• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2375-2382
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• 2016

Cancer is a major health problem in Oman. It is reported that cancer incidence in Oman is the second highest after Saudi Arabia among Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Based on GLOBOCAN estimates, Oman is predicted to face an almost two-fold increase in cancer incidence in the period 2008-2020. However, cancer research in Oman is still in its infancy. This is due to the fact that medical institutions and infrastructure that play central roles in data collection and analysis are relatively new developments in Oman. We believe the country requires an organized plan and efforts to promote local cancer research. In this paper, we discuss current research progress in cancer diagnosis using machine learning techniques to optimize computer aided cancer detection and classification (CAD). We specifically discuss CAD using two major medical data, i.e., medical imaging and microarray gene expression profiling, because medical imaging like mammography, MRI, and PET have been widely used in Oman for assisting radiologists in early cancer diagnosis and microarray data have been proven to be a reliable source for differential diagnosis. We also discuss future cancer research directions and benefits to Oman economy for entering the cancer research and treatment business as it is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.917-929
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• 2021

This study highlights the importance of remittance, the factors which affect the percentage of income remitted, and the investment options available to reduce remittance. For the year 2019, the remittances from Oman totaled $9.1 billion. Oman was among the top remitters with remittance to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio of 11.9%. A survey was conducted on 300 resident expats in Oman. The descriptive analysis shows that the maximum remittance percentage is between 21%-40% of income. The multinomial logistic regression results show that outward remittance depends on gender, age, occupation, number of dependent in Oman, and the number of dependent in the home country. Regarding investment, the most preferred investment option is business, followed by real estate and financial services. Age and education are found to affect investment options. This paper tries to fill the literature gap, especially for the case of Oman, by exploring what determines the level of remittance and the preferred choices for retaining funds. This study adds to the existing literature, as no previous study is available regarding how personal factors can influence the level of remittance and investment in a small oil-exporting developing country like Oman. The study will be helpful to policymakers and academicians in devising policies to retain and invest the outwards remittances in Oman.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.24
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• pp.184-195
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• 2011

Acknowledging the importance of English as the language of tourism discourse, this paper explores its current standing in the landscape of tourism in Oman. It also investigates its features and functions aimed at promoting the country as a wonderful tourist destination to people around the globe and framing tourism as a customer-oriented industry that meets tourists' interests and needs. To convey these messages the authors examine English tourism discourse in Oman from linguistic, pragmatic and socio-cultural perspectives.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.165-167
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• 2002

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is an important fruit and cash crop in Sultanate of Oman, occupying nearly 60% of the total cultivated area. However, leaf spots caused by Mycosphaerella tassiana, Alternaria spp., and Dreshcleri sp. have become a threat to date palm's cultivation in recent years. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to find out a suitable chemical spray program to control the disease. A prophylactic spray schedule with mancozeb (Dithane M45), copper oxychloride (Champion), and mancozeb+copper (Trimiltox) effectively controlled the disease when applied at a time when the disease severity index (DSI) was low, ranging from 0 to 1.68. Meanwhile, the disease did not decrease, but instead increased gradually, when the fungicide combination was applied when DSI was high, ranging from 1.78 to 5.37. It was concluded that fungicides should be applied at the early stage or before disease initiation in order to control the disease effectively.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.281-287
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• 2023

The symbiotic association between fungus-gardening termites Macrotermes and its fungal symbiont has a moderate degree of specificity-although the symbiotic fungi (Termitomyces) form a monophyletic clade, there is not a one-to-one association between termite species and their fungus-garden associates. Here, we aim to determine the origin and phylogenetic relationships of Termitomyces in Oman. We used sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA, 25S) gene and analyzed these with sequences of Termitomyces from other geographic areas. We find no evidence for more than a single colonization of Oman by Termitomyces. Unexpectedly, we find Termitomyces in Oman is most closely related to the symbiont of M. subhyalinus in West Africa rather than to those of geographically closer populations in East Africa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.106-117
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• 2013

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is one of the most economical and efficient methods for extending the life of production wells in a declining reservoir. Microbial consortia from Wafra oil wells and Suwaihat production water, Al-Wusta region, Oman were screened. Microbial consortia in brine samples were identified using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequences. The detected microbial consortia of Wafra oil wells were completely different from microbial consortia of Suwaihat formation water. A total of 33 genera and 58 species were identified in Wafra oil wells and Suwaihat production water. All of the identified microbial genera were first reported in Oman, with Caminicella sporogenes for the first time reported from oil fields. Most of the identified microorganisms were found to be anaerobic, thermophilic, and halophilic, and produced biogases, biosolvants, and biosurfactants as by-products, which may be good candidates for MEOR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2801-2804
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• 2016

It is conventionally accepted that renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occurs in older patients and the clear cell type is the most common histology. However, ethnic variations exist and this study was carried out to determine the epidemiological pattern of RCC in Oman. Ninety RCC patients who presented to a tertiary care center in the Sultanate of Oman from 2010 to 2014 were studied. The main findings were that the median age of presentation was low, more patients presented with localized stage, and there was a higher incidence of non-clear (especially papillary) histology. Data from other Gulf countries and possible reasons for the different profile are discussed.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.95-108
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• 1992

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.863-872
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• 2021

The main goal of this research is to understand how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) owners in Oman perceive the factors that drive or impede their growth and sustainability. Based on survey data of 395 SMEs in Oman, factor analysis was conducted to check if all the items load as one factor in each of the constructs. The results show that all the items measuring motivators and barriers loaded significantly for the respective scales, with high reliability (Cronbach alpha for Motivators = 0.991 and Barriers = 0.995). Relationships between the demographic factors of entrepreneurs and firm characteristics were tested and it was found that all the four variables: age of the entrepreneur (p = 0.00), qualification of the entrepreneur (p = 0.00), SME sector (p = 0.00), and age of the firm (p = 0.00) have a significant relationship with both the Motivators and the Barriers. The findings of this study could have significant implications for policymakers in Oman and other Middle Eastern countries. Since SMEs face similar problems and are given priority around the world, the findings could be applicable to other countries, as well. The findings also add important results to the empirical literature on SMEs.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.711-724
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• 2021

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the profitability of the momentum effects on the Oman Stock Market (OSM). This study uses the monthly returns of all stocks listed on the OSM, with a total of 107 companies used in the study for the period from 2005 to 2018. According to the methodology developed by Jegadeesh and Titman (1993), this study builds momentum portfolios based on various sizes. Moreover, the January effect is also examined to recognize if this effect is related to the momentum effect. The results find that there is evidence of momentum returns and these returns are statistically and economically significant. The sub-periods confirmed the profitability of the momentum strategy. This paper shows that momentum returns are evident at different sizes; big, medium, and small-sized portfolios. Besides, the result shows that the classic January effect does not play an important role in the momentum returns. Thus, the implication is that the momentum should not take into account the annual, seasonal, and size returns. The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) or the three-factor model cannot explain momentum returns generated by individual stocks in the Oman Stock Market. These results are useful to academia and investors alike.