The performance of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) was compared to that of a conventional activated sludge (CAS) process aiming to identify the best technological option for a municipal sewage treatment plant (STP). The MBR system was fed by the diluted sewage coming from the main municipal sewer network, which contained an averagely lower concentration of organics, inorganics and biological pollutants. While the CAS system was fed by a concentrated sewage coming from household septic tanks, contained averagely high concentration of organics, inorganics and biological pollutants. CAS showed a higher removal amount of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), Fat-Oil-Grease (FOG), nitrogen, phosphorous, helminths ova (HO), and pathogenic bacteria compared to that of the MBR. Nevertheless, the removal efficiencies of nitrogen, HO and pathogenic bacteria in the case of CAS were lower than that of MBR due to the high concentration of those parameters in the influent fed to CAS. However, both the efficiency and the amount of removal for phosphorous in the case of CAS was quite higher than that of MBR due to extended aeration in CAS. The pathogenic bacteria and HO were almost completely removed by the MBR, whereas the effluent of the CAS system required additional disinfection for the reduction of pathogens and HO. In terms of biological efficiency and influent flexibility, both the systems were satisfying the national standards. Overall, the data suggested that CAS possessed a higher capacity of treating concentrated sewage for removing all pollutants to satisfactory limits except complete removal of pathogenic bacteria and HO. It was obvious that MBR possessed a membrane barrier to retain the pathogens and HO; therefore, they could be removed up to very low levels. However, further investigation is necessary to verify the MBR performance using the same concentrated sewage as that of the CAS.
Capillary barriers (CBs) as engineered porous composites is novel and promising technology for mitigating salinity and drought stress of plants. This study aimed to imitate a naturally formed CB structure recently discovered in the reservoir bed of Al-Khoud dam at the Governorate of Muscat in northern Oman and to test the impact of this unique CB on mitigating the salinity stress of marigold plants grown under an open field condition. A plot was constructed and divided into “structured” (engineered cascade CB design) and “unstructured” soils and planted with marigold (Tagetes erecta) plants that were subjected to four salinity treatments (control with ECi ≈ 0.6 dS m-1 ; 3 dS m-1; 6 dS m-1; and 9 dS m-1). Plant physiological, vegetative, and reproductive growth parameters were measured in each treatment. The results showed that the structured soil significantly saved irrigation water and reduce salts accumulation. Structured soil improved all vegetative and reproductive plant parameters measured and helped in reducing the effects of salinity stress on the growth and production of the marigold under arid-climate field conditions. The results also showed the capability of structured soil in water saving and improving water use efficiency. This study substantiates a novel method in mitigating salinity problem and in water saving in arid and semi-arid regions, in particular in Oman. Further studies are required to test the use of the engineered cascade CB design with different crops and with alternative (e.g. subsurface) irrigation methods.
Abstract: This study assesses the feasibility of co-management arrangements in managing scalloped spiny lobster (Panulirus homarus) fishery in the Sultanate of Oman. The appraisal is conducted using various indicators involving pre-implementation phase and institutional characteristics and substantiated by findings of the review of relevant local and global literature and the results of a structured questionnaire survey conducted during 9-28 June, 2013 with 536 randomly selected fishers from three Governorates namely Sharqiyah, Al-Wusta, and Dhofar. The former method helps identifying suitable assessment criteria and provides indication of readiness while the later method helps determining primary stakeholders’ perceived views on various aspects of regulatory measures and co-management arrangements. While findings related to fishers’ commitments, willingness to support government decisions, willingness to participate in co-operative research, and preference for co-operative decision-making are promising, institutional weaknesses identified under the category of ‘interactive organization’, ‘resource ownership and control’, ‘existence of planned process’, and ‘diversity’ should be of major concerns for policy-makers in moving towards co-management arrangements. Based on the findings some policy implications are also discussed.
Skin lesions were reported in a group of quarantined Omani native cattle for exportation purpose during January 2018. The skin lesions were reported in 17 animals out of 140 and were scattered over the head, neck, back and perineal region of the animals. Lesions varied from paint-brush matted hairs to wart-like lesions that are up to 2 cm in diameter. Skin scraping samples were obtained from the living animals and were directly stained with gram stain. Histologically, there was severe multifocal exudative dermatitis with hyperkeratosis. Dermis was infiltrated with neutrophils, mononuclear cells, and numerous branching filaments coccoid bodies. Bacterial culture on sheep blood agar revealed gray to white, beta hemolytic, raised and irregularly shaped colonies. Gram staining showed gram positive branching filaments with both transverse and longitudinal fragments formed from packs of coccoid cells confined with Dermatophilus congolensis. Animals were treated successfully with 3 doses of intra muscular injection of long-acting oxytetracycline with topical application of antibiotic spray. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of dermatophilosis in Omani cattle.
Consumers’ preference study allows industries to tailor the supply towards the preference of consumers so that market could be optimized for their turn-over and profits. This study investigated consumers’ preference of fresh and smoked catfish in Ilorin Metropolis. A total of 225 questionnaires were administered adopting multi-stage techniques to elicit information from the respondents. The obtained data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that majority of the respondents in this study preferred smoked catfish irrespective of their socio-economic profile. The majority of the respondents agreed with the factors used in this study for the preference of fish (i.e. types) and their frequency of eating as their preferred fish. This study showed that only tribe of the respondents showed significant effect (p<0.05) on the respondents’ preferences for whole or chunk fish; and family size, age and religion had significant effect on the frequency of their preferred fish.
