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This research aims to employ the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method within the insight into the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to verify whether EKC exists in the Nepalese economy. In this research, variables were used, such as carbon emissions per capita, GDP per capita, energy use per capita, trade volume, and urbanization from 1980 to 2021, and the ARDL method was used. The data has been taken in this research except trade volume from the World Bank and the Ministry of Finance, Nepal. The data sets are converted into the natural logarithmic form to minimize the problem of heteroskedasticity. The findings provide compelling evidence for the existence of the EKC in Nepal, that economic growth has an inverted U-shaped impact on carbon emissions. In the early stages of development, economic growth leads to rising carbon emissions, but in the later stages, economic growth becomes associated with declining emissions. Besides economic growth, per capita energy consumption and urbanization emerge as significant drivers of carbon emissions. However, the trade volume is not found to be the driving factor of carbon emissions. The findings of this study have significant policy implications for global climate change issues and Nepal’s transition from an underdeveloped to a developing nation. To achieve harmonious economic growth and emissions reduction, donor countries and agencies to partner with Nepal in its ambitious endeavors. This partnership can take shape through multifaceted support as fueling socio-economic progress that aligns with Nepal’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions, ensuring that development and sustainability walk together. This research recommends the government of Nepal electrify the transportation landscape by incentivizing the adoption of electric vehicles, paving the way for cleaner air and a healthier planet, empowering Nepal’s natural guardians by strengthening public and private forest programs, safeguarding invaluable ecosystems and biodiversity and curbing the tide of waste mismanagement through strict regulations and robust enforcement, transforming a potential threat into a source of innovation and resourcefulness. These measures, aligned with sustainable employment generation, can pave the way for a brighter and greener future for Nepal.

SUMMARY: This experiment investigated the dose-response effect of xylanase inclusion on growth performance, ileal digesta viscosity, and nutrient digestibility of broilers fed wheat-based mash diets from 1 to 42 d of age. A total of 1,500-day-old YPM × Ross 708 male broilers were randomly sorted in 50 floor pens and assigned to 5 treatments with 10 replicates per treatment. For each feeding phase, a positive control (PC) was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of broilers, a negative control (NC) was formulated to contain 100 kcal/kg less AMEn than the PC, and 3 additional treatments were created by including xylanase to the NC at 1,200 (NC + 1,200), 2,400 (NC + 2,400) and 4,800 (NC + 4,800) U/kg. Feed intake, BW, and mortality corrected FCR were determined at 14, 28, and 42 d of age. Ileal digesta was collected from 7 birds per pen on d 28 to analyze nutrient digestibility and viscosity. In addition, the severity of footpad dermatitis and litter moisture were evaluated at 42 d of age. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using the ANOVA procedure and means were separated by Tukey's HSD test, considering statistical significance at P ≤ 0.05. Broilers fed the NC + 4,800 U/kg diet exhibited a higher BW at 14 (P < 0.001) and 28 (P < 0.05) d of age in comparison to the NC. Similarly, improvements on FCR from 1 to 28 (P < 0.001) and 1 to 42 (P < 0.001) d of age were observed with a xylanase dose of 1,200 U/kg and higher, in comparison to the NC. In addition, broilers fed the NC supplemented with xylanase at all doses effectively reduced (P < 0.001) ileal digesta viscosity in comparison to the NC. Finally, xylanase supplementation at a dose of 2,400 U/kg to the NC increased CP (P < 0.01), and apparent ileal total amino acid digestibility (P < 0.001) compared to the NC. Overall, supplementation of mash wheat-based diets with incremental doses of xylanase improved broiler performance and nutrient digestibility while reducing ileal digesta viscosity.

Large earthquakes can contribute to mountain growth by building topography but also contribute to mass removal from mountain ranges through widespread mass wasting. On annual to decadal or centennial timescales, large earthquakes also have the potential to significantly alter fluvial sediment dynamics if a significant volume of the sediment generated reaches the fluvial network. In this contribution, we focus on the Melamchi–Indrawati and Bhote Koshi rivers in central Nepal, which have both experienced widespread landsliding associated with the 2015 Gorkha (Nepal) earthquake. Using a time series of high-resolution satellite imagery, we have mapped exposed sediment along the rivers from 2012–2021 to identify zones of active channel deposition and document changes over time. Counter to expectations, we show negligible increases in coarse-sediment accumulation along both river corridors since the Gorkha earthquake. However, an extremely high-concentration flow event on 15 June 2021 caused an approximately 4-fold increase in exposed sediment along a 30 km reach of the channel with up to 12 m of channel aggradation in the Melamchi–Indrawati rivers; this event was localised and did not impact the neighbouring Bhote Koshi catchment. Based on published reports, new helicopter-based photography, and satellite data, we demonstrate that this event was sourced from a localised rainfall event between 4500 and 4800 m and that a significant fraction of the sediment was supplied from sources that were unrelated to the landslides generated by the Gorkha earthquake.

Mass movements play an important role in landscape evolution of high mountain areas such as the Himalayas. Yet, establishing numerical age control and reconstructing transport dynamics of past events is challenging. To fill this research gap, we bring luminescence dating to the test in an extremely challenging environment: the Pokhara Valley in Nepal. This is challenging for two reasons: (i) the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensitivity of quartz, typically the mineral of choice for dating sediments younger than 100 ka, is poor, and (ii) highly rapid and turbid conditions during mass movement transport hamper sufficient OSL signal resetting prior to deposition, which eventually results in age overestimation. Here, we first assess the applicability of single-grain feldspar dating of medieval mass movement deposits catastrophically emplaced in the Pokhara Valley. Second, we exploit the poor bleaching mechanisms to get insight into the sediment dynamics of this paleo-mass movement through bleaching proxies. The Pokhara Valley is a unique setting for our case study, considering the availability of an extensive independent radiocarbon dataset as a geochronological benchmark. Single-grain infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals were measured at 50 ∘C (IRSL-50) and post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence signals at 150 ∘C (pIRIR-150). Our results show that the IRSL-50 signal is better bleached than the pIRIR-150 signal. A bootstrapped minimum age model (bMAM) is applied to retrieve the youngest subpopulation to estimate the paleodose. However, burial ages calculated with this paleodose overestimate the radiocarbon ages by an average factor of ∼23 (IRSL-50) and ∼72 (pIRIR-150), showing that dating of the Pokhara Formation with a single-grain approach was not successful for most samples. Some samples, however, only slightly overestimate the true emplacement age and thus could be used for a rough age estimation. Large inheritances in combination with the scatter in the single-grain dose distributions show that the sediments have been transported under extremely limited light exposure prior to deposition, which is consistent with the highly turbid nature of the sediment-laden flood and debris flows depositing the Pokhara gravels. To investigate the sediment transport dynamics in more detail, we studied three bleaching proxies: the percentage of grains in saturation 2D0 criteria, the percentage of best-bleached grains (2σ range of bMAM-De) and the overdispersion (OD). None of the three bleaching proxies indicate a spatial relationship with runout distance of the mass movement deposits. We interpret this as evidence for the lack of bleaching during transport, which reflects the catastrophic nature of the event. While not providing reliable burial ages of the Pokhara mass movement deposits, single-grain feldspar dating can potentially be used as an age range finder method. Our approach shows the potential of luminescence techniques to provide insights in sediment transport dynamics of extreme and rare mass movement events in mountainous regions.

This study explored the use of TensorFlow image recognition model to identify herbaceous mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) from digital images. There is a demand for such technology toward digital mapping of the spatial distribution of these important perennial legumes in the context of pasture management and as well as management of reclamation ground cover landscapes. This study provided evidence of successful application of TensorFlow model for identification of herbaceous mimosa from digital images with final accuracy of 95 % or more. The complexity of ground images of multiple objects in this study is suspected to induce fluctuations in validation accuracy. Such fluctuation of the validation accuracy, however, was shown to decline over time as the accuracy increased with more processing epochs involved. Despite the downside of intensive data preparation and heavy computing resources, the approach tested in this study is promising toward the next step of the technology application for identification of herbaceous mimosa patches from images acquired using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Abstract Background and Aims The effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccines in reducing symptoms, disease advancement, complications, and mortality in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection has been well‐established. This case‐control study aimed to compare different blood parameters, and prognostic and survival outcomes of COVID‐19 patients based on vaccination status. Methods We performed a case‐control study that included hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Individuals who received vaccination were designated as cases and unvaccinated individuals as controls. Demographics, co‐morbidity, clinical data, laboratory data, and disease outcomes were recorded for both groups. Multivariate, Cox, and linear regression were used for analysing blood parameters, hospital admission, survival, and hospital stay, respectively, between cases and controls. Results Out of 100 participants enrolled, 46 were vaccinated, and 54 weren't. At admission, ferritin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were significantly lower in cases. At discharge, cases showed a higher monocyte than controls. Ferritin, ESR, and d‐imer showed excellent performance in determining the severity of symptoms. Significant correlation and regression of ferritin and ESR with the length of hospital stay was observed. Length of hospital stay was significantly lower in cases than in controls. No significant differences between cases and controls were observed in mortality. Conclusion COVID‐19 vaccines effectively reduced hospitalization duration. Ferritin and ESR were significantly lower in vaccinated individuals and showed the best utility in monitoring the disease.

Abstract This paper presents a motion-sensing device with the capability of harvesting energy from low-frequency motion activities. Based on the high surface area reverse electrowetting-on-dielectric (REWOD) energy harvesting technique, mechanical modulation of the liquid generates an AC signal, which is modeled analytically and implemented in Matlab and COMSOL. A constant DC voltage is produced by using a rectifier and a DC–DC converter to power up the motion-sensing read-out circuit. A charge amplifier converts the generated charge into a proportional output voltage, which is transmitted wirelessly to a remote receiver. The harvested DC voltage after the rectifier and DC–DC converter is found to be 3.3 V, having a measured power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the rectifier as high as 40.26% at 5 Hz frequency. The energy harvester demonstrates a linear relationship between the frequency of motion and the generated output power, making it highly suitable as a self-powered wearable motion sensor.

Li-CO2 batteries with a theoretical energy density of 1,876 Wh kg−1 are attractive as a promising energy storage strategy and as an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by CO2 reduction and the formation of discharge product Li2CO3 and carbon. This article provides critical perspectives on the development of Li-CO2 batteries as well as a description of current issues and challenges associated with cathode catalysts, electrolyte, and anode for Li-CO2 batteries. Furthermore, the development and deployment of materials to overcome these challenges of Li-CO2 batteries are discussed briefly. Finally, a systematic analysis of beyond Li-CO2 batteries (other Metal-CO2 batteries) as a potential research direction in the development of energy storage and CO2 fixation and utilization in practical applications is provided.

In the deep sedimentary biosphere, 80 °C has been proposed as an upper thermal barrier for life. Using a suite of radiotracer experiments, this study reports active methanogenic and sulfate-reducing microbial populations with high cell-specific metabolic rates in deeply buried marine sediments from the Nankai Trough subduction zone, which reach temperatures up to 120 °C.

ABSTRACT: A study was conducted to understand the relationship among dietary branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on the performance of Ross 344 × 708 male broilers. A total of 2,592 d-old male chicks were randomly placed into 144-floor pens according to a 23 full factorial central composite design (CCD) with 20 treatments (14 treatments and 6 center points). Each treatment consisted of varying digestible Ile:Lys (52 to 75), Val:Lys (64 to 87), and Leu:Lys (110 to 185) ratios. Birds and feed were weighed at 20 and 34 d of age to determine body weight gain (BWG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). At 35 d of age, feather amino acid composition and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Data were analyzed as CCD using the surface response option of JMP v. 15. Body weight gain (1,332 g; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.93) and FCR (1.54; P = 0.002; R2 = 0.88) were optimized at the lowest Leu:Lys ratio (110) with moderate Val:Lys (78 to 79) and Ile:Lys (65 to 66) ratios. Poorer BWG and FCR were observed as Leu:Lys ratio increased while increasing Val:Lys and Ile:Lys ratios alleviated the poor performance. Carcass (71.5%; P = 0.031; R2 = 0.76) and breast yield (26.7%; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.96) were maximized at the highest Leu:Lys ratio. This effect was complemented by increasing Ile:Lys ratio beyond 68. Lower Ile:Lys and Val:Lys ratios were required to maximize carcass and breast yield at the lowest Leu:Lys ratio. However, this strategy yielded less meat than providing a high Leu:Lys ratio diet. Dietary BCAA had little effect on altering the composition of feather protein and amino acid (P > 0.10). These results suggest that optimum BCAA ratios to Lys may vary depending on response criteria and demonstrate the importance of maintaining proper Val and Ile ratios centered on dietary Leu. Live performance can be optimized in diets with low Leu:Lys ratios; however, meat yield can be enhanced by increasing dietary Leu:Lys along with Ile:Lys ratios.

Abstract Increasing demand for self-powered wearable sensors has spurred an urgent need to develop energy harvesting systems that can reliably and sufficiently power these devices. Within the last decade, reverse electrowetting-on-dielectric (REWOD)-based mechanical motion energy harvesting has been developed, where an electrolyte is modulated (repeatedly squeezed) between two dissimilar electrodes under an externally applied mechanical force to generate an AC current. In this work, we explored various combinations of electrolyte concentrations, dielectrics, and dielectric thicknesses to generate maximum output power employing REWOD energy harvester. With the objective of implementing a fully self-powered wearable sensor, a “zero applied-bias-voltage” approach was adopted. Three different concentrations of sodium chloride aqueous solutions (NaCl-0.1 M, NaCl-0.5 M, and NaCl-1.0 M) were used as electrolytes. Likewise, electrodes were fabricated with three different dielectric thicknesses (100 nm, 150 nm, and 200 nm) of Al2O3 and SiO2 with an additional layer of CYTOP for surface hydrophobicity. The REWOD energy harvester and its electrode–electrolyte layers were modeled using lumped components that include a resistor, a capacitor, and a current source representing the harvester. Without using any external bias voltage, AC current generation with a power density of 53.3 nW/cm2 was demonstrated at an external excitation frequency of 3 Hz with an optimal external load. The experimental results were analytically verified using the derived theoretical model. Superior performance of the harvester in terms of the figure-of-merit comparing previously reported works is demonstrated. The novelty of this work lies in the combination of an analytical modeling method and experimental validation that together can be used to increase the REWOD harvested power extensively without requiring any external bias voltage.

We study a general p-curl system arising from a model of type-II superconductors. We show several trace theorems that hold on either a Lipschitz domain with small Lipschitz constant or on a C^{1,1} domain. Certain duality mappings on related Sobolev spaces are computed and used to establish surjectivity results for the p-curl system. We also solve a nonlinear boundary value problem for a general p-curl system on a C^{1,1} domain and provide a variational characterization of the first eigenvalue of the p-curl operator.

Summary: Consumer demands for chickens raised without the use of antibiotics, legislative restrictions, and trade opportunities have encouraged many integrators within the poultry industry to raise poultry without antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) and ionophores. However, with the removal of AGPs and ionophores, the incidence of enteric diseases such as coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens, respectively, have increased, thereby gaining the attention of the poultry industry to look for alternative strategies to improve bird's health. Coccidiosis and NE are 2 major enteric disease concerns in broilers because of their association with decreased performance, increased mortality, reduced welfare, and a higher risk of poultry product contamination. Necrotic enteritis is often induced after a coccidiosis infection and any factor that causes stress, reduces immunity, and disturbs intestinal ecosystem. Nutritional mitigation strategies have been widely used to reduce such enteric diseases with a greater focus on balanced gut health. Some of the nutritional interventions that have shown potential for improving gut health while reducing overall disease include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, essential oils, vaccination, and natural phytochemical extracts in poultry diets. A better understanding of the relationship between nutritional strategies, coccidiosis, and NE is crucial to improve gut health in the absence of AGPs in poultry production. This review will provide information and updates pertaining to current research focusing on several nutritional strategies that have helped to alleviate coccidiosis and NE, by modulating performance and gut health aspects.

SUMMARY: Continuous genetic improvement of high yielding broiler strains necessitates reevaluation of amino acid requirements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dIle requirement of Ross 708 x Ross YP male broilers from d 0 to 18. Experimental diets were created from a common deficient corn and soybean meal-based diet providing a dIle:dLys of 52%; after manufacturing, half was retained for the creation of the summit diet (82% dIle:dLys). The remaining 5 experimental diets ranged from 57 to 77% dIle:dLys and were blended proportions of deficient and summit dIle diets. A practical control diet (PRAC-CON; 67% dIle:dLys) was manufactured separately for verification of the blended control diet (50 deficient:50 summit blend; BLEND-CON; 67% dIle:dLys); all diets were subsequently pelleted/crumbled. On d of hatch, 2,400 male chicks were equally allocated to 96 pens (12 replications/treatment). All dIle:dLys ratios were estimated using quadratic regression (QR; 95% of the asymptote), as well as linear and quadratic broken line models (LBL; QBL). Performance data demonstrated that feeding higher than starter breed nutrient specifications, for broilers, at the time of this study (67% dIle:dLys) improved broiler performance from 0 to 18 d. After considering the estimated requirements produced by the multiple regression models for all measured variables (BW, BW gain, FCR, and CV of ending BW), these data suggest that the optimum starter dIle:dLys ratio for male Ross 708 × Ross YP broilers from 0 to 18 d, ranged from 63 to 74% dIle:dLys. Further research should evaluate dIle:dLys requirements of male Ross 708 × Ross YP broilers during the remaining grow-out phases.

SUMMARY: Recent research within our laboratory has determined the optimal Ross 708 × Ross YP male broiler dIle:dLys ratio for the starter and grower phases to be 70 and 68%, respectively. Thus, the current objective was to continue to re-evaluate the optimal dIle:dLys ratio for this broiler, focusing on the finisher phase. On d of hatch, 2,400 chicks were equally allocated to 96 pens and fed a common starter (d 0–14; 70% dIle:dLys) and grower diet (d 14–28; 68% dIle:dLys). Pen weights were equalized at d 28 by block (12/treatment). Experimental finisher diets (d 28–42;18.0% crude protein, 3,200 kcal/kg, 0.97% dLys, 130% dLeu:dLys) were created from a common deficient (54% dIle:dLys) corn and soybean meal-based diet and contained animal protein. Half of the deficient was retained to create the summit (84% dIle:dLys). The remaining 5 diets were blended proportions of the deficient and summit diets (ranging from 59 to 79% dIle:dLys). A practical control diet (PRAC-CON; 69% dIle:dLys) was manufactured separately to verify the blended control diet (BLEND-CON). All dIle:dLys ratios were estimated using quadratic regression (QR; 95% of the asymptote), as well as linear and quadratic broken line models (LBL; QBL). Feeding equivalent to or slightly lower than current breeder dIle:dLys recommendations (69%) improved broiler performance from d 28 to 42. Based on the current data and multiple regression models, the estimated ratios ranged from 62 to 66% for BW and BWG and 63 to 66% for FCR. Further research should evaluate the optimal dIle:dLys ratio for this broiler throughout the remaining withdrawal phase.

SUMMARY: Previous research within our laboratory determined the optimal male Ross 708 dIle:dLys ratio for the starter phase to be greater than recent breeder recommendations (70 vs. 67%). Thus, the current objective was to assess the subsequent growth phase (grower) in order to evaluate the optimal dIle:dLys ratio for maximized growth performance of Ross 708 × Ross YP male broilers. On d of hatch, 2,400 chicks were equally allocated to 96 pens and fed a common starter diet. On d 14, pen weights were equalized by block (12 replications/treatments). Experimental grower diets (d 14–28) were created from a common Deficient (53% dIle:dLys) corn and soybean meal-based diet. After batching, half of the Deficient diet was used to create the Summit diet (83% dIle:dLys). The remaining 5 experimental diets ranged from 58 to 78% dIle:dLys and were blended proportions of the Deficient and Summit diets. A practical control diet (PRAC-CON; 68% dIle:dLys) was manufactured separately to verify the blended control diet (BLEND-CON; 68% dIle:dLys). All dIle:dLys ratios were estimated using quadratic regression (QR; 95% of the asymptote), as well as linear and quadratic broken line models (LBL; QBL). Based on the current data and using multiple regression models the estimated ratios ranged from 62 to 68% for BW and BWG, and 67-70% for FCR and are similar to the current breeder nutrient specifications for the grower phase. Further research should evaluate dIle:dLys requirements of male Ross 708 × Ross YP broilers during the remaining grow-out phases.

Epidemiological forecasts are beset by uncertainties about the underlying epidemiological processes, and the surveillance process through which data are acquired. We present a Bayesian inference methodology that quantifies these uncertainties, for epidemics that are modelled by (possibly) non-stationary, continuous-time, Markov population processes. The efficiency of the method derives from a functional central limit theorem approximation of the likelihood, valid for large populations. We demonstrate the methodology by analysing the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, based on age-structured data for the number of deaths. This includes maximum a posteriori estimates, Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling of the posterior, computation of the model evidence, and the determination of parameter sensitivities via the Fisher information matrix. Our methodology is implemented in PyRoss, an open-source platform for analysis of epidemiological compartment models.

ABSTRACT: Vitamin D is essential for the metabolism of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in birds. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different isoforms of dietary vitamin D on Ca and P utilization, egg quality, and bone mineralization of laying hens. A total of 42 Lohmann white laying hens at 57 wk of age were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments for 6 wk. Dietary treatments were: 3,000 IU/kg Vit D3 as control, and control with additional 3,000 IU/kg 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (T1), 9,000 IU/kg 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (T2), 3,000 IU/kg vitamin D3 (T3), 9,000 IU/kg vitamin D3 (T4), 3,000 IU/kg of vitamin D2 (T5), or 9,000 IU/kg of vitamin D2 (T6). Egg production and egg quality were measured weekly. Fecal samples were collected at weeks 2 and 6 to measure Ca and P utilization. After 6 wk, the left tibia and femurs were collected to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC). A 1-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD means separation test was used for statistical analysis. There were no significant differences in egg production, egg quality, BMD, or BMC of tibia and femurs among the treatments (P > 0.05). T6 significantly reduced feed intake (P < 0.05). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of Ca was higher (P < 0.012) in treatments supplemented with additional vitamin D, irrespective of forms. The ATTD of P was higher (P < 0.0001) in T5 compared to the other treatments at both time points. The utilization of Ca and P by laying hens can be improved through the addition of different isoforms of vitamin D in diets. However, additional vitamin D supplementation to laying hens, regardless of forms, had no effect on either bone mineralization or measures of egg quality.

The number of deaths from landslides in Nepal has been increasing dramatically due to a complex combination of earthquakes, climate change, and an explosion of informal road construction that destabilizes slopes during the rainy season. This trend will likely rise as development continues, especially as China's Belt and Road Initiative seeks to construct three major trunk roads through the Nepali Himalaya that adjacent communities will seek to tie in to with poorly constructed roads. To determine the effect of these informal roads on generating landslides, we compare the distance between roads and landslides triggered by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake with those triggered by monsoon rainfalls, as well as a set of randomly located landslides to determine if the spatial correlation is strong enough to further imply causation. If roads are indeed causing landslides, we should see a clustering of rainfall-triggered landslides closer to the roads that accumulate and focus the water that facilitates failure. We find that in addition to a concentration of landslides in landscapes with more developed, agriculturally viable soils, that the rainfall-triggered landslides are more than twice as likely to occur within 100 m of a road than the landslides generated by the earthquake. The oversteepened slopes, poor water drainage and debris management provide the necessary conditions for failure during heavy monsoonal rains. Based on these findings, geoscientists, planners and policymakers must consider how road development affects the physical (and ecological), socio-political and economic factors that increase risk in exposed communities, alongside ecologically and financially sustainable solutions such as green roads.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) is a very peculiar disease, mostly characterized by unilateral paroxysmal facial pain, often described by patient as ‘one of the worst pain in my life’. This condition is also known as ‘Tic Douloureus’. The annual incidence of TN is about 4.7/100000 population, male and female are equally affected. The diagnosis is usually made by history, clinical fi ndings and cranial imaging is required to rule out compressing vascular loop, organic lesions and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at Trigeminal nerve (TN). Treatment of TGN ranged from medical to surgical intervention. Between September 2007 and April 2015, 20 patients underwent micro vascular decompression (MVD) of TN for TGN who were refractory to medical treatment at department of Neurosurgery, Bir Hospital. All decompressions were performed using operating microscope. Follow up period ranged from 22 months to 8 years. There were 9 males and 11 females and age ranged from 30-70 years. The neuralgic pain was localized on right side in 13 patients and left on 7 patients. Pain distribution was on V3 (mandibular branch) dermatome in 11, V2( Maxillary branch ) in 4, V2-3 in 2 and V1- 2-3 in 3 patients respectively. On intraoperative fi ndings TN was compressed by superior cerebellar artery ( SCA ) in 8, tumors in 4, unidentifi ed vessels in 3, veins in 2, anterior inferior cerebellar artery ( AICA ) in 1 and no cause was found in 2 patients. 7 patients suffered postoperative complications which included hyposthesia in 3, pseudomeningocele in 3 and meningitis in 1. There was no mortality in this series. 20 patients felt pain relief immediately after procedure and 1 patients came after 3 years with recurrent pain requiring second surgery. In conclusion, MVD for TGN in younger patients who are refractory to medical treatment is one of the best treatment options which is safe and long term pain relief is achieved in majority of cases.

Let X be a real reflexive Banach space and $X^*$ its dual space. Let $L: X\supset D(L)\to X^*$ be a densely defined linear maximal monotone operator, and $T:X\supset D(T)\to 2^{X^*}$, $0\in D(T)$ and $0\in T(0)$, be strongly quasibounded maximal monotone and positively homogeneous of degree 1. Also, let $C:X\supset D(C)\to X^*$ be bounded, demicontinuous and of type $(S_+)$ w.r.t. to D(L). The existence of nonzero solutions of $Lx+Tx+Cx\ni0$ is established in the set $G_1\setminus G_2$, where $G_2\subset G_1$ with $\overline G_2\subset G_1$, $G_1, G_2$ are open sets in X, $0\in G_2$, and $G_1$ is bounded. In the special case when L=0, a mapping $G:\overline G_1\to X^*$ of class (P) introduced by Hu and Papageorgiou is also incorporated and the existence of nonzero solutions of $Tx+ Cx+ Gx\ni 0$, where T is only maximal monotone and positively homogeneous of degree $\alpha\in (0, 1]$, is obtained. Applications to elliptic partial differential equations involving p-Laplacian with $p \in (1, 2]$ and time-dependent parabolic partial differential equations on cylindrical domains are presented.

Mikania micrantha is one of the major invasive alien plant species in tropical moist forest regions of Asia including Nepal. Recently, this weed is spreading at an alarming rate in Chitwan National Park (CNP) and threatening biodiversity. This paper aims to assess the impacts of Mikania micrantha on different land cover and to predict potential invasion sites in CNP using Maxent model. Primary data for this were presence point coordinates and perceived Mikania micrantha cover collected through systematic random sampling technique. Rapideye image, Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission data and bioclimatic variables were acquired as secondary data. Mikania micrantha distribution maps were prepared by overlaying the presence points on image classified by object based image analysis. The overall accuracy of classification was 90 % with Kappa coefficient 0.848. A table depicting the number of sample points in each land cover with respective Mikania micrantha coverage was extracted from the distribution maps to show the impact. The riverine forest was found to be the most affected land cover with 85.98 % presence points and sal forest was found to be very less affected with only 17.02 % presence points. Maxent modeling predicted the areas near the river valley as the potential invasion sites with statistically significant Area Under the Receiver Operating Curve (AUC) value of 0.969. Maximum temperature of warmest month and annual precipitation were identified as the predictor variables that contribute the most to Mikania micrantha's potential distribution.

For diffusive stochastic dynamics, the probability to observe any individual trajectory is vanishingly small, making it unclear how to experimentally validate theoretical results for ratios of path probabilities. We provide the missing link between theory and experiment by establishing a protocol to extract ratios of path probabilities from measured time series. For experiments on a single colloidal particle in a microchannel, we extract both ratios of path probabilities and the most probable path for a barrier crossing, and find excellent agreement with independently calculated predictions based on the Onsager-Machlup stochastic action. Our experimental results at room temperature are found to be inconsistent with the low-noise Freidlin-Wentzell stochastic action, and we discuss under which circumstances the latter action is expected to describe the most probable path. Furthermore, while the experimentally accessible ratio of path probabilities is uniquely determined, the formal path-integral action is known to depend on the time-discretization scheme used for deriving it; we reconcile these two seemingly contradictory facts by careful analysis of the time-slicing derivation of the path integral. Our experimental protocol enables us to probe probability distributions on path space and allows us to relate theoretical single-trajectory results to measurement.

In this work, we report the electrospinning and mechano-morphological characterizations of scaffolds based on blends of a novel poly(ester urethane urea) (PHH) and poly(dioxanone) (PDO). At the optimized electrospinning conditions, PHH, PDO and blend PHH/PDO in Hexafluroisopropanol (HFIP) solution yielded bead-free non-woven random nanofibers with high porosity and diameter in the range of hundreds of nanometers. The structural, morphological, and biomechanical properties were investigated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and tensile tests. The blended scaffold showed an elastic modulus (~5 MPa) with a combination of the ultimate tensile strength (2 ± 0.5 MPa), and maximum elongation (150% ± 44%) in hydrated conditions, which are comparable to the materials currently being used for soft tissue applications such as skin, native arteries, and cardiac muscles applications. This demonstrates the feasibility of an electrospun PHH/PDO blend for cardiac patches or vascular graft applications that mimic the nanoscale structure and mechanical properties of native tissue.

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal tumors account about 40% of all intraspinal tumors and mainly represented by nerve sheath tumors and meningiomas. These two tumors represent about 55% of IDEM tumors and other rare tumors are dermoid, epidermoid, lipomas, metastatic tumors, paragangliomas etc. Technical advances in imaging techniques, MRI and surgical procedures have brought about excellent clinical results of IDEM tumors after surgery in last two decades. However, a small percentage of patients still present poor postoperative neurological outcome due to delayed in diagnosis and surgical intervention, severity of preoperative neurological defi cits and adverse pathology. The aim of this study is to analyze and discuss about the surgical outcome of 65 IDEM tumors operated in twelve years’ period. This is a retrospective study of 65 patients who were operated for IDEM tumors, between 1999 and 2012 in Department of Neurosurgery. One patient who had IDEM arteriovenous malformation was excluded from the study. Neurological outcome was scaled by McCormick’s grading. Follow up period ranged for 5 years to 17 years. After the clinical evaluation, all the patients suspected of having spinal tumors were subjected for MRI with Gadolinium enhancement of presumed level of spine based on neurological findings. Total excision of all IDEM tumors was performed using operating microscope. No intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring was used. There were 40 male and 25 female and age ranged from 10 to 80 years. Most common IDEM tumors were nerve sheath tumors (44), meningiomas (13), hydatid cyst (2), dermoid/epidermoid (2), arachnoid cyst (2) and n were thoracic, cervical and lumbar spines.Total tumor excision was performed in all cases. Post operative Complications rate was 12.3% (7) and common complications included were CSF Leak (5), wound infection (2), meningitis (1). There was no surgery related mortality. Postoperatively 60 patients had improved neurological status, 5 patients had stable neurology. There was no postoperative neurological deterioration. On followed up period 2 patients showed features of recurrence of tumor in 5 years’ period and underwent resurgical treatment. Those two patients with recurrent tumors were nerve sheath tumors. Majority of IDEM tumors are benign and total cure is possible in almost all cases if tumor is excised totally. Excellent neurological recovery has been observed in more than 95% of cases.

About 55% of spinal tumors are extradural arising from vertebral bodies, epidural and surrounding neural and soft tissues. More than 90% of extradural spinal tumors are metastatic lesions. Extradural spinal tumors are common cause of back pain, sensory motor deficit and sphincters dysfunction. The wide range of lesions and varied clinical profile, make management of spinal extradural tumors a challenging task for any neurosurgeon. Aim of this study is to analyze and discuss the results of extradural spinal tumors after surgical treatment and relevant literature will be reviewed. This is a retrospective study of 36 patients who were operated for spinal extradural tumors between May 1999 and December 2012 in our institute. Follow up period ranged from 3 years to 12 years. Functional neurological outcome was assessed by McCormick's grading. There were 20 male and 16 female and age ranged from 10 to 80 years. 30 patients presented with back pain and 15 had radicular pain. On presentation 18 patients had motor sensory deficit and 15 had sphincters dysfunction. Most common involved level of spines were thoracic followed by cervical and lumbar. Gross total excision of masses were carried out in all cases. Common pathologies were neurofibromas (16), Ewing's sarcoma (7), granulomas (3), metastatic lesions (2), angiolipoma (2), chondroma (2), aneurysmal bone cyst (1), plasmacytoma (1), rabdomyosarcoma (1) and neuroblastoma (1). Out of 14 patients who harbored malignant pathology 12 patients received radio and chemotherapy. Post operative wound infection occurred in 5 patients. Regarding post operative neurological status, 18 patients showed improvement, 6 patients remained same and 12 patients had deteriorated neurology. Tumor recurrence occurred in 15 patients; 12 patients with malignant and 3 patients with benign lesions on follow up period. There was no surgery related mortality, however, 11 patients died during 3 years follow up period due to adverse pathology they were having.

The wurtzite crystal structure of nitride semiconductors results in strong piezoelectricity. Here, the authors also achieve electric-field control of the magnetization of gallium manganese nitride, thus showing that piezoelectric and magnetoelectric effects can be combined in the same material.

Background: Obstructive jaundice due to malignant pathology is often associated with high bilirubin levels. This may not always be true as malignant pathologies can still present with low bilirubin levels in the early stages or benign pathologies can present with high levels if there is associated cholangitis. Also, Carbohydrate Antigen (CA19-9) has been an unreliable predictor of malignancy. Aim and Objectives: Our study examined the combined accuracy of bilirubin levels and CA19-9, in order to predict malignancy as a cause of obstructive jaundice. Material and Methods:Bilirubin levels in a total of 900 patients with obstructive jaundice were analyzed over a period of 5 years in a retrospective study. CA 19-9 levels were also analyzed in those patients suspected to have malignancy on clinical evaluation or imaging (649 patients). The values of bilirubin in isolation and with CA19-9 in combination were used for co relation, along with imaging and histopathology. Results: Bilirubin levels in isolation, as a predictor of pathology in patients with obstructive jaundice were highly significant (Area under Curve =0.805; P < 0.01). Bilirubin level >7 mg% provided the optimum combined sensitivity and specificity for malignancy (71.9% and 84.9%, respectively). The application of a bilirubin level > 19 mg% achieved specificity of 99.1% for malignancy. The sensitivity and specificity of CA 19-9 in isolation was 70.9% and 78.3% respectively at a cut-off value of 37U/ml. In combination, the sensitivity and the specificity were 87.9% and 91.3% respectively. Conclusion: Serum bilirubin and CA 19- 9 levels are routinely done as a part of the patients workup for obstructive jaundice. When evaluated in combination the positive predictive value increases significantly to diagnose malignancy especially in cases where it is obscure. It acts as a valuable guide to the surgeon along with other modalities

Preface: Thematic Issue in Mathematical Biology and Applied Evolutionary Equations

The probability of trajectories of weakly diffusive processes to remain in the tubular neighborhood of a smooth path is given by the Freidlin-Wentzell-Graham theory of large deviations. The most probable path between two states (the instanton) and the leading term in the logarithm of the process transition density (the quasipotential) are obtained from the minimum of the Freidlin-Wentzell action functional. Here we present a Ritz method that searches for the minimum in a space of paths constructed from a global basis of Chebyshev polynomials. The action is reduced, thereby, to a multivariate function of the basis coefficients, whose minimum can be found by nonlinear optimization. For minimization regardless of path duration, this procedure is most effective when applied to a reparametrization-invariant “on-shell” action, which is obtained by exploiting a Noether symmetry and is a generalization of the scalar work [Olender and Elber, J. Mol. Struct: THEOCHEM 398, 63 (1997)THEODJ0166-128010.1016/S0166-1280(97)00038-9] for gradient dynamics and the geometric action [Heyman and Vanden-Eijnden (2008)] for nongradient dynamics. Our approach provides an alternative to chain-of-states methods for minimum energy paths and saddle points of complex energy landscapes and to Hamilton-Jacobi methods for the stationary quasipotential of circulatory fields. We demonstrate spectral convergence for three benchmark problems involving the Müller-Brown potential, the Maier-Stein force field, and the Egger weather model.

The recent interest in self-propulsion raises an immediate challenge in facile and single-step synthesis of active particles. Here, we address this challenge and synthesize soft oxometalate nanomotors that translate ballistically in water using the energy released in a redox reaction of hydrazine fuel with the soft-oxometalates. Our motors reach a maximum speed of 370 body lengths per second and remain motile over a period of approximately 3 days. We report measurements of the speed of a single motor as a function of the concentration of hydrazine. It is also possible to induce a transition from single-particle translation to collective motility with biomimetic bands simply by tuning the loading of the fuel. We rationalize the results from a physicochemical hydrodynamic theory. Our nanomotors may also be used for transport of catalytic materials in harsh chemical environments that would otherwise passivate the active catalyst.

Primary tuberculosis of the upper respiratory tract is extremely rare and poses a diagnostic challenge. Due to delay in diagnosis the disease may progress to life threatening airway compromise. Here we report a case of chronic granulomatous infection of the upper respiratory tract involving the oropharynx. Initial biopsy revealed acute on chronic inflammation with no epitheloid granuloma and no acid fast bacilli was found on Ziehl-Nielsen staining of the biopsy. As a result of delay in diagnosis the disease progressed to involve the soft palate, valopharyngeal isthmus, and supraglottis compromising the airway and needed emergency tracheostomy. Where there is strong clinical suspicion repeat biopsy should be performed. The life threatening complication of pharyngeal tuberculosis such as stenosis and adhesion leading to airway compromise can occur during the course of treatment and should be closely monitored . It can be managed effectively with radiofrequency uvulopalatoplasty as demonstrated in the case report.

The involvement of central nervous system in children with typhoid fever is common. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a rare immune mediated and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that usually affects children. We report a 7-year-old child with typhoid fever who developed acute cerebellar syndrome due to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2013, Vol-9, No-4, 55-58 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v9i4.10237