Work-life balance, family-friendly policies and quality of work life issues: studying employers' perspectives of working women in Oman

Family-Friendly Policies (FFPs) aim to help employees manage their family responsibilities, create flexible-work conditions and enable women to perform better on both domestic and work fronts. In comparison to other countries in the Gulf, women in Oman are joining the workforce in large numbers. This trend continues as educational and vocational institutions within the country consistently enroll a higher proportion of women. Currently, women comprise 55% of the total workforce in Oman and contribute significantly in education, health, media, banking and other business sectors. Challenges such as work-life balance (WLB) constrain their Quality of Work Life (QWL). Omani Labor Law (OLL) grants some privileges to working women; however, there is an overgrowing need to address specific issues that women encounter while managing their work and family life. By resorting to in-depth interviews of selected top-level managers from government, public, and private sector organizations, this study aims to secure managers' perception of WLB and QWL-related issues and also their opinion about offering certain FFP-related benefits to the working women in Oman. The research informs that despite some provisions in the OLL, Oman lacks a clear-cut policy on FFPs. Most of the concessions to women exist with a tacit understanding of 'give and take' or sympathy. Notwithstanding, all the employers confirm their adherence to the OLL and are enthusiastic over granting additional benefits, albeit with individual differences in perception. The research recommends some collective efforts on three major fronts. Governmental interventions are needed to direct organizations to classify some jobs as 'Family Friendly'. Organizations need to observe healthy workplace practices. Families and societies need to exhibit a supportive outlook towards working women in Oman

An Investigation of Constraints on Dark Matter Models from Mono-jet Searches at LHC

In this work we investigate the Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) dark matter searches in colliders. We focus on the mono-jet searches and derive the upper bounds on the WIMP production cross-sections at the LHC. Using the derived bounds we further constrain the models describing WIMP dark matter. We start by using Effective Field Theory (EFT) for our analysis. In our context, EFT for WIMP dark matter is an extension of the Standard Model by a dimension--6 operator which has a coefficient $1/Lambda^2$, where $Lambda$ is the regulating scale upto which the effective theory analysis is safely applicable. We do the analysis for both the 8 $tev$ and 13 $tev$ searches at the ATLAS and CMS experiments of LHC. We also combine the 8 $tev$ data of ATLAS and CMS collaborations and observe that this approach improves the individual bounds only very little. The EFT is able to accurately describe the contributions from the ${cal O}(Lambda^{-2})$ to the tree-level matrix element. However, we show that the tree level matrix element receives significant contributions of order $Lambda^{-4}$ for the values of $Lambda$ near the current bound. When these higher order contributions of $Lambda$ are considered they strengthen the current upper bounds on the WIMP cross-section significantly. In case of a simplified model, such contributions further correspond to the processes where two mediators are exchanged. EFT interpretations face difficulties when the higher order operators, like dimension--8 operators, are not taken into consideration. The $Lambda^{-4}$ contributions to the matrix element from a double mediator exchange are similar to the ${cal O}(Lambda^{-4})$ contributions coming from the dimension--8 operators. Based on our observations, we challenge the internal consistency of the EFT description. We further translate the bounds obtained from the effective theory to the simplified models. We study the mono-jet signals for the $s-$channel mediator in the simplified model where the mediator's width can be accurately calculated. We then show that if the mediator's width is small then the simplified models can be accurately derived from the effective field theory only when the mediator has a mass greater than 5 $tev$. This requires that the upper bounds on the cross-sections to be 16 times stronger than the current bounds at LHC. This is very unlikely for the considered parameters and hence, such a model cannot be described accurately by EFT. This application is even more redundant if the bounds at 13 $tev$ are to be considered. In the end we show that the inconsistency of the EFT description further makes it difficult to apply its model independent results to a well-defined model, in any sensible way

Application of Automatic Queuing Models for Visiting Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage in the Indian is growing consistently and is an important attraction and destination for both foreign and domestic. Queuing for an explicit service according to the needs of venerator in the process of moving to a specific sequence .This can be done by a queue-based scheduler. This paper focuses on a system revered place and the average waiting time of venerator service is the revered place that different queuing algorithms. The purpose of this paper is to develop queuing system for organizing sacred place to build automated queue status analyzes and to service the venerator. New queuing design model test results and the average waiting time varies according to factors that can switch between scheduling algorithms. The main novelty of this work is the average waiting time modeling that gives the best average waiting time scheduling algorithm with the process of switching in addition, concerns have taken in processing

Cohomology and Extensions of Relative Rota-Baxter groups

Relative Rota-Baxter groups are generalisations of Rota-Baxter groups and recently shown to be intimately related to skew left braces, which are well-known to yield bijective non-degenerate solutions to the Yang-Baxter equation. In this paper, we develop an extension theory of relative Rota-Baxter groups and introduce their low dimensional cohomology groups, which are distinct from the ones known in the context of Rota-Baxter operators on Lie groups. We establish an explicit bijection between the set of equivalence classes of extensions of relative Rota-Baxter groups and their second cohomology. Further, we delve into the connections between this cohomology and the cohomology of associated skew left braces. We prove that for bijective relative Rota-Baxter groups, the two cohomologies are isomorphic in dimension two.Comment: 30 page

Assessment of nutritional status of elderly population living at high altitude regions of India utilizing Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) methodology

Background: Malnutrition is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality amongst elderly population. There is lack of scientific evidence on the staus of malnutrition amongst elderly population residing at high altitude regions of Uttarakhand, India. Background: Malnutrition is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality amongst elderly population. Lack of scientific evidence exists on the status of malnutrition amongst elderly population residing at high altitude regions of Uttarakhand, India. Materials and methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in high altitude regions of District Nainital. A total of 980 elderly subjects were selected from 30 clusters identified using population proportionate to size sampling method. Nutritional status of the elderly population was assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. Data was entered in MS Excel 2007 and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The results of MNA revealed that 14.3% of the elderly subjects were malnourished. High prevalence of malnutrition was found among subjects who were illiterate (74.5%), financially dependent (75.2%), belonged to low monthly income (43.3%) had poor appetite (71.6%) and chewing problems (63.1%); (p<0.0001). Conclusions: High prevalence of malnutrition was present amongst the elderly population in India. There is a need for timely assessment of malnutrition for maintenance of nutritional status and prevention of chronic diseases. Materials and methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in high altitude regions of District Nainital. A total of 980 elderly subjects were selected from 30 clusters identified using population proportionate to size sampling method. Nutritional status of the elderly population was assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool. Data was entered in MS Excel 2007 and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.   Results: The results of MNA revealed that 14.3% of the elderly subjects were malnourished. High prevalence of malnutrition was found among subjects who were illiterate (74.5%), financially dependent (75.2%), belonged to low monthly income (43.3%) had poor appetite (71.6%) and chewing problems (63.1%); (p<0.0001).   Conclusions: High prevalence of malnutrition was present amongst the elderly population in India. There is a need for timely assessment of malnutrition for maintenance of nutritional status and prevention of chronic diseases

"Jnking” atherosclerosis

Abstract.: Numerous studies in animal models established a key role of the C-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) family (JNK1, JNK2 and JNK3) in numerous pathological conditions, including cancer, cardiac hypertrophy and failure, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, arthritis and asthma. A possible function of JNK in atherosclerosis remained uncertain since conclusions have mainly been based on in vitro studies investigating endothelial cell activation, T-effector cell differentiation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, all of which represent crucial cellular processes involved in atherosclerosis. However, recent experiments demonstrated that macrophage-restricted deletion of JNK2 was sufficient to efficiently reduce atherosclerosis in mice. Furthermore, it has been shown that JNK2 specifically promotes scavenger receptor A-mediated foam cell formation, an essential step during early atherogenesis, which occurs when vascular macrophages internalize modified lipoproteins. Thus, specific inhibition of JNK2 activity may emerge as a novel and promising therapeutic approach to attenuate atheroma formation in the future. In this review, we discuss JNK-dependent cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerosi

Statistical investigation through stratified random sampling for apple production in Himachal Pradesh

The present study focuses on standardization of sampling technique and comparison of different types of sample allocation methods in combination with various stratification tools (optimum strata boundaries, number of strata and optimum sample size etc.) for obtaining efficient estimators of area and production of apple in Himachal Pradesh. Forth is purpose, various aspects involved in optimum stratification with reference todata collected from the selected or chardists in district Shimla, during the year 2011-12 have been analyzed. The variable "Area under Apple" was chosen as the stratification variable as it had high correlation(r=0.96) with the estimation variable "Production of Apple". Four methods of construction of strata viz., equalization of strata total, equalization of cumulative of ?f(y) , equalization of cumulative of ½{r(y)+f(y)} and equalization of cumulative of were used and their relative efficiencies for estimating total production of apple in the study district of the state have been analyzed. The critical examination of the result revealed that with the increase in number of strata from 2 to 4 and sample size from 10 to 40, equalization of cumulative of method along with Neyman allocation resulted in least variance (0.89) and maximum percentage gain in efficiency (20418.16). Thus, equalization of cumulative of method with L>2 can profitably be applied for the estimation of apple production in the study district of the state Himachal Pradesh, India

Woman Entrepreneurship in the Al-Batinah Region of Oman: An identification of the Barriers

Recognizing the presence of some self-motivated women entrepreneurs in Oman, this study identifies the barriers that they confront and highlights the challenges that are needed to boost entrepreneurship. This study aims to find the factors inhibiting women entrepreneurship in the Al-Batinah region of Oman, focusing on women entrepreneurs especially from the small and medium scale enterprises. This study illustrates and focuses on women entrepreneurship in Oman how it is developing; it observes and reports the hindrances; and it suggests some measures for improvement in the role of women entrepreneurs. Overall, it adds to the literature on entrepreneurship, especially in the context of socio-cultural aspects and the Islamic Arab world, where the literature is still scant

Synthesis, characterization and prediction of anticancer potentiality of some novel green nanoparticles by molecular docking and ADMET techniques

ABSTRACT. Anticancer potentiality of some newly synthesized Nano-Biginelli compounds with the help of enzyme extracted naturally from plants is reported. The biological synthesis of nanoparticles via nano biotechnology processes have a significant potential to enhance the production without the use of harsh, toxic, and expensive chemicals commonly used in conventional physical and chemical processes. The compounds have been characterized on the basis of UV, FTIR, XRD and SEM studies in order to depict the formation of nanoparticles. Using the combination of docking and ADMET techniques, we have tried to predict the anti-cancer potentiality as well as its area of target, i.e. cancer cell to trigger the anti-cancer reaction. Results indicate that the compound 1 (ethyl-6-methyl-2-oxo-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-5-carboxylate) has possible virtual leads to design novel human Aurora B kinase inhibitor.               KEY WORDS: Nano biotechnology, Green chemistry, Enzymes, Drug research Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019, 33(3), 493-504.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i3.1