Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

This empirical study investigates the determinants of lending interest rates in Nepalese commercial banks, utilizing panel data spanning fiscal years 2073/74 to 2080/81. Employing multiple linear regression and correlation analyses, the research examines the influence of key financial variables—namely, interest rate on deposits, impairment charge rate, operating expenses, and non-operating expenses—alongside macroeconomic indicators such as inflation and economic growth. The findings reveal that the interest rate on deposits exerts a statistically significant positive effect on lending rates, indicating its central role in banks’ pricing strategies. Inflation also demonstrates an important moderating influence, suggesting that lending rates are responsive to macroeconomic price dynamics. Conversely, impairment charges, operating and non-operating expenses, and economic growth did not exhibit significant linear associations. The financial model accounted for 92.6% of the variance in lending rates, reflecting high explanatory power. These results offer valuable insights into the cost-driven nature of interest rate formation and the sensitivity of lending behavior to inflation, with implications for monetary policy and financial regulation in emerging economies.

नेपालका ग्रामीण पहाडी क्षेत्रहरूमा बसाइँसराइ एक लगातार गहिरिँदो सामाजिक–आर्थिक प्रक्रिया बनेको छ, जसले स्थानीय जनजीवन, समुदायको संरचना र परम्परागत जीवनशैलीलाई व्यापक रूपमा रूपान्तरण गरिरहेको छ । खोटाङ जिल्लाको दिक्तेल रुपाकोट मझुवागढी नगरपालिकालाई केन्द्रमा राखेर बसाइँसराइ तथा वैदेशिक रोजगारीको कारण तथा प्रभावको अध्ययन गर्ने उद्देश्य अनुरुप गरिएको यस अध्ययनले पहाडी भूगोलमा विद्यमान पूर्वाधार अभाव, शिक्षा–स्वास्थ्य सेवामा असमान पहुँच, यातायात कठिनाइ, कृषि आयमा गिरावट, तथा नयाँ अवसरको खोजजस्ता कारणहरूले स्थानीयहरूलाई आफ्नो जन्मथलो छोड्न प्रेरित गरेको यथार्थलाई समग्र रूपमा विश्लेषण गर्दछ । युवाले गाउँमा भविष्य नदेख्दा शहर वा विदेशतर्फ आकर्षित हुने बढ्दो प्रवृत्तिले पहाडी बस्तीहरूमा श्रमशक्तिको अभाव, कार्य–विभाजनको असमानता, परम्परागत पेसाको कमजोर आधार, तथा परिवारमा निर्णयकर्ताको अनुपस्थिति जस्ता सामाजिक चुनौतीहरू देखापरेका छन् । ग्रामीण समुदायबाट शहर र तराईतर्फको आन्तरिक बसाइँसराइ र बाह्य प्रवास दुवैले नेपालको भौगोलिक, सामाजिक र सांस्कृतिक पर्यटनलाई नयाँ रूप दिन थालेको छ ।अध्ययनले गुणात्मक र परिमाणात्मक दुवै पद्धतिहरू अवलम्बन गदै सम्भावनायुक्त नमुना छनौट विधि अन्तर्गतको उद्देश्यमूलक नमूना छनौट विधिको संयोजन मार्फत बसाइँसराइका कारण र प्रभावहरूको बहुआयामिक स्वरूपलाई उजागर गर्दछ । वैदेशिक रोजगारको बढ्दो आकर्षणले ग्रामीण आर्थिक संरचनामा महत्वपूर्ण परिवर्तन ल्याएको छ एकातिर रेमिट्यान्सले घर निर्माण, शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य सेवा तथा उपभोग क्षमतामा उल्लेख्य सुधार ल्याएको छ । अर्कोतर्फ परिवार विखण्डन, दाम्पत्य तनाव, बालबालिकामा मानसिक प्रभाव, तथा सामाजिक सहकार्य प्रणाली कमजोर हुँदै जाने अवस्थाहरू पनि उभिएका छन् । श्रमशक्ति बाहिरिँदा पहाडी क्षेत्रमा कृषि गतिविधि कमजोर हुँदा उत्पादन घट्ने, बारी बाँझिनु, पशुपालनको अवनति, तथा सामुदायिक श्रम व्यवस्था विघटनजस्ता समस्या उत्पन्न भएका छन् । त्यस्तै, शहरमा बढ्दो चापले नयाँ आर्थिक अवसर र सेवा विस्तारकासम्भावना जन्माए पनि, असमानता, अनियमित बस्ती,सामाजिक विभाजन र प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक दबाबजस्ता चुनौतीहरू बढाएका छन् । बसाइँसराइको यो जटिल प्रकृतिले ग्रामीण–शहरी असमानता, पहाड–तराई, र सांस्कृतिक निरन्तरतामा गहिरो प्रभाव पारेको देखिन्छ ।दिगो विकासका दृष्टिले हेर्दा बसाइँसराइ केवल समस्या नभई सामाजिक रूपान्तरणको अविभाज्य प्रक्रिया हो, जसले नयाँ अवसरहरू पनि निर्माण गर्दछ तर व्यवस्थापनसँगै नआएमा असन्तुलन उत्पन्न गर्न सक्छ । अध्ययनले ग्रामीण क्षेत्रमा जीवनस्तर सुधार्ने पूर्वाधार निर्माण, स्थानीय रोजगारी र उद्यमशीलता विस्तार, कृषि आधुनिकीकरण, तथा रेमिट्यान्सलाई उत्पादनमुखी क्षेत्रमा परिचालन गर्न सक्ने नीतिगत रणनीति अपनाउन सुझाव प्रस्तुत गर्दछ । पहाडी बस्तीहरूलाई बस्नयोग्य, सुरक्षित र अवसर सम्पन्न बनाउने प्रयासले मात्रै आन्तरिक तथा बाह्य बसाइँसराइको दवाबलाई सन्तुलित गर्न सकिन्छ । यस अध्ययनले नेपालका सामाजिक–आर्थिक रूपान्तरण बुझ्न इच्छुक अनुसन्धानकर्ता, नीति निर्माताहरू तथा स्थानीय निकायहरूका लागि उपयोगी आधारका रूपमा काम गर्ने उद्देश्य राख्दछ, र बसाइँसराइलाई दीर्घकालीन विकाससँग जोडेर बुझ्न आवश्यक भएको निष्कर्षमा पुग्दछ ।

Abstract BACKGROUND GBM AGILE (Glioblastoma Adaptive, Global, Innovative Learning Environment) is a multi-arm, international, seamless Phase 2/3 response adaptive randomization (RAR) platform trial designed to efficiently identify investigational therapies that improve overall survival and confirm efficacious therapies and biomarker signatures to support registration. GBM AGILE is a collaboration among academic investigators, patient organizations, and industry to support new drug applications for newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. METHODS The primary objective of GBM AGILE is to identify therapies that improve overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastoma. Operating under a Master Protocol, GBM AGILE allows multiple drugs from different companies to be evaluated simultaneously and/or over time against a common control. Investigational therapies are added as information about promising drugs is identified, while other therapies are removed as they complete evaluation. RAR is used within subtypes of the disease to assign participants to investigational arms based on their performance. GBM AGILE has screened over 2300 patients and enrollment continues to be robust. In addition to the efficient evaluation of investigational arms, a goal of GBM AGILE is to expand knowledge of glioblastoma to support advancements in treatment using the data collected within the trial (learning environment). Over 7 million data points are currently available for inclusion in the development of a longitudinal model. Such a model may be able to inform randomization by providing earlier and continuous information regarding patient and arm performance. In addition, serial magnetic resonance imaging scans and biospecimens from baseline through patient progression are being collected for further analysis. An initial 500 baseline tissue samples are being characterized by genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis. NCT number: NCT03970447.

Balidaan is a highly acclaimed film that redefines gender boundaries within a historical context. This paper examines the portrayal of subaltern consciousness, manifested through revolutionary songs, inclusive representations of ordinary people, underground resistance movements, and their collective struggle against autocratic rule. The film critiques the cruelty and domination of the Panchayat regime, highlighting the suffering of ordinary Nepalese citizens and their resistance against systemic oppression. Central to this analysis is exploring the subaltern voice and agency, which emerges through the active participation of marginalized individuals and rebel groups in dismantling autocratic hierarchies. The paper also investigates the redefinition of gender boundaries within these revolutionary dynamics, underscoring how collective resistance challenges oppressive norms. These issues are analyzed through the theoretical frameworks of liminal performance pedagogy and subaltern consciousness, offering insights into the intersection of marginality, resistance, and transformative action.

Aims Therapeutic advancements have significantly improved patient outcomes in blood cancers. However, racial and ethnic disparities persist in treatment and access to care. Telehealth offers a promising solution to these disparities by using electronic and telecommunication technologies to deliver healthcare remotely. Ensuring access to telehealth depends not just on the technologies, but on the broader enabling environment, especially policy harmonization, communications infrastructure, and skills. This paper aims to advocate for the expanded use of telehealth in blood cancer management, highlighting its potential to improve equity and outcomes. Materials and methods An expert forum discussion results informed this systematic literature review which was performed to better understand the applied Telehealth solutions and the expected benefits. The forum discussion and the literature review findings were aggregated and reviewed by experts and patient advocates with personal experience in blood cancer. Results Our review of the literature yielded 18 relevant papers. Studies included patients from various disease areas; some studies used broader definitions of cancer to include more patients (i.e. acute leukemias and malignant lymphomas), while others were more specific to a particular condition. The identified Telehealth solutions were classified into two groups: solutions focusing on electronic consultation (n = 10) and solutions focusing on a specific intervention to improve patients’ health status (n = 8). A larger variety of outcomes were found in these studies, including quality of life, patient and clinicians’ acceptance, adherence, costs, and resource use. Conclusions Initial findings demonstrate that telehealth can potentially improve patient outcomes for people living with blood cancer, including improved patient quality of life, increased clinician acceptance, better adherence, and reduced costs and resource use to the health system. While evidence for virtual consultations show promising results, further research is needed due to the variety of study settings evaluated in this review. Providers and health systems need additional data on the positive economic impact of Telehealth related to the diagnostic journey and access to treatment.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive and often deadly malignancy associated with proliferative immature myeloid blasts. Here, we identified CD84 as a critical survival regulator in AML. High levels of CD84 expression provided a survival advantage to leukemia cells, whereas CD84 downregulation disrupted their proliferation, clonogenicity, and engraftment capabilities in both human cell lines and patient-derived xenograft cells. Critically, loss of CD84 also markedly blocked leukemia engraftment and clonogenicity in MLL-AF9 and inv(16) AML mouse models, highlighting its pivotal role as a survival factor across species. Mechanistically, CD84 regulated leukemia cells’ energy metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics. Depletion of CD84 altered mitochondrial ultrastructure and function of leukemia cells, and it caused downmodulation of both oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation pathways. CD84 knockdown induced a block of Akt phosphorylation and downmodulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), impairing AML antioxidant defense. Conversely, CD84 overexpression stabilized NRF2 and promoted its transcriptional activation, thereby supporting redox homeostasis and mitochondrial function in AML. Collectively, our findings indicate that AML cells depend on CD84 to support antioxidant prosurvival pathways, highlighting a therapeutic vulnerability of leukemia cells.

This study has been carried out to explore the relevancy and rationale of foreign employment that has affected to society. Due to the fast technological changes, bilateral agreements between countries and diplomatic relations among countries have brought changes in the trend of foreign employment. So, this paper aims to explore the impacts of foreign employment on people’s lifestyles relating to the current situation and to find differences between now and then along with the utilization of remittances. The target population was selected from Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality ward no. 2 and 10. The sample size was 20 altogether. A purposeful sampling method was applied to select the sample size. Semi-structured questionnaires, focused group discussions, field visits and observation were administered to collect the data from the informants. The mixed method is implemented in this study. Previous literature and current practices of foreign employment methodologically have been analyzed. The findings show that informants' overall perception of foreign employment's impacts on people’s lifestyles is positive. The remittance support system for society has been found effective. On the other hand, the divorce between husband and wife, blaming unethical character to the woman by the community whose husband has migrated for foreign job, and children being without the support of father and mother are some of the few negative consequences of foreign employment.