Depth-wise variations of soil physicochemical properties in the apple growing area of Mustang district, Nepal

Understanding the soil fertility is an important management tool in assessing the nutrient requirement of the crops. Considering this, a study was done to determine depth-wise soil parameters distribution in the apple growing areas of Gharpajhog Rural Municipality, Mustang during October 2019. The total 68 sampling points were selected randomly in the different sites, and collection was done from three depths viz. 0-20cm, 20-40cm and 40-60cm by using soil sampling auger. The soil separates, pH, organic matter, total N, available P2O5 and K2O were determined following standard methods in National Soil Science Research Centre, Khumaltar. The results of the study revealed that the effect of depth was significant in the sand and silt proportion, while non- significant in clay proportion. The highest (40.17±1.57%) sand content was in 40-60cm depth, meanwhile highest (45.64±1.07%) silt content was in surface (0-20cm) depth. In addition to this, soil pH, OM, total N, available P2O5 and K2O were also affected by the depth. The highest (8.27) pH was determined in the lower (40-60cm) depth. On the other hand, highest OM (4.93±0.2%), total N (0.24±0.01%), available P2O5 (43.47±4.35 mg/kg) and available K2O (95.91±5.8 mg/kg) in surface (0.20 cm) depth. The surface depth possessed strong content of studied soil parameters might be due to in-situ incorporation of leaf litter, residue etc. as well as applied manure in the surface. Finally, we can also conclude that the adopted current nutrient management practice should be continued for apple production in the study area

Motor nerve conduction study parameters in healthy individuals: effect of limb dominance

Background: Nerve conduction study (NCS) is useful for evaluation of nerve, muscle, and/or neuromuscular function. Neurophysiologist interprets NCS with consideration of various anthropometric and technical parameters viz. age, gender, height, temperature etc. apart from the underlying pathology. Fewer studies have reported the effect of limb dominance on NCS. Moreover, the findings are controversial. Therefore, author aimed to investigate the effect of limb dominance on motor nerve conduction study parameters.Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included sixty healthy individuals (44 right and 16 left handed) of either sex with age 18 to 30 years. The NCS parameters of median and ulnar nerves were assessed by stimulating it and recording from the muscle and skin overlying the nerve respectively using Digital Nihon Kohden machine. The obtained data were analyzed using independent sample t-test.Results: Right ulnar nerve onset latency was significantly longer in left-handed individuals (1.85±0.508 ms vs 1.62±0.195 ms, p=0.012). The left ulnar nerve F wave minimum latency (25.88±0.74 ms vs 24.46±2.64 ms, p=0.002) was significantly longer in left-handed individuals. Likewise, right ulnar nerve distal latency (2.45±0.76 ms vs 2.14±0.39 ms, p=0.044), and right ulnar nerve F wave minimum (25.9±1.21 ms vs 24.85 ms±1.74, p=0.030) were significantly high in left-handed individuals.Conclusions: NCS parameters in terms of latencies were longer in left-handed individuals. Therefore, limb dominance seems to be an important factor one should pay attention during bilateral comparison of obtained data in neurophysiological reporting of referred cases

Depression Among Chronic Kidney Diseases Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive irreversible loss of renal function over a period of months or years. When kidney disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintains life. Hemodialysis is used for patients who require short term dialysis (days to weeks) and for patients with advanced CKD and End Stage renal Disease (ESRD) who require long term or permanent renal replacement therapy. Hemodialysis significantly and adversely affects the lives of patients, both physically and psychologically. Depression is the most common psychological condition among patients with ESRD. Depression in dialysis patients not only effect mortality, but increased rate of hospitalizations and dialysis withdrawal is also very common.  Methods: A descriptive exploratory research design was carried out to identify the depression level of chronic kidney disease patients receiving Hemodialysis in Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara using Beck Depression Inventory among forty six patients.  Results: The study findings revealed that majority of the patients (84.8%) has various degree of depression i.e. mild (21.7%), moderate (30.8%) and severe (32.6%). Only fifteen percent of patient has no depression. There was no statistical association between the level of depression and socio-demographic variables. It can be concluded that the prevalence of depression is high among patients receiving Hemodialysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression is high among patients receiving Hemodialysis. It is effective to provide mental health services to the CKD patients receiving Hemodialysis which help them better psychologically adaptation to their disease and improve their quality of life

Geostatistical based soil fertility mapping of Horticultural Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla, Nepal

Geostatistical soil mapping is important for determining spatial distribution of soil parameters. This study was conducted to assess soil spatial distribution of the Horticultural Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla, Nepal. The total 27 samples were collected randomly at a depth of 0-20 cm by using soil sampling auger. A GPS device was used for determination of geographical position of soil sampling points. The collected samples were analyzed following standard analytical methods in the laboratory of National Soil Science Research Centre, Khumaltar. The Arc-GIS 10.1 software was used for the mapping spatial distribution of various soil parameters. The observed data revealed the structure was sub-angular blocky and granular, whereas colour were dark brown to dark grayish brown and dark yellowish brown. The sand, silt and clay content were ranged 24.40-72.10%, 19.40-63.10% and 6.20-14.50%, respectively and categorized loam, sandy loam and silt loam in texture. The soil pH was slightly acidic to moderately alkaline (5.01-8.06), and very low available sulphur (0.59-2.41 mg/kg) and very low to low available boron (0.04-0.87 mg/kg).  Moreover, very low to medium available manganese (2.18-13.46 mg/kg), very low to very high available iron (4.50-138.58 mg/kg), and low to medium available magnesium (7.20-177.60.53 mg/kg) and zinc (0.26-1.66 mg/kg). Similarly, medium total nitrogen (0.09-0.22%), medium to high organic matter (1.71-6.26%) and available calcium (1200-3144 mg/kg), medium to very high available phosphorus (3.71-82.4 mg/kg) and potassium (59.37-173.05 mg/kg). Correspondingly, high to very high available copper (0.78-4.20 mg/kg). The determined soil test data can be used for sustainable soil management as well as developing future research strategy in the farm

Do cortisol affects the brain electrical activity (EEG powers)?

Background: Glucocorticoids at very low/high levels are detrimental for memory performance. But how electroencephalogram (EEG) activity correlates with the cortisol in high and low efficient brains are still controversial. Objective: To find the association of cortisol with EEG powers in high and low cognitive brains at the time of examination preparation. Method: The EEG was recorded in an eye-closed state for 5-minutes in high (n-59) and low (n-24) cognitive individuals. Their salivary cortisol was estimated and correlated with the EEG activity by Spearman correlation test (p<0.05). The cortisol level between two groups was compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Result: Cortisol (ng/ml) was high in low cognitive group (1.36) than to the other group (1.32).There was a negative association of cortisol with EEG powers (r= -0.41 to -0.5) in central (beta, alpha2), frontal (alpha2) and left-temporal (alpha2) regions of the low cognitive brains. In high cognitive brains, cortisol was negatively associated with beta activity in right-temporal (r=-0.27) but positively associated with theta activity in mid-frontal (r=0.33) brain area. Conclusion: The less efficient brain has high cortisol level during preparation for their examination. This might have decreased the alpha2 activity in them that will impair the processing of long term memory. However, these individuals seem to manage the examination stress by decreasing the firing of the beta activity. Conversely, in the high cognitive brain, the rise in cortisol level seemed to increase the mid-frontal theta activity that might improve the attention and encoding of the information in these individuals

Analysis of cardiac autonomic modulation in normotensive obese and eutrophic adults of Nepal

Background: Obese people have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, though unknown mechanism, supposed to be due to autonomic dysfunction which is still in controversy. This study aimed to assess and compare heart rate variability (HRV) between normotensive obese and adults.Methods: The study was conducted on 30 normotensive obese adults (mean age 32.07±7.25 years) with BMI>30 and 29 age- and sex-matched normal weight controls (mean age 30.48±8.01 years) with BMI: 18-24 Kg/m2. Short-term HRV variables were assessed using standard protocol. The data were compared between the groups using Mann Whitney ‘U’ test.Results: In obese group, there was significant increase in the mean heart rate [79.17±8.80 Vs 71.48±8.41 beats/min, p=0.001], systolic blood pressure [121.20±9.89 Vs 113.24±11.07, mmHg, p=0.004] and diastolic blood pressure [84.97±7.87 Vs 74.83±10.31 mmHg, p=0.000]. The HRV parasympathetic indicators were less [RMSSD {28.75(16.72-38.35) Vs 41.55(30.6-56.75) ms, p=0.018}, NN50 {15.5(2-39) Vs 83.5(32.75-116.25), p=0.010}], and sympathetic indicator LF/HF ratio [1.2(0.65-2.20) Vs 0.79(0.5-1.02), p=0.004] was more in obese group.Conclusions: Obese persons have increased sympathetic activity with a reduction in parasympathetic (vagal) tone indicating poor autonomic cardiac rhythm control. Moreover, the altered autonomic activity could be the reason for increased mean heart rate and blood pressures in normotensive obese persons

Hearing our Voices: Pathways from Oppression to Liberation through Community-Based Participatory Research

A number of qualitative-based participatory approaches have been used to analyse and address structural inequalities and intersectional gender oppression. This has been broadly evident in the academic environment and, particularly, in social work education and practice. However, more participatory aspects of social justice research, such as inviting and supporting disenfranchised and vulnerable populations to become more intimately involved in identifying their issues, together with developing remedial strategies and acting upon them, are still generally marginal, leaving both researchers and practitioners travelling on the uneven ground. In an attempt to level these troughs in social work education (and, by extension, practice), the paper will explore the transformative outcomes associated with participatory action research conducted as emancipatory and liberatory tools in research undertaken in collaboration with trafficking survivors in Nepal. The purpose of this paper is to explore the collective experiences of growing critical consciousness around social injustice and structural inequalities that contributed to survivors being “doubly victimisedâ€. Hence, in this paper, their resiliency in the face of that victimisation is not discussed. The goal of the paper is three-fold: (1) share the study process/approaches that supported an increase in the survivors’ critical thinking about their own oppression; (2) consider the impact of survivors’ solidarity in social and political action; and (3) examine the applicability of an emerging model of survivors’ liberatory practice. Overall, this paper will explore new and potentially liberatory ways to address the multiple and complex issues facing survivors upon return, and promote transformative praxis to support healthy individual and collective development

Assessment of Cardio Respiratory Fitness of Trained and Non-Trained Young Adult Males

Background: Cardio respiratory fitness in terms of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) reflects the physical fitness of a person. VO2max determines the capacity of an individual to perform sustained exercise. The present study is to assess and compare the cardiorespiratory fitness in terms of VO2 max between trained and untrained subjects. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 young adult males undergoing physical training for more than 3 months to join British army and age-sex matched 30 non-trained controls. VO2max was estimated indirectly by following the protocol of Queen’s College Step Test (QCT) method. Results: VO₂ max was found significantly higher in the trained males as compared to non-trained group (68.91± 4.42 vs. 50.31±4.80; p=0.02). On comparison of VO₂ max of our subjects with the standard VO₂ max classification, our trained and non-trained groups fitted into the category of high and average on cardiorespiratory fitness scale respectively. Conclusion: Physical training improves cardio respiratory fitness by increasing VO₂ max