Nepal\u27s Danfe Space Mission: Technology Demonstration Mission on a 3U CubeSat to Mitigate Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

The United Nations Development Program ranks Nepal as the fourth-most country susceptible to climate change. The Global warming has caused more than 40 glacial lakes to potentially burst at any moment. A few Early Warning Systems are in place but are connected by ground cellular networks. A ground-to-space monitoring system instead, can help deter Glacial Lake Outburst Flood reliably. This paper outlines such a system through Nepal\u27s Danfe Space Mission placed on a 3U CubeSat. Danfe demonstrates the first use case of ported PX4 drone Operating System alongside a LoRa integrated STM32 Satellite System-on-Chip. A Ground Sensor Terminal with ultrasonic sensor and LoRa beacons glacier water level data to space. If the demonstration is successful, future satellite constellations for monitoring glaciers can be produced in a significantly shorter period as both hardware and software are drastically simplified. Such constellations can provide near-real time water level data while inciting actions to prevent any impending flash floods

Intussusception due to non Hodgkin’s lymphoma; different experiences in two children: two case reports

In children, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has been found to be the lead point in intussusception involving the terminal ileum. We present here two cases of ileal primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma which presented as intussusception, highlighting the differing presentations of these children and their outcome, with a brief review of the literature

Potential surface active agent production using very low grade and cheap substrate by Bacillus subtilis as microbial cell factory

Bio-surfactants are surface-active molecules which are produced by the wide range of microbes including bacteria, fungi, moulds, and yeast. This study was conducted to identify bio-surfactants by Bacillus subtilis combined with use of cheap substrates and industrial wastes (Mustard cake, Whey and Soya cake) which are found locally in Nepal. Bacillus subtilis, one of the most potential bio-surfactants producer; was isolated from soil sample of hydrocarbon contaminated site. Isolates were grown in a Minimal Salt Media (MSM) with 10% (v/v) mustard oil cake, whey and soya cake separately. The presence and potential of surfactant was determined by the oil spreading technique, emulsification index (%E24) and surface tension measurement. It was revealed that the surface tensions of cell free extract were 54.41, 60.02 and 56.64 mN/m for from mustard cake, whey and soya cake respectively as compared to distilled water (72.09) at 25oC. The emulsification index values was found to be highest in engine oil from the bio-surfactant extracted from mustard cake, soya cake and whey respectively. Similarly, mustard oil showed the lowest value of emulsification index. The highest emulsification activity was shown in mustard oil i.e. 1.13 from the cell free extract from mustard oil and lowest in engine oil i.e., 0.07, by the extract from soya cake medium, when measured in spectrophotometer at 540 nm. In conclusion, strain of Bacillus subtilis was found to be the potential surface active agent producers on the mustard oil cake, which can be useful medium for various environmental, food, medicinal and industrial processes

Predicting the potential distribution and habitat variables associated with pangolins in Nepal

Pangolins are highly-threatened due to illegal hunting and poaching, and by the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of their habitats. In Nepal, effective conservation actions for pangolins are scarce due to limited information on the distribution of pangolins in many areas of the country. To identify the nationwide distribution of pangolins in Nepal, and assess the environmental variables associated with their habitat, we conducted an extensive literature review to collate data from previous studies, canvassed information from key informant interviews and expert opinion, and conducted transect surveys and sign surveys. The occurrence of pangolins was recorded based on sightings and indirect signs (such as burrows, digs, tracks, and scats) along 115 belt transects of 500-m length with a fixed width of 50-m, and habitat parameters were surveyed using 347 quadrats of 10 m*10 m. Pangolin presence was confirmed from 61 out of 75 districts from the eastern to the far western parts of the country. The highest frequency of burrows (74%) was observed in the forested habitat constituting brown soil with medium texture (0.02–2 mm) within an elevation range of 500–1500 m above sea level. Logistic regression suggested that the occurrence of pangolin was highly influenced by ground cover and canopy cover of 50–75%, litter depth, and the distance to termite mounds and roads. We used 4136 occurrence GPS points of pangolin burrows that were compiled and collected from the literature review and field surveys in order to predict the potential habitat distribution of pangolin using maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt 3.4.1). The model predicted 15.2% (22,393 km2) of the total land of Nepal as potentially suitable habitat for pangolin, with 38.3% (8574 km2) of potential habitat in the eastern region, followed by 37.6% (8432 km2) in the central and 24.1% (5,387 km2) in the western regions. The results of this study present a national baseline for pangolin distribution and serve as an important document for developing and executing conservation actions and management plans for the long-term conservation of pangolins in Nepal

A Comparative Study between Early Versus Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis in a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal

Background: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is considered as a gold standard treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis. The timing of surgery for acute Cholecystitis is still controversial, weather to go early surgery or wait for six to eight weeks after conservative management. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute Cholecystitis. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted in Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal. Total of 80 patients with the diagnosis of acute Cholecystitis were enrolled in the study. The patients were equally divided in two groups: 40 underwent early laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours of admission (Group A) and next 40 underwent delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy after 6-8 weeks of conservative management (Group B). Results: Out of 80 patients of acute Cholecystitis, mean age of the patients in Group A was 43.40±13.45 years and that in Group B was 44.80±14.36 years. The mean operative time in Group A was 90.22±2.81 minutes whereas in Group B it was 80.97±4.47 minutes. Mean duration of Hospital stay in Group A was 2.02±0.15 days whereas in Group B it was 2.15±0.36 days. Two patients in Group A and one patient in Group B converted to open cholecystectomy. Three patients of Group A and one patient of Group B landed in outpatient department with superficial surgical site infection.  Group B patients underwent second hospital admission compared to Group A patients. Conclusion: Early Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is almost comparable with delayedLaparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces the morbidity of patients as well as it is cost-effectiveness