The "non-intervention" policy in Spanish civil war

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 1946. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

An Analysis Of Business Process Outsourcing Strategies Of Public And Private Sector Banks In India

This paper is a study of the recent trends of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) strategies and practices among banking institutions in India.  The study attempts to analyze BPOs used by private and public banks using four dimensional descriptive conceptual dimensions of outsourcing:  1) shoring model (vendor location/service creation), 2) sourcing model (vendor type), 3) engagement model (number of vendors engaged), and 4) duration of the engagement (contract period).  The comparison of results reveals similar trends of outsourcing for public and private banks. However, public banks are more regulated, and thus are restricted from outsourcing of certain processes to avoid excessive risks of privacy of data and information related to customers.  From a financial strategic point of view, in the long run, the underlying profit margins of a public bank might have adverse effects. &nbsp

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy among married women in Putalibajar municipality, Nepal

IntroductionIntimate partner violence during pregnancy (IPVDP) is increasingly being recognized as a significant problem in the developing world due to its adverse health consequences on both pregnant women and children. The objective of the study is to measure the magnitude of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and the factors associated with IPVDP.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 263 married women in their extended postpartum period between October 2019 and March 2020 in Putalibajar municipality, Nepal. A face-to-face interview was conducted and data were collected using an interview schedule. A Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to examine the association between IPVDP and the independent variables.ResultsAmong the 263 women interviewed, 30% experienced IPV during pregnancy, the most common type of violence was controlling behavior (20.2%) followed by emotional (18.6%), sexual (10.6%), economic (6.1%), and physical violence (5.3%). It was observed that IPV was more likely to occur among women whose husbands consumed alcohol (AOR = 3.171; CI 95%: 1.588–9.167), women whose husbands consumed tobacco (AOR =3.815; CI 95%: 2.157–7.265), women who usually received family support during pregnancy (AOR =2.948; CI 95%: 1.115–7.793) and women who did not decide on marriage timing (AOR =2.777; CI 95%: 1.331–5.792).ConclusionThree out of ten pregnant women experienced IPVDP. To prevent violence, and ensure women’s empowerment, formulating strict laws and discouraging the element of a violent milieu is important

Does access to microfinance matter for rural women?

Due to the unavailability of financial services, the lack of products, and the cost of credit, many low-income households struggle to manage their savings and invest in, and expand, small businesses. Women, as well as poor and deprived groups, are unable to manage inputs and technologies to make their farms more productive. To boost local entrepreneurship, the Improved Seeds for Farmers’ Programme (KUBK-ISFP) set out to establish 30 financial institutions to increase women’s financial inclusion. Membership of a microfinance cooperative has been found to improve women’s empowerment and the livelihoods of poor farmers

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VITAMIN-C CONCENTRATION IN COMMERCIAL FRUIT JUICES AND FRESH FRUITS OF NEPAL WITH EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE

Objective: It was aimed to determine the best storage temperature for fruits to achieve the highest quality of vitamin-C and to compare vitamin C concentration between commercial fruits juices and fresh fruit juices in by using Spectrophotometry and Titrimetric method Methods: Titration involved the redox reaction between iodine and vitamin C. As the iodine was added during the titration, the ascorbic acid was oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid, while the iodine was reduced to iodide ions. The Spectrophotometric method involved the coupling reaction of 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) dye with Vitamin C. The samples were analyzed using UV-Vis-Spectrophotometer at 521 nm. Results: Titrimetric and spectroscopic methods were performed for fresh and marketed fruits comprising of apple, grapes, lemon, orange. The maximum amount was found in lemon and orange whereas apple and grapes contained lesser amount of Vitamin C. The stability of marketed fruit juices made up of apple, grapes, lemon, orange were analyzed by storing them on the freeze at 0 °C and 10 °C and on the hot air oven at 20 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C for 72 h and estimated by both Titrimetric and Spectroscopy method. UV-Spectroscopy method showed that, at freezing condition up to 10 °C temperature, degradation was too low but when the temperature reached 50 °C the extent of degradation was more, showing 24.56% apple juice, 10.89% orange juice,12.70% grapes juice and 50% orange juice were degraded in 100 ml sample. Similar results were observed by analysing the samples with titration technique. Conclusion: A new analytical method was developed to address the content of vitamin C in fruits consumed in the local market of Nepal along with the best possible storage of fruit juice to yield the maximum amount of nutrients

Chemical speciation of copper and cadmium in Kameng river sediments using sequential extraction procedure

ABSTRACT Kameng River is a major north bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River and it originates in the Himalayas. The Kameng river traverses through West Kameng and East Kameng districts in Arunachal Pradesh and happens to be the lifeline of the scattered human population within the river basin. To understand the behavior of toxic trace elements in the bed sediments, chemical speciation studies are commonly applied. In this study a modified sequential extraction procedure was applied to study the geochemical partitioning of Cu and Cd in the sediments, their bioavailability and also the degree of risk associated with their remobilization from the sediment matrix. Cadmium was found to be highly associated with the labile fraction in all the sampling sites and thus posed a high risk of remobilization in the water system. Risk assessment criteria applied to the experimental data also suggested high risk of toxicity to living beings due to Cd bioavailability. Cu was found to poses low to medium risk owing to its affinity to the residual and non-labile phases

Wildlife assessment of the Chandragiri hills, Kathmandu: Potentiality for ecotourism

Wildlife assessments can provide crucial information regarding species richness, relative abundance and spatial, temporal, and ecological information on wildlife habitat associations. The assessment’s information can in turn be used for developing management policies including for establishing touristic zones. We investigated wildlife occurrences in the Chandragiri Hills, Kathmandu Nepal from 2015-2019 to provide baseline data to inform the potential sites for ecotourism. During the study period, we recorded 30 mammal species, 199 bird species, 34 herpetofauna species and 77 butterfly species. The area harbors three globally and six nationally threatened mammal species, two globally and seven nationally threatened with one endemic bird species, one globally and nationally threatened herpetofauna, and one nationally threatened butterfly species. We also explored four potential hiking routes for observing wildlife and providing scenic views of the Himalayan range and Kathmandu city. Therefore, we expect Chandragiri Hills can become one of the hot spot for tourists to observe both common and threatened wildlife species in Nepal

Abortion Law awareness and Abortion Services Utilization among reproductive age women of Inarwa municipality of Eastern Nepal

Introduction: Globally, reproductive health and quality of life among female population has been found to be unsatisfactory in developing world. Until 1963, Nepal’s 1854 legal code known as MulukiAin was revised numerous times that banned abortion exempting risk of women’s life. Enactment of New Abortion Policy from 2003 brought landmark reforms to the women’s choice in family planning methods and ended the sufferings of lengthy prison sentences for abortion crimes. This study was conducted to explore the level of awareness about abortion law with regard to health care utilization among women of reproductive age group along with its association with socio-demographic characteristics. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2014, in Inarwa Municipality among women of reproductive age group (16 to 49 years). Convenient sampling was done to collect data from households. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS 11.5 and presented in tabular form. Chi-square test was used to show association of awareness of abortion law and socio-demographic variables. Results: education, age at first marriage and age at 1st pregnancy was found to be significant (p value: <0.005). Conclusion: As media was the most used source of information, more education on awareness of abortion law and health care utilization should be disseminated through this medium

Predicting the potential distribution and habitat variables associated with pangolins in Nepal

Pangolins are highly-threatened due to illegal hunting and poaching, and by the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of their habitats. In Nepal, effective conservation actions for pangolins are scarce due to limited information on the distribution of pangolins in many areas of the country. To identify the nationwide distribution of pangolins in Nepal, and assess the environmental variables associated with their habitat, we conducted an extensive literature review to collate data from previous studies, canvassed information from key informant interviews and expert opinion, and conducted transect surveys and sign surveys. The occurrence of pangolins was recorded based on sightings and indirect signs (such as burrows, digs, tracks, and scats) along 115 belt transects of 500-m length with a fixed width of 50-m, and habitat parameters were surveyed using 347 quadrats of 10 m*10 m. Pangolin presence was confirmed from 61 out of 75 districts from the eastern to the far western parts of the country. The highest frequency of burrows (74%) was observed in the forested habitat constituting brown soil with medium texture (0.02–2 mm) within an elevation range of 500–1500 m above sea level. Logistic regression suggested that the occurrence of pangolin was highly influenced by ground cover and canopy cover of 50–75%, litter depth, and the distance to termite mounds and roads. We used 4136 occurrence GPS points of pangolin burrows that were compiled and collected from the literature review and field surveys in order to predict the potential habitat distribution of pangolin using maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt 3.4.1). The model predicted 15.2% (22,393 km2) of the total land of Nepal as potentially suitable habitat for pangolin, with 38.3% (8574 km2) of potential habitat in the eastern region, followed by 37.6% (8432 km2) in the central and 24.1% (5,387 km2) in the western regions. The results of this study present a national baseline for pangolin distribution and serve as an important document for developing and executing conservation actions and management plans for the long-term conservation of pangolins in Nepal

MAK-4 and -5 supplemented diet inhibits liver carcinogenesis in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Maharishi Amrit Kalash (MAK) is an herbal formulation composed of two herbal mixtures, MAK-4 and MAK-5. These preparations are part of a natural health care system from India, known as Maharishi Ayur-Veda. MAK-4 and MAK-5 are each composed of different herbs and are said to have maximum benefit when used in combination. This investigation evaluated the cancer inhibiting effects of MAK-4 and MAK-5, <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>In vitro </it>assays: Aqueous extracts of MAK-4 and MAK-5 were tested for effects on <it>ras </it>induced cell transformation in the Rat 6 cell line assessed by focus formation assay. <it>In vivo </it>assays: Urethane-treated mice were put on a standard pellet diet or a diet supplemented with MAK-4, MAK-5 or both. At 36 weeks, livers were examined for tumors, sera for oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and liver homogenates for enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and NAD(P)H: quinone reductase (QR). Liver fragments of MAK-fed mice were analyzed for connexin (cx) protein expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MAK-5 and a combination of MAK-5 plus MAK-4, inhibited <it>ras</it>-induced cell transformation. In MAK-4, MAK-5 and MAK4+5-treated mice we observed a 35%, 27% and 46% reduction in the development of urethane-induced liver nodules respectively. MAK-4 and MAK4+5-treated mice had a significantly higher ORAC value (<it>P </it>< 0.05) compared to controls (200.2 ± 33.7 and 191.6 ± 32.2 <it>vs. </it>152.2 ± 15.7 ORAC units, respectively). The urethane-treated MAK-4, MAK-5 and MAK4+5-fed mice had significantly higher activities of liver cytosolic enzymes compared to the urethane-treated controls and to untreated mice: GPX(0.23 ± 0.08, 0.21 ± 0.05, 0.25 ± 0.04, 0.20 ± 0.05, 0.21 ± 0.03 U/mg protein, respectively), GST (2.0 ± 0.4, 2.0 ± 0.6, 2.1 ± 0.3, 1.7 ± 0.2, 1.7 ± 0.2 U/mg protein, respectively) and QR (0.13 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.06, 0.15 ± 0.03, 0.1 ± 0.04, 0.11 ± 0.03 U/mg protein, respectively). Livers of MAK-treated mice showed a time-dependent increased expression of cx32.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results show that a MAK-supplemented diet inhibits liver carcinogenesis in urethane-treated mice. The prevention of excessive oxidative damage and the up-regulation of connexin expression are two of the possible effects of these products.</p