Reactive Oxygen Species: A Key Hallmark of Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been the prime cause of mortality worldwide for decades. However, the underlying mechanism of their pathogenesis is not fully clear yet. It has been already established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in the progression of CVDs. ROS are chemically unstable reactive free radicals containing oxygen, normally produced by xanthine oxidase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, lipoxygenases, or mitochondria or due to the uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase in vascular cells. When the equilibrium between production of free radicals and antioxidant capacity of human physiology gets altered due to several pathophysiological conditions, oxidative stress is induced, which in turn leads to tissue injury. This review focuses on pathways behind the production of ROS, its involvement in various intracellular signaling cascades leading to several cardiovascular disorders (endothelial dysfunction, ischemia-reperfusion, and atherosclerosis), methods for its detection, and therapeutic strategies for treatment of CVDs targeting the sources of ROS. The information generated by this review aims to provide updated insights into the understanding of the mechanisms behind cardiovascular complications mediated by ROS

Workshop proceedings, Evaluation of Irrigation Management Transfer Process and Performance, Lalitpur, Nepal, 11-12 October 1999

Irrigation management / Privatization / Monitoring / Evaluation / Institutional development / Rehabilitation / Leadership / Water users' associations / Irrigation programs / Participatory management / Women / Surface water / Groundwater / Conjunctive use / Nepal / Khageri Irrigation System / Hirapur Manusmara Irrigation System

Novel Vestigial Sideband Modulation Scheme to Enhance the SNR in Radio Over Fiber Systems

The optical single sideband (OSSB) scheme is a common choice in radio over fiber system for compensating chromatic dispersion (CD) but it suffers from low signal to noise ratio (SNR).We present the novel technique for SNR improvement using unequal sideband intensity based modulation scheme, we name it optical vestigial sideband modulation scheme (OVSB). To analyze such scheme we use the series Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) and phase modulator (PM) configuration. In this configuration by operating MZM at quadrature point and properly tuning the PM index the individual intensity of the first order sidebands and higher order harmonics can be controlled independent to each other.The optimum operating point of PM for maximizing the SNR can be identified by reducing the harmonic distortion and increasing the first order sidebands power. We experimentally validated the proposed OVSB scheme generation method and provide its theoretical proof. We evaluate the symbol error rate (SER) performance using 4QAM signal for OSSB and OVSB and show the improved performance of OVSB scheme compared to OSSB scheme. We also discuss the harmonic distortion behavior of the series MZM and PM configuration

Cr3+ substitution effect on Co-Cu and Cu-Co nano ferrites on structural and morphological properties

The Cr3+ substituted Co-Cu (Co0.7Cu0.3Fe2-xCrxO4) and Cu-Co (Cu0.7Co0.3Fe2-xCrxO4) where x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.25 nano ferrite composite were prepared with the sol-gel approach. Their structural, dc electrical resistivity, and magnetic properties were analyzed. XRD shows the single-phase spinel ferrite. Adding Cr3+ ions decreases the lattice volume and the size of the crystallite respectively. FESEM images show non-spherical particles on a largely uniform surface shape with decreasing grain size on doping Cr3+. The FTIR pattern supports the XRD patterns for spinel ferrite

Multi-photon ionization and fragmentation of uracil: neutral excited-state ring opening and hydration effects

Multi-photon ionization (MPI) of the RNA base uracil has been studied in the wavelength range 220–270 nm, coinciding with excitation to the S2(ππ*) state. A fragment ion at m/z = 84 was produced by 2-photon absorption at wavelengths ≤232 nm and assigned to C3H4N2O+ following CO abstraction. This ion has not been observed in alternative dissociative ionization processes (notably electron impact) and its threshold is close to recent calculations of the minimum activation energy for a ring opening conical intersection to a σ(n-π)π* closed shell state. Moreover, the predicted ring opening transition leaves a CO group at one end of the isomer, apparently vulnerable to abstraction. An MPI mass spectrum of uracil-water clusters is presented for the first time and compared with an equivalent dry measurement. Hydration enhances certain fragment ion pathways (particularly C3H3NO+) but represses C3H4N2O+ production. This indicates that hydrogen bonding to water stabilizes uracil with respect to neutral excited-state ring opening

Estimating Actual Evapotranspiration from Stony-Soils in Montane Ecosystems

Quantification of evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for understanding the water balance and for efficient water resources planning. Agricultural settings have received most attention regarding ET measurements while less knowledge is available for actual ET (ETA) in natural ecosystems, many of which have soils containing significant amounts of stones. This study is focused on modelling ETA from stony soil, particularly in montane ecosystems where we estimate the contribution of stone content on water retention properties in soil. We employed a numerical model (HYDRUS-1D) to simulate ETA in natural settings in northern Utah and southern Idaho during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons based on meteorological and soil moisture measurements at a range of depths. We simulated ETA under three different scenarios, considering soil with (i) no stones, (ii) highly porous stones, and (iii) negligibly porous stones. The simulation results showed significant overestimation of ETA when neglecting stones in comparison to ETA measured by eddy covariance. ETA estimates with negligibly porous stones were lower for all cases due to the decrease in soil water storage compared with estimates made considering highly porous stones. Assumptions of highly porous or negligibly porous stones led to reductions in simulated ETA of between 10% and 30%, respectively, compared with no stones. These results reveal the important role played by soil stones, which can impact the water balance by altering available soil moisture and thus ETA in montane ecosystems

Distribution of Dental Diseases and Treatment Delivered amongst Patients Visiting Dental Outpatient Department at Gandaki Medical College, Nepal

Introduction: A study of dental diseases amongst patients attending dental outpatient department (OPD) helps us plan a preventive, and/or a definitive dental treatment. Objectives: To find out the distribution of dental diseases amongst patients visiting dental OPD at College of Dental Surgery, Gandaki Medical College (GMC), Pokhara, Nepal. Methods: The present study was a hospital based cross sectional descriptive study carried out during a period of one year extending from 1st February 2016 to 31st January 2017. A total of 3052 patients attending the dental OPD were included in the study. The distribution of dental diseases according to sex, age and diagnosis were collected and analyzed. Additionally, frequency distribution of treatments provided to the patients was observed. Results: Dental caries was the most prevalent dental disease (64.41%) followed by gingivitis (13.04%). The prevalence of dental caries was significantly higher in females (Females 56.91% vs. males 43.08%, P <0.05). Conversely, the prevalence of maxillofacial injuries (85.06%), dental impactions (72%), and malocclusion (53.88%) were significantly more common in male patients (P <0.05). The age group <19 years comprised 23.98 % of patients who visited the dental OPD, and the dental caries was most prevalent (27.10%) in the age group. The order of more frequent dental treatments was root canal treatment (18.84%), tooth extraction (18.44%), dental restoration (10.48%), and scaling (9.20%). Conclusions: The most prevalent dental disease was dental caries and it was more prevalent in females than in males. The most common age group reporting to Dental OPD was <19 years.  J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 29-3

Individual, household and national factors associated with iron, vitamin A and zinc deficiencies among children aged 6-59 months in Nepal

Iron, vitamin A and zinc deficiencies are the top three micronutrients contributing to disability‐adjusted life years globally. The study assessed the factors associated with iron, vitamin A, and Zinc deficiencies among Nepalese children (n = 1709) aged 6–59 months using data from the 2016 Nepal National Micronutrient Status Survey. The following cut‐off points were applied: iron deficiency [ferritin 8.3 mg/L], vitamin A deficiency (retinol‐binding protein < 0.69 μmol/L) and zinc deficiency (serum zinc < 65 μg/dl for morning sample and <57µg/dl for afternoon sample). We used multiple logistic regression adjusted for sampling weights and clustering to examine the predictors of micronutrient deficiencies. The prevalence of iron depletion (ferritin), tissue iron (sTfR), vitamin A and zinc deficiencies were 36.7%, 27.6%, 8.5% and 20.4%, respectively. Children were more likely to be iron deficient (ferritin) if aged 6–23 months, stunted, and in a middle‐wealth quintile household. Vitamin A deficiency was associated with development region and was higher among children living in severe food‐insecure households and those who did not consume fruits. Zinc deficiency was higher among children in rural areas and the poorest wealth quintile. The Government of Nepal should focus on addressing micronutrient deficiencies in the early years, with emphasis on improving food systems, promote healthy diets, among younger and stunted children and provide social cash transfer targeting high‐risk development regions, poorest and food insecure households