Distribution of Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith and its Interrelationship with Host Plants in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape of Central Nepal

Occurrence and variety of flowering host plant of native Bombus pollinators are viewed as basicalternatives than the imported species. The use of native bumblebee species for pollination wasconsidered more significant than imported bumblebees to reduce environmental impact and pestproblems. B. haemorrhoidalis is the most dominant species of Chitwan Annapurna Landscape inagricultural and wild flora during April to September 2019. We followed assessable walking trailsand used insect net for sample collection. The effect of different environmental variables on the floralhost plant resources of this native bumblebee was examined. With eight locations ranging from 1407to 2506 meters above sea level, twenty-seven species of seventeen plant families were identified aspollen and nectar foraging host plants. B haemorrhidalis distribution frequency is correlated withrelative humidity (0.07438968) and altitude (0.495657857). The most visited plant family wasBalsaminaceae and plant was Imatian scrabida. This study gives the knowledge of abundance of hostplants, ecological and biological relationship of the B. haemorrhoidalis in Nepal

Statistics of the earthquakes in the central Himalaya and its vicinity in last 56 years, with an emphasis in the 25 April 2015 Gorkha, Nepal earthquake

To understand the variation of stress levels in the region 80°E – 89°E and 26°N – 31°N, the statistical analysis of earthquake frequency-magnitude distribution and spatio-temporal variation of fractal correlation dimension of earthquake epicenter distribution are estimated. The analysis is carried out on declusterised catalogue containing 1185 events of 56 years from February 1964 to November 2020. The study area is divided into three regions the western Nepal and vicinity (Region A), central Nepal and vicinity (Region B) and eastern Nepal and vicinity (Region C), respectively. The magnitude of completeness (Mc) varies from 3.6 to 4.0 for the study period. The spatial fractal dimension (Dc) and b-value are calculated as 1.89 ± 0.02 and 0.68 ± 0.03 for the western Nepal, 1.76 ± 0.01 and 0.60 ± 0.05 for the central Nepal, whereas they are estimated as 1.85 ± 0.02 and 0.63 ± 0.03 for the eastern part of the Nepal. The b-values obtained for all three regions are very low comparing to global average value of 1. The time clustering of the events in the respective regions are 0.26 ± 0.003, 0.31 ± 0.004 and 0.26 ± 0.02 as indicated by temporal fractal dimension (Dt). The higher Dc, lower b and Dt values associated with the regions indicate high stress concentration and stronger epicenter clustering in these regions. The strongly increasing trend of fractal dimension and strongly decreasing trend of b-value show the high probabilities of occurring the large earthquake in both central Nepal (82.5°E – 85.5°E and 27.5°N – 30°N) and eastern Nepal (85.5°E – 88.2°E and 26.45°N – 28.6°N) as compared to western Nepal (80°E – 82.5°E and 28°N – 30.5°N). This statistical analysis of spatial and temporal characteristics of the earthquake activity may give significant signs of the future seismic hazard along central Himalaya region.

Diversity of Agroforestry Species and Uses in Two Ecological Regions: A Case from Central Nepal

Multiple benefits of the agroforestry systems attract the attention of the global community and are being practiced in Nepal from time immemorial. However, there is minimal evidence of the diversity of species and the use value of plants and their comparative analysis in ecological regions. This study compares the diversity and use value of plants grown in the agroforestry system (home garden) in two separate ecological regions in central Nepal. The frequently used diversity indices were used to measure species diversity. A total of 130 and 99 species, 96 and 69 genera, and 50 and 40 families were reported from home gardens in the Terai and midhill ecological regions, respectively, where 58 species were common for both. The findings reveal Terai farmer prefers ornamental plants over fruit and fodder in the midhills indicating that horticulture and livestock-based livelihood could be enhanced in the hilly region. The diversity indices indicate a higher diversity of plants in the Terai region than in midhills. However, Mann–Whitney U test showed an insignificant difference in species diversity between the regions. Moreover, the chi-square test revealed that there is no significant variation in the use diversity for the regions. The results demonstrate similar plant diversity in the home garden despite the difference in ecological regions and species varieties. The finding assists in understanding the composition of biodiversity in agroforestry systems in specific areas of two different ecological zones and provides insight into the agroforestry for species preferences and use-related decisions. Future research with established management procedures may be required to confirm these findings and provide agroforestry establishment criteria for agricultural sustainability.

Management of Orthopaedic Injuries following 2015 Gorkha Earthquake: Our Experience in Public Health Concern Trust Nepal

Background: On April 25 2015, a magnitude of 7.8 earthquake struck in central Nepal, causing a huge physical and social disturbances. Physical impacts comprised casualties with deaths and injuries and damage to infrastructure, cultural heritage and natural environment while social impacts are demographic, psychological and economic consequences. We report our experience in treating victims who were brought at our centre via different means.Objectives: to provide an overview the caseload and provide analysis of earthquake victims for improving the future strategies in similar scenarios.Methods: A retrospective study of the clinical characteristics and patterns of hospitalised patient after the 2015 earthquake was conducted. Demographic evaluation, surgical procedures and morbidities were reviewed. The patients were followed up for an average of 24 months, detail records were kept on their recovery and function.Results: A total of 85 patients were treated with subsequent follow-up. The proportion of males admitted was similar to that of females (49.4% and 50.5% respectively). The highest number of admitted age group ranges (17- 45) was about 37.64%. Most injured site was lower limbs (68.23%) where fracture tibia and fibula had the highest incidence (56.89%). Out of all, 14.11% of cases were open fractures. Trauma severity was assessed with injury severity score and most of them categorized as mild one (95.29%). The most common procedure performed was closed reduction and pinning (n=28), followed by open reduction and fixation (n=24). Overall, mortality rate was 2.35% (2 of 85). Total 25 implants were removed within three years of period and 28.6% of patients were not returned to date.Conclusions: The injury epidemiology reported in this study showed quite congruence with most other earthquake related studies. Analysis profiles of injuries and clinical features of earthquake victims will definitely impact rescue efforts and treatment of fracture injuries in possible future natural calamities.

Knowledge Regarding Gastritis among Late Adolescence in Central Nepal

Gastritis is an inflammation or irritation of the lining of the stomach, can be a brief and sudden illness (acute gastritis), a long-lasting condition (chronic gastritis). Gastritis is the top most common cause of morbidity. This study is designed to find out knowledge regarding gastritis among late adolescence. A descriptive research design was used for the study. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analysed and the descriptive and inferential test was applied by using SPSS. The study finding revealed eighty percent of the participants knew the definition of gastritis,66% on risk factors, 50% respondents on causes, 23.7% on sign and symptom,56.66% on management and 48.5% respondents on complications, and 66.55% on prevention of gastritis. The level of knowledge is average in causes, signs and symptoms, management and complications. More specifically,68% of respondents had average knowledge on gastritis and 4% had excellent knowledge. The level of knowledge of respondents is statistically significant with sex (p=0.021) and socio-economic status (p=0.008). The finding of the study revealed that knowledge on gastritis is average among the respondents. So the health education is needed for students to increase their knowledge.

Geometry, kinematics, and magnitude of extension across the Thakkhola Graben, Central Nepal Himalaya

The Thakkhola Graben has been a region of geologic inquiry for many decades. Although it is widely viewed to be in a class of structures that are important in accommodating the three-dimensional strain within the Himalayan thrust wedge, we still lack a detailed understanding of the total finite strain accommodated by graben-bounding faults, as well as their shape and cross-cutting relationships with structures deeper in the thrust wedge. Using geologic mapping and structural analysis, we show that a suite of pre-extensional shortening structures is offset by normal-oblique faults bounding the Thakkhola Graben that we use to define a piercing line. We calculate these faults to have accommodated 8.7 kilometers of vertical thinning, 7.2 kilometers of arc-perpendicular shear, and only 2.2 kilometers of arc-parallel extension. The magnitude of arc-parallel extension is quite low compared to extensional structures to the west in the Gurla Mandhata-Humla region. The cross-cutting relationships established in this study and timing constraints determined by previous works are consistent with a structural history of crustal thickening leading to foreland propagation of the locus of arc-perpendicular shortening contemporaneous with hinterland extension.

A new record of the Emerald Striped Spreadwing Lestes viridulus Rambur, 1842 (Zygoptera: Lestidae) from Nepal

A study was carried out in the southern Terai of central Nepal. An odonatological survey was opportunistically conducted in the rice fields and their edges in September 2019. A Zygopteran species, Lestes viridulus is a new record for the country. The Agriocnemis femina and Ischnura nursei are recorded in new distribution ranges in Nepal.