Feasibility and Stability of Steel Girder Bridge on Basis of Corrosion

This study is focused on evaluating of a composite steel girder bridge structural. The reliability indices have been calculated for a specified bridge in Nebraska State which had corroded girders. The problem of corrosion was dealing with as outcome of a long time exposure where the environmental impacts take place. The increasing number of deteriorating infrastructures (bridges) needs more attention from the designer’s aspect. In parallel action, the evaluation procedure and rehabilitation process are becoming important topics in bridge field. The steel girder bridges are the typical structures in the highways system. The targeted steel girder bridge has been evaluated in this research through ultimate and service limit states. According to results, the designed live load capacity may be influenced; it is simply depend on the size of the affected area and corrosion rate. The corrosion penetration was determined according to (Park, 1999) data for the steel girder

Banks’ Level Factors Affecting the Effective Implementation of Anti-Money Laundering Practices in Nepalese Banks: An Employee and Customer Perspectives

Purpose: Money laundering can affect global macroeconomic projections, currency markets, and financial stability by fueling shadow economies. Thus, the efficiency of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedure must be investigated. Understanding such elements may help prevent money laundering. This necessitates studies to raise awareness and emphasize its importance. This study sought to assess customer understanding and examine the factors that affect the efficient application of AML regulations in Nepalese banks. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study includes responses from 201 bank consumers and 156 bank employees. The study focused on customers' AML awareness and how bank employees implement AML regulations in their respective banks. Findings: According to the study, consumers apprehend money laundering, terrorist financing, and their implications. According to bank employees, customers are unaware of money laundering and its consequences. Banking and financial institutions should prioritize education and awareness to improve the implementation of anti-money laundering regulations. Control over company sophistication, business ethics, customer awareness, and the AML system all have a favorable influence on Nepali banks' AML policies. The analysis reveals that business sophistication control is quite important. Originality: The study focused on consumer and employee AML knowledge, revealing ground-level perspectives. The study found the variables related to the bank's management and compliance department's views on AML policy implementation. This research assists government agencies and policymakers in developing national anti-money laundering measures and aids academics in AML procedure implementation

Citizenship and social security of landless Dalits in Nepal

The intertwined relationship between rights and responsibilities are reciprocal between people and the State. Citizenship and land ownership are fundamental means through which people's relationship with the State is adjudged and determined. The study explores how the lack of accessibility of land ownership and citizenship certificate affects peoples' civil, political and social rights. The same is concluded through the case study of landless Dalits. To factor the relationship between landlessness, citizenship and social security; unstructured interviews with 60 household heads were conducted. The study found that the lack of citizenship certificate and land ownership certificate promotes the feeling of statelessness, without a change in patriotic impulse. Despite the government’s attempts to redistribute land in the area, the gradients of socio-economic and political power determine the fate of landless Dalits. The Dalits, inept and minority stakeholders, continue to be landless after more than four decades, whereas the elites are able to obtain land ownership certificate through their influence on the local authorities. Landless Dalits are being ignored not only by the State and political parties, but also by national and international organizations. Discriminatory behaviour of the State towards Dalits is an ongoing process without the provision of basic fundamental rights. This has affected their sense of citizenship

Influence of employees’ perceived organizational support and job performance on customer satisfaction: an empirical support from Nepalese hospitality sector

This study investigated the interrelationship of Perceived Job Performance (PJP), Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and International Customer Satisfaction (CS) in Nepalese hospitality sector. The data were collected with 152 international customers and 158 hotel employees. Results indicate that Perceived Job Performance and Perceived Organizational Support is directly related to International Customer Satisfaction, though no direct effect of Perceived Organizational Support over Customer Satisfaction was found. Perceived Organizational Support significantly mediates partially between Perceived Job Performance and Customer Satisfaction. Thus, Perceived Job Performance can strongly relate with achieving higher level of Customer Satisfaction in hospitality sector with mediations of Perceived Organizational Support. It signifies that hospitality industry in Nepal, should pledge a proper inventiveness in the direction of creating an organizational employee supportive environment that need to increase the effect of job performance towards achieving the ultimate goal of customer satisfaction.</span

A survey of women's experiences of using period tracker applications: Attitudes, ovulation prediction and how the accuracy of the app in predicting period start dates affects their feelings and behaviours

INTRODUCTION: Using an online survey, the aim of this study was to ask women about their real-life experiences of using period tracker apps, their attitudes towards using their app, the information the app provided regarding ovulation and how the accuracy of the app in predicting period start dates affects their feelings and behaviours if their period comes earlier or later than predicted. METHODS: This mixed-methods observational study was conducted by an online survey of 50 multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The survey was generated with Qualtrics XM® and promoted via social media. It was open to any person who had used a period tracker. RESULTS: From 375 total responses, 330 complete responses were obtained, giving a completion rate of 88.0%. Respondents were aged between 14 and 54, with a mean age of 26.0 (±7.81). When asked what was the best thing about using the app, 29.7% (98/330) of respondents selected 'To know when I'm ovulating'. Respondents were asked if their period ever started earlier than the app predicted; 54.9% (189/330) said it had and 72.1% (238/330) said it had started later than predicted. When asked how they felt if their period arrived earlier or later than expected, thematic analysis of periods starting earlier revealed four themes: feeling unaffected, being frustrated/unprepared, feeling anxious/stressed and feeling confused/intrigued. Thematic analysis when their period arrived later revealed six themes: anxious/concerned about pregnancy, disappointed about pregnancy, seeking advice/informing healthcare professionals, thoughts about menopause, feeling unaffected and being better prepared. CONCLUSION: Period trackers need to be clearer on their intended use and reliability, especially for period due date and ovulation. Qualitative analysis shows the impact of inaccurate predictions on aspects of the users' health. This study calls for period tracker app companies to update their apps to provide transparency to their users about their intended use and capabilities

Reproductive health education in the schools of the four UK nations: is it falling through the gap?

Reproductive health education is crucial to ensure young people understand their reproductive system and can make informed decisions about their sexual lives and fertility, including whether they want to have children or not. This study involved an investigation of the intended UK school curricula for 14-18 year-olds as they relate to reproductive health. Analysis revealed substantial differences. Most, but not all, specifications include sexually transmitted infections, hormonal aspects of reproduction, contraception, the menstrual cycle and assisted reproductive technology (ART). Important topics, such as endometriosis, fertility, preconception health, pregnancy, miscarriage, menopause and infertility (except in the context of ART) are missing from examination specifications and/or the RSE/RSHP curricula. We conclude that many young people in the UK are at risk of leaving school with inadequate understanding of concepts that have important implications for their reproductive health. There are differences between nations, with Scotland having the most comprehensive coverage of topics in its curriculum. High-quality reproductive health education should be an entitlement for all young people. It should give young people accurate and up-to-date information and enable them to discuss issues and develop their own thinking. Ideally, sex and reproductive health education would be taught comprehensively across the RSE/RSHP and science curricula

Sex and fertility education in England: an analysis of biology curricula and students’ experiences

Sex and fertility education is essential to enable people to make informed choices. School is an important source of education, so we examined the current curriculum relating to sex and fertility education in England and compared it with students’ accounts of their experiences. We analysed the Awarding Body GCSE science and biology specifications (for 14–16 year-olds) and the A-level biology specifications (for 16–18 year-olds), as these related to relationships, sexuality and fertility. An online survey was conducted with 221 16–17 year-old school students to evaluate their views about their sex and fertility education. We found significant variation between the specifications of the Awarding Bodies at both GCSE and A level. Most of the specifications specify sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hormonal aspects of reproduction and contraception. In the school survey, students indicated that topics such as puberty, contraception and STIs were more likely to be learnt in school. However, topics such as endometriosis, menopause and miscarriage were more likely to be learnt outside school. From both our curriculum analysis and student survey we conclude that there are significant gaps in the curriculum with many important topics being neglected

Women’s knowledge and attitudes to the menopause: a comparison of women over 40 who were in the perimenopause, post menopause and those not in the peri or post menopause

Objectives: To evaluate women’s knowledge and attitudes towards the menopause by comparing three groups of women: perimenopause, post menopause and those women not in either the peri or post menopause (other). // Methods: A 35 question online survey was advertised on social media to evaluate women’s attitudes and knowledge of the menopause. Three groups of women were compared: perimenopause, post menopause and those women not in either the peri or post menopause (other). // Results: Most women were completely uninformed or only had some knowledge of the menopause before the age of 40. Most women thought that the menopause should be taught at school, but over 80% had received no menopause education at school themselves. The most popular sources of menopause information were independent websites and friends. Perimenopausal women were significantly more likely than postmenopausal women to use online resources for menopause information. The perimenopausal and postmenopausal groups had more positive attitudes towards the menopause than the other group. 57.5% of postmenopausal women found the menopause difficult or very difficult. Most women were happy about no longer menstruating, although some expressed sadness regarding fertility loss. // Conclusions: Most women had limited knowledge and negative attitudes towards the menopause, leaving them unprepared to cope with the physical and psychological changes associated with this stage of life. Improved menopause education is required to improve quality of life during the menopausal transition and a most positive narrative of life postmenopause

Experimental probe into an automative engine run on waste cooking oil biodiesel blend at varying engine speeds

The present work attempts to evaluate the performance of an automotive diesel engine run on waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCO) blend at variable engine speeds. The composition of the blend (B40) used in the study is 40% WCO and 60% diesel by volume and the engine used for the experimentation is a naturally aspirated, watercooled and direct injection type having a compression ratio of 18:1. The engine settings used in the study are an injection timing (IT) of 150 bTDC and a fuel injection pressure (IP) of 500 bar. The performance and emissions characteristics of the automotive engine are studied at various loads of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% and at different engine speeds of 1500, 1800 and 2400 rpm. The first two rotational speeds are chosen to study the stationary power generation capabilities of the blend, while the feasibility of blend for automotive applications has been evaluated at 2400 rpm. Experiments have also been conducted on the engine run on mineral diesel fuel in order to make a comparative analysis. At full load, the maximum brake thermal efficiency (BTE) is found to be 21.51%, 25.48% and 23.56% for the blend at 1500, 1800 and 2400 rpm, respectively. At 2400 rpm and at 20% and 40% loads, the blend shows an absolute improvement in BTE of 0.17% and 0.03%, respectively over diesel fuel. On an average, there is a decrease of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 87.5%, 22.22% and 14.28% at 1500, 1800 and 2400 rpm as compared to diesel fuel. At 1500 and 2400 rpm, there is an average absolute increase in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions by 1.6 ppm and 9.6 ppm, respectively; while at 1800 rpm, an average decrease in HC emissions by 4 ppm is observed vis-a-vis diesel fuel. While emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) as compared to diesel fuel increased on an average by 19.43%, 26.09% and 1.01% at 1500, 1800 and 2400 rpm, respectively