Sultan Qaboos University

The increasing frequency of concurrent heat and drought stress poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity, particularly for cool‐season grain legumes, including broad bean (Vicia Faba L.), lupin (Lupinus spp.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.). These legumes play a vital role in sustainable agricultural systems due to their nitrogen‐fixing ability and high nutritional value. This review synthesizes current knowledge of the impacts and tolerance mechanisms associated with combined heat and drought stresses in these crops. We evaluate physiological and biochemical responses to combined heat and drought stress, focusing on their detrimental effects on growth, development, and yield. Key genetic and molecular mechanisms, such as the roles of osmolytes, antioxidants, and stress‐responsive genes, are explored. We also discuss the intricate interplay between heat and drought stress signaling pathways, including the involvement of Ca2+ ions, reactive oxygen species, transcription factor DREB2A, and the endoplasmic reticulum in mediating stress responses. This comprehensive analysis offers new insights into developing resilient legume varieties to enhance agricultural sustainability under climate change. Future research should prioritize integrating omics technologies to unravel plant responses to combined abiotic stresses.

Nursing programs provide holistic education in caring for people with various health conditions, including mental health conditions. This study aimed to explore the experience of faculty regarding planning and implementing mental health simulation as a method for enhancing the mental health nursing competency training of undergraduate students. The researchers have adopted an action research design under the qualitative paradigm to find answers to the research questions. A purposive sample of nine participants, including mental health nursing faculty and simulation unit staff working in a public university in Oman were included in the study. Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional ethics committee. Data were collected through in‐depth individual interviews with the faculty. Thematic analysis was done synchronously with the steps of action research through the process of coding, categorising and organising the data into meaningful themes. Member checking was done to ensure the transparency and correctness of the themes and subthemes. Seven themes were derived from thematic analysis of the transcripts, such as ‘Need for creating innovative mental health nursing learning experiences for students’, ‘Perceived readiness for simulation’, ‘Experience in developing mental health simulation’, ‘Arrangement of resources’, ‘The zeal for implementing simulation’, ‘Challenges in the simulation experience’, and ‘Gaining momentum and confidence’. A conceptual framework for simulation in mental health nursing was developed by the authors based on the findings and by referring to existing models. Faculty can effectively plan and implement simulation experiences for their students. Simulation‐based training can become an effective means to make the students more confident and competent in mental health nursing. Implementation of simulation‐based teaching will enhance the quality of nursing education and, thereby, the standard of mental health care in clinical settings.

Background Intrusive “thoughts” represent undesirable cognitive activity that can cause distress, and occurs in individuals with and without psychological disorders. In order to deal with unwanted intrusive thoughts, individuals might consciously attempt to halt the flow of these cognitions through suppression or unconsciously avoid them automatically through repression. This study aimed to psychometrically evaluate and validate a translation of the Emotional and Behavioral Reaction to Intrusions Questionnaire (EBRIQ) in Arabic, for adults who speak the language. Methods The snowball sampling technique was used to recruit adults (n = 755) from five Arab countries (Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait), who completed the Arabic EBRIQ. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the factor structure of the EBRIQ. Results A total of 755 participants completed the survey, with a mean age of 21.89 ± 4.18 years and 77.5% females. CFA indicated a modest fit for the one-factor model. Internal reliability was excellent (ω = 0.96; α = 0.96). No significant difference was found in terms of EBRIQ scores between males (M = 10.37, SD = 7.80) and females (M = 10.52, SD = 7.99) in the total sample, t(753) = − 0.22, p = .830. The highest EBRIQ scores were found in Jordanian participants (12.55 ± 6.94), followed by Emirati (12.23 ± 8.20), Lebanese (11.12 ± 7.69), Egyptian (8.96 ± 8.05) and Kuwaiti (8.20 ± 7.75) participants, F(4, 750) = 10.36, p < .001. Conclusion This study suggests that our Arabic translation of the EBRIQ is psychometrically proven to be reliable for use in Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait. This validated tool will allow researchers and practitioners to assess emotions and behaviors related to intrusive thoughts.

The present work investigates, for the first time, the synthesis of a composite film based on glutaraldehyde-cross-linked chitosan (GA-CS) and a natural zeolite (H-ZSM-5) and its application for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from aqueous solutions under wide experimental conditions. The composite film (GA-CS-ZEO) characterization by using various analytical techniques confirms its successful production with promising physical, chemical, and thermal properties. The use of the response surface methodology (RSM) for the optimization of the Cr(VI) adsorption by this composite shows that that the maximum removal efficiency (82.39%) was achieved for a Cr(VI) concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹, an initial pH of 2.0, a contact time of 100 min, and a temperature of 20 °C. Moreover, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and 3D graphs indicated that the pH and initial Cr(VI) concentration were the main factors that influence the Cr(VI) uptake efficiency. Besides that, the Cr(VI) removal by the GA-CS-ZEO was found to be spontaneous and endothermic and occurs mainly via physical mechanisms involving electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Regeneration study of the Cr(VI)-loaded composite showed that Cr(VI) can be rapidly and efficiently desorbed by 0.1 M sulfuric acid. The results of the current research work highlight the important adsorption potential of Cr(VI) by the GA-CS-ZEO composite film and underscore its attractiveness and suitability for water treatment applications.

Carbon dioxide capture technology, while established, faces operational and economic challenges with current absorbents. Ionic liquids (ILs), though promising for their selectivity and low volatility, often have drawbacks like high toxicity and viscosity. This study explores nonionic low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs) of menthol (MET) and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200) at various ratios for CO2 uptake. The 1:2 molar ratio showed maximum CO2 loading of 0.599 mol CO2/mol solvent at 303.15 K and 1000 kPa, with water addition boosting CO2 uptake by 25%. This rise in uptake with water could be due to altered hydrogen bonding within the mixture constituents. Molecular dynamics simulations support these findings, indicating experimental results, showing that water disrupts hydrogen bonds, exposing hydroxyl and ether sites for CO2 interaction. This LTTM solvent system presents a promising, low‐toxicity alternative for efficient CO2 capture. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study aims to explore to what extent engineering students’ perceptions of the role of English in the workplace are affected by their internship and field of study. Previous research revealed that employers value engineers’ English communication skills highly. However, mismatches between workplace expectations and engineers’ competencies affect engineers’ employability negatively. To explore this topic, a survey and interviews were conducted. Results suggest that neither internship experience nor field of study made any difference in engineering students’ perception of the role of English in the workplace, which led to a potential mismatch between their perceptions and workplace expectations.

An observational study was conducted to investigate Eimeria species prevalence, fecal shedding, morphometric, and molecular composition in captive Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) bred at the Mammals Breeding Center in Oman. Oryx were sampled in the summer and winter seasons. Eimeria was detected at a prevalence of 26% in summer and 22% in winter, with higher shedding intensity observed during the summer among adult oryx. The isolated Eimeria displayed ellipsoidal oocysts and ovoidal sporocysts with average dimensions of 30.6 × 24.3 μm (ranging from 24.8 to 35.4 × 20.9–26.7) and 14.3 × 7.1 μm (ranging from 11.1 to 18.3 × 6.1–8.6), respectively. Molecularly (18S rRNA, ITS‐1), E. saudiensis revealed its unique identity and closest relation (96.7%–99.3%) to E. bovis isolates of bovine origin (MK691697 and AB769578), respectively, in the absence of antelope‐derived isolates. The findings serve as a precursor to incorporating Eimeria species derived from Arabian oryx into the molecular map.

Magnesium (Mg) is a vital trace element in cellular processes, including glucose metabolism and insulin action. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dysmagnesemia among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its relationship with glycaemic control and diabetic complications. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) from August 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. The study included adult patients with T2DM treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA), insulin, glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1) injections or their combinations. Both ionized (iMg) and total (tMg) concentrations were measured and the iMg/tMg ratio was calculated. A total of 329 patients with T2DM of which179 females (54.4%), were studied. Hypomagnesemia was observed in 10.0% based on iMg concentrations and 56.2% based on tMg concentrations, while hypermagnesemia was observed in 11.85% (iMg) and 1.82% (tMg). A positive correlation was found between iMg and tMg (r = 0.589, p < 0.01). Hypermagnesemia was associated with higher serum creatinine concentrations (p < 0.01) and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (p = 0.026). An iMg/tMg ratio above 80% was associated with elevated HbA1c levels, while ratios below 60% were associated with diabetic retinopathy and hypertension. Dysmagnesemia was common among patients with T2DM. The iMg/tMg ratio was associated with diabetic control and presence of complications. The iMg/tMg ratio could be further studied as a potential marker for glycemic control.

We initiate the algebraic study of the semigroup of one-to-one order-preserving partial contraction mappings of a totally ordered set {1, 2,. .. , n}, which we denote by OCI n. In particular, we characterise the Green's relations and their starred analogues in OCI n. We also compute the rank of OCI n as 2n − 1.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy globally. It is associated with genetic and lifestyle risk factors. Many chemotherapeutic agents are currently available for breast cancer. Despite their moderate efficacy in breast cancer therapy, many of these chemotherapeutic agents are associated with adverse effects. A few patients also have the possibility of developing resistance to these drugs over time. The resistance to these chemotherapeutic agents illustrates the necessity to seek novel therapeutic strategies. Phenols are a class of plant-derived compounds that have an aromatic ring with at least one hydroxyl group. They are well known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative effects. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has a high content of polyphenols. Various in vitro and in vivo studies in the past two decades have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of phenol in breast cancer. Each of these polyphenol compounds has promising potential to modulate breast cancer in various stages, including proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. This review focuses on the various in vitro and in vivo studies done in both phenolic compounds and phenolic extracts and the efficacy of phenols in modulating breast carcinogenesis by various mechanisms. The potential of phenols to inhibit various oncogenes and tumor-associated proteins is also discussed. The ability of polyphenols to sensitize hormone-resistant and chemoresistant breast cancer cell lines to various chemotherapeutic agents has also been highlighted

This study presents the development of seismic stress profile maps for the northern Himalayas, leveraging a three-dimensional (3D) Mechanical Earth Model (MEM). A detailed analysis was performed on conventional wellbore log data from the Digboi oil field, located in the Upper Assam region, with a focus on the anisotropic nature of the geological formations. The influence of water content on the stress profiles was evaluated, revealing a significant reduction in stress values across various spatial regions, including those near the wellbore. The results provide novel insights into the stress distribution under dry and saturated conditions, contributing to more accurate drilling mud weight design. The stress maps clearly demonstrate peak values at β = 90°, with the lowest values found between β = 30° and 45°, with dry conditions exhibiting higher stress values than saturated conditions. The maps are categorized into two distinct conditions, offering enhanced understanding of stress dynamics in this tectonically complex region, and presenting a novel approach to stress profile analysis in the context of the Himalayan geology.

Objectives Cisplatin (CP) is a most potent chemotherapeutic agent; however, CP causes nephrotoxicity that limits its therapeutic utility. Triticum aestivum called wheatgrass (WG) is a strong antioxidant and potent detoxifying herb that has not only been studied for anticancer activity but also for efficacy and safety when combined with anticancer drugs. This study investigated the efficacy of WG against CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Methods Male rats were allocated into five sets of six rats in each: (1) normal control (NC), (2) CP-treated (7.5 mg/kg) as positive control (PC), (3) WG-200 mg/kg alone, and (4) CP with WG-100, and (5) CP with WG-200 mg/kg groups. Hydro-alcoholic extract of WG was administered orally to the animals for two weeks, and CP was administered intraperitoneally to the respective groups on the 10th day to induce nephrotoxicity. Serum was used for kidney function and kidneys for histological examination and quantification of apoptosis markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. Results CP-induced nephrotoxicity was apparent from histological damage and increased levels of BUN, Cr and UA. CP also caused an increase in malondialdehyde and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) activities and led to up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis markers. WG caused a significant decrease in Cr, BUN, UA, MDA and increase in GSH, SOD and CAT activities. Conclusion WG ameliorated histological damage and led to a reversal of cytokines and apoptosis markers. Both doses of WG effectively ameliorated CP-induced nephrotoxicity; thus, during chemotherapy, WG could be a promising adjunct to CP.

Introduction and Objective Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is an excessive and irrational fear of social situations, leading to an avoidance of those situations. Individuals with SAD may fear acting in a certain way or exhibiting anxiety symptoms in front of others, which can significantly impact their daily functioning and quality of life. Among medical students, SAD can negatively influence academic performance, particularly in exams, and lead to employment difficulties. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique stressors, including social isolation and the transition to online learning, which may have exacerbated anxiety-related conditions. Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of SAD during this period is essential to develop targeted interventions for students. Thus, this work aimed to assess the prevalence and demographic correlates of SAD among medical students at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Oman during the pandemic. Methods A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2020 in SQU, College of Medicine and Health Sciences. Medical students from all academic years were invited to complete demographic data and the Liebowitz social anxiety scale (LSAS). The LSAS is a 24-item self-rating scale to assess SAD. An analysis using a Chi-square test was performed to obtain the factors associated with SAD. Results A total of 558 students completed the questionnaire, of which 348 were female (62%). The total prevalence of SAD was 64%, whereas moderate grade SAD accounted for 27% of the participants, marked grade 19%, severe grade 11%, and very severe grade 7%. Among the students who had the disorder, 71% suffered a generalized subtype of SAD. A significant association between SAD and phase of study (p<0.001), age group (p<0.001), and gender (p<0.001) was found. Phase 1 (69%) exhibited the highest prevalence, followed by phase 2 (66%) and phase 3 (48%). Among the age groups, 17-19 years group (67%) demonstrated the highest prevalence, followed by age groups 20-22 (64%) and 23-25 (46%). In terms of gender, females (70%) were more likely to display SAD symptoms than males (52%). Conclusion The results of this study indicated a high prevalence of SAD among medical students and showed a significant association between SAD and the phase of study, age group, and gender. These results could help justify the establishment of targeted mental health interventions to support medical students in managing their anxiety, which can ultimately result in an improvement in their academic performance and overall quality of life. University administrators and psychologists should aim to develop supportive programs for students.

Background: Evaluating the patient's perspective is crucial for high-quality healthcare. Traditional satisfaction surveys have limitations due to subjectivity. Valid ecological measures are lacking in non-western populations. Objective: Validate Patient Experience Assessment Scale (PXAS) for tertiary care hospital. Methods: The development of PXAS involved domain identification, scale creation, language review, and validity assessment. Experts crafted a 12-question scale with a net promoter score (NPS). Language experts reviewed for clarity and equivalence. The content and face validity were evaluated using the content validity index (CVI) and the face validity index. SPSS analyzed data for reliability and test-retest over 3 to 4 weeks. Results: 464 participants were included, mainly aged 31 to 40, participated. PXAS showed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) and test-retest (r = 0.72). The content validity (I-CVI: 0.83-1.0; S-CVI = 0.93) and the validity of the face (98.3% agreement) were excellent. Most were satisfied (45% excellent and 41.2% very good), and 37% would highly recommend the hospital. Conclusions: PXAS is reliable and valid scale to assess the patient experience in tertiary hospitals. Further studies of its properties are warranted.

Study Objectives: To develop a comprehensive Asian Adult Sleep Medicine Fellowship Training Curriculum to address the significant disparities in sleep medicine training across Asia, guided by the principle of "One Curriculum, Many Contexts," providing a standardized yet adaptable framework for sleep medicine education across the diverse healthcare landscapes of Asian countries Methods: The curriculum development process involved a gap analysis, comprehensive literature review, and expert consensus through a modified RAND Appropriateness Method (RAM)/Delphi survey. Results: The curriculum offers two flexible tracks: a one-year program (Track A) and a two-year program (Track B), accommodating varied educational pathways and healthcare system structures across Asia. Key features of the curriculum include detailed learning outcomes, competency-based educational content, and recommendations for teaching and learning activities. The assessment strategy incorporates summative and formative methods, with standard setting and program evaluation guidelines. The curriculum also provides recommendations for program accreditation, fellow-faculty ratios, and funding considerations. Conclusions: The Asian Adult Sleep Medicine Fellowship Training Curriculum provides a standardized yet adaptable framework for sleep medicine education across diverse Asian healthcare landscapes. By emphasizing flexibility and customization while maintaining high training standards, the curriculum aims to bridge the gap in sleep medicine training across Asia, ultimately improving the quality of sleep healthcare and patient outcomes throughout the region.