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The objective of the study is to find out the effects of excessive use of smartphone on the health of the university students in Bangladesh. A closed ended questionnaire with five point Likert scale is used to collect data as the scores of agreed level for different selected issues. A total number of 289 respondents out of 350 students provide information willingly that covers 83% of total respondents. The data collection period was June, 2022. The non-parametric statistical techniques like Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test are mainly used to analyze the data. Excessive uses of smartphone are impacted badly on the sound health of the university students. These students having complications with different types of uncomfortable health conditions are not performing well not only in the academic activities but also in accomplishments of their everyday life. It is necessity to find out the ways of effective uses of smartphone for the university students to overcome the antagonistic situations.

The study aims to evaluate the inputs cost sensitivity of betel leaf production of selected farmers in Bangladesh. Purposively two districts like Kushtia and Jhenidah were chosen for study area. Both primary and secondary data were used for the purpose of the study. Primary data were collected from 120 farmers. For analyzing data 9 variables were used like Material cost, Labor, Land cost(Lease), Fertilizer, Insecticide, Irrigation Cost, Depreciation of Primary cost, Selling and Distribution cost, Other cost as input costs and one variable(Sales) was used as output variable. The analysis have been done by applying descriptive statistics, Cobb-Douglas production function and marginal physical productivity (MPP) to identify nature of production function and influential sensitive input costs. The summation of all regression co-efficient included in the model, ∑βi=1.35 indicated that the production function is in the state of increasing return to scale. The highest MPP value was found in other cost (64.95) followed by insecticide (3.22); selling and distribution cost (2.69); labor cost (1.25) and fertilizer (1.20) which are very sensitive inputs and have the strong influence on output variables.

In Bangladesh, due to economic growth and greater access to education, more girls and women are veiling, even as they are also more likely to be in school or employed. Some scholars identify this trend of women appearing both “more modern” and “more religious” as paradoxical. On the basis of 114 in-depth interviews with Bangladeshi migrant workers ( n = 57) in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, and South Korea and their wives ( n = 57) in rural Bangladesh, I claim that Muslim women in middle-class Bengali families who veil are cultivating symbolic boundaries guided by an accountability structure of middle-class religiosity and gender conservatism. The increasing tendency of middle-class Muslim women to appear both “more modern” and “more religious” can be explained by examining the role that veiling plays in signaling class status through conspicuous consumption, moral superiority, and respectable femininity, differentiating them from lower class women. I conclude that “doing gender” through veiling must be understood as also “doing middle-class difference” in Bengali Muslim families in rural Bangladesh.

This study aims to analyze the supply chain of potatoes and determine the factors affecting postharvest losses of potatoes at the producer level of Bangladesh. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview schedule from a sample of total 60- 30 farmers, 6 wholesalers, 5 aratdars, 5 retailers, and 14 consumers in Sirajdikhan and Sadar Upazila of Munshiganj district. Descriptive statistics (percentages, frequencies, etc.) and multiple linear regression analysis were used for this study. The result shows that channel 4 is the longest marketing chain in the study area which includes the marketing actors – farmers, aratdars, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. In the supply chain of potatoes, the amount of postharvest loss is 6.6% for the producer’s level, 5.3% for the wholesale level, 1.10% for the aratdar level, and 2.1% for the retailer level in the study area. The regression model reveals that age and amount of production have a significant positive relationship, while experience has a significant negative relationship with the postharvest losses of potatoes. The study also shows that lack of storage facility (48.94%) and poor packaging system (32.73%) are the major reasons for occurring postharvest losses of potatoes. The farmers and intermediaries suggested that it is necessary to identify the maturity stage of potatoes at harvesting time (70%), improve the cold storage facility (56.67%), and improve the loading and unloading system (56.25%), etc. for reducing postharvest losses of potato.

Understanding phosphorus (P) dynamics in urban landscapes is an emerging research topic as P export from urban landscapes towards aquatic ecosystems causes eutrophication-related challenges in these environments. We investigated P export and forms in four research sites in Ontario, Canada, including three urban catchments and a stormwater pond, all located within the Great Toronto Area in the drainage basin of Lake Ontario. We conducted P speciation laboratory analyses on runoff and suspended sediment samples to measure total P (TP), total dissolved P (TDP), dissolved reactive P (DRP), dissolved unreactive P (TDP–DRP), and PP (TP–TDP). Multiple linear regression (MLR) models were also developed to quantify annual loadings of these P species. Models indicated that P loadings in our sites were close to the lower limit of values reported in the literature, with the simulated range of 0.2—0.46 kg ha-1 yr-1 for TP export, 0.06—0.168 kg ha-1 yr-1 for TDP, 0.011—0.073 kg ha-1 yr-1 for DRP, 0.026—0.095 kg ha-1 yr-1 for DUP, and 0.163—0.288 kg ha-1 yr-1 for PP. In our MLR models, precipitation explained a large fraction of variability in loadings with the median of 58% across all models. Moreover, we realized that as the proportion of residential land within the drainage area increased, larger amounts of P loadings were exported at the catchment scale. Results also implied that pond served as a major P sink, with annual retention of 82, 93, 91, 94, and 77% for TP, TDP, DRP, DUP, and PP, respectively. Mass balance analyses based on sequential P extraction in the sediment core samples revealed that P retention was attributed to sedimentation in the ponds, as well as chemical precipitation of P with calcium mineral phases. In terms of P composition, most of P export in our sites (72—88%) were in particulate form. Besides, the ratio between dissolved forms and TP were the highest in the catchment with the largest amount green spaces. This study demonstrates that, as land-use characteristics impose variations in constituent loadings, urban P management options also have to be varying from a catchment to another. However, sediment removing practices such as the use of ponds will certainly be a reliable P retention approach as most of urban P could be sediment-bound. Furthermore, enhancing the formation of calcium phosphate and other redox-stable mineral phases could be explored as a best management practice in existing and new ponds for improving P retention.

Concentrations of bicarbonate (HCO3-) are typically high in natural waters and can enhance internal phosphate (PO4) loading from sediment to the overlying water. However, chemical constituents at the sediment-water interface controlling bicarbonate-induced PO4 mobility are poorly understood. This study evaluates the individual and simultaneous effects of HCO3- and calcium (Ca2+) ions on the mobility of PO4 at the ferric (hydr)oxides-water interface by conducting PO4 adsorption pH envelope and desorption experiments. Results from the individual PO4 adsorption pH envelope experiments show that HCO3- competes with PO4 for the surface binding sites and decreases PO4 adsorption to ferric (hydr)oxides. In contrast, Ca2+ exerts the opposite effect to HCO3- and enhances PO4 adsorption and these effects of HCO3- and Ca2+ are highly pH dependent and intensified under alkaline conditions. For instance, PO4 adsorption decreased by 30% and increased by 32% at pH 8 in the presence of 0.25 mM HCO3- and Ca2+, respectively, compared to the adsorption in 10 mM NaCl, which are 39 and 67% at pH 9. The PO4 desorption pH envelope experiments display a similar pattern as of adsorption pH envelope. However, the amount of adsorbed-PO4 desorbed at a given pH is lower than the amount expected from adsorption studies. This partial release of adsorbed-PO4 implies the immobilization of PO4 at the solid surface, potentially via the formation of stronger surface complexes. Therefore, the high concentrations of HCO3- may increase PO4 mobility in the aqueous phase by restricting the re-adsorption of sediment released-PO4 rather than by PO4 description from sediment mineral surfaces. However, this competitive effect of HCO3- may be minor in the system buffered by calcite dissolution.

This work aims to introduce a novel approach for auxiliary task guidance (ATG). In this approach, our goal is to achieve effective guidance from a suitable auxiliary task by utilizing the uncertainty in calculated gradients for a mini-batch of samples. Our method calculates a probabilistic fitness factor of the auxiliary task gradient for each of the shared weights to guide the main task at every training step of mini-batch gradient descent. We have shown that this proposed factor incorporates task specific confidence of learning to manipulate ATG in an effective manner. For studying the potency of the method, monocular visual odometry (VO) has been chosen as an application. Substantial experiments have been done on the KITTI VO dataset for solving monocular VO with a simple convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture. Corresponding results show that our ATG method significantly boosts the performance of supervised learning for VO. It also out performs state-of-the-art (SOTA) auxiliary guided methods we applied for VO. The proposed method is able to achieve decent scores (in some cases competitive)compared to existing SOTA supervised monocular VO algorithms, while keeping an exceptionally low parameter space in supervised regime.

Meckel’s diverticulum, the most common congenital anomaly of small bowel although usually silent, can cause complications like intestinal obstruction, bleeding, diverticulitis, perforation etc. We report a case, which presented with acute onset of severe pain in right iliac fossa which was clinically and sonographically diagnosed as acute appendicitis. Histopathological report of appendix was non specific findings. Four days after appendectomy patient again came with features of acute abdomen. X-ray abdomen showed free gas under diaphragm. Abdomen was explored with a midline incision, a perforated Meckel’sdiverticulum was found which was managed by wedge resection and repair of the ileum. Histopathological examination of specimen revealed diverticular wall with normal appearing intestinal mucosa and muscle coat which showed two heterotrophic tissues (pancreatic and gastric ) in the wall.These also showed features of perforation and acute peritonitis. This is probably the first case of Meckel’s diverticulitis with heterotropic pancreatic and gastric tissue in Bangladesh. J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll 2020; 12(2): 115-118

Readymade garments sector is the largest export earning sectors in Bangladesh. The efficiency of that sector is needed to compete and survive in the competitive global market. For the purpose of identifying the inputs and output variables which are deriving the efficiency of garments factories in Bangladesh, five garment factories have been selected purposively on the basis of availability of data as a sample size. Pearson coefficient correlation has been used to find out significant input variables related with output variable of sales revenue indicating the result that only cost of material and labour has significant impact among four input variables. From the method of CRS input oriented DEA, it is estimated that two garments factory are efficient relative to the(Fawellient factory of the rest three. If it is possible to reduce the excessive used of inputs (percentages) cost of material and labour then rest three inefficient factories would be capable as like as efficient two.

This study aims to identify waves of pornography consumption illness in graduate students of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh. Data have been collected from 53 recent students using five points Likert Scale to assess the agreed level of the respondents from August 2020 to October, 2020. For analyzing data, different statistical tools namely mode, correlation analysis, regression analysis, factor analysis, Mann-Whitney U- Test, Kruskal Wallis Test etc. are applied. The value of Cronbach's Alpha is 0.74 indicating acceptable position in measurement of the degree of internal consistency and the included variables of the study have a suitable reliability for analysis of the undertaken study. The total variance of the dependent variable is explained by the identified dependent variable is amounted by 76 percent with three factors as Factor-1: Identification of social disorder; Factor-2: Identification of sleeping disorder; Factor-3: Identification of friendship disorder to be the most influential factors which actually reflect key factors of pornography consumption illness. The study suggests that the effective actions should be taken to learn and maintain the habitual facts of the recent graduate students to confirm the effective human resources to fulfill the requirements of providing the better service to the family, society and state.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is among the most common bacterial infections and posses significant healthcare burden. Escherichia coli is the most common cause of UTI accounting for about 70%% and a variable contribution from Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae Patients are often treated as soon as bacteria are shown to be present by microbiological culture. Objective: To identify the prevalence of bacterial isolates specimens from suspected patients of urinary tract infection in both outpatient department and in patient department. Methods: This study was carried out in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College during the period from July 2016 to June 2017. Urine specimens were collected and isolation and identification of major uropathogens (Escherichiacoli Klehsiella pneumonias, Proteusmirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were done by standard microbiological procedure a biochemical tests. The antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolate according to age and sex. Results: Out of 250 urine specimens, 200 specimens were isolated and identified by culture and different biochemical methods which were supported by microscopical examination and at the same time PCR could detect species specific genes in 201 specimens directly from urine of suspected UTI patient Escherichia coli was responsible as a leading causative pathogen in both outpatient department and in patient department with a higher prevalence of 71.8% for outpatient department. On the other hand prevalence of Proteus mirabilis was lowest and it was 1.8 % in outpatient population. Culture positivity of urine specimens was higher in female in both out patient population and inpatient population. Culture positivity of in patient population among the male (45.5%) was slighty higher than that of outpatient population (34.5%). The predominant age group suffered from UTI in case of outpatient population was >15-30 but for the in patient ..............

The present study aimed at the molecular detection of Salmonella species from feces of goats and the characterization of the isolated Salmonella by biochemical and antimicrobial sensitivity techniques. A total of 220 goat feces samples were collected, of which 27 (12.27%) were positive for Salmonella by conventional culture methods and 20 (9.09%) by biochemical and PCR techniques. The prevalence was higher in goats under one year of age (20%), compared to older animals aged one to two years (7.8%) and more than two years of age (4.7%), respectively. Moreover, the prevalence of diarrheic goats was significantly higher (38.46%) than healthy animals (2.76%). DNA was extracted from Salmonella strains and amplified by PCR using the specific primers of Salmonella invasion gene (invA gene). The antibiotic sensitivity test indicated that Ciprofloxacin (100 percent sensitivity), Gentamycin (100 percent sensitivity), and Neomycin (100 percent sensitivity) were the most effective antibiotics for the majority of Salmonella isolates. On the other hand, Salmonella isolates were found to have substantially high resistance to Erythromycin (100%), Amoxicillin (100%), Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (81.48%), Streptomycin (62.96%), and Tetracycline (55.56 percent). Since the rate of Salmonella carriers was relatively high, eating goat meat could increase the risk of foodborne salmonellosis.

Objective: In this study our main goal is to evaluate the clinical and spirometric profiles and staging of COPD, asthma in smokers and nonsmokers, Bangladesh. Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Tertiary medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Where data were collected from July 2019 to June 2020. A total of 332 where 232 smoker having exposure to >10 pack year smoking fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were included and 100 apparently healthy non-smoker also were included as control. Results: During the study, among smokers, clinically 11 and 5 were diagnosed to have COPD and asthma only and the spirometry also diagnosed these 9 smokers and other 31 smokers more to have COPD and thus diagnose 42 smokers to have COPD. Also, 9 smokers to have asthma. The difference between clinical and spirometrically diagnosis of COPD and asthma were statistically highly significant, 0.001. whereas, among non-smokers. Where among 100 nonsmokers only 2 have COPD and asthma. The value of FEV1 of smokers and non-smokers people were 3.1302 and 3.2450 respectively and their standard deviation were 0.52207 and 0.44162 respectively. This difference in FEV1 value was statistically significant (p value 0. 006. The value of FVC of smokers and non-smokers were 4.0857 and 4.2096 respectively and standard deviations were 1.47849 and 0.50218 respectively. Also, 56% and 50% had mild level of COPD and asthma severity. Conclusion: For long-term primary care smokers, these findings have major consequences. The advantages may include further reason for spirometry which might open the door to improved targeting due to variations in the appropriate therapy.

Putrescine plays a distinct role in various types of biological functions in all living organisms, as well as environmental stress. The aim of the study is to effect of exogenous putrescine on the physiological condition of the rice seeds investigated. Salt treatment resulted in the reduction of speed of germination, germination, germination energy, germination energy percentage, final germination percentage, shoot and root length, and plant dry weight, where proline content was remarkably increased. Among the rice varieties, BRRI 48 was affected maximum by way of salinity in case of germination and growth, and GHORIAL become least affected in comparison to other varieties. However, exogenous putrescine treatment significantly enhances rice seeds germination, as well as shoot and root length in all varieties. Our findings reveal that plant putrescine tremendously reduced rice salt tolerance.

Hematite(α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel process and further mixed with epoxy resin to obtain the nanocomposites. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles have an average diameter of about 30 nm, also illustrated the crystal structure and morphology of the nanomaterials. Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the functional groups that were present in α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, neat epoxy andα-Fe2O3/epoxy nanocomposites. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) analysis exhibits the magnetic hysteresis curve and revealed that α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were superparamagnetic. Tensile testing was performed to obtain the tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, young modulus and required energy to deform the materials. Vickers micro-hardness test showed the surface hardness of the nanocomposites. Flexural strength also measured, which indicate the strength of nanocomposites against bending. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) measurement showed the thermal properties of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and its influence into the epoxy matrix. UV-Vis spectroscopy was performed to obtain the optical band gap energy of the nanocomposites. DC-resistivity measurements showed a significant influence of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on the dc-electrical properties of the epoxy matrix.

Background and Objectives: The epidemiological features of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffaloes are important to know their transmission and risk factors assessment as well treatment regimens. This study was conducted with the objectives of determining the prevalence of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffaloes in Sylhet district of Bangladesh and to evaluate the efficacy of anthelmintics against the parasite. Materials and Method: A total of 211 fecal samples were collected from buffaloes and examined for the detection of parasitic eggs during the period from July 2017 to June 2018. For the determination of therapeutic efficacy, animals were randomly divided into 6 groups (T0, Ti, T1, T2, T3, T4) where each group consisting of 3 buffaloes. The group T0 (negative control-non infected) and Ti (positive control-infected) were treated only with phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The other four infected groups were treated as T1 with albendazole, T2 with piperazine citrate, T3 with ivermectin and T4 with combination of tetramisole HCL and oxyclosanide. Before trials day 0 and after treatment of 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days fecal samples examined using McMaster technique. Results: The overall prevalence was estimated 17.06% (36/211). The prevalence was higher among buffalo calves of below six months (39.28%) followed by 6 months to 1 year, 1 to 2 years and above 2 years as 25%, 22.5% and 7.20% respectively. The infection rate was high in females (20.0%) than males (13.18%). The parasite was more prevalent in rainy (21.42%) than summer (16.67%) and winter (14.29%) seasons. The EPG results revealed piperazine citrate was the most effective (100%) against Neoascaris vitulorum. The percent efficacies of other anthelmintic used in this study were albendazole, ivermectin and combination of tetramisole HCL and oxyclozanide as 95.49%, 86.20% and 95.58% respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffalo at Sylhet district of Bangladesh was relatively high. The results revealed that piperazine citrate, tetramisole HCL and oxyclozanide combination are highly effective for the reduction of egg per gram (EPG) of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffalo. On the other hand ivermectin and albendazole were also around ninety percent effective respectively.

The present study is an attempt to find out the factors affecting profits relating to purchase and sales of Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company Limited. The objectives of the study are to overview the affecting factors on profits, to determine the important factors that affect on profit relating to purchase and sales and to provide some suggestions and recommendations to enhance the profits. Correlation and regression have been applied to analyze the data. It is estimated that commercial, fertilizer and CNG are the most important factors to drive the profit both for the cases of purchase and sales. These three factors collectively explained the total variance of gross profit by 96.6 percent and 96.8 percent for the situation of purchase and sales respectively. The suggestions and recommendations are given to emphasize the purchase and sales on the identified factors to enhance the benefits of the company.

Medicinal plants serve as important therapeutic agents as well as valuable raw materials for manufacturing numerous traditional and modern medicines. Aloe vera is a top ranked medicinal plant in Bangladesh. The objective of this study is to investigate the costs, returns and profitability of Aloe vera medicinal plant. The data were collected from the selected farmers of Bogura and Natore districts in Bangladesh during 2018. The total sample size is 123. The study applies the profitability analysis, break-even points and margin of safety percentage techniques. Surveyed farms are found at ranged from 0.01 to 0.41 hectares. Average cost of production per hectare is found at Tk. 876468.80, of which Tk. 647156.40 for operational cost and Tk. 229312.40 for fixed costs accounting for 73.84% and 26.16% of the total cost, respectively. The average yield of Aloe vera is stood at 41487.62 kg per hectare which is sold to two different markets: contract markets and local market. The mean price is estimated at Tk. 32.42 per kg in study area. The gross margin and net margin per hectare are found to be Tk. 698068.02 and Tk. 468755.61, respectively. The breakeven analysis showed that in the case of yield and price, the margin of safety percentage of Aloe vera is -53.48. It is also found at 42.01, 67.15 and 34.85 for variable cost, fixed cost and total cost of Aloe vera production. Therefore, the study noted that the Aloe vera medicinal plant production is profitable in the study area. Farmers have a great opportunity to allocate more land to Aloe vera production, which will make them more profit. Break-even analysis of Aloe vera production resists a large drop of yield and price before incurring a loss, which gives the farmers a comfortable margin of safety and a risk bearing ability. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(1): 75-81, April 2020

Modification of cellulose with silver nanoparticles produces various nanocomposites with significantly developed properties. This work aims to prepare a PVA hydrogel modified with cellulose/silver nanocomposites having potential applications in various fields including biomedical, antimicrobial inhibition, textile wears, etc. Microfibrillated cellulose/silver nanocomposites hydrogels were prepared in the aqueous medium with aid of microwave-assisted heating. Different percentages of nanocomposites were incorporated in PVA hydrogel to enhance the properties of PVA hydrogel. Prepared products were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM. The swelling (in water saline, acidic and alkaline solution), tensile, thermal, and antibacterial properties were also examined. The formation of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the (MFC-Ag) NC was confirmed by XRD and UV–Vis spectra. UV–Vis spectra showed the characteristic peaks of Ag in the UV–Vis spectra at 425 nm. Final products exhibited significant porosity and maximum swelling of 519.44%. The thermal stability of hydrogel increased with an increased percentage of (MFC-Ag)NC. Hydrogels exhibited significant antimicrobial inhibition against multidrug-resistant microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The study is an attempt to identify sickness of selected garment factories in Bangladesh by the applications of Altman’s Z-Score Model and provide a set of remedial measures. Based on the secondary data, two hypotheses are formulated in this regard. Comparative analysis of descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson co-relation coefficient and regression analysis are conducted to reach the objective. Altman’s Z-Score found that BHML (1.28) and Generation (0.55) garment factories are in sick zone (Less than 1.81). The garment factory-Style shows that its position is out of sick zone (2.99 < 3.16) during the period under study. The measurements of Pearson’s correlation coefficient of Altman’s Z-score associated with each of those 5 (five) are found to be a negative association in most of the cases of the selected garment factories under study which imply the symptoms of sickness tendency for the specified cases. The results of ANOVA-Test for Altman’s model related variables of the selected garment factories under study revealed that the sickness symptoms of the sample garment factories are not the same over the period under review. The identified causes of sickness are inefficiency in working capital management, inefficient operations of current assets, underutilization of available resources, the presence of idle capacity, below satisfactory of activity level in terms of productions etc. The remedial measures suggest to providing sufficient working capital, utilize resources properly, reduce idle capacity, ensure acceptable return on equity, reinvest retained earnings, improve operating profit by reducing operating expenses, improve satisfaction level of productions and sales operations etc.

The present study is an attempt to explore the contemporary profitability status of 5 (five) selected fuel and power sector companies enlisted in DSE, Bangladesh and the interrelationship between sales based returns (GPM, OPM, and NPM) and investment based returns (ROA and ROE) over the period of 2012 to 2016 for the same companies. Using descriptive statistics the present study has found that the profitability position of the sample companies is satisfactory, multiple correlation analysis revealed that there is a positive association between sales based returns and ROA whereas negative association between sales based returns and ROE, and the multiple regression analysis showed that 97.70 percent variance is explained by the predictors OPM, ROA, and ROE of the dependent variable OABR (overall accounting based return) in the selected fuel and power sector companies of Bangladesh.

Background Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) have long been regarded as a cornerstone intervention in mitigating the adverse effects of a preterm birth. However, the safety and efficacy of ACS in hospitals in low-resource countries has not been established in an efficacy trial despite their widespread use. Findings of a large cluster-randomized trial in six low- and middle-income countries showed that efforts to scale up ACS use in low-resource settings can lead to harm. There is equipoise regarding the benefits and harms of ACS use in hospitals in low-resource countries. This randomized controlled trial aims to determine whether ACS are safe and efficacious when given to women at risk of imminent birth in the early preterm period, in hospitals in low-resource countries. Methods/design The trial design is a parallel, two-arm, double-blind, individually randomized, placebo-controlled trial of ACS (dexamethasone) for women at risk of imminent preterm birth. The trial will recruit 6018 women in participating hospitals across five low-resource countries (Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan). The primary objectives are to compare the efficacy of dexamethasone with placebo on survival of the baby and maternal infectious morbidity. The primary outcomes are: 1) neonatal death (to 28 completed days of life); 2) any baby death (any stillbirth postrandomization or neonatal death); and 3) a composite outcome to assess possible maternal bacterial infections. The trial will recruit eligible, consenting pregnant women from 26 weeks 0 days to 33 weeks 6 days gestation with confirmed live fetuses, in whom birth is planned or expected within 48 h. The intervention comprises a regimen of intramuscular dexamethasone sodium phosphate. The comparison is an identical placebo regimen (normal saline). A total of 6018 women will be recruited to detect a reduction of 15% or more in neonatal deaths in a two-sided 5% significance test with 90% power (including 10% loss to follow-up). Discussion Findings of this trial will guide clinicians, programme managers and policymakers on the safety and efficacy of ACS in hospitals in low-resource countries. The trial findings will inform updating of the World Health Organization’s global recommendations on ACS use. Trial registration ACTRN12617000476336. Registered on 31 March 2017. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3488-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a debilitating human pathogenesis in which the body's immune functions are severely compromised. Various subsets of T cells, including Th17 cells are important regulators of immune responses observed in various pathologies. The role of Th17 cells and its correlation with immuno-regulatory cytokines are however not well understood in human VL. Herein we studied how IL-17 is associated with the progression of Leishmania donovani infection using murine model of VL. We found induction of a strong IL-17 response at the early phase of infection which progressively reduced to basal level during chronic VL. The mechanistic study of this behavior was found to be linked with the role of regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25+ T cells) that suppresses the proliferation of the Th17 cell population. Moreover, TGF-β and IL-35 derived from CD4+ CD25+ T cells are the key mediators for the downregulation of IL-17 during chronic VL. Thus, this study points to an antagonistic effect of Tregs and Th17 cells that can be used for designing better therapeutic and preventive strategies against leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a threat in many developing countries. Much effort has been put to eliminating this disease, for which serodiagnosis remains the mainstay for VL control programs. New and improved antigens as diagnostic candidates are required, though, as the available antigens fail to demonstrate equal optimum performance in all areas of endemicity. Moreover, these diagnoses are dependent on invasive serum sampling. In the current study, we cloned and expressed Leishmania donovani cysteine protease C (CPC) and evaluated its diagnostic and test-of-cure possibilities by detecting the antibody levels in human serum and urine through ELISA and immunoblot assays. Two immunodominant antigens, recombinant glycoprotein 63 (GP63) and elongation factor 1α (EF1α), identified earlier by our group, were also assessed by employing human serum and urine samples. Of these three antigens in ELISAs, CPC demonstrated the highest sensitivities of 98.15% and 96% positive testing in serum and urine of VL patients, respectively. Moreover, CPC yielded 100% specificity with serum and urine of nonendemic healthy controls compared to GP63 and EF1α. Urine samples were found to be more specific than serum for distinguishing endemic healthy controls and other diseases by means of all three antigens. In all cases, CPC gave the most promising results. Unlike serum, urine tests demonstrated a significant decrease in antibody levels for CPC, GP63, and EF1α after 6 months of treatment. The diagnostic and test-of-cure performances of CPC in the immunoblot assay were found to be better than those of GP63 and EF1α. In conclusion, CPC, followed by GP63 and EF1α, may be utilized as candidates for diagnosis of VL and to assess treatment response.

BackgroundBangladesh did not have dedicated professional midwives in public sector health facilities until recently, when the country started a nation-wide programme to educate and deploy diploma midwives. The objective of the findings presented in this paper, which is part of a larger study, was to better understand the experience of the midwives of their education programme and first posting as a qualified midwife and to assess their midwifery knowledge and skills.MethodsWe applied a mixed method approach, which included interviewing 329 midwives and conducting 6 focus group discussions with 43 midwives and midwifery students. Sampling weights were used to generate representative statistics for the entire cohort of the midwives deployed in the public sector health facilities.ResultsMost of the midwives were satisfied with different dimensions of their education programme, with the exception of the level of exposure they had to the rural communities during their programme. Out of 329 midwives, 50% received tuition fee waivers, while 46% received funding for educational materials and 40% received free accommodation. The satisfaction with the various aspects of the current posting was high and nearly all midwives reported that a desire to work in the public sector in the long run. However, a significant proportion of the midwives expressed concerns with equipment, accommodation, transport and prospect of transfers. The scores on the knowledge test and self-reported skill levels were varied but reasonably high.ConclusionWhile the midwives are highly motivated, satisfied with many aspects of their current jobs and have adequate knowledge and skills, there are some bottlenecks and concerns that, if unaddressed, may derail the success of this programme. To capture the career progress of these midwives, additional research, including a follow-up study with the same cohort of midwives, would be beneficial to this programme.

Nanoparticles are the magic bullets and at the leading edge in the field of nanotechnology, and their unique properties make these materials indispensable and superior in many areas, including the electronic field. Extensive applications of nanomaterials are incontrovertibly entering our living system. The increasing use of nanomaterials into the ecosystem is one of the crucial environmental factors that human being is facing. Nanomaterials raise noticeable toxicological concerns; particularly their accumulation in plants and the resultant toxicity may affect the food chain. Here, we analyzed the characterization of nanomaterials, such as graphene, Al2 O3 , TiO2 , and semi-insulating or conducting nanoparticles. Quantitative evaluation of the nanomaterials was conducted and their commercialization aspects were discussed. Various characterization techniques, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and ultraviolet rays were utilized to identify the morphology, phase, absorbance, and crystallinity. In addition, we analyzed the effects of nanomaterials on plants. The toxicity of nanoparticles has severe effects on loss of morphology of the plants. Potential mechanisms including physical and physiological effects were analyzed. In future studies, it is indispensable to assess widely accepted toxicity evaluation for safe production and use of nanomaterials.

A recent academic paradigm shift in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) introduced US-style medical education to meet the nation’s growing need for medical practitioners. This newly established Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU) left gaps in student preparedness. To address this problem, KU simultaneously developed a post-bachelor’s premedical program, commonly known as a pre-medicine post-baccalaureate (PMPB) program, that prepared students for entry into the UAE’s first MD program. The authors adapted US-style post-baccalaureate approaches to create KU’s PMPB program that gave students unique opportunities to take coursework that filled gaps in previous knowledge and prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) exam. The 1-year bridging program harnessed academic strengths from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) post-baccalaureate premedical programs network and Kaplan, Inc. Overall, 19 (12 Emirati and 7 international) students achieved admissible MCAT scores (group’s minimum score = 485, average score = 492, and maximum score = 509) and gained research experiences that supported their entry into KU’s medical school. The PMPB program supplied two-thirds of the medical schools’ fall 2019 inaugural class, increased local awareness and interest in medicine and created a novel platform to help students pursue a career in medicine in the UAE.

Introduction: Government of Bangladesh declared lock down several times in the educational institutions for the purpose of retains the rapid speed of COVID-19. During the lockdown period students stayed in home and totally depended on internet for spending times, contract friends, attained in online classes etc. The purpose of the study is to measure the impact of long- time internet usage that brought various complications among the students in their physical and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown period. Methods: A structured online based questionnaire link was sent using Google forms and distributed to students via what’s app and Facebook Messenger and 360 respondents were filled up the questionnaire in the period of June 2021-August 2021 COVID-19. The distribution of respondent demographic variables was investigated using descriptive statistical methods; Pearson’s chi-square tests have been applied. Result: About 40.8% of students’ perception was that COVID-19 lockdown had changed their internet usage habits a little more than the normal time. The measures of the duration of time of internet usages there was a significant change. The respondents usage increased rapidly on 5-6 hours (42.05%) and 10 hours + (32.8%) whereas it was 30.3 % and only 6.9% respectively in before the lock down. The usages of internet hampered the students in their studies, night’s sleep, food habits, loneliness, frustration and depression during the lock down situation. Conclusion: The concern authority should take necessary steps to reduce the habit of internet usage the COVID-19 situation and motivate the students for concentrating on their studies and minimize the excessive use of the internet.

Numerous experimental DNA vaccines have been tested against Leishmania, whose clinical use is mostly limited due to insufficient CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity arising from poor gene delivery or pre...

The teaching learning is a continuous process by which the educators involving in this field are working to change the behavior of the students as the required human resources for the welfare of the society. Bloom’s Taxonomy is the most important and widely used process that helps the educators to provide the students equipped with knowledge perfectly in the different domains of the learning skills as suggested by Benjamin Bloom. To assess the learning skills written test is the very important tools that are applying on the students from the beginning of the formal education. In this paper an attempt has been taken to evaluate the allocation pattern of the marks of the course Business Mathematics of the three departments Accounting and Information System, Management and Finance & Banking under business faculty according to the components of Bloom’s Taxonomy. It is observed that there is a significant difference of the allocations of marks among the selected the three departments regarding the cognitive domain of the B.T. But no significant difference has been found in the allocation pattern of marks throughout the academic years under review. The marks allocation in LOCQ, IOCQ and HOCQ are found to be 43 percent 52 percent and 5 percent respectively which are not suited with the recommended marks allocation according to the recognized system. The suggestions and recommendation have been given to allocate the marks to prepare the written questions papers according to the cognitive domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy

Background: Powder mixed dielectric fluid is being used recently to cut difficult to cut ceramic materials such as aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) where process development and optimization are found to be critical issues. Object: This paper investigates and compares the average surface roughness (Ra) in micro electrical discharge machining (EDM) of electrically nonconductive zirconium oxide (ZrO2) ceramic using clean and tantalum carbide (TaC) nano powder mixed kerosene dielectric fluid. Method: The design of experiment was applied by response surface methodology with face centred composite design. The gap voltage, capacitance and concentration of TaC powder are considered as the variable parameters for the investigation while other conditions are kept constant. Results: The study shows that the powder concentration has a significant negative effect on the average surface roughness of ZrO2. Conclusion: The optimized values of gap voltage and powder concentration are found to be 100 pF, 94.4 V and 6.3 g/l, respectively for a minimum surface roughness in micro-EDM of ZrO2. Without powder introduction, a minimum Ra surface roughness of 170 nm achieves 100 pF and 81 V.