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Abstract Water scarcity occurs in the agriculturally dominated Upper catchment area of Narmada River, Central India because of the overexploitation of underground water for residential, industrial, and other uses. Delineating the Ground Water Potential Zone (GWPZ) is critical to meeting the area’s water demand. Finding the Upper catchment Narmada River groundwater potential zone is the primary goal of this study. The study uses geographical methodologies based on the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). To create a GWPZ map, ArcGIS 10.4 software compiles eight thematic layers, including elevation, slope, drainage density, geology, rainfall, soil texture, modified normalized difference water index, topographic wetness index, and land use/cover. There are five classifications for land use land cover map: Very low, low, moderate, high, and Very high. Each theme map in this study was given a weight based on its unique attributes and contribution to the GWP capacity. The AHP method, which takes into account each layer’s relative relevance regarding the others, was used to establish the weights. Four groups were created from the resulting groundwater potential map: excellent, good, moderate, and poor. According to the study, 26.05% of the basin was categorized as excellent, 34.59% as good, 23.97% as moderate, and 15.4% as poor groundwater potential.The results of this study further indicate that a sizable section of the Narmada River Basin has well to moderate groundwater potential, pointing to encouraging prospects for the area’s sustainable groundwater use. The study offers crucial insights for planners and policymakers to conscientiously harness groundwater resources, fostering sustainable development across diverse land uses in the fragile zone of the upper catchment of the Narmada, and it serves as a model for simulation in other sensitive river basins. The implications of the study are geared towards enhancing groundwater prospects, revitalizing fragile riverine ecosystems, and achieving the target outlined in Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030.

Abstract Background Treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars is challenging. The current first‐line treatment is a steroid which has high resistance and recurrence rate along with unacceptable adverse effects. Different studies involving the combination of TAC and 5‐FU that have been done so far showed better treatment outcomes in terms of efficacy and safety. Objective The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide alone and its combination with 5‐fluorouracil in patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars at 12 weeks follow‐up. Methods In this randomized parallel group double‐blinded clinical trial, we enroled 66 cases of keloids and hypertrophic scars randomly allocated into two treatment groups. Patients received an intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide (20 mg/mL) in Group A and an intralesional injection of a combination of triamcinolone acetonide (20 mg/mL) and 5‐fluorouracil (25 mg/mL) in Group B for every 2 weeks until 10 weeks and the final evaluation was done at 12 weeks follow‐up. Results There was a reduction in all the parameters at every follow‐up visit in both groups. The ≥50% reduction in height, reduction in the VSS and POSAS scores, and good to excellent subjective improvement reported by both the patients and the observer were significantly greater in the combination group compared to TAC alone group. The response rate was faster and complications were lesser in the combination group as compared to TAC alone group. Limitation Single‐centred, no long‐term follow‐up, and recurrence could not be assessed. Conclusion TAC alone and its combination with the 5‐FU both were effective in keloids and hypertrophic scars. Yet, the TAC and 5‐FU combination treatment was more efficacious with a faster response rate and safer than the TAC alone treatment.

The Ramaroshan Lake Complex (RLC) in Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal, is a Himalayan lake cluster that holds significant ecological, economic, religious, and esthetic importance. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of the hydrochemical properties of water within the RLC and assess its suitability for irrigation purposes. A total of 38 water samples were collected from seven different lakes of the complex. The physicochemical parameters and major ions were then analyzed. The water samples from the RLC were alkaline, and based on total hardness, they ranged from soft to moderately hard categories. The presence of major ions included the following: Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ > Fe3+ > NH4+ and HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > NO3− > PO43−. The alkaline earth metals (Ca2+ and Mg2+) dominated the alkali metals (Na+ and K+) and weak acids (HCO3−) dominated the strong acids (Cl− and SO42−). The dominant hydrochemical facies of the lake water was a Ca-HCO3 type indicating a calcium carbonate type of lithology. Carbonate rock weathering was the most dominant process in influencing the hydrochemistry of the water. A high ratio of (Ca2++ Mg2+)/Tz+ and a lower ratio of (Na+ + K+)/Tz+ revealed the dominance of Ca2+ and Mg2+ resulting from carbonate weathering, with little contribution from silicate weathering. Different irrigation indices revealed the suitability of the RLC water for irrigation. The insights derived from this study are pivotal in safeguarding water quality and bolstering sustainability efforts. The study also furnishes foundational data crucial to an array of stakeholders including researchers and policymakers and significantly contributes to advancing water management strategies and fostering ecosystem conservation in the Himalayan freshwater lakes, particularly in the face of the overarching challenge posed by global climate change.

Most road traffic crash reports published in Nepali media provide little information about their causes, impacts, or preventability. Three workshops involving 31 journalists from diverse media platforms were held using published World Health Organisation resources, to provide training in good road safety reporting. Participants were invited to complete a survey exploring their motivation for participation and knowledge gained. Thirteen (42%) participants responded, reporting the acquisition of new knowledge for content generation, finding facts, active application of learning, and purposeful communication, and an intention to apply the skills learned in their work. A before and after assessment of 94 media outputs from workshop participants found an improvement in the use of story angles and ideas recommended in WHO resources. The study suggests that journalists are interested in developing their road safety reporting skills and that running such workshops has the potential to improve responsible reporting and the promotion of road safety.

Background: Dacryocystorhinostomy surgery aims to treat nasolacrimal duct obstruction and are often performed by general ophthalmologists in developing countries. The aim of this study is to estimate the clinical burden, surgeon’s experience, and outcome of dacryocystorhinostomy surgery. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of Nepalese Ophthalmologists registered with the Nepal Ophthalmic Society was conducted after ethical clearance from Nepal Health Research Council. The survey form consisted of a single mail-shot questionnaire information including the age and experience, average case per month, and participant-reported post-operative complications and failures. Data were entered onto Microsoft excel (Microsoft Corp) and analyzed using SPSS 22.0. The data were presented in graphical and tabular format and appropriate statistical tools were employed for the analysis. Results: Out of 300 practicing ophthalmologist, 135 (45%) comprising male 60 (44.4%) and female 75(55.6%) responded to the survey. Majority of respondents were general ophthalmologists (37 ,41.6%) followed by oculoplastic surgeons (27,30.3%) and other subspecialties (25,28.1%). More than 70% respondents perform 1-10 surgeries /month and only 3% perform >50 surgeries /month. The success rate of 75-90% was reported by 45(50%) respondents whereas > 90% success rate by 41 (46.1%). More than 80% surgeons experienced an infection rate of

Abstract Background Follow-up assessment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) treated cases is important to monitor the long term effectiveness of treatment regimens. The main objective of this study was to identify the gaps and challenges in the follow-up of treated VL cases, to monitor treatment outcome and to assess the impact of COVID-19 on VL elimination services and activities. Methods Clinicians treating VL patients, district focal persons for VL, and patients treated for VL in seven high endemic districts in Nepal during 2019–2022 were interviewed to collect data on challenges in the follow-up of VL treated patients as per national strategy. Results Follow up status was poor in two districts with the largest number of reported cases. The majority of cases were children under 10 years of age (44.2%). Among 104 VL treated cases interviewed, 60.6% mentioned that clinicians had called them for follow-up but only 37.5% had complied. Among 112 VL treated cases followed up, 8 (7.14%) had relapse and 2 (1.8%) had PKDL. Among 66 cases who had VL during the COVID-19 lock down period, 32 (48.5%) were diagnosed within 1 week; however, 10 (15.1%) were diagnosed only after 4 weeks or more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no active search for VL because of budget constraints and lack of diagnostic tests, and no insecticide spraying was done. Conclusion Relapses and PKDL are challenges for VL elimination and a matter of concern. Successful implementation of the national strategy for follow up of treated VL cases requires addressing elements related to patients (awareness, transport, communication) clinicians (compliance) and organization of service delivery (local health worker training and deployment). COVID-19 did not have much impact on VL diagnosis and treatment; however, public health programmes including active case detection and insecticide spraying for vector control were severely reduced.

The rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration trends have led to an increase in building construction activities, shifting from traditional practices to modern concrete structures. However, this transition has imposed significant environmental pressures, including heightened resource and energy demands, resulting in increased emissions. To gauge the environmental impact of construction, a thorough examination of each phase is crucial. This study used the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool, based on ISO 14040:2006, ISO 14044:2006, and EN 15978:2011, to evaluate the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) emissions throughout the complete life cycle of a modern single-family residential building. The findings reveal a total energy use of 6411.33 MJ per square meter and emissions of 718.35 kg CO2-eq per square meter over the building's lifespan of 50 years. Notably, the production of building materials and the construction phase contribute to the highest percentage (60.29%) of the total life cycle emissions owing to 49.51% of energy use. In contrast, emissions during the operational phase are relatively lower, attributed to increased electricity usage for cooking and minimal energy consumption for heating and cooling. Additionally, the study suggests that achieving complete electricity sufficiency within the country could reduce building emissions by 39.30%, as fossil fuel-based imports from India would be replaced with cleaner hydroelectricity.

In this work, the atmospheric pressure air gliding arc discharge has been produced for the generation of plasma-activated water (PAW) and studying its effect on the chlorophyll retention and greenness of Tejpat (Cinnamomum tamala) leaves. The discharge is characterized via electrical and optical methods to calculate the electron excitation temperature (1.38 eV) and density (3.46×1017 cm−3) of the plasma. The influence of plasma exposure time on the physico-chemical properties of PAW and the aging effect of electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, oxidation-reduction potential, and concentration of nitrite and nitrate are presented. It is found that the modification in physico-chemical properties of water has a considerable effect on chlorophyll retention and the greenness of detached leaves. The chlorophyll retention is highest for the leaves that are treated with 12 minutes of PAW as compared to the other plasma exposure time as well as untreated water. Moreover, the greenness of leaves for 12 minutes of plasma treatment remains for a longer duration (576±34 hrs) as compared to treatment times of 0, 4, 8, and 16 minutes due to prolonged activeness of the physical parameters. This work is significant in that PAW plays an important role in maintaining greenness in detached green leaves.

Introduction: Proteinuria is usually related with preeclampsia during pregnancy, although it can also be caused by other conditions such as renal disease or isolated proteinuria. Proteinuria during pregnancy can result in adverse fetomaternal outcomes. The study aimed to find the prevalence of proteinuria among pregnant women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant women in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Data of 14 April 2022 to 13 April 2023 was collected from 9 June 2023 to 9 September 2023 from medical records. The study included pregnant women aged 18-45 years, who were past 28 weeks of gestation and had a 24-hour urine protein measurement. Pregnant women who had insufficient medical records were excluded from the study. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 3,914 pregnant women, proteinuria was seen in 61 (1.56%) (1.17-1.95, 95% Confidence Interval). The mean proteinuria in the study group was 1.5±2.75 gm/24 hr. In pregnant women with proteinuria, maternal complications were seen in 51 (83.60%) and foetal complications in 34 (55.73%) cases. A total of 47 (77.05%) underwent emergency lower-section caesarean section. Conclusions: The prevalence of proteinuria among pregnant women was found to be similar as compared to studies done in similar settings.

Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder occurring in pregnancy. Maternal and fetal complications are present in these patients. Timely identification and treatment help in the prevention of complications. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of hypothyroidism among pregnant women attending the Outpatient Department of Obstetrics in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care centre after taking ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 08/2021). Data from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020 were collected between 1 November 2021 to 31 November 2021. All pregnant women who had undergone thyroid level assessment in each trimester (first, second and third) and had delivered in the same centre were included in the study. However, pregnant women with comorbidities like hypertension, overt diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, renal disease, cardiac disease, and neurological disorder were excluded. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 216 pregnant patients, the prevalence of hypothyroidism was 74 (34.25%) (27.92-40.57, 95% Confidence Interval). Maternal complications were seen in 33 (44.59%). The commonest complication was oligohydramnios 10 (13.51%) followed by preterm delivery 8 (10.81%). Conclusions: The prevalence of hypothyroidism among pregnant women was found to be higher than other studies done in similar settings.

Lemongrass is one of the medicinal plants having significant applications to cure various diseases. This study aims at extracting essential oils from lemongrass plants and examining their antibacterial activity. The sample of lemongrass for this study was collected from Kailali District, Nepal. The leaves of lemongrass were collected, washed, cut into small pieces, and dried in the sun. Then pieces of lemongrass were steam distilled for about 4 hours using the Clevenger apparatus, and oil was extracted. The extracted essential oil was further utilized to study its antibacterial activity in human pathogens, namely Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus: gram-positive bacteria), by Agar diffusion and broth dilution methods. It was found that the zone of inhibition for S. aureus in concentrations of 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% was about 25 mm, 11 mm, 9 mm, and 0 mm, respectively. In addition, it is clear from this study that the gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to essential oils. The lowest and highest zones of inhibition were shown against S. aureus at 25% and 100% concentrations, respectively. The zone of inhibition at 100% concentration is 25 mm and at 25% concentration is 0 mm, so lemongrass oil is effective against drug-resistant organisms only at high concentrations.

Background: Viral load assessment is the preferred method for diagnosing and confirming virologic failure for patients on antiretroviral therapy. This study aimed to assess the proportion of viral load suppression and identify associated factors among HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the Pokhara academy of health science in Nepal. Methods: This institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted at Pokhara academy of health science in Pokhara, Nepal. The study included 567 HIV patients who were enrolled between January 2016 and December 2019 and had their viral load measured within a one-year period. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 13.0. The proportions of viral load suppression and non-suppression were determined. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with viral load suppression. Statistical significance was determined at a 95% confidence interval and p < 0.05 Results: Out of the 567 HIV patients, 95.76 % (95% CI: 94.10-97.42) achieved viral suppression. In multivariate analysis, longer duration of antiretroviral therapy treatment (> 3 years) was independently associated with higher odds of achieving viral suppression compared to those on antiretroviral therapy for less than 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 11.98, 95% confidence interval: 1.32-108.81, p < 0.0027). Conversely, individuals in second-line treatment had significantly lower odds of viral suppression compared to those in first-line treatment (aOR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05-0.66, p < 0.009). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated a high rate of viral suppression among HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy, exceeding the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target. Longer duration of antiretroviral therapy and being in second-line treatment were identified as factors influencing viral load suppression. These findings emphasize the importance of early initiation and adherence to first-line treatment for optimal outcomes. Keywords: ART; HIV/AIDS; viral load suppression

Abstract Background Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a rare hematological malignancy and is the most common diagnosis in patients with hyperviscosity syndrome. Bilateral central retinal vein occlusion as an initial presentation of hyperviscosity syndrome in Waldenström macroglobulinemia is rare. Case presentation A 42-year-old Nepalese male presented with sudden-onset bilateral painless blurring of vision. Fundus examination revealed bilateral, diffusely dilated, tortuous retinal veins and intraretinal deep blot hemorrhages in all four quadrants of the retina in both eyes; features of bilateral central retinal vein occlusion. Serum electrophoresis showed hypoalbuminemia with an immunoglobulin M kappa monoclonal spike. Bone marrow picture and immunohistochemistry analysis were suggestive of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. The patient received systemic therapy for Waldenström macroglobulinemia, along with intravitreal bevacizumab. Conclusion Adequate hydration, plasmapheresis, and a combination of bortezomib, dexamethasone, and rituximab regimen as a systemic therapy may represent an ideal choice for patients with hyperviscosity in Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Moringa oleifera is a nutrient-rich plant, also referred to as a miracle tree, and is commonly used in the preparation of functional foods including herbal biscuits. Despite having a wide range of biomolecules, M. oleifera has not been studied for its nutritional benefits in Nepal. To fill this gap, five different formulations of flower and leaf powder ratios of 11:4, 11.75:3.25, 12.5:2.5, 13.25:1.75, 14:1 named as A, B, C, D, E, and control formulations were tested for their sensory and chemical characteristics. The results showed that calcium content (115.73 mg/100 g) was higher in biscuits with a higher percentage of the leaf (11:4) while TPC was minimum. Further, biscuits containing a higher percentage of flower powder contained fewer tannins. The sensory analysis concluded that D was deemed the best in overall attributes by panelists upon statistical analysis, however formulations A and B were superior to other samples regarding the chemical properties. These findings confirm that there is a huge potential for improving herbal biscuits.

Background: Although diabetes is emerging as growing public health problem, there is limited population based data about the prevalence of the disease in Nepal. Methods: This cross-sectional population-based survey, conducted in the Far-western province of Nepal from April 2020 to April 2021, used standardized RAAB + DR methodology. Diabetes was diagnosed on the basis of treatment history and random blood sugar test results of greater than 200 mg/dl. Diabetic retinopathy screening was done by ophthalmologists. All relevant data were imported into the RAAB software package (RAAB V.6) for analysis. Results: Among 4615 study population, 2.8 % (n=129) had diabetes, and 35.7% (n=46) of the diabetics were newly identified cases. Of the known diabetics, 61.4% (n=51) never had an eye examination, and only 27.7% (n=23) of cases had their eye checked for DR in the last year. Fundus examination showed 13.2 % (n=17) of the diabetic patients to have some form of diabetic retinopathy and 6.2% (n=8) had diabetic maculopathy. Only 0.8% (n=1) of the cases were categorized as sight-threatening DR but a greater number of diabetes patients had severe visual impairment or blindness (3.9%) as compared to non-diabetic patients (1.8%). Conclusions: Prevalence of diabetes and DR were relatively lower in Far-western Nepal. However poor coverage of screening examinations have left many of these cases undetected in the communities. Effective community-based diabetes and DR screening and referral programs can help to detect and treat diabetes and DR early on to prevent vision loss and other diabetic complications. Keywords: Diabetes; diabetic retinopathy; maculopathy; rural Nepal, vision Impairment

Background: Improved and efficient management of pain can certainly aid enhanced recovery after spinal surgery. Our aim is to evaluate the effect of ESPB in thoracic and lumbar surgeries where we have evaluated VAS for pain, cumulative analgesics consumptions, length of hospital stay and post-operative complications. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study done in HAMS among the erector spinae block group and control group. The analysis of different variable was done according to standard statistical analysis. For quantitative data, univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to determine statistically significant differences using student's t-test for continuous variables. Results: 60 patients were analyzed, 30 got spinae block and 30 in control group.The mean pain score for spinae block group were 1.90 ± 0.712 and 3.27 ± 1.230 for control group (p

Thermal springs are the sites where the water temperature lies above ambient temperature. They are widely used for power generation, hot water spas, balneotherapy, agriculture, laundering, and aquaculture. In Nepal, many thermal springs are reported but scientific understanding on water quality and hydrogeochemistry of the springs is very limited. In this study, a total of 28 physico-chemical parameters were measured in water samples collected from 12 thermal springs from Gandaki Province, Nepal. Correlation matrix and multivariate statistical analysis such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were used to understand the water quality and hydrogeochemistry of the hot water springs. The pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and turbidity in the hot water springs ranged from 7.3 to 8.8, 31.6–64.3 °C, 206–16270 μS/cm, 115–6637 mg/L, and 0.21–63.7 NTU; respectively. The dominance order of major anions and cations were: Cl− > HCO3− > SO42− > NO3− > F− and Na+ > Ca2+ > K+ > Mg2+; respectively. Comparison of the water quality parameters with the WHO and National Water Quality Standards suggested that the majority of the parameters were within the safe limit. Out of 9 heavy metals and trace elements analyzed Zn2+, Ni2+, Cr3+, Cd+2, Hg (total), and Pb2+ were found below the safe limit but Fe (total), As (total) and Cu (total) were found higher than the WHO safe limit in total of 3, 5 and 1 sampling sites; respectively. The water quality index (WQI), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), and magnesium hazard (MH) ratio in the hot water springs ranged from 40.9 to 573, 2.2–49.3, 7.1–70.8; respectively. The result of PCA analysis showed that four principal components are required to explain hydrogeochemistry. Cluster analysis suggested that the sampling sites can be grouped into three distinct clusters based on total dissolved solids. Interestingly, the classification of hydrochemical facies using a Piper diagram suggested that 7 out of 12 thermal springs have Na–Cl type water. Finally, a perspective on the suitability of the hot springs for hot water spas and balneotherapy and policy recommendation is provided.

Introduction: Hysteroscopy is a procedure used widely for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Hysteroscopy enables visualisation of the endometrial cavity and if possible treatment in the same setting avoiding invasive procedure. The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of hysteroscopy among gynaecological patients attending the outpatient department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among gynaecological patients from 1 January 2016 to 1 January 2020 visiting the outpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care centre after ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Registration number: 029/2021). Convenience sampling was used. Data regarding demographic parameters, hysteroscopy findings, procedures performed, histopathological findings and complications were retrieved from the electronic database of the hospital. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 319 gynaecological patients, hysteroscopy was done in 72 (22.57%) (17.98-27.16, 95% Confidence Interval) patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of hysteroscopy among gynaecological patients was higher to the studies done in similar settings.

Aims. Adnexal torsion commonly affects reproductive age group females. Prompt diagnosis and early management help in the preservation of fertility. However, its diagnosis is challenging. Preoperative diagnosis can be suspected in only 23–66% of the cases and half of the patients operated for adnexal torsion have different diagnosis. This article thus aims to identify the diagnostic value of preoperative neutrophil lymphocyte ratio in adnexal torsion in comparison with other untwisted unruptured ovarian cysts. Methods. This was a retrospective study conducted in the duration of five years from 1st January 2016 to 1st January 2020. The data about demographic parameters, hematological parameters, operative approach, operative technique, and histopathological reports were derived from an electronic database and documented on proforma. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Logistic regression analysis and influence of each factor on preoperative diagnosis of Adnexal torsion was evaluated. Results. A total of 125 patients were included in the article (adnexal torsion group n = 25, untwisted unruptured ovarian cyst group n = 100). There was no statistically significant difference in comparison to age, parity, and abortion between both groups. Most patients had undergone laparoscopic surgery which was based on surgeon’s skill and preference. Nineteen (78%) patients in the adnexal torsion group underwent oophorectomy while infarcted ovary was seen in only 4 cases. Among the blood parameters, only neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >3 was found to be statistically significant under logistic regression analysis. Most common adnexal pathology to undergo torsion was serous cyst. Conclusion. Preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio can be a predictive marker for diagnosis of adnexal torsion and can differentiate it from untwisted unruptured ovarian cysts.

Soil salinity is considered crucial for seed germination, seedling growth, and crop production in arid and semi-arid regions. Seed priming can be an effective solution to improve maize germination and growth, under salinity stress. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of seed priming with NaCl and salinity stress on germination and growth of maize variety Arun-2. Before sowing, eighty maize seeds were soaked in 5g/L aqueous NaCl solution for 12 hours at 27-degree Celsius. Primed and unprimed seeds were sown in 10-liter capacity plastic pots and watered with 200mL of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/L saline solutions at two days intervals. Germination percentage, shoot length, and number of leaves per plant were measured to access the germination and growth parameters. The results showed that priming seeds with NaCl solution significantly (P

A flexible and dependable method that has been extensively employed to construct nanofibrous scaffolds that resemble the extracellular matrix made from polymeric materials is electrospinning (ES). ES is superior to other techniques because of its unique capacity to create nanofibers with a high surface-to-volume ratio, low cost, simplicity of setup, freedom in material choice, and ability to alter the surface attributes and usefulness of the nanofibers. However, the low productivity of nanofibrous membrane from conventional ES with the generation of tightly packed nanofibrous sheet-like two-dimensional membranes impedes cellular infiltration into scaffolds during tissue regeneration. Moreover, toxic organic solvents are desired for polymer dissolution for ES. Such solvents produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during electrospinning, which can degrade the indoor air quality of working place. Furthermore, when electrospun membranes containing traces of such VOCs are employed as tissue scaffolds, it may cause serious effect to cells and tissue. This justifies the need for alternative green solvents which are not only environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and low-cost but also biocompatible with medicinal values. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on summarizing the recent advances in ES machines, fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) spongy nanofibrous membrane, and introducing green solvent for polymer processing. Finally, based on the findings of the existing literature and our experience, this review mainly focuses on essential oils as future “greener” alternatives to current toxic solvents used in ES process.

Thyroid hormones are known to regulate the basal metabolism rate of an organism. They are also known to regulate the seasonal reproduction of long-day breeding vertebrates in response to thyrotropin induced deiodinase enzymes switching in the brain. The current study attempted to investigate the effect of intraperitoneal administration of thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) hormones at various doses on gonadal recrudescence, plasma estradiol-17β and quantitative expression analysis of genes encoding for gonadotropin, thyrotropin, and deiodinases. The estradiol-17β levels were not affected by either thyroid hormone; however, the gonado-somatic index (GSI) and ovarian histology were varying. The gonadotropin releasing hormone 2 (gnrh2) and follicle stimulating hormone-β subunit (fsh-b) gene expressions correspond to the fish GSI and ovarian histology. The gene expressions show that T4 inhibits the expression of thyroid stimulating hormone-β subunit (tsh-b) and type 3 deiodinase (dio3), though it enhances the expression of type 2 deiodinase (dio2). T3, on the other hand, inhibits tsh-b and dio2 expression while increasing dio3 expression. In summary, the T4 appears to regulate gonadal recrudescence in Heteropneustes fossilis in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the T3 appears to have no effect on gonadal activity.

BackgroundIn Nepal, the burden of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is not known since there is no active case detection of PKDL by the national programme. PKDL patients could pose a challenge to sustain visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of PKDL and assess PKDL patients' knowledge on VL and PKDL, and stigma associated with PKDL.Methodology/principal findingsHousehold surveys were conducted in 98 VL endemic villages of five districts that reported the highest number of VL cases within 2018-2021. A total of 6,821 households with 40373 individuals were screened for PKDL. Cases with skin lesions were referred to hospitals and examined by dermatologists. Suspected PKDL cases were tested with rK39 and smear microscopy from skin lesions. An integrated diagnostic approach was implemented in two hospitals with a focus on management of leprosy cases where cases with non-leprosy skin lesions were tested for PKDL with rK39. Confirmed PKDL patients were interviewed to assess knowledge and stigma associated with PKDL, using explanatory model interview catalogue (EMIC) with maximum score of 36. Among 147 cases with skin lesions in the survey, 9 (6.12%) were confirmed as PKDL by dermatologists at the hospital. The prevalence of PKDL was 2.23 per 10,000 population. Among these 9 PKDL cases, 5 had a past history of VL and 4 did not. PKDL cases without a past history of VL were detected among the "new foci", Surkhet but none in Palpa. None of the cases negative for leprosy were positive for PKDL. There was very limited knowledge of PKDL and VL among PKDL cases. PKDL patients suffered to some degree from social and psychological stigma (mean ± s.d. score = 17.89 ± 12.84).Conclusions/significanceStrengthening the programme in PKDL case detection and management would probably contribute to sustenance of VL elimination. Awareness raising activities to promote knowledge and reduce social stigma should be conducted in VL endemic areas.

There is an intense discourse on the adaptation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to deliver equity in education for all children including marginalised ones. However, the structural barriers faced by Dalit children remained unaddressed in the education system of Nepal. In this backdrop, structural barriers for Dalit children in education and the perception of the policymakers to hold the transformative promise true are central concerns of this study. The study used interpretive research by applying a rigorous review of education policies and in-depth interviews to understand the perceptions and positions of policymakers that are linked to the theories of transformative education and power. The findings revealed that the education policies and their implementation failed to hold the transformative promise of Leave No One Behind (LNOB) in addressing structural barriers and promoting the indigenous knowledge and skills of Dalits. Likewise, the promise for equitable education opportunities has been affected by the policy chaos and divergence of the LNOB spirit which compromises attaining the SDG4 promise. Thus, there are areas that need more conceptual and operational clarity on the key principle of LNOB, especially for the transformative education of Dalits in Nepal.

Dam leakage is a major problem in earth-filled reservoir dams. The present research is aimed at detecting the seepage zones in an earth-filled reservoir dam in the vicinity of Sarobi village, North Waziristan, Pakistan. The objective was achieved by integrating geological, geotechnical, and geophysical datasets. Geological survey was carried out in the area to identify the surface exposures. Geotechnical data involved was used to estimation of permeability and Lugeon values to identify network of joints/fractures whereas electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) technique (utilizing Wenner-Schlumberger configuration) was applied for the identification of the leakage zones. Geological data revealed highly deformed alluvium towards the right abutment underlain by compressed shale and highly fractured limestone beds. Geotechnical data indicated high permeability, Lugeon values, and concentration of sand and gravel towards the right abutment whereas low permeability, Lugeon values, and higher concentration of silt and clay were observed towards the left abutment. ERT data identified a conductive zone embedded between impermeable lithologies having resistivity between 10 and 60 Ω·m. This conductive zone was observed in parallel profiles acquired in upstream, dam crest, and downstream parts of the dam. The integration of all the datasets revealed a network of joints that are interconnected and provide a path for water at the upstream side to pass through right abutment of dam and leak towards the downstream.

The deposition in Haripur basin not only provides a contemporary insight into old fluvial depositional sequences of the Himalayan foreland but also sheds light on the important continental depositions in a monsoon controlled foreland system. The present study emphasizes the evaluation of the paleo-depositional architecture for sustainable groundwater availability by utilizing a total of four field-based geological observations, eleven boreholes, and fifty-nine vertical electrical sounding (VES) datasets. The acquired surface geological data well correlate with resistivity and borehole data. The derived results of the lithostratigraphic cross-sections and spatial distribution maps reveal three-sided closure depositional. These depositional directions indicate thick successions of coarser sediments near the foothills and interbedded mixture of coarser and finer sediments toward the central and southern parts of the basin. The former conditions provide maximum groundwater yielding capacity for sustainable groundwater supply in the north-eastern and north-western parts of the basin. On the contrary, in the central and southern parts of the basin, the groundwater yielding capacities have drastically decreased due to deposition of finer sediments.

Abstract Contamination of the trace elements (TEs) in the freshwater ecosystems is becoming a worldwide problem. This study was carried out to investigate the TEs contamination, and their associated health risk in Begnas Lake and Rupa Lake, Gandaki Province, Nepal. A total of 30 water samples were collected from both lakes during the pre-monsoon season in 2016. The samples were analyzed for the TEs including copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), cesium (Cs), and arsenic (As) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results exhibited that the mean concentrations of all the TEs were higher in Rupa Lake as compared to Begnas Lake except Pb. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis revealed that both the geogenic and anthropic sources were the major contributors of TEs in the lake water. Anthropic activities were considered to contribute the TEs like Zn and Mn in lake water mainly via agricultural runoff, while evaluating the risk of TEs on human health all the elements showed HQ

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) is one of the devastating diseases of rice in Asia, Northern Australia, and West Africa that leads to up to 32% yield losses. Previously, BLS was rare in Nepal, but it has become more common in recent years, and it is supposed to cause significant yield losses. However, studies on various aspects of BLS of rice, such as yield loss assessment, management strategy, germplasm evaluation, etc., have not been done in Nepal. Therefore, realizing the fact that the identification of resistant genotypes is a cost-effective and efficient approach to managing crop diseases; seventy-six rice genotypes were evaluated, along with resistant (Sabitri) and a susceptible (TN1) checks (usually used for bacterial leaf blight) under artificial epiphytotic conditions at the National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Bhairahawa, Nepal, in the year 2018 and 2019. This study identified thirteen resistant and fourteen moderately resistant genotypes based on the mean percentage of disease severity over two years. The resistant genotypes viz., IR 108196-1-B-B-3-2-5, IR 10A 134, NR 2168-44-2-1-1-1-2-1-1, B 11598C-TB-2-1-B-7, IR 14D 198, IR 96279-39-3-1-2, IR 103587-22-2-3-B, BP 9474C-1-1-B, IR 10L 185, IR 15L 1735, IR 106529-20-40-3-2-B, IR 15D 1031 and IR 108541:12-27-1-3-B-B could be used as resistance sources in the breeding programs. Furthermore, resistant genotypes with high yield potential after evaluation across different environments could be released as BLS resistant varieties in Nepal. This study may be the first effort to identify resistant rice genotypes, particularly against BLS, which is an emerging potential threat to rice production in Nepal. [Fundam Appl Agric 2021; 6(4.000): 349-358]

Introduction: Lumbar canal stenosis is a common cause of back pain and neurogenic claudication in the elderly population. Nerve root sedimentation sign-on Magnetic resonance imaging is a novel sign proposed for the diagnosis of lumbar canal stenosis. There is limited research so far. So, the aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of nerve root sedimentation signs in lumbar canal stenosis among patients visiting the Department of Orthopaedics in a tertiary care centre. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from 1 January 2020 to 31 July 2021 in the tertiary care centre, after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional ethical review board (Reference number: 299/(6-11)076/077). The anteroposterior diameter of the dural sac at the most stenotic level and nerve root sedimentation sign in magnetic resonance images were measured in patients with lumbar canal stenosis. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 40 patients enrolled, 34 (85%) (84.01-85.99, 95% Confidence Interval) patients had positive nerve root sedimentation sign. Out of 34 (85%) cases with positive sedimentation signs, 32 (94.12%) had severe lumbar stenosis and the remaining 2 (5.88%) had moderate lumbar stenosis. Conclusions: The prevalence of nerve root sedimentation signs is similar to the similar studies done in similar settings. Nerve root sedimentation signs on magnetic resonance imaging can be used as an objective sign for the diagnosis of severe lumbar canal stenosis.

Abstract The response of native plants to allelopathic interference of invasive species may differ from species to species. In this study, the phytotoxic effects of Ageratina adenophora were tested on two native shrubs (Osbeckia stellata and Elsholtzia blanda) of Nepal. Both the shrubs were grown in pots under treatments of A. adenophora fresh leaves and root leachates, and litter. Then, the seedling length and biomass were compared among the treatments. The results show that A. adenophora litter has stimulatory effects but the leachates from fresh leaves and root are phytotoxic to the growth and development of native shrubs. Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) analysis confirmed the presence of O–H (Hydroxyl), N–H (Amines), C≡C (Alkynes), and C–H stretching (Aromatic) or C–O–C stretching (Ethers) in the leachates representing harmful allelochemicals. The invaded soil by A. adenophora had low pH and a high amount of organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium than the uninvaded soil. The results indicate that the native O. stellata and E. blanda are harmed by A. adenophora in nature by leaching of allelochemicals and probably by reducing the soil pH. Overall, this study has provided valuable insights regarding the effects of A. adenophora invasion on native shrubs and revealing the potential mechanism of its invasiveness.

Objective This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with injuries in the adult population of Nepal.Design and participants Secondary analysis of the data from the cross-sectional WHO STEPwise Approach to NCD Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS) Survey Nepal, 2019. A multistage cluster sample of 5593 adults aged 15–69 years who have been the usual residents of the household for at least 6 months. A binary logistic regression model was employed to identify the determinants of injuries.Setting Data were derived from the STEPS Survey Nepal, 2019.Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was injured person defined as one who had road traffic injuries (RTIs), had other serious unintentional/accidental injury, or had been seriously injured in a violent incident within the past 12 months. The secondary outcome measure was factors associated with injuries.Results Over 11% of the 4996 study participants reported any injuries during the past 12 months. About 3.75% of the participants experienced a RTI, 4.71% had experienced unintentional injuries other than RTI, while 5.33% had been injured in violent incidents. Individuals belonging to the middle wealth quintile (crude OR (COR)=2.95, 95% CI 1.27 to 6.84) were associated with increased odds of RTIs. By occupation, homemaker (COR=0.45, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.84) was protective against these injuries. Likewise, currently married individuals (COR=3.74, 95% CI 1.37 to 10.17), ever married individuals (COR=3.49, 95% CI 1.08 to 11.25) and individuals not in employment (COR=2.13, 95% CI 1.16 to 3.91) were associated with an increased likelihood of sustaining an intentional injury. Injuries were higher among rural participants.Conclusions This study provides the baseline population-based estimates of the prevalence of injuries in Nepal. It describes the mechanisms and risk factors of these injuries. It is hoped that this evidence will serve as a stimulus for future studies to elucidate comprehensive national information about injuries.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major staples in Nepal providing the bulk of food calories and at least 30% of Fe and Zn intake and 20% of dietary energy and protein consumption; thus, it is essential to improve its nutritional quality. To select high-yielding genotypes with elevated grain zinc and iron concentration, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth HarvestPlus Yield Trials (HPYTs) were conducted across diverse locations in Nepal for four consecutive years: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2018–19, using 47 biofortified and 3 non-biofortified CIMMYT-bred, bread wheat genotypes: Baj#1, Kachu#1, and WK1204 (local check). Genotypic and spatial variations were found in agro-morphological traits; grain yield and its components; and the grain zinc and iron concentration of tested genotypes. Grain zinc concentration was highest in Khumaltar and lowest in Kabre. Likewise, grain iron concentration was highest in Doti and lowest in Surkhet. Most of the biofortified genotypes were superior for grain yield and for grain zinc and iron concentration to the non-biofortified checks. Combined analyses across environments showed moderate to high heritability for both Zn (0.48–0.81) and Fe (0.46–0.79) except a low heritability for Fe observed for 7th HPYT (0.15). Grain yield was positively correlated with the number of tillers per m2, while negatively correlated with days to heading and maturity, grain iron, grain weight per spike, and thousand grain weight. The grain zinc and iron concentration were positively correlated, suggesting that the simultaneous improvement of both micronutrients is possible through wheat breeding. Extensive testing of CIMMYT derived high Zn wheat lines in Nepal led to the release of five biofortified wheat varieties in 2020 with superior yield, better disease resistance, and 30–40% increased grain Zn and adaptable to a range of wheat growing regions in the country – from the hotter lowland, or Terai, regions to the dry mid- and high-elevation areas.

Abstract Background Injuries, the cause of an estimated 4.5 million deaths annually and many more disabilities worldwide each year, are the predictable outcome of particular circumstances. One of the most effective ways to prevent injuries is through policy and legislation. The aim of this research study was to identify and critically review all policy and legislation in Nepal that had the potential to prevent injuries. Methods We identified legislation and policy that met inclusion criteria through a stakeholder meeting, networks and contacts, and websites and electronic resources. Each included document was critically reviewed to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. We compared the included documents against WHO’s recommendations of known effective interventions. Results Sixty-two documents met the inclusion criteria for this review. Of these, 24 (38.7%) were exclusively related to road injuries, 11 (17.7%) to occupational injuries, 6 (9.7%) to injuries in the home and 5 (8.1%) to injuries at school; 30 (48.4%) documents included text related to the first response to injuries. Of 127 strategic recommendations by WHO that provided an area for policy or legislative focus, 21 (16.5%) were considered adequately met by Nepali policy and legislation, 43 (33.9%) were considered partially met and 63 (49.6%) were not met. Conclusion We drew five conclusions from this critical policy review, which we have related to recommendations as follows: widening the scope of legislation and policy for injury prevention to emphasize injuries occurring at home or school; addressing the causes of injuries and promoting proven preventive measures; greater clarity on both individual and institutional roles and responsibilities; trustworthy data and quality evidence to inform decision-making; and financial investment and capacity-strengthening for injury prevention and first response. The current system of federal governance in Nepal has potential for strengthening injury prevention and first response at the central, provincial and local levels.

Rice crop endures several biotic stresses among which sheath blight is one of the devastating diseases. This disease is caused by necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia solani AG1 IA that reduces 20 to 40% yield. Forty two diverse rice germplasms were evaluated against sheath blight under artificial epiphytotic condition in the field of National Wheat Research Program Bhairahawa, Nepal during the year 2019. Four disease variables viz. PDLI (Percent diseased leaf incidence), PDTI (Percent diseased tiller incidence), PRCHI (Percent relative collar height infection), and AUDPC (Area under disease progress curve) were considered for evaluation of germplasms. Out of forty two genotypes Sabitri, GSR 310 and Hardinath-3 were found moderately resistant with mean AUDPC values 217.99, 252.78 and 214.67 per day respectively. Furthermore IR 15D 110, Pant-1, NR 2152-23-1-2-1-1-1-1 and IR 82635-B-B-114-3 were found moderately susceptible with mean AUDPC values 438.48, 445.55, 421.81 and 437.59 respectively. Moderately resistant genotypes viz. Sabitri, GSR 310 and Hardinath-3 had PDLI range 30.98-31.67, PDTI range 10.56-15 and PRCHI range 9.01-28.64 whereas moderately susceptible genotypes IR 15D 110, Pant-1, NR 2152-23-1-2-1-1-1-1 and IR 82635-B-B-114-3 had PDLI range 31.25-51.29, PDTI range 25.82-38.75 and PRCHI range 22.18-45.8. Disease variables PDLI, PDTI and PRCHI were positively and significantly correlated with AUDPC with correlation coefficient value 0.75, 0.65 and 0.62 respectively. Moderately resistant rice genotypes found in this study could be evaluated for yield potential and its stability across different geographical region of Nepal and could be a good alternative against sheath blight diseases for Nepalese farmers. [Fundam Appl Agric 2021; 6(1.000): 57-66]

Thirty four percent of the total wheat cultivated area is under rain-fed condition in Nepal and that of the Terai is nineteen percent. The objective of this study was to develop drought tolerant and high yielding varieties of wheat for timely sown rain-fed environments. Coordinated Varietal trial (CVT) was carried out in normal wheat growing season during 2016/17 and 2017/18. The research was conducted at five locations (Rampur, Bhairahawa, Doti, Jitpur and Nepalgunj) of five research stations of Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) throughout the Terai region in alpha lattice design with two replications. Data on different yield attributing traits were recorded. In the CVT-TTL 2016/17 highly significant difference (p

The paper reviews the information about zero tillage (ZT) technology of wheat of Nepal, based on published information. ZT is the most widely used technology of wheat among other resource conserving technologies. The benefit: cost ratio was found 2.38 in ZT compared to 1.81 in conventional tillage (CT) which was 31.49 % more over CT method of wheat cultivation. Hence, ZT technology in Nepal is cost effective technology facilitating early sowing of wheat, higher yield and needs to be promoted. [Fundam Appl Agric 2020; 5(4.000): 484-490]

Objective To identify and prioritise the research needed to help Nepali agencies develop an improved road safety system.Design Delphi study.Setting Nepal.Participants Stakeholders from government institutions, academia, engineering, healthcare and civil society were interviewed to identify knowledge gaps and research questions. Participants then completed two rounds of ranking and a workshop.Results A total of 93 participants took part in interviews and two rounds of ranking. Participants were grouped with others sharing expertise relating to each of the five WHO ‘pillars’ of road safety: (1) road safety management; (2) safer roads; (3) safer vehicles; (4) safer road users and (5) effective postcrash response. Interviews yielded 1019 research suggestions across the five pillars. Two rounds of ranking within expert groups yielded consensus on the important questions for each pillar. A workshop involving all participants then led to the selection of 6 questions considered the most urgent: (1) How can implementing agencies be made more accountable? (2) How should different types of roads, and roads in different geographical locations, be designed to make them safer for all road users? (3) What vehicle fitness factors lead to road traffic crashes? (4) How can the driver licensing system be improved to ensure safer drivers? (5) What factors lead to public vehicle crashes and how can they be addressed? and (6) What factors affect emergency response services getting to the patient and then getting them to the right hospital in the best possible time?Conclusions The application of the Delphi approach is useful to enable participants representing a range of institutions and expertise to contribute to the identification of road safety research priorities. Outcomes from this study provide Nepali researchers with a greater understanding of the necessary focus for future road safety research.

Abstract Background Rapid urbanization and industrialization have greatly impacted the inherent soil composition. Heavy metals disposed in the environment by anthropogenic activities toxicate flora and ultimately affect the phytochemical profile of medicinal plants. We report here such an investigation of the heavy metal concentrations in the leaf extract of Solanum virginianum (S. virginianum). This work has been extended to observe the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial significance of leaf extracts in methanol and aqueous medium. Methods The metal concentration was analysed on ICE 3000 series atomic absorption spectrometer. The antibacterial assessment was carried by disc diffusion technique against three gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Results The content of Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and Lead (Pb) were 2.04, 0.47, 0.41, and 0.10 mg/L, respectively. Saponin and coumarin were present in both extracts. Various other phytochemicals like steroids, terpenoid, and flavonoid, were present only in the water extract, while tannin was present only on methanol extract. The methanol and aqueous extracts exhibited their highest inhibition on S. aureus with zones of inhibition of 12 mm and 14 mm, respectively. Conclusion The aqueous extract possessed more phytochemicals than the methanol extract, and the aqueous extract exhibited better antibacterial activity. The high Fe content in the leaf extract may suggest its use as an anaemic medicine. Other metal contents are under the WHO range.

Spot blotch of wheat caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is a problematic biotic constraint that causes 15-80% yield abatement in the Indian subcontinent and other parts of the world. The most effective means of managing crop diseases is to develop resistant varieties against crop diseases. 25 wheat genotypes were evaluated against spot blotch (Bipolaris sorokiniana) under natural epiphytotic conditions sown on two dates (26 November and 18 December) at Rampur, Chitwan from November 2015 to April 2016. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications where dates of sowing were taken as the main plot and wheat genotypes were taken as sub-plots. Genotypes RR-21 and Morocco were taken as a susceptible check. Disease scoring for both sowing date was done 3 times at an interval of seven days. Disease severity and Area Under Disease Progressive Curve (AUDPC) were calculated. Among the tested genotypes, disease severity and AUDPC values varied significantly for both the normal and late sowing dates. The six genotypes were found resistant and eight genotypes were found moderately resistant under normal sowing conditions. None of the genotypes were found to be resistant and moderately resistant under late sowing conditions. This indicates that timely sowing of wheat is important for reducing yield loss caused by spot blotch disease irrespective of wheat genotypes grown. Seed infection percent for normal sowing was lower (25 to 85 percent) than late sowing (31 to 91 percent). This concluded that if farmers have to use the seed for sowing from their own field they should use the seeds harvested from the normal sowing date. The genotypes BL-4350, BL-4463, NL-1094, Aditya, BL-4316 and NL-971 were found resistant to spot blotch under normal sown condition. These genotypes could be used as donor parents for spot blotch resistance in breeding program or could be released as a variety after evaluating the agronomical traits and quality parameters. [Fundam Appl Agric 2020; 5(3.000): 383-392]

Genetic biofortification, a way to improve micronutrients mainly zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentrations, in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that could reduce the malnutrition in the developing world. This study was conducted at the research field of Hill Crops Research Program, Kabre, Dolakha, Nepal from December 2015 to May 2016 to evaluate biofortified wheat genotypes for grain zinc and iron concentrations, grain yield and associated component traits. Fifty biofortified spring wheat genotypes were evaluated using alpha lattice design with two replications. Highly significant variation was found among the wheat genotypes for days to heading, days to maturity, thousand grains weight, grain yield, grain zinc and iron concentrations. The value of grain zinc concentration varied from 18.85 to 69.98 ppm with a mean value of 34.12 ppm. The genotype 6HPYT405 had the highest grain zinc concentration (69.98 ppm) followed by 6HPYT432 (46.62 ppm) and 6HPYT404 (44.56 ppm). Similarly, the value of grain iron concentration varied from 35.05 to 56.06 ppm with a mean value of 44.65 ppm. The genotypes 6HPYT420 had the highest grain iron concentration (56.06 ppm) followed by genotype 6HPYT405 (55.94 ppm) and 6HPYT421 (55.33 ppm). The genotypes 6HPYT404, 6HPYT405, 6HPYT410, 6HPYT421, 6HPYT423, 6HPYT431, 6HPYT432, 6HPYT439, 6HPYT440 and 6HPYT450 had higher grain zinc and iron concentrations. So, these genotypes can be used as parents in future breeding programs to develop zinc and iron-enriched wheat varieties. The genotypes namely 6HPYT428, 6HPYT437, 6HPYT438, 6HPYT443, 6HPYT444, 6HPYT447 and 6HPYT448 were found high yielding genotypes which could be selected for varietal development program. [Fundam Appl Agric 2020; 5(1.000): 78-87]

A congenital cystic eyeball is an extremely rare condition, with only 52 cases reported in the literature to date. An orbital cyst replaces the eyeball which occurs due to the complete or partial failure in invagination of the primary optic vesicle during the fourth week of gestation. We discuss a case of a congenital cystic eyeball in a 14-year-old female who presented to us for a cosmetic blemish due to a large swelling in the right eyelid with the absence of a right eyeball since birth. She underwent removal of the cyst followed by an orbital implant and later prosthesis. Diagnosis of the congenital cystic eyeball was made based on the clinical and ultrasound B-scan features, intraoperative findings, and histopathology report. This article adds one more case to the existing literature on the congenital cystic eyeball. Orbital implant with prosthesis after excision of the cyst provided definitive diagnosis and a good cosmetic outcome in our case.

A predominantly mountainous country Nepal has a complex climatic pattern that varies from tropical in the south (Terai region) to arctic in the north (Himalayas). The gradual rise in temperature in the mountainous region has attracted great interest among the scientific community in general over recent years. However, recent warming in Nepal’s east-west and south-north temperature gradients and its implications for ecology and society based on facts and figures are still lacking. In this context, temperature data (1970–2016) of 76 meteorological stations from the Terai region to the Mountains were used in this study to analyze the annual and seasonal warming trends in the different physiographic regions of Nepal. We performed a hybrid analytical approach i.e. integrated statistical and theoretical tools to detect the warming trend and its ecological and societal implications across the country. The Eastern part of the country was found to be more warming than the Central and Western parts, showing an increased climatic sensitivity across the Khumbu (Mt. Everest region). The increasing trends of temperature have been found in all physiographic regions along an altitude gradient, i.e. Terai, Siwaliks, Lower Hills, and Upper Hills observed 0.15, 0.26, 0.68, and 0.57 °C per decade, respectively. Higher warming trend in Lower Hills than the Upper Hills showed that higher elevations experienced lesser degrees of warming trends than the lower elevations in the mountainous regions. Further, a higher warming trend was observed in the winter season than the other seasons in all regions except for Terai. Based on the warming trends in different physiographic regions, we also found a similar pattern of ecological impacts, where a higher warming region also experienced higher ecological impacts such as changes in water resources, phenology, etc. Lower Hills, Upper Hills, and Mountains experienced higher adverse impacts than the Terai and Siwaliks in the current global warming scenarios.