Labour Employment in Paddy, Wheat and Vegetables in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Unemployment and under-employment are major problems in Nepal resulting from growth in agricultural labour, insufficient agricultural land, small farm size and low cropping intensity. One way to alleviate such problems would be to adopts more intensive system of agriculture. This requires a knowledge on the labour absorption capacities of different crops. This study examines the employment of farm labour in vegetable cultivation as compared to cereal cultivation in Kathmandu valley. More specifically, it examines the influence of production function variables, cropping intensity and price of labour on the employment of total labour and, employment of family and hired labour separately in paddy, wheat and vegetable cultivation. The employment of total labour is modelled using a single equation model and the employment of family and hired labour is modelled using a simultaneous equation system. The total labour model is estimated by ordinary least squares technique and the simultaneous equation model is estimated by the instrumental variable estimation procedure. Variables such as farm size, tractor use, bullock power and price of labour are found significantly and negatively related to the employment of farm labour. The other set of variables such as seed-manure-fertilizer-pesticide, irrigation, high yielding varieties and cropping intensity are found significantly and positively related to the employment of farm labour. In addition, vegetable cultivation is found more profitable and more labour intensive than cereal cultivation. Vegetable cultivation is recommended as a possible solution to ease the problems of unemployment and under-employment in Nepal. Hired labour is found to be an important beneficiary of vegetable cultivation. Vegetable cultivation would therefore provide more employment opportunities to the landless and marginal farm workers in Nepal

The second moment of derivatives of GL(2)GL(2) LL-functions over quadratic twists

Let $f$ be an Hecke eigenform for the group $\Gamma_{0}(q)$ and $\chi_{d}$ be a primitive quadratic character of conductor $|d|$. In this article, we prove an asymptotic for the second moment of the derivative of $L(s, f \otimes \chi_{8d})$ at the central point $1/2$, which was previously known under GRH by Petrow \cite{petrow}.Comment: 19 Page

Speed control of separately excited DC motor using self tuned fuzzy PID controller

In this project we have designed a separately excited DC motor whose speed can be controlled using PID controller. The proportional, integral and derivate (KP, KI, KD) gains of the PID controller are adjusted according to FUZZY LOGIC. First, the fuzzy logic controller is designed according to fuzzy rules so that the systems are fundamentally robust. There are 25 fuzzy rules for self-tuning of each parameter of PID controller. The FLC has two inputs. One is the motor speed error between the reference and actual speed and the second is change in speed error (speed error derivative).Secondly, the output of the FLC i.e. the parameters of PID controller are used to control the speed of the separately excited DC Motor. The study shows that both precise characters of PID controllers and flexible characters of fuzzy controller are present in fuzzy self-tuning PID controller. The fuzzy self-tuning approach implemented on a conventional PID structure was able to improve the dynamic as well as the static response of the system. Comparison between the conventional output and the fuzzy self-tuning output was done on the basis of the simulation result obtained by MATLAB. The simulation results demonstrate that the designed self-tuned PID controller realize a good dynamic behavior of the DC motor, a perfect speed tracking with less rise and settling time, minimum overshoot, minimum steady state error and give better performance compared to conventional PID controller

Common Bulkhead Tank Design for Cryogenic Stage of an Indian Launch Vehicle

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been advancing in space technology with its cost-effective techniques. Currently, ISRO, in its cryogenic stages, uses truss type intertank structure, which induces large concentrated loads at the truss interfaces. As a remedial measure, works on closed intertank are being carried out by them, but this configuration will considerably increase the launch vehicle mass compared to truss type. Therefore, after a thorough literature survey, a Common bulkhead (CBH) tank seemed to be the best solution to the aforementioned problem. Detailed research on sandwich-type CBH has been carried out in this paper with the motivation of saving mass and height in launch vehicles. Suitable core and facesheet material were selected. A novel foam-filled honeycomb core is suggested in this work. Several comparisons in various CBH dome designs were carried out to reach for the best possible configuration and composition that can be used. MATLAB®, SolidWorks®, and ANSYS® were used in parallel for all computations dealing with design and analysis. A mass saving of approximately upto 490 kgs and a height reduction of upto 1.755 m was obtained with the final selected configuration with respect to the current GSLV configuration. These savings can add extra payload capacity to ISRO launch vehicles in their future missions

Evaluation of femoral neck shaft angle on plain radiographs and its clinical implications

Background: The femoral neck-shaft angle is the measurement of the angle formed between the oblique oriented neck with the vertical shaft and is an important anatomic measurement for the evaluation of biomechanics of hip. The neck shaft angle is important in surgeries that involve the neck of femur, Intertrochanteric fractures, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, and developmental dysplasia of hip. Different variation of neck shaft angle has been seen in different literature and all the orthopedic implants are designed according to the values of the western literature which is different from the Indian subcontinent.Methods: Pelvic radiographs of patients who presented to Accident and emergency care or the outpatient department were used in the study 110 patients radiographs were assessed in the study. There were 55 males and 55 females in our study. The mean age for males was 46.5 years and that for females was 43.2 years. The pelvis radiographs were studied for neck shaft angle .The measurements were performed bilaterally on the digital screen using the PACS (picture archiving and communication system) with handheld 360 degree goniometer.Results: The mean neck shaft angle in our study was129.26 degree for males and 126.62 degree for females .The overall mean neck shaft angle in 110 radiographs was 128.60 degree. Conclusions: We conclude that consideration of neck shaft angles in orthopedics surgery and designing of implant can give more angle options for the surgeons which can improve the overall prognosis of the patient

Treatment Outcome and Mortality at One and Half Year Follow-Up of HIV Infected TB Patients Under TB Control Programme in a District of South India

There is paucity of data from India on the impact of HIV related immunosuppression in response to TB treatment and mortality among HIV infected TB patients. We assessed the TB treatment outcome and mortality in a cohort of HIV infected TB patients treated with intermittent short course chemotherapy under TB control programme in a high HIV prevalent district of south India. [aOR-4.90, CI (1.85–12.96)]. Factors associated with ‘Death’ were non initiation of ART [aOR-2.80, CI (1.15–6.81)] and CPT [aOR-3.46, CI (1.47–8.14)].Despite the treatment success of 75% the high mortality (30%) in the study group is a matter of concern and needs immediate intervention. Non initiation of ART has emerged as a high risk factor for unfavourable treatment outcome and mortality. These findings underscore the importance of expanding and improving delivery of ART services as a priority and reconsideration of the programme guidelines for ART initiation in HIV infected TB patients

Analysis of functional outcome of complex forearm injuries

Background: Complex forearm injuries are often associated with contamination, crushing, loss of tissues and patient arrives at odd hours when specialists are not available. These injuries can lead to complications like infective non-union, stiffness, disabilities and secondary amputations.Methods: 23 patients having complex forearm injuries treated primarily at tertiary care center by single surgeon were included in the study. Pinch strength, grip strength, residual deformity and DASH score was assessed at final follow-up. In 23 patients treated, 16 patients underwent primary internal fixation of both bone, primary external fixator was done in 4 patient, delayed fixations in 6patients, primary bone grafting in 3 patients and in 1 patient delayed bone grafting was done Skin grafting was performed in 6 cases, and flaps in 13 patients. Vascular repair was done in four patients.Results: All 23 patients came for follow-up. An average number of surgery performed per patient was 3.81 and mean hospital stay of 28.2 days. The mean duration of follow up was 47.2 months. The average DASH score was 10.24 with average key and tip pinch and grip strength of 62.24%, 58.48% and 54.75% respectively. 3 patients had superficial infection and two patient deep infections. Superficial infections were managed with IV antibiotics. The patients with nerve and vascular injuries had higher DASH score. Conclusions: Early wound coverage can improve functional outcomes. Training in plastic coverage of wounds using pedicle flaps and skin grafting, microsurgical nerve and vessel repairs for orthopedic surgeon can be of great help for the patients