Beam-Spin Asymmetry Σ for Σ⁻ Hyperon Photoproduction off the Neutron

We report a new measurement of the beam-spin asymmetry, Σ, for the →n → K+Σ− reaction using quasi-free neutrons in a liquid-deuterium target. The new dataset includes data at previously unmeasured photon energy and angular ranges, thereby providing new constraints on partial wave analyses used to extract properties of the excited nucleon states. The experimental data were obtained using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS), housed in Hall B of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). The CLAS detector measured reaction products from a liquid-deuterium target produced by an energy-tagged, linearly polarised photon beam with energies in the range 1.1 to 2.3 GeV. Predictions from an isobar model indicate strong sensitivity to N(1720)3/2+, Δ(1900)1/2−, and N(1895)1/2−, which corroborates results from a recent combined analysis of all KΣ channels. When our data are incorporated in the fits of partial-wave analyses, one observes significant changes in -n couplings of resonances which have small branching ratios to the πN channel

Improved Λp Elastic Scattering Cross Sections Between 0.9 and 2.0 GeV/c as a Main Ingredient of the Neutron Star Equation of State

Strange matter is believed to exist in the cores of neutron stars based on simple kinematics. If this is true, then hyperon-nucleon interactions will play a significant part in the neutron star equation of state. Yet, compared to other elastic scattering processes, there is very little data on Λ-N scattering. This experiment utilized the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) detector to study the Λp→Λp elastic scattering cross section in the incident Λ momentum range 0.9-2.0  GeV/c. These are the first data on this reaction since the 1970s. The new cross sections have significantly better accuracy and precision than the existing world data, and the techniques developed here can also be used in future experiments

Measurement of Charged-Pion Production in Deep-Inelastic Scattering Off Nuclei with the CLAS Detector

Background: Energetic quarks in nuclear deep-inelastic scattering propagate through the nuclear medium. Processes that are believed to occur inside nuclei include quark energy loss through medium-stimulated gluon bremsstrahlung and intranuclear interactions of forming hadrons. More data are required to gain a more complete understanding of these effects. Purpose: To test the theoretical models of parton transport and hadron formation, we compared their predictions for the nuclear and kinematic dependence of pion production in nuclei. Methods: We have measured charged-pion production in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering off D, C, Fe, and Pb using the CLAS detector and the CEBAF 5.014-GeV electron beam. We report results on the nuclear-to-deuterium multiplicity ratio for π+ and π− as a function of energy transfer, four-momentum transfer, and pion energy fraction or transverse momentum—the first three-dimensional study of its kind. Results: The π+ multiplicity ratio is found to depend strongly on the pion fractional energy z and reaches minimum values of 0.67 ± 0.03, 0.43 ± 0.02, and 0.27 ± 0.01 for the C, Fe, and Pb targets, respectively. The z dependencies of the multiplicity ratios for π+ and π− are equal within uncertainties for C and Fe targets but show differences at the level of 10% for the Pb-target data. The results are qualitatively described by the GiBUU transport model, as well as with a model based on hadron absorption, but are in tension with calculations based on nuclear fragmentation functions. Conclusions: These precise results will strongly constrain the kinematic and flavor dependence of nuclear effects in hadron production, probing an unexplored kinematic region. They will help to reveal how the nucleus reacts to a fast quark, thereby shedding light on its color structure and transport properties and on the mechanisms of the hadronization process

Predicting Academic Performance: A Systematic Literature Review

The ability to predict student performance in a course or program creates opportunities to improve educational outcomes. With effective performance prediction approaches, instructors can allocate resources and instruction more accurately. Research in this area seeks to identify features that can be used to make predictions, to identify algorithms that can improve predictions, and to quantify aspects of student performance. Moreover, research in predicting student performance seeks to determine interrelated features and to identify the underlying reasons why certain features work better than others. This working group report presents a systematic literature review of work in the area of predicting student performance. Our analysis shows a clearly increasing amount of research in this area, as well as an increasing variety of techniques used. At the same time, the review uncovered a number of issues with research quality that drives a need for the community to provide more detailed reporting of methods and results and to increase efforts to validate and replicate work.Peer reviewe

Exploring the factors impacting on access and acceptance of sexual and reproductive health services provided by adolescent-friendly health services in Nepal.

Adolescent-friendly health programs have been in place in Nepal since 2008, yet uptake of the services for sexual and reproductive health remains suboptimal. For uptake of these services to improve, a rich understanding is needed of the factors impacting their acceptance and utilization from the perspectives of adolescents, health care staff, and key community informants. This study applied a qualitative research design involving six focus groups with 52 adolescents and in-depth interviews with 16 adolescents, 13 key informants, and 9 health care providers from six adolescent-friendly health facilities in Nepal. Thematic analysis was conducted for data analysis. The key themes identified as barriers include access issues due to travel, institutional health care barriers, perceived lack of privacy and confidentiality, and the unprofessional attitudes of staff towards the sexual health needs of adolescents. These themes are underpinned by gendered ideology and a moral framework around the sexual behavior of adolescents. Interview responses suggested that health care providers take a policing role in prescribing adolescents' conformity to this moral framework in their delivery of reproductive health care and services. While physical access to health services may be problematic for some adolescents, this is not the priority issue. Attention needs to be given to increasing the capacity of health care providers to deliver services without imposing their own and socially sanctioned moral frameworks around adolescent sexual behavior. Such capacity building should include training that is experiential and emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and non-judgmental attitudes

Utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services from adolescent friendly health services in Nepal

Adolescent-friendly health services (AFHS) are considered key to addressing the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of adolescents. Since 2009 Nepal has been integrating AFHS into its public health facilities. Despite much attention, and attempts to scale up AFHS, utilisation remains suboptimal. This thesis, therefore, aims to understand the factors contributing to adolescents’ utilisation of AFHS in Nepal.Based on an interpretive research framework, a qualitative case study methodology was employed to understand the utilisation of AFHS. Health service utilisation was assessed through record review and via observations of health facilities, which results were compared with national standards criteria. A social constructionist lens and principles of grounded theory guided my understanding of adolescents’ experience and the factors associated with their accessing SRH services from AFHS; the meaning of AFHS for adolescents; health care providers’ attitudes towards adolescents seeking SRH services; and community perceptions and readiness to accept AFHS. A total of 16 interviews and six focus group discussions with adolescents (n=49), nine interviews with health care providers, and 13 interviews with key informants were conducted. Thematic analysis was applied in the data analysis.The findings showed that both socio-cultural and health facility factors influence utilisation of SRH services. Many of these factors stem from the moral framework encapsulated in socio-cultural norms and values related to the sexual health of adolescents, and health care providers’ poor value clarification. For example, health care providers had taken on a policing role in prescribing adolescents’ conformity. In describing their ideal AFHS setting, adolescents spoke about maintaining privacy and confidentiality, and dignified SRH services. In stark comparison, the overriding community perception was to ascribe abstinence-only education from these health facilities. This study provides an empirical understanding of the reasons and factors associated with SRH service utilisation, which goes much deeper than program provision of AFHS in Nepal. The recommendations offered can potentially strengthen policy, program and services to improve AFHS, together with creating an enabling and supportive environment for adolescents to access SRH services

Efficacy of Biorational Compounds against Mustard Aphid (Lipaphis erysimi Kalt.) and English Grain Aphid (Sitobion avenae Fab.) under Laboratory Conditions in Nepal

Mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) and English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) are among the most important pests in mustard and wheat fields in Nepal. Biocide Manic (Metarhizium anisopliae a.i. = 1 × 109 spores/ml) at 3 ml/l water, Agri Sakti (Beauveria bassiana a.i. = 1 × 109 spores/ml) at 3.3 ml/l water, Varunastra (Verticillium lecanii spores 2% aqueous suspension, 2 × 108 CFU/ml) at 6 ml/l water, Mahastra (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki 0.5% wettable powder) at 6 g/l water, Neemraj Super (Azadirachitin 0.3% w/w) at 3.3 ml/l water, Tracer (Spinosad 90% spinosyns) at 0.33 ml/l water, and control treatment (pure water) were used to test their efficacy against L. erysimi and S. avenae, using leaf dip and spray methods under laboratory conditions in Rupandehi, Nepal, in the year 2018. Each treatment was replicated four times, and the experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design. Mortality of aphids was recorded at 24, 48, 72, and 98 hours after treatment application. The result revealed highest mortality of mustard aphids with Agri Sakti at 24 hours after treatment (HAT); however, Neemraj Super was found to be the most effective at 48, 72, and 96 HAT with the leaf spray method. With the leaf dip method, Neemraj Super killed more mustard aphids than other treatments at all observed time points. Among tested biorational products, Agri Sakti was found to be most effective against English grain aphids in both leaf spray and leaf dip methods. In all the bioassays, the mortality caused by biorational compounds over control was highly significant. The present study suggests for further verification of the biorational products in the field and development of novel management strategies against different species of aphids

Perception of Palliative Care among Medical Students in a Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. Palliative care must be a part of every medical personnel’s practice. But still medical education curriculums have not included palliative care in its syllabus, sufficiently due to which most of the health professional are not aware about this specialty. The purpose of this study is to find out the perception of the medical students in palliative care in a teaching hospital. 
 Methods: A descriptive study was done among 270 undergraduate medical students studying in Institute of Medicine using a self structured pretested questionnaire. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using SPSS 21. 
 Results: Of the total 270 undergraduate medical students only 152 has heard the word “palliative care”. Only 84 students know, palliative care can be provided early in the life threatening illness. Total 80 students know it doesn’t intend to postpone and hasten death. Though only 49 students didn’t know PC is not included in our curriculum, 227 are interested to learn about it if given any opportunity. 
 Conclusions: The perception of palliative care medicine is low in first couple of year of medical study. It is increased in clinically exposed students but is surprisingly more in fourth year than final year undergraduate medical students. However, it should be included in undergraduate medical study. 
 Keywords: medical students; palliative care; perception

Perception of Palliative Care among Medical Students in a Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. Palliative care must be a part of every medical personnel’s practice. But still medical education curriculums have not included palliative care in its syllabus, sufficiently due to which most of the health professional are not aware about this specialty. The purpose of this study is to find out the perception of the medical students in palliative care in a teaching hospital. Methods: A descriptive study was done among 270 undergraduate medical students studying in Institute of Medicine using a self structured pretested questionnaire. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using SPSS 21. Results: Of the total 270 undergraduate medical students only 152 has heard the word “palliative care”. Only 84 students know, palliative care can be provided early in the life threatening illness. Total 80 students know it doesn’t intend to postpone and hasten death. Though only 49 students didn’t know PC is not included in our curriculum, 227 are interested to learn about it if given any opportunity. Conclusions: The perception of palliative care medicine is low in first couple of year of medical study. It is increased in clinically exposed students but is surprisingly more in fourth year than final year undergraduate medical students. However, it should be included in undergraduate medical study.  Keywords: medical students; palliative care; perception

Risk of ARI among non-exclusively breastfed under-five passive smoker children: A hospital-based cross-sectional study of Nepal

Background: As Nepal witnesses high burden of both acute respiratory infection and passive smoking among under-five children, studies on effect modification of exclusive breast feeding on passive smoking and acute respiratory infection carry huge significance. With Nepal holding no evidence in this regard, findings would be useful to promote a cost-effective intervention: exclusive breastfeeding. This study was therefore conceived as an effort to bring to light the modifying effect that exclusive breastfeeding may have on the association between passive smoking and acute respiratory infection among under-five children.Methods: One hundred and ninety eight parents of under-five children from Kanti Children's Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal participated in this descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out in October, 2012. Data collected from a semi-structured questionnaire were subjected to univariate, bivariate, and multivariable analysis in R version 3.1.2.Results: Non-exclusively breastfed children with presence of anyone smoking at their house (aOR=4.8, 95% CI: 1.7-13.2) and smoking in presence of children (aOR=6.4, 95% CI: 1.1-38.3) had higher chances of acute respiratory infection, nevertheless this remained insignificant among the exclusively breastfed ones. Having a separate kitchen in the house showed protective effect against acute respiratory infection among exclusively breastfed children (aOR=0.2, 95% CI: 0.1-0.6). Children whose mothers spent at least two hours per day in the kitchen had a higher chance of developing acute respiratory infection, regardless of being exclusively breastfed (aOR= 4.5, 95% CI: 1.5-13.1) or non-exclusively breastfed (aOR= 4.5, 95% CI: 1.4-14.2) compared to those who spent less than two hours per day. Conclusions: Non-exclusive breastfeeding may increase the chances of deleterious effects of household passive smoking like acute respiratory infection among under-five children. As these findings are not conclusive, studies with better design and larger samples are warranted to confirm the effect.Keywords: Acute respiratory infection; Cross-sectional study; Exclusive breastfeeding; Household passive smoking; Nepal; Under-five childre