Initial Experiences of Laparoscopic Surgery at Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital

Introduction: The field of minimal invasive surgery has flowered explosively in the recent past. Modern endoscopy has changed the approach to diagnosis as well as the operative procedure. This study was done with the aim of sharing the experiences of gynecological laparoscopic procedures done at Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Nepal. Methods: A descriptive study was done in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nobel Medical College from 1st April 2015 to 30th March 2016. All the patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures were analyzed for the indication, type of procedures and their complications. Results: During the study period, 100 patients underwent laparoscopic procedures including 25 cases of diagnostic and 75 cases of therapeutic procedures. Fiftythree patients with an ovarian mass underwent laparoscopic cystectomy. Laparoscopic salpingectomy was done in 11 patients with ectopic pregnancy. Laparoscopy assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) was done in eight cases and laparoscopic sterilization in two cases. One patient underwent successful myomectomy. One patient undergoing laparoscopic cystectomy and one case of LAVH had conversion to laparotomy because of dense adhesion and vault bleeding respectively. No other major complication noted apart from port side bleeding, infection and vault hematoma. Conclusion: Laparoscopy is a safe and feasible alternative to open gynecological surgeries though it has a longlearning curve and a lot of expertise is necessary

Management of blast disease of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) caused by Pyricularia grisea under field conditions in Dolakha, Nepal

Lack of understanding regarding the choice of chemical fungicides or botanicals with their optimal doze and spraying schedule is one of the major problems concerning mid-hill farmers to control finger millet diseases in Nepal. In order to assess the effectiveness of the four fungicides, namely Bavistin 50 WP (Carbendazim 50%), SAAF (Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP), RIDOMIL-MZ 72 WP (Metalyxl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP), BAAN 75 WP (Tricyclazole 75%), and two botanicalsermented anaerobically in cattle urine, an artificial epiphytotic field. In the years 2018 and 2019, the experiment was run using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Carbendazim, one of the chosen treatments, had the greatest impact in lowering the AUDPC values for leaf blast (1818, 1191) as well as neck (4,53) and finger blast (10,45) incidence percentage in both 2018 and 2019 years. Tricyclazole, SAAF, RIDOMIL-MZ, and Lantana camara fermented in cow urine were also discovered to be beneficial throughout the year.  So it is recommended to deploy fungicides in a controlled manner through rotation and mixed applications, which is advantageous for both grain and seed production even for minor and underutilized crops from an economic aspect

Establishment of plant residues and inorganic fertilizer application for growth and yield of Vigna unguiculata (L.) in flood-affected cropland of Koshi Tappu Region, Eastern Nepal

Flood increases due to an increase in river overflow which affects on abiotic and biotic factors. The preliminary study of flood-affected crops was carried out in flood-affected cropland of Koshi Tappu Region of Eastern Nepal. For the experiment the plant residues of Eichhornia crassipes and Sesbania rostrata and inorganic fertilizer were selected to examine the growth and yield in Vigna unguiculata. The appropriate treatments for the production of V. unguiculata were analyzed. Before applying treatments, soil was collected and analyzed for physicochemical, microbial biomass and available nitrogen. Soil texture, soil moisture, water holding capacity and bulk density (BD) were calculated. The parameters such as soil pH organic carbon, organic matter and total nitrogen were determined. Soil microbe increases the significance of organic carbon and soil nitrogen is correlated for growth and yield. The results showed that the combined urea and plant residue increases the highest yield. And the Eichhornia compost represents the highest leaf area index and biomass. The total pod production was found in the Echhhornia compost. The dry weight per single pod in Eichhornia fresh was 7.82 g and in Sesbania fresh was 7.42 g. It proves that the land pattern is significant for the soil organic compounds. The experiment showed that the use of plant residues enhanced the increase of physicochemical properties of soil by adding the nutrients. The combined Urea + Eichhornia supports the best growth and development of the plant. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.433815

Effect of foliar spray of ethephon doses and pruning intensities on growth, sex expression, and yield of cucumber (var- Bhaktapur local) in Kaski, Nepal

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of foliar spray of ethephon doses and pruning intensities on the performance of Bhaktapur local cultivar of cucumber in Kaski, Nepal from Feb- May 2021. The study was laid out in Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with 2G and 3G cutting, and four different doses of ethephon (@125ppm, @250ppm, @375ppm @500ppm) as six treatments against control and were replicated four times with 28 plots each of 20.8 m2 size having 4 rows with 4 plants per row. The data regarding plant height, leaf number, largest leaf area, days to 1st male and female flowering and fruit harvest, the total number of male and female flowers per plant, M: F flower ratio, fruit length, circumference, weight/fruit, fruit number per plant, fruit set % and yield were recorded and analyzed using MS-Excel and R-studio. The result revealed that growth and yield were significantly influenced by the levels of ethephon and pruning. Highest yield was recorded with ethephon @125ppm (83.54 t ha-1) which is as par with 3G (72.57 t ha-1) which was accompanied by a significantly higher number of fruits per plant {(125ppm=18.33), (3G=15.67)}, average fruit weight {(3G=674gm)}, (125ppm=608gm)}, and fruit set % {(3G=30.66 %)}, (125ppm=24.93 %)}. Significantly higher plant height (149.78 cm), and the highest number of leaves per plant (40) were recorded in control and Ethephon @125ppm at 50 DAT, respectively. The largest leaf area (626.84 cm2) was recorded in 2G which is at par with 3G (613.31 cm2) at 50 DAT. Higher dose of ethephon @500ppm (47.87 days) and 375 ppm (47.17 days) delayed days to 1st male flowering while all ethephon doses (T4=31.83 days, T5=32.5 days, T6=34.81 days, and T7=34.83 days) hastened female flowering than control and pruning. A significantly higher number of male flowers were obtained in the control (89.75), while the number of female flowers and M: F flower ratio increased with increasing ethephon level than in pruning (2G and 3G) and control. Hence, appropriate ethephon (125ppm) dose and pruning (3G) were highly conducive for better growth, sex expression, and yield of cucumber using Bhaktapur Local variety of cucumber in the hilly region of Nepal has a climatic condition similar to Kaski

Economic analysis of fish production using different feed types practiced in Dhanusha district, Nepal

A study on the economic analysis of fish production using different feed types practiced in Dhanusha district was conducted in 2018. Out of 600 fish farmers, sixty fish farmers(10%) from the Fish Superzone region i.e. Janakpur sub-metropolitan city, Bideh municipality, Sahidnagar municipality, Kamala municipality, Hanspur municipality, Janaknandani rural municipality and Aaurahi  rural municipality, selected using simple random sampling, were surveyed using semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that locally formulated mash feed was commonly used feed type in which rice bran and mustard oil cake (RB+MOC) was the principle feed ingredient. 55% of the farmers used rice bran and mustard oil cake (RB+MOC), 20% used rice bran, mustard oil cake and soybean (RB+MOC+SOB), 10% used rice bran, mustard oil cake and fish meal (RB+MOC+FM) and 15% farmers mineral and vitamin (RB+MOC+MIN/VIT) in their feed formulation. The productivity of the fish production in feed type RB+MOC+SOB (3.41±1.02) was significantly higher than other feed type.  The total variable cost per ha (5.23±2.11) was found significantly(p<0.05) higher in feed type RB+MOC+SOB. Similarly, gross margin (4.44±2.74) received by farmers of feed type RB+MOC+SOB was also significantly high(p<0.05). The Benefit: Cost (B:C) ratio of the study area was found to be 1.69, high being of feed type RB+MOC+SOB(1.84) compared to others. The feed type RB+MOC+SOB is seen as a economically profitable one in the study area because of the high productivity, profit and B:C ratio. High feed cost was the major problem followed by the unavailability of feed. Fish farming can be a profitable business in Dhanusha with large opportunity to increase the fish production with increasing protein sources in the feed used. Farmers should be provided sufficient information, trainings and be encouraged to incorporate the protein rich sources like soybean and fish meal in the feed prepared to increase the productivity and ultimately return

Digital learning Initiatives, Challenges and Achievement in Higher Education in Nepal Amidst COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide and reshaped the existing educational system. Due to travel constraints and physical separation, there has been a global shift toward distance learning, and Nepal is no exception. This research intends to assess the practicality of online education by evaluating learners' experiences amidst COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was directed among HEIs students in Nepal using self-structured questionnaires. Our study revealed that 64.6% of the respondents were unsatisfied with online classes. More than half of the respondents (53.4%) use cell phones for online studies. Online education was reported to be unappealing to 28.8% of respondents. Variables such as age group (p = 0.05), enjoying class (p < 0.001), hours spent for an online class in a day (p = 0.05), and period for educational work using an electronic device (p = 0.1) were found significant with satisfaction level using both bivariate test and inferential test of univariate binary logistics regression. The challenges and opportunities encountered among students and faculties are highlighted along with the recommendations for fortifying communication in online-based teaching/learning