On optimizing travel routes in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal using genetic algorithms

Effective route scheduling is crucial for reducing both travel time and expenses, particularly in industries like transportation and travel. One of the optimization methods known as the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP), offers a useful structure for solving these issues, but because of its NP-complete characteristics result in the need for significant computational resources to solve it perfectly.In this study, we provide a unique approach to route optimization that makes use of a genetic algorithm (GA) and provides a heuristic approach which delivers almost optimal solutions in reasonable time. The concept applied in our methodology minimizes the distance between various destinations within Kathmandu Valley

Journeys and Arrivals of my PhD Thesis ‘Place-Pedagogies, Eco-Spiritual Cosmologies and Cultural Stories: A Reflection

In this reflective paper, I make a concluding observation of the journeys and arrivals of my PhD thesis- Place-Pedagogies, Eco-Spiritual Cosmologies and Cultural Stories. Employing the metaphor of ‘writing as living yoga’ of ecological relationality and ‘research as living dharma’ of authentic sincerity, the Eco composition of this paper unpacks the research journey. While unpacking the research journey, I make a synopsis of the process of how ‘being here yogic reflection’ (Chinmayananda, 2011; Morgan, 2012) at ‘being there PAR performance’ to ecological ripples (Trickett & Beehler, 2017) recognized that the dominant Western-Modern schooling architecture of Dapcha located Janahit School, where we conducted this Participatory Action Research (PAR) was less compatible to the place essential (the place Dharma) of Dapcha, Dharmashala. It appeared that the seemingly displaced (anti-ecological) schooling design which was continuously inclined to displaced standards was partly responsible for weakened belonging, being, and becoming of teachers, and students in the school and in the community

The Law of Happiness: How Spiritual Wisdom and Modern Science Can Change Your Life

The book, The Law of Happiness: How Spiritual Wisdom and Modern Science Can   Change Your Life, by Dr. Henry Cloud, comprises an introduction and 14 chapters centered on the core premise that happiness is not determined by external circumstances, but rather by our intentional choices and practices within our control. Written in the context of a growing interest in the science of well-being, the book blends biblical principles, psychological research, and personal insights to uncover the true nature of happiness and challenge the widespread belief that happiness is found in wealth, status, or perfect relationships. Rather than focusing on fleeting external circumstances, Cloud argues that sustainable happiness is rooted in intentional behaviors, thought patterns, and spiritual practices that are the intrinsic values of human life. Overall, His practical and encouraging approach offers readers an accessible path to happiness, regardless of life’s challenges. This review outlines the book’s central argument, summarizes its structure, strengths and weaknesses, and concludes with its overall contribution to the theme of happiness and personal growth

Literature’s Engagement with the Environment Some Ruminations

This paper attempts an introspection on the role of literature in an era of human-induced climate crisis. It is aware that from a purely material or tangibly measurable point of view literary-critical studies exerts a negligible impact to the environment and its studies; yet, through concrete literary examples it endeavours to imply that since the primary agent wreaking havoc on genuine wilderness, and the environment thus triggering the Anthropocene is the human, literature – since ages – has been both a keeper of records (much before the advent of scientific discourse and dystopic narratives) and conscience imploring a balance between the human and the non-human worlds. The paper also advocates towards the end a plan of pedagogic action

Navigating the Landscape of Contemplative Education and Psychological Wellbeing

We are pleased to present the inaugural issue of the Journal of Contemplative Education and Psychological Wellbeing, a platform dedicated to exploring the dynamic intersections of education, social and emotional health, educational psychology, school counseling, and contemplative practices. As the complexities of life in the 21st century continue to challenge traditional educational paradigms, there is a growing urgency to develop approaches that cultivate inner awareness, emotional resilience, and holistic wellbeing among learners, educators, and communities (Wang & Yorks, 2012). This journal responds to that call. Rooted in a vision of integrating intellectual, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of human development (Bainbridge & Del Negro, 2020), this journal invites scholarly and practice-based contributions that bridge Western scientific understanding with Eastern wisdom traditions. We aim to nurture a space where contemplative methods and psychological theories can be studied, applied, and reflected upon in meaningful ways within educational and counseling contexts

Cost-effective deep learning infrastructure with NVIDIA GPU

The growing demand for computational power is driven by advancements in deep learning, the increasing need for big data processing, and the requirements of scientific simulations for academic and research purposes. Developing countries like Nepal often struggle with the resources needed to invest in new and better hardware for these purposes. However, optimizing and building on existing technology can still meet these computing demands effectively. To address these needs, we built a cluster using four NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPUs. The cluster consists of four nodes: one master node that controls and manages the entire cluster, and three compute nodes dedicated to processing tasks. The master node is equipped with all necessary software for package management, resource scheduling, and deployment, such as Anaconda and Slurm. In addition, a Network File Storage (NFS) system was integrated to provide the additional storage required by the cluster. Given that the cluster is accessible via ssh by a public domain address, which poses significant cybersecurity risks, we implemented fail2ban to mitigate brute force attacks and enhance security. Despite the continuous challenges encountered during the design and implementation process, this project demonstrates how powerful computational clusters can be built to handle resource-intensive tasks in various demanding fields

Parental Dialogic Reading Habits in Shaping Adolescent Screen Time Behaviors and Emotional Wellbeing: An Ethnographic Inquiry

This ethnographic study explored how parental reading habits can shape adolescents’ screen time behavior and emotional wellbeing in a world where excessive screen use is linked to emotional challenges and behavioral issues in adolescents. Through in-depth interviews with four participants, including parents and adolescents, this study explored how parental engagement in reading activities helps adolescents manage screen time and make a strong emotional bond. I spent over two months in day time and conducted workplace interviews, observation and reviewed journals. The process involved multiple readings, initial coding, categorizing and narrative interpretation to assemble parents’ experiences on dialogic reading and its influence in shaping adolescent screen time behavior and emotional well-being. The findings indicate that parental reading habits contribute to better screen time control and emotional resilience

Suspected faecal contamination of Phewa Lake: Spatial patterns and effects of rainfall

Phewa Lake was once popular for swimming, but most local people now perceive it to be unsafe due to urban development and beliefs about sewage contamination. Nevertheless some people, especially children, still swim or bathe in Phewa’s waters. Our objectives were to determine whether swimmers are at risk of waterborne disease, how the risk varies around the lake, and how it varies with rainfall. We measured concentrations of faecal indicator bacteria (thermotolerant coliforms) in lake water samples from five points along the urbanized eastern shore, from the mainly agricultural northern shore, the mainly forested southern shore, and the middle of the lake. We also sampled two urban streams. We sampled on ten occasions from October 2021 to January 2023, including monsoon, post-monsoon and winter. During dry periods concentrations of thermotolerant coliforms were low (median 3-60 cfu/100 mL) in all lake samples and very high (median 3000-45,000 cfu/100 mL) in the urban streams. After rain, concentrations in lake samples near the urban area rose to median 400-2000 cfu/100 mL, exceeding USA guideline values. Concentrations were generally higher on the urbanized side of the lake than on the mainly agricultural and forested sides, and generally increased along the presumed flow path towards the lake outlet. We recommend further investigations to determine the sources of contamination. We also recommend developing guideline faecal indicator bacteria concentrations for recreational waters in Nepal, with regular monitoring and public signage to protect people from illness at popular swimming sites

Split-up Identity: Reading Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake Geo-critically

Jhumpa Lahiri’s writings are often marked by the constant tension between domesticity and foreignness, and she has explored this theme through her own multicultural self, which emerges from the crossroads of three different continents. She was born in London to Bengali parents, brought up in New England, USA, and is currently living in Italy, where she writes in the Italian language to forge a deeper connection with it. Her multicultural perspective influences the characters in her fiction and short stories, constantly challenging cultural monopolies and the constraints of identity politics. Her debut fiction, titled The Namesake, explores the problem of ambivalence in multicultural situations, which leads its protagonists into a space of identity crisis. Despite being originally Indian diaspora, Gogol, the male protagonist, looks upon himself as an American. At the same time, his mother Ashima Ganguli remains in the cleavage of anxiety and ambivalence. This predicament can be interpreted as a consequence of the conflict between dominance and disavowal. They work in parallel, leading them to a situation where they are thrown into the site located between becoming and non-becoming. This qualitative paper, which appears to inspire subsequent researchers to explore this field further, seeks to demonstrate geocritically how split identities are constructed in the current context of glocalization and transnationalism. The research will draw on the theoretical frameworks of postcolonial diaspora theories and geocriticism

Assessing flood susceptibility and frequency analysis in himalayan river basins: A GIS-based multi-criteria approach

Flooding is a recurrent issue in Nepal during the monsoon season. This study assesses flood susceptibility zones in Himalayan River basins, specifically Tamakoshi and Indrawati River Basin, Nepal utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and multi-criteria analysis. Additionally, it employs Gumbel’s distribution method for flood frequency analysis, estimating potential flood discharges for different return periods (2, 5, 10, 50, and 100 years). The critical flood causative factors like slope, elevation, land use/land cover, rainfall intensity, and river proximity are analyzed in this study using weighted multi-criteria overlay methods to produce flood-prone areas. Because the study areas are part of mountainous catchment areas, these regions have steep slopes, meaning surface runoff velocity is increased, ground infiltration of water decreases, and flood risks increase. GIS-based weighted overlay analysis identified approximately 26.6% of the Indrawati Basin and 25.4% of the Tamakoshi Basin as highly flood susceptible zones. The predicted flood discharges for a 100-year return period are 1566.59 m³/s for Indrawati River Basin and 1821.87 m³/s for Tamakoshi River Basin. The findings will support regional flood hazard management strategies and contribute to disaster risk reduction efforts in Nepal