Effects of open dumping site on surrounding air, soil, and water: a case study of Biratnagar metropolitan city

Managing solid waste is one of the emerging challenges in urban areas, and open dumping and burning is common practices mostly in developing countries like Nepal. Which affects the overall surroundings. The study has investigated the effects of open dumping and burning in nearby air, soil, and river water in dumping site of Biratnagar metropolitan city. For studying the effects on air, the three samples of air were taken, at center and 100m upstream and downstream to the direction of wind flow. Soil samples were taken at 10m from the dumping site center, at 25m from the first sample and at 60m from the second sample, and the water samples were taken at leachate and 100 m upstream and downstream to the leachate. Soil and water were subjected to the physiochemical test, heavy metals test and microbes test whereas PM 2.5, and PM 10 were tested for air  quality. The results showed that the air from upstream has been seen carrying particulate matter from the dumping site to downstream. Similarly, it is found that the quality of water at leachate and downstream is degraded compared to upstream. The soil quality has been found to have degraded due to the harmful and toxic material of the dumping site. Thus, this study shows that open dumping and burning have affected the nearby air, water, and soil

Spectrum of Gastrointestinal Perforations in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Central Nepal: An Analytical cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Perforations of the gastrointestinal tract are frequently encountered surgical emergencies associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate different spectrum of gastrointestinal tract perforations, their presentations, mode of surgery, complications and factors associated with mortality.   Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in the Surgical Gastroenterology Department at College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal from October 1st 2021 to October 31st 2022. Patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for GI tract perforations were included in this study. Patients demographics, comorbidities, preoperative investigation, site and cause of perforation, type of surgery and postoperative complications were recorded.   Results: A total 100 patients with gastrointestinal perforations were analyzed. The mean age was 46.55 years. Male predominance with M:F=1.56:1 was seen. Almost 54% patients presented after 24 hrs of onset of pain. Peptic ulcer disease as a cause of perforation was seen in 26%, trauma in 23% cases, appendicular perforation in 20%, malignant perforation in 8%, tubercular perforation in 7% and foreign body perforation in 3% cases. Duodenal, appendicular and colorectal perforations were seen in 28%, 20% and 17% cases respectively. Total morbidity was 54% and mortality was 13%. Increasing age, delayed presentation, presence of comorbidities, systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg, oliguria, presence of malignancy were significantly associated with high mortality.   Conclusion: Perforations of duodenum, appendix and colorectum are commonly encountered. Acid peptic disease, trauma and infections are the leading causes of perforations. Increasing age, delay in presentation, comorbidities, oliguria and hypotension are the factors associated with high mortality

Spectrum of Gastrointestinal Perforations in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Central Nepal: An Analytical cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Perforations of the gastrointestinal tract are frequently encountered surgical emergencies associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate different spectrum of gastrointestinal tract perforations, their presentations, mode of surgery, complications and factors associated with mortality.   Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in the Surgical Gastroenterology Department at College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal from October 1st 2021 to October 31st 2022. Patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for GI tract perforations were included in this study. Patients demographics, comorbidities, preoperative investigation, site and cause of perforation, type of surgery and postoperative complications were recorded.   Results: A total 100 patients with gastrointestinal perforations were analyzed. The mean age was 46.55 years. Male predominance with M:F=1.56:1 was seen. Almost 54% patients presented after 24 hrs of onset of pain. Peptic ulcer disease as a cause of perforation was seen in 26%, trauma in 23% cases, appendicular perforation in 20%, malignant perforation in 8%, tubercular perforation in 7% and foreign body perforation in 3% cases. Duodenal, appendicular and colorectal perforations were seen in 28%, 20% and 17% cases respectively. Total morbidity was 54% and mortality was 13%. Increasing age, delayed presentation, presence of comorbidities, systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg, oliguria, presence of malignancy were significantly associated with high mortality.   Conclusion: Perforations of duodenum, appendix and colorectum are commonly encountered. Acid peptic disease, trauma and infections are the leading causes of perforations. Increasing age, delay in presentation, comorbidities, oliguria and hypotension are the factors associated with high mortality

Topography Of Short Hepatic Veins And Interface Veins For Safe Tunneling During Hanging Maneuver Of Liver

Introduction: During hanging maneuver liver resection, a tunnel is created at the interface of the liver and Inferior venacava (IVC). Gap between the middle and right hepatic vein is known as Fossa venacava. A gap between the Inferior right hepatic vein and the Caudate vein is known as a Vein gap. The Fossa venacava and Vein gap provide a safe plane for the insertion of forceps during tunneling. The aim of this study is to determine the topography of this safe plane. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done. Twenty livers were used in our study. Major hepatic veins, distance of Vein gap, Fossa venacava, and each vessel present at the interface between liver and IVC was measured by a Vernier caliper. All the collected data was entered and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 (SPSS-20).  Results: The average length of retro hepatic IVC was 49.5±10.5 mm and the diameter of 25.6±4.4 mm. The inferior right hepatic vein was present in 60% of cases while the Caudate vein was present in 85% of cases. Fossa venacava had an average distance of 12.3±3.46 mm and the Vein gap was 18.9±7.1 mm. Conclusion: While tunneling between IVC and the liver, Fossa venacava could be as small as 4.6 mm. The shortest distance of the Vein gap could be as small as 5.8 mm. The intermediate course of forceps insertion is safer than the right or left course

The COVID‐19 Pandemic Not Only Poses Challenges, but Also Opens Opportunities for Sustainable Transformation

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted social, economic, and environmental systems worldwide, slowing down and reversing the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs belong to the 2030 Agenda to transform our world by tackling humankind's challenges to ensure well-being, economic prosperity, and environmental protection. We explore the potential impacts of the pandemic on SDGs for Nepal. We followed a knowledge co-creation process with experts from various professional backgrounds, involving five steps: online survey, online workshop, assessment of expert's opinions, review and validation, and revision and synthesis. The pandemic has negatively impacted most SDGs in the short term. Particularly, the targets of SDG 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 have and will continue to have weakly to moderately restricting impacts. However, a few targets of SDG 2, 3, 6, and 11 could also have weakly promoting impacts. The negative impacts have resulted from impeding factors linked to the pandemic. Many of the negative impacts may subside in the medium and long terms. The key five impeding factors are lockdowns, underemployment and unemployment, closure of institutions and facilities, diluted focus and funds for non-COVID-19-related issues, and anticipated reduction in support from development partners. The pandemic has also opened a window of opportunity for sustainable transformation, which is short-lived and narrow. These opportunities are lessons learned for planning and action, socio-economic recovery plan, use of information and communication technologies and the digital economy, reverse migration and “brain gain,” and local governments' exercising authorities

COVID-19 vaccination up-take in three districts of Nepal

Vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be an issue in terms of global efforts to decrease transmission rates. Despite high demand for the vaccines in Nepal, the country still contends with challenges related to vaccine accessibility, equitable vaccine distribution, and vaccine hesitancy. Study objectives were to identify: 1) up-take and intention for use of COVID-19 vaccines, 2) factors associated with vaccine up-take, and 3) trusted communication strategies about COVID-19 and the vaccines. A quantitative survey was implemented in August and September 2021 through an initiative at the Nepali Ministry of Health and Population Department of Health Services, Family Welfare Division. Data were collected from 865 respondents in three provinces (Bagmati, Lumbini, and Province 1). Ordinal multivariate logistic regression was utilized to determine relationships between vaccination status and associated factors. Overall, 62% (537) respondents were fully vaccinated and 18% (159) were partially vaccinated. Those respondents with higher education (p \u3c .001) and higher household income (p \u3c .001) were more likely vaccinated. There were also significant differences in vaccine up-take across the three provinces (p \u3c .001). Respondents who were vaccinated were significantly more likely to perceive vaccines as efficacious in terms of preventing COVID-19 (p = .004) and preventing serious outcomes (p = .010). Among both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, there was a high level of trust in information about COVID-19 vaccines provided through local health-care workers [e.g. nurses and physicians]. These results are consistent with other findings within the South Asia region. Targeted advocacy and outreach efforts are needed to support ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaigns throughout Nepal

<b>Nepal’s National Red List of Birds</b>

The main objectives of the Nepal National Bird Red Data Book were to provide comprehensive and up-to-date accounts of all the bird species found in Nepal, assess their status applying the IUCN Guidelines at Regional Levels, identify threats to all bird species and recommend the most practical measures for their conservation.  It is hoped that the Bird RDB will help Nepal achieve the Convention on Biological Diversity target of preventing the extinction of known threatened species and improving their conservation status.  As population changes of Nepal’s birds have been studied for only a few species, assessments of species’ national status were mainly made by assessing changes in distribution.  Species distribution maps were produced for all of Nepal’s bird species except vagrants and compared to maps that were produced in 1991 using the same mapping system.  Of the 878 bird species recorded, 168 species (19%) were assessed as nationally threatened. These comprise 68 (40%) Critically Endangered species, 38 (23%) Endangered species and 62 (37%) Vulnerable species.  A total of 62 species was considered Near Threatened and 22 species Data Deficient.  Over 55% of the threatened birds are lowland grassland specialists, 25% are wetland birds and 24% tropical and sub-tropical broadleaved forest birds.  Larger birds appear to be more threatened than smaller birds with 98 (25%) non-passerine species threatened and 67 (14%) passerine species.  Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are the most important threats.  Other threats include chemical poisoning, over-exploitation, climate change, hydropower, invasive species, intensification of agriculture, disturbance, and limited conservation measures and research.  Measures to address these threats are described.  It was also concluded that re-assessments of the status of certain bird groups carried out every five years and the setting up of a national online system for storing and reporting bird sightings would be useful.</p

Effects of open dumping site on surrounding air, soil, and water: a case study of Biratnagar metropolitan city

Managing solid waste is one of the emerging challenges in urban areas, and open dumping and burning is common practices mostly in developing countries like Nepal. Which affects the overall surroundings. The study has investigated the effects of open dumping and burning in nearby air, soil, and river water in dumping site of Biratnagar metropolitan city. For studying the effects on air, the three samples of air were taken, at center and 100m upstream and downstream to the direction of wind flow. Soil samples were taken at 10m from the dumping site center, at 25m from the first sample and at 60m from the second sample, and the water samples were taken at leachate and 100 m upstream and downstream to the leachate. Soil and water were subjected to the physiochemical test, heavy metals test and microbes test whereas PM 2.5, and PM 10 were tested for air  quality. The results showed that the air from upstream has been seen carrying particulate matter from the dumping site to downstream. Similarly, it is found that the quality of water at leachate and downstream is degraded compared to upstream. The soil quality has been found to have degraded due to the harmful and toxic material of the dumping site. Thus, this study shows that open dumping and burning have affected the nearby air, water, and soil

Advancement of membrane separation technology for organic pollutant removal

In the face of growing global freshwater scarcity, the imperative to recycle and reuse water becomes increasingly apparent across industrial, agricultural, and domestic sectors. Eliminating a range of organic pollutants in wastewater, from pesticides to industrial byproducts, presents a formidable challenge. Among the potential solutions, membrane technologies emerge as promising contenders for treating diverse organic contaminants from industrial, agricultural, and household origins. This paper explores cutting-edge membrane-based approaches, including reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, gas separation membranes, and pervaporation. Each technology’s efficacy in removing distinct organic pollutants while producing purified water is scrutinized. This review delves into membrane fouling, discussing its influencing factors and preventative strategies. It sheds light on the merits, limitations, and prospects of these various membrane techniques, contributing to the advancement of wastewater treatment. It advocates for future research in membrane technology with a focus on fouling control and the development of energy-efficient devices. Interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry players is vital for shaping water purification innovation. Ongoing research and collaboration position us to fulfill the promise of accessible, clean water for all