VARIABILITY AND HERITABILITY ESTIMATE OF 30 RICE LANDRACES OF LAMJUNG AND TANAHUN DISTRICTS, NEPAL

The variability in the rice landraces is the source of variation and offers substantial opportunity for the development of new varieties through the selection. Exploring diversity and variability of landraces is utmost for rice improvement. The objective of the study was to assess diversity indices, magnitude of genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance for the yield, and yield contributing traits. An experiment was carried out in alpha-lattice with 30 landraces, two replications in the Agronomy farm of IAAS, Lamjung Campus, during June-November, 2018. Shannon and Simpson's indices were calculated for 18 qualitative traits. The value of the Shannon and Simpson index ranged 0.15-1.41 and 0.07- 0.75, respectively. Landraces showed significant variations (

STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ON THE MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CAMPUS AUTONOMY IN TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY NEPAL: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Purpose: This study investigates stakeholder perspectives on the implementation of campus autonomy at Tribhuvan University. It aims to explore how stakeholders perceive campus autonomy, identify opportunities and challenges associated with it, and examine its benefits and drawbacks.    Methodology: The study is based on a qualitative research method utilizing thematic analysis. It focuses on four main themes: structural challenges, institutional sustainability, governance and accountability, and collaboration and coordination. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and thematic analysis was employed to extract valuable insights from stakeholders.   Results and Discussion: The findings reveal the complexities involved in autonomy implementation. It highlights the significance of strategic planning, capacity development, addressing disparities, upholding academic freedom, maintaining coordination, and striking a balance between autonomy and accountability to foster innovation and enhance educational outcomes.   Conclusion: Implementing campus autonomy in Nepal's higher education system requires careful planning, capacity-building, good governance and accountability, and fostering collaboration and coordination to address challenges and stimulate innovation.   Implication: The research provides valuable insights to stakeholders for improved decision-making, academic quality, governance, innovation, stakeholder engagement, and policy recommendations in developing a high-quality higher education system.   Originality/Value: The research's originality lies in aligning its implementation with stakeholders' expectations for quality development in higher education through campus autonomy. Stakeholder insights and opinions offer valuable understanding of campus autonomy, including its benefits, challenges, and potential implications. These insights inform decision-makers and policymakers, aiding their efforts to enhance campus autonomy and improve educational systems

Determinants of gross income from carp production in Bara district, Nepal

A study was conducted from March to June 2020 to analyze the determinants of gross income from carp production in the Bara district of Nepal. Altogether, 90 carp producers, 45 each from Simraungadh and Pachrauta municipality in equal basis were sampled by using cluster sampling technique. Primary information was collected through a pre-tested semi-structured interview-based schedule while secondary information was collected reviewing the relevant publications. Data was entered in SPSS 25 and analyzed using STATA 12.1. The results  revealed that the cost of labor, cost of feed, assistances and services, and training had significant positive effect on gross income from carp prodcuiton. Furthermore, lack of quality inputs was identified as the most severe production problems whereas Dhalta to be given was recognized as the most severe marketing problems. Thus, encouraging the carp producer to manage the cost of labor and cost of feed deliberately, rationally providing the assistance and services and strengthening the skills and knowledge of producer through training could significantly increase gross income from carp production

Case Report on Secondary Peritonitis Caused by Jejunum Perforation

The small intestine is third in frequency intraperitoneal organ injured after blunt trauma of abdomen. Peritonitis caused by isolated jejunum perforation is very rare. As most of these cases are accompanied with injuries with other structures in the abdomen, hence it is not suspected. Therefore failure in diagnosis and delay in treating these injuries significantly increase the morbidity and mortality of these patients. Here, we report a case of a 60 year old gentleman admitted in surgery department with severe abdominal pain, multiple episodes of vomiting followed to fast breathing and reduced consciousness. Our patient presented in septic shock, with toxic looks and clear cut rigid abdominal wall. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time we describe a case report on isolated jejunum perforation as a result of physical assault.  Journal of Gandaki Medical College Vol. 10, No. 1, 2017, Page: 57-5

Orthopaedic services during COVID-19 lockdown at Patan Hospital, Nepal

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has paralyzed the world, including elective health care services. To prevent the spread of infection, most countries have gone into lockdown and adjustments have been made to provide urgent medical care, including Orthopaedic services. In accordance with the guidelines from worst affected countries and neighboring India, Patan Hospital followed instructions from Ministry of Health and Population to provide only urgent and semi-urgent Orthopaedic services. This study aims to audit the patient profile during lockdown so as to have a clearer picture, which will enable us to be prepared for similar epidemic in the future. Method: All patients admitted to the Orthopaedic ward of Patan hospital from 24 March to 27 April 2020, during the lockdown, were included. Clinical profile, including cause of admission, management, hospital stay were descriptively analyzed. Ethical approval was obtained. Result: Out of 44 admissions, there were male 27 and female 17. Trauma cases were 38, and 18 were in age group 20-26 years. Admission due to infections were four. Conservative management were done in seven while 33 were treated surgically, out of which 30 accounted for trauma. Average 6.14 days hospital stay, range 1-22 days. Conclusion: Trauma comprised of major bulk of patients seeking urgent Orthopaedic care. Hospital needs to be prepared with necessary measures to ensure safety of health care workers and yet provide urgent Orthopaedic services. Keyword: COVID-19, lockdown, orthopaedic

Estimating yield-contributing physiological parameters of cotton using UAV-based imagery

Lint yield in cotton is governed by light intercepted by the canopy (IPAR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and harvest index (HI). However, the conventional methods of measuring these yield-governing physiological parameters are labor-intensive, time-consuming and requires destructive sampling. This study aimed to explore the use of low-cost and high-resolution UAV-based RGB and multispectral imagery 1) to estimate fraction of IPAR (IPARf), RUE, and biomass throughout the season, 2) to estimate lint yield using the cotton fiber index (CFI), and 3) to determine the potential use of biomass and lint yield models for estimating cotton HI. An experiment was conducted during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons in Tifton, Georgia, USA in randomized complete block design with five different nitrogen treatments. Different nitrogen treatments were applied to generate substantial variability in canopy development and yield. UAV imagery was collected bi-weekly along with light interception and biomass measurements throughout the season, and 20 different vegetation indices (VIs) were computed from the imagery. Generalized linear regression was performed to develop models using VIs and growing degree days (GDDs). The IPARf models had R2 values ranging from 0.66 to 0.90, and models based on RVI and RECI explained the highest variation (93%) in IPARf during cross-validation. Similarly, cotton above-ground biomass was best estimated by models from MSAVI and OSAVI. Estimation of RUE using actual biomass measurement and RVI-based IPARf model was able to explain 84% of variation in RUE. CFI from UAV-based RGB imagery had strong relationship (R2 = 0.69) with machine harvested lint yield. The estimated HI from CFI-based lint yield and MSAVI-based biomass models was able to explain 40 to 49% of variation in measured HI for the 2022 growing season. The models developed to estimate the yield-contributing physiological parameters in cotton showed low to strong performance, with IPARf and above-ground biomass having greater prediction accuracy. Future studies on accurate estimation of lint yield is suggested for precise cotton HI prediction. This study is the first attempt of its kind and the results can be used to expand and improve research on predicting functional yield drivers of cotton

Burden of injuries in Nepal, 1990–2017: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background: Nepal is a low-income country undergoing rapid political, economic and social development. To date, there has been little evidence published on the burden of injuries during this period of transition.Methods: The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) is a comprehensive measurement of population health outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality. We analysed the GBD 2017 estimates for deaths, years of life lost, years lived with disability, incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from injuries to ascertain the burden of injuries in Nepal from 1990 to 2017.Results: There were 16 831 (95% uncertainty interval 13 323 to 20 579) deaths caused by injuries (9.21% of all-cause deaths (7.45% to 11.25%)) in 2017 while the proportion of deaths from injuries was 6.31% in 1990. Overall, the injury-specific age-standardised mortality rate declined from 88.91 (71.54 to 105.31) per 100 000 in 1990 to 70.25 (56.75 to 85.11) per 100 000 in 2017. In 2017, 4.11% (2.47% to 6.10%) of all deaths in Nepal were attributed to transport injuries, 3.54% (2.86% to 4.08%) were attributed to unintentional injuries and 1.55% (1.16% to 1.85%) were attributed to self-harm and interpersonal violence. From 1990 to 2017, road injuries, falls and self-harm all rose in rank for all causes of death.Conclusions: The increase in injury-related deaths and DALYs in Nepal between 1990 and 2017 indicates the need for further research and prevention interventions. Injuries remain an important public health burden in Nepal with the magnitude and trend of burden varying over time by cause-specific, sex and age group. Findings from this study may be used by the federal, provincial and local governments in Nepal to prioritise injury prevention as a public health agenda and as evidence for country-specific interventions

Determinants of Physical Activity and Dietary Habits among Adults in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

A critical understanding of the interrelationship between two behavioral decisions—participating in physical activity, and eating healthily—is lacking in Ghana. This study aimed to determine which factors affect each of the two behavioral decisions, jointly and separately, among adults aged 18 years or older in three metropolises (Kumasi, Accra, and Tamale) of Ghana. The data from the Ghana Obesity Survey 2021 were used. A bivariate probit model was fitted to estimate nonlinear models that indicate an individual’s joint decision to participate in physical activity and consume a healthy diet. A positive correlation (r = 0.085; p < 0.05) was found between these two decisions, indicating a relationship between these two behavioral decisions. The common correlates between these decisions were self-reported good health status, high income, and attitudes toward being overweight. Men were more likely to be physically active but less likely to eat well. Both religion and culture determined participation in physical activity, but not the consumption of a healthy diet. Marital status determined diet, but not physical activity. The new knowledge gained from this analysis around the nature and the extent of the interconnectedness between physical activity and diet is critical to devising targeted interventions for obesity prevention in Ghana

Multivariate Analysis of Phenotypic Diversity of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Landraces from Lamjung and Tanahun Districts, Nepal

The magnitude and nature of genetic divergence play a vital role in the selection of the desirable landraces for its utilization in the breeding program. A study was carried out with 30 rice landraces at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lamjung Campus, during June–November 2018 to determine relation among individuals, estimate the relative contribution of various traits of rice using principal component analysis, and identify the potential parents for hybridization using Mahalanobis distance (D2). The principal component analysis revealed that five among the thirteen principal components were significant (eigenvalue >1) and contributed to 29.96%, 20.26%, 13.56%, 11.68%, and 9.22% of the total variance, respectively. PC1 included the traits that were related mostly to the yield, yield attributing, and grain characteristics. Landraces from Anadi group, Jetho Budo, Jarneli, and Rato Masino performed well in PC1 while landraces such as Mansara, Pakhe Sali, and Aanga performed well in PC2. The landraces were grouped into six clusters where 12 landraces were grouped into cluster I. Cluster analysis showed maximum and minimum intracluster distance in cluster VI (D2 = 35.77) and cluster I (D2 = 18.59), respectively. The maximum intercluster distance was obtained between clusters V and VI (D2 = 40.18) followed by clusters III and VI (D2 = 36.17) and clusters IV and VI (D2 = 35.74). Cluster III showed the highest mean value for grain width, flag leaf breadth, yield, and minimum mean value for plant height while mean values of total grain per panicle, filled grain percentage, and thousand-grain weight were maximum in cluster IV. Mean values of effective tiller and kernel width were found maximum in clusters V and VI, respectively. Landraces from clusters V and VI or clusters III and VI or clusters IV and VI can be used in the hybridization program to develop the superior hybrids by exploiting heterosis in segregating generation

Giant multinodular goiter for 24 years; hidden in a village in Western Nepal

Abstract Here, we present the case of a giant multinodular goiter with retrosternal extension in an old lady with dyspnea for 3 months. The patient was treated with microscopic‐assisted total thyroidectomy without any postoperative complications