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A considerable amount of research has been undertaken on the use of corpora in teaching English as a second or foreign language. Although there is a growing body of research on the effectiveness of corpus-based vocabulary teaching, there are few studies that have explicitly examined EFL learners' perception of corpus application in vocabulary teaching. The present study explores EFL learners' perception of and attitude to corpus as a vocabulary learning tool. Using a questionnaire, data were collected from thirty-two first-year undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory English language course at a private university in Bangladesh. The findings of the study reveal that EFL learners in general have positive attitudes towards classroom application of corpus. In addition, it has been found that EFL learners have varied opinions about the effectiveness of corpus integration in vocabulary teaching as well as instructor guidance in corpus-based learning activity. The pedagogical implications, including the challenges of using corpora for vocabulary teaching, have been discussed.

HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation fosters fear, discrimination, and stigma and, thus, reduces the impact of prevention efforts. This article investigates the socioeconomic determinants of HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation in Bangladesh, a country largely affected by HIV incidence, using the 2011 and 2014 waves of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. To analyze the factors impacting the unequal distribution of HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation among socioeconomic groups, the study proposes a multidimensional knowledge deprivation index and constructs a knowledge deprivation concentration index. Results show that the concentration of knowledge deprivation among the most disadvantaged groups (those with low household wealth) significantly correlates with the concentration of women's empowerment among the least economically disadvantaged. These findings highlight the role of institutional support for programs improving women's agency as an important complement to programs that focus on traditional forms of deprivation and disadvantage. HIGHLIGHTS In Bangladesh, women are disproportionally exposed to the risk of HIV/AIDS. Multidimensional HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation is concentrated among disadvantaged women. Key prevention strategies are those focused on knowledge deprivation. Policies targeting women's education and employment will reduce the risk of infection. Women's empowerment and agency improve HIV/AIDS knowledge deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equitable futures depend upon better employment outcomes for young women. We use a skills ecosystems approach to explore how youth skills development programs can maximise their impact in highly gendered societies and labour markets. While improving employment outcomes and incomes for young women, BRAC's STAR program cannot withstand Bangladesh's deep-rooted and socially restrictive norms and practices. Short-term successes are diluted as family pressures and commitments take precedent over young women's economic lives. Adding a temporal dimension to the concept of skills ecosystems, these findings highlight that maintaining these impacts requires constant renegotiation and advocacy to challenge the structural obstacles within households and labour markets and within national policies and investments that constrain their longer-term economic empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice blast and bacterial leaf blight, are major disease, significantly threatens rice yield in all rice growing regions under favorable conditions and identification of resistance genes and their superior haplotypes is a potential strategy for effectively managing and controlling this devastating disease. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a diverse set of 147 rice accessions for blast and bacterial blight diseases in replications. Results revealed 23 (9 for blast and 14 for BLB) significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) that corresponded to 107 and 210 candidate genes for blast and BLB, respectively. The haplo-pheno analysis of the candidate genes led to the identification of eight superior haplotypes for blast,with an average SES score ranging from 0.00 to 1.33, and five superior haplotypes for BLB, with scores ranging from 1.52cm to 4.86cm superior haplotypes. Among these, superior haplotypes LOC_OS12G39700-H4 and LOC_Os06g30440-H33 were identified with the lowest average blast scores of 0.00-0.67, and superior haplotype LOC_Os02g12660-H39 exhibited the lowest average lesion length (1.88 - 2.06cm) for BLB. A total of ten accessions for blast and eight accessions for BLB were identified carrying superior haplotypes were identified. These haplotypes belong to aus and indx subpopulations of five countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan). For BLB resistance, eight accessions from six countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) and four subpopulations (aus, ind1A, ind2, and ind3) were identified carrying superior haplotypes. Interestingly, four candidate genes, LOC_Os06g21040, LOC_Os04g23960, LOC_Os12g39700, and LOC_Os01g24640 encoding transposon and retrotransposon proteins were among those with superior haplotypes known to play a crucial role in plant defense responses. These identified superior haplotypes have the potential to be combined into a single genetic background through haplotype-based breeding for a broader resistance spectrum against blast and bacterial blight diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have investigated text readability in Bangla language. Text readability is an indicator of the suitability of a given document with respect to a target reader group. Therefore, text readability has huge impact on educational content preparation. The advances in the field of natural language processing have enabled the automatic identification of reading difficulty of texts and contributed in the design and development of suitable educational materials. In spite of the fact that, Bangla is one of the major languages in India and the official language of Bangladesh, the research of text readability in Bangla is still in its nascent stage. In this paper, we have presented computational models to determine the readability of Bangla text documents based on syntactic properties. Since Bangla is a digital resource poor language, therefore, we were required to develop a novel dataset suitable for automatic identification of text properties. Our initial experiments have shown that existing English readability metrics are inapplicable for Bangla. Accordingly, we have proceeded towards new models for analyzing text readability in Bangla. We have considered language specific syntactic features of Bangla text in this work. We have identified major structural contributors responsible for text comprehensibility and subsequently developed readability models for Bangla texts. We have used different machine-learning methods such as regression, support vector machines (SVM) and support vector regression (SVR) to achieve our aim. The performance of the individual models has been compared against one another. We have conducted detailed user survey for data preparation, identification of important structural parameters of texts and validation of our proposed models. The work posses further implications in the field of educational research and in matching text to readers.

Background: Midwifery-led care is a key factor in reducing maternal and new-born mortality globally. In Bangladesh, only a third of births are attended by professionals and almost 70% of births occur outside healthcare facilities. Midwifery is a relatively new profession in Bangladesh and a midwifery centre care model has only recently been introduced. This study aims to explore the willingness within the healthcare system to support a greater role for midwifery centres in maternity services. Methods: Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with 55 midwives, midwifery educators and final year midwifery students. Two of the midwifery educators were principals of nursing institutes involved in the government's midwifery leadership and considered as experts in the midwifery care system. The data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The transcribed interviews comprised 150 pages. The study received ethical approval from the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery in Bangladesh. Results: One main category emerged from the study: "The foundations of a midwifery centre care model need to be strengthened for the sustainable implementation of midwifery centres in Bangladesh to continue". Five additional categories were identified: 1) The midwifery centre care model is inaccessible for communities, 2) Striving for acceptable standards of care within a midwifery centre care model is not a priority 3) Respectful, woman-centred care is weak, 4) Community engagement with the midwifery centre care model is insufficient, and 5) The midwifery centre care model is not integrated into the healthcare system. These categories were supported by the identification of 11 sub-categories. Conclusion: The willingness to commit to a midwifery centre care model is not yet in place in Bangladesh. Advocacy, information, and education about the benefits of normal birth assisted by professional midwives is needed at all levels of Bangladeshi society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bangladesh, diabetes mellitus is a substantial public health concern, and its prevalence is rising steadily. Many other mechanisms can cause diabetes in childhood; most children develop type 1 diabetes mellitus primarily due to immune system-mediated ß cell death, while type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance-related ß cell failure. The long-term effects of micro and macrovascular illnesses impose a tremendous strain on those frequently affected early in middle age. The increased prevalence of diabetes in children and the excessive morbidity linked to its effects highlight the significance of preventive measures for future generations. It is essential to look into the possibilities for improvement in school-oriented diabetes management interventions. Consistent engagement and communication on diverse theoretical concepts, performing exploratory assessments to guide interventions, and conducting an operational valuation are necessary to enhance these programs. Furthermore, it is required to identify the significant challenge of the general food milieu and its influence on children's diets with more participation from related parties like families, stores, and supermarkets. The fast urbanization of Bangladesh may affect the local population's way of living, there may be a genetic predisposition to diabetes in the country, or both could be responsible for the growth in childhood diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using IMF's World Economic Outlook (WEO) data for the macroeconomic variables, this study comparatively examines the sovereign debt crises in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It identifies different macroeconomic factors related to the sovereign debt crisis, investigates their interrelations, and explores if their debt crises are similar. It shows that the general revenue to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratios of Sri Lanka degraded to converge with the upgrading status of Bangladesh during the Covid-19 period. Since 2010, Sri Lanka has maintained a well-off economic status with per capita GDP, while Bangladesh has a long way to go yet. The general expenses to GDP ratio of Sri Lanka shows stresses on its GDP, while that of Bangladesh is more relaxed. Sri Lanka has overstressed debt to GDP ratio along with Balance of Payments (BOP) deficits, while Bangladesh has continued traces of managed debt to GDP ratio along with BOP surpluses. Bangladesh has taken enough precautions in their sovereign debt management, compared to Sri Lanka. Even in 2020, Bangladesh maintained progressive investment track over the threshold limit of 30%, while Sri Lanka fell into a debt trap. Following the pandemic, Bangladesh has enjoyed a gross national savings to GDP ratio of above the threshold of 25%, while Sri Lanka is going through a critical phase. It shows governance myopia of Bangladesh regarding its imbalanced current account positions, while governance myopia of Sri Lanka exists with reference to its imbalanced current account positions, adverse gross debts, and government borrowing as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional and local knowledge (TLK) can be instrumental in mitigating the risks of disasters. There are calls to prioritize such knowledge to promote community resilience against disasters. This study examines the integration of TLK into disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies in Nepal, India and Bangladesh using a qualitative content analysis. We evaluated the level of integration in three components: policy priority, policy governance, and policy integration. Policy priority included five criteria and showed that India has better integrated TLK into national policies, followed by Nepal, and Bangladesh. None of the countries met our criteria for policy governance. Nepal and India emphasize community-based disaster management, combining traditional knowledge with modern technologies. However, policies are silent about the pathways of such integration, the governance mechanisms have no provision for community participation, nor are any integration tools proposed to promote such practices. Overall, the DRR policies have acknowledged the need to engage with TLK, but much more work is needed to prioritize TLK integration, which requires integration tools (e.g., legal, economic and institutional) and resources. • Integrating traditional/local knowledge (TLK) into DRR policies is poorly understood. • Policies of Nepal, India and Bangladesh acknowledge TLK but do not prioritize it. • India integrates DRR policies better than Nepal/Bangladesh do. • There are no legislative, economic, or communicative tools for TLK in DRR policies. • The involvement of local communities in formal mechanisms is a critical issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paediatric anaemia is highly prevalent in low–middle-income countries and can negatively impact postoperative outcomes. Currently, there are no guidelines for the management of paediatric preoperative anaemia. To ensure optimal care in resource-limited settings: balancing the risks of anaemia and using resources such as blood transfusion, we first need to understand current practices. To address this, a joint UK–Bangladesh team conducted an observational study at a paediatric surgical centre in Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 464 patients ≤16 years who underwent elective and emergency surgery were categorised into major (351/464), moderate (92/464) and minor (21/464) surgery groups according to anticipated blood loss. Preoperative anaemia testing and transfusion was assessed retrospectively through patient notes. Results: Median age was 4 years and 73% were male. 32.5% (151/464) patients had preoperative blood testing for anaemia. 17.5% (81/464) children were transfused preoperatively. Of those children transfused, 40.7% (33/81) underwent transfusion solely based on visible signs of anaemia on clinical examination. Seventy-five percentage (36/48) of children who underwent transfusion after blood testing had haemoglobin ≥80 g/L. Major surgery category had the highest proportion of children who were transfused and tested for anaemia. Conclusion: A liberal transfusion approach is evident here. Discussion with local clinicians revealed that this was due to limitations in obtaining timely blood results and reduction in laboratory costs incurred by families when clinical suspicion of anaemia was high. Further research is needed to analyse the potential of using bedside haemoglobin testers in conjunction with patient blood management strategies to limit blood transfusions and its associated risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on ethnography, this paper conceptualizes invisible mobilities by exploring the linkages between mobility, invisibility and hotel and residence based sex work in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Since both are illegal in Bangladesh, hotel and residence based sex workers (HRSWs) become targets of the different laws and sex work related social stigma. We show, in this paper, how invisible mobilities is used to strategize and counter-enact against the existing exploitative gendered socio-political-legal regimes and practices involved in sex work. Invisible mobilities refers to the way HRSWs move in order to hide their occupation from society and the law. Invisibility is at the core of all these connections: It enables HRSWs to continue sex work and avoid exclusion from family and members of their communities. While making themselves invisible permits them to continue their daily ways to earn a living, it also reinforces the same social stigma they are constantly trying to avoid. In doing so, this paper reveals the political economy of sex work in the city and provides a new theoretical window to understand the connections between gender, mobility and the city, constructing a bridge between mobility and sex work studies literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess disease-related knowledge of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients Patients and methods: Consecutive RA patients were invited from the rheumatology departments of BSMM University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Bangla version of the Patient Knowledge Questionnaire (B-PKQ) was used. Correlations between the B-PKQ scores and clinical-demographic data were measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Impact of independent variables on the level of knowledge about RA was analyzed through multiple regression analysis. Possible explanatory variables included the following: age, disease duration, formal education level, and Bangla Health Assessment Questionnaire (B-HAQ) score. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the difference between demographical, clinical, and socioeconomic variables. For statistical analysis, SPSS statistics version 20 was used. Results: A total of 168 RA patients could be included. The mean B-PKQ score was 9.84 (range 1–20) from a possible maximum of 30. The mean time for answering the questionnaire was 24.3 min (range 15–34). Low scores were observed in all domains but the lowest were in medications and joint protection/energy conservation. Knowledge level was higher (15.5) in 6 patients who had RA education before enrollment. B-PKQ showed positive correlation with education level (r = 0.338) and negative correlation with HAQ (r = −0.169). The B-PKQ showed no correlation with age, disease duration, having first degree family member with RA, education from other sources (neighbor, RA patient, nurses), or information from mass media. Conclusions: Disease-related knowledge of Bangladeshi RA patients was poor in all domains. Using these findings, improved education and knowledge will result in better disease control. Key Points • Little is known about the knowledge of RA patients regarding their disease and its treatment in Bangladesh and in developing countries in general. • We found that the knowledge of Bangladeshi RA patients regarding their disease was poor in all domains; it correlated positive with education level and negative with function (HAQ), but showed no correlation with age or disease duration. • The findings of this study can be used for improving current patient education programs by health professionals and through mass media. • Better disease control of RA may be achieved by improving patient knowledge in a developing country like Bangladesh, but also in other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spread of malaria and antimalarial resistance through human movement present major threats to current goals to eliminate the disease. Bordering the Greater Mekong Subregion, southeast Bangladesh is a potentially important route of spread to India and beyond, but information on travel patterns in this area are lacking.Methods: Using a standardised short survey tool, 2090 patients with malaria were interviewed at 57 study sites in 2015-2016 about their demographics and travel patterns in the preceding 2 months.Results: Most travel was in the south of the study region between Cox's Bazar district (coastal region) to forested areas in Bandarban (31% by days and 45% by nights), forming a source-sink route. Less than 1% of travel reported was between the north and south forested areas of the study area. Farmers (21%) and students (19%) were the top two occupations recorded, with 67 and 47% reporting travel to the forest respectively. Males aged 25-49 years accounted for 43% of cases visiting forests but only 24% of the study population. Children did not travel. Women, forest dwellers and farmers did not travel beyond union boundaries. Military personnel travelled the furthest especially to remote forested areas.Conclusions: The approach demonstrated here provides a framework for identifying key traveller groups and their origins and destinations of travel in combination with knowledge of local epidemiology to inform malaria control and elimination efforts. Working with the NMEP, the findings were used to derive a set of policy recommendations to guide targeting of interventions for elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With supply chains now extending into developing countries, time and again, working conditions in supplier factories have been found to be unsafe. In this study, we focus on factories in the Bangladesh ready-made garment industry that supplies North American and European retailers. These retailers have adopted an innovative approach toward improving the working conditions of supplier factories by forming consortiums. The consortium of North American retailers is the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety ("Alliance"). The consortium of European retailers is the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh ("Accord"). The central question addressed in this study is the following: How do working conditions in a supplier factory impact the supplier's trustworthiness from a retailer's perspective? We characterize supplier factory working conditions in terms of three types of risks, namely, structural risk, fire risk, and electrical risk. Next, we examine the implications of each type of risk for supplier trustworthiness measured as the number of retailers contracting with the supplier factory. The empirical analysis is conducted using archival data on safety inspections from the Alliance and Accord. The results support the contention that retailers are sensitive to working condition risks in a supplier factory; that is, as working condition risks in a supplier factory increase, the supplier's trustworthiness decreases. However, these associations vary with the type of risk. Specifically, fire and electrical risks are associated with decreased supplier trustworthiness, while structural risk has a marginal effect. Furthermore, the negative associations between working condition risks and supplier trustworthiness are moderated by the size of the supplier factory such that the negative associations are significantly attenuated for larger-sized supplier factories compared to the smaller-sized factories. The study findings, taken together, provide nuanced insights into the marketplace implications of working condition risks in supplier factories and highlight the sensitivity of the retailer–supplier relationship to such risks. These findings also provide actionable guidance on how to manage working condition risks. The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2017.0679. This paper has been accepted for the Manufacturing & Service Operations Management Special Issue on Value Chain Innovations in Developing Economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tobacco control is an important strategy to reduce the disease burden caused by several noncommunicable diseases. An in-depth understanding of the sociodemographic variations in tobacco use is an important step in achieving effective tobacco control.Aims: We aimed to estimate the age-standardized prevalence of any tobacco use and dual tobacco use and determine their association with sociodemographic variables in six countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Timor Leste) of the WHO South-East Asia Region.Methods: The main outcome variables "any tobacco use" and "current dual use" were created from the latest available Demographic and Health Surveys data for each country. The prevalence estimates were weighted using sample weights and age standardized using the WHO standard population. Associations between the sociodemographic variables and tobacco use were calculated by performing multivariable logistic regression analysis. Analyses were performed in Stata 12 using "svyset" and "svy" commands.Results: The highest prevalence of any tobacco use among men was in Indonesia (76.4%) and among women in Nepal (15.7%). Also, Nepal had the highest prevalence of dual tobacco use in both men (17.9%) and women (1.5%). With regard to sociodemographic determinants, despite the inter-country variations, any and dual tobacco use were significantly associated with age, higher education, greater wealth, rural residence, and ever-married marital status. The poor and uneducated had a higher odds ratio for these practices.Conclusion: Prevalence of dual tobacco use and its underlying socioeconomic disparities should be taken into account for the planning of tobacco control activities in the region.Implications: The dual tobacco use phenomenon is being increasingly recognized as a distinct entity in the fight against tobacco addiction. When compared with single product users, dual users have a greater risk of developing tobacco related diseases and are less likely to quit their habits. However, this phenomenon has not been studied adequately in the South-East Asia region. In this context, this study has provided a detailed and comprehensive view of dual tobacco use and its sociodemographic determinants in six countries of the region. This study recommends that tobacco control interventions should be targeted specifically at the disadvantaged sections of the society, such as the poor and the uneducated, who are more likely to engage in "dual" as well as "any" tobacco use. This study could prove as an important reference and tool for policy making in the South-East Asia region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the reproductive parameters of sows in selected area of Bangladesh. A total of 51 sows from 21 farms were selected for this study. The data on reproductive parameters were collected from the owners by interviewing with pretested questionnaire. We found that the age at puberty, estrus cycle length, estrus duration, interval between farrowing and onset of estrus and gestation length were 254.5±34.4 and 21.2±1.2 days, 34.2±13.2 h, 51.8±10.9 and 114.3±0.9 days, respectively. The number of required services for each pregnancy in native sows was 1.4 ±0.6, and the first service pregnancy rate using natural mating was 63.8%. Moreover, the number of piglets born per sow was 7.6±3.4. The highest piglet production (10.6±3.1) was in parity 5 and the lowest (4.1±0.6) was in parity 1. Estrus was detected in 34.1% sows on the basis of observing standing reflex when boar mounted. In conclusion, reproductive parameters in native sows of Bangladesh need to be improved for ensuring satisfactory reproductive performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use is a leading cause of deaths and Disability Adjusted Life Years lost worldwide, particularly in South-East Asia. Health risks associated with exclusive use of one form of tobacco alone has a different health risk profile when compared to dual use. In order to tease out specific profiles of mutually exclusive categories of tobacco use, we carried out this analysis. METHODS: The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data was used to describe the profiles of three mutually exclusive tobacco use categories ("Current smoking only," "Current smokeless tobacco [SLT] use only," and "Dual use") in four World Health Organization South-East Asia Region countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Thailand. GATS was a nationally representative household-based survey that used a stratified multistage cluster sampling design proportional to population size. Prevalence of different forms of usage were described as proportions. Logistics regression analyses was performed to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. All analyses were weighted, accounted for the complex sampling design and conducted using SPSS version 18. RESULTS: The prevalence of different forms of tobacco use varied across countries. Current tobacco use ranged from 27.2% in Thailand to 43.3% in Bangladesh. Exclusively smoking was more common in Indonesia (34.0%) and Thailand (23.4%) and less common in Bangladesh (16.1%) and India (8.7%). Exclusively using SLT was more common in Bangladesh (20.3%) and India (20.6%) and less common on Indonesia (0.9%) and Thailand (3.5%). Dual use of smoking and SLT was found in Bangladesh (6.8%) and India (5.3%), but was negligible in Indonesia (0.8) and Thailand (0.4%). Gender, age, education and wealth had significant effects on the OR for most forms of tobacco use across all four countries with the exceptions of SLT use in Indonesia and dual use in both Indonesia and Thailand. In general, the different forms of tobacco use increased among males and with increasing age; and decreased with higher education and wealth. The results for urban versus rural residence were mixed and frequently not significant once controlling for the other demographic factors. CONCLUSION: This study addressed the socioeconomic disparities, which underlie health inequities due to tobacco use. Tobacco control activities in these countries should take in account local cultural, social and demographic factors for successful implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Dual use of tobacco (using smoking and smokeless forms) in Bangladesh is uncommon in women but common in men. Dual users are at additional risk of cancers and heart diseases compared with a single form of tobacco use. Knowledge about their socioeconomic background is necessary for planning appropriate interventions. We report here socioeconomic background of the dual users of tobacco from a nationally representative survey. METHODS: The study adopted a probability proportionate to size sampling technic of divisional population stratified into urban and rural areas to recruit men aged 25 years or older from their households. A total of 4312 men were recruited. Variables included questions on 20 household assets, tobacco use and other behavioral risk factors, and measurement of body weight and height. RESULTS: The average age of dual users was 46.7 years old compared to 43.4 and 52.3 years for smokers and smokeless tobacco users. Prevalence of "smoking only," "smokeless only" and "dual use" of tobacco was 40.6%, 15.2%, and 14.2%, respectively. Among all tobacco users, dual users constituted 20%. These dual users had lower educational achievement, rural residence, lower intake of fruit, and higher intake of alcohol. They were more undernourished as indicated by a thin body mass index compared to nonusers and smokers. Dual users were of socioeconomically deprived as measured by wealth quartiles constructed out of household assets. CONCLUSION: Dual use of tobacco is common in Bangladesh, and it is intimately linked with socioeconomic deprivation. Poverty reduction strategy and campaigns should address tobacco control not only tobacco in general, but its dual use in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bangladesh, a lot of changes have taken place in the field of English language teaching. Though there has been a significant shift in the curriculum, the role of the teacher has hardly shifted from the traditional Grammar Translation Method. As a result, the new methods of English Language Teaching have become ineffective to some extent. Based on an empirical study, this paper tries to identify what roles teachers are actually playing in the language classroom and why there exists a gap between theory and practice. It also focuses on teachers? beliefs and attitudes and how these clash with the expected roles of the teachers in the new methodology. Finally, it ends with some recommendations for teachers and administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a research conducted to study loricariid fishes including P. anisitsi found in India. It mentions that P. anisitsi was for the first time captured on June 9, 2008 in a multifilament gill net in the River Ganga in Patna, Bihar, India. It further presents information on the materials used and methods adopted during the research and various features of P. anisitsi were analyzed.

Introduction: To examine predictors of current tobacco smoking and smokeless tobacco use among the adult population in Bangladesh.Materials and Methods: We used data from the 2009 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in Bangladesh consisting of 9,629 adults aged ≥15 years. Differences in and predictors of prevalence for both smoking and smokeless tobacco use were analyzed using selected socioeconomic and demographic characteristics that included gender, age, place of residence, education, occupation, and an index of wealth.Results: The prevalence of smoking is high among males (44.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.5-47.0) as compared to females (1.5%, 95% CI: 1.1-2.1), whereas the prevalence of smokeless tobacco is almost similar among both males (26.4%, 95% CI: 24.2-28.6) and females (27.9%, 95% CI: 25.9-30.0). Correlates of current smoking are male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 41.46, CI = 23.8-73.4), and adults in older age (ORs range from 1.99 in 24-35 years age to 5.49 in 55-64 years age), less education (ORs range from 1.47 in less than secondary to 3.25 in no formal education), and lower socioeconomic status (ORs range from 1.56 in high wealth index to 2.48 in lowest wealth index. Predictors of smokeless tobacco use are older age (ORs range from 2.54in 24-35 years age to 12.31 in 55-64 years age), less education (ORs range from 1.44 in less than secondary to 2.70 in no formal education), and the low (OR = 1.34, CI = 1.0-1.7) or lowest (OR = 1.43, CI = 1.1-1.9) socioeconomic status.Conclusion: Implementation of tobacco control strategies needs to bring special attention on disadvantaged group and cover all types of tobacco product as outlined in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and WHO MPOWER to protect people's health and prevent premature death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seafood containing elevated levels of metals as a result of environmental contamination may entail health risks to human beings. To evaluate such contaminations, our study targeted on the analyses of lead and cadmium, in addition to the toxicologically less-relevant metals, zinc and copper, in the muscle tissue of five commonly edible shrimp species collected from the lower stretch of the River Ganga (in the Sundarbans delta complex). The metals in the tissue samples were determined using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The concentrations in the shrimps ranged as follows: Pb: from below detection limit to 15.9 ± 0.8 ppm dry weight; Cd: from below detection limit to 7.3 ± 0.8 ppm dry weight; Zn: 13.0 ± 0.7-428 ± 3 ppm dry weight; Cu: 8.5 ± 0.3-146 ± 3 ppm dry weight. The concentrations of the metals in the tissues varied significantly depending upon the locations from where the shrimp species were collected. The levels of Pb, Cd, and Cu in shrimp muscle at station 1 were far above the permissible levels for human consumption, while the concentration of Zn was within the normal range at all stations. Station 1 is subjected to maximum stress in terms of pollution, being situated downstream of the River Ganga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sedimentologic and geomorphologic records of a section of the Ganga Valley in the tectonically active eastern part of the Dehra Dun were studied to understand the interaction of tectonics and climate during Late Pleistocene-Holocene. The 50km long stretch of the valley examined encompasses the mountain front from north of the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) to south of the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT). The landscape comprises two to four levels of fluvial terraces, both strath and fills, and alluvial fans. The distribution of these terraces reveal that the two topmost terraces (T4 and T3) are abruptly terminated along the HFT but the two successively lower terraces (T2 and T1) are developed across the MBT and HFT. Facies distribution coupled with sediment composition permits division of the fan and fluvial terraces of the study region into two distinct types: 1) those dominated by rounded to well rounded polymict clasts derived from the Higher and the Lesser Himalaya with palaeoflow similar to present day Ganga River, referred to as Ganga river terraces (GRT), and 2) those enriched in angular to sub-rounded argillites and quartzite with sandstone clasts deposited by local ephemeral stream and slope failures, interpreted as local river terraces (LRT). Sedimentologic analysis coupled with optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating indicates that the nature of aggradation and incision phases vary across the mountain front. North of the HFT, aggradation continued until the development of T4, i.e. 11ka, followed by incision, coinciding with a climatic change from drier to wetter conditions. This incision phase was punctuated by intermittent aggradation at 9.7 and 6.9ka in the form of the T3 and T2 terraces respectively. On the other hand, extended aggradation, south of the HFT, until 6ka suggests continuous creation of accommodation space. Abrupt termination of T4 and T3 along HFT suggests that at least two phases of tectonic activity along the HFT occurred after 11 and 9.7ka but before 6.9ka. The uninterrupted occurrence of T2 and T1 terraces across the MBT and the HFT suggest that tectonic activity on these faults was not pronounced after 6ka, or that it might be unidentified due to subdued scarps and erosion by lateral migration of the Ganga River. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Ganga basin in northern India is one of the world’s largest fluvial basins and has attracted enormous attention from earth scientists across the globe with a view to understanding large river processes and landforms. Despite the scarcity of hydrological data from the Ganga basin, some important studies have been carried out in the last several decades. However, the unavailability of deep sections in this vast alluvial tract has always limited understanding of the sub-surface stratigraphy of these plains. During the last decade, some important developments have taken place in integrating exposed cliff section data with the drill cores in pre-defined transects and with targeted geophysical investigations. Additionally, new areas of the basin have been studied for understanding landscape evolution including the effects of active tectonics. This special issue of Quaternary International highlights some of these developments from the stratigraphic archives of this large basin. This collection of papers covers a wide gamut of subjects including terrace development in the frontal parts of the Ganga basin, resistivity-based mapping of sub-surface stratigraphy, micromorphology of soils from plains drill-core samples, historical-scale avulsion of large dynamic system such as the Kosi, active tectonics and landform development in southern Ganga plains and finally some policy issues for management of dynamic river systems. This introductory paper provides a background and present status of research in the Ganga basin. It attempts to summarise some of the recent research developments in the Ganga basin research and highlights the unresolved issues, some of which have been addressed through the contributions in this special issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of family planning programmes on fertility and other social parameters in Bangladesh. In 1978, the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) introduced a family planning program experiment in Matlab thana, where the ICDDRB maintains a demographic surveillance system. In this experiment, 70 out of 142 villages under demographic surveillance were provided with an intensive family planning program maintained by the ICDDRB. The Matlab family planning program reduced fertility in the treatment villages. The estimates show that 18 years after the program was introduced, the mean lifetime fertility of the women who received the program was 0.60 births below that of women who did not receive the program. Mothers' exposure to the Matlab program does not appear to have had a statistically significant impact on children's schooling. However, the results indicate that, by influencing the mother's fertility, the program influenced labor force participation by her children. While the impact on girls' labor force participation is statistically not significant, the impact on boys' labor force participation is significant and implies that the program raised boys' labor force participation by 13%.

Abstract: The paper describes experiences of Waste Concern, a research based Non-Governmental Organisation, with a community-based decentralised composting project in Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The composting scheme started its activities in 1995 with the aim of developing a low-cost technique for composting of municipal solid waste, which is well-suited to Dhaka''s waste stream, climate, and socio-economic conditions along with the development of public–private–community partnerships in solid waste management and creation of job opportunities for the urban poor. Organic waste is converted into compost using the “Indonesian Windrow Technique”, a non-mechanised aerobic and thermophile composting procedure. In an assessment study conducted in 2001, key information on the Mirpur composting scheme was collected. This includes a description of the technical and operational aspects of the composting scheme (site-layout, process steps, mass flows, monitoring of physical and chemical parameters), the evaluation of financial parameters, and the description of the compost marketing strategy. The case study shows a rare successful decentralised collection and composting scheme in a large city of the developing world. Essential for acceptance by consumers was that the composting scheme was able to get formal approval from the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council on the use of the compost product for agricultural purposes as well as policy support by the Ministry of Agriculture. Financial success of the scheme is based on the fact that large bulk buyers of compost were found. The compost product is mainly sold to fertiliser producing companies which blend the compost with additives/nutrients to suit different customers. Sales of the products are then done through existing agricultural extension services and retail networks of these companies. Thus the compost marketing strategy of the composting schemes is based on letting others do the individual marketing of the compost. The case of Mirpur shows that composting can be a good alternative to conventional solid waste management options, reducing the amount of waste to be transported and dumped and producing a valuable raw material for fertilisers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This research identified the maritime English skills that Bangladeshi seafarers need for working on-board ships and getting employment opportunities in the maritime sector both in the domestic and international levels. This study also sought to determine the level of maritime English proficiency expected by the recruiting agencies in Bangladesh. The present study was conducted on 135 senior cadets and 24 recruiting agencies in a mixed-method design by collecting both quantitative and qualitative responses. 68 maritime tasks on-board were identified and those were categorized on a range of 'less needed' to 'highly needed' skills. Among those tasks 23 were identified as highly needed by the respondents. This study discovered that communication efficiency (speaking) was the most important skill over the other three skills because most recruitment agencies in Bangladesh tested their spoken language skills during interviews. Most of the manning agencies expected their cadets to have intermediate level of proficiency in speaking and elementary level of efficiency in listening, reading and writing. However, the senior cadets emphasized on the necessity of using the four language skills in on-board tasks. • Maritime English skills for employment opportunities. • 23 highly required maritime English skills to work on-board ships. • Communication efficiency mostly needed to work on-board ships. • Intermediate level of proficiency in Maritime English mostly sought. • Curriculum policy of maritime English courses in Bangladeshi MET institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Chrysothrix septemseptata, is described from India. It is characterized by 7-septate ascospores, which is unique within the genus. It is currently known only from the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, where it grows in mangrove plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the factors involved in the development of chronic arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. Approximately 57 million people in Bangladesh are exposed to toxic levels of arsenic in their drinking water. Of these, approximately 30,000 individuals suffer from chronic arsenic poisoning. Diagnosis of chronic arsenic poisoning was based on hyper-pigmentation or "raindrop" pigmentation of the skin; hyper-keratosis, and a high concentration of arsenic in the urine. Blood samples were collected from patients and controls for measurement of hemoglobin concentration, glutathione (CSH) level in red blood cells, serum alanine transaminase, and creatinine level.

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pathogen and one of the leading etiologies in multiple nosocomial infections. Treatment of P. aeruginosa is becoming increasingly difficult due to its ever-increasing antibiotic resistance trends. This study investigated clinical multidrug resistance (MDR) P. aeruginosa (MDR-PA), their intrinsic resistance determinants, including the presence of chromosomal AmpC ß-lactamase (Ampicillinase), decreased expression of outer membrane porin protein OprD and selected acquired ß-lactamase resistance genes. Methods: Out of 238 clinical specimens, including urines from urinary tract-infected patients, wound swabs, burn swabs, and catheter aspirates, were collected from two major hospitals in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Samples were inoculated with Cetrimide agar to isolate presumptive P. aeruginosa. Bacteria were identified by cultural, biochemical characterization, 16S rDNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Virulence-associated genes of P. aeruginosa, namely, toxA, lasB, and plcH, were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates were investigated against ten antibiotics belonging to seven groups by disc-diffusion method followed by a selected minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. Phenotypic expression of Metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs) production was checked by the double disc synergistic test selectively among the imipenem-resistant isolates. Acquisition of ß-lactam resistance trait was examined by PCR detection of bla-genes variants. Mutational loss of the OprD was analyzed by PCR to investigate intrinsic resistance determinants. Phenotypic overexpression of chromosomal AmpC was assayed with the identification of the AmpC gene by PCR. The expression level of OprD was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results: Fifty-three P. aeruginosa was identified, with an overall isolation of 22.3% (53/238), where urine remains the most prevalent source. Virulence genes toxA, lasB, and plcH were identified in the isolates of 92.4%, 96.2%, and 94.3%. The highest phenotypic antimicrobial resistance was observed against ampicillin and ceftriaxone (100%), followed by cefotaxime (96%), tetracycline (89%), azithromycin (72%), imipenem (31%), ciprofloxacin (29%), levofloxacin (29%), gentamycin (27%) and ceftazidime (14%). The antibiogram pattern revealed 85% of isolates as multidrug-resistant, while 12% were considered extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-P. aeruginosa. The carriage of ß-lactamase genes blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaOXA was detected in 4%, 2%, and 2% cephalosporin-resistant isolates, respectively. Double disc synergistic test revealed 87% of imipenem-resistant isolates expressing MBL-mediated resistance phenomenon. All seven ceftazidime-resistant isolates showed the presence of the AmpC gene with phenotypic overproduction of the AmpC enzyme, indicating AmpC-mediated ceftazidime resistance. Mutational loss of OprD was observed in 12% of phenotypically multidrug-resistant isolates, and RT-qPCR analysis revealed reduced expression of OprD porin protein at various levels in the outer membrane of multidrug-resistant isolates. Conclusions: This study depicts the high prevalence of MDR-PA in clinical specimens in Bangladesh. The identified intrinsic and acquired antimicrobial resistance determinants play synergistic roles in emerging MDR-PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant advances have been made towards understanding the dynamics of geomorphic systems through the development of new concepts. In the last two decades, these developments were partly guided by the change in the scale of geomorphic analysis from local (landform) to regional (landscape) scale and partly due to the emergence of new scientific tools and quantitative models. The process-based understanding of some geomorphic systems of the Indian subcontinent has also advanced in a significant way and a substantial dataset is now available, especially on the Ganga river system. However, conceptual advancements in geomorphic studies have not been incorporated with the available database on large river systems, especially the Ganga river basin. This article attempts to provide a brief review of geomorphic concepts, i.e. scale, magnitude- frequency, equilibrium, threshold, hierarchy, sensitivity, connectivity, nonlinearity, complexity and multidisciplinarity, and their application for understanding the geomorphology of a large river system, i.e. the Ganga river system. This re-evaluation and synthesis of the geomorphic data of the Ganga riverscape provides useful insights into the dynamics of this multi-scale dispersal system, and thereby also helps in the identification of gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed on a priority basis. The major gaps at longer timescales (10³-105 years) include lack of understanding of connectivity in river response to external forcing, the quantification of threshold of geomorphic change, and the integration of data across scales in terms of forms and processes. At modern timescale, the major challenge is to integrate the geomorphic dataset with ecological and hydrological attributes in order to develop a holistic understanding of rivers for their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The evolution of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of the Ganga water during the past ~100ka has been reconstructed in this study. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, δ 13 C and δ 18 O values have been measured in carbonate nodules from different depths of two sediment cores raised from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) campus (50m long) and Jagdishpur (JP, 25m long) respectively. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of the carbonate nodules range from 0.7142 to 0.7189 in the IITK and 0.7142 to 0.7367 in the JP cores. The nodules in general, display significantly lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio compared to contemporary Ganga river water at Kanpur, however, values of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio are observed in the nodules of the JP core near the surface are consistent with that of the present day Ganga water at Kanpur as well as groundwater samples from adjacent areas indicate recent abrupt increase in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of the Ganga. These findings are also consistent with the concomitant increase in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of silicates in contemporary sediments of the Ganga at Kanpur compared to that of past ~100ka. The sudden rise of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of the Ganga is probably due to increase in the relative proportion of Sr from the Lesser Himalaya containing silicates and carbonates with higher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio. The cause for the recent increase in Sr contribution from the Lesser Himalaya is not clear; this could be due to enhanced agricultural activities and deforestation and or climatic variability during recent times resulting in more erosion in the Lesser Himalaya. The δ 13 C and δ 18 O, measured in the nodules from the IITK core, vary from −6.8 to +1.6‰ and −8.3 to −5.4‰ respectively. The co-variation of δ 13 C and δ 18 O suggest the impact of paleoclimate/paleovegetation. Petrography and chemical composition of carbonate nodules indicate little or no diagenetic alteration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study reports the micromorphological record of a continuous set of samples from paleosol-bearing intervals of two subsurface cores of ∼50m depth representing typical pedosedimentary sequences of the Ganga–Yamuna interfluve in the western Ganga Plains. Micromorphology (microstructures, rhizocretes, Fe–Mn features, pedogenic carbonate, illuvial clay coatings and relict pedofeatures) was used to characterize pedogenic processes in the 13 paleosols in the IITK core and the 10 paleosols in the Bhognipur core. Formation of these paleosols took place through incipient to moderate weathering on relatively stable surfaces of the Ganga–Yamuna interfluve over the last 100ka. These paleosols range in character from simple ones having weakly developed pedofeatures to mature paleosols with strongly developed pedofeatures and are similar to modern Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols and Vertisols of the Ganga Plains. Pedosedimentary evolution in the two interfluve successions differs in terms of stratigraphic stacking of paleosols, types of paleosols, and heterogeneous nature of sediments. In the northern part, the IITK interfluve core is marked by a thick mature paleosol with a strongly developed argillic (Bt) horizon at 41–45m depth and weakly developed paleosols in the remaining part of the core. The mature paleosol represents a major discontinuity when prolonged pedogenic activity took place on stable surfaces with little or no deposition. On the other hand, thin-simple–thick cumulic paleosols with weakly developed pedogenic features, even with some preservation of sedimentary laminations indicate short stratigraphic breaks in rapidly aggrading sediments. In the southern part, the Bhognipur core is marked by the heterogeneous nature of sediments with a predominance of cratonic sediments in the lower part and the Himalayan sediments in the upper parts. In contrast, the IITK core shows a Himalayan source throughout. The entire interfluve succession in the Bhognipur region is marked by rapid sedimentation and short pedogenic intervals of weakly developed paleosols excepting one mature paleosol with well-developed argillic (Bt) and vertic (Bss) horizons at 10–14m depth. This mature paleosol possibly formed synchronously with a mature paleosol from the northern part of this interfluve. The mature paleosol in both the cores represents a major stratigraphic break of 8000–10,000 years when prolonged pedogenesis occurred over large areas of the Ganga–Yamuna interfluve following regional degradation and local gullying in response to climate change from sub-humid to semi-arid conditions during the MIS 5–4 transition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The application of geophysical surveys such as Vertical Electric Sounding (VES) for inferring shallow sub-surface stratigraphy in the vast alluvial tract of India has been under-utilized. This paper is aimed at demonstrating the potential of resistivity methods for mapping alluvial stratigraphy in parts of the Ganga plains where the availability of exposed sections is scarce and bore logs are very limited. Data was generated from 40 vertical electrical resistivity soundings in a stretch of ∼150km in the interfluve areas between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and Yamuna and Betwa rivers in the western Ganga plains. Based on the available lithological data from cliff sections along the major and minor rivers draining the study area and a series of 7 drill cores along the transect, the resistivity sounding data was calibrated to interpret the sub-surface stratigraphy. The data shows the vertical extension of the valley fills and interfluve sequences down to ∼100m. A high-resistivity layer runs quite extensively across the interfluves and below the valley fills, interpreted as a calcrete layer that may mark a major discontinuity. Patches of very low resistivity layers in valley fills as well as interfluves suggest the presence of saline aquifers. This study demonstrates significant sub-surface heterogeneity across the interfluves, which is a manifestation of variable fluvial activity over a period in excess of 100ka. Lateral continuity of the sandy aquifers is often broken by muddy deposits of the floodplains which form a dominant component of the interfluve sequence. Except for the locations close to major valleys, there are no major sand bodies in the upper ∼100m of the interfluves which suggests that the modern configuration of the valleys and interfluves in this region is of Late Quaternary antiquity. A few buried sand bodies, however, are comparable to the dimensions of the minor rivers draining the interfluve surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A comprehensive arsenic awareness index (CAAI) was developed. • 15 key awareness drivers (KADs) were derived using hybrid feature selection. • Bangladesh farmers were less aware of the food component of CAAI. • Stakeholder interventions and cropping practices influenced arsenic awareness. • CART and SCT models achieved an overall prediction accuracy of 84%. High levels of arsenic in drinking water and food materials continue to pose a global health challenge. Over 127 million people alone in Bangladesh (BD) and West Bengal (WB) state of India are exposed to elevated levels of arsenic in drinking water. Despite decades of research and outreach, arsenic awareness in communities continue to be low. Specifically, very few studies reported arsenic awareness among low-income farming communities. A comprehensive approach to assess arsenic awareness is a key step in identifying research and development priorities so that appropriate stakeholder engagement may be designed to tackle arsenic menace. In this study, we developed a comprehensive arsenic awareness index (CAAI) and identified key awareness drivers (KADs) of arsenic to help evaluate farmers' preferences in dealing with arsenic in the environment. The CAAI and KADs were developed using a questionnaire survey in conjunction with ten machine learning (ML) models coupled with a hybrid feature selection approach. Two questionnaire surveys comprising of 73 questions covering health, water and community, and food were conducted in arsenic-affected areas of WB and BD. Comparison of CAAIs showed that the BD farmers were generally more arsenic-aware (CAAI = 7.7) than WB farmers (CAAI = 6.8). Interestingly, the reverse was true for the awareness linked to arsenic in the food chain. Application of hybrid feature selection identified 15 KADs, which included factors related to stakeholder interventions and cropping practices instead of commonly perceived factors such as age, gender and income. Among ML algorithms, classification and regression trees and single C5.0 tree could estimate CAAIs with an average accuracy of 84%. Both communities agreed on policy changes on water testing and clean water supply. The CAAI and KADs combination revealed a contrasting arsenic awareness between the two farming communities, albeit their cultural similarities. Specifically, our study shows the need for increasing awareness of risks through the food chain in BD, whereas awareness campaigns should be strengthened to raise overall awareness in WB possibly through media channels as deemed effective in BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To our knowledge, fecal microbiota collection methods have not been evaluated in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, we evaluated five different fecal sample collection methods for technical reproducibility, stability, and accuracy within the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Bangladesh. Fifty participants from the HEALS provided fecal samples in the clinic which were aliquoted into no solution, 95% ethanol, RNAlater, postdevelopment fecal occult blood test (FOBT) cards, and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) tubes. Half of the aliquots were frozen immediately at -80°C (day 0) and the remaining samples were left at ambient temperature for 96 h and then frozen (day 4). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for the relative abundances of the top three phyla, for two alpha diversity measures, and for four beta diversity measures. The duplicate samples had relatively high ICCs for technical reproducibility at day 0 and day 4 (range, 0.79 to 0.99). The FOBT card and samples preserved in RNAlater and 95% ethanol had the highest ICCs for stability over 4 days. The FIT tube had lower stability measures overall. In comparison to the "gold standard" method using immediately frozen fecal samples with no solution, the ICCs for many of the microbial metrics were low, but the rank order appeared to be preserved as seen by the Spearman correlation. The FOBT cards, 95% ethanol, and RNAlater were effective fecal preservatives. These fecal collection methods are optimal for future cohort studies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. IMPORTANCE The collection of fecal samples in prospective cohort studies is essential to provide the opportunity to study the effect of the human microbiota on numerous health conditions. However, these collection methods have not been adequately tested in low- and middle-income countries. We present estimates of technical reproducibility, stability at ambient temperature for 4 days, and accuracy comparing a "gold standard" for fecal samples in no solution, 95% ethanol, RNAlater, postdevelopment fecal occult blood test cards, and fecal immunochemical test tubes in a study conducted in Bangladesh. Fecal occult blood test cards and fecal samples stored in 95% ethanol or RNAlater adequately preserve fecal samples in this setting. Therefore, new studies in low- and middle-income countries should include collection of fecal samples using fecal occult blood test cards, 95% ethanol, or RNAlater for prospective cohort studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Shahbag, Dhaka to explore the different clinical pattern of polyneuropathy. A total of 60 subjects were included in this study and mean age of the entire patient was 42.25 year and male and female ratio was 3:1. Out of all patients 26.7% were service holder, 20.0% were student, 20.0% were housewife, 11.7% were unemployed and 33.3% were engaged in some other professions. Maximum 41.7% patients were educated up to graduate and above level followed by 20.0% secondary, 18.3% primary, 16.7% higher secondary and 3.3% were illiterate. Out of all patients 31.7% were smoker, 48.3% were non smoker and 20.0% past smoker. About 35.0% patients had history of betel leaf; nut chewing and no patient had history of alcohol intake. Out of all patients of polyneuropathy 33.3% had diabetic neuropathy, 11.7% had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), 10.0% had chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, similar number had unknown etiology, 6.7% had renal failure, 5.0% had leprosy, Vitamin B 12 deficiency and chronic liver disease(CLD) of each, 3.3% had history of INH drug intake and similar had systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). Regarding clinical presentation, out of all respondents 83.3% had muscle weakness, similar number had problems with object handling, 66.3% had muscle cramp, 63.3% had impaired standing or gait, 55.0% had distal paresthesia, 41.7% had burning feet, 8.3% had restless legs and 5.0% had stiffness. In the light of this study we conclude that polyneuropathy has wide variety of clinical pattern. The study will enrich our current knowledge and will improve the quality of management of polyneuropathy among the Bangladeshi population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present an extensive river sediment dataset covering the Ganga basin from the Himalayan front downstream to the Ganga mainstream in Bangladesh. These sediments were mainly collected over several monsoon seasons and include depth profiles of suspended particles in the river water column. Mineral sorting is the first order control on the chemical composition of river sediments. Taking into account this variability we show that sediments become significantly depleted in mobile elements during their transit through the floodplain. By comparing sediments sampled at the Himalayan front with sediments from the Ganga mainstream in Bangladesh it is possible to budget weathering in the floodplain. Assuming a steady state weathering regime in the floodplain, the weathering of Himalayan sediments in the Gangetic floodplain releases ca. (189±92)×109 and (69±22)×109 mol/yr of carbonate bound Ca and Mg to the dissolved load, respectively. Silicate weathering releases (53±18)×109 and (42±13)×109 mol/yr of Na and K while the release of silicate Mg and Ca is substantially lower, between ca. 0 and 20×109 mol/yr. Additionally, we show that sediment hydration, [H2O+], is a sensitive tracer of silicate weathering that can be used in continental detrital environments, such as the Ganga basin. Both [H2O+] content and the D/H isotopic composition of sediments increases during floodplain transfer in response to mineral hydrolysis and neoformations associated to weathering reactions. By comparing the chemical composition of river sediments across the floodplain with the composition of the eroded Himalayan source rocks, we suggest that the floodplain is the dominant location of silicate weathering for Na, K and [H2O+]. Overall this work emphasizes the role of the Gangetic floodplain in weathering Himalayan sediments. It also demonstrates how detrital sediments can be used as weathering tracers if mineralogical and chemical sorting effects are properly taken into account. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The implications of adopting alternative seeding methods for rice and wheat establishment were examined at three geographically separate sites in the rice–wheat system of the Indo-Gangetic plains, across northern India. Rice yields in cultivated plots, established by either wet or dry seeding methods, were evaluated in comparison to yields from zero-tillage plots and under conventional transplanting methods. In the same trials, the effects of crop establishment methods in wheat were assessed both on wheat yields and rice yields. Rice crop establishment methods markedly influenced the emerging weed flora and attainable yields were measured in relation to intensity of weed management. Over four years, average rice grain yields in the absence of weed competition were greatest (6.56tha−1) under wet seeding (sowing pre-germinated rice seed on puddled soil), and similar to those from transplanted rice (6.17tha−1) into puddled soil, and dry seeded rice after dry soil tillage (6.15tha−1). Lowest yields were observed from dry seeded rice sown without tillage (5.44tha−1). Rice yield losses due to uncontrolled weed growth were least in transplanted rice (12%) but otherwise large (c. 85%) where rice had been sown to dry cultivated fields or to puddled soil, rising to 98% in dry seeded rice sown without soil tillage. Weed competition reduced multiple rice yield components, and weed biomass in wet seeded rice was six-fold greater that in rice transplanted into puddled soil and twice as much again in dry seeded rice sown either after dry tillage or without tillage. Wheat grain yields were significantly higher from crops sown into tilled soil (3.89tha−1) than those sown without tillage (3.51tha−1), and also were elevated (5% on average) where the soil had been dry cultivated in preparation for the previous rice crops rather than puddled. The method of wheat cultivation did not influence rice yield. Soil infiltration rates in the wheat season were least where the land had been puddled for rice (1.52mmh−1), and greater where the soil had been dry-tilled (2.63mmh−1) and greatest after zero-tillage (3.54mmh−1). These studies demonstrated at research managed sites across a wide geographic area, and on farmers’ fields, that yields of dry seeded rice sown after dry cultivation of soil were broadly comparable with those of transplanted rice, providing weed competition was absent. These results support the proposition that direct seeding of rice could provide an alternative to the conventional practice of transplanting, and help address rising costs and threats to sustainability in the rice–wheat rotation. Further, analysis of patterns of long-term rainfall data indicated that farmers reliant on monsoon rainfall could prepare fields for dry direct seeded rice some 30 days before they could prepare fields for either transplanting or seeding with pre-germinated seed. Dry, direct seeding of rice contributes a valuable component of an adaptive strategy to address monsoonal variability that also may advance the time of wheat establishment and yield. Whilst the results illustrate the robustness, feasibility and significant potential of direct seeded rice, they also highlight the critical nature of effective weed control in successful implementation of direct seeding systems for rice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The ubiquity of public-space sexual harassment (PSH) of women in the global South, particularly in South Asia, is both a public health and gender equity issue. This study examined men's experiences with and perspectives on PSH of women in three countries with shared cultural norms and considerable gender inequalities - Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The three-country survey in 2021-2022 was completed by 237 men who were generally young, urban, single, well-educated, and middle-/high-income. Among the 53.3% who witnessed PSH, 80% reported intervening to stop it or help the victim. A substantial share of men worried about PSH, and bore emotional, time, and financial costs as they took precautionary or restorative measures to help women in their families avoid PSH or deal with its consequences. Most respondents articulated potential gains for men, women, and society if PSH no longer existed. However, a non-negligible share of participants held patriarchal gender attitudes that are often used to justify harassment, and a small share did not favour legal and community sanctions. Many called for stricter legal sanctions and enforcement, culture change, and education. Men's perspectives offer insights for prevention of harassment and mitigation of its consequences.

Objective: This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of maternal acellular pertussis (aP) immunization in low- and middle-income countries using a dynamic transmission model., Methods: We developed a dynamic transmission model to simulate the impact of infant vaccination with whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine with and without maternal aP immunization. The model was calibrated to Brazilian surveillance data and then used to project health outcomes and costs under alternative strategies in Brazil, and, after adjusting model parameter values to reflect their conditions, in Nigeria and Bangladesh. The primary measure of cost-effectiveness is incremental cost (2014 USD) per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY)., Results: The dynamic model shows that maternal aP immunization would be cost-effective in Brazil, a middle-income country, under the base-case assumptions, but would be very expensive at infant vaccination coverage in and above the threshold range necessary to eliminate the disease (90-95%). At 2007 infant coverage (DTP1 90%, DTP3 61% at 1 year of age), maternal immunization would cost < $4,000 per DALY averted. At high infant coverage, such as Brazil in 1996 (DTP1 94%, DTP3 74% at 1 year), cost/DALY increases to $1.27 million. When the model's time horizon was extended from 2030 to 2100, cost/DALY increased under both infant coverage levels, but more steeply with high coverage. The results were moderately sensitive to discount rate, maternal vaccine price, and maternal aP coverage and were robust using the 100 best-fitting parameter sets. Scenarios representing low-income countries showed that maternal aP immunization could be cost-saving in countries with low infant coverage, such as Nigeria, but very expensive in countries, such as Bangladesh, with high infant coverage., Conclusion: A dynamic model, which captures the herd immunity benefits of pertussis vaccination, shows that, in low- and middle-income countries, maternal aP immunization is cost-effective when infant vaccination coverage is moderate, even cost-saving when it is low, but not cost-effective when coverage levels pass 90-95%., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. [Dr. Sinha is currently an employee at Merck & Co and has stock holdings in that company. She was at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School when this work was conducted. Merck & Co. played no role in study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. They accept no responsibility for the contents. Pej Rohani served as a paid consultant on structuring and calibrating the dynamic model.], (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)