126,567 research outputs found
Effect of iodine and iron supplementation on physical, psychomotor and mental development in primary school children in Malawi
No full textPrimary school children (n = 424) from the Ntcheu District, Malawi, aged 6 - 8 years, were selected for a double-blind placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of iodine and iron supplementation on physical, psychomotor and mental development. After the baseline measurements were carried out, children were given a single dose of iodized oil (1 mL Lipiodol®; 490 mg I) or placebo and daily doses of iron (ferrous sulphate, 60 mg of Fe) or placebo on weekdays (February-July and October- November 1991).The anthropometric measurements included height, weight, mid-upper arm cicumference (MUAC), and four skinfolds while indicators of physical stamina included lung function, hand grip and sitting and standing ability. The psychomotor development tests were pegboard, ball throwing, tapping and reaction time tasks. The mental development tests included fluency and exclusion as a measure of fluid intelligence; quantity and verbal meaning to evaluate crystallized intelligence and visual memory and closure tests to measure perceptual skills. Baseline data were collected from October 1990 to January 1991 and the final tests and measurements were carried out in October-November 1991.The initial iodine and iron status was established by measuring the concentration of iodine in urine and of hemoglobin in blood. About 86% of children had urinary iodine concentrations below 0.4 μmol/L indicating moderate iodine deficiency while 18% of children had hemoglobin levels below 110 g/L which is the cut-off point for indicating anemia. Measurement of iodine in urine three months after supplementation showed a normal level of urinary iodine. After one year, the level had dropped to the baseline value. The change in haemoglobin could not be measured due to objections from the parents in obtaining further blood samples. About 27% of children were stunted while 2% were wasted when measured at both time points.One year after supplementation, the four treatment groups did not grow differentially indicating no effect of iodine or iron supplementation on physical growth. The iodinetreated group scored higher in tests of physical stamina as measured by sitting-standing and hand grip. The iodine treated group also significantly improved scores on the ball throwing exercise indicating an improvement in eye-hand coordination. No changes were noticed on reaction time, movement time and tapping indicating no effect of iodine on speed, dexterity and manual-motor coordination. The iron-treated group showed improvement only in eyehand coordination tests. No improvements were seen in other psychomotor tests.Subjects in all four groups improved their scores on all mental development tests. The analysis of the placebo group indicated a considerable learning effect especially in fluency. Detailed analysis were conducted based upon the differential improvement when compared with the placebo group during the final test. The iodine-treated groups showed a large improvement in fluid intelligence measured by the fluency and exclusion tests. This component of intelligence measures reasoning, classification and fluency. Perceptual skills, as measured by visual memory and closure, also improved considerably in the iodine-treated group. Crystallized intelligence, as measured by quantity and verbal meaning, was also improved in the iodine-treated group but to a lesser extent than fluid intelligence. Crystallized intelligence is associated with word meaning, factual knowledge, short termmemory and decision making. These skills are closely associated with the classroom environment.In the iron-treated group, a significant improvement was noted only in fluid intelligence and in the quantity test, a component of crystallized intelligence. No significant interaction of iodine and iron was noted. However, combined supplementation with iodine and iron sometimes resulted in an additive effect.It has been shown in several studies in which iodine has been administered to mothers prior to pregnancy or during gestation that iodine supplementation reduces spontaneous abortion and stillbirths and improves the birth weight, and the mental and psychomotor performance of children. Previous studies in which children have been supplemented with iodine have not been able to demonstrate unequivocally that such supplementation affects mental or psychomotor development. In the present study we were able to demonstrate that iodine supplementation to children as old as 6-8 yr could improve mental and psychomotor development. The present study also demonstrates that iodine supplementation was more effective than iron supplementation in the population studied but the low prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in children could have been responsible for such an outcome.Concerning supplementation with iron, several previous studies have indicated that correction of iron deficiency early in infancy tends to improve psychomotor and mental development more than when the correction takes place in later life. In the present study, supplementation with iron was found to improve eye-hand coordination and fluid intelligence which justify prevention and control of iron-deficiency anemia in infants and children as soon as such a problem is detected.An important finding from the perspective of planners is that 490 mg oral iodine may be inadequate to provide sufficient iodine for one year as indicated by the measurement of urinary iodine excretion. In iodine-deficient areas where provision of iodized salt is not available, the provision of iodized oil capsules could be an attractive alternative provided that the dosing schedule is adequate
The way ahead for London’s bus priority at traffic signals
Get PDFLondon has a long history of successful schemes for bus priority at traffic signals. Recently, Transport for London (TfL) has procured a modern automatic vehicle location (AVL) system for bus fleet management, passenger information and bus priority. The new system is known as iBUS and is based on global positioning system (GPS) and supporting technologies for bus location. The system eliminates the need for on-street hardware for detecting buses and provides more flexibility and opportunity for using bus detectors. However, bus location based on this system is less accurate than location based on fixed infrastructure (e.g. beacons) and could result in reduced benefits from bus priority. This paper first summarises how bus priority at traffic signals works within iBUS, and then explores the effects of GPS locational errors on bus priority benefits. This is followed by a discussion of opportunities available in the context of iBUS to build an even more efficient and beneficial bus priority system by taking advantage of its cost-effective multiple detection capabilities. The paper is based on various studies carried out by the Transportation Research Group (TRG) at the University of Southampton for TfL
sj-doc-1-bcq-10.1177_23294906221109190 – Supplemental material for Business English Needs and Secondary Vocational Business English: The Case of Greek Workplaces
No full textSupplemental material, sj-doc-1-bcq-10.1177_23294906221109190 for Business English Needs and Secondary Vocational Business English: The Case of Greek Workplaces by Marianthi Batsila and Prithvi N. Shrestha in Business and Professional Communication Quarterly</p
Bioactive alkaloids from Nepalese Corydalis chaerophylla D.C. acting on the regulation of PCSK9 and LDL-R in vitro
Get PDFFour new alkaloids Chaeronepaline-A (1), Chaeronepaline-B (2), Chaeronepaline-C (3), and Chaeronepaline-D (4) were isolated from Corydalis chaerophylla D.C. collected from Nepal and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data, 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectrometry. The structures were established as 3,12- Dimethoxy-5,6-dihydroisoquinolino [2,1-b] isoquinolin- 7- ium- 2, 9- diol (1), 7-Methyl-2,3 : 11,12-bis(methylenedioxy)-7,13a-secoberbin-13-14-epoxide (2), 7- methyl-5, 6, 7, 8- tetrahydro- 8H-spiro-9,14-dihydroxy-11,12-methylenedioxy-indane-isoquinoline (3) and 7- methyl-5, 6, 7, 8- tetrahydro- 8H-spiro-9,14-dihydroxy-11,12-methylenedioxy-indane-isoquinoline-N-oxide (4). The new alkaloids were tested in human hepatoma cell line to assess their ability to modulate the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) and to affect cellular cholesterol biosynthesis with the aim to evaluate their potential hypocholesterolemic effect. Results indicated that compounds 2 and 3 upregulate the LDLR, and inhibited the cholesterol biosynthesis with compound 2, which also reduced the secretion of PCSK9 by Huh7 cells. These in vitro data indicated a potential hypocholesterolemic effect of compound 2 that requires further in vivo validation
Prediction Of Hydrological Models’ Uncertainty By A Committee Of Machine Learning-Models
No full textIn the MLUE method (reported in Shrestha et al. [1, 2]) we run a hydrological model M for multiple realizations of parameters vectors (Monte Carlo simulations), and use this data to build a machine learning model V to predict uncertainty (quantiles) of the model M output. In this paper, for model V, we employ three machine learning techniques, namely, artificial neural networks, model tree, locally weighted regression which leads to several models results. We propose to use the simple averaging method (SA) and the weighted model averaging method (WMA) to form a committee of these models. These approaches are applied to estimate uncertainty of streamflows simulation in Bagmati catchment in Nepal. Tests on the different data sets show that WMA performs a bit better than SA.Water Resource
Investigating Students' and Teachers' Perceptions of Using the iPad in an Italian English as a Foreign Language Classroom
Get PDFRecent research indicates that mobile technologies can support second language learning. However, studies focused on the use of the iPad and teaching in schools is still scarce. This study reports on an action research project that investigated the use of the iPad in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context in an Italian school. The study sought to investigate learners' and teachers' perceptions of mobile learning through the use of the iPad. The data was collected through a survey (N=41), classroom observations (N=4), interviews (N=20), and recorded teacher meetings (N=5). Results show a positive impact on student motivation and on the approach to second language learning tasks. We found that within the duration of the study students and teachers became increasingly independent in the use of the iPad for English language learning and teaching. This study provides educators with hints on how to start integrating mobile devices to perform specific language learning/teaching tasks
Using global positioning system for bus priority in London: traffic signals close to bus stops
No full textLondon's bus network is one of the largest and most comprehensive urban transport systems in the world. The contribution of buses is recognised by implementing a series of initiatives including bus priority at traffic signals. London has a long history of the implementation of bus priority at traffic signals. It has kept pace with the development of new technologies by updating its bus priority system. Now, London is moving towards a bus management system based on global positioning system (GPS), which will also be used to provide bus priority at traffic signals. The authors describe theoretical work carried out by TRG on behalf of Transport for London Bus Priority Team to tackle the challenge posed by locational error associated with GPS where a traffic signal is close to a bus stop
Simulium (Nevermannia) lekhaniense Takaoka & Shrestha 2010, sp. nov.
No full textSimulium (Nevermannia) lekhaniense Takaoka & Shrestha sp. nov. Description. Pupa. Body length (excluding gill filaments) 4.2 mm. Head. Integument yellow, moderately covered with round tubercles except dorsal 1/2 of frons sparsely covered with tubercles; antennal sheath bare except near base very sparsely covered with small tubercles; frons with 2 simple very long trichomes with coiled apices (Fig. 15A) very close together (another 1 trichome probably lost because 1 socket present) on each side; face with 1 simple very long trichome with coiled apex (Fig. 15B) on each side. Thorax. Integument yellow, moderately covered with small tubercles except anterodorsal surface sparsely covered with small tubercles; thorax with 2 simple very long trichomes with coiled apices mediodorsally (Fig. 15C), 1 simple very long trichome with coiled apex (Fig. 15D) (another 1 trichome probably lost) anterolaterally, 1 bifid medium-long trichome with coiled apex mediolaterally (Fig. 15E), and 3 simple trichomes (1 long with coiled apex, 1 medium-long with coiled apex, 1 medium-long with uncoiled apex) ventrolaterally (Fig. 15F). Gill (Fig. 15G) with 4 slender thread-like filaments, slightly longer than pupal body, arranged vertically in dorsal and ventral pairs, each with short stalk arising from short common basal stalk; common basal stalk much thicker than interspiracular trunk, and with transparent swollen portion ventrally; stalks of dorsal and ventral pairs subequal in length to each other and somewhat shorter than common basal stalk; stalk of dorsal pair slightly thicker than stalk of ventral pair; dorsal filament of dorsal pair longest (4.9 mm long), 2 filaments of ventral pair shortest (3.5–3.6 mm long) and ventral filament of dorsal pair intermdiate (4.2–4.5 mm long); all filaments medium brown, directed forward, gradually tapered toward apex, with annular furrows at irregular intervals along basal 1/2 and moderately-defined ridges and furrows at regular intervals along apical 1/2, and densely covered with minute tubercles on outer surface. Abdomen. Dorsally, segments 1 and 2 moderately sclerotized, yellowish-brown and weakly tuberculate; 1 hair-like seta on each side of segment 1 lost; segment 2 with 5 dark spinous short setae (1 hair-like seta lost) on each side; segments 3 and 4 weakly tuberculate, each with 4 dark stout hooks and 1 dark short spinous seta on each side; segments 5–9 each with spine-combs and comb-like groups of minute spines in transverse rows on each side; segment 9 with pair of cone-shaped terminal hooks (Fig. 15H). Ventrally, segment 4 with 1 dark simple and 1 dark bifid hooklets (slightly shorter and smaller than those on segments 5–7) and few simple short setae on each side; segment 5 with 2 dark bifid hooks and few simple short setae on each side; segments 6 and 7 each with 1 dark bifid inner hook and 1 dark simple outer hook, and few simple short setae on each side; segments 4–8 each with comblike groups of minute spines. Cocoon (Fig. 15I,J). Wall-pocket-shaped, moderately woven, anterior margin thickly woven, and extending ventrolaterally, with 2 long narrow strong anterodorsal projections first divergent, then, convergent and bent downward, then appearing to unite with each other forming broad thin flap extending forward along surface of substrate; cocoon appearing to bear 3 open windows anteriorly when viewed from above; floor woven on posterior 1/2; individual threads visible; 5.5 mm long (excluding anterior flap) by 3.2 mm wide. Mature larva. Body length 6.9 mm. Body color creamy though posterior abdominal segments very faintly grayish dorsally. Cephalic apotome yellowish-white though somewhat darkened narrowly along posterior margin; all head spots medium brown. Lateral surface of head capsule yellow though eye-spot region yellowish-white and area in front of posterior margin somewhat darkened; eyebrow darkened and welldefined; 2 large and 1 or 2 small dark spots near posterior margin, and 1 small dark spot below eye-spot region present. Ventral surface of head capsule (Fig. 16A) yellow, with dark brown area on each side of postgenal cleft; elongate spot on each side of postgenal cleft positive. Cervical sclerites composed of 2 brown rod-like small pieces, not fused to occiput, widely separated from each other. Antenna composed of 3 segments and apical sensillum, much longer than stem of labral fan; proportional lengths of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd segments 1.00: 1.28:0.86. Labral fan with 40 rays. Mandible (Fig. 16B) with 1st comb-tooth longest, followed by 2nd one which is as long as 3rd one; mandibular serrations composed of 2 teeth (1 large and 1 small); large tooth at obtuse angle to mandible on apical side; 2 or 4 supernumerary serrations present. Hypostoma (Fig. 16C) with row of 9 apical teeth, median tooth most prominent, followed by corner teeth, and intermediate teeth smallest; lateral margin with 1 blunt tooth near apex; hypostomal bristles 5 in row, lying nearly parallel to lateral margin on each side. Postgenal cleft (Fig. 16A) of medium-size, as long as postgenal bridge, nearly parallel-sided and rounded anteriorly. Histoblast of pharate pupal gill (Fig. 16D) with 4 slender filaments arranged in 2 pairs with short stalks. Thoracic cuticle bare. Abdominal cuticle almost bare except few posterior segments sparsely or moderately covered with colorless minute setae dorsally and dorsolaterally (even laterally near ventral papillae) and also on both sides of anal sclerite. Rectal scales appearing to be absent. Rectal organ compound, each lobe with 8–11 finger-like secondary lobules. Anal sclerite X-shaped, with basal juncture broadly sclerotized; anterior arms of medium-long, broad, 0.83 times as long as posterior ones; accessory sclerites absent; sensillum absent. Ventral papillae small and conical. Posterior circlet with 78 rows of up to 12 hooks per row. Female and male. Unknown. Type specimens. Holotype pupa with its cocoon (preserved in 80% ethanol), collected from a small water canal (water temperature 21.0˚C, exposed to the sun, altitude 1,606 m, 28˚24’06.8” N, 83˚50’32.4” E) moderately flowing through hilly area, Jhakrithan, Lekhani, Baglung, Nepal, 23.IX.2009. Paratype: 1 mature larva (preserved in 80% ethanol), collected from a very rapidly-flowing stream (width 2m, water temperature 10.0˚C, exposed to the sun, altitude 2,532 m, 28˚64’32.9” N, 83˚66’32.0” E), Lete, Mustang, Nepal, 23.IX.2009. Biological notes. The pupa and larva of this new species were collected from grass leaves trailing in water. Associated species were S. (N.) letense sp. nov., S. (M.) dattai and S. (S.) sp. Etymology. The species name lekhaniense refers to the locality name, Lekhani, where this new species was collected Remarks. This new species appears to be assigned to the vernum species-group of the subgenus Simulium (Nevermannia) in having the pupal gill with four long slender filaments (Fig. 15G) and the larval mandible with supernumerary serrations (Fig. 16B). This new species is remarkable in having the cocoon with three open windows anteriorly (Fig. 15I).Published as part of Takaoka, Hiroyuki & Shrestha, Suchitra, 2010, New species of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Nepal 2731, pp. 1-62 in Zootaxa 2731 on pages 29-3
J.-F. Dobremez et T.-B. Shrestha, "Carte écologique du Népal JumIa-Saipal 1/250 000", Cahiers Népalais
No full textUsselmann Pierre. J.-F. Dobremez et T.-B. Shrestha, "Carte écologique du Népal JumIa-Saipal 1/250 000", Cahiers Népalais. In: Annales de Géographie, t. 92, n°514, 1983. pp. 747-748
Simulium (Gomphostilbia) baglungense Takaoka & Shrestha 2010, sp. nov.
No full textSimulium (Gomphostilbia) baglungense Takaoka & Shrestha sp. nov. Description. Female. Body length 1.7 mm. Head. Nearly as wide as thorax. Frons brownish-black, dull, densely covered with yellowish-white scale-like recumbent hairs interspersed with few dark simple long hairs along each lateral margin; frontal ratio 1.46:1.00:1.46; frons-head ratio 1.00:3.85. Fronto-ocular area (Fig. 7A) well developed, deep, directed laterally and upward. Clypeus brownish-black, thinly white pruinose, shiny when illuminated at certain angle of light, densely covered with yellowish-white scale-like long hairs interspersed with several dark simple long hairs mainly along lateral margin on each side (except area along dorsal margin narrowly bare). Labrum 0.67 times as long as clypeus. Antenna composed of scape, pedicel and 9 flagellomeres, dark brown except scape, pedicel and base of 1st flagellomere yellow. Maxillary palp composed of 5 segments, light to medium brown, proportional lengths of 3rd, 4th and 5th segments 1.00: 1.03:2.21; 3rd segment (Fig. 7B) somewhat swollen; sensory vesicle (Fig. 7B) enlarged, ellipsoidal, 0.51 times as long as 3rd segment, with medium-sized opening medially. Maxillary lacinia with 11 or 13 inner and 16 or 17 outer teeth. Mandible with 25 inner and 8 outer teeth though short distance of outer margin from apex without teeth. Cibarium (Fig. 7C) with posterodorsal margin medially folded anteriorly forming short wide plate, and with darkened mediolongitudinal band bearing forked apex. Thorax. Scutum dark brown, shiny, densely covered with yellowish-white scale-like recumbent short hairs. Scutellum dark brown, covered with yellowish-white short hairs as well as dark brown upright long hairs. Postnotum dark brown, bare, slightly shiny and white pruinose when illuminated at certain angle of light. Pleural membrane bare. Katepisternum dark brown, longer than deep, moderately covered with yellowish fine hairs interspersed with dark brown hairs. Legs. Foreleg: coxa whitish-yellow; trochanter whitish-yellow except apical 1/2 dark yellow; femur light brown, with apical cap medium brown (though extreme tip light brown); tibia medium brown except base and median large portion on outer surface yellow to light brown; tarsus dark brown, with moderate dorsal hair crest; basitarsus somewhat dilated, 6.79 times as long as its greatest width. Midleg: coxa medium brown with posterior surface dark brown; trochanter whitish-yellow; femur light brown, with apical cap medium brown (though base much lighter and extreme apical tip light brown); tibia whitish-yellow at base, gradually darkened from light brown to medium brown; tarsus light to medium brown except basal 1/2 or little less of basitarsus dark yellow. Hind leg: coxa medium brown; trochanter whitish-yellow; femur light brown except base whitish-yellow and apical cap medium brown (though extreme tip light brown); tibia (Fig. 7D) light brown except base whitish-yellow and apical cap medium to dark brown (though subbasal area somewhat darkened appearing as subbasal band; tibia moderately covered with yellow fine hairs on outer and posterior surface of basal 3/4; tarsus (Fig. 7E) medium brown except little more than basal 2/3 of basitarsus (though base light brown) and basal 1/2 of 2nd tarsomere whitish-yellow; basitarsus (Fig. 7E) narrow, nearly parallelsided, 6.19 times as long as wide, and 0.70 and 0.58 times as wide as greatest width of tibia and femur, respectively; calcipala (Fig. 7E) well developed, 1.12 times as long as wide, and 0.48 times as wide as greatest width of basitarsus; pedisulcus (Fig. 7E) well developed. Claw (Fig. 7F) with large basal tooth 0.50 times as long as claw. Wing. Length 1.6 mm. Costa with dark brown spinules as well as dark brown hairs except basal portion with patch of yellowish hairs. Subcosta with dark brown hairs except near apex bare. Hair tuft on stem vein yellowish. Basal portion of radius fully haired. Basal cell absent. Abdomen. Basal scale light ocherous, with fringe of yellowish-white fine hairs. Dorsal surface of abdomen light to medium brown, moderately covered with dark brown hairs; tergites of segments 2 and 6–8 shiny; sternal plate on segment 7 undeveloped. Genitalia. Sternite 8 (Fig. 7G) bare medially, with 13–16 short to very long stout hairs and few short setae on each side. Ovipositor valves (Fig. 7G) nearly triangular, thin, membranous, moderately covered with microsetae interspersed with 3 or 4 short setae; inner margins slightly sinuous, moderately sclerotized. Genital fork (Fig. 7H) of usual inverted-Y form, with arms of moderate width; arm folded medially, with large projection directed medioposteriorly. Paraproct in ventral view (Fig. 7I) subquadrate, with 15 or 16 long hairs on ventral and lateral surface, and with 5 sensilla on anteromedial surface; paraproct in lateral view (Fig. 7J) about half as long as wide, much produced ventrally beyond ventral margin of cercus. Cercus in lateral view (Fig. 7J) rounded posteriorly, half as long as wide. Spermatheca (Fig. 7K) ellipsoidal, 1.50 times as long as wide, well sclerotized except duct and small area of juncture with duct unsclerotized, and with reticulate pattern on surface near juncture and many fissures on rest of surface; internal setae absent; both accessory ducts slender, very slightly larger in diameter than major one. Pupa. Body length 2.0 mm. Head. Integument light yellow, without any tubercles; frons with 3 pairs of simple very long stout trichomes with or without uncoiled apices, all arising close together (Fig. 8A), and face with pair of simple very long stout trichomes with coiled apices (Fig. 8B). Thorax. Integument dark yellow, without any tubercle on dorsal and dorsolateral surface of anterior 3/4, sparsely covered with small coneshaped or round tubercles on dorsal surface of posterior 1/4; thorax with 3 simple very long mediodorsal trichomes with coiled apices (Fig. 8C), 2 simple anterolateral trichomes (1 very long, stout, with coiled apex, 1 medium-long, slender, with uncoiled apex) (Fig. 8D), 1 simple short somewhat stout mediolateral trichome with uncoiled apex (Fig. 8E) and 3 simple short slender ventrolateral trichomes with uncoiled apices (Fig. 8F) on each side. Gill (Fig. 8G) composed of 8 slender thread-like filaments arranged as (2+1)+(2+1)+2 filaments from dorsal to ventral; common basal stalk very short, with round transparent swollen organ ventrally; filaments of dorsal triplet subequal in length (0.6–0.8 mm according to 3 intact filaments (1 left side, 2 right side) of dorsal triplet groups) and thickness, filaments of middle triplet subequal in length (1.1 mm according to 1 intact filament of middle triplet on right side) and thickness, inner filament of ventral paired filaments very slightly thicker than outer filament and their exact length unmeasurable because apical portion of filaments is lost (length of remaining portion of filaments about 1.4 mm); proportional thickness of 8 filaments from dorsal to ventral 0.8:0.8:0.8:0.8:0.8:0.9:1.3:1.4; all filaments light yellow, with well-defined annular ridges and furrows on outer surface, and densely covered with minute tubercles. Abdomen. Dorsally, whole of segment 1, most of segments 2 and 9 light yellow, without tubercles; other segments almost transparent; segment 1 with 1 simple medium-long slender seta on each side; segment 2 with 1 simple medium-long slender seta and 5 or 6 very short setae submedially on each side; segments 3 and 4 each with 4 hooked spines and 1 very short seta on each side; segment 5 lacking spine-combs; segments 6–8 each with spine-combs in transverse row and comb-like groups of minute spines on each side; segment 9 with pair of distinct flat terminal hooks (Fig. 8H) and comb-like groups of minute spines on each side. Ventrally, segment 4 with 1 simple hook and few short setae on each side; segment 5 with pair of bifid hooks submedially and few simple slender short setae on each side; segments 6 and 7 each with pair of bifid inner and simple outer hooks somewhat spaced from each other and few simple slender short setae on each side; segments 4–8 each with comb-like groups of minute spines. Each side of segment 9 with 2 or 3 grapnel-shaped hooklets. Cocoon. Wall-pocket shaped, moderately and neatly woven, thin, not extending ventrolaterally; anterior margin somewhat thickly woven; floor roughly woven; individual threads invisible; 2.0 mm long by 0.8 mm wide. Male and mature larva. Unknown. Type specimen. Holotype female (together with its associated pupal exuviae and cocoon) (preserved in 80% ethanol), reared from pupa collected from a small, slow-flowing stream (water temperature 19.5˚C, exposed to the sun, altitude 1,469 m, 28˚24’45.5” N, 83˚51’02.0” E), Padhera, Lekhani, Baglung, Nepal, 25.IX.2009. Biological notes. The pupa of this new species was collected from a grass leaf trailing in water. No other species was collected. Etymology. The species name baglungense refers to the locality name, Baglung, where this new species was collected. Remarks. This new species is assigned to either the batoense species-group or the ceylonicum speciesgroup of the subgenus Gomphostilbia in having the antenna with nine flagellomeres, the bare pleural membrane, haired katepisternum and the claw with a large basal tooth (Fig. 7F) in the female and the eight thread-like gill filaments (Fig. 8G) in the pupa. This new species is characterized by the pupal frons and thorax (except posterior 1/3) with no tubercle and the pupal gill with a relatively large transparent bulb-like organ at its base (Fig. 8G). There is no record of other known Gomphostilbia species which lack tubercles on the frons and most of the thoracic integument. The female of this new species is similar in the leg color to those of S. (G.) bhutanense Takaoka & Somboon and S. (G.) chuzargangense Takaoka & Somboon, both of which were described from female specimens collected from Bhutan (Takaoka & Somboon 2008). However it is easily distinguished from these known species by the following characteristics: claw with a large basal tooth (claw with a medium-sized basal tooth in S. (G.) bhutanense) and by the subcosta which is almost entirely haired (subcosta almost bare in S. (G.) chuzargangense).Published as part of Takaoka, Hiroyuki & Shrestha, Suchitra, 2010, New species of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Nepal 2731, pp. 1-62 in Zootaxa 2731 on pages 15-1
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