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Rojana Dhakal,1,2 Maria Noula,1 Zoe Roupa,1 Edna N Yamasaki1 1Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus; 2Department of Nursing, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Kaski, Gandaki Province, NepalCorrespondence: Rojana Dhakal, Department of Nursing, School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University, Kaski, Gandaki Province, Nepal, Email rojanabuddhi2@gmail.com; dhakal.r@live.unic.ac.cyAbstract: This study aimed to provide updated evidence on the status of female breast cancer and cancer treatment facilities in Asia, with a special focus on Nepal. This review used search phrases that included, breast neoplasm or cancer, health status, epidemiology, breast cancer survivors, cancer care facilities, Asia, Nepal. Researchers examined databases from January 2011 to December 2020 (PubMed, PMC, Google Scholar, and the reference lists of included papers). Studies of any design and reviews, were included in the study, except for qualitative studies. The study findings are presented in a narrative synthesis format using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. An initial search resulted in 974 papers, and 896 were reviewed after being checked for duplication using the Zotero software. Accordingly, utilizing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 188 publications were selected, and after review of titles and abstracts, an additional 98 papers were removed for different reasons. Finally, the study looked at 90 female breast cancer papers. Results showed that the number of cases of breast cancer is growing all around the world, including in Asia and Nepal. Age, early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity, positive family history, excessive fat consumption, alcohol, and smoking are all frequent risk factors for breast cancer found in Asian women. Breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, and mammography screening are common methods for detecting breast carcinoma. Chemotherapy, radiation, and modified mastectomy are commonly used options for treatment. The number of breast cancer survivors is growing throughout the world, indicating better clinical care. There is a paucity of survival data in many Asian countries, including Nepal. There is also a scarcity of health workforce specialized in cancer care and treatment, as well as a few health facilities that are available to treat cancer cases in many Asian countries, including Nepal.Keywords: accessibility to cancer care, epidemiology, incidence, cancer survivors, risk factors, Nepal, treatment

Seismic performance of flexurally-dominated reinforced concrete (RC) walls largely depends on the ability of its confined end regions to withstand axial stress reversals. Observed compression failure modes in these end boundary regions during the Chile (2010) and New Zealand (2010–11) earthquakes led to extensive experimental research that involved testing isolated rectangular columns (or prisms) representative of wall boundary zones under axial cyclic loading. This study scrutinizes the effect of slenderness (height-to-thickness) ratio on the compression failure modes of such wall boundary zones. For this purpose, uniaxial cyclic tests were conducted on four doubly RC prisms representative of rectangular wall boundary zones designed in accordance with ductile detailing requirements of New Zealand Concrete Standard. The test results are presented in detail and the effect of slenderness on progression of two different types of instability, namely local and global, is elaborated. The experimental measurements are compared with the analytical predictions of three phenomenological models proposed in the literature to prevent development of out-of-plane instability in structural walls. Relationships between the effective boundary element slenderness and different compression failure modes are established using the results of this study as well as previous experimental investigations conducted by other researchers. Finally, this paper attempts to provide limitations on the ratio between unsupported wall height to wall thickness deduced from the effective boundary element slenderness limits so that protection against lateral instability in ductile structural walls could be ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasterboard partition walls typically used in commercial buildings are especially sensitive to earthquakes, with the onset of cosmetic damage initiating at small values of interstorey drift. The most common partition wall systems are constructed of gypsum board attached to either steel or timber framing which is fixed directly to the floor system at the top and bottom interfaces. This study investigates the seismic performance of a novel partly-sliding steel-framed partition system examined in the past and used by industry, with minor modifications incorporated within the partition detailing. This novel system involves removing top track anchors within the proximity of wall intersections, thus allowing the tracks to 'bow' out at these locations. In this study three full-scale specimens were subjected to quasi-static cyclic testing; two identical plane specimens and the third including a doorway. The specimens were built in a y-shape and angled at 30° to the direction of applied loading, which allowed bi-direction behaviour to be examined. The specimens included an acoustic/fire sealant. The progression of damage in a partition can be categorized by three sequential damage states associated with distinct levels of repair: superficial damage requiring cosmetic repair (damage state 1 (DS1)), damage requiring local repairs or replacement of only portions of the partition assembly (damage state 2 (DS2)), and severe damage requiring complete removal and replacement of the wall (damage state 3 (DS3)). Damage was first observed as cracking of the wallboard at the wall ends, at external junctions, and propagating from the corners of the door opening. The onset of DS1 and DS2 occurred simultaneously at a median in-plane drift of 0.29%. DS3 was not observable until the linings had been removed at the end of the tests. In addition to providing drift capacities, the force-displacement behaviour is also reported, the dissipated energy was computed, and the parameters of the Wayne–Stewart hysteretic model were fitted to the results. The specimen with the door opening behaved significantly different to the plane specimens: damage to the doorway specimen began as cracking of the wallboard propagating from the corners of the doorway following which the L- and Y-shaped junctions behaved independently, whereas damage to the plane specimens began as cracking of the wallboard at the top of the L-junction and wall system deformed as a single unit. The results suggest that bi-directional behaviour is important even if its impact cannot be directly quantified by this experiment. Damage to sealant implies that the bond between plasterboard and sealant is important for its seismic performance, and careful quality control is advised, as defects in the bond may significantly impact its ability to withstand seismic movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to evaluate genetic polymorphism in three Sakini chicken populations using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with seven highly polymorphic primers. All populations showed polymorphism with these primers that generates 59 different bands with an average of 8.4 bands per primer with 78.6% polymorphism nature. Primer OPA-16 produced the highest number of polymorphism bands 47 % and the lowest number of bands was produced by the OPA-05 primer 24 %. Differences for genetic distance (D) among populations were significant (P<0.05). A consensus dendogram was therefore developed to show the phylogenetic relationship among the populations. The cluster pattern is well supported by the principle component analysis that also separates all three populations of Sakini chicken into six major groups. The results provide evidence of the applicability of RAPD to determining genetic relatedness within and among different poultry populations and in developing reproducible markers useful in evaluating individual variation in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]