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Flash floods are one of the most prevalent natural disasters, triggering deadly damage to homesteads, crops, infrastructure, road networks, communications, and the natural environment in the Haor (Wetland) region of Bangladesh. The purpose of the study aims to identify eleven (11) hydro-geomorphological driving factors, namely elevation, slope, aspect, rainfall, land use and land cover (LULC), lithology, soil type, topographic wetness index (TWI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), distance from the river, and drainage density, which are being explored for mapping flood-prone areas. This research has produced a flash flood susceptibility map using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Analytical Network Process (ANP), which are interactive decision-making approaches under multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) in ArcGIS 10.8. The findings of this study showed that the susceptibility to flood hazards differs significantly among the seven Haor districts. As a result of the ANP and AHP, a more significant proportion of the Haor region is moderately susceptible to flooding (8685.09–9275.15 sq. km.), whereas 35.34 %–38.32 % (7069.70–7668.67 sq. km.) accounts for high susceptible to flooding. Furthermore, 200 flood locations were identified in the northeast Haor region, where 140 (70 %) randomly selected floods were used for training, and the remaining 60 (30 %) were employed for validation purposes. The validation results showed that the AHP model had greater prediction accuracy (the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) = 92.1 %) than the ANP (AUROC = 88.5 %) model. Therefore, the study findings can be helpful for researchers, academics, policymakers, and planners for sustainable flood mitigation strategies, particularly in Haor areas.

Background and objectives: Of the ever-increasing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality constitute the major health burden world-wide. Several cross-sectional studies revealed the increasing prevalence of NCDs irrespective of cast, culture, ethnicity, socio-economic growth and geopolitical environment. Recent cross-sectional studies revealed South Asians are the most susceptible to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Few cohort studies addressed cardiometabolic morbidity and related risks, particularly in the rural population.This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and its changes overtime in a rural cohort of Bangladesh. Methods: The study used baseline data of a study conducted in 2011- 2013 on prevalence of coronary artery disease among a cohort living in 16 villages. During 2021-2023, the baseline data collected in 2011-2013 were retrieved and the participants were searched and categorized into a) physically present, b) died and c) missing. Those who were present were requested to volunteer for re-investigations. Briefly the investigations included interviewing on social, family, personal and clinical history, anthropometry, blood pressure measurement, blood biochemistry and electrocardiography (ECG). Results: A total of 3928 people participated in baseline study of 2011- 2013. Of them, 1075 could be tracked by village and household. Of them, 953 were found alive. Of the 953 available participants, 651 (254 men and 397 women) volunteered to participate in 2021-2023 study. Compared to 2011-2013 baseline, the prevalence of MetSyn and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increased to 31.6% and 5.2% from 7.5% and 0.8% respectively in 2021-2023. Similarly, compared to baseline, the prevalence of obesity and hypertension also showed significant increase overtime. Estimated incidence of MetSyn was 260.8 per 1000 population, which was more profound in women than men (W: M= 300.3:200.8). Conclusions: The study revealed a significant increase of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome within a decade indicating an emerging health burden among the rural people of Bangladesh. January 2025; Vol. 19(1):003. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.19.003 *Correspondence: MA Sayeed, Department of Community Medicine, Ibrahim Medical College, 1/A Ibrahim Sarani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Email: sayeed950@gmail.com; © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0).

Background and objectives: COVID-19 vaccination program has become a global priority to combat the worldwide pandemic. Studies claimed that severity and case fatality could be minimized by vaccination. The durability of antibodies developed after vaccination is crucial for preventing COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of antibody responses to an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine over time. Materials and method: The study was conducted from November 2021 to November 2022 among young adults. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to record the socio-demographic and clinical data of all the participants. All the participants were vaccinated with two doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. Blood samples were collected for estimation of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 protein by indirect ELISA. Biochemical parameters namely random blood sugar (RBS), lipid profile, total protein, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), FT4 (free thyroxin) and vitamin D levels were determined in baseline samples by standard methods. Result: Total 348 adults, aged 18-28 years, were enrolled and of which 35.3% and 64.7% were male and female respectively. Out of 348 participants, 51.7% was seropositive for anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before receiving vaccination. Seropositivity was not significantly (p >0.05) different in male and female participants before and after vaccination. Seropositivity at 1 month after 1st dose and 4 and 7 months after 2nd dose of vaccination increased significantly (p 0.05) different before and after vaccination in participants having adequate and insufficient/deficient vitamin D levels. Conclusion: The study revealed that a good proportion of young adults possessed anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibody before vaccination and the seropositivity increased to over 90% following vaccination with Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. High level of anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibody persisted 7 months after 2nd dose of vaccine. July 2024; Vol. 18(2):012. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.18.024 *Correspondence: Nehlin Tomalika, Department of Community Medicine & Public Health, Ibrahim Medical College, 1/A, Ibrahim Sarani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Email: nehlintomalika@gmail.com

This study investigated the simultaneous association between capital and the cost of financial intermediation (COFI) by bridging the gap of ownership effects on the nexus between capital and COFI. This study revealed several significant insights by using data from 44 commercial banks in Bangladesh between 2010 and 2021 and applying two-step system generalized methods of moments (2SGMM). First, a significant nonlinear bidirectional relationship exists between bank capital and COFI. The tendency to generate average and low COFI enables banks to acquire more capital than those with high COFI. In contrast, banks with high and average capital bases can maximize their COFI compared to low ones. Second, state-owned and conventional commercial banks are better positioned to source more capital. However, state-owned and Islamic commercial banks can strengthen the inverted U-shaped relationship between COFI and bank capital than private-owned and Islamic commercial banks. Finally, state-owned commercial banks do not experience the same benefits in COFI from capital increases as privately owned banks. Unlike Islamic commercial banks, conventional banks generate more COFI in the long run as capital rises. The findings provide helpful insights into shaping policy and regulations regarding emerging country's banking systems, especially capital, COFI, and ownership policies.

Imidacloprid (C9H10ClN5O2) pesticide is frequently used in agriculture as it effectively controls various insect pests. Accurate detection of imidacloprid concentrations is crucial for food safety and other fields. This work proposes a novel metasurface (MS) sensor with efficient sensitivity in the THz frequency regime to detect imidacloprid pesticides. The MS sensor has an electrical size of 7.17λ × 7.17λ with the smallest wavelength. The transmission coefficient remains stable for the metasurface sensor’s TE and TM polarization modes. Due to the symmetrical design, it exhibits strong electric and magnetic field enhancement with polarization insensitivity for different incident angles. The sensing capability is tested by implementing different sample analyte thicknesses of imidacloprid in the top surface of the MS sensor. Imidacloprid analyte thickness increases cause a red and blue change in the metasurface’s transmission frequency. The simulation results show that the suggested MS sensor has a refractive index (RI) sensitivity of 0.125 THz/RIU, and a Q factor of 5.262 and 4.084. This is a simple, cost-effective, sufficiently sensitive, and efficient THz MS sensor with a wide range of applications in pesticide concentration measurement, including imidacloprid.

Background: In anatomy, there are many ‘mnemonics’ available as memory devices. However, how teachers think about different aspects of these devices regarding teaching-learning has not been adequately addressed. This research aimed to determine the perceptions, views, and opinions of Bangladeshi anatomy teachers on the use of mnemonics. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted by the Department of Anatomy at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, from 2017 to 2018. The research involved a self administered survey via e-mail using Google Forms among 63 Bangladeshi anatomy teachers with a post-graduation in anatomy and at least five years of teaching experience. Responses were collected through pre-designed multiple-choice questions, allowing for single or multiple selection and open-ended questions to explore their perceptions, views, and opinions on seven aspects of using mnemonics. Results: Around 83% of teachers agreed that mnemonics would help effectively memorise anatomical information. Most believed that mnemonic techniques such as ‘Acrostic’ and ‘Rhyme’ would be more effective than ‘Acronym’ and ‘Storytelling’. More than 50% felt that Bangla mnemonics would be more effective than English ones. In teaching anatomy, around 85% preferred to explain a topic first and then introduce the mnemonic. Moreover, half suggested that available English mnemonics could be modified into Bangla to better align with students' understanding levels and cultural context. Conclusions: Most participants indicated ‘Acrostic’ and ‘Rhyme’ were more effective than ‘Acronym’ and ‘Storytelling’. A common view was that modifying English mnemonics to Bangla would yield better results.

Cantilever beams with piezoelectric coating are the most widely used form of strain-driven energy harvesting. Almost all prior research on cantilever beam shapes aimed at enhancing energy output accounts for beams fully coated with piezoelectric materials. While a larger coating area, up to a certain limit, can enhance energy output, it also escalates the cost of the structure, as piezoelectric materials are very expensive. Output power density over the length of the beam/piezoelectric material varies significantly. Hence, a partially coated beam with an optimized positioning of piezoelectric material can not only cut the cost of the system but also warrant a higher output power density. On the other hand, optimizing the base beam shape always remains one of the top approaches to increasing the power output. As such, this work aims to select a cantilever beam design by investigating a wide variety of cantilever beam shapes while the beam is partially coated with the piezoelectric material to maximize the power output capacity of the harvester. In the first part of the study, an efficient size of the piezoelectric material and its placement in the host beam are selected based on the power capacity of the system. Next, the selected effective size and placement of the piezoelectric material is implemented in a wide range of cantilever beam shapes (e.g., trapezoidal, triangular, V-cut, concave, and convex) to select a host beam design for maximizing the output power density. To ascertain a comparable argument, the surface area, volume, and mass of all the considered beam shapes are kept consistent, as these parameters influence the power output of the harvester. The geometry of each shape is systematically varied to understand the effect of geometric configuration on the output power density. Additionally, an analysis is conducted to validate that the findings/selection of this study are independent of the thickness of the host beam or piezoelectric material.

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant impact on health worldwide. Adverse effect of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life is significant. This study aimed to find out the impact of COVID-19 on the physical, mental and social health of suburban and rural adult population in Bangladesh. Methods: A suburban and a rural community were purposively selected. The suburban and rural areas were located about 40 km and 130 km north and north-east of Dhaka city respectively. People aged ≥20 years in the selected communities were enrolled in the study. The investigation procedure included socio-demographic and clinical history, anthropometry, and clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires were used for assessing mental and social health respectively. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding the prevention and transmission of COVID-19 was assessed by a validated questionnaire and interview. Results: Total 385 individuals (suburban=201, rural=184) were enrolled in the study. Out of 385, 116 and 269 were male and female, respectively. Out of total 385 participants, depression, anxiety and stress were present in 113 (29.4%), 144 (37.4%) and 70 (18.2%) respectively, while 210 (54.5%) were normal. Extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress were present in 3.6%, 6% and 0.5%, respectively. Depression and anxiety did not differ between suburban and rural populations, though stress was significantly higher among the suburban (p

Rohingya forced migration has damaged the tourism destination in Bangladesh. The research focuses on the impact of Rohingya influx on tourism destination in Cox’s Bazar district in Bangladesh. The environmental aspects of the tourism destination have been highlighted in this study. This research has been conducted using mixed method approaches consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data. The primary data has been collected through qualitative and quantitative approaches. Qualitative data has been collected using Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and In-depth interviews. Three distinct groups have been focused on as samples for the study, including tourist experts, host communities, and Rohingya experts. Questionnaire survey has been conducted to gather quantitative data regarding the Rohingya forced migration's impact on tourism. Key Informant Interview (KII) has also been used to check the quantitative data accuracy of this study. The study found majority (64 %) of the respondent strongly agreed that forest cover has been decreasing due to the Rohingya influx, and it has been destroying the beauty of tourist destinations. The water channel is an integral part of the environment in the tourist destination. Almost 55% of the respondents strongly agreed that Rohingya is the primary source of water pollution. Almost 45 % of people strongly agreed, and 41.5% agreed that Rohingya is the main causes for solid waste pollution in tourism destination at Cox’s Bazar. In addition, more than fifty percent of the local people agree that house building materials, domestic and market waste, and solid wastes generated from Rohingya people are responsible for the destruction of the tourist harbor. The study has also identified that Rohingya are responsible for the destruction of tourism based local economy in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh. Research findings of this study could be used to mitigate the impact of Rohingya migrants on the tourism environment in Bangladesh.

Seaweed is a promising marine macroalgae of the millennium, providing various ecological, social, and economic benefits. At present, seaweed production reached 35.8 million t from farming, accounting for 97% of global seaweed output, with a world market of US$ 11.8 billion. Seaweeds are an excellent source of nutritious human food because of their low lipid content, high minerals, fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. Many seaweed sub-products offer unique properties to develop various functional foods for the food processing industries. In the perspective of climate change mitigation, seaweed farms absorb carbon, serve as a CO2 sink and reduce agricultural emissions by providing raw materials for biofuel production and livestock feed. Seaweed farming system also helps in climate change adaptation by absorbing wave energy, safeguarding shorelines, raising the pH of the surrounding water, and oxygenating the waters to minimize the impacts of ocean acidification and hypoxia on a localized scale. Moreover, it contributes substantially to the sustainable development of the economic condition of coastal women by providing livelihood opportunities and ensuring financial solvency. This review paper highlights the significance of seaweed farming in global food and nutritional security, mitigation and adaptation to global climate change, and women empowerment within a single frame. This review paper also outlined the major issues and challenges of seaweed farming for obtaining maximum benefits in these aspects. The main challenges of making seaweed as a staple diet to millions of people include producing suitable species of seaweeds, making seaweed products accessible, affordable, nutritionally balanced, and attractive to the consumers. Various food products must be developed from seaweeds that may be considered equivalent to the foods consumed by humans today. Lack of effective marine spatial planning to avoid user conflicts is vital for expanding the seaweed farming systems to provide aquatic foods and contribute globally for mitigation and adaptation of climate change impacts. Hence, women's empowerment through seaweed farming is primarily constrained by the lack of technical knowledge and financial resources to establish the coastal farming system. All the information discussed in this paper will help to understand the critical needs for large-scale seaweed farming for climate resilience mariculture, potentials for global food security, and future research on various aspects of seaweed farming and their diverse utilization.

The prime goal of the present research is to synthesize pristine zinc sulfide (PZS) and cobalt (Co)-doped zinc sulfide (CDZS) thin films with different doping concentrations (DC) via chemical bath deposition (CBD) method. The effect of Co-doping on the surface topography, structural, optical and dc-electrical behaviors of PZS thin films has been ascertained. Scanning electron microscopy images exhibited nearly sphere-shaped agglomerates of grains dispersed throughout the surface with cracks in PZS thin film whereas cracks were absent in CDZS. Atomic force microscopy image displayed smooth surface of CDZS thin film with evenly dispersed small grains. The hexagonal wurtzite structure of PZS and CDZS thin films with varied X-ray diffraction (XRD) parameters was confirmed via XRD analysis. Optical investigation revealed that the optical direct band gap energy increased with decreasing DC from 12 % to 4 %. Alteration of other optical parameters namely absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, refractive index, real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant, etc. with DC was also discussed. Direct current electrical investigation revealed that the current-voltage characteristics are linear for all thin films signifying that the electrical conduction in CDZS is ohmic in nature.

Background and objectives: For decades type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR) are increasingly gaining importance as an underlying mechanism for increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). IR is related to various cardiometabolic adverse effects. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique, the gold standard method for measuring IR, is an invasive and complex procedure. Estimation of glucose disposal rate (eGDR) is an easy alternative tool for measuring IR. There is no known study on eGDR level in Bangladeshi native population. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the eGDR values in a healthy working rural Bangladeshi population. Materials and methods: Six villages were selected purposively as the study sites. All healthy working people aged ≥20 years in selected rural community were considered eligible. Those who consented to participate in the study were enrolled. Investigations included a) interviewing for social and clinical history, b) anthropometry and measurement of blood pressure and d) estimation of HbA1c and biochemical indices. The eGDR (mg/kg/min) was calculated using formula: eGDR = 21.158 − (0.09 * WC) − (3.407 * HT) − (0.551 * HbA1c); where WC = waist circumference in cm, HT = hypertension (yes = 1/no = 0), and HbA1c = HbA1c (%). Results: A total of 93 (m/w = 29/64) participants were enrolled in the study. The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MSyn) were 34%, 31.1% and 16.1%, respectively. The mean eGDR value was 9.9 (±0.149; 95% CI: 9.62–10.2) mg/kg/min. Most of the values of biophysical characteristics were normal. The comparison between participants with and without MSyn showed that the former had significantly lower eGDR (9.05±1.24 vs.10.10±1.37, p

This study aims to investigate the simultaneous relationship between bank risk and capital, specifically examining how competition and ownership jointly influence this relationship. We employed the two-step system generalized method of moments to address concerns regarding endogeneity and unobserved heteroscedasticity. Based on data from 44 commercial banks in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2021, our findings reveal several key insights: (I) There is a significant non-linear bidirectional relationship between bank risk and capital: capital exhibits a U-shaped effect on risk, while risk has a non-linear negative impact on capital; (II) in highly contested markets, banks hold higher levels of capital, and heightened competition reduces the risk appetite of commercial banks; while less competition has the opposite effect; (III) private and Islamic commercial banks are more risk-averse than state-owned and conventional ones, and (IV) Private and Islamic banks with strong capital positions in a competitive market can better manage risks than state-owned and conventional banks. However, maintaining higher capital ratios in competitive environments is more challenging for state-owned and Islamic banks than private-owned and conventional commercial banks. These results align with the moral hazard hypothesis, competition fragility hypothesis, and the political view of state ownership. Significant insights from the study will fuel the regulators in shaping policies and regulations surrounding emerging countries like Bangladesh, particularly regarding risk, capital, competition, and ownership policies.

Background and objectives: Recent publications have reported alarming prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in South Asian countries including Bangladesh. But, data on vitamin D levels in different occupational groups are lacking. This study addressed the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in different occupational groups of Bangladesh. Additionally, the study estimated parathyroid hormone, phosphate, calcium and metabolic syndrome in these groups to see the effect of hypovitaminosis D on these parameters. Materials and method: Seven diverse occupational groups (agrarian workers, rickshaw-pullers, young cricketers and footballers, fishermen, dry fish industry workers, garment-workers and medical students) of Bangladesh were selected based on grade of physical activity and level of sun exposure. Blood was collected for the estimation of 25(OH) vitamin D, fasting glucose,lipid profiles, calcium, phosphate, magnesium and intact parathyroid (iPTH) hormone. Multiple comparisons of these variables among the 7 groups were estimated by ANOVA. Results: A total of 785 (m / f = 359 / 426) participants volunteered. Of them, 54.2% had vitamin D deficiency. Metabolic syndrome was 5% and showed no significant association with hypovitaminosis D (x2 = 0.9, p=0.43). For biophysical characteristics, the mean (±SD) values of age, body mass index, waist to hip ratio and waist to height ratio were – 33.8±16.3y, 22.3±4.1 kg/m2, 0.87±0.06 and 0.39±0.16, respectively. The values for vitamin D (ng/ml), calcium (mg/dl), iPTH (pgm/ml) and phosphate (mg/dl) were 20.25±13.1, 9.57±1.85, 38.22±24.54 and 4.18±0.81, respectively. The comparisons of vitamin D and other related variables among the groups (ANOVA) showed vitamin D level in the garments worker was significantly (p

This study aims to find a suitable site for a nuclear power plant using the geographic information system and analytical hierarchy process in the Khulna division, Bangladesh. Selection of a suitable site for a nuclear power plant is vital for the safety of the installation, workers, the public, and the environment. This study was conducted considering four stages, namely conceptual and planning, area survey, site characterization, and site confirmation stage. In the area survey stage, six criteria were divided into twelve sub-criteria, namely population density, earthquake, river, riverbank erosion, airport, road and railway, protected area, forest, groundwater table, rainfall, wind speed, and thunderstorm. A suitability map of each sub-criterion was made using geographic information system software. The weighting of each criterion was determined using an analytical hierarchy process and finally, a geographic information system-based overlay analysis was performed to prepare the final suitability map of the Khulna division which indicates 315.30 km2 and 2991.27 km2 of its total area as the most suitable and suitable, respectively for nuclear power plant establishment. Twenty-six potential areas were selected from the most suitable areas for further study. This study follows a comprehensive methodology and thus may help policymakers for the establishment of nuclear power plants in Bangladesh and abroad.

The production performance and interlinkages between environmental parameters and growth performances of Hypnea musciformis were evaluated under two cultivation techniques, namely “off-bottom long-line” and “off-bottom net”, for a period of nine months from September 2021 to May 2022 at the Nuniachara regions of the south-east coast of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. For this study, five off-bottom long-line (14 m × 5 m) and five off-bottom net (3.5 m × 3.5 m) cultivation plots were established and managed in a participatory farming approach with coastal communities. When growing to a length of 30–40 cm, H. musciformis was partially harvested every 15–30 days, depending on the cultivation months. The gross weight biomass (GWB) in the off-bottom net cultivation system was almost two folds higher than the off-bottom long-line system. Similarly, the average daily growth rate (DGR) was found to be 33% higher in the off-bottom net cultivation system compared to the off-bottom long-line system. The correlation analysis demonstrated that various environmental parameters were significantly correlated (p

Abstract not available Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2023;16(3): 172-173

This study aims to investigate the simultaneous relationship between bank risk and capital, specifically examining how competition and ownership jointly influence this relationship. We employed the two-step system generalized method of moments to address concerns regarding endogeneity and unobserved heteroscedasticity. Based on data from 44 commercial banks in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2021, our findings reveal several key insights: (I) There is a significant non-linear bidirectional relationship between bank risk and capital: capital exhibits a U-shaped effect on risk, while risk has a non-linear negative impact on capital; (II) in highly contested markets, banks hold higher levels of capital, and heightened competition reduces the risk appetite of commercial banks; while less competition has the opposite effect; (III) private and Islamic commercial banks are more risk-averse than state-owned and conventional ones, and (IV) Private and Islamic banks with strong capital positions in a competitive market can better manage risks than state-owned and conventional banks. However, maintaining higher capital ratios in competitive environments is more challenging for state-owned and Islamic banks than private-owned and conventional commercial banks. These results align with the moral hazard hypothesis, competition fragility hypothesis, and the political view of state ownership. Significant insights from the study will fuel the regulators in shaping policies and regulations surrounding emerging countries like Bangladesh, particularly regarding risk, capital, competition, and ownership policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hurricanes can benefit wetland accretion by augmenting the delivery of mineral sediment, an essential process allowing marshes to offset submergence during rising sea levels. Using Hurricane Gustav (2008, Louisiana) as a control, we examined eight synthetic storms with varying characteristics (track, speed, intensity, size) to evaluate sediment exchange between the inner shelf and bay and bay‐to‐marsh interfaces. All storms showed net landward sediment exchange from the inner shelf to the bay to the marsh—storms with closer proximity, higher intensity, and slower forward speed positively correlated with net sediment exchange; storm size had little impact. Except for slow‐moving storms (½ speed of Gustav), our analyses suggest that most hurricane scenarios cause net bay erosion, because more sediment is conveyed to landward wetlands than is replenished from erosion of the inner shelf. Our results suggest that the ongoing deepening of the bay will likely worsen because of rising sea levels. Plain Language Summary: Under most circumstances, hurricanes are perceived as agents of destruction that erode coastlines and destroy dwellings and infrastructure. However, for marshes and wetlands they can add much needed sediment and new sources of nutrients helping them to build vertically. As hurricanes move onshore, the accompanying large waves and currents suspend sediment into the water column followed by surge waters that carry this sediment onto wetlands. We have modeled this process using category 2 Hurricane Gustav that struck near Terrebonne Bay on the central Louisiana coast in 2008. By changing various hurricane characteristics, we find that in addition to the importance of storm track, forward speed and intensity cause the greatest net sediment exchange from inner shelf to landward bay and from bay to adjacent wetlands. Moreover, under most conditions a deficit of sediment replenishing bays will lead to their deepening and ultimately less sediment transferred to wetlands, hastening their demise. Key Points: Hurricane modeling indicates forward speed and intensity dominate net sediment exchange and transport along a shelf‐bay‐marsh systemAs hurricane forward speed slows, more sediment is moved onshore due to longer storm duration which entrains and transports more sedimentMost scenarios show inner shelf does not fully replenish sediment moved to wetlands suggesting long‐term sediment deficit and Bay deepening [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent genetic cardiomyopathy characterized by sudden cardiac death. HCM is caused by the mutation in several genes that encode sarcomere proteins. Beta-Myosin Heavy Chain (β-MHC) gene is the one of the most mutated genes responsible for HCM. Studies on mutation spectrum of β-MHC gene are lacking in the Asian population including Bangladeshi patients. This study was intended to mutational analysis of β-MHC gene in Bangladeshi HCM patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted for mutation analysis of the β-MHC gene on 70 Bengali Bangladeshi HCM probands using nextgeneration sequencing at the Genetic Research Lab of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Structural and functional impact of the mutations were further analyzed by in-silico process. Thirty-nine nucleotide variants were found in both exonic (36%, n= 14) and intronic regions (64%, n=25) of β-MHC gene. We found 14 missense mutations, including the p.Glu965Lys, p.Arg941Pro, p.Lys940Met, p.Glu935Lys, and p.Met922Lys that are associated with inherited HCM. Most variants were heterozygous and one homozygous (p.Val919Leu) was found. The variant with most evidence of causing the disease was p.Glu935Lys. Among the missense variants, nine were not noted in ClinVar, dbSNP, GenomeAD databases. These unreported variants located between myosin head and tail domains might be novel mutations for Bangladeshi population. We found nine novel variants in the β-MHC gene. Findings of this research will help to developing a genetic database of HCM for early diagnosis and proper management of HCM patients in Bangladesh. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2022;15(4):2-7

Abstract Background The safety of health care workers (HCWs) in Bangladesh and the factors associated with getting COVID-19 have been infrequently studied. The aim of this study was to address this gap by assessing the capacity development and safety measures of HCWs in Bangladesh who have been exposed to COVID-19 and by identifying the factors associated with respondents’ self-reported participation in capacity development trainings and their safety practices. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on an online survey of 811 HCWs working at 39 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals in Bangladesh. A pretested structured questionnaire consisting of questions related to respondents’ characteristics, capacity development trainings and safety measures was administered. Binary logistic regressions were run to assess the association between explanatory and dependent variables. Results Among the respondents, 58.1% had been engaged for at least 2 months in COVID-19 care, with 56.5% of them attending capacity development training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), 44.1% attending training on hand hygiene, and 35% attending training on respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. Only 18.1% reported having read COVID-19-related guidelines. Approximately 50% of the respondents claimed that there was an inadequate supply of PPE for hospitals and HCWs. Almost 60% of the respondents feared a high possibility of becoming COVID-19-positive. Compared to physicians, support staff [odds ratio (OR) 4.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.25–8.51] and medical technologists (OR 8.77, 95% CI 3.14–24.47) were more exhausted from working in COVID-19 care. Respondents with longer duty rosters were more exhausted, and those who were still receiving infection prevention and control (IPC) trainings were less exhausted (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.34–0.86). Those who read COVID-19 guidelines perceived a lower risk of being infected by COVID-19 (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29–0.67). Compared to the respondents who strongly agreed that hospitals had a sufficient supply of PPE, others who disagreed (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.31–5.51) and strongly disagreed (OR 5.05, 95% CI 2.15–11.89) had a higher apprehension of infection by COVID-19. Conclusion The findings indicated a need for necessary support, including continuous training, a reasonable duty roster, timely diagnosis of patients, and an adequate supply of quality PPE.

Tidal-inlet systems are dynamic features that respond to short-term (e.g., storms) and longer-term processes (e.g., sea-level rise, changes in tidal prism). The Chincoteague Inlet system, located along the northern Eastern Shore of Virginia (USA), is a dynamic coastal complex that experiences rapid change associated with sediment redistribution and a shifting inlet throat due to the southern elongation of adjacent Assateague Island. In this study, a numerical model based on Delft3D with coupled flow–waves, multiclass sediment transport, and morphologic feedback was developed to quantify the hydrodynamic and geomorphic controls within this rapidly evolving inlet–spit system and to develop a more comprehensive understanding of regional to local controls on sediment-transport pathways. Model results show that most of the sand transport along southern Assateague Island is sequestered nearshore and proximally in deeper sinks within Fishing Point, and, of that, only finer sand sizes are transported around the spit, confirming previous analysis and hypothesis. The model also showed that sand transport toward the south increases along Wallops Island and quantified spatially explicit transport trends for selected sediment classes, revealing that coarser sediment bypassing is a punctuated process that is proportional to storms.