A Short Note on Linkage of Climatic Records between Terai and Mid-mountain of Central Nepal

The steep North to South (N-S) gradient and complex topography markssignificant variations in the spatial and temporal patterns of climatic variation surrounding within a few distances in the Nepal Himalayas. Hence,to validate climatic linkages between the stations under two distinct topographic conditions, the study examines the observational climatic data from 106m a.s.l. and 1801m a.s.l., as a representative station from a plain and hilly area. Different statistical tools including Pearson correlation analysis and a best-fit regression model were applied to analyze climate data. The analysis of 13129 daily average temperature records and 13147 daily total precipitation records showed that the variation in their sum and average of daily, five days, ten days, and monthly values between the stations in the different elevations marked significantly.Despite these variations, temperature records are measured to be consistent in different altitudes and strongly correlated. The precipitation data showed a comparatively weaker correlation. The coefficients (0.85-1.6) with R2 >0.50 in the regression models for the lower elevation and higher elevation station in the mid-mountain region except for the monsoon season. It indicated a similar fluctuation of temperature between these two stations in the respective area. The strong degree of association and the change of climatic parameters in different range and elevations indicate the possibilities of using climatic data from Terai to represent the Mid-mountain region of central Nepal

Effects of Deforestation and Forest Degradation on Forest Carbon Stocks in Collaborative Forests, Nepal

There are some key drivers that favor deforestation and forest degradation. Consequently, levels of carbon stock are affected in different parts of same forest types. But the problem lies in exploring the extent of the effects on level of carbon stocking. This paper highlights the variations in levels of carbon stocks in three different collaborative forests of same forest type i.e. tropical sal (Shorea robusta) forest in Mahottari district of the central Terai in Nepal. Three collaborative forests namely Gadhanta-Bardibas Collaborative Forest (CFM), Tuteshwarnath CFM and Banke- Maraha CFM were selected for research site. Interview and workshops were organized with the key informants that include staffs, members and representatives of CFMs to collect the socio-economic data and stratified random sampling was applied to collect the bio-physical data to calculate the carbon stocks. Analysis was carried out using statistical tools. It was found five major drivers namely grazing, fire, logging, growth of invasive species and encroachment. It was found highest carbon 269.36 ton per ha in Gadhanta- Bardibash CFM. The findings showed that the levels of carbon stocks in the three studied CFMs are different depending on how the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation influence over them

Cloacal anomaly with bladder tumor

A rare case of squamous cell carcinoma of bladder occurring in a 36-year-old female with persistent cloacal anomaly who presented with frequency, urgency, dysuria, and recurrent urinary tract infection is reported. Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography with three dimensional reconstruction showed presence of bladder tumor and persistent cloaca. She underwent pelvic exenteration and wet colostomy. Histopathologic findings revealed locally advanced moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma

Indoxacarb poisoning: A rare presentation as methemoglobinaemia

Indoxacarb is a broad-spectrum non-organophosphorus oxidiazine insecticide widely used in farming. Once absorbed it acts on sodium channels and blocks the flow of sodium ions. We report a case of indoxacarb poisoning in a farmer following suicidal consumption, manifested as unconsciousness, cyanosis and stationary SpO2 values. Methemoglobinaemia was suspected on clinical presentation which was successfully managed with inj. methylene blue and other symptomatic and supportive treatment

Soil carbon, nitrogen and texture dynamics at root zone and between plants in Riverine plantation of Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Phyllanthus emblica and Eucalyptus camaldulensis

This research was objectively carried out to assess the dynamic of carbon, nitrogen and texture at root zone and location between plants. The plantation of Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Phyllanthus emblica and Eucalyptus camaldulensis of Pragati community forest, Mahottari district, Nepal was selected for this study which was done in 2011. The stratified random sampling was applied to collect soil samples. Altogether 320 soil samples were collected from 0-10, 10-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm depths. The result showed that soil carbon was about 8.16 t ha-1 at root zone which was only 7.56 t ha-1 at location between plants at 0-10cm depth in Phyllanthus emblica stratum. The soil carbon was the least nearly 2.08 t ha-1 at root zone which was 1.59 t ha-1 at location between plants in Eucalyptus camaldulensis stratum. The carbon percentage was the highest about 1.35% at root zone of Phyllanthus emblica stratum. However, the C/N ratio was the highest about 69:1 at location between plants of Dalbergia sissoo stratum. The texture of soil was loamy sand at root zone in Phyllanthus emblica, Acacia catechu and Dalbergia sissoo plantations while it was sandy at both root zone and between plants of Eucalyptus plantation. Plantations have significant effect on soil carbon and nitrogen at 95% confidence level

GA based optimal planning of VAR sources using Fast Voltage Stability Index method

This paper presents a novel approach for reactive power planning of a connected power network. Reactive power planning is nothing but the optimal usage of all reactive power sources i.e., transformer tap setting arrangements, reactive generations of generators and shunt VAR compensators installed at weak nodes. Shunt VAR compensator placement positions are determined by a FVSI (Fast Voltage Stability Index) method. Optimal setting of all reactive power reserves are determined by a GA (genetic algorithm) based optimization method. The effectiveness of the detection of the weak nodes by the FVSI method is validated by comparing the result with two other wellknown methods of weak node detection like Modal analysis and the L-index method. Finally, FVSI based allocation of VAR sources emerges as the most suitable method for reactive power planning

Crystal Symmetry-Inspired Algorithm for Optimal Design of Contemporary Mono Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell Solar Photovoltaic Modules

A metaheuristic algorithm named the Crystal Structure Algorithm (CrSA), which is inspired by the symmetric arrangement of atoms, molecules, or ions in crystalline minerals, has been used for the accurate modeling of Mono Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) WSMD-545 and CS7L-590 MS solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The suggested algorithm is a concise and parameter-free approach that does not need the identification of any intrinsic parameter during the optimization stage. It is based on crystal structure generation by combining the basis and lattice point. The proposed algorithm is adopted to minimize the sum of the squares of the errors at the maximum power point, as well as the short circuit and open circuit points. Several runs are carried out to examine the V-I characteristics of the PV panels under consideration and the nature of the derived parameters. The parameters generated by the proposed technique offer the lowest error over several executions, indicating that it should be implemented in the present scenario. To validate the performance of the proposed approach, convergence curves of Mono PERC WSMD-545 and CS7L-590 MS PV modules obtained using the CrSA are compared with the convergence curves obtained using the recent optimization algorithms (OAs) in the literature. It has been observed that the proposed approach exhibited the fastest rate of convergence on each of the PV panels