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Dealing with high-temperature properties and brittleness and is always one of the hot topics in the field of ceramic materials. Extensive research has been carried out for it and Si3N4-SiC composites are one of the most promising composites. In this study, the impact of Si3N4 and BN reinforcement on the microstructure and physio-mechanical properties of SiC-based composites were explored. Two sets of composites, including Si3N4-SiC and BN-Si3N4-SiC aided with Al2O3, were fabricated using nitridation of Si and B2O3 at 1450 °C. The mechanical properties, microstructure, phase transformation, densification, and porosity were depicted and discussed. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the insitu formation of Si3N4 (both α and β phases) and BN in the final composite. The specimen with 10% Si and 10% B2O3 possessed the superior flexural strength (284.4 MPa) with excellent hardness (23.4 GPa). The incorporation of BN is found to enhance the mechanical properties especially hardness while overcoming the shortcomings of reaction-bonded Si3N4-SiC. The corresponding densification and strengthening mechanism were explained in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

`Barimasur-2' lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) (Reg. no. CV-7, PI 605355) was developed at the Pulses Research Centre (PRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh. It was released in [...]

The study emphasizes about the food preference of three different ant species viz. Solenopsis geminata, Paratrechina longicornis, Camponotus compressus. The study is based on five months observation as collected data. It reveals that Solenopsis geminata prefers solid carbohydrate food materials and lipid food materials, Paratrechina longicornis and Camponotus compressus prefer liquid carbohydrate foods. In case of liquid concentrations of Sucrose, Solenopsis geminata prefers 30% sucrose solution and 50% sucrose solution, Paratrechina longicornis prefers 30% sucrose solution, where as Camponotus compressus shows mixed preference to both 50% concentration of sucrose solution and 70% concentration of sucrose solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study emphasizes the diversity of insect population on the harmful invasive plant, Parthenium hysterophorus in four different habitats of North 24-Paraganas during January, 2018 to April, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study emphasizes about insect pollination in various plants in a particular 0.66 Acre (4 katha) area of Agri- Horticultural Society of India, Alipore, Kolkata. It deals with order Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Lepidoptera is represented by 16 species belonging to 4 families and Hymenoptera is represented by only 3 species belonging to 2 families. Pollination in plants of that particular area is dominated by lepidopterans. The repeated collections may yield the exact picture on insect pollination in various plants of that area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In the absence of robust active surveillance of avian influenza viruses (AIV) affecting poultry in South Asian countries, monitoring of live bird markets (LBMs) can be an alternative. In a longitudinal study of 32 LBM, five environments were sampled as follows: market floor, stall floor, slaughter area, poultry holding cage and water used for meat processing. Samples were taken monthly for 5 months, September 2013–January 2014. Incidence rates (IRs) of LBM contamination with AIV and its subtypes H5, H7 and H9 were assessed. In 10 of the LBM selected, biosecurity measures had been implemented through FAO interventions: the other 22 were non‐intervened. Standard procedures were applied to detect AIV and three subtypes in pooled samples (1:5). An LBM was considered positive for AIV or a subtype if at least one of the pooled samples tested positive. The incidence rates of LBM contamination with AIV, H5, H7 and H9 were 0.194 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.136–0.276), 0.031 (95% CI 0.013–0.075), 0 and 0.175 (95% CI 0.12–0.253) per LBM‐month at risk, respectively. The log IR ratio between the FAO‐intervened and non‐intervened LBM for contamination with AIV was −0.329 (95% CI −1.052 to −0.394, p = .372), 0.598 (95% CI −1.593 to 2.789, p = .593) with subtype H5 and −0.500 (95% CI −1.249 to 0.248, p = .190) with subtype H9, indicating no significant difference. The results obtained suggest that both H5 and H9 were circulating in LBM in Bangladesh in the second half of 2013. The incidence of contamination with H9 was much higher than with H5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh has been considered as one of the five countries endemic with highly pathogenic avian influenza A subtype H5N1 ( HPAI H5N1). Live-bird markets ( LBMs) in south Asian countries are believed to play important roles in the transmission of HPAI H5N1 and others due to its central location as a hub of the poultry trading. Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) of the United Nations has been promoting improved biosecurity in LBMs in Bangladesh. In 2012, by enrolling 32 large LBMs: 10 with FAO interventions and 22 without assistance, we assessed the virus circulation in the selected LBMs by applying standard procedures to investigate market floors, poultry stall floors, poultry-holding cases and slaughter areas and the overall biosecurity using a questionnaire-based survey. Relative risk ( RR) was examined to compare the prevalence of HPAI H5N1 in the intervened and non-intervened LBMs. The measures practised in significantly more of the FAO-intervened LBMs included keeping of slaughter remnants in a closed container; decontamination of poultry vehicles at market place; prevention of crows' access to LBM, market/floor cleaning by market committee; wet cleaning; disinfection of floor/poultry stall after cleaning; and good supply of clean water at market ( P < 0.05). Conversely, disposal of slaughter remnants elsewhere at market and dry cleaning were in operation in more of the FAO non-intervened LBMs ( P < 0.05). The RR for HPAI H5N1 in the intervened and non-intervened LBMs was 1.1 (95% confidence interval 0.44-2.76), suggesting that the proportion positive of the virus in the two kinds of LBM did not vary significantly ( P = 0.413). These observations suggest that the viruses are still maintained at the level of production in farms and circulating in LBMs in Bangladesh regardless of interventions, albeit at lower levels than in other endemic countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]