Soil Chemical Properties Under Conservation Agriculture and Cereal-Based Cropping System in Eastern Tarai of Nepal

Field experiments were conducted for four years (2014-2017) at five locations namely Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj of Sunsari district to assess the changes in soil chemical properties under conservation agriculture (CA)-based practices in two cropping systems namely rice-kidney bean-maize at Salbani and rice-wheat at rest of the locations. In rice-wheat cropping system, there were four treatments: (1) conventional tillage (CT) for rice transplantation and subsequent wheat sowing, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage (ZT) wheat, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage wheat, (4) zero tillage in both rice and wheat. Similarly, in rice-kidney bean-maize cropping system, there were four treatments; (1) conventional tillage for rice transplantation and sowing of both kidney bean and maize, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (4) zero tillage in all three crops. Soil samples were taken at initial and every year after rice harvest.The soil samples were analyzed for total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH and soil organic matter.Total nitrogen (N) showed a slightly decreasing trend in the first three years and showed a slight increase at the end of experiment under ZT in all locations. The total N under ZT changed from 0.12 to 0.13%, 0.05 to 0.06%, 0.10 to 0.12%, 0.11 to 0.08% and 0.09 to 0.13% in Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj, respectively.  All locations showed the positive values of available potassium; Salbani  revealing considerable change of 64.3 to 78.5 mg/kg in CT while 68.4 to 73.3 mg/kg in ZT condition. The treatment where rice was transplanted in unpuddled condition and zero tilled to wheat, had a mean value of available phosphorus and potassium as 87.3 and 81.9 mg/kg respectively. Soil pH ranged from 4.8 to 7.1 in CT while it was 5.2 to 6.8 in ZT across the locations. The change in soil organic matter in CT of all locations except Salbani was narrower as compared to ZT

A systematic review of current knowledge of HIV epidemiology and of sexual behaviour in Nepal

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review information on HIV epidemiology and on sexual behaviour in Nepal with a view to identifying gaps in current knowledge. METHODS: Systematic review covering electronic databases, web-based information, personal contact with experts and hand searching of key journals. RESULTS: HIV-1 seroprevalence has been rising rapidly in association with high-risk behaviours, with current levels of 40% amongst the nation's injecting drug users and approaching 20% amongst Kathmandu's female commercial sex workers (FCSWs). HIV seroprevalence remains low in the general population (0.29% of 15–49 year olds). There are significant methodological limitations in many of the seroprevalence studies identified, and these estimates need to be treated with caution. There are extensive migration patterns both within the country and internationally which provide the potential for considerable sexual networking. However, studies of sexual behaviour have focused on FCSWs and the extent of sexual networks within the general population is largely unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst some of the ingredients are present for an explosive HIV epidemic in Nepal, crucial knowledge on sexual behaviour in the general population is missing. Research on sexual networking is urgently required to guide HIV control in Nepal. There is also a need for further good-quality epidemiological studies of HIV seroprevalence

A Fuzzy Set Theory Based Methodology for Analysis of Uncertainties in Stage-Discharge Measurements and Rating Curve

River stage and discharge records are essential for hydrological and hydraulic analyses. While stage is measured directly, discharge value is calculated from measurements of flow velocity, depth and channel cross-section dimensions. The measurements are affected by random and systematic measurement errors and other inaccuracies, such as approximation of velocity distribution and channel geometry with a finite number of measurements. Such errors lead to the uncertainty in both, the stage and the discharge values, which propagates into the rating curve established from the measurements. The relationship between stage and discharge is not strictly single valued, but takes a looped form due to unsteady flow in rivers. In the first part of this research, we use a fuzzy set theory based methodology for consideration of different sources of uncertainty in the stage and discharge measurements and their aggregation into a combined uncertainty. The uncertainty in individual measurements of stage and discharge is represented using triangular fuzzy numbers and their spread is determined according to the ISO – 748 guidelines. The extension principle based fuzzy arithmetic is used for the aggregation of various uncertainties into overall stage discharge measurement uncertainty. In the second part of the research we use fuzzy nonlinear regression for the analysis of the uncertainty in the single valued stage – discharge relationship. The methodology is based upon fuzzy extension principle. All input and output variables as well as the coefficients of the stage - discharge relationship are considered as fuzzy numbers. Two different criteria; the minimum spread and the least absolute deviation are used for the evaluation of output fuzziness. The results of the fuzzy regression analysis lead to a definition of lower and upper uncertainty bounds of the stage – discharge relationship and representation of discharge value as a fuzzy number. The third part of this research considers uncertainties in a looped rating curve with an application of the Jones formula. The Jones formula is based on approximate form of unsteady flow equation, which leads to an additional uncertainty. In order to take into account of the uncertainties due to the use of approximate formula and measurement of discharge values, the parameters of the Jones formula are considered fuzzy numbers. This leads to a fuzzified form of Jones formula. Its spread is determined by a multi-objective genetic algorithm. We used a criterion to minimize the spread of the fuzzified Jones formula so that the measurements points are bounded by the lower and upper bound curves. The study therefore considers individual sources of uncertainty from measurements to the single valued and looped rating curves. The study also shows that the fuzzy set theory provides an appropriate methodology for the analysis of the uncertainties in a nonprobabilistic framework.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/wrrr/1023/thumbnail.jp

Vegetative Propagation of Five Local Cultivars of Malay Apple (Syzygium malaccense spp.) in Ternate Island

The characteristics of cuttings of five cultivars of local malay apple (Syzygium malaccense L.) was studied in Ternate Island, Indonesia. Hardwood cuttings of malay apple were planted in two combinations of media and hormone treatments. During 5 months experiment, can be found that hardwood cutting of malay apple with top soil+ sand and NAA 1000 ppm had the best performance in producing shoots and roots for cuttings of malay apple in a short period. Although, each of these cultivars has different performance to rooting and shooting, but its can be propagated by cuttings. Therefore, the result of this research is expected to contribute for conservation of malay apple as a source of germplasm for further research and commercialization of malay apple as new potential fruit in the international market demand

Agro-morphological Diversity of High Altitude Bean Landraces in the Kailash Sacred Landscape of Nepal

Many varieties of bean are widely grown across diverse agro-ecological zones in Nepal. And opportunities exist for improving the crops and enhancing their resilience to various biotic and abiotic stressors. In this context, an experiment was conducted from June to October 2016 in Khar VDC of Darchula district to study the phenotypic traits of nine landraces of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The bean landraces were planted using randomized complete block design in three sites (Dhamidera, Dallekh and Sundamunda villages), with three replications in each site for their comparative analysis. The study considered the following phenotypic traits: days to emergence, days to 50% flowering, days to 90% pod maturity, number of nodes, pod length, pod width, number of pods, number of seeds per pod and weight and grain yield for 100 seeds. Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences in the landraces both within and among locations. KA-17-08-FB and KA-17-04-FB were late  flowering (63 and 65 days respectively) compared to other landraces whereas KA-17-07-FB flowered earliest (within 42 days). In all three sites, three landraces namely KA-17-07-FB, KA-17-04-FB and KA-17-06-FB were found to be relatively more resistant to pest and diseases than other landraces. Eight out of nine landraces in Dhamidera and Dallekh villages and seven out of nine in Sundamunda village produced seeds greater than 1.0 t/ha. Among the nine varieties KA-17-02-FB was the highest yielding variety, with an average yield of 3.8 t/ha. This study is useful for identifying suitable landraces for future promotion based on their maturity, grain yield, diseases resistance and other qualitative and quantitative characteristics

Trends of Abortion Care Utilization in a Medical College of Western Region of Nepal

Introduction: Unsafe abortion is one of the important issues in reproductive and women’s health in developing countries. Social values and stigmas have much role and have been obstacle in countries like Nepal for the utilization of safe abortion services. Objectives: This study helps to provide brief overview of the pattern of abortion and its associated factors in a centre providing safe abortion services. Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out in Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital after reviewing the records of all the women who underwent Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA). Age, gravida, week of gestation and type of abortion were noted and analysed. Results: Maximum number of women belonged to age group of 25-29 and is primigravida. Most of them presented at fifth to ninth weeks of gestation and had incomplete abortion. Conclusions: Awareness and education regarding the availability of safe abortion services and its practice would improve the women’s reproductive health and well being.  J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 14-1

Clinical Manifestations in Atrial Myxoma

In Nepal, we started regular open-heart surgery since February 1997. Primary tumors of the heart are rare and the commonest is myxoma. Left atrium is the commonest site of occurrence. There is diagnostic difficulty in this most frequent benign tumor of the heart. We present 5 cases of left atrial myxomas who presented with different clinical features. Among them 4 cases were diagnosed preoperatively by transthoracic echocardiography. The youngest was 32 years whereas the oldest was 58 years (mean 49.8 years) and 4 of them were female. Among them, one presented with right unilobar pulmonary venous hypertension; another mimicking mitral stenosis with large left atrial clot; with embolization to brain with motor the third aphasia and the remaining two had only constitutional symptoms. All of them were discharged with successful removal of tumor and are surviving at present with no features of recurrence. There are no pathognomic features of atrial myxoma. All suspected cases must be subjected for echocardiography. With the advent of open-heart surgery, extirpation of tumors with good outcome has been a regular service in our hospital. Key Words: Atrial myxoma, Transthoracic Echocardiography, Embolization, Recurrence

Pheochromocytoma: A Rare Cause of Secondary Hypertension

  Introduction: Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor, originating from the chromaffin tissue. Its frequency is approximately 1/100,000. The clinical manifestation is due to catecholamine excess, which includes high blood pressure, palpitation, headache, sweating, nausea, vomiting, trembling, weakness, irritation, abdominal and chest pain, dyspnea, red warm face, constipation, polyuria, and polydipsia.   Case Report: We present a case of 53 years old male, hospitalized for hypertensive crisis following the manipulation of left sided frozen shoulder. He had labile blood pressure ranging from 220/120 systolic- 90/60 diastolic, profuse sweating and tachycardia. Findings of Contrast enhanced CT of abdomen was consistent with right adrenal pheochromocytoma and 24 hours urinary VMA was 17 mg /24 hr (Normal <13.6 mg /24hr). After the clinical, paraclinical investigations and radiological tests, it was proved to be a pheochromocytoma. The surgical intervention was planned. But due to unavailability of required antihypertensive drugs in Nepal (alpha-blockers like phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine), surgeons were reluctant to operate, although blood pressure was well controlled with use of sodium nitroprusside during hypertensive crisis and prazosin, a selective alpha blocker as maintainance therapy. The use of prazosin to control hypertension secondary to pheochromocytoma is limited to case report and case series.   Conclusion: Although rare, pheochromocytoma is a treatable surgical cause of secondary hypertension