339 research outputs found
Economic potential of forest resources of Nepal
Nepal's forest resources underpin the livelihoods of rural people in important ways. During the country's 'planned development' over the past 50 years, the government, donors and policy makers have viewed these resources as a key vehicle for ushering in economic growth and for meeting basic needs. They underscore the potential value of forest
resources for achieving conservation and socio-economic objectives. To what extent have economic incentives been generated to effectively harness these resources to meet the
said objectives is an open question. To address this question, this paper reviews briefly and broadly the economic potential of the country's forest resources in terms of forest goods and services. Estimates of economic potential of timber and non-timber forest products and environmental services have been assessed. A number of recommendations for realizing the potential for achieving development and poverty reduction objectives is provided
Cardiovascular Risk Behavior Amongst Adolescents of Lekhnath Muncipality of Kaski district, Nepal
Background: Life style related behavioral risk factors are mainly implicated for increase burden of cardiovascular diseases. Research related to these risk behaviors especially among adolescents is essential considering their role as future citizens of the country.
Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the burden of cardiovascular risk behavior amongst the adolescents of Kaski district, Lekhnath Nepal.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among the adolescents of Lekhnath Muncipality Kaski District. Total 350 participants from five different schools from Lekhnath Muncipality took part in the study and the sampling technique was simple random method by using a random number table. Self administered questionnaires were used to collect information on identification of risk behaviors.
Results: Descriptive statistics and Chi square test were computed. Out of 350 adolescents 175 males and remaining 175 females were interviewed. Alcohol and tobacco consumption were more amongst males whereas fast food and soft drinks were more amongst the females. Nearly 40% of the adolescents were not involved in physical activity. Tobacco and alcohol consumption was 26% and 16% respectively, which was higher amongst the late adolescents group studying in the 11th and 12th standard. In this study fruits and vegetables consumption was very less only 42% whereas soft drinks and fast food consumption was more 83% which shows that the adolescents are not aware about their food habits. Some participants did not consume fruits due to low purchasing power to buy fruits. Adolescence is a period of experimentation and so some participants told that they have just started taking alcohol and also started consuming tobacco for fun and were not aware that it was cardiovascular risk behavior.
Conclusions: The adolescents had a high burden of cardiovascular risk behavior and if immediate intervention is not done to reduce these high risk behaviors many may be vulnerable to cardio vascular diseases in the future.
J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 10-1
Effects of Resonant Cavity on Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling of Fluxon in Long Josephson Junctions
We investigate the effects of high-Q_c resonant cavity on macroscopic quantum
tunneling (MQT) of fluxon both from a metastable state to continuum and from
one degenerate ground-state of a double-well potential to the other. By using a
set of two coupled perturbed sine-Gordon equations, we describe the tunneling
processes in linear long Josephson junctions (LJJs) and find that MQT in the
resonant cavity increases due to potential renomalization, induced by the
interaction between the fluxon and cavity.Enhancement of the MQT rate in the
weak-coupling regime is estimated by using the experimantally accessible range
of the model parameters. The tunneling rate from the metastable state is found
to increase weakly with increasing junction-cavity interaction strength.
However, the energy splitting between the two degenerate ground-states of the
double-well potential increases significantly with increasing both the
interaction strength and frequency of the resonant cavity mode. Finally, we
discuss how the resonant cavity may be used to tune the property of Josephson
vortex quantum bits.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phy. Rev.
Characterization Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Produced In Air At Atmospheric Pressure And Its Application In Surface Modification Of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
The low surface energy of HDPE limits its industrial uses as it is not suitable for printing and adhesion. The main aim of this work is to improve the wetting properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) using air dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operating at the line frequency (50 Hz). The estimation of electron temperature and electron density has been done by electrical and optical methods. The surface roughness of the control and plasma treated polymer film is analysed by contact angle (CA) measurement, surface energy measurement and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. The contact angle was found to be suppressed from 93.180±2.00 to 63.750±0.880 after 10s of plasma treatment which implied that the surface property had changed to a hydrophilic state caused by an increase in the surface roughness
Intestinal perforation due to adult tapeworm of Taenia: a case report and review of the literature
Taeniasis is an intestinal helminth infection due to adult tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia. Taeniasis remains a major burden in low-income countries in Asia. We present a case of intestinal perforation caused by adult tapeworm of Taenia in a 50-year-old Nepali male. The patients presented to the hospital with severe abdominal pain and intermittent vomiting. Following clinical presentations and imaging features, gastrointestinal perforation was suspected. Surgical removal of adult tapeworm of Taenia, suspected to be T. saginata or T. asiatica, was carried out during exploratory laparotomy, which was followed by an uneventful postoperative period. In addition to case presentation, we systematically review published case reports on taeniasis-related intestinal perforation. A learning point from this case is clinician should maintain a clinical suspicion of taeniasis as a possible cause of intestinal perforation in endemic areas
Peripheral Administration of IL-13 Induces Anti-inflammatory Microglial/Macrophage Responses and Provides Neuroprotection in Ischemic Stroke
Neuroinflammation is strongly induced by cerebral ischemia. The early phase after the onset of ischemic stroke is characterized by acute neuronal injury, microglial activation, and subsequent infiltration of blood-derived inflammatory cells, including macrophages. Therefore, modulation of the microglial/macrophage responses has increasingly gained interest as a potential therapeutic approach for the ischemic stroke. In our study, we investigated the effects of peripherally administered interleukin 13 (IL-13) in a mouse model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAo). Systemic administration of IL-13 immediately after the ischemic insult significantly reduced the lesion volume, alleviated the infiltration of CD45(+) leukocytes, and promoted the microglia/macrophage alternative activation within the ischemic region, as determined by arginase 1 (Arg1) immunoreactivity at 3 days post-ischemia (dpi). Moreover, IL-13 enhanced the expression of M2a alternative activation markers Arg1 and Ym1 in the peri-ischemic (PI) area, as well as increased plasma IL-6 and IL-10 levels at 3 dpi. Furthermore, IL-13 treatment ameliorated gait disturbances at day 7 and 14 and sensorimotor deficits at day 14 post-ischemia, as analyzed by the CatWalk gait analysis system and adhesive removal test, respectively. Finally, IL-13 treatment decreased neuronal cell death in a coculture model of neuroinflammation with RAW 264.7 macrophages. Taken together, delivery of IL-13 enhances microglial/macrophage anti-inflammatory responses in vivo and in vitro, decreases ischemia-induced brain cell death, and improves sensory and motor functions in the pMCAo mouse model of cerebral ischemia.Peer reviewe
Extensive Spectroscopy and Photometry of the Type IIP Supernova 2013ej
We present extensive optical (, , and open CCD) and
near-infrared () photometry for the very nearby Type IIP SN ~2013ej
extending from +1 to +461 days after shock breakout, estimated to be MJD
. Substantial time series ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy
obtained from +8 to +135 days are also presented. Considering well-observed SNe
IIP from the literature, we derive bolometric calibrations from
and unfiltered measurements that potentially reach 2\% precision with a
color-dependent correction. We observe moderately strong Si II
as early as +8 days. The photospheric velocity () is
determined by modeling the spectra in the vicinity of Fe II
whenever observed, and interpolating at photometric epochs based on a
semianalytic method. This gives km s at +50
days. We also observe spectral homogeneity of ultraviolet spectra at +10--12
days for SNe IIP, while variations are evident a week after explosion. Using
the expanding photosphere method, from combined analysis of SN 2013ej and SN
2002ap, we estimate the distance to the host galaxy to be
Mpc, consistent with distance estimates from other methods. Photometric and
spectroscopic analysis during the plateau phase, which we estimated to be
days long, yields an explosion energy of
ergs, a final pre-explosion progenitor mass of ~M and a
radius of ~R. We observe a broken exponential profile beyond
+120 days, with a break point at + days. Measurements beyond this
break time yield a Ni mass of ~M.Comment: 29 pages, 23 figures, 15 tables, Published in The Astrophisical
Journa
SN~2012cg: Evidence for Interaction Between a Normal Type Ia Supernova and a Non-Degenerate Binary Companion
We report evidence for excess blue light from the Type Ia supernova SN 2012cg
at fifteen and sixteen days before maximum B-band brightness. The emission is
consistent with predictions for the impact of the supernova on a non-degenerate
binary companion. This is the first evidence for emission from a companion to a
SN Ia. Sixteen days before maximum light, the B-V color of SN 2012cg is 0.2 mag
bluer than for other normal SN~Ia. At later times, this supernova has a typical
SN Ia light curve, with extinction-corrected M_B = -19.62 +/- 0.02 mag and
Delta m_{15}(B) = 0.86 +/- 0.02. Our data set is extensive, with photometry in
7 filters from 5 independent sources. Early spectra also show the effects of
blue light, and high-velocity features are observed at early times. Near
maximum, the spectra are normal with a silicon velocity v_{Si} = -10,500$ km
s^{-1}. Comparing the early data with models by Kasen (2010) favors a
main-sequence companion of about 6 solar masses. It is possible that many other
SN Ia have main-sequence companions that have eluded detection because the
emission from the impact is fleeting and faint.Comment: accepted to Ap
HX600, a synthetic agonist for RXR-Nurr1 heterodimer complex, prevents ischemia-induced neuronal damage
Ischemic stroke is amongst the leading causes of death and disabilities. The available treatments are suitable for only a fraction of patients and thus novel therapies are urgently needed. Blockage of one of the cerebral arteries leads to massive and persisting inflammatory reaction contributing to the nearby neuronal damage. Targeting the detrimental pathways of neuroinflammation has been suggested to be beneficial in conditions of ischemic stroke. Nuclear receptor 4A-family (NR4A) member Nurr1 has been shown to be a potent modulator of harmful inflammatory reactions, yet the role of Nurr1 in cerebral stroke remains unknown. Here we show for the first time that an agonist for the dimeric transcription factor Nurr1/retinoid X receptor (RXR), HX600, reduces microglia expressed proinflammatory mediators and prevents inflammation induced neuronal death in in vitro co-culture model of neurons and microglia. Importantly, HX600 was protective in a mouse model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion and alleviated the stroke induced motor deficits. Along with the anti-inflammatory capacity of HX600 in vitro, treatment of ischemic mice with HX600 reduced ischemia induced Iba-1, p38 and TREM2 immunoreactivities, protected endogenous microglia from ischemia induced death and prevented leukocyte infiltration. These anti-inflammatory functions were associated with reduced levels of brain lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPCs) and acylcarnitines, metabolites related to proinflammatory events. These data demonstrate that HX600 driven Nurr1 activation is beneficial in ischemic stroke and propose that targeting Nurr1 is a novel candidate for conditions involving neuroinflammatory component.Peer reviewe
Astrocyte Progenitors Derived From Patients With Alzheimer Disease Do Not Impair Stroke Recovery in Mice
Background: Species-specific differences in astrocytes and their Alzheimer disease-associated pathology may influence cellular responses to other insults. Herein, human glial chimeric mice were generated to evaluate how Alzheimer disease predisposing genetic background in human astrocytes contributes to behavioral outcome and brain pathology after cortical photothrombotic ischemia. Methods: Neonatal (P0) immunodeficient mice of both sexes were transplanted with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocyte progenitors from Alzheimer disease patients carrying PSEN1 exon 9 deletion (PSEN1 Delta E9), with isogenic controls, with cells from a healthy donor, or with mouse astrocytes or vehicle. After 14 months, a photothrombotic lesion was produced with Rose Bengal in the motor cortex. Behavior was assessed before ischemia and 1 and 4 weeks after the induction of stroke, followed by tissue perfusion for histology. Results: Open field, cylinder, and grid-walking tests showed a persistent locomotor and sensorimotor impairment after ischemia and female mice had larger infarct sizes; yet, these were not affected by astrocytes with PSEN1 Delta E9 background. Staining for human nuclear antigen confirmed that human cells successfully engrafted throughout the mouse brain. However, only a small number of human cells were positive for astrocytic marker GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), mostly located in the corpus callosum and retaining complex human-specific morphology with longer processes compared with host counterparts. While host astrocytes formed the glial scar, human astrocytes were scattered in small numbers close to the lesion boundary. A beta (beta-amyloid) deposits were not present in PSEN1 Delta E9 astrocyte-transplanted mice. Conclusions: Transplanted human cells survived and distributed widely in the host brain but had no impact on severity of ischemic damage after cortical photothrombosis in chimeric mice. Only a small number of transplanted human astrocytes acquired GFAP-positive glial phenotype or migrated toward the ischemic lesion forming glial scar. PSEN1 Delta E9 astrocytes did not impair behavioral recovery after experimental stroke.Peer reviewe
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