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Abstract Background Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), closely linked to excessive lipogenesis, induces chronic liver disease. MASLD often cause other metabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. However, the mechanism of N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10)-mediated N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) mRNA modification in lipogenesis of MASLD has not been fully elucidated. This study investigated the role of NAT10 in lipogenesis targeting mRNA ac4C modification. Methods The expression of NAT10 in mouse liver was assessed after a 12-week high-fat diet. In addition, the expression of NAT10 also was detected after AML12 hepatocytes cells were treated with 150 µmol/L palmitic acid (PA). The ac4C mRNA modification was performed by dot blotting. Oil red O staining and the mRNA expression of Srebf1, Acaca and Fasn were used to assess lipogenesis in AML12 cells with NAT10 overexpression or knockdown. acRIP-PCR and NAT10 RIP-PCR were used to verify the Srebf1 and Scap mRNA ac4C modification by NAT10. Furthermore, the liver lipogenesis was evaluated by AAV-mediated target knockdown of NAT10 in mouse liver and treating a specific inhibitor, Remodelin. Results This study revealed that NAT10 is significantly upregulated in liver lipogenesis after a 12-week high-fat diet. NAT10 and ac4C mRNA modification were also drastically increased in AML12 cells after treated with 150 µmol/L PA. Silencing of NAT10 notably inhibited the lipogenesis in AML12 cells and AAV-mediated target knockdown of NAT10 in mouse liver. The acRIP-PCR and NAT10-RIP-PCR revealed that NAT10 ac4C modified Srebf1 and Scap mRNA, the critical modulator of liver lipogenesis, to regulate liver lipogenesis. Besides, Remodelin strongly inhibited liver lipogenesis, including liver TG, serum ALT, AST, TG and TC level and glucose metabolism. Conclusions NAT10 mediates ac4C modification of Srebf1 and Scap mRNA, thereby affecting lipogenesis in the liver. This study provided a new target for the treatment of MASLD.

Abstract We report direct measurements of the magnetic field screening at the limits of the Meissner phase for two superconducting niobium (Nb) samples. The samples are processed with two different surface treatments that have been developed for superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavity applications—a “baseline” treatment and an oxygen-doping (“O-doping”) treatment. The measurements show: (1) that the screening length is significantly longer in the “O-doping” sample compared to the “baseline” sample; (2) that the screening length near the limits of the Meissner phase increases with applied field; (3) the evolution of the screening profile as the material transitions from the Meissner phase to the mixed phase; and (4) a demonstration of the absence of any screening profile for the highest applied field, indicative of the full flux entering the sample. Measurements are performed utilizing the $$\beta$$ β -detected nuclear magnetic resonance ( $$\beta$$ β -NMR) technique that allows depth resolved studies of the local magnetic field within the first 100 nm of the surface. The study takes advantage of the $$\beta$$ β -SRF beamline, a new facility at TRIUMF, Canada, where field levels up to 200 mT are available parallel to the sample surface to replicate radio frequency fields near the Meissner breakdown limits of Nb.

Although the widely cultured Litopenaeus vannamei is highly tolerant to varying salinity levels, the rapid fluctuation of abiotic and biotic factors due to climatic changes may become stressors to the shrimp's physiology, resulting in impaired immunity and increased disease susceptibility. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of both factors towards L. vannamei at transcriptomic level. L. vannamei were cultured at three different salinity levels (5 ppt, 20 ppt and 30 ppt) for 60 days and were challenged with Vibrio harveyi. RNA-seq analysis was conducted on the hepatopancreas to assess the differential expressed genes (DEGs) in both control and V. harveyi infected groups. Our results revealed 5,725 DEGs was observed in shrimp reared at 5 ppt, 3,643 DEGs at 20 ppt and 1,560 DEGs at 30 ppt. Most DEGs were identified to be associated with osmoregulation and transport activities, immune and stress regulation, nutrient metabolism, growth, chitin binding, gonadal development, and metal ion binding and toxicity. We identified that shrimp cultured at intermediate salinity of 20 ppt exhibits the greatest immunity level after infection by V. harveyi, given that low salinity (5 ppt) may augment the free ion metal toxicity, resulting in higher disease susceptibility. Both V. harveyi and salinity stress function together or separately to activate a wide range of immune and stress regulatory genes, which could be potential candidate markers for future RNAi and knockdown research in developing efficient prophylactic management strategies for L. vannamei.

Abstract Background Both dengue and Leptospira infections are endemic to tropical and subtropical regions, with their prevalence increasing in recent decades. Coinfection with these pathogens presents significant diagnostic challenges for clinicians due to overlapping clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. This case report aims to elucidate two clinical scenarios where the coinfection of dengue and leptospirosis complicates the disease course, creating a diagnostic conundrum. Case presentation We present the clinical scenarios of two Bangladeshi males, aged 25 and 35 years, who were admitted to our hospital with acute febrile illness. The first patient exhibited hepatic and renal involvement, while the second presented with symptoms initially suggestive of meningoencephalitis. Both cases were initially managed under the presumption of dengue infection based on positive serology. However, further evaluation revealed coinfection with Leptospira, complicating the disease course. Both patients received appropriate treatment for dengue and antibacterial therapy for leptospirosis, ultimately resulting in their recovery. Conclusion These case scenarios underscore the critical importance for clinicians in regions where dengue and Leptospira are endemic to consider both diseases when evaluating patients presenting with acute febrile illness.

The diverse nutrients found in sweet potato leaves, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offer a range of health benefits. The presence of carotenoids and polyphenols, both powerful health-promoting compounds, highlights their potential contribution to medical science. The main objective of this study was to ascertain essential functionals substances of antioxidant, phenolic compounds, and β-carotene in the leaves of 14 distinct sweet potato lines cultivated in open field. A comprehensive analysis of antioxidant capacity, phenolic content, and β-carotene was conducted using ABTS, Folin-Ciocalteu, and HPLC techniques, respectively. The study showed that the concentrations of total antioxidants, phenols, and β-carotene differed markedly among the leaf materials. Among the lines, SP-13 stands out with the highest concentration of phenols (124.64 mg/g dry weight), while SP-14 comes in at the opposite end with the lowest amount (62.97 mg/g dry weight) under field conditions. In the case of antioxidant content in line SP-3 showed the highest with 3.55 mg/g dry weight, while SP-14 brings up the lowest with 1.88 mg/g dry weight. Line SP-5 showed the most β-carotene (0.51 mg/g dry weight), while SP-11 had the least (0.05 mg/g dry weight). Therefore, it can be concluded that sweet potato leaves are a valuable dietary source of antioxidants, phenolic compounds, and β-carotene which have beneficial health elements.

BackgroundRising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella Typhi restricts typhoid treatment options, heightening concerns for pan-oral drug-resistant outbreaks. However, lack of long-term temporal surveillance data on AMR in countries with high burden like Bangladesh is scarce. Our study explores the AMR trends of Salmonella Typhi isolates from Bangladesh, drawing comparisons with antibiotic consumption to optimize antibiotic stewardship strategies for the country.Methodology/principal findingsThe typhoid fever surveillance from 1999 to 2022 included two pediatric hospitals and three private clinics in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Blood cultures were performed at treating physicians' discretion; cases were confirmed by microbiological, serological, and biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined following CLSI guidelines. National antibiotic consumption data for cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin was obtained from IQVIA-MIDAS database for comparison. Over the 24 years of surveillance, we recorded 12,435 culture-confirmed typhoid cases and observed declining resistance to first-line drugs (amoxicillin, chloramphenicol, and cotrimoxazole); multidrug resistance (MDR) decreased from 38% in 1999 to 17% in 2022. Cotrimoxazole consumption dropped from 0.8 to 0.1 Daily defined doses (DDD)/1000/day (1999-2020). Ciprofloxacin non-susceptibility persisted at >90% with unchanged consumption (1.1-1.3 DDD/1000/day, 2002-2020). Low ceftriaxone resistance (ConclusionOur study highlights declining MDR amongst Salmonella Typhi in Bangladesh; first-line antimicrobials could be reintroduced as empirical treatment options for typhoid fever if MDR rates further drops below 5%. The analysis also provides baseline data for monitoring the impact of future interventions like typhoid conjugate vaccines on typhoid burden and associated AMR.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused constraints on education that takes place face-to-face; thus, the learning process has been conducted online. With this emergence, an application-based learning tool called a Learning Management System (LMS) was created to cater to the requirements of distant students. Therefore, this study explores how SPACE-LMS is used in the Teacher Professional Education Program (TPEP) and how it interacts with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and self-efficacy. This study collected data from TPEP participants in the province of West Sumatra-Indonesia from the 2022 cohort, and 245 individuals actively participated. As the quantitative method, Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis with SmartPLS software was used to test and predict the conceptual model. The empirical findings demonstrate that the readiness of adopting SPACE influences perceived ease of use (PEU) and perceived usefulness (PU). Self-efficacy (SE) influences PEU and intention to use (ITU); PEU influences PU; PEU influences attitudes toward users (ATT); and PU influences ATT. Interestingly, PU had no impact on the ITU. The desire of TPEP students to use the SPACE-LMS is also influenced by their sense of self-efficacy. Thus, this study has both theoretical and practical implications.

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is a critical environmental challenge in the 21st century, intensified by rapid urbanization and industrialization. This study focuses on Rajshahi, a rapidly urbanizing city in Bangladesh, where the UHI effect has already begun to manifest significantly. Utilizing ENVI-met software, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of urban vegetation strategies, such as green roofs and street planting, in mitigating local temperatures and improving outdoor thermal comfort in Rajshahi's Central Business District. The findings reveal that these mitigation strategies can reduce air temperatures by up to 10 Kelvin, providing substantial cooling benefits. This research highlights the importance of integrating green infrastructure into urban planning to combat the UHI effect, enhance sustainability, and improve the overall livability of urban environments. The study offers valuable insights and practical recommendations for urban planners and policymakers, aiming to foster resilient and sustainable urban development in rapidly growing cities like Rajshahi.

Abstract The disruption of circadian rhythms caused by long-term shift work can cause metabolic diseases such as obesity. Early growth response 3 (EGR3) is a member of early growth response (EGR) family, which is involved in several cellular responses, had been reported as a circadian rhythm gene in suprachiasmatic nucleus. In this research, EGR3 was found to be widely expressed in the different tissue of human and mice, and downregulated in adipose tissue of obese subjects and high-fat diet mice. Moreover, EGR3 was found negatively regulated by cortisol. In addition, EGR3 is a key negative modulator of hADSCs and 3T3-L1 adipogenesis via regulating HDAC6, which is a downstream target gene of EGR3 and a negative regulator of adipogenesis and lipogenesis. These findings may explain how circadian rhythm disorder induced by shift works can cause obesity. Our study revealed a potential therapeutic target to alleviate metabolic disorders in shift workers and may provide better health guidance to shift workers.

This work introduces a novel approach for predicting the complex element weights of a rectangular planar phased array for a desired beam pattern using physics-aware convolutional neural networks (PA-CNN). An image representation of the desired radiation pattern is provided as input to the proposed network architecture, where PA-CNN learns to recognize spatial features and map input patterns to the amplitude and phase of the antenna element weights. In addition to the classical mean squared error (MSE) loss for regression to true weights, a novel physics-aware loss function is designed to jointly force the PA-CNN to estimate true weight while generating physically consistent beam patterns. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated using metrics such as MSE of estimated weights and traditional radiation pattern metrics such as accuracy of peak direction. The obtained results demonstrate that the models successfully learn the nonlinear relation between antenna parameters and desired beam patterns, where the physics-aware approach outperforms the base CNN cases with an improvement of 6.2% in the MSE between radiation patterns. This approach provides a promising solution for learning complex weights of arrays for synthesizing desired patterns while ensuring physical consistency.

Abstract Background Achievement of lipid targets is crucial in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to mitigate the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Data on lipid-control status among patients with T2DM in Bangladesh are scarce. This study was conducted to determine the lipid-control status among patients with T2DM who were on lipid-lowering drugs in the country. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the diabetes outpatient departments of several tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh from January 2022 to December 2022. Adults of both sexes diagnosed with T2DM for at least one year and were on the lipid-lowering drug(s) for a minimum of 3 months were included in the study by consecutive sampling. Patients’ data were collected by face-to-face interviews, and blood samples were collected for fasting lipid profile. The lipid target was set at 40 mg/dL for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and

Background: Paraquat poisoning is one of the leading causes of fatal poisoning in many parts of the world, especially in agricultural countries. Its high toxicity even in small amounts causes rapid damage to multiple organs, especially the kidneys, lungs, and liver, mainly through free radical-mediated injury. As no specific antidote is yet available, early diagnosis and the importance of supportive therapy are critical parts of management. Some evidence suggests a survival benefit from using immunosuppressive drugs. Case report: This case presentation concerns a 15-year-old boy from a village with a history of herbicide poisoning, later confirmed to be paraquat. Despite supportive therapy her condition continued to deteriorate with features of kidney and lung damage. The patient was then treated with methylprednisolone 500 mg daily for 5 days, along with other supportive care, and has made a remarkable recovery. Conclusions: High efficacy as an herbicide, availability and low cost make paraquat an easy-to-encounter poison for suicidal or accidental use. Its high fatality calls for urgent and effective strategies to save lives. Methylprednisolone may play a role in its treatment.

Abstract Background Genomic variants of the disease are often discovered nowadays through population-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Identifying genomic variations potentially underlying a phenotype, such as hypertension, in an individual is important for designing personalized treatment; however, population-level models, such as GWAS, may not capture all the important, individualized factors well. In addition, GWAS typically requires a large sample size to detect the association of low-frequency genomic variants with sufficient power. Here, we report an individualized Bayesian inference (IBI) algorithm for estimating the genomic variants that influence complex traits, such as hypertension, at the level of an individual (e.g., a patient). By modeling at the level of the individual, IBI seeks to find genomic variants observed in the individual’s genome that provide a strong explanation of the phenotype observed in this individual. Results We applied the IBI algorithm to the data from the Framingham Heart Study to explore the genomic influences of hypertension. Among the top-ranking variants identified by IBI and GWAS, there is a significant number of shared variants (intersection); the unique variants identified only by IBI tend to have relatively lower minor allele frequency than those identified by GWAS. In addition, IBI discovered more individualized and diverse variants that explain hypertension patients better than GWAS. Furthermore, IBI found several well-known low-frequency variants as well as genes related to blood pressure that GWAS missed in the same cohort. Finally, IBI identified top-ranked variants that predicted hypertension better than GWAS, according to the area under the ROC curve. Conclusions The results support IBI as a promising approach for complementing GWAS, especially in detecting low-frequency genomic variants as well as learning personalized genomic variants of clinical traits and disease, such as the complex trait of hypertension, to help advance precision medicine.

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 advent of aquaculture has been one of the most significant shifts in world food supply during the last century. Aquaculture has rapidly expanded and become a global food industry, spurred by population expansion, increased seafood consumption, and decreased captured fisheries. Nonetheless, the exponential growth of aquaculture has emerged as a significant contributor to anthropogenic changes. Unexpectedly, the result has focused in the emergence and spread of new diseases. The Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) is an economically important species in aquaculture, contributing significantly to the global seafood market. However, bacterial diseases have emerged as a major concern, affecting both wild and cultured populations of this species. The most prevalent bacterial pathogens are streptococcus, vibriosis, nocardiosis, tenacibaculosis, and pot-belly disease. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively analyze both emerging and non-emerging bacterial diseases affecting L. calcarifer and explore potential management approaches for their control. Through an extensive literature survey and critical evaluation of research findings, this review highlights the current understanding of bacterial diseases in L. calcarifer and proposes strategies for better disease management. In addition, this review looks at the rise and characteristics of aquaculture, the major bacterial pathogens of L. calcarifer and their effects, and the specific attributes of disease emergence in an aquatic rather than terrestrial context. It also considers the potential for future disease emergence in L. calcarifer due to aquaculture expansion and climate changes.

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer (PC) stands out as one of the most formidable malignancies and exhibits an exceptionally unfavorable clinical prognosis due to the absence of well‐defined diagnostic indicators and its tendency to develop resistance to therapeutic interventions. The primary objective of this present study was to identify extracellular matrix (ECM)‐related hub genes (HGs) and their corresponding molecular signatures, with the intent of potentially utilizing them as biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications. Methods Three microarray datasets were sourced from the NCBI database to acquire upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), while MatrisomeDB was employed for filtering ECM‐related genes. Subsequently, a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was established using the STRING database. The created network was visually inspected through Cytoscape, and HGs were identified using the CytoHubba plugin tool. Furthermore, enrichment analysis, expression pattern analysis, clinicopathological correlation, survival analysis, immune cell infiltration analysis, and examination of chemical compounds were carried out using Enrichr, GEPIA2, ULCAN, Kaplan Meier plotter, TIMER2.0, and CTD web platforms, respectively. The diagnostic and prognostic significance of HGs was evaluated through the ROC curve analysis. Results Ten genes associated with ECM functions were identified as HGs among 131 DEGs obtained from microarray datasets. Notably, the expression of these HGs exhibited significantly (p 0.75) and prognostic (AUC > 0.64) purposes. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between immune cell infiltration and the expression of most HGs. Lastly, our study identified nine compounds with significant interaction profiles that could potentially act as effective chemical agents targeting the identified HGs. Conclusion Taken together, our findings suggest that COL1A1, KRT19, MMP1, COL11A1, SDC1, ITGA2, COL1A2, POSTN, FN1, and COL5A1 hold promise as innovative biomarkers for both the diagnosis and prognosis of PC, and they present as prospective targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at impeding the progression PC.

Abstract Background Despite the wide acceptability of fasting lipid profiles in practice, emerging evidence suggests that random lipid profiles might be a convenient alternative for lipid measurement. The objective of the present study was to compare the fasting and random lipid profile among subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The present cross-sectional study included 1543 subjects with T2DM visiting several endocrinology outpatient clinics throughout Bangladesh from January to December 2021. The fasting lipid profile was measured in the morning following 8–10 h of overnight fasting, and the random lipid profile was measured at any time of the day, irrespective of the last meal. The values of fasting and random lipids were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Results In this study, a good level of correlation was observed between fasting and random lipid levels [r = 0.793, p

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is a profitable grain crop for Australian growers. However, weeds remain a major constraint for its production. Chemical herbicides are used for weed control, but this tactic also leads to the evolution of herbicide resistance in different weed species. The suppression of weeds by crop interference (competition and allelopathic) mechanisms has been receiving significant attention. Here, the weed suppressive ability and associated functional traits and stability of four selected canola genotypes (PAK85388-502, AV-OPAL, AV-GARNET, and BAROSSA) were examined at different locations in NSW, Australia. The results showed that there were significant effects of canola genotypes and of genotypes by crop density interaction on weed growth. Among the tested genotypes, PAK85388-502 and AV-OPAL were the most weed suppressive and, at a plant density of 10 plants/m2, they reduced the weed biomass of wild radish, shepherd’s purse, and annual ryegrass by more than 80%. No significant differences were found in the primary root lengths among canola varieties; however, plants of the most weed-suppressive genotype PAK8538-502 exhibited a 35% increase in lateral root number relative to plants of the less weed-suppressive genotype BAROSSA. The analysis of variance revealed a significant influence of genotypes with PAK85388-502 and AV-OPAL performing the best across all the research sites. Results showed that canola genotypes PAK85388-502 and AV-OPAL were more weed suppressive than AV-GARNET and BAROSSA and may release specific bioactive compounds in their surroundings to suppress neighboring weeds. This study provides valuable information that could be utilised in breeding programs to select weed-suppressive varieties of canola in Australia. Thus, lateral root number could be a potential target trait for weed-suppressive varieties. Additionally, other root architecture traits may contribute to the underground allelopathic interaction to provide a competitive advantage to the crop.

In modern power systems, conventional energy production units are being replaced by clean and environmentally friendly renewable energy resources (RESs). Integrating RESs into power systems presents numerous challenges, notably the need for enhanced grid stability and reliability. RES-dominated power systems fail to meet sufficient demand due to insufficient inertia responses. To address this issue, various virtual inertia emulation techniques are proposed to bolster power system stability amidst the increased integration of renewable energy sources into the grid. This review article explores state-of-the-art virtual inertia support strategies tailored to accommodate the increased penetration of RESs. Beginning with an overview of this study, it explores the existing virtual inertia techniques and investigates the various methodologies, including control algorithms, parameters, configurations, key contributions, sources, controllers, and simulation platforms. The promising virtual inertia control strategies are categorised based on the techniques used in their control algorithms and their applications. Furthermore, this review explains evolving research trends and identifies promising avenues for future investigations. Emphasis is placed on addressing key challenges such as dynamic response characteristics, scalability, and interoperability with conventional grid assets. The initial database search reveals 1529 publications. Finally, 106 articles were selected for this study, adding 6 articles manually for the review analysis. By synthesising current knowledge and outlining prospective research directions, this review aims to facilitate the current state of research paths concerning virtual inertia control techniques, along with the categorisation and analysis of these approaches, and showcases a comprehensive understanding of the research domain, which is essential for the sustainable integration of renewable energy into modern power systems via power electronic interface.

Background In low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh, where medical education faces a range of challenges-such as lack of infrastructure, well-trained educators, and advanced technologies, abrupt changes in methodologies without adequate preparation are more challenging than in higher-income countries. This was worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and these challenges have resulted in a change in medical education methodology. This study assesses the medical education procedure, impacts and adaptation strategies and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in the medical education system of Bangladesh from learners' as well as educators' perspectives. Methods The study collected data from 22 Medical Colleges/Universities across 18 districts of eight divisions using quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 408 samples were collected consisting of 316 from students and 92 from medical teachers. Descriptive analysis and probit model were performed for obtaining results. Results The efficacy of online learning was questionable, but results showed that it was more effective for theory classes (92.4%) followed by clinical classes (75.63%) and the efficacy rate was low for practical classes (54.11%). All types of classes (theory, practical and clinical) are currently using mixed methods to some extent in medical education in Bangladesh. Regarding impacts and adaptation strategy, approximately 75.3% of the students surveyed expressed their acceptance of online education. Over 80% of the participants acknowledged the advantages of online learning, highlighting the freedom to learn from home, cost and time savings, and avoiding physical closeness with other students as major benefits. Conclusions To address future challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic in medical education in Bangladesh, a comprehensive policy approach such as strengthening technological infrastructure, promoting blended learning approaches, enhancing faculty training and support, integrating telemedicine into the curriculum, and continuously evaluating and improving policies and interventions can enhance the resilience of its medical education system, and prepare for future challenges.

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus and some related poxviruses including smallpox virus pose a significant threat to public health, and effective prevention and treatment strategies are needed. This study utilized a reverse vaccinology approach to retrieve conserved epitopes for monkeypox virus and construct a vaccine that could provide cross-protection against related viruses with similar antigenic properties. The selected virulent proteins of monkeypox virus, MPXVgp165, and Virion core protein P4a, were subjected to epitope mapping for vaccine construction. Two vaccines were constructed using selected T cell epitopes and B cell epitopes with PADRE and human beta-defensins adjuvants conjugated in the vaccine sequence. Both constructs were found to be highly antigenic, non-allergenic, nontoxic, and soluble, suggesting their potential to generate an adequate immune response and be safe for humans. Vaccine construct 1 was selected for molecular dynamic simulation studies. The simulation studies revealed that the TLR8-vaccine complex was more stable than the TLR3-vaccine complex. The lower RMSD and RMSF values of the TLR8 bound vaccine compared to the TLR3 bound vaccine suggested better stability and consistency of hydrogen bonds. The Rg values of the vaccine chain bound to TLR8 indicated overall stability, whereas the vaccine chain bound to TLR3 showed deviations throughout the simulation. These results suggest that the constructed vaccine could be a potential preventive measure against monkeypox and related viruses however, further experimental validation is required to confirm these findings.

Background: Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This countrywide study explored the prevalence and patterns of dyslipidemia among patients with T2DM who were not taking lipid-lowering drugs (LLD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2241 subjects with T2DM visiting several endocrinology outpatient clinics throughout Bangladesh from January to December 2021. Lipid profiles were measured in fasting blood samples using automatic analyzers. Data were analyzed using Stata 17 (Stata Corp LLC, TX, USA). Results: 2241 patients were investigated; their mean age was 46.27 (±11.27, SD) years, and 57.16 % were women. Overall, the prevalence of dyslipidemia was 96.83 %. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), and triglyceride (TG) were high in 42.88 %, 63.54 %, and 71.40 % of patients, respectively; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) was low in 77.60 %. Mixed dyslipidemia (including raised TC, LDLC, TG, and low HDLC) was the most prevalent (24.05 %) type. Being woman (adjusted OR: 5.63, 95%CI: 3.07–11.1) and uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c

This research work aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of Aloe vera gel (50%, 75%, and 100%) and honey (25%, 50%, and 100%) on the physicochemical changes in fresh-cut pineapple stored at 4 °C. The pineapple pieces were prepared by washing and cutting them into 2 cm sections, followed by coating them with the Aloe vera and honey solutions for 2 min. Subsequently, the samples were stored at 4 °C for duration of 12 days. During the storage period, various parameters such as juice leakage, firmness, pH, total soluble solids, vitamin C content, colour, and microbial load were monitored. Additionally, sensory testing was conducted to evaluate the acceptability of the treated samples. The findings revealed significant differences in weight loss, vitamin C content, colour, flavor, and textural properties between the treated samples and the control group throughout the entire 12-day storage period. Among the different treatments, the application of 100% Aloe vera gel exhibited the highest effectiveness in preventing physicochemical changes and extending the shelf life of fresh-cut pineapple where as honey shows the opposite. Notably, the sample coated with 100% Aloe vera showed the highest vitamin C content (27.35 mg/100 g) at the end of the storage period where as 100% honey shows the second position. Based on the results, this study concludes that Aloe vera gel can be utilized as an efficient coating material to mitigate physicochemical and microbial changes in fresh-cut pineapple during refrigerated storage. The findings highlight the potential of Aloe vera gel is more effective then honey in every ways in preserving the quality and extending the shelf life of fresh-cut fruits, providing opportunities for practical applications in the food industry.

Abstract Aim This study aimed to identify the predictors of mortality and ICU requirements in hospitalized COVID‐19 Patients with Diabetes. Design Cross‐sectional study. Methods It was a retrospective study of patients hospitalized with COVID‐19 infection from October 2020–February 2021 in four hospitals in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the predictors of ICU requirement and in‐hospital mortality. Results In the whole cohort (n = 500), 11% of patients died and 24% of patients required intensive care unit (ICU) support. Non‐survivors had significantly higher prevalence of lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis. Significant predictors of in‐hospital mortality were older age, neutrophil count, platelet count and admission peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2). Older age, ischemic heart disease, WBC count, D‐dimer and admission SpO2 were identified as significant predictors for ICU requirement. Patient or Public Contribution No.

Abstract Albugo candida causing white rust disease decreases the yield of Brassica rapa vegetables greatly. Resistant and susceptible cultivars in B. rapa vegetables have different immune responses against A. candida inoculation, however, the mechanism of how host plants respond to A. candida is still unknown. Using RNA-sequencing, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between A. candida inoculated [48 and 72 h after inoculation (HAI)] and non-inoculated samples in resistant and susceptible cultivars of komatsuna (B. rapa var. perviridis). Functional DEGs differed between the resistant and susceptible cultivars in A. candida inoculated samples. Salicylic acid (SA) responsive genes tended to be changed in their expression levels by A. candida inoculation in both resistant and susceptible cultivars, but different genes were identified in the two cultivars. SA-dependent systemic acquired resistance (SAR) involving genes were upregulated following A. candida inoculation in the resistant cultivar. Particular genes categorized as SAR that changed expression levels overlapped between A. candida and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans inoculated samples in resistant cultivar, suggesting a role for SAR in defense response to both pathogens particularly in the effector-triggered immunity downstream pathway. These findings will be useful for understanding white rust resistance mechanisms in B. rapa.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of Malaysian and Bangladeshi retail small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business owners on the key elements of business growth. Design/methodology/approach – The construct measurements have all been taken from previous research studies. The data were gathered from retail SMEs in Malaysia and Bangladesh in order to evaluate entrepreneurs' perception towards the essential elements of a business performance. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with PLS technique, specifically Smart-PLS Version 3.2.4, was used to accomplish the study's objectives and analyze the measurements, as well as the structural model. Findings – According to the findings, Malaysian and Bangladeshi SMEs have different perspectives toward the dimensions of their business performance. For example, Malaysian retail SME owners consider business growth and financial results to be the most important aspects of their success. Retailers consider financial performance to be less critical than non-financial performance when it comes to their business's success. Owners of Bangladeshi retail SMEs, on the other hand, see efficiency relative to competition and that non-financial performance is the key component to achieving business success. In the sense of Bangladeshi SMEs, market development and financial results are seen as less significant in attaining success. Research limitations/implications – Since this research was only conducted in Malaysia and Bangladesh, it did not cover a large number of countries. The sample size was limited; therefore, the findings of this study cannot be applied to the entire population of Malaysian and Bangladeshi retail SMEs due to the non-probability sampling technique. Practical implications – The findings of this study show that entrepreneurs or business owners in the retail sector in Malaysian and Bangladeshi SMEs view the attributes of their business performance differently. Originality/value – This study adds to the rising context of entrepreneurship by examining SME owners' perception of main business performance dimensions in the scope of Asian retail SMEs.

Background: limited dietary diversity is a major challenge and the cause of malnutrition in rural and urban poor households b in Bangladesh. Most families depend on carbohydrate-rich staple food crops and eat few animal products, fruits, or fruits and veggies, having contributed to an increment in the amount of individual’s malnutrition.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, conducted on 358 participants. Data were collected using pretested, structured self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical package and level of significance was set at p < 0.05Results: Among the total population are 79.9% Bengali and 20.9% were ethnic. 57.0% & 43.0% were female and male respectively. 53.6% belong from 18-25 age group. Most of the participants were Housewife (38.0%). Around 39.4% respondents complete the secondary education whereas only 14.8% had no education. Most of the participants belong from medium and high-income group 36.6% & 62.3% respectively. Among the study participants 10% were Underweight, 33.0% belong from normal nutritional status, Overweight 19.8%, Obese 37.2%. Around 68.7% participants have high diversity score and 19% have medium diversified food while only 12% have less diversified food. In-spite of high diversity score most of the people don’t consume fats and oils and vitamin A rich foods. A significant relationship was found with nutritional status and age, gender, occupation, monthly income as p value was

BackgroundTyphoid and paratyphoid remain common bloodstream infections in areas with suboptimal water and sanitation infrastructure. Paratyphoid, caused by Salmonella Paratyphi A, is less prevalent than typhoid and its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) trends are less documented. Empirical treatment for paratyphoid is commonly based on the knowledge of susceptibility of Salmonella Typhi, which causes typhoid. Hence, with rising drug resistance in Salmonella Typhi, last-line antibiotics like ceftriaxone and azithromycin are prescribed for both typhoid and paratyphoid. However, unlike for typhoid, there is no vaccine to prevent paratyphoid. Here, we report 23-year AMR trends of Salmonella Paratyphi A in Bangladesh.MethodsFrom 1999 to 2021, we conducted enteric fever surveillance in two major pediatric hospitals and three clinics in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Blood cultures were performed at the discretion of the treating physicians; cases were confirmed by culture, serological and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined following CLSI guidelines.ResultsOver 23 years, we identified 2,725 blood culture-confirmed paratyphoid cases. Over 97% of the isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and cotrimoxazole, and no isolate was resistant to all three. No resistance to ceftriaxone was recorded, and >99% of the isolates were sensitive to azithromycin. A slight increase in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is noticed for ceftriaxone but the current average MIC is 32-fold lower than the resistance cut-off. Over 99% of the isolates exhibited decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin.ConclusionsSalmonella Paratyphi A has remained susceptible to most antibiotics, unlike Salmonella Typhi, despite widespread usage of many antibiotics in Bangladesh. The data can guide evidence-based policy decisions for empirical treatment of paratyphoid fever, especially in the post typhoid vaccine era, and with the availability of new paratyphoid diagnostics.

The ongoing pandemic COVID-19 caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has wreaked havoc globally by affecting millions of lives. Although different countries found the implementation of emergency measures useful to combat the viral pandemic, many countries are still experiencing the resurgence of COVID-19 cases with new variants even after following strict containment guidelines. Country-specific lessons learned from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can be utilized in commencing a successful battle against the potential future outbreaks. In this article, we analyzed the overall scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh from Alpha to Omicron variant and discussed the demographic, political, economic, social, and environmental influences on the mitigation strategies employed by the country to combat the pandemic. We also tried to explore the preparedness and precautionary measures taken by the responsible authorities, the choice of strategies implemented, and the effectiveness of the response initiated by the government and relevant agencies. Finally, we discussed the possible strategies that might help Bangladesh to combat future COVID-19 waves and other possible pandemics based on the experiences gathered from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Oral leukoplakia is a prevalent oral mucosal lesion known to undergo malignant transformation, posing a significant public health concern worldwide, primarily attributable to tobacco use. This study aims to investigate the potential preventive effects of vitamins A, C, and E on oral leukoplakia. We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, over a one-year period from March 2017 to March 2018. Methods: Study Population: We enrolled a total of 43 patients diagnosed with oral leukoplakia attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department. Data Collection: Patients were assessed at 6, 12, and 24-week intervals, during which data were collected using standardized data sheets. Lesion size was measured in square centimeters, and lesion color was recorded through photography. Adverse drug reactions were monitored based on patient complaints during follow-up. Histopathological Evaluation: Histopathological evaluations were performed both before the study and at the conclusion of the study to assess any changes in tissue characteristics. Outcome Variables: The primary outcome variables of interest were clinical response, histopathological findings, and complications associated with the treatment. Results: The study population had a mean age of 44.95±10.42 years, with an age range from 22 to 60 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. The average duration of the lesions was 14.81±4.82 months, with a range of 6 to 24 months. Lesions were most commonly located in the right buccal mucosa (41.9%), followed by the left buccal mucosa (27.4%). The mean initial lesion size was 4.08±1.95 cm², ranging from 1 to 8 cm². After 24 weeks, 11.63% of patients showed complete improvement. All patients initially presented with white lesions, with a reduction to 97.7% after 6 weeks, 88.4% after 12 weeks, and 69.8% after 24 weeks. Mild adverse drug reactions were reported in 11.7% of patients after 6 weeks and 2.3% after 12 and 24 weeks. Complete remission was observed in 11.6% of patients, and moderate improvement (41–90%) in 37.3%. Notably, one-third of patients experienced a significant color change in their lesions, and adverse drug reactions decreased during subsequent follow-up. Conclusion: This cross-sectional study indicates potential benefits of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E in mitigating oral leukoplakia symptoms, such as reduced lesion size and color improvement, with fewer adverse reactions observed. However, larger, controlled trials are necessary to establish the definitive efficacy of this vitamin combination. Update Dent. Coll. j: 2023; 13(2): 23-29

Background: Despite the recent success of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in identifying 90 independent risk loci for Parkinson’s disease (PD), the genomic underpinning of PD is still largely unknown. At the same time, accurate and reliable predictive models utilizing genomic or demographic features are desired in the clinic for predicting the risk of Parkinson’s disease.Methods: To identify influential demographic and genomic factors associated with PD and to further develop predictive models, we utilized demographic data, incorporating 200 variables across 33,473 participants, along with genomic data involving 447,089 SNPs across 8,840 samples, both derived from the Fox Insight online study. We first applied correlation and GWAS analyses to find the top demographic and genomic factors associated with PD, respectively. We further developed and compared a variety of machine learning (ML) models for predicting PD. From the developed ML models, we performed feature importance analysis to reveal the predictability of each demographic or the genomic input feature for PD. Finally, we performed gene set enrichment analysis on our GWAS results to identify PD-associated pathways.Results: In our study, we identified both novel and well-known demographic and genetic factors (along with the enriched pathways) related to PD. In addition, we developed predictive models that performed robustly, with AUC = 0.89 for demographic data and AUC = 0.74 for genomic data. Our GWAS analysis identified several novel and significant variants and gene loci, including three intron variants in LMNA (p-values smaller than 4.0e-21) and one missense variant in SEMA4A (p-value = 1.11e-26). Our feature importance analysis from the PD-predictive ML models highlighted some significant and novel variants from our GWAS analysis (e.g., the intron variant rs1749409 in the RIT1 gene) and helped identify potentially causative variants that were missed by GWAS, such as rs11264300, a missense variant in the gene DCST1, and rs11584630, an intron variant in the gene KCNN3.Conclusion: In summary, by combining a GWAS with advanced machine learning models, we identified both known and novel demographic and genomic factors as well as built well-performing ML models for predicting Parkinson’s disease.

Abstract Casein microparticles obtained from casein micelles by volume exclusion of added pectin and subsequent film drying remain stable in the acidic and neutral pH range, but swell strongly in the basic range. Calcium significantly impacts on the stability and water-binding behavior of phosphorylated caseins and the aggregates and gels formed from them. For a future effective and controlled use as a carrier for bioactive substances, e.g. via the gastrointestinal tract, we therefore investigated how the addition of the calcium chelating agent citrate affects the swelling and stability of the microparticles. Citrate concentrations of 2 mM and above cause a stronger swelling of the microparticles at pH 8, while above 4 mM the second characteristic swelling step starts earlier and thus can also be investigated within the observation time of 120 min. All swelling kinetics can be simulated using seven parameters of a dynamic model, which reproduces the individual swelling steps via volume inflows and outflows into a reservoir. While the rate coefficient for swelling step 1 increases linearly with citrate concentration, no such dependence could be found for swelling step 2. The more citrate is used, the faster the microparticles decompose in turbidity experiments after the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate, which can be related to a weakening of the hydrophobic interactions.

This study explored the antecedents of m-commerce continuance usage intention and their impact on the price sensitivity of Indonesian m-commerce customers. The study also incorporates contextual factors, such as perceived risk, trust, efficiency, and functional benefits, into the model to investigate their impact on the satisfaction of m-commerce users. Moreover, it examines how the efficient and functional benefits of m-commerce affect price sensitivity. The study employed online questionnaires to gather data from m-commerce users in Indonesia. The hypothesis was tested using a partial least squares technique with Smart-PLS. This study demonstrates that user satisfaction with mobile commerce has a significant impact on their intention to continue using it, which in turn affects their price sensitivity. The study found perceived risk, trust, efficiency, and functional benefit to be significant determinants of satisfaction in m-commerce usage. The study also found that trust, efficiency, and functional benefits influence the continuance use of m-commerce, while perceived risk is not an intervening variable for continuance intention among m-commerce users. Furthermore, the results show that perceived risk, trust, and functional benefit influence a user’s price sensitivity, whereas efficiency was not found to be a determinant in influencing price sensitivity. However, the study found that continuance usage intention and satisfaction serially mediated the link between efficiency and price sensitivity, as well as the link between functional benefit and price sensitivity. The outcome of this study would be useful for managers and practitioners who find it difficult to retain their customers’ continued intention to purchase their products and services.

Measurement(s) water-based rainfall Technology Type(s) weather station

Abstract Background Adequate good quality of sleep is essential for physical fitness during pregnancy as well as being a depressive symptoms-free mind. However, there is little evidence of the relationship between depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality among pregnant women in Bangladesh. This study aimed to find the association between depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality among pregnant women in northern rural Bangladesh. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from May 2021 to June 2021 among 481 pregnant women tested positive in the pregnancy test of Jaldhaka and Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari district, Rangpur Division. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire including socio-demographic conditions, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms, comprising the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 (PHQ-9). Results 8.94% of the women had depressive symptoms, whereas 38.88% of the participants were bad sleepers. However, women who had depressive symptoms [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.55; 95% CI 1.33-4.9] and educational qualifications above 10 years [AOR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.39-0.92] were associated with poor sleep quality. Conclusions A higher percentage of pregnant women had poor sleep quality, whereas depressive symptoms and academic background of the participants were significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Ensuring adequate sleep time and better quality could be helpful to prevent depressive symptoms.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is recognized as an urgent public health threat because of the emergence of difficult-to-treat (DTR) strains and hypervirulent clones, resulting in infections with high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite its prominence, little is known about the genomic epidemiology of K. pneumoniae in resource-limited settings like Bangladesh. We sequenced genomes of 32 K. pneumoniae strains isolated from patient samples at the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). Genome sequences were examined for their diversity, population structure, resistome, virulome, MLST, O and K antigens and plasmids. Our results revealed the presence of two K. pneumoniae phylogroups, namely KpI (K. pneumoniae) (97%) and KpII (K. quasipneumoniae) (3%). The genomic characterization revealed that 25% (8/32) of isolates were associated with high-risk multidrug-resistant clones, including ST11, ST14, ST15, ST307, ST231 and ST147. The virulome analysis confirmed the presence of six (19%) hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) and 26 (81%) classical K. pneumoniae (cKp) strains. The most common ESBL gene identified was blaCTX-M-15 (50%). Around 9% (3/32) isolates exhibited a difficult-to-treat phenotype, harboring carbapenem resistance genes (2 strains harbored blaNDM-5 plus blaOXA-232, one isolate blaOXA-181). The most prevalent O antigen was O1 (56%). The capsular polysaccharides K2, K20, K16 and K62 were enriched in the K. pneumoniae population. This study suggests the circulation of the major international high-risk multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent (hvKp) K. pneumoniae clones in Dhaka, Bangladesh. These findings warrant immediate appropriate interventions, which would otherwise lead to a high burden of untreatable life-threatening infections locally.

Abstract This study investigates the influence of exposure time and post‐treatment temperature on the stability and swelling of casein microparticles prepared by depletion flocculation and film drying. Stability experiments with sodium dodecyl sulfate at 20 °C show that particles become more stable with higher post‐treatment temperature and longer exposure times. The two‐step decrease in decay rates in each case indicates a stable intermediate state structurally different from untreated and more strongly treated microparticles. The swelling curves of microparticles also show differences in three temperature ranges at 120 min exposure times each, which is analyzed with dynamic swelling models. At temperatures T ≤ 50 °C, the casein microparticles swell and decompose in a typical two‐step process. For post‐treatments in the temperature range between T = 60 and 70 °C, the swelling curves change their shape toward limited swelling to an equilibrium swelling value. The swelling curves of microparticles treated with temperatures at 80 and 90 °C show a typical overshooting, which can be analyzed with an adapted parallel swelling model and attributed to an elastic network of newly formed bonds.

Background: Despite the Government of Bangladesh's considerable efforts, utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services remains low among Bangladeshi women, notably those from rural areas. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the utilization and underlying factors affecting the utilization of ANC among women of reproductive age in rural Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in three sub-districts of the Rangpur division, Bangladesh, from May 31, 2021, to June 9, 2021. A total of 1195 women with a live birth preceding the survey participated in the study. We used a multivariate logistic regression model to examine the association between all potential factors and the utilization of ANC4/4+ services. Multicollinearity and Hosmer-Lemeshow test was conducted to check the regression model's goodness fit test. Results: The rate of utilization of ANC4/4+ services by women in the three sub-districts of the Rangpur division was 71.7%. Women with more age, education, having more than five members in a family, and being involved in any income-generating activities were more likely to utilize ANC4/4+ in this study. Conclusion: The study found an insufficiency in ANC4/4+ usage, which might lead to missed opportunities for women in rural Bangladesh to have improved maternal outcomes. Particular focus should be given to women's higher education and prioritizing women's autonomy in health seeking issues in the rural women to increase the utilization of ANC4/4+.

Abstract Introduction Diabetes distress (DD) is common and has considerable impacts on diabetes management. Unfortunately, DD is less discussed and frequently underestimated. This study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of DD in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at several specialized endocrinology outpatient clinics in Bangladesh from July 2019 to June 2020; 259 adults with T2DM participated. Participants’ DD and depression were measured using the 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS-17) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. DDS-17 scores ≥2 and PHQ-9 scores ≥10 were the cutoffs for DD and significant depression, respectively. Results The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 50.36 (±12.7) years, with the majority (54.8%) being male; their median (IQR) duration of diabetes was 6 (3–11) years. Among the study participants, 52.5% had DD (29.7% moderate and 22.8% high DD). The prevalence of emotional burden, physician-related distress, regimen-related distress, and interpersonal distress was 68.7, 28.6, 66, and 37.7%, respectively. Depression was present in 40.5%; 28.6% of the participants had DD and depression. The total DDS-17 score was positively correlated with the PHQ-9 score (r = 0.325, p 10 years (OR 0.240) were negative predictors of DD (p

In this paper, we numerically debrief an ultra-high sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor utilizing thin layers of graphene oxide (GO) that have not been addressed adequately till now. By the deposition of GO on top of the metal-dielectric heterostructure, our proposed sensor can achieve higher sensitivity and higher Quality Factor (QF) simultaneously which has not been possible by the existing models to our knowledge. Because of its large surface area and sp2 inside of an sp3 matrix which is capable of confining $\pi $ electrons, GO can form strong covalent bonds with biomolecules and hence enhanced light-material interaction that made researchers contemplate to achieve increased sensitivity and figure of merit. Both the transfer matrix method and finite element method are exploited to perform extensive numerical analysis for optimizing the structure considering its sensitivity, full width half maximum (FWHM), and QF. This paper examines six different configurations of multilayer heterostructure containing prism-adhesive-metal-BaTiO3/BP-Gr/GO/MXene-sensing medium, and a noticeably enhanced performance is achieved using GO with a maximum sensitivity of 372 deg/RIU and QF of 88.11 RIU−1 in the range of refractive index (RI) 1.330 to 1.353. Moreover, the possibility of designing a tunable SPR sensor to operate at a broader range of analyte’s RI is investigated, and 414 deg/RIU with 119.27 RIU−1 QF at 1.407 RI is achieved. The Electric field distribution, effects of different layers, and fabrication feasibility of the proposed sensor are explored, it is envisaged that this can be an appropriate apparatus for highly sensitive, rapid, and noninvasive label-free biosensing useful in experimental sensing protocols.

Background: In India, bidi smoking is prevalent among people of low socioeconomic status as it is cheaper than a cigarette. Aim: The aim of the current study was to analyze the pattern of distribution of oral and oropharyngeal cancer in bidi smokers in the Western Uttar Pradesh population. Materials and Methods: This unicentric cross-sectional study was conducted on patients having an exclusive habit of bidi smoking in the tertiary health care center from March 2019 to February 2022. Five hundred and eighty-five patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal or oral cancer, who were willing to share information related to the bidi smoking habit were enrolled. A Chi-square test and unpaired t-test were used for the statistical analysis. Results: The base of the tongue was found to be the most common site of oral cancer. It was our observation that 61.75% of men had cancer in the oropharynx, and about 34.8% had cancer in the oral cavity. Conclusion: Bidi smoke is dangerous and contains many carcinogenic agents. Bidi smokers have an increased risk of oropharyngeal cancer as compared to oral cancer.

Background: Breastfeeding requires additional diversified foods for the nutritional requirements of mothers and children, especially in preventing micronutrient deficiencies. The minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W) is a proxy indicator of micronutrient adequacy for women. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the determinants associated with MDD in lactating women. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among lactating mothers having at least one live birth in last three years from two districts of Bangladesh between 31st May 2021 and 9th June 2021. Dietary and socio-demographic information was obtained using a single 24-h recall and socio-economic status questionnaires. MDD was defined as at least four food groups consumed in the last 24 hours. In binary logistic regression, adjusted models were used to assess the relationship between MDD and socio-economic factors. Results: The mean Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was 3.9 ± 1.2. The MDD was met by 29.7% of women. Respondent's ages 20–24 years [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3–0.9], 25–34 years [AOR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3–0.8], and 35–49 years [AOR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.2–0.9], husband's academic qualifications more than 12 years [AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.0–3.7], family income more than 15000 BDT per month [AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2–4.3], and husband's profession as a day labor [AOR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3–0.7] were significant factors to have MDD. Conclusions: DDS and MDD were very poor among the mothers, whereas women's age, husband's education, and the family's monthly income were independent determinants of MDD. Special interventions may be needed to improve MDD.

Guavas (Psidium guajava) are regarded as one of the most perishable commodities, primarily owing to their climacteric characteristics and heightened metabolic processes, resulting in a faster rate of softening. Edible coating is a natural ingredient that is employed as an alternative to extend the shelf life of fruits while also providing bioactive and functional compounds. Aloe vera gel is predominantly used for this purpose due to its widespread availability. Various concentrations of aloe vera-based coating formulation (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were applied on fresh whole guava by dipping method. The guava was stored at a refrigerated condition (4°C) and weight loss, color, firmness, vitamin C, total phenol, and pH change were observed in this research. A significant effect of aloe vera coating was found over the storage period. Aloe vera treatment lowered the weight loss, and retarded the texture and color compared to the control sample throughout the 28 days of storage. Vitamin C and total phenol content remined high at 141.4 mg/100g and 219.6 mg GAE/100g respectively in a 100% aloe vera coated sample after 28 days of storage compared to the control. Among 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% aloe vera coated sample, 100% aloe vera was found to be the best coating material to prevent physical changes in fresh guava.

The raising concern of drug resistance, having substantial impacts on public health, has instigated the search of new natural compounds with substantial medicinal activity. In order to find out a natural solution, the current study has utilized prodigiosin, a linear tripyrrole red pigment, as an active ingredient to control bacterial proliferation and prevent cellular oxidation caused by ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species). A prodigiosin-producing bacterium BRL41 was isolated from the ancient Barhind soil of BCSIR Rajshahi Laboratories, Bangladesh, and its morphological and biochemical characteristics were investigated. Whole genome sequencing data of the isolate revealed its identity as Serratia sp. and conferred the presence of prodigiosin gene cluster in the bacterial genome. "Prodigiosin NRPS", among the 10 analyzed gene clusters, showed 100% similarity with query sequences where pigC, pigH, pigI, and pigJ were identified as fundamental genes for prodigiosin biosynthesis. Some other prominent clusters for synthesis of ririwpeptides, yersinopine, trichrysobactin were also found in the chromosome of BRL41, whilst the rest displayed less similarity with query sequences. Except some first-generation beta-lactam resistance genes, no virulence and resistance genes were found in the genome of BRL41. Structural illumination of the extracted red pigment by spectrophotometric scanning, Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and change of color at different pH solutions verified the identity of the isolated compound as prodigiosin. Serratia sp. BRL41 attained its maximum productivity 564.74 units/cell at temperature 30˚C and pH 7.5 in two-fold diluted nutrient broth medium. The compound exhibited promising antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) values ranged from 3.9 to15.62 μg/mL and 7.81 to 31.25 μg/mL respectively. At concentration 500 μg/mL, except in Salmonella enterica ATCC-10708, prodigiosin significantly diminished biofilm formed by Listeria monocytogens ATCC-3193, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC-9027, Escherichia coli (environmental isolate), Staphylococcus aureus (environmental isolate). Cellular glutathione level (GSH) was elevated upon application of 250 and 500 μg/mL pigment where 125 μg/mL failed to show any free radical scavenging activity. Additionally, release of cellular components in growth media of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were facilitated by the extract that might be associated with cell membrane destabilization. Therefore, the overall findings of antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities suggest that in time to come prodigiosin might be a potential natural source to treat various diseases and infections.

Several neurological disorders have been described in HIV infection. Vacuolar myelopathy and neurocognitive disorders usually come at an advanced stage of the disease process. Here, we present a case where these features constitute the presenting complaints. Both of these conditions improved significantly following the start of HAART. We believe this clinical pathway can be a good learning point for the clinician.

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), a group of retroviruses belonging to the oncovirus family, has long been associated with various inflammatory and immunosuppressive disorders. At present, there is no approved vaccine capable of effectively combating all the highly pathogenic strains of HTLV that makes this group of viruses a potential threat to human health. To combat the devastating impact of any potential future outbreak caused by this virus group, our study employed a reverse vaccinology approach to design a novel polyvalent vaccine targeting the highly virulent subtypes of HTLV. Moreover, we comprehensively analyzed the molecular interactions between the designed vaccine and corresponding Toll-like receptors (TLRs), providing valuable insights for future research on preventing and managing HTLV-related diseases and any possible outbreaks. The vaccine was designed by focusing on the envelope glycoprotein gp62, a crucial protein involved in the infectious process and immune mechanisms of HTLV inside the human body. Epitope mapping identified T cell and B cell epitopes with low binding energies, ensuring their immunogenicity and safety. Linkers and adjuvants were incorporated to enhance the vaccine's stability, antigenicity, and immunogenicity. Initially, two vaccine constructs were formulated, and among them, vaccine construct-2 exhibited superior solubility and structural stability. Molecular docking analyses also revealed strong binding affinity between the vaccine construct-2 and both targeted TLR2 and TLR4. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated enhanced stability, compactness, and consistent hydrogen bonding within TLR-vaccine complexes, suggesting a strong binding affinity. The stability of the complexes was further corroborated by contact, free energy, structure, and MM-PBSA analyses. Consequently, our research proposes a vaccine targeting multiple HTLV subtypes, offering valuable insights into the molecular interactions between the vaccine and TLRs. These findings should contribute to developing effective preventive and treatment approaches against HTLV-related diseases and preventing possible outbreaks. However, future research should focus on in-depth validation through experimental studies to confirm the interactions identified in silico and to evaluate the vaccine's efficacy in relevant animal models and, eventually, in clinical trials.