Search Results (1,670)

Background: The rising incidence of COVID-19 cases is undeniably having a profound impact on the physiological and psychological welfare of individuals. The incident had the potential to significantly affect an individual’s quality of life, social interactions, and occupational performance. The study explored the experiences of individuals who recovered from COVID-19 and the impact of their illness on their psychological and overall well-being. Methods: A qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted in Oman among 15 patients aged 20 to 60 years, who had been hospitalized at Royal Hospital with moderate to severe symptoms and signs of COVID-19. An in-depth interview was used to collect data. Thematic analysis was carried out to analyze the data using the Braun and Clarke model framework for the analysis. Results: Three themes emerged from the study: (1) The impact of COVID-19 on the survivors; (2) factors that improved patients’ recovery; (3) lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study found important intrinsic and extrinsic factors that helped COVID-19 patients recover quickly. Conclusions: COVID-19 impacted the individuals’ physiological and psychological health. The findings can inform Oman’s psychological support services and raise awareness of the virus’s psychological impact on mental health. The study may help to design a tailored psychological intervention to improve the mental well-being of COVID-19 survivors for better experience and quality of life. Full article

Digital transformation has emerged as a significant driver of innovation globally, with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations actively participating in this evolution. This systematic review provides a comprehensive assessment of the digital transformation in the GCC’s oil and gas sector over the past decade. Through a rigorous bibliometric analysis of 505 documents sourced from the SCOPUS database, this study examines trends in research outputs, affiliations, and publication types. The analysis reveals dynamic trends in research outputs, with the GCC showing a substantial growth in publications in recent years, particularly mirroring global trends, albeit on a smaller scale. Despite this progress, GCC publications in 2023 represent approximately 30% of the decade’s total, reflecting opportunities for increased research investment and international collaboration to enhance scientific output. Key findings highlight the United Arab Emirates as a leading contributor with (35%) of publications, followed by Saudi Arabia (29%) and Kuwait (26%). Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar exhibit comparatively fewer publications, suggesting potential areas for increased research focus. Conference papers dominate the scholarly output, comprising 92% of the publications, underscoring their role in disseminating research findings effectively. The top six world-leading research centers in digital transformation in oil and gas were analyzed and found to represent approximately 26% of global publications in the research field. This review contributes to the global discourse on technological adoption, innovation, and sustainable development by synthesizing the existing literature. It emphasizes the imperative of sustained research investment and strategic initiatives to strengthen scientific output in the GCC’s digital transformation of the oil and gas sector. By providing robust analysis and insights into regional contributions, this study informs policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers aiming to advance digital initiatives across the GCC. Full article

IT governance is a framework that manages the efficient use of information technology within an organization, focusing on strategic alignment, risk management, resource management, performance measurement, compliance, and value delivery. This study investigates the role of IT governance in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in accounting and auditing operations. Data were collected from 228 participants from Saudi Arabia using a combination of convenience sampling and snowball sampling methods. The collected data were then analyzed using structural equation modeling. Unexpectedly, the results demonstrate that AI, big data analytics, cloud computing, and deep learning technologies significantly enhance accounting and auditing functions’ efficiency and decision-making capabilities, leading to improved financial reporting and audit processes. The results highlight that IT governance plays a crucial role in managing the complexities of AI integration, aligning business strategies with AI-enabled technologies, and facilitating these advancements. This research fills a gap in previous research and adds significantly to the academic literature by improving the understanding of integrating AI into accounting and auditing processes. It builds on existing theoretical frameworks by investigating the role of IT governance in promoting AI adoption. The findings provide valuable insights for accounting and auditing experts, IT specialists, and organizational leaders. The study provides practical insights on deploying AI-driven technology in organizations to enhance auditing procedures and financial reporting. In a societal context, it highlights the broader implications of AI on transparency, accountability, and trust in financial reporting. Finally, the study offers practitioners, policymakers, and scholars valuable insights on leveraging AI advancements to optimize accounting and auditing operations. It highlights IT governance as an essential tool for effectively integrating AI technologies in accounting and auditing operations. However, successful implementation encounters significant organizational challenges like organizational support, training, data sovereignty, and regulatory compliance. Full article

The amplitude of a bolt load in dynamically loaded bolted flange joints depends on several factors: the resilience of the bolt and the clamping parts, the magnitude of the working load, the point of action of the working load, the way the working load is transferred from the structure to the bolt, the preload, and the geometrical imperfections of the contact surfaces of the joint. These factors are analysed in many papers, and they are covered in the VDI 2230 guideline and in standards. Fatigue curves (S-N curves) of bolts are determined by tests in which an ideal axial load is usually applied to the bolts. The effects of the bolt strength class, the thread manufacturing process, the surface protection, and the cross-section size on the fatigue strength of bolts are precisely defined. The main problem in the evaluation of bolted joints is the calculation of the actual stress, which is compared with the fatigue curves. Despite extensive research, fatigue-related bolt failures still occur in practise. This article provides a systematic overview of the influences that affect the fatigue of bolts. The conclusions are based on the research results of many authors and on our own analytical, numerical, and experimental investigations. The effects are illustrated using two practical examples of flange bolting. The assessment of fatigue according to Eurocode 3 and the VDI 2230 guideline is discussed in more detail. Full article

The tropical Garcinia genus of flowering plants is a prolific producer of aromatic natural products including polyphenols, flavonoids, and xanthones. In this study, we report the first phytochemical investigation of Garcinia caudiculata Ridl. from the island of Borneo. Fractionation, purification, and structure elucidation by MS and NMR resulted in the discovery of two meroterpenoids. One was a benzofuranone lactone previously isolated from Iryanthera grandis and Rhus chinensis, and the second was a new hydroquinone methyl ester that we named caudiquinol. Both natural products are rare examples of plant meroterpenoids with an intact geranylgeranyl chain. Full article

Since enormous amounts of antibiotics are consumed daily by millions of patients all over the world, tons of pharmaceutical residuals reach aquatic bodies. Accordingly, our study adopted the Fenton catalytic degradation approach to conquer such detrimental pollutants. (Ce_0.33Fe) MIL-88A was fabricated by the hydrothermal method; then, it was supported on the surface of g-C₃N₄ sheets using the post-synthetic approach to yield a heterogeneous Fenton-like (Ce_0.33Fe) MIL-88A/10%g-C₃N₄ catalyst for degrading the tetracycline hydrochloride drug. The physicochemical characteristics of the catalyst were analyzed using FT-IR, SEM-EDX, XRD, BET, SEM, and XPS. The pH level, the H₂O₂ concentration, the reaction temperature, the catalyst dose, and the initial TC concentration were all examined as influencing factors of TC degradation efficiency. Approximately 92.44% of the TC was degraded within 100 min under optimal conditions: pH = 7, catalyst dosage = 0.01 g, H₂O₂ concentration = 100 mg/L, temperature = 25 °C, and TC concentration = 50 mg/L. It is noteworthy that the practical outcomes revealed how the Fenton-like process and adsorption work together. The degradation data were well-inspected by first-order and second-order models to define the reaction rate. The synergistic interaction between the (Ce_0.33Fe) MIL-88A/10%g-C₃N₄ components produces a continuous redox cycle of two active metal species and the electron-rich source of g-C₃N₄. The quenching test demonstrates that ^•OH is the primary active species for degrading TC in the H₂O₂–(Ce_0.33Fe) MIL-88A/10%g-C₃N₄ system. The GC-MS spectrum elucidates the yielded intermediates from degrading the TC molecules. Full article

In this study, we aimed to numerically investigate the 2D laminar flow over a cylindrical body and performed vortex-induced vibration analyses on a circular cylinder of unit radius placed in a channel, with the cylinder assumed to be fixed. The cases of a cylinder under forced oscillation and three different scenarios of a freely oscillating cylinder were analyzed. The fluid domain dynamics were governed by the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations; however, the structural field was described using nonlinear elastodynamic equations. Fluid and solid domains were discretized with the finite volume method (FVM) in space and time. Predictions of hydrodynamic forces, namely lift and drag terms, were determined for each scenario. An increase in the Reynolds number caused an exponential increment in the lift force. In the case of a stabilized flow, the collective decrease in stiffness and damping decreased the maximal drag and lift factors. Furthermore, it was noticed that the lift factor was minimally altered by variations in damping and stiffness in comparison with the change in the drag factor. From these observations, it appears that the lift factor probably correlates with the cylinder’s structure and fluid properties. Full article

Microbial composition across substrates in mangroves, particularly in the Middle East, remains unclear. This study characterized bacterial communities in sediment, water, Terebralia palustris snail guts, and plastic associated with Avicennia marina mangrove forests in two coastal lagoons in the Sea of Oman using 16S rDNA gene MiSeq sequencing. The genus Vibrio dominated all substrates except water. In the gut of snails, Vibrio is composed of 80–99% of all bacterial genera. The water samples showed a different pattern, with the genus Sunxiuqinia being dominant in both Sawadi (50.80%) and Qurum (49.29%) lagoons. There were significant differences in bacterial communities on different substrata, in particular plastic. Snail guts harbored the highest number of unique Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) in both lagoons, accounting for 30.97% OTUs in Sawadi and 28.91% OTUs in Qurum, compared to other substrates. Plastic in the polluted Sawadi lagoon with low salinity harbored distinct genera such as Vibrio, Aestuariibacter, Zunongwangia, and Jeotgalibacillus, which were absent in the Qurum lagoon with higher salinity and lower pollution. Sawadi lagoon exhibited higher species diversity in sediment and plastic substrates, while Qurum lagoon demonstrated lower species diversity. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that environmental factors such as salinity, pH, and nutrient levels significantly influence bacterial community composition across substrates. Variations in organic matter and potential anthropogenic influences, particularly from plastics, further shape bacterial communities. This study highlights the complex microbial communities in mangrove ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple substrates in mangrove microbial ecology studies. The understanding of microbial dynamics and anthropogenic impacts is crucial for shaping effective conservation and management strategies in mangrove ecosystems, particularly in the face of environmental changes. Full article

This study employs friction stir processing to create a surface alloy using Al1050 aluminum as the base material, with Cu powder applied to enhance surface properties. Various parameters, including tool rotation speed, feed rate, and the number of passes, are investigated for their effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the resulting surface alloy. The evaluation methods include tensile testing, microhardness measurements, and metallographic examinations. The initial friction stir alloying pass produced a non-uniform stir zone, which was subsequently homogenized with additional passes. Through the plasticization of Al1050, initial agglomerates of copper particles were compacted into larger ones and saturated with aluminum. The alloyed samples exhibited up to an 80% increase in the strength of the base metal. This significant enhancement is attributed to the Cu content and grain size refinement post-alloying. Additionally, machine learning techniques, specifically Genetic Programming, were used to model the relationship between processing parameters and the mechanical properties of the alloy, providing predictive insights for optimizing the surface alloying process. Full article

With increasing mental health risks among school populations and prevalent bullying, school mental health professionals (SMHP) are crucial globally. This study explores the perspectives of SMHP on bullying in Omani schools, focussing on definitions, types, current practices, and future strategies. Involving 50 Omani SMHP from Muscat Governorate with at least three years of experience, data was collected through structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Six key themes emerged: The definition of bullying, its components, common types, current anti-bullying practices, challenges, and future suggestions. Bullying, termed “سلوكعدواني” (Suluk Audwani), meaning aggressive behavior, includes five components: perpetrators, victims, harmful behavior, spectators, and psychosocial factors. Verbal bullying, physical bullying, and cyberbullying are common and vary by age. SMHP frequently employ awareness-raising and psychological first aid. Challenges include resistance from students and parents and institutional barriers. In the future, SMHP will emphasize greater awareness to effectively address Suluk Audwani. Oman has adopted international best practices to recruit SMHP. SMHP’s perspectives on Suluk Audwani reflect both their training and Omani cultural influences. Future research should explore various social strata to improve evidence-based understanding and prevention of Suluk Audwani. Full article

The culture medium composition plays a critical role in optimizing the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). One under-investigated aspect of the medium is the impact of the Wolf vitamin solution. This solution, known to contain essential vitamins like biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12, and thiamine, is believed to enhance bacterial growth and biofilm formation within the MFC. The influence of varying Wolf vitamin solution concentrations (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mL) on microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance is investigated in this study. Python 3.7.0 software is employed to enhance and anticipate the performance of MFC systems. Four distinct machine-learning algorithms, namely adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), categorical boosting algorithm (CatBoost), and support vector regression (SVR), are implemented to predict power density. In this study, a data split of 80% for training and 20% for testing was employed to optimize the artificial intelligence (AI) model. The analysis revealed that the optimal concentration of Wolf mineral solution was 5.8 mL. The corresponding error percentages between the experimental and AI-predicted values for current density, power generation, COD removal, and coulombic efficiency were found to be remarkably low at 0.79%, 0.5%, 1.89%, and 1.27%, respectively. These findings highlight the significant role of Wolf mineral solution in maximizing MFC performance and demonstrate the exceptional precision of the AI model in accurately predicting MFC behavior. Full article

The Arabian Peninsula, with its rugged mountains, wadis, alluvial plains, sand dune deserts, and diverse coastlines, spans over 3 million km². The Peninsula is situated at the crossroads of Africa and Asia and is a meeting point for diverse biogeographic realms, including the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan regions. This convergence of biogeographic zones has resulted in a remarkably diverse flora and fauna, which is adapted to the harsh and varied climates found throughout the Peninsula. Each of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula are biologically diverse and unique in their own right, but Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are the most diverse in terms of their landforms and biological diversity. The mountainous regions support a cooler and more moderate climate compared to the surrounding lowlands, thus forming unique ecosystems that function as refugia for plant and animal species, and have a high endemism of plant species. The desert ecosystems support a variety of lifeforms that are specially adapted to an extreme arid climate. Due to its long history of human habitation and subsistence agriculture, particularly in the mountainous areas, the Arabian Peninsula possesses unique crop varieties adapted to extreme arid climates, making them important genetic resources for the future in the face of climate change. The Arabian Peninsula, though rich and diverse in its biological diversity, has been greatly affected by human activities, especially in the last 50 years, including urbanization, habitat destruction, overgrazing, and climate change, which pose significant threats to the biodiversity of the region. This review presents the biogeography and background of conservation efforts made in the countries in the Arabian Peninsula and gives the progress made in botanical research and conservation practices throughout the Peninsula. Full article

The optimal doses of ceftazidime–avibactam (CZA) and ceftolozane–tazobactam (C/T) for treating multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) in patients utilizing renal replacement therapy (RRT) are not well established. Hence, the objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with the suggested doses of CZA and C/T in patients with PSA infection utilizing RRT. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at our hospital between September 2018 and March 2022. Clinical cure was the primary endpoint, while microbiologic cure, 30-day recurrence, and 30-day mortality were the secondary endpoints. Results: In total, 45 subjects met the inclusion criteria, with 25 receiving CZA and 20 receiving C/T. The median age was 69 (52–81) and 69 (61.5–83) years, respectively, while the median weight was 70 (55.5–81.5) and 66 (57–79) kg, respectively. Clinical cure was achieved in 12 (48%) subjects in the CZA group and 12 (60%) in the C/T group (p = 0.432). Of the 36 subjects who had repeated cultures, a microbiologic cure was achieved in 14/23 (60%) subjects and 10/13 (76.9%) subjects (p = 0.273). Thirty-day recurrence was reported in 3 (12%) cases in the CZA group and 6 (30%) in the C/T group (p = 0.082). The 30-day mortality was 13 (52%) subjects in the CZA group and 10 (50%) in the C/T group (p = 0.894). The median maintenance dose of CZA was 1.88 (0.94–3.75) g and 2.25 (1.5–2.25) g for C/T. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that both drugs did not differ significantly in clinical cure. Bloodstream infection (BSI) (OR = 25, 95% CI: 1.63–411.7, p = 0.021) was the only independent factor associated with clinical cure in this population. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that C/T and CZA did not significantly differ in achieving clinical cure in patients with MDR PSA infections undergoing RRT. Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm our findings. Full article

Commiphora gileadensis is a medicinal plant with a wide range of biological characteristics. Many medical diseases can be treated using the leaves of C. gileadensis, including bacterial infections, inflammatory illnesses, and wounds. As a result, the Soxhlet extraction method was used to extract the phenolic components and measure the recovery yields from C. gileadensis leaf. The impacts of the Soxhlet extraction parameters (extraction time 30–150 min, sample/solvent ratio 1:20–1:40 g/mL, and concentration of ethanol solvent 20–100% v/v) on the total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), and extraction yield were investigated using the one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analyses have been employed to evaluate the extracts for the presence of various phytochemicals. According to the results, the C. gileadensis leafs ethanolic extract extracted via the Soxhlet process achieved the maximum yields at 90 min of extraction time, a feed/solvent ratio of 1:30 g/mL, and a 40% v/v ethanol concentration. These yields were: extraction yield = 23.20 ± 0.10% w/w, TPC = 59.93 ± 1.33 mg GAE/g d.w., and TFC = 19.65 ± 1.77 mg QE/g d.w.. Further, a total of 20 phenolic components with excellent antioxidant characteristics were found in the leaf extract of C. gileadensis extracted via the Soxhlet method. Full article

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and environmental application for amoxicillin (AMX) removal in batch mode of three novel calcium-rich biochars. These biochars were produced from the co-pyrolysis of poultry manure, date palm wastes, and waste marble powder at temperatures of 700 °C (Ca-B-700), 800 °C (Ca-B-800), and 900 °C (Ca-B-900). Characterization results show that increasing the pyrolysis temperature results in improved structural, textural, and surface chemistry properties. For instance, the BET surface area of the Ca-B-900 was assessed to be 52.3 m² g⁻¹, which is 14.1 and 3.1 times higher than those observed for Ca-B-700 and Ca-B-800, respectively. Moreover, the Ca-B-900 shows higher AMX removal ability (56.2 mg g⁻¹) than Ca-B-800 (46.8 mg g⁻¹), Ca-B-700 (14.6 mg g⁻¹), and numerous other engineered biochars. The AMX removal process by these biochars is favorable under wide experimental conditions of initial pH and AMX concentrations. Additionally, the experimental and modeling data show that the AMX adsorption process includes both physical and chemical mechanisms. This study confirms that Ca-rich biochars can perform significant removal of AMX in batch mode. Full article