Freezing–thawing indices serve as a comprehensive indicator of both the duration of the freezing/thawing periods and the degree of cold and heat in a given region.In-depth analysis of the freezing-thawing indices not...Freezing–thawing indices serve as a comprehensive indicator of both the duration of the freezing/thawing periods and the degree of cold and heat in a given region.In-depth analysis of the freezing-thawing indices not only enables the prediction of permafrost distribution and its dynamic changes,but also facilitates the assessment of damage risk to infrastructure under freeze-thaw action.In this paper,the air/ground freezing–thawing indices from 1987 to 2017,based on daily temperature observations from meteorological stations along the China–Nepal Highway(CNH),were calculated,and their spatial and temporal variation patterns were analyzed.The results showed that:(1)Both mean annual air temperature and mean annual ground surface temperature along the CNH fluctuated upward,with climate tendency rates of 0.43 and 0.52.C·(10a)~(-1),respectively;(2)The number of days with negative air temperature and ground temperature showed fluctuated downward,with change rates of-8.6 and-8.3 d·(10a)~(-1),respectively;(3)The ranges of air freezing index,air thawing index,ground freezing index,and ground thawing index over the years were 157.05-458.88°C·d,2034.20-2560.73°C·d,108.78-396.83°C·d,and 3515.25-4288.67°C·d,respectively.The climate tendency rates were-5.42,10.22,-6.79,and 12.14.C·d·a-1,respectively,showing a general warming trend;(4)The air freezing index,ground freezing index,and ground thawing index changed abruptly in 1999,2000,and 2002,respectively,evincing significant changes after 2002.The research results can provide a basis for the risk assessment of freezing–thawing erosion and the prevention and control of permafrost engineering diseases along the CNH.展开更多
Agriculture,significantly impacted by climate change and climate variability,serves as the primary livelihood for smallholder farmers in South Asia.This study aims to examine and evaluate the factors influencing small...Agriculture,significantly impacted by climate change and climate variability,serves as the primary livelihood for smallholder farmers in South Asia.This study aims to examine and evaluate the factors influencing smallholder farmers'adaptive capacity(AC)in addressing these risks through surveys from 633 households across Nepal,India,and Bangladesh.The findings reveal that AC is influenced by various indicators categorized under eight principal factors.The first three factors,which explain about one-third of the variance in each country,include distinct significant indicators for each nation:in Nepal,these indicators are landholding size,skill-development training,knowledge of improved seed varieties,number of income sources,access to markets,and access to financial institutions;in India,they encompass ac-cess to agricultural-input information,knowledge of seed varieties,access to markets,access to crop insurance,changing the sowing/harvesting times of crops,and access to financial ser-vices;in Bangladesh,the key factors are access to financial institutions,community coopera-tion,changing the sowing/harvesting times of crops,knowledge of improved seed varieties,and access to agricultural-input information.Notably,indicators such as trust in weather in-formation,changing sowing/harvesting times of crops,and crop insurance were identified as important determinants of AC,which have been overlooked in previous studies.展开更多
The inaugural"Belt and Road Nepal-China Buddhist Culture and Art Summit Forum"was held at the Lumbini Buddhist University in Nepal.The"Faxian-Xuanzang Scholarship Fund",jointly established by the C...The inaugural"Belt and Road Nepal-China Buddhist Culture and Art Summit Forum"was held at the Lumbini Buddhist University in Nepal.The"Faxian-Xuanzang Scholarship Fund",jointly established by the Chinese Culture Promotion Society and the Lumbini Buddhist University,was officially launched during the forum.The programme aims to support 100 Chinese and Nepali students in the next three years in conducting specialised research in such fields as Buddhist art and historical scripts.展开更多
Objective Overweight and obesity prevalence has increased in low-income countries.This study systematically reviewed the obesity trend,disparities,and prevention and control efforts in Nepal.Methods We searched PubMed...Objective Overweight and obesity prevalence has increased in low-income countries.This study systematically reviewed the obesity trend,disparities,and prevention and control efforts in Nepal.Methods We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for articles and reports published between January 1,2004 and December 31,2022.Additional information on National policies and programs related to obesity prevention was retrieved from governmental websites and consultation with relevant experts.Overweight and obesity were defined using the World Health Organization body mass index cut points.Thirty-two studies and reports were included.Results Overall,overweight and obesity rates increased in all groups in Nepal although nationally representative data remained limited.The combined overweight and obesity(OW/OB)and obesity rates in women aged 15-49 years increased from 8.5%to 22.2%and from 0.9%to 5.1%between 2006 and 2016,respectively.OW/OB and obesity rates in men were 17.1%and 2.5%based on data from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey.OW/OB rate in under-five children increased from 0.6%to 2.8%between 2006 and 2016.Obesity rates for school-age(5-9 years)boys and girls in 2016 were 2.4%and 2.8%,respectively,and were 1.1%and 1.4%for male and female adolescents aged 10-19 years,respectively.OW/OB prevalence was much higher among women,residents in urban areas and central provinces,and in higher socioeconomic status groups.Projected prevalence of OW/OB and obesity for 2030 in adults aged 15-49 was 44.7%and 8.3%,respectively,while it was 2.2%for OW/OB in preschool children.Policies and direct interventions that specifically focused on obesity prevention and control are limited.Conclusions OW/OB prevalence in Nepal has increased during the past 1.8 decades,disproportionately affecting population groups.Existing interventions mostly focused on undernutrition with some indirect implications for obesity prevention.In the future,Nepal needs to develop population-based programs for obesity prevention.展开更多
Aging is a natural lifelong process ending in death. Many older people are living in poverty. Older people are generally considered dependent on others as they grow older. The purpose of this article is to explore the...Aging is a natural lifelong process ending in death. Many older people are living in poverty. Older people are generally considered dependent on others as they grow older. The purpose of this article is to explore the entrepreneurship activities of Nepalese older adults. Data for this study were collected from the project Help Age International (HAI) implemented in Nepal. Qualitative data observations and interviews were used to collect data. The findings of this study show the formation of the Older People’s Association (OPA) has supported many older people to participate outside the home in various social activities. Moreover, regular deposits through OPAs offer little help. OPAs support older people in their need of financial support to implement minor entrepreneurship. Older people who received support were pleased and were actively involved in their activities and also regularly deposited money in them. Subsequently, older people’s participation in social activities has increased and also helped to lower elderly abuse, loneliness, and depression. Local governments should promote such activities which will help with healthy aging.展开更多
REDD+1is an economic incentivizing mechanism aimed at reducing or offsetting of carbon emissions in forests,while realizing multiple benefits alongside climate action. Engaging local stakeholders is crucial for its su...REDD+1is an economic incentivizing mechanism aimed at reducing or offsetting of carbon emissions in forests,while realizing multiple benefits alongside climate action. Engaging local stakeholders is crucial for its sustainable implementation and benefit-sharing mechanism. This study focuses on the knowledge and understanding of locallevel stakeholders about REDD+and its associated attributes, revealing significant knowledge gaps between areas with and without REDD+pilot activities. For this, we conducted the semi-structured questionnaire interviews(n=136), key informant interviews(n=27), and focus group discussions(n=4) with local-level REDD+stakeholders(LLRS) comprising both inside and outside of pilot project districts in three provinces of Nepal, by adopting the concept of socio-ecological systems(SES). Data were analyzed using a generalized linear model(GLM) and visualized through Sankey diagrams. The results indicate a poor understanding(29%) of LLRS on the REDD+process, its relationship with forests, concerns among stakeholders, and its potential significance. The perception of REDD+knowledge, mechanisms, and benefits significantly(p < 0.05) varied across study areas, age groups, genders, professional backgrounds, educational levels, ownership of private forests, and types of household energy sources used among respondents. Despite receiving readiness funds, stakeholders' comprehension of the REDD+process remains limited, indicating suboptimal policy implementation. Knowledge gaps were influenced by social background, voices and choices, and the fear of REDD+disrupting traditional practices among the LLRS. The study emphasizes the need to redress the concerns of LLRS by considering their social backgrounds and traditional practices through informed and participatory decision-making, enhance communication, transparency,and inclusive forest governance. The findings show that current external support has not sufficiently enhanced capacity among LLRS, suggesting the need for sufficient and sustainable support through national policy and financing mechanisms. Further, the study identified extremely poor REDD+-related knowledge dissemination within communities, exacerbating challenges in implementation and benefit-sharing mechanisms, revealing the simplification of its process is essential. The study advocates for revising REDD+-related policies to optimize benefits, ensure smooth implementation, realize fair and equitable carbon credits from forests, and foster shared responsibility and ownership among all stakeholders in climate actions through improved forest governance.展开更多
Dengue fever(DF)has become a major public health concern in Nepal,with increasing outbreaks in recent years.Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes,this climate-sensitive viral disease presents a significant challenge for hea...Dengue fever(DF)has become a major public health concern in Nepal,with increasing outbreaks in recent years.Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes,this climate-sensitive viral disease presents a significant challenge for healthcare providers and policymakers.Since 2004,Nepal has experienced a sharp increase in DF cases,peaking in 2022 with 54784 cases and 88 deaths.The surge,driven mainly by serotypes 1,2,and 3,is exacerbated by climate change,which prolongs mosquito breeding seasons due to warmer temperatures and increased rainfall.This trend has even impacted previously unaffected hilly regions.Effective dengue control strategies must focus on climate change adaptation,strengthening healthcare system reinforcement,raising public awareness,and enhancing vector control measures.Government initiatives,like the national dengue control program,play a critical role,but research and community engagement are also vital for prevention and early detection.Integrating climate resilience into public health efforts is essential to reducing the dengue burden in Nepal.展开更多
Colistin sulfate is an antibiotic in the polymyxin family that is utilized as a last-resort therapy for septicemia in humans caused by multidrugresistant infections.However,its indiscriminate use in veterinary practic...Colistin sulfate is an antibiotic in the polymyxin family that is utilized as a last-resort therapy for septicemia in humans caused by multidrugresistant infections.However,its indiscriminate use in veterinary practices poses an increasingly significant risk to the development of colistin resistance and its detrimental effects on public health.Colistin is still widely used in animals for treatment,metaphylaxis,prophylaxis,and growth promotion despite being designated a critically important antimicrobial for human medicine by the World Health Organization(WHO)[1].In this correspondence,our objective is to examine the repercussions stemming from the illicit use of colistin in livestock and poultry in Nepal.展开更多
China and Nepal deepen cooperation to promote traditional medicine across the Himalayan region.THE Himalayan region features a rich mosaic of cultures that are distinct yet deeply intertwined.Traditional medicine,a co...China and Nepal deepen cooperation to promote traditional medicine across the Himalayan region.THE Himalayan region features a rich mosaic of cultures that are distinct yet deeply intertwined.Traditional medicine,a common treasure of human civilization,has deep roots in this region.展开更多
Blacksmiths in Nepal are marginalized and disadvantaged occupational caste, however, very popular for their handicraft works mainly in making iron tools and equipments. With the advancement of technology, there have b...Blacksmiths in Nepal are marginalized and disadvantaged occupational caste, however, very popular for their handicraft works mainly in making iron tools and equipments. With the advancement of technology, there have been many innovative technologies in many other sectors, but blacksmiths in Nepal are still dependent on their indigenous and conventional practices which have direct negative consequences for environment, biodiversity conservation and health. Recently, improved charcoal production technology has been implemented among the 77 blacksmith households in Sindhupalchowk district as a pilot project. However, there is little research about the impact of improved charcoal production on forest resources conservation and people＇s livelihoods. This study therefore made an effort to explore the impact of improved charcoal production technology and firewood consumption on conserving the environment and promoting sustainable livelihood of marginalized households in rural areas of Nepal. Findings of the study revealed that improved charcoal production technology has positive impacts on forest tree conservation by reducing the fuel wood consumption up to 40% with 60% energy efficiency as compared to the traditional system. The improved charcoal production pilot project has reduced annual CO2, CH4 and CO emissions in the study area by 2.4-3.1, 3.3-4.3 and 2.6-3.5 tons, respectively. Furthermore, improved charcoal production system increases blacksmiths＇ welfare through generating social, human and economic capital and quality attributes like environmental sustainability. Introducing improved charcoal production and controlling heavy firewood collection at rural villages of Nepal will help to increase carbon sequestration and reduce the sources of carbon emission in context of global climate change.展开更多
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(Grant No.2021QZKK0202)Shaanxi Provincial Youth Science and Technology Rising Star Project(No.2022KJXX-85)+3 种基金Key Scientific Research Project of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education(No.22JS041)Youth Innovation Team Research Project of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education(Nos.22JP099,21JP137)The Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi Universitiesthe Support Program for Outstanding Young Talents of Shaanxi Universities(Dr.Tao Luo)。
文摘Freezing–thawing indices serve as a comprehensive indicator of both the duration of the freezing/thawing periods and the degree of cold and heat in a given region.In-depth analysis of the freezing-thawing indices not only enables the prediction of permafrost distribution and its dynamic changes,but also facilitates the assessment of damage risk to infrastructure under freeze-thaw action.In this paper,the air/ground freezing–thawing indices from 1987 to 2017,based on daily temperature observations from meteorological stations along the China–Nepal Highway(CNH),were calculated,and their spatial and temporal variation patterns were analyzed.The results showed that:(1)Both mean annual air temperature and mean annual ground surface temperature along the CNH fluctuated upward,with climate tendency rates of 0.43 and 0.52.C·(10a)~(-1),respectively;(2)The number of days with negative air temperature and ground temperature showed fluctuated downward,with change rates of-8.6 and-8.3 d·(10a)~(-1),respectively;(3)The ranges of air freezing index,air thawing index,ground freezing index,and ground thawing index over the years were 157.05-458.88°C·d,2034.20-2560.73°C·d,108.78-396.83°C·d,and 3515.25-4288.67°C·d,respectively.The climate tendency rates were-5.42,10.22,-6.79,and 12.14.C·d·a-1,respectively,showing a general warming trend;(4)The air freezing index,ground freezing index,and ground thawing index changed abruptly in 1999,2000,and 2002,respectively,evincing significant changes after 2002.The research results can provide a basis for the risk assessment of freezing–thawing erosion and the prevention and control of permafrost engineering diseases along the CNH.
基金The Alliance of International Science Organizations(ANSO),No.ANSO-CR-PP-2021-06The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research,No.2019QZKK0603。
文摘Agriculture,significantly impacted by climate change and climate variability,serves as the primary livelihood for smallholder farmers in South Asia.This study aims to examine and evaluate the factors influencing smallholder farmers'adaptive capacity(AC)in addressing these risks through surveys from 633 households across Nepal,India,and Bangladesh.The findings reveal that AC is influenced by various indicators categorized under eight principal factors.The first three factors,which explain about one-third of the variance in each country,include distinct significant indicators for each nation:in Nepal,these indicators are landholding size,skill-development training,knowledge of improved seed varieties,number of income sources,access to markets,and access to financial institutions;in India,they encompass ac-cess to agricultural-input information,knowledge of seed varieties,access to markets,access to crop insurance,changing the sowing/harvesting times of crops,and access to financial ser-vices;in Bangladesh,the key factors are access to financial institutions,community coopera-tion,changing the sowing/harvesting times of crops,knowledge of improved seed varieties,and access to agricultural-input information.Notably,indicators such as trust in weather in-formation,changing sowing/harvesting times of crops,and crop insurance were identified as important determinants of AC,which have been overlooked in previous studies.
文摘The inaugural"Belt and Road Nepal-China Buddhist Culture and Art Summit Forum"was held at the Lumbini Buddhist University in Nepal.The"Faxian-Xuanzang Scholarship Fund",jointly established by the Chinese Culture Promotion Society and the Lumbini Buddhist University,was officially launched during the forum.The programme aims to support 100 Chinese and Nepali students in the next three years in conducting specialised research in such fields as Buddhist art and historical scripts.
基金This study was funded by the research grants from the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province of China(2022SF-125 and 2021ZDLSF02-14).
文摘Objective Overweight and obesity prevalence has increased in low-income countries.This study systematically reviewed the obesity trend,disparities,and prevention and control efforts in Nepal.Methods We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for articles and reports published between January 1,2004 and December 31,2022.Additional information on National policies and programs related to obesity prevention was retrieved from governmental websites and consultation with relevant experts.Overweight and obesity were defined using the World Health Organization body mass index cut points.Thirty-two studies and reports were included.Results Overall,overweight and obesity rates increased in all groups in Nepal although nationally representative data remained limited.The combined overweight and obesity(OW/OB)and obesity rates in women aged 15-49 years increased from 8.5%to 22.2%and from 0.9%to 5.1%between 2006 and 2016,respectively.OW/OB and obesity rates in men were 17.1%and 2.5%based on data from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey.OW/OB rate in under-five children increased from 0.6%to 2.8%between 2006 and 2016.Obesity rates for school-age(5-9 years)boys and girls in 2016 were 2.4%and 2.8%,respectively,and were 1.1%and 1.4%for male and female adolescents aged 10-19 years,respectively.OW/OB prevalence was much higher among women,residents in urban areas and central provinces,and in higher socioeconomic status groups.Projected prevalence of OW/OB and obesity for 2030 in adults aged 15-49 was 44.7%and 8.3%,respectively,while it was 2.2%for OW/OB in preschool children.Policies and direct interventions that specifically focused on obesity prevention and control are limited.Conclusions OW/OB prevalence in Nepal has increased during the past 1.8 decades,disproportionately affecting population groups.Existing interventions mostly focused on undernutrition with some indirect implications for obesity prevention.In the future,Nepal needs to develop population-based programs for obesity prevention.
文摘Aging is a natural lifelong process ending in death. Many older people are living in poverty. Older people are generally considered dependent on others as they grow older. The purpose of this article is to explore the entrepreneurship activities of Nepalese older adults. Data for this study were collected from the project Help Age International (HAI) implemented in Nepal. Qualitative data observations and interviews were used to collect data. The findings of this study show the formation of the Older People’s Association (OPA) has supported many older people to participate outside the home in various social activities. Moreover, regular deposits through OPAs offer little help. OPAs support older people in their need of financial support to implement minor entrepreneurship. Older people who received support were pleased and were actively involved in their activities and also regularly deposited money in them. Subsequently, older people’s participation in social activities has increased and also helped to lower elderly abuse, loneliness, and depression. Local governments should promote such activities which will help with healthy aging.
文摘REDD+1is an economic incentivizing mechanism aimed at reducing or offsetting of carbon emissions in forests,while realizing multiple benefits alongside climate action. Engaging local stakeholders is crucial for its sustainable implementation and benefit-sharing mechanism. This study focuses on the knowledge and understanding of locallevel stakeholders about REDD+and its associated attributes, revealing significant knowledge gaps between areas with and without REDD+pilot activities. For this, we conducted the semi-structured questionnaire interviews(n=136), key informant interviews(n=27), and focus group discussions(n=4) with local-level REDD+stakeholders(LLRS) comprising both inside and outside of pilot project districts in three provinces of Nepal, by adopting the concept of socio-ecological systems(SES). Data were analyzed using a generalized linear model(GLM) and visualized through Sankey diagrams. The results indicate a poor understanding(29%) of LLRS on the REDD+process, its relationship with forests, concerns among stakeholders, and its potential significance. The perception of REDD+knowledge, mechanisms, and benefits significantly(p < 0.05) varied across study areas, age groups, genders, professional backgrounds, educational levels, ownership of private forests, and types of household energy sources used among respondents. Despite receiving readiness funds, stakeholders' comprehension of the REDD+process remains limited, indicating suboptimal policy implementation. Knowledge gaps were influenced by social background, voices and choices, and the fear of REDD+disrupting traditional practices among the LLRS. The study emphasizes the need to redress the concerns of LLRS by considering their social backgrounds and traditional practices through informed and participatory decision-making, enhance communication, transparency,and inclusive forest governance. The findings show that current external support has not sufficiently enhanced capacity among LLRS, suggesting the need for sufficient and sustainable support through national policy and financing mechanisms. Further, the study identified extremely poor REDD+-related knowledge dissemination within communities, exacerbating challenges in implementation and benefit-sharing mechanisms, revealing the simplification of its process is essential. The study advocates for revising REDD+-related policies to optimize benefits, ensure smooth implementation, realize fair and equitable carbon credits from forests, and foster shared responsibility and ownership among all stakeholders in climate actions through improved forest governance.
文摘Dengue fever(DF)has become a major public health concern in Nepal,with increasing outbreaks in recent years.Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes,this climate-sensitive viral disease presents a significant challenge for healthcare providers and policymakers.Since 2004,Nepal has experienced a sharp increase in DF cases,peaking in 2022 with 54784 cases and 88 deaths.The surge,driven mainly by serotypes 1,2,and 3,is exacerbated by climate change,which prolongs mosquito breeding seasons due to warmer temperatures and increased rainfall.This trend has even impacted previously unaffected hilly regions.Effective dengue control strategies must focus on climate change adaptation,strengthening healthcare system reinforcement,raising public awareness,and enhancing vector control measures.Government initiatives,like the national dengue control program,play a critical role,but research and community engagement are also vital for prevention and early detection.Integrating climate resilience into public health efforts is essential to reducing the dengue burden in Nepal.
文摘Colistin sulfate is an antibiotic in the polymyxin family that is utilized as a last-resort therapy for septicemia in humans caused by multidrugresistant infections.However,its indiscriminate use in veterinary practices poses an increasingly significant risk to the development of colistin resistance and its detrimental effects on public health.Colistin is still widely used in animals for treatment,metaphylaxis,prophylaxis,and growth promotion despite being designated a critically important antimicrobial for human medicine by the World Health Organization(WHO)[1].In this correspondence,our objective is to examine the repercussions stemming from the illicit use of colistin in livestock and poultry in Nepal.
文摘China and Nepal deepen cooperation to promote traditional medicine across the Himalayan region.THE Himalayan region features a rich mosaic of cultures that are distinct yet deeply intertwined.Traditional medicine,a common treasure of human civilization,has deep roots in this region.
文摘Blacksmiths in Nepal are marginalized and disadvantaged occupational caste, however, very popular for their handicraft works mainly in making iron tools and equipments. With the advancement of technology, there have been many innovative technologies in many other sectors, but blacksmiths in Nepal are still dependent on their indigenous and conventional practices which have direct negative consequences for environment, biodiversity conservation and health. Recently, improved charcoal production technology has been implemented among the 77 blacksmith households in Sindhupalchowk district as a pilot project. However, there is little research about the impact of improved charcoal production on forest resources conservation and people＇s livelihoods. This study therefore made an effort to explore the impact of improved charcoal production technology and firewood consumption on conserving the environment and promoting sustainable livelihood of marginalized households in rural areas of Nepal. Findings of the study revealed that improved charcoal production technology has positive impacts on forest tree conservation by reducing the fuel wood consumption up to 40% with 60% energy efficiency as compared to the traditional system. The improved charcoal production pilot project has reduced annual CO2, CH4 and CO emissions in the study area by 2.4-3.1, 3.3-4.3 and 2.6-3.5 tons, respectively. Furthermore, improved charcoal production system increases blacksmiths＇ welfare through generating social, human and economic capital and quality attributes like environmental sustainability. Introducing improved charcoal production and controlling heavy firewood collection at rural villages of Nepal will help to increase carbon sequestration and reduce the sources of carbon emission in context of global climate change.
