Search

Abstract Background Total body irradiation (TBI) for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) has certain distinct advantages, such as uniform dose distribution and lack of drug resistance, but it is not widely available in resource-constrained settings. To overcome the limitations of in-house radiotherapy services in hematology centers, we evaluated the feasibility of conducting HSCT programs in coordination with two physically distant centers using a reduced-intensity TBI protocol. Methods Thirty-two patients with a median age of 20.5 years were included in the study. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with aplastic anemia, 10 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 3 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and 4 patients with other hematological conditions. Conditioning regimens used were fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide in 29 cases, fludarabine-cytarabine ATG in 2 cases, and busulfan plus fludarabine in 1 case. The TBI dose was 3 Gy in 28 cases and 2 Gy in 4 cases. Patients were followed monthly after TBI, and the major toxicities were recorded. Results The median follow-up was 22 months. The most common acute complication was acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which occurred in 15.6% of patients. The major late complications were chronic GVHD (9.3%), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (34.3%), and CMV-induced secondary graft failure (6.2%). Seventy-five percent of patients were alive, 21.9% were dead, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Conclusions HSCT based on TBI is feasible even if the center lacks a radiotherapy facility by coordinating with a remote radiotherapy facility. without compromising the patient's outcome.

Hirayama illness is a rare neurological condition that first manifests as gradual muscular weakening and wasting of the distal upper limb in young males, followed within a few years by a spontaneous arrest. The spinal cord and cervical dural sac are thought to have been displaced forward by neck flexion, which is thought to be the cause of the condition. In contrast to the Middle East countries, it is more widespread in Asia. We have described here two cases from India, who presented with increasing weakness and wasting of the distal part of their upper limbs after a traumatic event. Although their symptoms were initially thought to be due to trauma, later, they were diagnosed as cases of Hirayama disease (HD), following detailed history and physical examination, radiological investigations and electrophysiological examination. A review of the literature was done which also described electrophysiological and radiographic findings, which supported our diagnosis. For young male patients who present with weakness and wasting of upper limb distal group muscles, HD should be investigated because it is infrequently seen in clinical settings.

Abstracts: Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G-protein-coupled receptors activated by glutamate. A series of 90 novel compounds have been assessed as mGluR5 receptor antagonists. These compounds, selected post-ADMET filtering according to Lipinski's rule of five, represent structurally innovative ligands inspired by promising existing ones. Utilizing the FlexX program, the ligands were docked alongside the reference compound SIB1757 to mGluR5. Docking simulations unveiled compound 14, featuring an ortho-substituted moiety, as the most promising with a binding affinity of -47 kcal/mol, followed by compound 8 at -41 kcal/mol. A total of 31 docked molecules exhibited superior binding affinity compared to reference compounds. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations over 100 ns confirmed the stability of protein-ligand complexes, establishing the efficacy of the selected compounds as negative allosteric modulators of mGluR5.G

A study was carried out during 2022–23 at ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Umiam, Meghalaya to find out the performance of Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) on different rootstocks. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with 10 treatments, viz. T1, Karna khata; T2, Trifoliate orange; T3, Rough lemon; T4, Rangpur lime; T5, Khasi papeda; T6, Taiwanica; T7, Volkameriana; T8, Tanzelodancy; T9, Pummelo; and T10, Cleopatra mandarin with 5 replications. With regards to grafting success, Rough lemon had the highest percentage, which was at par with Rangpur lime and Volkameriana, whereas Trifoliate orange had the lowest success rate. Maximum plant height, rootstock and scion diameter were noted in the rootstock of Rough lemon whereas highest number of leaves (17.33) and branches/plant (3.23) were recorded in Trifoliate orange. Through correlation analysis it was found that plant height was highly significantly correlated with rootstock diameter (r2 = 0.747, P

Irrigation scheduling plays a vital role in the efficient utilization of water to obtain optimum yield, particularly for high value crops grown under protected conditions. The present experiment was conducted during 2020–22 at Horticulture Experimental Farm, ICAR-Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya to standardize the irrigation scheduling (IS) (5, 7, and 10-days interval) in high-value vegetable crops [tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) and king-chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)] grown under naturally ventilated low-cost polyhouse in the mid-hill conditions of Meghalaya. The results revealed a significant effect of IS on plant growth (reduction in plant height, leaf area) and yield attributes (fruit setting, fruit size, fruit weight and total yield) of the crops with an increase in level of moisture stress. The highest yield of tomato (82.7 t/ha), capsicum (40.8 t/ha) and king-chilli (11.8 t/ha) was recorded in the 5-day interval of IS and on increasing the IS interval to 7-days, the yield decreased by 28.7, 36.1 and 35.7%, respectively. Among the crops, capsicum was found to be more sensitive to water stress, followed by king-chilli and tomato. Among the crops, water productivity with respect to irrigation water was maximum in tomato (60.0 g/kg) followed by capsicum (17.2 g/kg) and king-chilli (10.0 g/kg). Among the varieties grown, Megha Tomato-3 of tomato, hybrid Mahabharat of capsicum and landrace Red Long of king-chilli were found superior for growth and yield attributes at different levels of moisture regime. The farmers of the region can get higher yield using identified varieties with irrigation at 5-days intervals.

In spite of the availability of inhibitors targeting the Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme, there persists a need for current medications, not solely within the realm of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) but also in diverse therapeutic domains such as cancer prevention and Alzheimer's disease treatment. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, COX-2 selective inhibitors emerged as highly sought-after NSAIDs due to their efficacy in pain alleviation and prevention of inflammatory conditions. With an in-silico approach {amalgamation of Quantum Mechanics (QM) and Molecular Mechanics (MM)}. we evaluated a series of 70 new and potential anti-inflammatory compounds based upon the derivatives of arylhydrazone, pyrrolo [3,4-d] pyridazinone, 1,5-diphenyl pyrazole, and 2-imidazoline that interact with the COX-2 receptor (PDB ID: 1CX2) via molecular docking. 14 top-ranked compounds comparable to a standard drug (SC-58) were selected for drug-likeness properties such as physicochemical and ADMET. Subsequently, a selection of 12 highly promising molecules was made, and the target prediction tool effectively identified protein targets for the COX-2 compound. Following this, FMO (Frontier Molecular Orbital) and MEP (Molecular Electrostatic Potential) studies were conducted, revealing increased stability in the drug complexes due to a larger HOMO-LUMO gap. Additionally, a noteworthy electrophilicity index indicated favorable electrophilic behavior. The study also highlighted new advantageous binding sites for these 12 analogues, suggesting their importance as potential candidates for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

This study examines the impact of access to India’s farm science centers (Krishi Vigyan Kendras, or KVKs) on agricultural households’ welfare using household data from the nationally representative Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households conducted by India’s National Sample Survey Office in 2013. Employing different matching techniques and endogenous switching regression models, it was observed that the KVKs have a positive and statistically significant impact on agricultural households’ economic welfare, although, that impact is heterogeneous. Further, the investments made in expansion of India’s network of KVKs have been quite remunerative, as the benefit- to-cost ratio of expenditure on KVKs ranges from 8–12. Moreover, present findings suggest that expanding rural formal credit markets and promoting literacy can maximize the potential impact of KVKs on agricultural households’ economic welfare.

Ascertainment of photonic stopband absolute topological character requires information regarding the Bloch eigenfunction spatial distribution. Consequently, the experimental investigations predominantly restrict themselves to the bulk‐boundary correspondence principle and the ensuing emergence of topological surface state. Although capable of establishing the equivalence/inequivalence of bandgaps, the determination of their absolute topological identity remains out of its purview. The alternate method of reflection phase‐based identification also provides only contentious improvements owing to the measurement complexities pertaining to the interferometric setups. To circumvent these limitations, the Kramers–Kronig amplitude‐phase causality considerations are resorted to and an experimentally conducive method is proposed for bandgap topological character determination directly from the parametric reflectance measurements. Particularly, it is demonstrated that in case of 1D photonic crystals, polarization‐resolved dispersion measurements suffice in qualitatively determining bandgaps’ absolute topological identities. By invoking the translational invariance of the investigated samples, a parameter “differential effective mass” is also defined, that encapsulates bandgaps’ topological identities and engenders an experimentally discernible bandgap classifier.

Northeastern states of India are known for unique landraces of Capsicum spp. with geographical indications. However, little information is available about these valuable landraces of chillies. Surveys and collections were carried out in niche areas to find out their ecology and diversity through morphological traits and molecular analysis using microsatellite markers. Our result characterized the ecology of niche areas as cool (11.0°C–20.7°C) and humid (>60% relative humidity) climates for dalle-chilli (Capsicum annuum L.); mild-warm (12.2°C–28.6°C) and humid for king-chilli (C. chinense Jacq.); and cool to warm (11.3°C–33.1°C) and humid for bird’s eye chilli (C. frutescens L.) during the crop period. The canonical correspondence analysis has shown the significant impact of temperature on the agro-morphological traits and distribution of the landraces in their niche areas. A wide variability was observed for different quantitative traits and yield attributing characters (fruit length, diameter, weight, and yield), showing high heritability (97.0%–99.0%), and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (119.8%–434.0%). A total of 47 SSR markers used for the molecular analysis generated 230 alleles, ranging from 2 (HPMSE-7) to 10 (HPMSE-5), with an average of 4.89 alleles per locus. The average polymorphism information content was also high (0.61) and ranged from 0.20 (HPMSE-7) to 0.85 (CAMS-91). The observed average heterozygosity was lower than the expected value. Analysis of molecular variance has shown significant variation within (69%) and between (31%) of the populations of Capsicum spp. Based on Nei’s genetic distance, bird’s eye chilli and king-chilli were found to be closer to each other, whereas dalle-chilli, a tretraploid species, was closer to hot pepper (C. annuum). However, the flower size of dalle-chilli was large and found closer to king-chilli in color and differs from C. chinense due to the presence of calyx teeth. For quality traits, landraces king-chilli, dalle-chilli, and bird’s eye chilli have shown 2.8, 2.0, and 1.4 times higher average capsaicin and 0.46, 0.25, and 0.22 times higher average oleoresin content over the hot pepper, respectively. The knowledge of ecology and diversity can be used in identifying new areas for production, selection of elite lines, conservation, and crop improvement.

Road traffic accidents frequently result in head injuries, chest injuries or serious cervical spinal cord injuries. Lifesaving assistance such as endotracheal intubation is commonly used. Although vocal cord paralysis during orotracheal intubation is uncommon, it can have catastrophic implications. Very little evidence is available on rehabilitation interventions that combine music therapy, technology devices and audio-visual (AV) aids. In patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cervical spinal cord injury who have vocal cord paralysis, the use of music therapy technology devices and AV aids for rehabilitation needs to be thoroughly tested with goal-oriented, targeted strategies intended to achieve a particular function or skill set. Using technology devices and AV aids help with cognition and communication. Music therapy might be regarded as just as beneficial as speech therapy in enhancing cognitive function. We report a case of a 4-year-old female child with TBI with cervical cord contusion with bilateral vocal cord paralysis successfully rehabilitation along with the incorporation of music therapy, technology devices and AV aids in the rehabilitation programme.

Despite advancements in dressing materials and techniques, the management of pressure injuries (PIs) remains a challenging problem for clinicians across the world. The failure to heal in PIs is multifactorial such as nutritional status of patients, bacterial load, site of ulcer, risk of contamination and presence of comorbidities. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial (GNB) infections are frequent occurrence in hospitalised patients with PI. The limited chemotherapeutic options available for treating MDR strains of GNB have forced the reintroduction of the cationic cyclic peptide, polymyxin E (colistin). We report a case series of seven patients of traumatic spinal cord injury with PIs and poor healing due to MDR GNB sensitive only to colistin. In view of the worsening condition of the PIs and financial constraints, it was decided to start colistin therapy locally by colistimethate sodium. All patients responded well to the treatment and got clinically better. In our study, we used the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing score, Functional Independence Measure and World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version score to measure the outcome. We found this novel dressing a very promising and cost-effective treatment option in achieving infection-free healing, especially against MDR strains of bacteria.

Abstract Coronary bifurcation lesions represent a challenging anatomical subset, and the understanding of their 3D anatomy and plaque composition appears to play a key role in devising the optimal stenting strategy. This study proposes a new approach for the 3D reconstruction of coronary bifurcations and plaque materials by combining intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and angiography. Three patient-specific silicone bifurcation models were 3D reconstructed and compared to micro-computed tomography (µCT) as the gold standard to test the accuracy and reproducibility of the proposed methodology. The clinical feasibility of the method was investigated in three diseased patient-specific bifurcations of varying anatomical complexity. The IVUS-based 3D reconstructed bifurcation models showed high agreement with the µCT reference models, with r2 values ranging from 0.88 to 0.99. The methodology successfully 3D reconstructed all the patient bifurcations, including plaque materials, in less than 60 min. Our proposed method is a simple, time-efficient, and user-friendly tool for accurate 3D reconstruction of coronary artery bifurcations. It can provide valuable information about bifurcation anatomy and plaque burden in the clinical setting, assisting in bifurcation stent planning and education.

This case study reports the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of interstitial brachytherapy for internal mammary nodal recurrence in a 68-year-old woman with triple-negative breast cancer. The patient had previously undergone mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, an internal mammary node was discovered during a routine follow-up a year later, which was confirmed as metastatic carcinoma by fine needle aspiration, with no other metastatic lesions. The patient underwent interstitial brachytherapy under ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) guidance, with a prescribed dose of 20 Gray in one fraction. Follow-up CT scan imaging over a 2-year period of treatment showed a complete resolution of internal mammary node. Therefore, brachytherapy may be considered a potential treatment option for cases of isolated internal mammary node recurrence in breast cancer.

Background. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. The low and middle-income countries (LMICs) cover a major share of the global cancer burden; however, most of the LMICs including Nepal still lack national cancer control and prevention strategies. Since 1st January 2018, the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) started the population-based cancer registry (PBCR) in urban, suburban, and rural regions to support evidence-based cancer control intervention in each geographical region. Methods. Data regarding incidence and mortality was collected by the PBCR in Nepal. Indirect and direct methods were used to collect data from health facilities and communities, respectively. Registered cases of incidence and mortality from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 were used. Each case was verified for correctness and duplication followed by residence confirmation via phone call. Guidelines and principles of the International Association of Cancer Registry were followed for the overall registration process including data quality control. Ethical approval was taken from the Ethical Review Board of the NHRC. Result. Age-adjusted incidence (AAR) and mortality rates in Nepal were found 65.6 and 29 per 100,000 people, respectively. Every 1 in 14 men and 1 in 13 women were at risk of getting, and 1 in 28 men and 1 in 33 women were dying of cancer before age 75 in Nepal. The highest risk was found for lung cancer (1 in 80) followed by stomach and mouth among men, and in women, breast cancer (1 in 76) was the commonest among all followed by lung and cervix. Conclusion. Cancer has been growing as one of the major public health burdens in Nepal. Screening with cost-effective technology, awareness, and vaccination against HPV should be a government priority including revision of treatment protocols for cancers that have higher mortality to prevent further preventable life loss from malignancies.

IntroductionNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) shows geographic and ethnic variation with specific etiopathogenesis. This study characterized the distribution of NPC patients stratified by ethnicity, geography, and histology in a tertiary-level cancer center in Nepal.MethodsA descriptive retrospective study was designed to analyze NPC cases from different regions among patients visiting the hospital from 2016 to 2021. Demographic and clinical information was obtained from medical records. Ethical approval was granted by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC). Data analyses and visualization were carried out with R software.ResultsDuring the six-year period, a total of 65 individuals were diagnosed with NPC, comprising 42 males and 23 females. Patient median age was 43 years (range 11-85 years). A bimodal age distribution of cases was observed with peaks in patients aged 30-39 years and 50-59 years. Of the NPC patients studied, 29 were from Koshi Province, with 7 cases from Ilam district and 6 cases from Morang district. There were 18 patients in Bagmati Province, and Kathmandu district had the highest number of cases within this region, with 8 patients. The highest proportion of cases were observed among patients of Janajati ethnicity (60%), including Rai, Limbu, and Sherpa people. Histologically, undifferentiated non-keratinizing NPC was the most commonly observed subtype, accounting for 43.1% of cases, followed by 20% differentiated non-keratinizing NPC and 4.6% keratinizing NPC across the entire sample population. The majority of patients (75.3%) were diagnosed at an advanced stage (stage III or IV) with none diagnosed at stage I.ConclusionsIn our study, most cases of NPC occurred in patients from provinces in eastern Nepal (Koshi province), and of the Janajati ethnic community. The most common histological subtype was undifferentiated non-keratinizing carcinoma. Further epidemiological studies could address differences in prevalence and the challenge of late presentation of NPC patients in Nepal.

BackgroundNepal is one of the high prevalent countries for tobacco use in Southeast Asia regions. Tobacco related cancer share the major burden since a decade, however, population-based estimates is still lacking. This study provides results from population-based cancer registries on tobacco-related cancer (TRCs) burden in Nepal.MethodsThe data were collected by population-based cancer registry conducted in nine districts by Nepal Health Research Council. The districts were categorized in urban, semi-urban and rural regions on the basis of geographical locations and facilities available in the regions. Analysis was done to identify tobacco-associated cancer incidence, mortality and patterns along with cumulative risk of having cancer before the age of 75 years.ResultsTobacco-related cancer was 35.3% in men and 17.3% in women. We found that every one in 36 men and one in 65 women developed tobacco-related cancer before age 75 in Nepal. Cancer of lung, mouth, esophagus and larynx were among the five most common tobacco-related cancers in both men and women. The incidence of tobacco-associated cancers was higher in urban region with age adjusted rate 33.6 and 17.0 per 100,000 population for men and women respectively compared to semi-urban and rural regions. Tobacco-associated cancer mortality was significantly higher compared to incidence.ConclusionThe prevalence of tobacco-related cancer found high in Nepal despite of enforcement of tobacco control policy and strategies including WHO framework convention on tobacco control. Concerned authorities should focus towards monitoring of implemented tobacco control policy and strategies.

ABSTRACTIntegrated farming system (IFS), comprising various enterprises such as crop, horticulture, dairy, poultry and fishery optimally, uses farm resources to suit small and medium farms of India. In this study, 55 IFSs with different sizes and several enterprises were assessed in terms of their environment impact, eco-efficiency and technical efficiency (TE). The households, which own these IFS, were grouped into four major categories based on farm size viz., marginal (2.0 ha). Among the farm size category, the highest eco-efficiency was recorded for marginal farms, whereas the lowest eco-efficiency was observed for small farms. The highest eco-efficiency was recorded for farm having five enterprises (INR195 kg CO2eq. ha−1) followed by four enterprises (INR190 kg CO2eq.ha−1). Among the enterprises, the highest eco-efficiency was recorded in fruits, whereas the lowest eco-efficiency was observed in dairy. The TE scores estimated using stochastic frontier analysis decreased with increasing farm size and the highest TE score was recorded for marginal farms, whereas medium and large farms recorded the lowest TE scores. The findings indicated the necessity for imparting training and demonstrations and funding support as well as subsidy for larger adoption of IFS to reap higher returns.

Introduction Pituitary adenomas (PAs) although benign, are difficult to resect intracranial tumors and their residues are associated with morbidity and reduced quality of life. Thus, gross total resection (GTR) is the goal for all PAs. Role of various modalities for better intraoperative visualization and thus improve resection of adenoma have been tested and each have their pros and cons. The aim of this paper is to analyze adjunctive benefit of high-field 3 Tesla intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) in PAs resection by endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery (eTSS). Materials and Methods A total of 50 patients who underwent iMRI-guided eTSS were included. MRI findings in preoperative, intraoperative, and 3 months postoperative stage were compared. Adjunctive value of iMRI in improving resection rates of adenoma, postoperative endocrinological outcomes, need for adjuvant radiotherapy, and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak rates was assessed. Results High-field 3 Tesla iMRI helped us to detect residues in 24 (48%) patients and iMRI-guided second look surgery increased our GTR rates from initial 52 to 80% and also helped us to identify and achieve 100% GTR in intrasellar residues and parasellar residues that were medial to medial carotid tangential line. With better resection rates, need for adjuvant radiotherapy was also reduced and only 2% received adjuvant radiotherapy. Average increase in surgical time with the use of iMRI was 38.78 minutes without any side effects pertaining to prolonged surgery. Conclusion High-field iMRI is a useful adjunct in assessment and improvement in extent of resection of PA by endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. Also, it was found beneficial in preserving normal anatomical gland and, thus, reducing the need for postoperative adjuvant hormonal and radiation therapy.

Agro-industrial waste is an alarming issue that needs to be addressed. Waste valorization is an effective technique to deal with such effectively. Synthesis of biochar from fruit waste is one of the emerging approaches for adsorption, energy storage, air purification, catalysis, and biogas production trending these days. Magnetized Citrus limetta biochar (MCLB) was synthesized from Citrus limetta peels and was magnetized using iron oxide. Magnetization of biochar increases its functionalities as well as makes its separation easy. The removal of Methylene Blue (MB) dye from an aqueous solution is achieved through the use of MCLB. Methylene Blue is a prominent and widely used cationic-azo dye in the textile and printing industries. The accumulation of MB in wastewater is the major problem as MB is reported as a carcinogenic agent. The removal of MB dye with MCLB was analyzed by adsorption studies, wherein the effect of factors influencing adsorption such as initial concentration of MB dye, MCLB dosage, the effect of pH, contact time, and adsorption isotherms were studied. Characterization of MCLB was carried out using various techniques, such as FTIR, VSM, XRD, SEM, RAMAN, and Zeta potential. The adsorption isotherm mechanism was well explained with the non-linear Langmuir isotherm model resulting in a good adsorption capacity (qe = 41.57 mg/g) of MCLB when MB (co = 60 mg/L, pH ~ 6.8, T = 273K). The thermodynamics analysis revealed that MB's spontaneous and endothermic adsorption onto the MCLB surface followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The results obtained from this study suggest that the magnetized biochar derived from Citrus limetta peels has a wide range of potential applications in the treatment of dyeing wastewater.

In eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP), conventional rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system has led to a decline in total factor productivity, input-use efficiency, and profitability. A three-year (2020–2022) field experiment was conducted at the farmers’ fields in Merha village of Katoriya, Banka, Bihar on a sandy clay loam soil to evaluate the impact of crop establishment and nutrient management on production sustainability in rice-wheat cropping system. Experiments were conducted in a split-plot design and replicated thrice. The main-plot treatment had crop establishment methods, viz. (i) Broadcasting: paddy seed broadcasted manually; (ii) Dry seeding: seed drilled on moist soil; (iii) Drum-seeding: dry-seed planted using drum seeder on moist soil and; (iv) Wet-seeding: sprouted seeds broadcasted on puddle soil with variety Sabour Ardhjal in rainy (kharif) season and 4-wheat crop establishment method, viz. (i) Broadcasting in CT; (ii) Furrow irrigated raised-bed method; (iii) ZT-drill and; (iv) Seed-cum-ferti-drill machine for wheat variety HD 2967 in winter (rabi) season. The sub-plots were allotted four nutrient management treatments, viz. (i) Farmers’ practice (130:40:10 kg NPK/ha); (ii) 100% RDF (120: 60:40 kg NPK/ha); (iii) Soil- test-based nutrient management (100% chemical fertilizer-125:75:40 kg NPK/ha) and; (iv) Soil-test based nutrient management (75% chemical fertilizer-94:56:30 kg NPK/ha+25% FYM-6.2 t/ha) in wheat, and (i) Farmers practice (140:30:10 kg NPK/ha); (ii) 100% RDF (120:60:40 kg NPK/ha); (iii) Soil-test based nutrient management (100% chemical fertilizer-150:75:40 kg NPK/ha); (iv) Soil-test based nutrient management (75% chemical fertilizer-115:56:30 kg NPK/ha+25% FYM-7 t/ha) in wheat. Our results revealed that overall system productivity and profitability were higher by 44 and 155.5% in wet seeding paddy-ZT drill wheat system in comparison to broadcasting methods of rice and wheat. System productivity was significantly higher by 28.8% in soil-test based nutrient management production system as compared to the farmers' practices. Thus, to achieve better system productivity and profitability, crops may be grown with wet seeding paddy-ZT drill wheat with soil-test based nutrient management practices under eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of eastern India.

Background: Oral cancer (OC), which happens to be one of the leading causes of death in the Indian population, is caused primarily by tobacco use, although other factors are also responsible. Serum vitamin B12 is important in maintaining the immune system and also repairing the damaged deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of cells. The aim of our study was to evaluate the serum B12 levels in patients with OC and look for any association between the two. Methods: One hundred subjects were selected for the study and divided into two groups: group A having OC (including cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), verrucous carcinoma and oropharyngeal carcinoma; 50 patients) and group B had age- and gender-matched healthy controls (50 healthy volunteers). Patients diagnosed clinically and histopathologically confirmed as OC were selected for the study. All the patients were subjected to haematological investigation to assess serum vitamin B12. Results: Males subjects in the 4th and 5th decades of life were predominantly affected. Serum vitamin B12 was significantly increased in OC patients when compared with controls, which was statistically significant. The mean serum vitamin B12 was slightly higher in males than in females, which was statistically non-significant. Conclusion: Our study found increased vitamin B12 levels in OC patients, and it was statistically significant.

Purpose: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that exposure to ivermectin in early disease prevents mortality due to COVID-19. A secondary objective was to see if the drug has any impact on the length of hospital stay among the survivors. Methods: It was a hospital-based retrospective case-control study conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in India. All patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 who were admitted between 1st April and 15th May 2021 and received inpatient care were included. Important variables like demographic details, dates of admission and discharge or death, symptoms at the time of admission, comorbidities, severity of illness at the time of admission, whether ivermectin was administered or not during the course of the illness and other treatments received as part of the standard of care were retrieved from the medical records. Results: Of the 965 patients who received inpatient care, 307 died during their hospital stay while 658 were successfully discharged. The proportion of cases treated with ivermectin was 17.26% among the non-survivors (53/307) and 17.93% among the survivors (118/658). The effect was statistically insignificant (crude OR = 0.954; 95% CI: 0.668–1.364, P = 0.80). Among the survivors, the median length of stay was 11 days for patients who received ivermectin (IQR: 7–15) as well as for those who did not (IQR: 7–16). Conclusion: This study did not show any effect of ivermectin on in-patient mortality in patients with COVID-19 and there was no effect of the drug on the length of hospital stay among the survivors.

Background: Long-term methotrexate (MTX) use is associated with hepatic fibrosis in patients with rheumatic diseases. Liver biopsy (invasive conventional diagnostic procedure for hepatic fibrosis) is associated with sampling errors and procedural risks. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a novel, reliable, and noninvasive imaging technique with excellent diagnostic accuracy for staging hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Till date, studies are scarce on its use in staging MTX-induced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of MRE in detecting and quantifying liver fibrosis and to compare these with biochemical parameters in patients with rheumatic diseases on long-term MTX therapy. Methods: Patients with different rheumatic diseases, aged ≥18 years and on MTX treatment for >5 years were included in the study. Their medical records were reviewed, and data regarding demographics, diagnosis, disease duration, MTX dosage and duration were collected. On the day of MRE examination, series of biochemical parameters were conducted in patients. Predefined cutoff MRE values were used for staging liver fibrosis. Results: A total of 48 subjects diagnosed with different rheumatic diseases on long-term MTX were recruited in the study, and majority of them were female (n = 41). The mean age and body mass index of the patients were 53.56 ± 8.36 years and 28.08 ± 4.43, respectively. Around 37.5% (n = 18) of the patients had abnormal aspartate transaminase (AST)-to-platelet count ratio index (APRI) score. The mean MRE value of the study group was 2.83 ± 0.90 kPa. Around 45.83% (n = 22) of the patients had normal liver stiffness values (5.0 kPa) were observed in 12.5% (n = 6), 18.75% (n = 9), 10.42% (n = 5), 10.42% (n = 5), and 2.08% (n = 1) of the patients, respectively. MRE values did not correlate with disease duration and cumulative dose of MTX. However, a positive correlation was observed between MRE and liver biochemical parameters (AST: Alanine transaminase [ALT] ratio, ALT, platelet count, APRI, albumin, and mean liver size; P > 0.05). Conclusion: Considering the risk for complications with liver biopsy, MRE provides a reliable, highly accurate, noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis in patients with rheumatic diseases receiving long-term MTX therapy.

The role of biochar in improving the soil properties of problem soils is well known, but its long term impact on lowland rice soil is not well recognized. The soil quality indicators of biochar applied lowland rice soil are not widely reported. We developed soil quality index (SQI) of a biochar applied lowland rice soil based on 17 soil properties (indicators). Field experimentation consisted of six treatments such as 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 10 t ha−1 of rice husk derived biochar (RHB) along with control. An overall SQI was calculated encompassing the indicators using multivariate statistics (principal component analysis) and non-linear scoring functions after generation of minimum data set (MDS). Sequential application of RHB improved the SQI by 4.85% and 16.02% with application of 0.5 t ha−1 and 10 t ha−1 RHB, respectively, over the recommended dose of fertilizer (control). PCA-screening revealed that total organic carbon (Ctot), zinc (Zn), pH and bulk density (BD) were the main soil quality indicators for MDS with 27.79%, 26.61%, 23.67% and 14.47% contributions, respectively. Apart from Ctot, Zn is one of the major contributors to SQI and RHB application can potentially be an effective agronomic practice to improve Zn status in lowland rice soil. The overall SQI was significantly influenced by RHB application even at 0.5 t ha−1. The present study highlights that application of RHB improves the soil quality even in fertile, well managed, lowland rice soil.

The present study is the analysis of large scale data (31949 ha area and 79873 farmers) generated through the CFLD on pulses across the major pulses growing states under the ICAR-ATARIs of Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Pune (Maharashtra), Patna (Bihar), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Kolkata (West Bengal), Guwahati (Assam), Shillong (Meghalaya), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Patna (Bihar). The pulse crops included in this analysis were from all three growing seasons: kharif (pigeonpea-5556 ha, blackgram-6067 ha, and greengram-2689 ha), rabi (chickpea-8376 ha, lentil-3747 ha and field pea-1890 ha), and summer (greengram-3624 ha). The average performance data of CFLD were obtained for the above states for all the crops representing all three growing seasons during the cropping seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18. Thus, CFLD data were analyzed from across minimum of 21 states (greengram) and maximum of 24 states (blackgram). The major variables analyzed were average yield obtained from the check plots and demonstrations plots. These yields were computed for yield advantages and also compared with the reported district level, state level, national level yields and the potential yields of the respective crops in the given states (data procured from secondary sources for the year 2017–18). Accordingly, the yield advantages (absolute as well as per cent) at various level were analyzed and their degree of variation was computed for all the crops across the seasons. The paper brings out the results of above analyses in objective manner.

Low‐affinity immunoglobulin gamma Fc region receptor III‐A (FcγRIIIa) is a cell surface protein that belongs to a family of Fc receptors that facilitate the protective function of the immune system against pathogens. However, the role of FcγRIIIa in prostate cancer (PCa) progression remained unknown. In this study, we found that FcγRIIIa expression was present in PCa cells and its level was significantly higher in metastatic lesions than in primary tumors from the PCa cohort (P = 0.006). PCa patients with an elevated level of FcγRIIIa expression had poorer biochemical recurrence (BCR)‐free survival compared with those with lower FcγRIIIa expression, suggesting that FcγRIIIa is of clinical importance in PCa. We demonstrated that overexpression of FcγRIIIa increased the proliferative ability of PCa cell line C4‐2 cells, which was accompanied by the upregulation of androgen receptor (AR) and phosphatidylinositol‐4‐phosphate 5‐kinase alpha (PIP5Kα), which are the key players in controlling PCa progression. Conversely, targeted inhibition of FcγRIIIa via siRNA‐mediated knockdown or using its inhibitory antibody suppressed growth of xenograft PC‐3 and PC‐3M prostate tumors and reduced distant metastasis in xenograft mouse models. We further showed that elevated expression of AR enhanced FcγRIIIa expression, whereas inhibition of AR activity using enzalutamide led to a significant downregulation of FcγRIIIa protein expression. Similarly, inhibition of PIP5K1α decreased FcγRIIIa expression in PCa cells. FcγRIIIa physically interacted with PIP5K1α and AR via formation of protein–protein complexes, suggesting that FcγRIIIa is functionally associated with AR and PIP5K1α in PCa cells. Our study identified FcγRIIIa as an important factor in promoting PCa growth and invasion. Further, the elevated activation of FcγRIII and AR and PIP5K1α pathways may cooperatively promote PCa growth and invasion. Thus, FcγRIIIa may serve as a potential new target for improved treatment of metastatic and castration‐resistant PCa.

Scientific beekeeping can be a potential and possible emerging entrepreneurial option for the smallholders’ livelihood security. It stimulates economic transformation, helps in economic and nutritional security and enhances ecological resilience as emphasized by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in his 91st episode of Mann Ki Baat, aired on 31 July 2022. The present study has examined the critical factors responsible for the success of beekeeping under various farming systems with a focus on individual/group beekeepers. Using a semi-structured interview schedule, the study was conducted with a sample size of 40 individual beekeepers and 40 group beekeepers (comprising of 2,221 members) selected purposively from 26 States/UTs covering 56 districts of the country. Middle aged beekeepers (47.50%) within the range of 35–50 years were observed to be more enthusiastic for beekeeping enterprise showing optimal gender discrimination with the male dominance of 92% and 77% in case of individual and group, respectively. Capacity built by KVKs with before and after Mann Ki Baat episodes facilitations, was perceived to be inspiring 32.50% individual and 25% group beekeepers to venture agri-business enterprise in beekeeping. In case of marketing of honey and honey-based products, middlemen intervention was more in case of individual (22%) as compared to group (6%), whereas the group (24%) had a better dominance in online marketing system than the individual (8%). Beekeeping proved to be a profitable enterprise as the group farmers earned a net income of ₹1,28,328 and the individual beekeepers with a net income of ₹92,947 per 50 bee hives with B:C ratio of 1.45 and 1.55, respectively. This has also been in tune of Hon’ble Prime Minister’s emphasis on beekeeping as an alternative source of income for sustainable livelihood highlighted at the national conclave on natural farming on 16 December 2021. The study also revealed that ‘pesticide residual problems’, ‘low level of knowledge on honey quality parameters’ and ‘lack of proper storage facility’ were some of the major obstacles faced by the individual and group beekeeping enterprises. The paper also accentuates on the challenges faced by the beekeeping sector and suggests strategies for its expansion as a viable business enterprise.

IntroductionConventional rice production techniques are less economical and more vulnerable to sustainable utilization of farm resources as well as significantly contributed GHGs to atmosphere.MethodsIn order to assess the best rice production system for coastal areas, six rice production techniques were evaluated, including SRI-AWD (system of rice intensification with alternate wetting and drying (AWD)), DSR-CF (direct seeded rice with continuous flooding (CF)), DSR-AWD (direct seeded rice with AWD), TPR-CF (transplanted rice with CF), TPR-AWD (transplanted rice with AWD), and FPR-CF (farmer practice with CF). The performance of these technologies was assessed using indicators such as rice productivity, energy balance, GWP (global warming potential), soil health indicators, and profitability. Finally, using these indicators, a climate smartness index (CSI) was calculated.Results and discussionRice grown with SRI-AWD method had 54.8 % higher CSI over FPR-CF, and also give 24.5 to 28.3% higher CSI for DSR and TPR as well. There evaluations based on the climate smartness index can provide cleaner and more sustainable rice production and can be used as guiding principle for policy makers.

Abstract Explorations into the photonic analogs of topological materials have garnered significant research interest due to their application potential. Particularly in planar systems, the prospects of engendering extinguishable topological states can have wide-ranging implications. With an objective of employing these concepts for thermal emission engineering, here, we design and numerically investigate a quasi-monochromatic highly directional mid-infrared source elicited from inversion symmetry-protected topological interface states. Notably, by relying on the architecture of electro-optic effect-induced topological phase transitions, we introduce the possibility of ultrafast switching of thermal radiation. These reversible phase transitions, being free from carrier transport are inherently fast and evoke thermal emission modulation with a modulation depth upto 0.99. Specifically, our platform exhibits a near-perfect extinguishable spectral emission peak at $$4~\mu$$ 4 μ m with a quality factor of over 18500, displaying negligible parasitic emissions. Furthermore, the optimized interface state manifests itself for only one of the polarization modes, resulting in polarized emission under resonance conditions. To establish a methodical approach to parameter optimization, we also model our platform as a leaky mode resonator using the framework of temporal coupled-mode theory. We believe, our findings can provide a way forward in establishing complete control over the optical characteristics of the infrared thermal emitters.

Abstract Background Since 2006, Nepal has experienced frequent Dengue fever (DF) outbreaks. Up to now, there have been no knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies carried out on DF in Nepal that have included qualitative in-depth and quantitative data. Thus, we aimed to explore and compare the KAP of people residing in the lowland ( 1500 m) areas of Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional mixed-method study was conducted in six districts of central Nepal in September–October 2018 including both quantitative (660 household surveys) and qualitative data (12 focus group discussions and 27 in-depth interviews). The KAP assessment was executed using a scoring system and defined as high or low based on 80% cut-off point. Logistic regression was used to investigate the associated factors, in quantitative analysis. The deductive followed by inductive approach was adopted to identify the themes in the qualitative data. Results The study revealed that both the awareness about DF and prevention measures were low. Among the surveyed participants, 40.6% had previously heard about DF with a significantly higher number in the lowland areas. Similarly, IDI and FGD participants from the lowland areas were aware about DF, and it’s associated symptoms, hence they were adopting better preventive practices against DF. The findings of both the qualitative and quantitative data indicate that people residing in the lowland areas had better knowledge on DF compared to people in highland areas. All IDI participants perceived a higher chance of increasing future dengue outbreaks due to increasing temperature and the mobility of infected people from endemic to non-endemic areas. The most quoted sources of information were the television (71.8%) and radio (51.5%). Overall, only 2.3% of the HHS participants obtained high knowledge scores, 74.1% obtained high attitude scores and 21.2% obtained high preventive practice scores on DF. Among the socio-demographic variables, the area of residence, educational level, age, monthly income, SES and occupation were independent predictors of knowledge level, while the education level of the participants was an independent predictor of the attitude level. Conclusions Our study found a very low level of knowledge and insufficient preventive practices. This highlights an urgent need for extensive dengue prevention programs in both highland and lowland communities of Nepal.

Abstract Background Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urological problem in elderly males. Recent studies have reported polymorphism in various metabolic genes in BPH. However, their association with the susceptibility of BPH is still inconsistent. Here, we systematically reviewed and performed a meta-analysis of CYP17, VDR, and ACE genes to determine their precise association with the risk of BPH. Methods A comprehensive literature search for published studies on candidate gene associations involving vitamin D receptor (VDR), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and CYP17 genes with the risk of BPH was done up to April 2020 in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Google Scholar databases. Fixed/random effects models were used to estimate the odd’s ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Begg’s funnel plot was used to assess the potential for publication bias. Results We found a total of 23 studies containing 3461 cases and 3833 controls for these gene polymorphisms. A significant association of ACE gene polymorphism was observed under the recessive (II vs. ID + DD) model for BPH susceptibility compared to control subjects (overall OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.03–2.73). Similar trends were observed for ACE gene polymorphism in Caucasian (OR = 6.18, 95% CI = 1.38–27.68) and Asian (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.99–2.03) populations under study. No significant association was observed in VDR and CYP17 gene polymorphisms in any dominant or recessive models. Conclusion Significant OR demonstrated the implication of ACE gene polymorphism in the proliferation of prostate tissue, which in turn is associated with BPH susceptibility. However, prospective studies at large scale and sample size are needed to confirm the current findings.

Introduction: There are only a few centers providing care to orofacial cleft patients across Nepal. However, no adequate data have been reported regarding the epidemiology, pattern, and association of cleft in children from eastern Nepal. The aim of the study was to study the epidemiological profile of cleft lip palate (CLP) patients reporting to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) in Dharan, Eastern Nepal. Materials and Methods: Data retrospectively retrieved from the cleft registry in the department of OMFS were tabulated and entered into Microsoft Excel 2000. Data of all the diagnosed nonsyndromic orofacial cleft patients attending BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences for treatment from August 2011 to August 2017 were used for the analysis. Incompletely filled records and syndromic cases were excluded. Results: Data of 220 orofacial clefts were analyzed which included 119 males and 101 females. Among these children with cleft, only 7 patients had direct family members and 18 patients had distant family members having the same condition. Among patients with CL (n = 151), left-sided CL (n = 85) was a more common presentation. Amongst patients with a cleft of the hard plate (n = 153), bilateral (n = 87) presentation was more common. A similar pattern was observed for cleft alveolus (n = 117) with the left side (n = 60) being common. In clefts affecting the soft palate (n = 192), complete cleft (n = 189) was a more common occurrence than incomplete. The majority of our patients had a CLP (n = 133) with isolated CL being the least commonly seen (n = 18). Conclusion: The majority of our patients had a CLP with isolated CL being the least common. This observation is in concordance with reports from other Caucasian and Asian populations both from developed and developing countries.

Due to the excessive use of paracetamol (PCM), a significant amount of its metabolite has been released into the surroundings, and its removal from the surroundings must happen quickly and sustainably. Multicomponent adsorption modelling is difficult because it is challenging to anticipate the relationships among the adsorbates in this artificial intelligence-based modelling, a choice among different algorithms. Utilizing various algorithms, many studies assessed the single and binary adsorption of paracetamol on activated carbon. The present study implements that the effectiveness of PCM adsorption on a carbon-activated nanomaterial was predicted using an artificial neural network, a machine learning technology. As a factor of adsorbent particle size, adsorbent dosage, training time, and starting concentrations, the adsorption capacity for each medicinal ingredient was examined. SEM was used to analyze a nanomaterial that had been chemically altered with orthophosphoric acid (FTIR). To determine the residual proportion of PCM in solvent, batch adsorption of PCM was then carried out at various operation conditions, including contact time, temperatures, and initial dosage. The adsorption effectiveness of paracetamol on carbon-activated nanoparticle was calculated using experimental results. Thus, by using machine learning framework, the adsorption efficiency of paracetamol on a carbon-activated nanomaterial was predicted.

Essential medicines are those medicines that satisfy the primary health care needs of the citizens. Poor quality of essential medicines can have serious impact on public health. Thus, this study is aimed to assess the quality of essential medicines available in public health care facilities of Nepal. A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in 62 health facilities across 21 districts, representing all seven provinces of Nepal and selected proportionately from all three ecological regions i.e. Terai, Hill and Mountain using lottery method. Health facilities in selected districts were chosen using random number generator. Face to face interview was taken with health facility in charge using structured questionnaire. All storage conditions information was recorded through observation checklists. Temperature and humidity were measured using a digital instrument. Similarly, 20 different generic medicines were collected for quality testing. The obtained data were entered in Epidata version 3.1, cleaned in Microsoft Excel 2007 and analyzed in SPSS version 16.0. Among 62 health facilities, only 13% of health facilities were found to follow the medicine storage guidelines, with temperature and humidity levels exceeding recommended limits. Out of 244 batches of 20 different generics of essential medicines, 37 batches were found to be substandard. These substandard medicines were- Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride eye/ear drop, Iron supplement tablets, Metformin Hydrochloric tablet, Metronidazole Tablets, Paracetamol Oral suspension, Paracetamol tablet and Povidone Iodine solution. The study recommends the urgent need for the Government of Nepal to prioritize ensuring the quality of essential medicines in the country.

Introduction: Birth weight is a reliable indicator of intrauterine growth and is one of the major factors that determine child survival and its physical and mental development. There is no indicator in human biology which tells us so much about the past events and the future life, as the weight of an infant at birth. Low birth weight (LBW) is still a major public health problem in developing countries and majority of it is seen in Africa and Asia. The prevalence of LBW in India has although reduced over the past decade, but it still remains high in some of the states of the country. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of Low birth weight and to study the maternal factors associated with it. Method: A Cross-sectional study was conducted in a village of north Karnataka from December 2015 to May 2017. Sample size calculated was 337. The study participants comprised of postnatal mothers with singleton live born baby. Weight of the newborn was recorded. Chi square test was used to find the association. Results: The prevalence of LBW was found to be 21.1%. A number of factors such as mother’s age, height, number of hours of rest, tobacco consumption, passive smoking, gravidity, parity, previous history of LBW, time of antenatal care (ANC) registration, haemoglobin, bad obstetric history, type of delivery and gestational age at delivery were found to be significantly associated with LBW. Conclusion: Adverse pregnancy outcome is the result of a multiple factors. Prevalence of LBW can be reduced by regular ANC, balanced diet and adequate rest during antenatal period, and avoiding tobacco consumption. Thus, it calls for overall improvement in the ANC.

PURPOSEAlthough cancer is an important and growing public health issue in Nepal, the country lacked any population-based cancer registry (PBCR) until 2018. In this study, we describe the establishment of the PBCR for the first time in Nepal and use the registry data to understand incidence, mortality, and patterns of cancer in the Kathmandu Valley (consisting of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur districts), which comprises 10.5% of the estimated 29 million population of Nepal in 2018.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe PBCR collects information from facilities and communities through the active process. The facilities include cancer or general hospitals, pathology laboratories, hospice, and Ayurvedic centers. In the communities, the field enumerators or female community health volunteers collected the data from the households. In addition, the Social Security and Nursing Division under the Department of Health Services, which provides subsidy for cancer treatment of underprivileged patients, was another major source of data. The collected data were verified for residence, accuracy, and completeness and then entered and analyzed using CanReg5 software.RESULTSIn the Kathmandu Valley, the PBCR registered 2,156 new cancer cases with overall age-adjusted incidence rate for all cancers of 95.7 per 100,000 population (95.3 for males and 98.1 for females). The age-adjusted mortality rate for males was 36.3 (n = 365) and for females 27.0 (n = 305) per 100,000 population. We found that the commonest cancers in males were lung and stomach, whereas in females, they were breast and lung cancer. Gallbladder cancer was among the top five common cancers in both sex.CONCLUSIONThese findings provide a milestone to understand the cancer burden in the country for the first time using the PBCR and will be helpful to develop and prioritize cancer control strategies.

High-value vegetable production under open field in northeast India's hilly ecosystem often suffers from abiotic and biotic stresses (low temperature, soil acidity and moisture deficit during winter, and infestation of pests-diseases during humid summer). Protected cultivation with soil ameliorative measures may help in overcoming these limitations while sustaining year-round production. An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Experimental Farm, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Meghalaya for three consecutive years (2016–18) to study the yield performance of 4 high-value vegetables (tomato, capsicum, king-chilli and cucumber) grown under naturally ventilated polyhouse in the strong acid soils (pH

With the onset of 5G technology, the number of users is increasing drastically. These increased numbers of users demand better service on the network. This study examines the millimeter wave bands working frequencies. Working in the millimeter wave band has the disadvantage of interference. This study aims to analyze the impact of different interference conditions on unmanned aerial vehicle use scenarios, such as open-air gatherings and indoor-outdoor sports stadiums. Performance analysis was carried out in terms of received power and path loss readings.

Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of deaths and disability in Nepal. Health systems can improve CVD health outcomes even in resource-limited settings by directing efforts to meet critical system gaps. This study aimed to identify Nepal’s health systems gaps to prevent and manage CVDs. Methods We formed a task force composed of the government and non-government representatives and assessed health system performance across six building blocks: governance, service delivery, human resources, medical products, information system, and financing in terms of equity, access, coverage, efficiency, quality, safety and sustainability. We reviewed 125 national health policies, plans, strategies, guidelines, reports and websites and conducted 52 key informant interviews. We grouped notes from desk review and transcripts’ codes into equity, access, coverage, efficiency, quality, safety and sustainability of the health system. Results National health insurance covers less than 10% of the population; and more than 50% of the health spending is out of pocket. The efficiency of CVDs prevention and management programs in Nepal is affected by the shortage of human resources, weak monitoring and supervision, and inadequate engagement of stakeholders. There are policies and strategies in place to ensure quality of care, however their implementation and supervision is weak. The total budget on health has been increasing over the past five years. However, the funding on CVDs is negligible. Conclusion Governments at the federal, provincial and local levels should prioritize CVDs care and partner with non-government organizations to improve preventive and curative CVDs services.

In this work, Silicon carbide (SiC) reinforced Cobalt (Co) coatings were produced using tungsten inert gas (TIG) coating technique on AISI 304 stainless steel substrates. The effects of various heat inputs on microstructure, wear resistance, coefficient of friction (COF), and microhardness, of composite coatings were systematically investigated. Results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the composite coatings were primarily composed of FeSi, CoSi, CoSi2, Fe3C, SiC and Co phases. Analysis of the elements by using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the existence of elements Co, C, Si, Ni, and Fe in the coating. The microstructural analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micrographs showed that grains changed from an irregular polygonal grain to an elongated dendritic grain depending on heat inputs. Composite coating produced at 528 J/mm heat input shows uniformly distributed fine dendritic grains and produces defect-free coatings. The average maximum microhardness of composite coating was increased from ~374 HV0.1 to ~650 HV0.1, whereas the average microhardness of the 304-steel substrate was ~190 HV0.1. Comparative wear resistance of Co-SiC composite coating was appreciably improved, ranging from ~1.7 to ~6.4 times better than that of the AISI 304 stainless steel substrate. At 528 J/ mm heat input, composite coating exhibits the best tribological properties with reduced COF (~0.40) compared to the substrate.

Syringomyelia is a disorder of the spinal cord usually seen in association with a variety of craniovertebral junction anomalies (e.g. , Chiari malformations, basilar invagination/impression, atlantoaxial instability, etc.). Its natural history is not very clearly understood and a majority of patients present with a slowly progressive neurological deficit followed by sudden rapid deterioration. At present, there is a general consensus to offer surgical decompression in all patients diagnosed with Chiari I malformation with syrinx irrespective of their symptoms in order to prevent delayed neurological worsening. Few authors have reported spontaneous resolution of syrinx with persistent tonsillar herniation without operative treatment. We report one such patient and propose anterior spinal cord fissuring as a plausible cause of spontaneous syrinx drainage. We also propose conservative management for patients with an anterior spinal cord fissure seen in index scans instead of early decompression of Chiari malformation.

The present study was conducted at the experimental farm of Advanced Centre for Rainfed Agriculture (ACRA) Dhiansar of SKUAST- Jammu during rainy (kharif) season 2016, 2017 and 2018 for identification of most stable mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes in diverse environments (E1, E2 and E3). Genotype Pusa Vishal exhibited regression coefficient equal to unity (b=0) with non-significant deviation from regression coefficient and hence showed wider adaptability under poor or good environments. Genotype EC520016 showed earliness in maturity with wider adaptability. Environmental indices indicated that environment E2 and E3 were most favourable for yield and majority of yield attributing traits whereas E3 alone was important for seed yield per plant. Based on AMMI models, G9, G1, G3, G4 and G8 exhibited higher IPCA scores coupled with high population mean in E3. On the basis of AMMI2, G12 and G22 exhibited high IPCA1 in E3 and G6, G17 and G9 exhibited high IPCA2 in the same environment. G3, G18 and G19 were present very close to centre point and were least affected by G×E interactions and their performance was not affected by harsh environments and G4, G18 and G22 were present away from the point of centre and were more affected by G × E interactions and not stable in performance. Hence, the selected genotypes may be utilized in Vigna radiata (L.) improvement programme at targeted environments with true type of breeding lines.

It has become mandatory for all the domestic producers of urea to produce Neem Coated Urea (NCU) since 2015 to reduce overall input cost in farming and to ensure environmental sustainability through enhanced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The present study was carried out during 2017–19 with the aim to find out the awareness level of farmers about NCU and its impact on crop productivity. A total of 12,604 farmers across the country were interviewed by 458 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). The results of the study showed that 76% farmers were aware about NCU and its effectiveness in increasing crop yield. Farmers of Delhi NCR, Haryana and Rajasthan were found to have the highest awareness while those of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Jammu & Kashmir had the lowest level of awareness. Overall, 79% farmers were satisfied with its use. Use of N fertilizers decreased significantly in 2018 compared to 2017 in both the seasons (kharif and rabi), however, the existing rate of application was still significantly higher than recommended doses. The average yield enhancement due to use of NCU was 8.25%. The highest yield increase due to use of NCU was observed in Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Results of the study implied that more emphasis is needed for dissemination of information about NCU through awareness, training and capacity building programmes for farmers and grassroots level extension functionaries.

Today’s stochastic grid system is experiencing huge voltage fluctuations, which is responsible for power quality issues in the smart microgrid network due to its intermittent nature as well as penetration of hybrid renewable resources. Thus, the dynamic performance evaluation and their control are essential to sustaining the stability of the grid network. A d-q controller mechanism is suggested to maintain the balance of the distributed generation network and grid side network. A dynamic control mechanism of voltage source converter (VSC) is presented in the MPPT-based wind power generating station, where an induction generator generates the power by the optimal control of the wind energy-based subsystem. The distributed hybrid generation (solar PV and wind) subsystem’s output terminal is linked to the DC bus bar’s common link via the VSC. A VSI is utilized to convert the desired DC power to alternating current power. To regulate and improve the performance of the proposed hybrid power generating systems (HPGS), a supercapacitor (SC) is used to smooth out the ripple on the distribution side in the power grid. Furthermore, the dynamic stability of grid-connected solar PV and wind power generation systems is investigated. This article also proposed an effective control scheme for the SC in HPGS under the influence of weak grid conditions. This article aimed to validate the efficiency of the VSI topology; a PI controller stability enhancement approach is used in a proposed grid system under various disturbance conditions. Finally, the simulation results and FFT-based power quality response analysis are validated through the effective utilization of an SC.

Background: Mental disorders account for a large portion of burden of disease. In Nepal, the prevalence of mental disorders has been rising steadily, but national and province level prevalence is not available. This study aims to assess the prevalence of common mental disorders and suicidality in Nepal. Methods: We conducted nationwide descriptive cross-sectional community-based prevalence study of mental disorders and suicidality among adults (aged 18 years and above) and adolescents (aged 13 to 17 years) in Nepal. We included a total of 9200 adults and 5888 adolescents from seven provinces of Nepal by using a multistage Probability Proportionate to Size sampling technique. Mental disorders and suicidality were assessed using translated and adapted Nepalese version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for disorders, English version 7.0.2 for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders,5th Edition (DSM-5). Data were entered in CSPro v7.2. Weighted estimates for different mental disorders were calculated. Results: The overall weighted lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder among adults and adolescents was estimated at 10% and 5.2%, respectively. Suicidality was present among 7.2% of the adult and 4.1% of the adolescent participants. Among adult participants, the current prevalence of suicidal thoughts and lifetime suicidal attempts were found to be 6.5% and 1.1%, respectively. Conclusions: This survey indicated that mental health problems are major public health concerns in Nepal that should not be overlooked. Hence, a multisectoral approach is needed to address the burden of mental health problems among adults and adolescents in Nepal. Keywords: National Mental Health Survey, Mental Disorder, MINI, Suicidality, Nepal

Objective This study aimed to determine population-based prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its associated factors in Nepal.Study design The study was a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study.Setting and participants Cross-sectional survey conducted in a nationally representative sample of 12 109 Nepalese adult from 2016 to 2018 on selected chronic non-communicable diseases was examined. Multistage cluster sampling with a mix of probability proportionate to size and systematic random sampling was used for the selection of individuals aged 20 years and above.Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcome in this study was population-based prevalence of CKD in Nepal. A participant was considered to have CKD if the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio was greater than or equal to 30 mg/g and/or estimated glomerular filtration rate is less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline and in follow-up using modification of diet in renal disease study equations. The secondary outcome measure was factors associated with CKD in Nepal. The covariate adjusted association of risk factors and CKD was calculated using multivariable binary logistic regression.Results The overall prevalence of CKD in Nepal was 6.0% (95% CI 5.5 to 6.6). Factors independently associated with CKD included older age (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.6, 95% CI 1.9 to 3.6), Dalit caste (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.3), hypertension (AOR 2.4, 95% CI 2.0 to 3.0), diabetes mellitus (AOR 3.2, 95% CI 2.5 to 4.1), raised total cholesterol (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.6) and increased waist-to-hip ratio (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.3).Conclusion This nationally representative study shows that the prevalence of CKD in the adult population of Nepal is substantial, and it is independently associated with several cardiometabolic traits. These findings warrant longitudinal studies to identify the causes of CKD in Nepal and effective strategies to prevent it.

Abstract Congenital granular cell tumor (CGCT) is a rare benign lesion and presents as a fibrous mass arising from the alveolus in the newborn. The prenatal screening of lesions can help in parent counseling, determining the complications, as larger size lesions may interfere with normal delivery and require a cesarean section.