Al Wusta Research Articles

Examining the distribution of Middle Paleolithic Nubian cores relative to chert quality in southern (Nejd, Dhofar) and south‐central (Duqm, Al Wusta) Oman

AbstractLithic raw material properties are often invoked to explain the presence, absence, form, or ontogeny of Paleolithic stone tools. Here, we explore whether the frequency of the Middle Paleolithic Nubian core form and core‐reduction systems co‐varies with toolstone quality in two neighboring regions in Oman: the southern region of Nejd, Dhofar, and the south‐central region of Duqm, Al Wusta. Specifically, we predicted that if raw material differences were influencing the distribution of Nubian cores, the chert would be of higher quality in the southern region, where Nubian cores were frequent, and of lower quality in the south‐central region, where they were scarce. We tested this prediction by collecting 124 chert samples from 22 outcrops and then quantitatively assessed two geochemical variables that are widely thought to influence knapping: impurity amount and silica content. We also examined the mineralogical composition, and the crystallite size and lattice strain for quartz (crystalline α‐SiO2) of representative chert samples. Our results suggest that the cherts in the two regions are similar, which is not consistent with the hypothesis that lithic raw material quality contributed to Nubian core spatial distribution in Oman. We discuss potential alternative hypotheses to explain Nubian core geographic patterning, and provisionally suggest that the scarcity of Nubian cores in south‐central Oman may be due to a concomitant scarcity of toolmakers, given a lack of water availability.

Comparative analysis of heavy metal content of unregulated facial whitening creams and branded facial whitening creams

The present study was conducted to evaluate potential health risks of Omani cosmetics considering the dangers and adverse effects on health caused by unregulated and unlabelled cosmetic products. Therefore, this current study is to examine the toxic heavy metals of unregulated facial whitening creams that are available in the Omani market and compare them with branded facial whitening creams. A total twenty-two samples were purchased from the Souqs/markets of all eleven governorates of Oman and their heavy metals content was determined by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The sample was digested by using ultra wave microwave at 180 °C. The percentage of heavy metals present in the unregulated whitening creams were compared with the heavy metals content of two randomly selected and branded whitening creams. The results showed that most of the unregulated samples contain significant amount of chromium, cooper and lead. In comparison, the branded face creams contained only the permissible amount of the heavy metals tested. The maximum arsenic content was found in a sample collected from Al Batinah South region (1.74 ppm). The maximum cadmium content was found in a sample collected from Al Wusta region (2.02 ppm). The maximum cobalt and chromium content were found in the samples collected from Al Buraimi region (0.10 ppm) and Dhofar region (8.04 ppm) respectively. In conclusion, unregulated face creams are not safe for human consumption because they contain significant levels of heavy metals that exceed the permissible limits.

Towards Quantifying the Coastal Vulnerability due to Natural Hazards using the InVEST Coastal Vulnerability Model

Coastal areas and coastal communities are facing threats due to the impacts of climate change. Therefore, assessing their vulnerabilities and the potential for natural habitats to contribute to protecting coastal areas and communities is essential for effective long-term planning, sustainability, and resilient coastal management. This study modeled and mapped coastal vulnerability using the InVEST 3.9.1 model developed by the Natural Capital Project Coastal Vulnerability model to explore the role of natural habitats in mitigating coastal hazards in Southern Al Sharqiya and Al Wusta Governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. The results showed that the highest hazard classification > 2.67 represented 18% of the coastal distribution, the intermediate hazard classification ranging between 2.31 and 2.66 represented 38% of the coastal distribution, and the lowest hazard classification ranging between 1.22 and 2.30) represented 44% of the coastal distribution. These results, however, did not account for the role of natural habitats in coastal protection. In terms of the role of natural habitats in mitigating coastal hazards, the presence of natural habitats reduced the extent of the highest exposed shoreline by 14% and 8% for the highest and intermediate areas, respectively. Under the natural habitat’s scenario, the habitats could provide 59% protection for the coastal communities under the highest exposure category and 41% under the intermediate category. Under a no-habitat scenario, about 75% of the coastal communities are exposed and vulnerable to coastal hazards under the highest hazard exposure category and 25% under the intermediate category. These results demonstrate that it is critical, especially for policymakers, to enhance the protection of coastal ecosystems to achieve coastal resilience. This study buttresses the importance of coastal ecosystem assessments in ensuring coastal resilience and climate change adaptation processes for any coastal countries.

New data on the genus Vartiania Yakovlev, 2004 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae, Cossinae)

Two new species, Vartiania belli sp. n. from India (Karnataka State: Kanara) and V. gallagheri sp. n. from Oman (Al Wusta Region), are des¬cribed. The redescription of a little known species V. muscula (Rothschild, 1912) from Central Asia is given.

The Omani sandfish sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra Jaeger, 1833 (Holothuroidea: Holothuriidae): Fishery, length-Weight relationship and condition factor

The fishery of Omani sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra , is limited so far to the Mahout Bay in Al Wusta governorate. This fishery supports an uncertain number of fishermen ranging from 100 to 150. This fishery is not well-studied and has no current management program. In order to prepare a management strategy, the government has suspended this fishery for 2 years from March 2018 to March 2021. Apart from presenting a thorough review on the sea cucumber fishery in Oman, the current work presents a detailed analysis of the length–weight relationship, sex ratio, and condition factor of the H. scabra collected from four different areas during the period February-May 2019. Based on the results, the females were longer than males, that is 226±33.4 and 221±37.8 mm, respectively. The overall sex ratio of the entire/pooled sample was 0.49 which was not different from the anticipated theoretical sex ratio of 0.5. The mean K n and the empirical weight–length equations for the total sample were between 0.12±0.01 and 1.0±0.16, and W =0.03L 1.6 , respectively.

Fishing gear dominates marine litter in the Wetlands Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate, Oman

The Wetlands Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate on the Arabian Sea is important for internationally migrating birds and local wildlife, but data on marine litter in the reserve, and wider region, are rare. Seven beaches around the reserve were surveyed for litter in February 2020. Abundance and weight of litter were categorised along 100 m transects. Abundance ranged from 0.1 to 1.4 items m−2 and weight ranged from 3.2 to 170.4 g m−2. Plastic was the dominant material in abundance (84.4–97.7%) and weight (71.3–99.3%). Top categories in abundance and weight were fisheries-related, water bottles and caps, and food packaging. Fisheries-related litter comprised 19.6–36.7% of all in abundance, but 41.4–94.4% in weight. The high proportion of fisheries-related litter (by weight) indicates that providing practical disposal facilities for unwanted and broken fishing gear would substantially reduce the impact of litter on this vital wetlands reserve.

Animal rabies situation in Sultanate of Oman (2017-2019).

Successful preventive and control measures of zoonotic diseases require updated epidemiological data. Sylvatic rabies is endemic in Oman since 1990. Studying of the prevalence of animal rabies in Oman (2017-2019) was the goal of the current study besides the clinical-histopathological investigations of rabies in different animal species. A total of 117 whole brains of different animal species from different regions of Oman were examined by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and histopathology for rabies during 2017-2019. Sixty-four samples (54.7%) were positive for rabies by FAT. The most affected species were goat (53.1%) followed by camel (18.8%), which pose a great risk to farmers and veterinarians. Positive fox cases were (10.9%). Most confirmed cases of animal rabies were submitted from Northern regions of Oman. Rabies was reported recently in Al Wusta among wild ruminants, Central Oman. The seasonal cycle of animal rabies in Oman was year-round with the peak from December to April. The clinical signs and neuropathological findings were nearly similar in different animal species. Histopathology-positive cases had Negri bodies in pyramidal and purkinje neurons, non-suppurative encephalitis features, and neuronal degeneration and necrosis. The sensitivity and specificity of histopathological diagnosis of rabies in different animals were 76.47% and 100.00%, respectively. Finally, sylvatic rabies remains a major challenge to the public and animal health in Oman. Although of the value of histopathological diagnosis of rabies if no other technique is available, other complementary tests must be employed to confirm negative results.

SAT-436 CLINICAL AND GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (ARPKD) PATIENTS FROM OMAN AND PKHD1 FOUNDER MUTATIONS

The Omani population has a high prevalence of rare genetic disorders, and their study provides unique clinical and genetic insights. Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is one of the leading causes of kidney and liver-associated morbidity and mortality in the country. We aimed to describe the clinical and genetic profile of ARPKD patients from Oman. A group of 75 patients and relatives (40 males and 35 females) from apparently 33 unrelated families, who were referred to the National Genetic Centre in Oman between January 2015 and December 2018, were studied. This included 41 patients with a clinical diagnosis of ARPKD, their parents (n=24) and siblings or relatives (n=10). Genetic analysis of PKHD1 was performed through next generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing. A clinical diagnosis was made in 5 patients prenatally, 24 were diagnosed during the infancy period (0-1 year), nine during early childhood (2-8 years) and 3 at later ages (9-13 years). The main clinical features of patients included hypertension, hepatic fibrosis and splenomegaly. 25 patients had documented chronic renal failure at a median age of 3 years. 24 out of 33 families had a family history suggesting an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance, and there was known consanguinity in 22 families (67%). A molecular genetic diagnosis of ARPKD with biallelic PKHD1 mutations was confirmed in 30 families (n= 38 patients), giving a detection rate of 91%. Three families remained genetically unsolved. In total, only four different PKHD1 missense pathogenic mutations were identified: c.107C>T; (Thr36Met), c.406A>G; (Thr136Ala), c.4870C>T; (Arg1624Trp) and c.9370C>T; (His3124Tyr) located in exons 3, 6, 32 and 58, respectively. The c.406A>G; (Thr136Ala) is a novel missense mutation that was detected homozygously in one family and heterozygously with c.107C>T; (Thr36Met) allele in 5 other families. Overall, the most commonly detected pathogenic allele was c.107C>T; (Thr36Met), which was seen in 24 families. All four PKHD1 mutations were detected in patients from all governorates of the country except, Musandam, Al Wusta and Dhofar. Molecular genetic screening of suspected ARPKD cases produces a highly yield of genetic diagnosis. The four PKHD1 missense mutations may suggest common founder alleles in Omani population and allow cost effective targeted PCR analysis of these specific alleles to be a useful diagnostic tool.

New record of Blanford’s Fox Vulpes cana (Mammalia: Carnivora: Canidae) in central Oman: a connection between the northern and southern populations

The Blanford’s Fox Vulpes cana is known to be distributed in the Hajar Mountains and the mountains of Dhofar in northern and southern Oman, respectively. We report the first record of the Blanford’s Fox in Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve in central Oman. Despite a large survey effort of 169 camera traps set for 53,524 trap nights in an area of 5,400km2, only two camera traps detected Blanford’s Fox in a small area covering 46km2. The survey suggests that the population is small and possibly isolated, as the northern and southern Blanford’s Fox populations are 310km and 330km away, respectively.

Homo sapiens in Arabia by 85,000 years ago.

Understanding the timing and character of Homo sapiens expansion out of Africa is critical for inferring the colonisation and admixture processes that underpin global population history. It has been argued that dispersal out of Africa had an early phase, particularly ~130-90 thousand years ago (ka), that only reached the East Mediterranean Levant, and a later phase, ~60-50 ka, that extended across the diverse environments of Eurasia to Sahul. However, recent findings from East Asia and Sahul challenge this model. Here we show that H. sapiens was in the Arabian Peninsula before 85 ka. We describe the Al Wusta-1 (AW-1) intermediate phalanx from the site of Al Wusta in the Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia. AW-1 is the oldest directly dated fossil of our species outside Africa and the Levant. The palaeoenvironmental context of Al Wusta demonstrates that H. sapiens using Middle Palaeolithic stone tools dispersed into Arabia during a phase of increased precipitation driven by orbital forcing, in association with a primarily African fauna. A Bayesian model incorporating independent chronometric age estimates indicates a chronology for Al Wusta of ~95-86 ka, which we correlate with a humid episode in the later part of Marine Isotope Stage 5 known from various regional records. Al Wusta shows that early dispersals were more spatially and temporally extensive than previously thought. Early H. sapiens dispersals out of Africa were not limited to winter rainfall-fed Levantine Mediterranean woodlands immediately adjacent to Africa, but extended deep into the semi-arid grasslands of Arabia, facilitated by periods of enhanced monsoonal rainfall.

Constructing A Multi-Microgrid with the Inclusion of Renewable Energy in Oman's Rural Power System

This paper investigates the possibility of constructing multi-microgrids by interlinking the rural area systems in the Al Wusta governorate of the Sultanate of Oman, which are currently being supplied by diesel generators. It is proposed to enhance the rural system under study by switching off small diesel stations and replacing them with wind turbines. The microgrids formed in this way are then interlinked together to create multi-microgrids. The paper studies the interlinked multi-microgrids under different scenarios; in terms of voltage profiles and power flow using the ETAP software package. This study contributes to the feasibility study of retiring some diesel power plants and using renewable energy resources in rural Oman.

<b>The status of Arabian Gazelles <I>Gazella arabica</I> (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) in Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve and Ras Ash Shajar Nature Reserve, Oman</b>

We conducted distance sampling surveys of the Arabian Gazelle (Gazella arabica) in two protected areas, Al Wusta Wildife Reserve (WWR) and Ras Ash Shajar Nature Reserve (RSNR), regarded as important for gazelle conservation in northern and central Oman. The survey in WWR estimated a gazelle density of 0.161 gazelles/km2 in the surveyed area, and in RSNR an estimated density of 25.8 gazelles/km2. The density of Arabian Gazelle in RSNR is the highest recorded for a wild population. Using gazelle sighting frequency in non-surveyed parts of each reserve, we estimate Arabian Gazelle populations of 498 and 505 in WWR and RSNR, respectively. Our surveys demonstrated the potential for a high density of gazelles in well protected and productive habitats, but also that the Arabian Gazelle are in decline in WWR, most likely as a result of poaching and competition with domestic livestock.

Review of the Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 005, Plus Pairings, Martian Meteorite from Al Wusta, Oman

Al Wusta is a desert area in the Sultanate of Oman which is famous due to the discovery of a number of Martian and Lunar meteorites since the start of the present millennium. According to the Meteoritical Bulletin database, 137 approved Martian meteorites have been found worldwide, including 17 from Oman (4 from Zufar, 13 from Al Wusta region). Interestingly 11 finds in the last 15 years have been of Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 005 and its pairings. These finds (estimated mass = 11.2 kg) are linked to 10 search expeditions carried out between November 26, 1999 and March 2, 2014 by the Swiss group from the University of Bern and several anonymous meteorite hunters. The bulk of these meteorites (~97%) is in the possession of anonymous collectors, negatively affecting Oman’s natural heritage and denying further research opportunities, given their associated scientific value. SaU 005 and its pairings belong to the shergottite group of the Shergotty-Nakhla-Chassigny (SNC) meteorites, originating from various depths within the Martian mantle. We discuss the recently published oxygen isotope data of bulk and mineral fractions of SaU 008 recovered during the very first expedition in 1999 in the context of other shergottites found in Oman. The bulk oxygen isotope data of SaU 008 and Dhofar 019, another Martian meteorite from Oman, show a narrow range in δ18O values. Their Δ17O values are remarkably close to identical and fall linearly on a Martian fractionation line above the terrestrial fractionation line (TFL) by + 0.32‰, suggesting that Mars’ mantle is homogeneous in oxygen isotopes. Petrographic and mineralogical data of SaU 005 and other pairings published in the Meteoritical Bulletin are compiled, and it is noted that all the meteorites are identical and are likely paired. The story behind these rare extra-terrestrial specimens demands a local meteorite museum and preliminary testing laboratory at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) to protect this treasure trove of Omani heritage.

Solar Resource Mapping of AL Duqm Industrial Area

The Sultanate of Oman has one of the highest percentages of potential solar radiation in the world, which puts it in an outstanding position to horde electricity generation plants through photovoltaic solar systems. Oman consists of 11 governorates, and each governorate is divided into many Willyiah, which are made up of small villages. Willyiah of Al Duqm is located in Al Wusta Governorate (19°39’42”N 57°42’17”E) in central-eastern Oman. This paper proposes the use of a monthly average hourly diffuse illuminance from meteorological data and from a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify the best plots suitable for installing photovoltaic solar farms in the Al Duqm Industrial Area. Solar data collected in this study shows that the highest average annual solar radiation data recorded is 5,764 Wh/m2 in the Al Duqm area. Solar radiation data from 2000 to 2012 has been collected for further analysis. The Annual Energy Production (AEP) simulated using ArcGIS ranges between 6,028 Wh/m2 and 3,668 Wh/m2. This shows a very close estimation between simulation results and the data collected from the meteorological department in Oman.

Spatial variation of the levels of deprivation in the Sultanate of Oman

In recent decades indicators and statistical methods have been developed to measure the levels of multiple deprivations in economic and social aspects. The aim is to identify the geographical areas which suffer from deprivation in some of these aspects, in order to know their developmental needs, and then to focus the support and development processes there. The most important indices that have evolved in this context are; the Jarman index, also known as the «Underprivileged Area Score», the «Townsend deprivation index», and the «Carstairs deprivation Index». Since the 1980s, the Carstairs deprivation index has become well-known, especially after it was used - with some modification - in the measurement of indices of deprivation in the countries of the United Kingdom by the «Social Disadvantages Research Center-SDRS» at the University of Oxford. This study aims to measure the levels of deprivation in the Sultanate of Oman using the Carstairs index, to discover the more and less deprived wilayates in the seven domains reflecting the social and economic status of the population, namely: education, skills, employment, health, housing, living environment, facilities and household appliances. These domains include fourteen variables, with data derived from the population census of Oman in 2010. The Carstairs index was calculated separately for every domain, which made it possible to determine the wilayats that are suffering from deprivation in these domains. Through the compilation of the Carstairs index values for all domains, it was possible to calculate the «Index of multiple deprivation in Oman». The results show that the most disadvantaged wilayats, according to this index are: Al Mazyounah, Mahawt, Ad Duqm, Al Jazer, Hayma, Shalim Wa Juzor Al Hallaniyat, Rakhyut, Dalkut, all of which are located in the Governorates of Al Wusta and Dhofar.

Spatial variation of the levels of deprivation in the Sultanate of Oman

In recent decades indicators and statistical methods have been developed to measure the levels of multiple deprivations in economic and social aspects. The aim is to identify the geographical areas which suffer from deprivation in some of these aspects, in order to know their developmental needs, and then to focus the support and development processes there. The most important indices that have evolved in this context are; the Jarman index, also known as the «Underprivileged Area Score», the «Townsend deprivation index», and the «Carstairs deprivation Index». Since the 1980s, the Carstairs deprivation index has become well-known, especially after it was used - with some modification - in the measurement of indices of deprivation in the countries of the United Kingdom by the «Social Disadvantages Research Center-SDRS» at the University of Oxford. This study aims to measure the levels of deprivation in the Sultanate of Oman using the Carstairs index, to discover the more and less deprived wilayates in the seven domains reflecting the social and economic status of the population, namely: education, skills, employment, health, housing, living environment, facilities and household appliances. These domains include fourteen variables, with data derived from the population census of Oman in 2010. The Carstairs index was calculated separately for every domain, which made it possible to determine the wilayats that are suffering from deprivation in these domains. Through the compilation of the Carstairs index values for all domains, it was possible to calculate the «Index of multiple deprivation in Oman». The results show that the most disadvantaged wilayats, according to this index are: Al Mazyounah, Mahawt, Ad Duqm, Al Jazer, Hayma, Shalim Wa Juzor Al Hallaniyat, Rakhyut, Dalkut, all of which are located in the Governorates of Al Wusta and Dhofar.

Report on Health Provision to Nomads: Improving Medical Staffing at Haima Hospital, Jiddat-Il-Harasiis, Oman

Introduction In January 2012 the authors visited Haima Hospital in the Jiddat-il-Harasiis, Al Wusta province, Sultanate of Oman (Figure 1). It is the most remote secondary health care service in the country--nearly five hundred miles from the capital, Muscat, and five hundred miles from Salalah in the south (Figure 2). The visit was part of a larger research initiative to document contemporary life among the Harasiis pastoral camel- and goat-herding nomads and those Harasiis families newly settled in the government-built 'tribal centre' at Haima. This initiative followed on from the original United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project to extend government services to pastoral nomads in the interior deserts of Oman without forcing them to settle. The UNDP project helped support the development of weekly boarding schools, mobile primary health care and expanded immunization initiatives as well as the establishment of social affairs offices, veterinary support and other government initiatives (Chatty 1996: 92). The Harasiis are a mobile herding tribe of approximately five thousand people spread out over a traditional territory, which they have occupied for several centuries, of about forty-two thousand square miles, an area about the size of Scotland, along the edge of the Empty Quarter (Rub' al-Khali). For several decades, the government of the Sultanate has tried to extend meaningful health services to this largely mobile if not entirely nomadic population. Over the years several hospitals have been built on this site; and mobile services have been initiated and just as suddenly stopped. Difficulties in maintaining a consistent level of use have meant that it has been very hard to retain staff and the services offered at these institutions have generally shrunk to the bare minimum, making the hospitals at times no more than primary health care units. This report attempts to examine the difficulties of providing secondary health care services to a widely dispersed population and makes a number of suggestions for enhancing and improving health care delivery to remote and widely dispersed populations in general. Background Basic health care provision for pastoral peoples in the Middle East has been difficult to provide due to their remoteness and mobility. These marginal mobile or recently settled populations have had limited access to government health care provision. In addition, the populations of the Middle East have experienced particularly rapid socio-economic change over the past forty years, due largely to the discovery and exploitation of oil and the consolidation of the nation state. The basic social, political and cultural rights of the pastoral populations of the peninsula have largely been ignored, in part due to their remoteness and inaccessibility, but also due to the very fact of their mobility. Government services, based upon Western models, are designed for fixed, permanently domiciled populations. The organization of pastoral societies, with their mobile and constantly shifting households, does not fit into existing paradigms of Western-inspired development. A shortage in the resources and funds of government ministries has restricted public health services and the establishment of mobile clinics. Furthermore, pastoral societies' communal, traditional pattern of land use has not been understood by states in the region. This has resulted in serious societal upheaval, loss of control over vital grazing lands and often coercive pressure to settle and farm or enter the unskilled labour market. In the arena of health care, these marginal, mobile and remote populations have largely been excluded or have excluded themselves from government initiatives. Those that have settled have had only limited provision within or nearby their rural villages. In addition, the providers are largely focused on curative aspects rather than health promotion and disease prevention. [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] [FIGURE 2 OMITTED] Many of the Harasiis have moved into social housing provided by the government in the tribal centre at Haima. …

Dipterocladia arabiensis sp. nov. (Dasyaceae, Rhodophyta) from the Sultanate of Oman

Dipterocladia arabiensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of specimens collected from the Dhofar and Al Wusta regions of southern Oman. Observations are made on cystocarpic and tetrasporangiate specimens occurring from the shallow sublittoral to a depth of 17m. The new species differs from the two previously known species of Dipterocladia by themuchmore robust size of the thalli, the higher order of branching, and the relatively smaller sizes of both the pseudolaterals and the tetrasporangia. In the new species all of the polysiphonous sympodial axes are indeterminate, unlike D. pulchella, in which there is a distinction between determinate and indeterminate sympodial axes, whereasD. pinnatifolia is intermediate with respect to this feature. Prior collections of this alga from Oman have been cited as ‘Rhodoptilum plumosum ?’.