Forest Management Practice Influences Bird Diversity in the Mid-Hills of Nepal

Forest management practice plays a critical role in conserving biodiversity. However, there are few studies on how forest management practice affects bird communities. Here, we compare the effectiveness of the Panchase Protection Forest (PPF; protected forest with government administration) and the Tibrekot Community Forest (TCF; community forest with community forest users’ group administration) in hosting bird diversity in the mid-hills of Nepal. We examined 96 point count stations during summer and winter in 2019 and recorded 160 species of birds with three globally threatened vultures (red-headed vulture Sarcogyps calvus, slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris, and white-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis). Forest management practice, season, and elevation all influenced the richness and abundance of birds. The diversity, richness, and abundance of birds and the most common feeding guilds (insectivore, omnivore, and carnivore) were higher in TCF than in PPF; however, globally threatened species were only recorded in PPF. We also recorded a higher bird species turnover (beta diversity) in TCF than in PPF. Our study indicates that community-managed forests can also provide quality habitats similar to those of protected forests managed by the government, and provide refuge to various bird species and guilds. However, we recommend more comparative studies in other tropical and sub-tropical areas to understand how different forest management practices influence bird diversity

Forest Management Practice Influences Bird Diversity in the Mid-Hills of Nepal

Forest management practice plays a critical role in conserving biodiversity. However, there are few studies on how forest management practice affects bird communities. Here, we compare the effectiveness of the Panchase Protection Forest (PPF; protected forest with government administration) and the Tibrekot Community Forest (TCF; community forest with community forest users’ group administration) in hosting bird diversity in the mid-hills of Nepal. We examined 96 point count stations during summer and winter in 2019 and recorded 160 species of birds with three globally threatened vultures (red-headed vulture Sarcogyps calvus, slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris, and white-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis). Forest management practice, season, and elevation all influenced the richness and abundance of birds. The diversity, richness, and abundance of birds and the most common feeding guilds (insectivore, omnivore, and carnivore) were higher in TCF than in PPF; however, globally threatened species were only recorded in PPF. We also recorded a higher bird species turnover (beta diversity) in TCF than in PPF. Our study indicates that community-managed forests can also provide quality habitats similar to those of protected forests managed by the government, and provide refuge to various bird species and guilds. However, we recommend more comparative studies in other tropical and sub-tropical areas to understand how different forest management practices influence bird diversity

Mental health issues in pregnant women in Nepal

Mental health of pregnant women and new mothers is a growing area of concern in both low- and high-income countries. This editorial highlights some of the key mental issues faced by women in rural Nepal and outlines an intervention based on training community health care workers by experienced UK volunteers

Weak charge form factor and radius of 208Pb through parity violation in electron scattering

We use distorted wave electron scattering calculations to extract the weak charge form factor F_W(q), the weak charge radius R_W, and the point neutron radius R_n, of 208Pb from the PREX parity violating asymmetry measurement. The form factor is the Fourier transform of the weak charge density at the average momentum transfer q=0.475 fm$^{-1}$. We find F_W(q) =0.204 \pm 0.028 (exp) \pm 0.001 (model). We use the Helm model to infer the weak radius from F_W(q). We find R_W= 5.826 \pm 0.181 (exp) \pm 0.027 (model) fm. Here the exp error includes PREX statistical and systematic errors, while the model error describes the uncertainty in R_W from uncertainties in the surface thickness \sigma of the weak charge density. The weak radius is larger than the charge radius, implying a "weak charge skin" where the surface region is relatively enriched in weak charges compared to (electromagnetic) charges. We extract the point neutron radius R_n=5.751 \pm 0.175 (exp) \pm 0.026 (model) \pm 0.005 (strange) fm$, from R_W. Here there is only a very small error (strange) from possible strange quark contributions. We find R_n to be slightly smaller than R_W because of the nucleon's size. Finally, we find a neutron skin thickness of R_n-R_p=0.302\pm 0.175 (exp) \pm 0.026 (model) \pm 0.005 (strange) fm, where R_p is the point proton radius.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, published in Phys Rev. C. Only one change in this version: we have added one author, also to metadat

Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Implanted into Radiation-Injured Urinary Bladders Reconstruct Functional Bladder Tissues in Rats

The purpose of this study was to determine whether bone marrow-derived cells implanted into radiation-injured urinary bladders could reconstruct functional bladder tissues. The pelvic region of anesthetized female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats was irradiated with 2 Gy once a week for 5 weeks. After the last irradiation, the rats were maintained for 2 weeks. Bone marrow cells were harvested from the femurs of donor male green fluorescence protein (GFP)-transfected SD rats and cultured for 7 days. Two weeks after the last radiation exposure, the cultured adherent, proliferating bone marrow-derived cells were implanted into the walls of irradiated urinary bladders. For controls, cell-free solutions were similarly injected. Four weeks after donor cell or control implantations, cystometric, histological, and immunohistochemical investigations were performed. Two weeks after the last irradiation, the smooth muscle layers and nerve fibers of the irradiated urinary bladders were disorganized. The proportions of smooth muscle layer and nerve fiber areas were significantly decreased compared with sham-irradiated urinary bladders. In addition, the remaining smooth muscle cells within the irradiated urinary bladders expressed P4HB, an indicator of collagen synthesis. In the cystometric investigations, the voiding interval of irradiated rats was irregularly prolonged, 7.92 +/- 1.09 min, and the residual volume, 0.13 +/- 0.03 mL, was significantly higher compared with the sham-irradiated rats (5.50 +/- 0.43mL and 0.05 +/- 0.01 mL). After 4 weeks, the smooth muscle layers and nerve fibers in the cell-free control urinary bladders remained similar to the pre-implanted irradiated urinary bladders; however, the cell-implanted urinary bladders contained reconstructed smooth muscle layers and nerve fibers, the proportions of each were significantly higher than those in the cell-free injected controls. The expression of P4HB within the cell-implanted urinary bladders decreased. Some GFP-positive implanted cells differentiated into smooth muscle-and nerve-like cells and became organized into the reconstructed tissues. The voiding interval of the cell-implanted rats, 5.46 +/- 0.33 min, was regular and similar to that of the sham-irradiated rats, and significantly less than that of the cell-free injected controls, 7.39 +/- 0.54 min. The residual volume, 0.04 +/- 0.01 mL, was similar to that of the sham-irradiated rats and significantly decreased compared with that of the cell-free injected controls, 0.15 +/- 0.05 mL. Therefore, the implantation of bone marrow-derived cells is a potentially useful treatment for radiotherapy-induced urinary dysfunctions.ArticleTISSUE ENGINEERING PART A. 18(15-16):1698-1709 (2012)journal articl

Measurement of the Neutron Radius of 208Pb Through Parity-Violation in Electron Scattering

We report the first measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry A_PV in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons from 208Pb. A_PV is sensitive to the radius of the neutron distribution (Rn). The result A_PV = 0.656 \pm 0.060 (stat) \pm 0.014 (syst) ppm corresponds to a difference between the radii of the neutron and proton distributions Rn - Rp = 0.33 +0.16 -0.18 fm and provides the first electroweak observation of the neutron skin which is expected in a heavy, neutron-rich nucleus.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

Summit of the N=40 Island of Inversion: precision mass measurements and ab initio calculations of neutron-rich chromium isotopes

Mass measurements continue to provide invaluable information for elucidating nuclear structure and scenarios of astrophysical interest. The transition region between the $Z = 20$ and $28$ proton shell closures is particularly interesting due to the onset and evolution of nuclear deformation as nuclei become more neutron rich. This provides a critical testing ground for emerging ab-initio nuclear structure models. Here, we present high-precision mass measurements of neutron-rich chromium isotopes using the sensitive electrostatic Multiple-Reflection Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (MR-TOF-MS) at TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear Science (TITAN) facility. Our high-precision mass measurements of $^{59, 61-63}$Cr confirm previous results, and the improved precision in measurements of $^{64-65}$Cr refine the mass surface beyond N=40. With the ab initio in-medium similarity renormalization group, we examine the trends in collectivity in chromium isotopes and give a complete picture of the N=40 island of inversion from calcium to nickel.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Mass measurements of 60–63Ga reduce x-ray burst model uncertainties and extend the evaluated T=1 isobaric multiplet mass equation

We report precision mass measurements of neutron-deficient gallium isotopes approaching the proton drip line. The measurements of Ga60–63 performed with the TITAN multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer provide a more than threefold improvement over the current literature mass uncertainty of Ga61 and mark the first direct mass measurement of Ga60. The improved precision of the Ga61 mass has important implications for the astrophysical rp process, as it constrains essential reaction Q values near the Zn60 waiting point. Based on calculations with a one-zone model, we demonstrate the impact of the improved mass data on prediction uncertainties of x-ray burst models. The first-time measurement of the Ga60 ground-state mass establishes the proton-bound nature of this nuclide, thus constraining the location of the proton drip line along this isotopic chain. Including the measured mass of Ga60 further enables us to extend the evaluated T=1 isobaric multiplet mass equation up to A=60