Nepal Himalayas

One Hundred New Species of Lichens Described in a Single Paper by 103 Authors

2012-01-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

I am excited to read the publication on 100 new lichen species in a single paper, equally contributed by 103 authors from around the world. Thanks to the Lichenologists, who shaped their findings in this good form.

Lobariella sipmanii_Photo by J. Jarman

Regarding the exploration of Lichens flora in Nepal, still a long way to go. Thousands of species are still waiting for their taxonomic treatment and dozens of species are extracted from the forest with the business point of view. So, research and management measures are demanding. I am sure that, further research on Lichens in Nepal, will bring good numbers of species new to science. As Nepal is cradle of biodiversity, we could expect good numbers of lichens.

But unfortunately, very few researches on lichens were made in Nepal. Since last year, under CDB-WSL Programme (Collaborative programme between Tribhuvan University-Nepal and WSL- Switzerland), we are collecting large numbers of species from Manaslu, Sagarmatha and Kanchenjunga areas. Now we have collected food numbers of various lichens and also interesting species of Lobaria and Stica.

The publication which made me fascinated is as below. This is copied from the website of The Field Museum. http://fieldmuseum.org/users/thorsten-lumbsch/blog/one-hundred-new-lichen-species-described

Biologists estimate our planet to harbor between 10 and 100 million species. Only about 2.2 million of these have been discovered and described. These include approximately 100,000 fungi (including lichens) but the true number of fungi and lichens is estimated between 750,000 and 1.5 million. At this rate of discovery, it might seem impossible that the remaining species ever be described. Taxonomists have long recognized this problem and are looking for innovative strategies to get at least part of the work done as quickly as possible. International collaboration is the key to this effort, whereas in the past, taxonomists mostly worked in small groups or as single authors.

Organized by lichenologists Thorsten Lumbsch and Robert Lücking from the Field Museum in Chicago, the international lichenological community made an effort to describe one hundred new lichen species in a single paper.

Lichens, intriguing symbiotic associations between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria, stick out by their capability to colonize almost any substrate in a wide range of terrestrial and even marine ecosystems and by their uses as bioindicators of environmental health and in the pharmaceutical industry.

The 100 new species described by Lumbsch et al. in their multi-authored paper in the most recent volume of Phytotaxa sounds like a drop in the bucket, but this is the first paper ever to describe so many species in a single publication by a multitude of authors, 102 to be exact. In fact, this is the largest number of authors ever to be united in a lichenological publication, and colleagues from all continents contributed to this work.

The 100 new species originate from no less than 37 different countries around the globe, including such illustrious places as the Galapagos Islands, Panama, Fiji, Kenya, Tasmania, and Antarctica. But new species are continuously discovered even in the well-known regions of North America and Europe.

The authors believe that such multi-authored papers might help to describe the remaining undiscovered species more quickly. The authors also hope that such papers help to make the public aware that there is a huge amount of species still undiscovered There is also an increasing effort to train young scientists in tropical countries rich in biodiversity but with limited scientific resources; many of these have contributed with discoveries of new species and are co-authors of this paper.

My Yahoo Account has been Hacked

2012-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog readers and Friends,

So sad to inform you, my yahoo email devkotashiva@yahoo.com has been hacked by someone stupid.

So please use♦ shivadevkota12@yahoo.com or shiva.devkota@gmail.com for the further correspondances.

Thank you,

How to Identify Lichens?

2012-01-01T02:07:00.000-08:00

Looking after the research scenario in Nepal, Lichens (Jhyauu / Jhulo /Tarey /Yangben) are poorly investigated. The cause behind this is, we have limited numbers of Lichenologists working on it and very often foreign scientists made researches in Nepal. The study on lichens demand more insights on their identification procedures. Essentials chemicals, labs and recent techniques are crucial for this kind of studies. In most of the European and American countries, they have lichenological societies and they are doing good in providing training, lab studies and bringing out lots of interesting publications.

I have found very interesting weblink to know the basic procedures in identification of the lichens. I hope you will love to read it.

Please follow the link

http://www.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/sahyadri_enews/newsletter/issue16/identify.htm

Every Happiness be Always with You in 2012

2011-12-31T17:53:00.000-08:00

Dear All My Blog Viewers, I wish you Happy New Year 2012. This is one of my best photo from my this visit to Switzerland. I was lucky to click this photo in a sunny day from Albis Pass, nearby Zurich.

Poor Lichens (Jhyauu in Nepali) - Wealthy Politicians : Bitter Reality from Nepal

2011-12-22T08:41:00.000-08:00


Lobaria pindarensis-Photo by Shiva Devkota

In July 2010, I was visiting Western and Far-Western parts of Nepal (Nepalganj (Banke), Bardia, Kailali, Kanchenupur, Mahendranagar, Doti and Dadheldura) together with my two colleagues Mr Rabindra Parajuli and Mr Khem Kandel. The prime objective was to make study on different parameters (Sociological and Ecological) of Lichens. In Nepal lichens is called Jhyau, Tarey , Jhulo and Rai, Limbu and Sherpa people call it Yangben.

Everniastrum nepalense - Photo by Shiva Devkota

Why the discussion on Lichens after almost a year? yes, its obvious. In coming January 9-13, 2012, I am attending International Licheonological Symposium, at Bankok and delivering paper on "Trade and Traditonal Knowledge of Lichens in Nepal Himalayas" together with my professor Prof. Christoph Schedeigger from WSL, Switzerland, under whose supervision I am doing PhD since last almost a year. My PhD is not related with this ethnic and trade concept, but in my last frequent visits in Sagarmatha (Everest), Manaslu, and Kanchenjunga (Olangchugola) I have collected sufficient information on ethnolichenology and trade patterns.

Heterodermia leucomila - Photo by Shiva Devkota

While I am preparing my PowerPoint, and planning to prepare a research paper to submit in any of the ISI journal, I am getting excited with the realities behind the lichens in Nepal. Though it is called Jhyauu - infact it is much more important bio resource from the sociological and ecological aspects. In the name of management of lichens, there are many fragile rules and regulations in Nepal. So, pity is that, with the development of consensus among the players, sometimes government even lift the ban of lichen export. I am not saying that it is not good to harvest the lichens, but there must be some guidelines, stock estimation and market set up. The gap between real collectors and traders should be minimized for the equitable benefit sharing.

Freshly collected lichens- for the Kitchen - Photo:S Devkota

I was aware that, while I was in Nepalganj, my colleague SANAM introduced me with some traders, and provided a way to look their stores. Oh my God, store was with full of lichens and they were looking for the possibilities to send the lichens in India through illegal ways. Yaa, its common and every conservationists, every government staffs either from District Forest Offices of the respective districts or cadres of local level political parties - they all are aware about that.

Pure stand of Lobaria japonica, by SD

Businessmans know very well, when the government is going to lift the ban. It is really a surprise, and later on same things will happen. It seems that they are a key to open the padlock of government in getting permission for the short time. Once they made export of all the lichens, then government used to ban the lichens. What a Pity??

The news published in Myrepublica.com might be interesting reading to you as well:

Ban lift on lichen export unauthorized: CIAA
	BIMAL GAUTAM KATHMANDU, Sept 10: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has concluded that the decision taken by former Forest Minister Bhanu Bhakta Joshi to lift the ban on export of lichen worth Rs 42. 5 million was unauthorized. Minister Joshi, in his capacity as a caretaker minister had decided to export 170,000 kilograms of lichen flouting the provisions of a gazette that had banned lichen export. “We seized important documents and found that ex-minister Joshi had taken the decision for personal benefit,” said CIAA Secretary Bhagwati Kafle. The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) had banned export of lichen a year ago by publishing a gazette following a study that highlighted the adverse effects on biodiversity of such reckless exports. Minister Joshi had decided to lift the ban for six months despite objections from MoFSC officials. “As per our investigation, Minister Joshi had decided to lift the ban simply to serve his personal interests,” said another CIAA source, adding, “We didn´t find any genuine logic behind the decision.” Lichen is a grey, green or yellow plant-like organism that grows on trees, rocks and walls and is used for manufacturing herbal medicines and colors. According to experts, the herb is sold for at least Rs 250 per kg in India and China. “Minister Joshi had claimed that the poor can benefit if the lichen in question is exported,” said CIAA source, adding, “However, his arguments are not convincing. We found him instead of trying to take an advantage in the name of the poor.” Smelling rat over the deal, the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ) had rejected Minister Joshi´s proposal. Minister Joshi had forwarded his decision paper at MoLJ seeking the latter´s approval to publish his decision in a gazette. As per the existing legal system, a minister needs to get the consent of the law ministry to publish his decision in a gazette and publish it before it gets implemented.

Published on 2011-09-10 02:30:58

Mushrooms in Swiss Departmental Stores : The Flash Back of Nepalese Scenario

2011-12-19T13:36:00.000-08:00

Morchella (Morels) Mushrooms in the Deparment Stores
at Birmensdorf, Switzerland @ Shiva Devkota

Being a mushrooms lover, I am pleased to find Agaricus and Morchella (Morels) mushrooms in the supermarket nearby our WSL guest house. As compared to Nepal, price of Agaricus (called Dalley chyau or Gobrey chyau in Nepal) is expensive but Morchella or morels (Guchhi chyau / Mattheura in Nepali) is very cheap. Another interesting feature is even in this season we can buy wild mushrooms here.

Agaricus (Dalley Chyau) mushrooms
in sell (1 Swiss Frank = NRs 90 only)
@ Shiva Devkota

Prof Dr Senn Beatrice, a well known wild mushrooms expert from Switzerland is also working in the same department, where I am doing my research work. In my last visit, while we were discussing about the poisoning cases in Switzerland, she expressed her happiness in finding the regulating and monitoring centers in different corners of Switzerland. Collectors can bring their samples to test, if they got confused regarding edible or poisonous mushrooms. So, almost no chance to eat poisonous mushrooms in Switzerland.

In Nepal, annually more than 50 mushrooms collectors are loosing their life, simply due to poisonous mushrooms. Its so pity to us. Still the Nepal Government and high level research institutes are not paying attention in these serious issues. Proper research and awareness programmes are still lacking in Nepal.

Wild mushrooms in sell at Denner Supermaket,
Birmensdorf, nearby Zurich @ Shiva Devkota

I am trying to disseminate the knowledge on edible and poisonous mushrooms of Nepal in different forms like short papers, media interviews and research paper publications and presentations. It really hurts with the poisoning cases.

Myself: I love this picture very much.
It was taken at nearby Dakshinkali in 2005
while I was preparing my M.Sc.
dissertation on mushrooms. Indigenous

knowledge is the only a way to identify edible
and poisonous mushrooms in Nepal.

Today while visiting nearby market, I really impressed with the systems. I hope and wish we could also start this kind of packaging and marketing system of wild mushrooms in Nepal. If you have some ideas and concepts to work in Nepalese wild mushrooms either in Diversity, Ecology, Ethnomycology, Cultivation and Marketing, Domestication of Wild mushrooms, please feel free to write me shiva.devkota@gmail.com. I would be pleased to provide the information whatever I compiled in last 8 years of my research period. We can work together in various aspects of mushrooms and such research are still awaiting.

Mobile Craze : iPhone 4s or Samsung Galaxy or Android (HTC Desire)???

2011-12-19T10:17:00.000-08:00


Finally I decided to go with this HTC Deisre,,,

Last week I was getting crazy to purchase new cellular phone. Together with my colleagues Jyoti Gajurel and Sanjeev Rai, we were roaming around the main train station of Zurich. Our mentor Dr Michael Nobis, prominent researcher of WSL, Switzerland suggested us to visit Bahanofstrasse, Zurich. This street is among the most expensive street in the world for the shopping...he was inspiring us to visit once.

We visited there too. In bahnofstrasse, there is very famous shop for the iPhone lovers. We reached there. Oh my god, shop was crowded with full of customers. Whether to go for iPhone or Samsung Galaxy or HTC androids. We stuckked! It was hard to made decision. Finally we have HTC Desire. This is simply the best and superb with many wonderful applications.

The craze with Apple mobile is simply overwhelming. But this news reflected some flash. Samsung Galaxy is in the frontiers in delivering the mobiles.

According to the Associated Press in New York : For the first time, Samsung Electronics Co. shipped more smartphones in the latest quarter than tech industry darling Apple Inc. On the surface, this may look like a big upset in a world that affords the iPhone maker adulation and outsized expectations. The real reason, however, has more to do with timing and Samsung's variety of offerings and prices.

Apple sold 17.1 million iPhones in the third quarter, 3 million fewer than expected. Samsung, meanwhile, shipped more than 27 million, according to analyst estimates.

So what happened? For one, Apple's latest iPhone, the 4S, didn't come out until the quarter ended, so its sales are not included in the figure. People held back on buying older models in anticipation of the new iPhone, which came out Oct. 14. Apple said it sold more than 4 million units in its first weekend on sale, and that should be reflected in the tally for the current, holiday quarter.

"People were waiting," said Francis Sideco, analyst with the research firm IHS. "We don't see this as a signal that Apple is all of a sudden losing its edge. It's their normal thing. But while they are doing this normal thing, Samsung is (going strong) and they happen to have a really good quarter."

Samsung's quarter was helped by strong sales of its Galaxy phones, though Sideco said the numbers shouldn't lead to the conclusion that the Samsung Galaxy beat the Apple iPhone.

"What beat it is Samsung's lines," Sideco said.

Besides the Galaxy line, Samsung's phones include Conquer, Replenish, Focus and Indulge. IHS estimates that Samsung sold about 40 different models during the third quarter. By comparison, Apple had just two — the 4 and the 3GS.

Samsung, which is based in Seoul, South Korea, does not disclose the number of phones it ships. IHS, formerly known as iSuppli, estimates that Samsung shipped 27.3 million smartphones in the latest quarter. Jae Lee from Daiwa Securities puts the figure at about 28 million.

Analysts cautioned against reading too much into the numbers, but such comparisons are tempting given the pedestal that Apple is held on and the fact that the rivalry between the two companies has heated up and extended into the courtroom. Apple says the product design, user interface and packaging of Samsung's Galaxy devices "slavishly copy" the iPhone and Apple's iPad tablet computer. Samsung fought back with lawsuits of its own, accusing Apple of patent infringement of its wireless telecommunications technology.

Even as Samsung sold more phones, Apple seems to be making more money on each. That's one of the reasons Apple is now the most valuable tech company in the world, with a market value about three times that of Samsung.

Apple competes on — and dominates — the high-end smartphone market. By contrast, Samsung has both cheap and expensive phones available. That means Samsung can appeal to a broader range of customers, but the company has to settle for a lower profit margin on lower-end smartphones.

Sideco called both strategies good. Good, but different.

Apple, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., limits the market it addresses because it is safeguarding its profit margin on the iPhone, said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi. More expensive phones mean higher margins for the company, which so far hasn't focused on the market for lower-end phones.

"It's part of their plan," Milanesi said. "If they wanted to capture a wider segment of the market, they would go with a lower-end device."

That could come soon. The price cut earlier this month for the iPhone 4 to $99 (down from $199) and the decision to offer now-ancient 3GS for free — with a two-year service contract — could mean that Apple is testing the waters in the cheaper market.

"The sales of the $99 iPhone 4 will definitely help widen the addressable market," Milanesi said.

When it comes to the overall mobile phone market, though neither Apple nor Samsung are on top. That honor goes to Nokia Corp. The Finnish company is still the world's No. 1 cellphone maker even though it has fallen behind rivals in the smartphone market. Nokia shipped 16.8 million smartphones during the third quarter, a close third to Apple, according to IHS.

New Book Chapter on Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Yarsagumba) from Nepal Himalayas: Status, Threats and Management Strategies

2011-12-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

Please cite this paper as:

Devkota, S. 2010. Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Yarsagumba) from Nepal Himalaya: Status, Threats and Management Strategies. In, Cordyceps Resources and Environment (Zhang Ping Hao-wei ed.), Grassland Supervision Center by the Ministry of Agriculture, People‟s Republic of China. pp. 91-108. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02596.

Dear All, If You Want to Know Something More about This Fascinating Fungus, Please Feel Free to Write me shiva.devkota@gmail.com / shiva.devkota@wsl.ch

Price of Caterpillar Fungus / Yarsagumba - Himalayan Viagra ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis) Reached NRs 20,33,280 Per KG : What a Crazy!

2011-03-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

Wanna Buy Caterpillar Fungs / Yarsagumba

I really wondered when I encountered with the news posted in www.nypost.com regarding Caterpillar Fungus (Yarsagumba or Yarchagunbu) price. New Yorkers are getting US$ 800 per ounce (35.3 Ounces = 1 Kilograms) for dried Yarsagumba. It means they are getting approx US$ 28240 or NRs 20,33,280 per kg. ( US$ 1 = NRs 72).What a crazy price and crazy fungus lovers!. This really forces me to think many times regarding Nepalese Yarsagumba, market scenario in Nepal and real benefits getting by the real collectors : Collectors from the remote highlands of Nepal.

In spite of being the main source of income for the rural mountain inhabitants ,Nepal Government, and many Research Organizations in Nepal are not paying clear attention for this Himalayan treasure or Yellow Living Gold. We are already late for the sustainable management of resource and market setup for the collected amounts. It would be really praiseworthy to take immediate actions for the further research, exploration and management of the Caterpillar Fungus of Nepal Himalaya. In this moment, I am missing Dolpa and Dolpali people very much, where I spend my two years of research days, looking from the basic things associated with the livelihoods and upto making understanding on the ecological parameters associated with this fungus. I would be really pleased to provide any sorts of information from my own experience, sharing of research ideas, findings and publications from my side. Please feel free to contact or write me at shiva.devkota@gmail.com

Same lines posted in the nypost.com are pasted in the text below:


Caterpillar Fungus in Sell : Market Ceter at Xining, China

It's a stiff price to pay for a fungus-encrusted silkworm. But New Yorkers are gladly shelling out $800 an ounce for these dried dead bodies -- and the sexual prowess they promise.

The vile virility remedy known as "Himalayan Viagra" works a little differently from the blue pill. There's no immediate reaction, but sprinkle them on your corn flakes every morning and users swear it'll make your bedsprings bounce. The wonder drug -- called "yarsagumba" or "dong chong xia cao" -- can also be brewed into an anti-impotence tea.

The insects come from the highlands of Nepal, where they are attacked by a beige fungus, cordyceps sinensis, that kills and entombs them. "It's like the ultimate invasion of the body snatchers," said Thomas Leung, owner of Kamwo, a Chinese herbal pharmacy on Grand Street. Hoping to resurrect their love lives, older men are blowing wads of cash on the creepy caterpillar cocktails. "It would cost you about $200 per serving," Leung said.

Leung remembers the ingredient selling for a mere $6.50 decades ago, but the price has rocketed to half the price of gold in recent years. "It's hard to come by, and the demand for it is very high because of there's a lot of hype," he said. The infected worms are picked by peasants during the summer in isolated villages along the Annapurna trail. Schools shut down for the lucrative picking season so children can join the hunt for the expensive aphrodisiac. But where there's sex and money, violence can't be far behind. Competition for the cash crop between remote mountain towns has turned bloody, with mobs murdering poachers. In June 2009, a mob of 65 villagers from the Menang clan in Nar bludgeoned seven poachers from a neighboring Gorkha tribe. The Nar men -- one from each household -- first slew two rivals with primitive tools and tossed their bodies into a crevasse. Then the gang ripped another five encroachers to pieces and cold-heartedly discarded them. Next month a verdict is expected to come down for 35 men charged in the crime.

Leung believes local interest in the mystical worm is based more on folklore than on serious Eastern medicine.
The sweet-tasting substance is commonly used in formulas to treat chronic asthma and is a centuries-old remedy for lung and kidney health, he said. "The kidneys are responsible for sexual and reproductive functions, so people kind of stretch that and say, 'Well if you consume this, you'll have that,' " he said.

"Very few people who sell this are going to tell you that, because they want to keep the hype up," he added.
Leung said the ingredient is peddled in cheaper supplements and the fungus has been synthetically duplicated.
But he's no snake-oil salesman. "People always ask, 'Is it really that good?' " he said. "And I say, 'It's not $800 good.' "

Treeline shifting up in mountains of Nepal Himalayas : Report

2011-03-08T20:05:00.000-08:00

The signal of climate change in tree-line vegetation has been observed in the mountainous part of the Manaslu region in the country with the timberline moving upward in a decade, says a new report of National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).

The timberline can be considered a visible ecological boundary and shows a strong link between the various climatic parameters. The tree-line vegetation in high altitude is highly sensitive to climate change and can be used as a suitable indicator to detect changes of past and recent climate variability. The findings of the preliminary study carried out on two dominant tree species in the upper range in the mountain part of Manaslu Conservation Area showed that the tree species namely Abies spectabilis (East Himalayan Fir) and Betula utilis (Bhojpatra) were shifting upward at a faster rate than the maximum natural rate in the last 10 years.

The study on 'Treeline Dynamic with Climate Change: A study in Manaslu Region, Nepal Himalaya' carried out by researchers at NAST from May 22 to June 11, 2010 showed that Abies Spectabilis is shifting at a rate between 1.5 metres and 3.4 metres a year.

Earlier, the Abies treeline was found to be at 3,907 metres above seal level while now the upward shift of these tree species has been found at 3,984 metres. Meanwhile, the findings of the study on similar Abies spectabilis tree species carried out in Sankhuwasabha district in 2009 showed that treeline vegetation is shifting at a faster rate—at 23 metres in ten years in the southern aspect while it was 17 meter in the same period in the northern aspect. Dinesh Raj Bhuju, chief of Science Faculty at NAST, said the impact of climate change is more pronounced and sensitive in the high altitude regions especially in the mountainous environment. "Due to climate change, shifting of treeline is becoming a global phenomenon and Nepal can't be an exception. The upward migration of Abies spectabilis might be due to climatic warming observed in the past decades," he said. The final findings on whether the changes observed in tree-line vegetation in the upper forest due to climate change or precipitation variability or both will be soon published in a month period, Bhuju said.

Meanwhile, the study shows that the regeneration of Abies spectabilis is found higher and better while regeneration of Betula utilis is very low, which means the dominance and adaptability of Abies species is favourable compared with Betula species. Studies have shown that the alpine species which are adapted to survive in cold conditions are underscored by the change in global temperature. The species from the lower elevation are extending their territory to higher altitudes; in fact it brings competition to high altitude species.

The preliminary results of the study also shows the invasion of Abies treeline in the area which was earlier habituated by Betula utilis. The Betula treeline is slowing, being invaded by Abies treeline, which means increasing temperature is less favorable to Betula tree species than to Abies, according to Narayan Prasad Gaire, researcher at NAST. The final findings will be shared after the dendrochronological analysis of tree species studied in Manaslu area that will be completed next month, he added.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/03/08/top-story/treeline-shifting-up-in-mountains/330631.html

Does Someone Know if the Truffle Mushrooms is Collected from Nepal? Let's Explore the Potentiality to Work Together

2011-01-19T02:39:00.000-08:00

European Black Truffle - Photo Anonymous

Since almost last two weeks, I am wondering about the availability of peculiar and interesting type of mushrooms in Nepal that is called TRUFFLE. If I am not wrong, till date no one made report on this mushrooms from Nepal Himalaya. Three possible reasons for this could be:

We have only fragmentary researches on mushrooms in comparison to higher plants,
Till date no one made specific research on truffles,
Local indigenous communities in remote parts of Nepal may be using this resources since long but no one made reports so far,

False Truffle from Mustang, Nepal- By Shiva Devkota

So the exploration and research on this aspect would be exemplary in mushrooms research history of Nepal. In 2007 while I was in mushrooms exploration programme, together with Mycologist Dr Morten Christensen from KVL Denmark, at that period we were encountered with truffle alike species in Kunjo, Mustang. But unfortunately that was not Truffel but a false truffel.

What are Truffles?

In a nutshell, truffles are mushrooms that grow underground. They are the fruit of a fungus that bonds with the root system of many kinds of trees, including oaks, poplars, birches, beeches, and hazelnuts. A symbiotic relationship occurs between the fungus and the tree root, with the root providing sugar to nourish the truffle, and the fungus aiding in the tree’s absorption of water and nutrients. Unlike above-ground mushrooms, truffles don’t grow stems and caps. And the spore-bearing part of the truffle is fully enclosed. So truffles are dependent on animals to help them propagate by bringing the spores above ground. Attracted by the strong scent of the truffles, small animals like squirrels and chipmunks eat the truffles, and then spread the spores in their droppings.

Truffle is underground endomycorrhizal mushrooms and species comprises Tuber aestivum, T. albidum, T. brumale, T. excavatum, T. ferrugineum, T. magnatum, T. melanosporum, T. rufum and T. uncinatum and many more. White truffles (tuber magnatum) from northern Italy are the most highly-prized -- and most costly. They can sell for as much as $3,000 to $4,000 per pound. They grow wild in woods in certain areas and are usually found at the base of a few species of tree: oak, poplar, elm and some others.

Switzerland and my Experience with Truffle

Switzerland through my Lens

Most of us never get to see a truffle. When we do experience the taste or the aroma, it is in the form of truffle oil, truffle paste or truffle butter. If we do see truffles, they tend to be of the preserved variety (canned or, more usually, bottled) and their flavour is so minimal that we wonder what the fuss is about. In last week of December 2009, while I was accompanied with friend Therese in the downtown Zurich, Switzerland she offered me lunch in the local restaurant. She asked, whether I would like to try some mushrooms disc or others. She knows my interest on mushrooms very much. In the menu we found some truffle recipes. I was wondered and excited to see truffles, but unluckily we were compelled to taste for truffle oil mixed with rice. Oh! rice was with great aroma.

How to collect? Collection Method is really Very Interesting

Truffle hunters in Italy and France use pigs and mixed-breed dogs to sniff out truffles. Dogs are preferred to pigs because pigs love to eat truffles. Notice the staff held by the truffle hunter in the picture with the pig. The hunter uses the staff to force the pig to back off, once the pig has located a truffle.

In Italy, truffle dogs are trained in several steps. First, the dog is taught to retrieve a rubber ball. Next, a small bit of smelly Gorgonzola cheese is substituted for the rubber ball. After the dog has learned to retrieve the cheese, the cheese is hidden, forcing the dog to sniff it out for a reward of food. Finally, a small truffle is substituted for the cheese. The dog is trained to fetch, then dig up the truffle.

Dogs like other food better than truffles, so bread and other treats are used for rewards. The night before a truffle hunt the dog is not fed so it will be eager to find truffles for the treat. Some dogs take the easy way out. They find and eat garbage buried by campers! Dogs generally do not find young truffles because the odor is too weak. The odor becomes stronger with age as the spores mature. In North America, truffle collectors use three major clues to find truffles. First, it must be warm and the soil moist. Truffles are often found 10 to 14 days after a heavy rain. The umbrella shaped mushrooms which pop up after a good rain can be used as a kind of clock. Look for truffles after these mushrooms have started to collapse.

Second, the right trees must be present. Truffles are formed by fungi that are partners with certain trees. You will not find truffles under maples, for instance, because maples do not form ectomycorrhizae. Trees to use as clues include: pines, firs, Douglas-fir, oaks, hazel nuts, hickories, birches, beeches, and eucalyptus.

Third, truffles use animals for spore dispersal. In North America, squirrels and chipmunks are the major wild animals dispersing truffle spores. Search among the right trees for pits dug by rodents in their own hunt for truffles. Pits do not guarantee success, however! Rodents also dig pits searching for acorns, onion bulbs, and beetle grubs.

My Personal Request

In this coming season, I am trying to explore the truffles in different parts of Nepal Himalaya. I would be really thankful if someone just recalled oh!!!!that species may be truffles with which we were encountered during our last field visit. This kind of information is really very very helpful and we can work together.

Please forward your suggestion and research ideas to shiva.devkota@gmail.com. I am anticipating joint work and formulation of the research findings with both National and International Scientists and truffles lovers.

Thank you very much!

What is Gene Therapy?

2011-01-04T04:13:00.000-08:00

It is interesting to know that Science is making its contribution in every sectors related with human well beings. Apart from some of the World's most devastating events related with science, the goal of the new invention is to uplift the standard of human life so, science must directs in the right path. Since last few weeks, I am having interst to know something more about the development of Science in molecular level, Gene level and I have found it is interesting with the Gene Therapy as well. I am not sure about its use in Nepalese context and in different Health Research Centere of Nepal, but it is interesting to know about its application in the international scenario.

I have quoted many lines here from Wikipedia.org as it is more informative site for the communcation.

Gene therapy is the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual's cells and biological tissues to treat disease. The most common form of gene therapy involves the insertion of functional genes into an unspecified genomic location in order to replace a mutated gene, but other forms involve directly correcting the mutation or modifying normal gene that enables a viral infection. Although the technology is still in its infancy, it has been used with some success. Scientific breakthroughs continue to move gene therapy toward mainstream medicineScientists have taken the logical step of trying to introduce genes directly into human cells, focusing on diseases caused by single-gene defects, such as cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia. However, this has proven more difficult than modifying bacteria, primarily because of the problems involved in carrying large sections of DNA and delivering them to the correct site on the gene. Today, most gene therapy studies are aimed at cancer and hereditary diseases linked to a genetic defect. Antisense therapy is not strictly a form of gene therapy, but is a related, genetically-mediated therapy.

The most common form of genetic engineering involves the insertion of a functional gene at an unspecified location in the host genome. This is accomplished by isolating and copying the gene of interest, generating a construct containing all the genetic elements for correct expression, and then inserting this construct into a random location in the host organism. Other forms of genetic engineering include gene targeting and knocking out specific genes via engineered nucleases such as zinc finger nucleases, engineered I-CreI homing endonucleases, or nucleases generated from TAL effectors. An example of gene-knockout mediated gene therapy is the knockout of the human CCR5 gene in T-cells in order to control HIV infection. This approach is currently being used in several human clinical trials.

The biology of human gene therapy remains complex and many techniques need further development. Many diseases and their strict genetic link need to be understood more fully before gene therapy can be used appropriately. The public policy debate surrounding the possible use of genetically engineered material in human subjects has been equally complex. Major participants in the debate have come from the fields of biology, government, law, medicine, philosophy, politics, and religion, each bringing different views to the discussion.

In the case of germ line gene therapy, germ cells, i.e., sperm or eggs, are modified by the introduction of functional genes, which are ordinarily integrated into their genomes. Therefore, the change due to therapy would be heritable and would be passed on to later generations. This new approach, theoretically, should be highly effective in counteracting genetic disorders and hereditary diseases. However, many jurisdictions prohibit this for application in human beings, at least for the present, for a variety of technical and ethical reasons.

Some of the problems of gene therapy include:

Short-lived nature of gene therapy – Before gene therapy can become a permanent cure for any condition, the therapeutic DNA introduced into target cells must remain functional and the cells containing the therapeutic DNA must be long-lived and stable. Problems with integrating therapeutic DNA into the genome and the rapidly dividing nature of many cells prevent gene therapy from achieving any long-term benefits. Patients will have to undergo multiple rounds of gene therapy.

Immune response – Anytime a foreign object is introduced into human tissues, the immune system has evolved to attack the invader. The risk of stimulating the immune system in a way that reduces gene therapy effectiveness is always a possibility. Furthermore, the immune system's enhanced response to invaders that it has seen before makes it difficult for gene therapy to be repeated in patients.

Problems with viral vectors – Viruses, the carrier of choice in most gene therapy studies, present a variety of potential problems to the patient —toxicity, immune and inflammatory responses, and gene control and targeting issues. In addition, there is always the fear that the viral vector, once inside the patient, may recover its ability to cause disease.

Multigene disorders – Conditions or disorders that arise from mutations in a single gene are the best candidates for gene therapy. Unfortunately, some of the most commonly occurring disorders, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, and diabetes, are caused by the combined effects of variations in many genes. Multigene or multifactorial disorders such as these would be especially difficult to treat effectively using gene therapy.

Chance of inducing a tumor (insertional mutagenesis) - If the DNA is integrated in the wrong place in the genome, for example in a tumor suppressor gene, it could induce a tumor. This has occurred in clinical trials for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) patients, in which hematopoietic stem cells were transduced with a corrective transgene using a retrovirus, and this led to the development of T cell leukemia in 3 of 20 patients.

Deaths have occurred due to gene therapy, including that of Jesse Gelsinger.

Kailash Landscape Conservation - Knot Tied Between NEPAL, CHINA and INDIA

2010-12-19T21:42:00.000-08:00

India, China and Nepal have agreed on a landmark plan for the conservation and sustainable development of the landscape of sacred mountain Kailash, which spreads across the three countries.

Representatives from China, India, and Nepal have endorsed a draft Regional Cooperation Framework for conservation and sustainable development of the Kailash landscape at a workshop on the outskirts of the capital.

The Kailash-Mansarovar Landscape covers the area linked culturally and geographically to the sacred mountain -- also known as Kang Rinpoche, and Kailasa Parvata which spreads across three neighbours.

The workshop, which was held from December 16 to 18 in Nagarkot, a hill station 35-km east of Kathmandu, was jointly organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Ministry of Forests and

Soil Conservation, Nepal.

Andreas Schild, Director General of ICIMOD, said the Kailash initiative is a unique experience, and the learning will be replicated in the future in other transboundary landscapes of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas.

The framework is expected to facilitate transboundary biodiversity, environmental, and cultural conservation through scientific and technical cooperation, according to a press release issued by ICIMOD Headquarters in Kathmandu.

The focus of the framework is on enhancing biodiversity and cultural conservation, ecosystem management, sustainable development and climate change adaptation.

It will facilitate information exchange among the member countries and help in the development and management of a knowledge base.

It is based on principles of participatory management, equitability, sustainability, partnerships, ecosystem management and trans-boundary cooperation.

Some 35 representatives from 13 institutions, including senior government officials, participated in the workshop.

The Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, India; and the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, participated in the meet.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-china-nepal-agree-on-kailash-landscape/137938-2.html

Water Pollutions in Nepal : Status and Further Consideration

2010-10-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

Water sources are getting scarce due to climate change and global warming. Similarly, water resources are getting polluted day by day due to human activities. Water pollution is standing as a biggest challenge for the developing countries. Poor countries of the world are bearing human and financial loss due to water pollution.

According to the report made public by the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 23, about 4,000 people die in the world everyday due to waterborne diseases. It has warned that about 1.6 million people in the world may die this year due to unsafe drinking water if the governments do not make immediate efforts of proper water treatment.

A statistics has shown that about 40 children in Eastern Europe die every day due to diarrhoeal diseases. About 16 per cent Europeans are deprived of safe drinking water. Human Development Report of the United Nations has stated that 2 million children die in the world every year due to unsafe drinking water. The report has also stated that child death rate will decrease by 50 per cent if safe drinking water is made easily accessible to all. The United Nations report has stated that the poor countries are getting poorer due to many diseases caused by unsafe water. The report has stated that about 1 billion people will be the victims of malnutrition by 2080 due to water pollution.

According to the Asian Development Bank, 700 million people of Asia do not have access to safe drinking water. In the present condition when 1 billion 25 million people in the world are deprived of safe water supply and 2 billion 50 million of basic sanitation, there is possibility for the occurrence of next world war for water. Considering the present condition, the Millennium Development Goal to decrease the world population without access to drinking water facility by half within 2015 has reached the stage of not achieving the goal.

In the context of Nepal, about 13,000 children in Nepal die every year due to different diseases caused by water pollution. A study has shown that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nepal will decrease by 4.1 due to investments in controlling waterborne diseases and human loss caused by water pollution. There is acute shortage of dinking water in Nepal which is regarded as the second richest country in terms of water resources. The consumers of cities including Kathmandu are facing acute drinking water shortage.

Climate experts have warned that water sources will dry up within some years as the glaciers are melting rapidly due to increasing emission of greenhouse gases. The countries that are dependent on the Himalayan water sources for domestic use and irrigation are vulnerable to world climate change. The scientists have warned that some countries of the world will be without water in the next 30 to 50 years if the glaciers keep on melting rapidly. Therefore, all should be aware to conserve the existing water resources.

This article was originally published by Kul Chandra Aaryal in Nepal Samacharpatra, Aug 17, 2008

Central Department of Botany, TU to host International Conference on Biodiversity, Livelihood and Climate Change in the Himalayas

2010-10-28T00:41:00.000-07:00

KATHMANDU: Tribhuvan University Central Department of Botany and the University of Bergen, Norway are jointly hosting an international conference on biodiversity and climate change in Kathmandu from December 12 to 14.

The three-day conference — Biodiversity Livelihood and Climate Change in the Himalayas — will have experts from over 40 countries participating.

Representatives from both the universities today said experts from over 40 countries have confirmed their participation.

“The university planned such a big gathering coinciding with the announcement to declare 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity,” said Prof Krishna Kumar Shrestha, head of the Department of Botany, TU. The conference is co-organised by the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

The Himalaya stretches over 4,000 km and occupies approximately 0.3 per cent area of the earth and constitutes nearly 10 per cent of the world flora. Due to its extreme topographic and climatic variability, it is rich in biological diversity.

“The region boasts four biodiversity hot spots, 60 eco-regions, 488 protected areas, 1,106 important bird Areas, and 53 important plant areas, besides rich agro-biodiversity and wild relatives of crops. The Himalayan region, however, faces a high degree of threats, including climate change,” added Shrestha.

Prof Ernst Nordtveit of University of Bergen emphasised on sustainable development to make the earth a good habitat for future generations. “We have to focus on sustainable development to ensure happy life of the future generation for which we have to act from today to save our biodiversity,” said Nordtveit.

In respective to this news, here personally I (Shiva Devkota, Working as the Secretariat for the International Conference on Biodiversity, Livelihood and Climate Change in the Himalayas" would like to add that,
Dr. Ganesh Rasj, Joshi (Secretary of Ministry of Environment) and Prof. Dr. Dayananda Bajracharya (Academician NAST) also delivered their remarks on the press conference.

The conference is organized by Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, and co-organized by Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives. The conference is supported by Erasmus Mundus - LEANES, ICIMOD, NTNC, NAST, The Research Council of Norway, Univeristy Grants Commission, Nepal and University of Bergen, Norway.
Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=TU+to+host+int'l+meet+on+biodiversity&NewsID=263370

Some Interestiing Facts About the Himalayas

2010-10-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

Himalayas is about 1490 miles (2400 km) in length, averaging about 200 to 250 miles (320 to 400 km ) in width.
How did the Himalayas form? About 50 million years ago, massive earth movements pushed the Indian plate against the Eurasian continental plate which gave rise to the land - The Himalayas
Himalayas continue to grow. Earthquakes are frequent to this region
The Himalayas cover about 0.4% of the Earth's Space. It covers an area of 612,021 square KM of the earth's 153,295,000 square km area which includes both land and sea.
About 6% of the Earth's land is Alpine or Mountainous, about 19% is desert, and 13% is grassland (Source: Compiled from The Earth Organization and National Geographic )
Height of a mountain is not the length of the mountain. Height is the altitude at the top of the mountain. The tallest mountain in the world has to prove that it is the highest surface of the earth. For example, Mauna Kea mountain of Hawaii is taller than Mt. Everest in length from its base to top, but Everest's top is the highest altitude of the earth and hence becomes the highest mountain on earth!
Himalayas has glaciers up to 43 miles (70 kilometers) long
Himalaya is the source of major rivers of Nepal
It is easier to climb a place in lower altitude no mater how tall it might be in length. The higher you go from the earth's surface, the more oxygen your body will need. Not everyone can climb Mt. Everest, but those who wish to see it upclose can fly or trek to one of the world's highest airport, Lukla which lies at the base of the Everest in Nepal
What could be the difference between any mountain and a mountain of Himalaya ? Well, for one thing, A Himalayan mountain always remains Himalayan - it always looks the same, the snow never melts, and it always remains glorious!
Generally speaking, a land that is usually 2000ft or 600m tall can be called as a mountain.
Himalayas continue to rise 1 cm every year - a growth rate of 10 km in a million years (source : U.S. Geological Survey)
If Global Warming increases, Himalayan glaciers will start shrinking, rivers will evaporate, and Drinking and irrigation water will disappear, affecting Hundreds of millions of people (source : Environmentalists Against War)
Asian Mountains and Lands cover almost one third of the entire earth. About 55% of the Asia is covered by Mountains. The Himalaya Mountain Range is the world's highest mountain range.
About 1 out of 10 people on this planet live in a mountain.
Nearly one third of the Earth's Space is Mountainous
Mountains are the assets of a nation. They bring in tourists to see the place, trekkers to climb it, and farmers to use their hill-side to graze their animals.
The Himalayas lies across west to east 1550 miles or 2500 kilometers in length. It is divided into three zones, Western Himalays, Central Himalayas Eastern Himalayas
Any land that humans have landed has been polluted. Himalays has remained the less visited part of the earth, it makes it the most purest part of the earth after Antarctica.
Many medicinal herbs found at the foot hills of Himalayas are considered to be the purest of all.

Source: http://www.nepalvista.com/features/nepal-himalayas.php

Scientist Developed New Gel to Seals Wounds Fast : American Chemical Society

2010-08-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

A new gel may provide a cheap means of stanching blood flow on the battlefield or in any other situation where there isn’t time for stitches. Estimates suggest that the gel would cost less than $10 per application, a fraction of the cost of other gels in use today, researchers reported August 23 at the American Chemical Society’s fall meeting.

The new blood-clotting material is a hydrogel, a Jell-O–like mixture of water and a fibrous polymer, in this case acrylamide decorated with positively charged nitrogen-containing groups. Experiments with blood plasma reveal that the gel kicks into gear a blood-clotting protein known as factor VII, a key player in the cascade of events that leads to coagulation, said biomedical engineer Brendan Casey of the University of Maryland in College Park.

“You can just slap it on a wound,” Casey said. In experiments in which Casey and colleagues made incisions in sheep lung and liver tissue, the hydrogel stopped the lung from bleeding in about two minutes, the liver in four to five minutes. The research team suspects that the polymer’s positive charge and stiffness induce the clotting.

Many other hydrogels used in medicine today are based on biological materials such as chitin, a structural component found in the cell walls of certain fungi, the beaks of squid and the shells of lobsters and crabs. While these materials have their plus sides, such as breaking down in a friendly manner inside the human body, they are more easily contaminated by viruses and other microorganisms than synthetic gels are and can trigger an allergic response in some people. And those biobased hydrogels cost $400 to $500 a pop, said Casey.

The team’s approach using a synthetic polymer seems like a promising strategy, said Sasa Andjelic of Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson company in Somerville, N.J. While the gel isn’t absorbable by the body, he said, it looks like it would work well as a topical treatment.

Source:http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/62527/title/New_gel_seals_wounds_fast

Gay and Lesbians Tourism in Nepal

2010-08-27T03:57:00.000-07:00

Nepal is set to use lesbians and gays to boost its tourism sector, which has been adversely impacted after the country went through a devastating decade-long Maoists' insurgency and political instability.Almost three years after the Supreme Court gave legal sanction to gay rights in Nepal, the government to set to host "one of the most extravagant groups of tourists in the world" the sexual minorities consisting of lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and transgenders (LGBTs).Nepal government has held a series of meetings with well-known international tour operators and non-profit organisations to promote Nepal as a potential destination for LGBTs, the Kantipur online said on Thursday. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) officials hope that LGBT arrivals will give a boost to the number of visitors to the country as the government mulls new way to bring in a million foreign tourists in the Nepal Tourism Year 2011. "Some international companies want to work in tandem with the government and attract LGBTs. We will develop strategies for the same. The beginning is encouraging," said an NTB official.As part of the first promotional activity, Nepal will host a historic international conference in February, which is expected to bring together the worlds top tour operators, airlines and agencies selling adventure tourism to Kathmandu to explore opportunities for gay tourism in Nepal, the report said. Life’s pretty rough on gays and lesbians, more so while travelling. Even on a simple occasion like eating out, more often than not they are subjected to discrimination. For instance, waiters get nosy about their appearance and may even ask them about their sexual identity.Fortunately, thanks to Nepal’s tourism and service industry, foreign gays and lesbians do not have to suffer like in other countries.

Source:http://www.visitnepal2011.com/gaylesbiantravels.html

Carbon sequestration possibility in Nepal

2010-08-21T03:33:00.000-07:00

Carbon sequestration is defined as 'The process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and depositing it in a reservoir'.It may also be a geoengineering technique for long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to mitigate global warming. It has been proposed as a way to mitigate accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which are released by burning fossil fuels.

Carbon dioxide is usually captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical or physical processes.CO2 may be captured as a pure by-product in processes related to petroleum refining or from flue gases from power generation. CO2 sequestration can then be synonymous with the storage part of carbon capture and storage, which refers to large-scale, permanent artificial capture and sequestration of industrially produced CO2 using subsurface saline aquifers, reservoirs, ocean water, aging oil fields, or other carbon sinks.

Sequestration techniques do not provide instantaneous results; the fact that they will take a long time to make a difference in CO2 levels must be taken into consideration. These levels are expected by the IPCC to be higher than today's.

Biosequestration or carbon sequestration through biological processes has had a huge effect on the Global carbon cycle.[citation needed] Major climatic fluctuations have been driven by these processes in the past, such as at the Azolla event, which created the current Arctic climate.[citation needed] Such processes created fossil fuels, as well as clathrate or limestone. By using certain techniques to manipulate such processes, geoengineers seek to enhance sequestration. Methods such as ocean iron fertilization are examples of such geoengineering techniques.

Iron fertilization of the ocean to encourage phytoplankton growth, which removes carbon from the atmosphere on a temporary, or arguably permanent basis.This technique is controversial due to difficulties of predicting its effect on the marine ecosystem,and the potential for side effects or large deviations from expected efficacy. Such effects potentially include release of nitrogen oxides, and disruption to the nutrient balance in the ocean. Iron fertilization is a natural process, and the enhancement of this process is the geoengineering technique.

Reforestation is the replanting of trees on marginal crop and pasture lands to transfer CO2 from the atmosphere to new biomass.For this process to be successful it is essential to ensure that the carbon does not return to the atmosphere from burning or rotting when the trees die. To this end, it would be important to either manage such forests in perpetuity or use the wood from them for biochar, bio-energy with carbon storage (BECS) or landfill.

Globally, soils are estimated to contain approximately 1,500 gigatons of organic carbon, more than the total of carbon in vegetation and the atmosphere.Modification of agricultural practices is a recognized method of carbon sequestration as soil can act as an effective carbon sink offsetting as much as 20% of carbon dioxide emissions annually.[citation needed]. Carbon emission reduction methods in agriculture can be grouped into two categories: reducing and/or displacing emissions and enhancing carbon removal. Some of these reductions involve generally increasing the efficiency of farm operations (i.e. more fuel-efficient equipment) while some involve interruptions in the natural carbon cycle. While a wide variety of carbon control techniques are possible within agriculture, not all have the same degree of effectiveness, and the degree of effectiveness can also vary considerably when the normal variations in farming such as location, climate, weather, plant varieties, etc. are considered. Also, some effective carbon sequestering techniques (such as the elimination of stubble burning) can negatively impact other areas of environmental concern (increased use of chemicals to control weeds not destroyed by burning).

Many of the carbon reduction techniques used in other industries are also applicable to agriculture. Also, any increases in the efficiency of farming methods that result in higher yields will generally result in reduced emissions as well, since more food is being produced for the same or less effort. This includes more accurate use of fertilizers, better irrigation, and the use of higher yield crop strains such as those bred for locally beneficial traits and those selected for increased yields.

Replacement of more energy intensive farming operations with less energy intensive versions that accomplish the same task can also reduce emissions. Reduced or no-till farming requires less machine tillage and correspondingly less fuel burned per acre of production. However, increased use of weed-control chemicals are usually required for no-till farming operations and the extra residue left on the soil surface is more likely to release its CO2 to the atmosphere as it decays, reducing the net carbon reduction.In practice, most farming operations that incorporate post-harvest crop residues, wastes and byproducts back into the soil will provide a carbon storage benefit.[citation needed] This is particularly the case for practices such as field burning of stubble - rather than releasing almost all of the stored CO2 to the atmosphere, tillage incorporates the biomass back into the soil where it can be absorbed and a portion of it stored permanently.

Hope work on carbon sequstration will be further more enhanced in Nepal also.

For details please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_sequestration

Download SPSS 17, its free

2010-08-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

Please follow this link:

http://spss.en.softonic.com/

Laziness May Be a Disease..So Avoid It

2010-08-13T02:14:00.000-07:00

Laziness should be classed as “disease in its own right”, say experts. “Given the significant associated mortality and morbidity, we propose that perhaps physical inactivity should also be considered for recognition as a disease in its own right,” a pair of British doctors Richard Weiler and Emmanuel Stamatakis said. Obesity is already classed as a disease by the World Health Organisation, noted Weiler, a specialist registrar in sports and exercise at Imperial College Healthcare.

But he said obesity was often at least partially the result of a deeper cause – not doing enough exercise. “Money is pumped at treating the symptoms of physical inactivity – at obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease – but not at the root cause,” said Weiler.

The evidence showed that lack of fitness was the root cause of more illness than being fat, reports telegraph.co.uk. Weiler said recent studies showed only one in 20 people took the minimum amount of recommended exercise, but there was still “no co-ordinated plan” to tackle the problem.

Source: yahindnews.com

Nepali Man with 32 Womens

2010-08-13T02:09:00.000-07:00

Kathmandu, Aug 13 (IANS) An 86-year-old former soldier, who married 32 times, has inspired the current commercial hit “Kanyadan” in Nepal with his 31st wife’s son making it and acting in it as well. Shovit Basnet, a veteran in the Nepali film industry with 20 films to his credit, is now basking in the curiosity value of “Kanyadan”, his latest directorial venture that is drawing crowds because of an unusual phenomenon.

For the first time in the Nepali film industry, the same actor plays seven different roles, an act eclipsed by Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra, whose 12 different roles in “What’s Your Raashee?” fetched her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. “Though the main story is a family drama in which a family runs into trouble after giving their daughter in marriage, I decided to incorporate in it elements from my personal life to add a fun element,” Basnet told IANS.

“My father Karna Man Singh, who worked in the Nepal Army, had 32 wives. Though he didn’t have as many children as expected from so many wives, my film conjectures what would have happened had he had a large brood.” In the film, Basnet plays seven different characters who were fathered by the same man with different wives – a comic character, a pundit, a band master, a hunter, a goon, a foreign tourist and himself, Shovit Basnet, film director.

The 38-year-old says he was used to staying under the same roof with the different wives and their children and no one took it amiss. “Bigamy became a crime recently,” he says. “But all those marriages happened in the past and no one turned a hair.”

He is in touch with three more siblings while the number of wives has come down to about four. “Kanyadan”, released in 50 theatres across Nepal, will be released in the capital in two months. However, people are already curious about watching it, solely to see him play seven roles, Basnet said.

Was he inspired by Priyanka’s feat? He rejects the idea. “‘What’s Your Raashee?’” was released quite recently,” he says. “However, my film was shot more than a year ago.”

Source: http://www.yahindnews.com/entertainment/man-with-32-wives-inspires-nepal-film_27009.html

Photography Competition in Nepal

2010-08-13T01:53:00.000-07:00

6th Nature and Wildlife Photography Competition 2010 is going to be organized by Wildlife Conservation Nepal. Wildlife Conservation Nepal, a non-governmental organisation registered with the Government of Nepal, is not for profit organization. It was established with a view to protect and conserve natural heritage and disseminate information on environment and wildlife issues.

Flora, Fauna, Landscape, macro and a special focus on climate change - Human Interaction with Nature will be the attraction of the competition.

Please send your phtographs within November 05, 2010

Download forms from the website http://wcn.org.np/wcn/forthcoming.php?id=21 and for more details contact WCN at 4289818 or write to mail@wcn.org.np

RESEARCH FUNDING INSTITUTIONS

2010-07-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

Finding fund for personal interest research is not very easy job or also not so complicated as we used to be think. Try to develop some innovative concept, make balanced appraisal and strike with strong proposal, definitely we will get funds. One thing is clear, out of developed ten proposals, the chance of getting fund is so less that, only one proposal will be funded. With that single funded research programme, we can learn more ideas and concepts to make further funding to fulfill our research desire. More communication and understanding among like minded people means more collaboration; which ultimately results to get more funds from strong agencies.

In Nepal, finding money for scientific research is very very hard cake. Still, we don't have such the strong provision to allocate high amount of money for research. While playing with Internet, I was strike with some funding agencies from abroad, hope this list will be useful to all of us!. This list is available at http://www.snf.ch/E/services/links/Pages/_xc_forschungsfoerderung.aspx. this is website of Swiss National Science Foundation.

National / Switzerland

Schweizerischer Wissenschafts- und Technologierat

Conseil Suisse de la science et de la technologie

Swiss Science and Technology Council

http://www.swtr.ch/

Zentrum für Wissenschafts- und Technologiestudien

Centre d'études de la science et de la technologie

Center for Science & Technology Studies

http://www.cest.ch/

Staatssekretariat für Bildung und Forschung SBF

Secrétariat d'Etat à l'éducation et à la recherche SER

State Secretariat for Education and Research SER

http://www.sbf.admin.ch/

ETH-Rat

Conseil des EPF

Board of the Federal Insitutes of Technology

http://www.eth-rat.ch/

Schweizerische Zentralstelle für Hochschulwesen

Office Central Universitaire Suisse

Central Office of the Swiss Universities

http://www.crus.ch/

CTI - The Innovation Promotion Agency

http://www.bbt.admin.ch/kti/

Netzwerk FUTURE

Das Netzwerk FUTURE fördert den Dialog zwischen Politik und Wissenschaft

Réseau FUTURE

Le réseau FUTURE stimule le dialogue entre politique et sience

http://www.netzwerk-future.ch/

International

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

http://www.dfg.de/

Oesterreichischer Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF)

Austrian Science Fund

http://www.fwf.ac.at/

CNRS - Centre national de la recherche scientifique

http://www.cnrs.fr/

National Science Foundation of the USA

http://www.nsf.gov/

European Science Foundation

Fondation européenne de la science

http://www.esf.org/

Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research

http://www.nwo.nl/

Science Organizations around the world

http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/int/map.htm

All the best !

Enjoy Some Songs Related With Lumle Village, Kaski

2010-07-12T00:01:00.000-07:00