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In the COVID-19 pandemic, students were subjected to high pressure when they were forced to move to distance learning in a lockdown environment. Such a drastic move for communities living in groups with solid relationship ties comes at a price. This study aims to investigate the acceptance of distance learning amongst Omani higher education institutions (HEI) students during COVID-19 lockdown.

This is a quantitative research based on an online survey designed to study participants’ acceptance of distance learning during COVID-19 lockdown.

A sample of 757 Omani students was selected, of which 81.2% were female. About 60% of the students’ Age lies 15–20 years. The highest percentage (38.8%) of students belongs to the College of Arts and Humanities. A total of 80% of the students reported a moderate level of information technology skills, and also more than 80% of the students had never attended eLearning calls. Most of the students affirm the eLearning acceptance (students’ willingness to use eLearning tools for the tasks they are designed for), eLearning usefulness (using eLearning would enhance students’ performance), eLearning ease of use (the degree to which a student believes that using eLearning tools are free from effort), learning from home during COVID-19 and eLearning effectiveness (student’s satisfaction and the benefits student will gain from learning via online platforms). Multiple regression analysis confirms that more than 81% of the variation in the eLearning acceptance was explained by eLearning usefulness, eLearning ease of use, learning from home during COVID-19 and eLearning effectiveness independent variables. Moreover, these independent predictors have a positive association with eLearning acceptance.

This research intends to fill the gap in Omani HEI students’ acceptance of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hybrid nanofluid flow due to a rotating disk has numerous applications, including centrifugal pumps, paper production, polymers dying, air filtration systems, automobile cooling and solar collectors. This study aims to investigate the convective heat transport and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) hybrid nanofluid flow past a stretchable rotating surface using the Yamada-Ota and Xue models with the impacts of heat generation and thermal radiation.

The carbon nanotubes such as single-wall carbon nanotubes and multi-wall carbon nanotubes are suspended in a base fluid like water to make the hybrid nanofluid. The problem’s governing partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations. Then, the numerical solutions are found with a bvp4c function in MATLAB software. The impacts of pertinent parameters on the flow and temperature fields are depicted in tables and graphs.

Two solution branches are discovered in a certain range of unsteadiness parameters. The fluid temperature and the rate of heat transport are enhanced when the thermal radiation and heat generation effects are increased. The Yamada-Ota model has a higher temperature than the Xue model. Furthermore, it is observed that only the first solution remains stable when the stability analysis is implemented.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the results stated are original and new with the investigation of MHD hybrid nanofluid flow with convective heat transfer using the extended version of Yamada-Ota and Xue models. Moreover, the novelty of the present study is improved by taking the impacts of heat generation and thermal radiation.

The coating process is broadly employed in the manufacturing of wallpapers, adhesive tapes, wrapping, protection of fabrics and metals, X-ray and photographic films, beautification, books and magazines, film foils, magnetic records, coated paper, etc.

In this study, an incompressible flow of non-Newtonian fluid is modeled to inspect the rheological behavior of finite coating thickness in the reverse roll coating process. With the assistance of lubrication approximation theory (LAT), the dimensionless form of governing expressions is simplified. Exact solutions for distributions for velocity, flow rate, temperature and pressure gradient attained utilizing perturbation technique and their variation is presented as well as discussed in graphs. Meanwhile, some important factors from an engineering perspective including coating thickness and transition point were calculated mathematically and are displayed in a tabular manner. Also, streamlines are drawn to observe the flow pattern.

Prandtl fluid parameters provide a controlling factor to regulate the flow rate, velocity, coating thickness, and pressure gradient leading to an efficient coating process. Moreover, the Brinkman number and Prandtl fluid parameters significantly improve the temperature distribution.

In the literature, this study fills a gap in the theoretical prediction of coating thickness rheologically influenced by Prandtl fluid in reverse roll coating process.

The boundary layer flow of immiscible fluids plays a crucial role across various industries, influencing advancements in industrial processes, environmental systems, healthcare and more. This study explores the thermally radiative boundary layer flow of a shear-driven Ree–Eyring fluid over a nanofluid. The investigation offers valuable insights into the intricate dynamics and heat transfer behavior that arise when a nanofluid, affected by thermal radiation, interacts with a non-Newtonian Ree–Eyring fluid. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interactions governing such systems, which is essential for enhancing efficiency and innovation in multiple applications.

The simulation investigates the convergence of boundary layers under varying shear strengths. A comparative analysis is conducted using γAl2O3 and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, with water as the base fluid. The model’s numerical outcomes are derived using the bvp4c method through the application of appropriate similarity transformations. The resulting numerical data are then used to produce graphical representations, offering valuable insights into the influence of key parameters on flow behavior and patterns.

The temperature of the Al₂O₃ nanoparticles is always higher than the γAl2O3 nanoparticles, and hence, Al₂O₃ nanoparticles become more significant in the cooling process then γAl2O3 nanoparticles. It is also observed that the fluid velocity for both regions is enhanced by increasing values of the Ree–Eyring fluid parameter.

The results stated are original and new with the thermal radiative boundary layer flow of two immiscible Ree–Eyring fluid and Al₂O₃/γAl2O3 nanofluid.

This study aims to present an analysis on heat transfer attributes of fluid-particle interaction over a permeable elastic sheet. The fluid streaming on the sheet is Casson fluid (CF) with uniform distribution of dust particles.

The basic steady equations of the CF and dust phases are in the form of partial differential equations (PDEs) which are remodeled into ordinary ones with the aid of similarity transformations. In addition to analytical solution, numerical solution is obtained for the reduced coupled non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to validate the results.

The solution seems to be influenced by significant physical parameters such as CF parameter, magnetic parameter, suction parameter, fluid particle interaction parameter, Prandtl number, Eckert number and number density. The impact of these parameters on flow field and temperature for both fluid and dust phases is presented in the form of graphs and discussed in detail. The effect on skin friction coefficient and heat transfer rate is also presented in tabular form. It has been observed that an increase in the CF parameter curtails the fluid velocity as well as the particle velocity however enhances the heat transfer rate at the wall. Furthermore, comparison of the numerical and analytical solution is also made and found to be in excellent agreement.

Although the analysis of dusty fluid flow has been widely examined, however, the present study obtained both analytical and numerical results of power law temperature distribution in dusty Casson fluid under the influence of magnetic field which are new and original for such type of flow.

Every year, hundreds of people have died and thousands have been injured because of insufficient management of well control at oil and gas drilling and production sites. Major causes which have been reported in previous studies included uncontrollable blowouts and failure of blowout preventers because of insufficient safety practices. These onshore and offshore blowout disasters not only harm the work force but also critically affect the environment and marine life. In this research paper, a detailed quantitative survey and qualitative risk assessments (RA) have been carried out for assessing the potentially hazardous activities associated with well control along with their appropriate controls and risk reduction factors and mitigating measures in Middle East and south East Asian countries.

The sequential explanatory research design has been adopted in this study. Whereas, descriptive statistical approach has been used for the quantitative data analysis of this study. While, in-depth interview approach has been used for qualitative data collection. Similarly, what-if analysis method has been adopted in this study for the identification of effective safety and health risk mitigating factors because it provides in-depth information from health and safety environment experts.

The cumulative quantitative results based on the response from Saudi Arabian drilling industry have indicated that the well control operation is highly hazardous then Malaysian and Pakistani oil and gas industries. Likewise, findings from what-if analysis approach demonstrate that the drilling crewmembers have repetitively faced life threatening hazards which occur (safety and chemical) during well control onshore and offshore operation because of oil base mud, confined space at site, pinch points and falling during working on blow out preventers. According to the overall result, respondents have highly recommended engineering and administrative hazard controlling factors as most suitable for the elimination of safety and chemical hazards during well control activities.

Besides, the developed methodological framework for the identification of suitable hazard controls can also be effectively used for potential hazards reorganization and identification of suitable hazard controls for other drilling and production industries and regions for accident prevention and safety and health management.

This is a first comparative research study which has been carried out in Malaysian, Saudi Arabian and Pakistani onshore and offshore oil and gas industries for well control health and safety management and reorganization of most effective hazards mitigating factors at drilling sites.

The paper is aimed at identifying, analysing and prioritizing the critical constraints affecting efficient management of historic buildings in remote areas of Saudi Arabia.

Thematic content analysis and expert-based evaluation approaches were used to identify and evaluate the constraints. The DEMATEL technique was deployed to define the interrelationship complexities between the constraints and evaluate the impact of these interrelationships to ascertain the influential constraints.

The results identify “lack of clearly defined roles for the multiple government agencies” as the most influential constraint for managing historic sites and buildings in remote areas of Saudi Arabia.

The contextual interrelationship between the constraints is due to the experts' perceptions, which may be biased due to their proficiencies and professional backgrounds. Since the evidence on which the findings of this paper are established is predominantly from experiences related to historic sites and buildings in remote areas of Saudi Arabia, the results of this paper may not be entirely applicable elsewhere.

The paper provides invaluable methodology that can support practitioners and policymakers to establish sustainable strategies that can enhance the management and protection of historic buildings in remote areas of Saudi Arabia.

This study noticeably contributes to knowledge by providing comprehensive understanding of the major impediments to the successful management of historic buildings in remote areas of Saudi Arabia, which can assist in mitigating the potential impacts of these constraints and to advocate for the achievement of efficient management and protection of the historic sites and buildings.

Agri-entrepreneurship is considered a promising strategy to address poverty, particularly in developing countries. However, embarking on an agri-entrepreneurial venture poses significant challenges. The existing literature on agri-entrepreneurship in developing countries, particularly focusing on smallholders’ constraints, is often scattered and fragmented, focusing mainly on individual barriers rather than providing a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted constraints. Therefore, this study aims to fill the gap by conducting a systematic review to identify, categorize, and prioritize the smallholders’ constraints.

By systematically reviewing literature retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science, published between 2013 and 2023, and following the PRISMA guidelines, this study identifies agri-entrepreneurial constraints through content analysis and categorizes and prioritizes them using thematic analysis.

This study revealed a range of constraints which are categorized into thematic areas including market-related challenges, financial constraints, limitations in human capital, institutional barriers, socio-cultural factors, technological shortcomings, and infrastructural challenges. Moreover, the study examines the role of social networks and their impacts on the livelihoods of smallholders in developing countries.

The study’s scope is limited to constraints for agri-entrepreneurship, particularly for smallholders in developing countries. The review considers English articles published between 2013 and 2023, and ABS 3 and above ranked journal articles.

The study systematically identifies, categorizes, and prioritizes the significant constraints to agri-entrepreneurship in developing countries by conducting a systematic review and identifying research gaps and future directions.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of exchange rate volatility at sectoral level on the exports trade of Pakistan. All the sectors involved in the export trade (proposed by the State Bank of Pakistan, by commodity), were used to study this relationship at a more minute level.

Quarterly data regarding research were collected over the period 2003 to 2010 from databases of State Bank of Pakistan and International Monetary Fund financial statistics. The bound testing approach proposed by Pesaran et al., was used to study the relationship between sectoral export and exchange rate volatility, while augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) and Phillips Perron tests were used to test the unit root of series and GARCH,proposed by Bollerslev, was used to study exchange rate volatility.

The results show that exports are negatively influenced by exchange rate volatility and relative prices while positively affected by foreign income. This relationship holds for all sectors where bound testing revealed the existence of long‐ run relationship, although some equations results were not statistically significant.

The paper's findings can be used to form such policies which result in a stabilized and competitive exchange rate, so that Pakistan's exports can be increased.

Previous studies have been conducted on aggregated data set for exports in the Pakistani context, which hinders pertinent information; however this information is possible by studying disaggregated data. The paper fills a research gap by taking sectoral level data, to divulge the behavior of individual sectors against exchange rate volatility.

That computers are big business in the Arab banking world is not in doubt, the question is for how much longer, and in which countries, as different phases of development get into gear in different places.