Microscale Audits of the Built Environment and the Challenges for Pedestrians in 4 Residential Areas in Oman.

Background: Ensuring a livable and healthy built environment that addresses challenges of climate change and the pandemic of noncommunicable diseases should include creating an environment support of physical activity. This study aims to build local evidence on improving the residential areas by assessing the built environment of 4 residential areas in Oman.

Methods: This study uses the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes-Mini, a 15-item tool with 4 subscales (destinations and land use, aesthetics, pedestrian infrastructure, and crossings/traffic safety), to conduct environmental audits of 4 areas in Barka and Nizwa, Oman.

Construct validity of the physical activity neighborhood environment scale-Oman.

Aims: This study aims to examine the construct validity of Physical Activity Neighborhoods Environment Scales, Oman (PANES-O), and compare the subjective perceptions with objective measures in Muscat, the capital area of Oman.

Methods: Walkability index scores using GIS maps were calculated for 35 study areas in Muscat based on which five low and 5 high walkable study areas were randomly selected. A community survey was then conducted in November 2020 in each study area using the 16-item PANES-O instrument to measure the participants' perception of neighborhood density, land use mix, infrastructure, safety, aesthetics, and street connectivity.

Adaptation of the Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale in Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to adapt the Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale (PANES), which is a 17-item tool for assessing environmental factors relevant for walking and bicycling in the community, to the Omani context.

Methods: The adaptation process was conducted in three steps: (1) revision by local experts, (2) Arabic translation and cognitive testing and (3) test-retest reliability testing with a sample of 33 Omani women and men, between September 2016 and August 2017.

Results: Four of the 17 items of the PANES were modified and one was removed, resulting in a 16-item PANES, Oman (PANES-O) questionnaire.

Proposal for computer-aided diagnosis based on ultrasound images of the kidney: is it possible to compare shades of gray among such images?

Objective: To compare ultrasound images of the kidney obtained, randomly or in a controlled manner (standardizing the physical aspects of the ultrasound system), by various professionals and with different devices.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated a total of 919 images of kidneys, obtained by five professionals using two types of ultrasound systems, in 24 patients. The images were categorized into four types, by how they were acquired and processed.

Morphological description of male genital organs of Marca's marmoset (Mico marcai).

Morphological characterisation of the genital organs of primates may bring significant contributions to the understanding of different reproductive behaviours and support new conservation strategies. However, relevant or detailed descriptions of genital morphology of several primate species are still lacking. This study describes the gross and microscopic anatomy of the internal and external genitalia of Marca's marmoset (Mico marcai).