Medicinal plants in Rasuwa district, central Nepal: trade and livelihood

The present paper deals with the study conducted during 2006-2008 to assess trade pattern of important medicinal plants in Chilime Village Development Committee (VDC) of Rasuwa district, Nepal. Chilime VDC is one of the important trade centres of medicinal plants in the district. We documented 60 species of important medicinal plants, including 26 species involved in trade. Among them, 12 most potentially traded species, which have been given high priority by the collectors and traders, were selected for the study of their market potential and their contribution to the local livelihood. About 40% of the households of Chilime VDC were found to be involved in the collection and trade of medicinal plants. Most of the collection (90%) was for trade, which has supported up to 40% of family income contributing average household net profit of NRs 9,000 per year. The local traders were also making a good profit from medicinal plants with annual net contribution of about NRs 0.25 million per trader. But only 50% of actual traded quantity was registered at DFO resulting low revenue collection (only 43% of the expected). This shows that illegal trade is a common practice in the area by which the local traders increase their profit because they do not have to pay revenue. Thus strong mechanisms should be developed to stop illegal trade of medicinal plants and to promote revenue generation. Key-words: Langtang National Park; NTFPs; revenue; Tamang; trade channel.DOI: 10.3126/botor.v6i0.2909 Botanica Orientalis - Journal of Plant Science (2009) 6: 39-46</jats:p

Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary Artery Lesion Among Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with the numbers of risk factors causing coronary atherosclerosis. Coronary artery stenosis is mostly caused by coronary atherosclerosis.Objective This study aims to analyze the association between coronary artery stenosis and cardiovascular risk factors.Methods An observational study was conducted among CAD patients. The diagnostic coronary angiogram was performed from femoral approach using standard catheters and techniques to find out any abnormalities.Result A total 73 patients (44 male and 29 female) with coronary artery disease undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography was included with the documented cardiovascular risk factors. The coronary stenosis was found in 40 patients on the basis of stenosis grading. Among the established cardiovascular risk factors, sex, diabetes mellitus and smokers show are significantly associated with coronary stenosis among CAD patients. The present study shows the significant association of coronary stenosis among male CAD patients (OR 2.47; CI 0.94 – 6.48, p &lt;0.05) and similar association has been observed in diabetes mellitus (OR 3.32; CI 1.12 – 9.84, p &lt;0.05) and smoking (OR 4.10; CI 1.45 – 11.61, p &lt;0.01).Conclusion The prevalence of CAD is increased with numbers of presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Male gender, diabetes mellitus and smoking are significantly associated with coronary stenosis among CAD patients. However, hypertension and dyslipidemia are comparable between coronary stenosis and no significant stenosis group.Kathmandu University Medical Journal Vol.12(2) 2014: 137-140</jats:p

Hydration, Soundness, and Strength of Low Carbon LC3 Mortar Using Waste Brick Powder as a Source of Calcined Clay

The construction industry is responsible for 39% of global CO2 emissions related to energy use, with cement responsible for 5&ndash;8% of it. Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), a ternary blended binder system, offers a low-carbon alternative by partially substituting clinker with calcined clay and limestone. This study investigated the use of waste clay brick powder (WBP), a waste material, as a source of calcined clay in LC3 formulations, addressing both environmental concerns and SCM scarcity. Two LC3 mixtures containing 15% limestone, 5% gypsum, and either 15% or 30% WBP, corresponding to clinker contents of 65% (LC3-65) or 50% (LC3-50), were evaluated against general purpose (GP) cement mortar. Tests included setting time, flowability, soundness, compressive and flexural strengths, drying shrinkage, isothermal calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Isothermal calorimetry showed peak heat flow reductions of 26% and 49% for LC3-65 and LC3-50, respectively, indicating a slower reactivity of LC3. The initial and final setting times of the LC3 mixtures were 10&ndash;30 min and 30&ndash;60 min longer, respectively, due to the slower hydration kinetics caused by the reduced clinker content. Flowability increased in LC3-50, which is attributed to the lower clinker content and higher water availability. At 7 days, LC3-65 retained 98% of the control&rsquo;s compressive strength, while LC3-50 showed a 47% reduction. At 28 days, the compressive strengths of mixtures LC3-65 and LC3-50 were 7% and 46% lower than the control, with flexural strength reductions being 8% and 40%, respectively. The porosity calculated from the SEM images was found to be 7%, 11%, and 15% in the control, LC3-65, and LC3-50, respectively. Thus, the reduction in strength is attributed to the slower reaction rate and increased porosity associated with the reduced clinker content in LC3 mixtures. However, the results indicate that the performance of LC3-65 was close to that of the control mix, supporting the viability of WBP as a low-carbon partial replacement of clinker in LC3

Slope stability analysis along the proposed Kathmandu-Hetauda Road with tunnel sections

The proposed Kathmandu-Hetauda Road alignment passes through Thankot, Chitlang, Kulekhani, Bhimphedi, and Bhaisedobhan. It is the shortest as well as least hazardous route very suitable for a standard highway. It has the following three tunnel sections: the Thankot Tunnel (3.2 km long), the Kulekhani Tunnel (500 m long), and the Chisapani Tunnel (3.8 km long). The alignment passes through the Kathmandu Nappe, Upper Nawakot Group of the Lesser Himalaya, and the Siwaliks. It also crosses the Main Boundary Thrust and the Mahabharat Thrust, four major faults/shear zones, and a major fold axis.&#x0D; The areas of plane sliding, wedge sliding, and toppling are delimited on the basis of the study of discontinuities along the proposed alignment. The stability analysis show s that 60-75% of the total road length is stable, 20-30% is fair, 5- 15% is weak, and 2-5% is critical.</jats:p

Deformation structures in central Nepal and their engineering geological significance

Geological maps of the Helambu-Kathmandu area and Kathmandu-Hetauda area with their suitable cross-sections are presented. On the basis of the deformation history, the deformation structures recorded from the field study as well as from the air photo interpretations are classified as continuous and discontinuous deformation structures. All types of discontinuous deformation structures are considered as discontinuities. Discontinuities play decisive role in engineering geology breaking the continuity of the mechanical behaviour of the rockmass at different scales. On the basis of spacing, width, mineral fill and extent, the discontinuities are classified into seven orders. Such classification is essential and appropriate for rockmasses, which are heavily affected by intense tectonic deformation in the Himalaya, the Alps or corresponding orogens. The study area within central Nepal is having many engineering geological problems. Stability of the rock slopes and underground excavations are two major engineering geological problems to deal here with. Significance of the different order of discontinuities in the light of these engineering geological problems are discussed. Orientation of different order of discontinuities is an important parameter affecting blasting, span width, roof support and ground water flow and related problems in the proposed tunnels in the study area. Such structures are also important factor for the stability of the natural slopes and cut slopes.</jats:p

Group B. Consensus paper. Non-surgical periodontal therapy: Mechanical debridement, antimcroial agents and other modalities

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