University of Nizwa

Enhancing students’ lexical fluency and academic performance in speaking exams presents a significant challenge for English as a foreign language (EFL) instructors. The pursuit of effective tools to engage students and facilitate their learning process has been ongoing. The incorporation of technology in EFL learning contexts, particularly through learning-oriented assessments, offers a promising solution to the traditional difficulties of vocabulary acquisition in the classroom. Research indicates that Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) not only streamlines the learning process but also boosts student motivation and participation. In light of the challenges faced in improving the speaking exam performance of students in foundation programs in Oman, a study was conducted to assess the impact of Mentimeter, a Student Response System, on student engagement, vocabulary recall, and speaking proficiency. The study involved 275 students from a public university in Oman who participated in Mentimeter quizzes designed to measure the platform’s effect on vocabulary retention, lexical fluency, and overall speaking performance. Additionally, the study explored teachers’ perceptions of the integration of Mentimeter as a formative assessment tool. The findings underscore the significance of MALL in enhancing learning-oriented assessment in EFL classrooms and provide insights for educators on utilizing such technologies to bolster vocabulary retention and speaking skills.

This work presents a mild approach for direct C–C bond cleavage of amides, yielding benzouracil and carbamate structures.

Aims: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) account for about 80% of the mesenchymal tumors of the GI tract. About 5000-6000 patients are diagnosed in the United States (US) alone, and up to 14.5 cases per million discovered in Europe annually. Avapritinib (AVP) is a potent selective targeted medication that has been recently approved, by the US Food and Drug Administration, in 2020 for treatment of GISTs. AVP is currently considered the first-line treatment for mutant GIST, which is resistant to other medications. This in turn stimulates the need for fast, green, and efficient methods for routine AVP estimation in quality control and clinical studies. Materials and methods: The proposed approach designs a spectrofluorimetric tool to estimate AVP in different matrices, based on a nucleophilic substitution reaction. A highly fluorescent product was measured at 535 nm following excitation at 470 nm. The research procedure was bioanalytically validated within AVP range between 80 and 900 ng mL-1, where the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 15.78 ng mL-1. Conclusion: The developed approach was successfully applied to investigate AVP in content uniformity testing of tablet dosage forms, and biological plasma in AVP pharmacokinetic study. The proposed approach could be recommended for AVP therapeutic drug monitoring.

Recent advances in cancer therapy have been made possible by monoclonal antibodies, domain antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, etc. The most impact has come from controlling cell cycle checkpoints through checkpoint inhibitors. This manuscript explores the potential of a series of novel N-benzyl isatin based hydrazones (5–25), which were synthesized and evaluated as anti-breast cancer agents. The synthesized hydrazones of N-benzyl isatin were screened in vitro against two cell lines, the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line and the MCF-10A breast epithelial cell line. The results indicated that all compounds showed great potential against the triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Compound 23 with nitro substitution at the 4th position of the phenyl ring exhibited significant antiproliferative potential for the MDA-MB-231 with an IC50 value of 15.8 ± 0.6 μM. Molecular dynamics and molecular docking simulations were performed to get a deeper understanding of the interactions between the synthesized compounds and cancer cells.

Noncovalent carbon bonding (C-bonding), a recently explored σ-hole interaction, has primarily been characterized through X-ray structural and computational studies. Evidence of C-bonds in solution is scarce, especially in highly polar solvents like DMSO where solvation effects typically overshadow weak non-covalent interactions. In this work, we present three novel spiroisatin-based N-acyl hydrazones (1–3) in which C-bonds play a critical role in stabilizing the cis conformation in solution. Despite the steric preference for the NH–amide bond to adopt the trans geometry (H–N–C 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 11111111 00000000 11111111 00000000 00000000 00000000 O ≈ 180°), ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of compounds 1 and 2 in DMSO-d6 reveal a rotameric mixture with a higher percentage of the cis conformation (82% and 76%, respectively), attributed to the stability provided by intramolecular C-bonding. Compound 3 also predominantly adopts the cis conformation in DMSO but to a lesser extent (60%) than compounds 1 and 2, due to competing intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of compounds 1 and 2 confirmed the cis conformation, consistent with the solution-state preference. In contrast, compound 3 crystallized in the trans form, likely due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding and solid-state packing effects, which reinforce the steric preference for the trans geometry. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborated the experimental data, predicting greater stability for the cis conformations in compounds 1, 2, and 3 in solution. The ability of intramolecular C-bonding to stabilize the cis conformation, even in highly polar solvents like DMSO, highlights the broader significance of this interaction in supramolecular chemistry and related fields.

Diabetes mellitus, particularly type 2 diabetes, is a growing global health challenge characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance. One therapeutic approach to managing this condition is the inhibition of α-glucosidase, an enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion, to reduce postprandial blood glucose levels. In this study, a series of thiosemicarbazide-linked quinoline-piperazine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, to identify new agents for type 2 diabetes management. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis revealed that the nature and position of substituents on the aryl ring significantly impacted the inhibitory potency. Among the synthesized derivatives, the 2,5-dimethoxy phenyl substitution (7j) exhibited the most potent activity with an IC50 value of 50.0 µM, demonstrating a 15-fold improvement compared to the standard drug acarbose. Kinetic studies identified compound 7j as a competitive inhibitor, with a Ki value of 32 µM. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated key interactions between compound 7j and the active site of α-glucosidase, while molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of the enzyme-ligand complex, reflected in low RMSD and RMSF values.

This article focuses on different anisotropic models within the framework of a specific modified $f(\mathcal {R},\mathcal {T}, \mathcal {R}_{\zeta \gamma }\mathcal {T}^{\zeta \gamma })$ f ( R , T , R ζ γ T ζ γ ) gravity theory. The study adopts a static spherically symmetric spacetime to determine the field equations for two different modified models: (i) $f(\mathcal {R},\mathcal {T},\mathcal {R}_{\zeta \gamma }\mathcal {T}^{\zeta \gamma })=\mathcal {R}+\eta \mathcal {R}_{\zeta \gamma }\mathcal {T}^{\zeta \gamma }$ f ( R , T , R ζ γ T ζ γ ) = R + η R ζ γ T ζ γ , and (ii) $f(\mathcal {R},\mathcal {T},\mathcal {R}_{\zeta \gamma }\mathcal {T}^{\zeta \gamma })=\mathcal {R}(1+\eta \mathcal {R}_{\zeta \gamma }\mathcal {T}^{\zeta \gamma })$ f ( R , T , R ζ γ T ζ γ ) = R ( 1 + η R ζ γ T ζ γ ) , where $\eta$ η is a constant parameter. To address the additional degrees of freedom in the field equations and obtain their corresponding unique solution, the Durgapal-Fuloria spacetime geometry and MIT bag model are utilized. Matching conditions are applied to determine unknown constants within the chosen spacetime geometry. We adopt a certain range of model parameters to analyze the physical characteristics of the developed models in the interior distribution of a particular compact star candidate 4U 1820-30. Energy conditions and some other tests are also implemented to ensure their viability and stability. Additionally, the disappearing radial pressure constraint is employed to find the values of the model parameter, aligning with the observed information of an array of stars. The study concludes that both of our models are well-behaved and satisfy all necessary conditions, and thus we observe them suitable for the modeling of astrophysical objects.

This paper explores the generalized ghost dark energy model in the framework of $f(\textit{Q}, \textit{L}_{m})$ gravity, where $\textit{Q}$ represents the non-metricity scalar, and $\textit{L}_{m}$ denotes the matter-Lagrangian density. We take the homogeneous and isotropic universe with an ideal matter distribution and examine a scenario with interacting dark energy and dark matter. We then reconstruct $f(\textit{Q}, \textit{L}_{m})$ model to examine the effects of this extended gravitational framework on the cosmic evolution. The behavior of numerous cosmic parameters is explored corresponding to distinct parametric values. The stability is evaluated by the squared sound speed method. The statefinder (r, s) and standard diagnostic pairs $(\omega _D-\omega '_{D})$ are used to study the various cosmic eras. Our results align with recent observational evidence, indicating that the $f(\textit{Q}, \textit{L}_{m})$ model effectively characterizes dark energy and cosmic evolution.

With climate change, the frequency of regions experiencing water scarcity is increasing annually, posing a significant challenge to crop yield. Barley, a staple crop consumed and cultivated globally, is particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of drought stress, leading to reduced yield production. Water scarcity adversely affects multiple aspects of barley growth, including seed germination, biomass production, shoot and root characteristics, water and osmotic status, photosynthesis, and induces oxidative stress, resulting in considerable losses in grain yield and its components. In this context, the present review aims to underscore the importance of selecting drought-tolerant barley genotypes and utilizing bio-inoculants constructed from beneficial microorganisms as an agroecological approach to enhance barley growth and production resilience under varying environmental conditions. Selecting barley genotypes with robust physiological and agronomic tolerance can mitigate losses under diverse environmental conditions. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) play a crucial role in promoting plant growth through nutrient solubilization, nitrogen fixation, phytohormone production, exopolysaccharide secretion, enzyme activity enhancement, and many other mechanisms. Applying drought-tolerant genotypes with bio-inoculants containing PGPR, improves barley's drought tolerance thereby minimizing losses caused by water scarcity.

Clinically significant problems such as kidney stones and stomach ulcers are linked to the activation of the urease enzyme. At low pH, this enzyme gives an ideal environment to Helicobacter pylori in the stomach which is the cause of gastric ulcers and peptic ulcers. In recent work, we have developed a library of 4-fluorocinnamaldehyde base thiosemicarbazones and assessed them for their potential against urease enzyme. The synthesized compounds displayed significant to moderate inhibition potential with IC50 values ranging from 2.7 ± 0.5 µM to 29.0 ± 0.5 µM. compound 3c displayed the highest inhibition potential followed by 3a and 3b. Two compounds of the series 3f and 3 g remained inactive against urease. The kinetic study of compound 3c exhibited a competitive type of inhibition with a Ki value of 3.26 ± 0.0048 µM. SAR analysis was also thoroughly done. Molecular docking was used to analyze the interaction pattern of each derivative, and the outcomes demonstrated that the compounds had excellent binding interactions with the active site.

It is believed that inflammation influences several physiological processes, including the function of the central nervous system. Moreover, the impairment of lipid mechanisms/pathways is associated with neurodegenerative disorders and onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disease representing the major cause of dementia worldwide. In this case, the overexpression of different pharmacological targets has been confirmed to address neuronal inflammation and AD, with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (LOX-5) being the most explored targets. Currently, the available treatments are only capable of alleviating the symptoms and not capable of delivering disease-modifying effects. Thus, the current research objective is to synthesize triazolo-thiadiazine derivatives of the deferasirox drug as multi-target compounds that could concurrently inhibit ChEs, MAOs, LOX-5 and COX-2. The synthesized derivatives were confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and DEPT-135 spectroscopic techniques. During in vitro investigations, compound 11 was found to be the most potent inhibitor of all the targeted enzymes. Briefly, this compound exhibited inhibitory values (IC50 ± SEM) of 0.31 ± 0.16, 0.13 ± 0.16 and 0.94 ± 0.16 μM against AChE, MAO-B and COX-2, respectively, suggesting that it is a lead molecule for the synthesis of more potential multi-targeted inhibitors. Several compounds, such as compound 9 and 13, showed dual inhibition potential in comparison to standard drugs. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis was performed to validate the in vitro results, where the potent compounds showed some significant interactions with the key amino acids present in the active site of the targeted enzymes. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation data and physicochemical properties supported deferasirox-substituted triazolo-thiadiazine as a promising horizon for the discovery and development of new molecules to treat multifactorial diseases associated with neuro-inflammation, such as AD.

This study deals with the new class of embedded wormhole solutions in the background of general relativity. Two newly calculated wormhole solutions satisfy all the required properties. The embedded diagrams for both calculated wormhole solutions are provided. All the energy conditions are discussed through their validity regions for the different ranges of involved parameters. In maximum regions, all energy conditions are violated. We investigate the shadow and strong gravitational lensing by the wormhole throat for the two new wormhole models, namely Model-I and Model-II. The present paper considers the wormhole throat to act as a photon sphere. We first derive null geodesics using the Hamilton-Jacobi separation method to investigate the shadow and strong gravitational lensing caused by the wormhole throat. We then numerically obtain the radius of wormhole shadow, strong deflection angle, and various lensing observables by taking the example of supermassive black M87* and Sgr A* in the context of both Model-I and Model-II. Keeping all other parameters fixed, it is observed that the parameters $\zeta _1$ and $\zeta _2$ for Model-I; and $\chi _1$ and $\chi _2$ for Model-II have significant effects on the wormhole shadow and strong gravitational lensing phenomena. Our conclusion is that it is possible to detect relativistic images, such as Einstein rings, produced by wormholes with throat radii of $r_{th}=3M$. The stability analysis via Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkov equation is included for both wormhole solutions. Additionally, current technology enables us to test hypotheses related to astrophysical wormholes.

The current research is based on the synthesis of some novel bis‐Schiff bases bearing barbituric acid moiety followed by characterization through modern spectroscopic techniques and their in vitro inhibitory effects against the enzymes α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase were subsequently investigated. In the series, four compounds 8 (IC50 = 5.62 ± 0.18 and 3.12 ± 0.13 µM), 10 (IC50 = 7.13 ± 1.03 and 8.19 ± 1.11 µM), 9 (IC50 = 12.81 ± 1.92 and 12.11 ± 1.32 µM), and 11 (IC50 = 15.07 ± 0.38 and 16.01 ± 0.28 µM) attributed notable dual inhibition against α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase enzymes better than the standard acarbose drug (IC50 = 16.16 ± 0.15 and 16.65 ± 0.17 µM). The molecular docking study was performed to explored the binding affinities and key interactions of synthesized compounds with targeted proteins (α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase). Furthermore, the stability of all the compounds were verified by density functional theory (DFT) method at B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p). For the account of intramolecular interaction, DFT‐D3 and reduced density gradient (RDG) methods were utilized. In addition, utilising the CAM‐B3LYP functional with 6–311++G(d,p), the TD‐DFT approach was used to examine different reactivity circumstances.

Purpose Various teaching and learning methods that use digital tools have been used in professional health education. Among these, blended learning (BL) has recently attracted attention. The successful implementation of any teaching method requires educators’ readiness and acceptance to adopt the method. Therefore, this study aimed to assess professional health educators’ readiness using a cross-sectional study and thematic analysis of the qualitative data obtained. Methods A structured course on BL was conducted to train the educators. The structured course introduces the concept of BL. The institute’s learning management system was used to deliver the course. Participants completed a retro-pre questionnaire designed and validated to assess their readiness for, and perception of, BL. Results Of 116 participants who completed the course, 62 completed the retro-pre questionnaire. There was a statistically significant improvement in faculty members’ knowledge and skills when using the BL method. Thematic analysis of the open-ended questions identified the perceived challenges and advantages of BL. Participants’ readiness to adopt BL was evident in their responses. Conclusion This study concluded that adopting user-friendly technology and appropriate training will facilitate educators to adapt BL as a method to train HPE learners.

Modeling and computation of molecular descriptors play a crucial role in understanding the properties and characteristics of novel materials like γ-graphyne, the next-generation wonder material. Triangular γ-graphyne is an intriguing two-dimensional carbon-based material with diverse potential applications due to its unique electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties. Triangular γ-graphyne, a distinctive form of carbon allotrope, has garnered substantial interest as a result of its extraordinary characteristics. The notable value lies in its ability to be utilized in diverse domains for potential applications. The interconnected mesh structure of Triangular γ-graphyne exhibits exceptional mechanical strength and exceptional electron-transporting properties. This makes it a promising material for the development of high-performance electronic devices, such as transistors and sensors. Furthermore, gamma graphyne possesses excellent thermal stability, which makes it suitable for applications in the field of energy storage and conversion. It has the potential to be used as a catalyst in fuel cells or as an electrode material in supercapacitors. In this study, we utilize graph theory to dissect the molecular structure of triangular γ-graphyne, leading to the derivation of specific mathematical formulas for essential degree-based molecular characteristics. These findings can be instrumental in examining the correlations between the structure and properties of γ-graphyne. This paper focuses on two structures made from hexagonal honeycomb graphite lattices, like triangular γ-graphyne and triangular γ-graphyne chains with respect to some degree-based topological indices. The results obtained will aid in the investigation of the structure-property relationships in γ-graphyne.

Diabetes is a prevalent and serious metabolic disorder affecting millions globally, and it poses extensive health risks due to elevated blood glucose levels. One promising approach for managing diabetes is the inhibition of α-glucosidase, an enzyme that plays a crucial role in carbohydrate metabolism. Targeting α-glucosidase can help delay glucose absorption, thus controlling postprandial blood sugar spikes. Dihydropyrimidones, a core structural class present in various biologically active natural compounds, have been recognized for their diverse therapeutic potential, including anti-diabetic properties. In this study, we evaluated a library of previously synthesized 37 Dihydropyrimidone derivatives to assess their potential as α-glucosidase inhibitors. We identified 34 derivatives with significant inhibitory activity, exhibiting IC50 values in the range of 5.30–56.72 µM. Among these, compounds 2, 4–7, 9–11, 13–16, 31, 32, and 33 demonstrated high potency, with IC50 values below 20 µM; the most active compound, 5, achieved an IC50 of 5.30 µM. A detailed kinetic study on compound 5 revealed a competitive inhibition mode with a Ki value of 16.10 ± 0.0075 µM. Additionally, cytotoxicity assays confirmed that compound 5 is non-toxic to BJ cell lines, underscoring its safety for therapeutic use. The computational studies further supported the inhibitory potential by illustrating key interactions and binding affinities between the Dihydropyrimidone derivatives and the α-glucosidase, highlighting these compounds as promising candidates for diabetes management.