Department of Food Technology and Quality Control

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious fatal viral disease of pigs caused by ASF virus (ASFV). Since its introduction into Nepal in 2022, ASF has caused major losses to pig farmers. However, information on the seroprevalence and associated risk factors in Nepal remains limited, and this study represents the first systematic investigation of ASFV seroprevalence and farm management practices in the country. To determine the seroprevalence of ASF in domestic pigs and slaughterhouse in Nepal and to identify farm management practices that contribute to disease transmission. A cross-sectional study was conducted across pig farms in Bagmati Province. A total of 324 serum samples were collected and tested for ASFV antibodies using competitive ELISA. Additionally, 43 farmers were interviewed to assess management practices and biosecurity measures. Data were analysed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Of the 324 samples screened, seven tested positive, with an overall seroprevalence of 2.16%. Seropositivity was detected in multiple districts, but no significant differences were observed by location, sample source, sex, or age group (p > 0.05). The survey revealed poor biosecurity practices: only 6.9% of farmers used protective clothing, 27.9% used foot dips, and 62.8% did not quarantine new animals. Swill feeding was common (34.9%), while 39.5% of farmers used both swill and commercial feed. Improper carcass disposal and sale of sick or dead pigs were also reported. Detection of ASFV antibodies in slaughtered and farm pigs indicates ongoing circulation of the virus in Nepal. Combined with poor farm-level biosecurity, this underscores the urgent need for preventive measures, including strengthened surveillance, farmer awareness, and enforcement of swill-feeding bans, to safeguard Nepal's pig industry.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health emergency attributed to the inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents in human health, animal health, and environmental sectors. With low awareness regarding the consequences of antimicrobial use in livestock farming, improper slaughter practices, and unhygienic meat sales, AMR is circulating through the food chain. The study is aimed at unraveling the scenario of AMR and detecting resistant genes in Escherichia coli in meat and meat products in the market of Kathmandu. A total of 120 meat samples, n = 30 chicken meat, n = 30 buffalo meat, and n = 60 frozen meat products were sourced by random sampling between January and June 2024. Then, 54 isolates recovered from the meat samples were identified as containing E. coli based on conventional PCR analysis targeting the 16S rRNA gene of E. coli. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed 57.4% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline, followed by ampicillin (44.4%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin (38.8%). Then, 44.4% of the isolates out of 54 were found to be multidrug-resistant. ESBL testing showed that seven E. coli isolates were ESBL producers, and upon colistin agar MIC test, two isolates were resistant to colistin. Conventional PCR analysis for the detection of ESBL-encoding genes confirmed that L4B and L17B contained both blaCTX and blaTEM-52 ESBL-encoding genes. Isolates L11B, L15B, and L8C harbored blaCTX, while L12B and FZ100 harbored blaTEM-52 ESBL-encoding genes. E. coli isolates L9C and FZ102 both harbored mcr-1 colistin-resistant genes, while mcr-2 was not observed. Carbapenem-resistant isolates were not recovered in the study. Isolation of multidrug-resistant E. coli, as well as the presence of ESBL and colistin-resistant genes, probably signifies misuse of antimicrobial agents in veterinary practices as well as cross-contamination due to poor hygiene practices. These actions pose a threat to the health of consumers and assist in the spread of AMR genes across microbial populations. Thus, regulatory bodies need to regulate the antimicrobial usage for veterinary applications and promote good hygiene practices in food processing industries, along with the dissemination of awareness to stakeholders regarding AMR.

छगू थासं मेगु थासय् वनीगु ज्या यात्रा खः । यात्रा याना: थःम्हं खंगु दृष्य, भोगय्‌ याःगु अनुभव, अनुभूति संयोजन याना: रागात्मक भाषां सृजना याइगु गद्य च्वसु नियात्रा साहित्य खः । प्रताप मल्लया प्रतापपुरया शिलालेखय् उल्लेख जूगु महामञ्जुश्रीया नेपाल यात्रा वर्णन नेपालभाषाया नियात्रा साहित्यया विजारोपण खः । धर्मलोक स्थविरया महाचीनयात्रा (ने.सं. १०७०) न्हापांगु नियात्रा साहित्य खः । जिगु विदेशया यात्रा स्वदेशया लुमन्तिइ पर्यावरणया चिन्तन नियात्रा सफू घनश्याम राजकर्णिकारया थीथी नियात्रा सफूती दुथ्याःगु १० पु नियात्रा छथाय् मुनाः नेपालभाषां अनुवाद यानातःगु खः । थ्व सफूती दुथ्याःगु पर्यावरणया अध्ययन थ्व च्वसुइ जूगु दु । थ्व सफूती प्रयाप्त पर्यावरणीय दृष्यया सरल चित्रण नापं मानव व प्रकृति दथुया अन्तरङ्ग सम्बन्धया चर्चा दु । थथे हे च्वमिया प्रकृतिमैत्री भावना, पर्यावरणीय सचेतना, प्रकृतिप्रति अटल अनुराग खनेदु । मानव सदां पर्यावरणमैत्री भावनां ओतप्रोत जुइमाः, प्रकृतिप्रति अनुराग सद्भाव तयाः सत्कर्मपाखे न्हेच्यूसा मानव जीवन सरल सहज सफल यापन जुइ धैगु हे नियात्राकारया सन्देश खः ।

नेपालमण्डल दुने न्यागूगु शताब्दीया अन्तनिसें आतक्क म्वान च्वंगु छगू सम्पदा खः चर्यानृत्य । थुकियात जगत कल्याणय् लीन जुया, आध्यात्मिक चिन्तन दुने प्रज्ञा व उपाय्‌या दर्शनपाखें बुद्धत्व प्राप्तिया लँपुकथं कयातःगु दु । बौद्ध संस्कृति व कलादुने चर्याया विशेष महत्व दु । मौलिक राग, ताल, भाव व मुद्रां याना चर्यानृत्य मेमेगु नृत्य स्वयाः विशेष व च्वन्ह्यागु खः । प्याखंहुलीबले कलाकारं भेषभूषा, तिसा, पदचाल, हस्तमुद्राय् तसकं अनुशासित जुया थःगु प्रस्तुतियात न्याय यानाच्वनी । हस्तमुद्रा धैगु मनया विचार व भावयात ल्हाः व पतिं छेलाः अभिव्यक्त याय्‌गु आंगिक भावया सूत्र खः । नापं ज्ञानया सांकेतिक भाव खः । चर्या नृत्यय् छपा ल्हातं प्रस्तुत याइगु हस्तमुद्रा अभय, बरद, स्पर्श, ज्ञान, बिन्दु, आदि असंयुक्त हस्तमुद्रा खःसा, नमस्कार, ध्यान, चक्र, बोध्याङ, आलिङगन आदि निपा ल्हातं प्रस्तुत याइगु संयुक्त हस्तमुद्रा खः । नृत्यय् मेया खँग्वः अनुरूप भाव अभिव्यक्त याय्‌त ध्यानपूर्वक हस्तमुद्राया प्रयोग जुयाच्वनी । थीथी द्यःया विशेषताअनुरूप आराधना यासें ल्हाः वपतिंचा छेला सृजना जुइगु विशेष स्वरूपया हस्तमुद्राया संरचना, अर्थ, प्रयोगबारे थ्व अध्ययन केन्द्रीत जूगु दु । अध्ययनयात माःगु सूचना चर्यानृत्यबारे च्वयातःगु सफू, च्वसु,शोधपाखें व प्राथमिक स्रोतकथं चर्यानृत्यया गुरूपिं कलाकारपिंनापं खँलाबला याना मुंकागु दु । नापं थ्व च्वमि स्वयं चर्यानृत्यया अभ्यासकर्ता जूगुलीं थःगुब्यक्तिगत अनुभव नं दुथ्याकागु दु । मुद्राया अर्थ विश्लेषण याय्‌त बौद्ध दर्शनया आधार कयागु दु । थौंकन्हय्‌ युवापुस्तादुने चर्यानृत्य अतिकं लोकंह्वाःसां कलाकारतसें हे नृत्यया हस्तमुद्रा, थुकिया अर्थ, संरचना व थीथी चर्यानृत्यया विश्लेषण याःगु खनेमदु । अध्ययनं थ्व हे विश्लेषण यानाः नृत्यनापं स्वापू दुपिं विशेष याना न्हुगु पुस्तायात चर्या नृत्ययाबारे भतिचा ज्ञान बीगुकुतः यागु दु । अले न्हूगुपुस्ता, झीगु म्हसीका ल्यंकातःगु चर्या नृत्यया महत्व थुइकाः संरक्षणया ज्याय् न्ह्यावनी ।

The aim of this work was to prepare energy bar using ripe bananas, rolled oats, peanut butter and chocolate chips and evaluate its quality. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a randomized mixture design was used to create different formulations using Design Expert 13.1.5 software and 14 formulations were obtained. Formulated samples were subjected for sensory evaluations using 9 points hedonic rating scale. Based on the sensory evaluation, the results indicated that formulations with higher proportions of chocolate chips and peanut butter sample G and L were preferred. Physical properties of energy bar were measured, the addition of peanut butter and chocolate chips influenced the volume, texture and density of the bars. Potassium, calcium and radical scavenging activity were found significantly increased. Data from sensory analysis, physical properties and mineral were statistically analyzed and means were compared at 5% level of significance.

Abstract Background: Career coaching and counseling are vital tools for undergraduates to effectively identify career decisions in today's competitive labor market. However, the utilization of these services remains an area of study, as it is influenced by various career determinant factors such as institutional support, socio-cultural factors, awareness, and motivation. The main objective of this research was to analyze the mediating role of Career Decision Self-Efficacy (CDSE) in the relationship between determining factors and the utilization of career counseling services. Methods:The explanatory research design using structural equation modeling was used. Three hundred undergraduates were taken as sample from three universities were surveyed using validated Likert-scale questionnaires. Constructs measured included institutional support, socio-cultural influences, awareness, motivation, CDSE, and service utilization. Results:The findings revealed that the determinants of coaching and counseling, namely institutional support, socio-cultural influences, awareness, and motivation, were positively correlated with CDSE, while CDSE was strongly correlated with service utilization. The mediation analysis indicates that CDSE partially mediates the relationship between external determinants and service utilization, accounting for 42.56% of the variance explained using the VAF method. Conclusion:This study concludes that enhancing CDSE significantly improves students' engagement with career counseling services. Interventions targeting institutional support, awareness campaigns, and confidence-building strategies can optimize service utilization among undergraduates. Novelty:By focusing on CDSE as a pivotal mediator, this study offers novel insights into improving career development programs at universities to enhance proactive career behavior among students. This will bridge external factors and career counseling utilization, offering actionable recommendations for academic institutions aimed at cultivating proactive career behaviors among students. Keywords: Career coaching and counseling, institutional support, socio-cultural support, utilization, SEM

Liver fluke infection in cattle is typically sub-clinical, with animals lacking in visible clinical signs. Consequently, farmers are often dubious about investing in control measures as they are often unaware of its deleterious effects on meat quality and weight gain. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of liver fluke infection on carcass weight and meat quality in Australian cattle, and, in turn, to estimate the economic loss to the producer. This study utilised abattoir data obtained from an Australian meat processor. The data encompassed observations of over 4 million cattle processed between 2016 and 2020. Six response variables were considered: the carcass weight, fat depth, AUS-MEAT marbling, muscle area, Meat Standards Australia index and ossification age days. The large volume of data, combined with a high degree of diversity in management practices and animals, meant accurate estimation of the effect of liver fluke infection was challenging. A generalised random forest model was used for heterogeneous causal effect estimation, while adjusting for relevant confounding variables and accounting for complex variable interactions. Substantive differences in the effect of liver fluke infection were found across groups of animals, with hormonal growth promotant free (HGP-free) animals sourced from properties being the most negatively impacted in terms of the carcass weight and meat quality. The expected loss for the producer per animal infected with liver fluke was estimated to be A$35 (95% CI 26, 43) for Angus females and A$32 (95% CI 24, 41) for Angus males (both HGP-free and sourced from properties). Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that cattle producers operating in high-risk regions carefully consider the relative benefits of liver fluke treatment and control.