• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2002

Two kinds of crude oil-degrading microorganisms from soil and one kind from sea were isolated and named strain Al32, strain F722 and strain OM1, respectively. These microorganism were identified Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, respectively. The optimum cultivation temperature of Acinetobacter sp. A132 and P. aeruginosa F722 was $35^{\circ}C$ and optimum growth pH was 8 and 9, respectively. The growth was the highest at 2.0% (w/v) substrate concentration when crude oil was only carbon source. The growth of A. calcoaceticus OM1 isolated from sea was the highest at 3.0% (w/v) of crude oil. In inspection of crude oil degradability, strain Al32 showed 5.49 g/L.day with Eleuthera (OMAN), 2.0% (w/v). P. aeruginosa F722 showed 1.19 g/L g/L.day with L-Zakum (AFRICA). In case of kerosene $nC_9\simnC_{20}$ and diesel $nC_9\simnC_{28}$, A. calcoaceticus OM1 was degraded 95% and 75%, respectively, for 7 days culture, and P. aeruginosa F722 was 80% after 10 days.

• Journal of Korean Society of Archives and Records Management
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.165-179
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• 2015

Archives have historical and academic values. That is why the study of preservation conditions and the environment for the effective management of various records progress. However, materials such as paper and adhesives will inevitably cause biological damages. These damages spread into the inner side of archives, which would make it impossible to recover. For example, archival records from Malaysia and Oman are easily exposed to biological damage because of these countries' hot and humid climate. As such, once records are damaged, disinfection operations are customary in these areas. Methyl bromide (MeBr) and ethylene oxide (EtO) were used in the disinfection process as they showed good insecticidal effect. However their antibacterial effect are negligible. As such, the need for an environmental-friendly fumigator was evident. An environmental-friendly fumigator is designed to improve storage stability. Such equipment is expected to contribute to prevention of damages to cultural heritages through its use of vaporization technology, maintenance of a disinfection space (chamber), and self-generation of nitrogen.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6651-6661
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• 2015

Breast cancer is a global health concern and is a major cause of death among women. In Oman, it is the most common cancer in women, with an incidence rate of 15.6 per 100,000 Omani females. Various anticancer remedies have been discovered from natural products in the past and the search is continuing for additional examples. Cytotoxic natural compounds may have a major role in cancer therapy either in potentiating the effect of chemotherapy or reducing its harmful effects. Recently, a few studies have reported advantages of using crude camel milk in treating some forms of cancer. However, no adequate data are available on the lyophilised camel's milk responsibility for triggering apoptosis and oxidative stress associated with human breast cancer. The present study aimed to address the role of the lyophilised camel's milk in inducing proliferation repression of BT-474 and HEp-2 cells compared with the non-cancer HCC1937 BL cell line. Lyophilized camel's milk fundamentally repressed BT-474 cells growth and proliferation through the initiation of either the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways as indicated by both caspase-3 mRNA and its action level, and induction of death receptors in BT-474 but not the HEp-2 cell line. In addition, lyophilised camel's milk enhanced the expression of oxidative stress markers, heme-oxygenase-1 and reactive oxygen species production in BT-474 cells. Increase in caspase-3 mRNA levels by the lyophilised camel's milk was completely prevented by the actinomycin D, a transcriptional inhibitor. This suggests that lyophilized camel's milk increased newly synthesized RNA. Interestingly,it significantly (p<0.003) repressed the growth of HEp-2 cells and BT-474 cells after treatment for 72 hours while 24 hours treatment repressed BT-474 cells alone. This finding suggests that the lyophilised camel's milk might instigate apoptosis through initiation of an alternative apoptotic pathway.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.785-801
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• 2017

Biopolymer treatment of geomaterials to develop sustainable geotechnical systems is an important step towards the reduction of global warming. The cutting edge technology of biopolymer treatment is not only environment friendly but also has widespread application. This paper presents the strength and slake durability characteristics of biopolymer-treated sand sampled from Al-Sharqia Desert in Oman. The specimens were prepared by mixing sand at various proportions by weight of xanthan gum biopolymer. To make a comparison with conventional methods of ground improvement, cement treated sand specimens were also prepared. To demonstrate the effects of wetting and drying, standard slake durability tests were also conducted on the specimens. According to the results of strength tests, xanthan gum treatment increased the unconfined strength of sand, similar to the strengthening effect of mixing cement in sand. The slake durability test results indicated that the resistance of biopolymer-treated sand to disintegration upon interaction with water is stronger than that of cement treated sand. The percentage of xanthan gum to treat sand is proposed as 2-3% for optimal performance in terms of strength and durability. SEM analysis of biopolymer-treated sand specimens also confirms that the sand particles are linked through the biopolymer, which has increased shear resistance and durability. Results of this study imply xanthan gum biopolymer treatment as an eco-friendly technique to improve the mechanical properties of desert sand. However, the strengthening effect due to the biopolymer treatment of sand can be weakened upon interaction with water.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.17-44
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• 2015

Due to the oil business, settlements in the Gulf Region developed into prosperous cities. But in the near future, oil is off. The plans of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states bank on diversified and knowledge-intensive economies. Are those development plans realistic? What is the state of the art of knowledge institutions in the GCC countries? Applying the theoretical frameworks of Knowledge City and Science Indicators research, we empirically and theoretically studied the emerging Gulf cities Kuwait City (Kuwait), Manama (Bahrain), Doha (Qatar), Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah (all UAE), and Muscat (Oman). Our methodological framework includes grounded theory, ethnographic field study, ServQual-like quantitative questionnaires and semi-standardized qualitative interviews conducted on-site with informed people, informetrics, and, finally, the use of official statistics. In particular, we describe and analyze the cities' knowledge infrastructures, their academics, and expenditure on R&D as input indicators; and publications as well as graduates as output indicators. A further crucial aspect of a knowledge society is the transition of graduates into knowledge-intensive public services and private companies.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.341-348
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• 2011

The study of bacterial flagellar swimming motion remains an interesting and challenging research subject in the fields of hydrodynamics and bio-locomotion. This swimming motion is characterized by very low Reynolds numbers, which is unique and time reversible. In particular, the effect of rotation of helical flagella of bacterium on swimming motion requires detailed multi-disciplinary analysis. Clear understanding of such swimming motion will not only be beneficial for biologists but also to engineers interested in developing nanorobots mimicking bacterial swimming. In this paper, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of a three dimensional single flagellated bacteria has been developed and the fluid flow around the flagellum is investigated. CFD-based modeling studies were conducted to find the variables that affect the forward thrust experienced by the swimming bacterium. It is found that the propulsive force increases with increase in rotational velocity of flagellum and viscosity of surrounding fluid. It is also deduced from the study that the forward force depends on the geometry of helical flagella (directly proportional to square of the helical radius and inversely proportional to pitch).

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.342-346
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• 2001

The physiological changes in sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) leaves infected with Drechslera sorghicola were investigated through five recognizable stages of disease development. Water-soaked yellowish brown spots developed two days after inoculation, turned brown with yellow halo, enlarged and coalesced at later stages of disease development. Healthy and infected leaves were analyzed for different biochemical constituents. The chlorophyll contents were decreased significantly with the progress of infection. The levels of reducing and total sugars increased while non-reducing sugars decreased to a significant extent with the progress of disease. The concentration of total phenolics, orthodihydroxy phenols, free and glycosidic phenols showed significant changes due to infection, whereas basic and acid phenols showed little or no change with disease development. Levels of phenolic compounds increased four days after inoculation and decrease thereafter, but the concentration was higher at every stage of disease development relative to healthy tissues. Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzyme activities increased to varying degrees at different stages of infection. Analysis of protein fractions showed a significant increase with the progress of disease.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.8
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• pp.705-714
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• 2020

This study aims to investigate the main factors that affected the government health expenditures in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait), during the period from 2005 to 2019. The study employs a panel data technique in order to monitor the pooled determinant variables of healthcare expenditures in these countries. The study's results indicate, by using FMOLS approach for panel data, that the average healthcare expenditures per capita in GCC countries have a positive and a significant relationship with the government revenues, the size of the population, and the governments' public debt. The positive and the significant relationships of governments' public debt may be explained even if the governments of the GCC countries suffer from a budget deficit; the GCC countries continue to increase the healthcare expenditure. The study suggests that the policymakers of the GCC countries must take into consideration those variables when they develop their healthcare policies. Also, the GCC countries urgently need to have high levels of foreign exchange reserves to maintain the expected level of spending on the healthcare sector, because their public revenues depend mainly on the oil revenues, which are fluctuating continuously.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.843-851
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• 2020

This study focuses on identifying and prioritizing the broader performance measures for the service supply chains by taking the case of Majan Electricity Company, Sohar, in the Sultanate of Oman. For an examination of the uniformity of ultimate objectives and the priorities therein, two strata of respondents with a total of fourteen respondents were approached for their valuable insights. Suitable structured instruments were personally administered to elicit the insightful and worthy responses. The two multi-criteria decision-making techniques, namely, the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process and the Best-Worst Method were used to reach a meaningful prioritization of the identified and refined broader performance measurement dimensions. The results show that there exists a minor gap between the two respondents' groups in terms of their prioritizations. The major finding points to the difference in terms of the topmost priorities as revealed by the two set of respondents. For one group of respondents, the customer satisfaction matters the most, whereas for the other group, it is the overall profitability that matters the most. This gap against the utopian state assists in concluding that there is a requirement to reorient the employees so as to have a shared and common understanding of the organizational priorities.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.10
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• pp.29-35
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• 2021

The current study's objective isto determine the impact of organizational climate on organizational reputation in the context of organizational health as a mediating variable, in a case study of textile enterprises in Jordan that are listed on the Industrial Qualified zones. The study population contains (12) companies, according to the industrial qualified zones, with 317 employees who are working at CEO, deputy CEO, and supervisor positions chosen through convenience sampling. While the final sample of the current study consists of 174. Furthermore, to test the current study's hypotheses, the Smart Partial Least Square (PLS) technique was applied. Additionally, the current study concludes that there is a positive impact of organizational climate on organizational reputation. The current study shows that organizational climate has a positive impact on organizational health and organizational health has a positive impact on organizational reputation. Moreover, there is the mediation impact of organizational health on the relationship between organizational climate and organizational reputation. Based on the results of the current study, the study proposes that the level of organizational climate, organizational health, and organizational reputation in the examined companies be enhanced and increased.