Spot blotch disease resistance and heat stress tolerance in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is a major disease of wheat in warm and humid regions of Nepal. The fungus has a worldwide distribution but as a pathogen, it is the most aggressive under the conditions of high relative humidity and temperature associated with the low fertility of soils in Nepal. The yield loss due to the disease is very significant in Nepal. This experiment was conducted to identify the genotypes having a good level of resistance against spot blotch. Canopy temperature measurements using infrared thermometry, to assess variation in foliar blight resistance along with heat tolerance as an integrative selection criterion. The experiment set was comprising 52 genotypes and arranged in alpha lattice design with two replications in 2017/-2018 Directorate of agricultural research center, Parwanipur, Bara, Nepal. Each plot size was 8 rows of 3 meters long. Three times disease scoring was done in Flag leaf, and Penultimate leaf method and calculated the Area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Other data were analyzed by using R software (4.2.2). Canopy temperature, heading days, days to maturity, plant height, number of grains per spike (NGPS), number of tillers per meter square (NTPM), thousand-grain weight (TGW), and grain yield were found highly significant. The genotype 32 was found the highest yielder (5141 kg/ha) and canopy temperature 16.50 C with a 279; 610 F; F-1AUDPC, respectively

REFINE (Rapid Feedback for quality Improvement in Neonatal rEsuscitation) : an observational study of neonatal resuscitation training and practice in a tertiary hospital in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training in neonatal resuscitation is more effective when reinforced by both practice and continuous improvement processes. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a quality improvement program combined with an innovative provider feedback device on neonatal resuscitation practice and outcomes in a public referral hospital of Nepal. METHODS: A pre- and post-intervention study will be implemented in Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, a hospital with 8610 deliveries per year. The intervention package will include simulation-based training (Helping Babies Breathe) enhanced with a real-time feedback system (the NeoBeat newborn heart rate meter with the NeoNatalie Live manikin and upright newborn bag-mask with PEEP) accompanied by a quality improvement process. An independent research team will collect perinatal data and conduct stakeholder interviews. DISCUSSION: This study will provide further information on the efficiency of neonatal resuscitation training and implementation in the context of new technologies and quality improvement processes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18148368 , date of registration-31 July 2018