Democratic Middle Ground in Nepal: A Perspective from the North American Nepali Diaspora

The call of our time is to safeguard the accomplishments of the 1990 Peoples Movement, to restore sovereignty to the people, and to work towards the middle ground to resolve the nation\u27s core problems. History teaches us that recognizing, adopting and adhering to the middle path takes much vision and courage. The natural instinct is to stick to one\u27s own interpretation of the world (usually based on narrow self-interest) and to shun ideas and individuals that require a moderation of one\u27s views. However, success in politics and statecraft, more so than in any other area of human affairs, is hinged to the middle ground in a way that ultimately requires friend and foe to migrate sufficiently towards each other so that the peoples\u27 business can move forward and flourish. We urge all political forces in Nepal to recognize that great achievements in the affairs of nations come about when leaders practice the art of compromise. There is no dishonor for Nepal\u27s monarch and political leaders if they follow the path of the likes of Gandhi, Nehru and Mandela.\u2

CSX Railway Uses OR to Cash In on Optimized Equipment Distribution

Each day, CSX Railway allocates hundreds of empty railcars among hundreds of customer car orders. In 1997, it implemented the US rail industry\u27s first real-time, fully integrated equipment-distribution optimization system, the dynamic car-planning system (DCP). DCP seamlessly integrates operations research modeling into CSX\u27s process that assigns empty cars to customer car orders. CSX estimates that the DCP system saves the company more than $51 million annually and has saved$561 million since its implementation. DCP has also provided $1.4 billion in capital-expenditure avoidance because of more efficient car allocation. Fewer railcars yield improved return on assets and reduced congestion on the CSX rail network. Customer satisfaction has also increased because of improved empty-car delivery. Public benefits include improved highway safety; reductions in congestion, pollution, and greenhouse gases; and reduced tax-supported road maintenance, thus saving an estimated$600 million

Aetiopathogenesis of Laryngotracheal Stenosis: A Retrospective Review

Background. Airway stenosis is a technically challenging pathology to deal with. Various aetiologies can lead to the stenosis; however, trauma, mostly related to intubation, is the commonest so far. This study retrospectively evaluates various aetiological factors resulting in airway stenosis and the associated patient-related factors. Objectives. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the common patient-related factors, aetiology, site, and mode of presentation of airway stenosis and to evaluate the duration of intubation resulting in airway stenosis. Materials and methods. This was a retrospective study carried out at the Department of ENT-HNS, Institute of Medicine, Nepal. Record files from January 2014 to January 2019 of all cases with endoscopic diagnosis of airway stenosis were evaluated. Demographic data, site, severity, aetiology, time, and mode of presentation were noted. The severity of stenosis was graded based on Cotton–Meyer (CM) classification. Results. A total of 33 cases were included in the study. The trachea and the subglottis were the frequent sites to be involved. Intubation-related trauma was the commonest aetiology with a shortest duration of intubation of only 4 days resulting in development of the stenosis. The other aetiologies were congenital, trauma, inflammation, and idiopathic. Conclusion. Trauma, mostly related to intubation, is still the commonest cause for the development of airway stenosis. Along with the duration of intubation, there are several other factors that can affect the development of stenosis. A prospective study with a large population is required to draw a definite conclusion