Impact of biochar and plastic mulch on soil properties in a maize field in Nepal

Biochar is a carbon rich product obtained from organic material by a process called pyrolysis. Similarly, plastic mulch protects soil from erosion, conserve water, suppress weed, and makes soil condition favorable for crop growth. The use of biochar and mulch has the potential to boost soil fertility by raising soil pH, increasing water and nutrient holding capacity, improving cation exchange capacity, and increasing microbial population. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar application and plastic mulch on soil properties applied in maize fields with sandy loam soil at Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal from 31 March to 6 July 2018. The experiment was carried out in a split-plot design having plastic mulch as a main factor and biochar doses as a sub factor with three replications. The main plot is comprised of plastic mulch and no mulch. Similarly, the subplot consisted of four biochar doses i.e., 0 t/ha, 5 t/ha, 15 t/ha, and 25 t/ha. To know the effect of treatments the soil samples were collected at random points in the middle of each plot (to avoid edge effect) from 30 cm depth with the help of a screw auger. Dried, and grounded soil samples were analyzed in the lab. The results indicated that the Bulk density of soil relatively decreased with the plastic mulch but it was significantly higher in plots with biochar. 0 t/ha biochar showed the highest (1.22 gm/cm3) bulk density and the lowest was obtained from 25 t/ha (1.09 gm/cm3). However, soil parameters such as soil pH, Cation Exchange Capacity, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Organic Carbon were relatively higher under plastic mulch over no mulch. In the same way, the potassium content of the soil was significantly influenced by biochar doses, it was the highest at 25 t/ha (741.47 Kg/ha) and the lowest at 0 t/ha (351.60 Kg/ha). However, soil pH, CEC, N, P, and OC were relatively increased with increasing rates of biochar application. Therefore, application rate of 25 t ha−1 biochar and use of plastic mulch in soil is considered as suitable because these efficiently increase soil moisture. In addition to that biochar increase Potassium content, decrease bulk density, and also improves Soil pH, Cation Exchange Capacity, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Organic Carbon of soil

Evaluation of surface dose outside the treatment area for five breast cancer irradiation modalities using thermo-luminescent dosimeters

Purpose: To measure and compare the surface dose outside the treatment area at six different points of interest (POIs) for five different breast cancer radiation treatment modalities by using thermo-luminescent dosimeters (TLDs). This experiment will evaluate the magnitude of the dose due to scatter and leakage radiation at different areas outside the target on a patient that could potentially lead, in the long term, to radiation induced secondary malignancies.Methods: TLD-100 were calibrated according to the University of Wisconsin Radiation Calibration Laboratory protocol and then used for dose measurements at selected POIs namely sternum, lower abdomen, contralateral breast, thyroid, shoulder, and eye. Twenty five breast cancer patients and the following modalities were included in this study: Strut-adjusted volume implant (SAVI), mammosite multi-lumen (ML), Accuboost, electron boost and photon boost. The surface doses in all patients were measured in a single fraction. The delivered target doses were normalized to 200 cGy. Finally, breast quadrant analysis was performed.Results: The maximum average dose for each POI was as follows: Sternum 6.51 cGy (SD 2.93), lower abdomen 4.50 cGy (SD 2.63), contralateral breast 8.52 cGy (SD 3.86), thyroid 5.50 cGy (SD 2.75), shoulder 5.58 cGy (SD 2.77), and eye 2.65 cGy (SD 0.68). The highest POI dose of 15.84 cGy was found in contralateral breast.Conclusion: The measured surface dose at each POI varies with the modality of treatment. The surface doses show a strong correlation to the tumor bed location in the breast quadrant. The SAVI, electron boost, and photon boost modalities had delivered smaller surface dose at POIs than the Accuboost and Mammosite ML modalities. While the measured doses fall within the low range, its significance in producing second malignancies would require a large cohort of patients and a longer follow up

Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of radish

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is necessary to enhance sustainable yield in an eco-friendly way. A field experiment was conducted in the research field of Midwest Academy and Research Institute College of Live Sciences, Tulsipur, Dang from November 2018 to January 2019 to investigate the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of radish. Mino Early variety was used in the experiment. The experiment was laid out on Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications and 5 treatments. Nitrogen (N) was supplied through different sources. The treatment combinations were: control (T1), 100% recommended N through chemical fertilizer (T2), 50% recommended N through chemical fertilizer + 50% N through farmyard manure (FYM) (T3), 50% recommended N through chemical fertilizer + 50% N through poultry manure (T4) and 50% recommended N through chemical fertilizer + 50% vermicompost (T5). Significant effect was noted on leaf numbers, root length, root diameter and yield per ha but no significant effect was noted on the germination percentage and plant height. The highest germination percentage  (77.00 %), plant height (13.27 cm), root length (16.94 cm), root diameter (3.01 cm), and yield per ha (16.55 t/ha) was recorded at T4 (50% recommended N through chemical fertilizer + 50% N through poultry manure). T5 (50% recommended N through chemical fertilizer + 50% vermicompost) recorded the highest leaf numbers (10.40). In our experiment, T4 (50% recommended N through chemical fertilizer + 50% N through poultry manure) was found to be superior, so in inner terai places like Tulsipur, Dang it is suggested to apply 50% recommended N through chemical fertilizer + 50% N through poultry manure to obtain a high yield of radish

Rheumatic Heart Disease among Pregnant Women with Cardiac Diseases in a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac disease in pregnancy is a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in women, particularly in resource limited countries like Nepal. Rheumatic Heart Disease is the commonest cardiac disease complicating pregnancy. There is very limited data and evidence from Nepal regarding rheumatic heart disease complicating the pregnancy. The study aims to find out the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among cardiac disease patients in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 41 women with cardiac disease who delivered babies at Chitwan Medical College from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2019, after taking ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. A convenient sampling method was used. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for data analysis. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: Among 41 pregnant women with cardiac disease, 32 (78%) (95% Confidence Interval = 65.32-90.68) had rheumatic heart disease. The mean age of the affected pregnant women was 24.9±4.49 years. Out of 32 patients with rheumatic heart disease, postpartum haemorrhage was the most common maternal complication 5 (15.6%) followed by hypertension 4 (9.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Rheumatic Heart Disease was highly common among pregnant women with cardiac disease

Assessing the prospects of transboundary multihazard dynamics:The case of Bhotekoshi—Sunkoshi watershed in Sino—Nepal border region

The impacts of multihazards have become more pronounced over the past few decades globally. Multiple hazards and their cascading impacts claim enormous losses of lives, livelihoods, and built environment. This paradigm prompts integrated and multidisciplinary perspectives to identify, characterize, and assess the occurrence of multihazards and subsequently design counter-measures considering impending multihazard scenarios at the local level. To this end, we considered one of the most egregious transboundary watersheds, which is regarded as a multihazard hotspot of Nepal, to analyze the underlying causes and cascade scenarios of multihazards, and their associated impacts. In this paper, geophysical, hydrometeorological, and socioeconomic perspectives are formulated to characterize the watershed from the dimension of susceptibility to multihaz-ard occurrence. To characterize the complex dynamics of transboundary multihazard occurrence, insights have been presented from both the Nepali and the Chinese sides. Individual case studies and the interrelation matrix between various natural hazards are also presented so as to depict mul-tihazard consequences in the transboundary region. The sum of the observations highlights that the watershed is highly vulnerable to a single as well as multiple natural hazards that often switch to disasters

Wildlife assessment of the Chandragiri hills, Kathmandu: Potentiality for ecotourism

Wildlife assessments can provide crucial information regarding species richness, relative abundance and spatial, temporal, and ecological information on wildlife habitat associations. The assessment’s information can in turn be used for developing management policies including for establishing touristic zones. We investigated wildlife occurrences in the Chandragiri Hills, Kathmandu Nepal from 2015-2019 to provide baseline data to inform the potential sites for ecotourism. During the study period, we recorded 30 mammal species, 199 bird species, 34 herpetofauna species and 77 butterfly species. The area harbors three globally and six nationally threatened mammal species, two globally and seven nationally threatened with one endemic bird species, one globally and nationally threatened herpetofauna, and one nationally threatened butterfly species. We also explored four potential hiking routes for observing wildlife and providing scenic views of the Himalayan range and Kathmandu city. Therefore, we expect Chandragiri Hills can become one of the hot spot for tourists to observe both common and threatened wildlife species in Nepal

How can optimization of medical treatment avoid unnecessary implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantations in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy presenting with “SCD-HeFT Criteria?”

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Bacterial signatures in thrombus aspirates of patients with myocardial infarction

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Validation of the J-chronic total occlusion score for chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention in an independent contemporary cohort

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