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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.

This study explored Nepali university teachers' and students' perceptions and experiences of emergency remote teaching (ERT) vis-à-vis its opportunities and challenges during the COVID-19 crisis. Study data were collected via email by employing online questionnaires to higher education teachers and students from 10 colleges under seven universities in Nepal. The respondents' responses to the closed questions were quantified and analyzed using a descriptive model, whereas responses to open-ended questions were critically examined by adopting thematic analysis method. Our findings indicate that while ERT, which brought many opportunities for self-motivated teachers and students, was useful during the prolonged health crisis, challenges experienced by the respondents suggested that higher education institutions were not fully successful in addressing key issues such as teacher training and support mechanism required for the effective implementation of ERT.

BACKGROUND: Delirious mania (DM) is a severe psychiatric condition having rapid onset of delirium, mania, and psychosis. It is an emergency condition as it has acute onset and is characterized by extreme hyperactivity. Catatonic signs may also be present. Very few cases have been reported from India, hence making it imperative to study its clinical characteristics and possible treatment, which can help in providing care to such patients in emergency settings. CLINICAL CASES DESCRIPTION: This paper describes four cases with a diagnosis of DM — demography, clinical features, investigations, treatment. All the patients had an acute onset and rapid progression of symptoms, with clinical symptoms of talkativeness, increased psychomotor activity, decreased need for sleep, aggressive and violent behavior, increased libido, increased appetite with delusion of grandiosity, disorientation to time/place/person, impaired memory of recent events, impaired attention with fluctuating course, negativism, echolalia, and echopraxia. CONCLUSION: There is a high likelihood of misdiagnosing DM in the absence of diagnostic guidelines. There should be an active search for the underlying aetiology in all cases of DM. Atypical antipsychotics and mood stabilizers may be used to treat less severe forms of DM. Modified electric convulsive treatment and intravenous benzodiazepines elicit a good response.

BackgroundBioactivity refers to the ability of a material to interact with living organisms or biological systems in a way that elicits a specific response. In the context of materials science and medicine, bioactivity is particularly important because it can determine the suitability of material for various applications. ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare different commercially available calcium silicate-based materials regarding: 1. Morphological and elemental analysis at the dentin/material interface. 2. Calcium and silicon release and uptake by adjacent root canal dentine by evaluating the calcium and silicon incorporation depth in adjacent root canal dentin. Materials and MethodsThis study examined four calcium silicate-based cements: Biodentine, MTA Angelus, BioAggregate, and MTA Plus. One hundred extracted human teeth with intact apices and no cavities were selected. Root sections measuring 3 mm in length were created at the mid-root level using low-speed diamond discs. Bioactivity was evaluated at 1, 7, 30, and 90 days, respectively. ResultsThe principal composition of the interfacial dentine layer and incorporation of calcium and silicon into dentine was measured at 1, 7, 30, and 90 days. Statistical analysis was performed by multiple comparisons using post hoc Tukey HSD. ConclusionAll the materials have shown bioactivity, i.e. release of calcium, silicon, and their uptake in the adjacent dentin in the presence of phosphate-buffered saline.

Abstract Background Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) were considered to be stem cells with limited potencies due to their existence in adult organisms. However, the production of spermatogonial stem cell colonies with broader differentiation capabilities in primary germ cell cultures from mice of select genetic backgrounds (C57BL6/Tg14, ddY, FVB and 129/Ola) indicated that SSCs from these strains were pluripotent. Methods We established primary cultures of SSCs from neonatal and adult Swiss 3T3 Albino mice. Stemness of SSC colonies were evaluated by performing real-time PCR and immunofluorescence analysis for a panel of chosen stemness markers. Differentiation potentials of SSCs were examined by attempting the generation of embryoid bodies and evaluating the expression of ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal markers using immunofluorescence and real-time PCR analysis. Results Spermatogonial stem cells from neonatal and mature mice testes colonised in vitro and formed compact spermatogonial stem cell colonies in culture. The presence of stem cell markers ALPL, ITGA6 and CD9 indicated stemness in these colonies. The differentiation potential of these SSC colonies was demonstrated by their transformation into embryoid bodies upon withdrawal of growth factors from the culture medium. SSC colonies and embryoid bodies formed were evaluated using immunofluorescence and real-time PCR analysis. Embryoid body like structures derived from both neonatal and adult mouse testis were quite similar in terms of the expression of germ layer markers. Conclusion These results strongly suggest that SSC-derived EB-like structures could be used for further differentiation into cells of interest in cell-based therapeutics.

Abstract High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is genetically unstable and characterised by the presence of subclones with distinct genotypes. Intratumoural heterogeneity is linked to recurrence, chemotherapy resistance, and poor prognosis. Here, we use spatial transcriptomics to identify HGSOC subclones and study their association with infiltrating cell populations. Visium spatial transcriptomics reveals multiple tumour subclones with different copy number alterations present within individual tumour sections. These subclones differentially express various ligands and receptors and are predicted to differentially associate with different stromal and immune cell populations. In one sample, CosMx single molecule imaging reveals subclones differentially associating with immune cell populations, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Cell-to-cell communication analysis identifies subclone-specific signalling to stromal and immune cells and multiple subclone-specific autocrine loops. Our study highlights the high degree of subclonal heterogeneity in HGSOC and suggests that subclone-specific ligand and receptor expression patterns likely modulate how HGSOC cells interact with their local microenvironment.

AbstractThis article investigates the role of Nepali mass media, including radio, television programs, news reports, and editorials, in disseminating information and fostering awareness about the climate change and its consequences. The analysis, from the perspective of positive discourse analysis (PDA), reveals that Nepali mass media is using informative language to convey messages about the climate crisis. It also shows that Nepali media is actively working for climate action, urgently calling on individuals and societies to take preventive measures against potential environmental threats. Simultaneously, it also conveys, amidst the challenges, a sense of hope for a better future. This optimism is grounded in the belief that coordination and collaboration for climate change adaptation functions as a catalyst for questioning established societal norms and nurturing public consciousness.