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People's subjective response to any thermal environment is commonly investigated by using rating scales describing the degree of thermal sensation, comfort, and acceptability. Subsequent analyses of results collected in this way rely on the assumption that specific distances between verbal anchors placed on the scale exist and that relationships between verbal anchors from different dimensions that are assessed (e.g. thermal sensation and comfort) do not change. Another inherent assumption is that such scales are independent of the context in which they are used (climate zone, season, etc.). Despite their use worldwide, there is indication that contextual differences influence the way the scales are perceived and therefore question the reliability of the scales’ interpretation. To address this issue, a large international collaborative questionnaire study was conducted in 26 countries, using 21 different languages, which led to a dataset of 8225 questionnaires. Results, analysed by means of robust statistical techniques, revealed that only a subset of the responses are in accordance with the mentioned assumptions. Significant differences appeared between groups of participants in their perception of the scales, both in relation to distances of the anchors and relationships between scales. It was also found that respondents’ interpretations of scales changed with contextual factors, such as climate, season, and language. These findings highlight the need to carefully consider context-dependent factors in interpreting and reporting results from thermal comfort studies or post-occupancy evaluations, as well as to revisit the use of rating scales and the analysis methods used in thermal comfort studies to improve their reliability.

Rajeev Shrestha,1,* Sunil Shrestha,2,3,* Binaya Sapkota,4,* Santosh Thapa,5 Mukhtar Ansari,6 Asmita Priyadarshini Khatiwada,2 Rohullah Roien,7 Akihiko Ozaki8 1Department of Pharmacy, District Hospital Lamjung, Lamjung, Nepal; 2Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Service Research, Nepal Health Research and Innovation Foundation, Lalitpur, Province Bagmati, Nepal; 3Department of Nursing, Nobel College, Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nobel College, Affiliated to Pokhara University, Kathmandu, Province Bagmati, Nepal; 5Jeevee Health, Kathmandu, Nepal; 6Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia; 7Medical Research Centre, Kateb University, Kabul, Afghanistan; 8Department of Breast Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Rajeev Shrestha; Rohullah Roien Email rajiv2stha@gmail.com; rohullahroien@kateb.edu.afAbstract: Generic medicines are being promoted in many countries for their added benefits over branded drugs, such as reduced price, therapeutic equivalence, and convenience to the patients. However, generic prescribing is still not up to the optimum level in Nepal to assure access to cost-effective, quality medicines to the public and to reduce the overall economic burden and practice-related errors of medications. This review aimed to discuss the current scenario of generic medicine, generic prescribing, hurdles on the one hand, and potentials ways in promoting generic medicine usage and generic prescribing in Nepal on the other. Extensive literature on generic medicine usage and generic prescribing practice in Nepal was reviewed. This review found some of the major challenges to be addressed for the proper implementation of generic medicine prescribing, and utilization. These challenges include lack of facilities and competency to assure therapeutic equivalence of different brand-name medicines, lack of understanding about generic medicines among health care providers (HCPs) and the public, and lack of stringent regulation towards promoting generic medicines. Rational pharmaceutical promotion and awareness about generic medication to the medical students are also inevitable towards promoting the practice of generic medicines. The practice of generic medicine and generic prescribing is not possible without the assurance of therapeutically equivalent generic alternatives. The study recommended the prompt effort of the regulatory authority to enforce the generic prescribing and generic substitution policy through strengthening policies, procedures and laboratory testing to assure citizens’ right to access to cost-effective, and affordable quality medicine, as the Nepal’s National Health and Drug Policy mandated.Keywords: branded generics, brand medicines, generic medicines, generic prescribing, generic substitution, Nepal

The order Chiroptera includes 55 species in Nepal, which have been recorded within a wide range of elevation between 64 and 4154 m above sea level. Assessing the potential distribution ranges in present climatic scenarios and forecasting changes in distribution ranges in future climate have been adopted to predict likely adverse impacts on biodiversity and natural ecosystems. However, very few studies have assessed the impact of climate change on bats globally and locally. We assessed the current potential distribution ranges of six representative species of bats occurring in Nepal using species distribution models (SDMs) and predicted their responses in future climatic scenarios. The occurrences of the representative species of bats were projected with six to eight environmental variables under the different climatic scenarios; present, and socioeconomic pathways 4.5 and 8.5 for the years of 2050 and 2070 deploying maximum entropy modeling. We used Arc GIS 10.7.1 to calculate the distribution range, area, and elevation for the bat species. Among 18 uncorrelated bioclimatic variables eight variables significantly contributed to the SDMs. Among the six species, two showed a wider range of current distribution. Under the future climatic scenarios, distribution ranges and latitudinal and elevation shifting were found to be species specific. Future distribution ranges for two species are predicted to be constricted, but no significant changes are predicted for the others. Major parts of the current and future distribution ranges of the bat species lie outside the current protected areas of the country. Landscape level and species‐specific conservation policies are necessary for bat conservation, and future surveys of bats should be targeted in western Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

У цьому дослідженні порівнюються характеристики газового зондування плівок ZnO та 5% легованих Fe ZnO (Fe-ZnO), синтезованих методом спінового покриття. Рентгенівський аналіз виявив полікристалічну природу спочатку підготовлених плівок, показавши зменшення розміру кристаліту з 25,69 ± 0,95 нм для ZnO до 19,49 ± 0,72 нм для Fe-ZnO. Крім того, введення Fe в ZnO збільшило заборонену зону, при цьому значення змістилися з 3,190 ± 0,105 еВ для ZnO до 3,244 ± 0,147 еВ для Fe-ZnO і зменшили розміри зерен. Зменшення розмірів зерен сприяло збільшенню газової реакції плівки ZnO. Експерименти з зондуванням парів етанолу, проведені в більш широкому діапазоні температур 100-300oC, показують, що найкраща газова реакція плівки Fe-ZnO при 260 oC становить 17,8 ± 0,4, що майже в 1,5 рази більше, ніж у плівки ZnO при тій же температурі. Крім того, варто зазначити, що тонка плівка FeZnO продемонструвала швидшу реакцію та відновлення порівняно з тонкою плівкою ZnO, з часом відгуку та відновлення 32 ± 2 та 162 ± 3 секунди, відповідно, для впливу етанолу 40 ppm. Ці висновки сприяють глибшому розумінню механізмів зондування газу як у тонких плівках ZnO, так і в Fe-ZnO, які є перспективними для майбутніх розробок у технології газових сенсорів. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government of Nepal has been providing high priority to subsidy programs to support farmers and boost the national economy. Increasing access to and effectiveness of the subsidy program is important to enhance growth of agricultural sector. However, there has always been a concern about access to and effectiveness of the subsidy programs to address the problem of farmers in Nepal. This study was carried out to determine the factors affecting farmers' access to the agricultural subsidy. For this, a multi-stage sampling method was employed, and altogether 120 commercial vegetable growers from Dhading and Makwanpur districts of Nepal were selected using simple random technique. Descriptive statistical tools and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Out of the total sampled households, 55.83% had accessed at least one agricultural subsidy program, and the highest number of sampled households (39.17%) received the subsidy for agricultural tools. The result of binary logistic regression revealed that factors like ethnicity, membership in agricultural groups or co-operatives, farm visit by extension agents, and participation in agricultural training were significantly (p<0.01) influencing farmers' access to agricultural subsidy. Hence, the farmers are suggested to operate through agricultural groups or co-operatives, and the concerned authorities and policymakers should emphasize agricultural extension services and agricultural subsidy simultaneously for synergistic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]