Structural and textural development in Singhbhum shear zone, eastern India

The rocks within the Singhbhum shear zone in the North Singhbhum fold belt, eastern India, form a tectonic melange comprising granitic mylonite, quartz-mica phyllonite, quartz-tourmaline rock and deformed volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. The granitic rocks show a textural gradation from the least-deformed variety having coarse-to medium-grained granitoid texture through augen-bearing protomylonite and mylonite to ultramylonite. Both type I and type II S-C mylonites are present. The most intensely deformed varieties include ultramylonite. The phyllosilicate-bearing supracrustal rocks are converted to phyllonites. The different minerals exhibit a variety of crystal plastic deformation features. Generation of successive sets of mylonitic foliation, folding of the earlier sets and their truncation by the later ones results from the progressive shearing movement. The shear sense indicators suggest a thrust-type deformation. The microstructural and textural evolution of the rocks took place in an environment of relatively low temperature, dislocation creep accompanied by dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization being the principal deformation mechanisms. Palaeostress estimation suggests a flow stress within the range of 50-190 MPa during mylonitization

Integration and devolvement of human resource practices in Nepal

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the nature of human resource management in publicly listed finance sector companies in Nepal. In particular, it explores the extent to which HR practice is integrated into organisational strategy and devolved to line management. Design/methodology/ approach: A structured interview was conducted with the senior executive responsible for human resource management in 26 commercial banks and insurance companies in Nepal. Findings: The degree of integration of HR practice appears to be increasing within this sector, but this is dependent on the maturity of the organisations. The devolvement of responsibility to line managers is at best partial, and in the case of the insurance companies, it is more out of necessity due to the absence of a strong central HR function. Research limitations/implications: The survey is inevitably based on a small sample; however this represents 90 per cent of the relevant population. The data suggest that Western HR is making inroads into more developed aspects of Nepalese business. Compared with Nepalese business as a whole, the financial sector appears relatively Westernised, although Nepal still lags India in its uptake of HR practices. Practical implications: It appears unlikely from a cultural perspective that the devolvement of responsibility will be achieved as a result of HR strategy. National cultural, political and social factors continue to be highly influential in shaping the Nepalese business environment. Originality/value: Few papers have explored HR practice in Nepal. This paper contributes to the overall assessment of HR uptake globally and highlights emic features impacting on that uptake. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Participatory on-farm evaluation of wheat genotypes

In wheat development programs, the evaluation and identification of superior genotypes  is the first and leading step in a crop improvement program. Coordinated Farmer’s Field Trial (CFFT) was conducted during the three successive wheat growing season of 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13. In CFFT six different wheat genotypes were planted in different outreach sites of research stations of Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) at varying geographical regions. CFFT was conducted according to standard recommended practices of wheat at farmers’ field with different sets of genotypes for Terai and hill. In CFFT for Terai Tar and Lower valley (TTL) under timely sown irrigated (TSI) condition wheat genotype NL 1073 produced the grain yield of 3695 kg/ha and under the timely sown rainfed (TSR) that was 2738 kg/ha in 2010/11. In 2011/12, wheat genotype NL 1073 had the highest recorded grain yield of 3691 kg/ha in mid western region which was followed by check variety Vijay in CFFT-TTL in 2011/12 in the same region. Similarly in 2012/13, check variety Vijay showed the highest grain yield of 3818 kg/ha and 3044 kg/ha followed by NL 1094 (2938 kg/ha and 3468 kg/ha) in TSR and TSI environments, respectively. In CFFT for Mid and High Hill (MHH) WK 1204 had the highest grain yield of 3967 kg/ha in TSI which was followed by NL 1008 with the yield of 3890 in 2010/11. In 2011/12 the highest mean grain yield was observed in WK 1204 (4242 kg/ha) followed by BL 3872 (3922 kg/ha). Similarly, in 2012/13 NL 1008 was the best genotypes on the basis of grain yield (3297 kg/ha) followed by NL 1055 (3131 kg/ha) under CFFT-MHH

Variation in grain zinc and iron concentrations, grain yield and associated traits of biofortified bread wheat genotypes in Nepal

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major staples in Nepal providing the bulk of food calories and at least 30% of Fe and Zn intake and 20% of dietary energy and protein consumption; thus, it is essential to improve its nutritional quality. To select high-yielding genotypes with elevated grain zinc and iron concentration, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth HarvestPlus Yield Trials (HPYTs) were conducted across diverse locations in Nepal for four consecutive years: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2018–19, using 47 biofortified and 3 non-biofortified CIMMYT-bred, bread wheat genotypes: Baj#1, Kachu#1, and WK1204 (local check). Genotypic and spatial variations were found in agro-morphological traits; grain yield and its components; and the grain zinc and iron concentration of tested genotypes. Grain zinc concentration was highest in Khumaltar and lowest in Kabre. Likewise, grain iron concentration was highest in Doti and lowest in Surkhet. Most of the biofortified genotypes were superior for grain yield and for grain zinc and iron concentration to the non-biofortified checks. Combined analyses across environments showed moderate to high heritability for both Zn (0.48–0.81) and Fe (0.46–0.79) except a low heritability for Fe observed for 7th HPYT (0.15). Grain yield was positively correlated with the number of tillers per m2, while negatively correlated with days to heading and maturity, grain iron, grain weight per spike, and thousand grain weight. The grain zinc and iron concentration were positively correlated, suggesting that the simultaneous improvement of both micronutrients is possible through wheat breeding. Extensive testing of CIMMYT derived high Zn wheat lines in Nepal led to the release of five biofortified wheat varieties in 2020 with superior yield, better disease resistance, and 30–40% increased grain Zn and adaptable to a range of wheat growing regions in the country – from the hotter lowland, or Terai, regions to the dry mid- and high-elevation areas

Examining the generalizability of research findings from archival data

This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability—for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time periods and 57% emerged in other geographies. Overall, only limited empirical evidence emerged for context sensitivity. In a forecasting survey, independent scientists were able to anticipate which effects would find support in tests in new samples

Original Article - No association between seropositivity for Hepatitis C virus and lichen planus: A case control study

Background: The epidemiological association of lichen planus (LP) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recorded from some countries and HCV RNA3 has been isolated from lesional skin in patients with LP and chronic HCV infection. The observed geographical differences regarding HCV infection and LP could be immuno-genetically related. Aim: To determine whether HCV has a causal relationship with LP. Methods: Histopathologically proved cases of LP were subjected to antibody to HCV test by the Third Generation Enzyme Immunoassay Kit for the detection of antibody to HCV (Anti-HCV) in human serum or plasma. They were routinely screened in the virology department by the reagent kit, HIVASE 1 + 2, adopting the "direct sandwich principle" for the assay to detect antibodies to HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. There were 150 age and sex matched controls (not suffering from LP) and HIV-I and II negative, and negative for HCV. Results: Of the 104 patients studied only 2 patients (1.92%) of generalized LP with disease duration of more than 3 months were found to be positive for antibodies to HCV. This was not a significant finding and no statistical methods, e.g. Chi square test etc. could be applied. Conclusion: Hepatitis C virus is not significant to the causation of LP in India

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Buffalo (<i>Bubalus bubalis</i>) NOD1 and NOD2 Receptors and Their Functional Role in <i>In-Vitro</i> Cellular Immune Response

<div><p>Nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are innate immune receptors that recognize bacterial cell wall components and initiate host immune response. Structure and function of NLRs have been well studied in human and mice, but little information exists on genetic composition and role of these receptors in innate immune system of water buffalo—a species known for its exceptional disease resistance. Here, a comparative study on the functional domains of NOD1 and NOD2 was performed across different species. The NOD mediated <i>in-vitro</i> cellular responses were studied in buffalo peripheral blood mononuclear cells, resident macrophages, mammary epithelial, and fibroblast cells. Buffalo NOD1 (buNOD1) and buNOD2 showed conserved domain architectures as found in other mammals. The domains of buNOD1 and buNOD2 showed analogy in secondary and tertiary conformations. Constitutive expressions of NODs were ubiquitous in different tissues. Following treatment with NOD agonists, peripheral lymphocytes showed an IFN-γ response along-with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Alveolar macrophages and mammary epithelial cells showed NOD mediated <i>in-vitro</i> immune response through NF-κB dependent pathway. Fibroblasts showed pro-inflammatory cytokine response following agonist treatment. Our study demonstrates that both immune and non-immune cells could generate NOD-mediated responses to pathogens though the type and magnitude of response depend on the cell types. The structural basis of ligand recognition by buffalo NODs and knowledge of immune response by different cell types could be useful for development of non-infective innate immune modulators and next generation anti-inflammatory compounds.</p></div