• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.61-77
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• 2011

One of the most important problems in the estimation of the parameter of the failure model, is the cost of experimental sampling units, which can be reduced by using any prior information available about ${\theta}$, and devising a two-stage pooling shrunken estimation procedure. We have proposed an estimator of the reliability function (R(t)) of the exponential model using two-stage time censored data when a prior value about the unknown parameter (${\theta}$) is available from the past. To compare the performance of the proposed estimator with the classical estimator, computer intensive calculations for bias, mean squared error, relative efficiency, expected sample size and percentage of the overall sample size saved expressions, were done for varying the constants involved in the proposed estimator (${\tilde{R}}$(t)).

• 대한수학회보
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• 제58권4호
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• pp.1003-1019
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• 2021

In this paper, we introduce a class of maximal functions along twisted surfaces in ℝⁿ×ℝ^m of the form {(𝜙(|v|)u, 𝜑(|u|)v) : (u, v) ∈ ℝⁿ×ℝ^m}. We prove L^p bounds when the kernels lie in the space L^q (𝕊^n-1×𝕊^m-1). As a consequence, we establish the L^p boundedness for such class of operators provided that the kernels are in L log L(𝕊^n-1×𝕊^m-1) or in the Block spaces B^0,0_q (𝕊^n-1×𝕊^m-1) (q > 1).

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.5-27
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• 2016

This research aims to explore the acceptance of Moodle as a teaching and learning tool by the faculty of the Department of Information Studies (IS) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in the Sultanate of Oman. The researchers employed the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to examine the effects of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions on the behavioural intention of SQU faculty members to employ Moodle in their instruction. Data were collected by the interview method. Results showed the emergence of two faculty groups: one uses Moodle and one does not use Moodle. In group that uses Moodle, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and behavioural intention are positively related, thereby influencing the faculty members' use behavior. In addition to the aforementioned UTAUT constructs, four additional factors affect Moodle's adoption. These moderators are gender, age, experience and the voluntariness of use, amongst which gender exhibits the least influence on Moodle adoption. That is, male and female faculty generally both use the learning platform. Although some members of the group that does not use Moodle exhibit optimistic performance expectancy for technology, the overall perception in this regard for Moodle is negative. The other UTAUT constructs exert no influence on this group's adoption of the learning platform.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.342-346
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• 2001

The physiological changes in sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) leaves infected with Drechslera sorghicola were investigated through five recognizable stages of disease development. Water-soaked yellowish brown spots developed two days after inoculation, turned brown with yellow halo, enlarged and coalesced at later stages of disease development. Healthy and infected leaves were analyzed for different biochemical constituents. The chlorophyll contents were decreased significantly with the progress of infection. The levels of reducing and total sugars increased while non-reducing sugars decreased to a significant extent with the progress of disease. The concentration of total phenolics, orthodihydroxy phenols, free and glycosidic phenols showed significant changes due to infection, whereas basic and acid phenols showed little or no change with disease development. Levels of phenolic compounds increased four days after inoculation and decrease thereafter, but the concentration was higher at every stage of disease development relative to healthy tissues. Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzyme activities increased to varying degrees at different stages of infection. Analysis of protein fractions showed a significant increase with the progress of disease.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제7권11호
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• pp.843-851
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• 2020

This study focuses on identifying and prioritizing the broader performance measures for the service supply chains by taking the case of Majan Electricity Company, Sohar, in the Sultanate of Oman. For an examination of the uniformity of ultimate objectives and the priorities therein, two strata of respondents with a total of fourteen respondents were approached for their valuable insights. Suitable structured instruments were personally administered to elicit the insightful and worthy responses. The two multi-criteria decision-making techniques, namely, the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process and the Best-Worst Method were used to reach a meaningful prioritization of the identified and refined broader performance measurement dimensions. The results show that there exists a minor gap between the two respondents' groups in terms of their prioritizations. The major finding points to the difference in terms of the topmost priorities as revealed by the two set of respondents. For one group of respondents, the customer satisfaction matters the most, whereas for the other group, it is the overall profitability that matters the most. This gap against the utopian state assists in concluding that there is a requirement to reorient the employees so as to have a shared and common understanding of the organizational priorities.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.341-348
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• 2011

The study of bacterial flagellar swimming motion remains an interesting and challenging research subject in the fields of hydrodynamics and bio-locomotion. This swimming motion is characterized by very low Reynolds numbers, which is unique and time reversible. In particular, the effect of rotation of helical flagella of bacterium on swimming motion requires detailed multi-disciplinary analysis. Clear understanding of such swimming motion will not only be beneficial for biologists but also to engineers interested in developing nanorobots mimicking bacterial swimming. In this paper, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of a three dimensional single flagellated bacteria has been developed and the fluid flow around the flagellum is investigated. CFD-based modeling studies were conducted to find the variables that affect the forward thrust experienced by the swimming bacterium. It is found that the propulsive force increases with increase in rotational velocity of flagellum and viscosity of surrounding fluid. It is also deduced from the study that the forward force depends on the geometry of helical flagella (directly proportional to square of the helical radius and inversely proportional to pitch).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.424-431
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of short road transportation in an open truck during hot season on live weight shrink, physiological responses, and carcass and meat quality of Omani sheep at 6 and 12 months of age. Thirty-six male sheep, 18 of each age group, were used. Age groups were assigned randomly to transported and not-transported groups. The transported group was transported to the slaughterhouse the day of slaughter in an open truck covering a distance of approximately 100 km. The average temperature during transportation was $37^{\circ}C$. The not-transported group was kept in a lairage of a commercial slaughterhouse with ad libitum feed and water for 48 h prior to slaughter. Blood samples were collected from sheep before loading and prior to slaughter via jugular venipuncture to assess their physiological response to transport in relation to hormonal levels. Animals were weighed just before loading onto a truck and after transport to assess shrinkage. Muscle ultimate pH, expressed juice, cooking loss percentage, WB-shear force value, sarcomere length and colour L*, a*, b* were measured on samples from longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles collected at 24 h postmortem at $1-3^{\circ}C$. Live weight shrinkage losses were 1.09 and 1.52 kg for 6 and 12 month transported sheep, respectively. The transported sheep had significantly (p<0.05) higher cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine concentration levels prior to slaughter at both ages than the not-transported sheep. Transportation significantly influenced meat quality characteristics of three muscles. Muscle ultimate pH and shear force values were significantly higher, while CIE L*, a*, b*, expressed juice and cooking loss were lower in transported than not-transported sheep. Age had a significant effect on meat quality characteristics of Omani sheep. These results indicated that short-term pre-slaughter transport at high ambient temperatures can cause noticeable changes in physiological and muscle metabolism responses in sheep.