Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparison Of Oman Seismic Code With International Counterparts Based On Regional Seismic Hazard, Muhammad Bilal Waris, Khalifa Al-Jabri

The Journal of Engineering Research

Oman Seismic Code (OSC) was developed in 2013 to provide guidelines for seismic analysis and design of buildings in the Sultanate of Oman. Prior to its development, specifications of Uniform Building Code 1997 (UBC) and International Building Code 2006 (IBC) were used. This study compares base shear, lateral force distribution, and effective storey drift obtained from the three seismic codes using equivalent static load and response spectrum analysis methods. Reinforced concrete buildings with 25m x 40m plan having columns at 5m spacing are used; 3-, 6-, 13- and 19- storeys are considered having height of 10m, 19m, 40m and 58m, …

Investigation Of Noise Exposures, Perception, And Health Effects In Different Microenvironments In A University Community, Patrick Amoatey, Issa Al-Harthy, Khalifa Al-Jabri, Abdullah Al-Mamun, Mahad Baawain

The Journal of Engineering Research

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 …

Spatial And Statistical Analysis Of Environmental Noise Levels In The Main Campus Of The University Of Lagos, Alfred Alademomi, Chukwuma Okolie, Babatunde Ojegbile, Olagoke Daramola, Johanson Onyegbula, Rahmat Adepo, Wemimo Ademeno

The Journal of Engineering Research

The increasing student population, developmental, and commercial activities within the University of Lagos main campus have led to an increase in daily noise levels. These increasing noise disturbances have disrupted the serenity and tranquillity of the campus environment. In this study, the noise levels are assessed at thirty–four selected monitoring stations within the University of Lagos main campus. The assessment was done to determine the compliance of the University to international standards set by World Health Organisation for tolerable noise levels in different environmental types (or land use classes). Over a period of three days, the minimum, maximum and average …

Strengthening Of Historical Stone Masonry Buildings In Oman Using Textile Reinforced Mortars, A.H. Al-Saidy, A.W. Hago, S. El-Gamal, M. Dawood

The Journal of Engineering Research

Most historical buildings and structures in Oman were built using unreinforced stone masonry. Such structures are prone to damage from seismic activity as these structures have negligible resistance to tensile stresses. This paper presents an exploration of the physical and chemical properties of local building materials and the results of experiments with a new strengthening technique using textile reinforced mortar. Limestone and Sarooj were the main building materials used historically in these buildings. Sarooj is a local Omani term for artificial pozzolana produced by calcining clays. Two mortar mixes were developed, one as the jointing mortar and the second as …

Hearing Islam: The Sounds Of A Global Religious Tradition, Bertie Kibreah

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

A book review is presented for Hearing Islam: The Sounds of a Global Religious Tradition, authored by Lauren E. Osborne, by Bertie Kibreah.

Thomas Pereira’S 'Lülü Zuanyao' 律呂纂要 (Ca. 1685): A Jesuit Music Theory Textbook For The Chinese Emperor, Qingfan Jiang

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

Thomas Pereira (1646–1708), a Portuguese Jesuit missionary, arrived in Beijing in 1672 and was appointed by the Kangxi Emperor (1654–1722) as his music tutor. For the emperor's music lessons, Pereira authored Lülü Zuanyao 律呂纂要 [Elements of Music] (ca. 1685), the first known Western music theory treatise written in Chinese. My translation includes the first half of Zuanyao that focuses on Western music notation, solmization, and the hexachordal system. As a product of the global circulation of musical knowledge in the early modern period, Zuanyao is significant in three ways. First, it illustrates the direct influence of the music education Pereira …

Beyond The Sitcom: An Examination Of Grief In Wandavision, Victoria Sweeney

Research Days

Television shows are often a medium people turn to for relaxation. However, on rare occasions, certain shows can take on deeper meaning and symbolism. WandaVision, though rooted in superhero media, is one such show that transcends its genre. While television often serves as an escape from reality, the context of the COVID-19 pandemic heightened the show's nostalgic presentation, resonating with viewers on a more profound level. Throughout the series, viewers witness Wanda Maximoff's journey through the stages of grief. As a result, many viewers can relate to her experience, finding their own sense of healing as they progress through these …

Caffeine-Free Plant-Based Nootropics: The Evolving Science And Regulatory Journey Of Alpinia Galanga., Deshanie Rai

Oxford ICSB

Consumer interest in using botanicals as complementary medicine to help address a variety of health benefits is rooted in the traditional use of botanicals to support for example vision performance, joint health, and mental wellbeing. With increasingly busy lifestyles, consumers are seeking ways to support their mental energy. While caffeine is a widely used nootropic, consumers are wary of consuming too much caffeine and/or it’s associated “caffeine-crash” effects, and therefore looking for plant-based nootropic alternates. Plant-derived nutraceutical research is now on the research agendas in academic and industry settings. At OmniActive Health Technologies, we are helping to address consumer health …

Wild Olive In Oman And Its Conservation A Review, Thuraiya Al-Jabri, Alastair Culham, Richard Ellis

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

The wild olive, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (Wall. & G.Don) Cif is one of the three dominant species of the common tree exits in the ecosystem of the mountains of northern and southern Oman. There are insufficient studies about the use, ecology and preservation of this species in Oman. The mountain ecosystem habitation is highly sensitive to disturbances and not easy to rehabilitate. These disturbances are caused by range of anthropogenic effects, such as urbanisation, climate change, overgrazing, introducing non-native species, as well as naturally occurring insects pests and diseases. Introduction of cultivated olive orchards (Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea) …

Taxonomic Knowledge On The Biodiversity Of Bivalve Mollusks On The Algerian West Coast, Mohammed Salah Eddine Boukli Hacene, Amina Damerdji

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Given the limited understanding of benthic fauna along the Algerian coast, this study was conducted to explore the diversity of bivalve mollusks specifically on the Algerian west coast. The primary objectives of this study were to create a comprehensive but not exhaustive inventory of bivalve species in this region and to analyze the distribution of these species within the study areas and neighboring regions. The research involved the investigation of numerous sandy beaches across four sectors of the Algerian west coast: Tlemcen, Béni-Saf, Ain-Temouchent, and Oran. Between June 2019 and April 2020, a random collection of empty bivalve shells was …

Analysis Of Shoreline Change Along The Coast Of The Wadi Al Ma’Awil Watershed, Oman, Using The Digital Shoreline Analysis System, Amna Al-Ruheili

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

In an arid climate, lack of water constitutes a challenge. One solution can be to use storage dams as a tool to facilitate groundwater recharge and provide water for various uses. However, dams cannot be constructed without affecting the environment of the coastal shoreline and its ecological habitats. This study investigated the structural changes (i.e. accretion or erosion) of the coastline along the Wadi Ma’awil watershed. The Wadi Ma’awil watershed was dammed in 1991, providing a 10M m3 dam capacity. Satellite images were obtained for 1972, 1984, 1994, 2008, 2014, and 2018, and coastlines were digitized. For this research, we …

Using Ca-Markov Model To Predict Land Use/Land Cover Changes In Bayer And Al-Bassit Region, Latakia, Syria, Ola Merhej, Mahmoud Ali, Ali Thabeet

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Recently, land use change models have become important tools to support the analysis of land use dynamics. This research was aimed at the evaluating and predicting the land use/land cover change dynamics in Bayer and al-Bassit region of northwestern Latakia, Syria. In this paper, we used Cellular Automata and Markov Chain models to predict the LULC changes that are likely to occur by 2030 in Bayer and al-Bassit region. Three Landsat images acquired in the years of 1992, 2005, and 2018 were classified using Maximum Likelihood Classification algorithm and used as the input data for CA-Markov models. Kappa index was …

Risks In The Sri Lankan Banana Supply Chain: Analysis Through An Interpretive Structural Modeling, Shanaka Rajakaruna, Alawathuge Wijeratne

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Although banana is an important fruit in Sri Lanka that gives a good income to farmers. Researchers have indicated that the majority of the crop is damaged from the farm gate to the consumer table. Accordingly, this research was addressed ‘to find the risks of the banana supply chain in Sri Lanka. The Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach was used in this research to find the risks in the banana supply chain of Sri Lanka. According to the literature survey and data analysis, several risks such as human and personal, production, financial, land prices, biological and environmental, information, political, weather-related, …

Gis And Remote Sensing Techniques In Controlled Environment Agriculture: A Review, Abdulrahim M. Al-Ismaili

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) are useful tools in environmental monitoring, evaluation and analysis for various sectors including agriculture. This paper reviews the applications of GIS, RS and the integration of both techniques in the agricultural field, in general, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), in particular. More emphasis is given to their applications in arid areas and Oman is taken as a case study. GIS techniques have been used in the mapping of soil and water quality, spatial assessment for water quantity stress, land suitability, pest and disease distribution of crops as well as delineating and generating …

Old Ways In A Changing Space: The Issue Of Camel Pastoralism In Dhofar, Ali Tigani Elmahi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

In the Arabian Peninsula, the Dhofar region is rich in camels. This national wealth has always been administered by traditional nomadic pastoral management, which must have evolved in Oman with the introduction of camels as domesticates in prehistoric times. In this region, camels have always depended on the free grazing system which is governed by tribal territoriality. Today, Dhofar is experiencing an extensive process of development. Land value has increased immensely, to the extent that it cannot be used for camel pastoralism. Furthermore, traditional camel management has always been directed to meet requirements of a subsistence economy. It has never …

Hematophagous Flies In Dhofar (Sultanate Of Oman): A Limiting Factor And A Potential Pathogenic Vector, Ali Tigani Elmahi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

In Dhofar, pastoralists take certain precautionary measures against hematophagous flies: Haematobia minuta Bezzi, Musca crassirostris Stein and Forcipomyia (lasiohelea) whitcombei Boorman. Through their feeding on domesticated animals, these flies impede pasturing in certain areas during the rainy season (Khareef); hence they act as a limiting ecological factor and a custodian of the flora. The possibility that these flies could be potential pathogenic vectors has not been investigated in Oman, although in other parts of the world they are recognized as carriers of disease agents. The paper draws attention to this issue in Dhofar.

Transport Modeling Analysis To Test The Efficiency Of Fish Markets In Oman, Khamis S. Al-Abri, Hemesiri Kotagama, Andrew Palfreman, Houcine Boughanmi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Oman’s fish exports have shown an increasing trend while supplies to the domestic market have declined, despite increased domestic demand caused by population growth and income. This study hypothesized that declining fish supplies to domestic markets were due to inefficiency of the transport function of the fish marketing system in Oman. The hypothesis was tested by comparing the observed prices of several fish species at several markets with optimal prices. The optimal prices were estimated by the dual of a fish transport cost- minimizing linear programming model. Primary data on market prices and transportation costs and quantities transported were gathered …

Predicting The Distribution And Abundance Of Emperor Fishes (Lethrinus Spp.) In The Arabian Sea Using Two-Stage Generalized Additive Models And A Geographic Information System, Lubnah H. Al-Kharusi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

The distribution and abundance of emperor fishes (Lethrinidae) along the Arabian Sea coast of Oman were analysed from commercial catch-per-unit-effort data for the periods 1996-2004 and 2005, respectively. Two-stage generalized additive models (GAM) were used to detect trends in abundance relative to environmental variables. The GAM that included month (positive in August and October), sea surface temperature (SST; positive at 25-27˚C) and longitude (positive between 57°50’ E-58°50’ E) explained the highly variable distribution and abundance patterns best. ArcGIS-9 was used as an auxiliary to visualize seasonal trends that could not be seen from the statistical GAM analysis. From the spatial …

Abalone, Haliotis Mariae (Wood, 1828), Hatchery And Seed Production Trials In Oman, Khalfan M. Al-Rashdi, Tsueno Iwao

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Hatchery and seed production trials for the Omani endemic abalone Haliotis mariae were carried out at the land-based Mirbat Abalone Seed Production Station in Oman between 1999 and 2000. The methods developed for broodstock conditioning, induction of spawning and fertilization, larval settlement, and the handling of small juveniles are shown. Abalone collected in the post-monsoon period and held for 2 months matured faster than those collected before the monsoon and held for 6 months. Spawning induction of males and females had 63% and 11% success rates respectively, and the morphology of early larval stages is shown. Survival rates of veliger …

Temporary Water Markets In Oman, Slim Zekri, Hemesiri Kotagama, Houcine Boughanmi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Market vis-à-vis command and control approaches have been widely adopted in natural resource and environmental management since the 1980s. Adoption of markets in managing irrigation water resources is also emerging. It has been argued that markets are ineffective in managing the demand for irrigation water due to very low price elasticity. Most studies have been based on mathematical models simulating water markets and not on observed prices and quantities in real water markets since such data are rarely available. In Oman, perhaps in response to the extreme scarcity of water, elaborate water demand management institutions emulating markets have evolved and …

Awareness And Usage Of Electronic Database Among Faculty Of Management Sciences Academic Staff Of Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria., Esther Motunrayo Ekeh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

This study examined the level of awareness and use of electronic databases among faculty of management sciences academic staff of Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos state, Nigeria. The objective of the study is to investigate the level of awareness and use of electronic databases by academic staff in the Faculty of Management sciences in Lagos State University, Ojo - Lagos State, Nigeria. Descriptive research design was employed with proportionate stratified random sampling. The population of the study was all the 105 academic staff in the university under study. A questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection and was …

The Curse Of El Dorado: How The Californnia Gold Rush Shaped The History Of Hawai'i, Ernesto Coronado

Theses and Dissertations

In the discourse of Western historiography, we fail to account for the importance of the Hawai’ian Islands. American imperialism did not stop with the occupation of the Pacific Coast but continued into the Pacific. In the mid-nineteenth century, Hawai’i and its monarch, King Kamehameha III, stood at the center of a dispute between Britain, France, and the United States. King Kamehameha III used the California Gold Rush and Hawai’i’s location to his advantage to garner capital and prevent the imperial powers from annexing his kingdom. However, even he knew he could not stop the mass wave of Hawai’ians leaving the …

Prenatal Exposure To Pm2.5 Concentration And Risk Of Preterm Birth In New Mexico; A Seasonal Pattern And Spatio-Temporal Modeling., Onyedikachi J. Okeke

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

This study investigates the association between prenatal PM2.5 exposure and preterm birth risk in New Mexico (2014–2021). Using descriptive statistics, time series models, and spatial analyses, findings show an average preterm birth rate of 14.87 per 1,000 live births, with moderate correlation (r = 0.727) between PM2.5 levels and very preterm births. While traditional models revealed no significant global effect, spatial methods such as Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Multiscale GWR uncovered strong spatial heterogeneity. PM2.5 effects varied by county (coefficients: -0.00154 to 0.00150), with clustering evident in 2018–2019 (Moran’s I = 0.155–0.174). Results highlight the limitations of global models …

Protecting Global Health Partnerships In The Era Of Destructive Nationalism, Maya Adam, Desiree Labeaud, Nokwanele Mbewu, Jennifer Gates, Randall Waechter, Mercy Borbor-Cordova, Lydiah Kibe, Sonia Alvarez, Annie Dori, Anil Bilimale, Meggie Mwoka, Jessica Deffler, Michele Spring, Avriel Diaz, Rachael Farquhar, Willy Dunbar, Comfort Phiri, Valerie Luzadis, Nicole Redvers, Cristina Alonso, Rosemary Rochford, Rachel Lowe, Kareem Coomansingh, Moses Laman, Rebeca Sultana, Sadie Ryan, Amaya Bustinduy, Anita Hargrave-Bouagnon, Shazia Ruybal-Pesántez, Zebedee Kerry, Trevor Kelebi, Samuel Mcewen, Leanne Robinson, Maritza Salazar Campo, Till Bärnighausen

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

The Art Of Craft: An Inquiry Into The Illusion Of Difference, Abigail Cancel

Honors Theses

The art of craft: an inquiry into the illusion of difference is an exploration of why art and craft have been historically separated and the ways in which this idea pervades into the modern world. It touches on the importance of art to society overall, as well as the undeniable significance of craft to the art world.

Where’D You Go, Ohio: Progressive Ohio Ballot Initiative Passage In A Republican Aligned State, Colin D. Swearingen, Elizabeth Stiles, Barrett Scheatzle

The Journal of Economics and Politics

We investigate the effects of cosmopolitan and traditional county features on the opposition to three successful liberal state-wide initiatives on abortion and recreational marijuana using county-level data. Cosmopolitan/traditional variables include urban/rural living patterns, college graduates, average income and religiosity while control variables include turnout, poverty, race, region, and union support. We observe the results of these three elections to see the relationship between vote shares and factors such as income, education, rural/urban, and religiosity, controlling for other factors. Utilizing OLS and GAM regression models, our results provide support for our hypothesis that there is a relationship between cosmopolitanism and votes …

Violent Infrastructure: Natural And Unnatural Barriers To Climate Migration, Walden Hicks

Global Tides

This paper attempts to compare and contrast the impact of immigration policy on climate migrants in three Global North countries, Italy, the United States, and New Zealand. Climate migration will continue to be one of the most significant international concerns as global temperatures increase and previously habitable areas of the globe become uninhabitable. Climate migrants are forced to migrate for a variety of reasons due to climate change, including sea level rise, famine, rising temperatures, drought, and natural disaster. Global North countries must begin to transform their immigration systems towards climate justice and acceptance for climate migrants or communities will …

The Global Politics Of Adoption: Who Gets To Adopt And Why?, Lily Eigner

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

International adoption is deeply intertwined with global politics, nationalism, and ideological agendas. This op-ed explores how countries like Russia, China, and Ethiopia use adoption laws for political leverage, often sidelining the needs of children in favor of diplomatic or nationalist interests.

Old Habits Die Hard: How The Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act Perpetuates Settler Colonialism And Denies Indigenous Sovereignty, Brandon Dodds

Emory Law Journal Online

Around the time it was passed, the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 was considered by many to be a great victory for the Wabanaki Nations in Maine. But in the decades since, the Act has substantially hindered the Wabanaki Nations’ self-determination efforts. Frequent litigation between the Nations and the state of Maine, narrow interpretation by courts, and the state of Maine’s opposition to remedying the Act’s most harmful provisions have constrained the sovereignty of the Wabanaki Nations. As a result, the Wabanaki Nations have been largely excluded from the significant social, economic, and political gains that tribes throughout …

Association Of Age, Sex And Education With Access To The Intravenous Thrombolysis For Acute Ischemic Stroke, Yoona Ko, Beom Joon Kim, Youngran Kim, Jong-Moo Park, Kyusik Kang, Jae Guk Kim, Jae-Kwan Cha, Tai Hwan Park, Kyungbok Lee, Jun Lee, Keun-Sik Hong, Byung-Chul Lee, Kyung-Ho Yu, Dong-Eog Kim, Joon-Tae Kim, Jay Chol Choi, Jee Hyun Kwon, Wook-Joo Kim, Kyu Sun Yum, Sung-Il Sohn, Hyungjong Park, Sang-Hwa Lee, Kwang-Yeol Park, Chi Kyung Kim, Sung Hyuk Heo, Moon-Ku Han, Anjail Z Sharrief, Sunil A Sheth, Hee-Joon Bae

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Barriers to treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in South Korea remain incompletely characterized. We analyze a nationwide prospective cohort to determine patient-level features associated with delayed presentation and non-treatment of potential IVT-eligible patients.

Methods: We identified consecutive patients with AIS from 01/2011 to 08/2023 from a multicenter and prospective acute stroke registry in Korea. Patients were defined as IVT candidates if they presented within 4.5 hours from the last known well, had no lab evidence of coagulopathy, and had National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥ 4. Multivariable generalized linear mixed …