Genotype and nitrogen effects on grain yield and yield-related traits of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids

Saabunud / Received 01.11.2021 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 17.12.2021 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 18.12.2021 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Ganga Paudel [email protected] and nitrogen application are important determinants of grain yield in maize. This experiment was carried out in split-plot design with two factors (maize hybrids as the main factor and nitrogen rates as the sub factor) arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The maize hybrids including Rampur Hybrid-2, Rampur Hybrid-4 and Rampur Hybrid-6 were main plots, and four nitrogen rates of 0, 140,160, and 180 kg N ha–1 were sub-plot. Results revealed that hybrids had significant effects on the days to 50% tasselling, cob circumference, number of kernel rows per cob and grain yield. Similarly, nitrogen rates had significant effects on all parameters except on the days to 50% tasselling and silking. The highest values of cob length (18.31 cm), no of kernel rows per cob (13.22), no of kernels per cob (33.36), cob circumference (13.90 cm) was recorded from the plot fertilized with 180 kg N ha–1. Rampur Hybrid-2 produced the highest yield (6.19 t ha–1), whereas the lowest yield was found in Rampur Hybrid-6. Similarly, 180 kg N ha–1 produced a significantly higher yield (7.06 t ha–1) which was followed by 160 kg ha–1 (6.71 t ha–1), 140 kg ha–1 (6.30 t ha–1) and the lowest yield (3.93 t ha–1) with 0 kg N ha–1. Therefore, among the hybrids evaluated, Rampur Hybrid-2 could be an appropriate hybrid variety for the cultivation at Dang district and similar conditions in Nepal. This study suggests that maize production can be maximized by cultivating Rampur Hybrid-2 with the use of 180 kg N ha–1 in the inner Terai region of Nepal

Factors influencing place of delivery : evidence from three south-Asian countries

Background High maternal mortality is still a significant public health challenge in many countries of the South-Asian region. The majority of maternal deaths occur due to pregnancy and deliveryrelated complications, which can mostly be prevented by safe facility delivery. Due to the paucity of existing evidence, our study aimed to examine the factors associated with place of delivery, including women's preferences for such in three selected South-Asian countries. Methods We extracted data from the most recent demographic and health surveys (DHS) conducted in Bangladesh (2014), Nepal (2016), and Pakistan (2017-18) and analyzed to identify the association between the outcome variable and socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 16,429 women from Bangladesh (4278; mean age 24.57 years), Nepal (3962; mean age 26.35 years), and Pakistan (8189; mean age 29.57 years) were included in this study. Following descriptive analyses, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted. Results Overall, the prevalence of facility-based delivery was 40%, 62%, and 69% in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, respectively. Inequity in utilizing facility-based delivery was observed for women in the highest wealth quintile. Participants from Urban areas, educated, middle and upper household economic status, and with high antenatal care (ANC) visits were significantly associated with facility-based delivery in all three countries. Interestingly, watching TV was also found as a strong determinant for facility-based delivery in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI:1.09-1.56, P = 0.003), Nepal (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI:1.20-1.67, P<0.001) and Pakistan (aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.03-1.32, P = 0.013). Higher education of husband was a significant predictor for facility delivery in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.73, 95% CI:1.27-2.35, P = 0.001) and Pakistan (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.99-1.43, P = 0.065); husband's occupation was also a significant factor in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI:1.04-1.61, P = 0.020) and Nepal (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI:1.01-1.58, P = 0.041). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the educational status of both women and their husbands, household economic situation, and the number of ANC visits influenced the place of delivery. There is an urgent need to promote facility delivery by building more birthing facilities, training and deployment of skilled birth attendants in rural and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring compulsory female education for all women, encouraging more ANC visits, and providing financial incentives for facility deliveries. There is a need to promote facility delivery by encouraging health facility visits through utilizing social networks and continuing mass media campaigns. Ensuring adequate Government funding for free maternal and newborn health care and local community involvement is crucial for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and achieving sustainable development goals in this region. © 2021 Rahman et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. *Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Muhammad Rahman” is provided in this record*

Health system barriers influencing perinatal survival in mountain villages of Nepal: implications for future policies and practices

Background: This paper aims to examine the health care contexts shaping perinatal survival in remote mountain villages of Nepal. Health care is provided through health services to a primary health care level\u2014comprising district hospital, village health facilities and community-based health services. The paper discusses the implications for future policies and practice to improve health access and outcomes related to perinatal health. The study was conducted in two remote mountain villages in one of the most remote and disadvantaged mountain districts of Nepal. The district is reported to rank as the country\u2019s lowest on the Human Development Index and to have the worst child survival rates. The two villages provided a diversity of socio-cultural and health service contexts within a highly disadvantaged region. Methods: The study findings are based on a qualitative study of 42 interviews with women and their families who had experienced perinatal deaths. These interviews were supplemented with 20 interviews with health service providers, female health volunteers, local stakeholders, traditional healers and other support staff. The data were analysed by employing an inductive thematic analysis technique. Results: Three key themes emerged from the study related to health care delivery contexts: (1) Primary health care approach: low focus on engagement and empowerment; (2) Quality of care: poor acceptance, feeling unsafe and uncomfortable in health facilities; and (3) Health governance: failures in delivering health services during pregnancy and childbirth. Conclusions: The continuing high perinatal mortality rates in the mountains of Nepal are not being addressed due to declining standards in the primary health care approach, health providers\u2019 professional misbehaviour, local health governance failures, and the lack of cultural acceptance of formalised care by the local communities. In order to further accelerate perinatal survival in the region, policy makers and programme implementers need to immediately address these contextual factors at local health service delivery points

A qualitative study about the gendered experiences of motherhood and perinatal mortality in mountain villages of Nepal: implications for improving perinatal survival

© The Author(s). 2018 This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.Abstract Background We aim to examine the gendered contexts of poor perinatal survival in the remote mountain villages of Nepal. The study setting comprised two remote mountain villages from a mid-western mountain district of Nepal that ranks lowest on the Human Development Index (0.304), and is reported as having the lowest child survival rates in the country. Methods The findings are taken from a larger study of perinatal survival in remote mountain villages of Nepal, conducted through a qualitative methodological approach within a framework of social constructionist and critical theoretical perspectives. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 42 women and their families, plus a range of healthcare providers (nurses/auxiliary nurses, female health volunteers, support staff, Auxiliary Health Worker and a traditional healer) and other stakeholders from February to June, 2015. Data were analysed with a comprehensive coding process utilising the thematic analysis technique. Results The social construction of gender is one of the key factors influencing poor perinatal survival in the villages in this study. The key emerging themes from the qualitative data are: (1) Gendered social construct and vulnerability for poor perinatal survival: child marriages, son preference and repeated child bearing; (2) Pregnancy and childbirth in intra-familial dynamics of relationships and power; and (3) Perception of birth as a polluted event: birth in Gotha (cowshed) and giving birth alone. Conclusions Motherhood among women of a low social position is central to women and their babies experiencing vulnerabilities related to perinatal survival in the mountain villages. Gendered constructions along the continuum from pre-pregnancy to postnatal (girl settlement, a daughter-in-law, ritual pollution about mother and child) create challenges to ensuring perinatal survival in these villages. It is imperative that policies and programmes consider such a context to develop effective working strategies for sustained reduction of future perinatal deaths

Structure-activity relationship and MM2 energy minimized conformational analysis of quercetin and its derivatives in the DPPH• radical scavenging capacity

Antioxidant activity of quercetin (1) and its derivatives (2-15) was evaluated by using DPPH assay and IC50 values were calculated. Dihedral angles α of C3-C2-C1’-C6’ chain and β of O1-C2-C-1’-C2’ chain between AC and B rings of these flavones were determined by using MM2 energy minimized structures. Structure-activity relationship study revealed that quercetin (1), quercetin-5-methyl ether (2), quercetin-3’-methyl ether (3) and quercetin-3’,5-dimethyl ether (4) displaying a high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 47.20-119.27 μM) possess similar dihedral angles (α 11.1-11.5º and β 6.3-6.6º). Mono- and/or di-methoxy substituent(s) at 3’ and 5 positions of the flavone are most suitable for the preservation of the antioxidant capacity while retaining conformational geometry. BIBECHANA 17 (2020) 19-2

Structure-activity relationship and MM2 energy minimized conformational analysis of quercetin and its derivatives in the DPPH• radical scavenging capacity

Antioxidant activity of quercetin (1) and its derivatives (2-15) was evaluated by using DPPH assay and IC50 values were calculated. Dihedral angles α of C3-C2-C1’-C6’ chain and β of O1-C2-C-1’-C2’ chain between AC and B rings of these flavones were determined by using MM2 energy minimized structures. Structure-activity relationship study revealed that quercetin (1), quercetin-5-methyl ether (2), quercetin-3’-methyl ether (3) and quercetin-3’,5-dimethyl ether (4) displaying a high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 47.20-119.27 μM) possess similar dihedral angles (α 11.1-11.5º and β 6.3-6.6º). Mono- and/or di-methoxy substituent(s) at 3’ and 5 positions of the flavone are most suitable for the preservation of the antioxidant capacity while retaining conformational geometry. BIBECHANA 17 (2020) 19-2

Prevalence of behavioral risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and associated socio-economic factors among pregnant women in a rural area in Southern Nepal

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have dramatically infiltrated populations living in abject poverty in Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs), and poor maternal and child health outcomes have been frequently reported for those with CVD risk factors. However, few studies have explored the behavioral risk factors of CVDs among pregnant women in rural settings. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and identifying the socio-economic predictors of behavioral risk factors of CVDs among pregnant women in rural area in Southern Nepal. Methods: A Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 52 clusters of Dhanusha District of Nepal in a total of 426 pregnant women in their second trimester using multistage cluster sampling method. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess independent associations between behavioral risk factors during pregnancy and maternal socio-economic characteristics. Results: Of the 426 study participants, 86.9, 53.9, 21.3 and 13.3%, respectively, reported insufficient fruits and vegetables consumption, insufficient physical activity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol drinking. Socio-economic factors significantly associated with more than one behavioral risk factors in expectant mothers with a primary level education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.78; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) (1.35–5.72)), 20–34 years age group (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 0.27; 95% CI (0.13–0.56)), and those with the highest wealth index (AOR 0.36; 95% CI (0.16–0.84)). Conclusion: Higher prevalence of behavioral risk factors for CVDs and their socio-economic factors prevailing among pregnant women living in rural Nepal call for immediate health promotion interventions such as community awareness and appropriate antenatal counseling

Effects of several inocula on the biochemical hydrogen potential of sludge-vinasse co-digestion

The influence of the inoculum on the Biochemical Hydrogen Potential test (BHP) was investigated. Thermophilic BHP from sludge-vinasses co-digestion (50:50) was studied employing three types of inocula: Acidogenic Inoculum, Sludge Inoculum and Thermal Sludge Inoculum. The maximum hydrogen yield was obtained with a sludge inoculum (177 mL H2/g VSadded). This yield was 21 and 36% higher than for acidogenic inoculum and thermal sludge inoculum, respectively. The results revealed that the choice of inoculum had significant impact on the hydrogen yield and the sludge inoculum is the most beneficial for BHP tests. The percentages between Eubacteria:Archaea increased from 59.2:40.8 to 92.0:9.0 during BHP tests using the sludge inoculum while it remained stablish in the others cases around 50:50. Furthermore, hydrogen production was accompanied by the generation of volatile fatty acids, mainly acetic, butyric and propionic acids. There were no differences in the rate of hydrogen production in any of the BHP

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 &lt; 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

Factors influencing place of delivery : evidence from three south-Asian countries

Background High maternal mortality is still a significant public health challenge in many countries of the South-Asian region. The majority of maternal deaths occur due to pregnancy and deliveryrelated complications, which can mostly be prevented by safe facility delivery. Due to the paucity of existing evidence, our study aimed to examine the factors associated with place of delivery, including women's preferences for such in three selected South-Asian countries. Methods We extracted data from the most recent demographic and health surveys (DHS) conducted in Bangladesh (2014), Nepal (2016), and Pakistan (2017-18) and analyzed to identify the association between the outcome variable and socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 16,429 women from Bangladesh (4278; mean age 24.57 years), Nepal (3962; mean age 26.35 years), and Pakistan (8189; mean age 29.57 years) were included in this study. Following descriptive analyses, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted. Results Overall, the prevalence of facility-based delivery was 40%, 62%, and 69% in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, respectively. Inequity in utilizing facility-based delivery was observed for women in the highest wealth quintile. Participants from Urban areas, educated, middle and upper household economic status, and with high antenatal care (ANC) visits were significantly associated with facility-based delivery in all three countries. Interestingly, watching TV was also found as a strong determinant for facility-based delivery in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI:1.09-1.56, P = 0.003), Nepal (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI:1.20-1.67, P<0.001) and Pakistan (aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.03-1.32, P = 0.013). Higher education of husband was a significant predictor for facility delivery in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.73, 95% CI:1.27-2.35, P = 0.001) and Pakistan (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.99-1.43, P = 0.065); husband's occupation was also a significant factor in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI:1.04-1.61, P = 0.020) and Nepal (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI:1.01-1.58, P = 0.041). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the educational status of both women and their husbands, household economic situation, and the number of ANC visits influenced the place of delivery. There is an urgent need to promote facility delivery by building more birthing facilities, training and deployment of skilled birth attendants in rural and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring compulsory female education for all women, encouraging more ANC visits, and providing financial incentives for facility deliveries. There is a need to promote facility delivery by encouraging health facility visits through utilizing social networks and continuing mass media campaigns. Ensuring adequate Government funding for free maternal and newborn health care and local community involvement is crucial for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and achieving sustainable development goals in this region