Blood group distribution and its association with bleeding time and clotting time among medical students

Background: Blood group, bleeding time (BT), and clotting time (CT) are routinely performed tests in the hospital, especially before any surgeries and blood transfusion. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study is to see if there is any association of blood group with BT and CT and the gender difference in BT and CT. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 132 medical students of 1st year in the hematology laboratory of the Department of Physiology in KIST Medical College from June 2022 to September 2022. The blood group was determined by a simple agglutination method. BT was determined by Dukes method whereas CT was determined using capillary tube method. Data were analyzed using SPSS-20 software. The difference in BT and CT among various blood groups was done using the ANOVA test and P≤0.05 was considered significant. Student’s t-test was used to find the association of gender with BT and CT. Results: Both BT and CT were found to be more in males than females. However, the difference was significant only in the mean BT (P=0.05, Table 2). There was no significant difference in the mean BT among various blood groups but CT was found to be significant (P=0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed the tendency of bleeding to be more in blood Group B individuals. Multicentric study including a larger population with plasma level of von Willebrand factor might be helpful to verify findings and identify the risk group

Habitat Suitability and Conflict Zone Mapping for the Blue Bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) across Nepal

Rapidly changing environmental conditions (bioclimatic, anthropogenic, topographic, and vegetation-related variables) are likely to alter the spatial distribution of flora and fauna. To understand the influence of environmental variables on the Blue bull’s distribution and to identify potential conflict zones, the habitat suitability analysis of the Blue bull was performed using ensemble modeling. We modelled the distribution of the Blue bull using an extensive database on the current distribution of the Blue bull and selected 15 ecologically significant environmental variables. We used ten species distribution modeling algorithms available in the BIOMOD2 R package. Among the ten algorithms, the Random Forest, Maxent, and Generalized linear model had the highest mean true skill statistics scores, ensuring better model performance, and were considered for further analysis. We found that 22,462.57 km2 (15.26%) of Nepal is suitable for the Blue bull. Slope, precipitation seasonality, and distance to the road are the environmental variables contributing the most to the distribution of Blue bull. Of the total predicted suitable habitats, 86% lies outside protected areas and 55% overlaps with agricultural land. Thus, we recommend that the future conservation initiatives including appropriate conflict mitigation measures should be prioritized equally in both protected areas and outside protected areas to ensure the species’ survival in the region

Butterfly species diversity and their floral preferences in the Rupa Wetland of Nepal

Floral attributes often influence the foraging choices of nectar-feeding butterflies, given the close association between plants and these butterfly pollinators. The diversity of butterflies is known to a large extent in Nepal, but little information is available on the feeding habits of butterflies. This study was conducted along the periphery of Rupa Wetland from January to December 2019 to assess butterfly species diversity and to identify the factors influencing their foraging choices. In total, we recorded 1535 individuals of 138 species representing all six families. For our examination of butterfly-nectar plant interactions, we recorded a total of 298 individuals belonging to 31 species of butterfly visiting a total of 28 nectar plant species. Overall, total butterfly visitation was found to be significantly influenced by plant category (herbaceous preferred over woody), floral color (yellow white and purple preferred over pink), and corolla type (tubular preferred over nontubular). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the proboscis length of butterflies and the corolla tube length of flowers. Examining each butterfly family separately revealed that, for four of the families (Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, and Pieridae), none of the tested factors (flower color, plant category, and corolla type) were shown to significantly influence butterfly abundance at flowers. However, Hesperidae abundance was found to be significantly influenced by both flower color (with more butterflies observed at yellow flowers than purple) and flower type (with more butterflies observed at tubular flowers than nontubular flowers). Our results reveal that Rupa Lake is a suitable habitat for butterflies, providing valuable floral resources. Hence, further detailed studies encompassing all seasons, a greater variety of plants, and other influential factors in different ecological regions are fundamental for creating favorable environments to sustain important butterfly pollinators and help create balanced wetland ecosystems.Peer reviewe

In-vitro Dissolution Study of Gallstone with Medicinal Plant Extracts

Background: Gallstone disease poses a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems globally, necessitating safer alternatives to current treatments like dissolution therapy and cholecystectomy. Natural compounds from plants offer a potential solution, but research on their cholelitholytic activity is limited. In vitro dissolution studies are crucial for identifying effective plant-based therapies. Objective: This study aims to investigate the in vitro cholelitholytic activity of six plants and Ayurvedic medicines, selected based on ethnopharmacological knowledge and folk medicinal practices. Methods: Gallstone samples were categorized as combined cholesterol gallstones (CCGS) or black pigment gallstones based on external morphology and cross-sectional analysis. In vitro dissolution studies were conducted using extracts from Bergenia ciliata, Berberis asiatica, Cuscuta europaea, Kalanchoe pinnata, Teraxacum officinale, Macrotyloma uniflorum, and Ayurvedic medicines (Cystone®, Gokshuradi, and Calcury). The samples were immersed in the extracts and controls separately and incubated in a shaking water bath. The gallstone dissolution capacity was assessed by recording the dry weight of the samples at multiple time points. Results: T. officinale was highly effective in dissolving black pigment gallstones, while B. asiatica exhibited superior efficacy for CCGS. M. uniflorum and C. europaea also demonstrated significant dissolution activity against black pigment gallstones. However, K. pinnata was less effective for both gallstone types. B. ciliata and C. europaea exhibited equal effectiveness against both types. Ayurvedic medicine extracts were less effective compared to plant extracts. Conclusion: This in vitro study showed the plants can dissolve GS effectively. However, the effectiveness of the plant to dissolve GS depends on the type of the stone. The findings from this study serve as a basis for further in vivo researc

In-vitro Dissolution Study of Gallstone with Medicinal Plant Extracts

Background: Gallstone disease poses a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems globally, necessitating safer alternatives to current treatments like dissolution therapy and cholecystectomy. Natural compounds from plants offer a potential solution, but research on their cholelitholytic activity is limited. In vitro dissolution studies are crucial for identifying effective plant-based therapies. Objective: This study aims to investigate the in vitro cholelitholytic activity of six plants and Ayurvedic medicines, selected based on ethnopharmacological knowledge and folk medicinal practices. Methods: Gallstone samples were categorized as combined cholesterol gallstones (CCGS) or black pigment gallstones based on external morphology and cross-sectional analysis. In vitro dissolution studies were conducted using extracts from Bergenia ciliata, Berberis asiatica, Cuscuta europaea, Kalanchoe pinnata, Teraxacum officinale, Macrotyloma uniflorum, and Ayurvedic medicines (Cystone®, Gokshuradi, and Calcury). The samples were immersed in the extracts and controls separately and incubated in a shaking water bath. The gallstone dissolution capacity was assessed by recording the dry weight of the samples at multiple time points. Results: T. officinale was highly effective in dissolving black pigment gallstones, while B. asiatica exhibited superior efficacy for CCGS. M. uniflorum and C. europaea also demonstrated significant dissolution activity against black pigment gallstones. However, K. pinnata was less effective for both gallstone types. B. ciliata and C. europaea exhibited equal effectiveness against both types. Ayurvedic medicine extracts were less effective compared to plant extracts. Conclusion: This in vitro study showed the plants can dissolve GS effectively. However, the effectiveness of the plant to dissolve GS depends on the type of the stone. The findings from this study serve as a basis for further in vivo researc

Steering a Historical Disease Forecasting Model Under a Pandemic: Case of Flu and COVID-19

Forecasting influenza in a timely manner aids health organizations and policymakers in adequate preparation and decision making. However, effective influenza forecasting still remains a challenge despite increasing research interest. It is even more challenging amidst the COVID pandemic, when the influenza-like illness (ILI) counts are affected by various factors such as symptomatic similarities with COVID-19 and shift in healthcare seeking patterns of the general population. Under the current pandemic, historical influenza models carry valuable expertise about the disease dynamics but face difficulties adapting. Therefore, we propose CALI-Net, a neural transfer learning architecture which allows us to 'steer' a historical disease forecasting model to new scenarios where flu and COVID co-exist. Our framework enables this adaptation by automatically learning when it should emphasize learning from COVID-related signals and when it should learn from the historical model. Thus, we exploit representations learned from historical ILI data as well as the limited COVID-related signals. Our experiments demonstrate that our approach is successful in adapting a historical forecasting model to the current pandemic. In addition, we show that success in our primary goal, adaptation, does not sacrifice overall performance as compared with state-of-the-art influenza forecasting approaches.Comment: Appears in AAAI-2

C-H bond functionalization under electrochemical flow conditions

Electrochemical C−H functionalization is a rapidly growing area of interest in organic synthesis. To achieve maximum atom economy, the flow electrolysis process is more sustainable. This allows shorter reaction times, safer working environments, and better selectivities. Using this technology, the problem of overoxidation can be reduced and less emergence of side products or no side products are possible. Flow electro-reactors provide high surface-to-volume ratios and contain electrodes that are closely spaced where the diffusion layers overlap to give the desired product, electrochemical processes can now be managed without the need for a deliberately added supporting electrolyte. Considering the importance of flow electrochemical C−H functionalization, a comprehensive review is presented. Herein, we summarize flow electrolysis for the construction of C−C and C−X (X=O, N, S, and I) bonds formation. Also, benzylic oxidation and access to biologically active molecules are discussed

‘The broker also told me that I will not have problems after selling because we have two and we can survive on one kidney’: findings from an ethnographic study of a village with one kidney in Central Nepal

Kidney selling is a global phenomenon engraved by poverty and governance in low-income countries with the higher-income countries functioning as recipients and the lower-income countries as donors. Over the years, an increasing number of residents in a village near the capital city of Nepal have sold their kidneys. This study aims to explore the drivers of kidney selling and its consequences using ethnographic methods and multi-stakeholder consultations. An ethnographic approach was used in which the researcher lived and observed the residents’ life and carried out formal and informal interactions including in-depth interviews with key informants, community members and kidney sellers in Hokse village, Kavrepalanchok district. Participants in the village were interacted by researchers who resided in the village. In addition, remote interviews were conducted with multiple relevant stakeholders at various levels that included legal workers, government officers, non-government organization (NGO) workers, medical professionals, and policymaker. All formal interviews were audio-recorded for transcription in addition to field notes and underwent thematic analysis. The study identified processes, mechanisms, and drivers of kidney selling. Historically, diversion of a major highway from the village to another village was found to impact the livelihood, economy and access to the urban centres, ultimately increasing poverty and vulnerability for kidney selling. Existing and augmented deprivation of employment opportunities were shown to foster emigration of villagers to India, where they ultimately succumbed to brokers associated with kidney selling. Population in the village also maintained social cohesion through commune living, social conformity (that had a high impact on decision making), including behaviours that deepened their poverty. Behaviours such as alcoholism, trusting and following brokers based on the persuasion and decision of their peers, relatives, and neighbours who became the new member of the kidney brokerage also contributed to kidney selling. The other reasons that may have influenced high kidney selling were perceived to be a poor level of education, high demands of kidneys in the market and an easy source of cash through selling. In Hokse village, kidney selling stemmed from the interaction between the brokers and community members’ vulnerability (poverty and ignorance), mainly as the brokers raised false hopes of palliating the vulnerability. The decision-making of the villagers was influenced heavily by fellow kidney sellers, some of whom later joined the network of kidney brokers. Although sustained support in livelihood, development, and education are essential, an expanding network and influence of kidney brokers require urgent restrictive actions by the legal authority