Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin () Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation.

Globally, urban expansion has led to habitat fragmentation and altered resource availability, thus posing significant challenges for wildlife. The Chinese pangolin () is a critically endangered species experiencing population decline due to illegal trade and habitat degradation. This study analyzed variables affecting habitat occupancy of Chinese pangolins using a single-season occupancy model across 134 study grids (600 m × 600 m) in peri-urban areas of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, eastern Nepal.

Comparative Phylogeography of Two Specialist Rodents in Forest Fragments in Kenya.

The fragmented forests of the Kenya highlands, known for their exceptional species richness and endemism, are among the world's most important biodiversity hotspots. However, detailed studies on the fauna of these ecosystems-especially specialist species that depend on moist forests, which are particularly threatened by habitat fragmentation-are still limited. In this study, we used mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and the displacement loop) and a nuclear marker (retinol-binding protein 3) to investigate genetic and morphological diversity, phylogenetic associations, historical divergence, population dynamics, and phylogeographic patterns in two rodent species-the soft-furred mouse () and the African wood mouse ()-across Kenya's forest landscapes.

Phylogeography of the Group of Macaques in the Himalayas: Taxonomic and Evolutionary Implications.

Owing to the taxonomic incongruence between the morphological features and genetic relationships of the group of macaques (genus ), the taxonomy of this macaque group has remained inconclusive. We aimed to resolve the taxonomic quandary and improve our understanding of the historical biogeography of the group by including macaque DNA samples from previously unsampled areas in the Himalayas. We sequenced and analyzed three mitochondrial DNA loci [cytochrome b (CYTB), cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and D-loop; 2898 bp] for sequence polymorphism, phylogenetics, species delimitation, and ancestral area reconstruction.

A new species of the genus (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) from Medog in the eastern Himalaya.

Himalayan shrews of the genus (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla), currently represented by four nominal species, are endemic to the Himalayas and the Gaoligong Mountains. In April 2022 and April 2023, a total of 10 specimens of were collected from Beibeng and Damu, Medog County, Tibet, China. The morphology of the specimens was compared with the four recognised species of the genus .

A new species of shrew moles, genus Milne-Edwards, 1871 (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Talpidae), from the Wuyi Mountains, Jiangxi Province, eastern China.

Asian shrew moles, genus , are the most primitive members of family Talpidae. They are distributed mainly in southwestern China and adjacent Bhutan, Myanmar, and Vietnam. In June 2022, we collected five specimens of from Mount Huanggang, Jiangxi Province, eastern China, which is the highest peak of the Wuyi Mountains.

Gastro-intestinal parasites of urban rhesus macaques () in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Intestinal parasitic infections such as amoebiasis, ascariasis, hookworm infection, and are the most common infections among non-human primates (NHPs). There are always the possibilities of transmission these parasites between humans and NHPs. Multiple groups of rhesus macaques () live in the urban area of Kathmandu Valley near human settlements, however the gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections in those macaques are understudied.

Seasonal Prey Abundance and Food Plasticity of the Vulnerable Snow Leopard () in the Lapchi Valley, Nepal Himalayas.

Conservation strategies for apex predators, like the snow leopard (), depend on a robust understanding of their dietary preferences, prey abundance, and adaptability to changing ecological conditions. To address these critical conservation concerns, this study presents a comprehensive evidence on prey availability and preferences for snow leopards in the Lapchi Valley in the Nepal Himalayas from November 2021 to March 2023. Field data were collected through the installation of twenty-six camera traps at 16 strategically chosen locations, resulting in the recording of 1228 events of 19 mammalian species, including domesticated livestock.

Integrative systematics and evolutionary history of (Mammalia, Rodentia, Muridae).

The Bower's Berylmys () is one of the largest rodent species with a wide distribution range in southern China and the Indochinese Peninsula. The taxonomy and evolutionary history of the is still controversial and confusing. In this study, we used two mitochondrial ( and ) and three nuclear (, , and ) genes to estimate the phylogeny, divergence times, and biogeographic history of .

Relationship between Hemispheric Preference Score and Academic Performance among Preclinical Medical Students Studying Medicine and Dentistry.

Background: Understanding the style of learning and thinking (SOLAT) of the students is necessary to keep students actively involved in learning, which could influence the academic performance of the students.

Aim: The objective of this study was to compare the right and left hemisphere preferences for processing information with academic performance of medical students in both theory and practical exams.

Materials And Methods: The hemispheric preference score for learning and thinking style among first year MBBS (95) and BDS (42) students was determined by SOLAT tool prepared by Dr.

Determinants of Herpetofaunal Diversity in a Threatened Wetland Ecosystem: A Case Study of the Ramaroshan Wetland Complex, Western Nepal.

Wetlands are among the highly threatened ecosystems due to anthropogenic activities. The Ramaroshan Wetland Complex (RWC) of Achham District, Nepal is one of the high-altitude wetlands facing human induced degradation and loss. Herpetofauna are key bio-indicators of environmental health and habitat quality and are useful to assess habitat conditions of such threatened ecosystems.

Effectiveness of 3D-printed models prepared from radiological data for anatomy education: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of 22 randomized, controlled, crossover trials.

Background: Many academicians suggested the supplementary use of 3D-printed models reconstructed from radiological images for optimal anatomy education. 3D-printed model is newer technology available to us. The purpose of this systematic review was to capture the usefulness or effectiveness of this newer technology in anatomy education.

Sequence Analysis of Novel Lineages from Wild and Captive Macaques.

is a widespread and common opportunistic bacterium that can colonise or infect humans as well as a wide range of animals. There are a few studies of both methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) isolated from monkeys, apes, and lemurs, indicating a presence of a number of poorly or unknown lineages of the pathogen. In order to obtain insight into staphylococcal diversity, we sequenced strains from wild and captive individuals of three macaque species (, , and ) using Nanopore and Illumina technologies.

Multilocus phylogeny suggests a distinct species status for the Nepal population of Assam macaques ( ): implications for evolution and conservation.

Phylogenetic relationships within the -group of macaques based on morphological, behavioral, and molecular characteristics have remained controversial. The Nepal population of Assam macaques ( ) (NPAM), the westernmost population of the species, is morphologically distinct but has never been used in phylogenetic analyses. Here, the phylogenetic relationship of NPAM with other congeners was tested using multiple mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal loci.

and Methicillin Resistant in Nepalese Primates: Resistance to Antimicrobials, Virulence, and Genetic Lineages.

is a ubiquitous pathogen and colonizer in humans and animals. There are few studies on the molecular epidemiology of in wild monkeys and apes. carriage in rhesus macaques () and Assam macaques () is a species that has not previously been sampled and lives in remote environments with limited human contact.

Small mammal species richness and turnover along elevational gradient in Yulong Mountain, Yunnan, Southwest China.

Understanding the species diversity patterns along elevational gradients is critical for biodiversity conservation in mountainous regions. We examined the elevational patterns of species richness and turnover, and evaluated the effects of spatial and environmental factors on nonvolant small mammals (hereafter "small mammal") predicted a priori by alternative hypotheses (mid-domain effect [MDE], species-area relationship [SAR], energy, environmental stability, and habitat complexity]) proposed to explain the variation of diversity. We designed a standardized sampling scheme to trap small mammals at ten elevational bands across the entire elevational gradient on Yulong Mountain, southwest China.

Effect of local bee honey on dihydrofolate reductase enzyme inhibitor-induced mucositis: A histological study on albino wistar rats.

Introduction: Mucositis is a common complication in around 40% of patients receiving chemotherapy which profoundly impact the quality of life. Despite the availability of many therapeutic agents that claim to prevent or reduce the severity of oral mucositis, no intervention that is completely successful at preventing oral mucositis exists. The present study aimed to demonstrate the effect of local honey on methotrexate-induced mucositis of the tongue.

Habitat suitability and connectivity inform a co-management policy of protected area network for Asian elephants in China.

Enlarging protected area networks (PANs) is critical to ensure the long-term population viability of Asian elephants (), which are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. Strict policies of PAN enlargement that focus on wildlife conservation have failed largely due to difficulties in encouraging stakeholder participation and meeting the elephant habitat requirement. A co-management policy that promotes sustainable resource use, wildlife conservation, and stakeholder participation may have greater feasibility than the strict policies in a developing world.

Riverine barrier effects on population genetic structure of the Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus) in the Nepal Himalaya.

Background: Past climatological events and contemporary geophysical barriers shape the distribution, population genetic structure, and evolutionary history of many organisms. The Himalayan region, frequently referred to as the third pole of the Earth, has experienced large-scale climatic oscillations in the past and bears unique geographic, topographic, and climatic areas. The influences of the Pleistocene climatic fluctuations and present-day geographical barriers such as rivers in shaping the demographic history and population genetic structure of organisms in the Nepal Himalaya have not yet been documented.

Mitochondrial DNA analyses and ecological niche modeling reveal post-LGM expansion of the Assam macaque (Macaca assamensis) in the foothills of Nepal Himalaya.

Genetic diversity of a species is influenced by multiple factors, including the Quaternary glacial-interglacial cycles and geophysical barriers. Such factors are not yet well documented for fauna from the southern border of the Himalayan region. This study used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences and ecological niche modeling (ENM) to explore how the late Pleistocene climatic fluctuations and complex geography of the Himalayan region have shaped genetic diversity, population genetic structure, and demographic history of the Nepalese population of Assam macaques (Macaca assamensis) in the Himalayan foothills.

Present and Future of Dengue Fever in Nepal: Mapping Climatic Suitability by Ecological Niche Model.

Both the number of cases of dengue fever and the areas of outbreaks within Nepal have increased significantly in recent years. Further expansion and range shift is expected in the future due to global climate change and other associated factors. However, due to limited spatially-explicit research in Nepal, there is poor understanding about the present spatial distribution patterns of dengue risk areas and the potential range shift due to future climate change.

Patterns and underlying mechanisms of non-volant small mammal richness along two contrasting mountain slopes in southwestern China.

The species richness patterns of small mammals and the processes shaping them in two gradients of a mountain with different spatial and climatic characteristics were examined using standard sampling scheme. We trapped 2,006 small mammals representing 37 species, along elevational gradients on both western and eastern slopes of the Ailao Mountains, Southwest China. Using mid-domain effect model, model selection and model averaging, we examined the effects of slope, area, mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual humidity (MAH), productivity, plant species richness (PSR) and the mid-domain effect (MDE) on the patterns of small mammal diversity.

Estimation of Total Length of Femur from its Proximal and Distal Segmental Measurements of Disarticulated Femur Bones of Nepalese Population using Regression Equation Method.

Introduction: Length of long bones is taken as an important contributor for estimating one of the four elements of forensic anthropology i.e., stature of the individual.