Testing of bio-rational and synthetic pesticides to manage cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) in cabbage field at Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) is an important pest of cabbage which reduces the yield and quality of the cabbage head. Farmers haven been using chemical pesticides to manage them but unfortunately these practices are toxic for human health, biodiversity and the environment. The study was conducted to test the efficacy of different bio-rational insecticides along with the chemical insecticide. ‘Green Coronet’ cabbage variety was used and the field experiment was laid out in the experimental farm of Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur, Chitwan during the winter season of 2014.  The Experiment was designed in randomized complete block design with having 7 treatments (bio-rational insecticides with chemical and control)  and 3 replications. Plot size was 5.76 m2 (2.4m×2.4m) and spacing of 1 m was maintained between each blocks and plots. Field experiment showed that the highest reduction of cabbage aphid was obtained in Dimethoate (30 EC) treated plot followed by Derisom treated plot. The highest yield of cabbage head was obtained in Dimethoate treated plots (66.47 mt/ha) which was significantly at par with the Derisom (58.79 mt/ ha) treated plots. The yield for other treated plots were 47.60 mt/ha for Margosom, 43.77 mt/ha for Verticillium, 41.63 mt/ ha for Cow urine, 36.77 mt/ ha for Spinosad and control (33.45 mt/ ha) in terms of cabbage head yield. And, at the same time, natural enemies’ population was significantly lower to Dimethoate treated plots compared to bio-rational insecticides. Thus, Derisom (Derris based botanical) might be the best viable alternative in eco-friendly management of cabbage aphid considering cabbage head yield and protection of natural enemies. It was also evident from the research that Margosom (Neem based botanical) was found beneficial not only to conserve natural enemies in the cabbage field but also to minimize cabbage aphid population

TECHNIQUE TO FACILITATE ADAPTIVE WIDE AREA NETWORK CONFIGURATION BASED ON CIRCUIT PROVIDER

When a Wide Area Network (WAN) network is growing rapidly across multiple sites and remote locations, organizations often seek adoptive configurations for WAN routers. Presented herein is a technique that provides for the ability to automatically identify a private circuit provider\u27s Color (and/or other identifier(s) for the WAN overlay of the circuit provider) and to generate adoptive configurations that can be pushed to WAN edge routers. The technique presented herein can enable organizations to avoid human error in identifying links, miss-calling or mis-labeling, and/or suboptimal path selections

Bilateral Non-Syndromic Multiple Supernumerary Teeth- A Rare Case Report

Hyperdontia or supernumerary teeth is the development of an increased number of teeth, other than the normal dentition. Supernumerary teeth can be single or multiple, unilateral or bilateral. Supernumerary teeth are mostly associated with syndromes and their presence in a non-syndromic patient is not common. Early diagnosis and management should be done to reduce complications caused by this developmental anomaly

Effects of different mulches and net house on crucifer aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) population, growth and yield of broadleaf mustard (Brassica juncea)

Crucifer aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, is a key pest of broadleaf mustard and other crucifers. An alternative integrated management approaches are recommended to keep the pest below economic threshold level. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of mulching and net house on aphid population, growth and yield of broadleaf mustard. Experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design with four replications from September to December 2016 at Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Five treatments used in experiment was untreated control, black plastic mulch only, reflective plastic mulch only, black plastic mulch plus imidacloprid 70 WSG @ 0.13gm/liter, and net house plus black plastic mulch. The results showed that the lowest population of crucifer aphid was recorded inside the net house with black plastic mulch and black plastic mulch with imidaclorpid 70 WSG @ 0.13g/L spray. Reflective plastic mulch was superior as compared to black plastic mulch and control to reduce the aphid population. Similarly, the highest yield (26.86t/ha) was obtained inside the net house with black plastic mulch followed by black plastic mulch with imidacloprid spray (25.99 t/ha). But the benefit-cost ratio was the highest (4.09) in black plastic mulch with imidacloprid spray followed by reflective plastic mulch (3.42), black plastic mulch (3.32), and net house with black plastic mulch (3.10). Benefit-cost ratio was lower in net house with black plastic mulch but products are safe from toxins and potentially profitable in long run. Considering its ecological cost, the use of pest exclusion net is recommended as a viable option for controlling insect pests of broadleaf mustard

The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity in Nepal: Current Knowledge, Lacunae, and Opportunities

Nepal has an extreme altitudinal range from 60–8850m with heterogeneous topography and distinct climatic zones. The country is considered a biodiversity hotspot, with nearly a quarter of the land area located in protected areas. Nepal and the surrounding Himalayan region are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their abrupt ecological and climatic transitions. Tens of millions of people rely on the region’s ecosystem services, and observed and modeled warming trends predict increased climate extremes in the Himalayas. To study the ecological impacts of climate change in Nepal and inform adaptation planning, we review the literature on past, present, and predicted future climatic changes and their impacts on ecological diversity in Nepal. We found few studies focusing on organisms, while research on species and communities was more common. Most studies document or predict species range shifts and changes in community composition. Results of these few investigations highlight major lacunae in research regarding the effects of changing climate on species comprising the Himalayan biota. Further empirical work is needed at all levels of biological organization to build on information regarding direct ecological impacts of climatic changes in the region. Countries face an ever-increasing threat of climate change, and Nepal has strong physiographic, elevational, and climatic gradients that could provide a useful model for studying the effects of climate change on a mountainous, and highly biodiverse, area

Elective surgery system strengthening: development, measurement, and validation of the surgical preparedness index across 1632 hospitals in 119 countries

Background: The 2015 Lancet Commission on global surgery identified surgery and anaesthesia as indispensable parts of holistic health-care systems. However, COVID-19 exposed the fragility of planned surgical services around the world, which have also been neglected in pandemic recovery planning. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel index to support local elective surgical system strengthening and address growing backlogs. Methods: First, we performed an international consultation through a four-stage consensus process to develop a multidomain index for hospital-level assessment (surgical preparedness index; SPI). Second, we measured surgical preparedness across a global network of hospitals in high-income countries (HICs), middle-income countries (MICs), and low-income countries (LICs) to explore the distribution of the SPI at national, subnational, and hospital levels. Finally, using COVID-19 as an example of an external system shock, we compared hospitals' SPI to their planned surgical volume ratio (SVR; ie, operations for which the decision for surgery was made before hospital admission), calculated as the ratio of the observed surgical volume over a 1-month assessment period between June 6 and Aug 5, 2021, against the expected surgical volume based on hospital administrative data from the same period in 2019 (ie, a pre-pandemic baseline). A linear mixed-effects regression model was used to determine the effect of increasing SPI score. Findings: In the first phase, from a longlist of 103 candidate indicators, 23 were prioritised as core indicators of elective surgical system preparedness by 69 clinicians (23 [33%] women; 46 [67%] men; 41 from HICs, 22 from MICs, and six from LICs) from 32 countries. The multidomain SPI included 11 indicators on facilities and consumables, two on staffing, two on prioritisation, and eight on systems. Hospitals were scored from 23 (least prepared) to 115 points (most prepared). In the second phase, surgical preparedness was measured in 1632 hospitals by 4714 clinicians from 119 countries. 745 (45·6%) of 1632 hospitals were in MICs or LICs. The mean SPI score was 84·5 (95% CI 84·1–84·9), which varied between HIC (88·5 [89·0–88·0]), MIC (81·8 [82·5–81·1]), and LIC (66·8 [64·9–68·7]) settings. In the third phase, 1217 (74·6%) hospitals did not maintain their expected SVR during the COVID-19 pandemic, of which 625 (51·4%) were from HIC, 538 (44·2%) from MIC, and 54 (4·4%) from LIC settings. In the mixed-effects model, a 10-point increase in SPI corresponded to a 3·6% (95% CI 3·0–4·1; p<0·0001) increase in SVR. This was consistent in HIC (4·8% [4·1–5·5]; p<0·0001), MIC (2·8 [2·0–3·7]; p<0·0001), and LIC (3·8 [1·3–6·7%]; p<0·0001) settings. Interpretation: The SPI contains 23 indicators that are globally applicable, relevant across different system stressors, vary at a subnational level, and are collectable by front-line teams. In the case study of COVID-19, a higher SPI was associated with an increased planned surgical volume ratio independent of country income status, COVID-19 burden, and hospital type. Hospitals should perform annual self-assessment of their surgical preparedness to identify areas that can be improved, create resilience in local surgical systems, and upscale capacity to address elective surgery backlogs. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery, NIHR Academy, Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel Research UK, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, and Medtronic

COVID-19-related absence among surgeons: development of an international surgical workforce prediction model

Background: During the initial COVID-19 outbreak up to 28.4 million elective operations were cancelled worldwide, in part owing to concerns that it would be unsustainable to maintain elective surgery capacity because of COVID-19-related surgeon absence. Although many hospitals are now recovering, surgical teams need strategies to prepare for future outbreaks. This study aimed to develop a framework to predict elective surgery capacity during future COVID-19 outbreaks. Methods: An international cross-sectional study determined real-world COVID-19-related absence rates among surgeons. COVID-19-related absences included sickness, self-isolation, shielding, and caring for family. To estimate elective surgical capacity during future outbreaks, an expert elicitation study was undertaken with senior surgeons to determine the minimum surgical staff required to provide surgical services while maintaining a range of elective surgery volumes (0, 25, 50 or 75 per cent). Results Based on data from 364 hospitals across 65 countries, the COVID-19-related absence rate during the initial 6 weeks of the outbreak ranged from 20.5 to 24.7 per cent (mean average fortnightly). In weeks 7–12, this decreased to 9.2–13.8 per cent. At all times during the COVID-19 outbreak there was predicted to be sufficient surgical staff available to maintain at least 75 per cent of regular elective surgical volume. Overall, there was predicted capacity for surgeon redeployment to support the wider hospital response to COVID-19. Conclusion: This framework will inform elective surgical service planning during future COVID-19 outbreaks. In most settings, surgeon absence is unlikely to be the factor limiting elective surgery capacity