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Objectives: This study aimed to assess the perceived level of disaster preparedness and response among nursing students in Oman, as the country is disaster prone and experiences disasters every three to five years. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional pilot study was conducted from May to June 2019 using a stratified cluster sampling method among nursing students recruited from two government nursing colleges in Muscat, Oman. The Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool and Disaster Response Self-Efficacy Scale were used to assess the knowledge, skill, disaster management and self-efficacy in handling disasters. Results: A total of 51 students participated in this study. Most students (78.4%) had experienced a disaster while at home. Overall, the students had moderate levels of knowledge (3.17 ± 1.49), skill (3.12 ± 1.52), post-disaster management (3.22 ± 1.44) and self efficacy in responding to disaster (2.93 ± 1.16). Conclusion: Nursing students in Oman have experienced disasters and are willing to respond when called upon though they possess moderate knowledge and confidence in handling disasters. Keywords: Disasters; Nursing Students; Pilot Study; Oman.

Development and maturation in cortical networks depend on neuronal activity. For stabilization and pruning of connections, synchronized oscillations play a crucial role. A fundamental mechanism that enables coordinated activity during brain functioning is formed of synchronized neuronal oscillations in low- (delta and theta) and high- (gamma) frequency bands. The relationship between neural synchrony, cognition, and the perceptual process has been widely studied, but any possible role of neural synchrony in amblyopia has been less explored. We hypothesized that monocular deprivation (MD) during early postnatal life would lead to changes in neuronal activity that would be demonstrated by changes in phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) and altered power in specific oscillatory frequency. Our results demonstrate that functional connectivity in the visual cortex is altered by MD during adolescence. The amplitude of high-frequency oscillations is modulated by the phase of low-frequency oscillations. Demonstration of enhanced delta–gamma and theta–gamma PAC indicates that our results are relevant for a broad range of nested oscillatory markers. These markers are inherent to neuronal processing and are consistent with the hypothesized increase in the intrinsic coupling that arises from neural oscillatory phase alignment. Our results reveal distinct frequency bands exhibit altered power and coherence variations modulated by experience-driven plasticity.

Fenugreek gum (FG) was isolated from six different Indian fenugreek cultivars and studied for their functional, structural, thermal and rheological attributes. The highest yield (13.5%) was observed for cultivar RMT–365. All galactomannans depicted good water and oil holding capacities ranging from 2009 ± 5.5 to 2099.9 ± 2.5% and 523.5 ± 3.5 to 553.0 ± 2.0%, respectively. DSC thermograms of FG revealed the presence of one endothermic and one exothermic peak. For endothermic transition of gums from different cultivars, enthalpy change (Δ Ha) ranged from 234.2 to 351.8 J/g while for exothermic transition, Δ Ha values ranged from 72.0 to 102.1 J/g, much lower as compared with endothermic peak. The effect of variable shear rate on viscosity of 1% FG solutions showed their shear thinning behaviors for all the cultivars, whereby the viscosity decreased with increasing shear rate. Frequency sweep tests indicated typical viscoelastic fluid behavior for all the gum solutions. Increase in the magnitude of G′ and G″ of FG solutions was observed with an increase in frequency. A detailed understanding of different chemical, functional and thermal properties of FG could surely enlarge the radius of its application and eventually aid in its utilization in different food, pharma and cosmetic products.

With the tremendous development of the online information, the term “Cloud Computing” offers multiple kinds of outsourcing and storage services to the user. Data security and privacy issues introduces multiple hurdles into it such as data leakage, calculating the key for data encryption, lack of proper security policies and renewal of application in cloud environment. One of the main issues is how to store encrypted data, decrypt it when required and renewal of application to face the security challenges. In this work we have proposed a secured and timestamp value based approach using RSA-MABC algorithm for encryption and decryption process. The work has been simulated in Cloudsim and results show our approach takes less time for encryption and decryption with added security features of renewing the secret key based on timestamp. Our results of encryption and decryption time along with the results of ttest shows that our work is better than exiting approaches.

Neural dynamics are altered in the primary visual cortex (V1) during critical period monocular deprivation (MD). Synchronization of neural oscillations is pertinent to physiological functioning of the brain. Previous studies have reported chronic disruption of V1 functional properties such as ocular dominance, spatial acuity, and binocular matching after long-term monocular deprivation (LTMD). However, the possible neuromodulation and neural synchrony has been less explored. Here, we investigated the difference between juvenile and adult experience-dependent plasticity in mice from intracellular calcium signals with fluorescent indicators. We also studied alterations in local field potentials power bands and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) of specific brain oscillations. Our results showed that LTMD in juveniles causes higher neuromodulatory changes as seen by high-intensity fluorescent signals from the non-deprived eye (NDE). Meanwhile, adult mice showed a greater response from the deprived eye (DE). LTMD in juvenile mice triggered alterations in the power of delta, theta, and gamma oscillations, followed by enhancement of delta–gamma PAC in the NDE. However, LTMD in adult mice caused alterations in the power of delta oscillations and enhancement of delta–gamma PAC in the DE. These markers are intrinsic to cortical neuronal processing during LTMD and apply to a wide range of nested oscillatory markers.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) belongs to legume family and finds its origin from South Eastern Europe and Western Asia, but now grown mainly in India and many parts of the world including Northern Africa and the United States. Over 80% of the total world’s production of fenugreek is contributed by India, it occupied an area of nearly 219,000 ha with total production of 247,000 tonnes in 2015–16. Fenugreek seeds are extensively used as spice in Indian cuisine for flavoring, while its leaves, germinated seed, and tender shoots are used as vegetables. The seeds are aromatic, pleasantly bitter, and slightly sweet with antidiabetic and hypocholesterolemic, galactogouge, and carminative properties. They are also reported to have remedial and nutritive properties and trigger digestion process. Fenugreek seeds contain a central hard and yellow embryo surrounded by a corneous and comparatively large, white, and semi-transparent layer of endosperm which is further surrounded by a tenacious and dark brown husk. Fenugreek seeds contain high proteins (27.57%), soluble (30.6%) and insoluble (20.6%) dietary fiber, crude fat (6.71%), and minerals such as calcium, iron, and β-carotene. The seeds are also rich in polysaccharides and galactomannan. In India, boiling, pressure cooking, roasting, or germination of fenugreek seeds are done to make the seeds soft, palatable and to remove its bitterness.

Cotton boll activated carbon (CBAC) was employed for Swiss blue (SB) decolorization from simulated wastewater. Adsorption data conformed better with Langmuir adsorption isotherm with highest adsorption capability of 52.631 mg g−1. Swiss blue adsorption onto CBAC was thermodynamically spontaneous and can be ascribed to follow the pseudo second order (PSO) kinetic model. An experimental matrix based on Box–Behnken design (BBD) of response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design the batch experiments for investigating the adsorption of SB onto CBAC considering four operating factors, viz. initial pH (2–12), contact time (15–150 min), SB concentration (125–375 mg L–1) and CBAC dose (0.2–1 g/100 mL). RSM-BBD worked successfully to model the process, optimize the factors, and predict SB removal.

The present investigation focused on groundwater hydro-geochemistry of Alsisar block of Jhunjhunu district, India, aims on evaluating the quality of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes and assessing the human health risk from ingestion of groundwater. The groundwater of Alsisar block is neutral to alkaline, brackish and very hard in nature. Total dissolved solids, total hardness, Na+, Mg2+, HCO3−, F− and NO3− in majority of the groundwater samples were exceeding the World Health Organization and Bureau of Indian Standards recommended limits. The drinking water quality index ranged from 111.53 to 492.84. None of the sample belonged to excellent and good categories of drinking water quality. Fluoride varied from 0.018 to 4.176 mg L−1, and nitrate varied from 0.34 to 520.66 mg L−1 in groundwater. The non-carcinogenic risk assessment for children, men and women owing to ingestion of fluoride and nitrate-enriched groundwater indicates human health risks in the entire study area. Irrigation with groundwater of Alsisar block is liable to cause salinity and magnesium hazard to agricultural crops grown in the area. Source apportionment using principal component analysis suggests the geogenic origin of fluoride and anthropogenic origin of nitrate. Na+–Mg2+–Cl− followed by Na+–Mg2+–HCO3− are the predominant hydrochemical facies in the groundwater of Alsisar block. Silicate rock weathering, ion exchange and evaporation are the predominating processes governing ionic concentrations in the groundwater. Biochemical and molecular tests demonstrated the presence of Brevibacillus borstelensis strain DSM 6347 16s rRNA and Bacillus paramycoides strain MCCC 1A04098 16s rRNA in the groundwater of the area.

In arid and semiarid regions, groundwater is required for the drinking, agriculture, and industrial activities due to scarcity of surface water. Groundwater contaminated with high concentrations of fluoride and nitrate can severely affect human health in these regions. Twenty-eight groundwater samples from rural habitations of Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, India, were collected in March 2018 and subjected to analysis for water quality parameters. Fluoride and nitrate concentrations in groundwater varied from 0 to 5.74 mg/L and 10.22–519.64 mg/L, respectively. Nitrate content of about 86% samples and fluoride content of about 54% exceeded the permissible limit of Bureau of Indian Standards (IS:10,500) as well as World Health Organization standards. All groundwater samples belonged to poor to unfit drinking water quality index. Principle component analysis elucidates the anthropogenic contribution to high nitrate concentrations observed in this area. Noncarcinogenic human health risk evaluated from high nitrate and fluoride in drinking water for children, men, and women points to the fact that noncarcinogenic risk is exceeding the allowable limit to human health. The predominating hydrochemical facies in the area is Na+–HCO3−–Cl− followed by Na+–Mg2+–HCO3−–Cl−. The Gibbs plot and bivariate ionic cross-plots suggest the noncarbonate weathering (rock dominance), evaporation dominance, and ion exchange process to be the predominating geochemical mechanisms governing the evolution of groundwater hydrogeochemistry. Giggenbach diagram shows the immature character, i.e., incomplete equilibration of the groundwater.

The study aims to explore the beneficial use of fly ash and its effectiveness as low cost adsorbent for wastewater treatment of Pulp and paper industry. A comparative study was also carried out for the better colour reduction of industrial effluent using fly ash and commercial activated carbon. Batch mode adsorption experiments were carried out to optimize the different experimental conditions like adsorbent dose, contact time, rotation per minute (RPM) and pH. The treatment showed that the removal efficiency of colour increased to 86 % with the increase in adsorbent dose (0.5 – 10 g), time (30–240 min), RPM (50 - 150) and pH (4–12) of pulp and paper industry wastewater. The removal efficiency of activated carbon was found to be 100 % using 1 g adsorbent dose of commercial grade activated carbon. The Scan Electron Microscope (SEM) results of the fly ash showed that the particles looked like somewhat spherical large particles. It was concluded that though the activated carbon was very efficient adsorbent in comparison to fly ash, the better solution for disposal of solid waste such as fly ash can be good a substitute as the adsorbent for the colour reduction of the paper mill wastewater.

In the present review, the suitability of adsorption process using low cost adsorbent for the treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent has been discussed. It is clear that adsorption processes are appropriate for the removal of recalcitrant compounds such as surfactants and pesticides, among others biodegradable or non-biodegradable compound present in pulp and paper mills effluents. The importance of the adsorption is to improvement of the removal of various physico- chemical (biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), colour, suspended solids, lignin), heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Fe, Zn, Ni and Mn etc) organochlorine compounds, all recalcitrant pollutant, reduce toxicity, enhance colour removal by using different cost effective adsorbents. The effective use of the different adsorbents developed from different adsorbent media such as activated carbon, agriculture by product and industrial wastes and sludge as adsorbents for the removal of different pollutants from the various processes and operations of pulp and paper mill as potential alternatives to different treatment process and received widespread attention. Adsorption necessity is a novel treatment option to improve the efficiency of removal within the discharge limits of wastewaters into the receiving bodies without causing any damage of the environment. However, still there is a need to find out the practical usefulness of such low cost adsorbent at industrial scale with the special reference to metals.

Disaster response self-efficacy is strongly associated with nurses' disaster preparedness and competencies. To date, there is very limited information on how nurses' knowledge and skills on disasters contribute to their confidence and self-efficacy in responding to disaster events. This study aimed to examine the relative influence of nurses' demographic characteristics, disaster knowledge, and disaster skills on their self-efficacy during these types of events. A cross-sectional research design involving 444 nurses working in selected hospitals in Oman was used in this study. Overall, nurses in Oman had moderate knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to disasters. Nurses' country of origin and unit of assignment predicted disaster response self-efficacy, with Filipino and Indian nurses and those assigned in the emergency units, critical care units, orthopedic units, and burn units reporting an increased level of disaster self-efficacy. Further, nurses who had higher disaster knowledge and skills reported an increased level of confidence or self-efficacy in responding to disasters. Nurses’ confidence in responding to emergency and disaster events may be improved through provision of innovative and theory-based interventions, relevant disaster-related trainings, and opportunities for nurses to gain clinical experiences in the emergency and other critical care units of the hospital.

Cloud providers offer several storage services for their users in efficient manner. Cloud users are allowed to store their data in cloud. The data leakage, lack of proper security control policy, and weakness in the data security are the main worries of the companies. We intended to propose a secure cloud storage system RSA-ABC algorithm for encryption and decryption process. Initially the user will login with the aid of private key and public key. Then send a request to the data base administrator for upload a file in a cloud. In this phase we will give one time password and keys. Then the DBA will verify that data and accept that file and encrypt that file and stored in to the cloud server. If the user want that file means they send a request to DBA continue the same process after they will decrypt the file and send to the user.

Nanoemulsions are the emulsions having droplet size below 100 nm developed by adopting pressure- or energy-based methods like homogenizers with a high-pressure valve or using microfluidizers. Within the droplets, the combination of functional food components is possible with the continuous or interfacial region. It provides the ability to encapsulate and release at a single delivering system. Such systems can carry numerous functional components, and the release of these components is controlled with a particular environmental trigger. In milk and milk-based products, various organoleptic characteristics like mouthfeel, taste, flavor, consistency, and rheological characteristics are considered as the quality determinants. The achievement of desired quality parameters in a product can be done by controlling the distribution and droplet size assisted by emulsification process. The stabilizing ability of emulsion in milk is possible without using any extraneous stabilizing agents due to inherent emulsifying capacity of milk proteins. The demand for nanoemulsions over conventional emulsions is increasing day by day, and research is emphasized on their particular applications and properties like functional beverages and foods, improved bioavailability of nutrients, and enhanced physical stability. The dairy-based products can be used as ingredients which are having different functions that supply physical stability as well as health and nutritional benefits. This chapter is focused on the nanoemulsion formation and their applications in dairy-based industries.

The fluoride concentration in underground water was determined in four villages of Jind district of Haryana state (India) where it is the only source of drinking water. Various other water quality parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts, total hardness, total alkalinity as well as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride and sulfate concentrations were also measured. A systematic calculation of correlation coefficients among different physico-chemical parameters was performed. The analytical results indicated considerable variations among the analyzed samples with respect to their chemical composition. Majority of the samples do not comply with Indian as well as WHO standards for most of the water quality parameters measured. The fluoride concentration in the underground water of these villages varied from 0.3 to 6.9 mg/l, causing dental fluorosis among people especially children of these villages. Overall water quality was found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes without any prior treatment except at eight locations out of 60.

A study has been carried out to examine the feasibility of the use of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC-A) prepared from the absorbent cotton as a direct compression carrier. Tablets made with MCC-A were of equally good quality. The release of test drug diazepam from the tablets was faster than from the tablets made with two MCC commercial grades (MCC-B and MCC-C). The compressional forces - disintegration profile was also comparable.