Nepalese Women Participation in Small Scale Aquaculture and Sustainability in Nepal: A Systematic Literature Review

Aquaculture has been an integral part of human civilization since 3500 BC. The practices and the techniques have evolved across the world to suit a) production scale, b) climatic conditions and c) type of fish being harvested. What started as a basis of nutrition for coastal civilization has now metamorphized into an excellent source of income as well as nutrition in poorer countries like Nepal. While there is a significant rise in aquaculture farming in Nepal, there still exists an enormous gender gap in ownership and participation in aquaculture. The current study is a systematic literature survey on the gender gap in aquaculture practices in Nepal to understand a) the status of women in aquaculture in Nepal, b) the reasons for their less participation and c) measures and solutions adopted by governmental or non-governmental organizations to close the gender gap. The study found although women labor contributed up to 88% in general agriculture and farming, their participation and engagement in marketing, sales and ownership is insignificant, primarily because of cultural reasons including the overall stigma around women in business that inhibits women to acquire assets, inheritance and business loan for an entrepreneurial activity including aquaculture. Women in rural regions of Nepal also lack the required time for participating in aquaculture activities because of their engagement in many household activities. There are commendable efforts from charity organizations in Nepal working closely with local women farmers that have been instrumental in improving their leadership and ownership in aquaculture but there are obstacles that could slow down such activities, including the need for supporting girls’ education

ADVANCEMENT OF A 3D COMPUTATIONAL PHANTOM AND ITS AGE SCALING METHODOLOGIES FOR RETROSPECTIVE DOSE RECONSTRUCTION STUDIES

We have used a 3D age-scalable computational phantom for over two decades for retrospective dose reconstruction studies of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) treated with 2D historic radiotherapy (RT). However, our phantom and its age scaling functions (ASF) must be updated so that it can be used in studies that include survivors treated with contemporary RT. We aimed to implement our phantom and its age scaling functions in DICOM format and determine the feasibility of applying our ASFs to accurately scale the whole-body CT-based anatomies. In the implementation study, we developed Python scripts that model the phantom and ASFs in a treatment planning system (TPS). We validated the implementation by comparing several geometric and anthropometric parameters with reference datasets. We then conducted a dosimetric analysis to determine the accuracy of dose calculation using our phantom. In the feasibility study, we downscaled various computed tomography (CT)-based phantoms from the University of Florida/National Cancer Institute (UF/NCI) phantom library to arbitrary ages. We quantified the geometric accuracy of scaling by comparing several overlaps, distance, and anthropometric parameters of the scaled phantom with reference datasets. We also assessed the dosimetric impact of ASFs by quantifying the difference in dose from standard Wilms’ tumor RT plan simulated on exact age-scaled and nearest age-matched phantom while using the same field size and anatomical landmark dependent field size in two different scenarios. This study showed that phantoms were implemented in DICOM format within 3% of points/volume of our original phantoms. The heights and dosimetric accuracy were within 7% of ground-truth values. In the feasibility study, overlap metrics showed “good” agreement for most cases except pancreas and kidneys. The maximum displacement of 4.1cm was obtained in the scaled liver. In both implementation and feasibility studies, organ masses were smaller than reference masses in general. A difference of 6% and 1.3Gy was obtained for percent volume ≥ 15Gy (V15) and mean dose, respectively, across two phantom categories when the same field size was used. Both metrics were significantly different (p\u3c0.05) for partially in-beam organs when field size varied. Overall, our results show that phantom and ASFs can be accurately used in TPS for modern RT studies, and our ASFs can accurately scale whole-body CT-based anatomy

Estimates of pandemic excess mortality in India based on civil registration data

The population health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are less well understood in low and middle-income countries, where mortality surveillance before the pandemic was patchy. Interpreting the limited all-cause mortality data available in India is challenging. We use existing data on all-cause mortality from civil registration systems of twelve Indian states comprising around 60% of the national population to understand the scale and timing of excess deaths in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. We carefully characterize the reasons why registration is incomplete and estimate the extent of coverage in the data. Comparing the pandemic period to 2019, we estimate excess mortality in twelve Indian states, and extrapolate our estimates to the rest of India. We explore sensitivity of the estimates to various assumptions. For the 12 states with available all-cause mortality data, we document an increase of 28% in deaths during April 2020-May 2021 relative to expectations from 2019. This level of increase in mortality, if it applies nationally, would imply 2.8-2.9 million excess deaths. More limited data from June 2021 increases national estimates of excess deaths during April 2020-June 2021 to 3.8 million. With more optimistic or pessimistic assumptions, excess deaths during this period could credibly lie between 2.8 million and 5.2 million. The scale of estimated excess deaths is broadly consistent with expectations based on seroprevalence and COVID-19 fatality rates observed internationally. Moreover, the timing of excess deaths and recorded COVID-19 deaths is similar-they rise and fall at the same time. The surveillance of pandemic mortality in India has been extremely poor, with 8-10 times as many excess deaths as officially recorded COVID-19 deaths. India is among the countries most severely impacted by the pandemic. Our approach highlights the utility of all-cause mortality data, as well as the significant challenges in interpreting it

Health, Environment, And Inequality In India

This dissertation makes three scientific contributions to understand the ongoing epidemiological transition in India. The first chapter documents local externalities of solid fuel use for adult lung function. The use of solid fuels for cooking and heating is rooted in poverty and gender inequality within households. However, harms from solid fuel use are more widespread. In neighborhoods with high solid fuel use, the lungs of those who do not use solid fuels can be as obstructed as the lungs of those who use solid fuels. Because it contributes to both infectious disease among children and chronic diseases among adults, the use of solid fuels complicates the epidemiological transition in India. The second chapter observes that Indian infants face higher mortality risks in the summer, monsoon, and winter months compared to the spring months. Using birth history data, the chapter develops an innovative demographic approach which estimates and adjusts infant mortality by calendar month. The chapter highlights that Indian infants face multiple environmental threats that are less salient for a limited period within a year. It finds that although seasonal variation has declined, it remains a concern in rural areas and among more disadvantaged households. The last chapter provides the first estimates of life expectancy by social class in India for the period 1990-2016. It develops methods to directly estimate life tables from survey data. The chapter documents persistent and stark mortality disparities in a period of robust economic growth and changing disease profiles. It finds progress in reducing levels and differentials in child mortality. However, patterns in the working ages are concerning, with slower progress and little reduction in inequality. The three chapters make both substantive and methodological contributions to the study of health and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. They show that addressing social inequalities and environmental risks are essential for population health improvements in India

Breech presentation and neonatal fracture shaft femur – A rare case presentation

The breech extraction of the fetus through the vagina has a greater risk of hip fracture compared with the extraction by abdominalroute. A 2980 g male infant was delivered at 39 weeks by elective cesarean section for breech presentation. The newborn sustaineda fracture of the right femur. A simple immobilization of the limb in extension led to a complete healing of the fracture withoutsequelae. This case highlights that fact that cesarean delivery reduces the risk of causing a traumatic injury of the newborn comparedto vaginal delivery; especially, with breech presentation but does not eliminate this possible accidental complication

Force-Chain Finder: A software tool for the recursive detection of force-chains in granular materials via minor principal stress

Force transmission in granular media occurs through an inhomogeneous network of inter-particle contacts referred to as force-chains. A thorough understanding of the structure of these chains is indispensable for a better comprehension of the macroscopic signatures they generate. This paper introduces Force-Chain Finder (FCF), an open-source software tool designed for detecting force-chains in granular materials. Leveraging the stress tensor computed for each particle based on its interactions with neighboring particles, the tool effectively identifies the magnitude and direction of the most compressive principal stress. Through a recursive traversal of particles and their neighbours, force-chains are robustly detected based on the alignment of the principal stress directions, which is decided by a parameter α (an angle in radians). The software provides a comprehensive suite of post-processing features, including the exportation of results in different formats, enabling detailed analysis of specific regions and dynamic phenomena. Additionally, the software facilitates the computation of statistical measures pertaining to chain size and population. By streamlining the identification and characterization of force-chains within discrete element method (DEM) simulations, this tool significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of force-chain analysis. Thus, the software promotes deeper insights into the behaviour of granular materials by enabling researchers to effortlessly detect and analyse force-chains

Estimates of pandemic excess mortality in India based on civil registration data

The population health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are less well understood in low and middle-income countries, where mortality surveillance before the pandemic was patchy. Interpreting the limited all-cause mortality data available in India is challenging. We use existing data on all-cause mortality from civil registration systems of twelve Indian states comprising around 60% of the national population to understand the scale and timing of excess deaths in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. We carefully characterize the reasons why registration is incomplete and estimate the extent of coverage in the data. Comparing the pandemic period to 2019, we estimate excess mortality in twelve Indian states, and extrapolate our estimates to the rest of India. We explore sensitivity of the estimates to various assumptions. For the 12 states with available all-cause mortality data, we document an increase of 28% in deaths during April 2020–May 2021 relative to expectations from 2019. This level of increase in mortality, if it applies nationally, would imply 2.8–2.9 million excess deaths. More limited data from June 2021 increases national estimates of excess deaths during April 2020–June 2021 to 3.8 million. With more optimistic or pessimistic assumptions, excess deaths during this period could credibly lie between 2.8 million and 5.2 million. The scale of estimated excess deaths is broadly consistent with expectations based on seroprevalence and COVID-19 fatality rates observed internationally. Moreover, the timing of excess deaths and recorded COVID-19 deaths is similar–they rise and fall at the same time. The surveillance of pandemic mortality in India has been extremely poor, with 8–10 times as many excess deaths as officially recorded COVID-19 deaths. India is among the countries most severely impacted by the pandemic. Our approach highlights the utility of all-cause mortality data, as well as the significant challenges in interpreting it

TIPSY: Trajectory of Infalling Particles in Streamers around Young stars. Dynamical analysis of the streamers around S CrA and HL Tau

Context. Elongated trails of infalling gas, often referred to as "streamers," have recently been observed around young stellar objects (YSOs) at different evolutionary stages. This asymmetric infall of material can significantly alter star and planet formation processes, especially in the more evolved YSOs. Aims. In order to ascertain the infalling nature of observed streamer-like structures and then systematically characterize their dynamics, we developed the code TIPSY (Trajectory of Infalling Particles in Streamers around Young stars). Methods. Using TIPSY, the streamer molecular line emission is first isolated from the disk emission. Then the streamer emission, which is effectively a point cloud in three-dimensional (3D) position-position-velocity space, is simplified to a curve-like representation. The observed streamer curve is then compared to the theoretical trajectories of infalling material. The best-fit trajectories are used to constrain streamer features, such as the specific energy, the specific angular momenta, the infall timescale, and the 3D morphology. Results. We used TIPSY to fit molecular-line ALMA observations of streamers around a Class II binary system, S CrA, and a Class I/II protostar, HL Tau. Our results indicate that both of the streamers are consistent with infalling motion. TIPSY results and mass estimates suggest that S CrA and HL Tau are accreting material at a rate of $\gtrsim27$ M$_{jupiter}$ Myr$^{-1}$ and $\gtrsim5$ M$_{jupiter}$ Myr$^{-1}$, respectively, which can significantly increase the mass budget available to form planets. Conclusions. TIPSY can be used to assess whether the morphology and kinematics of observed streamers are consistent with infalling motion and to characterize their dynamics, which is crucial for quantifying their impact on the protostellar systems.Comment: Accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Phytochemical screening and antihelminthic activity of leaf and root extracts of Cassia tora plant

Cassia tora is one of the most important sources of medicinally important phytochemicals and widely used in Ayurvedic and Chinese system of medicine. The fresh plants of cassia tora were collected from the different locality of Dharan, Sunsari district during the month of August. In this study leaves and root extracts were subjected to extraction by soxheletion by using ethanol and water and the extracts were subjected to antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. and Citrobacter koseri, the ethanolic extracts were screened for antihelmenthic activity against Indian adult earth worm (Pheretima posthuma) with a moderate result. The result of antibacterial activity revealed that aqueous extract  of leaves and roots showed better activity in comparison to aqueous extracts particularly against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus)

Analysis and Prediction of Liver Volume Change Maps Derived From Computational Tomography Scans Acquired Pre- And Post-radiation Therapy

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) of liver cancers can cause local liver atrophy as a result of tissue damage or hypertrophy as a result of liver regeneration. Predicting those volumetric changes would enable new strategies for liver function preservation during treatment planning. However, understanding of the spatial dose/volume relationship is still limited. This study leverages the use of deep learning-based segmentation and biomechanical deformable image registration (DIR) to analyze and predict this relationship. Pre- and Post-EBRT imaging data were collected for 100 patients treated for hepatocellular carcinomas, cholangiocarcinoma or CRC with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with prescription doses ranging from 50 to 100 Gy delivered in 10-28 fractions. For each patient, DIR between the portal and venous (PV) phase of a diagnostic computed tomography (CT) scan acquired before radiation therapy (RT) planning, and a PV phase of a diagnostic CT scan acquired after the end of RT (on average 147 ± 36 d) was performed to calculate Jacobian maps representing volume changes in the liver. These volume change maps were used: (i): to analyze the dose/volume relationship in the whole liver and individual Couinaud\u27s segments; and (ii): to investigate the use of deep-learning to predict a Jacobian map solely based on the pre-RT diagnostic CT and planned dose distribution. Moderate correlations between mean equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) and volume change was observed for all liver sub-regions analyzed individually with Pearson correlatio