Varietal evaluation of promising maize genotypes in mid hills of Nepal

The varietal evaluation of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes with desired performance is one of the main objectives of maize breeding program. Fourteen hybrid maize genotypes were evaluated for 17 quantitative and nine qualitative traits in randomized complete block design with three replications at Sundarbazar, Lamjung, Nepal during May to September, 2019. The major objective was to identify superior genotypes based on genotypic and phenotypic variability, heritability, genetic advance, and correlation between grain yield and yield associated traits. We observed significant differences for 17 quantitative traits among the tested genotypes. Large variation was observed for grain yield among genotypes. Genotype RL-24-0/ RL-111 had the lowest yield (5.53 mt/ha) and Pioneer had the highest yield (11.98 mt/ha) whereas check variety Rampur Hybrid-10 yielded of 8.23 mt/ha. Grain yield showed highly significant positive correlations with stem girth (r= 0.67) and number of ears (r=0.6), but significant negative correlation with anthesis-silking interval (r= -0.55). The dendrogram grouped 14 genotypes into four clusters. Cluster I incorporated the highest number (five) of genotypes, which also had highest cluster mean (average yield of ~10 mt/ha) for grain yield. Traits namely test weight, ear aspect, anthesis-silking interval, number of ears, and tassel branching had high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variations, and heritability along with high genetic advances, indicating that these traits can be considered for maize breeding program

Multi-drug Resistant Bacterial Isolates Associated with Blood Stream Infection

Multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria complicate therapeutic management and limit treatment options. With the increase of antibiotic resistance among bacterial isolates, monitoring of the of drug resistance pattern became critical for appropriate empiric selection of antibiotic therapy. Between June 2014 to January 2015, a prospective study was carried out in Manmohan Memorial Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu with an objective to determine the status of Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamase (ESBL) and Biofilm producing MDR bacterial isolates from blood samples. Identification of the isolates was done by standard microbiological techniques and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method following Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. ESBL screening of gram negative isolates was done using Ceftriaxone, Aztreonam, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime and Cefpodoxime followed by confirmation using MASTDISCSTM Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamase (ES?L) Detection Discs and Biofilm detection was done by Congo-Red and Tube- adherence Method. The culture positivity of 16% and 10 different species of bacteria were isolated. The most frequently occurring isolate was Escherichia coli followed by Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility test showed that Amikacin remains the principle antibiotic of choice based on its effectiveness on both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.Ninety five percent of isolates were MDR with 77.19% ESBL producers and 72.5% were biofilm producers. A statistically significant relationship was found between increasing spectrum of drug resistance and ESBL production and drug resistant in biofilm production (p<0.05)

Groin hit death due to femoral vein rupture in a drug abuser

Recreational drug use is becoming  an  imminent social and health problem throughout the world. Intravenous injection for drug misuse has been described in both the upper and lower limbs and is a major cause of millions of deaths each year; deaths are primarily due to fatal overdose and the trauma and infection caused by repeated injections. This paper presents an accidental death due to massive blood loss, which resulted from rupture to the right femoral vessel based on autopsy findings. In case of accidental injuries, a thorough medico-legal process, including death scene investigation, autopsy examination and toxicological analyses,  are  always necessary to determine the manner of death

Agastya Haritaki Rasayana: A Critical Review

Rasayana is a specialized section of Ayurveda, which mainly deals with the prevention of disease and promotion of the health. Agastya Haritaki Rasayana is a popular Avaleha kalpana, used in the  pranavaha sroto vikaras like Kasa, Shwasa, Hikka, Kshaya, etc.  The study was taken with a view to enlist the ingredients of Agastya Haritaki Rasayana  from different Classical text of Ayurveda and critical analysis was done based on the properties of ingredients and their indications. A thorough and comprehensive review of Agastya Haritaki Rasayana from different Ayurvedic classical texts, contemporary texts, online journals, articles and internet materials has been done. Most of the ingredients of Agastya Haritaki Rasayana are having -Tikta, Kashyaya, Madhura rasa, laghu, ruksha, tikshna guna, katu vipaka, ushna veerya and having kaphavata shamaka properties.  Thus, Agastya Haritaki Rasayana is used in the management of diseases which are mainly vatakapha pradhana. Agastya Haritaki Rasayana is indicated as main line of treatment in Shwasa, Kasa roga as well as used as the Naimittika Rasayana in various other diseases like grahani, aruchi, arsha etc. Keywords: Agastya Haritaki Rasayana, Rasayana,  Naimittika Rasayana, Shwasa, Kas

Computed tomography diagnosis of truncus arteriosus type IV: a case report

Truncus arteriosus (TA) is an uncommon congenital cardiac anomaly of which type IV is considered a rare variant. Recognition is crucial for proper treatment planning. The prognosis without treatment is poor. Echocardiography alone may not be useful in evaluation. Computed tomography (CT) finding is complicated. We report an 18 months child with ventricular septal defect (VSD), diagnosed on echocardiography, and further review by CT showed VSD with descending thoracic aorta giving rise to the pulmonary arteries suggestive of pseudo truncus (Collet and Edwards Truncus arteriosus Type IV) and right sided aortic arch with mirror image branching. Keywords: echocardiography, Collet and Edwards, computed tomography (CT), truncus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect (VSD

Search for low-mass dark matter via bremsstrahlung radiation and the Migdal effect in SuperCDMS

We present a new analysis of previously published SuperCDMS data using a profile likelihood framework to search for sub-GeV dark matter (DM) particles through two inelastic scattering channels: bremsstrahlung radiation and the Migdal effect. By considering these possible inelastic scattering channels, experimental sensitivity can be extended to DM masses that are undetectable through the DM-nucleon elastic scattering channel, given the energy threshold of current experiments. We exclude DM masses down to 220  MeV/c2 at 2.7×10−30  cm2 via the bremsstrahlung channel. The Migdal channel search provides overall considerably more stringent limits and excludes DM masses down to 30  MeV/c2 at 5.0×10−30  cm2

A Search for Low-mass Dark Matter via Bremsstrahlung Radiation and the Migdal Effect in SuperCDMS

We present a new analysis of previously published of SuperCDMS data using a profile likelihood framework to search for sub-GeV dark matter (DM) particles through two inelastic scattering channels: bremsstrahlung radiation and the Migdal effect. By considering these possible inelastic scattering channels, experimental sensitivity can be extended to DM masses that are undetectable through the DM-nucleon elastic scattering channel, given the energy threshold of current experiments. We exclude DM masses down to $220~\textrm{MeV}/c^2$ at $2.7 \times 10^{-30}~\textrm{cm}^2$ via the bremsstrahlung channel. The Migdal channel search provides overall considerably more stringent limits and excludes DM masses down to $30~\textrm{MeV}/c^2$ at $5.0 \times 10^{-30}~\textrm{cm}^2$.Comment: Submitted to PR

First measurement of the nuclear-recoil ionization yield in silicon at 100 eV

We measured the nuclear--recoil ionization yield in silicon with a cryogenic phonon-sensitive gram-scale detector. Neutrons from a mono-energetic beam scatter off of the silicon nuclei at angles corresponding to energy depositions from 4\,keV down to 100\,eV, the lowest energy probed so far. The results show no sign of an ionization production threshold above 100\,eV. These results call for further investigation of the ionization yield theory and a comprehensive determination of the detector response function at energies below the keV scale