Scar among Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccinated Children Presenting to an Immunisation Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital in Nepal: An Observational Study

Introduction: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination is associated with the development of scarring at the vaccination site in most children within 12 weeks of vaccination. However, due to various factors, some children do not develop scars. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of scar failure and the differences in clinical characteristics between scar-positive and scar-negative children. Methods: This observational cross-section study was conducted between 12 September 2022 and 15 April 2024 on children attending a vaccination clinic at a tertiary care hospital for 12 or 15-month vaccination. A purposive sampling method was used, and 386 children were enrolled in the study. During medical history, information was collected on Bacillus Clamettte-Guérin vaccination, child and maternal clinical profiles, and hospitalisations for respiratory tract infections in children. Results: Among 386 infants, prevalence of BCG scar was 341 (88.34%; 95% CI: 91.81%-91.37%). Vaccination was confirmed in 94.82% by history and card. The median scar size was 4mm (IQR: 2,5 mm) transversely and 3 mm (IQR: 2,5) vertically. Thirty-two (8.30%) infants required hospital admission for respiratory infections; none received anti-tubercular treatment. Conclusions: The BCG scar formation was higher compare to the scar failure. The scar failure was comparable to other studies

From Intentional Awareness to Environmental Action: The Relationship Between Mindfulness and Pro-Environmental Behaviors

Mindfulness is defined as the ‘awareness that arises through paying attention to the present moment, on purpose, non-judgmentally’. Despite ample empirical evidence of its efficacy in inducing positive behavior change, almost no work has investigated the viability of using mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) to promote pro-environmental behavior. Some recent studies have demonstrated consistent correlational relationships between mindfulness levels and pro-environmental attitudes (e.g., connectedness to nature), intentions, and some pro-environmental behaviors (e.g., recycling, “green” purchasing decisions), but no past work has explicitly examined mindfulness in the context of energy saving behaviors. Results from both quantitative and qualitative research conducted as part of this project add to existing evidence of a link between engagement in mindfulness practices and pro-environmental engagement, including, but not limited to, household energy use behaviors. Results from a couple of quantitative studies that were a part of this project show that dispositional facets Observe and Non-React were significant predictors of self-reported household energy behaviors, along with frequent engagement with mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises. The results from the qualitative study present mindfulness to be a complex, multidimensional concept that is understood and experienced differently by different people. Unlike usually value-neutral academic and corporate conceptualizations, long-term practitioners who engage with the concept report their practice to have strong ethical dimensions. Engagement with mindfulness as a practice impacts practitioners' perceived connectedness to nature and supports their environmental behaviors. The study provides conceptual models that attempt to explain the relationship between mindfulness practice, connectedness to nature, and pro-environmental behaviors. Results from these studies suggest the possibility that mindfulness-based interventions could provide a novel approach to improving environmental behaviors though further research is needed to determine whether this is indeed the case. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.Master of Science (M.S.

Building Block of Job Satisfaction in the Employees of Bank and Financial Institutions in Nepal

The study aims at analyzing the determinants of job satisfaction in bank employees of Kathmandu valley, Nepal. The research has adopted analytical research design. The Exploratory Factor Analysis has been conducted to analyze the factor influencing job satisfaction of junior level bank employees in Kathmandu valley. The 31 usable sample sizes have been taken for the study purpose. The study found most significant factor as job security, years of experience, social status and financial status. The study concludes that the job security, experience and salary ad allowance are the building block of job satisfaction for junior level bank employees in Kathmandu valley.</jats:p

Effect of Natural and Synthetic Mulches on Yield and Yield Attributing Parameters of Chili (Capsicum annuum L. Solanaceae)

Aims: Production of chili (Capsicum annuum Linnaeus; Solanaceae) in rain-fed regions of Nepal during the winter is constrained by the limited availability of soil moisture. Mulching has been a proven tool to conserve soil moisture and enhance yield. A field study was conducted in the winter of 2019 to identify the most suitable mulch that enhances the yield and yield attributing parameters of chili. Study Design: Seven treatments with three replications were evaluated under the randomized complete block design. Among the treatments, rice straw (5 kg/plot) and water reed (5 kg/plot) were used as natural mulches. While, plastic mulches: transparent (25 µ), silver (25 µ), black (25 µ), and black thick (50 µ) (double thickness) were used as synthetic mulches. Only soil with no mulch was the control. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Bangau, Dang, Nepal from November 2019 to May 2020. Methodology: We measured soil temperature at 10 cm depth using soil thermometer, and calculated soil moisture through oven dry method. Similarly, weight of ten fresh and ten dry fruits was recorded from each plot using an electronic scale. Number of fruits per plant was also counted. All the data were analyzed using ANOVA and means were separated following a post hoc test. Results: The highest soil moisture (18.38%), number of fruits per plant (24.91), fruit fresh weight per ten fruits (59.86 g), and fruit dry weight per ten fruits (14.65 g) were recorded in black thick plastic mulched plots. Furthermore, the lowest fresh weed weight (95.30 g) was also measured in black thick plastic mulched plots. Whereas, the highest soil temperature (18.92°C) was recorded in transparent plastic mulched plots. Conclusion: This study concludes black thick plastic as the most effective among the treatments tested in this study in enhancing yield and yield attributing parameters of chili

Effect of Natural and Synthetic Mulches on Yield and Yield Attributing Parameters of Chili (Capsicum annum L. Solanaceae)

Aims: Production of chili (Capsicum annuum Linnaeus; Solanaceae) in rain-fed regions of Nepal during the winter is constrained by the limited availability of soil moisture. Mulching has been a proven tool to conserve soil moisture and enhance yield. A field study was conducted in the winter of 2019 to identify the most suitable mulch that enhances the yield and yield attributing parameters of chili.&#x0D; Study Design: Seven treatments with three replications were evaluated under the randomized complete block design. Among the treatments, rice straw (5 kg/plot) and water reed (5 kg/plot) were used as natural mulches. While, plastic mulches: transparent (25 µ), silver (25 µ), black (25 µ), and black thick (50 µ) (double thickness) were used as synthetic mulches. Only soil with no mulch was the control.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Bangau, Dang, Nepal from November 2019 to May 2020.&#x0D; Methodology: We measured soil temperature at 10 cm depth using soil thermometer, and calculated soil moisture through oven dry method. Similarly, weight of ten fresh and ten dry fruits was recorded from each plot using an electronic scale. Number of fruits per plant was also counted. All the data were analyzed using ANOVA and means were separated following a post hoc test.&#x0D; Results: The highest soil moisture (18.38%), number of fruits per plant (24.91), fruit fresh weight per ten fruits (59.86 g), and fruit dry weight per ten fruits (14.65 g) were recorded in black thick plastic mulched plots. Furthermore, the lowest fresh weed weight (95.30 g) was also measured in black thick plastic mulched plots. Whereas, the highest soil temperature (18.92°C) was recorded in transparent plastic mulched plots.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study concludes black thick plastic as the most effective among the treatments tested in this study in enhancing yield and yield attributing parameters of chili.</jats:p

The Buckle: Product Recommendation Engine

This project is the culmination of a few different machine learning model creation techniques and discussions with The Buckle’s internal stakeholders. Our final product is a neural-network based machine learning model that recommends products to The Buckle’s customers through their various marketing channels such as email marketing or directly on their website. To create our model, we used a dataset that included products in hundreds of thousands of purchases by The Buckle’s customers. Using this data, our model creates a large multidimensional space with each of The Buckle’s products. This multidimensional space is then reduced down to 50 dimensions where related products are located closer together. The model recommends products by taking in a customer, creating a point in this 50 dimensional space based on the customer’s previous purchases, and recommends items that are the closest to this point. The benefit to this model over any of our previous models is that The Buckle can filter what type of item is recommended by availability, demographic, item type, etc. As a result of this project, we have given The Buckle an internal tool that can replace their third-party product recommending software. This tool can also be expanded upon internally to fulfill more use cases than the third-party software can