27 research outputs found
Understanding biodiversity conservation funding and the diffusion of transnational gender norms in Bhutan
No full textSubmission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2022-08-01The student, Dikshya Devkota, accepted the attached license on 2020-07-09 at 11:24.The student, Dikshya Devkota, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2020-07-09 at 11:42.This Thesis was approved for publication on 2020-07-13 at 12:04.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #15541 on 2020-10-02 at 15:50:05Made available in DSpace on 2020-10-07T22:49:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2020-07-13International goals and policy discourses have long shaped conservation priorities and outcomes. One such global norm is gender equality. Although the process of normative changes at the international level is well studied, there is limited information on the diffusion of well-established norms in nation-states. Thus, I conducted a study to understand the conditions under which the transnational norm of gender equality has been adopted or resisted within biodiversity conservation in Bhutan via interviews conducted with 24 conservation practitioners in the country. I first analyzed biodiversity conservation funding in the country from 1980 to 2018 via desk-based research and field study to identify the key norm entrepreneurs in the sector. Results of the funding analysis show that a total of 243 projects amounting to US140 million) went to conservation projects that included specific development and gender components, suggesting the influence of international agendas. By contrast, domestic funding focused more strictly on conservation and capacity building without an explicit gender emphasis. While international organizations have introduced transnational gender norms in Bhutan, local socio-political dynamics play a crucial role in influencing the extent to which these norms are adopted in the country. Government support and instrumental benefits resulted in acceptance and adoption of transnational gender norms whereas, strong prior norms and the lack of adaption of foreign ideas to the local context led to their resistance in Bhutan. These findings provide new empirical insights into conservation investment and have relevance for donors, recipients, and policymakers to understand current conservation finance in Bhutan and inform future allocation decisions. Moreover, this study emphasizes the need for norm entrepreneurs and policymakers to build congruence between foreign ideas and local beliefs and practices for the successful diffusion of transnational norms in nation-states.Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 116309
Lift date: 2022-10-07T22:50:13Z
Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemAuthor requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemLimite
Effect of the barrage and embankments on flooding and channel avulsion case study Koshi River, Nepal
No full textHumans have utilized water resources for millennia by modifying natural river courses and such interventions have greatly influenced not only river flows and sediment fluxes, but also the overall river morphology. Situated in the Nepal's eastern Ganges region, the braided Koshi River is unique among the other rivers, because of the high frequency of channel avulsion and other morphological changes, such as: channel migration, channel width adjustment. This study examines effect of the Koshi barrage and related embankments on flooding and channel avulsion in Koshi River. In particular, it tries to explain the avulsion that occurred in 2008, studying the role of the Koshi barrage, and related embankments, constructed near the border between Nepal and India in 1963. Series of satellite images and historical maps show overall sedimentation, especially in the western side of the river channel, which lead to the shifting of the Koshi River towards the east (almost 6 km) during around 40 years period, since the construction of the barrage, although before, shifting toward the west. The barrage was constructed at eastern side of the river channel within two embankments, leading to sedimentation in western side, since river is flowing short courses. Sediment deposition upstream of the barrage brought to the conditions that lead to dike breaching in 2008. During the 2008 flooding event, huge amounts of previously deposited sediment were eroded from the river bed upstream of the barrage. The resulting bed lowering means a gain of time to prevent a similar event in the future, since new space for sediment inside the embankments system has been created. So, this time, estimated in 40-50 years, can be used to take proper river engineering measures.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Effects of river damming and training on the 2008 Koshi River avulsion, Nepal (abstract)
No full textHydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Challenges and Dilemmas in Conducting Conflict Research During Armed Violence: Lessons Learnt from Fieldwork in Nepal
No full textThis paper highlights key issues that arose whilst conducting a PhD research project among rebel health care workers in Nepal during a time of conflict. The first author is the student and the second author the PhD supervisor at the time
Enhancing Quality of Care: Empowering Clinical Preceptors Through Implementation of Tailored Educational Modules
No full textData was collected using a Likert Scale through pre- and post-intervention with the preceptor self-assessment tool (PSAT)-40. PSAT-40 is a validated tool that helps nurse preceptors evaluate their strengths and areas of improvement across 3 domains of competency: 1. Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills and Attitudes; 2. Knowledge and Understanding; and 3. Administrative Resources and Support. Furthermore, the tool contains 40 items across the 3 domains, and preceptors can get a clear understanding of their strengths and areas of improvement by self-rating on a scale of 1 to 5 for each item. Each of the three domains has been validated individually, which means depending on the purpose, the domains can be used as standalone assessments or combined together for a comprehensive score reflecting overall preceptor competency. As a measure of internal consistency, the PSAT-40 has Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.978 to 0.998, and a final scale reliability of 0.983, indicating good validity and reliability to assess various preceptor competencies (L'Ecuyer et al., 2022). Permission was obtained from the tool's author prior to its use in the project.Background/Significance: Clinical preceptors are essential to nursing education. The shortage of trained preceptors has negatively impacted clinical learning, with thousands of qualified students rejected admission partly due to insufficient preceptor availability (Rosseter, 2022). Research suggests many preceptors lack adequate training to mentor nursing students effectively (Cusack et al., 2020), often resulting in decreased preceptor competencies such as confidence and role satisfaction. Hence, a quality improvement pilot project was conducted in a West Texas healthcare facility to improve preceptor competencies. Methodology: A comprehensive literature review revealed preceptor training programs enhance preceptor competencies (Arnaert et al., 2022; Good, 2021). Ten registered nurses were recruited through convenience sampling for the training program, featuring educational modules. Guided by Diffusion of Innovations and From Novice to Expert theories, this project utilized a quasi-experimental design with pre-and post-assessments, aiming to improve preceptors’ confidence and satisfaction, along with fostering a culture of mentorship. Results/Outcomes: Data from the Preceptor Self-Assessment Tool (PSAT)-40 was analyzed using Paired Samples t-test and showed a statistically significant increase in mean scores from 128 to 164.5 (t =-11.17, p<0.001, Cohen’s d =3.53). The project met its primary aim, achieving over 18% increase in both preceptor competencies, while also targeting a 30% increase in trainee participants within a year to enhance mentorship culture within the facility. Conclusion/Takeaways: Findings support structured preceptor training can enhance preceptor competencies, clinical education, and nurse retention. Scaling up the project, analyzing financial impact, and ongoing evaluation are recommended to maximize impact and ensure long-term success
Effects of soil warming and residue retention on soil carbon dynamics and crop yield in irrigated and dryland cotton
No full textThe Great Plains region is an economically important area that produces around 30-35% of the cotton produced in the United States. However, the region is facing challenges to sustain agricultural production due to frequent extreme climate events. Droughts have become more common and severe during growing seasons, and rainfall events have become more unpredictable. These environmental changes have major ramifications, especially for agricultural soil health. Soil health is defined as the capacity of soil to function as a vital living system that supports plant and animal productivity, maintains, or improves water and air quality, and promotes plant and animal health. Soil health has been severely affected by climate variability, particularly in dry soils. Several land management approaches have been identified that have the potential to reduce the negative environmental effects of climate change while also promoting a variety of physical, chemical, and biological soil attributes that improve soil health. For example, adding plant residue as mulch on the soil surface has the potential to increase soil health, thereby mitigating the negative effects of a warmer world. We conducted a passive warming experiment with open top chambers and residue treatment in dryland (unirrigated) and irrigated cotton fields in the semi-arid agroecosystem of Lubbock, Texas, to evaluate the interactive effects of warming, residue, and irrigation on soil organic matter, microbial biomass carbon, soil CO2 flux, seed cotton yield, and aboveground belowground biomass production. We hypothesized that warming triggered by open top chambers (OTCs) would (i) increase microbial biomass carbon, soil CO2 flux, soil organic matter, and cotton production in irrigated soils but would reduce microbial biomass carbon, soil CO2 flux, soil organic matter, and cotton production in dryland soils and (ii) residue would increase soil moisture and lower soil temperature, mitigating warming effects, and thus increase soil organic matter content, cotton yield and biomass production.
OTCs did not result a significant change in soil temperature, but they increased air temperature by 2 oC. Residue and irrigation decreased soil temperature by 0.5 oC and 0.7 oC, respectively. Open top chambers decreased volumetric water content in dryland by 11.56%, but volumetric water content in irrigated was unaffected. Interestingly, irrigation did not affect volumetric water content, likely because the growing season received rainfall 54.58 % higher than irrigation water applied. Residue addition decreased volumetric water content by 10.69% in control, but in OTC plots, residue increased water content by 1.43% in our study. OTCs and residue did not affect soil organic matter, but irrigation increased soil organic matter by 36.79%. OTCs increased microbial biomass by 34.85% under residue applied conditions, but without residue, OTCs decreased microbial biomass by 14.1 %. Nitrogen availability is positively correlated with microbial biomass, but P is negatively correlated. Additionally, OTCs and residue increased soil respiration rate by 20.72% and 103.12 %, respectively. Similarly, in irrigated plots, we observed 37.17%, 149.17%, and 128.60% higher seed cotton yield, aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass, respectively, than in dryland. OTCs and residue did not affect cotton yield and biomass production.
Our findings suggested that irrigation increased on soil carbon stocks and crop production amid simulated climate change and indicated that moisture stress, rather than heat stress, limit soil health and agricultural performance in the Southern High Plains of Texas. Therefore, adopting suitable moisture conservation measures that improve agricultural water use efficiency and hence minimize irrigation water demand is vital to the long-term sustainability of cotton cultivation in the Southern High Plains.Restricted until 06/2027. To request the author grant access, click on the PDF link to the left
Vitamin D supplementation leading to hypervitaminosis D in a breastfed infant: A case report
No full textKey Clinical Message Breast milk alone is a poor and inadequate source of vitamin D. Many guidelines suggest supplementation of vitamin D to the newborns to prevent vitamin D deficiency. However, due to practices of outdoor breastfeeding and sunbathing, vitamin D supplementation may not be routinely required in our settings. Overzealous use of vitamin D supplementation and over‐the‐counter prescription may result in hypervitaminosis D
Surviving research between Two Guns: Lessons Learnt from Nepal.
No full textNepal’s decade long violent conflict (1996-2005) between the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) and the Government of Nepal resulted to over 14000 deaths and thousands others became disabled and lost their properties. During this violent war, the Maoists developed their own health cadres mainly to treat the combatants and the community people under their control areas to some extent. This paper is based on the first author’s personal account of field experiences while conducting PhD research using mixed methods study comprising in-depth interviews and self-administrated questionnaire on the former Maoist health workers in Nepal. This study suggests a few dilemmas the first author confronted with while undertaking this research. First and foremost is the risk involved to both the researcher and the participants in the absence of trust and security on both sides of the conflict. Secondly, the sources of information could easily be biased either deliberately (as propaganda) or more subtly based on respondents’ perspectives. The issues of accessing the research participants, relationships, complicity, representation and being rejected by a contact are pertinent issues when carrying out independent research. Thirdly, maintaining ethics and keeping a right between research, humanity and sense of justice is also the dilemma that might have affected the research findings derived from dangerous environments. Fourthly, lack of precise methods that are valid and reliable to investigate certain dynamics of conflict in the politically violent and crisis environment could be equally contested. Fifthly, undertaking cross-disciplinary research on a conflict-related topic during wartime by a researcher with background in allied field is even more challenging. The researcher need to have both an in-depth knowledge of conflict theories as well as being able to apply these to another discipline which can be cumbersome. This article presents a personal account of a Rotary fellow who conducted his public health research among the Maoists combatant health workers of Nepal. It presents his lived experiences that could be important in carrying out appropriate and credible research during violent conflict elsewhere in future
Dark and bright spots in the shadow of the pandemic: Rural livelihoods, social vulnerability, and local governance in India and Nepal
No full textThe global COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented disruption to lives and livelihoods around the world. These disruptions have brought into sharp focus experiences of vulnerability but also, at times, evidence of resilience as people and institutions gear up to respond to the crisis. Drawing on intensive qualitative enquiry in 16 villages of Himalayan India and Nepal, this paper documents both dark and bright spots from the early days of the pandemic. We find intense experiences of fear and uncertainty, heightened food insecurity, and drastic reductions in livelihood opportunities. However, we also find a wide range of individual and collective responses as well as a patchwork of policy support mechanisms that have provided at least some measure of basic security. Local elected governments have played a critical role in coordinating responses and delivering social support, however the nature of their actions varies as a result of different institutional arrangements and state support systems in the two countries. Our findings highlight the changing nature of vulnerability in the present era, as demographic shifts, growing off-farm employment and dependence on remittances, and increasing market integration have all brought about new kinds of exposure to risk for rural populations in the context of the present disruption and beyond. Most importantly, our research shows the critical importance of strong systems of state support for protecting basic well-being in times of crises. Based on these findings, we argue that there is a need for greater knowledge of how local institutions work in tandem with a broader set of state support mechanisms to generate responses for urgent challenges; such knowledge holds the potential to develop governance systems that are better able to confront diverse shocks that households face, both now and in the future. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd
