibility might have an impact on students' learning and development. The participants of the study are English language educators representing the multicultural teaching community in the tertiary education institutions in the Sultanate of Oman. The findings of the study show that the concept of personal social responsibility is perceived as significantly important and meaningful; however, it yields considering approaches in the way it is provided, communicated, and taught in the English language courses. It is expected that the findings of this study may give proper guidance in forming future decisions about personal social responsibility teaching to empower students and enhance their academic and professional success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants emit enormous amount of emission such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matters (PM10). The Oman LNG LLC is the main provider of LNG and it is the largest contributor to Oman's national economy. In November 2005, the Oman LNG commissioned a third train with a capacity of 3.3 mtpa of LNG. Only few studies have investigated atmospheric levels of pollutants released from the Oman LNG after the third train became operational. The aim of this paper, therefore, was to study the effect of ground-level concentrations of NO2, CO, and PM10 expelled from the Oman LNG's operations on ambient air quality in the winter and summer seasons using the CALPUFF dispersion modelling system. The results indicated that the ground-level concentrations of NO2 for 1-h period in the winter and summer seasons at 2027.4 μg/m3 and 625.54 μg/m3, respectively, were significantly higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) concentration limits at 188.2 μg/m3. However, the average concentrations of CO and PM10 for a 1-h exposure period were within the US EPA's permissible standards. The results of this paper show that the Oman LNG plant's operations are not in agreement with US EPA regulations, and major actions must be taken by the facility and the government to prevent environmental impacts on Oman's air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of the geomorphological mapping of a region of the Dhofar (Sultanate of Oman) including two contrasting physiographic units sharing a common drainage system into the Arabian Sea: the Jebel Qara limestone massif and the coastal plain of Salalah. Neogene to Quaternary tectonic activity controlled the formation of an extensive system of faults and caused the uplift of the Jebel Qara, forming structural escarpments. The massif underwent karstification and subsequent linear erosion. Today the Jebel is cut by a dendritic net of dry valleys, occasionally dammed by calcareous tufa dams. The transition between the southern escarpment of the Jebel and the plain below displays flat alluvial fans, bordered by a strip of beachrock, coastal dunes, and coastal lagoons, located in correspondence to estuaries. Dramatic soil erosion is evident, linked to intense human-triggered zoogeomorphological processes started in the Mid-Late Holocene after the introduction of pastoral land-use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal of Science & Research Publishing is the property of Mussasat Al-Majallah Al-Arabiyah lil-Ulum Wa-Nashr Al-Abhath and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Arts & Social Sciences (JASS) is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2522-3380) is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Single reliance on diesel energy has put a wide range of problems on off-grid power systems operating in remote areas of Oman. The operation of off-grid of an exclave territory of Oman is more complex, costly, and unsustainable. Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems has strongly emerged as a viable alternative to the current diesel generation plants. Proper component selection, optimum grid sizing, and performance evaluation in the economic, environmental, and reliability paradigms are crucial steps in their design process to optimize the intended benefits. This paper uses HOMER software to optimally retrofit a mini-grid power system in an excalved tiny territory of Oman. Medha region is an exclave territory of Oman and enclaved by the United Arab Emirates. Diesel-fueled generators supply the mini-grid of this tiny territory of Oman. Medha Wilyat's peak demand is 8 MW. This paper investigates the potential utilization of renewable energy to offset diesel fuel consumption, in which the price is persistently volatile and increasing. This study discusses the possibility of integrating renewable energy technologies like solar and wind with conventional power generation systems that use diesel and natural gas. Wind-natural gas-diesel-based hybrid system was found to be the most viable system compared to other combinations in terms of the cost of electricity generation. Wind energy accounted for 52.4%; natural gas accounted for 47.2%, whereas diesel accounted for only 0.44%. Another finding was that operating cost for the wind-natural gas-diesel combination was among the lowest of all combinations since renewable energy integration was highest among all combinations. This study clearly shows that the integration of renewable energy to displace diesel power generation can be cost-effective for off-grids and environmentally friendly through a substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Cost savings from displacing diesel from mini-grids are most likely to increase in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of physical capital stock and net investment in artisanal fisheries of Al-Seeb, a coastal fishing town of Muscat Governorate, were examined covering the period 2004-2013. Data was gathered from two sources namely the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and field survey. A hedonic regression model was used to examine the influence of boat characteristics on the boat acquisition prices and then to derive the growth rate of physical capital stock. Boat characteristics comprising of 'age', 'horsepower (hp)' and 'length (vl)' were found to be statistically significant at the 5% level and carry sign consistent with the economic theory of depreciation and cost respectively. While inter-annual fluctuation of net investment was observed, a positive trend in cumulative investment with an average growth rate of 7.63% was experienced in the fishery during 2004-2013. A crude assessment of the operating costs and the gross revenue of surveyed boat-owners in 2015 showed that on average monthly economic profit of 571±169 SD OMR was received by individual boat-owner, which complements the positive trend in cumulative investment. These findings have important management and policy implications in relation to the effective management of harvesting capacity as well as attract investment in the fishery. Finally, some limitations of the study are discussed along with the indication of potential future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Educational Research (22196064) is the property of Association of Arab Universities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)