ABSTRACT
Aim: Analyzing the community structure of predatory spider fauna in rice ecosystems to facilitate conservation biological control and sustainable pest management programmes. Methodology: The spiders were collected from rice field with cultivated variety (MTU-7029) during both Kharif and Rabi seasons at different rice growth stages. The spiders collected by various sampling methods such as direct catch in polythene carry bags, ground collection and foliage collection were kept in collection bottles and killed by inserting a strip of cotton dipped in chloroform and transferred separately on a white sheet of paper. Thereafter, using a stereo zoom microscope (ZEISS Stemi 508), the spiders were sorted, separated, counted, identified based on the available keys and literature described by Tikader (1987) and Barrion and Litsinger (1995). The unidentified samples were sent to the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata for authorized identification. Results: In total, sixteen different species of predatory spiders belonging to six families of order Araneae and representing four functional/foraging guilds were identified in the rice ecosystem of Sub-Himalayan Terai region of West Bengal. These included Lycosa pseudoannulata Boesenberg & Strand and Arctosa tanakai Barrion & Litsinger; Oxyopes lineatipes C.L. Koch, Oxyopes javanus Thorell and Oxyopes salticus Hentz; Bianor sp. and Hasarius adansoni Audouin, while the family Thomisidae was represented by a single species Thomisius sp. All these eight species constituted the non web former group of spiders. The web weaving spiders recorded were Tetragnatha maxillosa Thorell, Tetragnatha mandibulata Walckenaer. Tetragnatha javana Thorell, Leucage decorate Walckenaer, Leucage celesbesiana Walckenaer and Neoscona theisi Walckenaer, Neoscona mukerjei Tikader, Araneus sp. Interpretation: The lynx spiders (Oxyopidae) were found to be the most dominant group by individual numbers, followed by the wolf spiders (Lycosidae), however, considering the species richness, the long jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae) were in large number with five different species. Good agricultural practices along with habitat diversification of landscapes are imperative for enhancing the predation by rice field spiders.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: The South East Asian Region has one of the highest incidences of gender based violence in the world which deprives women from the use of their right and liberty. This study was under taken to explore the causes and consequences of domestic violence against women in Meghanath Gorhanna VDC in Mahottari district of Nepal.Material and Methods: : An explorative quantitative and qualitative research design based study was conducted from September to December 2014 in married female of ward, No. 1, 2 and 4 of Meghanath Gorhanna VDC which is located in Mahottari district of Nepal suffering from domestic violence. Sample size consisted of 20 in each ward and sum of total was 60. In-depth interviews, focused group discussion and observation were tools used for data collection.Results: The result of this study reveals that 40% of victims were between age group 20 to 29 years. Domestic violence was higher among illiterate 20(33%). 12(20%) of the women were victimized due to alcoholism of their husband followed by male honor and patriarchal social values. Similarly, majority of the respondents 47(78.3%) suffered from psychological abuse followed by physical assault. 20(33.3%) women were suffered from physical violence. 10% women were suffered from sexual abuse and harassment. The findings also suggest 23(35%) had mental health problem and 14(23 %) women were suffered from reproductive health problem.Conclusion: The study highlights that various factors such as excessive intake of alcohol, patriarchal system of the society, polygamy, sexual dissatisfaction and dowry contributes for the domestic violence in women. The adverse effects of the violence on women are physical health problem, mental health problem, reproductive health problem, chronic conditions and negative health behavior.
ABSTRACT
The physical status and serum mineral concentrations for people aged 10 to 68 years living in an agricultural southern region of Nepal were determined. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) for both sexes in the 10−14 year age group were low (p<0.05, vs the other age groups) and those for the over 50−year−olds tended to be higher than the other age groups. The mean values of total proteins (TP) (8.6±0.5 g/dl for males and 8.7±0.6 g/dl for females) were high due to an increase of globulin (3.9±0.4 g/dl for males and 4.1±0.5 g/dl for females). More than three−fourths of the subjects of both sexes showed calcium (Ca) levels of 9.0−11.2 mg/dl and about 65% of them showed potassium (K) Ievels of 4.8−5.4 mEq/l. A significant positive correlation between DBP and serum K was observed (p<0.05). Serum inorganic phosphorus (IP) correlated with age (p<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001). The serum Ca levels correlated with TP (r=0.31, p<0.001), albumin (Alb) (r=0.50, p<0.001), IP (r=0.31, p<0.001), K (r=0.32, p<0.001) and chlorine (Cl)(r=−0.37, p<0.001). Cl was associated with TP (r=−0.21, p<0.05), Alb (r=−0.36, p<0.001) and IP (r= −0.21, p<0.05). These results suggested that Ca intake for the subjects seemed to be insufficient although their serum Ca level was within normal.