CLIMATE CHANGE, SHIFTS IN TROPICAL STORM REGIMES AND TRIADICA SEBIFERA INVASION IN COASTAL MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES

Global climate change is predicted to affect timing and severity of disturbance events (e.g., fire, drought, hurricanes, wind storms, and inundation), but the extent of these disturbance events and their impacts on natural ecosystems may vary regionally. Rising sea level, increased frequency and intensity of tropical storms, and altered inundation regimes are likely to create changing environmental conditions in low-lying coastal ecosystems. These large scale disturbances may increase resource availability and regeneration spaces, reduce competition, and possibly increase community vulnerability to invasion. Shifting disturbance regimes and invasion together are predicted to drive long-term shifts in coastal plant community structure and ecosystem processes. However, impacts of altered environmental conditions on native and invasive plant species and the species responses to changed environmental conditions are poorly understood. The aims of this study were: (i) to assess the probability of occurrence of juveniles of the invasive exotic Triadica sebifera and co-occurring native species, Baccharis halimifolia, Ilex vomitoria, and Morella cerifera in the field in relation to surrounding environmental factors, (ii) to assess the effects of elevated salinity across a typical coastal transition on germination of T. sebifera, B. halimifolia and M. cerifera, using controlled growth chamber and greenhouse experiments, (iii) to assess the effects of climate change and shifting inundation and tropical storms regimes on T. sebifera, B. halimifolia and M. cerifera, and (iv) to evaluate the role of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) on spread of invasive T. sebifera in coastal transition ecosystems at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR), Coastal Mississippi, southeastern USA. Results from assessing the probability of occurrence of juveniles of invasive and co-occurring native species showed that soil water conductivity (i.e., salinity) was the major factor related to the occurrence of invasive T. sebifera and native B. halimifolia, I. vomitoria and M. cerifera along the coastal transitions. Probability of occurrence of the invasive T. sebifera was significantly related to landscape factors and occurrence was highest in close proximity to roads, trails, power lines, and recreational sites, and water bodies. These results imply that future increases in salinity will negatively impact I. vomitoria, M. cerifera, and T. sebifera, leading to range contraction of these species away from the coast. However, natural and anthropogenic disturbances that often increase resource pulses and reduce competition, likely increase the dominance of T. sebifera in already invaded areas. Positive effects of landscape structures on T. sebifera occupancy highlight the role of landscape variables in promoting new invasions in coastal forests of the southeastern USA. Controlled growth chamber and greenhouse germination experiments demonstrated that germination of all species (i.e., T. sebifera, B. halimifolia, and M. cerifera) decreased with elevated salinity and that the reduction was most pronounced in soils from the most seaward zones along the coastal transition. Although native B. halimifolia was least sensitive to elevated salinity, invasive T. sebifera displayed plasticity of germination trait across different salinity levels in most inland soils. These results suggest that the phenotypic plasticity may facilitate spread of Triadica sebifera under some degree of salinity stress in more inland section of the coastal transition. A manipulative greenhouse experiment demonstrated that simulated canopy damage from intense hurricane winds and associated storm surge produced differential effects on survival and growth of native (B. halimifolia and M. cerifera) and invasive (T. sebifera) species at simulated different forest conditions common in the GBNERR. Invasive T. sebifera was by far the most shade tolerant of the three species and seedling survival under highly shaded conditions may provide it with a competitive edge over native species during community reassembly following tropical storms. T. sebifera may better utilize post-hurricane conditions (e.g., resource-rich empty spaces) and potentially increase its dominance in coastal forested ecosystems. The last experimental study revealed that invasive T. sebifera had higher VAM colonization compared to co-occurring native species both in controlled greenhouse and field experiments, and that the higher colonization leads to significant increases in aboveground biomass, supporting the hypothesis that VAM fungi strongly benefit the invasive species. These results suggest that the VAM colonization may be necessary for the initial establishment of T. sebifera along the coastal transitions. Furthermore, my research also suggested that T. sebifera was not allelopathic and did not interfere with growth of native species. Overall, the findings of this research provide insight into the impacts of climate change related shifts on performance of invasive and co-occurring native species across coastal transitions of the southeastern USA. Variation in invasive and co-occurring native species\u27 performances under changed environmental conditions (e.g., elevated salinity and increased light availability) and improved mutualistic association between invasive T. sebifera and VAM fungi may drive increased invasion with frequent community reassembly of low-lying coastal ecosystems undergoing rapid climate change

Embedded Neural Network for Fire Classification Using an Array of Gas Sensors

Fire is one of the most common hazards in US households. In 2006 alone, 2705 people were killed due to fire in building structures. 74% of the deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms while surveys report that 96% of all homes have at least one smoke alarm. This study discusses the development of a fire sensing system that is not only capable of detecting fire in its early stage but also of classifying the fire based on the smell of the smoke in the environment. By using an array of sensors along with a neural network for sensor pattern recognition, an impressive result is obtained. Instead of confining the ANN to a PC based application, this work extends the implementation of the neural network fire classifier in a general purpose microcontroller. The result is a low cost intelligent embedded fire classifier that can be used in real life situations for fire hazards minimization, for example this intelligent fire classifier can be used for the development of a smart extinguisher that detects the fire, classifies it and then uses appropriate extinguishing material required for extinguishing the particular class of fire

Tackling COVID-19 in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global challenge that has driven nations to take some extreme measures in an attempt to prevent outbreaks and save lives. The scientific communities are trying their best to understand the activities of the SARS CoV-2 virus to target effective strategies against it. The whole world is trying its best to contain the infection, Nepal is no exception.  Nepal underestimated the likelihood of the COVID 19 outbreak during early January however with the increasing case strong measures have been initiated.  Nepal reported 1,042 confirmed cases with 187 recoveries and 5 deaths by May 29, 2020. The focus on Social distancing and since the middle of March countrywide lockdown has been taken as a strategy to control the rate of infection but the challenge lies in its continuation. There is also a challenge in extension of testing and other public health intervention. Different nations are dealing with their COVID-19 infection differently. Timely action, testing, tracing, tracking, treating, and togetherness has been seen as the most effective strategies to date. Due to the increasing cases of infection and death, it has triggered disruption to social and mental wellbeing of the global citizens. The confusion and uncertainty rise fueling misinformation, stigma and discrimination which are negatively impacting the prevention strategies adopted by different nations. There is a need for proper communication strategies and community engagement alongside the togetherness of all concerned entities fighting against this wicked virus globally. In light of this global need, this paper aims to provide some insights into the strategies and challenges revolving around COVID-19 prevention and contro

COVID-19 Pandemic: What can Nepal do to Curb the Potential Public Health Disaster?

COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become the pandemic. Since its first report in late December from Wuhan, China, it has spread in 211 countries and has infected more than a million population claiming more than 81,000 lives until 7th April 2020. Although heterogeneous between countries, the recent trend shows that almost 10% of the infected persons are at the risk of death. The case-fatality has been reported to be at 2.3% in China, 7.2% in Italy, 1.73% in South Korea. One of the dreadful characteristics of the COVID-19 is that it is highly efficient at transmission from human to human. SARS-CoV-2 transmits from one human to another through respiratory droplets and close physical contact. Droplet transmission may also occur through fomites in the immediate environment around the infected person. Although there have been multiple studies and trials, no effective vaccines or anti-viral treatments have been effective to prevent or treat SARS-CoV-2 infection and can take another 12-18 months for the evidence to be generated. In this context, the only remained options would be to explore the epidemiological trend and learn from countries who have controlled the infection successfully. The early detection of cases and community containment have been some of the successful strategies. South Korea was able to lower the COVID-19 cases by an extensive and concerted community testing. The traditional strategies of isolation, quarantine, social distancing and community containment helped China to hold its level of infection after the second half of March 2020. With the increasing number of cases, Italy, the United State and the United Kingdom have increased their testing facilities. Germany, for instance, started mass testing and community surveillance quite early on (proactive community testing) reflected on its low fatality rate. In Nepal by 5 April 2020, only 1,521 tests have been performed only among the suspected cases (a reactive testing method) who attend the hospital and so far 9 has been confirmed cases. Though the case was identified in January, the country-wide lockdown came into effect only on 24 March 2020. Based on the report provided by the Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal is trying its best to increase the number of isolation and quarantine facilities along with the provision of essential PPE. Nepal is at stage II (evidence of local transmission as opposed to imported cases only) of a pandemic but it is difficult to say how the disease is circulating in our population due to poor testing coverage and no proactive community testing. Current public health measures that are cost-effective, although not ideal would be to stringently follow social distancing. Social distance alone would be futile unless, other measures are in place that includes proactive community testing, providing essential medical equipment such as personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation and quarantine spaces, medical logistics such as infection control gears, and ICU facilities with adequate ventilators. While social distancing is the best measure, for now, community outreach for proactive testing with mobilization of community health workers and the use of technologies to inform the preventive measures and to dispel the fears, and rumors can be promising. Including the general public, health workers and policymakers require a strong collaborative platform to work together to consolidate the measures ahead to prevent the COVID-19 disaster in Nepal. Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, surveillance, social distancin

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders among the Nurses of a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries or pain in the human musculoskeletal system which could lead to temporary or permanent impairments. The nature of nursing jobs makes nurses vulnerable to MSDs. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with MSDs among nurses. Methods: In between March to June 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 nurses using self-administered questionnaires. A standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to measure MSDs. Pearson’s chi-square test and binary logistic regression at a 5% level of significance were performed to identify factors associated with upper extremities and spinal musculoskeletal disorders (UMSD) and lower extremities musculoskeletal disorders (LMSD). Variables associated with UMSD and LMSD in bivariate analysis were subjected to multiple logistic regression.  Results: The prevalence of UMSD and LMSD experienced by nurses was 86.1% (95% CI: 79.4%-90.9%) and 66.1% (95% CI: 58.9%-74.3%), respectively. Among several factors, working in same position for long periods (AOR: 4.16, 95% CI: 1.2-13.4), not receiving training in injury prevention programs (AOR: 3.15, 95% CI: 1.0-9.2), not enough rest breaks during the day (AOR: 4.65, 95% CI: 1.3-15.9) and moderate to higher job stress (AOR: 3.62, 95% CI: 1.2-10.8) were found to be significantly associated with UMSD. Not having enough rest breaks during the day (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.0-4.7) was significantly associated with LMSD. Conclusion: Higher prevalence of MSDs among nurses is a serious concern that threatens individual health as well as the overall healthcare system. Sensitization and capacity enhancement programs on the issue could prevent MSDs among nurses

Managing Invasive Plants on Great Plains Grasslands: A Discussion of Current Challenges

The Great Plains of North America encompass approximately 1,300,000 km2 of land from Texas to Saskatchewan. The integrity of these lands is under continual assault by long-established and newly-arrived invasive plant species, which can threaten native species and diminish land values and ecological goods and services by degrading desired grassland resources. The Great Plains are a mixture of privately and publicly owned lands, which leads to a patchwork of varying management goals and strategies for controlling invasive plants. Continually updated knowledge is required for efficient and effective management of threats posed by changing environments and invasive plants. Here we discuss current challenges, contemporary management strategies, and management tools and their integration, in hopes of presenting a knowledge resource for new and experienced land managers and others involved in making decisions regarding invasive plant management in the Great Plains

Managing Invasive Plants on Great Plains Grasslands: A Discussion of Current Challenges

The Great Plains of North America encompass approximately 1,300,000 km2 of land from Texas to Saskatchewan. The integrity of these lands is under continual assault by long-established and newly-arrived invasive plant species, which can threaten native species and diminish land values and ecological goods and services by degrading desired grassland resources. The Great Plains are a mixture of privately and publicly owned lands, which leads to a patchwork of varying management goals and strategies for controlling invasive plants. Continually updated knowledge is required for efficient and effective management of threats posed by changing environments and invasive plants. Here we discuss current challenges, contemporary management strategies, and management tools and their integration, in hopes of presenting a knowledge resource for new and experienced land managers and others involved in making decisions regarding invasive plant management in the Great Plains

Intensification differentially affects the delivery of multiple ecosystem services in subtropical and temperate grasslands

Intensification, the process of intensifying land management to enhance agricultural goods, results in “intensive” pastures that are planted with productive grasses and fertilized. These intensive pastures provide essential ecosystem services, including forage production for livestock. Understanding the synergies and tradeoffs of pasture intensification on the delivery of services across climatic regions is crucial to shape policies and incentives for better management of natural resources. Here, we investigated how grassland intensification affects key components of provisioning (forage productivity and quality), supporting (plant diversity) and regulating services (CO2 and CH4 fluxes) by comparing these services between intensive versus extensive pastures in subtropical and temperate pastures in the USDA Long-term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network sites in Florida and Oklahoma, USA over multiple years. Our results suggest that grassland intensification led to a decrease in measured supporting and regulating services, but increased forage productivity in temperate pastures and forage digestibility in subtropical pastures. Intensification decreased the net CO2 sink of subtropical pastures while it did not affect the sink capacity of temperate pastures; and it also increased environmental CH4 emissions from subtropical pastures and reduced CH4 uptake in temperate pastures. Intensification enhanced the global warming potential associated with C fluxes of pastures in both ecoregions. Our study demonstrates that comparisons of agroecosystems in contrasting ecoregions can reveal important drivers of ecosystem services and general or region-specific opportunities and solutions to maintaining agricultural production and reducing environmental footprints. Further LTAR network-scale comparisons of multiple ecosystem services across croplands and grazinglands intensively vs extensively managed are warranted to inform the sustainable intensification of agriculture within US and beyond. Our results highlight that achieving both food security and environmental stewardship will involve the conservation of less intensively managed pastures while adopting sustainable strategies in intensively managed pastures

Global data on earthworm abundance, biomass, diversity and corresponding environmental properties

Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).Earthworms are an important soil taxon as ecosystem engineers, providing a variety of crucial ecosystem functions and services. Little is known about their diversity and distribution at large spatial scales, despite the availability of considerable amounts of local-scale data. Earthworm diversity data, obtained from the primary literature or provided directly by authors, were collated with information on site locations, including coordinates, habitat cover, and soil properties. Datasets were required, at a minimum, to include abundance or biomass of earthworms at a site. Where possible, site-level species lists were included, as well as the abundance and biomass of individual species and ecological groups. This global dataset contains 10,840 sites, with 184 species, from 60 countries and all continents except Antarctica. The data were obtained from 182 published articles, published between 1973 and 2017, and 17 unpublished datasets. Amalgamating data into a single global database will assist researchers in investigating and answering a wide variety of pressing questions, for example, jointly assessing aboveground and belowground biodiversity distributions and drivers of biodiversity change.Peer reviewe