First record of Takydromus sikkimensis Günther, 1888 (Squamata, Lacertidae) from Nepal

We report the first record of Sikkim grass lizard, Takydromus sikkimensis Günther, 1888 in Nepal based on morphological characters such as the presence of four pairs of femoral pores, 12 rows of ventral scales, tail more than 3.6 times longer than snout-vent length. Our record of T. sikkimensis at Miklajung, Morang district represents the western-most observation of the species, ca. 94 km west of its type locality, Sikkim, India and is the first in Nepal for this species, genus, and family. This record is from Chure/Siwalik hill range which lies outside of Nepal's protected area network. This species is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and warrants detailed inventory and immediate conservation interventions. © 2022 Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Herpetologie e.V.. All rights reserved

Ruelle zeta function from field theory

We propose a field-theoretic interpretation of Ruelle zeta function, and show how it can be seen as the partition function for $BF$ theory when an unusual gauge fixing condition on contact manifolds is imposed. This suggests an alternative rephrasing of a conjecture due to Fried on the equivalence between Ruelle zeta function and analytic torsion, in terms of homotopies of Lagrangian submanifolds.Comment: Accepted manuscript. Exposition improvements. 30 page

Sexual Dimorphism of Maxillary Sinus: A Morphometric Analysis using Computed Tomography

 Introduction: Gender determination is the important aspect of forensic science. Most of the bones used for sex determination are badly disfigured and found in incomplete state, thus bones recovered intact are used. Maxillary sinus being recovered intact can be used for gender determination by measuring maxillary sinus dimension through computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study was to assess sexual dimorphism using morphometric maxillary sinus measurements through CT scan. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included CT scan images of 80 patients (40 males and 40 females). Maxillary sinus mediolateral (ML), superoinferior (SI), anteroposterior (AP) linear dimensions and volume were measured. All the measured parameters were then subjected to Student’s t-test to determine mean difference between males and females and discriminative statistical analysis to determine gender. Results: The mean value of maxillary sinus length, width, height and volume in males on both right and left sides were (3.80±0.175, 3.74±0.209) cm, (2.57±0.317, 2.51±0.295) cm, (3.55±0.338, 3.5±0.286) cm and (17.49±3.909, 16.54±3.274) cm3 respectively and in females (3.67±0.250, 3.64±0.256) cm, (2.37±0.297, 2.34±0.3222) cm, (3.29±0.280, 3.23±0.254) cm and (14.42±2.935, 13.81±2.779) cm3 respectively. The discriminative analysis showed that the accuracy of maxillary sinus measurements was 72.5% in females and 75% ofmales (overall accuracy = 73.8%). Conclusion: The maxillary sinus measurements are valuable guide for sex determination with relatively good accuracy rate

Two-dimensional perturbative scalar QFT and Atiyah-Segal gluing

We study the perturbative quantization of 2-dimensional massive scalar field theory with polynomial (or power series) potential on manifolds with boundary. We prove that it fits into the functorial quantum field theory framework of Atiyah-Segal. In particular, we prove that the perturbative partition function defined in terms of integrals over configuration spaces of points on the surface satisfies an Atiyah-Segal type gluing formula. Tadpoles (short loops) behave nontrivially under gluing and play a crucial role in the result.Comment: V.2: numerous expository changes; typos corrected. New additions: an analysis of singularities of boundary states induced from Feynman diagrams (sec. 3); a second (perturbative) proof of functoriality (sec. 7); new examples added in Appendix A.2.3, A.3.3 and a new general result on Dirichlet-to-Neumann operators in A.3.3; a new result on trace anomaly in Appendix B. V.3: typos correcte

On enumerative problems for maps and quasimaps: freckles and scars

We address the question of counting maps between projective spaces such that images of cycles on the source intersect cycles on the target. In this paper we do it by embedding maps into quasimaps that form a projective space of their own. When a quasimap is not a map, it contains freckles (studied earlier) and/or scars, appearing when the complex dimension of the source is greater than one. We consider a lot of examples showing that freckle/scar calculus (using excess intersection theory) works. We also propose the "smooth conjecture" that may lead to computation of the number of maps by an integral over the space of quasimaps.Comment: 53 page

Nitrogen uptake and economics of black rice (Oryza sativa L. indica) under different crop geometries and nitrogen management practices

Black rice has more antioxidants than any other rice variety.  It is considered to have multiple benefits in human health due to the presence of different antioxidants. A field experiment was conducted during rainy season of 2015-2016 to assess the nitrogen uptake, use efficiency and economics of black rice production under different crop geometry and nitrogen (N) management practices in Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design with three replications. The experiment consisted of  treatment combination of three crop geometry (20 cm × 20 cm, 20 cm × 15 cm and 15 cm × 15 cm) in vertical plots and three nitrogen management practices (N level: 30 kg N ha-1, 60 kg N ha-1, and LCC based N-management) in horizontal plots. The results showed that the highest N uptake was recorded from closer spacing (15 cm × 15 cm) with LCC based N management. The net return and B: C ratios were higher at a closer spacing of 15 cm × 15 cm with LCC based N management and closer spacing of 15 cm × 15 cm with N application of 60 kg ha-1. The overall analysis revealed that LCC based N management under closer crop geometry (15 cm × 15 cm) was the best management practices because of high nitrogen uptake and highest monetary return with B: C ratio of 5.76

Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Updated data on chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are vital in their prevention, control, and treatment in the path to achieving the third UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a one-third reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030. We provided global, regional, and national estimates of the burden of CRDs and their attributable risks from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), prevalence, and incidence of CRDs, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, and other CRDs, from 1990 to 2019 by sex, age, region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) in 204 countries and territories. Deaths and DALYs from CRDs attributable to each risk factor were estimated according to relative risks, risk exposure, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level input. Findings: In 2019, CRDs were the third leading cause of death responsible for 4.0 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 3.6–4.3) with a prevalence of 454.6 million cases (417.4–499.1) globally. While the total deaths and prevalence of CRDs have increased by 28.5% and 39.8%, the age-standardised rates have dropped by 41.7% and 16.9% from 1990 to 2019, respectively. COPD, with 212.3 million (200.4–225.1) prevalent cases, was the primary cause of deaths from CRDs, accounting for 3.3 million (2.9–3.6) deaths. With 262.4 million (224.1–309.5) prevalent cases, asthma had the highest prevalence among CRDs. The age-standardised rates of all burden measures of COPD, asthma, and pneumoconiosis have reduced globally from 1990 to 2019. Nevertheless, the age-standardised rates of incidence and prevalence of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis have increased throughout this period. Low- and low-middle SDI countries had the highest age-standardised death and DALYs rates while the high SDI quintile had the highest prevalence rate of CRDs. The highest deaths and DALYs from CRDs were attributed to smoking globally, followed by air pollution and occupational risks. Non-optimal temperature and high body-mass index were additional risk factors for COPD and asthma, respectively. Interpretation: Albeit the age-standardised prevalence, death, and DALYs rates of CRDs have decreased, they still cause a substantial burden and deaths worldwide. The high death and DALYs rates in low and low-middle SDI countries highlights the urgent need for improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. Global strategies for tobacco control, enhancing air quality, reducing occupational hazards, and fostering clean cooking fuels are crucial steps in reducing the burden of CRDs, especially in low- and lower-middle income countries