Predictors of Severe Acute Malnutrition among Children Aged 6 to 59 Months Attended out Patient Therapeutic Program Center in Kavre District of Nepal - A Case Control Study

Background: Severe acute malnutrition is an excessive loss of weight due to the acute shortage of food or illness. It is one of the major public health problems in developing countries including Nepal. According to multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS) 2014, 2.6% severely malnourished in Nepal and 4.4% are severely malnourished in Kavre district. However, there are limited studies about predictors of severe acute malnutrition in Nepal. Thus, this study was aimed to identify the predictors of severe acute malnutrition in Kavre district of Nepal.Methods: Health facility based matched case control study was conducted among 210 (70 cases and 140 controls) children aged 6-59 months from November 2015 to April 2016. Data was collected through face to face interview with mother of eligible children using structured questionnaires. Multivariate analysis was applied to estimate adjusted odds ratio along with 95% confidence interval.Results: Children with severe acute malnutrition were 11.32 times more likely than control to have recurrent diarrhea in past six months (95% CI=4.64-28.21). Similarly, severe acute malnutrition was associated with female sex (AOR=2.44, 95% CI=1.88-6.78), fathers occupation daily labor (AOR=4.69, 95% CI=1.17-13.76) and agriculture (AOR=6.850, 95%CI=3.81-12.93), improper exclusive breast feeding (AOR=6.646, 95%CI=2.11-20.90), not feeding colostrum (AOR=3.89, 95% CI=2.88-11.21), severe food insecurity access (AOR=3.55, 95% CI=1.85-9.77) and monthly income less than average level (AOR=8.214, 95% CI=1.43-22.16).Conclusion: Severe acute malnutrition was independently associated with sex of child, occupation of father, monthly household income, not feeding colostrum, improper exclusive breast feeding, severe household food insecurity access and recurrent diarrhea

Effects of Storage Structures and Moisture Contents on Seed Quality Attributes of Quality Protein Maize

The study was aimed to examine the effects of various storage structures and moisture contents on seed quality attributes of quality protein maize seed. The quality protein maize (QPM-1) seed was tested in conventional seed storage containers (Fertilizer sack and earthen pot) and the improved hermetic ones (Metal bin, Super grain bag, and Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bag) at Seed Science and Technology Division, Khumaltar, Nepal during February, 2015 to January 2016. Ten treatments comprising 5 storage devices in two moisture regimes (11% and 9%) replicated thrice and laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data on temperature, relative humidity (RH), germination, electrical conductivity (EC), seed moisture content (MC) were collected bimonthly. The conventional containers were found liable to the external environmental condition whereas the hermetic structures observed with controlled RH level below 40% in all combinations. Electrical conductivity (EC) for seed vigor showed that hermetic containers provide higher seed vigor than the conventional ones. Up to 4 months all treatments were found statistically at par for germination. A significant difference was observed in each treatment after 4 months where PICS bag & Super grain bag showed best germination followed by metal bin while fertilizer bag & earthen-pot showed poorer and poorest germination respectively till one year. Almost all treatments with lower MC showed better results than the treatments with higher MC. A negative correlation (R2=69.7%) was found between EC and Germination. All six figures from 2 to 12 months on MC showed statistically different where hermetic plastic bags were found maintaining MC as initial whereas MC of fertilizer bags and earthen pot was spiked than the basal figure. The finding evidenced that the hermetic containers and low MC are the seed storage approaches for retaining the quality of seed even in an ambient environmental condition for more than a year

Hydrotalcite-Supported Ag/Pd Bimetallic Nanoclusters Catalyzed Oxidation and One-Pot Aldol Reaction in Water

A highly active hydrotalcite-supported Ag/Pd bimetallic nanocluster catalyst has been developed by a simple, easy and safe chemical reduction method. The catalyst was characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), which revealed very small (3.2 ± 0.7 nm) nanoclusters with a narrow size distribution. The bimetallic Ag/Pd catalyst showed strong cooperation between Ag and Pd for the alcohol oxidation reaction. The developed catalyst provided an efficient and environmentally friendly method for alcohol oxidation and one-pot cross-aldol condensation in water. A broad scope of α,β-unsaturated ketones with good to excellent yields were obtained under very mild conditions. This catalytic system offers an easy preparation method with a simple recovery process, good activity and reusability of up to five cycles without significant loss in the catalytic activity

Burden and Life Satisfaction among Caregivers of Hemodialysis Patients Residing in Kathmandu

Introduction: The patients undergoing hemodialysis need long-term care. Caregivers of hemodialysis patients can suffer from physical and psychological stress that can affect the level of burden and life satisfaction among them. The objective of the study was to assess burden and the life satisfaction among caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 167 caregivers of hemodialysis patients in Bir Hospital and National Kidney Center from December 2019 to March 2020 by using a proportionate sampling technique. Zarit Burden Interview-22 (ZBI) was used to assess the level of caregiver burden and the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11) was used to assess life satisfaction among caregivers. Data analysis was done in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.0. Results: Out of 167 participants, 89 (53.3%) had a mild to moderate level of burden. Only 6 (3.6%) of them had a severe burden. The overall life satisfaction score was 36.89±7.03. Marital status, the number of children, and annual income had a statistically significant association with the level of burden. A negative correlation was found between burden and life satisfaction which was statistically significant (r = -0.403, p value=0.000<0.05). Conclusion: The majority of caregivers were satisfied in terms of life as a whole, leisure situation, contacts, sexual life, activities, family life, partner relationships, physical and psychological health. However, the level of burden was found to be high among caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Necessary support interventions should be carried out to improve their caring roles and coping strategies

Nepal paediatric society clinical guidance for management of sepsis and septic shock in the paediatric intensive care units in Nepal

Justification: Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Nepal. There is a lack of standardisation in the management of severe sepsis and septic shock. Additionally, international guidelines may not be completely applicable to resource limited countries like Nepal. Objective: Create a collaborative standardised protocol for management of severe sepsis and septic shock for Nepal based on evidence and local resources. Process / Methods: Paediatricians representing various paediatric intensive care units all over Nepal gathered to discuss clinical practice and delivery of care of sepsis and septic shock under the aegis of Nepal Paediatric Society. After three meetings and several iterations a standardised protocol and algorithm was developed by modifying the existing Surviving Sepsis Guidelines to suit local experience and resources. Recommendations: Paediatric sepsis and septic shock definitions and management in the early hours of presentation are outlined in text and flow diagram format to simplify and standardise delivery of care to children in the paediatric intensive care setting. These are guidelines and may need to be modified as necessary depending on the resources availability and lack thereof. It is recommended to analyse data moving forward and revise every few years in the advent of additional data

Mid-Wisconsinan Climate Reconstruction Based on Fossil Beetles from Six Mile Creek, Ithaca, New York

The history of the Mid-Wisconsinan sub-stage in northeastern North America is one of large climatic oscillations. Fossil beetles were extracted from two horizons at the Six Mile Creek site, New York. A total of 738 individuals was identified, representing 16 species. The beetle fossils, as well as those of plants, indicate a range of habitats from well-drained uplands to moist boggy lowlands, indicative of a tundra environment. A modified Mutual Climatic Range (MCR) method was used for the paleoclimatic reconstruction. SAS and ArcGIS programs were used to construct 95% confidence ellipses from which mean July temperature was inferred to be in the range of 8.7 ºC to 11.4 ºC and mean January temperature in the range of -24.6 ºC to -15.3 ºC. The estimated mean July temperature is 9.0 °C to 11.7 °C cooler than in central New York State at present.National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant No. EAR 094865

Constructions of the environment in Nepal: environmental discourses on air and on the ground

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