Categorizing datasets of road traffic accidents in Oman spanning from 2012 to 2022.

Road traffic accidents constitute the primary cause of fatalities associated with injuries and engender substantial economic ramifications for affected individuals, their families, and entire nations. The Sultanate of Oman, like other countries, suffers from traffic accident injuries and traffic congestion. The accident rate for the period 2021 was recorded as one accident every six hours. Despite a 70% increase in total number of vehicles and an 81% rise in licensed drivers between 2012 and 2019, data on traffic accidents demonstrate an improving trend with a notable 55% decline in crash fatalities. However, it is important to recognize that road traffic accidents in Oman encompass not only social issues but also pose a significant economic burden, resulting in substantial financial costs for the nation. Notwithstanding, it was discovered that more than 50% of fatal crashes in Oman were primarily caused by excessive speeding. The main goal of this research is to analysis the causes and trends of traffic accidents at the national level in the Sultanate of Oman. Data analysis reveals speed as the primary cause of traffic accidents in Oman, with Muscat and Dhofar registering the highest accident rates. In addition, the distribution of deaths and injuries resulting from accidents varies according to Gender and nationality. According to the road accident scenario analysis in the state, more traffic accidents occurred in males than females. Traffic accidents have witnessed a notable decline over the past decade, attributable to the diligent efforts and interventions implemented by the Royal Oman Police.

Effect of Elevated Temperature on Rhyolitic Rocks' Properties.

The effect of high temperatures on rock's thermophysical and mechanical properties is critical to the design of underground geotechnical applications. The current work investigates the impact of temperature on rhyolitic turf rock's physical and mechanical properties. Intact cylindrical core rock samples were heated to different temperatures (200, 400, 600, and 800 °C). The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus of unheated and heated samples were determined as important mechanical properties. In addition, the effect of temperature on the physical properties of rhyolite rock (density, color, and absorption) was investigated in conjunction with its microstructural properties. The hardening of the rhyolitic rock samples was observed below 600 °C, at which point the UCS and elastic modulus decreased to 78.0% and 75.9%, respectively, at 800 °C. The results also show that heating does not significantly affect the density and volume of permeable pore space, but a color change can be observed at 400 °C and above. A microscopic analysis shows the change in microstructural properties of rhyolite rock after heating to 600 °C. Furthermore, the SEM observations of heated materials show structural particle displacements and microcracking, leading to apparent surface cracks.

Computed tomography perfusion of ischaemic stroke patients in a rural Malaysian tertiary referral centre.

INTRODUCTION: Computed tomography (CT) perfusion is a new method to diagnose ischaemic stroke especially in developing countries. It identifies the area and is useful to predict the size of final infarction. The aim of this study was to assess cerebral ischaemia with CT perfusion (CTP) among patients with acute ischaemic stroke in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, a tertiary referral centre in a rural setting. METHODS: 42 consecutive unenhanced CT and CTP examinations of the brain in adult patients were evaluated prospectively. Unenhanced CT images were divided into normal, suspicious or frank infarction. CTP images was classified as normal or ischaemic. Subgroup analysis was carried out with a limit of six hours from time of ictus. RESULTS: Out of 42 patients, 20 had frank infarction on unenhanced CT, 15 had suspicious CT studies, while seven were normal. There was no significant association of demographical, clinical and radiological parameters to CTP in the whole group among acute stroke patients without frank infarction. Among the subgroup of patients without frank infarction, there was no significant association between unenhanced CT and CTP in patients who were studied less than six hours after stroke (p-value is 0.063) as well as those after six hours (p-value is 0.317). The prevalence of a normal unenhanced CT and positive CTP for ischaemia was 22.7 percent (95 percent confidence interval 7.8, 45.4). CONCLUSION: CTP may be a useful imaging tool for determining cerebral infarction in a rural-based community population, especially in cases where the unenhanced CT is normal. Thrombolysis is a therapeutic option, even when the history of onset of stroke is unclear.

Analysis of the survival motor neuron and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein genes in Malay patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

In Malaysia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is diagnosed based on clinical observation with or without muscle biopsy. Molecular analyses of the SMA-related genes have not been available so far. In this preliminary study, we searched for homozygous deletion of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN1) and Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein (NAIP) genes in Malay patients with SMA and found homozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7 and 8 in all the patients while homozygous deletion of NAIP exon 5 was detected in only our type 1 patients but not in the type 3 patient. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first SMA cases diagnosed at the molecular level in Malaysia.