Study on farmers' Pest management strategy, knowledge on pesticide safety and practice of pesticide use at Bhaktapur district, Nepal

Nepal being an agricultural country, the majority of the population is involved in agriculture. Pests are one of the major problems in the agriculture sector. Pesticides are being widely used to encounter this problem. This study aims to determine the knowledge level of farmers on pesticides and their use. Specifically, it investigates the pest management strategy, pesticide use, and safety measures used by the farmers. For this study, four municipalities of Bhaktapur district were selected with 100 respondents using a random sample design. Primarily, data collection was done through field observations, interviews, and questionnaires. Various secondary data were also used. Our study showed that farmers in this region were mainly dependent on chemical methods. For technical guidance, several applications, and use rates, farmers preferred the agro vets available in their area. As less care and concern were given to safety measures, it was not given top priority. The study showed that the knowledge of various aspects of pesticides, their use, and safety was inadequate among the farmers

Bird flu in Nepal

Avian flu also known as bird flu is caused by deadly virus H5N1 which initially was found in birds and wild animals, however, later it was found in human beings causing severe respiratory related problems. This review article was performed to understand the epidemiology of outbreaks of H5N1 in different districts of Nepal. First outbreak of strain H5N1 was reported in 2009. Consequently, highest number of outbreaks i.e. 201 was noted in the year 2013. Till date only one human case was identified by NPHL which was later confirmed by genetic laboratory in Japan in collaborating with WHO

Involvement in Extracurricular Activities: Identifying Differences in Perceptions of School Climate

Many youth participate in extracurricular activities, and research has linked activity participation with school engagement and academic success. Social-ecological theory suggests that the social contexts of different types of extracurricular activities may differentially affect student outcomes. Yet, there is scant research examining the relation between various extracurricular activities and student outcomes. The current study seeks to address this gap by exploring how participation in three activities (sports, clubs, and arts), and combinations of these activities are associated with perceptions of school climate, using multilevel modelling. Participants included 15,004 high school students from 28 schools across 11 states in the United States. Findings suggest that students involved in extracurricular activities have more favourable perceptions of social-emotional security, adult support, student support, and school connectedness. However, these perceptions vary by activity type and combination, and do not appear to have a stacked effect in which involvement in more activities yields more favourable outcomes. We conclude that extracurricular activity participation may serve as a mechanism to promote a positive school climate. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Adaptive Disturbance Tracking Theory with State Estimation and State Feedback for Region II Control of Large Wind Turbines

A theory called Adaptive Disturbance Tracking Control (ADTC) is introduced and used to track the Tip Speed Ratio (TSR) of 5 MW Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT). Since ADTC theory requires wind speed information, a wind disturbance generator model is combined with lower order plant model to estimate the wind speed as well as partial states of the wind turbine. In this paper, we present a proof of stability and convergence of ADTC theory with lower order estimator and show that the state feedback can be adaptive

Is retention of the acetabular component at revision surgery a long-term solution?

BACKGROUND: Acetabular retention in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be advantageous, yet long-term survival data is limited. Thus, we investigated long-term survivorship of retained acetabular components in revision THA with analysis of rerevision rate, instability risk, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed 98 hips with polyethylene wear and/or osteolysis that were revised with retained acetabular components. Acetabular inclination and anteversion were measured from prerevision radiographs. A retrospective chart review was performed, collecting outcomes of interest including Harris hip score, instability events, and rerevision surgery. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the risk of revision over time. Predictors of survival including acetabular component position were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Average follow-up was 13 years (range, 5-24). Survivorship rates at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 89.7%, 81.6%, 70.8%, and 63.8%, respectively. There was improvement in average Harris hip score (61 to 76, CONCLUSIONS: Retention of a well-fixed acetabular component in revision THA provides acceptable long-term outcomes with a 15-year survivorship of 71%. Instability and aseptic loosening were the most common reasons for rerevision. Surgeons may consider retaining the acetabular component at revision surgery if the implant is well-fixed and well-positioned

Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19 among School Adolescents of Lalitpur

Background:  The world health organization declared coronavirus outbreak on 30th January 2020 and being pandemic on March 2020.  It has been affecting 213 countries and territories around the world. A poor understanding of the disease among general people including school adolescents may delay seeking treatment and increase its spread. Adolescents can improve knowledge of the family members once they are well informed about disease and its prevention. Therefore, the study was conducted to identify the knowledge and perception of COVID-19 among school adolescents of Lalitpur. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried among 305 adolescent students of purposively selected four schools. Non probability total enumerative sampling technique was used to select the sample. A self- developed self-administered structured google form questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 16 was used for data analysis. Data analysis and interpretation was done by using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test). Results: Regarding the level of knowledge of COVID-19, 65.2 % had good knowledge, 29.2% had moderate knowledge and 5.6% had poor knowledge. Most of the students (87.2 %) had favorable perception, only 8.2% had unfavorable perception. There was significant association between age and level of knowledge (p=0.048) but no significant association with other variables. Conclusions: Nearly two third students had good knowledge and the majority of students had favorable perception toward COVID-19. However, students had lower than expected knowledge for their age; therefore awareness program is required for the school adolescent regarding COVID- 19

Dysfunctional TRPM8 signalling in the vascular response to environmental cold in ageing.

Ageing is associated with increased vulnerability to environmental cold exposure. Previously, we identified the role of the cold-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) A1, M8 receptors as vascular cold sensors in mouse skin. We hypothesised that this dynamic cold-sensor system may become dysfunctional in ageing. We show that behavioural and vascular responses to skin local environmental cooling are impaired with even moderate ageing, with reduced TRPM8 gene/protein expression especially. Pharmacological blockade of the residual TRPA1/TRPM8 component substantially diminished the response in aged, compared with young mice. This implies the reliance of the already reduced cold-induced vascular response in ageing mice on remaining TRP receptor activity. Moreover, sympathetic-induced vasoconstriction was reduced with downregulation of the α2c adrenoceptor expression in ageing. The cold-induced vascular response is important for sensing cold and retaining body heat and health. These findings reveal that cold sensors, essential for this neurovascular pathway, decline as ageing onsets

Wildlife Tuberculosis: An Emerging Threat for Conservation in South Asia

Wildlife tuberculosis (TB) is becoming one of the emerging challenges for conservation globally. South Asian region is home to many endangered species like Asian elephants, rhinoceros, and Bengal tigers. Although it carries more than one‐third of global burden of human TB, TB in livestock and wildlife has not been adequately studied. This chapter reviews the present knowledge and information about animal‐adapted members of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and wildlife TB in South Asia. Recent studies of TB from different wild animals in Nepal and Bangladesh have found that M.orygis is an emerging threat of wildlife TB in the region. These studies have demonstrated wide diversity of M. orygis strains circulating in the region indicating its endemic distribution. M. orygis–associated TB was discovered from a free‐ranging rhinoceros in Nepal and the finding could signify threat of TB in other wild animals, including a possibility of unknown maintenance host. Recent studies also revealed an emerging challenge caused by TB to elephants in different South Asian countries like Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. Wildlife TB is becoming a conservation challenge in South Asia, but given the paucity of research in this area, it is overlooked and underexplored

A Descriptive Study To Assess The Knowledge Regarding MR Vaccination Among Mothers In Selected Area at Bangalore

Immunization is one of the most cost effective intervention to reduce burden of childhood mortality and morbidity provided used optimal and judiciously. Currently itis estimated that immunization save the lives of 3 million children a year but 2 million more lives could be saved by existing vaccines. Prevention of disease is one of the most important goals in child care, During infancy and childhood ,preventive measures against certain infection diseases are available .In recent years relatively low immunization level in age group have occasioned scattered out breaks of certain diseases .For this reason nation effort is being made towards improving the immunization levels of allchildren. Transmitted in airborne droplets when infected people sneeze or cough, rubella is anacute, usually mild viral disease traditionally affecting susceptible children and young adult’s worldwide9. Rubella infection just before conception and in early pregnancy may result in miscarriage, fetal  death,  or  congenital  defects  known  as  congenital  rubella  syndrome  (CRS), which is characterized by multiple defects, particularly to the brain,  heart,  eyes,  and ears. The highest risk of CRS is found in countries with high rates of susceptibility to rubella among women of childbearing age, and worldwide an estimated 110,000 babies are born with CRS every year

Comparison of Two Azithromycin Distribution Strategies for Controlling Trachoma in Nepal

OBJECTIVE: The study compares the effectiveness of two strategies for distributing azithromycin in an area with mild-to-moderate active trachoma in Nepal. METHODS: The two strategies investigated were the use of azithromycin for 1) mass treatment of all children, or 2) targeted treatment of only those children who were found to be clinically active, as well as all members of their household. FINDINGS: Mass treatment of children was slightly more effective in terms of decreasing the prevalence of clinically active trachoma (estimated by clinical examination) and of chlamydial infection (estimated by DNA amplification tests), although neither result was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Both strategies appeared to be effective in reducing the prevalence of clinically active trachoma and infection six months after the treatment. Antibiotic treatment reduced the prevalence of chlamydial infection more than it did the level of clinically active trachoma