Situation report on Nepal’s agrifood systems : July 2023

In June 2023, Nepal witnessed a slight increase in the prices of food and beverages by 1.3 percent as compared to the previous month. The inflation rate of non-food items and services conversely decreased marginally. This can be partially attributed to a decline in transportation costs. There was a deceleration in the year-on-year Consumer Price Index (CPI), reaching 6.8 percent this month compared to a 10.1 percent increase in the Wage Rate Index

Disposition kinetics and urinary excretion of ciprofloxacin in goats following single intravenous administration

We evaluated the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in serum (n = 6) and urine (n = 4) in goats following a single intravenous administration of 4 mg/kg body weight. The serum concentration-time curves of ciprofloxacin were best fitted by a two-compartment open model. The drug was detected in goat serum up to 12 h. The elimination rate constant (β) and elimination half-life (t1/2β) were 0.446 ± 0.04 h-1 and 1.630 ± 0.17 h, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) was 2.012 ± 0.37 l/kg and the total body clearance (ClB) was 16.27 ± 1.87 ml/min/kg. Urinary recovery of ciprofloxacin was 29.70% ± 10.34% of the administered dose within 36 h post administration. In vitro serum protein binding was 41% ± 13.10%. Thus, a single daily intravenous dose of 4 mg/kg is sufficient to maintain effective levels in serum and for 36 h in urine, allowing treatment of systemic, Gram-negative bacterial infections and urinary tract infections by most pathogens

Carbon allocation, sequestration and carbon dioxide mitigation under plantation forests of north western Himalaya, India

The organic carbon and soils of the world comprise bulk of the terrestrial carbon and serve as amajorsink and source of atmospheric carbon. Increasing atmospheric concentrations of green house gases may be mitigated by increasing carbon sequestration in vegetation and soil. The study attempted to estimate biomass production and carbon sequestration potential of different plantation ecosystems in north western Himalaya, India. Biomass, carbon density of biomass, soil, detritus, carbon sequestration and CO2 mitigation potential were studied underdifferent plantation forest ecosystems comprising of eight different tree species viz. Quercus leucotrichophora, Pinus roxburghii), Acacia catechu, Acacia mollissima, Albizia procera, Alnus nitida, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Ulmus villosa. Above (185.57 ą 48.99 tha-1) and below ground (42.47 ą 10.38 tha-1 ) biomass was maximum in Ulmus villosa. The vegetation carbon density was maxium in Albizia procera (118.37 ą 1.49 tha-1) and minimum (36.50 ą 9.87 tha-1) in Acacia catechu. Soil carbon density was maximum (219.86ą 10.34 tha-1) in Alnus nitida, and minimum (170.83ą 20.60 tha-1)in Pinus roxburghii. Detritus was higher in Pinus roxburghii (6.79 ą 2.0 tha-1). Carbon sequestration (7.91ą 3.4 tha-1) and CO2 mitigation potential (29.09 ą 12.78 tha-1) was maximum in Ulmus villosa. Pearson correlation matrix revealed significant positive relationship of ecosystem carbon with plantation biomass, soil carbon and CO2 mitigation potential. With the emerging threat of climate change, such assessment of forest and soil carbon inventory would allow to devise best land management and policy decisions forsustainable management of fragile hilly ecosystem. </span

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Not AvailableThe study was carried out to compare various two- parameter probability distributions for identifying the most appropriate distribution to describe the weekly rainfall data of standard meteorological week (SMW) from 22 to 42 weeks in Shivalik region of India. The "best" distribution among different data sets has been identified using Anderson Darling (AD) test for goodness - of- ut. Single probability distribution which can represent all the data sets, was not found among the distributions studied. Weibull distribution was best fit in about nine SMW , followed by Gamma distribution showing best fits in 7 weeks out of the 21 weeks studied. Comparing total rainfall at different probability level with average rainfall , it was found that minimum assured rainfall with 50, 40 and 30 % probability is 21.35% lesser , o=0.04% higher and 37.25% higher , respectively than average rainfall. Thus, minimum assured weekly rainfall at 40% probability level is better representative of long - term average weekly rainfall data of the region. Appropriate time for maize sowing should be between 25th june to 1st july as minimum assured rainfall of more than 25 mm is available with 70% probability. It was found that only short to medium duration maize varieties are suitable taking into account the rainfall pattern and duration in the region.Not Availabl

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl)₃Ru(η⁶-C₆Me₆)]PF₆

Reaction of [{Ru(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Cl₂}₂] with silver trifluoroacetate in presence of ammonium hexafluorophosphate and organonitriles viz. 4-cyanopyridine, 1,4-piperazine dicarbonitrile or 1,4-dicyanobenzene in methanol gives trichloro bridged complex [(η⁶-C₆Me₆) Ru(μ-Cl)₃Ru(η⁶-C₆Me₆)]PF₆. The complex has been characterized by various physico-chemical techniques (Elemental analyses, IR,UV–vis, ¹H-, ¹³C-, ³¹P-NMR and FAB mass spectroscopy) and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. [Crystal data: monoclinic, space group P2₁c, a=10.7604(9), b=24.897(2), c=10.8833(11) Å, β=100.990(7)°

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Not AvailableClimate change impact varies across different altitudinal ranges and demands local specific management strategies for water resource and farming system management. The present study analyses spacio-temporal climate parameters across different altitudes of Himachal Pradesh a hilly state of India. Analysis shows that annually, minimum temperature has significantly decreased by -0.09°C at altitude I (350 - 400 m) while maximum temperature has significantly increased by 0.05°C at altitudes I and II (1400- 1500 m) and decreased significantly by -0.08°C at altitude III (2000- 2100 m). Higher regions Altitude – IV (2900-3000 m) received lowest rainfall (746.1 mm) with 30.2 % variation. Seasonal rainfall variability was higher in post monsoon (102 - 174%) and least in monsoon (21 - 57%). Annual rainfall at altitude I is strongly irregular (PCI 20.1 to 22.3), followed by altitude – IV (PCI 15-25); altitude – II irregular (PCI 15-20) and altitude – III moderate to irregular (PCI 12 -19) rainfall. Seasonal Index values for four altitudes fall between 0.91-0.96 revealed that rainfall is irregular and markedly seasonal with longer drier season. Higher wavelet powers in altitude - I and II after 2005 suggests frequency of extreme rainfall occurrence had increased.Not Availabl

Possible role of macrophages induced by an irridoid glycoside (RLJ-NE-299A) in host defense mechanism

In order to explore the possible role of macrophages and other necessary immune competent (T and B) cells in the modulation of immune responses, an attempt was made to study the immunomodulatory effect of an irridoid glycoside (RLJ-NE-299A) isolated from the roots of Picrorhiza kurroa. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were used to evaluate the effect of RLJ-NE-299A on humoral, cellular, and phagocytic activity of macrophages.The data obtained in the present study showed that RLJ-NE-299A significantly increased sheep red blood cell(SRBC) and induced antibody (IgM and IgG) titer and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in mice.Besides augmenting the humoral and cell-mediated immune response, it induced macrophage phagocytosis and stimulated cytokine-induced macrophage activation and nitric oxide (NO) production, which resulted in a high degree of protection against Candida albicans and Salmonella typhimurium infections. Flow cytometric analysis indicated the enhanced expression of co-stimulatory surface molecules CD80 and CD86. The ability of RLJ-NE-299A to upregulate these cell surface antigens involved in antigen presentation may provide an explanation for the increased T-cell mediated immunity involving macrophages. Taken together this in vitro and in vivo preclinical data suggests that RLJ-NE-299A acts as an effective immunomodulator specifically to improve macrophage function during infections. The effects of this agent on these cells at concentrations relevant to in vivo therapy support its immunopharmacologic application to modify cellular immunity

A novel sarsasapogenin glycoside from Asparagus racemosus elicits protective immune responses against HBsAg

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the adjuvant potential of a novel sarsasapogenin glycoside (immunoside) isolated from Asparagus racemosus in combination with hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg). Various in vitro and animal derived protocols were used to determine the response of immunoside adjuvanted with HBsAg and the results were compared with alum adjuvanted with HBsAg.Several biomarkers such as antibody titre (IgG, IgG1/IgG2a) were measured in mice sera. Cell proliferation, cytokines (IL-2, IFN-� and IL-4), and lymphocyte sub-populations (CD4/CD8, CD3 and CD19)were determined in splenocytes from mice administered subcutaneously with test substances. In these cells CD4/CD8 derived IFN-� release was also determined. Macrophage preparations were used for the determination of IL-12, IFN-� and nitrite content. Seroconversion potential was compared with a standard vaccine. Acute safety evaluation of immunoside was done in mice. Effect of immunoside on red blood cell haemolysis was determined. The results have suggested that immunoside potentially enhanced anti-HBsAg immune response via augmenting Th1/Th2 response in a dose dependent manner