Dynamic Assessment of Academic Writing for Business Studies

This study explores the application of a formative assessment approach known as Dynamic Assessment (DA), as developed within the Vygotskian sociocultural theory of learning. DA blends instruction with assessment by targeting and further developing students’ Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). The study investigates whether, and if so, how DA enhances students’ academic writing and conceptual development in business studies over time. DA and Hallidayan Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) informed the methodological design of this study, which employed a mixed methods approach in order to track learners’ ZPDs regarding academic writing development. The use of SFL to provide linguistic evidence for student writing development (ZPD) is new in DA and thus an innovative feature of this study. The data consists of six undergraduate business studies students’ three to four drafts of three assessments, which were analysed for textual and ideational meanings, as well as associated text-based interaction (mediation), complemented by student interviews and subject tutors’ written comments. This study extends previous DA studies such as Poehner and Lantolf (2005) in two key ways: i) its explicit focus on the construction of a macrogenre (whole text) as opposed to investigations of decontextualized language fragments, and ii) the range of mediational strategies identified and the consequent expansion of Poehner’s (2005) framework of mediation typologies. The findings suggest that DA, combined with SFL, provides insights into the learners’ maturing writing abilities, which the tutor can nurture further to help the learners internalise them. This study also shows that DA students made more gains than their non-DA counterparts regarding their ability to write a case study analysis genre. Additionally, the findings suggest that students can transfer their academic writing and conceptual knowledge from one assessment task to another, albeit at a varying level. The study, though small in scale, thus supports the view that targeted tutor support enhances students’ academic writing development. Implications are drawn concerning formative writing assessment research and practice in higher education

Kvantifisering av matsvinn i industrialiserte land og i utviklingsland: En metanalyse

Matsvinn er et aktuelt problem, der avfall genereres gjennom alle ledd i verdikjeden, og dette skjer i så vel utviklede som utviklingsland. Økende bekymring for matsikkerhet og miljøpåvirkninger tilskrevet matsvinn på grunn av økt arealbruk og utslipp av klimagasser under produksjon og i verdikjeden. En systematisk litteraturgjennomgang ble utført for å avdekke hvor i verdikjeden problemene er størst og for å observere om det er forskjell mellom industri- og utviklingsland. Forskningen fulgte meta-analyse tilnærming med en syntese av referanser med data om matsvinn. Både kvalitative og kvantitative data ble samlet fra artikler som ble funnet gjennom via Google Scholar og ISI Web of Science. Analyse og datatolkning ble gjenomført from fem industrilland og for fem utviklingsland, og dette le gjort gjennom hele verdikjeden fra inghøst til forbrukernivå. Identifisering av mattap i utviklingsland fra etterhøst til forbrukernivå og matsvinn i utviklede land på forbrukernivå. Identifisering av skadelige effekter av matsvinn i miljø, økonomi og matsikkerhet. Det er et stort behov for dialog mellom aktører i verdikjeden, fra produsenter til forbrukere, for å implementere strategier for å redusere matsvinnet. Med en befolkning som er estimert til å være 9 milliarder innen 2050, og med reuserte naturressurser, er økt produksjon ikke eneste løsning, men reduksjon av matsvinnet må også inkluderes.Utnyttelsen av naturressurser (land, vann og energi) for å brødfø den voksende befolkningen vil resultere i alvorlige miljø messige og økonomiske konsekvenser.Abstract: Food waste is an urgent problem, where waste is generated through all stages of the value chain, and this happens in developed as well as developing countries. Increasing concern about food security and environmental impacts attributed to food waste due increased land use and the emission of greenhouse gases (GHS) during production and value chain. A systematic literature review was performed to detect where in the value chain the problems are the highest and to observe if there is a difference between developed and developing countries. The research followed Meta-analysis approach and synthesised reference with data on food waste. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through references found by using Google Scholar and ISI Web of Science as search engines. Analysis and data interpretation were made for five developed countries and five developing countries, and this was done through its value chain from post-harvest to consumer level. Identified that major food loss in developing countries take part post-harvest and before it reaches to consumer level, while food waste in developed countries takes place more at the consumer level. Identification of the detrimental effects of food waste on environment, economy, and food security are discussed. There is an urgent need for dialogue between actors in the value chain from producers to consumer, to implement strategies to reduce food waste. With an estimated population of 9 billion by 2050, and with limited natural resources, increased production is not the solution. Reducing food waste is the part of the solution as exploitation of natural resources (land, water, and energy) to feed the growing population will results in serious environmental and economic consequences

Phenotypic characterization and diversity of Nepalese garlic (Allium sativum L.) landraces

A total 37 garlic landraces collection from Nepal Genebank were characterized using phenotypic trait maps or agro morphological markers at National Agriculture Genetic Resources Centre (Genebank), Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal during 2017 using quantitative and qualitative traits. Shannon and Weaver diversity index (H’) analysis revealed significant intra landrace diversity for both quantitative and qualitative traits. Nine principal components contributed 100 % to the cumulative variance and the first three principle components with Eigen value >1 accounted for 69.9 % of the entire variability.The cluster analysis grouped the 37 accessions into five distinct group. The Accession CO4816 from cluster 5 were superior in terms of yield attributing characters such as number of cloves/bulb, weight of cloves and yield but found to be shorter is plant height.  Pearson correlation analysis among eight quantitative traits showed highly significant positive correlation between leaf length and leaf width, leaf length and shaft length, leaf length and yield, weight of cloves and yield. The high yield is associated with leaf length, leaf width, weight of cloves and number of cloves. The frequency distribution for disease (Cercospora leafspot and Alternaria porii) occurrence were very low in 78 % of the accessions

Performance evaluation of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes in Dolakha, Nepal: from yielding perspective

Lack of suitable barley varieties that exhibit high yielding is the major factor among several production constraints contributing to low productivity of barley in Nepal. The present study was done to evaluate and recommend the best performing barley genotypes. This study was conducted at research field of Hill Crops Research Program (HCRP), Dolakha, Nepal under National observation nursery (NON), initial evaluation trial (IET), coordinated varietal trials (CVT) and farmer's field trials (FFT) during winter seasons from 2017 to 2018. The results of these trials showed that in NON, genotypes namely B86023-1K2-OK3 (6.16 t/ha), Xveola-28/MATICO"S"10 (4.41 t/ha) and ACC#2079 (4.41 t/ha) produced higher grain yield over Farmer’s variety (3.57 t/ha). The pooled analysis over years of IET revealed that genotypes namely LG-51/Xveola-2-77-0-3-1-1-OK (2.12 t/ha) and B86099-2-1-OK (2.06t/ha) produced higher grain yield over standard check variety (Solu Uwa) (1.85 t/ha) and Farmer’s variety (1.95 t/ha). Similarly results of combined analysis over years of CVT showed that the genotypes namely B90K-007-0-2-2-0-OK (2.14 t/ha) and ICB90-0196-OAP-2K-OK (1.97 t/ha) produced higher grain yield over standard check variety (Solu Uwa) (1.12 t/ha) and Farmer’s variety (1.66 t/ha). In farmer's field trials (FFTs) the genotypes namely Muktinath ( Coll#112-14 (2.64 t/ha)), NB-1003-37/903 (2.23 t/ha) and Xveola-45 (2.04 t/ha) produced higher grain yield which was at par to standard check variety (Soluuwa) (1.58 t/ha) and Farmer’s variety (1.85 kg/ha). It is suggested that the superior genotypes derived from CFFT could be released and then recommended to farmers for general cultivation in Dolakha and similar other environments of Nepal

Entrepreneurial behavior of large cardamom growers: A case study in Lamjung district of Nepal

Study on entrepreneurial behavior of large cardamom growers in Lamjung District, Nepal was conducted from December 2017 to June 2018 in Marshyangdi Rural Municipality of Lamjung district. The Rural Municipality was selected purposely for the study due to the recent establishment of Cardamom Zone under the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project in the Municipality focusing on large cardamom development. Altogether 80 large cardamom growers were selected randomly from 454 large cardamom growers of the study site. Data were collected through household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, personal observations, and other secondary sources. Results showed that a greater proportion of large cardamom growers were found to have medium level of innovativeness (45%), decision-making ability (51.2%), information-seeking ability (48.8%), risk orientation (46.2%), leadership ability (43.8%), achievement motivation (46.2%) and low management orientation (56.3%) which contributed to the overall medium entrepreneurial behavior (47.5%) of large cardamom growers in the study area. About 35 percent of farmers were belonging to the low entrepreneurial behavior and only a few numbers of farmers (17.5%) were under the high entrepreneurial behavior category. The high number of farmers with low and medium entrepreneurial behavior and a low number of farmers with high entrepreneurial behavior has resulted in poor commercialization of large cardamom in the study area. Educational status, landholding, extension participation, economic motivation, experience in large cardamom farming, and area of large cardamom cultivation were found to have a significant correlation with the entrepreneurial behavior of large cardamom farmers while age had a negative and significant effect. There is still scope to increase the number of large cardamom farmers with high entrepreneur behavior for commercializing large cardamom in the study area but programs should be designed and implemented accordingly

Analysis of KatG Ser315Thr Mutation in Multidrug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and SLC11A1 Polymorphism in Multidrug Resistance Tuberculosis in Central Development Region of Nepal Using PCR-RFLP Technique: A Pilot Study

Ser315Thr mutations in genes encoding the mycobacteria catalase-peroxidase (KatG) has been associated with the major resistance to isoniazid (INH) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Also G/C polymorphisms in INT4 region of the solute carrier family 11 member 1 gene (SLC11A1) and susceptibility towards tuberculosis (TB) has been demonstrated worldwide. 24 drug resistant MTB culture positive samples and 24 whole?blood samples were collected from different TB patients of Central Development Region of Nepal in 2009. A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assay was carried out in order to investigate Ser315Thr KatG mutation and G/C polymorphism in INT4 region. 4 (16.67%) samples out of 24 MTB culture samples demonstrated the Ser315Thr KatG mutation whereas none of the 24 whole blood samples were found to contain G/C polymorphism in INT4. Though no significant correlation could be found between INT4 polymorphism and TB susceptibility, overall scenario of Nepal cannot be drawn from this data. Molecular diagnostic technique such as PCR-RFLP can be used in a robust scale to carry out base line studies in the TB population of Nepal. Key words: Multi?drug resistance; Tuberculosis; PCR; RFLP Nepal Journal of Biotechnology. Jan. 2011, Vol. 1, No. 1 : 14-2

Performance of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties with and without straw-mulch at Shankharapur, Kathmandu, Nepal

The suitability of crop varieties in a particular location determines the productivity of crops. A field experiment was conducted from February to May 2020 at Shankharapur, Kathmandu, Nepal to evaluate the growth and productivity of potato varieties with and without mulch. Five potato varieties (Cardinal, Janakdev, Khumal Bikas, MS- 42.3, Panauti Local) were evaluated under straw-mulch and no-mulch conditions. The treatments were arranged in two factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The results revealed that the highest tuber yield was produced by Janakdev (34.29 t ha-1) followed by Panauti Local (29.52 t ha-1). Similarly, straw-mulch gave higher yield (25.9 t ha-1) as compared with no mulch condition (21.73 t ha-1). The higher tuber yield in the Janakdev and Panauti Local was because of higher tuber weight per hill, higher number and weight of medium size (50 -100 g) and oversize (> 100 g) tuber per hill. Similarly, higher yield in straw mulch was due to higher number and weight of tuber per hill. Higher gross return, net return was observed and the benefit cost ratioin varieties Janakdev (4.08) and Panauti Local (3.53) and rice straw mulch (2.88). Therefore, potato varieties Janakdev and Panauti Local with straw mulch are most suitable for Kathmandu like climate for improving productivity and profitability

Management of blast disease of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) caused by Pyricularia grisea under field conditions in Dolakha, Nepal

Lack of understanding regarding the choice of chemical fungicides or botanicals with their optimal doze and spraying schedule is one of the major problems concerning mid-hill farmers to control finger millet diseases in Nepal. In order to assess the effectiveness of the four fungicides, namely Bavistin 50 WP (Carbendazim 50%), SAAF (Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP), RIDOMIL-MZ 72 WP (Metalyxl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP), BAAN 75 WP (Tricyclazole 75%), and two botanicalsermented anaerobically in cattle urine, an artificial epiphytotic field. In the years 2018 and 2019, the experiment was run using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Carbendazim, one of the chosen treatments, had the greatest impact in lowering the AUDPC values for leaf blast (1818, 1191) as well as neck (4,53) and finger blast (10,45) incidence percentage in both 2018 and 2019 years. Tricyclazole, SAAF, RIDOMIL-MZ, and Lantana camara fermented in cow urine were also discovered to be beneficial throughout the year.  So it is recommended to deploy fungicides in a controlled manner through rotation and mixed applications, which is advantageous for both grain and seed production even for minor and underutilized crops from an economic aspect

Effects of organic manures on yield and yield attributes of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) genotypes

An experiment was carried out to determine the effects of organic sources of fertilizers on yield and yield parameters of five coffee (Coffea arabica) genotypes at Gulmi district in 2015 to 2021. Five different source of organic manures (mustard cake @ 2 kg/plant, poultry manure @ 2.5 kg/plant, vermi compost @ 3 kg/plant, goat manure @ 4 kg/plant and FYM/cattle manure @ 5 kg/plant) was applied on five coffee genotypes (Chhetradip Local, Gulmi Local, Selection-10, Syangja Special and Yellow Cattura). Field experiment was laid out in factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrespective of genotypes, the length of cherry was found maximum (15.3 mm) in mustard cake applied plants which was followed by poultry manure applied plants (15.2 mm). The average cherry length was found longest (15.3 mm) in Yellow Cattura and Syangja Special which was followed by genotype Chhetradip Local (15.1 mm). The highest diameter of cherry (12.7 mm) was obtained with the use of mustard cake followed by poultry manure (12.4 mm). The application of mustard cake produced the highest cherry yield (3.55 kg/plant) followed by poultry manure (3.43 kg/plant). Yellow Cattura produced the highest fresh cherry yield (3.34 kg/ha) followed by Selection-10 (3.07 kg/plant). Results indicate that poultry manure and Yellow Cattura are most effective for higher production of coffee