Search

The traditional aim in transportation planning is to maximise gains associated with vehicular travel distances or times, indirectly prioritising populations that live near existing or proposed roads—remote populations that first require hours of walking to reach roads are overlooked. In this paper, rural roads optimisation is performed using a new model that estimates proposed roads' accessibility gains, considering reductions in vehicular travel time and reductions in walking time required by remote populations to reach them. This ensures that even the most remote populations that may benefit from new roads are included in their evaluation. When presented with a large number of proposed roads and the requirement of determining a plan within a suitable budget, it is often infeasible to construct all proposed roads. In such instances, subsets of well-performing road-combinations that are evaluated with respect to multiple objectives need to be identified for analysis and comparison–for which multi-objective optimisation approaches can be employed. Traditional optimisation approaches return a small number of road-combination plans only, limited to user-specified budget levels and objective weight sets. This paper presents an innovative heuristic solution approach that overcomes such limitations by returning thousands of well-performing solutions scattered across a budget span, and not limited in number to user-specified objective weight sets at fixed budget levels. The heuristic is employed along with a more traditional weighted-sum integer-linear programming approach to determine high-quality road-combination plans selected from 92 roads recently proposed for construction in Nepal's remote Karnali province. Using these two approaches with inputs from the new multi-modal accessibility model, it is illustrated how rural roads planning can be performed to the benefit of rural populations regardless of their proximity to roads. New planning and analysis benefits of the heuristic are demonstrated by comparing its solutions to those determined by the weighted-sum approach, providing a level of detail and sophistication not previously possible for rural roads planning and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Geophysics, topographic factors are observations that can be directly measured, but they are often ignored to simplify the model. Studying the coseismic deformation caused by earthquakes helps accurately determine the epicenter's parameterization. It provides a reference for the reasonable layout of coseismic observation stations and GNSS observation stations. After the Mw7.8 earthquake in Nepal in 2015, GCMT, USGS, GFZ, CPPT, and other institutions released their epicenter parameter. However, according to their parameters, the coseismic displacements simulated by the spectral-element method are quite different from the GNSS observations. Firstly, this paper inverts the geometric parameters of the seismogenic fault with Nepal's coseismic GNSS displacement. The spectral-element method determines the source's location and depth under the heterogeneous terrain and outputs the source parameters. Among the results of many studies, the surface source is more consistent with the generation mechanism of large earthquakes. Secondly, this paper calculates the fault slip distribution of this earthquake using SDM (Steepest Descent Method) based on GNSS and InSAR data, which is divided into 1500 subfaults, and the moment tensor of each subfault is calculated. This paper investigates the distribution characteristics of the coseismic deformation field of the 2015 Mw 7.8 earthquake in Nepal under three different models. The results show that the influence of topographic factors is ~ 20%, and the influence of heterogeneous factors is ~ 10%. This paper concludes that the influence of topographic factors is much more significant than that of heterogeneous factors, and the influence of both should be addressed in coseismic deformation calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of academic dishonesty in general and exam cheating in particular, has been ubiquitous in schools, colleges, and universities around the world. This paper reports on the findings from teachers' and students' experiences and perceptions of exam cheating at Nepali schools, colleges, and universities. In so doing, the paper highlights the challenges of maintaining academic integrity in Nepali education systems. Based on qualitative research design, the study data were collected by employing semi-structured interviews with the teachers and the students. Findings from the study indicated that over-emphasized value given to marks/grades and the nature of exam questions among others were the predominant factors. Our findings contribute to the practical understanding that academic institutions in Nepal have largely failed to communicate the value of academic honesty and integrity to the students of all levels of education despite the increasing prevalence of exam cheating. Therefore, exam cheating requires urgent attention from academic institutions, educators, and education leaders to educate students about the long-term educational and social values of academic honesty and integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propped cantilever truss is not a common bridge construction technique. The performance of such bridges under operational and extreme loading is not reported in the literature either. In this paper, failure mechanisms in a propped cantilever truss bridge are reported using field investigation. The field observations are supplemented by numerical analysis to identify the causes of failure. A a systematic account of damage mechanisms in bridge components is also reported. The failure of the Lamgadi Bridge over the Seti River in Nepal is used as a case study example. The loading and construction protocols are detailed, and numerical analysis results are juxtaposed with the field observations to explain the failure mechanisms. Field observations and numerical results show that lack in adequate design is the most likely cause of the bridge collapse. Numerical results also indicate that the roller support at the propped end, unlike the hinged pot bearing used in the as constructed bridge would have been a safer choice. The failure could have been easily prevented with proper numerical simulation of the bridge response during the design phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tigers have seen significant population losses due to the degradation and fragmentation of their habitat ranges worldwide. Thus, habitat suitability assessment of such predators is essential for restoring their numbers and devising strategies for their protection. This paper aims to assess the habitat suitability and potential corridors for Bengal tiger species (Panthera tigris tigris) in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) located in the West Champaran district of Bihar, India. Nine suitability conditioning factors (tree cover, prey richness, drainage density, vegetation types, elevation, slope, aspect, temperature, and rainfall) and seven threatening factors (forest fragmentation, land use land cover, distance from roads, railway tracks, settlement, range offices, and forest fire points) were selected for emphasizing species-environment association in VTR. The spatial layers of all the factors and presence location data of tigers were integrated into the MaxEnt model to prepare a habitat suitability map. The model was validated utilizing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.822), which was found in good agreement. The least-cost corridor modeling based on surface resistance was utilized to identify the cost-effective pathways and prioritize dispersal routes and potential corridors for this species. The findings revealed that the largest area of the Reserve was found to be moderately suitable (41.92%), followed by low suitable (22.98%), highly suitable (19.34%), and unsuitable areas (15.76%). The potential causes for low suitability and unsuitable habitats included human-induced disturbances, especially in the buffer zone of VTR. The core habitats and their connectivity, particularly in the eastern and central parts of the Reserve, facilitated the dispersal of the Bengal tiger population. This study offers significant insights for identifying crucial habitats and establishing corridors between them. The study calls for suitable measures for restricting human encroachment and increasing predator movements from the adjacent corridors of the protected reserves of Nepal and Uttar Pradesh. The findings may help forest managers and stakeholders for suggesting suitable conservation and restoration practices as well as regulating strategies for the self-sustenance of reintroduced tigers in the Reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation on the coefficient of friction at the interface of a PVC–sand–PVC layer that is utilised as part of a low-cost geotechnical seismic isolation devised to be used in low-income countries. The PVC–sand–PVC configuration consists of two smooth PVC surfaces enclosing a single layer of sand grains, with surface densities between 0.5 kg/m2 and 3 kg/m2, which aim to facilitate relative sliding at friction resistance between 0.15 and 0.30 depending on the design acceleration, by acting like "non-perfectly rounded ball bearings". The latter isolation method has been extensively studied both numerically and experimentally by means of large-scale testing at the shaking table of the EQUALS Earthquake Laboratory of the University of Bristol. However, in the light of the construction of the first building worldwide to be designed and constructed in Nepal with the particular low-cost PVC–sand–PVC sliding interface, it was deemed necessary to reliably assess the mean and dispersion of the coefficient of friction as a function of vertical pressure, sand density and degree of saturation. The results of the tests performed using an improved direct shear apparatus are presented herein using sand samples and PVC sheets that were locally resourced in Nepal to be used in construction. The results indicate that the variation of friction is reasonably low and in any case within the desirable range, irrespectively of the parameters examined, thus establishing confidence to the forthcoming design of the novel isolated building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review provides a synthesis of the state of the evidence relating to child and adolescent mental health interventions in Nepal, with particular emphasis on the use and impact of cultural adaptation of these interventions. The review follows the PRISMA and JBI review guidance. Nine papers met the inclusion criteria, studies were characterised by methodological weaknesses impacting on their reliability. Five of the nine studies reported statistically significant improvements, of these, all except one worked with the family and wider community alongside the child. The use of cultural adaptation was implemented in all studies, but varied in terms of the extent of the adaptation processes used. The findings from this review indicate that high quality studies are needed in this area, particularly those which consider the influence on the collectivist nature of Nepali culture on design of the intervention. Interventions need to consider cultural adaptation more closely, as well as the acceptability of the intervention to the wider community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loess, loess-like, sandy loess, and sandy-silty fluvial–aeolian deposits are intercalated to fluvial sediments and lie on a flat surface under intense agricultural land use in Bardibas, Mahottari district, central Nepal. To identify the depositional processes and provenance, we carried out geochemical, mineralogical, SEM, and grain-size analyses. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating shows the aeolian deposits are from the late Holocene (1.0–4.8 ka). Our results demonstrate that the loess and loess-like deposits (i) were dominantly sourced locally from deflation Quaternary sediments of the Terai Plain; (ii) are related to the composition of Siwalik rocks; and (iii) were deposited during dry periods of weak activity of the Indian Summer Monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the evolutionary literature on mate choice presumes that individual mate preferences function to increase individual fitness, and this assumption has been confirmed in several experimental studies with animals. However, human mate choice, in many cultures, is heavily controlled by parents via arranged marriages, rather than the selection of the marrying individuals. Several studies have demonstrated that parents and offspring do not exhibit identical preferences for an in-law or spouse, respectively. If parental choice thwarts offspring's evolved mate preferences from being expressed, then arranged marriages should reduce fitness. Using data from the Chitwan Valley Family Study, I examined whether having an arranged marriage, as compared to a non-arranged marriage, is associated with differences in total births, offspring survival to age 15, or interbirth intervals in Nepal, a culture with a rich history of arranged marriage. I find that there are no differences in any reproductive outcomes between arranged, co-selected, and self-selected marriages. These results indicate that individuals in arranged and non-arranged marriages may achieve similar fitness outcomes via different pathways, which may be unique to human mating systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan collision zone, where the Indian Plate subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate at a low angle, has caused many devastating earthquakes. The Kathmandu basin, situated in this region, is surrounded by mountains on all sides and is filled with distinct soft lake sediments with a highly undulating bedrock topography. The basin has been experiencing rapid urbanization, and the growing population in its major cities has increased the vulnerability to seismic risk during future earthquakes. Several strong-motion stations have recently been deployed in the Kathmandu basin. It is expected that the data captured by this strong-motion station array will further enhance our understanding of site amplification in sedimentary basins. Clear P-to-S converted waves have been observed in the strong-motion records. In this study, we investigate the medium boundary that generated these converted waves. First, we estimate the shallow velocity structures, which correspond to the topographic slopes or surface geology, beneath the strong-motion stations. We then apply a receiver function analysis to the strong-motion records. The receiver function indicates that the interface between the soft sediment and seismic bedrock serves as a boundary that generates converted waves. The obtained results can be used for tuning three-dimensional velocity structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We model interseismic plate coupling distribution on the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) in Nepal through the inversion of secular GNSS velocity data. To complement previously published data, we compile velocity data from ten additional continuous stations to improve spatial resolution in central and mid-western Nepal. A regional non-planar structural model is adopted to reproduce the MHT fault plane. In general, the coupling pattern seems nearly binary, indicating that transition from full coupling to decoupling is occurring sharply in very narrow zones. In eastern Nepal (> 84.5ºE), plate coupling is very strong from the surface to intermediate depths, including the source region of the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake. Geodetically estimated slip deficit rates are consistent with the rupture history of great earthquakes in the east revealed by geomorphological observations. In the west (< 83.0ºE), a weakly coupled zone extends laterally at intermediate depths, whereas the coupling in the shallower part remains very strong. Although the slip deficit rate in the west is significantly smaller than that in the east, seismic moment accumulated, since the last complete rupture in 1505 may be capable of generating a future great event. In central Nepal, estimated slip deficit rates are comparable with those in the east, and no great event has been documented over the past several centuries. Thus, the seismic risk may be most urgent in central Nepal. The development of local seismicity and crustal deformation should be carefully monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Child stunting, child underweight, and child wasting in Nepal decreased from 48%, 47%, and 11% to 25%, 19%, and 9%, respectively, between 1996 and 2022. Despite an overall reduction in prevalence rates, economically poor and geographically backward regions in Nepal have not seen equivalent improvement in child undernutrition similar to their richer and developed regions, leading to increased differences in undernutrition prevalence across the wealth quintiles. This study aimed to assess time trends in the average and inequality of child nutritional status by household wealth across Nepal's geographical spaces from 1996 to 2022. Methods: This study utilized data from four rounds (1996, 2006, 2016, and 2022) of the Nepal Demographics and Health Survey (NDHS). The nutritional status of children below three years of age, measured by stunting, wasting, and underweight, served as the main dependent variable. Household wealth status, determined by binary responses regarding possession of household assets, acted as a proxy for economic status. The study employed point prevalence for average, Concentration Index (CI), Poorest-Richest-Ratio (P-R-R), and Poorer-Richer-Ratio (Pr-Rr-R) to analyze trends in child nutritional status by wealth quintiles. Results: From 1996 to 2022, Nepal exhibited an increasing Concentration Index and an upward trend in P-R-R measures of inequality in child stunting. The P-R-R increased from 1.77 in 1996 to 2.51 in 2022, However, results show a concurrent decrease in Pr-Rr-R from 1.19 to 1.18, assessing the prevalence of stunting among children. In the prevalence of child underweight, the P-R-R and Pr-Rr-R were 1.88 and 1.19 in 1996, decreasing to 1.47 and 1.10, respectively, in 2022. Conclusion: The results indicated that inequalities in child nutrition across wealth status show an increase in stunting but marginal decline in underweight and wasting. Therefore, the study underscores the need for inclusive policy and program interventions to achieve equitable improvement in child stunting in Nepal, ensuring that progress extends to children in the poorest wealth quintile households. However, the progress is equitable in child underweight and wasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports how the rhetorical devices and logical argument utilized in the speech of Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, delivered in Lumbini, addressing the 2566th birth ceremony of Lord Buddha, assisted him to establish his purpose by persuading the audience. I adopted the concept of rhetoric developed by Aristotle and the notion of argument advanced by Toulmin as a theoretical perspective to analyze his speech. The findings reported that Modi used rhetorical devices and layers of argument to establish religious and cultural relationships between Nepal and India; however, he focused on religions, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism, and excluded the religious and cultural sentiments of people belonging to other religious and cultural backgrounds living in both countries. The finding further revealed that Modi's seemingly religious rhetoric was directed towards the political mission of promoting relations between Nepal and India by expanding cultural nationalism and establishing the supremacy of Hinduism and Buddhism. This study has greater significance because it adds new insights into the existing literature on rhetoric and communication and provides a clear direction for further analyzing the rhetorical strategy in Modi's speeches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient satisfaction is a vital metric for assessing healthcare quality and delivering patient-centered care. It can predict service utilization patterns by determining healthcare users' contentment with their providers. Consequently, evaluating patient satisfaction and its underlying factors is crucial to maintaining the quality of healthcare services. The present study aimed to assess patient satisfaction and its determinants in a tertiary care public hospital in Nepal. In this research, a cross-sectional design was employed to examine patient satisfaction within the Outpatient Department of Mental Hospital Lagankhel, Nepal. The study adopted a systematic random sampling approach for respondent selection, and stringent measures were implemented to uphold the validity and reliability of the collected data. To assess patient satisfaction comprehensively, the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-III (PSQ-III), developed by the RAND Corporation, was employed in conjunction with relevant sociodemographic variables. Utilizing mean scores and percentages, we calculated satisfaction levels across various dimensions. Additionally, a multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships between patient satisfaction dimensions and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: This study encompassed perspective of 206 participants, with 57.3% representing patient relatives and 51% being male, median age of 32 years (standard deviation: 12.53). Notably, patients reported higher levels of satisfaction, particularly within the interpersonal relationship dimension, while the technical quality domain received comparatively lower satisfaction ratings. Multinomial logistic regression analysis underscored the significance of sociodemographic factors in shaping patient satisfaction, with age (p = 0.008), type of residence (p = 0.001), occupation (p = 0.0019), income status (p = 0.014), time to reach the healthcare facility (p = 0.013), and insurance enrollment status (p = 0.017) all demonstrating significant associations. These findings illuminate the intricate qualities of patient satisfaction within our healthcare context, offering actionable insights for enhancement and guiding the trajectory of future research endeavors. Conclusions: Overall patient expressed satisfaction with service provided by tertiary care hospital, however continuous improvement remains essential. Conducting large-scale, nationwide studies across hospital tiers is vital. This data-driven approach empowers policymakers to allocate resources effectively, inform decision-making, and enact policies that exceed patient expectations, fostering a healthcare system of unparalleled excellence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed observations of microtremors and seismic ground motion to determine the depths of sedimentary interfaces and basement surface in the Kathmandu Valley. The results of these analyses and a reflection survey were combined to produce a data set of seismic depths for sedimentary interfaces and basement surface in the valley. Moreover, we introduced a data set of gravimetric depths, which had been produced for the basement surface from gravity observations. Because both sets of data differ in accuracy and number, we adopt the Sequential Gaussian Co-Simulation to generate the depth distributions of the sedimentary interfaces and basement surface. This method includes the cokriging approach, wherein the seismic and gravimetric depths are used as primary and secondary data, respectively. A three-dimensional velocity structure model of the Kathmandu Valley was constructed from the obtained depth distributions, which showed that the sedimentation in the valley is mainly related to the Paleo-Kathmandu Lake. Subsequently, we incorporated this model into a previous regional-scale model, and revised the latter to solve the issues of the extension of the underthrusting lithosphere and the S-wave velocity in its adjacent area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]