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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most recent disease of corona virus family that impacted people all over the world. Subsequent lockdown and fear of disease transmission greatly affected the orthodontic appointments, treatments, as well as mental health. Objectives: To assess the mental stress among patients undergoing orthodontic patients during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment in the department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics in Dental Hospital of Kathmandu Medical College from 2020 December to 2021 February after institutional ethical approval. Data were collected from 108 participants by convenience sampling technique using questionnaire. Exclusion criteria included patients who answered

This study investigates connections amongst geomorphological activity, geological history and organic carbon storage for trees, shrubs and herbs along valley floors of channel networks in small, steep drainage basins in the Canadian Rockies. The amount of potential storage space for organic carbon often varies considerably along valley floors in mountainous terrain due to variability in valley floor widths resulting from large-scale tectonic controls. Vegetation density on valley floors is anticipated to show significant variability along channel networks in steep terrain due to changing environmental conditions (e.g., climate, moisture, geomorphic disturbances). Valley floor widths were measured and analyzed for two steep drainage basins, Ribbon Creek and Porcupine Creek, in the Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies. Results show that the complex tectonic history and associated geological structures and bedrock type influence valley floors widths, with no regular, discernible pattern in an upstream direction. Field surveys were undertaken to document vegetation density along these same channel networks. Geomorphological processes, such as debris flows and other mass wasting events, influence grain sizes along valley floors in the study drainage basins. Substrate characteristics, such as grain size, were found to influence vegetation density along channel networks. Finally, total organic carbon storage along valley floors is determined for Ribbon Creek and Porcupine Creek. Values of total organic carbon storage are influenced by the joint controls of potential storage space for organic carbon that results from the tectonic history and the control of geomorphological activity on substate conditions and vegetation density.

Background: Hepatitis B is a serious public health problem and dental healthcare workers (HCW) are at a greater risk of acquiring the infection. The main aim of this study was to as­sess the knowledge, attitude, and hepatitis B vaccination status of dental HCW at a tertiary dental hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among all dental HCW and their knowledge lev­el, attitude, and vaccine uptake were measured. Factors associated with the receipt of full hepatitis B vaccination was assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23. Results: Out of the total 254 dental HCW, 207 responded to the survey signifying a response rate of 81.5%. The mean age of the participants was 25.6±5.4 years. A majority of the participants were female (156; 75.4%), unmarried (169; 81.6%), and dental students (117; 56.5%). Most participants had a fair knowledge (117; 56.5%) and a positive attitude regarding Hepatitis B virus (189; 91.3%). However, the uptake of full dose of hepatitis B vaccine was only 41.5%. Dental HCW’s age, marital status, educational attainment, and type of dental HCW were associated with receipt of full vac­cination (all p-value

Substance use disorders refers to the abuse of alcohol, illicit drugs, or substances such as over-thecounter medicines, medicines from unsupervised ordinary retail purchase, or even through prescription. It causes significant health problems and functional impairments such as disability and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home. Common substance use disorders are use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis (marijuana), stimulants, hallucinogens, sedatives, hypnotics, opioids, etc. Objective: To assess prevalence of substance use disorders and effectiveness of educational package on spreading knowledge about substance use disorders among adolescents in selected schools in Lekhnath, Nepal. Methodology: Pre experimental one group pretest and posttest design was used for the study. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was adopted for sampling. For the study, total of 155 adolescents studying in classes 9 and 10 were selected from schools in Lekhnath, Nepal. Self administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data obtained were entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using statistical tool SPSS 16.0.  Result: Among 155 adolescents, 97.40% had heard of substance use disorders. 62.24% of people received the information about substance use disorders via mass media. Family members of 16.8% of samples were engaged in some kind of substance use disorders. 1.90% of sample students drank alcohol, who all happened to be male of age 15-16 years age group. In pretest, more than half (69.70%) of the adolescents had inadequate knowledge about substance use disorders. On the other hand, in the posttest, more than one third of adolescents (37.4%) had adequate knowledge and less than twothird adolescents (58.1%) had moderate knowledge on substance use disorders. The paired ‘t’ test was found to be significant on knowledge level (t=23.76 at 1% level).Only caste/ethnicity of demographical variable was found to be associated with pretest knowledge regarding substance use disorders (F= 3.495 at 5% level, p=0.033). Conclusion: The study concluded that adolescents are in great risk for substance use disorders. After educating on substance use disorders, adolescents gained adequate knowledge regarding the disorder. Study supports that educational package was effective in improving the level of knowledge regarding substance use disorders among adolescents

Herpes zoster infection, commonly known as Shingles, is caused by reactivation of the Varicella-Zoster virus which may have remained latent in the dorsal root ganglia. It is characterized by prodromal symptoms of unilateral deep aching, burning pain followed by a maculopapular rash, vesicular eruptions, ulcers, and scab formations over the affected nerve distribution. The ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve is more commonly involved in herpes zoster infection than maxillary and mandibular branches; in particular, the maxillary involvement is rare. This is a case report of herpes zoster infection in a 65-years-old male patient involving the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and prompt use of antivirals in managing orofacial infection in dental practice.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is recognized as the most important zoonotic tick-transmitted virus in Europe. TBEV is mainly transmitted to humans through bites from TBEV-infected ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus). However, alimentary infection after consumption of unpasteurized milk and cheese from domestic ruminants has been reported. There is little information about TBEV in ruminants in Norway. The objectives of this study were to analyse unpasteurized cow milk for TBEV RNA and to study the presence of IgG antibodies to TBEV in the same animals. A total of 112 milk and blood samples were collected from cows from five different farms spread from southern to northern Norway. The milk samples were analysed by an in-house reverse transcription (RT) real-time polymerase chain reaction and confirmed by pyrosequencing. Serum samples were screened by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and verified by a TBEV-specific serum neutralization test. We found TBEV RNA in unpasteurized milk collected from farms in the municipalities of Mandal, Skedsmo and Brønnøy in 5.4% of the tested animals. Specific antibodies to TBEV were only detected in Arendal, where 88.2% of the tested animals were positive. Further studies on milk containing TBEV RNA should be performed to conclude if TBEV found in unpasteurized milk in Norway is infectious, which could be of great importance in a One Health perspective.

In order to assess the hydrogeochemistry for suitability of different purposes, a total of 45 groundwater samples in Dun valley of central Nepal has been collected and analyzed for various geochemical parameters. Geologically, the study area comprises of Quaternary alluvium composed of boulder, cobble, pebble, gravel and sand with intercalation of clays. All the physicochemical parameters were within the permissible limits except nitrate. 53% of groundwater samples shows more than permissible limit of nitrate concentration (>50 mg/l) as prescribed in the WHO are unsuitable for drinking purpose which may be due to local domestic effluents, leakage of septic tanks, nitrate fertilizer input and livestock excreta. On the basis of mineral stability diagram, groundwater appears to be stable within the kaolinite field suggesting weathering of silicate minerals. Piper diagram’s classification shows that majority of samples belong to Ca–Mg–HCO 3 hydrochemical facies. Saturation index reveals undersaturation state of carbonate minerals which result in carbonate dissolution and Ca dominant waters along with direct exchange process. Groundwater quality index (GWQI) was calculated and found that majority of the area fall in excellent to good water for drinking uses. Evaluation of groundwater quality indicates that all samples are suitable for agricultural and industrial purposes, but around fifty percent samples are not suitable for drinking uses due to high nitrate concentration.

The hydrogeochemical parameters for forty five groundwater samples of the Dun valley aquifers of central Nepal were studied to appraise the major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater quality for domestic and irrigation uses. Geologically, the area comprises Quaternary alluvium composed of boulder, cobble, pebble, gravel and sand with intercalation of clays. Geochemical classification of groundwater shows that the majority of groundwater samples belong to the calcium-bicarbonate type. TDS values of groundwater in the study area are 50 mg/l) of about 53% of the groundwater samples may be due to the local domestic sewage, leakage of septic tanks, and improper management of sanitary landfills. In general, %Na and SAR values indicate good to permissible use of water for irrigation purposes.