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Abstract Background Mental wellbeing encompasses life satisfaction, social connectedness, agency and resilience. In adolescence, mental wellbeing reduces sexual health risk behaviours, substance use and violence; improves educational outcomes; and protects mental health in adulthood. Mental health promotion seeks to improve mental wellbeing and can include activities to engage participants in sport. However, few high-quality trials of mental health promotion interventions have been conducted with adolescents, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We sought to address this gap by testing SMART (Sports-based Mental heAlth pRomotion for adolescenTs) in a pilot cluster-randomised controlled trial (cRCT) in Bardiya, Nepal. Methods The objectives of the trial are to assess the acceptability and feasibility of SMART, test trial procedures, explore outcome distributions in intervention and control clusters and calculate the total annual cost of the intervention and unit cost per adolescent. The trial design is a parallel-group, two-arm superiority pilot cRCT with a 1:1 allocation ratio and two cross-sectional census surveys with adolescents aged 12–19, one pre-intervention (baseline) and one post-intervention (endline). The study area is four communities of approximately 1000 population (166 adolescents per community). Each community represents one cluster. SMART comprises twice weekly football, martial arts and dance coaching, open to all adolescents in the community, led by local sports coaches who have received psychosocial training. Sports melas (festivals) and theatre performances will raise community awareness about SMART, mental health and the benefits of sport. Adolescents in control clusters will participate in sport as usual. In baseline and endline surveys, we will measure mental wellbeing, self-esteem, self-efficacy, emotion regulation, social support, depression, anxiety and functional impairment. Using observation checklists, unstructured observation and attendance registers from coaching sessions, and minutes of meetings between coaches and supervisors, we will assess intervention fidelity, exposure and reach. In focus group discussions and interviews with coaches, teachers, caregivers and adolescents, we will explore intervention acceptability and mechanisms of change. Intervention costs will be captured from monthly project accounts, timesheets and discussions with staff members. Discussion Findings will identify elements of the intervention and trial procedures requiring revision prior to a full cRCT to evaluate the effectiveness of SMART. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN15973986 , registered on 6 September 2022; ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05394311 , registered 27 May 2022.

Background: Chronic kidney disease affects the structure and function of the kidneys over a specific period of time. It is a worldwide public health related problem. It is usually associated with increasing age, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lack of exercise. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study conducted at Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital. A total 150 patients were enrolled in this study from March 2021 to February 2022. Patients aged 18 years and above diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and treated with dialysis were included in this study. Statistical tools were used to describe the relevant data. Results: Chronic kidney disease was more predominant among males 90 (60%) than females 60 (40%). Thecommon co-morbid conditions were hypertension 51(34%) followed by hypertension & diabetes 40 (26.66%). 115 (76.66%) patients were receivinghemodialysis twice followed by 26 (17.33%) who were receiving it thrice a week. An average of 7.03 drugs per prescription was advised. Commonly used drugs were hydrocortisone 145 (96.66%), torsemide 90 (85.71%), and vitamin D3 105 (75%). Among the complications, the most commonly occurred were chills & rigor 15 (10%) followed by backache 12 (8%). Conclusion: Hydrocortisone, torsemide and Vit.D3, were prescribed medications in CKD patients maintained on hemodialysis. Hydrocortisone was commonly used at this tertiary care hospital. Chills & rigor and backache were complication occurred during hemodialysis.

Background: Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) of the tubular gastrointestinal tract (GI-NECs) are rare and associated with worse clinical outcomes. This population-based study aims to highlight key demographics, clinicopathological factors, and survival outcomes in the US population. Methods: Data from 10,387 patients with GI-NECs were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database from 2000 to 2020. Results: Most patients were >40 years old at the time of presentation with a median age of 63 years old, with almost equal ethnic distribution per US population data. The most common primary tumor site was the small intestine (33.6%). The metastatic spread was localized in 34.8%, regional in 27.8%, and distant in 37.3% of cases, and the liver was the most common site of metastasis (19.9%) in known cases of metastases. Most NEC patients underwent surgery, presenting the highest 5-year overall survival of 73.2% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) (95% CI 72.0–74.4%), while chemotherapy alone had the lowest 5-year survival of 8.0% (95% CI 6.4–10.0%). Compared to men, women had a superior 5-year survival rate of 59.0% (95% CI 57.6–60.5%). On multivariate analysis, age > 65 (HR 2.49, 95% CI 2.36–2.54%, p ≤ 0.001), distant metastasis (HR 2.57, 95% CI 2.52–2.62%, p ≤ 0.001), tumor size > 4 mm (HR 1.98, 95%, CI 1.70–2.31%, p ≤ 0.001), esophageal (HR 1.49, 95% CI 0.86–2.58%, p ≤ 0.001), transverse colon (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.15–3.33%, p ≤ 0.01), descending colon (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.12, 3.97%, p = 0.02) anorectal sites, and liver or lung metastases were associated with worse survival. Surgical intervention and tumors located in the small intestine or appendix showed a better prognosis. Conclusion: GI-NECs are a group of rare malignancies associated with a poor prognosis. Therefore, epidemiological studies analyzing national databases may be the best alternative to have a more comprehensive understanding of this condition, assess the impact of current practices, and generate prognosis tools.

Nano-electrochemical materials and devices are at the frontier of research and development, advancing electrochemistry and its applications in energy storage, sensing, electrochemical processing, etc [...]

Background Patients undergoing surgery have a fear of anesthesia and surgical procedures that results in anxiety. The global incidence of pre-operative anxiety is estimated at 60–92%. Age, gender, education, marital status, type of family, type of anesthesia and surgery, and history of surgery are the contributing factors. High levels of anxiety during the pre-operative period has negative impacts on surgical outcomes. The main objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of pre-operative anxiety and associated risk factors in a hospital setting of a developing country. Methods This was a single center, analytical, cross-sectional study conducted among the admitted patients scheduled for elective surgeries in a tertiary care hospital. Non-probability convenience sampling was adopted and a total of 205 cases were included. The researchers themselves collected the data on the day before surgery using questionnaires comprised of two parts: semi-structured questionnaires prepared via literature review and Amsterdam Pre-operative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). Data were analyzed in SPSS version 23. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed appropriately. Results The prevalence of pre-operative anxiety was 25.85%. The median anaesthesia related, surgery related, and total anxiety scores were 4.00, 5.00 and 9.00 respectively. Likewise, the median score of information desired component scale was 5.00. Different anxiety scores were positively correlated with the information desire component score. The patients living in a nuclear family (adjusted OR, 2.480; 95% CI, 1.272–4.837, p = 0.008) and those without past history of surgery (adjusted OR, 2.451; 95% CI, 1.107–5.424, p = 0.027) had approximately 2.5 times higher risk of having pre-operative anxiety compared to those from a joint family and those having past history of surgery respectively. Those receiving spinal anesthesia had approximately two times lower risk of anxiety (adjusted OR, 0.511; 95% CI, 0.265–0.985, p = 0.045). Conclusions One fourth of the patients had pre-operative anxiety. Type of family, type of anesthesia and past history of surgery were found to be the independent predictors of anxiety.

Abstract Recently Fruit Dyes have achieved a significant interest as organic devices because of they are widely available, customizable and biodegradable. But low conductivity is one of the major limitations. Low conductivity is due to low charge injection from the electrodes to the organic layer and the charge injection process is strongly dependent on the injection barrier height at the metal-dye interface. Higher barrier height causes low charge injection. A detailed analysis is needed to reduce the interfacial barrier to get better conductivity. In this work, we have estimated the interfacial barrier height of Indium tin oxide coated glass/Tartrazine dye/Copper based device with and without titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The devices have been prepared with dye and dye-nanoparticles blends by using the spin coating technique. We have measured the steady state dark current–voltage–temperature characteristics in the range of 288 K to 333 K to estimate the Richardson constant and interfacial barrier height. The Richardson constant was found to be modified from 44.35 × 10–3 to 07.34 × 10–3 Am−2 K−2. We also have found that interfacial barrier height is reduced from 0.71 eV to 0.64 eV in the presence of nanoparticles at room temperature. As the temperature increased, the interfacial barrier height increased to 0.72 eV from 0.71 eV and to 0.68 eV from 0.62 eV for dye based device with and without nanoparticles, respectively. Reduction of the interfacial barrier height indicates an increase in the charge injection through the interface. This work will be informative to improve the charge flow at the metal–fruit dye interface.

Background Patients undergoing surgery have a fear of anesthesia and surgical procedures that results in anxiety. The global incidence of pre-operative anxiety is estimated at 60–92%. Age, gender, education, marital status, type of family, type of anesthesia and surgery, and history of surgery are the contributing factors. High levels of anxiety during the pre-operative period has negative impacts on surgical outcomes. The main objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of pre-operative anxiety and associated risk factors in a hospital setting of a developing country. Methods This was a single center, analytical, cross-sectional study conducted among the admitted patients scheduled for elective surgeries in a tertiary care hospital. Non-probability convenience sampling was adopted and a total of 205 cases were included. The researchers themselves collected the data on the day before surgery using questionnaires comprised of two parts: semi-structured questionnaires prepared via literature review and Amsterdam Pre-operative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). Data were analyzed in SPSS version 23. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed appropriately. Results The prevalence of pre-operative anxiety was 25.85%. The median anaesthesia related, surgery related, and total anxiety scores were 4.00, 5.00 and 9.00 respectively. Likewise, the median score of information desired component scale was 5.00. Different anxiety scores were positively correlated with the information desire component score. The patients living in a nuclear family (adjusted OR, 2.480; 95% CI, 1.272–4.837, p = 0.008) and those without past history of surgery (adjusted OR, 2.451; 95% CI, 1.107–5.424, p = 0.027) had approximately 2.5 times higher risk of having pre-operative anxiety compared to those from a joint family and those having past history of surgery respectively. Those receiving spinal anesthesia had approximately two times lower risk of anxiety (adjusted OR, 0.511; 95% CI, 0.265–0.985, p = 0.045). Conclusions One fourth of the patients had pre-operative anxiety. Type of family, type of anesthesia and past history of surgery were found to be the independent predictors of anxiety.

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) is the second most common histological subtype of renal cell cancer. This research aims to present a large database study highlighting the demographic, clinical, and pathological factors, racial disparities, prognosis, and survival of PRCC. The clinical and demographic data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and molecular data was cured from the Catalogue Of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database. PRCC had a median age of diagnosis at 64 years, with a higher incidence in men (77%), and Whites (68%). 70.3% of cases were Grades I–IV (13, 53, 31, and 3%, respectively). In patients with known data, 85% were localized to the kidney, and 84% of cases were 7 cm in size. No metastasis occurred in 97% of the known data. The most common treatment offered was surgical resection (9%). The 5-year overall survival was 79%, with patients undergoing surgery having a 90.6% 5-year survival. Multivariable analysis revealed age > 60 years, Black race, poor histologic differentiation, distant metastases, and tumor size > 10 cm as independent risk factors for mortality. The most common mutations identified from the COSMIC database were MET, KMT2D, KMT2C, ARID1A, and SPEN. PRCC affects male individuals in the sixth decade of life. Increased age, Black race, distant metastases, and tumors > 10 cm are associated with a worse prognosis. Surgical resection offers a favorable survival outcome. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) could identify potentially targetable alterations and future personalized therapeutic approaches.

Prior to the government's involvement, the local communities had customary rights over the forest including access to, use of, and management of forest resources in Bhutan. However, the fate of customary rights changed with the provision of new governance. A case of sokshing (leaflitter forest) and its management under new regulations are discussed in this study. The sokshing which was de facto independent and owned by private households and communities, was nationalized under the provision of the Forest Act of 1969. Subsequently, the Land Act of 1978 permitted the use of sokshing for the collection of leaf litter and fodder, restraining the use of standing trees and land. However, with the Land Act of 2007, the user right was abolished and sokshing was completely nationalized and deregistered from lagthram (private land registration record), infringing the people's customary rights. This study examined how an individuals responded to changes in the legal ownership of sokshing and its effect on the sustainability, management, and preservation of sokshing land. To achieve this, 61 households comprising both sokshing and non-sokshing owners were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Ostrom and Schlager's bundles of rights framework were used to examine the changes in the forest property rights of local people. The results revealed that despite the enactment of the 2007 land act, the majority of respondents continued to manage and use sokshing for the production of leaf litter. However, there were concerns among local people about the ownership of their sokshing land due to poor implementation of the land act and lack of clarity on land property rights. Therefore, to address the concerns and ensure the sustainable management and utilization of sokshing land, it is recommended that the Land Act of 2007 be amended to include provisions for thorough consultation and participation, the development of a comprehensive management plan, and the promotion of equity in the use and management of sokshing resources.

Sensory deprivation can offset the balance of audio versus visual information in multimodal processing. Such a phenomenon could persist for children born deaf, even after they receive cochlear implants (CIs), and could potentially explain why one modality is given priority over the other. Here, we recorded cortical responses to a single speaker uttering two syllables, presented in audio-only (A), visual-only (V), and audio-visual (AV) modes. Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) were successively recorded in seventy-five school-aged children. Twenty-five were children with normal hearing (NH) and fifty wore CIs, among whom 26 had relatively high language abilities (HL) comparable to those of NH children, while 24 others had low language abilities (LL). In EEG data, visual-evoked potentials were captured in occipital regions, in response to V and AV stimuli, and they were accentuated in the HL group compared to the LL group (the NH group being intermediate). Close to the vertex, auditory-evoked potentials were captured in response to A and AV stimuli and reflected a differential treatment of the two syllables but only in the NH group. None of the EEG metrics revealed any interaction between group and modality. In fNIRS data, each modality induced a corresponding activity in visual or auditory regions, but no group difference was observed in A, V, or AV stimulation. The present study did not reveal any sign of abnormal AV integration in children with CI. An efficient multimodal integrative network (at least for rudimentary speech materials) is clearly not a sufficient condition to exhibit good language and literacy.

One of the main obstacles limiting the production of the improved potential crops in Nepal is the low and diminishing productivity of soils. There is a need to take urgent measures to establish good agricultural management practices that check the rate of deterioration and build up soil fertility, In this regard, an experiment was conducted to determine the rotational effect of legumes and nutrient management on performance of maize at Horticulture Research Station (HRS), Dailekh, Nepal during 2018 and 2019. The experiment was laid out in split plot design which consists 4 cropping systems: fallow–maize, lentil-maize, chickpea–maize and field pea–maize as main plot and 4 combinations of manures and fertilizers: control, recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), Farmyard Manure (FYM), and RDF (50%) + FYM (50%) as sub-plot which were replicated three times. The highest grain yield of 1598 kg ha−1 was obtained from field pea followed by 1388 kg ha−1 in chickpea and 1151 kg/ha in lentil and significantly higher grain yield of 1707 kg ha−1 was obtained from the application of FYM alone. Results obtained showed that yield of maize was increased by 28.8%, 13.5% and 12.7% by use of legumes: chickpea, lentil and field pea, respectively as rotational crop over fallow-maize cropping system. Similarly, the data revealed that significantly higher growth characters of maize were recorded from application of RDF followed by combination of RDF plus FYM. The grain yield of maize was increased by 68.4%, 38.5% and 16.4% from the application of RDF, RDF plus FYM and FYM alone, respectively over control plots. The incorporation of grain legumes like chickpea, lentil and field pea can be effective as rotational crop with maize and application of organic and inorganic fertilizer increase productivity of legumes as well as maize which make viable alternative to agricultural sustainability.

Abstract Human‐wildlife conflict is a global issue that poses a major threat to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Wildlife adapted to human‐modified landscapes in developing countries can threaten the safety and livelihood of local communities. In such landscapes, where people and wildlife compete for resources, community involvement is promoted to achieve workable coexistence. We used a choice experiment methodology approach to identify community‐preferred policy alternatives in Chitwan National Park in south‐central Nepal. The results indicated that conflicts between the local community and wildlife are on the rise, crop damage being the highest form of damage and most perceived compensation and fencing as conflict‐mitigation tools. The choice experiment showed that residents have a positive preference for enhancing livelihood diversification skills, cultivating buffer crops, promoting alternative livelihoods, and strengthening rapid response teams. We identified concerned mitigators who are younger age group, encountered and concurred that HWC is increasing, and agreed that fencing and compensation are conflict‐mitigation tools. We designed scenario planning using community‐preferred policy alternatives to assist the park management. This is the first‐choice experiment study to design an evaluation framework under community resilience perspectives to achieve workable coexistence. Our study has potential implications for promoting coexistence in a human‐dominated landscape.