Plant-parasitic nematodes wreak havoc on crops by root parasitism worldwide. An approach to combat nematode root parasitism is the application of antagonistic microbes like the rhizobacterium Bacillus firmus I-1582 which is promoted as biological control agent. Although B. firmus is a known nematode antagonist in general, the underlying mechanisms about its interaction with nematodes and plants have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we explored the influence of B. firmus I-1582 as well as its extracellular and secreted molecules on plant–nematode interaction utilizing the plant–pathogen system Arabidopsis thaliana–Heterodera schachtii. We demonstrated that B. firmus I-1582 is attracted by A. thaliana root exudates, particularly by those of young plants. The bacterium colonized the root and showed a strictly pH-dependent development and plant growth promotion effect. Our results revealed that root colonization by B. firmus I-1582 significantly protected A. thaliana from infestation by the beet cyst nematode whereas dead bacterial cells or the culture supernatant were not effective. The bacterium also negatively affected nematode reproduction as well as pathogenicity and development of next generation nematodes. The obtained results highlight B. firmus I-1582 as a promising biocontrol agent that is well suited as an element of integrated control management strategies in sustainable agriculture.

The proper use of antenatal care (ANC) visit is the first step to prevent both mother and child health. This is also one of the key components to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The study is an attempt to assess the relation between mother’s education and utilization of ANC services in Nepal. It is completely based on data of national representative 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey that covered 2,746 currently married women, aged 15-49 years who had at least one child in the last three years preceding the survey. Logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of education on the utilization of ANC services. Results showed that a higher level of maternal education increased the chance of utilizing ANC services than those with little or no education. The importance of maternal education continued even when other socioeconomic factors are taken into account. This indicates that mother’s education contribute to increase the use of proper ANC services.

This article aims to explore the foundational and functional phases of the Khuwalung resistance movement. It is based on grey literature documents. To synchronize the significance of an indigenous movement, the first part of this study briefly presents the context of the hegemonic ideology of the ruling elite persisting in Nepal with reference to Khuwalung. The second part covers the phases of the resistance, which look far more constrained as a counter-resistance. The last part presents potential insights related to Khuwalung for transforming this counter-resistance into an organic indigenous movement in Nepal.

This article overviews the resistance of the subaltern and the ongoing debate on seeking the subaltern consciousness within and outside the elitist structure. The first part of this article exposes the notion of subaltern and subaltern resistance consciousness concerning the development of the Nepali film industry. The second part discusses different dimensions of resistance of the subaltern in shifting politico-cultural contexts. It also unfolds the structure of representation of the subaltern transformed within transitions which are observed more vehemently through the different politico-cultural scenarios of filmmaking, particularly before and after the Maoist insurgency. The last part analyses the aspects or efforts of the self-formation of the subaltern in terms of- along with class- caste, ethnicity and gender with references to representative Nepali movies, i.e. Numafung, Batomuniko Phool and Uma flash hope within hopelessness.

This article overviews the distress situation of the Nepalese ethnic subaltern concerning Trishna Gurung’s five selected songs- “Sajha Ko Bela”, “Gainey Dajai”, “Khani Ho Yahmu”, “Rail Lai Ma” and “Maya Man Bhari” and explores how the aesthetic expression and the pathetic predicament of the subaltern come to be a subtle form of resistance. Her songs hold the spirit of remoteness and auratic root and counter the western musical hegemonic propensity and the dominant music culture of Nepal. Articulating subaltern sighs as a major concern of her songs in the auditory and visual representation she presents the repressed aesthetics as a constructive and creative space formation for the resistance.